تحدث محمد فضل لاعب الأهلي السابق، عن مباراة اليوم التي أقيمت أمام شباب بلوزداد الجزائري، ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، مشيراً إلى غضب جماهير القلعة الحمراء قبل بداية اللقاء.
وحقق الأهلي الفوز على شباب بلوزداد، بنتيجة 6-1، في اللقاء الذي أقيم ضمن مواجهات الجولة الثالثة من دور المجموعات لبطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، على استاد القاهرة الدولي.
وقال محمد فضل في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس” عن غضب الجماهير قبل مباراة الأهلي: “طبيعي جدًا، الجمهور مثلما يُعلي اللاعبين ينتقدهم، انتقدوا اللاعبين بشكل قوي وتجاوز لكن هذا وارد في كرة القدم”.
طالع أيضاً.. الحضري يوضح هل يتحمل الشناوي هدف شباب بلوزداد أمام الأهلي.. وينتقد الجماهير: ما فعلوه لا يصح
وتابع: “أنا رأيي إن اللاعبين لا بد أن يتحملوا الجماهير، خاصة إن الشناوي كان قد فعل شيئاً أغضب الجماهير، وكانوا رد فعل، الجماهير لا ترغب إلا في تحقيق البطولات”.
عن مشهد بعد المباراة، قال: “لم يعجبني، فكرة إن اللاعبين كانوا سيذهبون لتحية الجماهير وعادوا، قرار خاطئ أيًا كان من المتسبب فيه، الجمهور يبقى جمهوراً، لو دخلت في خلاف مع الجمهور أنت الخاسر، أنا رأيي أنه كان يجب على اللاعبين أن يذهبوا لجمهور الأهلي ويقومون بتحيته وينتهي الأمر عند ذلك”.
وأردف: “بعض اللاعبين الذين تم الهجوم عليهم منزعجين، لكن الجمهور ليس منزعجاً بل قلق، لأنه يريد صفقات قبل كأس العالم، وأيضًا بسبب تصدير بعض الأزمات داخل غرفة ملابس الفريق”.
وأتم: “الجمهور هو الذي يجعل اللاعب سعره مختلفاً، ولو أحد فكر يُهاجمك خارج النادي الجمهور هو من يرد عنك”.
A £25 million player, who Mikel Arteta personally wants at Arsenal, is ready to give his green-light to join the north Londoners alongside Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.
Riccardo Calafiori agrees personal terms to join Arsenal
The 22-year-old is firmly in Edu's sights as their first outfield signing of the summer, with Fabrizio Romano confirming this week that Arsenal have now opened talks with Bologna over a deal for Calafiori.
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Romano says both clubs are negotiating the fee right now, and these discussions are set to continue over the next few days as Bologna demand around £42 million to sell their star defender.
Calafiori has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal on a five-year contract, though, which is an undoubted boost for Edu as he seeks to provide Arteta with a highly-rated new centre-back who can alternate with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Italian, who helped guide Bologna to a place in next season's Champions League, also enjoyed an impressive campaign with his country at Euro 2024. World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta praised Calafiori for some "extraordinary" showings at the tournament, and he was a sore miss through suspension in the Last 16 against Switzerland.
The Swiss put Luciano Spalletti's side to the sword, easing to a 2-0 victory in Berlin, and Calafiori's absence was widely agreed to have played a significant role in their defeat.
How Calafiori & Gabriel compare in 2023/24
Statistics
Calafiori
Gabriel
Games
29
34
Goals & assists
7
4
Progressive carries
28
13
Pass accuracy
90%
89%
Tackles won
37
28
Interceptions
56
31
Aerials won
71%
55%
Stats via FBref
The former FC Basel starlet, who can also play left-back if needed, would come to the Emirates with bags of potential and allow Arteta to cover multiple positions.
Patrick Dorgu ready to join Arsenal alongside Calafiori
As Calafiori green-lights a move to Hale End, in a transfer twist, he may be joined be another Serie A defender in Patrick Dorgu.
