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Everton submit £20m offer for Brazilian defender, personal terms provisionally agreed: report
Everton are understood to have made a fresh bid to sign Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille when the transfer window reopens at the end of the campaign, Football Insider reports. The French centre-back has been regularly linked with the Toffees in recent months and it was suggested in March that they could sign him for around £30m this summer. However, according to Football Insider, the Merseyside outfit have yet to finalise any fee with the French outfit and they are planning to make an offer of around £20m for the central defender. It is added that they are confident of finding an agreement with Lille for the Brazil international, having already agreed on provisional personal terms over a five-year deal with the centre-back. The Toffees are looking to rebuild their squad during the ne...
Leicester City leading the race to sign 22-year-old Celtic star: report
Leicester City are understood to be leading the race to sign Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer this summer, a report from 90min claims. The Norway international was on the Foxes radar at the beginning of the year but a deal failed to materialise with the Hoops being reluctant to lose their centre-back at the midway stage of the season. Brendan Rodgers’ side are now said to be planning a renewed approach and they are reported to be in pole position to sign the 22-year-old this summer ahead of several high-profile clubs including Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Ajer made the breakthrough into the Celtic first-team under Rodgers in 2017 and the Northern Irishman is credited for transforming him from a defensive midfielder into a regular centre-back. Obviously, the player’s close associ...
The Battle of Berlin and a Champions League Squabble: Bundesliga Matchday 27 Preview
Matchday 27 of the Bundesliga beckons, so let us take a quick look at all the fixtures for this weekend: FRIDAY: Hertha Berlin vs Union Berlin: The second matchday after the restart kicks off with a bang – The Berlin Derby. This will be more than just a derby – as the two teams are separated by a solitary point. Hertha go into this match on the back of their 3-0 victory over Hoffenheim, whereas Union lost 2-0 to Bayern, but they won’t be too displeased as they managed to frustrate the record champions for large parts of the match. Expect a cracker. Not these crackers, though: Player to Watch: Matheus Cunha – After his stellar display against Hoffenheim, the young Brazilian has the stage set for him shine against local rivals Union. Don’t be surprised if he picks the lock of Union’s de...
Report: Manchester City make offer to £10m Newcastle United target
According to AS, Newcastle United and Manchester City are interested in signing Facundo Pellistri from Penarol in the summer transfer window. Spanish and European giants Real Madrid are also reported to be interested in securing the services of the 18-year-old forward this summer. City are leading the race for the youngster, but Premier League rivals Newcastle are not giving up, according to the report. The Citizens are reluctant to pay the $12 million (£9.81 million) release clause in the contract of Pellistri, and are hoping to pay half of it upfront and the rest in bonuses and add-ons, according to the report, which has further claimed that last season’s Premier League champions have offered him a five-year contract and a huge wage increase. Newcastle United to miss out? While Newcastle...
Brendan Rodgers claims player wanted to leave Celtic… and he changed his mind
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has told Celtic’s official website that James Forrest was thinking of leaving the Glasgow giants when he arrived at Celtic Park. Rodgers was appointed the Celtic manager in the summer of 2016, and he was in charge of the Glasgow giants until February 2019 when he left for Leicester in the Premier League. Forrest has been on the books of the Hoops his entire professional club football career so far. Former Liverpool manager Rodgers has raved about the 28-year-old winger, and has claimed that the Scotland international was thinking of leaving Celtic back in the summer of 2016. Rodgers told Celtic’s official website: “Then you get Jamesy. When I first went in there, he was thinking of leaving but very quickly we worked together over the course of the pre...
Report: Jose Mourinho has doubts over player who wants Tottenham Hotspur move
According to The Express, Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho has doubts over Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser. It has been reported that Fraser wants to join Tottenham in the summer transfer window as a free agent. The winger is out of contract at Bournemouth at the end of next month, and The Mirror recently claimed that Spurs are interested in securing his services on a free transfer this summer, adding that the player himself wants to make the switch to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, according to The Express, although the Scotland international favours a move to Spurs, the North London outfit’s head coach Mourinho is not convinced of his pedigree for a top-six club. The Express has added that Palace want the 26-year-old former Aberdeen player as well and are ready to make an o...
