كشف أحمد ماهر، الطبيب المعالج لـ محمد طارق، عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك عن آخر تطورات حالته الصحية.

وتعرض طارق، لإصابة قوية بعد نشوب حريق في منزله يوم الأحد الماضي، حيث دخل على إثره إلى المستشفى للعلاج.

طالع..شقيق عضو مجلس إدارة الزمالك يوضح كواليس تعرضه لـ حادث حريق

وقال ماهر، في تصريحات عبر قناة نادي الزمالك: “محمد طارق خرج من العناية المركزة وانتقل إلى غرفة عادية لاستكمال خطة العلاج، مشيرًا إلى أنه تجاوز المرحلة الحرجة”.

وأضاف الطبيب: “غدًا سيخضع محمد طارق لعملية جديدة، وخلال فترة قصيرة سيكون بإمكانه العودة إلى منزله، وبمجرد خروجه من المستشفى، سيتمكن من استئناف حياته الطبيعية”.

Derby County will have been relieved that the final day in League One was very straightforward against Carlisle United in the end, confidently beating the Cumbrians 2-0 to seal second spot in the division and promotion back up to the Championship.

Bolton Wanderers and Peterborough United would ultimately fall short behind the Rams in the hunt for that final coveted automatic promotion spot, with Max Bird and James Collins getting in on the goalscoring act to be the heroes on the day at Pride Park for Paul Warne's men.

The worry will be now, immediately after the ecstasy of winning promotion, that Derby will be raided for a number of their main stars with Bird already on his way to Bristol City in the summer.

Eiran Cashin will be the name that will be floated about as a main target for a number of clubs from the Rams, who will fend off any suitors coming their way unless a very attractive offer is put on the table.

Eiran Cashin's rise at Derby

Derby will have been proud already with their achievement to return to the Championship after a couple of seasons in the League One wilderness, but even more proud to have a number of homegrown talents in their ranks to help pull off the success story.

Alongside Cashin, Louie Sibley and Bird have risen through the ranks from playing in the youth set-up to being dependable first-team faces capable of getting Derby back to the promised land of the second-tier.

The 22-year-old centre-back has been top drawer the entire promotion-winning campaign for Warne's Rams, only missing two League One games the entire gruelling season and forming a tight-knit partnership with Sonny Bradley and Curtis Nelson at the back.

That trio combined have been formidable, barely putting a foot wrong when called into action, with the 37 goals leaked by Derby overall coming in as the division's meanest defence after all 46 games were up.

This promotion so early into his career resume will be even sweeter for the Irishman considering he was first cutting his teeth for Derby when the very future of the club looked up in the air, sticking by the Rams to then drink in this promotion success with the club back on the map after turbulent times had threatened the club's existence.

1. GK – Ryan Allsop

2. RB – Nathan Byrne

3. CB – Curtis Davies

4. CB – Eiran Cashin

5. LB – Craig Forsyth

6. CM – Max Bird

7. CM – Krystian Bielik

8. RW – Festy Ebosele

9. CAM – Jason Knight

10. LW – Tom Lawrence

11. ST – Luke Plange

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Cashin would have to remain patient for first-team chances during his first full season playing in the men's team however, only given his first start during the 2021/22 term- which saw Derby fall to League One under Wayne Rooney's management – in February against fellow relegated side Peterborough.

Coming away from the game with a clean sheet and a first 90 minutes under his belt, the 22-year-old is now a very accomplished head on young shoulders with 122 Rams appearances amassed in total since this solid debut match at Pride Park.

Described as "outstanding" after coming away from that first real taste of Championship football unscathed by then Rams boss Rooney, there's no doubt that Warne will also wax lyrical in a similar vein to this when assessing how crucial the 22-year-old has been in Derby steadily going about their business in the third tier.

The concern will now be if they can keep a firm grip on Cashin, with Bird leaving Derbyshire now for Ashton Gate and also another transfer deal in the past saw fellow homegrown gem in Jason Knight leave for pastures new.

The highly praised defender could skip the second tier entirely for a move all the way up to either Brighton and Hove Albion or West Ham United according to previous rumours, with the Rams wanting a substantial offer to even think about giving up one of their major assets to any Premier League suitors.

Eiran Cashin's transfer value in 2024

Cashin's transfer value has been bumped up all the way to a hefty £1.5m according to Football Transfers now, which means he is worth double that of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing who has starred up top this season in his own right for Derby to help make the feat of promotion achievable.

