Manchester United are in the market for late deals and could be set to earn some much needed capital to invest into their squad by sanctioning a key departure, according to reports.
Manchester United look for Ruben Amorim turnaround
To put it bluntly, Ruben Amorim hasn’t endured the tenure he would’ve liked at Old Trafford so far and his misfortune was only compounded further courtesy of a disastrous EFL Cup exit to Grimsby Town in midweek.
Losing out on penalties, the Red Devils boss has been left under pressure by club chiefs, with reports emerging that Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner could be in the frame to take over at Manchester United if results don’t improve.
Wayne Rooney has been critical of the former Sporting boss and claimed that the defeat at Blundell Park could prove to be a ‘breaking point’ for Amorim, citing his belief that he will find it difficult to turn around the malaise at the club.
He stated on his own show: “There’s a pressure at Manchester United which he will never have felt before. When you’re not winning games it can start to get to you, and it looks like it was a breaking point for him.
“There’s just a little bit too much rotation going on and players getting a little bit lost. When they lose the ball there’s massive gaps and spaces and it’s a carry on from last season. If it carries on like that, then unfortunately I don’t see how it moves forward.”
Man Utd now seriously considering late move for "wonderful" £32m midfielder
INEOS may not be done just yet…
2 ByDominic Lund
Transfers could be pivotal to a turnaround, and Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher could be set for an Old Trafford move, albeit sales will be necesarry to pulling any further moves off.
If recent reports are to be believed, they could now be set to hasten that process.
Rasmus Hojlund set for Napoli medical
According to Il Mattino, Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund is set to undergo a medical at Napoli in a deal that will see the Red Devils inherit around £37.2 million once his initial loan move goes through.
If the Serie A champions secure qualification to next campaign’s Champions League, the agreement will convert into an obligation to buy, meaning Amorim’s men will receive the full amount quoted.
Across his time at Old Trafford, Hojlund has struck 26 times in 95 appearances in all competitions. Nevertheless, Benjamin Sesko’s arrival has pushed him down the pecking order and an exit has been all but ratified.
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Alejandro Garnacho’s move to Chelsea for £40 million will offer Manchester United the chance to make another marquee signing, if they can push negotiations over the line at this late stage, though it remains to be seen when both deals officially go through.
Either way, Amorim is in need of help to bolster his squad and funds generated from Hojlund’s exit will go a long way to achieving that feat.
Everton are believed to have agreed a deal to sign a teenage player who could be a future star, according to a fresh transfer rumour.
Everton preparing for vital summer
David Moyes may have impressively steered the Blues away from the Premier League relegation zone, but there is still a clear need for reinforcements this summer, with only one win coming their way in their last eight matches, including Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester City.
Auxerre left-back Clement Akpa has been linked with Everton, who have been boosted by the news that he is likely to leave his current club at the end of this season. Wolves are also battling to sign him, however, so the Merseysiders face competition.
The Blues also reportedly remain confident of snapping up West Brom youngster Tom Fellows, who was a rumoured target throughout the summer transfer window. The Englishman has shone for the Baggies throughout this season, registering 13 assists in the Championship.
Tom Fellows in action for West Brom.
A new striker is needed at Everton, especially if Domini Calvert-Lewin moves on, with Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap named as an option to come in, as well as Brighton ace Evan Ferguson. While signing proven players is key this summer, planning for the future is also essential, and a young target has now emerged.
Everton agree deal to sign "excellent" young defender
According to a new report from Football Insider, Everton have “agreed a deal” to sign Hearts teenager John Dodds, with the 16-year-old an “extremely highly-rated” player.
They have had a “bid accepted” for the young centre-back, ahead of what is described in the report as a “transformational summer window”, which will excite Blues supporters.
Little is likely to be known about Dodds from the Everton fanbase, given his age and the fact that he is yet to represent Hearts at senior level.
He is clearly a special young talent with a high ceiling, though, so the fact that the Blues appear to have snapped him up should be considered a big positive.
Fewer touches than Pickford: Everton must axe 5/10 dud who made 4 passes
Everton conceded two late goals to Manchester City this afternoon to lose 2-0.
