A major update has emerged on Southampton target Neco Williams regarding his transfer status this summer.

What’s the talk?

According to The Athletic, the Liverpool right-back is set to push for an Anfield exit this summer in search of regular game-time. The 20-year-old wants to be a first-choice option and is now prepared to leave Merseyside after the European Championship to achieve his goal.

The report claims that Southampton, Burnley and Leeds have all shown an interest in signing Williams this year. Liverpool are expected to demand a fee in the region of £10m for the Welsh international, who is set to ask the club to let him leave upon returning for pre-season training next month.

Last year, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp labeled Williams a ‘machine’ in training, telling the club’s official website: “Neco from the first day he trained with us, he trained like a machine.

“Every day he became better and better and better and I thought, ‘OK, what’s that?!’ Unfortunately then, in the moment he started playing for us, I saw it, he got a little physical knock, like it was always really intense all of the time. But then he had to play.”

Fans would be fuming

Southampton fans would likely be fuming if Williams arrives at St. Mary’s this summer for £10m. The Saints already have a first-choice right-back in Kyle Walker-Peters, and Williams has not shown enough for Liverpool to suggest that he could replace the former Tottenham man.

Signing him could mean that £10m would be wasted by Martin Semmens if he decides to sanction a deal for the £25,000-per-week defender in the coming weeks.

Walker-Peters enjoyed a solid campaign with Southampton as he started 30 of the club’s 38 Premier League matches, averaging a WhoScored rating of 6.84. His defensive numbers were impressive as he averaged 2.8 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game – only three full-backs (Tyrick Mitchell, Serge Aurier and Luke Ayling) won more tackles per game in the Premier League.

This highlights how strong the right-back was defensively and why signing a player for £10m in his position may not be a wise move for the Saints.

Williams has averaged one tackle and 1.4 interceptions per game across his short career for Wales and Liverpool so far. The 20-year-old recorded a WhoScored rating of 6.49 in the Premier League in the season just gone for the Reds, which does not stand out in comparison to Walker-Peters.

Therefore, Semmens should be avoiding a deal for Williams at £10m as it does not appear to be a good signing on paper for the Saints for the reasons listed above. If Southampton want to bolster their full-back options, they should look for a player who has already proven that he can compete at a high level or is available for significantly less than £10m.

AND in other news, Major development emerges on “outstanding” dynamo, it will leave Saints fans fuming…

The situation surrounding Declan Rice’s future at West Ham United is going to be something to watch this summer amid a new worrying claim…

What’s the word?

According to the Telegraph’s Matt Law, the 22-year-old midfielder is keen on making a return to his former club Chelsea, who are also thought to be interested in signing him.

And it’s something that Hammers fans have been warned to keep an eye on.

Speaking on the latest episode of the ‘London is Blue’ podcast, the reliable journalist said:

“I have to be careful with what I say on this, because I’ve got some information on this which will end up getting written at some stage which I can’t really talk about. Look, Chelsea are interested in Declan Rice and everyone knows that Declan Rice is interested in Chelsea.

“The problem’s West Ham, and the problem’s the asking price with West Ham. I mean, they’re telling everybody at the moment it’s £100m and Chelsea aren’t going to pay £100m for Declan Rice this summer.

“So it’s what happens from there, really, and I think there’s more to play on this. And it’s going to be an interesting summer, let’s say, around Declan Rice and Chelsea.”

Time to worry?

Rice, who is currently excelling for England at Euro 2020, has frequently been linked with an exit from the London Stadium, with both Manchester giants mooted with interest, on top of Chelsea, too.

Irons boss David Moyes has previously rejected the idea of selling the 6 foot 1 powerhouse, claiming: “Bank of England money would be required, and you might even need to add Bank of Scotland on to that as well because he has been so good.”

However, this latest claim is a fresh sign that Rice is keen to go back to Stamford Bridge and whilst their London rivals won’t pay the £100m asking price, Law suggests that this saga is only just getting underway.

“It’s going to be an interesting summer,” he hints.

That would perhaps suggest that after Euro 2020, a bidding war could ensue – or at the very least, Thomas Tuchel’s side will ramp up their pursuit.

