England kickstarted their Euro 2024 campaign in less than convincing circumstances last Sunday in Gelsenkirchen.

The Three Lions are among the favourites to claim continental glory this summer but could only come away from their opening clash against Serbia with a dreary 1-0 win.

Jude Bellingham was the scorer – of course he was – nodding home a vicious header inside the opening quarter of the game.

Besides Harry Kane hitting the bar that was about as good as it got for Gareth Southgate's men.

The England boss has already taken a barrage of criticism. Why can't he get more from Phil Foden? Why do they seem to play so negatively? Why leave, X, Y and Z at home?

Quite. This wasn't the most exciting of starts to a major competition but there is plenty of time to grow into things. That starts with their clash against Denmark on Thursday evening.

So, what does Teddy Sheringham make make of all of it? Well, thankfully we have the answer.

What Teddy Sheringham said about Phil Foden

The Euro 2020 finalists looked like the real deal in the early exchanges of the game but couldn't match the same tempo and energy the longer the game went on. The second half was certainly a slog with Serbia penning their opposition back and enjoying a lot more possession.

So, what went wrong? Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast on behalf of Poker Sites, Sheringham said:

"I thought it was quite disjointed. There seemed to be square pegs in round holes – I don’t like it. However, with that in mind, I thought it was quite a comfortable performance. We didn’t really look like we were going to concede, and we mostly controlled the game – even if it got a bit hairy in the final 20 minutes. I thought we were kind of comfortable throughout, really."

England were forced back deep late in the match but ultimately the Serbs struggled to carve out many chances of note. For a defence missing Harry Maguire and Co, it was a very solid display at the back.

That said, the attacking performance left much to be desired, largely due to the efforts of the aforementioned Foden.

The Manchester City star won the Premier League's Player of the Season award for 2023/24 but has struggled to get going for his country. That was evident on Sunday evening.

Sheringham, the winner of 51 England caps, was keen to voice his feelings on the City man. Speaking about what Southgate should do to improve the attacking midfielder, he commented: "You need to bring Phil Foden inside and let him have the freedom to go where the likes of Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice do, and let those three alternate in midfield.

"You’ve got three very clever midfield players there. I don’t like him out on the left wing – he could perform on the right wing at a push, but Bukayo Saka’s got that position nailed down, for me. I would play Foden inside and let someone else go wider."

The 24-year-old started on the left flank in England's opening clash but that didn't work. What could the solution be? Well, other options in Germany include Newcastle's Anthony Gordon and Crystal Palace sensation Ebereche Eze.

However, is there an option at home who could have solved the problem? Sheringham seems to think so.

Serbia 0-1 England: Player ratings from Three Lions' Euro 2024 opener

England began their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 16, 2024 Sheringham thinks Jack Grealish should be there

The biggest surprise when Southgate named his squad for this summer were the ommissions of Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford.

Both have been hugely important parts of recent campaigns, Rashford notably now in possession of 60 caps for his country and Grealish in possession of 36.

That said, neither enjoyed the best of seasons for their respective Manchester clubs. The United forward contributed just seven league goals while the effervescent City winger only found the net on three occasions.

Despite that, could you still make a case for either being there? Sheringham was certainly surprised the latter wasn't on the plane.

Telling FFC, the former Man United and Spurs striker noted: "I would say they’ll regret leaving Jack Grealish out of the squad – more so than Rashford for me."

Why? The former attacker continued: "I think Grealish does a job – he retains possession in the final third, he takes people on, he draws players to him and players want to kick him and foul him. He realises when they do that, and he then releases the ball well. If there’s two or three players on him then there must be teammates spare on the other side of the pitch. I think he is really clever in realising that, so I’m quite surprised that he’s not there."

Whether Southgate's decisions pre-tournament come back to bite him, time will tell. For now, however, he will be content with the crop of players at his disposal.

Worse than Trent & Trippier: England could drop 5/10 star after Serbia

England flattered to deceive in their opening game of Euro 2024, defeating Serbia 1-0.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 17, 2024

Virat Kohli has scores of 100, 84 and 68 in his last three games against the Knight Riders

Sreshth Shah11-Oct-20207:36

Has Chris Morris fixed RCB’s death bowling issues?

