Now worth more than Cunha: Wolves must regret not signing £21m goal machine

Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters will be jumping for joy that they still have Matheus Cunha at their beloved club, considering the explosive Brazilian was linked with a mega-money move away in the winter transfer window.

Instead of seeking out pastures new at either Arsenal or Nottingham Forest, however, the ex-Atletico Madrid ace would pen a new contract at Molineux until 2029, with a release clause around the £60m mark now in play.

Signing Cunha for £43m back in January 2023 has definitely proven to be a wise investment, therefore, with the Old Gold powerhouse twisting and turning table-topping Liverpool for fun last time out.

Cunha's unbelievable Wolves form

Indeed, without Cunha’s constant magic, Vitor Pereira’s men would potentially be deep in relegation trouble.

Off the back of his curled strike hitting the back of Alisson’s net at Anfield, the sensational South American is up to a jaw-dropping 12 goals and four assists in league action from just 24 clashes this season, hence higher-up suitors rightly taking notice.

With the same amount of goals under his belt last campaign, on top of three more assists, it goes without saying that the 25-year-old will likely leave the Old Gold down the line for mega bucks, especially with that tempting release clause now in view.

Before any talk of a transfer away progresses, Cunha will hope his continued excellence sees his current side stay up in the top-flight, with the Premier League bottom three no doubt cursing Wolves for having such a dynamite player in their ranks.

But, in another reality, Pereira’s men could have been boosted in attack even more with the arrival of this superstar for just £21m in the summer of 2023, with the lethal marksman now worth even more than Cunha.

The "world class" striker now worth more than Cunha

The Old Gold would have been pleased to get Cunha in through the door in January of the same year, but there must still be a lingering regret in the air in the West Midlands all the same.

After all, Viktor Gyokeres – after building a reputation for being a feared goalscorer in the EFL at nearby Coventry City – would further show off his unerring class in front of goal at Sporting, leaving Wolves with a sense of what could have been if they’d pushed harder for his cut-price signature, having been among the clubs interested prior to his move to Portugal.

From 116 games donning the Sky Blue jersey of Coventry, the deadly Swede would fire home a reasonable 43 strikes. Now, in Portugal, Gyokeres has become even more of a ruthless beast, with a sublime 34 goals coming his way this season from 36 clashes.

That’s amazingly 21 more than Cunha has helped himself to in all competitions back in England, with Gyokeres even labelled now as “world class”, according to the BBC’s Noah Mcilroy, which has led to his transfer value skyrocketing whilst in Lisbon.

Gyokeres’ Sporting numbers

Stat

Gyokeres

Games played

86

Goals scored

77

Assists

23

Hat tricks

5x

Original fee

£20m

Release clause value

£84m

Sourced by Transfermarkt

As can be seen looking at the table above, off the back of his devastating form in the Portuguese capital, Gyokeres has a hefty £84m release clause value now next to his name, which may have deterred any bids coming Sporting’s way during the peak of the Swede’s goalscoring powers.

However, new reports have suggested that Gyokeres could leave Rui Borges’ titans for a lesser £63m, which is still a smidge more than Cunha’s touted available price of £60m.

Sporting CP's ViktorGyokeres

It does look likely that Sporting’s electric number nine will move back to England at some point – with Manchester United and others circling from the Premier League – as Wolves’ bad fortune could be compounded even more if the Scandinavian bags a goal past the Old Gold in the top-flight very soon.

Wolves now at threat of losing "important" star alongside Cunha this summer

A concern for Pereira…

ByTom Cunningham Feb 14, 2025

Stoinis' 18-ball 59* gives Australia NRR-lifting win over Sri Lanka

Hits Australia’s fastest T20I fifty and helps defending champs go over the line in tricky chase

