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The club of an “outstanding” player has now decided to allow their £80m+ player to leave in the January transfer window, acting as a boost to Newcastle United.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies and PIF have been linked with plenty of players of late, with Eddie Howe and Paul Mitchell possibly liking the idea of strengthening his squad midway through the Premier League season.

Manchester United winger Antony is one player who has emerged as an option for Newcastle, with an upgrade on Miguel Almiron being looked at moving forward. The Red Devils ace hasn’t managed to be a key starter this season, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo often preferred in wide attacking areas.

AC Milan central defender Fikayo Tomori has also been backed to seal a move to St James’ Park, with a potential return to the Premier League on the cards for the former Chelsea man. Howe needs added depth at centre-back, so it could prove to be a match made in heaven.

Antoine Semenyo has also been linked with joining Newcastle, which could cause controversy because of his Sunderland past, with the 24-year-old now plying his trade at Bournemouth, scoring three goals in the league so far this season.

Newcastle boosted in pursuit of £80m+ ace

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle have now been boosted in their efforts to sign Antony in January, with Man Utd happy to see him move on at that point, giving PIF the green light. The Red Devils have “decided” to offload the Brazilian, not seeing him as a key part of their plans, having cost £82m from Ajax back in the summer of 2022.

The Magpies, Crystal Palace and the Dutch giants are all believed to be “eyeing up a mid-season deal” for the 24-year-old, who could jump at the opportunity to enjoy a new challenge after falling out of favour.

Antony would be an intriguing signing by Newcastle, with United manager Erik ten Hag hailing his defensive ability as a winger in the past, saying: “His attitude was outstanding defensively. With Garnacho they doubled up. Every man has to put a shift in, and them two today were outstanding.”

The United ace clearly has bags of natural ability, possessing a lovely left foot and the ability to produce spectacular pieces of skill – winning 16 caps for Brazil is also no mean feat – but there would also be some Magpies supporters who may be concerned about his lack of consistency in his right-sided role.

While Antony can be an aesthetically pleasing player to watch, a lack of substance has been aimed at him, with the South American never coming close to matching similar players in his position in the Premier League, such as Mohamed Salah, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.

Man Utd

86

12

5

Ajax

82

24

22

Sao Paulo

52

6

6

Just 12 goals in 86 appearances for United is a poor tally, with only five coming in the league, but if Howe feels he can improve that aspect of his game, Newcastle could have a top-quality signing on their hands. He may also cost far less than the huge money the Red Devils paid for him, which could be worth the risk.

La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are eyeing a 2025 move for one Arsenal mainstay, as it is believed he’s now “almost certain” to leave the club.

Arsenal prepare for Southampton after 2-0 win over PSG

Mikel Arteta watched his side put on an imperious display against French champions PSG on Tuesday night in the Champions League, a result which extended the club’s unbeaten run so far this term and made a real statement.

PSG preparing ambitious £83m bid to sign "world class" Arsenal player

The two teams only played the other night.

8 ByEmilio Galantini Oct 3, 2024

The Premier League title hopefuls were rarely threatened by Luis Enrique’s side – which is a testament to Arsenal’s all-round solidarity and big game management – with Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka’s quick-fire first-half goals enough to seal a crucial three points in Europe.

Saka was bizarrely criticised for a “fringe” performance against PSG by pundit Darren Bent, despite his goal. That verdict aside, every Arsenal player, including the England international, contributed during an evening to remember at the Emirates Stadium.

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

Chelsea (away)

November 10

Next, Arsenal take on Southampton at 3pm on Saturday, and it is a match which Arteta’s side are expected to win comfortably with the Saints bottom of the table. Arteta will be able to call upon summer signing Mikel Merino again, following the Spaniard’s debut against PSG and after his recovery from a shoulder fracture.

Merino’s absence left Arsenal short in midfield for a time, and sporting director Edu Gaspar will be thankful that he didn’t green-light an exit for midfield general Thomas Partey as a result.

Partey was heavily linked with a summer exit from Arsenal since late last year, but the Ghanaian remained in north London and has since been handed the nod by Arteta in each of Arsenal’s league games so far – starting every single one.

The 31-year-old’s stellar partnership with Declan Rice in midfield looks unbreakable right now, with Partey winning all of his duels against PSG during an excellent display against a star-studded team.

It is quite the return to form for a player who started just nine times in the league last season, and the former Atletico Madrid star is on course to smash past the number of appearances he made over 2023/2024.

