標籤: leave

west ham united They are set to let Niklas Fulkrug leave the club for a ‘reduced fee’ this summer as they no longer plan to keep the 33-year-old.

Sky Sports Germany report Today on the striker, who is set to return to the London Stadium from an unsuccessful loan spell at AC Milan.

€3m gross salary at West Ham

The website report that this season has been ‘particularly bitter’ for Niklas Fulkrug, who has had to battle injury problems, miss out on the Champions League, suffer relegation with West Ham and miss the World Cup with Germany.

Milan are not exercising the €5m option to sign him permanently. And although he is under contract with West Ham until 2028, he has no future with the Hammers either.

West Ham ‘no longer plan’ to use the 33-year-old striker, largely due to cost reasons. He currently earns over €3m at the London Stadium. This is no longer financially viable as they are a Championship side.

Fulkrug wants to leave and go somewhere else. Clubs from Italy, Spain and MLS are interested in him. There is also interest in the Bundesliga. Werder Bremen are considering bringing him back and preliminary talks have taken place.

west ham agreement

An agreement has to be reached with West Ham. They would be willing to let Fulkrug go ‘for a reduced fee’.

A separate report this week said That the Hammers could also let the experienced striker leave on a free transfer via a severance package.

Either way, there is a growing feeling in Germany that Nicklas Fulkrug’s time at West Ham is over. This is no surprise after a period of injuries at the club. It was seen that he missed 30 games due to various injuries.

Now that they need to cut costs, it appears he is at the top of the list of people they want to move on.

west ham united They are set to let Niklas Fulkrug leave the club for a ‘reduced fee’ this summer as they no longer plan to keep the 33-year-old.

Sky Sports Germany report Today on the striker, who is set to return to the London Stadium from an unsuccessful loan spell at AC Milan.

€3m gross salary at West Ham

The website report that this season has been ‘particularly bitter’ for Niklas Fulkrug, who has had to battle injury problems, miss out on the Champions League, suffer relegation with West Ham and miss the World Cup with Germany.

Milan are not exercising the €5m option to sign him permanently. And although he is under contract with West Ham until 2028, he has no future with the Hammers either.

West Ham ‘no longer plan’ to use the 33-year-old striker, largely due to cost reasons. He currently earns over €3m at the London Stadium. This is no longer financially viable as they are a Championship side.

Fulkrug wants to leave and go somewhere else. Clubs from Italy, Spain and MLS are interested in him. There is also interest in the Bundesliga. Werder Bremen are considering bringing him back and preliminary talks have taken place.

west ham agreement

An agreement has to be reached with West Ham. They would be willing to let Fulkrug go ‘for a reduced fee’.

A separate report this week said That the Hammers could also let the experienced striker leave on a free transfer via a severance package.

Either way, there is a growing feeling in Germany that Nicklas Fulkrug’s time at West Ham is over. This is no surprise after a period of injuries at the club. It was seen that he missed 30 games due to various injuries.

Now that they need to cut costs, it appears he is at the top of the list of people they want to move on.

Tottenham Hotspur AC Milan emerged as a surprise candidate to sign Santiago Jimenez in the summer.

The Mexico international has not performed well since joining the Serie A side from Feyenoord in January 2025. He rejected Nottingham Forest to move to San Siro.

Tottenham could offer the striker an escape route after a disastrous spell in Italy. In the second half of last season he scored six goals and three assists in 19 matches.

However, the 25-year-old has failed to impress this season as he has failed to find the back of the net in the league. he finished with a goal [in Coppa Italia against US Lecce in September] And three assists in 18 matches.

Jiménez suffered an ankle injury last November and only returned to action in March. However, he continued to struggle when given minutes in recent months.

Last month, Sports Witness Covered claims from Italy That his injury prevented his move to Sunderland in January. there are black cats reportedly looking at On to the next window.

Tottenham keen on frontman

Mexican you can Report that ‘Santiago Jimenez could leave AC Milan for Tottenham.’

He is focused on representing his country and El Tri at the World Cup to be hosted by the United States.

TUDN analyst David Feitelson highlights an update on the Spurs shared by the channel’s reporter Tito Villa.

After the tournament, the frontman does not rule out making a major change in his career. According to Villa, the former Feyenoord man is ‘thinking of leaving’ San Siro and could head to England.

Jimenez is attracting interest from the Premier League and Spurs in particular. The move to the north London club would ‘represent a significant change’ in his career.

Both the player and Roberto De Zerbi had a very poor season. He struggled with injury and poor form, while Tottenham managed to avoid relegation. So, it is surprising that Spurs are looking at him.

Loan deal likely for Spurs

There is no mention of whether Santiago Jimenez wants to go on loan or a permanent transfer.

AC Milan know it will be difficult to recoup a large part of the €32m fee invested to buy him.

The Italian club may grant a loan with an option to buy, in order to improve its value.

transfer market The Mexican is valued at €20m, with a contract until 2029.

brighton and hove albion Midfielder Pascal Gros has declared his move in the January transfer window a huge success, and insists he intends to stay this summer.

football transfer report On to the midfielder’s comments today from an interview with Kicker. It seems the 34-year-old is very happy with his decision to return to Brighton in January.

brigton success

The midfielder moved back to Brighton at the end of the January transfer window after spending a year and a half at Borussia Dortmund.

Having previously spent seven years with the Seagulls, he joined them in 2017 before establishing himself as a key player at the club during their recent success.

A €7 million transfer to Dortmund gave him a chance at Champions League football and a chance in the Bundesliga, which he was keen to take. He was initially a key player there too, but this season he found himself falling down the pecking order and so elected to return to Brighton.

He quickly returned to his old club, helping them secure Conference League football the following season. And he is very happy with his decision.

“It was definitely a very good decision. I was able to play regularly again, and in the Premier League, as well as European competition and now qualifying for the World Cup – the best-case scenario I hoped for from this move has come true.”

contract till 2027

His current deal with Brighton runs until 2027, meaning a decision about his future will have to be made before too long.

However, given the success of his comeback, he has no intentions of moving elsewhere this summer.

“Yes, I will definitely continue playing there,” he said.

For now, the focus will be on the busy World Cup summer. Now confirmed with a place in Julian Nagelsmann’s side, Gros is set for an exciting end to a busy season. It was only a short time ago that few people would have guessed that he would be in this position.

Marvin Daksh wants to leave birmingham city He has already visited Berlin with his agents ahead of a further potential move this summer.