Big pictureTwo teams on an upward surge meet on Monday when Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Dinesh Karthik’s Kolkata Knight Riders, with both men hitting half-centuries in their respective last outings.Kohli has returned to form after a slow start to IPL 2020, with an unbeaten 90 against the Chennai Super Kings. That has helped the Royal Challengers stay inside the top four despite Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal and AB de Villiers losing steam over their last few matches. Washington Sundar’s bowling in the powerplay has been another plus, and the addition of Chris Morris has added experience to their pace unit.ALSO READ: KKR vs RCB Fantasy Pick – Make Kohli captain and Morgan vice-captainThe Knight Riders have had many players chipping in with match-winning performances, starting with Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi with the bat and Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Prasidh Krishna with the ball. But there are question marks over the West Indies duo of Narine and Andre Russell, and how the Knight Riders navigate through that situation could decide if they can complete a hat-trick of wins or if the Royal Challengers go past them on the points table.In the newsThe Knight Riders’ most experienced overseas players, Russell and Narine, have given the team management something to ponder about. Against the Kings XI Punjab on Saturday, Russell injured his knee while fielding – after which he did not bowl – while Narine was warned for a suspect bowling action. If he errs again, he will be banned from bowling this season altogether.Likely XIsRoyal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Devdutt Padikkal, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 AB de Villiers (wk), 5 Gurkeerat Singh Mann, 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Isuru Udana, 10 Navdeep Saini, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalKolkata Knight Riders: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Rahul Tripathi, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Eoin Morgan, 5 Dinesh Karthik (capt, wk), 6 Andre Russell/Tom Banton, 7 Sunil Narine, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Kamlesh Nagarkoti/Shivam Mavi, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Varun ChakravarthyStrategy punts The Knight Riders could bowl spin with the new ball because Finch has struggled against that style of bowling this season. He has faced spin in five innings and has been dismissed four times, while averaging just 14.8. They could perhaps even play Kuldeep Yadav to target Finch first up: across all T20s, Finch averages just 6.3 against the left-arm wristspinner, having been dismissed four times in five innings by him. The Royal Challengers could save Yuzvendra Chahal for Eoin Morgan, and ask the legspinner to bowl slower to him than usual. Morgan loves spinners who bowl quicker at him, and the numbers back that up. Morgan hasn’t been dismissed yet this season by spin bowling at over 90kph, but averages just 5.70 when spinners slow it down. Stats and trivia With 223 runs, Kohli has scored the most runs among non-openers in IPL 2020. He is one among three non-openers to average over 50. Since 2018, Kohli’s best numbers in the IPL have come against the Knight Riders: most runs (283), highest average (94.3), highest strike-rate (154) and the most fifty-plus scores (three). His last three scores against the Knight Riders are 100, 84 and 68. This season, AB de Villiers has averaged 53 when the Royal Challengers have batted first, but only 24.55 while chasing. His strike-rate fluctuates too: 189 in the first innings compared to 144 in the second. The Knight Riders have won three games batting first this season. The last time they achieved this feat was back in 2014 where they won the title.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is personally a real fan of one electric forward, and the Gunners are now deciding whether to move for him after a £37 million drop in his asking price.

Edu and Arteta pursuing new winger alongside striker

The north Londoners have been tipped to bring in a new wide player, alongside a prolific striker, as Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar look to mount another Premier League title challenge next season.

Prolific £15m striker asks to leave club after Arsenal join race for him

The forward racked up 30 goals in all competitions last season.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 25, 2024

Arsenal were thwarted in their attempts to land Benjamin Sesko, who committed to RB Leipzig by putting pen to paper on a new contract instead of making a move to England, but the north Londoners have alternatives to the Slovenia international.

Indeed, Arsenal are in the race to sign Stuttgart star Serhou Guirassy, whose contract is rumoured to include a tempting £15 million release clause this summer. In terms of wingers, links surround Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams, amid his excellent Euro 2024 campaign with Spain.

Bukayo Saka

7.67

Declan Rice

7.38

Martin Odegaard

7.37

Kai Havertz

7.16

Gabriel Magalhaes

6.99

Williams has held talks with Arsenal over joining, even if Barcelona are his preferred destination, as Edu and co look to sign possible alternatives to star wingers Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.

They racked up a total of 37 goals and 16 assists in all competitions between them, but if Arsenal are going to finally pip Man City to the league, Arteta may need stand-ins – in case either or both are unavailable.

Saka played nearly 50 games last season, so bringing in a new winger would allow Arteta to rotate and rest the England star on a more regular basis. Alongside the likes of Williams, it is believed Arsenal are showing an interest in Premier League stars to come in as elite new wide men as well.

