عقد المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، تشافي هيرنانديز، جلسة مع لاعبيه اليوم في المران الصباحي من أجل الحديث عن قراره بالرحيل نهاية الموسم الحالي.

وأعلن تشافي أمس السبت بعد خسارة فياريال في الدوري الإسباني عدم استمراره مع برشلونة بعد نهاية الموسم، وأكد المدرب أن هذا القرار كان قد اتخذه منذ فترة كبيرة.

وخلال مران الصباح، تحدث تشافي مع اللاعبين دون وجود أي مسئول من مجلس الإدارة وشرح الأسباب التي دفعته لاتخاذ هذا القرار المفاجئ.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تقارير: تصرف نبيل من تشافي بعد قرار رحيله عن برشلونة

وقال تشافي للاعبي برشلونة في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “آسف لأنكم تفاجأتم بالتصريحات بهذه الطريقة، لكنه كان قرار داخلي منذ فترة طويلة ولم أستطع الانتظار أكثر من ذلك”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد أن القرار هو الأفضل للجميع، بالنسبة لي لأنني تحررت من العبء والضغوط التي كانت على عاتقي، وهذا ما سيحرركم كذلك من نفس الضغوط”.

واستمر الحديث لمدة نصف ساعة تقريبًا، وقال تشافي للاعبين: “أشكركم على جهدكم المبذول خلال الفترة الماضية، نحن عائلة ولا يزال هناك وقت لتحقيق نتائج إيجابية مرة أخرى وأن نفاجئ الجميع خاصة من يصفون برشلونة بأنه فريق ميت”.

وأفادت الصحيفة أن المدرب كان على وشك البكاء أثناء حديثه مع اللاعبين، الذين ردوا على حديث تشافي بالتصفيق الحار ثم قاموا باحتضانه.

Arsenal are targeting two midfielders in the summer window, and are preparing an opening bid for Declan Rice, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.

What has Romano said about Arsenal and Rice?

The Gunners made the West Ham captain their top target back in January, and are set to step up their interest when the season ends.

Mikel Arteta wants two new midfielders, with Granit Xhaka expected to join Bayer Leverkusen, and there have been links to Moises Caicedo of Brighton as a big-money arrival alongside Rice.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano confirmed that Arsenal desire a midfielder in addition to Rice, and revealed the extent of their current interest in the Englishman.

"Arsenal will go for new midfielders in the summer, it could be two, from what I understand, and Declan Rice remains the top target. He remains top of the list at Arsenal, since January he's a name that's been discussed internally," he stated.

"We can say now that Arsenal are now preparing and thinking of the first bid for Declan Rice, it is not submitted yet. But they are preparing that bid internally, it means that they are waiting to understand how much West Ham want in order to submit the first proposal, they will also respect West Ham as they are busy with European football, so right after the Conference League they will be able to negotiate with West Ham.

"The idea is in June to submit an official proposal for Declan Rice, so they are now discussing about the structure of the bid, it will probably include some add-ons, so Arsenal are discussing about that internally."

What could Arsenal's midfield look like?

With Xhaka potentially departing, Rice could either be the natural replacement, as a number eight alongside Martin Odegaard, or he could replace the defensive midfielder, with Jorginho or Thomas Partey dropping out of the side.

The other midfield target could determine where Rice is played if he joins Arsenal. Caicedo and Rice could interchange between their two midfield positions if deployed together, or Rice could play as the deeper option with a more creative player coming in.

There have been links with Mason Mount, whilst Emile Smith Rowe has been mooted as an option in midfield, with his future still unclear.

Arteta clearly wants quality in depth, with the Gunners returning to the Champions League for the first time in seven years, and two big signings in midfield could potentially help them compete for the title again next season.

