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Matthijs de Ligt wasted no time in showcasing his leadership qualities as he took part in his first training session at Manchester United.

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• De Ligt completed summer move to Man Utd
• Dutchman takes part in first training session
• Was giving orders to his new team-mates

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Ligt joined his United team-mates at Carrington alongside fellow new arrival Noussair Mazraoui to begin preparations for the 2024-25 season with the Red Devils. The centre-back was seen barking instructions at his new colleagues as they competed in passing and defensive drills.

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  De Ligt and Mazraoui, who played together under United manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax, both joined the Old Trafford club in a deal that could cost close to £60 million ($77m) from Bayern Munich this week. The Netherlands international has signed a five-year contract with the club.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DE LIGT?

  The 25-year-old defender will likely be involved when United kickstart their Premier League season with a home game against Fulham on Friday, which will be followed by a trip to Brighton on August 24.

David Raya doesn't think it was his "best save" for Arsenal as the goalkeeper pulled off an unbelievable stop to deny Aston Villa a crucial goal.

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• Arsenal breezed past Aston Villa
• Raya kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win
• Made great reflex save to deny Watkins

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The crucial save came when Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was presented with a golden opportunity to put his team ahead before the hour mark. As a deflected shot from Amadou Onana looped over Raya, it seemed certain that Watkins would capitalise on the fortunate bounce off the bar.

  Raya, sprawled on the ground with time appearing to stand still, watched as Watkins closed in on the loose ball, seemingly with an open goal at his mercy. But as Watkins aimed his header, Raya miraculously stretched out to claw the ball away from danger.

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  The momentum of the match shifted dramatically following Raya’s incredible save. Within 15 minutes of the incident, substitute Leandro Trossard broke the deadlock by scoring the opener for Arsenal. The Gunners quickly doubled their lead when Thomas Partey found the back of the net just 10 minutes later, effectively securing the win.

• WHAT RAYA SAID

  In a post-match interview with , Raya reflected on the save, emphasizing the collective effort of the team rather than focusing on his individual heroics.

  "It was a crucial moment in the game where it was 0-0 and they had chances and I was there to save Ollie's [Watkins] header," he said. "I think of what I remember, it's a shot from outside the box. I'm on the floor so I try to get up and I can't reach it. I just see Ollie going in there so I react as quickly as possible I put my hand there and there's no one there to get the ball."

  When asked if the save was the reward for the hard yards that he puts in training, he replied: "It's just a repetition of things. You do drills and have to save one ball and get up to save another. This time it paid off. This is a reaction one, I don't think it's my best save. I try to help the team as much as possible to win games."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RAYA?

  Raya has two clean sheets from the first two Premier League encounters and the Spaniard will look to continue his fine form when the Gunners host Brentford next Saturday in the English top flight.

Aston Villa are readying an audacious bid for a man wanted by plenty of the Premier League big-hitters, according to reports coming out of Italy, with Sporting Director Monchi hot on the case.

Unai Emery's side making history

Despite having won just one of their previous five Premier League games, Aston Villa and Unai Emery are still on course for a historic season.

Aston Villa agree fee to sign £48k-p/w "future superstar" wanted by Arsenal

Unai Emery has personally pushed for the deal to be done.

By
Ben Browning

Apr 11, 2024

They sit fifth in the Premier League and are set for Champions League football next season, which will be their first time in the competition since the 1980s. The Villans remain in the hunt for European silverware this season too, with a showdown against LOSC Lille in the UEFA Conference League before a potential semi-final against Olympiacos or Fenerbahce en route to the final of the competition.

But attention is already turning to summer business, and the latest reports suggest Emery's side are set to be ambitious in the market once again as they look to push on to bridge the gap to the Premier League's traditional heavy hitters.

Villa eyeing Zirkzee with Monchi leading the charge

Now, it has emerged from reports in Italy that Villa are the latest side to show an interest in Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, who has enjoyed a fantastic campaign to date in the Italian top flight.

The Dutch attacker has found the net on 10 occasions in Serie A so far this season, as well as grabbing four assists, and has caught the eye of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool among other clubs across Europe as plenty scramble to try and find a striker before the new season.

According to Italian media [Via GIVEMESPORT], Villa have now joined the race for his services and could even have an advantage over their rivals despite the calibre of the other sides in the hunt for his signature.

That is because of Sporting Director Monchi, who knows Serie A intimately from his time in charge at Roma. He is keen to land Zirkzee and has enlisted the help of super-agent Kia Joorabchian, who already represents Villa duo Douglas Luiz and Philippe Coutinho.

