أعلن علي ماهر المدير الفني لفريق المصري عن تشكيل لاعبيه أمام إنيمبا النيجيري في بطولة الكونفدرالية 2024-2025.
يستعد المصري لمواجهة إنيمبا النيجيري على ملعب جودسويل أكبابيو، ضمن منافسات الجولة الخامسة من بطولة الكونفدرالية.
موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة المصري وإنيمبا اليوم في الكونفدرالية.. والمعلق
ويمثل المصري والزمالك الكرة المصرية في المجموعة الرابعة التي تضم إلى جوارهما إنيمبا وبلاك بولز الموزمبيقي.
وفي سياق متصل، يلتقي الزمالك بفريق بلاك بولز في مباراة مهمة لحسم التأهل إلى ربع نهائي البطولة.
ويسعى المصري، بقيادة مدربه علي ماهر، لتحقيق الفوز لتعويض نتائجه السلبية في الجولتين الثالثة والرابعة أمام الزمالك، حيث خسر مباراة وتعادل في الأخرى.
ويحتاج المصري إلى تحقيق الانتصار في هذه المواجهة، وفي حال فوز الزمالك أيضًا، سيضمن الفريقان التأهل إلى دور الثمانية، غير ذلك ستكون الجولة السادسة هي الحاسمة لتحديد المتأهلين.
ويحتل المصري المركز الثاني في المجموعة الرابعة ببطولة الكونفدرالية برصيد 5 نقاط، خلف الزمالك المتصدر بـ8 نقاط، بينما يتساوى إنيمبا وبلاك بولز في المركزين الثالث والرابع برصيد 4 نقاط لكل منهما. تشكيل المصري اليوم أمام إنيمبا
حراسة المرمى: محمود جاد.
خط الدفاع: أحمد عيد – محمد هاشم – خالد صبحي – حسن علي.
خط الوسط: سامادو – محمود حمادة – خالد الغندور.
خط الهجوم: محمد الشامي – صلاح محسن – فخر الدين بن يوسف.
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard is reportedly "closing in" on his next managerial position, which will see him join Wayne Rooney in the Championship.
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Out of coaching since May 2023
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Ex-England international Lampard last filled a coaching post in May 2023, as he brought a dire second spell in charge of Chelsea to a close having returned to Stamford Bridge for 11 games as interim boss in the wake of Graham Potter’s dismissal.
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The 46-year-old has also spent time in charge of Derby and Everton. According to , Lampard is being lined up to take the reins at Coventry – with Sky Blues owner Doug King reportedly eager to bring an "established name" into the CBS Arena.
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Coventry are in the market for a new boss after surprisingly parting with former Manchester United striker Mark Robins – who guided the club from League Two and into the Championship play-off final. Club legend Steve Ogrizovic has told of that big call: "Very few things in football shock me but this is a poor decision. It's not a knee-jerk decision because I think this is planned and Doug King has got a plan in the back of his mind, although what that is I don't know."
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Coventry have made an inconsistent start to the 2024-25 campaign, leaving them 17th in the Championship table – level on points with the Plymouth side that are now managed by Lampard’s one-time England team-mate and fellow former Derby boss Rooney.
The European Championships are coming to an end this week, the transfer window is starting to heat up, and Tottenham Hotspur look ready to splash the cash.
The Lilywhites have already made the shocking signing of Archie Gray from Leeds United for around £30m and have seen players like Eberechi Eze and Jonathan David constantly linked to them for the last few weeks.
However, one of the latest players touted for a move to N17 is Spain and Euros star Dani Olmo.
Dani Olmo for RB Leipzig
While he'd be an incredible addition to Ange Postecoglou's squad, the Australian already has a talented creator worth way more than him at the club.
The latest on Dani Olmo to Tottenham Hotspur
According to a report from journalist Dean Jones this week via GIVEMESPORT, Tottenham are one of several teams interested in signing Olmo this summer.
