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Luke Wells’ career-best 258, which included hitting 32 off a single over, helped Sussex into a dominant position against Durham

Tim Wigmore at Hove22-May-2017
ScorecardOn Friday, Luke Wells returned from a knee injury to play his first match for eight months. He was greeted by one of the worst sights for a batsman in cricket: a 90 mph inswinging yorker from Kagiso Rabada down the slope at Hove. As he trudged off for a golden duck, Wells laughed at his own ill fortune in receiving such a delivery. The sport can be cruel like that.But it can also give generously, enough to make up for all the fallow and infuriating times. For Wells, this was such a day: the best of his cricketing career yet, and the sort that he might never repeat.It was not merely about the runs he scored, all 258 of them. It was about the manner in which he scored them. Wells, a batsman with a reputation for adhesive defence, was transformed into a hitter of brutal belligerence.Consider how he handled the 87th over of the day, from Ryan Pringle’s offspin. First, Wells used his huge stride to gallivant down the wicket and heave an emphatic straight six, a shot of such dominance that Graham Clark, at long-off, was reduced to applauding. Then, he pulled Pringle over square leg for another six. Next, staying in his crease, he again launched him straight, this time into the hospitality seating at long-off for a third consecutive six.The fourth ball scuppered hopes of an encore of Garry Sobers’ feat at Swansea in 1968, but it brought no relief for Pringle – Wells’ late, precise square cut still went for four. So did a slog-sweep the following ball. In the circumstances, Pringle could be forgiven for delivering an egregious full toss, which Wells launched over midwicket for another six and, with it, brought up his maiden 250. As if that was not bad enough for Durham, the final delivery was a no-ball to boot. Wells, almost repentant for inflicting such misery upon his opponent, defended the extra ball into the off side, promoting sarcastic cries of “Get on with it” from a few heady supporters.Thirty-four runs had come from Pringle’s over, and 32 from Wells’s bat: not bad for a player ordinarily considered a first-class specialist, and whose top score in 50-over or Twenty20 cricket is just 23.So imperious was his batsmanship that Stiaan van Zyl was reduced to the role of incidental extra even as he scored an undefeated 141; at one point, Wells scored a full fifty, to progress from 157 to 207, while van Zyl faced a solitary ball.If the carnage was not expected of Wells, capitalising on his start was: this was his 36th first-class score over 50, and the 14th time he has converted it to a century. And it was built upon familiar foundations: the assiduous leaves against the new ball; the impeccable straight bat; the driving, especially straight, interspersed with cuts and leg-side flicks. Then, like a gawky teenager discovering alcohol for the first time, Wells experienced a new and thrilling sensation; as he flicked Chris Rushworth over fine leg with no discernible effort, one of his seven sixes, he must have felt a man intoxicated.All the while, van Zyl carried on too. If his century was forgettable set against carnage at the other end, it contributed to history: a partnership of 376, the highest ever third-wicket stand against Durham. The previous highest? That would be Trevor Penney and Brian Lara in 1994, when Lara was en route to his 501. In the closing stages of his innings, Wells felt almost as dominant.By the time he scythed Paul Coughlin to Keaton Jennings to be dismissed, Wells had also made family history, usurping his father Alan’s career best: “I’ve always wanted to beat him in something.”Intriguingly, he credited his red-ball best to intensive training in limited-overs cricket, in an attempt to force his way back into the side. “The white-ball practice that I’ve been doing with Mike Yardy and the other guys has really been paying off – especially against the spinners I feel a lot more dynamic. I can score at a better rate now without taking any undue risks – just natural batting.” It is a window into how the norms of modern batting are being peeled back, and even batsmen renowned as austere are capable of pyrotechnics.Though van Zyl was altogether more restrained, he gave evidence of why he had earned 12 Tests for South Africa. He used his feet dextrously against Pringle and late cut exquisitely against seam to record his maiden Championship century for Sussex. Only just after reaching the landmark, when edging Pringle to Paul Collingwood, who shelled a tricky catch at first slip, did he offer a chance. Wells was chanceless throughout; Sussex utterly imperious.It seemed an age ago that Graham Onions had found away movement to snare Chris Nash with the morning’s fourth ball. His back injury, rendering him unable to bowl, was a cause and symbol of Durham’s dreadful day.

