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If English reports are to be believed, Georginio Wijnaldum is set to become a Liverpool player within the next few days.

The recently relegated Newcastle star has been linked with a host of clubs in recent weeks, but it seems that Liverpool have won the race for his signature.

Wjinaldum, alongside Liverpool’s other signings this summer, represent Jurgen Klopp’s first real dip into the transfer market with Liverpool, as the German looks to assemble a Premier League winning side.

A host of stars have already been signed, but it doesn’t look like the spending is going to stop any time soon – with Joe Allen and Christian Benteke reportedly on the move and Klopp reportedly still interested in signing a few more players.

With that, here are FIVE players that could follow Georginio Wijnaldum to Liverpool

Mateo Kovacic

Mateo Kovacic received his dream move to Real Madrid last summer, but since then the dream has turned into a bit of a nightmare.

Unable to hold down a spot in the first team amongst some of the worlds best players, Kovacic had to settle for a bit part role for Madrid at a time in his career where regular game time is imperative.

As a result, it seems that he might be looking for a move this summer, with Liverpool reportedly circling.

The Daily Star is reporting that Liverpool are interested in the player, whilst Real Madrid are willing to listen to bids.

Sky Sports suggest that the deal is the second most likely deal, behind Wijnaldum, this summer – so this has a real chance of happening.

Jonas Hector

A long term Liverpool target, Jonas Hector has been linked with a move to Anfield for months.

The German left back was a star at the European Championships this summer, making the German left full back spot his own.

With Alberto Moreno’s future reportedly up in the air, with Liverpool questioning the quality of the Spanish defender, Hector would be a fantastic replacement. He is a really solid full back.

£25million is reportedly on the table for the German defender, with The Metro reporting that Liverpool want the deal tied up as soon as possible.

Lucas Moura

Lucas Moura is reportedly another target for Liverpool, with the stylish Brazilian playmaker reportedly looking to leave PSG this summer.

Moura is a very exciting player to watch, and would add unpredictability and technical prowess to Liverpool’s attacking line.

Sky Sports place the deal just behind Kovacic’s in terms of likeliness, suggesting that the deal definitely has a chance of going through. Lucas Moura has been linked with a host of clubs this summer; could Anfield end up being his final destination?

Jeremy Mathieu

A defensive target that Klopp is reportedly looking at is Jeremy Mathieu.

The solid defender has never really been a consistent starter at Barcelona, typically setting for more of a bit part role for his side.

As a result, SportWitness are suggesting that Barcelona would be willing to let the defender go for as little as €10 million; an absolute steal for a player with Mathieu’s experience and quality.

They add that Liverpool are very much interested in a move for the defender as they look to rebuild their shaky back line.

With concrete interest in both a sale and a purchase; surely this one will happen?

Jordan Amavi

One player that comes with less fanfare than most of Liverpool’s reported targets if Aston Villa defender Jordan Amavi.

Amavi came to England with quite a reputation, but was last season relegated with Aston Villa, and he is now reportedly looking to escape the Championship and get back up to the top flight.

The Daily Star are suggesting that Klopp will continue to follow Amavi and will decide within 10 days whether the deal is right for his club.

He would seemingly be brought in as more of a squad utility player more than anything else, and if he wants the move; maybe Liverpool could capture him for a bargain fee?

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney caught up with Taylor Swift's boyfriend and NFL star Travis Kelce to chat about football.

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McElhenney talks Wrexham with Travis KelceNFL star learns about cup competitionsCelebrities have been regularly spotted at WrexhamWHAT HAPPENED?

Celebrity sightings have become commonplace at Wrexham since Hollywood duo McElhenney and Reynolds took over the club in 2021. Hugh Jackman, Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd are just some of the stars who have been spotted watching the Welsh side and they could soon be joined by more A-listers as McElhenney has been chatting about his team to NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce on their New Heights podcast.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT MCELHENNEY SAID

Travis was particularly interested to learn about cup competitions, which allowed McElhenney to open up on his experiences with Wrexham since taking over.

"That's a fascinating part of the sport. Some people really care a lot, other people don't care at all. You have fanbases that are sort of torn," he explained. "I do find it's a win-win because if you advance and continue to win through the tournament people get excited and if you lose, nobody cares.

"And in fact, the NFC championship last year which we came to, we watched the Wrexham game in the parking lot with the tailgate before the game and we drew that game against a team that was three leagues higher than us.

