Labels

Monday, September 30, 2024

Chelsea ‘still eyeing up January transfer’ to replace player who ‘could fetch £150m’

Chelsea came close to signing Victor Osimhen from Napoli on transfer deadline day, and it's reported that the Blues may reignite their interest in January.

Chelsea may have their sights set on Victor Osimhen, but they'll have to wait until January to snap up the Napoli striker. Despite coming incredibly close to securing his services on transfer deadline day, the 25-year-old shockingly opted for a loan move to Galatasaray.

However, his future after the 2024/25 season hangs in the balance, with his contract at Napoli set to expire next July. Having made a splash in the Turkish Super Lig with two goals from three outings, industry insider Fabrizio Romano has told Caught Offside that Chelsea might swoop for a £40million deal come January.

That said, there are no negotiations ongoing currently despite the Blues reportedly gearing up for a move behind the scenes. If they were to sign Osimhen, it could cause ripple effects at Stamford Bridge, possibly nudging Nicolas Jackson out of favour with Enzo Maresca, or even turning him into a lucrative sale.

The Senegalese frontman joined Chelsea from Villarreal for a hefty £32m last summer and is contracted through to 2033. Yet, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is confident about Jackson's value skyrocketing, saying (via Football London): "If Nicolas Jackson fulfils his potential, he will be a £150million player. I'm convinced of that."

Jackson has hit the ground running this Premier League season, netting four times in six matches his goals lighting up games against Wolves, Crystal Palace, and West Ham, putting him up as one of Chelsea's hot shots. Given his remarkable performance, it might be premature to replace Jackson at this early stage of his Chelsea career - particularly when he has outshone club legend Didier Drogba in his debut season.

Drogba only managed to score 10 times in the 2004/05 Premier League season, while also providing five assists. On the other hand, Jackson matched Drogba's assist tally in the 2023/24 season but surpassed him by four goals, scoring a total of 14 in his first season.

Meanwhile, Osimhen remains unproven in the Premier League, having spent most of his career in Serie A with Napoli. The forward has netted 76 goals in 133 appearances for the Italian side since his £73million transfer from Lille in 2020.

Dimitar Berbatov Opens Up on Training Experience with Cristiano Ronaldo at Man United


Manchester United legend Dimitar Berbatov has shared his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo's exceptional work ethic during their time together at Old Trafford, according to Sportskeeda.

Berbatov, who played alongside Ronaldo from 2008 to 2009, described the Portuguese superstar as an "animal" in training.

"We shared a year together, he was starting to grow by leaps and bounds," Berbatov recalled in an interview with The Telegraph. "He trained like an animal, he tried his best to be the best. It was nice to see that dedication up close."

Berbatov was impressed by Ronaldo's unwavering commitment to improvement.

"I don't remember him missing a single training session," Berbatov said.

Ronaldo's tireless work ethic has inspired countless young players, and Berbatov emphasizes the importance of adopting this mentality.

"Young players try and imitate the best players like Ronaldo," Berbatov explained. "They try to imitate the hair, the clothes, the cars, the tricks. I try to tell them how hard Cristiano Ronaldo trained in training and after training. He only wanted to be the best. Everything else came after."

Despite his admiration for Ronaldo, Berbatov has previously declared Lionel Messi as the greatest player of all time.


"Messi is the f***ing greatest," Berbatov said in a 2018 interview with ESPN FC. "Ronaldo is brilliant, Messi, more my kind of player. He sees the game so clearly. He can score, create, he's the complete player, the best ever probably."

Ronaldo's legacy at Manchester United is undeniable, with 145 goals and 64 assists in 346 games.

Scholes questions why ‘dead’ Man Utd signed £43m man after Spurs loss: ‘Give us something!’

Man Utd legend Paul Scholes is unsure why the Red Devils signed Matthijs de Ligt in the summer transfer window and insisted they looked “like an uncoached football team” in a 3-0 loss at home to Tottenham.

Spurs needed only three minutes to take the lead through Brennan Johnson as they swept Man Utd aside at Old Trafford, with the only surprise being that they did not add more than the second-half goals from Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke after Bruno Fernandes saw red late in the first period.

A second straight 3-0 home league defeat left Man Utd in 12th place with seven points from six games, having scored only five goals, and the pressure is already ramping up on Erik ten Hag once again after he survived a summer review by the club’s hierarchy.

