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Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti probably has plenty of positions high on his agenda this summer but one role that shouldn’t be overlooked is out wide…

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Toffees are interested in signing Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos after an impressive season in Spain.

It’s claimed that the Italian is aiming to revamp his midfield both centrally and out wide with both Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure potential targets too.

The reliable journalist claims the Argentine is an “exciting player” who the Merseyside outfit have long had an interest in – even under Marco Silva. He’s currently valued at £45m by Transfermarkt, so he won’t come cheap.

Brands amends

But if Everton truly want to launch an assault on those European places next season, it is names like Ocampos’ that they have to swoop in for.

Director of Football Marcel Brands produced a bit of a stinker last summer, splashing out a massive £34m on former Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi, who only delivered one goal in the Premier League all season.

Though this is a chance for the Dutchman to atone for his mistakes with Ocampos in another league to the Nigerian.

Per WhoScored, the 26-year-old has provided 18 goals and four assists whilst averaging 2.6 shots and 2.2 dribbles per game across the Spanish top-flight and the Europa League – the latter of which he has made the final for.

Ocampos is able to play anywhere along the front three too, so Ancelotti won’t be sort of uses for him. He’s pretty much the perfect all-round winger – pace to burn, dribbling skills and at 6 foot 3 a threat in the air, and from set-pieces.

He’s claimed to be playing with “confidence and swagger at the moment” which is something you won’t find in Ancelotti’s 12th-placed strugglers, therefore the Argentina international be the most welcome addition at Goodison Park.

AND in other news, Toffees could land an instant replacement for Djibril Sidibe…

أعلن الجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر بقيادة البرتغالي كارلوس كيروش، قائمة أسماء اللاعبين المختارين للانضمام إلى معسكر الفراعنة استعدادًا لمباراة ليبيريا الودية.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع نظيره ليبيريا في المباراة الودية المقرر إقامتها في التاسعة مساء الخميس المقبل باستاد الجيش ببرج العرب.

ويستعد منتخب مصر لخوض مباراتي ليبيا في الجولتين الثالثة والرابعة من التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة لكأس العالم، يومي 6 و10 من شهر أكتوبر المقبل.

طالع أيضًا.. تأكيدًا لـ بطولات | رسميًا.. مباراة مصر وليبيا بدون جمهور

ووجه كارلوس كيروش المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر بوجوب حصول اللاعبين المختارين على راحة اليوم وغدًا قبل انطلاق معسكرهم ببرج العرب يوم الثلاثاء المقبل، شكره إلى الأندية على تفهمها لذلك وتجاوبها السريع. قائمة منتخب مصر لمباراة ليبيريا الودية

حراس المرمى: محمد الشناوي (الأهلي)، محمد أبو جبل (الزمالك)، محمد بسام (طلائع الجيش)، محمد صبحي (فاركو).

خط الدفاع: أحمد فتوح (الزمالك)، محمد عبد الشافي (الزمالك)، محمود حمدي  الونش  (الزمالك)، أيمن أشرف (الأهلي)، علي جبر (بيراميدز) – باهر المحمدي (الإسماعيلي)، أحمد توفيق (بيراميدز)، أكرم توفيق (الأهلي).

خط الوسط: حمدي فتحي (الأهلي)، عمرو السولية (الأهلي)، طارق حامد (الزمالك)، مهند لاشين (طلائع الجيش)، محمد مجدي أفشة (الأهلي)، عبد الله السعيد (بيراميدز).

خط الهجوم: محمد شريف (الأهلي)، مصطفى فتحي (الزمالك)، رمضان صبحي (بيراميدز)، ابراهيم عادل (بيراميدز)، أحمد زيزو (الزمالك)، أحمد سمير (طلائع الجيش).

MatériaMais Notícias

Nem tudo foi perfeito para o técnico Diego Aguirre neste sábado. Apesar da vitória do Atlético-MG por 2 a 0 diante da URT, que classificou o Galo para a final do Campeonato Mineiro pela décima vez seguida, o treinador teve que escutar as vaias do torcedor que compareceu ao Horto. Quando o placar ainda estava no perigoso 0 a 0, a torcida atleticana questionou a demora de Aguirre para fazer as alterações, o que só foi acontecer depois de Lucas Pratto abrir o placar.

– Achei que não era melhor fazer nenhuma substituição. Estava tudo bem no jogo, mas faz parte do futebol que queiram que eu troque um ou outro. Achei que o jogo estava controlado, as críticas naturais, por paixão e vontade de ganhar, o torcedor se manifesta. Ao longo de minha carreira, já transformei críticas em elogios e aplausos, e vai ser assim mais uma vez – falou o uruguaio.

