Nico Williams has opened up on why he stayed at Athletic Club despite interest from Barcelona and Arsenal.
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Williams stayed at Athletic Club last summerLinked with Arsenal and Barcelona movesExplains why he stayed put at Basque teamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona tried and failed to sign Williams last summer, and Arsenal are keen on recruiting him in 2025, but for the time being, he is very happy at Athletic Club. The winger says the relationship he has with the club and the fans is "incredible".
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“This relationship we have at the heart of the club is incredible. Everyone respects everyone else, which is incredible," he told France Football. "This atmosphere, I’ll never have it anywhere else. I decided to stay because of that. I took the decision I thought was the right one. I’m happy, and I’m trying to do my best."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Williams made a name for himself with some stunning Euro 2024 performances for Spain on their run to the title and he continues to impress at Athletic Club. If any team does sign him, it will not be on the cheap and he is likely to command big wages, too.
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AFPWHAT NEXT?
Aside from Williams' future, the 22-year-old – whose contract runs until 2027 – is likely to feature for his side on Sunday at home to Mallorca in La Liga action.
As últimas semanas têm sido de profundo temor e decepção no Brasil e no mundo. Embora em dimensões diferentes, a guerra entre Rússia e Ucrânia, e os atos violentos de torcedores no futebol brasileiro, tem mexido com todos dentro e fora do esporte. No último domingo, após empate do Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira fez questão de chamar a atenção para o momento da sociedade.
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GALERIA > Veja quanto o Palmeiras faturou em premiação com Abel Ferreira
Segundo o treinador do Verdão, quem tem uma posição de relevância, seja qual for o meio em que esteja atuando, deve tomar a palavra para se manifestar sobre o que tem ocorrido. Para ele, há uma crise de valores sociais.
-Tenho uma máxima na vida: tudo vem para nos ensinar. Seja positivo ou negativo. Neste momento, vivemos uma crise de valores sociais, onde vemos por exemplo a guerra na Rússia, a violência no futebol brasileiro. Não posso ter este cargo e não fazer a função dele. Quem é responsável tem que dar a cara e assumir para a sociedade – declarou o comandante português.
Ainda na entrevista, Abel Ferreira demonstrou preocupação com tudo isso que tem acontecido e pediu que os órgãos responsáveis possam punir quem infringiu as leis. De acordo com ele, o limite do respeito tem sido ultrapassado.
-Me preocupa muito o que passa na Europa e o que está acontecendo no futebol brasileiro. As entidades competentes, seja quem organiza a competição, sistema jurídico, sistema político, o que for, precisa dar um passo em frente e mostrar que quem infringir as leis precisa de uma punição. Eu vejo o futebol como um espetáculo, como entretenimento, onde podemos ir com o rival ao lado, se eu ganho, brinco com ele, se ele ganhar, brinca comigo, mas com respeito. E quando o limite do respeito é ultrapassado, vemos coisas que não são agradáveis para ninguém. Não podemos olhar para o lado, quem é o responsável precisa dar um passo em frente.
Por fim, o treinador palmeirense pediu que as pessoas reflitam sobre todos esse acontecimentos recentes, uma vez que há uma crise de valores na sociedade e o sentimento de paz está cada vez mais em falta atualmente.
-É uma reflexão que todos temos de fazer. Hoje na nossa sociedade, no Brasil e na Europa, é paz. Um valor que está em falta, precisamos de tranquilidade. Quando eu morrer, nem o fato vou escolher, vamos todos para o mesmo lugar. E nem a roupa a gente tem direito a escolher. Que as pessoas pensem bem, porque me preocupa a crise de valores na sociedade, e a mim, pessoalmente, no futebol – concluiu.
Cortado do Mundial de Clubes após ser diagnosticado com Covid-19 um dia antes do embarque, o atacante Gabriel Veron enfim testou negativo para a doença e vai viajar para Abu Dhabi para acompanhar a decisão entre Palmeiras e Chelsea, neste sábado (12), às 13h30 (de Brasília).
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Sua ida para os Emirados Árabes Unidos foi decidida em conjunto entre diretoria, comissão técnica e jogadores, afinal Veron é uma peça fundamental do elenco e a presença dele na final é considerada justa.
