Vesper

Paris Saint-Germain linked with transfer swoop for Chelsea duo Christopher Nkunku and Josh Acheampong https://www.eurosport.com/football/transfers/2024-2025/paris-saint-germain-Chelsea-christopher-nkunku-josh-acheampong-transfer_sto20056421/story.shtml Paris Saint-Germain reportedly face competition from Manchester United and Real Madrid for Christopher Nkunku and Joshua Acheampong, respectively. Elsewhere, Manchester City midfielder and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has made it clear he is open to a switch to Real Madrid, while Javier Mascherano looks set to take over at Inter Miami after the departure of Tata Martino. PSG and United linked with Nkunku The Athletic reports that Christopher Nkunku is unhappy with his lack of playing time at Chelsea. Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are interested, but may not have the money for a January bid. The website explains: "While it cannot be ruled out completely, a transfer in January seems unlikely. Firstly, Chelsea do not want to sell. It would take an extraordinary offer, perhaps in excess of what they paid for him, to make them think about changing their minds. "Nkunku still has over three years left on his contract. Neither the player nor the club will consider a loan. "But PSG are annual participants in the Champions League and Nkunku is the kind of player that coach Luis Enrique would like. In saying that, a source, speaking anonymously, doubted whether they can afford him in January. "Manchester United have also been mentioned as a possibility, with suggestions his name came up during talks between the two clubs last summer. "But unless money is raised from outgoings, they are not expected to have the funds to make a sizeable bid when the window opens in the new year. A switch to the Saudi Pro League is not an option for Nkunku either." Madrid and PSG keen on Acheampong Real Madrid could force Paris Saint-Germain to move for Chelsea defender Joshua Acheampong. Madrid are in need of defensive reinforcements and are looking at the teenage right-back. The Independent reports: "Paris Saint-Germain have escalated interest in Josh Acheampong, as they become the latest club willing to test Chelsea's resolve in keeping their young prospect. "The 18-year-old has been involved in an impasse with the London club over a contract renovation, with his current deal set to run out in a year and a half, and the player now going on three months without being used in the first team. "That had already spiked existing interest from a host of clubs, led by Real Madrid and Liverpool. "Newcastle United, Borussia Dortmund and PSG have also been among those to send scouts to Acheampong's England under-19 appearances, as this has been the best place to monitor his progress. "All of the interested clubs are looking at long-term succession plans at right-back, with Madrid even willing to make a move in January after injuries to Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao. "If that happens, PSG would challenge that, as they view Acheampong as an ideal young deputy for Achraf Hakimi." Rodri open to Madrid move Manchester City’s Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has said that he would listen to interest from Real Madrid. Speaking to a Spanish podcast, the midfielder explained that he would have to hear out any offer. The Sun writes: "Manchester City star Rodri has opened the door to a potential move to Real Madrid. "It comes just weeks after the midfielder won the Ballon d'Or, leading Real Madrid to boycott the event. "Los Blancos's star Vinicius Jr was tipped to win the award and the snub led Real president Florentino Perez to turn down the invite. "But Rodri still admires the club and said it would be difficult to ignore the Spanish giants if they came knocking. "He told Spanish podcast El Larguero: ‘When Real Madrid call you, the best club in history and the most successful… it makes you proud, and you always have to listen.’"

