O Botafogo-PB recebe o Paysandu neste sábado (23), às 16h (de Brasília), no Almeidão, em João Pessoa (PB). A partida é válida pela quarta rodada da segunda fase da Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro e terá transmissão do Nosso Futebol (pay-per-view) e do DAZN (streaming). As equipes se enfrentaram na última semana, com vitória do Papão por 1 a 0 no Mangueirão.
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+ Abel Ferreira, técnico do Palmeiras, é denunciado pela Associação Brasileira de Árbitros
O Belo somou apenas três pontos até o momento e está na quarta e última colocação do Grupo C. Já os visitantes lideram o grupo, com sete pontos em três partidas. Apenas os dois primeiros de cada grupo avançam para a Série B de 2024. Os líderes fazem a grande final da competição.
FICHA TÉCNICA BOTAFOGO-PB X PAYSANDU SÉRIE C
Data e horário: 23 de setembro de 2023, às 16h Local: Almeidão, em João Pessoa (PB) Árbitro: Luiz Flávio de Oliveira (SP) Assistentes: Luiz Alberto Andrini Nogueira (SP) e Gustavo Rodrigues de Oliveira (SP) VAR: Thiago Duarte Peixoto (SP) Onde assistir: Nosso Futebol e DAZN
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BOTAFOGO-PB (Técnico: Felipe Surian) Mota; Ricardo Luz, Wesley Matos, Pedro Carrerete e Zé Mário; Wesley Dias, Netinho, Renatinho e Luisinho; Mateus Anderson e Mariotto.
PAYSANDU (Técnico: Hélio dos Anjos) Matheus Nogueira; Edílson, Wanderson, Wellington Carvalho e Kevyn; João Vieira, Geovane, Robinho e Vinícius Leite; Nicolas Careca e Mário Sérgio.
Another European away trip ends in frustration for Celtic, with Brendan Rodgers’ side held to a 1-1 draw by Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday evening to mark a mixed start to their latest Europa League adventure.
There were no doubt echoes of Kairat about the first-half in Belgrade, with the visitors left with little to show for their dominance in possession, having also been forced to rely on the brilliance of Kasper Schmeichel to keep the home side at bay.
A rather uneventful opening 45 – excluding that stunning save from the veteran Dane – was subsequently followed by a far more exciting second period, with the introduction of summer signing, Kelechi Iheanacho, finally sparking the Hoops into life.
It was to be the experienced Nigerian who ultimately broke the deadlock for the Scottish champions with a tidy close range finish, albeit with another man of Premier League years past – Marko Arnautovic – reducing the arrears just ten minutes later.
There was to be no further breakthrough from either side, ensuring Rodgers will be left to ponder what he could have done differently following a Jekyll and Hyde display from his Glasgow outfit.
Iheanacho provides solution to Maeda problem
It isn’t exactly a new opinion to suggest that Celtic’s summer business was far from perfect. Indeed, even the positives – such as the arrival of Sebastian Tounekti – need to be scrutinised, particularly amid the stockpiling of talent on the left flank.
With the injured Jota already onboard, Rodgers and co have since added two players who predominantly operate off the left, in the form of Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Tounekti, the latter of whom opened his account against Partick Thistle at the weekend.
Such reinforcements have left the Celtic boss with a headache to solve regarding last season’s talisman, Daizen Maeda, with the 33-goal star subsequently relocated into the vacant number nine berth on Wednesday night.
Minutes
45
45
Touches
7
14
Goals
0
1
Pass accuracy
75%
88%
Key passes
0
0
Shots
0
3
Total duels won
0
0
Possession lost
2
3
Offside
2
0
While no stranger to that role, the Japanese speedster almost had an air of a player who didn’t want to be there, having regularly been too slow in getting himself back onside. In all, he made just seven touches, and failed to win a single duel, as per Sofascore, in what was a simply anonymous 45-minute outing.
For all the talk of desperation surrounding the addition of Iheanacho, the one-time Leicester City looked like an instant upgrade following his entrance at the break, having linked play so effectively again, as he did on Sunday.
