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Newcastle United have been terribly unlucky with their injuries this campaign, with the defensive department the area most affected by the issues.

Goalkeeper Nick Pope has been out of action since December after suffering a shoulder injury during the 1-0 win against Manchester United, replaced by the experienced Martin Dubravka between the sticks in recent months.

However, the centre-back area has been the most depleted after the injury crisis after the likes of Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman both suffered ACL blows within the last six weeks.

The duo's time on the sideline allowed for Newcastle-born defender Dan Burn to partner Fabian Schar at the heart of the Magpies' defence, with Burn finally getting the opportunity to feature in his natural position after playing at left-back for the majority of the season.

Eddie Howe's side are in desperate need of reinforcements in this area this summer and could land a brilliant option during the window in the form of one talented youngster who's impressed in Europe in recent months.

Newcastle in the race to sign talented young defender

According to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Newcastle are one of two sides monitoring RB Leipzig centre-back Mohamed Simakan ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Magpies are set to be rivalled by fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for the Frenchman's signature, with the 23-year-old having a release clause in his current deal in Germany.

The journalist claims that Simakan has a €70m (£60m) clause in his contract and that the youngster is keen to play in England's top flight in the near future.

Simakan would be an upgrade on any of Howe's current centre-back options, as reflected by his stats in the Bundesliga so far during the 2023/24 season.

How Simakan compares to Botman in 2023/24

When comparing the pair's stats so far throughout this campaign, the Leipzig man blows the Dutch centre-back out of the water with his rumoured £60m fee looking to be a potential bargain.

Defensively, the 23-year-old Frenchman has excelled with his tally of 1.2 interceptions per 90, double of Botman's tally, with the current Magpies man only able to register 0.6 per game.

Simakan also has the edge over the 24-year-old in terms of tackles and aerials won per game, as his respective tallies of 2.1 and 2.5 easily clear of the Newcastle centre-back, who can only muster 1.3 and 2.2.

The Leipzig defender, who's been dubbed the "new Lillian Thuram" by scout Jacek Kulig due to his likeness to the French legend, also dominates with the ball at his feet showcasing his calmness on the ball when building from the back.

Aerials won

2.5

2.2

Tackles

2.1

1.3

Interceptions

1.2

0.6

Progressive passes

4.8

2.3

Progressive carries

1.3

0

He's averaged 4.8 progressive passes during 2023/24, a tally that once again is more than two times than that of Botman, with the former Lille defender only producing 2.3 per game.

Simakan isn't scared to dribble with the ball at his feet, as seen from his time in the Bundesliga, progressively carrying the ball 1.3 times a match compared to the Dutchman who has failed to register a single attempt this season.

All things considered, Simakan would be a huge upgrade on Botman, with his ability on and off the ball rare to find in such a young talent.

He would cost a pretty penny at £60m, but he would provide serious quality to the Magpies' defence and potentially be the perfect upgrade or partner for Newcastle's number four.

Newcastle eyeing move for Gordon 2.0 who's perfect for Isak

He’s excelled in Europe so far this campaign.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 9, 2024

أعلن الفرنسي لوران بلان، المدير الفني لفريق الاتحاد، التشكيل الرسمي لمواجهة الأهلي، بعد قليل، ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري السعودي.

وتقام المباراة بين الاتحاد والأهلي على أرضية استاد الملك عبد الله الدولي، في إطار لقاءات الجولة التاسعة من دوري روشن.

طالع.. ديربي جدة | القيمة السوقية تنصف الأهلي أمام الاتحاد قبل موقعة الدوري السعودي ويحتل فريق الاتحاد المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي برصيد 21 نقطة من الفوز في 7 لقاءات والسقوط في هزيمة وحيدة دون أي تعادلات.

بينما يتواجد الأهلي في المركز الثامن بجدول ترتيب المسابقة ولديه في رصيده 11 نقطة، جمعها من الفوز في 3 لقاءات وتلقى 3 هزائم والتعادل بمباراتين.

ويغيب كريم بنزيما مهاجم الاتحاد عن مباراة اليوم بسبب الإصابة التي تعرض لها في العضلة الخلفية اليسرى أمام الجندل في كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين تشكيل الاتحاد  اليوم أمام الأهلي في الدوري السعودي

في حراسة المرمى: رايكوفيتش.