Chelsea v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League LONDON - OCTOBER 18: Chelsea goalkeeper Henrique Hilario during the UEFA Champions League Group A match between Chelsea and Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on October 18, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Christopher Nkunku’s state of play at Chelsea: Is a transfer a possibility? https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5937103/2024/11/22/christopher-nkunku-Chelsea-transfer-latest/ You would expect most players who are currently top scorers at their respective football clubs this season to be rather content and full of confidence right now. With 10 goals from 17 appearances, Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku sits above Cole Palmer (seven) and Nicolas Jackson (six) in the club’s goalscoring charts. He stands a chance to end the 2024-25 campaign as the team’s most prolific finisher. Yet during the international break, a story emerged in French newspaper L’Equipe, which was subsequently followed up by the Telegraph in the UK, that the 27-year-old is considering his future at Stamford Bridge. Signs of discontent seem somewhat premature, given Nkunku is just three months into his second season at the club. The season may last until mid-July if Chelsea reach the final of the expanded Club World Cup next summer. Do Chelsea have any reason to be concerned? It is a complex situation which provides an answer of yes… and no. First — is there any truth to Nkunku’s feeling unsettled at the club? A source close to the player, speaking under the condition of anonymity to The Athletic to protect relationships, did suggest the forward is not too happy with how things are going right now. It should be pointed out that the source also insisted that Nkunku has not made any complaints himself to the club. So this is not a case of the 27-year-old looking to hand in a transfer request or trying to cause a problem for head coach Enzo Maresca. However, you can understand why Nkunku might be troubled. After playing the most minutes of any Chelsea player in pre-season, Nkunku has started just one Premier League game under Maresca. That was in the opening match versus Manchester City three months ago. Yet one of the reasons he featured so much in friendly games was because Palmer was given an extended holiday after playing for England at Euro 2024 and Jackson took a while to recover from an ankle injury sustained on international duty with Senegal in June. Nkunku scoring against FC Noah (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Nkunku had every right to speak optimistically about what 2024-25 could bring. The France international’s debut season at Chelsea was hindered by knee, hip and hamstring injuries. He played for just 516 minutes (not including added time), scoring three goals in 14 appearances. After completing a move from RB Leipzig for a fee in excess of €60million in 2023, he would have hoped to make a much bigger impact. The transfer, which was actually finalised in October 2022, was heralded as a major coup for Chelsea at the time and rightly so. Nkunku scored 35 goals and made 20 assists in 52 appearances for RB Leipzig in 2021-22. Despite suffering a knee injury which caused him to miss the last World Cup, he still managed to record a further 23 goals and nine assists from 36 appearances in 2022-23. He was clearly a player of some talent and showed it in his first pre-season with Chelsea (three goals) before sustaining another bad knee injury in the last friendly against Borussia Dortmund. After proving his fitness and scoring three times during his second pre-season at Chelsea under new head coach Maresca, Nkunku was determined to prove what he can do. He told Chelsea’s official website in August: “For me, this is my first season in Chelsea FC, for sure. To be honest, I don’t have the feeling I had a first season here. It was very difficult. “When a player misses one season, he is very hungry. I am very hungry. My goal this season is to play and to be confident. I know if I am happy and confident in my body, I can show what I am able to do.” And herein lies the problem. According to Transfermarkt, of the 688 minutes Nkunku has had this season, only 154 have been in the Premier League and 58 of those came in that first match versus Manchester City. His nine appearances as a substitute work out as an average of under 11 minutes a game (not including added time) meaning he is also getting little chance to change a match from the bench. This includes coming on with just a few minutes to go in Chelsea’s last fixture against Arsenal — when the score was 1-1. You would think the home side would have a better chance of getting a winner with him on the pitch for a longer period than that. Still, Maresca and Chelsea can argue that Nkunku is just an unfortunate victim of players simply being in better form. With Maresca wanting to use two natural wingers in a 4-2-3-1 formation, it really leaves only a couple of positions for Nkunku to be considered — as a No 10 or the main striker. But those spots are occupied by Palmer (seven goals and five assists in 13 appearances) and Jackson (six goals and three assists in 12 appearances). Palmer is one of the best in the Premier League, while Chelsea regard Jackson as one of the top three centre-forwards in England’s top division. They are both very hard to drop at the moment. Nkunku has struggled for game time in the league under Maresca (Carl Recine/Getty Images) Nkunku’s aims in joining Chelsea ahead of other interested clubs were to play regularly and compete in the Champions League. This is the second season in a row where Chelsea are not involved in the Champions League and the vast majority of his starts under Maresca (six) have come in the Conference League, Europe’s third-tier competition. Combined with the two starts in the Carabao Cup, which Chelsea are no longer in following a loss to Newcastle, Nkunku is being sent a message by Maresca that he is only considered for the less important matches. After Nkunku scored twice against FC Noah in an 8-0 victory earlier this month, Maresca admitted regret over the situation: “I feel shame for Christo because in pre-season, he was our best player.” Chelsea still regard Nkunku as an important member of the squad and with so many matches remaining, believe there are plenty of opportunities for him to make his mark. For example, Saturday’s game at Leicester begins a run of 11 fixtures in 38 days. Squad rotation will be a must, plus injuries or a drop in performance could happen to Palmer or Jackson at any point. The club might also expect Nkunku, who is among the top seven highest-paid players at Stamford Bridge, to be a little patient given he was barely available for selection in 2022-23, even if it was through no fault of his own. There is another issue to cause Nkunku some angst, though. Having missed the last World Cup, Nkunku is desperate to be part of the France squad for the qualifiers. Assuming they progress, he wants to be at the 2026 tournament itself. France coach Didier Deschamps is a big admirer and sees him as someone who can help fill the void left by the now-retired Antoine Griezmann. Nkunku has won four caps in the last two international breaks, which includes starts in the wins against Israel and Italy. But he’s aware of the competition for places and knows he needs to be playing regularly at club level to keep his place. So what happens next? While it cannot be ruled out completely, a transfer in January seems unlikely. Firstly, Chelsea do not want to sell. It would take an extraordinary offer, perhaps in excess of what they paid for him, to make them think about changing their minds. Nkunku still has over three years left on his contract. Neither the player nor the club will consider a loan. Nkunku playing for France (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images) Then there is the matter of where he could go. One of his former clubs Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with him regularly back in France and Nkunku did not exactly rule it out when asked about it by French TV show Telefoot in October. “I don’t know what to say about that,” he said. “PSG is still a big club. Any approach this summer? No, no, no. I’ve always said there was no approach.” That remains the case and Chelsea have had no enquiries from PSG either. But PSG are annual participants in the Champions League and Nkunku is the kind of player that coach Luis Enrique would like. They have scored only three times in four Champions League group games. In saying that, a source, speaking anonymously, doubted whether they can afford him in January. Manchester United have also been mentioned as a possibility, with suggestions his name came up during talks between the two clubs last summer. But unless money is raised from outgoings, they are not expected to have the funds to make a sizeable bid when the window opens in the new year. A switch to the Saudi Pro League is not an option for Nkunku either. So as things stand, the earliest Nkunku can leave will be in the summer — by which time Chelsea could have secured a spot in the Champions League and he might have played a lot more. That could make all this talk of disquiet a thing of the past.