Partey "almost certain" to leave Arsenal as Barcelona eye move

However, there is the matter of his contract lingering in the background. The £200,000-per-week mainstay’s deal expires next summer, putting a host of clubs on alert over his potential availability in 2025. Unless Edu and Arteta opt to negotiate fresh terms, the African could be on the move sooner rather than later.

Despite his value to the team this season, journalist Jorge Asensio claimed this week that Partey is “almost certain” to leave Arsenal. Understandably, clubs are queuing up to sign him for a potential bargain price.

Barcelona are understood to be one of the interested sides, alongside Juventus, Inter Milan and Saudi Pro League clubs. Many more teams could register their interest soon, with Arteta facing the prospect of losing a “really important” player at the end of this season.

Looking to make it two wins from two in the Europa League this season as they square off against Lyon, Rangers have been handed an early boost with one player now set to return from injury to feature against the French side.

Rangers injury news

To their credit, the Gers have finally found their form as of late, having initially endured a tough start to the season which featured a 3-0 thrashing courtesy of Old Firm rivals Celtic. Since that game, however, Philippe Clement’s side have been unbeaten in all competitions and extended that run last time out when they defeated Hibernian 1-0, courtesy of Tom Lawrence’s first-half effort.

Now, Clement’s attention must turn back towards the Europa League and arguably his side’s toughest test up against Ligue 1 Lyon. The French giants are no strangers to the European stage and enter the game with a point to prove after picking up just seven points from their first six Ligue 1 games so far this season.

Rangers failing to sign amazing loan star was a bigger mistake than Sima

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The Gers have been handed quite the boost ahead of that challenge, however. As confirmed by Clement and relayed by Ibrox News, Mohamed Diomande is expected to feature against Lyon on Thursday following his return to training. The midfielder missed the game against Hibs, but has since made a swift return to put himself in contention once again.

Clement revealed the news, telling reporters: “Diomande will be back in the squad for tomorrow, Ridvan is back in training but will not be available.”

Of course, the bad news is that Ridvan Yilmaz is not yet ready to feature, but he is at least on his way and back in training with the rest of his teammates. He’ll be forced to watch on once again though, as Diomande makes his return.

"Aggressive" Diomande is a key man under Clement

Getting Diomande back fit and ready to feature after just one game on the sidelines should be seen as an impressive success by those at Ibrox, who will no doubt reap the rewards for his swift return. The 22-year-old started four of his side’s first five Scottish Premiership games prior to the game against Hibs, for which he was sidelined, to highlight just how important he can be for Rangers.

Diomande has unsurprisingly earned plenty of praise during his time at Ibrox so far, including from podcaster John Walker, who dubbed the midfielder’s press “aggressive” and a “diamond”.

No matter Lyon’s start to their campaign in France, if Rangers can secure all three points against the Ligue 1 side, then they’ll earn deserved plaudits. Victory would of course see them go two from two in this season’s Europa League.

As they continue their unbeaten start on the pitch, Celtic have reportedly started plotting a move to seal a future star after sending their chief scout to watch him in action recently.

Celtic transfer news

How the Bhoys go about improving their current side is a difficult but positive conundrum to crack thanks to their flawless start to the current campaign. Even in the Champions League, the Bhoys remained unfazed, smashing Slovan Bratislava 5-1 to open their European season in style.

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Premiership, the champions remain on course to retain after creating a five-point gap on Old Firm rivals Rangers and instead going head-to-head with new challengers Aberdeen.

With that said, the focus for Celtic should be on the future and ensuring that they only extend their dominance rather than eventually lose out to those around Scotland. And if recent rumours are anything to go by, they intend to do exactly that in the January transfer window.

According to Fotbolldirekt – a media outlet based in Sweden – via Sport Witness, Celtic are beginning to plot a move to sign Bazoumana Toure from Hammarby IF.

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The media there expect a big development to take place soon with Celtic positioning themselves to sign the 18-year-old winger after sending chief scout Joe Lefevre to watch him in action.

Given that Eintracht Frankfurt, Crystal Palace, Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica are all also reportedly interested in Toure, Celtic will undoubtedly have to act fast if they want to secure his signature in a deal that would have to meet Hammerby’s reported €10m (£8m) price tag. A player with plenty of potential, Toure would be joining the Scottish champions at the perfect time, as they go for yet another title.

"Superb" Toure is one for the future

At 18 years old, Toure is already making his mark at Hammerby, with six goals and three assists in just 16 appearances last season. It’s no real surprise that he has attracted such high interest from all around Europe and the Bhoys will simply be hoping to see their sales pitch convince the youngster that Celtic Park is the place to be.

