Tag Futebol

Many Liverpool fans want to sign Ibrahima Konate following a recent report from AS on the RB Leipzig central defender.

As per the news outlet, he has a release clause of €45m (£38.5m), but the Bundesliga club may be willing to negotiate a transfer sum closer to around €25-30m (£21.4-25.6m), a fee that one fan called a ‘bargain’.

The Anfield faithful have been strongly linked with a move for Konate in the summer transfer window, as they hope to bring in another centre-back to potentially partner Virgil Van Dijk in the longer term or sufficiently cover for him if the Netherlands international sustains another bad injury in the future.

The 21-year-old still has a lot of potential at his age having played for one of Europe’s top clubs, and several supporters of the Merseyside club have been drooling at the possibility of him signing for them.

Liverpool fan reaction to Konate news

These Reds expressed their desire to sign Konate on Twitter after reading the latest report, with one Kopite even going as far as to call the Frenchman a ‘bargain’:

“Yes please”

Credit: @radzjeewa7

“Mr Edwards, make him sign da ting”

Credit: @ynwaMattH

“If this is true, we need to be all over it”

Credit: @LewYNWA

“GET MY ANIME WATCHING KING TO ANFIELD ASAP”

Credit: @AdemiElmaze

“Bargain man”
Credit: @eyetestfootball

“Buy nowwwww !!!!! #lfc”
Credit: @kardphrom1

In other news, find out which U18s talent has been lauded by LFC fans lately here!

The latest instalment of the Manchester derby is not quite the title clash that Manchester United would have envisaged.

The Red Devils can cut the gap to Manchester City at the top of the table with a win but only to 11 points, perhaps merely delaying the precession to the title of Pep Guardiola and his men.

However, bragging rights are certainly up for offer and a key to United getting a result will be the performance of Bruno Fernandes.

As has been the case for many games since the Portuguese arrived from Sporting Clube de Portugal, he is set to be the Red Devils’ main hope.

In his time at Old Trafford so far, he has contributed 34 goals and 21 assists in just 62 matches – some seriously impressive numbers.

His contribution has even increased this season with Fernandes contributing to 49% of United’s 53 Premier League goals throughout the campaign.

He is also by far and away the most creative player in the entire Red Devils’ squad. According to WhoScored, he is averaging 2.8 key passes per match. His nearest midfield competitor is the lesser-spotted Juan Mata at just 1.1.

Even his teammates are aware of his immense influence since his arrival. Brazilian Fred has suggested that Fernandes “took over” the Manchester United midfield as soon as the ink dried on his contract at Old Trafford.

His creativity, dynamism and leadership are going to be even more important against such a good Manchester City side.

After a relatively poor start to the campaign, Guardiola has created a formidable team. The Citizens can boast the best defensive record in the Premier League having shipped just 17 goals throughout the entire season so far.

That stubbornness could suffocate United’s attacking players throughout the match, meaning Fernandes will have to be on top form if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aspires to take anything from the Etihad Stadium.

In the melting pot of the Manchester derby, Fernandes once again has to show his immense quality and display exactly why he has become the main star, not just in the United midfield, but the entire team.

If the Portuguese star struggles, it’s hard to see a way how United can penetrate what has been a fantastic City back line. If he plays well, however, then the visitors have a chance to leave the Etihad with a positive result.

AND in more news, read our opinion on why Edmond Tapsoba could be the perfect foil for Harry Maguire…

يتقدم مرتضى منصور رئيس نادي الزمالك الحالي، بأوراق ترشحه لانتخابات القلعة البيضاء في الرابعة عصر غد الثلاثاء على منصب الرئيس.

مجلس إدارة الزمالك الحالي، قام بفتح باب الترشح لانتخابات القلعة البيضاء، الأربعاء الماضي، والذي يغلق تمامًا في السابعة مساء غد الثلاثاء.

بينهم يكن وعبد الله جورج.. 7 مرشحين لـ انتخابات الزمالك في اليوم الخامس

وكان أحمد سليمان عضو الزمالك السابق ومدرب حراس مرمى منتخب مصر بالجهاز الفني لحسن شحاتة، قد تقدم اليوم بأوراق ترشحه لمنصب الرئيس.

يذكر، أنه لجنة الشباب والرياضة المشرفة على انتخابات الزمالك تتكون من: عبد الرحمن النجار مدير إدارة العجوزة، وإيمان محمد رمضان إدارة الهيئات بالمديرية، وهالة عبد القادر محمد إدارة شباب العجوزة.

