تحدث الدولي الإنجليزي هاري كين، مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بايرن ميونخ عن أنباء انتقاله إلى برشلونة خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.
ويرغب برشلونة في التعاقد مع خليفة البولندي روبرت ليفاندوفسكي الذي ينتهي عقده الصيف المقبل.
ووفقًا لتقارير صحفية إسبانية سابقة فإن هاري كين هو له الأولوية القصوى داخل برشلونة من أجل التعاقد معه الفترة المقبلة ليكون على رأس المشروع الرياضي الجديد للفريق خلال الموسم المقبل.
كين استطاع أن يسجل هذا الموسم 26 هدفًا ويقدم 4 تمريرات حاسمة في 22 مباراة وإجمالًا مع بايرن ميونخ سجل 108 أهداف في 113 مباراة وهي أرقام مميزة للغاية.
اقرأ أيضًا | تدريبات ريال مدريد.. عودة الثنائي المصاب وغياب محتمل لمدافع الفريق أمام أولمبياكوس
ومن خلال تصريحاته التي نقلتها صحيفة “بيلد” الألمانية، فقد أكد كين أنه لم يتواصل مع أي جهة من إدارة بايرن ميونخ بشأن تمديد عقده الحالي حتى الآن.
وقال هاري كين بشأن تجديد عقده: “لم أتواصل مع أي جهة ولم يتصل بي أحد، أشعر براحة تامة في الوضع الحالي رغم أننا لم نناقش وضعي مع بايرن بعد”.
وأضاف: “مفاوضات برشلونة؟ أنا سعيد للغاية في ميونخ، يمكنك رؤية ذلك في طريقة لعبي، إذا كان هناك تواصل، فسنرى لكنني لا أفكر في الموسم الجديد بعد، أولها كأس العالم في الصيف ومن المستبعد جدًا أن يتغير أي شيء بعد هذا الموسم”.
وأتم حول سؤال ما إذا كان ينبغي لجماهير بايرن أن تقلق بشأن استمراره مع الفريق: “لا أعتقد ذلك، عليهم أن يطمئنوا”.
Both players were off the field for large portions of the second innings against Sri Lanka
Shashank Kishore26-Sep-20252:05
Is captaincy affecting SKY’s form?
Morne Morkel, India’s bowling coach, has allayed concerns around the fitness of Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma leading into Sunday’s Asia Cup final against Pakistan in Dubai.Hardik held his left hamstring and walked off the field after bowling the first over of Sri Lanka’s innings on Friday, in which he dismissed Kusal Mendis for a first-ball duck. Hardik didn’t return to take the field for the remainder of the innings.”Hardik had cramps, he will be assessed tonight and tomorrow morning, we’ll then take a call on that,” Morkel said at the post-match press conference. India’s bowling coach was merely reiterating what India captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation.Meanwhile, Abhishek too spent the entire second half of Sri Lanka’s innings off the field. Abhishek showed signs of discomfort in the ninth over, when he clutched onto his right thigh while running. He eventually left the field in the 10th over, just before a Pathum Nissanka six was signalled dead ball because he hadn’t left the field before Varun Chakravarthy began to run in to bowl.Like Hardik, Abhishek too spent the rest of the innings being iced and treated with pickle juice to ease cramps. Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma came on as substitute fielders at different points. At one point, even Tilak Varma was briefly off the field, but he soon returned after a hydration break.With the Sri Lanka game stretching way beyond its scheduled close due to the Super Over finish, India are left with an even shorter turnaround time before they take the field on Sunday. Morkel stressed on the need for the players to recover, and stay away from training on Saturday.”The key for the boys is to rest,” he said. “They’re in an ice bath already. The recovery started straight after the match. The best way to recover is sleep and stay off your feet. Hopefully they can get a good night’s sleep.”There will be individual pool sessions for the guys organised. Then some massages before they get mentally ready for the big battle on Sunday. It’s a quick turnaround, and playing smart is going to be the key. There will certainly be no training.”‘Arshdeep, Harshit are X-factors’Morkel also touched upon the challenges players like Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana face when being called upon to deliver at a crucial stage in the competition. On Friday against Sri Lanka, the pair returned combined figures of 2 for 100 of eight overs in India’s defence of 202, before a nerveless Arshdeep delivered in the Super Over to seal victory.”In our environment we want to move away from an excuse culture,” he said. “The effort they put in at training, we expect them to go out there and deliver. Yes, sometimes lack of game time is a factor. You can bowl as many overs as you like in the nets, but nothing beats game time.”The quality of work we put in, we expect the guys to deliver. At the moment, things aren’t happening for them but the team is winning, they’re all X-factor players and real match winners.”