According to Pianeta Lecce, Dorgu is ready to say yes to joining Arsenal this summer, and so are his club Lecce. Arteta personally considers the left-back one of his first choices to reinforce that side, and the Gunners will apparently move to open talks with Dorgu's entourage through intermediaries soon.
Patrick Dorgu for Lecce
The 19-year-old, who'll cost around £25 million according to Pianeta, made 32 Serie A appearances for Lecce last season, scoring two goals, and can play further up field as a left winger.
"You can just say that with some players it can go incredibly fast," said Denmark Under-21s coach Steffen Højer to bold.dk.
"He has already had a lot of playing minutes in Serie A with Lecce, and he has done really, really well. What is special about him is that he is a quiet and calm guy, but things are just incredibly natural for him on a football pitch.
"When he is put on a field, and it doesn't matter which team, he just fits in, and he just makes incredibly many good choices for such a young player He has clear qualities, and then there is a lot of work that needs to be done in relation to both being part of the U21s, but also eventually making the national team."
أكد مصدر مسؤول بـ الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، عن عقد جلسة بين حسام حسن المدير الفني لـ منتخب مصر، وهاني أبو ريد رئيس الاتحاد، في مقر الجبلاية، وذلك من أجل الاتفاق على بعض الأمور.
يذكر أن اتحاد الكرة كان قد أصدر عدة قرارات الأربعاء الماضي يعد أبرز ما جاء بها تشكيل لجنة فنية بها عدد من رموز وأساطير الكرة المصرية.
وقال المصدر في تصريحات لـ”بطولات: “هناك جلسة مرتقبة بين هاني أبو ريدة وحسام حسن، ستكون خلال الأيام القليلة المقبلة”.
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وأتم: “سفر هاني أبو ريدة خارج البلاد بعد انتخابه هو ما تسبب في عدم عقد جلسة بين الثنائي، ولكن حسام حسن يرحب بعقد جلسة مع أبو ريدة لتنسيق الأمور خلال الفترة المقبلة”.
ويستعد منتخب مصر لمواجهة سيراليون وإثيوبيا خلال شهر مارس المقبل، ضمن منافسات تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.
ويتصدر منتخب مصر ترتيب المجموعة الأولى من تصفيات كأس العالم، برصيد 10 نقاط، من 4 مباريات، انتصر في 3 مباريات وتعادل في لقاء.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor says the left-armer has plenty of other variations apart from the yorker
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2020
T Natarajan stretches with a resistance band•Ron Gaunt/BCCI
T Natarajan is only on his first international tour, but VVS Laxman, his mentor at Sunrisers Hyderabad, sees him as a potential X-factor player during India’s T20 World Cup campaign at home in October 2021. Laxman believes Natarajan’s left-arm angle and ability to bowl at the death separates him from the rest of India’s pace options.”With the T20 World Cup scheduled next year – if you look at the Indian team, it requires someone good at the death,” Laxman told . “It is great to see the likes of Mohammed Shami and Navdeep Saini bowl with such confidence in the death. Natarajan being a left-armer will be the X-factor.”From not playing a single game for the Sunrisers in IPL 2019 to getting picked for India, Natarajan’s rise has been remarkable. Having plotted and planned with David Warner, his IPL captain, he could now be lining up against him in Australia.The reason why Natarajan has been talked about so highly is his ability to hit the blockhole. Natarajan learned to bowl the yorker while playing tennis-ball cricket in his hometown