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Neymar has taken another step towards returning to action after his ACL injury nightmare, with the Brazilian superstar back in training at Al-Hilal.

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Sidelined since October 2023Long road to full recoveryMay not play until the new yearFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The South American has been sidelined for over 11 months, having suffered knee ligament damage while representing his country in a World Cup qualifier back on October 18, 2023. It has been a long road to recovery for the 32-year-old forward.

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Former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has taken in just five appearances for Al-Hilal, missing much of their Saudi Pro League title triumph last season, and is only under contract until the summer of 2025.

WHAT NEYMAR SAID

His rehabilitation has moved out of the gym and onto the training pitch, with Neymar able to rejoin the rest of Al-Hilal’s squad as he revels in having a ball back at his feet. He has shared a number of images on social media, alongside the message: “Glad to be back with the group… now it's all joy.”

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WHAT NEXT?

While Neymar is working his way towards full fitness, Al-Hilal boss Jorge Jesus has suggested that the mercurial playmaker may not be seen on the field for a few more months – with the plan being to “assess his condition again in January”.

England star Chloe Kelly could leave Manchester City at the end of the season after seeing her relationship with manager Gareth Taylor deteriorate.

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Kelly could leave Man CityRelationship with manager Taylor has broken downWas an unused substitute against Barca and LiverpoolFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Kelly has started in only two games out of City's seven outings in the ongoing season across all competitions and remained an unused substitute in the club's last two matches against Liverpool and Barcelona. Per the Daily Mail, the striker's relationship with manager Taylor has worsened over time and this could lead to her exit from the club next summer.

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The Lionesses forward's current contract with the Cityzens expires at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. While the player, who shares a close bond with the club, would love to stay beyond her current deal, the two parties are yet to progress on their talks over an extension.

DID YOU KNOW?

The relationship between the player and the coach started to worsen last season after the star forward was left on the bench during the Manchester derby in March 2024. She had to sit out for four straight matches which indicated some trouble in the City camp.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

Taylor's side, who are currently at the top of the table, will be next seen in action on Wednesday as they take on St. Polten in a Women's Champions League clash away from home.

Manchester United are set for a busy summer transfer window, as it has emerged that they want to sign three more players on top of Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, according to journalist David Ornstein.

Manchester United want Jarrad Branthwaite

Manchester United's 2024 summer transfer window looks to be in full swing following the news that the club were set to keep Erik ten Hag on as their manager heading into the 2024/25 campaign. The Dutchman was only able to guide the Red Devils to an 8th-place finish in the Premier League last season and will need to kick on this time around if he is to maintain his position in the Old Trafford dugout.

£50,000-a-week Wolves star now wanted by Manchester United in summer deal

His departure could free up some much-needed funds though.

ByBen Browning Apr 29, 2024

One of Manchester United's main problem areas last season was their defence. The Red Devils let in 58 goals in 38 league matches across 2023/24. In comparison, Manchester City and Arsenal conceded 34 and 29 respectively. As a result, it is clear that United need to shore up their backline if they are to return to the top of the English game and end what will be a 12-year wait for another league title.

In a bid to solve their defensive woes, Manchester United are reportedly targeting Everton and England centre-back, Jarrad Branthwaite. Earlier this week, it was claimed that Man Utd have agreed personal terms with Branthwaite over an Old Trafford transfer, with a contract worth between £150-160k per week on the table. However, the transfer fee looks set to be an issue, with Everton having already knocked back a £45m bid as they hold out for around £65-70m to allow the 21-year-old to depart Goodison Park.

Manchester United want to sign 3 players alongside Jarrad Branthwaite

Despite potentially having to spend big money on Branthwaite this summer, United are seemingly looking to get a few more names through the door before the transfer window slams shut later this summer.

This news comes via reliable journalist David Ornstein, who told The Athletic FC podcast that the Premier League giants want a centre-back, a midfielder and a striker – while a move for a left-back could also transpire.

"They want a centre-back, they want a midfielder, they want a striker," Ornstein said, via Football365. "There may be a need for a left-back.

"So there’s work to be done, and now comes the moment where they need to crack on with that. We know they like Branthwaite. They wanted [Benjamin] Sesko, but, obviously, they were probably never at the front of the queue for him and he’s now staying at Leipzig, so they’ll have to look elsewhere."

Ornstein does not give too much away when it comes to specific targets, but Man Utd have already been linked with a number of names who fit the criteria. Hoffenheim striker Maximilian Beier, Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka and Lille centre-back Leny Yoro are all said to be of interest to the club.