Tottenham star Micky van de Ven has been hailed as "one of the best centre-backs in the world" following a strong start to the season. The Netherlands international is known for his power and pace but this term he appears to be becoming more of an all-round player. The 24-year-old has also been tipped to be a future captain for the Premier League outfit.
Van de Ven's reputation grows
In addition to becoming a key player for Tottenham and becoming one for the Dutch national team, the defender scored a Puskas contender with his stunning individual goal against Copenhagen in the Champions League earlier this month. Now, former Spurs centre-back Michael Dawson has waxed lyrical about the flying Dutchman, even saying he isn't too far off compatriot and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
He told BetMGM: "For me, Micky van de Ven is one of the best centre-backs in the world, not just the Premier League. I honestly believe that. I'm a huge, huge fan and I think he’s got everything. There aren’t many centre backs around that have the pace he does but also are able to read the game in the way he does. I know people will probably say his pace gets him out of trouble at times but I don’t really buy that and I think at times last season he was left to cover an awful lot of ground because of the way the team was set up. That goal he scored in the Champions League was mind blowing. For a centre-back to do that was special and I don’t really see any weaknesses, he’s got all the attributes to go right to the top. Without a shadow of a doubt he’s a future Tottenham captain. I look at Virgil van Dijk and he’s the benchmark for me in terms of how long he’s been at the top for, but I don’t think Micky is far off that, I really don’t. He’s got all the attributes to be a leader and I’m sure the reason he was tied down to a long-term contract was with that in mind."
AdvertisementAFPVan de Ven makes headlines for the wrong reasons
On the flip side of that, Van de Ven was criticised by many for appearing to snub Tottenham boss Thomas Frank when he wanted them to applaud the fans following their 1-0 loss to Chelsea earlier this month.
However, the Dane later revealed that Van de Ven and Djed Spence apologised for their misdemeanours.
"Micky and Djed came into my office yesterday and just said they wanted to say sorry for the situation. They didn't want it to look bad or any misconception that you can get in this beautiful media world. So there was no disrespect meant at all towards me or the team. They were just frustrated with the performance from us and the booing during the game," said the ex-Brentford boss.
Crunch north London derby nears
While having Van de Ven is a big boost for Tottenham, Dawson thinks that the injury to Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is a huge blow for Mikel Arteta's side. The bitter rivals lock horns at the Emirates on Sunday and Dawson is expecting an enticing encounter.
He added: "It’s like no other fixture and form goes out the window. Having bragging rights is so big for both sets of fans and it’s a special game to be involved in, especially if you can come out on top. The club and the local area feel different the week of the derby. You go out for a coffee and the fans would come up to you and ask about it because it means so much to them. It’s the same for the players, in training and in the dressing room it just felt a bit bigger and more special. You try not to do anything different but I think internally you try to give that extra little bit because of how important a game it is in the context of the season. I expect Tottenham to be pretty cautious going to the Emirates which is such a hard place to go. Arsenal will likely have a lot of the ball and they’re the favourites, but Gabriel is a massive loss for them. He’s a huge miss in both boxes and it might just be a bit of added motivation for Spurs. If Spurs can get a result it will be a huge statement to not only Arsenal but the league that Tottenham are a real force this season. On the back of an international break you never know how players are going to pull up from their trips away, so it might not be a bad time to play Arsenal. Given Arsenal’s form, though, I do think Spurs would take a point and I think that would be a great result and something they can really build on."
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Getty Images SportBusy period for Tottenham
When the Premier League returns this weekend, following the conclusion of the final international break of 2025, Tottenham travel to table-toppers Arsenal, before visiting Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain next Wednesday. They then round off the month at home to London neighbours Fulham on November 29.
Ilan Meslier’s long fall from Leeds United’s undisputed starting position to a goalkeeper searching for a lifeline has pushed his agent, Pini Zahavi, to attempt to engineer a move to Serie A. With both AC Milan and Inter monitoring the situation, Leeds run the risk of losing a once-elite Premier League talent for far less than they hoped, while Meslier weighs a fresh start to revive a career derailed by dwindling confidence.
