كشف طارق هاشم عضو مجلس إدارة المصري، أن النادي تلقى عرضًا رسميًا من بيراميدز، لضم مهاجم الفريق الفلسطيني محمود وادي، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.

محمود وادي تألق رفقة المصري خلال الموسم الحالي، واستطاع تسجيل 10 أهداف بمختلف المسابقات “كأس الكونفدرالية – الدوري المصري – كأس مصر”.

وقال هاشم في تصريحات خاصة لـ”بطولات”: “بيراميدز قدم عرض رسمي للتعاقد مع محمود وادي لاعب المصري”.

وأضاف: “تم الاتفاق على قيمة الاستغناء عن اللاعب وهي 20 مليون جنيه، والإعلان الرسمي خلال يومين”.

طالع | محمود وادي يعلن رحيله عن المصري ويكشف وجهته المحتملة

يُذكر أن بيراميدز كان قد أبرم 3 صفقات قوية خلال الفترة الحالية استعدادًا للموسم المقبل، وهم رمضان صبحي وشريف إكرامي وأحمد فتحي من الأهلي.

Newcastle are within touching distance — one victory in Rafa Benitez’s eyes — of Premier League safety. They should reach that goal with games to spare.

After finishing tenth last season, and managing to do a similarly spectacular job this year, it beggars belief that the club have not seen the light, and tied him down to a long-term deal.

Benitez, of course, shuns much of the plaudits, and is usually the first person to pay credit to the players, the back-room team around him, and the fans, for the Magpies’ success — or at least what warrants the term success at Newcastle under Mike Ashley!

But you cannot underestimate the amount of work the Spaniard has put in to transform Newcastle from the doldrums they were in when he took over.

He has gone from a squad that looked bereft of ideas, or being able to raise their game when required. A squad who had dates of paydays circled on their calendars, instead of those of big games coming up, to one of commitment and belief.

It is down to Rafa… no one else.

Speaking to the Newcastle Chronicle about the squad he inherited, he described why the scenario is different now to 2016.

He has reduced niggly injuries within the squad, thanks to his personal fitness regime, and that has played a significant role in the upturn of fortunes.

He said: “It’s not the same and I will tell you why. When we just arrived, we had 13 injuries, something that you couldn’t see.

“I remember that we had to play with [Vurnon] Anita as a left full-back, and after with [Jack] Colback, because we didn’t have a left full-back or a holding-midfielder.

“Now almost everybody is fit, and we have some players that now have some experience in the Premier League.”

But significantly, he added another reason why things are rosier on Tyneside now — because he has a team that “cares” about Newcastle United, and a group where “everybody is focused” on what needs to be done, week in, week out.

He said: “We lost very, very important players when we were relegated. You see they are now playing in the Premier League – [Andros] Townsend, [Moussa] Sissoko, [Daryl] Janmaat, [Georginio] Wijnaldum. They are good players.

“We lost something but, little by little, we were building something new. What do we have now? We have a team that we know, and everybody knows, that every player cares, and everybody is focused – all these things. So it is different.

“I am not saying it is better or worse, but it is different. Those players, they were very good players in the Premier League, but in an environment that was not ideal.”

It is Rafa at his pragmatic, diplomatic best. He will not come out and say it, but his words are there to be interpreted — he inherited a team of individuals who cared about themselves, not the football club.

But the biggest difference, is Benitez himself.

He has single-handedly made St James’ Park a better place. His tactics. His squad management. His relationship with the fans.

It is all down to him.

He has united a club around him, and brought hope back to legions of Geordies who turn up every other week and sing his name from the rafters.

How Mike Ashley has put himself in a position where he might lose him, is beyond the fathoms of every fan, player and pundit alike.

But it is not too late. He can still come to his senses, and realise that he should buy in to Rafa’s vision.

For the future of your football club, you must sign him up, Mike!

What do you think of Rafa’s transformation at Newcastle? Can you imagine what will happen if Rafa leaves? Join in the debate below…

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West Ham United are considering a summer move for Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, per ClaretandHugh.

