Barcelona transfer target Joan Garcia has expressed his openness to a move, adding that playing against Espanyol would be an exciting challenge.

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Joan Garcia hasn't ruled out Barca moveGoalkeeper excited at prospect of playing EspanyolArsenal and Man City also interestedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia has caught the attention of several top European clubs, with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City reportedly in talks to sign the 23-year-old. In a recent interview with Catalunya Radio (h/t Reshad Rahman), Garcia has not ruled out a move away from Espanyol and admitted that it would be exciting for him to play against his current club, Barca's city rivals.

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Camp Nou has emerged as the most likely destination for Joan Garcia in the summer. The Espanyol goalkeeper is also reportedly in discussions with Arsenal, should David Raya complete a reported move to Real Madrid. The Spaniard had kept quiet on the links with Barca out of respect for his boyhood club, Espanyol, but he has now broken his silence.

WHAT JOAN GARCIA SAID

Garcia said: "It wouldn't be a problem to face Espanyol. It would also be nice to play against them. These are things that can happen, but I try to look on the positive side of things, and if it happens, I would be excited. I'm very calm, really. A lot of things are coming out on a lot of teams. It doesn’t just depend on me. At the moment, I'm an Espanyol player. I don’t have a date to decide."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR JOAN GARCIA?

Garcia signed a contract extension with Espanyol in 2023, keeping him at the club until June 30, 2028. This puts the Liga side in control when it comes to negotiations, with no immediate pressure to sell to their rivals. Reports suggest that the club have included a €25 million (£21m) release clause in Garcia's contract, meanwhile, and that could ultimately force them into a sale that they don't want to make.

Leicestershire Foxes ended a five-game losing run in the Vitality Blast to secure their first win of the campaign, beating Durham by seven wickets at Seat Unique Riverside.Josh Hull was the star of the game with the ball for the Foxes, claiming three wickets for 35 in just his second game, to help limit the home side to 168 for 9 from their 20 overs. Ollie Robinson top-scored for Durham with a career-best 69 not out and was supported by 46 from Ashton Turner, but their total appeared par at best at the halfway stage.Nick Welch and Lewis Hall provided a strong platform for the visitors to put them ahead of the rate. Durham debutant Luke Robinson threatened to drag his team back into the match with two wickets. But Louis Kimber smashed fifty from 27 balls on his way to a career-best unbeaten 55 to secure the win for Leicestershire with 12 balls to spare.The Foxes made a solid start with the ball and limited the Durham openers to only 19 from the opening three overs. Hull then arrived into the attack and made immediate inroads, bursting through Alex Lees’ defences before Graham Clark knicked off to hand the left-armer his first two T20 wickets.Robinson countered against Hull’s second over, scoring three fours in a row, to allow the hosts to move to 40 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. Michael Jones struggled for timing and in his bid to cut loose he presented Naveen-ul-Haq with his first wicket, picking out Rehan Ahmed at point.Turner provided the foil that Robinson needed to add impetus to the Durham innings, raising the run rate, with an impressive array of shots around the ground. Turner found his range to score the first six of the match, sweeping Ahmed over mid-wicket.The England man went wicketless as the Durham batters targeted the leg-spinner to move the hosts into a strong position heading into the closing overs. Robinson highlighted his excellent Blast form, scoring his third fifty in four innings. Turner and Robinson shared a partnership worth 80 before Hull returned to prise out the Australian lbw for a 25-ball knock of 46.Naveen and Shah combined to halt the Durham charge beyond 170, despite a career-best from Robinson, as the final two overs cost just 14 runs.The Foxes made a rapid start to the run chase as Hill and Nick Welch capitalised on loose bowling in the powerplay, racing to their fifty stand in the fifth over. Welch blasted 30 off 15 balls, but Wayne Parnell found his inside edge to stop the Leicestershire assault.Debutant Luke Robinson enjoyed an immediate impact, striking with his third ball to bowl Hill for 25, offering the home side a way back into the contest. The 19-year-old notched his second wicket as Rishi Patel picked out Lees to put the pressure back on the Foxes. But, the visitors responded as skipper Ackermann used his experience to find gaps in the field to move his team back in line with the required rate.Kimber joined his skipper and struck the ball cleanly to allow the Foxes to surge towards the victory total, reaching their fifty partnership in just 28 balls. Kimber took on the mantle to power his team over the line with his second T20 blast fifty, smashing three sixes, including a huge strike off Parnell into the pavilion, getting Leicestershire off the mark in the competition.

