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Newcastle United are reportedly ready to push to complete the signing of an "incredible" player this summer, with a free transfer on the cards.

Newcastle injury crisis deepens

The Magpies have underperformed badly this season, both in the Premier League and the Champions League, but their injury problems are a fair excuse to make for their shortcomings. Eddie Howe has had to deal with a constant stream of fitness issues throughout the campaign, with important players missing all over the park, holding back his team greatly.

Nick Pope has been a long-term absentee in goal, while defenders Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles and Dan Burn have all missed significant chunks of action. In midfield, the likes of Joelinton and Joe Willock have been out for lengthy periods, too, while Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak have found it hard to stay fit leading the line.

Newcastle's misery in the injury department has been summed up by two serious new problems for Botman and Lascelles, both of whom are going to miss many months of action after suffering ACL damage. Neither will feature again this season, and they could even struggle to play until 2025, summing up the severity of their issues.

It has heightened the need to make a number of key signings in the summer transfer window, with one defender reportedly being lined up by the Magpies.

Newcastle eyeing "incredible" free transfer

According to a new report from HITC, Newcastle are "set to step up their interest" in Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly ahead of the summer transfer window. The 25-year-old is out of contract with the Cherries at the end of the campaign, at which point he will be available on a free transfer.

Kelly appears to have been a long-time target for Newcastle, being linked with a move to St James' Park a number of times in the past, and he would be an astute signing this summer. While not necessarily a game-changer of a signing who is going to get Magpies supporters off their seats, he could be a really solid defensive addition – one who can thrive as both a centre-back and a left-back.

Last year, former Bournemouth manager Gary O'Neil waxed lyrical over him after his performance up against Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah, saying: "I thought Lloyd was incredible.

"I think he had a 12-week ankle injury followed by a six-week calf injury. Didn't have much time in between, and then came back today having not trained much, to play left back against one of the best wingers in the world. I thought he showed everything, the potential he has to be a top defender. I thought it was a very, very impressive performance against a top attacker."

Appearances

15

24

Starts

12

23

Goal contributions

1

4

Tackles per game

1.3

2.0

Clearances per game

2.2

3.4

Interceptions per game

0.5

1.2

Pass completion rate

76.7%

79.9%

At 25, Kelly is both experienced and still young enough to develop further as a player, while his aforementioned versatility means he would provide so much squad depth for Howe, alleviating potential further injury woes in the process.

In one swift afternoon of football in Islington Arsenal's title hopes felt like they disappeared into the abyss. Have they learnt anything from last season's collapse? Time will tell.

Sunday offered little evidence they had. This Gunners team were soaring high in 2024 but Unai Emery came back to town and scampered off with all three points.

Mikel Arteta's men are just two points behind league leaders Manchester City now but we all know just how good Pep Guardiola's men are during a run-in.

It's unlikely they'll drop many, if any points over the coming weeks, with Arsenal now potentially left to rue their 2-0 defeat to Villa.

The team selection was an interesting one. Kai Havertz moved back into a midfield position to accommodate Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard started ahead of Gabriel Martinelli and there was no Jakub Kiwior after his early substitution against Bayern Munich. Instead, Oleksandr Zinchenko started.

Zinchenko's performance against Aston Villa

The £32m signing of Zinchenko back in the summer of 2022 was an eye-catching one.

Arsenal were acquiring a proven winner, someone with fight, passion and guile. He has shown every inch of those qualities during his time in north London but sadly, he is a defensive liability.

Described by CBS reporter James Benge as "unmissably bad" for his exploits against the Villans on Sunday, it was a performance that rather summed up the Ukrainian's campaign.

When he is bad, he is truly bad and that's what we saw over the weekend. Guilty of losing possession, lacking concentration and simply not being on the same wavelength as his teammates, it will frustrate Arteta no end that a player he knows well from Man City is his main source of blame.

Zinchenko can show some nice touches but when up against it, teams do tend to target his left-hand side. That's what happened against Villa.

As soon as Leon Bailey was introduced it looked like curtains for the full-back, with the Jamaican ultimately scoring the opening goal of the game just minutes from time. Where was Zinchenko? Nowhere to be seen.

The defender had a warning sign just moments before that. Guilty of doing too much on the edge of the area, as he so often is, Youri Tielemans dispossessed him and with a wonderful dipping effort struck both post and bar.

So, how do Arsenal solve the problem? Fortunately, they have Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu to call upon. They will also soon have Jurrien Timber back from an ACL Injury.

