Wayne Rooney believes new Liverpool arrival Jeremie Frimpong will be the most important signing in the Premier League this season.
Rooney backs Frimpong signingWing-back arrived from Bayer LeverkusenLiverpool have spent big this summerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Manchester United and England great Rooney has tipped Frimpong to be the most important signing of the summer transfer window. The 24-year-old was Liverpool's first incoming arrival of the window when he joined from Leverkusen, where he had impressed as a goalscoring wing-back with rapid sprint speed and excellent dribbling skills.
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The Reds have completed two of the priciest deals from Premier League clubs in bringing in Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, while United forked out huge sums for Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. The likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Joao Pedro and Martin Zubimendi have also moved for big fees, but Rooney believes Liverpool have done the most astute piece of business by signing Frimpong.
DID YOU KNOW?
Frimpong, alongside Wirtz, was a vital member of the Leverkusen squad that won the 2023-24 Bundesliga title under Xabi Alonso, scoring 14 goals and contributing ten assists in all competitions that season. He had another fruitful campaign in 2024-25 and arrives at Anfield as the replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who moved to Real Madrid after letting his contract run down. Frimpong has already bagged his first competitive goal for Arne Slot's side, netting in the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?
Reigning champions Liverpool kick off the new Premier League season on Friday night when they host Bournemouth on Friday night, with Frimpong expected to be named in Slot's starting XI.
Seccombe decided to step away after his contract was not immediately renewed despite coaching Heat to their first BBL title in 11 years
Alex Malcolm20-Mar-2024Brisbane Heat BBL title-winning coach Wade Seccombe has quit his roles with Heat and the Queensland Bulls after being asked to re-apply for both jobs following an end-of-season review.Seccombe was out of contract at the end of the season but despite guiding the Heat to their first BBL title in 11 years, Queensland finished last in the Sheffield Shield for the first time in his seven-year tenure and second last in the Marsh Cup.Seccombe had previously coached Queensland to two Shield titles in 2017-18 and 2020-21. But after being asked to re-apply for the two roles he has decided to step away.”Winning the BBL was huge goal of mine as a coach and a massive achievement for the club, and that is something that I will look back on with great pleasure down the track,” Seccombe said in a statement released by Queensland Cricket on Wednesday night.”I said when I was reappointed a few years ago that there were several coaching goals I had set myself, with a BBL title and a chance to work with the Australian team again or internationally among the challenges that lay ahead for me.”My family and I will take stock on things from here and see what opportunities may present themselves in the future. I am eternally grateful for their support and the success I have been fortunate to experience as a coach is due to them.”Brisbane Heat won their second BBL title under Wade Seccombe•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesQueensland Cricket appointed Joe Dawes as new General Manager of Elite Teams, Performance and Pathways, during the season in a role that had been vacated last winter by long-time Queensland Cricket General Manager Bennett King.They had restructured their men’s coaching set-up three years ago to bring the Heat and Bulls programmes under one head coach with Seccombe taking over from Darren Lehmann in a coaching model that mirrored the success that Western Australia and Perth Scorchers have had under both Justin Langer and Adam Voges.Dawes said in a statement it is likely Queensland Cricket will continue to combine the roles after Seccombe’s departure.”Wade informed us that he would not be seeking a new contract, and he was upfront about his intentions once he had completed the various post-season reviews with players and staff,” Dawes said.”We will now go to market for the role of head coach of the Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls and are very confident that such a prime coaching role will attract some outstanding candidates who will relish the chance to work in this exciting programme.”Queensland Cricket thanks Wade and his family for their commitment on and off the field and we certainly wish him every success in his future endeavours. He will no doubt look back on the BBL title win this season with the satisfaction of a job well done.”The news comes just 24 hours after the Queensland government announced its intention not to rebuild the Gabba despite a report into Queensland’s stadium infrastructure ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games suggesting the Gabba was no longer fit for purpose.That decision does guarantee Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia will be able to play at the Gabba in the immediate future up until the 2032 Games with no need to relocate but what happens with the facility beyond that remains to be seen.
