Leeds make contact to sign free agent star who scored 23 goals this season

Leeds United are preparing for their return to top-flight football under Daniel Farke and may now look to muscle aside competitors to sign a clinical striker on a free transfer, according to a report.

Leeds look to add attacking prowess across front four positions

Scoring goals wasn’t a problem for Leeds on their way to securing promotion. However, there is a wider acknowledgement that creative intuition will be needed to break down some of the world’s most renowned defences next season.

Looking to add Premier League experience to the ranks, Daniel Farke has launched a move to bring Emiliano Buendia to Elland Road from Aston Villa following their successful relationship in tandem at Norwich City.

The Argentina international is open to making a switch to Leeds after a frustrating second half of the campaign on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, and murmurs are starting to accelerate that a £16.8 million offer could be forthcoming.

Joel Piroe did a fine job during the Whites’ promotion push. Nevertheless, attracting pedigree in all areas is a strategy Farke appears to be abiding by in a bid to beat the drop with plenty left to spare.

Evan Ferguson, Jamie Vardy and Callum Wilson are all Leeds targets, per various outlets, though it is unlikely they will be the only frontmen on the radar in Yorkshire.

Leeds United’s top scorers in 2024/25 – all competitions

Joel Piroe

19

Daniel James

12

Manor Solomon

10

Wilfried Gnonto

9

Largie Ramazani

7

Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt have faded towards the fringes, and it is reasonable to expect that more options will be needed to ensure Piroe can share the goalscoring burden in the Premier League.

Following through on that mission, Farke’s men are now battling two top-flight competitors for a clinical striker who wouldn’t cost a penny.

Leeds United enter race to sign Davie Selke

According to The Daily Express, Leeds United are in the mix to sign experienced striker Davie Selke as his contract at Hamburg is set to expire at the end of this month.

West Ham United, Fulham and RB Leipzig are keen on the 30-year-old. At the same time, Watford linger in the distance despite being unlikely to secure his signature when Premier League and Bundesliga destinations are on offer.

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Enjoying a superb campaign where he helped Hamburg to secure promotion back to the German top-flight, the former Hertha Berlin man registered 23 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions.

Leeds have made contact to ascertain what Selke’s wage demands would look like, but they may need to rely on RB Leipzig pulling out of the race due to Red Bull owning a stake in both clubs.

Nevertheless, the former Germany Under-21 international would be an inexpensive way to strengthen their forward line during the off-season as Farke could some of his transfer budget towards addressing other areas.

Swepson takes four as pink ball holds sway at the Gabba

Matt Short made the one half century for the day and late wickets for Victoria left the game in the balance

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2024Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw both picked up low scores against the pink ball at the Gabba as Mitchell Swepson took four wickets on an even, ball-dominated opening dayHarris made only 2 as Victoria were bowled out for 186 on Sunday, with Queensland tottering on 94 for 5 at stumps.Related

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Swepson claimed 4 for 31 while paceman Mark Steketee and Liam Guthrie also proved a handful for Victoria’s batsmen in the day-night encounter.Harris, overlooked for the opening slot for the first Test against India, had a horror dismissal. The left-hander attempted a glance to a wide leg-side Guthrie delivery but got an edge and wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson completed a smart catch diving to his right.Harris’s dismissal in the fourth over followed his opening partner Campbell Kellaway falling for a duck two overs earlier, leaving the visitors 5 for 2.Victoria struggled to recover with Mat Short the only batter to capitalise on a promising start. Short top-scored with 54 and struck seven boundaries from 70 balls but fellow top-order batters Sam Harper, Peter Handscomb and Tom Rogers were all dismissed when appearing set.Short was Swepson’s first victim and the legspinner then took the next three wickets as the Victorians slid from 143 for 5 to all out 186.Queensland openers Renshaw and Bryce Street both fell cheaply to Elliott – Street another caught down the leg side – and Jack Clayton made 22 before two late strikes from Victoria’s Xavier Crone left the game in the balance.

