AC Milan have unveiled their home kit for 2024-25, with history meeting future in a “timeless” design set to be donned by Christian Pulisic and Co.
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Glasgow Rangers enjoyed a week-long mid-season training camp in the Spanish sunshine, yet it culminated in a 1-0 defeat to Hertha Berlin over the last weekend.
It was a friendly match and not too much should be read into it. However, the performance was below par and Philippe Clement will be hoping the team can improve as they face FC Copenhagen this evening at Ibrox in their final match before the domestic season returns.
The onus for Clement now is to spend the next two weeks seeking to improve his squad during the current January transfer window.
Several positions require some improvement, especially with six players out of contract come the end of the season.
With Ryan Jack and John Lundstram among those six, could the Belgian coach perhaps look to bring in another central midfielder this month?
Rangers’ search for another midfielder
Much has been made of the Light Blues’ search for a new left-back and striker, yet there have been a few midfielders linked in the last couple of weeks.
According to Football Scotland last week, the Gers have reportedly ‘checked on the conditions’ of Croatian gem Marko Bulat, who is currently playing for Dinamo Zagreb in his homeland.
The report goes on to state that Nils Koppen has sent scouts to watch Bulat in action for Zagreb recently as the Gers look to potentially make a move for the player.
There remains one stumbling block, however; the transfer fee. Zagreb value one of their prized assets at around £5m and this could prove to be too much for the Ibrox side to spend, especially in January.
Clement needs to be planning ahead due to the contract situations surrounding a couple of his midfielders, however, and this may mean he has to act sooner rather than later.
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ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024 Rangers players out of contract in 2024
Kemar Roofe, Jon McLaughlin, Borna Barisic, Leon Balogun, Jack and Lundstram are all free to speak to other clubs as of this month ahead of leaving for free this summer, and the majority of them will likely depart Ibrox.
The latter two are perhaps the players who deserve extensions, in particular Lundstram, who has shone under Clement this season.
Fabio Silva – Loan ends
Borna Barisic – End of contract
Leon Balogun – End of contract
Ryan Jack – End of contract
Jon McLaughlin – End of contract
Kemar Roofe – End of contract
John Lundstram – End of contract
Abdallah SIma – Loan ends
The former Sheffield United midfielder has started 17 of the 18 competitive matches under the Belgian and will remain a mainstay in the team until the end of the season at least.
If these two do leave Ibrox, Clement has the likes of Jose Cifuentes, Nico Raskin and even youngster Bailey Rice to call upon ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, but it could be Raskin who is ready to become a key player under the manager.
What the future holds for Nico Raskin at Rangers
The young midfielder made a solid impact upon arriving in Glasgow last January as he finished the season ranked third for tackles per game (1.8) and sixth for successful dribbles per game (0.9) as he demonstrated his tenacious nature and his ability to push forward often from the engine room.
This gave him a solid platform to work on ahead of the current season, yet an injury suffered against Hearts in what was Clement’s third match in charge of the club ruled the 22-year-old out for 14 matches and severely disrupted any progress he had made during the embryonic stages of the season.
Despite the setback, Raskin currently leads the way among the squad with regard to tackles per game (2.7) in the top flight, along with ranking seventh for accurate passes per game (39.4) which indicates how impressive he was prior to the injury.
What he needs now is a long-term partner in the heart of the midfield who could help elevate his game to new levels.
Signing Bulat from Zagreb could be an ideal player to partner Raskin with ahead of next season and their respective styles of play could compliment each other rather well.
How Marko Bulat would fit into the Rangers side
Like Raskin, Bulat tends to operate slightly deeper in the midfield, yet he can still offer a reliable attacking threat when required, evidenced by the fact he has scored five goals and grabbed three assists across 23 matches for his club this season.
Indeed, the 5 foot 10 midfielder currently ranks fourth among the Zagreb squad in the top flight for goals and assists (five) along with ranking fourth for shots on target per game (one) and sixth for key passes per game (1.3), which suggests he is productive in the final third for his team.
