أكد مصدر في النادي الأهلي جاهزية لاعب الفريق للمشاركة في التدريبات الجماعية، بداية من عودة بعثة المارد الأحمر من الكونغو بعد مباراة مازيمبي في ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ياسر إبراهيم يغيب عن مباراة الذهاب المقرر لها الثالثة عصر اليوم السبت، بسبب إصابته في العضلة الخلفية.

وأوضح المصدر لـ”بطولات” أن ياسر إبراهيم خضع لفحوصات طبية أكدت شفاءه من الإصابة، وبات جاهزًا للمشاركة في التدريبات الجماعية.

ويأمل الأهلي استعادة جهود اللاعب في لقاء العودة ضد مازيمبي، المقرر إقامته يوم 26 أبريل الجاري، في ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

طالع أيضًا | ميدو: أتمنى أن يُحارب الزمالك لضم لاعب الأهلي.. ورمضان صبحي يحتاج قبلة الحياة تشكيل الأهلي المتوقع أمام مازيمبي اليوم في ذهاب نصف نهائي بدوري أبطال إفريقيا

في حراسة المرمى: مصطفى شوبير.

خط الدفاع: علي معلول، محمد عبد المنعم، رامي ربيعة، محمد هاني.

خط الوسط: عمرو السولية، أحمد نبيل كوكا، أكرم توفيق، بيرسي تاو، رضا سليم.

الهجوم: أنتوني موديست.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Kedar Jadhav played innovative shots in a rapid 40 which allowed India to amass 254•AFP

Looking at how West Indies struggled in the chase of 310 in Trinidad, you felt they would need a leveller to compete with India. In Antigua, they got a bit of a leveller when they won the toss on a damp pitch – the start was delayed by 45 minutes because of torrential rain a day before the match – and kept India to 251, but their batsmen still fell short by 93.It was also a leveller that ODI cricket can do with every now and then: slips in place, value on short singles, premium on playing long innings. Reaching the run rate of four only in 43rd over, India’s 251 for 4 was the third-lowest total this decade for a side batting first and losing four wickets or fewer. Ajinkya Rahane, auditioning for the opener-cum-middle-order reserve role, batted through 42 overs for 72; his strike rate of 64.28 was the second-slowest since 2010 for openers batting first and facing 110 balls.However, that helped set the base for an MS Dhoni assault, who in Kedar Jadhav’s company, added 81 in the last 7.4 overs to take India well past 220, which might have been about par, considering West Indies’ inexperienced bating. Rahane’s wicket seemed to have come at the right time: Jadhav got 26 balls to smack 40 runs in, and Dhoni matched it with 50 off the last 29 balls he faced.Devendra Bishoo was again the pick of the bowlers, going for 38 runs for the wicket of Yuvraj Singh and adding a stunning catch to it. He, though, was introduced after Ashley Nurse had bowled five overs. The focus was clear: despite a helpful pitch and a start that had reduced India to 34 for 2, West Indies were happy to contain and take the wickets that came their way instead of actively going out looking for them.Those of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli came their way. They didn’t display the required patience to weather this mode of bowling. Dhawan ramped a short ball but lack of pace did him in. Despite struggling against the unpredictable bounce, Kohli went to steer a rising delivery and gave the man at gully a catch. Yuvraj Singh’s wicket would have come West Indies’ way earlier than it did, but they neither appealed strongly nor reviewed when Yuvraj should have been out. By the time they got Yuvraj – thanks to a review again – he and Rahane had added 66, taken India to 100 and into the 27th over.Rahane had slowed down after scoring 19 off the first 19 balls he faced, and Dhoni himself struggled against the spin of Bishoo. The two batted on, but West Indies kept squeezing through defensive bowling. By the 39th over, it seemed Dhoni had decided it was time to go. He went after Bishoo, in his ninth over. One slog fell short of long-on, and the other lobbed towards short third man, to debutant Kyle Hope, who had earlier taken an excellent catch to dismiss Kohli. This time, though, the ball seemed to hold up in the wind, and started to dip just short of him. He dived after having committed to go one way, but couldn’t control the catch. Dhoni was only 28 off 50 at that point.Rahane didn’t enjoy similar luck when he decided it was time to go, against Miguel Cummins’ pace in the 43rd over. Bishoo judged his upper-cut perfectly, ran in from deep point, and dived at the right moment.Rahane had gone after Cummins not just because there was finally pace on the ball but also because debutant Kesrick Williams, charged with bowling five overs out of the last nine, was doing well. So Dhoni targeted Jason Holder, and took 17 off his last over, stunningly fetching one length ball from wide outside off and depositing it flat over square leg for six. Jadhav saw Dhoni’s innovation, and raised him a sweep shot off Cummins, having gone on a knee and well outside off well before Cummins released, and then pulling off the shot with surprising ease thanks to his still head.Steady heads was what West Indies needed at the top, but Umesh Yadav broke through the defence of Ewin Lewis in his first over, skidding the ball under his bat from round the wicket. That brought together brothers Hope, Kyle and Shai, who added 45 for the second wicket before they both fell to bouncers from Hardik Pandya. West Indies continued to misread Kuldeep Yadav, who bowled Roston Chase with a wrong’un, before R Ashwin premiered a new bowling action and struck in his first over.Ashwin shaped up to bowl a bit like a legspinner would but focused on his offbreaks more than he did in the previous match. In his first over, he had an overbalanced Jason Holder stumped with a wide down the leg side. You can’t be certain if Holder did actually play for a legbreak. You can be certain West Indies were now looking at their last hope: the partnership between Jason Mohammed and Rovman Powell.Powell played a couple of attractive strokes to go with a couple of streaky ones as the two added 54 together, but India slowed down the pace of the game. Spin came on at both ends, four runs came in 23 balls, and Powell finally tried the big slog to give Kuldeep his second wicket. Ashwin soon had his second with the trigger-happy Ashley Nurse caught at square leg. West Indies still needed 104 at that point. Only finishing touches were left, which the spinners duly did.

