Duílio lamenta momento de Luan no Corinthians, mas segue apostando na melhora do meia: 'Não desisti'

MatériaMais Notícias

Há pouco mais de um ano, Luan chegou como a grande contratação do Corinthians nos últimos tempos, mas o melhor jogador da América em 2017 ainda não vingou no clube e é bastante contestado pela torcida. Apesar de reconhecer a má fase do meia, o presidente Duílio Monteiro Alves segue apostando na melhora do camisa 7 e utiliza exemplos para reforçar sua teoria.

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>33 jogadores em 23 jogos: veja quem já atuou pelo Timão na Era Mancini

Em entrevista para o programa “Seleção SporTV”, o mandatário corintiano citou a falta de exatidão no futebol em relação ao fato de alguns grandes profissionais demorarem a dar certo em determinados clubes, e vê Luan como um desses casos, mas garante que ainda não desistiu do atleta.

-O futebol não é exato, infelizmente. O Tiago Nunes, quando trouxemos, todos achavam que seria uma grande contratação, um novo tipo de futebol, alguém que chegou com praticamente 100% de aprovação não só da imprensa, como também da torcida. Infelizmente não deu muito certo. Trouxemos o Luan, que também foi visto pela maioria como uma grande contratação – disse Duílio.

– Não desisti do Luan, acredito que ele ainda possa entregar, é um ótimo jogador, já fez ótimos campeonatos, ganhou Olimpíada, ganhou Libertadores como melhor jogador da América, infelizmente no Corinthians ele ainda não se encontrou, mas tem o período de adaptação e a gente sabe que no caso dele já está completando um ano – completou.

Para reforçar essa sua aposta de que Luan ainda dará certo no Timão, o presidente alvinegro citou exemplos recentes de jogadores que tiveram um início ruim no clube, mas deram a volta por cima, fizeram sucesso e viraram ídolos corintianos. Sendo alguns deles destaques no futebol mundial.

– Agente tem muitos exemplos que eu posso citar: o próprio goleiro Cássio, o zagueiro Felipe, que ficou alguns anos aqui treinando e nem para jogo ia, e hoje é um dos grandes zagueiros do mundo, no Atlético de Madrid, na Seleção Brasileira… O Rodriguinho, passou os três primeiros anos aqui emprestado, depois chegou e ajudou a gente em algumas conquistas, Danilo quando chegou foi assim também – argumentou Duílio antes de completar:

-Então a gente sabe que, às vezes, no futebol, infelizmente quando a gente traz um grande jogador, que tem uma expectativa muito grande, que já passou em clubes e conquistou tudo, ele chega e acaba não se adaptando, não indo bem. Assim como já trouxemos jogadores desconhecidos, que ninguém esperava muita coisa, muitas críticas no início, e depois viraram grandes ídolos da torcida – concluiu o dirigente do Timão.

Luan está há mais de dois meses e meio sem ser titular do Corinthians e virou terceira opção para sua função na equipe, perdendo espaço para Araos, que recentemente não vinha sendo nem relacionado. Contra o Santos, na última quarta-feira, o camisa 7 esteve no banco, mas não foi utilizado por Mancini.

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ردود فعل جماهير ليفربول على أداء محمد صلاح أمام نوتينجهام: آثار التوقف الدولي

تفاعلت جماهير فريق ليفربول مع أداء النجم المصري محمد صلاح، في مباراة اليوم أمام نوتينجهام فورست، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

واستضاف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث خسر ليفربول بهدف دون رد.

وشارك محمد صلاح في المباراة بأكملها، ولكن الحظ لم يحالفه اليوم للتسجيل أو الصناعة. ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول ونوتينجهام فورست

وكتب أحد مشجعي ليفربول عبر موقع “إكس”: “لا ينبغي لـ آرني سلوت أن يخاف من محمد صلاح، لذا يجب عليه أن يستبدله”.

وأضاف ثانِ: “هناك أشياء لم تعجبني، السرعة التي نلعب بها، بطيئة للغاية، طريقة محمد صلاح في اتخاذ القرار، يبدو وكأنه يعاني من آثار التوقف الدولي، التبديلات جعلتنا أسوأ في الدفاع وخط الوسط والهجوم، رد فعل الفريق العاطفي على التحكيم الرهيب من جانب مايكل أوليفر”.

