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The midfielder could add vital control to a chaotic side looking to turn its major tournament woes around

It was June 23, 2018, and Germany's World Cup defence seemed set to collapse. As Toni Kroos stood over a free-kick, a shade over from the left corner flag, in the 95th minute, with no apparent angle to hit the target, Die Mannschaft's tournament appeared all but over. His side were level, 1-1, with Sweden, and after results elsewhere went against them, anything short of three points would effectively end their hopes in Russia after just 180 minutes of football.

Kroos, though, changed things. A perfectly executed set-piece – a roll to Marco Reus, followed by a whipped effort into the top corner – gave the Germans a 2-1 win, keeping their tournament alive. That would be Kroos' last big moment in his national team's colours. Germany would go on to dramatically lose to South Korea in their final group game, while their pandemic-delayed Euro 2020 campaign ended prematurely in a last-16 loss to England.

By that time, the midfield maestro was being hammered in the German press, and cast aside by veterans of the game. His nation had, in effect, turned against him, and Kroos showed little remorse in stepping away from the international game in 2021.

Fast-forward nearly three years, and that has all changed. Groovy, expansive manager Julian Nagelsmann has brought Kroos back into the side, and the midfielder, once disgraced, disregarded and discarded, is now poised to be a crucial part of a side that needs to perform as they host Euro 2024. He doesn't return as a saviour, nor is it a particularly emotional return. Rather, Kroos has regained his spot in the team on merit, a player reborn and ready to inject quality into what seemed a struggling side.

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  The best player at the World Cup

  In 2014, Kroos was simply a joy to watch. Joachim Low had assembled a wonderfully balanced midfield. Bastian Schweinsteiger operated as the No.6, all hard tackles and ball circulation, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil pushed forward, and Kroos did all of the bits in-between. This was the perfect example of an unathletic player made to look like a formidable one, covering ground and dominating it with the kind of subtlety of the great tempo-setting midfielders of the game.

  The numbers confirmed what the eye could already tell: Kroos was the top performer at the 2014 World Cup. FIFA's Castrol Index, a system that ranked every single player at the tournament, gave Kroos the highest rating in Brazil, pipping Arjen Robben for the top spot.

  That tournament introduced Kroos on the global stage, and was enough to convince Real Madrid to snap him up for what now seems an absolute bargain €30 million (£26m/$33m).

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  How it all fell apart

  Germany have struggled in major tournaments since that World Cup win, however. Their golden generation finally faltered at Euro 2016 – although Kroos was named to the team of the tournament – and the team has since undergone a sequence of disappointments and dramatic failures. 2018 saw them eliminated in the group stage – Kroos' free-kick heroics notwithstanding.

  Euro 2020, though, proved to be the end for the midfielder on the national stage. Die Mannschaft struggled all over the pitch in that tournament, and were thoroughly beaten by England in the round of 16. Kroos, perhaps unfairly, took the blame, singled out as the real issue for a side that had inconsistencies in various areas of the field. The midfielder retired shortly after, claiming that he wanted to focus on club football – and saw his career with the team coming to an end.

  "I had made the decision to quit after this tournament for a long time. It had been clear to me for a long time that I would not be available for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar," he said.

  But the other motives were clear. Kroos, despite being capped 106 times, had become the scapegoat. How could he stay and play for a country that no longer believed in him?

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  His Madrid season to date

  Last January, Ancelotti seemed to indicate to Kroos that he might be on his way out in Madrid. He suggested that the German and fellow veteran midfielder Luka Modric must prepare for a "moment of transition" in the Spanish capital. At the time, it made sense. Kroos struggled for long stretches of the 2022-23 campaign, his aging legs leaving gaps in the suddenly exploitable Madrid midfield. All of the good things about his game remained – the pass completion percentage, ability to shoot from distance, set-piece excellence – but the defensive frailties that always could have cropped up revealed themselves in full.

  But this year, at 34, Kroos is a player revitalised. The Madrid side is better balanced. Ancelotti now plays with four midfielders, and has pushed the relentless Federico Valverde into a deeper position to cover the blades of grass that Kroos simply can't reach quickly enough. As a result, Kroos can do all of the things he's good at, while having those weaknesses that have crept into his game unexposed. With 20 La Liga starts to date, Kroos seems set to eclipse his number from last year. His seven league assists are his highest total in three years.

