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England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley has been promoted to senior team head coach on an interim basis after Gareth Southgate's decision to resign.

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Carsley named interim head coachTakes charge for Nations League fixturesFollows Southgate exit post-Euro 2024WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Everton midfielder Carsley had been in charge of the U21s since July 2021, famously guiding the Young Lions to European Championship glory in 2023. He replaces Southgate, who stepped down after eight memorable years in charge following the England's defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024 last month.

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The 50-year-old will take charge of England's upcoming Nations League games against Ireland and Finland, but he could remain in the post thereafter as the FA continue their extensive search for a permanent replacement for Southgate. Carsley is in the frame for the job alongside the likes of Graham Potter and Eddie Howe, and he will be desperate to impress in the interim period in the knowledge his predecessor followed the same path to landing the senior role.

Getty ImagesWHAT CARSLEY SAID

In a statement, Carsley said: "It’s an honour to step up and lead this England squad on an interim basis. As I am very familiar with the players and the cycle of international football, it makes sense for me to guide the team while the FA continues the process to recruit a new manager. My main priority is to ensure continuity and our goal is to secure promotion in the Nations League."

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WHAT THE FA SAID

Explainining the decision to appoint Carsley, Mark Bullingham, FA CEO, said: “Lee is a fantastic coach who is well known to the majority of our current senior squad having worked with most at international or club level. He offers us a very strong interim solution and we are confident he will perform well in the UEFA Nations League games ahead. We are grateful to Lee for stepping up to manage the team while we continue with our recruitment process.”

كشف مصدر باتحاد الكرة المصري، عن تفاصيل وكواليس الجلسة التي تمت في لجنة الحكام مع حكم مباراة الزمالك والبنك الأهلي محمد عادل.

وكان إبراهيم نور الدين مسؤول التطوير في لجنة الحكام، أعلن أنه سيكون هناك جلسة تحقيق مع محمد عادل بشأن أحداث مباراة الزمالك والبنك الأهلي.

طالع | إبراهيم نور الدين: جلسة استماع لحكم مباراة الزمالك والبنك الأهلي.. ولن أدخل في مهاترات مع جهاد جريشة

وقال المصدر لـ “بطولات”: “محمد عادل خضع لجلسة الاستماع أمام المستشار القانوني للجنة الحكام، في حضور إبراهيم نور الدين”.

وأضاف: “محمد عادل طالب لجنة الحكام بعرض تسجيلات المحادثة بينه وبين غرفة الڤار على الرأي العام، وقال بأن ما تردد بأنه تجاوز لفظًا أثناء حديثه مع حكم الفيديو غير صحيح على الإطلاق”.

وأتم: “لم يتم استدعاء محمد سلامة ميدو حكم الفيديو للتحقيقات اليوم”.

وكانت مباراة الزمالك والبنك الأهلي التي أقيمت يوم الجمعة الماضي، وانتهت بفوز الفارس الأبيض بنتيجة 3-2، شهدت حالات جدلية منها الثلاث ركلات جزاء التي احتسبها حكم المباراة محمد عادل.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been excellent all season long with Gary O’Neil transforming the club on the field.

However, the manner in which they suffered their recent 3-2 home defeat to Coventry City will infuriate the boss and the fans, which will most likely be an anomaly over the season.

Despite being handed a loss, there were some standout players from the tie, including Rayan Ait Nouri, who scored and assisted, and Joao Gomes, who was as solid as ever.

What both of those players have in common is a low wage while bringing quality to the field, but unfortunately, that isn’t the case for everyone in the squad.

Joao Gomes’ performances for Wolves

In January 2023, Wolves acquired the services of a young midfielder from Flamengo for a fee of £15m, which is beginning to look like a bargain based on his recent performances.

Gomes has grown into his role in O’Neil’s team this season, which primarily focuses on winning the ball back and retaining it, as displayed by averaging the third most tackles per game (3.5) in the Premier League this season.

