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As they battle Liverpool and Arsenal for this season's Premier League title, Manchester City already have two deals in place for the 2024/25 season. They struck the first of those in January, paying £12.5m to sign 18-year-old midfielder Claudio Echeverri from River Plate.

Echeverri won't join City until January, but one player who should be with Pep Guardiola's side for pre-season is Savio after the reigning champions agreed a deal to sign him from City Football Group outfit Troyes. The Brazilian, on loan at Girona this season, attracted interest from other English clubs and teams in Germany, but City are now expected to finalise a move by the end of February, with documents already being drawn up.

It's since emerged that the Premier League will scrutinise the cross-network transfer to ensure that City have paid a fair free for the player's services. But in a move that's likely to anger rivals amid the ongoing controversy, City are already planning their next CFG transfer.

City now set sights on Marmol

According to Spanish outlet El Chiringuto and journalist Jose Alvarez, centre-back Mika Marmol at Los Palmas has now emerged as a target for the CFG ahead of the summer transfer window.

The plan is for Man City to sign him from the newly-promoted La Liga side and then loan him to Girona, who are competing for the Spanish top-flight title this season.

Marmol fits City profile to a tee

Who is Marmol? Well, the first thing to know is that he spent four years in the Barcelona youth system before leaving for FC Andorra in 2022 and then joining Las Palmas 12 months later.

This season, he's started 21 out of 23 games in La Liga and put up some eye-catching defensive numbers, including the ninth-highest challenge success rate (73.3%) and the fourth-highest number of clearances (102) in the division.

Man City seriously eyeing 'magician' as Begiristain told to pay club-record fee

The player is secretly open to a move, but it will take an enormous outlay.

By
David Comerford

Jan 20, 2024

However, what may really intrigue City is what he's been doing in possession. As you can see in the table below, he was one of the best ball-playing centre-halves in the Segunda Division last season, and he may be able to replicate these figures in a dominant elite side.

City already have a relationship with Las Palmas, having loaned Maximo Perrone to the island club, and they may hope that stands them in good stead when they knock on the door over Marmol. At the age of 22, he only may need one more season for Spain before he's ready to compete for a meaningful role at the Etihad Stadium.

Alisha Lehmann continues to enjoy her summer tour of Los Angeles, with the Swiss star taking in a trip to the exclusive Magic Castle in California.

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• Swiss star enjoying break in the States
• Headed from Florida to California
• Making the most of chance to see sights

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Aston Villa forward is in the United States ahead of boyfriend Douglas Luiz figuring for Brazil in Copa America competition. She has already watched him in friendly action against the USMNT in Orlando – with a dream vacation starting out in Florida.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  After swapping the east coast for the west, Lehmann has been spending plenty of time on the beach. She has continued to soak up sun alongside close friend and former Villa team-mate Chaney Boye-Hlorkah. The 25-year-old has also visited the iconic Walk of Fame and legendary Hollywood sign.

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• THE GOSSIP

  With her days being filled by the sea, Lehmann needs something to do at night. She has now taken the opportunity to visit the Magic Castle – a clubhouse for magicians and magic enthusiasts that is only open to those in the magic circle or guests that receive a special invite.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Lehmann will be sticking around in California for at least one more evening, with Luiz and Brazil set to open their quest for Copa America glory against Costa Rica on Monday. That game will be taking place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood – the home of the LA-based Rams and Chargers NFL franchises.

Liverpool continue to search for Jurgen Klopp's successor as manager, and one club are thought to be "concerned" that the Reds could snatch their boss away.

Liverpool manager latest

Klopp's decision to stand down as Reds manager has rocked the football world in recent weeks, in a decision that few saw coming. The German has cited burnout for deciding to call it quits, meaning the Merseysiders now have to focus on nailing his replacement.

Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has emerged as the favourite to take over at Anfield, with the 42-year-old excelling at Bayer Leverkusen, guiding them to the top of the Bundesliga. On Friday, Klopp even talked him up as the outstanding young manager in world football:

“Xabi is doing an incredible job. If there would not be the rumours around, that’s ­completely independent. If you would have asked me eight weeks ago about Xabi Alonso I would have gone: ‘Oh my God.’ The dinosaurs if you want – Ancelotti, Mourinho, Guardiola, maybe me – we will not do it for the next 20 years. OK, maybe Mourinho will. The next generation is already there and I would say Xabi is standout in that department."

Away from Alonso, there are several other candidates who have been linked with the Liverpool job, however, including Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim and Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi. Now, another name has been thrown into the mix, as the Reds continue to be linked with Klopp successors.

Ange Postecoglou to Liverpool update

According to Football Insider, Ange Postecoglou could be an option to replace Klopp at Liverpool, and club chiefs at Spurs are "absolutely concerned".

"Tottenham chiefs are worried that Ange Postecoglou could leave to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, sources have told Football Insider. Speaking to the new edition of Football Insider’s Insider Track Podcast, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that the club are 'absolutely concerned Ange could go' to the Reds following Klopp’s departure at the end of the season."

The report goes on to add that Postecoglou's future at Spurs could hinge on whether his side qualify for next season's Champions League, also stating that there is no release clause in his current deal. It is easy to envisage the Australian being a candidate for the soon-to-be-vacant Liverpool job, not least because he was a boyhood Reds supporter who could jump at the opportunity to take on the role of a lifetime.

More importantly, Postecoglou has proven himself in the Premier League since arriving at Spurs last summer, making a blistering start and playing superb football, even with injuries to key players such as James Maddison hampering him – Pep Guardiola is an admirer, too, which says a lot about his ability.

His side still look well-placed for a top-four finish, though, and his high-pressing, possession-based style would go down well at Anfield. Not only that, but the 58-year-old carries himself with class and would be a good ambassador for Liverpool as a club and city.

FSG ready to spend big to sign “fantastic” player for Liverpool

He’s already got some Premier League experience.

By
Tom Cunningham

Feb 16, 2024

Gary Lineker shares his strong reaction to news that Jude Bellingham is being investigated by UEFA over lewd gesture during Slovakia clash.

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• Lineker calls out UEFA after Bellingham decision
• England star under investigation
• Faces suspension if charges are brought

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lineker slated UEFA's disciplinary arm for getting involved and looking into Bellingham's conduct on the pitch during England's eventual victory. Bellingham scored England's dramatic stoppage time equaliser to keep Gareth Southgate's team in the tournament.

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  He was later seen performing a lewd gesture that was initially mistaken for being disrespectfully aimed at the Slovakia bench. But the Real Madrid player later clarified it was an "in-joke" with some friends who were in the stadium watching. That didn't stop UEFA from assigning an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to look into it.

• WHAT LINEKER SAID

  Posting on , Lineker said: "For crying out loud, the Euro 2024 celebration police are looking into Jude Bellingham. Ridiculous!"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM & ENGLAND?

  England have the best part of a week until their quarter-final against Switzerland on July 6. But there will be a nervous wait for some of it to see what UEFA's investigation into Bellingham's conduct yields and whether a charge will be brought against him. If UEFA decides to impose sanctions, the Real Madrid star could be hit with a one-game suspension and miss the tie altogether.

UFC legend Conor McGregor has a huge bet on England to lose the Euro 2024 final that could land him over €3 million.

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• Three Lions ready to face Spain in Berlin
• Irish fighter supporting La Roja
• Has boldly predicted the final outcome

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The ‘Notorious’ Irishman has his colours nailed firmly to the Spanish mast ahead of a continental clash in Berlin. He is hoping to see La Roja prevail on German soil, with Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions being tamed in the process.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  McGregor has been splashing the cash on football flutters this summer, with €365,000 lumped on Lionel Messi leading Argentina to Copa America glory. He also had €60,000 on Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Golden Boot at Euro 2024.

