أثار علي معلول، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، الجدل، خلال الساعات الأخيرة، بعد عودته للمشاركة في التدريبات.

وعاد معلول، للمشاركة في تدريبات الأهلي، خلال الأيام الأخيرة، بعد التعافي من الإصابة التي تعرض لها في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا أمام الترجي.

طالع..الشمال القطري يوضح عبر “بطولات” حقيقة اتفاقه لضم أكرم توفيق من الأهلي

وكتب معلول، عبر حسابه على موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “انستجرام” آية قرآنية من سورة البقرة: «وعسى أن تكرهوا شيئًا وهو خير لكم وعسى أن تحبوا شيئًا وهو شرًا لكم والله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمون».

ويحيط الغموض بمستقبل النجم التونسي، بعدما خرج من قائمة الأهلي في دوري أبطال إفريقيا، والحديث عن عدم تجديد عقده ورحيله عقب نهاية الموسم الجاري.

وكان الأهلي، قد تلقى الخسارة أمام شباب بلوزداد، في مباراته الأخيرة ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهة سموحة في الدوري المصري يوم الثلاثاء القادم، الموافق 7 يناير الجاري في تمام الساعة الخامسة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، السادسة بتوقيت السعودية.

The decision was made based on a Snicko spike after there was no mark on Hot Spot, which is the correct protocol

Andrew McGlashan28-Dec-2020Matthew Wade has asked whether DRS has been implemented consistently during the MCG Boxing Day Test, after Tim Paine was given out on the third day. Paine was ruled caught behind off Ravindra Jadeja after the on-field call by Paul Reiffel was overturned by third umpire Paul Wilson. Paine, who was the beneficiary of a borderline run-out call in the first innings, was clearly unhappy with the decision as he left the field.The decision was made based purely on a Snicko spike after there was no mark on Hot Spot – which is the correct protocol – but Wade drew a comparison with Australia’s review against Cheteshwar Pujara to the first ball of the second day’s play. Then, too, there was no mark on Hot Spot and a very small spike on Snicko, although on that occasion there was a suggestion the toe of Pujara’s bat had clipped his pad.”From what I’ve seen it looked pretty similar to the first ball of yesterday, the one we actually referred, I think it was off Pujara,” Wade said. “So from all reports and what I’ve seen, Snicko showed a very similar thing, one was given out and one was not out. That’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes, but that’s what it looked like from where we’ve been sitting and watching.”I heard a noise on the Pujara one, I was at first slip at the time, and his bat was the only thing out there, and then we saw what you guys saw on the ground, which was a small spike. Either way if it was out or not out, consistency is all you want as a player.”2:41

Was Tim Paine out? Michael Hussey and Aakash Chopra think so

Channel Seven has former ICC umpire Simon Taufel on their panel as part of their coverage for the series, and he explained the decision-making process moments after the Paine dismissal.”There’s a number of things the third umpire is working through under his conclusive evidence protocols,” he said. “The first thing is, is there a deviation? That’s normally the first thing they look for. The second thing is, if there’s no deviation apparent, the redundancy in the protocol looks at the Hot Spot, and if there’s no Hot Spot they can determine as conclusive then the further protocol is to go to RTS.Related

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“If the ball is next to the bat while there is a spike, as the ball goes past the bat, or up to one frame past the bat, that is deemed to be conclusive evidence that the ball has hit the bat.”Expanding on the point about the spike being evident one frame past the bat, Taufel added: “Every morning the technician, as part of the match officials’ team, will go through and do an audio calibration as best they can to line up sight and sound. But light does travel faster than sound and that’s why there’s that little bit of timing difference.”The use of Snicko to effectively over-rule Hot Spot has been in place since the 2013-14 Ashes in Australia. “If there’s a mark on Hot Spot he’ll go straight to out. That’s his conclusive evidence straight away,” Geoff Allardice, the ICC’s head of cricket operations, had said at the time. “The only time Snicko will be used is if there’s no mark on Hot Spot.”That does, effectively, mean the system could be used without Hot Spot but that technology can be useful for confirming point of contact when bat and pad are close together which can often be seen with lbw appeals, for example. There was also a dismissal earlier in Australia’s second innings, when Joe Burns was caught behind and reviewed the decision, which produced a clear mark on Hot Spot and Snicko was not used before confirming Burns was out.

