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Everton have been dealt a blow in the recruitment department, according to the latest reports coming out of Goodison Park.

Toffees in a sticky situation

Waiting on another potential points deduction for breaching financial fair play regulations, this season has been another to forget for Everton.

Though they have provided plenty of impressive defensive performances, they have struggled to find the back of the net and currently sit just above the relegation zone, having already been docked six points for a first breach of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.

It means that the Toffees face another relegation battle, looking to survive late on for the third successive campaign, and they will be hoping that a run of form in the final 10 games might stave off the drop. But off the pitch, things aren't much better for the Toffees.

Everton on verge of losing another young star

Now, Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Toffees have lost the services of academy left back Jayden Lienou, who is set to join Manchester City. The Welshman is only 15 years old, but was considered an immense talent in the Goodison Park academy, and had already represented Wales at youth level on several occasions.

It is the latest blow to the Toffees, who also lost promising academy talent Ishe Samuels-Smith over the summer when Chelsea came knocking, eventually settling on a £4m deal to let the youngster make the move to Stamford Bridge. Isaac Price also left the club for pastures new.

Report shares devastating PSR update on new Everton points deduction

There has been a twist in the saga after the Blues were reportedly “confident” earlier in the week.

By
Henry Jackson

Mar 22, 2024

Sean Dyche revealed the extent of the problem at Goodison Park earlier in the season, admitting that academy talent had all but dried up on Merseyside.

"If there was an 18-year-old here who I thought was good enough to play in the first team, he would be playing", he explained. "There is no one I have seen so far who is ready to jump in there. That is it at the moment."

Though Lienou would still be a fair distance off first-team action, his departure continues a worrying trend that will likely see the problem Dyche identified continue, rather than change any time soon.

With financial troubles mounting, turning to youth products has often been used as a way to avoid big signings, and Everton have a proud history of academy talents including Wayne Rooney.

However, there doesn't look to be a repeat of that particular pathway any time soon, and with talent being poached at even younger ages, it may be some time before the Toffees can find another academy gem.

Chelsea are in talks to bring Joao Felix back to Stamford Bridge, as part of Conor Gallagher’s proposed transfer to Atletico Madrid.

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• Portuguese took in 2023 loan spell with Blues
• Rojiblancos looking to move him on again
• May head in opposite direction to England star

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Portugal international Felix took in a short loan spell with the Blues during the 2022-23 campaign – scoring four goals through 20 appearances. He spent last season with Barcelona, with the 24-year-old making it clear that the Blaugrana were his “dream” club.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Felix is expected to be on the move again this summer, with Atletico ready to cash in, and he could retrace his steps to England. That is because the Rojiblancos need somebody to counter their move for Chelsea midfielder Gallagher.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Samu Omorodion, fresh from winning Olympic gold with Spain, was supposed to be the man to tick that box. According to , though, he has failed to pass medical tests in west London – forcing him back to the Spanish capital as a €40 million (£34m/$44m) deal that would have covered the cost of acquiring Gallagher collapses.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  In a bid to keep that transfer alive, claims that Felix is back on the table. Discussions with his agent, Jorge Mendes, are said to have taken place in London. If the Portuguese forward agrees to head back to Chelsea, then Atletico can press ahead with efforts to bring Gallagher on board alongside Manchester City’s World Cup-winning striker Julian Alvarez.

So far, the 2023/24 season has been a brilliant one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta's men have built on their slow and steady start to the campaign and, with just seven league games left, have a real chance of winning their first Premier League title in two decades.

The Gunners have been scoring for fun since the turn of the year, but it was only a few months ago that they looked hopeless up top and found the back of the net just once in 63 shots, so it's not surprising that the North Londoners continue to be linked to several top strikers, such as Ivan Toney, ahead of the summer.

However, as talented as the Brentford ace is, Arsenal could sign a better option based on recent reports.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a report from the Portuguese newspaper Record earlier this week, FC Porto striker Evanilson remains on Arsenal's radar, and the North Londoners have had scouts watch him in person this year.

This isn't the first time the Gunners have been linked with the Brazilian forward this season. Back in January, Football Transfers reported that many within the club saw him as a player with incredible potential and someone worth breaking the bank for, which is something they'll have to do.