BILD, in their Berlin-Brandenburg editionReport the striker is already preparing to leave Birmingham after just one year at the club.

birmingham exit

The newspaper reports that Hertha BSC made an inquiry about the 32-year-old striker three weeks ago. He was already on their wishlist in the 2025 summer window.

They have now revived that interest as it is understood he wants to leave Birmingham following their failure to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Marvin Dakash has also visited Berlin in the last few days. He visited the Berlin Olympic Stadium with representatives from his agency EMG Mundial. He was present for the DFB Cup final between Bayern Munich and Stuttgart.

The Birmingham striker used the trip to ‘get a feel for the city’. Hertha are looking for a striker and Daksh is an option on their list.

german lover

An unnamed Bundesliga club and relegated VfL Wolfsburg are also interested in him. Dakash wants to explore all his options before more intensive talks begin with Hertha Berlin.

The striker still has a year left on his deal in Birmingham. But the contract includes a €1m release clause. A recent report indicates that Germany has shown interest.

But Hertha Berlin could not afford such a fee. They are focusing on free transfers and they need to sell players before they buy anyone. The German side need to raise €15m. Of this, €12 million will come from young player Kennett Eichhorn, who is wanted by all the big clubs in Europe.

The team’s other stars would then be introduced as sales candidates. If and when they depart, this could save money for Dakash. Meanwhile, he is considering his options as a move away from Birmingham looks likely.

SunderlandEliezer Mayenda is likely to leave the Premier League team in the summer.

The striker arrived at the Stadium of Light from FC Sochaux in July 2023, when the Black Cats were in the Championship.

Last season, he impressed for Sunderland, scoring 10 goals and five assists in 41 appearances.

This included the winner of the Championship playoff final against Sheffield United, which helped his team achieve promotion.

Since Sunderland’s return to the Premier League, the 21-year-old has not performed well. To put it into context, he scored two goals and one assist in 943 minutes in 23 matches this season.

Regis Le Bris gave him 70 minutes in four league matches since the end of February.

Future away from Sunderland

foot market There is a report on Eliezer Mayenda and his headline says he is ‘ready to take the next step’.

In the report, they say he is ‘expected’ to leave Sunderland in the upcoming window.

The outlet says the Spain U21 international has delivered ‘impressive performances’ over the past two seasons. This has attracted the attention of ‘several ambitious European clubs’, who have positioned themselves to secure his services.

There is no mention of details from these European clubs, but the report emphasizes that Mayenda is one of the most sought-after players on the market.

It’s worth noting that the player hasn’t performed consistently for Sunderland this season, but that hasn’t stopped the outlet from promoting him. It seems as if the attacker wants to escape from there and is trying to create atmosphere at Foot Mercato.

Black cats can open vents

Sunderland reportedly paid €1m to buy him from FC Sochaux and could make a profit from his sale in the summer.

In the winter market, Regis Le Bris were offered Eliezer Mayenda on loan from CA Osasuna as part of the deal for Victor Munoz. However, the Spanish club rejected their bid in terms of the latter’s €40m release clause.

The Black Cats were prepared to part ways with him in January and are unlikely to oppose his exit in the upcoming window.

Mayenda’s contract expires in 2030 and his value, according to transfer marketIs €18m.

chelsea Star Mark Cucurella is keen to leave the Premier League team in the summer.

Last month, Sports Witness Covered a front page report from Spain Barcelona’s interest in their former player.

The same source said he wants out following turmoil at Chelsea following the departure of Enzo Maresca in January. Atletico Madrid are also in the race to sign the 27-year-old.

On Thursday, we broadcast news Los Rojiblancos have identified the left-back as a top defensive target.

They failed to sign him before he transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2021 and turned down the opportunity to sign him on loan a year later.

Interest in Chelsea player increased

Friday edition of sports world Also report that Atletico Madrid are keen to sign Mark Cucurella and have made him their main target.

Chelsea invest £56m [€65m] Plus bonuses to sign the fullback from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.

After overcoming early difficulties, he became a regular at Stamford Bridge and also for the national team.

The Blues are likely to request around €50 million, but the Madrid club are not giving up. There are a number of factors why the Spain international is an ‘absolute priority’ for Diego Simeone’s side.

The first reason is that Atlético has the finances to execute this deal. Secondly, the former Barcelona man wants to return to Spain in the summer.

These ‘two important factors’ could convince the La Liga side to seriously make a move.

Cucurella likes Madrid’s approach, but it will not be easy for him to change club. Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso as their new permanent manager for next season.

Mundo says the incoming Blues boss wants to have confidence in his compatriot. While price and competition may be concerns, Alonso is Atletico’s ‘biggest obstacle’.

Chelsea has already taken action

Although Xabi Alonso wants to retain Mark Cucurella, the Blues have already worked out a possible replacement.

On March 22, Game Witness specifically disclosed Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with moves for Maxi Araujo. He is likely to leave Sporting in the summer for around €45-50 million.

If the Spaniard were to leave, Araújo could be an option to replace him.

Cologne star Sead El Mala has told teammates he is on holiday this summer brentford offer more than now brighton and Hove Albion.

Sport Bild reports that El Mala has told teammates that Brentford are prepared to match Cologne’s €50m asking price this summer.

Brentford step forward

The newspaper reports that there is a growing feeling within the Cologne team that Said Al Mala will not be there next season. The 19-year-old player is now on the verge of a move to the Premier League.

According to information from Sport Bild, he has given a clear indication to some teammates in the locker room that he will leave after one year at the club. He has made it clear that there is a club willing to pay Cologne’s €50m asking price.

That club appears to be Brentford. Reports first linked them in April. The Bees are now on the brink of qualifying for Europe, leading to a ‘serious step’.

The offer they have made is said to be more than that of Brighton. The winger could earn up to €4m in his first year with the Bees.

brighton frustration

Meanwhile, it appears that Brighton have missed out on the signature of Said El Mala despite chasing the signature of Said El Mala for a year. Talks with Cologne have made no progress.

Their next offer would also be well below the €50m expected by the German side. Sporting director Thomas Kessler and team planner Tim Steadten have not discussed the move with Brighton’s management.

Indeed, the Seagulls have been left fuming because neither the player nor his mother Sabrina, who now represents him, have made a clear commitment. Promises of talks were made with Colón, but he never stressed to Colón that Brighton was his priority.

