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Newcastle United are now believed to be considering using the Marc Guehi money to sign a £100m-rated midfielder, according to a recent transfer update.

Newcastle transfer news

The summer transfer window may now be closed, meaning the Magpies can't make new signings until January, but that isn't stopping Paul Mitchell and Co from getting their ducks in a row for 2025, identifying targets after what many fans believed to be a disastrous summer window.

One such figure is Kevin Zenon, with Newcastle linked with a move for the Boca Juniors midfielder, considering him an exciting long-term prospect. They have even made an initial approach for the 23-year-old winger, whose left foot has been described as "magical".

Meanwhile, Barcelona winger Raphinha continues to be touted as a possible target for Newcastle in the coming transfer windows, as they look to snap up an upgrade to Miguel Almiron. The Brazilian has been linked with a switch to St James' Park numerous times in the past, and they are believed to be willing to match Barca's £52m valuation of him.

It is always important for Eddie Howe and Mitchell to be looking into the future and eyeing signings for the summer of 2025, and it looks as though one exciting player has been identified as an ambitious option.

Newcastle interested in "outstanding" midfielder

According to The Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel, Newcastle are interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton next summer, with Liverpool and Manchester City also mentioned as being in the mix. The Magpies of course have money in the coffers after failing with a near £70m deal for Wharton's teammate, Marc Guehi, whose position as Palace captain could now stifle a future move as well.

It has been claimed that the Eagles value the young midfielder at over £100m, and while Newcastle's interest is only thought to be "tentative", he would surely be viewed as a long-term successor to Bruno Guimaraes in the middle of the park.

Wharton could be a fantastic signing by Newcastle in 2025, having enjoyed a meteoric rise this year, joining Palace in January and then being named in England's squad for Euro 2024. It would be a shrewd way to use the Guehi money if a deal for the centre-back is indeed dead in the water.

A gifted young midfielder with elegance to his game, the 20-year-old was lauded by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer earlier this year, who said of him after an eye-catching performance away to Liverpool.

In Wharton, Newcastle wouldn't only be signing a player who could mature into something great as the years pass, but they would also be getting a footballer who is ready to shine in the Premier League for them from the off, having proven himself at Palace.

Newcastle make first approach to sign "magical" new £15m star for Howe

The Magpies could already have their first signing of 2025 lined up.

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 6, 2024

Granted, the lure of Liverpool and City acts as a real threat to the Magpies' chances of getting their man, but they should be willing to break the bank for him, having averaged 2.3 tackles per game in the league this season, as well as one key pass per match.

Some Manchester United fans are fearing the worst after confirmation that Sunday's game at Liverpool will go ahead as planned.

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• Liverpool vs Man Utd to go ahead
• Game was in doubt due to weather
• Red Devils fans fear the worst

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  On Saturday night, adverse weather in the north of England led to suggestions Liverpool's game with Manchester United could be postponed, with meetings held between safety boards the following morning. However, authorities have decided that the match will go ahead as planned, with kick-off at Anfield set for 4:30pm GMT.

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Liverpool and United fans were broadly in agreement that this will spell bad news for the Red Devils, who come into the fixture in awful form.

  An X user named @PaddyWarburton wrote: "Our thoughts are with Man United at this difficult time."

  @_Farid Khan predicted a heavy Liverpool win with: "Full-time: Liverpool 8-0 Man Utd."

  A Liverpool fan named @BackseatmanLFC wrote: "Salah's shirt-off celebration in freezing conditions after scoring his third today should be what we use to base his statue off."

  A user named @__lilbenny is fearing for United: "Postpone please, these are bad signs we might concede 10 goals."

  @Mark_cobbler wrote: "Well that's a shame. Would have saved us the pain if it was off."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United are going through a rough patch having won just two out of the nine matches they played in December across all competitions. They have lost three consecutive matches in the Premier League and are currently 14th in the table. The Reds, on the other hand, have lost just one league game in 2024-25 thus far and have a five-point lead at the top with two games in hand.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL & MAN UTD?

