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Leeds fans have long suspected they need a few extra additions in January to help their promotion push, and it looks like they might get a real coup in the shape of Ibai Gomez.

What’s the story?

According to GOAL.com, Marcelo Bielsa is keen on a move for Gomez, whom he worked with during his time in charge of Athletic Bilbao.

The report claims the Whites actually tired to sign Gomez this summer, and are now confident that they can agree a deal in January.

The Alaves winger has scored three times in nine La Liga games this season, and could be the perfect player to complement Pablo Hernandez on the opposite flank.

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Perfect for Bielsa’s Leeds?

Hernandez showed exactly why Leeds were missing him so badly on Wednesday night, completely running the show against Ipswich. Much like Hernandez, Gomez is a winger who loves creating goals just as much as he loves scoring them, and the pair could form a devastating duo in support of Kemar Roofe.

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Gomez was a crucial part of Bielsa’s Bilbao team in 2012, scoring two European goals on the way to the Europa League final, where they lost to Atletico Madrid.

He can play anywhere across the attack but is most comfortable on the right flank, where his crossing, vision and technique allow him to create tons of chances for his forwards.

The Spaniard is basically like Samuel Saiz with proven better end product, and Roofe and Hernandez will absolutely love playing with the 28-year-old. This is a deal that Bielsa and Andrea Radrizzani should absolutely push over the line in January.

So, Leeds fans, would you back a move for Gomez? What other positions do you need to strengthen? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…

Rangers are set to submit a second bid of £300,000 for Kyle Lafferty after having an initial bid of £200,000 rejected by Hearts, according to The Daily Record.

What’s the story?

The 30-year-old spent four years at Rangers between 2008-2012 before moving to Swiss club FC Sion.

The striker returned to the SPL last summer when he signed for Hearts and now Steven Gerrard is keen to add more firepower to his squad and wants Lafferty to head back to the Ibrox.

The Northern Ireland international scored 12 league goals last season and has recently been the subject of a £200,000 bid from Rangers, which was rejected as Hearts want a fee of £1million for their star striker according to the report.

Lafferty’s representatives are having discussions with the Hearts’ owner with the hope of brokering a move away from Tynecastle Park, since the player has had his heart set on joining Gerrard’s new project at Rangers.

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How will the saga end?

With Rangers keen to sign Lafferty and the player desperate for a move, it seems certain that a deal will take place this summer, as Hearts won’t want to keep an unhappy player on their books.

Rangers are playing hard-ball and it’s fair enough that Hearts want up to £1million for the poacher who is one of the club’s most valuable assets.

If the Gers do land their target, it may take a little while for their new strike force to bed in, but it’s certainly an upgrade on their options from last season.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Juventus have made a £22.5m offer for Liverpool midfielder Emre Can as the Italian champions look to sign the German international this summer.

What’s the story?

Can, who helped Germany win the Confederations Cup in Russia earlier this summer, scored five times and registered two assists in 32 Premier League appearances last season.

The 23-year-old has entered the final year of his contract at Liverpool, however, and it is understood that the two parties are struggling to come to an agreement.

Towards the end of last month, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insisted that Can would not be leaving Anfield this summer, but negotiations are no further forward approaching the start of the new season.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Juventus have been closely monitoring proceedings over the last couple of weeks, and have now made an offer of £22.5m in order to bring the midfielder to Turin.

Would it represent a fair deal for Liverpool?

It is extremely difficult to determine a fair price in the current market when considering the amount of money that has been spent by European clubs in this transfer window.

Under normal circumstances, an offer of £22.5m for a player that will be out of contract next summer would be considered quite generous, but it would not be a surprise if Liverpool rejected the interest.

Can has had his problems since moving to Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in 2014, but he showed his immense potential last season, and is a key part of Germany’s plans moving forward.

Juventus have seemingly identified Can as the perfect signing after missing out on a number of other targets, although Liverpool will surely make a last-ditch attempt to thrash out a deal.

