أعلن أيمن يونس، لاعب الزمالك السابق، عن تقديم هدية خاصة للقلعة البيضاء بعد أزمة الكوادر الأخيرة والاعتماد على إداريين من خارج النادي.
وشهدت الفترة الأخيرة جدلًا بعد اختيار عبد الناصر محمد مديرًا للكرة في نادي الزمالك في جهاز يانيك فيريرا، مع انتقاد نجوم القلعة البيضاء السابقين للقرار، إلى جانب الاعتماد على جون إدوارد في منصب المدير الرياضي.
طالع| الزمالك يوضح لـ”بطولات” موقفه من ضم بيرسي تاو
وكتب أيمن يونس، عبر منصة “إكس”: “قريبًا سيتم الإعلان عن منحة سنوية دراسية فنية وإدارية في كرة القدم لعدد 2 من لاعبي نادي الزمالك السابقين المميزين المشرفين”.
وتابع: “فصناعة المدرب المحترف والاداري المحترف وتجهيزهم لخدمه النادي، كان حلم ليا أنا شخصيًا أتمنى تقديمه هدية لنادي الزمالك وجماهيره، أولاد نادي الزمالك يستحقون كل خير”.
ولم يوضح يونس أسماء اللاعبين المختارين هذا العام، لكنه كان قد طالب في تصريحات سابقة له، بتجهيز النجم المعتزل محمد عبد الشافي، ليكون كادرًا إداريًا في المرحلة المقبلة، نظرًا لما يمتلكه من هدوء وخبرة كبيرة، بينما الاسم الثاني لا يزال مجهولًا، وقد يكون شيكابالا الذي اعتزل مؤخرًا.
قريبا سيتم الأعلن عن منحه سنويه دراسيه فنيه وإداريه في كره القدم..لعدد 2 من لاعبي نادي الزمالك السابقين المميزين المشرفين..فصناعه المدرب المحترف والاداري المحترف وتجهيزهم لخدمه النادي.كان حلم ليا انا شخصيا اتمني تقديمه هديه لنادي الزمالك وجماهيره.أولاد نادي الزمالك يستحقوا كل خير
— Ayman Younis. ايمن يونس (@AymanYounis) July 10, 2025
Arsenal’s academy has produced countless talents who have gone on to star in the first team over recent years, allowing them to achieve various levels of success at the Emirates.
Bukayo Saka is undoubtedly the biggest example of such a star in the current first-team setup, making 250 appearances since his debut in 2018 and nailing down his starting place in Mikel Arteta’s side.
The England international has notched 67 goals and 64 assists, often being the go-to man in terms of contributions in the final third over the last few years.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is the latest player to make the jump from the Hale End academy setup, featuring 24 times for the Gunners this campaign, scoring his first professional goal in the 5-1 rout against Manchester City.
The aforementioned pair have also been joined by another youngster in recent weeks, taking full advantage of the opportunity handed to him after Saka’s injury layoff.
Ethan Nwaneri’s stats for Arsenal in 2024/25
17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri has been a player in and around the first-team picture over the last couple of years, making his senior debut in 2022/23 coming off the substitutes bench in the win over Brentford.
The substitute appearance made him the youngest player in Premier League history at the age of just 15, showcasing the faith that Arteta has in the teenager to be a huge star in North London.
Ethan Nwaneri for Arsenal
With Saka still sidelined with his hamstring injury, Nwaneri has been given the chance to star in a right-wing position, something which he’s taken with both hands, as seen by his respective tallies.
Despite his tender age, the academy graduate has registered eight goals and one assist in his 28 outings, scoring in various competitions such as the Premier League and the Champions League.
However, despite his impressive form at the Emirates, he’s still valued lower than one player who also developed through the youth levels before moving on to pastures new.
The former Arsenal star now worth more than Nwaneri
Given the volume of talent coming through the youth levels at Arsenal, not every player will be able to make a huge impact on the first-team, subsequently having to ply their trade away from their boyhood side.
Attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe was a player who emerged out of the academy with high hopes in North London, potentially having a huge part to play in the club’s future.
The 24-year-old would receive his first opportunity to impress throughout the same season as Saka, featuring in six cup games and registering three goals – handing supporters a reason to be excited.
He would subsequently spend periods out on loan at RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town before returning to the club ahead of the 2020/21 season, hoping to make an impact and secure a consistent starting role.
