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Leeds United are among a number of clubs to have shown an interest in Vitoria de Guimaraes youngster Marcus Edwards, according to a fresh report.

The Lowdown: Edwards shines abroad

The 22-year-old Englishman has flourished in Portugal since leaving Tottenham in 2019, scoring 16 goals and registering 14 assists for his current club.

Edwards is another example of a young English player thriving abroad after being given more first-team opportunities, as was the case with Jadon Sancho and now Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund.

The former Spurs winger has made eight appearances for England’s under-20s, scoring twice in that time.

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The Latest: Leeds linked with move

According to Jornal de Noticias [via Sport Witness], Leeds were keen on signing Edwards in the summer, along with Olympiakos, Sporting CP and Porto.

Offers were turned down for the winger, though, and he now has a €50m (£42.7m) release clause in his Vitoria contract.

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The Verdict: Exciting long-term signing

Edwards is an intriguing player to keep an eye on, considering that his former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino claimed that he played like ‘the beginning of Messi’ back in 2016.

At 22, he could come in as a long-term acquisition for Leeds, potentially blossoming into a player who might go on to fulfil Pochettino’s substantial comparison to the multiple Ballon D’Or-winning Argentine.

Edwards’ current deal doesn’t expire until 2024, however, so that release clause would need to be triggered in what would be a club-record transfer for Leeds if it went through.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly keen on signing a Premier League player. Find out who it is here.

Michael Clarke, the flashy millionaire who grew up playing all the shots, fine-tuned his working-class values to secure a relieving draw for Australia

Peter English at Edgbaston03-Aug-2009

Michael Clarke, the flashy millionaire who grew up playing all the shots, fine-tuned his working-class values to secure a relieving draw for Australia. Clarke has become Australia’s most reliable batsman, stepping up when Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey have wobbled, and in partnership with Marcus North ensured the tourists head to Yorkshire with a chance to level the series.Given how they have been outplayed in the past two Tests, Australia will have to be at their best to hold the urn at The Oval later in the month, but Clarke and North kept the team breathing for at least another week. It was the first time Clarke had battled successfully to save a Test, doing it with calm assurance, tight defence and a straight bat. This might have happened before, but Clarke has not had many opportunities to shield his team in such a situation over 50 matches.Three times against India he has stayed for long periods in the last innings, but on each occasion Australia were too far out of reach, both in time and in target, and losses ensued. It was the same at Lord’s two weeks ago when his delightful 136 delayed England’s convincing victory. He took little public comfort in the display but in his room would have been satisfied with his individual brilliance.He is aspirational, well off and well marketed, traits which can lead to accusations of being distant and distracted. As vice-captain, his on-field characteristics have been recognised by the hierarchy and there was no drift in focus on the final day, no thinking of cocktail parties while still at the office.Australia weren’t safe until deep into the second session and Clarke made sure he stayed till the end with another composed century. “It’s good,” he said. “It was a bit disappointing when I got out at Lord’s, so to be there at the end, I’m pretty happy with that.”In consecutive matches he has fought to inspire a team that should become his whenever Ponting decides he has had – or done – enough. Clarke batted like a leader today, waiting, watching, nudging and pushing. Tested by Graeme Swann’s spin, he swept a fierce boundary, but when he looked for runs it was mostly in front of the wicket.It is a shame not to see him hitting over cover, like he did when he arrived with a flash of cheeky smiles in 2004, but his driving along the ground is also pretty special. It is a trade he has made to succeed long term, both in normal conditions and the swinging ones which are causing problems for his mates.He will start the fourth Test as the side’s leading run-scorer in the series, having taken 352 at 88.00, 104 more than Simon Katich. If he checks his player profile this week he will also see his career average has gone above 50, the mark of a great, for the first time since 2004. By posting 83, 1, 136, 29 and 103 not out, he has displayed the most in-tune attitude of the spluttering outfit.When North, who started accelerating late in the day with some rural swings, fell on 96, slashing a catch to James Anderson who dived spectacularly in the gully, Clarke dropped his head. In a previous life he gave up starts, threw away hundreds and rued the misses. His main mistake today came on 38 when he pulled one of Ravi Bopara’s meek mediums to Andrew Strauss at midwicket and watched the captain drop it.With the result secure and the only thing of interest left his impending century, Clarke did lose some intensity. He had his off stump tickled by Stuart Broad on 92 without the bail toppling and he edged a Bopara no-ball to slip. “When it’s your day, it’s your day,” he said.He remained until the sides shook hands for the stalemate after raising his 12th Test century. “I did ask when he was on 96 if he wanted to go off and quite surprisingly he said no,” Strauss said. “We just had to wait.” An eased three to midwicket took Clarke to 99 and the hundred arrived with a pull behind square off Bopara.Until now his heaviest contribution in the latter stages of a Test draw was 39 at Old Trafford, the day when Ponting’s masterful 156 speed-bumped England’s Ashes surge. Back then Ponting couldn’t lift his side for more than a day and they lost the next match at Trent Bridge. The less sparkly version of Clarke will attempt to do better at Headingley from Friday.