MatériaMais Notícias

Sete gols em 14 jogos. A média já seria considerada boa caso se tratasse de um atacante, mas ela é de um zagueiro: Gustavo Gómez. O xerifão do Palmeiras, que marcou neste domingo na vitória por 2 a 1 do seu time sobre o Internacional, assumiu a 5ª posição no ranking de artilheiros do Brasileiro, empatando com Hulk, do Atlético Mineiro, Luciano, do São Paulo, Erison, do Botafogo, Marcos Leonardo, do Santos, Stiven Mendoza, do Ceará, e Rony, seu companheiro de clube.

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> GALERIA:ATUAÇÕES: Gustavo Gómez tem jogo perfeito na defesa, faz gol e recebe maior nota do Palmeiras

Além da alta média de gols – principalmente para um defensor -, chama a atenção a eficiência de Gómez. O paraguaio precisou de apenas 16 finalizações para marcar sete vezes, obtendo um aproveitamento de 43,7% nas tentativas. É a maior taxa de conversão de chances entre todos que marcaram mais de três gols. Cano, do Fluminense, por exemplo, principal goleador do Brasileirão, converteu 19% de seus arremates.

Everton have a talented crop of young players at the club, which David Moyes can use to build a squad that can compete higher up the Premier League in the years to come, in the new stadium Bramley-Moore Dock.

Some of those young talents include Portuguese striker Youssef Chermiti, although he has struggled to get game time this season, and midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, who signed from Aston Villa in June.

There are some more experienced young players at Moyes’ disposal, too. Those include defender Jake O’Brien, who is 23 years of age, and James Garner, the 24-year-old midfielder. Talismanic attacker Iliman Ndiaye is still just 25.

Incredibly, Everton are targeting a summer move for another young superstar who has been tipped for big things.

Everton looking at signing EFL star

With the new era at Bramley-Moore set to get underway in just a matter of months, the hierarchy, which will include new arrival Angus Kinnear, will be drawing up a list of transfer targets. What might the squad look like in that new stadium? Perhaps this young gem will be part of the new era.

Transfer Focus

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

Few players across the Premier League and in the EFL are rated as highly as Chris Rigg. The 17-year-old is on the shopping list of several sides across the top flight of England, and it seems Sunderland face an uphill battle to keep him at the club.

According to a report from Sky Sports, the Toffees are believed to be ‘among the clubs tracking’ Rigg, who is an established player for Sunderland already. The report suggests that the Toffees want the midfielder because he ‘he fits the profile of what they are looking for’.

However, they are not the only club interested this summer. Fellow Premier League outfit West Ham are also interested, as per Sky Sports, as are clubs abroad.

According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur have already placed a bid worth £38m.

Why Rigg could be a good signing

The Sunderland midfielder, who does not turn 18 until the season is over, has been a key player for the Black Cats this term. In 36 appearances across all competitions this term, he has scored four goals and grabbed one assist. That’s quite incredible for a teenager.

One of those strikes was a stunning match-winner against Middlesbrough in a huge clash in the North East.

Pouncing on a loose ball in the box, the midfielder somehow managed to fire into an empty Boro net from an acute angle. It was a finish which showcased his technical quality.

Rigg’s numbers over the past two seasons, via Squawka, show just how consistently he performs on a weekly basis.

For example, this term, he has created 1.3 chances and made 3.9 ball recoveries per game, compared to 0.9 chances created and the same number of ball recoveries per game last term.

