Manchester United have been urged to consider signing free agent Paul Pogba, with Louis Saha claiming the Frenchman is set to train with the club.
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Product of Red Devils' academy system
Without a club following release by Juventus
Being linked with teams around the world
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WHAT HAPPENED?
World Cup-winner Pogba is a product of the Red Devils’ famed academy system, having made a senior breakthrough under Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011. He left for Juventus after making just seven competitive appearances, but returned to Old Trafford as part of a record-breaking £89 million ($114m) transfer in 2016.
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Pogba struggled for consistency across six years with United, but did take in 226 appearances and helped them to Europa League and League Cup triumphs. He retraced steps to Juve in 2022, but was handed a doping ban early in the 2023-24 campaign.
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DID YOU KNOW?
An initial four-year suspension has been reduced to 18 months on appeal, meaning that Pogba will be cleared to resume his professional career in March 2025. Various landing spots have been mooted for him after seeing a lucrative contract in Turin terminated.
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WHAT SAHA SAID
Former United striker Saha has told of a potential third stint in England: “I’ve heard some rumours that Paul Pogba will be offered the opportunity to come back and train with Man United in the New Year, and I think that would be a great opportunity for Paul. He needs to get back to his best level as quickly as possible, and training with top players will help him to do that. I think he would be thrilled to have the opportunity to go back to the club.
“I also think that Paul Pogba is still a very special player. When you think about midfielders, Pogba has unique qualities. I think the United squad lacks power in the midfield, and we’re missing a skilful player that can play box-to-box, so he would be a good addition (to the United squad) because he’s a different profile of player to what United have.
“When I look at Pogba, I think that many teams in the Premier League would find signing him as a free agent an attractive proposition. Forget about the salary, I’m sure Paul is ready to find a compromise on that as he wants to play football again after such a long time on the sidelines. When I think about Pogba, there are more positives with signing him than there are negatives, and I think he’s a player that should interest Manchester United in January. All the top clubs in the Premier League should see signing Pogba on a free transfer as an amazing opportunity. That’s how I see it.”
Leeds United fans would have been understandably relieved after Friday night's clash away at Sheffield Wednesday, picking up their first three league points of the season at the expense of Danny Rohl's Owls.
The 2-0 win would be secured via goals from Brenden Aaronson and Daniel James, as the Whites largely dominated proceedings at Hillsborough, with more possession and shots in their favour compared to the hosts.
Still, Daniel Farke and Co will be desperately trying to get more deals in through the door between now and the end of the transfer window getting closer, with this midfield gem still firmly on the Championship club's radar.
Leeds still chasing deal for Koln star
As per a recent report from German outlet BILD, Koln midfield star Dejan Ljubicic is still pushing for a late move to England, with the Austrian target keen on leaving Koln behind for pastures new at Elland Road before the deadline on Friday.
Further backed up by a report in the Sunday Mail – as relayed by MOT Leeds News – which states that snapping up Ljubicic's services is a main priority now, after Manor Solomon completes a medical to join on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, everything seems to be going full steam ahead on the transfer front in West Yorkshire.
Dejan Ljubicic for FC Koln.
Whilst the signings of Solomon and Ramazani in through the door will undoubtedly help Leeds in their depleted forward positions, picking up Ljubicic would also benefit the Whites in their holding midfield positions, away from over-relying on the likes of Ilia Gruev, whom he could be an upgrade on.
The Bulgarian arguably struggled against Wednesday – with a lack of attacking presence coming from the 24-year-old throughout – whilst Ljubicic would offer Farke's men a more attack-minded option from deep, to complement the battling nature of Ethan Ampadu who will do the dirty work instead.
What Ljubicic would offer Leeds
The wantaway Koln number seven would show off his obvious strengths when it comes to his attacking game versus Eintracht Braunschweig last time out in Bundesliga 2 action, with Ljubicic firing in two goals from the middle of the park.
