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MatériaMais Notícias

De 2020 para cá uma Palmeiras vive uma sequência de decisões que tem tornado os jogadores cada vez mais preparados e “cascudos” em jogos desse tipo. Entre eles está Zé Rafael, peça importante do esquema de Abel Ferreira. Recuperado de edema na coxa esquerda, ele está pronto para os próximos duelos, e projetou duelo pelo Paulistão e a decisão da Recopa Sul-Americana.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras encerra preparação para pegar a Inter de Limeira; veja provável timePalmeiras26/02/2022PalmeirasNo último dia de inscrições, Palmeiras inclui 13 jogadores da base na lista do PaulistãoPalmeiras26/02/2022PalmeirasSem um centroavante, gols do Palmeiras em 2022 foram marcados por nove jogadores diferentesPalmeiras25/02/2022

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2022 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

GALERIA
> Veja quanto o Palmeiras faturou em premiação com Abel Ferreira

Em entrevista para a TV oficial do clube neste sábado, o meio-campista falou o que será preciso para o Verdão vencer o Athletico-PR na próxima quarta-feira para ficar com mais um título internacional. Para ele, basta ao time que siga o que tem feito nas outras finais recentes e se manter concentrado 90 minutos.

-Acho que a gente precisa fazer o que a gente tem feito nessas finais e nesses jogos decisivos. A gente tem que entrar concentrado, entrar focado, cada um sabendo o que tem que ser feito, competir muito, porque geralmente esses jogos de decisão são assim muito disputados. É entrar com esse espírito que a gente tem entrado em todos os jogos, de luta, aguerridos, que não desistem, como foi no último jogo, até o último minuto a gente buscou o resultado e eu acho que se a gente conseguir fazer o jogo da maneira que a gente espera a gente tem tudo para sair com esse título – analisou o camisa 8 alviverde.

De acordo com Zé Rafael, esta temporada 2022 começou com uma expectativa alta no elenco do Palmeiras, principalmente por conta da disputa do Mundial de Clubes, mas também pelos outros torneios em que brigará pelo título. A taça em Abu Dhabi não veio, mas o Verdão segue tendo oportunidades para encher a sala de troféus e para os jogadores continuarem entrando na história.

-Acho que a nossa expectativa neste início de ano está muito alta, a gente fez um grande trabalho no Mundial, infelizmente a gente não conseguiu o título. Como o futebol é muito dinâmico, a gente já tem outra oportunidade, a gente fez um grande jogo em Curitiba, e agora a gente vai continuar se preparando no final de semana no Paulista e já no meio de semana tem outra decisão. Para nós é muito importante estar se preparando da melhor maneira possível para conquistar esse título inédito e marcar mais uma vez o nosso nome na história do Palmeiras – argumentou o bicampeão da Libertadores.

Antes de pensar em mais uma final, Zé Rafael e seus companheiros têm um compromisso neste domingo, às 16h, contra a Inter de Limeira, fora de casa, pelo Paulistão. O meio-campista acredita que será uma parada dura para o Alviverde, que também enfrentará o forte calor do interior do estado.

-Jogar no interior é sempre muito difícil, contra qualquer equipe, elas se preparam muito para o Paulista, é a grande vitrine de muitos jogadores e a nossa equipe também tem se preparado durante o campeonato para grandes competições e para o próprio Paulista. A gente espera fazer um grande jogo, a gente sabe que é um jogo difícil, em um lugar que a gente sabe que vai estar muito quente, mas a gente está bem preparado, a gente espera que possa fazer um grande jogo, que a gente consiga dominar a equipe deles e que a gente possa sair com mais uma vitória – concluiu o camisa 8.

Único invicto no estadual, o Palmeiras vai em busca de mais uma vitória, para encaminhar a vaga nas quartas de final da competição. Até aqui, a equipe de Abel Ferreira conquistou 16 pontos em seis jogos disputados, e tem duas partidas a menos do que a grande maioria dos times do campeonato.

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Glasgow Rangers have a huge game in the Scottish Premiership this evening as they prepare to travel away from Ibrox to take on Aberdeen.

The Light Blues are currently six points behind the Dons in the table and have the chance to half that gap by collecting all three points on their travels tonight.