The Cameroonian made a stunning double save which left Mourinho gobsmacked but it was another frustrating night in Europe for the Red Devils

Three Europa League games down and Manchester United have just three points to show for it after once again failing to make the most of taking an early lead in a 1-1 draw at Fenerbahce. Christian Eriksen fired Erik ten Hag's side in front after a quick break sparked by the excellent Manuel Ugarte, who produced a goal-saving tackle on Dusan Tadic.

Andre Onana quickly upstaged his team-mate with a truly magnificent display of goalkeeping, flying low to palm away a header from Youssef En-Nesyri and rising back up sharply to tip the striker's header away. The Moroccan, who scored twice against United for Sevilla two years ago, made amends to equalise early in the second half after slack defending from the visitors, particularly Victor Lindelof.

United's early promise faded and so did the game as a spectacle, with the best moment coming when Jose Mourinho was sent off for furiously appealing for a penalty against Ugarte which wasn't even close to being a foul. Ten Hag made four changes but couldn't get any spark out of his side, who are without a win in European competition for more than a year.

GOAL rates Man United's players from the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Andre Onana (7/10):

  Made a jaw-dropping double save to thwart En-Nesyri, who got his revenge with the equaliser.

  Diogo Dalot (5/10):

  Only had one notable incursion into final third, when he botched his pass to Rashford.

  Victor Lindelof (4/10):

  Let En-Neysri drift in too easily and was ruthlessly taken off a few minutes later.

  Matthjis de Ligt (5/10):

  Good on the ball but lacked authority in his area.

  Lisandro Martinez (5/10):

  Made a couple of rash decisions but also made some good interventions.

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• AFP
  

  Midfield

  Christian Eriksen (7/10):

  Got his second Europa League goal with a thumping finish and his passing was spot on throughout.

  Manuel Ugarte (8/10):

  Impressively aggressive. Won the ball back from Fred for the goal then saved one down the other end with a brave tackle on Dusan Tadic.

  Noussair Mazraoui (5/10):

  Hit-and-miss in unusual No. 10 role before returning to left-back when Casemiro came on.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Marcus Rashford (6/10):

  Started well before fading. Almost scored after a tremendous twisting run. Booked early for a for cynical foul on Sebastian Szymanski.

  Joshua Zirkzee (4/10):

  Played nice lay-off for Eriksen's goal but otherwise looked clumsy, over-playing key passes which should have led to clear chances. Hauled off in the 55th minute.

  Alejandro Garnacho (6/10):

  Drove team forward in build-up to the goal. Looked frustrated with Zirkzee for taking too long to pass to him. Tried to score himself but couldn't get enough power.

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  Subs & Manager

  Casemiro (6/10):

  Played a defence-splitting pass which Dalot should have done more with.

  Rasmus Hojlund (5/10):

  Good movement but let down by his shooting.

  Antony (5/10):

  Did very little and then had to come up on a stretcher with a painful-looking injury.

  Amad Diallo (N/A):

  Replaced Antony in added time.

  Erik ten Hag (4/10):

  His side took the lead for the fourth time in a row away in Europe but each time they let it slip away. His decision not to start Hojlund made little sense, as did bringing on Antony before Amad. And what was Mazraoui doing in attacking midfield?!