Chances created

0.9

1.3

Forward passes

7.8

7

Take-ons completed

1.6

1.2

Interceptions

0.3

0.5

Ball recoveries

3.9

3.9

One of the most exciting things about Rigg is his versatility. The England U19 international, who scored over the international break, is able to play anywhere in midfield, although he excels as a number 10. This term, he has even played out wide on the right and as a centre-forward.

Should Rigg sign for the Toffees, he could burst onto the top-flight scene in a similar way to another midfielder in Ross Barkley. Barkley was also a youngster when he made his Everton debut, just 17 years of age when he first broke into the first-team at Goodison.

In total, the Merseysider scored 27 times and grabbed 25 assists in 179 games for his boyhood club.

One of the most iconic moments from Barkley in a Toffees shirt came against Bournemouth in a 5-0 win at home, where he scored the fifth of the game and celebrated his goal before he put the ball in an empty net.

Football presenter and Sunderland supporter Dougie Critchley thinks highly of Rigg, explaining that he thinks the teenager is a “special” talent and “has potential to be a Premier League star”. Thus, if he could get anywhere close to replicating Barkley’s impact in a Toffees shirt, he will have done very well.

Indeed, the similarities are there, given their age and versatility in midfield, although preferring to play as a number 10.

For a fee in the region of £38m, this could be a brilliant addition for Everton this summer.

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MatériaMais Notícias

Victor Cuesta foi o personagem da entrevista coletiva do Botafogo na fria manhã desta sexta-feira no Espaço Lonier, futuro CT do clube. O zagueiro admitiu que a bola aérea tem sido um pesadelo para a defesa nos últimos jogos.

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+’Xodó’ de Del Piero, bom passe e destaque em título do Benfica: quem é Gabriel Pires, reforço do Botafogo

-É um quesito que temos que melhorar, temos trabalhando bastante. Tem alguns detalhes para ajustar e corrigir nesse quesito – afirmou o zagueiro.

O Botafogo volta aos gramados neste sábado para enfrentar o Atlético-GO no Estádio Nilton Santos. A equipe comandada por Luís Castro tem uma das piores campanhas como mandante do Brasileirão, mas Cuesta acredita em uma mudança.

A torcida mais uma vez nos apoiou (no empate contra o Ceará), fez uma linda festa e não conseguimos sair com a vitória dentro da nossa casa. Agora temos mais um jogo e esperamos que o torcedor compareça novamente para darmos essa alegria para ele. Nunca faltou trabalho nesse grupo, e com certeza o único caminho para conseguir os resultados é trabalhando – admitiu.

MAIS DECLARAÇÕES DE CUESTA

Lesão na face
-Foi uma questão difícil, infelizmente foi um acidente, mas deu para recuperar rápido, o planejamento foi muito bem feito e graças a Deus pude voltar antes do previsto. Agora é continuar trabalhando para continuar pegando ritmo novamente e ficar sempre à disposição.

Gol contra o Ceará
-Feliz por ter conseguido fazer mais um gol com essa camisa. Esse gol foi dedicado para minha esposa, que cuidou de mim nesse período da lesão.

Reforços
​-É sempre importante a chegada de reforços. Sei que o Botafogo está qualificando o grupo e quem vier com certeza vai ajudar muito, ainda mais porque temos sofrido com algumas lesões. É importante acrescentar alguns jogadores no nosso elenco

In what is a growing concern for Regis Le Bris, AS Roma have now reportedly joined the race to sign one of his most important Sunderland players ahead of this summer.

AS Roma racing to sign Sunderland star

Sunderland could yet fall victim to what has been a successful season if the current campaign doesn’t end in Championship promotion. As things stand, the Black Cats sit fourth and all but secure in the play-offs. But that’s just the start of their race to win a spot in the Premier League.

Set to compete in the play-offs, Sunderland will be well aware of just how heartbreaking Wembley can be and as talents continue to rise throughout their squad, the pressure will be on if they reach that final hurdle come May.

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Players like Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham have both been the subjects of Premier League interest in the last year and both are players who should have their sights set on the Premier League.

