Nadine de Klerk claims three wickets as Adams’ 95* goes in vain for Vipers

ECB Reporters Network11-Jul-2023Marie Kelly and Sarah Bryce’s fifties maintained The Blaze’s unbeaten start to the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and gained revenge on Southern Vipers for their Charlotte Edwards Cup final defeat.Openers Kelly and Bryce – 61 and 52 – put on 115 as The Blaze chased down 259 with 10 balls to spare.Georgia Adams had narrowly missed out on her second Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy century with a high-quality unbeaten 95 on Vipers’ first voyage to the Isle of Wight.The Blaze have now won six and had two no-results to sit comfortably at the top of the table, while Vipers have now lost four of their eight matches to put their progression in jeopardy.Vipers were stuck in and made slow progress on a pitch that never rewarded shot-making due to its tennis-ball bounce – something that would be reflected in a scorecard full of starts.Kirstie Gordon’s introduction proved the catalyst to move the game forward. Her first three overs went for 30, but also picked up Ella McCaughan lbw on the reverse sweep and Maia Bouchier hoicking a long hop to deep square after a tantalising 40.She would also pick up in-form Emily Windsor top edging to short fine to eventually end up with three for 54.The Vipers boasted three partnerships in the fifties with the latest seeing Adams begin to find her feet at the crease with Georgia Elwiss.Adams reached her second fifty of the campaign with a languid straight drive in 73 balls and embarked on attempting to reach three figures.She was up against Nadine de Klerk who was making her way through her partners, Elwiss smashed one to cover, Freya Kemp was bounced out three balls later and Linsey Smith steered to point. The South African returned three for 48. Kathryn Bryce also picked up Maitlan Brown.But Adams was running out of time. Despite sixes off Sophie Munro and Ballinger she needed 14 off the final over to reach 100 but fell five runs short.Rain during the interval quickened up the pitch and initially made batting productively slightly easier.Kelly and Bryce really played that change to their advantage with a wonderful partnership that saw runs flow consistently ahead of the required rate – making sure any more heavy rain wouldn’t hurt them at the picturesque Newclose Cricket Ground.Kelly found gaps all around the field, while Bryce dominated square on either side of the wicket and very rarely looked at the V.Bryce reached fifty first in 57 balls, Kelly followed in the following ball in 63 deliveries – both their second half-centuries of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy season.The 115 the pair put together was The Blaze’s highest opening before Adams found Bryce’s outside edge and Kelly holed out off promising young off-spinner Ava Lee.Kathryn Bryce continued the wobble by top edging to square leg, but Georgie Boyce and Michaela Kirk mopped things up with a 42-run stand.But Boyce kept Vipers interested when she plinked to long on with 47 still needed, with Kirk bowled and Teresa Graves lbw in successive balls to Smith with 31 required.Munro and de Klerk held their nerves under pressure to avenge the loss at New Road last month and win by four wickets.

As the great Sir Alex Ferguson once stated, ‘attack wins you games, defence wins you titles’. For where Manchester United are right now, titles are a pipe dream – they simply need to get winning.

For momentum to be built then under the new Ruben Amorim regime, the Portuguese coach needs to be handed the appropriate attacking tools, having inherited a youthful and inconsistent forward line upon his arrival late last year.

As it stands, the Red Devils’ top scorer in all competitions is Bruno Fernandes, with 16 goals. The Portuguese playmaker – who has been operated in a deep-lying role under Amorim – also leads the way in the Premier League for United, with eight goals on that front.

The 30-year-old skipper also ended last season as the club’s top scorer in the top flight, alongside Rasmus Hojlund, with just ten league goals. Not since United’s last title-winning campaign – where Robin van Persie fired in 26 times – has a player reached the 20-goal mark in the league at Old Trafford.

Therein lies the crux of the problem, and with Hojlund and summer signing Joshua Zirkzee scoring just 14 goals between them in all competitions in 2024/25 to date, a new centre-forward must surely be a priority ahead of next season…

Latest on Man Utd's search for striker

The decision to splash out on £64m man Hojlund and £36.5m man Zirkzee had seemingly been with an eye on looking to the future, with the club having abandoned the previous approach of short-term, veteran signings.

