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Sky Sports have provided a major update on the Manchester United takeover saga following Wednesday’s deadline for second bids.

The Lowdown: Jassim and Ratcliffe

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have appeared to be the front runners to take over from the Glazers in recent weeks, with both parties holding Old Trafford talks last week.

The pair were set to submit second offers for the club this week, with Fabrizio Romano one of many reporters to state that those bids were made ahead of the 9pm deadline. However, it looks as if that was not the case, with Sky Sports sharing an update late on Wednesday evening.

The Latest: Sky Sports update

Sky Sports shared some ‘huge’ developments regarding a United takeover after the 9pm deadline on Wednesday. Chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol said that both Jassim and Ratcliffe’s bids were not completed in time and have asked for an extension from the Raine Group in New York, describing it as ‘incredible’.

‘This is incredible what we’re about to talk about now. I’ve seen lots of things but I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this.

‘We’ve been telling you that Sheikh Jassim had made a world record bid for Manchester United. I’m now being told by a very, very senior source that the bid has not been received yet. It needed to be sent to the Raine Group in New York, and I’m being told that bid has not been received yet.

‘I’m also being told that Sheikh Jassim’s delegation have asked Raine for an extension and Raine have agreed to accommodate that request. ‘And what’s more, the same goes for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS. Now my understanding is, from being told by someone very senior that said to me ‘why would we lie to you’, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, the bid has not gone in.’

The Verdict: Crazy

It does seem extremely bizarre that both Jassim and Ratcliffe missed the deadline and have asked for an extension, but it appears as if a takeover involving one of the two isn’t out of the question just yet after their request for an extension was approved – Romano says ‘bids will still go in’.

However, both parties will need to be on the money going forward when it comes to new deadlines, especially as several other groups interested in buying a smaller percentage of United did meet the initial Wednesday deadline.

Jassim and Ratcliffe’s improved offers are set to be world-record bids, worth around £5billion, so it could be an extremely important few days.

Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie is fully expected to leave Tyneside in the summer despite some reports suggesting he could take working towards a coaching role.

How long does Matt Ritchie have left on his contract?

The 33-year-old is now playing into the final months of his deal with the Magpies which does leave his position at the club hanging in the balance.

Ritchie has now been playing his football at St. James’ Park since 2016 having made a £10m move from Bournemouth to the other side of the country.

However, there is a sense the veteran will not be handed a new deal with the Toon looking to take huge strides forward under the ownership of PIF.

And speaking on The Toon Review YouTube channel, Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has suggested there is no chance Ritchie will be staying at Newcastle for next season:

(25:40) “No chance of him staying, no.”

“I would be majorly surprised if he doesn’t move further south to be nearer his family. I think Matt Ritchie and Jamaal Lascelles have been there for a while now. And I think both of them wanted to be around for the likelihood of Newcastle getting into a cup final.”

Could Ritchie go into coaching at Newcastle?

Earlier in the season Ritchie took charge of a number of training sessions for the Toon’s academy with the 33-year-old looking to work towards his coaching badges.

And having spent so long on Tyneside, there has perhaps been a belief that Ritchie could well take up a role within the club’s set-up as a result of his knowledge of the cub.

But this does not seem to be the case with Downie fully expecting to see Ritchie depart Newcastle in the coming months.

The report from The Chronicle which highlighted the player’s involvement in the academy sessions did suggest the Toon would have been open to allowing Ritchie to depart in January had the right offer landed.

Now, Ritchie is set to have his pick of clubs when he becomes a free agent and it is probably the right time for him to move on from the Magpies.

Since Eddie Howe’s arrival on Tyneside in 2021, Ritchie has only featured 12 times for Newcastle across all competitions.

And only five of them have come from the starting XI which is a damning indication that his chances of game time are simply not there at St. James’ Park.

But there is still a lot to play for at Newcastle this season and it would be a stunning way to bow out by lifting the Carabao Cup and potentially even securing Champions League football.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca is set to return to training this week after meeting an injury specialist.

What’s the latest on West Ham’s Scamacca and his injury?

The Italian striker has been absent for the Hammers’ last three Premier League matches, as well as one FA Cup game, thanks to a problem with his knee.

There had been some talk that he was in line to make a return for the 1-1 draw against Chelsea this weekend but that was premature as he failed to make the squad.

However, in a positive update for David Moyes and co, it seems as though a trip to Rome has helped Scamacca who is now set to return to training and should consequently be available again soon.