Spain'sDaniOlmoin action with Croatia's Mateo Kovacic
Daniel Levy and Co will have to stump up around £51m to activate his release clause and get ahead of the other interested parties, which include Manchester City and Chelsea, to secure the 26-year-old's services.
It could be a tough deal to get over the line, but if they can do it, the North Londoners would have another very talented player on their hands and one who could thrive in Postecoglou's progressive system.
Dani Olmo playing for Spain
For example, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Spaniard is in the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers for expected assists, the top 12% for total shots, the top 14% for interceptions and the top 15% for non-penalty expected goals and assists, all per 90.
Moreover, his raw output is just as impressive. Last season, he scored eight goals and provided five assists in just 25 appearances, equating to a goal involvement every 1.92 games. For Spain, he's produced 20 goal involvements in 38 matches, which is one every 1.90 games on average.
In all, it makes perfect sense why Spurs are keen to sign Olmo and why he's worth so much, but at the same time, the club already have an exciting attacking player worth even more than him.
James Maddison's valuaiton in 2024
Yes, the man in question is James Maddison, who joined Spurs from Leicester City for £40m last summer as the club's marquee signing.
The Englishman's first campaign with the Lilywhites was a mixed one. He started by producing eight goal involvements in his first ten full league games, but upon returning from an injury he suffered in his 11th match, he struggled to have quite the same level of impact.
For example, in his final 17 league appearances, he could only muster five goal involvements for Postecoglou's side. However, considering the entire team's form dropped off a cliff in the final part of the year – losing five of seven games – it's hard to blame him.
Moreover, according to FBref, the "incredible" dynamo, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for shot-creating actions and progressive passes, the top 2% for attempted passes, the top 7% for assists and the top 17% for pass completion, all per 90.
Add to this the fact that he scored ten goals and provided nine assists in 32 appearances for Leicester in his final season with them, and it's clear that his slight dip in form towards the end of 2023/24 was just that, a slight dip.
Appearances
32
30
Goals
10
4
Assists
9
9
Goal Involvements per Match
0.59
0.43
With this in mind, it makes sense that Transfermarkt has valued the Coventry-born dynamo at €70m, which is around £59m, or £8m more than Olmo might cost the club this summer.
Ultimately, if Levy and Co. have an opportunity to sign the Leipzig ace in the coming weeks, then they should take it. However, they shouldn't lose faith in Maddison, as he's still an incredibly talented player, and his lofty valuation reflects that.
Imagine him & Eze: Spurs target "mind-blowing" £20m sensation
The prolific striker could help Postecoglou take the Lilywhites to the next level.
Manchester City are braced for bids and could part ways with a defender this summer after an impressive campaign, with at least one European giant interested.
Manchester City transfer news – Saudi plotting Etihad raid
Just 12 months on from Riyad Mahrez joining Al-Ahli, Saudi Arabia are once again plotting to lure a member of Pep Guardiola's squad to the Middle East.
This time, it is goalkeeper Ederson that is their target, with Manchester City having already turned down one offer from Al-Ittihad for their shot-stopper. As per Fabrizio Romano, a "big gap" still exists in valuation, with City looking to receive a fee of between €50m and €60m (£42m and £51m) for their six-time Premier League winner, with the Saudi side "not close" to that fee at present.
One player who definitely won't be making the move to Saudi Arabia is Kevin de Bruyne, despite previous rumours linking him with a departure as he heads into the final year of his contract at the Etihad.
Journalist: Man City make approach to sign "world-class" £205k-a-week star
He could be keen on a move to the Premier League.
ByHenry Jackson Jul 23, 2024
However, Guardiola confirmed the Belgian's future. "Kevin isn’t leaving," he explained before City's first pre-season clash with Celtic.
"If someone leaves, we are going to talk about that and, of course, until the last day [of the transfer window] we have chances. I don’t rule out new players as an option, but I think there is an 85, 90, 95% chance we will have the same squad."
But there is one man who could yet depart.