Bologna boss Thiago Motta has already revealed just how special the striker could be, discussing his "extraordinary" qualities earlier in the campaign.

“‘It was an excellent goal from a player with extraordinary qualities. He scored a similar goal in training. Joshua is very talented, but I want to emphasize that he also works very hard for it,” Motta stated after Zirkzee scored against Sassuolo in October.

Any deal would depend on Villa clinching Champions League football for next season, though that seems more of a formality than anything else at present given their advantage over Manchester United in the Premier League.

It would reportedly set Villa back between 60m and 70m euros (£52-£60m), while he would also demand an almost four times increase on his current £900,000 (£18,000 per week) wages.

With Ollie Watkins ploughing an almost lone furrow at the top of the pitch for much of the season, an addition feels necessary for Emery's side ahead of playing in four competitions once again, and the versatile Dutchman could be the perfect solution.

With just two games remaining in the Championship this season, Birmingham City's survival chances are still hanging by a thread, with Gary Rowett not helped by a frustrating injury worry ahead of his side's crucial clash against Huddersfield Town.

Birmingham injury news

Since replacing Tony Mowbray in March after the former Sunderland manager had to step down for medical reasons, Rowett has been handed the task of steering Birmingham to safety. So far, it's been a difficult task too. The interim boss has taken charge of six games, winning just twice, suffering defeat three times and drawing once. As a result, safety is now far from guaranteed with Birmingham in a perilous position.

Looking at how things stand, Birmingham's clash against Huddersfield on Saturday is as big as it gets for Rowett and his side. Win and they'll push clear of the Terriers and potentially into safety if the results above them go their way. Lose, however, and Birmingham could be at least four points adrift of safety come the end of the weekend.

The challenge of the Terriers has become even more difficult after Rowett's injury update too. Despite the manager's previous confidence that Lukas Jutkiewicz could play a part in Birmingham's final two Championship games, the forward is still a doubt ahead of the weekend.

Rowett revealed the news, saying via Birmingham Mail: "I know Jukey really well, he is definitely one that can help us around the group as well. The first thing he said to me is, 'If I'm not available, I want to travel with the team'. That shows a lot about him. Jukey is always that go-to one to get you out of trouble.

"We're hoping that he can recover. You'll see him limping around but he'll still want to play. I'm hoping he can still play some part of the season but I don't want to put too much pressure on that with the injury that he had."

"Physical" Jutkiewicz is a big miss

Expierience can quickly prove to be the key in any relegation battle and Jutkiewicz certainly brings that at 35-years-old. If Rowett wanted a chance to fall to any Birmingham player, Jutkiewicz would be high up on his list. Nonetheless, Birmingham must escape the drop without the help of their veteran forward, unless he manages a late return against the odds.

Rowett worked with the forward in his previous spell at Birmingham and was full of praise for Jutkiewicz, telling Birmingham Mail in 2016: "The second goal a good ball into the box, when Jukey is getting the ball crossed into him and he's in the middle of the goal not many teams are going to be able to stop him.

"That's a real strong start for him in his Blues career, four goals in something like eight or nine appearances. He was a real handful and physical presence at times."

Club football in Uruguay has been put on hold with Nacional star Juan Izquierdo still in critical care after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

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• Uruguayan league halted
• Nacional defender suffered cardiac arrest
• Admitted to hospital in Sao Paulo

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The incident happened during a Copa Libertadores round of 16 clash between Sao Paulo and Nacional in Brazil last week. Izquierdo was rushed to Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in Sao Paulo after collapsing on the pitch, with Nacional later confirming the defender had suffered a cardiac arrhythmia. After that, the executive board of the First Division of the Uruguayan Football Association decided to put all domestic matches on hold, as reported by Relevo.

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  Nacional were supposed to play Montevideo-based club Liverpool in a Uruguayan Primera Division clash on Monday, however, that match, along with the fixtures throughout the rest of the week, have now been postponed. Izquierdo underwent fresh tests on Sunday and the player is showing "a progression of brain involvement and an increase in intracranial pressure" according to an official report from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  The full statement from Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein on the player's condition read: "Admitted to hospital on August 22, 2024, at 8:55 p.m., patient Juan Manuel Izquierdo underwent new tests this Sunday, August 25. The evaluation showed a progression of brain involvement and an increase in intracranial pressure. Juan remains in neurological intensive care, dependent on mechanical ventilation."

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• WHAT NEXT?