And former Man Utd midfielder Scholes is still baffled at the lack of a plan under Ten Hag with the Red Devils looking “dead” and “uncoached” against Tottenham.

Speaking on SuperSport, Scholes said: “You don’t know how they’re going to play.

“You don’t know how they’re going approach games, whether they are going to play on the counter-attack or sit deep or whether they’re going to try to have all the possession in the game. We’ve no idea. They look like an uncoached football team.

“We’re two and a bit years in now… from the first week Ange Postecoglou went in, we probably knew what Tottenham were doing and they’re doing it to this day.

“We’re two and a bit years down the road [at United] and, as I said, it’s an uncoached team.


“The players looked dead today, they looked flat, they looked, ‘I don’t know what to do’, there’s no enthusiasm for the game of football and that can only come from the training pitch.

“Some of the positions that people take up on the pitch, it’s just madness at times.”

De Ligt signed for Man Utd for around £43m in the summer transfer window from Bayern Munich but Scholes has questioned why the Red Devils spent so much money on the centre-back.

Scholes added: “When you bring players in, you expect them to be a lot better than who you’ve already got. I don’t see players coming in who are a big difference.

“De Ligt has come in for Maguire, let’s say, but there’s no big difference there.”

When asked whether De Ligt is an improvement on Harry Maguire, Scholes replied: “No, absolutely not.”

Despite Ten Hag taking most of the blame for their performances, Scholes believes the senior Man Utd players need to step up and prove their worth.

Scholes continued: “These are experienced players who United have paid a lot of money for. We need to stop hearing excuses and get on that training pitch and find a way of playing.

“Find something, give us something!”

Enzo Maresca hints at regret over his treatment of Ben Chilwell

According to Caughtoffside, Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has been the subject of transfer speculation recently. The 27-year-old left-back has lost his status as an essential player for the London club and was reportedly asked to seek a new team. However, due to limited options, manager Enzo Maresca has reinstated him for the upcoming midweek match against Barrow.

Following the game, Maresca suggested that his earlier treatment of Chilwell may have been overly strict, acknowledging the team's current need for the player. He stated (h/t Mirror): “Yes, at the moment we need him, why not? I said it many times and I will say again that, as long as Chilly is with us, he is a Chelsea player. And if we need him, we give him a chance and minutes."

Maresca continued, reflecting on his decision-making: “We all make mistakes. Probably yes; probably no. I am here to take decisions. Sometimes they are good decisions and sometimes they are not good. The only thing I can say is that there is not any bad intention from me. It is just to see things and try to think about the best things for the club.”

This development is certainly encouraging for Chilwell, who aims to revitalize his Chelsea career. There’s no question of his quality, as he has demonstrated his capabilities in the Premier League. If he can overcome his injury issues and regain his best form, he may offer a significant improvement over Marc Cucurella.

Tuesday Matches, Fixtures, and Preview

RB Salzburg Vs Brest

On Tuesday night, Brest, who are fresh to the Champions League, will play Red Bull Salzburg in an attempt to win consecutive matches against Austrian opponents. The French team is looking forward to playing away from home in a European competition after defeating Sturm Graz in their most recent encounter, while their hosts suffered a significant loss on the first matchday.

Stuttgart Vs Sparta Prague

Stuttgart hosts Sparta Prague at the MHPArena on Tuesday night, pitting two teams that had somewhat different openings to the 2024–25 Champions League league phase against one another. On matchday one, the Bundesliga team lost 3-1 to Real Madrid, leaving them to lament what might have been. Meanwhile, their Czech opponents shut out Red Bull Salzburg 3-1.

Arsenal Vs PSG

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain square off at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night in a battle of the titans between two teams still vying for that elusive Champions League crown. On the first day of play, the Gunners were happy to draw with Atalanta BC, but their opponents were also counting their lucky stars after beating Girona 1-0.

Barcelona Vs Young Boys

When Barcelona resumes their Champions League campaign at home against Swiss team Young Boys on Tuesday night, they will be looking to recover from their first La Liga loss of the year. In the competition's inaugural match earlier this month, the Catalan giants lost 2-1 to Monaco, while Young Boys lost 3-0 at home to Aston Villa.

