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Celtic are now expected to attempt a double transfer swoop this January, with a “sensational” player being targeted, according to a report.

Celtic set for January transfer business

It appears as though the Hoops could be active in the transfer market this winter, with Brendan Rodgers having recently held a summit with major shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Michael Nicholson.

The trio discussed potential new arrivals in January, and a left-sided attacker was identified as a priority target, but it is not the only position Rodgers is looking to strengthen.

A new midfielder could also be brought in, with Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen deemed a potential target, although Neil Lennon does not believe the move has much chance of happening due to the Dane’s high wage demands.

However, Eriksen is not the only Premier League midfielder on the shortlist, with Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke revealing that Celtic have two other targets in mind, both of whom currently ply their trade for Chelsea.

According to O’Rourke, the Hoops are expected to make moves for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka in the January transfer window, with the duo currently out of favour at Stamford Bridge.

Both players have failed to force their way into Enzo Maresca’s plans, and they have started to attract interest from a number of other clubs.

However, Dewsbury-Hall is believed to be keen on staying in the Premier League, which could make it difficult for the reigning Scottish Premiership champions to get a deal over the line.

It would be viewed as a “great pick-up” if Celtic are able to get this potential double signing done this winter, but it remains to be seen whether either player could be tempted by a move north of the border.

Celtic target "would snub other offers" to seal Parkhead move – ex-scout

He was loved by the fans during his time at Celtic.

1

By
Barney Lane

Dec 26, 2024

Dewsbury-Hall performing well in Europe

The Chelsea duo have largely been limited to appearances in the Conference League this season, finding it difficult to break into a team that is performing above many people’s expectations in the Premier League so far this term.

Dewsbury-Hall has been particularly impressive in Europe, picking up two goals and an assist in six outings, and he had a fantastic year with Leicester City in the English Championship last season, with 26 goal contributions in 44 games.

Rodgers knows the 26-year-old very well from their Leicester days, having lauded him as “sensational” in the past, so he could perhaps use the existing relationship to tempt him into a move to Parkhead.

Chukwuemeka is a little less proven, given that he is still only 21 years old, but he already has 37 Premier League appearances to his name, and a move to Celtic could provide the Englishman with the perfect platform to prove himself.

As such, it would be exciting news if Celtic are able to pull off a double signing this January, but it seems a little unlikely given that Dewsbury-Hall wants to stay in England.

Virgil van Dijk snapped at Michael Owen in an awkward interview after Liverpool moved closer to the Premier League title with Everton win.

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• Liverpool beat Everton 1-0
• Have emerged as the favourites to land the PL title
• Van Dijk had awkward exchange with Owen

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Diogo Jota’s goal proved decisive as Arne Slot’s side restored their 12-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table. Despite their strong position in the title race, Liverpool’s hopes of a quadruple have faded over the past two months. They suffered a shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Plymouth, were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, and fell to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Former Liverpool striker, Owen, shared his thoughts on the Reds' campaign on Premier League Productions and claimed that while winning the league would be a major achievement, there would still be a "bitter taste" given how the season initially shaped up.

  "It’s been a frustrating couple of weeks," Owen said. "Liverpool were poised to have a phenomenal season, if they win the Premier League it’ll still be fantastic but with a little bit of a bitter taste because it was building into something special. I think it Liverpool fans hard, and the manager and the players, to go out of competitions in quick succession.

  "The dust will settle, everyone will realise if it’s the Premier League they win at the end of the season and only the Premier League that’ll be an incredible season and they would’ve snapped your hand off for that at the start of the season. But it doesn’t stop the feeling of the last few weeks and to get that winning feeling back will be really important to everybody connected with the club."

• WHAT VAN DIJK SAID

  During a post-match interview, Owen put this perspective directly to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, asking how difficult it was to mentally recover from cup disappointments and focus on finishing the Premier League season strongly.

  Owen asked Van Dijk: "I’m just thinking in terms of the season so far, if you’d have said at the start of the season you were going to win the Premier League I’m sure people would’ve been over the moon. However, it was building into something really special – how hard was it after a couple of big defeats in cup competitions to get your mind tuned back into the Premier League and to finish the season well?"