Man City defender in sights of Borussia Dortmund
That comes in the shape of Brazil defender Yan Couto, who spent the last season on loan with Girona. The 22-year-old, who is technically a Manchester City player despite never having played for the Etihad outfit, helped the Spanish side into the Champions League for the first time in their history, earning a spot in the Brazilian national side in the process.
He appeared 34 times for Girona, grabbing a goal and an impressive 10 assists from right back in a season dubbed "superb" by talent scout Jacek Kulig on X.
But now he is now back in Manchester. That return could well be short-lived though, with Romano revealing that Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund are keen to sign Couto before the new season.
Yan Couto's career to date
Club
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Girona
95
5
17
SC Braga
42
1
4
Manchester City
0
0
0
The German side have "made contact" to sign the youngster, but have baulked at the €40m (£34m) release clause in his contract. Instead, they are ready to offer up to €25m (£21.1m) in the hope of securing his services for next season.
Couto has also been linked to Tottenham this summer, and should the north London club return for his services it could see a bidding war break out over the youngster. With his future seemingly certain to lie away from Manchester despite Kyle Walker being the only recognised right-back on the books at the Etihad, Dortmund will be hoping they can land a gem on the cheap.
Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly waiting in the wings should Leroy Sane not sign a new Bayern Munich contract.
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Arsenal and Man Utd want SaneTalks over new Bayern deal hit a snagWinger out of contract in 2025Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , United and Arsenal are monitoring the 28-year-old's situation closely as Bayern want to retain the German international but want him to take a pay cut. The report adds Sane wants to stay put at the Bundesliga side but it remains to be seen if he will accept their offer.
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Sky adds that Bayern also want to retain Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer but they will also have to prepare for a possible salary cut, with Bayern sporting director Max Eberl aiming to reduce the wages of the current squad in 2025. The report adds that Sane will not leave in the January transfer window but the longer the negotiations go on, the more likely the ex-Manchester City man will leave on a free transfer next summer.
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Sane is reportedly on a contract worth up to €20 million (£17m/$21m), but the Bavarians want to reduce his salary by up to €4m, though he would be able to get close to his current salary with bonuses.
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After the international break, where Sane's Germany take on Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary in the Nations League, the winger is likely to feature against Augsburg on November 22.
A hundred caps, check, but don’t rule out a hundred more
George Dobell03-Feb-20213:59
The key stops in Joe Root’s journey from 1 to 100
This was one half-century he was always going to convert.From the moment Joe Root toddled out to bat in Nagpur – really, did old-school Yorkshiremen like Brian Close or Ray Illingworth, look as young as Root did that day even in their pre-natal scans? – it looked likely he would spend a decade and more in the side. A hundred caps: check. Don’t rule out a hundred more.Yes, there have been a few stumbles on the way. And yes, there are one or two hurdles – notably runs in Australia – yet to clear. But, even now, he averages more than any of England’s other top-10 Test run-scorers. By the time this year is over, still aged 30, he will have scored more than any other than Sir Alastair Cook.Is he as good as Virat, Kane and co? Right now, you would probably have to say no, though the story isn’t over. But even if he isn’t, a player can be brilliant without being as good as that trio. You don’t judge Sachin a failure because he’s not Bradman, do you?It’s interesting, though, that those who claim James Anderson’s record is flattered by playing half his career in English conditions, rarely acknowledge the reverse influence on Root’s figures. He actually averages more away from home than Virat or Kane. If he had their home surfaces to enjoy… As ever, you have to be careful with stats.