According to the same report, the former Fluminense ace will cost Arsenal around €75m to bring to London in the summer, which is about £64m.

While that would represent a hefty investment, it might well be worth it, especially if the alternative is Toney.

How Evanilson compares to Toney

So, comparing strikers to Toney this season is somewhat tricky due to the Englishman's eight-month betting-related football ban, but if you take the Brentford star's output from last season – when he finished third in the Premier League's goalscoring list – and compare it to Evanilson's from this year, the latter's is still more impressive.

In 35 games last year, the former Newcastle United forward found the back of the net 21 times and provided five assists, whereas the Brazilian phenom has scored 22 goals and provided six assists in 36 games so far this season.

Moreover, since the start of the 22/23 campaign, Porto's "serious talent", as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has registered a whopping 47 goal involvements (goals and assists combined), having managed ten goals and nine assists last season, suggesting this is not just a flash in the pan.

So, with the output of the 24-year-old more impressive on the surface, which player has the better underlying numbers?

Well, it's another win for the Fortaleza-born dynamo, as he comes out on top in almost every relevant metric and by quite some margin in some of them.

For example, he produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, scores more goals, has much better passing accuracy, is more clinical with the shots he takes, and is far less likely to miscontrol the ball or be dispossessed by an opponent.

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The Gunners are “preparing an offer” for the incredibly talented forward.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 11, 2024

In all, Evanilson looks to be the more complete striker, as well as being four years Toney's junior, so if Arsenal are going to go out and sign a new number nine this summer, picking up the 6 foot Brazilian looks like a far better option, as they could forget about the Brentford star by landing him.

Timothy Weah starts on the wing for Juventus, while Weston McKennie begins on the bench as the club kicks off their season against Como.

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• Juventus name teamsheet vs Como
• Tim Weah starts, Weston McKennie on bench
• American duo's future uncertain at Serie A club

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Thiago Motta's first Juventus starting XI in Serie A saw U.S. international Timothy Weah earn the start at right wing, with fellow American Weston McKennie available off the bench.

  Weah, who was often deployed as a wingback last campaign under Max Allegri, will feature in the attack while McKennie – who has been linked with a plethora of transfers away from the club – is available if called upon.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It's a complete 180 for and McKennie, with GOAL reporting just two weeks ago that he was banished from the first-team training grounds. He also saw his jersey removed from the team store in Turin, with the signs on the wall showing an exit on the horizon for the 25-year-old.

  However, in recent days, Motta and Juventus appeared to turn course on their decision with the midfielder, with the new manager even claiming "he can be useful" to this upcoming campaign.

  Weah, meanwhile, appears to have gained the immediate trust of the Brazilian, seeing him deployed from the start.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Weah made just 12 starts across 30 appearances for Juventus in 2023-24. Now, on Matchday 1, he's already earned his first of this season.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WEAH, MCKENNIE AND JUVENUTS?

  take on Como Monday evening in their first match of the season. They'll follow it with a clash next Monday against Hellas Verona on Matchday 2.

Barcelona are believed to be providing stiff competition with Newcastle United for the signing of a "fantastic" player this summer, according to a new transfer update.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies won't be able to spend recklessly in the coming months, with the club needing to comply with Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules, but that doesn't mean there won't be fresh faces heading to St James' Park.

Financial Fair Play: What is PSR, how does it work and who's in trouble?

Leicester City have become the latest club charged with an alleged PSR breach, but what could happen next?

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 16, 2024

It looks as though Newcastle could be targeting a number of Premier League players, looking to bring in individuals who know the division well, and Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi is one such figure who has been linked with a move to the club. The same applies to Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, who is also wanted by the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is another option further up the pitch, but Tottenham are also showing a keen interest in snapping up the Englishman.

Away from the Premier League, Newcastle are thought to be the frontrunners to complete the signing of Sporting CP central defender Ousmane Diomande, who has been linked with a switch a number of times in recent months, along with teammate Goncalo Inacio.

