Who is Palace target Diomande?
With Marc Guehi potentially on the move, Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in replacing him with Sporting centre-back Ousmane Diomande for a club record fee.Ivory Coast-born Diomande, 21, has long been on the radar of top European sides. He joined the academy at Danish club Midtjylland in January 2020 and made his senior debut three years ago on loan with Portuguese second division side Mafra.His performances earned a mid-season move to Sporting, where Diomande was nurtured by Ruben Amorim. He started the coach's last home game in charge of Sporting as they beat Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League last November. Diomande, who has nine caps for his country, made 46 appearances in 2024-25 as Sporting won the domestic double.He attempted and completed more passes than any other player in Portugal's top flight last season and also carried the ball five metres or more up the pitch on an unrivalled 598 occasions, highlighting his ball-playing ability.Diomande is strong in the air too. His 65% success rate in aerial duels was the seventh highest in the division, and 11% more than Guehi managed in the 2024-25 Premier League.
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The Guardian
17 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Will Spain serve up a helping of pain for England's misfiring youngsters?
Venganza is on the cards in Trnava on Saturday night when England take on Spain at the European Under-21 Championship quarter-finals. There are constant reminders on the Channel 4 coverage in the UK that 'we' are the holders, despite the fact there are only a couple of remaining members from the squad that defeated La Rojita in the final in Batumi two years ago. It's a night that Oliver Skipp will never forget. There is another stark difference between then and now: England were properly decent at that point. This current crop have stumbled their way into the last eight like a weary boozer, six pints deep, picking his way through an All Bar One terrace on a hot day. Galavanting is not part of this England team's repertoire; instead meekness is the summary of what they have offered. After a promising defeat of the Czech Republic, they stumbled to a goalless draw against the might of Slovenia before losing to Germany B in their final group game. Spain, on the other hand, have breezed to this stage, sweeping past Slovakia (3-2) and Romania (2-1). The more worrying news for England is that the Spanish are favourites and an inquisition should be expected. They've still got memories of Curtis Jones's winner in Georgia two years ago, although the more galling moment remains James Trafford making an injury-time penalty save from Abel Ruiz to secure the silverware for England. Revenge, it seems, is best served in a partially full stadium in Slovakia's seventh biggest city. If we're looking for positives out of the Germany game for England, then young Bournemouth midfield scurrier Alex Scott, who scored in the second half, was decent. He reckons it's only a matter of time before the floodgates open for Carsley's pups. 'The lads score goals every single day but it's not quite clicked yet in the games. The quality we have in this team, it's a matter of time before the goals start flying in,' he whooped. They'll need to win possession off the ball-hogging Spaniards before they can pepper the goal with shots. How will they do that, then? 'Replicate what the lads did two years ago,' he mused. 'It is going to be a tough team. Every Spain team is very good on the ball, very calm and composed.' In preparing to soften any blow, England need not worry, even if a hammering is handed out. Why? Because they have one of their own in Spain's squad. Leeds United striker Mateo 'Matty' Joseph Fernández-Regatillo is leading the line despite possessing 10 England Under-20 caps. Born in Santander to an English father and Spanish mother, Joseph spent the first 19 years of his life in his homeland before being attracted by the bright lights of Yorkshire to learn about real football, none of that tiki-taka nonsense. Giving Joseph a proper football education might now backfire on England, but it does guarantee that at least one proud bulldog will make it to the semi-finals, whatever happens. Join Taha Hashim for red-hot Copa Gianni updates from Flamengo 0-0 Chelsea at 7pm (BST). The American dream. We guess the cowboy won …' – Botafogo remind PSG chief suit, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, of the insult he hurled at their owner