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O estatuto para a criação da Libra (Liga de Futebol Brasileiro) foi assinado por oito clubes – seis da Série A e dois da Série B. Neste primeiro momento, 14 equipes da primeira divisão não fecharam questão. Na noite desta terça, o grupo publicou carta para explicar as razões disso.

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No texto, os clubes ressaltam a importância de criar a liga, mas consideram insuficiente a redução na diferença de receitas na proposta inicial – liderada pela empresa Codajas com o banco BTG Pontual. Segundo o documento, a diminuição na disparidade apresentada está “aquém do ideal, o que pode ser facilmente atingido por meio do diálogo”.

Os oito clubes que assinaram o estatuto da liga são: Corinthians, Palmeiras, Santos, São Paulo, Red Bull Bragantino, Flamengo (Série A), Cruzeiro e Ponte Preta (Série B).

Confira abaixo a íntegra da carta:

“Os clubes signatários receberam, na última sexta-feira, a convocação para a reunião realizada nesta terça-feira (03/05/2022) em São Paulo, com o objetivo de discutir os termos da criação da Liga de futebol profissional brasileira.

Os clubes prontamente se dispuseram a comparecer ao encontro, a despeito da convocação emergencial, demonstrando, com isso, que estão absolutamente cientes e engajados na formalização da entidade, com ampla adesão das Séries A e B.

Entre as muitas razões para a formação da liga está a premente necessidade de se elevar o nível de qualidade do futebol brasileiro, resgatando seu protagonismo no cenário mundial. O caminho para alcançar este objetivo é, sim, a construção de um campeonato forte, com clubes revitalizados e um padrão de equanimidade nas condições de disputa.

A ideia da liga tem o mérito de prever maiores receitas para os clubes, que poderiam conviver em um ambiente mais equilibrado financeiramente. Porém, as condições apresentadas para a incorporação das agremiações à Liga ainda não permitem exatamente o cumprimento do objetivo principal, que é a busca de uma equanimidade entre os clubes.

O documento apresentado e por ora assinado apenas por alguns Clubes apresenta regras de distribuição de receitas que pouco reduzem a atual disparidade de divisão de receitas. Há sim ali uma redução da diferença, mas ainda aquém do ideal, o que pode ser facilmente atingido por meio do diálogo.

Entre as várias questões a serem discutidas, os aspectos principais são o percentual previamente definido para a distribuição de receita igualitária, o limite a ser estabelecido como diferença de receita entre o primeiro e o último clube da competição. Há, ainda, outros pontos a serem debatidos, sobretudo no que tange ao critério de engajamento, mas que podem ser objeto de aprofundamento após o efetivo ingresso dos Clubes signatários na Liga.

Os clubes signatários desta carta se dispõem a assinar a formação da Liga tão logo seja possível uma análise aprofundada sobre os critérios mencionados, além de outros, de menor impacto e que podem ser analisados no momento oportuno, mas igualmente importantes, razão pela qual confiam que, até a próxima reunião, com possíveis avanços no entendimento de solucionar tais pontos será possível chegarmos a uma adesão de Clubes em maior número e com isso a formalização da Liga com muita força e unidade.

América-MG, Atlético-MG, Athletico-PR, Atletico-GO, Avai, Botafogo, Ceará, Coritiba, Cuiabá, Fluminense, Fortaleza, Goiás, Internacional, Juventude”.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement may have been offered plenty of backing by new CEO Patrick Stewart, but the Ibrox faithful know that he isn’t the right choice to lead the club into the future.

Indeed, during the 3-1 victory over St Johnstone in Glasgow on Sunday afternoon, the Union Bears departed in the 55th minute as a sign of protest against the board and their decision to back the manager.

With the January transfer window in full swing, the only thing that might save Clement will be a deep run in Europe and winning the Scottish Cup.

The Premiership title race is all but over, as Celtic currently top the standings by a staggering 15 points.

The only positives from recent weeks have been the performances of certain individuals. Nico Raskin has impressed in recent weeks, even captaining the Gers to a memorable 3-0 win over Celtic at the start of the year.

Hamza Igamane has been the other big positive in the previous few months, emerging as someone who shouldn’t be dropped from the starting XI.

If he maintains this current form, then there will be a host of clubs queuing up to secure his signature this summer.

Hamza Igamane’s amazing season in numbers

Rangers were in need of another striker last summer. Despite Cyriel Dessers scoring 22 goals, he wasn’t the answer for Clement.

