Ben White has played 37 games this season in the Championship for Leeds
If you’re going to save up your pocket money, it might as well be for something special.
A new toy perhaps? The latest PlayStation or Xbox game? Or how about a footballer…
The answer was an easy one for five-year-old Leeds United fan Daniel Auton.
There was only one thing he was going to spend his hard-earned cash on - on-loan defender Ben White.
Writing to Brighton chief executive Paul Barber, Daniel asked “if at all possible” he would allow Championship leaders Leeds to “please please please buy Ben at the end of the season”.
Daniel had done all the hard work, too.
“I have counted all my pennies in my piggy bank and I have £15.07 if this helps.”
Unfortunately for Daniel though, his letter in return from Barber wasn’t quite what he would have hoped for.
“It’s very good of you to offer all of your money to help your club, and you clearly have a very good eye for exceptional young talent - perhaps scouting players could be your future job,” Barber said.
“We have given your kind offer the serious consideration it deserves but I know our head coach, Graham Potter, and our technical director, Dan Ashworth, both consider Ben to be a very important part of our future plans so I’m afraid we are unable to sell Ben to Leeds United at this time.”
There is some hope for Daniel, and all Whites fans, though.
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani soon tweeted: “We will top up your offer for Ben and go back to Mr Barber.”
Issue number 292 of the CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post ranks countries worldwide according to the number of their representatives having played professional football abroad during the calendar year 2019. Brazil is at the top of the table (1,600 players, of which 74.6% active in top division leagues) ahead of France (1,027, 74.0%) and Argentina (972, 75.5%).
In total, 186 national associations had at least one player expatriated in the 141 leagues from 93 countries included in the sample. However, altogether, Brazil, France and Argentina provided up to almost one quarter of the total foreign workforce in global football (22.5%). Nigeria is the main African exporting nation (399 players abroad), while Japan is the principal Asian one (161).
The CIES Football Observatory Atlas of Migration presents the main destinations for each origin. This exclusive tool notably reveals that Portugal is by far the main destination for Brazilians, ahead of Italy and Japan. The three main destinations for the French expatriates are England, Belgium and Luxembourg, while those of the Argentineans are Chile, Mexico and Spain.
Number of expatriates, by country of origin (2019)
Footballers having played abroad during the calendar year 2019. [Divisions 1]: Active in top division leagues.
Brasil y Francia lideran la clasificación, mientras que Argentina aparece en el tercer lugar.
El crecimiento del fútbol colombiano se ve reflejado en los varios jugadores que el país exporta al mundo y en el buen rendimiento que los mismos tienen en las diferentes ligas a las que van, abriéndole la puerta a más y más compatriotas que dejan el territorio colombiano para mostrar su habilidad en varias de las ligas más importantes del planeta. Por eso, según el Observatorio Internacional de Fútbol (CIES), Colombia es el octavo país que más envía jugadores al exterior. México y Estados Unidos son los destinos a los que más futbolistas del país llegan, según el mencionado estudio del Observatorio, mientras que Brasil, Francia y Argentina, lideran la lista que fue publicada en las últimas horas. En ese sentido, vale la pena destacar que el 82,3 % de los futbolistas que salen de Colombia llegan al fútbol de primera división de cualquiera de los países a los que parten.
Colombia aumentó su número de jugadores exportados y pasó de 382 a 467 futbolistas en el fútbol de exterior. Bajo estas cifras superó a países importantes para el fútbol mundial como Nigeria, principal exportador africano, Holanda, que aparece en el puesto 12 y Croacia, otro de los países europeos que aparece dentro del listado de los diez territorios que mayor cantidad de jugadores reparten al planeta.
Pese a que el número de jugadores colombianos en México bajó entre 2018, cuando 47 futbolistas llegaron al país azteca, y 2019, cuando apenas lo hicieron 30, este país sigue siendo el que más jugadores de nuestro país reúne en el continente americano. Por su parte, en Europa, son España, Portugal y Malta, los tres que más colombianos reciben, siendo Malta el primero de ellos con un total de 13 futbolistas albergados.
Kaum haben Armin Laschet und Markus Söder signalisiert, dass die Bundesliga eventuell sogar schon ab 9. Mai wieder Fahrt aufnehmen kann, hat sich auch schon Bayern-Boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge dazu geäußert. Bayern-Chef Karl-Heinz Rummenigge hat sehr erfreut auf die positiven Signale deutscher Spitzenpolitiker für Geisterspiele in der Bundesliga ab dem 9. Mai reagiert. "Die Aussagen des Bayerischen Ministerpräsidenten Markus Söder und des Ministerpräsidenten von NRW, Armin Laschet, sind ein sehr positives Signal für die Wiederaufnahme des Spielbetriebes der Bundesliga", sagte der Vorstandsvorsitzende des deutschen Rekordmeisters am Montagabend auf Nachfrage der Deutschen Presse-Agentur.
