Dele Alli is a free agent fighting for his future, but David Pleat has revealed Tottenham had the chance to sell him for “over £80 million”.
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Dele a free agentFighting for Everton contract amid injuriesSpurs could have sold him for fortuneFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Back in 2016-17, Dele enjoyed the most productive campaign of his career to date. He found the target on 22 occasions across all competitions for Spurs and was considered to be one of the best goal-scoring midfielders in world football.
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Tottenham had snapped him up for just £5m from MK Dons in 2015, after finally heeding transfer advice from former manager and director of football Pleat, and passed up the chance to make a healthy £75m ($98m) profit on that investment.
WHAT PLEAT SAID
Pleat, who also filled a role as scout during his time in north London, has told : “[My role at Spurs in recent years has been] consultant and scout. I’m very pleased with one or two players who came in where I had an influence, one being Jack Clarke. None of the managers handled him well. He can play.
“There was Dele Alli, too. I took Franco Baldini to watch him and he was on his phone the whole time – he didn’t even watch him. I’ve got six reports on Dele over a period of two years; they should’ve reacted after my first two. Eventually they heard he was going to Aston Villa or Newcastle. They rang me and I said, 'Well, fancy that? Serves you right. You have to get hold of him.' They did the deal really quickly and I persuaded the chairman that £5m wasn’t too much to pay.
“At one stage they could have sold him for over £80m, then things happened. I’m sad because I saw him at 16 and he already had that stature about him, and he could play, too.”
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR DELE?
Dele has endured a humbling fall from grace of late, with the 28-year-old England international currently a free agent after seeing his contract at Everton expire. He is still training with the Toffees, in the hope of earning fresh terms, but has made just 13 appearances for the Premier League outfit since joining them in January 2022 – with his last appearance of any kind in an injury-ravaged run coming in February 2023 during a loan spell at Besiktas.
Celtic enjoyed a relatively decent season last time out as Brendan Rodgers lifted two domestic trophies in his first year back in the dugout at Parkhead.
The Northern Irish boss came in to replace Ange Postecoglou, who departed for Tottenham Hotspur and the Premier League, last summer and won the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup.
However, the Hoops were knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage, finishing bottom of their group, and they could be set to aim for more success in Europe to go alongside domestic success next term.
Changes to the squad could help the Scottish giants to push on in the continent and the forward department has already seen some alterations this summer.
Adam Idah spent the second half of last season on loan from Norwich City and the Hoops are reportedly continuing talks to sign him on a permanent deal, having already had an offer of £4m plus add-ons turned down.
The Scottish Premiership champions have also allowed one of their senior strikers from last season to move on this month as Hyeon-gyu Oh was sold to Genk.
Celtic's Hyeon-gyu Oh masterclass
The Belgian outfit have reportedly paid a fee of £4.5m to sign the South Korea international to bolster their forward line ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
That is £2m more than the £2.5m the Bhoys reportedly paid Suwon Bluewings to bring him to Glasgow in the January transfer window at the start of last year.
Celtic, therefore, played a masterclass with the 23-year-old attacker as they almost doubled their money on him, despite his distinct lack of quality on the pitch during his 18-month spell at Paradise.
Firstly, his finishing during the 2023/24 Premiership campaign left a bit to be desired as he plundered five goals from 6.35 xG, an underperformance of 1.35.
Celtic's xG underperformers
23/24 Premiership
xG
Goals
xG differential
Kyogo Furuhashi
18.39
14
-4.39
Daizen Maeda
8.78
6
-2.78
Reo Hatate
4.92
3
-1.92
Luis Palma
8.54
7
-1.54
Hyeon-gyu Oh
6.35
5
-1.35
Stats via WhoScored
As you can see in the table above, only four Celtic players underperformed their expected tally by more than the South Korean dud, who was behind Kyogo Furuhashi and Idah in the pecking order in his final few months at the club.
