Bundesliga
This 21yo Bundesliga defender could be the ideal Ramos-replacement for Real Madrid
Real Madrid currently have a Sergio Ramos-sized hole in their squad. The Spaniard left the club after 16 incredible years to join Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain this summer. It will be tremendously difficult to find a player to fill Ramos’ boots this summer, particularly with Madrid struggling financially. With Raphael Varane also set to leave, new manager Carlo Ancelotti is faced with the uphill task of revamping Madrid’s defence. A possible long-term solution to Madrid’s problems would be Wolfsburg defender Maxence Lacroix. His rise has been sudden and surprising. After joining Wolfsburg from Sochaux in 2020, he has adapted well to life in the Bundesliga. The 21-year-old is already one of the best centre-backs in Germany and looks destined for bigger things. Lacroix’s long passing is...
Bayern Munich star considering transfer, with Man City and Real Madrid interested
Robert Lewandowski is considering leaving Bayern Munich this summer, according to Sky Sports journalist Marc Behrenbeck (via Football Daily). Lewandowski joined Bayern Munich in 2014 on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at rivals Borussia Dortmund. Since then, he has enjoyed a highly successful time at the Allianz Arena. Lewandowski has been sensational for Bayern Munich In his 329 appearances in all competitions for the Bavarians, he has scored a staggering 294 goals. This has helped his side to seven Bundesliga titles, three DFB Pokals, and a Champions League. However, there are rumours that the Poland international could be on his way out of the Bundesliga this transfer window. Behrenbeck claims that the striker feels like his story at Bayern is complete and now wishe...
West Ham enquire about Euro 2020 star
West Ham United have contacted Borussia Monchengladbach over the availability of forward Breel Embolo, reports 90min. Embolo joined Borussia Monchengladbach on a four-year deal from Schalke back in 2019. He has been in and out of the starting XI since then, making 33 league starts and a further 26 off the bench, scoring 13 goals. Embolo at Euro 2020 This summer, he attracted a lot of praise for his performances with Switzerland at Euro 2020. He scored the opening goal in the 1-1 draw against Wales and caused many problems for world champions France in their shock elimination on penalties. And now he is garnering attention from the Premier League, with 90min claiming that West Ham have enquired about a possible transfer. The Hammers are desperately light up front, owning just one natural st...
Borussia Dortmund agree personal terms with possible Haaland replacement
Borussia Dortmund have agreed personal terms with Dutch striker Donyell Malen, according to Sport Bild (via the Daily Mail). Malen made his breakthrough in the PSV Eindhoven senior team in 2018, a year after being sold by Arsenal at youth level. He has made a real impression in the Eredivisie, most recently ending the season with 19 goals and eight assists, as well as a further five strikes in the Europa League. Malen celebrates a goal for PSV The forward continued to excite at this summer’s European Championships. Despite playing just 150 minutes, he recorded two assists – the joint-fifth most at the tournament. This form has attracted a lot of attention across Europe, with Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund both linked. It appears as if the latter is leading the race for his signature, as S...
Bayern Munich & Red Devils reportedly want Everton defender, he wants Goodison Park exit
Everton left-back Thierry Small is trying to leave the Merseyside club this summer, reports The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe. Manchester United and Arsenal are interested in luring the 16-year-old away from Goodison Park, while Bayern Munich are also monitoring his situation. Small is yet to return to training, missing the full first week under new Everton manager Rafa Benitez and opting to undertake one-on-one training sessions with a private strength and conditioning coach instead. The Toffees have prepared a first professional contract for him ahead of his 17th birthday on August 1, and he had been given a locker in the first-team changing room at Finch Farm. However, everything is pointing towards an exit as it stands. Sportslens View Small became Everton’s youngest ever player when he rep...
Messi miles ahead of Bayern and Chelsea stars in Ballon D’Or race
The 2020/21 season has officially come to a close, and it’s around this time when we start to speculate about our award winners. The Ballon d’Or is the most high profile individual award in the game, recognising the world’s best player from the past 12 months. With the season over, we’re now looking at our potential winners. Two months ago, we compiled a list of the leading candidates for the prize. Since then, we’ve had a Champions League final and a summer of international football. Some of the list has aged well. Other parts….not so much (whose idea was it to give Antoine Griezmann an honourable mention?). Anyway, two months on, and we now have a clearer picture of who our 2021 Ballon d’Or winner could be. Lionel Messi The Copa America has tipped the balance in Messi’s favour As things ...