في خط الدفاع: مهند الشنقيطي، عبدالإله العمري، سعد آل موسى، ماريو.

في خط الوسط: نجولو كانتي، فابينيو، حسام عوار.

في خط الهجوم: موسى ديابي، صالح الشهري، ستيفن بيرجوين.

The USMNT have reportedly made “initial contact” with former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp following the decision to fire Gregg Berhalter.

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• Coaching change made after Copa
• German boss taking in a break
• U.S. countdown on to 2026 World Cup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A disappointing showing at the 2024 Copa America, which delivered a historic group stage exit, has forced change in the United States camp. They are ready to open a new coaching chapter after bringing Berhalter’s second spell at the helm to a close.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Various candidates have already been linked with the vacant post, with there talk of Klopp becoming a target before Behalter was relieved of his duties. The German is only a matter of weeks into a coaching sabbatical that saw him sever ties with Premier League giants Liverpool after “running out of energy”.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  According to , the USMNT have sounded Klopp out regarding a return to management in the international arena – giving him more free time than is on offer in the club game. He may be given the chance to lead the U.S. towards a World Cup that they will co-host in 2026.

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  WHAT U.S. CHIEF SAID

  U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said in the immediate aftermath of Berhalter’s departure: “I want to thank Gregg for his hard work and dedication to US Soccer and our men’s national team. We are now focused on working with our sporting director Matt Crocker and leveraging his experience at the highest levels of the sport to ensure we find the right person to lead the USMNT into a new era of on-field success.”

The striker now has four goals in three games, having started just once during his country's perfect group stage run.

Who needs Lionel Messi when you have Lautaro Martinez? We're kidding, obviously, but based on what we've seen so far in this Copa America, it may just be the Inter man that will be remembered as Argentina's most important attacker this summer.

With Messi being rested, it was Martinez who stepped up once again in Argentina's third and final group stage game, leading the way in a 2-0 win over Peru. With the win, Argentina made it a perfect nine points from nine in this initial phase, joining second-place Canada in the knockout phase without so much of a slip-up.

Martinez is the player most responsible for that, and he was at his best once again on Saturday night. The striker scored both, taking his total to four in three games as he furthered his case for the Golden Boot.

His first came just two minutes after halftime, as he ran onto a fantastic assist from Angel Di Maria. Then, with just a few minutes remaining, Martinez closed out the game, scoring in the 86th minute to ensure that there would be no real late drama in Miami on Thursday night.

It wasn't always pretty, but it was effective from Argentina, who are riding Martinez's hot streak straight into the knockouts. Messi will be back for those, for sure, but, from what we've seen so far, Martinez is ready to be this team's dangerman as the stakes are raised going forward.

GOAL rates Argentina's players from Hard Rock Stadium..

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defense

Emiliano Martinez (6/10):

Hardly had to do anything as he made just one save on the day.

Nicolas Tagliafico(7/10):

So close to getting a goal early in the second half, but it was ruled out. Outside of that, though, he was fantastic on the ball as he made so much happen on that left-hand side.

Nicolas Otamendi (6/10):

Did what he needed to do. Peru didn't threaten much but, when they did, Otamendi swatted things away.

German Pezzella (6/10):

Not quite as impressive as Otamendi, but still very solid. Had one chance, too, that he pushed wide.

Gonzalo Montiel (7/10):

Got forward nearly as much as Tagliafico did and had his moments, too. His cross led to Argentina's 70th-minute penalty, highlighting a good performance from the Sevilla man.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Giovani Lo Celso (7/10):

A good shift from the midfielder, who did have one good chance stopped by Pedro Gallese in goal. Passed the ball well and did some good work defensively.

Leandro Paredes (6/10):

Forced an incredible save on a first-half free-kick and then destroyed the post from the penalty spot in the second half. Unfortunate for him because, overall, he was pretty good.

Exequiel Palacios (7/10):

A defensive monster. Any time Peru tried to go through the midfield, it felt like Palacios was there to ensure they couldn't.

Getty ImagesAttack

Alejandro Garnacho (5/10):

Tried really, really hard to make something happen, but it never really came off. At times, he dribbled himself into trouble as the teenager seemed just a bit too eager to prove himself.

