Man United: Reporter left shocked at Jadon Sancho decision

Manchester United will give Jadon Sancho "another season" of Premier League football to prove his worth after "ridiculous" suggestions of a £45m sale, claims transfer insider Dean Jones.

Manchester United transfer news – what's the latest on Jadon Sancho?

After over a year of back and forth with Borussia Dortmund, in the summer of 2021, United finally secured their long-term target Sancho in a monster move that cost the Red Devils an estimated £73m.

Manchester United forward Jadon Sancho.

Since his arrival in the Premier League and putting pen to paper on his bumper £350,000-a-week contract, it's fair to say that things haven't gone entirely to plan for the dynamic winger.

Having made 79 appearances in all competitions for United, Sancho has scored just 12 goals and created even less, with only six assists to his name.

These poor performances have led to speculation that Erik ten Hag may be about to cut his losses with the player in an attempt to recuperate some of that initial £73m spent on him.

According to the Daily Mail, the price United would sell at is just £45m.

What has transfer insider Dean Jones said about Sancho leaving Manchester United?

Jones was quick to label any notion of selling the 23-year-old for just £45m as an absurd idea, and from his information, he expects the winger to have one more chance under ten Hag.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "Sancho at £45 million stands out to me to be ridiculous. You can't go basically half-price on Sancho and give up at this stage, and I'd find that very surprising if they were to do that."

However, he does go on to say: "My personal information is that Sancho will get another season at United, so I would expect that to be the case."

How good was Jadon Sancho in his final year at Borussia Dortmund?

While Sancho has undeniably struggled during his time in Manchester, he was simply electric during his time with the famous Black and Yellow, and so it seems only fair to judge him based on the ceiling he could once again reach should he get another chance.

Manchester United's JadonSanchocelebrates scoring their first goal

According to WhoScored, he averaged a seriously impressive rating of 7.54 across his 26 Bundesliga matches in the 2020/21 season, scoring eight and assisting a further 11.

Even more impressive is that during his three full Bundesliga campaigns, the Camberwell-born gem never achieved a season rating of lower than 7.52, which is frankly ridiculous.

It's perhaps not surprising that only a few months into his first full season with the German giants, he was hailed as the "perfect player" by legendary German skipper Lothar Matthaus in his column for the Sun.

If Sancho can get back to even half his best, then ten Hag and United as a whole will be handsomely rewarded for their patience with the player.

Liverpool "Progressing" With Talks For £39m "Monster"

Liverpool are reportedly closing on their second signing of the 2023 summer transfer window as negotiations with OGC Nice's Khephren Thuram continue.

What's the latest on Khephren Thuram to Liverpool?

That's following an update from transfer insider Rudy Galetti, who claims that the respective outfits are in active discussions over the transfer of the burgeoning France international.

He said on Twitter: "Talks between Liverpool and OGCNice for Khephren Thuram are progressing. The 2 clubs are working to reach an agreement for around €40/45m (£34/39m).

"No issues on personal terms."

Liverpool have already signed World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister this summer for £35m, but will hope to bolster the midfield further after James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's contractual conclusions.

How would Khephren Thuram perform at Liverpool?

Although Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven years after finishing fifth in the Premier League, there is reason for optimism given the moves being made on the market.

And with a late-season purple patch underscoring the lofty heights this outfit can return to – Liverpool won seven matches in succession before a succession of draws closed the play – the ambitious stratagems of the Reds' German manager could yet be realised once again.

Thuram would bring energy and exuberance to the Liverpool fold, evidenced by his relentless driving runs – as per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90.

darwin-nunez-liverpool-opinion-jurgen-klopp-premier-league

Described as a "monster" by Sam McGuire, the £14k-per-week star could bring the best out of Darwin Núñez, who has endured an indifferent maiden year on English shores after joining Liverpool from Benfica for a club-record £85m transfer.

As evidenced by FBref, the £140k-per-week menace ranks among the top 1% of forwards for total shots and xG per 90 – with the latter metric meaning Nunez has squandered a higher rate of goalscoring opportunities than any other striker in Europe over the past year.

The Uruguayan did still plunder 15 goals across all competitions from just 26 starting displays, also ranking among the top 6% for progressive carries and the top 2% for touches in the attacking box per 90, and Thuram's involvement behind him could finally unlock a prodigious talent.

Indeed, the Nice ace is a "dangerous" midfielder – as praised by Aaron Ramsey – and could utilise his prowess as a central vehicle, pushing through the thirds, to provide Nunez with the support that he needs to flourish – Thuram also assisted eight goals last season.