The only players he sits behind are Sheffield United's Vini Souza and Fulham enforcer Joao Palhinha.

The 23-year-old also showcased his ability on the international stage, starting for Brazil against England in a 1-0 victory, which will most definitely provide him with confidence ahead of his return to Wolves next week.

Minutes played

90

Touches

46

Accurate passes

23/28 (82%)

Duels won

5/12

Fouls

5

Interceptions

3

Tackles

3

Nonetheless, the Old Gold looked to have also secured a fantastic deal on his wages given what he offers on the field, with Gomes earning £30k-per-week, making him far from one of the highest paid at the club, unlike some individuals who are far less influential than the Brazilian.

One such player is Boubacar Traore who has struggled to have the same level of influence as Gomes in the engine room at Molineux.

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ByTom Lever Feb 18, 2024 What Boubacar Traore earns compared to the Wolves squad

Traore is a player that not all of the Wolves faithful will truly know about, which is completely understandable given his lack of game time since his arrival.

The 22-year-old midfielder joined the English side originally on loan last season, before making the move permanent in the summer for a fee of £9.5m.

However, he has failed to make an impact when handed an opportunity this campaign, becoming the fourth-choice midfielder behind Gomes, Mario Lemina, and Tommy Doyle.

Over his two years at Wolves, the Mali international has started just seven Premier League matches, with his latest being the 2-1 away defeat to Arsenal at the start of December.

Nonetheless, even though Traore has featured far less than Gomes, the number six is earning almost double his wage, with an exact figure being £25k-per-week more than the Brazilian.

#1 Pablo Sarabia

£90k

#2 Nelson Semedo

£80k

#3 Hwang Hee-chan

£70k

#4 Matheus Cunha

£60k

#5 Boubacar Traore

£55k

As you can see, this puts the midfielder among the highest earners in the entire Wolves squad, earning slightly less than Matheus Cunha and over five times more than Ait Nouri, who earns just £10k-per-week.

In truth, Traore is still young and he has plenty of room for development, but at this current moment, he has failed to justify his high salary on the field, as displayed by his 0.9 tackles, 13 passes, and 1.6 duels won per game.

Handing the relatively inexperienced player a large contract may have been a mistake by Wolves, but they will still hope that O’Neil can mould Traore into a brilliant player in the future.

The job Gary O’Neil is doing at Wolverhampton Wanderers this season is nothing short of remarkable, especially after losing his two best midfielders last summer.

Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes both departed Molineux, yet O’Neil adapted and has managed to bring out the best of the players he has at his disposal.

The Old Gold have recorded a Premier League double over Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, while also defeating Manchester City during the early stages of the campaign, and their recent form has been solid.

A home tie against Sheffield United awaits the Midlands side tomorrow afternoon and considering the Blades are propping up the rest of the league, it represents an ideal opportunity for O’Neil to claim another three points.

With that in mind, here's a look at the potential Wolves starting XI that will take to the Molineux pitch tomorrow…

1

GK – Jose Sa

There won't be a change to the goalkeeper as Sa will retain his place in the starting XI.

The Portuguese shot-stopper has missed only two league matches this season and was even named as the captain against Spurs in the 2-1 win last weekend.

Across his 23 matches thus far, however, Sa has kept just three clean sheets and if it were not for the wonderful form of their attacking options, the club may be in a slightly more precarious situation.

2

CB – Max Kilman

The captain has played every minute of every league match so far this season and has been a rock at the back for the club.

The 26-year-old is contracted to the Old Gold until 2028, but if he continues this current rich vein of form, then he may just start attracting attention from potential suitors, that’s for sure.

3

CB – Craig Dawson

The veteran centre-back has played 23 of the 25 league ties Wolves have played this term and against Spurs, he was in fine form.

Not only did he make ten clearances and block three shots, but Dawson won seven of his nine contested duels during the victory and this display was key to Wolves securing all three points.