Smith Rowe would make 115 appearances after his return, but the majority of which came from the substitutes’ bench, leading to a permanent move to Fulham in the summer just gone.
The midfielder’s move across London to Craven Cottage has allowed him to recapture his best form, notching five goals and two assists since his move – leading to one analyst dubbing him as “phenomenal”.
Games played
25
Goals & assists
7
Pass accuracy
91%
Dribble success
54%
Shots taken
1.7
Chances created
1.1
Recoveries made
3.2
As a result of his performances under Marco Silva, he’s now valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, a figure higher than current star Nwaneri, who’s only valued at £25m despite his impressive rise to stardom.
Given his form and current market value, Arsenal must regret the decision to allow him to leave, showcasing to his former employers what they’re missing by allowing him to depart.
It’s great to see a former player star after the early promise he possessed, but many will be wishing that he was still plying his trade for the Gunners – offering them another dimension in their hunt for Premier League success.
He's better than Isak: Arsenal line up big move for "Europe's best player"
Arsenal are looking at signing one of the best players on the continent throughout 2024/25.
There have been quite a few problems for Tottenham Hotspur to contend with this season, but injuries have been by far and away the most significant.
More specifically, injuries to the backline, as while the absence of Dominic Solanke, for example, is far from ideal, the North Londoners have still managed to score the joint-second most goals in the Premier League.
However, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero out for practically the entire campaign, Ange Postecoglou has been forced to rely on a combination of 18-year-old Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin and, recently, Kevin Danso.
Such a situation has understandably impacted the Lilywhites domestically and in Europe, so much so that Daniel Levy and Co may rue losing an experienced centre-back last January who’s won comparisons to stars like Virgil Van Dijk and Gabriel Magalhães.
Spurs' January 2024 departures
So, back in Postecoglou’s first winter window with Spurs, the club saw several players leave, such as former captain Hugo Lloris.
The World Cup-winning Frenchman made 447 appearances for the North Londoners across 11 and a half years, but on January 31st 2024, he moved to LAFC on a free.
Since switching to Major League Soccer, the vastly experienced shot-stopper has made 50 appearances and won the US Open Cup last year, beating Kansas City 3-1 in extra time.
A former Tottenham ace who has endured a more middling time away from North London is Japhet Tanganga.
The reliable if unspectacular defender joined Millwall on a short-term loan on January 18th, and after making 18 appearances for the side, in which he scored twice, he made his move permanent in the summer for free.
This season, the 25-year-old has made 34 appearances for the club, once again scoring twice.
While he’s clearly settled in, he did have a horror show against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup over the weekend, scoring an own goal and deflecting the ball into Daniel Munoz for his strike.
With all that said, there’s another former Spurs defender who first left the club last January and has also won comparisons to Van Dijk and Gabriel.
The former Spurs star compared to Van Dijk and Gabriel
So, while Sergio Regulion, Ashley Phillip and even Djed Spence all went out on loan last January, the defender in question is someone with far more experience at the domestic and international levels.
trevoh-chalobah-eric-dier-tottenham-opinion
After spending nine years with Spurs, Eric Dier finally left the club last winter, and while his move to Bayern Munich was initially a short-term loan, it was later extended to cover this season as well, meaning he did not return to North London.
Now, it would be fair to say that towards the end of his time at the club, the 49-capped Englishman was not seen as a top-class defender, but under Thomas Tuchel last season and, to some extent, Vincent Kompany this year, the 31-year-old has reminded people that he can still be a useful player for a top side.
For example, the “monstrous” star, as dubbed by journalist Dan Kilpatrick, has already made 35 appearances for FC Hollywood and now looks set to be a part of the squad that reclaimed the Bundesliga title from Bayer Leverkusen and has been likened to Gabriel and Van Dijk.
The comparisons stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, across the last 365 days and then creates a list of the ten most similar players.
Non-Penalty Expected Goals
0.05
0.07
0.11
Passing Accuracy
91.8%
91.7%
89.6%
Expected Assists
0.03
0.03
0.03
Through Balls
0.04
0.03
0.04
Tackles
1.15
1.05
1.14
Errors Leading to Goals
0.04
0.03
0.04
Successful Take-Ons
0.07
0.09
0.08
In this instance, it concluded that the Brazilian was the sixth-most similar centre-back to the Englishman in last season’s Champions League, and the Dutchman is the seventh-most similar overall for the last year.