“For a young kid from Sheffield, dreaming of playing for England… I’m sure he would be extremely proud”Joe Root
If you need any further evidence of how tough batting in England has become, consider this: when was, Root apart, the last time England gave a debut to a specialist batsman who went on to enjoy a Test career of unquestionable success? The answer is Jonathan Trott, probably, in 2009. If you want to go back to the last England-born batsman, it is probably Alastair Cook, in 2006, and before that Ian Bell in 2004. Whichever way you look at it, Root is a giant among contemporary English batsmen.But now, as he reflects on joining an elite club – he will be the 15th England player to win a hundred Test caps; none have a higher batting average, only three have more wickets – it is more the future than the past which occupies his mind.”It’s eluded [the century] me a few times with the bat so I’m really proud to be on the eve of playing a hundred Tests,” Root says. “It feels great to join that club. There are some fantastic players – people I’ve looked up to for many years – among them. For a young kid from Sheffield… from being seven or eight years old, dreaming of playing for England, to be sat here now… I’m sure he would be extremely proud.”I hope it’s not near the end. I still feel like there’s a lot left in me. There’s certainly a burning desire to keep going and play as long as I can. I’m really excited about the coming year.”It says much about Root’s general attitude that he believes the key to his future is adopting a more selfish attitude with the bat. There have, he concedes, been moments in the past where his attention was not fully focused on his primary role as a batsman. Now, he says, he has understood the need to put himself first at times.”That [selfish] mind-set certainly helped me in the last two games in Sri Lanka,” Root admitted. “In the nicest way possible, I’ve tried to be a bit more selfish with my batting, knowing if I bat for a long period of time I make big runs and it’s obviously going to benefit the team.”It’s sounds simple. You might ask why has it taken you 99 games to figure it out. But I’m just desperate for us to do well collectively and that’s naturally how I’ve always tried to think about the game. At times I do think about too many things and try and overthink certain periods of play.”Root admits he’s become more selfish with the bat•SLCIn the shorter-term, Root provides a strong hint that Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes will return to the team for the first Test in Chennai. And while it seems safe to assume Ollie Pope and Stuart Broad will also return, it is unclear at this stage which of Dom Bess or Moeen Ali is first-choice off-spinner.”Any team would welcome Ben back with both arms as often as possible and we certainly do,” Root says. “Having watched him practice, he looks like his bowling is strong, he is batting very well and very much ready to get going.”I had the displeasure of facing Jofra today and he bowled at the speed of light. He looked in great rhythm.”Despite that, Root is under no illusions about the size of the task ahead of him. Success would, he admits, represent his “greatest achievement”.”As a captain, I think it would be,” he says. “I played a very small part in the amazing 2012 series. That was very special. But I don’t think at the time I appreciated how hard it is to win in these conditions.”Having toured since I have a better understanding of it. It would be a huge achievement for this group of players. But it’s one we certainly have the tools to do. I’m really excited about it. It should be good fun.”We ask a lot of our top sportspeople. Over the years, Root has not only carried his side’s batting, but emerged as a willing spokesperson for the benefits of diversity and importance of protecting players’ mental health. At the same time, he had made a point of decrying homophobic ‘banter’, ensured his side have remained focused and positive during their long periods in the ‘bubble’ and been a willing advertisement for a game that has been hidden behind a paywall for too long.Related
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Joe Root's 100th Test: Standing on the shoulders of giants, his best yet to come
You can’t really quantify the value of such attributes. But most would agree these things matter. Yes, Root has overseen a succession of away wins that hasn’t been seen since zeppelins were the future of transport. And yes, he requires only one more victory to equal the record for most successes as an England Test captain. But perhaps an equally important contribution is his leadership of the sport through a time of social upheaval. Somewhere along the way, Root has grown into an impressive man.”Understanding that responsibility is really important,” Root says now. “We’re very aware that we’re role models and it is very important we use that in a positive way and try to make cricket as good as it can be while we have the opportunity to have a big effect on it. As players at the top of the game, we have a really good opportunity to make changes for the better.”As a player and captain, in particular, you want to try to lead the way in those opportunities and that image for the sport. You want the next guy to come in and the next generation to be inspired. For the kids to look at the game and think, ‘I want to be a part of that, I want to play cricket because it looks so much fun. It looks a really good sport to be a part of.'”News that Channel 4 will broadcast the series free-to-air in the UK, means there is every chance that a new audience will have an opportunity to watch the sport over the coming weeks. In Root, they will have a fine role model to admire as player and man. Whatever happens – and even the most fervent England supporter would concede their team has an almighty challenge in front of them – there’s a lot to like about him and his team.