4

CB – Toti

Like Dawson, Toti was also extremely solid against Spurs last week. He made ten clearances, four interceptions, two tackles and was not dribbled past once, showcasing his physical strength in one-on-one battles.

Toti has already made more league appearances this season than he did during the whole of the 2022/23 campaign, and he is slowly emerging as a key member of O’Neil’s side.

5

RM – Nelson Semedo

The 30-year-old had spent the previous few months playing in an unfamiliar role on the right-hand side of the midfield due to O’Neil utilising either a 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 formation.

His attacking talents have not exactly been on show, however, as he has registered just one goal and one assist in all competitions.

6

CM – Joao Gomes

The Brazilian enjoyed one of his finest games for the club last week as he scored a brace which proved to be decisive in the victory over Spurs.

He also made six tackles and four clearances as his defensive abilities were also on show, and he will retain his place against the Blades tomorrow afternoon.

7

CM – Tommy Doyle

Mario Lemina enjoyed a decent game last weekend, yet he may have to make way in order for Tommy Doyle to start against Sheffield United.

The on-loan Manchester City starlet was hailed as “exceptional” by talent scout Jacek Kulig back in 2021 as he discussed the wealth of talent that City possessed in their youth sides.

The youngster has started just five Premier League matches this season, yet when he has featured, the 22-year-old has showcased his talents.

He holds an 86% pass success rate, while winning 56% of his total duels and losing possession just 5.6 per game and a tie against the bottom side in the league could be an ideal opportunity for him to come into the starting XI.

8

LM – Rayan Ait-Nouri

The Algerian did not enjoy the best of games against Spurs last week. He won only three of his ten contested ground duels during the encounter, along with succeeding with just one dribble attempt and losing possession a staggering 17 times.

Due to a lack of options on the left side of the midfield, however, Ait-Nouri will retain his spot in the starting XI and O’Neil will be hoping a tie against the Blades will allow him to perform better.

9

AM – Pedro Neto

In front of the four-man midfield, O’Neil will deploy two attacking midfielders and one will be Neto, who has registered an impressive nine assists in the top flight already, despite playing only 16 games.

The 23-year-old grabbed an assist against Spurs and with the Blades’ defence conceding 65 goals in just 25 matches, he will certainly have his eye on scoring a goal or two tomorrow.

10

AM – Pablo Sarabia

Alongside Neto, Sarabia will be deployed, and the duo have the ability to cause plenty of chaos on Sunday afternoon.

The Spaniard has scored twice and chipped in with nine assists in all competitions, but he didn’t play in the reverse clash against the Blades back in November – although he must be unleashed tomorrow.

The 31-year-old made three key passes last week and missed a big chance, suggesting that with a bit better finishing, he may have added to his goal tally for the season.

Jude Bellingham reportedly faces the threat of missing England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final with Switzerland due to his “inside joke” goal celebration.

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Midfielder scored stunning goal vs SlovakiaAntics after that have sparked debateThree Lions preparing for quarter-final clashWHAT HAPPENED?

The Real Madrid superstar stepped up when the Three Lions needed him most during their dramatic last-16 encounter with Slovakia. Deep into stoppage-time, Bellingham produced a stunning overhead kick that sent the tie into extra-time and paved the way for record goal-scorer Harry Kane to grab a winner.

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Bellingham worked through several celebrations after finding the target – including his most iconic one, which was delivered alongside Kane – but one gesture aimed in the direction of the stands could land him in hot water.

WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

The 21-year-old has rubbished any suggestion that the lewd gesture, which saw him move his hand back and forth towards his groin, was aimed at the Slovakian bench. Bellingham has posted on social media when explaining his antics: “An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.”

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GettyDID YOU KNOW?

are, however, among those to report that Bellingham could now face sanction. UEFA rules dictate that any player making an “obscene gesture” or engaging in “offensive or insulting action” can be handed a ban. European football’s governing body will review the reports of the match referee and officials before taking any action.

