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Leeds United have around two weeks left to go before the summer transfer window officially slams shut and their squad is set until the start of next year.

Daniel Farke has added Joe Rodon, Joe Rothwell, Jayden Bogle, and Alex Cairns to his group so far, with all bar Cairns featuring in the 3-3 draw with Portsmouth on the opening day of the Championship season.

The Whites have yet to replace the division's reigning Player of the Year Crysencio Summerville, who left to sign for Premier League side West Ham United earlier this month.

As you can see in the table above, the Dutch star was a key player for Leeds in the second tier due to his ability to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch.

The West Yorkshire outfit have been linked with an interest in Norwich City speedster Jonathan Rowe as a potential replacement for Summerville, but it could be a difficult deal to complete.

They reportedly face competition from Ligue 1 sides AS Monaco and Marseille, which means that they could have to turn to other options.

Who Leeds should target as a Jonathan Rowe alternative

If the 49ers and Farke cannot secure a deal for the Canaries star, the Whites must swoop to bring Sunderland sensation Jack Clarke back to Elland Road as a dream alternative.

In TEAMtalk's article on Leeds' interest in Rowe, in which they reveal that the Norfolk-based side want £15m for the England U21 international, it was stated that they have been 'tentatively linked' with a move for the Black Cats whiz.

When recently asked about whether or not a return to the Whites is possible, EFL pundit Clinton Morrison claimed that it would "make sense" for Clarke to want the transfer, due to the prospect of promotion to the top-flight.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds have a genuine interest in bringing the talented forward back to Yorkshire before the end of the summer transfer window.

The Sun reported earlier this summer that it could take a huge fee of £18m to secure his services, amid interest from Southampton – who beat Farke's side in the play-off final at Wembley in May.

It would be a significant investment from Leeds if they decided to go in for him at that price, or a similar fee, but it could be a signing that does more for their chances of promotion than signing Rowe.

Jonathan Rowe's Championship form

The 21-year-old wizard enjoyed his breakthrough season at senior level with the Canaries in the 2023/24 campaign, as he emerged as a key player in their play-off chase.

Rowe had only made 16 league appearances for Norwich, with 13 of those coming in the Premier League in the 2021/22 season, prior to last term, as injuries kept him out for the majority of the 2022/23 campaign.

He finally nailed down a regular place in the first-team under David Wagner and helped the Yellows to land a place in the play-offs, where they then lost to Leeds in the semi-final.

As you can see in the table above, Rowe provided his team with great quality as a goalscorer but struggled to create chances for his teammates on a regular basis.

A return of 12 goals from 5.36 xG, which ranked him within the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.53), speaks to his impressive finishing ability, as he rarely passed up an opportunity to find the back of the net.

Whereas, Rowe also ranked within the bottom 12% of his positional peers for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.08), which shows that he was one of the worst wingers in the league at creating high-quality chances.

This suggests that he is a slightly one-dimensional forward in the sense that he offers a huge goalscoring threat but is not a creator. In contrast, Summerville provided quality as a scorer and a creator of goals in the Championship.

What Jack Clarke could bring back to Leeds

Farke should swoop to sign Clarke as a dream alternative to the Norwich youngster because he is a proven performer in the second tier who could offer more at the top end of the pitch.

The former Whites forward did not make a huge impact during his short time in the first-team – as shown above – at Elland Road, as it was at the very start of his senior career, but has since gone on to become a star for Sunderland.

In the 2022/23 campaign, the right-footed wizard produced nine goals and 11 assists in 45 appearances in the Championship for the Black Cats as they reached the play-offs.

The 23-year-old wizard followed that up with a sublime season last term for Sunderland, as he showed off his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

As you can see in the table above, Clarke offers a similar goal threat to Rowe, as he scored three more goals in eight more appearances in the Championship.

However, the Sunderland man would be a significant upgrade on the Norwich star as a creative threat, with 11 more 'big chances' created and 1.6 more key passes per game on average, whilst his dribbling stats highlight his quality in transition.