The former Cardiff City attacker finished the campaign with an astounding 27 goal contributions in total for Warne's promotion-winning Rams, yet sees his value come in at a lesser £769k as a talent ten years older than Cashin.

This strike from the electric Derby number 11 against Cambridge United the match before the memorable home showdown with Carlisle all but sealed their return to the division above, with Warne putting together a combined side of experienced professionals with top talents for the future next to them expertly.

Derby have been expecting Cashin's exit for quite a while now, with the smart decision to gift the Irish defender a new contract in February done to stop talk surrounding the 22-year-old's future potentially distracting a promotion push.

This new deal will also mean the Rams aren't victim to a higher-up party bidding low for Cashin knowing that Warne's men will want to sell so they don't lose their star asset for nothing, with an offer far higher than the £1.7m valuation stated potentially being needed for the new Championship side to consider parting ways.

Cashin could well just want to continue growing and excelling in Derbyshire instead of clamouring for a major move away, looking at how Ipswich Town have traversed the step-up with swagger and wanting his Rams team to feel inspired in the process.

Warne will just want Derby to acclimatise to their new surroundings in a non-flashy manner initially, aiming to stay put in the division that once saw the club nearly get swallowed whole due to financial mismanagement.

The celebrations won't quite die down just yet, however, with everyone associated to Derby savouring the joy of a promotion success before considering what the immediate future looks like for Cashin and Co.

Few would argue that Tottenham Hotspur haven't made progress under Ange Postecoglou's management, but there's no doubt that this talented team has so much room for growth.

While Tottenham are a work in progress and have seen an exciting first campaign under new management marred by inconsistencies, a return to European competition (in some format) looks like a formality at this late stage of the year.

So, what serves as an accurate measure of success down at N17? Maybe it's a return to Europe's elite, currently six points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the Premier League with two games in hand.

But stifling title-chasing arch-rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby this afternoon would likely go down a treat for the supporters, who would revel more in the demise of their nemesis than the knowledge that the distance to Villa had been halved – this is, honestly, fair enough.

Arsenal have been sensational under Mikel Arteta this season but any slip-up in the closing weeks of the campaign could be fatal with Manchester City looming inches behind, and Tottenham will indeed relish the chance to swipe from points away from their neighbours.

Spurs team news

Destiny Udogie will not feature again this season after having surgery on an unspecified injury earlier this week. The 21-year-old left-back is also expected to miss Italy's Euro 2024 campaign.

With Pedro Porro and Richarlison both set to play a part, however, the hosts boast a near-full-strength squad to face the Gunners, with just Ryan Sessegnon, Manor Solomon and Fraser Forster remaining long-term absentees.

Struggling to hit a vein of consistency in recent months, Tottenham have shuffled the pack multiple times and while he hasn't started the past three Premier League fixtures, Dejan Kulusevski will be crucial against the Gunners

Why Spurs must unleash Dejan Kulusevski

Kulusevski has been described as Tottenham's "unsung hero" by The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare in the past and has served a crucial role in Postecoglou's first-season project, scoring six goals and supplying three assists across 30 Premier League appearances, starting 26 times.

As per Sofascore, the Sweden international has complemented that direct return with some crisp metrics, completing 82% of his passes, creating 12 big chances and averaging1.9 key passes, 1.6 dribbles, 4.2 duels, 3.9 ball recoveries and 1.8 tackles per game.

Moreover, the 23-year-old ranks among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for touches in the attacking penalty area, the top 19% for progressive carries and the top 13% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

This only serves to further emphasise the dynamism and depth that Kulusevski brings down the right channel, and given that Arsenal turn over possession and barrel forward with frightening fluency, it would be a good thing to bring him back into the starting mix.

Richarlison will likely start from the bench, so Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson will tussle it out for a starting berth on the left flank – which is probably necessary given the loss of pace that Udogie's injury has beset the Lilywhites with.

Kulusevski needs to start on the alternate flank, though his success marauding the touchline could come down to Porro – who could be the linchpin for Tottenham's success.

Pedro Porro could be key vs Arsenal

Porro's first foray into English football was marked by inconsistency following his initial loan move from Sporting Lisbon in January 2023 – made permanent for £39m last summer – but he has now established himself as one of Postecoglou's most important players.

This season, in all competitions, the 24-year-old has chalked up 31 fixtures for the Lilywhites and has scored twice and added seven assists, with his strike against Burnley in the FA Cup back in January speaking of the invaluable extra dimension he brings to the field.

