Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has joked about what it will take to drop Kylian Mbappe against Barcelona.
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Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker has suggested that he could follow Cristiano Ronaldo's example and make a transfer to Saudi Arabia.
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Leeds United could be set to sign a new defender in January, and a fresh report has revealed that it would cost the club nothing to bring him to Elland Road.
Where are Leeds in the Championship table?
In the Championship this season, Daniel Farke’s side have won five, drawn four and lost just two of their opening 11 games, meaning that they currently find themselves fifth in the league table. Here is how that first group of matches has played out so far:
Ipswich Town (4-3)
Cardiff City (2-2)
Birmingham City (1-0)
Millwall (3-0)
West Brom (1-1)
Southampton (3-1)
Watford (3-0)
Sheffield Wednesday (0-0)
QPR (1-0)
Hull City (0-0)
Bristol City (2-1)
The Whites have 17 squad members across all age levels away on international duty at this moment in time, including the likes of Liam Cooper with Scotland, Glen Kamara with Finland and the trio of Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Dan James with Wales (Yorkshire Evening Post), and the break from domestic action has allowed chiefs to start assessing their options ahead of the upcoming window.
In West Yorkshire, Philadelphia Union’s left-back Kai Wagner has been highlighted as a potential candidate, but it’s not the first time that he’s been linked with a move to the club, having attracted interest from the hierarchy at the start of the year, when a deal failed to come to fruition before the deadline.
The German, however, will be out of contract at the end of December, meaning that he will become a free agent on the market (Philadelphia Union contracts), and having established himself as Jim Curtin’s best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.34 (as per WhoScored – Philadelphia Union statistics), the 26-year-old won’t be short of a potential suitor in England.
Kai Wagner transfer update
According to The Athletic (via CaughtOffside), which shared a transfer update on Kai Wagner, Philadelphia's defender “could be heading” to Leeds in January.
The Whites target is “set to leave” his side upon the expiration of his deal at the end of the calendar year, and Elland Road has been touted as a serious potential destination.
How good is Kai Wagner?
According to his former teammate Aurelien Collin, Wagner is a “fighter” for his desire to get stuck in – something he’s shown by winning 39 out of his 60 tackles made so far this season, which is a higher rate than any of his teammates (FBref – Philadelphia Union statistics), but he’s also capable of making a positive impact at the opposite end of the pitch.
The Geislingen native, who is naturally left-footed, has racked up 50 goal involvements (42 assists and eight goals) since the start of his career, so he has a history of making runs down the wing and creating chances for himself and his teammates in the final third (Transfermarkt – Wagner statistics).
Finally, Wagner shares the same agent, Feel Soccer GMBH, as Ilia Gruev, so this existing connection that his representative has to the club could give the 49ers a small advantage should they indeed decide to make yet another attempt for their long-term target in January.
Real Madrid ace Vinicius Junior sent a strong message to Valencia fans after scoring at the Mestalla, having been racially abused there last season.
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Vinicius subjected to racist abuse last seasonRaised his fist to Valencia fans Real aiming to stay at top of La LigaWHAT HAPPENED?
Vinicius scored for Real Madrid on the stroke of half-time against Valencia, as he bundled in at the back post to make it 2-1 at the Mestalla. He grabbed the ball to go in search of an equaliser but first, he raised his fist towards the home fans, in an already-iconic celebration that carries plenty of meaning.
Last season, the Brazil superstar was racially abused at the stadium, and his black power celebration is one of both solidarity and strength.
In the second half, Vinicius levelled proceedings and again gesticulated towards the home supporters, with his strike given after a lengthy VAR check.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
La Liga punished Valencia after their fans racially abused Vinicius, fining them £45,000 and demanding that one stand was closed for five games. An appeal, though, saw that altered to a fine of £25,000, with the stand instead closed for three games. One has to wonder if Vinicius' celebration was also aimed at La Liga, who have taken a frankly pathetic stance on racist abuse suffered by black players under their watch.
Getty Images DID YOU KNOW?