Meslier frozen out as his agent pushes for a Serie A escape
Meslier has not started a competitive match for Leeds since April, a dramatic decline for a goalkeeper once regarded as one of the club’s most valuable assets. His role has diminished to the point where he is now effectively out of the picture, watching from the sidelines as Lucas Perri and Karl Darlow occupy the first-team spots. With his contract expiring in 2026 and Leeds unwilling to keep a high-earning third-choice goalkeeper, the club is open to selling him in January.
According to Tutto Sport,sensing the urgency of the situation, his agent Zahavi has moved aggressively. Zahavi, who maintains strong relationships with Milan and Inter is positioning Meslier for a switch to Serie A. Both Milan clubs are interested, attracted by the possibility of signing a young, technically gifted keeper who once ranked among the Premier League’s brightest prospects. But while Leeds want a January sale, both Milan and Inter prefer to wait until summer to sign him for free, setting up a standoff that could deprive Leeds of a transfer fee entirely.
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From Premier League standout to a sudden collapse in form
Meslier’s decline has been gradual but unmistakable. At his peak in the 2020–21 Premier League season, the Frenchman was electric, producing extraordinary reflex saves, commanding his box with confidence and playing a crucial part in Leeds' ninth-place finish under Marcelo Bielsa. He looked every bit the modern goalkeeper being calm in possession, agile under pressure, and brave in one-on-one situations.
But the seasons that followed exposed the fragility of both Leeds' defensive structure and Meslier’s still-developing decision-making. As Bielsa’s chaotic, high-risk style increasingly stretched the defence, Meslier faced more dangerous situations than almost any keeper in the league. His shot-stopping numbers plummeted, errors multiplied and the pressure mounted. During Leeds’ relegation campaign he conceded well over expected goals against and ranked among the poorest shot-stoppers in the division.
Leeds' dilemma: sell now, risk losses or hold on to a fading asset
Leeds now find themselves in a difficult position. They see Meslier as a player whose value has dropped but still carries Premier League experience that should, in theory, command a meaningful fee. Yet the market is unforgiving for goalkeepers who have lost their starting role, and European clubs know Leeds are under pressure to sell. The club has explored offers in previous windows but has not received anything close to their valuation.
Adding to the complexity is that Leeds had once considered offering Meslier a new contract, largely to protect his transfer value. But the emergence of Perri and the reliability of Darlow have pushed Meslier further down the depth chart, making a renewal both financially unwise and sporting unnecessary. If Milan and Inter insist on waiting until the summer to sign him for free, Leeds risk losing him without compensation just two years after rejecting offers that would have earned them substantial profit.
The club must now decide whether a cut-price January sale is better than clinging to an asset whose value and playing time are evaporating by the month.
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What Meslier needs
For Meslier, a move away from England may be the only path to rediscovering the promise that once made him one of Europe’s most exciting young goalkeepers. Serie A, with its emphasis on tactical organisation and structured defensive systems, could provide the stability he has lacked since Bielsa’s final seasons at Leeds. Milan and Inter offer environments where keepers have time to rebuild confidence and refine fundamentals without the relentless chaos and pace of English football.
The international break came at a good time for Glasgow Rangers boss Danny Rohl, as it has provided him with time to assess his first block of six matches in charge of the club.
Having arrived at Ibrox last month to replace Russell Martin, the former Sheffield Wednesday head coach did not have a pre-season or any real time to assess the squad and what he wants to do moving forward.
The main focus has been on short-term results, which has resulted in three straight wins in the Scottish Premiership, most recently with a 3-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park.
This international break, however, will have provided Rohl and Kevin Thelwell time to sit down and map out the longer-term plan, so that the next steps can be taken to set foot on that path, in the next few weeks and in the January transfer window.
Part of that longer-term plan should include finding a way to create a better pathway from the academy to the first-team so that the Gers can develop homegrown stars, instead of constantly needing to splash money on new signings to bolster the squad.
Unfortunately, there have not been too many recent examples of stars who have broken through from the B team to the first-team to make a name for themselves at Ibrox.
The most valuable former Rangers academy players
Whether it is changes at academy or first-team level, the Light Blues should look to address the lack of quality academy graduates that have come from the youth set-up in recent years.
19-year-old starlet Findlay Curtis has shown promise this season, with a return of three goals in 11 appearances in all competitions, but he has not started any of his four outings in the Premiership, per Transfermarkt.
The Scottish youngster is currently valued at around £400k by Transfermarkt, which is understandable given his lack of starts at first-team level, and that means that he does not rank within the top ten most valuable former Gers academy stars at this moment in time.
