Com o zagueiro Gustavo Gómez de volta da Seleção Paraguaia, o Palmeiras treinou na manhã desta quinta-feira (14), na Academia de Futebol, em sequência à preparação para o confronto com o Goiás, na sexta-feira (15), às 21h30, no Allianz Parque, pela 23ª rodada do Brasileirão. Assim, o time deve ter todos os convocados para o retorno do campeonato.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasMaycafú? Vivendo grande fase, Mayke reencontra adversário em que fez golaço pelo Palmeiras Palmeiras14/09/2023PalmeirasSem Murilo, Palmeiras recebe o Goiás para manter a defesa que ninguém passaPalmeiras14/09/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras ainda sofre com os efeitos da grande queda de desempenho após a última Data FifaPalmeiras14/09/2023
+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui
Após uma sessão de vídeo no auditório do centro de excelência, o elenco foi a campo para um trabalho tático posicional com ações específicas de ataque e defesa traçadas pela comissão.
+ Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades
A Lance! Betting já aqueceu os mercados para o jogo. Você acredita que o Verdão mantém a superioridade? Antes 8.00, a odd turbinada para o Palmeiras bater o Goiás por 3×0 está em 8.75! Apostando R$10, seu retorno é de quase R$90!
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+ Tem promoção exclusiva de boas-vindas pra você! Aposte a partir de R$10 e receba até R$200 de bônus na Lance! Betting
Gómez participou de todo o treino no campo, assim como Raphael Veiga, Piquerez e Richard Ríos, que retornaram da Data Fifa na quarta-feira (13). Dessa forma, os quatro estão à disposição de Abel Ferreira.
O Palmeiras ainda deve fazer mais um treino na manhã desta sexta-feira, dia do jogo contra o Goiás, para fechar a preparação e definir os titulares. Murilo, que foi expulso contra o Corinthians, está fora e será substituído por Luan.
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+ Palmeiras ainda sofre com os efeitos da grande queda de desempenho após a última Data Fifa
Um provável Verdão é: Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez, Luan e Piquerez; Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino e Raphael Veiga; Mayke, Artur e Rony.
O Alviverde está invicto há três jogos contra o Goiás (um empate e duas vitórias nos dois encontros mais recentes). No primeiro turno, a equipe goleou o rival por 5 a 0, com gols de Artur, Sidimar (contra), Raphael Veiga, Endrick e Dudu. O Verdão ocupa a vice-liderança do Brasileirão, com 41 pontos, dez a menos que o líder Botafogo.
West Bromwich Albion’s inconsistent performances in the Championship so far this season let them down again versus Millwall.
After a 1-0 away win at Norwich City, spirits must have been somewhat high among the travelled Baggies contingent at the Den, only for all that positivity to be replaced by doom and gloom when a 3-0 loss was served up.
Truthfully, it was a car-crash showing, as every single big chance that fell to the hosts was put away, while Aune Heggebo, up top for Ryan Mason and Co, failed to fire a single on-target effort at the Lions’ net.
Again, Isaac Price also didn’t cover himself in much glory at the full-time whistle as the wheels continue to come off his own individual Championship season, after being heralded as a fan’s favourite early on.
Price's drop in form for West Brom
It has now been six straight second-tier games for the former Everton youth product without a goal or assist.
Amazingly, at the start of the campaign, Price chipped in with a breakneck four goal contributions from his opening three league clashes. But, since then, his form has dramatically declined.
Against the stern test of Millwall, long gone was the same confident performer who powered home two goals in quick succession against Wrexham, with the out-of-sorts Northern Ireland international managing just one effort – which was blocked – across his unmemorable 62 minutes on the Den turf.
Moreover, only 65% of his passes would find their intended target, with Price now no longer held in such high esteem as a potential Fellows replacement.
Mason would love to have Fellows available for selection right now, after the lightning-quick winger amassed 14 assists across all of last season, to be a constant thorn in the side of Championship sides up and down the division. Unfortunately, he moved to Southampton in the hectic summer transfer window.