وواصل ثالث: “محمد صلاح أسطورة في النادي، وما زال في أعلى مستوياته، لكن المباريات مثل اليوم توضح لماذا لا يستسلم النادي من أجل منحه كل ما يريده”.

وتابع رابع: “كان من المفترض أن يخرج جوتا وسوبوسلاي ومحمد صلاح من المباراة في وقت مبكر، لكن الأمر انتهى ولا داعي لإلقاء اللوم، علينا المضي قدمًا”.

واسترسل خامس: “كان من المفترض أن يخرج صلاح وسوبوسلاي بدلاً من دياز وماك أليستر، يبدو أنهما كانا الوحيدين اللذين حاولا إحداث شيء ما”.

وأكد سادس: “عدم فوزنا اليوم يعود إلى اللاعبين الذين لم يؤدوا بشكل جيد، وليس بسبب سلوت، كان أداء سوبوسلاي وصلاح سيئًا، وكان الشيء الإيجابي الوحيد اليوم هو أداء فان دايك وجرافنبرج”.

في حين قال سابع: “مورينو وآينا (ثنائي نوتينجهام فورست) حاصرا دياز وصلاح، لا أصدق أن دياز وصلاح جعلا هذين اللاعبين يبدوان جيدين، في بعض الأحيان يكون المدرب أحمقًا ولكن اللاعبين يمكن أن يكونوا سيئين للغاية”.

وشدد ثامن: “أليستر ودياز أفضل لاعبين في الملعب بالنسبة لنا اليوم، يجب استبعاد أرنولد ومحمد صلاح وسوبوسلاي من تشكيلة بورنموث الأسبوع المقبل، هذا ليس جيدًا بما فيه الكفاية”.

وانتقد تاسع: “كان أداؤنا سيئًا للغاية اليوم، لم يكن هناك أي مرونة في الأداء على الإطلاق، كان أداء محمد صلاح سيئًا أيضًا، أكره فترات التوقف الدولية، يتسبب في إيقاف الزخم، لكن فورست كان ممتازًا، لديه نظام دفاعي مثالي”.

وتعجب عاشر: “أرن سلوت هو المسؤول، لماذا قرر استبدال لويس دياز عندما كان صلاح هو من كان يلعب مباراة سيئة بشكل واضح”.

Às vésperas da final da Copa do Brasil, Felipe Melo prega cautela para não 'repetir erros do passado'

MatériaMais Notícias

O fim da temporada se aproxima e o Palmeiras busca encerrar este vitorioso ano com mais um título, sendo este o tetracampeonato da Copa do Brasil. Sobre isso, o capitão alviverde, Felipe Melo, falou com a TV Palmeiras, pregando cautela para a partida final da competição.

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— Último jogo da temporada, a gente sabe que vai ser muito difícil, haja visto o que aconteceu em outras ocasiões nas quais saímos vencedores do primeiro jogo e todo mundo sabe o que aconteceu no segundo. Estamos trabalhando de forma muito forte, com muita concentração e muito focados. Realmente, é entrar em campo e não repetir os erros do passado. A gente sabe que não é fácil, mas tampouco é impossível.

O atleta comentou, também, sobre a vontade de fazer história no clube, sendo o título do torneio o único relevante no país que o volante não venceu com as cores do Verdão.

— A gente está na metade da escada, digamos assim, de construir uma história tão linda nesse clube, todos nós que fazemos parte do elenco. Falta a outra metade da escada. Estamos trabalhando bastante para não repetir os erros e estar estar bem preparados, bem focados, para que essa Copa do Brasil fique na nossa casa.

Por fim, o camisa 30 celebrou os sucessos que teve no Maior Campeão Nacional desde 2017, quando voltou ao Brasil.

— A gente vem demonstrando que tem mérito em tudo isso que estamos construindo dentro do clube. Não posso deixar de agradecer a Deus, foi Ele que colocou na minha cabeça quando estava na Inter de Milão. Até pessoas da minha família falaram para ficar, não voltar. Eu tinha um sonho, apesar de ter vencido coisas no Brasil ainda jovem, de voltar e me tornar ídolo de um grande clube como é o Palmeiras, ganhar títulos de expressão e não sendo coadjuvante, sendo peça principal. Isso tem acontecido

Capitaneado por Felipe Melo, o Palmeiras, buscando mais um título de Copa do Brasil, entra em campo, contra o Grêmio, no próximo domingo (07), às 18h (horário de Brasília), pela final da competição.

