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da realsbet： A forward who was once valued at nine figures has held talks over a summer move to Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca’s side rumoured to be laying groundwork over transfers ahead of the first window on June 1.

Chelsea target quick transfer deals before Club World Cup

da betcris： The Blues will be taking part in this year’s edition of the Club World Cup, and it has been reported that Chelsea could stand to receive a hefty financial windfall if they perform well in the competition.

Related Fabrizio Romano: Chelsea now want to sign £50m star "by the end of May"

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BlueCo are therefore taking the CWC seriously, and they’ll have a limited window to do business and officially sign players before the tournament kicks off. From June 1 to June 10, Chelsea will be able to acquire squad upgrades ahead of the CWC, before the window then reopens from June 16 to September 1.

Race for Champions League qualification with 2 games remaining

Points

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Reports suggest the west Londoners are fully intent on completing deals in that period, with Fabrizio Romano recently stating that Chelsea want to seal a move for Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen “by the end of May”.

Chelsea are involved in an airtight battle to finish in the top five and confirm their spot in the Champions League draw for next season, and the result of this race will have a knock-on effect when it comes to their transfer plans, as confirmed by Maresca.

However, in the meantime, Chelsea remain busy with their recruitment plans as they also aim to bring in new forwards. The Stamford Bridge hierarchy wish to acquire both a new winger and a striker for Maresca, as per journalist Simon Phillips and other reliable sources, and they’re now being linked with soon-to-be out-of-contract Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane.

Leroy Sane holds talks over joining Chelsea on free deal

The £244,000-per-week Germany international was closing in on a new deal in Bavaria, but he recently changed representatives, employing super-agent Pini Zahavi.

While Sane remains open to extending his contract, Zahavi has submitted a counter-offer to their initially agreed extension – with his camp now demanding a £10m-per-year salary plus £2.5m in add-ons tied to appearances (Florian Plettenberg).

Bayern are intent on standing firm and have no intention of improving their original proposal, though, leaving the door open for Sane to potentially leave the Allianz Arena despite his excellent form over the second half of 2024/2025.

Sane is thought to be keen on a move to Chelsea as an alternative to remaining at Bayern, with journalist Graeme Bailey sharing another update to The Boot Room.

Bailey reports that Sane’s representatives have held talks over a move to Chelsea, even if he would prefer to stay at Bayern, with his contract ticking down towards expiry on June 30.

Every day that passes and no new deal is agreed, Sane’s return to the Premier League grows more likely, as the player and Vincent Kompany’s side find themselves in a stalemate.

Signing the experienced high-level forward for nothing would be a coup, especially considering he was once valued at £137 million during his time at Man City.

da betsson： West Ham United could cash in on one of their key players this summer, in order to fund a major summer rebuild, according to a report.

Hammers now seven games without win after Brighton loss

da imperador bet： Luckily for West Ham, last season’s three promoted Championship sides have found it very difficult to adapt to life in the Premier League, which means they are now mathematically safe, but it has been a season to forget.

After the 3-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, the Hammers are now seven games without a win, and they are sitting 17th in the table with just four games left to play, which indicates a major revamp of the squad could be needed.

In light of the poor results, questions are now being asked about manager Graham Potter, who admitted he was in “pain” after his side capitulated against the Seagulls, conceding two late goals to lose the game 3-2.

It remains to be seen whether Potter is given time to turn the situation around, but there could be a major rebuild regardless of which manager is in the dugout next season, although the Irons may have to cash-in on a star player to fund it.

That is according to a report from The Express, which states West Ham are now considering the sale of Lucas Paqueta to fund the overhaul of their squad this summer.

Mohammed Kudus’ departure could also be sanctioned, amid interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, who will have the opportunity to sign the Ghanaian for £85m.

As such, Paqueta and Kudus’ futures at the London Stadium appear to be up in the air, but one player who the Hammers are unwilling to sell is Jarrod Bowen, with the England international deemed to be untouchable.

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Posts "Incredible" Paqueta underperforming this season

The Brazilian has been a key player for the Hammers this season, making 30 appearances in the Premier League, but he has largely been ineffective, picking up just four goals and failing to record an assist.

The attacking midfielder is without a goal contribution in his last ten outings, and he is clearly finding it difficult to rediscover his best form, having previously been lauded as “incredible” in a West Ham shirt.