Indeed, United had acquired a raft of temporary solutions in the form of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Odion Ighalo and Wout Weghorst – only a then 24-year-old Romelu Lukaku seemingly bucks the trend in the post-Ferguson era.

With that in mind, the time has come for the Red Devils to finally acquire a centre-forward at the peak of their powers, having seemingly opted against moving for Erik ten Hag’s first-choice target, Harry Kane, back in the summer of 2023.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri, that lengthy wait could well be coming to an end, with United having been handed an opening to sign Napoli sensation, Victor Osimhen.

As per Tavolieri, the Nigerian marksman – who is currently on loan at Galatasaray – has been put on the market by the Serie A side, ahead of the summer, with the Red Devils said to have followed the 26-year-old ‘closely’ across ‘several seasons’.

The report states that the Old Trafford side could ‘take advantage’ of this opportunity to finally pounce, with Osimhen perhaps representing the answer to Amorim’s prayers.

How United could sign their next Ruud van Nistelrooy

With Lukaku only lasting two seasons – and with Robin van Persie failing to maintain his prolific first-term form – it could be argued that United haven’t had a truly reliable or consistent number nine since the days of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Indeed, Dimitar Berbatov was never truly the main man, excluding a Golden Boot-winning 2010/11 season.

As for Van Nistlerooy, the prolific Dutchman was an instant hit following his belated arrival to Ferguson’s ranks in 2001, with both parties having been made to wait after the then-PSV Eindhoven star had seen an initial move collapse a year earlier, due to an ACL injury.

The £19m man – who was 25 by the time he made his Premier League debut against Fulham – shook off any injury fears by going on to score 150 goals in just 219 games for the club in all competitions, including 95 goals in just 150 top-flight outings.

United had signed a player entering his prime who had proven himself already in Holland, with 77 goals in 90 games for PSV, with the same scenario potentially set to occur with regard to Osimhen.

Like Van Nistelrooy, the in-demand striker has had injury concerns in the past, although those should certainly not hold United back from making a move, not least when he has scored 26 goals in 30 games in Turkey this term.

In 253 career games, the one-time Lille man has already scored 140 times at senior level, again emulating Van Nistelrooy in representing a proven, ready-made centre-forward option. Like with the Netherlands star, his lack of prior Premier League experience should not be too much of a concern.

At 26, Osimhen – who is only slightly older than the current Leicester City boss was when he made the move of his own – would represent both a player for the present and the future. A player with room still left to grow, yet while having already delivered elsewhere on a consistent basis.

Much like the then-British-record capture of Van Nistelrooy, it would take a pretty penny to prise Osimhen from Naples, considering his £62m release clause, although for arguably the “best striker on the market” – as per Statman Dave – he’d certainly be worth the investment.

Indeed, at a time when United can no longer wait for the likes of Hojlund, Zirkzee or even young Chido Obi to find their feet, Osimhen could finally be the striker to come in and hit the ground running – just as ‘Ruud’ did all those years ago.

Huge Hojlund upgrade: Man Utd favourites to sign "the hottest CF in Europe"

Manchester United need surgery in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 24, 2025

دافعت كاتيا عن شقيقها كريستيانو رونالدو الأسطورة البرتغالية ولاعب النصر السعودي بعد غيابه عن جنازة مواطنه الراحل ديوجو جوتا، لاعب ليفربول.

وتوفى جوتا وشقيقه أندريه سيلفا في حادث سير بإسبانيا صباح الخميس، والذي وقع في مقاطعة زامورا حيث اشتعلت النيران في السيارة وتفحم الثنائي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. الكشف عن السبب الحقيقي لغياب كريستيانو رونالدو عن جنازة جوتا

وحسب ما أثير من تقارير صحفية فإن كريستيانو رونالدو لم يحضر الجنازة خوفًا من حدوث ضجيج إعلامي بسبب وجوده، حيث يرى مهاجم النصر السعودي أن ذلك سيضيف المزيد من المتاعب لعائلة اللاعبين الراحلين.