Hampshire have signed Tabraiz Shamsi, the South African left-arm wristspinner, for the final four games of the Vitality Blast group stage.After a successful run thanks to the dual spin of Liam Dawson and Mason Crane, Hampshire’s Blast campaign has been derailed by injuries to Crane and back-up spinner Brad Taylor, leaving them sixth in the South Group, and the signing of Shamsi means they will have the opportunity to resume their plan to prepare turning pitches.”After losing both Mason and Brad to injuries, Shamsi bolsters the squad and offers an excellent spin option with international experience for the final four fixtures of our Vitality Blast campaign,” said Giles White, Hampshire’s director of cricket. “We’re looking forward to having him with us.”Shamsi, who has developed a reputation as a bubbly character thanks to his wide array of wicket celebrations, will go straight into the squad to play Middlesex at Lord’s on Thursday night.This will be his second stint in county cricket, after five games for Northants in 2017. He also has experience in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, in the Caribbean for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, and has taken 10 wickets in his 14 T20Is.He joins Chris Morris, Hampshire’s other official overseas player, as well as other compatriots Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw in the squad.

Tottenham are now contenders to sign a "role model" young striker praised by club legend Harry Kane, as Ange Postecoglou's side reportedly stay on the lookout for new forwards.

Spurs linked with summer striker signing

Despite the fine form of Richarlison in recent months, there are still reports that Spurs could look to replace Kane with a new number nine this summer.

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Spurs have even been linked with a move for Brentford star Ivan Toney, alongside a host of other big top-flight sides, with the Englishman looking very likely to be a hot topic of discussion.

All confirmed Tottenham deals for January

Transfer

Radu Dragusin

Arrival

Timo Werner

Arrival

Lucas Bergvall

Arrival

Djed Spence

Exit (loan)

Ashley Phillips

Exit (loan)

Eric Dier

Exit (loan)

Ivan Perisic

Exit (loan)

Alejo Veliz

Exit (loan)

Japhet Tanganga

Exit (loan)

Sergio Reguilon

Exit (loan)

The north Londoners are also said to be keeping true to their policy of seeking out Europe's most promising up-and-coming starlets, after sensationally beating Barcelona to the signing of Lucas Bergvall in January.

Indeed, Club Brugge starlet Antonio Nusa could still join Tottenham later this year with his transfer still not entirely ruled out.

Now, according to TEAMtalk journalist Fraser Gillan on X, Postecoglou's side may well kill two birds with one stone – the signing of a centre-forward and one more rising talent – as a swoop for starlet Bayern Munich striker Mathys Tel becomes possible.

Suggestion Tel could join Tottenham

The 18-year-old, signed by Bayern for £26 million, has bagged three goals and three assists over 18 substitute Bundesliga appearances under Thomas Tuchel so far this season. However, he's yet to start a single encounter, which may well be frustrating for the teenager.

TEAMtalk say that Tottenham are eyeing up Tel alongside the likes of Chelsea and Man United, suggesting north London is now a potential landing spot for Kane's promising young teammate.

Tel has been praised by Kane already this season, while goalkeeper Sven Ulreich has branded the Frenchman a "role model" for youngsters at the Allianz Arena.

“Mathys is a fine guy, is inquisitive, willing to learn, down-to-earth and works a lot on himself,” Ulreich said.

“He is a role model for all the young players who come here. He comes up and does his job. We’ve had other examples that didn’t handle it that way.”

Thomas Muller also lavished real praise on Tel, urging him to keep up his exciting and direct style of play.

"When we remember Arjen Robben, we sometimes thought, ‘Now he should have seen the man next to him,’ but he was so focused on the goal – that also gave him a lot of goals," said Muller.

"Mathys should keep doing his thing. Look for a lot of shots – with his finishing skills."

Glasgow Rangers secured a solid 3-1 victory in their final Scottish Premiership match before the winter break, and it means Philippe Clement has lost just once in his opening 18 matches since taking over in mid-October.