Coach Adam Voges confirms Hardie was preferred over vice-captain Inglis in part because of the “limitations” of a wicketkeeper talking to bowlers under time pressure
Alex Malcolm24-Dec-2023
Aaron Hardie has been named Perth Scorchers stand-in captain•Getty Images
Allrounder Aaron Hardie has been named Perth Scorchers’ stand-in captain for the remainder of the season after two-time title-winning skipper Ashton Turner was ruled out of the rest of the Big Bash League with a knee injury.Hardie, 25, has been appointed despite not being the official vice-captain, with the Scorchers hierarchy opting for the allrounder instead of the vice-captain Josh Inglis.Scorchers’ coach Adam Voges confirmed that Hardie had been preferred over the wicketkeeper due to a preference for the skipper to be closer to the bowler in the field for ease and efficiency of communication.”Josh is excellent from a strategy point of view,” Voges said. “But I guess there are limitations in what your keeper can do, particularly when the heat comes on. And if you’re a bit time-poor within your innings, which generally we are, then it’s really difficult to have those conversations and that connection with the bowling group and I think we saw that the other night a little bit when Ash did go off the field and so that was part of the decision-making process. But, if it had gone the other way we’d gone with Josh we would have been confident in him as well.”Hardie has been part an unofficial part of the leadership group this season and has sat in all of the Scorchers’ strategy meetings with the captain and coach throughout the start of the tournament.It caps a huge 2023 for Hardie after he made his T20I and ODI debuts in South Africa, and also toured India with Australia’s white-ball teams either side of the ODI World Cup. He also captained Australia A in the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln earlier this year.”First and foremost, we’re all wishing AT a speedy recovery,” Hardie said. “He’s been a fantastic captain and player for a long time, and is certainly somebody the squad looks up to.”Personally, it’s a privilege to lead this team in his absence, and a challenge I’m keen to embrace.”We have plenty of experience and leadership within the side. One of our great strengths is we’re comfortable using that experience and knowledge to make the team better as a collective.”I’m sure the whole squad will remain focused and united to give us the best chance of winning another title.”The BBL also confirmed on Sunday that the abandoned match between Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades in Geelong would not be replayed with the points being shared.Voges said his club had accepted the decision but thinks there should be some accountability for water getting on the covered pitch.”It is what it is,” Voges said. “We’ve moved on. That decision has been official now for a little while. And it’s not unlike a washout, had we not gone on at all. So we take the point and we’ll keep moving.”In terms of what the playing conditions say, from a points perspective, I don’t think there’s too much that can be done in that sense. But absolutely, I think that accountability and responsibility needs to lay somewhere.”
The former South Africa batter has been a regular in the competition and will bolster Brisbane’s top order
AAP20-Oct-2023
Mignon du Preez (left) alongside England’s Sarah Glenn (centre) and Bess Heath•Getty Images
Former South Africa captain Mignon du Preez is relishing the prospect of creating havoc with Brisbane Heat’s swashbuckling Harris sisters in the upcoming WBBL season.The 34-year-old dynamic middle-order batter joined the Heat as a direct nomination for this WBBL season, after previously scoring 2292 tournament runs for the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Stars in six seasons at a strike rate of 114.She retired from international cricket last year after 15 years at the top, including a long stint as South African skipper.Related
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“I have played against the Harris sisters [Grace and Laura] and they have smacked the ball all over the place,” du Preez told AAP after flying into Brisbane on Wednesday.”I’ve been on the receiving end of that, so it will be nice to be in their team for a change and not playing against them. The Heat have been in the top four teams nearly every competition I have played in the Big Bash and I have always admired them.”They looked like a bunch of girls that enjoy each other’s company on and off the field…and teal is my favourite colour.”Du Preez has been named in the Heat’s squad of 14 to play three away games to start the competition, beginning with the clash against the Melbourne Renegades on Friday.While not playing for South Africa anymore, she has still featured in plenty of cricket in other leagues around the world. She intends to play for the Heat with the aggressive approach that has been her trademark.”I have been playing cricket since I was four years old and it is probably the only thing I know,” du Preez said. “It was one of the hardest decisions to step away from international cricket, but once you know the time is right, you just know.”I know it is close to the end of my career, and I intend to have as much fun as possible with the Heat. I played in the CPL and the FairBreak Invitational tournament earlier this year.”Recently in South Africa our domestic structure got professionalised and I am contracted there and played over the weekend.”Du Preez had been in chats with Heat head coach Ashley Noffke and star batter Georgia Redmayne about joining the team for the past two years.Her new team-mates are excited about what du Preez has to offer.”I am so stoked. I’ve been sending her some sly messages to try and get her over for a few years,” Redmayne told AAP. “Mignon is a super player and a super teammate to have around the group as well. She is probably the leading run-scorer against the Heat, so it is nice to have her on our side.”