  Van Dijk, however, was visibly unimpressed by the suggestion that the team’s season had lost its magic. His response was direct: “So you’re suggesting the season is not going to be special anymore?”

  Owen replied: "It will be, absolutely, it will be special, but I thought it could’ve been building into something very special."

  However, Van Dijk was quick to challenge Owen and said: "Well, I think we have to change that narrative a little bit. We’re fighting for the biggest prize of the season, we worked so hard for it, 20 teams are working so hard to be on top of the Premier League. We have eight games to go, we know what’s at stake, we have to go for it, we have to fight, we have to enjoy the whole ride and then let’s see. Like I said, it’s still looking very special in my eyes.

  "I think what you said, at the start of the season, I think no one expected us to even try to fight on all four fronts, obviously we’re at the stage now where we’re still fighting for the biggest, and that’s the reality. It’s still a possibility that this season will be very, very special."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Following the interview, Owen insisted his point was fair and added: "I stand by what I said. If you had said at the start of the season that Liverpool would win the Premier league, it’s a very, very top season. As Virgil said, not many people gave them a chance really, especially changing their manager after so long with Jurgen Klopp being there. However, it was building into something incredibly special and I just wondered after a couple of weeks of disappointment how hard was it to re-focus, but obviously he gave us the answer."

Didier Deschamps does not count himself as "one of the intimate friends" of Zinedine Zidane as the ex-Real Madrid boss is linked with the France job.

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• Deschamps to leave the France post after WC 2026
• Zidane is seen as one of the candidates to succeed him
• Has not managed a team since leaving Real Madrid

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Since taking charge of France in 2012, Deschamps has overseen an era of remarkable success, guiding the team to victory at the 2018 World Cup and leading them to two additional major finals – Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Despite his accomplishments, it has been confirmed that Deschamps will step down from his role following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With an official timeline now set for his departure, speculation has intensified over who will take the reins.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Zidane has long been tipped as a future France manager, with his coaching achievements at Real Madrid making him an ideal candidate. His first stint in charge of the Spanish giants saw him claim three consecutive Champions League titles in just two-and-a-half years, an extraordinary feat that solidified his reputation as one of football’s finest tacticians. Now, with Deschamps’ departure date set, Zidane has emerged as the leading contender to lead Les Bleus.

• WHAT DESCHAMPS SAID

  Although Deschamps and Zidane have shared the pitch as teammates for both Juventus and Les Bleus, rumours have long suggested that the two do not see eye to eye. However, in a recent interview with , Deschamps refuted the notion of a bitter rivalry, emphasizing that while they may not be close friends, there is a strong sense of mutual respect between them.

  “Another great preconceived idea!” began the France manager. “We spent a lot of years together. There is still a lot of respect between us. By the way, the last time we saw each other, we exchanged and talked well…there is still, on both sides, a form of recognition of each other’s success. I am not one of his intimate friends. We both have our own lives but whatever happens, there will always be respect between us."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  As the countdown begins to World Cup 2026, all eyes will be on Zidane and the French Football Federation (FFF) to see whether the long-awaited transition finally takes place. If Zidane does take over, he will have the challenge of maintaining the high standards set by Deschamps while bringing his unique philosophy to the national team.

Carlo Ancelotti warned La Liga over rest hours as Real Madrid have approached FIFA for protection from "abuse" in the Spanish top-flight.

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Real played on Wednesday night against AtleticoWere back in action at Villarreal on Saturday eveningAncelotti was fuming over La Liga's scheduleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Madrid's round-of-16 second-leg Champions League clash with their city rivals on Wednesday night extended into extra time and penalties, with the match concluding close to midnight. Despite the physically demanding contest, their next La Liga fixture was scheduled for Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. local time, giving them a 66-hour rest period.

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FIFA advises that clubs should have a minimum of 72 hours between matches to ensure players have adequate recovery time. However, domestic leagues are responsible for determining kick-off times, meaning clubs often have no control over their schedules. In this case, Ancelotti says Madrid had made multiple appeals to La Liga to adjust the Villarreal match to a later time on Sunday, but their requests were reportedly ignored.

WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

Ancelotti was vocal in his frustration, attributing the scheduling decisions to financial interests and broadcast rights rather than player welfare.