The arrival of Igamane for a fee believed to have been £1.7m was certainly a surprise, especially considering the youngster had not played senior football outside of Morocco before.

While seen as a big gamble, if the striker could settle and score goals, there was no doubt the Light Blues might strike gold on the Moroccan starlet.

Struck gold they have. Just seven months after moving to Scotland, Igamane has emerged as a hot prospect, one that has already scored 12 goals in just 21 appearances for the club thus far.

A few weeks ago, it was reported that Everton had sent scouts to watch the striker during the Europa League clash against Tottenham Hotspur. Igamane did his chances of a big move no harm by scoring the opener against the Premier League outfit.

Although the 22-year-old has eventually settled into the rigours of Scottish football, it has been in Europe where he has showcased his true talents and that he belongs at this level.

Across four Europa League games, he has netted four goals, scoring once every 48 minutes, along with having a stunning 67% goal conversion rate in the competition.

Furthermore, averaging 1.3 key passes and 1.3 successful dribbles on the continent indicates that Igamane offers more than just a clinical threat in the final third.

He has already endeared himself to the Ibrox faithful, who see the striker as the ideal heir to Alfredo Morelos, with the pair sharing similar attributes.

The more goals he scores, the higher the interest will be heading into the summer transfer window. If a big-money move comes in, he might just make the Light Blues a significant profit.

Having excellent players operating behind him will allow Igamane to improve as the season progresses. Though, should he stay, he could well be complemented by one of the SPFL’s top young talents.

Rangers eye move for Dundee star

According to the Sun, Rangers are considering making a pre-contract move for Dundee starlet Lyall Cameron, who has enjoyed a wonderful season at Dens Park.

Cameron was briefly linked with a move to Glasgow last summer, but nothing materialised in the end. Celtic were the ones to sign a Dundee star, bringing Luke McCowan to the club, who has settled in well at Parkhead.

Could Cameron perhaps follow in his former teammate’s footsteps by making the switch from Dundee to Glasgow?

The report from the Sun claims that the Gers are leading the chase for Cameron’s signature, although there is plenty of interest from other parties.

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The chance to win trophies and compete in Europe on a consistent basis suggests a move to Ibrox could be the perfect one for the player to take his game to the next level.

Why Rangers should sign Lyall Cameron

Earlier this season, following a game against Rangers, analyst John Walker took a look at his performance, saying: “Had a look at him closely v Rangers on Saturday & he was an absolute stand-out.”

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So, he’s already stood out against Clement’s side but what could he offer if he signs in the summer? Well, in the Premiership this season, the Dundee sensation has already scored five goals and registered four assists. When taking into account all competitions, he has registered a total of 15 goal contributions.

This tally is made even more remarkable considering he has operated either in the centre of the Dundee midfield or at times, as a defensive midfielder.

Should he move to Ibrox, could his future be in a more advanced role? It’s something that would see him linking up directly with Igamane.

Considering Cameron has created four big chances in the top flight throughout 2024/25, along with averaging 1.7 key passes and succeeding with 0.6 dribbles per game, he could be excellent if he moved slightly further forward should he join Rangers.

Averaging 59.7 touches of the ball per game demonstrates his willingness to often get involved during games, not shying away from the challenge of more illustrious teams.

These statistics should be enough for Clement to see that he could add a quality midfielder to his squad for nothing, boosting the homegrown quota in the process.

Aged just 22, Cameron still has plenty of development to do. A move to Ibrox could be fundamental in achieving his dreams while improving as a player.

At the time of writing, the youngster has 12 caps for the Scotland U21 side. Switching to Rangers ahead of next season could see him garner the attention of Steve Clarke, who might find it hard to ignore him.

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Liverpool, nine points clear of Manchester City with a game in hand at the top of the Premier League, could now get one over on the champions in the transfer market, having reportedly set their sights on a La Liga gem.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have been almost perfect so far this season. Even after recent draws against Fulham and Newcastle United in the Premier League, they remain in the driving seat in the Premier League title race and a step closer to their first trophy under Arne Slot after defeating Southampton. Advancing into the final four of the Carabao Cup with victory over the Saints, the Reds flexed the full strength of their squad.

Now, with the January transfer window approaching, Anfield chiefs could decide to add to that squad. Just under two weeks away from the winter window, names such as Jeremie Frimpong have been mentioned in a deal that would likely take place in the summer and see the Bayer Leverkusen star replace Trent Alexander-Arnold if he allows his contract to expire.