The biggest issue for Oh was that he did not offer much outside of scoring goals and that meant that his wasteful finishing made him a liability for the side.
In the Premiership last season, the right-footed marksman failed to create a single 'big chance', did not register any assists, and only made 0.3 key passes per game across 20 appearances, which shows that he offered very little, if anything at all, as a creative threat.
Celtic striker Hyeon-gyu Oh.
Oh also lost 58% of his ground duels and 60% of his battles in the air in those 20 league outings, which shows that opposition defenders got the better of him in physical contests more often than not.
Taking these statistics into account, Celtic played a blinder to make a £2m profit on him as his performances on the pitch did not suggest that he was worth more than they paid for him, as the forward struggled physically and technically.
Rodgers could, now, perfectly replace the £4.5m sale by dipping into the market to sign one of the club's reported targets before the end of the summer transfer window.
Celtic's interest in Danish sensation
The Scottish giants reportedly have a long-standing interest in Brondby centre-forward Mathias Kvistgaarden, and they already know how much he would cost.
Back in June, Austrian outlet VICTAURI, as relayed by the Daily Record, claimed that the Hoops target had a price tag of €10m (£8.4m) this summer.
The report stated that RB Salzburg are also eyeing up a possible move for the Danish sensation and that they had already sent scouts to watch him in action.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers looks on.
However, the Bundesliga side were not willing to pay the £8.5m transfer fee required for him at the time, which meant that they did not press ahead with a deal for his services.
This means that the door could still be open for the Hoops to swoop in to bring him to Parkhead as the dream replacement for Oh in Glasgow next season.
Why Mathias Kvistgaarden would perfectly replace Oh
Being a back-up striker option, at least initially, is a hard sell for players and a difficult position for Celtic to fill, particularly if they also sign Idah from Norwich to join Kyogo in the striker ranks at Parkhead.
However, it could be sold to Kvistgaarden as an opportunity for him to prove himself and potentially earn a move to a major league in Europe, whilst winning trophies and playing European football.
At the age of 22, he is younger than Oh and seven years younger than Kyogo, which means that the talented gem could come in as the long-term heir to the Japan international.
This suggests that Kvistgaarden would be perfect for the role that the South Korean dud vacated as a young back-up striker with the potential to emerge as a key figure for Rodgers in the future.
His statistics for Brondby in the Danish Superliga also suggest that he could come in as a big upgrade on Oh, in terms of what he offers on and off the ball, as he enjoyed what talent scout Jacek Kulig described as a "superb season".
23/24 season
Mathias Kvistgaarden (Superliga)
Hyeon-gyu Oh (Premiership)
Appearances
24
20
Goals
8
5
Assists
5
0
Big chances created
6
0
Duel success rate
45%
41%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old sensation offered more to his team as both a scorer and a creator of goals, whilst also winning a higher percentage of his duels.
This suggests that Kvistgaarden, who racked up 31 goals and 11 assists in 45 games for Brondby's U19s, could provide a greater threat at the top end of the pitch for Celtic, in comparison to Oh.
Therefore, the Danish marksman could perfectly replace the new Genk signing due to his age profile, potential, and quality that he could immediately bring to the team.
Imagine him & Johnston: Celtic continue talks to sign "incredible" star
The Hoops are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the centre-forward this summer.
Celtic look set to be active in the market during the summer transfer window, which officially opened earlier this month, as they look to improve their playing squad.
A goalkeeper, after Joe Hart retired at the end of last month, is on the agenda and the Hoops were recently linked with an interest in Bournemouth stopper Mark Travers.
The Scottish giants also appear to be eyeing up a new left-back as Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney has been touted for a return to Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers is seemingly looking to provide current first-choice Greg Taylor with competition for his place, which could help him to improve his own game by working harder to keep his slot in the XI.
The Scotland international has been a solid performer over the years and his soaring value since arriving at Parkhead shows that the club hit the jackpot when they signed him in 2019.