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No Bailey or Carlos & "phenom" lined up in Aston Villa’s dream XI after January

Aston Villa supporters have certainly endured an interesting journey over the last decade or so, witnessing the drama of relegation, promotion and the battle for survival, to now being genuine title contenders in the Premier League.

The days under Tim Sherwood, Remi Garde and Steve Bruce et al all seem so long ago such is the success that current boss Unai Emery is enjoying at the helm, the Spaniard steering his side into Europe last term, before kicking on again this time around.

With Champions League qualification a very real possibility come the end of the season, the Villans can not rest on their laurels despite the stunning strides that have been made of late, with the Midlands side wise to push for quality reinforcements before the window closes later this month.

Strengthening at full-back, in particular, appears to be a real priority for Emery and co, while further attacking additions can also not be ruled out, with there potentially set to be a different look to the club's starting XI come the end of January, if a handful of deals are to be done…

1 GK – Emi Martinez

While there has been reported interest in the World Cup winner in recent times, Villa are highly unlikely to sanction the sale of their first-choice stopper midway through the campaign, with the Argentine still an integral figure having kept five clean sheets in the league so far.

2 RB – Jeremie Frimpong

Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong.

The first new addition could well arrive at right-back in the form of Jeremie Frimpong, with journalist Dean Jones revealing that the Bayer Leverkusen star is a "genuine" target for the high-flying outfit.

With 17 goals and assists to his name this season in all competitions, the Dutchman would be a fine replacement for Matty Cash in that wide berth, with the latter man having even lost his place to usual centre-back Ezri Konsa on occasion this season.

3 CB – Ezri Konsa

Ezri Konsa

Speaking of Konsa, the Englishman would seemingly slot back in at centre-back if Frimpong was to be signed, with the former Brentford man deserving of the nod ahead of Diego Carlos, having been "so consistent" in recent years – according to former Villa man, John Terry.

Now on Gareth Southgate's radar at international level, having earned a first Three Lions call-up in November, the 26-year-old is truly flourishing under the Emery regime.

4 CB – Pau Torres

While Clement Lenglet has proven an able deputy of late, it is Pau Torres who is the undisputed first-choice option at left centre-back, having been prised from Emery's former club Villarreal on a £33m deal over the summer.

Described as "absolutely magnificent" by pundit Pat Nevin following the win over champions Manchester City last month, the Spaniard has been a key cog in a defence that has shipped just 27 league goals – the fourth-best record in the division.

5 LB – Marcus Acuna

Sevilla defenderMarcos Acuna.

As per The Athletic, alongside looking at Frimpong, the Villans also have their eye on Sevilla full-back, Marcus Acuna, with the 32-year-old having been part of the Argentina squad – alongside Martinez – that claimed World Cup glory in Qatar.

With reports suggesting Lucas Digne could be on his way, amid Saudi interest, Acuna could represent a perfect rival for Alex Moreno on the left flank, having been hailed as a "top defender" by City boss, Pep Guardiola last year.

6 CM – Douglas Luiz

Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz

While the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona are said to be circling for his signature at present, it is unlikely that the Brazilian will be on the move this month, ensuring he can continue his fine season in claret and blue – having registered 13 goals and assists in all competitions.

A key cog in Emery's relentless machine, the 25-year-old is set to command a sizeable fee if he is to later depart at the end of the season, with an £80m price tag having previously been suggested.

7 CM – Boubacar Kamara

The former Marseille man – who was snapped up on a free transfer in 2022 – has missed just four league games this season, all through suspension, with the remaining 17 appearances all coming from the start, highlighting his importance in the spine of the side.

8 RM – Moussa Diaby

Despite lining up as a second striker in recent times, Moussa Diaby could be relocated onto the right flank once again in order to revive his sparkling connection with ex-teammate Frimpong – having scored 14 goals and registered 11 assists in all competitions for Leverkusen last term.

The possibility to utilise that blossoming partnership could then see Leon Bailey ousted from the starting lineup, even though the Jamaican star does have nine goals and eight assists to his name across all fronts this term.

9 LM – John McGinn

John-mcginn-aston-villa

Villa's super skipper is a nailed-on starter under Emery on the left flank, impressively leading from the front with seven goals and four assists in 2023/24.

While pressure will be applied to his position in the years to come amid the presence of Jacob Ramsey and Nicolo Zaniolo, for now, the Scotsman remains the club's 'Mr Reliable'.