Lautaro Martinez (8/10):

This is the Inter Lautaro that Argentinian fans have been dying to see. Three goals in as many games for the striker, who is playing with so much confidence in the attack.

Angel Di Maria (8/10):

Without Messi, Di Maria took over the role of veteran creator. His assist on Martinez's goal was fantastic, offering just another example of how important he still is to this team.

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Enzo Fernadnez (6/10):

Came on in place of Lo Celso and was effective, but not nearly as effective as the man he replaced.

Nico Gonzalez (5/10):

Hardly got on the ball after coming on for Garnacho.

Guido Rodriguez (7/10):

A pretty tidy performance as the Real Betis man didn't misplace a pass.

Valentin Carboni (N/A):

A nice cameo from the rising star, even if he didn't really get to do much.

Lucas Martinez Quarta (N/A):

Replaced Pezzella to help Argentina close out the game.

Lionel Scaloni/Walter Samuel (7/10):

Wasn't pretty, but any win that allows you to rest so many key players is a good one. With Scaloni suspended, Samuel was in charge of the subs, and he did well enough with them to help Argentian see out a decent win.

West Ham United right-back Ben Johnson is out of contract at the end of the current season, which means that, as it stands, he'll be leaving as a free agent come 1 July.

Hammers sporting director Tim Steidten is pushing to keep him at the London Stadium, but members of the club hierarchy have expressed reluctance to hold further talks after seeing the Englishman reject two offers.

Johnson may still end up staying with the Irons, but at this stage, his team have a responsibility to start assessing potential replacements, and one candidate for the role has already emerged.

West Ham "checking out" exciting Santos

According to transfer insider Dean Jones, West Ham are one of the sides "checking out" Tiago Santos at Lille as interest in the youngster grows ahead of the summer transfer window. They're not the only Premier League side in the race, though, with Aston Villa and Spurs admirers too.

In an article for Sports Lens, Jones reports that Santos was expected to spend more time in France after his £5.5m move from Estoril last summer, but his progression up the football ladder may now be accelerated. There's a feeling that his price tag will "take off" if he's allowed to remain with the Ligue 1 club for too long.

West Ham have been keeping "a close eye" on talent in the French top tier and are impressed by Santos' "skill set and potential to push himself higher". They appear to be more sure on the Portuguese defender than Spurs, who may lean towards a more "versatile defender" instead.

"Complete" Santos has already announced himself

Santos, who's now a Portugal under-21 international after making his debut in September, has played 28 games for Lille so far in all competitions. He's currently enjoying a joint-season-best run of five straight league starts, and has begun 10 of the last 12 overall, so his value to the team is clearly growing.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 10, 2024

After opening his account for the club with a "special" strike in a 2-0 win over Lyon in late November, he got on the scoresheet again in a remarkable 12-0 win over Martinique champions Golden Lion in the French Cup last month.

Rank

Player

Club

Tot.

1

Teji Savanier

Montpellier

54

2

Tiago Santos

Lille

50

3

Dilane Bakwa

Strasbourg

49

4

Romain Faivre

Lorient

47

5

Romain Del Castillo

Brest

44

Described as a "complete" full-back by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Santos combines effective chance creation (he's in the 71st percentile for expected assisted goals among right-backs) with an enthusiastic approach to defending (he's in the 80th percentile for tackles).

His standout attribute, however, is his dribbling – he ranks 10th in the league for successful take-ons with 39 and only one player, Montpellier's Teji Savanier, has drawn more fouls. A tricky little player, he could be a smart long-term addition for David Moyes or indeed whichever manager is in the hotseat next season.