Newcastle favourites to sign "fantastic" star

According to Corriere dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Barcelona are competing with Newcastle for the signing of Federico Chiesa, with the Italian's Juventus future up in the air currently. However, it is noted that the Magpies are in "pole position" to get their man, despite the heavyweights involved in the race.

The fact that Newcastle have been backed to snap up the winger so many times does suggest that he is a genuine target, and it's easy to see why Eddie Howe would see him as a great addition to his squad.

Chiesa could certainly be looked at as an upgrade on Miguel Almiron out on the right-hand side of the Magpies' attack, with Rio Ferdinand heaping praise on him back in 2021:

"He’s a huge player and he’s been linked with a few clubs in England. I’m sure they’re thinking ‘why didn’t we get him?’ He’s just a fantastic footballer. The intensity with which he plays, we saw in the Euros he was the main goal threat for the Italians who went on to win the tournament. It’s his pace, his drive. He’s the one who is the threat, he’s potent, he wants to run in behind."

At 26, Chiesa is at a great point in his career to come in and hit the ground running for Newcastle, providing powerful running, expert dribbling ability and a reliable end product, having scored 30 goals and registered 22 assists in 124 appearances for Juve since joining from Fiorentina, where he netted 34 times.

The only current downside would be that the Italian is yet to make up his mind about his Juventus future and could decide to stay this summer, though the report does imply that not signing a new deal in Turin is a possibility amid a potential change of manager.

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Some significant off-field news could provide a positive hint at the future.

By
Henry Jackson

Apr 20, 2024

He also won Euro 2020 with Italy, scoring twice in the tournament, so he is a footballer with undeniable pedigree who could make the Magpies a more fearsome proposition next season and beyond.

The MLS club have parted ways with their long term VP & technical director as they make a playoff push

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• Bocanegra oversaw roster construction from 2017
• Directed team that won MLS Cup in 2018
• Garth Lagerwey will assume role until end of season

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Atlanta have made a significant front office change with just two months remaining in the MLS regular season. Bocanegra, who was intrumental in the expansion franchise's early success, has been removed from his position with immediate effect, the club announced on Wednesday.

  The move comes just weeks after a busy summer window in which Atlanta spent heavily on former Atalanta attacking midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk. Bocanegra also directed a number of high profile departures, generating big fees for Caleb Wiley and Thiago Almada.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The move comes at an interesting time for the MLS side. Atlanta is currently clinging on to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and face a tricky slate to round off the season as they hope to secure a playoff spot.

  It has been a turbulent year for the team, which has won the 2018 MLS Cup and the 2019 U.S. Open Cup. They parted ways with head coach Gonzalo Pineda in early June, and appointed Assistant Coach Rob Valentino as interim boss for the remainder of the season. The club promised in June that a search for a new permanent head coach would begin immediately, but there have been no further updates since that announcement.

• WHAT GARTH LAGERWEY SAID

  In an official statement, Club CEO Garth Lagerwey spoke on the decision to part ways with Bocanegra: "We are deeply appreciative of Carlos’s dedication and success over the last nine years with Atlanta United. However, I believe it’s time for our club to move in a new direction. While we will continue to fight for a playoff spot down the final stretch of the season, this gives us a clean slate and a runway to properly assess all vacancies in our sporting operation ahead of what will be an extremely important offseason for our club."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bocanegra's first iteration of Atlanta United was one of the most successful expansion franchises in MLS history. In 2017, they became the first ever expansion side to qualify for the playoffs, and 12 months later lifted MLS Cup on the back of an immensely talented squad, highlighted by MVP winner Josef Martinez.

  Bocanegra also is one of the most successful and capped U.S. men's national team players, having made 110 caps and winning two Gold Cups.

Germany thrashed Hungary 5-0 in their Nations League opener thanks to the brilliance of Florian Wirtz and Jamala Musiala.

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• Germany thrash Hungary 5-0
• Musiala scored one and got three assists
• Wirtz chipped in with a goal as well

• TELL ME MORE

  A young German side took the field on Saturday for the first time since their heartbreaking Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat at the hands of Spain. Since the competition ended, Germany had to bid adieu to four legendary footballers with Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, Ilkay Gundogan and Manuel Neuer announcing their retirement from international football.