4 ByRoss Kilvington
Dodds would clearly be a work in progress to begin with, spending time in the youth team to develop, but it may not be too long until he shows Moyes that he is worthy of a first-team place, with Hearts’ academy hailing him as “excellent” on X in the past.
Signing the brightest young British talent around should always be a priority for a club with the tradition and history of a club like Everton, so this is a major plus for them, as Moyes looks to slowly bring the glory days back and develop talented stars.
First, the positive. Leeds United remain at the top of the Championship table, holding a one-point advantage over the chasing pack of Burnley and Sheffield United following Saturday’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Hull City.
That slim lead at the summit will be little consolation for Daniel Farke’s side in truth, however, with the Yorkshire outfit throwing away a two-goal margin at the MKM Stadium and thus throwing away three points in the process.
Daniel Farke
The visitors had gone behind early on following Abu Kamara’s fifth-minute lob, although an impressive response after the break saw the Whites storm into a commanding position, with Ao Tanaka’s curling stunner followed by goals from Daniel James and Joel Piroe.
Life in the Championship is never straightforward, however, with the away side miraculously conspiring to collapse in the closing stages, with that man Kamara snatching a draw after Joao Pedro had poked home minutes earlier.
Fingers will be pointed, unsurprisingly, at the hapless Illan Meslier in the sticks, although – while the Frenchman deserves criticism – he wasn’t alone in enduring a dismal day at the office.
Illam Meslier's performance vs Hull
Previously lauded as the “best keeper in this league” by his manager, the 6 foot 6 enigma looked anything but on Saturday, having been the man most responsible for Leeds dropping points.
Performance in Numbers
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The 24-year-old’s mistakes may not rank on par with his last-gasp clanger at the Stadium of Light back in October, but to have been culpable for all three goals is good-going indeed.
For the opener, while the sluggish Max Wober should well have done better to track the speedy Kamara, there appears no excuse for Meslier finding himself in No Man’s Land after surging out of his goal, with the Hull forward duly dinking the ball into the back of the net from range.
Illan Meslier’s stats vs Hull
90 minutes played
3 saves
1 save inside the box
1 error leading to a goal
-0.02 goals prevented
1 punch
30 touches
83% pass accuracy
2/6 long balls completed
Stats via Sofascore
While perhaps not solely to blame for that early strike, Meslier was certainly the main culprit for Pedro’s 81st-minute effort, having comically flapped at a looping header and in turn spilt the ball into the path of the Brazilian.
With the clock then ticking toward stoppage time, the former Lorient stopper rushed out of his goal to meet Gustavo Puerta’s inswinging corner, yet ultimately didn’t get near the ball, with Kamara subsequently firing home from the ensuing scramble.
Illan Meslier
There have been reports that the Leeds number one is courting interest from clubs across Europe, although the Elland Road side may wish to consider acquiring a replacement regardless, with Farke’s loyalty to his goalkeeper perhaps needing to be questioned.
The Leeds star who had a "shocker" vs Hull
It must be said, however, that it wasn’t just Meslier who was under-par on the day, with former Swansea City and Manchester United man, James, enduring something of a “shocker” on the flanks, in the words of journalist Graham Smyth.
Also awarded a meagre 4/10 match rating by Smyth and the Yorkshire Evening Post, it certainly wasn’t the Welshman’s finest hour, even despite getting himself on the scoresheet.
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That goal, at the time, looked set to help steer Leeds to a valuable away win, with James slotting home from Jayden Bogle’s pullback, following fine work on the opposite flank by Manor Solomon.
While that man Solomon caught the eye down the left – racking up three key passes, no less – James was far less effective on the right, having notably lost the ball on 18 occasions, as per Sofascore, while failing to provide a single key pass himself.
To make matters worse, the 5 foot 7 winger also failed to win a single duel while being dribbled past twice, having also missed three big chances to add insult to injury.
While he does now boast six goals and three assists in the Championship this season, it is likely that Farke will be looking for a lot more from his flying forward, with James’ overall display having been far from good enough.