Wolves forward Pedro Neto, who enjoyed an electric start to 2023/2024, finished the season with nine assists and has been a star player at Molineux for a number of years. However, the Portuguese star also possesses a concerning injury record.

Arsenal deciding whether to make Pedro Neto move

According to Football Transfers, the 24-year-old is "massively admired" by Arteta, and Wolves have slashed their asking price by £37 million.

He was valued at around £80 million in January, but now Gary O'Neil's side seem ready to do a deal for £43 million. This has alerted club chiefs, with Arsenal assessing Neto and deciding whether to make a move, depending on a review of his medical history.

The former Lazio star has missed a combined total of 584 days through injury since joining Wolves (Transfermarkt), so it is understandable that this is a cause for concern for Edu and co, no matter the reduced asking price.

Neto has displayed flashes of true brilliance, though, so if he can keep fit, there is little doubting he'd strengthen Arteta's ranks ten-fold.

Manchester United are ready to sell Harry Maguire and have significantly lowered their asking price for the defender.

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• Maguire could be sold in January
• Man Utd reduce their asking price
• Was linked with West Ham last year

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Maguire has dropped down the United pecking order over the last few seasons under Erik ten Hag. He was stripped of the captaincy last year, with Bruno Fernandes handed the armband in his place. The English defender was also linked with a move to West Ham during the summer of 2023, but a transfer did not materialise.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Daily Star now reports the Red Devils will try to move on from the 31-year-old centre-back in the upcoming January transfer window and have significantly reduced their demands from £30 million ($38m, €36m) to £10 million ($13m, €12m).

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Maguire's game-time has dwindled in recent seasons but he has been brought in from the cold in that time due to the club's various injury problems. However, he himself recently suffered a fresh injury during United's draw against Aston Villa earlier this month and is expected to remain sidelined for the next few weeks.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Ten Hag's side, who are winless in their last five outings across all competitions, will aim to get back on track on October 19 as they host Brentford at Old Trafford in the Premier League.

After a roller coaster of a season that saw Ange Postecoglou eventually secure Europa League football for Tottenham Hotspur, it's the recruitment team's turn to step up and deliver in the coming months.

Daniel Levy and Co have to bring in the right players to help the Australian guide the Lilywhites back closer to the top of the Premier League while simultaneously helping him flush out those not good enough to do so.

Luckily for the former Celtic boss, that may well happen as the latest player touted for a move to N17 is an incredibly exciting youngster who could be the perfect upgrade to Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from football.london, Tottenham Hotspur have a 'strong interest' in Leeds United star Archie Gray.

The report has revealed that, alongside several other Premier League sides, the Lilywhites have monitored the 18-year-old's progress for some time and view his positional flexibility as a massive plus.

The report does not mention a potential price, but considering his importance to the team and his £5k-per-week contract, which runs until June 2028, it could be a costly transfer to get over the line.

However, according to The Athletic, following their failure to win promotion back to the Premier League, the Peacocks now need to sell this summer, which could help Levy and Co swipe Gray for below his market value, which could be bad news for Højbjerg.

How Gray compares to Højbjerg

Now, if Gray does move to North London this summer, he'd most likely do so under the promise of game time in the centre of midfield, as while he played well at right-back last season, that was more through necessity than design.

For example, in his 89 appearances for the senior and junior sides since the start of the 2021/22 season, the Durham-born prospect has started 41 games in attacking, central, and defensive midfield and 30 on the right side of the defence.

Therefore, his arrival at Spurs would put him up against the club's current crop of central midfielders, including Højbjerg, so how do the pair compare? Well, despite being a decade his junior, the Englishman stacks up very well, coming out ahead in more metrics than not.

Gray vs Højbjerg

Stats per 90

Gray

Højbjerg

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.04

0.13

Assists

0.05

0.00

Progressive Carries

1.80

1.16

Progressive Passes

4.15

9.18

Progressive Passes Received

2.42

1.99

Passing Accuracy

82.8%

87.2%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.15

0.14

Shot-Creating Actions

1.55

2.68

Tackles

2.30

2.19

Tackles Won

1.51

1.24

Clearances

1.00

2.05

Errors Leading to a Shot

0.00

0.21

Successful Take-Ons

1.07

0.82

Ball Recoveries

4.90

8.29

All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 Domestic Season

For example, while he produced a lower non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, fewer clearances, progressive passes, ball recoveries, and shot-creating actions, he provided more actual assists, completed more progressive carries while receiving more progressive passes, made and won more tackles, made considerably fewer errors, produced more goal-creating actions, and completed more successful take-ones, all per 90.

