All posts by h716a5.icu

Manchester City sent representatives to watch an exciting target in action last weekend as Pep Guardiola looks to strengthen his squad, as per reports.

Manchester City transfer updates…

The Blues have made a typically strong start to the Premier League campaign and look to be in a good position to challenge for their fourth title in four successive campaigns. Summer signings Jeremy Doku, Matheus Nunes, Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic have all made a tangible impact since arriving at the Etihad Stadium; nevertheless, more incomings and outgoings will occur in January as Guardiola looks to get his squad into shape ahead of the second period of the season.

In a recent shock transfer update from Four Four Two, Manchester City are believed to be keen on Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo; nevertheless, there isn't documentation of the type of fee Guardiola's men may need to fork out to land the 18-year-old.

Only a handful of players have crossed the divide in Manchester over recent years, with the last to play for both clubs being Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho, who featured prominently in the City youth set-up before moving on to Borussia Dortmund.

Nevertheless, Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne could be set to walk through the exit door next summer, with Saudi Pro League big-spenders Al Nassr believed to be eyeing a swoop for the Belgium international. Reportedly, the 32-year-old was sounded out over a move to the Middle East during the summer transfer window; however, no official bid was made by Al Nassr, who are keen to bring in a string of high-profile players to accompany the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo Brozovic at Al-Awall Park.

Now, it looks as if Manchester City have been keeping tabs on a player who could potentially provide competition to De Bruyne or even replace the veteran, according to new developments.

Manchester City scout Bayer Leverkusen ace Florian Wirtz

According to 90min, Manchester City sent scouts to watch Bayer Leverkusen man Florian Wirtz last weekend, as his side defeated Hoffenheim 3-2 away from home in the Bundesliga.

Florian Wirtz's statistics in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

15

Goals

6

Assists

9

Germany international Wirtz opened the scoring during the encounter in an impressive display, which will only increase Manchester City's admiration toward his talent, which is said to go back several years. Argentinian midfielder Exequiel Palacios was also in action for the visitors and is rumoured to be a player that the club are also examining.

From an offensive standpoint, Wirtz has been in exceptional form this term for Bayer Leverkusen, recording an average of two shots, 2.5 key passes and 2.5 dribbles per match in the Bundesliga (Wirtz statistics – WhoScored).

Labelled a "great player" by Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, the 20-year-old has no shortage of elite-level suitors, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Bayern themselves also believed to be in the hunt to sign Wirtz.

As his stock continues to rise, it may only be a matter of time before Wirtz swaps the BayArena for a fresh challenge as he continues to catch the eye of the world's best sides.

Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps has reportedly made the decision to switch kit suppliers from adidas to Puma in a multi-year deal.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Earps previously had deal adidasReportedly leaves to sign with PumaJoins Roebuck and Keating at kit manufacturerWHAT HAPPENED?

The Lionesses star is set to swap between the rival German sports brands, according to the . Earps has been seen donning Puma gloves in recent weeks in training pictures, rather than her customary adidas pair, and an official announcement is expected in the coming days. In signing with Puma she will join England team-mates and fellow goalkeepers Ellie Roebuck and Khiara Keating.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

According to the 's report, Earps, who is a two-time FIFA Best Goalkeeper winner and current England Payer of the Year, was approached by multiple brands, but Puma made the "strongest case". With Roebuck and Keating also under contract it is thought that Puma are committed to signing goalkeepers, a position that has been traditionally ignored commercially in the women's game. Earps, for example, is famed for her work in getting Nike to release the England 'keeper jersey for the 2023 World Cup, which eventually sold out in minutes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Earps isn't the only high-profile women's player to leave adidas in recent months. Barcelona star Salma Paralluelo has moved to American giants Nike, with Chelsea duo Millie Bright and Erin Cuthbert reportedly following suit.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR EARPS?

Donning her new Puma gloves and boots, Earps will next be in action for England as the Lionesses prepare to take on Sweden and Ireland in Euro 2025 qualifiers. Should they qualify, Sarina Wingman’s side will be out to defend their crown.

Tottenham Hotspur's acquisition of James Maddison for £40m from relegated Leicester City was an astute piece of business. The England international has already been labelled by football pundit Jamie Carragher as "one of the most influential players" in the Premier League this season.