It seems increasingly likely that Philippe Coutinho will leave Liverpool for Barcelona this summer, and losing Can in the same window would be a big blow for the Merseyside outfit.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has revealed his plans for the summer transfer window and is eyeing two or three big additions, The Independent reports.

What’s the word?

Having guided Manchester United to victory in yesterday’s League Cup final, Jose Mourinho already has his sights set on improving his side in the summer for a push for the Premier League next season and a successful campaign in Europe.

The Red Devils remain sixth in the Premier League, despite a remarkable unbeaten run of form, and are two-points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with 12 games to go- whilst they face further competition from Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Liverpool for a Champions League spot.

Given their form, United can be fairly confident of sealing a return to the Champions League for next season and Mourinho is eyeing big additions this summer, having already splashed the cash to bring Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eric Bailly and Paul Pogba to Old Trafford last summer.

What was said?

Quoted by The Independent, Mourinho said:

“I think with this group of players, with the squad that we have, with the difficulties that we are having during the season, I think we are more than fine and I think that we will be ready in July to open the door to two or three good players to help us improve our level,”

“Because you reach a certain level of stability, you find your way to play, you find your philosophy to play, this is very important and we are doing that with some stability. The team is quite stable in the way the team plays. Then you need one more push and the next push is in the next transfer window.”

Who could be signed?Manchester United’s shopping list is likely to orientate around improving the defence, particularly in the wide areas, but the Red Devils top-target is widely reported to be Atletico Madrid ace Antoine Griezmann- who will cost an empty sum.A host of other names have been linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford- including Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie, Benfica defender Vincent Lindelof, Southampton’s centre-half Virgil Van Dijk and many others.It’s likely Manchester United’s overall spending will surpass the £100m mark once again this summer, having spent over £150m in 2016, around £124m in 2015 and around £166m in 2014.[ad_pod id=’Shoot-Xmas-Survey’ align=’left’]

When Bournemouth became the 47th different side to play in the Premier League, not many gave them much of a prayer. Having gone from near football league extinction to gaining promotion to the top flight in just 10 years, their meteoric rise was undoubtedly a great story, but this season would likely prove one step too far.

But arriving in the Premier League they soon made many friends and attracted admiring glances from all quarters, their brand of attacking, passing football great to watch and a credit to manager Eddie Howe and his side. And despite only two wins from their first 14 fixtures, they continued to play their own game instead of adapting to suit the more demanding nature of the Premier League.

Their persistence was rewarded with a six-game unbeaten run at the end of 2015 however, the side picking up results whilst staying true to the philosophy. But despite adding to their points tally since the turn of the year, there are signs that the side will still fall foul of some of the naivety that has befallen similar sides in the past.

The most striking similarity that springs to mind is that of the Blackpool side that graced the Premier League just five seasons ago. A small club with an unlikely promotion to the top flight, playing attractive passing football and winning over many fans along the way.

The fellow seaside outfit lit up the 2010/11 season, charismatic manager Ian Holloway guiding them to seven wins during the first-half of the season. Playing on a small, tight pitch in a stadium more suited to lower league football, their manager and players were similarly lauded for playing open, attractive football, regardless of opponent or situation.

Sure, it won them fans and, to begin with at least, it won them games, too. But just three wins during the second-half of the campaign saw them slide down the league and they were eventually relegated, finishing second from bottom. During the latter part of the season, when fitness and squad depth become even more crucial, they were found wanting, unable to adapt or cope with the pressure of the Premier League spotlight.

The Cherries could face a worryingly similar fate during the final 12 games of this season if they are not careful. Currently just four points and three places above the relegation spots, Howe’s side still have four of the current top-six to play, as well as visits from Liverpool and Chelsea.

And while we all like to see a side that ‘plays the right way’ there remains a time and a place for this outlook. Sides that are to survive in the Premier League, particularly one the size of Bournemouth, must consider adapting philosophy, mentality and tactics in certain games, most crucially those during the all important run-in.

The final dozen games of the season will tell us a lot about Howe’s team. Obviously, if they can pick up points whilst continuing to play their brand of football, they should avoid relegation whilst also claiming a moral victory, having not wavering from their footballing style.

