Newcastle United enjoyed a tremendous 2022/23 campaign as they finished fourth in the Premier League to secure a Champions League place.

Who have Newcastle United signed this summer?

The Magpies have reacted to that success by adding to their playing squad ahead of next season in an attempt to bolster Eddie Howe's options.

Italy international Sandro Tonali, who played his first match earlier this week against Rangers in a friendly, has joined from AC Milan in a £55m deal.

Dan Ashworth is also reportedly set to add Leicester's Harvey Barnes and Southampton's Tino Livramento to the team for a combined £68m.

A central defender could also be on the cards as it was recently reported that the club are interested in signing Crystal Palace star Joachim Andersen.

How good is Joachim Andersen?

The 27-year-old titan's performances for the Eagles last season suggest that he is an excellent Premier League performer who could be a monstrous partner for Sven Botman moving forward.

He is four years younger than Howe's current right-sided centre-back – Fabian Schar – and could be the long-term option in that position.

Despite playing for a Palace team that finished 11th in the table, Andersen averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.98 across 32 outings.

When Newcastle ended the 2021/22 campaign in 11th place, Schar averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.90 over 25 matches. However, that score jumped up to 7.13 in his 36 Premier League outings last season in a thriving Toon team.

The Switzerland international's progression highlights what can happen when you place a player in a better environment, which suggests that Andersen has the potential to be an upgrade on him when you consider his impressive performances in an average Palace side.

He could be a monster alongside Botman at the back due to his ability to dominate opposition attackers at Premier League level.

The colossal Dane won an eye-catching 72% of his aerial battles last term – 5% more than Schar – as the 6 foot 4 tank was able to use his height to his advantage.

In fact, the Eagles titan ranks in the top 16% of centre-backs across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for aerial duels won per 90 over the last 365 days.

Andersen – once described as "underappreciated" by pundit Robbie Earle – also ranks in the top 1% of his positions peers for clearances made per 90 (6.08), which highlights his impressive defensive instincts and positioning.

Botman, who averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99, won 66% of his contests in the air as Newcastle's left-sided centre-back throughout the Premier League season just gone.

These statistics show that both players, who play on opposite sides of a central defensive pairing, are dominant defenders who like to compete with attackers to win the majority of their battles.

Therefore, Howe could form a monstrous centre-back duo by signing Andersen – reportedly valued at £50m by his current club – to partner alongside the Netherlands international over the coming seasons.

The Danish brute, who did not make a single error leading to a shot or goal for the opposition last term, could compete with Schar for that right-sided central defensive spot to create strong competition for places.

Chelsea are set to 'continue' their interest in Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki this summer alongside chasing a deal for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Is Rayan Cherki moving to Chelsea?

According to FootballTransfers, Cherki has held talks with both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur as he assesses his options this summer amid interest from the Premier League.

The outlet detail that Lyon are in financial difficulty and have been placed under the microscope by French football authorities due to their wage expenditure and transfer activity and it is believed that Chelsea could submit a bid worth €40 million (£34.2 million) for the 19-year-old.

Calciomercato via JuveFC claim that Juventus could also emerge as a suitor for Cherki if Federico Chiesa is to leave the Allianz Stadium this window.

Last term, Cherki, who is "two footed", made 39 appearances for Lyon in all competitions, going on to notch five goals and six assists in total, as per Transfermarkt.

As per ESPN, Cherki is keen to join Chelsea this summer and the Blues are preparing an 'opening offer' for the Lyon-born midfielder as a potential replacement for USA international Christian Pulisic, who has recently moved to AC Milan.

RMC Sport understand that Chelsea have made a proposal to Crystal Palace to try and land winger Olise worth in the region of £39 million.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Jones think that Chelsea will pursue both players as the transfer window progresses; however, he isn't convinced that both will arrive simultaneously at Stamford Bridge.

Jones stated: “I’m expecting the interest in Rayan Cherki to continue as well through to next week and it’s unlikely both of these players are signed this summer.

“So with that in mind I am interested to see the actual value of these deals come to light and the terms of those potential deals too.

“One thing I do know about Olise is that his ambition in the game would definitely mean he is interested in a move like this, but of course he is also being linked with other big clubs and for him this is a fantastic moment.”

Who else could Mauricio Pochettino bring to Chelsea this summer?

