Deal agreed: Sunderland chiefs bring in exciting new goalkeeper talent

Tony Mowbray once again has Sunderland on course to compete for a place in the Championship play-offs this season after a solid start. The Black Cats sit eighth and just one point adrift of the all-important top six, having played 14 games. Those at the Stadium of Light will simply be hoping to keep their run going into what will be a busy festive period.

Meanwhile, away from the pitch, Mowbray will be looking to improve his side even further in the hope of avoiding similar promotion heartbreak to that of last season, when his side were one step away from Wembley. And while first-team reinforcements are sure to arrive in January, the club have already acted outside the window to secure a gem for the future.

Sunderland transfer news

Much of the credit for Sunderland's start to the season deserves to go to their recruitment team, who did well to welcome the likes of Jobe Belliingham in the summer. The former Birmingham youngster has so far enjoyed his time on Wearside, featuring in every Championship game and even finding the back of the net on two occasions. When it comes to future arrivals, Sunderland will be looking to see players make a similar impact to Bellingham, and that includes Kelechi Chibueze.

As confirmed by the club, Sunderland have signed Chibueze from Leicester City until 2024, with the option to extend his deal for another season. Speaking to the club's official website, academy manager Robin Nicholls said: “Kelechi joins our programme having had a good youth career so far. He is a former England Youth International who has been registered with two other Category 1 Academies previously.

"He displayed potential in many of the attributes that we consider important for our goalkeepers to possess, and we feel that he can add to what is already a strong group of goalkeepers within our Professional Development Phase.”

Will Chibueze play for Sunderland?

Adding Chibueze to their squad, Sunderland now have the choice of Anthony Patterson, Nathan Bishop and their recent arrival. That said, the former Leicester City man is set to join up with the academy, where he will hope to impress enough to earn a longer deal and potentially even some first-team opportunities.

From Mowbray's perspective, as the games come thick and fast during the festive period, having a number of options at his disposal is no bad thing. And whilst he'll have his number one in the form of Patterson, turning to Chibueze in competitions away from the Championship could result in the emergence of another solid back-up.

For now, though, it's up to the shot-stopper to impress for the academy first. The last thing Chibueze will want is to see his time at the Stadium of Light come to an end as soon as next year. If all goes well, the recent arrival could even be a Premier League player this time next year, as the Black Cats push for promotion once more. They'll certainly be up there, that's for sure, especially after the start they've made. Now, Mowbray will simply be looking to push on.

VIDEO: Iconic! Real Madrid-bound Brazil star Endrick scores third goal in five days before producing unique celebration in Palmeiras victory

Real Madrid-bound sensation Endrick was back in action and hit his third goal in just five days as he powered Palmeiras to a state final.

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Teen sensation repeats Brazil heroics for clubWinner sends Palmeiras to state finalAce parades club crest after strikeWHAT HAPPENED?

Not content with scoring against England and Spain at two of European football's most iconic venues, the 17-year-old was back on duty for his club as they faced Novorizontino in the semi-final of the Campeonato Paulista, a competition for clubs from the state of Sao Paulo.

With the game deadlocked in the second half, Endrick latched on to a knockdown inside the box and lashed Palmeiras through to the final. To add a flourish, the teenager grabbed a banner displaying the club crest and paraded it triumphantly in front of delighted home fans.

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The goal capped quite a week for the forward who announced himself to a global audience with his heroics for the Selecao and prompted debate about how Real Madrid will employ his talents when he arrives in the Spanish capital this summer.

With fellow Brazilians Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo set to be joined by Endrick, and in all likelihood Kylian Mbappe, Carlo Ancelotti may have some welcome selection problems on his hands come August.

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(C)GettyImagesWHAT NEXT FOR ENDRICK?

The action keeps coming for Endrick with a two-legged final against Santos scheduled to begin on Sunday evening, as two of Brazilian football's great names go toe-to-toe for the state championship.

