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Chelsea want a new goalkeeper scout amid criticism of Robert Sanchez as the Blues begin their hunt to fill vacancy, per a report.

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• Sanchez under scrutiny after several mistakes
• Chelsea want new GK scout
• Main aim to find gems between 13 and 21

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the Blues are seeking to strengthen their recruitment system by adding a dedicated figure who will focus on scouting goalkeepers aged 13 to 21 across the country. This person would play a key role in shaping the club's goalkeeping department for years to come, helping to identify future stars who can eventually compete at the senior level.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Weekly video assignments will be a crucial part of the job, which would to be submitted to Ross Turnbull, the ex-Chelsea star who is now their goalkeeping scouting manager. The chosen candidate will also be responsible for gathering detailed background information on potential targets – this includes using conventional scouting methods as well as monitoring social media to build a complete profile.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Sanchez, signed from Brighton, has largely been Chelsea's go-to man in goal throughout the season. However, his displays have often been underwhelming, with a series of high-profile errors costing the team crucial points. While Sanchez still hopes to retain his place in the starting lineup, the club's decision to ramp up their scouting efforts in this position signals that competition for the number one jersey is set to intensify.

  Alongside Sanchez, other goalkeepers within the Chelsea system are being considered for a more prominent role. Djordje Petrovic, who has spent the season on loan at sister club Strasbourg, has made a strong impression despite initially being overlooked for not fitting Maresca’s system. Teenage prospect Mike Penders, considered one of Belgium's brightest young keepers, will arrive from Genk this summer. Chelsea have high hopes for the 17-year-old, who is expected to be integrated into the senior setup over the next few years.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  As Chelsea prepare to face Everton at Stamford Bridge this Saturday, Sanchez is expected to be in goal once again. However, with his future under the microscope and rivals in the background pushing for opportunities, the pressure is mounting.

Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has admitted that he is trying to 'copy' Casemiro and claimed that he is 'learning a lot' from the veteran.

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• Ugarte struggling at Man Utd since move
• Admits he is trying to 'copy' veteran Casemiro
• Continuing to learn 'a lot' from the Brazilian

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ugarte joined United from Paris Saint-Germain last summer in a deadline day deal, as they wanted a long-term defensive midfielder to eventually succeed Casemiro at Old Trafford. However, the Uruguayan has struggled to find the kind of form he showed in France and has invited a lot of criticism from fans and pundits alike.

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  Casemiro, himself, has also struggled a lot for form as well since he shifted to Old Trafford from Real Madrid, however, the 33-year-old has gained some form, as showcased in his solid Europa League performances in the knockout rounds. Ugarte still remains United's preferred option going into next season, and Ugarte has revealed he is learning a lot from the Brazilian legend.

• WHAT UGARTE SAID

  Speaking to the media, Ugarte said: “I'm learning a lot with [Casemiro]. I have very good relations with Case. I try to copy as much as I can, all the good things that he has as a player.

  “And not only inside the pitch, but outside the pitch too. These are things that make you win, because he's a winner. I feel very comfortable.

  "I speak a lot with Casemiro, and up until now I keep learning and I'm very happy.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Ugarte and Casemiro will likely play a major part in deciding whether United can play Champions League football next season, as the Red Devils have to win the Europa League to get European football. They will be in action later today against Athletic Club.

Manchester City’s mass-squad overhaul is already in full swing.

The Citizens have spent around £125m this January on four players with an average age of 20 years old; Pep Guardiola threw both Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush in for their debuts against Chelsea last Saturday.

Meantime, Vitor Reis will be hoping to make his own debut against Arsenal on Sunday, while Juma Bah’s maiden outing in sky blue will have to wait, as he’ll spend the remainder of the campaign on loan at Lens.

Elsewhere, Kyle Walker has joined AC Milan on loan, and he could be the first of many Man City stalwarts set to depart over the coming months.

Manchester City youngster pushing to leave

As reported by Florian Plettenberg and Patrick Berge of Sky Sports Deutschland, Bayer Leverkusen are “trying to secure” Manchester City youngster James McAtee.

James Ducker of the Telegraph noted earlier in the window that fellow Bundesliga-outfit Borussia Dortmund were also attempting to sign the 22-year-old, although their interest appears to have cooled since Nuri Şahin’s sacking.

Guardiola has previously described McAtee as “special”, but the youngster has started just four times this season, all coming in cup competitions, seeing just 157 minutes of action in the Premier League and Champions League.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout described McAtee as a “top talent”, and the youngster has proved his worth throughout January, bagging a first-ever senior hat-trick against Salford in the FA Cup, before heading home his first-ever Premier League goal for Man City during the 6-0 demolition of Ipswich.

