centre-back

Newcastle ‘very confident’ over Lloyd Kelly signing after rival medical booked

03/06/2024 Raymond 0

Newcastle United are “very confident” about finalizing a deal to sign Lloyd Kelly this week, despite losing out on Tosin Adarabioyo to a late Chelsea offer, sources informed Football Insider. The north-east club has submitted an offer for the 25-year-old Kelly, with further negotiations expected throughout the week, aiming to complete the deal by Friday before his Bournemouth contract expires. Kelly, known for his versatility as both a centre-back and left-back, has become a priority signing for Newcastle, particularly given his availability on a free transfer amid the club’s financial constraints.

The Sunderland aspect Luke O’Nien has been proud of this season despite disappointing end

27/05/2024 Raymond 0

Luke O’Nien reflects on his position as a centre-back for Sunderland and the team’s defensive performance during the 2023/24 season. He acknowledges that Sunderland’s defensive statistics this season are commendable but believes there is still potential for improvement.

Throughout the 2023/24 campaign, the 29-year-old O’Nien started 43 league games at centre-back, frequently captaining Sunderland and often partnering with Dan Ballard. Despite setbacks from injuries to key defenders like Dennis Cirkin, Jenson Seelt, and Aji Alese, Sunderland achieved the fifth-best defensive record in the Championship. O’Nien expressed pride in the team’s defensive achievements and emphasized the importance of their strong statistics, while also stressing the need for continued improvement in the coming season.

O’Nien also spoke about the valuable contributions of Graeme Murty, the under-21s boss and former Premier League defender, who stepped up to assist the first team. He credited Murty with significantly enhancing his game both on and off the pitch, underscoring the importance of maintaining this collaboration to further develop their defensive capabilities.