Glasgow Rangers have so far made seven summer signings in order to significantly bolster their squad ahead of the rigours of the 2023/24 campaign, which will once again feature Champions League football.

Michael Beale has so far done well to offset the departures of Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos – both leaving following the end of their contracts – by luring forwards Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, and Abdallah Sima to Ibrox, alongside attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell. If these four make an immediate impact at the Ibrox side, then the achievements of Kent and Morelos may soon be forgotten by the supporters, especially if the club win silverware next season.

Beale doesn’t appear to be stopping there either, with Brazilian forward Danilo being eyed as his next arrival in Glasgow. An initial offer of £4.5m was rejected by Feyenoord for the striker, however, the Gers could be set to test their resolve with another bid.

The Eredivisie side value him at around £6.5m and with plenty of players departing club this summer in order to raise funds, the fee shouldn’t prove to be a problem. If Beale can't get a deal over the line for the 24-year-old, he could target an ideal alternative – Anastasios Douvikas.

Will Rangers sign another striker this summer?

There is no doubt that at least one more forward will arrive through the door at Ibrox during the window, especially if Antonio Colak does leave the club amid recent interest from the Bundesliga and MLS clubs.

Last month it was claimed that Rangers were set to make a bid of £7m according to Greek outlet Nova Sports (via The Daily Record), while Celtic were also seemingly keen on the player and if a move for Danilo falls through, Beale should divert all his attention to luring the Greek international to Scotland.

Last season, the “sharp” frontman – as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting – netted an impressive 19 goals in just 24 starts for FC Utrecht last season, and this total would have seen him rank as the highest scorer in the Rangers side during 2022/23, with James Tavernier and Colak finishing on 18 goals apiece.

Indeed, his overall tally of 22 goals in 36 matches across all competitions was better than Danilo’s total, as the Brazilian scored 14 goals from 48 games, indicating that the Utrecht hitman has a much better strike rate.