So robust in his performances, tough in the tackle and boasting immense attacking qualities, the Spaniard ranks among the top 17% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 3% for assists, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for passes attempted, the top 11% for tackles and the top 2% for blocks per 90.

With elite playmaking abilities and an inborn aggression, Arsenal's chances of succeeding down N17 will be more than just diminished, providing the Spurs backline with both the steel and style to score a momentous result this afternoon.

Premier League 23/24: Top-tackling Defenders

#

Player

Club

No. of Tackles

1.

Tyrick Mitchell

Crystal Palace

96

1.

Emerson Palmieri

West Ham United

96

3.

Antonee Robinson

Fulham

83

4.

Pedro Porro

Tottenham Hotspur

82

5.

Diogo Dalot

Manchester United

72

Stats via Premier League

The £85k-per-week Porro has posted one goal and seven assists across 29 top-flight outings this season, as per Sofascore, creating ten big chances, averaging 1.6 key passes, 2.8 tackles and 5.7 ball recoveries per game.

Moreover, he's been hailed for his "titanic" performances by Eccleshare and has the fire in his belly to rise to the occasion against a slick side in Arsenal.

Speaking of Kulusevski's qualities and how this could be used to spark technical success down the right flank is all well and good but without the sturdy, multi-faceted base that Porro would provide, there is no hope that the home team will find the fizz and cohesion needed.

While Porro has been recovering from a hamstring strain since losing to Newcastle two weeks back, his return might just hold the key to sending the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into ecstasy against Arsenal.

Related Ange must boldly drop 3/10 Spurs star who Rice would dominate

Ange’s side will have a heightened desire to see their rivals toppled in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Apr 27, 2024

Leeds United's chances of securing automatic promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking were dealt a huge blow on Tuesday night.

The Whites were second in the division but dropped down to third and are now three points behind Ipswich Town, who beat Coventry City 2-1, heading into the final match of the campaign.

This means that Daniel Farke's side need to pick up all three points against Southampton at Elland Road on Saturday, whilst hoping that the Tractor Boys lose to Huddersfield Town.

If results do not go their way this weekend, Leeds will have to navigate their way through the play-offs if they want to return to the Premier League next season.

Whilst the Whites do not know which division they will be playing in during the 2024/25 campaign as of yet, the club are already reportedly working on potential new signings to bolster the squad during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Leeds United's interest in versatile defender

According to Spanish outlet AS, Leeds are one of the teams interested in a possible swoop to sign PEC Zwolle's versatile defender Anselmo Garcia MacNulty.

The report claims that Leicester City, who were crowned champions of the Championship on Monday night, and the Whites are both eyeing up the Ireland U21 international ahead of the summer.

It states that Belgian outfit Club Brugge are one of the other European teams keeping tabs on the talented youngster, as the Eredivisie starlet attracts interest from across the continent.

Farke is lining up the 21-year-old enforcer to bolster his defensive options next season, although it remains to be seen whether or not their interest in the Zwolle star is dependent on the success of their bid to win promotion to the Premier League.

The report reveals that both Leicester and Leeds want to sign a young left-footed defender with ball-playing qualities ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, and the Foxes could have the edge in this particular race given that they have already secured their place in the top-flight.

AS adds that MacNulty's form in the Netherlands has caught the eye of Republic of Ireland boss John O'Shea, who could make room in the senior team to hand the young full-back a maiden call-up.

It does not, however, state how much Zwolle would demand for their versatile starlet should any team come in with a formal approach to acquire his services over the coming weeks.

Should Leeds win the race to sign the Irish dynamo, though, they could land a terrific partner for Crysencio Summerville down the left flank, as the pair could thrive together down that side.

Crysencio Summerville's exceptional Championship form

Last month, the Dutch forward was crowned the Championship Player of the Season for his form throughout the campaign so far, ahead of Leicester City's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Blackburn Rovers' Sammie Szmodics.

This shows what his peers and pundits think of his quality on the pitch at that level, as he has been deemed to have been the best player in the entire division.

His quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals on the left flank has made him a constant threat for opposition defences to deal with, and they have not dealt with that threat particularly well.

Appearances

42

xG

16.19

Goals

19

Assists

9

Big chances created

17

Key passes per game

2.6

As you can see in the table above, Summerville has consistently delivered goals and assists in the final third for Leeds, with a return of 28 direct goal contributions in 42 appearances.

His tally of nine assists from 17 'big chances' created also suggests that his teammates have let him down at the top end of the pitch at times, as they have not made the most of the high-quality opportunities that he has provided them with.