The experience of Callum Ferguson guided the Thunder over the line

Andrew McGlashan22-Dec-2020An eye-catching debut from Ollie Davies and a notable comeback by Adam Milne were two of the standout performances for the Sydney Thunder as they marched to victory against a Perth Scorchers side who never really hit top gear.The Scorchers labored to 3 for 56 at the midway mark of their innings and though Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Bancroft did a good job to take them above 150 it felt as though they were always playing catch up.The chase had some tricky moments at the start, but the partnership of 75 in seven overs between 20-year-old Davies and captain Callum Ferguson put the Thunder on course before Ben Cutting played his part in closing out the game.Ollie Davies brings out the switch hit for six•Getty ImagesHeated TyeThe Thunder had not gained much early impetus to their chase having lost Alex Hales for a first-ball duck – bowled by a beauty from Jason Behrendorff – and Usman Khawaja heaved into the leg side shortly after being given a life courtesy of an awful umpiring decision when he hit the cover off a drive against AJ Tye. The Scorchers, and especially Tye, could barely believe the decision with the umpiring telling the bowler he thought the bat had hit the ground. Tye was still ticking at the end of the over and had to be told to calm down. However, it was far from the first poor decision in this tournament that will reignite the debate over the lack of the DRS.

Usman Khawaja was given not out after clearly nicking the ball off Andrew Tye in the BBL today.

Without the DRS, the decision stood. pic.twitter.com/Zuma3Ij91s

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 22, 2020

Youth and experienceThere are 16 years between Ferguson and Davies who combined for the stand that turned the game in the Thunder’s favour. Two years ago, Davies came into the spotlight when he struck six sixes in an over during an Under-19 tournament and it was that sort of intent he put on show here. Against Behrendorff, an international fast bowler, he used his feet to launch a six over midwicket and then struck a massive one-handed hook out of the ground – the enjoyment evident in his face. He showed that same positive approach against the spin of Fawad Ahmed, slog-sweeping him for his third six, before having one dip too many and being stumped. But it had been a joyous little innings.Ferguson, given a life on 2 when Josh Inglis missed a difficult chance, had certainly not been left behind by his young team-mate, tucking into Aaron Hardie’s third over as the game swung the Thunder’s way. He went to his half-century from 39 balls then Cutting tucked into Jhye Richardson during the first over of the Power Surge to bring the required rate under a run-a-ball although good overs from Tye, which included Ferguson being dropped by Marsh, and Ahmed brought a modicum bit of pressure.Milne’s comebackMilne was playing his first game since August 2019 after another run of injuries. He has opted for the BBL against of New Zealand domestic cricket in a bid to push his credentials for the next T20 World Cup. After being eased into the tournament, his first outing was impressive as he conceded just 17 from his four overs and did not concede a boundary, often hurrying the batsmen for pace. However, there would have been a few hearts-in-mouths early in his second over when his spikes did not take in the delivery stride and he slid through the crease, very close to doing something nasty to his ankle. He finished flat on his back, but in a relief for everyone quickly managed a smile before dusting himself down.Power Surge pinch-hitterThere was some out-of-the-box thinking from the Scorchers as they tried inject life into their innings when they called the Surge. Ashton Turner, who again struck the ball well, had fallen to the last delivery of the first of the two overs and Richardson walked out at No. 6 with a license to swing. It was a qualified success as he heaved his first ball to the midwicket fence, faced a dot and then got a single with 30 runs in total off the Surge. Knowing his job wasn’t to waste deliveries, Richardson carved his next delivery to backward point.

Arsenal have been handed a boost as it has emerged that a major club are ready to sell one of Mikel Arteta's transfer targets this summer.

Gunners need midfield options

Though they signed Declan Rice last summer, Arsenal are once again expected to focus on midfield ahead of the upcoming Premier League season. Albert Sambi Lokonga is likely to leave after spending the season on loan with Luton Town, while Mohamed Elneny has departed as a free agent.

Meanwhile, speculation continues to surround Thomas Partey amid links to Saudi Arabia, and though Jorginho has penned a new contract he continues to head into the twilight of his career.

Arsenal's midfield options as it stands
Player	Age
Jorginho	32
Declan Rice	25
Thomas Partey	31
Martin Odegaard	25
Emile Smith Rowe	23
Fabio Vieira	24

With a deeper midfielder a priority, Arsenal have been linked with the likes of Everton midfielder Amadou Onana as well as Martrin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad. But they could land a dream target if the latest updates are to be believed.

Arsenal an option for wantaway star

Now, Arsenal have been named as a potential destination for Germany and Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who could well be on the move ahead of the new season. The 29-year-old is down to the final year of his £315,000 a week deal in Bavaria, and as a result, it has been rumoured that he will be on his way out of Bayern this summer.