The fact that both parties are said to want this deal leaves the Hammers in quite a powerless place right now, they don’t want to risk heading into the new campaign with an unsettled player, especially with a historic Europa League campaign on the horizon.

This claim will also leave much of the West Ham faithful absolutely terrified as no one will want to lose arguably their biggest star.

As per WhoScored figures, Rice ended the 2020/21 campaign as Moyes’ fourth-best player (7.01) but topped the charts for interceptions (1.8 per game) and wasn’t far behind for tackles (1.8 per game), too.

Evidently, he’s a hugely influential player on the pitch for the East London outfit but this update suggesting he wants to leave is a huge bombshell that’ll leave many, many supporters truly worried.

But at the end of the day, Chelsea are still a level above the Irons, having just won the Champions League. This is far from a finished story yet.

AND in other news, Forget Kral: Moyes must sanction West Ham swoop for “complete” £10m “special talent”…

Somerset lost their Second XI Trophy match against Hampshire today at the County Ground in Taunton by 7 wickets.Batting first Somerset scored 173 all out in 47.5 overs, with Tom Webley top scoring with an unbeaten 45, and Wes Durston making 32.In reply Hampshire reached their target comfortably for the loss of three wickets, with Jason Laney making 41.

أكد أحمد دياب رئيس رابطة الأندية المصرية، وجوب تطبيق المساواة على جميع الفرق، مشيرًا إلى أن طلب استقدام حكام أجانب بند متوفر في اللائحة يحق لكل نادي استخدامه.

وقال دياب في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر برنامج “الماتش”: “يجب أن نطبق المساواة على جميع الأندية، ولذلك لن يتم تأجيل مباراة فريق بيراميدز المُقبلة أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا بعد طلبهم، أسوة بما حدث مع المصري من قبل”.

طالع | رئيس رابطة الأندية يعلق على شكوى الأهلي ضد التحكيم ويوضح موقفه من تأجيل الدوري بسبب منتخب مصر

وأضاف: “جدول الدوري سيُعلن غدًا، وسيتم تحديد بعض الجولات وليس باقي مباريات الدوري”.

وأردف: “الأمر الواقع هو إننا سننهي كل البطولات التي بدأت، ولذلك كأس مصر نسخة الموسم الماضي سيتم استكماله”.

وواصل: “أما عن خلق توقفات من أجل منتخب مصر بخلاف فترة التوقف الدولي، فالوضع صعب، لكن المنتخب له الأولوية في كل شيء”.

واستكمل: “ننتظر الاجتماع بيننا وبين الاتحاد وإيهاب جلال، وسنفعل كل شيء من أجل دعم المنتخب”.

واستطرد: “التوقف الدولي المقبل من 30 مايو، وحتى الرابع عشر من يونيو، سيلعب به مباريات كأس الرابطة وكأس مصر، والموسم سينتهي في أغسطس، وإذا امتد سيكون أيام قليلة من سبتمبر”.

وأتم: “وضعنا في لائحة المسابقة أنه يحق لكل ناد أن يطلب حكامًا أجانب بعد أن يُسدد الرسوم، وهذا حق مكفول لكل الأندية، التحكيم عنصر مهم في كرة القدم، ونحن على تواصل مع لجنة الحكام باستمرار لمعرفة كيفية التطوير، ونحن ندعمهم، وكل شكاوى الأندية نرسلها للاتحاد ونتواصل دائمًا”

واختتم: “لجنة الحكام لن تنضم لرابطة الأندية هذا الموسم، لكن مع بداية الموسم الجديد إذا كان للأندية رغبة سندرس الأمر، وسواء كانت تابعة للاتحاد أو للرابطة سنظل نبحث عن التطوير”.