That said, the whole team has fallen way short of expectations this season, and the 27-year-old may flourish in a better side, should the Irons make the correct additions to their squad this summer.

It may be a little early to cash-in on the £150k-a-week maestro, and his sale is unlikely to raise a great deal of money regardless, with recent reports suggesting Paqueta could be sold for just £20m.

da leao： Manchester United slumped to another defeat in the Premier League this season when they were beaten 4-3 by Brentford in a dramatic clash on Sunday.

da luck： The Red Devils have now lost 16 times in the top-flight this term and sit 15th in the table as it stands, winning just ten, and there is no denying that it has a dismal domestic campaign.

Ruben Amorim’s side could still win the Europa League and secure Champions League football for next season, but United will know that they need to improve their domestic form.

On the same day that Manchester United were thrashed by the Bees, Red Devils loanee Antony added another goal to his collection for Real Betis, with the stunner against Espanyol.

The Brazilian forward, who joined Real Betis on loan in the January transfer window, has now scored three goals in his last four appearances for the Spanish side, whilst his parent club continue to struggle.

Antony's impressive form on loan at Real Betis

The left-footed flop started the season with zero goals and zero assists in 12 appearances in the Premier League and the Europa League combined for Manchester United.

Antony, who produced three goals and two assists in 38 matches for the club in the 2023/24 campaign, was allowed to go out on loan in January because he had not performed well enough at the top end of the pitch over the previous 18 months.

Three goals and two assists in 50 games is not a good enough return for an attacking player who reportedly cost the club a fee of £86m from Ajax in the summer of 2022.

Perhaps the weight of that transfer fee has been too much for Antony to carry during his time at Old Trafford because his performances for Real Betis are those of a star who is playing with the weight off his shoulders.

Antony (24/25)

LaLiga

Conference League

Appearances

13

7

xG

2.66

0.76

Goals

4

3

Big chances created

8

4

Key passes per game

2.5

1.0

Assists

2

2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Brazil international has made an instant impact in Spain in both LaLiga and the Conference League with his exciting performances at the top end of the pitch.

He has been directly involved in 11 goals in 20 matches, with seven goals and four assists, in those two competitions, which shows that he has provided a huge threat in the final third from a right wing position.

Despite his impressive burst of performances for Real Betis in recent months, Manchester United could find a winger who is miles better than him by landing a player they have an active interest in.

Man Utd preparing bid for Premier League star

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of the clubs that are interested in a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Arsenal are also eyeing up a possible swoop for the Cameroon international ahead of next season.

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It states that Newcastle United are also keen on the Bees sensation but his club’s valuation of up to £65m is said to make it a difficult deal for the Magpies to do this summer.

The outlet does, however, reveal that Manchester United are preparing an opening offer to sign the forward from Brentford, although it remains to be seen how much that bid will be, and that they could sell the likes of Jadon Sancho and Antony to fund a deal.

INEOS and Amorim must push to win the race for his signature, amid competition from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, because he could come in as a forward who is miles better than Antony.

Why Manchester United sign Bryan Mbeumo

Whilst Antony has caught the eye with his goals and assists for Real Betis since January, the former Ajax star remains an unproven quantity in the Premier League.

As aforementioned, the £86m signing did not provide enough quality, through goals and assists, in the top-flight during his time with Manchester United before being sent out on loan at the start of this year.

Mbeumo, on the other hand, has shown that he has the ability and the consistency to make a big impact in the Premier League, which would make him miles better than Antony has been for the club at that level.

The Brentford star, who has scored 68 goals for the club in all competitions to date in his career, has been in sensational form for the Bees in the current campaign and could be a terrific addition to Amorim’s squad.

No Manchester United player has scored more than eight goals in the Premier League this season, and no Manchester United winger has scored more than seven goals in the division, which illustrates how desperate the Portuguese coach is for an influx of attacking talent in the summer transfer window.

Bryan Mbeumo

24/25 Premier League

Appearances

35

xG

10.82

Goals

18

Big chances created

16

xA

8.84

Assists

6

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Brentford star has been in incredible form in the top-flight with a return of 24 goal involvements, and more than twice as many goals as any Red Devils star has managed.

