Tottenham are set to make Dejan Kulusevski’s transfer from Juventus permanent this summer, according to reports.
Dejan Kulusevski joined Tottenham on loan from Juventus in the January transfer window.
The Swede has since hit the ground running in England. On just his second start for the club he provided one goal and one assist as Spurs earned a huge 3-2 win over champions Manchester City.
The 21-year-old has scored a further two goals and provided five more assists in his subsequent league outings for the Lilywhites.
Such fine form has already endeared the winger to the Tottenham faithful, who are no doubt pleased to see the Evening Standard report on Wednesday that Spurs will make Kulusevski’s move permanent this summer.
Tottenham to make Dejan Kulusevski transfer permanent this summer after stellar loan form
Kulusevski joined Spurs on an 18-month loan in January worth £8.3m, and also included the option to make the move permanent this summer for a further £24.9m.
Tottenham do have the option to make the deal for Kulusevski permanent at the end of 2022/23, but that would come at a higher price of £29.1m.
So, given the Swede has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, it makes sense for Spurs to activate their option to buy this summer and saves themselves a few million.
Kulusevski could also earn back his transfer fee by helping Spurs secure a Champions League place.
Antonio Conte’s side are currently 4th in the Premier League, but Arsenal can go level on points with them on Wednesday evening if they beat Chelsea.
Barcelona lost their first La Liga clash since all the way back in December of 2021 on Monday evening.
Barca would take on Cadiz in a league tie, looking to bounce back from their Europa League exit at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt last week.
However, when all was said and done, the Catalonian outfit lost 1-0 and their already slim title hopes are now dead in the water.
Now, following that loss, Xavi Hernandez has come out and suggested Barcelona have to improve if they want to qualify for the Champions League: “We have to be humble because we haven’t achieved anything… We have to improve our game in order to qualify for the Champions League.”
Xavi: “We have to be humble because we haven’t achieved anything… We have to improve our game in order to qualify for the Champions League.” pic.twitter.com/RqrE2tftzE
Xavi added: “When you win 0-4 at the Bernabéu, it’s logical that you say things like Barça is back… But I’m telling you now that we’re making mistakes, that we must have more faith and desire. We have to be a more competitive team.”
Xavi: “When you win 0-4 at the Bernabéu, it’s logical that you say things like Barça is back… But I’m telling you now that we’re making mistakes, that we must have more faith and desire. We have to be a more competitive team.”
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Barcelona vs Real Sociedad
Barcelona’s next outing comes against Real Sociedad on Thursday evening.
Barca head into the game sat second in La Liga, just three points above 5th-place Real Betis
And whilst they do have a game in hand on the rest of the Champions League-chasing sides, such a small gap between four teams means Barcelona have little room for error in their remaining league games this term.
Just days after soon-to-be out of contract forward Alexandre Lacazette all but confirmed his Arsenal exit and spoke of his Champions League ambitions, fellow striker Eddie Nketiah has also seemingly confirmed his impending departure.
Both forwards are out of contract this summer, and it has been widely assumed that they will leave the club as the Gunners look to continue their club rebuild, but it has now seemingly been all-but-confirmed.
Arsenal’s French striker Alexandre Lacazette (R) is substituted for Arsenal’s English striker Eddie Nketiah (L) during the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage in London on September 12, 2020. (Photo by Clive Rose / POOL / AFP) /
Between them, they have contributed to 5 goals this season, two of which came from the penalty spot, and both have been victims of anger from Arsenal fans at their lack of goalscoring, perceived as a key reason that Mikel Arteta’s side now look likely to miss out on 4th spot and Champions League football this season after three straight losses.
And, speaking to The Beautiful game podcast, 22-year-old Nketiah outlined his plans after the summer, revealing that there have been new contract offers from the north London side but that he is keen to make his mark elsewhere.
‘There has been offers of a new contract but my aim is to play football and to play regularly, that’s my ambition and that’s what I hope to do’, he told the podcast.
Open to Ghana switch?
Meanwhile, despite being the record England U21 goalscorer, Nketiah is yet to be capped at senior level for the Three Lions, and qualifies to play for Ghana through his family should he wish to make that switch.
The Black Stars have qualified for the World Cup finals in Qatar too, drawn in a group with Uruguay, Portugal and South Korea, and Nketiah confirmed that he is open to the idea of switching allegiance ahead of the tournament.
‘Of course it is a possibility. I’m open to both, playing for Ghana and playing for England as well. It’s always good to have the opportunity to potentially do that’, he continued.
By the sounds of it, Nketiah could be lining out alongside Thomas Partey for Ghana come the World Cup.
Premier League champions Manchester City have seen their efforts to seal the signing of Erling Haaland take a significant step forward, according to reports.
The subject of Haaland’s future has of course been rampant in the media for some time now.