Aberdeen and Celtic are both sat on 25 points in the top-flight, with eight wins and one draw apiece, whilst Rangers are lagging behind on 19 points, having already lost twice in the division.

Philippe Clement needs his team to pull a top-class performance out to cut the gap and move closer to the top of the table to ensure that they do not drift away in the title race.

A defeat would already see them go nine points behind the Dons, and possibly Celtic if they win their match, which would be a sizeable points tally to overturn in the coming months.

Rangers are looking to win back-to-back matches in the Premiership after they picked up a 2-1 win against St Mirren at Ibrox last time out in the division, thanks to another strong performance from man-of-the-moment Vaclav Cerny.

Vaclav Cerny's recent form for Rangers

The Czechia international was signed on loan from Wolfsburg during the summer transfer window and has had an interesting time in Glasgow so far.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

He produced one goal and two assists in his first six appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants, which was a promising start to life with the Light Blues.

However, the winger then went on a run of five matches without a goal or an assist to show for his efforts, a run in which Cerny appeared to snap back at some supporters during a game against Hibernian – after a section of the crowd hit out at some of his decisions on the ball.

The left-footed ace, though, did not let that affect him and he appears to be back at his best, with five goals and one assist in his last four games in all competitions.

Cerny registered braces against Kilmarnock and FCSB in the Premiership and the Europa League, and scored the winning goal against St Mirren last time out in the league.

Rangers will need the winger to be at his best to get the better of the Dons, who are yet to lose in the league, and will need the striker alongside him to carry their weight as well, which is why Hamza Igamane may be dropped from the starting XI for this game.

Hamza Igamane's performance against St Mirren in numbers

The 21-year-old centre-forward was handed a huge chance to showcase his quality from the start in the win over St Mirren last time out in the Premiership.

He had come off the bench to score against FCSB on Thursday night in the Europa League, brilliantly finding the bottom corner with a composed finish, and Clement rewarded that with a starting spot on Sunday.

A game against St Mirren at Ibrox in the league was a fantastic opportunity for Igamane to prove to Clement that he has what it takes to be starting week-in-week-out for the Gers, and that he can be the go-to guy for goals this season.

Unfortunately, Igamane did not grasp his chance to make a statement to the home supporters and failed to build on his promising cameo against FCSB in Europe.

Minutes played

45

Shots

0

Big chances created

0

Dribbles completed

0/1

Duels won

0/7

As you can see in the table above, the Morocco U23 international struggled badly in the opening 45 minutes of the match before being withdrawn by Clement.

The former FAR Rabat centre-forward failed to register a single effort on goal and did not create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates, which illustrates his lack of impact in the final third.

He also proved to be a liability out of possession for the Gers, losing all seven of his duels against opposition defenders, and these statistics do not suggest that he is the best option to lead the line against an in-form Aberdeen side.

Therefore, Clement must ruthlessly ditch Igamane from the starting XI in order to unleash Cyriel Dessers alongside Cerny as part of the front three this evening.

Why Cyriel Dessers should start

The Nigerian striker has had his fair share of criticism throughout his time at Ibrox and some of it has been justified, as his finishing has left a lot to be desired.

Since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, Dessers has missed a staggering 33 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership for the Light Blues, since Michael Beale signed him from Cremonese in the summer of 2023.

This shows that the 29-year-old forward is far from a lethal marksman who is likely to take the majority of the chances that fall his way in the box.

What you cannot fault Dessers for, however, is his movement in the box and his ability to generate high-quality openings for himself in front of goal, either with his own play or by moving to make angles for his teammates to pass to him.

The former Serie A attacker has still scored 19 goals in the division since the start of last season, despite missing 33 ‘big chances’, and that speaks to the quantity and quality of chances that he gets in front of goal.

Appearances

9

Goals

3

Big chances missed

6

Shots per game

2.0

Big chances created

3

As you can see in the table above, the £27k-per-week ace may not always take advantage of the chances that come his way but he is always a threat in front of goal.

Dessers, who Clement claimed has a “big heart”, has produced six goals and ‘big chances’ created in nine appearances in the division and averages two shots per game, which shows that the striker is always involved.

Therefore, the manager should unleash the experienced attacker from the start ahead of the inexperienced Igamane, as he may have a better chance of causing Aberdeen problems alongside Cerny.

