MatériaMais Notícias

César Farías já é passado. Diante da indefinição por parte do venezuelano, o Botafogo buscou e possui acordo encaminhado com Ramón Díaz. O argentino é esperado para assinar contrato até a próxima sexta-feira e assinará vínculo até o final de 2021 com o Alvinegro. A notícia foi publicamente primeiramente pelo “Fogão Net” e confirmada pelo LANCE!.

O Botafogo tinha acordo com o atual treinador da seleção da Bolívia, mas a Federação Boliviana de Futebol não queria liberá-lo de forma imediata, apenas após o dia 17, quando terminasse a Data Fifa. Assim, Túlio Lustosa, diretor de futebol, agiu rápido e buscou Ramón Díaz.

Agora, o clube corre contra o tempo para oficializar o acordo. As pendências burocráticas foram normalizadas e o Botafogo quer que o argentino chegue ao Brasil o quanto antes para assinar o contrato. Se depender da diretoria, ele já treina a equipe contra o Bahia, no próximo fim de semana, pelo Brasileirão.

O último trabalho de Díaz foi no Libertad, equipe que saiu em setembro. No Paraguai, levou a equipe à fase de oitavas de final da Taça Libertadores. Livre no mercado, chega dentro da realidade do clube de General Severiano

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Arsenal could lose a first-team star in January, with a fresh report revealing which club are looking to prise him away in a shock exit from the Premier League.

Which players left Arsenal in 2023?

At the Emirates Stadium, Edu and Mikel Arteta let Folarin Balogun, Granit Xhaka, Matt Turner, Auston Trusty, Pablo Mari, Rob Holding, Nicolas Pepe and Ainsley Maitland-Niles all leave the club on a permanent basis, while there were also plenty of stars to head for the exit door temporarily.

The Gunners sanctioned loan moves for Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares, Marquinhos, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Arthur Okonkwo and Runar Alex Runarsson, but with all eyes now firmly on the upcoming transfer window at the start of the new year, an interesting claim has emerged surrounding a fan favourite in North London.

Last summer, Gabriel Jesus arrived in the capital from Premier League rivals Manchester City and it’s fair to say that he’s majorly impressed during his 42 appearances (Transfermarkt – Gabriel Jesus stats) at the club so far, but he’s also had his fair share of setbacks when it comes to his injuries.

Back in August, Brazil’s striker had surgery on his knee having been absent for a large part of the second half of last season, via Sky Sports, which caused him to miss the first two top-flight games of the current term, but upon his return to action, the 26-year-old has crept his way onto the radar of a high-profile club overseas.

Gabriel Jesus transfer update…

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (via CaughtOffside), sharing a Gabriel Jesus transfer update, Napoli have added the centre-forward to a three-man shortlist should they lose Victor Osimhen in January.

The Serie A star has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea meaning that his club will need to find a replacement if he departs, and alongside Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata and Lille’s Jonathan David, Arteta’s talisman has emerged as another target. Whilst it will be a difficult task to secure his services, Edu could reportedly be tempted to sanction his sale should he receive a significant offer at the Emirates Stadium.

How many goals has Gabriel Jesus scored?

During his time at Arsenal, Jesus has 22 contributions (14 goals and eight assists) to his name in 42 outings which shows how “prolific” he can be in the final third, as hailed by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so should he leave next year, it would be a real blow for Arteta.

The Brazil international, who pockets £265k-per-week (Arsenal salaries), is also averaging 2.2 dribbles per match in the top-flight this season (WhoScored – Jesus statistics), highlighting his desire to use his pace and take on his marker to create chances for himself and his fellow teammates.

In addition, Jesus is a versatile operator having previously been deployed out wide on both the left and right flanks alongside his usual role leading the line through the middle since the start of his career, so it’s hugely important that the club do everything they can to retain the services of their attacker in 2024.

Heart of Midlothian have suffered a few transfer howlers over the years, with a variety of players either leaving for nothing or being sold far too cheaply.

