أعلن الإسباني تشابي ألونسو، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد قائمة فريقه أمام ديبورتيفو ألافيس ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.
ومن المقرر أن يواجه ريال مدريد نظيره ديبورتيفو ألافيس ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني “لا ليجا”، غدًا الأحد.
ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على ألافيس في تمام العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، الحادية عشر بتوقيت السعودية، في الجولة 16 من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.
ويحتل ريال مدريد المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري الإسباني برصيد 36 نقطة بفارق 4 نقاط عن برشلونة.
ويعاني ريال مدريد من غيابات كثيرة عن الفريق بسبب الإصابات والإيقافات، إذ يغيب كلًا من ألفارو كاريراس، فيران جارسيا وإندريك.
اقرأ أيضًا | أوليفر كان يوضح سر تراجع نتائج ريال مدريد.. ويؤكد: ألونسو غير مناسب لتدريب الفريق
ويستمر غياب ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد وداني كارفاخال وإيدير ميليتاو عن قائمة ريال مدريد أمام ألافيس.
كما شهدت القائمة عودة الفرنسي المتألق كيليان مبابي، مهاجم الفريق بعدما غاب عن مباراة مانشستر سيتي بسبب الإصابة التي عانى منها أمام سيلتا فيجو. قائمة ريال مدريد لمباراة ديبورتيفو ألافيس في الدوري الإسباني
في حراسة المرمى: تيبو كورتوا – لونين – سيرجيو ميستري.
في خط الدفاع: أسينسيو – روديجر – هويسن – خوان مارتينيز – فالديبيناس.
في خط الوسط: بيلينجهام – فالفيردي – تشواميني – أردا جولر – داني سيبايوس – كيسترو – تياجو.
في خط الهجوم: فينيسيوس جونيور – كيليان مبابي – رودريجو – جونزالو جارسيا – ماستانتونو – إبراهيم دياز.
📋✅ ¡Nuestros convocados! 🆚 @Alaves pic.twitter.com/8JRTFKuQdM — Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 13, 2025
First and foremost, Newcastle United have no pressing concerns relating to finances and the ever-ominous profit and sustainability rules in the Premier League.
Furthermore, technical director Ross Wilson is now settled into his chair in the St. James’ Park offices, and have formed a good early relationship with Eddie Howe as they look to tackle key areas of the squad.
Now is the time for action. It’s been a wobbly start to the season after a summer of upheaval, but United are beginning to show green shoots in their bid to cement themselves as Champions League contenders and a multi-trophy-winning outfit.
Defensive positions are being examined, but with Joelinton’s form lacking in stages this season, Howe wants a new midfielder.
The question on everyone’s lips: Will it be Elliot Anderson?
Newcastle chasing elite midfielder
Howe spoke at the start of October about his desire to bring Anderson back home. The 23-year-old was sold to Nottingham Forest in 2024 and he has since become a top-class midfielder. It was not a happy sale for the Magpies, whose hand was forced by PSR.
Now, United want him back. The problem? Manchester City and Manchester United are also keen, and the Tricky Trees have priced their gem in excess of £100m.
This is a superstar in the making. Already, he is ranking favourably against the likes of Sandro Tonali in the Newcastle midfield; the Italian is widely regarded as one of the best in the Premier League.
If Newcastle are fruitless in their bid to sign Anderson, they could do worse than fall back on Scott McTominay, who was named the Serie A MVP last season after leading Napoli to the Scudetto.
As per Chronicle Live, McTominay is reportedly unsettled in Naples and is considering a return to the Premier League. Newcastle would be right there, offering the Scotland star a chance to take his career to the next level.
Valued at £70m, McTominay, 28, will not be short of suitors in 2026, but sources close to the player suggest that he would be open to moving to Tyneside and working under Howe’s stewardship.
What McTominay would offer Newcastle
It’s a testament to McTominay’s meteoric rise in Italy that had Newcastle signed him from Manchester United, it would have been a move met with indifference.
