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Ian Wright and Roy Keane have revealed their disbelief at Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract situation amid links with Real Madrid.

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• England international wanted by Spanish giants
• Contract expires in the summer
• Free to talk to foreign clubs from January

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alexander-Arnold's contract is set to expire at the end of the season and he has been continually linked with a blockbuster move to Real Madrid. The right-back can speak to foreign clubs from January, and will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement should he so wish.

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  Alexander-Arnold has long been a fixture in Liverpool's starting XI and has won every trophy there is to win. He has also racked up over 300 appearances for the club, and Wright and Keane have expressed their shock that Liverpool have put themselves into such a thorny position over his future.

• WHAT IAN WRIGHT AND ROY KEANE SAID

  Wright told ITV: "You can't see anything happening in January, for sure, especially the way Liverpool have started the season, but for me, what he's done for Liverpool up to this point… It's different when people talk about Steve McManaman and Michael Owen, yeah, they won League Cups and European Cups and the FA Cup but he's won the lot. He's won the Premier League, the Champions League, the World Club Cup, the FA Cup, the League Cup, he's won everything and he's done it at his hometown club. Liverpool and FSG have got themselves into a position where he's in his last year. It's crazy."

  Keane added: "He's in control of all of that. You'd like to think Liverpool are trying to get him on a contract. If not, then he'll certainly be leaving Liverpool, going abroad, and if Real Madrid's an option, that's a good option to have."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Alexander-Arnold's future is likely to remain under the microscope until a resolution is found. As it stands, there is no telling if he will spend pre-season before the 2025/26 season in Liverpool or Madrid.

Chelsea’s erratic reputation has only strengthened this week, following the exit of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Blues have gone through five managers since 2022, with the Argentine having by far the best win percentage at 51%.

European football was also secured after a rocky first half of the season, and it seemed that the former Tottenham Hotspur boss was finally discovering his best side and setup.

This makes the decision to mutually part ways even more confusing, but nonetheless, let’s take a look at who’s potentially being lined up as a replacement.

Chelsea want to replace Pochettino as soon as possible

According to reports, Chelsea are desperate to bring in a replacement for Pochettino quickly, rather than allowing their search for a new boss to enter the summer months.

talkSPORT revealed that the Blues have a few candidates on the list, including Roberto De Zerbi, who announced that he'd be leaving Brighton & Hove Albion last week.

Another name mentioned is Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe, who’s been tremendous for the Magpies since his arrival.

While both managers would be great options for the role, it’s Howe who could prove to be more suited, and some could argue he’s even better than the Italian.

Howe vs De Zerbi 23/24 Premier League stats

Last season, Howe and De Zerbi both exceeded all expectations at their clubs, securing Champions League football and the Europa League, respectively.

Although this was a massive moment in the history of both clubs, especially the Seagulls, it did have a negative impact on their domestic performances.

Both the Magpies and Brighton finished in a lower position than they did last campaign, with the increased fixture list causing plenty of injury issues.

Despite that, the former Bournemouth coach did secure Newcastle a spot in Europe next season, unlike De Zerbi’s side, who struggled to cope with the added stress.

As you can see by the table above, the Magpies had a much better season than the Seagulls, from pretty much every perspective.

Even though the former Sassuolo boss’ style of play is extremely entertaining, football is a results-based game, and the statistics above really do speak for themselves.

Furthermore, De Zerbi’s complex approach – which has seen him tipped to succeed Pep Guardiola at Man City – may take the squad a much longer time to adapt to, and as we know, Chelsea don’t tend to give their managers time to fully install their philosophy and style of play.

On the other hand, Howe plays a very structured 4-3-3 where each player can focus on their individual role, which has clearly worked better this campaign.

Howe seems to be able to get the best out of every individual in his team, as shown by his role in Bournemouth’s success, taking them from League Two to the Premier League, which is why Pochettino labelled him “one of the best coaches in England.”