Dom Kelly five-for leads Hampshire to crushing win

England Under-19 quick takes a hat-trick after Joe Weatherley, Nick Gubbins set up big Hants total

ECB Reporters Network07-Aug-2024Dominic Kelly took Hampshire’s first List A hat-trick since 1981 and his first professional five-wicket haul to set up a crushing 143-run victory over Derbyshire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup.Kelly, the 18-year-old quick, dismissed Zak Chappell, Harry Moore and Daryl Dupavillon to become just the third treble taker for Hampshire – after John Rice against Northamptonshire in 1975 and Malcolm Marshall against Surrey.Joe Weatherley had put the victory in motion with an authoritative 93 in tandem with Nick Gubbins’ 27th format fifty – the pair putting on 113 to set Hampshire towards 295.Other than Brooke Guest’s 44, Derbyshire failed to compete in reply before Kelly’s heroics.Last year’s losing finalists Hampshire end their Utilita Bowl games with a 100 percent record, and just one defeat so far to sit pretty for a knockout place. For Derbyshire this was their second loss.Derbyshire won the toss on their first visit to Utilita Bowl for a decade chose to bowl first, and exercised a great deal of accuracy to hold Hampshire to 32 in the first 10 overs.Top-order batting hadn’t thrived for Hampshire so far in the One Day Cup but each of the top three stole the limelight with a patient display which laid the foundations for a second half of the innings siege of runs.Fletcha Middleton scored 30 of the first 44 runs, in alliance with Weatherley, before a steepling top-edge gave Daryn Dupavillon his first of three wickets.But that breakthrough only began a foundation-setting stand of 113 between Weatherley and Nick Gubbins – one that never lacked control, although often felt like the par of 280 was a long distance off.Weatherley is signed with the Brave during The Hundred, but due to a lack of action has been allowed to feature for Hampshire. Last year he scored 100 and 40 in his two innings, and after just one against Lancashire, used his furlough to rack up the runs.His innings was a masterclass in seamlessly moving through the gears, with his seventh List A fifty coming in 88 balls, before starting to play more regular shots on his way to 93.Gubbins seemed to simply tick the runs upwards in his 59-ball half-century as the slow start began to flourish.The platform allowed wickets to fall regularly, but with runs accompanying. Gubbins was bowled by a stunning dipping yorker by Dupavillon before Tom Prest sliced to backward point.Weatherley’s hundred hunt was ended when he was run out attempting a third run, but Ben Brown came in to thump 31 off 22 balls.Brown’s stay was ended with a slog sweep to deep square, Felix Organ was lbw first ball, Dom Kelly clipped to mid off and Toby Albert holed out to the final ball of the innings – 85 runs had come off the final 10 overs through to get Hampshire to their highest List A total versus Derbyshire.Table-toppers Derbyshire’s reply never truly got going, especially after Luis Reece was adjudged to have been caught behind third ball.Matt Lamb needed a runner before he was caught off a top edge, before David Lloyd nicked a Brad Wheal snorter behind and Anuj Dal was bowled by Kelly’s pace.However, Brooke Guest was timing the ball exceptionally, in particular back-to-back offside sixes off Felix Organ. But his promise of dominating the run chase was ended after a running mix-up with Samit Patel, with Ross Whiteley picking out deep square leg soon after.The scene was then set for Kelly to end the 43-year itch, as Chappell swung high into the air, Moore was castled and – after Sam Connors had fallen in the intervening over – Dupavillon was leg before.

Kyle Abbott makes quick work of Worcestershire as Hampshire climb to second

Kyle Abbott put Hampshire on course for their best Vitality County Championship since 2005 after beating Worcestershire by 235 runs.Abbott took four of the five remaining Worcestershire wickets to return five for 36 and his fourth five-wicket haul of the season.Hampshire collected maximum points to move above Somerset and into second place, ahead of a trip to Taunton to conclude the season next week, with James Vince’s side last finishing as runners-up under Shane Warne’s captaincy.Worcestershire needed 277 more runs to win on the final day, but only lasted until 11.30am as Abbott ran rampant.Abbott broke through in the sixth over of the day as he skidded a short delivery into Ethan Brookes’ ribs.The first-innings centurion attempted to pull, but it dragged off his glove and to Toby Albert at leg slip – who took a stunning diving catch.Jake Libby scored a patient half-century the previous evening but only added a further two runs before he became Abbott’s second scalp in two overs.The South African found significant inwards movement to take an inside-edge onto pad and to Vince at first slip.Albert produced a second brilliant piece of fielding of the morning as Joe Leach’s penultimate Championship appearance ended in a run-out – after Logan van Beek had turned down a single.Tom Taylor came out to bat at No.11 with a runner, but either side of some Amar Virdi swinging, but only lasted six balls before he edged Abbott behind.Abbott now has 46 scalps in the Championship this season, having completed the game an hour into day four with the hosts bowled out for 158.