The final scoreline would read 5-0 in Koln's favour, with the likelihood now that the £23k-per-week ace – as per Salary Sport – could swap Germany for West Yorkshire, to play for another fallen giant swamped in the second tier.
Stat
Ljubicic
Minutes played
77
Goals scored
2
Assists
0
Shots on goal
7
Touches
54
Accurate passes
29/37 (78%)
Key passes
3
Duels won
3/6
Stats by Sofascore
Unlike Gruev, who failed to register a single shot on James Beadle's goal during Leeds' Friday night win, Ljubicic was a constant livewire for Koln going forward versus Braunschweig, with seven shots registered in the 5-0 demolition job just from the Austrian alone.
Also showing his willingness to play dirty in that exciting Bundesliga 2. contest, with three duels won, the current Koln number seven could end up displacing Gruev, who was also purchased from Germany once upon a time after lining up for Werder Bremen.
Dejan Ljubicic for FC Koln.
Of course, the former Bremen man has performed for the Whites in the past – with a sublime free-kick soaring in last campaign from the 24-year-old helping Leeds to a dominant 4-0 play-off semi-final win over Norwich – but there will be a concern in the air that Farke's men are not sweeping opponents aside with ease, having amassed 13 total efforts on the Wednesday goal.
With Joe Rothwell waiting in the wings too who can give Leeds more going forward from the middle of the park, alongside Ramazani and Solomon exciting the Elland Road fanbase with what they can add up top, Ljubicic joining feels like the next logical step Farke and Co will make in this frantic window.
He could well go on to become a better talent than Gruev in the first-team mix for the Championship side, as Leeds go about strengthening in areas that need more depth before deadline day.
8/10 Leeds star with 133 touches was as important as Joseph
The Whites titan enjoyed a brilliant evening at Hillsborough on Friday night.
Kurt Zouma's transfer to United Arab Emirates side Shabab Al-Ahli is off after the Frenchman failed his medical. Despite this, the West Ham United defender has been stripped of his captaincy.
Instead, Jarrod Bowen will don the armband for the 2024/24 campaign after several years of excellence as David Moyes' attacking talisman.
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Jarrod Bowen
44
20
2.
Mohammed Kudus
45
14
3.
Tomas Soucek
52
10
4.
Lucas Paqueta
53
8
5.
Michail Antonio
32
7
5.
James Ward-Prowse
51
7
The England international scored 20 goals across all competitions last season and played as centre-forward on an ad hoc basis but Niclas Fullkrug, aged 31, has signed from Borussia Dortmund in a £27m transfer.
He's a solid striker but Julen Lopetegui is keen to finish his frontline off with a flourish, as another striker is reportedly on the radar.
West Ham transfer news
According to il Romanista over in Italy, West Ham are still in for AS Roma's Tammy Abraham, who is expected to leave the Serie A club this summer.
The Irons looked to have cooled their interest after signing Fullkrug, but having failed to sign Aston Villa maverick Jhon Duran, might look to ensure they have sufficient depth at the spearhead.
Abraham has been a prolific presence in Italy but was wrecked by a knee injury last term, only posting one goal and one assist apiece, starting just twice.
AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham.
Still, the former Chelsea star has proved himself across different levels and could be a real treat at the London Stadium – for just €25m (£21m), this could prove to be a bargain for United technical director Tim Steidten.
Why West Ham want Tammy Abraham
But wait, Fullkrug scored 16 goals and assisted ten more for Dortmund last season, transferring his form onto the international stage and starring for Germany at Euro 2024.
There's no doubting Fullkrug's potency, but Michail Antonio has entered the late stage of his career and the German's no spring chicken either.
Abraham could be brought in to ensure the Hammers have enough firepower to provide Lopetegui with a constant stream of goals without pulling Bowen away from his favoured right flank.
Once described as a "goal machine" by former coach Stephen Elliott, Abraham has clinched 48 goal contributions across 107 fixtures for Roma since signing from Chelsea for £34m in 2021.