Rahul Johri says the board has to follow the ‘law of the land’, and that NADA has given the BCCI assurances about the concerns it had raised

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Aug-2019

BCCI CEO Rahul Johri arrives for a meeting•Getty Images

The BCCI has agreed to come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after years of resisting the move.The decision came after BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri and general manager (cricket operations) Saba Karim met sports secretary Radheshyam Jhulaniya and NADA director general Navin Agarwal in New Delhi on Friday. The meeting took place after the sports ministry of India wrote a strongly worded letter to the BCCI in the wake of Prithvi Shaw’s positive drug test and backdated suspension of eight months.”We have to follow the law of the land and the BCCI is committed to following the law that exists,” Johri was quoted as saying by after the meeting. “The letter which we have signed states that we accept the law of the land.”Asked whether the Committee of Administrators (CoA) was mandated to take such a decision in the absence of an elected general body, Johri said, “Whoever is in existence, the law of the land is there. So you and I can’t choose at what time to follow the law of the land.”The BCCI had been staunchly opposed to coming under NADA’s ambit for several years, consistently arguing that it is an autonomous organisation and not a national sports federation, and is therefore not under NADA’s jurisdiction. In November 2017, Johri had said the BCCI’s anti-doping mechanism was “robust” and rejected the need for NADA to test cricketers.However, on Friday, Johri said that while the BCCI did raise a number of concerns, it had agreed to come under NADA after the sports ministry gave assurances about resolving whatever issues the cricket board had.”We have raised a lot of concerns, we have listed them out and they have agreed to address all these,” he said.The BCCI’s primary concern with coming under NADA was the contentious whereabouts clause that deals with out-of-competition testing. The clause has been regarded as an invasion of privacy and a potential threat to the security of the high-profile cricketers.Johri, however, said “don’t jump the gun” when he was asked about the clause, which requires every athlete to fill a declaration form mentioning three specific dates in a year when they are not competing but are available to NADA’s dope-control officer for sample collection.If any athlete fails to appear on all the specified dates, it invites sanctions for breach of the World Anti-Doping Agency Code. Such a breach had led to the West Indies allrounder Andre Russell being banned for a year.”The BCCI raised three issues before us about the quality of the dope testing kits, competence of pathologists and sample collection. We assured them that whatever facilities they want, we will provide but there will be some charge for it,” Jhulaniya said. “But that higher facility will be equal for all national sporting federations. BCCI is no different from others. They have to follow the law of the land.”The BCCI also agreed to bear the differential cost arising from the high-quality testing methods.”That is okay (bearing the cost), that is not the issue right now,” Johri said. “We have said to them that we want a certain level of service for our players. If there is any differential then the BCCI will agree to pay for it.”There are speculations that the sports ministry pressured the BCCI to come under the ambit of NADA after holding back clearances for the South Africa A and women teams’ upcoming tours to India, but Johri rubbished that claim. “These two are separate issues,” he said. “The tours have already been cleared.”

It has been a tale of outgoings rather than incomings at Leeds United, with the Championship promotion hopefuls having yet to strengthen their ranks with the close of the window now fast approaching.

The Yorkshire side notably waved goodbye to long-serving full-back, Luke Ayling earlier in January, with the 32-year-old – who had signed from Bristol City back in 2016 – sealing a loan move to Middlesbrough with just six months remaining on his existing deal at Elland Road.

The experienced Englishman was not the only full-back that manager Daniel Farke nudged toward the exit door, with the club also taking the decision to cut short Djed Spence's loan move from Tottenham Hotspur, with the 23-year-old having made just five league starts in the first half of the season.

These notable departures have seemingly heightened the need for Farke and Co to bolster the backline before the window slams shut in just a weeks time, with strength in depth needed if the club are to continue their bid for automatic promotion.

According to recent reports, the Whites could look toward the Premier League to find potential additions this month, having been linked with a loan move for a figure who could emulate the success of a certain Ben White in a Leeds shirt.

Leeds "working on a deal" for Premier League ace

As per journalist Pete O'Rourke, the Elland Road outfit are said to be "working on a deal" to sign Everton defender, Ben Godfrey, with the Englishman potentially in line to make a temporary move to Yorkshire in order to reunite with his former Norwich City boss, Farke.

In his attached piece for Football Insider, O'Rourke goes on to reveal that talks have already taken place between Leeds and the Toffees regarding an initial loan deal that would include an obligation to buy, with Sean Dyche said to have given the 'green light' regarding the 26-year-old's exit.

As per the same publication, the £75k-per-week centre-back – who moved to Merseyside on a £20m deal back in 2020 – had previously looked set to join Serie A side, Atalanta, prior to that switch collapsing, thus allowing Farke to pounce to snap up his former asset.