John Textor, also chief suit at Lyon, after the Brazilian side's shock 1-0 Copa Gianni victory over the Bigger Cup champions. Re: the thinly veiled contempt from the Juventus players standing behind Donald Trump (yesterday's Football Daily), brought to mind this scene from The Simpsons …' – Adam Clark. The photo in yesterday's Football Daily makes Mr Infantino look very much like Mickey Mouse in his magnum opus, Fantasia. On reflection, Mickey Mouse is a perfect description for Mr Infantino, and his mate Donald shares many comparisons with [Snip – Football Daily lawyer]' – Joe Carr. Given the PFA has a young player of the year award, isn't it only fair they also have an old player of the year award (over 78s perhaps? – Football Daily Ed)? I had a really good game with my dog in the garden recently so surely I qualify and I'm even older than James Milner' –Martyn Shapter. Please send your letters to Today's winner of our letter o' the day competition is … Joe Carr, who gets some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. In the past few days, thirsty shoppers in supermarkets around Britain may have spotted a big promotional display from an energy drink offering them a chance to meet England's Lionesses. So far, so ordinary, right? Not if you were doing your big shop in Cardiff, where Tesco upset regulars who would have preferred to get the chance to meet their own national team's players instead. The Welsh FA's chief suit, Noel Mooney, took to his social media disgrace of choice to roar: 'We are Cymru!' And one shopper told the BBC it was 'deeply offensive', adding that Tesco should have 'read the room' with Wales taking on England in Euro 2025 next month. Tesco apologised for the own goal, saying the display was 'incorrectly' put up and promised that 'many of our colleagues and customers will be supporting their home nations' in the Euros. Lucozade sport, gets others irked, fast. It's all going on at Liverpool, with Florian Wirtz coughing for the Anfield doctor and Milos Kerkez packing his bags at Bournemouth and heading up the A338, A31, M27, M3, A34, M40, M6, M62 and round Queen's Drive in a £40m deal. Harry Kane can't wait to face Boca and their bouncy fans at Copa Gianni. 'They're loud and they're passionate,' roared Kane. 'So, yeah, I'm looking forward to the atmosphere. You know, sometimes it brings out the best in you as a player.' Lionel Messi has delivered on his end of the Faustian bargain, pinging in a free-kick to give Inter Miami a 2-1 win over Porto at Copa Gianni. Hannah Hampton has vowed to try to replicate Mary Earps's main character energy after being confirmed as England's first-choice goalkeeper for the Euros, though she'll probably have to effing swear more to do that. 'We're gonna miss her as a person here,' she sniffed. 'She's a big personality in this team. Now l have got to just go and live up to her legacy. I'll give it my best shot.' Daniëlle van de Donk has done one from OL Lyonnes to London City Lionesses, both of whom are owned by Michele Kang. New Rangers boss Russell Martin will watch his team take a high-wire approach to playing out from the back for the first time in a Scottish Premiership match, when they face Motherwell away in their season-opener. Full fixtures here. And Bruno Fernandes has joined Mohamed Salah on the six-man shortlist for the PFA Premier League player of the year gong, with Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey the favourite for the WSL's award. From heat to unrest: Alexander Abnos on how five major storylines are shaping up at Copa Gianni. Is Cole Palmer playing down the fuss before Chelsea's clash with Flamengo? Of course he is! Jacob Steinberg on the 'normal' kid who does exceptional things. Why is Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike hot property in the summer transfer window? Ben McAleer explains. 'Family. They're the only ones you can depend on,' said Tony Soprano. New Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso is reaching for that same ethos, explains Nicky Bandini, as the Azzurri try to avoid the unthinkable prospect of failing to qualify for a third straight World Cup. And the Rumour Mill picks over the latest gossip, including speculation over comings and goings at Liverpool. We rewind to 1966 and a new bridge under construction outside Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, in time for the World Cup games to be held there that summer. The ground hosted three matches in Group Three: Portugal 3-1 Hungary, Portugal 3-0 Bulgaria, and Hungary 3-1 Bulgaria.