Despite seeing two efforts denied by the impressive figure of Matheus in the opposing goal, the 28-year-old’s eventual goal was one of pure poise and composure, expertly receiving Benjamin Nygren’s pass before curling the ball home with ease.
It is still early days, although the free transfer signing already looks like he could have forced his way into Rodgers’ starting lineup. Elsewhere, however, his new teammate Reo Hatate looks to have played his way out of it…
One Celtic star's dismal display in numbers
There’s no getting away from what was a forgettable performance from Maeda in Belgrade, albeit with the makeshift striker getting little in the way of support from his teammates, with chances at a premium in that uninspiring first half.
Among those toiling behind him was his compatriot, Hatate, with the 27-year-old looking bizarrely lax and laboured in the centre of the park, prior to his withdrawal just after the hour mark.
As ever, there was purpose to Callum McGregor’s play at the base of the midfield, while new man Nygren was an effective link between that central trio and the attacking unit, creating three ‘big chances’ and completing 100% of his attempted dribbles.
The elegant Swede was the creative hub in the second half, in particular, although on the opposite side, Hatate’s influence continued to wane, having been unable to provide a single key pass all night.
Not only did he lose 50% of his total duels, but the former Kawasaki Frontale star also lost possession on 13 occasions, at a rate of once every 3.3 touches.
Wasteful and slack on the ball, it was no surprise to see Celtic’s number 41 eventually hooked heading into the closing stages, with perhaps now the time for Rodgers to hand a regular role to Arne Engels – or Paulo Bernardo – instead in that central role.
Yes, as he showcased with his August stunner against Aberdeen, Hatate is capable of a magic moment when at his best. Sadly, however, those moments appear to now be few and far between, with just one goal and no assists from his eight outings in 2025/26 thus far.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
With Engels and Bernardo waiting in the wings, it begs the question as to why Rodgers hasn’t been tempted to alter that midfield pecking order in recent weeks. Perhaps after last night’s showing, that situation might well have changed…
"Phenomenal" Celtic star looks like the biggest loser from Tounekti's rise
This Celtic star may end up being the biggest loser from Sebastian Tounekti’s form.
Nottingham Forest chief Evangelos Marinakis is set for crunch talks with under-fire boss Ange Postecoglou over the tactician’s long-term future, coming after a dismal start to life for Nuno Espirito Santo’s replacement at the City Ground.
Ange Postecoglou's job under threat after 2-0 Newcastle defeat
Reports in the build up to their 2-0 loss to Newcastle United at St. James’ Park claimed that Postecoglou’s job could be under threat if Forest tasted defeat up north, and this could now be realised.
Second-half goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade slapped Postecoglou with his fifth loss from seven games in charge, and the Australian remains winless after making the worst start of any Forest manager for 100 years.
Arsenal 3-0 Forest
Premier League
Swansea 3-2 Forest
Carabao Cup
Burnley 1-1 Forest
Premier League
Real Betis 2-2 Forest
Europa League
Forest 0-1 Sunderland
Premier League
Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland
Europa League
Newcastle 2-0 Forest
Premier League
The pressure is well and truly on Forest’s new manager after stepping into the shoes of fan favourite Nuno, who guided the Tricky Trees back to Europe for the first time since 1995 last season.
Since Nuno’s departure, Forest have been on a downward trajectory, with Postecoglou confirming that he’s set for crunch Marinakis talks over the international break.
It is believed that Marinakis already has potential replacements in mind for Postecoglou, who could become the shortest-reigning manager in Premier League history if Forest decide to take action immediately after Newcastle.
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is emerging as a “prime candidate” to succeed the 60-year-old, according to TEAMtalk, but it is very debatable whether the Austrian would leave Selhurst Park midway through 2025/2026 for what appears to be a volatile project.
Glasner is out of contract at the end of this season, as is Fulham’s Marco Silva, and The Mail’s Tom Collomosse also reports that the latter is a long-term target for Forest.
However, any approach for Silva is apparently unlikely to happen before the conclusion of 2025/2026.
Marinakis pictured close to Benitez amid Nottingham Forest manager search
That being said, another coach who’s readily available now and wants a return to England is former Liverpool, Newcastle and Everton boss Rafael Benitez.