Most valuable former Rangers academy players
Player
Market value (to nearest million)
Billy Gilmour
£18m
Nathan Patterson
£11m
Greg Taylor
£5m
Ross McCrorie
£2m
Lewis Morgan
£2m
David Bates
£1m
Robbie Ure
£1m
Ryan Hardie
£1m
Malcolm Ebiowei
£1m
Ross McCausland
£1m
Values via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, the most valuable former academy talent is Napoli central midfielder Billy Gilmour, who is who is worth as much as the next three highest combined.
Unfortunately, the Scotland international did not play a single game for the Light Blues at first-team level because he opted to sign for Chelsea at the age of 15, with a development fee of at least £500k paid to Rangers.
When asked why he decided to move on from Ibrox, Gilmour later said: “It was between Rangers and Chelsea. Most of my family are Rangers fans and I love the club. I’ll always be thankful for everything they did. But when Chelsea showed me my development plan, I couldn’t turn it down. Everything about the club was amazing and it’s where I wanted to be.”
Whilst the pull of a Premier League title winner and regular Champions League contender will always be big, the midfielder’s comments about a ‘development plan’ were interesting.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Without knowing what goes on behind the scenes, it is hard to know whether or not the Gers are doing enough to convince young talent that they have a development plan that will turn them into a star at Ibrox.
One academy graduate who has seemingly not had a clear pathway to being a regular in the first-team is Bailey Rice, which is why Rohl must avoid him becoming a Gilmour repeat.
Why Danny Rohl should unleash Rangers teen Bailey Rice
The Gers youngster is not in the exact same situation as Gilmour, because he is four years older and has had experience in the first-team, but the club may run the risk of him wanting to move on if his lack of game time persists.
Thelwell, as shown in the graphic above, made it clear on Saturday that he wants the talented academy graduates at the club to be given chances at Ibrox, but that has not happened for Rice this season.
The 19-year-old star has played 45 minutes of football, against Alloa Athletic in the League Cup, for the Light Blues in the 2025/26 campaign, which means that he has not played a single minute in the Premiership.
In the summer transfer window, Rangers swooped to sign 30-year-old central midfielder Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth to bolster Russell Martin’s options in the defensive and central midfield positions.
That signing has played a part in blocking Rice’s pathway to playing minutes in the Premiership, and the experienced midfielder’s performances so far suggest that they may have been better off giving those chances to the youngster.
25/26 Premiership
Joe Rothwell
Appearances
8
Starts
5
Minutes
412
Goals
0
Assists
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.9
Dribbled past per game
0.4x
Ground duel success rate
46%
Aerial duel success rate
50%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Rothwell has offered very little offensively or defensive in the middle of the park in his 412 minutes on the pitch in the league, losing the majority of his overall duels.
The English flop’s struggles suggest that the Gers would have been better off giving those 412 minutes to Rice to benefit his development and put him back on track to becoming a first-team regular, as Thelwell stated that he wants academy players to be given chances.
Rice made his first-team debut as a 16-year-old and was described as “a heck of a player” by former boss Michael Beale, as he made 14 first-team appearances in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined.
After a Europa League clash with Manchester United in January, Rio Ferdinand said that he liked Rice and hailed his composed play and “wonderful” passing in midfield, which shows that he impressed a former Premier League title winner and England international.
The teenage talent has only featured in seven Premiership games, starting once, in the subsequent 11 months, per Sofascore. This means that he has not had ample opportunity to nail down a place in the team.
Therefore, Rohl should avoid another Gilmour situation by finally handing Rice a chance to shine in the Premiership after the international break, to let him learn and develop, rather than continue to play Rothwell, who is at the opposite end of his career and has struggled this season.
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Alex Cora and Aaron Boone may be on opposite sides of baseball's most bitter rivalry, but that doesn't mean there isn't a shared respect between them. When the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees linked up for a spring-training game Tuesday, Cora had strong thoughts on criticism Boone receives.
Boone has managed the Yankees since 2018. He made his first World Series appearance as manager last year and was rewarded with a two-year extension, which keeps him in the Bronx through the 2027 season. He's still searching for his first World Series ring at the helm after the Los Angeles Dodgers took care of the Yankees in five games last fall.
Despite the World Series drought, Boone has won three AL East titles since he took over and has gotten to 90 wins or more in all but one of the full seasons played under his leadership. And Cora made sure he got his praise, despite all the outside noise.
