Former Manchester City icon Paulo Wanchope believes that the club 'will be okay' even if they get relegated due to their 115 financial charges.
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Could face relegation if found guilty
England and Arsenal star Leah Williamson trained alone after her 'medical situation' in the Conti Cup final.
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Rangers could be looking for new signings to aid their Scottish Premiership title push, and one player has hinted at a move to Ibrox when 2024 arrives.
The Gers have already made improvements since Philippe Clement replaced Michael Beale in the Ibrox hot seat, with results and performances already better than they were previously. It is still clear that Clement's side have a huge amount of work to do in order to chase down rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race, even though the Hoops' 0-0 draw away to Hibernian on Saturday has given them more hope of wrestling the trophy away from them next year.
For that to happen, it could be that new faces are required when the January transfer window rolls around, in order to give the manager more options all over the pitch. It looks as though one intriguing move could potentially happen in 2024, following a key update regarding one player who is well-known to Gers supporters.
Speaking to The Daily Record, Filip Helander hinted that he could return to Rangers on a free transfer in 2024, having previously represented the club for four years:
"I’m not aware of the injury I had at all, which is great. And I think I can still achieve a lot in the game. That’s something I have in my mind. I try to set goals in terms of what I want to do.
"I’m only 30 so hopefully I have a good few years left in me. Because I was out for a long time it’s almost like I feel MORE healthy now. It’s about making up for lost time. That’s how I’m trying to look at it. I hope to have a good season here in Denmark and see what happens after that.
“I’ve only signed a one-year deal at Odense. They weren’t certain whether I’d be fit or not. So it was a good place to hopefully get game time. Could I come back to Rangers for free next summer? You never know."
Helander was an impressive performer for Rangers between 2019 and earlier this year, when he departed to join Danish side OB, proving to be a consistent performer at centre-back. A dominant figure, Helander's stats in a Gers shirt highlight the influence that he enjoyed for the Scottish giants, racking up 60 appearances in that time and also winning 21 caps for Sweden at international level, with injuries arguably preventing him from having higher tallies.
Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is someone who always appreciated the 30-year-old, once hailing the "great leadership" that he possesses in his game, and the fact that he would be available on a free transfer at the end of the season would make it less of a risk – Helander's contract expires next summer – in terms of the Gers bringing him back to the club.
At 30, he still has plenty to offer, as Helander himself alludes to in his comments, and having another good option at the heart of the defence can only increase Clement's side going from strength to strength, possibly making this one to watch.
Manchester United are considering a move for an overseas goalkeeper to replace Andre Onana, according to a recent report.
Since putting pen to paper from Inter over the summer, Onana hasn’t made the beginning to life that he would have hoped at his new home, having kept just four clean sheets (Transfermarkt – Onana statistics), but it’s not just letting goals in that have affected his performance levels in the Premier League.
The Red Devils goalkeeper has looked nervous with the ball at his feet on multiple occasions this season – something he was supposed to thrive at – and made some silly mistakes leading to the opposition being given an opportunity to hit the back of the net.
Therefore, Erik ten Hag may be regretting signing him in the first place and it sounds like he’s already seeking out successors, which has led him to FC Porto’s Diogo Costa, and it’s not the first time the boss has attempted to secure a deal for the 24-year-old.
The Old Trafford side were pushing to land the Portugal international after David De Gea left the club, but having instead opted to go for their current first-choice between the sticks, a move failed to come to fruition before the previous transfer deadline.
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (via Sport Witness), Man United sent scouts to watch Costa during FC Porto's 2-0 victory over Vizela last weekend. The Red Devils maintain an interest in their target and "could make a new move" for him in January.
The M16 outfit are planning to deploy chiefs to assess the goalkeeper again in the near future, with €75m (£65m) being the price tag that has been set for him by his club, but it yet remains to be seen whether the board are considering submitting an offer.
During his time at FC Porto, Costa has kept 50 clean sheets from 122 senior appearances, which has seen him described as a “superman” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, so it’s understandable to see why Old Trafford chiefs would want to take a second bite of the cherry (Transfermarkt – Costa statistics).
Standing at 6 foot 1, Sergio Conceicao’s colossus has also made 12 saves from 18 shots on target against so far this season, giving him a 72.2% success rate (FBRef – Costa statistics), with his impressive performances having helped to contribute towards securing ten pieces of silverware for club and country since the start of his career.
|
Diogo Costa – Achievements |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Portuguese Champion |
2019/20 & 2021/22 |
|
Portuguese Cup Winner |
2020, 2022 & 2023 |
|
Portuguese League Cup Winner |
2022/23 |
|
Portuguese Super Cup Winner |
2021 |
|
UEFA Youth League Winner |
2018/19 |
|
Portugal European U19s Champion |
2018 |
|
Portugal European U17s Champion |
2016 (Data via Transfermarkt) |
Therefore, Ten Hag would only benefit from having Costa’s winning mentality and extraordinary shot-stopping skills in the building, so having been a player on the radar for quite some time, this could be one to keep a close eye on ahead of January.
Luis Enrique has been told by Ronald Koeman that only three men have Barcelona “DNA”, and they are Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi.
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Kyle Walker and Annie Kilner have reconciled, despite the Manchester City right-back fathering two children with Lauryn Goodman.
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Liverpool looked on track to rediscover their best form under Jurgen Klopp before seeing their initial momentum come to a crashing halt in a week to forget. First came the draw at Luton Town in the Premier League, which would have been a defeat if it wasn't for Luis Diaz's late header.