  Liverpool follow Sunday's game with a trip to Tottenham in midweek in the Carabao Cup. After facing their rivals in extreme weather conditions, United will next face Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 12 at Emirates Stadium.

An "unbelievable" Newcastle United player has a "willingness" to come to an agreement over a new contract at St James' Park, in a deal that would be worth more than £3.1m per year.

Newcastle eyeing future signings

The Magpies continue to be linked with new signings in the future, following a summer transfer window that many supporters weren't overly enamoured with. There is a feeling that Eddie Howe's squad wasn't strengthened sufficiently enough, with the manager himself even hinting at his own frustration surrounding the situation.

One report has claimed that Adam Wharton is being looked at as a potential target for Newcastle ahead of next summer, with the Crystal Palace midfielder impressing so much last season that he received a call-up to England's squad for Euro 2024. Liverpool and Manchester City are also keen on snapping him up, though.

Rumours linking the Magpies with a move for Barcelona winger Raphinha are also refusing to go away, with a fresh update stating that the Premier League side are happy to match the La Liga giants' £52m valuation of him. The Brazilian could be an ideal improvement on Miguel Almiron and his impressive spell at Leeds United showed that he is capable of thriving in English football.

While new faces are vital for Newcastle moving forward, retaining the services of the most important players at St James' Park is just as key. Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding the future of one such figure.

Newcastle plan contract talks with "unbelievable" ace

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, Newcastle are planning talks with Antony Gordon over a contract extension at St James' Park, which would earn him more than his current £3.1m-a-year wages.

The report states that "despite links with a move to Liverpool in the summer, Gordon remains focused" on playing for the Magpies currently, adding that "there is a willingness to reach an agreement over a new contract".

Tieing Gordon down to an extension would feel significant for Newcastle, following strong reported interest from his boyhood club Liverpool during the summer window. Even if he does decide he wants to leave soon, it would also put the Magpies in a strong bargaining position, in terms of demanding huge money for him.

The hope is that the 23-year-old now sees his long-term future at St James', however, having become a popular player in a short space of time, not least with Bruno Guimaraes: "He has been unbelievable, always scoring and giving some assists.

"He is a lovely guy as well, I am very happy for him and hope he can get some minutes for England. For me to play against him will be massive for both of us and the club as well."

Newcastle make first approach to sign "magical" new £15m star for Howe

The Magpies could already have their first signing of 2025 lined up.

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 6, 2024

Gordon hasn't yet found his top form this season – he is still waiting for his first assist of the campaign – but he is a massive player for Newcastle and should only get better as his prime approaches.

Manchester United have endured a torrid start to their Premier League campaign this year, and while they picked up all three points yesterday, six from 12 simply isn’t good enough if they have genuine ambitions of finishing in the Champions League places.

Erik ten Hag’s side have looked defensively suspect against each team they’ve played so far, and while they have created chances, the goals just haven’t come.

This poor start to the season in front of goal now means that, despite having played four games, the whole squad is being outscored by a superstar centre-forward the club were once instructed to sign by a former manager.

United's poor start to the season

Now, while United were able to stop the bleeding somewhat with a professional 3-0 win at St Mary’s Stadium yesterday, it would be hard to deny that their start to the season has been dreadful.

The three-time European champions won against Fulham on the opening day but followed that up with a loss away to Brighton & Hove Albion and a 3-0 home hammering to fierce rivals Liverpool.

In all, the Red Devils have only found the back of the net on five occasions this season, with new boy Joshua Zirkzee opening his account against the Cottagers, promising winger Amad Diallo staking his claim for a starting spot against the Seagulls, and Marcus Rashford, Matthijs de Ligt, and Alejandro Garnacho all getting on the scoresheet on Saturday.

While the positive spin on this is that goals are coming from everywhere in the team, the negative perspective is that not enough are coming, which is made all the more clear when their noisy neighbours can rely on a certain goalscoring phenom who United were once told to sign by Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

Erling Haaland's goalscoring form

Yes, the striker United missed out on signing in the past is none other than Erling Haaland.