He’s also continued to work with the most elite players in the league, and he’s able to ensure that big-money signings perform, such as Alexander Isak and Antony Gordon, who have 21 and 11 goals each in the league this season.

Overall, Howe could be an underrated option for the Chelsea job, but as long as he is shown support and backing, he'll have a great chance of success, perhaps more so than De Zerbi.

Chelsea in talks with Poch replacement who could make Mudryk unstoppable

The manager target is also of interest to Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

By
Tom Lever

May 22, 2024

Manchester City have reportedly set sights on a rising Serie A star as a potential cover for Rodri who has suffered a season-ending ACL injury.

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• Rodri sidelined for the entire season
• Man City ramping up efforts to find a replacement
• Samuele Ricci of Torino on their shortlist

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pep Guardiola confirmed on Friday that the Spanish midfielder’s season was cut short after he went down unexpectedly in the first half, clutching his right knee after a non-contact incident. He has already undergone a successful knee surgery on Friday morning and now stares at a long road to recovery, which would see him sidelined for over eight months. This injury has forced City to consider their options for replacing Rodri, as they are fighting for silverware on multiple fronts.

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  According to reports from , City are closely monitoring Torino’s rising star, Samuele Ricci, as a potential replacement. The Turin-based side are atop the Serie A standings and credit must be given to the 23-year-old Italian for being a standout performer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ricci's versatility including his ability to dictate the tempo of the game, break up opposition attacks, and distribute the ball effectively has made him one of the most promising young talents in Italy. He is valued at around £30 million ($40m) and City might be willing to shell out the fee as he can provide immediate cover and has the potential to emerge as a long-term solution in midfield.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Torino are enjoying a successful campaign and may be unwilling to part with one of their key players, especially if they continue to challenge for a Champions League spot. Ricci will be back in action when they take on Lazio on Sunday, whereas, Guardiola will lead his troops against Newcastle United at St.James' Park on Saturday.

Luis Suarez is being backed to extend his ‘Last Dance’ alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami

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• Striker has been nursing knee problems
• Fitness issues are not holding him back
• Expected to prolong career in Florida

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The experienced Uruguayan striker, who is now 37 years of age, stated that retirement could be an option for him when mulling over his options at Brazilian outfit Gremio. In the end, long-standing knee problems were put to one side as the enigmatic frontman reunited with former Barcelona team-mate Messi in Florida.

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  Suarez only signed a one-year contract with the ambitious MLS outfit, but there has been talk of him agreeing fresh terms after netting 17 league goals this season – and 21 in total – to put himself in another Golden Boot race. Close friend Messi has at least 12 months left to run on his deal in Miami.

• WHAT POYET SAID

  Quizzed on whether Suarez, who has retired from international duty, could prolong his career in the United States, fellow countryman Gus Poyet – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “With Luis, we know how much he enjoys his football, how much he needs his family, how much he needs to be surrounded by people he wants to be with. I remember when he was living in Brazil and people were talking about different reasons and blah, blah, blah. I didn’t talk to him, but I knew the reason was ‘Ok, I’m going to be with Lionel Messi again, the families are going to be together and we’re going to be playing together’. Simple. The rest – the knee, too many games, rubbish.

  “If both are enjoying it there and can stay for a few years, he will. At the moment he is playing as well. It’s not like the kind of situation where you have too much pain or you are hurting yourself and forcing your body. At the moment he is doing it naturally, so why not? It’s nice because they are taking American soccer to a different level. It’s everywhere the news, constantly, it doesn’t matter what happens. Before we didn’t get any. It’s going back to the times of David Beckham, when he went there.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Suarez spent six years alongside Messi at Barcelona, winning La Liga titles and the Champions League. Even a player of his stature appreciates that opportunities to work with an all-time great should not be passed up or cut short. Poyet added on the appeal of working with eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi: “For any player it would be amazing, it would be a privilege, but when you are so close as a friend – wow. Sometimes we say in other parts of life, when you move to a city you have a best friend there, or when you go to study at uni and you go with your best friend. That kind of situation makes it easy for you. Playing football with your best friend, and the best in the world, what else could you want? I could see him playing a few more years.”