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  Chaos in Germany

  The landscape Kroos will walk into isn't the easiest. There aren't just major tournament issues at play here. Germany have struggled immensely in recent months, facing managerial turnover and poor results. Nagelsmann, hired in September 2023, is yet to convince at the helm. The former Bayern manager has won just one win in his first four games – an unconvincing victory over an underperforming US side.

  Some of his tactics have been questioned, too. He used Kai Havertz as a left-back in a 3-2 loss to Turkey, while his inability to get the best out of Leroy Sane – who was sent off against Austria in November – has also been of concern. His player pool has also been an issue; Nagelsmann's old favourites from Bayern are all enduring difficult campaigns domestically, and have carried their poor form into the national team. Piece it all together, and this is a once-great power that needs help.

After a few months of relative calm, Manchester United's protracted takeover process suddenly shot back to life over the past month, and it would appear as if the end is very much in sight.

Here's everything we know about the current situation, from a partial takeover to a disappointed party. It is never a simple story with Man United.

What is the latest news on the Manchester United takeover?

The most pertient news surrounding Manchester United's potential takeover broke on Saturday 14th October, when it was revealed that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani had withdrawn from the race to buy the club from the Glazer family.

This significant change to the process has now left British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the only serious contender left willing to pay for the club. However, despite being the only serious party left in the process, the likely outcome is now no longer a straightforward purchase of the club, but instead something altogether more complicated.

Ratcliffe's offer to the Glazers is to buy a 25% stake in United instead of 100%, as Sheikh Jassim proposed.

According to Sky Sports News, the proposal from the OGC Nice owner would see him purchase a portion of the Glazer's personal shares and the publicly-traded stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

In all, his offer would see him pay in the region of £1.3bn for just a quarter of the club. However, there might be cause for optimism among United fans, as there is a possibility that this purchase is just the start of a longer process that would eventually see Ratcliffe assume complete control of the club – as was his initial ambition.

Read more: The latest Man United transfer rumours

While it would be foolish to guarantee that Sheikh Jassim is now entirely out of the picture, it does seem incredibly unlikely that he will make any more offers. According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, the Qatari businessman and his associates were left frustrated by the conduct of the Glazers, telling Football Insider: "Senior sources close to the Sheikh Jassim bid have indicated to me that there was increased frustration towards the conduct of the Glazers.

"On more than one occasion, they had agreed to increase the bid. They had agreed to some concessions as far as the demands of the Glazers were concerned. Yet every time that they felt that they were close to shaking hands on a deal, the terms were changed.

"In the end, they didn't want to be taken advantage of."

However, another piece of takeover speculation has since come out of left field, and that's the speculation that United legend David Beckham could spearhead a consortium bid to take control of the club.

These rumours were initially started by Rio Ferdinand on his Vibe with Five podcast when he said (via The Mirror): "Becks will come with a consortium.

"When you mention someone like Becks' name, he's obviously a part-owner of Inter Miami but he doesn't come [alone]. It's not his money. It's not him in terms of putting his hand in his pocket. He comes with a consortium. He comes with people who do have deep pockets who have the ability to go and execute on a deal like that."

Read more: The top 10 David Beckham moments – ranked

Finally, another famous sports star and United fan has also signalled his desire to own part of Manchester United. Golfer Rory McIlroy revealed that should the opportunity arise to get involved with Ratcliffe's purchase, he would jump at it, saying: "I would have loved to have taken 0.00001 per cent of Manchester United when Jim Ratcliffe took 25 per cent. And if another opportunity comes my way, I will look at it. But it is not something that has come across our table as of yet.

There's never a normal day at Manchester United, is there?

Why are the Glazers selling the club?

Because they can make an enormous profit, essentially. Malcolm Glazer only put up £272m to purchase United back in 2005, despite the club being worth over £800m, per The Guardian. He achieved that through a leveraged buyout, putting up the club's assets as collateral against a loan.

In effect, the club paid for its own buyout – they've been saddled with enormous debt ever since as the Glazers slowly paid off the rest of the purchase using United's money.