Mbeumo, who was once described as “incredible” by reporter Dom Smith, has scored more goals this season than Antony has managed in his last four league campaigns combined (17) for Real Betis, Manchester United, and Ajax.

This suggests that the £65m-rated star would be miles better for United than Antony has been, or would be next season, because he carries a significantly greater goal threat and has already proven himself in the Premier League.

Therefore, INEOS must ensure that the bid they are reportedly preparing to make is enough to tempt the Bees into cashing in on their star forward, because he has the quality to be an exceptional addition to Amorim’s squad heading into the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

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da dobrowin： Tottenham Hotspur face Nottingham Forest tonight, looking to build on their tremendous victory in the Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.

da fezbet： Ange Postecoglou’s side booked their place in the semi-finals, setting up a clash with Norwegian outfit Bodo Glimt, with the majority of their attention on such a fixture.

However, the Lilywhites will look to end their Premier League campaign on a high, in what has been a hugely disappointing one by their usual high standards.

They have the opportunity to dent Forest’s ambitions of securing a Champions League place, led by former boss Nuno Espírito Santo, who was sacked in North London after just 17 games in all competitions.

If Ange’s side are to claim all three points this evening, he will have to drop one player who’s failed to deliver when handed the opportunity from the start in recent weeks.

Why Ange should drop Johnson against Nottingham Forest

Welsh winger Brennan Johnson has failed to match his early-season form, which saw him register a goal in six consecutive games across all competitions.

The 23-year-old has only found the back of the net twice since the end of February, with his showing against Frankfurt in midweek certainly one to forget despite the victory.

He featured for 85 minutes of the contest, completing just 69% of the passes he attempted, whilst winning just two of the six duels he entered – often being dominated in the final third.

His total of just 22 touches, an average of one every 3.8 minutes, showcased his lack of impact when on the ball, needing to be replaced as a result of his poor showing.

With little to nothing left to play for other than pride in the league, Ange could take the clash with the Reds to experiment with his first-team, potentially handing a rare start to one other first-team member.

The player who Ange must start against Nottingham Forest

Injuries have massively plagued Ange throughout the majority of this season, hugely preventing any chance of rising up the table – having to often utilise players out of position.

The likes of Archie Gray and Ben Davies have often had to fill the void at the heart of the defence, with numerous forwards missing, leaving Johnson with very little competition in the process.

Wilson Odobert is just one player who’s spent an extended period on the sidelines throughout 2024/25, restricting him from making an impact after his £25m move from Burnley last summer.

The Frenchman has only featured in 14 games across all competitions, most of which have come from the substitutes bench, but it hasn’t prevented him from making a huge impact.

In one of his most recent starts for the Lilywhites, he scored twice in the Europa League triumph over AZ Alkmaar – only making one start since his impressive showing nearly six weeks ago.

Whilst he was an unused substitute in the win on Thursday night, it could be an opportunity for Postecoglou to shuffle his pack and hand the 20-year-old just his sixth league start.

He’s completed 1.8 dribbles per 90 in the league to date, whilst also registering the same amount of efforts on goal, having the attacking threat to add to the front line.

Wilson Odobert’s PL stats for Spurs (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

10

Minutes played

448

Pass accuracy

86%

Successful dribbles

1.8

Shots taken

1.8

Duels won

4.3

Touches in opposition box

5.8

Stats via FotMob

Odobert, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by Jacob Horsfall, has the drive and threat with the ball at his feet that could cause the opposition backline no end of trouble tonight.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the youngster to impress, potentially staking his claim for a starting role in the Europa League, having a massive part to play in their quest for a first trophy since 2008.

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da bet nacional： Arsenal have made an offer to sign an “unpredictable” forward who’s drawn comparisons with Man City legend Bernardo Silva, with the player and his close circle reportedly already making a decision.

Andrea Berta's plans to sign new attackers for Arsenal

da betsul： As per recent reports, the Gunners, now led by new sporting director Andrea Berta, could look to bring in a left-winger, right-winger and centre-forward as part of a potential £300 million summer spending spree (GiveMeSport).

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Berta has already held personal talks with the representatives of Spain international starlet Nico Williams, which occurred last week as one of his first acts in the job (Ed Aarons), and discussions have taken place more recently as well.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Brentford (home)

Today

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 23rd

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Journalist Pete O’Rourke reported on Thursday that Arsenal held “high-level” talks over a deal for Williams this week as well, but despite the 22-year-old’s reported £48 million release clause, there could still be problems when it comes to his overall package.

