Manchester United staff have been left "shocked, angry and upset" as Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans a brutal exodus to cut down on expenses.
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Newcastle United have moved to the front in the race to sign a soon-to-be free agent, it has been reported, with his current club failing to agree terms over a new deal with him.
After a less than ideal season for Eddie Howe's side, there are serious concerns about the Premier League's financial fair play rules heading into the summer.
As it stands, they seem likely to need to sell one of their stars before they can invest in the squad, and CEO Darren Eales only fanned those flames by admitting that it was "the nature of the beast" back in January.
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"Any decision we make will always be against the backdrop of the medium to long-term benefit for the club. It's difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that, if we're going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players", he explained. "It's just the nature of the beast."
The alternative would be to operate on a low budget this summer, with European football and the prize money that comes with it looking unlikely at present, with Eddie Howe's side stuck in 10th as things stand.
Joelinton appears likely to be sold at the last chance to cash in this summer if the club cannot extend his deal beyond 2025, while there are rumours that his midfield partner and compatriot Bruno Guimaraes, who has a £100m release clause in his contract, could be the one to make way.
But the club may have just found a solution to that particular pair of potential departures.
As per reports coming out of Italy, Newcastle are at the front of the queue for France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who is due to be out of contract with Juventus this summer as the Turin outfit struggle to tie him down to a new deal.
The ex-PSG man has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, and almost made the switch to Manchester United two summers ago, only for the deal to fall through.
Now, he could finally make his move to England, with Italian outlet Tutto Juve claiming that there are four clubs in the race for his signature. Of those, however, Newcastle and Premier League rivals Arsenal are 'the clubs most interested in signing him' this summer.
|
Rabiot vs Newcastle midfielders 23/24 |
|||
|
Adrien Rabiot |
Bruno Guimaraes |
Joelinton |
|
|
Appearances |
23 |
27 |
16 |
|
Goals and assists |
7 |
8 |
3 |
|
Pass accuracy |
82.6% |
84.9% |
83.3% |
|
Shots on target (per 90) |
0.6 |
0.34 |
0.4 |
|
Tackles and interceptions (per 90) |
2.81 |
3.04 |
3.73 |
Eddie Howe's side held talks with Rabiot's agent last month, but it had appeared as though Tottenham had moved ahead of them in the race for the Frenchman. However, the latest reports from Italy have put the Tyneside outfit firmly back in the picture.
One concern for the Magpies may be the lack of European football, with Rabiot used to playing regularly in the Champions League. However, if they could sell the Frenchman on their project it could well sway him. Better still, a return to France seems out of the question, as Rabiot has already admitted a return to Paris Saint Germain is unlikely.
"It’s [the interest] flattering on the one hand, but it remains difficult when you know how it finished", he told reporters. “You should never close any door, but that will not be my priority in any case.”
With suitors potentially few and far between for the midfielder, a hefty wage package could just swing things in Newcastle's favour this summer.
Chelsea have banished Conor Gallagher from the first-team as they attempt to find a suitor for their captain.
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As Everton continue to compete in an FFP-induced relegation battle, one eye has turned to the summer as the Toffees eye a deal for a proven Premier League talent.
As the Goodison Park faithful eagerly await news of a takeover, there is plenty of action on the transfer front as it looks like a season of change for Everton. Amadou Onana has long been linked with a move away from Merseyside with Arsenal seemingly leading the race to sign the midfielder.
Another Toffees' star possibly destined for a future beyond Goodison is Jarrad Branthwaite. The defender has been attracting interest from across Europe with the 21-year-old's recent call-up to the England national team only increasing this attention. A rumoured fee of £75million would be necessary to complete the deal with Spurs and Real Madrid among the interested parties.
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In regard to incomings, Sean Dyche looks eager to find an immediate replacement for Branthwaite with Everton linked to moves for Championship defenders Jacob Greaves and Rav van den Berg. With the Merseyside outfit clearly desperate to make improvements this summer, the club also look set to secure their first deal well before the window has opened.