Clarke's return of 306 progressive carries was described as "insane" by analyst Ben Mattinson, who hailed the impressive attacker as a ball-carrying "monster", and this shows that he can drive Leeds up the pitch when needed.

Imagine him & Joseph: Leeds set to bid for "impressive" star

The Whites are reportedly pursuing a swoop to sign the Championship starlet.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 13, 2024

Overall, the £18m-rated star appears to be a dream alternative to Rowe due to his ability as both a scorer and a creator of goals, and it would be a fantastic story to see him return to Elland Road to fire the team to promotion.

Arsenal did not need the services of Bukayo Saka as they beat Ipswich to close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League on Friday night.

The Gunners recorded a comfortable 1-0 win over the Tractor Boys, dominating proceedings at the Emirates.

It was a classic case of attack vs defence for the most part in North London. Aside from an instant Ipswich chance, Arsenal kept their opponents at bay, drawing them in before playing around them and creating several chances.

The first half saw the Suffolk side camped in their own box, withstanding wave after wave from Mikel Arteta's men.

Their resilience lasted until the 23rd minute when Kai Havertz netted the opener, firing in from a Leandro Trossard cross on the left-hand side.

Arsenal thought they had a second in the 34th minute after Gabriel Jesus scored from an impossible angle, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The second half was a much closer affair, with Ipswich coming out and having a go at the Gunners.

Declan Rice and Havertz both went close while Gabriel missed a sitter from point-blank range after getting on the end of a corner.

After a few changes from Arteta, the hosts regained total control in the latter stages and were more than deserving of the three points which will see them go six points behind leaders Liverpool.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates Stadium…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  David Raya (8/10):

  Rarely had to touch the ball but was composed when he did have it at his feet, playing around the Ipswich press inside his own box.

  Jurrien Timber (8/10):

  Was aggressive going forward and added an extra man in attack for the Gunners as they looked to break down a deep Tractor Boys defence, had a couple of efforts well saved for good measure.

  William Saliba (8/10):

  Performed to his usual standard alongside Gabriel and was rarely called into defensive action at the Emirates.

  Gabriel (8/10):

  Proved to be a big threat from set pieces and found himself in the attacking third a few times as Arsenal asserted their dominance in North London.

  Myles Lewis-Skelly (9/10):

  Excelled at left-back and looked like a staple of Mikel Arteta's team. Proved once again why the Hale End Academy is one of the best in Europe.

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  Midfield

  Martin Odegaard (7/10):

  Showed a little bit of rust under the lights but still orchestrated most of Arsenal's attacks and ensured his side played at their usual tempo.

  Declan Rice (7/10):

  Aside from a few overhit diagonals, the England international was pretty tidy. He flashed a shot over the bar in the first half and swept up any chance Ipswich had of hitting the Gunners on the counter attack.

  Kai Havertz (8/10):

  Worked well back in a midfield role and played off the shoulder of Gabriel Jesus to good effect. Scored a well-deserved goal and proved why he is the club's top goalscorer this season.

• AFP
  

  Attack

  Gabriel Martinelli (7/10):

  Covered in the right-hand side in the absence of Bukayo Saka and although he was not as effective as the Englishman, was still a handful for Leif Davis all night.

  Gabriel Jesus (8/10):

  Has been a revelation for Arsenal since returning to form and was unlucky to have a goal ruled out. Worked hard in both halves and helped lead the team to an important victory

  Leandro Trossard (7/10):

  Played the ball across the box for Havertz's goal and proved his worth in the starting XI.

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  Subs & Manager

  Mikel Merino (7/10):

  Arteta introduced him to regain control of the match in the second half which the Spaniard did to good effect.

  Thomas Partey (N/A):

  Was used as fresh legs to replace Rice for the final few minutes.

  Mikel Arteta (8/10):

  Recognised that he needed to make changes at 1-0 in the second half and both substitutions had an impact as Arsenal held out for the win.

Manchester United’s season began with three points last Friday after they ran out 1-0 winners over Fulham. The Red Devils had some good periods of the game, although the Cottagers had more than their fair share of chances, which they failed to take. It took a debut goal from Joshua Zirkzee to seal all three points, but Erik ten Hag’s side got there in the end.