وتواصل كريستيانو رونالدو مع الأشخاص المقربين من ديوجو جوتا نجم ليفربول السابق واتفق معهم على أن ذلك سيكون الخيار الأفضل، ليتعرض بعدها لانتقادات قوية بسبب غيابه.

ونشرت كاتيا عبر حسابتها الرسمية على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي: “عندما توفى والدي لم يكن الألم فقط في الفقد بل في طوفان الكاميرات والفضوليين في المقبرة، وفي كل مكان ذهبنا له”.

وأضافت: “كان دمارًا لا يوصف، لم يكن هناك احترام بالشكل الكافي ولم نستطع حتى المغادرة بكرامة بسبب الفوضى”.

وواصلت: “كان هناك مسؤولون ومدرب المنتخب، لكني لم أستوعب من سلم علي، الألم كان طاغيًا، من ينتقد غياب أخي أو يشكك في دعمه لن أتناقش معه، سأحظره”.

وتابعت: “لقد سئمت من النقد المجاني والتطرف الأعمى، مجتمعنا مريض بلا تعاطف وبلا وعي”.

واختتمت: “المؤسف أن الإعلام ومنصات التواصل فضلت الحديث عن الغياب بدل أن تحترم مأساة عائلة مفجوعة فقدت اثنين من أبنائها، أشعر بالخجل من هذا الواقع، هكذا أصبح العالم، آراء بلا قيمة، وأشخاص بلا قلب”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Ainda no primeiro semestre, o Corinthians já havia batido a sua meta financeira em premiações nas competições mata-mata em 2022. Na terceira colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, a tendência é que o clube também atinja o objetivo na competição disputada em pontos corridos.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol NacionalCorinthians e Fluminense conversam sobre ingressos para visitantes na Copa do BrasilFutebol Nacional19/08/2022CorinthiansFortaleza x Corinthians: saiba onde assistir o duelo pelo Campeonato BrasileiroCorinthians19/08/2022CorinthiansCorinthians decidirá vaga na final da Copa do Brasil em ItaqueraCorinthians19/08/2022

+ Mercado fechado: confira o balanço da janela de transferências do Corinthians

No entanto, estar no G-4 do Brasileirão e na semifinal da Copa do Brasil, tem feito a diretoria corintiana sonhar com algo que vai além do planejado para essa temporada: um título.

Muito mais do que os lucros financeiros com os resultados corintianos até aqui no ano, o entendimento da direção é que uma taça coroará o desempenho esportivo do elenco.

A cúpula da equipe tem plena consciência que muito mais do que uma empresa, que visa superávits, o Timão também vive de conquistas dentro das quatro linhas.

+ Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os próximos jogos

Eles também entendem que esse sonho pode ser alcançado mais facilmente na Copa do Brasil do que no Campeonato Brasileiro. Nesta segunda competição, mesmo fazendo uma campanha muito acima da esperada, a equipe alvinegra tem uma diferença grande de pontos para tirar.

A derrota no clássico para o Palmeiras, no último sábado (13), colocou uma diferença de nove pontos entre os rivais. O Verdão lidera a competição, enquanto o Time do Povo é o terceiro colocado, no momento.

DINHEIRO NO BOLSO

Financeiramente, o planejamento do Corinthians para essa temporada foi conservador e não previu títulos.

O documento, montado em parceria com a Falconi, empresa de consultoria que tem trabalhado com o clube alvinegro desde o início de 2021, foi produzido no segundo semestre do ano passado e levado ao conselho deliberativo corintiano no último trimestre.

Nele, o estimado era que o Timão fosse às semifinais do Campeonato Paulista (o que aconteceu), oitavas de final da Libertadores e Copa do Brasil (com o clube indo além) e terminasse o Brasileirão na sétima colocação (a equipe é a terceira colocada neste momento).

