This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to The Sun, Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo will look to force a move away from the Premier League club if he continues to not start games under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
What’s the word?
Game time for the Argentinian has been very thin ever since he first joined the club in 2014 from Sporting Lisbon.
He has started just 63 Premier League matches in that time.
Earlier in the summer, moves away from the club fell through as both Everton and Crystal Palace nearly signed the 29-year-old on loan.
A lack of football has hindered his international hopes after he was left out of Argentina’s Copa America squad this summer and he failed to feature earlier this week as they drew 0-0 in a friendly against Chile.
Will Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last the season? Fans wonder if he’ll even make it to Christmas in the video below…
United strengthened their defensive ranks in the summer by splashing the cash on Harry Maguire, who made an £80m switch from Leicester City and he has been the regular choice alongside Victor Lindelof as both have played the full duration of all four Premier League matches.
Solskjaer has several options at centre-back even despite the departure of Chris Smalling to Roma at the end of August – Rojo is having to also compete with Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, and Axel Tuanzebe, on top of the regular duo previously mentioned.
Bizarre
The decision to not sell the 29-year-old whilst the transfer window was still open seems a bit strange considering the strength in numbers the Norwegian has at his disposal.
It would take a monumental injury crisis for the 6 foot 2 defender to even feature as Bailly and Jones are surely ahead of him in the pecking order.
The longer they leave it, the less amount of money the club will be able to recoup having paid £16m back in 2014 because no club is going to pay money for someone that has played just 14 Premier League matches in the past two seasons.
Rojo hadn’t even been able to get his name on the bench until the Southampton fixture which only draws further question marks over why he wasn’t sold.
The last thing Solskjaer needs is an unhappy player causing trouble behind the scenes.
كشفت صحيفة “صنداي ورلد” البريطانية عن الصفقة الحلم التي يرغب نادي ليفربول في إبرامها خلال الميركاتو الصيفي المقبل حال رحيل، محمد صلاح، عن قلعة “أنفيلد”.
وعادت أنباء رحيل، محمد صلاح، خلال الأيام القليلة الماضية بعد استياءه الشديد من استبداله في مباراة تشيلسي يوم، الخميس الماضي، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
اقرأ ايضًا.. مدرب بايرن ميونخ يلمح لإمكانية التعاقد مع هالاند
وبحسب الصحيفة البريطانية، أخبرهم أحد المصادر داخل ليفربول بأن محمد صلاح قد يرحل في الصيف من أجل تمويل بعض الصفقات الجديدة لتدعيم الفريق في السنوات المقبلة.
وتابع المصدر أن ليفربول يحلم بصفقة هجومية ذهبية لتدعيم الخط الأمامي بضم لاعب بوروسيا دورتموند، إيرلينج هالاند.
الجدير بالذكر أن هالاند على رادار عدة أندية أوروبية بجانب ليفربول وهي ريال مدريد، يوفنتوس، باريس سان جيرمان ومانشستر سيتي وجاره مانشستر يونايتد.
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…
Per Mertesacker has told The Athletic it was “unacceptable” and a “failure” that there were no Arsenal players in the last England squad.
What did he say?
The Three Lions faced Bulgaria and Kosovo in their most recent qualifiers for Euro 2020, and the players included in the squad came from a variety of clubs. Thirteen, to be exact.
However, there was no place for any of Arsenal’s eligible English players, such as Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Mertesacker was clearly unhappy with the lack of Gunners presence in Gareth Southgate’s side.
When asked about it, he said, “I was shocked. No senior England players. That’s unacceptable. That’s a failure. When you look at the England squad, you see players from Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea… They all have players there – and not one. Two or three. That’s what we need.”
How do football vloggers afford to watch their team week in, week out? Find out in the video below…
Is it that important to clubs?
From a German perspective, it is understandable that Mertesacker would find it bizarre that one of England’s top clubs would have no names in the national side.
After all, when Die Mannschaft won the World Cup in 2014, Bayern Munich provided seven members to the side, while Borussia Dortmund had four.
However, such quality in England has not been the case for a while. A study from 2017 showed that just 31.8% of players playing in the Premier League were English and, whilst that number rose to just over 37% on the opening weekend of this season, it is still some way off La Liga and the Bundesliga. The former had a 59.6% eligibility rate last season, while the latter had 44.6%.