"I've become so annoying with that – I've been correcting people on the word 'soccer' versus football. People just want to smack me."

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McElhenney's other love is the Philadelphia Eagles and he joined Kelce's girfriend Taylor Swift to see the NFL star take on the the New York Jets with The Chiefs last month. Could Swift now be tempted head to Wrexham? Kelce certainly seemed impressed by McElhenney's commitment to Wrexham. "I love it though, you're all in. That's how you know you're doing the right thing. You're all in, baby," he said.

Reynolds and McElhenney have previously said they would love to see Swift perform at Wrexham's stadium after hosting two gigs by the Kings of Leon last summer.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

Wrexham are back in action at the weekend and will be hoping to secure a place in the third round of the FA Cup when they take on National League South side Yeovil Town at the SToK Racecourse. The Welsh side made it to the fourth round last season before being knocked out in a replay against Sheffield United.

Jurgen Klopp has delivered fitness updates on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz after seeing the pair give Liverpool untimely injury scares.

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• Reds battled to win over Bournemouth
• Late knocks led to substitutions
• Coach confident no lasting damage suffered

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Reds were in Premier League action against Bournemouth on Saturday, with the Merseyside giants having to recover from going a goal down and losing Alexis Mac Allister to a red card on his home debut before securing a 3-1 win at Anfield.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  England international full-back Alexander-Arnold was replaced late on as he limped to the touchline, while Colombian winger Diaz was also substituted in the closing stages after receiving treatment for a knock.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Klopp has said of the “painful” blow taken by Alexander-Arnold and whether he could be forced to sit out a trip to Newcastle: “He told me he had a kick which was pretty painful. But as far as a twist or fall, it was a kick. That’s why we changed then but I hope he will be fine.”

  The German added on Diaz, who was on target against Bournemouth: “As long as he was fresh and everything he was obviously super. A massive threat for everybody. He is in a good moment, no doubt about it.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  There appears to be little concern regarding the fitness of two key men in Liverpool’s plans, with the Reds having taken four points from their opening two Premier League games in 2023-24 to suggest that they can offer a positive response to the disappointment of finishing fifth last season.

MatériaMais Notícias

No último dia 12, o vice-presidente do Santos, Orlando Rollo, enviou uma carta ao presidente do Conselho Deliberativo do clube, Marcelo Teixeira, tecendo inúmeras críticas ao próprio Conselho, a atual gestão e a Comissão de Inquérito e Sindicância.

Rollo teve os seus poderes retirados por meio de portaria expedida pelo atual presidente santista, José Carlos Peres, no fim do ano passado. Ambos estão rachados desde os primeiros meses da gestão, iniciada janeiro de 2018, e o vice aponta a medida tomada pelo mandatário alvinegro como irregular.

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Embora inicie a carta apontado diversos pareceres negativos a gestão do Peixe, o principal alvo da carta é o Conselho e a CIS, nas quais Rollo classifica como “omissos”.

– Há flagrante, maxima venia, omissão da Presidência e mesa do Conselho, sendo essa extensiva à Comissão de Inquérito e Sindicância que, tendo o dever de atuar, calou-se e nada fizeram diante dos costumeiros desmandos do mandatário José Carlos Peres – diz trecho.

No texto, Orlando relembra os conflitos com o atual presidente e cita a representação criminal junto ao Tribunal de Justiça do Estado de São Paulo, Foro de Santos, que inquere Peres por apropriação indébita de pertences do vice, após a desapropriação da sua sala na Vila Belmiro.

Em contato com o LANCE!, o presidente do Conselho do Peixe, Marcelo Teixeira, se manifestou sobre a carta.

– Todas as providências elencadas no ofício foram encaminhadas pela Mesa às devidas Comissões, que emitiram seus pareceres. A única questão que não há condições de resolver é a relação entre o presidente e o vice, que depende das iniciativas pessoais de ambos – afirmou.

Peres, Rollo e Teixeira são nomes importantes do bastidor político santista. No fim deste ano os sócios do clube escolherão o presidente no próximo triênio e, embora ainda não haja manifestações oficiais de pré-candidatura, os três despontam como possíveis nomes para postular ao cargo e, mesmo que não concorram, terão grande peso nas articulações e apoio.