تأهل بايرن ميونخ الألماني إلى نصف نهائي بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا،  بعد الفوز على آرسنال بهدف نظيف، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما على ملعب أليانز أرينا.

آرسنال تعادل على ملعبه مع بايرن ميونخ بثنائية لكل فريق، في ذهاب ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا منذ أسبوع، قبل مواجهة الإياب اليوم.

شوط المباراة الأول بملعب أليانز أرينا انتهى بالتعادل السلبي، وكل فريق كان يحاول الحفاظ على التعادل، مع مراحل جس النبض التي طالت، ولم تكن هناك أي فرصة سوى التي أتيحت لـ كاي هافريتز وشهدت تألق الألماني مانويل نوير.

طالع أيضًا.. تقارير إنجليزية تكشف عن بديل محمد النني في آرسنال الموسم القادم

في بداية الشوط الثاني، سدد جورتسكا رأسية قوية ولكن العارضة أبعدتها، قبل أن يتابعها جيريرو وتصدى لها رايا ثم القائم الأيمن في الدقيقة 46.

الدقيقة 63، شهدت النقطة المضيئة في المباراة، برأسية رائعة وذكية من جوشوا كيميتش بعد عرضية رافائيل جيريرو، ليطلق الكرة في شباك ديفيد رايا الذي لم يتمكن من التعامل معها.

ظل آرسنال يحاول تهديد مرمى بايرن بعد دخول جيسوس وتروسارد مكان جورجينيو وجابرييل مارتينيلي، قبل أن يدخل كيم مين جاي مكان نصير مزراوي في تغيير دفاعي للعملاق البافاري قبل ربع ساعة من نهاية الشوط.

في الدقيقة 87، كاد مارتن أوديجارد أن يسجل هدف التعادل، ولكن كرته مرت بجانب القائم الأيسر، ليدخل بعدها مباشرة أوباميكانو مكان ليروي ساني، ليغلق من خلال هذا التغيير توماس توخيل كل خطوطه أمام الجانرز.

انتهت المباراة بفوز بايرن ميونخ بهدف جوشوا كيميتش، ليتأهل كما جرت العادة على آرسنال ويرسخ العقدة، ويطيح بالجانرز مثلما أطاح به في آخر مشاركاته عام 2017.

وبذلك، يتواجد بايرن ميونخ في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا، بعد غياب 4 سنوات، منذ التتويج الأخير للعملاق البافاري، والتأهل على حساب برشلونة في 2020.

وينتظر بايرن ميونخ الفائز من مواجهة مانشستر سيتي وريال مدريد، المقامة حاليًا على ملعب الاتحاد، لمواجهته في نصف النهائي. هدف فوز بايرن ميونخ على آرسنال في دوري أبطال أوروبا

Jake Ball and Stuart Broad are doubtful for the Royal London Cup final on Saturday and that is also bad news for England with the first Test around a week away