MatériaMais Notícias

Nas três edições de Libertadores que disputou como técnico, Cuca coleciona jogos “emblemáticos”. Nesta quinta-feira, às 21h45, ele estreia no Palmeiras já precisando aumentar esta lista, contra o Nacional, no Uruguai, para não ver o time se complicar na competição.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasDracena alerta Verdão por ‘catimba, arbitragem e torcida’ no UruguaiPalmeiras16/03/2016PalmeirasReunião para acerto entre Palmeiras e Crefisa é adiadaPalmeiras16/03/2016PalmeirasCom Cleiton Xavier no campo, Verdão faz treino para não relacionadosPalmeiras16/03/2016

Ao ser apresentado, o treinador disse que não poderia pensar em outro resultado além de um triunfo no Parque Central, contra o líder da chave e que bateu o Verdão semana passada, no Allianz Parque.

Na Libertadores conquistada com o Atlético-MG em 2013, Cuca diz que o 5 a 2 no Arsenal (ARG), fora de casa na segunda rodada da fase de grupos, foi decisivo para a sequência da equipe no torneio. Nesta noite, ele espera uma história parecida.

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– Existem jogos dentro das competições, principalmente as de mata-mata, que são emblemáticos, que te conduzem à auto-confiança. No Atlético, do jogo na Argentina em diante, o time pegou confiança para ser campeão. Quem sabe na quinta a gente não faça um jogo emblemático e saia com muita força – disse o treinador do Verdão.

No São Paulo e Cruzeiro, embora não tenha levado a taça, Cuca também teve jogos que marcaram (leia mais abaixo). Mas foi a campanha no Galo que lhe consagrou. A cena em que Cuca desaba no gramado quando o time passou pelo Newell’s (ARG) e foi à final é o emblema da sofrida e vitoriosa campanha atleticana daquele ano.

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No Palmeiras, o comandante já chegou sabendo que um tropeço no Uruguai pode deixar muito ameaçada a classificação à segunda fase da Libertadores. Mas, assim como Cuca, o Verdão tem jogos emblemáticos em sua história na Copa.

Os Dérbis em 1999 e 2000, os jogos contra o Deportivo Cáli (COL) na campanha do título, ou contra Colo-Colo (CHI) e Sport, em 2009, mostram que o Palmeiras também sabe vencer sofrido na Libertadores, assim como o seu novo chefe. Após 24 anos, Verdão e Cuca se reencontram para conseguir o que faltou em 1992: o título. E a Libertadores, como canta a torcida alviverde, é a grande obsessão palmeirense.

CUCA ÉPICO
São Paulo – 2004:Cuca deu bolada em Fossati e foi expulso no intervalo da importante vitória sobre a LDU. Nas oitavas, contra o Rosario, deixou o time no campo no intervalo e avançou.

Cruzeiro – 2011:Raposa caiu nas oitavas diante do Once Caldas, mas fez primeira fase brilhante, com direito a goleadas sobre o Estudiantes, algoz do clube em 2009, por 3 a 0 e por 5 a 0.

Galo – 2013:Campanha do título começou com vitória sobre o São Paulo, com o “golpe da água” de Ronaldinho em Ceni. Técnico aponta goleada por 5 a 2 sobre o Arsenal como emblemático.

Mata-matas do Galo foram épicos: Duas vitórias sobre o São Paulo, defesa histórica de Victor em pênalti no último lance contra o Tijuana e triunfos nos pênaltis contra Newell’s e Olímpia. Sai, zica!

MatériaMais Notícias

Os torcedores do Corinthians poderão levar para casa uma lembrança de cada jogo da equipe em casa na Copa Libertadores deste ano. O clube irá vender copos personalizados das partidas na Arena por R$ 10.

Os copos serão disponibilizados em três cores diferentes, uma para cada duelo da primeira fase da competição como mandante. Se o Timão avançar às fases seguintes, novas peças serão criadas para a Fiel colecionar.

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Para a estreia corintiana em Itaquera, 2,5 mil peças foram fabricadas. Elas serão vendidas exclusividade na loja oficial do setor Oeste da Arena Corinthians e nos quiosques instalados nos pisos superior e inferior do setor Leste.

When you think of Sam Allardyce’s managerial career, one player sticks out like a sore thumb.

Kevin Nolan has played under the 66-year-old more times than anyone else, racking up 390 appearances across two different clubs and the ‘firefighter’ will need characters like him in this West Brom side if they are to beat the drop.

