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Former Everton frontman Marcus Bent has exclusively told The Transfer Tavern that Ben Godfrey could be the key to the Toffees signing Max Aarons.

The 21-year-old, who came close to making a sensational move to Barcelona 12 months ago, has been on Everton’s radar for some time, with the Merseysiders still searching for a long-term Seamus Coleman replacement.

Aaron won’t turn 22 until January but has already racked up almost 150 senior appearances for Norwich and has achieved to promotions and an impressive season at Premier League level.

Wherever Aarons ends up, he’s more than likely to remain in the topflight after helping the Canaries make an instant return.

Two of Everton’s Premier League rivals in Tottenham and Manchester United are both keen on signing the high-rated full-back, but Rafa Benitez’s side have a slight advantage in Aarons’ former Norwich teammate Godfrey.

The pair not only came through the ranks together at Carrow Road but are also teammates at England Under-21 level.

Bent exclusively told The Transfer Tavern:

“He’s a good, young player, and Everton said that if Ben gets in his ear, they might get him. Hopefully, he will come to Everton, but I don’t think he’d want to be second or third choice.”

تحدث برناردو سيلفا لاعب مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي عن اهتمام برشلونة بالتوقيع معه خلال سوق الانتقالات الصيفي.

لعب برناردو مع منتخب بلده البرتغال ليلة الخميس، أمام التشيك، وكان حاسمًا في الفوز في المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين بدوري الأمم الأوروبية.

وصنع برناردو سيلفا هدفي الفوز للبرتغال في المباراة التي انتهت بهزيمة التشيك بهدفين دون مقابل في الجولة الثالثة لدور المجموعات. أهداف مباراة البرتغال والتشيك

وارتبط برناردو سيلفا باهتمام برشلونة حيث يسعى النادي الكتالوني لضمه من صفوف مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي. 

وقال برناردو سيلفا في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “إذا أغوتني برشلونة؟ لسوء الحظ، الآن لا أستطيع أن أقول أي شيء، أنا مع المنتخب الوطني وأركز بشدة، عندما ينتهي الموسم، سنرى ما سيحدث”.

على الرغم من قدرته على اللعب كجناح، إلا أنه تألق كلاعب خط وسط مبدع، وهو المركز الذي أذهل فيه يوم مباراة فريق مانشستر سيتي ضد ريال مدريد في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وأفاد البرتغالي: “إنه مركز أعرفه جيدًا حيث ألعب أكثر، في كثير من الأحيان، حيث أجريت جميع الدورات التدريبية وحيث نشأت، لكنني قلت دائمًا إنني مستعد ومتوفر للعب حيث يعتقد المدرب أنه الأفضل للفريق، لكن هذا المركز يعجبني كثيرًا وأشعر فيه أنني بحالة جيدة جدا”.

According to The Sun, Glasgow Rangers want to sign Gary Cahill, who is a free agent after departing Crystal Palace this summer.

The Lowdown: Gers prepare for new campaign

The Gers won the Premiership for the first time in 10 years last season, meaning they have a league title defence and a potential Champions League group stage campaign for which to prepare in 2021/22.

Steven Gerrard will be looking to boost his squad and, so far, the 55-time Scottish champions have brought in Fashion Sakala and John Lundstram.

The Latest: Gers eye Cahill

According to The Sun, the Gers are interested in Cahill, who recently left Crystal Palace.

The Eagles want him to sign a new contract to stay at Selhurst Park, but Rangers are willing to offer him £35,000 per week to take him north of the border.

The Verdict: Ambitious

Rangers may be in the third qualifying round of the Champions League this summer, but only three of their players – Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe – have featured in the competition’s group stage. In Cahill, the Gers would be adding a fourth, and the 61-cap England international has even won the trophy with Chelsea back in 2012.

At 35 years of age, Cahill is one of the most experienced centre-backs in England – he has made 394 Premier League appearances (Transfermarkt), picking up eight major trophies with Chelsea along the way. Former Palace manager Roy Hodgson even called him “exceptionally good” last season (via msn.com), which along with his rich CV suggests that he could surely do a good job for the Gers despite his advancing years.