  The hosts were the more dominant side right from the off in Dusseldorf and could have taken the lead in the 20th minute when Musiala created an excellent goalscoring opportunity for Niclas Fullkrug, however, the West Ham forward's attempt from a close range was stopped by Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.

  Seven minutes later though, the German managed to break the deadlock as Fullkrug finally found the back of the net. Wirtz initiated the move as cut inside the penalty box from the right side before sending a cross towards David Raum. The left full-back did a wonderful job to quickly feed Musiala with a pass who in turn squared the ball towards Fullkrug.

  The Germans began the second half with a similar intensity that they showed in the first 45 minutes. After providing the assist for the opening goal, Musiala doubled the team's lead in the 57th minute with a solo effort from a quick counter-attack. The Bayern star almost ran the length of the pitch before he dribbled past Bendeguiz Bola inside the Hungary box and found the back of the net.

  Nine minutes later he contributed with a second assist as he set up Wirtz with a pass on the edge of the box. The 21-year-old composed himself before firing a shot from nearly 18 yards to further extend his nation's lead.

  In the 77th minute, Aleksandar Pavlovic netted his maiden international goal once again from Bayern team-mate Musiala's assist while Kai Havertz completed the rout four minutes later by scoring from the penalty spot.

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  THE MVP

  With a goal and three assists, Bayern Munich star Musiala was the star performer for Germany on the night. The young attacking midfielder was an absolute livewire on the pitch and was the prime architect behind his team's domination against the Hungarians.

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  THE BIG LOSER

  The entire Hungary backline completely collapsed in front of an unstoppable German attack. Wirtz and Musiala constantly tormented the defenders with their quick moves and silky touches while Havertz and Fullkrug made sure they imposed constant threat in the opposition box.

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  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  Julian Nagelsmann's side will face Netherlands on Tuesday. On the same day, the Hungarians will lock horns against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Undoubtedly, the 2023/24 campaign has been a season to forget for Chelsea, with the club currently occupying 9th place, 19 points off the Champions League places despite the £400m investment from Todd Boehly into the playing squad since the summer.

Mauricio Pochettino's side have once again failed to win any trophies this term, losing twice at Wembley, once against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final and once against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final – despite dominating the game for larger periods.

After such a disappointing campaign, it's understandable that questions are being asked about the future of the Argentinian, with the former Tottenham boss struggling to make a real impact at Stamford Bridge.

He's only managed to pick up 1.45 points per game in the Premier League this season, winning on just 13 occasions out of the 33 league matches he's taken charge of.

The club could potentially look to explore other options at the end of the campaign, with the club weighing up three options to replace Pochettino at the club.

Chelsea monitoring three alternatives to Pochettino

According to TEAMtalk, the Blues are targeting Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and Hansi Flick as possible replacements for Pochettino should owner Todd Boehly decide to part ways with the Argentinian this summer.

De Zerbi has taken the Premier League by storm with Brighton, securing Europa League football for the Seagulls last season, and implementing a possession-based style that has seen the club average 61% possession in the Premier League this season – the fourth-highest in the division.

The deal for the Italian may be a complicated one, given the interest from other sides across Europe, but with De Zerbi being under contract at the AMEX, the club will demand a hefty compensation fee.

However, Chelsea are also eyeing up former Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick, with the German's 4-2-3-1 system similar to that implemented by Pochettino this season.

Despite the interest in the duo, the club should focus all their efforts on the third target, with the manager being the perfect fit for this current Chelsea setup.

The perfect manager for Chelsea

Sporting manager Ruben Amorim has been subject to interest from Liverpool and West Ham in recent weeks, with the Portuguese manager a man in demand.

The "remarkable" Amorim, as dubbed by Portuguese journalist Alex Goncalves, has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in recent days, and the Blues should do everything within their power this summer to convince him to move to the Premier League.

He's utilised the 3-4-2-1 system in Liga Portugal this season, a tactic that has seen the club sit at the summit of the table, four points clear of Benfica with a game in hand.

His system is very similar to that of Antonio Conte, who took England by storm with his 3-4-3 formation, which relied on multiple key positions in order to thrive and subsequently win the club the title.