That said, have they potentially already sold their long-term replacement?

Arsenal's rising star has already been sold

Because of Arsenal's rise to title challengers under Arteta, he has found it difficult to hand regular chances to those coming through the academy.

It pales in comparison to his early days with the club when both Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were in the embryonic stages of their career.

There have been two moments for Ethan Nwaneri – the Premier League's youngest-ever player now – but for others opportunities have not been forthcoming.

As a result, they've decided that leaving is their only option. It's thought Arsenal are now on the verge of losing Charlie Patino, but they have already lost budding left-back Lino Sousa.

In a deal that could be worth more than £10m, the teenager joined none other than Aston Villa back in January with his departure coming as a shock.

Sousa hadn't achieved any first-team minutes yet but was well thought of by those in the know. After all, he had already been in a few matchday squads.

Described as "England's future left-back" by analyst Ben Mattinson, the future is bright for a player who's spent the second half of the current campaign on loan at Plymouth.

So, what makes him so special? Well, in the words of Arsenal youth expert Jeorge Bird, 'he is very composed in possession, with his playing style seeming somewhat reminiscent of Ainsley Maitland-Niles at youth level.'

Bird continued: 'Sousa relishes pushing forward but also doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities.'

So, he seems to combine the best of Zinchenko – that technical composure – but also adds an extra layer in terms of his defensive security.

Whether Sousa makes it at first-team level at Villa remains to be seen, but Arsenal could well regret their decision to cash in on such a talented youngster when the left-back berth is up for grabs.

As bad as Zinchenko: Arsenal's 4/10 star may have cost them the league

Arsenal were downed for the second time this season by Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

ByMatt Dawson Apr 14, 2024

The allrounder was also named ODI player of the year, while Alyssa Healy took home the T20I award for 2019

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Dec-2019Ellyse Perry, the premier allrounder in women’s cricket, has won two of the three top annual ICC awards for 2019: the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for women’s cricketer of the year and the ODI Cricketer of the Year award. Alyssa Healy, meanwhile, has taken home the Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award for the second year in a row. In a sweep by Australian cricketers, Meg Lanning was named captain of the ODI and T20I teams of the year, which included five and four players from the country respectively.It has been an outstanding year for 29-year-old Perry across formats. She has hit three centuries – one in the Ashes Test and two in ODIs – and averaged 73.50 in 12 50-over games and 150.00 in nine T20Is. With the ball, there have been 21 wickets in ODIs, including a national record 7 for 22 (the fourth-best overall), and six in T20Is. During the course of the year, she also became the first player – man or woman – to complete the milestone of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in T20I cricket.ALSO READ: Perry the ‘greatest female player we’re ever going to see’ – Charlotte EdwardsFor Perry, it was the second Heyhoe-Flint award in three years, after she won in in 2017, the inaugural year. She is ranked No. 4 and No. 3 among batters and bowlers in ODIs respectively, and is just outside the top ten in the corresponding charts for T20Is.”It’s an amazing honour and I’m a little bit shocked, given how many amazing performances there have been across the year,” Perry said in an ICC statement. “It’s amazing to be acknowledged and I do truly appreciate it. It’s a really nice way to finish the year on a personal note.”It’s been nice to have a chance to tour so consistently with the Australian team. It’s been an amazing year, I’ve really enjoyed all of it and it’s just been nice to be a part of it. It’s so exciting that the T20 World Cup is here at home early next year and with the target of the final at the MCG it could be a really special moment in the game’s history.”Healy, meanwhile, made the record books when she scored a world record 148 not-out in just 61 balls in October against Sri Lanka, the highest individual score in women’s T20Is. Her century came off 46 balls, the quickest by an Australian man or woman.Alyssa Healy has been named T20I Cricketer of the Year for the second year running•Getty Images”I’m really pumped to be awarded the T20I Cricketer of the Year,” Healy said. “The Australian women’s team had a fantastic 12-month period and we played some really consistent T20 cricket. Whilst the individual award is really nice for me personally, I think it was great to see our team play so well throughout that 12-month period, especially leading into a home World Cup in 2020.”Perry and Healy featured in both the ODI and T20I teams of the year, too. In the ODI team, the trio – Lanning, the third – was joined by compatriots Jess Jonassen and Megan Schutt, who also figured in the T20I line-up.Australia are the top-ranked side in ODIs and T20Is, and have a chance to retain the women’s T20 World Cup at home next year. “A home T20 World Cup is an opportunity that doesn’t come along often, but we are looking forward to and embracing the challenge of performing well in front of our home crowd,” Lanning said.Thailand will be making their debut at a global event, men’s or women’s, at that World Cup, and in a boost for them, Chanida Sutthiruang, their star medium pacer, was named the Women’s Emerging Player of the Year.India was the next best represented country in the teams of the year, with four players – Smriti Mandhana, Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami and Poonam Yadav – figuring in the ODI XI and three – Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav – named in the T20I team.ODI team of the year: Meg Lanning (capt), Alyssa Healy (wk), Smriti Mandhana, Tammy Beaumont, Stafanie Taylor, Ellyse Perry, Jess Jonassen, Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Megan Schutt, Poonam YadavT20I team of the year: Meg Lanning (capt), Alyssa Healy (wk), Danielle Wyatt, Smriti Mandhana, Lizelle Lee, Ellyse Perry, Deepti Sharma, Nida Dar, Megan Schutt, Shabnim Ismail, Radha Yadav