6 players who could leave Leeds United this January
Leeds United could be set to lose to a number of players this month…
All summer long, Newcastle United have been on the hunt for a new right-sided attacker to try and bolster Eddie Howe’s attacking ranks.
However, after multiple failed attempts, with just ten days remaining in the transfer window, there’s not long left for the hierarchy and recruitment team to pick out a talent that would improve the options available to the Magpies boss.
Jacob Murphy started the season opener against Southampton in the Premier League last weekend, before being replaced by full-back Emil Krafth after Fabian Schar’s red card, with Miguel Almiron an unused substitute during the victory.
After such heavy investment, it’s evident that more needs to be spent to give Howe that option that he’s been craving all summer, but no deal seems close for any of the targets, which include Anthony Elanga and Noni Madueke.
As a result, the club could turn their attention to one player who has previously caught the eye in recent months.
Newcastle should make move for £35m talent
In the club’s hunt for a new right-sided attacker, it’s pivotal that they don’t make an erratic signing for the sake of an extra body, with any addition needing to be an upgrade on the players currently in that area.
PSV Eindhoven forwardJohan Bakayoko.
One player they could reignite interest is PSV’s Belgian winger Johan Bakayoko, after previously registering interest in a move for the 21-year-old earlier in the summer.
However, they wouldn’t be alone in their hunt for the youngster, with Liverpool also touted as a potential destination for the talent who has already registered two goals in the Eredivisie this season.
Any deal for Bakayoko would cost an interested party around the £35m mark, a reasonable price given his impressive goal return so far in 2024/25.
He would prove to be an upgrade on the current crop of players at Howe’s disposal, whilst also a better option than one sensation who recently departed Tyneside.
Why Bakayoko would be an upgrade on Minteh
A lot of disappointment was expressed at the end of June when Newcastle offloaded young winger Yankuba Minteh in a £33m deal to help boost their PSR standing.
The Gambian winger produced a sensational campaign on loan at Dutch outfit Feyenoord, registering 15 goal contributions in just 27 appearances – helping Arne Slot’s side claim a Champions League spot.
Whilst the deal saw the Magpies make a £26m profit on the £8m fee they paid for him the summer prior, there were real expectations that he could’ve been the answer to the club’s right-wing issues – but ultimately they couldn’t risk a point deduction during the current campaign.
However, a potential move for Bakayoko would see Howe’s secure themselves a higher-quality talent, with the youngster dubbed as a “[Bukayo] Saka regen” by analyst Ben Mattinson, with the talent possessing a very similar trait of cutting inside onto his wand of a left foot.
When comparing both his and Minteh's respective stats from the Eredivisie last season, the Belgian came out on top in various key areas for an attacker, potentially adding much-needed quality to Newcastle’s front line.
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Bakayoko registered more combined goals and assists than Minteh last season – with 21 in total in the league – demonstrating the added goalscoring threat that he possesses in attacking areas.
How Bakayoko & Minteh compare in the Eredivisie (2023/24)
Statistics (per 90)
Bakayoko
Minteh
Games played
33
27
Goals + assists
21
15
Progressive passes
3.5
2.5
Pass accuracy
82%
64%
Take-on success
53%
50%
Carries into final third
3.6
3
Stats via FBref
He also averaged more progressive passes per 90, whilst completing more take-ons and carries into the final third, creating opportunities for himself or the likes of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak.
£35m for a player of his quality in today’s market could potentially be excellent business by the club, with his value set to soar with regular minutes in one of Europe’s leading divisions. That likeness to Saka is also another tick in the box, with the Englishman chalking up 34 goals and assists for Arsenal last season.
PSV Eindhoven'sJohanBakayokoin action with FC Zurich's Karol Mets
The Belgian has undeniable quality, allowing the Magpies to finally solve their right-winger hunt if they do revive their prior interest, whilst also handing the fanbase the opportunity to forget about the loss of Minteh.
Newcastle could now make £10m+ move for winger who plays like Eden Hazard
Since being taken over in 2008, many things have changed about Manchester City. They are completely unrecognisable on and off the pitch, are now considered one of, if not the best team in world football, and have a superb footballing structure off the pitch.