Luckily for Big Sam, he has an almost like-for-like already at the Hawthorns in the shape of Jake Livermore.

Whilst his old skipper, Nolan, was often deployed in the hole behind Andy Carroll, it wasn’t his attacking exploits that made him so effective, but rather his defensive contributions.

Combative, efficient and industrious. The ideal mix for any Big Sam midfielder. That’s pretty much Livermore down to a tee, is it not?

The Albion captain started his first game in five outings in Slaven Bilic’s swansong draw at Manchester City and proved to be a hassle for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.

In nine Premier League starts, the 31-year-old is averaging 2.2 tackles and 2.3 fouls per match, via WhoScored. A perfect combination of being hard to beat and disrupting the opposition.

Indeed, Big Sam should be salivating over the prospect of unleashing the former Spurs powerhouse against Villa this Sunday.

He arrived in the west Midlands for just £10m in 2017 and has been here ever since and this unwavering loyalty is another factor that will have the new Baggies boss rather excited.

SmarterScout claimed earlier this season that the midfield veteran had “been massive, an aggressive defender with decent tackling” but lacked that extra bite in his duels with poor ball-retention, and that’s something Allardyce will need to improve fast to restore some stability.

The Albion “leader” could well hold the keys to Big Sam successfully pulling off another phenomenal safety bid. If Livermore is on form in the engine room, then at the very least, West Brom will have a firm foundation to build off going into 2021.

AND in other news, Big Sam may already be heading for his FIRST mistake at the Hawthorns…

تحدث عمرو أبو العز المدير الإداري لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي الزمالك، عن حالات لاعبي الفارس الأبيض أحمد سيد زيزو، وأشرف بن شرقي وعمر السعيد.

وقال أبو العز في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية “أون تايم سبورتس”: “زيزو سيجري أشعة بعد تعرضه لإصابة اليوم”.

وأضاف: “وأشرف بن شرقي سيعود إلى التدريبات غدًا”.

طالع | محمود علاء: لا أعرف الطفل ناشيء الزمالك حتى أطرده

وأردف: “نستعد لمواجهة سيراميكا كليوباترا بداية من الغد، الفريق سيخوض تدريبًا في الساعة الثالثة عصرًا”.

وتابع: “عمر السعيد بحالة جيدة، تدرب اليوم منفردًا وسيعود للتدريبات الجماعية غدًا”.

وأتم: “اللاعب تعرض لكدمة في رأسه من لعبة مشتركة، وفضلنا إراحته واستبعاده من مباراة البنك الأهلي”.

وكان الزمالك قد تعادل ايجابيًا مع البنك الأهلي بهدف لكل فريق، في مباراة الجولة الخامسة من عمر الدوري المصري الممتاز.

Carlo Ancelotti must bite the bullet and urge Marcel Brands to cash in on Bernard in the January transfer market with the Everton outcast bleeding Farhad Moshiri dry.

What’s the word?

Bernard joined the Toffees as a free agent in 2018 when signed by Marco Silva following his release by Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Portuguese coach playing a key role in convincing the Brazilian of a move to Goodison Park.

Silva’s presentation of life on the blue half of Stanley Park made Bernard feel comfortable with putting pen to paper on a £120,000-per-week contract, that makes the 28-year-old the joint-highest earner at Goodison Park alongside former FC Barcelona defender Yerry Mina.

Silva, for his part, was delighted to have secured Bernard’s signature late in the summer market, noting how the midfielder was “very good technically” and how he would bring a versatile offensive threat with Champions League experience in behind striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Everton fans have rarely seen that threat return results in person with Bernard penning just four goals and five assists in 46 games under Silva, before striking a mere three goals and recording two assists in 23 appearances following Ancelotti’s arrival at the helm last year.

With his vastly lucrative contract bleeding majority owner Moshiri dry week after week, the Blues supremo and Ancelotti must urge Brands to find Bernard a new home in January after snubbing a potential deal with AS Roma this summer, despite the playmaker and his agent striving to secure a move.

Time to go

Bernard has been named in each of the Toffees’ 14 squads so far this season across all competitions, yet Saturday’s draw with Premier League relegation-threatened Burnley once again saw Ancelotti opt against introducing the Brazilian at any stage.

The Italian tactician has only felt fit to field the 28-year-old in six fixtures to date, whilst starting the former Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker just once in the top-flight and in two of his side’s EFL Cup ties.