An update has emerged on Italian coach Antonio Conte, regarding his thoughts on a move to Newcastle.

What’s the talk?

According to The Chronicle’s Lee Ryder, the out-of-contract manager is interested in pursuing a potential move to Newcastle following PIF’s takeover of the club.

The report claims that the Italian is open to returning to the Premier League and is now willing to listen to conditions from Newcastle, should an offer be forthcoming.

Cloud nine

Newcastle fans will surely be on cloud nine after reading this update from Ryder. It provides a glimpse into the new world the Magpies are entering following the takeover and shows the level of quality that they could now attract with financial backing.

Would serial winner Antonio Conte want to take the Newcastle job with Mike Ashley in charge coming off a transfer window where the club made one senior signing? It is impossible to say with certainty, but the timing of this report from Ryder suggests that the motivation for his interest is PIF’s involvement on Tyneside.

Not only will supporters be delighted with what Conte’s interest means in terms of how the club is now being viewed, but they will also be buzzing that there is potential for him to become the next manager at St. James’ Park.

Steve Bruce is reportedly set to be sacked this month, with the club eyeing Ralf Rangnick to come in as a sporting director. Any decision on Bruce’s replacement may have to wait until Rangnick, or whoever else they decide to bring in, is appointed in the role.

Conte’s potential interest in the role could appeal to the sporting director as his track record as a manager is exceptional. He has won four Serie A titles, one Premier League, one FA Cup and two Italian Super Cup titles throughout his career at Juventus, Inter and Chelsea.

The 52-year-old is also a proven Premier League head coach thanks to his time at Stamford Bridge. Conte managed 76 games in the English top-flight and averaged 2.14 points per game as he picked up 51 wins in those matches, winning one title in the process.

This is why Newcastle fans should be on cloud nine with this news. The Italian has shown that he has the quality to lead a team to the title in this country. That is not to say that his arrival at St. James’ Park would immediately make them title contenders, but it does mean that he could instil a winning mentality and help them to climb the table.

AND in other news, NUFC must land £210k-p/w gem who is at the “highest level”, fans would love it…

أفادت تقارير صحفية أن نادي مانشستر يونايتد الإنجليزي، لم يستسلم بشأن التعاقد مع الدولي الهولندي فرينكي دي يونج، لاعب وسط فريق برشلونة في سوق الانتقالات الصيفية.

ودخل مانشستر يونايتد في مفاوضات مع برشلونة من أجل التعاقد مع دي يونج، وتوصل إلى اتفاق بالفعل مع النادي الكتالوني، ألا أن الهولندي لا يريد الانتقال إلى أولد ترافورد.

وحسب صحيفة “تليخراف” الهولندية، فإن مانشستر يونايتد لم يستسلم في صفقة دي يونج وهناك قناعة تامة داخل النادي بالتعاقد مع دي يونج قبل نهاية سوق الانتقالات في 31 أغسطس.

وقالت الصحيفة إن مانشستر يونايتد سيشن هجومًا شاملًا خلال الأسبوع المُقبل للتوقيع مع دي يونج.

اقرأ أيضًا – خفض راتبه أو المغادرة.. برشلونة يضع دي يونج أمام خيارين

وأشارت الصحيفة إلى أنهم داخل الشياطين الحمر يرون أنه من الممكن جدًا التوصل إلى اتفاق رغم وجود اهتمام قوي من تشيلسي للتعاقد مع دي يونج.

ويأتي إصرار مانشستر يونايتد على التعاقد مع دي يونج، بطلب من مدربه إريك تين هاج، حيث طلب من إدارة النادي رفع العرض للاعب والقيام بكل شيئ من أجل إقناعه بالانتقال إلى الشياطين الحمُر.