More high-profile arrivals could be on the way to Stamford Bridge this summer following the additions of Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Diego Moreira and Angelo, as per Transfermarkt.

According to Football Insider, Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus is keen to join Chelsea and the Blues are close to finding an agreement over personal terms with the Ghana international.

Writing in his column for CaughtOffside, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea have initiated contact with Crystal Palace to speak about Marc Guehi, who is being eyed as an alternative to injured defender Wesley Fofana.

Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign Montpellier striker Elye Wahi amid competition from Inter Milan to sign the 20-year-old, who will then be loaned to their satellite club Strasbourg to continue his development in 2023/24, as per The Daily Mail.

In the coming weeks, Chelsea boss Pochettino will be looking to put the finishing touches to an encouraging off-season in terms of recruitment before the new Premier League campaign commences.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is now on the verge of sealing his Reds exit this summer, according to a key update regarding his future.

Is Jordan Henderson leaving Liverpool?

The 33-year-old has enjoyed 12 unforgettable years at Anfield, overcoming a tough early spell at the club to become one of the best skippers in the club's history, having taken over from Steven Gerrard upon his departure back in 2015.

Henderson has won countless trophies during his time as a Liverpool player, most memorable lifting the Champions League in 2010 and the Premier League the following year – Micah Richards has hailed him as "world-class" – and his reputation as a Reds legend is now undeniable, having been such a strong servant for so many years.

Sadly, though, it looks as though the Englishman's time as a Liverpool player is coming to an end, with strong recent reports suggesting he is on the verge of joining Saudi Arabian side At Ettifaq, who are currently managed by Reds icon Gerrard.

While Henderson is currently in Germany with the rest of the squad on pre-season duty, a new claim suggests that he will be waving goodbye to his teammates very soon.

What's the latest on Jordan Henderson's Liverpool future?

According to Football Insider early on Monday morning, Henderson has been in further negotiations with Al Ettifaq over a move to the club in recent hours, with a medical now edging closer:

"Liverpool expect to follow the sale of Fabinho this week with that of skipper Jordan Henderson after negotiations progressed in the last 24 hours, sources have told Football Insider. The Anfield skipper, 33, has agreed a two-year contract with Al Ettifaq worth a staggering £700,000-a-week, while Fabinho has been given the green light by the club to finalise the terms of a £40million move to Al-Ittihad.

"The Saudi club are confident a medical and the formalities of the move will now be completed soon, putting an end to the England international’s glittering 12-year Anfield career."

This is such a say way for Henderson's Liverpool career to end, with the captain still seemingly considered a key squad player heading into the 2023/24 season. He still has plenty to offer, even if his best days are behind him, and his leadership on and off the pitch will be greatly missed, especially as former vice-captain James Milner also departed for Brighton earlier in the summer.

With Fabinho also expected to move on, too, this really is a summer of enormous change in Liverpool's midfield, with Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain exiting earlier in the window, and both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszali coming in from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively.

In truth, it needed to happen to some degree, considering how ageing and disjointed the Reds looked in the middle of the park last season, but Jurgen Klopp has a massive job on his hands ensuring that new faces fit in quickly, and that further signings come in to fill the imminent void left by Henderson and Fabinho, avoiding a season of transition in the process.

Tottenham Hotspur will make an offer for Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba and he wants the move, according to reports out of Germany.

Who will Spurs sign?

New Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou and chairman Daniel Levy have been hard at work behind-the-scenes, as they attempt to prepare for next season.

The Lilywhites' start to this summer transfer window has been a solid one with Spurs supporters seeing goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, playmaker James Maddison and winger Manor Solomon join the club over these last few weeks.

Dejan Kulusevski, after 18 months on loan from Juventus, has also joined former Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Porro in making his move to north London permanent.

Spurs have now shored up a variety of positions in their squad, both defensively and further forward, but it is believed they're attempting to add two new centre-backs to their roster as well.

Tottenham conceded a woeful 63 league goals last season, more than any other English side above 15th last season, and those numbers highlight a glaring weakness that Postecoglou must resolve.

They're apparently moving to fix this achilles heel, with advanced talks held for Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven as a deal closes in (Fabrizio Romano).

However, the Netherlands international is just one defender Tottenham have their eyes on, with Galatasary star Victor Nelsson, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona's Clement Lenglet and Tapsoba all being targeted too.

The latter defender has been repeatedly linked with a move to N17 recently, alongside van de Ven, with a report from Europe sharing an update on their pursuit.