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge27-Jun-2017
ScorecardWith doubts lingering over Stuart Broad’s fitness for Saturday’s Royal London One-Day Cup final at Lord’s, Nottinghamshire face another anxious couple of days assessing the fitness of a second key bowling asset after injury forced Jake Ball to leave the field during the final session here.Despite playing the injury down overnight, Ball was sent for a scan by the ECB on Wednesday morning, and the selectors will be monitoring the results closely as they prepare to meet to select the squad for the first Test against South Africa at Lord’s next week.The England fast bowler, who had already struck an important blow for his team in this match at the start of Kent’s second innings, pulled up in his follow-through after bowling one delivery of his third over, feeling some pain in his right knee.After receiving attention on the field it looked at first as if he would continue but after a couple of attempts to replicate his run-up to the crease under the supervision of his county physio he asked the umpire for his cap and sweater and left the field, leaving Luke Fletcher to complete his over.Nottinghamshire head coach Peter Moores described his withdrawal as “a precaution” and said his prospects of resuming in this match would be assessed in the morning. However, he is being monitored by Notts and England medical teams, and he will not bowl again in the match.Broad, who was forced to miss this match after suffering a heel injury against Leicestershire last week, was still rated as doubtful on Monday but there was better news today. Put through his paces before play, he appeared to be moving well enough, although Nottinghamshire will be wary of risking any further damage with the opening Test against South Africa just over a week away.After playing his part with a flurry of boundaries with the bat in helping Nottinghamshire to a lead of 191 on first innings, Ball had dealt Kent the early blow they least wanted as they began their second innings against the pink ball in the awkward day-to-night phase.After bowling brilliantly with scant reward in the first innings, with only one tailender’s wicket to show for his efforts, Ball found success in his second over this time, producing a full and fast delivery to which Daniel Bell-Drummond, who had so valiantly held Kent together on Monday, had no answer.Yet Ball’s absence hardly made things easier for Kent, who were four wickets down and still 86 behind at the close. To make matters worse, Sam Billings, unbeaten on 39, now leaves this match to play for the Lions at Worcester. The 20-year-old batsman Joe Weatherley takes his place.Despite a career-best 168 from Steven Mullaney, who was 63 not out overnight, and a partnership of 222 between the opener and Alex Hales, Nottinghamshire had not fulfilled their objective of batting Kent out of the game, losing their last wickets for 41.They fell short even of maximum batting points, which felt almost like a formality earlier in the day when Hales and Mullaney, having come through a tough pink ball baptism on the first evening, plundered runs under the pale sky of the second afternoon.Mullaney, one half of the key partnership in the historic win over Essex that booked Nottinghamshire’s place at Lord’s, completed the 12th first-class century of his career, punching the air as he might after a bout of nausea almost forced him to leave the field in the early part of his innings on Monday.Jake Ball limped off – and that will worry England•Getty Images

Once something of a bit-part player among stars at Trent Bridge, Mullaney has become a key figure in all formats. Always an all-round asset in the one-day sides, he has found his niche at the top of the order in the four-day side, and a useful partnership-breaking bowler to boot. Well respected in the dressing room, he led the side in Chris Read’s absence last season and looks a natural choice to take on the captaincy in his own right when Read retires at the end of the season.As a batsman, he may lack the flair and natural timing of Samit Patel, with whom he shared that epic stand at Chelmsford, and he does not dominate in the way Hales sometimes does. Yet he has the temperament to concentrate for long periods and packs a punch when the moment arrives to up the tempo.He and Hales were together for 47.5 overs for the fourth wicket before Hales was caught on the rope attempting a second six straight off Joe Denly’s leg spin, missing out by 15 on what appeared to be a certain hundred.The innings lost some of its impetus after Hales. Riki Wessels was unusually subdued and Mullaney went an hour without scoring a boundary before a couple in quick succession off Adam Milne eased the pressure.He passed his previous best, 166 against Somerset here last year, with a six off Will Gidman and the applause that accompanied his return to the pavilion, caught behind off Matt Coles, was a measure of his popularity. He acknowledged it properly, too, raising his bat to all corners of the ground.Kent’s bowlers have to be commended for the way they maintained their discipline and in denying Nottinghamshire their full complement of points they might consider they scored a minor triumph.Yet, the possibly unwelcome consequence of this was that it was their batsman who were exposed to the day-into-night phase. After Bell-Drummond, Denly edged a fine, swinging ball from Fletcher to be caught behind before Harry Gurney struck twice, Sam Northeast following a ball outside off-stump to be caught behind, Sean Dickson edging to Brendan Taylor at third slip.July 28, 11.36am – This story was updated with news of Ball’s knee scan

Crystal Palace are interested in a deal to sign Everton forward Demarai Gray this summer, according to fresh reports.