Now the German side is expecting war. It appears Brentford are prepared to spend big to secure a deal. And behind the scenes, El Mala is making it clear that this move could go ahead.

near barcelona Tottenham HotspurCristian Romero is on their list to improve their defense ahead of next season.

On 29 April, Game Witness broadcast news The centre-back is Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni as his main option.

Earlier this month, we Covered Claims The Italian is concerned about Barcelona’s interest in the Tottenham star.

Wednesday edition of game The La Liga winners are said to have courted Bastoni because of his €70m price tag.

Hansi Flick’s side are considering options and that’s where the Argentina international comes into the picture.

tottenham took a stance

Another report from game State Barcelona is closely monitoring the situation at Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs’ failure to beat Chelsea on Tuesday means their stay in the Premier League is not yet secure. They are 17th in the table, two points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham United and need at least a point to avoid relegation.

The game states Roberto De Zerbi’s side will allow Cristian Romero to leave despite remaining in the Premier League.

Barcelona, ​​who were offered Romero a month ago, have contacted his agent and are awaiting a response.

The Catalan club is well aware that he will ‘definitely leave’ to Tottenham, who will set the price depending on his Premier League stay. If Spurs stay top, Sport say the price will be €60m and would be significantly reduced in the event of relegation.

However, the Spanish champions are refusing to pay €60m and will only consider a ‘significantly lower price’ deal by offering Spurs a player as part of the deal.

The South American wants to reach Camp Nou while Atletico Madrid are also in the race to sign him. There will be no movement until Tottenham finish their season.

Contract, price and agent information

Last August, Cristian Romero signed an extension at Tottenham Hotspur until 2029. transfer marketis €50m and the highest was €65m in December 2025.

Agent Ciro Palermo manages the Argentine, who is currently working on his recovery after suffering an injury in April.

tottenham He may still want to keep Joao Palhinha permanently. However, the growing mood in Portugal is that the midfielder is already planning a move out of North London.

That sentiment is growing stronger with every new report about Sporting’s summer rebuild.

according to to ballThe Lisbon side are already shaping their next midfield with the expectation that Palhinha could arrive this summer. As he said, Sporting’s midfield next season will be “Palhinha and a new six”.

Sporting is now being planned around Palhinha

The report states that Sporting are looking to pair Palhinha with another defensive midfielder. In other words, the club’s plan is to treat his return as a done deal.

Real Betis player Sergi Altimira and Hacken youngster Silas Andersson are both on the shortlist to become the ‘number six’.

The report also states that a loan with an option to buy currently seems to be the most financially realistic formula for Sporting.

Player ready to help move forward

Palhinha’s stance continued to encourage the Portuguese side.

Both A said and morning mail It has also been claimed that the midfielder is willing to take a pay cut to facilitate a return to Sporting this summer. Apart from this, family reasons are also presented as a major factor behind his thinking.

But that doesn’t mean that Tottenham haven’t given up. De Zerbi still wants Pelhinha to be part of his project and, if the player agrees, Spurs remain favorites to sign him permanently.

There is another factor also involved. A Bola says Pelhinha does not want to openly discuss leaving Tottenham before securing the club’s Premier League survival.

The midfielder reportedly felt it would be unfair to create instability while Spurs were still fighting near the bottom of the table.

However, As we covered earlierNegotiations are already being held by the players’ representatives. Presumably, his aim is to present a possible transfer scenario with the Portuguese side. Later, those paths may be presented to the player at the end of the season.

However, the situation now seems to be escalating rapidly. And in Portugal, the story is increasingly being framed as a comeback that is already being actively built behind the scenes.

The Vegas Golden Knights (4-2) scored early and often, including two from Pavel Dorofeyev, as they defeated the Anaheim Ducks (2-4) 5-1 in Game 6 to reach the Western Conference Finals for the fifth time in their nine-year history. Consider that only half of the 32 NHL teams, all of which have been in existence much longer than the Golden Knights, have reached the conference finals five or more times. Additionally, the Golden Knights have now won 14 series, the most in the NHL since the franchise entered the league after moving to Tampa Bay. Despite leading the series 3-2, they improved to 9-1 all-time.

Just 1:02 into the game, William Carlson lofted Mitch Marner on a breakaway and Marner scored what was perhaps his most spectacular goal of the postseason. Marner stopped in front of Anaheim netminder Lucas Dostal, turned to his backhand, slid the puck tight behind Dostal, then pulled the puck through his legs and hit it to his forehand while he still had his back to Dostal. It was Marner’s seventh goal of the postseason and his league-leading 17th postseason point. Marner also got involved in the Golden Knights’ second goal a little more than seven minutes later.

With Anaheim on the power play, the Golden Knights were fouled out of their own zone. Despite trailing by a man, the Golden Knights skated into Anaheim territory on a three-on-two break. Marner skated harmlessly into the zone, while Brett Howden took a quick drive toward the net and past the Anaheim defense. Howden then immediately established himself in the bottom of the right circle and took a cross-ice, diagonal pass from Marner and one-timed it past Dostal on a down-and-out. This was, at the time, a league-leading eighth post-season goal for Howden, which is notable as he had scored only 12 goals in 58 regular season games. The goal was also a notable fourth short-handed goal of the postseason for the Golden Knights.

The Golden Knights’ other special teams unit also got in on the action with 2:41 left in the first period. With Anaheim forward Alex Killorn down for hooking, the Golden Knights’ power play came in handy and scored with just five seconds left on the man-advantage. In a must-see shot from center point, Shea Theodore (4) fired a puck through heavy traffic that went past Dostal’s right ear and put the Golden Knights ahead with a trio of goals.

The first period of the Golden Knights was as impressive as the Bellagio Conservatory. By the end of the period, the Golden Knights had scored at even strength, short-handed and on the power play. The three goals came on just nine shots, while holding Anaheim to just four. The Golden Knights also won 61.1 percent of faceoffs in the first frame.

Anaheim was finally able to solve Carter Hart in the second, but would need a power play to do so. After Golden Knights forward Nick Dowd kicked the puck out of play and was whistled for delay of game, Anaheim went to work on its third power play opportunity of the game. Mikael Granlund (5) delivered a brilliant cross-ice centering pass to Troy Terry that knocked down Hart with the side of his glove at 12:46 of the second minute to pull Anaheim to within two, 3-1. Despite allowing shorthanded goals, the Anaheim power play improved significantly as the series progressed. With the power play tally, the Ducks improved to 4-for-9 on the power play in the last three games after going 0-for-11 in the first three games. This would be the only goal scored in the second and the score remained 3–1 at the second intermission.