Harris 'pretty well-equipped' to open against India in Perth

Marcus Harris might have leapfrogged McSweeney and Konstas in the race to be the second Australia Test opener

Alex Malcolm08-Nov-2024

Marcus Harris drives through the off side•Getty Images

Marcus Harris believes he’s ready to go if the selectors call on him to open the batting in the first Test against India in Perth, and feels he’s well-equipped to handle it after performing well under pressure for Australia A.Harris, 32, produced a gritty 74 on another difficult day of batting at the MCG against India A, when the next highest Australia A score was 35 from No. 10 Corey Rocchiccioli, as the other Test contenders failed to impress in the final game before the Test squad is announced.Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey was at the MCG with the Australia A team but is yet to confirm to Harris or anyone else who will get the nod for Australia’s Test squad.However, it appears more than likely that both Harris and Nathan McSweeney will be named in an expanded squad that may feature 13 players including a spare batter and a spare bowler.Harris was asked after play on day two whether he felt he had done enough to earn a call-up and he was typically pragmatic about it. “I don’t know, it’s a good question,” he said. “I think, externally obviously this game was getting built up a lot, which is fair enough. I feel like I’ve been batting well, but so have lots of other people.”So if I get called upon I feel like I’m ready to go, and if I don’t, then so be it. I feel pretty well-equipped. I think maybe if I was in this position 12 months ago, I probably wouldn’t have been able to perform the way I have at the start of this season. My results last year probably said that. So I’ve been proud of that.”Harris is the only player in the Australia A squad to have opened the batting in both matches against India A. He opened alongside Sam Konstas in the first game in Mackay for scores of 17 and 36 before opening alongside McSweeney in the second. Harris said the selectors hadn’t said a lot to him in the lead-up to either game.Related

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“They just said that I’ll open in the first game and we’re not really sure what’s going to happen with the second game,” Harris said. “So I don’t know if that was the plan.”Harris said the second game had provided a few more clues on the selectors’ thoughts but he was not reading too much into it given his previous experiences with Australia A and Prime Minister’s XI selection.”It was probably pretty obvious what was happening,” Harris said. “You’d have to ask them, to be honest. You never know. Like last year, for example, we had the bat-off in Canberra, and they picked Renners [Matt Renshaw] who was batting at three. So, yeah, I don’t know.”Harris said he learnt a lot from last summer’s experience where he entered the home season appearing to be in a race to replace David Warner. That has been evidenced by his performances, having posted scores of 143 and 52 in the first Sheffield Shield game of the summer as well as 63 in a One-Day Cup game and 74 against India A. He also believes the media and public scrutiny has not felt any more intense.”No, honestly, it hasn’t,” Harris said. “I think this time I’ve probably embraced it a little bit more than what I have before. I think in the past I’ve probably tried to really try to avoid it. That probably builds it up a little bit more, whereas this time, I’ve probably just taken it as it’s come at me and accepted it for what it is. I think I might have said maybe a couple weeks ago at the Junction Oval, I could probably write all the articles that are going to be written in the next couple of weeks. So none of the stuff that comes out is surprising, which, I think, anytime you go through things more often, you get more used to it, more equipped to deal with it. I’m probably just more experienced at it.”Marcus Harris scored a century in Victoria’s Sheffield Shield game against Tasmania last month•Getty Images

Harris has certainly matured with his game. In times past, he might have tried to blast his way to a score on a surface as treacherous as the one that has been presented at the MCG. But he struck just one boundary on the second day. What has been noticeable this season has been his improved ability to rotate the strike and score with control, picking off a lot more singles and twos than he might have done in the past. He credited his Victoria coach Chris Rogers, former Australia Test opener, with imprinting a simple message on him at the start of the season.”If the wicket’s doing a little bit, [he said] you don’t always have to look to hit it for four, look to hit it for two. And it was just something simple that sort of resonated with me a little bit,” Harris said. “I think a lot of the times when you do well on wickets like that, you actually spend a lot of time down the other end.”Harris did note he needed some luck, having played and missed a lot and edged one short of the wicketkeeper on the opening night. He also had a huge slice of luck when he was given not out on 48 – he tried to turn offspinner Tanush Kotian to the leg side and the ball deflected to slip. India A were convinced it came off the edge but the umpire thought it was pad.”I hit my pad on the way through,” Harris said. “Hence why I stood my ground. Then the umpire gave it not out, so I was like, I don’t know. But then we watched the replay and I think the boys said they watched it 20 times and you couldn’t really tell. So the god’s honest truth was I wasn’t sure. But if they reviewed it and said you’d hit it and got caught, I would have [thought] fair enough.”It just went my way.”