"Es ist wichtig, dass wir mit den rechtlichen und medizinischen Vorgaben der Politiker vorbildlich und sehr seriös umgehen, um das Gesundheitsrisiko zu minimieren", ergänzte der 64 Jährige.
Rummenigge lobt DFL: "Konzept ist die Basis"
Bundesliga und 2. Liga pausieren seit Mitte März und noch bis mindestens 30. April. Am Donnerstag will die DFL über weitere Schritte beraten.
Rummenigge lobte die DFL-Führung außerdem mit seinem Statement für die geleistete Vorarbeit in diesen schwierigen Wochen: "Ich darf mich bei der Geschäftsführung der DFL mit Christian Seifert an der Spitze für ein hervorragendes Konzept bedanken, das die organisatorischen und medizinischen Aspekte umfassend berücksichtigt. Dieses Konzept ist die Basis für die positive und vertrauensvolle Einschätzung der Politik."
Telles will see his current deal in Portugal run out in the summer of 2021, and the 27-year-old has already garnered significant interest from several top clubs.
Chelsea have been persistently linked with the Brazilian in recent weeks, while Juventus have also been credited with an interest.
However, according to Brazilian outlet GaúchaZH, the versatile defender is set to join the ranks at PSG.
The report claims that the Ligue 1 champions are close to agreeing a deal for Telles, and the Brazil international is likely to cost between €20m (£17.5m) and €25m (£21.8m).
The former Galatasaray man has registered eight goals and five assists during the 2019-20 Liga NOS campaign.
El Valencia mira a David Silva. El club de Mestalla ha contactado con el mediapunta canario para saber si le podría interesar y su predisposición a regresar a Mestalla a final de temporada tras acabar su contrato con el Manchester City.
Según la ESPN, la entidad valencianista ha tanteado al jugador para ver si le seduce el reto de formar parte del nuevo proyecto. Silva lleva diez temporadas en la Premier y su ciclo en las islas ya ha tocado a su fin. Por tanto cuenta con opciones de salir pese a su edad (tiene 34 años) y uno de los que se ha sumado al interés ha sido el Valencia.
El canario se marchó al Manchester City a cambio de 33 millones de euros y fue una de las ventas más importantes que ha acometido el club blanquinegro en una época donde urgía vender jugadores.
Malgré l’arrivée de Keylor Navas en août dernier, le PSG réfléchit toujours à attirer Gianluigi Donnarumma l’été prochain. Un an après un mercato estival qui a vu Kevin Trapp retourner définitivement à l’Eintracht Francfort et Alphonse Areola être prêté au Real Madrid tandis que Keylor Navas débarquait du club merengue, le PSG semble de nouveau en quête d’un nouveau gardien. Et pas seulement pour remplacer Sergio Rico, prêté par le FC Séville et pour lequel le club de la capitale ne souhaite pas débourser les 10 millions d’euros de sa clause libératoire.
Car plus qu’un gardien numéro deux, c’est un numéro un bis que les champions de France semblent vouloir recruter. Car malgré la présence de Keylor Navas, à son avantage depuis son arrivée dans la capitale, les dirigeants parisiens travailleraient au recrutement de Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Un échange avec Areola
Sur les tablettes des Rouge et Bleu depuis plusieurs années, le portier de l’AC Milan plaît en effet tout particulièrement à Leonardo qui souhaiterait le mettre en concurrence avec l’ancien Madrilène. Et le directeur sportif parisien songe d’autant plus sérieusement à attirer le gardien milanais que celui-ci est en fin de contrat en juin 2021 et donc en position de force pour quitter le club lombard.
Les Rossoneri ne pourront pas se montrer très gourmands et à en croire Tuttosport, les Parisiens souhaiteraient en profiter pour leur proposer un échange contre Alphonse Areola, qui s’apprête à retrouver le club de capitale après son prêt au club merengue. Un échange qui ne serait pas pour déplaire au champion du monde tricolore, bien décidé à retrouver une place de titulaire dans l’optique de l’Euro 2020.
Professor Dame Angela McLean, deputy chief scientific adviser to the Government, says it is an "interesting hypothesis" that Liverpool's Champions League match against Atletico Madrid may have spread coronavirus in the city.
