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اعترف مدافع منتخب غانا السابق جون بانتسل، بأنه مازال يفضل مهاجم منتخب كوت ديفوار الأسبق ولاعب تشيلسي ديديه دروجبا، على قائد منتخب مصر وهداف ليفربول الحالي محمد صلاح.

ونجح محمد صلاح في تخطي رقم دروجبا القياسي كأكثر اللاعبين الأفارقة تهديفًا في الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 107 أهداف، مقابل 104 للإيفواري.

ودخل بانتسل في الجدل على أفضل لاعب إفريقي في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي، بعد مهاجم نيجيريا الأسبق ياكوبو إيجبيني، الذي كان يفضل دروجبا أيضًا على محمد صلاح.

جون بانتسل كانت له واقعة شهيرة في مونديال كأس العالم 2006، عندما رفع علم الكيان الصهيوني، مما أغضب جميع الشعوب العربية لدعمه لهم في ذلك الوقت.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أسطورة بايرن ميونخ: ليفربول قد يتسبب في عدم فوز محمد صلاح بـ الكرة الذهبية

ووضح الغاني وجهة نظره في تصريحات لشبكة “جول” العالمية، وقال: “عندما نتحدث عن تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، فهو أمر كبير بالفعل، نحن نتحدث عن دروجبا ورقمه القياسي وتخطي محمد صلاح له”.

وتابع: “لقد استغرق دروجبا 8 سنوات لتحقيق هذا الرقم، وتخطاه محمد صلاح في 4 سنوات فقط، لذلك علينا التأكيد بأنه يلعب بطريقة مذهلة ويسجل الأهداف بلا هوادة، لكن هناك جوانب أخرى يجب علينا أن نقيمها أيضًا”.

وأضاف: “بالنسبة لي، هناك اختلاف بين اللاعبين، كان دروجبا مصدر قوة لفريقه (تشيلسي)، رغم أن الرقم قد حققه في 8 سنوات ومحمد صلاح في نصفه، لكني مازلت أفضل دروجبا”.

وواصل تصريحاته: “محمد صلاح ليس ببعيد عن تجاوز دروجبا، خاصة إذا استمر على هذا المستوى لمساعدة فريقه في حصد الألقاب، لكن معظم أهدافه جاءت من مجهود فردي فقط”.

واستمر: “كمدرب، دائمًا ما أهتم باللاعبين الذين يلعبون من أجل الفريق، ربما تحتاج إليهم في بعض الأوقات خلال المباريات الصعبة، لكننا نهتم أكثر باللاعب الجماعي”.

وأكمل: “كان دروجبا يجيد ألعاب الهواء، كان جيدًا جدًا في الركلات الحرة، كما كان جيدًا في التصويبات بعيدة المدى، ولديه شخصية قيادية سواء داخل أو خارج الملعب”.

وأتم: “كان لدى دروجبا الكثير من الصفات وكان يجيد المشاركة الاجتماعية، وكرياضي كان رائعًا، وفي رأيي محمد صلاح يقترب من ذلك جدًا”

Having signed from Ruch Chorzow back in January 2019, Mateusz Bogusz has found himself on the periphery of the first-team picture at Leeds United, making just two appearances.

The 19-year-old has yet to make a start for the Whites in league football, with his sole 90 minutes coming in the Carabao Cup. Despite the lack of game-time, Marcelo Bielsa’s side handed Bogusz a new contract earlier in the summer, tying him down until 2023.

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With the international break in full flow, the starlet looked impressive as he scored twice in Poland U21’s 6-0 thrashing of Estonia on Friday evening.

And after seeing his goal-scoring display, Leeds fans took to Twitter to hail the youngster.

A couple of fans even wondered why Bogusz isn’t in the starting line-up already at Elland Road.

With Bogusz seeing very little game-time in the Championship, it’s difficult to see how Bielsa will include him when the Premier League gets underway next week.

The Carabao Cup could again be where Leeds fans see the Polish prodigy in action, and with him only being 19, there’s still plenty of time for him to blossom into a regular for Bielsa in the coming years.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have made contact with Sunderland over academy starlet Daniel Neil, according to Football Insider.

Interest in the youngster became public just under two weeks ago as Wolves followed up a report linking Leeds United with a move.

Sunderland have endured a difficult spell of late both in the first team and at academy level, seeing a whole host of young players leave the Stadium of Light.

With the 2019/20 season now done and dusted, another young talent could be set to leave the Academy of Light, with a recent report claiming that Wolves have now made contact with Sunderland in an attempt to sign the 18-year-old midfielder.

Football Insider also reported that a recruitment source close to them has said that Wolves are desperate to beat off competition from Leeds and Newcastle, who have also been linked to Neil.