However, even with Price going off the boil, the rookie head coach could well have a Fellows-like figure still up his sleeve.
West Brom's new Tom Fellows
The new Baggies manager will believe firmly in his ability to get the best out of the exciting attackers at his disposal in the long run, having worked with the likes of Mikey Moore at Tottenham Hotspur, who was tipped once upon a time to move to the Hawthorns.
That move not working out might well be a blessing in disguise now, however, with Samuel Iling-Junior recruited instead as a tricky and slick winger ready to leave a lasting impact on proceedings, out on loan from nearby Aston Villa.
Iling-Junior certainly showed off a similar burst pace to that of Fellows when gliding forward against Leicester City at the end of September, with the 22-year-old also possessing the necessary composure to finish off the opportunity after such a gung-ho gallop forward.
Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff would label the new Baggies’ number 22 as “brilliant” for his ability to open up the Foxes in a split second, with similar praise once handed out to Fellows, too, by former Hawthorns teammate Karlan Grant, who noted his “unbelievable” skill to carve out openings to change tense games.
Games played
172
Clubs played for
5
Goals scored
26
Assists
26
The 16-time England U21 international will also hope – in a similar fashion to the now Southampton number 18 – that he can use this formative stint in the West Midlands as a springboard to be a success elsewhere, having already been around the block with five different clubs in his early career, before moving to West Brom temporarily.
Despite once being lauded as a starlet who has “everything” in his locker to be a success by ex-youth coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, Iling Junior has yet to make a senior appearance at Villa.
Still, time is very much on the 22-year-old’s side, and if he goes on to fire home even more spectacular efforts to guide the Baggies to promotion, he will surely go on to be successful in the higher league, after becoming a short-term Fellows-style hero for Villa’s near neighbours.
88% passing, 7 duels won: 8/10 West Brom star was even better than Maja
This West Bromwich Albion colossus was even better than a returning Josh Maja away at Norwich City.
Despite securing their first league win of the season last time out, Glasgow Rangers are still reportedly set to look at one particular candidate to replace Russell Martin.
Martin responds to Rangers fan backlash
Even after Max Aarons netted a last-gasp winner against Livingston, the travelling Rangers fans chanted against Martin. In their eyes, one win changes nothing. There’s still plenty of work for the Southampton manager to do before he gets his own supporters back onside. Whether he’ll earn the results or the time to do that is the big question.
After a disastrous start, the Gers have picked up two wins in their last three games and have the chance to secure back-to-back victories against SK Sturm Graz in the Europa League this Thursday.
The focus will then move straight back to the Scottish Premiership, when Rangers will play host to a struggling Falkirk in what is another must-win game.
For now, despite what the fans think, Martin believes he still has the faith of the players, having told reporters following Sunday’s win: “All I can say to that is… Hibs, and today in the first half is the best we’ve been. So it suggests to me that the players are desperate to do it and improve.”
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That may not stop the 49ers from considering all their options, however. So far, their first managerial appointment in Scotland hasn’t exactly gone to plan and the likes of Kevin Thelwell are already reportedly set to look at one candidate who could arrive to replace Martin.
Rangers to "look at" Steven Gerrard
As the pressure persists on Martin, the 49ers and Rangers are set to “look at” Steven Gerrard, according to former scout Mick Brown. The former Liverpool midfielder endured an impressive spell as Gers boss from 2018 to 2021 and could now make an incredible return to replace Martin.
Brown told Football Insider: “Gerrard is always going to be one Rangers look at. He knows the club well, knows a lot of the staff and people around the place, and he was very well-liked by the fans when he was there as well, I’m sure the fans would love it if he came back.
“He did a good job during his time there, obviously won them the league and then got a move elsewhere which didn’t quite work out.
“I think he’s exactly the type of manager they need, because he’s somebody who the fans and the players can get behind and somebody who is going to push them forward.”
Gerrard is, of course, the last manager to win the Scottish Premiership at Rangers and dethrone Celtic, so a return wouldn’t be a bad idea for the 49ers. As for the 45-year-old, himself, he could certainly do with some managerial redemption after failed spells at Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq.