A century from Riki Wessels helped Nottinghamshire to a 65-run victory over Derbyshire in their Royal London Cup meeting at Welbeck

ECB Reporters Network24-Jul-2016
ScorecardRiki Wessels continued his good form with a century in Market Warsop•Getty Images

A century from Riki Wessels helped Nottinghamshire to a 65-run victory over Derbyshire in their Royal London Cup meeting at Welbeck.Wessels hit 114 and Chris Read added 59 as Notts scored 340 for seven after being put in. Shiv Thakor was the most successful Falcons bowler but his three wickets cost 78 runs and came off only eight overs.Ben Slater made 51 at the start of Derbyshire’s reply and Matt Critchley plundered three sixes in a late cameo of 43 as Derbyshire reached 245 before being bowled out in 45.1 overs, leaving Notts to celebrate victory in front of a crowd of 4649.Michael Lumb, with 422 runs already gathered in this season’s competition after scoring three centuries from three visits to the crease, fell for only 15 at the start of the day. When Thakor followed up that dismissal with the wicket of Greg Smith, one over later, Notts had slipped to 48 for 2 but that was the last Derbyshire success for 13 overs as Wessels and Brendan Taylor rattled up a third wicket stand of 122.Wessels took 19 off an over from Thakor and then reached his fourth one-day century from 80 balls, having hit 16 fours and three sixes.He perished when miscuing an attempted reverse sweep off Critchley and Taylor followed in the next over, for 44.Samit Patel’s 31 and 28 from Dan Christian set the hosts up for a big finish and it was applied by Read and Steven Mullaney.Read hit three sixes in his 39-ball innings and Mullaney hit three in a row off Ben Cotton on his way to 39 not out. There was even time at the end for England’s newest cap Jake Ball, playing on his home club ground, to strike the biggest blow of the day as he thumped Thakor back over his head and out of the ground. Notts’ tally of 340 was the most they had ever scored in a one-day match against their local rivals.In pursuit of potentially their most successful run chase, Derbyshire lost Wes Durston, their captain, for only 6. Slater rattled along, scoring 40 of the first 51 runs but edged behind one ball after reaching a 48-ball half-century.Christian, who took 5 for 40 when Notts used the picturesque club ground for the first time last season, removed Wayne Madsen and when Hamish Rutherford edged Luke Fletcher behind the visitors had slid to 103 for 4.Thakor and Neil Broom rallied with a stand of 47 but Mullaney nipped them both out in quick succession; Thakor bowled for 29 and Broom was scooped up by a diving catch from Ball for 25.Critchley, batting at No. 8 in the order, showed some much-needed fight and he was joined by Harvey Hosein in a ninth wicket stand of 63. Gurney, who took 3 for 47, closed out the innings by catching Tony Palladino off his own bowling.

يواصل مسؤولو الزمالك إبرام الصفقات خلال انتقالات يناير الجارية بعد رفع إيقاف القيد من قبل الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم.

ويسعى الزمالك لضم سيف فاروق جعفر لاعب الفريق السابق وبيراميدز الحالي.

وكان سيف فاروق جعفر قد انضم إلى بيراميدز خلال صيف 2023 في صفقة انتقال حر بعد انتهاء عقده مع الزمالك.

طالع.. خاص | الزمالك يقترب من ضم لاعب بوروسيا مونشنجلادباخ الألماني

وعلم “بطولات”، أن سيف فاروق جعفر ظهر في مقر الزمالك من أجل إنهاء انضمامه والتوقيع على عقود عودته للزمالك.

وأنهى الزمالك اتفاقه مع بيراميدز من أجل الحصول على خدمات سيف فاروق جعفر وإتمام العودة لصفوف القلعة البيضاء.

يذكر، أن مسؤولي الزمالك يسعون لإبرام عدد كبير من الصفقات في فترة الانتقالات الشتوية الجارية، بعدما انتهت أزمة القيد والتي حرمت الفريق من ضم أي لاعبين منذ الموسم الماضي.