His time in west London established him as a reliable strike threat in the Premier League, bagging 15 goals from just 25 top-flight starts in 2019/20 and winning the Champions League the year after, which shows that he has what it takes to score an eye-catching number of goals in England.
His character and deceptive footwork highlight qualities that go beyond that of a mere marksman, and this could be invaluable for the Hammers when seeking out sequences to score and create, as he can be involved in the build-up whilst also being the player looking to finish off moves in front of goal.
Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini even claimed that he could become "one of the best in the world" before the ACL injury that ravaged his past year of football, and West Ham should now follow that up and offer him a place to restore his pedigree.
Imagine him & Jarrod Bowen
Abraham's indeed more than just a goalscorer, and his link-up play and quality as a dynamic focal point might just ensure that Bowen continues his lasting purple patch in the final third.
West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen
Arriving from Hull City in the Championship for about £22m in January 2020, Bowen was the linchpin of Moyes' success in east London, crowning the Scotsman's era with the winning goal in the Conference League final, winning a piece of European silverware.
The 27-year-old has scored 60 goals and added 39 assists across 202 fixtures and was dubbed "unplayable" by Brentford boss Thomas Frank last season after scoring a hat-trick against his outfit in the Premier League.
All told, he's pretty darn good. As with Fullkrug, there's no disputing that Bowen could do a job at No. 9 and do it with aplomb, but he's a winger by trade and finds success through his playmaking and hard-working approach, something that a striker like Abraham would benefit from.
The newly-appointed Irons captain ranks among the top 16% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 11% for progressive carries and the top 13% for tackles and blocks per 90, as per FBref, which shows that he is a hard-working attacker who provides great quality in and out of possession.
Centre-forward
22
9
4
Right winger
21
11
6
He also created 12 big chances in the top flight last term and has a fine cross on him, suggesting that his football could be best placed away from the centre of the frontline, especially when considering his goalscoring statistics last year by position (see above).
It's clear that his versatility is crucial for West Ham, and of course, he'll likely find himself up front at some point over the coming year, but Bowen could be positively unplayable if partnered with a 'goal machine' in Abraham who could make up a wonderful, multi-faceted partnership.
AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham
The rangy Roma man is a natural-born goalscorer, has artful movements that surprise a few first-time observers, and an imposing, physical presence that could mirror the football of Fullkrug while bringing something a bit different to the table.
Whether West Ham will complete the deal after forking out £120m plus already remains to be seen, but if the financials add up, this could prove to be an excellent signing that would add a dimension to make all the difference in the fight for European football and perhaps a shot at silverware too.
Better than Wan-Bissaka: West Ham line up "extraordinary" late signing
West Ham could sign veteran who provides cover in multiple areas
Em jogo bem abaixo do que vem mostrando, o Corinthians foi derrotado pelo Sport por 1 a 0, neste sábado, na Arena Pernambuco, pela 25ª rodada do Brasileirão. Com gol de Paulinho Moccelin, no segundo tempo, os pernambucanos quebraram a invencibilidade de dez partidas do Alvinegro, que sentiu falta de Willian. Já os mandantes deram passo importante na tabela, obtendo o terceiro triunfo consecutivo e deixaram a zona de rebaixamento.
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TABELA > Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui
> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!
Timão faz primeiro tempo ruim; Leão é melhor, mas não marca
Logo no início do primeiro tempo, as movimentações indicavam um jogo “lá e cá”, quando o Sport começou a trocar bons passes no ataque e Róger Guedes arriscou um chute fraco para o gol. No entanto, foi o time da casa que passou a se destacar mais dali para a frente. Aos 12 minutos, em ótima tabela pelo meio, Gustavo entrou na área para finalizar, mas foi travado e finalizou mal.
No lance seguinte, o Corinthians tentou responder com uma trama entre Giuliano e Renato Augusto, que havia roubado a bola e chegou para finalizar, mas o chute foi bem por cima do gol, sem perigo. O Alvinegro parecia melhorar, mas o Leão mostrou superioridade em um bom lance de Mikael e depois em um gol de Sabino, anulado pela posição de impedimento de Thyere.