This comes with the Norwegian sensation set to be available at a cut-price fee this summer, when a clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract comes into play.
A whole host of European football’s heavyweights, in turn, have long expressed a keen interest in his signature.
Recent weeks, however, have seen one clear front-runner emerge in the Haaland sweepstakes – in the form of the aforementioned Manchester City.
The Sky Blues, still on the hunt for a long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero, have been tipped to pull out all the stops to land Dortmund’s main man, adding the final piece to what would be an absolutely frightening attacking puzzle under the watch of Pep Guardiola.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – DECEMBER 15: Erling Haaland celebrates during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and SpVgg Greuther Fürth at Signal Iduna Park on December 15, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
And, as alluded to above, if the latest word stemming from the media on Monday night is anything to go by, then the endeavours of the transfer team at the Etihad to land Haaland look set to bear imminent fruit.
As per a report from Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail, City have reached an agreement over the personal terms of a contract with the striker’s representatives.
The deal in question centers on eye-watering terms of £500,000-per-week, wages which would make Haaland the best-paid player in the Premier League.
The Citizens, in turn, are primed to trigger the 21-year-old’s release clause upon the conclusion of the campaign, amid the suggestion that, ‘if all goes according to plan, what is likely to be a five-year deal should be sealed in the next week or so.’
EXCLUSIVE – Manchester City agree terms with Erling Haaland’s representatives – Clause set to be triggered following significant step forward – Move likely go through in next week or so. Story: https://t.co/xNDAuD4IKT#mcfc
Word of Man City’s alleged deal with Haaland comes fresh on the back of the youngster returning to the scoresheet this past weekend.
On the back of a rare two-game fruitless spell in front of goal, Haaland notched a brace, as well as laying on an assist, as Dortmund ran riot en route to an eventual 6-1 drubbing of Wolfsburg at Signal Iduna Park.
Six goals and sunshine for @BlackYelllow at Signal Iduna Park. ☀️⚽
Everton forward Richarlison has reportedly told his agent to find him a move away from Goodison Park in the summer transfer window, according to Football.Insider.
The 24 year old Brazilian has stood out in a mediocre side so far this season, scoring six goals and providing 4 assists in 23 appearances across the campaign. But, Richarlison has failed to propel his side up the table, with the Toffees sitting precariously above the relegation zone.
A win over Manchester United somewhat eased their fears of slipping out of the top flight, but with eight games left of the season they remain only three points above the drop zone, although they do have a game in hand on Burnley below them.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – APRIL 06: Richarlison of Everton during the Premier League match between Burnley and Everton at Turf Moor on April 06, 2022 in Burnley, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
And, for the man who tops both the goal scoring and assists charts for Frank Lampard’s side, it is clearly far too close for comfort, and a far cry from what he signed for in 2019, when the Merseyside outfit splashed out £50 million for his services.
The report claims that ‘a recruitment source has told Football Insider that Richarlison has told his representatives he wants them to explore a move going into the summer window’.
Everton to sell anyway?
Everton would possibly have looked to part ways with Richarlison anyway, with the club in significant financial trouble and almost certain to sell one of the Brazilian and fellow big-ticket item Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
It is also possible that they offload them both, in a bid to ensure that more money is available to be invested in the squad which consistently looks as though it needs an overhaul despite repeated attempts to do so.
Should they decide to sell Richarlison, there will be no shortage of suitors, with PSG and Barcelona just two clubs previously credited with an interest in the Brazilian.
Supporters of Spanish giants Real Madrid have flooded to social media on Sunday evening, to single one player out for special praise on the back of the club’s meeting with Sevilla.
Carlo Ancelotti’s troops, of course, were back in action a short time ago.
Amid the club’s ongoing pursuit of the La Liga title, Los Blancos made the trip to Andalusia, for a meeting with Julen Lopetegui’s high-flying Sevilla.
Real headed into proceedings brimming with confidence, fresh off the back of a remarkable comeback downing of Chelsea in the Champions League in midweek.
And, when all was said and done this evening, the capital giants’ recovery powers were on full display once more, en route to a turnaround 3-2 triumph.
After goals on the part of Ivan Rakitic and Erik Lamela guided Sevilla into a 2-0 lead inside 25 minutes, Real clawed their way back level courtesy of Rodrygo and Nacho Fernandez, to set up a nail-biting final ten minutes at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Nacho equalises! 🔥
Real Madrid draw level in what’s been an outstanding game at the Sanchez Pizjuan ⚪
As proceedings rolled into injury time, almost inevitably, Karim Benzema ensured that all three points would be heading back to the Spanish capital, keeping his composure amid a chaotic scene in the Sevilla penalty area to slot home a 39th goal of the campaign:
On the back of the final whistle bringing a close to proceedings at the Sanchez Pizjuan, it should therefore come as little surprise to hear of the name of that man Benzema taking its place front and centre in the headlines.