However, Spurs' display against Wolverhampton Wanderers prior to the international break was living proof that the side have become quite reliant on Maddison to create chances under Ange Postecoglou, having had just six shots at Molineux with an expected goals total of 0.7 while the playmaker was absent through injury.

Reports are now suggesting that the North London outfit have set their sights on adding more midfield depth ahead of the January transfer window.

Jobe Bellingham to Tottenham Hotspur links

According to Football Insider, Spurs are keeping tabs on Sunderland's highly-rated youngster Jobe Bellingham and have been interested in securing the 18-year-old's signature ever since January, when he was in Birmingham City's starting lineup. The outlet are also reporting that Bellingham's impressive form with the Black Cats has garnered interest from other sides in the Premier League as well as clubs in the Bundesliga.

Despite, having just turned 18 in September, Bellingham has featured in all 16 games in the Championship for Sunderland as Tony Mowbray's side sit just inside the playoff places, seeking a return to the top-flight for the first time in seven years. The youngster has managed to bag three goals and record one assist in the process, having been deployed as both a central midfielder and a number ten.

Jobe, the brother of Real Madrid superstar Jude, has made waves in England's second tier, and has been described by former Premier League striker Troy Deeney as an "absolute monster" in the making.

Jobe Bellingham's stats this season

Some Sunderland supporters even believe that Bellingham is a "copy and paste" of his older sibling which could mean the youngster has a higher ceiling than Tottenham Hotspur's Maddison, should the English giants secure his signature this winter.

Bellingham's stats at such a young age certainly make for impressive reading when compared to all players in the same position from similar leagues to the Championship over the past calendar year. The £3m midfielder is ranked in the top 12% for non-penalty goals per 90 as well as the top 2% for non-penalty xG per 90. Additionally, Bellingham is currently sitting in the top 6% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 and the top 19% for progressive passes received per 90, according to FBref.

This season, only Jack Clarke has scored more goals for the Black Cats than Bellingham, who is level with Dan Neil on three goals and boasts a 56% shot accuracy as well as a 17% conversion rate, according to the BBC.

The Sunderland starlet is also holding his own against Maddison in a number of key attacking metrics, proving Bellingham's frightening talent – despite his tender age.

Goals

0.22

0.31

Expected Goals

0.25

0.29

Assists

0.07

0.51

Expected Assists

0.1

0.33

Key Passes

0.89

3.16

Progressive Passes

4.07

9.9

Progressive Carries

1.78

2.96

Goals Per Shot

0.13

0.11

Stats via FBref

Maddison is still way ahead of Bellingham in quality, especially with his creative nous. However, the fact that the youngster can even keep up in certain stats is a testament to his ability and could point towards a future passing of the torch should Spurs make a deal with Sunderland over the coming months.

It may be Maddison who is the shinight light at N17 at present, but if a deal for the teenager is done in 2024, it could be Bellingham who reaches heights similar to that of his Golden Boy-winning brother.

Mohamed Salah has been told that he is not a "world-class player", with Manchester United legend Paul Ince pointing out a key flaw in his game.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Ince explained why Salah is 'not world-class'Liverpool star scored against Ince's former club on SundayEnjoying another fine season for the RedsGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Egyptian scored his 23rd goal of the season in all competitions for Liverpool on Sunday as they played out a 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford, and remains one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League despite his 32nd birthday fast approaching. However, former United midfielder Ince believes the technical side of his game could be improved, which prevents him from being counted as world-class.

AdvertisementWHAT INCE SAID

Speaking to , Ince said: "I think his record speaks for itself. Is he a world-class player? Technically, I wouldn't say so. I think sometimes when he cuts in on his left foot, putting balls into the box, they are not great. But as far as a world-class player scoring goals and making things happen, I think yes."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Salah's journey at Liverpool has been remarkable since he arrived from Roma in 2017. With 32 goals in 36 Premier League appearances in his debut season, Salah showcased his exceptional talent. His goal-scoring prowess has continued throughout his tenure at Anfield, with a total of 209 goals from 340 appearances, placing him third in Liverpool's all-time highest goal-scorers list having surpassed legendary figures such as Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, and Kenny Dalglish.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR SALAH?