The Dutch magician, who racked up four goals and two assists in 28 Premier League games last season, has been on fire in the Championship, and proven that he is far too good for this level of football.

Liverpool are reportedly monitoring the Whites star and winning promotion may be the club's best chance of keeping hold of the mercurial talent.

If the Yorkshire-based outfit can retain his services then they could sign MacNulty, whether they are in the Premier League or the Championship, to be a fantastic partner for him down the left flank.

Why Leeds should sign Anselmo MacNulty

The Irish whiz, who can play as a left-back or a centre-back, has made 28 of his 29 appearances in all competitions this season for Zwolle as a left-back.

Leeds could swoop to sign the 21-year-old star as an option in the full-back role to take over from Junior Firpo if they win promotion to the top-flight.

Whilst the Dominican Republic international has been in fine form this season, with seven assists in 25 matches, he struggled badly in the Premier League last term.

Whereas, MacNulty is currently playing in the top division of Dutch football and has been more impressive than Firpo was in the English top-flight.

Appearances

28

19

Sofascore rating

6.88

6.55

Ground duel success rate

58%

49%

Aerial duel success rate

66%

52%

Dribbled past per game

1

1.2

Key passes per game

0.6

0.4

Pass success rate

79%

73%

As you can see in the table above, the Ireland U21 international has been significantly stronger in physical duels, in the air and on the ground, and more reliable in possession of the ball.

MacNulty also ranks within the top 33% of Eredivisie full-backs for progressive passes per 90 (4.36), whilst Firpo ranked within the bottom 49% of Premier League full-backs in that metric (3.55).

The Leeds target, who was hailed as "physically strong" by former Zwolle director Marcel Boudesteyn, could offer more than the 27-year-old defender in and out of possession in the Premier League, if his form translates to English football.

This could make him a dream partner for Summerville down the left side, should the Whites win promotion, as he has the physical strength and defensive nous to provide the winger with the security to focus on his attacking work.

Farke lining up summer Leeds move for "insane" 6 ft 3 Rodon partner

The Whites are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the central defender at the end of the season.

ByDan Emery Apr 29, 2024

MacNulty's progressive passing could also mean that the Dutch gem has more opportunities to attack the opposition, as the left-back gets the ball forward into dangerous areas with greater regularity than Firpo in top-flight football.

This is why he could be a fantastic signing to partner with Summerville as he could help the ex-Feyenoord youngster to thrive in the Premier League, should Leeds get there.

Shastri further urged his quicks to follow the Southee-Boult bowling template in these conditions

Karthik Krishnaswamy in Christchurch28-Feb-2020

Ravindra Jadeja gives a thumbs-up to the dressing room•BCCI

India have lost their last four international games on their tour of New Zealand, following up a 3-0 defeat in the ODI series with a 10-wicket loss in the first Test in Wellington, which snapped a seven-match winning streak in the format. Their coach Ravi Shastri, however, isn’t perturbed.”I wouldn’t judge ODI and Test cricket [together], they are totally different things,” he said on the eve of the second Test in Christchurch. “For us, the least priority is ODI cricket at the moment. Because of the schedule and what’s coming up in the next two years (the immediate global events are the ongoing World Test Championship cycle and the T20 World Cup later this year).”Our focus is Test cricket, number one, and T20 cricket. If you look at that, we have had a great run in the Test arena. We’ve played eight and won seven. One loss, there is absolutely no need to panic, neither is anyone looking in that direction when you look at this team. They are ready, they would have learnt what to expect. They know what to expect and they are mentally tuned and ready. Now it’s the execution part when it comes to tomorrow.”At the time of Shastri’s press conference, it wasn’t yet known if Ishant Sharma might miss the Test match with a recurrence of the ankle injury he had picked up last month. In any case, whichever fast bowlers India go in with would do well to heed Shastri’s words on how to bowl on a green, seaming pitch. He pointed to the approach of Tim Southee and Trent Boult at Wellington as the ideal one for such conditions.”Like on a (flat) wicket, batsmen must think whether to hit or to defend. Similarly here, [the fast bowlers] have to strike the right balance and be patient, which Southee and Boult showed you,” Shastri said. “What New Zealand showed in the first game, do exactly that. Be patient, get more balls in the right areas, create the pressure, and then take it from there. It is very easy to get excited and then bowl all over the shop and then be hammered all over the place.”There was a sense that Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami weren’t quite at their best in Wellington, but Shastri dismissed those concerns.”Bumrah is very close to getting a five-for or a six-for, might happen tomorrow,” he said. “Then don’t come and tell me I told you so. That can happen tomorrow. Similarly with Shami, so nothing to worry about.”After India were bowled out for 165 in Wellington, their bowlers, led by Ishant, struck back to have New Zealand 225 for 7, before the last three wickets swelled the lead to match-winning proportions, adding 123 runs at more than four-and-a-half per over. Leaking runs against the lower order has been an issue for India in the past as well, and Shastri said India would need to find ways to improve on that front.”That is a good question because it has been a problem for us in the last year or so,” he said. “In spite of us doing well, there have been days when we’ve just cleaned up the tail, on other days where there has been some resistance.”We have had a chat on that, how to look into bowling at the tail. Either at times, are we being over-aggressive, or at times are we being too defensive. We have had a chat on that and we will look to address it in a different manner. You will see it.”ALSO READ: Mohammed Shami needs a defensive trick up his sleeveR Ashwin was India’s spinner in Wellington, and though he bowled well and picked up three wickets, he failed to get into double figures in both innings to continue a worrying run of lean form with the bat.”He is a world-class bowler, there is absolutely no doubt about it,” Shastri said. “But we have to make sure that we pick the right sides for the right conditions and see what a player can bring to the table. He has bowled well over the years and, if anything, he will be disappointed with the way he has batted. He would want to improve on his batting in time to come.”There has been a sharp dip in R Ashwin’s numbers with the bat of late•Getty Images