The question is, do teams in the English top tier really need to produce quality players for Southgate’s team?
Only eight players in each 25-man Premier League squad needs to be “homegrown”, but not only do they not need to be English – read Cesc Fabregas – they also don’t need to play.
These, therefore, can often be token selections, such as Rob Green at Chelsea and Scott Carson at Manchester City. The former did not make an appearance for the Blues, whilst it is hard to imagine the latter will make many, if any at all, with the Citizens.
Yet the elite continue to grow stronger and stronger each campaign. The latest TV deal, completed in May of this year, will see the Premier League sides earn £9.2 billion between 2019 and 2022, which is an eight percent increase on the previous agreement. Huddersfield, who finished bottom of the top flight last season, raked in £96.6m in TV money. Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga champions, earned £87.6m. With financial prosperity so important, the lack of Englishmen has done nothing to stop people all around the globe from being as captivated as ever by a league often called “the best in the world”.
That, in essence, is the whole point. The Premier League markets itself as a global brand, targeting customers from Asia to the USA and everywhere in between. Why would people from those regions care where the players on the field come from? Or more specifically, why would they care if they’re English?
There is also the issue that footballers from these shores are not cost-effective. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who spent much of last year in mid-table with Crystal Palace and is yet to make an appearance for England, cost £45m. Joao Cancelo, a Serie A champion and Nations League winner, cost just £200,000 more (including the market value of Danilo, who went the other way to Juventus). It does not take a rocket scientist to work out which deal is better value.
For English fans, seeing their team produce players for the national side can often be a source of joy. But for the clubs themselves, it is just not a priority. Which is why, from the point of view of the men who run Arsenal, it will not be deemed a failure at all.
كشف المدرب الفرنسي زين الدين زيدان، المدير الفني لنادي ريال مدريد، حقيقة رغبة مدافع الفريق رافاييل فاران، في الرحيل عن صفوف اللوس بلانكوس.
وسائل إعلام إسبانية وإنجليزية، ذكرت خلال الأسبوع الماضي أنّ بطل كأس العالم 2018، يرغب في الرحيل ويريد الانتقال إلى ليفربول (طالع المزيد من التفاصيل).
اقرأ أيضًا.. جونسون عن اهتمام ليفربول بـ فاران: كيف سيتمكن الخصوم من التسجيل؟
وبسؤاله “هل تعتقد أنّ فاران يُفكر في أهداف أخرى خارج ريال مدريد؟”، أجاب: “لا، لقد رأيته دائمًا يتحدث بإشادة عن النادي، أعتقد أنه سعيد جدًا هُنا، أراه هُنا فقط”.
وعن اهتمام ريال مدريد بالتعاقد مع لاعب الوسط الفرنسي إدواردو كامافينجا، من صفوف رين: “إنه ليس لاعبنا، لكنه جيد وشاب والمُستقبل في انتظاره، لن أقول أي شيء آخر، لأنه ليس لاعبنا”.
وأتم تصريحاته بالحديث عن فيدي فالفيردي قائلًا: “نعرف أنه قادر على تحسّين الإنتاج الهجومي، يقدم للفريق السرعة والإيقاع، ربما يلعب غدًا، وأيضًا يوم الثلاثاء، سنرى كيف سنُدير الأمر”.
Lots of Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to criticise Christian Benteke, after the forward’s miserable cameo in the 1-1 draw against Wolves.
The Belgium international replaced Jordan Ayew in the 68th-minute and actually participated in four successful duels – ultimately, however, the source of the Palace fans’ frustrations on Twitter can be found in one pivotal moment.
With the score at 1-0, Benteke found himself one-on-one with Rui Patricio and was given the chance to seal all three points for the Eagles but the man with 127 career goals dallied on the ball before firing straight at the Portugal international.
To make matters worse, the 28-year-old then had to watch on as Diogo Jota fired in an equaliser with the last kick of the game.
Benteke may have gotten away with his miss had the Eagles gone on to win, but after Jota’s goal, his awful attempt has led to a number of Palace fans on Twitter criticising him heavily.