More valuable than Butland: Rangers hit gold with star whose value's soared

Rangers hit the jackpot when they swooped to sign the defender for nothing.

ByDan Emery Oct 18, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O’Neil made some positive signings during the summer transfer window, but he has yet to see the fruits of his labour.

After nine Premier League matches this term, the Old Gold have drawn two and lost seven, failing to win a single game as they currently occupy 19th place in the table.

In fairness, the club faced Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City during the opening period of the campaign. A tough start indeed.

The Molineux side did show plenty of fight to rescue a point against Brighton and Hove Albion on the weekend, scoring twice in the dying minutes and this should give O’Neil some confidence that they are on the right path, even if results don’t necessarily show it.

Despite the influx of players during the summer, it was one of the stars from last season who came up with the goods against the south coast side last week – Matheus Cunha.

Matheus Cunha’s season in numbers for Wolves

Last season, the Brazilian was arguably Wolves’ key player as they managed to avoid a relegation battle, finishing in 14th place, although they did secure wins over Man City and Chelsea throughout the campaign.

Cunha scored 14 goals for the Old Gold to end 2023/24 as the club’s highest scorer, and he is carrying that form into the current campaign.

Despite the Midlands side struggling domestically, the former Atlético Madrid star has scored four goals in the opening nine league matches of 2024/25, including the late equaliser against Brighton last weekend.

If the forward can continue to score over the next few weeks, Wolves might secure their first three points of the season, especially with a run of slightly ‘easier’ fixtures to come against Crystal Palace and Southampton before the next international break.

It isn’t just his goals which make Cunha a vital cog in the Wolves’ machine, as the Brazilian loves to create chances for others, as evidenced by the fact he has already created five big chances and averages 1.7 key passes per game in the top flight.

The 25-year-old also succeeds with 1.7 dribbles per game – a success rate of 58% – allowing him to get the better of the opposite defence, thus creating space to generate either a scoring chance or to assist a teammate.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

12

4

Assists

7

0

Big chances created

7

5

Total shots per game

2.3

3

Key passes per game

0.9

1.7

His contribution to the club since August 2023 cannot be underestimated and it Wolves do suffer relegation at the end of the season, he will surely have no shortage of potential suitors looking to snap him up next summer.

Now, if goals can come from other sources, the Old Gold may just move away from the drop zone in the coming weeks. If only they had a striker who was able to chip in with goals on a regular basis. Someone like Raul Jimenez, for example…

Raul Jimenez's record at Wolves

The Mexican striker emerged as somewhat of a cult figure during his spell at Wolves, especially with the form he displayed across his first couple of seasons.

Having joined the club from Benfica in the summer of 2018 on a season-long loan deal, Nuno Espírito Santo agreed a £30m deal with the Portuguese striker ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

Over those two seasons, Jimenez scored a total of 40 goals for the club, including ten in the Europa League, as the Old Gold reached the quarter-finals of the competition.

This was as good as it got for the Mexican star, however, as the following three seasons saw him score just 13 goals in all competitions as he bravely battled back from a skull fracture, among other ailments, which saw the 33-year-old miss 54 games in total.

It was clear his future at Wolves was bleak, and he was sold to Fulham for just £5m in the summer of 2023.

Considering he was entering the final few years of his career; it looked like a decent decision by the club. 18 months later, however, could the Old Gold regret letting him leave for such a small fee considering how impressive he has been in London?

Raul Jimenez’s stats for Fulham

It took a while for the player to get going at Craven Cottage, but he ended up netting seven times in 24 Premier League games last term. A hamstring injury meant he missed a chunk of the campaign.

It now looks as though he has put all his problems behind him, enjoying a wonderful start to the current season for the Cottagers. Indeed, five goals across 11 games in all competitions suggest there is life in the old dog yet.

With Cunha having scored four times for Wolves, Jimenez is even outscoring the Brazilian. Might the club rue letting him leave last year?

Like the current Wolves centre-forward, Jimenez has also contributed in other areas. Not only has he created four big chances, but the Mexican international averages 0.9 key passes per game while grabbing an assist.

Jimenez is also still shining for his country, scoring against the USA in a recent friendly between the two nations, and he was praised by coach Javier Aguirre in the process.