Leeds United have made an opening enquiry to sign a new Premier League player, according to a fresh transfer report.
Leeds latest as Farke drops Meslier for Darlow
The Whites are still pushing for Championship promotion under Daniel Farke, with Leeds in a current battle with Sheffield United and Burnley.
It looked like it could be a straightforward promotion after wins over the Blades and Sunderland back in February, however, Leeds have taken just six points from a possible 15 since.
Goalkeeper Illan Meslier was once again at fault last time out in a draw with Swansea City, and Farke has now taken the decision to drop Meslier for Karl Darlow. Talking at a recent press conference, Farke said: “I think I’m a big believer to have clarity on GK position. I’ve taken the decision – Karl Darlow will play on Saturday. Karl and Illan are aware.
“I think in general with a goalkeeper, it’s important you don’t change game to game. Especially with a promising GK like Illan. He took part in securing promotion a few seasons ago. He’s still young for a GK. It’s professional football and you have to deliver and handle the pressure. In the last weeks we felt he could have done a bit better.
“I’m in the position where I have to make a decision and protect him a bit. The spotlight is on him and the weight of the world is on him. That was my feeling this week. I have a really reliable option with Karl Darlow. A top class character. I see him every day in training – absolutely professional and loyal. He played two solid performances for Wales. he’s in a good rhythm. I’m convinced it’s the right decision.”
Should Leeds return to the top flight after a two-year absence, Leeds and the 49ers Enterprises could look to splash the cash to remain in the division.
Meslier replacement: Leeds now eyeing move for "world-class" £14m goalkeeper
The Whites are looking at options to replace Meslier, who has made a number of mistakes this season.
By
Dominic Lund
Apr 4, 2025
It has proven a tough task for the six promoted sides since 2023, however, Leeds are turning to experience to potentially help Farke.
Leeds make enquiry to sign Farke target Soucek from West Ham
According to Claret & Hugh, Leeds have made an opening approach over a deal to sign Tomas Soucek from West Ham United.
It is claimed that ‘Farke has identified West Ham midfielder Soucek as a player who can guarantee the Whites some top-flight goals’ and that any deal would require Leeds being promoted.
The report also adds that Leeds are ‘ready to offer him at least £30,000 per week more than his current wage’, which currently stands at £90,000 per week.
The 6 ft 4 midfielder, who can play in holding, central or attacking roles, could therefore earn £120,000 per week at Elland Road, however, he is currently settled at the London Stadium, where his deal runs until 2027.
Soucek stats at West Ham
Games
238
Goals
39
Assists
13
Yellow cards
33
Red cards
1
It appears as if Farke is personally keen on the Czech Republic international, and any deal would see the midfielder offer a physical presence as well as plenty of Premier League experience.