Salem, when he realised the only way to prevent the soft ball from losing pace after hitting the clay surfaces he played on was to go full. The delivery has now brought him widespread acclaim.Natarajan bowled 71 yorkers in IPL 2020, the most in the tournament as per ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data. The second bowler on that list, Kartik Tyagi, only sent down 28.Overall, Natarajan picked up 16 wickets in the IPL and finished with an economy rate of 8.02, which is impressive considering 131 of the 377 balls he bowled during the tournament came in the death (last four) overs.”He has been doing well right from the practice matches before the IPL began in the UAE,” Laxman said. “The kind of confidence level he showed right from the start was amazing.”That is the reason why we gave him the chance ahead of Khaleel Ahmed and once Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) was ruled out with an injury, he became an important cog in the attack.”While the yorker was his calling card, Laxman believes Natarajan has many other variations too. “Natarajan was always known for those yorkers – even in the TNPL (Tamil Nadu Premier League). But, I must say he’s got a lot of variations which he didn’t use in the IPL. He has a sharp bouncer, slower one, offcutter, and has the wicket-taking ability with the new ball.”Essentially, Natarajan has the mindset and the confidence of executing yorkers which we generally believe to be the toughest to deliver. And, he has done consistently and exceedingly well through the IPL, the pick of them being the dismissal of RCB’s AB de Villiers under pressure.”Natarajan’s rise is remarkable because it’s unusual for the selectors to pick an uncapped 29-year-old. The last two fast bowlers to make their international debuts for India after 29 were S Aravind in 2015 and Pankaj Singh in 2014. Prior to that, you’ll have to go back to 1994, when Bhupinder Singh Snr. made his ODI debut, and then all the way back to 1958, when Ghulam Guard played the first of his two Tests.”Natarajan is a hard-working cricketer who never missed a training session and is always wanting to work on his skills to be a much better bowler every day,” Laxman said. “He has been doing really well in the TNPL, he was part of Kings XI Punjab, he did well consistently for Tamil Nadu in Ranji Trophy.”He didn’t get too many opportunities in SRH (in 2018 and 2019) because of the likes of Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar being the frontline bowlers.”
O sábado foi de vitórias das divisões de base do Flamengo no Campeonato Carioca. O Sub-17 venceu o Volta Redonda por 2 a 1, com gols de Riquelmy e Euder – veja abaixo. Já o Sub-17 goleou o mesmo adversário por 4 a 0. Os dois jogos foram na Gávea e eram válidas pela quarta rodada da Taça Guanabara.
– Muito feliz por mais uma vitória. Uma partida difícil no começo, mas voltamos no segundo tempo bem e encaixamos os gols – afirmou o atacante Guilherme Gomes, um dos artilheiros do Sub-15. Lorran (2) e Bill completaram o placar.
Pela quinta rodada da Taça Guanabara, o primeiro turno do Estadual, o Sub-17 e o Sub-15 do Flamengo voltam a campo no sábado, dia 11, às 11h e às 9h, respectivamente. O adversário será o Bangu nas partidas, no Estádio da Gávea.
O Flamengo está com 100% de aproveitamento nas duas categorias, somando 12 pontos após quatro rodadas e lidera as tabelas do Estadual Sub-17 e Sub-15.