As reported by TeamTalk, Everton are in pole position to complete the permanent transfer of Jack Harrison with the outlet stating that the Toffees "have negotiated a deal that allows them to make the move permanent next summer, with a price of around £20m believed to have been agreed", although there are some variables to a deal going through.
Harrison has been on loan at Everton this season after his parent club Leeds suffered relegation to the second tier at the end of the last campaign. Since arriving at Goodison Park, the 27-year-old has contributed four goals and three assists as the Toffees fight to stay in the Premier League.
|
Jack Harrison Stats Last 365 Days |
Total Per 90 |
Percentile Rank vs Comparable Wingers |
|---|---|---|
|
Non-Penalty Goals |
0.20 |
91 |
|
Assists |
0.13 |
70 |
|
Touches |
2.34 |
87 |
|
Progressive Carries |
2.71 |
92 |
Harrison's time on Merseyside has seen him earn the praise of Dyche who spoke highly of the player after he scored against Man City back in December:
“Against City I thought he was very good. I think there’s so much good to come from people like him, he’s good around the group as well and rubs off on people. He’s got a natural positivity about him.
“I think he enjoys it here, he enjoys the training and the group he’s with so that’s a good blend. That’s the kind of blend we want, players to come here, to work hard but also have professional enjoyment as I call it.”
With the financial future at Goodison still uncertain, it is arguably not the time for Everton to be taking risks in the transfer market. However, making Harrison's deal permanent could represent a major coup for the Toffees in the long run as they acquire a player who knows the side and can go on to make an impact.
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Kylian Mbappe's rejection of Real Madrid two years ago did not go down too well with fans, however, a formerly disgruntled fan now has a new message.
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The end of the 2023/24 season is rapidly approaching, and Arsenal are still very much in the Premier League title race and the hunt for an elusive Champions League.
Mikel Arteta's side have come on leaps and bounds from the team that so spectacularly fell apart around this time last year, and while they would've loved to have taken all three points from the Etihad, one point is a dramatic improvement on what happened there last season.
It was a seriously impressive team effort to keep the treble winners from scoring on the day, and while each of the starters has proven their worth to the team, there is one whose place could be in danger based on recent reports, Ben White.
According to a recent report from the Spanish publication Sport (via ESPN), Arsenal are one of several clubs set to 'battle' it out for the signature of Manchester City's full-back João Cancelo.
The report has revealed that while Barcelona would like to keep the Portuguese defender beyond his current season-long loan deal, their financial situation makes it a complex deal to complete, even though they believe the player would prefer to stay in Spain.
This is especially true as the other interested parties include several clubs from the outrageously wealthy Saudi Pro League and the Gunners, who are in a considerably more robust financial position than the Catalans.
No transfer fee has been reported as yet, and it remains to be seen just how keen the defending champions would be to deal with a direct rival.
Still, with it looking increasingly unlikely that he'll be reintroduced into the fold at the Etihad, the CIES Football Observatory has valued the defender at around €60m, which is about £51m, a price that could be seen as fair given his quality.
Now, while it might have seemed bizarre to compare these two full-backs just a few years ago, given the very different states of their respective clubs, it certainly isn't today.
White has firmly established himself as one of the best right-backs in the country this season, and while his start to the campaign was perhaps a little disappointing, he has been one of the Gunners' most important players since the turn of the year, providing three assists, scoring one goal and keeping five clean sheets in ten starts.
In all, the former Brighton & Hove ace has made 123 appearances for Arsenal – with 76 of those at right-back – in which he has scored four goals and provided nine assists, meaning he's averaged a goal involvement every 9.4 games.
In contrast, the "world-class" City star, as Julian Nagelsmann described him, has made 154 appearances for the Sky Blues, in which he has scored nine goals and provided 22 assists, giving him a slightly better average of a goal involvement every 4.9 games.
