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Darwin Nunez's chances of securing an exciting transfer move appear to have hit a snag despite the Liverpool man being top of a manager's 'wish-list'.

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• Nunez tipped for Liverpool exit
• Possible transfer hits a snag
• Despite being manager's top target

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, Nunez is at the top of Napoli boss Antonio Conte's 'wish-list' but Liverpool's price tag and the forward's wage demands may scupper a deal. Moreover, they are reportedly pursuing Udinese's Lorenzo Lucca, and if they push through that move, Nunez could be surplus to requirements.

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  The Uruguay international has gone from being an important player at Liverpool to very much a fringe option, whom they nearly sold in January. The 25-year-old is reportedly valued at around €60 million (£51m/$69m), and that may put pay to a Napoli move, despite him being keen on a switch to the Serie A champions.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Nunez, who only scored five goals in 30 Premier League appearances this season, has also been credited with interest from Atletico Madrid and AC Milan but seems to not be keen on Saudi Pro League offers.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Former Benfica attacker Nunez, whose Anfield contract runs until 2028, may have played his last game for Liverpool, with the Reds seemingly keen on a new number nine. It remains to be seen where Nunez's future lies.

Things might have gone awry this season, but the plan at Tottenham Hotspur is clear.

Daniel Levy and Co want to improve the team but have decided to build for the future and focus on young and up-and-coming talents in recent transfer windows to do so.

For example, last winter, the club signed Lucas Bergvall from Swedish side Djurgårdens for around £8.5m and then in the summer, they picked up Archie Gray from Leeds United for £30m and Wilson Odobert from Burnley for around £25m.

They will continue using this approach this summer, as recent reports have linked the club with an incredibly exciting young player who has been compared to Lamine Yamal.

Spurs looking at signing "future Ballon d'Or winner"

We may still be a couple of months away from the transfer window officially opening, but that has not stopped Spurs from being linked with several young and exciting talents.

Perhaps one of the most consistent links has been to Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, who has been valued at around £55m but could potentially be available for less when the Saints are inevitably relegated at the end of the season.

Another young Englishman who has been touted for a £38m move to N17 has been Sunderland’s 17-year-old sensation Chris Rigg, who has thrived this season, scoring four goals and providing one assist in 37 appearances, most of which have come in midfield.

Yet, at least so far, the most exciting link of the lot is to a 21-year-old winger who has been seriously impressing in France this year: Rayan Cherki.

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Spurs are one of several teams incredibly interested in the Lyon ace.

In fact, alongside Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Newcastle United, the Lilywhites have already made contact and asked ‘to be kept informed about’ the star’s situation.

However, while the level of competition is far from ideal, the good news is that, according to the story, there is an agreement between the club and the player that he’ll be allowed to leave for less than £25m this summer.

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Overall, it could be a complicated transfer to get over the line for Spurs, but given Cherki’s immense ability and potential, it’s one well worth fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Yamal.

How Cherki Compares to Yamal

Now, before we get to some of the other reasons why Spurs should look to sign Cherki this summer, it’s worth examining this comparison to Yamal and where it comes from.

In this case, it primarily stems from FBref, which looks at 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 Spaniard is the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Frenchman.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, passes into the penalty area, through balls, successful take-on percentage, goal-creating actions and more, all per 90.

However, as brilliant as it is to be compared to a European Champion and one of the most exciting players in world football, it’s not the only reason the Lilywhites should be looking to sign the Lyon ace.

For example, he’s been having an incredible season of his own this year.

In just 35 appearances, totalling 2355 minutes, he’s scored eight goals and provided 18 assists.

That means the “future Ballon d’Or winner,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, is averaging a goal involvement every 1.34 games, or every 90.57 minutes.

Ultimately, if Spurs are going to continue building a team full of young up-and-coming prospects, as it looks like they are, then there are not many better additions they could make this summer than Cherki.

Spurs were rinsed by Pochettino signing who was a "poor man's Soldado"

The promising striker failed to live up to expectations in North London.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 2, 2025

Leicester City have officially dismissed manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, bringing an end to his brief tenure just under two months after the club's relegation from the Premier League. The former Dutch striker, who took the reins in November 2024 following the departure of Steve Cooper, was unable to prevent the club from slipping into the EFL Championship.

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• Leicester went down under Nistelrooy
• Foxes show the door to the Dutch manager
• Dyche touted as potential replacement

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 2024–25 season proved to be a calamitous one for the Foxes, who finished 18th in the Premier League table and ended the campaign 13 points adrift of safety. After parting ways with Cooper early in the season, hopes were high that Van Nistelrooy, despite his limited managerial experience in England, could provide the necessary turnaround. However, the change failed to yield results, with Leicester managing only six wins across the entire campaign.