As Liverpool contest a tense title race with Arsenal and Manchester City, Salah remains pivotal at Anfield and needs to step up in the final lap of the season. He has 17 goals this campaign from 25 league appearances and will look to add to his tally when the Reds host Crystal Palace on Sunday. However, before taking on the Eagles, Salah must inspire Liverpool to a win over Atalanta in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday evening.

Aside from a Trent Boult spell and an indifferent slog-overs bowling performance in the first ODI, Pakistan have been on top of the visitors through the series

The Preview by Danyal Rasool10-Nov-2018Big pictureWith Pakistan finally showing how difficult they can be to play when they extend their T20 quality over the length of an ODI, we have a delicious series decider to savour. Pakistan applied the squeeze against New Zealand for the best part of 30 overs on Friday, something they have struggled to do in the middle overs against quality opposition. The visitors never found any momentum, and when they attempted to launch in the final overs, it was too little, too late.The levity with which they approached yesterday’s chase suggests most of the problems Pakistan have had in that department might be mental. While New Zealand didn’t bowl as well up front as they had during the first ODI, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq’s shot selection was judicious, measured and sensible. They made the bowlers ineffective when the wickets needed early on didn’t materialise. With the sting taken out of the attack, the pair, and then Babar Azam, calmly maneuvered the innings, extending the opening partnership to the point where Pakistan never felt an pressure whatsoever.New Zealand, good as they have been recently, haven’t played great cricket this series, and Pakistan must feel they are there for the taking Sunday. The top order shows no signs of firing yet; George Worker struggled for timing while Munro has been unable to get out of T20 mode so far. That has reduced Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to rebuilding jobs when they could be lethal if they arrived at the crease with their side in a comfortable position. Indeed, at the moment, the visitors have much to thank Taylor’s grit for, but they will need assistance from the top order if a strokemaker like him is to completely loosen up.Pakistan, meanwhile, must feel they have been on top of New Zealand almost all series. It is one explosive burst by Trent Boult and an indifferent death-overs performance that permitted New Zealand to go into the last game 1-0 up. Shaheen Afridi has been their best bowler and looks like taking the next step in what is still the gestation phase of his cricketing evolution. Shadab Khan has been almost regimental in his middle-overs discipline, with Mohammad Hafeez a more than capable sidekick. Hasan Ali’s form is a bit of a concern, as is the potential fitness of Imam-ul-Haq after a blow to the helmet on Friday, but most of the side is fit and firing, and should feel confident of mounting a stern challenge for the trophy.Form guide (last five matches, most recent first)Pakistan WLLLWNew Zealand LWLWLIn the spotlightHasan Ali was arguably the best limited-overs bowler in the world last year, and the Player of the Tournament in Pakistan’s run to the Champions Trophy title. Across formats, he took 63 wickets in 29 matches at 18.85, with an ODI economy rate of 5.03. For a bowler that was often on during the death overs, this was almost superhuman. This year, though, his ODI numbers are far more sobering. With 19 wickets in 14 matches, his ODI average is a hardly eye-catching 34, with his economy rate up at 5.70. Three ODIs against Zimbabwe still flatter those figures – without them, the economy rate goes up above six and the average over 40 – and thus the general trend is that of a disappointing year. Pakistan will hope it’s a temporary blip for one of the country’s most popular cricketers. A performance on Sunday would be a fantastic way to close up an indifferent limited-overs season with fond memories.These are the sorts of matches that Kane Williamson should thrive upon. On track to becoming New Zealand’s greatest ever batsman, his team increasingly looks up to him for a talismanic role in big games. After a couple of quiet games for the visiting skipper, the stage is set to dust off the off-season cobwebs and get a busy season going with a big score. He was majestic in an ultimately losing cause in the final T20I last week, but hasn’t replicated that performance in the 50-over format yet this series. The right-hander has a fantastic ODI record against Pakistan, with an average 10 runs higher than his career average of 46.28. With Taylor in some of the best form of his career, a leading role from Williamson would go a long way towards ensuring New Zealand’s grip on Pakistan extends to yet another series.Team newsImam is in doubt after his helmet blow against a Lockie Ferguson bouncer. With competition for places in the fast bowling ranks fierce, Hasan Ali could pay the price for his recent dip, which could bring Usman Khan into play.Pakistan (possible): 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Shoaib Malik, 5, Mohammad Hafeez 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt. & wk), 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Shadab Khan, 10 Hasan Ali/Usman Khan, 11 Shaheen AfridiGeorge Worker may be under pressure for his place after an indifferent first two games. Latham would be the option at the top of the order in that case, but without a solid replacement in the middle, Williamson may decide to go with an unchanged side.New Zealand (possible): 1 Colin Munro 2 George Worker 3 Kane Williamson (capt.) 4 Ross Taylor 5 Tom Latham (wk) 6 Henry Nicholls 7 Colin de Grandhomme 8 Tim Southee 9 Trent Boult 10 Lockie Ferguson 11 Ish SodhiPitch and conditionsIt continues to remain hot in Dubai this time of year. Both sides have been vocal up to now of their desire to bat first, and that is likely to remain unchanged.Stats and trivia Williamson had three ducks to his name after his first 5 ODI innings. In 118 innings that have followed, he has been dismissed without scoring on only two occasions Pakistan’s record in bilateral series deciders since 2003 has been quite poor. In 15 series-deciding final matches, they have lost 12 and won just 3 – two against Zimbabwe and one against West Indies