Brothers in arms as Craig and Jamie Overton spearhead Somerset's success

There is still daylight between Somerset and Surrey, but the title race remains alive. For Yorkshire, threat of relegation is real

David Hopps01-Sep-2018
ScorecardThey think it’s all Overton – and it is now. When Jamie Overton finally ended Yorkshire’s resistance, and Somerset secured a 224-run victory, to keep their Championship challenge bubbling, they were able to celebrate the success of a double act that has long been presented as central to the county’s future.The Overton twins in harness, aggressively bowling Somerset to victory. For a variety of reasons, it has happened more in the minds of Somerset supporters than in reality, and down at Surrey it is the Curran brothers who have claimed the bulk of the attention, but together they took six of the eight Yorkshire wickets to fall on the final day as victory was secured with more than 26 overs remaining.The manner in which the Overtons gingered up the game immediately after lunch when Yorkshire were making a respectable fist of batting out time insisted that although the 32-point margin behind Surrey is a sizeable one, the Championship race is still alive. Their task is to try to trim it by the time they face Surrey at Taunton on September 18. Craig is off England’s radar at the moment and Jamie’s fitness is forever under question, but if they remain fit and firing, it would be premature to write Somerset off.”We actually haven’t played together all that much,” said Jamie. “Normally one of us has been injured. It’s nice to play together. It was a tough, slow pitch but we are both naturally very aggressive and that’s the sort of pressure you want to build. Surrey are a long way ahead, but we’ll keep pushing them.”There was another bowler involved in Somerset’s win. Lewis Gregory, the allrounder who can currently do no wrong, added two more wickets to the two he possessed overnight to add 4 for 33 to two freewheeling innings. But it was Yorkshire’s loss of three top-order wickets for no runs in 16 balls at the start of the afternoon session that wrested the initiative. It left them with five single-figure scores in the top seven and not many matches are saved with stats like that.Kane Williamson had begun his innings by twice hitting left-arm spinner Jack Leach for six into the sightscreen, a message that spin was unlikely to be instrumental on a slow surface offering some uneven bounce. He had reached 47 at lunch in a manner that suggested he could marshal Yorkshire’s forces, but after reaching his fifty by clipping Craig Overton through square leg, one leapt from just sort of a length and he was caught off the glove down the leg side.In Craig Overton’s next over, Tom Kohler-Cadmore was lbw for nought, late on a fulsome drive, and then brother Jamie made his first contribution, squeezing one through the narrowest gate to hit Gary Ballance’s off stump. Jack Leaning got the best ball of the lot, as Jamie plucked out his off stump with one that left him at pace.Williamson will not remember his latest stop-over in Yorkshire with pleasure. There was a win in the Roses match at Old Trafford, but even there his scores of 0 and 1 represented the worst combination in his first-class career. A towelling against Worcestershire at the Scarborough Festival, was as bad as it gets.And now this. As he departs for New Zealand, to rest up ahead of the series against Pakistan in the UAE, Yorkshire are pinning their faith in the sound top-order technique of a less well-known Kiwi, Jeet Raval.They now find themselves in the bottom two and Andrew Gale, the coach, is a dartboard for the disgruntled, but even Essex, in third, are not entirely secure so a sense of proportion is needed. Yorkshire responded this week by clearly stating their absolute faith in Gale: director of cricket Martyn Moxon termed him a “long-term investment” and called criticism of him “unjustified and uncalled for.” Gale has even become “a project” so who knows, there might even be grant aid available. Considering they are having to slash their playing budget, that would come in handy.These are condemnatory times, especially at clubs like Yorkshire where success is expected. On Twitter this week, even Sussex’s former allrounder Luke Wright, as hard and enthusiastic a worker as there is in the game, was called out for posting a picture of a bacon-and-egg bap as he looked happily upon Lord’s on a sunny day. It appears that some supporters think that players should not eat if they make nought. Once teams would be starved of success; now they are expected to starve until they find it.Yorkshire therefore are not just losing, they are also perceived by some of their most trenchant critics to be lacking spirit – the ultimate insult of a professional sports person. “Excuse me pal, what defines our pride and passion?” Jack Brooks had challenged one critic on the first day here. Brooks is leaving, but he is not leaving because of disenchantment, but because Somerset have offered him a three-year deal at 34.Yorkshire are working hard to manage an awkward period of transition (how well they are doing that is a different argument altogether) but some people see things differently.It would have been briefly uplifting for Gale to have been transported from Yorkshire’s dressing room over lunchtime, where words like pride and passion were no doubt being bandied about, to the Oxfam bookshop in Headingley, refuge of the more thoughtful fan. One wicket had been lost in the morning session, and even that had been the nightwatchman, Josh Shaw, who had played calmly for a career-best 42 before he was lbw to Gregory.”They’re fighting, I’ll grant you that,” said one Yorkshire stalwart to his mate as he stooped to check out the second-hand fiction. It would have taken him a while to leave that bookshop because he was struggling with a mobile phone App which apparently told him whether he had read a book or not, more valuable than you might imagine. Back in the sunshine, had he been minded to check ESPNcricinfo he would have found that Yorkshire were suddenly six down, seven by the time he had retaken his seat.Gregory’s fourth wicket was that of Andrew Hodd, the first-innings hero, who was more culpable as he played all round one from Gregory that struck his leg stump. Eight down at tea, Matthew Fisher and David Willey put on 45 in 18 overs, but Jamie Overton removed Fisher and Brooks in successive overs to claim victory.Somerset let Willey lead them off and applauded his 34 not out. Or perhaps they applauded him because he has also accepted the job of stand-in captain while Steve Patterson is injured. Nobody else wanted the job, which is a discussion of its own. Whatever, as Willey stalked off the field, it’s not entirely certain that he enjoyed it.