+Confira os jogadores do Brasil que estão no álbum da Copa do Mundo

Sem contar o Brasileiro, que terminará apenas em novembro, o Coringão já embolsou R$ 19,7 milhões a mais em relação ao esperado – levando em consideração a conversão de dólar nesta sexta-feira (19), já que as premiações da Libertadores são pagas na moeda estrangeira.

Esse aumento entre o previsto e o conquistado até aqui tem muito a ver com o fato do Corinthians estar na semifinal da Copa do Brasil. A estimativa é que o clube alvinegro chegasse às oitavas de final do torneio.

Não tanto como na Copa do Brasil, o Timão também arrecadou mais na Libertadores do que esperava. A estimativa era de 4,05 milhões de dólares (R$ 20,9 mi, na cotação atual), com a equipe indo até as oitavas de final da competição. Como a campanha corintiana levou o time até às quartas, o valor pago pela Conmebol aumentou em 1,5 milhão de dólares (R$ 7,7 mi, na cotação atual) e chegou a 5,55 milhões de dólares (R$ 28,4 mi, na cotação atual).

No Campeonato Paulista, o Corinthians atingiu à risca o objetivo previsto, chegando até a semifinal e adicionando aos cofres do clube R$ 750 mil.

Já no Brasileiro, a tendência é que o Time do Povo tenha um aumento de, pelo menos, algo em torno de R$ 5 milhões entre o previsto e o conquistado.

A projeção no ano passado é que o clube ficasse na sétima colocação da competição nacional e recebesse R$ 23,1 milhões por isso. Porém, a equipe se encontrou no G-4 durante quase todo campeonato, tendo, inclusive, sido líder em algumas rodadas.

No momento, na terceira posição, o Timão embolsaria R$ 29,7 milhões – R$ 6,6 mi a mais.

Caso termine entre os quatro primeiros, o que é previsto para o Corinthians neste Brasileirão, mas em quarto lugar, o ‘lucro’ entre os previsto e o conquistado será de R$ 4,9 milhões – R$ 28 milhões ante os R$ 23,1 milhões estimado.

METAS DE ARRECADAÇÃO EM VENDAS TAMBÉM FOI BATIDA

Entre janeiro e agosto, o Corinthians vendeu três ativos que possuía: o volante Ederson, que estava emprestado ao Fortaleza, e foi para o Salernitana, da Itália; o meia-atacante Gabriel Pereira, vendido ao New York City, dos Estados Unidos; e o zagueiro João Victor, negociado com o Benfica, de Portugal.

Somadas, essas transferências renderam aos cofres corintianos cerca de R$ 100 milhões, superando a marca de R$ 91 milhões estimada pelo clube nesta temporada.

E esse valor pode aumentar, caso o Timão negocie o atacante Matheus Davó, que está emprestado ao Bahia, e que gerou o interesse a clubes russos.

O zagueiro Robert Renan também é monitorado por clubes europeus, no caso, ingleses, mas não deve deixar a equipe nesta janela de transferências, que se encerra internacionalmente no fim de agosto.

continua após a publicidade

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf has said that “no concrete decisions” have been taken regarding the composition of Pakistan’s coaching and management staff, addressing speculation over whether there would be changes made under the new PCB administration.In an interview with Cricket Pakistan, Ashraf said the decision would be made on the recommendation of a newly-formed cricket committee headed by former captain and national coach Misbah-ul-Haq.”I don’t think it matters whether coaches are local or foreign,” Ashraf said. “There’s no concrete decision on whether to change coaches as of now. I’ve created a committee headed by Misbah-ul-Haq. That committee will look at all cricketing matters and will consult any cricketers they want to be a part of it. When they give us their final analysis, I’ll get involved in the discussion and we’ll make a joint decision that is in the best interests of Pakistan cricket.”It is the first time there has been any official communication from the PCB about the fate of the Pakistan men’s coaches since the recent tour of Sri Lanka, where Pakistan won the Test series 2-0. Over the past week, ESPNcricinfo understands there were robust internal discussions on the fate of the coaches and team manager, with some reports suggesting an immediate change was inevitable.Mickey Arthur was appointed Pakistan team director in April, with Grant Bradburn, who previously served as Pakistan’s fielding coach, becoming head coach the following month. Rehan-ul-Haq, who was general manager of Islamabad United for all eight seasons in the Pakistan Super League, was appointed team manager of the national side. Each of those appointments took place during Najam Sethi’s interim six-month stint as PCB chairman.While the committee is yet to formally convene, Misbah has in the past made clear his disapproval of some of the coaching arrangements. He called the PCB’s pursuit of Arthur under Sethi “a slap on Pakistan cricket”, and had replaced Arthur as Pakistan head coach in 2019.The simmering unrest comes ahead of a busy time for the Pakistan side, who return to Sri Lanka to play a three-ODI series against Afghanistan, before co-hosting the Asia Cup. They are then set to travel to India for the World Cup. The PCB has repeatedly said travel to India for the World Cup will be contingent on government approval and mutual agreement on appropriate venues, a point Ashraf repeated in this interview.

