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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke sent his top scout to a place he knows well last weekend to find bargain signings ahead of the summer transfer window, according to a recent report.

Leeds eye new centre-forward as Bamford nears exit door

Despite the fact that the Whites sit top of the Championship table and have scored the most goals in the division, Farke and co. are keen to strengthen their forward line this summer. Patrick Bamford, who was linked with an Elland Road exit in January, looks set to be coming to the end of his time at the club, as injuries continue to cost him regular minutes.

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His potential departure would leave Leeds light, and therefore, the 49ers are already working on new arrivals. Southampton striker Cameron Archer was heavily linked with a move to the Yorkshire side in January, and he is believed to remain on their list of potential targets.

Meanwhile, according to a report from Africa Foot, the Whites are also keen on signing Almeria striker Ibrahima Kone. This would be an easy enough transfer to complete for the Championship side, as Kone has a release clause worth £8.4 million.

But the list of potential new strikers doesn’t stop there, as Leeds are also interested in signing Vladyslav Vanat from Dynamo Kyiv. However, there is a long list of teams also keen on signing Vanat, with Premier League duo West Ham and Fulham keeping a close eye on the centre-forward.

Farke sends top Leeds scout to Germany

With competition for Vanat and a near £10m price tag on Kone, Farke also has his eyes on cheaper alternatives. According to journalist Alan Nixon, relayed by Football League World, Farke sent his top Leeds scout to Germany to look for bargain deals in the final weekend before the international break.

Leeds are still on course to seal promotion to the Premier League, and the boss appears keen to get ahead of the rest and therefore wanted his scouts to watch Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 games last weekend, as he believes there are always bargains to be found in the country where he broke through in management.

The 48-year-old, who is closing in on 100 games in charge of Leeds, has managed at several levels in Germany and has shopped there before, with Ao Tanaka perhaps the biggest success story in recent times.

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It is unclear if the scouts found any potential targets, but it probably won’t be the last time Farke sends his scouts on a mission in the next few weeks, as he will want all preparation to be complete should his side seal that expected promotion to England’s top tier.

It is likely the 49ers will significantly back Farke in the transfer window if they go up, but the Leeds boss will face significant pressure if the wheels come off from here.

The legendary midfielder talks to GOAL in a wide-ranging interview as part of Gatorade's annual 5v5 Tournament initiative

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It's a scorching hot day in Munich, with less than 12 hours to go before the city hosts the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter. At the centre of the Olympiapark, the sprawling Olympic village constructed for the 1972 Summer Games, is a specially-built small-sided football setup for the week, tucked neatly between the stadium, lake and indoor arena. All roads inside the park lead there one way or another and it is the focus of attention, a true festival of football.

The court, complete with a fresh, green artificial pitch and a goal with orange trim and black netting is courtesy of Gatorade, one of UEFA's primary sponsors. They are holding their annual 5v5 Tournament, where teams of 14 to 16-year-olds from across the world compete to win tickets to the Champions League final. This year, Canada's boys and girls teams reached the last stage, but would later fall short against Brazil and Mexico respectively.

The day is also headlined by football royalty participating in a game of their own with influencers and global media, with Cafu, Robert Pires, Claude Makelele and Laura Georges all turning out. And then there was the star attraction, ex-Spain midfielder and Como manager Cesc Fabregas, who sat down with GOAL before kick-off to discuss his career, former clubs, Gatorade's initiative and more.

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  'Learning' as Como manager

  Fabregas, who turned 38 last month, is most renowned for an incredibly successful playing career with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona, where he won several titles and honours at both a team and individual level. "I don't even remember most of the time I used to play and I only retired two years ago!" he tells GOAL. Nowadays, he is too engrossed in life as a budding young manager, one who's come off a fine first full season with Serie A newcomers Como, guiding them to a solid 10th-place finish.

  "You keep learning," he says of the lessons of the past 12 months. "Day to day, you find out new things and new ways. But definitely it's a process that's going very fast and I'm learning a lot. It's just about pushing yourself to new limits, be very open to learning and listening. It's a new world, you are not a player anymore, it's about learning and analysing in a different context."

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  Love for Arsenal

  Fabregas has a unique distinction of being a fan favourite at London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, even if some of an N5 persuasion still aren't happy he chose to join the Blues in 2014 when he moved on from Barcelona. From the way he speaks, it's obvious the affection remains mutual.