Not only have their owners invested in the first team, but they have also put money into the community to help develop a better area around the Etihad Stadium, and they have put £200m into the City Football Academy, which is opposite the Etihad, as of May 2021.
City’s investment into their academy has begun to pay dividends in recent years. Whilst they often bring talent in from elsewhere, such as Romeo Lavia, who they signed in 2020 from Anderlecht before selling him to Southampton in 2022, for £10.5m, they have seen homegrown success, players who cost them nothing and could result in profit or a first-team place.
Cole Palmer came through the City academy, and broke into the first-team before being sold to Chelsea last summer for £40m, where he now has 25 Premier League goal involvements in 26 games. Rico Lewis made his debut in 2022, where he scored, and is now an important squad member under Pep Guardiola.
Cole Palmer
However, there is one academy graduate whose first-team career so far for City has been wonderful, and he is now recognised as one of the most valuable players in world football.
Phil Foden's Man City career in numbers
The player in question is Phil Foden, who was signed by City at the age of eight and has risen through their academy ranks, eventually becoming one of the most important players for Pep Guardiola’s side
Foden’s time at City has been exceptional so far. He has already won 16 major trophies at just 23 years of age, which includes five Premier League titles and a Champions League which was one-third of a historic treble in 2022/23.
Manchester City winger Phil Foden.
He has already made 262 appearances for the Citizens and has 82 goals and 51 assists to his name so far. The attacker had a rapid rise into City’s first team and has thrived under the tutelage of Guardiola since he was given his debut in November 2017. He has never looked back.
Phil Foden's transfer value in 2024
According to CIES Football Observatory, there are only two players currently more valuable than Phil Foden in world football, namely Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham. The England star is valued at £171m, the same as international teammate Bukayo Saka, and Real Madrid duo Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior. He's also valued far higher than the likes of Rodri (£86m) and Bernardo Silva (£51m).
Most valuable players in World football
Player
Transfer value
#1 Erling Haaland
£214m
#2 Jude Bellingham
£214m
#3 Rodrygo
£171m
#4 Vinicius Jr
£171m
#5 Phil Foden
£171m
#6 Bukayo Saka
£171m
Data taken from Football Observatory.
This is certainly reflected in Foden’s exemplary 2023/24 season so far. The 23-year-old has arguably been the best player in the Premier League this season.
He currently has 14 goals and seven assists in the top flight, with 22 goals and ten assists in all competitions. The latest of which was a simply scorching strike in the Bernabeu as City drew 3-3 with Real Madrid.
For context, only Erling Haaland has more goal involvements for City this season than Foden’s 32, with the Norway striker currently sitting on 36 in total.
Described by his England teammate Declan Rice as “very very special” back in 2021, it is clear why Foden is so highly rated and valued. Credit must be given to his manager Guardiola, who has given him a new role in central areas of the pitch this season, which is clearly working for his side and for the player.
Manchester City forward Phil Foden.
It is somewhere that Foden himself has admitted to preferring to play. In an interview with Sky Sports following his hat-trick away to Brentford in February, the 23-year-old said “I'm enjoying playing in the middle and that's where I see myself. Hopefully I can get more game time playing there."
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Playing centrally allows Foden to get on the ball much more between the lines, and he can have more of an impact in the final third. This season, he averages 2.23 passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 16% of positionally similar players in Europe, as per Fbref, which shows how much more control he can have on the game in central areas.
Manchester City star Phil Foden
It is perhaps unsurprising to Guardiola that Foden is playing as well as he is this season. The former Barcelona manager has previously described him as “the most, most, most talented player I have ever seen in my career as a manager”. That is high praise given that Guardiola managed Lionel Messi in his prime.
If Foden continues this upward trajectory, he could become one of the greatest English players of all time. He does not seem to be slowing down any time soon, and there is likely a decade or more left of his career. It certainly feels like we are witnessing the career of one of the all-time great Premier League footballers.
The brevity of success in football is a puzzle that all teams are aware of, notably Liverpool, with efforts made year after year to effectively equip for the season during the summer, and then instil a philosophy fit for illustrious success across the campaign.