Is Demarai Gray leaving Everton?

The Premier League’s left-sided winger first arrived on Merseyside from Bayer Leverkusen back in 2021 and has since gone on to make a total of 75 appearances during his two years at Goodison Park, but there’s a chance that he could secure an exit before the end of the current window.

The Jamaica international’s contract is set to expire in less than a year meaning that now is Sean Dyche’s last chance to cash in on his prized asset having so far failed to reach an agreement regarding a new contract, and having been his side’s third best-performing offensive player last season, he won’t be short of potential suitors should he depart.

Daily Express journalist Ryan Taylor recently confirmed that the 27-year-old is indeed a “target” for Roy Hodgson and is a player that has “admirers” among the SE25 hierarchy, and there would already be a place in the first-team waiting for him should he make the switch.

Wilfried Zaha has now officially left the club to join Galatasaray so the Eagles will need to enter the market for a suitable replacement in the final third, and if the following update is to be believed, the attacker appears to be one of the candidates that they are chasing.

Are Crystal Palace signing Demarai Gray?

According to Football Insider, Gray is "wanted" by Crystal Palace and Fulham ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. Everton's forward additionally has "huge money" offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia and he's "edging towards an exit" having made "no progress" in talks over extending his stay on Merseyside.

The Toffees would "prefer" to retain their star's services for the long-term, but as it stands, they could be set to receive a "huge profit" on the £1.7m they initially paid for him two years ago.

How good is Demarai Gray?

Whilst Everton survived relegation last season, Gray was one of the standout performers in a struggling side which has clearly been acknowledged by Crystal Palace, and having previously been hailed an "attacking threat" in the final third by journalist Josh Bunting, the winger would be a hugely exciting recruit for Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman.

Sponsored by Adidas, Dyche's £25k-per-week earner racked up five top-flight goal contributions during the previous term (four goals and one assist) and proved to be a constant threat even when the ball didn't hit the back of the net.

The Birmingham-born talent recorded 57 shots over the course of the campaign which was more than any other member of his squad and whipped 173 crosses into the box which was the second-highest total at Goodison, via FBRef.

Finally, Gray has the ability to operate in an outstanding seven various positions across the pitch, including everywhere across the frontline and even three roles in the midfield, so he would provide the boss with wonderful versatility should he decide to put pen to paper.

Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto could now stay at Elland Road and Everton look to have turned their attentions elsewhere in their search for attacking reinforcements, according to journalist Alex Crook.

Is Wilfried Gnonto moving to Everton from Leeds United?

According to Sky Sports Transfer Centre, Everton could now abandon their attempts to sign Gnonto this summer after Leeds United rebuffed several approaches for the £20k-a-week ace.

The report states that it would now take a 'dramatic change in attitude' from Leeds United to initiate any potential exit for Gnonto and Sean Dyche's men could now look elsewhere to bolster their options in the final third.

Brazilian winger Tete, who spent the second half of 2022/23 on loan at Leicester City, has been added to a shortlist of alternative targets that Everton will now aim to firm up their interest in, as per talkSPORT.

As per The Daily Mail, Everton are now also looking at a move for Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana as they have 'grown frustrated' with their pursuit of Gnonto this window.

Daniel Farke is 'unwilling' to sell Gnonto and knocked back a bid in the region of £15 million from Everton in July. The German coach is keen to retain Gnonto following a chaotic few months that has seen several of his key first-team players leave Elland Road to relegation clauses.

Last term, Gnonto was a bright spark for Leeds United in a poor campaign across the board, registering four goals and four assists in 28 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Crook thinks that Gnonto could stay at Elland Road for another year if no other offers arise for his services bar Everton.

Crook said: "Well I was told last week that his advisors don't necessarily think this is the best move for him at this time. If no other offers came in, they'd be leaning towards doing a year in the Championship.

"I think he still has raw potential, and they feel that he can go to the Championship and improve his numbers in terms of goals and assists, and then he might have bigger options than Everton come January.

