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Robert Lewandowski has lauded Lamine Yamal as the best winger in the world, at the age of just 17.

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• Barcelona striker lauds team-mate
• Teenager enjoyed stunning rise
• Lewandowski urges him to keep grounded

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lewandowski is approaching the twilight of his career at the age of 36, especially compared with 17-year-old Yamal. The latter has enjoyed an incredible rise, already making 59 appearances for Barca, and also winning 17 caps for Spain.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal has 11 goals and 14 assists in 59 games for Barca and also has three goals in his 16 caps for Spain, one of which came in the Euro 2024 semi-final against France. And Lewandowski believes he has already established himself as the finest player in his position in the world.

• WHAT LEWANDOWSKI SAID

  Lewandowski told B/R Football, when asked if Yamal can become one of the best players in the world: "Of course. Now it will be easy to say, of course I see him as the best winger in the world. But of course, he is 17 years old. A football career is so long, sometimes it's not important how you start, what's more important is how you finish or how will be the next years, not two or three years but the next 10-15 years. And in the next 15 years, he will be 32.

  "When I see the next generation, they have a huge challenge, from them, in the social media. One day, you are the hero, but the next day, you are on the ground. I wish for him that he will be strong for the long career, and it doesn't matter what the people are saying now, or what the people are going to say, he stays on the ground and thinks 'okay, that is part of my life, the football that I want to enjoy, I want to give the fans a lot of happiness in the end'."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Barcelona are next in action against Osasuna in La Liga. They are looking to extend their perfect start to the season domestically, having won all seven of their league fixtures.

Tottenham and Ange Postecoglou's attentions have already turned to summer business following the conclusion of the Premier League season, and a tough decision has been made on one man according to recent reports.

Tottenham secure Europa League football

Tottenham kept a grip on Europa League football for next season courtesy of a final day win over Sheffield United, thanks to two goals from Dejan Kulusevski and a brilliant strike from Pedro Porro.

The Lilywhites can now begin planning with certainty, something that would not have been the case had they lost and finished sixth, which could yet provide a UEFA Conference League spot rather than Europa League should Manchester United win the FA Cup.

8/10 Spurs ace who outshone Kulusevski just silenced his haters

The Spurs ace created four chances and had a pass accuracy of 95%.

By
Tom Lever

May 19, 2024

It was not the end to the season Spurs would have hoped for, with Champions League seemingly a certainty at one point only for five losses in six games to derail that hope and leave them clinging onto fifth place ahead of a resurgent Chelsea, who contributed to one of those losses when the two sides met a fortnight ago.

But given the fears at the beginning of the season that a new manager in charge of a Harry Kane-less Tottenham might struggle to even grasp European football, the campaign will go down as a success in the eyes of many. The exciting brand of football being instilled by Ange is an improvement in itself, following years of fans rather watching paint dry than their own side play under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Spurs defender set to leave for free

There will be plenty of departures from north London this summer, with the likes of Emerson Royal, Ben Davies, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Oliver Skipp all seemingly surplus to requirements.

Another that is set to leave is Ryan Sessegnon, who is expected to be allowed to depart for free this summer when his contract expires. Signed for £25m back in 2019, the Englishman has seen his nascent career plagued by injuries and has managed just 57 appearances across five years for the Lilywhites.

He has managed just seven minutes of football across the season, with a hamstring injury seeing him miss the entire campaign under Postecoglou.

When he has played, he has been the target of plenty of praise from previous Spurs bosses. Jose Mourinho dubbed him "absolutely fantastic" while Antonio Conte hailed him as a "reliable" and "important" player during his tenure.

"He is a reliable player and he has great confidence. He is strong physically and improved in his quality and technically", the Italian revealed.

But now, Spurs are not set to activate the optional 12 month extension in his £55,000 a week contract, with Fabrizio Romano revealing that he is expected to leave for free this summer to try and carve out a career for himself elsewhere.

Though only a fringe player for the Lilywhites, his departure is likely to be a sign of things to come under Postecoglou this summer, with plenty more set to follow suit.

Arsenal's Alessia Russo has sent a message to the club's fans after the Gunners slipped to another disappointing defeat.