Strong showing on opening day of campaign puts new-look Warwickshire attack on back foot
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Apr-2025Sussex 386 for 5 (Clark 140, Simpson 116*, Coles 51) vs Warwickshire Centuries by Tom Clark and John Simpson ensured that Sussex returned to the Rothesay County Championship Division One with a strong day’s work against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Clark struck an accomplished 140 (279 balls) and Simpson an assertive unbeaten 116 (142) in a partnership of 200 in 44 overs as Sussex recovered from 40 for three to close on 386 for five.Three early wickets for debutant Ethan Bamber appeared to vindicate Warwickshire’s decision to bowl first, but thereafter it was a struggle for an attack missing injured first-choice opening bowlers Olly Hannon-Dalby and Chris Rushworth.Clark and Simpson took full advantage to post their fourth and 16th first-class centuries respectively.Warwickshire, their squad in deep transition, started the season with four debutants – Bamber, Vishwa Fernando, Tazeem Ali and Kai Smith – and two of the newcomers opened the bowling to very different effect. Fernando went for three fours in his first over of a fruitless spell but Bamber unfurled an excellent opening burst of 7-5-8-3. The former Middlesex all-rounder trapped Tom Haines lbw, playing across the line, then removed Daniel Hughes and Tom Alsop with successive balls. Hughes copped an arguable lbw decision before Alsop edged an outswinger to Rob Yates at second slip.The brittle foundation of 40 for three was diligently shored up by a stand of 121 in 37 overs between Clark and James Coles (51, 102). The latter played fluently to be first to his half-century but then rather gave it away when he skied an ill-judged leg-side swipe at Tazeem to give the 18-year-old leg-spinner his first championship wicket.Any hopes the sizeable home crowd harboured of another Sussex clatter proved ill-founded. Instead, Simpson joined Clark to make it back-to-back century stands.Sussex skipper Simpson enjoyed a superb first season at Hove last year, averaging 74.81 with the bat in the championship, and resumed in the same vein as he breezed to a 58-ball half-century. Clark, meanwhile, concentrated implacably and reached his fourth first class century, from 223 balls, with his 15th four, cut off a short delivery from Dan Mousley.On a pitch offering little assistance for the bowlers, the limitations of Warwickshire’s injury-hit attack became clear as the fifth-wicket pair’s partnership passed 150. The depleted nature of that attack does raise a question mark over Warwickshire’s decision to bowl first, though that decision might have a bit to do with the recent history of Edgbaston pitches to flatten out as the match goes on, making wickets even harder to acquire.Clark perished six overs before the close when he edged Ed Barnard behind but in the next over Simpson followed him to three figures, becoming the first Sussex player ever to reach a first class century with a three to backward point on a Friday in Birmingham. Sussex’s return to Division One has been highly encouraging.
This season feels like it could be a brutal one for West Ham United.
The board have made a few good signings, such as Mads Hermansen and El Hadji Malick Diouf, but with Callum Wilson being their only attacking signing, it feels like they have left themselves short.
Moreover, it now looks almost certain that Edson Alvarez will be leaving the London Stadium before the window shuts, leaving the squad even lighter on quality.
Edson Alvarez.
Fortunately, reports have linked the club to a midfield talent who’d be a brilliant addition to the side and a significant upgrade on the Mexican.
West Ham target Alvarez upgrade
When West Ham signed Alvarez from Ajax in the summer of 2023, there was a lot of understandable excitement around the deal.
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After all, the Mexican international won two league titles with the Amsterdam outfit and left with 147 appearances under his belt.
However, instead of coming in and making up for the loss of Declan Rice, the 27-year-old has struggled with the pace and intensity of English football, and now looks like he could leave the club this summer, either on loan or permanently.
Interestingly, the East Londoners are now being linked with an up-and-coming talent who could come in and replace Alvarez.
At least that is according to a recent report from Sky Sports’ Tim Vickery, who has claimed that West Ham are interested in Andrey Santos.
It’s not the first time the Hammers have been credited with an interest in the exciting Brazilian, as reports from earlier this month claimed that they have already seen an offer of around £42m rejected.