Chelsea’s Reece James out of Leicester game with hamstring injury https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5937301/2024/11/21/reece-james-hamstring-injury-Chelsea/ Chelsea captain Reece James has suffered another injury setback after being ruled out of the Premier League match at Leicester City on Saturday. Head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed that 24-year-old James sustained a minor hamstring problem during training on Tuesday. This is the ninth time James has been ruled out with a hamstring injury in the past five years. He went 18 months without completing 90 minutes in the Premier League between April 2023-October 2024 and had surgery last December in a bid to cure it for good. But James has made just three starts for the club this campaign and is now facing another spell on the sidelines. Maresca said: “We have just one injured player and that is Reece, who unfortunately felt something small and we don’t want to take any risks for the weekend. He is the only one (right now) who is for sure not available this weekend. It’s a hamstring, a muscle problem. Hopefully it is not something long.” Chelsea play Heidenheim in the UEFA Conference League next Thursday and Maresca is already suggesting James will not be able to return for that fixture. Maresca says James’ lack of availability is more frustrating for him and added: “I know that it is not easy (for him). But if every time he gets injured it becomes hard for him, it’s for me even worse. “He has to accept that and try to avoid (injury) as much as he can. But sometimes things happen even if you want to avoid it. “Now we are playing every three days so it is probably difficult for him to be available for the Conference League. Hopefully he can be available soon.” GO DEEPER Reece James: Captain, leader, left-back Injuries have stalled James’s career The injury may have been initially described as ‘minor’ but the news that Reece James is complaining of another hamstring problem is another significant blow for the 24-year-old. James is regarded as one of the best right backs in Europe but his career has stalled since being part of the Chelsea squad which won the Champions League in 2021 — due to his volume of fitness issues. For example, the defender was on the pitch for just 482 minutes in all competitions for Chelsea last season. He has started just three games under Enzo Maresca in 2024-25 and the first of those only came last month after breaking down in pre-season. After making his comeback, Maresca warned that James is capable of only playing “once a week” for the time being. But even though his minutes have been managed, it has not prevented another issue from occurring. James is already facing strong competition from Malo Gusto to play regularly in a Chelsea shirt. In the club’s previous fixture against Arsenal, he was named on the bench with Marc Cucurella and Gusto starting at full back. While Maresca clearly wants to include James in his plans, it is clearly not a good situation for Chelsea to be without their captain on a regular basis.