Antonio Colak
39
18
Nikola Katic
59
6
Borna Barisic
224
9
Niko Kranjcar
26
3
Nikica Jelavic
56
36
Dado Prso
117
35
Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson profiled the young sensation amid rumours linking him with a move to Glasgow recently, even comparing him to a young Ivan Rakitic, saying:
“From watching Bulat and looking at the numbers, he reminds me of a young Ivan Rakitić. He’s a box-to-box midfielder who is a very capable defender and a goal-scoring threat. Technically gifted and intelligent in and out of possession, hence the Rakitić comparison.”
This type of skillset could work wonders alongside someone like Raskin, who would be free to do the dirty work in the heart of the pitch and clean up in front of the defence, allowing Balut to utilise his box-to-box abilities and create chances for others.
It could end up being a frightening partnership, especially as the duo are both only 22 years of age, and they could be the future of the Gers midfield, without a shadow of a doubt.
Raskin will only get better the more he plays under Clement and with Jack and Lundstram potentially moving on this summer, there is a slot available alongside the former Standard Liege starlet, which Balut would slot into with ease.
If the Gers don’t make a move for him this month, they had better hope his performances don’t improve, otherwise they could face some stiff competition from plenty of other teams looking to secure his signature.
Much will depend on what funds Clement has to spend in the summer transfer window, yet with the wage bill set to be freed up by a sizeable chunk due to some departures, signing Balut should be his main focus.
Shai Hope and Jason Holder scored half-centuries, but there was little else of substance for West Indies either side of their 100-run partnership
The Report by Mohammad Isam13-May-2019Bangladesh ensured their place in the tri-series final after a resounding five-wicket win over West Indies in Malahide. After their bowlers fought hard to restrict them to 247 for 9, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim struck fluent half-centuries and dominated the chase as they sealed victory with 16 balls to spare.Mustafizur Rahman’s first four-wicket haul in eight months, as well as discipline from Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan, and Mashrafe Mortaza’s three wickets, took the momentum from West Indies twice, after they chose to bat first.Then it was Soumya’s turn in the spotlight, his 54 off 67 balls getting Bangladesh off the block quickly. After they had lost three quick wickets in the middle-overs to Ashley Nurse, Mushfiqur put together two partnerships, 83 runs for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Mithun, and 50 runs for fifth wicket stand with Mahmudullah, to boss the chase.Soumya Sarkar plays off the back foot•AFPWest Indies also contributed heavily to their own defeat, missing five chances during the Bangladesh innings. Kemar Roach dropped two catches while Fabian Allen and Shai Hope couldn’t reach the ball despite a dive. Nurse’s poor throw cost them Mithun’s wicket early during the defining fourth-wicket stand.After Tamim Iqbal struck the fourth ball of Bangladesh’s chase for a thumping four, Soumya piled the pressure on Sheldon Cottrell and Roach, hitting them for a six and four boundaries in the first five overs. Tamim then cover drove Cottrell, before getting two more fours off Nurse in the ninth over.But later in the same over, Nurse bowled Tamim with one that dipped on the left-hander, and struck his leg-stump.After their 54-run opening stand, Soumya added 52 runs for the second wicket with Shakib. During this partnership, Soumya survived two chances: at short cover when Allen couldn’t quite hold on to the chance diving forward, as well as Roach dropping a straightforward chance at short midwicket.Nurse who suffered the Roach drop, struck twice in his next over. He first had Shkaib caught at short cover, before Sunil Ambris caught Soumya at short midwicket.Things could have gone worse for Bangladesh had Nurse sent a better throw to wicketkeeper Hope when Mithun, batting on 7, slipped mid-pitch after being sent back by Mushfiqur in the 24th over. Mithun also survived Roach dropping him at deep square leg when he was 22, and eventually the Mushfiqur-Mithun pairing made West Indies pay heavily.There was to be one more fielding lapse: Mahmudullah, dropped by Hope off Holder when he was on 10, before the game was done.When they batted first, West Indies once again gave away a good start against Bangladesh during this tri-nation series. They were 89 for 2 in the 20th over when Mustafizur had Roston Chase caught at midwicket. Ambris and Hope had struck six fours in the first five overs before Ambris guided Mashrafe to Soumya at slip. Darren Bravo fell for yet another low score, when Mehidy Hasan had him lbw for six. Mehidy had dropped Bravo in the previous over.Chase and Hope had added 33 runs for the third wicket, before Chase and Jonathan Carter fell in the space of four overs. With the scoring rate falling drastically, Holder slammed two fours to break a 103-ball boundary drought.Holder and Hope added exactly 100 runs to revive the West Indies innings, but with both batsmen falling in the space of 12 balls, Bangladesh got back control. They conceded just two fours and a six in the last six overs, as West Indies reached the underwhelming score.
