Leeds United fans wouldn’t have been overly impressed with their defensive display on the opening day of the Championship season, leaking three goals to a newly promoted Portsmouth side who wouldn’t have believed their luck.

The likes of Ilian Meslier and Jayden Bogle really struggled for Daniel Farke’s men, as Meslier made just one save in between the sticks all afternoon in the barnstorming 3-3 contest.

The mood around Elland Road can't have been helped this summer by an array of names linked with an exit. That includes one of Saturday afternoon's goalscorers.

The latest on Willy Gnonto's future

Wilfried Gnonto has been the subject of much discussion at Leeds United this summer and when he scored against Pompey last weekend, there must have been fears over the attention his strike would receive.

So, will he leave or will he not? The latest is that Everton are still interested in the winger. TEAMtalk reported last week that a deal is 'not dead' yet despite the Toffees' latest advancement of £23m being knocked back by the Elland Road outfit.

Gnonto is open to moving to Goodison Park, but unlike last summer, won't push for an exit.

While Gnonto's future remains unsolved, the future of another Leeds star looks more cut and dry.

Max Wober’s time at Leeds

Maximilian Wober wouldn’t be the most disastrous body to lose from the building this summer, with the Austrian centre-back not exactly in the good books at Elland Road.

The 26-year-old, who once cost the Whites a hefty £11m to win his services from RB Salzburg, has only made 19 appearances in total for the West Yorkshire side, having jumped ship to the Bundesliga last campaign in the midst of the club’s relegation aftermath.

Even when he was performing week in week out for Leeds, before his loan departure to Borussia Monchengladbach, it’s not as if Wober was setting the world alight, with only two clean sheets collected from his 16 top-flight clashes.

Farke and Co will presumably be glad to see the back of the expensive dud if he does finally walk away for good before the close of the month, with reports now suggesting that he could leave permanently, according to Football Insider.

It had been expected that the Austria international would attempt to get his topsy-turvy time at Elland Road back on track, but it’s now pointing in the direction of him leaving the building after Wober was an unused substitute versus Pompey.

Away from his lacklustre performances for Leeds, which even saw football journalist Douglas Critchley label him as ‘shocking’ at one point, the second-tier promotion hopefuls will also want to get rid of the 26-year-old soon owing to his high wage, which means he is currently earning more than Gnonto remarkably.

Max Wober’s wage at Leeds

As per Capology, the ex-Salzburg defender earns £35k per week currently, which means he only falls short of top earners Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter by £35k per week.

Amazingly, however, Gnonto earns £5k per week less in the Whites camp at this moment in time at a £30k per week salary, despite the Italian attacker finding the back of the net against Pompey, on top of being a wanted target by many a Premier League suitor.

Glancing at the table below, Wober’s extortionate pay packet only puts him £15k per week off breaking into the top five highest earners in West Yorkshire at this moment in time, further reinforcing the demand to get him off the wage bill sooner rather than later.

Top earners at Leeds – 2024/25 season

Player

Weekly salary

1. Georginio Rutter

£70k

2. Patrick Bamford

£70k

3. Junior Firpo

£60k

4. Dan James

£50k

5. Pascal Struijk

£50k

6. Brenden Aaronson

£45k

7. Ethan Ampadu

£40k

8. Max Wober

£35k

Data via Capology.

Of course, other players who were chucked out on loan after the club’s demise to the second tier have come back and made a name for themselves again away from Wober remaining on the fringes, as seen in Brenden Aaronson scoring at the death on the opening day to help his team salvage a draw.

But, in this case, it feels as if the best possible outcome for all parties is for the ties to be severed once and for all, as Leeds go on the hunt for more new defensive recruits to improve on the expensive defender.

Related Leeds looking at "unreal" late signing who could replace Bogle & Wober

Daniel Farke will know that the Leeds United defence needs strengthening after drawing to Portsmouth.

Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson Aug 12, 2024

Aston Villa face a crucial couple of weeks in the transfer window prior to the start of the new campaign.

Unai Emery has bolstered his squad significantly since the window opened, but with Champions League football set to grace Villa Park next term, perhaps another couple of signings are required.

With Moussa Diaby being sold, Emery is looking to add another winger to his squad. Will he manage to bring someone else in over the coming weeks?

Aston Villa eyeing move for Euro 2024 star

According to Turkish outlet Fotospor, Villa have reportedly held talks with Galatasaray regarding the signing of winger Baris Yilmaz.