Liverpool are 'progressing' with a deal, and must now ensure that they do not cede the chance to sign such a vibrant talent, it could just finally ignite the full scale of Nunez's capabilities.

Massive Update Emerges Over £350k-A-Week Liverpool Star’s Future

Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah won't be going anywhere this summer despite reports suggesting a shock exit is on the cards, according to reliable journalist David Lynch.

How many goals has Mo Salah scored?

The 31-year-old has etched his name into Reds folklore since arriving back in 2017, arguably becoming one of the greatest players in the club's history.

He has amassed a staggering tally of 186 goals in 305 appearances, and few players have had a greater impact for any club over recent decades. He has won all there is to win, whether it be the Champions League in 2019 or the Premier League title the following year, among numerous other trophies.

Worryingly however, Salah has been linked with a shock move to Saudi Arabia, where clubs are offering eye-watering amounts of money to top players, and the idea of Liverpool losing him at this point is something that doesn't bear thinking about.

The £350,000-a-week Egyptian has two more years remaining on his current Reds contract, putting them in a slightly precarious position, should he suddenly decide that he wants to move on. That being said, it doesn't look as though he intends on doing that any time soon, following a new update.

Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp

Is Salah staying at Liverpool?

According to Football Insider's Lynch, Salah is "set to stay" on Merseyside this summer, despite reports suggesting that he could depart for a new challenge. It is stated that a move there one day remains "probable", though.

This is clearly a massive boost for anyone of a Liverpool persuasion, with Salah a genuine world superstar who remains a priceless player for the Reds. He has been rightly hailed as "world-class" by Jurgen Klopp down the years, and while so many players struggled last season, he still found an incredibly high level, scoring 30 times in all competitions.

He may be 31 years of age now, but he is a physical machine who is rarely injured, and with players managing to be at an elite level well into their 30s these days – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are two obvious examples – there is no reason why Salah can't be a force for years to come still.

Next summer could be a tricky situation for Liverpool, with Salah having one year remaining on his contract at that point, but for now, fans should appreciate him while he is still at Anfield, as he looks to spearhead their resurgence in 2023/24.

£50m "Magician" Prefers A Transfer To Spurs This Summer

An update has emerged on Tottenham Hotspur target James Maddison and his thoughts on a potential move to north London this summer.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Tottenham?

According to The Daily Mail, the chat from around England's international camp over the past week has been that the attacking midfielder would prefer a move to Spurs over other teams.

The report claims that the former Norwich City playmaker is keen on a switch to join Ange Postecoglou's men following on from Leicester City's relegation to the Championship. It states that they are also interested in signing his Foxes teammate Harvey Barnes, although West Ham United and Arsenal are also keen on the winger.

The Northern Echo recently reported that Newcastle United have been working on a deal to sign Maddison for a number of months and that Leicester currently value the mercurial talent at £50m.

Therefore, this latest claim from the Daily Mail should come as a boost to Postecoglou as the player, who was described as a "magician" by Statman Dave, is seemingly ready to snub other teams in order to push for a move to Spurs.

How did Maddison perform last season?

Despite his team ending the campaign in the bottom three in the Premier League, Maddison enjoyed an excellent season on an individual level as the 26-year-old wizard showcased his ability to score and set-up goals on a regular basis from a number ten position.

Leicester City midfielder James Maddison.

The Foxes number ten averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.33 across 30 Premier League appearances and contributed with ten goals and nine assists. He also created 12 'big chances' for his teammates and registered 2.3 key passes per game, which illustrates his creative brilliance.

Only Harry Kane (7.44) averaged a higher Sofascore rating in the top-flight within the Spurs squad and no player managed more than 1.7 key passes per match for the Lillywhites.

These statistics suggest that Maddison, who was only outscored by Kane (30) for Tottenham in the Premier League last term, would provide Postecoglou with some much-needed creativity.

Former manager Brendan Rodgers described Maddison as "one of the best" players in the division and this was backed up by his eighth-placed ranking on average Sofascore ratings last season.

The ex-Coventry City prodigy has proven himself to be an exceptional performer in the top tier of English football, having also produced 12 goals and eight assists for Leicester in 2021/22, and that is why the exciting creator could be a fantastic addition to the squad this summer.

Boehly Eyeing Summer Swoop For 24 y/o “Monster” At Chelsea

Chelsea have shown “no indication” that they will be “prioritising” Declan Rice over their other transfer targets such as Moises Caicedo, believes journalist Ben Jacobs.