Douvikas doesn’t just score more goals, he also has a higher percentage of shots on target (46.1% to 39.7%), registers more shot-creating actions (49 to 44) and takes more touches in the attacking penalty area (142 to 106) than Danilo, and he appears to be a more rounded forward than Danilo, giving Beale some interesting options on where to play him.

The Feyenoord striker does appear to be the main target given that the Gers are looking to make a second bid for him, yet Douvikas could be an excellent alternative, not only by having a better scoring rate but also by getting into the box more often while generating more shot-creating actions.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly closing in on centre-back Nico Elvedi, as Julen Lopetegui gets to work on replenishing his squad this summer.

The Spaniard has accumulated almost £80m in sales so far this transfer window, including the exits of central defenders Nathan Collins and Conor Coady, initiating the need to recruit in that area.

Are Wolves signing Nico Elvedi?

As reported by Football Insider on Monday, Wolves are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Borussia Monchengladbach ace Elvedi, with the club ‘confident’ they can secure his signature.

The report adds that the Old Gold are set to pay a price of £7.7m, which is good business for a player valued by FootballTransfers at €15.5m (£13m).

The 26-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the German club next summer, with interest also coming from Tottenham earlier this summer.

How good is Nico Elvedi?

Described as “solid” by scout Antonio Mango, the 47-time capped Switzerland international has a strong reputation in Germany, highlighted by his 230 Bundesliga appearances.

The versatile defender is equipped most frequently at centre-back, however, he has shown he has the ability to play on the right side of the defence in his career, using his "strong aerial game" – as hailed by Daniel Farke – to his advantage.

A move for the £26k-per-week Zurich-born defender has come at the perfect time for Wolves, who are somewhat depleted at the back after offloading a number of figures this transfer window to raise funds.

Obtaining £23m for Collins, who fell out of favour with Lopetegui was a stellar piece of business, however, now the Midlands club must replenish for the talent lost with him and Coady bidding farewell to Molineux.

By signing Elvedi, the Spaniard could welcome to the club one of the ‘most accomplished defenders in the Bundesliga’, as described by the league’s official website.

With all his experience, the 26-year-old has asserted himself as a reliable presence to have in the back line, as supported by his ranking in the top 5% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues in terms of his pass completion percentage, with 91.5% per 90, via FBref.

While Collins was a talent for Lopetegui to have at his disposal, the Old Gold could seek an upgrade on the Irishman by signing the Swiss, who has maintained a higher average of performance in defence to the 22-year-old.

Based on their respective 2022/23 campaigns, FBref comparisons highlight the strength of the player Wolves could sign in comparison to the player sold.

In the Bundesliga last term, Elvedi averaged 1.47 tackles and 1.11 interceptions per 90, scoring slightly higher than the former Wolves defender who averaged 1.34 tackles and 1.04 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League last season.

A similar pattern was evident in their protection of the goal, with the Switzerland international averaging 4.75 clearances to Collins’ 4.17 per 90, also flexing more prominent cover in the air in winning 2.26 aerials per 90 to the Irishman’s 1.84.

When making changes at the back, it’s integral for players to settle and adapt to their new surroundings quickly, with the margin for error decreasing the deeper down the pitch you go.

Lopetegui could equip his side with a player capable of filling the boots of Collins, in a deal that could prove to be an exemplary piece of business by the Old Gold.

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, as the Villans join the queue of Premier League clubs eyeing the 26-year-old.

Unai Emery has enjoyed a successful summer so far, with a swoop for the Moroccan having the potential to be another marquee deal in addition to the arrivals of Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby.

Could Aston Villa sign Sofyan Amrabat?

As reported by news in Italy, Villa have joined the race to sign the midfielder, who is wanted by Manchester United and Tottenham.

