Leeds United have the chance to dip into the market to bolster their squad in the January transfer window, which officially opened for business last week.

The Whites are only one point ahead of Sheffield United and Burnley in second and third place and this means that their place in the automatic promotion spots is far from secure.

Daniel Farke’s side cannot afford to keep slipping up, if their rivals continue to pick up points, as their disappointing draw with Hull cost them two points.

The German head coach, despite watching his team slip up in the play-offs last season, knows what it takes to win a title race in the Championship, having done so twice during his time with Norwich City.

Farke lifted the second tier title in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 campaigns, the second of which he added Dimi Giannoulis as a starting-quality left-back in the January window, which suggests that he knows the value a winter addition can offer in a title race.

The Leeds head coach is, however, reportedly looking at attacking options to come in and bolster his Whites squad before the February deadline.

Leeds eyeing new centre-forward

According to the print edition of the Daily Mail (06/01/2025), as relayed by MOT Leeds News, the club are interested in a deal to sign Hoffenheim attacker Mergim Berisha.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The report claims that the 49ers and Co are lining up a Leeds swoop to bring the centre-forward to Elland Road this month to provide him with another option in the forward areas of the pitch.

It does not reveal, however, how much Hoffenheim would demand from the Whites in order to sanction a deal for the 26-year-old ace, or if they would be prepared to listen to loan offers for his services.

The striker has only started three of his 11 appearances in the Bundesliga so far this season, which shows that he has not been a frontline option for the German side, as the forward has not played regular football, and could be open to moving away from the club ahead of the second half of the season.

However, it remains to be seen how viable a deal is for Leeds in the January transfer window, as there is no mention of any potential price or Hoffenheim’s stance on the situation.

The West Yorkshire outfit being interested in signing Berisha, though, should come as bad news for one player in the current Leeds squad, as it could mean that the end of Patrick Bamford’s career at Elland Road is growing closer and closer.

Why this is bad news for Patrick Bamford

The one-time England international has already struggled for game time in the Championship so far this season, with zero starts in the division, and the arrival of another forward would push him further down the pecking order.

Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph have shared the league starts between them, as both have been preferred ahead of him – and often as the first striker substitute off the bench when the other has started – by Farke.

Berisha coming in could prevent Bamford from even making a matchday squad, as having three recognised number nines on the bench, when Leeds play with one in their usual formation, would be overkill.

The English forward has played 127 minutes across ten substitute appearances in the league this season, which shows that he has already been struggling for minutes without the introduction of a third competitor in his position.

Appearances

33

xG

9.52

Goals

8

Big chances missed

9

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, Bamford featured in 33 of the club’s 46 regular season matches in the Championship last term, but underachieved in front of goal with eight goals from 9.52 xG.

The wasteful striker has found himself at the bottom of the striking pile as a result of his struggles on the pitch, with Joseph and Piroe firmly ahead of him in the pecking order.

Bamford has been linked with a January exit from Elland Road and the signing of Berisha could all-but-confirm the end of his career in Yorkshire, due to the position it would leave him in within the squad.

Why Leeds should sign Mergim Berisha

It is worth saying that Leeds are not in desperate need of a new number nine to come in and start every game to fire the team to promotion, albeit Farke would surely love to find a 25-goal-a-season marksman to deliver week-in-week-out.

Piroe has scored ten goals and provided five assists in 16 league starts for Leeds, which shows that the Dutchman has offered a big threat at the top end of the pitch for the German head coach.

This means that the Whites can afford to take a gamble with any forward addition this month, and that is exactly what the signing of Berisha would be, as he has not played much over the last 18 months.

The Germany international suffered an ACL injury that kept him out from November 2023 to July 2024 and that has restricted him to just 19 Bundesliga appearances since the start of last season.

His form in the 2022/23 campaign, however, suggests that the potential is there for him to come in as an exciting addition for Leeds, if Farke can help him to get back to his best.