But for such a young, relatively inexperienced manager – Howe is just 38 – the demands of a relegation dogfight on both himself and the players may prove tough. If he shows the maturity to change tactics and mentality at key times, he may well keep the Cherries in the Premier League. But the dangers of only knowing ‘one way to play’ are magnified during a run-in, even more so in the nation’s top-flight.

We’ll never know how their season may have gone had Callum Wilson stayed fit and new signings Tyrone Mings and Max Gradel both avoided season-ending injuries themselves. Five goals in seven games suggest Wilson was likely to have an excellent campaign and would surely have finished off some of the flowing football produced by the side from Dean Court.

If we are to have the opportunity to see what he can do with a full season in the Premier League, his team-mates and manager must start to entertain other ways of approaching games in the coming weeks and months, and not just entertain the crowds. It’d be a great story if they can maintain their Premier League status and I don’t think anyone would begrudge them another shot at the big-time. After all, we all like to be beside the sea-side, don’t we?

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The Blues' top scorer has been tearing Women's Super League teams apart this season – and now her country needs her to produce too

Just before the hour mark at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, Lauren James darted onto a perfectly-weighted Fran Kirby through ball. Bearing down on goal, Leicester City goalkeeper Janina Leitzig rushed out to meet her, while Foxes centre-back Julie Thibaud tried halting her progress with a crunching tackle.

But James was unmoved, channeling Hernan Crespo in the 2005 Champions League final by nonchalantly lifting the ball over Leitzig and into the back of the net. The goal was the 22-year-old's second of the 5-2 win, a performance which followed up a stunning hat-trick at Stamford Bridge against Liverpool and a sumptuous assist in the Champions League victory over Paris FC.

James has always been eminently watchable; no Women's Super League player justifies the punters' entrance fee more regularly than her. But now she's becoming truly terrifying: an absolute killer in front of goal.

Getty ImagesA generational talent – but a bit wasteful?

Of course, James has always threatened to become this effective. This is someone who was training with Arsenal's senior side at the age of 14, was featuring for Manchester United's relaunched women's team just over two years later and signing a unprecedented four-year contract at Chelsea before her 20th birthday.

After a string of niggling injuries kept her sidelined for extended spells during her maiden 2021-22 campaign with the Blues, James finally got to show her new club what she was all about last season. The anticipation was palpable and she did not disappoint, delighting the Kingsmeadow faithful with her unique ball-carrying abilities and creativity.

The hype was real, with the only criticism being James' lack of goals and assists. It took until Chelsea's sixth game of the season for her to break that duck, but she did it in some style, netting a brace and laying a goal on for Sam Kerr in a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa.

However, although there were plenty more magic moments that followed in a blue shirt, the questions over James' ability to consistently find the back of the net and register assists continued as the campaign progressed.

At times, she was holding onto the ball for too long to the visible frustration of her team-mates, while her finishing was far from elite. During the 2022-23 campaign she averaged 0.12 goals per shot, with over 50 players managing better figures, while less than 30 percent of her efforts ended up on target.

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes provided an honest assessment of James' development early in the season: "Her talent is clear, but most importantly we must keep doing the right things. If we all want her growth to continue in the direction it’s going – trust me, I’ve coached footballers for such a long time – you have to keep nailing the things around them, the habits. She’s still a young player and we’re still nailing those habits. I urge everybody to be calm with her. It’s important for us to nurture her in the way we do, but also without massive pressures and expectations, which I know is hard to avoid."

AdvertisementGettyCareer-defining tournament Down Under

In the end, James would finish the season with five goals from 18 WSL games, more than enough to earn her a place in Sarina Wiegman's England squad. And after the Lionesses underwhelmed going forward in their group-stage opener against Haiti, Wiegman played her trump card, introducing James to the starting XI on matchday two.

Denmark were England's opponents and the Chelsea star didn't take long to make an impact, netting a superb opener just six minutes into her World Cup debut. That goal turned out to be the winner too.