Earning plenty of praise during his recent rise, Toure was dubbed “superb” by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig.

What is interesting to note is that he can also play on both wings to hand Brendan Rodgers a versatile option within his frontline, should Celtic complete their move in 2025. With years to reach his best form too, the Ivory Coast youngster could quickly turn into an excellent coup.

Arsenal want to "start their efforts" over signing Man City defender Joao Cancelo "shortly", according to reports out of Germany in the last 48 hours.

Who are Arsenal signing?

After officially competing a deal to sign forward Kai Havertz from Chelsea, in a deal worth around £65 million, the Gunners are certainly not resting on their laurels.

It's widely reported that Arsenal are closing in on a deal for West Ham United star Declan Rice, after agreeing to pay a total £105 million fee (£100m + £5m in add-ons) for the England international.

Talks are apparently ongoing over payment structure, but it would appear he is edging closer and closer to north London, while Ajax defender Jurrien Timber is also expected to make the move.

Arsenal are reportedly nearing the capture of both men, with reports suggesting both deals could take their spending over £200 million for this summer transfer window.

The Gunners are tipped to sign a new full-back before the start of 2022/2023 as well, as Galatasary defender Sacha Boey and Cancelo have been repeatedly linked.

The latter player, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Bayern Munich, is reportedly surplus-to-requirement at Man City despite once being a key member of Pep Guardiola's starting eleven.

A report out of Germany has shared the latest on Arsenal's pursuit of Cancelo, with magazine Kicker claiming he is right at the top of Mikel Arteta's wish list.

They apparently see the Portugal international as an "ideal" solution to Arsenal's full-back problems, and wish to commence efforts over his signing "shortly".

Kicker wrote:

"The Londoners, who had good experiences with former Man City pros in the form of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus last season, see him [Cancelo] as the ideal solution on the defensive flank and want to start their efforts for the technically fine footballer shortly."

However, they also add that he may cost a marquee price, with City set to demand a "high" transfer fee given Cancelo's contract length.

What's been said about Joao Cancelo?

The £250,000-per-week defender was indispensable to Guardiola until the last 12 months, as former Blues striker Paul Dickov explained in 2021.

“He’s been outstanding. He’s assisting and scoring goals himself and for me he’s the best full-back, in terms of creating stuff, and how important he is to the team,” Dickov said.

“We’ve got some of the best players in the world in their positions and to not be relying on one player is remarkable. With the ability to finish too, that's unique."

West Ham United target Alex Scott has 'huge potential' and could help to fill the void that Declan Rice will leave once he completes his move away from the London Stadium, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Alex Scott and Declan Rice?

According to The Daily Mail, Arsenal have booked in a medical for Rice as they look to seal the signature of the England international for a fee in the region of £105 million.

The 24-year-old looks likely to be joined by Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and there is hope that both transfers can be officially announced by this weekend.

As per the same outlet, West Ham United are keen to add some personnel to their squad that may take the form of younger players and Bristol City playmaker Scott has been touted with a potential £22 million switch to the London Stadium.

Discussions are underway over a swoop for the player at the figure mentioned. At the same time, the likes of Denis Zakaria, Tyler Adams and James Ward-Prowse have been earmarked as David Moyes aims to strengthen his midfield.

Football London claim that Tottenham Hotspur have asked to be kept informed regarding Scott's situation this window and the race for his services continues to gather momentum.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones believes that Scott could be an exciting replacement for Rice in east London if he was to join West Ham United.

Jones said: "The saga is over and now West Ham are looking for their new Declan Rice. They will sign two midfielders with the right level of experience and quality to go straight in at the beginning of the season, but also they are interested in players that can make a big breakthrough with them. In that sense, one that really interests them is Alex Scott at Bristol City.

"He’s got huge potential. He’d be a player the fans can really get behind and watch grow, similar really to how they have with Rice on this stage. He’s only 19 and I think his £25m price tag is considered a little too high right now, but if they can find a way around that, they could have a new gem on their hands that grows into a Premier League star."

Would Alex Scott be a good addition for West Ham United?

Scott established himself as a shining star in the Sky Bet Championship last term and it is easy to see why Premier League clubs would be interested in his services.