Appearances

23

xG

8.13

Goals

9

Conversion rate

16%

Big chances missed

5

Assists

4

As you can see in the table above, Berisha, who was hailed as “exceptional” in the box by Augsburg boss Enrico Maaßen that season, provided plenty of quality in the final third, as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

The 26-year-old star also produced an eye-catching 14 goals and 13 ‘big chances’ created in 24 starts for RB Salzburg during the 2020/21 campaign, which shows that he has been a consistent performer at the top end of the pitch for multiple of his previous clubs in the past – before his long-term injury.

Farke's new Godfrey: Leeds in talks to sign a "Rolls Royce" defender

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ByDan Emery Jan 6, 2025

This is why Leeds should take the risk and gamble on Berisha coming in as a replacement for Bamford to, hopefully, get back to his best and compete with Piroe and Joseph for a starting spot.

The last few weeks have been a challenge for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, having to replace the creativity of the injured Bukayo Saka within the final third.

The Englishman has scored five and registered ten assists in his 16 Premier League appearances, but after surgery on his hamstring, he’s set to be missing until at least March – massively denting the Gunners’ title ambitions.

Ethan Nwaneri has attempted to fill the void in recent outings, scoring in the draw with Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday night – bagging his second top-flight goal of his professional career.

As for the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard they have often shared the attacking roles but have struggled to replicate the performance levels of the injured academy graduate.

Such form could see the hierarchy dip into the transfer market to try and bolster Arteta’s side to aid their title ambitions, with one player already on their radar after the opening of the transfer window this week.

Arsenal in the race to sign 18-goal forward in January

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal are one of a number of English sides in the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush before the end of the ongoing window.

However, Manchester City and Liverpool are said to hold the advantage at this stage, with Aston Villa, Newcastle and Chelsea also monitoring the Egyptian’s progress.

The 25-year-old is currently enjoying the best season of his professional career to date, scoring 18 times and registering 11 assists in just 24 matches – only behind Harry Kane in the Bundesliga goalscoring charts.

As a result of his recent form, the German side are demanding a fee in the region of €70m (£58m) to part ways with their star forward, but it remains to be seen if any side is willing to meet such a price tag.

However, given his form, it could be a potential bargain, leading to comparisons to one of Europe’s leading talents over the past couple of months.

Why Marmoush could be Arteta’s very own Mbappe

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé has cemented himself as one of the biggest stars in world football over the last couple of years after his impressive form within the attacking third.

The 26-year-old has notched 14 goals in his first year in Spain after joining the European giants on a free transfer from PSG over the summer, following his unheard-of goal record during his spell at the Parc des Princes.

Mbappé registered 235 goals in 264 appearances for the Parisians, whilst also managing a hat-trick in the World Cup final back in 2022, becoming only the second player in football history to manage such a feat.

Arsenal would undoubtedly love to have a player of Mbappé’s quality, but a move for Marmoush could allow them to sign a player of similar level, especially when delving into his underlying figures from 2024/25.

As a result of the Egyptian’s performances, he’s been dubbed as one of the most similar players in Europe’s top five leagues to the Real Madrid ace by FBref, with the Frankfurt talisman even outperforming the Frenchman in various areas since the start of the campaign.

How Marmoush compares to Mbappé in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Marmoush	Mbappé
Games played	15	17
Goals & assists	20	12
Goal per shot on target	0.4	0.2
Shot-creating actions	5.7	3.3
Take-ons completed	50%	40%
Aerials won	0.40	0.06
Stats via FBref

Like Mbappe, the Egypt forward possesses plenty of pace and ability to beat his man. That said, Marmoush, who’s recently been dubbed as “one of Europe’s best forwards” by analyst David Segar, has managed more combined goals and assists than the French international – also averaging a better goal per shot on target rate – highlighting his clinical nature in the final third.

He’s also completed more take-ons and won more aerials per 90, offering that all-round centre-forward that Arteta and the Gunners have been craving over the last couple of seasons.

It may be a risky move splashing nearly £60m on a player who’s currently enjoying a purple patch, potentially running the risk of the attacker being unable to sustain his recent performance levels.

However, Marmoush has showcased that he’s able to better some of the very best talents in Europe, which could dramatically improve the club’s forward line in their pursuit of ending a two-decade wait for a league triumph.