“He came back very well [from his injury], very well. He’s scored goals, he’s made assists. He looks mature and in good form, having completely overcome his injury. I think he is definitely a leader for us.” Said the manager post-game, and it looks as though Jimenez is enjoying an Indian summer.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

If he carries on his current form over the next few months, Fulham could secure a top-half finish in the Premier League for only the second time since 2012.

Wolves’ loss has very much been Fulham’s gain, especially with the striker going through a purple patch right now.

Wolves wasted £26m on Nuno flop who earned way more than Cunha does

Wolverhampton Wanderers wasted lots of money on this dud.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 30, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur have already “made a bid” to sign an attacking gem who’s “flying” right now, with chairman Daniel Levy and the club’s hierarchy attempting to build upon their long-term project with Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou endures mixed start to the season with Spurs

The Lilywhites appeared to have turned a corner before their dramatic 3-2 slump away at Brighton just before the international break, winning five games on the trot in all competitions, but their Amex defeat exposed the chinks remaining in Tottenham’s armour.

Tottenham think signing £29m Maddison alternative would be game-changing

The Spurs playmaker has blown hot and cold.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Oct 15, 2024

Postecolgou’s side were 2-0 up and cruising at half-time, and it looked at one point like they were set to extend their imperious winning run to six. Brennan Johnson continued his own exceptional run of scoring form with the opener against Brighton, with James Maddison doubling their lead just before the 40-minute mark, but a capitulation soon followed.

Tottenham vs West Ham

October 19

Crystal Palace vs Tottenham

October 27

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

November 3

Tottenham vs Ipswich Town

November 10

Man City vs Tottenham

November 23

After the restart, and in the space of just 20 minutes, goals from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck handed the home side a surprise 3-2 lead and brought attention to Tottenham’s very questionable defending.

The defeat is Postecoglou’s third of the season already, and they next take on arch rivals West Ham in a fierce London derby clash this weekend. Tottenham will need to respond in convincing fashion, or questions will continue to be asked about their hopes of winning silverware this season.

The January window could represent a chance to strengthen in key areas and boost Postecoglou’s hopes of making good on his promise to end Spurs’ 16-year wait for a trophy. It is believed Tottenham are eyeing an alternative playmaker to Maddison, with Skakhtar Donetsk star Georgiy Sudakov a target for them.

Meanwhile, there are claims Spurs could move for a new forward in January, leading to their interest in Espanyol star Javi Puado as they ponder a future without star man Son Heung-min.

Tottenham have "made a bid" to sign Mason Melia

Levy and technical director Johan Lange are also always on the lookout for rising stars, with Republic of Ireland talent and St. Patrick’s Athletic striker Mason Melia firmly on their agenda.

The 17-year-old striker is in demand right now, courted by “5/6” Premier League sides, and Spurs are among them. That is according to Irish journalist Conor McEvoy, who wrote via his “Rep of Ireland player tracker” feed on X that Tottenham have “made a bid” for Melia.

“Spurs have made a bid for Mason Melia with the asking price for Melia a million euro,” wrote McEvoy.

“There are 5/6 Premier League clubs in the race for Melia’s signature and I expect something to formalise in the next few months with the race heating up. Mason can’t leave until he turns 18 next September so we have still a lot more time to witness his magic at home.”

The teenager is earning rave reviews for his performances back home, and St. Pat’s teammate Aidan Keena shared just how impressed he is with the attacking sensation.

“We have a good run of form going,” said Keena.

“There’s good competition for places in the squad. Mason started and showed that against Waterford, he’s flying, we can all see the player he can be, if everything falls right for him,” said Keena, astonished at how quickly Wicklow native Melia has bedded in.

“When I was 16 I was in the St Pat’s U-19s. So it’s brilliant to see him in the first team at 16. He knows how good he is and how good he can be, he has a good head on his shoulders. He’s playing men’s football, and it’s not just his goals, his overall game is getting better and better. I am there to give him any advice he needs but he doesn’t need much, it will be me asking him for advice now.”

