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India captain also says Gill will be given “a chance to have a fair run” in the ODI side

Hemant Brar09-Jan-20231:31

Rohit on Suryakumar’s selection in ODIs: ‘Great headache to have’

There has been a debate going around if Hardik Pandya should replace Rohit Sharma as India’s T20I captain but Rohit said he has no plans to give up T20Is as things stand.After the 2022 T20 World Cup, both Rohit and Virat Kohli missed India’s next two T20I series, away against New Zealand and at home against Sri Lanka. Rohit said it was more to manage the workload, and they might miss the upcoming home T20I series against New Zealand as well.Related

Gill to open instead of Kishan in series opener

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“It was made clear in the past that it’s a 50-over World Cup year, and for some of the guys, it’s not possible to play all formats,” Rohit said on the eve of the first ODI against Sri Lanka. “If you look at the schedule, the matches are back to back. So looking at some of the players’ workloads, we wanted to give them a break. And I also fall into that category.”We have only six T20Is, three [against Sri Lanka] are over and we have three against New Zealand. So we will look after those boys till we get to the IPL, and see what happens after that. But certainly, I have not decided to give up the format.”Shubman Gill remains ahead of Ishan Kishan in the pecking order, according to Rohit Sharma•BCCI

Rohit also revealed that Shubman Gill remains ahead of Ishan Kishan in the pecking order. In India’s last ODI, Kishan had scored the fastest double-hundred in the format, but in the other eight innings in his career, he has only 267 runs at an average of 33.37.Gill, on the other hand, has been India’s highest run-getter since his comeback last year, scoring 638 runs at an average of 70.88 at a strike rate of 102.57.”Both openers have done really well, but looking at how both have gone through, it’s fair we give Gill a chance to have a fair run, because he has got a lot of runs in the last few games,” Rohit said. “So has Ishan, I am not taking anything away from him. He has been wonderful for us. He got a double-hundred and I know what it takes to get a double-hundred; it’s a great achievement.Watch on ESPN Player in the UK

WATCH the first India vs Sri Lanka ODI LIVE

“But to be honest and just to be fair to the guys who have done really well before that, we need to give those guys enough chances before we make that call.”It’s unfortunate we won’t be able to play Ishan but looking at how things have panned out for us in the last eight-nine months, and looking at how ODIs have gone for us, it’s fair to give Gill that run. He has done extremely well in that position. It’s very unfortunate for Ishan but that doesn’t rule him out. We are going to try to keep everyone in the mix and see how it pans out for us as we play more games.”For the same reason, Suryakumar Yadav, despite his sparkling T20I form, will also have to wait for a longer run in ODIs. Meanwhile, in Kishan’s absence, KL Rahul will keep wickets on Tuesday.

Marseille fell to a 1-0 home defeat against Atalanta in their Champions League clash on Wednesday, a match overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions late on. Several Marseille players, along with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, were left furious after the referee declined to award a potential penalty just moments before Atalanta netted the decisive goal in the dying minutes.

• Controversy clouds Marseille's Champions League defeat

  Marseille welcomed Atalanta to Stade Velodrome on Wednesday evening in a crucial Champions League encounter for both teams. The match eventually ended in a narrow 1-0 win for the Italian outfit, with substitute Lazar Samardzic scoring the lone goal in the 90th minute, just minutes after he was introduced off the bench. 

  However, the game has sparked outrage from several Marseille players, as well as the head coach and sporting director. Just moments prior to the goal, the hosts made strong claims for a handball by Ederson inside the Atalanta area, which were swiftly rejected by the referee. Pressed deep in his own box, the Brazilian midfielder’s touch lifted the ball onto his arm, but the referee opted not to award a penalty. Atalanta immediately broke forward, and Samardzic capitalized on the counterattack to score.

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• Marseille players fuming at refereeing decisions

  After the match, several Marseille players expressed their thoughts on the controversial decision. "At least he should be fair, go and see [the video], go and check. Take the time. It's an important match, it's the Champions League," defender Nayef Aguerd told almost immediately after the match ended. "He doesn't even want to go and see if there's a penalty. I'm proud of the team. We'll continue to work and improve. It's hard to find the words tonight."