No desembarque da delegação do Flamengo no Rio de Janeiro, nesta quinta-feira, após a classificação para a decisão da Libertadores, o meia Arrascaeta projetou o confronto com o Palmeiras, em Montevidéu, em 27 de novembro. Na visão do uruguaio, o retrospecto positivo recente do Rubro-Negro diante do adversário (são nove partidas de invencibilidade) não influenciará no confronto.
-Completamente diferente. Sabemos que o Palmeiras é um time que vem demonstrando no mata-mata, eliminando grandes rivais como o River Plate, Atlético-MG, Boca (Juniors). Temos que fazer o nosso trabalho, porque é uma final, jogo único – afirmou Arrascaeta no Aeroporto Internacional Tom Jobim.
RelacionadasFlamengoVÍDEO: Rodolfo Landim comemora vaga à final da Libertadores 2021: “Vamos todos para Montevidéu”Flamengo30/09/2021FlamengoMarcos Braz diz que ‘favoritismo é do Palmeiras’ na final da Libertadores após desembarque do FlamengoFlamengo30/09/2021FlamengoMenos de dois meses para a decisão da Libertadores! Veja os objetivos do Flamengo até a finalFlamengo27/09/2021
O Flamengo não perde do Palmeiras desde novembro de 2017: 2 a 0, pelo Brasileirão, em São Paulo. De lá para cá, são quatro empates e cinco vitórias rubro-negras. Entre elas, foram alguns resultados expressivos: dois triunfos por 3 a 1, no Allianz Parque, e o título da Supercopa do Brasil nos pênaltis, em 2021.
He is hopeful of returning to IPL but is not optimistic about returning to the Australia T20 side
Alex Malcolm21-Jan-2021
Nathan Coulter-Nile was part of the title-winning Mumbai Indians team•BCCI
Melbourne Stars fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile was expecting to get released from his IPL franchise Mumbai Indians but the news could not have come at a worse moment.Coulter-Nile, 33, was on his return to the BBL on Thursday night after missing the last three weeks with a calf injury. He took 3 for 12 from his first 15 balls to put the Stars in a commanding position with the Renegades needing 62 to win from 27 balls.But he gave up three sixes and two fours in his last eight balls of the game, including 19 runs from the 19th over the match, as the Renegades won with two balls to spare.Adding salt to the wound, Coulter-Nile found out he had been released from the IPL champions the moment he turned his phone on.”Yep, that was good,” Coulter-Nile said. “Just got smacked in the 19th [over], get off the field and get told I’m being flicked, get the email.”Despite the timing, he was not surprised even after he had played in Mumbai’s title, taking 2 for 29 in the IPL final win over Delhi Capitals including the wickets of Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel.Related
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“I was expecting that was going to happen,” Coulter-Nile said. “They paid overs for me so I thought that was going to happen. Hopefully, I can get picked up again this year. I’ve got nothing else on so hopefully I can get to the IPL.”Coulter-Nile was bought by Mumbai for AUD$1.63 million (8 crore) at the last IPL auction but was released after one season. He was one of nine Australians who were released by their IPL franchises, including international stars Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, and Aaron Finch.Coulter-Nile was also pragmatic about his prospects of returning to Australia’s limited-overs sides. He last played a T20I on Australia’s triumphant tour of India in 2019 and played five matches in the World Cup before missing out on selection at the business end of the tournament.Despite an expensive over against the Renegades, Nathan Coulter-Nile has had a good BBL either side of injury•Getty Images
He has bowled well in the four matches he’s played in the BBL, either side of his calf injury, claiming nine wickets at an economy rate of 6.36 and a strike-rate of 9.20.But even with Australia’s selectors likely to need up to 36 players to go on two different tours at the same time in February, Coulter-Nile does not believe he will be called upon for Australia’s five-match T20I tour of the New Zealand that follows the BBL.”I’ve not even thought about,” Coulter-Nile said. “I don’t think I’m in the mix at all. It’s just reading between the lines I think. I haven’t played for Australia in two years or something. So, I think I can just work it out myself.”Coulter-Nile is fully invested in trying to win the Stars an elusive BBL title after joining the club last year on a four-year deal.He blamed his performance on Wednesday night on some rust but was confident he could bounce back against Perth Scorchers on Saturday.”The first 18 balls were good,” he said. “My plan B, which were yorkers and fuller slower balls just weren’t coming out. I haven’t played that much in a few weeks which is what I’ll put it down to, but I’ll move on. I’ve played enough cricket to hopefully come back on Saturday and bowl well.”The Stars let an opportunity slip against the Renegades to all-but sew up a finals spot. They now face the Scorchers and the ladder-leading Sydney Sixers in their last two games.”Obviously that one hurts because that really could have put us in the mix for finals and now we’ve got to play the best two teams and win and hopefully that will put us in a good position,” Coulter-Nile said.”You’d rather be in a position where we’re flying on top of the ladder like the Sixers are but I guess if we do win these two games and get in the finals we’ll obviously gain some momentum, the boys will be playing some good cricket and we’ll have probably beaten the teams that we’re going to play in the finals.”