But now, he is revered as a hero for both club and country, 18th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings and regarded as a “true superstar of European and world football”, as said by content creator Adam Joseph.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær, his former boss at Old Trafford, also hailed him as a “physical monster” once, and this is why McTominay could be such an interesting Anderson alternative.
He is capable of show-stopping moments, but the Tartan Army hero also has the athleticism and defensive attributes to dovetail right into Howe’s engine room.
His high duel success bespeaks his tenacity, and his eye for goal makes him an intriguing option to place just ahead of Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, both elegant and combative players with excellent passing ranges, sure to pick out the Napoli star’s surges into the danger area.
Matches (starts)
37 (33)
34 (33)
Goals
2
12
Assists
6
4
Touches*
54.2
43.1
Accurate passes*
28.7 (82%)
22.7 (85%)
Chances created*
1.0
0.8
Dribbles*
1.0
1.1
Ball recoveries*
5.6
4.2
Tackles + interceptions*
2.5
2.0
Duels (won)*
6.5
6.1
Anderson has since raised his level, but McTominay has hardly regressed himself, instrumental in a title-defending Napoli team that trail first-placed AC Milan this season by only a single point.
There is a winning mentality about McTominay that Newcastle need to take their project to the next level, and while the 23-year-old Anderson would be a fantastic addition, this would provide Howe with the instant effect he and his team need.
Newcastle need a new midfielder, and that won’t change. Either of these stars would mark stunning acquisitions.
He wants to leave: PIF must sell Newcastle's "poor man's Haaland"
Newcastle United must cash in on this player who reportedly wants to move on from the club in January.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has been urged to play a youngster who former Spurs right-back Pascal Chimbonda says is just like Mohammed Kudus.
Spurs head into next Sunday’s North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium with genuine hope that their star attacker will be fit to face Arsenal, though he missed their last two crucial matches and didn’t travel with the Ghana squad to face Japan and South Korea.
The 25-year-old, who started every Premier League game this season before his recent knock, has been one of Spurs’ most effective players, registering four Premier League assists and scoring his first goal for the club away to Leeds just before the last international break.
Kudus’ impact since arriving from West Ham in the summer has been transformative, and he’s established himself as the creative heartbeat of Tottenham’s attack. The forward’s absence was pretty evident in their 2-2 draw with Man United, where Spurs lacked the directness and spark that has made Kudus such a pivotal figure in Frank’s system.
The Lilywhites boss has been optimistic about his chances of featuring at Arsenal, though, telling the media that Kudus should be available for the clash.
With Tottenham already decimated by injuries to key players, Kudus’ potential return would be a massive boost. The winger’s excellent form before his knock makes him arguably Tottenham’s most important attacking player, and Frank will be desperate to have him available for a fixture where Spurs desperately need to end their Emirates hoodoo.
Dejan Kulusevski
Knee
29/11/2025
James Maddison
ACL
01/06/2026
Radu Dragusin
Knee
22/11/2025
Ben Davies
Thigh
23/11/2025
Kota Takai
Ankle/Foot
23/11/2025
Mohammed Kudus
Knock
23/11/2025
Randal Kolo Muani
Jaw
23/11/2025
Yves Bissouma
Ankle/Foot
23/11/2025
Lucas Bergvall
Concussion
23/11/2025
Dominic Solanke
Ankle
23/11/2025
Archie Gray
Calf/Shin/Heel
23/11/2025
via Premier Injuries
According to WhoScored, no other player in the Premier League has averaged a greater number of completed dribbles per 90 than the ex-West Ham star this season, and he’s also the ninth-best performing player in the entire division overall.
Kudus could play a key role in breaking down a resolute Arsenal backline and the best defence in Europe’s top five leagues, but according to Chimbonda, Frank has another young, direct winger who could also provide that extra injection of threat.
