Liverpool could ditch Diaz with move for exciting £40m winger

More than a few eyebrows were raised on Merseyside when it was claimed that Liverpool forward Luis Diaz had agreed a contract with one of the club's Premier League rivals.

Journalist Marcos Benito reported that the Colombia international had reached an agreement on a five-year deal with reigning champions Manchester City.

The reporter added that Pep Guardiola's side were prepared to offer a fee in the region of €70m (£60m) to snap him up from Anfield this summer.

Liverpool player Luis Diaz

It did not take long, though, for that rumour to be rubbished as The Athletic's Sam Lee, who covers the Cityzens, confirmed that there was no truth in the speculation.

Luis Diaz's future at Liverpool

Speaking on The Anfield Agenda, journalist David Lynch revealed that, despite reports of City's interest, Liverpool are open to cashing in on the winger this summer.

The reporter claimed that the Reds would be willing to move the former Porto star on before the end of the transfer window if they can get a replacement in with more attacking output on the flank.

With this in mind, Arne Slot could brutally ditch Diaz, if there is a team that is genuinely interested in signing him, by swooping for reported target Johan Bakayoko.

Johan Bakayoko for PSV

The Mirror recently reported that the PSV forward is a long-term target for Liverpool as they eye up players who could come in to bolster their options on the flanks.

A possible fee of between £35m and £40m was reported earlier this summer but it remains to be seen how much the Reds would be willing to pay for his services.

Why Liverpool should sign Johan Bakayoko

Liverpool should sign Bakayoko to provide Slot with a natural alternative to Mo Salah on the right flank, as another left-footed right-sided winger.

That would then leave Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, and Cody Gakpo who can all play on the left side of the front three, whilst all three of them can also play as the central striker.

Brutally ditching Diaz from the squad to bring in the PSV starlet could, therefore, provide Slot with more balance in his options across the frontline.

Appearances

33

37

xG

8.69

11.88

Goals

12

8

Big chances created

12

5

Assists

9

5

As you can see in the table above, Bakayoko significantly outperformed the Colombian winger in the final third, albeit in a different division, with more goals, big chances created, and assists in fewer league appearances.

Whilst Diaz underperformed his xG by almost four goals, the PSV whiz outperformed his by just over three. This suggests that the Belgium international is a ruthless finisher who could make the most of the chances that Liverpool create, which cannot be said of the current Reds man.

Bakayoko, who was described as "fun to watch" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is also six years younger than the Colombia international, which means that he has far more time on his hands to develop and improve, whilst seemingly having the potential to offer more quality at the top end of the pitch.

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Therefore, Slot must ruthlessly ditch Diaz from his squad this summer, if possible, and replace him by landing the 21-year-old star to compete for a place out wide.

Kemar Roach signs Surrey deal for early-season County Championship stint

Surrey have signed Kemar Roach, the West Indies fast bowler, for the first seven games of the County Championship season.Roach will be the club’s second overseas player for the early part of the season, alongside Hashim Amla, who initially joined Surrey on a Kolpak deal ahead of the 2020 season.While Surrey already have several fast-bowling options on their books, they have opted to bring in Roach’s experience following Morne Morkel’s departure, and with Sam and Tom Curran due to miss the start of the Championship season to play in the IPL.Roach will be returning to county cricket after a decade-long absence, following a brief spell at Worcestershire towards the end of the 2011 season.Related

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He will fly to the UK after the completion of West Indies’ second Test against Sri Lanka, and Surrey said in a press release that they expect him to be available for their season opener against Gloucestershire on April 8, “subject to any Covid restrictions and quarantine rules”. He will return to the Caribbean after the fixture against Middlesex, which starts on May 20.”I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Surrey for the early part of the summer,” Roach said. “Two grounds I wanted to play at as a kid were the two Ovals: Kensington and The Oval, home of Surrey.”When Alec Stewart showed an interest in me I had no hesitation in saying yes to him. The club has a strong squad with a nice balance of youth and experience. I would like to thank CWI for allowing me the opportunity to go back and play county cricket again after a number of years.”Stewart, Surrey’s director of cricket, said: “I’m very pleased to have secured the services of Kemar for the first seven games of the upcoming season. He’s a highly skilled bowler who we feel will suit the conditions of the early part of the English domestic season.”He is vastly experienced at international and domestic level and bowled very well in last summer’s Test series in England without amassing the wicket haul he really deserved.”