As alluded to above, though, it is in fact another member of Carlo Ancelotti’s ranks who has been singled out as the true ‘game changer’ in the eyes of many others.
The player in question? Rodrygo.
Youngster Rodrygo was introduced off the bench at the interval in Andalusia, and went on to bag not only Real’s first of the clash, but also the assist for Benzema’s eventual winner.
In turn, the Brazilian has been widely hailed by those of a Blancos persuasion across social media, with just some of the highlights showcased below:
Rodrygo absolutely changed this game. What a performance man.
Liverpool are thought to be preparing a move for Aberdeen defender Calvin Ramsay as they search for cover for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer transfer window.
The Reds have improved their squad depth immeasurably in the past two seasons, but right-back is still a position in which they could do with backup, with Joe Gomez the current option should Alexander-Arnold find himself sidelined for any reason.
Gomez is a fine defender, but is a centre-back by trade and his future at Anfield is unclear with the Englishman having made just 9 starts across all competitions this season following his return from serious injury.
With two years left on his current deal come the end of the season, a decision will have to be made on his future one way or another, and it is looking increasingly likely that he could depart.
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 28: Joe Gomez of Liverpool battles for possession with Marco Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool at Parc des Princes on November 28, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Calvin Ramsay in the crosshairs
Now, as per the Sun, Calvin Ramsay is the man that Jurgen Klopp has identified as a suitable backup for their creative right-back, with the Aberdeen man having turned in a series of impressive performances for the Scottish side.
The 18-year-old has grabbed a goal and five assists this season in an impressive Scottish Premiership campaign, and as per the report, ‘Ramsay has been attracting interest since his breakthrough and the Anfield giants see him as a player to sign and bring through for the first team’.
It would likely spell the end of both Gomez’s and Neco Williams’ time at Anfield, but could prove another shrewd pickup by the Reds.
Liverpool star Thiago Alcantara has taken to social media on Saturday evening, to send a personal message to the club’s supporters.
Thiago, of course, played an integral role earlier today, as Jurgen Klopp’s Reds kept hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive courtesy of an FA Cup semi-final downing of Manchester City.
The Spanish international shone throughout the 90 minutes, lighting up the Wembley turf courtesy of a trademark combination of touch, passing and flair.
On the back of the action coming to a close in the English capital, it therefore came as little surprise to hear of the Liverpool faithful singling their midfield metronome out for widespread praise.
Thiago’s game by numbers vs Man City:
100% aerial duels won 100% take-ons completed 92% pass accuracy 64 touches 46 passes 12 duels contested 11 duels won 4 tackles made 3 fouls won 2 take-ons 1 assist 0 x dribbled past
And now, as alluded to above, Thiago himself has moved to return the favour.
Taking to his official social media platforms, the former Bayern Munich man sent a message of thanks to all who made the trip to London on Saturday, for their ‘crazy’ support:
Whilst Thiago proved the star of the show when it came to the exchanges in the middle of the park on Saturday, it was another member of Jurgen Klopp’s ranks who did so when it came to the scoresheet.
The player in question? Sadio Mane.
After Ibrahima Konate fired Liverpool into an early lead at Wembley, Mane quickly put the Reds out of sight, bagging a brace – the 2nd of which came courtesy of a stunning volley from Thiago’s assist – before the clash had even reached half-time.
Manchester City, to their credit, did manage to pull a pair of goals back over the course of the 2nd-half through Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva, but it ultimately proved too little, too late, as Liverpool booked an FA Cup finale showdown with one of Chelsea or Crystal Palace.
Mikel Arteta has been discussing his striking options ahead of Arsenal’s meeting with Southampton.
Arsenal take on Southampton at St Mary’s at 3 pm UK time on Saturday.
The match is a must-win for Arsenal if they are to have any hope of securing a top-four berth this season.
Southampton are 14th in the league with 36 points from 31 games, meaning they are basically safe from relegation and have little left to play for this term.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are 5th in the Premier League, three points off Tottenham with a game in hand.
This means that Arsenal can draw level on points with Spurs if they win said game in hand, but will remain 5th due to their inferior goal difference.
As a result, Arsenal need to get back to winning ways this weekend and then hope they can get one over on Antonio Conte’s side when they meet at the end of the campaign.
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Arsenal’s striking options
However, though it is a key game, Arsenal may have to make do without a third senior player for the clash as Alexandre Lacazette, the Gunners’ only decent striking option at present, has missed three training sessions this week.
As a result, Arteta was asked about his other potential striking options for Saturday. When asked about Emile Smith Rowe’s ability to play as a false nine, Arteta had this to say:
“He’s not been completely fit to be training and playing every game, but it’s a possibility,” Arteta said. “It’s a position that I think he can fulfil in the future, but he needs training, and he needs experience in it.”