Monchi has met with Galatasaray sporting director Cenk Ergün in the hopes of sealing a deal to bring the Euro 2024 star to the Midlands before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.

The Turkish side are looking for a transfer fee in the region of €30m (£26m), yet the report goes on to state that this figure sounds ambitious, which means Emery may be able to secure his services for a slightly lower fee.

Goals

0

Assists

0

Big chances created

1

Key passes per game

1

Shots per game

0.8

Successful dribbles per game

1.6

Total duels won per game

5.8

Yilmaz could be an ideal replacement for Diaby, especially because of his solid club form of late.

Baris Yilmaz’s season in numbers

Diaby’s sale was perhaps a surprising one. His only season in England saw the Frenchman score ten goals plus grab nine assists, despite his inconsistent nature.

An offer of £50m was far too great to turn down for the former Bayer Leverkusen winger, giving the manager some funds to bolster his attacking options.

Yilmaz enjoyed a productive 2023/24 campaign for Galatasaray, making 55 appearances across all competitions, registering 19 goal contributions – seven goals and 12 assists in the process as the club won the league title.

Among his own teammates, Yilmaz ranked fifth for goals and assists (12) in the Turkish top flight, while also ranking fifth for shots per game (1.6), fourth for big chances created (ten) and first for successful dribbles per game (1.8), demonstrating his excellent attacking qualities from a wide position.

The winger was part of the Turkey side which reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, playing every minute. He failed to score, but Yilmaz created a big chance, averaged one key pass per game and succeeded with 1.6 dribbles per game during the tournament.

His performance against the Netherlands drew praise from Virgil Van Dijk, who said: "Baris Alper Yilmaz was running constantly. He was running elusive. It was difficult for every defender. He made it very hard for us. He couldn't score a goal though. If we were to describe him in any way, he is a really important player.”

High praise from one of the finest defenders in the world, proving just how wonderful a talent Yilmaz is.

There is no doubt that he could cause chaos should he move to the Premier League. With Emery requiring a replacement for Diaby, the Turk would be the perfect replacement.

Imagine him & Watkins: Aston Villa battling for "all-action" £25m star

He is wanted by three clubs this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 9, 2024

With CSA’s domestic structure changing, this means the Lions, Knights, Warriors and Cobras have played their last matches

Firdose Moonda19-Mar-2021

Aiden Markram has struck a rich vein of form•AFP via Getty Images

The Dolphins and Titans have qualified for South Africa’s first-class final, which will be played over five days in Durban next week and marks the end of the franchise era.That means the four other teams that have made up the top tier of the domestic structure for the past 17 summers – the Lions, Knights, Warriors and Cobras – have played their last matches. From next season, South Africa will return to a provincial set-up with 15 teams competing in two divisions.The Dolphins have reached the final in all three formats this season, sharing the one-day cup with the Lions and losing to them in the T20 tournament.Results SummaryThe Dolphins leapfrogged the Knights into top spot in Pool A with a seven-wicket win over the Warriors in Port Elizabeth to qualify for a home final. With rumours of rain around the Eastern Cape coast, the Dolphins were in a hurry to assert themselves and bowled the Warriors for 124 in the first innings. Wickets were shared between the five-man attack, with Eathan Bosch’s 3 for 18 the best return.Related

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Keshav Maharaj's 13-wicket match-haul helps Dolphins beat Lions

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In reply, Khaya Zondo’s 111 ensured the Dolphins built a healthy 234-run lead. But the Warriors knocked that off with nine wickets standing after a 145-run opening stand between Edward Moore and Gihahn Cloete. Moore went on to score 155 before the middle and lower-order collapsed. They lost 8 for 80, with Keshav Maharaj taking 6 for 93 to set the Dolphins a target of 112. They were 34 for 2 at one stage but polished off the score on the fourth morning.They will play the Titans, whose draw against the Lions in Johannesburg was enough to keep them at the top of Pool B. The match was studded with superstars including new Test captain Dean Elgar, new white-ball captain Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock, who made his return after a mental health break, and it lived up to the billing.New white-ball call-up Lizaad Williams led the Titans’ attack in taking 3 for 54 to dismiss the Lions for 206. Dominic Hendricks was their top-scorer and fell one short of a century, lbw to Okuhle Cele for 99. In a thrilling second innings, Rabada and Lutho Sipamla took 5 for 51 and 5 for 37, to give the Lions a four-run advantage while Markram stitched together his seventh century of the summer.The Lions built on their lead thanks to their other Hendricks, Reeza, who scored 96 and Wiaan Mulder’s unbeaten 56 and declared on the fourth day on 308 for 9. They set the Titans 313 to win. Elgar and Markram put on 125 for the first-wicket and scored half-centuries but their dismissals before tea put the brakes on the scoring. With the possibility of victory for either side appearing unlikely in the final session, the teams shook hands on the draw shortly after the break.Keshav Maharaj’s was magnificent for the Dolphins yet again•BCCI