  "Both of them are doing well," he says with warmth. "They are probably in different stages. Arsenal after six years [with Mikel Arteta as manager] are trying to build and get into the market, making players from the academy grow. They have a good structure around the team, they had a lot of injuries this year to key players. But hopefully it's coming, what they've been trying to build over the last six years."

  He added: "My favourite stadium to play in was Highbury. I really miss Highbury, it was amazing. Obviously, my dream was to play at Camp Nou and I did it, San Siro was pretty special as well whenever we played in the Champions League, Anfield too. But Highbury is definitely the one that had a big impact on me. The best goal I scored was against AC Milan in the quarter-finals of the Champions League [in 2008]."

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  Chelsea's project

  The blue chunk of Fabregas' heart was also optimistic for Chelsea and their project built around the world's top up-and-coming talent, which has now yielded success with victory in the Conference League. "They've invested big in young players and now, slowly, they're getting the grip of playing together after making mistakes. I always say that young players need to make mistakes but then be trusted to keep playing, to understand what a team is.

  "You can only win what's in front of you, I know they were very superior to the rest of the clubs in the Conference League, but they were there and won. They took it seriously, it was a good season. Now they need to take a higher step next year."

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  Wenger's lessons of hydration

  Gatorade have been busy promoting the importance of hydration, a field they have committed to researching and innovating for over 40 years. On a day like this where there isn't a cloud in the sky and the sun is making people sweat, this messaging feels more apt than ever.

  Fabregas, of his own accord, span a tale about his own nutritional education from one of his legendary former managers, Arsene Wenger. "Hydration is fundamental. When we were younger, we were not as educated about it, but Gatorade show why it is so important. The first one who brought it to my attention was Arsene Wenger, he was always focused on the little details. Then you realise the more you grow, the more educated you get about hydration in the day-to-day situations.

  "Sometimes you drink because you're thirsty, but you need to prevent being thirsty by drinking. When you wake up, get a glass of water and then maintain it during the day. It's no good for two or three minutes drinking a litre and that's it. It's gradual and about getting into these habits, and I'm sure you will feel much better during the day."

Carlo Ancelotti will become the highest-paid international manager after agreeing a big contract with Brazil upon his departure from Real Madrid.

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Ancelotti leaving Madrid for BrazilTasked with guiding Selecao to World CupItalian will sign lucrative contractFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ancelotti will leave Madrid at the end of the season, having agreed to take over as Brazil coach at the end of May with the aim of guiding the Selecao to next year's World Cup.

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According to , the 65-year-old will earn £8 million ($11m) per year with the South American nation, more than any other coach at international level.

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Ancelotti leaves Madrid after a disappointing season that will likely end without a trophy, with last weekend's 4-3 loss to Barcelona leaving them seven points behind Hansi Flick's side in La Liga with three games to go. Brazil, meanwhile, are fourth in World Cup qualifying after 14 matches, trailing leaders Argentina by 10 points.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ANCELOTTI?

The Italian manager will see out the campaign with Madrid before bowing out at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Xabi Alonso expected to take his place after confirming his exit at Bayer Leverkusen.

عبّر نبيل عماد “دونجا”، لاعب وسط فريق الزمالك، عن سعادته الكبيرة بالتتويج ببطولة كأس مصر، مؤكدًا أن الفريق واجه ضغوطًا هائلة خلال الموسم.

وتلاقى الزمالك وبيراميدز في نهائي كأس مصر، حيث فاز الزمالك بركلات الترجيح بعد انتهاء الوقت الأصلي والأشواط الإضافية بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لمثله، ونفذ شيكابالا ركلة الترجيح التي منحت الفوز للأبيض.

وقال نبيل عماد دونجا في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “الزمالك”: “أنا واحد من الناس الذين تعرضوا لضغوط وحملات كبيرة جدًا، وجميعنا تحملنا هذه الضغوط لأن الزمالك كان يمر بظروف صعبة”.

طالع | أيمن الرمادي: جماهير الزمالك “الأوفى” في العالم وكانوا يحتاجون كأس مصر

وأكمل: “أحمد الله على الفوز، وأشكر زملائي اللاعبين الذين لم يبخلوا بذرة عرق حتى الدقيقة الأخيرة، وأشكر جماهير الزمالك التي دائمًا تدعمنا”.

واختتم: “الجماهير تريد أن تفرح، ولا نريد أن نصدر لهم المشاكل، وكل ما كان يشغل تفكيرنا هو إسعاد الجمهور، وحصدنا هذا الموسم بطولتين: السوبر الإفريقي وكأس مصر، وما زال أمامنا السوبر المصري”.