It remains to be seen whether this is a transfer that could happen, but if there is any chance at all, West Ham have to take it, as Santos would be an excellent signing and a massive upgrade on Alvarez.
How Santos compares to Alvarez
So, the first thing to point out is that while Santos is certainly a midfielder who can get forward and attack, and is more inclined to do so compared to Alvarez, he has still spent almost half of his playing career in the six position.
Andrey Santos
Moreover, respected analyst Ben Mattinson has gone as far as calling him a “duel monster” for the tenacious way he wins the ball off opposition players and argues that this, combined with his “top tackling ability”, helps to make him “brilliant at screening the backline.”
In other words, the 21-year-old is no pushover when it comes to the defensive side of playing in the middle of the park.
With that, how do the pair stack up against one another when we take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers?
Unfortunately for the Mexican international, it’s an incredibly one-sided affair, as the former Vasco da Gama gem outperforms him in practically every relevant metric, including things like expected and actual non-penalty goals, progressive carries, shot and goal-creating actions, tackles, blocks, interceptions and more, all per 90.
Santos vs Alvarez
Statistics per 90
Santos
Alvarez
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.27
0.06
Non-Penalty G+As
0.41
0.05
Progressive Carries
4.70
4.31
Progressive Passes
0.91
1.22
Shots
1.45
0.61
Shots on Target
0.50
0.05
Passing Accuracy
88.2%
85.8%
Key Passes
0.85
0.61
Shot-Creating Actions
1.77
1.42
Goal-Creating Actions
0.19
0.10
Tackles Won
2.33
1.37
Blocks
1.45
1.17
Interceptions
1.01
0.91
Ball Recoveries
5.93
4.47
All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season
These numbers help to paint the picture of an all-action midfielder who is dynamic and dangerous in attack, but also robust and solid enough in defence.
Finally, on top of everything else, the Blues ace is able to transform his impressive attacking numbers into real output.
In 34 appearances for Strasbourg last season, the 21-year-old phenom scored 11 goals and provided five assists and was praised by Mattinson for the way he “crashes the box.”
Ultimately, while it might require a massive fee, West Ham should be going all out to sign Santos this summer, as not only would he be a huge upgrade on Alvarez, but he’d help elevate the entire team.
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Captain Mitchell Santner is pleased with the depth in the squad for the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE
Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Jan-2025Between Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears, and Will O’ Rourke, New Zealand’s mens’s side have their high-pace, high-bounce options covered. These are the kinds of bowlers that tend to find ways to trouble batters on any surface you roll out for them.But what if, in Pakistan and Dubai, through the course of the Champions Trophy, it is spin that makes the difference? We’ve seen how tournaments in Asia tend to play out. Through the course of a packed schedule, the squares wear substantially, and by the end you’re playing on tired decks, the average scores nosediving by the business end.New Zealand will play in Karachi in the tournament opener, have a game in Rawalpindi, and their final group match in Dubai. They’ve got to be ready for whatever comes, though they will also have the additional preparation of a short-and-sharp tri-series in Pakistan in the lead-up to the big event. So, they’ve packed their squad with players who offer serious versatility.The three main spin options in the side are captain Mitchell Santner, who has developed into an excellent bowler over the past decade, plus Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips. There is also Rachin Ravindra, who bowled almost 66 overs through the course of the 2023 World Cup, in India. The headline news is that all four of these players can bat (with Ravindra and Phillips, that is very much their foremost skill). In fact, if the pitch shows signs of taking turn, they could all play in the same XI.”If there is a little bit of turn, we can have Bracewell bat at No. 7, and I can go at No. 8,” Santner said. “We have options, which is great for our squad. We’ve got raw pace, we’ve got the spin, and the allrounders as well.”Related