A recent report from the Evening Standard suggests that the Glazers value the club at around £7-10bn – there's your reason for the sale.

Who is trying to buy Man Utd?

There are – or should we say were – two potential buyers. The first, Sheikh Jassim, is from the powerful Qatari Royal Family. The second, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is the UK's richest man.

There are other options, of course. The Mirror claims that several US investment companies would like to take minority stakes in United, allowing the Glazers to retain control but with more spending power.

Finally, there are also rumours concerning the interest of David Beckham and Rory McIlroy, but both seem unlikely to amount to anything.

Ultimately, while it's impossible to rule out the other parties with absolute certainty, Sir Jim Ratcliffe now looks like the only party with a realistic chance of completing his deal, even if it is just for part of Manchester United.

Who is Sheikh Jassim?

Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani is the son of Qatar's former Prime Minister. He was educated in the United Kingdom before returning to Qatar, where he currently acts as chairman of the Qatar Islamic Bank. Sheikh Jassim was previously on the board of Credit Suisse – one of the world's biggest investment banks.

However, it's unclear what his actual net worth is, and it's thought that the majority of the money here comes from Qatar itself. Per the BBC, there are suggestions that Premier League clubs would want any purchase fully investigated under suspicions that the state will provide the funds. Those suspicions were only given strength when Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi – also chairman of Qatar Sports Investments – spoke with the Glazers in May.

As for Jassim himself, he's said to be a lifelong Manchester United fan. The controversy, though, is whether he's actually the one buying the club, although recent developments that would appear to be irrelevant.

Who is Sir Jim Ratcliffe?

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is, per the Sunday Times, the second-richest figure in the UK. He has a net worth standing at just under £30bn and is the chairman/CEO of INEOS chemicals group – a company he founded in 1998.

From Greater Manchester, Ratcliffe is a lifelong United fan and has actually stepped into football before. He, through INEOS, owns OGC Nice in France, though he hasn't found much success with them. Ratcliffe also attempted to purchase Chelsea during the dramatic bidding war last year, but saw a £4.25bn bid rejected.

When will the takeover be completed?

With the news that Sheikh Jassim has now walked away from the takeover process and that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is likely to see his offer to buy 25% of the club accepted, this whole saga could be wrapped up sooner than many would have predicted just last week.

Granted, these developments mean that a complete takeover could be years away, but for now, at least, it appears this story will be coming to a reasonably swift conclusion.

That said, in the unlikely event that the Qataris to come back in with a new bid, this story could easily go on into the new year.

How did this affect Manchester United in the transfer window?

Initially, there were worries that United wouldn't really be able to do anything in the transfer window because of the takeover talks. But the signings of Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana reassured fans somewhat that there was still money to spend.

However, the positive momentum that those signings created quickly faded once it was clear that the club were relying on the potential sales of players like Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay to fund the rest of their summer targets.

When those two could not be sold, the club were resigned to offering Jonny Evans a one-year deal and signing Sofyan Amrabat on a season-long loan, which left many fans feeling let down.

Erik ten Hag's side threw away what would have been a remarkable victory by conceding two goals after the 100th minute at Stamford Bridge

Manchester United thought they had got away with it, but if you live by the sword you will eventually die by it, even as late as in the 101st minute. In a truly insane game with Chelsea, United proceeded to come back from two goals down to go 3-2 up, only to concede in the 100th and 101st minutes, with boyhood Red Devils' fan Cole Palmer ruining their night and condemning them to a logic-defying 4-3 defeat.

United seemingly learned little from their chaotic 1-1 draw at Brentford and threw caution to the wind again. Conor Gallagher put Chelsea ahead in the fourth minute with the help of bad goalkeeping from Andre Onana and a Palmer penalty doubled the lead, aided by a careless foul by Antony on Mykhailo Mudryk.

The Red Devils were staring another loss in the face, but the determined Alejandro Garnacho dragged them back into the game after he was gifted the ball by a disastrous pass from Moises Caicedo, and Bruno Fernandes then headed United level before half-time.

United lost Raphael Varane and his replacement Jonny Evans to injury and continued to live dangerously in the second half, but completed the comeback on the break, Garnacho connecting with a wondrous cross from Antony.