Regarding January, however, the Premier League leaders have seemingly turned their attention towards La Liga. According to Sport in Spain, Liverpool are now eyeing a move to sign Raul Moro ahead of Manchester City in a deal worth just €10m (£8m) in 2025.

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The left-winger has impressed for Real Valladolid since arriving in the summer and could be set to earn a big move just half a season later in what would mark sensational progress for the 22-year-old. Given Liverpool’s left-wing options, however, it remains to be seen whether they’d make such a move this winter.

"Great" Moro could struggle for game time at Liverpool

With Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo already competing for that left-wing spot in the current Liverpool side, adding one more option on that side would hand Slot a needless headache. At 22 years old too, Moro needs game time more than ever, making a move to Anfield one that he’d arguably be best to avoid for the time being. Of course, resisting Anfield is easier said than done, however.

The young winger has earned plenty of praise throughout his rise into a La Liga gem, including from Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, who described one of his first seasons as “great” during his Lazio Primavera days in 2020.

Kulig was right to highlight Moro’s talent, that’s for sure. Four years later, he is a young player on the rise in La Liga, with three goals and one assist potentially just the beginning of his impact for Real Valladolid. One to keep an eye on, Liverpool or others in the Premier League could yet decide to push on and secure Moro’s signature in 2025.

Al-Hilal boss Jorge Jesus hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as he explained why the Al-Nassr star is 'an example for all players in the world'.

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Jesus hailed Al-Nassr's RonaldoCites Portuguese star to inspire Al-Hilal playersCR7 and Portugal face Denmark on ThursdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite Ronaldo plying his trade at Al-Hilal's rival club Al-Nassr, Jesus spoke highly of his compatriot as he stressed on the 40-year-old's fitness and work ethic. The manager also revealed that he often cites the Portugal icon as an example to motivate his own players.

AdvertisementWHAT JOGE JESUS SAID

Speaking at the Forum of the National Association of Football Coaches, the 70-year-old said: "I don’t know, but I would like it to happen. Because Ronaldo is an example. Ronaldo is an example at 40 years old. You see some Al Nassr games now, but I am there. He is still a young player, given his performance in the game. And, honestly, I don’t know how long he will continue. Because he is a 100 per cent professional, he takes care of himself like no other player in the world, and that is why he is 40 years old and still going."

He added: "I often give his example to my players. Ronaldo is an example for all players in the world. What makes an athlete’s career last longer is not just the training process, it is the entire development of the player’s recovery. And today, the player’s recovery is fundamental."

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Even at 40, the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star continues to dazzle in one of the top leagues in Asia. Ronaldo has scored 28 goals in 33 matches across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign, including 19 Saudi Pro League goals. He is once again the front-runner to win the Golden Boot award.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIANO RONALDO?

Ronaldo now shifts his focus to international football as Portugal are all set to face Denmark in a two-legged Nations League quarter-final clash on March 20 and 23.

What are some of the contests that could decide the outcome of the Test series?

Andrew McGlashan02-Mar-2022Shaheen Shah Afridi vs everyoneHasan Ali has an injury. Haris Rauf has Covid. Shaheen Shah Afridi was vital to Pakistan’s chances anyway, but that has only increased in recent days. It is remarkable to think he is still only 21. He was the leading quick bowler in Test cricket during 2021 with 47 wickets at 17.06. Australia had a brief taste of his rapid, late swing during the T20 World Cup – albeit with the white ball – when a stunning opening over removed Aaron Finch and very nearly Mitchell Marsh although they, and more specifically, Matthew Wade had the final say. In these Tests, his early duels with David Warner could be key: Afridi averages 18.34 against left handers. Warner has a phenomenal record against Pakistan (he averages 108.40) and was savage on them during the 2019-2020 series in Australia but Afridi has grown over those intervening two years. The issue for Pakistan will be that it can’t be all on Afridi’s shoulders.Related