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With Liam Cooper out of contract this summer and Charlie Cresswell deemed not "mentally ready" to play for the club, the signing of Godfrey would represent a wise move for Farke this month.

Ben Godfrey could be the next Ben White

Leeds previously reaped the rewards of signing an exciting talent on loan from the Premier League back in 2019, with the aforementioned White arriving from Brighton and Hove Albion to help steer Marcelo Bielsa's side to promotion.

Much like Godfrey – who can operate at centre-back, full-back or in central midfield – the Poole-born star offered real versatility and flexibility to Bielsa's side, albeit while predominantly featuring at centre-back during that 2019/20 campaign.

The 6 foot 1 machine started all 46 Championship games that season, scoring once and providing two assists, with former Leeds man Danny Mills hailing him as "one of the best defenders" in the division at the time.

Such was White's success, the Yorkshire side were even believed to be willing to fork out £25m to sign him in that summer of 2020, yet Brighton's £50m price tag ultimately proved a major stumbling block, as he stayed put at the Amex.

While the current Arsenal man arrived at Elland Road as an emerging talent, unlike the 26-year-old Godfrey, the latter man could still make the most of that drop into the Championship, having made just three appearances in all competitions for his current side to date.

A further benefit of Godfrey's arrival would also be his familiarity with Farke, with the German manager previously heaping praise on the then-youngster during their time together at Carrow Road, after converting him from a midfielder to a central defender:

“I have the feeling when he gets used to this position and can have more games to learn the decision-making in the last row because it is different, he has all the ingredients to be an outstanding centre back, world-class."

The 6 foot brute's lack of game time at Goodison Park is a stark indication that he hasn't realised that 'world-class' potential, yet under the guidance of Farke, he could well follow in White's footsteps by making a real name for himself at Leeds.

Ben Godfrey's record under Daniel Farke

Having joined Norwich from his hometown club York City back in 2016, Godfrey went on to make 78 appearances for the club in all competitions over the next four years – 72 of those outings coming during Farke's stint at the helm.

The one-time Shrewsbury Town loanee was particularly impressive during the Canaries' promotion charge in 2018/19 after scoring four goals and providing two assists in 31 second-tier appearances.

Ben Godfrey's 2018/19 Championship season in numbers

31 games (26 starts)

4 goals

2 assists

1.8 tackles & interceptions per game

90% pass accuracy rate

0.3 key passes per game

63% ground duels won

57% total duels won

7.03 avg. match rating

Stats via Sofascore

That was followed by a further 30 league outings the following season following the club's promotion to the Premier League, Godfrey evidently doing enough to catch the of those at Everton, leading to his £20m summer switch.

With that move having since failed to work out, however, the two-cap England international may be in need of a familiar face like Farke to revive his fortunes, with the Leeds boss previously stating that the defender could have a "great, great career".

That familiarity doesn't always necessarily mean that a move will be a success, yet with Godfrey previously playing his part in a Norwich side that claimed automatic promotion under Farke's watch, he could well bring that experience to those at Elland Road.

For the most part, Liverpool supporters will be delighted with the progress made this season, with Jurgen Klopp's summer transfer work succeeding in restoring the capacity to fight for the Premier League title.

Last year, a sapped and ageing squad felt the force of a myopic attitude to bolstering in transfer windows, with the midfield in particular crumbling and requiring more than just a spruce-up.

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But this was achieved and while a fifth-placed finish was a bitter pill to swallow, Champions League qualification fading away, the current campaign has been far more fruitful and the second-placed Reds are fighting fiercely for the trophy.

But Klopp will understand the importance of maintaining the rebuild, and while the midfield still needs a holding midfielder and the backline requires attention, the Anfield side appear to have registered an interest in AC Milan winger Rafael Leao.

Liverpool transfer news – Rafael Leao

According to journalist Francois Plateau, Liverpool are interested in signing Leao and have touted him as the 'perfect' Sadio Mane heir, with the Senegal international joining Bayern Munich for £35m in 2022, now playing in Saudi Arabia.

Plateau believes that the Reds could offer cash plus winger Luis Diaz for the player, which could prove to be a good move from a monetary standpoint given that previous reports discussing Manchester United's interest have listed the Portugal international at €115m (£98m).