RelacionadasAtlético MineiroAtleticanos comemoram vitória e 10ª final seguida no Campeonato MineiroAtlético Mineiro23/04/2016Atlético MineiroGalo desperta no segundo tempo, vence URT e está na final do MineiroAtlético Mineiro23/04/2016

Para Aguirre, o mais importante na tarde de sábado foi continuar tornando possível um dos objetivos atleticanos neste início de ano, que é levantar a taça do Mineiro.

– Se me perguntassem no começo da temporada, eu assinaria. Se me dissessem que estaríamos nas oitavas de final da Libertadores como primeiros do grupo, que estaríamos na final do Mineiro. Outra coisa não é possível fazer, não tem mais competição. Estamos alcançando o que queríamos – completou.

Falando em Libertadores, o foco do Atlético já está novamente voltado para o torneio continental. Nesta segunda-feira, a equipe vai embarcar para a Argentina e na quarta-feira faz o primeiro duelo das oitavas de final contra o Racing.

According to Le10Sport, Tottenham are interested in signing Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves this summer.

What’s the word?

With the north London side heading into their first summer transfer window with Jose Mourinho in charge, all eyes will be on who the Spurs boss looks to bring in to reinforce his squad ahead of next season.

And according to French publication Le10Sport, Mourinho is eyeing up a move for Neves, claiming that the Lilywhites appear “only as the preferred track” for the midfielder.

Is it Mido or Pedro Mendes? This Spurs quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

The Portugal international had been linked with a move to Manchester United back in January, but it now seems as though Mourinho is keen to beat his former club to the punch this time around.

Midfield maestro

Spurs’ interest in Neves is completely understandable, especially given that Mourinho sang his praises even when he was manager at United.

Speaking after a 1-1 draw with Wolves, he said of both him and Joao Moutinho: “They press in midfield, these two Portuguese boys, they are both the kind of player that likes to bite, that likes to short distance, to press, they don’t give long time for you to have the ball, to turn, one touch, two touches, you don’t have much of that.”

The 23-year-old has fully settled into life in English football and the Premier League, and has the kind of overall package that would fit in well at Spurs. As per Whoscored, he has averaged 1.6 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 1.6 shots per game, and it points to someone who is capable of affecting the game at both ends of the pitch.

Perhaps other than Moussa Sissoko, the north London side don’t have the kind of midfielder who is capable of breaking up play inside his own half, before becoming a major threat at the other end. It’s no surprise that Luis Castro, former manager at Porto reserves, said: “Neves has extraordinary mental qualities, to go along with technical and tactical skills. He is a player who has the ability to read and understand the game, and then react.”

With Christian Eriksen departing for Inter earlier this year, Spurs lost a player who could turn a game on its head with a moment of magic. According to Understat, from the 2014/2015 season, out of the total 44 times he has found the back of the net, the Denmark international has racked up a staggering 20 goals from 0utside the box.

Neves is built in that similar mould of finding something out of the top drawer, with four out of his six Premier League goals coming from outside the area. Having someone who can unlock the tightest of defences by unleashing an effort from long-range can prove to be the difference-maker. It’s exactly why Spurs would be so smart in bringing him to the club this summer.

Kevin De Bruyne, who has played a starring role in Manchester City’s side this season after coming back from an injury-ridden campaign, recently blasted the Euro 2020 format in a post-match interview after his native Belgium beat Cyprus 6-1. 

The Belgians qualified for Euro 2020 through finishing top of their qualifying group, beating the likes of Russia and Scotland to cement their place at the Championships next summer in a bid to take advantage of their golden generation and win a coveted international prize.

However, according to De Bruyne, the competition is already sucking the tension out of its group stage draw given the fact 12 cities throughout Europe will host games – with Wembley hosting the semi-final and final.

Judging by the format rules, Belgium already know who they are going to get – with Denmark and Russia looking like their Group B opponents due to the fact Ukraine and the Russians cannot play each other for geopolitical reasons.

Meanwhile, Belgium’s opponents will also have home advantage due to the fact they are both part of the 12 host nations.

De Bruyne, speaking to HLN Sport (via Daily Mail), labelled the competition a ‘disgrace’, stating:

“It’s a disgrace. For me this feels like competition distortion. Football has become more and more a business.”

As a result, City supporters had mixed reactions on social media, with a few confused about the format itself – and let’s face it, they aren’t the only ones:

City fans, do you agree with De Bruyne? Let us know in the comments below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards believes Nicolas Otamendi is often used as a “scapegoat”. The City icon has also praised the Argentine for his performances in the title-winning season of 2017-18.

What did he say?

Otamendi has had a tough start to this season and has found his position at centre-back under threat. As Vincent Kompany left and Aymeric Laporte got injured, the 31-year-old needed to step up. However, calamitous errors in the defeats to Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers have shone a light on his glaring frailties and lack of reliability.