While the defeat to Celtic at the end of 2023 was not the best way to end the year, the fact that the club won the League Cup and qualified for the Europa League knockout stages as group winners signifies major progress.

The Belgian coach now has a couple of weeks to regroup before the next domestic fixture, which takes place in two weeks, and he will take his squad to a mid-season training camp in Spain.

With the January transfer window now in full swing, his imminent focus will be on further bolstering his first team ahead of the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Having already signed Fabio Silva on a loan deal until the end of the season, could the 49-year-old coach perhaps be targeting a defender as his next signing?

Rangers transfer news – Charlie Cresswell

During the summer transfer window, previous Ibrox boss Michael Beale was looking to strengthen his backline and this led to various links to defenders across the continent.

One name that was mentioned more than once was that of Charlie Cresswell. According to Football League World, the Gers had a bid turned down for the Leeds United centre-back in June.

As the summer window rolled on, more and more defenders were linked with a move to Scotland, yet another bid for Cresswell didn’t materialise, and it looked as though the boat had sailed, especially as he signed a contract extension last August until 2027.

It looks as though the Light Blues could be back in for the defender, with pundit Carlton Palmer claiming the Gers are one of the clubs eyeing up a possible move for him in January.

Talking to Football League World, he said: “Daniel Farke has repeatedly said Leeds won’t allow Charlie Cresswell to go out on loan.

“There is plenty of interest for Charlie.

“Boro, Stoke, Ipswich, Rangers to name a few.”

With Leeds in a promotion battle, however, they may wish to keep him for the remainder of the campaign, yet he has played just four Championship matches thus far during 2023/24.

At 21 years old, Cresswell certainly fits the profile of players Clement is looking to try and bring to Ibrox. Combine this with his experience of working with some excellent young talent in his previous roles and a move for the defender could work out rather well.

Charlie Cresswell could be Clement’s next Axel Disasi

During managerial roles at Club Brugge and AS Monaco, the Belgian manager unearthed players who have moved on to bigger and brighter things.

The likes of Charles De Ketelaere, Leandro Trossard, Youssouf Fofana, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Benoit Badiashile all featured under Clement during his spells at these respective clubs, and they have all turned into wonderful players in Europe's major leagues.

Axel Disasi was also another youngster who shone under Clement, and he sealed a move to Chelsea last year, having played 129 times for Monaco.

Both Disasi and Cresswell are of similar stature, while their strength mainly lies within the physical nature of the game, winning one one-on-one battles regularly while proving to be immovable objects in front of the goalkeeper.

Indeed, this season, the former Monaco centre-back has won an impressive 2.4 aerial duels per game – a success rate of 68% – while also being dribbled past on just 0.2 occasions per game, certainly showcasing his physicality.

The 25-year-old has taken a few months to settle into the Premier League but has proven that he could be a mainstay in the Chelsea side over the next couple of years.

Cresswell echoes some similarities to the five-cap French international and joining Rangers this month could see his development continue.

Charlie Cresswell’s career statistics

The 21-year-old made his debut for Leeds during the 2020/21 campaign before going on to play five times in the Premier League during the following season as he was eased into the senior squad.

Cresswell was even hailed as “unbelievable” by Leeds presenter Joe Wainman in 2022 and, despite making a solid impression in the first team, he was allowed to join Millwall on a season-long loan deal ahead of 2022/23.

He shone for the Lions in the Championship, making 28 appearances while chipping in with five goals, and it was clear that he was far too good for a midtable side in the second tier.

Indeed, among the Millwall squad, Cresswell ended the season by ranking second for overall Sofascore rating (7.13), along with ranking second for accurate passes (28.1), third for interceptions (1.3) and second for clearances (3.1) per game in the second tier last term.

Not only that, but the youngster also won 5.2 aerial duels per game – a success rate of 61% – and was only dribbled past on 0.5 occasions per game, with these statistics similar to those that Disasi has displayed for Chelsea during the current season.