O atacante não viajou com o grupo por conta do coronavírus e como voltou a dar positivo um novo teste feito dias antes do fechamento da lista de inscritos do Verdão para a competição, acabou cortado.
Nos bastidores, especula-se que Veron tinha grandes chances de estar presente os 23 selecionados pelo técnico Abel Braga para disputar o Mundial.
Junto dele, o lateral-esquerdo Joaquín Piquerez também testou positivo, mas acabou se curando dias antes da vitória do Alviverde sobre o Al Ahly, do Egito, por 2 a 0, pela semifinal. O uruguaio fez apenas um treino com o plantel em Abu Dhabi e foi titular na partida.
O comandante português privilegiou os jogadores mais experientes do elenco palmeirense na lista de inscritos. Dos jogadores que viajaram, Patrick de Paula, Gabriel Menino, Renan, Vanderlan e Giovani, todos crias da categoria de base, acabaram preteridos por Abel na relação final.
Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg has claimed that Everton are interested in signing a 26-year-old attacker with an £8.4m release clause, with a January move mooted.
Latest Everton transfer rumours
It looks as though The Friedkin Group are aiming to make their presence felt from the off at Goodison Park, with the prospective owners eyeing three important additions in the January transfer window.
It has been claimed that they want Everton to sign a new full-back, winger and striker, seeing all three positions as priority areas and wanting more depth on show throughout the squad, as Sean Dyche looks to once again steer his side up the Premier League table.
Dan Friedkin at AS Roma.
There is also believed to be an agreement in place between the Blues and Dele Alli, in terms of the 28-year-old only getting paid on a contract when he is fit enough to play in the first team on a regular basis.
In terms of potential outgoings, underwhelming Everton striker Beto has been linked with a move to Roma, and the fact that The Friedkin Group also own the Serie A club means that it could make it an easier piece of business to get over the line, should their interest be genuine.
Everton eyeing January move for attacker
According to Plettenberg on X, Everton are keen on signing Red Star Belgrade attacker Silas in the January window, with the 26-year-old currently on loan there from VfB Stuttgart:
Silas could be a really shrewd signing by Everton if they can strike a deal, with his numbers in a Stuttgart shirt highlighting the level of end product he could bring to Dyche’s team.
The winger has scored 35 goals and chipped in with 21 assists in 132 appearances for the Bundesliga side, showing that he possesses both creativity and a goalscoring knack in the final third. He is also a 16-cap international for Congo, scoring once for his country to date, and he has netted twice in his first five appearances on loan at Red Star.
It looks as though Stuttgart are willing to cut that loan spell short, however, allowing Everton to potentially swoop in January, and the fact that Silas’ release clause is as little as £8.4m makes him a cheap option well worth taking a risk on.
Everton have found an underrated gem who's proving to be better than Gordon
Anthony Gordon failed to do himself justice on his return to Goodison Park last weekend.
1
By
Joe Nuttall
Oct 8, 2024
The attacking ace can thrive as both a right-sided player and a centre forward, giving Dyche more versatility in his attack, and he could prove to be an upgrade on Beto if he leaves in January, making this one to watch.
Cristiano Ronaldo has declared himself to be football’s GOAT, with the Portuguese explaining why he is ahead of Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Pele.
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CR7 has five Ballons d'OrHas rewritten the history booksBelieves he is most 'complete' playerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?
Debate regarding who can be considered the greatest player of all-time continues to rage. Ronaldo’s exploits have put him in that conversation alongside eternal rival Messi, 1986 World Cup winner Maradona and Brazil icon Pele.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Ronaldo has five Ballons d’Or and countless major honours to his name, along with an impressive haul of records, and believes that he is more complete than Argentine superstar Messi – who has eight Golden Balls – and legendary forwards Maradona and Pele.
WHAT CRISTIANO RONALDO SAID
CR7 has told when asked for his take on the GOAT discussion: “I think I'm the most complete player there has ever been. That's my opinion. It could be a question of taste but I think it's me. I do everything in football. I head well, I take set pieces well, I shoot well with my left foot, I'm fast, I'm strong, I jump.