One player who is determined to be in the starting line up for the first match of the season against Cardiff UCCE at Millfield School on Saturday is Matt Bulbeck, who has been missing from the Somerset scene for too long

Richard Walsh07-Apr-2002One player who is determined to be in the starting line up for the first match of the season against Cardiff UCCE at Millfield School on Saturday is Matt Bulbeck, who has been missing from the Somerset scene for too long.The twenty two year old who made such an impact for Somerset in his debut season in 1998 has been sadly limited in his first team appearances over the last couple of seasons due to a back injury.After a winter during which he has worked very hard at his fitness levels hopefully all of that is now behind him and on the eve of the new season he told me: "It feels really great to be out on the grass at the County Ground again, and I’m pleased to say that I’m bowling as well as I have for a very long time."Matt continued: "We are fielding a strong side against the West of England Premier League XI on Monday and I will be playing. I’m really looking forward to the first game at Millfield on Saturday, and want to be in the line up."Matt Bulbeck’s comments are very good news for Somerset who have a bowling vacancy in their team after the departures of Jason Kerr to Derbyshire and Jamie Grove to Leicestershire.

MatériaMais Notícias

Sornoza, Gustavo Scarpa, Wellington, Marcos Junior, Henrique Dourado… Abel Braga não pode reclamar de poucas opções para o ataque do Fluminense. Nos últimos dias, o técnico ainda ganhou Richarlison, de volta da Seleção Brasileira Sub-20. E o atacante voltou com dois gols diante do Volta Redonda, no sábado.

Agora, o camisa 70 do Tricolor mira a titularidade e está ansioso para formar o setor ofensivo ao lado de nomes já conhecidos, como Scarpa, e outros novos companheiros. Do Equador, Richarlison já observou a qualidade de Sornoza.

-Vi alguns jogos do Equador e deu para perceber que o Sornoza é muito bom jogador. Serve os atacantes bem. Agora é confiar nele que a bola vai chegar toda hora. Temos que aproveitar bem – comentou Richarlison, após o treino de terça-feira, antes de completar com uma provação aos rivais do Rio de Janeiro:

– O Fluminense está melhor servido.

Se o Fluminense apostou nas chegadas dos equatorianos, os rivais cariocas não ficaram atrás. O Flamengo, que já contava com Diego e Willian Arão, reforçou o meio-campo com o argentino Darío Conca e Rômulo. O Botafogo, de Camilo, trouxe outro velho conhecido dos brasileiros: Montillo, ex-Cruzeiro e Santos. O meia Wagner, campeão brasileiro pelo Flu em 2012, acertou com o Vasco.

Dos reforços cariocas para 2017, certamente Orejuela e Sornoza são os que tiveram as adaptações mais rápidas e já são figuras fundamentais no Tricolor. Os dois são titulares absolutos com Abel Braga, que é só elogios aos gringos.

Ao “El Telégrafo”, portal equatoriano, Junior Sornoza comentou o início no Fluminense e as expectativas para a sequência da temporada no Brasil.

– Me sinto muito feliz no clube, me adaptei muito rápido. O professor me deu muita confiança, sou responsável pelas bolas paradas com outro colega (Gustavo Scarpa) – afirmou o meia, antes de complementar:

– Queremos seguir ajudando o clube a conquistar vitórias. Estamos muito contentes de estar aqui. É muito importante a presença de Jefferson – finalizou Sornoza, referindo-se ao volante que foi seu companheiro no Independiente Del Valle, do Equador.

RelacionadasFluminensePara Henrique, bom momento do Flu é mérito de Abel: ‘Mudou o ambiente’Fluminense21/02/2017FluminenseRicharlison deixa Europa para depois: ‘Quero fazer história no Fluminense’Fluminense21/02/2017FluminenseFlu conta com ‘ajuda fundamental’ da torcida em acordo com Under ArmourFluminense20/02/2017

Bom dia, tricolor! Flu inicia hoje a campanha pelo bicampeonato da Copa do Brasil. Será vai ter dancinha da dupla Scarpa-Sornoza? pic.twitter.com/JNZjaMeBeS

— Matheus Dantas (@matheusdantasfr) 15 de fevereiro de 2017

Artilheiros do Fluminense na temporada: Henrique Dourado (6); Gustavo Scarpa (4); Wellington Silva e Richarlison (2); Henrique, Pedro, Marquinho, Marcos Junior, Léo, Osvaldo, Lucas e Reginaldo (1)
Assistências no Fluminense na temporada: Sornoza (4); Gustavo Scarpa, Wellington Silva, Lucas, Léo e Douglas (2); Renato Chaves, Marquinho e Marcos Junior (1)

Tottenham Hotspur were made aware ‘weeks ago’ that Gareth Bale was not planning to extend his loan spell for a second season, a report from The Athletic has revealed.