Sem Willian, que ficou em São Paulo tratando um desconforto muscular, o Alvinegro sentia falta de um jogador com características semelhantes, que pudesse imprimir velocidade na construção das jogadas de ataque.
Com essa falta de agilidade, o Timão viu o Sport chegar novamente com Gustavo, que deu uma “caneta” em Fábio Santos e finalizou, mas para fora do gol. Mikael ainda teve mais uma chance não concretizada, assim como Sander, que recebeu lindo passe do bom Gustavo, mas chutou mal, de perna direita, que não era a boa. No lucro, o Corinthians foi para o intervalo com má atuação.
Corinthians continua mal e Sport, desta vez, aproveita e conquista a vitória
Mesmo depois do desempenho ruim na primeira etapa, o Corinthians voltou do intervalo sem alterações, mas mudou um pouco a postura, com mais pressão no campo de defesa do adversário. Ainda assim, foi o Sport que levou mais perigo nos primeiros 15 minutos, porém seguiu com enormes dificuldades para concluir as jogadas. Tréllez entrou no lugar de Everton Felipe.
Sem criar lances de perigo, o Timão continuava vendo o Sport ter mais ações ofensivas. Quando Cantillo pediu para sair, Sylvinho decidiu ousar com as entradas de Gustavo Mosquito e Adson (no lugar de Jô). Dessa forma, Róger Guedes foi fazer a função de “falso 9”, e Renato Augusto a de primeiro volante. No entanto, a velocidade das jogadas ainda parecia bem distante do ideal.
Enquanto isso, as substituições no Sport fizeram efeito. Em boa jogada de Marcão, que tabelou com Mikael, o volante tocou para Paulinho Moccelin, que ajeitou o corpo e mandou chute colocado para gol, abrindo o placar aos 35 minutos. Pouco tempo depois, em belo lance individual, Gabriel Pereira quase marcou, mas Maílson defendeu e José Welison afastou o rebote para longe.
Sylvinho ainda tentou colocar Luan e Gustavo Mantuan no jogo, mas novamente as substituições não surtiram efeito. Equipe demorou a “acordar” na partida e quando conseguiu, já era tarde demais para uma reação no placar.
E agora?
Com a derrota, o Corinthians permanece na quinta posição no Brasileirão, com 37 pontos. Já o Sport sai do Z4, na 16ª posição, com 26 pontos. Na próxima rodada, o Timão recebe o Fluminense, nesta quarta-feira, na Neo Química Arena, enquanto o Leão enfrenta o Cuiabá, fora de casa, na quinta.
FICHA TÉCNICA SPORT 1 x 0 CORINTHIANS Local: Arena Pernambuco, em São Lourenço da Mata (PE) Data-Hora: 9/10/2021 – 16h30 Árbitro: Savio Pereira Sampaio (DF) Assistentes: Daniel Henrique da Silva Andrade (DF) e José Reinaldo Nascimento Junior (DF) VAR: Daniel Nobre Bins (RS) Público/renda: Não disponíves Cartões amarelos: Sander, Paulinho Moccelin e Marcão (SPT) (COR) Cartões vermelhos: – Gol: Paulinho Moccelin (35’/2ºT) (1-0)
SPORT: Maílson; Ewerthon, Rafael Thyere (Chico, aos 32’/2ºT), Sabino e Sander; Marcão e José Welison; Everton Felipe (Trellez, aos 13’/2ºT), Gustavo (Leandro Barcia, aos 32’/2ºT) e Luciano Juba (Paulinho Moccelin, aos 18’/2ºT); Mikael. Técnico: Gustavo Florentin.
CORINTHIANS: Cássio; Fagner, João Victor, Gil e Fábio Santos; Cantillo (Gustavo Mosquito, aos 24’/2ºT); Gabriel Pereira (Luan, aos 39’/2ºT), Giuliano, Renato Augusto (Gustavo Mantuan, aos 43’/2ºT) e Róger Guedes; Jô (Adson, aos 24’/2ºT). Técnico: Sylvinho.