Thomas Frank urged to play Wilson Odobert with Mohammed Kudus comparison made
Speaking to Spurs Web, the ex-Tottenham defender says Frank would have a lot more luck going forward if he started Wilson Odobert on the left-hand side more often.
The Frenchman was recently heralded for his ‘best performance in a Spurs shirt’ in their 4-0 rout of FC Copenhagen last week, and the winger bagged an assist against Man United after coming off the bench to replace the injured Randal Kolo Muani.
The 20-year-old contributed three goals during an injury-disrupted debut season, and enjoyed a memorable night against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League Round of 16, where his double helped Spurs overturn a 1-0 deficit.
Brennan Johnson has struggled since being displaced from his preferred right-wing position by Kudus too, failing to replicate form which saw the Welshman finish last term as their top scorer.
With the likes of Kudus, Xavi Simons and Mathys Tel all competing with him for a starting spot, rotation is hardly a surprise, but Johnson has failed to impress off the left, and Odobert has started to feature more in that role in recent weeks.
Tel has showed promise in brief cameos, doing in five minutes what Richarlison failed to do in 84 against United. However, he remains inconsistent and relatively raw. Simons can also play on the left wing, but Spurs need the Dutchman to inspire in a more central attacking midfield role.
Odobert represents the best option to start against Arsenal on November 23, with his pace and directness potentially giving Jurrien Timber something to really think about.
The New York Mets aren't done adding to their roster and adding a specific big name would make them very happy.
On Thursday, ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney took to X (formerly Twitter) to discuss the Mets' interest in landing All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Olney said, "In the Mets' perfect world, they'd love to find a deal for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who, like Juan Soto, is a slugger who makes contact. 199 hits and 96 strikeouts last year. If they pulled off a trade for him, they could sign him before he hit the market, as they did with Lindor."
Guerrero is headed into his final season before free agency and is coming off an excellent, bounce-back season.
In 2024, Guerrero slashed .323/.396/.544, with 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, an OPS of .940, a wRC+ of 165 and produced 6.2 WAR. He was named All-MLB First Team for the second time and took home his second Silver Slugger. The four-time All-Star is projected to be the top available free agent next offseason.
For their part, the Blue Jays reportedly have no intention of trading Guerrero.
The Mets already made a splash this offseason by signing Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract. Finding a way to add Guerrero would be a massive coup.
Archer dismissed Jadeja early on the second day before Washington and Thakur resisted
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jul-2025
Rishabh Pant walks out to bat despite his injured foot•Getty Images
Lunch Rishabh Pant batted with a broken foot as India put a premium on first-innings runs, pushing their total up to 321 for 6 at lunch on the second day in Manchester.England were upbeat when their captain Ben Stokes struck in the 102nd over to remove Shardul Thakur, who played a good hand, making 41 off 88. They would have thought they had a way into the tail. But it was Pant who came down the stairs, grabbing onto the railing, every step taken with extreme care. He had arrived at the ground in a moonboot. His courage was celebrated with applause ringing around Old Trafford.Jofra Archer had provided the perfect start to the day’s play for England when he dismissed Ravindra Jadeja in his first over. With the second new ball in hand, he and Chris Woakes created 12 wicket-taking opportunities in 12 overs but the ball would either just zip past the edge or take it and fall short of the cordon.Thakur and Washington Sundar did well to weather those close calls, putting the one that caused them trouble out of their mind to focus on the next. They built a 48-run partnership for the sixth wicket as India continued to show lower-order resilience, having bulked up that part of their game since the first Test at Headingley.A largely uneventful session was heading to a close until Pant decided to liven things up a bit. He looked in obvious discomfort, merely walking, and when he was hurried, hopping, through for his singles. A few minutes after he made the long walk out there, he had to make the long walk back as well with rain forcing an early lunch.
