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Celtic are reportedly eyeing a move for an impressive defender in the summer transfer window, as Brendan Rodgers looks to perfect his squad for a chance at Champions League glory.

Celtic eyeing signings after Rodgers admission

Back in April, Rodgers made it clear that a busy summer was needed at Parkhead, even though his side were once again coasting towards the Scottish Premiership title.

“We always want to improve the team, improve the hunger in the team. Because one of the ways to succeed and guard across what I’ve been talking about, is you need the freshness. It’s either that or the manager goes. It’s as simple as that. You cannot be at a club for a long period of time with the same group of players. And, likewise, the same group of players need a different voice maybe. But, at this moment, it will be about improving the squad.”

Celtic continue to be linked with potential signings to bolster their chances of further success in Europe, with a move for Nordsjaelland attacker Benjamin Nygren thought to be on the verge of being completed.

Meanwhile, a reunion with former striker Odsonne Edouard has also been mooted, having been loaned out to Leicester City by Crystal Palace last season. The 27-year-old scored 87 goals in 179 appearances during his first stint at Celtic, and given his age, he could be an excellent signing this summer.

Celtic eyeing surprise move for defender

According to The Herald‘s reliable journalist Stephen McGowan, Celtic are “working on a surprise move” for Japanese defender Hayato Inamura. The 23-year-old currently plays for J-League side Albirex Niigata as a left-sided centre-back, but he can also play on the left side of a back four, which is a bonus in terms of squad depth.

Inamura isn’t a household name like Edouard, but that’s not to say that he couldn’t be a shrewd acquisition by Celtic ahead of next season.

At 23, the Japanese talent is a young player who is still improving, so the Hoops could be getting his best years, potentially even keeping him for a decade if he proves that he is up to the challenge of consistently performing for one of the biggest clubs in Britain.

Inamura has made 33 appearances for Albirex Niigata, and given Celtic’s penchant for signing Japanese players throughout their recent history, they should be trusted in seeing him as a sensible signing.

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His versatility is a clear positive, allowing him to flourish in two different positions – the fact that he is left-footed also adds balance to the squad – and while he may not be a regular starter from the off, he could be a solid squad option who can develop into a key man over time.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has claimed that an “awesome” Sheffield United could depart alongside Gustavo Hamer in the summer transfer window.

Hamer has been linked with Sheffield United exit

The Blades suffered Championship playoff final heartbreak on Saturday, losing 2-1 to Sunderland in the dying seconds at Wembley, bringing an end to an ultimately disappointing season.

Hamer has been sensational for United this season, scoring 10 goals and registering eight assists in the league, not to mention winning the Championship Player of the Year award, highlighting what a magnificent individual campaign he enjoyed.

Sadly, the Blades now face a real battle to retain the services of the 27-year-old, who may want to test himself in the Premier League or another top division moving forward, rather than staying put in the Championship for another year. Everton have already been linked with a move for Hamer earlier this month, whereas Leeds United tried to sign him last summer.

Hamer may be far from the only United player to move on to pastures new, however, with plenty of other heroes potentially wanting a new challenge after the misery of Saturday and failure to get back into the top flight. Now, a worrying update has emerged regarding one such figure.

Sheffield United could also lose "awesome" star

Speaking to EFL Analysis, Bailey said that Sheffield United could also lose Vinicius Souza this summer, ahead of a potential exodus:

“I don’t see how they can hang onto their Brazilian stars, though. Gustavo Hamer ran the final before going off injured, which is a very strange repeat of what happened to him whilst with Coventry City. The other is Vinicius Souza – a huge talent, quite literally – the giant Brazilian has been awesome for United but there are a host of clubs looking at him. I also think their Bosnian star Anel Ahmedhodzic is unlikely to want another Championship season.”

Souza is another key man for United, so losing him would be a major setback, following a season that has seen the 25-year-old shine at the base of Chris Wilder’s midfield.

The Brazilian averaged an impressive 3.2 tackles per game across 38 Championship appearances, as well as two clearances per match, while Jimmy from Blades Ramble has hailed his performances, admitting he has proven him wrong:

“I have to hold my hands up because I did not think there was a player in there and one performance does not make an absolute superstar, but everything he’s showing at the minute is showing that he can definitely cut it at this level. It was one of the most impressive performances on Friday night, and he won Player of the Match. If we can keep hold of him, I think we’ll do really well.”