Things got even better when England faced China, with James dropping an all-time great Women's World Cup display. By the time the dust had settled on an astounding 6-1 victory, she had two goals and three assists to her name, and Wiegman was understandably delighted with her "special" talent.

By this point, LJ-mania was very much running wild back home. But things got hairy in the round of 16 when James was sent off for stamping on Nigeria's Michelle Alozie. The Lionesses did eventually triumph on penalties, but the naive moment derailed the hype train. "Obviously what we she did was wrong and she knows it was wrong and apologised for it publicly and now she faces the consequences," goalkeeper Mary Earps said at the time.

James' resulting two-game suspension kept her out until the final, and she could not atone for her error after coming on as a half-time substitute, with Spain triumphing 1-0 thanks to Olga Carmona's goal. It was a damp squib of an ending for James when it had seemed like being World Cup. But red card aside, her match-winning ruthlessness in front of goal in the first two games hinted at her growing maturity.

Getty ImagesDominating the WSL

And this trend has accelerated at Chelsea during the current season. After waiting so long to find the net in the WSL in 2022-23, James rose to the occasion in the Blues' curtain raiser against Tottenham, latching onto Niamh Charles' cross to double her side's advantage at a time when Spurs were threatening to rally.

It wasn't just her goal that was notable, though. With Kerr injured and Fran Kirby still not fully fit despite a cameo from the bench, James completely ran the game for the Blues, drifting all over the pitch to carve out her side's best opportunities.

There was a slight drop off in the two WSL games that followed against Manchester City and West Ham, with the caveat that hardly any Blues players impressed during those matches, which resulted in James being rotated out of the side for her side's trips to Everton and Real Madrid.

And if Hayes was looking for a reaction, James provided one against Liverpool in front of the Stamford Bridge crowd. Her hat-trick was the most compelling evidence yet of her growing composure in front of goal. All three were expertly-taken strikes, showcasing her world-class ability to beat defenders and newfound poacher instincts, and she further bloated her goal tally against Leicester with two more calm finishes.

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Getty Images'Everything I do I am thankful to Emma'

This recent glut of goals is an expression of James' development in the final third. This season, she's been far more clinical than in 2022-23, averaging a WSL goal for around every five shots she takes, while just under half of her strikes are going on target. This form has seen her rise to the top of the Golden Boot rankings, level on six goals with Manchester City's Bunny Shaw.

This emerging ruthless streak is bad news for Chelsea's WSL rivals and also a credit to the transformative effect Blues boss Hayes has had on James' career. Throughout her meteoric rise, the soon-to-be United States women's national team manager has been there to temper expectations, constantly reminding English football's most talked about starlet of the need to remain grounded and improve her game.

This tough love has not damaged the pair's relationship, though. Ahead of the World Cup in the summer, James paid tribute to Hayes for her role in getting her back back to her best following her injury struggles.

"Emma is always helpful, she’s played a massive role in just getting me back to being myself again. She just says ‘enjoy it’, like ‘start enjoying the moments’," she said. "I had two years of just like constant injuries. She managed me well and it’s allowed me to find my feet again. In the moment, everyone is like ‘why is Lauren not playing?’ and I want to be playing on the pitch, but in the long run it’s obviously paid out and it’s kept me on the pitch this season."

And when James scored that iconic Liverpool hat-trick, she immediately gave Hayes some of the credit. "Amazing, I think even better to do it at the Bridge. Obviously with the news of Emma [Hayes] leaving, everything I do I am thankful to her."

The Lionesses became the first-ever winners of the Women's Finalissima by beating Brazil on penalties at a packed Wembley on Thursday night.

A superb team goal finished off by Ella Toone was the highlight of a fluid and entertaining first-half display from the European champions, the midfielder arriving in perfect time to slot home Lucy Bronze's cutback and give her side the lead.

Lauren Hemp had a good chance from a Lauren James cross but her header landed into the arms of Brazil goalkeeper Leticia, while James herself had the ball in the back of the net before the break, too, but was denied by the offside flag.