Pakistan A rode on Tayyab’s century to post 352 before Muqeem’s three-wicket burst broke India A’s back in Colombo

Shashank Kishore23-Jul-2023

Tayyab Tahir, a seasoned 29-year-old batter, and Sufiyan Muqeem, a rookie left-arm wristspinner, combined to help Pakistan A beat India A and defend their ACC Men’s Emerging Cup crown in Colombo.Tayyab, for whom it has already been a dream year, added another chapter to his 2023 fairytale. He started with a dazzling half-century on PSL debut for Karachi Kings in February and made his T20I debut against Afghanistan in March. Four months on, he struck an aggressive 71-ball 108 to power Pakistan A to 352 for 8 after they were sent in to bat by Yash Dhull, on what he felt was a dry surface.Then, with India A’s chase in the balance, Muqeem, who made his List A debut earlier in the tournament, made a telling contribution with his ripping wrong’uns from the over-the-wicket angle. That he mixed it up with sharp legbreaks added to India A’s challenge and they folded for 224 in 40 overs.That the game fizzled out towards the end was because Muqeem prised out the massive scalps of Abhishek Sharma, India’s top scorer with 61, and Dhull, for 39, to crack open the game in Pakistan’s favour. Muqeem finished with figures of 3 for 66 in his ten overs, thriving on support from fellow spinners Mubasir Khan and Mehran Mumtaz.The Pakistan team management did not play Muqeem in the league game against India, possibly to shield him from the batters’ view. In the grand finale, they were caught unawares by a supremely talented spinner who made heads turn with his control and guile, seldom taking the defensive route, not even when he was under attack early on by Abhishek.Pakistan A players celebrate after winning the Emerging Cup•SLC

India’s lower order hung around to try and defy the bowlers in a late effort to take the game deep, but at 194 for 8, they were merely delaying the inevitable. Mohammad Wasim fittingly finished the game off with a searing yorker to send Yuvrajsinh Dodiya’s stumps.The win would be all the more satisfying for Pakistan, not least because they were handed a pounding by India A in the league fixture. Tayyab, who like Muqeem did not play in that game, walked in at 146 for 2 in the 22nd over after openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub put together an aggressive century stand to lay down the marker.But he soon saw Omair Yousuf and Qasim Akram fall off successive deliveries to Riyan Parag’s right-arm everything in the 28th over. Then in the 29th, when Mohammad Haris, the captain, was trapped lbw by Nishant Sindhu’s left-arm spin, Pakistan A had lost 3 for 4 in ten deliveries.At 187 for 5, India A had just found their footing and were beginning to tighten the screws courtesy their spinners. This is when Tayyab decided he wasn’t going to let the game drift. At the first sign of the Indians switching off, he cashed in. What began as a burst of aggression turned into a full-blown counterattack.Tayyab had a slice of luck when he was dropped on 51 in the 37th over when Rajvardhan Hangargekar circled around a ball he misjudged at the long-on boundary. That was the only blemish in a knock where he showcased oodles of maturity in manipulating the fields, milking runs, throwing bowlers off their lengths and also playing some cheeky reverse paddles, all without making it look like he was taking risks.He was superbly supported by Mubasir, who occupied the crease to help the lower order rally. Without their 126-run seventh-wicket stand, Pakistan A may have been bundled out for a much smaller score.Abhishek Sharma’s 51-ball 61 was not enough to get India A close•Asian Cricket Council