What's even more impressive is that most of his metrics came while he was playing fullback, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect his progressive passes to increase considerably when in a more central role.

Ultimately, given how impressive Gray looked last season and the fact that data analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a "future £100m cm," Levy and Co must do what they can to bring him to North London this summer.

He may still be a little raw, but the talent is undeniable at this point, and as he has already surpassed Højbjerg in a number of key underlying metrics, he might be the long-term future of the Lilywhites' midfield.

Related What Spurs' starting lineup could look like after £201m spending spree

Spurs will want to give Postecoglou everything he needs to build a successful side this summer.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 9, 2024

Manchester United’s midfield has been a problem area for years, with only a handful of players living up to their expectations.

Since the arrival of Erik ten Hag, he’s tried to bolster the middle of the field, signing the likes of Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Mason Mount and even Sofyan Amrabat on loan.

However, none of them have truly impressed – Mount notably scoring just once all season – hence why Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to reinforce the position this summer.

Man Utd’s search for a new midfielder

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United are plotting a new move for Joao Neves.

Benfica already received an offer from the Red Devils for their midfielder, £51.1m, which was swiftly rejected.

However, they’re set to return with a higher offer of £64m, which could rise to £72.4m with add-ons.

That said, there are a few factors that could make this deal complicated, with Manchester City also keen and Benfica looking to hand him a new contract with a release clause of £128m attached. At the moment it currently stands at €120m (£102m).

Therefore, United will be keen to get the deal done as soon as possible, especially considering he’s just as talented as Kobbie Mainoo.

Why Joao Neves would be a fantastic signing

When a young player breaks onto the scene with such quality, they’re often overhyped, but that’s certainly not the case for Neves or Mainoo.

Both midfielders enjoyed their first major breakthrough campaign last season, and by the end of it, they became key players in the side.

The Portuguese gem started 27 Liga Portugal games while the England international made 24 Premier League starts, both in the double pivot of a 4-2-3-1.

But what exactly makes them so special? And why is Neves just as talented as Mainoo?

Touches

76.5

49

Passes completed

54.4

31.1

Pass accuracy

90%

87%

Successful dribbles

1.2

1.3

Tackles

2

2

Balls recovered

6.4

4

Duels won

6

5

Dribbled past

1

1

Fouls won

1.5

1

Well, first and foremost, the duo are both 19 years of age, yet they play with the confidence and maturity of an elite player ten years their senior, with no occasion affecting them thus far. The very fact Mainoo scored in the FA Cup final says a lot.

Furthermore, as you can see from the stats, their profiles are incredibly complete, boasting technical class and defensive dominance, which is why Neves in particular has been tipped to develop into “one of the best CMs” in the world by football analyst Ben Mattinson.

One of their biggest attributes is how composed they are in possession, often retaining the ball well and being press-resistant, as shown by how few times they lose possession, as well as their pass accuracy and successful dribbles.

On the other hand, they’re also extremely tenacious players who work incredibly hard off the ball, whether that’s winning their individual battles, leading the press, or covering ground with ease.

Although they can both play in numerous roles, including slightly deeper, Neves and Mainoo are at their best in a box-to-box role, where they can dominate the game all over the field.

However, what’s absolutely crazy is the standard and consistency that they’re showing at such a young age and the fact that they are already so important to their clubs.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that Ratcliffe wants to sign Neves this summer, as alongside Mainoo, United would have a midfield to dominate for years to come.

What Man Utd's dream XI could look like after £230m spending spree

Marcus Rashford doesn’t make the best eleven.

1 ByTom Lever Jun 7, 2024

Opta's "team power ratings" have Major League Soccer as the ninth best league in the world, up one place from the 2023 season

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• MLS's average competitiveness improving, per Opta
• Ranked 9th this year, up one place from the 2023 campaign
• Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga round out top three

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The latest round of Opta analyst's league rankings have placed MLS as the ninth best league in the world, one up from last year's result.