Bernard’s starts in the Carabao Cup were each against lower-tier opposition in League Two side Salford City and League One outfit Fleetwood Town before he fell back to the bench when Everton hosted and beat top-flight rivals West Ham United 4-1 in the Fourth Round.

Ancelotti may not have fielded the 14-cap Brazil maestro in his initial line-up against Manchester United last month, too, were it not for Richarlison’s suspension, with even netting the opening goal against the Red Devils proving insufficient to see Bernard feature at any stage next time out at Fulham.

Gylfi Sigurdsson and Cenk Tosun being called on at Turf Moor on Saturday must now serve as the final straw in deciding Bernard’s Goodison Park future, as Ancelotti clearly does not have confidence in the £13.5m-rated man’s ability to inject a creative spark when needed.

AND in other news, Everton’s “magnificent find” has every right to fume with Carlo Ancelotti.

Ever since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund a couple of years ago, the big question undoubtedly was how the Gunners could get the most out of both him and Alexandre Lacazette.

The north London side shelled out big money to sign two forwards who had been scoring goals for fun in European football, but with less teams now using a pair of strikers up front, there was a real dilemma.

The likes of Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery flitted between using the duo as a twin strike-force and with one of them playing out wide, whilst current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has seemingly been fixated on using Aubameyang out from the left.

But with Lacazette still showing no signs of consistency – he bagged three goals in his opening three Premier League games before drawing blanks in his next four matches in all competitions – there’s a real argument to be made now that Aubameyang should be given the nod to start up front.

Speaking last season after his match-winning performance against Everton, former Manchester United defender and current Sky Sports pundit, Gary Neville, waxed lyrical about the Gabon international.

He said: “Including me, we have stopped short of announcing Aubameyang as world class. We’re happy to go with (Sergio) Aguero, we’re happy to go with (Sadio) Mane and (Mohamed) Salah, (Roberto) Firmino, (Harry) Kane… all these players who have graced the Premier League in the last two or three seasons.

“I feel that Aubameyang doesn’t get that same credit and maybe it’s something that comes from when he first entered into English football. I think he’s been absolutely sensational, and I think now’s the time for us all to start recognising the quality and the brilliance of this player. He fights for the team, he’s always there, and for me, he’s everything you would want in a football player.”

Arteta himself hinted that the Gabon international could be set for a run through the middle, saying: “Yes, that’s a very possible thing.

“It will depend on the games, it will depend on who he’s surrounded with. I think it’s very important to see who is around him and why we’re doing it. Not just the fact we’re doing it, why we’re doing that and what we’re going to get by doing these positive things. Of course, there’s a very strong possibility to play him as a (number) 9.”

If Arsenal want to see a different level to their £45m-rated talisman, now is the time to unshackle him from his left wing role, and give him a chance to shine up front.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are back in Premier League action this evening as they welcome Crystal Palace to Molineux.

Nuno Santo will be looking to build on their three-game unbeaten run against an Eagles side who could be there for the taking, should the Portuguese play his cards right.

Since being embarrassed by West Ham, the Midlands outfit have effectively shut up shop defensively, very nearly keeping three clean sheets in a row but for Jacob Murphy’s tricky free-kick.

However, it has come at the expense of scoring goals. Wolves have not scored more than one goal in a match since the opening day, a 2-0 victory over Sheffield United.

Given their lack of firepower, Nuno should consider changing his frontline – that partnership of Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore needs to be unearthed once more.

In 68 Premier League matches playing together, the duo have combined for ten goals, via Transfermarkt, but the newly-capped Spaniard hasn’t started any of their last three outings.

Only one team inside the top 13 have leaked more goals than Palace this season, surprisingly it’s Liverpool. One factor this could boil down to is the lack of experience and quality in their backline.

If Traore is handed a start, he’ll be coming up against 21-year-old Tyrick Mitchell, who has committed at least one foul and is dribbled past an average of once per game, via WhoScored.

No player recorded more successful take-ons than the Wolves monster last season as he completed a whopping 183 – that’s 20 more than Wilfried Zaha.

It means he averaged five dribbles per game, so he will have the ability to cause the inexperienced defender all sorts of nightmares under the lights at Molineux.

Premier League winner Jurgen Klopp believes the £36m-rated beast is “unplayable in moments,” so much so that it’s “unbelievable.”

Traore versus Mitchell would be a worrying match-up for Roy Hodgson, which is why Nuno absolutely has to unleash his enigmatic weapon tonight.

AND in other news, £45m-rated “top player” was one that got away for Wolves…