Cricket Australia is expected to announce the schedule for next summer’s home international matches on Wednesday, despite an ongoing reluctance from South Africa’s cricketers to play in a day-night Test in Adelaide. After the success of the inaugural day-night Test between Australia and New Zealand last year, it was widely expected that two day-night Tests would be part of the 2016-17 fixtures, but the South Africans are concerned they will be disadvantaged.The Australian Test summer typically begins at the Gabba but this year it is likely to start at the WACA, with South Africa to play in Perth, Hobart and Adelaide. Pakistan will then arrive for Tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The third Test against South Africa and the first against Pakistan were expected to be day-night fixtures at Adelaide Oval and the Gabba respectively, and the Pakistan game is not considered in danger.But the South African players have expressed their concerns about playing a day-night Test, despite being offered a day-night tour match to prepare for the Test. Tony Irish, the chief executive of the South African Cricketers’ Association, said the players lacked experience against the pink ball in night conditions.”Our players are not in favour of playing the game under those conditions,” Irish told the . “The main reason is we feel disadvantaged. Not one of our players who will compete in that Test has played Test match cricket or any cricket with a pink ball… The reluctance to play is a sign of how much importance the South African players place on the series against Australia.”New Zealand’s players expressed similar reservations last year ahead of the inaugural day-night Test but a $1 million prize pool, split 60-40 between the winners and losers, was offered by Cricket Australia to sweeten the deal. Although the match was considered a success, it finished inside three days after a grassy pitch was prepared in order to help protect the pink ball from too much wear and tear.

Chris Gayle struck nine sixes on his way to an unbeaten 90 off 36 deliveries as Jamaica Tallawahs crushed St Lucia Zouks by ten wickets in Gros Islet for their first win of the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jun-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsChris Gayle hit six fours and nine sixes in 36 deliveries•Caribbean Premier League

Chris Gayle struck nine sixes on his way to an unbeaten 90 off 36 deliveries as Jamaica Tallawahs crushed St Lucia Zouks by ten wickets in Gros Islet for their first win of the tournament. Gayle’s blitz came after Tallawahs’ bowlers had restricted Zouks to 118 for 9 despite a decent start.The Zouks openers Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher put on 39 after being asked to bat before Jerome Taylor broke through in the sixth over. Rusty Theron then stepped up with a return of 3 for 19 from three overs as Zouks failed to get going despite being reasonably placed at 94 for 3 after 15. Theron’s strikes included those of Ross Taylor and Kevin Pietersen – who made 26 off 25 – in the 16th over.Zouks continued to slip as Krishmar Santokie bowled Darren Sammy and Liam Sebastien for ducks in the 17th. Zouks managed 6 for 24 in the last five overs, with Santokie taking 3 for 24 from four overs.Gayle took ten overs to run down the target. His opening partner Chadwick Walton contributed 25 off 25 even as Gayle blew Zouks away, hitting six fours in addition to his nine sixes. He ended the match with four successive boundaries off Sebastien.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo pode ganhar o reforço de Raniel no clássico contra o Corinthians, às 18h de domingo, no Morumbi. Após nove dias afastado da rotina do elenco, o atacante reapareceu no gramado do CT da Barra Funda no treino desta sexta-feira pela manhã.

Raniel não enfrentou o Fortaleza, sábado passado, devido a uma indisposição estomacal, e não viajou para encarar o Bahia, na quarta-feira, por causa de uma amigdalite. Agora, está recuperado e tem chance de ser relacionado, embora o período considerável sem treinos possa diminuir as possibilidades de que ele seja escalado como titular.

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O São Paulo tem vários desfalques no ataque: Daniel Alves (Seleção Brasileira), Antony (Seleção Brasileira olímpica) e provavelmente Pablo, que faz exames nesta sexta para verificar a gravidade do problema em seu adutor direito. Isso sem falar em Everton, Rojas e Toró, todos lesionados.

O trabalho desta sexta-feira foi aberto aos jornalistas somente por 15 minutos, portanto não há indícios da formação titular. Uma possibilidade de escalação tem Tiago Volpi, Igor Vinícius (Juanfran, assim como Pablo, passará por exames), Bruno Alves, Arboleda e Reinaldo; Luan, Tchê Tchê, Liziero e Hernanes; Igor Gomes (Vitor Bueno) e Alexandre Pato.