A perfect example is that of Josh Ginnelly. The former Hearts winger joined the club for free when his Preston North End contract expired in 2021, and he went on to be a big success at Tynecastle.

Across two full seasons, the Englishman scored 18 goals and grabbed 11 assists in a hugely productive spell in Edinburgh for the player.

As he was coming towards the end of his contract last season, Hearts offered him an improved deal, yet he turned it down and left the Jambos for nothing, going on to join Swansea City shortly after.

It represented a massive blow for Steven Naismith, who could have used his abilities this term, but it isn’t the first time Hearts have allowed this to happen.

John Souttar is another recent example of a player coming into their best form departing the club for nothing, as he joined Rangers on a pre-contract agreement last summer, yet there is another name who Hearts supporters will wish had remained at the Gorgie outfit for a few years longer – Aaron Hickey.

How much did Hearts sell Aaron Hickey for?

The left-back emerged as one of the finest talents the academy had produced in years during the 2019/20 campaign, going on to make 30 appearances across all competitions, and it was clear that he wouldn’t be with them for long.

Robbie Neilson, who had just returned to the managerial role, expected plenty of potential suitors for the youngster, saying: “I expect interest but my hope is that he comes back to pre-season.

“My hope is he plays for us over the season and we can tie him down to a longer deal.

“He’s still a young kid and he still needs to develop. This is a great place for him to do that. Those will be conversations we have with him in the coming weeks and we’ll see how it goes. We want to keep hold of our best players and Aaron comes into that category.

“He’s shown great potential but at the moment it is potential. From Aaron’s perspective, it’s important he plays matches.”

The motivational talk didn’t work as Hickey ended up signing for Italian side Bologna for a £1.5m transfer fee. This sounds like a solid bit of business, especially as he was coming into the final year of his deal, but his performances since departing Tynecastle have proven that the club had a shocker by selling him for so cheap.

What happened to Aaron Hickey?

The defender enjoyed a wonderful two-year spell in Serie A, going on to make 48 appearances for the club while even scoring five goals during his stint in Italy.

During his second season at Bologna, Hickey performed well and ranked in fourth place across the squad for goals and assists and seventh for successful dribbles per game, giving a demonstration of his attacking intent despite playing at left-back.

These displays caught the eyes of several teams and his brief spell in Italy was soon to be over, with a move back to British shores fast approaching.

Where is Aaron Hickey now?

Premier League side Brentford were mightily impressed with Hickey during his spell on the continent, and they managed to lure him to England, with the move costing the club £14m, a massive increase on the £1.5m Hearts sold him for just two years prior.

Manager Thomas Frank lauded the youngster upon his arrival, saying: "I am very pleased to sign Aaron.

"What he has already achieved in his career is very impressive. He is only 20 and has played a full season in Scotland as well as almost two seasons in Serie A.

"We think that Aaron is a player with great potential, who already has an impressive number of games at a good level under his belt.”

It has since gone on to be a great piece of business by the Bees, as they have turned Hickey from an extremely talented youngster into a player who is currently thriving in the English top flight.

As per Sofascore, he ranked sixth among the squad for accurate passes per game last term along with ranking sixth for successful dribbles per game and tackles per game, indicating that he settled in well at the club.

The 5 foot 8 starlet is also versatile in that he can operate either on the left or right-hand side of the defence and this isn’t just a big boost for Frank, but also for Steve Clarke, the Scotland manager.

How much is Aaron Hickey worth now?

The 21-year-old has won 11 Scotland caps so far during his short career and there will be plenty more in the future. The defender was even praised recently by commentator Mark Donaldson in 2021 with regard to his flexibility.

He said: “Aaron Hickey just as comfortable on his right-foot. A potential option for Scotland at right-back in future to compete with Nathan Patterson?”

He is only going to get better, especially as he plays more games in the Premier League and there is no doubt he will go on to play for a club such as Arsenal or Liverpool in the near future.

