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Man Utd "In The Race" For "Generational" £70m Ace

Manchester United are reportedly among the clubs who are interested in signing Juventus star, Dusan Vlahovic, with the Serbian marksman among the club's centre-forward targets this summer.

What's the latest on Vlahovic to Man United?

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils – as well as both Bayern Munich and Chelsea – are said to be in the mix for the 23-year-old's signature, albeit with it yet to be seen if the striker's current side will sanction a sale at the end of the season.

Writing on Twitter regarding that interest, the respected insider stated: "Understand Chelsea haven’t sent €80m bid for Dusan Vlahović, as of now. He’s one of many strikers appreciated at the club but no bid/talks.

"Bayern and Man United remain in the race for Vlahović — but still waiting for Juventus decision."

As Romano refuted above, there had been recent claims from ESPN that the Stamford Bridge outfit had lodged an €80m (£70m) bid for the former Fiorentina man's services, with the towering asset having only made the move to Turin on a £66.6m deal back in January 2022.

What's Vlahovic's style of play?

The interest in the Belgrade native comes amid his apparent likeness to Manchester City talisman, Erling Haaland, with transfer insider Dean Jones having previously suggested that the coveted ace is a "bit like Haaland".

That likeness is seemingly apparent due to the fact that the pair are both imposing, left-footed options in attack, with the City superstar standing at 6 foot 4, while Vlahovic is only slightly smaller with a stature of 6 foot 3.

Man City's Erling Haaland

While the Juve man has found it hard to match the ruthless goalscoring form of the Norwegian of late – with Haaland netting 52 goals across all fronts this term – he has still been a clinical presence in his own right, with 23 goals in 62 games for the Old Lady to date, after previously scoring 49 times in 108 games during his stint in Florence.

Such is the admiration for Vlahovic's talents, Serbian FA president Nenad Bjekovic even went as far as to suggest that his compatriot is "better and more than complete" than the Etihad hero, while the one-time Partizan man has also been described as a potential "generational" talent by Forbes' Emmet Gates.

Although the £220k-per-week machine does only boast ten league goals this season, Gates claimed earlier in the campaign that the striker is a "a Ferrari being driven like a Fiat" by manager Max Allegri, with a change in scenery potentially what is needed for him to truly get back firing once again.

With United – who could allow Anthony Martial to depart this summer – in desperate need of a new number nine, Vlahovic could well represent the Haaland-esque talent that Erik ten Hag will likely be craving.

West Ham Star Was ‘Immense’ Against AZ Alkmaar

West Ham United reached the final of the Europa Conference League in dramatic fashion as the Hammers defeated AZ Alkmaar 1-0 (3-1) on Thursday night.

The Hammers will have the chance to get their hands on European silverware for the first time since 1968, following a spirited second-leg display in the Netherlands.

A 94th-minute match-winner from Pablo Fornals ensured he ended the night as the hero with the tie climaxing in dramatic fashion after a challenging game at the AFAS Stadium for David Moyes’ side.

It wasn’t the club’s greatest display, with the hosts dominating 70% of possession and unleashing 12 shots at Alphonse Areola’s goal – as per Sofascore. However, the Irons suppressed all threat and awarded their defensive efforts with a late goal and clean sheet.

The east Londoners played an intelligent and patient game against a fired-up Alkmaar side in a cauldron-feel stadium, at a time when things mattered most.

Moyes’ players can give themselves credit for earning the clubs’ deserved place in a European final for the first time in 47 years, however, one star stood out alongside Fornals as West Ham’s saviour on a historic night; Nayef Aguerd.

How did Nayef Aguerd play against AZ Alkmaar?

The visitor’s back line withheld wave after wave of pressure from the fired-up hosts, with Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma holding the heart of defence.

The Moroccan, who has already been described as “exceptional” this season by Gary Lineker was certainly that yesterday night, proving to be an integral part of the victorious side in the Netherlands.

Soccer Football – Europa Conference League – Group B – FCSB v West Ham United – National Arena, Bucharest, Romania – November 3, 2022 West Ham United’s Nayef Aguerd in action with FCSB’s Andrea Compagno Inquam Photos via REUTERS/Stefan Constantin ROMANIA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN ROMANIA.. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IT IS DISTRIBUTED, EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS.

West Ham’s centre-back earned a Sofascore match rating of 7.5, which was attributable to his monster performance where he was almost faultless over 90 minutes.

