The EFL announced the shortlists for their end-of-season awards earlier this week, and Sheffield United have one of their stars in the running for the Player of the Year award.

Dutch attacking midfielder Gustavo Hamer is one of three players up for the Player of the Year trophy, alongside Burnley’s James Trafford and Leeds United’s Dan James.

The former Coventry City star’s performances for the Blades this season have contributed to him being the most valuable player in the current squad.

Gustavo Hamer's current market value

At the time of writing (18/04/2025), as per Transfermarkt, Hamer is currently valued at £12.8m, which makes him the most valuable player at Bramall Lane, which seems fair when you consider that he is in contention to be named the best player in the Championship.

The 27-year-old dynamo has proven his worth to Chris Wilder’s team by providing quality as both a scorer and a creator at the top end of the pitch from a wide or central midfield position.

In the Championship so far this season, Hamer has scored eight goals from 4.68 xG and been rewarded with six assists from ten ‘big chances’ created, which shows that he has been clinical in front of goal and unfairly compensated as a creative force.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

There is a former Sheffield United player, however, who is currently worth even more than the Dutch wizard, having left the Blades fairly recently – Iliman Ndiaye.

Iliman Ndiaye's current market value

The club cashed in on the Senegal international in the summer of 2023 for a fee of £20m, selling him to Marseille, as they did not want to run the risk of him leaving on a free transfer in 2024.

Despite leaving Bramall Lane for a fee of up to £20m, Ndiaye’s market value on Transfermarkt has fluctuated over the last couple of seasons.

August 2023 (joined Marseille)

£20m reported fee

August 2023

£15m

June 2024

£12.8m

July 2024 (joined Everton)

£12.8m

December 2024

£15m

March 2025

£18.8m

As you can see in the table above, the Senegalese forward’s Transfermarkt value has been up and down in recent seasons but is currently at the highest point it has been in his career at £18.8m.

This means that he is currently worth even more than Championship Player of the Year nominee Hamer, thanks to his performances for Everton in the Premier League this season.

The 25-year-old attacker, who was once dubbed “unplayable” by Billy Sharp, has scored seven goals from 4.99 xG in 24 starts in the top-flight for the Toffees, helping them to push clear of the relegation battle this term.

Ndiaye has proven himself in the Premier League at Goodison Park, and Sheffield United must rue that they only got to enjoy his talents for 11 minutes in the division in the 2020/21 campaign, selling him to Marseille after their promotion in 2023.

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Hopefully, Hamer can make the step up and soar in value to be on par with Ndiaye, or even more valuable than him, if the Blades achieve promotion this season.

Leeds United have the opportunity to improve the first-team squad this summer, regardless of the division they find themselves in between now and the end of the season.

The Whites remain in a solid position to claim promotion from the Championship, currently occupying second place under Daniel Farke – with the German having the chance to win his third second-tier title.

However, the last few weeks have seen the side stutter towards the finish line, winning just one of the last five matches, surrendering their lead at the top of the table.

The last clash in the league saw Farke’s men draw 2-2 with Swansea City after a 97th-minute equaliser from Zan Vipotnik secured an unlikely point for the visitors.

One player in particular failed to deliver during the clash with the Welsh outfit, leading to questions over his long-term future at Elland Road, with many unhappy with his recent showings.

Illan Meslier’s future at Leeds United

Goalkeeper Illan Meslier has been Farke’s number-one option between the sticks this season but has often produced a moment of madness, costing the side all three points.

He made two separate errors against the Swans at the weekend, with his penalty save forgotten after his mistakes which handed the visitors a point in Yorkshire.

The Frenchman hasn’t been a stranger to a mistake this campaign, currently having a goals prevented xG of -2.7 – massively impacting the club’s chances of getting promoted.

Regardless of what division the club find themselves in next season, Farke must part ways with the 25-year-old if the side are to reach the next level – with his mistakes ultimately too costly.

However, the goalkeeper shouldn’t be the only player to depart the club this summer, with the manager brutally needing to part ways with one player who’s not at the level required for the top flight.

The Leeds star who wouldn’t cut it in the PL

Ahead of the summer, numerous players’ contracts are set to expire, with time running out for the hierarchy to secure an extension on players whose deals are coming to an end.

Junior Firpo is just one first-team member who could depart Elland Road this summer, with the Spaniard no closer to agreeing a new contract – with teams in Spain already registering interest in his services.