Andrew Fidel Fernando25-Oct-20222:13

Kumble: Stoinis had to come in and stamp his authority

A spectacular display of thumping-the-daylights-out-of-a-cricket-ball from Marcus Stoinis took a tense game and made it a cakewalk. Australia needed 69 off 46 balls when he walked in, and there was potential for this to be a low-scoring thriller.But then the man muscled six sixes and four fours in an 18 ball innings, in which he basically bullied every ball he faced. He hit Australia’s fastest T20I half century, off 17 deliveries, and ended up making 59 not out, at a strike rate of 328.Thanks mostly to him, and a little to Glenn Maxwell who hit 23 off 12, Australia not only claimed their first victory of the Super 12, they also reversed some of the damage to their net run rate that New Zealand had inflicted in their first match. They are back up to -1.555 now, with some of the traditionally weaker teams still to play.The Stoinis blitz
It happened so quickly. The man hit three fours off seamers from his first six balls, though two of these were fortunate edges. But then the sixes began to rain down off the spinners, and you knew the man meant business. He monstered Wanindu Hasaranga twice over the general cow corner region. Perhaps even more impressively, he hit Maheesh Theekshana for three sixes, crashing him over long on, over extra cover, then down the ground, to finish.Stoinis made sure that Australia hit 20 off that over, the the 16th of the innings. This is no joke, but Theekshana had completed just three runs off his two previous overs.He’d hit one more six, off the pace of Kumara this time. But this is after he’d set an Australia record for fastest fifty. This was a game-breaking performance, after he’d bowled two half-decent overs for 17 runs.Charith Asalanka gave the Sri Lanka innings some impetus•ICC via Getty

Hasaranga gets taken apart
Australia clearly had a plan to go after Hasaranga. In an era in which they were more abrasive, they might have called this “cutting off the head of the snake” – i.e. taking down the opposition’s best. Between Mitchell Marsh, Maxwell, and Stoinis, Hasaranga was clattered for five sixes and two fours, and so blasted for 53 runs off three overs.Hasaranga’s game is partly built on not being hittable on slower, lower tracks. But he doesn’t have a lot of experience on the quicker, bouncier ones such as in Perth. You would usually expect him to hit back at an assault. He didn’t have answers today.Sri Lanka didn’t nail their batting either
Sri Lanka’s top order found the extra bounce on this pitch hard to contend with. Pathum Nissanka produced a modest innings – 40 off 45, that featured plenty of plays and misses and balls that hit the high part of his bat.None of the other top order batters really seemed to have a measure of the surface and Australia’s pace, aside from Charith Asalanka, who came back to form with a 38 not out off 25 balls. Chamika Karunaratne’s 14 not out off seven balls helped too.Finch’s terrible outing
While Nissanka is just making his way, Australia captain Finch produced an even worse innings, struggling to 31 off 42, sometimes putting his team’s cause at risk. He was not out at the end alongside Stoinis. But he put real pressure on his fellow batters, and was visibly frustrated during parts of this innings.

رسميًا | تشكيل الجهاز الفني الجديد للنادي الأهلي

استقر مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي رسمياً، على شكل الجهاز الفني الجديد للفريق الأول لكرة القدم، في إطار السعي وراء تحقيق آمال الجماهير في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية.

وكان الأهلي قد استقر على تعيين ريفيرو مديراً فنياً لفريق الكرة خلال الفترة المقبلة، وذلك بعد رحيل مارسيل كولر بعد خروجه من منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وينتظر الأهلي مهمة خاصة بالمشاركة في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، التي تستضيفها الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية بنظامها الجديد الموسع، بتواجد 32 فريقًا من حول العالم، خلال الفترة من 14 يونيو 2025 إلى 13 يوليو 2025.

طالع أيضاً.. رسميًا | الأهلي يعلن التعاقد مع جوزيه ريفيرو

وشهد تشكيل الجهاز الفني الجديد للأهلي، تواجد المدير الفني المؤقت عماد النحاس، وذلك بعدما نجح في التتويج بلقب الدوري المصري، كمدرب عام للفريق، مع استمرار محمد يوسف أيضًا في منصبه المدير الرياضي للفريق.

ولم يتواجد في التشكيل الجديد، محمد شوقي الذي كان متواجدًا خلال الفترة الأخيرة مع الجهاز الفني لـ كولر وعماد النحاس. الجهاز الفني الجديد للنادي الأهلي

– جوزيه ريفيرو (مدير فني)

– عماد النحاس (مدربًا عاماً)

– كارلوس نودار (مدربًا مساعدًا)

– ميجيل بيبيير (معدًّا بدنياً)

– خوان خوسيه (مدرب حراس)

– سيباستيان بودسيادلي (محلل أداء)

– بودسيادلي (محلل أداء)

Odvan, Cafu e Carlos Germano atuam em série que conta origem do Narcotráfrico no Rio

MatériaMais Notícias

Os ex-jogadores Odvan, Cafu, Carlos Germano, Djalminha e Grafite atuaram na série “O jogo que mudou a História”, do Globoplay. Eles representaram jogadores de futebol em um campeonato amador em uma história que conta a origem do narcotráfico no Rio de Janeiro.