As reported by Collomosse, Marinakis was spotted in “close proximity” to Benitez during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over OIympiacos last week, and while the Spaniard was there in his role as a technical observer for UEFA, he’s apparently keen on coming back to Britain for work.
Clubs
Tenure
Matches in charge
Titles/achievements
Real Valladolid
1995-96
25
Osasuna
1996
9
Extremadura
1997-99
92
Segunda promotion
Tenerife
2000-01
46
Segunda promotion
Valencia
2001-04
162
La Liga X2
UEFA Cup
Liverpool
2004-12
350
Champions League
FA Cup
UEFA Super Cup
Internazionale
2010
25
FIFA Club World Cup
Supercoppa Italiana
Chelsea
2012-13
48
Europa League
Napoli
2013-15
112
Coppa Italia
Supercoppa Italiana
Real Madrid
2015-16
25
Newcastle United
2016-19
146
EFL Championship
Dalian Professional
2019-21
38
Everton
2021-22
22
Celta de Vigo
2023-24
33
Benitez also has good relations with the Marinakis family, so this could be one to watch, even if the Champions League-winning boss hasn’t worked in management since leaving Celta Vigo in 2024.
His last job in the Premier League was also his disastrous spell at Everton, though you can make a case that it was always doomed to fail given Benitez’s ties to Liverpool.
Benitez, after a glittering career at some of Europe’s top clubs, is regarded as a “world-class manager” by his peers, but he’d be taking on an almighty task to steer Forest back up the table amid the toxicity right now.
Manchester United’s defeat against League Two Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night has undoubtedly set a new low for Ruben Amorim during his tenure in charge.
The Red Devils were knocked out in the second round of the competition, losing on penalties after coming from two goals down in the second half.
However, it may prove to be a damning defeat for the 40-year-old, adding more pressure to his shoulders after their dismal start to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
His side have failed to win any of the first three games, which could force the hierarchy into making a change – especially after backing him with £200m worth of new additions this summer.
The window still has a few days remaining, but it remains to be seen if the former Sporting CP boss will carry on leading the side, with rumours circulating about his future at Old Trafford.
The latest on Amorim’s future at United
Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported by CaughtOffside that the United hierarchy are now considering making a change of manager, after Amorim’s disastrous start to the new season.
The report states that it’s a matter of time before the 40-year-old is handed his marching orders, with concerns around his ability to take the side forward in the future.
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INEOS are said to be willing to make an early decision to sack the boss, in order to avoid a repeat of last season, which saw the side finish in a measly 15th place.
The same article also states that Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is being lined up as a potential replacement, if and when Amorim is dismissed from his position at Old Trafford.
It states that the FA Cup-winning boss would be keen to take the reins, potentially being the next manager in a long list to try and take the Red Devils back to their former glory.
Why United’s Amorim replacement would be Klopp 2.0
Jürgen Klopp is a manager who has caused United no end of problems over the years, often leading rivals Liverpool to countless victories over the Red Devils in the Premier League.
The German only suffered five defeats in his 21 outings against the Red Devils, even claiming a historic 7-0 victory at Anfield back in the 2022/23 campaign.
Whilst he may have managed their bitter rivals, there’s no denying the former Reds boss is a serial winner – something which United have lacked, given their decade-long wait for a top-division title.
He may be out of management after leaving Liverpool in 2024, but there is no chance he would return to management and replace Amorim – especially considering his ties with the Merseyside outfit.
However, INEOS could hire their own answer to Klopp with a move for Glasner, with the Eagles boss previously being compared to the Premier League legend by German expert Constantin Eckner.
When comparing his stats at Selhurst Park to Amorim in England’s top-flight, he’s managed to better him in various key areas – potentially being the perfect replacement should the former Sporting CP boss depart.
Oliver Glasner lifts the FA Cup.
Glasner, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by Pep Guardiola, has achieved a better win percentage than Amorim – doing so whilst having a much lower budget during his time in England.
He’s also notched a better point per game record, having the tools to change the Red Devils’ fortunes should he take the reins in the coming months.