In the end, the Lionesses were made to pay for the missed chances as an uncharacteristic Mary Earps error in stoppage time led to Brazil levelling at the death through Andressa Alves' close-range finish.

Straight to penalties it went and it was there that England secured the win, with Earps making a fine save to deny Tamires, and Chloe Kelly putting away the winning spot-kick in style.

GOAL gives out ratings for an entertaining match below…

• Goalkeeper & Defence

  Mary Earps (6/10):

  Made a costly error at the end that allowed Brazil to equalise but made a huge save in the shootout to redeem herself.

  Lucy Bronze (8/10):

  Sublime down the right as she linked up with James. Assisted the opening goal and teed up the Chelsea winger beautifully for the strike that was ruled out for offside.

  Leah Williamson (6/10):

  Started a lot of England's attacks with her passing and was solid generally, bar a couple of shaky moments on the ball which were out of character but, fortunately for her, went unpunished.

  Alex Greenwood (6/10):

  Excellent in possession, defended well and delivered good set pieces all night.

  Jess Carter (6/10):

  Got the wrong side of Geyse in the first half but recovered to make a superb block and rarely put a foot wrong from there. Not as adventurous as Bronze on the opposite flank, but that's understandable given the contrast in how natural each are in the roles they played.

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• Getty Images
  

  Midfield

  Keira Walsh (7/10):

  Dictated play brilliantly as per usual, offering a calming presence and quality on the ball in midfield.

  Georgia Stanway (7/10):

  Like Walsh next to her, she sprayed the ball around well and covered plenty of ground, almost adding a second for England but for a good save by Leticia.

  Ella Toone (7/10):

  Scored England's goal, popping up in the right place at the right time with one of her late midfield runs and finishing the chance with a touch of class, but missed her spot-kick.

• Getty Images
  

  Attack

  Lauren James (8/10):

  Electric down both wings. Linked up brilliantly with Bronze down the right and still created plenty down the left, too, with a terrific cross in particular for a Hemp header.

  Alessia Russo (5/10):

  Was managed well by Brazil's centre-backs and couldn't get into the game. Only real sight of goal was pulled up by the offside flag.

  Lauren Hemp (7/10):

  Started the game in a lively fashion and ended it very well, too. Should've scored from a James cross.

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• Getty
  

  Subs & Manager

  Chloe Kelly (6/10):

  Was only on the pitch from the 74th minute but caused Brazil all sorts of problems with her directness on the ball. Netted the winning penalty and did so with some conviction.

  Rachel Daly (6/10):

  Came on at the same time as Kelly but was immediately a problem for Brazil's defence, making runs that both Hemp and Kelly did their best to find.

  Katie Robinson (N/A):

  Came on late after Hemp went off with a bloody nose. Didn't have time to make an impact.

  Sarina Wiegman (8/10):

  Wiegman remains unbeaten as England boss, the run now stretching to 30 games, and has added another trophy to the cabinet after the Lionesses triumphed at Euro 2022. There were selection headaches for her in this game with Millie Bright injured and three very good wingers, but she got all the calls right in a solid team that performed very well.

Chelsea hit rock bottom as they slipped to another Premier League defeat against Fulham, with new signing Joao Felix seeing red on his debut.

Life, death, taxes – and Chelsea beating Fulham in the Premier League. That's the way it's supposed to be. That's the way it's been ever since the Cottagers last avoided defeat against their dominant, less sophisticated neighbours all the way back in 2012.

But this isn't the Chelsea of old. This Blues team has a soft underbelly, don't know how to finish their chances and now look at their lowest ebb in recent history.

The 2-1 loss didn't always feel inevitable. The inclusion of new signing Joao Felix gave Graham Potter's team something resembling a fresh impetus in the opening exchanges, and even with Fulham entering half-time 1-0 up – thanks to a goal from former Stamford Bridge hero Willian – it felt like they could recover.