“Taste is one thing, saying this, that or that, whether you prefer Messi, Pele or Maradona, I hear it and I respect it but to say that Cristiano isn't complete is a lie. I'm the most complete. I don't see anyone better than me and I tell you that with all my heart.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
Ronaldo, who is still going strong as he prepares to turn 40, is the most prolific goalscorer that world football has ever seen. He considers that to put him at the top of the pile, with the evergreen frontman adding: “Even if I score 920, 925 or 930 goals, the best in history is me. Period.”
يرى النجم السابق، مايكل أوين، أن هناك أربعة فرق لديها فرصة حقيقية للفوز بلقب بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، هذا الموسم، 2024/25.
وتنطلق منافسات دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا لهذا الموسم غدًا الثلاثاء، حيث تبدأ مرحلة الذهاب.
ويلتقي ليفربول مع باريس سان جيرمان، في حين تُقام مباراة ديربي بنكهة أوروبية بين ريال مدريد وأتلتيكو مدريد، ويواجه برشلونة خصمه بنفيكا.
في حين أن آرسنال يلتقي مع آيندهوفن، ويخوض أستون فيلا مباراته في تلك المرحلة مع كلوب بروج، ويصطدم بايرن ميونخ بمواطنه الألماني باير ليفركوزن، على أن يلتقي إنتر ميلان نظيره فينورد.
وقال مايكل أوين، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “مترو” الإنجليزية: “ليفربول هو المرشح المفضل لدي في دوري أبطال أوروبا، قبل ريال مدريد، يمكنك أيضًا النظر كذلك إلى برشلونة وبايرن ميونخ على أنهما لديهما فرصة حقيقية (للتتويج)”.
وأضاف: “هناك عدد قليل من الفرق التي يمكنها الفوز بالبطولة، لكنني أقول بالتأكيد إن ليفربول وريال مدريد هما الفريقان الوحيدان في الوقت الحالي”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. جرايم سونيس يتجاهل محمد صلاح: هناك لاعب آخر في ليفربول أفضل من الجميع
وواصل: “هناك ضغط ضخم على كيليان مبابي لكن هذا هو ريال مدريد، فاز المدربون بالدوري وتم طردهم لعدم الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا”.
واسترسل: “الضغط كذلك لدى ريال مدريد للتغلب على برشلونة والآن أتليتكو مدريد (سباق الدوري الإسباني)، لديهم أفضل اللاعبين وأفضل مدرب، عليك الفوز بكل شيء أو تشعر بالفشل”.
وأوضح: “مبابي كان يعرف السيناريو قبل توقيعه لـ ريال مدريد، هذه هي حياة اللاعب المتميز، إذا لم يكن يريد الضغط، كان يجب أن يوقع لنادِ آخر، يزداد الضغط كلما يزداد مستوى النادي”.
وأفاد: “سيتعين على مبابي قيادة ريال مدريد إلى قمة الدوري ودوري أبطال أوروبا، لكنه لم يفشل في القيام بذلك بعد، لديهم عادة الظهور بقوة وسيحققون مسيرة رائعة عندما يكون الجميع كذلك”.
وأكد: “سيكون ريال مدريد آخر فريق تريد مواجهته في مراحل خروج المغلوب، تحدث الناس عنهم كما لو كانوا يمرون بموسم كارثي، لكنك ستكون شجاعًا جدًا للإطاحة بهم الآن”.