• THE GOSSIP

  The MMA superstar, who turns 36 on the same day as the European Championship final, has now revealed that he has a sizeable wager on Spain to beat England 3-1. If that result comes in, then McGregor’s €100,000 stake will be turned into more than €3m.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Fans around the world will be hoping that a showpiece event does produce plenty of goals. Spain are looking to recapture a trophy that they previously lifted in 2008 and 2012, while England’s men side are hoping to make history by becoming European champions for the first time.

Aston Villa have enjoyed some success in the transfer window under Unai Emery as he looks to build a side which can be regular top-six challengers in the Premier League.

So far so good for the Spaniard as his side are currently sitting in fourth place in the table, two points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and if they can maintain this sort of form into the closing weeks of the campaign, they will have an excellent shot of securing Champions League football next term.

Emery spent big during the summer transfer window prior to the 2023/24 season, luring the likes of Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres to the Midlands, but they both could prove to be wonderful signings.

The former Paris Saint-Germain boss has also managed to clear out some deadwood too, moving on various players since last January.

Danny Ings was sold for £15m in 2023, while Cameron Archer cost Sheffield United a transfer fee of £18.5m last summer and Emery clearly put those funds into much better use.

Although Emery has done well in the transfer market, both in terms of incomings and outgoings, he is not the only Villa manager to have enjoyed some success.

Indeed, Tim Sherwood also played a blinder with one of Villa’s players back in the summer of 2015, as he sold Christian Benteke for nearly five times as much as the club signed him for.

How much Aston Villa paid to sign Christian Benteke

Prior to the 2012/13 season, Paul Lambert was looking to bolster his attacking options at the Villa Park club and Benteke was earmarked as a main target.

He got his man for a transfer fee in the region of £7m and lauded the striker upon his arrival, saying:

"Christian is only but already he's an established Belgian international and he's had a terrific time at Genk. He's something very different to what we have here and that added dimension will enhance the football club.

"A young lad he may be, but he's definitely a handful. He's tall, powerful, he has pace and we'll be stronger with him in the side."

Over the next three full seasons, the former Genk forward emerged as one of the best attackers in the top flight.

Christian Benteke’s Aston Villa statistics

His debut season ended up being a huge success. Benteke scored a staggering 19 goals in just 34 league matches – adding another four in the League Cup – and he found the back of the net against the likes of Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea during the campaign.

Despite a strong opening few weeks when the striker netted twice against Arsenal along with grabbing goals against Chelsea and Newcastle United, he would only add another six league goals to his tally throughout the remaining months of the season, although an Achilles tendon rupture would end his campaign prematurely.

He returned to form during the 2014/15 season, scoring 13 league goals and this attracted attention from Liverpool, who were looking to improve on a dreadful season.

How much Aston Villa sold Benteke for

Brendan Rodgers eventually managed to lure the centre-forward to Anfield, but it would cost him a fee of £32.5m, which meant Villa and Sherwood sold the player for £25.5m more than what was paid for him just three years previously.

“I’m very happy to be here and I would like to thank the owners, Ian [Ayre, chief executive] and of course the manager for their massive effort to bring me here,” said Benteke in his first interview at the Reds.

“I think it was the right club for me because I had a good chat with the manager and I wanted to be part of his project.”

Unfortunately, his time on Merseyside failed to live up to such high expectations as he played just 42 games for the club, scoring only ten goals, and the move proved to be a major waste of funds by Rodgers.

He soon joined Crystal Palace after only one season in the North West of England, yet despite scoring 37 goals across six seasons, Villa arguably got the better end of the deal as they sold the player at exactly the right time for the maximum fee possible.

Christian Benteke's return form in the MLS

Hailed as “unstoppable” by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during his first season in charge of the club, Benteke has always been a clinical finisher in the opposition penalty area, but after six seasons in London, he was on the move in 2022.

The 33-year-old ended up moving to America and joining MLS side D.C. United midway through the 2022 season, where he scored just once in seven matches, hardly a figure which warranted much hype.

During his first full season, however, Benteke suddenly found the form that he displayed during his time at Villa, scoring 14 goals and grabbing three assists in just 31 league matches.