Bowling attack will rely on “supreme accuracy” in absence of Jofra Archer, Olly Stone firepower

Alan Gardner10-Oct-2021England will have to fall back on Plan B in Australia – and that is not ‘B for Ben Stokes’, with head coach, Chris Silverwood, stressing that no timeframe has been put on the talismanic allrounder making his comeback.In the two years since Silverwood took over from Trevor Bayliss with a brief to regain the Ashes, England had dedicated much of their planning to having a group of 90mph fast bowlers – Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Olly Stone – ready to deploy in Australia. But with Archer and Stone ruled out by elbow and back problems respectively, as well as Wood’s well-documented fragility, Joe Root’s attack will prioritise “supreme accuracy” in their attempts to regularly take 20 Australian wickets.Silverwood believed England will be “very competitive” after picking what amounts to a full-strength squad, given the expected absences of Stokes, Archer, Stone and Moeen Ali, who retired from Test cricket last month. Only three of England’s top-order batters have played Tests in Australia before, and although Root is currently ranked No. 1 in the world by the ICC, the next-highest in the squad is Rory Burns at No. 24.Stokes’ return would strengthen England in all departments and it is not impossible that he could join the tour at a later date. For now, Silverwood stressed that the player’s mental well-being remained the priority, as he continues to work back to fitness after another operation on his finger earlier in the week.”Ben is moving forward, the communications I have had with him he is definitely more upbeat,” Silverwood said. “But what I will say is there will be no pressure from me for him to rush back. I’ve said, ‘When you’re ready, you call me and we’ll make a plan from there’. So there’s no pressure from me and no date on it.Related

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“I’m not going to tell him when he comes back. I’ll be led by him and my concern first and foremost is his well-being. And when he does come back we’ll make sure he’s in the right place.”Although the loss of Archer, who shook up the 2019 Ashes by taking 22 wickets at 20.27, was a particular blow to England, they have capable fast-bowling stocks to draw on. Ollie Robinson’s first summer in Test whites could scarcely have gone better – historical social media indiscretions aside – and he will look to provide key support to the veteran pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who is set to return to bowling at Loughborough next week after a torn right calf ruled him out of three Tests against India.England can still call on Wood’s pace, even if his workload is likely to be managed. With Chris Woakes, England’s player of the summer in 2020, having previously made steps to improve his record with the Kookaburra ball, and Craig Overton, whose fighting spirit was one of the few highlights of the 2017-18 Ashes tour, impressing on his return to Test cricket in the win over India at Headingley, Silverwood remains upbeat.”I think we can [take 20 wickets],” he said. “Every plan has got to be adaptable. We have got one 90mph bowler in there in Woody. But I think the one thing that we have got in the bowling attack is supreme accuracy. You look at the bowlers that are there and the one thing they are very good at is hitting the stumps and bringing the stumps into play time and time again. We watched how India performed in Australia [last winter] and we tried to learn lessons from them.”I am very curious as a bloke so I am constantly watching, as are my bowling attack. What we will be doing is looking back over the plans India used and adapting any of those to our bowling attack. How do we get the best out of the bowling attack we have got rather than worrying about what we haven’t got? There is nothing we can do about that so it’s pointless. We will be using the skills we have in the best possible way and I do believe that we can make it work.”I think we’ll be very competitive, we look at the fact Australia have been very strong over the years and we have to respect them. But we have over the last 6-7 months played the top two teams in the world, learned a hell of a lot. We look at India, how do they go about their business? There is a strong belief we can [also] do something very special. They’ve shown a game plan that was successful over there and so we will be learning from them.”Ollie Robinson was England’s standout fast bowler during the summer•Associated PressAfter making strides as a Test team between 2019 and early 2021, England will head for Australia having won just one of their last nine – beaten heavily in India and at home against New Zealand, then trailing 2-1 before India’s withdrawal from the Old Trafford Test last month. By contrast, Australia’s Test team has barely played, with just a home defeat to India on their record since January 2020. Despite a tough recent run, Silverwood was happy with his team’s preparation.”I think we are battle hardened, we’ve had some success along the way and we’ve proven we can compete with India. The important thing for me is our players have seen what the best in the world look like, they’ve played against it, they’ve felt what it is to have them push against us. We’ve also tasted success against them, look at the Headingley Test when we came back very strong, which showed that we have got the skills within the ranks to take 20 wickets and push the best. So I see that as a real positive, a real galvaniser to the group, to better handle pressure now that they see it more and more, which is great.”Silverwood also praised Root for the “class and empathy” he had displayed during lengthy and at times tense negotiations with Cricket Australia about the conditions England would tour under, before the ECB gave a tentative green light for the tour last week.”His players have got behind him and will follow him, so will I and my staff,” Silverwood said. “I think we’ve got to a good place before what should be a very competitive series in Australia.”It is an iconic series, every young cricketer growing up wants to play in it and as a coach, they want to coach in it. It is massively exciting that this series is going ahead, that we are at the point that everyone is committed and we are all going. I think the mindset now will shift towards performance. That’s how it has got to be. I will be speaking to the players and the staff and making sure when we turn up in Australia, whether that be the red-ball specialists and the Lions who arrive first or the multi-format [players] arriving from the World Cup here, we will make sure we are in the right mind space to come out there and compete.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Ceará desistiu do empréstimo do atacante Pablo, do São Paulo. O presidente do Vozão, Robinson de Castro, confirmou a desistência do clube cearense ao ‘GE’, após o atacante não responder a oferta realizada.