  The entire football fraternity and fans worldwide are praying that Izquierdo makes a full recovery. The 27-year-old has spent his entire club career to date in Uruguay, and joined Nacional on a free transfer in January after seeing his contract at Liverpool Montevideo expire.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement has confirmed that one of his key men has picked up a season-ending injury, in what is described by the Gers boss as a "big blow".

Rangers face defining period in title race

The Gers really are now into the business end of the season, with the Scottish Premiership title race potentially set to go right until the final day of the campaign.

Next up for Rangers is Sunday's home clash with Kilmarnock at Ibrox, at which point they could find themselves six points adrift of Celtic at the top of the table, assuming their rivals win at home to Hearts on Saturday afternoon. Clement's men would have a game in hand, but it would certainly crank up the pressure on them, in what would become a must-win game if it wasn't already.

There is no question that the Gers are the current underdogs to win the title, but there have been twists already this season, and they make the trip to Parkhead next weekend for what could be a truly defining fixture between the two adversaries.

Injuries have affected Rangers throughout the season, with left-back Ridvan Yilmaz one of those who has been absent since March, for example. Now, another significant fitness blow has emerged – one that supporters will be devastated to hear.

Clement confirms Goldson injury blow

Speaking to the press before Sunday's clash with Kilmarnock, Clement confirmed that Rangers ace Connor Goldson won't play again this season due to injury: "Wednesday in training, Connor hurt his knee bad, he will be out for the rest of the season after a scan.

"It is a big blow, he has played 48 games this season, one of the leaders. He said to me, he wanted to be in the dressing room to support the boys."

This is a massive setback for Rangers at such an important point in the season, with Goldson such an experienced head whose nous in big games could have been so key in these remaining matches in 2023/24.

This season, the 31-year-old has featured prominently again for the Scottish giants, starting 30 matches in the league, averaging 3.4 aerial duel wins and 2.8 clearances per game in the competition. His longevity is outlined by the fact that Steven Gerrard lauded him back in 2019 during his time in charge at Ibrox, saying: "I must give him a special mention tonight and I can't think of a word to Connor.

"He's had one session, or half a session because of how light it was and to come in having not played since Celtic and trained ever so little, he was a mountain for this club tonight."

The hope is that others can now fill the void left by Goldson, starting this weekend, but it is hard to shake the thought that his absence for the remainder of the season could end up being a big moment in the title race.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become a “problem” for Portugal, says Gabriel Agbonlahor, with the all-time great told “there’s a reason he’s in Saudi Arabia”.

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• Legendary frontman still going strong
• Intends to play on with club & country
• Questions asked of his contribution

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The five-time Ballon d’Or winner bid farewell to European football following his dramatic release by Manchester United in November 2022. After gracing the World Cup finals in Qatar, CR7 opted to spread his wings and head for the Middle East.

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  Ronaldo has remained a prolific presence for Al-Nassr – hitting 50 goals for them last season – but posted a blank on Euro 2024 duty with his country. Rather than announce his international retirement at the end of that event, the 39-year-old has vowed to play on – making more history when reaching 900 career goals.

• WHAT AGBONLAHOR SAID

  Former England international Agbonlahor, who faced Ronaldo in Premier League action during the Portuguese's first spell at Old Trafford, has told of why an iconic figure is doing his national team few favours: “If you watched him in the Euros, we forget don’t we, that he didn’t do anything. He probably hindered other players being played. I think him playing that many games probably cost Portugal.

  “I know people will say that’s harsh and it’s not his fault, but you know, you had your time. You’ve still got what it takes, but have you got what it takes at the highest level any more? There’s a reason why he’s playing in Saudi Arabia, there’s a reason why he got let go at Manchester United, there’s a reason why he’s not playing in Europe. I just think Portugal have got so many exciting players that were left on the bench during that Euros.”

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  Agbonlahor went on to say of Ronaldo’s ongoing presence in the Portugal camp causing a selection headache for head coach Roberto Martinez: “Ronaldo will want to go to the World Cup, he’s not just carrying on to play the Nations League. The end goal is retiring at the World Cup. But if I’m [Roberto] Martinez I’m like ‘ugh, it’s the Ronaldo show again’. He’s already said I don’t want to be a bench player. He said if he’s in the squad he wants to be a starter. You’ve got that problem. It’s a hard one for the manager because is Ronaldo as big as Portugal?”

Chelsea are reportedly 'on the brink of civil war' as Todd Boehly's relationship with Clearlake reaches 'breaking point'.