Leverkusen Vs AC Milan

Dortmund Vs Celtic

Inter Milan Vs Red Star

Inter Milan will look to win their first league game on Tuesday when they host Red Star Belgrade at San Siro, following a hard-fought draw in their Champions League opener. Red Star is still waiting for their first away victory in UEFA's premier club competition since the end of the European Cup era, despite Inter being a powerful force at home. 

PSV Vs Sporting

Tuesday's Champions League matchup between PSV Eindhoven and Sporting Lisbon at the Philips Stadion pits the winners of Portugal and Holland against each other. Although both teams had triumphed in all seven of their domestic openers, their results on the first matchday of this competition were different.

Slovan Vs Man City

On Tuesday night, Manchester City will play their first-ever Champions League matchup against Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia. Over the weekend, Pep Guardiola's team gave up first place domestically and embarked on an unusual run of only one victory in four games.

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Chelsea clinch top four as Aston Villa stumble against Ipswich Town


Liam Delap’s remarkable performance saw him net a stunning double, helping Ipswich Town secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at Portman Road, as the newly promoted side continue to show their resilience in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old forward, who was previously a part of the Manchester City squad, wasted no time in making his mark, opening the scoring after just eight minutes of play. His early goal gave Ipswich Town a much-needed boost against their higher-ranked opponents.

However, Aston Villa quickly responded, showing their attacking prowess. In the 15th minute, Morgan Rogers found the back of the net, finishing off a well-worked one-two with Ollie Watkins inside the penalty area, leveling the score at 1-1. Watkins then gave Villa the lead 13 minutes before halftime, heading in unmarked to cap off a brilliant comeback for Unai Emery’s side.

As the second half progressed, Ipswich continued to press forward in search of an equalizer, and their persistence paid off in the 72nd minute. Delap, showing incredible composure, dazzled the Villa defense with two step-overs before unleashing a powerful strike into the far corner, ensuring the match ended in a 2-2 stalemate.

The draw proved crucial for Ipswich Town, as it moved them up to 15th place in the standings, lifting them out of the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Aston Villa missed the opportunity to move level on points with league leaders Liverpool, instead remaining in fifth position.

The result also had significant implications for Chelsea, as Villa’s failure to secure all three points allowed the Blues to climb into the top four, intensifying the battle for Champions League spots as the Premier League season heats up.

Delap scored the brace that saw Ipswich pick a point in the encounter – Getty image

Kylian Mbappe banned from attending Real Madrid's derby with Atletico Madrid

Kylian Mbappe is out for the next three weeks with a thigh problem.

Kylian Mbappe has been told to stay away from Real Madrid's derby clash with Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

Mbappe, who joined the club from PSG in the summer, is currently sidelined with a thigh injury.

The France international has so far netted seven goals in just nine games for Los Blancos.

But having sustained the issue during Madrid's midweek victory over Alaves, the forward was due to attend Sunday's clash.

According to L’Equipe, that decision has not been advised given the fears over his safety.

In recent years, trouble has arisen between both sets of supporters and a decision has been made by Madrid officials.

The club have denied his request to attend, along with other team-mates of the French superstar.

A hostile environment is expected at the Wanda Metropolitano with both team's currently unbeaten in La Liga.

Carlo Ancelotti has already spoken up on the need for Real to be at their very best this weekend.

"Hence, I anticipate a very difficult match; we have a plan, and we will see how effective it is," said the 65-year-old.

"But I cannot predict what will happen on the pitch. As always in a derby, it is a spectacle that can feature many goals or be a very tough match with chances for both teams.

"All derbies are special, but in their own way. In this regard, the Madrid derby resembles a passionate Roman derby more than a less intense Milanese one.

"The Metropolitano is a very challenging stadium, but last year's derby defeat was beneficial – it pushed us to work on improving our defence.

"We still need to improve and avoid the mistakes we made there last year – but every game has its own story."

Mbappe is not the only star of Real's set to miss the clash, with a whole host of players currently sidelined.

Dani Ceballos, Brahim Diaz and David Alaba are also out, whilst Eduardo Camavinga is also a doubt.

Madrid beat Alavas in their last La Liga outing, with Lucas Vaquez, Mbappe and Rodrygo all finding the net in a narrow victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Why I left Kasimpasa game at halftime —Osimhen


Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has reacted to Galatasaray’s disappointing draw against Kasimpasa and also allayed any fears of sustaining a serious injury.

The Nigeria international did not return for the second half of the game after scoring a brace in the first half, with the club mentioning that he had been injured.