One area United seem determined to improve this summer is the midfield. It has been a summer in which the Red Devils have drastically overhauled their defence, making three signings, and adding Zirkzee to strengthen up front, but so far the midfield remains untouched.

There has been plenty of rumoured changes in the middle of the park for the Red Devils, with Christian Eriksen and Casemiro linked with a move away, although transfers for the pair have yet to materialise at this stage. Sofyan Amarbat’s loan from Fiorentina also expired at the end of last season, and they are yet to move back in for him.

Ten Hag’s side have been heavily linked with a move for Manuel Ugarte all summer, and although it has taken a while, there seems to be a fair amount of optimism that it will get done. However, there is another midfield deal that now seems incredibly unlikely.

Sander Berge’s proposed summer transfer

The player in question here is Burnley and Norwegian international midfielder Sander Berge. The 26-year-old has been touted for a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, but that deal now seems in jeopardy and it appears as though he could join Fulham instead.

On Monday evening, it was reported by The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell that a bid from the West London outfit for the Norway international had been accepted by Scott Parker’s Burnley. The Clarets are believed to have accepted a deal worth £20m with £5m of add-ons.

The 26-year-old was viewed as an alternative to Ugarte this summer, with Fabrizio Romano confirming to GiveMeSport that the Red Devils spoke to the player’s entourage to try and sound out a potential deal.

During the 2023/24 season, Berge was a crucial player for the Clarets, although could not help them survive immediate relegation from the Premier League. He played 37 times for Burnley in the top flight, and whilst he impressed in the middle of the park, was not able to help his side stay in the Premier League.

As per the Daily Mail, the Red Devils had a bid rejected for the Norway international, although it did not match Fulham’s valuation. In order to afford a deal for a midfielder, they may well have to sell players this summer, and one man who could depart the club is academy graduate Scott McTomimay.

McTominay’s value in 2024

27-year-old midfielder McTominay has been heavily rumoured to leave Old Trafford this summer, after an impressive campaign in 2023/24. He was a key source of goals for Ten Hag last term, and enjoyed his best goalscoring season in the Premier League, scoring seven times.

The Scotland international is a master at crashing the box late, getting onto crosses and firing home from close range. He offers a unique profile to United’s squad and was described as an “absolute monster” by football analyst H over on X.

He often dug Ten Hag and his side out of a hole. Out of those seven top-flight goals, one was an equaliser, one was a winner and on two occasions the Scot scored a brace, getting both the equaliser and winner, as per Transfermarkt. He was hugely effective.

However, with United needing to sell players over the summer to raise funds for a midfielder, he could be on the chopping block before the deadline on the 30th of August. McTominay is certainly of interest to a couple of clubs across Europe.

One of those was, ironically Fulham, who have since moved on to signing Berge, and Italian side Napoli, now managed by Antonio Conte. Indeed, interested clubs will have to meet United’s £30m valuation if they want to sign him, money they can then go and invest into a deal for Ugarte.

That would give the Old Trafford club pure profit, given he is an academy graduate for whom the paid nothing – with that £30m price tag also ahead of the initial £20m fee that Fulham are set to dish out on Berge.

The Red Devils missed the boat on signing Berge this summer, but the opportunity to bring Ugarte to the club remains, and selling McTominay on could be a huge turning point, as Ten Hag looks to reshape the midfield and push his side further up the table.

Better than Berge: Man Utd could sign Casemiro upgrade who's like Pogba

He has impressed at his current club.

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 18, 2024

Liverpool are reportedly working on a mystery second signing in the remaining days of the transfer window, coming in alongside Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Liverpool agree Mamardashvili deal

It has been a curiously quiet summer at Anfield on the transfer front, with many supporters left frustrated that not a single player has arrived to bolster Arne Slot's options. The new head coach has started impressively, winning his opening two Premier League matches, but there is a feeling that failure to bring in new faces could prevent his side from mounting a genuine trophy challenge.