John Turner led a destructive bowling performance as defending champions Hampshire Hawks thrashed Gloucestershire by eight wickets and booked their place in the Vitality Blast quarter-finals.Fast bowler Turner took his Blast wicket tally to 18 with 3 for 15, with Chris Wood’s 3 for 18, Benny Howell’s 2 for 18 and miserly spells from Nathan Ellis and Liam Dawson restricting Gloucestershire to 105.Despite losing two early wickets, James Vince returned to the top of the scoring charts with 55 not out – his eighth fifty of the season – as he and Joe Weatherley knocked off the runs with 33 balls to spare.Hampshire will face Worcestershire at home on Friday after Essex sensationally chased down 195 at the Kia Oval. Hampshire have only faced Worcestershire once before in the Blast – the 2015 quarter-final – which they won due to bad light. Despite reaching Finals Day a record nine times, it will only be the first time since 2013 that the Ageas Bowl has played host to a quarter-final.Other than Grant Roelofsen’s promising 26 and Zaman Akhter’s tail-end 11, no other Gloucestershire batter reached double figures against some intelligent bowling on a slow pitch.Turner, in his debut Blast season, struck with his fifth ball as a zipping delivery found Miles Hammond’s edge before Ben Charlesworth chopped Wood to cover.Ben Wells was brilliantly caught at mid-off two balls after Benny Howell brought him up as Gloucestershire fell to 32 for 3 in the powerplay.South African overseas Roelofsen dispatched the only six of the innings over midwicket but from that point the visitors lost their fluency and wickets tumbled.Howell, against his former county, had Roelofsen slicing to deep point, Ellis had James Bracey picking out long on, and Graeme van Buuren’s attempted slog sweep of Dawson messed up his stumps.Turner returned to knock back Zafar Gohar and Jack Taylor’s leg stumps with virtually identical deliveries, with Wood seeing off David Payne and Tom Smith in the final over.Ben McDermott and Tom Prest didn’t get the memo about attempting to overhit the ball as both fell attempting to muscle the ball to the ropes.But Vince played the pitch and wasn’t scared for his strike-rate to dip below 100. There were moments of aggression; an advance and swing back over van Buuren’s head and a pair of swats through the covers.His half-century came in 37 balls as he passed 600 runs for the season for the third time in his career – he now has 638 runs in this year’s Blast which is already the eighth most in a single series with potentially three more innings to go.Weatherley was equally sensible with his approach in his unbeaten 29 off 26, in the unbeaten 81 run stand, as he minimised his risk-taking and ran hard – although it was Vince who sweetly struck the winning runs through the covers.
أعلن فينسيت كومباني، المدير الفني لفريق بايرن ميونخ، تشكيل مباراة أوكلاند سيتي، في منافسات كأس العالم للأندية 2025.
ويلاقي بايرن ميونخ خصمه أوكلاند سيتي النيوزيلندي، ضمن منافسات كأس العالم للأندية، عن مباريات الجولة الأولى على ملعب “تي كيو إل”
اقرأ أيضًا.. موعد والقنوات الناقلة لمباراة بايرن ميونخ وأوكلاند سيتي اليوم في كأس العالم للأندية
ويتواجد بايرن ميونخ في المجموعة الثالثة ضمن منافسات كأس العالم للأندية، رفقة أندية بنفيكا البرتغالي وبوكا جونيور الأرجنتيني، بالإضافة إلى أوكلاند سيتي النيوزيلندي.
ويدير مباراة بايرن ميونخ وأوكلاند سيتي، الحكم السنغالي عيسى سي، ويعاونه كل من جبريل كامارا ونوها بانجورا.
وسبق للنادي البافاري أن توج بلقب كأس العالم للأندية في مناسبتين سابقتين، ضد الرجاء المغربي وتيريس أونال المكسيكي.
وشهد تشكيل بايرن ميونخ تواجد المهاجم الإنجليزي هاري كين، أساسيًا في مواجهة اليوم. تشكيل بايرن ميونخ أمام أوكلاند سيتي في كأس العالم للأندية
حراسة المرمى: مانويل نوير.
خط الدفاع: جوناثان تاه، رافائيل جوريرو، جوزيب ستانيستش، ساشا بويي.
Celtic’s European campaign is on the cusp of coming to an end, but what an adventure it has been.