On an episode of The Overlap earlier this year, former manager and goalscoring icon himself, Solskjær, revealed that in the summer before he was appointed as the club’s manager, he told the Red Devils that they simply had to sign the young Norwegian, but they disagreed. Who did they sign that summer instead? Well, Lee Grant, Diogo Dalot and Fred were the names.

Now, it’s bad enough to miss out on a generational marksman just once, but the 51-year-old then revealed that he asked the club to go back in for him a few months later when he was made caretaker manager, even though he had just joined RB Salzburg, as he wasn’t playing and had a £20m release clause in his contract.

However, the United legend was once again ignored, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Since then, the Leeds-born dynamo has dominated in every country he’s played, racking up 36 goals and assists for RB Salzburg, 109 for Borussia Dortmund and, as things stand, 113 for City.

In just his first season for the Citizens, the “unreal” poacher, as dubbed by content creator Steven Mcinerney, broke the Premier League record for most goals in a season and ended with 52 in 53 games across all competitions. It really is no wonder he’s now valued at a mighty £152m by Transfermarkt, a far cry from the £4m he was valued at when United rejected him.

While he took a slight step back with 38 in 45 last year, he’s already found the back of the net nine times in four league games this season.

Ultimately, every top club misses out on young superstars here and there, but United must be particularly annoyed at letting Haaland slip through their fingers as he’s outscoring their entire squad, and had they just listened to Solskjær, he’d be donning red at the moment.

Their own Haaland: Man Utd are set to sign exciting gem who's "Osimhen 2.0"

The incredible youngster should be on his way to Old Trafford.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 13, 2024

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including more Pulisic magic and a significant injury return

Not so long ago, it was all doom and gloom for some key U.S. internationals. Christian Pulisic's calf didn't work. Then his ankle didn't work. Tim Weah was out. Weston McKennie was stuck at left back. There was no fun to be found.

How things change! Pulisic is back, fit and in form once again – playing a key role as Milan claimed the Supercoppa Italia last week. Weah is also ready to produce again, and could be key for Juventus – albeit in expected limited minutes. Meanwhile Josh Sargent is poised to see the pitch for the first time in months for Norwich after sustaining a groin injury.

There's also good news for Leeds fans and Brenden Aaronson, with the American set to play a role for Daniel Farke's side against Harrogate Town – in a sign that the FA Cup is being taken seriously somewhere. GOAL looks ahead at some of the biggest storylines to follow among Americans Abroad this weekend.

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  Christian Pulisic to return to Serie A form

  Now it all gets real for Sergio Conceicao. The Milan manager enjoyed a vacation to the Middle East for his first two fixtures in charge, won two big games, and came back with Christian Pulisic's first piece of silverware since he moved to Italy. So far, so good. Welcome to reality, Sergio. Milan aren't bad in Serie A. But they aren't good, either. Eighth place is far short of where Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the ownership group would have wanted the club to be at this stage of the season.

  Fortunately, things might be aligning at the right time. The obvious thing here is that Pulisic is back, fit and already looking in fine form. That he and Rafa Leao were both so impactful against Inter in the Supercoppa Italia final will be a massive encouragement. There are also the good vibes of a new manager here: cigars in dressing rooms, smiles for social media.

  Everything looks good from the outside. thrown in a kind opponent in Cagliari, who have lost four of their last five, and this could be a high time for a turning point. That eight point gap to fourth place – with two games in hand – might shrink awfully quickly.

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  Weston McKennie looks to break winless streak

  Juventus remain a confusing football team. They are still the only Serie A club to remain undefeated. But they also have a league-high 11 draws. They have scored 15 goals in 18 games, and play some maddeningly turgid football at times.

  This isn't really much fault of Weston McKennie. The USMNT midfielder does what he's told these days. He has gone from benchwarmer, to dynamic center midfielder, to reliable full back. But he did endure a pretty miserable showing in the Supercoppa Italia semi final against his national teammate Pulisic.