Peter Handscomb was immediately in the runs in the BBL while Sandeep Lamichhane produced another fine display to help set up the Melbourne Stars’ first victory

The Report by Andrew McGlashan27-Dec-2018Different format, different conditions, different bowlers, but Peter Handscomb produced a thrilling response to his Test omission as he hammered a 22-ball half-century to power Melbourne Stars to their opening victory of the 2018 Big Bash campaign.The Stars were chasing a modest 131 and Handscomb’s innings made it a long way short of competitive as he tore into pace and spin alike on an SCG surface where all other batsmen had found timing the ball hard work.Sydney Sixers limped to 9 for 130 against a Stars attack well suited to the conditions. The spinners, led by the ebullient Sandeep Lamichhane, took 4 for 62 from 11 overs between them and the slower-ball variations of Jackson Coleman and Dwayne Bravo, who both struck with their first deliveries, bagged five wickets.The result lifted the Stars off the bottom of the embryonic table and left the Sixers with two defeats following their opening-match victory against the Scorchers which had raised expectations.Peter Handscomb struck a rapid half-century•Getty ImagesSixers’ top-order worriesIt has not been a great start to the BBL for the Sixers’ top four, among whom Joe Denly, Jack Edwards and Moises Henriques are yet to reach 30 runs for the tournament in three innings. They got away with it against the Scorchers when a stand of 124 between Daniel Hughes and Jordan Silk provided a match-winning total. But, against Sydney Thunder, they slid to 6 for 56 which couldn’t be saved, despite the efforts of Tom Curran, and this time they were 6 for 70 before the last four wickets forged 60.That was largely due to Silk’s 41 off 37 balls. There was not much more he could do than try to see out the innings and he managed just two boundaries – one of them off the final ball – but he is the Sixers’ highest scorer so far. There could well be a case for moving him up the order.Another star turnLamichhane has made a terrific start to the campaign and now sits jointly at the top of the early wicket-taking chart. He was fortunate to gain Curran’s wicket as replays showed the ball was comfortably missing leg when Curran tried the reverse sweep, but the first strike to remove Henriques was all his own skill. A perfectly-pitched googly spun past the inside edge and slammed into the front pad to continue Henriques lean start to the competition.With each success – and plenty of moments in between – came a huge smile from Lamichhane. He is having the time of his life. As was the case in Canberra in the Stars’ opening match, there was a group of Nepal fans cheering on every move of his at the SCG. They even brought large cutouts of their hero. When Lamichhane went back to the boundary, he saw these giant versions of himself, gave another huge smile and an appreciative clap to the fans.Sandeep Lamichhane leaps into the arms of Glenn Maxwell•Getty ImagesHandy night for HandscombHandscomb was quickly released from Australia’s Test squad after his Boxing Day omission so he could play the BBL. A very sensible decision for all concerned. And he did not waste time making an impact for his T20 team. His evening started well with a superb piece of glovework to stump Edwards. Beaten by Adam Zampa’s second-ball leg-break, Edwards lifted his foot out of the crease and Handscomb timed his move perfectly to break the stumps before the toe was grounded.Then, with the bat, it all looked somewhat different to his Test struggles. He was making a far more positive forward movement into the ball, albeit against a very different attack than the one he faced in Adelaide or Perth. Still, it was a show of mental strength that he could move on from the recent disappointments and come out swinging – maybe it was even cathartic.Handscomb’s off-the-mark shot was a pull for six and he used swift footwork against the spinners. He plundered 14 off Curran’s first over, also tore into Greg West and was largely responsible for overs six, seven and nine going for a combined 52 runs. None of it meant the Australia selectors had made a mistake (although those who booed Mitchell Marsh may disagree), but it was a reminder of the side of Handscomb’s game that gets so many people excited.

