لا ينفصل الجدل عن المدرب البرتغالي جوزيه مورينيو، كما هو الحال منذ بداية مسيرته التدريبية في البرتغال، ولم يتغير شيئاً منذ عودته لبنفيكا.
وقد اتضح ذلك في المؤتمر الصحفي الذي عقده جوزيه مورينيو قبل لقاء بورتو وبنفيكا مساء اليوم في الجولة الثامنة من الدوري البرتغالي لكرة القدم.
ويحتل بورتو صدارة ترتيب الدوري البرتغالي برصيد 21 نقطة خلال 7 مباريات، بينما يحتل بنفيكا المركز الثالث برصيد 17 نقطة.
ونشرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” أنه لم يكن الأمر هذه المرة مع منافس بل مع صحفي، حيث انزعج جوزيه مورينيو من سؤال حول راتبه الذي يتقاضاه مع بنفيكا بعد توليه مسؤولية الفريق.
اقرأ أيضاً.. بالدي: عانينا من خطئين تحكيميين أمام إشبيلية.. ولن نبحث عن أعذار
وقال الصحفي لمورينيو: “لم تأتي بسعر رخيص للنادي، لديك سيرة ذاتية تحسد عليها”، ليرد المدرب البرتغالي: “لماذا تجبر نفسك على ربط المباريات براتبي؟ كم راتبك، هل تريد أن تقول ذلك أم لا؟ حسناً، لن تقوله، إذن لا تتحدث عن الراتب”.
وأضاف: “تستمر في قول إنني إذا كنت غاليًا جدًا فأنا بخيل جدًا، وكم الراتب الذي أحصل عليه أو لا أحصل عليه”.
وفي تلك اللحظة أراد الصحفي تبرير سؤاله قائلًا: “لم أقل ذلك لأقلل من احترامك”، فرد مورينيو: “لا، أنت لا تقلل من احترامي لكن يبدو أنك فضولي للغاية لكي تريد معرفة كم أتقاضى من راتبي”.
Simon Harmer rips through visitors in follow-on after Hameed resists with hundred
ECB Reporters Network12-Sep-2024
Simon Harmer gets into his delivery stride•Getty Images
Simon Harmer claimed his second four-wicket haul of the Vitality County Championship match as Essex wrapped up an innings victory over Nottinghamshire before lunch on the final day.The South African off-spinner finished with 4 for 93 as Nottinghamshire’s batting collapsed for a second time in double-quick time to lose by an innings and 83 runs.The relegation-threatened visitors folded from their overnight 180 for 2, still needing 184 to make Essex bat again, losing their remaining eight wickets in 38 overs while adding 101 runs in an extended morning session. They had conceded a 364-run deficit on first innings when bowled out for just 93.Harmer, who added two wickets in the morning, was ably supported by Sam Cook and Paul Walter, who took two wickets apiece to condemn Nottinghamshire to their fourth defeat of the season.Needing to take eight wickets to claim their first win in five games, Essex made early inroads. Cook sent back the two overnight batsmen, Haseeb Hameed and Joe Clarke, inside the first 20 minutes to end their 137-run third-wicket stand. Hameed shaped to play the ball down to third man and was lbw after advancing his score by five to 105 from 166 balls.Clarke followed, chasing a delivery outside off-stump for Harmer to take the catch high to his right at second slip.Jack Haynes and Kyle Verreynne weighed anchor, scoring at two an over for a dozen overs before Walter struck twice in the space of three balls. Haynes departed for eight from 48 balls, aiming to play to leg but getting a leading edge back to the bowler. Lyndon James then fell to a spectacular flying catch at cover by Shane Snater.The new ball accounted for Liam Patterson-White slashing at the third delivery from Jamie Porter with Michael Pepper moving across the claim in front of first slip.The new Kookaburra was only six overs old when Harmer returned and with his fourth delivery had Rob Lord lobbing the ball into bat-pad’s hands. Two balls later Luke Fletcher fell for a three-ball pair when he was bowled.With one wicket standing, Essex claimed the extra half-hour but found Verreynne in obdurate mood for his unbeaten 38. Sixteen-year-old Farhan Ahmed was learning on the job before he nicked behind Snater’s second ball of the seventh extra over.
A third FA Cup victory in six years for Manchester City might not make up for a dismal 2024/25 campaign, but it could plant the seed for rejuvenation under Pep Guardiola next term.