‘An official announcement is imminent’ – Mirror journalist delivers huge update on NUFC takeover
According to Sunday Mirror’s John Richardson, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s £300 million takeover of Newcastle United has been given the greenlight by the Premier League, with an official announcement imminent. At last!! Reliable Middle East sources saying the Toon takeover has been given the go ahead. An official announcement is imminent. 🙏🙏 — John Richardson (@riccosrant) May 20, 2020 Former Magpies star Olivier Bernard had claimed that the takeover was due to be made official yesterday, and while it didn’t happen, it appears something official is edging closer. Olivier Bernard had this to say on last night’s programme and it’s some potentially exciting news on the #NUFCTakeover and lovers of #cans: “Hopefully tomorrow [today] it is official…” You can hear Olly&...
Report: Celtic and Rangers keen to snap up 24-yr-old long-term target on a massive bargain
Celtic and Rangers have been linked with a move for the Feyenoord midfielder Renato Tapia. The midfielder will be a free agent in June and the Scottish giants are looking to snap him up on a bargain as per reports (via Sportwitness). The 24-year-old defensive midfielder can play as a centre back as well and he could prove to be a decent addition to Rangers or Celtic. Both clubs could use some depth in their midfield and Tapia would make sense as a signing, especially on a free. It will be interesting to see if the Scottish giants manage to convince the player to join either of them this summer. A move to Scotland would be an interesting challenge for the midfielder. He has done well for the Dutch side so far and he will fancy his chances of shining in Scotland as well. Celtic and Rangers a...
Report: Mourinho wants 26-yr-old who would cost around €20m, Spurs very interested
Tottenham are very interested in signing the Monaco defender Guillermo Maripan. According to Todo Fichajes, Jose Mourinho wants to bring the 26-year-old to the Premier League this summer. Monaco are willing to sell the player for the right price and it will be interesting to see if Spurs can secure an agreement soon. Jan Vertonghen is expected to leave the club soon and youngster Juan Foyth could be on his way out as well. Spurs need to sign defenders this summer and Maripan would be a good addition. He has done well for Monaco so far and Mourinho could groom him into the ideal partner for Alderweireld next season. Apparently, Monaco could be open to selling the player for a fee of around €20m. In that case, Spurs should be able to sign him. It is a reasonable asking price and Spurs have t...
Miguel Delaney claims long-time Benitez colleague is confident of becoming NUFC director of football
According to the Independent’s Miguel Delaney, Newcastle United are sounding out candidates for key roles as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s £300 million takeover edges closer, with Luis Campos, Domenico Teti and Owen Brown all on the radar of the would-be owners. Brown is a long-term colleague of former Magpies boss Rafa Benitez and is said to be confident of a director of football role at Saint James’ Park, with Frank McParland involved. The 59-year-old once worked as a scout and player liaison officer at Liverpool, and was also an advisor to the Spaniard during his time at Anfield and SJP. Former Liverpool’s Academy Director McParland was onceNottingham Forest’s director of football, and is credited with recruiting Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe for the Reds, and Scott Hoga...
Arsenal make contact with agent of £27m-rated French attacker: report
Arsenal are understood to have expressed an interest in signing Bayer Leverkusen attacker Moussa Diaby, a report from Le10Sport claims. The Frenchman made the move from Paris Saint-Germain to Leverkusen last summer and he has since contributed five goals and eight assists from 27 outings for the club. As per Le10Sport, both the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund have made contact with the player’s representative ahead of possible bids for the forward this summer. It is added that Mikel Arteta’s side may have the edge over Dortmund in Diaby’s pursuit, given they have a good relationship with the agent of the Paris-born ace. Still, Diaby won’t come on the cheap and it is suggested that Leverkusen will demand at least double of the £13.5m fee paid to Paris Saint-Germain (£27m) to sanction his...
Brilliant Borussia and Sloppy Schalke: Match Report: Borussia Dortmund 4 – 0 Schalke 04
Overall Report: At the start it seemed that we would have a cracker on our hands. Schalke came close to breaking through the Dortmund defence in the first few minutes, but they couldn’t create a proper chance. Dortmund grew into the game and pierced Schalke’s defence with some precise passing, ingenious touches and a clinical assist and finish. After that they never looked back. Goals on either side of half-time saw them go clear. Schalke looked to get better after the third, but then Dortmund got a fourth goal through Raphael Guerreiro and the game was put to bed. It didn’t seem to be much of a derby, let alone the mother of all derbies, but let’s be happy that there was a game in the first place. Highlights: [embedded content] Tactics: The battle of the back 3s saw Dortmund emerge victor...