Sheffield Wednesday have hit gold on "weapon" who’s worth more than Poveda

Sheffield Wednesday are very much attempting to get the old band back together this summer when it comes to their transfer dealings in through the door, with former loan star Ike Ugbo near the top of their extensive shopping list.

A move for the former Chelsea youth striker to sign on the dotted line could well be on the cards, but there's one reunion that has been stopped in its tracks now, involving fellow ex-loanee Ian Poveda.

Leeds forward Ian Poveda.

The South American attacker opted to join Sunderland over returning to South Yorkshire, but Danny Rohl and Co won't want be too downbeat for too long about the former Leeds United man turning down the chance to come back to the Owls, knowing they have another attacking star at their disposal already.

Anthony Musaba's time at Sheffield Wednesday

It's fair to say Anthony Musaba was a slow burner when first donning an Owls strip, with plenty of intrigue in the air after he initially joined under the doomed tenure of Xisco Munoz, having previously played for AS Monaco.

The 23-year-old forward would only score one Championship goal under the Spaniard's terrible reign in charge, before coming into his own under the far more popular German, as the goals started to flow more easily – having subsequently been hailed as a "weapon" by his manager.

Sheffield Wednesday forward Anthony Musaba.

He would finish his 2023/24 campaign with eight total goals next to his name, with a mini purple patch of vital strikes and assists towards the back end of the topsy-turvy season for Wednesday as a whole allowing his side to keep their heads above water come the final match day.

Therefore, everyone with connections to the South Yorkshire titans will be hoping their electric number 45 has even more up his sleeve this season, as the Owls aim to make strides in the division as opposed to battling towards the foot of the league again.

Poveda, on the other hand, never really consistently delivered in terms of output for Rohl's men during his short stay, with Musaba's value far higher than his ex-Leeds counterpart's as a result, according to Football Transfers.

Musaba's transfer value at Wednesday

Wednesday fans would have wanted to see Poveda back in their beloved blue and white stripes purely to see what Rohl could get out of him over a full season, with zero goals registered by the diminutive winger last season in South Yorkshire, despite showing signs of his trickery and flair on the ball.

As stated, Musaba managed to bag eight strikes in all competitions on the contrary, which is two times more than what Poveda has managed to tally up across his up-and-down time in the men's game in total, having also previously been on the roster of Manchester City as a fresh-faced youngster.

Musaba's value/Championship numbers (23/24) vs Poveda's (23/24)

Value/Stat – per 90 mins*

Musaba

Poveda

Value

£1.6m

£337k

Games played

43

17

Goals scored

7

0

Assists

5

1

Shots*

1.1

0.6

Shots on target*

0.4

0.1

Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, Poveda's value of £337k pales into insignificance lined up next to Musaba's bumper £1.6m price tag, with the ex-AS Monaco attacker also sweeping the floor with the new Sunderland recruit in terms of their head-to-head numbers.

Poveda will just hope he can shine at Sunderland away from failing to spark in life at his previous clubs, which could end up in his value shooting up subsequently.

Back at Hillsborough, however, and Rohl will hope Musaba can be equally as crucial this coming season alongside the barrage of new signings strengthening the side, with Wednesday aiming to shock the Championship top spots as a surprise package.

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ByKelan Sarson Jul 25, 2024

Two Beckhams better than one: David joined by NFL star Odell & Hollywood actor Idris Elba as Lionel Messi & Inter Miami deliver ‘great night’ in MLS playoffs

Beckham power helped Inter Miami get their Major League Soccer playoff campaign off, with co-owner David being joined by NFL star

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Herons chasing down MLS Cup gloryFamous faces in attendanceMessi leading another trophy chargeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United and Real Madrid legend David is a co-owner of the Herons, while American football wide receiver Odell is also based in Florida at present as he turns out for the Miami Dolphins. The pair were in attendance to watch Inter Miami open their bid for MLS Cup glory.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowAdvertisementDID YOU KNOW?

Lionel Messi has attracted famous faces to Chase Stadium since making a stunning move to the United States in 2023. His mass appeal shows no sign of waning, with A-list guests continuing to flock to Inter Miami fixtures.

THE GOSSIP

That was the case again when Tata Martino’s side lined up against Atlanta United. Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba got the goals for Inter Miami as they claimed a 2-1 win on home soil. Odell Beckham Jr and Hollywood actor Idris Elba were among those to rub shoulders with ex-England captain David Beckham.

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WHAT NEXT FOR LIONEL MESSI & INTER MIAMI?