According to the paper edition of German news outlet Sport Bild, as shared by Sport Witness, Spurs will make an offer for Tapsoba – amounting to around £34 million.

Leverkusen, who are keen to keep their star defender, hope that bid won't come but Tottenham are apparently ready to make that bid.

Tapsoba is said to be eager on making the move to England, and while Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes doesn't want to let the African go, he may well be forced to do so given the amount of money Tottenham could put forward.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

The Burkina Faso international isn't just impressive at club level, with members of the media even calling him "fundamental" for his country in recent seasons.

"Edmond Tapsoba is the de facto organiser for Burkina Faso," said journalist Bruno Alemany last year.

"He is the one who imposes the rhythm of his team and the one who puts it to play in the rival field. Personality and displacement top. Fundamental."

Meanwhile, the Bundesliga's official website have even likened Tapsoba to former Bayern Munich star Jerome Boateng for his composure and acute passing.

The site wrote:

"The legendary Bayern Munich defender, who made 364 appearances across 11 seasons for the Bavarian giants, was as cool and calm as it gets both on the ball and in the tackle while he was also famed for his pinpoint long passing that set up many an attack for the record champions. Tapsoba has similar traits and such is his eagerness to start forward thrusts, he has often been referred to as a defensive playmaker."

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details Sikandar Raza stalled Sri Lanka’s charge with a selection of cross-batted strokes•AFP

All through the tour, Sri Lanka have had Zimbabwe cornered, and games have threatened to follow a familiar, one-sided form. Yet all through the tour, Zimbabwe have found ways of resisting, of stubbornly holding out, and eventually fighting back.Day three at Khettarama saw perhaps their most impressive turnaround yet. Having eked out a 10-run first-innings lead in the morning, Zimbabwe found themselves 23 for 4, then 59 for 5. But for the remainder of the day, the middle order would rally around an adventurous Sikandar Raza, and turn the match in dramatic fashion. Having played definitive hands in Zimbabwe’s ODI series, Raza stood on the verge of a vital maiden Test ton, finishing the day on 97 off 158 balls. Peter Moor struck 40 and joined him for a sixth-wicket stand of 86. Malcolm Waller did even better, cracking 57 off 76 deliveries in an unbroken seventh-wicket partnership worth 107.All this means that Zimbabwe now control the Test, and may even have put themselves in a position to pull off the unexpected result of the year. Overturning Sri Lanka in ODIs was surprising enough, but in Tests, the hosts may not have dreamed they would be challenged by the lowest ranked team – one they have consistently thrashed over the past two decades. But with Zimbabwe’s lead at 262 their target is already a challenging one. If the score grows by another 100 runs, could become a near-impossible pursuit.Unusually, Sri Lanka have caught well in this Test, but the bowling has been consistently menace-free. Of the 16 Zimbabwe wickets to have fallen, Rangana Herath has claimed nine. For the second half of day three, he seemed the only bowler capable of beating the Zimbabwe batsmen, and had he not run riot in the first session, Sri Lanka’s position would have been even bleaker. Dilruwan Perera was not miserly enough for a bowler who isn’t taking wickets, Lahiru Kumara’s lines have been too wayward, and Suranga Lakmal has been modest in unhelpful conditions. Sri Lanka are also missing the bowling of Asela Gunaratne, whose tweaked hamstring had substantially hampered his running between the wickets, and now has kept him off the field in the second innings.The first 10 balls of Raza’s innings defined his approach. First ball, he had picked a single to fine leg. After three further singles off the next five balls, he punched a ball out to the cover sweeper and took two. Though his team was threatening to be all out for 120, Raza took seven off the first 10 balls, and batted as if they were 300 for 5. He favoured the lap sweep and the drive off the spinners, and rarely failed to find gaps when he was looking for them.Rangana Herath claimed three wickets in four overs before lunch•AFP