The future of English football https://www.scoutednotebook.com/i/151949621/the-future-of-english-football On Tuesday, I had a little bit of free time to do something I love to do – watch youth football. Belgium against England in the first round of UEFA U-19 EURO qualifiers was on the agenda, and there was a stream provided by the Bulgaria FA (they hosted the mini-tournament of qualifiers) that thankfully wasn’t quite as patchy as the Plovdiv pitch they were playing on. Onto the standouts. The very obvious one was Chelsea’s Josh Acheampong. You couldn’t miss him and his giraffe-sized frame; he loomed over pretty much everyone on the pitch, literally head and shoulders above the rest. The first half showcased why he’s already played senior minutes at club level – making his debut at the back-end of last season, before adding a couple more appearances in this – as he did a lot of impressive centre-back things. His athleticism is perhaps the feature of his game. Despite being a gangly kind of tall, he covered ground with a smoothness that caught the eye immediately. His long legs were really useful to win the ball back, he can extend them into places few can, while he also had neat footwork and a spry agility in tighter situations. His height was a natural advantage in aerial duels, obviously, but the technique and timing of his contests were the factors that saw him win every long ball over Belgium’s similarly-sized centre-forward Kaye Furo. Acheampong was a different level of talent to most on the pitch. You could see how his profile could scale up to the highest standard of senior football pretty easily. But he’s currently locked out at Chelsea, ostracised from the senior and U-21 teams until he commits his future to the club, with a number of domestic rivals and big-time European clubs circling. Another was Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal. He was the most ‘senior-ready’ player on the pitch by a significant margin, in my opinion. Everything about him – the compactness of athleticism, robustness of physicality, assuredness of decisions – set him apart at U-19 level. He was playing as a left-back in this game, a role which he’s been earmarked for at Arsenal and now England. It’s a role that suits his skillset to a tee: he’s left-footed and a really mobile mover with solid one-v-one defending, acute talent as a line-splitting passer, and a trademark ability to carry the ball out of pressure, through contact and up the pitch. All of those traits were on show in Plovdiv. What I particularly love about MLS is the way he uses his body. It’s an exceptional trait of his, and to be so skilled at it at his age is very rare – trust me, I watch a lot of youth football. He got the upper-hand in defensive situations time and time again by levering his body between ball and man, winning more or less every duel as a result. His ball security was taken up a notch by his propensity to feel for contact when taking a touch. Defenders struggled to contain him when he bumped through them with the ball at his feet. He made it all look easy. Another point of difference that underlined the 18-year-old’s readiness for the higher levels was the way he grew into the game. While others faded, he got better. Belgium’s intensity waned, meaning he had more time (and freedom) to get on the ball, finding those angled passes more and more, while his dribbles started to eliminate two or three defenders, not just the one. My takeaway from this game? I want to see more MLS in the Premier League. He would be a regular already in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga, maybe even LaLiga and Serie A. The Premier League is different, but Lewis-Skelly is ready for more opportunities and responsibilities. Have England finally developed a Spanish-spec midfielder? And finally, a few words for Kiano Dyer. Every year the discourse inevitably rolls around to the ‘why can’t England develop midfielders like Spain?’ but they have a Spanish-spec midfielder in the Chelsea prospect. The deepest of England’s midfield three, Dyer created that triangle with the centre-backs to help build play from the back. He’s of a smaller stature with a slight frame but makes up for it with a razor-sharp mobility. He flashes across five yards, cuts through pressure, and lasers into space. That flash-cut-laser style was characteristic of his passing too – he was great at spotting and executing little 10-yarders that fed team-mates inside Belgium’s block. They’re the sort of passes someone like Martín Zubimendi does. He struggled to find a groove with his long-range distribution, overhitting switches to the left wing primarily, and was blindsided by Belgian pressure a couple of times, but that can happen. I’ve watched him before and those haven’t been particular issues. Everyone has an off day. But Dyer is good with the potential to be really good. And really good in a different way to the English norm. The pathway at Chelsea is a precarious one with their compulsive buying disorder, so it remains to be see how he develops there, but he’ll find an alternative route as easily as he slips pressure. And a final fun fact: Kiano is the son of Lloyd Dyer, the former Leicester City winger. I hope that makes you feel old.