  Left-back Ulisses Garcia was left frustrated, too, saying: "A huge feeling of injustice, you see the hand clearly out. We're all sure it's a penalty and then we concede a goal. It's really difficult. We see the penalty that was given in Madrid, there was no penalty, and then here we see a hand clearly out. They don't whistle, we don't understand."

• De Zerbi and Medhi Benatia agitated

  Marseille head coach De Zerbi was shown a yellow card by referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez when he protested the decision to not check a potential handball on Atalanta's Ederson. After the game, he voiced his frustrations and labelled the entire episode "dubious".

  "It's a shame to have lost, they're a strong team," he told after the match. "The first 20 minutes weren't good, not up to our level. We didn't play well, we lost possession too often. After that, we played better, we absolutely didn't deserve to lose.

  "Then there's this somewhat dubious episode… I'm optimistic. We had eight or nine injured players, important players. I must remind you of that. 

  "I'm not a referee, I don't know the rules perfectly. But I have a good memory and I know we lost a match in Madrid for a similar reason. That's all I can think of. I think we've suffered three bizarre defeats. We haven't been lucky. The rules are different in Madrid and Marseille. In Lisbon, we also lose in isolated incidents. At 11 against 11, we never lose. We probably even win. And there's tonight."

  Marseille sporting director Medhi Benatia didn't mince his words either. "For my part, yes. It's hard to accept [the result]," the Marseille chief admitted. "They say it's a natural position (Ederson's arm being held away from the body), but I don't think it's natural to have your arm like that. You see [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang] preparing to shoot, so his arm completely changes the trajectory of the ball.

  "Everything they tell us at the beginning of the year when they hold meetings… For me, there was everything that should have led to that penalty being awarded. Then we conceded the goal that killed us, so it was obviously a big responsibility. 

  “Also, I didn’t appreciate the arrogant attitude of the referees. After these incidents, we have to focus and do our job to the best of our ability.” 

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• AFP
  

  Marseille face Champions League elimination

  The result leaves Les Phoceens in 25th position on the overall Champions League standings with just three points. While they are in a strong position domestically, sitting in second position just two behind than Paris Saint-Germain, their European campaign is in danger of falling apart if they fail to win their next couple of games. Their next opponents in the competition are Newcastle, Union Saint-Gilloise, Liverpool and Club Brugge.

Wolves have reportedly approached Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards after cutting ties with Vitor Pereira, whose nightmare reign ended with a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Fulham last weekend. The Portuguese manager produced no wins during this current Premier League campaign and was sacked less than 24 hours after the final whistle at Craven Cottage, which left them at rock bottom of the table.

Rob Edwards: The comeback story in the making?

According to , Edwards has emerged as the frontrunner to take over in the West Midlands. He has quietly built a strong reputation in the Championship and is one of three high-profile names on Wolves’ radar as they scramble to find a steady hand. The 42-year-old is currently under contract with Middlesbrough until June 2028, meaning Wolves would need to pay significant compensation to lure him back to familiar territory. Meanwhile, for Boro, who have climbed to third in the table under Edwards after 14 games and seven wins, losing him now would be a massive blow. However, the report mentions that the pull of returning to Wolves, the club where he spent a good amount of time as a player and coach, could prove irresistible.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFrom youth coach to potential saviour

Edwards’ connection to Wolves runs deep. He made 111 appearances for the club during his playing days before turning to coaching, where he spent several formative years in their youth setup. His journey began with the under-18s in 2014, followed by a stint with the senior coaching staff a year later, and eventually led the under-23s in 2019. Edwards later took the managerial reins at Forest Green Rovers in 2021, guiding them to promotion, before moving up to the Championship with Watford. 

However, his time at Vicarage Road was short-lived as he was sacked after just ten games. But redemption came swiftly when he joined Luton Town as he masterminded an incredible promotion campaign in 2022–23, dragging the Hatters into the Premier League against all odds. 

Edwards plays coy, but doesn’t rule it out

When asked about speculation linking him to a Wolves return, Edwards tried to steer clear of the gossip, but his words only added fuel to the fire.

"You know my links to the club [Wolves]," Edwards said. "But my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around. Speculation is hard for me to comment about. We've done a decent job so far. It's all speculation anyway. I never get drawn on stuff that's all hypothetical and I don't want to get drawn on that.