Games managed
65
45
Wins
31
17
Draws
19
9
Losses
15
19
Points per game
1.72
1.33
Win percentage
47.6%
37.7%
Goals scored (per 90)
1.69
1.98
Goals against (per 90)
1.17
1.91
Trophies won
2
0
The Austrian’s dominance over the United boss is further reflected in his ability to build a solid defensive unit – achieving a better goal conceded per 90 record.
Amorim’s future in the role could well be coming to an end in the coming weeks, but it’s clear such a decision would be the right one after such an embarrassing showing in the Carabao Cup.
Glasner would be an excellent replacement, already winning two trophies in recent months, having the tools to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford should he make the move.
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Bigger blow than Mainoo: £50m Man Utd ace in "very advanced" talks to leave
Manchester United look set to offload another star as Kobbie Mainoo exit rumours pick up pace.
Matías Rojas caminha para fazer seu último jogo vestindo a camisa do Racing nesta quarta-feira (28), quando a equipe argentina enfrenta a Ñublense, pela rodada final da fase de grupos da Libertadores. Depois disso, o jogador tem caminho livre para reforçar o Corinthians.
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+ IMPERDÍVEL! Transmissão ao vivo dos jogos do Timão na Liberta por apenas R$1,00!
O contrato do meia paraguaio acaba no dia 30 de junho, e o plano da diretoria alvinegra é anunciá-lo na abertura da janela de transferências, no dia 3 de junho. O Timão e o estafe de atleta estão alinhados e a maioria dos documentos já foram assinados, incluindo um pré-contrato.
Impedido de registrar novos jogadores por conta de uma dívida com o empresário Eduardo Bou Daye e correndo risco de sofrer novamente essa punição por uma dívida com Mauro Boselli, o Corinthians está confiante de que pagará seus débitos até o fim de junho, liberando imediatamente o clube a registrar reforços.
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O otimismo corintiano para quitar suas dívidas e evitar punições vem do dinheiro arrecadado nas vendas de Gustavo Mantuan e Pedro ao Zenit. A primeira foi oficializada na semana passada, por 2 milhões de dólares (R$ 9,6 milhões na cotação atual), enquanto a de Pedro depende apenas da aprovação do atleta, e gira em torno de 9 milhões de euros (R$ 47,4 milhões na cotação atual).
Caso o Timão não quite suas pendências e a punição ainda esteja ativa na abertura da janela, a tendência é que Rojas seja oficializado e fique treinando no CT Joaquim Grava até o clube pagar o que deve. Ele assinará contrato de quatro anos com o Alvinegro.
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+ Timão se afasta do Z4? Veja tabela e os próximos jogos do Brasileirão
Nas últimas semanas, o Racing tentou um ultimato pela permanência do meia, mas não conseguiu chegar nas cifras apresentadas pelo Corinthians. Somando jogos pelo clube argentino e seleção paraguaia, Rojas disputou 17 partidas na temporada, anotando nove gols e distribuindo duas assistências.