In other news, many Rangers fans were raging at this club tweet.

Former South Africa captain Kepler Wessels is to be Northamptonshire’s first-team manager for the next two seasons. Wessels, 45, will start in March after the 2003 World Cup in his home country.”It is both an honour and a privilege to accept the position as first-teammanager,” he said. “I am well aware of the club’s goals, aspirations and objectives, and will do everything in my power to help them succeed.”It is always a challenge to work with an emerging team, and I am lookingforward to a productive association with the players, club officials, membersand supporters.”Wessels played first-class cricket with Sussex between 1976 and 1980. After joining Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket, he settled in Australia where he played for Queensland.After qualifying through residence, he played for Australia in 16 Tests, touring England in 1985. He returned home in 1986 and was the first captain of South Africa when they were readmitted to international cricket in 1992.

Greg O’Keeffe has dropped an update on the future of Everton outcast Bernard…

What’s the talk?

According to Greg O’Keeffe of The Athletic, Bernard is closing in on an exit from Goodison Park this week and looks set for a move to UAE side Sharjah.

O’Keeffe has claimed that the word from UAE is that there has been an agreement between the two sides, with the Brazilian now poised to leave the club ahead of next season.

Fans will be buzzing

Everton fans will surely be buzzing with this news as the club are on the verge of shedding the Brazilian’s wages off the bill. He is reportedly on £120k-per-week and the top-earner alongside Yerry Mina, with Lucas Digne just behind the pair on £119k-per-week.

The forward has not done anywhere near enough to warrant such a pay packet whilst in England. Bernard has racked up five goals and five assists in three seasons, starting 43 Premier League matches in that time. Across his three campaigns for the club, he averaged WhoScored ratings of 6.60, 6.56 and 6.41 respectively – getting progressively worse each year.

This shows that he has been underperforming and not living up to his wages, which is why fans will be happy to see the back of him. To back up his lack of impact on the pitch, Everton journalist Gavin Buckland called Bernard lightweight last year and questioned his future at the club due to his lack of regular first-team football. He said:

“He’s been here two seasons. If you’ve been at a club two seasons and you’ve not really nailed down a first-team place, you’ve got to be asking questions about what your long-term or medium-term future is.

“He’s far too lightweight.

“He has his moments of excellence, as we well know, but whether he’d be somebody you’d hang your hat on to produce good performances week in week out is open to question.”

Everton have been paying him £120k-per-week to not be a regular starter and rarely contribute with end product in front of goal. This is why this update from O’Keeffe will be music to the ears of the supporters and, hopefully, a deal can be pushed over the line in the coming days and Bernard will no longer be a Toffee.

Getting his wages off the bill could also free up funds for the club to reinvest back into a new signing. The club will be saving £6.2m-per-season by letting him go along with however much Sharjah are paying for his services. This could then be used to strengthen elsewhere in the side, giving Rafa Benitez and Marcel Brands some additional money to work with.

AND in other news, Everton eye swoop for 18-goal “supreme talent”, he’s their dream Richarlison successor…

WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD (WICB) president Reverend Wes Hall has encouraged young cricketers of tomorrow to always give of their best and has issued sound advice to present and young cricketers on how to handle and deal with pressure

21-Nov-2002WEST INDIES CRICKET BOARD (WICB) president Reverend Wes Hall has encouraged young cricketers of tomorrow to always give of their best and has issued sound advice to present and young cricketers on how to handle and deal with pressure.Hall was speaking at the Big B Spartan Club awards ceremony at Solidarity House last Friday night."We don’t teach these young people how to handle pressure at all. No one even told me how to handle pressure, and in the same way we are coaching these youngsters how to bat, bowl and field, we must also teach them how to handle pressure," Hall said.He stressed that even when you are successful, you should still be able to deal with pressure "and if you do, you’ll make a better cricketer".Praising the efforts of the Big B sponsored club over the year, Hall said those involved in Spartan’s junior programme should strive to build the club.He also touched on the role and involvement of women in clubs these days."I have noticed that in Barbados, most of the clubs that are successful have women playing dominant roles and we must continue to encourage them to play an integral part in the whole structure of the clubs," the WICB head said.Several awards were made during the evening, some of which went to the junior cricketers of the club, as well as long-standing supporters Eric Sealy, Mary Codrington, and Juanita Barrow.There were also special awards to former captain and Barbados player George Linton and managing director of Big B, Richard Edwards.Captain Dave Marshall, who took the most wickets for Spartan in the Courts/Suzuki Division 1 competition, was named Player Of The Year and received a Shield and a trip to St Lucia compliments Caribbean Star.