The Reds' seasonal demise last year punctuated this point, with Jurgen Klopp's dynasty teetering on the cusp of its culmination as dreadful form and a loss of life unravelled the years of hard work at Anfield.
There's optimism anew now and the Reds are back fighting for a place at the forefront of the Premier League, with Saturday's fixture of the utmost importance: a clash against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
For Pep Guardiola's side, silverware certainly hasn't been in short supply over recent years, with Manchester City winning 14 major honours in just seven seasons since the sagacious Spaniard's appointment; Klopp has won six major honours on Merseyside.
On Saturday, Liverpool have a glorious opportunity to leapfrog their rivals to first place by defeating them in their own backyard, with the stakes high in one of the global game's most compelling and eagerly-anticipated fixtures.
Liverpool team news vs Manchester City
Liverpool are boosted by the return of multiple first-team stars, with the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle allaying fears of respective issues and additionally revealing that the South American players are fit and raring to go for the trip to Manchester.
Andy Robertson is taking his recovery from a shoulder injury "week by week", with the Scotland captain not expected to return to match action for the foreseeable future.
Likewise, Spanish midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara remain out and may well be shackled to the medical room until after the new year.
It is galvanising that so many players are in contention to start against the Sky Blues, but nothing surpasses the importance of having Virgil van Dijk in top form to stifle the threat of one of the greatest offensive squads in modern history.
Virgil van Dijk's season in numbers
The Athletic's James Pearce recently remarked that the Dutchman is "back to his brilliant best", having flattered to deceive as Liverpool toiled last year.
Liverpool signed Van Dijk from Southampton for a staggering £75m back in December 2017, with the 32-year-old since making 233 appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals, supplying 14 assists and winning the whole gamut of silverware under Klopp's wing.
Virgil van Dijk: PL Stats 23/24
Statistics (per game)
#
Apps
10
Goals
0
Assists
2
Clean sheets
3
Pass completion
92%
Key passes
0.6
Tackles
1.3
Interceptions
1.4
Ball recoveries
4.7
Clearances
5.3
Ground duels won
1.5 (75%)
Aerial duels won
5.1 (82%)
*Sourced via WhoScored
The club captain will be crucial in preventing the hosts from gaining a foothold, and the best way to do this is to negate the threat of Erling Haaland, who is a seemingly indomitable force in front of goal.
Erling Haaland's season in numbers
Some would argue that Haaland, aged 23, deserved to win the Ballon d'Or over Lionel Messi this year, having plundered 52 goals and nine assists from just 53 matches as his remarkable side soared toward an incredible treble.
This season, he has been as imperious as ever and has already scored 17 times from just 18 matches across all competitions – including 13 strikes from 12 matches in the Premier League.
As per FBref, the Norwegian machine ranks among the top 6% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 10% for assists and the top 11% for touches in the attacking box per 90, which is rather remarkable considering the amount of football that he has played.
Dubbed a "generational talent" by pundit Rory Smith, Haaland has been the ultimate centre-forward under Guardiola's guidance, an arrowhead with sharpness unseen on English soil, finishing off City's slick passing play with the deadliest of final touches.
Interestingly, he doesn't have a very good record against Liverpool, scoring twice from five matches but losing on four occasions, with his only victory coming in the Carabao Cup fourth round last December, where he scored as his side progressed.
Guardiola is a master strategist and he will know that to maximise his talisman's efficacy he must be channelled away from Van Dijk, whose masterful blend of qualities makes for a pretty good chance of diminishing the threat
As such, it's likely that he will be angled toward the other side of the central defence, and because of this, Joe Gomez must receive the nod ahead of Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate.
How Joe Gomez can stop Haaland tomorrow
Having been branded a "footballing nightmare" by journalist Uri Levy last season – very much at the epicentre of Liverpool's struggles – the £85k-per-week Gomez has been enjoying an almighty revival since the summer.
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Frankly, bullying the £375k-per-week goalscoring monster into submission is not going to be an easy task, but the 26-year-old has been noted for his "brilliant" renaissance this term by the likes of reporter Neil Jones – an apt remark.