Neil has been a regular for the Black Cats’ under-23 side with 13 appearances to his name last season in Premier League 2.

Having made just one senior appearance, the youngster is reportedly available for a six-figure transfer fee which would hand the Wearsiders compensation for his training and development costs, as per Football Insider.

Another player looks set to leave Sunderland’s academy setup, and the Black Cats really need to get to grips with the club’s youth sides and entice players to remain on Wearside, albeit easier said than done when Premier League clubs are showing interest.

Hopefully the first team can make progress on the pitch, ideally in the form of promotion to the Championship next year, so that Sunderland’s academy stars may be more inclined to stay put instead of seeing a better future elsewhere.

Do you think Wolves will beat Leeds and Newcastle United in the race to sign Neil? Let us know in the comments section below…

The would-be owners of Newcastle United have revealed their transfer plans for the upcoming summer window pending the proposed takeover in the northeast.

According to The Athletic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) group had held discussions about possible players to target at the beginning of the week and, more recently, in another remote conference focusing on the current squad and who may join them going forward into the new season.

One of the players discussed in the piece by Chris Waugh and James Horncastle was Valentino Lazaro, who is yet to learn as to whether he has a future at St. James’ Park following his loan spell from Inter Milan.

The 24-year old has enjoyed a relatively fine 2019/20 Premier League campaign so far, winning 1.7 of his duels per game and also averaging 0.8 tackles, 0.5 key passes and 0.5 successful dribbles per match, as per Sofascore.

Whether these kinds of figures are enough to persuade Steve Bruce to keep Lazaro is another question, but he may be one player on whom the prospective buyers would need to make a decision if their bid is approved by the Premier League.

The Austrian international will surely be looking to make a good final impression in the Tyneside club’s home encounter against champions Liverpool tomorrow if he is to seek a permanent move to the Magpies.

Nevertheless, the finer details of who the consortium are looking to buy and sell have not been revealed as of yet, but it has been confirmed that they are in talks about their plans for the upcoming transfer window if the £300m deal with Mike Ashley is given the green light.

Geordies, which players would you most like the Toon to buy? Comment below with your views!

According to Fabrizio Romano, Juventus intend to offer Tottenham target Paulo Dybala a new contract, and the Italian giants are optimistic they can keep hold of the player for a long time to come. 

The Old Lady’s director Fabio Paratici told Sky Sport “we’re working to extend Paulo Dybala’s contract. We want him as part of Juventus for many years.”

Dybala has long been linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, most recently as part of a proposed offer for England striker Harry Kane, but this latest update has no doubt thrown a real spanner in the works.

Spurs were in discussion with the Serie A leaders to bring the 26-year-old to North London last summer, before a potential move fell through (BBC Sport).

After arriving at the Allianz Stadium from US Palermo for a reported fee worth £36m, the Argentine forward has scored 7 goals and created 4 assists in 24 games in the Italian top flight this season, taking 3.1 shots per game, making 2 key passes, and completing 1.9 dribbles on average via WhoScored. He is valued at £64.8m and his current agreement expires in 2022 via Transfermarkt.

Despite the fact a number of his appearances for Maurizio Sarri’s side have come from the bench, as the former Chelsea boss has had to juggle with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain, it appears he is a key part of Juve’s plans for the future.

Any plans Daniel Levy had for reopening talks about signing the Argentinian before the start of next season will now be up in the air with the report the Bianconeri aim to hand Dybala a contract extension.

Unsurprisingly, loads of Lilywhites slammed Dybala’s transfer update, with one fan bitterly noting the “dream is over,” and another adding the news is “depressing.”

Scroll through some of the scathing reactions down below…

Spurs fans, what are your thoughts on Dybala? Let us know below…

The proposed takeover of Newcastle United could have potentially been boosted by the latest activity from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

According to the Financial Times (FT), the country have approached the Bundesliga to see if they can gain the TV rights to show their games in the Middle East in the latest attempt to seek new investments in football.

The governing body that runs Germany’s highest division are currently in exclusive talks with Qatari-based beIN Sports to renew their deal of five years with the company, which equates to $250 million (roughly £200.9 million).

However, this deal runs out when the 2019/20 German season finishes, meaning that the Saudis could be looking to pounce if a new contract cannot be agreed.

This could be a potential sign that the prospective takeover of the Tyneside club will happen, as the KSA are now looking to invest in a different major footballing league to the English Premier League.

Qatar accused Saudi Arabia of running the pirate satellite television channel beoutQ, which illegally broadcasts and streams live games from the top flight, in their own country, hence breaking their own international laws as the Qataris solely hold the rights to show these types of matches in their part of the world.

KSA were found guilty of this by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) following the release of their report, meaning that the country have had to look elsewhere for rights to show the beautiful game.