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Confira os gols da vitória do Mengão Sub-17. #GarotosDoNinho #VamosFlamengo
⚽⚽: Euder e Riquelmy pic.twitter.com/tHnW2Je5ie
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) September 4, 2021
Lorran abre o placar para o Sub-15 do Mengão! #GarotosDoNinho #VamosFlamengo
Flamengo 1×0 Volta Redonda pic.twitter.com/vOhgAixmvc
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) September 4, 2021
Flamengo Sub-15 ampliou com Guilherme Gomes. #VamosFlamengo #GarotosDoNinho
Flamengo 2×0 Volta Redonda pic.twitter.com/pAHzOors0g
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) September 4, 2021
O terceiro dos #GarotosDoNinho foi marcado por Bill, em bela cobrança de falta. #VamosFlamengo
Flamengo 3×0 Volta Redonda pic.twitter.com/HzU2EWZP4r
Josh Richards and Dominic Hendricks scored centuries for the Lions as they chased down a record total
Firdose Moonda26-Nov-2020
Aiden Markram made a half-century on his Hampshire debut•Getty Images
Results Summary The defending champions, the Lions, registered their first win of this season’s competition by chasing down a record total against the Knights at the Wanderers. Their 336 for 6 beats the previous best, 310 for 8 by Australia in the 2011/12 season, and finished off a remarkable comeback for the hosts, who were behind by 98 runs in the first innings.The Knights were kept to 300 in their first innings, thanks largely to Sisanda Magala’s 6 for 60 and held together by half-centuries from Grant Mokoena and Migael Pretorius, who then took 4 for 40 against his former franchise. The Lions never quite got their reply going and went from 47 for 5 to 202 all out. That gave the Knights a perfect platform to bat the Lions out of the match and when they stretched the lead to 283, with six wickets in hand they may have thought they were on track. But the Knights lost 6 for 44 and set the Lions 334 to win.Centuries from openers Josh Richards and Dominic Hendricks, who shared a stand of 256, took the Lions to the brink and the middle order finished off. Despite the victory, the Lions remain more than 20 points behind the Knights in Pool B.Also on the Highveld, the Warriors chased 218 to beat the Titans at SuperSport Park, to earn their first win of the competition and deny Aiden Markram victory despite his twin centuries in the match.After six Covid-19 related absences from the first two rounds, the Warriors were back to full strength for this fixture and the difference in morale and performance showed. They bowled the Titans out for 320 and then piled on 392 in their own first innings.By the time the Titans erased the 72-run deficit, three of their top four were dismissed and they had to rely on Markram and the middle order to set the Warriors a competitive target. Only one batsmen other than Markram got past 30, and the Warriors were required to chase 218. They made tricky work of it, but won by three wickets to close the gap between themselves and the Titans to less than 18 points in Pool A.The Cobras lie at the bottom of the pool and are the only team not to have won a match after the first three rounds. They held on for the draw against the Dolphins in Durban after failing to bowl the Dolphins out in either innings and being set 295 runs to win. The Dolphins declared their first innings closed on 389 for 8, built on a century from Khaya Zondo. In reply, Tony de Zorzi top-scored for the Cobras with 58 as they were dismissed for 312, 77 runs behind.Fifties from the Dolphins top three and a scoring rate of 4.34 runs to the over saw them declare again on 217 for 4 on the final day, setting up a thrilling last two sessions. They had 62 overs at the Cobras, who needed to score at close to five runs an over to win. The Dolphins might have fancied their chances when they had the Cobras 66 for 3, but Pieter Malan and Aviwe Mgijma dug in, and though both of them were eventually dismissed, the Dolphins could not nip out the last four wickets. The Dolphins are also at the bottom of their pool, Pool B, but are less than 10 points behind the Lions. On the National Radar Markram’s return to form could not have come at a better time, with the Test series against Sri Lanka a month away and decisions to be made about both the opening spot and the captaincy. He scored 149 and 121, almost 45% of the Titans total runs in the match, and sits in second place on the overall run charts. Less encouraging were the performances of Dean Elgar (20 and 6) and Theunis de Bruyn, who bagged a pair. While both Elgar and de Bruyn have centuries to their names in the tournament so far, Elgar has gone to add to half-centuries to that but de Bruyn’s three ducks and a 13 may see him slip down the order of preference.Also of interest is two-time Test cap Senuran Muthusamy’s performance for the Dolphins. He was promoted to opening the batting and scored 79 and 56 while also eight wickets in the match (four in each innings) with his left-arm spin. Muthusamy now sits in joint fifth placeon the wicket-charts and though South Africa are not short of left-arm slow bowlers, having an all-round option is always handy. Top Performers Though Markram has all but secured the Test opening spot, Sarel Erwee continues to impress and remains the leading run-scorer. Erwee registered a third score of 50-plus in his third match, with 56 in the second innings to help the Dolphins set up their victory push. No.3 batsmen Keegan Petersen also scored 56 while in the first innings Zondo’s hundred will be noted with interest, especially after his struggles for form since being on the fringes of the national side.Other batsmen who showed signs of strong form are Dominic Hendricks, who scored a second century in successive matches, Richards, whose hundred was his first at franchise level and Sinethemba Qeshile of the Warriors, who scored 97.With Tabraiz Shamsi on international duty, the Knights’ Pretorius is now the leading bowler with 16 wickets to his name. Warriors’ left-armer Marco Jansen is in joint-fourth place and took seven wickets against the Titans while exciting young quick Lifa Ntanzi, claimed 3 for 51 in the first innings for the Dolphins against the Cobras.