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• Russo sends heartfelt message to Arsenal fans
• Back-to-back defeats to Bayern Munich & Chelsea
• Pressure is mounting on Jonas Eidevall

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Russo thanked the Arsenal faithful for their support at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, but acknowledged her side will have to start performing better. The Gunners were flat in their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea and, barring a dramatic and sudden improvement, offer little to suggest that they will be strong enough to offer a significant challenge for the WSL title this season. Russo is keen to ensure her and the side's poor run of form ends immediately.

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  WHAT RUSSO SAID

  Posting on her Instagram story, Russo said: "Thanks for your support as always Gooners. We hear you and we are so grateful for all of you. We know it's not good enough. We want more, we will stick together and be back better."

  IG (alessia)

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal have not been good enough this season and do not appear to have remedied their struggles from last campaign. While moments of brilliance have caught the eye, complacent defensive mistakes coupled with blunt attacking displays have become regular under Jonas Eidevall and fans appear to be losing patience with the Swedish coach. After a goalless draw with Everton and a heavy thrashing in the Champions League by Bayern Munich, Arsenal fans were expecting a response. Yet, the defeat and a particularly insipid first-half display against the Blues has done little to dispel any doubts surrounding Eidevall.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RUSSO?

  Russo is still without a goal in the WSL this season and will be desperate to break her duck when the Gunners travel to West Ham next weekend. Before then, the forward will have the opportunity to find an ounce of confidence as Valerenga come to the Emirates in the Champions League. However, after such a heavy defeat against Bayern, Russo, Eidevall and Arsenal will be under immense pressure to get a positive result when the Norwegian outfit come to north London.

People close to a £26 million Arsenal midfield target expect him to move on this summer, and the player could well be a fantastic alternative to Newcastle United star Bruno Guimaraes.

Edu and Arteta targeting new midfielder for Arsenal

Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar are widely believed to be in pursuit of a new midfielder this summer, with Thomas Partey expected to leave Arsenal after four years of service.

Arsenal ready bid for £51 million Kompany target as board aim to act fast

The north Londoners are keen to beat Bayern Munich to his signature.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 30, 2024

The 30-year-old saw his game time far more limited last season due to injuries, making just 14 Premier League appearances and even missing out on a place in Ghana's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

He's also entering the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, so Arsenal are willing to entertain offers for Partey amid interest from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere abroad.

If Arsenal find a buyer for the £200,000-per-week midfielder, they'll need a replacement, and it is believed Guimaraes is being targeted by Arsenal as one option. The Brazilian's contract currently includes an active £100 million release clause, but it will only be active until the last week of June.

Arsenal also want to sign a striker and bolster other areas of the squad, so this potential marquee deal could seriously hinder them in doing so.

Youssouf Fofana expected to leave after claim Arsenal want him

Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana, who is rumoured to command a bargain £26 million price tag, could be a great alternative to Guimaraes.

Arsenal are one of many European sides believed to be interested in Fofana. Reliable transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano says those close to Arsenal target Fofana expect him to leave, and he could be one of the surprises of the window.

“An important player to watch in the summer transfer window is also Youssouf Fofana, the French national team midfielder for Monaco," said Romano on his YouTube channel.

"He was on the list for Manchester United and Inter last summer, end of August, but Monaco said no to all of the approaches.

“He’s out of contract in 2025, same as Alphonso Davies, but with a difference. Youssouf Fofana is not even negotiating a new contract with Monaco and the expectation of those close to the player, and the expectation of Monaco is for Youssouf Fofana to leave the club this summer. So Youssouf Fofana can really leave the club.

“What’s going to happen? There is interest from Italy, there is interest from England, there is interest from Germany, so several clubs are keeping an eye on Fofana. There is movement on him, keep an eye on this player, it could be one of the surprises of the summer transfer window.”

New England boss Thomas Tuchel has admitted that he could leave his post if the 2026 World Cup is deemed 'a failure'.

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• Tuchel takes over as England boss
• Signed contract until end of 2026 World Cup
• Will leave role if tournament is a 'failure'

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Three Lions had been on the lookout for a head coach since July after Gareth Southgate left in the wake of the Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. Earlier this week, Tuchel signed on as England manager on an 18-month deal that starts from January 1, 2025.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A lot of hope has been placed on Tuchel's shoulder following his appointment as the FA deviated from the regular practice of having an English coach at the helm of the Three Lions. Tuchel's current contract will be up after the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and the German has revealed that he is likely to leave the team if their World Cup campaign is considered a flop.