Any hopes Anaheim had of a comeback were ended by the Golden Knights early in the third. While Anaheim outshot Vegas 15–3 in the frame, it was the Golden Knights who scored twice. Less than three minutes into the third, Ivan Barbashev caught Anaheim defenseman John Carlson’s failed clearing attempt, then delivered a slick backhand pass to Pavel Dorofeyev (8) in the right circle, who fired a wrist shot past Dostal’s blocker at 2:52 of the third. Just ten minutes later, Dorofeyev scored another goal on a poorly angled shot from below the right circle to give the Golden Knights a 5–1 lead. The goal moved Dorofeyev past teammate Brett Howden for most postseason goals in the NHL with nine.

At the end of the third, Anaheim pulled Dostal and fired a large number of shots at Hart, but none found the back of the net and the Golden Knights won the series. The Golden Knights will now advance to the Western Conference Finals where they will face the NHL’s best regular-season team, the Colorado Avalanche. Game 1 takes place on Wednesday at 5PM PT in Denver.

notes

• Vegas defenseman Braden McNabb served a one-game suspension for interference against Anaheim center Ryan Poehling in Game 5. McNabb has played in 757 games for the Golden Knights in the regular season and postseason combined, the most in franchise history.
• Anaheim went into Game 6 with a 7–0 all-time lead at home.
• Anaheim did not lose consecutive games this postseason and finished the season 4–2 at home, with the only two losses coming in Vegas.

statistics

• Shots on goal favor Anaheim, 32–21.
• Amazingly, the faceoff winning percentage was exactly the same as Game 5, 53.1% to 46.9% in favor of Vegas.
• Vegas was 1-2 on the power play, while Anaheim was 1-5.
• Anaheim had the edge in hits, 30–24.
• Vegas stopped 13 shots, while Anaheim stopped 11.
• Anaheim had three more possessions than Vegas, 20–17.
• Anaheim got a slight edge in takeaways, 5-4.

Sporting Clube de Portugal are keeping a close eye on Joao Palinha, who could return to Portugal after his loan spell tottenhamfor personal reasons.

Both to ball And weekend morning mail Report today on the Tottenham loanee and a possible return to his homeland this summer.

Tottenham exit likely

Sport Witness covered a report yesterday stating that there was interest in Sporting The Tottenham midfielder this summer. Correio da Manha Weekend now adds with further information.

He says Sporting are ready to bring Joao Palinha back to the club next season, taking advantage of his desire to return to Portugal to be closer to his children. Benfica are also in the running, but Palinha would prefer to return to his former club.

The Lions intend to use his desire to return home to their advantage. They see him as a business opportunity, as other players in his position are potentially departing.

Palhinha is currently on loan at Tottenham from Bayern Munich. Roberto De Zerbi has expressed his desire to keep the 30-year-old long-term.

But the midfielder wants to return to Portugal after his divorce to be closer to his children, who are still young. To do this he has expressed his willingness to reduce his salary.

return to portugal

A Bola report gives similar information. They reveal that Sporting will be restructuring their midfield this summer and Joao Palinha is one of the names they are keeping a close eye on.

According to their information, Palhinha will return from Tottenham to Bayern Munich this summer.

When this happens, they intend to make their move. They would prefer a loan, but believe it is possible to negotiate a permanent deal. Bayern want €30 million but Sporting believe they can reduce it.

The newspaper echoes the view that Palhinha would love to join his former club. And the player will be given a very warm welcome upon returning to Portugal ‘for family reasons’.

Sporting players are also waiting to see what Tottenham does. He has expressed his desire to keep her with him and this may complicate matters. However, ultimately the decision will have to be made by Palhinha. And in Portugal he believes he wants to go home above everything else.

near barcelona Tottenham HotspurCristian Romero on his short list for the summer.

The La Liga winners are preferring to sign Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni, but his €70m price tag is too high.

On 29 April, Game Witness Covered claims from Spain The Tottenham star is Bastoni’s main option.

tottenham players suit flick

Sport covered two previous reports on Barcelona’s interest in Cristian Romero.

A fresh claim from game The latest covers and the headline says the Tottenham Hotspur defender’s leadership impresses Hansi Flick.

Accompanying the report, the newspaper states that Alessandro Bastoni remains the main defensive target.

However, Barça will not and cannot meet his €70m price tag.

The Argentina international is still in Plan B and has the characteristics that match what the German coach is looking for.

Flick recently used Iñigo Martínez, now at Al-Nassr, as an example to explain the importance of leadership qualities.

“Last season we had Iñigo Martínez, who was a great leader. We need players who are able to lead on the field,” He said.

“It’s not just about talking about tactics; we need players whose performances on the field become the talking point. In Champions League matches, we need players who can show us where we need to go.”

The Tottenham star has ‘more than enough pedigree’, having won the World Cup with Argentina and the Europa League with Tottenham.

Romero is not fit at all and lacks ‘the finesse of Bastoni’, but is still a ‘good fit’ for Barca.

He could leave Roberto De Zerbi for a ‘very good price’. Sport claim his valuation is around €50m, which could drop further if Spurs are relegated from the Premier League.

Our opinion: Spurs unlikely to offer huge discount

With a 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur moved out of the relegation zone.

They are now in 17th place, one point ahead of 18th-placed West Ham United and two points behind 16th-placed Nottingham Forest. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have three more matches to avoid relegation to the championship.

In the event of relegation, Spurs will still remain firm on the price of Cristian Romero as he attracts interest from some top European clubs.

The World Cup winner’s contract expires in 2029 and his value, accordingly transfer marketIs €50m.

of manchester united The decision to move Antony makes sense when you juxtapose it with what he is doing at Real Betis.

Brazil has quietly produced its most productive performance in years. In all competitions, he has 13 goals and nine assists in 40 games. In La Liga, this is limited to seven goals and five assists in 26 appearances.

The underlying numbers also support this. Antony averages 0.54 goal involvements per 90 minutes. He takes 3.08 shots per game and scores once every 9.71 attempts.

Furthermore, he makes 2.04 key passes per match and completes 81.61% of his 43 passes per game.

It’s a very different level of involvement compared to what we saw at Old Trafford. In Spain, his role is clearer and he is much more involved in the final third. real daughters His career and his mentality changed.

It all comes at a crucial moment. The announcement of Brazil’s World Cup squad is approaching and Antony is trying to get back into the picture.