Sam Lee of the Athletic believes he is frustrated by his “limited opportunities”. However, as outlined earlier this week, this could prove to be a Cole Palmer-esque mistake, and there’s a much more high-profile member of the Man City squad they should squeeze out instead to make room for McAtee.

Manchester City's record signing continues to underwhelm

By rolling home a penalty against Salford, Jack Grealish ended his 392-day wait for a goal, before then lashing home the opener against Paris Saint Germain, albeit in vain, as the Citizens were beaten 4-2 at Parc des Princes.

Despite ending his draught, Man City’s club-record signing has still come in for widespread criticism.

Dev Bajwa described him as “ineffective”, James Westwood of Goal believes his ‘talents are wasted at Man City’, labelling him a ‘depreciating asset’, while Richard Jolly of the Independent notes that he is not the same player he once was at Aston Villa, blaming Guardiola for turning ‘one of the most exciting attacking players in world football into someone who is neither exciting nor attacking’.

Jolly adds that Grealish’s ‘lack of productivity has become more of an issue’, so let’s assess Grealish’s season-by-season statistics.

The table makes for interesting reading, backing up the assertion that Grealish has never been the same player at Man City that he once was with Villa.

During his final season in the Midlands, Grealish racked up more goals, a higher goal – xG figure, more progressive carries and a higher take-on success percentage than he ever has during any of his four campaigns in Manchester.

On the flip side, two statistics are higher than ever this season. They are: pass completion % and toucher per 90.

This underlines that Grealish – who has been linked with an exit of late – while often heavily involved in play, is not offering much in the final third, so now might be time for the Citizens to move on their winger, currently earning £300k-per-week, to make space for McAtee.

Dream Gundogan replacement: Man City submit bid to sign "world-class" star

Man City are eyeing up a new midfielder

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By
Joe Nuttall

Jan 31, 2025

Liverpool fans have been left furious after the club hosted a 'Summer of '66' event as part of the Real Madrid-bound defender's farewell to the club.

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• Alexander-Arnold departing for Madrid
• Leaving on a free after two decades on Merseyside
• Fans furious after seeing party celebrations

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alexander-Arnold was booed at Anfield during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal due to his imminent departure and fans have been angered further after discovering details of the defender's farewell 'party'.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Liverpool supporters have reacted angrily to footage of the event, but it has been described as a 'barbecue' – put on by the player himself rather than the club – despite the many activities and attractions that apparently formed part of the day.

  's James Pearce tweetied: Liverpool did not ‘throw a party’ for Trent Alexander-Arnold. There was a barbecue at the AXA Training Centre on Friday. Trent put it on to thank teammates and staff. Similar to what Roberto Firmino did before he left in 2023. Standard stuff for a departing senior player."

• HOW THE FANS REACTED

  It's safe to say fans online were left unimpressed by the event. One user, @LFCRetro_ posted: "Canny wait to see the back of that egotistical cobra and his ghastly family."

  Another, @lfcsge93 added: "Can him and his family f*ck off now? Hopefully Real Madrid fans tear him a new one."

  @KayLFC05_ took aim at the club for trying to hide the 'barbecue', posting: "Interesting how the club tried to keep this under wraps and not post this anywhere on social media."

  And @P4ul1e called on fans to continue booing the defender, saying: "An absolute embarrassment. Let's the boos continue".

  Finally, @HamzahP22 posted: "Bye Trent , I wish you nothing but the absolute worst in your future".

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 'barbecue' appeared to have a lot of activities and entertainment on offer for guests. There was even a man with a flamethrower roaming the grounds, alongside several fairground games and Alexander-Arnold-themed goodies, including cakes.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is facing repeated calls for his dismissal amid a woeful 2024/2025 campaign, with a well-connected former Spurs scout now sharing when he believes the 59-year-old will be shown his P45.

Postecoglou under more Tottenham pressure after Aston Villa defeat

The problems at Spurs are well-documented, and have been around long before they crashed out of the FA Cup fourth round to Aston Villa last weekend.

Tottenham open to axing £190k-a-week star in previously "unthinkable" sale

It would be a significant move by the Lilywhites.

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 11, 2025

Postecoglou is now relying solely on his side’s participation in the Europa League to end Tottenham’s 17-year wait for a major trophy, but that barely scratches the surface when it comes to describing the Lilywhites’ lacklustre season.

