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England women's star Millie Bright says her team-mates are ready for the worst when they watch the men's team face Netherlands with Sarina Wiegman.

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• Lionesses to watch men's team in action
• Three Lions face coach Wiegman's home nation
• Bright joked players will wear body armour

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Lionesses will watch along with their Dutch coach as Gareth Southgate's team take on Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final on Wednesday. Wiegman will likely be cheering on Ronald Koeman's Oranje and Bright joked that she and her co-stars are taking precautions ahead of the game.

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  WHAT BRIGHT SAID

  Asked if the squad and coach will watch the game together, Bright told reporters: "We’ve all got our body armour on don’t worry! We’ll all watch it together. We’ve got a really good environment. We’re all looking to get behind the boys."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The England women's team are together as they are preparing for the upcoming Women's Euro 2025 qualifying matches against Ireland and Sweden. The Lionesses will hope to see the men's team book a place in the final of Euro 2024 at the expense of Wiegman's homeland.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  After watching Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Co in action on Wednesday, the Lionesses will get back to preparing for their match against Ireland at Carrow Road on Friday. England are third in the group after four matches but are level on points with Sweden.

Manchester City and England star Chloe Kelly has reportedly tied the knot with long-time partner Scott Moore during a low-key wedding ceremony.

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• Ceremony took place at Cheshire country estate
• Friends and family invited along to enjoy big day
• Countdown on to WSL season after Euro qualifiers

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 26-year-old forward has, according to , exchanged vows with greenkeeper Moore at a lavish country estate in Cheshire. Friends and family were invited to attend the special event at Merrydale Manor in Over Peover.

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• THE GOSSIP

  The happy couple were spotted in the grounds of the picturesque venue having photos taken, surrounded by wedding guests. Kelly and Moore announced their engagement in December 2023, following a romantic proposal in front of the Northern Lights.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kelly said at the time, during a trip to Finland: “The easiest YES. Here’s to forever with you”. The City winger met her partner during a spell at Everton – when Moore was a groundsman for the Toffees. Their first date was a visit to IKEA, as Kelly was in the process of moving house.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Kelly, who memorably scored the winning goal for England in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley, was joined by guests at her wedding for drinks and canapés served in a stylish bar area before enjoying her first breakfast as a married woman in the swanky on-site Merrydale Suite. She is counting down the days to the start of the new WSL season after helping the Lionesses to qualify for next summer’s European Championship.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in hijacking a Premier League club's "special" manager, as Eddie Howe battles to save his job.

Howe's Newcastle future in the balance

This feels like a pivotal period in Howe's tenure, with the results between now and the end of the season potentially deciding his future. It has been a below-par campaign at St James' Park, and while injuries are a fair excuse to use, PIF may feel a change of manager is needed to go up again to that next level.

It certainly looks as though Newcastle are already looking as possible successors for the Englishman, with Julian Nagelsmann recently emerging as a target for the Magpies, ahead of him leaving his role as Germany manager once Euro 2024 is done and dusted this summer.

Still only 36 years of age, the German remains one of Europe's most sought-after young coaches, and he has already won one Bundesliga title and two German Super Cups from his time at Bayern Munich, and could be considered an upgrade on Howe.

Highly-rated Sporting CP ace Rubem Amorim is another name who has been thrown into the mix as an option, with the 39-year-old another exciting young manager with fresh ideas, invariably adopting a 3-4-3 formation with his current side and tasting Primeira Liga glory back in 2020/21.

Newcastle considering Premier League boss

According to an intriguing update from TEAMtalk, Newcastle are considering going for Roberto De Zerbi, should they part company with Howe this summer.

The report states that the Brighton boss is "under consideration" to take charge at St James' Park, with Amorim also seen as a strong contender. It would mean hijacking Liverpool's possible move for him, with the Reds linked with bringing him after Jurgen Klopp leaves.

There does seem to be a turning of the tide with Howe at the moment, and while he could still easily keep his job this summer, these final few months of the season surely have to go well for him.

PIF won't want a repeat of this campaign, which has seen Newcastle knocked out of the Champions League in the group stage and not come close to repeating their Premier League feats of last time around, and they are likely to be ruthless in their decision-making.

