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Leeds United are likely to have to cash in one of their big earners this summer after he admitted that he could see himself at another 'amazing' club next season.

Farke's side falter at Coventry

The Championship has been full of twists and turns this season, and it seemed set for another one when leaders Ipswich Town fell to a 1-0 defeat in the East Anglian derby on Saturday lunchtime.

It opened the door for both Leeds United and Leicester City to move into the automatic promotion spots, but while the Foxes took the opportunity with glee, Daniel Farke's side couldn't, falling to a 2-1 defeat against Coventry City to dent their promotion hopes.

Development: “Standout” Leeds star now expected to sign bumper new contract

That’s according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

By
Henry Jackson

Apr 7, 2024

The loss leaves Leicester City clear by a point atop the table, and with a game in hand on both of their rivals. Leeds, meanwhile, sit a point behind Ipswich and should they both win their remaining games, Farke's side will become the first side in Championship history to face play off action with over 90 points to their name.

In fact, they would reach 100, a landmark that in other seasons has seen them crowned champions, but this time may not even be enough for promotion.

Another season in the Championship is likely to spark wholesale squad changes, but some look set to leave irrespective of the division the Elland Road outfit find themselves in come September.

Aaronson keen on permanent exit

Now, Brenden Aaronson has revealed that he would be keen on making his loan move to Union Berlin permanent come the summer.

The USMNT star was signed by Jesse Marsch in the summer of 2022, and signed a 5 year deal worth £45,000 per week, making him one of the club's highest earners when he returns this summer.

It had previously been reported that the club were willing to cut ties with him permanently, but that has been disputed and his future still appears to be up in the air.

For Aaronson though, he seems happy to leave Elland Road should the opportunity arise to remain at Union Berlin, where he has scored twice this season and is currently trying to help them avoid relegation.

“I can see myself remaining here", he told the media. “The club is amazing. it’s not upto me at the end of the day but I have so much respect for Union, the way it has been built, the staff, it’s an amazing family club and they’ve done an amazing job.

“For me, it’s (about) making the right decision in the summer, evaluating the year and going from there. Staying is an option but I can’t say much more.”

It remains to be seen whether or not Leeds grant him his wish, which would likely see them take a major loss on the 30m euros they shelled out for him just two years ago.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could deploy a £150,000-per-week player in a "key" new tactical role after criticism, suggests journalist Charles Watts.

Arsenal dealt Premier League title blow as Man City take charge

It's been a pretty devastating last few days for Arsenal supporters, who watched their side crash out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich on Wednesday evening and relinquish control of the Premier League title race with a 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Club will allow £51m star to leave as Arsenal make approach to sign him

The Gunners’ transfer plans are in full swing.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 18, 2024

This season could end badly for Arteta and co, despite starting 2024 with real promise and boasting an imperious attacking threat on a very consistent basis. There is still hope for Arsenal to clinch a first league title in 20 years, but they will need a slip up from Man City to do so.

Nothing less than perfect from the Gunners is acceptable in this final season run-in, as Pep Guardiola's City usually hit their stride domestically at this point of the season. They'll need their star players to perform every game, like captain Martin Odegaard, with left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko's form also a topic of discussion.

Zinchenko tipped for key new Arsenal role

Reporter Watts, speaking to CaughtOffside, has hinted that Arteta could use Zinchenko in a "key" new role at Arsenal higher up the pitch following the Ukranian's shortcomings defensively.

“Some of the criticism (of Zinchenko) is justified, but some is a bit harsh in my opinion," said Watts.

"When you look at what went wrong for Arsenal on Sunday for example, I’m not really sure Zinchenko was at the heart of it. But, judging by the amount of criticism that has come his way over the past few days, you would think he was. Yes, there were a few errors of judgement in the second half, one of which could easily have been very costly. But there were also good points in the first half which could easily have led to Arsenal opening the scoring.

“And that’s always been the thing with Zinchenko – there are undeniable positives, but there are also obvious negatives. The thing is that right now, probably for the first time since he joined, the negatives are starting to outweigh the positives. Arsenal’s side has evolved at pace under Arteta. Last season Zinchenko was an essential part of it, but now his place in the starting XI is up for debate.

“I wouldn’t say we are definitely approaching the end of Zinchenko’s time at Arsenal. I still think he could have a key role to play in this squad, potentially even higher up the pitch where his defensive deficiencies could leave the team less exposed. He’s a quality footballer who is having a difficult period, but Arteta believes in him and it’s far too early to write him off as an Arsenal player.”

Romelu Lukaku scored within minutes of coming on as a substitute for Napoli, days after completing his move from Chelsea.