  The winger ran circles around McKennie, who, for the first time, looked every bit a midfielder used out of position. His 4/11 ground duels won sum it all up. Eight days off might have done him some good. It better have, because there doesn't seem to be an end to his defensive tenure anytime soon. Juventus are frighteningly thin at the back, and McKennie will likely be deployed there again when they face Torino in a local derby. A win would be nice for Thiago Motta and co. The draws are getting boring, at this point.

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  Brenden Aaronson sticks in the XI – right decision?

  The FA Cup means something to Leeds. It's a refreshing sentiment, these days. The competition has lost its charm, big clubs ignoring the Cup in England with the richest history. Championship sides, too, are looking at it with increasing scorn. What was once a breeding ground for upsets has now become an advertisement for backups and underwhelming narrow victories.

  Not for Daniel Farke. The Leeds manager promised that his side would take the competition seriously, and despite playing League 2 minnow Harrogate Town, pledged that Brenden Aaronson would feature for the Whites. Expectations will be high here.

  Leeds have to win, especially at home. But in the first meeting ever between the two sides, maybe the magic of the cup will churn out a game to remember. Aaronson, pulling the strings and all, will have to ensure that he does his best to keep his team on the right side of history.

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  Joe Scally and Bayern Munich

  Bayern don't make things easy for opponents these days. Gone is the team that finished a tepid third in the Bundesliga last year under two different managers. Here they are now, led by Vincent Kompany, who has the Bavarians playing some scintillating stuff and firmly atop the table.

  But Joe Scally's Borussia Monchengladbach aren't a bad side. They are well in the mix for a European spot, and have a good home record. The table seems set nicely, then, for an intriguing matchup between the two teams this weekend.

  Scally, who has established himself as a starter under Mauricio Pochettino on the USMNT, will have to show he can do it against the electric Leroy Sane to give the Champions League hopefuls a chance.

Chelsea has been home to numerous elite-level talents over the years, helping the club cement their place as one of the big six sides in the Premier League.

Since 2000, the club have won five top-flight titles along with two Champions League triumphs, mainly thanks to the investment of former owner Roman Abramovich.

However, since he sold the club in 2022 to Todd Boehly, the Blues have failed to win a single trophy, with an emphasis on the American needing to return the club to its glory days.

Striker Didier Drogba played a huge part in the club’s previous success, making 344 appearances and scoring 147 times – including in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich back in 2012.

The Ivorian starred alongside one talent who captured the hearts of many during his own time at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard’s time at Chelsea

Midfielder Frank Lampard will forever be an integral part of the Chelsea side that created new history for the club during the early 2000s, often taking the armband in the absence of John Terry.

He joined the Blues in an £11m deal way back in 2001 from fellow Premier League side West Ham United, making an immediate impact on the first-team squad despite his tender age of just 22 when he made the move across London.

Lampard produced numerous heroic displays during his time at Stamford Bridge, including in the Champions League semi-final back in 2008, scoring a vital penalty just days after the tragic passing of his mother.

The midfielder eventually departed the Bridge back in 2014 after 13 successful years at the club, amassing a total of 481 appearances – whilst making himself the club’s record goalscorer in the process.

He embodied everything about being a Chelsea player with his work rate, and desire to help the club succeed, whilst also having the quality to turn the game on its head in an instant – subsequently helping the club achieve their respective titles during his time at the club.

The club have struggled to find a replacement for the Englishman, unsurprisingly, given his impact at the club, but at one point they thought one player could fill the boots of the fan favourite.

The man who was once the next Lampard

After joining the club back in 2013, midfielder Marco van Ginkel arrived from Dutch side Vitesse with high hopes of being the next big talent at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea.

He only made four appearances during his debut campaign in England, before various different loan spells away from the club at the likes of AC Milan and Stoke City.