Then, when asked if Gabriel Martinelli can play as a striker, the Spaniard added: “We have many options, so you will see tomorrow.”
As the 2021-22 football season approaches its final weeks, one storyline more so than any other has begun to take shape; the chance for Premier League giants Liverpool to secure a historic quadruple.
Jürgen Klopp’s high-flying Reds recently played out an entertaining 3-3 draw against legendary Portuguese side SL Benfica in their midweek Champions League clash that saw Liverpool book passage into the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition, keeping hopes alive that the Anfield-based side could become the first English club to ever secure a ‘true’ quadruple.
The 2-2 draw against rivals Manchester City last Sunday may not have allowed Liverpool to leapfrog their Premier League title rivals, but it kept them within one point of Pep Guardiola’s table-topping City, which was more than enough to keep hopes alive that they have the chance to eventually climb ahead of the Spaniard.
🔴 Jurgen Klopp says he is relishing the heat of the battle as quadruple-chasing Liverpool prepare to face Man City for the second time in a week 👊#FACup#MCILIVhttps://t.co/98dR85vTbH
Those budding domestic rivals are set to come to grips once again this Sunday, with direct implications regarding the potential achievement that Liverpool is currently steaming towards when they meet once again, but this time, lock horns in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
It is a clash that Klopp is not only relishing but a fixture where he hopes to see improvement from his vaunted Liverpool outfit despite earning a very credible point last weekend at the Etihad.
“City were really strong last week and we were not at our best so I would like to see a game where we are at our best as well/ That would be interesting, so let’s give it a try. It has to be treated like a final, we have to. That’s how it is pretty much and that’s how we approached it already since January since we started this little mission. You have to go all-in.” note: quotes provided by BeIN Sports.
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Joel Matip of Liverpool lifts the Carabao Cup trophy after the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 27, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Thankfully for Liverpool, they can fall back to cup success already this season after the Reds secured a Carabao Cup win back in late February when Klopp’s men fought to a 0-0 draw against compatriot Thomas Tuchel and his Chelsea side before eventually winning 11-10 on penalties thanks to Kepa Arrizabalaga blazing his effort from the spot well over the bar.
That recent success at the first time of asking in a cup final certainly can be tapped into as the business end of three other competitions is approaching.
Beyond their weekend clash with budding rivals Man City, Liverpool has been drawn against giant-killing Villarreal in the semi-finals of the Champions League after former Arsenal boss Unai Emery perpetrated one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition when El Submarino Amarillo dispatched the Bavarian giants from the quarterfinals thanks to a 2-1 aggregate win.
The shock result prompted Klopp to heap praise in the direction of Emery, who he hailed as “the king of the cups” after the Spanish side skipped past both Bayern and Juventus during the knockout stage of the competition, and although the comparable status between both clubs is considerable, Villarreal surely cannot be underestimated by any means.
Should Liverpool see their way past Villarreal, it would once again present them with a possible clash against – you guessed it – Man City in the Champions League final set to take place at the Stade de France in Paris after City were drawn against Real Madrid in a clash that former Barcelona man Guardiola will no doubt look to enjoy.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 10: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City interacts with Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on April 10, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Liverpool faces their two biggest rivals in the league in the aftermath of the FA Cup clash when they host both Manchester United and Everton before traveling north to come to grips with Newcastle United, only to close out the season in may in dates with Tottenham (H), Aston Villa (A), Southampton (A), and Wolves (H).
By comparison City host Brighton and Watford, only to then travel to Leeds United before returning home to clash with Newcastle United and then closing out the final two weeks of the season against West Ham United (A), and Aston Villa (H).
It is not every season that arguably the top two clubs in all of Europe are potentially set to lock horns in three separate competitions which could see one of them arrive at the summer hauling all four major trophies on offer.
Should Liverpool succeed in their quest, they would be the first British side since Celtic in 1966-67 to win a quadruple when the Hoops won the Scottish first division, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, and the European Cup when the likes of Stevie Chalmers and Joe McBride led the “Lisbon Lions” to eternal glory.
And perhaps most impressive of all, it would cement Jürgen Klopp’s legacy as arguably the greatest manager’s in the club’s illustrious history. Four trophies this season would see Klopp take home seven major honors (eight if you include the Club World Cup) since his arrival at Anfield over 6-years ago, and become only the 5th Liverpool manager to win the league multiple times and only the second to win multiple European honors, following in the footsteps of the great Bob Paisley.
Already boasting the highest winning percentage of any Liverpool manager in history (62.06%) ahead of Kenny Dalglish, a historic quadruple would be enough to suggest that Klopp is without a doubt the best manager in club football today.
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