Then, to make matters worse, came the defeat against Toulouse in the Europa League, as the Reds were denied a late leveller when Jarell Quansah found the back of the net, only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal out thanks to Alexis Mac Allister's handball in controversial fashion. The two results proved that those at Anfield are far from the finished product and recent transfer news shows that they are well aware of that, leaving one particular pundit impressed.
The Reds spent well in the summer to welcome Dominik Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo to end what was a growing midfield crisis following the exits of players such as Jordan Henderson and Fabinho. But while their focus was on revamping their midfield, Liverpool failed to address other areas of concern, leaving them with plenty of work to do in January.
According to Football Insider, Liverpool are exploring a potential deal for a versatile defender in January, which would help develop Trent Alexander-Arnold's new role. Former Reds goalkeeper and Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson delivered his verdict on the news, telling Football Insider: “If Klopp was to get an orthodox right-back, that would be him changing his system. The manager will be looking to strengthen his squad, as they do every window.
"In that position, if you’re buying a hybrid defender, you’re also buying someone who could play in midfield too. Defence has been an area where Liverpool have been susceptible in the last 12 to 18 months, that’s not exactly a secret, but attacking-wise they’ve been fantastic. Trent would potentially be given the opportunity in games to add to the attacking plethora of attacking talent they already have.
“He can play higher up the field like we’ve seen with England. But they’re going to be wanting to be in the Champions League again next season.
“I don’t think in any way shape or form that Klopp will specifically replace Alexander-Arnold, but it will be another top-class addition to a squad that’s put under a lot of pressure at points of the season.”
If Liverpool want to get the best out of Alexander-Arnold, then getting him higher up the pitch will be the key. The academy graduate has built a fine reputation for his passing ability and has quickly become one of the best creators in the Premier League.
|
Alexander-Arnold's Premier League assists |
Total |
|
2019/20 |
13 |
|
2020/21 |
7 |
|
2021/22 |
12 |
|
2022/23 |
9 |
With that said, Liverpool's potential January transfer plan could prove to be a stroke of genius if it unlocks Alexander-Arnold's passing range even further. It could even be the difference between a season of silverware and a season inside the Premier League's top four.
Tim Weah made his return to Juventus' starting XI as the Old Lady came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at Cagliari.
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Everton haven't needed to rely on their strikers this season to pick up victories this season so far in the Premier League, defenders even getting amongst the goals last time out versus Crystal Palace as left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko opened the scoring in the 3-2 victory at Selhurst Park.
The game-deciding strike saw another unexpected hero rise to the occasion, holding midfielder Idrissa Gueye scoring the winner with three minutes remaining on the clock after being found by midfield teammate Abdoulaye Doucoure in space.
It's not to say Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn't led the line effectively up top for Sean Dyche's men in glimpses this campaign – scoring four goals in all competitions from 11 appearances – but the Blues aren't heavily reliant on a superstar striker akin to Romelu Lukaku who was deadly in a Blues strip during his four-season stay.
Dyche will still be disappointed that his new £25.75m man in Beto has struggled up top however, with Neal Maupay – who was loaned back out to former club Brentford for a mini-reunion with the Bees in September – also now outperforming the misfiring summer signing in West London.
The 6 foot 4 attacker joined the Blues with hype attached to the purchase, the 25-year-old seeing out his Udinese career in a rich vein of goalscoring form.
In his final full season with the White and Blacks, the imposing striker would manage ten goals from 33 Serie A appearances.
He hasn't quite recaptured this knack for finishing off chances expertly in Italy with his new employers in England however, only scoring once so far for the Toffees in the EFL Cup with zero goals to his name in the cut and thrust of the Premier League.
Beto did put in a promising cameo against Crystal Palace off the bench this weekend in the top-flight, his towering presence useful with the Blues battling to keep ahold of the three points deep into the game – Everton's number 14 winning three aerial duels from only 13 minutes on the pitch, as per Sofascore.
Dyche will hope that his summer signing can find his shooting boots soon though, with Maupay exposing Beto's ineffective nature in front of goal playing under Thomas Frank away from the Toffees.
The Frenchman endured a torrid time at Goodison Park before relocating back to Brentford on a short-term deal, Maupay signing on the dotted line at Everton with hopes he'd be a prolific striker but his time with the Blues has not gone to plan whatsoever.
Maupay has only managed one goal in total for the Merseysiders, leading to Dyche sending the 27-year-old away from the club to regain his confidence and return back to Goodison hopefully as a transformed beast altogether.
The impotent £50k-per-week striker with the Blues has managed to turn around his goalscoring fortunes with the Bees, scoring once and assisting a further two goals in Premier League action this season which puts him ahead of Beto for top-flight goal contributions.
Maupay is in the midst of a recent purple patch for his side, the 27-year-old's one solitary loan strike coming against West Ham in the Bees' last home encounter at the Gtech Community Stadium – heading in a mis-hit strike turned ingenious assist from teammate Frank Onyeka to open the scoring, Frank's men winning 3-2 come full-time.
Dyche will be demanding more from Beto, Everton not wanting to have another striker dud on their hands. However, in the example of loaned-out striker Maupay, misfiring strikers can just get back into their stride randomly and so he'll hope Beto can do the same and show why the Toffees decided to splash big cash to secure his signature in the transfer window.
Long-standing Manchester United target Frenkie de Jong is reportedly open to making a move away from Barcelona in the summer transfer window.
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