أكد جون ستونز مدافع فريق مانشستر سيتي أنهم عانوا أمام فولهام، رغم فوزهم في مباراتهما مساء أمس في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
وفاز مانشستر سيتي بثلاثة أهداف دون رد، في الجولة الثامنة والعشرين. أهداف مباراة مانشستر سيتي وفولهام
وقال ستونز في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “كانت المباراة صعبة حقًا، فولهام يستحق الكثير من الإشادة، الطريقة التي يلعبون بها كرة القدم لا تعكس مركزهم في جدول الدوري (الثامن عشر)”.
وأضاف: “كان من الصعب حقًا إيجاد مساحة في الخلف، كنا نحاول بكل شيء، في الشوط الثاني صححنا بعض الأشياء، من الرائع أن نحصل على ثلاث نقاط وشباك نظيفة”.
وواصل: “لقد لعبنا جميعًا العديد من المباريات ويتم تبديل الفريق بسبب الجدول الزمني وأيًا كان ما يقرره المدرب، كل من شارك اليوم يستحق جزء من الإشادة لما حققناه بسبب طريقة لعبهم، لقد حافظنا على صبرنا وهو أمر صعب في لحظات مثل هذه”.
وتابع: “هدفي؟ نعلم أنهم جيدين للغاية في التصدي للكرات الثابتة، حاولت فقط أن أحسب توقيت تسديدي للكرة بأفضل ما يمكنني، لقد حصلت على نتيجة ذلك”.
In today’s Leeds United roundup, we take a look at what news has been doing the rounds for the Whites. Ben White has won the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month, Victor Orta speaks about recruitment, and Darren Bent goes in on Mateusz Klich after his penalty miss against Derby County.
White wins PFA award
Report: Ben White has claimed the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award for August in a vote run by Snack Media. The Leeds defender beat Swansea City’s Borja Baston to the award by winning 44% of the votes, as Baston claimed just 16%. Patrick Bamford was also nominated for the prize but received only 9% of votes.
White said at the presentation: “It’s really nice to get an award like this and I’m thankful to the people who voted for me.”
Verdict: The centre-back has become an integral part of Marcelo Bielsa squad in the early stages of the season, playing in every minute of Championship football so far and averaging an incredible performance rating of 7.41.
White, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, has been a rock at the back for Leeds, conceding just four goals in eight games and playing a huge role in placing his side at the top of the Championship table. In the Leeds defence that boasts the best record so far, conceding just four goals in eight games, the 21-year-old has averaged 2.3 tackles per game and 3.8 interceptions per match [WhoScored].
The Englishman has proved to be a very worthwhile signing, and if Leeds are to continue to edge closer to Premier League stardom, Bielsa must keep this man on the pitch throughout the season.
Orta on recruitment
Report: Leeds Director of Football, Orta, spoke at the World Football Summit (as quoted by La Vanguardia) about the clubs recruitment and scouting. He told the listeners: “I have grown up in Seville with a teacher like Monchi, who changed the club.
“The big difference in modern football is information, everyone has it, and the important thing is to transform it into useful knowledge for the club.”
Orta then said, “there should not be a ceiling in the scouting department” and if they are scouting a 16-year-old “it’s perhaps too late.
“One of the keys is that bigger clubs decide quickly, smaller ones don’t. Sometimes it’s better to go to small clubs to get players and train them,” he added.
Verdict: Orta has been the Director of Football for Leeds ever since Andrea Radrizzani’s takeover in 2017 when the Italian appointed him into the role. Since then, Orta has received a good reception from Leeds fans for transfers such as Patrick Bamford, whom he nabbed from Middlesbrough after the Englishman impressed him during his time as Boro’s head of European recruitment.
Most recently, Orta has managed to bring in the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Helder Costa and Ben White, all of which have had positive seasons so far for the Whites.
Indeed we have seen in recent times the impact in a Director of Football, with Txiki Begiristain of Manchester City proving to be of great worth to the champions of England, whilst on the opposite end of the stick, clubs such as Manchester United have struggled in the recruitment stages by refusing to appoint someone within that role.
As for Leeds, Orta is already doing a magnificent job in recruiting talent for the club and if they are to finally return to the Premier League next season, the Spaniard must take some credit in helping them to do so.
