Two special gifts ultimately swayed Jobe Bellingham to join Borussia Dortmund from Sunderland in a club-record transfer, a report says.

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Bellingham gifted unreleased Dortmund jerseyAlso handed a personal letter by coach KovacJobe to join squad for the Club World CupFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Dortmund left no stone unturned in their chase to get the younger Bellingham brother to Signal Iduna Park. As per in Germany, an unreleased Dortmund jersey and a personal letter from head coach Niko Kovac were the two key items used to persuade the English midfielder to sign the contract.

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The 19-year-old was also offered a contract by Eintracht Frankfurt but chose to sign for Dortmund instead. The decision followed multiple rounds of discussions with Bellingham, in which Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke was personally involved. In a final bid to sway the Englishman, Watzke flew to Birmingham with a special gesture: an unreleased Dortmund jersey featuring Bellingham's name and his beloved No. 7 printed on the back, along with a personal letter addressed to him from Dortmund boss Kovac. Dortmund ultimately signed Bellingham from Sunderland for €33 million (£27.8m/$38.6m), a transfer fee that made him the German club's second-most expensive signing.

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In the letter to persuade Bellingham, Kovac wrote: "Dear Jobe, After our last meeting, I'm more convinced than ever. I want you to wear this shirt… I have a good feeling that we can reach the next level together. We want you here."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR DORTMUND?

Bellingham has already arrived at Signal Iduna Park and completed his first training session. With their target secured, Watzke and Dortmund will now shift their focus to negotiating Jamie Gittens' transfer to Chelsea, as the London club aims to sign him before the upcoming Club World Cup. Dortmund will kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Brazilian club Fluminense on 17 June.

Experienced South Africa left-armer adds to Durham’s bowling options for tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff25-May-2023Durham have announced the signing of Wayne Parnell for the T20 Blast, reinforcing their depleted bowling stocks on the eve of their opening fixture against Northamptonshire on Friday night.Brydon Carse, Paul Coughlin and Mitchell Killeen are all sidelined through injury, while Matthew Potts, Mark Wood and Ben Stokes are set to join up with the England squad to play Ireland at Lord’s next week.As a result the club have brought in Parnell, fresh from his time at the IPL with Royal Challengers Bangalore. He has previously played for five other counties – Sussex, Glamorgan, Kent, Northamptonshire and Worcestershire – as well as with Northern Superchargers in the Hundred.Related

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He is Durham’s second overseas signing specifically for the Blast alongside the Australia middle-order batter Ashton Turner, with David Bedingham likely to start the season on the bench.”Wayne is an experienced international-level T20 bowler with a proven track record of delivering performances in franchise cricket,” Marcus North, Durham’s director of cricket, said.”His experience of playing for and captaining T20 teams around the world will be valuable to us this season. He bowls left-arm pace and can provide runs down the order with the bat.”He has played a lot of white-ball cricket in England and he comes straight to Durham on the back of a good stint in the IPL so he is ready to play when he arrives this weekend.”Parnell added: “I’m delighted to have this opportunity to play for Durham. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my previous spells in England, and everyone speaks well of Durham.”I know some of the lads in the dressing room so I’m hoping to fit straight in and use my experience to deliver some wins for the fans.”

Danni Wyatt and Alice Capsey also part of Test squad, Lauren Winfield-Hill to captain England A

Valkerie Baynes12-Jun-20231:52

England call uncapped Danielle Gibson, Lauren Filer in Ashes Test squad

England have named uncapped Western Storm duo Danielle Gibson and Lauren Filer in a 15-strong squad for the Women’s Ashes Test against Australia, starting next week.Allrounder Gibson was Storm’s joint-highest run-scorer and leading wicket-taker in this season’s Charlotte Edwards Cup and was a travelling reserve for the Women’s T20 World Cup in February. Filer, who has previously represented England Academy, has been a mainstay of Storm’s past two campaigns. She bolsters England’s seam-bowling options which were also without the retired Katherine Sciver-Brunt during the drawn Test against South Africa at Taunton a year ago.Related