Daily Mirror
34 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Phil Foden has made feelings clear on Liverpool transfer plan as £35m deal nears
Liverpool are weighing up a move for Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, who has previously been lauded as a key figure in the dressing room by England team-mate Phil Foden Liverpool are set to intensify their pursuit of Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, who has been hailed as a leader by his Three Lions colleague Phil Foden. The Reds will soon be on the hunt for a new centre-back due to the likely departure of Jarell Quansah. In April, Liverpool's defence was bolstered when skipper Virgil van Dijk committed to a fresh two-year contract at Anfield. However, it appears that their central defensive options will be reduced with the impending exit of lifelong red Quansah. The 22-year-old is on the brink of completing a £35million switch to Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen. Apart from the club's captain, only Ibrahima Konate and the adaptable Joe Gomez would remain as senior choices in the centre-half position should Quansah leave. Focus could then shift to the transfer market, and Guehi has surfaced as a potential target. The 24-year-old has previously been praised by international team-mate and Manchester City star Foden as a pivotal presence in the Three Lions dressing room. The Telegraph report that with Quansah all set for an exit to Germany, Guehi, who has one year left on his current deal at Selhurst Park, has emerged as a target for the Reds. While an expected fee is unknown, the Eagles rejected a £70m bid from Tottenham in January. Foden has previously heaped praise on Liverpool target Guehi, following his impressive performances during Euro 2024, indicating that the Reds would be getting a key dressing room figure. "He has been a leader," Foden gushed on England's official YouTube channel. "I know him well from obviously playing with him and he's not fazed by anything. I feel like he has come into the team and shown his qualities." Foden hasn't been the only one to laud Guehi. Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen couldn't help but hail the defender's prowess after witnessing his Euro 2024 heroics. "He's proven in this tournament that he's very good. Left-sided centre-halves are like gold dust these days, people want them," Owen expressed to Prime Casino. "He's proven he can play at a really high level, so I've no doubt he would be capable of playing for a club like Liverpool." Since joining Crystal Palace from Chelsea in 2021, Guehi has become an integral part of their team, playing a key role in their historic FA Cup final victory over Foden's City in May. In the midst of speculation surrounding his future pre-Wembley final, Guehi maintained a humble stance when probed about potential transfers, but didn't completely rule a move out. "I think the most important thing is just always doing the best that I can for this football club," he stated. "I come in every day and I try to be the same. I try to work hard. And you know, this football club has given me a lot. "I'm still under contract at this football club, so my focus is always at this football club. So, you know, for me, the most important is just doing the best I can and seeing where the future holds." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
BBC News
39 minutes ago
- BBC News
Third time lucky for a foreign Robins coach?
So City have a new head coach in Austrian Gerhard Struber. Judging by fan sentiment expressed on social media, it seems a popular appointment and certainly won't divide supporters like when Liam Manning came in for the popular Nigel Pearson in November is City's first European managerial appointment since 1998 when Benny Lennartsson was hired by then chairman Scott Davidson to "help" John Ward, who barely four months earlier had guided City to promotion back to the Championship. John had actually asked for help and wanted to bring in the experienced Ray Harford but the City hierarchy went for the 'fashionable' coach option. John actually resigned feeling his position had become untenable and the red cap wearing Swede had the worst start of any City manager in the post-war lost 5-0 to Bradford City at Valley Parade in his first game in charge and things got even worse in his second as they went down 6-1 at home to Wolves, a match remembered perhaps more for the mascot punch up between Wolfie & the Three Little Pigs!! Lennartsson won only six of his 30 league games in charge as City were you go back to 1980, City took the foreign option for the first time when hiring Bob Houghton to replace the long serving Alan Dicks. Houghton, with a young Roy Hodgson as his assistant, had a decent pedigree having guided Malmo to the European Cup Final the previous year - they lost 1-0 to Nottingham Forest - as City sought to make a quick return to the top flight where they had been since 1976. The die had already been cast in terms of City's fate as the financial troubles mounted by the week and the ageing side began to disintegrate. City were relegated for a second successive season and in the January of 1982, Houghton resigned before the volcano of financial despair erupted and what followed was all that we associate with the Ashton Gate hope it is third time lucky for City with a foreign coaching appointment and we are not hearing cries of "Uber for Struber" before the turn of the year. Personally, I'm excited by what I read about his preferred way of playing and as a person I think we might see someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, which will excite the Ashton Gate faithful who warm to managers who don't stay rooted within the technical more from David at the Forever Bristol City Podcast, external