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Can the short ball work to Smith?The last time Australia played overseas during the 2019 Ashes, Steven Smith produced one of the finest series of all time with 774 runs at 110.57. Since then, however, he has averaged 36.86 from 14 Tests with just a single century against India. Some of that has been attributed to the sickening blow he took from Jofra Archer at Lord’s, although he made a double century on his return from concussion. There has certainly been a concerted approach to bowl short at the body since then – a tactic well-executed by Neil Wagner in 2019-2020 – which has also kept his scoring rate down. Since October 1, 2019, Smith has fallen 10 times to deliveries logged as short-of-a-good-length or short in ESPNcricinfo’s data. However, there have been other plans that have worked well, too, including R Ashwin’s approach and a heavy leg-side field set by India. Afridi has the pace to potentially trouble Smith with the short delivery, but Pakistan will have to be wary of bowling him into the ground and the likelihood of playing three quicks (more on the balance of the side below) may also limit being able to have operate in lengthy short-ball spells.Mohammad Rizwan could be important against Nathan Lyon•Getty Images/AFPBabar Azam vs Josh HazlewoodBabar Azam is a wonderful batter, but few have troubled him like Josh Hazlewood who has claimed him six times (the next most is three dismissals to the same bowler). It does need noting that four of those came early in Babar’s career on the 2016-17 tour of Australia and on the previous tour in 2019-2020 he left a mark with a century in Brisbane and 97 in Adelaide although Hazlewood removed him twice. Australia always target the opposition captain and if Hazlewood can keep a hold over Babar it could be a major factor in the series. Although Babar has remained a consistent run-scorer in recent times, it is 11 Tests since he has scored a century. Hazlewood is not actually an incumbent in the side after missing most of the Ashes with a side strain but it would be a huge surprise if he did not return.The approach against Nathan LyonOne of the big decisions Australia need to make is around the balance of their attack. It would seem likely that Nathan Lyon will be lone the specialist spinner for the first Test at least and how Pakistan go about playing him could be a key feature. Although Australia now have the benefit of a five-strong attack with Cameron Green, there will likely be occasions when Pat Cummins will want to lock Lyon in from one end. Two important figures in Pakistan’s batting order in this regard will be Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan who are both excellent players of spin. Fawad’s Test career is remarkable in many ways with an 11-year gap shortly after a century on debut and now he has five hundreds in just 15 matches. Rizwan, meanwhile, has only been dismissed once by a spinner in Test cricket.Australia’s all-round advantageThe injury to Faheem Ashraf removes one of the key match-ups, at least for the first Test, with Green and leaves Australia with a much stronger all-round option to balance their side. Pakistan have called up Iftikhar Ahmed, who has played three Tests, and the uncapped Mohammad Wasim jnr, but neither have the pedigree of Ashraf who averages 35.11 with the bat and can both chip in with wickets and take pressure off the specialist bowlers. This is Green’s first international series overseas but he comes off an Ashes where his bowling came to the fore and then he found form with the bat in the latter stages.

Pat Cummins is confident Australia’s fringe spinners will be ready to face Pakistan if called upon despite limited – and in Ashton Agar’s case no – first-class cricket this season.Agar and legspinner Mitchell Swepson will tour alongside first-choice Nathan Lyon for the three-Test series with a reasonable chance that Australia could field two spinners at some stage for the first time since facing Pakistan in the UAE in 2018-19 when Jon Holland partnered Lyon.Swepson, who has been with the various Test squads almost throughout Covid-19 bubble life, would be the favourite to come into the side and has at least had three first-class matches either side of the Ashes albeit in one of those against New South Wales he bowled just two overs.Related

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Last week he got through 52 overs against Victoria for a single wicket but last season’s return of 32 wickets at 23.40 for Queensland suggests he is ready for the step up.Agar, meanwhile, has not bowled in a first-class game since the end of last season having been part of Australia’s T20I set-up. He played the last of his four Tests in 2017 and in the 2020-21 Sheffield Shield season took 14 wickets at 42.21 in four matches.”Swepo has spent a lot of time around the Test side, so even though he might not have played a lot of red-ball cricket he’s been bowling lots and lots in the nets and the same for Ash,” Cummins said. “He’s been playing quite a lot of international cricket the last couple of years so while it’s a different format, different feel, really confident in their form that either of those would be able to slot straight in.”Australia’s frontline spinners for the Pakistan tour•Getty Images

It would likely require Australia to significantly alter the balance of their side for Agar to earn a spot unless injury or Covid struck. Marnus Labuschagne, who took seven of his 12 Test wickets during his maiden series against Pakistan in 2018-19, provides another spin option.Even if Australia stick with Lyon as a single specialist spinner – which would appear possible for the opening Test in Rawalpindi where quicks have averaged 27.63 in the three most recent Tests – there will still be at least one pace bowler unfortunate to miss out.Josh Hazlewood is available again after missing the majority of the Ashes with a side strain which could push new star Scott Boland to the sidelines despite taking 18 wickets at 9.95 against England.”In terms of the fast bowlers, Scotty Boland has just had a fantastic summer, Josh Hazlewood and Starc are superstars so already one of those is going to miss you would expect,” Cummins said. “Everyone realizes there will be some tough calls, not much you can do about it. The reality of having a really, really strong squad is a couple of people are going to miss out of every Test.”