With 2025 marking the 21st edition of the FIFPRO Men's World 11, GOAL ranks the five best versions ever assembled
Part of the fun of sports is the debate. How would this star do against another? Could this team beat this one? Which era is best? The games are the best, of course, but all of the discussion surrounding them is equally enjoyable and, at times, equally fierce.
Of course, analyzing teams across different eras is entirely subjective. But that's the fun of it. Which brings us to the FIFPRO Men's World 11. Since 2005, global players have voted for their World 11, assembling the greatest collections of players in the game. Imagining these players, all in the same team, is tantalizing. The 2025 winners will be announced Nov. 3, and there are plenty of good candidates.
Until then, though, it's time to look to the past. These teams have included icons of the game and legends that have won it all. So, which are the five greatest FIFPRO Men's World 11 squads ever assembled? GOAL takes a look.
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium), Thiago (Spain), Joshua Kimmich (Germany)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Lionel Messi (Argentina)
An absolutely ludicrous team of attacking talent.
You have Ronaldo, Messi and Lewandowski in the attack, with the Polish star fresh off a dominant campaign for Bayern Munich. To supplement that, you have two of the best attacking fullbacks we've seen in Alexander-Arnold and Davies. Oh, you want to build through the midfield? How about De Bruyne and Thiago, with Kimmich cleaning up messes with Ramos and van Dijk behind him and Alisson in goal?
This team would score goal after goal after goal. But even so, it's fair to question whether they could match the defensive balance that some of the teams above them would possess. Still, if you want excitement, this is the team for you.
Midfielders: Andres Iniesta (Spain), Xavi (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Wayne Rooney (England), Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Of course, the attacking trio of Ronaldo, Messi and Rooney will get the attention, but 2011 was the period of Spanish dominance, and you can see that in this team.
The midfield contains three of La Roja's greatest ever, Iniesta, Xavi and Alonso, so you'd know there'd be no chemistry issues there. Ramos and Pique are in the defense, while Casillas is in goal. What about that for a spine? Add in Alves, comfortable with everyone we've named due to his role at Barcelona, and a no-nonsense defender in Vidic and you've got a complete team. It is never going to lose the ball, and the defensive solidity is the stuff of dreams, especially if we assume that Rooney is going to put the legwork in up front.
This team seems to capture an era, one that many look back on as when the sport was at its very best.
FIFPRO World 11
3FIFPRO Men's World 11: 2007
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Defenders: Carles Puyol (Spain), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), John Terry (England), Alessandro Nesta (Italy)
Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (England), Kaka (Brazil), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Ronaldo as a midfielder? Well, yeah, but when you look at the pieces around this team, you understand why. Yes, this team is attack-heavy, with Ronaldo joining Kaka and Gerrard in midfield and Messi leading the line alongside Drogba and Ronaldinho.
However, when you have defenders such as Puyol, Cannavaro, Terry and Nesta in the team, you might just be able to get away with it.
This team has pace, technique, power and creativity. It can come at you in waves and, with the four players staying back, that might just be enough. This team is about strong defense, pace in attack, and well-rounded center mids. Perfection.
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FIFPRO World 11
2FIFPRO Men's World 11: 2005
Goalkeeper: Dida (Brazil)
Defenders: Paolo Maldini (Italy), Alessandro Nesta (Italy), John Terry (England), Cafu (Brazil)
Midfielders: Frank Lampard (England), Claude Makelele (France), Zinedine Zidane (France)
Forwards: Ronaldinho (Brazil), Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)
It's fair to argue that this team has a Gerrard-sized hole, given his heroics in Istanbul. But even without the Liverpool icon, this group is stacked. There's a reason he didn't make it, after all.
We have to start with the defense, which is probably as close to perfect as you can get. A centerback pairing of Nesta and Terry is as formidable as it gets, while Maldini's presence on the left balances out Cafu's attacking ambition on the right. In the midfield, you have Makelele cleaning up for Lampard and Zidane, creating a balanced trio.