RelacionadasFora de CampoEx-astro do Chelsea está namorando amiga de filho que morreu, diz jornal inglêsFora de Campo18/06/2022Fora de CampoSormani exalta Palmeiras de Abel Ferreira: ‘Santos de Pelé era assim’Fora de Campo18/06/2022Fora de CampoMike Tyson diz que estava ‘chapado e irritado’ antes de agredir passageiro em aviãoFora de Campo17/06/2022

A informação foi publicada pela colunista Patrica Kogut, do “O Globo”. Na história, os atletas defendem as cores de duas comunidades fictícias: Padre Nosso e Parada Geral, que vivem um clima de rivalidade em uma final de campeonato ao mesmo tempo em que as comunidades vivem uma disputa pelo tráfico de drogas.

+ Ranking dos melhores times do mundo coloca equipe brasileira em 1º lugar

A série, criada por José Júnior e com direção de Heitor Dhalia ainda tem no elenco os atoresRaphael Logam, Jonathan Azevedo, Babu Santana, Vanessa Giácomo e Otávio Müller

De Kock named Durban Super Giants' captain for SA20

Their season begins on January 11 with a game against Johannesburg Super Kings

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Nov-2022

Quinton de Kock made over 500 runs in IPL 2022 with three fifties and a hundred•BCCI

Quinton de Kock has been named the captain of Durban Super Giants for the inaugural edition of the SA20 competition.De Kock, 29, is one of South Africa’s key players. His left-handedness and aggression at the top of the order make him a sought after commodity in the T20 cricket. Alongside his runs – 8497 at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 138 – de Kock also has experience captaining the national side. He has led them in four Tests, eight ODIs and 11 T20Is. De Kock is also on the books of the Lucknow Super Giants, the IPL team that shares the same owners as this Durban team.Related

Inaugural SA20 league to begin on January 10

Gautam Gambhir named 'global mentor' for all Super Giants teams

Jofra Archer is MI Cape Town's wildcard signing for SA20

In December 2021, de Kock retired from Test cricket, citing the difficulty to play all three formats.De Kock had a highly successful IPL in 2022 – 508 runs at a strike rate of nearly 150 – and followed it up with a good CPL as well – 221 runs at a strike rate of nearly 130. But his returns slipped in the Hundred in England and his most recent assignment – the men’s T20 World Cup – didn’t go according to plan either. South Africa were eliminated at the group stage of the tournament after defeat to the Netherlands.While the Test players are preparing for a tour of Australia in December, de Kock will be free to plot his SA20 campaign. At Durban, he will have Keshav Maharaj, Jason Holder and head coach Lance Klusener to help him take the team forward. Their season begins on January 11 with a game against the franchise that represents de Kock’s birth place, the Johannesburg Super Kings.

Nottingham Forest plotting summer move to sign "superb" £17m Serie A winner

Already thinking about summer reinforcements, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly plotting a move to sign a Serie A winner in a deal worth £17m for Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Whilst they remain as high as third in the Premier League, it’s now three games without victory for Nottingham Forest in the top flight since they returned from their warm-weather training camp at the beginning of February. With Ipswich Town in the FA Cup up next on Monday, Nuno will no doubt be keen to forget about his side’s recent league struggles and take a key step towards Forest’s first piece of major silverware since 1990.

Those in the Midlands should still take some positives from their last Premier League outing too, having earned a 0-0 draw against Arsenal to dent the Gunners’ title hopes even further and stay within touching distance of the North London club sat in second.

Nottingham Forest want to sign two new players from Marinakis-owned club

Nottingham Forest are keen to kickstart another recruitment drive.

BySean Markus Clifford Feb 28, 2025

That said, the goal should remain firmly set on achieving Champions League qualification, no matter where they find themselves in the top four. By booking a shock place on Europe’s biggest stage, those at the City Ground could even get the chance to lure a Serie A winner to the club when the summer transfer window opens.

According to Tuttosport, as relayed by Milan Press, Nottingham Forest are now plotting a summer move to sign Alexis Saelemaekers from AC Milan in a deal worth €20m (£17m).

They’re not the only side interested, however, with Newcastle United reportedly igniting a race between two Premier League sides who have been operating in close quarters on the pitch throughout the current campaign.