We can get a better understanding of this by looking at the underlying numbers in which the trio have ranked closely over the last season and a bit, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals, passing accuracy, tackles, through balls, expected assists and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, while we are not suggesting that Dier is anywhere near the defender the other two are, the fact that he’s been compared to them indicates that he has found his fee again since moving to Bavaria.
So, with how badly Postecoglou’s defence has been hit by injuries this season, we reckon a part of him wishes the Englishman was still at the club.
Spurs wasted £36m on "special" Poch signing who earned more than Spence
The promising prospect failed to live up to the hype at Spurs.
GOAL looks at why France's all-time leading scorer is misfiring in MLS with Los Angeles FC
On Matchday 11 of the 2025 MLS season, LAFC recorded a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo – and Olivier Giroud went as an unused substitute as the claimed a much-needed three points in MLS action. Watching along as his teammates triumphed, Giroud slumped back in his chair on the bench, not factoring into the result.
It has been a theme for the Frenchman since he joined MLS, and whether he's been on the pitch or not, he has not factored into results.
When LAFC signed Giroud on a free transfer from Serie A outfit AC Milan in the summer of 2024, expectations were high for the veteran striker. A dream of a target man, Giroud had plied his trade with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea in the English Premier League, and with the in Italy. Oh, and he is France's all-time leading scorer with 57 goals.
A 2018 FIFA World Cup winner with France and a 2021 UEFA Champions League champion with Chelsea, Giroud added 11 other top-flight trophies over the course of his illustrious career. When he joined longtime friend and former France teammate Hugo Lloris in Los Angeles, expectations were high that the then-37-year-old would make an immediate impact.
That didn't happen. And frankly, it didn't even come close.
In 10 regular season appearances and four playoff matches, Giroud didn't net once. He scored once across all competitions, with his lone goal coming in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final – an important effort, but it was the only score in all competitions over a roughly five-month span.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Frenchman has featured in 11 games for the across all competitions, but has been blanked in 10 of those – scoring just once. His lone effort was also a brilliant goal – finding the back of the net from a free kick – but it's not a goal that changes the course of how his MLS career has started.
He's not been good enough – but there's more to it. He moved across the world to a completely different environment, and was thrown into a tactical system not built around him. On top of that, LAFC have constantly changed personnel on the pitch – giving him little consistency in the final-third. There's also the fact that he is reaching the tail end of his brilliant career. But are those valid excuses? Has the Western Conference side failed him? Or, is this just sometimes how the twilight of a career goes?
GOAL expands below.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now
Getty Images Sport
Poor tactical fit
With Arsenal, Chelsea and Milan, Giroud played in relatively ball-dominant systems.
During his final two seasons in Italy with the Milan finished in the top-five of the league in possession throughout the campaign. Eleven Matchdays into the 2025 season, LAFC have only had possession more than their opposition in six of their 11 matches in regular season action – and in those 11 games, have only made four key passes leading to goals. He's also only made seven appearances this season in MLS action.
Despite LAFC having 17 goals this season, they have managed just seven assists; there's been a heavy reliance on individual efforts – a game that has never benefited Giroud.
Upon signing him, the club outlined his physical attributes and his hold-up play as key reasons why he would fit LAFC's plans.
“What is different about Olivier is his physicality, his presence, his size,” said John Thorrington, LAFC’s general manager and co-president. “I think what is unique and holds up is his ability not just to score goals but also to combine and create goals. That was a unique combination of skills. Most strikers have either-or. We found a rare package that would suit us very well.”
However, LAFC don't play a transition game with forward passes that allow the Frenchman to utilize those traits; rather, he's become excess weight in the final-third.
It was an unexpected development, but Giroud doesn't fit the mold of how LAFC play – and it's become increasingly clear that manager Steve Cherundolo will not change his tactical identity to shoehorn him into the XI.
Advertisement
Getty
Constant change
Cherundolo, who played a key role in recruiting Giroud, has already announced he will depart the club at the end of the 2025 season. While that change is still months away, it underscores the ongoing evolution of LAFC’s identity over the past eight months.
Since Giroud’s arrival, LAFC’s attack has undergone a major transformation. At first, the frontline featured Poland international Mateusz Bogusz as the central striker, flanked by the dynamic Cristian Olivera on the wing. Both players, however, have since moved on. Bogusz was expected to lead the line while Giroud settled into MLS, and Olivera was billed as the creative force most likely to thrive alongside the Frenchman.