"I think today is the last time that we'll play a game before 72 hours," he said. "We won't do it again, without 72 hours of rest. We asked LaLiga to change the time of the game twice, and they didn't do anything. But this is the last time. I don't understand it. The minimum is 72 hours, money, television rights are prioritised, not the players' recovery. Money is prioritised, not the players' rest."

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite the physical toll on the squad, Madrid managed to secure a 2-0 victory over Villarreal, with Kylian Mbappe scoring both goals. The win temporarily extended their lead at the top of La Liga, moving them three points ahead of Barcelona, who have two games in hand.

Real Madrid’s official media channel has since revealed that the club has called for FIFA intervention and will not tolerate similar treatment in the future, taking aim at La Liga president Javier Tebas in the process.

"The abuse of the Tebas League will not be allowed," a statement from the channel read, directly accusing the top-flight of mismanaging fixture scheduling.

Jude Bellingham limped out of Real Madrid’s win over Rayo Vallecano, but Carlo Ancelotti insists the midfielder is merely nursing “a small knock”.

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• Playmaker returned from La Liga ban
• Forced off late on at Santiago Bernabeu
• Coach confident knock is "nothing serious"

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Injury fears were raised when England international Bellingham was forced off four minutes from the end of the Blancos’ latest La Liga fixture. He was replaced by Brahim Diaz and appeared to be in some discomfort as he made his way to the bench.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bellingham had returned to Real’s starting XI against Vallecano after completing a two-match ban for telling a match referee to “f*ck off”. He looked lively as Kylian Mbappe’s 29th goal of the season and a stunning solo effort from Vinicius Junior set Real up for a narrow victory at Santiago Bernabeu.

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  WHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID

  Ancelotti will hope to have Bellingham at his disposal for two crucial matches prior to the next international break, while England will be sweating on the 21-year-old’s condition. Real’s boss told reporters when asked for a fitness update: “Jude Bellingham just has a small knock, nothing serious.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR JUDE BELLINGHAM & REAL MADRID?

  Real are set to face cross-city rivals Atletico in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter on Wednesday, with the Blancos leading 2-1 on aggregate. They will then travel to Villarreal on Saturday before a collection of international superstars head off with their respective countries.

MatériaMais Notícias

A Taça Guanabara caminha para sua reta final e a tendência é que os quatro grandes se classifiquem para as semifinais. O empate entre Resende e Flamengo por 2 a 2, no Nilton Santos, fez o Vasco garantir matematicamente a vaga entre os quatro melhores do Carioca.A equipe agora terá duas rodadas para definir sua posição e conhecer o adversário.

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Com o resultado, o Gigante do Vale soma 9 pontos e só poderá chegar aos 18, já que tem um jogo a menos – enfrenta o Volta Redonda, na próxima quarta-feira, às 19h, no Raulino de Oliveira. Como o Cruz-Maltino já tem 19, uma das vagas fica com a equipe de São Januário. Algo que não acontecia desde 2019, quando eliminou o Bangu por 1 a 0, e perdeu a final para o Flamengo.

Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW

Na temporada 2020, o Vasco ficou pelo caminho ao lado do Botafogo, e os rivais viram Boavista e Volta Redonda nas semifinais do Carioca. No fim de um calendário alterado em virtude da pandemia global de Covid-19, ambos foram rebaixados para a Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro.

No ano seguinte, o Gigante da Colina ficou com a quinta colocação, enquanto o Alvinegro terminou em sétimo. Os rivais se reencontraram nas finais da Taça Rio, que se transformou em “prêmio de consolação”, e a equipe de São Januário ergueu a taça, após vencer nos pênaltis.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Carioca

Na Série B, o Botafogo se transformou após a contratação do técnico Enderson Moreira e conquistou o título. Enquanto isso, o Vasco não conseguiu entrar no G4 e fez uma turbulenta campanha. No momento, ambos convivem com realidades que podem se transformar em similares em breve.

O Alvinegro já está com a SAF aprovada e John Textor irá investir. O Cruz-Maltino, por sua vez, teve a aprovação do empréstimo-ponte de R$ 70 milhões da 777 Partners, e a transformação em SAF dependerá do aval dos Conselhos e passará por uma Assembleia Geral.