Man City battling Premier League sides to sign "superb" World Cup winner

Manchester City are tussling with a number of Premier League clubs for the signing of a "superb" midfielder, a fresh transfer rumour has claimed.

Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola's side were in imperious form on Sunday afternoon, heading to Manchester United and comprehensively outplaying their rivals in the derby. In the end, City cruised to a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and Phil Foden also finding the net, further suggesting that they are again very much the team to beat in the Premier League title race.

Guardiola did plenty of transfer business during the summer window, bringing in the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Jeremy Doku, among others, while players such as Ilkay Gundogan and Aymeric Laporte left the club for pastures new. City always look willing to do some interesting transfer business at any opportunity, and January isn't too far away, giving them another chance to bolster their squad.

With Kevin De Bruyne still absent through injury, and Kalvin Phillips potentially leaving the club at that point, it looks as though they are eyeing up one impressive midfielder to come in.

Bayer Leverkusen midfielderExequiel Palacios.

Man City want Exequiel Palacios

According to an update from TNT Sports [via Sport Witness], Manchester City are keen on signing Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Exequiel Palacio in January, but they face competition for his signature. Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also in the conversation to snap up the Argentine, in what is described as a "tantalising opportunity" for the player to head to the Premier League. It is also stated that all three English sides are "seriously considering the possibility" of signing Palacios.

While some may feel that City already have an embarrassment of riches at their disposal in midfield, Palacios could be an outstanding signing if their interest proves to be genuine. The 25-year-old is now a World Cup winner, having tasted glory with Argentina last year, and Palacios' stats show that he featured three times in the tournament, doing his bit for his country. He appears to be a key man for a Leverkusen side currently who are top of the Bundesliga ahead of German giants Bayern Munich, featuring in all nine league games this season and starting eight of them.

Journalist Zach Lowy once heaped praise on Palacios back in 2019, at a point when he was a big young talent, saying of him:

"Hard to believe Exequiel Palacios is only 20. Kid's got it all – a superb weight on his final ball, pausa, nonstop running from box to box, great decision-making – and he's learning from one of the best managers in the world in Marcelo Gallardo. Florentino missed out on a gem."

At 25, Palacios is seemingly at a great point in his career, having enough experience under his belt was also still being a relatively young player, and he is someone who could be a great understudy for Rodri, also earning plenty of playing time because Guardiola likes to shuffle his lack so often. As mentioned, Phillips could head out somewhere else on loan, having struggled to make the grade at the Etihad, and the Leverkusen ace could even prove to be an upgrade on the England international.

Keaton Jennings, Tom Bailey fortify Lancashire in relegation fight

Lancashire’s bowlers, led by Tom Bailey, did their bit but they face a stiff task with the bat to keep hopes of survival alive