Pep Guardiola: no break clause in new deal if Man City are relegated Manager’s new contract will not be affected by outcome of club’s hearing into 115 Premier League charges, with City expected to confirm signing of extension this week https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/pep-guardiola-new-man-city-contract-break-clause-tzmfnwqp3 Pep Guardiola’s new contract will not include a break clause and therefore the outcome of Manchester City’s hearing into 115 Premier League charges will not affect his deal. City are expected to confirm this week Guardiola’s one-year contract extension with the possibility of another year after that. It is believed his personal relationship with the chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, supersedes the need to have a clause in writing referencing the outcome of the charges. Guardiola, who is in his ninth season with City, appears to have remained true to his word from 2023 that he would stick with City even if the club were relegated — or “in League One” — as the result of any Premier League punishment. Guardiola and Al Mubarak met in Abu Dhabi during the October international break, with Manchester City increasingly confident from that point that the manager would stay on. With the commission into the 115 charges — brought for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, which City deny — now sitting, Guardiola has been asked frequently about his stance if the verdict should go against City, but has become increasingly bullish and protective of the club. He has insisted his future at City will not be determined by the club’s league status, suggesting even relegation would not break it now. To sign without a written guarantee of release is the strongest indication yet that he will still be City’s manager until at least the end of the 2025-26 season, no matter what the commission decides. Read more Q&A: Will Guardiola deal make City title favourites? And how will it affect transfers? It is a huge coup for Al Mubarak and City given the uncertainty around the immediate future. There has been talk of legal action from their biggest rivals, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, if found guilty. Guardiola’s contract news means City, winners of six Premier League titles under the Catalan, can now begin to plan for next season, telling any potential acquisitions that the manager will remain in place.

FIFA Unveils ‘Innovative’ New Trophy for Club World Cup

He is a fucking clown

“Paris Saint-Germain made an offer worth €250m for Lamine Yamal last summer,” Joan Laporta’s spokesman told Spanish TV. “Laporta didn’t even consider that, there’s no chance of selling Lamine.”

Chelsea https://thedailybriefing.io/i/151907283/Chelsea Despite multiple rumours in the media, Chelsea are not currently working on a deal to sign Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool. Enzo Maresca is perfectly happy with the keepers that the Blues currently have in their first-team squad. Sources: Chelsea encouraged by Mykhailo Mudryk progress.