Ravindra Jadeja, with his ability to bowl tight overs in most conditions and exploit wear and tear if there’s any in the second innings, would be a more defensive bowling option than Ashwin, if India were to pick him as their spinner, but his outstanding batting form – he averages nearly 50 in Tests since the start of 2017 – would make him a tempting option.”You will see how much of a role a spinner has, first of all,” Shastri said, when asked about what factors India would consider when it came to picking their spinner. “How many overs you think he is going to bowl in the game. Is there going to be something for him on day four/five. Will the second innings be that important. Do you need him more in the first innings of a game. Is his batting going to count. Is his fielding going to count. Is his overall fitness going to count.”Those are areas you look into, not just for spinners. When you have four fast bowlers, you have to pick three and leave one out, same thing happens.”Shastri also revealed the thought process behind Rishabh Pant taking back the wicketkeeping gloves from Wriddhiman Saha in this Test series.”Again, conditions. We went for Saha in India because there would be a lot of spin, and on turning tracks where bounce could be uneven, you need an experienced keeper and Saha is, to be honest, one of the best around,” he said. “But when you come here, there is not much of spin bowling. Emphasis is on fast bowling, and then the batting becomes a key factor. Plus the fact that he (Pant) is a left-hander, an aggressive batsman lower down the order, that tilts the scales in his favour here.”

حث كبير كتاب كرة القدم في هيئة الإذاعة البريطانية “بي بي سي”، فيل ماكنولتي، مسؤولي ليفربول على جعل تجديد عقد محمد صلاح أولوية بالنسبة لهم، مقارنة بزميليه فيرجيل فان دايك وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد.

ومن المقرر أن تنتهي عقود الثلاثي المذكور مع ليفربول في صيف 2025، أي نهاية هذا الموسم.

ويستطيع أي من الثلاثي الدخول في محادثات مع أندية أخرى، بدءًا من شهر يناير، للتفاوض على الرحيل عن “الأنفيلد”.

وأثار محمد صلاح جدلًا واسعًا من جديد بشأن مستقبله، بعدما ظهرت تصريحات صحفية له اليوم، اعترف من خلالها بعدم تلقيه أي عرض من قِبل إدارة ليفربول للتجديد (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وطُرح تساؤل على كبير كتاب كرة القدم في “بي بي سي” حول ما إذا كان ليفربول سيجدد عقد واحد من الثلاثي المذكور، فمن يعتقد أنه يجب أن يحظى بالأولوية.

ورد فيل ماكنولتي: “سيكون المثالي أن يوقع الثلاثة، ولكن كما سألتني، سأجعل محمد صلاح الأولوية إذا كان عليً اختيار واحد”.

وأضاف: “محمد صلاح لاعب عالمي، أحد عظماء ليفربول المعاصرين، يلعب في ذروة قوته، حتى في سن 32، وهو في حالة بدنية رائعة”.

وواصل: “إنه فائز بالمباريات ويستطيع تغيير اللقاء، سواء كهداف أو صانع، في رأيي أنه لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه في فريق ليفربول هذا”.