The dynamic defender ranks among the top 7% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries, the top 13% for tackles, the top 17% for interceptions and the top 1% for shot-creating actions per 90.
joe-gomez-liverpool
The final metric there is less important when discussing how he can disrupt Haaland's goal-grabbing flow, but it is indicative of his playmaking ability and ease in progressing the play, keeping it away from the danger area.
Gomez also found success in the Premier League last season against Haaland, with his performance against the 6 foot 3 force at Anfield last season more than catching the eye.
With a struggling Liverpool emerging 1-0 victors, Gomez's defensive display was imperative, not dribbled past once and winning possession ten times, negating Haaland's attacking weapons considerably.
They say that lightning doesn't strike twice, but the Englishman will feel that he can subdue Haaland alongside an in-form Van Dijk, offering pace, precision and composure to produce a statement victory for the Reds.
Manchester United have been strongly linked with Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat for a few months now. The latest update from transfer insider Dean Jones to GIVEMESPORT is that “they will keep pushing this to make it happen” as the start of the new Premier League season looms.
Sofyan Amrabat saga continues…
Amrabat first rose to mainstream prominence after his impressive performances for his country at the Qatar World Cup last year. Since then, he has attracted a lot of interest and Manchester United are at the front of that queue, if terms can be agreed, as per Fabrizio Romano when speaking to GIVEMESPORT.
Football is a world of revolving doors and so if the Fiorentina man is to arrive at Old Trafford, others will surely have to move on. Amongst the most likely are midfield duo Scott McTominay and Fred. Sky Sports are reporting that West Ham United are not only pursuing McTominay but also former United captain Harry Maguire as he continues to slip further down the pecking order.
There was previously interest from Newcastle United in the Scottish central midfielder whereas Fred would most likely leave England altogether. According to Metro, Turkish club Galatasaray is the most likely destination for the Brazilian where he would line up alongside a number of star names, including Wilfried Zaha, Lucas Torreira and Mauro Icardi.
What does Dean Jones have to say on the future of Amrabat?
“They [Manchester United] are really hot on this deal, I think they will keep pushing this to make it happen because there seems more intent than any time up to now.
“There is still the Atletico Madrid factor to fend off but United want to make Amrabat their next signing after Hojlund and if they can pull that off it’s going to be a real accomplishment.
“United’s transfer window was redefined over the course of July and now August will be used to put the finishing touches to the deals and glam up the squad. I’m told there is evert confidence that can make the numbers work on this one, so it’s a pretty exciting time.”
Where else could Amrabat end up?
As Dean Jones alludes to, Man United’s pursuit of World Cup star Amrabat isn’t without its obstacles. Football Italia were reporting over a month ago that the 26-year-old had agreed personal terms with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid, only for that to go quiet due to Fiorentina demanding more money than Atleti were prepared to offer.
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Jones’ wording suggests that Atletico are still interested in securing the services of Amrabat and there is a spot in the midfield at the Wanda Metropolitano following the departure of Geoffrey Kondogbia. The former Valencia man, along with fullback Renan Lodi, joined Marseille on a permanent deal in the region of £7 million.
Prior to this summer, it was Barcelona who were closest to snapping him up fresh off of the Qatar exploits of the World Cup star. Again, Fiorentina held strong though and so it could be the finances of the red half of Manchester which prevails after all.
Leeds United youngster Wilfried Gnonto could potentially make a return to Serie A in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh rumour regarding his future.
Has Gnonto shone in a Leeds shirt?
The £20,000-a-week attacker has become an exciting figure at Elland Road during his short time at the club, having joined from FC Zurich last year – with the Italian chipping in with two goals and four assists in the Premier League this season.
The Whites are struggling badly to remain in the top flight, however, and they need results to go hugely in their favour this weekend if they are to avoid playing Championship football for the first time since the 2019/20 campaign.
Should Leeds go down, it could lead to an exodus involving a number of key players, and Gnonto could be one of them, even though his current deal doesn't expire until the summer of 2027.
According to Calcio Web [via Sport Witness], "there is an agreement" for Gnonto to return to Serie A at the end of the season, with Leeds currently facing the prospect of demotion. Sassuolo are name-checked in the report and are planning to take the "decisive shot" to sign the 19-year-old, and a deal in the region of €10-15m (£8.6-13m) "could be concluded".