With City currently ahead in the race for his signature, the Gunners hierarchy need to act swiftly to prevent missing out on the 25-year-old and subsequently improving one of their main rivals.

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2

By
Matt Dawson

Jan 5, 2025

Big picture

Determining who will come out on top in Sunday’s third ODI is a tough call to make. And by the end of this page, you probably won’t be any closer to knowing.That’s probably a bad way to start a match preview for this winner-takes-all affair. But over the last few days, England and South Africa have played twice and produced two wildly different results. Such have been the margins of victory – the Proteas by 62 runs in the first ODI, the hosts by 118 in the second – it’s hard to gauge just how good these two teams really are. At the very least, the events at Headingley will give us the confidence to say one team is better, even if purely based on the scoreline from a short series.Perhaps England are slight favourites? The quick turnaround from Friday’s ODI in Manchester was expected to work against Matthew Mott’s troops. But the rain-reduced 29-over match, which was essentially won nine overs into the Proteas chase, has created a modicum of room in the schedule. Enough for an earlier night and a well-deserved lie-in on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s 11am start.It’s worth remembering it was only last Sunday that England failed in the third ODI against India, which had just as much on the line. They were short of a competitive total (259), Siraj-ed early and then Rishabh-ed in the case to lose by five wickets with almost eight overs spare. Did they ch… actually, let’s not use that word in present company. But arguably, they did, even if India were superior in almost every department for all but that second ODI at Lord’s.As we get to the three-quarter stage of an absurd 12 white-ball games in 24 days, it is only natural for enthusiasm to wane. But the manner of the equalising victory at Emirates Old Trafford – Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran’s rescue act to get England to 201, then an exemplary left-arm-seam-bowling performance to remove five of the top six for just 27 – has created a sense of returning to the old, best-in-the-world days. That kind of domination, particularly from off the ropes (England were 62 for 4) was a staple of the 2015-19 vintage. At the very least, the familiarity of who England once were will be a shot of adrenaline that’ll get them through the weekend.There are plenty of improvements still to be made, particularly on the batting front, but it was noteworthy that Sam Curran – player of the match with a quickfire 38 and the wicket of David Miller – spoke of reassessing in-play to go big and using those learnings to take apart South Africa’s attack in the first six overs: “The situation I came in at (101 for 6 in the 18th over), me and Livi had a conversation about match-ups. You saw the way Livi exploded, we know what he can do, it was fun to be out there with him. Obviously, the message from Jonny was that the powerplay was a big part and the guys had them 6 for 4.”The flip side to Friday was South Africa were so blown out of the water that they could pop on the blinkers and view this as an anomaly, as most professional outfits do. Any self-flagellation off the back of recording their joint-second-worst ODI total should be meek given they smoked a cool 333 for 5 a few days earlier in the baking Chester-le-Heat.Dwaine Pretorius’ nibbly seamers proved more than useful with a career-best 4 for 36 in helpful conditions both overhead and underfoot that are likely to be replicated on Sunday. The forecast suggests we will definitely get rain and be in line for another reduced encounter, which will provide an interesting contrast at a venue that has been one of the fastest-scoring T20 grounds in the world in recent years. Whether 50 overs apiece or otherwise, expect an engaging contest.Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj could play a key role in the middle overs•Getty Images