While Messi was not among the goals against Atlanta, he has been a talismanic presence for Inter Miami when fit in 2024. He is a leading contender for the MLS MVP award and is in the process of chasing down major trophy No.47 in his record-breaking career.

Perfect for Murillo: Forest eye "one of the most underrated young CBs"

This summer, Nottingham Forest are once again set to enter the transfer market for reinforcements despite their already heavy spending since promotion back to the Premier League in 2022.

Evangelos Marinakis has spent upwards of £200m on new players, with 34 new additions arriving at the City Ground in the attempts to make the Reds an established top-flight side after a 23-year absence.

In the two campaigns back in the Premier League, Forest have survived relegation on both occasions, finishing perilously close to the drop zone – undoubtedly underachieving after such significant investment.

Numerous attacking players have been money well spent, with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi all set to make the club a hefty profit as a result of their impressive displays on Trentside.

Defensively is what has prevented the Reds from pushing further up the table, with the club looking to rectify their frailties with the signing of one player who Marinakis already knows.

Nottingham Forest interested in signing new defensive talent

According to a report from Portuguese outlet Record earlier this week, Nottingham Forest are battling multiple other Premier League sides for the signature of centre-back David Carmo this summer.

The 24-year-old, who represents Angola, also has interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers and East Midlands rivals Leicester City, with Forest potentially having the edge in the race for his signature.

Carmo spent the second half of last season on loan at Olympiacos, a club also owned by Marinakis, with his links to the Greek shipping magnate potentially helping the Reds in their attempts.

The centre-back is contracted to Portuguese side Porto, with the club potentially looking to cash in on Carmo whilst his stock is at his highest following his Europa Conference League triumph at the end of 2023/24.

He’s certainly demonstrated his talents in Greece and on the European stage, with the former Olympiacos loanee potentially being the perfect partner for current Forest star Murillo.

Why Carmo would be the perfect partner for Murillo at Forest

Brazilian centre-back Murillo has been superb since his £15m move to the City Ground last summer, starting in 32 of the 38 Premier League games last season.

Murillo

His subsequent form has seen him linked with a £60-70m move to the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham, but the Reds will desperately want to keep hold of the youngster with the former Corinthians talent able to form a perfect partnership with Carmo next season.

In his 31 games across all competitions last season, Carmo demonstrated excellent qualities on the ball, averaging 51 passes per 90 at a pass completion rate of 79% – fitting into Nuno Espírito Santo’s system of comfortable ball-playing centre-backs.

On average, four of the 51 passes per 90 were progressive, showcasing his desire to want to play forward, with his tally over 1.1 per 90 higher than Murillo who has excelled with the ball at his feet during his time in England.

Games

31

Passes per 90

51

Pass accuracy

79%

Progressive passes per 90

4

Aerials won per 90

4.4

Shots per 90

0.9

The Porto defender, who’s previously been dubbed “one of the most underrated young CBs in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has one figure that would certainly bolster Forest’s defence, also making him the perfect partner for the 21-year-old.

He’s averaged 4.4 aerials won per game, dominating in the air, adding an aerial presence to Nuno’s side which conceded the most set-piece goals in the Premier League during 2023/24.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for Carmo would cost Marinakis, he must pursue a move for the talent who he’s previously employed, with his talents certainly helping the club in their contained pursuit of top-flight survival.

He’s constantly showcased his abilities, with Carmo having the potential to be a hit at the City Ground, but also allowing the club to make a profit in the future – further boosting their PSR standing.

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ByEthan Lamb Jun 12, 2024

Corberan could soon sell West Brom star who earns 2x more than Johnston

It goes without saying that if West Bromwich Albion have any chance of getting Mikey Johnston back this summer on a permanent deal, they will go all out guns blazing in a bid to win his coveted signature.

The £6m-rated man took the Championship by storm for just half a season when joining from Glasgow giants Celtic in January, making the Baggies a terrifying prospect to contain for many second-tier defences, whilst other attackers in the side struggled to be as tricky donning a West Brom strip.

It arguably shone a light on how many underperformers there are up top for Carlos Corberan's men, who had been content with putting in largely sub-par performances before Johnston's eye-opening arrival, with Grady Diangana very much a guilty culprit in this regard.

Once purchased for a bumper £18m after being let go of by West Ham United, the Congolese attacker was the bright spark the Baggies were longing for once upon a time, before fading away into the background as of late, compared to exploits of the Bhoys loanee.