ويريد مانشستر يونايتد أن يستغل رغبة تشيلسي في التعاقد مع مهاجم (رأس حربة) أولًا قبل التحرك وشراء لاعب وسط جديد.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City travel to France on Tuesday to take on Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG side in the Champions League.

City have won six of their last seven matches and have not lost a game in all competitions since their opening day Premier League defeat to Tottenham.

They now come into the game against PSG after beating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the top-flight on Saturday, looking to continue their positive momentum ahead of their next match against Liverpool.

In order to give his side the best chance of defeating PSG, Guardiola must unleash Spanish international Ferran Torres against the French outfit.

The Spaniard was on the bench against Chelsea and Phil Foden struggled in the false nine role, at times. He was too slow to react to passes into his feet with his back to the centre-backs and his end product left a lot to be desired, which is why Guardiola must either drop him back into midfield or completely out of the team to accommodate Torres.

Guardiola, who once hailed him as a ‘top player’, compared Torres to Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy in the way he moves off defenders. He said:

“In this position he makes a movement like the best strikers in behind, moving incredibly well.

“His movement is similar to Jamie Vardy.

“He is very young. Manchester City did a great job buying him for a great price.

“He is a good finisher and had a goal was disallowed last week, when the finish was perfect.

“I’m very pleased with his movements, work ethic, and he has learned many things as we saw today – we are pleased on many, many levels.”

This highlights what Torres offers off the ball with his work rate and movement at the top end of the pitch. However, he has also shown that he has the end product to be a match-winner, with two goals and one assist in four Premier League games this term.

Last season, he managed 13 goals and three assists in all competitions. This included four goals in six Champions League games, proving that the 21-year-old has what it takes to win matches for City at the very top level.

He has shown that he can score and create goals for City and his movement could cause issues for the PSG centre-backs and open up space for other players to thrive. For example, if his runs can stretch the back four then that could cause pockets for Kevin de Bruyne to pick up the ball and do damage in.

Therefore, Guardiola must unleash him against PSG to give his side the best chance of winning.

AND in other news, Forget Jesus: Man City beast with 71% duels won ran the show vs Chelsea…

Liverpool will be hoping to extend their unbeaten start to the new Premier League campaign when they take on Leeds United this afternoon.

The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw with European champions Chelsea last time out, following their previous victories over Norwich City and Burnley. After Reece James was sent off for the Blues on the stroke of half-time, Liverpool would have been disappointed not to collect all three points at Anfield before the international break.

A well-organised Chelsea backline kept the 19-time English champions at bay after the interval as they struggled to create many clear-cut opportunities in front of goal.

Although Leeds aren’t famed for their defensive solidity, Marcelo Bielsa’s charges will also pose a tricky test for Liverpool, and Klopp may have to change things up in order to avoid another disappointing result.

The Elland Road outfit play an open and expansive brand of football consisting of intense pressing and an all-action approach.

As a result, Klopp must bring Thiago back into his midfield after failing to start the 30-year-old so far this season. The diminutive technician will be able to bring his tactical intelligence and incredible technical ability to dictate the tempo, allowing Liverpool to have an element of control over their opponents.

Although a serious knee injury limited the Spaniard to just 20 Premier League starts in his maiden campaign on English shores, his quality in a struggling Reds side was plain for all to see.

As per SofaScore, Thiago averaged 1.3 key passes per league game and achieved a passing accuracy of 90% while also making a significant defensive contribution, averaging 2.5 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per match.

His outstanding displays caught the eye of several impressed onlookers, including Liverpool teammate Nat Philips, who heaped praise on Thiago for his technical and tactical ability.

“(Thiago is) unbelievable. His technical ability and knowledge of the game. His head is always on a pivot,” the 24-year-old told the Blood Red Podcast (as relayed by Rousing the Kop).

“You haven’t seen anything yet. There were some moments he’d produce in matches later on that he had produced in training.

“In those moments, you know this guy is a serious player, so yeah, just to have shared a pitch with him is something I can look back on and be proud of because he is an unbelievable footballer.”

Therefore, Thiago could make the difference for Liverpool in today’s encounter, so Klopp should reinstate the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich ace to  his starting lineup against Bielsa’s Leeds.

In other news… Liverpool linked with swap move involving “unbelievable” gem, fans may be concerned 

Out-of-favour Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek would be a good fit for Everton, Alex McLeish has told Football Insider. 

The lowdown

The £35m signing was limited to just four Premier League starts during his first season at Old Trafford and has only played five minutes so far this term (via WhoScored).