Vinicius has been in excellent form for Real this season and has scored 12 goals in all competitions, while also laying on seven assists. Real's only defeat in La Liga this season – against Atletico Madrid – came when the star was absent due to a hamstring injury.
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Real play RB Leipzig in the Champions League in midweek as they aim to reach the quarter-finals. They lead 1-0 from the first leg in Germany.
One of Sunderland's former loan stars would love a return to the Stadium of Light, if he were to leave his current club, according to reports.
Amad Diallo was a fan-favourite at the Black Cats and was recently crowned the PFA Fans’ Championship Player of the Year following a stellar season on Wearside.
Now, trusted Sunderland reporter Michael Graham responded to a fan on Twitter X to confirm Diallo’s preferred destination.
The 21-year-old winger joined Manchester United from Serie A side Atalanta at the start of 2021 for a reported €21m (£19m) with the deal with a potential €20m (£18m) in add-ons according to The Athletic.
However, Diallo failed to break into the Red Devils’ first-team, playing just nine times in all competitions in his first year at Old Trafford according to Transfermarkt.
United loaned the Ivory Coast international to Scottish giants Rangers for the remainder of the 2021/22 season to give the Ivorian more exposure to first-team football. He played 10 times in the Scottish Premiership for the Gers registering three goals to his name.
The following season Diallo joined recently promoted Sunderland in the Championship, where he formed a great connection with the Black Cats’ boss Tony Mowbray.
And the north-east giants were linked with a move for their former loan sensation during the off-season, but reports quickly downplayed that idea with United keen to seal a 'more lucrative' deal if they were to loan him out.
Mowbray has spoken in great admiration about Diallo in the past, which suggests he would be open to working with the Manchester United wonderkid once again.
Speaking after his side's 2-1 win over Birmingham in April, Mowbray said:
"Are you happy just to be a Manchester United player and play six sub appearances and two starts over a 60-game season for them? Or would you want to go and play?
"So are they going to sell him, and if they do they will want to recoup their money which was reportedly €40m or whatever it was? I don't know. I think the reality is that he won't be coming here, unless they think he is going to be one helluva player and he needs another year out playing, and he enjoys it at Sunderland so he can stay there," before further adding:
"But let's hope he is playing for Sunderland next year and banging in the goals. If we did sneak into [the Premier League], there is a much better chance that he could come back."
Under Mowbray, Diallo managed to put the ball in the back of the net 13 times in the Championship as Sunderland finished sixth in the league, securing them a place in the play-offs. Sunderland failed to make it to the Championship play-off final as Luton won 3-2 on aggregate despite Diallo scoring from distance in the first leg.
The 5 foot 8 "absolute wizard" – in the words of reporter James Copley – clearly still shares a deep admiration for Sunderland.
Following the Black Cats’ 5-0 thrashing of Southampton last week, Diallo responded to the full-time result on Twitter X with a mind-blown starstruck emoji, suggesting he was very impressed with how his former teammates played.
The £7m-rated dynamo was left needing stretchers after picking up a leg injury against Arsenal in pre-season for United.
However, Diallo is expected to make a return to full fitness soon, which means he should be able to move to Sunderland if the option is on the table come January.
There is no denying that the former loan sensation would be welcomed back with open arms considering he ended the 2022/23 campaign as the Black Cats' third-best performer in the Championship with an average WhoScored rating of 7.06, having produced 14 goals and three assists in 39 appearances.
دخل نادي مانشستر يونايتد في سباق التوقيع مع أحد أهداف فريق ريال مدريد في فترة الانتقالات الصيفية القادمة.
ومن المقرر أن يستمر إريك تين هاج مدرباً لـ مانشستر يونايتد في الموسم الجديد، بعدما زعمت تقارير إخبارية حول رحيله بعد الفوز بكأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي الأسبوع الماضي.
اقرأ ايضاً.. أنشيلوتي لـ لاعب ريال مدريد: ابق معنا ولا تكن مجنونًا
وأشارت صحيفة ماركا الإسبانية إلى أن مانشستر يونايتد انضم إلى سباق التعاقد مع مدافع ليل الفرنسي، ليني يورو، وقدم عرضاً كبيراً جداً من أجل اللاعب بقيمة 60 مليون يورو.