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• Lukaku scores 92nd minute equaliser
• Napoli then won game right at the end
• Ex-Chelsea star an instant hero

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lukaku came on as a substitue for Napoli against Parma, with Antonio Conte's side 1-0 down. The Belgium international came on just after the hour and scored in injury time to level proceedings, as he turned well in the box and rifled an effort into the bottom corner.

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  Napoli went into the game without Victor Osimhen, who has been excluded from Napoli's squad after failing to agree a move away in the summer, despite links with Saudi Arabia and Chelsea. Nevertheless, Napoli recorded a win without him, as Frank Zambo Anguissa scored a dramatic 96th-minute winner.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Lukaku has a remarkable record in Serie A. The striker has netted 71 goals in 130 games in the Italian top-flight and will be out to bolster that tally throughout this season.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Napoli play Cagliari on September 15. Lukaku will have more time to adapt to his surroundings before then as he was left out of Belgium's squad to face Israel and France in their opening two Nations League games.

The editor-in-chief of France Football has explained why Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala has not been nominated for the Ballon d'Or.

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• Musiala not recognised for starring role at Bayern Munich
• Left off of 30-man shortlist for Ballon d'Or
• Three main reasons for omission revealed

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  France Football revealed the nominees for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, which for the first time in over 20 years does not feature either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Bayern Munich's Harry Kane has been nominated, but team-mate Jamal Musiala was strangely left off the list. Chief editor Vincent Garcia has given his reasons for why he is not being recognised among the best players in Europe.

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  WHAT GARCIA SAID

  Speaking to the press, Garcia said: "In my opinion, there are three main reasons why he was not selected by the committee. First, his lack of statistics in the Champions League, where he scored as many goals as Mathys Tel, for example. That is too few for a player of his calibre.

  "He also failed to convince in important matches such as the Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid or the Euro quarter-final against Spain, where his performances were not catastrophic but rather neutral. Bayern's season, which saw them finish in the Bundesliga at its worst since 2011, did not help him either. I am sure he will return to this list in the future."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The outrage surrounding Musiala's absence from the Ballon d'Or shortlist is warranted among Germany and Bayern Munich fans who revere the 21-year-old as their brightest talent. But the 34-cap international only recorded 20 goal contributions last season compared to 32 the year before, perhaps suggesting that expectations around his performances have risen.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MUSIALA?

  Musiala will have his chance to prove to everyone on the continent that he is deserving of a place in the top 30 for the prestigious award when Germany face Hungary on Saturday evening. Julian Nagelsmann's side will then travel to the Netherlands on Tuesday for their second UEFA Nations League game in September.

Newcastle United face multiple tough decisions in the transfer market this summer, with the club needing to operate in a sensible way if they are to stay in line with the Premier League's FFP rules.

It was confirmed earlier this year the Magpies announced losses of £73.4m for the previous financial year, with the club having to rely on outgoings before strengthening the squad.

Bruno Guimaraes has a £100m release clause, as stated by journalist Fabrizio Romano, attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal ahead of the summer as they try to strengthen once more under Mikel Arteta.

The Brazilian has been a superb addition by the Saudi PIF since his £40m move to St James' Park from Lyon during the January transfer window back in 2022.

The 26-year-old would raise the club a huge sum, showcasing sensational business should they receive the rumoured fee for his services.

However, they would be losing arguably one of their best players, with Howe needing to prioritise offloading one player to help the Magpies avoid any FFP punishments.

Joe Willock's stats in 2023/24

After scoring eight goals in 14 games on loan during the 2020/21, Newcastle – then under the management of Steve Bruce – decided to pay £25m for the signing of midfielder Joe Willock from Arsenal.

However, since his permanent move to Tyneside, the 24-year-old has failed to replicate his sensational form from his loan spell, only managing to score six Premier League goals in his last 73 top-flight outings.

This season has easily been his worst for the club, only managing to feature nine times in the league, starting on just five occasions – in a campaign that has been riddled with injuries.

He's suffered three separate issues during the course of the 2023/24 campaign, with the setbacks seeing the former England youth international miss the majority of the Premier League season.

Willock has missed a combined 38 matches across all competitions, with hamstring and achilles issues restricting the former Arsenal man to limited minutes.

The midfielder also earns a huge weekly wage, a figure that is way too high given his recent lack of impact and injuries at St James' Park.

Joe Willock's wage at Newcastle

Despite the club's recent financial worries, Willock earns a reported £80k-per-week on Tyneside, as per Salary Sport – a figure that is £40k-per-week more than youngster Lewis Hall, for instance.

Since his permanent move to the club, the 24-year-old has pocketed £12.4m in wages alone, with his huge weekly incoming not reflected by his on-field performances in recent years.