Liverpool suffered a massive injury blow as Trent Alexander-Arnold had to be hooked off early against Aston Villa.
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Alexander-Arnold lasted just 22 minutes
Appeared to be a muscle injury
Slot took no risk & replaced him with Bradley
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The 26-year-old was taken off in the 22nd minute after he collapsed to the ground and appeared to be in distress despite no contact with another player. It looked like a muscle injury and Liverpool's manager Arne Slot chose not to risk his fitness and substituted him with Conor Bradley.
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Slot's decision came as a precautionary measure, particularly given Liverpool’s already extensive injury list and the critical role Alexander-Arnold plays for both club and country. The Reds were already without several key players before they met Aston Villa, including first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker and forward Diogo Jota. Midfielder Federico Chiesa and promising youngster Harvey Elliott have also been sidelined, leaving the Reds with limited options in their lineup.
DID YOU KNOW?
Slot’s injury-stricken squad did not hesitate, however, in pushing for an early lead, which they secured just moments before Alexander-Arnold went off. Mohamed Salah nearly found himself taken down by Villa’s Leon Bailey in a race toward goal. However, referee David Coote chose to let play continue, and Darwin Nunez made the most of it as he rounded Villa’s goalkeeper Emi Martinez to slot the ball into the net.
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WHAT NEXT FOR TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD?
Alexander-Arnold’s potential absence has raised questions about his availability for England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures. The Liverpool star is part of Lee Carsley's squad set to face Greece and Ireland on November 14 and 17 respectively. Medical tests will reveal the full extent of the defender's injury and English fans will hope that the injury is not severe enough to sideline him for a lengthy period.
West Ham United and Julen Lopetegui are thought to have made contact over a move to sign a Serie A defender at the peak of his powers.
West Ham transfer news
New manager Lopetegui is planning for his first season at the London Stadium and has already admitted that he will try to put his own stamp on things with the Hammers.
“I feel very happy, first of all, to be able to be part of the future of this big Club. We will try to put our stamp on the Club. I feel that we have a fantastic platform. I think the last few years have been very good years to have this base, of course, but my ambition as a coach is always to be better and better, to achieve more and bigger aims and to encourage and improve the players, the team, and to compete because football is about this – to compete. We are very ambitious about this.
“I am where I want to be. I am here because I want to be here and for us it was a fantastic day when we closed our agreement here because our commitment is 100 per cent to be here. We had other opportunities but I am very happy that West Ham chose me because I chose West Ham too, so we are really happy about this."
That could include in the transfer market, with sporting director Tim Steidten seemingly closing in on Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme as the first signing of the Lopetegui era.
A deal worth over £25m has reportedly been agreed with Palmeiras and Guilherme is set to undergo a medical, and by the looks of things, West Ham are now moving on to signing number two.
West Ham in contact for Serie A defender
According to reports from Italy, relayed by Sport Witness, West Ham have made contact with Udinese over a possible deal to sign defender Nehuen Perez. The report claims that Napoli wanted Perez in January and offered €16m which was rejected, so the Irons may need to bid more than that figure.
Perez is primarily a centre-back but can also play as a right-back so would offer Lopetegui a versatile defensive option. The 23-year-old is an Argentina international and after coming through the books with Atletico Madrid, completed a permanent move to Udinese in 2022.
Since then, Perez has gone from strength to strength, making 94 appearances for his current employers and his Transfermarkt valuation rocketing to a career-high €13m, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig calling him a “complete” defender when emerging in 2020.
A move to London could be one to watch for Perez, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Hammers launch a bid for a player at the very top of his game.
West Ham United are set to spend after concerns relating to the London Stadium's financial capacity were expunged by an optimistic press conference, headed by Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten.
The priority is surely to secure a shiny new striker, but West Ham's needs stretch far deeper. If recent reports are to be believed, the London club are looking to make a statement by signing a well-known winger on the Premier League scene.