Having done all the hard work, United switched off when it mattered most and a clumsy foul by Diogo Dalot gifted Palmer another penalty which he dispatched, before scoring again barely a minute later, inflicting a 12th Premier League defeat of the season on Erik ten Hag's hapless side.

GOAL rates United's players from Stamford Bridge…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Andre Onana (5/10):

  Fumbled Gallagher's shot in, then made a handful of good reaction saves.

  Aaron Wan-Bissaka (6/10):

  Had an intriguing battle against Mudryk and defended passionately.

  Raphael Varane (5/10):

  Picked up an injury and battled his way through to the end of the first half, barely being able to walk.

  Harry Maguire (5/10):

  Had a torrid start to the game, mistiming challenges and looking all over the place. Rediscovered his composure thereafter.

  Diogo Dalot (5/10):

  Struggled defensively at left-back then compensated with fine attacking play including a sumptuous cross for Fernandes to nod home. But his clumsy trip on Madueke gave Chelsea an unlikely route back.

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  Midfield

  Kobbie Mainoo (5/10):

  This was not an occasion for his calm control or patient passing and he got lost amid the chaos, not helped by his light frame.

  Casemiro (4/10):

  Struggled to keep up with the pace of the game and at one point jogged back towards his area when Chelsea were on the break.

  Bruno Fernandes (7/10):

  Committed himself all over the pitch and scored his first goal from open play since November.

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  Attack

  Antony (7/10):

  Gave away a silly penalty but was then superb. Switched the play for Fernandes' goal then set up the third goal with a stupendous cross with the outside of his right foot. Unfortunately for him, his best display of the season will be remembered more for the result than his performance.

  Rasmus Hojlund (4/10):

  Still seems to be lacking rhythm after his injury. Not strong or sharp enough.

  Alejandro Garnacho (9/10):

  Making a very strong case to be the team's player of the year and it is not fair on him that the team lost after his sensational performance.

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  Subs & Manager

  Jonny Evans (6/10):

  Made some good blocks after replacing Varane at half-time, but had to come off just 20 minutes later with his own injury.

  Willy Kambwala (6/10):

  Relished the aerial challenges and coped well with Chelsea bombarding United's box.

  Marcus Rashford (5/10):

  Didn't get involved much but his pass released Antony for the third goal.

  Scott McTominay (4/10):

  Had more energy than Casemiro but then deflected Palmer's winner beyond Onana.

  Mason Mount (N/A):

  Came on in the 85th minute to a cacophony of boos.

  Erik ten Hag (5/10):

  Made a big call to drop Rashford for Antony and it paid off. Forced into making five changes due to yet more injuries. But ultimately, this style of football is utterly unsustainable.

AC Milan are now offering a 'unique' pitchside view at the San Siro called the 'Club 1899 Front Row Experience'.

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• AC Milan unveil Club 1899 Front Row Experience
• Allows special guests to enjoy pitchside view
• For those who 'live with style and seek excitement'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Rossoneri unveiled this new glamorous offering, which includes a hospitality experience and the chance to sit on the 'golden bench', within earshot of the dugout. It also provides stunning views of the San Siro from just above the pitch itself.

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  WHAT AC MILAN SAID

  Maikel Oettle, chief commercial officer of AC Milan, told the club's website: "The Club 1899 Front Row Experience represents the sublimation of passion. For those who live with style and constantly seek excitement – who are always protagonists and not spectators – we want to share a new exclusive experience that combines entertainment, lifestyle culture, luxury, and innovation. Through the Front Row Experience, our Club, ambassador of Milan and Italy worldwide, reaffirms itself as the must-visit destination for football lovers and those seeking a front row lifestyle. A unique experience that testifies to AC Milan's innovative spirit and global icon role, capable of inspiring, exciting, and engaging millions of fans worldwide, every day."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Aside from off-field matters, Milan suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Serie A rivals Roma in the last eight of the Europa League on Thursday. Stefano Pioli's team, who sit second in the table behind runaway leaders Inter, will need to overturn that deficit in the second leg of their quarter-final clash at Stadio Olimpico next week to progress in the competition.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Special guests will next be able to get a taste of the Club 1899 Front Row Experience on April 22 when Milan host bitter rivals Inter in a top of the table Serie A clash.