وتابعت الصحيفة الإسبانية أن ريال مدريد يريد أيضاً التوقيع مع المدافع الفرنسي، لكن مسئولي النادي أخبروا اللاعب ووكيله أن عليهما الانتظار ومقاومة العروض إذا أرادوا القدوم إلى الملكي.
ويريد ريال مدريد من اللاعب الصبر حتى يرى الوقت المناسب لبدء المفاوضات معه وحسم انتقاله إلى سانتياجو برنابيو.
وساهم ليني يورو في صعود فريقه ليل الفرنسي إلى منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا العام المقبل، بعد أن احتل فريقه المركز الرابع في ترتيب الدوري الفرنسي.
وشارك المدافع الفرنسي هذا العام في 44 مباراة مع ليل في جميع المسابقات، بواقع 3660 دقيقة مع الفريق الفرنسي، مسجلاً 3 أهداف طوال الموسم.
West Ham United are in for a dramatic deadline day, as David Moyes revises his options ahead of the close of the transfer window tonight.
The Irons have recruited well so far this summer following the £105m sale of Declan Rice, however another target has emerged in the bid to bolster the side further.
Who could West Ham sign on deadline day?
After the audacious capture of Mohammed Kudus from Ajax, Moyes significantly strengthened his attack, however it looks as though the east Londoners are poaching another forward.
As reported by the Daily Mail, West Ham are considering a move for Paris Saint Germain starlet Hugo Ekitike, who is said to be valued by the Parisians at €40m (£34m).
Moyes was asked specifically about the Frenchman when quizzed by the media ahead of deadline day, in which he responded: “You wouldn't get me commenting on a player from another club.”
How good is Hugo Ekitike?
Having been tipped to become a “star” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Ekitike is one of the most noticeable young forwards in Ligue 1.
Prior to his move to PSG, the 21-year-old gem netted 10 league goals for Stade Reims, as well as registering four assists in an impressive individual campaign in the French top-flight, in a season that marked his breakthrough.
Considering the talent and lucrative ambitions of PSG, it was always going to be difficult for the youngster to make a statement in the capital due to there being little guarantee of his game time.
Putting this aside, the striker needed little time to show his worth, contributing to seven goals in 25 appearances for the Parisians, scoring three and assisting four in only 12 league starts and an average of 46 minutes per game, via Sofascore.
For West Ham, hiring talent from the French league has proven to be a strong move in the past, take last summer's swoop for Lucas Paqueta from Olympique Lyonnais.
On a whole other level to the Brazilian – in terms of successful moves from France – is Dimitri Payet, who almost single-handedly fired the Hammers to a seventh-place finish in his debut campaign.
The Frenchman netted nine goals and registered 12 assists in his first season in east London, asserting himself as Slaven Bilic’s star man and West Ham’s saviour on many occasions.
During his time in the capital, the midfielder was dubbed a “special player” by his teammate at the time Winston Reid, and ultimately showed just how vital a strong signing can be in the window.
In exploring a deal for Ekitike, who has been lauded as a "complete" and "clinical finisher" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Moyes could repeat history in handing the Hammers another star from Ligue 1.
Like Payet before his move, all the signs are there for the youngster to become an important part of the scenery at West Ham, with the Frenchman showing his lively spark through his 1.4 shots per game last term.
In the season prior to his transfer to the Irons, Payet averaged two shots per game for Marseille, communicating the similarities to their impact and importance in attack.
At only 21 years of age, Moyes could hand Ekitike a starring role at the London Stadium, in the hope that the Frenchman could thrive and follow suit in being another hit signing from France’s top-tier.