However, Richards has defended the Argentine, claiming that he is used as a scapegoat for the club. The ex-City star told BBC 5 Live Sport: “I know he’s not played and he’s been going through a tough time,” he said.

“In these big games, this might be a game where he has a good performance and that can set his season up to have a great season.

“It’s a little bit difficult for him because where City are in the league, everything is under the microscope and I feel like sometimes he can be the scapegoat of Man City.

“Yes, he does dive in too much for my liking, but the season when they won the league they were calling him the General, he really had some really good performances. He just needs to get his confidence back and hopefully, it can be this Sunday.”

Proved his worth

There can be little doubt that Otamendi has had a tough demise over the past year. His shocking error against Norwich led to Teemu Pukki’s goal and three points dropped. Not long after this, the defender was unlocked at the back by Adama Traore twice in the game.

However, back in the 2017-18 season which Richards alluded to, Otamendi earned his way into the PFA Team of the Year and helped City drop just 14 points all year.

Otamendi has indeed been used as a scapegoat for City and yes he has had a tough time of late but, should be be selected in the starting XI on Sunday, he may have the perfect chance to redeem himself against Liverpool.

Nothing quite like a bit of nostalgia is there?

A look back at the past just to warm the heart and give you a chance to reminisce. Although thankfully you didn’t have to be too old to think back and take part in this debate.

As Chris Wilder pointed out the other day, the Blades have gone on a quite remarkable rise in the past couple of seasons. From near the bottom of League One to the top half of the Premier League in the space of three years.

Find out which Premier League newcomer is a future England boss in the making in the video below…

And it was those promotions that caused quite a bit of debate on Twitter. Famed Sheffield United YouTuber @IngoodNick17 asked the fans which of the two promotion seasons they enjoyed better, from League One to the Championship or from the Championship to the Premier League.

It was a close run affair, with the poll showing that 54% preferred the step up to the big time in the Premier League, but that doesn’t mean that those who preferred the first one didn’t put up any less convincing an argument.

Although both sides could agree on one thing, taking the opportunity to laugh at their Yorkshire rivals along the way.

أعلن الجنوب إفريقي بيتسو موسيماني المدير الفني للنادي الأهلي، بدلاء فريقه في مباراته أمام سموحة اليوم الأربعاء.

يلتقي الأهلي نظيره سموحة في التاسعة والنصف من مساء اليوم الأربعاء، في المباراة المؤجلة بينهما من الجولة الحادية عشر من مسابقة الدوري المصري.

طالع | تشكيل الأهلي أمام سموحة في الدوري.. عودة الشناوي وأكرم توفيق يقود الجبهة اليمنى

يحتل الأهلي المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 30 نقطة بعدما خاض 12 مباراة، فيما يحتل سموحة المركز الثامن بجدول الترتيب برصيد 24 نقطة، بعدما خاض 17 مباراة. بدلاء الأهلي أمام سموحة اليوم

يتواجد على دكة البدلاء كل من: “علي لطفي، رامي ربيعة، سعد سمير، ناصر ماهر، أحمد نبيل، محمود كهربا، مروان محسن، والتر بواليا، صلاح محسن”.

Defoe was understandably over the moon with his goals, but the fact that Paul Gascoigne was watching in the stands made it that much sweeter for the former England striker.

Born in 1982, Defoe will have grown up watching Gascoigne playing for the Three Lions, and understandably it seems that he’s a bit of a hero for him as he appears to be very proud to play so well in front of him.

Manchester City fans have been making a lot of noise on Twitter in the last 24 hours after Liverpool drew 1-1 with Manchester United at Old Trafford.

A late Adam Lallana goal in Manchester snatched a point for Jurgen Klopp, which means Liverpool’s lead has been cut to six points at the top of the table. However, as a result of the draw, it also means the Merseysiders failed to match City’s record of 18 successive wins in the Premier League.

The champions hold the record set in their breathtaking season of 2017-18, where they made history with the most league wins (32) and most goals (100). After drawing with Everton 1-1 early on, Pep Guardiola’s side would go onto win 18 games on the bounce, including victories over every top-six side along the way.

City’s record came to an end when they played out a goalless draw against Crystal Palace at the end of December 2017.

As for the Reds, their streak started back in March with a 4-2 victory over Burnley. Three points over the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea would rocket Liverpool to 17 wins in a row, whilst they even picked up the Champions League in the midst of their unstoppable Premier League form.

City fans wanted Liverpool to drop points on Sunday to reduce the eight point gap that existed prior to the weekend, but the narrative surrounding the winning streak added an extra layer of importance to the game.

Naturally, the Citizens were delighted to see their title rivals fall at the final hurdle.

Here’s what they had to say on Twitter following the 1-1 draw…