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• WHAT VAN NISTELROOY SAID

  The outgoing manager issued a statement expressing gratitude: "I would like to personally thank the Leicester City players, coaches, academy and all the staff I have worked with for their professionalism and dedication during my time at the Club and to thank the fans for their support, and take this opportunity to wish the Club well for the future."

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  As Leicester shift their attention to the 2025–26 campaign, the search for a new manager is now underway, with players set to reconvene for pre-season next week. Among the early names linked with the vacancy is Sean Dyche. His proven track record of building competitive squads could make him an attractive option for a club determined to bounce back at the first opportunity.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR LEICESTER?

  For now, the existing coaching staff will be tasked with leading Leicester’s pre-season training and initial preparations for life back in the second tier. The club confirmed that those plans will proceed as scheduled on June 30, with leadership duties handled internally until a new appointment is made.

Paul Pogba reveals a hilarious conversation between him and France boss Didier Deschamps following his return to football with Ligue 1 side Monaco.

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• Pogba set to return to competitive football next season
• Has been signed by Ligue 1 side Monaco
• Frenchman opens up on conversation with Deschamps

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pogba will be marking his much-anticipated return to football next season after serving an 18-month doping ban. The former Juventus and Manchester United midfielder opened up on his potential return to the France national team setup, joking about the conversation he had with head coach Deschamps.

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  Pogba will be donning the Monaco colours next season, signing a two-year contract with the French side as a free agent. The 32-year-old broke down in tears while putting ink to paper, showing how much it meant to him to finally break free from the hell of a doping ban. Pogba has been working tirelessly in order to regain shape, and has also admitted that he dreams of making it to France's squad for the 2026 World Cup.

• WHAT PAUL POGBA SAID

  Speaking at his Monaco presentation on Thursday, Pogba said: "Yes, of course. I spoke to [Deschamps] on the phone and he said, 'It's okay, you've signed for Monaco, you can come back whenever you want.' No, I'm just joking. Of course, it's the wish of every French football player to play for the French national team.

  "But there are stages. Today I'm at stage one. It's about coming back and performing well. There are places to be won, you have to earn them because there's a very large squad and a great team. And it's also up to me to perform well and earn my place.

  "Absolutely! As I said, there are stages. The first stage is to get back on the pitch, to play for my team, first of all, because you can't go to the French team without playing and performing well at club level. That's the first stage. And then we'll see.

  "It's also possible that the coach won't take me even if I score 30 goals this season. It's about me first and foremost, playing, performing well, and enjoying myself. And then the French national team, that would of course be a dream and a bonus for me."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PAUL POGBA?

  The French midfielder could play his first game for his new side when they face Cercle Brugge in a preseason outing on July 11.

Former Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels claimed that Gianluigi Donnarumma's challenge on Jamal Musiala was a completely normal action.

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• Hummels believes Donnarumma's challenge on Musiala no big deal
• Claims both players had a role in Musiala's injury
• Didn't want to blame the goalkeeper

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Bayern Munich and Germany national team player Hummels has come to the defence of Donnarumma, who was held accountable for the horrific ankle dislocation Musiala suffered during the Club World Cup quarter-final between Paris Saint-Germain and the Bundesliga champions. The ex-defender explained that both players were equally responsible for the unfortunate injury, and that the Italian goalkeeper's challenge was completely normal.

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  Donnarumma has come under fire after Musiala suffered an injury and had to be stretchered off. Bayern sporting director Max Eberl said that the ex-Milan keeper "wasn't being considerate" while making an attempt to win the ball. Manuel Neuer also didn't hold back, claiming that Donnarumma "didn't have to go in like that" and that it was "reckless". However, Musiala posted a message on social media following a successful surgery on his fractured fibula, and added that nobody was to blame for what he went through.

• WHAT MATS HUMMELS SAID

  Speaking on his podcast , Hummels said: "It was a completely normal action. Not brutal at all. Both players have a part in the injury. That's how I would put it. You sometimes recognise situations that are simply risky, where you can hurt yourself very quickly. And to me, that looked like an injury right from the start.

  "The injury is really bad, he's a great player, but… every game, players and goalkeepers are in tough situations, and [the challenges] are significantly less clean."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Donnarumma will be aiming to help PSG win their fifth trophy of the season on Sunday, July 13, when his side take on Chelsea in the Club World Cup final. Meanwhile, Musiala has been confirmed to remain on the sidelines for the next four to five months, which means he's unlikely to return to action before 2026.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca claimed that winning the Club World Cup would be considered more prestigious than lifting the Champions League title in the coming years. The Italian coach also revealed his game plan that helped Chelsea thrash Paris Saint-Germain in the final at New Jersey on Sunday and win their second trophy of the 2024-25 campaign.