Spurs reportedly want 23-goal French striking duo as Kane’s potential replacements
Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for the possibility of losing Harry Kane this summer. They have identified Borussia Monchengladbach striking duo Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram as his potential replacements, reports Le10Sport. The French news outlet claims that Spurs greatly appreciate the understanding the French striking duo have struck on the pitch but are yet to make contact with the Bundesliga club. Sportslens View Although Tottenham are ready to put up a fight in their bid to hold on to Kane, nothing is guaranteed, and they are preparing for the worst. Plea and Thuram bagged 23 goals between them last season across all competitions and are among the best striking partnerships in Europe. Spurs know replacing their star striker’s goals would prove extremely difficult, and they reckon s...
Liverpool transfer target’s move to Bundesliga club at risk
With Jadon Sancho’s move to Manchester United nearly finalised, Dortmund will look to reinvest the money to strengthen the team after the loss of one of their greatest stars. One of the rumoured replacements is PSV Eindhoven’s Donyell Malen. The 22-year-old shone in the Eredivisie this past season, scoring 19 goals in 32 domestic games and notching five more in the Europa League. However, reports from Bild indicate that the deal may not be as straightforward as once thought. The two clubs remain far apart in their valuation of the young Dutch attacker, with Dortmund unwilling to pay more than €27 million, while the Eredivisie club are demanding over £30m. Another sticking point is the player’s salary demands and agent, as Dortmund are reluctant to deal with super-agent Mino Raiola, who aim...
Nagelsmann experiments with back three in Bayern Munich training
New Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann has given another show of the tactical flexibility he exhibited at RB Leipzig and Hoffenheim, where he often switched between a back three and back four. He stated his commitment to a back four earlier this week, testing the centre-back pairing of Tanguy Nianzou and marquee summer signing Dayot Upamecano. However, he opted for a different formation in the Thursday training session. He used Nianzou, Upamecano and Josip Stanisic in a back three, with Bouna Sarr and Omar Richards as wing-backs. Much of the Bayern squad is not present in training yet, so the return of key defensive figures such as Niklas Süle, Benjamin Pavard, Alphonso Davies and Lucas Hernandez are likely to change the composition of the defensive line-up quite a bit. Nagelsman...
Dutch FA opens talks with Louis van Gaal over return to national team
Louis van Gaal has moved a step closer to returning as Netherlands coach for a third time after meeting with Dutch football association officials to discuss the job, local media reported on Friday. The reports said the 69-year-old held talks at his home in Portugal on Thursday with KNVB directors Nico-Jan Hoogma and Eric Gudde, who are responsible for the choice of a new coach after Frank de Boer’s resignation. De Boer resigned after their Euro 2020 last-16 defeat to Czech Republic on June 27 and the KNVB said it would move swiftly to find a replacement, with the team set to resume their World Cup qualification campaign in September. Van Gaal, who officially retired in 2019 but stepped away from the game two years earlier after leaving Manchester United, had two previous spells at the helm...
German football gets green light for fan return next season
Bundesliga clubs and other German sports venues will be allowed to welcome up to 25,000 spectators from next month, the city of Berlin said on Tuesday after a meeting of officials from Germany’s 16 states. Most matches in Germany’s top football league were played behind closed doors last season because of the Covid-19 virus. The new Bundesliga season starts on August 13 and with infection rates having fallen sharply, sports stadiums could be at 50 percent capacity, with the total number per match or event capped at 25,000. The only exception is reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, where up to 20,000 fans will be allowed into home games at the 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena because officials in Bavaria are allowing only 35 percent of capacity. The new rules apply until September 11 a...
Romelu Lukaku backed to succeed Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich
Former Belgium striker Emile Mpenza has tipped Romelu Lukaku to succeed Robert Lewandowski at Bayern Munich. The 28-year-old has excelled at Inter, scoring 64 goals in just 95 matches since joining the Serie A side from Manchester United in 2019. The forward has a similar record for the national team, having struck 63 times in 96 caps for the Rode Duivels, including three at Euro 2020. Mpenza has been amazed by the ex-Chelsea and Anderlecht player’s development and believes Bayern would be smart to look at him if they need to replace Poland sensation Lewandowski following his 48-goal campaign in Germany. “Romelu’s strength in a duel and his speed are outstanding. That makes it so difficult for the defenders against him,” Mpenza told Sport Bild. “If they go into a duel with him, he uses his...