Losing Rodri so early on in the season proved to be the catalyst for the club’s worst run of form since the Spaniard took over in the summer of 2016.
This ensured none of the big prizes would be heading to the Etihad. But it wasn’t just losing Rodri that impacted the club. As a group, the team underperformed as the most successful era in the club’s history drew to a close.
Phil Foden has gone from 40 goal contributions last season to registering just 16 throughout 2024/25 in what has been a steady decline.
Elsewhere, Jack Grealish has also been poor, recording only eight goal contributions all season, while even Kevin De Bruyne hasn’t quite been his influential self as he shows signs of slowing down.
Manchester City's KevinDeBruynecelebrates after the match
One of the biggest disappointments was Erling Haaland. The Norwegian had scored 52 and 38 goals across his first two seasons at the club, but has failed to hit those sorts of numbers this term.
Why Erling Haaland has struggled for Man City this season
The striker certainly began the campaign with a bang. Across his first five Premier League games, Haaland netted an impressive tally of ten goals.
This included back-to-back hat tricks against Ipswich Town and West Ham United. At this point, it appeared as though no one was going to prevent him, or City, from powering to another top-flight title.
Between the start of October and the end of 2024, however, Haaland managed to find the back of the net just three times. Even though his form picked up between January and March, an ankle injury sidelined him for a few games, and he hasn’t scored since March 30.
To put it into context how much of a drop-off the forward has endured this term, he has averaged a goal every 123 minutes in the Premier League this season, compared to every 95 minutes last year.
Metric
2022/23
2023/24
2024/25
Goals
37
27
21
Goal conversion percentage
29%
22%
20%
Shots per game
3.5
3.9
3.6
Goal frequency (minutes)
77
95
123
Assists
8
5
3
Via Sofascore
Furthermore, Haaland’s goal conversion rate has dropped from 22% to 20% while he is averaging fewer shots per game (3.9 vs 3.6). These statistics might not indicate a serious drop-off, but considering he is about to end the season with his worst goal tally at a club since the 2021/22 season, there is a problem.
With Guardiola keen on bolstering his squad this summer, it looks as though he is eyeing a move for one of the finest wingers in Europe.
Could his potential arrival revive Haaland next season?
Man City eye move for Real Madrid superstar
City’s main transfer target this summer appears to be Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. His agents apparently flew to England recently, but it is unclear whether they spoke to City about a move when the window opens.
It would be a major coup if they could secure his signature, but is another one of Europe’s finest being earmarked for a move to the Etihad?
According to Spanish news outlet Sport, City have contacted Real Madrid sensation Rodrygo in the hopes of bringing him to England.
The Brazilian will likely wait until Madrid have appointed a new manager following Carlo Ancelotti’s departure to take over as the Brazil manager.
The right offer could certainly tempt the La Liga giants into a sale, with a price tag set at around the €100m (£85m) mark, then the winger could be on the move.
Much will depend on how much Guardiola is willing to spend on the player, especially if he is successful in a deal to sign Wirtz, but City are lining up a swoop for the Brazil international.
Rodrygo on the right flank could certainly provide some much-needed attacking dynamism to the first-team, and he would work wonders for Haaland.
Why City should sign Rodrygo
Across 267 games for Madrid, the 24-year-old has registered 118 goal contributions – 68 goals and 50 assists in all competitions.
These goal involvements have helped the club win two La Liga crowns and two Champions League titles, but it looks as though his time in the Spanish capital might be coming to an end.
Capable of scoring goals in the biggest and most important games, he was hailed by journalist Dougie Critchley as being a “big game player” and this is someone Guardiola would surely love to have at his disposal next term.
When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues, the Brazilian ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes, progressive carries, touches in the opposition penalty area, and progressive passes received per 90.
Additionally, he also ranks in the top 9% for assists and top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90 across the previous 365 days.
These qualities could be a dream for the Norwegian sensation. With Rodrygo getting into dangerous positions so often, especially in the attacking penalty area, Haaland would be the one to benefit, being offered countless chances in front of goal.
In La Liga this season, the Madrid winger has created five big chances while averaging 1.6 key passes per game. Add in the fact he succeeds with 1.6 dribbles – a success rate of 52% – per game, and it is clear to see exactly what he could offer to City from this summer onwards.