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Robinson de Castro, já havia declarado que o São Paulo deu o ok para a proposta apresentada pelo Vozão, que pagaria o salário do jogador de forma integral, mas ainda aguardava a decisão do jogador para concretizar o negócio.

A proposta era de um ano de empréstimo junto ao time paulista e, de acordo com o mandatário, o técnico Tiago Nunes, que já trabalhou com Pablo, ligou para tentar convencê-lo a jogar pelo Ceará na próxima temporada.

Pablo está confiante que realizará uma boa temporada com a camisa do São Paulo. Em 2021, o jogador, apesar das críticas dos torcedores, foi artilheiro do time com 13 gols marcados. O São Paulo, no entanto, não descarta vender ou até mesmo tentar um novo empréstimo para o camisa nove, conforme disse Julio Casares, presidente do clube.

-Pablo é a maior contratação da nossa história. Bom cidadão, grande atleta. Está a disposição quando há procura para alguma transferência. Pode ser permuta, empréstimo, venda. Ninguém é inegociável no São Paulo. Quem escala é o técnico – afirmou, ao ‘Jogo Aberto’.

Southampton are yet to pick up a single point in the Premier League, albeit with only two games gone of the long and gruelling season, as transfer deadline day now comes into view.

This could be Southampton's moment to make a real statement purchase right at the death, adding to the many signings they have already got over the line this summer, which includes notable deals for the likes of Ben Brereton-Diaz and Mateus Fernandes, as well as the potential swoop of Aaron Ramsdale.

Snapping up Flynn Downes on a permanent basis is another purchase that does stick out, but the Saints might well have one mammoth signing still in their back pocket.

Southampton attempting dramatic last-gasp deal

As per a report by TEAMtalk, Southampton are interested in a surprise late deal which could see former Saints midfield great James Ward-Prowse return to St. Mary's permanently.

New Hammer boss Julen Lopetegui isn't fussed by the 29-year-old in the slightest, with only one bench appearance handed to him in the Premier League under his short-lived tenure to date, leading to the South Coast club now imagining an unbelievable homecoming.

Russell Martin's men did well to recover from the loss of Ward-Prowse, who moved to West Ham for £30m last summer, with Flynn Downes taking over the baton from the former Saints captain well in the middle of the park.

The two could now form a fantastic duo together in the top flight, as Southampton aim to stay afloat in the Premier League, instead of falling straight back down to the EFL.

How Ward-Prowse and Downes would work together

Operating with a central midfield three in the opening two Premier League clashes, Martin would be able to comfortably slot in the West Ham loanee into the new-look Southampton set-up, alongside Downes remaining put.

Downes starred last campaign for the Saints when he was once a loanee from the East London outfit himself, with an unerring calmness on the ball present in his game which continued against Nottingham Forest last time out, notching up a 93% pass accuracy come full-time.

Ward-Prowse's PL numbers for Southampton (22/23)
Stat (* = per 90 mins)	Ward-Prowse
Games played	38
Goals	9
Assists	4
Shots*	1.2
Expected goals (xG)	5.82
Touches*	67.4
Accurate passes*	43.1 (85%)
Big chances missed	2
Big chances created	9
Stats by Sofascore

But, the 25-year-old – away from allowing his side to tick as a calm operator on the ball – isn't known for being the most forceful when it comes to popping up with a goal or an assist, which is where Ward-Prowse shines.