Other reports state that Williams wants around £250,000 per week to leave Athletic Bilbao, which would make him Arsenal’s third-highest earner behind Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, so this could still end up being a costly operation.

It is the task of Berta to scour far and wide for exciting wide options who will bolster Arsenal’s squad whilst also adhering to PSR and FFP regulations, so it is crucial Arsenal do not overspend in the market – especially if they want to strengthen other key areas.

South America has been a fruitful talent pool for the Gunners, with Gabriel Martinelli going on to be a major success following his bargain £6 million move from Brazilian side Ituano in 2019.

Arsenal scouts are reportedly aiming to replicate that success story, and they’ve got their eye on one promising young forward in particular – River Plate winger Ian Subiabre.

The 18-year-old is seen as one of Argentina’s most exciting up-and-coming forwards, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, who compared him to Bernardo, also describing Subiabre as a “mobile” and “unpredictable” player with a penchant for “trickery”.

Arsenal make proposal for River Plate sensation Ian Subiabre

According to South American news outlet Soy del Millo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal have made an offer for Subiabre after glowing reports from the club’s scouts, but the exact nature of this bid is unclear.

What’s clear, however, is that River won’t let him depart for a penny less than his £26 million release clause. In any case, it appears they may have to wait for the player anyway, who’s already made a decision to remain at his current club.

The teenager’s family have been heavily involved in this, informing River of their desire for Subiabre to sign an extension despite offers from Arsenal and Chelsea.

While it was a “difficult” call for Subiabre and his close circle, it appears the priority right now is to further his development, which comes as a disappointment for Berta and co.

da realbet： One Rangers player is on course to leave Ibrox over the coming months having recently been described as “fragile”.

Rangers manager rumours as 49ers agree takeover deal in principle

da betano casino： It is promising to be a busy few months off the pitch in Glasgow, with the 49ers Enterprises agreeing a deal in principle to take charge at Ibrox. Sky Sports reported last month that talks have been ongoing for a while now and there is ‘growing confidence on all sides that it will be completed ahead of the new season’.

The 49ers will have to get straight to work as well and look ready to do so as there have been claims they are ready to back a new manager in the transfer market with a £20m+ transfer budget.

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Barry Ferguson is the current interim Rangers boss and has been impressing at times, defeating Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce in the Europa League across two legs, while also winning at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership.

Ferguson is thought to be keen on the idea of taking the Rangers manager job on a permanent basis, however, other names have been mentioned as potential targets.

Former Southampton manager Russell Martin has been linked with a move to Scotland, as has Liam Rosenior who is currently in charge of Strasbourg in France.

Rangers progressing to the semi-finals of the Europa League will only strengthen Ferguson’s case to land the job on a full-time basis, however, whoever is in charge could lose a plethora of current Gers players in the summer.

Forward Hamza Igamane is wanted by Marseille, who have made serious moves for the Morocco international. Rangers want £20m for the attacker, however, one player who could leave for free is defender Leon Balogun.

Leon Balogun on course to leave Rangers for free

According to Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, Rangers are set to axe Balogun from the Ibrox books this summer.

The 36-year-old, on £8,000-a-week which equates to £416,000-a-year in Glasgow, is out of contract at the end of the campaign and O’Rourke says it is unlikely he will be offered a new deal.

Balogun returned to Rangers back in 2023, a year after leaving for QPR. Since moving back to Glasgow, he has made a further 44 appearances for the club, taking his overall tally to three figures.

Talking about Balogun recently, Derek Ferguson, brother of Barry, advised Rangers to move the defender on this summer, calling him “fragile”.

Balogun’s career Rangers stats

Games

109

Goals

3

Yellow cards

12

Red cards

3

Trophies

3

“I think he’ll be off. He’s done terrifically well since coming back in, but he’s 36 and injury-prone. He’s a good player, but is he someone Rangers should be looking to tie down? No. He’s done well across two spells, but no, it’s time for Leon to look elsewhere. Rangers will need to look for a younger version of Balogun – a player with pace, power and good in the air. Leon is just too fragile.”

da bet nacional： Turning their attention towards the summer transfer window and navigating any PSR concerns, Aston Villa have reportedly joined the race to sign a South American wonderkid.