Betis’ decision is shaping international expectations

Antony has now come out openly espn brazil Regarding both his club situation and his Brazilian ambitions. His current situation at Betis clearly plays a big role in that push.

“Staying at Betis was one of the best decisions of my life,” Antony added. “I am very happy. my family was overweight In the decision. It is important to see them happy.”

“When the family is okay it makes things lighter on the field.”He concluded.

He was part of the squad for the last World Cup under Tite, but has not been able to perform much under Carlo Ancelotti so far. Still, he’s not giving up on building the next one.

“My biggest dream is to play in the World Cup, but I have to do my part, my job, the national team is the result.” He said.

“I really want to come back, play my second World Cup. It’s my aim to always wear the national team shirt.”

life without antony

Antony seems to be someone who has settled in Spain and not a player looking back at Manchester United.

But he thinks the chances go both ways. United have moved on without him and given the way things have turned out, they hardly miss him. The team changed and Antony’s role was never fully fleshed out during his stay in England.

“His current stats highlight that there is still a player out there,” he said. At Betis, he looks more confident, more engaged and more decisive.

This is a case of a player who needed a different setting to bring out his best level. This time is ideal for Antony. He has given himself a real chance to get back into the Brazilian conversation when it matters most.

Sebastian Kiehl is set to play a role in Tottenham Hotspur From next season, as he considers his next move.

BILD reports today on the former director of Borussia Dortmund. The 46-year-old appears to be open to the idea of ​​a move to Tottenham this summer.

Throat in high demand

Sebastian Kehl is in ‘high demand’ after leaving Borussia Dortmund last month, the newspaper reports. In fact, he is already being eyed by Tottenham Hotspur.

Reports have made it clear that Kehl is at the top of the list of top candidates currently being considered by Tottenham to replace Fabio Paratici. The Italian departed to join Fiorentina in January.

According to a report this week, Kiehl, considering his options As he contemplates his future. BILD says this is likely happening while he enjoys a short vacation in Scandinavia to ‘clear his head’.

But the perception is that the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder is ‘open’ to taking up the position of sporting director at a ‘famous’ club like Tottenham. He would like to do so as soon as the new season begins. This, at least, is positive news for Tottenham.

dortmund severance package

The bad news is that a severance package will have to be worked out with Borussia Dortmund first.

Sebastian Kehl’s contract with them runs until 2027. This includes a transfer fee worth around €2.5m for him. Therefore there will have to be discussion on that.

But a quick return to work will play into Borussia’s hands, as it will help them reduce severance payments to their former director. In other words, he would be happy to talk to Tottenham and work out something.

This will show that there is a deal to be made. And with Kahl on board with the idea, it is now time for Tottenham to make their move. Or, at least once he has completed his trip to Scandinavia.

brighton There are now growing expectations for Igor Julio to move on this summer, and the situation around the defender is beginning to escalate.

There is no immediate exit suggestion in this window. However, reports from Brazil indicate that a departure at the end of the season is now a possibility.

In fact, there is growing expectation that Igor Julio will not remain at Brighton next season. That alone changes the tone of the story, especially with interest coming from different directions.

Cruzeiro makes new contacts as race starts

Igor Julio has been on Cruzeiro’s radar since the last window. Now, according to reports supporting espn brazil and local insider outlets Toka CentralThe club has made fresh contact with the player’s camp to investigate the terms of the deal.

This was not just following old things. This is considered a new approach, indicating that Cruzeiro has been actively engaged again in recent times.

We covered it in February Igor Julio himself confirmed this The contact was made while replying to a fan on Instagram: “I had some talks with the club – my agent actually. Let’s see what happens.”

Nothing was known about it at that time. However, this new contact suggests that Cruzeiro is trying to re-establish himself before the next opportunity to act.

There is also an emotional pull here. Igor Julio is a well-known Cruzeiro supporter, and reports say he has been “inspired” by the new contact. Still, no proposal is on the table yet.

It is also important to take care of timing in this. The Brazilian transfer window only reopens on 20 July, effectively setting the stage for any concrete moves. Until then, clubs can only prepare and establish themselves – as they have been doing.

Europe still in the mix as Brighton stay strong

This is not just Brazil’s story. The report adds that Igor Julio has also attracted interest from clubs in Italy, Germany and England, making things more complicated for Cruzeiro.

At this stage, the player is still inclined towards staying in Europe. This keeps those options quite active and adds a little tension to the situation.

On the Brighton side, nothing has changed. Brighton want a permanent deal and are not prepared for another loan. The asking price has been around £6m (€7m), which remains an important factor for any club keeping an eye on him.

what happens next

Igor Julio isn’t going anywhere right now. But all signs point to a summer exit.

Cruzeiro is back in the picture with a new and recent contact. European clubs are watching closely. Meanwhile, Brighton are holding their line.

So it’s starting to look like a fair race. And with the Brazilian window opening on July 20, the timeline is now clear. The foundation stones are being laid now, although decisive steps will come later.

tottenham hotspur Dejan Kulusevski has not featured for a Premier League team since May 2025.

The Sweden international had surgery that month and has been on the sidelines since.

The initial expectation was that the Tottenham player would regain full fitness within a few months and then again before the end of last year.

However, the attacking midfielder has yet to return to the pitch and Sport Witness has given a timeline Regarding the recovery process and delays.

• On 1 October, John Dahl Tomasson, who was the national team manager at the time, Spurs attacker explained He is in “a different phase of his rehabilitation”. Later that month, Sweden dismissed him and appointed Graham Potter as his successor.
• On 20 November, the former Chelsea boss Grad Kulusevski May return “around the New Year”.
• A month later, Potter told the player can back for the March international break, but optimism vanished in February. “It will be difficult to return in March,” the coach admitted.

Sweden achieved World Cup qualification in March.

That time, the 25-year-old said He is confident of representing his national team in the summer and this is despite recently undergoing another surgery.

Tottenham has no plans to sell

transfer market Here’s a report on Dejan Kulusevski and Spurs’ future plans after this season.

Before his failure, there were rumors that the former Juventus player was returning to Italy with AC Milan as their suitors.

Kulusevski has not yet played under Roberto De Zerbi, but the coach is keen to keep him. The Italian manager wants to keep him even if the north London club loses in the Championship.

Tottenham Hotspur, for their part, are not planning to sell him in the summer, while the player has also ‘never expressed a desire’ to leave.

Sources close to him insist his focus is on regaining full fitness as he is ‘determined to return to the pitch and return to the highest level.’