Having left Hearts for just £1.5m, Hickey is now valued at a staggering €21.8m (£19m) according to Football Transfers and this value should just keep increasing as time goes on.

Of course, it was inevitable that he was destined to leave Hearts for bigger and brighter things, yet if they had convinced him to sign a new deal during the summer of 2020 and held onto him for a season or two longer, they might’ve received a far greater transfer fee.

It was a major blow losing him so soon after shining in the first team, yet his progress should give the other youngsters in the academy plenty of hope that if they work hard and take the opportunities presented to them by Naismith, they might also get to experience the bright lights of Serie A or the Premier League in the future.

Arsenal have played host to some truly legendary strikers across their illustrious history, boasting a rich wealth of talented frontmen who have all come in, scored for fun and departed as heroes.

Whilst Thierry Henry stands out above all else, as the king of north London, his quality is supplemented by the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Ian Wright, Nicolas Anelka and many more. It seems that no matter how the side has been performing, whether challenging for titles or seeking a top-four finish, there has always been a quality marksman to spearhead their teams.

However, not all are remembered with fondness, as contentious moves and a search for silverware can often lead some stars astray.

With Robin van Persie, joining arch-rivals Manchester United was a transfer that any club captain simply could not make, but he did, and for a lowly £24m too.

Whilst the Dutchman quickly saw his move vindicated, it remains a deal that is still yet to be accepted around the Emirates, who lauded the 40-year-old like the hero he was, only to have him turn his back on them as he reached his prime years.

How good was Robin van Persie?

Signed as a youngster from Feyenoord, Arsene Wenger knew that the Gunners had snagged a true star in the making. "Robin is a great young talent and a fantastic signing for the club," he would tell the media after his announcement, which came the year after he had led his team to an unbeaten Premier League title.

As often was the case, the Frenchman was quickly proven correct with his sentiment, as the 102-cap superstar would go on to feature 278 times for his side, scoring 132 and assisting 58. He would enjoy some of the most proficient years of his career in north London, yet did still score 274 across his entire 18 years as a professional at the top level.

However, such blistering form was always going to command elite honours to match that level, and when Arsenal could not offer it, he was quick to look elsewhere.

Having hit 30 goals and assisted 13 in the league during the 2011/12 term, the allure of Old Trafford proved too much, and Van Persie would swoop with little hesitation, quickly firing Sir Alex Ferguson's side to the title the year following with another stellar campaign boasting 26 goals and 15 assists.

It is the capture of such silverware that capped off an outstanding tenure at the top, with the former Feyenoord man holding no regrets regarding the manner of his Emirates exit:

"For me, it is not an issue anymore, that’s life. That’s life at the top clubs, businesses make decisions and players as well in this case do as well. I’m perfectly happy with how it ended up, I went to Manchester United, we won the league, so it’s perfectly fine for me.

Career Appearances

756

595

Career Goals

462

274

Career Assists

258

102

Trophies Won

20

9

"I’m not angry with Ivan. I’m grateful to have worked with Arsene for eight years, he played such a crucial part in my career. I can honestly say that without his influence I would not have been the player I ended up becoming."

What could have eased the pain fans felt by Van Persie's departure was their reported 2013 interest in Luis Suarez though, in which Wenger seemingly came so close to securing an upgrade to his 2010 World Cup finalist.

Did Arsenal nearly sign Luis Suarez?

As the summer of 2013 came, with the Gunners having overseen the exits of numerous key players in the years leading up, Chief executive Ivan Gazidis had spoken in early June of the club’s growing “financial firepower" that could lead to them even pushing for a wantaway Wayne Rooney in his eyes.

However, whilst snubbing Gonzalo Higuain due to his exorbitant price tag, Wenger was instead alerted to the Uruguayan forward, who Pere Guardiola, his representative and brother of Pep, insisted had a £40m release clause written into his deal.