The West Ham United midfielder has been heavily linked to Arsenal for much of the last six months, but the Blues have also reportedly shown interest at times.

Chelsea transfer news – Declan Rice

Following the Hammers’ Conference League final win on Wednesday night, chairman David Sullivan revealed that club captain Rice would leave over the summer.

Whilst the team primarily linked to the English international has been the Gunners, other sides have also shown interest, notably Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Tuchel reportedly has “high admiration” for the 24-year-old from his time in the Premier League, per Ben Jacobs.

However, with the player’s believed desire to remain in the country, specifically London, a move to either Mike Arteta’s side or West London seems far more likely.

For the west Londoners’ part, they have yet to show much significant interest in the 6 foot 1 midfielder, instead being heavily linked to Sporting CP’s Manuel Ugarte before he opted to sign for Paris Saint Germain, per Fabrizio Romano.

According to 90min, the club are looking at a potential double swoop for both Caicedo and Rice, but there is yet to be anything concrete linking the West Ham man to West London.

What has Ben Jacobs said about the potential transfer of Declan Rice to Chelsea?

Jacobs recognises that the Blues might be interested in the 24-year-old, but their behaviour in the market so far suggests that, unlike Arsenal, they won’t prioritise the player over their other targets.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the journalist said:

“There’s no indication at this point that Chelsea are going to prioritise Rice over, for example, Caicedo. We know that Chelsea want more than one midfielder, but the fact that they went for Ugarte and the fact that Caicedio is on the radar, perhaps suggests that Chelsea won’t come into the race, and go head-to-head with Arsenal at this point.

“But obviously, Arsenal will be wary of the Mudryk saga, and it is true that Thomas Tuchel also has high admiration for Rice as well.”

declan-rice-west-ham-arsenal-transfer-gossip-partey-edu-arteta

Should Chelsea sign Declan Rice?

There is a reason Rice is one of the most sought-after players in the Premier League at the moment, and if the Blues have a genuine chance to pick him up, they should.

According to WhoScored, the “absolute monster”, as described by ESPN writer David Cartlidge, has an average rating of 7.01 across his 36 Premier League games this year.

The underlying numbers for the Hammers captain are just as impressive.

According to FBref, compared to players in a similar position across Europe’s top five leagues, he sits in the top 5% for interceptions, 15% for progressive carries, 17% for clearances, 19% for pass completion and top 20% for progressive passes all per 90.

That said, there is the small problem of his transfer fee.

Thanks to his excellent performances and the interest from clubs like Arsenal, the price for the player is expected to reach a minimum of £92m, per the Telegraph.

That kind of money might be better spent elsewhere for the two-time European champions, especially after outlaying £107m for Enzo Fernandez in January this year.

Conor Coady Opens Up On Everton Clash With Erling Halaand

Everton defender Conor Cody has admitted he shied away from a confrontation with Erling Haaland during a Premier League game.

What happened between Conor Cody and Erling Haaland?

It looks as though this is destined to be a pretty amazing debut season in English football for the prolific goalscorer.

Indeed, Haaland has won the league, the FA Cup, and could make it a treble if Manchester City beat Inter in the Champions League final this week.

In that period of 52 games, the 22-year-old also happens to have scored 52 goals as well as provided nine assists – remarkable stuff really.

It’s no surprise then, that he’s scored one goal each time he played Everton this term, netting both home and away this term. However, in the match at the Etihad, you could say Ben Godfrey rattled Haaland somewhat.

Indeed, the defender opted to be rather physical on the day and succeeded in getting under his skin – as shown by this footage of the City striker pulling a funny face during the game.

While talking about the match on BBC Sounds recently though, Godfrey’s teammate Coady has now spoken about the incident from his point of view.

The Englishman said: “What was funny about it, there’s a little story to that. So we obviously said Ben’s a big strong lad, isn’t he?

“And we obviously said we’ll try and get into him [Haaland] a little bit. Do you know what I mean? Make him feel that he’s in a game. And so Ben, about 30 seconds in gave him a bit, stood on the back of his foot or whatever it was and Haaland stayed down for a little bit.

“So Haaland didn’t know who it was, right? So I’m stood in the middle of a back three and I’m trying to talk, next minute he’s walking towards me.

“Big massive fella, isn’t he? So as he’s walking towards me, I’m looking at him, and he went: ‘was that you?’ and I said ‘no, it was him’ [pointing at Godfrey] and he went ‘ok’ and walked off!”