Alastair Cook has said he wants to move on from the “sideshow” regarding the omission of James Anderson for the opening Test against Pakistan at Lord’s

Andrew McGlashan at Old Trafford21-Jul-2016Alastair Cook has said he wants to move on from the “sideshow” regarding the omission of James Anderson for the opening Test against Pakistan at Lord’s.Medical advice regarding his shoulder injury overruled the desire of Cook and Trevor Bayliss to have Anderson in the side. Anderson then went to play two days of Lancashire’s Championship match against Durham at Southport, where he took 3 for 58 off 22 overs.However, Cook believes the fall-out, which has included a suggestion that Andrew Strauss wants to drastically alter the selection model England use, has been an overreaction because the Test was lost – something far more down to England’s poor batting than a failure of the bowling attack, which removed Pakistan for 339 and 215.”A lot has been blown out of proportion,” Cook said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t play the greatest game of cricket. So then people start jumping on things which were less important, but became more so because we lost.”If we’d played really good cricket, and won the game – and the 11 guys were certainly capable of that – then that story wouldn’t be blown up like it has been.”It’s happened. It was a slightly messy affair, no one intended it to be like that and we’ve got to move on, and play better cricket. It’s been a bit of a sideshow – an unimportant sideshow, really.”An England spokesman said on Wednesday that there were no plans to sack any selectors. However, Strauss has previously said that he would examine the selection process once he had got through various other issues that were in a rather full inbox when he took on the managing director role last year. So if any changes do occur in the future they could well have been on the cards regardless of the Anderson situation.Anderson and Ben Stokes, who also proved his fitness in the match at Southport following knee surgery, will return to England’s XI at Old Trafford as they aim to level the series, with Steven Finn and Jake Ball making way.”It’s great to have Jimmy back. He’s an outstanding bowler, it’s great to have him fully fit,” Cook said. “If he’d bowled 30 overs and really hurt his shoulder, and was out again, we’d all be sitting here and be disappointed with that decision.”In hindsight, he could have played that game – because obviously, he went and played for Lancashire and got through that. We probably erred on the side of caution, and have to hope we now have him for three games.”

Tottenham Hotspur will be 'absolutely confident' that either Harry Kane stays at the club or his replacement is already in the building, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Harry Kane?

As per Football Insider, it is said that Kane won't sign a contract extension at Spurs until their new manager has been formally announced in north London.

The 29-year-old is seen as 'irreplaceable' by the club; however, his £200k-a-week deal is set to expire in 2024 and Chelsea have been mooted as a potential destination as Mauricio Pochettino would like to reunite with Kane at Stamford Bridge.

Sky Sports report that Manchester United also retain an interest in Kane, though they would need the player to push for an exit in the forthcoming window due to Tottenham's difficult negotiation stance.

Former Spurs and Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov thinks that Kane would ruin his legacy by leaving Tottenham, as per BBC Sport, as the 42-year-old said: "I can understand and can relate to his situation. I feel for him, but at the same time I think he is going to stay at Spurs. "His legacy now is so great that he cannot force himself to tarnish it – when you say Spurs, it is Harry Kane and when you say Harry Kane, it is Spurs.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones is of the opinion that Tottenham could've already earmarked an internal option to replace Kane in the event he does leave, in light of much reported interest in a number nine.

Jones told FFC: "Tottenham have obviously got to deal with that down the line, at the moment, they're not really considering it and I think that it's interesting that there are almost no transfer links to Tottenham signing a proper number nine. If they thought Harry Kane was leaving, then that would be happening by now. It's either they're absolutely confident Kane's staying or they're absolutely confident they've already got the replacement in-house. So, which is it to be?"

Who could replace Harry Kane at Tottenham Hotspur if he did leave?

Truthfully, no-one could replace Kane and his goalscoring exploits at Tottenham; however, it would be interesting to see what plans were in place if the Englishman was to depart this summer.

In terms of in-house options, things don't look too convincing upon observation. Richarlison would be an obvious candidate due to his experience operating as a striker, though he has only found the net three times compared to Kane's 29 strikes this term, as per Transfermarkt.

On the market, Spurs have been linked with a move for Roma striker Tammy Abraham, according to one report from a Spanish media outlet.