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• Maresca claimed winning CWC more prestigious than UCL
• Explained tactics that helped Chelsea beat PSG
• Blues won their second title of 2024-25 campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Maresca had a dream debut campaign at Stamford Bridge as he led the Blues to their second trophy of the 2024-25 season in the US on Sunday. Chelsea were on a roll in the final against Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain as Cole Palmer scored twice and provided an assist for Joao Pedro's third to secure the Club World Cup title for the Premier League giants.

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• WHAT MARESCA SAID

  Speaking to reporters after the triumph at MetLife Stadium, the Italian coach said: "I consider this competition, the truth is that one day I said to the guys inside that I have the feeling that this competition is going to be as important, if not more important, than the Champions League. I was lucky three years ago to be part of the coaching staff when we won the Champions League [at Man City].

  "I lived all these moments, but the truth is that this competition is one of the best in the world. We value it as the Champions League, if not more so, because it has really been a great triumph for us, and to allow the fans of Chelsea to have the chance for the next four years with this badge, the truth is that for us it is an honour."

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  Maresca further revealed his plan that helped Chelsea pip 'favourites' PSG as he added: "Yeah, as you said, there are three midfielders, two of them were in charge of Reece [James] and Moi [Caicedo] this point, and Vitinha was in charge of Enzo [Fernandez]. Analysing them, we saw that it was a good opportunity to exploit that space, and we scored a goal on that side.

  "It was just a game plan, as we said many times, we tried to use different game plans, and we tried to help the players to be in a position where they can give everything. Today, it worked quite well. But overall, I think, as I just said, it has been the effort from all the team, all the players, and I'm very happy, especially for them, because they deserve this moment."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The West London side will be back in action next month as they are scheduled to play a couple of friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan before kicking off the 2025-26 campaign formally on August 17 with their season opener against Crystal Palace.

Jose Mourinho says his first Chelsea team were the "best Premier League side ever", while taking a swipe at Liverpool's 2005 Champions League win.

• Mourinho managed Chelsea twice
• His first team "best PL side ever"
• Rages over Liverpool's 2005 'ghost goal'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Fenerbahce manager Mourinho believes that his Chelsea side between 2004-06 tops the pile for the best-ever Premier League teams, edging out Arsenal's 'Invincibles' in 2003-04, as they secured more wins along the way. He also said that the Blues didn't win the Champions League in 2005 because there was "no goal-line technology", in reference to Luis Garcia's infamous "ghost goal" for Liverpool in the semi-finals of that year's tournament.

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  WHAT MOURINHO SAID

  When asked which team he left the most of his fingerprints on, Mourinho told : "I think my FC Porto stayed. I think Chelsea was the best Premier League team ever. It's been 20 years since that team. Arsenal were invincible, but they were invincible in one season. We were more invincible than them in two seasons. They won 38 games, we won 46. But those 46 were spread across two seasons. They were a fantastic team. We didn't win the Champions League because there was no goal-line technology. Inter won everything. But, for example, Roma gave me tremendous pleasure. I don't want to go so far as to say we made great omelettes without eggs; that would be disrespectful to my people, but winning the Conference League, even if it's the Conference, and reaching the Europa League final with the difficulties we had… For me, it was one of the most beautiful things. I managed to unite a club that wasn't united, bringing in the fans who had 'fled.' We made Rome empty twice when we reached both finals. It gave me special pleasure. Here at Fenerbahçe… The first year was like discovering a new world. Not even my Instagram, with some somewhat enigmatic or sarcastic posts, made people realize it. Today, we'll see if my experience helped me better prepare for this new season."

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  Mourinho will go down as one of the best Premier League managers ever and an all-time managerial great in football. But while his Chelsea side romped to the Premier League title in 2005, his team didn't go unbeaten in one season, and Manchester City and Liverpool have since eclipsed their points total, too.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While 63-year-old Mourinho continues to draw headlines on a whole raft of topics, the ex-Real Madrid manager will hope his Fenerbahce side can beat Al-Ittihad in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday night.

Manchester United are set to present their long-term striker plans to Benjamin Sesko as they prepare a formal offer for the RB Leipzig star. The Red Devils are determined to prove that the Slovenian is their No.1 priority this summer, amid rival interest from Newcastle. Sesko is expected to make a final decision in the coming days between the Red Devils and the Magpies.