Speaking yesterday to the media, relayed by UtdPlug on Twitter, the player’s representative Mahmoud El Boustati confirmed the interest surrounding Amrabat:

“There are quite a few clubs interested in Sofyan. Now it’s a matter of making the right choice.”

Valued at €30m (£26m) by the Serie A side, the club that seals the deal for the Moroccan could complete a steal for a player that is highly rated in Europe.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Playing a pivotal part in Morocco’s World Cup heroics, the midfielder earned the praise of former Spanish national team manager Luis Enrique following his side’s defeat to the Moroccans.

The newly appointed Paris Saint-Germain coach labelled the 26-year-old as “extraordinary” for his performances on the big stage, making the surrounding noise this summer unsurprising.

For Villa, the interest in Amrabat comes at an interesting time, when speculation rises regarding the future of defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz.

The Brazilian has been linked with a move to north London, with both Spurs and Arsenal said to be eyeing the Villa ace.

A swoop for Amrabat could be a strong move for Emery, particularly with the rumours surrounding his star man this summer.

In the Fiorentina gem, the Spaniard could obtain a player of a similar calibre to the 25-year-old, lauded for his defensive contributions and energy in the engine room.

Hailed as a “monster” and “the best central midfielder” at the World Cup by journalist Carlo Garganese, the 26-year-old could be the perfect successor to Luiz should he depart, or alternatively the ideal figure to challenge the Brazilian should he stay.

While Amrabat’s performances at the World Cup were emphatic, the midfielder displayed his levels of consistency in Serie A, averaging 1.76 tackles per 90 for Fiorentina, as per FBref.

Despite making a higher average of tackles with 2.24 per 90 in the Premier League last term, Luiz fell short of the other areas in the Moroccan's game that make him so highly regarded in Europe.

As per FBref, the dominating midfielder averaged a pass completion rate of 88.8%, as well as making a monstrous 7.93 progressive passes per 90, highlighting the danger he can cause in the middle of the park.

For context, Luiz averaged just 4.45 progressive passes per 90 for Villa last season, suggesting just how strong the attributes of Amrabat are, and the talent that Emery could integrate into his ambitious side at Villa Park.

Whether the Moroccan would be deployed alongside Luiz or in place of him, the Fiorentina gem could be a dazzling acquisition for the Spaniard to chase this summer.

Sussex have appointed wicketkeeper Ben Brown as their Championship captain for the rest of the season, with Ross Taylor taking charge in the NatWest T20 Blast

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2017

Sussex have appointed wicketkeeper Ben Brown as their Championship captain for the rest of the season, with New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor taking charge in the NatWest T20 Blast, following Luke Wright’s decision earlier this month to stand down.Brown, who has been absent since early May after suffering a broken finger, steps up from vice-captain, after Chris Nash led the team to two wins from two as Wright’s initial replacement. Brown has been with Sussex since the age of 11 and captained the team in several games last season, with Wright injured.”For someone who has been associated with Sussex for so long being appointed as captain is a very proud moment for me,” Brown said.”I enjoyed the challenge of captaining the side last season but I feel in the last 12 months that the team has grown with a good core of senior players. Of course, I have my own ideas about how I want to lead the side but I also know there are some very solid cricketers in our dressing room who can give me support and advice if I need it.”It’s an exciting time. We have eight Championship games left but we go into Monday’s match against Gloucestershire with some real momentum. If we keep playing as we have in recent weeks the table will take care of itself and we can challenge for promotion.”Sussex lost three of their first four games in Division Two but rebounded with victories over Worcestershire and Leicestershire. Approaching the halfway point of the season, they lie fifth in the table, 43 points off the promotion places.Brown’s first game in charge will be a day-night fixture, played with a pink ball, against Gloucestershire at Hove starting on Monday. He scored 72 on his comeback from injury earlier this week, playing in a T20 for Nash’s testimonial in Horsham.Sussex’s head coach, Mark Davis, said: “As our vice-captain and a key senior member of the team we’re delighted Ben has agreed to take over as skipper. He learned a lot last season when he led the side when Luke Wright was injured and he will be a better captain for that experience.”He will do the job for the rest of the season when the cricket management team will review the situation. We have no plans to appoint a vice-captain because we feel there is already a good group of senior players in our squad who can support Ben.”I’d also like to say a big thank-you to Chris Nash who led us to victories in his two games in charge against Worcestershire and Leicestershire. I’m looking forward to Nashy making a big contribution in the rest of the season as a senior player and a key batsman in the side.”Taylor, the former New Zealand captain, is returning after a spell as Sussex’s overseas player last season and will lead the team in the T20 Blast, which begins next month.”I am very proud to be appointed captain of the Sharks for this season’s competition,” Taylor said. “I know the club and the players well from my time at Hove in 2016 and I am looking forward to joining up with the boys again. I believe we have a very exciting squad for this format and one that can challenge any team in the competition.”