And, in the attack, you have the pace of Ronaldinho and Eto'o to aid the finishing of Shevchenko. In reality, this team is perhaps the best balanced. Others may have more talent. But if you're playing an actual match, this might just be the best one. Which makes the top side even more impressive.
Glasgow Rangers ended their months-long wait for a win in the Scottish Premiership thanks to a last-gasp strike from Max Aarons on Sunday afternoon.
The loan defender popped up in stoppage-time to find the bottom corner with a fantastic finish from Nicolas Raskin’s corner to claim all three points for the away side.
Russell Martin’s side had four draws and one defeat on the board from their first five matches in the Premiership before Sunday’s match, which is why Aarons’ goal was so important.
Despite picking up all three points, there were several players who may not come away from the game being pleased with their individual showing, including captain James Tavernier.
How James Tavernier performed against Livingston
The Rangers skipper will rue the fact that he failed to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the first half when he put his spot-kick down the middle, making it relatively easy for Jerome Prior to leave a leg out and block.
The English defender, who failed in three of his four attempted dribbles (Sofascore), will be disappointed that his penalty gave the goalkeeper a chance to keep it out.
Tavernier did, however, score the opening goal of the game with a terrific acrobatic finish from Oliver Antman’s cross to put Rangers 1-0 up early on, which may allow supporters to forgive him for the penalty miss.
Meanwhile, Bojan Miovski was even worse than the captain will be thankful that Aarons saved him from being blamed for a loss of points if the Gers had drawn the game.
Why Bojan Miovski should be dropped
The summer signing from Girona was selected to lead the line for the Light Blues ahead of Youssef Chermiti, after the £10m signing from Everton started the 1-0 defeat to Genk.
Football FanCast have suggested moving to a 4-4-2 against Sturm Graz with both Miovski and Chermiti for the Europa League clash with Sturm Graz on Thursday because of Mohamed Diomande’s suspension, but the left-footed striker should be dropped for the trip to Falkirk.
Rangers travel to Falkirk in their next Premiership match next Sunday and Martin must ruthlessly ditch the Macedonia international from the XI with the favoured 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, because he did not do enough as the lone marksman in the win over Livingston.
Minutes
90
Goals + assists
0
Shots
2
Big chances missed
2
Dribbles completed
0/3
Duels won
2/12
Key passes
0
As you can see in the table above, the Rangers number 28 was completely dominated by the Livingston defenders, losing ten of his 12 duels and failing with all three of his attempted dribbles.
On top of his incredibly lightweight play out of possession for the Scottish giants, the former Aberdeen star also spurned a glorious chance to find the back of the net in the first half.
Miovski, as shown in the clip above, was clear through on goal with the chance to score his first Premiership goal for the club, but blazed his effort well over the bar. Prior had committed and was already going the other way, which meant that the striker only had to keep his effort down and he would have been celebrating the opener.
The Gers forward was even worse than Tavernier, who won eight duels and scored the opening goal, and should now be dropped for the trip to Falkirk next weekend, providing Chermiti with a chance to lead the line.
Rangers eyeing bargain 2026 deal to sign "super" Scottish gem who's keen on Ibrox move
He’s a rising star.
ByTom Cunningham Sep 27, 2025
Miovski may have been saved from bucket loads of criticism for his performance by Aarons scoring the winner, but he may not escape being dropped from the starting XI in the league.