In Cape Town, the Cobras won their first red-ball match since January 2019 when they beat the Knights by an innings and 215 runs. Nandre Burger and Tsepho Moreki took four wickets each to dismiss the Knights for 181 before Pieter Malan’s career-best 264 took the match away from the Knights. Malan and Kyle Verreynne shared a 217-run fourth-wicket stand, with Verreynne bringing up his second century of the tournament.The Knights had spent 176.3 overs in the field when the Cobras declared on 523 for 8 and seemed in no mood to make their hosts bat again. They were bundled out for 127, with George Linde claiming his best, 7 for 29, to finish as the competition’s joint-fifth wicket-taker.On the national radar
Despite missing on leadership positions within the national structure Markram has taken ownership of the opening spot in his comeback season after several hand injuries. His century against the Lions further extended his hold over top spot on the batting charts. Markram has scored 945 runs from seven matches, at an average of 94.50, including five hundreds and two fifties. More’s the pity there are no Tests scheduled in South Africa’s immediate future.Elgar’s second innings half-century may not have been as much as he wanted but keeps him in the batting top 10. Verreynne, who may be eyeing a middle-order spot especially after Faf du Plessis’ retirement, is in third place, one ahead of Malan who has probably been squeezed out of Test contention by Markram’s good form.In the bowling department, the hauls from Rabada, Sipamla and Linde would have been pleasing for the national selectors but enough cannot be said about Maharaj. He leads the wicket charts with 34 from five matches at an average of 20.47, has taken four five-fors in this competition and has been the stand-out performer for the Dolphins.Top performers
Malan ended his domestic season in the most emphatic way possible, with his highest first-class score and the highest for the Cobras in their history. Although it seems unlikely he will add to his three Test caps in the foreseeable future, Malan still has plenty to offer both at home and abroad. He has been signed as an overseas player for Warwickshire for the 2021 county season. Important runs were also scored by Zondo and Senuran Muthusamy, who contributed a century and twin fifties respectively for the Dolphins.Williams’ seven wickets for the Titans makes him the leading seam-bowler in the competition with 27 wickets at 25.14, three ahead of Migael Pretorius. The combination of Williams, Cele and Thando Ntini will make for an exciting battle of pace against the Dolphins’ spin in the final.

With the new Premier League campaign fast approaching, Aston Villa have reportedly tabled a new offer to sign their eighth fresh face of the summer transfer window for Unai Emery.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans have far from sat back and simply admired their Champions League place this summer, instead instantly stepping onto the front foot to welcome several reinforcements. The likes of Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea have all arrived, whilst academy graduates Jaden Philogene and Cameron Archer have completed their returns and Amadou Onana has become the latest to move to the Midlands.

Speaking to the club's official website after sealing his return, Philogene said: “It’s the latest chapter in my Villa journey and hopefully I can play my best, get game time and do it in front of the fans.

“What I did at Hull, I want to do the same things at Villa Park; make the fans aware of my skills and score goals. It’s a dream come true. When I was a little boy I wanted to play in the Champions League. I’ve always thought I want to be there one day and here I am.”

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There’s a realistic chance that he signs for the Villa Park side this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 21, 2024

Not resting on their laurels, however, after welcoming their seventh arrival, the Midlands club have instantly turned their attention towards another summer target. According to Gune Bakis in Turkey, Aston Villa have tabled a fresh €30m (£25m) offer to sign Semih Kilicsoy from Besiktas this summer and must now wait for the Turkish club's verdict on their new bid.

Besiktas have already reportedly rejected one offer from Villa for their 18-year-old forward which would have seen Alex Moreno move in the opposite direction on top of an €18m (£15m) transfer fee. Those in the Midlands have since upped their offer, though without the inclusion of Moreno, as they look to land a future star.