India A’s chase began on a sprightly note as Abhishek and Sai Sudharsan played authentic shots and matched each other stroke for stroke in an enterprising first ten overs. Sudharsan’s wristwork was particularly impressive as he whipped and worked the ball to different parts of the leg side with ease, but his undoing was an Arshad Iqbal short ball that he couldn’t quite get out of the way of, top-edging a pull to the wicketkeeper to break a 64-run opening stand.Nikin Jose was a tad unfortunate to be given out caught behind when replays confirmed the ball had brushed his right hip on the way through to the wicketkeeper. Dhull steadied the innings but found no support once Abhishek was out playing an uppish cut to Muqeem.Pakistan A profited from having the crafty Mubasir operate from the other end and he struck with the big wicket of Sindhu, who was promoted up the order. Mubasir got the ball to dip on Sindhu, who popped a return catch. When Dhruv Jurel and Parag followed suit, the end was nigh.

The Todd Boehly era at Chelsea has seen huge funds dropped in the transfer market to try and hand various managers with the ammunition needed to achieve Premier League glory.

The American has splashed over £1.3b on new additions since taking over in May 2022, with the 51-year-old investing over £40m in 17-year-old Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP.

The teenager is set to return to his boyhood club on loan until the summer of 2026, when he will move to Stamford Bridge looking to nail down a regular starting role despite his tender age.

He won’t be alone in being a teenage sensation on the books by that point, with Kendry Paez and Estevao Willian both moving to the club before Quenda arrives in West London.

The trio will be hoping to make an immediate impact in England, potentially trying to emulate the success of one player who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his time as a Blue.

Eden Hazard’s stats as a Chelsea player

Back in the summer of 2012, Chelsea forked out £32m for the signature of Belgian winger Eden Hazard – a deal that will undoubtedly be one of the best in the club’s history given his record at the club.

The attacker is not only one of the best to grace the Bridge but also England’s top-flight as a whole, registering 110 goals and 78 assists in his 352 appearances during his seven years in West London.

There’s no debate that his best season came in his final year at the club, notching 21 goals and 17 assists in his 52 outings, helping the Blues win the Europa League in his final game before his eventual departure.

After winning two league titles, one FA Cup, a Carabao Cup and a PFA Player of the Year award, Hazard would move to Real Madrid in a £150m deal in the summer of 2019 – banking a whopping £118m profit in the process.

However, despite the huge spending over the last few years, the club have been unable to land a replacement, potentially offloading one who could’ve fit the bill too prematurely.

The Chelsea star who could’ve been the next Hazard

Cole Palmer is the latest attacker at Chelsea trying to play a key role in their ambitions of returning to Premier League glory, undoubtedly being the star in the final third since his move in 2023.

He’s notched 60 combined goals and assists in his 78 outings, helping Enzo Maresca’s side push for a Champions League place come the end of the current campaign.

However, he could’ve been aided in his attempts by Christian Pulisic, had the Blues decided to keep hold of the forward, rather than sell him during the summer of 2023.

The American international star scored 26 times in his 145 appearances after joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2019 – the same window Hazard departed for Madrid.

Such an occurrence led to journalist Owuraku Ampofo dubbing the 26-year-old as the “next Hazard”, but he was prematurely sold by Todd Boehly – joining Italian giants AC Milan for just £17m.

The move has allowed the winger to take his career to the next level, registering 16 goals and 10 assists in his first season in Serie A, cementing himself as a key member of the side at the San Siro.

He’s since taken his game up a notch in 2024/25, already scoring 15 times to date, subsequently outscoring current Blues star man Palmer, who’s only managed 14 under Maresca.

As a result of his consistent displays under Sergio Conceicao, his market value has skyrocketed, with Transfermarkt now valuing Pulisic at £42m – a rise of £25m in the near two years since he left England.