Greg Taylor's market value in 2019
When Celtic swooped to sign the full-back from Scottish Premiership rivals Kilmarnock in the summer of 2019, Transfermarkt valued him at just €1.25m (£1.05m).
The young defender had come up through the ranks with Killie and produced ten assists in 131 appearances for them in all competitions before his move to Parkhead.
Celtic defender Greg Taylor.
He had just made his debut for Scotland in June, before joining the Hoops in September, and this shows that the Bhoys were bringing in a promising talent who was on his way up.
The signing has proven to be a big success as he has established himself as a regular for the Premiership champions and his market value has soared over the years.
Greg Taylor's current market valuation
At the time of writing (25/06/24), Transfermarkt values Taylor at €7.5m (£6.3m) and that is a significant increase on the €1.25m he was valued at in 2019.
Celtic defender Greg Taylor.
This means that his market valuation has soared a staggering 500% in his five years in Glasgow, and he still has room to improve and develop further at the age of 26.
Back in 2022, Taylor claimed that he had improved "insane amounts" throughout his spell at Paradise, which is backed up by his skyrocketing value.
The Celtic dynamo has racked up eight goals and 25 assists in 173 matches for the club in all competitions in that time, making at least 30 league appearances in each of the last two seasons.
23/24 Premiership
Greg Taylor
Starts
35
Goals
3
Assists
4
Big chances created
11
Ground duel success rate
57%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old star showcased his attacking quality in the Premiership whilst remaining dominant in duels on the deck against opposition attackers.
Only Luis Palma (14) and Matt O'Riley (14) created more 'big chances' for Celtic in the division, which illustrates how impressive the left-back's creativity was last term.
Rodgers could land his next Tom Rogic in Celtic swoop for 10-goal star
The Hoops are reportedly interested in signing the Premiership midfielder this summer.
By
Dan Emery
Jun 24, 2024
Overall, the Scottish giants hit the jackpot when they signed the young defender from Kilmarnock in 2019 as they landed a creative left-back whose value has soared over the years, making him a valuable asset for Rodgers in the present day.
The striker position at Chelsea is the priority this summer, and it seems that multiple reinforcements will occur.
Benjamin Sesko had been the main target initially, but after the Slovenian star signed a new deal at RB Leipzig, attention turned towards other options.
Marc Guiu is all but confirmed to be a Blue after Todd Boehly has decided to activate the 18-year-old’s release clause of £5m.
However, it looks as though Chelsea are on the hunt for a striker with experience playing in the senior game, with one particular target even outscoring Nicolas Jackson last season.
Chelsea are eyeing up another striker
As per reports from Sky Germany via Florian Plettenberg, Chelsea are keeping an eye on Maximilian Beier.
Maximilian Beier
It’s mentioned that the young striker has ‘concrete interest’ from Chelsea as well as Aston Villa.
The two Premier League teams ‘have gathered information' about the Germany international as they weigh up their options.
However, if the Blues do decide to move for the 21-year-old, they must activate his £25m release clause, but any deal will occur after the European Championships.
Why Beier could prove to be the best alternative to Sesko
Last season, Beier finally announced himself to the Bundesliga during his first major campaign in the German top flight.
Starting as a striker for Hoffenheim, he led the line with the confidence of achieving European football, which was accomplished.
The German started 29 matches in the league, where he proved that he was able to thrive against the very best, netting against Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Borussia Dortmund. He's certainly a man who thrives in big games.
Overall, his goal tally stood at 16 in the Bundesliga alone, with none of those being from the spot, which just proves how much potential he has.
Goals
0.83
0.45
0.60
xG
0.45
0.60
0.42
Shots
2.77
2.57
3.05
Goals/Shot
0.30
0.18
0.20
Touches
31.14
32.09
32.43
Pases completed
12.68
16.56
14.28
Clearly, Beier’s 16-goal campaign is superior to Jackson’s output from his debut season in England, as the 23-year-old scored 14 goals.