He and Haaland would make for a dream partnership that Guardiola would hope not only gives the club a chance at reclaiming back the Premier League title, but also for another chance of winning the Champions League.
Real Madrid'sRodrygolooks on
A lot of factors will have to work in City’s favour for a move to go ahead, but as the Spaniard knows, he cannot afford for his team to perform so poorly throughout 2025/26.
With Rodri set to return from injury soon, plus new signings like Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush settling in nicely, City have the tools ready to begin a brand-new era at the Etihad.
Adding Rodrygo would be the icing on the cake.
Perfect Reijnders alternative: Man City preparing bid for "magic" £60m star
Man City could well be ready to step up their interest in an alternative to Tijjani Reijnders
Birmingham get back to winning ways after visiting Vikings lose last nine wickets for 68
ECB Reporters Network14-Jun-2024Birmingham 151 for 6 (Hain 53*, Thompson 4-31) beat Yorkshire 145 (Root 39, Lintott 3-15, Briggs 3-26) by four wicketsBirmingham Bears returned to winning ways after successive Vitality Blast defeats with a comfortable four-wicket victory over Yorkshire Vikings at Edgbaston.Vikings, who had won three of their first four games, were undone by spin, bowled out for 145 in 19.5 overs as Bears’ three twirlers harvested a combined 10-0-61-7. Joe Root, with 39 off 27, and Dawid Malan (38 off 27) lifted their side to a promising 77 for 1 but the rest folded against an attack led by Jake Lintott and Danny Briggs.Bears then reached 151 for ‘6 with 11 balls to spare thanks to violent contributions from Mousley (41 off 29) and Jake Bethell (32 off 15) and a wise one from Sam Hain who passed 4000 career T20 runs on his way to an unbeaten 53 from 40.Put in, Vikings soon lost Adam Lyth, who played on to Richard Gleeson, but Malan and Root supplied a vibrant start with a stand of 62 in 46 balls. Chris Woakes, on his first Bears appearance of the year, was roughly treated, not least by longtime England pal Root who lifted him for successive sixes into the Hollies Stand.The charge was emphatically stopped by the spin attack. Root sliced a slog at Briggs and sent a simple catch to short third, after which wickets fell regularly. Shan Masood reverse-swept Lintott’s first ball to point and Donovan Ferreira shovelled Mousley to mid-on. When Briggs returned to lure two more batters to their doom – Malan caught at extra cover and Jordan Thompson at long-off – five wickets had fallen in 35 balls.Guilty of some reckless shots, Vikings responded by playing some more. Lintott took advantage to bowl Matthew Revis through an ill-judged sweep and have Jafer Chohan stumped off a fey swipe. Dom Bess chipped Hasan Ali to cover and Conor McKer slashed Gleeson to third to leave the last nine wickets having fallen for 68.Unsurprisingly, Vikings started with spin and Dan Moriarty’s fifth ball drew a fatal top edge from Alex Davies before Bess’ seventh beat a Rob Yates slog and bowled him.Hain settled calmly though while Mousley was belligerent from ball one. He kept Bears ahead of the clock before perishing in pursuit of his third six of the evening, and 29th of his T20 career, when he heaved Thompson to deep square leg.While Hain quietly delivered the sort of intelligent, match-shaping innings of which he has played so many, Bethell got off the mark by pulling a Root long hop into the Hollies Stand. Bethell’s blistering cameo left Bears needing just 30 from 39 balls. He and Chris Benjamin fell to successive balls from Thompson, who added the scalp of Woakes to end end with 4 for 31, but Bears eased home to their fifth win in their last six Blast tussles with Vikings.
The head of America's top domestic league says the tournament was a significant moment for soccer in the country
Don Garber dubbed CWC "incredible success"Three MLS clubs participated, combining for one winThe commissioner attended final as Chelsea beat PSGFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
MLS commissioner Don Garber is full of praise for the revamped Club World Cup, dubbing it an "incredible success" and a "proud moment' for soccer in the U.S., saying the competition served as a perfect test run for the 2026 World Cup.
"This was a Herculean task. I don't think everyone understands how difficult it is to have dozens and dozens of matches, all running several times a week, in stadiums that have never hosted this type of competition," Garber told Reuters.
"Everything wasn't perfect but nothing in life is perfect,” Garber said. "If you strive to make progress every day, to innovate both on and off the field, you can achieve something special. I look forward to seeing what this tournament can be in the future."