Among his teammates stateside, Benteke ranked first in the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.31), while also ranking first for goals and assists (17) and shots on target per game (1.3), proving that he was highly efficient in front of goal.

When compared to positional peers in the men’s next 14 competitions over the previous 365 days, Benteke ranks in the top 13% for total shots (3.42) per 90, along with ranking in the top 6% for touches in the opposition box per 90 (6.62) and this indicates that he spends the majority of his time in the penalty area, waiting for chances to be presented to him.

He certainly shows no signs of slowing down, but arguably his best form was during his three-season stint at Villa between 2012 and 2015.

Emery hit the jackpot by selling "strange" Aston Villa man in 2023

Aston Villa have enjoyed plenty of success in the transfer market since Unai Emery took over

By
Ross Kilvington

Feb 21, 2024

Selling him for such a lavish sum, Sherwood must have had an inkling that the Belgian frontman might struggle at Anfield, especially under the weight of a massive fee, and he was certainly proven correct.

With the MLS season starting in just a few weeks, Benteke will be hoping to replicate the form he displayed throughout 2023 and better his tally of 14 goals.

Leeds United may have just been handed a major boost in their transfer pursuit of one star this summer, with his club being urged to sell him for almost any decent fee.

Leeds eyeing up summer revamp

No matter how their impressive Championship campaign concludes, Daniel Farke's side are seemingly set for major change this summer.

The futures of plenty of loanees need to be decided, including Max Wober, Brenden Aaronson and Marc Roca. Meanwhile, there will almost certainly be interest in the likes of Archie Gray and Crysensio Summerville, both of whom have enjoyed memorable second-tier seasons.

"One day" – Leeds United star reveals La Liga dream

The Yorkshire side could lose a key man if they get promoted.

By
Ben Browning

Feb 9, 2024

Though promotion may encourage them to overhaul their squad, Farke is likely to want to keep the core of his squad together as best as he can, in order to try and hit the ground running in the top flight and hand the Yorkshire side the best chance of survival for another season.

One of those that they are thought to be most keen on keeping is Joe Rodon, who is currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur but has been a vital part of Leeds' promotion push and has slotted perfectly into Farke's backline, helping Leeds boast the best defence in the division.

Tottenham told to accept 8-figure offer

Now the Elland Road outfit may have been dealt a major boost, with one club insider urging Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to "learn from his past mistakes" and "just accept any deal" over £10m for the Welshman.

Rodon has been impressive during his season in the Championship, showing signs of why Tottenham initially took him to north London across his 34 appearances for Leeds this campaign. But it is clear that his future lies away from the Tottenham Hotspur stadium after two successive loan spells away from the club, and plenty of defensive cover having been bought in in his absence.

Speaking to Tottenham News, Spurs insider Jon Wenham has revealed that he would accept any deal for Rodon over £10m, and has urged Levy to do the same.

“Tottenham’s decision to sell Rodon this summer will be down to whether or not Levy has learned from his past mistakes", he explained.

“Do Spurs want to actually continue with this rebuild or do they want to dig their heels in and try and get more money for Rodon?

“I think they would be doing well to receive a fee of anywhere between £10-13million, and should just accept any deal in this range.

“It is a far higher fee than they would have got last summer after Rodon’s unsuccessful loan spell in France with Stade Rennais F.C.”

With Spurs keen to continue to splash the cash this summer and looking to build on an impressive first season under Ange Postecoglou, preparation for a return to the Champions League is likely to take centre stage, which could leave Leeds free to grab a bargain and make Rodon's loan move permanent at a cut-price fee.

Manchester United are eyeing Marcos Alonso as a surprise transfer target as they look to strengthen at left-back this summer.

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• Man Utd name three left-back targets
• Ex-Chelsea defender Alonso included
• Spaniard is available as free agent

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The defender is available as a free agent after he left Barcelona this summer following the expiration of his contract. United have included the 33-year-old on a three-man shortlist of candidates to help solve their problems at left-back, reports.