Those hopes increased when Kalidou Koulibaly bundled home, but things went very wrong very quickly after that. Clearly infected by the virus that is Chelsea's recent malaise, Felix left his brain in the dressing room and flew into a studs-up tackle on Kenny Tete. It resulted in him becoming the first Chelsea player to be sent off on his Premier League debut.

It was Fulham's game to win from there and they delivered – with Aleksandar Mitrovic stand-in Carlos Vinicius losing his man and powering a header home.

Defeat for Chelsea then. Just their eighth ever against Fulham, and their second in the Premier League era. We think you call that rock bottom.

Below, GOAL takes a look at the Chelsea winners and losers from a damaging night at Craven Cottage.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Willian:

In the early exchanges of the derby a packed-out away end serenaded the former Blue, who won a pair of Premier League titles during his time at Stamford Bridge, but the affection they still hold for the Brazilian did little to soften the blow of him opening the scoring for Chelsea fans. After becoming a bit of a punchline during his Arsenal spell, Willian has enjoyed a wonderful renaissance by the River Thames, with the strike bringing his goal involvement tally up to five for the season.

Benoit Badiashile:

If Chelsea's new £34m signing from Monaco can't get in defence he may as well hang up his boots. Again, the Blues looked mightily uncomfortable whenever they were put under any form of pressure, while Chalobah and Koulibaly seemed to be competing to see who could make more individual errors in the first half. Whether Potter sticks with a back three or reverts to a back four, you'd have to expect Badiashile to feature in some capacity against Crystal Palace.

Liverpool, West Ham & Everton:

There always has to be at least one crisis club in the Premier League. That's just the way it works. And right now, Liverpool, West Ham and Everton will be delighted that the Blues are stealing that honour away from them. Another disastrous evening ensures Chelsea will be dominating the back pages once again and incredibly leaves them in an even weaker position than when they entered the game. It'll take some disasterclass to take the crisis-club crown away from them.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Joao Felix:

Goodness gracious me, that was quite the eventful debut. A surprise inclusion in the starting XI before he'd even had time to drop his wash bag at Cobham meant all eyes were on Felix on Thursday night. And after a spritely but wasteful start to his Chelsea career, Felix's Premier League bow descended into farce. The forward's wild flying lash out was ironically a challenge that his arch-nemesis, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, would have been proud of. His current manager will be less pleased. Felix has just given Potter yet another selection headache to deal with.

Graham Potter:

Fulham fans revelled in informing Potter that he was "being sacked in the morning" throughout proceedings. While that is probably not true, there is now a genuine argument that he has guided Chelsea to their post-Abramovic nadir. This defeat leaves them a humiliating 10 points shy of fourth-placed Manchester United, with their Champions League prospects now fanciful. A battered and bruised Crystal Palace are next up for Potter and Co. Lose that, and parroting lines about the club being in transition simply aren't going to cut it.

Kepa Arrizabalaga:

Another Chelsea game, another appearance in the losers section for the most expensive goalkeeper in the world. My oh my Kepa, we thought you were past this? It would appear not. A second piece of game-changing goalkeeping – and not in a good way – on the bounce will have fans yearning for the return of Edouard Mendy between the sticks, but the Senegal international was in similarly shaky form pre-injury. Whatever way you spin it, it's not good news for Chelsea.

Getty ImagesChelsea Ratings: Defence

Kepa Arrizabalaga (5/10):

Made a few good stops, but spilled one on the stroke of half-time and might have been punished. All at sea as Fulham took the lead.

Trevoh Chalobah (4/10):

A slip, which allowed Bobby Decordova-Reid to rattle the crossbar, sent the tone for a nightmarish first half. Lost Vinicius for the goal.

Thiago Silva (6/10):

Emerged with some credit. Chelsea could really do with finding the fountain of youth so he can play for another five years.

Kalidou Koulibaly (5/10):

Guilty of some seriously sloppy moments in the opening exchanges. Partially redeemed himself by bundling Chelsea's equaliser over the line.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Cesar Azpilicueta (5/10):

Had a few uncomfortable moments against the more athletic Antonee Robinson. Offered very little going forward.