The lowdown

The Welshman temporarily returned to north London for the 2020/21 season, seven years on from his then-world record £85m move to Real Madrid.

Bale scored 11 goals and added another two assists in just 10 Premier League starts (via WhoScored). He netted a further five times in the cup competitions, finishing as Tottenham’s third highest-scorer behind Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.

There have been changes in management at both clubs involved in the loan deal, however. Spurs sacked Jose Mourinho in April, while Real Madrid have brought back Carlo Ancelotti after the departure of Zinedine Zidane.

The latest

Bale was left frustrated by the lack of starting opportunities afforded to him at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Sources close to the player feel he was ‘badly mismanaged’, in particular during Mourinho’s tenure. [The Athletic]

He doesn’t intend to come back to Spurs for the 2021/22 season and is said to have ruled out another loan move away from Madrid. MLS clubs are apparently ‘investigating their prospects’ of a blockbuster transfer. [The Athletic]

The verdict

The £16.2m-rated Bale scored or assisted every 87 minutes for Spurs last season, which does suggest that he was under-utilised by Mourinho.

He once again underlined his class at the Euros, with a pair of assists in Wales’ vital 2-0 win over Turkey which effectively put them into the last 16.

The 31-year-old certainly seems to still have plenty to offer in European football and he may harbour hopes of resurrecting his Real Madrid career, but remaining at Spurs could have been an attractive and mutually beneficial option had he been given the game-time he felt he deserved.

In other news, a new name has emerged in Spurs’ manager hunt.

New Zealand’s domestic one-day competition for the State Shield moves into the day/night era in the new summer

Lynn McConnell09-Aug-2002New Zealand’s domestic one-day competition for the State Shield moves into the day/night era in the new summer.Five games are scheduled in the day/night format, with one full round on Friday, January 24 having all three games played as day/night matches.The development of WestpacTrust Park in Hamilton as probably the best-equipped venue with lights in the country will see three of Northern Districts’ games played under the lights while Christchurch and New Plymouth will join the party on January 24.Television coverage of Shield games will consist of five preliminary round matches and the semi-final and final.No new venues feature, although Canterbury Cricket is going to make more use of Hagley Oval with two of its five home matches there.The final of the State Shield, which starts on Saturday, December 28, is to be played on February 1.The season will begin with the now regular State Max tournament to be played this year at Auckland’s Lloyd Elsmore Park on the weekend of November 16-17. The six teams have been divided into two zones – Northern (Northern Districts, Auckland, Central Districts) and Southern (Wellington, Canterbury and Otago) – and the final will be between the two zone winners.On Saturday, Auckland and Northern Districts will play one of the games at 11am and Canterbury and Wellington the other.At 3pm, Canterbury will play Otago and Central Districts will play Northern Districts.On Sunday, Auckland will Central Districts and Wellington will play Otago. Both games are at 10am. The final will be played at 2pm.The traditional four-day programme for the State Championship starts on November 23 with a match between Central Districts and Otago at Victoria Park in Wanganui. The game is out on its own as it was originally in the second round of games, but on that date the CD team will be hosting India.Otago has signalled its choice of playing more first-class cricket at its new base at the University Oval. It will host three games at the ground starting from February 25, the time that it could expect to have faced scheduling problems at its traditional home at Carisbrook during rugby’s Super 12 tournament.The Championship is to finish on Thursday, March 20.The State League, for New Zealand’s women is spread from Saturday, December 7 under the competition final on Saturday, February 22. Part of the reason for that is the cessation of games during the staging of the women’s international quadrangular tournament.

Ange Postecoglou has already set out his priorities as the new manager of Celtic.

That’s if you believe the various news outlets that have linked the Hoops to several new goalkeepers in the last few days.

What’s the word?

The Bhoys are believed to be keen on reuniting Brighton and Australia stopper Mat Ryan with Postecoglou this summer but there are other ‘keepers on their radar.

They could revive their chase for Robin Olsen while Benjamin Siegrist is a topic of conversation again.

Celtic have been tracking the Swiss over the course of the season with a move initially thought to be a possibility last winter.