Bent blasts Klich
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Report: Former England striker Darren Bent has criticised Klich for his penalty miss in the 1-1 draw against Derby County. Bent old Football Insider:
“I like it but the only thing I’d say about it is don’t miss the target. I wouldn’t even have minded if the goalkeeper dove the right way and saved or caught it.
“I’d go: ‘Okay, it’s a poor penalty,’ but there’s no excuse not to hit the target, especially when you’re calm with your run as well. To roll them in, if you’re going to do that technique, you need to hit the target.
“I don’t care if the keeper saves it, just hit the target.”
Verdict: Earlier in the season, Klich also stepped up to the spot against Barnsley, although that time he converted the penalty and gave the Whites a 2-0 lead over their Yorkshire rivals.
The Polish international also had an impressive record from 12 yards during his time at FC Twente when he slotted home all six efforts from the spot. The only other miss so far in his career came when he was at PEC Zwolle, so having scored in seven out of eight throughout his career, it is fair to say Klich has a good record from penalties.
However, Bent does have a right to criticise the 29-year-old here. After the Sky Sports commentator labeled Klich ‘a competitor for the coolest penalty taker in the Championship’, the no.43 effortlessly walks up to the spot like he was making a five-yard pass and blazes it wide. Truthfully, it was a shocker and Bent rightfully so sheds some light on what is a very questionable technique.
أكد هاري كين نجم فريق توتنهام مدى أهمية الفوز الذي حققوه في مباراة الأمس أمام أستون فيلا، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
وتلاقى الفريقان في مباراة مؤجلة من الجولة الثامنة عشر، حيث فاز توتنهام بهدفين دون رد. أهداف مباراة توتنهام وأستون فيلا
وقال كين في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “كان هناك حاجة كبيرة إلى ذلك الفوز، المباراتان الأخيرتان لم تكنا جيدتين بما فيه الكفاية، كنا نعلم أنه يتعين علينا العودة من جديد، لم نرغب في الخروج بثلاث هزائم قبل فترة التوقف الدولي”.
وأضاف: “لقد قام الأولاد بعمل كبير، نحن نستحق ذلك الفوز، في آخر مباراتين تراجعنا عن معاييرنا، كان من الجيد استعادتها اليوم، الجميع قاتل”.
وواصل: “هذا ما يتعين علينا القيام به لبقية الموسم لإنهاء الموسم ضمن المراكز الأربعة الأولى، كان الأسبوع الماضي محرجًا لنا”.
وخسر توتنهام أمام آرسنال في الدوري الإنجليزي بهدفين مقابل هدف، قبل خروجه من الدوري الأوروبي من دور الـ16 أما دينامو زغرب.
وأردف: “لم نستقبل الكثير من الفرص اليوم، كان أستون فيلا جيدًا هذا الموسم ولذلك كنا نعلم أنها ستكون مباراة صعبة، ولكننا قدمنا أداءً جيدًا”.
رد مدافع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد، رفائيل فاران، على أنباء خلافة زين الدين زيدان، لمواطنه ديديه ديشامب، في قيادة منتخب فرنسا بالمستقبل.
ويعد زيدان أحد أبرز الأسماء المرشحة لقيادة منتخب فرنسا بعد ديشامب وتحديدًا بعد بطولة أمم أوروبا الصيف المقبل، رغم سريان عقده الحالي مع ريال مدريد حتى يونيو 2022.
اقرأ أيضًا.. فاران يعلق على إمكانية انتقال مبابي إلى ريال مدريد
وتحدث فاران عن إمكانية قيادة زيدان منتخب فرنسا خلال حواره مع شبكة “Europe 1” الفرنسية، وقال: “احتمال بالنسبة لأي مدرب فرنسي”.
وتابع: “أعتقد أن تدريب منتخب فرنسا هدف لأي مدرب، لكن أعتقد أننا مستقرين فنيًا في الوقت الحالي”.
وأضاف: “ديشامب يقوم بعمل جيد للغاية، وعلينا أن نركز على أهدافنا قصيرة المدى وهي مباريات تصفيات كأس العالم ويورو 2020”.
وبحسب شبكة “تيليفوت” الفرنسية، ينوي زيدان الاستمرار في قيادة ريال مدريد حتى نهاية عقده وهو ما قد يؤجل فكرة قيادة منتخب فرنسا بعد نهاية أمم إفريقيا المقبلة.