Form guide

England WLLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa LWLWL

In the spotlight

Liam Livingstone‘s 38 was as brutal as it was overdue in the second ODI. The characteristic six-hitting lifted those in the stands at Manchester who braved the rain, at their loudest when he swung his third consecutive six off Anrich Nortje. The South African isn’t usually the type to be put under that kind of duress, and there was a moment after the fourth ball of that over scuttled away for four over the wicketkeeper that it felt like he was being mocked. Livingstone has a knack of making the very best look very apologetic, and the knock reinforced what we have come to know of him. But the overriding sense is there is so much more he can give in the 50-over format. Without wishing to be a cynic, or even a tad ungrateful, the 28-year-old’s habit of clearing the fences more or less on command can sometimes feel like a party trick. His ODI career is only 11 matches old, but the fact he has just a single half-century in 10 innings feels like a waste of a cricketer who could have it all.When Joe Root said he has preferred facing the red rather than the white ball this summer, he wasn’t lying. A subdued Dukes has been countered by a white Kookaburra singing thanks to relatively un-English limited overs pitches. In turn, expansive opener batters who have gotten used to occupying the prime short-format batting spots have been tamed accordingly. Quinton de Kock is the latest to find himself hindered, with scores of 19 off 27 and 5 off 17 in his first two knocks. It’s not so much he needs a score – at the time of writing, he is averaging 46.71 with a strike rate of 103.15 this year, exceeding the career numbers in those metrics – but there is a sense he can only be kept quiet for so long. He’ll have three T20Is to come against England and two against Ireland, followed by a stint with Southern Brave in the Hundred to take something of worth from this English summer. Provided he can find a way to make it beyond the opening quicks, the first of his 2022 souvenirs could come on Sunday.

Team news

Jos Buttler is likely to put out the same XI as much by design as circumstance. A top three of Roy-Bairstow-Salt is exactly the amount of sustained firepower England would like in theory before Root, replicating a previous top trio of Roy-Bairstow-Hales, bearing more teeth than Cerberus. Then again, changes are hard to make when there are no spare batters (Harry Brook left to play Championship cricket for Yorkshire) and Brydon Carse has been ruled out after bruising his big toe in the first ODI. Matthew Potts, who sat out the second, will warm the bench again.England (possible): 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Phil Salt, 4 Joe Root, 5 Moeen Ali, 6 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 7 Liam Livingstone, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Craig Overton, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Reece Topley.Keshav Maharaj was phlegmatic following defeat in the second ODI and the messaging within the South Africa squad – primarily among the coaches – was there is no need to panic. As such, expect the same starting XI barring any late injury concerns.South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Dwaine Pretorius, 8 Keshav Maharaj (capt), 9 Anrich Nortje, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi.

Pitch and conditions

As discussed earlier, the heatwave has well and truly passed and normal service will be resuming up in Leeds. This was supposed to be the ground that would be a change from the bowler-friendly limited-overs tracks served up throughout the last month. England have no excuse not to pool all their knowledge and experience accrued over the previous five ODIs into the last one of the season.

Stats and trivia

• Should South Africa win, this would be England’s second ODI series defeat this summer – the same number of home series they lost between the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.
• Aiden Markram needs 24 more runs for 1,000 in ODIs. Rassie van der Dussen is one away from 1,500 in the format.

Quotes

“I just want us to continue on that path that we’re on and play that positive brand of cricket – but we can do it better. We haven’t fired with the bat in our whole white-ball summer and we know how dangerous we’ll be when we do that.”
“I don’t think we need to change a lot. We need to keep up our confidence and believe in our cricket. We believe in our game and the brand of cricket we play and we’ve got to stick to it as much as possible.”

And just like that, Arsenal are well and truly back in the Premier League title race.

Mikel Arteta’s side went into the North London derby last night knowing that any dropped points would effectively end their domestic season and made sure that did not happen.

It might not have been the best display of finishing from the men in red, but the defence and midfield were immaculate and kept Tottenham Hotspurs’ dangermen from doing much of anything, especially the sensationally talented Dejan Kulusevski.

The Swedish international has been incredible this season, and while he was anonymous last night, we imagine the Arsenal faithful would be delighted to have a player like him in their team.

Fortunately, recent reports have touted another Premier League star who’s won comparisons to him this season with a move to the Emirates in what could be a game-changing transfer.

Arsenal target Kulusevski-esque attacker

According to a recent report from French outlet RMC Sports, Arsenal are one of several clubs interested in Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Alongside the Gunners, it has been revealed that fellow Premier League sides Manchester United and Spurs are keen on the attacker and that they could move to sign the Cameroonian before the month is out.

However, the report has also claimed that it will take a ‘big cheque’ to tempt the Bees into selling, something in excess of €50m, which comes out to about £42m. None of the interested parties have made a bid yet but they have been in contact to ‘gather information’ about what it could take to complete a deal.