Amorim's formation depends on his three centre-backs being comfortable on the ball, with the central player out of the three often playing slightly more advanced in possession to allow for a third man in the middle of the pitch – subsequently creating an overload.

Trevoh Chalobah could be a player to hugely benefit from any arrival of the Lisbon boss, with the English youngster featuring at centre-back and right-back, potentially allowing him to transform into the perfect defensive option.

The two attacking players behind the central striker would have a crucial part to play in any success, with the two wing-backs often providing the width, allowing the number 10s to stay central.

Cole Palmer has been Chelsea's most influential player this season, scoring 20 times in 29 Premier League appearances. His best display came in the 6-0 battering of Everton, with the former Manchester City talent playing in a more central role, scoring a remarkable four goals during that rout.

Therefore, Amorim – who has been described as the "best young manager in Europe" by the Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke – could be game-changing for the youngster, who would no doubt take up central positions on a more frequent basis, a decision that would allow him to shine even more than he has in this campaign.

There's no denying the Blues are in desperate need of a change, especially given the poor results throughout this season. However, if Boehly is to make a change, he should 100% be making the Lisbon boss his number one target, with his system perfect for the current crop of Chelsea players.

Chelsea made mistake selling star who's now worth more than Nkunku

He would have been perfect amid the club’s current injury woes…

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 26, 2024

The tournament returns this week and it's bigger than ever before, but will it be really any better?

Former UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner once dismissed the idea of a European Super League as "an illusion" – but its power has always been very real. As former AC Milan director Umberto Gandini pointed out, "the birth of the Champions League in 1993" was effectively UEFA's response to Silvio Berlusconi's attempt to create a breakaway competition for Europe's elite.

It was also no coincidence that just two years after Berlusconi backed another bid to create a Super League, UEFA increased the amount of teams and games in the Champions League, and introduced a second group stage to generate more matches.

"The threat of a Super League always ends with UEFA promising the big clubs more revenue," Tsjalle van der Burg, an assistant professor in Economics at the University of Twente, told GOAL in January 2021. "As long as UEFA is doing that, there will be no Super League. However, by constantly meeting the big clubs' demands because of the threats, we will end up with a format that closely resembles a Super League."

And that's exactly where we now find ourselves, with the expanded Champions League set to kick-off this week with a new format that makes the competition look like a Super League in everything but name.

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  The 'Swiss Model'

  An expansion was inevitable as soon as reports first surfaced of another attempted breakaway towards the tail end of 2020, and UEFA had already proposed implementing a 'Swiss Model' before the ill-fated Super League launch in April 2021.

  There is no group stage under the new system – just one big league phase in which all 36 qualifiers (up from 32) play eight games, four at home and four away, against eight different teams.

  The top-eight ranked teams will then progress directly to the last 16, while those ranked ninth to 24th will enter a play-off round. The remaining 12 teams will be eliminated from continental competition completely, as the Europa League safety net has now been removed.

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  'Every game counts'

  According to UEFA, the benefits of the new format from a fan's perspective are threefold:

  "The new league format will involve more European teams in each competition and will allow fans to not only see more top European matches, but also to see those matches take place earlier in the competition;

  "The new format will introduce a better competitive balance between all the teams, with the possibility for each team to play opponents of a similar competitive level throughout the league phase;

  "Every game counts. The new league format will ensure that any result has the potential to dramatically change a team's position, right up to and including the very last matchday. Winning or losing the last game of the league phase could make the difference between a side qualifying automatically for the last 16, entering the play-offs or being eliminated from the competition altogether."

  Scepticism abounds, though.

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  Convoluted and confusing

  UEFA is acutely aware that the 'Swiss Model' has already confused many within the game, and attempted to make light of that widespread sense of bemusement in a 'comedic' promo ahead of the draw for the league phase.

  In time, all should become clear – or at least clearer. As the revamped tournament progresses, fans (and journalists!) will undoubtedly get a handle on the new format – but doubts remain over its efficacy.

  By changing the set-up so that every team must face at least two teams from Pot One, the draw has unquestionably thrown up several heavyweight clashes – but the question is whether circumstance will strip them of some of their significance.