It does look as though one piece of business is about to be confirmed at least, with Mamardashvili reportedly agreeing a move to Liverpool from Valencia, spending the 2024/25 season on loan at his current club before providing competition for Alisson this time next year.

He will set the Reds back around £30m in what is a somewhat strange investment, given Alisson's clear number one status and recent comments which reinforced his love for the club.

The 23-year-old impressed hugely for Georgia at Euro 2024 however, standing out as one of the leading goalkeepers in the tournament, having made a total of 30 saves, which is the second-highest tally in the history of the competition.

Replacing Alisson is going to be an almost impossible task for Liverpool, considering the Brazilian is not only one of the best 'keepers of his generation but also among the finest stoppers to have ever played the game, proving to be a remarkably consistent performer since arriving from Roma in 2018.

Liverpool now chasing second defensive signing

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are working on signing an unnamed defender alongside Mamardashvili this week, bringing in a player who can provide competition for Virgil van Dijk. The Reds are believed to want a "centre-back who can also operate at full-back", putting pressure on Andy Robertson at the same time, and will look to get a deal done in January if they run out of time this week.

Liverpool supporters are sure to be encouraged by this update, with a young central defender who can also play at left-back making complete sense to come in, acting as their own version of Manchester City ace Josko Gvardiol, who has been a revelation for Pep Guardiola's side since joining from RB Leipzig.

Van Dijk is now 33 and Robertson is 30, so both players will need to see their minutes managed carefully by Slot as the season goes on, and snapping up a player who can excel in both roles would effectively kill two birds with one stone.

While no specific player is mentioned in the update, Sporting CP youngster Goncalo Inacio could be a perfect option, having been linked with a move to Liverpool many times already this year and playing on the left side of a back three at times throughout this career.

100% duels won: 8/10 Liverpool star was good as Diaz v Brentford

Liverpool confidently brushed Brentford aside to pick up two wins from two in the Premier League.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 25, 2024

The 22-year-old already has lots of experience in his career, despite still being so young, having made 175 appearances for his club side and won 11 caps for Portugal, potentially proving to be the future of his country's side defence after the retirement of Pepe.

With Ibrahima Konate injury-prone and Jarell Quansah still learning, as shown by his half-time substitution at Ipswich Town, another centre-back is much-needed, or Liverpool risk suddenly looking short of options.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been warned against spending "big" in January and told that splashing on players can "easily damage" Wrexham.

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• Wrexham brought in a dozen players this campaign
• Still want to buy a striker in the winter market
• Don Goodman advises Rob & Ryan to be prudent

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 2025 winter transfer window, less than two weeks away, is set to bring significant activity to the Racecourse Ground. Under manager Phil Parkinson, Wrexham brought in nine players during the summer transfer window, supplemented by three free-agent signings in recent months. Despite these acquisitions, the club is still in the market for a striker, with numerous players already linked to a January move.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This ambition to bolster their squad reflects the club's upward trajectory. However, the importance of prudent decision-making has been stressed by football experts, with specific warnings against excessive spending that could destabilize the team.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has issued a pointed reminder to Reynolds and McElhenney about the potential pitfalls of overzealous January spending. Speaking to Coin Poker, Goodman reflected on his own experience at Wolves, highlighting how an influx of new players once disrupted their dressing room dynamics.

  “Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mclehenney need to remember it’s all about balance. If they were to go big in the January window and go all-out for promotion, they could very easily damage the equilibrium and spirit in the dressing room," he warned.

  "I experienced a similar scenario at Wolves, when we brought in around half a dozen players and it upset our spirit within the dressing room. Although I’m sure they’ve got the money to buy players and spend big, they have to get the balance right. If they’re going to bring players in, they need to make sure the policy is quality over quantity."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Goodman commended Wrexham’s strategy so far, noting that most of the squad who earned promotion from League Two last season remain integral to the team. This continuity has been a hallmark of the club's progress under Reynolds and McElhenney's stewardship.