واستمر: “لقد ذُهلت عندما سمعته يقول إنه لم يتلق عرضًا لعقد جديد من مالكي ليفربول، من الواضح أن عمره سيكون عاملًا مؤثرًا، ولكن ما هي تكلفة التعاقد مع شخص قريب من مستواه كبديل؟”.

Celtic have a chance to book a place in the final of the SFA Cup on Saturday as they face Aberdeen at Hampden Park in the semi-finals of the competition.

The Hoops turn their attention away from the Scottish Premiership, in which they currently sit top of the tree, for this clash with the Dons in Glasgow this weekend.

They won 3-0 against St Mirren in their last game, which came in the league, thanks to goals from Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Adam Idah.

However, Brendan Rodgers could rotate his team and offer opportunities to other players to ensure that he makes the most of his squad ahead of the run-in to the end of the season.

Therefore, the Northern Irish head coach could make some changes to the starting XI that was selected against St Mirren last time out, and here is FFC's predicted Celtic lineup to take to the field on Saturday.

1

Joe Hart

Starting off between the sticks, Joe Hart has been the manager's first-choice throughout the season and should start once again in goal as he looks to cap off his playing career with another cup trophy.

2

Alistair Johnston

At right-back, Alistair Johnston should start and look to provide an attacking threat down the flank, as he has done in recent weeks with his superb crossing ability.

He has provided four assists in his last seven league appearances for Celtic and will be looking to supply the forwards with quality service into the box.

3

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Celtic's man mountain at the back, Cameron Carter-Vickers, should start and command the backline with his towering presence to the left of Johnston.

The USA international has won 69% of his duels across 21 appearances in the Premiership this season, which speaks to how dominant he is against opposition players in physical battles.

4

Maik Nawrocki

Former Legia Warsaw star Maik Nawrocki could be handed another opportunity to impress at the heart of the defence next to Carter-Vickers, after his start against St Mirren.

The Polish defender, who started in place of the injured Liam Scales, won five of his seven duels and completed 93% of his attempted passes in 64 minutes last time out.

5

Greg Taylor

Alexandro Bernabei's departure in March has left Greg Taylor as the only natural, senior, left-back option for Rodgers, which is why he should start once again against Aberdeen.

6

Callum McGregor

The first change to the starting XI could come at the base of the midfield, with captain Callum McGregor returning to the lineup to replace Tomoki Iwata.

Recently returning from an Achilles injury, the Scotland international could be selected for his leadership in the middle of the park for this big semi-final clash at Hampden.

Iwata also did his chances of retaining his place in the XI few favours against St Mirren as he lost three of his five duels, failed to create any chances, and made just one tackle with zero interceptions.

7

Paulo Bernardo

Another alteration to the lineup could come in midfield next to McGregor. Hatate, who scored last time out with a sumptuous outside the foot finish, is recently back from injury and could be rotated out for Paulo Bernardo.

The Portuguese midfielder, who is on loan from Benfica, has two goals and one assist in his last four appearances for club and country in all competitions.

He could, therefore, provide an attacking spark from midfield, to replace the Japan international, and that would allow Rodgers to give Hatate a rest, rather than overworking him after his calf injuries.

8

Matt O'Riley

Matt O'Riley should keep his place in the middle of the park as he has been a terrific performer for Celtic throughout the campaign and could be the match-winner.

The Denmark international has produced a stunning 13 goals and 11 assists in 32 Premiership appearances this season, which shows that the left-footed magician has the quality to cause huge problems for opposition defences with his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

9

Nicolas Kuhn

On the right side of the attack, Nicolas Kuhn should keep his place in the starting XI as the January signing from Austrian side Rapid Wien has been in superb form of late.

The German winger has scored one goal, provided two assists, made 11 key passes, and created four 'big chances' in his last five appearances for the club in all competitions, and could look to be a creator for his team on Saturday.

10

Adam Idah

The third alteration to the lineup could come in the number nine position as Norwich City loanee Adam Idah could be selected ahead of Kyogo Furuhashi.

Idah, whose ability has been described as "incredible" by Rodgers, has produced two goals and one assist in his last three appearances off the bench for the Hoops, with goals against Rangers and St Mirren in the last two outings.

Whereas, Kyogo had one goal, zero assists, and three 'big chances' missed as a starter in those three matches, which suggests that the Bhoys could improve their team by dropping the Japanese forward to unleash the Ireland international in his place.

The 6 foot 3 centre-forward has scored seven goals and provided two assists in ten league outings for the Scottish giants so far, and could be handed the chance to fire Celtic to a cup final as a starter against Aberdeen on Saturday.