  The model, which ranks leagues based on "average team power" – a comparative statistical valuation of how good sides are – has MLS above the English Championship, but below the top tiers of European soccer. Its rating of 78.2 is well above Liga MX's of 76.7 – with the Mexican league finishing 14th in the rankings.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  MLS starts to look even more impressive when the average power ratings of a league's top 10 teams is calculated. Although still in ninth, the U.S.'s rating climbs to 81.5 – and places it ahead of the Eredivisie.

  This year's improvement comes after a significant leap in 2023. The league moved from 29th to 10th in last year's rankings – an upward trend that has continued.

  The Saudi Pro League, regarded by many as being close to MLS in quality, has a rating of 73.6, making it the 33rd best league in the world.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Although MLS as a league is ranked highly by the model, individual teams have struggled to crack the top 50. The highest ranked MLS side is Columbus Crew, which slots in at 69th. Lionel Messi's Inter Miami comes in at 98th, six places behind Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MLS?

  The most competitive time of the year is around the corner for MLS. Decision Day is this weekend, and playoffs start in just eight days – with wildcard fixtures set for October 23.

Shakib Al Hasan has urged cricketers not to take any corrupt approach lightly, and to report them to anti-corruption officials as soon as possible. Speaking in a Youtube video where he took questions from fans and journalists, Shakib repented his failure to report an approach, for which he was banned for 12 months by the ICC. The ban came to an end on October 29.At the time of his sentencing last year, the ICC’s anti-corruption unit published evidence that Shakib had been in contact with bookie Deepak Aggarwal (who was later banned for two years by the ICC) and had exchanged Whatsapp messages with him since November 2017.”I regret getting suspended, and I was repentant,” Shakib said. “I shouldn’t have made this mistake. I think I will get a great lesson out of it. I would urge everyone not to make this mistake. Whenever a similar situation arises, you should abide by your responsibility according to the ICC code of conduct.”You should inform an anti-corruption officer, whether local or international. We are all well aware of the procedure. Don’t make this mistake of not informing them. Don’t take it lightly. Rather than getting influenced by it, you must report it immediately.”Shakib said it had been a mental challenge for him to play the 2019 World Cup with the investigation hanging over his head. It wasn’t known publicly then, but Shakib was in regular contact with the ICC’s anti-corruption unit six months before the World Cup. “I think it was very challenging,” Shakib said. “The investigation was going on for a long time, and they were in continuous contact with me. It was an uncomfortable situation for me. It is nothing nice for any cricketer, and its not great to go to sleep on.”I knew something was going to happen, although I did consider that nothing might happen. I wasn’t sure of the punishment. By the time I knew about it, you were also aware of it. The investigation period wasn’t certainly an easy one for me.”600-plus runs, 11 wickets: Shakib Al Hasan put up numbers no player had done in a World Cup before•Getty Images

When the World Cup came around, Shakib turned in a record-breaking all-round performance, scoring 604 runs at an average of 86.57 and taking 11 wickets at 36.27. It was the first time an allrounder had completed the double of 500 runs and 10 wickets at a World Cup. Shakib said his performance wasn’t a response to the investigation.”It had nothing to do with my World Cup performance,” he said. “I could have been banned before the World Cup because the investigation began in November or December (2018). I never thought that I had to do well because of the investigation.”I wanted to do well in the World Cup because I didn’t do well in previous World Cups, I didn’t live up to my reputation previously. I thought it was the perfect time and age for me. [Batting at No. 3] was a suitable position for me, so I tried to maximise it.”After getting past the initial sorrow of being banned, Shakib said he made peace with the fact that he could come back in a year’s time. He said the suspension and the Covid-19 pandemic had given him a new perspective to life.”When I heard the news it was a shock to me. I was upset and sorry,” he said. “At the same time, I was thinking that ‘okay, life has given me a chance. I have one year to prepare myself and when I come back, I need to prove again.’ This is the courage I got when I got suspended.”Corona and my suspension have taught me to think differently about my life. I believe only a struggle can make a person think in this way. When a person comes back from such circumstances, they do it strongly. I think very differently now, and that’ll help me in my life.”Shakib was welcomed back by his teammates with warm statements from the likes of Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and a host of others, but the allrounder said that he’d understand it if anyone still doubts him.”It is not easy to know about everyone’s feelings,” he said. “They may doubt me or not trust me, I am not denying it. But I have been in touch with almost everyone so I haven’t felt it among them. I am hopeful it won’t be a problem, and they will keep believing in me like they used to. But it is not impossible for them to have a bit of doubt. There wouldn’t be any regret about it.”