+Zé Ricardo admite ‘pior primeiro tempo’ do Vasco no ano e cobra reação: ‘Trabalhar o nosso mental’

Restam duas rodadas para o fim da Taça Guanabara. O Vasco terá o clássico contra o Flamengo no próximo domingo, às 16h, com local a ser definido. E encerra a primeira fase, dia 13, contra o Resende, em São Januário.

في خطوة جديدة ضمن مسار الأزمة المشتعلة بشأن مباراة القمة، تقدم النادي الأهلي بمذكرتين قانونيتين، إحداهما إلى رابطة الأندية المحترفة يؤكد خلالها صحة موقفه في أزمة لقاء الزمالك الذي كان مقررًا يوم 11 مارس الجاري.

واستعرض الأهلي في مذكرته كافة المستندات التي تدعم تمسكه بقرار الرابطة السابق بإقامة المباراة بطاقم تحكيم أجنبي، والذي تم تغييره لاحقًا، ما أدى إلى رفض الفريق خوض المواجهة.

وفي السياق ذاته، أرسل الأهلي مذكرة أخرى إلى اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية، ردًا على البنود التي تضمنها بيانها الأخير بخصوص الشكاوى التي قدمها النادي، مؤكدًا على تمسكه بحقوقه القانونية في القضية.

طالع أيضًا | اللجنة الأولمبية تعلن أسباب رفض شكوى الأهلي وتأييد قرارات رابطة الأندية في أزمة القمة

وكان الأهلي قد أعلن انسحابه من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز لموسم 2024-2025 احتجاجًا على أزمة القمة، قبل أن يتقدم بشكواه الرسمية للجنة الأولمبية.

وعلى إثر ذلك، أعلنت رابطة الأندية عن العقوبات الموقعة على النادي باعتباره خاسرًا أمام الزمالك مع خصم ثلاث نقاط من رصيده في نهاية الموسم، وتحميله الخسائر المالية للمباراة.

ولجأ الأهلي إلى اللجنة الأولمبية للطعن على القرار، إلا أن الأخيرة أيدت موقف رابطة الأندية والاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، وقررت تثبيت العقوبات، مع توصية بضرورة منح الأندية فترات زمنية كافية مستقبلًا لاستقدام حكام أجانب عند وضع جدول مباريات المراحل الحاسمة من البطولة.

And we have lift-off. West Ham United claimed the statement victory of the Julen Lopetegui era on Sunday, defeating Manchester United and sending Erik ten Hag packing.

It’s been an uninspired start to post-David Moyes life, but West Ham carry some of the finest talents in the Premier League and can now rise through the gears to place themselves inside contention for a European spot.

The grass has not been green though, with much criticism being had about Lopetegui’s side’s failure to produce exciting football or indeed maximise the qualities of the highest-class players – having spent over £120m on new players this summer too.

Mohammed Kudus has been below his best, and so has Lucas Paqueta. The latter, in particular, has really struggled to get going, and it’s no coincidence that the Hammers’ struggles have coincided with the Brazilian playmaker’s indifferent performances.

Lucas Paqueta's performances this season

The prospect of a lifetime ban from football still looms over West Ham’s club-record acquisition, with alleged betting breaches leading to him being charged by the FA. That said, the protracted proceedings will not be wrapped up any time soon.

But if Paqueta’s days in the Premier League are numbered, he’s hardly going about his business with a sense of urgency, having toiled throughout the first few months of the 2024/25 campaign.

Perhaps the foiled bid from Manchester City, stemming from last term, has played its sticky part in the Brazil international’s regression, but a star of his calibre must surely be capable of producing finer fruits than this.

He’s started eight of West Ham’s nine matches in the top flight this year but was hooked at half-time against Manchester United, having been torn to shreds (alongside his peers, in fairness) by a beleaguered Red Devils unit that can’t seem to score.

West Ham went on to win the game, with the Brazil star’s importance seemingly diminished. Luckily, Lopetegui has plenty of alternative options; he can, and must, shuffle the pack.

It’s just a shame that James Ward-Prowse was handed to Nottingham Forest on loan this summer, for the 29-year-old has properties that might have made him a good replacement for the underperforming superstar.