As the summer approaches, however, they’re not the only ones who could be heading for the exit door in Wearside. According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, AS Roma have now joined the race to sign Dan Neil after officials spotted his talent whilst keeping an eye on current loanee Enzo Le Fee.

The Italians aren’t alone in their interest, either. They are reportedly joined by both Everton and West Ham United to form a three-club race which could yet end in the ultimate frustration for Sunderland.

Promotion could be key to "fantastic" Neil's stay

Whilst his role as captain would make any exit more complicated than it otherwise would be, Neil is a rising talent who should want to play at the highest level sooner rather than later. With just one year left on his current contract too, Sunderland may be left with no choice but to make a decision this summer if that issue remains unresolved.

The midfielder has earned plenty of praise during his time at the Stadium of Light, including from former manager Michael Beale, who told reporters: “Dan’s a fantastic player.

“There’s a lot of eyes on Dan because he’s got a lot of potential. Hugely important player in our squad and I’ve been super impressed with him since I joined the club. It’s important for him that he focuses on his game and plays well because this is the level he wants to play at regularly, you know, against these players.”

As the current campaign nears a conclusion, the future of several key players may well rely on whether Sunderland find themselves back in the Premier League next season.

Blackburn Rovers are looking to sign a “quality” new forward on a cut-price transfer as they aim to pip former boss Tony Mowbray to a deal.

Blackburn and Ismael still pushing for playoffs in Championship run-in

It hasn’t been the start to life at Ewood Park that Valerien Ismael would have hoped for, with Rovers slipping down the Championship table.

Under Ismael, Blackburn have drawn with Norwich City and lost to Derby County, Stoke City and Cardiff City, leaving them ninth in the table and five points adrift of the last remaining playoff spot, currently occupied by Mowbray’s West Brom.

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Talking after the latest loss to Cardiff, Ismael said: “This one is the most disappointing (of Ismael’s four results). We played well with belief and conviction. It was a step forward, especially in the first half. This one is tough to take. The first Cardiff goal we defended badly and the second one we just lost the ball. At the end you get punished. Details make the difference.”

Portsmouth vs Blackburn

March 29

Blackburn vs Middlesbrough

April 4

Blackburn vs Sheffield Wednesday

April 8

Luton Town vs Blackburn

April 12

Blackburn vs Millwall

April 18

Ismael will get the chance to secure his first win as Rovers boss this weekend, but behind the scenes, the club appear to be working on potential signings.

Blackburn Rovers racing Mowbray to sign Bobby Wales

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, Blackburn Rovers want to sign Kilmarnock forward Bobby Wales at the end of the campaign on a free transfer when his contract expires.

It is stated that Rovers and West Brom are ‘racing’ to secure Wales’ services as they look at ‘potential long-term options to develop and potentially move on for a significant profit’.

Wales has caught the eye of a number of Championship clubs, but it is only Rovers and the Baggies who are named in the update. Aged 19, Wales is a versatile centre-forward who, after scoring 12 goals in 27 appearances on loan at Alloa Athletic, has featured regularly in 2024/25.

Games

27

Goals

5

Assists

3

Yellow cards

1

Minutes played

1,264

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes has previously called Wales a player with “quality” and an attacker who has “composure”.

“When we’re looking for a bit of calmness, quality and a bit of composure, I thought Bobby Wales gave us that. It’s a fantastic finish and good on him. We tried to be brave and keep as much attacking threat on the pitch as possible.”

McInnes added: “Bobby still has things he has to improve at. He’s an honest boy and we have conversations. With his back to goal he can still be better but in terms of finding space and manufacturing chances for himself, he’s got that in him.”