Jeunes Footeux via TEAMtalk have also claimed that Montpellier forward Elye Wahi is on Tottenham's radar, though it is still unclear what direction the north London outfit would turn to if Kane was to leave his boyhood club.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to sign a bumper long-term contract at Liverpool following his resurgence in form, transfer insider Jacque Talbot has claimed.

What's going on with Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool?

The England international had drawn criticism for his performances earlier this season but looks back to his best form as Liverpool's recent revival has seen them return to the hunt for a top-four spot.

The 24-year-old's current deal, which was signed in 2021, expires in 2025, but he is now expected to sign a lengthy extension which will keep him at Anfield for the foreseeable future.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Talbot revealed the details of his deal, which will come as a boost to Jurgen Klopp.

"Trent Alexander Arnold looks set to have talks this summer over fresh terms. He signed his last deal in 2021 and that was a four-year deal until 2025," he stated.

"So what I hear is that the club have been in talks about putting him down for six years, that will be the effect of it wouldn't go to 2031, it will begin in the summer and takes over as a new payment going forward, so it'd be six years on the 21."

How important is Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool?

The right-back has appeared in all but one of Liverpool's Premier League games this season but faced criticism for his defensive ability earlier on in the campaign (via Transfermarkt).

However, he has shone going forward in recent weeks, with a goal and six assists in his last eight appearances, having registered just two assists in his previous 27 appearances.

His last appearance saw him dispatch a stunning free-kick against Leicester City, and since his move from a standard attacking right-back role to a hybrid-midfield position, he has begun to play with more confidence again, and Liverpool have benefitted, registering seven league victories in a row.

Alexander-Arnold has been described as "very good" by Brentford manager Thomas Frank, and he is a player who is seemingly highly appreciated at his club.

The lack of an alternative right-back in the Liverpool squad means that if he is absent, the current options to replace him are James Milner, Joe Gomez or young talent Calvin Ramsay, and this highlights how key his presence is to the side.

Although he appears to be out of favour with England boss Gareth Southgate, Alexander-Arnold committing his future to the club will be a positive sign for Liverpool heading into the summer window.

ScorecardNick Browne made his highest score in limited-overs cricket•Getty Images

Nick Browne posted his highest List A score to keep Essex top of the Royal London Cup South Group table, but the opener might have been celebrating a first 50-over hundred if he had not been run out on 99.Browne slipped as he turned for a second run and failed to beat home Andrew Salter’s throw from deep mid-on. He had faced 104 balls, and in partnerships of 82 with Jesse Ryder and 85 with Ravi Bopara laid the foundations for Essex to chase down 325 with five balls to spare.The left-hander’s previous best had been the 69 he recorded against Hampshire at Southampton last year. Coincidentally, Browne’s previous highest score in this season’s competition was 49 before he was stumped in the win against Kent.Ryder and Bopara both contributed half-centuries and Ryan ten Doeschate and James Foster thrashed 36 off 20 ball to finish the chase as Essex claimed their fourth win in six games after their 66-run defeat by Surrey on Sunday.That Essex faced such a big target was down to a 66-ball hundred by Colin Ingram, containing six sixes. The South African needed just 73 balls to reach 107 – which also included seven fours – and dominated stands of 83 and 87 with Will Bragg and Graham Wagg for the third and sixth wickets.Ingram took 41 balls to reach his half-century, and then accelerated to the extent that his next fifty took just a further 25 deliveries. But the biggest partnership of Glamorgan’s innings went to openers David Lloyd and Jacques Rudolph, their 105 partnership spanning 23 overs.Four of Essex’s seven bowlers went for more than seven an over, and only the steady David Masters kept Glamorgan under control with two for 44 from his 10 overs. Graham Napier finished with three wickets, but at a personal cost of 73. In the end it mattered not.

Manchester United already have a bid ready and waiting to go for Kim Min-jae according to the Italian media, via Sport Witness.

What is the latest on Kim Min-jae to Man United?

The defender has shone for Napoli since his move to Italy, bagging himself two goals and two assists with one Man of the Match award in 33 Serie A outings. He's impressed even more on the bigger European stage too, with the 26-year-old managing a WhoScored rating of 7.20 from his efforts in the Champions League.