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  The former Chelsea star is one target alongside Feyenoord player David Hancko and Crystal Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell. Hancko has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, though that deal is said to have stalled, while AC Milan are also said to be interested. Mitchell, meanwhile, may be available at a cut price given he has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Palace.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Old Trafford club are considering bringing in another left-back because Tyrell Malacia's fitness troubles have seen him miss the club's tour of the United States. Malacia returned to individual training this summer but it is not yet known when he will be available for selection.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR UNITED?

  Erik ten Hag's team will take on Arsenal, Real Betis and Liverpool while in the United States this summer before they return to England to face Manchester City in the Community Shield in August 10.

Manchester United players Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford and Antony have not travelled with the squad for the friendly against Rangers on Saturday.

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• Three players left out of Man Utd squad
• English giants set to face Rangers in a friendly
• Leny Yoro named in Ten Hag's lineup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Earlier on Saturday the club named their 26-man squad that travelled to Edinburgh to face Scottish giants Rangers in their second pre-season friendly match on Saturday. In their first friendly on Monday, the Red Devils went down 1-0 against Rosenborg.

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  THE EXPLANATION

  Manager Erik ten Hag did not include big names like Marcus Rashford, Antony, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof in the squad. Rashford and Maguire miss the clash due to niggles as the English centre-back has still not fully recovered from his injury, though he did join training this week.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While several senior players have not been named in the travelling squad, new signing Leny Yoro has made it to Ten Hag's team and will make his first appearance donning a United shirt. Jadon Sancho has also travelled with a squad after missing out on the Rosenborg friendly clash.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  After facing Rangers on Saturday, the Premier League giants are all set to travel to the United States where they are scheduled to face teams like Real Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Aston Villa lost a huge clash in the race to secure Champions League football as they were hammered 4-0 at home by Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The hosts kept the game tight and had chances to test Guglielmo Vicario throughout the game before Spurs eventually took the lead in the 50th minute through James Maddison.

Brennan Johnson quickly made it 2-0 to Tottenham with a close-range finish before John McGinn saw red for a rash challenge on Destiny Udogie ten minutes later, which made the rest of the match an uphill battle for Villa – who went on to concede two more in stoppage time.

Whilst the Scotland international let Unai Emery down with that poor tackle on the Italian full-back, the rest of McGinn's performance was, frustratingly, very good.

Whereas, Jamaica international Leon Bailey struggled badly throughout the match at the top end of the pitch and was even worse than his captain.

John McGinn's stats against Spurs

The Scottish dynamo was a workhorse in the middle of the park before his red card as he provided creativity and steel for the Villans to keep them in the match.

Unfortunately, his good work was then undone by the sending off as he gave the referee a decision to make with a needlessly rash tackle on Udogie, which let his side down.

As you can see in the table above, McGinn offered quality in possession, with three chances created for his team, and combativeness with 11 of his 16 duels won.

Bailey, meanwhile, was substituted just four minutes after the sending-off and contributed with far less in and out of possession in comparison to the skipper.

Leon Bailey's stats against Spurs

The former Bayer Leverkusen star was far from at his best against Ange Postecoglou's side as he struggled on and off the ball throughout the game.

Spurs defenders found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical contests as they collectively won five of their seven duels – three of five on the ground and two of two in the air – against the winger.

This shows that the Villa forward did not hold the ball up well enough for his team as the Tottenham players beat him in the majority of their battles.

The lightweight dud also left a lot to be desired with his play in possession of the ball. He only completed 33% (4/11) of his attempted passes and created just one chance, compared to McGinn's aforementioned 86% pass accuracy and three chances created.

This shows that Bailey was significantly worse on the ball than the Scottish whiz, as he gave up possession far too easily throughout the game and created very little.

Towards the start of the second half, the 26-year-old gem had a terrific opportunity to flash the ball across goal for Ollie Watkins to potentially have a tap-in, but blazed his effort over the bar and behind for a goalkick and prevented his team from getting back into the match.

Overall, Bailey's big struggles in and out of possession show that he was even worse than McGinn, who impressed at both ends of the pitch before the red, as he let Emery down badly in the final third.