The European winter transfer window closed on Monday with English Premier League clubs making significant moves in the market.
Premier League clubs spent more than £370 million in the winter transfer window, significantly up on the £100m paid out last year. By comparison, that's more than double than the next most expensive league, Italy's Serie A (£183.7m) and significantly more than the combined total of Saudi Pro League clubs (£143.5m).
By far the biggest spenders were Manchester City. Having already signed Omar Marmoush (£59 million-plus from Eintracht Frankfurt), Abdukodir Khusanov (£33.6m from Lens) and Vitor Reis (£29.6m from Palmeiras) City concluded their winter window with the addition of Nico Gonzalez (£50m from Porto) on transfer deadline day.
They also signed Argentina Under-17 midfielder Claudio Echeverri for £12.5m but immediately loaned him back to River Plate.
The figures, according to Transfermarkt and Football Transfers, means City spent just over £180 million, or €217m, the second-highest spent by any club in any winter transfer window.
While City were the big spenders overall, it was Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr who made the single most expensive transfer.
The SPL transfer window closed last week, on January 30, but before it did the Riyadh club were able to negotiate the transfer of Colombia striker Jhon Duran from Aston Villa for a club record of €77m.
It is topped only by Neymar's €90m move to Al Hilal, which ended ignominiously last week when the Saudi club agreed to tear up the Brazilian's contract.
Another Saudi club, Al Ahli, forked out a reported €50m to sign Brazil winger Galeno from Porto, while Paris Saint-Germain added to their ranks Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Napoli winger costing the French club a cool €70m.
Despite that outlay, the Parisians were actually outspent this window by their Ligue 1 rivals Stade Rennais.
According to Football Transfers, Stade Rennais spent a total of €72.8m on the likes of Seko Fofana (Al Nassr), Brice Samba (Lens), Anthony Rouault (Stuttgart), Kyogo Furuhashi (Celtic), Mousa Tamari (Montpellier) and Kazeem Olaigbe (Club Brugge).
Balancing the books is essential, although Manchester City seem unperturbed by the impending decision by the Premier League over 115 alleged breaches of its financial rules.
While spending almost £180m on new players in an effort to salvage their season, City have recouped nothing from sales. Several players have been allowed to leave on loan, most notably club captain Kyle Walker, who has joined AC Milan for the remainder of the season.
The club who have earned the most from sales, according to Transfermarkt, are Aston Villa, aided by the sale of Duran to Al Nassr as well as moving on the likes of Jaden Philogene (€23.7m) and Diego Carlos (€10m).
Eintracht Frankfurt recouped €78.5m in sales: Marmoush's move to City (€75m) and Jens Petter Hauge for a modest €3.5m to Bodo/Glimt.
The sale of Georgia winger Kvaratskhelia helped Napoli pocket €71m while the sale of Uzbekistan defender Khusanov to City saw French club RC Lens make over 500 times what they paid for him.
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Scoreline:
Everton 4
Richarlison 13'), Sigurdsson 28', Digne 56', Walcott 64'
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton)
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Super heroes
Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue
Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate
Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues
Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking
Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses
Thor
He's a god
Formula One top 10 drivers' standings after Japan
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 306
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 247
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes 234
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull 192
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 148
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull 111
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 82
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 65
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 48
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 34
'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
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The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor
Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000
Engine 3.5L V6
Transmission 10-speed automatic
Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Fixtures
Sunday, December 8, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v USA
Monday, December 9, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – USA v Scotland
Wednesday, December 11, Sharjah Cricket Stadium – UAE v Scotland
Thursday, December 12, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v USA
Saturday, December 14, ICC Academy, Dubai – USA v Scotland
Sunday, December 15, ICC Academy, Dubai – UAE v Scotland
Note: All matches start at 10am, admission is free
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