The goals were his first for the Turkish giants, and they were 3-1 ahead at half time but unfortunately slipped to settle for a 3-3 draw in the home game.

Speaking after the game, the reigning CAF Player of the Year, allayed any fears of a serious injury.

“I do not have a serious injury,” Osimhen told the club’s website.

“I felt a little discomfort. I thought I should tell my coach. If I reduced the team, it would be bad.

“I did not want my other friends’ performance to decrease. I told Mauro (Icardi) and the coach. That is why I left the game.”

He added: “We are unhappy as a team, we deserved three points football is like that sometimes.


“You can play the way you deserve and not win. I am happy to score two goals, we are all unhappy because of the draw, we need to work hard and focus on winning the next match.
“I was happy with my own performance but we will work harder and try to do better in the upcoming matches.”

Despite the draw, Galatasaray remain at the top of the league table.

ATL vs RMA: Real Madrid’s Strongest Lineups That Could Face Atletico Madrid In the Madrid Derby.

Real Madrid will be looking to maintain their impressive league form when they travel to face Atletico Madrid this weekend at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano. The Madrid-based club aims to avoid defeat in this derby, with their strong away record against Atletico giving them the edge as favorites.

A win for Real Madrid would solidify their position in La Liga, bringing them to 21 points from eight matches. Manager Carlo Ancelotti is expected to field a strong lineup for this crucial encounter.

Ancelotti could choose between two formations for the derby. One option is a 4-1-2-3 setup, with Thibaut Courtois in goal, Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao as center-backs, Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal as full-backs, Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham in defensive midfield, Arda Guler as the playmaker, and Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, and Endrick in attack.

Alternatively, Ancelotti might opt for a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Courtois as goalkeeper, Rudiger and Militao in central defense, Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez as full-backs, Tchouameni as the defensive midfielder, Federico Valverde and Bellingham in central midfield, Guler as the attacking midfielder, and Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior playing as center forwards.

When You Play for Man United, You Will Be Judged Every Game and That’s Normal—Erik ten Hag

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with playing for one of the world's most iconic football clubs. Speaking about the expectations placed on his team, Ten Hag emphasized that players must be prepared to face judgment after every match. "When you play for Man United, you will be judged every game, and that’s normal," he stated.

This scrutiny, according to Ten Hag, is part of the club's storied legacy, where winning is not just desired but expected. "Everyone, for every game, expects United to be winning. We know that.

It isn’t a secret for anyone," he added. His comments reflect the challenges players face at Manchester United, where each performance is closely monitored by fans and critics alike, and success is the only acceptable outcome.

According to him, "When you play for Man United, you will be judged every game and that’s normal. Everyone, for every game, expects United to be winning. We know that. It isn’t a secret for anyone".

Below is the Post.

Pedri blames referee for Barcelona's first league defeat

According to Punch, Barcelona had a brilliant start to the season, winning all seven league games before suffering a surprising 4-2 defeat to Osasuna on Saturday. This loss marked a setback for the team, which had been riding high with a strong performance in La Liga, and it raised questions about their defensive vulnerabilities.

Despite the recent defeat, Barcelona remains a formidable force in the league, with key players such as Robert Lewandowski and Pedri contributing significantly to their attack. Lewandowski, in particular, had been instrumental in their scoring, leading the team with goals and assists.

Looking ahead, Barcelona will host Young Boys on Tuesday, October 1, in their second Champions League match. This comes after they suffered a disappointing loss to Monaco in their opening game earlier this month, where they struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities. The upcoming match is crucial for Barcelona as they seek to regain momentum in the tournament and strengthen their position in Group H.

Manager Xavi Hernandez will likely emphasize the importance of a strong response from his players following the Osasuna defeat. He aims to tighten the defense and enhance their attacking cohesion against Young Boys, a team that will look to exploit any weaknesses.

Additionally, the club faces ongoing pressure to perform well in Europe after a series of early exits in the Champions League in recent years. Fans and analysts will be closely watching how Barcelona responds to adversity and whether they can bounce back effectively in the coming matches.

Madrid derby in Spain as Man Utd face Tottenham in England, others

Football fans are in for an exciting Sunday, featuring several key fixtures, including a highly anticipated Madrid derby, across Europe’s top leagues.

According to Punch, in the Premier League, Ipswich Town will take on Aston Villa at 14:00, with Villa coming in as favorites and looking to secure a vital away victory.