"I love being Middlesbrough manager and that's what I want to think about. All I can say is I've not given it a single thought because my focus is just on this. It's all the stuff that my daughter was telling me about."

While Edwards remains the prime target, Wolves have also explored other options. Michael Carrick, who is currently without a club, is also said to be under consideration. However, his lack of Premier League experience could be a stumbling block. Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil was also sounded out, but he reportedly withdrew from the race. 

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Getty ImagesTeti has also left Wolves

The turmoil at Wolves goes far beyond the manager’s office. On Tuesday, the club confirmed that director of professional football Domenico Teti had left by mutual consent, just months after joining as part of the club’s leadership team. 

Executive chairman Jeff Shi said: "Domenico approached his role with total professionalism and built strong working relationships across the club during his time with us. He made a positive contribution to our football processes and has carried himself with integrity throughout. We thank him for his efforts and support and wish him every success in the future."

With just two points from ten matches, Wolves are fighting for survival. For now, interim head coach James Collins will step into the hot seat, taking Friday’s press conference before leading Wolves into a daunting clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It’s their final fixture before the international break, and potentially their final chance to avoid complete collapse before a new era begins. They are eight points away from safety, and if they are to claw their way out of the bottom three, the next appointment must be the right one.

Hampshire heavily beaten after batting line-up misfires

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Aug-2025

Worcestershire 196 for 5 (D’Oliveira 52, Jack 2-34) beat Hampshire 194 (Gubbins 60, Allison 6-35) Ben Allison’s career best figures of 6 for 35 helped Worcestershire secure a comfortable five-wicket win over Hampshire in Group A of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.Allison bowled with pace and control from the outset, as regular wickets stunted Hampshire’s progress, with Nick Gubbins’ half-century the highlight in Hampshire’s total of 194 all out.In reply, a composed 52 from Brett D’Oliveira and thirties from Kashif Ali and Jake Libby put the hosts in control of their chase as Hampshire’s bowlers struggled. A quickfire cameo from Ethan Brookes saw Worcestershire ease their way to a convincing five-wicket win and continue their unbeaten start to the group stage.Allison pushed the home side in front early as he drew Ali Orr into an unnecessary waft at a full delivery outside his off stump in the first over of the contest, shortly before producing a peach of a delivery to account for the vital wicket of Tilak Varma, without scoring. Hampshire rallied from 14 for 2, with Gubbins taking his side past 50 without further cause for concern in sublime batting conditions at New Road.Scotland’s Brandon McMullen (29) gave his wicket away after a promising start, but Gubbins continued his fine solo efforts, raising his bat after passing fifty for the second time in this year’s One-Day Cup. Joe Weatherley’s afternoon was brought to a premature end when he was in single figures, as he retired hurt, unable to continue having been struck on the hand earlier in his innings.Gubbins’ classy knock saw him relatively unphased, stroking nine boundaries on his way to 60, but when Ethan Brookes trapped the opener LBW in front with a darting, full ball, the home side were back on an even keel, with Hampshire 115 for 4.Worcestershire youngster, Jack Home, making his first appearance of the season for the Rapids, returned to the action after a turbulent two-over spell earlier on in the piece to spark the biggest reaction from the crowd of the day when he zipped a ball through the defences of England U19 teammate Ben Mayes, watching a shard of middle stump fall victim of his pace, as the home side tightened their grip on the first-innings.File photo: Ben Allison takes the plaudits•Getty Images

At 121 for 5 and faltering on the back of the metronomic Brookes’ spell, a sixth-wicket partnership of 62 between Tom Prest and Felix Organ provided some stability for the visitors.But Worcestershire hit back, with the impressive Allison taking the wickets of both aforementioned batters in the 38th over, with a stunning caught and bowled spelling the end for Prest on 36. The seamer capped a sensational day with two more wickets in his final over, as he returned career-best figures of 6 for 35 to bundle Hampshire out for a below-par 194.Isaac Mohammed fell early in the reply when he was LBW for 10, but Kashif Ali and Brett D’Oliveira put on 59 for the third wicket, with Kashif continuing his excellent run in the competition as he searched for a third consecutive half-century.He perished 14 runs short of the milestone however when he found Prest at mid-off, but his departure didn’t halt Worcestershire’s momentum as they batted on past 100 in the 22nd over.D’Oliveira made his way to a composed half-century from 79 balls as Worcestershire strolled through the middle overs, but Hampshire had a brief moment of optimism McMullen struck in the 30th over to see the back of D’Oliveira.Brookes’ quick fire cameo of 35 from 24 balls propelled the home side up to 168 for 4, as the late loss of he and Libby (32) did not derail what was a comfortable chase with the Rapids securing a five-wicket win with more than ten overs in tact.