Ward-Prowse far outperformed his xG during the 22/23 campaign, with nine goals scored and four assists during another electric personal season for the 29-year-old, even as the Saints suffered a demoralising relegation.

To add further context, Downes has only managed to find the back of the net six times across his entire career to date.

Regardless of that relegation happening, their star former number eight would always have an unbelievable moment of class up his sleeve to get fans out of their seats, with insane free-kick strikes like this one versus Wolverhampton Wanderers two years ago becoming his trademark.

Excelling with the Hammers last season with an impressive 14 goal contributions tallied up from 37 league clashes, leading to then West Ham boss David Moyes even declaring Ward-Prowse to be a "world-class" player, this would be seen as a major statement by the South Coast club if they are pulling off a deal to win back the services of the 11-time senior England international.

There might well be a feeling on Ward-Prowse's end that he will want to return to right the wrongs of his last ever season donning Southampton red and white ending with Championship football becoming a bleak reality, as the Saints aim to make this dream deal happen in the nick of time.

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While the last decade or so has not been spectacular on or off the pitch, Manchester United remain one of the biggest clubs in world football and arguably the biggest in England.

Due to their long and storied past, the Red Devils have a long list of legends that would make practically any club in the world green with envy.

You can go back to the 1950s and 60s for Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best, the 1990s for Éric Cantona and Bryan Robson, or the 2000s into the early 2010s for Premier League icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

However, as things stand, it would be hard to point at any player in the current team and call them a legend, although there is one who's seen his value soar since breaking onto the scene who could possibly change that. Still, along with his attacking teammates, his chance to do so is hanging by a thread.

United's young stars

So, for all the doom and gloom that has surrounded United in the last couple of years – some of it entirely justified – the club have still won a League Cup and an FA Cup, and perhaps most importantly for the fans, played a crucial role in stopping Liverpool's title charge last year.

On top of these small victories, the club has been bringing through and signing a plethora of young, exciting talent who could potentially go on to do something special at Old Trafford.

For example, the club splashed £72m on Rasmus Hojlund last summer, and while there is an argument to be made that they overpaid for a then-20-year-old, he has since gone on to show glimpses of genuine talent and ended last season with a tally of 16 goals and two assists in 43 games.

Likewise, while it is far too early to cast ironclad assertions about Leny Yoro, he's an exceptionally highly-rated young defender by those in the know, with analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as possessing "elite potential" and "that same dominance young Saliba" which is high praise indeed.

Lastly, the youngster who currently looks best placed to develop into a United icon is one of their own, Kobbie Mainoo, who, despite being just 19 years old, seems entirely comfortable starting in midfield and has already established himself in the national team squad as well.

However, while all of these youngsters have a genuine chance of writing their names into United folklore in the future, there is another older player who still has the opportunity to do the same, and as an academy graduate, his valuation has shot up over the years.

Marcus Rashford's valuation in 2024

Yes, the player in question is Marcus Rashford.

Now, before the pitchforks come out, yes, he was poor last season, but even then, a return of eight goals and six assists in 43 matches for a winger isn't utterly disastrous.

Appearances

56

43

Goals

30

8

Assists

11

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.73

0.32

Moreover, just the campaign prior, he was simply electric, finding the back of the net 30 times and providing 11 assists in 51 games, meaning that he maintained a frankly ludicrous average of a goal involvement every 1.36 games in Erik ten Hag's first season at the club.

It's this ability to have campaigns like that and the fact he's already won 60 senior England caps that leads people like talent scout Jacek Kulig to label him a "future legend," even if that seems a little farfetched at the moment.

Additionally, the fact that he's a local lad who's come through the academy and therefore cost the club nothing in transfer fees helps, and based on his recent valuation, he is still very highly rated, with Football Transfer pricing him at around €67m, which converts to about £56m.

Ultimately, while there might be a significant portion of the fanbase who have given up on Rashford after last season, they shouldn't, as given his talent and body of work, there is every chance he could turn things around and fulfil his potential at the Theatre of Dreams.

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Bukayo Saka has jokingly blamed Arsenal team-mate Kai Havertz for denying him what would have been a first senior hat-trick of his career.