Times Football What Kazuo Ishiguro teaches us about Chelsea Which novel popped into your head as you watched England’s victory over Ireland on Sunday? Because I assume one did. Would be odd if one didn’t. OK, I’ll go first. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro is an unsettling book about a boarding school for cloned children whose sole purpose is to provide organs as needed for transplants. And it came to mind because there were so many products of Chelsea’s academy system in the team. The commentary from the sofa in my living room consisted of: “Oh a Chelsea reject,” and “Oh there’s another Chelsea reject.” We had the full backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall. We had Conor Gallagher who was replaced by Dominic Solanke. We had Marc Guéhi in defence. Was the term reject even the right one, we wondered, and if applicable then who could consider themselves the truest reject? Clearly it was Gallagher who was one of the most consistent players under Mauricio Pochettino last season and a player the fans loved who was, nonetheless, sold in the name of pure profit to Atletico Madrid last summer. Hall and Livramento both made their England debuts in the final round of Nations League fixtures under Lee Carsley ROBIN JONES/GETTY IMAGES The sale of home-grown players helps clubs remain within profit and sustainability rules and this is where the Ishiguro comes in. Chelsea’s Cobham production line is mightily impressive but while the kids being coached there might think they are being nurtured for the first team, most of the time their education is there to facilitate the purchase of ready-made talent from elsewhere. There are little bits of Cobham all over the place which is not too surprising given not all of them could fit into a single team, but it does make Chelsea the most influential of clubs and perhaps added to the sense of shared experience and joyful camaraderie that was so palpable at Wembley among the England players. In some ways Bournemouth embodies the opposite of Never Let Me Go. I was allowed an access-all-areas pass for the club a few weeks ago and noticed how many of the faces were familiar because so many never leave. I sat down with Shaun Cooper, a first team coach, and stood and watched training with Simon Francis, the technical director. Cooper was a Bournemouth defender for seven years, then pinged around the south coast before returning as a member of the staff. Francis also spent seven years as a defender with the club plus one out on loan and retired knowing he did not fancy coaching, but was fascinated by the role of technical director because he was close friends with Richard Hughes, who held that role while Francis was a player and who had himself been a former player at the Vitality Stadium. Alyson Rudd catches up with Francis during her behind-the-scenes trip to Bournemouth ROBIN JONES FOR THE TIMES You might want to argue that the club are being parochial, but the fact that Hughes is now sporting director for Liverpool instead indicates that Bournemouth might see the value in giving a chance to people who know and understand the club and who in turn they know and thereby see their potential. Francis spent three years learning the ropes about recruitment from Hughes before being promoted, which is surely preferable to a club losing a key member of staff and being forced into panic poaching from elsewhere. Which brings us back to Solanke, who came to Bournemouth via Chelsea and Liverpool and whose transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in August meant Francis was kept very busy finding a replacement, which he did a week later in the form of Evanilson but with an understanding of the needs of the squad and the manager. It would be nice to spend time behind the scenes at every club, but I won’t make that my New Year Resolution as not all of them are, I suspect, as well run as the Cherries.

do NOT risk Lavia Leciester are a shit team we should dispatch with ease without him