Ward-Prowse could have been perfect for Lopetegui

In August 2023, West Ham completed the signing of Ward-Prowse from relegated Southampton for a £30m fee, bulking up their unit with a host of additions after Declan Rice moved to Arsenal for a club-record price.

A long-time Premier League star, Ward-Prowse has been hailed for his “magic” ability with the ball by journalist Benjy Nurick, but after just one year in east London, was allowed to join Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan move.

He averaged 5.67 crosses per game in the Premier League last year, putting him in the top 5% of positional peers, as per FBref. Given that West Ham spent £27m on target man Niclas Fullkrug and employ a more direct strategy than many in the division, it’s somewhat perplexing that he was shipped out.

Neither player has started the current campaign with aplomb, but let’s compare their numbers last season, with both on the Hammers books, and see how technical director Tim Stiedten might have made a bit of a mistake with this one.

Last season, Ward-Prowse managed to match Paqueta’s accuracy in the duel, though recorded 2.8 duels won per game compared to the South American’s absurd rate of 7.6 per outing.

Matches (starts)

37 (34)

31 (31)

Goals

7

4

Assists

7

6

Touches*

53.8

65.7

Pass completion

90%

75%

Big chances created

12

12

Key passes*

1.7

1.4

Dribble success

61%

59%

Tackles + interceptions*

2.2

3.0

Total duels won*

2.8 (50%)

7.6 (50%)

It’s important to note that Paqueta was oft-found on the left flank, operating in a robust hybrid-like role that bore dividends for the Hammers. Still, his erstwhile teammate proved that he could maintain slick and crisp passing passages while simultaneously creating with regularity – albeit from principally dead-ball situations.

Look, Paqueta is obviously a more naturally talented player than Ward-Prowse, whose technical quality is something noteworthy in its own right, but he’s clearly suffering from the setbacks of recent times, and it’s somewhat perplexing that the former Southampton man was offloaded after just one campaign.

For sure, Ward-Prowse’s impressive numbers were borne from his set-piece speciality, and there was something to be said for the England international’s open-play ability, but there was enough roundedness there last season to point toward a place in Lopetegui’s system.

Carlos Soler may well be an upgrade, but the Spaniard has so far struggled to find his feet in east London and, though it’s a new system, ‘JWP’ has completed 385 appearances in the Premier League.

Moreover, though set-pieces are clearly the finest element of his skillset, oh how brilliant they are. Sure, he last scored from a direct free-kick with Saints, but Ward-Prowse is only behind the Premier League’s highest-scoring free-kick taker, David Beckham, by a whisker.

1.

David Beckham

18

2.

James Ward-Prowse

17

3.

Thierry Henry

12

3=

Gianfranco Zola

12

3=

Cristiano Ronaldo

12

With a player like Paqueta, who brings purpose across myriad facets of the midfield role, defining his brilliance is difficult; it isn’t quantifiable.

But in Ward-Prowse, West Ham had something efficient, and though he hasn’t quite hit his stride at Nottingham Forest, the £115k-per-week talent has entered an exciting project that could see him bloom as the months go by.

Given West Ham hope to become a more expressive and control-focused team under Lopetegui than they were performing for the Spanish tactician’s predecessor, a cultured passing option in Ward-Prowse might have been the perfect fit, if not expected to start every single match.

Lost the ball every 3.3 touches: Lopetegui must now axe 4/10 West Ham star

Lopetegui must drop 4/10 West Ham star after another poor performance.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 28, 2024

A European giant have been keeping a close eye on a Tottenham Hotspur star who they are obsessed with, and are ready to make a substantial offer to sign him in January or next summer, according to one report.

Tottenham stars in demand

Ange Postecoglou’s side fell to a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, their fourth loss of the Premier League season, on Sunday. It means that they have suffered as many defeats as they have wins, leaving them eighth in the Premier League as it stands and looking like longshots to finish in the top four, a spot that would guarantee Champions League football in north London next season.

Despite this, Tottenham’s stars are in demand across Europe. Cristian Romero is thought to be on the radar of Real Madrid as they look to bolster their backline, a defence that suffered a 4-0 humiliation against Barcelona in their most recent home El Clásico.