Aston Villa are in a lofty position this season and have now made contact over a potential blockbuster signing in the West Midlands, according to a report.
Aston Villa eyeing new attackers
January can be a fruitful month for business if dealings are carefully planned out and executed, and Unai Emery, alongside his backroom team, will no doubt have an idea of what they would like the Villans' squad to look like by the end of the month.
Despite this, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has moved to debunk rumours surrounding negotiations for Lazio playmaker Felipe Anderson, who has been mentioned in connection with a move to Villa Park.
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Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the world-renowned journalist stated: "Lazio proposed to extend the contract. But at the moment, it’s a complicated one. From what I'm hearing, Juventus are interested in Anderson. So, I think Juventus will be in the mix to sign him as a free agent. For Aston Villa, yes, they have been following the player many times, but I'm not aware of any concrete negotiations yet."
Galatasaray winger Wilfried Zaha will be a name familiar with Premier League fans across the globe and the Ivory Coast international is believed to have been the subject of an approach by Emery's men; however, he is happy to stay in Turkey for the time being.
Nevertheless, Emery is believed to be a huge fan of the player and tried to sign him at Arsenal in 2018. Revealing his admiration towards the 31-year-old during that timeframe, the Spaniard was quoted in an interview saying: “I usually want to sign first the players I know there. When we played against Crystal Palace, Zaha showed he was a very good player.”
In the present, it has emerged that Aston Villa have now made contact regarding an exciting potential signing that could occur this month.
Paulo Dybala transfer update
According to reports in Italy, via Sport Witness, Aston Villa have asked for information in contact with Roma playmaker Paulo Dybala’s agency, and could make a shock swoop for the 30-year-old.
Paulo Dybala key statistics in 2023/24 – Serie A (Sofascore)
Expected goals
5.83
Big chances created
4
Key passes per game
2.1
Tackles per game
1.1
Expected assists
2.09
Average match rating
7.50/10
The Argentina international has a €13m release clause (£11.2 million) built into his contract at the Serie A giants that runs out on January 15th. Chelsea, Newcastle United and several clubs from Saudi Arabia have enacted similar approaches. However, he isn’t expected to take up any offers to move to the Middle East and has conveyed a desire to continue his career in Europe.
Labelled a “phenomenon” by Roma legend Francesco Totti, £115k-a-week earner Dybala has been in consistent form for Roma this term, registering six goals and six assists in 18 appearances across all competitions (Dybala statistics – Transfermarkt).
Given his pedigree and unique blend of talent, Dybala would be a major signing at Villa Park as Emery endeavours to keep his side in contention for the title.
تلقى نادي ليفربول المنافس في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي ضربة قوية للغاية بإصابة أحد لاعبيه الدوليين خلال فترة التوقف الماضية.
ويحتل ليفربول المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب البطولة خلف مانشستر سيتي بفارق الأهداف فقط، مع عدم اهتزاز شباك الحارس أليسون بيكر بأي هدف منذ بداية الموسم.
ولكن يبدو وأن الإصابات ستعكر نجاحات ليفربول تحت قيادة المدرب، آرني سلوت، حيث أفادت صحيفة “تيليجراف” البريطانية أن هناك إصابة قوية تعرض لها لاعب الوسط، هارفي إليوت.
اقرأ أيضًا.. خبر سار في تدريبات ليفربول قبل مباراة نوتينجهام فورست
كان إليوت رفقة منتخب إنجلترا تحت 21 عامًا الأسبوع الماضي، لكنه شعر بإصابة قوية وأخبر الجهاز الطبي، ليخضع اللاعب لفحوصات طبية شاملة.