“I think we probably just felt that we were just going to get the runs easily,” says captain after 12-run defeat to Kings XI Punjab

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2020After a spectacular collapse in which Sunrisers Hyderabad went from needing 27 runs from 24 balls with seven wickets in hand to losing by 12 runs against Kings XI Punjab, David Warner said his batsmen had been “complacent” in the middle overs.The Sunrisers bowlers had restricted Kings XI to 126 for 7 on a slow, turning pitch in Dubai, and Warner himself provided a fast start in the chase, smashing 35 off 20. When he was the first wicket to fall after the powerplay, the Sunrisers needed 71 runs from 83 balls. But a middle-overs strangle meant they were eventually bowled out for 114 in 19.5 overs.”In regards to our batting, obviously very disappointed,” Warner said at the post-match press conference. “We didn’t get the job done. We were probably a bit complacent in the middle. We didn’t take the game on enough like we did the previous game (their victory against the Rajasthan Royals). I think we probably just felt that we were just going to get the runs easily, and then we sort of let the balls get ahead of the runs. That’s what happens in a game of cricket, if you give your opposition a sniff it can get taken away from you very fast.”Warner felt the batsmen should have assessed the conditions better and looked to play sensibly, especially with the required rate below six.He was fulsome in his praise for the bowlers, however, having pulled Kings XI back from their own brisk start.”I think our bowlers did an incredible job to bowl them out [restrict them] for under 130,” Warner said. “I felt that they did an exceptional job through the middle period to take wickets and to use the pitch to their advantage. I think in previous games we probably didn’t do that as well as we would have liked [with the ball], and today was a special day for them.”Warner himself adopted a changed approach while batting. In IPL 2020 so far, he had played more of an anchor role for the Sunrisers, averaging 37.22 before this game but at a strike rate of 124.07, well below his career strike rate. However, on Saturday he went hard at the bowling from the start, judging that it was the best time to score runs on this pitch.”Yeah, I was going back to my old-school days,” he said with a hint of a smile. “I was opening my front leg and just taking on the powerplay, something I haven’t done for a long time. It’s one of those things, where I felt that the best part of the powerplay was to try and go after it, go after their main bowler who swings the ball and is a very good bowler – [Mohammed] Shami. So I just tried to apply a little bit of pressure. And yeah, it’s fair to say that I’ve probably been quite reserved the last few years, so it was nice to open the front leg and show that I’ve still got that.”The Sunrisers have eight points with only three games in hand – and those are against the three teams currently at the top of the table: the Delhi Capitals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians. They will not only have to win those for a realistic shot at making the playoffs, but will also probably depend on net run rate to go through.”I would like to think that the team will do that, definitely,” Warner said. “We’ve got three challenging games coming up, one here and two in Sharjah. If you want to win the tournament, you’ve got to beat the top three teams and that’s what we face in our next assignment.”

Chelsea are set to make a decision over signing a £42 million star who's impressed club scouts with his performances at Euro 2024, and it is believed he's even caught the eye of Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

Chelsea targeting another senior defender after Tosin Adarabioyo

The free transfer of Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham kickstarted Chelsea's summer transfer window, and the experienced Premier League defender could do wonders to fill the void left by Thiago Silva's departure.

Chelsea prepared to bid for £208,000-a-week star after Dewsbury-Hall deal

The west Londoners have secured a reunion for Enzo Maresca.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 2, 2024

Silva re-joined boyhood club Fluminense on a Bosman deal, following the expiry of his Chelsea contract – coming after four faithful years at Stamford Bridge where he stayed long past his first one-year deal in 2020.

The veteran was an ever-present at the heart of Chelsea's back line, and stood out as an important member of their 2021 Champions League-winning squad. While Chelsea sealed a quick deal for Tosin, it is believed that Todd Boehly could look to bring in another senior defender after the Englishman.

Chelsea 5-0 West Ham

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Fulham 0-2 Chelsea

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Chelsea 6-0 Everton

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Sheffield United 2-2 Chelsea

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Chelsea 3-2 Brighton

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Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign defender Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors, but the 19-year-old is seen as one for the future and not an immediate central defensive upgrade for Enzo Maresca's first team. The Argentine will also be loaned back to Boca for at least six more months before making the move to west London.

Bearing this in mind, Chelsea employees are still scouring the market for potential new centre-back opportunities. An interesting name, who is currently attracting a lot of interest, is Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.

The 22-year-old was a major plus point for Italy at Euro 2024 following some impressive performances, with 2006 World Cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta calling some of his showings at the tournament "extraordinary".

Chelsea set to make decision over signing Calafiori this summer

According to journalist Simon Phillips, Chelsea are set to decide over signing Calafiori, after the Serie A starlet left Cobham scouts impressed with his performances at the Euros.

“Italy of course are now out of the Euros after losing 2-0 to Switzerland on Saturday, and Chelsea’s scouts are now compiling their reports and a decision will be made as to whether the club push to try and sign him this summer," wrote Phillips on his Substack.

“Chelsea scouts have been impressed with his performances at the Euros, is what SPTC sources are initially hearing back. But we are unsure as of now whether they will be pushing to sign him or not.”

Rumoured to command a price tag of around £42 million, he won't come cheap, and it is believed Real Madrid are among the many suitors for Calafiori as well.

ESPNcricinfo’s updates from Qualifier 2 of IPL 2020

Matt Roller08-Nov-2020