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Gunners forward bagged another braceHelped to secure Champions League victoryStill waiting to collect his first match ballFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The England international winger put in another match-winning performance for the Gunners during their Champions League clash with Monaco at Emirates Stadium. Saka netted twice in that contest to put Mikel Arteta’s side on their way to victory.

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He was presented with an opportunity late on to claim the match ball, with a shot fired goalwards in the 88th minute. Monaco’s keeper may have had it covered, but said effort deflected off German forward Havertz and into the back of the net – wrapping up a 3-0 success.

WHAT SAKA SAID

On being denied a first treble, Saka – who still finished with three goal contributions on the night – told reporters afterwards: “He [Havertz] got in the way of it, but don't worry, it's [a hat trick] coming. It's on the way.”

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Saka’s performances have made him a key figure for club and country, with Arteta saying when asked if the 23-year-old is now in the “world-class” category: “You have to be able to do that consistently throughout many years to put yourself in that position.

“We can compare what he's done in his first six years of professional football, which is exceptional, you know, and that's it and his aim is to improve. He has the players and environment to continue to do that and I'm sure he will.”

One area West Ham have already bolstered ahead of Julen Lopetegui's first season in charge is the midfield department, bringing Guido Rodriguez in on a free transfer.

In Lopetegui's system, the need for comfortability on the ball is apparent, and West Ham have done their best to address that this window in the defensive line, and adding Rodriguez in midfield. Having midfielders that can affect the game both offensively and defensively is important, as they can join both first phase build up, and last phase attacks.

Rodriguez made 29 appearances in all competitions last season for Real Betis, scoring two goals, providing one assist, and contributing to eight clean sheets in his 2,241 minutes played.

West Ham to sign another midfielder?

According to Fabrizio Romano West Ham have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of ex-Chelsea midfielder, N’Golo Kante, amid recent links. The Frenchman currently earns over £400k-per-week in Saudi Arabia, which West Ham wouldn't be able to replicate.

Atlético Madrid has also shown an interest in recent days, with Romano reporting that Al-Ittihad's stance remains the same, "not for sale".

Kante made 44 appearances for Al Ittihad last season in all competitions, scoring four goals, providing six assists, and contributing to 15 clean sheets in his 3,822 minutes played.

Kante vs Rodriguez comparison

The 33-year-old Kante and 29-year-old Rodriguez would both bring a wealth of experience to this West Ham side, having both captained their sides at one stage last season.

Of course, one thing Kante has over Rodriguez is Premier League experience, having played the majority of his career in the league, winning multiple league titles and individual honours throughout 227 outings.

Kante made his last Premier League appearance on the 5th June 2023, providing an assist in a 3-1 victory for Chelsea over Bournemouth. Despite only managing ten games in that season, some of Kante's per 90 numbers were still brilliant.

Kante (2022/23) vs Rodriguez comparison

Stats (Per 90 mins)

Kante

Rodriguez

Progressive Carries

3.86

0.40

Progressive Passes

5.92

3.21

Passes Attempted

54.9

50.4

Pass Completion %

80.3%

85.0%

Key Passes

2.11

0.28

Tackles

2.50

2.49

Blocks

1.71

1.45

Interceptions

1.51

1.49

Ball Recoveries

8.82

7.67

Aerials Won

0.26

0.92

Stats taken from FBref

It's important to note, Kante's stats above are based on 772 minutes of football in the 2022/23 season. However, the stats do not seem to be skewed compared to his prior season at Chelsea, where he completed 2,546 minutes and achieved better per 90 metrics in many areas.

Once described as "Yaya Toure and Claude Makelele rolled into one" by Wayne Rooney, you can definitely see elements of both in this game and in the metrics. Averaging 3.86 progressive carries per 90, adding that thrust from midfield as Toure did.

But also, his 8.82 ball recoveries per 90, 2.50 tackles per 90, and 1.71 blocks, show his ability to consistently complete defensive actions, protecting his teams' backline and covering ground like no other.

As good as Rodriguez is, actually ranking fairly closely to Kante in some metrics (especially defensively). the France star would offer an unbelievable dynamic to the Hammers midfield, being able to progress the ball via his passing and carrying, but also protecting that defence and mopping things up in transition.

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