Glasgow Rangers allowed former manager Michael Beale to overhaul the playing squad during the summer transfer window as a number of players moved in and out of Ibrox.

The Light Blues started the off-season by allowing the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor, and Scott Arfield to depart on free transfers upon the expiry of their respective contracts.

Glen Kamara, Antonio Colak, and Fashion Sakala were also allowed to leave on permanent deals as the head coach decided that they were not in his plans.

Leon Balogun, Danilo, Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, Jack Butland, Dujon Sterling, Jose Cifuentes, Kieran Dowell, and Abdallah Sima – on loan – were then all brought in to bolster the squad.

Beale also allowed some players to move out on loan; including Ianis Hagi and Alex Lowry. The latter, of which, has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season with Hearts.

Why Lowry was sent out on loan

It was reported that the attacking midfielder held talks with the former Rangers boss and it was decided that a loan move was in the best interests of all parties involved.

They agreed that the heap of new arrivals during the summer transfer window could prevent him from being able to get the required first-team minutes he needed for his development, which opened the door for him to join Hearts on a temporary deal until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

This came after the academy graduate only made seven senior appearances for the Light Blues last season under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Beale combined. He did not contribute with a single goal or assist in those matches to convince the manager that he would be a big player for him moving forward.

However, the Scotland U21 international did catch the eye with ten goals and one assist in 11 B Team clashes throughout the 2022/23 campaign.

His first-team breakthrough came during the 2021/22 season as van Bronckhorst, who once dubbed the gem as "dangerous", offered him an opportunity to showcase his qualities at senior level.

Lowry played seven games, four of which came as starts, and chipped in with two goals and two assists from an attacking midfield or wide position for the Dutch tactician.

In total, the 20-year-old whiz has made 14 first-team appearances for the Gers and has an exceptional return of 12 goals and three assists in 16 B Team outings for the Scottish giants.

However, his promising form under van Bronckhorst did not carry over to Beale's tenure and the young gem was forced to move on to Hearts on loan to continue his development this season, which – so far – looks to have been an excellent move for him.

Lowry's statistics for Hearts this season

The Scottish maestro joined Steven Naismith's outfit with little senior experience under his belt – fewer than 15 games – and has established himself as a regular fixture for the former Rangers striker.

Lowry has already played 13 first-team matches for Hearts and started six clashes in the Scottish Premiership throughout the 2023/24 campaign so far.

The Gers loanee has showcased his creative quality with four assists in all competitions for the club, which includes two assists in six league starts and two assists in two League Cup outings.

He has made 1.6 key passes per game in the Premiership, along with 1.6 completed dribbles per match, across eight appearances and has proven his ability to make things happen on a regular basis at the top end of the pitch at that level.

The statistics in the the table above, of his display against Livingston earlier this month, showcase the kind of quality Lowry can provide his team.

He can commit defenders and open space with his dribbling skills and has the vision and technique to be able to open up the opposition's defence to create chances for his teammates.

His performances for Hearts may leave new Rangers head coach Philippe Clement wondering why Beale allowed him to move on instead of offering him a chance to become a first-team regular for the Light Blues.

Lowry's creative quality could have been a useful asset for the Belgian boss to have in his squad, particularly when you look at the output from his current players.

James Tavernier's statistics this season

Rangers captain James Tavernier is the go-to creator for the club as their set-piece taker and main outlet from open play at right-back, due to his impressive crossing ability.

However, the former Newcastle United prospect, who leads the way for the side with 2.9 key passes per game in the Premiership this season, has only assisted three goals in 20 matches in all competitions.

The 32-year-old ace has contributed with an impressive ten goals from right-back in those 20 outings but his assist tally has left a lot to be desired so far.

He is currently averaging one assist every 6.67 games this season. This is in contrast to his career average of one assist every 3.52 matches throughout his time at Rangers – with 120 in 422 appearances.

These statistics suggest that Tavernier is underperforming as a creator in comparison to the form he has displayed during his spell at Ibrox to date.