Yorkshire claim fourth win in a row despite sliding to 78 for 7 batting first

ECB Reporters Network06-Jun-2023

Jordan Thompson’s five-for wrapped up the points•Getty Images

Beaten in their opening three North Group fixtures, Yorkshire Vikings extended the turnaround in their Vitality Blast campaign to four wins from four, defeating Leicestershire Foxes by 30 runs after the home side were bowled out for 126 at a chilly Uptonsteel County Ground.Having opted to bat first, the Vikings recovered from a perilous 78 for 7 on a green-tinged pitch to post 156 from their 20 overs, allrounder David Wiese finishing on 50 not out from 32 balls and former Leicestershire allrounder Ben Mike 30 from 17 after the pair set a Vikings record by adding 78 for the eighth wicket.Jordan Thompson was the most effective bowler for the Vikings, taking a career-best 5 for 21, with 20-year-old legspinner Jafer Chohan impressing with 1 for 16 from four overs.Wiaan Mulder – playing solely as a batter after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury – top-scored for the Foxes with 46 but although Rishi Patel, with 36 from 25 balls, proved effective in the powerplay, the home side could not build sustained partnerships, dismissed with three balls left of the 20th over.England’s young legspinner Rehan Ahmed took 3 for 21 and left-arm seamer Josh Hull took 2 for 30 – both just 18 years old – as the best of the Foxes bowlers, but strike bowlers Mikey Finan and Naveen-ul-Haq took some punishment as the home attack leaked 69 runs in the last five overs.Dawid Malan’s hot streak ended in the second over as a leading edge to a ball from left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson saw him caught at short third man for 2 following his run of 95 not out, 83 and 81 not out in three innings. James Wharton cashed in on a couple of balls wide of off stump by Hull but there was another success for the Foxes as Naveen beat Adam Lyth’s swinging bat and the Vikings were 42 for 2 from their batting powerplay.Wharton and Shan Masood added 36 in 29 balls but three more wickets before the halfway point had the visitors on the back foot at 65 for 5.Rehan, among the contenders for an England Ashes spot following the injury to Jack Leach, did his prospects no harm by bowling Wharton with one that skidded through before holding an easy return catch next ball as Jonathan Tattersall chipped one back.The Vikings were in more trouble as Masood under-edged a catch behind off the tall Hull before Rehan claimed his third scalp via a catch in the deep on the leg side, well taken by Finan.Yorkshire had no momentum at all at this point and were six overs without a boundary at 75 for 6 when Rehan finished his spell in the 13th over, suffering a further setback in the next over as Matthew Revis nicked one off Hull.But a loose over from Finan gave Wiese a helping hand as he lofted a free hit over long-off for the first six of the Vikings innings and hammered a full toss for four, setting off a strong finish for Yorkshire side and a poor one for Leicestershire, who up to that point had given little away.Wiese and Mike hit eight fours and three sixes from 38 balls after the fall of the seventh wicket, Mike clearing the rope off former team-mates Naveen and Finan to give his old county a tougher chase than they had anticipated.On a roll, Wiese began the home side’s batting powerplay with a maiden and when Nick Welch was grabbed behind the stumps at the second attempt off spinner Dom Bess, the Foxes were 1 for 1. They recovered to put 44 on the board in the opening six but also lost Lewis Hill, who skewed Thompson to third man.At the halfway point, the outcome looked in the balance after a couple of tight overs from Chohan, with 93 needed from 60 balls at 64 for 2. When Patel – hit on the helmet by Revis on 31 – was leg before to Thompson for 36 from 24 balls, and Louis Kimber was bowled by Chohan sweeping, the Vikings looked favourites, an assessment quickly confirmed as Rehan thumped a short delivery from Revis in the air to Wharton at mid-off.Mike held a steepling return catch to remove Arron Lilley, after which a flurry of boundaries by Mulder raised hopes that the Foxes could still make a game of it until Thompson dismissed him and Naveen with consecutive deliveries, both via catches in the deep. Parkinson departed in similar fashion off Mike and Thompson kept steady under another soaring return catch put up by Finan to complete his maiden five-for.

In a major boost ahead of the summer transfer window, Everton have reportedly been given the green light by one particular midfield target to push on and complete their move.

Friedkin could hand Moyes midfield boost

Everton could be one of the sides to watch this summer. The arrival of The Friedkin Group already resulted in the loan arrival of Carlos Alcaraz in January and now they’ve seemingly set their sights on further reinforcements in the next transfer window.