The main difference between the number 14 and Chelsea’s centre forward is their composure and finishing ability, with Jackson underperforming his xG massively and Beier doing the complete opposite.
The 2002-born star is the definition of a clinical finisher, which is just one reason why FBref have classified him as a ‘similar player’ to Sesko.
Neither player is particularly developed in terms of their overall game, with improvements likely needed in order to take that next step, but there’s no denying that they’re a huge threat in the final third.
Maximilian Beier in action for Hoffenheim.
Their low involvement in non-attacking actions proves this, as they often go spells without being involved in the play, but that’s not to say that’s a negative, especially given the creative quality in the Chelsea attack.
Football scout Antonio Mango even labelled Beier as an “exceptional” talent, with his speed and dynamism making him difficult to deal with in any game state, just like Sesko.
Overall, if Chelsea are on the lookout for a player to thrive and develop alongside Jackson, then Beier would be the perfect option, but Enzo Maresca may then have the difficult decision of choosing who to start in his lone striker formation.
No Jackson, £226m trio sign: Enzo Maresca's dream lineup at Chelsea
Chelsea are set for a busy summer with plenty of signings expected.
Mohammad Wasim, the Northern head coach and former Pakistan batsman has been named Pakistan chief selector until the 2023 World Cup. He has been asked to leave his coaching role with Northern at the end of ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to lead the selection committee, and his first assignment will be picking the Pakistan side for home series against South Africa next month.The position was vacant for nearly three weeks after Misbah-ul-Haq stepped down as chief selector, a role he held for over a year alongside being Pakistan’s head coach. He continued only in the single role of head coach after picking the Pakistan senior side and the A team – Pakistan Shaheens – for ongoing tour of New Zealand. He officially stepped aside as chief selector on November 30.Pakistan had initially considered Mohammad Akram for the position, but the deal fell through over disagreement on the structure of the selection committee. Last year the PCB had revamped the structure of the committee, putting the head coaches of each of the six regional associations on the committee to assist the chief selector. Akram wanted an independent committee instead, but the PCB decided to stick with the existing model and so moved on to another candidate for the role of chief selector.Wasim, 43, is in his second term as head coach with the Northern Cricket Association. Last season, his side won the National T20 Cup and were runners-up in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. This year, stand second after eight rounds of the first-class tournament. The PCB confirmed he will complete the season with the team before they need to find a replacement.Wasim represented Pakistan between 1996 and 2000, playing 18 Tests and 25 ODIs for 783 Test runs, including a century on debut, and 543 ODI runs.”I have been very fortunate to have played with some of the finest cricketers and am confident that I will be able to [use] those learnings in this challenging role,” Wasim said on his appointment. “We have a busy 2021 ahead and I will focus on positive selections that not only address our short-term needs but also fulfil our long-term ambitions. We have immense talent in Pakistan and it is important that they are given opportunities.”This is a performance-oriented world and, as such, my philosophy will be to promote meritocracy and select squads according to home and international conditions and requirements. As a chief selector, I will always be willing to make the hard calls, if these are in the best interest of Pakistan cricket. I look forward to working closely with head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and captain Babar Azam as we collectively strive to take Pakistan cricket forward.”In a separate decision, the PCB recalled former wicketkeeper Saleem Yousuf as head of the cricket committee, from which Iqbal Qasim had resigned in September after saying the role was “toothless”. When the committee was formed in October 2018, it was said to have a wide-ranging role in overseeing all aspects of Pakistan cricket but was not given any decision-making power. The members were supposed to meet three times a year to discuss a variety of issues, including concerns at the first-class level that have drawn increasing attention over the last few years. But the committee has rarely functioned smoothly and has often been subject to changes.”Muhammad Wasim and Saleem Yousuf have sound knowledge of cricket, understand the rigours and demands of the modern game and are highly respected across the cricket fraternity,” Wasim Khan, the PCB’s chief executive, said. “Both the gentlemen are also aligned to the PCB’s five-year strategic pillar of strengthening our merit and opportunity-based domestic structure, as well as improving our international rankings across all formats.”Wasim’s appointment is also part of our strategy to groom, develop and provide leadership opportunities to our talented cricketers. After retiring from competitive cricket, Wasim has progressed through the ranks, having previously worked as a match referee, coach and selector. He is young, progressive and bold thinker who is in sync with our new High Performance Player Framework, and is one of very few people who are completely aware of the pool of talented cricketers available at the domestic level.”