More than 3,000 fans made the trip from the Spanish capital to Merseyside for the March 11 fixture, despite their home city already subject to partial lockdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
McLean admits it will be interesting to look at the scientific evidence and the Champions League last-16 second leg tie at Anfield down the line, but pointed out that, given the general policy at the time, going to a football match was not considered a "particularly large extra risk".
"However, when you get to the situation of our strange lives as we live them now where we spend all our time basically at home, of course you wouldn't add on an extra risk of lots and lots of people going off to the same place at the same time," she continued.
"I think it will be very interesting to see in the future when all the science is done what relationship there is between the virus that has circulated in Liverpool and the virus that has circulated in Spain. That's certainly an interesting hypothesis you raise there."
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, defended the Government for not having introduced a ban on large sporting events sooner, with Cheltenham Festival held between March 10-13.
"At every stage in this crisis we've been guided by the scientific advice and have been making the right decision at the right time," Mr Sunak said.
"This is an unprecedented situation we're all dealing with, I'm sure there are all things that we will learn from this."
PA Graphics
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that even action behind closed doors might be too risky during long-term social distancing as she told Scottish sports fans not to expect mass gatherings to resume any time soon.
Sturgeon admitted some form of social distancing could be required until a vaccine is ready, meaning the prospect of thousands of fans gathering at sporting events in Scotland could be ruled out for an estimated 18 months.
When asked about the prospect of crowds or closed-door events before a vaccine, Sturgeon said at the Scottish government's daily briefing: "I'm not yet in a position to give you dates on when things will start again and in what order things start to go back to normal.
"But I would absolutely say that people should not be under the expectation that large-scale mass gatherings will be starting any time soon."
We are pleased to announce that we have reached a voluntary agreement with our first-team players, head coach and core coaching staff to help support the club at this critical time.
Arsenal and Sheffield United have announced measures designed to minimise the financial impact of coronavirus.
After fellow Premier League clubs Southampton and West Ham announced wage deferral agreements with their players, the Gunners said their first-team squad, plus manager Mikel Arteta and key coaching staff have agreed a 12.5 per cent pay cut.
Arsenal say they have reached a "voluntary agreement with our first-team players, head coach and core coaching staff to help support the club at this critical time" following "positive and constructive discussions".
The north London club referred the PA news agency to their earlier statement when asked about reports that players, including Mesut Ozil, had not agreed to a pay cut.
Chris Wilder and CEO Stephen Bettis have agreed partial pay and relevant bonus deferrals to assist the Football Club’s cash flow issues during the current Covid-19 crisis.
They were joined by senior coaching staff who agreed to the deferrals for the next six months also.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder and chief executive officer Stephen Bettis have agreed a deferral in wages and relevant bonus payments.
The pair have been joined by senior coaching staff, who have also agreed to the deferrals for the next six months to assist United "with retaining staff and continuing to pay 100 per cent of their salaries during this difficult period".
NHS staff and other key workers will be able to get tested at Twickenham via an appointment system, following the likes of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Amex Stadium in setting up testing facilities.
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said: "The RFU is pleased to be able to support the COVID-19 drive-through testing programme at Twickenham Stadium for NHS and other key workers.
"We receive tremendous support from frontline services during match days at Twickenham and we are grateful for the opportunity to be able to support key workers during this severe national crisis with the use of our site and staff to support operationally.
"The scale of this task should not be underestimated and will encompass a myriad of factors until the public health situation has improved to a point that it is safe for our players, our employees, our fans and in a way that will not impact the public health situation adversely."
Rugby union players in Australia have agreed to take an average salary cut of 60 per cent until September 30, while a meeting of the International Cricket Council's chief executives' committee will be held via conference call on Thursday to discuss the likely impact of coronavirus on the global game.
The meeting, comprising each of the 12 full members nations as well as three representatives from associate cricket, will discuss a series of matters which could determine the shape of sport's biggest events in the coming years.
Novak Djokovic does not think players should need a vaccination before tennis resumes (Tess Derry/PA)
World number one Novak Djokovic's opposition to vaccines could stand in the way of his return to tennis once it resumes from the coronavirus pandemic.
A push is growing for all players to be vaccinated when tennis starts again, provided a vaccination is produced by then.
"Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn't want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel," Djokovic said in a live Facebook chat with several fellow Serbian athletes on Sunday.
"But if it becomes compulsory, what will happen? I will have to make a decision."
Thanks to young @LUFC fan Daniel who recently wrote to us regarding @ben6white.
#BHAFC
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Chris Wilder and CEO Stephen Bettis have agreed partial pay and relevant bonus deferrals to assist the Football Club’s cash flow issues during the current Covid-19 crisis.
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