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  WHAT TUCHEL SAID

  Speaking to the media, Tuchel was asked if the 2026 World Cup would be 'win or bust', the German responded: "I don’t know, it depends.

  "I know what you’re saying, no, it’s not a gamble, but we speak it out now very clearly why we are here and what we want to achieve. We are not shy of it.

  "We are absolutely open about it. It does not help the more often we speak about it, but it should be out there and then we can set the standards and set the values and principles because then we have to live up to them for 18 months.

  "Let’s judge it when we have done it. If we decide it was a failure, then we will not continue. If we decide it was not a failure, then we will continue. Let’s see.

  "No one can predict the future. It feels absolutely right for me to do so, it feels clear and it feels easy for me to explain. When it’s easy to explain, it’s normally good."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR TUCHEL?

  Interim boss Lee Carsley will remain in charge for the rest of the year and will manage England in their next two Nations League group-stage clashes. Tuchel will officially take over as head coach after the turn of the year.

Newcastle United are close to completing a transfer for a £20m-rated player, according to one journalist.

Newcastle transfer rumours

The Magpies finished in the Champions League places and reached the League Cup final in 2022/23. Their 2023/24 campaign, in comparison, was something of a letdown. They were plagued with injury issues, and this was very much reflected in the form across the season. The North East outfit were eventually able to put together a string of positive results to secure a 7th-place finish in the Premier League, but Manchester United's FA Cup triumph over Manchester City means that there will be no European football at St James' Park next term.

Newcastle can replace Bruce signing with deal for £28m "goal machine"

Newcastle are looking to make more additions after the arrival of Lloyd Kelly.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 15, 2024

As a result, Eddie Howe and co are no doubt eager to strengthen this summer as they battle it out to once again secure Champions League football. Newcastle have already signed out-of-contract Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly, who is understood to have penned a five-year deal with the club.

In terms of potential signings still on the table, Ferran Torres has been linked with a move to St James' Park, with Barcelona potentially willing to move him on. Juventus' Samuel Iling-Junior has also been backed to join the Magpies before the 2024/25 season gets underway, while former Arsenal star Matteo Guendouzi is believed to be of interest.

Newcastle close to signing "terrific" £20m player

Now, it appears Newcastle are close to completing their second signing of the summer following the capture of Kelly. The player seemingly on his way up north is Burnley and England shot-stopper, James Trafford.

The 21-year-old joined the Clarets from Manchester City last summer and endured a rough debut season at Turf Moor. Burnley were relegated from the Premier League with a -37 goal difference, while Trafford himself conceded 62 goals and kept just two clean sheets in 28 league outings across the past season.

Despite his struggles on the pitch, however, Trafford still looks to have a bright future ahead of him. He was named in England's provisional Euro 2024 squad before being cut earlier this month, while ex-Burnley boss Vincent Kompany labelled the keeper as "terrific" in December of 2023 after a 2-0 loss to Liverpool.

Newcastle are also apparently still a fan of Trafford despite his struggles in 2023/24 as according to journalist Ben Jacobs, the Englishman is close to making a move to St James' Park, with a fee of £20m being asked for by the Clarets.

“There’s opportunism not just because Burnley have gone down but because they have lost their manager – Vincent Kompany,” Jacobs said via TBR.

“There would be a lot of interest there in moving to Fulham (for Jacob Bruun Larsen). The only downside there is that according to my information, James Trafford to Newcastle is getting quite close to being done. Burnley are pushing for a fee of £20m, and Burnley will be in a stronger position in the market.”

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's ruthless streak continues as INEOS has decided to call off Manchester United's Christmas bash for staff members.

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• Ratcliffe stops Man Utd's Christmas bash
• INEOS' ruthless streak continues
• Man Utd face Brentford next

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After taking the harsh decision of removing legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson as the club's global ambassador, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group have decided to stop the Christmas bash which is usually celebrated by the club's staff in the build-up to December 25, according to The Athletic.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The strict measures are being taken as part of INEOS' cost-cutting policy which Ratcliffe took after buying a minority stake at the club earlier this year. Since the British billionaire's arrival at Old Trafford, several senior staff members have already had club credit cards taken from them, and staff were made to contribute to the travel to the FA Cup final in May.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While the staff's Christmas party has been stopped, players can still enjoy the festivities provided manager Erik ten Hag allows them.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  The Red Devils will be back in action on Saturday as they aim to end their five-game winless run across all competitions against Brentford in the Premier League at Old Trafford.

