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Report: Manchester United defender on verge of joining Bundesliga giants for just £1.5m
Manchester United defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah is close to making the move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester Evening News reports. The Netherlands international made his Red Devils debut more than four years ago, but he has not been able to establish himself with only 30 appearances in all competitions. The 23-year-old has had a tough time with injuries and missed nearly 11 months of action between 2019 and 2020 with a cruciate ligament damage. Fosu-Mensah started two of the club’s final three league games last season, but he has found himself down the selection order this term. The Dutchman has played the solitary game in the league while he has made only two substitute appearances in other competitions. With his contract expiring in the summer, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ...
Liverpool move for Upamecano “absolutely impossible”
Transfer window specialist Fabrizio Romano has ruled out the possibility of Liverpool signing RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano in the current January transfer window. Upamecano joined Die Roten Bullen in the January window of 2017 from RB Salzburg. He has since become one of the world’s most sought after youngsters, garnering plenty of attention for his performances in last season’s Champions League campaign as his side reached the semi-finals. Upamecano competes with Thomas Muller for the ball The Frenchman has been strongly linked with a move away from the Red Bull Arena, with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United among many rumoured to be interested in the centre-back. Meanwhile, Liverpool have been in the hunt for a central defender following this season’s injury crisis. Virgil...
‘We’re a laughing stalk’: Many Celtic fans react to Chris Sutton’s latest Twitter post
Celtic are facing a quarantine crisis ahead of their Scottish Premiership match against Hibernian. As many as 13 players have been asked to self-isolate after Celtic defender Christopher Jullien has been tested positive for coronavirus. Julien, who travelled with the Celtic squad for their trip to Dubai, has tested positive for Covid-19 on the squad’s return. To carry on during the pandemic, football needs humility and self-awareness. Read this several times and can’t find an ounce. https://t.co/SNb9redhQl — Jonathan Northcroft (@JNorthcroft) January 11, 2021 The Celtic defender has been told to isolate. At the same time, the Scottish government has asked all travellers who had returned from Dubai since January 3 to self-isolate as well. Celtic have a big squad and pro...
‘There’s a possibility’: PL manager leaves door ajar for Leeds to sign £14k/wk player on loan
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has hinted that Fikayo Tomori could leave the club on loan during the January transfer window. Tomori – who came on for the final 10 minutes in the Blues’ FA Cup win against Morecambe – has struggled for game time this season, and he could be loaned out. The 23-year-old has made just one Premier League appearance this season, and his future has been a talking point for a while now, with Leeds United and Newcastle United being linked with a move. Earlier this month, BBC Sport claimed that Leeds are emerging as a ‘likely destination’ for Tomori. Leeds are fragile at the back following injuries to Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Liam Cooper, and a new defender in January on loan could be a smart move. However, the likes of Phil Hay and Graham Smyth – journali...
Steven Gerrard raves about three Rangers players who were ‘dangerous’ vs Aberdeen
Rangers boss Steven Steven was full of praise for his attacking midfielders after the Ibrox side beat 10-man Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday. The Gers have now made it 15 league wins in a row as they bid to win their first top-flight title since 2011. Alfredo Morelos scored a brace – on either half – as Rangers move 22 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. Morelos’ second goal came from an assist from Ryan Kent, and Gerrard was heavily impressed with all of his attacking players on Sunday afternoon. “Joe Lewis has made an excellent save from Ryan Kent as well so we have had some other real, big moments in the game, and to come here and create what we did is really pleasing,” said Gerrard to the club’s official website. “But our attacking players were c...
‘I was a disgrace’: Celtic player has made bold admission, makes Rangers title claim
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths has suggested that it would be a ‘big ask’ of them to catch Rangers at the moment. However, he feels there’s a lot of football left to be played this season, and that they can ‘claw it back bit by bit’ and challenge the Ibrox club for the title. Rangers have been outstanding this season, and have now won 15 league games in a row. The Gers now have moved 22 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, but Griffiths feels that they can reduce the gap. “Hopefully history repeats itself. We were in a difficult place last year but we came back and blew everyone away,” said Griffiths to Daily Record. “It’s a big ask with the sizable lead Rangers have. “But there’s no doubt in my mind we can claw it back bit by bit. There’s a lot of foo...