That claim seems to have been backed up by Arsenal insider Connor Harrison who has revealed in the last 24 hours that the Gunners have been speaking to his agent since last summer.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Mbuemo’s immense ability and Arsenal’s need for attacking reinforcements, it’s one well worth pursuing, especially as he’s won comparisons to Kulusevski this season.

How Mbuemo compares to Kulusevski

So then, before we look at some of the other reasons why Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Mbuemo this month, let’s examine this comparison to Kulusevski and where it has come from.

It primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in the Premier League this season, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the Swede is the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Cameroonian.

We can better understand how this conclusion was reached by looking at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, live passes, goal-creating actions, tackles won and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.46

0.45

Shots

1.67

1.71

Live Passes

31.3

30.5

Goal-Creating Actions

0.48

0.48

Tackles Won

0.81

0.86

Carries

28.1

31.1

However, while comparisons to a player of the Spurs ace’s calibre – who already has 16 goal involvements to his name this season – is certainly encouraging, it’s obviously not the sole reason why Arteta and Co should be signing the Brentford star this month.

One of the other most significant reasons is his own attacking output, as in just 25 appearances this season, the “unplayable” 25-year-old, as dubbed by Bees boss Thomas Frank, has scored 13 goals and provided four assists, meaning he’s averaging a goal involvement every 1.47 games.

On top of that, the “incredible” former Troyes star, as dubbed by manager Thomas Frank, can play off the right and down the middle, which could see him provide competition for Bukayo Saka – when fit – and Kai Havertz, thus ensuring nobody’s level can drop.

Ultimately, Arsenal are crying out for a forward signing this month, and from how unbelievably well he has played this season, Mbeumo could be the perfect one, and their own Kulusevski to boot.

Arsenal have been trying to sign £51m star "for years" and "will" get him

There’s optimism he’ll make a move to N5.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 16, 2025

Glasgow Rangers sealed their place in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup following a fairly routine victory over Fraserburgh at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon.

The first half saw the Light Blues struggle to break the Highland League side down effectively, going into the break leading by a single goal.

Philippe Clement unleashed youngsters such as Zak Lovelace, Mason Munn and Clinton Nsiala, while Leon King and Bailey Rice made appearances in the second half.

In the end, the 5-0 win was a job well done by the Gers, but much tougher tasks await in the competition.

At half-time, new signing Rafael Fernandes was paraded in front of the crowd, having joined Rangers on a six-month loan deal with an option to buy.

It could be a smart piece of business by Clement, but he will need to bring in another one or two signings before the window slams shut in two weeks, especially with the fixtures coming thick and fast in the next couple of months.

The club might not have to wait long for signing number two as they potentially await the arrival of another Dujon Sterling…

Dujon Sterling’s Rangers statistics

Michael Beale made Sterling his second summer signing at Rangers. He didn’t get much of an opportunity under Beale, but Clement saw his qualities and the Englishman featured 29 times for the Ibrox side in all competitions, scoring once and grabbing two assists.

It wasn’t just that he was emerging as a reliable option; Sterling also played in six positions, showing his wonderful versatility.

In the Premiership this season, Sterling has completed 89% of his passes, won 57% of his ground duels contested and lost possession just 5.6 times per game for the club.

His performance against Celtic at Ibrox at the start of January was arguably the finest since joining the club. Playing at centre-back, Sterling made nine clearances, won two of his three contested duels and wasn’t even dribbled past during the stunning 3-0 win.

Accurate passes

28.6

8.6

Tackles

1

0.6

Ground duels won

1.6

1.2

Possession lost

5.6

5

Interceptions

0.7

0.6

As it happens, the Light Blues could welcome another versatile figure to the club this month…

Rangers given chance to sign new midfielder

It was reported earlier in the transfer window that Rangers had made an enquiry over the potential signing of CSKA Moscow maestro Sasa Zdjelar.

With FIFA granting foreign players the right to terminate their contracts with Russian clubs due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Gers have hope that they can secure the player this month.