Leeds United could finally be set to quell a true problem area, solving a longstanding issue with a top signing…

Are Leeds signing Joaquin Piquerez?

According to Uruguayan outlet Torcedores, the Whites are in contact with Brazilian club Palmeiras over the signing of Joaquin Piquerez.

Although they seek to keep ahold of their star left-back, the pull of English football could prove too much for the Uruguay international, who will surely be keen to try his hand at the top level.

Football Transfers value the 24-year-old at just €6.4m (£6m), suggesting that a true coup could be earned by Daniel Farke should such a move come to fruition.

This news is prefaced by the expected exit of Junior Firpo, who has disappointed since moving to Yorkshire from Barcelona in 2021. His departure will likely not be met with heartfelt goodbyes from the Elland Road faithful.

Piquerez's acquisition would add to their first deal of the summer, as they brought in Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea.

Who is Joaquin Piquerez?

Firpo's replacement, however, seems to be billed as everything they were promised when Marcelo Bielsa first unloaded £12.8m to tempt him from the Nou Camp.

Dynamic, attack-minded and technically proficient, the explosive defender seems athletic enough to fit Farke's all-action philosophy, and progressive enough to hold down the modern-day role of a full-back for the foreseeable future.

After all, just last term saw him maintain a 6.91 average rating in Brasileiro Serie A, buoyed by his three assists and four clean sheets despite only featuring 11 times, via Sofascore.

In just one league campaign the young star is just one assist shy of levelling Firpo's creative tally across 51 games in Yorkshire.

His most recent season in a white shirt proved to be one of his most disastrous, as the 26-year-old maintained a 6.55 average Sofascore rating, failing in his duties both offensively and defensively.

His 40% dribble success rate suggests a lack of athleticism and attacking threat, whilst he was routinely bypassed, being dribbled past 1.2 times per game in the Premier League too, via Sofascore.

This came just a year after his 6.60 average rating in the league suggested he could get no worse.

Comparing this with Piquerez will have fans finally starting to dream of a brighter future at left-back, providing the attacking impetus promised. After all, South American football content creator Nathan Joyes did speak highly of the defender, noting: "He's a really attacking full-back," he began. "Really happy to push up, especially against teams who are weaker, basically plays like a left mid."

Given the dominance Farke's outfit are expected to exert over most of the Championship, this penchant for thriving for a dominant side should see him placed in the perfect atmosphere to get the best out of him.

What will likely only enamour fans more with their potential new acquisition is his links to Bielsa, who is now the coach of Piquerez's national team.

As his close bond with the Leeds faithful remains despite his sacking, should he mould the powerful star in his high-octane image, he could come to Elland Road readymade and ever-improving for a system that demands plenty of effort.

At last, it seems that the left-back issues that have plagued such a historic club for so long could be quelled, by a lesser-known Uruguayan ace playing in Brazil of all places.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their transfer plans for the remainder of the summer window as they prepare for the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to Turkish reporter Ahmet Konanç, the Hoops remain active in the race to sign Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic as Brendan Rodgers eyes a swoop for the World Cup sensation.