When coupling his wage with his £25m transfer fee, the former Arsenal man has cost the club £37.4m in less than three seasons at the club – a ridiculous amount and one the club need to shift.

It's an unfortunate period for the midfielder, especially given his recent injury woes, but ultimately, he's not produced anything of note when featuring under Howe in the last couple of seasons.

There's no denying that his brilliant loan form under Bruce warranted a permanent switch to St James', but he's failed to replicate those heroics in the years since.

Given the club's need to raise funds this summer, Willock may find himself on the move once more, but if the Magpies are to sell the talent they may have to be prepared to make a loss on the fee they paid for him less than three years ago.

Freedman could strike gold by immediately axing £110k-p/w Newcastle trio

He’s been linked with replacing Dan Ashworth at St James’ Park this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 26, 2024

By this stage of the season, many expected Wolverhampton Wanderers to be fighting for their Premier League status under Gary O'Neil, but the reality is anything but the case. Instead, the Midlands side are sitting comfortable in mid-table with one eye already on landing an exciting summer target.

Wolves transfer news

Their success could yet come at a cost, with players such as Pedro Neto and Rayan Ait-Nouri stealing the headlines in recent months. Reports suggest that the likes of Arsenal are interested in signing the former, who has set the Premier League alight when fit as an impressive standout for Wolves.

Meanwhile, Ait-Nouri has also been linked with a move to Arsenal in what would be another blow for O'Neil and his side. The wing-back has been an unexpected star this season and has more than earned such links, but that doesn't mean that Wolves won't want to do everything they can to keep hold of him. That said, it's not just departure news dominating the headlines for Wolves.

According to recent reports, Wolves are interested in signing Justin Njinmah, who has starred at times for Werder Bremen this season. The right-winger, who can play anywhere along the front three, could be the man to replace Neto if that is needed in the Midlands this summer, but it won't be an easy deal to pull off.

Werder Bremen's head of first team football Clemens Fritz recently spoke about the winger's future in a report that specifically name-checks Wolves, appearing to admit the interest in one of his star players, but reinforcing their desire to tie him down to a new deal: “(We will) intensify discussions with the player at the appropriate time.

"It is clear to us that we will plan normally with Justin next season. Basically, he still has a contract. Justin has had a good season so far. It’s normal that one or another club is interested.”

"Interesting" Njinmah can ease Neto blow

Whilst Wolves will want to do everything to keep hold of Neto this summer, it may not be enough to fend off interest in such an impressive player, but welcoming Njinmah would certainly help to ease that blow. The 23-year-old has shown glimpses of his potential in the Bundesliga, scoring six goals and assisting a further two in just 24 appearances with just ten of those being starts.

What's more, the Werder Bremen man has earned plenty of praise as a result of those numbers, including from Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, who described Njinmah as "one of the most interesting wingers in the Bundesliga".

So when the summer transfer window swings open, whilst there will be a battle in negotiations, Wolves should look towards Njinmah to ease any blow caused by Neto's potential exit and land a player who would instantly fill that void under O'Neil.

Matthijs de Ligt scored his first Manchester United goal against Southampton just minutes after Andre Onana saved a penalty at the other end.

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• De Ligt scores first goal
• Heads home Fernandes cross
• Onana saved a penalty

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Ligt opened the scoring for United at St Mary's against Southampton, as he headed home a brilliant cross from Fernandes. The ball bounced beyond goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and the goal came just minutes after Andre Onana denied Cameron Archer from the spot to keep United level.

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  Southampton had been on top before missing their penalty, but found themselves 2-0 down at half-time as Marcus Rashford added another for the visitors. The winger, who has struggled for form in recent months, cut in off the left and curled a strike into the bottom corner.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  United play Barnsley in the League Cup at Old Trafford on Tuesday. They will then face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League next weekend.

Nearly three years after Raphael Varane announced himself as a new Manchester United player at Old Trafford, the French defender will be embarking on a new adventure.

The World Cup winner announced this week that he would be leaving the Red Devils at the end of the campaign, posting a video across his social media accounts.

During his time in the Premier League, the centre-back made 93 appearances for United, with 30 of those coming this campaign.

However, because of his never-ending injury cycle, it’s the right time to let the 31-year-old depart, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is already eyeing up the perfect replacement for Varane.

Man Utd’s search for a Varane replacement

According to a recent report from GiveMeSport, Man United are plotting a move to sign the extremely highly-rated Leny Yoro from Lille.

The youngster has been absolutely immense for the Ligue 1 side this campaign, which has attracted the interest of Real Madrid in particular.

The French club have set the defender’s valuation at £52m, which could put the Spanish giant off and hand a window of opportunity to the Red Devils.