Now, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, the Russian club are prepared to let the midfielder leave Moscow this month. His contract expires in the summer and rather than losing him for nothing, the club are willing to accept a transfer fee this month.

Having the chance to sign someone of Zdjelar’s quality could give Clement a major boost. Not only is he able to operate in the heart of the midfield, but the Serbian is equally adept at centre-back.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Given the club’s recent defensive injury crisis, bringing in a player who is adaptable and can play a few positions well can only be a good thing.

If the Light Blues managed to sign Zdjelar this month, he has the qualities to be Sterling 2.0 for Clement, a vital commodity who can fill in across a range of positions.

Why Rangers should sign Sasa Zdjelar

Clement’s mantra in the transfer market has been to sign younger players with plenty of talent, develop them at Ibrox, and then sell them for a massive profit.

That’s the idea, anyway. A move for Zdjelar is an outlier in terms of the Belgian’s usual signings, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be an attractive option.

Throughout his career, the midfielder has amassed over 400 appearances for five teams, missing only 16 games due to injury since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, indicating how reliable he is.

Scottish football writer Kai Watson hailed the player amid recent links, saying: “He plays mostly as a six but can cover at centre-back and is vastly experienced.”

Adding some experience to the team might not be a bad idea. Given that Zdjelar can play in two positions, Clement is getting more bang for his buck.

Rangers currently have plenty of attacking options who can make a difference in the final third, but the Serbian would offer some defensive solidity in the midfield.

Indeed, the 29-year-old has averaged 1.1 interceptions in the Russian top flight this season, along with making 1.5 tackles, recovering 3.8 balls and winning 64% of his total duels contested per match.

These attributes would ensure he can be a success in Scottish football, dealing with the physical nature of the game and not being overrun in the heart of the pitch.

Sterling has proven that being adaptable can be a real bonus for the team, filling in to certain positions if injuries or suspensions crop up throughout the season.

While Fernandes joined the Gers recently to add defensive cover, Zdjelar would also be an ideal player to bring to Ibrox this month.

Much will depend on the budget Clement has to spend between now and the end of the window, but Rabbi Matondo and Kieran Dowell are free to leave the Gers due to a lack of game time. Clement should be able to raise funds which could see another player or two link up with the Glasgow side between now and the end of the transfer window.

The next 14 days could certainly make or break Rangers’ season, no doubt about that.

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Rangers could be set to bring a defender or two to Ibrox this month

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jan 18, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo terá dois treinamentos antes de enfrentar o Jorge Wilstermann-BOL, nesta quinta-feira (19), às 21h30, no Morumbi, pela Copa Sul-Americana. Após a vitória sobre o Cuiabá, por 2 a 1, o elenco folgou na última segunda-feira e retoma aos trabalhos nesta terça.

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TABELA
VEJA A TABELA DA COPA SUL-AMERICANA

São Paulo chega a dez vitórias consecutivas como mandante; lembre os jogos

Hoje, está prevista uma atividade na parte da manhã para os jogadores no CT da Barra Funda. Na quarta-feira, mais um treinamento também na parte da manhã, onde o treinador Rogério Ceni deve definir a equipe para a partida de quinta-feira.

O São Paulo pode entrar em campo já classificado, caso Everton e Ayacucho empatem. Se o Tricolor vencer o Jorge Wilstermann já garante a vaga para a próxima fase da Sula.

VEJA A PROGRAMAÇÃO DO SÃO PAULO

Segunda-feira (16/05)
Livre

Terça-feira (17/05)
Treino – manhã
CT da Barra Funda

Quarta-feira (18/05)
Treino – manhã
CT da Barra Funda

Quinta-feira (19/05)
São Paulo FC x CD Jorge Willstermann – 21h30
CONMEBOL Sul-Americana
Estádio do Morumbi

Jamie Carragher says Liverpool have "always lacked" a left-footed centre-back and putting Virgil van Dijk in that role doesn't fix the issue.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Liverpool lose 3-2 at Fulham
• Carragher points to Reds weakness
• Van Dijk can't fix the issue