While Liverpool may feel that their primary transfer attention should centre on the backline and the defensive area of the midfield, should a deal for Leao become feasible then it would be wise to consider a swoop, at the very least.

Rafael Leao's style of play

Having signed for AC Milan from Lille in a €35m (£30m) deal back in 2019, Leao has amassed 182 displays, plundering 47 goals and 41 assists, and was instrumental in the gleaning of the 2021/22 Serie A title.

He has scored four goals and supplied five assists across all competitions this season, having truly showcased his elite pedigree last term after clinching 31 direct goal contributions from 48 outings.

As per FBref, Leao ranks among the top 16% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 14% for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons, and the top 16% for aerials won per 90.

Rafael Leao: Key Characteristics
Strengths	Weaknesses
Finishing	Ball retention
Dribbling	Distribution
Creativity	Defensive contribution
Long shots
Through balls
*Sourced via WhoScored

A frightening vessel on the pitch, Leao drives the ball forward with electric pace and wily weaving, proving to be a constant thorn for any opposition and such qualities would be perfect for Klopp's high-octane system.

But would signing the Serie A star be a good move for the Merseyside outfit, and would it be wise to effectively swap him with Diaz, who is currently out of form but still a brilliant player?

Luis Diaz's season in numbers

Liverpool signed Diaz for an initial £37m from Porto in January 2022, and the Colombian must be somewhat indignant given the incessancy of issues that have plagued him during his time at Anfield; the 2022/23 campaign was blighted by injury, while his efforts this term have been hindered by the high-profile family situation that caused such distress.

Of course, he was also the unfortunate scorer of that goal against Tottenham Hotspur in September, inexplicably chalked off after Mohamed Salah's deft through ball, expertly finished off by the surging Diaz, was adjudged, incorrectly, to be offside.

All that said, the 26-year-old will be among the first to acknowledge that his direct return has not been good enough, with two of his three Premier League goals this season coming in the opening two matches of the term; since, he boasts just one goal from 15 appearances, yet to assist a teammate.

Nonetheless, he has been described as a "game-changer" by reporter Charlotte Coates and offers a progressive and penetrative style that serves Liverpool very well.

The £55k-per-week ace also ranks among the top 7% of positional peers for pass completion, though this alone will not be enough to secure him a spot in the Anfield side's first-team for years to come.

While last season's metrics do not offer the best gauge for comparison, his initial burst onto the scene on English shores does showcase the ability within his grasp.

Having posted four goals and three assists from just 11 Premier League starts during the 2021/22 season, joining in January, Diaz completed 88% of his passes and averaged 1.5 key passes and 2.4 dribbles per game.

Collating these metrics with his present efforts, Diaz is completing just 81% of his passes in the league this year, averaging 1.1 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per outing.

His ball-carrying in particular has seen a staggering drop-off, and while his past knee injury has no doubt been the crux of this decline, Klopp will be itching to see improvements.

Leao, meanwhile, is flourishing with Milan and could prove to be the dream heir to Mane, with the former Liverpool phenomenon's incredible consistency not easily replicated.

Leao has been hailed as a “superstar” by writer Theo Mwangi and boasts a relatively pleasing injury record, though the issues he has picked up over the years often prove to be a recurrence of muscular blows to the hamstring.

But he is a dynamic threat and one who could be taken to new heights under Klopp's tutelage, and Liverpool's hierarchy must carefully consider the next move.

While Diaz is something of a fan favourite and is an excellent player, his output will need to improve if he is to continue to receive prominent bearing in the squad.

Should he leave, or indeed should his departure become necessary, the moves must be made to ensure that Leao, the perfect successor and heir to Mane, is signed.

Manchester United are in need of reinforcements this month as Erik ten Hag looks to improve their fortunes and some encouraging news has emerged regarding their pursuit of a proven goalscorer, according to a report.

Man United's hunt for a striker…

Rasmus Hojlund has been a point of contention for Manchester United fans over the course of this campaign, dividing fans with his performances and noticeable lack of service in the last few months. Nevertheless, the Denmark international scored his second goal in quick succession against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, taking his tally for the season to seven from 25 appearances.