  “If you look at the team which drew with Cambridge at the weekend, most of them were at the club last season in League Two," he added. "They did a little bit of business in the summer but stuck with the majority of players who did so well last season, I don’t think they’ll go mad in January as they didn’t in the summer. They need to focus on bringing in players who will go straight into the starting lineup.”

Jonas Eidevall is 'very disappointed' that USWNT boss Emma Hayes hasn't reached out since making comments

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• Hayes called Eidevall out for 'male aggression' last year
• Former Arsenal boss says he was 'very disappointed'
• Also unsatisfied by lack of contact from USWNT boss since

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Eidevall and Hayes had many managerial battles during their time with Arsenal and Chelsea, respectively, but none more memorable than the League Cup final in March 2024. Though the Gunners emerged 1-0 thanks to Stina Blackstenius' extra-time goal, the game sticks in the mind more because of Frida Maanum's worrying collapse and, after full-time, Hayes seeming to shove Eidevall.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The then-Chelsea manager was asked about Eidevall in her post-match press conference and it was there that she said things that the former Arsenal boss has now spoken out about.

  “Listen, I think there’s a way to conduct yourself on the touchline, I really do. I think it’s absolutely essential that we role model in the right way. I’m not down for male aggression on the touchline, I’m really not, and fronting up to players, for me, that’s unacceptable. I’m disappointed and I told Jonas that," Hayes said, referring to behaviour from Eidevall towards Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert, as she looked to take a throw-in late on.

  "I don’t think it’s okay to behave like that. He got a yellow card, and he should have probably been sent off. I’m all for competing to win. I’ve never been booked in 12 years, my time here. I totally accept he’s a winner and wants to win but his behaviour on the touchline wasn’t acceptable."

• WHAT EIDEVALL SAID

  Following Eidevall's appointment as head coach of the San Diego Wave in the NWSL, the Swede has spoken candidly about his relationship with Hayes in a long interview with . "Maybe we didn't talk much to each other, but we talked in a good way, about league developments and players. But after the League Cup final, we haven't had any relationship at all," he said.

  "The reaction after the game when she gives me a little push, that was for me a non-event. I can live with that. I understand those who say that if it had been the other way round, what would have happened to me? But that is so far from my picture of reality, I would never have done that. So I put that aside. However, the comments after the match, when the adrenaline has subsided, I was very disappointed. Very disappointed. And I'm also very disappointed that she hasn't been able to send a message or make a phone call and say that it was wrong. We can go from having a good relationship to having no relationship. I'm not going to be the one to reach out either because I don't think I've done anything wrong or crazy in the situation."

  Asked why he believes Hayes was so 'triggered' after that particular match, Eidevall responded: "No idea actually. I think there's something in the fact that I'm the only one who has won many matches against her Chelsea. I don't think any manager has done that, so maybe that's why. Then football is a lot of emotions, and I realise it was a match with emotions from all sides. Besides the fact that the game went to overtime, we had the worries about Frida Maanum, a game to be played… There was a lot going on."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Hayes and Eidevall should have had contact since then because one of the USWNT's top players, full-back Emily Fox, was signed in January 2024 by Arsenal, the club Eidevall left in October. However, he says the two didn't even talk about that. "She is the only manager who hasn't asked for a national team player since she took over the U.S," Eidevall revealed. "It's always been an assistant or something like that."

When the summer transfer window slammed down its shutters, the Liverpool fanbase cried in a chorus of disappointment. Arne Slot had made an impressive start to life, but surely some reinforcements were needed.

Liverpool lost Joel Matip at the end of his contract in June. The veteran centre-back was Jurgen Klopp's first signing way back when, but he wasn't replaced, not even with captain Virgil van Dijk stepping into the final year of his deal.

In midfield, Martin Zubimendi was pursued but the Real Sociedad star had a change of heart following promising indications, remained in his homeland, adding Anfield to a list of lucrative rejected suitors.

Wataru Endo still stands in the centre but looks likely to do so from the 75th minute onwards, for the most part. He played an industrious role last year, but Slot has found his anchor in Ryan Gravenberch.