Aston Villa facing PSR concerns

da leao： As successful as the Villans have been on the pitch, that success may well come at a price amid concerns over profit and sustainability. Those at Villa Park haven’t been afraid to spend big in recent seasons, but after making losses of more than £105m across the last three campaigns, they are in danger of breaching PSR rules, according to reports.

After Chelsea decided to sell their woman’s team to a sister company in an attempt to comply with the rules and find a loophole, Aston Villa seem to have taken note and are now looking at selling similar stakes. Whether criticised or not, it would be quite the way to avoid any punishment.

Amid such problems, meanwhile, Champions League qualification may prove to be more important than ever if Villa want to ease their concerns and avoid having to sanction frustrating sales.

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The Midlands club already sold Jhon Duran for big money during the January transfer window before welcoming Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford on loan, but should look to avoid a repeat of such a departure this summer.

Whether that’s in their hands remains to be seen, however. What hasn’t helped ease their concerns is David Ornstein’s recent report that Morgan Rogers is among those attracting big admirers ahead of the summer transfer window. It’s a narrative that Aston Villa must put to bed as soon as possible before turning their focus towards signing one particular star.

Aston Villa set sights on South American talent Rayan

Whilst Aston Villa must spend wisely if they are to spend this summer, one young forward slots into the category of players they should be able to afford in the coming months and one they should do everything to avoid missing out on. According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Rayan from Vasco da Gama.

The 18-year-old winger has attracted plenty of attention from interested parties in the Premier League, with Villa joined in line for his signature by Liverpool, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Described as a “physical, bulldozing forward” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, Rayan is still just 18 years old and a player who looks ready to complete his first move into European football.

Unai Emery rarely needs to convince players about his Aston Villa project these days, and Rayan should be no different. Like others before him, the forward would thrive under the Spaniard.

da bet7： Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing hard to sign an “incredible” midfielder, and they are confident they will win the race for his signature, according to a report.

Tottenham eyeing reinforcements in multiple areas

da 888casino： Barring an unlikely triumph in the Europa League, the 2024-25 campaign is likely to go down as a season to forget for Tottenham, with it looking increasingly likely they will finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Injuries no doubt haven’t helped their cause, but the fact Spurs have fallen way below expectations indicates several reinforcements may be needed in the summer, and they are eyeing players in multiple positions.

A new striker is of interest, with Dominic Solanke and Richarlison suffering their fair share of injury problems this season, and the Lilywhites are now making moves to sign Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while they are also stepping up their pursuit of Lille’s Jonathan David.

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With Cristian Romero potentially in line to leave Tottenham this summer, a new centre-back may also be required, and they are incredibly keen on Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah, who is set to be available on a free transfer.

Tah is not the only free agent that Tottenham are eyeing, however, with a report from The Boot Room revealing they are determined to sign Lille midfielder Angel Gomes, whose contract is set to expire this summer.

Spurs are pushing hard to get a deal for Gomes over the line, having been leading the race for his signature for quite some time, and they are confident they will be able to strike an agreement.

London rivals West Ham United have also been linked with a move for the 24-year-old, but widespread reports state he has turned down a move to the London Stadium.

Signing "incredible" Gomes could be shrewd business

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has made it clear Tottenham will have to be clever with how they operate in the transfer market this summer, saying: “We cannot spend what we do not have, and we will not compromise the financial stability of this club,”

“Recruitment remains a key focus, and we must ensure that we make smart purchases within our financial means.”

As such, it would be financially prudent to pursue free agents this summer, and signing Gomes could be a shrewd bit of business, given how impressive he has looked in a Lille shirt, notably impressing with his long-range passing last season.

The England international has also been lauded as “incredible” by Carlisle United midfielder Callum Whelan, indicating he could be a fantastic addition for Tottenham, who may be in need of at least one new midfielder, with Yves Bissouma’s future in doubt.

da supremo： Sunderland have agreed a £13m up-front fee to sign Granit Xhaka, who will sign a three-year contract on Wearside this week.

da 888casino： Xhaka had emerged as the Black Cats’ most high-profile target of the summer transfer window, as they look to make significant and experienced signings before the new Premier League season gets underway.