Dick Law, who was the club's transfer negotiator at the time, offered their misguided mindset throughout the saga, noting:

"Through the whole process, we were trying to figure out where the key to unlock the door was. The agent was claiming that with an offer of £40 million, Liverpool were obligated to talk. We quickly realised that was not the case — there was no obligation."

So, the infamous £40m and £1 bid was submitted, sparking fury on Merseyside that scuppered any chances of a deal. Liverpool owner John W Henry would take to Twitter to give his bitter thoughts on the situation.

Wenger would instead opt for Mesut Ozil during that fateful summer, placing his faith in a more proven talent with a cleaner image. Given how Suarez's career would pan out, it would be a fair argument to suggest that this was a somewhat thoughtless move.

How good was Luis Suarez?

The season following his failed transfer would mark the true standout for the 137-cap finisher, who overcame his ten-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic to score 31 and assist 17 in just 33 league games, coming so close to winning the title against all the odds.

A subsequent move to FC Barcelona would see Suarez continue his exceptional form, and he finished his time at the Nou Camp having made himself a true hero, finding the net on 195 occasions whilst weighing in with 113 assists across 283 appearances.

To align these figures with Van Persie's, it quickly becomes clear that the two are really incomparable.

Whilst the Netherlands legend was a truly lethal presence, his counterpart would score 188 more across his stunning career, which saw him amass five LaLiga titles and a Champions League, playing a vital role in their treble success too.

Had Wenger captured the polarising finisher back in 2013, he clearly boasts the quality that could have turned them into a superpower once again during a period where there was hardly one outstanding team like there is today.

The 6-foot aggravator will forever remain a "legend" in the eyes of journalist Felipe Cárdenas and many Liverpool and Barcelona fans, with his creative and clinical qualities far surpassing that of Van Persie.

Wenger may have endured a glittering career in north London, but his lackadaisical approach to acquiring Suarez must remain one of his greatest regrets.

Newcastle United are now showing serious interest in signing a “magnificent” Premier League star, who scored two goals against Eddie Howe’s side earlier this season.

Newcastle keen to strengthen in attack

Following Alexander Isak’s departure, Newcastle strengthened their forward line considerably during the summer, signing Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, but they have had to do without the DR Congo international, who has only just recovered from a knee injury.

Woltemade, on the other hand, has made a promising start to life in the Premier League, despite the own-goa against Sunderland, chipping in with five goals and one assist, and Howe has praised the centre-forward for the way in which he’s been able to adapt to life in England, saying: “He has done brilliantly, just a great person, a good character,”

“It is difficult to come in and do what he has done. He has fitted the team ethos.”

“He has British humour, he came in with a really good way of approaching a transfer. He immediately came in, felt at home and made people laugh.”

However, with the January transfer window now just over two weeks away, the Magpies are looking to sign another striker, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states they are seriously interested in signing Brentford striker Igor Thiago.

Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa are also very keen on the Brazilian, but a deal could be on the expensive side, with the Bees potentially set to hold out for as much as £70m, which makes a January move complicated.

A summer departure is the more likely scenario, as Brentford are in a strong negotiating position, given that Thiago is contracted until 2029, and ‘strong offers’ expected to arrive at the end of the season,

"Magnificent" Thiago could push for Woltemade's starting spot

Given that Howe most commonly implements a 4-3-3 system, the Newcastle manager may have a selection dilemma on his hands if he signs the Brentford star, and there are signs he could challenge for Woltemade’s starting spot.

Newcastle now leading Juventus in race to sign "excellent" Serie A defender

The Magpies could land a Thiaw repeat.

ByTom Cunningham 3 days ago

The 24-year-old has been prolific in the Premier League this season, having already scored 11 goals, and manager Keith Andrews is clearly happy with his performances, describing him as “magnificent.”

Two of those goals actually came against Howe’s side, with the Gama-born striker bagging a brace to lead Brentford to a 3-1 victory against the Magpies back in November.

With Woltemade making an impressive start to life at St. James’ Park, however, there are question marks over whether Newcastle need to bring in another striker, and £70m would be a record transfer fee for the Tyneside club.