"At the moment, I think that's a difficult deal for Everton to do. The other player that's been mentioned to me as an alternative is Tete, who spent last season on loan at Leicester City.

"He will be looking to leave Shakhtar again because of the situation in Ukraine."

What now for Leeds United?

Leeds United will keen to finalise some more signings as the new Sky Bet Championship campaign draws closer to getting underway at Elland Road.

Swansea City striker Joel Piroe has emerged as a target for the Whites this summer and will be available for between £15-20 million, according to Football Insider.

The Independent have revealed that Manchester United full-back Brandon Williams has been earmarked as a target to strengthen Leeds United's backline as Farke aims to win promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Journalist Beren Cross has also indicated that Leeds United admire Manchester City youngster Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Liverpool defender Nat Phillips.

أصدر نادي اتحاد العاصمة الجزائري بيانًا للتعليق على أزمة مباراة فريقه أمام نهضة بركان المغربي، والتي كان من المقرر أن تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية.

وألغيت مباراة اتحاد العاصمة أمام نهضة بركان، والتي كانت مقررة مساء أمس الأحد، بسبب وجود أزمة في قمصان الفريق المغربي.

طالع | أول تعليق من رئيس نهضة بركان بعد إلغاء مباراة اتحاد العاصمة

ورفضت السلطات الجزائرية دخول حقائب بعثة الفريق المغربي بداعي تضمنها قمصان الفريق الذي يحمل خريطة صحاري المغرب والتي تشهد نزاعًا سياسيًا.

واستمرت الأزمة برفض الاتحاد الجزائري ارتداء نهضة بركان هذا القميص، فيما أصر النادي المغربي على خوض اللقاء به استكمالًا لما بدأه منذ انطلاق هذه النسخة.

طالع | كاف يُصدر بيانًا رسميًا بشأن إلغاء مباراة نهضة بركان واتحاد العاصمة في الكونفدرالية

ووجه نادي اتحاد العاصمة الشكر للمسؤولين والجمهور بسبب الدعم الذي تلقاه خلال أمس بسبب الأزمة مع نهضة بركان. بيان اتحاد العاصمة بشأن أزمة مباراة نهضة بركان

تتقدم إدارة اتحاد العاصمة ممثلة في رئيسها كمال حسينة، بجزيل الشكر لكل الجزائريين في كامل ربوع الوطن وبالأخص الأسرة الكروية على الوقفة التضامنية مع الفريق، إثر تعرضه لحملة تشويش قبل خوض ذهاب نصف نهائي كأس الكونفدرالية أمام نهضة بركان المغربي.

 وتعبّر الهبة التضامنية التي لقيها اتحاد العاصمة عن مدى تماسك أبناء الجزائر في رسالة قوية مباشرة لكل المشككين.

 كما يعبر رئيس اتحاد العاصمة عن امتنانه أيضا للموقف الرياضي المشرّف الذي أظهره مناصرو فريقنا في مدرجات ملعب 5جويلية 1962، رغم رفض الفريق المنافس الدخول إلى أرضية الميدان لخوض اللقاء.

عاشت الجزائر وتحيا لياسما

The BCCI has nominated Cheteshwar Pujara and Harmanpreet Kaur for the Arjuna Award, following their solid runs with the national men’s and women’s teams

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Aug-2017

The BCCI has nominated Cheteshwar Pujara and Harmanpreet Kaur for the Arjuna Award, PTI has reported.Pujara was the cornerstone of India’s 13-Test home season, which they swept, having scored 1316 runs – the highest-ever aggregate for an Indian batsman in a single Test season. Pujara, 30, passed 4000 runs on Thursday, the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC in Colombo. It was Pujara’s 50th Test.Harmanpreet was an even easier choice as she has been India’s best batsman in limited-overs cricket. She played a significant role in India’s T20 series victory in Australia early last year. She also played a role in India’s Women’s Asia Cup triumph later that year. She also became the first India women’s cricketer to be signed by an overseas Twenty20 franchise, representing Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), where she had some great performances. More recently, her unbeaten 171 against Australia vaulted India into their first Women’s World Cup final since 2005.”We have sent Cheteshwar and Harmanpreet’s name for the Arjuna award. The names have been forwarded to the Ministry of Sports,” a senior office-bearer told . “Both have been exceptional performers during last season and were unanimous choice from our end.”There has been no nomination from BCCI for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.