Chelsea travel away from Stamford Bridge as they prepare to take on relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest at the City Ground this evening.

The Blues have three matches left to play in the Premier League, starting with this clash against Nuno Espirito Santo's side, as they aim to secure a place in a European competition for next season.

Mauricio Pochettino's men come into this match off the back of an emphatic 5-0 win over London rivals West Ham United last time out in the top-flight, which suggests that they should be full of confidence on their travels to Nottingham.

Despite the convincing scoreline, the Argentine boss could drop Mykhailo Mudryk after an underwhelming performance on the left flank, which led to GOAL reporter Mark Doyle awarding him a match rating of 5/10 and describing the winger as the 'weak link' in the team.

Pochettino must finally unleash Christopher Nkunku from the start in his place and pair him with Cole Palmer, who he could thrive alongside in the final third.

Cole Palmer's creative wizardry

The left-footed star has been a creative wizard in the Premier League this season and has the passing and crossing quality to create high-quality chances for the France international to find the back of the net.

He currently ranks within the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for assists per 90 (0.34), the top 7% for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.36), and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90 (5.44).

As you can see in the table above, Palmer has provided a fantastic creative threat at the top end of the pitch for the Blues with 14 'big chances' created in 31 matches.

Why Christopher Nkunku should start

The French dynamo made his return from injury off the bench against West Ham last time out and should be unleashed from the start over Mudryk, as his form for RB Leipzig last term suggests that the potential is there for him to be a big player for Chelsea.

He has missed a staggering 39 games through hip, hamstring, and knee injuries for the club this season, which has severely hampered his start to life at Stamford Bridge.

Last season, Nkunku showcased his lethal nature in front of goal with an eye-catching 16 goals in 20 Bundesliga starts for Leipzig, from an xG of 14.59.

The versatile attacker also scored three goals from 1.62 xG across six starts in the Champions League for the German side, which shows that he was lethal domestically and in Europe as the 5 foot 10 marksman outperformed his xG in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

Nkunku racked up 70 goals and 56 assists in 172 matches for Leipzig during his time in Germany but has only managed two goals in 11 games for the Blues so far, due to his disrupted campaign.

The French star, whose awareness of space was hailed as "exceptional" by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has not had many opportunities to impress in England and must finally be unleashed for the first time since the 4-2 loss to Wolves in February.

Palmer's outstanding creativity could provide him with the chances he needs to thrive against Forest today, due to his xAG and shot-creating actions per 90, and that is why Pochettino should start them alongside each other in attack.

England's Jack Grealish played down the drama between himself and Ireland fans after he was booed during the Nations League clash between the teams.

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• Grealish represented Ireland at youth level
• Was booed by fans as he scored for England
• Winger said there is 'no bad blood'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Grealish and his Three Lions co-star Declan Rice were targeted by the home team's fans throughout the match at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Both players represented Ireland at youth level, with Rice making three senior appearances, but ultimately switched to play for England instead.

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  Amid the boos, Rice went on to score the opening goal just 11 minutes into the clash before Grealish added a second 15 minutes later as England went on to record a 2-0 win in their first game under interim manager Lee Carsley.

• WHAT GREALISH SAID

  Grealish attempted to downplay the animosity with Ireland fans, telling after the game: "It was what me and Declan expected. We have nothing bad to say, we both enjoyed our time [playing for Ireland] – I certainly did and I have a lot of Irish in my family, so there's no bad blood whatsoever from my side."

  After missing out on a place in England's Euro 2024 squad, Grealish was delighted to have returned to international duty with a goal, adding: "Going to the fans at the end and hearing them sing my name, listen there's no better feeling than playing for England, everyone will say the same thing, especially in games like this when you know the whole nation is going to be watching.