Federico Chiesa was of course signed from Juventus to complete Liverpool's frontline, and while more was probably needed, Liverpool have a first-class squad and have proved as much through their early-season form. The real issue was and still is the lingering contractual conundrum.

Liverpool's contract situations

We've already mentioned Van Dijk, but all is still quiet on that front, and the same can be said for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who must resist the allure of Real Madrid if he is to continue his Gerrard-esque Reds career.

Mohamed Salah, however, has seen some movement. Things are starting to shift about, and the Egyptian king is about to be approached

And it's not just his prolific numbers. Salah has returned to action with a refreshed way about him, and it's reflected through his underlying metrics.

He's bouncing, restive, desperate to make his mark, fight for silverware and continue to climb the Premier League's all-time goalscoring list. Salah is tenth with 160 goals – Sergio Aguero is 24 goals ahead in fifth place.

A thoroughbred competitor, the 32-year-old might just pen that contract, with The Liverpool Echo even revealing that he is eager to renew his Anfield vows and stay put for another year or two.

After such an electrifying start to the season, it's pretty clear that Salah is set for success this year, firing in goals, deftly placing assists and carrying his team forward through his leadership and very presence.

He might be ageing but the £350k-per-week superstar is still one of Liverpool's most highly-valued players, from a financial standpoint. However, there are a select few who surpass him, and Dominik Szoboszlai is one of them.

Dominik Szoboszlai under Arne Slot

Szoboszlai joined Liverpool as part of Klopp's 2023 rebuild, leaving RB Leipzig after his £60m release clause was activated. The Hungary captain had been hailed as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller following his time in Germany but endured a chequered debut campaign on Merseyside.

He wasn't bad by any stretch, but Szoboszlai fizzled out following a blistering start, an issue stemming from injuries and Liverpool's general nosedive toward the latter end of the campaign.

Szoboszlai's returned with gusto and renewed vigour, however, a veritable workhorse who makes things tick for his team, enabling the goalscoring success of forwards such as Salah.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 15% of central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for passes attempted, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90.

He's got quite the engine, with robust athleticism and many more midfield properties that suggest he could be set for a lasting career of prominence on English shores.

It's an exciting time ahead, with Slot shifting him from the middle of the field into a more favourable no. 10 role. During Liverpool's victorious trip to Old Trafford last weekend, the 23-year-old completed 90% of his balls and placed three key passes, but he also won three of his five contested ground duels, as per Sofascore, speaking of growing maturity and crispness in defensive phases.

Such gains are indeed reflected in his lofty market value.

Szoboszlai's market value in 2024/25

Every player goes through peaks and valleys during their career, and while fans had hoped for a bit more consistency from their £60m man last year, his raw quality was evident.

He's claimed two assists from his opening fixtures this year and looks on course to better his maiden year's tally, only posting seven goals and four assists across all competitions.

It's remarkable to consider how high he could soar, but according to Transfermarkt's player appraisal model, he currently has a market value of £63m.

Salah, meanwhile, is currently worth just £46m, though it's important to remember that he is within the final year of his contract. Lest we forget, the Saudi Pro League and all its opulence sniffed around one year ago and saw a jaw-dropping offer of £150m rejected for the forward, who was coveted to be the face of the Gulf country's revolutionised football scene.

For now, Szoboszlai enjoys a position as one of Liverpool's most valuable players – and rightly so, he's starting to prove his true worth under Slot's leadership, and might just enjoy a talismanic campaign in his more creative midfield role.

Gerrard 2.0: Liverpool's "fearless" teen is a bigger talent than Ngumoha

Arne Slot could welcome some elite youth talents in the coming years…

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 5, 2024

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has admitted that his post-match conversations with Sir Jim Ratcliffe were eased by the win over Southampton.