What did Godfrey say about his fight with Haaland?

It’s clear from Cody’s facial expression that he wanted absolutely no part of any sort of fight with the sizeable Haaland at that particular moment.

You can hardly blame him either as the Man City star has bullied defenders up and down England this term, breaking the Premier League record for the most goals scored in a signed season with his 36 strikes.

At least Godfrey enjoyed the ball, telling TV after (via TalkSport): “Godfrey also said he enjoyed the battle, commenting: “I don’t need to tell you Erling Haaland’s a good player. I just had to do my job.

“Yeah of course he was [upset]. You could see his reaction. He got his goal and is always causing people problems and it’s those challenges you have to look forward to.”

57 y/o Informs Levy Of Spurs Managerial Decision

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed the green light from Ange Postecoglou that he is keen to take on the vacant managerial role in north London.

Who is Ange Postecoglou?

Daniel Levy saw Antonio Conte leave the club back in March following a run of underwhelming results amid the Italian's ongoing issues off the pitch.

But the off-field issues did not end there for Spurs with Fabio Paratici also leaving the club after the director of football was caught up in legal issues from his past.

However, Tottenham could now be heading in the right direction to get their plans for the future underway with the managerial vacancy expected to be filled in the coming days.

Indeed, it is believed the Celtic manager, Postecoglou, will take the reins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium having completed the Scottish treble on the weekend with the Bhoys.

The 57-year-old has never managed in one of Europe's top five leagues with the opportunity at Parkhead presenting him with his first role in the United Kingdom.

However, the Australian is seemingly keen to make the step up to the Premier League with Alex Crook telling TalkSPORT the Celtic boss has informed Spurs of his desire to take the job:

"What I was told last night [Sunday] by sources close to Postecoglou, that it's pretty much a done deal, but he's already given Tottenham the indication that he wants to job obviously still have to formally approach Celtic. They were holding off out of respect until after that cup final at the weekend.

"But it won't be a complicated one because Postecoglou has a 12-month rolling contract, so compensation won't be an issue for Spurs."

Where has Postecoglou managed before?

The Australian has a very short history of managing in Europe with the job at Parkhead marking just his second role on the continent having previously managed Panachaiki in Greece.

Prior to taking the role at Celtic, Postecoglou had mainly managed in his homeland and Japan with Yokohama but it is apparent he has made a positive impression on those within the Premier League.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy

Indeed, it is believed Spurs were not the only side to have looked at Postecoglou as a potential option with Leeds United and Leicester City – prior to the relegation – both linked with the Australian.

Although some Spurs fans may not look at these links as positives, it is worth mentioning that Postecoglou was also a serious candidate for the job at Brighton & Hove Albion when Graham Potter left.

Again, the Seagulls who many may view as the best-run club in the league, are believed to be seriously keen on one of the Asian stars which Postecoglou has introduced to Europe in Reo Hatate.

Postecoglou may not be a familiar name with some just yet, however, Spurs fans could take a lot of optimism from the attention he has received from the likes of the Brighton board.

After all, Spurs have tried the big names with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, perhaps it is now time to try a manager who could bring the fanbase back together.

Chelsea Making Early Moves To Sign £25k-p/w "Diamond"

Chelsea have started to explore a deal to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer, according to reports.

Is Romeo Lavia leaving Southampton?

The Belgium international only arrived at the St. Mary’s Stadium from Premier League rivals Manchester City, who do have a buy-back clause available, last summer, but after establishing himself as Ruben Selles’ second top-performing defensive player last season, has caught the eye of Mauricio Pochettino.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Rudy Galetti revealed that the Blues have the 19-year-old at the “top of their list” of central targets and have “already started” talks regarding a potential move, and it’s fair to say that reinforcements will be needed in the months ahead.

The Stamford Bridge outfit have N’Golo Kante and Denis Zakaria both out of contract this summer whilst Mateo Kovacic has reportedly entered negotiations over joining Pep Guardiola’s side so fresh faces will be required which is where the south coast starlet comes in.

Are Chelsea signing Lavia?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea, and by extension owner Todd Boehly, have “sounded out the possibility” of a deal for Lavia ahead of the 2023/24 term. The SW6 side have already “made some early moves” for Southampton’s midfielder, and it’s stated that Pochettino has “marked” the teenager as a player who he is a “huge fan” of. The £25k-per-week gem, who is preparing to leave, is also attracting interest from Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal.

Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

Could Lavia be a good signing for Chelsea?