2019/20

34

11

8

2020/21

43

6

4

2021/22

38

8

5

2022/23

30

1

2

Total:

145

26

19

His subsequent value is also higher than new signing Quenda, who’s only valued at £25m despite his big-money transfer to the club, showcasing the mistake the club may have made in allowing the American to depart.

Boehly has gained a reputation for making needless additions since his takeover, spending huge fees on players not up to the level required of the Premier League.

He could’ve saved himself a lot of cash had he kept hold of Pulisic, with their loss Milan’s gain, potentially being a key player in their Serie A title ambitions for many years to come.

Quenda upgrade: Chelsea make enquiry to sign "one of the best left wingers"

Chelsea appear to be making serious moves ahead of the summer transfer window.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 23, 2025

Estevao Willian's performance for Palmeiras in their Club World Cup clash with Porto has sent Chelsea fans wild ahead of his summer move to the Blues.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Willian impresses Chelsea fans at CWCHelps Palmeiras draw with Porto in openerTeenager wins 'Superior Player of the Match'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea supporters have been closely watching Estevao develop at Palmeiras since the Blues agreed a pre-transfer for the Brazilian sensation in the summer of 2024, with the attacker heading to Stamford Bridge after the Club World Cup having now turned 18. In the Verdao's tournament opener against Porto, the 18-year-old managed to win the 'Superior Player of the Match' award on the back of his showing in the clash.

AdvertisementWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Chelsea fan @Louis_Beneventi wrote: "If you didn’t tell me Estevao was 18, I wouldn’t think it with how he’s playing. The positions he’s taking up, the physicality he’s shown in these opening minutes. I’ve only watched 19 minutes of him, and I think I already love him."

@falsewinger said on X: "And that's Estevao off. Not his best game, but very promising display once again for a teenager. Chelsea have a gem."

X user @CFCZeno wrote: "Estevao Willian at 18 years old showed another side to his game that makes him special. Football IQ and Game Intelligence, Decision Making, Movement, he is mentally top. Club World Cup against Porto, and looked he belonged, Chelsea hit the jackpot here."

@CarefreeLewisG added: "First game against a European side and Estevao already took MOTM."

@leedsnoinfidel concluded: "Estevao solid player, needs to work on timing of his releases and a couple of decision-making things, but it’s what you expect off an 18-year-old. Definitely think he can contribute next season."

@UberChelseaFC said: "18 years old and playing across every single attacking position apart from ST against a UCL level side whilst looking very strong. Think I’ve seen enough to know Estevao Willian has got what it takes."

Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite the match between Palmeiras and Porto ending in a goalless draw, Estevao's quality was clear for the world to see. The Brazilian teenager did not necessarily have the best stats, but managed to impress quite a few fans with his ability to drive into spaces and his positioning inside the box.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR ESTEVAO?

The Brazilian teenager will travel to Stamford Bridge after the conclusion of the Club World Cup to start training under Enzo Maresca, with the upcoming season not too far away after the conclusion of the tournament in the United States.

Nottingham Forest have reportedly made an approach to sign a new £30m+ striker who has been compared to Man City star Omar Marmoush.

Nottingham Forest take one step closer to Champions League football

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side took another step closer to qualifying for the Champions League on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Manchester United at the City Ground.

Former Red Devils winger Anthony Elanga scored the winning goal to take Forest to an incredible 57 points in the Premier League with eight games remaining.

Centre-back Murillo was also the hero in the final stage with a goal-line clearance to deny Harry Maguire. Talking after the win, Nuno said: “Over the moon. We are delighted, realising how the game went. We could not be more proud than we are, because it was very tough.

“The fans played their part. We were against the ropes. In this moment, we were against the ropes, and it was about heart and belief because the legs weren’t there anymore.”

Nottingham Forest now racing to sign £33m defender wanted by Real Madrid

He’s a man in-demand…

By
Tom Cunningham

Apr 2, 2025

With European football on the cards in 2025/26 for Forest, attention is already turning to the transfer market and a new signing in attack is on the to-do list.