Names such as Tammy Abraham and Hamza Igamane have already been mentioned and it should come as no shock to see the Toffees in pursuit of attacking reinforcements. Abraham would be a particularly interesting arrival, given his past Premier League experience at Chelsea before leaving for Italy where he has enjoyed a mixed spell.

In joining Everton, the experienced striker would be replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who is set to become a free agent this summer when his current contract expires. If that is to be that for the academy graduate, then his Goodison Park spell may well be summarised by injuries rather than his inconsistent goalscoring record.

Meanwhile, it’s not just Abraham who could arrive. As Graeme Bailey told Everton News, Everton have now been given the green light to sign Sean Longstaff this summer with a move to Bramley-Moore Dock one that appeals to the Newcastle United midfielder.

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He could come fairly cheap too. Just last summer, Newcastle set his price tag at just £12m. Now, one season later and into the final year of Longstaff’s contract, the midfielder’s valuation should – in theory – remain the same or be even more accessible.

A player with Champions League experience, David Moyes is reportedly a fan of the midfielder and could welcome him with open arms in pursuit of taking Everton back into the top half next season.

"Excellent" Longstaff could partner Gueye

Whilst a place in Eddie Howe’s midfield three ahead of Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali is far harder to come by these days, Longstaff would have an instant role to play at the heart of Moyes’ Everton side next to Idrissa Gana Gueye.

Likely taking the place of the less experienced James Garner, Longstaff could complete a solid foundation that should see the Toffees push beyond relegation scraps.

Starts

8

25

Progressive Passes

4.58

4.21

Tackles Won

1.93

2.69

Ball Recoveries

3.49

5.91

Just eight league starts sum up the struggles that Longstaff has endured at St James’ Park, with a move away no unsurprisingly on the cards. There was, of course, a stage in which the midfielder had an important role to play at his boyhood club – earning praise from Howe as a result.

The Newcastle boss told reporters in 2023 after Longstaff netted twice against Southampton in the FA Cup: “I’m so pleased that he’s got the headlines tonight. The two goals were great finishes. His all-round performances this season have been excellent. He’s getting the rewards for what I saw last year.”

أعلن محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا، قائد الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، اعتزاله كرة القدم بشكل نهائي.

وكشف شيكابالا، عن قراره خلال ظهوره عبر قناة إم بي مصر 2، حيث قال “الرحلة انتهت” مُعلنا تعليق حذائه.

طالع.. حازم إمام يٌعلن رحيل لجنة التخطيط بـ الزمالك.. وراتب فيريرا المدرب الجديد

ودخل قائد الزمالك، في نوبة من البكاء، فور إعلان الاعتزال مع الإعلامي إبراهيم فايق، بعد مسيرة في الملاعب استمرت لأكثر من 22 عامًأ.

ويُعد شيكابالا، اللاعب الأكثر حصولًا على بطولات في تاريخ نادي الزمالك، برصيد 18 بطولة خلال مسيرته منذ ظهوره الأول بالقميص الأبيض.

وساهم شيكابالا، في فوز الزمالك، ببطولة كأس مصر الأخيرة، أمام بيراميدز بالفوز في المباراة النهائية بركلات الترجيح بعد التعادل بهدف لكل فريق.

وقال شيكابالا: “الرحلة انتهت، وكنت قد قلت إن هذا الموسم سيكون الأخير لي، أشعر أنني قدّمت كل ما لدي، وانتهت الرحلة بشكل جميل، وجماهير الزمالك سعيدة”.

وواصل:” شعرت أنني فعلت كل ما يمكن فعله مع الزمالك، ولم أعد أشعر أنني قادر على العطاء مجددًا”.

وأكمل: “اتخذت قرار الاعتزال، رغم أن البعض حاول إقناعي بالعدول عنه، لكنها سنة الحياة، وسيأتي الوقت الذي يعتزل فيه كل لاعب، وبإذن الله، يقدّم لنا الزمالك مئة شيكابالا جديد، ويُخرج لنا أجيالًا تحمل الروح نفسها”.