Manchester United Pushing to Sign €75m Forward in January https://eplindex.com/123238/report-manchester-united-pushing-to-sign-e75m-forward-in-january.html Manchester United’s Ambitious Move for Victor Osimhen Manchester United’s hunt for an elite striker has taken an intriguing twist, as reports from Turkish outlet Fanatik suggest the Red Devils have submitted a swap deal offer for Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen. The Napoli forward, currently on loan at Galatasaray, is catching the attention of top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea, with Manchester United firmly in the race. This potential transfer comes at a critical time for United under Ruben Amorim’s tenure, as the club looks to bolster its attacking options following a challenging start to the season. But is the move for Osimhen realistic, and how does it fit into the broader transfer strategies of Manchester United? Osimhen’s Rise and Galatasaray Stint Victor Osimhen has been a revelation this season for Galatasaray. With eight goals and four assists in just nine appearances, he has cemented himself as one of the most lethal forwards in European football. His performances have not only lifted Galatasaray’s attacking output but also increased speculation about his future. In an interview with Nexus Sports, Osimhen addressed these rumours, saying: “They are talking about January. I am here until the end of the season. I’ve seen a lot of the speculation linking me out of the club in January, I can state through me now I’m going to be here until the end of the season.” This unequivocal statement indicates his loyalty to Galatasaray for now, but it hasn’t deterred clubs like Manchester United from preparing offers for his services next summer. What United’s Swap Offer Reveals Manchester United’s offer reportedly includes a player-plus-cash deal involving Joshua Zirkzee, who has struggled since his summer move from Bologna. With just one goal to his name and no starts in United’s last five Premier League matches, Zirkzee appears to have fallen out of favour with Amorim. The inclusion of Zirkzee in the deal might be an attempt to offload a misfit while securing a more clinical striker. Despite this, Napoli’s stance remains firm. Reports suggest that Osimhen will only leave on a permanent deal if his €75 million release clause is paid in full. This raises questions about United’s willingness to meet such a financial commitment, especially with other suitors like Arsenal and Chelsea circling. Competitive Landscape for Osimhen The battle for Osimhen’s signature is expected to be fierce. Arsenal and Chelsea have both expressed interest, with Arsenal looking to maintain their resurgence under Mikel Arteta and Chelsea aiming to rebuild under Mauricio Pochettino. Manchester United’s pursuit of Osimhen signals their intent to compete at the highest level, but it also highlights their need for a proven goalscorer. With Ruben Amorim keen to bring in reinforcements, Victor Gyokeres of Sporting CP has also been linked. However, Gyokeres himself has poured cold water on immediate transfer rumours, saying: “I remain happy at Sporting. Of course, it’s always fun to think about reuniting with Amorim, but right now I’m focused here.” This leaves United with limited elite options, making the pursuit of Osimhen even more crucial. Our View – EPL Index Analysis From a Manchester United fan’s perspective, the potential signing of Victor Osimhen could be transformative. The Nigerian forward possesses all the attributes United have been crying out for: pace, physicality, clinical finishing, and the ability to lead the line. His record at Galatasaray this season demonstrates his ability to adapt to different leagues, making him an ideal fit for the Premier League. However, there are concerns about whether the club can outbid Arsenal and Chelsea, particularly if a bidding war ensues. United’s financial capabilities have been under scrutiny, especially after the heavy spending of recent transfer windows. Securing Osimhen might require sacrifices in other areas, but for a club of United’s stature, this investment could prove pivotal. Fans would also hope that Osimhen’s arrival could unlock the full potential of their attacking unit. Players like Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes have lacked a consistent focal point in the attack. Osimhen could be the missing piece to turn United from top-four contenders into genuine title challengers. As the summer window looms, United supporters will be watching closely, hopeful that the club’s hierarchy can deliver a signing of this magnitude. With Ruben Amorim’s project taking shape, Osimhen represents not just a short-term fix but a cornerstone for United’s ambitions.

https://thedailybriefing.io/p/excl-talks-expected-as-arsenal-closely Arsenal are carefully monitoring the situation of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, sources have informed the Daily Briefing. Vlahovic has been a key player for Juve in recent times, but the Serie A giants are currently struggling to make progress with a new contract for the Serbia international, the Daily Briefing understands. The 24-year-old and his representatives are now exploring other options, with Arsenal keeping an eye on how this saga develops as Mikel Arteta and co. remain keen to strengthen up front in the near future. Alexander Isak is another name we’ve heard a lot about, while Arsenal are also understood to have looked at Viktor Gyokeres. Vlahovic could be another tempting option, however, as he’s notably been targeted by the Gunners in the past, with their interest dating back to his time at Fiorentina. New contacts are expected in the coming days, with Arsenal weighing up a January move for Vlahovic, even if nothing has been fully decided yet at either the player or the club’s end. Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee is among the names Juventus have looked at as a possible replacement for Vlahovic up front.