10 ST – Ollie Watkins

While McGinn may be thriving as captain, it is Ollie Watkins who is Emery's undoubted talisman these days, having already registered 24 goal involvements this season – 19 of which have come in the top-flight.

A return of just one goal from his last seven league games has somewhat halted the Englishman's momentum, although as his brace of assists against Burnley showcased, there is so much more to Watkins' game than merely putting the ball in the back of the net.

Young 130 underlines NZ XI's comfortable win; Smith's confident 89* in vain

An increasingly confident innings from Steven Smith and the return to action of Mitchell Starc provided the good news for Australia, but it was a distinctly mixed day as they were comfortably beaten by the New Zealand XI who secured a seven-wicket victory in Brisbane on the back of Will Young’s 130.Pace bowler Jhye Richardson was also ruled out of the World Cup and David Warner fell for a duck on his return to opening the batting before the visitors, without ten of their main squad, reached their target of 278 with 16 balls to spare. It followed the Australians’ batting collapse in the opening match when they scrambled to a one-wicket win.Smith’s 89 not out off 77 balls, coming at No. 5, was his highest score in a 50-over match – albeit an unofficial one – for more than two years since an unbeaten 108 against Pakistan in January 2017. Glenn Maxwell, with a crisp 52 off 44 balls, and Usman Khawaja also made half-centuries.The uncapped Young, who faces up to nine months on the sidelines due to upcoming shoulder surgery, was the star of the chase reaching his century off 110 balls. He added 133 for the second wicket with George Worker, after Starc had struck third ball to castle Hamish Rutherford, then put on 130 for the third with captain Tom Latham who made an unbeaten 69.Starc, playing his first competitive match since the final Test against Sri Lanka in February, bowled with impressive pace – clocking 148kph during his first spell – and returned to spear a rapid yorker through Worker. He was limited to two short spells after the lengthy time on the sidelines, finishing with for 2 for 14 from five overs, but looks primed to lead Australia’s attack at the World Cup.However, in the absence of the rested Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa, the rest of the attack was somewhat pedestrian. Kane Richardson, who has replaced Jhye for the World Cup, went wicketless for the second match running, neither Sean Abbott or Michael Neser, who are both part of the A squad could make an impact, and Nathan Lyon was milked for 54 from his ten. Without Jhye and Josh Hazlewood, a lot appears to rest on Starc and Cummins.The Australians batted first by agreement having bowled in the opening match when there was a toss. It was tough going early on against excellent new-ball spells from Hamish Bennett and Doug Bracewell. Warner drove Bracewell to cover in the second over and captain Aaron Finch was caught behind as the Australians managed 2 for 29 in the first ten overs.Khawaja, who was dropped on 6 at square leg, and Shaun Marsh rebuilt and steadily increased the tempo before Marsh was caught behind. Khawaja went to his half-century off 64 balls but his innings was then cut short by a stinging catch at short midwicket by Jimmy Neesham who grabbed onto a powerful pull shot.Smith and Maxwell then added a brisk stand of 81 for the fifth wicket which was dominated by the latter as Smith continued to find his feet. When Maxwell fell after threatening to really cut loose in the final ten overs, Smith took charge of the closing stages, tallying four sixes including increasingly inventive strokeplay as he plundered 39 off his last 17 deliveries. The innings was warmly applauded in what is becoming a successful week for him.However, overall the Australians have been short of their best in the first two matches of the week and will be keen for a dominant finish before getting on the plane on Friday night.

Sunrisers target playoffs without Warner's magic touch

Both teams are well placed to make the top four but Mumbai Indians look the side with better all-round strength

The Preview by Hemant Brar01-May-20197:22

Vettori – Only issue Sunrisers have is who will replace Warner

Big pictureHe came. He promised. He delivered. And now he has left. How will Sunrisers Hyderabad fill the David Warner-size hole at a time they need him the most?It can’t be easy to replace a man with 692 runs this season and maybe Sunrisers shouldn’t try to. There will be a temptation to use Martin Guptill, the second highest run-getter in T20Is, but with Manish Pandey striking form, the better option might be to reshuffle the batting order to open with Kane Williamson and fill the fourth overseas slot with Billy Stanlake. With Sunrisers struggling a bit in the fast bowling department, Stanlake can slot in for Sandeep Sharma and add more firepower to the pace unit.Form guide (last three games, most recent first)

Mumbai: Lost to Knight Riders by 34 runs, beat Chennai Super Kings by 46 runs, lost to Royals by five wickets
Sunrisers: Beat Kings XI Punjab by 45 runs, lost to Royals by seven wickets, lost to Super Kings by six wickets

Thanks to their healthy net run-rate (0.709), a victory against Mumbai Indians on Thursday will help Sunrisers put one foot into the playoffs even if they lose their last game against Royal Challengers Bangalore. And as it happens, it will also put an end to Rajasthan Royals’ hopes of making it to the top four.For Mumbai, the equation is a bit simpler. A win would take them into the qualifiers and with 16 points from 13 games, they needn’t even worry about net run-rate and other results. In Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock, they have a settled and in form opening combination, with the likes of Evin Lewis, Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard to follow.Although Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga conceded 92 from their eight overs in Mumbai’s last outing, against Kolkata Knight Riders, both are experienced enough to put that behind.In the newsWith Warner having left for Australia, Sunrisers have a big decision to make. “We’ve got a few options, haven’t we?” head coach Tom Moody said on the eve the match. “We are looking at those options at the moment. Guptill is the obvious one, being a world-class opener himself, a like-for-like replacement. But you know, there’s also that option to consider looking at someone like Billy Stanlake at a venue like this.”Hardik Pandya goes deep in his crease and goes through midwicket•BCCI

Previous meetingWhen these two sides met earlier in the tournament, Sunrisers were bundled out for 96 while chasing 137 as Alzarri Joseph picked up 6 for 12, the best bowling figures ever in the IPL.Likely XIsMumbai Indians: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma (capt), 3 Evin Lewis, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Barinder Sran, 9 Rahul Chahar, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Jasprit BumrahSunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Kane Williamson (capt), 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Manish Pandey, 4 Vijay Shankar, 5 Yusuf Pathan, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Abhishek Sharma, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Khaleel Ahmed, 11 Billy StanlakeStrategy punt Hardik and Pollard have been taking apart bowling attacks in the death this season, but in Rashid Khan Sunrisers have someone who boasts a great record against both. Hardik has managed just 14 off 26 balls while getting out twice to the legspinner in three T20 innings, and while Pollard has got out just once to Rashid in eight innings, he has managed only 28 off 36 balls. Therefore, Sunrisers might consider saving Rashid for Mumbai’s biggest hitters. Despite going for plenty in their last game, Bumrah and Malinga remain Mumbai’s best bet in the death. Together the two have 20 wickets with an economy of 9.2 in overs 16 to 20. The other Mumbai bowlers have 12 wickets at an economy of 11.7. Stats that matter Sunrisers have played six matches in Mumbai, winning one and losing five. Yusuf Pathan has scored 84 runs off 62 deliveries off Malinga in T20s, without getting out even once. Sunrisers have the best run-rate (9.3) in the Powerplays in IPL 2019. Warner and Jonny Bairstow had a lot to do with that and both of them have left the team. On the flip side, their run-rate of 9.1 in the overs 16 to 20 is the worst among the eight teams this season.

Spurs could find new Eriksen & Dembele by signing bargain £15m talent

Back in December, Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou revealed that signing a centre-back was his priority for the January transfer market.

In the days before the market opened for business, it became clear that the pursuit of previous top target Jean-Clair Todibo had been abandoned, with Genoa's Radu Dragusin targetted instead.

Ange Postecoglou.

A deal for Dragusin is wrapped up to follow the surprise loan acquisition of forward Timo Werner – formerly of Chelsea – but there is still a key area of the pitch that has yet to be addressed.

Postecoglou is understood to have notified technical director Johan Lange that he desires a centre-midfielder this month, and now, with other moves tied up, such an endeavour can receive full focus.

Spurs transfer news – midfielders

Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are playing at the African Cup of Nations for the next month in what accentuates the need for a fresh face in the engine room, though a move is unlikely to be carried out in haste and for this reason, it's unlikely that £50m will be forked out on Chelsea's Conor Gallagher.

Every Premier League player at 2023 AFCON

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ByBrogan Clasper Jan 5, 2024

With this in mind, a move for linked star Adam Wharton might be a good move, with Football Insider recently revealing that Blackburn Rovers might be compelled to accept a bid of £15m for the 19-year-old, who is enjoying quite the start in the Championship.

Spurs – alongside Crystal Palace and Everton – have been impressed with Wharton and could now find the perfect opportunity to complete the winter spending without rocking the boat too hard with a 'marquee' addition.