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• Amorim held talks with Ratcliffe
• Did so after the win over Southampton
• Admits win eased talks with co-owner

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United's difficult and inconsistent performances have continued under Amorim since his takeover at Old Trafford following the departure of Erik ten Hag in October. However, the results have been evident but hard to come by as the Red Devils have won against Manchester City and Arsenal and drawn against Liverpool over the last month.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Nonetheless, the ruthlessness of the footballing industry has meant that Amorim's job has not remained secure with rumours about INEOS and co-owner Sir Ratcliffe being unhappy with Amorim's progress at Manchester United. The former Sporting coach has now revealed that he had the opportunity to hold talks with Ratcliffe after the win against Southampton, which came in dramatic fashion thanks to Amad Diallo's late 12-minute hat-trick after Manuel Ugarte's own-goal gave the Saints a first-half lead. Amorim also revealed that his talks with the co-owner were eased by the win over Southampton.

• WHAT AMORIM SAID

  Speaking to the media, Amorim revealed: "I had five minutes with him [Ratcliffe] to talk about different things. It was not a good game, but the result helped the conversation! We continue doing our job.

  "Today it was more important to win. I know the fans want to see so much better football, but we need to win games. We managed to win and we are going to prepare for the next game."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR AMORIM?

  Despite the rumours, it is highly unlikely that INEOS are worried about the Portuguese coach and are very likely to back him until the end of the season before holding a post-season review to discuss Amorim's viability to continue as head coach of Manchester United.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is aiming for a fifth straight Premier League title this season in what could be his final campaign in charge.

The Spanish head coach’s contract is currently due to expire next summer and it remains to be seen whether or not he will continue his spell at The Etihad.

Guardiola has won six Premier League titles so far and his work in the transfer market has been key to that over the years, going all the way back to John Stones in his first window in charge.

The central defender joined from Everton for a reported fee of £47.5m in the summer of 2016, and has enjoyed a terrific career in Manchester.

John Stones' current market value

At the time of writing, Transfermarkt places his current market value at €38m (£32m), which is an expected decrease for the 30-year-old, who has been at the club for eight years.

The City number five has racked up 258 appearances in all competitions for Guardiola and, of course, has been there for all six of the Spaniard’s title wins in England.

He has been in the PFA Team of the Year on two occasions, for the 2020/21 and 2022/23 campaigns, and won six domestic cups, alongside the Champions League.

Stones has been a terrific signing for City because of his longevity and quality, as shown by his Team of the Year inclusions, since his move from Everton in 2016.

He may not be the best centre-back signing made by Guardiola during his reign, however, as Ruben Dias has been an exceptional piece of business so far.

Ruben Dias' current market value

At the time of his arrival from Benfica in the summer of 2020, the Portugal international was valued at €35m (£29.5m) and his current value sits at a whopping €80m (£67.6m).

That is an increase of 129% in his four years at The Etihad, which shows that Guardiola hit the jackpot when he snapped up the central defender in 2020.

Dias enjoyed a fairytale debut season in England in the 2020/21 campaign, as he won the Premier League Player of the Season award for his efforts at the back.

As you can see in the table above, Dias was extremely reliable in possession and dominant defensively, to help his side to 15 clean sheets and the title.

The 27-year-old titan has already racked up 182 appearances for City in all competitions and was named in the aforementioned PFA Team of the Year awards alongside Stones in both the 2020/21 and 2022/23 seasons.

Despite being three years younger than Stones, Dias has already matched his number of PFA Team of the Year selections and won a Player of the Season award in the top-flight, which the England international has not managed.

Man City let a big talent leave for £76k, now he's outperforming Grealish

The former Cityzens youngster has caught the eye since moving on from The Etihad.

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By
Dan Emery

Sep 9, 2024

This, along with his increased value, shows that City hit the jackpot when they signed the Portuguese colossus and that he may have been an even better signing than the former Everton star was.

The Parisians would be staring a shocking league-phase elimination in the face if they lose at home to Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday

Luis Enrique knew what he was getting into the moment he agreed to become Paris Saint-Germain's new coach in 2023. Success at Parc des Princes isn't judged by domestic titles; it's all about leading the club to that first Champions League win.

"I love this pressure and this mission," the Spaniard insisted at his very first press conference. "There are plenty of teams that have the same dream, sometimes with more experience, but that doesn’t mean we can’t reach this level.