Diangana's situation at West Brom

Once described as being an attacker who can make "defenders dizzy" by football journalist Dean Jones, Diangana, unfortunately, in the here and how is a forward player for the Baggies who blows hot and cold far too often.

The 26-year-old struggling to grab the bull by the horns in the Championship play-offs would have irritated those with West Brom connections watching on, especially in the second leg of the semi-finals away at Southampton, where the out-of-sorts forward would only amass 27 touches of the ball.

Grady Diangana West Brom

He ended up being hauled off in the second half by Corberan as the West Midlands outfit bowed out of the knockout format as 3-1 losers, as the likes of the ex-Hammers man – alongside fellow goal-shy attacking teammate Brandon Thomas-Asante – failed to ever spark into life.

This could trigger West Brom into offloading their inconsistent attacker soon, who is attracting interest from his former club no less according to a report by Africa Foot last month, alongside further interest coming from Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers in England.

Once stunning supporters at the Hawthorns with regular sublime strikes like the one above, Diangana's goal contributions last season sitting at 15 from 38 games felt somewhat underwhelming, especially when you consider only six of those came in 2024.

Johnston, on the other hand, was rather marvellous.

Johnston's time at West Brom

Entering the building at West Brom at the turn of the year and becoming an instant fan's favourite with electric attacking displays, the winger amassed nine goal contributions of his own from just 20 games.

Johnston's numbers for West Brom

Metric * = per 90 mins

Stat

Games played

20

Goals scored

7

Assists

2

Scoring frequency

168 mins

Shots*

1.3

Big chances created

4

Successful dribbles*

2.2

Stats by Sofascore

Setting the league alight by scoring every 168 minutes for his new loan side in the regular season as a full-throttle forward player, Diangana exiting this summer could free up space on the wage bill for the Baggies to go back in for Johnston, alongside adding more to the transfer kitty, to try win back the Republic of Ireland international for his hefty £6m price-tag.

Constantly a thorn in the side of the defences that had to be alert to his tricky feet in the second tier, West Brom supporters everywhere would be in dreamland if Johnston was to return, even if that did result in Diangana exiting.

Described by Corberan himself as being "special" last season, the 25-year-old could be an even more petrifying prospect for Championship defences next campaign when unleashed over a full 46-game schedule, as opposed to just experiencing the latter half of the season.

Diangana vs Johnston – head-to-head stats over the last year

Stat – per 90 mins

Diangana

Johnston

Progressive passes

4.44

3.34

Progressive carries

3.22

5.13

Successful take-ons

2.18

3.03

Touches in attacking penalty area

3.03

3.03

Progressive passes received

5.51

7.07

Stats by FBRef

Looking at their head-to-head numbers as progressive players trying to drive the Baggies forward, as per FBRef, Johnston just about edges his Congolese counterpart, alongside amassing stronger numbers in terms of both their outputs recently, over Diangana who looked bereft of confidence in the play-off clash at St. Mary's.

The West Brom number 11's high wage will also be another sticking point as to why Corberan and Co might not be completely against the idea of parting ways, with the 5 foot 11 attacking midfielder banking £20.3k-per-week last season for his employers, as per Capology.

West Brom winger Grady Diangana.

West Brom's wage bill in 2023/24

Away from Johnston's price-tag potentially denting the Baggies bank account, with West Brom chairman Shilen Patel stating that the club will have to be "resourceful" this summer, his wage is significantly lower than that of Diangana's.

The current Celtic man earns just £10k-per-week in contrast, with the ex-West Ham attacker earning double Johnston's salary as a result.

At this moment in time, Diangana's pay-packet actually puts him quite near the top of the highest earners at the Hawthorns, with many scratching their heads at the likes of Daryl Dike earning £32k-per-week meaning he is the club's top earner, despite regularly being in the treatment room.

Allowing many of those who had been on healthy salary to leave this summer already, with Adam Reach's exit revealed recently on the club's retained list after the experienced figure had been pocketing an extortionate £40k-per-week last campaign, there could be an argument that Diangana might well follow suit out of the door.

West Brom winger Grady Diangana.

It would be a dour note to end on for the 26-year-old, who was beloved when first joining as a dynamic maverick who got supporters out of their seats frequently, but if West Brom can gain a similar style player with Johnston re-joining, the shock of a long-standing servant leaving won't be as hard to take.

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Another Gnabry situation: Arsenal in danger of losing "monster" talent

Over the last few years, Arsenal have become shrewd operators in the transfer market, whether through incomings like Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, and Ben White or outgoings like Folarin Balogun and Joe Willock.