وأظهرت الفحوصات أن اللاعب يعاني من كسر في القدم وبالتالي سيغيب لمدة شهر عن ليفربول ومبارياته المقبلة وأهمها بداية مشوار دوري أبطال أوروبا.
ومن المتوقع أن يعود هارفي إليوت إلى تدريبات ومباريات ليفربول بداية من لقاء تشيلسي يوم 20 أكتوبر المقبل، وبالتالي، هي ضربة لخطط سلوت الذي كان معجبًا للغاية بإمكانات اللاعب.
Andre Onana has backed Manchester United team-mate Alejandro Garnacho to be one of the "very best" in the world, while revealing his new nickname.
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Onana reveals new Garnacho nicknameExcited about Man Utd youngster's futureSays he can become the "very best" one dayWHAT HAPPENED?
United goalkeeper said the Argentine winger is now known as Peque – Spanish for Little One – amongst his team-mates. He added that he was blown away by the 19-year-old's stunning overhead kick against Everton and insisted the Red Devils talent can follow in the footsteps of his Old Trafford hero Cristiano Ronaldo.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT ANDRE ONANA SAID
He said: "If [Garnacho] does things well he will end up being not one of the best, but very best. He has to grow and go through difficulties – but seasons like this one will make you grow. In coming seasons we will have a bug here that will eat the world! I was at the opposite end of the pitch when Peque scored [the overhead kick against Everton] – and I couldn't believe it. But that's the mark of great players. Great players have done it, like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. Now Peque. I believe that Peque has a bright future. We have to support him because difficult times are going to come and he will have to get his act together. Get strong, he is a great player. I enjoy seeing him every day. Even watching him train is a luxury. The things he does can be barbaric. But football is a moment, so you have to be constant, you have to keep working.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Garnacho is seen as one of United's biggest academy talents in recent years but he is still a long way from being a world-class player. He scored nine goals and bagged five assists this season but the teenager certainly has a lot of potential.
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GettyWHAT NEXT?
Onana and Garnacho will try to finish a poor season on a high when they take on fierce rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday afternoon at Wembley – in a repeat of last year's final where the Red Devils lost 2-1.
Hugh Morris wants a “much stronger Welsh core” at Glamorgan but that is a tough ask – just as it was for the home side bowling to James Bracey
Richard Hobson at Spytty Park14-May-2019
James Bracey steers through the off side•Getty Images
. Welcome to Wales. The friendly words beneath the red dragon greet M4 drivers after they cross the Severn Bridge immediately before the lanes narrow and average speed checks of 50mph take force. There are two parts to the message and while few ever question the warmth of said welcome at Glamorgan, the cricket has not always felt particularly Welsh.A cynic might have thought as much again en route to the club’s newest Championship ground, Spytty Park, in Newport. The vowel-shy name is authentically, even evocatively Welsh. But it is actually closer to the land border with England than the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, which is preparing for the World Cup later this month.In fact, the ambiguous status of Monmouthshire as Welsh was only legally clarified in the Local Government Act of 1972, and even then, boundaries could be blurred. Mike Knight, the chairman of Newport CC, bumped into a number of visiting Gloucestershire supporters as he lapped the ground who recalled playing here in the nineties when the club featured in a league in England.Knight smiles at the historical nuances. His greater emotion is one of pride at seeing around 1000 people enjoy the weather and the cricket almost three decades after Newport’s previous ground, Rodney Parade, was sold off after nearly a century to leave the club’s future in jeopardy. It is now the sight of a school, and, yes, Maindee Primary does offer cricket of a sort to its boys and girls.”There are people here from Newport and Gwent,” Knight says, pointing to the ring of spectators. “We are not far from Cardiff [around 12 miles], but it is an opportunity for people to see cricket in their local area and possibly they are not comfortable going to Cardiff for whatever reason. Also, there are people here because they want to see a new venue. I understand Glamorgan’s commitment to Cardiff, but varying grounds does widen interest.”Rodney Parade hosted its final Championship match in 1965. Glamorgan included seven Welsh-born players on that occasion. Here the total was only three: David Lloyd, from Denbigh, Jeremy Lawlor (Cardiff) and Kieran Bull (Haverfordwest). Five of the current side are not even from the same hemisphere. Some more stats: In 1965, Glamorgan used seven home venues, this season four – though the fact that they played away