His fantastic showings have come in spite of the fact that this is his first season in Italy. Prior to his move, Kim played for Fenerbache in Turkey and began his career at Beijing Guoan. Even with those two sides though, he never dropped below a 6.60 rating over the course of a season.

And these performances have seemingly caught the eye of Man United. The Premier League side have already made it clear that they want to add both a midfielder and a striker during the transfer window, but other reports have added that the centre-back is another player that Erik Ten Hag is eager to bring in.

Now, Italian media, via Sport Witness state that the Red Devils are already in "advanced talks" to snap up Kim and that he could be allowed to leave this summer. It adds that with his release clause of 50 to 60 million Euros (£43 to £52m) setting in as soon as July 1st hits, the side have a bid ready for when that fee comes into place.

Should Man United sign Kim Min-jae?

Man United have several areas of need when this summer transfer window opens, with the forward line arguably their most notable concern. With the Red Devils managing only 49 goals in the Premier League this campaign – and with their highest scoring 'out-and-out' striker Anthony Martial producing just four goals – more goalscoring prowess is definitely needed.

However, improving their backline with Kim would not be a bad thing. He ranks within the top five highest rated players in the Napoli team this season on WhoScored and he's also managed the second best interception rate in the side too with 1.2. He's also been given the name "Monster" by fans and media alike because of his battling performances and physical prowess – which is high praise indeed.

The player then is clearly adept at reading the game and breaking up opposition attacks – and adding a brick wall like him to your defence is never a bad thing.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly targeting the Villarreal defender Pau Torres again this summer and Fabrizio Romano has mooted his potential price tag.

Why do Spurs need more defenders?

The Lilywhites were able to bring in one centre-back last summer with Clement Lenglet joining from Barcelona on a season-long loan deal.

However, the deal to bring him to north London is not believed to hold a buy-clause with the Frenchman set to return over the coming weeks.

There have been reports suggesting that Tottenham may look to make his stay in N17 permanent by negotiation a deal with the Spanish giants.

But it is apparent the arrival of Lenglet this season has not been enough with Tottenham holding the sixth-worst defensive record in the league.

Indeed, only a handful of sides have conceded more goals this term than the Lilywhites (57).

However, a report from Spain has claimed they still hold an interest in Torres but may face competition from his former manager Unai Emery and Aston Villa this summer.

It seems the 26-year-old, who has been said to have "tremendous calmness", may not only have offers from the Premier League over the coming months with Fabrizio Romano noting Juventus' believed interest.

And speaking on his Here We Go podcast, the Italian journalist has revealed the possible price tag that Villarreal could put on his head:

(39:55) "This is a possibility. Pau Torres is one of the names they have in the list at Juventus. It also depends on the price tag because if I'm not wrong, I think he has a release clause close to €50m (£43.3m). But, from what I understand, Villarreal are prepared to let him go for less than this – opinion – could be maybe €35m/€40m (£30m/£34m)."

Would Torres improve Spurs?

The Spaniard typically plays as the left-sided centre-back in the Villarreal backline, suggesting he may be viewed as an alternative to Ben Davies/Lenglet (via Transfermarkt).

Torres has played a significant role in the La Liga side this season having racked up 30 appearances in the league alone.

And this is a side who have been able to maintain a solid defensive record this season having only conceded 34 goals across the term.

The £63k-per-week defender has been hailed as "brilliant" by broadcaster Semra Hunter and he has certainly shown glimpses of brilliance as he ranks inside the top fifth percentile for progressive passes and carries (via FBref).

However, there are some slightly concerning returns defensively as he only ranks in the bottom percentile for interceptions across other centre-backs.

In comparison to Lenglet, Torres has provided fewer tackles, blocks, interceptions and successful aerial duels per 90 minutes this season (via Fbref).

It is apparent Spurs need to sort out their defence over the summer, however, perhaps the Spaniard is not the man to bring the change they need in north London.