Denis Bouanga remains a consistent presence, but the Gabon international was already an established MLS star before Giroud joined. The veteran striker was seen as the piece to elevate those around him. Yet with constant turnover in the final-third, the kind of chemistry and attacking rhythm needed to unlock Giroud’s full impact never had a chance to develop in his early months in the league.
In 2024, he made 14 total appearances – 10 in the regular season and four in the playoffs – with zero goals and just three assists. He was continually backed by Cherundolo, though, even into the postseason.
“I don’t have to explain anything to him. He’s been through all the levels of the game, and all the ups and downs. The effort for the team is always more important than scoring goals, for any attacker,” Cherundolo said ahead of their eventual playoff exit after a loss to the Seattle Sounders. “Then, depending on how many goals you score or how many key moments you contribute, that ratio can go up or down, and the direction can fluctuate for the attackers. I think he is very aware of that, and he works on it every week, every day."
For the veteran forward, though, it was an underwhelming start to life in the U.S., and it was just challenging on the pitch.
Getty Images News
Struggles adapting to Los Angeles
Time off the pitch hasn't been easy for Giroud, either. When he arrived in Los Angeles last summer, he moved across the world to a league, a country and a system he never played in.
Then, after a tough few months on the pitch, parts of the city of Los Angeles were devastated by wildfires in January 2025 – something that affected the Frenchman's outlook on his brief time in the U.S.
Twenty-four days of burning between the Palisades and the Eaton Fires resulted in more than 37,000 acres burned and more than 16,000 structures destroyed. At least 29 people were killed – 17 in the Eaton Fire and 12 in the Palisades Fire, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner.
"There was a massive earthquake when we were at the training ground," Giroud told The Mirror. "Then there were all the fires. It was a really sad situation. People lost everything. Hopefully, there will be better days ahead. It’s part of life. Sometimes you have great days and sometimes tough moments. We thank the first responders and firefighters who did an amazing job. It made me really sad. I was scared. I hope they will put all the effort and make improvements to prevent these fires from coming again."
"It cannot happen that often. I try to support by giving some stuff to the people who lost everything," Giroud added, explaining the difficulties of watching this happen in his community. "This is when you need to be supportive of the people who need it."
As he's adapted to life in MLS, he's also adapted to a massive change in his lifestyle – and with so much happening off the pitch, perhaps a little bit of grace should have been afforded, too. Yet, despite the reality of those off-pitch situations, it is clear is LAFC have to figure out what is next for their striker.
The team has rallied from a slow start and currently sits fifth, but it can't continue to have one of its Designated Players sit on the bench when the club remains one of MLS's most ambitious sides.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
(C)Getty Images
Decision time
One key part of the acquisition of Giroud last summer was the hope that by bringing him to Los Angeles, it would help lure former France international and Atletico Madrid star – and close Giroud friend – Antoine Griezmann to the club this summer. However, the striker – despite admitting his desire to come to MLS – appears to be sticking around in Spain for at least one more year.
So what does LAFC do now? What does Giroud do? Without Griezmann, is it worth trying to force the Giroud experiment to work?
In recent years, European strikers have come to MLS towards the end of their careers and had relative success. Didier Drogba in Montreal, Robbie Keane and Zlatan Ibrahimovic with the Galaxy, but there have also been transfers that didn't quite pan out the way intended.
Andrea Pirlo at NYCFC, Gonzalo Higuain at Inter Miami, Teemu Pukki at Minnesota United – they all fell into the category of relatively underwhelming, despite a few bright performances after crafting successful careers in Europe.
For LAFC and the 38-year-old, it might be in the best interest of both parties to admit this isn't working. Age can't be the sole reason why Giroud is struggling, as LAFC found decent success with 39-year-old Kei Kamara just last year in the striker position. There are clearly several factors here.
Giroud’s contract runs through the end of 2025, with a club option for 2026. While an early exit during the summer transfer window could offer a straightforward solution for both sides, it’s more likely LAFC will let the deal play out through 2025 – unless a significant turnaround in his on-field performances changes the equation.
This was a necessary gamble for the club, but unfortunately, it hasn't paid off.
Newcastle United could reportedly be offered a “world-class” player in the summer transfer window, although it would be in a swap deal involving Sandro Tonali.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies continue to be linked with potential new signings, even though the summer is still many months away, with Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher mentioned as an option.