He has claimed that the Scottish giants are competing with Fenerbahce to secure the 28-year-old titan's signature, whilst the Super Lig side are now in contact with Paris Saint-Germain's Keylor Navas as an alternative option.

This comes as a twist to the tale as Fabrizio Romano reported on the 16th of July that a €9m (£7.7m) deal had been agreed between the Turkish team and Dinamo.

They have failed to get that move over the line in the subsequent ten days and Celtic are seemingly now interested in an attempt to usurp Fenerbahce before the deadline.

How good is Dominik Livakovic?

The 6 foot 2 colossus enjoyed a terrific 2022/23 campaign for club and country and his performances suggest that he would be far better for the Hoops than current no.1 Joe Hart.

For the Croatian giants, Livakovic averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93 across 35 SuperSport HNL matches. He saved 74% of the shots on his goal and did not make a single error leading to a shot or goal for the opposition in that time.

The 6 foot 2 shot-stopper also caught the eye with his performances in Europe. An average Sofascore rating of 6.98 in six Champions League games placed him third within his club's squad.

However, his heroics at the 2022 World Cup for Croatia were arguably the most impressive part of his season.

He averaged an excellent Sofascore rating of 7.33 across seven appearances at the tournament, in which time he saved 78% of the shots against him and did not make a single blunder leading to an opposition shot or goal.

Livakovic also saved a penalty from Real Madrid's Rodrygo in a shootout to help his country knock Brazil out of the competition, which came after teammate Luka Modric hailed him as "miraculous" for his three shootout stops against Japan in the previous round.

Hart, on the other hand, struggled at times for Celtic.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.77 across 37 Scottish Premiership outings and saved 65% of the shots on his goal to go along with four direct mistakes leading to shots by the other team.

The former England international also endured a dismal Champions League campaign with an average Sofascore rating of 6.23, which placed him bottom of the 22-man squad. During those six matches, the ex-Manchester City saved just 52% of the efforts on target and made one error directly leading to an opposition goal.

These statistics indicate that the Dinamo star would arrive as a far better option than Hart for Rodgers based on their form for their respective club, and country in the Croatian gem's case, last season.

Livakovic has showcased his ability to perform consistently at a considerably more impressive level by saving a higher percentage of the shots against him and being less of a liability between the sticks when it comes to making mistakes.

Manchester United should not loan out Dean Henderson this summer, according to Mark Goldbridge.

The 26-year-old spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest.

How much is Dean Henderson worth?

It was initially expected that Henderson would depart Old Trafford permanently this window, however, now the situation has changed.

The keeper has been at Man United his whole career, having enjoyed a number of successful loan spells including two years at Sheffield United, with one of those years being in the Premier League when the Blades finished ninth. The Englishman also had a run of games as the club's starting goalkeeper in the 2020/21 campaign under Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, starting 10 of the side's last 12 league games as they secured a second-place finish.

Last season the shot-stopper headed on loan to Nottingham Forest, and it was seen as a great opportunity to prove his quality as a Premier League starter, and the loanee did just that at the City Ground, starting 18 games before his campaign ended up being cut short by injury.

Having returned from loan, it looks like Henderson will not get the chance to become the Red Devil's new number one following the signing of Cameroonian Andre Onana from Inter Milan. The player has voiced his displeasure at being the backup keeper and with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2025, he might want to push for a move now in order to keep his stock high.

Forest are interested in bringing him back to the City Ground for next season, with Fabrizio Romano reporting:

"Nottingham Forest have submitted two bids to Manchester United. Loan deal proposal for Dean Henderson and permanent deal proposal for Elanga. Forest want to get both deals done after closing in on Ola Aina free transfer.".

