West Bromwich Albion will be relieved that the Championship final day was straightforward in the end, convincingly beating Preston North End 3-0 to solidify a playoff spot that looked somewhat shaky.

Carlos Corberan's men will now go into the high-octane playoffs to face off against Russell Martin's Southampton, leaping up to fifth off the back of victory over the Lilywhites to avoid playing a low-on-confidence Leeds United at the semi-final stage.

The Baggies will hope an ex-Leeds United figure in Alex Mowatt can star in the playoffs to come for the West Midlands outfit, with a view to sitting him down to sign a new deal soon so as not to lose a crucial cog in the machine in the summer for nothing.

Alex Mowatt's season in numbers

Accumulating 82 appearances to date for West Brom across three up-and-down seasons, it's fair to say this season has seen Mowatt undergo a redemption arc at the Hawthorns.

Loaned out to Middlesbrough last campaign, where he largely underwhelmed with just two assists from 32 games, it looked as if Mowatt had no future in the West Midlands returning back to his parent club.

Yet, the former Whites midfielder stood out again versus Ryan Lowe's men last match with his confident penalty coolly tucked away setting the tone for a fantastic afternoon at the Hawthorns.

Amassing three key passes in the game on top of his opening goal allowing the Baggies to cruise, the experienced 29-year-old was unfortunate not to add to his assist tally for the campaign which stands at an impressive five.

Mowatt's creativity playing from deep could be key to Corberan's men unlocking Southampton, therefore, over two legs to then truly start dreaming about a Premier League return by getting to Wembley.

West Brom will just hope no potential promotion celebrations are dampened by Mowatt exiting in the summer on a free transfer, with the standout Baggies number 27 remarkably worth more than loan star Mikey Johnston according to Football Transfers.

Alex Mowatt's transfer value in 2024

Purchased on a Bosman after his Barnsley contract expired, the Tykes' disastrous loss ended up being West Brom's massive gain with Mowatt now worth £1.5m.

That makes the ex-Leeds midfielder a more valuable asset than Celtic loanee Johnston, who is rated at £1.4m, despite being crucial to his new team picking up vital wins to secure a spot in the playoffs since joining in January.

But, as much as Johnston has picked up a stunning haul of eight goal contributions from 18 Championship contests since arriving from Scotland, the powers that be at the Hawthorns will know exciting loan stars just naturally come and go and can be replaced.

Whereas, a player like Mowatt – who acts as the glue for Corberan's men in the centre of the park – won't be as easy to instantly get over especially if the crushing blow of losing him for nothing becomes reality.

1. Jed Wallace

£3.5m

2. Okay Yokuslu

£3.1m

3. Darnell Furlong

£3.09m

4. Conor Townsend

£3m

5. Brandon Thomas-Asante

£2.9m

Not quite entering into the top five of West Brom's most valuable assets when scanning the table above, Mowatt would still be a major loss for Corberan's men if he exits for free.

Once described as being an "outstanding" talent by ex-Leeds manager Neil Redfearn when first making waves in the men's game, Mowatt has gone on to show his clear qualities in the Championship this season as a more accomplished head and will no doubt be snapped up sharpish if he does walk away from the West Midlands.

As such, it would be a big mistake not to tie him down ahead of the next campaign.