  "Over the summer, it was one of the worst summers of my life because you can't not see everything that is happening in front of you. It was difficult but it's given me something to bounce back."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  The Manchester City star will hope to impress once again when they meet Finland in their next game on September 10.

Crystal Palace are set for a decisive summer under Oliver Glasner after the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss has restored the feel-good factor to Selhurst Park.

Big clubs circling for Palace stars

Palace have enjoyed something of a renaissance under Glasner since his arrival, and a rescued a 1-1 draw with Fulham in their latest Premier League outing, courtesy of a majestic strike from Jeffrey Schlupp.

It continues their unbeaten run in recent weeks, which now stretches to four games, and means that in the ten games since Glasner took charge the Eagles have managed to take 15 points from a possible 30, including a notable win over Liverpool to derail their title charge.

But the future remains unclear for plenty at Selhurst Park, with big clubs circling for plenty of their talent. Attacking duo Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise are both subject to strong interest from plenty of the Premier League's top six; Eze is on the radar of Manchester City and Tottenham, while Olise has attracted interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and both Manchester clubs.

Neither player will be available on the cheap, with Olise understood to have a £65m release clause in his deal, though as Chelsea found out 12 months ago, activating it is no certainty that he will move. Meanwhile, Eze has been valued in excess of £60m.

There are also question marks in defence too, with Marc Guehi down to his final two years of his contract and attracting interest from across the Premier League, though he too will cost in excess of £50m. Fortunately though, it's not all bad news for Palace fans on the transfer front.

Palace 'start official negotiations' for midfielder

Now, reports from France relay that Crystal Palace are planning some spending of their own, and have already started 'official negotiations' for one man. The player in question? French midfielder Batista Mendy, who currently plies his trade with Turkish outfit Trabzonspor.

Crystal Palace serious about signing 27 y/o star for Glasner

He could be the first arrival in south London this summer.

By
Ben Browning

Apr 26, 2024

But perhaps not for much longer, with the report claiming that Palace have already sent an offer to the Turkish outfit for the midfielder, though there is no specifics when it comes to the fee put down by the Eagles.

However, it is added that they 'hope to secure an agreement' with the players agent in the coming weeks, which could suggest a deal isn't too far away. A regular feature in the Trabzonspor side, Mendy has appeared 33 times this season, grabbing one goal and one assist, while the 24-year-old has also been booked on seven occasions.

Mendy is under contract until 2027, and is valued at around 9m euros (£7.7m) by Transfermarkt. Now coming towards the peak of his career, he could be a savvy addition for Palace, who will be looking to reinvest any money received this summer across the whole squad rather than like-for-like replacements for their stars.

Liverpool have already had a rather busy early stage of the current summer transfer window having secured deals for Fabio Carvalho, Darwin Nunez and Calvin Ramsay.

One other figure that has been mentioned with a move to Anfield this summer is Christopher Nkunku.

However, there have been reports suggesting that the RB Leipzig star will be staying at the German club and putting pen to paper on a new deal.

This could therefore pour cold water on any hopes the Reds may have had of getting him to join their ranks this summer.

Should this end up being the case, another figure, much closer to home, that has also been linked with the Merseyside club that could be their own version of Nkunku is Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic.

According to Football Transfers, the Leipzig star tops the list of players of a similar vein to the American, highlighting the connection between the two figures.

Darwin’s a Red! Get your special edition Darwin Nunez tee here.

It’s clear to see why with the duo’s attacking talent in terms of scoring and creating goals highlighting the similarities between them.

For example, in 241 senior appearances for Chelsea and his previous club Borussia Dortmund, the American has scored 44 goals and delivered 44 assists.

The Frenchman, meanwhile, has found the net 47 times and provided 46 assists in 134 appearances for Leipzig.

The fact that Sadio Mane is reportedly set to be announced as a Bayern Munich player in the coming days could pave the way for the Reds to launch a move for the Chelsea winger and thus, take him as a suitable replacement for the Senegalese winger.