Sam Bryam is another player who could leave this window, with the club needing to avoid offering him a new deal – especially if they are to achieve promotion by the end of the year.

The 31-year-old, who’s been labelled “reliable” by one analyst, is currently in his second spell with the Whites, after rejoining on a free transfer in the summer of 2023.

The right-back has been a valuable squad member this campaign, making 30 appearances – but only 15 have come from a starting role, with the likes of Firpo and Jayden Bogle ahead of him.

However, the stats he’s produced are unfortunately not up to the level of a Premier League standard, with the 49ers needing higher quality players if they are to maintain their top-flight status if they secure promotion.

There’s no denying he’s been a tremendous servant for the club over the years, but ultimately he’s coming to the back end of his career with Farke needing to offload him and invest in new blood.

It will be a harsh decision to part ways with him given his extended time with the Whites, but unfortunately, the club need to do what is right if they are to be more competitive in the years ahead, whether that’s in the Championship or the Premier League.

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da supremo： The summer transfer window is fast approaching, and Liverpool are set to spend big as they prepare for Arne Slot’s second, Premier League title-defending season at the helm.

da dobrowin： Of course, the top-flight trophy isn’t yet wrapped up, but the Reds need just two wins from their remaining six fixtures to put things beyond Arsenal’s reach.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has wrapped up Mohamed Salah’s new contract; captain Virgil van Dijk’s fresh deal is soon to follow. Now, focus can be turned to the upcoming transfer window, with Liverpool expecting flurries of activity through the summer months.

While signing a centre-forward, left-back and central defender are the priorities for the Reds, Slot would be wise not to neglect his midfield.

Liverpool – Remaining Premier League Fixtures 24/25

Date

Venue

Opponent

20/04/25

King Power Stadium

Leicester City

27/04/25

Anfield

Tottenham Hotspur

04/05/25

Stamford Bridge

Chelsea

11/05/25

Anfield

Arsenal

18/05/25

AMEX Stadium

Brighton & Hove Albion

25/05/25

Anfield

Crystal Palace

Liverpool’s midfielders have been immense through the 2024/25 campaign, but they aren’t infallible. There’s been a lack of bite and physicality at times of late that suggests a new addition to the engine room could go down a treat.

Why Slot shouldn't neglect Liverpool's midfield

When Liverpool fell from grace under Jurgen Klopp in 2022/23, the German manager knew he needed to repackage his side’s long-serving midfield.

Jordan Henderson was a first-standard leader but was starting to look a weak link from a technical standpoint, while Fabinho’s legs had gone after so many years serving as a world-class anchor at the heart of one of the highest-octane squads on the globe.

Their replacements, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, have been immense this season (and last) as Liverpool’s mainstays in the middle, but there’s no denying Liverpool have lacked a combative sheen and that extra bit of dynamism at times recently, namely being overrun by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Newcastle United at Wembley.

Liverpool have won more duels than their opponents in just one of their past 11 matches across all competitions, denoting fatigue and a lack of sharpness that opponents are capitalising on.

Though packing quality across more needy areas will ultimately hold sway for Liverpool, there’s no question that a high-class midfielder would elevate an already immense team.

It’s something FSG are bearing in mind.

Liverpool lining up marquee midfielder

According to Italian outlet InterLive.it, Liverpool’s interested in signing Nicolo Barella this summer is said to be ‘serious’, with Inter Milan anticipating offers for their midfield linchpin after yet another standout campaign.

Now, Barella, 28 years old, is contracted to the San Siro until 2029 and thus Inter are in a commanding position regarding his future and have listed him at €100m (about £87m).

Liverpool’s interest is confirmed to be serious, however, and given the Serie A leaders are keen on Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa, a deal wouldn’t be out of question.

What Nicolo Barella would bring to Liverpool

Described as “the best Serie A midfielder of the 2020s” by journalist Zach Lowy, Barella has already won two Scudettos and two Coppa Italia titles with Inter Milan, joining from Cagliari in 2019.

Having featured 277 times for I Nerazzurri, Barella has scored 25 goals and supplied 59 assists. He’s not the most prolific of midfielders, but then that’s not really his jurisdiction.

With Simone Inzaghi’s side battling it out with Napoli for the Italian title, Barella has been the architect of his team’s challenge, averaging 1.9 key passes, 4.7 successful duels and 5.2 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore, illustrating his wide range of quality.