"Superb" Kilicsoy can replace Duran

Given that Jhon Duran's Aston Villa future has continuously been thrown into doubt this summer, it's no surprise that the Villans have gone in pursuit of a potential replacement in Kilicsoy. At 18 years of age, two years younger than Duran, the Besiktas forward enjoyed an impressive campaign in Turkey last season to earn the reported interest of Manchester United, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.

Minutes

475

1,677

Goals

5

11

Assists

0

3

Replacing Duran may not be an easy task, given how clinical he was with such little game time last season, but investing in another young forward who hit double figures for league goals last time out would certainly go a long way towards filling that potential void.

Dubbed "superb" by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, Kilicsoy has quite the decision to make this summer if Besiktas accept Villa's reported offer. The Premier League and the chance to step into the Champions League in the Midlands potentially awaits for the young forward this summer, as Emery looks to welcome yet another addition.

علّق بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي على الظهور الأول لعمر مرموش، وعبد القادر خوسانوف مع الفريق.

ودفع جوارديولا بمرموش وخوسانوف في التشكيل الأساسي لفريقه مانشستر سيتي أمام تشيلسي بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وحقق مانشستر سيتي الفوز بنتيجة 3-1، لكن لم تكن بداية مثالية لخوسانوف الذي تسبب في هدف تشيلسي وتلقى بطاقة صفراء.

وقال جوارديولا في تصريحات نشرها موقع مانشستر سيتي الرسمي، بشأن خوسانوف: “ما اعتقدته هو أنها ليست أفضل بداية، أليس كذلك؟ سوف يتعلم الدروس؛ فهو شاب وقد جاء للعب لسنوات عديدة”.

وأضاف: “الأمر ليس سهلاً، أنا أحب رد فعل زملائه، لقد شارك في جلسة تدريبية واحدة، وسوف يتعلم، إنه شاب وسوف يتعلم درسًا من ذلك”.

وأردف: “إنه لا يتحدث الإنجليزية، في هذا الموقف لا يوجد الكثير ليقال، فهو يعلم أنه ارتكب خطأ، ماذا يمكنني أن أقول، لا ترتكب خطأ! إنه يعلم ذلك!”.

اقرأ أيضًا | عمر مرموش يشيد بلاعب مانشستر سيتي “الخرافي” بعد مباراة تشيلسي

وأشار للتغييرات التي أجراها، مع وضع مباراة الفريق القادمة أمام كلوب بروج في الاعتبار: “لا يستطيع مرموش وفيتور ريس وخوسانوف اللعب يوم الأربعاء ويحتاج جون ستونز إلى الإيقاع”.

وأوضح جوارديولا: “لدينا نهائي يوم الأربعاء مع فريقنا وجون ستونز مهم، لهذا السبب أجريت التغيير”.

وأكمل: “لم نكن استثنائيين، لكننا نستحوذ على الكرة كثيرًا ونمرر الكثير من التمريرات”.

وأردف جوارديولا: “أعتقد أن جوندوجان وكوفاسيتش وبرناردو سيلفا، يجب أن يكونوا أكثر ذكاءً في التحركات مع الخط العالي الذي كان لدى تشيلسي، لكن الأمر مسألة وقت لمعرفة بعضهم البعض”.

وأوضح: “في النهاية، هم لا يعرفون تحركات مرموش، والحركة التي يحبها، الأمر يحتاج إلى الوقت، لكنه لعب 75 دقيقة بشكل جيد، ولا يمكنه اللعب يوم الأربعاء، من المهم أن يشارك لأول مرة ويفوز”.

وأتم: “إنهم لا يعرفون تحركات مرموش حتى الآن، ولكن في ظل هذا الوضع، حققنا الفوز 3-1 على تشيلسي، وهذا مهم للغاية بالنسبة لنا قبل المباراة النهائية يوم الأربعاء وبقية مباريات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز”.

In a year which has already seen the 21-year-old enjoy breakthroughs with Tottenham and England, she’s now taking the WSL by storm with the Red Devils

When Grace Clinton faced the media this summer, ahead of her first Women’s Super League season with Manchester United, she was under no illusions with regards to the pressure that was going to be on her at the club, after a breakthrough loan spell at Tottenham and an electric start to her England career. But the way she’s been playing in this campaign, it’s as if she doesn’t feel the weight of expectation whatsoever.