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With both in line to earn maiden international caps, England named an otherwise predictable squad including the XI which featured against South Africa, where Issy Wong and Lauren Bell made their international debuts as Sciver-Brunt’s successors.Emma Lamb and Tammy Beaumont, who opened in that match and have shown some fine touch in domestic cricket so far this season, were named in the squad while Danni Wyatt, the leading run-scorer in this year’s Charlotte Edwards Cup, and Alice Capsey, who had a breakout year in 2022, have a chance to make their Test debuts after earning a call-ups to the squad.Kate Cross, England’s most-experienced red-ball bowler, was also selected despite being laid low by a tropical illness during the opening weeks of the season.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The Test squad will play Australia A in a three-day warm-up fixture in Derby from this Thursday ahead of the five-day Test at Trent Bridge from June 22. It will be England Women’s first Test over five days on home soil and their first visit to Trent Bridge since 2000. Following the Test, which is worth four points in the multi-format Ashes series, the sides will play three ODIs and three T20Is worth two points each.Jon Lewis, England Women’s head coach, described the Test squad as “nicely balanced” amid a fast-growing talent pool around the country.”Dani [Gibson] is one of the form cricketers in the country, she is improving both with bat and ball and if selected in the team, offers us a dynamic cricketer who can change the momentum of the game,” Lewis said. “Lauren is a genuine wicket-taking threat with good pace and swing. If selected in the playing XI, she offers us a point of difference in our bowling attack that could impact a Test match at any point in the game.”Lauren Winfield-Hill will captain the England A side to face the senior Australia Women’s team in a three-day warm-up in Leicester this week. She enjoyed some strong domestic form during 2022 and after dropping out of England reckoning midway through the 50-over World Cup earlier that year. She returned to the England fold during the winter tour of the Caribbean and has again performed well in the regional competitions so far in 2023 having lost her central England contract for the current season.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Alice Davidson-Richards and Wyatt will play for England A in the warm-up match while also being part of the Test squad. Grace Scrivens, the England Under-19 captain who led her country to the age-group T20 World Cup final in South Africa earlier this year, was also named in the A side. An England A squad is yet to be announced for T20 and 50-over series against their Australian counterparts.England Women’s Test Squad: Heather Knight (capt), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Issy Wong, Danni WyattEngland Women’s A squad for warm-up vs Australia: Lauren Winfield-Hill (capt), Maia Bouchier, Alice Davidson-Richards, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Kirstie Gordon, Eva Gray, Bess Heath, Eve Jones, Paige Scholfield, Grace Scrivens, Danni Wyatt

Things are getting real at Anfield. A lot of Liverpool fans are going to be feeling rather glass-half-empty right now, what with Trent Alexander-Arnold all but confirmed as a Los Blancos Galactico.

It’s been a long time coming. The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been coy on his future for a long while, actually neglecting to discuss the matter for the past several months.

It would take something extraordinary and, frankly, unrealistic to see the England star pen new terms at his boyhood club. It is what it is, and now FSG must accelerate plans for a successor.

How Liverpool are going to replace Alexander-Arnold

When asked a question on whether Conor Bradley could succeed Alexander-Arnold in the event of his departure, Arne Slot responded evasively. Read between the lines, however, and you can ascertain that he answered in the affirmative.

Bradley, 21, is going to bear increased responsibility next term, but he’s certainly done enough through his maiden years as a professional thus far to prove he has what it takes. Indeed, even pundit Rio Ferdinand had to admit that the Northern Irishman was “phenomenal” when breaking onto the scene last year.

As you will see below, two very different widemen. This works in Liverpool’s favour, balancing Slot’s system with two dynamic and contrasting parts, but Liverpool’s loss will still cut deep.

Conor Bradley vs Jeremie Frimpong (past 365 days)

Stats (per 90)

Bradley

Frimpong

Goals

0.00

0.16

Assists

0.09

0.21

Shot-creating actions

2.06

2.90

Touches

77.92

45.43

Pass completion

84%

76%

Progressive passes

3.84

1.96

Progressive carries

4.21

4.51

Successful take-ons

0.84

0.99

Ball recoveries

5.34

3.04

Tackles + interceptions

3.65

1.61

All stats via FBref

It’s a shame Liverpool have to venture into the transfer market at all this summer. Plans were drawn several years ago to fully bolster Liverpool’s right-back department, but a prodigious young star has sadly fallen by the wayside after once being viewed as Trent’s heir.

Liverpool's forgotten Trent heir

Liverpool were a day late and a dollar short in the Premier League title race last season. That doesn’t look like it will be the case this term, and Alexander-Arnold will bow out as a two-time champion in the top flight.

