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.
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.
Florian Wirtz.
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.
حسم أشرف حكيمي، مدافع فريق باريس سان جيرمان، مصيره مع النادي الفرنسي، وفقًا لتقارير صحفية فرنسية.
وسينتهي عقد الدولي المغربي مع نادي العاصمة الفرنسية باريس سان جيرمان في صيف 2026.
اقرأ أيضاً.. “بشرط واحد”.. رومانو: باريس سان جيرمان يقترب من صفقة أوسيمين
وكشفت شبكة راديو “مونت كارلو” الفرنسية عن توصل نادي باريس سان جيرمان إلى اتفاق نهائي مع أشرف حكيمي بتمديد عقده خلال الفترة المقبلة.
وترغب إدارة النادي الفرنسي برئاسة ناصر الخليفي في تأمين عقد لاعبها المغربي، بهدف إيقاف مغريات الأندية الأوروبية التي تسعى إلى ضم حكيمي وعلى رأسها ريال مدريد الإسباني.
ولم يتم الكشف عن مدة تجديد العقد والمتعلقات المالية الخاصة باللاعب، وسيتم الإعلان عنها في الفترة القادمة.
وشارك حكيمي الموسم الماضي في 40 مباراة مع باريس سان جيرمان بجميع المسابقات، حيث أحرز 5 أهداف وقام بصناعة 7 أهداف طوال الموسم.
Jurgen Klopp will be delighted with Liverpool's start to the 2023/24 Premier League season, but he will know that there is plenty of work still to be done to ensure that a satisfying conclusion is reached.
Having picked up 20 points from their opening nine league matches, the Reds are looking to keep on the tail of table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur, who have a six-point advantage having played an additional match ahead of Liverpool's upcoming clash with Nottingham Forest.
But at this stage of the campaign, such frivolous matters are yet to truly reach Klopp's concern, who will ensure his team are focussed only on the forthcoming fixture.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
The central point at this stage is sustaining the renewed intensity and cohesion that had disappeared last term, when Liverpool trudged to a fifth-placed finish and received a season-long rebuke from journalists and critics for their substandard performances.
The midfield has been restored after an emphatic summer of transfer activity, but such occurred at the expense of defensive reinforcements, despite much discourse surrounding the need for bolstering at the back.
With that being said, 2024 looks to be a year of further action in the market for the Anfield side, with several targets earmarked to strengthen the rearguard.
Liverpool's transfer targets
According to Spanish sources, Liverpool and heated rivals Manchester United have both registered an interest in French side Lille's 17-year-old defender Leny Yoro, with the precocious centre-back considered one of the finest talents in Ligue 1 right now.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are also intrigued, while Chelsea have held a long-time admiration for the France native, but Liverpool's emergence as a suitor highlights Klopp's desire to improve the backline with a prodigious addition.
The competition is thick, however, but given that Liverpool are pursuing the signature of another rising star in Sporting Lisbon's Goncalo Inacio, perhaps priority could be shifted to the touted talent.
As per BILD, Liverpool have received a major boost in their pursuit following Manchester United's alleged withdrawal from the race, citing difficulties in meeting his £52m release clause.
Why Liverpool are interested in Goncalo Inacio
Inacio is a very distinctive defender with attributes that make him a custom-made fit for outfits chasing illustrious success, with analyst Raj Chohan stating: "Gonçalo Inácio is the perfect counter-weight to Konaté. Inacio-VVD-Konaté: Build-up conductor. Leader/aerial dominator/switches of play. Immense recovery speed & coverage of space."
Player
Club
Piero Hincapie
Bayer Leverkusen
Jonathan Tah
Bayer Leverkusen
Harry Maguire
Manchester United
Chancel Mbemba
Marseille
Davinson Sanchez
Galatasaray
The four-cap Portugal star has made 134 appearances for his homeland outfit, posting 11 goals and eight assists, and has attracted attention from multiple European giants since rising to the fore, with Newcastle United also withdrawing from the race recently.