Batting allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva, uncapped left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara, and seamer Nuwan Pradeep returned to Sri Lanka’s squad for the first Test against India, in Galle

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Jul-20171:18

‘SL looking for Herath’s long-term replacement’

Sri Lanka squad for first Test

Rangana Herath (capt), Upul Tharanga, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Malinda Pushpakumara, Nuwan Pradeep

Batting allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva, uncapped left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara, and seamer Nuwan Pradeep returned to Sri Lanka’s squad for the first Test against India, in Galle. De Silva, who had been left out of the squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, effectively takes Dinesh Chandimal’s place in the 15-man squad, while Pushpakumara displaces left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan, and Pradeep pushes out Dushmantha Chameera.Though Pushpakumara, 30, has not played any international cricket yet, he has for long been prolific at the first-class level, where he has 558 first-class wickets at an average of 19.85, and is routinely among the top three wicket-takers in the Premier League Tournament. In the most recent season, Pushpakumara’s 77 wickets at 13.79 put him 20 wickets clear of the second-highest wicket-taker. That he has not already played for Sri Lanka is largely due to the fact that Rangana Herath is the team’s incumbent left-arm orthodox spinner.De Silva’s return to the squad was somewhat expected, following the news that Chandimal would be unavailable for the first Test owing to his hospitalisation for pneumonia on Friday. Though De Silva got a duck against India in the two-day practice match in Colombo, he had impressed in Tests in 2016, when he had highly successful series against Australia and Zimbabwe. His competition for the middle-order spot vacated by Chandimal comes in the form of Danushka Gunathilaka, who is an opener by trade, but has been in excellent form over the past two months, top-scoring in the recent ODI series against Zimbabwe, then hitting a brisk 74 against India in the two-dayer, before he was run out.A hamstring niggle had sidelined Pradeep for two weeks, but Sri Lanka had always hoped he would regain fitness before the India series. That it is Chameera he is replacing, however, is a slight surprise. Chameera’s pace had made him one of the more promising quicks in Sri Lanka’s battery, and he appeared to be making a steady comeback.Vishwa Fernando’s left-arm angle, and perhaps his wickets on Friday, may have swung the decision in his favour, however. He had made his Test debut at Galle against Australia last year, in a match that was so heavily dominated by Sri Lanka’s lead spinners that Fernando was only required to bowl two overs. Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Kumara are the two other quicks in what is an especially pace-heavy squad.Herath has already been confirmed as captain for the Test that starts on Wednesday.

Manchester United are extremely active in the transfer market after having a slow start to their recruitment drive this summer, with only Andre Onana and Mason Mount joining so far.

The Red Devils have moves for Rasmus Hojlund and Sofyan Amrabat reportedly in the works, with Erik ten Hag eager to strengthen his team ahead of their return to Champions League football and challenge for trophies once again next season.

Whilst incomings are desperately needed at Old Trafford, there is still a strong desire to offload the players who aren't in the future plans of the Dutch coach with many fringe players put up for sale this summer.

One of those players was former club captain and centre-back Harry Maguire, who has found himself falling out of favour since the arrival of Ten Hag last summer, and now it is looking like he may end his nightmare tenure with Man United once and for all.

Will Harry Maguire be sold this summer?

According to BBC Sport, Man United have rejected a £20m bid from West Ham United for the England centre-back.

Hammers boss David Moyes is eager to snap up the services of Maguire this summer and with over £100m to spend following Declan Rice's departure is clearly keen to strengthen his squad in key areas.