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• Boehly wants to buy Clearlake out
• Clearlake refusing to sell any shares
• Parties reach 'breaking point'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the Blues find themselves in trouble with Boehly and Clearlake Capital locked in a heated boardroom dispute that could escalate into a full-blown "civil war". The internal strife between the club's major stakeholders stems from conflicting visions of Chelsea's future, with both sides now considering drastic buyout options to end the impasse.

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  Boehly, the American billionaire and co-owner of Chelsea, is said to believe that his relationship with Clearlake Capital, which owns the majority stake in the club, has become unsustainable and is pushing for an urgent resolution to prevent the situation from spiralling further and causing irreparable damage to the club’s stability both on and off the pitch. The stakes have been raised as both parties are reportedly considering a buyout, with Boehly and Clearlake willing to purchase each other's shares.

  Clearlake Capital, led by Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, holds a 61.5 per cent controlling stake in Chelsea, making them the club's majority shareholders. Despite the ongoing tensions, Clearlake has remained steadfast in their refusal to sell any portion of their ownership. On the other hand, Boehly, who holds a 38.5 per cent stake in the club along with partners Hansjorg Wyss and Mark Walter, believes he has the resources to launch a full takeover of Chelsea which could cost over £2.5 billion.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The root of the conflict between Boehly and Clearlake appears to be a deep strategic divide over the future direction of Chelsea. Boehly reportedly has a "20 to 30-year vision" for the club, and during this period he wants to build a new stadium and ignite long-term projects which would aim at solidifying Chelsea's position as a top European club. Clearlake, on the other hand, views their investment as a "decade-plus commitment".

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• A COMPLEX OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE

  Complicating matters is the co-ownership agreement between Clearlake and Boehly, which includes contractual rights that give both parties "matching rights and blocking options". This means that if either side tries to sell their stake in Chelsea, the other has the right to match the offer or block the sale to a third party. If Clearlake wants to buy out Boehly's shares then it could potentially cost £1.5 billion, as it would also involve purchasing Wyss and Walter's shares, ensuring that all investors make a profit on their initial investment.

Tottenham Hotspur lost against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening to consign Ange Postecoglou to a third successive Premier League defeat for the second time this season.

Following the loss against Mauricio Pochettino's eighth-place side, who have completed the double over Spurs, Postecoglou mused that “if you’re really going to build for success, you need to go through tough times”.

That's all well and good, mate, but there's ample evidence that certain members of the squad are not fit for long-term purpose in this side, which has shown glimpses of success this season but has been pulled back by injuries and an evaporation of the early-season optimism and conviction.

Moves must be made by chairman Daniel Levy, steely signings must be welcomed down at N17.

Spurs eyeing Premier League midfielder

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham have joined London rivals Arsenal in the race for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, corroborating revelations from The Telegraph earlier in the week that the Belgium international had been added to the Lilywhites' shortlist.

It's understood that Everton will assent to Onana's sale this summer if their £45m valuation is met, stirring up a swarm of interest in his signature, with Newcastle United and La Liga champions Barcelona also registering an interest.

Onana is contracted to Goodison Park until 2027 but the Toffees are searching for funds and the 22-year-old is one of the most profitable assets on the books.

Why Spurs should sign Amadou Onana

Tottenham's interest in Onana and hopes of securing his services hinge on the prospective sale of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, as per the report. The Dane, who contracted until the end of next season, is likely to be sold and has attracted a wealth of suitors overseas, with Serie A sides AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli all keeping an eye on the £20m-rated holding midfielder.

However, Onana, who has been described as a "one-man army" in the centre of the park by talent scout Jacek Kulig, could also topple Yves Bissouma as the starting star at the base of Postecoglou's midfield.

Signing for Everton from French club Lille for £33m in August 2022, Onana arrived with a weight of expectation after establishing himself as one of the most exciting rising stars in Ligue 1, and while Everton have struggled against relegation this season and last, his monstrous presence has added the requisite mettle and mojo.

A tough player, Onana ranks among the top 14% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the top 5% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, showcasing that solid defensive base and tenacity in winning the ball back, be it on the ground or in the air.

He's also earned 12 caps for Belgium, making his debut during the summer of 2022, and has led journalist and U23 scout Antonio Mango to pronounce him as a "midfield powerhouse".

Tottenham have some solid building blocks in place but there is far too much still to improve and Onana would go a long way toward making the requisite upgrade in the engine room to both charge Postecoglou's high-octane system and add the strength to ensure that the defence is finally revived to it's past fortitude.