As per Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, a move away is "becoming increasingly likely", with both sides "open" to a parting of ways. Bayern are "willing to sell him this transfer window", though no concrete decisions will be made until after the European Championships, which Kimmich has helped navigate Germany into the knockout stages of.

For his part, Kimmich has been previously reported to be keen on joining the Gunners, while contact was reportedly made between the two parties back in April over a potential move.

He is widely regarded as a world-class player, with ex-Inter and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho explaining: "I see him as a top right-back, left-back, centre-back, No.6, No.8, No.10… he has the qualities to be anything!

"I think he looks to me, very intelligent related to football, very intelligent, understands the moments of the games and understands the difference between positions and understands what he has to do here and what he has to do there. I think he’s phenomenal, an absolutely phenomenal player."

Arsenal, of course, are well aware of his talents, with the defender having popped up to score the goal that knocked them out of the Champions League last season at the Allianz Arena.

And the Gunners are named as one of the five sides that he would consider moving to should he leave Bayern, alongside Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona as well as fellow Premier League leaders Manchester City and Liverpool.

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Could he be the answer to Arsenal's midfield conundrum?

A £30m-rated player wants to quit Arsenal, with three Premier League sides targeting him and could offer an escape route in the coming weeks.

Players who could be sold by Arsenal this summer

Both Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares have just a few days left of their Gunners deals and will leave after June 30 when their contracts expire, as already confirmed by the club in their 22-man release list.

Prolific £15m striker asks to leave club after Arsenal join race for him

The forward racked up 30 goals in all competitions last season.

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A succession of players could follow Soares and Elneny out of the door fairly soon, with 30-year-old midfielder Thomas Partey entering the final 12 months of his contract and attracting rumoured interest from abroad.

Partey is wanted by Saudi and Turkish sides, with the Ghanaian appearing more surplus to requirements after making just 14 Premier League appearances last campaign. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is also expected to leave Arsenal after the Englishman lost his number one spot between the sticks to David Raya last season.

Bukayo Saka

7.67

Declan Rice

7.38

Martin Odegaard

7.37

Kai Havertz

7.16

Gabriel Magalhaes

6.99

Sporting director Edu Gaspar and manager Mikel Arteta are set to make some crucial decisions on squad players over the coming weeks, with Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Aaron Ramsdale, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares, Olekasandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney coming as players who could be sold by Arsenal this summer as well.

The Gunners will need funds from player sales to financially back their transfer activity, as they seek to challenge Man City for another Premier League title next season.

Reiss Nelson wants to leave Arsenal as Premier League trio eye moves

As per CBS Sports, uncertainty also surrounds the future of Reiss Nelson. The £100,000-per-week ace, who Arsenal value at around £30 million, started just one top-flight match last season – making the rest of his 15 appearances from the substitute's bench.

CBS claim Nelson favours a move away from Arsenal this summer, with Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brighton all interested in offering the 24-year-old an escape route.

“I think Reiss Nelson will go this summer and don’t think he will be the only academy product to do so,” said journalist Charles Watts on Nelson's future to CaughtOffside earlier this year.

“Arsenal need to bring in some cash to help boost the finances and the likes of Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe will all generate interest. Nelson was very close to leaving last summer when his old deal was running out. Brighton were very interested, as were AC Milan. I’ve been told the offer from Milan was a really appealing one to the winger and there were many at Arsenal who believed that he would end up moving to Italy.

“But Nelson loves Arsenal and Mikel Arteta was happy with the performances he produced over the second half of last season. Arsenal didn’t want to lose him on a free and so they pushed for him to sign a new deal and ultimately he decided to stay put.

“However, I don’t think that means he will definitely stay this summer."