Perhaps the only real chance in his innings came when he was 31, when he attempted to reverse sweep Herath, but only ended up top-edging the ball. Slip fielder Dimuth Karunaratne – who had already taken two excellent catches in the innings – might have been in a position to make a third take, had he not begun moving squarer in anticipation of where he felt the ball may travel. As it happened, the ball bisected the keeper and slip before skimming away to the third man fence. Raza would hit two more fours in that over to make it Herath’s most expensive of the innings. Outside that over, Raza only struck four fours and a six.Waller was more openly aggressive – but only by a little bit – as he hit eight fours, and repeatedly put bowlers under pressure by scoring singles and twos freely as well. His fourth Test fifty had come off just 54 deliveries, before the final overs of the day prompted a slowdown from both batsmen. Beyond Waller, Zimbabwe also have Graeme Cremer and Donald Tiripano, both of whom have first-class centuries to their names.Before Raza came to the crease, Herath had knocked out Zimbabwe’s top three in his first four overs, before Perera also took a wicket. By lunch, Sri Lanka had had them by the collar, at 23 for 4. Taking the new ball, Herath needed an over to settle, but the first delivery of his second over was of a higher quality than Regis Chakabva had the ability to handle. Breaking more sharply than any of his deliveries in the first over, the ball missed Chakabva’s defensive shot, and hit the top of the off stump. That over would go on to be a wicket-maiden, which Herath’s next would be as well. This time, having beaten Tarisai Musakanda’s inside edge with a slider, Herath tossed the ball up slightly wider, tempted Musakanda into an expansive drive, and then had him caught sharply by Karunaratne at slip.Herath’s next dismissal – in his following over – was perhaps the most controversial wicket of the wicket-filled session. Attempting a big sweep, Hamilton Masakadza was struck in front. There was no doubt the ball would go on to hit the stumps, but perhaps feeling it brushed his glove on the way, Masakadza reviewed the out decision, and there was not enough evidence to overturn the on-field call.All this followed a milestone for Cremer who became the first Zimbabwe captain to take a five-wicket haul. He had taken two of the last three Sri Lanka wickets in the morning, and had helped eke out a 10-run first innings lead. Cremer now will have plenty to defend as Zimbabwe set their sights on a rare victory against a top-eight team.

أصيب مشجعو فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي بالذهول قبل المباراة أمام أتالانتا الإيطالي في بطولة الدوري الأوروبي.

ويحل ليفربول ضيفًا على أتالانتا لخوض مباراة إياب ربع نهائي الدوري الأوروبي، مساء اليوم الخميس.

وكانت مباراة الذهاب على ملعب “آنفيلد” انتهت بفوز أتالانتا على ليفربول بثلاثة أهداف دون مقابل.

وفقًا لصحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية، من المتوقع أن يحضر المباراة أقل من 1000 مشجع، وتوجد مقاعدهم في مدرج خلف السياج.

طالع تشكيل ليفربول أمام أتالانتا في الدوري الأوروبي.. موقف محمد صلاح

وتظهر الصور مدرجًا مكونًا من مقاعد زرقاء وسوداء في زاوية الملعب، مع أعمدة معدنية تحيط به، وهي المقاعد التي سيتواجد بها مشجعو ليفربول.

وعلى يسار المدرج، يوجد مبنى يحتوي على المزيد من المقاعد، ويقع المدرج خلف ما يبدو هيكل زجاجي يشبه السياج، وتحيط به بوابات صفراء مغلقة.

وعلّق بعض جماهير ليفربول عبر منصة “إكس” على الأمر، وقال أحدهم: “هل هذه المنطقة مخصصة للسجناء يوم الإفراج؟”، وأضاف آخر: “يبدو مثل جوانتانامو!”.

Alex Hales smashed the highest score in a one-day final at Lord’s as Nottinghamshire successfully hunted down a target of 298 to leave Surrey defeated at the last for the third successive year in the Royal London Cup

Alan Gardner at Lord's01-Jul-2017
ScorecardAlex Hales’ 187 not out was the highest-ever List A score at Lord’s•Getty Images