The north Londoners sit 14th in the Premier League table, closer to relegation than European qualification, with Postecoglou’s squad stretched to the absolute bare bones after a plethora of debilitating injuries to key first-team players over the last few months.

A large portion of Spurs supporters were eager to see the return of open, attacking and front-foot football after the pragmatic years of José Mourinho and Antonio Conte, but a lot of the criticism aimed Postecoglou’s way has centered around the perceived lack of a plan B approach.

Luckily for the ex-Celtic boss, Tottenham expect to have a host of first-teamers back fairly soon, including Guglielmo Vicario, left-back Destiny Udogie, midfielder James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert.

These vital re-introductions could prove pivotal to Postecoglou’s job status, especially with Tottenham doing due-diligence on potential new managers behind-the-scenes.

Insider shares Ange Postecoglou sack theory at Tottenham

Speaking to Football Insider, former Lilywhites scout Mick Brown, who is said to remain very well-connected at his ex-employers, has shared his belief about when Spurs could decide to sack Postecoglou – and returning players will greatly determine the timeline.

“They’re putting their eggs in one basket at the moment,” he said. “The thinking is very much ‘we’ll be alright when we get our injured players back’.

“But given the length of time these players have been out of the game, they’ve got to get back up to match fitness, can they do that while still starting games? Then, if they get them all back, and they’re still losing games, what happens then?

“The pressure will only get more intense, and I think that’s when he’ll be sacked, if players come back from injuries and there isn’t an immediate turnaround in form. That’s what they’re expecting and hoping for – players to come back and results to improve.

“If it doesn’t happen, the blame will be placed on the manager. They’ve put so much emphasis on these injured players, so they’re willing to stick with him until he gets them back into the team.

“But if they come back and things don’t go well, it doesn’t bode well for Postecoglou’s position.”

Arsenal now hold a strong interest in a “lethal” £50m striker, who is seen as an ideal solution to their attacking issues, according to a report.

Doubt over Havertz's Arsenal future

Although the Gunners are still in the Premier League title race, currently sitting six points behind Liverpool, there is a feeling they could have done with bringing in some extra attacking firepower during the January transfer window.

In a recent interview with Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown revealed Mikel Arteta is set to pursue a new striker in the summer, casting doubt over Havertz’s long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.

“I don’t think their position has changed since they first started looking at options. Arteta wasn’t happy that they didn’t strengthen in January, because they needed to.

“So if Arsenal can get a top-quality replacement, I expect them to do that in the summer.”

Arsenal keen on "special" £25m ace who's now available to sign this summer

The Gunners have set their sights on a hot prospect, who is being targeted by some of Europe’s top clubs.

By
Dominic Lund

Feb 9, 2025

Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko are among the main strikers to be linked with a move to north London in the summer, but reports from Spain have now revealed there is another name on the list of targets.

Arsenal are said to hold a strong interest in Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui, having been impressed by his performances this season, which has attracted the attention of a number of big clubs.

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also ‘bidding strongly’ for Retegui, so there may be stiff competition for his signature, with Atalanta set to try and hold out for up to €60m (£50m).

With the Gunners still lacking a reliable striker, the Atalanta star is viewed as an ideal solution, but they are yet to make any concrete moves towards getting a deal done.

Retegui on fire in the Serie A

It is no surprise the Italian has attracted Arsenal’s attention, as he has been prolific in the Serie A this season, scoring 20 goals in 22 games, most recently bagging four in his side’s 5-0 victory against Hellas Verona.

Italy manager Luciano Spalletti was full of praise for the 25-year-old earlier this season, saying: “Inside the box, he is lethal. And now he has learned how to connect with the team better. He’s going to become a top player.”

If the Gunners are keen on an out-and-out striker, Retegui could be their man, given that he ranks in the 96th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

As you’d expect, Havertz outperforms the Atalanta forward on a number of key defensive metrics, while he has also provided far more assists during the same timeframe.

However, the most important thing for any striker is to find the back of the net, and the Argentina-born marksman certainly knows how to do that, so it is promising news the Gunners are considering a summer move.

GOAL US writers discuss the Champions League semis, whether Yamal and Raphinha can carry Barca, and Pulisic's mixed campaign

You couldn't have asked for a better duo of first leg ties in the Champions League semifinals. Arsenal and PSG delivered a game full of quality that simmered ahead of what should be a more expansive return fixture.