The message from United boss Marc Skinner was not to change anything from the season she had just spent at Spurs, which earned Clinton her Lionesses debut and the PFA Women's Young Player of the Year award. “Marc has reassured me, saying, ‘Don't come in and feel like you have to prove anything, just come in and settle in and just keep enjoying it’,” she explained. “He's just [giving me] the same messages that I had at Tottenham, which is really nice for me to hear.”

Fitting with that consistent message is the consistency of performance from Clinton, though it’s actually easy to argue that her level has even gone up this year from the last. Perhaps that’s no surprise, given the experiences she has accumulated in such a short time, and if she can continue in this vein, with the European Championship right around the corner, she’s going to get the opportunity to shine on even bigger stages.

• Getty Images
  

  Star of the show

  It's not a stretch to say that Clinton has been one of the very best players in the WSL this season. That’s particularly impressive given she’s essentially a new signing, someone who had hardly played with most of her new team-mates before, nor in Skinner’s side. This is a United team in a little bit of transition, too. It wasn’t set up for her to just slot in and perform.

  There are also greater expectations with the Red Devils. “I think with Spurs, as long as we'd made progress from the year before, nearly getting relegated… They were in completely different places,” Clinton acknowledged before the season. “We had the ability and the freedom to try and work on us as a team and how we play. But at United, you can work on how you play as a team, but you need to get the results at the same time. I think that's more of the difference for me.”

  However, that’s just another obstacle she’s overcome. Armed with a little more confidence as a result of that Spurs spell, Clinton feels in a better play to “express” herself – and it certainly shows.

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• Getty Images
  

  Making her mark

  After marking her United debut with a goal, in a 3-0 opening-weekend win over West Ham, Clinton hasn’t looked back. A remarkably composed finish gave the Red Devils a 1-0 win over Everton the next week. and then she went into the first international break of the season with a third, after scoring in a 1-1 draw with surprise package Brighton.

  Those three goals make her United’s joint-top goal-scorer in the WSL this term, alongside new No.9 Elisabeth Terland, and it’s not the only column in which her stats rank among the very best in the squad. No United player has created more chances in the league this season, with Clinton not struggling to get involved in games at all. Only the centre-back pairing of Maya Le Tissier and Millie Turner have had more touches.

  Terland is the sole player with more shots, shots on target and touches in the opposition's box, and only full-back Jayde Riviere has won more fouls. When it comes to dribbles completed, Clinton is also joint-top of those charts. In essence, she’s at the heart of all the good stuff her team are doing in attack.

• Getty
  

  Growing partnership

  Ahead of the season, there were some concerns that this wouldn’t be the case, because there were questions about how Clinton and Ella Toone, another creative playmaker, would fit into the same team. However, after starting the season with the somewhat questionable choice to play Toone in a wider role, Skinner has settled into playing her more central and Clinton more towards the wings in recent weeks, that a position she is familiar with from her time at Tottenham.

  It's something that has certainly pleased Clinton, as she has repeatedly spoken about how much she enjoys playing with Toone. It’s something they’ve done for England, albeit with the 21-year-old in a slightly deeper role which doesn’t always emphasise her best qualities.

  The bad news is that Toone is feared to be out injured for the rest of 2024, so this growing partnership is on pause for the time being. The good news, however, is that the two have shown glimpses of being able to work well together already, and they’ll hope to continue that in the New Year.

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• Getty Images
  

  All-rounder

  But it’s not just about what Clinton does well in attack, as she’s also a real asset defensively. Be it as a box-to-box midfielder or a hard-working wide player, she is always keen to honour her defensive duties, something that will always curry favour with coaches and team-mates alike.

  No player has won more tackles in the United team this season than Clinton, which underlines how willing she is to get stuck in, be it with her high press or tracking back.

  “I do love being able to just go up and down the pitch, being able to defend and put them tackles in and do that for the team, but then being able to stay in those pockets and create,” Clinton said earlier this year, discussing her preferred position and highlighting the defensive aspects of midfield as a reason for it being her favourite.

Newcastle United are believed to be preparing a new-and-improved offer for a "simply brilliant" player this summer, according to a new update emerging from Italy.

Newcastle transfer news

Magpies supporters will no doubt be excited by the list of players being linked with moves to the club this summer as Eddie Howe looks to take his squad to the next level, ensuring they have an improved Premier League season next time around.