Captain Matthew Wade Coach Adam GriffithSquad Scott Boland, Johan Botha, Tim David, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Colin Ingram (SA), Will Jacks (Eng), Caleb Jewell, Sandeep Lamichhane (Nep), Dawid Malan (Eng), Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, David Moody, Mitch Owen, Wil Parker, Tim Paine, Keemo Paul (WI), D’Arcy Short, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Nick Winter, Mac WrightIn Johan Botha, Tim David (Scorchers), Peter Handscomb (Stars), Sandeep Lamichhane (Stars), Colin Ingram, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan, Wil Parker, Keemo Paul, Nick Winter
Out Simon Milenko (Heat)Overseas player availability Colin Ingram (available until early January), Will Jacks (all season), Sandeep Lamichhane (available from early January), Dawid Malan (quarantine until Dec 18), Keemo Paul (available from December 25)Last season: EliminatorThe Hurricanes scraped into the finals last year thanks to a magnificent unbeaten century from Wade in their final match of the regular season but they didn’t progress any further as they were humbled at home by Sydney Thunder in the Eliminator. They only won six games for the tournament and Wade’s elevation to the Test team affected the balance of their side and has ignited a recruiting drive for this season.Bubble impactWade will again be absent for large parts of the tournament and may only be available for the last two games and finals. But outside of that, the Hurricanes have structured their squad to cover all basis on the quarantine front. They have signed five overseas players that will come in and out of the squad at various times due to quarantine restrictions. Malan will miss the first four games but Colin Ingram is there as cover, while Keemo Paul and Sandeep Lamichhane will join the squad after Christmas. They have pulled Johan Botha out of retirement to provide spin support while Lamichhane is unavailable. Australia Test captain Tim Paine has signed for the club and could play a handful of games after the India Test series.Player to watchNathan Ellis was a surprise packet last season picking up 12 wickets in 15 games with an excellent economy rate of 7.94 having bowled a lot of the difficult death overs. Such was his impact the national selectors were even taking note of his ability to restrict scoring at the death with his mix of yorkers and slower balls. The second year is often the most difficult for new kids on the block with all teams now having seen his array of tricks over the course of a full season. He will be very important for the balance of the Hurricanes’ attack.Key statNo team is more dependent on their openers than Hobart Hurricanes. In the last two seasons, the Hurricanes openers strike at 141.81 and average 43 runs per wicket. The addition of Malan has bolstered the top order. In the last two years in T20s he has scored 1926 runs and averages 36.33 with a strike-rate of 136.49 and three centuries.

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick threatened to substitute any player who did not try and play his offside trap in the recent El Clasico win at Real Madrid.

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Barcelona beat Real Madrid 4-0 Ended Los Blancos' unbeaten streakFlick refused to drop high line at BernabeuFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Flick's side ran riot at the Santiago Bernabeu last week, beating rivals Real Madrid 4-0 to extend their advantage at the top of La Liga. The German head coach prides himself on playing a high line and despite the pressure of the match, refused to drop it and even threatened to substitute any player who did not adhere to his wishes.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT FLICK SAID

According to , Flick based his half-time team talk on the offside trap, saying: "Anyone who drops back a metre, I'll substitute them."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

His words worked a treat and Madrid were caught offside 12 times in the match. Eight of those offsides were given against Kylian Mbappe, who struggled in his first ever Clasico. Flick's impressive squad marched on and put a six-point buffer between them and their arch-rivals only 11 games into the season.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

La Blaugrana take on city rivals Espanyol at home this Saturday, and they have a chance to put further distance between themselves and Real after their game against Valencia was postponed due to floods in southern Spain.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo de Enderson Moreira sofreu apenas cinco gols nos 12 jogos em que o treinador esteve à frente da equipe. Dessa forma, a defesa do Alvinegro cede apenas um gol a cada 2,4 partidas em média. Com números expressivos no sistema defensivo, alguns jogadores do time se destacam, como é o caso do meio-campista Marco Antônio.

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>Marcelo, do Real Madrid, interage com o Botafogo em rede social

Até aqui, o camisa 70 disputou todas as 24 partidas do Botafogo na Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro e, ao lado do lateral Daniel Borges, é o líder do time em desarmes, com 28. Assim, na média, o meia consegue, no mínimo, um desarme certo por jogo, segundo dados do site “FootStats”.