In an exclusive interview with The Transfer Tavern, former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer has praised Burnley’s James Tarkowski for his conduct following his failed transfer to West Ham.

Last year, Tarkowski was the subject of three failed bids from West Ham, the last one said to be £31m, with £25m offered up front.

It meant he was forced to stay at Turf Moor, which easily could have resulted in him kicking up a fuss.

In the end, though, that did not happen, with Tarkowski going on to play close to 40 games for Burnley last season, and Palmer has since praised the 28-year-old central defender for getting on with things.

“To be fair to the kid, I like people like him,” the ex-Leeds United star exclusively told TT. “He’s just gone on about his football and done his job. He’s not kicked up a fuss.

“If he keeps doing what he’s been doing, the bid will increase and he will go.”

West Ham may very well go back in for Tarkowski, with The Telegraph reporting that the east London club are still keen on the Englishman.

The same outlet states that Wolves are also interested, however, so West Ham look like they will have some competition for the player’s signature.

انتهت مباراة الأهلي وطلائع الجيش، بالتعادل السلبي بين الفريقين، وذلك في المواجهة التي أقيمت على ملعب الأهلي وي السلام اليوم الأربعاء.

الأهلي واجه طلائع الجيش، في إطار منافسات الجولة السادسة عشر من مواجهات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وشهدت المباراة سيطرة كبيرة من جانب الأهلي وإهدار العديد من الفرص مع تألق محمد بسام حارس الجيش.

وكاد فريق طلائع الجيش أن يخطف الفوز في الدقائق الأخيرة عن طريق مهاجمه فيكتوري ولكن القائم أنقذ الأهلي.

طالع |  موعد مباراة الأهلي القادمة أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري المصري

وبهذا، التعادل، يفقد الأهلي نقطتين في صراع مطاردة الزمالك على الصدارة، ويظل في المركز الثاني بترتيب جدول الدوري برصيد 32، بينما يتواجد فريق طلائع الجيش في المركز الحادي عشر بـ 19 نقطة. ملخص مباراة الأهلي وطلائع الجيش في الدوري المصريأحداث مباراة الأهلي وطلائع الجيش

الشوط الأول

بداية اللقاء بصافرة من الحكم محمود البنا

د6: محمد عبد المنعم يعود بالكرة إلي الشناوي ولكن قصيرة كاد أن يخطفه مهاجم الجيش خالد حشادي إلا أن الشناوي استطاع ابعاد الكرة.

د10: إصابة لـ عمرو السولية في وسط الملعب دون تدخل من أحد.

د14: تصويبة قوية من أحمد سمير ولكن أعلي مرمي الشناوي.

د14: تغيير أول للأهلي | خروج عمرو السولية مصاباً ودخول حمدي فتحي.

د20: فرصة خطيرة للأهلي .. علي معلول يرسل كرة مقوسة داخل منطقة الجزاء كادت ان تخدع حارس الجيش محمد بسام ولكن يتألق ويخرجها إلي ركنية

د23: بيرسي تاو ينفرد بمرمي طلائع الجيش ويراوغ محمد بسام ولكن يهدر هدف مؤكد بوضع الكرة خارج المرمي وذلك بعد تمريره بالخطا من أحمد زولا مدافع الجيش

د28: الشناوي يتألق ويحرم طلائع الجيش من تسجيل هدف التقدم بعد انفراد من محمد جابر لاعب الفريق العسكري.

د30: مطالبات من لاعبي الأهلي بركلة جزاء لوجود لمسة يد علي محمد ناصف مدافع الجيش، ولكن الحكم لم يحتسب شئ.