Midfielder Adam Wharton celebrating for Blackburn Rovers.

Adam Wharton's style of play

While Gallagher would be a brilliant addition, he would demand regular match action and this could be detrimental to the fluency and cohesion of the current crop.

Wharton, however, could be the perfect addition, still in his teenage years and likely happy to play a bit-part role initially, integrating him into the starting set-up with greater regularity over the coming seasons.

Tottenham really want to sign "mega money" midfielder alongside Gallagher

Postecoglou is eager to reinforce his engine room.

ByEmilio Galantini Jan 11, 2024

Having amassed 49 appearances for Rovers thus far, Wharton has scored three goals and supplied five assists, starting 12 times in the Championship last season (including the final five fixtures of the campaign.

His manager Jon Dahl Tomasson was delighted with his progress and touted him for big things after this emphatic introduction, saying: "Adam, on the ball, he has a Champions League level. I've been a Champions League player myself, I've coached in the Champions League so I know what you need."

This year, as per Sofascore, the Englishman has started 20 times in the league already, posting one goal and three assists, completing 84% of his passes, averaging 1.4 key passes, 2.3 tackles and 5.5 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 67% of his attempted dribbles.

One scout has also said that he "has excellent ball control, great passing technique, good agility and quick decision-making contribute to his effectiveness in both offensive and defensive phases, versatile playmaking abilities."

Increasingly confident as a multi-functional midfielder, Wharton also ranks among the top 19% of midfielders across divisions similar to the Championship over the past year for progressive passes, the top 15% for interceptions and the top 22% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

With such a skill set, Spurs could get their mitts on an industrious and elegant midfielder, blending tenacity and technique to great effect to possibly even emulate the success of revered former star Mousa Dembele.

Imagine Adam Wharton & James Maddison

"For me, he is a genius. An unbelievable player."

The words of erstwhile Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino, whose effusive remarks concerning Dembele perhaps encapsulate his brilliant style, with his countryman Kevin De Bruyne even going as far as to say that the former Belgium international was "the best in the world" in his position.

Completing 249 appearances for Tottenham, Dembele was renowned for his control and command in the centre of the park, with opponents outthought and outfought each and every game and Spurs fans in awe of his effortless displays.

Passing

Finishing

Tackling

Dribbling

Defensive contribution

*Sourced via WhoScored

With such a remarkable balance of quality in his craft, if Wharton could replicate some of said talents then it would only serve him well as he pushes for prominence at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Young Wharton certainly possesses some of the same traits – he can pass, recover the ball with great efficiency and beat opponents with his dribbling ability.

And with James Maddison pulling the strings ahead of him, Postecoglou could even create the new version of Dembele and Christian Eriksen, with the latter even saying in the past that Dembele is the best player he has ever played with.

Eriksen signed for Tottenham from Ajax for £11.5m back in 2013 and chalked up 305 appearances, posting 69 goals and 90 assists and earning acclaim as one of the finest playmakers across Europe.

Christian Eriksen while playing for Tottenham

Now 31 years old and playing for Manchester United, the Dane is not the player he once was but he does have a worthy successor down the N17 in Maddison, who signed for Spurs from Leicester City for £40m in the summer.

Described as a "magician" by Statman Dave, the England international scored three goals and supplied five assists from 11 Premier League outings this season – winning August's Player of the Month and impressively averaging 2.9 key passes per game – before an injury in November halted his progress.

Nonetheless, the 26-year-old will return soon and could be bolstered by an all-encompassing talent such as Wharton, who could develop quite the partnership with the midfielder over the coming months.

Given that Wharton is available for such an affordable fee, it's a no-brainer that Postecoglou makes his move swiftly and maintains the balance and fluency as Tottenham continue to improve and bloom as a force in the Premier League once again.

Everton could lose Arnaut Danjuma amid interest from European strugglers

After being handed a 10-point deduction, it was easy to worry about Everton's Premier League status. Since then, however, the Toffees have been better than ever under Sean Dyche and look on course to survive the drop for yet another season if they continue their form. This time around, those at Goodison Park could even get the boost of moving into mid-table and beyond, given how tight things are, making up for their deduction. If it wasn't for those 10 points, they would be sat in 10th and above Chelsea.

As the January transfer window arrives too, the Merseyside club could seek reinforcements to ensure that they enjoy even greater success in the second half of the campaign. First, however, they may need to turn their attention towards departures, with one player potentially heading for the exit door according to reports.