at Leyton, Weston-Super-Mare and Nuneaton reminds that they are hardly alone in centralising their home.Robert Croft was sacked as head coach last year after a third poor finish in a row having tried (partly for budgetary reasons) to give young talent its head. It worked, but not often and then in fits and starts. In fact, poor results long pre-date Croft’s appointment to that post. Since 2000 when the Championship split into two divisions, Glamorgan have spent only two years in the top flight – and been relegated both times.In his 2017 notes, Edward Bevan, the doyen and great optimist of the Glamorgan press scene, said that more local players emerged in 2016 than for many seasons. He cited Aneurin Donald, Kiran Carlson, Lukas Carey and Owen Morgan. Carlson would be playing here but for exams, while Carey is twelfth man. But Morgan is back in the second team and Donald, a prolific and exciting schoolboy batsman, was playing for Hampshire having left last season, he said, to further England ambitions.Knight describes the Welsh representation as “a sore point” and talked about the game well below first-class level. “We are seeing the demise of cricket in schools,” he says. “If we didn’t do as a club what we do for the junior cricketers there would be no cricket in Newport, or almost nothing.”Our next step is to try to develop an indoor cricket school here to safeguard things. We have the building. We just need some help. Our junior kids have to go to Ebbw Vale for a training session indoors in winter for their coaching. That can be impossible in the evenings and I am sure it is contributing massively to the demise of cricket in Gwent. Cardiff is nearer, but that caters for the South Glamorgan area.”Another problem is the relatively small sector of Welsh independent schools. Hugh Morris, Glamorgan’s chief executive, estimates that only 1% of Welsh children attend private establishments compared to 7% in England. Here, at least, cricket has facilities and budgets to thrive. In June, Glamorgan are hosting a 20-over competition involving Monmouth School, Christ College in Brecon and Cardiff’s Cathedral School along with a number of Colleges to try to identify talent.Morris played in the last Glamorgan team to win the Championship, in 1997. Bristling at suggestions the county is insufficiently Welsh he delivers a register of current officials. There is Gerard Elias, the president, who replaced the man Morris describes as “Mr Welsh Cricket,” Alan Jones. The roll continues: Gareth Williams, a Welsh-speaking chairman, Matthew Maynard, interim head coach, with fellow coaches Steve Watkin, Adrian Shaw and David Harrison.”Do we want to get more Welsh talent in the side?” Morris answers his own question. “Yes, absolutely. Last season, we did that, we were in a position where we had to play too many youngsters and it was too early for them. But we do want to get more talent through.” Talks are ongoing with Cricket Wales over the pathway through junior levels up to the age of 17. “The will is there to have a much stronger Welsh core in the team.”Just as the World Cup has opened opportunities for out-grounds this season, so The Hundred will force eight county sides to move 50-over fixtures from their headquarters next year. Newport want more of the action and can only hope the metaphorical sun shines on them as brightly as the real one against Gloucestershire, although it was hot work for the bowlers as James Bracey compiled 152. Glamorgan are also looking at an array of grounds with their second team this year. One of them, Pontypridd hosted Surrey on Tuesday.As Morris spoke, Lloyd was bowling his medium pace from the opposite side of the ground, a rare example of a Welshman established in the side. His steady, all-round progress gained due reward in a ceremony in front of the pavilion before lunch when he received his County Cap. Andrew Hignell, the club historian, suggested he thus became the first North Walian by birth to be capped since the formidable Wilf Wooller, captain of the 1948 title-winning side. Well played David Lloyd, but that fact has to be an indictment of something.
This week couldn't have gone any better for the Wolverhampton Wanderers faithful, with their side beating archrivals West Brom 2-0 in the FA Cup.
Only a new signing and a victory over Manchester United on Thursday could make it even better.
Wolves are unbeaten in their last seven games, and the morale is high, but Gary O'Neil is still keen to introduce one new face before the end of deadline day.
Wolves' search for a midfielder
Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently told GIVEMESPORT that Wolves could move for Jordan James. The journalist stated:
“Atalanta offered something around £5m plus add-ons. They had an agreement with the player but not with the club. This is why Atalanta left the conversation at the beginning of the winter window. So, at the moment, the situation is completely quiet with the Italian side. But there could be an opportunity for Wolves and Crystal Palace in the window's final days.”