The Bhoys reached the Champions League knockout phase for the first time in 12 years, collecting 12 points and remaining unbeaten at home, most memorably beating RB Leipzig 3-1 at Parkhead in early November.
Celtic – Arne Engels
However, the first knockout round looks set to be a bridge too far, beaten 2-1 by Bayern Munich in Glasgow on Wednesday night, although Daizen Maeda’s late header does give them a slither of hope heading to Bavaria on Tuesday.
Domestically, Brendan Rodgers’ side sit 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, on course for yet another treble, having already hoisted aloft the League Cup, but just imagine how good this team would be if they hadn’t lost their most highly-rated academy graduate.
Jota's return to Celtic
To much excitement, Jota returned to Celtic in the January transfer window, returning from Stade Rennais for a reported £8.5m, 18 months after departing for a Saudi Pro League for a joint-club-record fee of £25m.
The Portuguese winger marked his second debut in hoops with a goal against Motherwell at Fir Park, after which he actually burst into tears, so delighted to be back in Glasgow having endured, as he put it, countless “difficult moments” since departing.
Speaking on TNT Sports prior to Wednesday’s clash with Bayern, Rodgers admitted that Jota “is not quite at the physical level yet” to start as he looks to rebuild his fitness, hence why he’s largely been reduced to cameos off the bench so far.
As noted by Josh McCafferty of the Herald, Jota was “delighted” to be back at Celtic Park, starting as the Hoops smashed Dundee 6-0 last mid-week.
However, despite being widely known as a “superstar”, the returning hero faces some serious competition to get into this team on a regular basis.
Daizen Maeda
Maeda, who currently occupies Jota’s preferred position on the left, has scored 11 goals since Boxing Day, with right-back Alistair Johnston describing him as “one of the most in-form players in Europe”.
The Japanese forward nodded home from close range on Wednesday, thereby becoming the first Celtic player since Joe Craig in 1977/78 to score four or more goals in a single European Cup campaign; Mo Johnston, Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Kenny Miller, Georgios Samaras and Moussa Dembélé all reached three.
Having said all of that, as much as the Celtic support love both Maeda and Jota, as well as Nicolas Kühn too, they may have let the best winger of the lot slip through their fingers.
Celtic lost Scotland's next great superstar
Ben Doak did not spend much of his youth career at Celtic, but his introduction to senior football did come bedecked in hoops, debuting as a late substitute during a must-win match against Dundee United in January 2022, before also coming off the bench for Ange Postecoglou’s team during a famous Old Firm victory three days later.
However, this did not convince the teenager to sign professional terms with Celtic, departing for Liverpool for just £600k in compensation soon after.
Ben Doak
During his first two seasons on Merseyside, Doak saw first-team opportunities limited, making only ten appearances, but has exploded onto the scene since joining Middlesbrough on loan last summer.
Still only 19 years old, he has scored three goals and provided seven assists in the EFL Championship for Boro, while Jota, meanwhile, boasts just two goals and two assists across his time at Rennes and Celtic in 2024/25. There’s a reason why journalist Henry Winter has lauded him as a “huge prospect”.
This may not sound amazing, but let’s have a deeper look at his season stats.
Statistics
Doak’s tally
Championship rank
Goals
3
84th
Goals – xG
+0.45
30th
Assists
7
5th
Expected assists per 90
0.23
17th
Shot-creating action
82
18th
Goal-creating actions
11
13th
Progressive carries
134
3rd
Shots on target %
51.9%
10th
Passes into the penalty area
37
12th
As the table shows, Doak is a high-level dribbler and excellent chance-creator, and his performances on Teesside have certainly caught wider attention, with Don Smith of the Evening Standard reporting that Liverpool rejected a £15m bid from Crystal Palace for his services in January.
Meantime, he’s also made his senior international debut in recent months, trusted by Steve Clark to start all four of Scotland’s UEFA Nations League matches in October and November, repaying the manager by setting up John McGinn’s last-gasp winner against Croatia at Hampden, that helped save the Tartan Army from relegation.