During his first pre-season interview, Mikel Arteta admitted that the transfer window was a rather slower affair this time around.
You can perhaps blame Copa America and Euro 2024 on that. Plenty of Arsenal players have shone over the summer months, however, notably in Germany.
Kai Havertz scored twice before the host nation were knocked out. Bukayo Saka scored against Switzerland and netted his crucial penalty in the same match.
The true star, however, is not one who plays for the Gunners. They'd love him to, but sadly he doesn't. That is 17-year-old Lamine Yamal.
Lamine Yamal's Euro 2024 in numbers
The teenager has been a total phenomenon during the European Championships, scoring a simply sumptuous goal in the semi-finals against France and registering three assists along the way.
Yamal's stats prior to the Euro 2024 final.
He has captivated not just his nation, but the entire continent. There isn't a single player in football history to score a goal at a major tournament at a younger age than Yamal.
The Spaniard is the natural heir to Lionel Messi and after such a breakout tournament, Barcelona will be slapping an almighty price tag on his head to warn off any potential suitors.
At the moment, he is currently valued at €90m (£77m) by Transfermarkt but that is set to skyrocket in the forthcoming years.
Actually rather similar to Saka in the way he cuts inside onto that deadly left foot, you may well ask why the Spanish sensation is relevant to Arsenal's transfer business. Well, there's a player they've previously been interested in who's worth a little bit more.
Arsenal have targeted Florian Wirtz
Reports from Spain a few months ago suggested that Arsenal and Liverpool were battling Real Madrid to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.
The German, who like Yamal scored at the Euros this summer, was nothing short of spectacular under Xabi Alonso last term.
Playing alongside former Gunner Granit Xhaka, the attacking midfielder scored 18 goals and supplied 20 assists in all competitions as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title unbeaten.
It was a remarkable achievement and indeed a remarkable term for the 21-year-old who has undoubtedly captured the eye of plenty of suitors.
There is an inkling that Wirtz will be staying put this summer but if Arsenal, or any other suitor could tempt him away from his homeland, they would surely strike gold.
To put his numbers into context versus those already at Arsenal, only Saka scored more goals last term (20), while no player in the famous red or white registered more assists. The club's number 7 was the main man again in that regard, supplying 14, three more than Martin Odegaard.
Described as a "little genius" by scout Jacek Kulig, he could fetch an almighty fee when the time comes to leave.
According to Transfermarkt, he is valued at a colossal price, more than the aforementioned Yamal.
That estimation currently sits at a whopping £112m. To offer some perspective, Saka is rated at £120m and Declan Rice – their £105m signing of a year ago – is still valued at a similar amount.
We must admit that a deal this year seems unlikely but if the player is on the table in 2025, Arsenal should be all over it. He is an elite talent who is set to star at the top level for many a year to come.
Arsenal struck gold on amazing star who's worth way more than Lamine Yamal
Former Premier League star Troy Deeney has placed a £1,000 bet on Wrexham “never” reaching the top-flight under Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
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Red Dragons have risen into League One
Famous chairmen daring to dream big
Meteoric rise may come to a halt
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Hollywood co-owners at SToK Racecourse have never hidden the fact that they want to guide the Red Dragons towards the Promised Land. Positive progress has been made in that quest, with back-to-back promotions lifting the club out of the National League and into League One.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Phil Parkinson’s side are flying high in the third tier, as they take aim at a Championship standing, and have no intention of taking backwards steps. Questions are, however, being asked of how far a remarkable journey can take the Welsh outfit.