While talking about it on an update shared to The West Ham Way Patreon, Ex revealed:  “In better news, the club hope that, having met with a specialist in Rome this week, Gianluca Scamacca will be able to return to training this week to give West Ham the option of three different forwards – when was the last time that happened?!”

What does the Scamacca injury news mean for West Ham?

This isn’t the first time this season Scamacca has been absent for a few games with fitness struggles. Indeed, beyond this recent spell, he has been absent from four match-day squads in the league this season due to injury.

His recent issues have meant that for a period Moyes only had Michail Antonio to pick from up front with new signing Danny Ings also out with a knee injury.

However, that issue wasn’t as bad as feared and the former Aston Villa man played against Chelsea from the bench after missing the FA Cup win over Derby.

And now, if Scamacca gets a good week of training under his belt, all three forwards could be available for West Ham and Moyes when they take on Tottenham Hotspur away from home this Sunday in the Premier League.

Crystal Palace are hoping to complete the signing of Naouirou Ahamada before the end of the window and want to add depth to their thin squad, Pete O’Rourke has claimed.

What’s the word?

Patrick Vieira wants to pad his squad with quality, but are yet to make a signing in the January transfer window.

They have been strongly linked with Ahamada of Stuttgart, whose ‘energetic’ nature can bring a freshness to the Crystal Palace midfield.

Speaking to Football FanCast, O’Rourke explained it is a deal the Eagles want to get done, and that they want some bodies in before the end of the window.

He said: “He [Vieira] feels the squad is quite thin and he is looking [for] backing for some signings before the window closes as well. So he’d be hoping to get this deal over the line before next week’s deadline.”

A fresh face

Palace have been inconsistent this season, as whilst they are safely clear of the relegation zone for now, there could be an opportunity to push further up the table, but reinforcements are necessary.

If they can secure a deal for Ahamada, he can bring a fresh presence to the Eagles midfield.

He ranks in the top 25% of midfielders for goals and dribbles in top competitions over the past year, as per FBref, highlighting the creative spark he can bring to the side.

The likes of Will Hughes, Luka Milivojevic and Cheick Doucoure pale in comparison to Ahamada by those same metrics, while at just 20 years old, he has plenty of time to develop.

Meanwhile, players such as Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze have shown that Selhurst Park is currently an excellent place for young, creative players to move to in order to further their development, and Ahamada could be the next top talent to arrive in south London.

Rangers are still seemingly confident of securing the services of Standard Liege starlet, Nicolas Raskin this month, despite facing a setback in their bid to land the Belgian playmaker.

What’s the word?

According to journalist Mark Hendry, the Ibrox outfit are said to still be “hopeful” that a deal for the 21-year-old can be agreed upon, having seen an initial bid rejected by the Pro League side.

Writing on Twitter regarding that development, the transfer insider stated: “Rangers hopeful of getting deal done this month but initial bid was knocked back. Both clubs still having dialogue and seem keen for an agreement.”

In the attached piece for Football Scotland, the report outlines that suggestions that the player has had a medical with the Old Firm giants are wide of the mark, although negotiations for the 5 foot 10 gem are still ongoing.

As the report also notes, the youngster is facing an uncertain future at his current side following a falling out with manager Ronny Deila, with a move seemingly on the cards with just six months remaining on his existing deal.

What’s the word?

Having previously been linked with a move to Glasgow over the summer during Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s time at the helm, it would appear Raskin is on the verge of finally linking up with the Light Blues this time around, with such an addition set to truly enhance Michael Beale’s current squad.

Lauded as a “leader” by the aforementioned Deila, the Belgium U21 international has been a shining light for his hometown club in recent times, notably illustrating his creative flair with four assists to his name in 16 league outings so far this season.

That has ensured the midfielder’s overall club career tally stands at five goals and 13 assists in 96 games at first-team level to date, having even been likened to Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos by talent scout Jacek Kulig as a marker of his playmaking brilliance.

Not only a player who can dictate proceedings from his “deep-lying” role, as described by Kulig, the former Gent youth product has also caught the eye due to his tenacious and combative nature in the centre of the park, having previously been lauded as a “pitbull” by journalist Bob Faesen.

That relentless, ball-winning prowess is evidenced by the fact that Raskin has averaged a stunning haul of 3.3 tackles per game in the league this term, with that far superior to the Gers’ current midfield trio of Ryan Jack (1.4), Glen Kamara (0.3) and John Lundstram (1.3).

The all-action sensation has only recently been praised as something of a midfield “monster” and “one of the best midfielders in the league” by his manager, with the former Celtic boss also noting that the contract rebel could well have made a difference for his country at the World Cup had he been selected.