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Although all four are fingerspinners (Ish Sodhi has not been picked), there are two left-armers and two offbreak bowlers. New Zealand fielded all four in the third ODI against Sri Lanka, on Saturday. Though they were beaten by 140 runs in that match, thanks largely to the top order having crashed to 21 for 5, their spinners had been excellent. Sri Lanka had been 155 for 1 after the 27th over, before New Zealand’s spinners imposed themselves on the match, and prompted something of a middle-overs collapse from Sri Lanka.Santner took two wickets through this period and Bracewell had also struck. Phillips had snuck in three cheap overs, conceding just 12 in this three overs. Santner compared his two offspin options.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”They’re both very good offspinners in their own right. They’re both different, I think. On a wicket like that, Bracewell can get a bit more bounce – a little more over the top. Even the three overs that GP bowled were good for us, and Glenn has worked a lot on his bowling, as we’ve seen, in the longer format.”New Zealand’s general strategy for global tournaments has been to stack their side with players who are capable of making vital contributions at some point through the course of the campaign, and they appear to be following this template again. All four of these spin bowlers are outstanding fielders – Phillips worthy of being recognised as one of the best in the world at the moment.There is also the sense that by packing their XI with all-round talents, they have players to call on, whatever the match situation they are posed with. Two finals appearances and a semi-final berth in the last three ODI World Cups suggest that versatility has worked for them.”We like to stick to the same team once we’ve picked it, but that’s conditions-dependent,” Santner said. “Karachi could play a lot different to Rawalpindi, which could play different to Dubai. With the short nature of the tournament, if you’re happy with your XI, you want them to perform for all three games. But we’re open to changes.”
Newcastle United have submitted an offer to sign another Manchester United target, amid the two clubs’ pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.
Newcastle and Man Utd both make Sesko offers
The Magpies haven’t had things all their own way during the summer transfer window, missing out on numerous targets while also facing the possibility of losing star striker Alexander Isak.
Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal
Liverpool are keen on signing the Sweden international before the September 1 deadline in a deal that could break transfer records. However, Eddie Howe recently admitted that “nothing has changed” regarding Isak’s future despite him missing pre-season.
“Nothing has changed. It is very much the mindset of business as usual for the players. You don’t get a chance to think of anything other than training or the next game when you come on these tours. The level is so high that we still have to be at our best.
“Naturally, we are going to miss a player of his quality and the group are going to feel that. I cannot sit here and claim that they won’t, but they are a very professional group of players. They are doing brilliantly, as far as I can see, in terms of managing the current situation.”
Newcastle and PIF will need to sign a replacement for Isak before letting him go, and one forward they are battling to sign is Sesko. Both the Magpies and Man Utd have made proposals to the player, who looks set to decide his next move over the coming days.
However, those at St James’ Park and Old Trafford aren’t just battling for Sesko, as per a recent transfer update.
Newcastle have offer for Real Madrid player rejected
According to a report from Spain, both Newcastle and Man Utd are fighting over a move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.
In fact, it is claimed that Newcastle moved to sign Lunin ‘on loan with an option to buy, but their initial offer was rejected’.
Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, the possible departure of Altay Bayindir and the need for competition for Andre Onana has seen them eye Lunin, but those at the Bernabeu ‘aren’t considering his departure anytime soon’.
As we know, Newcastle have now got their new goalkeeper in Aaron Ramsdale in a similar deal to the one they proposed to Madrid for Lunin.
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The Magpies could take full advantage of the situation.
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Jul 31, 2025
Signing from Southampton on a season-long loan with the option to buy, Ramsdale will provide competition to Nick Pope after they missed out on bringing James Trafford to St James’ Park.
Whether or not Newcastle still want Lunin remains to be seen, but it looks as if they recently made their move.
Manchester City's summer signing Marcus Bettinelli has become involved in a bitter row with neighbours over adding an unauthorised development to his £2 million mansion. The incident happened just weeks after the goalkeeper chopped down 40-foot trees in front of his luxurious residence in Cobham, Surrey. Bettinelli moved to City from Chelsea during the transfer window.