The Republic of Ireland international has had to settle for being second choice goalkeeper at Anfield behind Alisson for some time, and he may feel that a move away at the end of the season is best for his development. The fact that Giorgi Mamardashvili is coming in from Valencia could push him further down the pecking order, too.
Liverpool's CaoimhinKelleher
At the other end of the pitch, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been mentioned as an extremely exciting option, but he would likely only come in if Alexander Isak moves on to pastures new, which wouldn’t go down well with the supporters. The Nigerian is currently on loan at Galatasaray, where he has scored 12 goals in 14 Turkish Super Lig starts.
Newcastle are also thought to have sent scouts to watch Crystal Palace and England midfielder Adam Wharton, with the 21-year-old viewed as a long-term addition in the middle of the park.
Newcastle could be offered "world-class" Juventus star in Tonali swap deal
According to a fresh claim from Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle could be offered Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz this summer, in a swap deal with Tonali, which is the one big drawback.
The Turin giants reportedly see the Italian as a “dream” signing at the end of this season and may be willing to allow the former Aston Villa player to head in the opposite direction, even though he only joined last summer in a £42m deal.
Ideally, Tonali will stay put this summer, lessening the need for Newcastle to bring in midfield reinforcements, but if he does end up moving away, Luiz could be a strong replacement to fill the void left by him.
The 26-year-old Brazilian has a huge amount of Premier League experience, appearing 175 times in the competition, and former teammate John McGinn has waxed lyrical over him, describing him as “world-class”, while Villa chief Monchi has said of him:
“Patience is needed, but Douglas’ qualities are beyond discussion. He will become important for Juve. He’s a playmaker and every ball that comes out of his feet has a meaning: last year he played 90% of the games with us. He was decisive.”
Luiz has the same agent as Bruno Guimaraes, which could help aid discussions over a move to St James’ Park, and there is no reason why he couldn’t be an immediate hit alongside the Brazilian in Newcastle’s midfield.
Newcastle interested in signing "outstanding" £10k-a-week ace this summer
He had a big moment at St James’ Park this season.
By
Henry Jackson
Feb 9, 2025
That said, retaining the services of Tonali is still the preferred outcome, considering what an influential player he has become since joining from AC Milan back in the summer of 2023.
Sanju Samson smashed 86 not out off 63 balls but India fell just short of what seemed an improbable chase at one stage against a South African side desperate for wins in the World Cup Super League. The visitors escaped with ten points after being set up by an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 139 off 106 balls between Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, who helped set India a target of 250, and a strong bowling effort early on that reduced India to 51 for 4 in 18 overs.What should have a been a straightforward result in favour of South Africa was turned on its head by Shreyas Iyer and Samson, who put on 67 for the fifth wicket, and then Samson and Shardul Thakur. They added 93 in 66 balls for the sixth wicket and were particularly severe on South Africa’s second spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi. He conceded 89 runs in eight overs, including 20 in the final over, when India needed 30.In the end, both teams were left to consider the limitation of using only five bowlers in an ODI innings. India only picked five while South Africa chose not to use part-timer Aiden Markram, and both attacks had mixed results. Their opening pairs were exceptional – Mohammed Siraj and Avesh Khan gave away only 28 runs in the eight-over powerplay, and Rabada and Parnell reduced India to 8 for 2 in 31 balls upfront – but one each of their spinners proved costly. Ravi Bishnoi, on debut, conceded 69 runs in eight overs while Shamsi’s economy rate was a massive 11.12.In a match that was reduced to 40 overs a side, South Africa took time to set the pace of their innings in challenging conditions. Siraj and Avesh sent down four testing overs each, in which they found movement and challenged the openers’ awareness of their off stumps, but could not separate them. Instead, it was Thakur, brought on as first change, who issued the first threat. He drew Janneman Malan forward to take the edge but Shubman Gill, at first slip, put down the chance. India would go on to drop three more catches. Thakur got Malan two overs later, when the batter clipped a full ball to Iyer at midwicket and the opening stand ended on 49.That brought under-fire captain Temba Bavuma to the crease and he almost fell for a third duck in four innings when he bottom-edged Thakur onto his foot and came close to chopping on. Bavuma went on to strike two sweet boundaries but was then bowled by a cross-seamer from Thakur for 8.Lungi Ngidi removed Shreyas Iyer for the fourth time in as many ODI innings•BCCI