The focus later shifts to a much-anticipated match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at 16:30, which promises to be a thrilling encounter.

In La Liga, the action begins at 13:00 when Celta Vigo hosts Girona. Girona enters the match as the favorites, while Celta hopes to cause an upset. Following that, at 15:15, Athletic Club will face Sevilla, with both clubs considered favorites in their respective fixtures. The day's Spanish action concludes with a blockbuster Madrid derby at 20:00, where Atletico Madrid will clash with Real Madrid, with Los Blancos expected to come out on top.

In Germany’s Bundesliga, two key matches are on the agenda. The first features Holstein Kiel against Eintracht Frankfurt at 14:30, where Frankfurt is anticipated to dominate. Hoffenheim will then meet Werder Bremen at 16:30, with Hoffenheim favored to secure a victory.

Over in Italy’s Serie A, Torino will take on Lazio at 11:30, with Lazio expected to win. Later, at 14:00, Como will face Hellas Verona, and Roma will battle Venezia, with both Verona and Roma favored to prevail. Fiorentina, also considered the favorites, will visit Empoli at 17:00 before Napoli wraps up the day with a 19:45 match against Monza, where they are widely expected to secure a win.

In Ligue 1, Toulouse will host Lyon at 14:00, with Lyon seen as the favorites. The afternoon will feature two simultaneous matches at 16:00, as Reims takes on Angers and Nantes plays Saint-Etienne, with both Reims and Saint-Etienne expected to earn points.

The day will culminate with Strasbourg facing Marseille at 19:45, where Marseille is favored to win.

With major teams competing and crucial points on the line, it promises to be an electrifying day of football across Europe.

Saturday, September 28, 2024

PSG maintains their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 with a win over Rennes

Responding to a disappointing stalemate against Reims last time out, PSG swiftly got into their stride, but Marquinhos was denied an early opener having been caught offside when the ball went off Lucas Beraldo's back.

Dembele was a live spark, although the winger was quite unfortunate not to score a goal in today's encounter, with his bursts forward culminating in a shot trickling towards Steve Mandenda and another fizzing into the side netting.

Achraf Hakimi then turned the ball onto the crossbar from inside the six-yard box before an attempted clearance in his own area went wide.

PSG's breakthrough eventually came on the half hour mark with Santamaria's cynical foul on Joao Neves proving futile as Dembele roamed forward and offloaded the ball for Barcola to fantastically dispatch into the back of the net.

Kang Lee headed the ball into the net, before Barcola sealed the game with a brace.

Liverpool player criticised for 'stupid' decision during Wolves clash

Gary Neville has taken aim at Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold for receiving a yellow card for delaying the restart during Saturday's match.

According to Caughtoffside, the Reds had a prime opportunity to surpass Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester City, aiming to claim the top spot against Wolves at Molineux Stadium. After an impressive victory against Bournemouth last week, where manager Arne Slot fielded a very attacking lineup, it took Liverpool until first-half stoppage time to break the deadlock.

Portuguese forward Diogo Jota picked up the ball on the left wing and delivered a precise cross that Ibrahima Konate headed powerfully into the ground, beating the Wolves goalkeeper.

Though Wolves fought back after halftime, the lead was quickly restored when Mohamed Salah converted a penalty six minutes later, solidifying the 2-1 win for Slot’s team.

However, the match was marred for Alexander-Arnold, who was booked just six minutes in for kicking the ball away, a trend that has become more frequent this season. Commenting on the incident, Neville criticized the English defender for putting himself at risk so early in the game.

“The publicity around this particular rule means now referees are all over it,” he said via Sky Sports. “Trent Alexander-Arnold stupidly putting himself under pressure.”

Arsenal has also felt the effects of this rule this season, with Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard each penalized for delaying the restart on two separate occasions.

Premier League table after Saturday's results, Konate scores 1st Goal As Liverpool Go top

Saturday's results

Wolves 1-2 Liverpool

After Ibrahima Konate's first Premier League goal had given the visitors the lead at Molineux, Arne Slot's team capitalised on Manchester City's 1-1 draw at Newcastle and moved back above Arsenal to reclaim top spot with a hard-fought win while the hosts remained bottom.

Wolves' exuberant start was punctuated by some nervous moments in defence, but the struggling hosts opened well, with Alisson claiming Matheus Cunha's effort. Mohamed Salah's penalty sent Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League as they defeated Wolves in front of their fans. 