Lowry has assisted more goals – despite the Rangers skipper playing seven more games – than his former captain, and Clement could have utilised a player with his creative quality.

In fact, only Borna Barisic (four) has managed as many assists as the 20-year-old magician so far this season, with every other Gers player on three assists or fewer in all competitions.

This illustrates how impressive the Hearts loanee's performances have been so far this season as he has been able to hit the ground running at first-team level as a reliable creative presence in midfield for Naismith's side.

Clement must now keep close tabs on his displays for the fellow Scottish side and weigh up whether or not it would be possible to bring the gem back in January to bolster his attacking options for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

Liverpool are the front-runners to sign a "complete" midfielder during the January transfer window, and it's a player Jurgen Klopp has been interested in for years.

Liverpool eyeing midfield signing

The Reds continued their good start to the season on Sunday afternoon, easing their way to an impressive 3-0 home victory over Brentford in the Premier League. It was an impressive result, especially with a host of midfielders unavailable, with the likes of Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch injured while Alexis Mac Allister was suspended.

Liverpool made significant changes in the middle of the park in the summer transfer window, but there does still appear to be a need to bring in a proper defensive midfielder when January rolls around. Mac Allister hasn't looked like a natural in the role, while Wataru Endo doesn't look like anything more than a squad player.

The Reds have been strongly linked with a move for Fluminense star Andre, but with the Brazilian also being tipped to join other Premier League clubs, they could have to turn their attention to other options. Now, a fresh transfer update suggests that Liverpool are front of the queue for a player who has been seen as a transfer target on Merseyside for a number of years.

Liverpool in pole position to sign Piotr Zielinski

According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are at the front of the queue to sign Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski, seeing him as a strong option to bring in and bolster their midfield. The update suggests that the Reds are more interested in the 29-year-old than his other suitors, who played a key role in his current club winning their first Serie A title since 1990 last season.

He is a fantastic player who has shone at the top level for a long time now, so the idea of him playing for the Reds is exciting because of the natural ability he possesses. Zielinski has scored ten goals in 86 caps for Poland, highlighting his pedigree as an international footballer, and he also has 96 goal contributions (50 goals and 46 assists) in 345 appearances for Napoli.

That being said, he is now 29 years of age, so he wouldn't represent a long-term signing – he is only a year younger than Endo, for example – and he also isn't the out-and-out No.6 that Liverpool need, instead shining as more of a No.8 a lot of the time.

Klopp does appear to rate Zielinski highly as a player, considering the Reds were linked with bringing him before they snapped up Gini Wijnaldum instead back in 2016, but it would be a surprise if he came to Anfield at this point in his career.

Should it happen, there would certainly be reasons to be positive, with Carlo Ancelotti once heaping praise on him as a player, saying he is a "complete midfielder" who is "dynamic and skilled with the ball". It feels unlikely, though, and a younger, more defence-minded option should be looked at instead of him.

Ousmane Dembele surprisingly claimed that he "loves" Barcelona despite being booed incessantly during his Champions League return with PSG.

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• PSG beat Barca 4-1 in second leg
• Dembele found the net to inspire a comeback
• Received stick from Barcelona fans throughout the game

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dembele, who departed from Barcelona last summer, played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain's remarkable comeback on Spanish soil as the Parisians rode on the back of his goal just before half-time after Raphinha scored an early opener in the second leg of their quarter-final tie on Tuesday night. PSG capitalized on their momentum after the break, against a 10-man Barcelona, with Vitinha and Kylian Mbappe scoring two quick goals to take the lead in the tie.

  Despite being reduced to ten men after Ronald Araujo was given his marching orders, Barcelona attempted to claw their way back into the quarter-final and came close through Ilkay Gundogan, whose strike hit the outside of the post. However, the Catalan club's fate was sealed when Mbappe netted a fourth goal late in the game to complete a memorable comeback and seal a last-four berth.

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  WHAT DEMBELE SAID

  Barcelona fans did their best to unsettle Dembele, whistling whenever the Frenchman got on the ball as he played a vital role in their downfall, after being deployed on the right wing by Luis Enrique.