However, Calciomercato has warned that Spurs’ expulsion from the Premier League could impact on the Swede’s future.

Spurs’ remaining fixtures

Roberto De Zerbi’s side are now 18th in the table, two points behind 17th-placed West Ham United.

Tottenham Hotspur have five more matches left in the Premier League this season. they are against

• v wolves [away] on 25th April
• vs aston villa [away] on 3 may
• v leeds united [home] on 11th may
• in chelsea [away] tbd
• vs everton [home] on 24th may

of leeds united Ilya Gruev says he is very happy at the Premier League club and is not thinking about leaving them.

The 25-year-old arrived at Elland Road from Werder Bremen in August 2023 and has made 86 appearances for Leeds United so far.

Last season, he made 25 appearances as his minutes were partially limited due to a knee injury. The midfielder won the championship with the Whites and this is the only silverware of his career so far.

back in january, the player said When asked if he wanted to live in the present or dream of something bigger he replied “I want more”.

Daniel Farke convinced him to join Leeds United

transfermark.de Interviewed Ilya Gruev to discuss a range of topics relating to the English club and his time with them so far.

Finally, he talks about how his move to Leeds United shaped up and what his future plans are.

The Bulgaria international said that Daniel Farke’s call up was one of the main reasons for his joining the Whites, who were in the Championship at the time.

“Of course, this was a time-sensitive move. The transfer window was only open for a few more days. Leeds offered me a clear plan, and the phone call with Daniel was very promising. He showed me what kind of project was being developed at Leeds,” He said.

“And then, there was the dream of playing in the Premier League with a club full of tradition like Leeds. Looking back, it was a very good decision, and everything fell into place perfectly.

“This move was not at all easy for me, because I played for Werder for eight years. I was promoted with Werder and played my first Bundesliga season. But I was ready for a new challenge, and when the offer came from Leeds, it was a very exciting opportunity.”

The player has no plans to leave Leeds United in the summer and has opened up about his long-term plans.

“I feel very comfortable here and see how the club is developing. The long-term plan is to become a top 10 team in the Premier League.” Gruev explained.

“If you can be part of that journey as a player and compete against the elite every week, that’s an absolute success. Fans also look at which players have been with the club for how long. They’re happy with the guys who have been there from the beginning.”

leeds united’s remaining matches this season

Daniel Farke’s side are 15th in the table, eight points ahead of 18th-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

The Whites have at least six matches left this season, including the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Sunday.

Leeds United’s fixtures are as follows:

• vs afc bournemouth [away] on 22nd April
• in chelsea [FA Cup] on 26th April
• v burnley [home] on 2 may
• at tottenham hotspur [away] on 11th may
• vs brighton and hove albion [home] tbd
• vs West Ham United on 24 May

Tony Martinez has revealed that he had to leave West Ham United early in his career because they ignored the youth at the time.

Martínez, now 28 and playing for Alaves, discusses his career An interview with A.S.

west ham clash

The striker started his career at Real Murcia before moving to Valencia in 2013. He spent three years with them before a €3m transfer to West Ham’s U23s in 2016.

Tony Martínez spent the next six years with the Hammers, but most of them were on loan, having stints at Oxford United, Real Valladolid, CF Rayo Majadahonda and CD Lugo.

His time at the club ended in 2019, when he joined Famalicão on a free transfer. He played for Porto and spent four years with the Portuguese giants, before moving back to Spain.

While his record was 32 goals in 140 games and had been good at other clubs, West Ham never gave him a chance.

Despite scoring 26 goals in 31 games for the U21 team, he was given only three appearances for a total of 220 minutes in the senior team.

No chance for youth for Tony Martinez

This is something that Tony Martínez is still, apparently, not too happy with. He believes that youth were ignored during his tenure with West Ham.

“When I first arrived at West Ham, the club was heavily invested in developing young talent. However, after the change in ownership, they started pouring huge amounts of money into the team.” He said.

“And after that, it seemed almost impossible to make the team. Every single preseason, I would come in only to see that they had signed a bunch of star players to fill offensive spots.

“I had to compete for a place against players like Chicharito, Carroll, Arnautovic, Lanzini, Michael Antonio, Lucas Pérez… That’s why, while I still had three years left on my contract, I decided to leave and go to Portugal.”

conversation with pellegrini

Luckily for the striker, he found a manager in Manuel Pellegrini who was willing to listen to him. And the West Ham boss was open to the idea of ​​contract termination.

“There had been a lot of loan spells by that time,” He added.

“I lost a lot of money, but terminating my contract was the best option for me. Pellegrini had just arrived; I spoke to him and he understood my situation.

“I wanted to change the direction of my career but I was only being offered loan deals. I had a very good contract. But it wasn’t what I wanted.”

Now the striker can look back and feel that the decision was smart. He played his career in Portugal, where he won titles, four cups and the Super Cup three times during his tenure with Porto.

This justified his departure from West Ham, where it seemed he was never going to get the chance to stake his claim.

Massimo Taibbi had a brief tenure Manchester United Between 1999 and 2000. The Italian never really made an impact, but still regrets his departure.

Taibi joins Red Devils from Venezia £4.5 million, which was a significant amount at that time. Soon after his arrival he put in a famous performance against Liverpool but things were disappointing in other games.

He was nicknamed ‘The Blind Venetian’ after the English press criticized his inability to save shots. Only six months after moving to Manchester United, he joined Reggina on loan before performing very well at Atalanta.

Now, the former goalkeeper has opened up about his time at Old Trafford.

good relations with ferguson

in an interview with gazzetta dello sportTaibi revealed how the move was taken.

He also revealed his good relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson, despite his occasional hair dryer treatment.

“It was a spectacle. It was 1999, I arrived in Manchester as a semi-unknown. They wanted to sign Toldo first, then when I was playing for Venezia they bought me. And Sir Alex even came to pick me up at the airport and introduced me to the whole management.

“It was 8 o’clock at night, no idea about it. We had a good relationship, although at half-time of that 5-0 Chelsea-Manchester United game he gave me a dirty look which I still remember.”

Giving more details about the 5–0 defeat to Chelsea, Taibi said that Ferguson was angry at half-time.

“I made a mistake and conceded a goal. At halftime, he turned the locker room upside down. When he got angry, he shook the walls. He took it out on everyone, even me. He looked at me badly and said, ‘Massimo, that’s a save…’ But he would keep me in check.”

