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Victor Osimhen has been excluded from Napoli squad for the 2024-25 Serie A season as his shirt number has been handed over to Romelu Lukaku.

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• Osimhen out of Napoli squad
• Shirt number handed over to Lukaku
• Failed to complete a transfer to Al-Ahli on deadline day

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Nigerian forward failed to get out of Napoli before the summer transfer window closed on Friday as his reported move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli collapsed at the last moment on the deadline day after the Italian side demanded an extra €5million (£4m/$5.5m) on top of the €80m (£67m/$88m) that was offered, according to Sky Sports in Italy. Had the deal gone through, Osimhen would have earned €40 million (£33.7m/$44.3m) per season for four years, however, it did not materialise as he stayed back at Napoli.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After seeing his proposed transfer fall apart, Osimhen and his agent reportedly reacted angrily, with the latter making furious phone calls to club president Aurelio De Laurentiis and sporting director Giovanni Manna. The entire episode has destroyed the relationship between the club and the striker and he has now been excluded from Antonio Conte's squad for the 2024-25 season Serie A season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  With Romelu Lukaku already having arrived to take his place at the Serie A side, the Belgian has now been handed the No.9 shirt which was previously worn by Osimhen.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VICTOR OSIMHEN?

  The 25-year-old is now stuck in limbo with no transfer on the horizon and Conte apparently prepared to leave him frozen out of the team. Gli Azzurri will be next seen in action on Saturday as they take on Parma in a league clash.

Manchester United are now reportedly interested in bringing a "very special" manager to Old Trafford this summer, with Erik ten Hag's days looking numbered.

Man Utd manager latest

The Red Devils won 4-2 at home to Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday night, but that hasn't done enough to swell the current feeling of negativity at the club. United may be getting some positive results at the moment, but the performances are consistently unconvincing and a change of manager could be needed.

It remains to be seen what Sir Jim Ratcliffe's decision will be regarding Ten Hag at the end of the season, but various names have been thrown into the hat when it comes to finding a potential successor for the Dutchman this summer.

Graham Potter has recently emerged as a "leading candidate", as the Englishman looks to get back into management after his disappointing stint at Chelsea, while Zinedine Zidane has also been linked with coming in, having famously won the Champions League three times in charge of Real Madrid.

United are also believed to have made contact with Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel regarding the job, with Ratcliffe an admirer of the German. He is currently preparing his side for a Champions League semi-final showdown with Madrid.

Man Utd eyeing "very special" manager

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United see Girona manager Michel as an option to replace Ten Hag this summer, having shone with the La Liga side this season. While the 48-year-old appears to be committed to his former club for the time being, big clubs are circling for his signature, including the Red Devils.

The report also mentions that he is part of a six-man shortlist that also includes Potter, Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Roberto De Zerbi and Thiago Motta.

Michel stands out as a very interesting option for United this summer, having worked wonders at Girona this season, guiding them to third place in La Liga and only two points behind second-place Barcelona, which seemed fairly unthinkable at the start of the campaign.

Former United defender Daley Blind currently plays under the Spaniard at Girona and has waxed lyrical over his boss, saying back in November: “I don’t want to compare [to others] but, for me, he’s a manager who is human, who connects on a personal level as well.

"He joins in the rondo [training game of keep-ball] and is part of the guys; at the moment training really starts he’s then really on top of it and not holding back. He expects every training [session] to be the best but there’s always time for a joke here and there. He has a good connection with every player – that’s very special."

Michel predominantly plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, in what has been described as a "bold, front-footed" style of play, and this could appeal greatly to United supporters, bringing entertainment to Old Trafford and more chance of big trophies.

Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are thought to be ready to part ways with one of their biggest earners this summer, in a shock twist.

Kai Havertz form is bad news for Arsenal teammate

After a rough start to his career in north London, Kai Havertz has become a key player for Arsenal since his move from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

He headed home his 12th goal of the season against Tottenham, and has made the centre-forward position his own in recent months.

But not everyone will be enjoying his success.

His performances have had a knock-on effect at the Emirates Stadium, and it could spell bad news for one member of Arteta's squad.

Jesus up for sale

Reports have claimed that Arsenal are willing to listen to offers for Gabriel Jesus this summer, just two years after arriving from Manchester City, as they weigh up signing another striker.

The Brazilian has struggled with a knee injury picked up last season, which has restricted him to just 17 Premier League starts this term, and he was an unused substitute in the recent 3-2 win over Spurs.

And as per The Athletic, concerns over finishing and injuries have meant that "Arsenal would be prepared to listen" if an offer were to be made for the 27-year-old this summer.

It was just 18 months ago that he was being hailed as the gamechanger Arsenal desperately needed following a bright start to life in north London.