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United must do all they can to convince Souza to remain at the club and try his luck again this season, but in truth, it is easy to see him joining Hamer out of the Bramall Lane exit door.

Crystal Palace are now plotting a move for a £20m midfielder, and they are looking to get a deal over the line quickly, according to reporter Alan Nixon.

Palace eyeing new midfielder after FA Cup triumph

May 17th, 2025 will be a date forever etched into Palace history, having won their first ever major trophy courtesy of a shock 1-0 FA Cup final victory against Manchester City, which also secures qualification for a maiden Europa League campaign next season.

Midfielder Will Hughes spoke about what it meant to win the first major honour of his career after the game, while admitting it will take some time to sink in.

Hughes has been an important player for Oliver Glasner this season, making 31 appearances in the Premier League, but with a Europa League campaign now on the horizon, the manager may have to bring in some more depth in midfield this summer.

According to a report from Nixon on Patreon (via Football League World), one of the midfielders Crystal Palace have set their sights on is Mateus Fernandes, with a quick deal for the Southampton midfielder now being plotted.

With the Saints suffering relegation from the Premier League, they could be at risk of losing some of their key players, and Fernandes is valued at roughly £20m, amid interest from both Palace and Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest.

Fernandes deserves another chance in the Premier League

Southampton have endured one of the worst seasons in Premier League history, collecting just 12 points throughout the campaign, but the youngster has shown he deserves a second chance in the top flight with some of his performances.

Despite being just 20-years-old, the attacking midfielder has been a regular starter for the Saints, making 35 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he has managed to amass three goals and two assists.

Crystal Palace join Man Utd in race to sign £19m ace who could replace Eze

Crystal Palace are among the Premier League teams chasing a player who is leaving his club this summer.

By
Brett Worthington

May 19, 2025

Former manager Vasco Seabra has also praised the starlet in the past, describing him as a “very strong and aggressive player with a great ability to cover a lot of ground”, and he has performed extremely well across some key defensive metrics, including tackling, over the past year.

Having stood out defensively, when compared to other attacking midfielders, Fernandes is clearly a well-rounded midfielder, who is capable of playing slightly deeper, and he could be a shrewd acquisition for Crystal Palace this summer.

The Namibia batters are having their best year in T20Is and will be playing in front of a packed house at their new stadium

Firdose Moonda10-Oct-2025Some neighbours in the cricketing world won’t even shake hands anymore but others will go across the border to inaugurate a new stadium, albeit with a mish-mash side. South Africa’s experimental T20I squad is in Namibia to play a one-off match at the newly minted Namibia Cricket Ground and will finish their fixture about 13 hours before the Test side kicks off their World Test Championship title defence in Pakistan.Regular T20I captain Aiden Markram is standing in as Test captain in place of the injured Temba Bavuma, so he will not be in Windhoek. Neither will be Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen or Kagiso Rabada. All that may give Namibia, who recently qualified for a fourth T20 World Cup, hopes of pulling off a great upset. But this game is not so much about the result as it is a celebration for Cricket Namibia, who have built its first stadium under its own banner and will no longer need to rent facilities.The match is a sell-out, with Namibians as keen to see their own team as some of the superstars next door, and this is what they have to look forward to.Related