De Zerbi represents an exciting option for the Magpies, with the 44-year-old playing some fantastic football with Brighton since replacing Graham Potter, proving capable of giving the best teams in the country a tough game. Presenter and former football Scott Minto has hailed the job he has done, calling him "special" and capable of replacing Klopp at Liverpool.

Granted, the Seagulls haven't necessarily been perfect this season, sitting ninth in the table and one place below Newcastle, but they lost both Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo last summer, and have largely done well without them, still remaining in the Europa League and battling through an injury crisis of their own behind De Zerbi's fluid 4-2-3-1 system.

Newcastle look to replace 21-start man with "more productive" player

He’s become a cult hero at St James’ Park.

By
Tom Coates

Mar 4, 2024

Newcastle fans will likely be split when it comes to Howe's future, with some defending him because of injuries and others feeling like a change is needed, but De Zerbi is a manager who could light up St James' with his ball-playing football and tactical brilliance. Pep Guardiola has even called him "one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years", which is incredible praise.

Former Tottenham transfer chief Fabio Paratici, who still advises the club on an unofficial consultancy basis, is said to be blown away by a young Spurs player's commitment and dedication to improve.

Paratici's new role at Spurs

Despite his worldwide ban from football activity, Paratici still plays a role in helping the Lilywhites successfully orchestrate their transfer plans for manager Ange Postecoglou.

Next few weeks "crucial" as Tottenham look to "finalise" move for striker

The north Londoners have stepped up their efforts to bring him in.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 13, 2024

Indeed, there are reports that Paratici is set to play a key role in Spurs' search for a striker this summer, with Postecoglou strongly hinting at the Italian's transfer involvement in a recent press conference.

"I don't have a lot of dialogue with too many people. That's how I structure my working life, I keep these things to a minimum," said Postecoglou on Paratici when asked at the end of the January transfer window.

"Obviously I know Fabio and every now and then we'll exchange messages or calls. He's a smart guy and you can see that he's got a great eye for talent but within the workings of the club and what I do, I don't have that kind of engagement. Not just with Fabio but with most people.

"It's more about what the priority is right now, this week, and my focus is on the football and the football department."

It's clear the former Juventus chief had a behind-the-scenes role in helping technical director Johan Lange and chief football officer Scott Munn bring in Postecoglou's transfer targets, including defender Radu Dragusin in a £25 million deal from Genoa.

The Romania international looks likely to make his full starting debut this weekend away to Fulham, with defender Micky van de Ven picking up a hamstring injury in their 4-0 win at Aston Villa last weekend.

Paratici blown away by Dragusin's commitment

According to The Athletic, Paratici is said to have been blown away by Dragusin's commitment and dedication to improve. The 51-year-old also believes he has shades of Juventus legend Giorgio Chiellini, which comes as very high praise indeed for Tottenham's winter capture.

Dragusin's agent, Florin Manea, appeared to back the player's hard-working nature in an interview with Fanatik earlier this week.

“They had a well-laid plan," said Manea on Dragusin and the club's intention on using him.

"He had to wait his turn and help his team. It was natural, because the two centre-backs played very well together and it was hard to take them out. From one point of view, it wasn’t normal to take them out.

“I was talking to someone at the club and he told me he’s training exceptionally well. You can’t blame him. Training is like a match for Radu. That’s what we’ve been aiming for for years. The way you train is the way you play.”

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones points out the area where he needs to improve as he claims he is ready for the upcoming 2024/25 season.

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• Jones was on target against Man Utd
• Pinpointed area of his game that needs improvement
• Liverpool beat Red Devils 3-0 in their final game in U.S. tour

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 23-year-old was on target for Liverpool as they beat Manchester United 3-0 in the final friendly match of their United States tour. The Reds had an outstanding outing in America during the pre-season as they managed to win all three matches they played in.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After contributing with a goal in the club's convincing win over their rivals on Saturday, Jones spoke about the one aspect of his game that needs to be improved. The young midfielder also suggested that he is eager to play a bigger role for his club in the upcoming season after appearing in 36 matches across all competitions in the last campaign where he scored five times and provided three assists.