A left-footed and dynamic centre-back, Inacio, aged 22, fits the bill; Klopp is searching for such a defender to improve the defence and ease the burden on captain Virgil van Dijk, who is right-footed but has long occupied the left side of the central defence in the absence of a natural alternative.
having been described as a "complete" player by knowledgable talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past, it's no wonder that the Reds are hoping to land the star, who could be the missing piece of the puzzle to restore the club's stature at the forefront.
An "immense" distributor
With positive similarities to some of Europe's finest ball-playing defenders, Inacio has the world at his feet and could bloom into one of the game's finest in his position over the coming years, with Fabrizio Romano even going as far as to hail his "very rare" qualities.
Indeed, as per FBref, the 6 foot 1 titan ranks among the top 2% of centre-backs across leagues similar to the Portuguese Primeira Liga for assists, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90.
He is one of the most mobile and creative defenders in the game, and with his left-footed inclination aligning with the kind of centre-half Klopp covets to complete his team, it really could be a match made in heaven.
His ball-playing ability is so significant that he even eclipses Trent Alexander-Arnold across several metrics, with the progression of his passing quite simply belying the conventions of the role in the central defence.
Metric (per 90)
Inacio
TAA
Assists
0.11
0.35
Shot-creating actions
1.90
3.73
Passes attempted
86.70
86.13
Progressive passes
8.91
6.69
Progressive carries
2.05
1.46
Statistics sourced via FBref
The £180k-per-week Liverpool vice-captain has been a prominent figure in European football since breaking into Klopp's first-team as a youngster, and having supplied 74 assists from 282 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, he truly is a "genius" – as was claimed by journalist Neil Jones.
Given his free-roaming placement on the right flank of the pitch, one would assume that Alexander-Arnold would have a license to produce a greater output than a player of Inacio's ilk, but he really is shadowed in some regards by the power of Inacio's creativity.
Despite this, the 25-year-old still ranks among the top 2% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions and the top 6% for progressive passes per 90, emphasising his skill and importance within Klopp's side.
Inacio doesn't create direct chances in the final third with the regularity of Alexander-Arnold, but this is due to his position rather than a failure to pick the apt passes.
Signing the maestro at the back would only be a recipe for success at Anfield, creating a gushing flow of support to cascade down the lanes and into the danger areas, allowing the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister (and Alexander-Arnold), to feed the deadly frontline.
Just imagine the duality of supplementation that could be unlocked across the alternating channels by securing Inacio's signature, with the Sporting sensation exactly what Liverpool needs to continue the budding renaissance and cement a spot at the very top of the European game once again.
West Bromwich Albion have been handed a boost after learning that one of their injured players could be set to return for this month’s game vs QPR in the Championship.
Where are West Brom in the table?
The Baggies have made a really mixed start to the new campaign having so far secured four wins, four draws and three defeats, meaning that they find themselves 11th in the table, and here is how that first group of matches have played out so far:
Victories
Draws
Defeats
Swansea City (3-2)
Leeds United (1-1)
Blackburn Rovers (2-1)
Middlesbrough (4-2)
Bristol City (0-0)
Huddersfield Town (2-1)
Preston North End (4-0)
Watford (2-2)
Birmingham City (3-1)
Sheffield Wednesday (1-0)
Millwall (0-0)
Carlos Corberan hasn’t at all been helped by the fact that Daryl Dike, Josh Maja, Adam Reach, Martin Kelly and John Swift are all out on the sidelines with their own respective injuries, but they aren’t the only ones to have recently been away from the action.
Over the summer, Jeremy Sarmiento put pen to paper on a season-long loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, but he had an unfortunate beginning to his new life in the Midlands having sustained a quadricep problem, which the boss said would keep him out for four weeks.