Forest will hope that their potential Champions League qualification comes into play in such a race, especially given that Newcastle are currently on course to miss out on a place in Europe’s top competition.

"Superb" Salemaekers could turn into summer bargain

At just £17m, there’s every chance that Saelemaekers turns into one of the bargains of the summer. Whilst he hasn’t been without his struggles at AC Milan, the winger has since enjoyed an excellent loan spell at AS Roma to take a step back towards becoming the player he was when he won the Serie A at the San Siro in the 2021/22 campaign.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Alexis Saelemaekers

Callum Hudson-Odoi

Starts

12

20

Goals

5

4

Assists

2

2

Key Passes

20

35

Dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig during his initial rise through the ranks at AC Milan, Saelemaekers could now swap the Italian giants for a Premier League side on the rise, where he’d compete against a player he’s already been outperforming in Hudson-Odoi.

For Espirito Santo, meanwhile, that competition is only likely to improve his side in the face of fresh European fixtures to contend with on top of an already-stacked Premier League calendar.

With Newcastle also interested in the 25-year-old though, those at the City Ground may need to step up their move sooner rather than later in the coming months.

Diante do Grêmio, Bahia tenta se consolidar no G-4 da Série B

MatériaMais Notícias

No próximo domingo, o Bahia recebe o Grêmio, em jogo que será importantíssimo na sequência da Série B.

– VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE B

Com 28 pontos, o Esquadrão de Aço está três a frente do Tricolor e sonha com um triunfo dentro de casa.

Caso o time vença o adversário direto, o Bahia vai abrir seis pontos dos gaúchos e se consolidar na zona de acesso da Segunda Divisão.

Sport

Vale citar, que o Sport, primeiro time fora do G-4, o Bahia está com sete pontos a frente.

RelacionadasBahiaEnderson Moreira é liberado para estrear no BahiaBahia01/07/2022FortalezaThiago Galhardo marca presença em jogo do Fortaleza na LibertadoresFortaleza01/07/2022FluminenseTorcida do Fluminense compra carga total de ingressos para jogo que marcará despedida de FredFluminense01/07/2022

"أنا صديت 8 ركلات جزاء".. محمد صبحي يكشف ما قاله للجهاز الفني عند تبديله أمام بيراميدز

أعرب ثنائي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، محمد صبحي وحمزة المثلوثي، عن سعادتهما بعد الفوز على بيراميدز في نهائي كأس مصر والتتويج باللقب.

والتقى بيراميدز مع الزمالك، على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي، في نهائي كأس مصر، وفاز الأبيض بنتيجة 8-7 بركلات الترجيح.

وقال محمد صبحي في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “أشكر الجماهير التي ساندتنا ووقفت بجانبنا في الظروف السيئة قبل الجيدة، لم نوفق في الدوري وخرجنا من إفريقيا وجاءوا ليشجعونا اليوم”.

طالع أيضاً.. عمر جابر يٌعلن اعتزال لاعب الزمالك بعد الفوز بـ كأس مصر.. وعواد يوجه رسالة لـ محمد صبحي

وتابع: “كنا نواجه فريقًا كبيرًا، بيراميدز توج بدوري أبطال إفريقيا ولعب بثقة، ونحن كنا أيضاً نلعب بثقة (إحنا الزمالك برضو)”.

يُقال إنك غادرت الملعب وأنت غاضب أجاب: “أنا أمس تصديت لـ 8 ركلات جزاء في التدريبات، فكنت أقول لهم أنا تصديت أمس، لكن أنا كنت بتمنى التوفيق لـ عواد، أنا عمري ما كان لدي مشكلة مع أحد كلنا عائلة واحدة”.

ومن جانبه قال حمزة المثلوثي في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “لا يوجد أحد لا يريد أن يُكمل مسيرته في نادي كبير مثل الزمالك، الضغط وأنت خارج الملعب يكون أقوى كثيراً، لكن الحمد لله الزمالك دائماً يسعى إلى أن يُتوج بالبطولات”.

واختتم: “جمهور الزمالك هو رقم واحد، بدون جمهور الزمالك النادي (ولا حاجة).

Titular absoluto, Bento coleciona números expressivos na meta do Furacão

MatériaMais Notícias

Titular absoluto desde que o goleiro Santos trocou o Athletico Paranaense pelo Flamengo, Bento tem se mostrado figura crucial pelo desempenho de destaque apresentado até agora pelo Furacão na temporada.