Manchester City are looking to cement themselves as the team to beat in the Premier League and they could go some way to doing that if they are able to tempt their latest transfer target to the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City react to Champions League league phase draw

In an eventful week, the Champions League league phase draw is now complete and Manchester City now know who they will face for a place in the knockout rounds of the competition.

From the eight sides they will take on, ties against Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Napoli are the standouts, though the Citizens have landed a favourable run off games on paper and will feel confident they can progress.

Man City’s Champions League opponents

Real Madrid (A)

Borussia Dortmund (H)

Bayer Leverkusen (H)

Villarreal (A)

Napoli (H)

Bodo/Glimt (A)

Galatasaray (H)

AS Monaco (A)

Fixture dates TBC

Speaking after the draw, Pep Guardiola expressed his delight at being able to welcome former Manchester City heroes Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane back to the Etihad Stadium.

He stated: “I’m really pleased he (Kevin De Bruyne) will come back here and of course, we have to beat the teams Napoli and Galatasaray (with Leroy Sane), nice to welcome him back. I’m sure the people will give a great welcome to them, they deserve it.”

Nevertheless, attention turns to their clash against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend alongside transfer activity, and the Citizens are plotting move to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid.

Admittedly, that may come down the line in January, though it shows that Guardiola’s ambition is through the roof as his side look to get back to dominating English football. Fermin Lopez could also move to the Etihad from Barcelona, and they are lining up another significant play for one of the world’s finest stars amid growing uncertainty over his future at a global superpower.

Man City lining up record Vinicius Junior bid

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City are lining up a £130 million bid to sign Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, given he has two years on his contract left in the Spanish capital.

The Brazil international is at loggerheads with Los Blancos over an extension and Guardiola is ready to swoop in, given his pace and ability to burn past defenders in one-on-one situations.

Man City could bid for £276k-p/w star who called the Etihad "incredible"

The Blues are lining up a shock move for a player Pep Guardiola has praised in the past…

ByDominic Lund Aug 28, 2025

Similar to their pursuit of Alexander-Arnold, the Citizens may wait until 2026 to move for the winger, who has been nominated for the 2025 Balon D’Or and has previously been labelled “quality” by scout Jacek Kulig.

Starting the campaign with a bang, Vinicius registered a goal and an assist in Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory over Real Oviedo last weekend, but his situation is growing slightly more uncertain as the weeks go by.

Manchester City are no stranger to a statement signing, and manging to push a deal over the line for someone of such a high pedigree would be guaranteed to make global headlines.

أعلن الجهاز الفني للنادي الأهلي، بقيادة السويسري مارسيل كولر، تشكيل الفريق الرسمي، لمواجهة بيراميدز، في اللقاء الذي يقام بينهما اليوم الأحد، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع بيراميدز، في إطار الجولة العاشرة من عمر مواجهات بطولة الدوري المصري، ذلك على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

ومن المقرر أن تنطلق مباراة الأهلي وبيراميدز، في تمام الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.

ويشهد تشكيل الأهلي، تواجد الصفقة الجديدة، مصطفي العش أساسيًا من بداية اللقاء، بعد انضمامه بشكل رسمي في انتقالات يناير الجاري من زد، ويقود هجوم المارد الأحمر، إمام عاشور.

بدلاء الأهلي أمام بيراميدز في الدوري المصري.. جراديشار يجاور أفشة تشكيل الأهلي اليوم أمام بيراميدز في الدوري المصري

حراسة المرمى: محمد الشناوي.

خط الدفاع: محمد هاني، رامي ربيعة، ياسر إبراهيم، كريم الدبيس ومصطفى العش.

خط الوسط: مروان عطية، أكرم توفيق، حسين الشحات، كريم وليد.

خط الهجوم: إمام عاشور.

ويحتل النادي الأهلي، المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 19 نقطة، بينما بيراميدز يتصدر الترتيب برصيد 20 نقطة.