• WHAT CURTIS JONES SAID

  Speaking about Mohamed Salah's assist for his goal, Jones told the club's official website: "That’s what he is great at and he reads the game as well. I just had an eye on the goal and I know Mo likes to get assists as well, he is fantastic at getting his head up and he put it on a plate for me. That’s part of my game [scoring goals] I feel I can improve and get in the box more; I can score more goals. I can play deep and I can also play high. Football now has changed as it’s all about stats with goals and assists. I’ve got to try to improve my game and I think a big part of that is scoring goals, assist more and be involved as much as I can.

  "We’ve got lads who have come in on the scene and made themselves a name by scoring goals. I think it’s an important part of the game. And if you can keep yourself in the game by scoring goals and the manager sees you as a guy who can do that and can affect the game then you keep your shirt, so that’s what I’m going to try to do."

  He added, "I try to improve all the time. I feel I’m in a good place. I’ve had a little bit of an ankle and a knee issue and that is why I came off early in the Real Betis game. But in terms of [fitness] I could have played the whole game then yes, but I got a whack on my back and the head coach just said to me, ‘We’ve took you off more as a precaution and we don’t need to risk anything.’ If you are saying, ‘Am I fit?’ [then] 100 per cent I am ready for the start of the season."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  Arne Slot's men will play their last pre-season friendly against Sevilla at Anfield on August 11 before kicking off the new season against Ipswich Town six days later.

As the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era begins at Manchester United, it appears that this summer could see the new part owner open his chequebook and give Erik ten Hag's side a much-needed boost.

Man Utd transfer rumours

After previous windows at Old Trafford have arguably been a disaster, the arrival of Ratcliffe looks set to change the transfer culture at Man United and help get the Red Devils back towards the top of the Premier League.

Man United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe planning to move for “important player”

The update comes courtesy of journalist Fabrizio Romano.

By
Henry Jackson

Mar 10, 2024

The big focus may well be on avoiding splashing the cash on big-name stars and opting for cheaper, potentially more effective alternatives. Arriving in Manchester with Ratcliffe will be Sir David Brailsford, who is set to be in charge of the day-to-day football operations at the club.

The latest rumours out of Old Trafford claim that United are interested in negotiating a swap deal for Dortmund's Donyell Malen that could see Jadon Sancho remain in Germany. Additionally, the Red Devils are interested in a deal for Juventus' Weston McKennie with the former Leeds flop available for a cut-price this summer.

Following this trend of possible business deals, United now appear to be looking to sign another once-promising player with a history in the Premier League.

Man Utd keen on Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz

As first reported by HITC, sources close to the club have revealed that Man United are looking to sign Real Madrid talent Brahim Diaz. The outlet also reports that Liverpool are interested in the player, alongside a host of other top Premier League sides previously eager to get a deal over the line.

Despite the interest from England, HITC also claims that Madrid are not interested in selling Diaz with Los Blancos set to negotiate fresh terms with the 24-year-old whose current deal expires in the summer of 2027. The attacking midfielder arrived in the Spanish capital in a £15.5million move from Man City back in 2019 and has become a fixture in Carlo Ancelotti's side this season.

Part of the deal that saw Diaz initially move to Spain from City reportedly saw an "anti-Man Utd clause" inserted into his contract, meaning that the treble winners would be entitled to 40% of the transfer fee if the player is to move to the red side of Manchester. Whilst this could scupper any potential deal, Diaz's stats this season may entice United to spend an inflated figure to get their man.

Whilst his attacking returns have been exceptional this campaign, the surprising part of Diaz's performances have been his defensive output. Sometimes deployed as a wing-back by Ancelotti, Diaz has excelled in this role, adding another element to his already impressive profile.

It was this versatility that led to the 24-year-old earning praise from his former boss at AC Milan Stefano Pioli. Having been on loan with the Italian giants since 2020, Pioli was sad to see the player leave in the summer of 2023 telling the press that he "is a complete player with personality" and that "it is a pleasure to work with him".

If Ratcliffe is serious about changing United's fortunes, there could be few shrewder signings than Diaz, even if it means lining the pockets of one of his club's closest rivals.

Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has questions for Ryan Reynolds after watching the Deadpool and Wolverine movie.

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• McElhenney shares Deadpool & Wolverine photo
• Jokes about cameo being cut from the movie
• Co-owns Wrexham with Deadpool star Reynolds

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Reynolds' upcoming comic book movie flick 'Deadpool & Wolverine' has been the talk of the town as the superhero duo share the screen for the first time since Reynolds and Hugh Jackman appeared together in 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' in 2009. McElhenney, who co-owns Wrexham together with Reynolds, has shared a picture dressed as Wolverine alongside Jackman.