“That guy over there, man, gets a lot of s— from people but he’s one of the best,” Cora said of Boone via 's Chris Kirschner.
A solid stamp of approval, especially from someone who's supposed to be an arch-nemesis—at least on the surface.
Boone and the Yankees begin their season March 25 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees and Red Sox first play this season on June 6 in the Bronx.
We all know Jose Altuve is shorter than most players in Major League Baseball, but every so often we get a reminder of just how small he is.
On Saturday, Altuve's Houston Astros faced the Minnesota Twins, and Twins pitcher Bailey Ober got the start. Ober is 6'9" and Altuve is listed at 5'6" so eventually you know they had to stand near each other. When they did, the visual was crazy.
A photo is below.
Here's another angle:
That's pretty incredible.
To make things even crazier, Altuve took Ober deep on the second pitch of the game.
I guess height doesn't matter a whole lot in baseball.
The Twins went on to win 6-1 as Houston didn't score after Altive's big blast. Ober went four innings and allowed three hits and one run while striking out five. It was a nice recovery after he surrendered eight runs on eight hits over 2 2/3 innings in his first start of the season.
Altuve went 3-for-5 but the rest of Houston's lineup faily to muster any runs.
Aston Villa have now joined the race for Manchester City’s James Trafford ahead of the January transfer window, amid a new update on the goalkeeper’s future at the Etihad Stadium.
It is well-known that Emiliano Martinez wanted to leave Villa during the summer, with the 33-year-old keen on a deadline day move to Manchester United, but he ultimately ended up staying put, and Unai Emery has reintroduced his first-choice goalkeeper to the starting XI.
Emery has been vindicated for his decision to start the Argentinian ahead of Marco Bizot, as he has started to show signs he could be getting back to his best, having kept three clean sheets in the Villans’ last four matches in all competitions.
Most recently, the former Arsenal man put in a top performance in the 4-0 victory against AFC Bournemouth, saving Antoine Semenyo’s penalty and receiving a 8.2 SofaScore match rating for his overall display.
However, given the World Cup-winning goalkeeper’s age, and his previous desire to leave, Emery may have one eye on a replacement, and the Europa League side have now joined the race for a Premier League shot-stopper ahead of the January transfer window.
Aston Villa join race to sign James Trafford
According to a report from Football Insider, Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Man City’s Trafford, with the Englishman’s future at the Etihad Stadium now in doubt, given Gianluigi Donnarumma’s emergence as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper.
It is now looking increasingly likely the 23-year-old will leave the Blues this winter, with an initial loan move potentially on the cards, and he is viewed as a ‘strong alternative’ to Martinez, possessing the ability to replace the Villa goalkeeper between the sticks.
The 6 foot 6 colossus, who is represented by the same agent as Ezri Konsa, has been unable to establish himself as City’s number one, but his performances for the Clarets last season indicate he could be a fantastic signing for the Villans, keeping 29 clean sheets in the Championship alone.
Scott Parker was clearly happy with his goalkeeper’s performances too, describing him as “world-class”, while Statman Dave has revealed the Carlisle-born shot-stopper prevented the second-highest number of goals of any under 23 goalkeeper in Europe’s top 20 leagues last term.
Trafford isn’t the finished article and has yet to prove himself over a sustained period at Premier League level, making an error leading to a goal in City’s 2-0 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur earlier this season, but he is still very young for a goalkeeper, and has a lot of potential.
Emiliano Martinez has been named among the best goalkeepers in the Premier League Every 2025/26 Premier League goalkeeper ranked from best to worst
West Ham and Tottenham have held discussions over signing former Brentford striker Ivan Toney ahead of the looming January transfer window, and he’s now given a response to both sides.
Ivan Toney attracts Premier League interest after Saudi displays
Toney’s excellent since moving to Al-Ahli has reportedly prompted several Premier League clubs to consider bringing him back to English football, with his exceptional goalscoring record defying initial skepticism about his £40 million transfer.
The 29-year-old has silenced doubters emphatically, scoring 42 goals across just 62 appearances in all competitions since arriving in the Gulf state.
His output has spearheaded Al-Ahli to success, including their maiden AFC Champions League triumph and victory in the Saudi Super Cup after a penalty shootout victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.
Toney’s memorable hat-trick against 2024 champions Al-Hilal marked Al-Ahli’s first victory over their rivals in eight league games, with the striker going on to net 12 goals across just seven matches during one extraordinary purple patch.