He hasn’t played ODIs since the 2023 ODI World Cup but hopes to make a return for Pakistan next month
ESPNcricinfo staff08-Jan-2025Fakhar Zaman is “100% certain” he will play for Pakistan again and is gearing up for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19 and will be hosted in Pakistan and Dubai.”A 100%, I will play for Pakistan (again),” Fakhar, 34, told the . “Actually, many people do not know about that, but after the T20 World Cup I got sick and because of the medical condition I was not fit, so I was not a part of the team.”But now I [have] recovered 100%, and you will see me in the next white-ball series which Pakistan play.”Related
Saim Ayub to travel to London for ankle fracture treatment
Champions Trophy 2025: Dubai to host all India matches, including the knockouts if India qualify
PCB issues Fakhar Zaman show-cause notice after post in support of Babar Azam
Fakhar, once an integral part of the Pakistan white-ball setup, has not played international cricket since the 2024 T20 World Cup last June in the USA and West Indies, where Pakistan were eliminated in the group stage. He last played an ODI in the 2023 ODI World Cup but is hopeful of returning for the Champions Trophy at home.Incidentally, it was in the 2017 Champions Trophy that Fakhar shot to prominence with a title-winning 114 against India in the final at The Oval in London. “My plan has been around the Champions Trophy,” he said. “I did not play in the Australia tour or in the South Africa tour, so my whole plan was just to play in the Champions Trophy, to make myself available and to be fully fit for the tournament.”That was in the back of my mind, and I am thankful, and I am lucky to be fit right now. I started from the Champions Trophy 2017 and that went really well for me and now I am very excited for the next edition also. I talked to the selectors, the head coach, and everyone wanted me to play in the Champions Trophy.”Fakhar Zaman is currently in the UAE for his maiden ILT20 stint•Associated PressFakhar had high praise for 22-year-old opener Saim Ayub, who has become a regular across formats for Pakistan. Ayub has had a sensational start to his ODI career, with three centuries and a fifty in nine innings, which includes hundreds in Australia and South Africa. However, an ankle fracture sustained during the first morning of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town has put his Champions Trophy campaign in jeopardy.”I hope and I believe that he will recover quickly, and I was thinking yesterday to call Saim just to talk to him about this injury,” Fakhar said. “Believe me, he is such a great player that if he continues to play for the next four to five years, he will be at the top and he will be amongst the top three players in the world.”
“In Pakistan, we have three of the best players in the world in Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub, so sometimes I feel lucky to be in the team even if I am not able to make my place in the team as an opener”Fakhar Zaman
While Fakhar wants to open the batting for Pakistan, he may not find a slot there, with Ayub, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan already at the top of the order.”In Pakistan, we have three of the best players in the world in Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub, so sometimes I feel lucky to be in the team even if I am not able to make my place in the team as an opener,” Fakhar said. “If the team has faith in me and they want me to bat at number four or five, that totally makes sense, because for me the team is always first and I play wherever the team wants me to play, but I always prefer to open.”Fakhar is currently gearing up for his maiden ILT20 stint where he will feature for the 2023 runners-up Desert Vipers. “There are many Pakistani players who have played for the Desert Vipers including Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Azam Khan and Mohammad Amir and they talk really highly about this team, the environment, the management, the way they play the cricket and the way their mindset is,” Fakhar said. “So when I got the offer, without any discussion with anyone, I said ‘yes, I would love to play for this team.'”The ILT20 begins on January 11, with the Dubai Capitals taking on MI Emirates in Dubai.
Aymeric Laporte sealed an emotional return to Athletic Club after FIFA overturned Al-Nassr’s deadline day mix-up to approve his La Liga registration.
FIFA reversed transfer delay after Al-Nassr error
Defender signed three-year deal until 2028
Former Man City star rejoins childhood club
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Spanish international has officially sealed his return to Athletic Club after FIFA approved the paperwork for his transfer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. The move, initially cancelled on deadline day due to the Saudi side submitting the paperwork late, was revived after the Athletic and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) appealed. FIFA has now given the green light, allowing the defender to be registered in La Liga.
The 31-year-old has signed a three-year contract and will wear the number 14 shirt. It marks a homecoming for Laporte, who came through Athletic’s youth system at Lezama and made 222 appearances during his first spell before joining Manchester City in 2018 for €65 million (£56m/$76m). After five trophy-laden years in England, he left for Al Nassr in 2023.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
For Laporte, the move is a personal and emotional full circle. He returns as a vastly experienced defender with Premier League and Champions League titles to his name. His comeback adds pedigree and stability to an Athletic side currently thriving under Ernesto Valverde, with the Basques sitting near the top of La Liga.
For Athletic, the deal is symbolic as well as strategic as Laporte’s return strengthens their defensive core at a crucial moment while underlining the club’s tradition of repatriating Basque players who made their names abroad. It also reflects the increasing tension between European football’s administrative systems and the Saudi Pro League’s growing transfer market, with FIFA’s intervention here offering a precedent for future disputes.
WHAT LAPORTE SAID
The defender emphasised both his personal joy and his motivation to contribute immediately to Athletic’s campaign, saying: "I'm very happy because this is everything I wanted. Thank you very much for the support. I'm very happy to be here. It's a very exciting season ahead with many matches ahead. I'm really looking forward to helping the team, stepping foot in San Mames, and hoping everything goes well."