Fiji have qualified for their first World Cup at any level – the 2016 Under-19 event in Bangladesh – after finishing unbeaten during the group stage of the East Asia-Pacific U-19 Trophy in Blenheim, New Zealand.Fiji, under the charge of former Bangladesh coach Shane Jurgensen, secured top spot with a nine-wicket victory against Samoa who were dismissed for 92. Sosiceni Weileilakeba claimed 4 for 17 to earn the Player of the Match award.”This is the first time a team from Fiji cricket has made a World Cup so I am very proud of that achievement and my players,” said Fiji captain Saimoni Tuitoga.Jurgensen was delighted that the team’s hard work had paid off. “The way that we won today was exactly the way we wanted to win,” he said. “I wanted them to prove to the region and to themselves that they deserve to be in the World Cup and I couldn’t be more proud of the way they went about it.”Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, who finished second and third after PNG won by 125 runs, will face each other again on Saturday with the winners moving into the U-19 World Cup qualifiers for a second chance at joining the main event.

Having observed Brendon McCullum’s destruction of England in Wellington, Darren Lehmann challenged him to repeat the trick against Australia’s higher velocity attack

Daniel Brettig21-Feb-2015Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has fired a shot across the bows of the New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, while at the same time admitting Brisbane’s rain will force significant changes to the team’s preparation for a pivotal World Cup encounter between the co-hosts in Auckland.With the exception of a washed out Champions Trophy encounter in 2013, Australia and New Zealand have not met in an ODI since the 2011 World Cup, leaving plenty of water to pass under the bridge since, including McCullum’s emergence as one of the world’s most feared top-order aggressors and the Kiwis’ evolution into a major threat.Having observed McCullum’s destruction of England in Wellington, Lehmann challenged the former wicketkeeper to repeat the trick against Australia’s higher velocity attack at Eden Park. He noted the difference between the speeds of Stuart Broad, Steven Finn and James Anderson and those of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.”He does hit them a long way, doesn’t he?” Lehmann told Adelaide radio station 5AA on Friday night. “He took the game on and he certainly does that, he plays a high-risk game, but there’s a bit of a difference between 135kph and 145 to 150kph coming at him. It’ll be a great challenge for both sides, he’s going to certainly come at us and we’ve got some plans for him.”It’s going to be exciting – New Zealand have been very impressive. It’s going to be interesting to see how they play against us, I’m sure they’ll be really aggressive, so it’s going to be a cracker game.”Brisbane was exposed to the fringes of tropical cyclone Marcia, meaning there never really seemed to be a possibility of a match against Bangladesh emerging from the murk. This means that by the time Michael Clarke walks out to toss the coin against McCullum in Auckland, the Australians will have gone two weeks between games. Even before knowing the washout would transpire, Lehmann flagged the likelihood of some kind of practice match to try to compensate.”We’ll probably have to,” he said. “We’ll get to New Zealand on Sunday regardless of what happens here, then try to replicate something like match conditions early in the week, which will give us an extra couple of sessions leading into a game.”Obviously they’re playing really well, blew England away and they’re a pretty good side. We’re good to go for the [Brisbane] game, but if it rains again tomorrow and then we get to New Zealand it is a few days without outdoor competitive cricket, so we’ll have to change it around.”Lehmann also expressed some interest in the way England’s Cup campaign appears to have unravelled, and he reached a familiar conclusion as to the reasons why. Namely, Lehmann felt that the team of Eoin Morgan and Peter Moores looked too scared of making mistakes rather than showing initiative.”England looked like they were lacking a bit of confidence, they won the toss and really didn’t try to take the game on,” Lehmann said of the Wellington result.”I don’t think they are that bad. I just think they’re not backing themselves or having any confidence in themselves to play the game, and that can happen in any format of any sport. Sometimes you’ve just got to have a crack and take the game on and I probably think they’re not doing that.”