د40: 5 دقائق علي نهاية الشوط الأول مازال التعادل السلبي مسيطر.

د45: دقيقة واحدة وقت محتسب بدل ضائع

نهاية الشوط الأول بالتعادل السلبي بين الفريقين

الشوط الثاني

انطلاق الشوط الثاني

د49: أليو ديانج يسدد من خارج منطقة الجزاء ولكن كرته تصل إلي يد محمد بسام

تغيير أول للطلائع في الدقيقة 52 | خروج خالد حشادي ودخول فيكتوري

د57: سقوط حسين الشحات داخل منطقة الجزاء بعد عرقلة من محمد ناصف واعتراضات للمطالبة بركلة جزاء.. محمود البنا يلجأ إلي تقنية الفار.

د59: بعد العود إلي الفار الحكم لم يحتسب شئ. لقطة سقوط الشحات داخل منطقة الجزاء واللجوء إلي الفار

د63: بسام ينقذ فرصة هدف من تصويبة من حمدي فتحي من داخل منطقة الجزاء.

د65: بيرسي تاو يواصل اهدار الفرص.. فرصة هدف مؤكد أمام المرمي يضعها برأسة أعلي مرمي محمد بسام.

3 تغييرات للأهلي في الدقيقة 68 | خروج ياسر إبراهيم وحسام حسن وبيرسي تاو ودخول صلاح محسن ومحمد شريف وطاهر محمد طاهر

د72: محمد بسام يتألق وينقذ هدف مؤكد بعد تسديدة من صلاح محسن من داخل منطقة الـ 6

د79: معلول وطاهر محمد طاهر برعونة شديدة يهدوا فرصة هدف مؤكد للأهلي أمام مرمي طلائع الجيش.

تغيير خامس وأخير للأهلي في الدقيقة 81 | دخول ميكيسوني وخروج حسين الشحات

د85: فيكتوري مهاجم طلائع الجيش أهدر فرصة هدف أمام مرمي الأهلي بعد مراوغة الشناوي يضعها في القائم.

د91: 6 دقائق وقت بدل ضائع

نهاية المباراة بالتعادل السلبي

West Ham United star Declan Rice has reportedly had his head turned ahead of a potential summer of transfer interest…

What’s the word?

According to Eurosport’s Dean Jones, the 22-year-old’s former club, Chelsea, are now leading the race to secure his signature before the new season, with several other Premier League teams keen, including both Manchester clubs and Liverpool.

It’s thought that the England international, who is currently playing at Euro 2020, is becoming increasingly open to the idea of leaving the London Stadium this summer, with sources close to Rice claiming he is interested in pursuing a move to a bigger side.

However, getting him out of East London may prove difficult for any keen party as the Hammers do not want to lose him and now believe he’s worth more than the £70m they valued him at last summer.

Rice is also understood to want wages in excess of £150k-per-week, as well as a substantial signing on bonus.

Moyes won’t be happy

This is probably the last thing that Irons boss David Moyes and the West Ham faithful want to hear right now.

It contradicts further reports from May, when club insiders Claret and Hugh claimed that “there’s zero chance” Rice would be leaving the club this summer, so this certainly puts a worrying new twist on the situation.

The 58-year-old guided the Hammers into the Europa League, a year on from steering them to Premier League safety with one game remaining and he will need to bolster his playing squad to stand a chance at remaining competitive.

Whilst Rice would generate substantial funds to do exactly that, his absence would leave an irreplaceable void in central midfield as he’s emerged as one of Moyes’ most reliable and trustworthy options.

The young 6 foot 1 beast has often worn the captain’s armband in the absence of soon-to-be retiring Mark Noble and ranked as the Irons’ fourth-best (7.01) player as per WhoScored ratings.

During the 2020/21 season alone, Rice topped the charts for interceptions (1.8 per game) and wasn’t far behind for tackles (1.6 per game), whilst also proving to be the best passer at the club, averaging more attempts per game (47.7) and a better accuracy rate (88%) than anyone else, also via WhoScored.

Speaking about his worth in the past, Moyes suggested that it would  “take the Bank of England and the Royal Bank of Scotland to get him,” so perhaps that is one thing in their favour, with the Englishman tied down to the London Stadium until 2024, though they may need to improve his £60k-per-week wages.