In truth, it would be hard to begrudge Gnonto wanting to leave the Whites if they get relegated this weekend, with the youngster unlikely to be keen on playing Championship football next term. This is a player who already has 10 caps to his name for Italy despite his tender years, as well as being hailed as "very direct" by Gary Neville – and someone he is a "huge admirer" of.
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To lose such a talented young footballer so soon would be a massive blow for Leeds and highlight how disappointing this season has been for them, and if the Italian does demand to return to his homeland in the summer, it is essential that the club get as much money as possible for him.
Should the Whites pull off the impossible on Sunday afternoon and remain in the Premier League, the situation could certainly change, but for now, supporters may have to accept that this weekend could be the final time they get to see Gnonto in a Leeds shirt.
Leeds United have Steven Gerrard on their managerial radar to succeed Jesse Marsch, according to Italian journalist Marco Conterio.
The Lowdown: Gerrard’s managerial career
The Liverpudlian began his senior managerial career in Scotland with Rangers, where he averaged an impressive 2.15 points per game in 192 matches.
The 42-year-old won the Scottish Premiership during his time at Ibrox and went on to replace Dean Smith at Aston Villa in 2021, but just like Marsch, he only lasted 11 months in the Premier League.
Gerrard averaged just 1.18 points per game in 40 matches at Villa Park, but it looks as if he is still on Victor Orta’s radar after speculation first emerged over a move to Leeds back in 2019.
The Latest: Leeds interested in Gerrard
Conterio, chief editor for TuttoMercatoWeb, took to Twitter following Marsch’s dismissal to share names of potential successors at Elland Road.
Alongside West Brom manager Carlos Corberan and Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, Conterio named Gerrard as a potential option to take over in Yorkshire. Meanwhile, reliable reporter Phil Hay has since reported that Andoni Iraola at Rayo Vallecano is also on the radar.
The Verdict: Could be easy to do…
Gerrard shared his love for Elland Road while he was Aston Villa manager and actually shares the same agency as new Whites signing Weston McKennie, so a move could be fairly straightforward to complete should Leeds pursue the 42-year-old.
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However, there are question marks over his ability to manage in the Premier League after struggling in the Midlands, so an appointment could be a gamble.
The pros over the move are that Gerrard now has experience in the English top flight from which he can learn, along with previous success at Rangers, but Leeds know that they need to get this decision spot-on, especially as they are flirting with the bottom three once again this year.
Newcastle United have submitted an enquiry to sign Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus in 2023, according to reports.
The Lowdown: Star in the making
The Ghanaian is currently in Qatar after being named in Otto Addo’s 26-man squad for the World Cup, and his performances in the Middle East appear to have caught the eye of several potential suitors, having stood out with two goals against South Korea on Monday.
Newcastle’s Premier League rivals Everton came close to signing the 22-year-old over the summer for £15m, whilst Liverpool had been monitoring him as well, but Eddie Howe is now keen to bring him to St James’ Park.
The Latest: Newcastle make Kudus enquiry
According to 90min, Newcastle, alongside Arsenal and Tottenham, have ‘asked’ about Kudus’ situation in Amsterdam following his outstanding displays at the World Cup.
Ajax are in ‘no hurry’ to lose one of their standout performers, although a ‘big offer’ would be ‘hard to turn down’ given that his valuation has now increased.
The Black Stars maestro’s price tag is believed to have ‘more than doubled’ to beyond the £30m mark as a combination of his long-term contract and his performances for Ghana.
Saddick Adams has dubbed Kudus a World Cup ‘jewel’, and whilst it will prove difficult to fend off the strong competition for the 22-year-old, Newcastle should do what they can to get this deal over the line.
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The Ghanaian has posted 12 goal contributions in 21 appearances across all competitions for Ajax this season and is a versatile player with the ability to operate in three different positions (Transfermarkt).
The Magpies are currently in the top four in the Premier League, and the potential arrival of Kudus in January could prove the difference as to whether or not they secure a Champions League place for the 2023/24 campaign.