Evangelos Marinakis is ready to break the bank and spend big, with the likes of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, Wolves star Matheus Cunha and Brentford forward Yoane Wissa three forwards linked with moves to Forest. Now, another name has emerged on the radar from the Bundesliga.

Nottingham Forest make contact to sign Mohamed Amoura

According to reports in France, relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have been in contact over a move to sign Mohamed Amoura who is under contract at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

It isn’t said whether or not Forest have made an approach to Amoura’s camp or the club, however, Arsenal and Liverpool have also been in touch as all three eye a deal.

The 24-year-old is currently on loan at VfL Wolfsburg, who have the option to make a move permanent for around €14m plus €4m bonuses in the summer. They look likely to do that and could then sell the Algeria international for up to €40m (£33.3m) to make a quick profit.

Amoura has been impressing in Germany for Wolfsburg, netting 10 goals and providing eight assists from 24 Bundesliga games in 2024/25, and by the looks of things, he could be seen as a real rival to Chris Wood at the City Ground.

Amoura, dubbed a player with “exceptional” pace, has been likened to City star Marmoush and other high-quality forwards, so a move to Forest could be one to keep an eye on.

MatériaMais Notícias

Apesar da situação indefinida no Campeonato Brasileiro, onde ocupa a 13ª posição, o Botafogo já vem planejando a montagem do seu elenco para as próximas temporadas. No atual time alvinegro, sete jogadores terminam contrato no fim deste ano.

Independentemente do futuro desses atletas, a diretoria alvinegra não vem medindo esforços para montar um elenco competitivo nas futuras temporadas. O Botafogo espera negociar jogadores e acertar contratações de peso para os próximos anos. Um dos nomes cotados para 2023 é o lateral Rodinei, do Flamengo.

RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo x América-MG: alvinegros esgotam dois setores para jogo do Campeonato BrasileiroBotafogo09/09/2022BotafogoJorge Braga deixa cargo de CEO do Botafogo e enfrenta SAF na JustiçaBotafogo09/09/2022BotafogoRafael faz promessa a Jeffinho e brinca: ‘Se continuar jogando assim, eu faço uma demanda na CBF’Botafogo08/09/2022

+Tem novidades! Veja a convocação da Seleção Brasileira para os amistosos contra Gana e Tunísia

Confira os sete jogadores alvinegros com fim de contrato em 2022:

Douglas Borges – Com passagens por diversos clubes do futebol brasileiro, Douglas chegou ao Botafogo em 2021. Durante esse período, o goleiro não obteve uma sequência de jogos para se firmar nas balizas alvinegras.

Saraiva – O lateral chegou neste ano ao Botafogo e vem sendo muito utilizado por Luís Castro. O argentino deve permanecer no Glorioso por mais uma temporada.

Gatito – Goleiro chegou ao clube em 2017 e protagonizou jogos marcantes pelo Glorioso nos últimos anos. Por tudo que construiu ao longo desse período, é possível que ocorra o prolongamento do vínculo.

Joel Carli – Um dos líderes do elenco, o zagueiro foi capitão em diversos jogos do Botafogo e construiu uma bonita história no clube. Por conta da identificação entre clube e jogador, é provável que Carli renove por mais uma temporada.

Carlinhos – Em 2021, recebeu muitas oportunidades com Enderson Moreira na Série B. No início deste ano, sofreu uma lesão grave no joelho e ainda não retornou aos gramados. A situação do jogador no Botafogo segue indefinida.

Júnior Santos – Emprestado pelo Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Júnior chegou recentemente ao clube e busca mostrar seu valor nesta reta final de temporada. O contrato do jogador pode ser prorrogado até meados de 2023.

Igo Gabriel – Titular do time sub-20 alvinegro no ano passado, Igo Gabriel integrou o elenco profissional do Botafogo em 2022. O goleiro pertence ao CSA e deve retornar ao clube no fim do contrato.

+Loco Abreu ‘invade’ treino do Botafogo e convoca alvinegros para Nilton Santos: ‘Preciso de vocês’