Jarrad Branthwaite has become the other notable defensive target for United, but if Madrid do not progress with their approach for Yoro, Ineos’ attention could switch to the French ace.

Yoro would be the perfect Varane replacement

It’s a well-known fact that the centre-back spot at Man United this season has become a problem position for Erik ten Hag.

Despite starting the season with six central defenders, fast forward to the last few weeks, and they’ve had just one fit player who operates in that role by trade – a veteran Jonny Evans.

Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, and, of course, Varane, have all been absent due to injuries as of late, which has forced the boss into experimenting with Casemiro at the back.

Therefore, it’s no surprise to see that Ratcliffe is desperate to sign a reliable player like Yoro, who’s only missed one game all campaign.

Nonetheless, as you can see from the table above, the 18-year-old has truly cemented himself as a key player for Lille and one of the biggest defensive prospects in Europe.

Over his 29 Ligue 1 starts, the number 15 has mainly become known for his fantastic technical ability, as highlighted by his touches, pass accuracy, and passes completed, which are all superior to Varane’s from this season.

Yoro also seems to be slightly more aggressive and proactive than Varane, hence his higher tackles and interceptions, but they both rank similarly in duels won % and dribbled past, which is remarkable considering the former Real Madrid ace has 13 years of extra experience on his side.

Furthermore, although the statistics suggest that he’s very similar to Varane, he’s also been labelled a “young [William] Saliba” by football analyst Ben Mattinson.

The analyst refers to the likeness of the two in regards to his “dominance” and “always being in control," while he further says that he’s an “elite potential CB” who can become “a potential all-timer" – a promising comparison considering that Saliba has formed part of the best defence in the division this season, conceding just 28 goals.

Overall, it’s clear that Man United have to move for Yoro this summer, and even at £52m, he has the potential to be an absolute bargain considering his quality and potential.

Ten Hag could save Casemiro’s Man Utd career by unleashing a “diamond"

The Man United star has been described as a “leader” by Erik ten Hag.

By
Tom Lever

May 15, 2024

Ange Postecoglou is surprised to see criticism over his 'always win things in second year' comment after derby defeat.

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• Postecoglou's comment drew criticism
• Australian claimed he said the truth
• Spurs went down 1-0 in North London derby

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur are off to a disappointing start in the 2024/25 campaign having secured just four points from as many games in the Premier League. Last Sunday, Spurs suffered a 1-0 defeat against arch-rivals Arsenal in the North London derby which sent the club down to the 13th position on the league table.

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  After the derby loss, the Australian manager told Sky Sports, "I'll correct myself – I don't usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing's changed." The remark has not gone down well with the fanbase who criticised the coach for the arrogant comment right after a defeat at the hands of their fierce rivals.

• WHAT ANGE POSTECOGLOU SAID

  On Tuesday, while addressing the media in a pre-match press conference, the Spurs boss defended his remark as he said, "It's amazing, isn't it? I just stated a fact. Am I supposed to just lie or just say it never happened? But do you really think it's me sort of boasting? It's just confusing to me that people are making a big deal out of something. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to answer something that is true. I've just said something that's true, and it seems like it's upset a lot of people for some reason."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TOTTENHAM?

  The Lilywhites will now aim to get back to winning ways as they take on Championship side Coventry City in round three of the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

Erik ten Hag has insisted that Manchester United can defend "very well", despite their wild 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League.

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• Manchester United draw 3-3 against Porto
• Conceded three in three games this season
• Ten Hag claims Mna Utd can 'defend very well'

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United's poor defensive performances have been a huge concern, as they drew 3-3 with Porto in the Europa League on Thursday. The Red Devils needed an injury-time equaliser from Harry Maguire to take home a point in a game that came on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at the weekend. United have now conceded three goals three times this season.

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• WHAT TEN HAG SAID

  Speaking to the media, Ten Hag said: "We started the game very good, we dominated, scored two goals then we lost control. The start was good, the middle was not good then we finished very good. It's a tough place to go, we're coming back from 3-2 and get the equaliser. The team has a strong character, but the middle part we have to improve.

  "We need to be better on the ball, keep switching. We had good players, a good plan. We have to defend better. We had three clean sheets not a long time ago so we can defend very good, but we have to go back to those habits."

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  Manchester United have only won three times in 10 games so far this season and Ten Hag's job at Old Trafford could not be any more under threat. After United's 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, reports had suggested that INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe had afforded the Dutchman the matches against Porto and Aston Villa to improve results. However, the disappointing draw in Portugal has now left Ten Hag hanging by a thread.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR TEN HAG?

  If reports are to be believed Manchester United's clash with Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday, October 6 could be a pivotal clash as a draw or a loss could end up seeing Ten Hag sacked less than two months after the season's start.