But this fresh update does West Ham and their manager no favours whatsoever. He has every right to be livid and perhaps a little concerned, even with the position the club is in right now.

With a historic season ahead, Moyes does not need a transfer saga floating above his star midfielder all summer and hearing that his star player might have his eye on a move away will surely have the Scottish manager feeling furious.

AND in other news, GSB must secure West Ham swoop for “complete” £20m beast amid exciting transfer claim…

An assured 140 not out from Mathew Sinclair put Central Districts in a commanding position on the first day of their sixth round State Championship match against Canterbury at Christchurch’s Village Green today

Matthew Appleby18-Feb-2002An assured 140 not out from Mathew Sinclair put Central Districts in a commanding position on the first day of their sixth round State Championship match against Canterbury at Christchurch’s Village Green today.Central Districts was 267/4 at the close of the first day on a slow pitch with an even more lethargic outfield.Sinclair, the specialist converter of centuries into 150s and beyond, did it again today at QEII in front of the man who counts.Watching chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee was noticeably impressed by the way Sinclair built his innings after coming in at 37/1 in the 12th over.Canterbury struggled to produce chances all day with Ryan Burson (2-52), who was not selected in Canterbury’s original XI, the only successful bowler in the morning session, trapping David Kelly (24) lbw on the crease.Kelly began with a couple of pulled boundaries, but the juicy outfield prevented several shots adding to the total of fours between the tenth and the 26th overs.Before the start Canterbury’s Stephen Cunis failed a fitness test on his injured thigh and Paul Wiseman was recalled. The former New Zealand off spinner was the day’s only successful bowler other than Cunis’ stand-in, Burson. Wiseman had promising newcomer Peter Ingram caught at slip for 35 shortly after lunch, which brought in Ben Smith, who scored 200 not out at New Plymouth when the sides last met in December, to join Sinclair, fresh from a score of 161 at Alexandra last week.By then Sinclair had deliberately and leisurely played himself in before reaching 50 off 97 balls and his twelfth career century in 180 deliveries.Characteristically, Sinclair’s smooth stroke play did not stop there.Since the right-hander scored his maiden century he has had innings of 166 not out against Auckland and 203 not out against Northern Districts in early 1999. He made 214 against the West Indies, 182 for the North Island and 102 for CD in 1999/00 then 100 not out against Zimbabwe President’s XI, 150 against South Africa, 204 not out for New Zealand against Pakistan as well as a score of 145 for CD last season.Sinclair’s recent 161 against Otago signalled the 26-year old’s readiness for England and the Test series. With today’s innings only twice has the Australian-born batsman been out between 100 and 150.Glen Sulzberger, his captain, told CricInfo: “When he gets in he just looks to keep going as much as he can. He was disappointed not to get 200 last week.”We dominated most of the last game against Canterbury,” he rued. Canterbury came back from conceding a double century to Smith to win when Aaron Redmond took four cheap wickets in CD’s second innings.Smith (41) departed to Burson in the 82nd over today, cutting late to Canterbury captain Gary Stead at gully.The score was then 222/3 and could have been more but for the outfield and Canterbury bowling some good lines in the middle of the innings.Sinclair and Sulzberger continued to stumps, quietly emphasising the CD advantage on a lethargic pitch that may take spin on the third and fourth days.”The pitch is starting to crack up a little, especially at one end,” said Sulzberger, rubbing his hands at the thought of bowling his off spin in the fourth innings. “Historically it doesn’t turn here,” he added, “but time will tell I suppose.”Canterbury, lacking hamstring-strain victim Warren Wisneski as well as their salvo of CLEAR Black Caps, struggled with the easterly wind all day. Quick bowlers Burson and Wade Cornelius bowled tight spells prior to lunch, but it may be the team’s spinners who decide the outcome of the match.Sinclair, the man who believes one hundred is never enough was reluctant to speak until the end of his innings.”See him on the third day,” joked a team mate. He might need to be taken seriously by Canterbury unless they can surprise him with the new ball tomorrow morning.