Jeremy Sarmiento injury update
Speaking to West Brom News, Dr Rajpal Brar delivered an injury update on Jeremy Sarmiento and suggested that West Brom's attacking midfielder won't be available for Saturday's encounter vs Plymouth, but could be back for the next game against QPR:
“He felt something in the quadriceps muscles after his first start – which sounds like soreness based on the reports – but then continued to feel pain after a limited-minute cameo. After that, he had scans – likely some level of tear – that will require a period of rest.
“Once the injury has healed sufficiently, the physios will begin to ramp him up again. He’ll miss the next one but may fight to return before the end of the month for games after this one.”
Brighton and Hove Albion forward Jeremy Sarmiento.
How old is Jeremy Sarmiento?
Sarmiento is only 21 years of age so he’s still very early on in the development stages in his career, and you can tell that with him having only posted five contributions, three goals and two assists, in 48 appearances since first bursting onto the scene (Transfermarkt – Sarmiento statistics).
However, Ecuador’s international is a versatile operator having previously been deployed in five different positions over the pitch, including three roles in the centre and even out wide on both the left and right flanks, so his ability to easily adapt to the manager's demands makes him a great option to have in the building.
According to journalist Josh Bunting, Sarmiento is an “exciting” talent and it’s a shame that he’s not yet had the opportunity to showcase his abilities at West Brom, but if he is to return to the pitch at some point in the near future, it would be a huge boost for Corberan to finally be able to utilise his summer signing.
West Ham United have welcomed their fair share of academy talent through the ranks over the years, with east London proving to be the foundation of more than a few illustrious careers on English soil.
Of course, there is a graduate of recent years that every fan of Premier League football will know well: Declan Rice. The tenacious, all-action midfielder had been instrumental in the Hammers' rise under David Moyes over the past several years before he departed for pastures new in the summer, completing a staggering £105m transfer to Arsenal.
Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Gareth Barry, even Glen Johnson. There have been a plethora of aspiring hopefuls who hung up the boots as icons of the game to have started that far-stretching odyssey at Upton Park, and while the London Stadium is now West Ham's stomping ground, the vibrant crop of talent persists.
mohammed-kudus-divin-mubama-west-ham-opinion
Divin Mubama is probably the most salient of the current crop of academy players to be creeping toward a prominent role in Moyes' first-team squad, having already posted a goal and assist apiece from six outings for the Irons.
But with talented midfielder George Earthy signing a new three-year contract with the club just days ago, perhaps there is soon to be a new star from the youth ranks ready to take the league by storm.
Earthy is a creative and attack-minded player, and while he's yet to make his senior debut, it may be no coincidence that the exciting new step in his development has coincided with recent high-profile news surrounding Jesse Lingard.
When did West Ham sign Jesse Lingard?
In January 2021, West Ham signed Lingard on loan from Manchester United, with the England international linking up with former manager Moyes after falling firmly out of the Red Devils' plans.
Lingard had always been an "intelligent footballer", as was said by pundit Rio Ferdinand, but he has found sustaining prolific form prove to be slippier than an eel on too many occasions, and it was perhaps warranted that Manchester United sought a route out for the playmaker in 2021 after he contributed just one goal during the 2019/20 Premier League season, and that coming on the final day against Leicester City.
Jesse Lingard starred for West Ham in 2020-21.
The 32-cap international arrived just days after Said Benrahma's loan move with West Ham was made permanent for around £20m, and while Benrahma still plies his trade at the club to this day – and does so very well indeed – the Englishman arguably enjoyed one of the most resounding loan spells in Premier League history.
How many goals did Lingard score for West Ham?
When Lingard joined the fold in east London, it's fair to say that some were somewhat confused at the signing of a player who looked past his fleeting best days, but he proved to be a masterful addition to a fast-rising Hammers squad.
Indeed, the 30-year-old plundered nine goals and five assists from just 16 outings for the club in the Premier League, proving to be the dynamic, first-rate talent they needed to achieve their seasonal goals.
And achieve them they did; West Ham, charged by Lingard's emphatic exploits, maintained an incredible seasonal purple patch to take them to a sixth-placed finish, qualifying for the Europa League and sitting smugly above London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
2020/21
16
Nine goals, five assists
14
2017/18
33
Eight goals, six assists
14
2018/19
27
Four goals, three assists
7
2015/16
25
Four goals, one assist
5
2016/17
25
One goal, two assists
3
As the table displays, Lingard matched his most productive campaign ever in the Premier League with his Old Trafford side under Moyes' Irons leadership, bettering his goal tally and doing so in half as many fixtures.
Lingard was also lauded for his "sensational" impact at West Ham by pundit Nigel Winterburn, and indeed complemented his direct contributions with 1.1 key passes per game, an 84% pass success rate, and 2.6 shots per outing, as per Sofascore.
Discussions were held over a permanent move but nothing materialised, and while the Irons engaged in talks in the summer of 2022, after the expiry of Lingard's contract, ultimately it was decided that that ship had sailed and his time at the club was to be preserved on the pedestal that it rightfully depicts – the fleeting success of a talented star, instrumental in the rise of this successful squad.
There were, however, recent rumours that he would join the club this summer, and following the expiry of his one-year contract with Nottingham Forest, the 5 foot 8 dynamo has been training with his former loan outfit, who were considering an offer to bring him back to the fold.
Last weekend, The Athletic's Roshane Thomas delineated the news that the club had ended their interest and that he will now train with Saudi Pro League club Al Ettifaq in hopes of landing a lucrative contract in the Saudi Pro League.
Well, that's that then. But fear not, Irons faithful – the aforementioned Earthy could be the man for the job for years to come.
How good is George Earthy?
Lauded for his "fantastic attitude" by Mark Noble upon putting pen to paper with a new contract, Earthy has been impressing at youth level and could prove to be the latest star to ascend to the first-team, clearly entrusted with a position to do just that.
The 19-year-old – who can play across the centre of the midfield – is very much a distinguished and thriving member of West Ham's academy, having made 89 appearances, scoring 30 goals and supplying 21 assists.
He has started the current campaign in fine fettle, netting in a tremendous victory over League One side Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy and posting a goal and two assists from five matches in the Premier League 2 thus far.
With Manuel Lanzini departing the club on a free transfer in the summer, there's technically room for an heir in Earthy's mould, albeit such would be difficult considering the first-rate phenoms that produce for Moyes domestically and continentally at present.
But for such a precocious talent, surely there will be an opportunity to make his senior debut this term, especially with the Europa League group phase offering chances against ostensibly weaker opposition and the forthcoming Carabao Cup tie against Lincoln City opening the door for rising stars such as Earthy to prove their worth.
It won't be easy, but Earthy, who has been praised as a 'technically-gifted player' by the Evening Standard's Malik Ouzia, looks to boast the quality to wedge his way into his boyhood club's plans sooner rather than later.
The 2026 and 2030 editions of the FIFA World Cup will have an additional 16 teams as a staggering 48 nations will battle it out for the reputable international trophy.
It is already confirmed that the United States, Canada and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup, and the rights for the 2030 edition have just been announced…
Who won the rights to host the 2030 World Cup?
Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup but Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay will stage the opening three games of the tournament. FIFA elected to award the opening games to the three South American nations as part of the tournament’s 100th anniversary
It will be Morocco and Portugal's first time hosting a World Cup, with the former having five unsuccessful bids dating back to 1994 whilst the latter saw two previous bids dismissed. Spain haven't hosted the tournament since 1982.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the six host nations on Wednesday afternoon.
“The FIFA Council agreed unanimously that the only bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2030 will be the joint bid of Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
"Two continents – Africa and Europe – united not only in a celebration of football but also in providing unique social and cultural cohesion. What a great message of peace, tolerance and inclusion.
“In 2030, we will have a unique global footprint, three continents — Africa, Europe and South America — six countries — Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay — welcoming and uniting the world while celebrating together the beautiful game, the centenary and the FIFA World Cup," Infantino said.