Bradley can serve in his stead, for sure, but there’s a question regarding the 21-year-old’s fitness levels, routinely sidelined this term. Liverpool actually have a long-forgotten Trent heir, Bradley’s age-mate, who was anticipated to become a mainstay in Jurgen Klopp’s Red side, but that doesn’t look likely anymore.

In June 2022, Liverpool moved to sign teenage right-back Calvin Ramsay from Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen for an initial fee of £4.2m. A further £2.5m in add-ons was agreed, but it doesn’t look like clauses will have been met for such a payment, on an individual basis at least.

Through a mixture of athletic ability, creativity and determination, Ramsay boasts the prototypical skillset of a modern full-back. Similar, in a way, to the talents of Bradley.

Although maybe it would be remiss to exclude the significance that was placed on his playmaking skills. BBC Scotland’s Liam McLeod even remarked following the youngster’s transfer to Merseyside that “the way he plays the game has been modelled” on Alexander-Arnold. The Athletic’s JJ Bull tipped him to be the “next Trent”.

In this way, there’s clearly a long-lost creative force that Liverpool could have used this summer to jostle with Bradley for the top spot, perhaps retaining Alexander-Arnold’s spirit as he ventures off for pastures new in the Spanish capital.

Injuries have unfortunately been the bane of the one-cap Scotland international’s fledgling career, but there truly was such a crackling of excitement regarding his potential.

During those early days at Aberdeen, the teenager posted a goal and nine assists across only 39 senior appearances, highlighting the playmaking quality which Trent has sharpened over the years.

The series of failed loan spells in recent years have, of course, kept Ramsay away from Liverpool’s first team. Injury problems emerged from the offing, limiting him to just two appearances under Klopp’s wing during his debut campaign in England, featuring off the bench against Napoli in the Champions League and playing the full 90 as Liverpool beat Derby County in the Carabao Cup.

Against the Rams, he caught the eye even as Liverpool struggled, forced into a penalty shootout that saw Caoimhin Kelleher produce one of his many clutch performances between the sticks. The Liverpool Echo actually awarded the young Scot a 7/10 match rating, hailing his ‘impressive athleticism and tenacious defending.’

Ramsay was regarded as being tailor-made for Liverpool and specifically Klopp’s system, and his performance in the Carabao Cup only reinforced this notion, completing the most passes on the pitch at 105 and leading those such as Liverpool.com to predict he would be set for a big future.

Ramsay is now back out on loan, playing in Scotland with Kilmarnock. It’s the 21-year-old’s fourth short-term stint away from Anfield since the start of last season, with a catalogue of damaging injuries stunting his progress.

A depreciation in market value marks the defender’s struggles. Transfermarkt record that Ramsay is worth just £2m at present, even less than the sharp fee FSG paid for his services three years ago.

He’s still young and hopes will be high that the Scotsman can forge a successful career for himself after such exciting beginnings in his homeland. Sadly, it just won’t be at Anfield.

Once such an “exceptional” young talent – as was said by Klopp, commenting on his emergence at Aberdeen – Ramsay has endured a nightmare few years on Liverpool’s books. It doesn’t seem likely he will be serving as Alexander-Arnold’s heir any time soon.

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Arne Slot expects to arm his Liverpool side with new parts this summer.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Mar 25, 2025

Celtic have reportedly made contact to sign a new versatile international who has been compared to Hoops star Arne Engels.

Celtic transfer rumours heat up as Rodgers eyes another treble

Brendan Rodgers’ side are still on course to seal another domestic treble but could still be extremely busy in the summer transfer window.

Having already lifted the Scottish League Cup, Celtic lead the way in the Scottish Premiership and are set to take on St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-finals next month.

Arne Engels

FC Augsburg

€11m

Jota

Rennes

€10m

Adam Idah

Norwich City

€9.9m

Auston Trusty

Sheffield United

€7.1m

Paulo Bernardo

Benfica

€3m

Luke McCowan

Dundee

€1.2m

Viljami Sinisalo

Aston Villa

€1.2m

Kasper Schmeichel

Anderlecht

Free transfer

Jeffrey Schlupp

Crystal Palace

Loan transfer

Alex Valle

Barcelona

Loan transfer

Away from the pitch, the Hoops have already secured a pre-contract agreement for left-back Kieran Tierney to return to Parkhead from Arsenal when his Gunners contract expires at the end of the current campaign.