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WHAT NEXT?
Athletic and Valverde need Laporte now more than ever after they found out this week that defender Yeray Alvarez has been suspended for 10 months after it was found he had used a banned substance, resulting in him failing a doping test in May. The Basque outfit face Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.
New Zealand hope he will recover in time to play the third Test in Mumbai
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Oct-2024
Kane Williamson picked up a groin strain in Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty Images
Kane Williamson is unavailable for the second Test between India and New Zealand starting in Pune on October 24 as he continues to recover from a groin strain.Williamson did not travel to India with the New Zealand squad, after suffering the injury during the tour of Sri Lanka last month, and will remain at home to continue his rehabilitation. Will Young batted at No. 3 in Williamson’s absence and made 33 and 48 not out in the first Test in Bengaluru.”We’re monitoring Kane and he’s tracking in the right direction, but isn’t yet 100% fit,” said New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “We’re hopeful to see further improvement over the coming days and have him available for the third Test. We’ll give him as much time as possible to get himself ready, but certainly continue to take a cautious approach.”New Zealand lead the three-Test series in India 1-0 after winning the first Test by eight wickets. Rachin Ravindra was the Player of the Match, for scoring a century in the first innings and an unbeaten 39* in the chase. Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke took eight and seven wickets respectively. New Zealand travelled to Pune on Monday evening and are set to have their first practice session in the city on Tuesday.
West Ham United’s pre-season schedule is now underway.
On Saturday, in a behind-closed-doors fixture in Zürich, the Hammers beat Grasshoppers 3-1; Andy Irving, Callum Marshall and Lucas Paquetá the scorers.
Next up for Graham Potter’s team, they’ve travelled stateside for the Premier League Summer Series, facing Manchester United in New Jersey this weekend, before games against Everton in Chicago and then Bournemouth in Atlanta.
With the start of the proper season fast approaching, will the Irons get their hands on a new attacking midfielder?
Latest on West Ham's transfer activity
Fair to say, West Ham supporters were not best pleased about the news that star winger Mohammed Kudus had joined fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur for £55m, the first player to make the controversial move since Scott Parker 14 years ago.
In terms of arrivals, the Hammers have bolstered their full-back options, signing El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague for a reported fee of £19m, while Kyle Walker-Peters has joined from Southampton on a free transfer.
Nevertheless, Kudus’ departure means Potter will be demanding new signings in forward areas, hence why Sébastien Vidal of Weekend Sports is reporting that West Ham “have opened initial talks” to sign Georgiy Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk.
They add that the “creative midfielder” is valued at around £30m by the 15-time Ukrainian champions, with the Hammers “looking to accelerate the deal” and finalise the move as soon as possible.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
So, could he soon become the third Ukrainian to represent West Ham United, after current national team head coach Serhii Rebrov and the country’s second-highest goalscorer of all time, Andriy Yarmolenko?
How Georgiy Sudakov would improve West Ham
After spending three years in Metalist Kharkiv’s academy, Sudakov joined Shakhtar Donetsk as a 15-year-old, before making his senior debut in 2020, this coming off the bench during a famous Champions League victory over Real Madrid at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano no less.
Subsequently, the 22-year-old has accumulated 140 appearances for Shakhtar, scoring 35 goals and registering 24 assists, including netting against Barcelona, Young Boys and Stade Brestois in Champions League ties.
Despite being linked with a move away, Sudakov featured in both legs of his team’s Europa League qualifying victory over Ilves earlier this month, starting the first leg, a 6-0 demolition in Ljubljana; it’ll therefore be interesting to see if he’s involved in Thursday night’s second qualifying round match against Beşiktaş in İstanbul.
Having also already won 29 international caps, starting all three of Ukraine’s fixtures at Euro 2024, Sudakov has earned plenty of high praise.
Heorhiy Sudakov for Shakhtar
Andy Jones of the Athletic labels him one of the ‘most exciting prospects’ and ‘brightest young talents’ in Eastern Europe, adding that he is a ‘versatile midfielder’ who operates best as a number ten, given that he is ‘technically gifted’ and poses ‘creative threat’.