Após ter rescindido com o São Paulo, Daniel Alves é um dos principais nomes livres no mercado da bola. O Fluminense formalizou interesse e apresentou uma proposta ao lateral-direito, e agora aguarda um retorno. A notícia foi dada primeiramente pela “ESPN” e confirmada pelo LANCE!.
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+ Cuiabá x Fluminense: prováveis escalações, desfalques e onde assistir
Com problemas financeiros, o Fluminense garante que não fará nenhum tipo de loucura nos cofres para contratar o jogador. Nas Laranjeiras, o nome de Daniel Alves é visto positivamente.
Outros clubes monitoram a situação do defensor, como Flamengo e Athletico Paranaense. Daniel Alves fez apenas seis jogos pelo São Paulo no atual Campeonato Brasileiro e, por isso, pode jogar por outra equipe na competição.
Com o interesse avançando para uma resposta positiva ou não, o tempo é inimigo do Fluminense. As inscrições no Campeonato Brasileiro fecham no dia 24 de setembro, próxima sexta-feira. Mesmo livre no mercado, Daniel Alves não poderia ser registrado após essa data.
O lateral-direito está sem clube desde a semana passada, quando rompeu contrato com o São Paulo pelo atraso no pagamento de salários.
Another Leeds United player is on course to leave Elland Road after Glen Kamara, with a "verbal agreement" now close.
Kamara leaves Leeds for Rennes
So far this summer for the 49ers Enterprises and Daniel Farke, the outgoings have significantly outweighed the incomings, with Joe Rodon, Joe Rothwell and Alex Cairns the only senior arrivals for the Whites.
Kamara became the latest player to leave the Whites, moving to France to sign for Rennes after just one year in Yorkshire.
Speaking after his move became official, Kamara explained why he chose to sign for Rennes. “I had very good first contacts with the managers. I came here because the club has ambition. I know that it was built in particular thanks to the training of great players, it is a talent factory. I hope my experience will help to have the best possible season. There are plenty of assets here to succeed.”
Imagine him & Rothwell: Leeds preparing swoop to sign £40k-p/w star
The Whites are reportedly keen on a deal to sign the Premier League midfielder.
ByDan Emery Jul 16, 2024
Kamara has joined Archie Gray in leaving Leeds, with the teenager moving to Tottenham in a £40m transfer. Elsewhere, fringe players Marc Roca, Charlie Cresswell, Diego Llorente, Robin Koch, Kristoffer Klaesson, Jamie Shackleton and Luke Ayling have all left on permanent transfers, whereas Sam Greenwood, Darko Gyabi and Sonny Perkins have departed on loan.
Now, it looks as if yet another permanent exit is on the cards after Kamara.
Rasmus Kristensen close to joining Frankfurt from Leeds
According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Leeds right-back Rasmus Kristensen is wanted by Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. The two clubs are in direct talks over a transfer which could be a permanent or a loan with either an option or obligation to buy and a "verbal agreement is close".
Kristensen cost Leeds £11m back in 2022, with the Denmark international arriving from RB Salzburg. The 27-year-old was a regular under Jesse Marsch and made 30 appearances for the club during the relegation campaign.
He was one of a number of Whites players who had a relegation release clause inserted into his contract, allowing him to join AS Roma on loan.
Leeds defender Rasmus Kristensen.
In Italy, he played alongside former Leeds defender Llorente and made 31 appearances in all competitions, but it looks as if a reunion at Frankfurt with another former Whites centre-back, Koch, is now on the cards.