Beginning to turn their attention towards the summer transfer window, Liverpool are now reportedly on red alert in the race to sign a central defender who has a £55m release clause.

Liverpool transfer news

Whilst Liverpool are top of the Premier League, through to the last 16 in dominant fashion in the Champions League and in the Carabao Cup final, nothing could spare them from FA Cup embarrassment last time out against Plymouth Argyle. Knocked out by the side bottom of the Championship, the Reds must quickly collect their thoughts and set their sights on winning Wednesday’s Merseyside derby.

It’s at Goodison Park that Arne Slot’s side will have the chance to go nine points clear and take a major step towards the Premier League title, adding extra tension to an ocassion full of anticipation.

Whilst things could be looking near-perfect on the pitch when the full-time whistle sounds on Wednesday evening, however, concerns away from the action continue to grow for Liverpool.

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As things stand, Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold will all be leaving as free agents at the end of the season in what would be calamitous for all involved at Anfield.

It’s enough of a worry that the Reds must at least plan for life without the trio and that has already seen one reported target emerge. According to The Boot Room, Liverpool are now on red alert in the race to sign Dean Huijsen after discovering that he has a £55m release clause at Bournemouth.

The Cherries secured an underrated coup in the summer and have benefited ever since. Now, however, they could fall victim to their own success as Liverpool – alongside a number of European giants – potentially come calling at the end of the season.

"Complete" Huijsen is a rising star

At just 19 years old, Huijsen has taken the Premier League by storm and handed Juventus an instant regret. Bournemouth, meanwhile, have turned turned Juventus’ trash into treasure of their own that they could cash in when the summer arrives. And that’s where Liverpool could come in and land a central defender who may one day become their Virgil van Dijk replacement.

Dubbed a “complete package” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig at the beginning of the year, Huijsen seems destined for the top whether it comes this summer or in years to come after an excellent season under Andoni Iraola.

With plenty of suitors, Liverpool will be hoping to put their potential Premier League crown to good use and win the race to sign Huijsen this summer.

Liverpool now hold concrete interest in signing an “exceptional” £50m winger to replace Mohamed Salah this summer, with a report dropping a new update on the Egyptian’s future at Anfield.

Reds assessing options to replace Salah

Of course, every Liverpool fan will be hoping Salah extends his stay at Anfield beyond the end of the season, but it is by no means a guarantee, amid interest from the Saudi Pro League, meaning Arne Slot has started to assess potential replacements.

At one stage, Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo was deemed the player most likely to replace the 32-year-old, with the Merseyside club said to be willing to make an offer of £42m to get a deal over the line.

Earlier in the January transfer window, the Reds also made an approach to sign AFC Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, offering the Cherries a player plus-cash deal involving Ben Doak.

Semenyo is not the only Premier League forward Slot is considering as a potential replacement for Salah, however, with TEAMtalk revealing there is concrete interest in Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo in light of the forward’s impressive performances this season.

There may be competition for Mbeumo’s signature, however, with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United also very keen, and Liverpool’s interest is said to be intertwined with the situation surrounding Salah’s long-term future at Anfield.

If the forward decides to extend his stay on Merseyside, the Reds may choose to wait at least another window or two before pursuing a new right-winger, but if he chooses to move on this summer, they could step up their pursuit of the Brentford star.

With Neymar leaving Al-Hilal to sign for Santos, the Saudi Pro League side could push to sign Salah this summer, having identified him as their top target, as they want to replace the Brazilian with another big-name player.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Jan 29, 2025 Mbeumo improving year-on-year

The Cameroon international played a key role for the Bees in their rise from the Championship to the top flight, scoring 23 goals across two seasons in the second tier, and he has since gone on to prove himself as a top player in the Premier League.

This season has been the France-born winger’s most impressive by some way, having amassed 17 goal contributions in the Premier League, most recently finding the back of the net in Brentford’s 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace.

That said, the £50m-valued forward, who has been described as “exceptional” by members of the media, is yet to prove himself at the very highest level, and it would be a risk to bring him in to replace Salah.

All being well, the Liverpool talisman will commit to a new contract to secure his long-term future before the end of the season, as truth be told, it is extremely unlikely the Reds will be able to find any player capable of replicating his attacking numbers.