Another new name has entered the fray for Liverpool's managerial hunt following the news that Ruben Amorim will not be taking charge at Anfield.

Liverpool running through all the options

After Xabi Alonso committed himself to Bayer Leverkusen for at least another season, Premier League giants Liverpool were dealt another blow in recent days when it emerged that Ruben Amorim may not be the man set to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Another blow for FSG as second Liverpool deal collapses alongside Amorim

It has been a bad few days for FSG and new CEO Michael Edwards.

ByBen Browning Apr 23, 2024

The German coach is leaving this summer, and has sparked plenty of speculation about who may replace him on Merseyside, with the likes of Gary O'Neil, Roberto De Zerbi and Amorim all having been linked, although rumours surrounding O'Neil were shut down rather quickly.

David Ornstein has now branded Amorim's arrival as "unlikely", leading to fresh links with Feyenoord boss Arne Slot on Tuesday afternoon, and it appears the Dutchman isn't the only left-field name interesting the Reds' hierarchy.

Another option emerges alongside Slot

As per Ligue 1 writer Robin Bairner, Liverpool have had contact with Lille boss Paulo Fonseca. He reports that the Portuguese coach "is admired" by several figures at Liverpool and "informal talks took place earlier in the season" about potentially succeeding Klopp in the Anfield technical area.

Fonseca's time at Lille

Games

85

Wins

43

Win %

50.6%

Points per game

1.81

Highest finish

4th (current)

He is also thought to be on West Ham's radar, while Tottenham were strongly linked with him before appointing Nuno Espirito Santo back in 2021, when he was at Roma. In fact, it was only the intervention of Fabio Paratici that stopped him becoming Tottenham's new head coach, and Fonseca has repeatedly spoken about his intention to coach in England in the future.

Certainly, the Lille boss shares Klopp's desire for all-action "heavy metal" football. Quizzed on his philosophy ahead of Conference League defeat to Aston Villa, Fonseca outlined his ideology.

He has previously rejected "weak" players for his side due to his requirement for a specific style of play: “Our game is attraction. We want teams to press us so that we can find space. And so we take many risks. Especially when we build up because our first phase – with our different structures and how we accelerate and decelerate the game – is what allows us to dominate.

“This type of game is not for weak players. The players have to know they will make mistakes, but I always insist they try. They know they can fail, but only within the intentions of the team. If it goes wrong, then it’s my fault.”

He has also garnered a reputation for developing young talent, with the likes of Leny Yoro, Diogo Jota and Mykhailo Mudryk among the gems he has unearthed during his stints with various clubs.

That would certainly work in Liverpool's favour, with the Reds having showcased their talent pool already this season with Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns and Conor Bradley all racking up senior minutes for the club. Could he be the perfect Jurgen Klopp replacement?

Aston Villa are set to be the subject of plenty of attention this summer, as one of their rising stars picks his next destination.

Villa need strong finish

A shock 4-2 defeat at home to Olympiacos followed by a 1-0 loss to Brighton in which they created nothing has burst the feel-good feeling around Aston Villa, who will be hoping to end the season on a high.

Still fourth in the Premier League, Unai Emery's side are almost certain to be playing Champions League football next season after Tottenham's defeat to Liverpool, with a win in their final two games, or a Spurs loss in their last three, making this a mathematical certainty.

The race for fourth place in the Premier League

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal Difference

Points

Aston Villa

36

20

7

9

20

67

Tottenham Hotspur

35

18

6

11

11

60

It would represent a massive success for the Villans, but they will be eyeing up European glory too, and will need to reverse the two goal deficit in the second leg in Athens on Thursday to reach the final of the UEFA Conference League, where they would face one of Club Brugge or last season's finalists Fiorentina.

Their excellent season has seen them increase their transfer power too, with the club reportedly on the verge of beating Serie A champions Inter Milan to the signing of soon-to-be free agent Mario Hermoso as Emery looks to bolster his ranks to ensure that this campaign isn't a one off.

Youngster set for Bundesliga loan

Teenage prodigy Kadan Young, who has been impressing in youth football this season, now looks set to leave the club as part of the summer transfer plans. The winger, who is still just 18-years-old, has been among the substitutes for the first team on several occasions, but is yet to make his Premier League debut.

Aston Villa "close" to securing deal for £137k-per-week ace this summer

Aston Villa are reportedly closing in on a summer signing.