“Jesus is already a huge part of what Arsenal are about now – it’s not just his goals and creativity that make him so important to them, it’s his relentless energy and willingness to run in behind defences, too,” Alan Shearer said.

“He’s the gamechanger for Arsenal. He’s the one who sets the tone from the front. Defenders hate players who are prepared to run in behind, he does that."

“He’s the one who starts the press. You see his movement and his ability, too. He could have had two or three goals, actually. He’s made a huge difference to that team.”

It is added that at this time, "a prospective suitor has yet to emerge", likely in no small part due to Jesus' hefty contract in north London that sees him take home around £265,000 per week, and "there remains a chance" that he stays this summer.

But in a move that is perhaps related, technical director Edu Gaspar travelled to Saudi Arabia last week, where he has "begun the process of courting clubs who could help Arsenal offload players deemed dispensable".

Arsenal hit the jackpot on "sensational" star who's worth the same as Rice

He has been a key man at the Emirates Stadium this season.

By
Joe Nuttall

May 1, 2024

Of course, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a potential destination for Premier League cast-offs in the last 12 months, with Chelsea selling Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy to Al-Hilal and Al-Ahli respectively last summer.

Meanwhile, N'Golo Kante's free transfer to fellow Saudi side Al-Ittihad sees him pocket a reported £410,000 per week, making it one of few places that may be able to match Jesus' own demands, or even exceed them.

With Jesus no longer a guaranteed starter following the emergence of Havertz, and not available often enough to be relied on as a backup, exploring a sale makes sense for the Gunners, even if the Brazilian still has undeniable talent.

Jesse Lingard is disgusted with his FC 25 ratings, with the former Manchester United and England star telling EA Sports that “we need to talk, asap”.

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• Ex-Red Devils star now in South Korea
• Looking to rediscover a lost spark
• Disappointing with latest EA FC card

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 31-year-old playmaker is now plying his trade in South Korea for FC Seoul, having headed to the Far East in February after spending several months as a free agent. Lingard played in the Premier League for United, West Ham and Nottingham Forest, but has stepped well outside of his comfort zone.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  An early injury stunted his progress in Seoul, but the goals have started to flow for Lingard of late. His efforts have seemingly not been enough to catch the eye of gaming manufacturers, with the ex-Red Devils midfielder not even the highest-rated player at his club.

• WHAT LINGARD SAID

  Lingard could make peace with that, as he looks to rebuild his career and reputation, but he is fuming to discover that his pace score is lower than that of defensive team-mates. Lingard has posted on Instagram, alongside a screenshot of FC Seoul’s top-rated stars: “Nah FIFA we need to talk, asap! Defender quicker?”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Lingard, who has 32 senior international caps to his name, is far from being the only player to air disappointment at their EA FC grades. Even the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are heading backwards, with Erling Haaland, Rodri, Kylian Mbappe and Aitana Bonmati topping the charts with overall ratings of 91.

Still battling to finish inside the Premier League's Europa League places to salvage what has been a disappointing season compared to the last campaign, Newcastle United will hope to use European football to lure a bargain deal to St James' Park this summer.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies shocked the rest of the Premier League last season by qualifying for the Champions League and finishing inside the top four. Since then, however, they have been brought back down to reality in a frustrating campaign full of injuries and the type of inconsistency that should urge them into action in the summer transfer window.

Howe must now unleash Hall and Newcastle's "monster" talent

The Magpies are looking to return to winning ways at St James’ Park on Saturday.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 27, 2024

With that said, Newastle have already been linked with the likes of Lorenzo Pirola and Ousmane Diomande in two deals to bolster Eddie Howe's backline. As things stand, the former Bournemouth boss will be left scratching his head for options without Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles at the start of next season after both suffered untimely ACL injuries, but will hope to see the transfer market solve that problem.

Away from the backline, meanwhile, the Magpies could also land a vital midfield reinforcement. According to reports in Spain, Newcastle have expressed interest in signing Wilfred Ndidi in a free deal this summer. The Leicester City man is set to leave the Foxes at the end of the season upon the expiry of his current contract and has instantly become a player in demand, with Newcastle, Aston Villa and West Ham United all reportedly making initial contact to make their interest known.

A player with plenty of Premier League experience and even some experience in the Champions League, Ndidi is the calibre of player that those at St James' Park should be targeting. Given that he will be a free agent too, Newcastle wouldn't be running the risk of crossing the line when it comes to profit and sustainability rules.

"Incredible" Ndidi can unleash Guimaraes

As impressive as Bruno Guimaraes has been this season, he still has plenty of defensive responsibility in the absence of a top level defensive midfielder. And that's where Ndidi could arrive to unleash the attacking talents of the Brazilian in full. Ndidi has helped do the same with James Maddison in the past and would perform a similar job for a more all round player in Guimaraes, especially compared to Sean Longstaff.