Alex Hales smashed the highest score in a one-day final at Lord’s as Nottinghamshire successfully hunted down a target of 298 to leave Surrey defeated at the last for the third successive year in the Royal London Cup. Hales’ extraordinary innings of 187 not out accounted for 63% of his side’s runs, eclipsing an accomplished, unbeaten 144 from Surrey’s Mark Stoneman earlier in the day, as well as Geoffrey Boycott’s previous mark of 146, made during the 1965 Gillette Cup final.Boycott’s innings for Yorkshire came in a 60-over innings, just two years after the advent of one-day county cricket. While he might bridle at the suggestion it should have been surpassed before now, Boycott would surely approve of his record being taken by a player of Hales’ calibre in limited-overs cricket, a man already in possession of the highest ODI and T20 scores for his country.”Incredible, one of the best days I’ve had in cricket,” Hales said. “The game went from one side to the other, they were on top to start with, we fought back really well with the ball, they took wickets early on and then we fought back as well, so it’s a great feeling to win the trophy.”As remarkable as the scale of Hales’ contribution was the ease with which he – and Stoneman – batted on a surface that was never quite as true as it appeared. Chris Read’s bustling 58 was the third-highest score in the match, as the Nottinghamshire captain, who retires at the end of the season, kept Hales company in a stand of 137 that lifted them from a troubled 150 for 5 to the brink of comparatively comfortable victory in the afternoon sunshine.Hales finished with the highest List A score ever made at Lord’s and the highest for Notts as the county claimed their second limited-overs title in four years. Read, who lifted YB40 trophy here in 2013, will play in an exhibition match at Lord’s for MCC against Afghanistan next week but could not have wished for a better finish on his last visit with Notts.Surrey’s 297 for 9 was the most substantial score in a one-day final since Durham made 312 for 5 ten years ago, but the fact it did not feel out of reach was reflective of the new realities of the game in England. Having chased 371 to beat Essex in their semi-final – after scoring 429 for 9 at Taunton a few days earlier – Notts were unlikely to be intimidated. Only Warwickshire, who hauled in a target of 322 over the course of 60 overs in 1993, had successfully chased more in the final of a one-day cup.Hales certainly wasn’t backwards in coming forwards during a majestic innings of controlled aggression, replete with crunching drives and scything pulls. He was dropped on 9, a rasping shot off Sam Curran that burst through the hands of Ollie Pope at cover, but quickly progressed to a 35-ball fifty – by which time he had lost opening partner Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels lbw for single-figure scores – and then his century from 83.He had amassed 82 out of Notts’ first 100 and 144 out of 200 and was still contributing two-thirds of the total by the time Read provided a belated support act. Hales peppered the boundary with 20 fours and four sixes – no other batsman managed to clear the ropes – and when he raised his 150, from 120 balls, Surrey could sense the game had gone for the third year running. Such was the power of his mojo, had it come a week earlier, Hales might have ended the day headlining the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.”I definitely wanted to attack the Powerplay, I thought they batted really well in it, looked like you got good value for decent cricket shots on a quick outfield,” he said. “That was my plan, obviously losing a few wickets meant you had to alter that a little bit but the way Ready played – we had our backs against the wall, to come out and score at a run a ball, when they had their tails up in the field and with the ball was a great effort. So, a special win.Told he had passed Boycott for the record in a final, he dissolved into giggles: “In a one-day game? That’s surprising… I didn’t know that but any chance you get to set a record is amazing.”While Hales motored smoothly, the throttle coughed and spluttered at the other end. Samit Patel, in such purple form going into the game, hooked Ravi Rampaul wastefully to fine leg before Jade Dernbach had Brendan Taylor caught behind. Hales just needed someone to hang around but Steven Mullaney, who had earlier delivered a pivotal spell of 9-0-50-2, became the fifth wicket to fall when Sam Curran won another lbw decision.This was the first Royal London final to be played in July, although the slightly grey start to the day and a middling crowd initially made it seem much like the faded September showpiece of recent seasons. Despite a firm surface and a magnificent effort from Stoneman, who had to rein himself in as wickets fell around him, Surrey were still somehow undone by a combination of spin and medium-pace nibble in the fashion of so many sides batting first at Lord’s on slow, late-summer pitches.Stoneman, overlooked by England when the Test squad was announced in the morning, was like Hales given a life when, on 32, an uppish drive presented Mullaney with a simple catch in the covers, only for the ball to squirm free. Notts had already seen Jason Roy dropped off the first ball of the match, a shocker from Wessels at slip, and Surrey, having chosen to bat after Gareth Batty again won the toss, must have hoped their luck in Lord’s finals had turned. Notts’ fielding remained somewhat ragged throughout, though it was Pope who would have most cause to regret his lapse.After an opening stand of 83 in 11 overs had given Surrey an excellent platform, Patel struck with his first delivery; Mullaney this time accepted the opportunity with alacrity, Roy getting a leading edge to cover as the ball gripped a little.That brought in Kumar Sangakkara, author of two Royal London hundreds this season (plus six more in the Championship). “If Sanga doesn’t come off, we’re stuffed,” opined one Surrey supporter on the way down Wellington Road before the game. Successive defeats in the final of this competition in 2015 and 2016 had clearly taken a psychological toll.Sangakkara began with his usual coiled intensity, walking into crisp forward defensives and nurdling singles before striking his first shot in anger from his 25th ball – a stroll down to flay Stuart Broad over mid-off’s outstretched arm for four. Two more boundaries followed in Broad’s next over, flicked to fine leg and then glided to third man with watch-maker’s precision, but then came the minor misjudgement that precipitated a major crisis for Surrey.Mullaney, who played a part in each of the first five wickets to fall, claimed the one every county bowler wants this season when he induced a thin nick to the keeper. Sangakkara’s 30 would turn out to be the second-highest contribution for Surrey, as they lost 4 for 39, Mullaney and Patel combining for an old-school knackering of a gleaming middle-order, full of young talent but unable to provide Stoneman with any substantial support. For Surrey, it was deja vu all over again.