So, with the former Juventus ace having a better attacking average in English football but the Poole-born star having a more recent body of work to judge, who comes out on top regarding their underlying numbers?
|
Cancelo vs White |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats per 90 |
Cancelo |
White |
|
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists |
0.31 |
0.12 |
|
Non-Penalty Goals + Assists |
0.23 |
0.24 |
|
Progressive Passes |
5.14 |
5.51 |
|
Progressive Carries |
4.40 |
1.17 |
|
Shots on Target |
0.28 |
0.16 |
|
Pass Completion |
81.8% |
84.4% |
|
Shot-Creating Actions |
2.85 |
2.22 |
|
Goal-Creating Actions |
0.23 |
0.20 |
|
Tackles Won |
1.61 |
0.77 |
|
Blocks |
1.19 |
1.30 |
|
Tackles + Interceptions |
3.30 |
2.27 |
|
Successful Take-Ons |
2.48 |
0.24 |
|
Ball Recoveries |
6.10 |
3.52 |
|
Aerial Duels Won |
0.96 |
1.01 |
|
All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 League Season |
||
Well, once again, it's not entirely one-sided. According to FBref, both players excel in certain metrics and not in others, but overall, it is the current Barça man who comes out on top.
He produces a higher non-penalty expected goals and assists figure, significantly more progressive carries, more shots on target, more shot and goal-creating actions, wins more tackles, makes more ball recoveries and is far more successful in his take-ons.
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Ultimately, it isn't a totally one-sided comparison, and the fact that the 29-year-old can play out on the left and tends to invert means that there would be space for both players in the squad, but if Arsenal can get this deal done, they should.
Liverpool and FSG are interested in signing a "special" new defender in the summer transfer window – one who is enjoying a fantastic season for his current club.
The Reds have been linked with so many players of late, with Michael Edwards, Richard Hughes and the rest of the recruitment team this summer keen on bringing in the right players for Jurgen Klopp's replacement.
Another centre-back wouldn't go amiss, considering Joel Matip's expected departure will open up a place in the squad, and highly-rated young Juventus centre-back Dean Huijsen has emerged as a reported target. Only 18 years of age, he has already made 12 appearances in Serie A on loan at Roma this season, averaging two clearances per game.
Another hugely exciting prospect in Joao Neves has also been backed to seal a summer move to Liverpool, with the Benfica midfielder arguably one of the most impressive young players in his position in Europe currently. The 19-year-old is even more of a regular than Huijsen, featuring 27 times in the Primeira Liga in 2023/24, 22 of which have been starts.
Real Madrid star Rodrygo is another rumoured option for the Reds at the end of the season, although the European giants are reluctant to sell arguably one of their most prized players, even if Kylian Mbappe arrives from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
According to a new claim from Football Insider, Liverpool and FSG are eyeing a summer move for Jeremie Frimpong, seeing the Bayer Leverkusen ace as a "bargain" option due to a £35m release clause existing in his current contract.
Manchester United are believed to be providing competition for their rivals, however, with Arsenal also seen as potential suitors, amid strong interest from England.
|
Jeremie Frimpong's Bundesliga stats this season |
Total |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
25 |
|
Starts |
24 |
|
Goals |
8 |
|
Assists |
7 |
|
Shots per game |
1.8 |
|
Key passes per game |
1.6 |
|
Dribbles per game |
1.6 |
Frimpong is enjoying a superb season with Leverkusen, proving to be one of his side's most important players in their relentless march towards Bundesliga glory. Primarily being used as a right wing-back by Xabi Alonso, the Dutchman has eight goals and seven assists to his name in the competition since August.
His manager has been full of praise for him too: "He has a very big impact on our game. He is a very good player, but for me is even a special player. It is logical that Louis Van Gaal gives him the chance because he is a difference player."
Eventually, Liverpool are going to have to find a long-term replacement for the end product provided by Mohamed Salah, and while it would not be a like for like swap, Frimpong's production could help fill the void.
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He is a young player who has so much time to improve, and while not used as a forward at Leverkusen, he has shown that he has the attacking quality to move further up the pitch or chip in with goals and assists from the back.
Raheem Sterling has been stripped of his shirt number at Chelsea despite still being at the club, with his jersey going to a new Blues arrival.
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Liverpool boss Arne Slot buried Reds legend Jamie Carragher during an appearance on Sky Sports after sealing a Premier League win over Brentford.
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