  When questioned about the reception from Barcelona fans, Dembele replied: "The welcome given to me? I experienced it very well because I already experienced it in 2021 of being whistled here in Barcelona. I am not going to change my game for whistles. I stayed focused. I gave it my all. Barca is a great club. I love Barcelona… and I understand the whistles. That’s life."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Dembele insisted that there was a belief within his team-mates that they could turn around their fortunes in Spain despite losing the first leg at Parc des Princes.

  "Everyone believed [we could qualify], even if we lost the first leg 3-2," he said.

  "We didn’t give up, we knew we were going to score goals here. A big shift from the whole team. We worked the entire week, tactically, with the coach. His tactics were perfect. Even though we conceded the first goal, we didn’t let our heads drop. We continued to believe."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  With this victory, Paris Saint-Germain, who have yet to win the Champions League, will advance to face Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals after the German side eliminated Atletico Madrid in another thrilling tie.

  Looking ahead to the semi-finals, Dembele expressed optimism, stating: "It’s a big thing. The last time we were in the semis, we got to the final, and we’re crossing our fingers that we can do the same this year and get to Wembley. We’ll have to recover in time for Lyon at the weekend, then we’ll look ahead to the semi-final."

Former Real Madrid midfielder Julio Baptista has claimed that England star Jude Bellingham will only improve for Los Blancos.

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• Praised Bellingham for impact in the Spanish capital
• Admitted midfielder and Madrid are in "perfect coordination"
• Summer signing is now the Ballon d'Or frontrunner

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Baptista, who was on the books at Madrid from 2005-2008, lauded Bellingham for his adaptation to Los Blancos after making a big-money move to the Spanish capital last summer. Bellingham is his side's top scorer and in the mix for the Pichichi.

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• WHAT BAPTISTA SAID

  In an exclusive interview with GOAL, Baptista hailed Bellingham's impact: "And as a player, he's adapted perfectly well and very quickly to the rest of the team. And I think that he's settled in perfectly well, he's fully adapted to the way that Madrid is playing. And Madrid has adapted to deal with the way he plays, too, which means that both of them are in perfect coordination. I suppose that he's not yet reached his full development, I think he's only reached 60% of what he can actually produce or what he can deliver."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bellingham's impact on Los Blancos has been immense. The English midfielder has been deployed as a false nine for Carlo Ancelotti's side, and his series of star showings have carried a squad without a recognised striker to the top of La Liga. Los Blancos are eight points clear atop the table with seven games to play.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  Los Blancos are set to take on Barcelona in the second league Clasico of the year on Sunday. They won the first, 2-1, after Bellingham scored twice in the second half to complete a dramatic comeback.

Newcastle United, after an impressive 1-0 win at home versus Arsenal at St James' Park, crashed back down to reality on the road versus AFC Bournemouth last time out with the Cherries running out 2-0 victors at the expense of Eddie Howe's hapless side.

In truth, the Magpies never really got into their groove against Andoni Iraola's battlers – Newcastle only registering five shots on target all night on the South Coast, with the buoyed-on hosts managing double that amount as Dominic Solanke eventually helped himself to a late brace.

The game majorly exposed Howe's threadbare squad, an ever-extending injury list at the club resulting in the likes of 17-year-old Lewis Miley being drafted into the eleven whilst Lewis Hall retained his spot despite a subpar showing versus Borussia Dortmund prior for the former Chelsea youngster.

However, it was a regular first-team star who put in a notable below-par performance in this clash that could see him sacrificed from the first team after the International break.

Joelinton, playing further forward in this clash after changing his style of play to now be more suited as a central midfielder, was ineffective throughout the game at the Cherries in a 90-minute display he'll want to quickly forget about.

Joelinton's performance in numbers vs Bournemouth

The Brazilian is often lauded as a fan favourite in Newcastle quarters, turning around his Magpies career with many supporters at St James' Park growing restless with the ex-Hoffenheim man when he first joined.

Newcastle's number seven will just hope his display at the Vitality Stadium was a one-off blip, the often impactful figure anonymous at Bournemouth this weekend.

Praised for his daringness on the ball, on top of his ability to intercept and hound opposition players centrally, those key Joelinton attributes were missing against Iraola's men – Joelinton averaging 1.56 progressive take-ons per 90 minutes over the last year according to FBRef, alongside an impressive 1.67 interceptions.