Marcus Harris adds vital fifty as Lancashire successfully bat their way to safety on final day
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay14-Apr-2025Josh Bohannon’s 14th first-class century came to Lancashire’s rescue as this absorbing Rothesay County Championship Division Two match with Northamptonshire ended in a draw.A career best 7 for 119 from a marathon 57 overs and career-best match figures of 11 for 153 by the on-loan Calvin Harrison looked to be propelling Northamptonshire to a first win in 26 years at Old Trafford.But Bohannon’s innings of 155, spanning more than seven hours, allied to a half-century from Marcus Harris led some stern resistance from the hosts who started the morning on 126 for 2 and fought their way through the day to reach 351 for 9 by the time the players shook hands at 5.40pm with five overs left and Lancashire 83 runs ahead.Needing to take eight Lancashire wickets, Northamptonshire struck early when Harrison disposed of nightwatchman Anderson Phillip for 10, bowled playing down the wrong line to a delivery that turned just enough.That proved to be the visitors’ only success of the morning as Bohannon and Harris played watchfully but with increasing authority through the rest of the session in a partnership that had knocked a further 72 runs off the overnight deficit of 144 by the lunch break.Bohannon, 60 not out overnight, accumulated steadily before joyfully on-driving Harrison for four through midwicket to reach his fourth century in 10 innings against Northamptonshire to add to the two fifties he has scored against the Wantage Road side.Harris settled in quickly after edging his first boundary to deep third off Raphy Weatherall, although it bounced well in front of the slip cordon. The Australian left-hander reached the fence seven more times before posting his half-century from 94 balls that included one sumptuously timed back-foot square drive that was arguably the shot of the day.Northamptonshire grabbed the new ball as soon as it became available after 23 overs with skipper Luke Procter ringing the changes, using eight bowlers in all, in the hunt for a breakthrough which finally arrived three overs into the afternoon.Harris had just posted his third 50-plus score in four innings during a partnership of 94 when he was well caught at short leg by James Sales off Harrison with Lancashire 243 for 4 and still 25 runs in arrears.Bohannon drove Harrison gloriously through the covers for four to take the home side into the lead halfway through the day but the bowler then removed Matty Hurst for 8 via a catch at slip by Ricardo Vasconcelos.The wicket Northamptonshire really wanted arrived ten minutes before tea with Bohannon’s unlucky dismissal, caught by wicketkeeper Lewis McManus from a rebound off the back of Sales at short leg from a Saif Zaib delivery, and Harrison was next celebrating a second first-class five-for when George Balderson popped up a bat-pad catch to Sales at short leg eight overs into the evening.Luke Wells and Tom Bailey (8 not out) took the game into the final hour before Harrison removed Wells for 39 and Tom Hartley for 1 in quick succession but his fine, valiant effort proved to be in vain.
يبدو أن ملف عودة طارق حامد إلى الزمالك لن يرى النور رغم طرح اسمه في الأسابيع الأخيرة، حيث لا يرتبط بأي نادٍ منذ رحيله عن ضمك السعودي.
وعلم بطولات أن إدارة الزمالك درست الموقف بالفعل، لكن لم يتم الحسم والموافقة لعدة عوامل مهمة يضعها المدير الرياضي، جون إدوارد، في الحسبان.
اقرأ أيضًا | ممدوح عباس: دمي ودموعي وابتساماتي.. الزمالك سيستعيد أرض أكتوبر
وجاء في مقدمة الأسباب تقدم طارق حامد في السن، إذ ترى الإدارة أن المرحلة الحالية تتطلب ضخ دماء جديدة تناسب مشروع إعادة بناء الفريق الأبيض.
كما أبدى مسؤولو الزمالك مخاوف من الإصابات المتكررة التي عانى منها اللاعب مؤخرًا خلال تجربته في الدوري السعودي مع نادي ضمك.
وأشار إلى أن ابتعاد طارق حامد عن المشاركة منذ انتهاء عقده في السعودية جعل مسؤولي الزمالك غير مقتنعين بجاهزيته الفنية والبدنية.
ويرى المدير الرياضي بالنادي أن الفريق في مرحلة تجديد شامل تعتمد على العناصر الشابة القادرة على التطور والمنافسة على المدى الطويل.
واختتم أن هذه الأسباب كانت أيضًا وراء رفض ضم اللاعب في بداية الموسم رغم توفر الفرصة حينها، لتواصل الإدارة سياستها الواضحة نحو التجديد والاعتماد على المستقبل.
Burnley have somewhat faded into the background this summer compared to Sunderland and Leeds United’s more manic spending habits.