With fresh forward players at the top of Newcastle United's shopping list this summer, one of the Magpies' higher ups has made an interesting claim about their top target during the window.
Toon target new attacking talents this summer
The main story developing on Tyneside this summer is Newcastle's ongoing hunt for new attacking players. With Callum Wilson linked with an exit from the club and Miguel Almiron expected to be replaced, the Magpies are eager to bolster Eddie Howe's forward line.
Imagine him & Gordon: Newcastle battling PL giants for "monster" signing
He has a whole host of Premier League sides after him this summer.
ByEthan Lamb Jul 17, 2024
One name who has been linked with a move to the Magpies in recent weeks is Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The English striker is the subject of interest from numerous clubs with Newcastle reported to have recently put in a fresh bid for the player.
Another player who has been doing the rounds at St James' Park is Italian talent Wilfried Gnonto. The winger looks almost certain to be playing his football away from Leeds United next year with the Toon set to compete with Everton to secure his services.
Wilfried Gnonto
With Newcastle clearly focused on bringing in new forward players, the Magpies' chief has revealed the exact kind of player that they are looking for this summer.
Journalist drops hints about the Magpies' mystery target
As reported by iNews' Mark Douglas, a recent press sit-down with Darren Eales saw Newcastle's CEO drop some interesting information about the Magpies' transfer strategy this summer.
Since joining Newcastle in July 2022, Eales has played a key role in the Toon's transfer business over the last couple of seasons alongside former sporting director, Dan Ashworth. Speaking at Newcastle's pre-season briefing in Herzogenaurach Germany, Eales said that they plan to "attack" the window and have a "big season".
Elaborating on Eales' plans, Douglas states that: "There are exciting targets being monitored. An international forward is one of those being considered for a vacancy for a dynamic, versatile striker to supplement the lethal Isak".
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak
After finding the back of the net on 21 occasions in the league last season, there is a clear reason why Newcastle are looking to build around Alexander Isak next season. Despite missing 8 league games through injury last season, the Swedish striker still ranked as one of the Toon's top players on the attacking front.
Goals
21
1st
Successful take-ons
42
3rd
Shots on target
36
1st
Progressive carries
68
3rd
With the profile of Newcastle's mystery target now known, it can shed some further light on a couple of the targets most recently linked with moves to the club.
Whilst it is cited that the club are specifically looking for a striker, a forward in the mould of Calvert-Lewin would not fit Eales' criteria of dynamic and versatile. Similarly, the previously mentioned Gnonto is too much of a wide man to be the player that the Magpies' CEO is talking about, so perhaps it could be a more versatile option who can fit in along the front three.
One player touted for a move to Tyneside is West Ham and England star Jarrod Bowen. With 20 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last campaign, the 27-year-old certainly fits the bill to be the Toons' target. Despite being a right winger by trade, Bowen spent much of last season playing as a striker as a result of Michail Antonio's injury issues.