In his contest, he would only manage one interception all afternoon whilst his willingness to charge at opposition players to push his team up the pitch went missing too – successful in only one of his dribbles forward as per Sofascore, whilst only winning a pitiful three of his 12 ground duels in the contest.

It's his lackadaisical nature on the ball that would have wound up Magpies fans making that colossal journey down to the South Coast even more, losing possession 17 times with Cherries midfielders Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie having a field day in contrast to Joelinton.

It led to football journalist Dominic Scurr brandishing his night as 'poor' – a fair assessment for a player who usually operates as a bright spark.

As a consequence, the 27-year-old could be dropped by Howe when Premier League action returns in two weeks with the Magpies manager hoping and praying he has more of his squad ready for selection after this break.

Potential replacements for Joelinton

Anthony Gordon could well be moved to a position back down the wings to replace Joelinton, the ex-Everton man playing as an unorthodox lone striker in the 2-0 defeat.

This could, in tow, see Joelinton moved back to a more familiar central midfield role to help out inexperienced faces such as Miley if he was to play versus Chelsea after the break.

Howe could also look to freshen up the team altogether and cut the Brazilian from his first team picture, although his previous performances in the top-flight this campaign have been encouraging – assisting Gordon versus Mikel Arteta's Gunners at the start of the month.

Regardless of whether or not Joelinton is in or out of the first-team plans coming up, Howe will need to change things up in some aspect after a poor collective performance at Bournemouth.

Tottenham's interest in one particular player is seen as an "interesting" one and supporters have been urged to watch out for his potential signing.

Postecoglou eyes new winger for Spurs

Despite much of the noise surrounding a possible new left-sided centre-back in January, it's also been reported recently that manager Ange Postecoglou is pretty keen to add a new winger. Injuries to Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon and Richarlison have left just Bryan Gil, Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski as Spurs' only natural wide players.

Son Heung-min has shone in that role for Spurs previously, before club-record goalscorer Harry Kane made his move to Bayern Munich, but the South Korea star is now dazzling as Tottenham's main front man.

Son is already just two goals away from matching his entire 2022/2023 tally after just 12 league games, so it could be foolish to move him back out wide. Summer signing Johnson, meanwhile, has apparently failed to impress Spurs chiefs with Gil yet again barely getting a look-in – having played just 17 Premier League minutes so far.

As a result, Postecoglou wants another wide player, with the likes of Samuel Iling-Junior and Antonio Nusa being linked to Spurs this week alone.

Spurs could make "interesting" Jota move

Another attacker mentioned at various points is former Celtic star Jota. The 24-year-old, now of Al-Ittihad, is apparently eager to leave Saudi Arabia and return to Europe. Jota is a player who Postecoglou knows well from his time at Parkhead, and reports have suggested that the winger would be keen to join Tottenham.

Sharing his own update on the situation, journalist Graeme Bailey has told Talking Transfers that Jota to Spurs is an "interesting" one to keep watch over.

“Jota is an interesting one," said Bailey this week.

"Keep an eye on him, they do like Hatate, Furuhashi and Maeda from Celtic as well, but Jota, it may be easier to go and get him from Saudi than going raiding up north in Scotland. Getting some of these players from Celtic would be cheaper than some of these European players, so I wouldn’t rule him out going to Celtic."

During his best season north of the border, Jota notched 11 goals and 10 assists in 29 SPFL outings under Postecoglou. While the Premier League is seen as a far more illustrious and competitive landing spot, Tottenham's boss has so far got the very best out of many in his squad, and there is no reason why he cannot do the same with Jota in England.

Pundit Alan Hutton, commenting on the player in 2022, called Jota an "exciting" and "incredible" player in an interview.

"Jota's only 23-years-old, he's still developing," explained Hutton to Football Insider.

"He's probably only going to get better, I think he can get better. What he's done this season has been incredible, for him to come from his parent club, where he's not really been playing. Benfica are a big club in their own right but to come to another club where there's a lot of pressure, to perform at such a young age, he's stood up to that task.

“Jota's that player fans want to see. He's exciting."