A journalist's sources think one £200,000-per-week star now faces an uncertain future at Chelsea, with his spot not "100 per cent safe" as we approach the summer window.

Pochettino exit confirmed as many Chelsea players could follow him

Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea parted company by mutual consent on Tuesday evening, as reads the official statement, coming after months of speculation regarding the Argentine's future at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea ready to sell mainstay who Mauricio Pochettino loves for under £30m

He was excellent over the latter stages of 23/24.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 21, 2024

It was a whirlwind first season for Pochettino, who endured the wrath of supporters for a long period following a turbulent first half of 2023/2024. However, towards the latter stages, things took a much more positive turn.

Barring their 5-0 defeat at Arsenal, Chelsea hit an excellent run of form midway through February – winning 12 out of their final 20 games in all competitions and losing just three of them. They also tasted victory in five out of their final five Premier League games, a run which saw them qualify for the Europa Conference League and end the campaign on a real high.

They were only five points off a place in the top four, which few would've predicted for them when they were languishing far behind in midtable over the winter period. However, Chelsea chiefs have now seen fit to part company with Pochettino, and the search begins for a new manager.

Chelsea are believed to have held loose talks with Thomas Tuchel as one option (Florian Plettenberg), while the likes of Thomas Frank and Vincent Kompany are thought to be admired at Stamford Bridge as well (BBC).

Whoever comes in to replace Pochettino will have to contend with potentially losing a few big name players as well, with Conor Gallagher thought to be up for sale at Chelsea despite his starring role over 23/24.

The Englishman is entering the final 12 months of his contract and there has been little progress in the way of an extension. As well as the usual suspects like Gallagher, there is now also a belief that £200,000-per-week defender Ben Chilwell isn't safe from the axe either.

Journalist thinks Chilwell could leave Chelsea

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Dean Jones says people he's spoken to think Chilwell could be sold by Chelsea and faces an uncertain future, coming after his omission from Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.

“It’s a big blow for him not to be in the England squad and he will be looked at as a big casualty for not even making the provisional side, especially as Luke Shaw made it," said Jones.

"This will now lead into a longer conversation about his club future because his spot at Chelsea is not 100 per cent safe.

“Personally I think he will stay, I think we will see him bounce back from a frustrating season and the injuries that have held him back. But there are people I speak to who are a little more doubtful about that.”

Looking to retain their Scottish Premiership crown next season, Celtic are reportedly plotting a move to sign a free agent who Brendan Rodgers loves this summer.

Celtic transfer news

The Bhoys' main focus at the start of the summer may well be keeping hold of their best players, including Matt O'Riley. The impressive midfielder has attracted a lot of interest over the last few months, and rightly so, but Celtic must do everything to either keep hold of the Dane or at least cash in for the right price and reinvest that money wisely.

Meanwhile, when it comes to incomings, the likes of Kieran Tierney have been linked with a move in what would be a sensational return. The Scotland international left the Hoops back in 2019, before injuries brought any progress at Arsenal to a crashing halt, and he was sent on loan to Real Sociedad last season. At a career crossroads, Tierney could now reunite with Celtic and Rodgers this summer.

He may not be the only player to reunite with his former club, either. According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Celtic are now plotting to re-sign Stuart Armstrong this summer following the end of his Southampton contract. A free agent, the midfielder could get the chance to make a sensational return six years after swapping Celtic Park for St Mary's.

Celtic lining up move for £8m ace who could be Carter-Vickers 2.0

The Hoops are reportedly interested in the central defender ahead of the summer transfer window.

ByDan Emery Jun 8, 2024

Earning a reported £65,000 a week, Armstrong may hope that teams like Celtic are in a position to pay his hefty salary next season, given that they'll be avoiding a transfer fee altogether.

What's more, it's certainly one that Rodgers could get behind, having lavished Armstrong with praise during his time at Celtic, saying (via the Daily Mail): "He’s technically very strong and tactically he understands now how to keep the ball. When I first came in, he gave it away too cheaply.

"He wants to progress to be a player, so we reinforced the possession element of his game. He’s also got a good range of pass, can shoot and is good on set-pieces. So he’s really developing very well and, to put on top of that, he’s a really bright boy."