A move didn’t materialise but the Hoops may well take part in a bidding war for the Dundee United man this summer.

That’s the word of journalist Alan Nixon who took to Twitter to say the following: “Ipswich want him but Dundee United will try for an auction … and Celtic may take part.”

Exciting news

Siegrist might not have the international or Premier League pedigree of Ryan but this is still incredibly exciting news for supporters.

The 6 foot 4 colossus is proven in the Premiership and would arrive at a time where Celtic are desperate to sign a new goalkeeper.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-transfer-news-posetcoglou-ryan-delap-wyke” title= “Read the latest Celtic transfer news!”]

Vasilis Barkas signed for a fee of £4.5m last summer but was particularly error-prone, eventually being ousted in favour of Scott Bain.

The Greek only started two games after the January period but Bain hardly covered himself in glory throughout the season either. He made a succession of errors against Sparta Prague in the Europa League and didn’t offer much authority.

Siegrist is the polar opposite and is one of the most commanding goalkeepers in the Scottish game.

Celtic supporters saw this firsthand when his dominating performance led to a 0-0 draw with the Hoops that ensured Rangers wrapped up the title early.

As Dundee United earned a surprise point at Tannadice, Siegrist was in remarkable form as he made a sensational 12 saves.

He repeatedly denied Odsonne Edouard on what was a terrible day at the office for the Frenchman.

For a man who “trains like a monster” in the words of Micky Mellon, he’d be a first-class addition to Postecoglou’s ranks.

Supporters should be excited at the potential of seeing a new man between the sticks after their wretched campaign from a defensive point of view.

AND in other news, McKay must complete Celtic move for 42-cap beast who dubbed Postecoglou “intimidating”…

Ian Ward continued his rich vein of form to carry Surrey to a comprehensive win over bottom-of-the-table Yorkshire at Guildford. Ward made an unbeaten 124 and featured in a century partnership with nightwatchman Ian Salisbury (59) who was Surrey’s one wicket to fall today. By the time Salisbury was out, caught behind off Darren Lehmann, Surrey were just 28 short of victory. Ali Brown then joined Ward to ensure a six-wicket win.Kent put in an equally convincing display to beat Leicestershire by the same margin at Grace Road. Matthew Walker (46) and Ed Smith (48) were the main contributors as Kent coasted home to a win that moves them into second place, 33 points behind Surrey.Hampshire are now second from bottom after a game they’d prefer to forget at The Rose Bowl. After they were deducted eight points for a poor pitch by the ECB this morning, they were bowled out for 127 to give Lancashire victory by 111 runs. John Wood took four for 17 and James Anderson three for 27 towards the visitors’ triumph.As looked to be the case last night, Sussex’s victory target of 401 proved to be well beyond them, as they were shot out for just 192 by Warwickshire. Medium pacer Alan Richardson was the toast of the hosts, with a career-best eight for 51. Warwickshire’s 208-run victory moves them clear of the relegation zone.In Division Two, an innings of 80 by Dominic Cork helped guide Derbyshire to a comprehensive victory over struggling Northamptonshire at the County Ground. After being dismissed for 288, sharp bowling from Cork (two for 71) and Kevin Dean (three for 47) accounted for the first five Northants wickets before Anthony Penberthy (62) proved an obstacle. Torbin Bailey (50) was the other main contributor to an otherwise poor home side performance. Mohammed Ali (two for 72) and Lian Wharton (two for 43) wrapped up the 177-run victory.Essex remain in contention for promotion after grinding out a draw against Glamorgan. On a sizzling day at Chelmsford, Andy Flower’s unbeaten 172 was the key to the home side’s survival. Still behind the visitors when play began, Flower, aided by some defensive batting from Aftab Habib (31) and veteran John Stephenson (29*) ensured Essex had a share of the points to keep in them in the top three. At the close the home side finished on 514 for four.Despite Ben Hutton’s exquisite 88 and a half-century from South-African born Sven Koenig (52), Middlesex missed out on their sixth victory, though they still remain top of the Division. Gloucestershire set them a target of 361 in just over 80 overs, but once Koenig and Hutton’s second-wicket partnership was over, Middlesex opted for safety and batted out a draw, closing on 265 for five.