However, the fact that they now seem to be turning their attentions away from England’s highest division and are now looking to buy footballing TV rights legally may be a sign that the Public Investment Fund (PIF)’s £300 million deal to buy out Mike Ashley may indeed come into fruition from their bid to stamp out piracy in their country.

Geordies, is this a sign that the takeover will happen? Comment below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

West Bromwich Albion could be in for a busy January transfer window despite appearing to be the front-runners for the Championship, according to The Sun journalist Alan Nixon.

What’s he said?

The Baggies are plain-sailing at the top of the division having amassed a monstrous 45 points from just 20 matches.

A mix of manager Slaven Bilic’s summer acquisitions and Albion old-timers have combined for their record start to the season – Matheus Pereira has contributed directly to 19 goals, which is 46% of their total this campaign while Matty Phillips holds the acclaim of being their top scorer with seven goals.

Despite their red hot form, it appears as if the Croatian still wants to bolster his squad ahead of the promotion run-in.

Nixon was asked on Twitter about West Brom’s plans, and he replied with:

January business

The journalist’s revelation creates an interesting afterthought considering the club have hardly been linked to anyone – those pesky Dwight Gayle reports won’t go away while it is believed the club have now entered the race for Hull City star Jarrod Bowen.

Aside from that, it’s only Pereira’s permanent move and the uncertainty surrounding Nathan Ferguson that has taken the headlines in recent months.

Nixon also suggests that one of the three players is surely going to be a striker, and even though that is merely speculation, he could be onto something.

Albion have three senior strikers to choose from, but it took them the best part of 15 or so matches to finally get firing. Some quality competition in that area cannot harm a side with lofty Premier League ambitions.

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In other news, one Baggies ace has been labelled the best player in the division by Matt Wilson…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to The Daily Record, Crystal Palace Sporting Director Dougie Freedman intends to get back into football management and has thrown his name in the ring to succeed Craig Levein at Hearts.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Freedman – who scored 55 goals for the Eagles – hasn’t managed since being sacked by Nottingham Forest in 2016, following a 13-month period in charge – he won just 19 of his 57 games in charge.

Shortly over a year after his departure from Forest, Palace chairman Steve Parish appointed Freedman as Sporting Director at Selhurst Park, and the Scotsman has made some strange signings in the time since his arrival.

Freedman has overseen the £9m signing of Alexander Sorloth in January 2018 – a man who scored just once in 20 games for Palace – as well as the mysterious captures of duo Erdal Rakip and Jaroslaw Jach in the same window, both of whom have never appeared for the first-team.

The former Bolton manager has, however, made some decent signings such as Vicente Guaita and Gary Cahill on free transfers.

Transfer shakeup for Palace?

Where does this news leave the south Londoners?

Freedman had reportedly travelled to Hearts already this season to watch Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos score in a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle ahead of a January move for the Colombian, so with the Scotsman so heavily involved in the Eagles’ winter recruitment plans, one can only wonder where this leaves Parish going into January.

It remains to be seen if Parish allows Freedman to take the job – a role that the Sporting Director is reportedly keen on and was hot favourite for before stepping into his current position at Palace.

If Parish does give Freedman his blessing, one can only speculate over what the Eagles will do.

Would a replacement be appointed immediately? Will Parish go into the crucial January window without a Sporting Director?

The Athletic’s Dominic Fifield recently revealed that ‘encouraging noises’ have been made over three potential additions this winter, and with Freedman presumably involved in setting those up, you must wonder how these proposed deals will pan out if Hearts make him their new manager.

سلطت شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية الضوء على الموعد المحتمل لإقامة المباراة المؤجلة بين فريقي مانشستر يونايتد وليفربول في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وكان من المفترض إقامة تلك المباراة مساء أمس في الجولة الرابعة والثلاثين في الأولد ترافورد.

واحتجت جماهير مانشستر يونايتد خارج الملعب للمطالبة برحيل مُلاك النادي، قبل اقتحامهم الملعب وقيامهم بأعمال شغب. اقتحام جماهير مانشستر يونايتد لملعب الأولد ترافورد

وتسبب ذلك الأمر في النهاية في تأجيل المباراة لأجل غير مسمى.

وتحدثت شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية عن الموعد الأقرب لإقامة تلك المباراة، مع الأخذ في الاعتبار عدم إمكانية خوضها هذا الأسبوع، حيث سيواجه مانشستر يونايتد خصمه روما.

ويلتقي الفريقان في إياب دور نصف نهائي الدوري الأوروبي في الأولمبيكو يوم الخميس القادم.

ولن تُقام تلك المباراة الأسبوع القادم، حيث يجب الأخذ في الاعتبار أن ليفربول سيواجه ساوثهامبتون يوم السبت المقبل، بينما سيخوض مانشستر يونايتد لقائين ضد أستون فيلا وليستر سيتي يومي الأحد والأربعاء من الأسبوع نفسه.