The former goalkeeper clarified that he should not have left the club permanently. He had to attend to a family emergency but signed a four-year deal with Manchester United.

“I was the one who made the mistake of leaving. I had a family problem in Italy and I was in a hurry to resolve it.”

Describing his exit as his biggest regret, he said: “Yes, I had a four-year contract. I was the best player on the pitch at Liverpool, then I made the mistake I was telling you about.

“Ferguson advised me to learn the language and play my cards right. I was wrong to be impulsive.”

Our opinion: Departure decision changed Taibi’s career

At that time, Manchester United was slowly moving towards a change in the goalkeeping department. Taibi’s decision to leave was his own and it was not that he was forced out.

Had he managed to weather the storm, he could have become the club’s first-choice in the long term. Admittedly, his life in England had a difficult start, but as he himself says – there was a lot of promise there.

Jorgen Strand Larsson has explained why he had to leave Wolverhampton Wanderers for Crystal Palace in the winter market.

Crystal Palace sign Wolves striker for club-record fee of £48m [€55.3m] On 2 February.

The Norway international first arrived in the UK when the Molineux club signed him on loan from Celta Vigo in July 2024. He finished his first season with the Premier League team with 14 goals and five assists in 38 matches.

In July 2025, Wolves made his stay permanent and secured him on a contract until 2029. A month later, Newcastle United submitted several offers.

However, Wolves did not entertain them, which left the players unhappy. Earlier in the season, he said he was open to join magpies And never give up hope of taking the next step in your career.

This was made possible when Oliver Glasner’s side came forward in the last window and signed him on a permanent deal.

Crystal Palace offered an escape route

Jørgen Strand Larsson failed to replicate last season’s form at Wolves this season. To put it into context, he managed just one goal and one assist in 1,404 minutes in 22 league matches.

Wolves also struggled generally, resulting in them parting ways with Vitor Pereira and appointing Rob Edwards as his successor in November. They are now bottom of the table, 18 points behind 14th-placed Crystal Palace.

Monday edition of VG Has published an interview with Norway International. He spoke to Wolves about his move to Selhurst Park.

“It’s been a completely frustrating six months. It’s been very difficult mentally, physically and in every possible way.” He said.

“I didn’t want it to end like this at Wolves, because it’s a fantastic club that I care about.

“I was hopeful that things would change, but it was important for me to take a step forward.

“When you get zero wins after half a season, there’s obviously a lot of pressure from outside. We footballers also put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Our expectations are very high and everyone wants to take new steps and be the ‘main guy’. Especially me who couldn’t achieve that. So, it was tough, but now that’s a thing of the past.”

On joining Crystal Palace, Larsson explained: “Palace suits me very well. It’s a style of play that suits me. We have players who can put me in good situations, so I think it’s going to be great.”

Norwegian Crystal Palace statistics and contracts

• Appearances: 10
• Start: 10
• PL Attendance: 6
• Target: 3
• Help: 1

Jørgen Strand Larsson has signed a contract with the Eagles until 2030 transfer market He is worth €45 million. Crystal Palace have raised €5m since moving.

Raheem Sterling has been told to leave football and move to Ibiza with his wife, following his latest disappointing performances for Feyenoord, with his career faltering after Chelsea.

Soccer News reports today on the 31-year-old player. Their Dutch adventure is not going well, and it looks like Feyenoord are tired.

That is certainly the case for Feyenoord legend Willem Van Hanegem. He didn’t back down after watching last weekend’s disastrous classic. Feyenoord drew 1–1 with Ajax in that game, with Sterling again failing to make an impact.

ask for your money back

Sterling has managed just one assist in five games for Feyenoord since arriving on a free transfer in January. And While manager Robin van Persie continues to support himVan Hanegem has seen a lot.

Speaking on the Willem & Wessel podcast, Van Hanegem spoke candidly. Sterling once again failed to make any impact.

“He wasn’t there again, no. If it were me, I’d ask for my money back and say: just go home,” He said.

“You shouldn’t push a player like that. He used to be a good player; he was still fit and fast, but that’s it. If he bumps into you, he falls. Isn’t that crazy?

“You shouldn’t do that yourself as a player. If they lack pace and they have the ball, they go straight over them. It’s pointless.”

Despite the criticism, Van Hanegem is fully hopeful that Raheem Sterling will play a key role in the next game against FC Volendam. He believes this is a decision fans are tired of seeing.

“We’re not looking forward to it, because we’ve already said six times that he’s not that good. I don’t think it’s just us, it’s a lot of people,” he said.

“It won’t work”

Van Hanegem is not alone in his criticism of Raheem Sterling. On the KieftJansenEgmondGijp podcast, René van der Gijp echoed this sentiment, urging Sterling to take control of his future.

“He should go to Robin van Persie and say: let’s stop this. It won’t work.

“This isn’t good for me, for you, or for the club. You’re not really helping anyone with this. He should just go to Ibiza, wear his swimming trunks, and eat delicious paella with his wife.

“Then he would be having a great time. But it won’t work for him now. What a shame.”

Is this the end for Sterling?

In the Netherlands the message seems clear. Raheem Sterling’s time in Rotterdam is becoming increasingly untenable.

Whether the club takes action or Sterling takes matters into his own hands, the sentiment among fans and pundits seems to be much the same. Something has to be given, otherwise disappointment can soon turn into anger.

🇵🇹 Exclusive: Maxi Araújo

⏩Tottenham and Chelsea are in contact
➡️ Source gave information @UllalIBT
➡️There is also further Premier League interesthttps://t.co/K17lRpjlUG #thfc #cfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 22 March 2026

Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia will not be part of the Belgium U21 squad for the current international break.

The midfielder has repeatedly struggled with injuries since joining Chelsea from Southampton for £53m in August 2023.

Since then, he has been off the field for just over 600 days and missed 98 matches. The 22-year-old has made seven regular appearances since the start of the month.

At the weekend, Liam Rosenior made his debut in the Blues’ 3–0 league defeat to Everton, replacing Andre Santos in the 57th minute.

Physio David Bombayke worked closely with him for a year and in 2025, He asked question Fitness status of the midfielder.

Despite featuring regularly in recent weeks, he will not represent his country during this international break. It appears that Belgium U21 manager Gil Swarts has approached him about a place in the team.

on sunday, chelsea Confirmed Before later removing it, Lavia received a call from Swarts on their official website. This caused confusion in Belgium as to whether the player would represent Jong Duivels.