Celtic have also made an offer worth €2m (£1.6m) to sign Kalidou Sidibe from French side En Avant Guingamp, who is viewed as a replacement for loanee Jeffrey Schlupp.

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Centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers could be on his way out of Celtic Park in the coming months amid rumours of a move to England, and there have been claims that Rodgers is speaking to former defender Kristoffer Ajer, who is still with Brentford, about a potential return to Glasgow.

It looks set to be a productive summer despite the club making 10 signings during the 2024/25 season, and a new target has now emerged for Celtic chiefs.

Celtic make contact for former Engels teammate Rexhbecaj

According to reports by Fussball Transfers, relayed by Sport Witness, Celtic are working on a deal to sign FC Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj.

It is claimed that the Hoops have made an approach to ask for information over a potential deal, as have Turkish side Besiktas and Italian outfit Parma.

Rexhbecaj is out of contract with Augsburg at the end of the 2025/26 season, with talks over an extension stalling recently.

The 27-year-old has been likened to Celtic star Engels, as per Football Transfers, and previously played with the current Hoops man at Augsburg. They turned out alongside each other in midfield on 38 occasions and played more than 2,000 minutes on the same pitch.

A Kosovo international, Rexhbecaj can play as a defensive, central or attacking midfielder, and was praised by former Wolfsburg coach Eric Schmidt, who once said: “He is an incredibly powerful, aggressive and strong player. He is quite complete and can play several positions.”

A move to Celtic for Rexhbecaj, by the looks of things, a deal will be one to watch over the coming months.

أثار المهاجم، أسد الحملاوي، الجدل من جديد، بعدما أصدر نادي شلاسك فروتسواف البولندي بيانًا رسميًا يُدين فيه تصرف اللاعب، الذي غادر معسكر الفريق الإعدادي دون إذن مسبق، في خطوة وُصفت بأنها “غير احترافية ومخالفة للعقد المبرم بين الطرفين”.

ويأتي هذا التطور في وقتٍ كان فيه الحملاوي قد دخل دائرة اهتمام النادي الأهلي في الأيام الماضية، قبل أن تتعثر المفاوضات.

وقد أكد النادي البولندي في بيانه أن اللاعب حاول مرارًا الضغط من أجل تسهيل خروجه نحو وجهة جديدة، دون التزام كامل بالشروط التعاقدية، وهو ما دفع الإدارة إلى اتخاذ إجراءات تصعيدية ضد تصرفه الأخير.

اقرأ أيضًا | بين الراحلين والصفقات.. مفاجآت بالجُملة في الأهلي قبل الموسم الجديد

بيان شلاسك فروتسواف بشأن أسد الحملاوي

“يُعلن نادي شلاسك فروتسواف أن مهاجم الفريق، أسد الحملاوي، قد غادر معسكر الفريق الأول بشكلٍ فردي ودون إذن مسبق.

ويُجري فريق شلاسك فروتسواف معسكره التدريبي حاليًا في مدينة تشيبنيتسا استعدادًا لموسم 2025/2026، وكان أسد الحملاوي يشارك في التدريبات والمباراة الودية، إلا أنه غادر المعسكر يوم السبت دون الحصول على موافقة النادي، ونعتبر هذا التصرف غير احترافي إطلاقًا، ولا يليق بلاعب محترف، كما أنه يتعارض مع بنود العقد المبرم واللوائح المنظمة.

وقد مارس اللاعب، برفقة وكيله، ضغوطًا على النادي منذ فترة من أجل الموافقة على انتقاله إلى نادٍ آخر، ونُذكّر هنا أن عقد الحملاوي يمتد حتى يونيو 2027، ويتضمن شرطًا جزائيًا يسمح برحيله في حال سداد المبلغ المنصوص عليه، وهو ما لم يتحقق حتى الآن، إذ لم تصل أي عروض تقترب حتى من القيمة المحددة في العقد، وبالتالي، لم يكن النادي مُلزمًا بقبول تلك العروض، لا سيما أن جميعها كانت أقل من القيمة السوقية الفعلية للاعب.

وبناءً على ذلك، فقد رفض القسم الرياضي ومجلس الإدارة جميع العروض التي وصلت، انطلاقًا من مصلحة النادي، رغم الضغوط المتواصلة من اللاعب ووكالته لتخفيض القيمة المطلوبة، ومع انطلاق المعسكر في تشيبنيتسا، بدأت المحادثات مع نادٍ أجنبي بالتقدم، حيث تلقى شلاسك عرضًا فتح المجال للوصول إلى اتفاق مناسب، ووافق النادي على التفاوض بشأن الصفقة.