In 2022/23, the 19-year-old amassed 49 appearances in all competitions for Bristol City, registering two goals and five assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Earlier this year, Manchester City star Jack Grealish took to Twitter to praise the starlet following Bristol City's 3-0 FA Cup fifth-round defeat at home to the eventual winners of the competition, labelling him as a 'top top talent'.

As per FBRef, Scott also successfully carried out 87 shot-creating actions in the English second tier, showcasing his exciting potential as a creative midfielder.

With club captain Rice set to exit the London Stadium this summer, Scott could help to soften the blow and could become a star of the future for West Ham United.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is keen on signing Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot this summer, according to reports from Italy.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

Man United are looking to bring in at least one new central midfielder, with Chelsea's Mason Mount emerging as a key target, having made multiple bids for the England international, although their most recent £55m offer was rejected.

The Red Devils are willing to walk away from negotiations if the Blues do not come to an agreement, meaning they could move on to other targets, including West Ham United captain Declan Rice, who they have recently submitted an enquiry about.

Earlier this month, it was reported that United are the favourites to sign Rabiot, whose contract with Juventus is set to expire at the end of June, and there has now been a new update regarding the midfielder's future.

According to reports from Italy (via Sport Witness), Man United are waiting to make a move for the France international, with Ten Hag eager to make a deal happen, having come very close to signing him last summer.

The player himself is attracted by the prospect of playing in the Champions League next season, however, he does have other offers on the table, with Juventus keen to tie him down to fresh terms.

The former Paris Saint-Germain man is expected to make his final decision shortly, given that his current deal will come to an end in a week's time.

Is Adrien Rabiot joining Man United?

With Juventus finishing seventh in the Serie A last term, there will be no Champions League football on offer at the Allianz Stadium, meaning a switch to Old Trafford could be very attractive option.

If the Juventus star does make the move to the Premier League, there are indications he could be a very solid acquisition for the Red Devils, as he poses a real threat on the front foot, while he is also competent defensively.

Last season, the £148k-per-week maestro recorded 11 goals and five assists in all competitions, the second-highest number of goal contributions in the Juventus squad, and he is also in the 84th percentile for clearances per 90 over the past year.

Hailed as "sensational" by members of the media, Rabiot is a very well-rounded central midfielder, and it is very exciting news that he could be on his way to Man United, particularly considering he will be available on a free transfer.

Sunderland have put their Championship play-off disappointment firmly behind them by making a swift start to their summer transfer business.

Luis Hemir Semedo became the latest player to arrive at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, the Benfica B talent following in the steps of Nectarios Triantis and Jobe Bellingham.

After fielding the youngest team in the Championship last season on average, it says a lot that Sunderland's three new recruits are aged 19, 20 and 17.

Tony Mowbray did a superb job last season of bedding in youngsters, with Ellis Simms among them. Aged 21 when brought in on loan from Everton, Simms scored seven times in 14 Championship starts before returning to his parent club in January.

However, according to The Northern Echo, Sunderland are still in the running to bring Simms back to the club next season. Ipswich Town are reported to have bid £3.5m for the striker, so the Black Cats will at the very least have to match that offer.

Should Sunderland sign Ellis Simms from Everton?

Simms' impact at the Stadium of Light last season was huge. The youngster was involved in 0.72 goals per 90 minutes, as per FBref, which was bettered only by Ross Stewart (1.12) among Sunderland players.

What made Simms' Everton recall all the more frustrating is that he started only two Premier League games after returning to Goodison Park on January 1, though he did make his presence felt with a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw away at Chelsea.

Michael Owen hailed Simms' display at Stamford Bridge, describing him as a player with "great ability" who could potentially "lead the line for Everton in months and years to come".

As it is, the Toffees may instead look to offload the Englishman if the right offer is made, and Sunderland will not want to miss out on the chance to sign him permanently.

With Semedo now on board, Stewart returning from a long-term injury and Jack Clarke still at the club – for now, at least – Simms can be the final piece in the jigsaw.

Semedo, who is also known as just 'Hemir', scored 28 goals in 61 appearances for Benfica B and their U23 side across the past two seasons. That return of a goal around every 2.2 games is fairly prolific, but it must now be replicated at a higher level.

Sunderland's latest recruit is also a "towering presence", as the club's official website put it, which could make for an ideal link-up with Simms up top – a player who likes to get in behind.

If that proves to be the case, there is no reason why Sunderland cannot go a step further than last season and earn a return to the Premier League. Indeed, Simms simply has to be signed in order to help make that a reality.

Liverpool are working on a midfield rebuild this summer with the signing of Alexis Mac Allister already confirmed, and now a new update has emerged on the club's next move.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Tyler Adams?