Everton clawed their way to within two points of safety over the weekend as they came out 1-0 winners against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday.

Dwight McNeil's goal was enough to secure all three points for the Toffees at the City Ground, and that result has left the side two points behind 17th-placed Luton Town.

The club were immediately deducted ten points last month after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules – a charge that they have vowed to challenge and appeal.

Sean Dyche and his players have reacted brilliantly to that setback with a spirited performance against Manchester United, albeit one that ended with zero points, and a fantastic away win at Forest.

The Toffees will be hoping to claw their way out of the bottom three over the coming weeks and the could then use the January transfer window, if the funds and wiggle room for spending under the league's rules are there, to bolster their squad for the second half of the campaign.

With this in mind, Dyche could dip into the market to improve his attacking options at the start of 2024 with a swoop to sign Kerem Akturcoglu, who could be the club's next version of Spanish forward Gerard Deulofeu.

Everton transfer news – Kerem Akturcoglu

TEAMtalk reported in October that the Toffees are one of a host of teams showing an interest in a deal to snap up the Galatasaray winger next year.

The report claimed that Brighton, Aston Villa, West Ham, and Nottingham Forest are also eyeing up the Turkey international as they consider their targets for the upcoming transfer window.

It was stated that all four sides, along with Everton, sent scouts to watch the talented whiz in action for club and country earlier this season to gauge whether or not he would be a good addition to their respective squads.

However, there was no mention of whether or not any of those teams, including the Toffees, are prepared to firm up their interest with an official approach to secure his services.

Turkish outlet Fotomac claimed that his current valuation is €17m (£14.6m) and revealed that Tottenham Hotspur have also been keeping tabs on the Galatasaray star.

This suggests that Everton could face significant competition for his signature if they do decide to go in to sign him ahead of the second half of the season.

It could, therefore, be pivotal for the club to get out of the relegation zone before the January window opens up. Targets may not want to commit to a move to Goodison Park, ahead of the other aforementioned options, if they look at the table and see the team in the bottom three.

Players may not want to give up top-flight and European football elsewhere if they believe that relegation to the Championship is a real possibility, which is why a strong run of form over the next four weeks could be key to winning the race for Akturcoglu.

If they can snap up the Turkey international in January then Dyche could land the club's next version of Gerard Deulofeu on Merseyside.

Gerard Deulofeu's Everton statistics

The Spanish winger's peak at Goodison Park was relatively short-lived but he was a joy to watch at his best and a terrific attacking talent.

A direct and pacey wide player, Deulofeu got supporters off their seats with his superb dribbling and impressive creativity, particularly throughout the 2015/16 campaign.

The forward produced four goals and four assists in 29 appearances in all competitions during a loan spell from Spanish giants Barcelona with the Toffees in the 2013/14 season.

He then spent a year on loan with Sevilla before a permanent switch to Merseyside in the summer of 2015 ahead of the 2015/16 term.

Deulofeu hit the ground running at the start of his second spell with the English side as he racked up four goals and 13 assists in 33 matches in all competitions throughout the season.

The now-Udinese whiz created ten 'big chances' in total, completed 1.8 dribbles and made 1.4 key passes per game across 26 Premier League appearances, which included 16 starts, that term.

No current Everton player has managed more than 1.4 key passes per match this season and no Toffees star provided more than seven assists during the 2022/23 league campaign.

This suggests that Dyche does not currently have a reliable creative outlet on the flanks and that is where Akturkoglu could come in to improve the team as their next version of Deulofeu out wide.