It seems a long time ago that the North Londoners were spending north of £70m on a player like Nicolas Pepe or, worse yet, losing someone like Serge Gnabry for free.

However, based on recent reports, Edu Gaspar and Co could be about to lose one of the most exciting youngsters the academy have had in years for next to nothing.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Academy Scoop, Arsenal are in real danger of losing academy superstar Chido Obi-Martin to Bayern Munich in the summer.

The report revealed that the player "rejected Arsenal's most recent scholarship offer this week" and "looks set to walk out of the club."

If Bayern's intense interest wasn't bad enough, Borussia Dortmund are also said to be incredibly keen to bring the young striker to Germany.

If the Gunners can't agree a new scholarship offer with the Danish prospect soon, they are in danger of repeating their Gnabry mistake all over again.

Chidozie Obi's parallels to Gnabry

Chidozie Obi caught the attention of the wider footballing world this season thanks to his frankly ridiculous performance against Liverpool's U16s in which he scored ten goals.

Chidozie Obi-Martin Arsenal U18s record

Appearances

18

Goals

32

Assists

3

Goal Involvements per Match

1.94

All Stats via Transfermarkt

However, he's been putting in stellar displays all season, scoring 32 goals and providing 18 assists in just 18 games for the U18s this season, which works out to 1.94 goal involvements per game.

It may be early on in his career, but it looks like the 16-year-old "monster", as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, is going to develop into an incredible footballer, which makes this latest news all the more worrying for Arsenal fans.

They have already seen their club lose one incredible youngster to the Bundesliga, only for them to return years later and punish them in Gnabry.

The German international joined the Gunners for just £100k as a 16-year-old in 2011, but five years – and a failed loan spell – later, he was sold to Werder Bremen for a paltry £4m, where he would catch the eye of and move to Bayern a year later.

Serge Gnabry's post-Arsenal career

Team

Werder Bremen

TSG Hoffenheim

Bayern Munich

Appearances

27

26

238

Goals

11

10

86

Assists

2

7

53

Goal Involvements per Match

0.48

0.65

0.58

All Stats via Transfermarkt

After one more loan, this time to Hoffenheim, the "phenomenal" star, as Rio Ferdinand dubbed him, was finally given a chance to play for FC Hollywood, and to say he's been a success at the Allianz would be an understatement.

In 238 games for the German behemoths, he's scored 86 goals, provided 53 assists, won five Bundesligas, two German Cups, four German Super Cups, one Champions League, and one UEFA Super Cup – not bad for a player Tony Pulis once described as "not at the level to play for West Brom."

To rub the salt in even more, the former Gunner scored against his old side in the Champions League this season.

Ultimately, selling Gnabry for such a small fee was one of the worst decisions Arsenal made in the 2010s, and now it looks like they might be about to lose another superstar in the making, and this time, they can't do anything to stop it.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 11, 2024

Ten Hag must drop Man Utd ace after 5/10 Newcastle display

Manchester United picked up just their second Premier League win since March on Wednesday, defeating European challenger Newcastle United 3-2.

Erik ten Hag fielded a side without a true number nine, and the overall team performance was slightly better than what the fans have witnessed recently.

That said, the same issues continue to appear, particularly at the back, with the Red Devils facing 21 shots and the visitors missing five big chances.

However, there was one player at the other end of the field who struggled to have any real influence on the game, and it’s time for the star to be given a well-earned test.

Alejandro Garnacho’s 23/24 campaign

It can’t be denied that Alejandro Garnacho has been one of the most consistent performers for Man United this season, with his 35 league appearances proving he’s often relied on by the boss.

In the Premier League alone, the Argentine star has netted seven times and provided four assists, but it’s the constant threat he offers that makes him such a huge talent.

According to DataMB, Garnacho ranks among Bukayo Saka and Michael Olise for dribbles, carries, and expected goal involvements, while he’s also by far the best talent under the age of 20.

Goals

1st

xG

1st

xA

1st

Shots

1st

Dribbles

1st

Crosses

1st

Touches in box

1st

Unsurprisingly, starting his 36th consecutive game is clearly taking its toll on the young winger, who’s given his all for the side each time he’s on the grass, but his performance against the Magpies signified that he deserves a rest, just like Rasmus Hojlund.