West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham
West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
West Ham 3-2 Burnley
Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
His performances even briefly earned the Englishman a spot back in Thomas Tuchel’s England setup earlier this year, but Toney has struggled to fire his way back into contention since then.
With the 2026 World Cup looming, reports have suggested that Toney could return to the Premier League in a bid to battle his way into Tuchel’s thinking ahead of the tournament next year.
West Ham now in pole position to sign "monster" striker after already making contact
The Hammers are after a new centre-forward.
By
Emilio Galantini
Nov 27, 2025
Of all the teams linked with a move for Toney, West Ham and Spurs stand chief among them as the two London clubs allegedly scour for striking options.
Tottenham are said to have held preliminary talks over a deal for Toney already, while West Ham have allegedly sounded out the striker as they look to replace the exit-bound Niclas Füllkrug.
Now, a report by talkSPORT has shed light on the situation, with Nuno Espirito Santo handed a key update.
West Ham and Tottenham get Ivan Toney response after discussions
West Ham and Tottenham have discussed January moves for Toney, but the England striker has made clear his intention to remain in Saudi Arabia, effectively ending hopes of an immediate Premier League return.
Sources close to the situation confirm Toney’s camp has communicated directly to interested Premier League clubs that the striker remains settled, content and unwilling to push for a transfer.
Al-Ahli sporting director Rui Pedro Braz reinforced this stance publicly, insisting speculation surrounding January departures holds no basis in reality and declaring the club counts on Toney moving forward.
Additionally, Toney must remain abroad until April 2026 to maintain his non-UK tax residency status. Returning prematurely would trigger significant tax liabilities estimated at around £14 million.
Al-Ahli would also demand more than the £40 million they paid for a permanent transfer.
The SPL club would only consider sanctioning Toney’s departure if they secured an elite-level replacement, something which could be very difficult to do in January’s limited window.
Right now, the odds are stacked against an exit for the ‘remarkable’ striker, so West Ham and Spurs may need to look elsewhere.
According to other reports, West Ham have already made contact over a deal for USG striker Promise David, who could be available for a generous £17.5 million.
Manchester United find themselves fighting to climb into the Champions League slots and now appear to be closing in on the signing of a midfielder to help their aspirations of competing with their rivals.
The Red Devils have taken time to get going this season, and Ruben Amorim has needed to face his fair share of criticism amid scrutiny when results haven’t gone in the favour of the Old Trafford outfit.
Still, a run of five Premier League matches unbeaten before the international break has been enough to restore confidence among an expectant fanbase, who appreciate that the former Sporting boss is trying to implement a complex system that will take time to fully perfect.
With Lisandro Martinez nearing a return to full fitness, Amorim was asked before his side’s clash with Everton whether the Argentinian defender could be an unlikely solution to step into the breach. However, he moved to play down any notion that he could fill the vacant hole in the engine room.
He said: “A smart, intelligent football player can play in a lot of positions, but it is not the right position for him. I feel Licha is becoming close to be ready able to play. We need to be careful, but he is clearly in a better position.”
Come January, it feels likely that Manchester United will look to find a long-term solution with Casemiro coming towards the twilight years of his career.
Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba is a long-term Red Devils’ target, albeit his £115 million valuation is likely to put their pursuit of the Cameroon international to bed.
That being said, Manchester United and INEOS could now be willing to go in a different direction as they close in on the arrival of another talent from the English top-flight.
Man Utd in advanced talks to sign Joao Gomes from Wolves
According to Trivela, Manchester United’s discussions to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes have progressed to advance stages in recent days as they look to complete a deal in January that could be worth in the region of £44 million.
The Brazilian star could put the cat among the pigeons regarding Kobbie Mainoo’s long-term future at the club if he were to come in after registering a solitary assist in 15 appearances this campaign.
Five similar players to Joao Gomes (FBRef)
Djaoui Cisse
Rennes
Thomas Partey
Villarreal
Ilaix Moriba
Celta Vigo
Junior Mwanga
Nantes
Kevin Danois
Auxerre
Rob Edwards is keen for the 24-year-old to stay in the West Midlands despite Wolves staring down the barrel at relegation to the Championship, something that a move to Old Trafford could alleviate if he were to seek a new career challenge.
Dubbed as someone who gives “everything” by Vitor Pereira, he would represent a younger upgrade on some of Amorim’s current crop in midfield, albeit it remains to be seen whether they can push a deal over the line once the window opens.
Man Utd now make approach to sign exciting gem who shone at U17 World Cup