Meantime, Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Serhiy Palkin stated back in April that his star man “will definitely move to a top European club this summer”, with aforementioned national team manager Rebrov asserting that he has “a bright future”.
Florian Wirtz
On top of this, analyst Ben Mattinson describes him as “exciting” and “unpredictable”, tipping him to replace Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old German has just joined Liverpool for £116m, a Premier League record fee, so let’s assess how the duo compare.
Georgiy Sudakov vs Florian Wirtz 24/25 UCL comparison
Statistics
Sudakov
Wirtz
Appearances
8
9
Minutes
702
764
Goals
2
6
Assists
1
1
All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:
Shots
1.3
2.6
Shots on target %
40%
63.64%
Chances created
1.5
3.0
Passes
46.3
52.4
Pass completion %
83.1%
88.29%
Forward passes
11.2
9.8
Take-on success %
66.67%
46.15%
Touches
62.2
75
All statistics courtesy of Squawka
Of course, Wirtz does come out on top for the vast majority of statistics included, but this shouldn’t be too surprising, given that he is the one making a record-breaking move to the Premier League champions.
The caveat for the table above is of course the fact that Sudakov was playing for a Shakhtar Donetsk side who finished 27th in the gigantic Champions League table, winning only two matches, while Bayer Leverkusen ended up sixth with five victories to their name.
Georgiy Sudakov for Shakhtar Donetsk.
Nevertheless, Sudakov does have the edge when it comes to forward passes and take-on success %, and his numbers are pretty comparable to those of Wirtz across the board, especially in terms of chances created.
Thus, it is clear that the Ukrainian international is a player of vast potential and one West Ham should do everything in their power to get their hands on, before an even bigger European juggernaut comes calling.
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Manchester United now want to sign a “crazy” Viktor Gyokeres alternative who scored 31 goals in the 2024-25 campaign, a report has revealed.
Gyokeres edging closer to Emirates move
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has now expressed a desire to wrap up a move for Gyokeres as soon as possible, having travelled to Portugal to discuss the terms of the deal.
The Swedish striker joining the Gunners could be viewed as a major blow for United, given that he scored a remarkable 54 goals in all competitions last season, and Ruben Amorim was known to be desperate to reunite with his former player.
United’s striker options are woefully thin, with Joshua Zirkzee and Matheus Cunha not out and out number nines, Chido Obi very inexperienced and Rasmus Hojlund still struggling to find his feet.
Thankfully, there are a number of alternative options on the shortlist, with the Red Devils believed to be in pole position for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, who was prolific in front of goal on loan at Galatasaray last season.
According to a report from Spain, Man United may also be willing to take a punt on more of an unknown quantity, with it being revealed they now want to sign Almeria striker Luis Suarez, off the back of an impressive campaign in the Spanish second tier.
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United have joined several Premier League and Serie A clubs in the race for Suarez, with Almeria likely to find it difficult to keep hold of their star player beyond the summer, given that they failed to achieve their goal of promotion to La Liga.
A deal would not break the bank for the Red Devils, however, with the Spanish club believed to be holding out for a fee of at least €25m (£22m), amid the widespread interest in his signature.
Signing "crazy" Suarez could be gamble for Man Utd
The Almeria star undoubtedly had a very impressive 2024-25 campaign, netting a total of 31 goals in all competitions, but there are doubts over whether he is at the level to lead the line for Amorim’s side.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
La Liga
41
27
8
Copa del Rey
2
4
0
Notably, the Colombian hasn’t exactly set the world alight in his previous La Liga campaigns, netting just four goals for Almeria in the 2021-22 season.
At 27-years-old, the centre-forward could now be entering his prime, but having never proven himself at the top level, it would be a real gamble for Man United to make a move this summer.
Almeria's Luis Suarez
That said, Suarez has been lauded for his “crazy” quality by scout Jacek Kulig, and at £22m he would be an affordable signing for Man United, so it could be worth bringing the Almeria in alongside a more proven striker.