Manchester United are tempted to allow Marcus Rashford to leave for nothing up front this month despite setting a £50 million asking price, according to a recent update.

Man Utd transfer news

It is clear that Ruben Amorim would like to and wants to conduct transfer business this month, but given PSR, the Red Devils’ purse strings are very tight, and any business can only be done once departures occur.

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Brett Worthington

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It has been reported that United are willing to let Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, and Antony all leave this month should they receive an offer. Lindelof and Eriksen are out of contract at the end of the season, so an exit will happen either way, but United are hoping they receive offers this month.

Casemiro and Antony both arrived at Old Trafford for big money, and while they want to get that money back, there are suggestions that moves could materialise this month for much lower fees.

Should any of these players leave United, it could see the Premier League side enter the transfer market, and one player who could arrive is Patrick Dorgu. Amorim wants to sign a new left wingback, and Dorgu has been added to their transfer wishlist. Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and PSG’s Nuno Mendes are higher up the list than Dorgu, but the pair are also considered more expensive, and United scouts have been monitoring Dorgu in recent months as well.

Man Utd tempted to let Rashford join AC Milan on loan

Lindelof, Eriksen, Casemiro, and Antony are not the only players who could leave Old Trafford this month, as Rashford’s future has been cast into further doubt, as according to Gianluca Di Marzio, AC Milan have made a loan offer with an option to buy for Rashford.

Rashford, who has been dubbed “electric” by Stateman Dave in the past, has been at United for his whole career. He broke into the first team in February 2016 under Louis van Gaal, and since then, he has not looked back. The forward has scored 138 goals in 426 games for the Red Devils, but since Amorim’s arrival, Rashford has fallen out of favour, and with him failing to make five of the last six matchday squads, his future has been thrown into doubt.

His last outing in a red shirt came against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, and that could potentially be his last game for the club. According to Di Marzio, AC Milan have now made a formal offer for Rashford after it was revealed that his agents had flown out to Milan to discuss a potential transfer to the club. It is reported that Milan have offered an initial loan, which is accompanied by an option (but not requirement) to buy, and that is considered a tempting offer for INEOS.

Marcus Rashford’s 24/25 Man Utd stats
Apps	24
Starts	19
Goals	7
Assists	3

However, that doesn’t mean United are going to receive a fee, and it’s been reported that United want £50 million for Rashford, so allowing him to leave with no fee guaranteed would certainly be a risk. AC Milan are not the only side interested however, as Borussia Dortmund are also in the mix.

While there is still a lot to play for this season, the mood around Arsenal is not great at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side remain a distant second in the Premier League and look set to exit the League Cup next month thanks to their 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United in the first leg of their semi-final last night.

The Gunners would have been hoping to take at least a one-goal lead to St James’ Park, but the Toon had other ideas, and while Alexander Isak grabbed the headlines, Anthony Gordon put in yet another brilliant performance off the left.

The former Everton star has been sensational for the Magpies this season and scored their second goal last night, so recent reports linking Arsenal to a winger compared to him should excite the fans.

Arsenal chase continental champion

According to a recent report from respected journalist David Ornstein, Arsenal have maintained their strong interest in Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams.

In fact, Ornstein claims that Arteta would like the club to sign the European champion in this window, but the finances involved would make that incredibly difficult to do.

For example, the talented winger has a release clause in his contract currently worth €60m – £50m – which adjusts for inflation, and on top of paying that in one go, the North Londoners would have to accommodate the player’s enormous wage, which supposedly stands at around £165k-per-week.

In all, it would be an incredibly costly transfer to get over the line, but given Williams’ ability and potential, it is one worth pursuing, especially as he’s been compared to Gordon.

How Williams compares to Gordon and why Arsenal should sign him

So, before we get to the reasons why Arsenal should be looking to sign Williams this month, let’s examine this comparison to Gordon and where it comes from.

Well, it primarily stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and, in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Spaniard over the last 365 days.

We can get a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by looking at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, expected assists, shots, progressive passes, crosses, goal-creating actions, carries and more, all per 90.

Progressive Passes

3.19

3.45

Shots

2.18

2.20

Expected Assists

0.22

0.24

Crosses

5.00

4.76

Goal-Creating Actions

0.58

0.60

Interceptions

0.36

0.36

Carries

29.6

30.7

With that said, there are other reasons the North Londoners should be looking to sign the Copa del Rey winner, perhaps most notably, his output.