The Magpies star has been routinely linked with the Hammers over the past few seasons but manager Manuel Pellegrini could finally formalise their interest when the transfer window reopens.

What’s the word?

Shelvey has struggled for game time at St James’ Park this season, making just 14 appearances in all competitions due to a number of injury issues.

Indeed, he last played 90 minutes in the Premier League in October, in a 0-0 draw with Southampton.

ClaretandHugh claim that Pellegrini is keen to strengthen his midfield this summer, with Pedro Obiang almost certain to leave.

The Hammers have subsequently drawn up a shortlist of potential targets and the report states that Shelvey is on it.

The 27-year-old has spent three years at Newcastle, making 108 appearances. He has also won six caps for England.

Noble’s long-term replacement

Mark Noble is approaching the twilight of a storied career.

He is 31 and will be 33 when his contract expires in 2021.

A move for Shelvey, then, could form part of a succession plan for a player who first joined the Hammers in 2000.

He will surely mark 20 years at the club next season – there is precious little chance of the captain being sold on in the summer – but Pellegrini would be wise to bring in his successor before Noble actually departs.

That would allow Shelvey to sit under the learning tree, so to speak, and truly immerse himself at West Ham. He is a better player than Noble is currently; his range of passing, in particular, sets him apart from the Hammers captain, while he is also capable of the genuinely spectacular.

Nevertheless, Noble’s replacement will have a lot to live up to in the eyes of the fans and playing alongside him first is a logical way to ensure that the transition is seamless.

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West Ham United almost appointed Marcelo Bielsa as manager prior to the hiring of Slaven Bilic, according to reliable source Ex-West Ham United Employee.

Bielsa, of course, is now managing Leeds United and is attempting to guide his side to promotion to the Premier League.

What’s the word?

Bilic was appointed to succeed Sam Allardyce after a truly dismal season at Upton Park.

The Croatian was a former player and lasted two years at the helm.

Football FanCast have confirmed that Bielsa was a target prior to Bilic’s appointment, with one highly placed source stating that he had a “reputation for the bizarre”.

Nevertheless, the then-Marseille boss was seen as an attainable, realistic target.

Indeed, at one point, he was considered the club’s top target, though his lack of English was eventually seen as prohibitive.

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Bilic was both fluent in the language and had also played for the Irons before, swaying the board’s thinking and ultimately proving a deciding factor.

Circus avoided

How would West Ham’s team have looked under Bielsa?

It is difficult to envisage the likes of Mark Noble and Andy Carroll thriving under his hard-running, high-pressing regime.

Bilic, though, enjoyed a fine first season and took the Hammers to seventh, though they slipped to 11th the campaign after.

After that, he was sacked and replaced by David Moyes.

Perhaps Bielsa was lucky to avoid the circus at the Hammers – he may not have been given any time at all to embed his methods – and he may well be in the Premier League next season anyway, with Leeds United knocking on the door of automatic promotion.

He can count himself lucky that West Ham moved on to alternative targets.

Arnaud Djoum has bounced back from last year’s nightmare season, with a string of consistent performances for Hearts this season, that has seen him catch the eye of Ligue 1 side, Toulouse.

Having arrived at Hearts as a free agent in the summer of 2015, he was a mainstay in the team, before last season’s horror, which saw the player suffer no less than three ligament injuries.

After recovering from a medial ligament injury shortly into the season — only to suffer an Achilles one a month later — his season was ended with an Achilles rupture which kept him out of action from February until September last year.

But he showed true fighting spirit during his rehabilitation, and after winning his fitness battle, he has gone on to cement his place back in the Hearts midfield.

But the Cameroon international is out of contract at the end of the season, and with no new offer on the table from the Tynecastle club, he is currently able to speak to interested parties ahead of a summer move.

According to the Daily Star via The Scottish Sun, the French club are looking to rebuild their squad next season, hoping to improve on this year’s mid-table performance, and they see Djoum as the perfect man to fill one of their midfield slots.