Paul Edwards at the Ageas Bowl24-Sep-2018
ScorecardLancashire’s fate seemed so certain on the first morning of this game it would have been almost fitting had the players arrived in a tumbril and then heard the needles of clicking outside their dressing-room door. Relegation was certain if Yorkshire took two points from their game at Worcester and Nottinghamshire collected five from their home match against Somerset. And even those paltry requirements would be reduced if Liam Livingstone’s team failed to take maximum points from a victory at the Ageas Bowl.But by close of play the guillotine had not fallen. Yorkshire had secured their safety but Nottinghamshire still needed three more points to settle matters. And the irony of all this was that Lancashire had enjoyed rather a good day. Having bowled out Hampshire for 187, their batsmen had reduced the deficit to 64 runs at stumps. Both Keaton Jennings and Liam Livingstone played with far more assurance than any of their opponents had shown, albeit on a pitch which had eased once its morning moisture had departed.Lancashire dominated the day and in a less fraught week their supporters would be happy. But the dismissal of Jennings, bowled by Ian Holland for 48, and then that of nightwatchman Stephen Parry for a three-ball nought merely reinforced the enormity of the task facing Lancashire if they are to avoid their third relegation in seven seasons.So rather than Robespierre’s Terror, the whole business had the air of an election night. In addition to concerning themselves with matters in their own contest, Lancashire’s cricketers knew their survival depended on results from other constituencies. Even on September days as blue and blissful as this one, context is all.Lancashire’s batsmen began their innings knowing they would need to score over 250 to leave them with a straw to clutch on the second day. Their chances of doing so were reduced when Alex Davies had his off stump knocked back by a fine ball from Fidel Edwards in the third over of their reply; they were further diminished when Brooke Guest, who was making his first-class debut, was castled for 8 by Kyle Abbott seven overs later, the ball snaking between bat and pad. Edwards celebrated the 400th wicket of his first-class career, Abbott the 50th of his Championship season. Lancashire supporters exchanged glances of wry recognition. Two batsmen gone early, again. Then news arrived of Nottinghamshire taking a sixth wicket at Trent Bridge. Lancashire’s minimum requirement went up to 300.Yet as so often this season, Lancashire’s faster bowlers had fulfilled their part of a team’s unspoken compact. Dismissing Hampshire for under 200 in less than two sessions was a plucky effort, even on a pitch offering initial help to seamers. In the absence of Graham Onions, who has “a niggle”, Tom Bailey led the attack and took his 60th Championship wicket of the season when last man Edwards smeared a full toss to Livingstone at mid-off.But all four of Livingstone’s quicker bowlers had done all that could reasonably have been expected of them in the morning session. Each of them enjoyed success, with the prize wicket of James Vince being claimed by Josh Bohannon, who nipped one back a shade to have the Hampshire skipper lbw on the back foot for 22. Earlier Joe Weatherley’s indecorous cut had only given a catch to Davies and Jimmy Adams’ penultimate first-class innings ended after ten balls and for no runs when he edged Bailey to Dane Vilas at third slip. And Lancastrian satisfaction was complete just before lunch when Oli Soames forsook his previous rectitude and poked crookedly at a ball from Saqib Mahmood which cannoned off the bottom edge into the middle stump.The bowlers enjoyed further successes on the resumption. Bailey finished with 4 for 57 and should be in line for a Lions call this winter. Mahmood, who was playing his first game at the end of a season wrecked by injury, added the scalp of Liam Dawson to that of Soames. Hampshire were indebted to Sam Northeast, who took nearly two hours over his 42 runs and helped the last three wickets add 70 to the total.However, bowling Hampshire out after choosing to bowl first on a pitch offering help was the easy bit for Lancashire. Scoring the runs needed to put Nottinghamshire under any sort of pressure was always going to be more difficult. Our cricket ended with Livingstone and Vilas preserving their wickets as the sun declined beyond Telegraph Hill. A near impossible task awaits the two Lancashire batsmen on the second day. Even their best may not be good enough. “It’s not dark yet,” sang Bob Dylan, “but it’s getting there.”

Spurs: Manager hails Tottenham ace who brings the "sunshine"

An international team boss has hailed one Tottenham player's infectious personality, claiming he brings the "sunshine" whenever he's around.

How are Tottenham playing?

Spurs' best start to a league campaign since the 1960s has brought unrivalled joy to the Lilywhites fanbase, as manager Ange Postecoglou's appointment is arguably looking like one of the signings of the summer window. Since the Australian's arrival from Celtic in June, Tottenham have won six out of their opening eight Premier League matches, remaining unbeaten in that time.

They were forced to dig deep for their latest win, a 1-0 away to Luton Town, as Spurs played the entire second half with just 10 men following midfielder Yves Bissouma's first-half sending-off. Summer signing Micky van de Ven notched the only goal of the game in true smash-and-grab style, with Postecoglou later hailing the application of his players.

“Two different halves, I thought we played some great football in the first half. I thought it was as good as we’ve played and we probably should have been two or three up,” Postecoglou said.

“Obviously the red card changes the game but again I thought the lads handled it really well. They stayed calm and composed. In the end, just the sheer will and effort of them to make sure we won, not just the starters but the guys coming on, it was a great collective effort. Biss made a mistake. He has been brilliant for us this year. He made a mistake and the good thing is how he reacts to these things."