It’ll leave Leeds and Farke with no senior right-back on the books, showing how signings in that area of the pitch are desperately needed. Sheffield United’s Jayden Bogle has been linked with filling the right-back void at Elland Road, although bids in the region of £4m have been turned down so far.
ينتظر عشاق ومتابعو الكرة العربية، مباراة نهائي بطولة كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26″، والتي تجمع بين البحرين وعمان مساء اليوم السبت.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخبا البحرين وعمان، على أرضية استاد جابر الأحمد في المباراة النهائية لبطولة كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26” المقامة في الكويت.
وكانت بطولة كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26″، انطلقت 21 ديسمبر 2024، بمشاركة 8 منتخبات، وسيكون المشهد الختامي للبطولة، مباراة اليوم بين البحرين وعمان.
وحسم منتخب عمان، تأهله إلى المباراة النهائية، بعد الفوز على منتخب السعودية، بنتيجة (2-1)، في مباراة دور نصف النهائي الأول.
بينما تأهل منتخب البحرين من نصف النهائي الثاني لبطولة كأس الخليج “خليجي 26″، بعد فوزه، على الكويت، بنتيجة 1-0. موعد مباراة البحرين وعمان في نهائي كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26”
تنطلق المباراة، في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، السابعة بتوقيت السعودية والبحرين والثامنة بتوقيت عمان.
فيديو | منتخب البحرين يقلب الطاولة على عمان بثنائية ويتوج بطلًا لـ كأس الخليج “خليجي 26” القنوات الناقلة لمباراة البحرين وعمان اليوم في نهائي كأس الخليج 2024 “خليجي 26”
ومن المقرر أن تذاع المباراة بين البحرين وعمان، عبر قنوات الكأس القطرية 1،2، وSSC NEWS HD، والكويت الرياضية، والشارقة الرياضية، البحرين الرياضية، أبو ظبي الرياضية1، عمان الرياضية ودبي الرياضية، والعراقية الرياضية. معلقين مباراة البحرين وعمان اليوم في نهائي كأس الخليج 2024
فارس عوض وحماد العنزي عبر قناة SSC News HD.
مشاري القرني وراشد الدوسري عبر SSC HD4.
أحمد البلوشي وعلي سعيد على قناة الكويت الرياضية.
عامر عبدالله ومحمد الشامسي من خلال قناة أبوظبي الرياضية HD1.
أحمد الطيب عبر قناة الكأس HD1، وسمير المعيرفي عبر قناة الكأس HD2.
ويتولى رؤوف خليف التعليق عبر دبي الرياضية HD1.
عبد الحميد الجسمي عبر قناة الشارقة الرياضية.
صلاح الحمداني عمان الرياضية.
محمد سويد البحرين الرياضية.
جمال الدراجي العراقية الرياضية.
ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا.
Manchester United are set for a huge defensive overhaul during the 2024 summer transfer window.
This comes after a season which saw them concede 58 Premier League goals and 15 times in the Champions League group stage, which is the most by a Premier League side in the group stages of a Champions League campaign.
The Red Devils could let up to four defenders leave this summer. Raphael Varane has already departed the club upon the expiration of his contract, with fellow centre-backs Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof also potential departures. Aaron Wan-Bissaka could also leave Old Trafford if the right offer arrives.
Raphael Varane, Harry Magure and Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United.
Of course, with all of these departures, there must be incomings to balance the books and add depth to the squad. United have been heavily linked with Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich, with the former Ajax captain thought to have agreed terms with the Red Devils. They have also placed a bid for exciting young French defender Leny Yoro, although it remains to be seen if he will pick United over Real Madrid.
Lille defender Leny Yoro
However, there is another name on INEOS' list of potential centre-backs, and they have been heavily linked with this player during the entire transfer window.
Man Utd target Premier League defender
The player in question here is, of course, Everton and England centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite. After a superb season with the Toffees in 2023/24, the defender has been linked with a move to Old Trafford regularly this summer.