One key position that Newcastle appear to be keen on strengthening is right-wing, with upgrades on Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy required, especially in terms of delivering better end product. Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has emerged as a primary candidate to move to St James' Park, with a summer exit from Stamford Bridge increasingly on the cards.

Former Manchester City attacker Ferran Torres has also been linked with a switch to the Magpies, with the Spaniard not necessarily considered a key starter for Barcelona, particularly following the emergence of Lamine Yamal. Leeds United star Crysencio Summerville has also been mentioned as a target.

The heart of Newcastle's backline looks depleted currently, especially with Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles long-term injury absentees. Chelsea ace Trevoh Chalobah has been backed to boost the defensive options at Howe's disposal. He can also play at right-back, so could even be looked at as an upgrade on the ageing Kieran Trippier.

Newcastle preparing new offer for "simply brilliant" ace

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle are set to increase their offer for Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw, with the Italian giants wanting €40m (£33.8m) for his services.

The Magpies reportedly have "concrete interest" in the 22-year-old and are now ready to "raise the stakes" in order to acquire his signature in the current transfer window. It is also thought that both clubs are "in favour" of a deal.

Thiaw has the potential to be a fantastic signing for Newcastle if a move goes through, considering he is a young defender who has already achieved so much in his career, making 54 appearances for Milan and winning three caps for Germany.

Meanwhile, football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described him as "simply brilliant", and Antonio Rudiger has heaped praise on his compatriot, saying after a 2023 friendly against Poland: "He surprised me. He started on the right foot and showed great personality. He played a really, really good game."

At 22, there is still so much more to come from Thiaw in his career. Last season, he averaged 2.6 clearances per game and enjoyed a 91.6% pass completion rate in Serie A last season. The latter tally is superior to any Newcastle defender in the Premier League in 2023/24, showing what he can offer the Toon defence, as well as the quality he possesses on the ball.

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Granted, £33.8m isn't cheap, but given the German's long-term potential, he could end up being a steal for the Magpies – especially if they can get him for anything less, which is hinted as a possibility in the Italian media.

Cristiano Ronaldo was at his best as Al-Nassr downed Al-Gharafa in their AFC Champions League clash to propel them into second place in their group.

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Al-Nassr win 3-1 against Al-GharafaRonaldo scores double on the nightStill unbeaten in Champions LeagueFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportTELL ME MORE

Al-Nassr have not been showing top form so far this season as they have struggled to get regular wins in the Saudi Pro League, however, they were at their absolute best against Qatar Stars League side Al-Gharafa in their matchday five clash of the AFC Champions League at Al Bayt Stadium.

The Saudi Pro League side dominated the proceedings from the outset of the clash in Qatar with Ronaldo coming close to scoring the opener from outside the box after just three minutes, but was denied by a Sergio Rico save. The same was the case when the five-time Ballon d'Or winner let rip a shot from the edge of the box. Despite their continued dominance, those two attempts from Ronaldo were the only shots on target through the first half.

However, it wasn't long after the start of the second half that the former Real Madrid star was able to beat the Spaniard with a header after a delightful cross by Sultan Al-Ghannam found Ronaldo at the edge of the six-yard box. After getting the lead on the night, Al-Nassr switched into another gear as Angelo and Otavio combined for a delightful one-two before the former's delightful footwork allowed him to beat Rico and slot the ball into the back of the net to double the lead for the visitors just before the hour mark. Ronaldo then managed to double his tally on the night as Angelo found the Portugal captain in acres of space before Ronaldo sat the defender down with a perfect dummy and slotted the ball into Rico's side netting to virtually put Al-Nassr past Al-Gharafa's reach.

However, after Al-Nassr's third goal of the night, Al-Gharafa turned up the heat as the Saudi Pro League side seemed to ease off the pedal. Following a triple change by Stefano Pioli, which saw Ronaldo replaced by Brazilian forward Wesley, former Real Madrid man and Al-Gharafa striker Joselu managed to claw one goal back after he rallied onto a save by Al-Nassr's Bento and slotted it past the stricken goalkeeper. Nonetheless, the goal was nothing but a consolation for the Qatari side who saw defender Seydou Sano sent off soon after which ceded any sort of hopes for a comeback as Al-Nassr grew back into the game for a comfortable 3-1 win at Al Bayt Stadium.