However, Van Ginkel, who was previously hailed as ‘the next Lampard’ when arriving, subsequently spent three separate loan spells at PSV Eindhoven, before permanently joining the Dutch side during the summer of 2021.

He made 76 appearances for Eindhoven across his three temporary stints at the club before his permanent transfer, but he would only last two seasons before yet another move.

Van Ginkel moved to Vitesse, the club he started his career at, scoring nine goals in 45 appearances last season, before leaving at the end of the season, with the midfielder now a free agent at the age of just 31.

It’s a real shame to see a player with such high expectations fail to deliver during his career, with the Dutchman another player in a long line that has never matched the promise demonstrated in his early days.

His time at Chelsea was a huge disappointment, only making four appearances over an eight-year spell, with the midfielder in desperate need of a move to reignite his once promising career.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

The Red Devils have done some poor business in the transfer market under their American owners – but which players stand out as the worst?

After 18 years of protests, controversy, disillusion and division, the Glazer family's time in charge of football operations at Manchester United came to an end after Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS' purchase of a 25 percent stake in the club in early 2024.

United had been debt-free until the Glazers invested just £270 million (£346m) of their own money into the £790m ($1 billion) deal that saw them become new owners back in 2005, with the rest borrowed against the club. And the Glazers have been accused of using the Red Devils as a cash cow to fund their business empire in the United States ever since.

They haven't attempted to build any bridges with the United faithful either, rarely bothering to attend matches or push through Old Trafford expansion plans. Co-chairman Joel Glazer has overseen the business side of things for United from the comforts of his office in Washington, which serves as further proof of their status as absentee owners.

However, no one could ever accuse the Glazers of failing to invest in the first-team squad. United have spent over £2bn ($2.6bn) on new players since their arrival, including a club-record outlay of £210m ($269m) in the 2022 summer transfer window. And, United have won 13 major trophies under the American family, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

But regular silverware has proven hard to come by for the Red Devils since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure as manager in 2013, with most of the club's most high-profile signings proving to be huge disappointments. Money doesn't always guarantee success, as GOAL is here to highlight with our definitive ranking of United's biggest flop signings of the Glazer era:

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  18Harry Maguire

  Still the world's most-expensive defender, Harry Maguire has endured a rollercoaster ever since arriving at Old Trafford from Leicester City in a blockbuster £80m ($102m) deal in 2019. The England international was installed as United captain barely six months after joining the club, but he never looked like the right fit for a leadership role, and it was no surprise when he was stripped of the armband in the summer of 2023 after initially falling down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag.

  The record price tag has made Maguire an easy target for critics, with any glaring mistakes or unfortunate moments instantly pounced upon by fans on social media. The 31-year-old eventually won Ten Hag over through hard work and has become an early stalwart for Ruben Amorim, but he will never be an elite centre-back, and his continued presence in the United team only serves to further highlight how far they have fallen as a collective in recent years.

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  17Anderson

  Ferguson had his fair share of bad buys before bringing the curtain down on his glorious 26-year reign at Old Trafford, including Brazilian ace Anderson – who joined United from Porto for £26m ($33m) in the summer of 2007.

  Anderson had been recommended to Ferguson by his brother Martin, who famously insisted that the midfielder was "better than Wayne Rooney". His debut campaign was encouraging enough, as he featured in 38 games to help United win a Premier League and Champions League double – albeit without scoring a single goal.

  Fitness issues began to hamper Anderson thereafter, though, and he was unable to force his way back into United's starting XI ahead of Paul Scholes or Michael Carrick. Anderson was finally released in February 2015, and former Red Devils coach Mick Clegg later revealed the main reason behind his failure in Manchester.

  "Anderson was more than capable of being an absolute stormer of a player," Clegg told . "He just needed his head knocking. He didn't keep fit. He chose not to put in the work, so it's hard to have too much sympathy for him. He was a party animal."