AdvertisementWHAT DON GARBER SAID
Garber hailed the impact of the CWC.
"Whenever you do something new that changes people's perspective on international competition, there are always questions about how it will come together and what impact it will have," he said. "We always have a bit of a chip on our shoulder here in the U.S. soccer business."
He also said he was proud of the performances the participating MLS clubs – Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders and LAFC – although Lionel Messi's squad was the only one of the three to win a game and get out of the group stage.
"It surprised a lot of people." he said. "For decades, we've been trying to show the world we can be an influential, meaningful part of the global soccer conversation."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The expanded 32-team tournament, the brainchild of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, was played across 12 venues in 11 cities in the United States, and considered something of a dry run for the 2026 World Cup. Chelsea beat PSG 3-0 in the final, but there was a strong global presence throughout, with Fluminense making the semifinal.
While acknowledging that Europe's clubs remain dominant on the world stage, Garber said the CWC offered a platform for emerging clubs and leagues.
"There's a lot of positive things happening in Brazil, in the United States," he said. "Some of the leagues that don't get as much exposure as the super clubs were able to stand tall."
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR GARBER AND MLS?
MLS returns to play Wednesday night. America's top flight has four more match weeks before opening Leagues Cup opens with matches against Liga MX teams later this month.
Aitana Bonmati has voiced her disappointment after Spain’s hopes of European glory ended in a tense penalty shootout defeat to England.
Bonmati missed in penalty shootout as SpainUnbeaten in the tournament before the defeatEngland win back-to-back European titlesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Bonmati, who was named Player of the Tournament, admitted she is "in shock" after Spain lost to England in the Euro 2025 final on penalties. Spain, contesting their first European Championship final, led early but conceded an equaliser from Alessia Russo in the 57th minute. After 120 minutes, the teams were tied at 1-1, sending the game into a penalty shootout. England's goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton, saved two spot-kicks, including Bonmati's effort, as Mariona Caldentey and Salma Paralluelo also missed and England clinched a second consecutive European title.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT BONMATI SAID
"I'm still in shock. It's as if nothing had happened and the game was still to be played," Bonmati told . "It's hard to see you in this moment, but it teaches you things. There's no point in playing a better game if penalties come and you don't score. So I take responsibility.
"On a footballing level, we were the team that played the best football. As you say, we haven't lost a single match, and that's why I feel bad, because we're not just playing for ourselves, we're playing for many other people… The goal is to win again. We're a capable team that has been able to overcome other serious defeats like this one."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Spain played some of the tournament's most impressive football, remaining unbeaten until the final and outshooting England with 22 attempts and five on target. Despite dominating possession from the 70th minute onwards, they were unable to break the deadlock. This final marked England's defence of their European crown, and their resilience in penalty shootouts secured back-to-back titles.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR SPAIN?
Spain will regroup under Montse Tome, whose future is still a big question, to build on their strong showing at Euro 2025 and prepare for the upcoming clash against Sweden in the Nations League semifinal in October with World Cup qualifiers and future major tournaments, aiming to turn recent progress into silverware. All players remain fit and available as the team looks ahead to upcoming international fixtures and potential squad developments.
West Bromwich Albion’s drawn-out search for a new manager has ended with Ryan Mason now officially in the Baggies’ hot seat.
There is plenty of intrigue surrounding this appointment as the Championship side ditch the tried and tested approach of Tony Mowbray for something left-field and fresher, with the 33-year-old taking on his first ever head coach role having only once been a stand-in option at ex-employers Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham's Ryan Mason
He will want to get down to business soon in the transfer market to begin to leave a lasting mark on his new side, with plenty of signings rumoured to be entering the building alongside the fresh-faced manager.
West Brom locked into talks with new striker
Mason could utilise those Spurs connections when adding to his Baggies squad, with North London prodigy Mikey Moore already being tipped to make a loan move to the EFL to expand his horizons, away from previous links suggesting Jamie Donley could call the West Midlands home shortly.
Further, it looks as if West Brom could win themselves a new deadly marksman in the form of Hearts’ goal machine Lawrence Shankland.
Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland.
Journalist Mark Hendry has now revealed that West Brom are locked in talks about bringing the prolific 29-year-old to the Hawthorns, as the Hearts captain increasingly looks more and more likely to walk away from the Edinburgh giants on a free transfer.