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Ronaldo was able to turn back the years and put Al-Nassr on his back as his brace helped the Saudi Pro League side put the game beyond Al-Gharafa's reach. The Portuguese international managed to let off a total of eight shots throughout the game with four shots finding the target. The Al-Nassr captain also managed to accrue two key passes through the game but did not get any assists as opportunities were squandered.

THE BIG LOSER

Al-Gharafa's defence had a night to forget at Al Bayt Stadium against Ronaldo and Co. as they were not able to contain the constant threat posed by Al-Nassr and allowed their attack acres of space, allowing Pioli's side to keep control of the clash throughout the game. Abdalla Yousif, Matias Nani and Sano did not communicate well enough in the backline during Ronaldo's opener before Sano was caught out by Angelo for the second goal. The third goal saw Yousif and Wajdi Kechrida allow Ronaldo to stay in plenty of space before the former was sat down with a simple dummy by Ronaldo.

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WHAT COMES NEXT?

Al-Nassr will likely drop down to third in the AFC Champions League group standings when Al-Hilal play their game in hand later this week. Nonetheless, Pioli's side will look to take this positive result into their next clash when they host Damac in the Saudi Pro League on Friday, November 29.

Aston Villa will embark on an exciting adventure when they return to the Champions League next season. It will be their first time playing amongst Europe’s elite since the competition rebranded from the European Cup in 1992. In fact, they haven’t played in the Champions League since 1982/83, having won the whole thing the season before, in 1981/82.

Villa’s pathway to qualification for the Champions League last season saw them finish fourth in the Premier League, two points clear of Tottenham Hotspur who occupied fifth and therefore the Europa League spot. In total, the Villans ended the campaign with 68 points.

However, according to Understat’s expected points tally, they hugely exceeded their expectations. In reality, instead of their 68 points, Unai Emery’s side should have got 55.43xPTS, which would have placed them seventh in the top flight instead. However, their overachievement shows just how impressive the Midlands side performed last season.

Indeed, with their Champions League adventure awaiting them next term, the Villans will need to add players to their squad who can enhance their chances of a good performance in the competition. In fact, they have recently been linked with one player who could bring plenty of European experience to their squad.

Aston Villa target Premier League striker

The player in question here is Chelsea and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku. Since returning to Stamford Bridge for £97.5m in 2021, the all-time record goalscorer for Belgium has become something of an outcast in Blue, and could now permanently leave this summer after several loan spells.

According to a report from Italian news outlet Calcio Mercato, the Villans are ‘pressing hard on the Belgian striker’, and could launch a bid and leave other suitors in the dust as they look to beat competition to his signature.

Indeed, the other side showing the strongest interest in Lukaku this summer is Italian giants Napoli. However, for Gli Azzurri to do a deal this summer, Victor Osimhen must depart the club. The Nigerian striker was linked with Chelsea, but a deal to Stamford Bridge may now be off after they are set to sign Samu Omorodion from Atleti.

Should Villa nip in front of Napoli in the queue to sign Lukaku this summer, they will have to fork out a fee of £30m, assuming Chelsea ask for the same price the 2022/23 Scudetto winners were charged for the Belgian.

Why Lukaku would be a good signing

It has certainly been an interesting few years for Lukaku, who put up some impressive numbers for his second club in Italy, AS Roma. The 31-year-old Belgian scored 21 goals and grabbed four assists in 47 games in all competitions last term. He grabbed 13 goals and three assists in 32 top-flight games in Italy, as well as seven goals and an assist in 13 Europa League games.

One thing that Lukaku can bring to Villa next season if he joins the club that could be crucial is experience and goals in the Champions League. He is vastly experienced in the biggest club competition in Europe and boasts an impressive record.

Season

Club

Games

Minutes

Goals

Assists

2017/18

Man United

8

704

5

N/A

2018/19

Man United

9

546

2

1

2019/20

Inter

5

405

2

2

2020/21

Inter

5

446

4

N/A

2021/22

Chelsea

6

320

2

1

2022/23

Inter

8

177

3

1

The 31-year-old’s excellent goalscoring record amongst Europe’s elite is better than some legends of the game. Italian icon Francesco Totti has only scored 17 goals in the Champions League, and legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo boasts just 14 goals in 40 games.

Having played in a Champions League final, albeit ending up on the losing side, the former Inter striker could bring plenty of experience to a Villa side taking an unknown step into arguably club football's biggest competition.

Not only will he bring goals and experience in the Champions League, but the signing of the Chelsea man would mean he is the first Belgian striker to play for the club since Christian Benteke between 2012 and 2015.

The Belgian, who, like Lukaku, is something of a journeyman himself, was superb for the Villans during his time at the club. He played 101 games, getting himself on the scoresheet 49 times as well as grabbing 12 assists, before getting a big £32.5m move to Liverpool.

Benteke was a talisman for Villa, and the signing of Lukaku would certainly have shades of that prior deal, given he has an exceptional goalscoring record and could become a cult hero at Villa Park if he manages to find his best form.

One of the only stumbling blocks for a deal to sign Lukaku for Villa this summer could be his wages. The 31-year-old is currently earning an eye-watering £325k per week at Stamford Bridge according to Capology, which would see him be the highest earner at Villa Park by some distance.

The highest-paid players in Claret and Blue currently are Boubacar Kamara and his Belgium teammate Youri Tielemans, who both earn £150k per week. The Chelsea striker currently earns £175k per week more than those, and even if he accepted a wage reduction, it could be hard to negotiate a weekly wage in line with Villa’s current wage structure.

Sky Sports presenter Dougie Critchley once described Lukaku as an “absolute phenomenon”, and if he can rediscover his best form, such as what he showed at Everton or during his first spell at Inter, Villa could have one of the best strikers in the Premier League on their hands.

There is no doubting Lukaku’s quality, and if he gets on a goalscoring run, Emery’s side could find themselves progressing through the Champions League thanks to one of the most exciting strikers of his generation.

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West Indies captain also confident that Holder and Bravo, who missed the Bangladesh tour, will fit in seamlessly

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Mar-2021In a recent change, West Indies appointed opener Kraigg Brathwaite as full-time Test captain following a memorable 2-0 win in Bangladesh under his leadership. That series saw massive contributions from newcomers Kyle Mayers, Nkrumah Bonner and Joshua Da Silva, albeit some of them found a place in the side only because regulars like the then Test captain Jason Holder and the experienced Darren Bravo had opted out of the tour.Now with Sri Lanka set to play two Tests against West Indies starting with the first game in Antigua from Sunday, Brathwaite – now permanently in charge of the side – and his team management will have Holder and Bravo back, leaving them with a happy headache.”The two of them are quality international cricketers and we know what they can give [to the side],” he said in a media interaction. “Jason is the No. 1 allrounder in the world and Darren Bravo is a quality batsman. So they will fit in – [it will be] quite normal to be honest.”Related

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West Indies may be close to having their best side together for the Sri Lanka series, but Brathwaite wants them approach to the upcoming Tests the same way they did in Bangladesh.”We have a good group [of players] and as I said from [the] Bangladesh [squad], the team that went there was a good team,” he said. “And I think here [also] it is pretty much the same. As a team we came together nicely – we came from Bangladesh while some came from the 50-over [domestic competition], and we’ve gelled nicely as a team. So for me, it is the pretty much the same.”We have the same attitude [like what we had in Bangladesh], the same determination and the same fight, and we want to keep that discipline. As a Test team, we are on a great path with guys going and grabbing opportunities to score runs, and on a great path to play teams in the Test arena.”One aspect that stood out for West Indies during their Test series in Bangladesh was the way their batsmen handled the hosts’ spinners. Bangladesh played four spinners – including the left-arm spin of the veteran Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam, and offspinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nayeem Hasan – in the first Test where West Indies chased down a massive 395 on the final day.Sri Lanka have also arrived with their own bunch of spinners, having at their disposal the variety provided by left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya, legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga and offspinner Dhananjaya de Silva. But Brathwaite sounded confident of repeating what his side did in Bangladesh, and wanted his batsmen to “trust themselves”.”We came from Bangladesh facing a lot of spin throughout the whole day [of a Test],” he said at the prospect of facing spin for a long duration. “So pretty much the plans won’t change; I just want the guys to trust themselves. We came out with different plans how we want to go about each bowler – whether a pacer or a spinner – and the main thing is that we are not taking it for granted. We’re not thinking that we won’t get spin here. They have some quality spinners, but we have plans to go about each bowler and we’re going to trust them 100% – as simple as that.”In terms of the combination, we’ll decide a little later. But the team is ready to go to be honest. They’re confident, there’s intensity in the nets.”