The Manchester giants are willing to listen to offers that meet their valuation, but only if Maguire is keen to leave the club this summer.

The approach from West Ham comes just a few days after it was revealed by Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg that Benjamin Pavard is a target for Man United:

"Benjamin #Pavard, he still wants to leave FC Bayern this summer as he has no intention to extend his contract beyond 2024.

"It’s still a race between Man City, Man Utd and Juventus at this stage. Swap deal with Kyle Walker has been no hot topic in the last days. #MCFC"

"Bayern bosses are waiting for a concrete offer. @SkySportDE".

How good is Benjamin Pavard?

Bringing in a replacement for Maguire wouldn't be essential, but would be massively advantageous to add quality depth into the defensive set-up at Old Trafford.

In contrast to Maguire, the 27-year-old titan ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, shots in total, shot-creating actions, progressive passes, progressive carries, touches and tackles, demonstrating that he is an attacking-minded defender who would suit the style of play Ten Hag is keen to encourage.

Not only that, Pavard boasts many similarities to Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk, a player who has been a huge success in English football with a Premier League title, FA Cup and League Cup to his name in domestic competition, as well as a Champions League, suggesting that Pavard could also be perfectly suited in the top-flight.

According to Opta's Player Radar, the Netherlands captain is one of the most comparable players to the World Cup winner, demonstrating a likeness in their strong abilities in possession and in dominating opponents.

Those traits are shown by the fact that Pavard ranks among the very best for touches made among his European peers – showcasing his willingness to get on the ball at every opportunity – as well as in the top 26% for possession won, while Van Dijk ranks in the top 2% and the top 36% in those same two metrics.

Unsurprisingly, Pavard – who has a reported €30m (£26m) price tag – has been the recipient of high praise over his impressive career so far, with Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel waxing lyrical about the Frenchman:

"He is an underrated player. He can adapt to the highest level and he defends rigorously. He is a top team player, he immediately had my confidence and proved to me that I had been right."

With that being said, it would be a no-brainer for Man United to sign Pavard this summer, especially if they can offload Maguire in the process, as he would not only be a worthy successor, but an instant upgrade due to his ability to play efficiently in Ten Hag's system.

اتخذ نادي برشلونة المنافس في بطولة الدوري الإسباني خطوة جديدة بعد ضمان بقاء مدرب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، تشافي هيرنانديز، في الموسم المقبل.

وتوصل برشلونة لاتفاق بالأمس مع تشافي للبقاء بعد اجتماع مع رئيس النادي، خوان لابورتا، ليستمر المدرب حتى نهاية عقده في 30 يونيو 2025.

ولكن من المعروف عن تشافي أنه يحب بقاء قائد الفريق الحالي، سيرجي روبيرتو، حيث يجيد اللاعب المشاركة في أكثر من مركز سواء في الدفاع أو في خط الوسط.

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🔵🔴 Barcelona will discuss Sergi Roberto’s contract again soon as Xavi considers him an important player on the pitch and in the dressing room.

After initial round of talks, Sergi’s camp and Barça will talk again but there are chances for him to stay again. pic.twitter.com/FzhAHeFDD3 — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 25, 2024

وبحسب متخصص سوق الانتقالات، فابرزيو رومانو، فإن برشلونة سيناقش تجديد عقد روبيرتو الذي ينتهي بنهاية الموسم الحالي.

ويأتي ذلك بسبب إصرار تشافي على بقاء اللاعب لأنه يعتبره مهمًا في الملعب وداخل غرفة اللاعبين لأنه من أصحاب الخبرات.

وأفاد رومانو عبر حسابه الرسمي على منصة “X” أنه كانت هناك محادثات أولية منذ فترة بين الطرفين ولكنها ستعود بعد بقاء تشافي.

ويلعب روبيرتو مع برشلونة منذ عام 2013 وشارك مع الفريق الكتالوني في 368 مباراة وسجل 19 هدفًا وصنع 42 آخرين.