Furthermore, his agent has said that the return of Cristiano Ronaldo to the club is ‘bad news’, as it will further limit the 24-year-old’s game-time.

The player’s camp held talks with Marcel Brands and Farhad Moshiri over a move to Everton, but United stepped in to prevent any such deal.

Van de Beek has shown occasional flashes of his ability since moving to the Red Devils. For instance, Owen Hargreaves said he was ‘close to perfect’ in a 4-1 win over Istanbul Basaksehir in last season’s Champions League.

The latest

McLeish has said that the Dutchman should be willing to ‘drop down a little bit’ from a title-contending side to one on the periphery of Europe, as that is apparently his best chance of proving himself at Premier League level.

“He’d be going to a club who are really ambitious, trying to get into the top six,” the former Scotland manager told Football Insider. “Maybe just drop down a little bit.

“He is highly regarded. The only way that we’re going to see how highly regarded he is is by seeing him on the field on a regular basis. I can see him at Everton.”

The verdict

In theory, Van de Beek would be an excellent signing for Everton if they could pull it off. Indeed, some might say it woud be following the ideal model of plucking talented players from the periphery of the elite clubs.

However, if Rafael Benitez is sticking with his 4-2-3-1 formation, then there could be issues. Van de Beek can’t really slot into the defensive midfield two and shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a number 10 either. If it’s all about game-time, he should be looking at clubs who play 4-3-3 instead.

In other news, many Everton fans were pleased with this transfer news.

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge insists that Everton star James Rodriguez has downed tools at the club, amid a claim by Pipe Sierra that the club will make one last attempt to offer him plus €30m for Porto star Luis Diaz.

The Colombia international joined the club last summer under the management of Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian, of course, has departed for Real Madrid, bringing a shock end to his reign at Goodison Park.

Since the appointment of Rafael Benitez as manager, Rodriguez has not played a single minute of competitive football.

He was left out of Ancelotti’s squad for the last two games of last season and has yet to return.

He even admitted during a Twitch stream that he was not aware who Everton’s next opponents were, and Bridge believes that he has tarnished his reputation with his actions at Goodison Park.

In total, Rodriguez has made 26 appearances for the club and has scored six goals, while also providing nine assists, and Bridge believes there is an obvious reason for the playmaker not joining a Champions League club before his switch to Merseyside.

He said: “A pretty awful last few weeks. His reputation, you kind of understand, in a funny way now, with the greatest respect, why he went to Everton and he didn’t go to a Champions League club because there’s obviously something there, not just because of his love and respect for Carlo Ancelotti, but it sounds like he’s completely downed tools.

“When you reveal that you don’t know who your team is playing next, it’s just completely unacceptable.

“You don’t get away with it with any fans, but Everton fans are good supporters and they’re not going to appreciate that.”

It was all over before the packed Gaddafi Stadium crowd could blink. Sri Lanka inflicted one of the biggest annihilations in ODIs as they trampled over a hapless Pakistan to dismiss them for 75 in response to 309