Lancashire 265 for 6 (Vilas 90, Croft 63) v Leicestershire A fifth wicket partnership of 130 between Dane Vilas and Steven Croft helped Lancashire recover after being reduced to 97 for 4 shortly after lunch on the opening day of their Bob Willis Trophy match against Leicestershire at Blackfinch New Road.Captain Vilas led the way for Lancashire, hitting 14 fours in going to 90 off 126 deliveries before edging a drive off the bowling of Tom Taylor to slip, where Hassan Azad hung on to the chance. It was redemption of sorts for Azad, who failed to pick up an earlier chance given by Vilas off the same bowler when he scored just 28.The morning had seen Leicestershire make Lancashire’s batsmen work hard for their runs after Vilas had won the toss and chosen to bat.Both sides fielded debutants. Batsman Ben Slater, signed on two weeks’ loan from Nottinghamshire, made his first start for the Foxes, while all-rounder George Balderson and bowlers Tom Hartley and Ed Moulton made their first start for Lancashire – the first time Lancashire had given three men a debut in the same match since 2002.Taylor made an early breakthrough, trapping opener Keaton Jennings leg before wicket with a full delivery that swung back in to the left-hander.Alex Davies and Josh Bohannon put together a partnership of 39 for the second wicket before Davies, who had hit five boundaries in moving on to 21, mistimed a pull at a sharp delivery from left-arm seamer Dieter Klein. The ball looped towards midwicket where George Rhodes took a fine low catch two-handed to his right.Klein then bowled Rob Jones with a quick yorker that swung back in to hit the right-hander’s off-stump, and then had Bohannon caught down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Harry Swindells, gloving an attempted pull at a short ball after playing impressively in going to 44.Lancashire looked to be in trouble, but Vilas led the fightback in typically belligerent style. The experienced Croft played the ideal supporting innings, but having reached his own half-century, was surprisingly dismissed shortly before the close when he went back to a delivery from off-spinner Colin Ackermann and was given out leg before wicket.Before the game started, everyone on the ground participated in a minute’s applause to pay tribute to those affected by the Covid pandemic. The players also took a knee to emphasise their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

There will be contingency plans built in to both the BBL and WBBL

Daniel Brettig14-Jul-2020Edition No. 10 of the Big Bash League will run its full 61-game course and thus prevent any renegotiation of Cricket Australia’s current broadcast deal with Fox and Seven on the basis of reduced content, albeit with a stretched schedule that allows for flexibility in the time of Covid-19.Barring a late change of plans, CA is expected to announce its full fixture list for the BBL and WBBL on Wednesday. By starting the BBL as early as December 3, the evening after a scheduled opening day of the first Test between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane, and finishing in early February, CA will push the Sheffield Shield and domestic one-day cup further to the spring margins of the season.But it will also gain more room to manoeuvre the BBL itself should Covid-19 force the league and clubs into the sort of neutral venue “hub” model currently required by the AFL and NRL.ALSO READ: Sourav Ganguly to Virat Kohli – ‘I expect you to win in Australia’That scenario is also built into the schedule for the WBBL, due to start in October and running through November, with all clubs getting home games but the possibility of blocks of games at the one venue being built into the fixtures with the possibility for extension in the event that health and quarantine circumstances demand it.Should the BBL be able to play out as scheduled, Fox, Seven and the clubs will benefit from the extra tournament length in that it provides room for more matches to be played both in evening prime time and also on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. A proliferation of afternoon fixtures and “school night” matches have been a frequent source of complaints over each of the past two seasons since the league expanded vastly to a full 14-game home and away season for each club.Though the move to an early December start will mean the BBL occupies fully two more weeks of the season than last summer, the adverse circumstances created by Covid-19 have forced schedulers into finding all possible ways to get the tournament played to its fullest extent, with the underlying imperative of avoiding a reduction in content and a consequent renegotiation with broadcasters – precisely the issue that has cornered the AFL and NRL into negotiating discounted deals with their rights holders.Earl Eddings, the CA chairman, had been firm in June when he stated that CA’s intention was to deliver its full contracted requirements to broadcasters in terms of both international and W/BBL fixtures across the home summer.Crowds and viewing figures have been a regular debate since the BBL expanded•Getty Images and Cricket Australia”Obviously, the media industry is going through a whole range of disruption. It’s a very difficult situation. It’s good that the sports are back. We have lost no content,” he said last month. “We have got really strong commercial partners, we get on really well, we are in constant communication, we will hold up our end of the bargain. I am sure Channel Seven and Foxtel will as well. I would have thought that people are watching it on TV, it might increase their ratings.”As previously reported by ESPNcricinfo, any other changes to the tournament will be micro rather than macro, including: bonus points available to teams for their progress at the 10-over point of an innings, substitutions also allowed within that same period, the Powerplay split between the first four overs of the innings and two overs floating elsewhere, free-hits for the bowling of wides and the addition of extra breaks for advertisements and player strategy after every five overs.Fixtures for the Sheffield Shield and the domestic one-day competition will be announced at a later date, with a whole range of plans for state and national team pre-seasons a part of the conversation. CA is also working through discussions with the ECB and both Australian and UK governments around a proposed limited-overs tour of England in September, with issues of travel and quarantine demands – particularly for the Australian players on their return home from the northern hemisphere – still being talked through.The fluid nature of planning for the looming season was underlined in the past 24 hours with reports from India suggesting that the BCCI and its president Sourav Ganguly may want to delay the start of the Test series against Australia from December 3 to December 10.

