Walking wounded
Harimau Malaya’s injury woes as Lambert eyes starting XI
TOUCHLINES
A NUMBER of Saudi Pro League clubs, including Al Nassr, Al Ahli and Al Qasidiya, are keen on signing 32year-old Brazil midfielder Casemiro from Manchester United this summer.
WEST HAM
have agreed a £15m (RM90m) deal with Flamengo to buy 28-year-old Brazil defender Fabricio Bruno.
MANCHESTER UNITED’S England forward Mason Greenwood wants to return to Spanish side Getafe next season after the 22-year-old recently played his last game as a loan player for the La Liga club.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
finalists Borussia Dortmund are interested in signing Greenwood, whose last appearance for Man United came in January 2022.
and Crystal Palace are eyeing a move for Gent’s 22-year-old English defender Archie Brown.
ASTON VILLA
BARCELONA could try to bring Portugal forward Joao Felix back from Atletico Madrid for a second spell after the 24-year-old spent last season on loan at the Nou Camp.
NEWCASTLE are pushing for an answer about a potential deal for English defender Tosin Adarabioyo, with the 26-year-old set to leave Fulham this summer when his contract expires.
LIVERPOOL have placed a £20m (RM120m) valuation on 22-year-old Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg, who is attracting interest from Brentford, Southampton and Wolfsburg after a successful loan spell at Mainz.
THE REDS
are interested in signing Atalanta’s Brazilian midfielder Ederson, 24, who could become new manager Arne Slot’s first signing.
NAPOLI
have no intention of selling Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 23, to Paris St-Germain, with Antonio Conte set to become their new head coach.
REAL MADRID’S Brazil forward Rodrygo, 23, has cast doubts over his future at the club, raising the possibility of a move to Liverpool.
TOTTENHAM will look to sell 23-yearold English rightback Djed Spence and Spain winger Bryan Gil, 23, this summer.
COMPETITION is growing for RB Leipzig’s Spain forward Dani Olmo, with Barcelona, Man United, Man City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich all interested in the 26-year-old.
SOUTHAMPTON
are Sunderland’s 23-year-old winger Jack Clarke.
INTER MILAN
are interested in 26year-old English defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who Manchester United value at £10.2m (RM61m).
ARSENAL
eyeing English
and manager Mikel Arteta are in advanced talks over a new longterm contract at the club.
XAVI’S desire to sell 35-year-old Poland striker Robert Lewandowski this summer was a key reason behind the Spaniard’s sacking by Barcelona this month.
KUALA LUMPUR CITY (KLC) FC defender Declan Lambert is currently focused on making it into the Harimau Malaya’s starting XI, aims to rely on his versatility to ensure his appearance in the starting line up during the upcoming 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup second round qualifiers next month.
The 26-year-old, who last played for Malaysia in 2022, might have an easy path into the starting XI as the national squad, having started centralised training without the services of key players – Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim, Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi and Romel Morales, Darren Lok (Sabah FC) and Syafiq Ahmad (Kedah Darul Aman FC) – to injury recently.
“It’s been two years, but I feel like it’s quite the same. I think most of the players here I know from last camp, there are some new faces, but it’s such a good environment to be in, so it’s really easy to jump back in.
“Personally I think I can (offer) my versatility. I can play left and right so if need to play centreback even, I can (still) fill that role,” he said during centralised training at Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya yesterday.
Still, Lambert said that national head coach Kim Pan Gon had many quality players to choose from his initial list, including Zhafri Yahya (KLCFC) who replaced Syafid Ahmad, and Lok’s replacement Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin (Kuching City FC).
Meanwhile, Terengganu FC striker Engku Nur Shakir Engku Yacob, who was called up for the first time for centralised training, vowed to give the team 100% commitment.
“I was surprised because there’s a reason I got called up for the first time, right? We know there’re so many good players, but I was called up so I’m grateful.
“My favourite position is attack (but) wherever the coach puts me (I’ll do my best) to bring results. I came here not only to train but my intention is to follow the team over there,” he said, but admitted that the current injury woes might just provide an opportunity for him to vie for a spot among the starting 11.
Malaysia are third in Group D with six points, and will take on leaders Kyrgyzstan at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek on June 6 before taking on Taiwan on June 11. – Bernama