he isnt bald that bald pic is from years ago when he used to shave his head here is another here are pics from last season now he has shaved it again

I assume nothing unless I am given at least some concrete evidence

where do you see he is out for a month now? I see this: "It should be fine": Romeo Lavia reassures about his injury before the Red Devils' matches https://www.rtl.be/sport/football/diables-rouges/cela-devrait-aller-romeo-lavia-rassure-sur-sa-blessure-avant-les-matchs-des/2024-11-12/article/727916

I approve of this.................... Exclusive: Chelsea in active negotiations to beat Man Utd to transfer of world class Bundesliga star Jonathan Tah https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/11/17/jonathan-tah-transfer-Chelsea/ Chelsea are understood to be leading the race for the potential signing of Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah after entering into active negotiations over a deal. Tah is due to be out of contract with Leverkusen at the end of this season, and he’s technically free to start talking with clubs from abroad from January onwards, with Chelsea looking to beat their rivals to this deal, CaughtOffside have been told. The Blues are making early efforts to try to move into a strong position for Tah, who is also attracting interest from other big names such as Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Real Madrid. The 28-year-old has been a world class performer for Leverkusen for some time now, and his departure would be a huge blow for the club, but it seems they’re struggling to convince him to stay. Chelsea could do with strengthening in defence and CaughtOffside understands they’re making Tah one of their top targets, even if there will clearly be plenty of competition for his signature in the weeks and months ahead. Tah is understood to be happy at Leverkusen, with no final decision made yet on his future, but with the Germany international keen to explore new opportunities in his career. Is Jonathan Tah the signing Chelsea need? Chelsea would do well to strengthen in defence in the near future after the relatively underwhelming form of players like Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile, and Tah looks like he could be an ideal option. Even if Tah is not the youngest, he would add quality and experience to this CFC squad, and is a great opportunity on the market due to being a free agent next summer. Chelsea notably got a good few years out of Thiago Silva when he joined on a free, even if some will have doubted the Brazilian at the time due to his age, and Tah is a lot younger than Silva was when he joined. All in all, this looks like it has the potential to be a very smart deal for Chelsea, but one imagines we can’t rule out the likes of Man United yet either. The Red Devils have both Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof nearing the ends of their contracts, so new defensive additions would surely make sense for Ruben Amorim as he inherits a struggling side from Erik ten Hag, with Matthijs de Ligt not looking particularly impressive since joining in the summer. other right-footed CBs I approve of and who are or might be available (and who are healthy, thus no Bremer, Scalvini ) Ronald Araujo Marquinhos Ousmane Diomande António Silva Mohamed Simakan (also plays RB) Cristhian Mosquera Wilfried Singo (also plays RB) Jarell Quansah Malick Thiaw Martin Vitík Tomás Araújo Isak Hien wild card Arouna Sangante Le Havre Captain at only 21yo, turns 23yo this coming spring pacey, strong, good size Bayern, Manure, Pool, Inter, Dortmund, Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Juve, etc are scouting him

The Mysterious Player Who REFUSED To Become The GOAT

"Tell the whole world: Olympique Lyon will not be relegated" American owner John Textor spoke up following the news that Lyon have been hit with a provisional relegation to Ligue 2. Textor had originally said that the French club have no issue with sustainability and that he was "confident" in the club's figures. https://www.besoccer.com/new/tell-the-whole-world-olympique-lyon-will-not-be-relegated-1338032

Martin Ødegaard has become one of the world's best AMFs

all the biggest clubs are scouting Sverre Nypan hard the Real Madrid fans think he has partial Kroos potential

pass