The statistics that show why Akturkoglu could be Deulofeu 2.0

The reported Blues target is a sublime creator who could come in and bolster the head coach's options out wide with his terrific forward play.

He is able to play on either wing as a right-footed magician, like Deulofeu, and has showcased his immense creativity so far this season for Galatasaray.

The 25-year-old wizard has contributed with three goals, four assists, and a whopping ten 'big chances' created in 14 Super Lig appearances.

Meanwhile, McNeil – with four in 11 – and Jack Harrison – with three in eight – have created seven 'big chances' in 19 Premier League matches combined this term.

Akturkoglu has also produced an eye-catching 2.9 key passes per clash in the Turkish top-flight, which is 1.5 more per game than any current Everton player has managed.

Last season, the Turkish dynamo racked up nine goals, 11 assists, and 17 'big chances' created in 34 league outings for his club, which shows that his current form is not a flash in the pan.

The £14.6m-rated ace has consistently proven his quality in his home country over the last 18 months and has caught the eye in Europe with two goals and three 'big chances' created in four Champions League starts for Galatasaray this term.

Akturkoglu, who journalist Josh Bunting once hailed as a "creative spark", has provided a regular threat on the flanks for his club with goals, assists, and 'big chances' created at an impressive rate.

Therefore, Dyche should gamble on him being able to translate that over to the Premier League as the potential is there for him to be an outstanding creator for Everton in the same way that Deulofeu was back in the 2015/16 campaign.

Manchester City have been sent a brutal "cheating" message as the club await verdict on 115 FFP charges after Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Real Madrid knocked out by Man CityPL outfit charged with 115 FFP breachesStan Collymore accuses club of "cheating"WHAT HAPPENED?

Pep Guardiola's team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Real Madrid on penalties in the quarter-finals, ending their hopes of securing a historic double treble. However, City's recent successes have come under the spotlight as they have been hit with a staggering 115 alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations, spanning from 2009 to 2018. Although City have vehemently denied the allegations, their rivals and critics do not pass up opportunitites to bring up the sensitive issue.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Former Premier League player Stan Collymore has joined the opposition bandwagon with his latest dig at City following their Champions League exit. On social media, Collymore juxtaposed images of European Cup-winning moments from clubs like Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, and Celtic and along with the pictures he put out a scathing caption essentially questioning City's integrity.

WHAT COLLYMORE SAID

The boyhood Aston Villa fan wrote: "Don't forget kids, you're only a big club when you've won the European Cup, and you're only a really big club when you've done it without cheating. Innit fam. Brrraaap braaap."

Collymore had earlier called for accountability and meaningful consequences if City are found guilty of breaching FFP regulations. He argued that stripping titles would serve as a deterrent and ensure that clubs abide by financial regulations, emphasizing the importance of upholding the integrity of the sport.

Speaking to Caught Offside, he said: "The sad thing is, if found guilty after the investigation has concluded, it’s very likely the Citizens will face no real consequences. If the regulatory bodies want to take a real stand, they should start stripping titles because if they were to do that, any club, not just Man City, who are found guilty of breaking FFP rules, would have done so for absolutely nothing. And there is nothing more embarrassing in sport than having your awards deemed null and void."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

After seeing their treble hopes dashed, City will hope to seal an FA Cup final berth by beating Chelsea on Saturday at Wembley Stadium.

Jesse Lingard has vowed to “stay weird”, with the former Manchester United star making it clear to any detractors that he will “never change”.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Spent several months as a free agentEventually landed move to South KoreaDetermined to silence his detractors(C)Getty imagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The former England international has endured a testing 18 months, with free agency hit in the summer of 2023 when being released by Nottingham Forest. He spent a long time without a club, despite taking in a trial spells at the likes of West Ham and Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Lingard faced criticism from the likes of Paul Scholes when working through a personal fitness programme, but finally landed himself another contract when making a surprise switch to FC Seoul. Further challenges have been faced in South Korea, with surgery required on a knee injury.

WHAT LINGARD SAID

The 31-year-old midfielder is already training again, just 12 days after going under the knife, and is determined to silence those that continue to write him off. As part of that process, Lingard has posted an inspirational message on social media that reads: “Never change to be accepted by others. STAY WEIRD.”

InstagramENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR LINGARD?