Bissouma, aforementioned, is the first-choice holding midfielder at Tottenham but he has increasingly come under fire for his poor performances, last crafting a sustained run of good form before jetting off to the African Cup of Nations with Mali in January – and even then, he was serving a suspension for making a reckless lunging challenge against Nottingham Forest in December.

Postecoglou has been reluctant to place Bissouma on the bench this season but this is more due to the lack of reliable options at his disposal, with Hojbjerg lacking in mobility and Oliver Skipp lacking in the quality to cement a top spot in the first-team – the latter duo criticised by Perry Groves last season as they "don't do anything".

When analysing and comparing the respective sets of metrics tabled above, there are several notable points of importance. One: Onana, who is nearly five years younger than Bissouma, already displays a complete skill set that will likely surpass the Malian's. Two: The Blues star is crisper in challenges and more energetic and active in closing down opponents and recovering possession Three: He is a far cooler head, with Bissouma's disciplinary record precluding his chances of finding fluency.

Might it be that Tottenham's No. 6 might have simply hit a brilliant, but unsustainable, purple patch during the early phase of the campaign, now exposed for his frailties, foibles that have devolved into something more pressing: an internal obstacle inhibiting the Lilywhites squad from taking that next step in the Premier League and securing a spot among Europe's elite once more.

Bissouma has the inborn technical quality, he's imbued with a sense of swagger that, when shining, performs masterfully well. But he's inconsistent, irregular in his influence and command in the centre of the park.

Reports on the matter of Spurs' interest in Onana believe that selling Hojbjerg could be the best way to free up space for the Goodison Park phenom's arrival.

But if Tottenham truly seek prominence and prosperity of a kind beyond anything that the devoted supporters have been treated to over the past several decades, then bold, purposeful ventures must be made, statements of intent that signal toward the divisional heavyweights that here is an outfit soaring to the top.

Ange must now drop Spurs' 5/10 dud who was as bad as Emerson

This Tottenham star cost his side in the fight to secure a top-four finish.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 3, 2024

Lest we forget that Postecoglou's project has not yet finished its first year, there's plenty more to come but only if the impressive recruitment is continued under Levy and built upon to narrow the canyon between Tottenham and the top.

Newcastle United are reportedly believed to be interested in completing an audacious triple signing of three players from the same club this summer.

Big summer ahead at Newcastle

After a disappointing season overall, Eddie Howe is under no illusions as to how important it is to nail their summer transfer business, in order to mount a genuine top-four challenge in the Premier League next term. Newcastle certainly aren't shy when it comes to being linked with various players, with additions required at the back, in midfield and in the attacking third.

One of the most recent reports has claimed that Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo and Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly could both head to St James' Park on free transfers at the end of the season. That would help ease Newcastle's injury woes at the back, with both Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles still expected to be out for many months with serious knee issues.

Another Cherries player, Dominic Solanke, has also emerged as a transfer target for Newcastle this summer, having enjoyed an excellent season that has seen him score 19 goals in 37 league appearances, as well as winning 2.6 aerial duels per game.

Morgan Gibbs-White has stood out as arguably Nottingham Forest's star man in 2023/24, helping them pull just clear of the relegation zone, and he is believed to be an ideal replacement for Bruno Guimaraes at St James', should the Brazilian seal a move away.

Newcastle eyeing audacious triple Crystal Palace signing

According to an exciting claim from Football Insider, Newcastle are keen on signing Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise this summer, eyeing a triple swoop for the Crystal Palace trio.

It is thought that the Magpies have a "strong interest" in them, and the report also says that they are "close to appointing Palace technical director Dougie Freedman to replace Dan Ashworth", perhaps explaining why this rumour has emerged.

This is such an encouraging update, in terms of seeing the level of ambition on show from PIF, even though they will also have to be aware of financial regulations and not risk punishments moving forward, as has been the case with Forest and Everton this season.

Guehi, Eze and Olise all stand out as fantastic options in their respective positions, with the former a consistently strong performer at the heart of Palace's defence alongside Joachim Andersen. He has averaged 3.6 clearances per match throughout the current campaign, and could well feel that this summer is the time to enjoy a new challenge.

Meanwhile, Eze is a brilliant player to watch, finding another gear in recent times and scoring nine goals in the Premier League this season, while Olise is similarly gifted in his wide role, netting on 10 occasions in only 13 league starts, including an excellent brace against Manchester United earlier this month.

The Freedman factor could put Newcastle in a strong position, assuming he comes in as the new sporting director, and managing to sign all three would be incredible, even if it feels unlikely.