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Fulham

Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace

Chelsea 4-2 Brighton

Brentford 1-1 West Ham United

Arsenal 4-2 Leicester

Arsenal defeated Leicester dramatically by scoring twice in stoppage time.

Newcastle United 1-1 Manchester City

At St. James' Park, Anthony Gordon's penalty kick in the second half gave Newcastle a point while holding Manchester City to a draw.

Premier League table after these results

Liverpool are now top of the table, while Manchester City and Arsenal stay level on points.

EPL: It’s sad – Cristiano Giuntoli expresses regret over Arsenal’s summer signing

Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has said it was sad for to see Arsenal signed Riccardo Calafiori in the summer transfer window.

Giuntoli expressed regret that Juventus were unable to challenged Arsenal for the 22-year-old’s signature.

Calafiori joined the Gunners from Bologna during the summer transfer window in a deal worth £42m.

“It’s sad not being able to keep Riccardo Calafiori in Serie A,” Giuntoli told Corriere della Sera when asked about Calafiori’s move to the Premier League North London club.

“It’s a regret for all of Italian football, not just for Juventus.

“We need to question ourselves about not having had the strength to keep a player of his calibre in Italy. The big teams have all taken a defender, not him.”

CHE VS BRI: How Chelsea Could Lineup With Jackson, Palmer, Neto, Madueke And Enzo

At long last, things finally look to have clicked for Chelsea, who after investing heavily once again over the summer, have ten points to show from their opening five league games. Those three wins came across their last four league outings, the most recent of which came at West Ham on Saturday (3-0), with new boss Enzo Maresca insisting his side are progressing in the “right direction”.

Continuing that upward momentum will require them to snap a two-match winless run in home league action (D1, L1) when Brighton visit. Chelsea beat the Seagulls three times across league and cup last season, but have found Brighton a tough nut to crack in recent Premier League action at Stamford Bridge, only winning once across the last four such top-flight H2Hs.

One of four teams still unbeaten in the Premier League this season before the round (W2, D3), Brighton has good reason to think about securing another victory in West London. Three back-to-back draws have slowed their growth a bit, even so, the fact they recovered from a goal deficit in two of those matches reveals the team's fortitude and implies they should never be dismissed.

The clear area needing improvement for Fabian Hürzeler's team is their away form, with the Seagulls managing victories in only two of their last 15 Premier League trips (D6, L7). That ground triggered a 3-2 loss which initiated the run, but that was just one of three times.

Meet The Only Defender That Has Not Committed Any Foul In 450 Minutes Of EPL Action This Season


Not less than 25 defenders have already played for 450 minutes in the English Premier League this season as per Stathead. However, only one of them has not committed any foul within the period. Who is this exceptional defender?

The iconic enforcer is Illia Zabarnyi. This Ukrainian centre-back has played the entire durations of 5 EPL games for Bournemouth this term. Yet, he stands out for winning tackles without fouling the opponent. Meanwhile, he has been fouled within the period. The Ukraine international has won 3 of his 7 challenges against dribblers. He has also won possession 25 times for hus club.

It should be noted that he has completed 198 passes in the English top flight this season. This tally is the highest among Bournemouth players. Interestingly, the player that has committed most fouls so far this term is from the same club. This Justin Kluivert who has been flagged down 15 times in just 308 minutes of Premier League action.

FIFA Is Set To Suspend Dibu Martínez

Photo Credit: Fabrizio Romano

FIFA is set to suspend Aston Villa and Argentine goalkeeper, Emiliano Dibu Martínez for two World Cup qualifier matches due to incidents with a Colombian cameraman and his controversial gesture with the Copa America trophy at the Monumental.

This decision by FIFA was made because of the incident involving goalkeeper Emiliano Dibu Martínez following Argentina defeat to Colombia, where he struck a TV camera.

Dibu Martínez placing the Copa America trophy on his genitals against Chile and striking the TV camera against Columbia.

The 32 year old goalkeeper also made an 'inappropriate' gesture with the Copa America trophy after his country beats Chile 3-0, where he placed the Copa América trophy on his genital area, as reported by journalist Nani Senra on D-Sports Radio.

The unexpected reaction of Emiliano Dibu Martínez as prompted FIFA to take action and impose a sanction on the Argentine goalkeeper.