However, it will take a bid of around £8.5m for any deal to be considered by Birmingham City, as per football journalist Rudy Galetti earlier this month.
The news comes amid reports that Wolves are set to conclude a deal to sign Mario Lemina's brother, Noha, on loan. With an agreement reached between the clubs, it's now just down to personal terms before the deadline slams shut on Thursday.
How James could fit alongside Joao Gomes
22-year-old Brazilian Joao Gomes has been instrumental at the heart of the Wolves midfield this season, where he has really kicked on since moving to the club in January last year for £15m from Flamengo.
The midfielder has played 18 matches in the Premier League this season, with his performances reportedly gaining the interest of Spurs earlier this month.
Another young midfielder who has shone this season is the aforementioned James of Birmingham City, who has played in 26 matches this season in the Championship. However, he isn't just shining for his club, with the midfielder also cementing himself as a key player for Wales during the recent European Championship qualifiers, where he has been extremely "impressive," as per journalist Josh Bunting.
Nonetheless, the 19-year-old could become the perfect partner for Gomes, and the table below showing his statistics from this season helps justify why. It compares some of James' most important attributes and subsequently how he compares to positional peers in the Championship.
James vs Championship CMs
Metric
Stats (per 90)
Championship Ranking
Goals
0.42
Top 3%
Goals/shot
0.26
Top 4%
Tackles won
1.47
Top 20%
Passes blocked
1.47
Top 3%
Interceptions
1.33
Top 26%
Stats via FBref
Jones ranks among the best midfielders in the second tier for goals scored (6), with his late runs into the box often leading to an opportunity to find the back of the net, which he usually takes according to his goals/shot stat.
This eye for a goal makes him the dream partner for Gomes, whose role is solely to win the ball back and keep it simple when in possession, as highlighted by the fact he ranks in the top 4% of midfielders and 7% for tackles and dribblers challenged in the league. Together, they would cover every aspect of a perfect midfield duo, providing a threat in the final third and defensive security.
Furthermore, O'Neil loves to field a 3-4-3 formation, which would suit James' profile perfectly, as it would give him the freedom to drive forward and be a handful in the final third while also bringing out his defensive capabilities, such as his tackling, interceptions, and ability to block off forward passes.
The Welsh star also stands at 6 foot 2, which allows him to hold his own on the field despite his age. James' skillset and physical profile mean he has the potential to become an elite talent, and a deal for less than £10m could prove to be a steal in years to come.
In early April, there was a growing sense that Jurgen Klopp was treading on thin ice, with Liverpool's iffy patch enlarging into a seasonal malfunction, the questions concerning the German's future at the helm being asked.
After years of illustrious success, remarkable efforts to win the whole gamut of major honours (barring the Europa League) had been achieved and Klopp had succeeded in a Premier League era dominated by Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who may well have exerted uninterrupted supremacy across the board had Liverpool not picked away at silverware.
Last year's maladroit midfield has been reshaped and re-energised, and while the defence is generally expected to receive priority this year, Klopp appears to be eyeing the final piece of the puzzle for his Anfield engine room.
Liverpool's search for a midfielder
According to Portuguese outlet Bola VIP, Liverpool are interested in signing FC Porto star Alan Varela just six months after the midfielder joined the club from Argentinian giants Boca Juniors.
It's revealed that Liverpool have already made an approach for the 22-year-old and that Manchester City are set to provide some meaty competition for his signature.
It's important to note that Porto have no interest in selling their player but will acquiesce if his €70m (£60m) release clause is met.
Alan Varela's style of play
Varela established himself as one of South America's most promising prospects across 111 appearances with Boca and led talent scout Jacek Kulig to name him a "Rolls-Royce" calibre midfielder before his move to Portugal in 2023.
An elite distributor, Varela is not the most relentless holding midfielder in the business but is technically sublime and blends that dual role of orchestrator and anchor superbly.
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As per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across divisions similar to Liga Portugal for pass completion, the top 16% for passes attempted, the top 10% for blocks and the top 23% for interceptions per 90.