Worcestershire left with little solace as they are condemned to Division Three status
George Dobell14-Jul-2021
Rob Yates pulls behind square•Getty Images
Worcestershire 447 for 9 dec (Mitchell 113, Barnard 112*, Haynes 65) drew with Warwickshire 395 (Malan 141, Sibley 80, Rhodes 60, Sodhi 6-89) and 215 for 2 dec (Yates 88, Malan 77*, Sibley 41)Another determined innings from Rob Yates has helped Warwickshire secure their place in Division One of the County Championship.Yates, a 21-year-old student with another year of university in front of him, made 88 to ensure Warwickshire achieved the draw they required to book their place in the top six when Championship cricket resumes on August 30.In partnership with Pieter Malan, he added 139 for Warwickshire’s second wicket but fell just short of his fourth century of the Championship campaign when he attempted to accelerate to the milestone with time running out in the match.Malan, who came into this match averaging 15.12 in his first five Championship matches, finished unbeaten on 77 to add to his first-innings century.Qualifying for Division One represents significant progress from Warwickshire. They didn’t win a first-class match in 2020 and finished second from bottom of Division One in 2019. But the appointment of Mark Robinson as head coach, and a couple of astute additions, has resulted in a team with added resilience who play a slightly old-school style of tough, attritional cricket. Tellingly, three of their victories have been achieved in the final hour of games with successful run-chases against Nottinghamshire and Essex especially memorable. Danny Briggs, whose improved batting has complemented his left-arm spin nicely, must be one of the signings of the season.But it is, perhaps, Yates’ development which has been most pleasing. Tested here by the footmarks outside the left-hander’s off-stump, he again demonstrated the temperament and technique to suggest he could play at a higher level. He played and missed a couple of times and survived a tough caught-and-bowled chance to Ish Sodhi on 30 but he is his club’s leading run-scorer in the competition and went within 12 of being the first man in the land to score four Championship centuries this season.His cricketing education will continue next week when he is named in a County Select XI to take on India in a three-day warm-up match alongside county colleague Will Rhodes. Liam Norwell and Craig Miles are reserves.Related
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This was not, in truth, the most invigorating days of cricket. While there was a little assistance for the spinners from a couple of areas of rough (this pitch had been used previously for a T20 match) it was too slow to cause any great anxiety to well-organised batters intent on survival. The Warwickshire wickets that fell – Dom Sibley, caught down the leg-side as he attempted a pull and Yates, caught off a top-edge after attempting a slog-sweep – owed more to batter error than any great incision. Brett D’Oliveira was absent for personal reasons.Earlier Ed Barnard completed the second first-class century of his career and season. Resuming on 98 overnight, he helped Worcestershire extend their first-innings lead to 52 before declaring. But though Josh Baker, the 18-year-old left-arm-spinner, opened the bowling in the second innings on debut, there was not enough assistance in the surface to put Warwickshire under any pressure.The result sustains a grim run of form for Worcestershire in Championship cricket. Having been relegated at the end of 2018, they finished second from bottom of Division Two in 2019 (only Leicestershire were below them) and will now be in Division Three when the Championship resumes.There will, no doubt, be questions asked of a squad which includes several senior players – not least Riki Wessels, Daryl Mitchell and Ross Whiteley – who are out of contract at the end of the season.But Worcestershire may be better served looking at their pitches. This one, like so many at the ground, had little life and resulted in just 21 wickets falling across the four days. It’s tough to prepare great wickets on a ground which spends several weeks under water each winter – especially this year, when Spring was so cold – but there really isn’t much encouragement out there for the talented young bowlers (Adam Finch, Dillion Pennington and Josh Tongue et al) at the club. In this side, only Sodhi – who only played one game – had a bowling average below 44 in the Championship season.”It was pretty similar to a couple of wickets we’ve played on here this season,” Joe Leach, the Worcestershire captain, said afterwards. “It was very flat and pretty brutal for us bowlers. It wasn’t conducive to taking 20 wickets. I think I could have declared a week ago and they’d still be batting.”It’s been a disappointing campaign. I don’t feel we’ve been a million miles away and I do feel we’re making progress. But ultimately the table doesn’t lie.”Warwickshire have some decisions to make about overseas players when Championship cricket resumes, though. Malan flies back to South Africa in the coming days where his wife is expecting a baby. Given the difficulty of travel between the countries, it may be the last the club sees of him this season. Hanuma Vihari, who is still in the country following his spell with the club at the start of the season, could well be recalled depending on whether he is required by the India team.
Sonia Bompastor's unbeaten record was in serious danger after a mistake by the Lionesses' goalkeeper, but her half-time substitute changed the game
When Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor brought Catarina Macario on at half-time in the Blues' vital Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday night, even she could not have imagined the American forward would make as big and as sudden of an impact as she did. Entering the game with Las Blancas 1-0 up, within 11 minutes Macario had converted two penalties, one of which she won herself, and turned the match upside down to give Chelsea a win that secured top spot in their UWCL group.
Bompastor's perfect start to life in London came to a frustrating end at the weekend, when the Blues were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Leicester in the Women's Super League, and her unbeaten record was in serious danger in Spain after Hannah Hampton failed to keep out a strike from Caroline Weir which she got a strong hand to. Real had chances to add to their lead before the break too, most notably when Olga Carmona fired just a whisker wide following wonderful work by Weir.