Sensing an opportunity to get into South Africa’s middle order, Shikhar Dhawan brought on Kuldeep Yadav to replace Bishnoi and it was clear that Aiden Markram could not read him at all. Markram was foxed by the googly and the shorter delivery and then bowled by the legbreak as he moved forward to defend. South Africa were 71 for 3 after 16 overs.Klaasen and de Kock led the recovery with a fourth-wicket partnership of 39. The two were going well until de Kock missed a reverse sweep off Bishnoi and was out lbw for 48. With 17.4 overs left and a decent platform laid, the stage was set for Miller to tee off. He smacked a short, wide delivery from Bishnoi upfront, then swept the first Kuldeep ball he faced for four more and brought out the heavy artillery when he tonked Bishnoi back over his head for six.The aggressor’s role was swapped between Miller and Klaasen who settled on a middle ground between an all-out attack and saving themselves for the end. In the 36th over, Miller reached his fifty off 50 balls, and Klaasen got to his milestone off 52. Klaasen’s was his first 50-plus score in 10 innings since April 2021, while Miller’s milestone continued his golden run in 2022. Miller averages 61.75 from ten ODIs and 56.60 from 12 T20Is this year. The pair plundered 54 runs off the final five overs to give India a challenging target of 250.India’s task was made to look even more daunting by the sixth over of the chase. Gill inside-edged a full delivery from Kagiso Rabada onto his stumps and Dhawan chopped one from Wayne Parnell onto his. Rabada looked as dangerous as ever as he maintained a length just short of a good and a line outside off, finishing his five-over opening spell with figures of 1 for 10.Maharaj was brought on just after the powerplay and held his end well to keep Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan quiet. By the time Tabraiz Shamsi was called on, in the 16th over, Gaikwad’s patience had run out. He advanced down the track to hit Shamsi over the off side but was beaten by the turn and stumped. Maharaj also enjoyed some of the spoils when Kishan danced down to clip him over the leg side in the next over and handed Malan a simple catch at leg slip.Sanju Samson and Shardul Thakur put up an attacking partnership•BCCI
India’s required rate had climbed to more than nine an over when Iyer decided to take matters into his own hands. He hit Shamsi back over his head for four, helped himself to three successive boundaries off his next over, and took on Lungi Ngidi’s pace to bring up India’s 100. Iyer’s fifty came off 33 balls and his partnership with Samson had South Africa worried. Ngidi, though, put out those fears. He dismissed Iyer for the fourth time in four ODIs against him, with a short ball that Iyer lobbed to Rabada at mid-on. But the danger was far from over.Thakur joined the fun when he guided Ngidi fine and then hit a Shamsi long hop through square leg, prompting Bavuma to bring back Rabada and then Parnell. Parnell was too short in his last over and Samson hit him for two fours. He was replaced by Ngidi, who also offered a back-of-good-length ball for Samson to pull for six.Still, with India needing 74 off the last five overs, South Africa were the favourites. Both Shamsi and Rabada’s seventh overs were hit for 14 each and but panic was setting in, Ngidi removed Thakur and Kuldeep off successive deliveries. Thakur didn’t get hold of a full ball while Kuldeep tried to loft Ngidi over extra cover but Bavuma took a good catch running backwards. Ngidi himself, though, dropped Avesh in Rabada’s final over, running in from point.India needed 30 off the last over, which started with a wide. Samson then took 14 runs off the next three balls to leave 15 to get off three. He then tried to slog sweep Shamsi but couldn’t pierce the field and the match was all but over. South Africa would have had their hearts in their mouths until the end, when they sealed a tense win.Having dropped points against Ireland, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and with three matches against Australia due to be forfeited, all of South Africa’s matches are effectively must-wins. They remain in 11th place on the standings but have closed the gap between themselves and Sri Lanka and could leapfrog them and Ireland into ninth place with another win in this series.
Newcastle United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign a “tricky” attacking player who has been compared to Arjen Robben in the past.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies are believed to be pushing to beat Tottenham to the signing of Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling, who has been a breath of fresh air in a struggling Saints side in the Premier League this season. He would be an exciting long-term addition for Eddie Howe, having such a high ceiling in the game.
Illia Zabarnyi is enjoying an outstanding season at the heart of Bournemouth’s defence and Newcastle are reportedly eyeing a move for him, as they look to strengthen their centre-back options. He has started all 23 of the Cherries’ league games in 2024/25 to date, excelling alongside the equally impressive Dean Huijsen.