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool legend Carragher suggested Liverpool's poor defensive performance in their 3-2 loss at Fulham was partly down to there being two right-footed centre-backs (Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate). The ex-England international believes for all of Van Dijk's qualities, having a left-footer in the back two may have prevented Alex Iwobi's goal at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

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• AFP
  

  WHAT JAMIE CARRAGHER SAID

  Analysing the goal on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher said: "The reason why Fulham have pushed it to Van Dijk is… and something Liverpool have always lacked… a left-footed centre back. Now, the reason I think Virgil van Dijk probably goes to [left back] Andy Robertson is it's the obvious pass, of course. It's not a bad pass, but maybe a left-footed centre back with the quality of Van Dijk could actually go there [and play a long-range pass from left to right and find Mo Salah in space]. If it's on the right side, he's got that passing range in his locker. And that's why I think Fulham have pushed it this side, pushed Virgil van Dijk onto his left foot. Because they know he can't play that pass and he's going to play the shorter pass. He goes to Andy Robertson and he's just got to go back to the goalkeeper. He tries a cross-field pass, he gets it wrong and we know what happens. It was a nightmare scenario for him."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Van Dijk is into the last months of his Liverpool contract and could be heading for pastures new this summer. If he does go, the Reds will have to find a quality replacement and perhaps they will look for a left-footer – as Carragher has advised. If the 33-year-old stays, strengthening in that area would be a shrewd move anyway. Ultimately, it hasn't been that big an issue as they are on the cusp of another Premier League title.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Arne Slot's Liverpool will look to bounce back from this defeat when they host West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed Thomas Partey and Ben White could be doubts against Real Madrid and confirmed an injury for Jorginho.

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Partey and White doubts for Real Madrid clashArteta reveals a significant injury for JorginhoSet to take on Real Madrid on WednesdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal have already put one foot in the Champions League semi-finals after the Gunners grabbed a 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Emirates. However, Arteta has a few concerns regarding players' fitness for the second leg. Having already provided positive updates on Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, the Basque tactician has now claimed that Partey and White could be doubtful for the clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT ARTETA SAID

Speaking to the media, Arteta said: “We didn’t expect the issue with Thomas that we had to take him out. He felt something so we didn’t want to take any risks.

“We don’t know [the diagnosis], I haven’t spoken to the doctors yet. So they will check him now and see how he is.

“Again, we don’t know [if White will be fit to face Real Madrid]. So he could not be in a condition to be in the squad today and be selected. So we have a few days but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

On Saturday, Arsenal drew 1-1 with Brentford in Premier League action and Gunners midfielder Jorginho had to be taken off late in the clash due to a 'significant' injury to his chest, as per Arteta, and he is now set to miss the Real Madrid clash as well.

Arteta said: “He said he could not breathe properly, so it could be an issue with one of the ribs. It’s strange because if he can’t carry on, that means that it is something significant, I think.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

The Gunners are now preparing their squad for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final as they look to get their hands on their first European trophy in history. Arsenal and Real Madrid will face off this Wednesday at Santiago Bernabeu.

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، آخر تطورات ملف المدير الفني الجديد للنادي الأهلي، مشيرًا إلى أن الإسباني خوسيه ريفيرو، المدير الفني السابق لأورلاندو بايرتس الجنوب إفريقي، هو الاسم الأقرب لتولي قيادة الفريق الأحمر خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الثلاثاء: “السؤال الذي على ألسنة الجميع، هل فعلًا الإسباني خوسيه ريفيرو مدرب أورلاندو بايريتس الذي تقدم باستقالته منذ يومين، مُرشح بقوة لتدريب النادي الأهلي؟ أقول لك نعم، هو من الأسماء القوية جدًا والأقرب لتدريب المارد الأحمر”.

وتابع: “لكن تتبقى بعض التفاصيل الصغيرة التي تفصله عن تدريب الأهلي، كان يوجد 3 نقاط خلافية، انتهت واحدة منهم بالأمس، ويتبقى نقطتين، خاصة بالطاقم المساعد والصلاحيات الكاملة، بعيدًا عن الأمور المادية، وهي نقاط قابلة للحل”.