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  16Henrikh Mkhitaryan

  Mkhitaryan was snapped up from Borussia Dortmund for £26m ($33m) in July 2016, and he had his moments during his two-year stay at United. The Armenia international scored six goals during the run to Europa League glory in his first season, including one in the final, and also netted a memorable scorpion kick in a Premier League clash against Sunderland.

  But he also developed a reputation for going missing in the biggest games, and he eventually lost the favour of head coach Jose Mourinho before being sold to Arsenal in a swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez. He also struggled for consistency with the Gunners, but has since shown the kind of form that initially attracted United to his talents in Serie A.

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  15Owen Hargreaves

  United spent £17m (£22m) to sign Hargreaves from Bayern Munich in 2007, despite the fact he had missed the majority of his final season at Allianz Arena after suffering a broken leg. The gamble initially paid off as he enjoyed a solid debut campaign, which included a stellar Champions League final showing against Chelsea.

  But the England international only made five more appearances for the Red Devils after that night in Moscow. Hargreaves' body began to let him down, and after two knee surgeries that failed to reignite his career, United released him in 2011. He went on to join United's arch-rivals Manchester City, but only played one league game before retiring at the age of 31.

  In his second biography, Ferguson named Hargreaves as the worst signing of his tenure, writing: "He had definite value. But it was all lost in the fog of his lack of games."

Hoping to add yet another future star to their ranks, Chelsea are now reportedly battling Premier League rivals to add a young attacking midfielder to Enzo Maresca’s ranks.

Chelsea transfer news

As much as Chelsea’s transfer strategy has been questioned in recent years due to the sheer extent of arrivals throughout Todd Boehly’s tenure, there’s been a number of signs that suggest things are finally starting to come together at Stamford Bridge.

Imagine him & Nkunku: Chelsea lining up bid to sign £67m Jackson upgrade

The Blues are reportedly interested in a swoop for the centre-forward.

4

By
Dan Emery

Oct 5, 2024

Enzo Maresca has got the Blues firing on all cylinders in all competitions and has suffered just the one defeat in the Premier League, which came against champions Manchester City on the opening day.

They picked up where they left off against Brighton & Hove Albion to once again steal a stylish victory in midweek, defeating Gent 4-2 in the Europa Conference League thanks to goals from the likes of Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku.

Setting far more promising foundations, the Blues have now reportedly turned their attention back towards the transfer window. According to Caught Offside, Chelsea chiefs are now battling to sign Andrija Maksimovic from Red Star Belgrade ahead of the likes of Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Having already added the likes of Aaron Anselmino and Caleb Wiley to their ranks during the summer, the London giants have now reportedly shifted their focus towards the attacking midfielder, who their scouts watched in midweek as Inter Milan defeated Red Star Belgrade 4-0. Impressing despite defeat, Maksimovic is a teenager with the world at his feet.

Already making an impact in senior football, Maksimovic has scored four goals and assisted a further three in 10 games in all competitions this season. Whilst a move to Chelsea at this stage would be quite the leap, the young Serbian is certainly showing plenty of potential.

"Clever" Maksimovic can join long list of future Chelsea stars

Playing the long game, Boehly may just be proven right in unexpected fashion if Chelsea’s growing list of young players prove to be the stars that they’ve shown all the potential of becoming. And Maksimovic could add to that long list. The 17-year-old has quite the decision to make and with the Blues looking on course under Maresca, he may yet choose Stamford Bridge over the likes of Newcastle.

The teenager has earned plenty of deserved praise at Red Star Belgrade, and rightly so, with Serbian Football Scout describing his use of momentum as “clever” last month.

When 2025 arrives, Chelsea look set to once again be among the sides looking to welcome the next generation in pursuit of eventually returning to the top of English football. Whether Maksimovic decides to become the latest young player to believe in Boehly’s project remains to be seen, however.

NBA side Charlotte Hornets rolled out the red carpet for Zaha as they welcomed him to the city.

• Zaha exchanged jerseys with Charlotte Hornets’ Miller
• The Ivorian signed for Charlotte FC on year-long loan spell
• Zaha has previously played for Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

• Taylor Banner/Charlotte FC
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  Count the Charlotte Hornets among those giving Wilfried Zaha a warm welcome to the city.