أكد المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، هانز فليك، على أهمية العودة إلى الطريق الصحيح بعد سلسلة من النتائج السيئة للغاية في الدوري الإسباني.

ويستعد برشلونة لمباراة جديدة في الدوري أمام ريال مايوركا يوم غدًا، الثلاثاء، في تمام الساعة الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” على ملعب “سون مويكس”.

ولم يفز برشلونة في آخر 3 جولات في البطولة، حيث خسر أمام ريال سوسيداد ولاس بالماس وتعادل مع سيلتا فيجو رغم التقدم بهدفين نظيفين.

اقرأ أيضًا.. رومانو: برشلونة يصرف النظر عن التعاقد مع محمد صلاح لهذا السبب

وتحدث فليك عن وضع برشلونة المتذبذب حاليًا في مؤتمره الصحفي، وقال: “الخبر السار هو نهاية شهر نوفمبر، الآن نحن في ديسمبر ورغم النتائج السيئة السابقة إلا أن الفريق قدم مستوى جيداً ولم ينقصنا سوى حسم الفرص للتسجيل”.

وتابع: “علينا أن نتعلم كيفية الدفاع كمجموعة واحدة عندما تكون المباراة صعبة، علينا ألا نستقبل الأهداف، كما نهاجم معًا ندافع معًا وهذا هو السبب الرئيسي في الهزيمة الماضية”.

واستمر: “هناك الكثير من الأخطاء التي حدثت في مباراة لاس بالماس، لكنني لا أريد الخوض في التفاصيل، لا أريد أن يعتقد البعض عني أنني اختلق الأعذار أو اشتكي، كان بإمكاننا الفوز ولم نعرف كيف”.

وعن قرارات الحكام: “لست قلقًا بشأن هذا الأمر، إذا لعبنا بشكل أفضل سنفوز، لا أهتم كثيرًا بعدم احتساب ركلات جزاء لنا، لا أريد تقديم مثل هذه الأعذار”.

وروح الفريق: “لقد ركزت في التدريبات على القتال من أجل تحقيق النتائج الإيجابية والمنافسة على الألقاب، لقد تحدثت مع الرئيس (خوان لابورتا) عما حدث، كنا نريد تقديم هدية بالفوز في احتفالية ذكرى 125 عامًا، ولكننا لم ننجح”.

وأكمل: “لا أقول إن اللاعبين لا يمتلكون روح قتالية، لكننا نسيطر على المباراة ولا نسجل الأهداف، هذا ما يفعله الثلاثي باو كوبارسي، إينيجو مارتينيز وبيدري كذلك رافينها”.

وعن حالة أراوخو وأولمو: “جميع اللاعبين باستثناء رونالد جاهزين وقدموا أداءً مميزًا في التدريبات، لكنه قريبًا من المشاركة ورغم ذلك لا أستطيع تحديد الموعد بالضبط، حتى لا أضع ضغوطًا على أحد وداني عاد ولديه الفرص للمشاركة أساسيًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيران توريس ينتقد لاعبي لاس بالماس ويؤكد: برشلونة قادر على قلب الوضع مجددًا

وعن المداورة بسبب ضغط المباريات: “دائمًا ما أفكر في إجراء بعض التغييرات على التشكيل، لكنني رأيت جميع اللاعبين جاهزين في التدريب وهذه علامة جيدة لأن الجميع يريد المشاركة”.

وكاسادو: “لاعب رائع وتطور كثيرًا، شارك في أولى مبارياته الدولية ويعرف كيفية قراءة المباريات وعندما نرتكب خطئًا يعرف كيف يتمركز حتى يستعيد الكرة”.

والاعتماد على مصيدة التسلل: “منافسينا أصبحوا يعملون جيدًا لمواجهة هذه الطريقة”.

وعن تغيير حارس المرمى الأساسي: “تشيزني يؤدي بشكل جيد للغاية ولكنني لا أفكر أبدًا في التغيير، كما قلت من قبل إينياكي بينيا هو حارسنا”.