MatériaMais Notícias

Foi com o nível de confusão de sempre, mas a eleição do Vasco foi concluída, ao menos em tese. E está sub judice. Pela primeira vez de forma direta, os sócios escolheram Leven Siano, da chapa ‘Somamos’ como presidente no triênio 2021-2023. Em tese, ele sucederá Alexandre Campello, que vive as últimas semanas como mandatário. Siano recebeu 1155 votos, 234 a mais que Jorge Salgado, segundo colocado, da chapa ‘Mais Vasco’. Ambos levam correligionários para o Conselho Deliberativo. Mas diante da judicializacão da eleição, a Mesa Diretora decidiu não proclamar vencedor.

A eleição começou quase 10h e terminou por volta de 22h30. A apuração começou já de madrugada, após não haver definição de como acautelar as urnas lacradas, ou seja, guardar em local seguro e com responsável. E os primeiros resultados divulgados já indicavam que a disputa ficaria entre Leven Siano e Jorge Salgado. O pleito teve 3,447 votos, número menor que da última eleição.

Confira a votação de cada candidato
Luiz Roberto Leven Siano (Somamos) – 1155 votos
Jorge Salgado (Mais Vasco) – 921 votos
Júlio Brant (Sempre Vasco) – 862 votos
Alexandre Campello (No Rumo Certo) – 336 votos
Sérgio Frias (Aqui é Vasco) – 153 votos
Brancos – 16 votos
Nulos – 4 votos

A eleição teve momentos de tensão, principalmente pela manhã. Discussões e até agressões físicas entre apoiadores de diferentes chapas e membros da organização da eleição. De noite, após a decisão judicial que chegou a paralisar o pleito, até tiros foram ouvidos do lado de fora de São Januário. Houve filas ao longo de todo o dia e aglomerações de toda sorte. Aliás, a corrente pandemia de Covid-19 foi pano de fundo para as reviravoltas jurídicas. O dia 7 de novembro era a data anteriormente prevista, mas uma liminar havia adiado o pleito e foi derrubada somente na noite da última sexta-feira. Diante disso, houve reclamações de sócios moradores de outras cidades e estados.

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Sunderland may be flying high in the Championship at the moment, but they are at risk of losing an influential figure in 2024, according to a new update.

Sunderland heading for Championship playoffs

The Black Cats equipped themselves impressively on their return to the Championship last season, arguably faring a lot better than many had expected. Tony Mowbray's side only just missed out on a place in the playoff final, which was a great effort after being in League One the previous year, and big things were again expected this time around.

Sunderland haven't disappointed in 2023/24 to date, sitting fourth in the table after 11 matches and picking up some superb victories, including a memorable 5-0 win at home to Southampton. It hasn't been perfect, not least a shock 4-0 defeat against local rivals Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light earlier this month, but Mowbray's men look in a strong position to finish in the playoffs.

For that to happen, the Black Cats will need to keep all of their most influential players fit and in form for as much of the campaign as possible, and there are key figures everywhere you look, whether it be Dan Neil, Jobe Bellingham or Jack Clarke, to name just a few.

Now, a worrying exit update has emerged regarding one of the first names on Mowbray's team sheet, acting as a possible major setback for Sunderland.

Sunderland transfer news: Bellingham linked with Real Madrid

A Bellingham to Real Madrid claim has emerged in a report from Spain, with billionaire owner Florentino Perez keen on bringing Jobe to the club to play with his brother Jude, who has made a stunning start to life at the La Liga giants.

It is stated that Perez "asked Juni Calafat to send his scouts to bring a full report of Mark and Denise Bellingham's second son", who "caught the attention of those present" when watching England's Under-19s in action, not least because of his likeness to his brother in terms of style of play.