While the big boys of world cricket are bellowing about their hopes of winning the World Cup the little guys are contemplating their chances too. Just not for World Cup. Zimbabwe are targetting 2023

Firdose Moonda23-Jan-2015While the big boys of world cricket are bellowing about their hopes of winning the World Cup – South Africa in the literal sense, Australia with dominance in a triangular series at home, New Zealand by breaking records – the little guys are contemplating their chances too. Just not for World Cup.”By 2023 we want to be contending for the World Cup. That’s the aim,” Alastair Campbell, Zimbabwe Cricket’s newly-appointed managing director said. “It’s not an aim that’s unrealistic. It’s achievable. We’ve got a long-term view on this.”Campbell was given the organisation’s top job at the beginning of the year and put in charge of healing an ailing operation left embarrassed by the team being blanked in Bangladesh late last year. The former captain, who was previously the convener of selectors and in charge of the cricket committee, will oversee everything from finances to future cricketers and has put an eight-year plan in place to do that, with an eye on that year’s World Cup to measure his progress.”This is an executive role. It comes about because the board have found a real need for Zimbabwe cricket to progress in the right direction. After the Bangladesh tour, nobody had a pleasant word to say about Zimbabwe cricket. The results weren’t of the required nature and there has been fall out from that. There is a new coach, a new structure will be put in place and that falls under my plate,” Campbell explained in his first interaction with media on Thursday in Harare.”After this World Cup, we no longer automatically qualify unless we are in the top eight. We will have to go to a qualifying tournament and if we don’t qualify, that will have dire consequences for the game in Zimbabwe. So we need to create viable player pathways so that we identify talent and make sure that we are nurturing that talent.”And when we’re talking eight years, guys that are 15, 16 and 17 now those are going to be our World Cup contenders then, so that’s where the effort needs to be spent. We need to make sure our under-19 and under-17 sides are competitive and are getting access to the most professional coaching available. That’s easier said than done because a lot of that stuff takes money.”That is the one thing ZC have struggled for more than anything else. Their cash-flow problems have included mismanagement of an ICC loan, two crippling player strikes in as many seasons over non-payment and they remain knee-deep in debt. But Campbell, who is also an entrepreneur, is looking to change that by creating a more transparent financial model of which they hope investment will form the foundation stone.”My staff and I are going to go out there to local and international corporates and engage them to play a part in development structures,” Campbell said. “But we want to make sure we are not paying lip service to our development structures and there is tangible coaching going on and tangible benefits from the money that is being put in. We need to make sure we are accountable for the funds. It is a big task but we are going to start from square one again and make sure we build up slowly.”After attracting companies such as Stanbic Bank to back their T20 competition, ZC lost significant chunks of sponsorship when the honeymoon period after their Test comeback ended. Zimbabwe’s wider financial crisis was one reason for that, ZC’s own murky finances another and Campbell has promised there will be no repeat of the latter. “Maybe in the past some of the corporates have felt that ZC hasn’t been accountable enough for cash that has been given. We want to say that from now on every dollar you give us, there is some tangible reward and result from that,” he said.Money will go into academies and age-group teams as well as the domestic game. Campbell said ZC would even look into “reopening” the Southern Rocks franchise in Masvingo, which was dissolved at the start of this season, once they have got themselves on stable ground. For now, any money obtained will be spent on coaching but also on developing less technical aspects of the game.”There’s so many things that come into making a good sportsman. Donald Bradman said cricket is 90% mental and we need to nurture that mental side. Too much of that is neglected,” Campbell said. “Everyone thinks that if you hit a thousand balls every day that will make you a good player but if you can’t handle pressure, you’re not able to play on the big stage.”The immediate future presents the biggest stage and although Zimbabwe are not among the candidates who can win the World Cup, Campbell is expecting a certain minimum from them that he hopes will serve as the drawcard for the first investments. “We’re hoping our team can go to the World Cup, do well and be competitive. We’re under no illusion that we need to beat Ireland, we need to beat the UAE but against those other sides we need to be competitive,” he said.”Sometimes it’s the manner in which you lose. That’s what irritated the cricketing public – the way that the team have lost. You want to see them being competitive. If they’re competitive to the last five overs, they’ve had a good game. But if the game is gone in the 30th over and everyone turns off the TV and Zimbabwe have lost, that’s when people get irritated. I hope our guys can go there, take advantage of playing on a world stage and come back with their heads held high because that helps with the commercial side of the game. If you have a team that’s competitive, a team that’s winning some of the time. a team that’s seen to be improving, people are willing to part with their money because they see its nice being associated with a good brand.”But he also allowed himself to dream a little bit about some of the upsets Zimbabwe could pull off. “India are in their pool and they have already been on the road for three months so they will be tired and there’s a sniff there,” he said. “Pakistan are unpredictable. We’ve beaten them before, we can beat them again.” Everyone, even the boss, can dream a little.