West Ham transfer news
According to Turkish outlet Sporx, Galatasaray are eager to cut ties with Wilfried Zaha just one year on from signing the wily winger after his contract with Crystal Palace expired.
Said to be wanted by West Ham, the 31-year-old's £300k-per-week wages are considered unsustainable within the Turkish Super Lig champions' ranks and he could now be presented with a route back into England's top flight, available for a nominal £8m fee.
Why West Ham are interested in Wilfried Zaha
Zaha posted 90 goals and 62 assists over 458 fixtures for Crystal Palace and was even heralded for his "world-class" ability by former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, able to manipulate the ball and leave defenders floored with his gliding gait and smoky, snaking motions up the flank.
Zaha ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across the 2022/23 Premier League season for fouls drawn, the top 14% for successful take-ons, the top 9% for carries into the penalty area and the top 16% for shots taken per 90, as per FBref.
While Gala are seeking to cash in, Zaha didn't exactly flop in Turkey, scoring ten goals and adding five assists across all competitions and notably scoring during his team's resounding victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League.
West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen
He's a maverick, capable of drawing fouls for the likes of Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse to feast upon, providing an unceasing attacking output and a desire to drive right into the danger area that would give West Ham an incisive dimension to mirror that of Muhammed Kudus, whose efforts were greatly appreciated last season.
Bowen, in particular, could benefit greatly from the former Eagle's presence, having proven himself to be a formidable goalscorer last season, if he hadn't already, to complement a rounded skill set that showcases, consistently, his hard-working and sharp qualities.
1.
Jarrod Bowen
44
20
2.
Mohammed Kudus
45
14
3.
Tomas Soucek
52
10
4.
Lucas Paqueta
43
8
5.
Michail Antonio
32
7
5.
James Ward-Prowse
51
7
Kudus, who ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90, has already showcased the gains that West Ham can relish from such a profile, and given Zaha's experience, speed and clinical ability, why not provide him with a platform to partner one of the Premier League's standout wide forwards in Bowen?
West Ham are going to need more firepower next season, and Zaha could be the electrifying and dynamic addition to add some real zest to Lopetegui's project, having scored 23 goals across his final two campaigns in English football. If a realistic package can be agreed on, this is certainly one to keep an eye on.
West Ham could sign "monster" £90k-p/w Walker-Peters alternative
This talented right-back would be a dream behind Jarrod Bowen…
فجرت تقارير صحفية مفاجأة قوية بشأن مستقبل نجم فريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح في ظل الغموض المستمر حوله مع اقتراب عقده الحالي من النهاية.
ومن المقرر أن ينتهي العقد الحالي للنجم المصري مع ليفربول، في صيف 2025، أي نهاية هذا الموسم.
وانتشرت الكثير من التكهنات حول محمد صلاح وإمكانية رحيله مجانًا، نهاية الموسم الحالي، بمجرد انتهاء عقده.
وتسبب محمد صلاح نفسه في مضاعفة الغموض حول مستقبله، بعدما صرّح أكثر من مرة بشكل علني في الفترة الأخيرة بعدم وجود مفاوضات أو عروض من جانب مُلاك ليفربول بشأن تجديد صفقته.
اقرأ أيضًا.. محمد صلاح يواصل كتابة التاريخ ويحقق أرقامًا مذهلة بعد هدفه أمام ليستر سيتي
وتضاربت التقارير الصحفية في الفترة الأخيرة، حيث ظهر البعض منها يفيد بكون هناك خلاف بين مسؤولي ليفربول من جهة ومحمد صلاح من جهة أخرى بشأن مدة العقد الجديد والراتب المطلوب.
في حين أفادت أخرى بأن إدارة ليفربول تتمسك بسياستها المتمثلة في عدم تقديم عروض لعقود جديدة مستمرة أكثر من عام، على اللاعبين الذي تتخطى أعمارهم 30 عامًا، مع العلم أن محمد صلاح يبلغ 32 عامًا.