Benjamin Sesko and Martin Zubimendi. Stars for RB Leipzig in Germany and La Liga's Real Sociedad respectively, thought to be Arsenal's top targets at this primitive stage, still actually six days away from the market's stalls officially opening.

But they are top targets nonetheless, and they are top targets for a reason. Declan Rice needs a midfield partner to improve the solidity and strength of Mikel Arteta's engine room, while signing a centre-forward is probably the most pressing concern, with the lack of an out-and-out goalscorer this season one of the main reasons the Gunners were trumped to the Premier League title race for the second successive campaign.

But Arsenal has not risen from the rubble to restore its position as one of Europe's elite outfits by approaching deals with a blinkered, one-dimensional vision. Arteta, Edu and Co have mapped out a range of high-class alternatives who could make a real impact at the Emirates Stadium next season.

In fact, given that German reporter Christian Falk has recently suggested that Arsenal are backing away from Zubimendi, rumours that a Premier League star could be headed for north London might start to gain speed.

Arsenal lining up Premier League star

According to GiveMeSport, Arsenal have been in contact with Everton star Amadou Onana's representatives ahead of a possible transfer this summer.

The Belgium international was one of Sean Dyche's standout players this season and Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed Arsenal's interest, revealing that the Londoners have been in contact with Everton.

Onana, aged 22, might be on the market for a ballpark figure of £50m this summer, and while that's no small sum, it could prove to be a bargain when assessing this prospective transfer in a few years.

Amadou Onana's season in numbers

Onana only joined Everton two years ago, signing from Lille for £33m after the Toffees beat West Ham United to his signature, and he has since showcased his quality as one of English football's most robust and talented young players.

Standing at 6 foot 4, the hulking Belgian is a lean and powerful player with defensive skill and aerial dominance. To evidence this: as per FBref, Onana ranks among the top 8% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the top 6% for aerial duels per 90.

This unrelenting output in holding the midfield together would certainly pay off for Arsenal if Onana could be assimilated into the Gunners squad, and having been described as a "monster duel winner" by analyst Raj Chohan a few months ago, he does appear to offer the style Arteta is searching for.

Onana has amassed 72 appearances for the Merseysiders across his two terms, and while injuries played their part in limiting him to only 23 Premier League starts this season, he still impressed with his tough tackling and commanding swagger.

Whether the 12-cap international is ready for a prominent role at a top team such as Arsenal is unknown, but based on the evidence, he is athletic, imposing and technically proficient, with the perfect skill set to bounce off Rice's, handing Arteta the final piece of the puzzle in the centre of the park as he charts a course for the Premier League title.

How Amadou Onana could work next to Rice

Back in December, analyst and Arsenal fan Ben Mattinson heralded Onana and his skill in the Everton midfield, stressing that the Gunners must prioritise his signature, musing "imagine this monster next to Rice".

Imagine indeed. Onana is shaping into quite the player, and given that Martin Odegaard's position in the advanced centre of the midfield is untouchable, this would be the signing to make, surely, to establish a perfect sense of equipoise and synergy, with such glittering waters spilling out wide to the wings, where Leandro Trossard's darting runs and Bukayo Saka's enigmatic artistry would benefit from such a dynamic and all-including engine room.

The respective players are not actually too dissimilar in profile: both enjoy above-average defensive output, are energetic and active in their recovery skills and carry the ball forward at comparable rates – though Onana, interestingly, is crisper in this last regard.

Rice started the campaign on a more backward-territorial footing but more latterly has played with more freedom in a pivoting role, with just four of his past 13 Premier League matches played from an anchoring position.

This is principally down to Jorginho and Thomas Partey enjoying more match action, and it's patent that Rice would thrive in a long-term partnership with a player who focuses more on the nitty-gritty side of the midfield game and allows him to perform with unbridled ambition.

Onana could play that part, indeed offering many of the core qualities that have seen his English counterpart earn such acclaim over these past few years and coming out on top from, at least, a defensive standpoint.