لكن هذه المبادرة من جانب النادي قوبلت بتجاهل تام من اللاعب، الذي غادر المعسكر دون إذن يوم السبت في محاولة واضحة للضغط على النادي والمطالبة بالموافقة على الانتقال.

لن يقبل نادي شلاسك فروتسواف مثل هذا السلوك في الماضي أو الحاضر أو المستقبل، وبناءً عليه، تم إنهاء المفاوضات الجارية حاليًا، ويؤكد النادي بوضوح أنه لن يوافق على بيع اللاعب إلا في حال وصول عرض يحقق مصالحه، وبطبيعة الحال، سيُباشر شلاسك اتخاذ الإجراءات القانونية اللازمة لحماية حقوقه، إذ أن اللاعب أخل ببنود عقده، وأظهر قلة احترام للنادي، وزملائه في الفريق، وجماهيره، ما يجعله عرضة للعقوبات من قبل النادي”.

In what would see them add even more firepower next to Alexander Isak, Newcastle United have reportedly opened talks to sign a 20-goal striker for Eddie Howe this summer.

Newcastle make first move for 20-goal star

It should come as little shock that the Magpies have set their sights on an in-form forward for a number of reasons. Of course, the negative reason is that the rumours around Isak’s future are unlikely to go away anytime soon and Newcastle would be wise to have a ready-made replacement waiting in the wings. The same can be said for their need to replace Callum Wilson, who’s set to depart as a free agent this summer.

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Meanwhile, on a more positive front, those at St James’ Park could simply reinforce their frontline to match the quality of the Champions League. They’ve struggled for depth in recent years, but added firepower would certainly go a long way towards solving that problem.

If anyone needed reminding of the firepower that Newcastle already have at their disposal, meanwhile, then Isak’s stunning goal for Sweden in a 5-1 thrashing of Northern Ireland certainly came at the right time.

Even after watching their Swedish star score such goals though, the Magpies have still got their sights set on signing another forward. According to Calcio Mercato, Newcastle have now opened talks with the agent of Moise Kean over a potential summer move.

The former Everton and Juventus man has finally rediscovered his best form at Fiorentina this season and could yet reap the rewards as a result. Already in contact, it’s Newcastle who could offer the Italian a shot at Premier League redemption.

Whether he can be lured back to English football after a nightmare spell last time out remains to be seen, however.

Kean is back to his best after horror Everton spell

For a long time it looked as though Kean was destined to become the latest case of what might have been, only for Fiorentina to help turn his career around at long last. Finally realising his potential, it wasn’t so long ago that he was showing glimpses of his quality against Newcastle and Jamaal Lascelles – scoring in a 2-2 draw in the 2019/20 campaign.

The striker put all three of his attempts on target that night, and also recorded a 100 per cent pass success rate, while Lascelles managed zero tackles and ended up with one of the lowest ratings on the pitch from WhoScored.

Since then, it has far from been a simple journey and his Everton career went downhill, but after scoring 20 goals in all competitions in Italy this season, Kean has deservedly earned the praise of Fiorentina boss Raffaele Palladino.

Palladino told reporters in October: “Kean is demonstrating his great technical and human value. He’s a great professional and an extraordinary guy. In the penalty area, he can be even more incisive. This is perhaps the only step he’s missing.”

In the months that have followed that praise, the Italian forward has arguably found that missing step and become one of the most clinical forwards in Serie A. Now, when the summer arrives, Kean could find himself on his way back to the Premier League.