– VEJA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO

Permitindo assim que o time dirigido por Luiz Felipe Scolari se mantenha vivo na disputa pelos títulos nas três principais competições em que participa em 2022: Libertadores, Brasileiro e Copa do Brasil.

Neste ano, o goleiro já atuou em 30 jogos pelo clube, todos na condição de titular. Dentro disso, foram conquistados 17 vitórias, seis empates e apenas sete derrotas, número que corresponde ao aproveitamento de 63,33% dos pontos disputados.

Sob o comando de Felipão, o aproveitamento de Bento na meta do Athletico é ainda mais expressivo. Em 20 partidas realizadas no período, o Furacão saiu de campo com o resultado positivo em 13 oportunidades, empatou outras cinco e perdeu apenas em duas ocasiões.

Com pouco mais de 50 apresentações na meta do Furacão, a importância de Bento pelo atual momento do clube está também representada no número de jogos que o goleiro garantiu o empate ou a vitória.

Totalizando 17 atuações dentro desta condição, exemplos não faltam. Entre esses estão exibições como a ocorrida na vitória (2 a 0) diante do Palmeiras, até então líder do Brasileirão, em São Paulo, ou o empate (0 a 0) recente contra o Internacional, também pela competição nacional.

Prata da casa, Bento defende o Furacão desde a categoria sub-15. Entre as principais conquistas desde que chegou ao profissional, estão a Copa Sul-Americana e duas edições do Campeonato Paranaense.

RelacionadasInternacionalEmpate com o São Paulo ‘afasta’ Internacional da briga pela liderançaInternacional21/07/2022Futebol LatinoDiego Miranda muda de clube no futebol da Arábia SauditaFutebol Latino21/07/2022BragantinoTrinca! Bragantino conquista a terceira vitória consecutiva no BrasileirãoBragantino21/07/2022

Chelsea constantly watching £66m "generational talent" who's at London club

Chelsea have constantly been watching a “generational talent” who plays for a fellow London club, but there may be competition for his signature from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Blues eyeing a midfielder

Enzo Maresca’s side have been linked with moves for players in a range of positions ahead of the summer transfer window, but they seem to have particularly stepped up their interest in a central midfielder as of late.

The Blues are reportedly planning to submit a £50m bid for Barcelona’s Gavi, who is now considered one of their key targets, with the Spaniard’s future at the Camp Nou in doubt due to a lack of game time.

Gavi is not the only Barca midfielder who could have the chance to move to Stamford Bridge in the summer, however, as the agents of Frenkie de Jong have offered the Dutchman to the west Londoners, whose potential availability for a relatively low fee could make him an attractive option.

Contact made: Chelsea now make first move to sign £42m "freak technician"

The Blues have stepped up their interest in a defender, who’s also being targeted by Premier League and European rivals.

ByDominic Lund Mar 9, 2025

However, according to a report from The Boot Room, Chelsea may also have an option from much closer to home, with it being revealed they have constantly been watching Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton since his arrival at Selhurst Park.

Palace are determined to keep hold of the midfielder, but doing so could prove to be a difficult task, given that a number of Premier League clubs are interested, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa also being named as potential suitors.

Crystal Palace's AdamWhartonin action with Ipswich Town's Julio Enciso

The Eagles are said to be willing to offer Wharton a lucrative new contract, in a bid to ward off the interest from elsewhere, but it remains to be seen whether he is willing to commit to fresh terms.

Reports from elsewhere have indicated Palace could hold out for around £66m this summer, so he will certainly not come cheap.

Wharton impressing since injury comeback

The 21-year-old’s fantastic first season at Palace was rounded off with a call-up to England’s Euro 2024 squad, but his development has been hindered somewhat this season, having missed large parts of the campaign due to a groin injury.

Since returning from injury, however, the maestro has picked up from where he left off, most recently putting in a top performance in Palace’s 1-0 victory against Ipswich Town, receiving a 8.1 SofaScore match rating after creating two big chances.

Having also been lauded as a “generational talent” by members of the media, there are plenty of signs the England international could be a fantastic long-term signing for the Blues.

However, Palace should remain in a strong negotiating position for the time being, given that Wharton is contracted until the summer of 2029, meaning there is no pressing need for them to cash-in in the near future.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus