Category: Football

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Scottish heavyweights Celtic have, on Thursday, continued to step up the club’s ongoing rebuilding effort under the watch of Ange Postecoglou.

The summer, to date, has seen a trio of arrivals confirmed on the green half of the Glasgow divide.

First up came confirmation of Cameron Carter-Vickers’ loan switch from Tottenham Hotspur being made altogether deservedly permanent, before reinforcements between the posts were too forthcoming in the form of Benjamin Siegrist.

And this set the stage for a 3rd addition to the Bhoys’ ranks being confirmed on Thursday afternoon.

The latest player to have opted to take his talents to Celtic with a view to the 2022/23 campaign? Alexandro Bernabei.

As per a series of announcements across the club’s social media platforms, highly-regarded left-back Bernabei has been secured from Argentine outfit Lanus for a fee in the region of £3.75 million.

The 21-year-old, who has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, had the following to say on the back of his signing being made official:

‘It’s a club that’s used to championships and that’s the main reason why I’ve come to Celtic.’

‘The first thought I had when I heard about interest was that I was very hopeful it was something that going to come to fruition.

‘I was really looking forward to playing for Celtic. I didn’t need to speak to anyone.

‘The transfer was going to happen and I’d already made up my mind that was I going to come, regardless.’

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🇦🇷🍀 Introducing #CelticFC‘s new number 25!

Follow our Argentinian Celt on Twitter 📲 @bernabei25 #BernaBhoy 🤩 pic.twitter.com/BiQyqOeiqH

— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 30, 2022

The transfer team at Celtic Park, though, are not done there, it would seem.

As per the Daily Mail, amongst other sources, the Scottish champions are also set to announce a permanent deal for fan favourite Jota imminently.

Portuguese attacker Jota impressed whilst on loan in Glasgow this past season, on his way to a head-turning 13 goals and 14 assists across all competitions.

In turn, it should come as little surprise to hear of Celtic’s plans to take up their option to buy the 23-year-old upon the international transfer market swinging open in the coming hours.

Jota is expected to set the Hoops back a sum of £6.5 million.

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Celtic in £10m double swoop for Argentine left-back Alexandro Bernabei and Portuguese winger Jota | @mcgowan_stephen https://t.co/mwHgKMQ0TP

— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) June 30, 2022

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Newcastle and Leeds among trio of clubs chasing former Tottenham prospect this summer

West Ham ‘go cold’ on Danjuma to turn attentions towards alternative targets

 

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The Erik ten Hag regime at Manchester United finally nears its official lift-off date under the Dutch tactician with recent reports suggesting that a completed deal for Frenkie de Jong is around the corner.

United and Barcelona have been said to be closer than ever in finalizing terms for the Dutch international midfielder after reaching a broad agreement over the 25-year-old, but what is even more telling this summer is the manner in which the Red Devils intend to clear the decks of a large handful of first-team assets from the previous regime(s).

There has already been an exodus of sorts this summer before Ten Hag even sunk his teeth into the squad at Old Trafford after Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matić, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, and Edinson Cavani all departed United on free transfers, but now it is being reported by Goal’s James Robson that a further nine players could be jettisoned as a full-on culling could be on the cards.

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🔹Jones & Bailly allowed to go this summer.
🔹Martial & AWB must impress in pre-season
🔹Ten Hag & Murtough want this to be a proper reboot at #mufc with 9 more players potentially following Pogba, Lingard, Matic etc https://t.co/E8mqBm2Gyk

— James Robson (@jamesalanrobson) June 30, 2022

Per Robson’s report, Ten Hag is determined to bring in up to five new signings this summer – including De Jong – with the intention of trimming the fat left in the wake of both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, with many left-over from previous tenures at risk of being pushed out of the door.

As it stands, center-back pair Phil Jones and Eric Bailly are free to find new avenues of employment elsewhere this summer as United remains bloated in the center of defense.

With links to AFC Ajax’s Lisandro Martínez persisting as one of the potential new faces to arrive under Ten Hag, room in the team must be made considering United currently boasts seven central defenders at the time of writing.

Additionally, England international right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and French winger Anthony Martial will also come under the microscope and will have to seriously impress their new headmaster if they are to extend their stay at the Theatre of Dreams.

Given that Ten Hag is also pushing for deals for Ajax forward Antony, Villarreal center-back Pau Torres, Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Tyrell Malacia, and potentially Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries, other players set to be sold – or potentially moved on – include Alex Telles, Axel Tuanzebe, Andreas Pereira, Brandon Williams, and Dean Henderson.

Considering that pre-season is already officially underway, United will have to move quickly if they are to achieve the type of player movement – both in and out – that they hope will give Ten Hag the platform to pull the Red Devils back into the top-four discussion in the Premier League.

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For more on Manchester United, read below

Erik ten Hag left unhappy after the first day of Man United pre-season training

Red Devils linked with interest in Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio

United lay out plans for McTominay; consider Tielemans as summer target

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Tottenham look set for a busy day today as they work to complete two new arrivals.

Spurs have already agreed a deal to sign Richarlison who is set to undergo a medical today.

They are now also working to conclude a deal to sign Clément Lenglet on loan with an option to buy.

Lenglet buy option revealed

Clément Lenglet to Tottenham is a done deal, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.

Meanwhile, Alfredo Pedullà reports that the final details are now being worked on.

The defender has already agreed to make the move which will be a loan with an option to buy.

Spurs’ option to sign the defender stands at around just €6 million.

This would represent a huge loss for Barcelona who paid €35 million to sign him from Sevilla back in 2018.

But Barça desperately need to move players on in order to register their new signing and Lenglet is a player which they have really been trying to shift.

Antonio Conte also gets the left-sided central defender which he has been looking to sign this summer and a player he wanted at Inter Milan back in 2020.

Richarlison having Tottenham medical today

 

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West Ham and Newcastle are set to go head-to-head for Villareal forward Arnaut Danjuma this summer, with a transfer for the Dutchman now a matter of days away, according to reports in Spain.

The Dutchman is a versatile forward, able to play on either flank or through the middle, and enjoyed a strong season under former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, netting 10 and grabbing 3 assists in 23 La Liga appearances last campaign.

And, he is thought to have a release clause in his current contract in Spain, which could see him depart for around £40m this summer, with Danjuma having previously spoken of having ‘unfinished business’ in England.

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West Ham are progressing in talks with Villarreal to sign Danjuma. Work in progress for bit less than €45m, West Ham want him to be one of their statement signings. Personal terms, not discussed yet. 🚨🇪🇸 #WHUFC

Villarreal are prepared to sign Umar Sadiq as replacement. pic.twitter.com/XfaBoRW8MZ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 29, 2022

West Ham lead Newcastle

It seems as though the Hammers have stolen a march on Newcastle at present, though that could all change now that the Magpies have finalised a deal for compatriot Sven Botman.

They too need cover in the wide areas, having been scared off by the price placed upon the head of French talent Moussa Diaby this summer and keen to add quality in the final third.

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✍️ Newcastle United have agreed a deal in principle with LOSC Lille to sign Dutch defender Sven Botman for an undisclosed fee!

⚫️⚪️

— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) June 28, 2022

While a fee with West Ham is close to being agreed, personal terms are yet to be discussed, leaving plenty of time for Eddie Howe and co, or even other clubs, to swoop in and take him away from David Moyes’s side if they wished to.

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Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeneß has spoken out against the 50+1 rule as the German giants have begun to lag behind some of the biggest clubs in Europe over the last few seasons.

Hoeneß, who made 239-appearances for the Bavarian-based club over nine years, has reversed his long-standing support for the Deutsche Fußball-Liga rule that states a club must control the majority of its voting rights which ensures that members retain decision power while also shielding from the influence of outside investors.

The World Cup-winning midfielder was quoted in stating that if Bayern is to be the king of Europe, they need to revisit their resistance to investors if they are to compete with the top clubs in England and Italy that have welcomed foreign influence with open arms.

“I used to be against breaking the 50+1 rule. But now the Italians and the English are pulling away from us. If we want to be at the top of Europe, we have to change 50+1. The rule can be abolished.”

“On the one hand we want to win the Champions League, on the other hand, we want to stick to 50+1. You can’t have it both ways.”

“Investors and sustainability don’t exclude each other. Let’s take a look at Liverpool: The club is owned by an American, but you still get goosebumps every time they sing ‘You’ll never walk alone’. That doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive.”

Bayern is the undisputed kings of Germany after the club has lifted the Bundesliga trophy for ten consecutive seasons taking them to 31-league wins across the history of the league, with their closest competitor for league honors coming by way of rivals Borussia Dortmund, and Borussia Mönchengladbach, both of whom have five league titles to their name.

But despite their domestic dominance, Bayern has struggled in recent seasons after lifting the Champions League trophy in 2020, failing to make it past the quarter-final stage in the last two seasons which included a recent humiliating elimination at the hands of La Liga outfit Villarreal.

While it is likely that the vast majority of clubs in the German football ladder will be wholeheartedly against the abolishing of 50+1, Hoeneß does levy a fair argument regarding a club’s ability to continue to run in a sustainable fashion despite outside capital being pumped into the bloodstream.

Still, such a monumental shift in the landscape of German football is sure to be avoided, and even if it was not, it would likely take years for the right changes to be enacted and implemented.

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For more on Bayern Munich, read below

Barcelona to make third approach for Bayern star Robert Lewandowski

Revealed: Sadio Mané’s salary at Bayern Munich

Hasan Salihamidžić shoots down links to Cristiano Ronaldo interest

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This article was edited by
Ben Browning.

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The battle for Leeds United’s star Brazilain winger Raphinha continues to rage on after reports from Spain suggest that Barcelona is still in the running for his services this summer.

Spanish transfer insider Gerard Romero discussed the situation via his personal Twitch channel earlier today, claiming that Barcelona is still very much in the running for Raphinha even in the wake of the agreement that already exists between Leeds and Chelsea.

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🚨 JUST IN: Barcelona is very alive in the Raphinha race. The club has ‘high chances’ of signing the player, although Chelsea have an agreement with Leeds, due to the strength of Deco and the player. @gerardromero #Transfers 🇧🇷

— Reshad Rahman ✆ (@ReshadRahman_) June 29, 2022

Thomas Tuchel’s Blues have made good on their relationship with Raphinha’s agent – and former Chelsea player – Deco to potentially speed up negotiations with both camps as the Brazilian is dead set on leaving Elland Road this summer after serious interest from a cadre of clubs.

Barcelona boss Xavi remains intent to continue to add attacking quality to his side, however, with Raphinha being targeted alongside Polish star Robert Lewandowski as the Calatan giants hope to give La Liga holders Real Madrid a real run for their money in 2022-23.

The potential sale of Frenkie de Jong would go a long way in helping the club afford reinforcements despite Barça bringing in both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ferran Torres last season.

Arsenal has also been linked with interest in Raphinha this summer, but it is unclear if the Gunners will return with an improved bid for the former Stade Rennais forward after Chelsea made clear their intentions to add him into the first-team fold.

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For more on Barcelona, read below

Barcelona to make third attempt at Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski

Xavi push to convince Ousmane Dembélé to stay in Spain

Ángel Di María to choose Juventus as Barça set to miss out on Argentine star

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An insight into why Chelsea are likely to beat Arsenal to the signing of Leeds United winger Raphinha has been provided.

For several weeks now, it has been Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal who have been the most heavily linked with the Brazilian and, despite no deal being completed, it did look as though Raphinha was Emirates bound.

That was until Tuesday evening when various reports emerged and suggested Chelsea were close to agreeing a deal with Leeds for their star winger.

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🚨 EXCL: Chelsea close to agreeing fee north of £55m with Leeds for Raphinha but not done yet. #CFC now best placed with #LUFC & 25yo as long-term favourites Barcelona can’t afford it at present + Arsenal not currently at required price @TheAthleticUK #AFC https://t.co/cPEmDq4d8N

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 28, 2022

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Now, an insight into why Chelsea look set to beat Arsenal to Raphinha has been provided.

And whilst the obvious answer is that Chelsea, who finished 3^rd last season, have Champions League football and Arsenal don’t, the main reason is actually more to do with the transfer fee.

As per Freddie Paxton, Arsenal are hesitant about the fee being touted by Leeds, especially because the Peacocks want a big part of it paid up front.