But, the Championship promotion hopefuls aren’t alone in their interest, with Hendry surprisingly adding that both Al-Ettifaq and Al-Wedha are sniffing around from Saudi Arabia.
How Shankland could be West Brom's best striker since Maja
If West Brom were to pip these outfits to the coveted signature of the Scotsman, they could be about to seal their best striker signing since Josh Maja’s addition, with the equally lethal attacker going on to be a golden purchase up top himself, considering he joined the ranks in 2023 on a free transfer as well.
Maja has endured difficult periods at the Hawthorns, however, with a mammoth 44 games missed through injury over the last two seasons.
But, when he’s fit, there’s a real lack of strikers in the Championship that possess the same clinical edge the Nigerian has in abundance, with the devastatingly effective number nine picking up 12 goals last campaign, despite only being fit enough to line up for 26 league clashes.
Shankland has also displayed a “ruthless” cutting edge – in the words of pundit Chris Sutton – throughout his celebrated spell on the books of Hearts, with this last-gasp goal against arch rivals Hibernian just one of many crucial strikes the Glasgow-born attacker has powered home for Derek McInnes’ men.
Having played up and down the various Scottish leagues across his goal-laden career to date, it does feel like the time is right for Shankland to test himself in a new and challenging environment, with the 6 foot 1 menace hopeful he can take to the pressures of the Hawthorns in his stride, much like Maja did when taking the plunge two years ago.
24/25
43
9
11
23/24
47
31
8
22/23
47
28
4
After all, before his return to England, the ex-Sunderland forward had begun to garner his own reputation for being a reliable source of goals when leading the line for Bordeaux, with 29 goals tallied up from 93 appearances.
Therefore, when assessing Shankland’s monstrous total of 68 strikes from 137 contests for Hearts, he should find his shooting boots are an equally uncomplicated find in the EFL’s elite league.
Lawrence Shankland
Mason would love to welcome in Shankland then as one of his first signings, with the 33-year-old no doubt crying out for a potent forward line to help his new side instantly gun for promotion.
Mason can sign West Brom's next Fellows in young star who's like "Neymar"
Ryan Mason would love to welcome this stunning star to this brand-new West Bromwich Albion squad.
“I wouldn’t say I was trying to entertain people and stuff like that. I don’t think I’m quite there to be thinking about it like that.”Except that’s exactly what Tony de Zorzi did. Off the field.He hosted the team’s video tour diary on their day off in Trinidad, which included a pop-quiz on who would play which sport at the Olympics (swimming was a favourite), designing a makeshift hurdles course for Dane Paterson, a spoof pitch report from Kagiso Rabada, and some politically-incorrect questions on which members of the squad chose not to swim and who was most likely to get sunburnt.Related
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But for those 13 minutes and 20 seconds, nobody could accuse de Zorzi of not trying to entertain.”It was another opportunity for me to talk nonsense, so I enjoyed it,” he said at a press conference. “And it’s important that you have those times where you can connect outside of a cricketing environment, because guys are obviously different in a training capacity and in a designated team environment.”Everyone’s quite cool, and keen to socialise and connect with each other in different ways. It’s nice to be able to connect and have those days together to just touch base.”Overall, South Africa looked relaxed and rested after a mentally-draining first Test against West Indies in Port of Spain, which went the distance because of a significant number of rain interruptions. As their coach Shukri Conrad had predicted, the match was mostly slow-paced, and run-scoring was tough.But de Zorzi, in his first outing as the new Test opener, acquitted himself well. In the first innings, he reached his half-century off 78 balls (at a strike rate of 64) upfront and finished on 78, and then hit a second-innings 45 off 60 deliveries to help set South Africa up to post a challenging target for West Indies.Tony de Zorzi fell for 78 in Port of Spain, but said there is no pressure to score his first Test century•AFP/Getty Images