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De Kock’s comeback South Africa’s enigmatic wicketkeeper-batter, as described by coach Shukri Conrad, has decided to come in from the cold and make himself available to the national team again. Quinton de Kock only officially retired from Tests (and still is) and ODIs but his T20I status has been unknown since last year’s World Cup final. He was South Africa’s leading run-scorer at that tournament, and fourth overall, and seemed to have a lot more to give, but the pressures of international cricket took its toll. De Kock went silent, according to former white-ball Rob Walter, until he didn’t. He reached out to Bavuma and then Conrad in the last few months and is back in the fold.Exactly what caused de Kock to change his mind is not known, but it may have to do with staying relevant in big T20 leagues. His price of R2.4 million in the SA20 was less than an eighth of Dewald Brevis’ record of R16.5 million, for example, and the importance of strong international performance for league value can be seen globally.This year, de Kock had a poor SA20 (159 runs in eight innings with one fifty) and IPL (152 in eight with a best of 97*) but a good MLC, where he was the third-highest run-scorer. Most recently, he played in the CPL, where he scored 208 runs in nine innings with two fifties. After the Namibia T20I, he will play white-ball cricket in Pakistan as South Africa plan for next year’s T20 World Cup, but he will have to earn his place for that.Namibia recently qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup•Zimbabwe CricketThe new Don in chargeBefore this month, Donovan Ferreira had never captained any professional team in any format but he has since been announced as a stand-in T20I skipper. Ferreira was appointed as red-ball captain of Titans, the domestic team based in Centurion, and has led them in two games so far this season. In their opening match against Boland, he scored a century in the first innings and 70 in the follow-on but could not prevent a nine-wicket defeat. In their second game against North-West, he scored a first-innings 71 and is currently the competition’s third-highest run-scorer but Titans lost badly again. Now he will have to shift gears back to his “heater” role in the shortest format and will be keen to show off his six-hitting skills in his first international game in charge.Namibia on a batting highBatting is also the big strength of the home side, who topped 230 twice in the Africa T20 qualifiers and had two centurions. Playing against South Africa will be a step up from Malawi and Nigeria but Namibia will hope to continue a good year batting-wise. In 2025, they have a collective strike rate of 153.02, the highest in their history. In their first outing at the new home venue, they will want to live up to their boundary-hitting reputation and give the home crowd plenty to cheer.Coetzee’s chance to reclaim a regular spotIn Kwena Maphaka’s injury-enforced absence, Gerald Coetzee will lead the attack with an eye on making his case for the more permanent spot in the first-choice side. Coetzee’s attributes – aggressive, quick, good bouncer – all merit a place in the team but a country laden with options and his own history of injury has meant he finds himself in a queue for a spot. He hasn’t been part of a T20 World Cup squad and with the next one four months away, he will want to stake his claim. Coetzee has Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams, and Andile Simelane as other seam contenders, while Bjorn Fortuin and Nqabayomzi Peter will make up the spin contingent.

The three-match series could give an indication of Chapman’s ability to fit into WIlliamson’s World Cup spot

Deivarayan Muthu16-Aug-2023Kyle Jamieson is finally back
After having recovered from back surgery, fast-bowling allrounder Kyle Jamieson is set to play his first international game in more than a year and first T20I since March 2021. With Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, and Blair Tickner all not part of the UAE series, this is Jamieson’s opportunity to prove his fitness and be the enforcer in the attack.Related

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Jamieson’s tall frame and propensity to generate extra bounce has been a point of difference for New Zealand’s attack in Test cricket and ODIs, but he is yet to crack the shortest format. He has played eight T20Is so far, conceding almost ten runs an over. Can he remedy those numbers and fare better in what will be his first white-ball international away from home?NZ’s next gen is here
Auckland legspinner Adithya Ashok and South Africa-born Otago batter Dean Foxcroft are the new faces in New Zealand’s squad for the three-match T20I series in the UAE.Ashok, 20, has played only 15 List A and 19 T20 games so far, but he has already been earmarked to become a future star for New Zealand. Ashok has a big-turning wrong’un in his repertoire and will slot in straight for senior legspinner Ish Sodhi, who is currently with Trent Rockets in the Hundred. Having recently played club cricket for Colchester & EECC in Essex, Ashok will have to quickly adjust to the Dubai conditions, where dew is usually a major factor.”I still don’t think it has sunk in,” Ashok told NZC media in the lead-up to his potential debut. “It’s slowly sinking in…things like getting my kit and training – that’s when it starts to feel a bit more real. It’s a kid-in-the-candy-store type vibe and it was really cool, special moment for me. Also being away from home and things like that it’s pretty cool to go on a journey where it’s not like it’s quite expected as well, so the surprise is really pleasant.”Foxcroft, 25, had thought that his New Zealand career was over when he was locked out of the country when Covid-19 hit. What was supposed to be a six-week visit to South Africa eventually turned out to be a frustrating two-year-long stay because of the pandemic. Foxcroft is now on the brink of making his long-awaited international debut for New Zealand after having dominated the most recent Super Smash T20 tournament with his big-hitting and quickish offspin. Foxcroft has also had T20 – and T10 – exposure outside of New Zealand, with stints in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Oman D10 league.Adithya Ashok has played 15 List A and 19 T20 games so far•ICC via GettyChapman’s chance to push his WC case
The last time Mark Chapman batted for New Zealand in a T20I, he played a blinder in Rawalpindi, his 57-ball 104 forming the centerpiece of a successful chase of 194 against an attack that included Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan. That innings put Chapman in New Zealand’s ODI World Cup frame. With Kane Williamson unlikely to start the World Cup for New Zealand, a batting spot is up for grabs. If Chapman produces similar powerful performances in the UAE and the UK, he could be a contender for that slot in India.UAE are a familiar opponent for Chapman. Overall, he has played six matches against them – all for Hong Kong – scoring 336 runs, including an unbeaten 124 in Dubai in 2015.More international exposure for UAE
It’s not often that UAE get to host two Full-Member nations in a span of two months. After making West Indies work hard for their 3-0 ODI series win in June earlier this year, UAE are gearing up for the New Zealand challenge with some new faces as well as old ones.Allrounder Mohammed Faraazuddin and left-arm fingerspinner Jash Giyanani are the two newbies in the side, with the selectors rewarding them for their good performances for the A team in the ACC Men’s Emerging Cup in Sri Lanka. But there is no room for legspinner Karthik Meiyappan.Fingerspin-bowling allrounder Aayan Afzal Khan and captain Muhammad Waseem, who were both in action in the recently concluded Global T20 Canada, are among the UAE players to watch out for in this series.