With four clearances, five tackles, and nine overall duels won, the defender was a force to be reckoned with when called upon, keeping his side in the game and proving an "outstanding" influence on the club making the final – as per Jonty Colman.

The central defender showed his versatility too, being dominant pushing into the deeper midfield areas to support his teammates, as well as showcasing his attacking attributes in completing 100% of his dribble attempts.

Further described as 'immense' for his performance by Colman in football.london’s player ratings, the 27-year-old cemented himself as a hero on the night in a result that could drive West Ham to European silverware.

Having arrived in east London last summer, the Moroccan has undergone a challenging first season in the Premier League alongside his teammates, however, performances like tonight’s put struggle to the backseat in a joyous occasion for the club.

Chelsea Eyeing "Sensational" £65m "Baller"

Todd Boehly's Chelsea reign has certainly been a tumultuous one, with the Blues now certain to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were both sacked by the American, who was keen for instant success following an investment of over £550m on new signings.

However, this will not stop Chelsea from spending big again this summer, so long as they can move on some of the deadwood at Stamford Bridge in order to abide by Financial Fair Play rules.

One man who has been linked with a summer move to the Blues is Jules Kounde, in what would be an opportunity for Boehly to avenge his 2022 heartbreak over the Frenchman after he joined Barcelona ahead of Chelsea last summer.

Could Chelsea sign Jules Kounde?

According to Diario Sport, the France international is now keen to leave Camp Nou this summer as Xavi has rarely utilised him in his natural centre-back position, instead playing him as a right-back – or even as a midfielder, as he did in the recent game against Real Sociedad.

The Spanish manager had reportedly promised to play Kounde as a centre-back, and as that has not materialised, he is now considering his future with the La Liga champions, with Barcelona more than willing to sell if he isn't fully committed to the club.

It is suggested that Chelsea would be willing to renew their interest in the 24-year-old and would be willing to pay more than Barcelona paid to Sevilla last summer, with previous reports suggesting that a fee of €75m (£65m) would be enough to see him leave.

Would Kounde be a good signing for Chelsea?

It is easy to understand why Boehly was so keen to sign Kounde last summer given he was rated as one of the best young centre-backs in Europe, and he has only enhanced that reputation with Barcelona and France this season.

Todd Boehly walks outside of Stamford Bridge ahead of a Chelsea game.

In 27 La Liga appearances, the versatile defender has one goal and three assists with a strong 6.97 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which is only bettered by Reece James and Thiago Silva in Chelsea's squad.

While Boehly already has young centre-backs such as Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile at his disposal, Kounde already has experience at the very top level, having won the Europa League with Sevilla and appeared in a World Cup final with France.

Football analyst Marcus Bring dubbed him "sensational" back in 2021, while sports technology manager Alan Feehely labelled him as an "absolute baller" that year, which suggests that he has been highly rated for a number of years now.

While it would be another expensive outlay for Boehly, Kounde has what it takes to be a top defender for the next decade and there will be few opportunities to prise him away from one of Europe's elite clubs, so the chairman must take advantage of his unhappiness at Barcelona and sign him this summer, one year later than originally planned.

West Ham Boss Moyes Eyeing Moves For £115k p/w Duo

West Ham United have been linked with moves for Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse and Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson and both would be 'huge signings' at the London Stadium, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest transfer news involving James Ward-Prowse and Reiss Nelson?

As per Football Insider, West Ham are keen on a move for England international Ward-Prowse this summer, though they face competition from the likes of Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur to acquire the £100k-a-week ace.

The report states that Irons boss David Moyes has priotised a 'creative midfielder' as he looks to bolster his squad and Ward-Prowse has emerged as an ideal candidate to freshen up his engine room amid uncertainty over the futures of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek at the London Stadium.

Scottish boss Moyes has also fueled speculation that West Ham could try to sign the the Southampton captain by indicating that he would like to bring more homegrown talent into his side, stating in an interview cited by The Evening Standard: "I think I would like to add more a little bit more of British players or homegrown players if we possibly could.”

West Ham have also been mooted with making a swoop for Arsenal attacker Nelson in the off-season; nevertheless, Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion and AC Milan also admire the player.

In a turn of events, it looks like Nelson, who is set to be out-of-contract at the end of this season due to his £15k-a-week deal dwindling down, could be set to sign a new long-term agreement at the Emirates Stadium for four years with the option for another 12 months, as per The Athletic.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks both players would be welcome additions at the London Stadium heading into 2023/24.