The Swiss has been strongly linked with a move to Sunderland from Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen, with the 32-year-old already having a huge amount of experience in the English game from his Arsenal days.

Xhaka seemingly likes the idea of being a vital player in the Black Cats’ quest to avoid relegation straight back to the Championship, feeling that his time in a Leverkusen shirt has reached its natural conclusion after winning the Bundesliga title back in 2023/24.

The legendary Switzerland international has dominated the Sunderland-related headlines of late and now two quickfire updates have emerged regarding the situation.

Xhaka set to sign three-year contract

Reports broke on Monday morning that Sunderland have agreed a £15m move for Xhaka, with the veteran midfielder set to join from Leverkusen imminently. However, Keith Downie has shared a further update, revealing plenty of good news for those on Wearside.

Indeed, Xhaka’s contract will be a year longer than first reported, and the initial cost is actually lower than the numbers going around.

This is fantastic news for anyone associated with Sunderland, with Xhaka a statement signing who could take Regis Le Bris’ team up another gear.

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The Black Cats achieved promotion with a young team, with emerging midfielders such as Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg excelling, but more experience is needed in the middle of the park in the Premier League, not to mention a replacement for the former after his move to Borussia Dortmund.

In Xhaka, Sunderland could have the perfect man to come in, with the ex-Arsenal player winning an incredible 137 caps for Switzerland and being hailed by former Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso for his “big heart”, always giving his all for the cause and playing with plenty of passion.

Granit Xhaka’s international career

Caps

Goals

Switzerland

137

14

Switzerland Under-21s

5

0

Switzerland Under-19s

10

3

Switzerland Under-18s

3

2

Switzerland Under-17s

13

1

It’s now a case of the final parts of the transfer being sorted, before Xhaka joins up with his new teammates, hopefully making a huge impression from the off.

da casino： Manchester United have the long term in their sights under Ruben Amorim, though they could now face a decision on whether to sell one of their prize assets to Real Madrid.

Man Utd look for gradual progression under Ruben Amorim

da bwin： The Premier League campaign has ignited quiet optimism at Old Trafford over the direction Amorim’s young squad may be headed. However, there is still plenty of work to do before debates can take place over quantified success.

Taking difficult decisions to improve his pool of talent, Andre Onana’s departure to join Trabzonspor on loan has impressed supporters as the Red Devils streamline their squad appropriately for years to come.

Onana stated upon his arrival: “I am very happy. I can say that I am very happy. I am starting a new project, a new adventure for me, I am very happy to be here. This is a feeling that makes me so happy. I’ve never felt so much love from people around me.”

Feeling love in a new environment is important, something reflected in Rasmus Hojlund scoring his first goal for Napoli over the weekend, but Amorim has shown courage to discard big-money signings in pursuit of an improved product on the field.

In statistics recorded before Manchester United’s tussle with Manchester City, the Red Devils had taken the most shots and also faced the second-fewest efforts in the Premier League across their last ten top-flight matches, illustrating that slow change is taking place.

CSKA Moscow midfielder Kirill Glebov has his heart set on moving to Old Trafford, showing a buy-in from young players desperate to join Amorim’s project, albeit not everyone is feeling the same way amid recent developments.

Kobbie Mainoo wants to leave Man Utd for Real Madrid

According to reports in Spain, Kobbie Mainoo is pressuring Manchester United to sell him to Real Madrid and views a move to the Santiago Bernabeu as a dream destination in January.

This term, the England international has fallen out of favour under Amorim and hasn’t been a regular starter, though any transfer could depend on Los Blancos running into injury trouble or selling Dani Ceballos. Mainoo still wants out of Old Trafford and ‘his inner circle is working on finding a club that can guarantee him minutes’

INEOS may now be left with a decision to make on Mainoo’s future, which is complicated further by the fact he has two years left on his contract at Old Trafford.

Amorim stated earlier this week that the Carrington graduate needs to improve in the engine room to fulfil his potential fully: “I believe in him a lot. He is a top player. But some of you think that Kobbie Mainoo is already done [a complete player]. I think he can do so much better.

“For some guys (talent) is enough, but for him it is not. Maybe it’s not fair, but I think I’m helping Kobbie, and that’s it.”

After Mainoo asked to leave Manchester United on loan before the window closed, it appears there may still be work to do at Old Trafford to convince him to stick around amid interest from Champions League giants.