With the IPL auctions and T20 World Cup coming up, there’s much at stake

Shashank Kishore09-Jan-2021Suryakumar Yadav
Why he has not played for India in T20Is is a common refrain from pundits. Yadav has opened the innings, batted at No. 3 and even played the role of a finisher in T20 cricket. One moment, he is finding ways to keep the runs ticking; he is playing inventive strokes at another – remember his reverse ramp for six off Jofra Archer in Abu Dhabi? Yadav’s 410 runs in 13 innings in IPL 2020 at a strike rate of 150 was his third straight 400-plus season for the Mumbai Indians. It’s this mix of the inventive with his industrious batting that India’s new selection panel may be excited by, especially if Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey – both nursing injuries at the moment – are ruled out of the T20Is against England in March. Yadav, 30, will hope a good Mushtaq Ali Trophy keeps his dream of playing for the country alive despite age not being on his side.Related

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Suresh Raina
Raina’s controversial departure from the UAE on the eve of IPL 2020 has remained a mystery, although he cited personal reasons for returning home. In his absence, the Chennai Super Kings never managed to fill the role Raina has performed with the bat in the middle order. But will the franchise retain him? Raina’s previous competitive game of any kind was over 18 months ago during the IPL final in 2019. But he now has a second chance as he represents Uttar Pradesh in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy. With IPL sides having until January 21 to submit their list of retentions, a good league phase – which finishes on January 19 – could give the Super Kings and Raina some encouragement.Can Rahul Tewatia force his way as a left-field all-round pick in India’s wider pool of probables for the T20 World Cup?•BCCIK Gowtham
An off-spinning allrounder, Gowtham defended 13 to help Karnataka clinch a last-ball thriller against Tamil Nadu in last year’s Mushtaq Ali final. His USP: Gowtham can bowl in the middle overs as well as with the new ball, and as batsman, a strike rate of 162 validates his billing as a lower-order power-hitter. Ask Jasprit Bumrah, who Gowtham clinically took apart to make 33 not out off 11 balls to win an improbable match in IPL 2018. But unfortunately for Gowtham, such performances have been far and few. In the previous IPL, he played just two matches for the Kings XI Punjab while also being expensive, leaking runs at above ten an over. With Karnataka missing Mayank Agarwal due to India duty, and with KL Rahul and Pandey injured, Gowtham’s experience will be key to a young side looking to defend their crown.Rahul Tewatia
Seldom has an uncapped Indian cricketer – one who hasn’t even been part of either India A or the Under-19 side before – received the kind of attention and adulation as Rahul Tewatia has. His IPL heroics for the Rajashtan Royals in Sharjah last IPL catapulted him into instant stardom, with his popularity – both on social media and among cricket experts – soaring to unprecedented heights. Tewatia is a powerful ball-striker, as those five sixes off Sheldon Cottrell showed. He is also an electric fielder and can fill in with a good few overs of legspin. Tewatia was the Royals’ second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2020, while his economy rate of 7.25 was second to only Archer. Another good Mushtaq Ali Trophy – after respectable success in the 2019-20 edition – and consistency in the IPL could mean the possibilities are endless. Can Tewatia force his way as a left-field all-round pick in India’s wider pool of probables for the T20 World Cup?Dinesh Karthik
Since 2018, he hasn’t quite risen to the heights of that spectacular Nidhas Trophy final night, but Dinesh Karthik remains among the best finishers in India’s domestic circuit. Form wasn’t on his side during IPL 2020, which may have contributed to him handing over the Kolkata Knight Riders captaincy to Eoin Morgan midway through the season. Karthik’s struggles in the UAE could have been down to not having a fixed role in the batting order. However, bio-bubble restrictions and the need to pick jumbo squads in a pandemic world means he will continue to attract the selectors, especially with India still looking for designated finishers beyond Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja. Last season, 301 runs in 12 innings couldn’t quite deliver the title for Tamil Nadu. But Karthik will have the luxury of a fixed spot as captain for them. Can that translate into runs and glory for Tamil Nadu while also boosting his India prospects?Ishan Kishan was the fifth-highest run-getter in a victorious campaign for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020•BCCIIshan Kishan
He hit the most sixes (29) in IPL 2020, three more than Sanju Samson, his nearest competitor. However, unlike Samson, whose form tailed off after an impressive start, Ishan Kishan married game smarts to an already explosive game to finish with 516 runs – the fifth-highest in the tournament – in a victorious IPL 2020 season for Mumbai. Moreover, those runs were struck at 145.76. And though Kishan doesn’t keep wickets in the IPL, he does that job for his state team Jharkhand, whom he will also be leading at this year’s edition. With Samson not having capitalised on opportunities and Rishabh Pant also currently out of the frame of India’s limited-overs set-up, the national selectors may want to widen their wicketkeeping net as they build towards the T20 World Cup. Kishan is at best a batsman-keeper, but has improved considerably, having spent time with Kiran More and MS Dhoni. As much as his explosive batting, his glove work will be keenly watched too.Kedar Jadhav
When Jadhav had made his India debut in 2014, he was renowned for scoring quickly but his strike rates have dropped alarmingly since. During IPL 2020, he was ridiculed on social media, and even called ‘scooter’ by former India captain and national selector Krishnamachari Srikanth for being unable to turn strike. Five outings for the Super Kings yielded a mere 62 runs, and thus Jadhav was dropped midway. His stocks have plummeted since India’s 2019 World Cup exit. At 35, Jadhav isn’t an ODI regular anymore but now has a chance at the Mushtaq Ali Trophy to prove he still has a last lap or two both for India and at the IPL. Like many others, Jadhav will need performances of note to put himself up in the frame to be picked up at the mini-auction should the Super Kings release him to free up INR 7.8 crores from their auction purse.S Sreesanth
Bolt upright seam, late swing, bristling pace, snarls, stares – qualities we know of Sreesanth from 2013. Now pushing 37, he is coming back into the fold after seven years, following the Supreme Court downsizing the severity of his life ban. Sreesanth has been slowly been reintegrated into the Kerala set-up since June last year, when he first started training with members of the state Under-23 team in Kochi. He was assured of being given a fair run by bowling coach Tinu Yohannan should he comply with the fitness parameters. With Sandeep Warrier moving to Tamil Nadu, Sreesanth’s return could lend experience and immense skill to a young Kerala pace attack. Can he play the role of a senior statesman?

يلتقي منتخب الكويت، اليوم السبت، مع نظيره الأردن، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العرب 2025 المقامة في دولة قطر.

وتقام مباراة الأردن والكويت على استاد أحمد بن علي ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات ببطولة كأس العرب 2025.

طالع.. فيديو | السعودية أول المتأهلين إلى ربع نهائي كأس العرب بالفوز على جزر القمر

وكان الأردن قد حقق الفوز في مباراته الأولى على نظيره الإمارات، بينما تعادل منتخب الكويت مع منتخب مصر.

ويحتل الأردن صدارة ترتيب المجموعة الثالثة في كأس العرب برصيد ثلاث نقاط، ثم مصر والكويت لديهما نقطة، فيما تحتل الإمارات المركز الرابع دون نقاط. موعد مباراة الكويت والأردن في كأس العرب

وتنطلق المباراة بين الكويت والأردن في تمام الساعة الواحدة ظهرًا بتوقيت القاهرة والساعة الثانية ظهرًا بتوقيت الدوحة والسعودية والأردن والكويت. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة الكويت والأردن في كأس العرب

وتبث المباراة عبر قنوات بي إن سبورتس HD المفتوحة، بالإضافة إلى قناة الكأس، أبوظبي الرياضية، ودبي الرياضية وإم بي سي مصر 2.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

أدلى روبرتو مارتينيز مدرب منتخب البرتغال برأيه في قرعة كأس العالم 2026، حيث وقع مع منتخبات كولومبيا وأوزبكستان وأحد المنتخبات المتأهلة من جمهورية الكونغو الديمقراطية وجامايكا وكاليدونيا الجديدة.

وقال مارتينيز في تصريحات نشرتها “Zamin” عن قرعة كأس العالم: “أظهرت لنا القرعة بوضوح الاتجاه الذي يجب أن نسلكه، من المهم جداً أن نقيم المباراة الأولى في 17 يونيو، هذا سيجعل عملية الاستعداد أكثر واقعية وتخطيط، المباراة الأولى ستكون ضد الفائز من التصفيات، اسم الخصم غير معروف حالياً، لكننا سنستعد لأي سيناريو”.

وأضاف عن منتخبي كولومبيا وأوزبكستان: “هما منافسان يستحقان الاحترام ويتمتعان بديناميكية عالية، وقد استعدا بجدية للبطولة، نحترمهما ونعتبرهما خصمين قويين”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. طريق البرتغال حتى نهائي كأس العالم 2026.. هل يصطدم بـ مصر والأرجنتين؟

وواصل: “فريق أوزيبيو عام 1966 هو مرجعنا، لقد فزنا ببطولة أوروبا ودوري الأمم الأوروبية والآن أعتقد أنه من المهم جداً أن نتمكن من النضال من أجل الحلم الذي نحلم به جميعاً، أن نفعل شيئاً لم نفعله من قبل”.

وسئل روبرتو مارتينيز عن طول مسيرة كريستيانو رونالدو: “أعتقد أن السر يتمثل في أنه يعمل كل يوم كما لو كان آخر يوم في مسيرته، إنه لا يستسلم أبداً، إنه قدوة لنا جميعاً وقائدنا ومرجعنا ومهم جداً لنا”.

Newcastle United are now only a day away from facing off against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, in a Premier League fixture that will both excite and stress out Magpies fans in equal measure.

Those wearing black and white making the short journey to Wearside for the Tyne-Wear Derby will feel uneasy about what they’ll see from their very up-and-down team, having had to make do with a late point last time out on the road versus Bayer Leverkusen.

The travelling Toon also doesn’t have a glowing record at the Stadium of Light, with their last success at Sunderland’s home ground coming all the way back in 2011, when a Ryan Taylor free-kick won the jubilant Magpies the tight 1-0 contest.

Looking at the bigger picture beyond this vital showdown, Newcastle also have the January transfer window to look forward to, as Eddie Howe and the Saudi PIF surely plan some major new signings to push his team away from their current mid-table position.

Newcastle's transfer latest

Heading into what will likely be a bumper mid-season window in the Premier League, Newcastle look to be on the hunt for some new options in central midfield.

Indeed, the rumour mill has already suggested that PIF are keen on acquiring Tochukwu Nnadi from Zulte Waregem to bolster in the middle of the park, alongside also still being on high alert about a £30m move for AZ Alkmaar star Kees Smit.

On top of both Smit and Nnadi’s names floating about, reports from Spain are also now indicating that Newcastle have made Valencia’s Javi Guerra a standout target, as yet another midfielder catches their eye.

The report states that Guerra’s future in La Liga is up in the air after a disappointing season to date.

Still, that hasn’t stopped suitors from the Premier League, like Newcastle, from remaining keen, with it being alleged that the Toon have watched the Spaniard for many years now, ever since he exploded onto the senior scene at the Estadio Mestalla.

£22m is the alleged amount that could be enough for Carlos Corberan and Co. to part ways with the 22-year-old, with such a deal perhaps spelling the end for Jacob Ramsey already at St James’ Park, only a matter of months on from his £43m switch from Aston Villa.