"It's a challenge, though, it's substantial. And the Champions League is almost unfair: one bad game and you're out."

However, while that may well be true of the tournament's knockout stage, the new, disimproved league phase isn't like that at all. It's now more difficult than ever before for the top teams to fall at the first hurdle – which is why PSG's predicament going into Wednesday's meeting with Manchester City is so remarkable.

Even though the amount of games in the first round proper has increased from six to eight, and 10 points is now almost certain to be enough to progress, the Parisians are in very real danger of suffering their earliest – and most embarrassing – elimination since Qatari Sports Investment (QSI) took control of the club more than a decade ago…

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  The prediction

  It was clear from the moment that QSI acquired a majority stake in PSG in 2011 that the new owners meant business. The goal was very obviously to become the dominant force in European football. In an interview with in 2014, president Nasser Al-Khelaifi even went so far as to predict a Champions League triumph within four years.

  It was a serious statement of intent – but proved a serious error of judgement. As former captain Thiago Silva subsequently admitted, Al-Khelaifi's vow placed an incredible amount of pressure on the players – and they buckled under it. Repeatedly.

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  'Pressure to win was too heavy'

  There was '' against Barcelona in 2017, when PSG capitulated at Camp Nou, the unforgivable collapse at home to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United two years later that turned a disbelieving Neymar into a meme, and the devastating 1-0 defeat in their one and only final, against Bayern Munich, in 2020.

  "The pressure to win the Champions League was too heavy," Thiago Silva told in September 2023. "It was something that hurt me because I saw the situation change, and the pressure increased to win. But that's not how you win. It's a question of consistency year after year."

  Thiago Silva's compatriot and successor as PSG captain, Marquinhos, has repeatedly insisted that the squad no longer carries the same burden, but their Champions League results would suggest otherwise.

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  'Obsession doesn't work'

  Since making the final five years ago, PSG have endured another shocking last-16 surrender (away to Real Madrid, in 2021-22), been beaten with worrying ease by both Manchester City (2020-21) and Bayern Munich (2022-23), and, perhaps most disappointingly of all, allowed Borussia Dortmund to get the better of them in last season's semi-finals.

  For all of the money QSI has invested in the boosting the brand, the public perception of PSG remains the same: perennial champions of France but the Champions League's biggest bottlers, doomed to disappoint in Europe, always certain to find one way or another to throw away ties that they should win.

  And why? Because the feeling is that PSG's desperate pursuit of the ultimate glory in the club game has clouded their judgement; that they've got their priorities all wrong.

  It's certainly rather telling that Luis Enrique said shortly after his unveiling, "When a club is obsessed with something, it is never a good sign. You have to have ambition, but obsession doesn't work."

  Stockpiling superstars didn't work for PSG either, which is why they have recently decided to move away from what Al-Khelaifi called the "flashy, bling-bling" signings for which the club had become famous.

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  'Full confidence'

  Obviously, every attempt was made to keep Kylian Mbappe, but it was noticeable even before the forward's inevitable move to Real Madrid last summer that PSG were trying something different under sporting director Luis Campos.

  That's not to say that they haven't continued to spend significant sums of money in the market, but we've seen a noticeable shift in policy in the last few transfer windows, with the club signing fewer proven talents and bringing in more players of real potential aged 23 or under, such as Bradley Barcola, Goncalo Ramos, Lucas Beraldo, Willian Pacho, Joao Neves and Desire Doue.

  There was always an acceptance that it would take some time for all of these younger players to gel (at least in continental competition). However, Champions League elimination would undoubtedly affect the fans' faith in the new project and result in Luis Enrique's position being called into question again, with a clearly irritated Al-Khelaifi having to issue a vote of confidence in the coach just last month.

  "I can’t believe what is being written [about Luis Enrique] and I even find it ridiculous," the Qatari told . "But we won’t let it affect our football at all. We have a short-, medium- and long-term strategy and I have full confidence in the manager, in the players, and all of our team."

  However, being dumped out of Europe by the end of January would be difficult for Al-Khelaifi & Co to defend.