Alejandro Garnacho’s performance vs Newcastle

Garnacho’s name being in the starting lineup is guaranteed at this point, and the 19-year-old began in his favourite left-wing spot against the Magpies.

From the off, the number 17 looked to cause Kieran Tippier plenty of issues, driving at the right-back and often finding himself in and around the penalty area, but he was unable to take advantage of his opportunities.

As the game progressed, Garnacho’s influence on the match decreased, with Amad Diallo instead taking on most of the attacking responsibility, scoring, and assisting.

Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst handed Garnacho a 5/10 rating for his performance, stating that he was “weak in the first half,” and the statistics also support that he was much quieter than his usual self.

Goals

0

1

Shots

2

3

Touches

26

64

Passes completed

13

29

Key passes

2

5

Successful dribbles

1/1

3/4

As you can see, the winger was often a passenger during the game, with his overall involvement quite low, especially when his touches and passes are compared to his positional peer on the away side, Anthony Gordon, and goalkeeper Andre Onana, who also had superior touches and passes, 52 and 25.

Yet, even when he was on the ball, other than his two key passes, he was largely wasteful, boasting a pass accuracy of 72% and losing possession eight times.

But, considering this is his first full campaign as a professional, the demand on him to inspire the team and perform every single week is way too high, so a cameo like yesterday’s is completely expected.

If Ten Hag wants the best version of Garnacho ready and firing on all cylinders against Manchester City in the FA Cup final, the best decision may be to drop him to the bench against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend.

This means that his long starting streak will come to an end, but it’ll most definitely be worth it if he’s holding the FA Cup trophy in just over a week’s time.

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ByTom Lever May 16, 2024

Pep Guardiola's feeling generous! Man City boss' extraordinary gift to Man City first-team staff revealed

Pep Guardiola has handed every member of Manchester City's support staff a £10,000 bonus for their continued hard work.

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Guardiola keen to reward City support staffEach handed £10,000 bonusIncludes every first-team building workerWHAT HAPPENED?

Following years of success in both England and across Europe, Guardiola has issued a token of appreciation for every member of staff who works in the first-team training complex at City. According to a report from between 60 and 70 people were surprised with the £10,000 bonus from the Manchester City boss including chefs, receptionists, physiotherapists, kit men, baristas and security staff.

AdvertisementGetty THE BIGGER PICTURE

During Guardiola's eight years in Manchester, he has forged a sense of togetherness between the players and staff. As well as the Spaniard's bonus, the players put together a pool at the end of every season for the team behind the scenes. The head coach has previously expressed that the positive environment across the whole of the club has been a key factor in their continued success.

DID YOU KNOW?

Man City are aiming for their fifth Premier League title in a row but have some work to do if they are to take the crown for most consecutive titles won across Europe's top five divisions. Bayern Munich currently hold the record, winning the Bundesliga 11 times in a row between 2012-2023.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

After winning both of their first two games in the 2024-25 Premier League season, champions City will return to the capital on Saturday as they take on West Ham at the London Stadium.

Chay e Ronald têm problemas físicos e preocupam o Botafogo no duelo contra o Cruzeiro

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo já tem duas dores de cabeça para a próxima partida. Com problemas físicos, o Alvinegro não sabe se poderá contar com Chay e Ronald para o duelo contra o Cruzeiro, no próximo sábado, pela 11ª rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro.

+ Análise: a impressão é que o Botafogo não pode (ou não gosta de) facilitar a própria vida nos jogos

Isto porque a dupla deixou a partida contra o CRB, na última terça-feira, com preocupações. Após a partida, Marcelo Chamusca, treinador do Alvinegro, explicou, em entrevista coletiva, a situação de ambos.

– São duas situações para acompanhar. O Ronald fez exames para ver o grau da lesão [não foi constatada fratura, como posteriormente informado pelo Botafogo]. O Chay sentiu a posterior depois de um chute prensado. Eu até na hora sinalizei pra já fazer a substituição, ele pediu para jogar mais e logo depois pediu pra sair. Deve fazer um exame de imagem. São duas situações preocupantes para o próximo jogo – afirmou o técnico.

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Ronald ficou quatro minutos em campo. O camisa 31, que entrou no decorrer do segundo tempo, ficou com o pé preso no gramado após uma dividida com um defensor do CRB e levou a pior. O atacante realizou exame de imagem após a partida e não foi constatada fratura.

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Os dois passarão por ressonância magnética no retorno da delegação ao Rio de Janeiro para saber se terão condições de jogo diante do Cruzeiro.

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