Ndidi has proven himself in the Premier League's top half in the past, earning praise from former Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers in the process: "He is an incredible player. The offensive players get the credit but he does the dirty work. He has this brain for the game, where he can smell danger and always finds himself there. The timing of his challenge is very good and he's up there with the top players at winning the ball back."

Now, it could be Newcastle who are left benefitting from the Nigerian's work in what would be a bargain deal this summer.

Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus wants to delay Neymar's return from injury until January so he can register all of his foreign players in the squad.

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• Neymar dealing with long-term knee injury
• Recently suffered setback
• Al-Hilal keen to delay return until January

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Neymar's ACL injury has meant very few Saudi Pro League fans have been able to see him play since the Brazilian joined Al-Hilal just over a year ago. Now, the 32-year-old may be sidelined until January with head coach Jorge Jesus keen to register all of his foreign players, which according to , he can just about do if he does not include Neymar.

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  The SPL allow each team to have eight foreign player slots, but Al-Hilal have nine including the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star. But with Neymar not expected to return to training until November, he is only likely going to be able to play two or three games before the winter break in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, Jesus would prefer to register summer signing Renan Lodi instead, and revisit the issue in January when his star forward is fully back up to speed.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Neymar has missed over 50 games for Al-Hilal since signing a mega deal with the club. The 128-cap Brazil international made just three SPL appearances in 2023-24 before picking up the catastrophic knee injury.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR AND AL-HILAL?

  Al-Hilal comfortably claimed the league title last term, beating Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr by 14 points. They have started the new campaign well too, picking up six points from six. Even without Neymar, they remain the team to beat in Saudi Arabia.

Tottenham Hotspur have made contact to sign a £56 million star this summer, coming after claims that manager Ange Postecoglou thinks he'd fit in "seamlessly" at Spurs.

Attackers eyed with Spurs ready to back Postecoglou this summer

A report by The Times this week claimed Postecoglou is set to be backed by Tottenham in the transfer market this summer, with the same source also stating that they want to bring in a new forward, centre-back and midfielder.

Reply received as Tottenham make offer for "special" £47,000-per-week ace

The Lilywhites have moved quickly.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 9, 2024

This comes after the Lilywhites head coach admitted that his club need to implement serious change, as he hints that many players could also be moved on and the journey is "not for everyone".

"We need change. Change has to happen," Postecoglou said on the future at Spurs.

"You can’t want to alter your course and expect the same people are going to be on that. It’s just not going to happen. We’ve had two windows and we’ve had some development of players, for sure, but when I say we’ve still got a long way to go, that’s what I’m talking about.

"It’s impossible to say you’re going to have drastic change and yet expect everyone to be on that journey. It’s not for the want of trying. It’s just that we’re going to play a certain way, we’re going to train a certain way and we’re going to have a certain mindset. And that’s not for everyone."

Postecoglou also makes a Spurs comparison to Arsenal and Liverpool, who both looked almost unrecognisable from the teams they were when they started to have success in the Premier League.

Going by Tottenham's disappointing end to 2023/2024, despite such a promising start, it's evident that they need to reinforce key areas. Technical director Johan Lange is believed to have his eyes on new attackers for Spurs, and one interesting player they've been linked with is RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo.

The Spaniard, who's racked up four goals and five assists in 21 Bundesliga appearances this term, has a glowing reputation and pundit Paul Robinson has praised Spurs for targeting Olmo.

“I think he’s a good player and has attracted a lot of Premier League interest," said Robinson to Tottenham News.

"If Tottenham are in for players like that, that can only be a good thing. You can’t question the Spurs recruitment."

Tottenham make contact to sign Olmo who Ange thinks is perfect

According to a report by Sport Bild, as relayed by Sport Witness this week, Tottenham are one of the clubs who've already been in contact over signing Olmo – who is thought of as a potential bargain despite being valued at around £56 million.

Interestingly, Postecoglou is also a huge fan of Olmo, and believes he'd fit "seamlessly" into his Spurs system – as per GiveMeSport.

Michael Olise and Harry Kane starred as Bayern Munich ran riot against Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

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• Olise netted a brace
• Kane broke Sancho's record
• Bayern score win 5-0

• TELL ME MORE

  Bayern Munich were dealt a major injury setback moments before kick-off as Manuel Neuer felt some discomfort in his thigh during warm-up. Vincent Kompany immediately replaced the veteran goalkeeper with Sven Ulreich in the starting lineup.

  The visitors broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute through Olise's strike, who converted a simple tap-in from Kane's assist. Nine minutes later, the former Crystal Palace star set up Jamal Musiala after a brilliant solo effort inside the Werder Bremen penalty box. Olise cut in from the right side and then dribbled past three defenders before squaring the ball towards Musiala in front of goal and the German doubled the team's lead.