Lingard agreed a two-year contract when making his way to the Far East, meaning that time is still on his side – despite seeing his attitude and application called into question – when it comes to making a success of a challenge a long way outside of his comfort zone.

Aditya Sarwate’s third wicket of the day could well be the most important of the final

Saurabh Somani in Nagpur04-Feb-2019A well-laid plan and a bowler who could execute it to precision were the ingredients that gave Vidarbha Cheteshwar Pujara’s prized wicket for just 1 in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 final on Monday.Pujara had come out with Saurashtra at 79 for 2 in reply to Vidarbha’s 312, and the two best opposition bowlers were in operation: Umesh Yadav from the Secretary End, and Aditya Sarwate from the Pavilion End. Sarwate had bowled two spells of two overs each from the other end before changing, and had just dismissed Vishwaraj Jadeja, the batsman playing for the turn to the arm ball and trapped in front.Pujara had one ball to face in the over, the 26th, which he came forward to, and it rolled off a thick bottom edge. Snell Patel didn’t get off strike in Umesh’s next over, and when Sarwate came back, a forward short leg was put in place immediately. A slip and silly point, placed smartly parallel to the stumps, were already there, and Vidarbha were telling Pujara that they were attacking both his outside and inside edges.The silly-point fielder was almost a short gully, waiting to pouch anything that would fly off the outside edge, however softly Pujara might tap it. The close-in cordon showed how well Vidarbha’s think tank, led by head coach Chandrakant Pandit, had read the pitch as well as the batsman – the bounce was low, and Pujara plays with soft hands, so the edges were not going to carry straight and high.ALSO READ: Jaffer and Pujara: genial giants of domestic cricketTo make the plan work, Sarwate bowled straight lines, and a length the forced the batsman to play him. Pujara had already jumped out of the crease a couple of times to defend, but had spotted the dangers. So he was trying to defend from the crease, but was still tentative. He played out a maiden.In his next over, Sarwate maintained the same line of attack. The first ball, Pujara prodded towards short leg. The next one, he again lunged forward to defend, but then improvised to tap the ball just short of the close-in fielder on the off side. The slight bounce and turn might have created a sliver of doubt in Pujara’s mind as he appeared to be in two minds trying to defend the next delivery. The ball had pitched on a length that drew him forward, but Pujara stopped midway, attempted to play it down, but the bounce meant a thick outside edge off the top of his bat and Wasim Jaffer neatly, and gleefully, accepted the offering.”Pujara is the biggest wicket I’ve got,” Sarwate said after the day’s play. “We have watched him a lot, and we saw him on the Australia tour also. We felt that initially, he is a bit tentative, and he jabs at the ball. That is why we kept a short leg. If the odd ball turns, then there is a silly point. Maybe he played half-cocked which is why he got out.”We plan the field setting after watching him on TV. If you keep fielders in his weak areas at the start, then his shots get curtailed. He had just come to the crease, with tea also not far away. So our plan was to attack. We didn’t want to let him step out, which he does a lot. We thought the more we make him play from the crease, the better it will be for us.”Vijay Dahiya, the former India wicketkeeper who was commentating on TV at the time, said the wicket was a tribute to Vidarbha’s smart planning. “The field placement according to me is always as per the batsman. Full marks to Vidarbha’s management here,” Dahiya told ESPNcricinfo. “There had been a partnership going on earlier, and there was not a short-leg fielder then. Pujara coming in, such a big name, and straightaway there was a short leg in. And that silly point fielder was absolutely adjacent there. That’s how you take big wickets, with a game plan.”If you look at this pitch, there is not much bounce, so it’s not going to go straight. Even the catch that went to slip, it didn’t carry at normal height, it was going down. When you don’t have enough bounce, you try and pitch it inside. Full marks to their thinking, especially against someone who has had a fantastic Australia trip, and came from the semi-finals scoring a match-winning 131 not out. Credit goes to the bowler as well in bowling in the right area.”The wicket took Sarwate’s season’s tally to 47. In Vidarbha’s semi-final win against Kerala, which was wrapped up inside two days, Sarwate didn’t get to bowl a single ball, with Umesh and his fellow pacers cleaning up the opposition. Back at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur with its spin-friendly pitch, Sarwate may have just bowled the most significant 10 balls of the game.