An elite European side are set for new talks with Chelsea over signing one of their players this summer, and talks have also been opened with his representatives.

Chelsea tipped for mass summer sale as Boehly plots overhaul

After sealing Mauricio Pochettino's replacement in new head coach Enzo Maresca, chairman Todd Boehly and the wider recruitment team have wasted no time in backing the Italian with fresh faces.

Chelsea consider offering two players in swap deal to sign £50 million star

It could be two out, one in at Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 28, 2024

Centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo arrived on a free transfer from Fulham, with the likes of Brazilian starlet Estevao Willian and Omari Kellyman signing for Chelsea thereafter, as the Blues add some exciting talent to the books as well as senior first-teamers.

Kellyman swapped the Midlands for Stamford Bridge with left-back Ian Maatsen going the other way in a separate deal. Chelsea reached an agreement to sell Maatsen for just over £35 million, with the Dutch defender joining Thiago Silva out the Stamford Bridge exit door.

The 22-year-old impressed on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season, helping them reach the Champions League final, but his excellent displays weren't enough to convince Chelsea to not sell for a decent fee.

Dortmund 3-0 Freiburg

8.61

Dortmund 4-0 Darmstadt

8.49

Union Berlin 0-2 Dortmund

8.43

FC Koln 0-4 Dortmund

7.72

Dortmund 3-1 FC Bochum

7.47

Alongside Maatsen, it is believed a fair few current members of Maresca's squad could be sacrificed over the coming weeks, as co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley look to balance the books and trim Chelsea's bloated team.

Armando Broja, Malang Sarr, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Trevoh Chalobah, Lesley Ugochukwu, Marc Cucurella, Mykhailo Mudryk and Conor Gallagher are all players who could be sold by Chelsea this summer.

Ipswich Town have also opened talks to sign Omari Hutchinson this week, according to multiple reliable sources, while flop £325,000-a-week striker Romelu Lukaku is attracting serious interest from Serie A again.

The Belgian, who Chelsea signed in a £98 million deal from Inter Milan three years ago, has since spent time back at the Nerazzurri on loan. Lukaku also played under Jose Mourinho on another temporary spell at Roma, and it is now believed AC Milan want to strike yet another loan for the 31-year-old.

AC Milan set for new talks to sign Lukaku from Chelsea

La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed earlier this week that Lukaku gave his green light to join Milan, with Sky Italia sharing an update of their own on the matter. The broadcaster says Milan are set for new talks with Chelsea to sign Lukaku, and a meeting has been scheduled with his representatives to gauge the feasibility of a potential transfer.

The Rossoneri are pushing for a loan deal, but Chelsea are apparently demanding they pay a high portion of his wages. Lukaku has proved time and time again he can perform well in Italy, with Leonardo Bonucci branding him a "complete" striker.

عقد السويسري كريستيان جروس، المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، جلسة مع لاعبي الفريق، قبل انطلاق المران الجماعي اليوم الجمعة، وذلك في ظل الاستعدادات لمواجهة المصري في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.

الزمالك يلاقي المصري، يوم الأحد 5 يناير 2025، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الرابعة من عمر مباريات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية 2024-2025.

وقال جروس للاعبين: “مباراة المصري المقبلة هامة جدًا، ولا بديل سوى الفوز في اللقاء من أجل الاقتراب من حسم التأهل للدور التالي”.

وأضاف: “كل اللاعبين لن يشاركون في اللقاء ولكني واثق من جاهزية كل لاعب للمشاركة في اللقاء وتنفيذ المطلوب منه في حال احتياج الفريق لمجهوداته”.

طالع.. صورة | زيزو يتعرض لحادث سير بعد الوعكة الصحية.. “بطولات” يوضح موقفه

ومنح المدير الفني بعض التعليمات الفنية للاعبين لتنفيذها خلال مران اليوم استعداداً للقاء المرتقب أمام المصري.

ويحتل نادي الزمالك صدارة ترتيب المجموعة في الكونفدرالية، برصيد 7 نقاط، يأتي في المركز الثاني فريق بلاك بولز الموزمبيقي بـ 4 نقاط، وفي المركز الثالث، يتواجد نادي المصري بنفس عدد النقاط 4، يتذيل الترتيب إنيمبا النيجيري بنقطة واحدة.