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Wales Online
5 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Swansea City's pursuit of Euro star hits snag as transfer interest confirmed
Swansea City's pursuit of Euro star hits snag as transfer interest confirmed The club are understood to be in the market for additions in a key area Gora Diouf (left) of FC Sion is on the radar at Swansea City (Image: Getty Images ) Swansea City could well miss out on a move for FC Sion centre-back Gora Diouf due to post-Brexit rules. Sources on the continent have confirmed to WalesOnline that the Swans are one of several Championship sides keeping tabs on the 21-year-old defender, while Swiss giants FC Basel are also believed to be interested. It's understood Swansea haven't yet firmed up their interest with an offer at this stage. Indeed, none of the defender's growing list of admirers appear to have made a move yet, but the player's future remains uncertain given he's coming to the end of his current contract. Sign up to the Swansea City WhatsApp service to get breaking news and top stories sent to your phone The prospect of a move to these shores, however, has been described as 'complicated' by one source, amid concerns over the player's ability to be granted a work permit under post-Brexit rules. Under the current guidelines, all foreign players wishing to play in the UK require a work permit before any transfer can be completed, and those permits are allocated using a points system. Points are earned by players through club appearances, international appearances and the quality of the selling club based on the league they play in, as well as their league position and progress in continental competition. Article continues below Players need 15 points to qualify, and it's not known just how many Diouf has amassed at this stage. Diouf has so far played 38 games for Sion, and hasn't yet made a single appearance for Senegal. Whether those figures are enough for him to move to the UK isn't yet clear, but the fact it hasn't been ruled out at this stage suggests Swansea and others may well feel a move is still possible. Indeed, authorities can grant special exceptions to players who fall just short of the necessary threshold, although that decision is at the discretion of an official panel. Interestingly, the possibility of signing a new deal at Sion, while still considered unlikely, hasn't been categorically ruled out. Swansea are certainly likely to be in the market for a centre-back this summer, regardless of what happens with Harry Darling, who's still pondering an improved contract offer from the club, while Wrexham and Birmingham City are also believed to be keeping tabs on the situation. Sign up to our Swansea City newsletter here. Even if Darling decides to stay, Hannes Delcroix's return to parent club Burnley, and the departure of Kyle Naughton means Swansea are still in need of options at the heart of their defence next season, with Ben Cabango currently the only other recognised centre-half in the senior squad. It's understood the offer from the Swans is among the better deals on the table, and there is still some hope that he can be persuaded to stay. However, clearly Swansea's confidence in tying the defender down is waning with each passing day, and the decision will ultimately come down to the player himself. Article continues below In terms of other options, Ricardo Santos has been mentioned by reports elsewhere. The 29-year-old is a free agent after leaving Bolton Wanderers, and the Swans have been touted as possible suitors, although suggestions of a contract offer have been played down by club sources at this stage
CAF
08-05-2025
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF U20 AFCON Technical Study Group and international scouts to meet the media in Cairo on Sunday, 11 May
Published: Thursday, 08 May 2025 Technical Study Group members Daniel Amokachi, Walter Steenbok and Mohamed Magassouba, as well as two international scouts, will hold a media briefing at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday, 11 May to give their analysis of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations. The event will be held from 11:30 local time (08:30 GMT). Romain Albaric, a scout for Swiss side FC Sion, and Bennard Yao Kumordzi, scout for Belgian outfit K.R.C. Genk, will also give their assessment of the matches and players in the tournament's group stages. The vastly experienced quintet will offer perspective on their initial technical assessment of the competition, reveal tactical trends, analyse playing styles and who are the rising talents in the competition. Amokachi is a former Nigeria international who played in the Premier League with Everton. He scored two goals as the Super Eagles impressed at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and has also coached the national side. Steenbok is a former Technical Director at the South African Football Association and is a vastly experienced coach who is well-respected on the continent. Magassouba has been a coach for over three decades and was in charge of Mali between 2019 and 2022, having also previous led the Democratic Republic of Congo. All five individuals will be able to offer key insights into the tournament and assist the media with in-depth analysis.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Jurgen Klopp signing told he's no champion after 'disheartening' role in Liverpool title win
A LOOK BACK: Xherdan Shaqiri was a big part of the Liverpool squad when he first joined, but by the time they won the Premier League in 2020, he had fallen out of favour on Merseyside Liverpool have secured a second Premier League title in five years, this time under Arne Slot. Their first came when Jurgen Klopp was still in charge, with then-midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri on the receiving end of some astonishing criticism in the days following the achievement. Shaqiri, who also won the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Supercup, was told he played a "disheartening" role in the 2020 Premier League title win by none other than a former coach from his native Switzerland, Arno Rossini. The former FC Sion coach brutally told Swiss publication Tio in 2020 that the winger was more like a bystander at Anfield during their success, and the same could be said for his other trophy wins with other clubs. Rossini said: "Xherdan is not a champion. Not with the big guys at least. He was the protagonist in Basel, certainly not at Bayern or Liverpool. Let's say that over the years, he has often followed the games of his teams as a spectator, sitting in the best places. And millions have also been paid for it. "This, taking everything into account, makes me think that the Swiss is not one who always gives his best." He later added: "If not as owner, at least one important reserve role, from first choice on the bench, (he) would otherwise have managed to carve it (a place in the team) out. Instead nothing. Only the crumbs, for a disheartening situation. "Of course, Xherdan is filling the bulletin board and seeing his bank account grow dramatically; I don't know how many, in ten years, will remember him thinking about the great teams in which he has played." Shaqiri joined the Reds in the summer transfer window of 2018, signing a five-year deal worth £12.5million under Klopp. He made just 63 appearances across three years for Liverpool, scoring eight goals and assisting nine times. As well as Liverpool's success in the 2019/20 season, Shaqiri won trophies with FC Basel and Bayern Munich, winning three Bundesliga titles, one Champions League, two DFB-Pokals and one DFL-Supercup with the German team. The 33-year-old has returned to FC Basel, where he is a three-time Swiss champion and has also won the domestic cup twice. While the winger has been successful with his clubs over the years, Shaqiri will likely be remembered for his outstanding international career. He has scored 32 goals in just 125 appearances for Switzerland and became the only person to score at the last six major international championships, dating back to the 2014 World Cup.