Man City goalkeeper in troubleAccused of illegal constructions by neighboursBettinelli joined City from Chelsea this summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Bettinelli constructed a parking bay over a grass verge in front of his mansion, without taking the necessary permissions. The building of the parking bay has landed him in a row with neighbours, who have challenged the unauthorised groundwork. The City star, on the other hand, claimed that he was well within his rights to construct the parking bay, as it comes within the boundary of his property.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT HAS BEEN SAID
The first objector wrote a letter, which read: "Parking on a verge is completely against the character of this estate and against its development guidelines. There are no parking bays on verges anywhere on the estate. It is an erosion of green landscape, replaced by tarmac. The property already has parking for multiple vehicles, having converted its entire garden to hardstanding. An additional parking bay is unnecessary."
A second objector wrote: "The additional parking space introduces a visually intrusive expanse of tarmac, eroding the landscaped frontages that define the road and makes the street scene less attractive. If approved, this application would set a precedent for other properties to remove green frontages for additional parking, resulting in cumulative erosion of the estate's character and streetscape."
A third one added: "Providing an on-street parking layby in an area where there are none and the large houses all around have ample space in their front gardens for all cars, is unnecessary."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Cityzens finally parted ways with their cult hero goalkeeper Scott Carson this summer as the veteran star left the club after six years. Bettinelli was brought in as the club's third goalkeeper, replacing Carson, from Chelsea in the summer.
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?
Pep Guardiola's side, who lost their last two Premier League games against Tottenham and Brighton, will aim to bounce back in the Manchester derby as they take on rivals United next Sunday at home.
St Lucia Kings sign up New Zealand’s Tim Seifert as a replacement
ESPNcricinfo staff28-Aug-2024
Heinrich Klaasen was part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team in CPL 2022•Associated Press
Heinrich Klaasen will not be taking part in the 2024 season of the Caribbean Premier League, which begins on Thursday, due to a family emergency. The South African middle-order batter is one of the world’s best power-hitters, especially against slow bowling and is a significant loss for St Lucia Kings, who had signed him up, in June ahead of the CPL draft.Kings, who made it to the Eliminator after finishing third on the points table last season, have replaced Klaasen with New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert, who has previously played for Trinbago Knight Riders and won the title with them in 2020.Klaasen was part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team in 2022, but that was before he came into his own as a limited-overs cricketer. He made 118 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 137. In the two years since then, he has played 82 T20s for both club and country, scoring 2293 runs at a strike rate of 169, including two hundreds and 16 fifties.Related
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There were personnel changes in other teams as well with Knight Riders bringing USA’s Andries Gous on board as a temporary replacement. The 30-year-old wicketkeeper-batter impressed as the seventh-highest scorer at the T20 World Cup earlier this year and will sub in for Australia’s Tim David, who is expected to join Knight Riders only after their first four matches of the season.Barbados Royals needed short-term cover as well with David Miller and Keshav Maharaj due to miss the first two matches to attend the Cricket South Africa awards function on September 5. They’ve brought in Sri Lanka allrounder Dunith Wellalage, who was a standout performer in the recent ODI series against India, and Shamarh Brooks.Sikandar Raza has pulled out of the CPL as well with an injury. The Zimbabwe allrounder posted on X (previously Twitter) that he would be missing the entire tournament. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are yet to name a replacement.For more details on the CPL squads for the 2024 tournament, click here.
Newcastle exceeded expectations when winning the Carabao Cup and rolling out the carpet for the forthcoming Champions League campaign, qualifying as they did via the Premier League.
Given that Eddie Howe was forced to contend with less than fluent form in the early stages of the season as a by-product of a disappointing summer transfer window that was itself preceded by a crushing end to their 2023/24 season, missing out on Europe after Manchester United won the FA Cup, this is a truly remarkable feat.
Newcastle United manager EddieHowebefore the match
And now, during this current window, more adversity has been met. Newcastle need new forwards, but they’ve struggled to reel them in thus far.
That is, up until a breakthrough in regard to Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga.
Why Newcastle are signing Anthony Elanga
When Newcastle parted ways with Miguel Almiron midway through the 2024/25 campaign, it was expected they would sign a replacement.
They have needed a right-sided forward for a while, but Jacob Murphy’s incredible form has tempered the urgency over the past 12 months, having chalked up 20 goals and assists in the league alone last season.