وعدم منح رافينها شارة القيادة إلى فرينكي دي يونج أمام لاس بالماس: “الحقيقة هي أنني لم ألاحظ الأمر، ليس لسبب معين، ففي ألمانيا لا نقوم عادة بتمرير شارة القيادة”.

Anthony Martial is still a free agent after his Manchester United departure and has struggled to find any suitors to reignite his career.

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Martial left Man Utd after nine yearsFrenchman is still without a clubBrazil is a possible destinationWHAT HAPPENED?

Martial has had a rapid fall from grace. Once tipped to be a superstar, he is now 28 years old and is without a club and any real suitors. It is an unfortunate situation for a man who spent nine years in Manchester. The Frenchman's desire has now been questioned by former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT PETIT SAID

Petit said on talkSPORT: "I can't remember the last time he was a proper footballer on the pitch, producing good performances. Maybe he should ask himself this question, does he have the desire to keep on going with his career? Because I have the feeling that the last few years was very difficult for him on and off the pitch.

"It's quite difficult to get a good mind coming in every morning at the training ground and try to give your best all the time because you have a problem in your life, you have a problem in the dressing room, you have problems everywhere. So, if I was Anthony Martial, I would ask myself the question in the mirror. Do I still want to be a professional footballer?"

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The former France midfielder's words may seem harsh but the fact that Martial has been linked with AEK Athens and Flamengo showcases the status of clubs interested in for him. Despite the underwhelming career in Manchester, he showed glimpses of promise and talent, including his 17-goal season in the Premier League in 2019-20.

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Getty Images WHAT NEXT FOR MARTIAL?

Wage demands have caused issues in Martial's pursuit of a new club. If the Frenchman is willing to decrease his salary then it is likely that he will have a quicker return to football, but again it all comes down to what Martial is looking for in the next stage of his career.

Mikel Arteta has signed a new contract at Arsenal that will see him become one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League.

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• Arteta has signed a three-year contract extension
• Will keep him at Emirates Stadium until 2027
• Will receive a major hike in wages

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arteta has committed to staying at Arsenal until at least 2027, with a three-year extension having been agreed. His previous contract was set to expire at the end of this season and the news regarding a new contract puts all speculation that he might leave to rest.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Moreover, reported that prior to this new deal, Arteta was earning £9 million ($12m) per year, but the new contract is expected to elevate him to a salary closer to the £20m-a-year range ($26m), bringing him within striking distance of what Pep Guardiola earns at Manchester City. Arteta will undoubtedly become Arsenal's highest-paid manager in their history, a clear indication of the increasing authority and trust placed in him by the club’s hierarchy.

• WHAT ARTETA SAID

  After signing the deal, Arteta said: "I feel extremely proud, very excited and am looking forward to what is coming next. I’m proud to be where I am and have the relationships that I have with everyone at the club.

  “I feel extremely lucky to work every single day with good people and the ambition we have here. I feel very inspired, I feel challenged, I feel supported and I want to do much more than what we’ve already done together.

  “Together with the players and everyone at the club, we are looking forward to the coming years, with our supporters, who have emotionally transformed the club and the team. Our supporters have transformed individuals and we are different now. You can tell that we are different and for me, that is down to them. We look forward to continuing the journey together.”

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• WHAT JOSH KROENKE & EDU SAID

  Co-chairman Josh Kroenke was equally excited about the new deal and said: "We’re delighted to have extended Mikel’s contract. Mikel is a dynamic and passionate manager, who is relentless in the pursuit of excellence. He has a deep understanding of Arsenal’s values, and since joining us as Head Coach in December 2019, he has taken the team to another level in an Arsenal way.

  “There is a great collective team spirit at the club, and with the strong relationships we hold between us and belief in what we do, we look forward with excitement and confidence, as we continue our aim – to win together.”

  Edu added: “We are really happy that Mikel has signed a new long-term contract. It’s a very positive and proud moment for everyone at the club and an important part of what we’re all working towards.

  “Mikel has shown his qualities since the very first day he joined us, not only as a football manager, but as a person with wonderful values. We have a strong belief in what we are doing and what we want to achieve together. Mikel’s new contract gives us stability and clear direction as we aim for new heights.”