Chelsea's chances in that first half were limited but that all changed when Macario entered the fray. She fired a warning shot within seconds with an offside goal, forced Misa Rodrigez into a great stop one-v-one a few minutes later and then prompted a clumsy tackle in the box out of Olga, before dusting herself off to confidently convert from the spot. Within five minutes, Olga was left remonstrating once more, this time penalised for a handball in the area. Macario remained cool while waiting to try and beat Misa from 12 yards again though and when the referee finally blew her whistle, she hit the exact same spot to secure a 2-1 win that means Chelsea will face a group stage runner-up in the quarter-finals.
GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano…
Goalkeeper & Defence
Hannah Hampton (3/10):
Made a real mess of Weir's strike when she should've kept it out. Distribution wasn't great, either.
Lucy Bronze (4/10):
Struggled to contain the double threat of Caicedo and Olga, and later Athenea, losing a crucial duel to the Olga in the build-up to Real's goal.
Nathalie Bjorn (5/10):
Her and Bright were exposed far too often at the back by a lively attack.
Millie Bright (5/10):
As well as being caught on the back foot regularly, she gave the ball away in dangerous positions a few too many times.
Niamh Charles (7/10):
Kept Real relatively quiet down her side and was lively in attack, making the interception in the final third which led to Chelsea's second goal.
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Midfield
Erin Cuthbert (7/10):
Delivered good set pieces that created some chances for her players and then started to make her mark in open play in the second half, putting Macario through on goal brilliantly for a big opportunity.
Wieke Kaptein (7/10):
Battled away nicely in midfield and won possession more often than any other player. That pressure almost gave her a great chance in the first half, but a defender just nipped in to steal it away at the vital moment.
Sjoeke Nusken (6/10):
Worked hard and was reliable on the ball in the areas she needed to be, though her end product in the final third was lacking.
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Attack
Aggie Beever-Jones (5/10):
Worked very hard and had a couple of nice moments, but things often just didn't come off for her.
Mayra Ramirez (5/10):
Drove the attack forward consistently and was Chelsea's biggest attacking threat with her running power, though that didn't amount to many chances. Off at the break.
Guro Reiten (5/10):
Had Chelsea's most meaningful effort of the first half but also let Weir run right past her for the opening goal, then limped off injured before half-time.
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Subs & Manager
Maika Hamano (6/10):
On just before half time due to injury to Reiten and brought some positivity to the attack, while also honouring her defensive duties.
Catarina Macario (9/10):
Replaced Ramirez at the break and made an immediate impact. Scoring two penalties within 11 minutes, one of which she won. Could've had a hat-trick too, if Misa hadn't denied her with a great save one-on-one.
Ashley Lawrence (6/10):
Came on for the final 20 minutes to help Chelsea see the game out and made a couple of timely defensive interventions as part of that effort.
Sandy Baltimore (5/10):
Like Lawrence, her task was to ensure her team held on to this win and she did that job well, despite picking up a frustrating yellow card.
Sonia Bompastor (8/10):
Injuries limited her selection choice for this game, and indeed forced her to make a change during, but she put out her best team possible to get a vital result and was proactive with her subs. Felt bold to take off Ramirez and yet, it was a move that proved game-changing, with Macario turning the evening around.
Kent have signed Adam Milne, the New Zealand pace bowler, as a replacement for Mohammad Amir, whose Pakistan Super League commitments will prevent him from appearing in the Vitality Blast.Amir had been due to play for Kent in the second half of the Blast, after the completion of the PSL – but the shifting dates for the rearranged competition, which begins on Wednesday, and quarantine restrictions for arriving in the UK from Pakistan mean he won’t be taking up his deal.Instead, Milne will arrive for his fourth spell at Kent, having taken 38 wickets in 28 appearances between 2017 and 2019. He is expected to be available for Kent’s ninth group game, against Somerset at Canterbury on June 28, onwards.”We’re delighted that Adam will be coming back to be a Kent Spitfire once more,” Kent’s director of cricket, Paul Downton, said. “He is a world-class T20 bowler who has made a significant difference to our side every time he has played for the Spitfires. I am sure our Members and supporters will be excited to welcome him back for the later stages of the Vitality Blast.”Milne was part of the Kent side that reached the quarter-finals of the Vitality Blast in 2018, and narrowly missed out on reaching the knockouts a year later. He has also featured at the IPL and the Big Bash, as well as being capped 23 times in T20Is by New Zealand.Milne said: “I love being a Spitfire and I’m really excited that the opportunity has arisen for me to come back to Kent for a fourth time. It’ll be great to see familiar faces in the dressing room but I’m also looking forward to working with the new talent that has joined since my last stint in 2019.”Kent’s other overseas options include South African batter Heino Kuhn and the Afghanistan legspinner Qais Ahmed, who is expected to be available after quarantine from June 13, when the club face Gloucestershire at Canterbury.