  The Hornets rolled out the red carpet for Charlotte FC’s newest star as he attended their 108-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets last Saturday.

  After a lackluster loan spell at Olympique Lyon, Zaha cut his stint short to join MLS in late January. The forward fills a Designated Player slot, and his arrival has been met with plenty of excitement. His visit also doubled as a collaboration between Charlotte FC and the Hornets, featuring the launch of CLTFC’s 2025 home kit — an unveiling that drew praise from fans.

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• WHAT CHARLOTTE HORNETS SAID

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 32-year-old forward has endured a tough time since leaving Crystal Palace on a free transfer and while many expected a lot from Zaha, he failed to produce. He signed for Galatasaray on a three-year deal in the summer of 2023 and in his lone season for the club, he contributed to 15 goals in 42 games. That wasn’t enough for the Turkish side to keep Zaha at the club and he was loaned out at the start of the 2024-25 season.

  However, he dropped down the pecking order at Olympique Lyon and made only six appearances for the French side before leaving them in January. Yet despite that, fans are excited to see what the 32-year-old can produce in what is a new lease of life for the former Selhurst Park star.

  Zaha, excited by a fresh start, spoke up his excitement about being a leading man for Charlotte.

  "I see myself as a top player, and I'm going to carry myself as a top player," he said. "I need to prove that constantly. In football, if you score one weekend then the next weekend they're expecting more. I've got that in my head. If I'm going to go around and say I'm a good player and this and that, then I've got to prove it constantly. I don't mind the pressure at all."

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  WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR WILFRIED ZAHA AND CHARLOTTE FC?

  Charlotte FC kick off their 2025 MLS campaign on Feb. 23 against the Seattle Sounders and already the fans have something to look forward to. Aside from Zaha, the team has added midfielder Eryk Williamson this offseason. CLTFC also added U.S. international Tim Ream last season.

Jorge Jesus made a surprising U-turn on his Neymar criticism as the "frustrated" Al-Hilal boss admitted the Santos star had "no luck" in Saudi Arabia.

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• Neymar had an injury-marred spell at Al-Hilal
• Jesus had criticised Brazilian's fitness levels
• But has now hailed Neymar as one of the best he's coached

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Neymar made a high-profile switch to Al-Hilal in the summer of 2023, leaving Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of €90 million (£75m/$93m). However, his spell in Saudi Arabia was severely disrupted by injuries. After featuring in just five matches, the 33-year-old suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Neymar returned in the following campaign, but his comeback was short-lived, as another injury setback once again forced him onto the sidelines.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Jesus initially suggested that Neymar "can no longer play at the level we are used to." However, the Portuguese coach has now admitted that he was "frustrated" by how things unfolded, acknowledging that Neymar was simply unfortunate rather than past his best.

• WHAT JESUS SAID

  Softening his stance on Neymar, Jesus in an interview with , said: "I had no luck at all, neither he nor I. He was at Al Hilal with a very serious injury. He was the best player I've worked with since I became a coach. We didn't have much time to show everything he had. A good professional, a good friend, he's not a star.

  "But the truth is that things didn't work out. Sometimes, talking to myself, frustrated, I even think 'how come I didn't manage to get this player, who is a superstar, to do well?' But whatever. These things happened. If he left, it had to be for Brazil. He's going to help the national team a lot."

  The former PSG star has admitted he left Al-Hilal feeling hurt, particularly by Jesus’ assessment that he was no longer capable of performing at the top level.

  Jesus said in response: "Did he leave sad? He did, especially with me. It still hurts me today because he is a star. He is outside the box."

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• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?

  Despite rumours linking him to a reunion with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez at Inter Miami, Neymar instead opted for a six-month contract with boyhood club Santos. The move has been seen as an attempt to rediscover his form and fitness, with the Brazilian aiming to represent his country at the 2026 World Cup.