WHAT DEENEY SAID
Former Watford striker Deeney, in conversation with ex-West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker for , has said when quizzed on when Wrexham will reach the big time: “Never.” Reo-Coker responded with: “Bro, never?! I would disagree. I would give them three to four years maybe in the Championship. Then they’ll make the Premier League.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
Deeney – who is a lifelong Birmingham fan and sees the Blues battling with the Red Dragons in League One this season – refused to waver in his stance, adding: “If they make it within five years, I’ll give £1,000 to any charity that [CBS] choose.”
@cbssportsgolazo
Wrexham to the Prem? 👀 #soccer #football #wrexham #wrexhamafc #ryanreynolds #robmcelhenney
Plans have been hit by Mujeeb’s positive Covid test and Tom Banton’s withdrawal from the tournament
Alex Malcolm06-Dec-2020
Chris Lynn kept up his good run, hitting 88 not out in 55 balls•Getty Images
Captain Chris Lynn Coach Darren LehmannSquad Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Tom Cooper, Lewis Gregory (Eng), Sam Heazlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Ben Laughlin, Dan Lawrence (Eng), Chris Lynn, Simon Milenko, Morne Morkel, Jimmy Peirson, Lachlan Pfeffer, Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afg), Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Jack Wildermuth, Matthew Willans, Jack WoodIn Xavier Bartlett, Tom Cooper (Renegades), Lewis Gregory, Dan Lawerence, Morne Morkel, Jack Wildermuth (Renegades), Matthew Willans Out Tom Banton, Ben Cutting (Thunder), Josh Lalor (Renegades), Matt Renshaw (Strikers), James Pattinson (Renegades), Jack Prestwidge (Renegades), AB de VilliersOverseas player availability Lewis Gregory (quarantine until Dec 25), Dan Lawrence (first five games), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (all tournament pending Afghanistan ODI selection)Last season: 7thThe Heat were anything but hot last year despite the presence of AB de Villiers for the last six games of the season. They failed to live up to the hype and missed the finals, losing four of the six games de Villiers played including the final game against the struggling Melbourne Renegades, when a win would have vaulted them into fourth spot and a home Eliminator. They had trouble with the balance of their side while their desire to bat at breakneck speed in every game caused consistent collapses.Bubble impactTom Banton has withdrawn from his deal citing the demands of ongoing bubbles. England team-mate Lewis Gregory will serve 14 days quarantine after arriving from South Africa which will keep him out until late December, but Dan Lawrence was a shrewd signing by the Heat as cover for that duo. Mujeeb Ur Rahman returns for the Heat but tested positive for Covid-19 late last week so it remains uncertain when he will become available while Afghanistan’s ODI series with Ireland in January could affect his availability later in the tournament. Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, and Mitchell Swepson will all be unavailable for large periods due to Test duty.Player to watchChris Lynn is always a player to watch but this year he is especially important. The Heat have a very inexperienced batting line-up and Lynn hasn’t played a lot of top-level cricket of late. He had a very lean CPL and then carried the drinks for Mumbai Indians throughout the entire IPL. He has made three rapid-fire centuries in club cricket over the last two weekends but he will need consistent runs if the Heat are to win the title.Key stat (Gaurav Sundararaman)Among all the teams last season, Brisbane Heat suffered the most against spin. They lost 44 wickets, averaging just 20.78, and 39 percent of the balls they faced were dots.
Manchester United are reportedly ready to pay the full asking price for an "amazing" player this summer, with the deal potentially happening in the "coming days".
Man Utd transfer news
The Sir Jim Ratcliffe era at Old Trafford has felt positive to date, not least because the Red Devils won the FA Cup within months of him becoming part-owner of his boyhood club. Joshua Zirkzee has been signed from Bologna in a big-money deal, which is a further plus point, and more new faces are expected in the next month or so.