Rio Ferdinand fears Manchester United are in danger of being relegated this season, with the Red Devils legend making an ominous prediction.

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Amorim's side have slumped to 15thDifficult to see where wins are coming fromAre 12 points clear of the drop zoneFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 13-time Premier League champions have slumped to 15th in the English top-flight standings. Only two teams – Wolves and West Ham – are separating them from the drop zone with 13 games left to play in the 2024-25 campaign.

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United do have a 12-point advantage over the bottom three, but 12 defeats – with eight of those coming under Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim, who took charge in November – suggests that the Red Devils run the risk of being dragged into a basement battle.

WHAT RIO FERDINAND SAID

Speaking on his podcast, a man who that won the Premier League and Champions League during his time at Old Trafford said: “Manchester United are absolutely struggling at the moment. Only Wolves and West Ham separate my club from the relegation places. Do you realise we’re that close?

“Someone said we need 11 points just to stay up and I’m starting to think like that. I’ve got the fixture list here and I’m looking at the game and I’m being serious here. Go through it. Everton away, Ipswich at home, Arsenal, Forest away, Man City, Newcastle away, Wolves, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Leicester.”

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Ferdinand added on the problems that United face: “The only place I potentially see us getting anything – and I’m not even saying a win – is Leicester. We’ve slapped up Leicester a couple of times already this season so we’ve got their number.

“Normally you look at the fixture list and you can see where the points are coming from. We just looked at the fixture list and I’m not seeing outright wins, I’m not looking at it thinking there’s three points here and there’s three points there. That’s the problem.”

Leeds United went into the international break off the back of a 2-2 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in their ninth Championship game of the season.

The Whites, who host Sheffield United at Elland Road in their return to action on Friday night, were denied of two points in the 97th minute after a howler from Illan Meslier.

They had taken the lead earlier in the match, thanks to goals from Joel Piroe and Junior Firpo, after the hosts had gone in front through Chris Rigg.

It was Piroe’s fourth goal of the season for the West Yorkshire outfit, making him the team’s top scorer so far, but there is one former Leeds player who has outscored him this season – Rafa Mujica.

Rafa Mujica's form this season

The Spaniard currently plays for Al-Sadd in Qatar and has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the season with his new club, having joined them from Arouca in the summer transfer window.

Mujica, formerly of Leeds, has produced five goals and three assists in six appearances in the Stars League so far this term, which is more than one goal contribution every game on average.

As you can see in the table above, he has outscored Piroe and been more reliable in duels and with the ball at his feet, despite playing fewer matches at league level.

Leeds will surely rue selling the young striker to Las Palmas in the summer of 2021, as his career has gone from strength to strength since his exit from Elland Road.

Rafa Mujica's soaring market value

Mujica joined the Whites from Barcelona B in the summer of 2019 but he did not make a single appearance for the English side, heading out on various loans, before they decided to part ways with him two years later – with his Transfermarkt value sitting at €300k (£251k) at the time.

After one season with Las Palmas, Portuguese side Arouca swooped to sign the striker, who was hailed as “magnificent” by former boss Pepe Mel, ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and the centre-forward flourished in Liga Portugal.

The 25-year-old star fired in 14 goals in 32 appearances during his debut season with the club, before a staggering return of 23 goals and four assists in 34 outings during his second campaign.

His exceptional form last season attracted attention from Al-Sadd and the Stars League outfit swooped in to secure his services for a reported fee of €10m (£8.4m).

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That means that his value soared from just £251k to a whopping £8.4m within the space of three years, thanks to his superb goalscoring exploits in Portugal.

Now, Mujica continues to shine in front of goal in Qatar and is currently outperforming Piroe, and therefore every other Leeds player, as a goalscorer this term.

This is why Leeds will surely rue their decision to move him from Elland Road before they gave him a chance to showcase his talent for their first-team.

Leeds ace started over £84m-rated star for his country and was astonishing

The Whites star’s confidence will surely be boosted by his efforts for Spain.