Now, though, Elanga could provide the perfect competition, bringing a high-speed, high-energy and high-creativity style of football to Howe’s team, already so impressive in transitional sequences.
Having already seen a £45m offer knocked back, the Magpies have demonstrated their intent by returning with an improved £55m bid, with anticipation growing that their efforts will prove fruitful.
Having already missed out on a slew of top targets such as Joao Pedro, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United are in need of some uplifting news.
They will strike gold with Elanga, who has posted 31 goal contributions across his two top-flight terms with Forest, after initially signing from Man United for £15m in 2023.
Nottingham Forest's Anthony Elanga
However, Elanga’s high stock doesn’t mean he automatically qualifies as the cream of Newcastle’s wide attacking crop.
Murphy and Harvey Barnes have both been exceptional for the Toon; however, Anthony Gordon would wager himself the best of the bunch.
Newcastle have hit gold with Anthony Gordon
Gordon didn’t start his Newcastle career on the firmest footing. Indeed, after forcing his way out of Everton and joining the Toon in a £45m deal back in January 2023, he played a peripheral role that lacked a potent finish over the business months of that campaign.
Anthony Gordon celebrates for Newcastle
However, he’s since come alive; now a fully-fledged Three Lions star and one of Howe’s most talented forwards, fearsome alongside the world-class Alexander Isak, Gordon is regarded as “one of the best wingers around” by retired manager Harry Redknapp.
It bears testament to his quality that even after an up-and-down year, only scoring nine goals (and providing seven assists) across 42 games, the 24-year-old has still retained the admiration of the fans and indeed potential suitors, who have circled over recent weeks.
Matches (starts)
35 (34)
34 (28)
Goals
11
6
Assists
10
5
Shots (on target)*
2.3 (0.9)
1.7 (0.6)
Pass completion
82%
81%
Key passes*
1.6
1.5
Big chances created
16
6
Dribbles*
1.5
1.1
Ball recoveries*
3.6
2.9
Tackles + interceptions*
1.8
1.1
Duels (won)*
5.3 (49%)
4.4 (52%)
Gordon might not have had the finest season in the world, but he showcased his high-level quality across the previous year, racking up 21 goal contributions in the Premier League and dazzling with underlying creative and physical metrics that were certainly still on show last term.
His efforts across his first full term on Tyneside saw the England international crowned the club’s Player of the Year, a talisman through an injury-hit spell that hampered Howe’s project considerably.
The goal involvements act as a neat barometer for assessment of Gordon’s talent, but his performances on the field almost defy such statistical analysis. His driven, tough and intelligent performances have made him an instrumental part of Howe’s success, especially as he’s so versatile, playing dutifully as a right-winger or even as a makeshift centre-forward.
But Gordon’s high ceiling was rubber-stamped when Liverpool came calling, the Anfield side being offered their one-time academy member as St. James’ Park sweated over compliance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.
Ultimately, United managed to weave around any costly breaches by offloading more peripheral members of the squad – like Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – but the fact remains that fans got a glimpse of the financial reckoning their winger is held in, with the Reds looking to strike a deal for £75m.
That figure in itself underscores Gordon’s superior value to Elanga, who could leave the City Ground for £55m, but Gordon has actually seen his stock rise higher still this year, with the £150k-per-week talent now valued at an eye-watering £100m.
His might seem over-expensive, but this is the modern market we’re talking about, and it illustrates Gordon’s reputation as being one of the most talented wingers on the continent.
Anthony Gordon
Confident in his skills, Gordon has declared himself a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, owing to his combative and electric running style, his willingness to take on his man and get stuck in during defensive phases.
Having extended his contract with Newcastle in October 2024, Howe must well and truly feel that he has hit the jackpot with this wonderful player, whose left-sided predilection will perhaps see him partner Elanga for years to come, servicing the focal Isak in the middle.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
Newcastle have come a long way over the past few years, but with Howe engineering such exciting and precise signings with a regularity that eludes many of their divisional rivals, there’s every chance that the best is yet to come.
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