One exciting rumour that has emerged has seen Dani Olmo linked with a summer switch to United, following an excellent Euro 2024 campaign that saw him finish joint-top of the scoring charts. The 26-year-old shone for eventual winners Spain, bagging five goal contributions (three goals and two assists) and proving to be a seamless replacement for the injured Pedri.
Dani Olmo playing for Spain
Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been largely viewed as an alternative option to Zirkzee, meaning a move now may not happen, but a summer exit for the Englishman cannot be ruled out, and United could still feel that another attacking option is needed, allowing Rasmus Hojlund to mature as a player at his own speed.
Xavi Simons has also been backed to join the Red Devils between now and the start of next season, with Paris Saint-Germain potentially keen on loaning him out again. The 21-year-old helped the Netherlands reach the semi-finals of the Euros, while last season, he scored eight goals and registered 11 assists in the Bundesliga, thriving on loan at RB Leipzig.
Man Utd ready to pay asking price for "amazing" player
According to a new update from Fussball News [via Sport Witness], Manchester United have opened "harmonious and very constructive" talks for Matthijs de Ligt and are willing to pay the full asking price of £42m for him this summer.
While certain aspects of the deal still need to be ironed out, like the structure of the payments, the update states that a move to Old Trafford from Bayern Munich could be sealed in the "coming days" with a fee basically agreed upon.
Bayern Munich defender Matthijs De Ligt
This is all extremely encouraging regarding United's move for De Ligt, suggesting that a deal will go through without too many issues this week. If the Bayern star ends up being the Red Devils' preferred choice to partner Lisandro Martinez moving forward, he could be a wonderful addition, even if his stock has fallen a little in recent years.
Remarkably, the Dutchman is still only 24 years of age, despite being a key starter for Ajax when they reached the Champions League semi-finals five years ago, and compatriot Nathan Ake thinks highly of him, saying last September: "It's amazing what he is doing at the moment. He's quick, strong for his age, very good in the air and on the ball he is very good. He scores so many from set-pieces so he's got a lot of the same attributes as Van Dijk."
Appearances
22
Starts
16
Goals
2
Assists
0
Clearances per game
2.4
Aerial duel wins per game
1.9
Pass completion rate
94%
There may be some United fans who would rather see Jarrad Branthwaite arrive instead of De Ligt, among others, but this could be a perfect chance for him to show why he has been thought of as one of the leading centre-backs of his generation for a number of years.
أصدر المجلس الأعلى للرياضة الإسباني، بيانًا رسميًا بشأن ثنائي برشلونة، داني أولمو وباو فيكتور وتسجيلهما.
وقدم برشلونة طعنًا إلى المجلس الأعلى للرياضة يوم الثلاثاء 7 يناير، لتسجيل الثنائي أولمو وفيكتور، بعد رفض رابطة الليجا والاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم.
وأكد المجلس الأعلى للرياضة في بيانه قبول الإجراء الاحترازي لبرشلونة لتسجيل أولمو وفيكتور، لكن بصفة مؤقتة حتى يتم الفصل نهائيًا في الطعن الذي قدمه النادي واللاعبان.
وأوضح المجلس الأعلى للرياضة أن عدم اتخاذ هذا الإجراء قد يتسبب في ضرر اقتصادي ورياضي كبير للنادي، وخاصة للاعبين، ويؤثر سلبًا على مصالح المنتخب الإسباني، والمسابقات المحلية بما في ذلك الدوري الإسباني.
كما أشار البيان إلى أن المجلس الأعلى للرياضة يوضح أن هذا الحكم لا يعني التوصل إلى قرار نهائي بشأن القضايا الأساسية التي تم طرحها في الطعن.
وجاء البيان بعد إعلان تشكيل برشلونة لمباراته في كأس السوبر الإسباني أمام أتلتيك بلباو، والذي شهد استبعاد أولمو وفيكتور (طالع التشكيل وقائمة البدلاء من هنا).