Everton transfer news

Even amid financial difficulty, Everton managed to get reinforcements over the line in the summer transfer window. The likes of Jack Harrison, Ashley Young and Beto all joined in the hope of handing Dyche a boost, before doing just that. The same can't be said for Arnaut Danjuma though, who has struggled to make his mark at Goodison Park and could now be set for an exit.

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According to Foot Mercato, Lyon are eyeing a move to sign Everton loanee Danjuma in the January transfer window. The Ligue 1 side have found themselves in a shock relegation battle this season and are in desperate need of reinforcements next month, with the Villarreal forward on their list. They are thought to be considering a loan move with the option to buy if the deal is less than €15m (£13m) but could also go for a simple six-month loan deal if the deal is more expensive than that. Either way, it looks as though Everton could lose their forward next month.

Danjuma hasn't found his feet at Everton

Danjuma's stats at Everton don't exactly make for pretty reading, given that he has scored just twice in 15 appearances. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin now free from injury troubles too, the forward may be unlikely to break into Dyche's plan anytime soon, meaning that a move away could suit all parties involved. As the January window swings open in a matter of days, the Dutchman is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Arnaut Danjuma

Earning plenty of praise when at his best, former Middlesbrough manager Jonathan Woodgate said: “Yeah, he’s an exceptional player, in a really good place at the minute, Arnie. He’s another one who I’ve always done a lot of work on him at his previous clubs, so I knew all about him coming into this role, I knew what type of player he was.

“I know last season that he didn’t really get a run in the Premier League and he maybe found it a bit difficult to get game time, but this season he’s been outstanding. I can only talk of what he’s done under my reign, but at the minute, he’s playing some exceptional football, and what else he is doing is working for the team."

Chelsea’s 6/10 gem who won 11 duels was a hero vs Luton alongside Palmer

Chelsea made it back-to-back Premier League wins with their victory over Luton Town this afternoon, yet they perhaps made it harder than it needed to be.

Having led by three goals to nil with just 20 minutes remaining, the Blues took their eye off the ball during the final quarter of the game and let the Hatters score twice.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Mauricio Pochettino was relieved when the whistle went, and it was another three points for the Stamford Bridge side, who remain tenth in the table.

The Argentinian welcomed back Cole Palmer to the starting XI after he missed the midweek tie due to suspension and the youngster made a major difference, illustrating why he is fast becoming one of the signings of the season.

Cole Palmer’s statistics vs Luton Town

The former Manchester City starlet had netted six times and chipped in with three assists before the clash this afternoon, and he returned from his one-game ban showing everyone exactly what they had been missing.

The 21-year-old scored his first brace for the Blues along with grabbing another assist, yet this doesn’t tell the full tale of his performance.

Deployed behind Armando Broja, Palmer ran the show from attacking midfield as he made two key passes, took five shots during the tie, and succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts.

The young talent also won 50% of his duels and was successful with five of his six attempted long balls, and it was a display of ever-growing maturity.

Pochettino must build a team around the Englishman as there is no limit to his talent and if he remains fit, Chelsea could still secure a European spot this season.

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While his display was excellent, it was Moises Caicedo who was the reliable operator behind Palmer in the heart of the midfield.

Moises Caicedo’s game in numbers vs Luton Town

The former Brighton and Hove Albion gem has taken a while to fully settle in at Chelsea, yet this commanding performance alongside Conor Gallagher is surely proof he will become a key member of the side over the next few years.

The Evening Standard gave him a match rating of 6/10, yet his display certainly went under the radar due to the brilliance of Palmer in a more advanced role.

The Ecuadorian finished the match with a wonderful 97% pass success rate and he also succeeded with 75% of his dribble attempts and made one key pass, showing that he can be a decent option when going forward too.

Caicedo was so effective on the ball that he lost possession just three times during the full game, and he won nine of his 13 ground duels and two of his four aerial duels, certainly proving he wasn’t a lightweight in the heart of the midfield.

Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo.

The 22-year-old also contributed with five tackles and it was a solid display which should really get more credit, especially as it will now give him a base to build on heading into 2024.

It was another crucial win for Chelsea and if they can maintain this momentum, they will soon start to properly click into gear.

Royals need to brace for Capitals' spin choke

The sides meet for the first time this season, with Royals needing to do all the running to remain in contention

The Preview by Shashank Kishore in Jaipur21-Apr-20197:22

Can Royals upset the resurgent Capitals?