AC Milan wide man Noah Okafor has been linked with a move to the Magpies in the past, and the Serie A giants would be willing to allow him to leave in the January transfer window, due to their financial restrictions. He isn’t the only one of their players in that position, however, with another individual also linked with a switch to St James’ Park for the same reason.
Newcastle given chance to sign "tricky" Milan winger
According to Calciomercato, Milan have offered Newcastle the opportunity to sign winger Samuel Chukwueze, as they look to drum up funds for new signings. He is believed to be happy where he is, though, which could make it a tricky deal to agree for the £82,000-a-week man.
Not only that, but the Magpies are not alone in being given the chance to sign the Nigeria international, with fellow Premier League trio Everton, Crystal Palace and Tottenham also in the same boat.
AC Milan's Christian Pulisic celebrates scoring their first goal with Samuel Chukwueze and FikayoTomori
With Miguel Almiron completing a move back to Atalanta United this week, Newcastle are in need of a new right winger, both in terms of squad depth to help Jacob Murphy, and to bring in an upgrade on both he and the departed Paraguayan.
Chukwueze could be ideal in that respect, proving to be a hugely exciting winger capable of creating and scoring with his left foot, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig comparing him to Robben and calling him “tricky”.
At 25 years of age, Newcastle wouldn’t be taking a risk on a player whose peak isn’t far away either, and they could even get the best years of his career, with plenty of time to still mature.
Villarreal
207
37
31
AC Milan
57
7
4
Villarreal B
20
4
2
The fact that Chukwueze reportedly doesn’t want to leave Milan is a clear stumbling block, but if Howe feels he is a perfect option to replace Almiron with, the hope is that he can sell the Nigerian the idea of moving to St James’.
The Premier League defender shares insights on everything from chess strategies to the evolving role of modern full-backs
Robinson explains how chess improves footballing intelligenceUSMNT star prefers traditional left-back role over inverted tacticsDefender recalls conversation with Paolo Maldini before failed AC Milan moveGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED
As his stock continues to rise with standout performances for Fulham, Antonee Robinson has become a player to watch across Europe. Known for his off-pitch talents – like playing the piano and rapidly solving a Rubik's Cube – the USMNT left-back recently revealed another surprising skill.
On Fulham’s official podcast , Robinson shared that he’s one of the top chess players in the squad – and he believes the game sharpens his football IQ.
“I’ve genuinely said this—I do think playing chess helps you play better football,” Robinson explained. “It’s not that quick and exact, but I see decision-making on the pitch kind of like chess. You’ve got so many options on the board, just like in a match, and you’re trying to pick the best move each time. It’s really the same thing, just faster.”
He elaborated further: “Say you’ve got three passes on – you're asking yourself which one’s best, which one’s safest. Passing to a guy who’s tightly marked usually leads nowhere. In chess, you don’t want to make a move that leads nowhere either. It’s the same concept.”
Robinson also discussed the evolution of the full-back role and made it clear he prefers a more traditional approach.
“Since I’ve been a professional, our system has suited me – very dynamic, lots of running, joining the attack,” he said. “But the role’s changing. There are more inverted left-backs now, kind of playing like second midfielders. I’ve only done that a few times – once recently for the U.S. against Jamaica – and it’s not really my game. I’m more vertical, more straight lines.”
AdvertisementWHAT ANTONEE ROBINSON SAID
The former Wigan Athletic full-back also revealed that he did have a conversation with AC Milan icon Paolo Maldini ahead of a failed move to during his time with and that the Italian legend believed in Robinson’s potential.
“He [Paolo Maldini] said 'Look, I see a lot of potential in you and I’m really looking forward to working with you and helping develop you as a player.' Which to hear that from him is an unreal feeling,” Robinson added. “Every now and then it re-affirms to me to just be confident in myself because if someone like that can see the potential in me then obviously something is there.”
Beyond that, Robinson also talked about his hopes for the 2026 World Cup and what the USMNT could potentially do at the tournament.
“Ideally we wanna go and win it. I think in general the World Cup is going to be probably the biggest sporting event potentially ever as an event. So, to be on that stage, representing our country and the team we have, you know it’s obviously next year but lads who are kind of going under the radar at the minute could fly unaware and surprise people, you never know and that goes for any country but that goes for us specifically.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The 27-year-old full-back has been an integral part of Fulham this season, playing in every league game for as they attempt to challenge for a European place. They sit eighth on the league table with 48 points but are only four points behind sixth-place Manchester City and five points behind fifth-place Newcastle United with seven games left to go.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?