Leeds United are set to continue their summer of vast change, with another shrewd signing that would bolster a key area for Daniel Farke…

Who are Leeds United signing this summer?

That's according to reporter Alan Nixon, who took to his Patreon page to issue an update on the future of Manchester City youngster Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Having enjoyed a starring season on loan at Burnley, playing a key role in their promotion from the Championship, it now seems like the Whites are seeking to employ his services to repeat that feat at Elland Road.

However, his form has understandably drawn suitors, with many from the Premier League having also taken note. The recently-relegated Yorkshire outfit will therefore have to act quickly to pry him from the Etihad, stumping up his £15m asking price despite only recently joining the race.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

His acquisition would supplement the two other defensive signings made this window, having welcomed Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow.

How good is Taylor Harwood-Bellis?

For Farke, the promotion pedigree of the 21-year-old titan will draw his attention, as someone capable of both spearheading their return to the top flight, whilst boasting the potential to thrive at that top level should they get there.

All signs point towards a stunning career for Harwood-Bellis, who not only thrived for his club last term but most recently also for his country.

Captaining England's U21 outfit, he led his side to the European U21 final without conceding a single goal, defeating Spain 1-0 and claiming the trophy.

His 7.26 average Sofascore rating throughout the competition made him one of his country's top-seven performers in a group full of elite top-flight stars. He would achieve similar levels in the second tier too.

Under both Lee Carsley and Vincent Kompany, he was deployed as a ball-playing asset capable of both dominating at the back and also strolling forward to forge chances. The former even lauded him as a fine "leader" far before he would captain his side to European glory.

As such, in the Championship he also maintained a 7.21 average rating across 32 appearances, buoyed by his 85% pass accuracy, 91 touches, 1.8 interceptions and 3.1 clearances per game, via Sofascore. That rating would have made him Leeds' best-performing player by far last season, and his clearances would have ranked third.

He was constantly commanding possession, clearly far from overawed when faced with the prospect of regular senior football.

To now place the classy colossus beside the supremely experienced 22-year-old that is Ampadu, these two could strike an immense partnership that potentially spans the next decade.

After all, the Wales international has 125 senior appearances under his belt across six different clubs, having plied his trade in Italy and Germany as well as England. Not to mention his 43 caps, which is a remarkable feat for someone so young.

Just last campaign in Italy, for a Spezia side that fell to the drop, his no-nonsense defending saw him stand out among a doomed outfit. Despite this, his 6.91 average rating made him the club's top-rated player, which was largely aided by his 90% dribble success, 2.1 tackles and three clearances per game, via Sofascore.

To combine such exploits with that of the powerful 6 foot 2 Harwood-Bellis, and these two along with their new goalkeeper could provide the foundation that fires Leeds back to the big time.

قدم المدير الفني لفريق ليفربول، يورجن كلوب، آخر التحديثات الخاصة بلاعبيه قبل مواجهة إيفرتون، في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويلاقي ليفربول نظيره إيفرتون، في إطار منافسات الجولة الـ29 المؤجلة، على ملعب “جوديسون بارك”، غداً الأربعاء، في الساعة التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.

ويحتل ليفربول المركز الثاني في سلم ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز برصيد 74 نقطة، بينما يأتي إيفرتون بالمركز السادس عشر برصيد 30 نقطة.