Speaking on The United Stand YouTube channel, Goldbridge revealed his confusion at how United cannot find a permanent suitor for Henderson, and how he doesn't want the club to loan out the shot-stopper again:

"What is it any club needs to know this summer. He’s been on loan to Sheffield United a few years ago, he’s been on loan at Nottingham Forest last season, you know what you're getting with him, he’s not an unknown quantity so I don’t get why no one wants to buy him, I don’t get why we can’t sell him and I don’t know why we’d be open to loaning him, but ultimately, maybe the great Dean Henderson doesn't have the options that he thinks he does."

How would Manchester United replace Dean Henderson?

There are two real options for United to replace Henderson with.

The club could look to promote from within, with a couple of candidates. One candidate would be Premier League veteran Tom Heaton, who had a potential move earlier this window blocked by the Red Devils who wanted to keep the experienced keeper around. Matej Kovar is also an option, with the young Czech keeper having enjoyed a very promising loan spell with Sparta Prague last season in the Czech first division, helping the side win the title. However, reports state that the club are looking to loan the promising youngster out for next season

The Red Devils could also enter the market to find their new number two keeper, with Japanese youngster Zion Suzuki reportedly a target. The Japanese player has drawn comparisons to Onana due to their similar playstyles and how both of them are comfortable playing out with their feet. However, reports state that the youngster has turned down the move, as he believes he needs regular first-team football ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games if he is going to be Japan's first-choice keeper.

Tottenham Hotspur's new signing Manor Solomon had "a purpose to his dribbling" and left journalist Alasdair Gold feeling "really impressed" after his performances on the club's Asia-Pacific tour.

Manor Solomon's Tottenham future

The Spurs signing that has attracted the most attention so far this summer, and understandably so, is the £40m acquisition of James Maddison from Leicester City. The England international is the kind of well-known, exciting and attacking signing bound to stir fans, but people shouldn't forget about fellow new boy Solomon.

The Kfar Saba-born attacker had a brilliant – albeit injury-hit – season with London rivals Fulham last year and joined the Lilywhites on a free in early July.

Whilst the expectation has generally been that he's going to be a practical and helpful squad option for Ange Postecoglou, he has already shown to those who have been watching he has the ability to fight for a starting spot.

Read the latest Tottenham Hotspur transfer news HERE…

He has been making a good case for himself on the club's Asia-Pacific tour already as well, with the Evening Standard's Simon Collings giving him a seven out of ten for his performance against West Ham United in Perth, describing him as 'Tottenham's best player during the first-half''.

However, Collings wasn't the only one impressed by his performances as football.london's Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold was also left "really impressed" by the Israeli.

He gave his impression of the player on his podcast Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham, saying:

"I was really impressed with the way he played, and also, my issue with him beforehand and something he needed to improve on was his assists and setting up others.

"With Solomon, it doesn't feel like he's just going to be head down and running into people, it feels like there's a purpose to his dribbling and he'll know the right moment to stop it and pass and to look up or shoot or whatever. So yeah, he looks good."

How good was Manor Solomon last season?

Unfortunately for the £23k-per-week man, an injury at the start of his time in west London stopped him from getting a full season of Premier League football under his belt, but when he could play, he looked quality.

In just the 563 minutes of league football he played for the Cottagers, he provided four assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 140 minutes or one every one-and-a-half games.

He also maintained a passing accuracy of 86.4% – the fourth highest among Fulham players that got at least 500 minutes of game time – and averaged a match rating of 6.52, per WhoScored.

Some of his underlying numbers are also seriously impressive and suggest that if he is able to stay fit next season, he could well make a case for himself to be a starter.

According to FBref, which compares players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, the 24-year-old "game changer" sits in the top 1% for non-penalty goals and tackles, the top 4% for pass completion, the top 6% for successful take-ons, and the top 18% for interceptions, all per 90.

Former boss Marco Silva will surely miss him at Craven Cottage as he waxed lyrical over his performances earlier in the season, saying:

"His one-v-one situation is really strong and coming from the left he is important."

He should be just as entertaining to watch this year, and it'll be interesting to see if he can force his way into a starting place as the season plays out.