Stepping into senior management at the vertiginous doors of Arsenal football club, esteemed, acclaimed, one of the biggest, one of the best, Arteta was steadfast in his ability as helmsman, building the club back up, block by block. The recent success is simply a product of his hard graft and tactical acumen.

Last season, he knew that signing Rice from West Ham for a club-record fee of £105m was a necessity to take the team down the path he craved, and now, Onana must be welcomed to continue the development of a team that, whisper it quietly, is destined for greatness.

Arsenal could land £26m Martinelli upgrade whose "left foot is a weapon"

The talented winger could be the perfect addition to the Gunners’ frontline.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 8, 2024

Leeds have been warned that a deal for one of their midfield targets will be hard to conclude this summer by a transfer insider, who admited a move looked unlikely.

Leeds set for summer of change

After missing out on promotion to the Premier League, Daniel Farke's side are set to see plenty of changes to their squad before the new Championship season begins. Joe Rodon's loan spell is over and he will return to parent club Tottenham, while Jaidon Anthony will do the same for Bournemouth.

Leeds now set to sell £50k-p/w ace in permanent transfer with "fee secured"

His exit will help the Yorkshire side balance their books this summer.

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By
Ben Browning

Jun 20, 2024

Elsewhere, financial concerns mean that Championship player of the year Crysencio Summerville seems set to depart, and he could be joined by plenty of other stars.

All of Wilfried Gnonto, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter have been linked with moves away, and reinforcements will be needed.

Leeds get Skipp response

Now, an update has been forthcoming over a potential move for Oliver Skipp, currently plying his trade with Tottenham Hotspur. Farke has previously admitted his admiration for Skipp, who starred for him when the two worked together at Norwich.

The midfielder was virtually ever-present in Norwich's title winning side under the German boss, and was named in the Championship team of the season that year.

“I am quite careful in praising them too much but actions are more important than any words and when you look at Oliver’s season you can realise that he has played more or less every second in the league for us, for a side that has lots of competition in the squad", Farke explained.

“This says a lot about how much I rate him and how much I value him, I don’t want to praise him too much in public, it’s more like each and every day I keep on criticising him."

And reports had linked the midfielder with a move to Elland Road to link back up with Farke should Archie Gray or Ilia Gruev depart the club this summer amid interest from across Europe in the pair.

However, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has poured cold water on that speculation, especially on a permanent basis. Even on loan, he suspects that Tottenham would be unlikely to let the 23-year-old leave due to homegrown quota concerns.

“I don’t see it, mainly because Skipp is a homegrown player at Spurs and had chances there. He would be a very expensive signing. If it was a loan with an option, possibly. But in terms of a permanent deal, no", he told Leeds United news.

“I think it will depend on the player but with Hojbjerg leaving I don’t see Skipp leaving this summer personally. Could be proven wrong and if he does go, I think Leeds would be at the table for him. It wouldn’t be a cheap deal, though.”

Leeds fans will be hoping that Farke's relationship with Skipp could help sway things in their favour should Spurs opt to shift the Englishman.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag says injuries are "holding back" his side but when those absentees return they can be "really successful".

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• Man Utd had poor start to season
• Ten Hag says injuries "holding them back"
• Red Devils without seven for West Ham

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of facing West Ham on Sunday, United are without defenders Leny Yoro, Jonny Evans, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, as well as midfielders Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo due to injury. Now, Ten Hag believes the fitness issues are a big factor in why the Red Devils have had an underwhelming start to the season.

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  WHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID

  He told reporters: "Injuries hold us back in our levels – and also in our position in the league. Because when you don't have the players available, you can't line up the best team. We need more players, often available – and we have to work all together on this point. That is the players, the coaching staff, all the other staff. We know when we have them we are a really tough team to play and we can be really successful. That is what we have shown over the last couple of months."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The sheer number of injuries United suffered last season, along with winning the FA Cup, ultimately saved Ten Hag's United job earlier this year. But all teams suffer such setbacks and the top teams will be able to navigate their way through those choppy waters to be successful. And after spending £200 million on players this summer, Ten Hag's injury excuse may be wearing thin – particularly as they are in the bottom half of the Premier League and are yet to win in the Europa League this term.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ten Hag's United team will hope to secure a second-straight Premier League win when they travel to West Ham on Sunday afternoon. They then round off October with a home clash against Leicester City in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.