Nottingham Forest have reportedly made their move for a "fantastic" player who will feature at Euro 2024 this summer, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

After narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League to the Championship in 2023/24, amid points deduction struggles, Reds supporters will hope that more positive times are on the horizon under Nuno Espirito Santo. In order for that to happen, some high-quality additions are needed in the summer transfer window, and various players have been linked with moves to the City ground.

Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis is one such target for Forest, with the 24-year-old possibly considered an upgrade on Ibrahim Sangare in the middle of the park. He made 30 appearances for the Portuguese giants in the Primeira Liga in 2023/24, averaging 2.6 tackles per game and showing why he could be a tenacious presence at the base of Nuno's midfield.

A new goalkeeper could also be looked at ahead of next season, with Matt Turner not always convincing between the sticks, and Bayern Munich stopper Daniel Peretz has emerged as an eye-catching loan option. A host of clubs are keen on snapping him up, with Manuel Neuer's continued brilliance at the German giants making it almost impossible for him to make an impact.

Meanwhile, Luis isn't the only Benfica player who is reportedly being looked at by Forest, with highly-rated centre-back Morato seen as a potential addition, being viewed as the club's new version of Murillo, who has impressed to date.

Nottingham Forest make offer to striker

According to Romano on X, Nottingham Forest have sent a proposal to Southampton striker Che Adams and appear to be leading the race ahead of Wolves, with the Reds confident they'll get a deal over the line this summer:

The 27-year-old played his part in Saints getting back into the top flight last month, too, scoring 16 goals in the Championship, while former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has said of him in the past: "He is a guy who is one day a little bit frustrated when he sees he doesn’t play but then when the game comes, he shows up immediately and this is fantastic. That’s why we brought him here."

The fact that Adams hasn't always been a regular starter for Southampton could mean he wants a new challenge, and he is out of contract this month, meaning Forest would be able to snap him up on a free transfer.

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The club desperately need reinforcements in the goalkeeping department.

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The £30,000-a-week forward is fully expected to make Scotland's final squad for Euro 2024 and could well start the tournament's opening game against Germany on June 14th, especially after fellow striker Lyndon Dykes was ruled out through injury. That shows the calibre of player that Adams is, and he could add firepower and pedigree to Nuno's squad.

Christian Pulisic needed little time to make his mark on the Champions League as the American scored just minutes into Tuesday's clash with Liverpool.

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• Pulisic scores just four minutes in
• Milan open Champions League vs Liverpool
• American in great form for club and country

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. international Christian Pulisic was named to Milan's starting XI for the Champions League opener at San Siro, and he needed just four minutes to give the lead. Pulisic broke through on the right-hand side and slotted a shot past Alisson, who could do nothing to stop the U.S. men's national team star's effort.

  The goal gave Milan a 1-0 lead, kickstarting the club's European campaign in the first match of this new Champions League format.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The goal is a big one for Pulisic, who is in fine goalscoring form to start the season. The goal is his third for Milan this season following finishes against Parma and Venezia, while he also has two assists so far, too. Pulisic also recently scored for the USMNT in a 1-1 draw with New Zealand during the international break.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC AND MILAN?

  Following Tuesday's Champions League clash, Milan will have little time to breathe before facing eternal rivals Inter in Serie A this weekend.

كشف محمود فايز، مدرب منتخب مصر السابق، حقيقة تواصل الزمالك مع الأرجنتيني فيكتور كوبر والبرتغالي كارلوس كيروش، وذلك لتولي أحدهما مهمة تدريب الفريق الأول، بعد رحيل البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز وتعاقده مع الفتح السعودي.

وكان جوزيه جوميز رحل عن الزمالك، مستغلًا عامل الشرط الجزائي، قبل أن يتعاقد معه الفتح السعودي.

وقال محمود فايز في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “بالفعل حدث اتصال، لكن كوبر في الفترة الحالية لديه ارتباطات، وهناك مفاوضات تتم مع منتخب في الوقت الحالي ومشروع وتبادل أراء”.