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Despite the former Atalanta youngster's recent spurt of positivity, there is an undoubted need for another forward at Old Trafford as rumours of an Anthony Martial exit continue to brew.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival at Old Trafford has bred fresh optimism among a beleaguered fanbase and the 71-year-old is believed to have designs on bringing a new attacker to Old Trafford that is on a similar level to Bayern Munich and England talisman Harry Kane, as per The Evening Standard.

Another central midfielder, winger and centre-back will also be on the agenda in the North West, though any future striker purchase would be expected to come in and play alongside Hojlund.

In this window, Brian Brobbey, Donyell Malen, Eric Choupo-Moting and Serhou Guirassy have all been mentioned as potential solutions to the lack of options available to Ten Hag in the final third after the Red Devils missed out on Timo Werner to Tottenham Hotspur.

Now, one of these four players is assumed to be at the centre of a transfer battle between multiple clubs, which Manchester United could have an edge in, as per reports.

Man United could hijack Serhou Guirassy interest…

According to Football Insider, Manchester United and AC Milan are among the sides who could hijack West Ham United's interest in Stuttgart poacher Guirassy as the Red Devils' search for a striker continues. Formerly of Rennes, the 27-year-old has a release clause of £15 million and has emerged as a target for some of Europe's elite due to his goalscoring exploits in the Bundesliga.

Serhou Guirassy's key statistics in 2023/24 – Bundesliga (Sofascore)

Expected goals

11.56

Shots on target per game

1.8

Goal conversion

35%

Big chances missed

10

Team of the week inclusions

3

The report states that David Moyes will face "huge competition" to sign the Guinea international, who is currently away at the African Cup of Nations, with the Hammers reportedly in ongoing talks over a move. Meanwhile, Manchester United, alongside AC Milan and Newcastle United, are among the clubs keeping a close eye on his situation.

Dubbed "outrageous" by Seb Stafford-Bloor, Guirassy has exploded into life this campaign, registering 19 goals in 16 outings across all competitions (Guirassy statistics – Transfermarkt).

Manchester United have only directly outscored Burnley, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace in the Premier League and bringing in someone of Guirassy's ilk could help eradicate that unwanted trend.

A "really good" Manchester United player is now set to leave the club during the January transfer window, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils have been a bizarre team to watch this season, somehow being both hugely entertaining and head-scratching at the same time. United have done well to win some matches that they haven't necessarily played well in, but equally, far too many disappointing results have come their way when they really could have won, both in the Premier League and the Champions League.

There could be plenty of focus on incoming business at Old Trafford when the January transfer window opens next month, with additions needed particularly in defence. Lisandro Martinez arguably feels like the only genuinely strong option at centre-back now, and he is currently out injured. Jean-Clair Todibo is a very popular name in the rumour mill, while Benfica rising star Antonio Silva has been strongly linked with Man Utd.

On the flip side, there are also players who United could be looking to offload in the near future, with several established figures out of contract at the end of the season, including Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial.

Van de Beek 100% certain to to leave Man Utd – Romano

Writing on X on Friday, Romano claimed that Van de Beek "will leave" Manchester United in January, also sharing Erik Ten Hag's comments regarding his compatriot's future.

"I really think Donny has to play. It a slow start in the season because he still recovered from physical setbacks. But now he is back…and I can see that he has to play. For his career, for everything."

In truth, Van de Beek's time as a United player has been largely disastrous, considering how big his reputation was when he arrived at the club back in 2020. At that point, he had recently starred in Ten Hag's Ajax team that reached the Champions League semi-finals a year earlier, but he has never come close to repeating those performances at Old Trafford.

In the past three-and-a-bit years, the Dutchman has had to make do with a peripheral role for the Red Devils, with Van de Beek's stats standing at just four goal involvements in 62 appearances, which is a scarcely believable return for an attacking player.

Appearances

62

Goals

2

Assists

2

While some supporters may still retain some hope that Van de Beek can come good at United – he is still only 26 years of age and has been described as a "really good" by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp – it feels like the right time for the club to cash in on him in January, receiving some good money for him in the process.

They are clearly unlikely to be able to recoup the £35m they paid for him back in 2020, given the manner in which he has dropped off, but there will still be clubs who will believe they can get the best out of him.

If Van de Beek returns from injury and suddenly proves himself in the New Year, there could just be a lingering chance for him to salvage his United career, but it feels like a natural time to part ways.