There is no doubt that this would be a massive blow for Sunderland, with Bellingham already such an important presence in the team, despite only being 18 years of age. Mowbray himself clearly loves him to won't want to read a single sentence of the rumours, once saying of him:

"He is very mature for his age. He acts like a seasoned pro, and demands standards. Even in small-sided games, he wants to win. You can see he has a very focused, driven thought pattern on where he is going and how he is going to get there.

"And that is to try to be excellent in everything you do. It's a great mentality. He is not in the team because of his name, it is football ability and his competitive edge and athleticism and technique."

The lure of joining his brother at Madrid could obviously be great for Bellingham, however, allowing him to settle in easier, not to mention play for arguably the world's biggest team, and Sunderland will just hope that he stays loyal to them for as long as possible.

Bellingham's stats this season speak for themselves when outlining his importance, with starts coming his way in all 11 Championship matches, not to mention scoring twice and averaging 1.7 clearances per game.

Christian Pulisic scored a goal and drew a red card against Slavia Prague as AC Milan seized a first-leg advantage in the Europa League.

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• Pulisic scores late goal for Milan
• Draws red card in first half
• Rossoneri defeat 10-man Slavia Prague 4-2

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  It was a chaotic affair, which certainly wasn't what Milan were going for. What could have, and probably should have, been a relatively straightforward win turned into a battle that nearly set up a fierce second leg.

  After a tense start, the game totally opened up in the 24th minute when Malick Diouf was sent off for a studs-up tackle on Pulisic. Olivier Giroud scored shortly after for Milan, but the lead lasted just two minutes before David Doudera scored a stunner for the guests to level things at 1-1.

  Milan, though, appeared to put things to bed before halftime. Tijani Reijnders restored the advantage in the 44th minute before Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, sending Milan to the break with a 3-1 lead – and a man advantage.

  Slavia refused to roll over, though. Ivan Schranz's goal in the 65th minute set up a frantic finish, not just for the match but for the two leg-tie. Late on, though, Pulisic was able to add a bit of breathing room, finishing off a fantastic Rafael Leao move to secure the 4-2 win and the advantage heading into next week.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Having been knocked out of the Coppa Italia and with Scudetto hopes looking slimmer by the week, the Europa League is Milan's best chance at winning a trophy this season.

  They'll be disappointed not to have put the tie to bed on Thursday, particularly with the two-goal and one-man advantage heading into the second half, but Milan will still hold the upper hand when they head to the Czech Republic for the second leg thanks to Pulisic's late goal.

  Away goals are not active in this year's edition of European competition, so the two strikes from Slavia Prague on Thursday hold no special advantage beyond the accumulated total from both legs.

• Getty Images
  

  USMNT IMPACT

  Pulisic put in another big-time performance just days after a wild game against Lazio. In that match, he drew two of Lazio's three red cards, and he was back in amongst it on Thursday as he drew yet another red.

  Leao should get much of the credit for the goal, having done most of the heavy lifting prior to Pulisic's finish. The American, however, does deserve credit for being in the right place at the right time, even if Leao's initial shot almost certainly would have gone in regardless.

  The goal was Pulisic's second in Europe this season, having scored in a 2-1 Champions League win over Newcastle back in December. In total, he now has nine goals in all competitions this season, having been one of the stars of Milan's season so far.

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• GOAL'S RATINGS

  Chrsitian Pulisic (8/10):

  Drew the red card and got the goal. Even outside of that, though, he had several good moments against an undermanned opponent as he put in a quality shift for the Rossoneri.

  Yunus Musah (N/A):

  Did not get off the bench as Stefano Pioli focused all but one of his subs on the attack and defense.

Newcastle United could look to strengthen their attack with the signing of one "sensational" former Premier League player, according to a new update.

Latest Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have bounced back impressively after a poor start to the season, picking up some hugely important wins and generally looking like one of the leading teams in the country again. Last week's stunning 4-1 win at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League was arguably one of the best nights in the club's history, while in the league, there was an 8-0 win away to Sheffield United recently. Granted, dropped points in the 2-2 draw at West Ham on Sunday were frustrating, but things are going in the right direction again under Eddie Howe.