While not ranking particularly highly for tackling, Varela is robust in his protection of the backline and his constancy in blocking shots bespeaks his spatial awareness.
# Passing
# Blocking
# Long shots
Source: WhoScored
This season, as per Sofascore, he has completed 88% of his passes across 14 league appearances in his deep-lying role, averaging 4.7 ball recoveries per game to emphasise his high energy.
Playing his part industriously, Varela could prove to be the perfect midfield partner for Trent Alexander-Arnold down the line, with the influential Anfield stalwart starting to occupy space in the centre of the park to maximise his celestial range of passing.
Liverpool are already up to the hilt in talented midfielders but this signing but Varela would add a new dimension and counterbalance Alexander-Arnold when the England international skates into the middle of the pitch and wreaks devastation, having been heralded as a "genius" by journalist Neil Jones.
The 25-year-old right-back is still deployed in the full-back position but is increasingly drifting centrally to pull the strings and it's clear to see why, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for assists, shot-creating actions and passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90.
By playing a double-pivot in the future and marrying the Reds vice-captain and Varela's abilities, Klopp could craft a lasting machine in the middle to work in tandem to clinch silverware in abundance for years to come.
Given that Klopp has reportedly been enamoured with Varela's style for several years now, ever since he was at Boca, it might just be worth investing in his services and handing Alexander-Arnold the perfect partner as he moves, inexorably it seems, towards a permanent future in midfield.
MatériaMais Notícias
Apesar da decisão do governo de Minas Gerais de proibir jogos de outros estados na região a partir desta quarta, a CBF informou ao Vasco que os jogos da Copa do Brasil desta semana estão mantidos. Com isso, o Gigante da Colina irá seguir a sua programação normalmente e viajará para Poços de Caldas (MG) nesta terça-feira. A informação foi inicialmente publicada pelo Uol, e confirmada pelo LANCE!
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Antes disso, o técnico Marcelo Cabo comandouum trabalho tático no CT do Almirante, na Cidade de Deus, em busca de implementar a sua metodologia de jogo. Ele seguiu a programação visando o duelo contra a Caldense, nesta quinta, às 21h30, no Estádio Ronaldão, na estreia do clube na Copa do Brasil 2021.
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Em entrevista à VascoTV, o volante Bruno Gomes falou sobre o trabalho com a nova comissão técnica e projetou o duelo decisivo contra a equipe de Minas Gerais, que segue invicta na temporada. Dosquatro jogos disputados, o time de Poço de Caldas empatou duas e conquistou duas vitórias sobre Cruzeiro e América.
– A formação que estamos jogando hoje é um pouco diferente da que terminou o Brasileiro. Eu particularmente gosto bastante por privilegiar o jogo apoiado. Tenho jogado com o Andrey do meu lado e ele me ajuda bastante. O time está se adaptando. O professor pede para não termos medo de jogar, que o meio participe bastante, ajude o ataque – salientou Bruno Gomes, e em seguida complementou.
– A expectativa é a melhor possível. A gente se preparou bastante para esse jogo da Copa do Brasil e queremos ir longe na competição, mas precisamos primeiro passar dessa primeira fase. Vamos enfrentar um grande time, que está em primeiro lugar no Campeonato Mineiro. Não estamos pensando nessa vantagem do empate. Estamos indo para buscar a vitória – afirmou o volante.
Por uma estratégia do Departamento de Futebol, a equipe do Vasco fará a viagem até Poço de Caldas de ônibus. Após análise, foi constatado que o tempo de deslocamento seria praticamente o mesmo, em virtude da malha aérea reduzida e da necessidade de escala numa outra cidade.
Além disso, a viagem de ônibus busca facilitar a logística do retorno ao Rio de Janeiro, visto que o Vasco encara o Botafogo no próximo sábado, em São Januário. Caso fosse de avião, o elenco só chegaria na tarde de sexta e só teria uma sessão de treinos antes do clássico.
A viagem irá respeitar todos os protocolos da Covid-19. De acordo com o Vasco, as poltronas são extremamente confortáveis, do tipo leito-cama, para facilitar o descanso e a recuperação dos atletas.