Judging by the fact he has only featured four times in the Championship so far this season, manager Daniel Farke does not look like he sees him as a key member of the senior squad going forward.

With this in mind, plus the current interest from the Glasgow side, Cresswell has a big decision to make in January with regard to his future.

A loan move may be the only option on the table at this moment in time, yet things could change during the summer transfer window, especially if Leeds gain promotion and decide to cash in.

Clement has plenty of experience managing players who have shown plenty of potential at a young age before going on to flourish elsewhere, taking Tchouameni and Disasi as prime examples.

Rangers now offered chance to sign "creative" new player for Clement

The Gers could welcome another Premier League player…

By
Tom Cunningham

Jan 4, 2024

While Cresswell is not at the level of Disasi yet, there is no doubting how good he could turn out, especially if given regular gametime in a league like the Premiership.

With trophies to be won and European football to be played during the second half of the season, joining Rangers could give the Leeds defender a new lease of life and perhaps a more permanent arrangement could be worked out in the summer for the 6 foot starlet.

Wolverhampton Wanderers enjoyed a solid run of results over the festive period as they secured wins against Chelsea, Everton, and Brentford in the Premier League, while drawing against the Bees in the FA Cup third round last week.

Gary O’Neil will undoubtedly be delighted with this type of form, although he could soon face a dilemma regarding his attacking options.

Sasa Kalajzdic and Fabio Silva have both been sent out on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt and Glasgow Rangers respectively, while Hwang Hee-Chan is away on international duty, representing South Korea at the Asian Cup.

The former Bournemouth manager can now only call on Matheus Cunha to lead the line, and he must secure the services of another centre-forward during the January transfer window.

Hugo Ekitiké is a name that has been linked recently with a move to the Old Gold, yet he has only played eight minutes of football this season and may take time to adjust to the Premier League.

Could O’Neil perhaps sign someone who is currently in form this month? As Spanish striker, Borja Mayoral has emerged as a player of interest.

Latest on Wolves' hunt for a striker

According to TEAMtalk, Wolves are keeping tabs on Mayoral ahead of potentially making a move for him this month, but they aren’t the only English side keen on the centre-forward.

Arsenal and Crystal Palace are the other sides who are also monitoring the Getafe star and the report states that he could be available for just £20m, which could represent an excellent bargain.

Losing three strikers in the space of a few weeks suggests O’Neil will be desperate to bring in at least one attacker this month and a deal to sign Mayoral could be shrewd business, especially as he is an upgrade on Kalajdzic.

Borja Mayoral is a big upgrade on Sasa Kalajdzic

The Austrian striker suffered a season-ending knee injury during his very first match for Wolves in 2022, and he only returned for the first time at the beginning of the 2023/24 campaign.

The 26-year-old managed to play 13 matches for the Old Gold, scoring three goals in the process, yet he started only three times, and it was evident that O’Neil didn’t see him in any future plans, hence sending him out on loan for the remainder of the season.

Landing Mayoral would be a big coup and the Spaniard has enjoyed a far more productive season than the former Stuttgart striker.

Indeed, in their respective leagues this term, the current Getafe forward has not only scored more goals (12 vs two), but he has also registered more goal-creating actions per 90 (0.36 vs 0) and recorded more progressive carries (22 vs one) and it clearly shows who has been the more positive threat in the opposition third.

Mayoral has also registered more shots on target per game (1.1 vs 0.2) while averaging more key passes per game (0.8 vs 0.4) and succeeding with more successful dribble attempts per game (0.7 vs 0.1), which is yet more evidence of the Getafe hitman enjoying a far more productive season than Kalajdzic.

The £79k-per-week frontman is enjoying the most prolific spell of his career, and perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise he is starring for Getafe, especially considering he has received plenty of praise during his career, most notably from former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, who lauded him back in 2017 after an impressive display for the club:

“Mayoral is here with us and has a role to play, he’s shown that today. He was given a chance and he’s done a great job. Not just with his goal, he put in a complete performance.”