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• WHAT MCELHENNEY POSTED

  McElhenney shared the photo and joked about his cameo being cut from the movie and said: "I traveled 6 thousand miles to shoot my cameo. I hope you enjoyed it because the theater I was watching in had mistakenly cut it out. Since I KNOW Ryan wouldn’t do me like that, I look forward to catching the movie and my cameo again today!"

• Instagram @paulmullin12
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  McElhenney and Reynolds had never been together before the duo decided to acquire the dwindling Wrexham, who plied their trade in the Vanarama National League. Since the takeover in 2021, the duo have done a number on the Red Dragons' fate as since the acquisition they have achieved promotion and are currently in the third tier of English football, League One.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  With Deadpool & Wolverine having been a hit with critics and fans alike, Reynolds will be hoping that Wrexham's season in League One will achieve similar success this season as the Red Dragons continue their dreams of reaching the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s influence at Arsenal since joining has been immense, completely reviving the club.

Last season, the Gunners narrowly missed out on the Premier League title after they fell at the final hurdle, and this season, it seems that they’ve gone to a whole new level of quality.

The Spaniard has gotten the squad to a point where, regardless of injuries, the standard of performance rarely decreases, which just proves how far they’ve come in recent years.

Nonetheless, the boss is still keen to improve his team and the quality of his depth, hence his interest in signing a new midfielder in the summer.

Arsenal want to sign a midfielder this summer

According to a report from Italian outlet CalcioMercato.it, the scouting department at Arsenal likes the prospect of re-signing Ismael Bennacer.

The midfielder – who previously spent two years at the Emirates – is currently playing for Serie A giants AC Milan, where he has become a key player in recent years.

Despite being in a contract until June 2027, it is believed that Milan would be willing to let the Algerian leave this summer if a fee of €50m (£43m) arrived.

However, if the Gunners do decide to make a move for Bennacer, they will face competition from Saudi Arabia.

Arsenal targeting £47m signing who's "good enough to displace Saka"

Arsenal’s new 21-year-old wonderkid winger target could take Saka’s spot in the team.

By
Joe Nuttall

Mar 29, 2024

Why Bennacer would be a perfect Thomas Partey replacement

Despite starting 28 matches for Arsenal in the Premier League last season, Thomas Partey’s future at the Emirates Stadium now looks uncertain.

The signing of Declan Rice was certainly a statement of intent by Arteta, and the former West Ham United ace has truly taken Arsenal to a new level.

This campaign, the 30-year-old has dealt with two major injury blows, missing 26 matches via a hamstring and groin issue. Therefore, Partey has only played six league games.

With the lack of reliability, it looks set that the Ghana international will be on his way out in the summer, with Bennacer serving as the perfect replacement.

The Milan star was actually formerly on the books of Arsenal before leaving in 2017 to join Empoli, with Arsene Wenger describing him as a “fighter" and a "real box-to-box player".

As you can see by the table above showcasing Bennacer’s statistics from last season, the 26-year-old has an extremely well-rounded skillset that would see him slot into the side in multiple roles.

His technical class and chance creation were clearly among the best in Italy in 2022/23, and it would enable the Algerian to be the perfect replacement for Rice in the left-sided number eight role, with Wenger previously noting that he can "defend very well" but is also "very efficient going forward".

On the other hand, his defensive ability would allow him to also play as the lone six over Jorginho, which could prove to be a vital component with Arsenal's intense schedule meaning that rotation is simply a must.

This versatility and vast attributes already give him an advantage over Partey, who’s typically been a defensive midfielder, and although Bennacer wouldn’t exactly be a cheap buy, he would certainly have a huge impact on the Gunners team.

Unfortunately, the number four has only started eight games for Milan in the league this season due to injury, but that could very well work in the favour of Arsenal and their hopes of securing a reunion.

Arsenal targeting £47m signing who's "good enough to displace Saka"

Arsenal’s new 21-year-old wonderkid winger target could take Saka’s spot in the team.