Brown told FFC: "Some of the other players they're going for, I think, would also be huge signings. Ward-Prowse would be a massive upgrade on anything else they've got and certainly help them build this possession-style game that Moyes is trying to transition them towards. I think Reiss Nelson could do a job there, he's someone else they've looked at."

How have both players got on for their respective clubs this term?

Ward-Prowse suffered the agony of relegation this campaign with Southampton. However, his individual performances have been at a very high standard and in no way deserving of such a cruel fate.

In 2022/23, the Englishman made 45 appearances in all competitions for the Saints, racking up 11 goals and five assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

James-Ward-Prowse-Southampton

According to WhoScored, Ward-Prowse managed to thread through an average of 1.9 key passes per fixture in the Premier League this term, demonstrating his ingenuity in the middle of the park.

On the flip side, Arsenal winger Nelson featured 18 times for Arsenal this campaign, encompassing all competitions, registering three goals and three assists, as shown on Transfermarkt.

Labelled as "important" by Mikel Arteta, there is no surprise that the Gunners are keen to tie him down to an extension, which may in the end thwart West Ham's reported advances to try and bring in the 23-year-old.

Either way, both players would be exciting arrivals in east London this summer and Moyes will be keen to add several players to his squad ahead of 2023/24.

Liverpool Hold "Internal" Talks Over £5k-p/w "One-Man Army"

Liverpool have held an “internal discussion” regarding the possibility of submitting an offer for Borussia Monchengladbach star Manu Kone, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Who is Manu Kone?

Kone is a central midfielder who arrived at the Borussia Park from Toulouse back in 2021 and he’s since gone on to become a regular feature, clocking up a total of 60 appearances to date. Despite his contract not expiring for another two years, he was Gerardo Seoane’s top-performing defensive player last season so has caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs revealed that the 22-year-old is a player that is “on the list” of targets for FSG, with The Guardian further reporting that the Reds are pushing to make him their next signing after Brighton and Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister.

The Frenchman further excited supporters and sparked rumours of a switch when he was pictured with Nice’s Khephren Thuram, who the Merseyside outfit have also been heavily linked with, and if the following update is to be believed, it sounds like the duo could both soon be making their way to the Premier League.

Are Liverpool signing Kone?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Liverpool have been in talks with the representatives of Kone and Thuram while pondering official approaches, with FSG telling both players' clubs they may make a move after signing Mac Allister:

“Liverpool have been in direct contact with both Manu Kone and Khephren Thuram agents again this week. Internal discussion taking place over official proposals. Liverpool asked for some time to close in on Mac Allister deal then decide on new midfielders.”

Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone.

Should FSG submit a bid for Kone?

Liverpool are in desperate need of new central players following the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo, and having been dubbed a “one-man army” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Kone is definitely a candidate worth testing the waters for in an attempt to bring him to Merseyside.

The Classico client, who earns only £5k-per-week, is naturally stronger in the defensive aspect of his game having won 39 tackles throughout the previous campaign which was higher than any of his teammates, as per FBRef.

The France U21 international, however, can pose a threat going forward too, as he ranks in the 96th percentile for dribbles by central midfielders and did pitch in last term by scoring one goal and providing the same number of assists, so he’s an extremely well-rounded player and one that would only excel further under the guidance of Klopp.

Celtic Could Hire Postecoglou Upgrade In 43 y/o Manager

Celtic are searching for a new manager this month after they were rocked by the departure of Australian chief Ange Postecoglou from Parkhead last week.

The former Hoops tactician sealed a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is now tasked with finding a replacement for the 57-year-old.

One coach who is reportedly in contention to take the job in Glasgow is Manchester City assistant Enzo Maresca, who the Hoops are said to be considering as one of the candidates to take over at Parkhead in the coming weeks.

Would Enzo Maresca be a success at Celtic?

The Italian, who has been tipped to become an "extraordinary" boss by Pep Guardiola, has only managed 13 league games as a first-team manager but his pedigree as a coach suggests that he has the potential to be an upgrade on Postecoglou.

Maresca enjoyed a memorable night last Saturday as his side won the Champions League against Inter to complete a historic treble for City, having already won the Premier League and the FA Cup.

Although it was largely Guardiola who masterminded such an honour, it this shows that the 43-year-old knows what it takes to be part of a relentless winning machine.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Whilst it may seem crazy to suggest that the Citizens assistant could be an upgrade on the Australian, former West Ham United winger Robert Snodgrass believes that it could be the case.