The former AS Roma ace has even outscored Hwang this season, and it could be interesting to see how the duo would play together should O’Neil secure his services this month.

How Borja Mayoral compares to Hwang Hee-Chan

The South Korean forward has been in sensational form this season for Wolves, scoring 11 goals and grabbing three assists across 21 matches, and losing him for the next three or four weeks could be devastating for the club.

Mayoral has found the back of the net on 14 occasions this term in all competitions while chipping in with an assist, and he has done this having played one more match than Hwang.

With 14 and 15 goal contributions respectively, there is not much between the two centre-forwards, but adding someone like Mayoral into his starting XI, potentially alongside Hwang, could give the Old Gold a jolt in the right direction.

According to WhoScored, the former Red Bull Salzburg forward excels at finishing – which would explain his excellent scoring record this season – while his style of play tends to incorporate a lot of dribbling, and he tends to be a regular threat on the counter-attack.

The Spaniard, on the other hand, excels at passing and headed attempts – evidenced by his four headed goals in La Liga this season – while his style of play tends to feature more long balls and between them, the duo could make for a profitable partnership for the Molineux side.

Mayoral has played for clubs such as Real Madrid and Roma during his career so far, winning the Champions League during his spell with the former in 2018 and he could bring an elite, winning mentality to the club.

The 26-year-old has scored 70 senior goals across 257 matches and this works out as a goal every 3.6 matches, a solid, if unspectacular ratio.

League statistics this season

Borja Mayoral

Hwang Hee-Chan

Goals

12

10

Assists

1

3

Key passes per game

0.8

0.7

Shots on target per game

1.1

0.7

Big chances created

2

4

However, his frightening start to the 2023/24 season may indicate that he is becoming a more out-and-out goalscorer for his club and this should surely entice O’Neil to make a concrete move to sign him in the coming weeks.

Of course, the club will have to perhaps move on a player or two before bringing any new faces into Molineux, and this could be the only stumbling block with regard to signing Mayoral.

Signing a striker is a necessity rather than a desire for the manager, however, and this may just stand him in good stead as he looks for his first January signing.

MatériaMais Notícias

O técnico do São Paulo, Hernán Crespo, foi só elogios ao time na entrevista coletiva após a vitória sobre o Santos, por 4 a 0, no Morumbi, pela terceira rodada do Campeonato Paulista.

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Crespo fez questão de exaltar a segunda etapa feita pelo Tricolor, que marcou os quatro gols em 45 minutos, com Gabriel Sara, Luan Peres, contra, Pablo e Tchê Tchê. Para o argentino, o time se sobressaiu principalmente na segunda etapa, com um campo mais leve por conta da chuva.

CONFIRA A TABELA ATUALIZADA DO CAMPEONATO PAULISTA DE 2021

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– Quero felicitar os jogadores sobre como se adaptaram à condição climática no primeiro tempo. No segundo tempo se pode jogar mais e sempre tentaram jogar, apesar das condições do campo. Sempre acreditaram nas próprias capacidades – afirmou, em entrevista coletiva.

Crespo também tratou sobre a ‘identidade’ do São Paulo, com troca de passes rápidas e velocidade nas pontas principalmente na segunda etapa.

– Temos uma identidade e queremos jogar de uma certa maneira. Hoje o tempo, sobretudo no primeiro tempo foi muito difícil. Difícil jogar o futebol que pretendemos. Quando melhorou um pouco e o campo absorveu a água, o São Paulo mostrou que quer jogar de uma maneira, ser vertical, com imposição. O São Paulo mostrou uma forma de jogar. Isso me deixa muito feliz – finalizou.

O Tricolor volta a campo no próximo sábado, às 16h30, contra o Novorizontino, em Novo Horizonte, pela quarta rodada do Paulistão. O time é o primeiro colocado do Grupo B, com sete pontos.