Tottenham – James Maddison praise

One player who has been utterly key to Spurs' early-season success is James Maddison, who signed from Leicester City in the summer for around £40 million. That fee is looking like the biggest bargain of the window right now, as Maddison has chipped in with two goals and five assists already.

james-maddison-tottenham-hotspur-postecoglou-kalvin-phillips-manchester-city-transfer

Glenn Hoddle was effusive in his praise for the player earlier this week, saying he could be about to hit his "peak" years in a Spurs shirt.

"I think you would see the best and that’s coming out of him now," said Hoddle to Premier League productions.

"He has matured. He’s got three or four years where he is going to be at his peak.”

This sentiment has been echoed by England manager Gareth Southgate, who actually praised Maddison's personality as well in a pre-match press conference before their 1-0 win over Australia on Friday.

“He is in a really good vein of form," said Southgate.

"A really good character around the group. He connects people well. We have got the more steady, serious guys & we have a lot of guys who bring a lot of sunshine."

The former Norwich City star has dazzled alongside the likes of Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski in the forward areas, and if he continues like this, Maddison could well be a contender for one of the players of the season.

رومانو يوضح حقيقة اتفاق دي بروين مع اتحاد جدة

كشفت تقارير صحفية، منذ قليل، حقيقة توصل نجم مانشستر سيتي كيفين دي بروين إلى اتفاق مع نادي اتحاد جدة، بشأن انتقاله إلى الفريق السعودي هذا الصيف.

وسينتهي العقد الحالي للاعب الوسط البلجيكي مع مانشستر سيتي، في صيف 2025، أي نهاية الموسم المقبل.

وارتبط دي بروين منذ أشهر بإمكانية مغادرة ملعب “الاتحاد” والانضمام إلى الدوري السعودي.

وظهرت تقارير صحفية اليوم تفيد أن دي بروين توصل إلى اتفاق مع اتحاد جدة بشأن الشروط الشخصية لصفقة انتقاله إلى النادي السعودي في موسم الانتقالات الصيفي الحالي (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

ولكن الصحفي الشهير فابريزيو رومانو نفى الأمر، حيث ذكر أن مصادر سعودية قللت من أهمية التقارير التي تفيد بأن كيفين دي بروين توصل إلى اتفاق مع الاتحاد، وقالت إن ذلك غير صحيح.

وأفاد أن اتحاد جدة يركز على صفقة موسى ديابي، والتي من المقرر إبرامها قريبًا جدًا وحسمها من نادي أستون فيلا.

وأشار إلى أن الخطوة التالية بالنسبة لنادي اتحاد جدة تتمثل في الظفر بخدمات حارس مرمى جديد، مع وجود محادثات بالفعل لضم حارس مانشستر سيتي إيدرسون، رغم أن الأمر ليس سهلًا.

 

Botafogo e Flamengo projetam clássico como pontapé inicial para sair da crise

MatériaMais Notícias

Nada como um clássico para tentar afastar (ou potencializar) um momento negativo. Neste sábado, Botafogo e Flamengo entram em campo no Estádio Nilton Santos, às 17h, pela 24ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, acompanhados de recentes resultados ruins. A partida terá transmissão em tempo real no site do LANCE!.

> Confira a situação das duas equipes na tabela do Brasileiro

O Botafogo não sabe o que é vencer uma partida desde outubro. Na 19ª colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Alvinegro acumula atuações negativas e já está a cinco pontos do Sport, primeiro time fora da zona de rebaixamento. O sinal, mais do que nunca, é de alerta contra as últimas quatro posições na tabela.

Não apenas dentro de campo, mas o Glorioso também implode nos bastidores. O clássico contra o Rubro-Negro marca a reestreia de Eduardo Barroca, o quarto treinador do Alvinegro na temporada. Ramón Díaz, o nome anterior, foi demitido sem sequer estrear – estava se recuperando de uma cirurgia – com menos de um mês no cargo.

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Depois das eliminações para o São Paulo, na Copa do Brasil, e diante do Racing, na Libertadores, o Flamengo chega ao clássico em seu momento mais crítico da temporada. Além das quedas precoces nos mata-matas, o Rubro-Negro se distanciou da liderança, entrando nesta 24ª rodada a cinco pontos do Tricolor. Com Rogério Ceni, o time soma uma vitórias, três empates e duas derrotas.