Just as the smog has relented and the air quality in Delhi has come down to being just “very poor” from “severe” levels, flights landing and taking off from the domestic terminal of the Delhi airport had a new threat. In the adjoining Airforce Sports Complex in Palam, Rishabh Pant was announcing return to form with big sixes. Aircrafts fly so low here that it seemed he could have hit them had he gone a little bigger.Pant joined Nitish Rana – whose big-hitting capabilities were seen with Mumbai Indians – at 55 for 3 but his 110-ball 99 and Rana’s unbeaten hundred took Delhi to 260 for 4 on a weather-hit day. Only 62 overs were possible, but the two left-hand batsmen deflated a buoyant Maharashtra side that had taken out Gautam Gambhir in the fifth over and the other opener Anuj Rawat in the 10th. Unmukt Chand, himself struggling to recreate the form that made him a star at the Under-19 level, was dropped.There could be a lesson for Chand in the way Pant has taken in stride the lean period. Not long ago Pant was seen as the man putting incredible pressure on MS Dhoni to retain his place in India’s T20 internationals side. He had rattled off a 326-ball 308 in the last Ranji Trophy, then two hundreds at better than a run a ball in the same first-class match, followed by a 43-ball 97 in the IPL for a faltering Delhi Daredevils, but that was all in the last season.Pant got the reward through selection in two T20 internationals for India. In the first one, he didn’t get a chance to do much, and in the second he managed to go barely a run a ball in a high-scoring defeat for India. He still would have got a longer run for India had he done well in the A tour of South Africa, according to the selectors. He didn’t grab that chance either, is out of the India squads now, and has spent more than a year without a century in any senior representative cricket.The 99 in a tough situation will bring Pant back into the conversation. He was asked if he felt relief that he was back among the runs. “There was no pressure, so why will I feel relieved?” Pant shot back. “This is cricket. You have good days, you have bad days. You can’t afford to put yourself under too much pressure and risk ruining your future games too. There will be days when you will score runs, there will be days when you won’t. This is a part of a cricketer’s life.”It is remarkable to have managed to attain that kind of equanimity this early in a career, but Pant said the seniors have helped him in this regard. “You get to learn from seniors,” he said. “Whatever time I spent in the Indian team, I learnt. Here, too, there is Gauti [Gambhir, who has first-hand experience of insecurities as a young cricketer] and Ishant [Ishant Sharma, who is now the Delhi captain]. There is no minimum age to learn these things. The sooner you learn, the sooner you will grow as a cricketer.”A good example of similar effort reaping “good” and “bad” days is how Pant was dropped in the 30s. It is luck he might have earned. In this lean period, he has been out backing up when a straight drive kissed the bowler’s hand and strangled down the leg side on more than one occasion. That is why, Pant said, he has not looked to change his game. “The game that has got you runs, if you stick to it, you give yourself the best chance to keep scoring runs,” he said. “Rather than running after changes, stay positive and back your game. I used to feel bad that I was not actually putting the runs on the board, but there was no special pattern to my dismissals, which might make me change my game.”
Chris Nash has signed for Nottinghamshire after begin released from his contract by Sussex last week. The 34-year-old has agreed a three-year deal to play at Trent Bridge.Nash’s departure at Sussex was followed by that of the head coach, Mark Davis, after a difficult season in which the south-coast county failed to achieve promotion. Nash will be playing in Division One next year, however, with Notts bouncing back after relegation in 2016. The club also won the Royal London Cup and NatWest Blast.The veteran batsman, who can also bowl useful offspin, will be reunited with former Sussex coach Peter Moores, who took over at Notts a year ago. Nash’s arrival will help offset the loss of Michael Lumb, who retired through injury midway through the season.”Once Notts came in after I’d had my request for release granted by Sussex – with my former coach Peter Moores here, at such a great ground and with what the club achieved last season – it was an easy decision for me,” Nash said.”It’s great to get the chance to work again with Peter, who gave me my first contract at Sussex, and I’m really looking forward to the next three years. To look out over Trent Bridge and realise that it’s going to be my home ground is pretty special.”It’s going to be amazing to be part of helping the club defend their two white ball trophies in front of big crowds. The Outlaws were sensational last season in white-ball cricket and I’m looking forward to joining in with that.”Nash had a stop-start campaign in 2017, averaging 27.52 and scoring just a single Championship hundred after moving down to bat in the middle order. His tally of 578 first-class runs was his worst since 2006 but he is vastly experienced and passed 1000 runs four times between 2009 and 2016, usually as an opener.He was also Sussex’s leading run-scorer in the Blast last season but, having been overlooked for the captaincy, asked to leave – a request which was granted as Rob Andrew, the chief executive, decided rebuilding was in order at Hove.Nottinghamshire have also been active in recruiting. They missed out on England opener Keaton Jennings, who opted to join Lancashire, but did sign Paul Coughlin, another highly rated Durham prospect. With the retirement of captain Chris Read, Moores was pleased to bring in another senior player in Nash.Moores said: “You don’t expect a player to suddenly become available who’s such a good fit for us. It’s really exciting to have Chris join us, and I know he’s excited to come here too.”We were in the market for a senior batsman and he plays across all three formats with a good record in four-day cricket, as well as in T20 and 50-over cricket. Chris also adds some significant experience to the squad. Trent Bridge is a great place for him to showcase his skills and I think he will enjoy it.”