Even taking into account the 29-year-old’s injuries last year, Hearts fans will still think they got everything they hoped for from the player, and that he arrived at Tynecastle for free, then fans will surely wish him well, when he leaves.

We think it would suit all parties for him to move on in the summer, but it will be essential that a suitable replacement is brought in, as Hearts should be looking to rebuild their own squad, in a bid to close the gap on Rangers and Celtic, and start looking to battle for a Europa League spot next season.

What are your thoughts on Djoum, Hearts fans? Would you offer him another contract? Or is it in everyone’s best interests for him to move on? Let us know…

رغم خسارة برشلونة في الكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد، إلا أن الدولي الأمريكي سيرجينيو ديست، ترك شعورًا جيدًا للغاية خلال المباراة، وكان أحد أفضل اللاعبين في النادي الكتالوني.

لعب ديست مباراته الأولى مع برشلونة في مواجهة خيتافي بمركز الظهير الأيسر، بدلًا من جوردي ألبا بسبب الإصابة، لكن أمام ريال مدريد ظهر في مكانه الأساسي كـ ظهير أيمن.

طالع أيضًا.. الحكومة الكتالونية تورط بارتوميو وتوافق على استفتاء سحب الثقة

صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، أفادت أن اللاعب الأمريكي الأول في تاريخ برشلونة، حصل على إشادة القائد جيرارد بيكيه، بعد المستوى الذي ظهر عليه في مباراة الكلاسيكو.

في منتصف الشوط الأول، أغلق على فينيسيوس المساحة للمرور، بعدما حصل على الكرة في أكثر من مرة أمام مارسيلو أيضًا، وهو ما جعل جيرارد بيكيه يصرخ مشيدًا به بين شوطي المباراة.

بيكيه بعد المباراة تحدث مع ديست بعيدًا عن المجموعة، وأخبره بأن عليه مواصلة تقديم هذا الأداء، وأنه كان أفضل لاعب في برشلونة.

Everton are looking to build a squad for the future, so they should already have their eye on their possible Cenk Tosun replacement, Bassala Sambou from the U23s.

The 21-year-old was brought to the club from Coventry in 2016 and this season he’s really come into his own for the Toffees’ youth team. He’s bagged 11 goals and two assists in 23 appearances for them, with two coming in the open-age Checkatrade trophy.

Cenk Tosun has scored and assisted just three each in the 27 times he’s appeared for the first team this season, and that’s nowhere near good enough for a club looking to break into the top six. He should go in summer and be replaced by Sambou.

Everton have to go out and spend money on wingers to provide their other forwards with opportunities after Theo Walcott and Richarlison just haven’t been up to scratch. Some would argue they need an out-and-out striker too, but why not give this youngster a chance.

It’s risk-free and the Everton faithful will have patience with the German, as all clubs do with players that come through the ranks.

If the decision pays off, it could save the club tens of millions in the long run which can be spent on other areas.

The club need to spend, but they also need to prove to their youth players that opportunities will arise if they play well enough in the U23s. Sambou should be the youngster to set that precedent, and who knows what may come of it?

Everton fans, do you think your team needs to buy an out-and-out striker or could Bassala Sambou be the man? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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Tottenham Hotspur beat Crystal Palace in their first game at the new stadium on Wednesday.

On a momentous evening for the football club, goals from Son Heung-Min and Christian Eriksen ultimately proved decisive against Roy Hodgson’s men, and came about after a major tactical decision from manager Mauricio Pochettino.

On the chalkboard

Pochettino began the game with Son partnering Harry Kane up front.

The South Korea international has played in that position many times before but the fact remains that it very rarely works.

Son is always starved of space and service when alongside the England captain because of Kane’s desire to drop deep and dictate the play.

A pacey, direct winger, Son is better used when deployed on the flank as he has the freedom to run at defenders and affect the game in a manner more befitting to his playing style.