That night, as noted by Gregg Evans of the Athletic, he gave the world’s most-expensive defender of all-time Joško Gvardiol nightmares, with Ewan Murray of the Guardian adding that the Man City man left Hampden ‘bamboozled’ by Doak’s ‘searing pace’.
Martin Watt of BBC Sport labels him a ‘wonderkid’, while Sam Blitz of Sky Sports hails him as Scotland’s ‘new superstar’, hence why Celtic supporters must be wondering what could’ve been had Doak chosen to stay.
Worth 2x more than Kyogo: Celtic star proved that he could play for Bayern
Celtic fell to a narrow defeat in the Champions League on Wednesday night…
Despite Daniel Farke’s Leeds United coasting to many a victory in the Championship as of late, the Whites head into their big promotion clash tonight with Sunderland not perched at the summit of the difficult division.
Instead, Sheffield United are currently sat there admiring the view from top spot, having picked up a mammoth 22 wins themselves in league action, as Chris Wilder’s men eye up an instant glorious return back to the Premier League.
Looking back at their business before a ball was kicked gives you some insight as to how the top-flight’s basement club from the 2023/24 season have managed to bounce back so successfully, rather than being stuck inside that bleak pit.
United's best summer business
Back in the summer, before splashing £10m on new striker Tom Cannon, the South Yorkshire outfit went about their business in a rather shrewd manner.
Indeed, seven of United’s purchases before the hectic second-tier season got underway were either free transfers or loan signings, with both Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell entering the building strokes of genius as EFL experienced heads.
The pair have amassed eight goals between them, surrounded by the likes of fellow attacking talent in the form of Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who has six league strikes all on his own.
Away from bodies entering the building, the Blades also did a fantastic job in keeping some of the standout personnel from their Premier League journey, with Anel Ahmedhodzic an absolute brute at the back dropping down a level.
Helping himself to 12 clean sheets, he has made the Blades an extremely tough team to break down, with the man behind him in-between the sticks another sterling purchase that did cost United a fee, but has already made that amount look worthwhile.
Michael Cooper's soaring value
A brand new goalkeeper was arguably a must for Wilder and Co when dropping back down to the unforgiving second tier, having leaked a horrendous 104 goals in the top flight.
That’s where former Plymouth Argyle shot-stopper Michael Cooper has come to the rescue, with the 25-year-old now going down as a top £2m find from Devon.
Having made a name for himself at his boyhood employers with 55 clean sheets picked up from 161 appearances, the promotion-chasing Blades gambled on Cooper to be their Championship-ready ‘keeper and that decision has more than paid off with stunning saves such as this penalty stop back in November becoming commonplace.
Across 31 contests in South Yorkshire to date, Cooper has only shipped 21 strikes, with only two goals surrendered all of February so far as his high-flying team hunt down more and more pivotal victories.
Subsequently, his value has shot up and has justified United paying a fee to land the former League One Golden Glove winner, knowing full well that his continued excellence could be the difference-maker between automatic promotion being clinched and a playoff spot having to be regretfully accepted.
At the time of writing, Wilder’s assured number one in goal now has a bumped up value that stands at £5.8m – as per Transfermarkt – with the Exeter-born ‘keeper now wanting the prize of being a Premier League calibre shot-stopper to come his way.
Stat
Cooper
Games played
31
Goals conceded
21
Saves made
78
Goals prevented
+6.00
Clean sheets
17
That is a percentage increase of 190% in just a few months, with Wilder even labelling his standout 25-year-old as “class” earlier in the season, which is hard to argue against when looking up at his gleaming second-tier numbers.
Away from Cooper being put under the microscope, the experienced Blades boss will know a full team effort will get this confident group over the line, with this potentially being his third promotion achievement situated in the Bramall Lane dug-out.
Worth even more than Cannon: Sheffield United struck gold on “elite" ace
Sheffield United pulled off a blinder signing this ace when they did.