The Scotsman, who worked with Maresca during their time together at the Hammers, has stated that the coach could come in and make the players "better", saying: "What I loved about him at West Ham was he took the time to work with players and improve them.

“He was a coach so didn’t have as much control as you do as manager. But at Celtic he could take that to a different level. He’ll identify areas in certain players’ game, work on it, make them better and that in turn will help the team."

The ex-Norwich attacker also said that the Italian could provide the Hoops with something "extra" on top of what Postecoglou achieved, which could come from his ability to get the best out of his players.

Guardiola previously hailed Maresca's work in developing City's young talents, notably enjoying a solid record with the club's U23 side as he won 17 of his 24 Premier League 2 matches in charge.

This suggests that the 3-4-1-2 manager could be an upgrade on Postecoglou by taking what the 57-year-old built and building further by working his magic on the training ground to extract every ounce of potential out of the squad to make them the best possible versions of themselves.

Therefore, Desmond could gamble on the City assistant being able to translate his coaching skills over to first-team management and land an improvement in the dugout in the process.

Romelu Lukaku Makes Big Inter Milan Mistake In UCL Final

Fans online have been left stunned after Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku accidentally blocked an effort at goal off the line in the Champions League final.

What’s the latest on Man City?

Playing in Istanbul, Manchester City were hoping to complete a treble, having already won both the Premier League and the FA Cup this season.

Their opponents, however, were seeking a double with Simone Inzaghi’s men already lifting the Coppa Italia earlier on in their campaign.

Pep Guardiola and co came into the game favourites but Inter probably had the better first half, with the most notable incident being an injury that forced Kevin de Bruyne off early.

However, the game burst into life when Rodri struck an opener in the 68th minute of the game to put City into a 1-0 lead – which was ultimately enough to win the game.

Less than two minutes after that goal, though, Inter came forward with an attack and Federico Dimarco’s header looped over Ederson and bounced off the bar and back into the six-yard box.

The Italian then had another attempt at goal, and it looked as though his header was destined for the back of the net, only for Lukaku to inadvertently block it on the line.

You can see the footage on the BT Sport Football Twitter account below.

After witnessing the crazy incident, fans online couldn’t believe what had happened. They quickly flocked to social media to make their feelings known.

Here are the best reactions…

He’s even got previous of doing this before…

To make things worse, Lukaku then missed a sitter with just moments to play.

Wolves Can Find Dream Neto Partner In £20m Swoop

The transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Wolverhampton Wanderers should be in the market to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

Julen Lopetegui's side were able to beat off a relegation battle with relative ease to finish 13th in the Premier League table but their lack of potency in the final third throughout the campaign was concerning.

Their tally of 31 goals in 38 matches was the lowest in the entire division and they were one of only four teams to fail to average at least one strike per game.

What are Chuba Akpom's statistics?

Lopetegui could go a long way to solving his team's goalscoring woes by securing a deal to sign Middlesbrough centre-forward Chuba Akpom, who is coming off the back of an exceptional season in the Championship.

The reported transfer target, who has been valued at £20m, is a player with the potential to be a prolific scorer, based on his form in the second tier, and pairing him with current Wolves winger Pedro Neto could help him to fulfil his promise in the Premier League.

Since the start of 2020/21, the Portuguese wizard has created 9.95 expected assists (xA) for his teammates in the top flight and has been rewarded with seven assists for his efforts.

This suggests that his fellow attackers have been letting him down over the last few years as they have not been able to make the most of the quality chances that the £50k-per-week ace has provided them with.

Therefore, Wolves could finally benefit from Neto's excellent creativity by signing a striker who has the quality to overperform in front of goal, instead of wasting chance after chance.

Middlesbrough forward Chuba Akpom.

Akpom could be that player as the 27-year-old finisher plundered an eye-catching 28 goals in 38 Championship matches for Middlesbrough from 21.9 xG, which showcases his ability to be clinical when opportunities fall his way.

The former Arsenal youth prospect ranks in the top 4% of forwards in the Men's Next Eight Competitions for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.70) over the last 365 days which illustrates how impressive the Boro number 29 has been in front of goal.

He has significantly outperformed his xG in the second division of English football and the prolific dynamo, who was hailed for his ability to score "stunning" goals by journalist Josh Bunting, must now prove himself in the Premier League.

Wolves pairing him with a player like Neto, who has the ability to create good opportunities for his teammates, could allow the English hotshot to thrive and in the process, solve the club's goalscoring issues.