Of course, the Italian has also been immense in Inter’s quest for the Champions League trophy, with outlets stating that he delivered a career-defining performance at the Allianz Arena last week, taking a 2-1 lead over Bayern Munich back to the San Siro.

Talent of this level suggests that Liverpool could be getting their mitts on one of the most gifted midfielders in many years, one who could stand out above the current Anfield crop.

He might even prove to be Liverpool’s best midfielder since Fabinho.

For the uninitiated, Fabinho was absolutely spellbinding in his role as Klopp’s number six, so cultured and commanding as he held together a hard-grafting midfield that worked around the clock to facilitate the attacking successes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Bobby Firmino.

Once hailed as “one of the best in the world” by Klopp, Fabinho truly was a core part of the most illustrious era in Liverpool’s modern history, joining from Monaco for roughly £40m in May 2018 and going on to play 219 times for the Reds before his legs finally failed him.

When in his pomp, the Brazilian was truly one of the most dominant forces out there, and now Barella could emulate him and become Liverpool’s new centrepiece, perhaps unlocking the next level in Slot’s existing options.

Tough-tackling, tenacious and iron-willed, Fabinho performed dutifully and blended his natural qualities with a sharpness of mind and quickness of reaction that differentiated him from his positional rivals.

The Italy international has the experience and the multi-skilled ability to be a real standout for Liverpool over the next several years, with his FBref data discussed above suggesting the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Pedri are among his most statistically similar players.

Such ball-playing specialists, maestros and conductors wrapped into one, would fit snugly into Slot’s system – just look at how Gravenberch has got on this term.

Barella, then, would fit right in. He’s a world-class player, dubbed a “genius” on the pitch by sports editor Mike Pielluci, and a trophy winner besides, and if Inter are willing to discuss deals containing the likes of Nunez and/or Chiesa, Liverpool might just sign their best midfielder since Fabinho.

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كشف الدولي الكولومبي لويس دياز، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بايرن ميونخ الألماني، عن وجود مفاوضات مع أكثر من ناد، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الماضية.

وكان دياز هدفًا رئيسيًا لأندية برشلونة وبايرن ميونخ من أجل تعزيز مركز الجناح استعدادًا للموسم الحالي 2025/2026 ولا سيما بعد الأداء المميز الذي قدمه مع ليفربول على مدار السنوات الماضية.

برشلونة دخل في مفاوضات قوية مع الإسباني نيكو ويليامز، جناح الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي أتلتيك بلباو لكن وبعد صراعات عديدة مع الجمهور والإدارة، نجح النادي في إقناع اللاعب بتجديد عقده حتى عام 2035.

الأمر الذي جعل النادي يطرق باب التعاقد مع لويس دياز من ليفربول لكن إدارة النادي الإنجليزي رفضت النقاش حول الصفقة طالما أن المبلغ المعروض أقل من 80 مليون يورو، إذ كان يرغب برشلونة في دفع 60 مليون يورو فقط كحد أقصى.

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بايرن ميونخ دخل في صراع المنافسة على التعاقد مع الجناح الكولومبي صاحب الـ 28 عامًا وحاول أن يقلل المبلغ المالي ولكن إدارة الريدز رفضت.

النادي الألماني كان في حاجة للتعاقد مع لاعب في مركز الجناح بعد رحيل ليروى ساني واحتياج لتدعيم الفريق في مركز الجناح.

ولعب بايرن ميونخ أمام نظيره تشيلسي مساء أمس الأربعاء، في مستهل مشوارهما في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا 2025/2026 واستطاع التغلب على النادي الإنجليزي بثلاثية مقابل هدف.

وقال دياز في تصريحات عبر “moviestar”: “أنا سعيد جدًا بوجودي في هذا النادي العظيم، جرت مفاوضات كما هو معتاد في سوق الانتقالات مع عدة فرق، منهم برشلونة، اتخذت قرارًا موضوعيًا بشأن مستقبلي والأهم من ذلك كله أنني قادم إلى نادٍ عظيم وتاريخي، لذلك سأبذل قصارى جهدي”.

وأتم تعليقًا على فوزه على تشيلسي: “أنا سعيد جدًا بالفوز، لقد كان على قدر توقعاتنا، بداية كهذه مهمة للفريق ليحافظ على هدوئه، الآن حان وقت الراحة”.