Their search has also seen them eye up Micky van De Ven, who has impressed since arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium from Wolfsburg and looks ready to play Champions League football.

Meanwhile, Los Blancos have also been credited with an interest in Pedro Porro, alongside former club Manchester City, with Spurs keen to extract a club record fee for a defender to let him leave.

Related Fewer touches than Vicario: Ange must drop 4/10 Spurs dud after Palace

Tottenham were defeated by Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Oct 28, 2024

Elsewhere, bit-part trio Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray and Richarlison have all been linked with moves away in what could be a major overhaul at the club, though Gray would only depart on loan after arriving for £35m in the most recent transfer window, while any other departures would need to be replaced in the transfer market.

AC Milan chief "obsessed" with Spurs ace

That comes as reports in Italy have linked Milan with a shock move to sign Tottenham standout star Dejan Kulusevski as early as January.

The Swedish ace has been rejuvenated as a central midfielder this season, having spent much of his career on the right wing. His performances have been impressive alongside James Maddison in the Spurs engine room, and his skillset combined with physical attributes have led to him being described as the “most unique player” in the Premier League by content creator James Allcott.

Dejan Kulusevski’s 24/25 Premier League season

Appearances

9

Goals and Assists

3

Progressive passes per 90

5.87

Pass Accuracy %

85.5%

Tackles and interceptions per 90

1.87

Now, Juve Live [Via Sport Witness] report that Milan senior advisor and Kulusevski’s compatriot Zlatan Ibrahimovic is “obsessed” with the midfielder, and is keen to lure him to San Siro.

He reportedly sees him as a perfect replacement to Rafael Leao, whose future is “uncertain”, and the club are ready to make their move as early as the January transfer window, though that would likely depend on the future of Leao.

It is added that Milan would be willing to pay up to 50m euros (£42m) to sign the Spurs man, a fee that would likely be rejected by Tottenham as far too low given his recent form.

With the Swede under contract at Tottenham until 2028, a sale seems very unlikely unless an offer too good to refuse came in, something that Milan’s would not represent. However, should he continue to impress this season in his new role, other clubs may well join the hunt for the Spurs man.

The Cityzens are in need of some dynamism and fresh blood in attack, but they aren't alone in their admiration of the Egypt international

For the first time in a long, time, Manchester City are in the midst of a crisis season. Whatever cycle they had going on up at the Etihad Stadium has ended and they went into the January window knowing that they were desperately in need of some new talent for Pep Guardiola to work with.

Their only reliable goal-scorer this term has been Erling Haaland, and even then he's been wildly out of form since telling Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to "stay humble". The likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden haven't held up their end of the bargain when it comes to finding the net, and City needed reinforcements if they're going to salvage something from this campaign.

City's search for such a player took them to Germany's newest sensation, Omar Marmoush of Eintracht Frankfurt. The Egypt international has been a well-respected Bundesliga attacker for a while now, but his 2024 form saw him enter a different conversation altogether.

City weren't the only side linked with a move for Marmoush, as Liverpool were long reported as an alternative destination, either as a replacement to or to be a partner for countryman Mohamed Salah, while Arsenal and Manchester United were linked with moves over the autumn too.

The Premier League champions have paid an initial €70 million (£59m/$73m) to move to the front of the queue mid-season and while that is undoubtedly a lot to spend on a player who has never previously hinted at reaching the heights he has this term, there's little reason to think Marmoush won't be a success at City over the next few seasons, particularly with his peak years still ahead of him.

GOAL has done some digging into the forward's rise:

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Where it all began

  Born in Cairo on February 7, 1999, Marmoush joined local side Wadi Degla as a youngster. A relatively modest club on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital, he was able to quietly go about his development, despite the team's minor affiliation with Arsenal threatening to expose his budding promise. Such was his talent that he played an age-group up for much of his youth career.

  At the age of 18, Marmoush was handed his senior debut for Wadi Degla in an Egyptian Premier League match with Al Ittihad Alexandria in July 2016, coming off the bench to grab an assist in a 3-2 win. He played and matured under Egypt legend Mido, who took an immediate shine to the youngster and afforded him more first-team opportunities.