Some standout additions so far have seen the Clarets welcome in the likes of Kyle Walker and Martin Dubravka on free transfers, who both know the challenges of the Premier League well, on top of just sealing a deal worth around the £20m mark for Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
The worry will be, however, if Broja can settle into life at Turf Moor from the get-go, having experienced a turbulent few seasons in and out of Stamford Bridge.
Broja's up-and-down form in the PL
The Albanian centre-forward is just fresh off an extremely difficult spell at Everton last season.
Indeed, the hit-and-miss 23-year-old would only line up for 11 contests with the Toffees in total, as getting into his goalscoring groove was consistently derailed by missing 155 days of action through recurring injuries.
Armando Broja for Everton
In the end, Broja would fail to break his Goodison Park duck, with his goal tally in the Premier League in total coming in at a meagre eight strikes from 76 outings.
If he were to wrestle free of these lingering injury demons, though, Burnley could be in luck, with a stint on loan at Southampton across the 2021/22 season seeing him bag a reasonable nine strikes, having only missed two top-flight clashes all campaign.
Three senior strikes also came his way for the Blues – which included this well-taken goal being hammered home against Wolverhampton Wanderers – with Burnley just praying now that the £20m gamble to land the 23-year-old pays off.
Scott Parker might not be overflowing with confidence that Broja can stay fit and firing across the 38-game marathon to come, however, which could well lead the top-flight newcomers down the path of trying to secure a late deal for this clinical EFL marksman.
The £21m target who's an instant upgrade on Broja
Away from Broja, the Clarets aren’t exactly blessed with an abundance of quality up top.
Parker will hope the likes of Lyle Foster, Michael Obafemi, and Zian Flemming can step it up a notch in the Premier League, but he won’t be banking on them to be the difference-makers week in week out, considering both Flemming and Foster only managed 13 Championship goals between them last season, while Obafemi was loaned out.
Norwich striker Josh Sargent.
This is where the heroics of Josh Sargent could come to the rescue deep into the chaotic transfer window, with TEAMTalk speculating earlier this week that both Daniel Farke’s Leeds and the Clarets were locked into a tussle to try and snap up the Canaries goal machine.
The report did state that Burnley were still keen on securing the potent American’s services despite just confirming a move for Broja to come to Lancashire, with Sargent reportedly costing around the £21m mark to obtain, as per a bid that recently came Norwich’s way from Wolfsburg.
Amazingly, Sargent is already off the mark this season in the Championship for Liam Manning’s men, with his quick thinking on the opening day of the tricky division resulting in an equalising goal being slotted home, away from also helping himself to another against Portsmouth.
Norwich will be doing everything in their power to try and convince their “complete” striker – as he was lauded by ex-Norwich boss David Wagner – to stay put at Carrow Road past the summer, but if Burnley want to win themselves an instant Broja upgrade, they should go all out to try and snap up the Norwich number nine before the window slams shut.
Sargent’s career goal record vs Broja’s
Stat
Sargent
Broja
Games played
231
184
Goals scored
73
44
Assists
23
12
Hat-tricks
1x
1x
Sourced by Transfermarkt
The table above further reinforces why Burnley should be going full steam ahead for a late deal to win Sargent’s red-hot services, with the 25-year-old now up to 73 goals and counting across 230 career appearances. Broja is some way off reaching this same level of clinical performance, with only 44 strikes next to his name subsequently.
Of course, there is a risk attached to Sargent joining, too, with his own injury troubles seeing him miss a colossal 44 clashes for club and country over the last two seasons, as per Transfermarkt.
Moreover, he isn’t that well-versed in what it takes to be a success at the elite level of the Premier League, having mustered up just two strikes here previously.
Yet, having been recently dubbed as the “top man” in the Championship by second-tier pundit Sam Parkin, the time feels right for him to cause a storm at the punishing level, which could come at Broja’s expense.
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