Chelsea, though, have no issues paying a large sum up front for the South American:

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True: Arsenal’s second proposal to Leeds was turned down today. Club are hesitant around the fee being touted – especially because Leeds have negotiated a big part of the fee to be paid up front, which Chelsea have accepted.

Deal not done, but Chelsea firmly in the driving seat. https://t.co/cbIuXAKQSN

— Freddie Paxton (@Freddie_Paxton) June 28, 2022

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Glen Johnson has been discussing why Romelu Lukaku did not succeed at Chelsea last season.

Lukaku made the return to Chelsea this past summer, setting the Blues back close to £100m.

But with Chelsea coming off the back of a Champions League triumph, a big-name striker did appear to be the final thing they needed to truly compete at the top of the Premier League once more.

And whilst Lukaku did fit that criteria on paper after a very successful, title-winning campaign with Inter Milan, his 2021/22 was a complete disaster.

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Lukaku was hampered by injury and fitness issues, but his bizarre interview earlier in the campaign in which he expressed his love for Inter and hit out at Tuchel for his use of him really didn’t help.

All told, Lukaku went on to score just eight league goals during 2021/22, only one of which – vs Arsenal in gameweek two – came against a top-eight team.

Now, with the summer window open, Lukaku appears to be closing in on a return to Inter Milan.

Ahead of a potential move back to the San Siro, Glen Johnson has been speaking about why he thinks Lukaku did not succeed in the English top-flight, pointing towards the division being too technical and too fast for the striker:

“It’s been a bad signing and I’m sure he’d admit that himself,” Johnson said. “He’s a good player, but I just believe that the Premier League is too technical and too fast for him. He will probably go to Inter Milan and bang in 25 goals, but it’s a different league.”

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Glen Johnson on Lukaku: “It’s been a bad signing and I’m sure he’d admit that himself. He’s a good player, but I just believe that the Premier League is too technical and too fast for him. He will probably go to Inter Milan and bang in 25 goals, but it’s a different league.”

— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) June 28, 2022

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Some Manchester United players reported for pre-season training for the first time on Monday morning.

This was, of course, their first session under new manager Erik ten Hag, who was confirmed as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s permanent successor in April but finished 2021/22 with Ajax before linking up with United.

Following the start of pre-season, there have been plenty of images and videos posted to United’s social media account showing a number of players training.

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Welcome back, David! 👏⛔️#MUFC || @D_DeGea pic.twitter.com/qW6NKu2Bx4

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 28, 2022

Now, less than 24 hours on from Manchester United’s first session under Ten Hag, a story has already emerged about the Dutchman being unhappy with United players.

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The incident that upset Ten Hag occurred at the end of the training day. As per the Mirror, Manchester United players dumped their bibs in one big pile as they left the training ground following their first session under the former Ajax man.

However, Ten Hag wanted the bibs, which were coloured blue, yellow and orange, to be left in organised piles, and let the players know he was unhappy with them simply discarding the shirts without much thought for who would have to pick them up and sort them out.

It is added that Ten Hag considers minute details to be of utmost importance, and the Man United players are likely going to be pulled up on other minor issues until they get to grips with the Dutchman’s way of doing things.

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Amazon have, on Tuesday June 28, released the first look at Arsenal’s ‘All or Nothing’ documentary series.

The Gunners are the third Premier League side to take part in the series, following in the footsteps of Manchester City and Tottenham.

The documentary will first air on August 4 when episodes 1 to 3 will be released. A week later, episodes 4 to 6 will be out, with the final two episodes coming out on August 18^th, 2022.

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A first look at Arsenal’s All or Nothing documentary 👀#AFC pic.twitter.com/Po0tnkdiQZ

— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) June 28, 2022

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What will be shown in the Arsenal All or Nothing series?

The documentary followed Arsenal over the course of the 2021/22 campaign in all competitions.

This means we will see Arsenal’s rather embarrassing FA Cup exit in the 3^rd round at the hands of Nottingham Forest, as well as their League Cup semi-final defeat vs Liverpool.

The biggest story of the Gunners’ 2021/22, though, was their battle with bitter rivals Tottenham for Champions League football.

Despite being in pole position to secure a 4^th-place finish, Arsenal would experience something of a collapse at the end of last season, allowing Spurs to swoop in and steal the final Champions League place out from under them.

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