The Bulletin by Kanishkaa Balachandran24-Jan-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 137 off 139 balls © AFP
It was over before the thousands of fans at the Gaddafi Stadium could blink. Sri Lanka inflicted one of the biggest annihilations in one-day internationals and trampled over Pakistan to post a 234-run win and take the series 2-1. It was the hosts’ largest margin of defeat in ODIs: they were dismissed for 75 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 309.Sri Lanka’s struggles against weak sides in recent months seemed a distant memory after the rout. The victory brought back memories of the time their bowlers dismantled India for 54 at Sharjah in 2000, after the batsmen had posted 299. They were not favourites to win this series, primarily due to an out-of-form top order, but the batsmen collectively shrugged off their poor form. Tillakaratne Dilshan set it up with a mature 137, Jayasuriya contributed 45, and Sangakkara made 50.However, it was the speed at which the new-ball attack scythed through Pakistan that startled. Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara used swing and seam movement to make up for the lack of express-pace and proved too difficult to handle for Pakistan’s batsmen. Six Pakistan wickets fell before the tenth over, putting an end to the contest.The conditions were predicted to favour the fast bowlers at the start of play but they got deadlier when Sri Lanka began bowling under lights. Thushara struck in the second over, trapping make-shift opener Younis Khan lbw, before Kulasekara found Salman Butt’s edge to hand him a first-ball duck. It got worse for Pakistan when Kamran Akmal was caught in front by a Thushara delivery which cut in, skidded, and hit him low on the pads. The inspired bowling was backed up by superb fielding: Farveez Maharoof pulled off a blinder at short wicket, intercepting a full-blooded pull from Khurram Manzoor.Even Misbah-ul-Haq had no answers to a delivery from Thushara and he edged to the wicketkeeper. Shahid Afridi fell four balls later, shouldering arms to a delivery that jagged back and had his off-stump flattened. Sections of the crowd that had cheered his entrance moments before began to leave.Umar Gul walked in and began to time the ball through the gaps on the off side like a genuine batsman while Shoaib Malik stood helpless at the other end. Pakistan were 22 for 6 with no hope of recovery. The spinners wrapped up the tail and Muttiah Muralitharan picked up the final wicket, bowling Sohail Khan, to become the second bowler after Wasim Akram to take 500 ODI wickets. Pakistan’s total of 75 was their lowest at home.Smart StatsSri Lanka’s series win was their fourth consecutive win in an ODI tournament in Pakistan. They’ve won five of the ten tournaments they have played in Pakistan.Pakistan’s 75 is their fourth-lowest in a completed innings, and their worstat home. They were last bowled out for a score under 100 against South Africa in Mohali in 2006.Pakistan’s 234-run defeat is their heaviest in terms of runs, and the seventh-biggest overall.Muttiah Muralitharan became the second bowler to take 500 wickets in ODIs. He’s the only spinner in the top six and is three wickets away from overtaking Wasim Akram as the leading ODI wicket-taker.Sri Lanka scored in excess of 300 for the first time in 17 ODIs. Their last 300-plus score came against India in Karachi during the Asia Cup in July 2008.The spectacular nature of Pakistan’s collapse, however, should not overshadow Dilshan’s outstanding contribution earlier in the day. Sri Lanka continued their experiment of opening with him and Dilshan battled through overcast conditions to compile his career-best score. He was circumspect initially against the fast bowlers and was dropped on 1 by Salman Butt at backward point before realizing that a grafting approach was the need of the day.He paddled and nudged, occasionally playing the fierce cut, and only after his hundred – his second in ODIs – did he open up. He slammed length deliveries and made room to carve the fuller ones over the off side. Pakistan’s spinners gave him width and they paid for it.Sri Lanka’s innings was built on partnerships and each one took the game further away from Pakistan. Malik pushed the field back, opening up gaps in the outfield, and allowed the batsmen to progress. Steadily, Sri Lanka built towards the target Mahela Jayawardene had aimed for before the start of the game.The contributions from Sangakkara and Thilina Kandamby were significant as well. Sangakkara swept the spinners and tapped the ball into gaps on the off side to take singles. His approach brought back memories of Arjuna Ranatunga and his 104-run partnership with Dilshan came at a run-a-ball. Sangakkara and Dilshan ran swiftly between the wickets but a moment of confusion over a risky single resulted in Sangakkara’s wicket.Dilshan, however, did not let the setback affect him and he added 57 more with Kandamby. His century was his second important contribution of the series, after the 76 in the second ODI in Karachi, and he was adjudged Man of the Series for scoring 255 runs in the three matches.

Some Liverpool supporters are unconvinced by a report claiming the Reds believe Takumi Minamino will go up a gear this season.

Jurgen Klopp ended up bringing in just one player in the entire summer transfer window, with Ibrahima Konate arriving from RB Leipzig.

It was a summer that left many fans disappointed, at a time when their rivals have spent big and there appeared to be a need to strengthen.

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It could certainly be argued that another attacking player was needed – someone who was able to provide competition to the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino.

According to the Liverpool Echo [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter], however, Liverpool are confident that Minamino will benefit from a full pre-season and will be a handy squad player this season, despite struggling at Anfield to date.

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Liverpool fans react to Minamino claim

These Reds fans took to Twitter to provide their thoughts, remaining unconvinced that the Japanese is ready to make the step up.

“Want to believe this but we’ve heard it all before for them or similar players to hardly get a game”

Credit: @Sean_Cousins95

“Minamino has benefited so much that he’s played a grand total of 0 minutes in 3 games”

Credit: @_Nathanshapland

“Pfffttttt”

Credit: @finallypipoy

“These Insiders will believe anything as long as they will save FSG a few bucks”

Credit: @la1lit

“That’s exactly why Klopp has shown zero faith in him so far in the league”

Credit: @JoshLFC1909

“We literally heard this last season”

Credit: @JamzLFC786

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been reacting to rumoured interest in one Premier League player. Read more here.