Ipswich Town supporters will be nervously counting down the days until the Premier League season finally gets underway, as the tense Tractor Boys get thrown straight into the thick of it versus Liverpool on the opening day.
Manchester City are then the next almighty test of Kieran McKenna's side's character, but those high-profile contests won't determine whether the Suffolk outfit stay up or go down come the end of the 38-game marathon.
The popular former Manchester United figure will want more bodies in through the door before the end of the month to help his underdogs pull off another incredible feat and try to survive, with this out-there target now on the agenda from Serie A.
Ipswich looking at another defensive addition
According to Italian football outlet Calcio Mercato, AC Milan defender Fode Ballo-Toure is being talked about as a potential Ipswich Town purchase this summer, with the left-back's agent attempting to win him a deal to the Premier League this campaign away from Italy, having offered him to McKenna and co.
Watford and Leeds United are also named as interested parties from England, but Ballo-Toure is keen on the idea of playing top-flight football in his potential new surroundings, if he is to move away from the esteemed Rossoneri for pastures new.
What Ballo-Toure can offer Ipswich
Having played in the Premier League with Fulham on loan previously, Ballo-Toure could be seen as an instant upgrade on another new Ipswich recruit in the form of Conor Townsend, with the Senegalese full-back even lining up to play in the Champions League during his underwhelming time at the San Siro to date.
Moreover, when looking at the 27-year-old's numbers for his previous employers over his disappointing time with Milan, he could well be a more attack-oriented option over the steady ex-West Bromwich Albion man, which will suit Ipswich more if they need another gung-ho presence down the left if Leif Davis is sidelined.
The £20k-per-week defender – as per Capology – has also shown his attacking credentials in flashes for Milan too, seen in this last-gasp winner he managed against Empoli during the 2022/23 season, which remains the only effort that has found the back of the net from 26 games for the Serie A giants.
However, his Ligue 1 days before a move to Italy transpired saw the experienced talent perform as a far more confident and consistent presence when bombing forward, with nine assists registered from 108 French top division clashes.
Stat – per 90 mins*
Townsend
Games played
42
Goals scored
0
Assists
4
Big chances created
6
Interceptions*
0.7
Tackles*
1.3
Ball recoveries*
3.0
Clearances*
2.1
Clean sheets
11
Total duels won*
3.8
Stats by Sofascore
Looking at Townsend, compared next to Ballo-Toure, the former Baggies man wouldn't exactly thrill Ipswich supporters next season if he was thrown into the deep end of the starting XI.
Mustering up four assists last season, the 31-year-old will worry his position in the Ipswich pecking order will be troubled if the Senegalese defender joins this summer, knowing what his counterpart has been capable of previously in his career when at his A-Game.
Struggling to make an impact for Fulham last campaign whilst on loan, with just eight games handed to him in total across the 2023/24 season, Ballo-Toure will hope he gets another opportunity to shine again in the tough league with the Tractor Boys, even with Townsend already boosting the left-back spot.
The African full-back was even described as being "talented" by Cottagers Head of Football Operations Tony Khan when the move to Fulham was unveiled, only for it to go rather pear-shaped.
Ipswich Town target Conor Townsend in action for West Brom.
Yet, Townsend has a relegation on his CV when last playing in the Premier League, and with McKenna in charge who loves attack-minded footballers and has turned Davis into an assist machine, Ballo-Toure could well shine for the Suffolk club if he is signed ahead of the new season finally kicking off soon.
Imagine him & Szmodics: Ipswich in the running to sign Odobert upgrade
Ipswich Town would terrify Premier League defences if this signing gets over the line.