Barcelona and Inter, meanwhile, was total chaos, brilliant soccer back-to-front, with no room to breathe and no team able to take much from it other than "Lamine Yamal is good." But Raphinha isn't bad either, and Barca showed they can stay alive with the mercurial Ferran Torres up front.

And it all sets up everything nicely this week. Arsenal will have to go for it, which is pretty much the antithesis of the way manager Mikel Arteta views this game. Inter and Barca might not know what the hell to do other than remind the world that yes, "Lamine Yamal is still good."

Outside of UCL, the Serie A season is grinding to a close. Napoli will probably win it, with Inter losing momentum late and Atalanta booked for third. But what about that final Champions League spot? Juve really should have wrapped it up on three or four separate occasions, but a draw with Bologna over the weekend left them ever-so-slightly vulnerable ahead of the last few fixtures.

It now becomes a question of holding on. Oh, and then there's Milan, who have the Coppa Italia final to look forward to, but their league form has been generally woeful. Even with a 2-1 win over Genoa on Monday, Milan sit in ninth in the standings.

GOAL US writers look at the Champions League semis and the final weeks of Serie A in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

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  Who wins the second leg between Barcelona and Inter?

  Tom Hindle: Lamine Yamal notwithstanding, Inter might just do this thing. Barca threw everything they have at them, and still came away with a draw (albeit chaoticly.) The Spanish side have zero fit full backs, Robert Lewandowski on one leg, and that terrifyingly-high defensive line has to show some signs of vulnerability at some point, right? Inter. Narrowly.

  Jacob Schneider: Barca seem like a team of destiny with Yamal and Raphinha. There's not much more to say. Inter are brilliant, and the first leg was genuinely the best UCL game of the year – but there's a certain feeling around Barca right now, and it's hard to not picture them making their way to the final.

  Ryan Tolmich: All we can hope for is a second leg that's half as good as the first. That first game was one of the best spectacles we've seen this late in the competition, so credit to both teams for going for it. Inter really had Barca on the ropes, though, and their inability to put them away might just come back to bite them. Raphinha and Yamal are too dynamic, Pedri is too good and Barca are favorites to go out and score more goals in the second leg.

  Alex Labidou: Barca should have enough to push Inter aside, even though Nerazzurri showed they aren't the massive underdogs everyone was expecting them to be. Barcelona will be the final in Munich.

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  Can Arsenal complete a comeback against PSG?

  TH: Did somebody say "remontada?" Honestly, why not? Arsenal sort of just deserve it at this point. They played pretty well in the first leg without midfield lynchpin Thomas Partey holding it down, and on their day are a really difficult matchup for anyone. If they score an early goal, this gets really interesting. PSG aren't going to set up to defend, and it could quite easily become a frantic shootout – something neither coach will want. Arsenal play in the UCL final and lose heroically. Yum.

  JS: Probably not. PSG are really impressive at the moment, and their midfield is just incredibly hard to break down. With the form Ousmane Dembele is in, it's hard to see Arsenal mounting a comeback – especially in France.

  RT: Can they? Sure. PSG certainly have their flaws. The French side is incredible going forward, but they rely on Gianluigi Donnarumma's heroics a bit too much. On the other side and, if he isn't on his A-game, the ball could certainly find the back of the net. PSG, though, are certainly favored to hold on – or even tack on a few more goals. Their attack is too talented to be kept quiet, which means Arsenal will likely need to get multiple goals if they want to reach the final.

  AL: The Gunners have enough talent to pull off a rally in Paris, but will they? PSG appear to be a team of destiny right now and they'll find a way to contain Mikel Arteta's side at the Parc des Princes.

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  Does Juventus qualify for the UCL next season?

  TH: Probably, but it's hard to say they really deserve it. Napoli, Inter and Atalanta have been Serie A's three best teams by some distance this season, while everyone else is just varying degrees of mediocre. Sixpoints from their last three games would do it, and with Lazio, Udinese and Venezia on the slate, you'd back them to get the job done. A Roma return to the Champions League, though, would be far more poetic and better for the #content.

  JS: If they win out, yes. The big match will be against Lazio. If they can secure three points there, the odds are in their favor. Then, it's Udinese and Venezia to close out.

  RT: Agreed. if Juve can get a result against Lazio, they should be fine. This past weekend will feel like a missed opportunity, though, as a win over Bologna would have done wonders for their hopes. It won't be one point gained, but rather two points lost, and that's the way they'll feel the rest of the way. Lazio is a must-win, as are easier matchups against Udinese and Venezia. There's no more room for error and, if they can survive this weekend, they'll have smoother sailing.