By
Dan Emery

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Nottingham Forest are reportedly one of the clubs preparing an offer to sign a new midfielder in 2025, according to a fresh report.

Nottingham Forest continue strong Premier League start

A 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at the City Ground continued Nuno Espírito Santo’s side’s strong start to the Premier League season.

After just avoiding relegation last season (albeit with points deductions for breaching financial fair play regulations), Forest have lost just once so far this season, and currently sit in the top half of the table. Their run of form includes a historic win over Liverpool and Anfield, as well as draws with European contenders Chelsea and Brighton, both of whom have started the season very strongly.

They did suffer shootout heartbreak in the EFL Cup as they were knocked out on penalties by Newcastle United, but their early form in the Premier League has left that disappointment a distant memory in the Midlands.

Nuno’s side now have a run of favourable fixtures ahead as they take on Premier League new boys Leicester City and Ipswich Town in their next five games looking to continue their early form and translate a good start into the Garibaldi’s best Premier League season since 1995/96, when they finished 9th. Now, a fresh report has linked them with a move for an impressive midfielder next summer.

Forest want £16m+ French midfielder

That is according to reports coming out of Turkey, which claim that Nottingham Forest are one of several sides preparing a move to sign French midfielder Batista Mendy next summer.

The 24-year-old joined Trabzonspor from French side Angers in the summer of 2023, and has gone on to become a key man in the Turkish side’s midfield. He started 31 games in the Turkish top flight last season, and has already started seven times this campaign, albeit largely at centre-back rather than in his normal central midfield berth.

He was considered something of a gem for the future during his time in Ligue 1, with football analyst Ben Mattinson describing him as a “strong ball-winning midfielder” and a “a technically secure anchor with good passing” on X.

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As per the report, clubs in Europe have taken notice of Mendy’s form in Turkey, and it is claimed that “Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace” are among those most interested, while it is suggested that the interested parties are “preparing offers” for the 24-year-old midfielder.

Palace have a long-term interest in the midfielder, but he will not be allowed to leave in January even if offers do come in, with Trapzonspor only willing to let him leave next summer and having slapped a 20m euros (£16.6m) price tag on his head as they look to turn a profit on the Frenchman.

The Premier League duo will face competition from an unnamed Russian club, but their interest is thought to be concrete and should Mendy continue to impress, there could be a fight for his signature come next summer, with Forest firmly in the mix.

George Rhodes also records fifty as Derbyshire made to toil in field

ECB Reporters' Network05-Sep-2021

A disciplined batting performance gave Leicestershire the upper hand on the first day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match against Derbyshire at Derby.Sam Evans faced 292 balls for 88 while Lewis Hill and George Rhodes also made half-centuries as the visitors took advantage of a flat pitch. Hill was unbeaten on 86 from 124 balls and Rhodes scored 54 from 84 balls to take Leicestershire to 282 for 3 at the close.Lancashire’s on-loan seamer Ed Moulton claimed the wicket of Evans on his Derbyshire debut but it was hard going for the home attack.With Colin Ackermann serving a one match ban because of a conduct breach by Chris Wright in the previous match, Callum Parkinson captained the side and chose to bat on a sunny morning. His decision was vindicated because despite a green pitch, there was little in it for the bowlers who took only one wicket in each of the three sessions.Evans set the tone for a patient approach by taking 174 balls to reach 50 but it put Leicestershire in a position to go on and make a substantial first-innings total. Derbyshire at least kept it tight with legspinner Matt Critchley the pick of the attack and Leicestershire’s first batting point did not arrive until the 72nd over.Ben Aitchison twice saw edges fall just short of the slips but Leicestershire passed 50 before Hassan Azad edged low to second slip where Wayne Madsen marked his return from nearly three months out with a hamstring injury by taking the catch.Evans and Rhodes added 75 in 31 overs before Rhodes aimed a slog-sweep at Critchley and was bowled when the chance of a big score beckoned. That was Derbyshire’s last success for 44 overs as Evans and Hill raised the tempo to take the score well beyond 200 after tea.Evans combined watchful defence with precise placement on both sides of the wicket but was given two reprieves in successive overs from Anuj Dal. On both occasions, the usually safe hands of Madsen failed to cling on when Evans was on 85 and 86 but he failed to take advantage as Moulton struck late on.Evans got an inside edge into the gloves of Brooke Guest as he pushed forward but with Hill unbeaten at the close, it was very much Leicestershire’s day.