"Strong" Armstrong can pick up where he left off

Celtic could be primed to win a fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title next season under Rodgers – and with Armstrong and Tierney picking up medals, it would be quite the twist. Simply put, six years on from Armstrong's exit, not much seems to have changed at the top of Scottish football. And now he can pick up where he left off if he completes a return this summer.

Appearances

144

Goals

28

Assists

25

Titles

4

Now 32 years old, it would be fitting for the former Southampton midfielder to end his career at the club he's enjoyed most success, especially if he caps it off with even more titles in the Scottish Premiership. A free agent on the move, a Celtic return makes perfect sense for Armstrong this summer.

وافق مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب، بشكل رسمي، على طلب نظيره النصر الليبي.

وكان النصر الليبي قد طلب من الزمالك خوض مباراة ودية في مباراة اعتزال خالد حسين نجم منتخب ليبيا وفريق النصر الليبي.

ومن المقرر أن تقام المباراة يوم 15 نوفمبر الجاري بين الزمالك والنصر الليبي.

وتولى أحمد سليمان عضو مجلس إدارة القلعة البيضاء والمشرف على الكرة الاتفاق على كافة تفاصيل المباراة. 

طالع أيضاً.. الزمالك يفوز على اتحاد الشرطة في الدوري المصري لكرة الطائرة

وتسافر بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي إلى ليبيا يوم الأربعاء المقبل على متن طائرة خاصة تم توفيرها من الجانب الليبي، لخوض المباراة الودية.

Crystal Palace are enjoying a spectacular end to the Premier League season under new coach Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian has seen his side beat Newcastle United, West Ham United and, most impressively, Liverpool in the last four games, and since he was appointed in February, the Eagles have lost just three league games, one of which was against Manchester City.

In all, things look to be on the up and up at Selhurst Park, and one of the players benefiting most from the club's change of fortune is French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is more than repaying his manager's faith in him and making the wages paid out to previous strikers at the club look absurd.

Jean-Philippe Mateta's Palace career in numbers

The Eagles first signed Mateta on an initial 18-month loan from Bundesliga outfit Mainz in January 2021 but made the deal permanent for around £9m in February the following year.

While the 6 foot 4 forward hasn't ever been particularly bad for the South Londoners, it would probably be fair to describe much of his time at Selhurst Park as underwhelming. Before this season, he had scored just ten goals and provided a single assist in 67 appearances.

However, this year, the 26-year-old has finally shown the kind of form that piqued Palace's interest in the first place, scoring 14 goals and providing five assists in 36 games, meaning that he's averaging a goal involvement every other game.

This reliable output has seen him become Glasner's first choice in attack, and he's started every game following the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss' arrival, more than justifying his £50k-per-week wages in the process, which isn't something that can be said about a former Palace striker and flop.

How much Connor Wickham cost Crystal Palace

The former striker in question is 31-year-old Connor Wickham, who joined Alan Pardew's Palace for around £9m in August 2015 following a mixed – if not underwhelming – season for Sunderland in which he scored six goals and provided one assist in 40 appearances.

Despite his mediocre return for the Black Cats, the Englishman was handed a relatively hefty wage packet worth around £60k-per-week, making him the joint third-highest earner at the club for the 2015/16 season, behind only Emmanuel Adebayor and Yohan Cabaye.

The Hereford-born forward's first season in red and blue was a mixed one. His return of six goals and three assists in 24 appearances wasn't too bad, but he would miss 17 games through injury, and unfortunately for all involved, he would continue to be plagued by injury for the rest of his time south of the river.

In all, the former Ipswich Town gem would miss a whopping 143 games across the six years he spent as a Palace player – including the season he spent on loan with Sheffield Wednesday – while scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in 50 appearances.

Therefore, when adding his £9m transfer fee to the £16.8m he earned in wages during the five seasons he spent at Selhurst Park, he cost Crystal Palace £25.8m, or £516k-per-appearance, £2.3m-per-goal, or £5.1m-per-assist.

Ultimately, while Wickham was undeniably unlucky when it came to injuries, it would be impossible to describe his time at Palace as anything other than a failure, and by extension, his transfer was a flop.

Why Nottingham Forest will regret missing out on Oliver Glasner

The club made a huge mistake not hiring him…

By
Ethan Lamb

May 1, 2024