ولكن شبكة “Fichajes” الإسبانية ذكرت أن هناك مفاجأة قوية تخص مستقبل محمد صلاح، ولكنها تحمل خبرًا سارًا للغاية لجماهير نادي ليفربول العاشقة لأحد أساطيرها.
وأوضحت أن محمد صلاح توصل بالفعل إلى اتفاق مع مسؤولي ليفربول فيما يخص تجديد عقده في ملعب “الأنفيلد”.
وأشارت إلى أن المفاجأة لا تكمن في هذا، بل تتمثل في كون العقد الجديد لـ محمد صلاح سيكون مستمرًا لمدة 3 سنوات، أي حتى 2028.
وفي حال صحت تلك الأنباء، فإن هذا الأمر يعني مخالفة إدارة ليفربول لسياستها المعهودة، في سبيل الاحتفاظ بأحد نجوم الفريق، بل أسطورة بارزة بشهادة الجماهير.
It was another campaign of almosts for Arsenal this season, as they fell just short of their first Champions League semi-final in 15 years and came agonisingly close to lifting the Premier League title for the first time in two decades.
However, the progress made under Mikel Arteta is irrefutable, and the fact that the north Londoners have gone from languishing in eighth place to genuinely challenging Manchester City for the league is a testament to that.
The Spaniard has made several brilliant additions to the squad in recent seasons, including Brazilian international Gabriel Jesus, who was one of the stars of the club’s reemergence onto the world stage last season.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus
However, while the former Manchester City ace is undoubtedly a player who can contribute to the Gunners’ future success, he’s unlikely to ever become truly prolific in red and white, and based on recent reports, he could soon be replaced by someone who is.
Arsenal striker transfer news
According to a recent interview with Italian journalist Valter De Maggio on Radio Global (via Kiss Kiss Napoli), Napoli’s superstar striker Victor Osimhen “wants the Premier League”, although in particular “he is waiting for Arsenal.”
This is brilliant news for the Premier League runners-up, who earlier this month were said to still be interested in the talented forward, although while the pieces seem to be falling nicely into place for the Gunners, there is still the small matter of price.
If the north Londoners were to work out personal terms with the Nigerian international, they would have to pay his massive €130m release clause, which converts to around £111m.
Napoli star Victor Osimhen
It would be a seismic investment from a side who already broke their transfer record for the £105m Declan Rice last summer, but with Jesus looking less sure in front of goal than ever, it might be one worth making.
How Jesus compares to Osimhen
So, if Arsenal are going to go ahead and sign Osimhen this summer, his main rivals for the starting number nine spot would be Kai Havertz and Jesus, and while the German might eventually move back into the deeper role Arteta seemingly signed him to play, the Brazilian doesn’t appear likely to displace the side’s established wingers.
With that said, how do the two strikes compare? Well, from a pure output perspective, the Napoli man has been significantly more productive over the last two seasons, racking up 36 goals and assists in 39 games last year while hitting 21 goals and assists in 31 games this season.
In comparison, the Sao Paulo-born dynamo managed a haul of 18 goals and assists in 33 games in his debut season for the Gunners before managing just 16 in 36 games in his second campaign.
Appearances
39
33
Goals
31
11
Assists
5
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.92
0.54
Appearances
31
36
Goals
17
8
Assists
4
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.67
0.44
In all, the Nigerian “machine,” as journalist Mina Rzouki described him, has averaged a goal involvement every 1.22 games in the last two seasons for the Partenopei, whereas Jesus has averaged a goal involvement every 2.02 since joining Arteta’s side.
Obviously, goals and assists aren’t the only metrics to compare players with, but when a team is looking for a new clinical number nine, they sort of are, and while the 27-year-old Brazilian has been a great player for Arsenal over the last couple of years, he is nowhere near as prolific as Osimhen.
So, if Edu Gaspar and Co can get this deal over the line, they absolutely should, as this Arsenal side with a truly “world-class” striker, as José Mourinho described him, spearheading the attack could be a thing of beauty or horror, depending on your allegiances.
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