  The argument is that every team will want to finish as high up the standings as possible – firstly, to avoid the hassle of two extra games in February, and secondly to boost their seeding for the last 16. However, could the attractiveness of certain fixtures actually be diluted or devalued?

  The old format certainly had its flaws, but it was capable of producing the odd 'Group of Death', such as last season's pool pitting Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund against one another.

  The only certainty there was that two top teams would be eliminated, making every point important. There is zero guarantee that the stellar showdowns in the league phase will be just as meaningful.

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  144 games to eliminate 12 teams

  For example, when PSG host Manchester City at Parc des Princes on January 22, how much will actually be on the line? The common consensus is that 15 points will be enough to secure a top-eight finish, so there is a chance that both teams will already be assured of a place in the last 16 by the time they meet, making for a distinct lack of jeopardy.

  Furthermore, if Inter were to lose to Manchester City on matchday one, would it really put them at risk of elimination? Not at all. Nine points (three wins) from their remaining seven games would still likely be enough to at least secure a place in the play-off round.

  UEFA is therefore basically pinning its hopes on the meeting of two top teams being a draw in itself, whereas the mass appeal of such contests in the past was that they usually occurred in the knockout stage. It was the threat of elimination that made those matches utterly compelling, meaning it's entirely probable that the revamped competition will still only come alive in the knockouts.

  The big difference is that it's just going to take much longer – and a lot more matches – for us to get to that point, and that's the real problem with the Swiss Model. Whereas previously 16 teams were eliminated after 96 games, now it will take 144 games to eliminate just 12 – and we're still likely to end up with more or less the same clubs in the last 16 as every year, as the changes will do little to address the disparity in wealth at the top of European football.

Manchester City could land a bargain this summer after a new report emerged linking Pep Guardiola's side with one of the most dangerous players in the Bundesliga.

Manchester City a win away

A nervy 2-0 win over Tottenham on Tuesday left Pep Guardiola's side in charge of the Premier League title race heading into the final day of the season.

Two points ahead of Arsenal, the Cityzens know that three points against West Ham at the Etihad on Sunday will see them clinch their fourth Premier League title in five years, while a draw could be enough depending on the result Arsenal manage against Everton.

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By
Ben Browning

May 14, 2024

They could not have asked for a better opposition, with West Ham in turmoil and David Moyes heading into his final game in charge of a side that have conceded 10 times in their last two away games, and have won away from home just twice in 2024.

Though it has been less than a vintage season for Guardiola's side, they could yet end it with a double should they also lift the FA Cup in nine days time, and they are only likely strengthen this summer.

City target new defender

Now, Manchester City are reportedly chasing one of their former players, in a move that could set them back around £35m this summer. That, of course, comes in the shape of Jeremie Frimpong, who has been deployed as a right-wing-back by Xabi Alonso and has been a massive factor in Bayer Leverkusen having gone the whole season unbeaten to date.

Though nominally a defender, the Dutchman has been a constant threat for the German outfit, grabbing a massive 14 goals and 12 assists, numbers normally expected from attackers and better than those put up by Kevin de Bruyne for example, though of course the Belgian was sidelined for the first part of the campaign.

His performances have drawn high praise from all corners, with Eurosport Germany's Dennis Mezler explaining: “Frimpong is also enormously dangerous in front of goal for a nominally ‘defensive’ player. Now that the whole team is playing strongly under Alonso, Frimpong is underlining his class even more."

Linked with Arsenal and Manchester United previously, the Dutchman is said to have a 40m euro release clause in his contract, though it is added that it must be triggered before the European Championships kick off in Germany next month.

Now, HITC claim that Manchester City "have spoken to Jeremie Frimpong" and that the defender "has opened discussions" about a move back to his former side, in a far more senior role than when he left.

With Kyle Walker now the wrong side of his peak, Frimpong's explosive speed and ability in the final third could be a massive addition to the Etihad side, who have no natural right-back besides the Englishman, a fact which has seen Manuel Akanji and John Stones play there in recent months.

Available for just a fraction of what he would otherwise cost courtesy of his release clause, should City sign him he could be one of the bargains of the summer.