Now, according to a report from Graeme Bailey, the Red Devils are currently 'working on making' a third bid for the defender. This comes after United had two previous offers, the most recent one worth around £50m, rejected by the Toffees for the talented England star.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
However, despite a tough negotiation at the moment, it might not all be plain sailing for United when it comes to doing a deal for Branthwaite this summer.
Manchester City could challenge their biggest rivals in a bid to bring Branthwaite to the blue side of Manchester instead.
In terms of a price for Branthwaite, Everton have been firm in their stance that he is worth around £80m, in line with deals for Josko Gvardiol and Wesley Fofana. Bailey confirms that United are preparing their third bid, with internal talks finalising 'what level they will come in at' to try and sign the young defender.
Why Branthwaite would be a good signing
Branthwaite was a pivotal player under Sean Dyche for Everton last season. The 22-year-old played 35 Premier League games for the Toffees, helping to keep an impressive 12 clean sheets and chipped in with three goals, including one in the Merseyside Derby, backing up the claim of scout Jacek Kulig that he is an "absolute monster".
He is highly rated by those close to Old Trafford, including one of Erik ten Hag’s soon-to-be coaches, and the club’s legendary striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman managed Branthwaite at PSV two seasons ago, when the young defender had a loan spell at the Dutch side. Van Nistelrooy called Branthwaite a “great talent”, before explaining that he is a “very complete” centre-back.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Should United sign Branthwaite, he may not just become a superb option for Ten Hag at centre-back, but also at left-back, allowing him tactical flexibility and more depth. This would be bad news for £150k-per-week earner Luke Shaw who is the Red Devils’ first-choice in that position. He has struggled with injuries, and having a player like Branthwaite could be an excellent alternative to the England international.
As is the current tactical trend at the moment, Ten Hag could choose to set up in a 3-2-5 system when his side have the ball. With Branthaite at left-back, it could be the case that he tucks into left centre-back when United are in possession, a role he has superb attributes for. Football analyst H also explained that he believes the 22-year-old is “capable of playing” on the left side and tucking into centre-back with the ball.
Luke Shaw
He is an excellent wide defender, able to use his long stride to cover wide spaces with ease. This is also somewhat reflected in his stats on Sofascore, averaging 5.2 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, as well as winning 2.5 ground duels each game. He is also a wonderful box defender, which could come in handy at left-back especially when defending the far post.
Branthwaite defensive stats Premier League 2023/24
Stat (per 90)
Number
Ball recoveries
5.2
Tackles
1.9
Interceptions
1.4
Aerial duels
2.7
Ground duels
2.5
Clearances
4.5
Stats from Sofascore
One issue with Branthwaite playing left-back ahead of Shaw means that the former Southampton man would not be able to strike up his successful partnership with Marcus Rashford. Over the years, the pair have formed a brilliant understanding, and Shaw is deadly on the overlap as Rashford operates in the left half-space.
Rashford discussed his and Shaw’s partnership in 2021, describing that the things they do on the left-hand side are “simple but they’re effective”, before explaining that he thinks the pair are a “threat” when operating together on that left-hand side.
However, with Branthwaite operating at left-back, it would mean that Rashford does not have that overlap from Shaw, or indeed from any left-back, and has to hold the width on the left himself. This is not Rashford’s best role, and he would be better utilised in the left-half space with a flying full-back.
With that being said, it could be necessary for some games to play the Everton man at left-back, and Ten Hag can lean on that aforementioned tactical flexibility to help him get through games and make his side better equipped to beat the best sides.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Whilst it may be an expensive deal to do, Branthwiate could be at the heart of the United defence for the next ten years. He is a wonderful player, as shown by his stats and well-rated by the likes of van Nistelrooy. It could be a superb addition to United’s centre-back ranks this summer.
Better than Branthwaite: Man Utd plot bid for "monster" CB on top of Yoro
This would be a colossal statement of intent from INEOS.