The opening ceremony will still take place in either Spain, Portugal or Morocco.
It will be the first time a World Cup is held across three continents and all of the six nations will be automatically advanced through to the group stages of the tournament.
Who was bidding to host the 2030 World Cup?
Ukraine was due to join Portugal and Spain in their World Cup hosting proposal, however, due to the ongoing conflict with Russia, the Eastern European country had to pull the plug on their dreams of welcoming some of the world’s best international squads into their borders.
After the recent success of the 2022 edition of the competition hosted in Qatar, fellow Middle Eastern nation Saudi Arabia wanted to see if they could top the success of their neighbours.
Saudi Arabia was one of the best-supported nations during the last World Cup along with England and the USA, which is a strong indication that the country's population would be very interested in seeing the tournament take place in their home country.
Despite finishing bottom of their group and not making it to the knockout stages, the Green Falcons shocked the world as they were the only team to beat eventual champions Argentina, which does show they have some quality among their ranks.
Saudi Arabia did plan to submit an offer for the rights to host the 2030 World Cup in a joint bid along with Egypt and Greece. The Middle Eastern nation has since reportedly withdrawn from the bidding process and will look to host in 2034 instead, though nothing has been confirmed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
They look like they are too busy to host a World Cup for the time being, as the government-backed PIF (Public Investment Fund) looks to splash the cash in domestic club football before they start thinking about opening their bank account on the world stage.
The PIF have majority control over Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, with the four clubs having all spent handsomely in the summer – recruiting some world-class players in the process.
The PIF’s clubs spent a whopping £635m during the recent summer transfer window, with renowned names like Neymar and Sadio Mane swapping Europe for a nice payday under the sun in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia looks to disrupt world football.
England were beaten by Russia in the bid for the 2018 edition, and have since returned to the negotiation table alongside the rest of the UK and Ireland – only for them to withdraw at the start of 2022.
The five nations have instead targeted the UEFA 2028 European Championship as a competition that they would like to host instead, as it would offer them a similar level of income.
A statement from the associations read: "Hosting a UEFA Euro offers a similar return on investment, with the European tournament carrying a far lower delivery cost and the potential of the benefits being realised sooner.
"It would be an honour and a privilege to collectively host Euro 2028 and to welcome all of Europe.
"It would also be a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the true impact of hosting a world-class football tournament by driving positive change and leaving a lasting legacy across our communities."
Spain, Portugal and Morocco: Which stadiums are potential venues?
Spain announced their 15-stadium shortlist last year for potential venues, with only a fraction being selected for the official competition due to Morocco joining the bid.
All stadiums that are eligible to host World Cup matches must have a minimum capacity of 40,000, with all shortlisted stadiums under the required number of seats able to be expanded.
Below are the shortlisted venues in Spain and Portugal, along with potential stadiums that could be used in Morocco:
Name Country City Capacity Grand Stade de Casablanca Morocco Casablanca 93,000 Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium Morocco Rabat 53,000 Ibn Batouta Stadium Morocco Tangier 65,000 Adrar Stadium Morocco Agadir 45,480 Marrakech Stadium Morocco Marrakech 45,240 Fez Stadium Morocco Fes 45,000 Estádio do Dragão Portugal Porto 50,033 Estádio da Luz Portugal Lisbon 64,642 Estádio José Alvalade Portugal Lisbon 50,095 Camp Nou Spain Barcelona 105,000 Cornellà-El Prat Spain Barcelona 40,000 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Spain Madrid 81,044 Estadio Metropolitano Spain Madrid 68,456 Nou Mestalla Spain Valencia 80,000 San Mames Spain Bilbao 53,289 Nueva Condomina Spain Murcia 31,179 La Rosaleda Spain Malaga 30,044 La Romareda Spain Zaragoza 33,608 Balaídos Spain Vigo 29,000 Riazor Spain La Coruña 32,660 Estadio Gran Canaria Spain Las Palmas 32,392 Anoeta Stadium Spain San Sebastian 40,000 La Cartuja Spain Seville 60,721 El Molinón Spain Gijon 29,029 Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay: Which stadiums are potential venues?