Com ingressos esgotados a cada rodada como mandante, Botafogo 'infla' sua média de público no Nilton Santos; veja números

MatériaMais Notícias

da bet nacional: A caminhada do Botafogono Campeonato Brasileiro tem sido marcada pelo forte apoio da torcida no Nilton Santos. A goleada sobre o Bahia, no último sábado (26), se tornou a quinta partida consecutiva na qual os alvinegros esgotaram os ingressos e ultrapassaram o limite dos 30 mil torcedores como mandantes.

da esport bet: No dia marcado pela atuação brilhante de Diego Costa e pelo desempenho de jogadores formados no Glorioso, os torcedores levaram o segundo maior público presente nesta edição do Brasileirão (veja o gráfico abaixo).

O apoio maciço tem se refletido também nas médias de público e renda do Glorioso. O “abraço” da torcida tem sido nítido também nos números.

No início da competição, o Alvinegro chegou a consolidar uma média de 22 mil presentes. A renda somada dos seis primeiros jogos no Niltão chegou a R$ 6.100.735,00. A arrancada sob o comando de Bruno Lage vem inflando os números da equipe e trazendo apoio maciço.

Os números são bem mais amplos nos cinco jogos mais recentes. A média de torcedores presentes chegou a 39.618 por partida. A renda somada chegou a R$ 9.312.875,00.

Posteriormente, a média ficou acima dos 30 mil. O ápice da adesão botafoguense veio na goleada por 4 a 1 sobre o Coritiba. Em dia no qual o clube conseguiu aval para vender ingressos do Setor Sul aos torcedores, mais de 43 mil pessoas foram ao Nilton Santos.

Os jogos contra Vasco, RB Bragantino, Coritiba, Internacional e Bahia inflaram também a renda. Somados, os jogos renderam R$ 15.336.310,00.

A média de público de todos os 11 jogos do Alvinegro até o momento no Niltão também chama a atenção. Atualmente, está em 28.951 torcedores, considerando apenas o público presente a cada jogo.

O Botafogo lidera o Campeonato Brasileiro com 51 pontos. E o apoio em peso de sua torcida continua a não ter preço.

Twenty-nine Jimmy Neesham tweets for Jimmy Neesham's 29th

What better way to celebrate James Neesham’s birthday than look at some of his greatest hits (read: tweets) over the years

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-2019For starters, a great tip.

Conjuring some Harry Potter magic.

Remember #MCGsoBig?

Hot take: Neesham is good at hot takes.

For all of us in the “Kane… so good” gang…

… and the adherents of the Trent Boult school of batting.

The story of Lendl Simmons’ bat, as told by Neesham.

Some all-round class.

An epic World Cup match. Neesham hit the nail on the trend.

Neesham is always right.

And open to advice about whom not to mess with, after being done in by MS Dhoni’s ninja reflexes.

Don’t you wish all Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi fans were like this?

The next time you’re in Kanpur, you know what you will think of.

Don’t be surprised when you don’t get a dinner invite from the brothers McCullum, Jimmy.

Neesham can bat like ABD, but can ABD tweet like Neesh?

You know who’s a fan of Jimmy’s tweets: a cricketer who shares his birthday.

Well, since we are talking IPL.

When you crack a joke…

… and are kind enough to clarify it too.

Ninety-one to go.

Ouch.

Imagine cricket Twitter without its shining star.

He’s quick to tweet.

The time you wished you could reach out and give him a big hug.

Sorry, for the one above if you are reading this, Neesh. And for the one below.

And to end: will he be bowling those in The Hundred next year?

Erling Haaland finally responds to Myles Lewis-Skelly as Man City striker reveals true meaning behind 'stay humble' message to Arsenal

Erling Haaland has finally responded to Myles Lewis-Skelly, after seeing his celebration copied, and explained his "stay humble" message to Arsenal.

Norwegian clashed with Gunners at the EtihadSuffered heavy defeat in clash at the EmiratesHas no issue with rivals getting their revengeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Back in September 2024, during a Premier League clash between Manchester City and the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium, prolific frontman Haaland was caught on camera aiming a "stay humble" jibe in the direction of Mikel Arteta.