Big PictureThe belligerence of Riyan Parag, a 17-year old, who outscored Steven Smith during the course of their match-winning partnership on Saturday, embodies the Rajasthan Royals’ mantra of playing freely without the fear of consequences for the remainder of IPL 2019.In a way, knowing a slip-up and you may near the exit gates is as clear as a message can get, and no one better than Smith, the new captain, understands this. He is managing an elbow injury, has taken over the captaincy mantle at a difficult time, but is clear his sights are only on the next week and a bit. A knock such as his – an unbeaten half-century – has allayed questions over his personal form and doubts over whether he walks into the XI, for the moment. And Royals simply have to live in the moment now.Form Guide

Rajasthan Royals: Beat Mumbai by five wickets, lost to Kings XI by 12 runs, beat Mumbai by four wickets
Delhi Capitals: Beat Kings XI by five wickets, beat Mumbai by 40 runs, beat Sunrisers by 39 runs

Having ticked a box against Mumbai Indians for a third win, Royals need to win at least four more games, or all five if mathematics plays a part. In their minds, they have to now approach this like a five-match series with the first one at home. It cannot be a bad place to start.Delhi Capitals have every right to feel like a restless kid who feels stifled at home and wants to get out. They have not enjoyed home comforts like some of the other sides. The surfaces they have played on there have been ordinary, at best. If they expected a trip down the road to Jaipur will rejuvenate them, they will be mistaken.The surfaces at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium too have been sluggish, much different to the zip and bounce fast bowlers have enjoyed here previously. Still, it hasn’t been as bad as the ones at Feroz Shah Kotla. The confidence of having chased down a score quite comfortably on Saturday evening, and the comfort that they’ve been in the best possible position for the playoffs in a long time, should give them the extra kick.BCCIIn the newsJos Buttler was to be available until their next game in Kolkata on April 25, but has flown home a week early to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. His void was filled by Sanju Samson, allowing Steven Smith to take his favourite No. 3 position. That’s unlikely to change come Monday. The question they may have is, do they persist with Ashton Turner, who has made two first-ball ducks in two games playing as a specialist batsman, or bring in Liam Livingstone?Shikhar Dhawan’s rediscovery has eased the burden on Delhi’s middle order. Will this give them the wings to chase down any total? Will they give Guyana’s Andre Russell – Sherfane Rutherford – another go? Numbers indicate they should, as Royals’ poor record against left-handers – they concede at 9.84 per over.Previous meetingThis will be the first meeting between the two sides this season.Likely XIs Rajasthan Royals: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Sanju Samson, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Ashton Turner/Liam Livingstone, 7 Stuart Binny, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Shreyas Gopal, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Dhawal Kulkarni Delhi Capitals: 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Prithvi Shaw, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Rishabh Pant, 5 Colin Ingram, 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Amit Mishra, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Sandeep LamichhaneGetty ImagesStrategy Punt Prithvi Shaw likes pace on the ball upfront. He’s had a poor record against legspinners, falling to this variety five times, while scoring 48 runs off 41 balls. Can Royals look to play on his ego by bringing in Shreyas Gopal in the Powerplay? Royals have lost 22 wickets to spin, the most among all teams this season. Their run rate of 7.3 is the third lowest against this variety. Capitals have no reason to deviate from their three-spin attack of Amit Mishra, Sandeep Lamichhane and Axar Patel. Not even if there’s a hint of grass, which proved to be deceptive on Saturday. Shikhar Dhawan’s strike rate of 135.2 is comfortably his best in the IPL since 2016. Thrice this season, he’s been out to the slower delivery against the pacers. With one side boundary comfortably bigger than the other, can Royals slow it down and get him to heave across the line, a shot he instinctively plays by coming down the pitch?Stats that matter Dhawan has the most 30-plus scores (6) in IPL 2019. While batting first, Dhawan strikes at just 68.4 in his first 10 deliveries. This number jumps to 159.2 in chases. No one outside Delhi’s top three of Shaw, Dhawan and Iyer have faced more than 10 deliveries clocked at over 140kph. With Royals likely to use Jofra Archer largely at the death, it will be a good test for the likes of Rishabh Pant and Colin Inrgram. Sawai Mansingh Stadium has seen the least number of boundaries this season. It stands at 54.4. For perspective, the boundary percentage at Eden Gardens is 64.5 Ishant Sharma is two scalps away from 100 T20 wickets

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