  And that's when the European clubs began to circle. Marmoush received offers from Borussia Dortmund and Malaga, but instead opted to join Wolfsburg in 2017, later citing star striker Mario Gomez and Freddie Ljungberg – who enjoyed a brief coaching spell at the Volkswagen Arena – as major influences on his decision.

  Not yet fully polished, Marmoush spent three years in Wolfsburg's reserve team honing his craft before making a smattering of senior appearances. In 2020, he was sent on a season-long loan to St Pauli in the 2. Bundesliga, where a return of seven goals in 21 games signalled he was finally ready for top-flight football.

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  The big break

  Wolfsburg recognised Marmoush's potential, but wanted him to test the Bundesliga waters elsewhere before returning to don their garish green colours. "Over the past year, Omar has come on in leaps and bounds with good performances in the U23s, and that has seen him dip his toes into the Bundesliga and with the senior squad. Now he needs to gradually get used to playing at Bundesliga level, so that he can take it to the next step," ex-Wolfsburg director Marcel Schafer said at the time.

  Another loan, this time to Stuttgart, followed for 2021-22, though the conditions were hardly ideal for him to truly flourish – the season was spent battling relegation and a 15th-placed finish surmised the club's struggles.

  Despite Stuttgart's troublesome slide, injury problems and time away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Marmoush caught the eye with performances primarily from the left wing. There was a dynamism and explosiveness that made him perfect for Bundesliga football. At long last, it seemed he was ready for Wolfsburg.

  That's why it came as a disappointment when, despite missing only one league match all season and playing largely as a centre-forward, Marmoush returned only five goals. Wolfsburg decided to cut ties and let Marmoush walk away for free at the end of his contract, with Eintracht stepping forward to afford him a fresh lease of life. And boy have they not had a single regret since…

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  How it's going

  Marmoush is now firmly among the Bundesliga's best forwards, no question about it. After joining Eintracht for 2023-24, he managed to match his career-best season tally of seven goals and three assists in only 14 games, and he ended the campaign with a mightily-impressive return of 16 goals and six assists in all competitions.

  Mido, still monitoring one of his favourite footballing sons from afar, took to social media to plead with his former club Tottenham to sign Marmoush, comparing this recommendation to a prior one over Salah which fell on deaf Spurs ears. Other European giants were touted with an interest, notably United and Liverpool, but he remained at Deutsche Bank Park.

  "The goals I scored and my performances during the season were not by chance," Marmoush said in July. "I worked hard for all of this. Here at the club, you get great support and the best help to develop your talent. I have a very good feeling towards my team. It seems to me like a family, and this is the way we have to deal with our matches later."

  Eintracht must be thanking the heavens that they were able to keep hold of Marmoush with such little fuss having started the season in incredible form. He leaves the club having already clocked up 20 goals and 14 assists in just 26 matches. In the Bundesliga, only Harry Kane has bettered his return of 15 goals at this stage.

  There aren't many players in Europe who are in better form than Marmoush at the moment, so what is it that makes him special?

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  Biggest strengths

  The lazy comparison is to say Marmoush plays like Salah because they share a nationality, but the two do share some similarities. It is Marmoush's pace that is perhaps most distinguishable feature, though he does love sitting a defender or goalkeeper on their backside before firing home in a similar vein to Liverpool's current 'Egyptian King'. When in stride, he's almost impossible to stop.

  But unlike Salah, Marmoush's quickness is a little more immediate and allows him to pose a threat on either flank as well as through the middle, while he is a little more selfless in his pursuit of wins.

  "If there is a 30 percent chance that I will score a goal and my team-mate has a better chance and is in a better position, then I will pass the ball so that we can score a goal as a team, not just Omar," Marmoush has previously commented.

  Eintracht boss Dino Toppmoller said of his star attacker: "He's responsible for producing danger up front, firing in goals and setting up others. He's very difficult to defend due to his pace and how fast he can run in deep. He can also sneak in from close range, take a great touch and play some great passes. He's in outstanding form at the moment, and he's feeling comfortable. That's the key to his success these days."

  It should also be noted that Marmoush is an intense and aggressive presser, which is becoming the norm among football's leading stars. He isn't afraid to do that dirty work.