Captain Hayley Matthews took West Indies to a last-ball win in the first of three T20Is against Ireland. She first took 3 for 22 in four overs to restrict Ireland to 112 in Gros Islet, and followed that up by scoring a sedate 42-ball 37 to script a two-wicket win for West Indies.Shemaine Campbelle’s single off the final delivery of the took West Indies home, something that looked doubtful when they slid from a comfortable 40 for 1 in the ninth over to a tricky 74 for 5 in the 15th. That collapse included top-scorer Matthews’ wicket, who was the first of two to fall off back-to-back balls by medium-pace bowler Arlene Kelly.Kelly trapped Zaida James immediately after having Matthews caught, and finished with 3 for 21, although that effort didn’t prove enough for Ireland in the end.After being asked to bat, Ireland’s batters lost their way following an opening stand of 28 off 23 balls between Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter. Ireland lost three wickets for 16 runs at that stage, with two of those wickets going to Cherry-Ann Fraser, who dismissed Hunter and Orla Prendergast after Matthews had struck first to remove Lewis.Matthews’ counterpart Laura Delany and Eimear Richardson briefly steadied Ireland with a 31-run fourth-wicket stand, which was then broken by offspinner Ashmini Munisar.Delany, who scored 34, fell after adding another 28 with Kelly, but two wickets and just one run off the last four deliveries of their innings stymied Ireland, who eventually fought well with the ball, only to fall just short.

Atletico Madrid fans are raging over a football law change after Julian Alvarez's 'double touch' penalty against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

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• Alvarez had 'double touch' during UCL shootout
• Goal chalked off before Real advanced
• IFAB post change to penalty law

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alvarez saw his effort in a Champions League round of 16 shootout against rivals Real Madrid chalked off due to a 'double touch'. The referee, Szymon Marciniak, cited Law 14.1 of the game's regulations, ruling that the Argentine had made illegal contact with the ball using both feet and subsequently overturned the spot-kick after VAR intervention.

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  However, IFAB has now clarified the rule and under the revised guidance, if a penalty taker unintentionally touches the ball with both feet — for example, due to a slip or misstep — and scores, the penalty must be retaken rather than ruled out. This change means that while deliberate infringements will still be punished, those stemming from accidental movement or slips will no longer carry the same severe consequences.

• WHAT IFAB SAID

  A circular from IFAB read: "(When) the penalty taker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet simultaneously or the ball touches their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after the kick: If the kick is successful, it is retaken. If the kick is unsuccessful, an indirect free kick is awarded (unless the referee plays advantage when it clearly benefits the defending team) or, in the case of penalties (penalty shoot-out), the kick is recorded as missed.”

  It added: "This situation is rare, and as it is not directly covered in Law 14, referees have understandably tended to penalise the kicker for having touched the ball again before it has touched another player, thus awarding an indirect free kick to the opposition or, in the case of penalties (penalty shoot-out), recording the kick as missed.

  "However, this part of Law 14 is primarily intended for situations where the penalty taker deliberately touches the ball a second time before it has touched another player (e.g. when it rebounds from the goalpost(s) or crossbar without touching the goalkeeper). This is very different from the penalty taker accidentally kicking the ball with both feet simultaneously or touching the ball with their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after they have taken the kick, which usually occurs because they have slipped when taking it. Not penalising an accidental double touch would nevertheless be unfair, as the goalkeeper can be disadvantaged by the altered trajectory of the ball.”

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  But for Atletico, the damage has already been done. The timing of IFAB's rule revision has left the fans furious as they believe their club was unfairly eliminated from the Champions League based on a rule that has now been softened in retrospect.

  @Andrei95561884 wrote: "Brother, this implies that there WAS a double touch. This is not making us justice."

  @lachlan_olofsen argued: "That’s great can’t wait for this to happen in a game for another 10 years. Wonder what ridiculous rule they’ll use against Atleti next year 😂."

  Meanwhile, @anhdp018 lashed out: "That's how Vardid thieves take 15 UCL."

  @Alejandr_1903 echoed his thoughts and wrote: "The surprise comes as Real Madrid steals again in a competition."

  @roxrichie added: "The number of decisions that has gone Real Madrid’s way in the UCL is just diabolical. They would have at least 4 less UCL’s if refs was fair."

The 2024/25 campaign is heading toward the final stretch, and Everton look all but safe to enter Bramley Moore on the fertile soil of the Premier League.

In fact, with David Moyes at the helm, there are budding hopes that the Toffees could be set for a period of prosperity, perhaps challenging for a place at the upper end of the table.

Of course, the Blues will need to get it right in the transfer market, and with so much change up the hierarchical ladder, there is an element of uncertainty, though optimism is back and rightly so.

Director of Football Kevin Thelwell will leave in the summer, and in his place Leeds United’s Angus Kinnear will assume transfer seniority in The Friedkin Group’s system. He’ll have plenty to get busy with.