اقرأ ايضاً.. أوين يرشح مدرب آرسنال السابق لخلافة كلوب في ليفربول

وقال يورجن كلوب في المؤتمر الصحفي قبل المباراة: “ديربي ميرسيسايد مهم جدًا بالنسبة لنا، دائمًا تكون المباراة صعبة في جوديسون بارك”.

وأضاف كلوب: “الأجواء في جوديسون بارك تكون جيدة إذا لعبوا ضد ليفربول، إنها أكبر من مجرد 3 نقاط”.

وأشار كلوب: “في الجزء الأخير من الموسم يتعلق الأمر بالفوز في المباريات فقط، وأعتقد أننا نعرف كيف نفعل ذلك”.

وأكد قائلاً: “نحن في المكان الذي يجب أن نكون فيه، الآن دعونا نعطي أفضل ما لدينا”.

عن أرنولد: “لاعب كرة قدم لا يُصدق، إنه واحد من تلك القصص التي لا يُمكن للكثير من الأندية كتابتها، لكنه شخص سيتحدث عنه الناس في غضون 20 أو 30 أو 40 عامًا”.

عن ديوجو جوتا: “سيغيب لمدة أسبوعين، حيث شعر بألم طفيف بمنطقة الحوض وكان على ما يرام ثم بدأ مباراة فولهام وكان بخير لكن عند النهاية شعر بألم، إنها إصابة بسيطة لكن ليست بوقت جيد”.

وعن كثرة التعادلات في جوديسون بارك، أجاب كلوب: “لا ننسى أننا أضعنا فُرصًا كبيرة جدًا في بضع مباريات هناك، نعم الأجواء مميزة وأفهم تأثيرها على بعض المجريات”.

West Ham United are looking to fill several positions this summer with the new Premier League season kicking off next weekend, and now a fresh update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a transfer target.

What's the latest on West Ham's interest in Trevoh Chalobah?

According to The Guardian reporter Jacob Steinberg, the Hammers are interested in signing Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah.

As per the report, the reliable journalist reveals that Irons boss David Moyes is keen to snap up the services of a right-sided central defender this summer, with Chalobah named as one of the club's targets alongside Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Meanwhile, it has also been suggested by The Evening Standard that the Blues are likely to command a fee of £45m to part ways with Chalobah.

How good is Trevoh Chalobah?

Whilst the focus remains largely on replacing Declan Rice in the centre of the pitch, there is definitely room for improvement in West Ham's defensive set-up ahead of next season.

The Hammers conceded 13 more league goals than they scored last season and lost 20 of their Premier League fixtures which led to relegation worries and their 14th-place finish, something that must drastically improve if they are to have any chance of competing comfortably in the top-flight.

As a result, the signing of Chalobah could be a great piece of business for the East London club in their pursuit to strengthen their defensive presence and ultimately, improve their performances on the pitch during their upcoming campaign both in the Premier League and on the European stage.

The 24-year-old Chelsea star has great strengths as a ball-playing centre-back – ranking in the top 24% of defenders in the Premier League for pass completion, progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches per 90 minutes played last season, according to FBref.

In fact, Moyes could land his very own Ibrahima Konate, with the Liverpool titan named as the second most comparable player to Chalobah over the last 12 months.

Comparatively, the defensive duo shared a number of similarities in their output last season including pass completion (87.6% v 87%), shot-creation actions per 90 (0.90 v 0.99 and successful take-ons (80% v 71.4%), as well as touches per 90 (1.28 v 1.29), interceptions per 90 (1.28 v 1.34) and clearances per 90 (3.21 v 3.58).

Both Konate and Chalobah stand at 6 foot 3, allowing them to use their towering stature to dominate opponents, whilst also demonstrating clear strengths in their ability to progress the ball forward too.

Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard waxed lyrical about Chalobah's contribution and work ethic during his time working with the former England U21 defender last season:

"He’s such a selfless lad. He doesn’t say ‘I want to play in this position.'

"He’s a delight to train with every day because he comes in with an enthusiasm, low maintenance, and when you talk about the things you want, he tries to do them on the pitch, which is a great thing."

Not only that, Chalobah offers versatility in his positioning which could prove to be incredibly valuable to Moyes next season, with 87 appearances over his career so far playing in defensive midfield, as well as being comfortably deployed on either side of the centre-back partnership.

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for West Ham to secure Chalobah's signature this summer, as his Premier League experience and quality could help him flourish and make an instant impact at the London stadium next season.