Por outro lado, o treinador – que completa 25 dias no cargo este sábado – agora tem quase todo elenco à disposição. Thiago Maia e Gabriel Barbosa estão entregues ao DM, sendo que o camisa 9, com um desequilíbrio muscular, é dúvida. Além disso, o Campeonato Brasileiro passou a ser o único objetivo do Rubro-Negro até o fim da temporada e, após das eliminações recentes, jogadores e comissão técnica fizeram uma espécie de pacto pela conquista.

Mesmo em posições opostas e com objetivos completamente diferentes, Botafogo e Flamengo chegam para o clássico deste sábado com a mesma pressão por resultados a curto prazo. Uma vitória em um confronto contra um rival, é claro, pode mudar o rumo das ondas nos clubes.

Main target: Man Utd enter race to sign "intelligent" player for Ten Hag

Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on a move to sign a versatile attacker who has impressed during the current campaign.

What’s the latest Man Utd transfer news?

The Red Devils were busy in the recent transfer market, bringing in eight new players ahead of Erik ten Hag’s second season in charge, with the Dutchman securing reunions with the likes of Andre Onana and Sofyan Amrabat.

However, it has been a poor start to the campaign both on and off the pitch, with a number of defeats, injuries and situations needing to be handled. One main talking point has been Jadon Sancho and Ten Hag’s relationship breakdown, with the latter leaving the player out in recent months due to performances in training, with the winger feeling he has been made a scapegoat.

Sancho’s future could well be away from Old Trafford in the New Year, and as a result, it looks as if the club are already eyeing potential replacements. According to one report from Spain, who shared a Man Utd transfer update, Real Betis teenager Assane Diao has emerged as one of the club’s main targets ahead of 2024 after an impressive start to the campaign.

The report claims that the Red Devils are after a winger and that Diao’s possible €30m (£26m) release clause makes him a very attractive option. Man Utd have set their sights and entered the race to sign the attacker as a result, with Diao catching the eye of fans and scouts in recent months.

Who is Assane Diao?

Diao is just 18 years of age and is primarily a left-winger but can also play on the right or as a centre-forward. The Spain U21 international has scored three goals in five senior appearances this season which has seen Diao’s transfer value increase from €200,000 to €8m in a matter of months. (Assane Diao stats – Transfermarkt)

Earlier this month, journalist Josh Bunting hailed the teenager’s intelligence and composure, saying:

“Assane Diao with two goals in two, his movement and awareness is just so intelligent for a boy who is so young, has that composure in-front of goal. Real Betis have a star on their hands, has that height to hold the ball up and play balls in and around the corner. So sharp.”

Meanwhile, football talent scout Jacek Kulig has highlighted the player’s rise in recent months.

“Assane Diao:

21/09: makes his first team debut in the UEL game against Rangers

28/09: scores on his La Liga debut against Granada

01/10: scores his 2nd La Liga goal against Valencia

05/10: scores his first-ever European goal against Sparta Praha

Fantastic time for the 18-year-old Betis academy graduate!”

He could well be a star in the making, and if United feel that way, it may well be a transfer to keep an eye on heading into January, especially if Diao continues his rapid development at senior level.

Explained: Mary Earps' key quality that makes Lionesses and Man Utd star ‘unrivalled’ in world football

Mary Earps boasts a quality that makes her “unrivalled” in world football, claims Manchester United manager Marc Skinner.

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  • Keeper has seen her stock soar
  • Talismanic presence for club & country
  • Has collected numerous awards
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Red Devils goalkeeper has established a reputation as one of the brightest stars in the women’s game. Earps is a European Championship winner and World Cup finalist with England. She has also collected a number of individual awards, including the FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper gong and BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize.

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    Earps has come a long way in a short space of time, having come close to quitting international football at one stage, and is considered to boast mental strength – alongside her natural ability – that separates her from her sporting rivals.

  • WHAT SKINNER SAID ABOUT EARPS

    Skinner has told of what makes Earps special: “I've known Mary a long time – since she was 16 at Leicester. The growth she has had in the mental part of the game is unrivalled. It's the ability to make correct decisions under pressure. I feel that distinguishes between somebody who has just physical attributes, just technical attributes – it's when to make the right decision. When you come to that one moment, you might have one in the game, you've got to take it…It's got to be that one moment. And that's what we all remember. It's their ability to tune into that moment and make the right decision that I think escalates them above other players.”

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    WHAT NEXT FOR EARPS?

    Earps, who is now 31 years of age, is closing in on a half-century of appearances for the Lionesses. She will be hoping to hit that mark in April when England begin the defence of their continental crown by opening a qualification campaign for Euro 2025.

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