How Guerra signing could end Ramsey's career

Eyebrows would surely have been raised when Ramsey entered through the door in the summer for such an extortionate amount.

He did have 28 goal contributions next to his name for the Villans before moving to Tyneside, but in the here and now, the Birmingham-born midfielder is looking like an expensive flop at St James’ Park, having failed to collect a single goal or assist from 12 outings to date.

To make matters worse for the below-par number 41, he was also at fault in Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Burnley earlier in the month for the Clarets being handed a lifeline late on, as his clumsy handball allowed Zian Flemming to score from the penalty spot.

On top of that, Ramsey would also only manage one weak effort at the away side’s goal, as his previous Villa spark was nowhere to be found.

If Guerra were to arrive in January, too, Ramsey would surely be even more fearful of his long-term career at the Toon, with the 22-year-old definitely a better bargain for Newcastle’s buck at the £22m price range, having been branded a “joy to watch” and a “versatile” performer at his Valencia peak by scout Jacek Kulig.

Guerra’s last two league seasons

Stat – per 90 mins*

24/25

25/26

Games played

36

15

Goals scored

3

0

Assists

3

2

Touches*

49.8

42.0

Accurate passes*

28.0 (80%)

23.9 (79%)

Big chances created

6

3

Total duels won*

3.5

2.4

Stats by Sofascore

Much like Ramsey, Guerra – who Como scout Ben Mattinson also lauded as a “special player” – has been thrust into the pressures of the senior game from a very early age.

But, unlike his English counterpart, who has struggled this season to make an impact at Newcastle, the number eight has managed to still stand out for Valencia, as they fight near the bottom of La Liga, with two assists collected from 12 league encounters.

Moreover, with his very best last season seeing him average an energetic 4.7 ball recoveries per league contest, there really doesn’t seem to be room for Ramsey in Howe’s first team plans moving forward, if the new £22m recruit is preferred.

It could be seen as harsh to dismiss the 24-year-old so early into his playing days at the Toon, with the 5-foot-11 midfielder clearly once seen as a bright future talent at Villa Park.

But, Newcastle can’t wait around forever for Ramsey to come good, and with it clear that the Magpies want reinforcements here this January, Guerra might well prove to be an inspired pick-up.

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Chelsea’s opening goal in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal on Sunday should have been disallowed under IFAB Law 11.

Arsenal unable to take all three points against ten-man Chelsea

With Moises Caicedo being shown a straight red card after fouling Mikel Merino in the first half, the Gunners would’ve been expecting to pick up what could be a crucial three points at Stamford Bridge, but the hosts refused to lie down.

In fact, Trevoh Chalobah opened the scoring for Enzo Maresca’s side just after half-time, although the north Londoners were ultimately able to come away with a point, as Mikel Merino was able to level things up just over ten minutes later.

Speaking after the game, Maresca made it clear he had no problem with Caicedo being given his marching orders, although he did question why Tottenham Hotspur’s Rodrigo Bentancur was not sent off for a similar challenge last month.

However, Mikel Arteta may have complaints of his own, with VAR being accused of going “completely blind” and missing Enzo Fernandez in an offside position during Chalobah’s opening goal.

IFAB’s Law 11 describes offside offences, and Fernandez’s position battling against Cristhian Mosquera certainly meets the criteria for ‘interfering with an opponent’.

A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:

interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate or interfering with an opponent by: preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball or clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball

However, the goal stood and Maresca’s side managed to hold out for a draw, despite having ten men for most of the game, so Arteta arguably has a right to feel aggrieved the Gunners were unable to extend their lead at the top.

Arsenal should have taken three points regardless

Although there is a case to be made that Chalobah’s goal should’ve been ruled out, Arsenal will be kicking themselves, given that Caicedo’s early red card presented them with a golden opportunity to pick up a victory.

Arteta concurs that it was two points dropped, saying after the game: “I think overall it’s been a really positive week because the difficulty was immense.

“But I have this flavour that today we should have and we could have won the game and we haven’t. That’s a learning point from it.”

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That said, the north Londoners shouldn’t be too disheartened, as getting a point at Stamford Bridge is still a good result, and they have a healthy lead at the top of the Premier League table, currently sitting five points clear of Man City.