Chelsea will know that Lavia is still a very young player in the development stages of his career, but having been labelled a “diamond” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the defensive midfielder could be a fantastic signing for the long-term future at Stamford Bridge.

The Elite Project Group Ltd client ranks in the 96th percentile for blocks and recorded a total of 60 tackles throughout last season which was the third-highest number out of the squad on the south coast, as per FBRef.

Hailed as "perfect for Chelsea" by journalist Nick Emms, Lavia is sponsored by Adidas and also occasionally chips in with his team’s efforts at the opposite end of the pitch having provided one goal and the same number of assists during his debut campaign at Southampton.

Finally, Lavia would add versatility to the manager’s ranks with his ability to operate slightly higher up in central midfield alongside his natural role sitting just in front of the backline, and he could only excel even further under the guidance of Pochettino.

Tottenham: Spurs Chiefs Discuss "Exciting" Slot Alternative

Tottenham Hotspur chiefs have discussed the possibility of hiring Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim amid Arne Slot’s rejection, according to reports.

Who could be the next Spurs manager?

It’s becoming a rather embarrassing search for Antonio Conte’s replacement, with the Italian departing two months ago and Spurs still yet to confirm his successor.

This is becoming quite similar to their long, drawn out attempts to hire Jose Mourinho’s replacement in 2021 – which took around 72 days to draw to a close.

Spurs went through a succession of candidates in that time, six in total according to ESPN, and Slot’s latest declaration of intent to remain at Feyenoord means Tottenham are still firmly on the look-out for a new manager this time round.

It’s now back to the drawing board for Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who has been under-fire in recent months, and this latest debacle will only be heaping more pressure on the club chief.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy

Tottenham remain keen on a number of alternatives to Slot, with Spurs drawing up a shortlist which includes the likes of Champions League winner Luis Enrique and former Chelsea boss Graham Potter.

As per reporter Graeme Bailey, writing on Twitter, this is indeed the case and Sporting CP’s Amorim is among the names to have been discussed internally as an option.

The 38-year-old has amassed a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young managers, making him an enticing option for Levy.

Who is Ruben Amorim?

Amorim has made history at Sporting, having previously ended their 19-year wait for a Primeira Liga title in 2021, with Man City boss Pep Guardiola saying this on the Portuguese in an interview with the media (via City Xtra):

Spurs journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke has also called him “the most exciting” young coache on the continent, yet it remains to be seen whether he will depart Sporting for the Premier League.

Newcastle predicted XI vs Man City

Newcastle United return to action today as they travel away to face Manchester City at The Etihad in the Premier League.

The Magpies have won four of their last five games in the division and are in with a shot of finishing the season in the top half of the table.

Eddie Howe’s men lost their last outing, however, as they were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool at St. James’ Park. Naby Keita scored the only goal of the game as he found the back of the net shortly after Fabian Schar was caught by a challenge from James Milner.

How many changes will Howe make to the team from that loss? Here is our predicted XI…

Martin Dubravka; Javier Manquillo, Jamaal Lascelles, Dan Burn, Matt Targett; Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, Jonjo Shelvey; Miguel Almiron, Chris Wood, Allan Saint-Maximin.

We are predicting that he will make three alterations to the side, with Manquillo, Lascelles and Wood all coming into the XI.

Starting off at centre-back, Schar may miss out after the head coach confirmed on Friday that he had not trained during the week. Howe said: “We haven’t seen him this week. We hope he’ll be back to be available but he’s not trained yet. He got a knock on the top of his foot so he went for a scan after the Liverpool game because it was swollen. Fortunately, there was no fracture.”

Lascelles should come in for him at the heart of the defence. The Magpies skipper came on for him against Liverpool and started in his place against Norwich as he helped the team to a 3-0 win – winning 100% of his ground duels and making six clearances in the process – and this shows that he is a reliable option for the boss to call upon.

At right-back, Javier Manquillo, who Steve Bruce once described as “terrific”, may come in for Emil Krafth to round out the back four.

The Swedish defender, who Ian Wright previously said was “out of his depth”, recorded a dismal SofaScore rating of 6.2 against Liverpool, losing five of his nine duels and completing 63% of his passes – and Howe may opt to rest him to give the Spaniard a chance to impress.

Finally, we are predicting that Wood will come in at the top end of the pitch. FFC published an article explaining why the striker should come into the team and may replace Joe Willock – with Joelinton dropping back into central midfield.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Bruno: Howe must land NUFC swoop for £17.1m gem who “radiates calmness”…

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