Blues official website causes confusion

newspaper Cover it and mention that a Chelsea player will be part of Swarts’ squad this month.

However, they emphasize that there has so far been no official communication from the Belgian FA on the subject.

last hour Decided to investigate further and insisted on turning the gun on the west London club, it is surprising that Swarts did not phone Romeo Lavia.

The newspaper learned that Lavia will not represent Belgium U21 in the coming days after he rejected the call up. So, it was confusing when Chelsea initially reported this on their website.

Lavia does not want to leave the Premier League team and wants to use this break to further improve his fitness.

He has played one match each for Belgium U21, against Scotland in June 2022, and for the senior team so far. His only appearance for Belgium was in a friendly against Germany three years earlier.

international break fixtures

belgium

• Friendly vs USA on 28 March
• Friendly vs Mexico on 1 April [UK time]

Belgium U21

• European Qualifier vs Austria U21 on 27 March
• Friendly vs Netherlands U21 on 30 March

Stephen Curry is currently dealing with a knee injury, which has kept him out of the Golden State Warriors’ last 19 games. Although it is unclear exactly when he will return, head coach Steve Kerr is optimistic that he will return before the end of the season. Still, after Curry was out, the Dubs’ troubles continued, as they lost another game on Wednesday night, a 120–99 loss on the road to the Boston Celtics.

However, some fans may be desperate to see Curry back in action. In fact, one fan in attendance at TD Garden on Wednesday was so desperate to get Curry’s attention that he crossed a line – pulling the Warriors star towards him, causing Curry to face a confused concussion.

This action of the fan did not go unpunished. the man who drew curry asked to leave game, which is the perfect job to maintain the safety of NBA superstars.

Someone in the Boston crowd pulled Steph Curry’s hand, and that person was asked to leave 😳

(via @KyleCelt33)pic.twitter.com/rhRs80c7LZ

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 19 March 2026

It’s not exactly clear what was going through that fan’s mind, because doing something like this would never go unnoticed and he would not be punished. They paid good money to see the Warriors take on the Celtics, but that doesn’t give them the right to do whatever they want.

The Warriors miss Stephen Curry a lot

Curry is the engine that powers the Warriors’ offense, and over the last 19 games, everything has been rough for Golden State. With Curry out, their net rating has dropped to almost minus-four, and it has led to their decline in the West standings.

What the Dubs are doing amid Curry’s injury is admirable, as many have tried to get Golden State a few wins here and there. But without Curry, the Warriors could reach a point of no comeback, which would be a sad way to go out for this team.

Southampton defender Yukinari Sugawara has strongly hinted that he would welcome a permanent move to Werder Bremen, with family happiness emerging as a deciding factor in his thinking.

Bild Hamburg covered the 25-year-old’s comments today. He shared a funny anecdote about his life at the Germa Club, including his daughter’s hatred of his beard.

Sugawara arrived at Werder Bremen last summer primarily as cover for the back line dealing with injury concerns. Instead, he has become a regular and reliable presence.

He has already made 23 Bundesliga appearances, logging 1,935 minutes, while providing four assists and helping the team record five clean sheets.

From squad depth to defensive mainstay

He has been a key player so far, registering four assists and creating several chances, while also contributing to five clean sheets at the other end.

BILD report that he is the ‘most reliable’ of the seven players currently on loan at the club.

The loan deal includes an option for Werder to purchase Sugawara permanently for around €6m.

While reports have indicated that they will be Will be happy to pay it, The rescuer has accepted him There is concern that the German side may not tolerate him.

Family happiness motivates decisions

In the meantime, he has settled in at the club with his family. BILD reports that he ‘feels at home’ in Bremen. It’s a sentiment shared by his family, although his daughter has one complaint.

“My daughter hates my beard. She has told me this many times over the years,” he said.

“That’s why I recently shaved it. But my beard is quite thick. After two or three days, it grows back again. And I don’t want to waste time shaving every day. When I shaved it the other day, my daughter had tears in her eyes and she said, ‘Daddy, I love you so much without the beard.’

“Maybe I’ll shave again on Thursday. Not for the game, but for my daughter. She’s number one, she’s in charge.”

“It takes me ten to fifteen minutes just to shave. And I have to stand in front of the mirror while I’m doing it. And I have to moisturize my skin. In total, it’s 30 minutes. Doing that three or four times a week, I don’t want to do that. I’m a little lazy. But I’ll do it for my daughter.”

Southampton’s promotion push puts final decision

Whether Sugawara stays in Germany will depend on what happens at Southampton this season.

Failure to secure promotion to the Premier League would certainly prompt the Saints to accept the deal proposed by Bremen, even if it is less than the previously agreed €6m deal.

But with Southampton just three points outside the top six at this point, there’s every chance they could slip back into the top flight. And he will, perhaps, leave any decisions about Sugawara until the end of the season.

Now the time has come for Aboubakar Sedi Kinteh to move on as Manchester United are increasing their interest.

According to Malik Diop, President of Mawde Wade Academy, Talking from Africa Foot. The first was a 19-year-old centre-back in their academy.

Kinteh currently plays for Tromsø after joining Tromsø in March last year. He has been impressing since, so much so that there is reportedly interest from the Premier League.

Reports in England have hinted at this, with Chelsea and Manchester United recently named among suitors.

Manchester United’s efforts

In fact, one such report stated that Jason Wilcox and Omar Berada were planning to travel to Norway to scout young Tromsø IL talent.

Sport Witness then covered a report from Corriere dello Sport detailing Manchester United’s interest. It said those in charge at Old Trafford had planned a ‘blitz’ to defeat the youngsters in the competition.

Now Diop has backed his former talent to make the move and has heaped praise on the youngster in the process.

“He’s a very athletic guy who anticipates challenges,” he said.

“Being athletic is one thing but knowing how to anticipate challenges makes you comfortable. These qualities inevitably make him a tough defender to handle.

“It is time for him to leave. There was already interest from clubs during the winter transfer window, but it was not the ideal time for a young player, because there is already an established team and it is not easy to break into the first team…

“However, the best time is summer. He will have time to acclimate and establish himself.”

Manchester United’s focus is on youth

The interest in Kinteh certainly coincides with a new effort by Manchester United to focus on youth around the world.

There have been several big signings in this regard, with Lenny Yoro, Chido Obi-Martin and Diego León being the most high-profile. 23-year-old Senay Lammens could also fit into that category.

Kinteh now appears on the list, and it seems his former academy director is convinced the move comes at the right time.