The four countries have all confirmed which stadiums we are likely to see when they stage the first three games of the prestigious world-famed tournament.
Infantino confirmed the opening game will be staged at the Estadio Centenario in Uruguay, which has a maximum capacity of 60,000.
The stadium is set to make an iconic return to the competition as it was built in 1930 for the first-ever World Cup, while some iconic stadiums such as Boca Juniors’ 54,000-capacity La Bombonera failed to make the cut.
Each nation appeared at the 76th CONMEBOL Ordinary Congress as a video was presented showing all the potential venues that could be used.
Name Country City Capacity Antonio Vespucio Liberti Argentina Buenos Aires 83,000 Ciudad de La Plata Argentina La Plata 53,000 Mario Alberto Kempes Argentina Córdoba 57,000 Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades Argentina Santiago del Estero 30,000 Estadio Libertadores de América Argentina Avellaneda 48,000 Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón Argentina Avellaneda 42,000 Malvinas Argentinas Argentina Mendoza 42,000 Nacional Julio Martínez Chile Santiago de Chile 48,000 Estadio Monumental David Arellano Chile Santiago de Chile 43,000 Ester Roa Rebolledo Chile Concepción 33,000 Estadio Conmebol Paraguay Luque 60,000 General Pablo Rojas Paraguay Asunción 45,000 Defensores del Chaco Paraguay Asunción 45,000 Antonio Aranda Paraguay Ciudad del Este 28,000 Estadio Villa Alegre Paraguay Encarnación 45,000 Estadio Centenario Uruguay Montevideo 60,000 Gran Parque Central Uruguay Montevideo 34,000 Estadio Campeón del Siglo Uruguay Montevideo 40,000
The England quick, captain Imad Wasim and Shahid Afridi sliced through Quetta Gladiators’ batting line-up and mitigated Karachi Kings’ collapse of 6 for 13
The Report by Arun Venugopal23-Feb-2018 Scorecard and ball-by-ball details In a nutshell Karachi Kings’ decision to bat raised eyebrows twice – firstly, when they ambled to 60 for 2 in the first 10 overs, and secondly when they lost their six wickets for 13 runs. But what they did in between eventually proved enough at the end, as their bowling attack – led by captain Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Tymal Mills – ensured that a 150 chase was a bridge too far for Quetta Gladiators.Quetta had slumped to 15 for 3 inside the first five overs and never really recovered. There were spurts of spunk from Umar Amin (31) and Mohammad Nawaz, whose 30 off 20 balls kept his side in the hunt. But, with 37 required off 17 balls, Amir induced a faint inside edge to have Nawaz caught behind and quash the possibility of any late uprising. Earlier, with Shahid Afridi also having chipped in with an outstanding catch at the boundary to remove Amin, Quetta, which doesn’t possess the most robust middle order, entered the final phase in an even more depleted positionThat Karachi got to 149 was largely due to Colin Ingram, whose 21-ball 41 injected momentum into what had been a lethargic innings up to that point. Karachi’s troubles were mainly due to Shane Watson’s canny bowling, which saw him pick up three scalps to reach 200 wickets in T20 cricket. Along with Joffra Archer, the flavour of the season, and Anwar Ali, Watson choked the flow of runs. Ingram and Ravi Bopara, though, counterpunched their way through the middle overs with a 48-run stand in 4.3 overs and gave their team the insurance that mitigated their collapse later on.Where the match was won At the half-way mark, Quetta might have fancied a relatively straightforward chase. Instead, Karachi unleashed their gun bowlers and effectively killed the chase in the Powerplay. Wasim took the new ball and conceded only three runs in the first over. Watson then attempted to run himself out twice in vain in the second over bowled by Amir before eventually succeeding off the penultimate delivery.In the next over, Asad Shafiq, probably torn between guilt for being partially responsible for Watson’s run-out and the need to ramp up the scoring rate, holed out to deep square leg. With Mills joining the party to prise out Kevin Pietersen, who departed after a couple of eye-catching strokes, Quetta found themselves at 26 for 3 in six overs. For good measure, Afridi bowled a tight spell to go for less than six runs an over and sustain the pressure.The men that won it It can be rightly contended that but for Ingram and Bopara’s strong push Quetta might have struggled further. Further, Wasim’s tight-fisted bowling in the Powerplay cannot be overstated. However, with Quetta needing 43 off 24 balls and a dangerous Nawaz looking for a late twist, it was Amir and Mills that pinned the opposition down for good. They collectively conceded 25 runs from overs 16 to 19 and picked up two wickets during the phase to leave Quetta requiring 28 runs off the last over.Where they stand Karachi have dislodged Multan Sultans from the top of the points table by virtue of having a better net run-rate, while Quetta are at the bottom. Quetta have an immediate shot at redemption as they take on Lahore Qalandars in the night game on Saturday. Karachi will next play defending champions Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday.