وأضاف: “لكن مازالت هناك نقطتين يؤخران إتمام الاتفاق، بالإضافة إلى أن عماد النحاس يسير بشكل جيد مع الفريق، فلما التغيير الآن، الدوري سينتهي يوم 28، والمدرب لن يستطيع أن يبدأ مهمته في هذا التوقيت، لأنك بذلك تُفسد ميكانيزم الفريق”.

طالع أيضًا | مدرب الترجي السابق يوضح حقيقة مفاوضات الأهلي والزمالك للتعاقد معه

وأشار: “أسامة هلال، هو من يعمل في هذا الملف، وسبق وتعاقد مع جراديشار ومحمد علي بن رمضان، وكان له دور في ضم وسام أبو علي، فأصبح يحوذ ثقة الكابتن جافين في الأهلي، وأسامة هلال هو من يعمل في هذه الملفات دون مُسمى معروف للناس، لكنه يبذل مجهودًا كبيرًا داخل النادي خلال الفترة الماضية”.

وشدد: “خوسيه ريفيرو هو المرشح الأقرب لتولي تدريب الأهلي، لكن هناك مثل يقول (الشيطان يكمن في التفاصيل) الماديات اتفقوا عليها، واتفقوا على المساعدين، لكن القصة الآن الخلاف على النقطتين السابق ذكرهما”.

وأردف: “ريفيرو من أقوى المرشحين، لو حدث وأتم الاتفاق، فإن الأهلي قد اختار مشروعًا للنادي، هو مدرب عمره 47 سنة، مدرب هجومي ومنظم دفاعيًا، تأهل لنصف نهائي دوري الأبطال، وفاز على الأهلي في القاهرة، وخسر في الدقائق الأخيرة أمام بيراميدز، لكنه مدرب مشروع، صغير السن إلى حد ما”.

واختتم: “هناك 3 أسماء أخرى مُرشحة، والكابتن الخطيب أجرى محادثات عبر (زووم) مع 4 مدربين آخرين، ولكن بات خوسيه ريفيرو أقوى المرشحين لقيادة النادي الأهلي”.

Liverpool could sign a “magnificent” two-footed player within the next few days, as they are now willing to pay his £19m asking price, according to a report.

Reds eyeing a midfielder

Arne Slot is very keen to bring in a new defensive midfielder either this month or in the summer, and the manager believes he may well have identified the perfect option, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes being identified as a major target.

The Reds are also considering some options from further afield, and VfB Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller is now rising up their transfer shortlist, with a deal possible for a fee in the region of £34m in the summer.

Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni also remains an option for the Merseyside club, having reportedly submitted a bid for the 24-year-old midfielder earlier this month, although the move has seemingly not progressed since then.

Not only are the Premier League leaders keen on signing a defensive midfielder, but they are also considering some more attacking options, with Lyon star Rayan Cherki previously being identified as a January target.

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According to the latest update from Spanish sources, Liverpool are now willing to pay €22m (£19m) to bring Cherki to Anfield this month, having stepped up their interest over the past few weeks.

The French club’s financial issues mean they are willing to sanction the attacking midfielder’s departure in the January transfer window, and with the Reds happy to meet the asking price, the deal could be done imminently.

The report states the 21-year-old could complete a move to Anfield in the next few days, with Slot viewing him ‘as an ideal option to add dynamism and creativity to his midfield’.

Cherki showing promising signs in Ligue 1

The Lyon ace, who doesn’t have a weak foot as per Transfermarkt, is still in the infancy of his career at 21-years-old, but he has cemented himself as a key player since first making his breakthrough in the 2019-20 season, and he has shown signs of year-on-year improvement.

This season, the starlet has picked up three goals and three assists in 14 Ligue 1 games, meaning he is on course to better his total of 10 league goal contributions last term.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig also lauded the youngster for his performance against Switzerland U21s just over 18 months ago.

Liverpool should not pass up the opportunity to sign Cherki this winter, considering he will be available for a very affordable price, and it is exciting news that a deal could be done in a matter of days.