Nevertheless, Danny Rose, normally a left-back, started the game on the wing, with Ben Davies in a full-back role. Throughout the first half, it limited Spurs’ threat and allowed Palace to sit deep and pick off any attempted through balls or chipped passes over the top.

In the second half, however, Pochettino made a positive change and shifted Son to the flank.

And his goal came about as a direct result of him cutting inside from the right and firing an effort at goal. It found its way in after a heavy deflection but history, all of a sudden, was his – the first competitive goalscorer at the new stadium.

The switch also influenced the second goal. Without Son occupying the space on the left, Kane charged into the box and was perhaps fouled, but the ball broke to Christian Eriksen, who lashed home.

A handful

Son is, of course, a handful wherever he plays.

A genuinely superb forward, Son’s strengths lie in his versatility.

He is equally adept at playing on the flanks as he is through the middle but Pochettino has been faced with a tricky decision with the star since Kane’s return to fitness.

Son scored in every Premier League game that his team-mate missed but has not performed anywhere near as well as a central striker since his return.

Pochettino, then, appears to have finally found the solution; let Kane do his thing through the middle, with Son floating in off the flanks, weighing in with his own significant contribution.

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Daniel Levy insists that Tottenham Hotspur want to become one of the best clubs in world football after completing the construction of their new stadium, per The Telegraph.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as it is currently known, will play host to its first Premier League game on Wednesday evening when Spurs take on Crystal Palace.

What’s the word?

Spurs have not signed a single player in the past two transfer windows, with their last permanent acquisition being Lucas Moura from PSG in January of 2018.

This year’s January transfer window, as well as the summer, passed without a signing as Spurs completed work on their £1billion stadium, that has so far hosted two test events, an Under-18 game against Southampton and a legends game that saw Tottenham take on Inter Milan.

Palace visit on Wednesday for the official curtain-raiser and, ahead of the game with the Eagles, Levy has told journalists that he is hoping to transform Spurs into one of the biggest clubs on the planet.

The Telegraph report he said: “I have a very thick skin, so I ignore all the criticism, partly because sometimes when you’re on the inside, maybe you know the other side.

“I’m always there to protect the club. I would say that the last 18 years, this club has definitely gone forward and clearly like any business, any club, you have your ups and downs but I think we’ve created the infrastructure here to become one of the biggest clubs in the world.”

Levy has to back this up

These words are fine and, in fact, will prove illuminating for a number of fans that are not used to hearing from their famously private chairman.

But there has to be substance behind his words.

If Spurs are to break through the glass ceiling and start winning trophies regularly, the club have to invest in the playing squad and bring it up to a Premier League-winning standard.

The likes of Manchester City and Liverpool have spent big in recent years given their desperation to remain at the top of the food chain.

Spurs, then, have to do the same. Levy has overseen the building of a genuinely phenomenal stadium that will be the envy of Europe.

Now, he has to oversee the building of a team in the same vein. Otherwise, what was the point?

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Loads of Celtic fans have been reflecting on the weekend’s action, and they just can’t accept the performances under Neil Lennon nor his comments after the Livingston draw.

Celtic lost ground in the title race this weekend, and while the Bhoys are of course still heavy favourites to secure their eighth consecutive league win, fans are not happy with Lennon.

The boss replaced Brendan Rodgers in February, and while he has done excellent to steady the ship and almost secure the title, the performances have been worrying to say the least.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

The 1-0 win against Dundee and 0-0 draw with Aberdeen were hardly inspiring, and the performance level wasn’t exactly excellent against Rangers considering they had ten men for most of the match.

After Saturday’s goalless draw, Lennon gave his verdict on his side’s form: “Total extreme from last week. Sometimes the fans need to be excited and I thought the players did what they could, especially in the first-half, but they lacked that little bit of punch today.”

He continued: “I think if we’d have got the goal at any stage we would’ve won the game comfortably. We are not firing on all cylinders at the moment.”

Fans are not too impressed by the gaffer’s comments, as they view the problems he highlighted as things he is responsible for fixing, like motivating the players.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, look away now Neil…