Ainda vale relacionar o empenho defensivo com a disciplina dentro de campo. Embora seja um jogador muito presente na marcação, Marco Antônio cometeu apenas 15 faltas na Série B e recebeu um único cartão amarelo.

> Botafogo joga na quinta-feira! Veja a tabela da Série B

A partida contra o Náutico, no último sábado, por exemplo, ilustrou a importância do camisa 70 para o sistema defensivo do Glorioso. Segundo o site “SofaScore”, Marco Antônio conseguiu três desarmes, venceu sete de oito duelos que teve pelo chão e não sofreu um drible sequer.

No entanto, vale destacar que os números também mostram a importância de Marco Antônio para o sistema ofensivo. Na Série B, ele é o segundo do time em passes para finalização (23), atrás apenas de Chay, e o terceiro, ao lado de Warley, com mais assistências (3).

Inclusive, para o botafoguense mais supersticioso, o Glorioso ainda não perdeu quando o camisa 70 balança as redes. Contando o Campeonato Carioca, são cinco gols marcados e cinco vitórias.

> ATUAÇÕES: Navarro brilha e recebe a maior nota do Botafogo

Dessa forma, de ponta a ponta no campo, Marco Antônio mostra porque é titular do Botafogo. Com a expectativa de mais um bom desempenho do camisa 70, o Alvinegro volta a campo na próxima quinta-feira, quando enfrenta o CSA, às 19h, no Estádio Rei Pelé. A partida é válida pela 25ª rodada da Série B e terá transmissão em tempo real do LANCE!.

Having already boosted their attacking options this summer, Everton are now reportedly hopeful of winning the race to land a defensive reinforcement for Sean Dyche.

Everton transfer news

It's been a surprisingly busy summer at Goodison Park given the fact that their takeover remains incomplete.

The Toffees have already welcomed Jack Harrison back on loan, whilst also adding fresh faces in the form of Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa and Iliman Ndiaye, who should provide Dyche with a much-needed attacking spark next season.

Speaking for the first time since putting pen to paper, the former Marseille and Sheffield United star told Everton's official media channels: "I am so pleased to be an Everton player. The main reasons I wanted to join were how big the club is, its history and the part I can play in helping the team in the forward direction it is going in. I’m so excited and can’t wait to get going.

"Kevin [Thelwell] and the manager both spoke to me and made me feel wanted. My Senegal teammate Idrissa also played a part and spoke highly of the Club and a lot of good things."

Everton have already hit gold on a star who's now worth more than Gnonto

He’s been exceptional since his move to Goodison Park.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 7, 2024

With an attacking boost welcomed, Everton have since reportedly turned their attention towards improving Dyche's backline. According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, Everton are still hopeful of winning the race to sign Jake O'Brien from Lyon ahead of West Ham United this summer. The Irishman is reportedly among the players who are allowed to leave the French club this summer as they look to balance the books.

What's more, those at Goodison Park reportedly believe that O'Brien will choose a move to Everton over both West Ham and Nottingham Forest to hand Dyche a key addition this summer.

"Brilliant" O'Brien could replace Branthwaite

As much as a partnership between O'Brien and Jarrad Branthwaite would be quite the prospect for Dyche and Everton, the latter's future still remains in doubt and could end up leaving O'Brien to fill the void he would leave behind. The Lyon man is certainly a player of a similar calibre after an impressive season in France and may arrive to offer the Toffees an instant solution to a major concern.

Progressive carries

15

2

Progressive passes

68

74

Tackles won

16

32

Ball recoveries

126

181

Earning a reported £9k a week, O'Brien's ball-carrying ability would offer Dyche a different type of centre-back to Branthwaite, who is better out of possession. The defender also earned plenty of praise from Republic of Ireland boss and Manchester United legend John O'Shea last season.

O'Shea said via Extra: "It’s been brilliant to see what he has done in the last year to 18 months, establishing himself in a top-flight league. It’s been brilliant to see. There’s great competition in that area of the pitch. He’ll have lots of competition but it’s great for us, and me being part of the defensive camp shall we say, that we can help him improve even further over the two games coming up."