  Kane got his name on the scoresheet within 12 minutes from the start of the second half as he scored a milestone goal from Olise's assist. The forward became the highest-scoring English player in the league's history, surpassing Jadon Sancho's tally of 40 goals.

  In the next eight minutes, Olise completed his brace while Gnabry netted a fifth goal as Kompany's side registered their 20th goal across all competitions in the past seven days, taking their overall tally to 29 goals after just six matches into the 2024-25 season.

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  THE MVP

  New Bayern signing Olise stole the show with a double and a couple of assists as he spearheaded the team's dominant performance. The 22-year-old has taken German football by storm having already scored five times in six appearances across all competitions.

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  THE BIG LOSER

  Bremen's defenders had a forgetful outing on Saturday as they were unable to contain the lethal Bayern attackers who have now scored 20 goals in the last seven days. The backline looked clueless, especially in the second half where they got toyed by the Kane-led attack.

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  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  With four consecutive wins in the Bundesliga, Kompany's men will be next seen in action against reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen in a league clash on September 28.

Carlo Ancelotti provided a promising update on Kylian Mbappe's thigh injury ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League clash against Lille.

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• Mbappe got injured against Alaves
• Was expected to be back in late October
• Could get some minutes against Lille

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The French forward, who suffered a thigh injury during Real's 3-2 victory over Alaves in La Liga, was initially expected to miss up to three weeks of action. However, in an encouraging turn of events, Mbappe has been included in the squad for the upcoming midweek European clash after making a rapid recovery.

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  Ancelotti confirmed that a final decision regarding Mbappe's participation would be made after assessing his performance in training. The forward completed Tuesday’s session successfully, but Ancelotti stressed that Madrid would exercise caution and not rush the player back into action unnecessarily.

• WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

  “Mbappe has recovered well, very quickly,” Ancelotti told reporters. “Only yesterday he trained individually. He didn’t stop for long and he hasn’t lost his condition. Today (Tuesday) he will train the whole training session. We will make the most appropriate decision today, bearing in mind that we are not going to take any risks.

  “He has had an overload. They’re talking about (a) grade I (hamstring injury). In the old days, it was an overload. With the new technology, he’s fine. He’s here to play. We’re not going to take any risks. Obviously, if there is no risk, he will play from the first minute.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Interestingly, Lille is also the club where his younger brother, Ethan Mbappe, plies his trade. Unfortunately, the 17-year-old Ethan is sidelined for several weeks with a muscle injury, delaying any potential opportunity for the two brothers to face off on the pitch.

Journalist Christian Falk has provided a significant update regarding Manchester United's interest in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko this summer.

Man Utd links to Sesko

Rasmus Hojlund has had an up-and-down first season in a Red Devils shirt, showing clear signs of vast potential but also still looking like a raw young player who shouldn't be leading the line every week in the Premier League.

For that reason, it could be that United target another striker once the summer transfer window opens, in order to ease the burden on the Norwegian, who has scored 15 goals in 41 appearances to date.

Sesko has emerged as a strong choice to head to the Red Devils in the coming months, being linked with a move to United and being considered one of Europe's most impressive young attackers currently.

The 20-year-old's agent has even been seen at Old Trafford recently, and the constant rumours suggest that he is a genuine target this summer.

Bundesliga journalist shares new update

Speaking to Caught Offside, Falk claimed that Manchester United are on the chase for Sesko, despite his release clause increasing, revealing it is the Red Devils and Arsenal who are "particularly interested":

"Benjamin Sesko is the hottest Bundesliga stock in England at the moment. Arsenal FC and Manchester United are particularly interested in the striker. In Leipzig they say: Sesko is physically even stronger than Erling Haaland (Manchester City). Both strikers were trained at Red Bull Salzburg. Like Haaland, Sesko also demanded an exit clause for a move to the Bundesliga.

"This clause amounted to €50m. But due to his strong performances and many appearances, the clause has now been increased to €75m for this summer. Arsenal and United now know what they have to put on the table for Sesko. Sesko’s advisor has already appeared in the stands at a United game. That’s part of his game. He has also had his picture taken in the stands at an AC Milan game. Milan are also interested in Sesko."

Sesko should be seen as a leading option to add to United's attack in the summer window, and while he is also young like Hojlund, having both in the squad would allow them to take the pressure off each other, as well as provide healthy competition for one another.

The Slovenia international has so much potential as a player – Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell has heaped praise on him: "Benjamin Sesko is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player. He has all the qualities to do that. He’s extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air. Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6'4") is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile."

At 21 and 20 years of age respectively, Hojlund and Sesko could represent the long-term future of United's attack, and while both are still learning as players, the thought of having them both as options is a mouthwatering prospect.