India’s chairman of selectors MSK Prasad said it was hard to look beyond Bumrah for the fifth fast bowler’s slot given his “phenomenal” form
Nagraj Gollapudi04-Dec-20174:54
Dasgupta: About time Bumrah got an opportunity
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has earned a maiden Test call-up, after being named in the 17-member squad for the three-Test series against South Africa, which starts from January 5 in Cape Town. Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel, Bumrah’s state mate and captain at Gujarat, has also been recalled, as back-up wicket-keeping option for Wriddhiman Saha.The pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pandya returned to the Test squad after voluntary breaks from the ongoing home Test series against Sri Lanka. The two men in the existing Test squad who missed out were left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav and Tamil Nadu allrounder Vijay Shankar, who had replaced Bhuvneshwar in the squad for the Nagpur and Delhi Tests.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Bumrah can be seen as radical choice mainly because he has not played first-class cricket in nearly a year. His last appearance in whites came when he turned up for Gujarat in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy semi-final against Jharkhand in January this year. However, the fast nature of pitches at the three Test venues in South Africa – Cape Town, Centurion and Johannesburg – meant that the selectors were keen to have a fifth specialist fast bowler despite Pandya’s presence as an allrounder.Bumrah’s ability to swing the ball into the right-handers, his searing pace and crushing, accurate yorkers and his bowling smarts pushed him quickly ahead in the selection queue. His recent form was also not lost on the selectors. In limited-overs cricket Bumrah has been stellar this year: with 35 wickets, he is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs in 2017.India’s chairman of selectors MSK Prasad said it was hard to look beyond Bumrah for the fifth fast bowler’s slot given his “phenomenal” form.”If you see his performance in the last 18 months, he’s been phenomenal,” Prasad said after the selection meeting in Delhi. “He’s been sensational and has done outstandingly well in both one-day and T20. Considering the Ranji Trophy he played last year (where) he bowled brilliantly in the whole season, we have no doubts. It is a unanimous choice and there is no doubt in picking Bumrah because he definitely adds variety to our pace attack. And considering the nature of wickets there, it will definitely suit his bowling.”The rest of the squad, as Prasad pointed out, “picked itself”, with no surprises. The selectors might have been tempted to include Kuldeep, considering his unorthodox spin could have been an X-factor against the South Africa batsmen. However, in the end the selectors and captain Virat Kohli, who attended the meeting, opted to play it safe and bank on their two senior spinners, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.According to Prasad, Kuldeep remained in the mix of things, but it was impossible to think of playing him ahead of Ashwin and Jadeja, who are ranked No. 4 and 2 respectively in the ICC rankings for Test bowlers.”I really feel unfortunate for Kuldeep Yadav. Definitely he would have added (variety), but we are going to play only three Test matches. Considering to play Kuldeep ahead of No.1 and No.2 spinners in the world is a bit of a big ask.”Parthiv remains the best glovesman after Saha in the longer formats. Given his impressive form and ability to bat at any position, he was an automatic choice for the back-up wicket-keeper’s slot. Parthiv was part of the India squad for the home series against England last year where he played three Tests, in Mohali, Mumbai and Chennai. He scored 195 runs including two fifties at a healthy average of 65. In the ongoing domestic season, Parthiv has compiled 421 runs in 11 innings.Prasad brushed aside skepticism about picking Parthiv, who has not been part of the India squad since the England