Following an impressive 3-2 win over Liverpool, Fulham go to the Vitality Stadium to face Bournemouth on April 14 and then return to Craven Cottage to host a London derby against Chelsea on April 19.
Liverpool are now preparing a bid to sign a new defender for Arne Slot as they look to beat Manchester United to him in the transfer windows ahead, with his talent having left Reds chiefs impressed, according to a fresh report.
Liverpool facing rebuild
Though currently top of the Premier League, there is no doubt that Arne Slot’s side will have to be active in upcoming transfer windows in order to keep their place among England’s and Europe’s elite.
They have already begun planning for the future in some areas, with Giorgi Mamardashvili being signed last summer to join the club in 2025 as the long term replacement for Alisson, who is now 32-years-old.
Huge Nunez upgrade: Liverpool eyeing "one of the best CFs in the world"
Liverpool are ready to hijack a big rival in order to sign this Darwin Nunez upgrade.
1 ByAngus Sinclair Jan 14, 2025
There will also need to be change in the frontline, with Darwin Núñez continuing to underwhelm and both summer signing Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota injury prone, leaving Slot’s side light in attack at times.
Then there is the well-publicised contract concern, with all of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold becoming free agents this summer as things stand and set to rob Liverpool of three of their key men should they not agree new deals.
Though there is hope that at least Van Dijk stays, nothing has been announced yet, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has already been the subject of one bid from Real Madrid this winter, with Los Blancos confident of landing him either now or in the summer.
But there is another key area that Liverpool are now looking to upgrade on, and to that end they are ready to splash the cash.
Liverpool ready bid for left-back
That comes as a fresh report out of Italy claims that Liverpool are now prepared to offer €40m (£33.7m) to sign fullback Patrick Dorgu amid interest from Manchester United and Napoli.
One major concern this season for the Reds has been the form of left back Andy Robertson this season, with the Scot well below his historic best and the need for a new left-back at Anfield drawn into sharp focus.
Andy Robertson in action for Liverpool
They have been strongly linked with moves for Premier League pair Milos Kerkez and Antonee Robinson, but now appear to have moved away from the duo in favour of a more explosive option in the form of Dorgu.
Dubbed an “elite team player” with “immense physicality” and a “top mentality” by Analyst DanielScouting on X, Dorgu has been used mostly as a right-winger by Lecce so far this season, but is comfortable playing at left-back too having done so for much of his career and for the national team.
He is on the radar of several Premier League clubs, with Manchester United the latest to be keeping tabs on him after interest from Tottenham in the summer.
Position
Appearances
Left Back
70
Left Wing
15
Right Wing
11
Now though, Liverpool could beat them both to his signature. As per the report, Liverpool have “prepared a €40m investment’’ to sign the Danish international. They add that they have scouted him on four occasions so far this season and that FSG officials have “been left convinced by the 20-year-old” based on what they have seen.
Any deal at that fee would represent Lecce’s biggest ever sale, but could prove a bargain should Dorgu be able to deliver on his immense potential, with the 20-year-old able to replace Robertson for the next decade at Anfield.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane bagged the opener against St Pauli to ensure he has now scored against every Bundesliga team he has faced.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Kane back in the goals for Bayern Munich
Scores against St Pauli
Has netted against every Bundesliga team he's faced
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
WHAT HAPPENED?
Kane has been in prolific form during his career at Bayern Munich and added another record to his extensive collection on Saturday. The Bayern star bagged the opener against St Pauli to ensure he's now scored against every single Bundesliga team he's faced. The goal also ends a mini-drought for Kane in the German top flight. England's captain had gone five league games without a goal before Saturday's fixture.
Advertisement
Getty
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Kane returned to Bayern after scoring for England in World Cup qualifying wins over Albania and Latvia. The skipper will now focus on his club side until the end of the season and will be aiming to end his famous trophy drought. Bayern currently sit on top of the Bundesliga table and are into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
DID YOU KNOW?
In total, Kane now has 58 goals in 57 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern since moving to the club from Tottenham.
Getty Images Sport
WHAT NEXT FOR KANE
Kane and Bayern are set to take on Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Friday and will then go on to face Inter in the first leg of their Champions League tie.