Mateo Kovacic (5/10):

Usually one of the most accurate passers in world football, but tonight more than a few of his attempts failed to find their man. .

Denis Zakaria (6/10):

Fired up. He wasn't perfect, but it's that sort of intensity that'll help Chelsea out of their current funk. His injury is another big blow.

Lewis Hall (4/10):

Should have scored inside three minutes. Never looked comfortable and a tricky situation risks killing his confidence.

MatériaMais Notícias

Alexander Lecaros foi a primeira contratação internacional do comitê de futebol do Botafogo. O peruano de 20 anos assinou um contrato válido por duas temporadas com o Alvinegro e vai reforçar o setor ofensivo da equipe de Alberto Valentim. Em entrevista ao portal “El Comercio”, o atacante falou sobre os detalhes da negociação com a equipe brasileira e da expectativa por atuar em terras tupiniquins.

– O contato se deu uma semana depois do Campeonato Peruano ter acabado. Tudo aconteceu muito rápido, ainda estou tentando assimilar. Meu representante comentou comigo essa oportunidade no Brasil, Graças a Deus tudo se concretizou e estou preparando tudo para viajar ao Rio de Janeiro. Não estou aguentando com tanta felicidade e entusiasmo por tudo que está por vir – afirmou.

Apesar da pouca idade, Lecaros é profissional desde os 20 anos. Começou na base do Cienciano, que vive problemas financeiros no Peru. Por isto, viu a oportunidade da transferência ao Real Garcilaso como sua última chance de se tornar um atleta. Assim o fez. O atacante assinou um contrato profissional aos 16, mas não renovou o vínculo e chegou livre ao Botafogo.

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– Sou de San Sebastián, comecei a jogar aos 6 anos em algumas escolas que temos em Cusco. Uns anos depois, Real Garcilaso começou a trabalhar com categorias com base. A Federação Peruana de Futebol obrigou que os clubes profissionais de províncias tivessem escolinhas de futebol. Sabia que essa era a última oportunidade que tinha para chegar ao futebol profissional porque o Cienciano não me dava essas opções – colocou.

– Primeiro fui para a equipe de base em 2015, lá trabalhei com o professor Marcelo Vivas (atual treinador do Sport Boys-BOL). Ele foi o primeiro que entendeu meu estilo de jogo. Passaram uns três meses e o Mariano Soso me convidou para treinar na equipe principal e logo me chamaram para fazer um contrato profissional que durou até esse ano – completou.

O Botafogo buscava um ponta para a próxima temporada e o custo-benefício oferecido pela transferência de Lecaros foi interessante para viabilizar o negócio. Canhoto, o atacante fez um gol e distribuiu quatro assistências no último Campeonato Peruano.

– Minha qualidade é atuar como extremo em qualquer lado. Um tempo joguei como lateral e esse foi um aporte para seguir evoluindo meu jogo. Sempre sonhei me jogar no Brasil, estou muito contente por isso e meus parentes também estão muito animados – analisou.

CONFIRA MAIS RESPOSTAS DE LECAROS:

ídolos no futebol
– Sempre antes de jogar ou quando estou em casa com tempo livre, trato de ver vídeos do Messi e do Neymar. Eles são meus modelos, os caras que tento seguir.

Contato com comissão técnica do Botafogo
– Ainda não me comuniquei com ninguém. Tudo foi resolvido diretamente pelo empresário.

Histórico na Seleção Peruana
– Fui convocado para a seleção sub-18, participei de alguns pequenos ciclos. Sobre o time olímpico, é uma decisão direta do professor Ñol Solano (treinador da Seleção Olímpica).

Chances na seleção
– Não penso nisso. Primeiro tenho que me consolidar no Botafogo, ganhar um lugar entre os titulares. Se tudo der certo no Brasil, poderei ter a expectativa de estar em alguma seleção.