As such, the signs all point to a player who is set to have a “great future” in the game – as per Deila – with it likely to be a real treat for Beale and co to be able to unleash the exciting ‘monster’ on the rest of the Scottish Premiership, if a deal can be wrapped up before deadline day.

Rangers could well sign a goalkeeper in the summer window given they are not looking to sign one in January. 

The Lowdown: Beale not interested in signing a keeper in January

Despite there perhaps being a need to refresh the position at Ibrox, the man who has the say is Michael Beale – and he has no intention of buying a new ‘keeper in January.

Both Allan McGregor and Jon McLaughlin are at the latter stages of their careers, but it’s clear that Beale has faith in his current options until the end of the season.

The Latest: New keeper ‘sorted’ come the summer

Speaking on The Rangers Review, journalist Joshua Barrie – often seen on Sky Sports – believes that Rangers will sign a new goalkeeper in the summer, though it is an area that should’ve been sorted out by now.

He stated: “I don’t think a ‘keeper will come in in January. I definitely think it’s something that will be sorted out in the summer. And I think if you look at the numbers, it is something that should have been sorted out.”

The Verdict: Younger goalkeeper needed for next season

McGregor and McLaughlin have been the go-to men between the sticks this season for Rangers. McGregor has played 13 times in the Scottish Premiership, whilst McLaughlin has played a total of seven times.

Interestingly, both have kept four league clean sheets so far this season and the duo have an average of one goal conceded per game.

With both in the twilight of their careers, Rangers should look to bring in a more long-term prospect in the summer.

Perhaps Robbie McCrorie could get the nod in the near future and get more opportunities for the Gers, but whatever the outcome is, Rangers’ current goalkeeping situation certainly needs major upheaval sooner or later.

Aston Villa are interested in signing Leicester City centre-back Caglar Soyuncu, although a move elsewhere is looking likely, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

The Lowdown: Soyuncu out of contract

The Turkey international has been a strong performer for the Foxes, making 125 appearances and being dubbed “the best” defender in the league after Virgil van Dijk in 2020 by Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan.

However, Soyuncu’s current Leicester contract expires at the end of the season, and he has only appeared in the league once this term, falling down the pecking order under Brendan Rodgers amid a lengthy injury during the autumn.

He has duly been linked with an exit from the King Power Stadium in 2023, with one club believed to be firmly in the lead to snap him up.

The Latest: Villa in the mix?

Taking to Twitter, Romano claimed that Villa were keen on signing Soyuncu and have made contact over a possible move, although it looks as though Atletico Madrid may be about to land him instead.

The Italian tweeted:

“Atletico Madrid are close to complete the signing of Caglar Soyuncu for 2023. Deal not done or signed yet but negotiations are advanced, waiting to get it sealed as soon as possible.

“Aston Villa and AS Roma had also contacts for Soyuncu but Atleti are close.”

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The Verdict: No massive loss

While Soyuncu was in Premier League team of the season contention in 2019/20, his lack of minutes this term suggests that he has declined since then, a theory backed up by his diminishing WhoScored performance ratings.

There is an argument to be made that the 26-year-old, who has earned a WhoScored rating of 6.18 so far this season, is no better than the likes of Tyrone Mings (6.54) and Ezri Konsa (6.46) and therefore wouldn’t be an upgrade at centre-back.

Unai Emery may see Soyuncu as a good squad option, but realistically Villa need to be looking at stronger defensive signings if they are to rise up the table.

Tottenham Hotspur continue to keep a close eye on one World Cup star…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Pete O’Rourke, who has given his thoughts on reports that Antonio Conte had requested the signing of Sofyan Amrabat in the summer.

Although the Moroccan is now set to have a whole host of suitors, Spurs seemingly remain in pole position to land one of the world’s most coveted players at the moment.

The journalist told GIVEMESPORT: ”I’m sure Spurs have been keeping a close eye on him during this World Cup tournament, and I’m sure that they can only have been impressed by his performances for Morocco. He’s probably been Morocco’s star man in midfield.”

Fiorentina will reportedly demand a whopping €55m (£48m) fee for Amrabat following his stunning international performances over the last month.

The new Moussa Dembele

The 26-year-old has been one of the standout players in Qatar this winter, with the midfielder having been at the heart of Morocco’s sensational run to the semi-finals.

A combative midfielder who can win back the ball and drive his team up the pitch, he draws similarities with former White Hart Lane favourite Moussa Dembele.