وسيخوض مانشستر يونايتد آخر جولتين ضد فولهام وولفرهامبتون يومي 19 و23 مايو، أما ليفربول فسيواجه وست بروميتش ألبيون وبيرنلي وكريستال بالاس أيام 16 و19 و23 من الشهر نفسه.

ويجب الأخذ في الاعتبار كذلك أن نهائي الدوري الأوروبي سيقام يوم 26 مايو، حيث أن مانشستر يونايتد الأقرب لخوض تلك المباراة بعد فوزه في ذهاب نصف النهائي على روما بستة أهداف مقابل هدفين.

هذا الأمر يعني عدم إمكانية إقامة مباراة مانشستر يونايتد وليفربول بعد انتهاء الجولة الأخيرة من الدوري الإنجليزي المقرر لها يوم 23 مايو.

ولن يمكن إقامة هذه المباراة في شهر يونيو، حيث ستتجه الأنظار إلى بطولة يورو المؤجلة من الصيف الماضي.

وأشارت “ليفربول إيكو” إلى أن كل ذلك يؤرق ذهن المدرب يورجن كلوب ومسؤولي ليفربول، حيث كان الموعد الممكن لخوض تلك المباراة هو اليوم الإثنين، ولكن لم يعد ذلك ممكنًا بعد انتهاء يوم الأمس دون أي بيان جديد من رابطة الدوري الإنجليزي، ومغادرة ليفربول لمقر إقامته في مانشستر.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Tottenham Hotspur laboured to a 1-1 draw with Watford on Saturday and, despite the point achieved, one has to draw the conclusion that this was a disastrous result.

Spurs went into the game following a much-needed international break that had come off the back of a thumping 7-2 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich and then an even more chastening 3-0 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion.

Spurs last won on September 28, beating Southampton 2-1, but even that win came against the norm; of their last six games in all competitions, it is their only victory. That includes a Carabao Cup tie against Colchester United.

On Saturday, then, they had a perfect opportunity to pick up three points and start to move forward once again, playing the team bottom of the league and without a single victory to their name this season.

They couldn’t do it. In fact, they fell behind after just six minutes, as Abdoulaye Doucoure stole in to score.

It would take Spurs 80 minutes of huffing and puffing before they got back on level terms and even that carried with it a suspicion of handball; Dele Alli’s shoulder, or arm, depending on how you see it, helped him beat Ben Foster and fire into the back of the net.

The goal was not so much met with relief as a feeling of disbelief that Spurs were even in this predicament to begin with.

This Watford team did draw 2-2 with Arsenal but they also lost 8-0 to Manchester City. They were there for the taking and, yet, there feels there is something fundamentally wrong at Tottenham right now.

This has been written a lot, of course, but there were bizarre decisions all over the place. Son Heung-Min came on as a substitute at half-time and was genuinely exceptional when playing down the right flank, consistently worrying the Hornets defenders. Mauricio Pochettino must have seen this was working.

What did he do? He brought on Erik Lamela too, put him on the right, moved Son into the centre, and essentially curtailed the South Korea international’s involvement in the game. Tanguy Ndombele was benched from the outset. Christian Eriksen wasn’t even in the squad.

Pochettino also played Serge Aurier and Danny Rose from the outset, two full-backs who, for all the world, haven’t looked like Premier League players in over a year. Watford, ironically, were interested in signing Rose in the summer. At times, you could have been forgiven for thinking they actually had bought him so wayward was his performance.

Of course, it is difficult to chastise a club for taking a point from a home game but this was an encounter against a team that will be fighting relegation for the rest of the season and Spurs escaped with a draw.

This wasn’t particularly a batten-down-the-hatches approach from Quique Sanchez Flores’ men; they went for it. They had chances in the final third and only wayward finishing cost them. Had the ball fallen to Gerard Deulofeu instead of Daryl Jaanmat when the right-back burst into the box for a one-on-one, perhaps we would be dissecting another Spurs defeat. VAR also played a role, with Jan Vertonghen somehow getting away with a foul on Deulofeu in the box.

The problem now is that this was meant to be the easy result to allow Spurs to ease into a tough run of fixtures.

They play Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday in a must-win European encounter, before travelling to Merseyside two weekends running, playing Liverpool first and then Everton. After that? A daunting trip to Serbia. Jurgen Klopp’s men played Red Star away from home last season and were beaten 2-0.

On this evidence, it would not be a surprise to see Spurs struggle to get anything more than three points from those four games.

Even that seems a bit of a stretch; they cannot afford many more performances like this, particularly if they want to qualify for the Champions League yet again.

Time is running out for Pochettino to change it, to inject this side with new ideas and new life, and he will surely be feeling the heat.