Now, it would be fair to say that his tally of two goals and five assists in 24 appearances this season is somewhat underwhelming, but we saw just how effective the Spanish international could be last year.

For example, in just 37 appearances last season, the “unbelievable” live-wire, as dubbed by ex-professional Mike Grella, scored eight goals and provided 19 assists, meaning he maintained a sublime average of a goal involvement every 1.37 games – just imagine someone that effective on the opposite flank to Bukayo Saka.

Lastly, something the Gunners have been calling out for over the last season and a half is a left-winger who can, and often does, take on and beat their man, which is precisely what the Pamplona-born game-changer does.

Transfer Focus

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For example, FBref places him in the top 6% of attacking midfielders or wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90.

Ultimately, while signing Williams this month would represent a massive investment from Arsenal, it looks like he’d be an investment worth making.

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One of Leeds United’s most expensive-ever signings has moved one step closer to leaving the club in 2025, according to a new report.

Leeds throw away two-goal lead at Hull

Championship leaders Leeds were held to a shock draw by struggling Hull City at the weekend in what was a thrilling affair at the MKM Stadium.

Abu Kamara, who was recently forced to apologise for a social media comment he made on rivals Portsmouth’s Instagram account, opened the scoring in just the fifth minute. Ao Tanaka equalised for Leeds straight after the break, before goals Dan James and Joel Piroe put the visitors in the driving seat.

Hull’s Joao Pedro then pulled one back with eight minutes to play, before Kamara completed his redemption arc by rescuing a point in the final moments as he smashed the ball into the net from the edge of the area.

With Burnley and Sheffield United winning on the same day, the defeat means Leeds’ lead at the top of the Championship was cut to just one point.

“Disappointed is probably the right word,” Leeds boss Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Leeds after the game. “We were in control at 3-1 and could have scored a fourth, fifth or sixth goal, especially with Daniel James having a one-on-one chance.

“It’s then difficult to accept how we conceded two late goals without them really having a chance in the half, but somehow they were able to score. To drive away with one point is heartbreaking and disappointing.”

Junior Firpo linked with new Leeds exit

One man who wasn’t involved against Hull was left-back Junior Firpo. The Dominican Republic international, who joined Leeds from Barcelona in 2021 in a deal worth £12.9 million, missed out for the seventh week in a row due to injury as speculation rumbles on about his future at Elland Road.

The 28-year-old is now in the final six months of his contract with Leeds, and is free to talk to other clubs.

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According to a new report from TEAMtalk, Firpo’s team are now laying the groundwork for a return to his boyhood club Real Betis. Firpo began his professional career with Betis back in 2018, and they claim Firpo is now open to returning to the Estadio Benito Villamarin this month.

TEAMtalk report that “initial contacts via intermediaries have taken place between Real Betis and Firpo’s camps,” and that the Spanish club’s interest in him has been bolstered by the poor displays of current left-back, Ricardo Rodriguez.

Firpo, who is expected to return from injury in the near future, was praised by Farke following Leeds’ 1-0 defeat to Burnley earlier this season.

“Junior played a really good game against Burnley, after long travel, improved defensive skill and turning into a leader. Great will to improve further,” said the German coach of the defender.

Federico Chiesa is tipped to leave Liverpool at the end of the current campaign and return home to Italy and the familiarity of Serie A.

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Liverpool expected to move on ChiesaWinger has barely featured since arrivalSerie A & Napoli transfer most plausibleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Having seen their gamble last summer fail to pay off, Liverpool could quickly bid farewell to Chiesa. calls it "goodbye for sure", with the upcoming summer transfer window an opportunity to move on, and Serie A the "possible" destination for the Euro 2020 winner.

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Injuries have defined Chiesa's career since an international breakout during Italy's European Championship triumph nearly four years ago. Juventus gave up and let him go surprisingly cheap – for just £12.5 million ($16.2m) – but the winger has fared worse at Liverpool. A combination of fitness issues and failing to suitably impress Arne Slot has resulted in just 11 appearances across all competitions – and only 25 minutes in the Premier League.

DID YOU KNOW?

Napoli is considered the most likely option for the winger. He is believed to have the admiration of Antonio Conte, while the club didn't replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after cashing in on the Georgian in January when he left for Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester United's Alejandro Garnacho has also been strongly courted.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Napoli is thought to be an agreeable option to Chiesa, but an important caveat of leaving Liverpool would be accepting a salary cut to move elsewhere. The Reds could also sanction a loan if a permanent deal doesn't prove to be viable.