Mauricio Pochettino even recalled a conversation he and Dembele shared, in which the Argentine told him: “Mousa, in my book, you will be one of my genius players that I have been lucky to meet, with Maradona, Ronaldinho, Okocha and De La Pena, a genius too, and Moussa Dembele. We always told him that if we had taken you at eighteen or nineteen years old, you would have become one of the best players in the world.”

Tottenham could finally discover that elusive replacement in the Moroccan maestro.

At the World Cup, Amrabat has averaged an 85% pass accuracy alongside one interception, 2.5 tackles and 1.7 clearances per game (via Sofascore).

In their semi-final defeat to France, he recorded 92 touches and completed 67 passes, one of which was a key pass. This display was capped off with one clearance and two tackles (via Sofascore) despite the 2-0 loss.

Adrian Durham of talkSPORT lauded him after the match, claiming: “If a player gives 100 per cent and more every single time he goes out there, but still ends up on the losing side, you can forgive him… And everybody can see that Amrabat, yes they lost 2-0, but he has given literally everything for the cause.

“Absolutely flat out at the end of every game, not just this one, every single game he’s played, he’s given the lot.”

He is now being recognised as part of an “elite” bracket of midfielders – as dubbed by Jason Lee – akin to the one that Dembele dominated during his time in north London.

Conte could finally replace the former Spurs cult hero with someone who has captured the world’s attention.

Crystal Palace are reportedly interested in signing Leeds United right-back Cody Drameh and the youngster could be a big upgrade on Nathaniel Clyne in Patrick Vieira’s side.

According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Crystal Palace are all interested in the 20-year-old, with Palace thought to see him as a great option for the future at Selhurst Park.

Leeds are reportedly keen to tie him down to a new deal at Elland Road but he is currently behind Rasmus Kristensen and Luke Ayling in the pecking order in Jesse Marsch’s side, which could lead to his exit in January.

The England U21 international has been limited to just seven appearances for the Whites’ senior side in his time with the Yorkshire club, but he did catch the eye during a loan spell with Cardiff City in the Championship last season, contributing three assists in 22 appearances for the Bluebirds.

And, the youngster’s former manager, Steve Morison, was full of praise for Drameh during his time with the Welsh side in 2021/22.

He said: “Barnsley was a horrible game. He’d never experienced anything like that and he came in with a couple of last-ditch tackles right at the death of the game, which was phenomenal.

“Tonight? It’s a good thing they can’t call him back after that because he was outstanding.”

While he was playing in the Championship, his performances last season would earn him a solid 6.89 rating from WhoScored, as he averaged 3.8 tackles, one interception and two clearances per game.

For comparison, Clyne has earned a woeful 6.19 WhoScored rating for his performances in the Premier League this season after averaging just 1.1 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and one clearance per game, which suggests that Drameh certainly has the edge from a defensive point of view.

During his time with Cardiff, the Leeds youngster also averaged more key passes (0.6 vs 0.5), dribbles (1.1 vs 0.1) and shots (0.3 vs 0) per game than Clyne, which suggests that he could easily take the 31-year-old’s place in Vieira’s starting side should he arrive at Selhurst Park next month.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that reported Newcastle United transfer target Arnaut Danjuma would bring ‘real excitement’ to the club’s supporters.

The Lowdown: Newcastle interest

As per Italian news outlet Calciomercato, the St James’ Park outfit are interested in a move for the Netherlands international, who Villarreal value at €40m (£34.3m), next year.

However, they will face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea, along with Serie A giants AC Milan, for his signature.

The Latest: Would bring ‘real excitement’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke has claimed that Danjuma would bring ‘real excitement’ to the Toon Army and that he is one of a number of ‘top’ players for whom Newcastle are in the market.

The journalist said: “It just shows where Newcastle are going right now that they’re in the market for these top players across Europe as well.

“And he’s definitely somebody who would add to Newcastle’s attacking armoury and would bring real excitement to those Newcastle fans right now.”

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The Verdict: Could thrive under Howe

Danjuma is a player that Eddie Howe knows very well, having managed him at Bournemouth.

Since then, the 25-year-old is making a name for himself at Villarreal, with 20 goals and four assists over the last season-and-a-bit, helping them on their way to the Champions League semi-finals earlier this year (Transfermarkt).

Danjuma can play on the wing as well as up top, and that extra versatility should attract Newcastle enough to reunite him with Howe.

Also, at 25 years of age, he has not even reached his prime yet, and the Magpies boss would back himself to get the best out of the Netherlands international.