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are one of the clubs interested in signing Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams this summer.

As per the report, the player has told his recently relegated club that he wants to play in the Premier League next season and the Reds are one of the top-flight clubs who have checked on Adams' situation.

It is claimed that Manchester United and Newcastle United also have the midfielder on their radar and Leeds will command a £40m fee to part ways with one of their biggest assets.

Would Tyler Adams be a good fit for Liverpool?

It is no secret that Liverpool desperately need reinforcements after a difficult and disappointing season with the club failing to qualify for Champions League football for the first time since 2016.

Not only that, several mainstays will leave the club when their contracts expire next month as Naby Keita, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino all move on, paving the way for Jurgen Klopp to build the next generation of success at Anfield.

As a result, the Liverpool boss could repeat the same transfer masterclass he performed with Andy Robertson by saving Adams from his relegated side and turning him into a player who can take his career to the next level by winning trophies.

Robertson's incredible journey from being relegated with Hull City in 2017 to becoming a Champions League and Premier League winner in just three years would surely inspire any player and if Adams could seal a move to Merseyside he could emulate the left-back's fairytale.

Despite Leeds' struggles, the American midfielder has been a standout performer at Elland Road this season and boasts a clear ability to play top-flight football.

Over 24 Premier League appearances, the 24-year-old ace – once hailed "top-class" by journalist Josh Bunting – tallied up an 82% pass completion rate and created one big chance, as well as averaging one key pass, 1.5 interceptions, 3.7 tackles, one clearance and six duels won per game, proving that he is a solid and reliable defensive presence in midfield.

Not only that – to highlight just how impressive Adams has been for the West Yorkshire outfit – the prolific defensive midfielder matched Casemiro for tackles won in the top flight this season (89), which is made even more impressive when considering he played four fewer league games than the Manchester United superstar. Impressively, he also came second for tackles completed per minute in the entire league (22).

The opportunity to sign Adams could not come at a better time for the Reds with Thiago Alcantara in the last year of his contract next season and Brazilian midfielder Fabinho starting to show signs of a decline this season. That means the USMNT star could not only provide strong competition in the deeper midfield roles but could succeed either.

With that being said, if the club's hierarchy strikes up a cut-price deal for Adams it would be a no-brainer to snap up his services this summer, as the American could be a real asset in midfield for many years to come.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking at signing AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan as a possible alternative to Brentford's David Raya, according to reports.

Which goalkeepers could Spurs sign this summer?

Long-serving Spurs shot-stopper and France number one, Hugo Lloris, could be nearing a departure from north London after over a decade at the club.

The 36-year-old has gone on to make nearly 450 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham, captaining them for a significant period, but his recent interview with Nice-Matin indicates a Spurs exit is around the corner.

"We are coming to an important moment, whether for the club or for me. It's the end of an era," said Lloris.

"I have desires for other things, I will ask myself quietly to study what will be possible. But I don't forget that I still have a year of contract with Tottenham and that in football it is always difficult to predict what will happen."

Spurs have been targeting keepers step into Lloris' shoes, with the likes of Jordan Pickford (Everton) and Croatia nunber one Dominik Livakovic attracting interest from chairman Daniel Levy.

However, perhaps the most prevalent among these links is Brentford's Raya, with some reports even suggesting that terms have already been agreed with the Spaniard.

It appears the Bees star is a firm target for Tottenham, as also backed by The Athletic, but they also say that Milan's Maignan is a wanted man in N17.

The Frenchman, who helped his side to a Champions League semi-final last season and title win the campaign before, is apparently a target for Spurs as they hunt for new keepers.

While Raya is firmly on the agenda, according to this report, Spurs continue to weigh other options as a deal for the 27-year-old proves more complicated.

As a result, while Tottenham have set their sights on Raya, they are also "looking at other options" with Maignan being one of them.

However, he would cost "far more" than Brentford's shot-stopper, and it's clear to see why.

Who is Mike Maignan?

The 27-year-old is a mainstay for Milan and key player, starting every league game for them last season until his calf injury midway through 2022/2023.

Maignan has been revered by sections of the Italian press, like Carlo Garganese, who even called him the "world's best" goalkeeper back in April – after Milan knocked Serie A champions Napoli out of Europe.

France boss Didier Deschamps is also a huge fan, calling him a "great leader" and "great player" after a brilliant Euro 2024 qualifying performance against the Republic of Ireland.