Report: Spurs in talks to sign £27m Leeds striking target
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Tottenham Hotspur have held recent discussions to sign Stuttgart winger Nicolas Gonzalez ahead of the summer transfer window, but all talks are at a preliminary stage at the moment. Juventus are also keen on the Argentine, while Leeds United were one of the teams linked with him during the transfer window last summer. Gonzalez helped Stuttgart seal promotion from the Bundesliga 2 last term, bagging 14 goals and three assists in 27 games, and his impressive form has continued in the German top-flight, with five goals and two assists to his name in 10 league games so far. With no release clause in his new deal, Stuttgart would be seeking a fee in the region of £27 million, and that shouldn’t be a problem for Spurs and co. Tottenham head coach Jose ...
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provides fresh update on Eric Bailly after Watford clash
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has provided a fitness update on Eric Bailly following the club’s 1-0 win over Watford in the FA Cup third round. The Ivory Coast international has recently put up a string of impressive displays and was handed a starting spot on Saturday where Solskjaer made numerous changes. The centre-back had a comfortable opening half, but he was substituted prior to the interval after he received a nasty blow to his neck. United goalkeeper Dean Henderson punched a cross from a Hornets corner, but while doing so, Bailly was accidentally kneed by him on the neck. It was initially suggested that there may be concussion but, speaking after the game, Solskjaer insisted that was not the case. He added that the Ivorian had a sore neck and will be assessed ahead...
‘Incredible’, ‘Saved us’: Some Arsenal fans praise 28-year-old star after Newcastle United win
A selection of Arsenal fans on Twitter have heaped praise on goalkeeper Bernd Leno following his impressive display in the 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round. The Gunners had a testing challenge at the Emirates Stadium, but they managed to eventually prevail after goals from Emile Smith Rowe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the second half of added extra-time. However, the north London giants could have quite easily lost the game in the final minutes of normal time, had it not been for the goalkeeping heroics of Leno, who denied Andy Carroll from close range. Carroll found himself in acres of space to shoot on goal, but Leno denied him with a terrific save at the near post with his left arm. He got up instantly to divert the rebound from the striker’s foot and dived to...
Report: West Brom looking to sign Aston Villa target on a free transfer
West Bromwich Albion are looking to sign Rennes midfielder Clement Grenier on a free transfer this month, a report from Football Insider claims. The Baggies are aiming to bolster their squad this month and they have already landed the services of Robert Snodgrass on a permanent basis from West Ham United. It is now reported that they are interested in signing Grenier, who has under six months left on his contract with Rennes. The France international has been in-and-out of the lineup at Rennes this term and he has started just seven of his 14 appearances. Grenier has recently found form with two goals and one assist in the last four games, but he has still been tipped to head through the exit door. Rennes are reportedly experiencing financial concerns with their reduced revenue amid the ou...
Report: Hammers plotting move for striker that destroyed Liverpool 11 months ago
According to The Sun, West Ham United want to sign Watford striker Ismaila Sarr before the end of this month and are ready to part with £30 million for his signature. Manager David Moyes needs attacking reinforcements after Ivory Coast international striker Sebastian Haller left for Ajax on Friday, and the Senegalese has been identified as one of his potential replacements. Sarr scored five goals and assisted four others in 28 Premier League games for Watford last term, but they weren’t enough to stop his side from going down. The 22-year-old was linked with Liverpool and Manchester United during the summer transfer window, and Crystal Palace also saw a £25 million bid plus extras rejected for him on the last day of the window. West Ham are now looking to test Watford’s resolve with an imp...
Report: Everton in talks to land striker who was close to sealing Man Utd move
According to The Sun, Everton and English Championship outfit Bournemouth are talking about a swap deal that will see Norwegian striker Joshua King move to Goodison Park before the end of the January transfer window. The Cherries want either young centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite or out-of-favour right-back Jonjoe Kenny in return, and are also hoping to get some cash from the deal as the 28-year-old enters the last six months of his contract. Everton are long-term admirers of King, who came very close to sealing a return to Manchester United last January, and are keen to strengthen their attack in the coming days. The Bournemouth star is also wanted by West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United, and he is expected to be back in the top-flight this month or in the summer. Ever...