De Zorzi explained his approach was less about playing his shots, and more about the situation.”I wouldn’t say it was something where I decided I’m going to come out and play Shuks-ball or something. It was just the conditions,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a bit easier because the ball is harder at the beginning. Being someone who was born up-country [in Johannesburg], I’m used to the ball coming on to the wicket, and scoring a lot squarer on the off side and the leg side. So it is [about] just being cognisant of the fact that I’m obviously going to have to hit a lot straighter for most of my runs.”Having spent his early career on the Highveld, de Zorzi has since moved down to the Western Cape, where he plays on slightly flatter surfaces. But he found the Queen’s Park Oval “completely different” to anything he has experienced at home. And he has set himself the challenge of trying to adjust to the differences without losing the essence of his batting style.”My mindset is that I’m here now, so I’ve got to just trust myself and back what I’ve done to get here,” he said. “I don’t think I have to try to reinvent the wheel in my game plan. It’s just about being able to make small little adjustments according to the wicket. So [it’s about] being comfortable enough to make a small change – not a massive one – and then just trusting it.”In the first Test, that shift was about getting on to the front foot more often than he might do at home, where back-foot play comes more easily. And so far, de Zorzi’s small shifts are working. He has now got past 75 twice in five Tests – once at home, and once away – and has shown signs he can go on to get bigger things. But asked if the pressure to score a first Test hundred is lurking, he was philosophical.”It’ll come when it’s supposed to,” he said. “I’m obviously doing the work that’s intended for me to get it, and I’m pretty comfortable with my game. Hopefully, next time it just doesn’t hit my glove [as it did against Jomel Warrican against West Indies], and I’ll get over the line.”For now, he’s just loving life as a Test cricketer, occasional vlogger and a foodie in the West Indies. “I’ve enjoyed the food in the Caribbean. It’s really nice, and really healthy,” he said. “I’ve found the food is pretty natural, and not as full of preservatives.”He had previously told the host broadcaster that the thing he has enjoyed the most on the tour was “the plantain”, which bodes well for his week in Guyana, the venue of the second Test. Deep-fried plantain chips are among the most popular snacks in the country, and if you’re keen to know what they taste like, keep an eye on de Zorzi’s socials, where you might spot a review.
With rumours continuing to surround Morgan Gibbs-White over his future at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly ready to take formal steps in the race to sign a potential replacement.
Man City plotting Gibbs-White swoop
Gibbs-White undoubtedly plays a huge role in everything positive Nuno Espirito Santo’s side do at the City Ground, meaning that clubs above them were always likely to keep a keen eye on his talents. Such is the ruthlessness of Premier League football, not even European football could stand in the way of Manchester City making their move successfully this summer.
The midfielder was once again at the centre of the action against West Ham United last time out, scoring a crucial opening goal to send Forest on their way to a crucial 2-1 victory at the London Stadium.
His seventh Premier League goal of the season to go alongside his eight assists, replacing Gibbs-White will be one of the toughest tasks that Nottingham Forest face this summer if he chooses to join Manchester City.
On that front, however, those at the City Ground have already reportedly been lining up a number of targets, including City’s own James McAtee. The young midfielder has struggled for game time at The Etihad and if Gibbs-White heads to Manchester, he could yet head in the opposite direction towards the Midlands this summer.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitereacts after the match
Unlike in recent years, it’s worth reiterating that Forest are now a European club again and should be in a far stronger position to attract top talent as a result. So, if it’s not McAtee who replaces Gibbs-White, it may well be a talented option from outside of English football.
Nottingham Forest readying Akliouche move
According to L’Equipe, Nottingham Forest are now ready to take formal steps in the race to sign Maghnes Akliouche from AS Monaco this summer in a deal worth as much as €60m (£51m). Battling against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain for the winger’s signature, Evangelos Marinakis should consider making his official move as soon as possible.
With the ability to play as both a winger and attacking midfielder, it should come as no surprise that Akliouche is on Forest’s shortlist to potentially replace Gibbs-White this summer. Even on the numbers front, the 23-year-old has almost mirrored the Forest star.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Maghnes Akliouche
Morgan Gibbs-White
Starts
27
33
Goals
5
7
Assists
10
8
Key Passes
49
51
All signs point towards a player who’d be ready to step into the Premier League next season and step into European football with Nottingham Forest. Whether those at the City Ground win the competitive race to sign Akliouche remains to be seen, however.
Nottingham Forest ready bid for £70m England star with interest advanced
He produced a season-defining moment recently.
By
Henry Jackson
May 20, 2025
Described as “elegant” by Jacek Kulig, Akliouche is undeniably one to watch when the summer transfer window arrives. If Forest are looking to instantly ease their potential Gibbs-White problem, then the Frenchman should be a serious option.