ByJosh Barker May 5, 2024

Now, he may have to wait another year, with Football Insider reporting that a season in ther Bundesliga is looking likely as he looks to forge his nascent career. They claim that the teen has "been told he will go out on loan in the 2024-25 campaign to continue his development", and that "multiple Bundesliga sides have registered their interest" in having him for the 2024-25 campaign.

The 18-year-old predominantly plays on the left hand side of attack, and penned his first professional deal at Villa in 2023. A move to Germany, where young stars such as Jadon Sancho, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and more recently Ian Maatsen have flourished, is seen as an excellent step in his development, while Villa still have high hopes for him when he returns to the club.

Which Bundesliga side he joins remains a mystery, but it seems clear that Young will be earning his stripes in Germany's top flight next season.

Australian cricket’s state associations and players’ union will be presented with Cricket Australia’s opened financial books and forecasts on Thursday, the same day centrally contracted players for Australia’s men’s and women’s team are to be announced.While April 30 had always been set down as the deadline for CA central contracts to be unveiled, the mere fact that this will happen in accordance with the MoU is a significant sign of order being at least somewhat restored in terms of the Australian cricket system.At the same time, confirmation that CA will attempt to provide the states with the numbers they are seeking to understand the governing body’s straitened financial position is a pointer towards tentative progress after a period of considerable rancour amid the coronavirus pandemic.ALSO READ: Kevin Roberts ‘stumbled’ explaining Cricket Australia’s financial battle – Malcolm SpeedProgress in talks between CA, its owners and partners still leaves more than 200 CA staff stood down on 20% of their regular pay while executives and a handful of others remain fully employed on 80% pay. Staff on individual contracts, asked to stand down because CA cannot legally force them to unless they agree in writing, have not had the luxury of the collective agreements possessed by either the players or the states to push back for adjusted terms.CA’s chief executive Kevin Roberts had sent all stakeholders in the game scrambling with his assertions two weeks ago that CA would be broke by August without drastic cost-cutting across the board. Subsequent stand down requests for CA staff and negotiations with states and players have played out in a climate of considerable confusion, anger and unrest, leaving Roberts in a battle to engender understanding, trust and respect at all levels. His organisation’s presentation to states on Thursday, to be conducted by the CA chairman Earl Eddings and fellow director Paul Green, will need to be full, frank and well argued”It’s really reasonable that our state and territory associations and the players’ association would be seeking as much information as possible,” Roberts told ABC Radio on Saturday. “We’re committed to full transparency and ongoing updates, and were now getting ourselves in a position where we’ve got all of that together in a more coherent way, given the fast-moving nature of it. Part of our challenge is we’ve been providing such frequent information to the states and territories that on occasions that’s rushed, on other occasions its changed from time to time and we just need to draw breath and provide one larger piece of information to them, now they’re more up to speed.”The financial situation at Cricket Australia has escalated in recent days•Getty Images

There does not yet appear to be a genuine will to make a change of CA chief executive at this point in time, after the NRL and Rugby Australia both moved on their own in a time of widespread uncertainty for sport. But Roberts’ actions will be closely watched from here, keeping in mind that there is still some time to go ahead of major negotiations due with the ACA for the next MoU in 2022 and broadcasters for the next major domestic rights deals in 2023.Talks about the actual amounts each central contract is worth – in terms of retainers, match payments and marketing pool payments – go on. This task has fallen to CA and ACA delegations comprised of Eddings, and directors Michelle Tredenick and Paul Green, and the ACA president Greg Dyer, chair Shane Watson and board member Neil Maxwell.Calculations of the amounts the players will be paid, in a summer where there remain an enormous number of variables, will largely depend on whether cash over projections already put aside in the adjustment ledger to be paid out at the end of the MoU – currently believed to be worth around A$80 million – are to be delved into. Not for the first time, CA has viewed the money in this column as an amount worth freeing up to the wider game, whereas the players understandably wish to protect it.State associations are believed to have been more supportive for a revised proposal seeking a 25% reduction to their annual grants from CA, with built-in reductions or increases depending on variables such as whether or not India tour Australia this summer, for series that the governing body is banking on to substantially top up their financial position.Negotiations remain at a delicate stage and both players and states are still understood to be seeking more financial information from CA, but it is broadly considered preferable to reach sensible agreements in consultation between the board, its owners and player partners rather than see cricket mired in further arguments over prospective cost-cutting.Instead, there is a desire to push into the territory Australian cricket is increasingly likely to occupy next summer alongside New Zealand as two of the first countries in the world where elite cricket may be played again.