  AL: It will be close. Roma are determined, but Juventus should get things done. Outside of what should be a tough fixture against Lazio, the Old Lady have two very winnable games against 12th-placed Udinese and relegation-threatened Venezia. Roma's road to the UCL is much tougher, facing third-place Atalanta, a Milan side that is still chasing any form of European qualification and a feisty mid-table team in Torino. None of those scream "easy win." Advantage, Juventus.

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  How much blame falls on Pulisic for Milan's misery?

  TH: He's not to blame, but there is a nagging feeling that Pulisic can always offer that little bit more. He has probably pieced together about 75% of a great season, a couple of knocks and barren spells slowing him down. There's also the largely unspoken issue here: if Pulisic is indeed good, why does he not have a guaranteed position? And why is he moved around so much to accommodate for others? Maybe some things just don't need reading into, but no singular club manager has ever trusted him to be the main man. Something is up.

  JS: When you are a star, there are expectations. Factor in that he is American, and there's even more expectation. Based on the first half of the campaign, fans may have expected a bit more this spring. But in reality, a lot of their star attackers have let them down.

  RT: Literally none. Pulisic and Tijani Reijnders are the only two players in the team that can hold their heads high this season. It's certainly worth wondering how much worse it would be without Pulisic, who carried Milan to one trophy in January and could still lead the club to one more before the season comes to a close.

  AL: None. Soccer isn't the same as basketball, where stat padding can directly impact a team's performance if things aren't efficient. Yes, Pulisic hasn't met the highs he did at the start of the season, but one could argue that the instability around Milan – hiring two managers this season – is at fault. Milan opened the season wanting him to play as No. 10 under Paulo Fonseca and then shifted him to a more direct winger role under Sergio Conceicao. Had Milan stuck with Stefano Pioli or didn't cut bait with Fonseca so quickly, Pulisic would have had an even stronger campaign. Milan's woe is entirely based on poor management decisions.

Leeds United have had some exceptional strikers during the Premier League era. One of the most iconic of the lot, although not necessarily the best, was Tony Yeboah. He only played 66 times for the Whites but scored 32 goals, including stunners against Wimbledon and Liverpool in 1995.

Another excellent striker for Leeds since 1992 was Mark Viduka. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest Australian players in the history of the Premier League, and he scored 72 goals and grabbed 16 assists in 166 games for the club. He was a deadly striker.

Another centre-forward who was excellent at Elland Road, but did not actually play for the club in the Premier League, was Chris Wood.

Chris Wood’s Leeds record

It has been an extraordinary season in 2024/25 for Wood, who has been on fire for Nottingham Forest. In 25 Premier League appearances this season, the New Zealander has found the back of the net 18 times.

That is the kind of form that might not be a surprise to Leeds supporters. He was just as deadly for the Whites, although he did it in the second tier of English football rather than the first, for two seasons between 2015 and 2017.

In 88 appearances for the Yorkshire outfit, Wood managed 44 goals and grabbed nine assists. He was clinical in the Championship, bagging 13 goals in his first season and 27 goals in his second, which came in 44 games.

The centre-forward, who was born in Auckland, New Zealand, was sensational for Leeds during his two-year stint at Elland Road.

As much as they would love him back today, manager Daniel Farke has someone at his disposal who is certainly showing similar form to their former marksman.

The Leeds star showing shades of Wood

Leeds’ attackers have all been in impressive form this season, but perhaps none have been as good as Joel Piroe. The Dutchman has been clinical in front of goal and is leading the line superbly for Farke’s side.

Chalkboard

The 25-year-old joined the club in 2023 from Swansea City, where he was adored and highly rated by the fans. Swans social media personality Jordan Webber described Piroe as a “special” player during his time at the Liberty Stadium, and his time at Elland Road so far has certainly shown why he was so highly praised.

The Whites have certainly seen the best of Piroe during his time at the club. This season, he has found the back of the net on 14 occasions and has grabbed six assists, in just 34 Championship games. The Dutchman is a key reason why Leeds are top of the table.

One of the best recent contributions from the attacker came against Watford. The former PSV Eindhoven star scored and assisted against Tom Cleverley’s side in a 4-0 win, dancing past onrushing defenders with quick feet before slotting home.

Statistically, Piroe has been excellent this term, and there are certainly similarities between his season so far, and Wood’s 2016/17 campaign.

For example, as per Sofascore, the Dutchman has a 20% conversion rate, compared to Wood’s 25% according to Sofascore.