£25m 27-y/o Unlikely To Join Wolves In Summer Window

Midfielder Ali Al-Musrati is unlikely to join Wolves this summer unless his price tag is lowered, journalist and BBC contributor Dave Azzopardi has claimed.

Who could Wolves sign this summer?

Julen Lopetegui's side are in need of reinforcements, having seen club captain Ruben Neves depart for Saudi Arabia among others, and have been linked with Braga midfielder Al-Musrati.

The 27-year-old is on Wolves' radar according to reports in Portugal, but may come with a big price tag.

Speaking on the Talking Wolves Podcast, Azzopardi claimed that unless the reported £21.5m fee required to land the Libyan is lowered, that the midfielder is unlikely to make the move to Molineux.

"His numbers are good, he's a good defensive midfielder, destructive midfielder and my only concern with this deal is that Braga apparently would want about €25m (£21.5m), which I think is too much for me, especially when as a Wolves fan, you're probably wanting to target Alex Scott for that amount of money," he stated.

"So I'd be very, very surprised if Wolves one, went for this deal, but two if they do go for Al Musrati, I'm sure they're going to try and chisel at least £5m-£10m off that transfer fee.

"For him, he's coming towards his late twenties now, so he's going to want to move away from Portugal and come to the Premier League, it's going to have to be now."

Should Wolves sign Al-Musrati?

The 27-year-old ranks highly among his peers for interceptions and blocks, as well as progressive passes as per FBref, and could bring a lot of quality to the Wolves midfield.

Losing both Neves and Joao Moutinho in one summer could be a big blow for Lopetegui, and multiple signings may be needed in central areas to compensate for their departures.

If the price tag does come down, Al-Musrati could help replace the technical security of Moutinho, as well as adding defensive steel to the midfield.

The experience lost between the likes of Neves and Moutinho probably cannot be replaced with just one player and especially one who has not played in England before.

However, if a deal cannot be reached for less than £25m, Wolves may have to look elsewhere. Such a high price tag for a Portuguese League player comes with a big risk, and given that Wolves also need to replace the likes of Diego Costa and Adama Traore, who departed for free, they may not be able to afford to splash out on unproven players.

Celtic’s £25m "Revelation" Has "Already Spoken" To New Club

Celtic forward Jota has “already spoken” to Al Ittihad manager Nuno Espirito Santo regarding a move to Saudi Arabia, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

When did Jota join Celtic?

The Hoops’ left-sided winger permanently arrived in the Scottish Premiership last summer following a successful loan spell the season before from Benfica, as per Transfermarkt, and across both periods north of the border he’s clocked up a total of 83 appearances to date.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the Portuguese starlet firmly established himself as Ange Postecoglou’s overall top-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 7.48 which highlights the significance he has, but with the boss now having left and Brendan Rodgers back in charge, his future is up in the air.

Sky Sports reported just days ago that the 24-year-old had entered advanced talks with Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ittihad, with discussions ongoing in regard to the initial fee and structure of payments – where it was stated that personal terms shouldn’t be an issue – and it sounds like all parties are now confident that a deal will go through.

Is Jota leaving Celtic?

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, Romano revealed that Jota is expected to leave Celtic and has even personally chatted to his prospective new manager about the move. He wrote:

“Understand Al Ittihad coach Nuno has already spoken to Jota about his transfer considered imminent and set to be completed next week. Fee gonna be around €30m (£25m), discussions ongoing.”

Celtic forward Jota.

Whilst Rodgers hasn’t personally worked with Jota, he will have seen the positive impact he’s made since joining from afar – the type of impact which has seen him hailed a “revelation” by Alex McLeish – so trying to retain his services is a no-brainer of a decision.

The Gestifute client posted a remarkable 21 goal contributions (11 goals and ten assists) in 29 Scottish Premiership outings last season which saw him receive five man-of-the-match awards, not to mention that he recorded 80 shots over the campaign which was the second-highest total in Glasgow, as per FBRef.

The Lisbon native also adds wonderful versatility to the manager’s ranks with his ability to operate in six different positions across the pitch, including all across the frontline and even two roles in the midfield, which is yet another great attribute to have at your disposal.

Finally, Celtic have won five trophies following Jota’s arrival which is no coincidence and he’s certainly helped to play his part in the club’s success, so there’s no doubt that this number would only continue to increase should he stay beyond the summer.

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