Another player that could be on Eales' mind is Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry. Much like Bowen, the German is a natural winger who is more than comfortable drifitng central when needed.
With Newcastle wanting someone to support Isak rather than replace him, a winger that can play through the middle may be the best option for the Toon as they continue to play coy about their mystery man.
A disagreement between the PCB and Pakistan’s leading T20 runscorer in 2020 has seen Mohammad Hafeez excluded from the 20-man squad for the three-match T20I series announced by chief selector Mohammad Wasim at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. Hafeez, in the prime form of his T20 career, developed a deadlock over the date at which he would enter the bio-secure bubble with the rest of the Pakistan squad. Presently playing the T10 league in Abu Dhabi, he requested permission to join the squad on on February 5, something the PCB was unwilling to agree to, with the impasse putting paid to his chance of being involved in the series.Hafeez had written an email to the PCB, a copy of which ESPNcricinfo has seen, in mid-December last year, alerting the board about the expected “overlapping “of the fixtures between the home series against South Africa and T10 league. He told the PCB he had already committed to playing that league, which would render him unavailable for the T20I series against South Africa, but the PCB selectors continued to attempt to talk him into making himself available by February 3 at the latest. When the two parties failed to agree to that deadline, Hafeez’s prospects of being involved against South Africa dwindled.That relations between the board and the player weren’t at their peak was evident from a tweet Hafeez posted immediately after the squad was announced, quoting a religious verse that stated “Allah rewards those who are patient.” When ESPNcricinfo contacted him, he declined to comment.”Unfortunately, the scenario is as such that every player has to join the bio-bubble on Feb 3, and if a player can’t do so, it means he is unavailable,” Wasim said. “If he was available, there’s no question on his performance, but unfortunately he is not available.”Pakistan have also dropped Fakhar Zaman and Wahab Riaz for the series, with Shadab Khan injured and Imad Wasim unavailable for personal reasons.Pakistan squad for the 3-match T20 series against South Africa•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Hasan Ali, Asif Ali and Aamer Yamin recalled have all been recalled to the side, with four uncapped players – Zafar Gohar, Danish Aziz, Zahid Mehmood and Amad Butt – named in the squad. Abdullah Shafique, who made his T20I debut in New Zealand, was also dropped, with Wasim saying he believed Shafique was more suitable for the longer versions of the game. Riaz, meanwhile, has paid the price for what Wasim termed was a “lack of consistency” in his game, with the selectors of the view they wanted more reliability from a player of his experience. The 20-year-old fast bowler Musa Khan, who has been with the national side for much of the last two years but struggled to make the step up, picking up 15 wickets at an economy rate of 7.90, has been omitted, with the core fast-bowling unit including Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, and Shaheen Afridi.Pakistan continued to pick Sarfaraz Ahmed as a backup option due to sides carrying a larger squad owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. He was originally dropped from all formats over performance in 2019, and has since then missed a major chunk of first class and domestic one-day cricket, playing 21 T20s – PSL and National T20 – averaging 21.26 with bat. Wasim said Sarfaraz’s inclusion would be reevaluated after the PSL, with selectors understood to favour 22-year old Azam Khan in the long term.Pakistan will look to arrest an alarming slide in T20 cricket that began with a series against South Africa two years ago. In February 2019, Pakistan played a three-match series against this opposition ranked number one in the world, having won a world record 11 successive T20I series. A 2-1 reverse to the South Africans broke that streak, and ever since, Pakistan have lost six of the eight series they have played in the format, with the only two wins coming against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at home.The squad, along with the officials, will enter the bio-secure bubble from Wednesday, February 3, and the players taking part in the Test series will join the bubble at the end of the second Test that starts in Rawalpindi on Thursday, February 4.The T20Is will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium on February 11, 13 and 14.Pakistan squad: Babar Azam, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Hussain Talat, Danish Aziz, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Zafar Gohar, Faheem Ashraf, Aamer Yamin, Amad Butt, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Hasan Ali, Usman Qadir, Zahid Mehmood