Piroe is valued incredibly highly amongst the rest of his teammates, worth £11.6m according to Transfermarkt. That is more than fellow attacker Manor Solomon, who is also starring this season, with 14 goals and assists to his name in the Championship. The on-loan Tottenham Hotspur man – who has netted four in the last six league games – is worth a reported £7.5m.

There is no doubt that Solomon’s shining colleague, Piroe, has shades of Wood about him this term. With roughly a third of the season still to be played, it is quite conceivable that he could even overtake the Kiwi’s tally from 2016/17 and help his side to promotion.

At this rate, Piroe is well on his way to writing his name into the history books and becoming another cult-hero striker at Elland Road.

Leeds have unearthed their own Le Fee in star who's "like tackling smoke"

Leeds United have hit the jackpot with their own version of Enzo Le Fee.

By
Dan Emery

Feb 16, 2025

Former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has reportedly reached an agreement in principle to take over at Bayer Leverkusen.

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• Leverkusen have been looking for Alonso's successor
• Ten Hag now set to move to German side
• Had faced competition from Como boss Fabregas

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Dutchman is set to return to management for the first time since being sacked by Manchester United. According to The Athletic, Bayer Leverkusen have "reached an agreement in principle" to appoint Ten Hag and are now finalising the move.

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  Ten Hag will take over from Xabi Alonso who is heading to Real Madrid as Carlo Ancelotti's successor. As reported by Bild, Ten Hag is itching to show he is a top manager again after his Red Devils struggles. and does have previous experience in Germany as he worked as Bayern Munich II manager between 2013 and 2015. Leverkusen had also been interested in Como manager Cesc Fabregas but he is set to stay in Italy.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bayer Leverkusen won the title for the first time under Alonso in 2023-24 but finished 13 points behind Bayern Munich this time around.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Leverkusen will hope to announce the new appointment shortly, while Ten Hag can start preparing for the new campaign and a fresh challenge in the Bundesliga.

Nottingham Forest chiefs are switching their attentions to the summer already, as they are now monitoring a “big-name” player in Italy, according to a recent report.

Nottingham Forest prepare for Ipswich in FA Cup

The Reds are back in action on Monday as they welcome Ipswich Town to the City Ground as they look to book their place in the final eight of the FA Cup. Forest are still firmly in the race for a top four finish this season, but with no win in their last three, their lead over the teams behind them has been shortened and a domestic cup may become their best route into Europe.

Nottingham Forest plotting summer move to sign "superb" £17m Serie A winner

He’s scored more goals than Hudson-Odoi this season…

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By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 1, 2025

Nuno has said that he is going to need all his players between now and the end of the campaign if they are to achieve their goal of qualifying for continental competition. “We are going to need all of the players. Nobody should disconnect, and we try to make sure that everybody is involved.

“There’s no other way. Players must be patient, responsible, and respectful for who’s playing.”

But while the boss is focusing on his current squad, Forest’s recruitement chiefs are beginning to look ahead to the summer, as Tuttosport state that they are now plotting a move to sign Alexis Saelemaekers from AC Milan.

Newcastle United are also interested in signing the attacking midfielder, who is said to be valued at £17 million. Nuno’s side will expect to have an edge in the race if they secure Champions League football for next season.

Nottingham Forest monitoring "big-name" £35m ace

As well as looking in Serie A for Saelemaekers, Nottingham Forest are also keeping a close eye on Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi, who looks set to leave the Italian champions, according to ESPN.

The report states that Forest look to be in the market for a new midfielder for next season, and Frattesi, who won Serie A last season, has emerged on their radar. The 25-year-old was signed for around £20 million, and it is believed that Inter are willing to let him leave San Siro for a fee of £35 million.

However, Forest are not alone in their pursuit, as it’s been reported that Tottenham Hotspur have already made a bid to Inter to sign Frattesi. The Italy international, who has been dubbed a “big-name” player in Simone Inzaghi’s squad, joined Inter first on loan from Sassuolo before joining on a permanent basis in July last year.

Since joining the Serie A champions, Frattesi has been a key player for Inzaghi, playing 42 times in all competitions last season. However, he only managed 11 starts in those games, and that has continued into this campaign, starting 10 of the 32 games he has played overall.

His lack of starts means Frattesi is also probably open to a move elsewhere, and Forest could represent a good opportunity, especially if they secure Champions League football. His potential arrival would see him compete with the likes of Elliot Anderson, Danilo, Nicolas Dominquez and Ryan Yates for a starting spot in that midfield two.