Unbeaten centuries in hefty fifth-wicket stand thwart Derbyshire’s bid for control

ECB Reporters Network26-May-2024

Gloucestershire’s James Bracey and Graeme van Buuren blasted their side out of trouble with swashbuckling centuries before rain took a hand on the third day of the Vitality County Championship Division Two match with Derbyshire at Bristol.The fifth-wicket pair launched a savage attack on the second new ball, producing a boundary blitz and adding 156 runs to their team’s overnight first innings total of 243 for four in just 21 overs before the heavens opened, with Bracey unbeaten on 137 and van Buuren having raced to 156 not out.No play was possible after lunch. At 399 for four, Gloucestershire were still 127 short of Derbyshire’s first innings total of 526, but on the most benign of batting surfaces, with two players in top form, they can feel optimistic of avoiding defeat on the final day.Bracey was on 87 and van Buuren 61 when play began, with 14 overs to bat before Derbyshire could take a second new ball both sides knew could be central to the outcome. Bracey moved comfortably to his second hundred of the season, reaching the milestone with his 15th four, a cut off Luis Reece, having faced 151 balls.Gloucestershire had just claimed a second batting bonus point when van Buuren elected to cut loose, moving from 88 to his 15th first class century with three fours off successive deliveries from off-spinner Alex Thomson in the over before the new ball became due.Derbyshire took it immediately, but suffered as a result when both Daryn Dupavillon and Sam Connors strayed in line and length, producing a plethora of short deliveries, while others were overpitched. The first five overs with the harder ball went for 65 runs.Bracey and van Buuren attacked at every opportunity, the latter pulling Connors over mid-wicket for six and clearing the ropes again off the same bowler with a sweetly-timed flick over fine leg. The diminutive Gloucestershire skipper needed only 28 deliveries to move from 100 to 150, sending the ball to all parts of the Seat Unique Stadium.From 318 for four when the new ball was taken, Gloucestershire had posted 383 for four by the end of the 85th over. Derbyshire captain David Lloyd had little option but to remove Dupavillon and Connors from the attack, bringing on Anuj Dal and Reece.Play had already been interrupted by a short shower when heavier rain arrived and lunch was taken. Bracey had faced 175 balls, striking 19 fours and a six, while the inspired van Buuren had clocked up 22 fours and 2 sixes in facing 172 deliveries.The partnership was worth 268 in 48.3 overs when the weather set in. Umpires Paul Pollard and Naeem Ashraf made a 3pm pitch inspection, ordered tea to be taken at 3.10pm, and looked again at 4pm, by which time more rain had fallen. They abandoned play for the day at 4.15pm.

They were due to play USA in Dallas but the facilities had taken a bit of a beating from rain

Mohammad Isam28-May-2024Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup warm-up match against USA was cancelled due to thunderstorms in Dallas on Tuesday morning. Heavy rain and flood warnings meant that both teams remained in the hotel. The ground suffered some damage as seen on photos shared on social media by those present there this morning.”This is to confirm that the warm-up match between Bangladesh and the USA at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas today has been cancelled due to the conditions of the facilities following the adverse weather that has affected the area,” Rabeed Iman, Bangladesh’s team manager, said at 8:54am local time. He later informed that the Bangladesh team was likely to do some gym work before leaving for New York on Wednesday. There, they will play their second warm-up game against India on June 1.This was going to be the first warm-up match for both sides ahead of the T20 World Cup. Co-hosts USA play the tournament opener against Canada on June 1. Bangladesh play their first game against Sri Lanka on June 7. Both these matches are in Dallas, so it was crucial especially for Bangladesh to know more about the venue.Related

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USA beat Bangladesh 2-1 in the T20I series at the Prairie View Cricket Complex in Houston last week. It was the home side’s first series win against a Full Member side with the likes of Harmeet Singh, Ali Khan and Corey Anderson helping script history. USA are in Group A of the T20 World Cup alongside Canada, India, Pakistan and Ireland.The shock series defeat will put more pressure on Bangladesh. They have never won more than two matches in an edition of the T20 World Cup. They are in Group D, alongside Sri Lanka, South Africa, Nepal and the Netherlands.USA are hosting an ICC tournament, the biggest one in cricket history in terms of number of participants, for the first time, along with the West Indies.

From IPL 2024 onwards, Royal Challengers Bangalore will be known as Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The franchise made the announcement on Tuesday and marks the first change in its name since its inception in 2008.The announcement was made shortly after RCB held an event at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, recently crowned WPL champion Smriti Mandhana, and others from both the men’s and women’s teams were present.