PIF made some eye-catching Newcastle signings during the summer transfer window, including Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes, and while the former has taken a little time to get used to English football, he could prove to be a special signing. As for future additions, there will be the chance for Howe to bolster his squad further when the January window arrives, with the likes of Jarrod Bowen and Pedro Neto players who could join Newcastle in the future. It does look as though the Magpies could prioritise their attack, midfield and defence as they aim to improve, with a fresh update further suggesting that that is the case.

Newcastle transfer update; Sane, Barella and Guehi

A report from Spain shared a Newcastle transfer update, claiming the Magpies are interested in signing former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane, who is currently plying his trade at Bayern Munich, Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella and Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi in a three-signing blitz.

The Magpies are looking at making some significant signings at the end of the season, seemingly viewing 2024 as a great chance to go up another gear, and the German is one of the names on the list. Sane could be a fantastic signing by Newcastle if they managed to strike a deal with the Bayern man, considering he has been hailed as a "sensational" player by journalist Ronan Murphy in the past.

The 27-year-old speedster has been in sparkling form for Bayern so far this season, with Sane scoring six goals in seven Bundesliga appearances – he also netted against Manchester United in his side's 3-2 win in the Champions League – and he is someone who has proven himself in the Premier League, winning two titles with City.

Superb at dribbling

Crossing can be inconsistent

Finishing has improved

Attitude has been questioned

Possesses great speed

Work ethic not always the best

There have been times when Sane's attitude has been called into question, which is a potential negative against Newcastle signing him, but he is at an age where he has matured as a footballer and could be heading right into his peak, and the thought of him strutting his stuff at St James' Park is mouthwatering. Capable of excelling on either flank, the Germany international could prove to be a shrewd signing to rival all the current wide options at Howe's disposal, from Miguel Almiron to Anthony Gordon, and he may well be a statement signing that other clubs would sit up and take notice of.

Sri Lanka’s series in the Caribbean last month has prepared the batting order for the kind of pace they are likely to get from South Africa. That, at least, is what middle-order batsman Roshen Silva hopes.Sri Lanka only won one Test in the Caribbean, but had dominated the Test in St. Lucia (which ended in a draw) as well. They had they faced spirited seam bowling from the likes of Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach and Jason Holder in the series, which was played largely on seam-friendly decks. A much more accomplished South Africa seam attack awaits them in this series, but the theory is that having countered movement and pace on those difficult pitches, they will be able to neutralise a tougher opposition on dustier tracks.”Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander will be a huge challenge, but the toughest series for me was the one in the West Indies,” Roshen said. “You can see how tough it is there given how Bangladesh have struggled there since. They kept a lot of grass on the pitches for the last two Tests there. There was also the challenge of having to face the pink ball under lights, when it moves a lot. On top of which there had been wind as well. It was a really tough challenge.”While Sri Lanka had to contend with conventional swing, zip off the surface, and uncomfortable bounce in the Caribbean, those are challenges they are unlikely to face at home – particularly at Galle, where low bounce is the norm once the ball loses its shine. It is, instead, the old ball that is likely to pose the greater threat.”We have been working on playing reverse swing, because South Africa have bowlers who bowl fast,” Roshen said. “We are prepared for that challenge.”Where Sri Lanka have recently tended to stack their attack with spinners at home, often playing one frontline seamer in their XI, the West Indies tour also appears to have raised confidence in Sri Lanka’s own pace-bowling stocks. The Barbados Test had effectively been won on the back of an outsanding third-innings fast-bowling effort from Sri Lanka, when they had dismissed West Indies for 93. At home, they are likely to rely on their spinners again, but perhaps not as heavily as they generally have in the past two years.”We realized in West Indies that we had good fast bowlers,” said Roshen. “Lahiru Kumara bowls at 148kmph, Suranga Lakmal can move the ball, and Kasun Rajitha also did well. The future of our seam bowling looks good.”