series”When we had given an opportunity against England he did beyond our expectations. We all know that Wriddhiman Saha is the side’s No.1 wicketkeeper, [but] we still need to have a back-up wicketkeeper. Right now he [Parthiv] is the next-best wicketkeeper that we have in India. His domestic performances are also equally good.”India will depart for South Africa on December 27 and start their tour with a two-day warm-up match in Paarl on December 30 and 31. Asked whether there was any plan to send the Test-only players ahead for acclimatization, Amitabh Choudhury, the BCCI secretary, said no such plan had been discussed with the team management.Regardless, Prasad exuded confidence saying India were well equipped to enter the tough contest against South Africa. “We are going there as the No.1 Test team. We are going with a very good confidence. Everybody is in very good form. Hence, on that basis, I am saying this is a good, balanced side.”
Fulham are now preparing a second bid for Flamengo striker Pedro, with a new report revealing they have a number of striker targets in mind…
What's the latest Fulham transfer news?
With Aleksandar Mitrovic joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for a club-record fee of £46m, Fulham seemingly have a lot of money to splash out on a replacement, and they have already made contact with Atalanta's Duvon Zapata.
Zapata's proposed loan move to AS Roma has now fallen through, which could open the door for a move to Craven Cottage, with Marco Silva's side making their first move, however, he is currently leaning towards staying with his current club.
The Cottagers have also held talks with Arsenal over a move for Folarin Balogun, although the USMNT international will not come cheap, with the Gunners set to demand around £50m, although Silva is personally hopeful that a compromise can be reached.
In a new report from The Evening Standard, it is detailed that Zapata remains of interest to Fulham, but Atalanta now want to keep him, despite recently signing Gianluca Scamacca from West Ham United.
Balogun has also been sounded out, but the 22-year-old is now expected to sign for AS Monaco, while Silva has denied interest in Juventus striker Moise Kean.
Silva is keen to have three strikers in his squad and the Cottagers have now made an approach for Flamengo striker Pedro, in their bid to replace Mitrovic.
In fact, a £21m offer has already been knocked back by the Brazilian club, but they are braced for a further bid, with Fulham currently in the process of preparing a new proposal, which they hope will be deemed acceptable.
The 26-year-old is keen on a move to the Premier League, which could give the Londoners an advantage over the likes of Benfica and Zenit St Petersburg, who are also credited with an interest.
How good is Pedro?
Mitrovic scored 14 goals in 24 Premier League games for the Cottagers last season, so it is important the Serbian's replacement is just as clinical in front of goal, and Pedro has been lauded by members of the media.
South American football expert Tim Vickery has described the Brazilian as an "excellent finisher", which is exemplified by the fact he has outperformed his non-penalty XG significantly over the past year, averaging 0.68 goals per 90, having been expected to average 0.51.
The Rio de Janeiro-born marksman has been clinical in front of goal in the Brazilian Serie A, however, there may be some concern over the fact his last move to Europe did not go to plan, failing to score in four games for Fiorentina before heading back to his home country.
Flamengo's Pedro during the warm up before the match
That said, the former Fiorentina man has made improvements to his game since then, with Brazil legend Ronaldo lauding him as a "quality striker" with a "huge future ahead of him", and so it is exciting news that Fulham are about to make another bid.
With Zapata set to stay at Atalanta and Balogun poised to move to Monaco, the Cottagers are running out of options to replace Mitrovic, so they could try to get a deal for Pedro over the line as quickly as possible.