MatériaMais Notícias

Se dentro de campo as coisas começam a se encaixar, fora dele o São Paulo vive momentos de tensão. Isso porque em relatório interno divulgado pelo clube para conselheiros e obtido pelo LANCE!, há o registro de um déficit de R$ 77 milhões até agosto deste ano. Ao mesmo tempo, há o aumento da dívida, que está em R$ 414 milhões, aproximadamente R$ 144 milhões a mais do que em dezembro de 2018. A indicação é de que será preciso vender jogadores.

De acordo com o documento, não ter conseguido arrecadação suficiente com a venda de atletas e somar eliminações precoces causaram esse buraco financeiro nesses meses. A previsão era faturar em torno de R$ 120 milhões, enquanto só foram obtidos aproximadamente R$ 70 milhões, ou seja, R$ 50 milhões a menos do que foi orçado no início do exercício.

“O planejamento é readequar o elenco de atletas no sentido de reduzir custos e prover receitas suficientes, substancialmente com a negociação de direitos federativos de atletas profissionais e com melhor desempenho esportivo da equipe de futebol, para manter o custeio mensal do futebol profissional e reduzir o endividamento geral do Clube, objetivando os patamares previstos na proposta orçamentária aprovada pelo Conselho Deliberativo”, diz o relatório.

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A venda de Morato para o Benfica, no valor de R$ 27 milhões, ainda não foi incluída nesse relatório, o que acontecerá nos próximos. Esse buraco poderia ser coberto no meio do ano, quando o Tricolor recusou uma proposta de R$ 83 milhões do Manchester City, da Inglaterra, por Antony. Foi priorizado o campo e ainda houve o investimento em contratações caras como Alexandre Pato e Daniel Alves, que ainda terão aumentos no vencimentos a partir de 2020.

Além disso, a expectativa de arrecadação com direitos de transmissão de TV era bem maior do que foi conquistada em campo. Com as eliminações precoces na Copa Libertadores e na Copa do Brasil, os números não foram atingidos. A previsão era de R$ 118,5 milhões, mas só foram arrecadados até aqui pouco mais de R$ 65 milhões, ou seja, R$ 53 milhões a menos do que o orçado.

No entanto, esse rombo com direitos de TV pode ser amenizado neste fim de ano, dependendo da posição alcançada no Campeonato Brasileiro. Vale ressaltar que com o novo método de negociação, a maior parte do dinheiro entra para as contas do clube a partir do mês de julho, o que ajuda a provocar a variação negativa nesse aspecto apresentado no relatório.

Somando toda a arrecadação prevista (R$ 354.978.000,00) e comparando com a que foi realizada até agosto (R$237.768.000,00), a diferença é bastante significativa: R$ 117.209.000,00. Esse orçamento parece até mais fora da realidade quando pegamos as despesas (R$ 314.309.000,00), que ficaram abaixo do valor previsto (R$ 314.951.000,00), mas estão longe de serem cobertas pelas receitas R$ 237.968.000,00), daí o déficit de R$ 76.541.000,00 nos primeiros oito meses de 2019.

Como se não bastasse o déficit deste ano, o São Paulo também vê a dívida do clube aumentar de forma preocupante desde dezembro do ano passado. Em 2018 o clube fechou com endividamento de R$ 270.380.000,00. Até agosto deste ano o valor subiu para R$ 414.428.000,00. Vale lembrar que o clube teve alguns episódios de atraso salarial durante a temporada.

Um dos aspectos que influenciaram nesse aumento foi a procura por dinheiro no mercado com instituições financeiras. De dezembro de 2018 até agosto de 2019, o clube pegou emprestado R$ 38,7 milhões. Além disso, somente com entidades, terceiros e intermediários o clube gastou R$ 56,7 milhões em oito meses. Já com obrigações empregatícias os custos passaram de R$ 19,7 milhões no fim do ano para R$ 43,7 em agosto, variou quase R$ 24 milhões.

Nesta semana o presidente do Tricolor, Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, o Leco, completou quatro anos de mandato. No fim de 2020 há uma nova eleição no clube, em que o atual mandatário não poderá concorrer, o que fará com que os bastidores fiquem ainda mais em ebulição internamente.