While there will be those of a Tottenham Hotspur persuasion still hoping that club-record scorer, Harry Kane will be a part of Ange Postecoglou's side beyond the September deadline, it is looking increasingly likely that the England skipper will be on his way as a matter of when and not if.
Amid reports that chairman Daniel Levy could be forced to cash in on the long-serving striker rather than allow him to leave for nothing next summer, it would appear that the only question now is where the 30-year-old ends up, with Bayern Munich and Manchester United still circling.
If the 6 foot 2 marksman is to depart over the coming weeks then Postecoglou will need to find a new attacking figurehead who can ease the goalscoring burden on Heung-min Son, with there perhaps other members of the current squad who could step up to the plate.
Last year's £60m summer signing, Richarlison did only recently net a hat-trick in the 5-1 thrashing of Lion City Sailors, although it is yet to be seen if the mercurial Brazilian can replicate that form in the Premier League, having scored just a solitary top-flight goal last season.
Rather than attempting to rely on the 26-year-old, a possible surprise package may have presented itself in the form of former Fulham loanee, Manor Solomon, with the recent free transfer arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk having made a strong early impression on pre-season.
Described as "really exciting" by Postecoglou, the 24-year-old has also been the recipient of notable praise from journalist Paul Brown, with the respected insider telling Football FanCast that the Israeli international can be something of a "weapon" for the north Londoners next season.
Asked whether the 5 foot 7 ace is a bargain signing, Brown stated: "Yeah, I think he's a really good little player. He, in limited minutes, did really good things for Fulham and scored a lot of goals off the bench for them. I think in a similar role at spurs, he could be quite dynamic.
"I think they do need someone like him who takes up good positions, has that kind of movement. He's quite deceptive with his movement, and just has a knack for goal.
"I think bringing him on against tired defenders at the end at the end of the game would be a good weapon for the new manager to have, so I can see why they did that one."
That glowing praise is a sign of the potential gem that Postecoglou has on his hands, with Solomon having shown glimpses last season while at Craven Cottage that he can offer a real goal threat in his new home at N17.
While Richarlison failed to catch fire for the Lilywhites, the Israeli sensation scored four Premier League goals in 2022/23 despite missing the first half of the season through injury, with that impact also coming despite being limited to just four starts in the competition.
Barring another injury setback, the £13m-rated speedster looks likely to have a bigger role to play this time around if his pre-season form is anything to go by, having been hailed as a 'constant threat' on the right flank by football.london's Alasdair Gold following the recent win over Lion City – who also awarded him an 8/10 match rating.
The diminutive, wing wizard had also shone on the opposite side against rivals West Ham United last week, with the Evening Standard's Simon Collings writing that he was 'just about Tottenham’s best player during the first half and looked very lively cutting inside.'
While it remains to be seen which wing the one-time Maccabi Tel Aviv menace will line up on moving forward, such versatility is evidence of just what a 'weapon' he is, hence the excitement over his potential influence in 2023/24.
Although it may be Richarlison who is likely to be the direct, positional replacement for Kane through the middle, Solomon is already showing signs that he can lead the charge from the flanks.