Labelled as a player who is “hungry to score and to arrive in the box,” according to Thomas Tuchel, Pulisic is currently picking up a weekly wage of £150k-per-week at the west London club.

Another interesting factor regarding the Chelsea winger’s ability on the pitch is the fact that Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo claimed last year that Pulisic is the most difficult opponent he has faced.

Thus, should Jurgen Klopp feel the need to add some more attacking power to his squad, securing a deal for the Chelsea star could be a smart bit of business from the Merseyside club.

In other news: Sky Sports reporter drops exciting Liverpool transfer claim that supporters will love

Everton have been named among a host of clubs interested in signing Fenerbahce defender Kim Min-jae this summer, according to a report from Takvim (via Sport Witness). 

The lowdown: ‘The monster’

Dubbed a ‘monster’ amid previous Toffees links – owing to his towering 6 foot 1 presence – Min-jae has been compared to Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk in the past and has enjoyed a burgeoning reputation since arriving in Europe.

Signed from Chinese Super League outfit BJ Guoan in 2021, the 25-year-old South Korean has gone from strength to strength in Turkey and could now be ready for the next step in a promising career.

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Now, the latest report has claimed that Everton boss Frank Lampard is keen to include the towering centre-back as part of a summer rebuild at Goodison Park…

The latest: Toffees keen

As per Takvim, translated by SW, Everton are one of the ‘serious suitors’ to sign the 40-cap ace.

Premier League rivals Tottenham are also credited with a strong interest in Kim, whilst Napoli, AC Milan and Sevilla are also watching on with intent.

The report also states that the man hailed as ‘world class’ by journalist Jason Lee during a 1-1 draw with Trabzonspor has a €25million (£21.5million) release clause as part of a contract that runs until 2025 (Transfermarkt).

The verdict: Straight swap

With the future of injury-prone central defender Yerry Mina seemingly lying away from the blue half of Merseyside, signing Kim as a direct replacement would make an abundance of sense for the Toffees.

Albeit the South Korean missed four matches of his own last term, the powerful star has remained relatively injury-free thus far in what has been a career on an ever upwards trajectory.

Overall in 2021/22, he made 39 appearances across all competitions, including six Europa League outings whilst earning a strong 6.93 Sofascore rating comprising of 3.7 successful duels, 2.3 interceptions and 4.1 clearances on average per Super Lig game – more than any Everton defender when it comes to clearances.

Given the mooted price, the potential offloading of Mina and with Lampard attempting to fix a defensive department that conceded 66 goals last term, a move for the Fenerbache warrior would be a smart and wholly achievable one.

In other news: ‘Abolsutely magnificent’ Everton man wanted on loan, read more here

Glasgow Rangers reportedly now hold an ‘interest’ in bringing Cameron Archer to Ibrox this summer.

The Lowdown: England heroics

Archer recently made an instant impact off the bench for England’s U21s as he scored the goal that secured the win for them against Albania in their Euros qualification campaign.

Upon scoring with his first touch, renowned Aston Villa YouTuber Ty Bracey hailed him as ‘unstoppable’, and even went as far as to claim that he is ‘different gravy’.

The Latest: ‘Interest’

Taking to Twitter, talkSPORT journalist and transfer insider Alex Crook has revealed that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team are one of three clubs that now hold an ‘interest’ in signing Archer, as well as both Middlesbrough and Watford from the English Championship:

“There is a lot of interest in #AVFC striker Cameron Archer including #RangersFC #Boro and #WatfordFC.”

The Verdict: Sign

Given that both Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe suffered from injury problems last season, Archer would be a smart signing by the Gers.

Crook does not specify whether it would be a loan move or a permanent deal for the young striker, but either would work for a 20-year-old who scored 11 senior goals combined for Villa and on loan at Preston North End last term.

Of course, former Light Blues manager Steven Gerrard is now the manager at Villa Park, and so those contacts could perhaps help get a deal over the line for the Teddy Bears.

In other news, find out how much RFC will have to pay for Josh Tymon here!