طالع أيضاً.. فاروق جعفر: 3 أشياء تمنح الأهلي الفوز على باتشوكا.. واللاعبون يتحكمون في مصير المدربين

وتابع: “بالتأكيد شرف لأي مدرب ولـ كوبر تدريب الزمالك، المدرب لديه حب واحترام وتقدير للنادي ولمصر، وبالتأكيد يريد أن يعود إلى مصر، لكنه طلب مهلة من أجل التفكير، ومسؤولي الأبيض ردهم كان أنهم في حاجة لتعيين مدرب سريعًا في هذا التوقيت؛ لذلك كوبر اعتذر”.

هل تواصل الزمالك مع كيروش؟: “نعم، لكن كيروش مثل كوبر، الثنائي يُفضل تدريب المنتخبات أكثر، رغم أن طوال الوقت تصل لهما العروض من الأندية، لذلك كيروش اعتذر هو الآخر”.

وأتم: “كان الله في عون مسؤولي الزمالك، لأن كوبر وكيروش كانا ضمن أولويات النادي لتعيين أحدهما مديرًا فنيًا للفريق”.

It was a really up-and-down sort of Premier League season for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

New boss Ange Postecoglou led his team on a ten-game unbeaten streak at the start of the campaign, but a slew of injuries and a general downturn in form saw his side eventually finish in fifth place.

Brazilian striker Richarlison embodied this inconsistency more than any other player in the Australian's squad, which could cost him this summer.

Richarlison's season

The former Everton man came into this season with something to prove after being seriously underwhelming in his first campaign with the club, in which he scored three goals and four assists in 35 games.

Unfortunately, 2023/24 looked like it was set to be much of the same early on. In his first ten Premier League games, the 27-year-old managed a return of just one goal and three assists despite the incredible form of his teammates at the time.

However, a turning point came in early December. After two brief substitute appearances following his return from groin surgery, the Nova Venécia-born forward came back with a bang, and for the first time since his transfer, he was finding the back of the net.

Richarlison's Spurs record

Season

2022/23

2023/24

Appearances

35

31

Goals

3

12

Assists

4

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.20

0.51

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In fact, he scored nine goals in a 12-game run and looked as if he was the in-form striker not just in North London but in the entire league – although it didn't last.

Two stints out with a knee injury and then a hamstring injury at the end of the campaign limited the 48-capped international to just six more appearances for the rest of the season, in which he failed to score even once.

In all, it's a hard season to draw too much from, as he looked both brilliant and dreadful at different points. Still, with the Lilywhites looking to press on under Postecoglou, inconsistency isn't something they can cope with, especially in their striker, and based on recent reports, they might've found their replacement.

The dream Richarlison replacement

According to a recent interview with journalist Graeme Bailey, Tottenham Hotspur are very interested in signing Feyenoord's star striker, Santiago Gimenez, and are now the "favourites" to land him this summer.

Bailey doesn't suggest a price for the forward, but a report from 90min earlier this year claimed the Dutch side would only sell if they were presented with an offer that matched the Eredivisie record, which was the €100m – £85m – Manchester United paid for Antony a couple of years ago.

It would represent a serious investment from Daniel Levy and Co, but based on his performances this season, one worth making.

For example, in his 45 games for the Rotterdam side last year, he scored 23 goals and provided three assists and this season, he has been even more effective, scoring 26 goals and providing eight assists in 41 games.

This means that the Mexican goal "machine", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has averaged a goal involvement every 1.43 games over two campaigns, making it hard to deny he'd be an improvement over Richarlison.

Gimenez's Feyenoord record

Season

2022/23

2023/24

Appearances

45

41

Goals

23

26

Assists

3

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

0.82

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, the Buenos Aires-born star's prolific nature would likely see Son Heung-min's assist numbers skyrocket.

According to Understat, the South Korean international should've ended the league campaign with 3.34 more assists than he did.

Such a sizeable underpeformance suggests that he was being let down by his teammates' lack of clinical finishing, which is where the Feyenoord dynamo could help – as evidenced by his mountain of goals.

Moreover, the fact that the former Cruz Azul gem improved his assist tally this season suggests that he could also turn provider for the Lilywhites captain, perhaps forming a partnership akin to what the 31-year-old had with Harry Kane in the past.

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Ultimately, it would be an incredibly costly deal to complete, but with how unreliable Richarlison has been over the last two years and the sheer number of goal involvements Gimenez has produced in the same period, it would be a deal worth pursuing.