• Man Utd prepare formal bid for RB Leipzig striker Sesko
• Red Devils to present striker project to convince Slovenian
• Sesko weighing United and Newcastle offers ahead of decision

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported that Manchester United have informed RB Leipzig of their intention to submit a formal bid for Sesko. The Red Devils are also preparing to present a detailed plan to the player outlining how he fits into their future. Sesko is weighing up proposals from both Manchester United and Newcastle, with the Old Trafford outfit currently in pole position.

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  The move for Sesko is reportedly being pushed by Manchester United’s head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, despite manager Ruben Amorim preferring other options. The £64m-rated striker has become the Red Devils' top target following internal disagreements over striker priorities. INEOS sees Sesko as a key piece in their rebuild, and believes he could thrive alongside Rasmus Hojlund.

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  TELL ME MORE…

  Sesko is believed to favour a move to Manchester United, with Newcastle still hopeful of swaying the decision. Despite speculation, Hojlund is not expected to leave, and Amorim sees Sesko’s arrival as healthy competition for the Dane, who scored in United's 4-1 win over Bournemouth in a recent friendly and reaffirmed his commitment to the club.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR SESKO?

  Manchester United are expected to submit their official bid in the coming days and present their project directly to Sesko. The striker will then make a final decision between the two Premier League suitors. RB Leipzig are open to selling if the valuation is met, paving the way for a potential transfer before mid-August.

Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade wants clarity over his possible Bayern Munich transfer and has given the Bundesliga champions a deadline.

• Woltemade wants a final decision this week
• Stuttgart rejected Bayern’s two offers for 23-year-old
• VfB standing firm on their €65m valuation

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , Woltemade has set a clear deadline for Bayern to make a move. The 23-year-old striker and his representatives are pushing hard for a move to Munich and want clarity over his future by the end of the week. If the Bundesliga giants do not act, Woltemade is prepared to stay at Stuttgart and reassess his options next summer.

  The German champions are interested but have hit a wall in negotiations. Stuttgart rejected their most recent bid of €50 million (£43m/$55m) plus €5m in add-ons. The Swabians have said it would take an "extraordinary" offer to convince them to sell.

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  Bayern recently completed a big-money move for Luis Diaz from Liverpool, paying up to €75m (£66m/$88m) for the Colombian winger. While Diaz will reinforce the flanks, Bayern still wants to bolster their central striking options, and Woltemade remains high on their list.

  Woltemade joined Stuttgart from Werder Bremen on a free transfer just last summer. But his value has skyrocketed after a stellar breakout season where he scored 17 goals across all competitions, including a goal in the DFB-Pokal final.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav publicly supported his team-mate. He revealed he reached out to Woltemade personally ahead of preseason and advised him to “block out the noise and stay focused,” as transfer speculation continues to swirl.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR NICK WOLTEMADE?

  With the DFL-Supercup match on August 16 against Bayern looming, Woltemade wants his future sorted before stepping onto the pitch. The ball is now in Bayern Munich’s court. If they fail to meet Stuttgart’s asking price, they risk losing out on potentially one of Germany’s brightest attacking talents. 

Michail Antonio has joined TNT's punditry team for the new Premier League season after not being offered a new West Ham deal following his car crash.

• Antonio recovering from horror crash
• Not offered new West Ham deal
• Joins TNT punditry team with Bale

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  TNT Sports have announced their lineup for the upcoming Premier League season, with Antonio joining former Tottenham and Real Madrid star Bale on the roster. They will be flanked by former England international Fara Williams, ex-Scotland ace Jen Beattie and Bristol City first-team coach Anita Asante.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This comes soon after it was announced striker Antonio would not be offered a contract extension at West Ham. The 35-year-old cheated death in early December 2024 when he had a horrific car crash before being airlifted to hospital and undergoing surgery on serious leg fractures. Many feared he would not play again but even though he has, his time with the Hammers is now over.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Jamaica international Antonio, who is now a free agent, still harbours desires to play football again at the highest level.

  He told : "I'm speaking to clubs right now to see where the best offer is for me to go, and we'll just see how it goes. To be honest, there's a mixture, we're talking to clubs here, we're talking to clubs abroad, but I'm going to leave it very vague – talk to clubs in England and abroad."

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• WHAT NEXT?

  While Antonio tries to find a new team to play for, the veteran forward wants to play at the 2026 World Cup with Jamaica.

  He added: "That's one thing I've not managed to achieve for myself, to be playing in the World Cup, and Jamaica are very close to it. It's not just that, I just wouldn't want my career to come to an end by a car crash, literally. So I've got something to prove to show that I can come back, I can come back and play well, which I was doing for the last ten years."