Where Everton will strengthen this summer

Everton had fallen into a state of entropy under the dysfunctional rule of Farhad Moshiri, but there is truly hope things are changing now that a new order is in place.

Players are going to need to leave.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, for example, is approaching the end of his contract and has only scored three times this season. With Beto superseding him at number nine, it feels the right time for the 27-year-old to move on.

Ex-Goodison scout Bryan King has also suggested Abdoulaye Doucoure is going to leave this summer on a free transfer despite the option of a one-year extension.

Moreover, Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom are both loanees on the right flank and neither have set the world on fire this term, albeit improving since Moyes replaced Sean Dyche.

These, it seems, are the key areas of concern for the summer. Though you’d think centre-forward will receive the most dramatic attention.

Moyes has spoken since arriving of his desire to bring Everton back to prominence in the Premier League. There might even be tentative and rudimentary plans mapped out to find a pathway toward Europe.

To do that, Everton may want to aim big in the transfer market.

TFG eyeing audacious signing for Everton

As per GIVEMESPORT, Everton have been put on alert after Juventus reduced Dusan Vlahovic’s £35m asking price to £25m and are now ‘considering’ a move for the powerful striker.

While this might feel like a name beyond the Toffees’ reach, progress under Moyes and the Serbian’s own issues at Juventus make it very possible indeed.

With Calvert-Lewin’s set to depart – incidentally, he’s wanted by the Old Lady – and Armando Broja’s loan move unlikely to become permanent after an injury-wrecked campaign, there really could be something in this one.

What Dusan Vlahovic would bring to Everton

Juventus actually signed Vlahovic from Fiorentina for a huge £67m fee back in January 2022 after his stunning start to life in Italy at Fiorentina.

Strangely, you could say he’s never quite hit the same heights as that balmy start with La Viola, and the Scudetto still eludes him.

Dusan Vlahovic in Serie A (past 5 seasons)
Season	Club	Apps	Goals	Assists
24/25	Juventus	22 (17)	9	1
23/24	Juventus	33 (27)	16	3
22/23	Juventus	27 (22)	10	2
21/22	Juventus	15 (12)	7	1
21/22	Fiorentina	21 (21)	17	4
20/21	Fiorentina	37 (34)	21	2
Stats via Transfermarkt

Though Vlahovic has been perceived to have struggled this season, it’s curious that he’s still outscored all of Everton’s forwards on league ground, with his reputation attracting criticism like a glaring firefly glow.

Indeed, he was hailed as a “world-class player” by Bologna head coach Vincenzo Italiano only in December.

The prolific international, who has 13 goals from 32 Serbia caps, still ranks among the top 12% of players in Serie A this season for goals scored, the same again for shots taken and the top 15% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as recorded by FBref.

Such poaching prowess has even led the data-driven site to pin Moise Kean as one of his most comparable players across Europe, with the former Toffee riding the crest of a wave in Italy with, incidentally, Fiorentina.

We already witnessed Moyes’ tactical nous when it comes to powerful and athletic strikers from Italy; Beto has been reborn since the Scotsman made his fated return to Goodison.

Now, he could repeat the trick with Vlahovic, especially since he’s profiled similarly to Kean, who has scored 19 goals from 32 matches in all competitions this term.

Maybe one of the biggest disappointments of the Moshiri era, Kean joined Everton form Juventus in a £25m deal in 2019. He was just a teenager, and the Blues’ problems precluded his success as he scored only two goals from 32 matches in the Premier League.

Though Everton’s success in selling him back to Juve for a similar £25m ballpark fee took the edge off the blunder, it’s somewhat frustrating to watch the Italy international now perform so admirably for Fiorentina.

All this said, he was still regarded as a top talent when Everton came calling and his profile was billed as perfect for Premier League football. You’d think Vlahovic, more refined and complete at 25 than Kean was, stands a good chance of hitting the mark when considering this.

Signing a forward cut from the same tactical cloth as Kean, who failed to make it work at Everton, would be a neat offshoot from this building tale. Moyes has the capacity to revive Vlahovic, turn him into a top-class Premier League star.

There will be a range of daunting competition for his signature, but Everton have the tools to become an attractive club for such players once again, and this is the kind of deal that could help Moyes replicate the European success he forged at West Ham United.

He earns more than Ndiaye: Everton must axe Thelwell's "disaster" signing

The Everton board surely can’t wait to see the back of this miserable signing.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 12, 2025