By
Joe Nuttall

Mar 29, 2024

Denzel Dumfries is refusing to enter contract negotiations with Inter as the Netherlands star eyes a possible switch to Manchester United.

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• Dumfries holding off Inter contract talks
• Man Utd 'appeal' to Dutchman
• Transfer depends on Wan-Bissaka

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The right wing-back has no intention of entering negotiations at the San Siro until the transfer window has closed, according to . This will appeal to United, who will be in need of a replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka if the West Ham target leaves Old Trafford. The report adds that Dumfries, 28, is focused on leaving Inter Milan and finds the Red Devils an attractive option.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United are in the process of offloading Wan-Bissaka, having agreed a deal in principle with the Hammers over the 26-year-old. The defender is yet to agree personal terms with Julen Lopetegui's side, however, and prefers a move to Inter. This seemingly opens the door to a potential swap deal for Dumfries, but United's preference is to sell Wan-Bissaka to West Ham and sign Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Dumfries has entered the final 12 months of his Inter Milan contract, so the reigning Serie A champions are facing the prospect of watching him leave for free next summer.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR DUMFRIES AND MAN UTD?

  United's focus at the moment will be on Wan-Bissaka's future. Mazraoui is their ideal replacement – Bayern have already agreed to sell the Moroccan – but Dumfries sounds like a straightforward deal should Inter be keen to cash in on him.

It is no secret that Chelsea have been after a new centre-forward for many months now, with Napoli's Victor Osimhen the main name rumoured to fill the void.

The Nigerian forward has bagged 12 times in 19 Serie A appearances this campaign, but his sensational season hasn't gone unnoticed, with the likes of Arsenal and PSG also interested in signing the 25-year-old.

However, any deal for Osimhen will be an expensive one, with the Italian side holding out for at least a reported £112m to part ways with the clinical striker.

There's little doubt about his ability to find the back of the net, but should Chelsea try and sign the attacker, it would be the club's third £100m+ signing in just over two years following the arrivals of Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo.

The Londoners may be at risk of potential punishment from the Premier League after losing £90m during 2022/23, with the Blues potentially unable to meet the PSR rules implemented.

Therefore, Mauricio Pochettino's side should potentially look for a cheaper alternative to help combat their efforts, with the club already linked with another talented forward.

Chelsea's Osimhen alternative

According to journalist Rudi Galetti, the Blues are "monitoring" RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with the 20-year-old scoring 12 goals in all competitions this season.

The Slovenian international has a £43m release clause in his contract, which has caught the attention of Chelsea, Arsenal and Napoli – should Osimhen depart the Italian side.

Sesko only joined the Bundesliga team from sister club RB Salzburg back in July 2023, after scoring 29 times in 79 games for the Austrian outfit.

In his first full season in one of Europe's top five leagues, the youngster has done an admirable job given his tender age – prompting interest from the aforementioned sides.

He's a clinical goalscorer with a great eye for goal, with the Blues potentially needing to prioritise a deal for the Leipzig man given his impressive debut season in Germany.

Sesko v Osimhen in 2023/24

Whilst the Nigerian has scored four more league goals than Sesko during the current campaign, that's the only aspect of his game he has outperformed the 20-year-old, with Sesko dominating in all-round play.

Despite scoring more goals, Osimhen trails the Slovenian for his conversion rate, with Napoli's talisman only converting 24% of his chances compared to Sesko's tally of 28%, as per Squawka.

The youngster also boasts a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate, with his tally 62% more accurate than Osimhen's 57% despite the 25-year-old's better goalscoring record.

Notwithstanding the fact the 20-year-old is more of an aerial threat, as demonstrated by his tally of 56% aerial duels won, he's also dominated the Nigerian with the ball at his feet, completing 5% more of the take-ons he's attempted this season.

As represented in the table, Leipzig's striker has been caught offside 20 times less than Osimhen – demonstrating that the youngster is more aware of his surroundings in comparison to the proven goalscorer.

Given the five-year age gap and £70m difference in price tag, Chelsea should look to pursue a move for the Leipzig forward, with Sesko able to offer much more than the Napoli striker in terms of his all-round play. Just think about his frightening pace too; he really is the complete package.

£43m is a bargain for a player of his ability and potential, giving the Blues a long-term solution to their goalscoring problems and potentially allowing them to make a hefty profit down the line.