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Earlier in the game, Haaland had bellowed "who the f*ck are you?" at Arsenal rookie Lewis-Skelly. During a return match in February, the Gunners claimed a 5-1 victory over City. Home fans at Emirates Stadium goaded Haaland, while Lewis-Skelly was on target and proceeded to break out the Norwegian striker’s iconic lotus celebration.

WHAT HAALAND SAID

The Golden Boot-winning City superstar has no issue with that, telling : "They won the game 5-1. So yeah, they got me. If he wanted to use that moment to mock me, that’s fair enough for him. Whatever he wants to do, he can do."

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Haaland added on his now infamous "stay humble" dig at Arteta and Arsenal, with the enigmatic 25-year-old having no regrets: "I think it’s an important phrase, which a lot of people should use, including myself. It’s one of the most important things, as individuals, to do."

Forget Gyokeres: Man Utd have had talks to sign "world-class" £50m+ striker

Manchester United have held talks with the entourage of a “world-class” striker, who is now keen to seal a move to the Premier League, according to a report.

Man Utd set sights on new striker

Man United have already signed Matheus Cunha, while Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo remains of interest, but there is clearly a determination to bring in a new out-and-out centre-forward this summer, with an approach being made for Viktor Gyokeres.

That is according to Sky Sports, with United now said to be exploring the conditions of a potential deal, given that manager Ruben Amorim is a “big fan” of his former player.

Reports from elsewhere have suggested the Red Devils are preparing a bid for Gyokeres, but it remains to be seen whether the 27-year-old would be keen on a move to Old Trafford, considering European football will not be on offer next season.

The Sweden international is not the only option on the shortlist either, with Man United also holding talks with the entourage of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, according to a report from The Boot Room.

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Osimhen is said to be determined to seal a move to the Premier League this summer, having rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League, and Amorim’s side engaged in discussions to bring the Nigerian to Old Trafford last month.

Osimhen

The centre-forward has no future with his current club, meaning he is expected to move on this summer, with Liverpool also in the race for his signature. The 26-year-old is protected by a relatively hefty £63m release clause, however, Napoli could accept an offer in excess of £50m.

"World-class" Osimhen could be real coup for Man Utd

The former Galatasaray loanee’s track record speaks for itself, having scored goals wherever he’s been over the past few seasons, most recently leading his side to the Turkish Super Lig title with a phenomenal return.

Season

League appearances

Goals

2020-21

24

10

2021-22

27

14

2022-23

32

26

2023-24

25

15

2024-25

30

26

The Lagos-born striker has been lauded as “world-class” by football writer Matt Barlow, and he picked up six goals and two assists in the Europa League last season, indicating that he has a lot left to give in Europe, so it is little wonder he turned down a move to Saudi Arabia.

Rasmus Hojlund has recently suggested he is going nowhere this summer, saying: “I have a contract until 2030, so I expect to play for Manchester United. I’m looking forward to going on a summer vacation, and then I’m fully dedicated to the project that’s underway.”

However, with the Dane scoring just four Premier League goals last season, it would make sense to bring in an upgrade this summer, and Osimhen has proven he could be exactly that.

Abel Ferreira, técnico do Palmeiras, é denunciado pela Associação Brasileira de Árbitros

MatériaMais Notícias

da fazobetai: O técnico do Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira, será denunciado ao STJD pela Associação Brasileira de Árbitros de Futebol (Abrafut). O motivo foi a alegação do português de que a derrota para o Grêmio, na quinta-feira (21), teve interferência da arbitragem.

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da supremo: – Isso é roubar! Isso é roubar! – disse Abel, se dirigindo às câmeras enquanto ia para o vestiário antes mesmo do fim da partida.

Na nota de infração enviada ao STJD, a Abrafut diz que não irá mais aceitar insinuações que comprometam a honra e dignidade dos árbitros.

– Não aceitaremos mais nenhum tipo de insinuação, acusação ou insulto comprometendo a dignidade e a honra dos nossos árbitros, que estão atuando de forma que tem que ser, cumprindo as regras do jogo – diz trecho da nota da Abrafut.

+ Condição especial para matrícula no curso Gestor de Futebol, aprovado por Dante, Petković, Léo Moura e outros craques. Saiba mais!

A associação havia protocolado outra notícia de infração na quarta-feira (20), contra o treinador do Botafogo, Bruno Lage. O compatriota de Abel Ferreira reclamou da arbitragem após a derrota por 1 a 0 para o Atlético-MG. Além do técnico, o centroavante Diego Costa também foi denunciado.

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