Arsenal are a team that, not too long ago, was seemingly stuck somewhere between eighth and fifth place in the Premier League, unable to drag themselves back to the glory of the early Arsène Wenger years and unlikely to fall all the way down to the bottom of the table.

However, the arrival of Mikel Arteta and Edu, combined with a renewed willingness to spend from Stan Kroenke, has seen the Gunners get back to a place in which they can genuinely compete for the top honours again.

This revival has been built off of several years of intelligent transfer business, and while incomings have generally been brilliant, there have been a few sales which, in retrospect, look ill-thought-out.

One in particular might've cost the club a pretty penny over the last year and a half.

Bernd Leno's time at Arsenal

The player in question is German shot-stopper and former Gooner, Bernd Leno.

Arsenal paid Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen £19m for the then-26-year-old's signature in June 2018 – during Unai Emery's first summer at the club – after he had made 304 appearances for Die Werkself, in which he kept 100 clean sheets.

While the 6 foot 2 keeper failed to make it into the Germany squad for the 2018 World Cup, he had already made six national team appearances before arriving in London and would go on to make three more in the following years.

The "extraordinary" number one, as Fulham boss Marco Silva described him, settled into life quickly in N5 and, after spending the first six games of the Premier League season on the bench, quickly established himself as the team's undisputed number one and made 36 appearances in that first season.

In his second season, the Bietigheim-Bissingen-born star would play just 32 games for the club after suffering that infamous injury at the hands of Neal Maupay in June, which left a space for Emiliano Martínez to come in and help the side lift the FA Cup a month later.

2020/21 would be Leno's final year as a regular starter for the club, as in the summer of 2021, Arteta sanctioned the £30m signing of Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United, who became the new number one and saw the German reduced to just eight appearances in 2021/22.

With his position within the team now clear, the former Bayer Leverkusen man pushed for a move in the summer and, with his desire to remain in London, was sold to Fulham for just £3m.

Bernd Leno's valuation at Fulham

Leno started life in west London much the same way he did in north London, confidently.

The former Arsenal ace made 37 appearances in his first season at Craven Cottage, kept eight clean sheets and had the second-best save percentage – 77.1% – in the league, behind only David Raya at Brentford.

It has been another barnstorming campaign for the experienced professional this year, with 29 appearances and six clean sheets to his name, and he currently has the sixth-best save percentage in the league at 72.7%.

His impressive season and a half with the Cottagers has seen his value soar past his initial transfer fee, with Football Transfers Expected Transfer Model valuing the 31-year-old at around €15.5m, which is about £13m, or a 333% increase on what Arsenal initially sold him for in 2022.

Now, the Gunners did make an additional £2m from the deal following Fulham's survival last season and look set to make another £2m for the same reason this year, plus £1m for reaching a certain number of appearances. Still, even then, they could have made another £5m at least, had they sold him closer to his true value instead of letting him leave on the cheap.

Arsenal could soon sell "phenomenal" star who earns more than Jorginho

He’s only made five Premier League appearances this season.

By
Ethan Lamb

Feb 27, 2024

Ultimately, the Gunners made their choice when they allowed the German to join Fulham in 2022, and while it won't go down as a cataclysmic failure, it is an example of the club failing to sell their unwanted stars efficiently.

All of Aston Villa’s summer transfers have performed well this season, which proves that their recruitment strategy has been spot on.

Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby were the two big summer purchases, with both becoming important players.

However, there is one individual that Unai Emery didn’t have in his plans, which is a decision that could come back to bite the Spaniard.

Moussa Diaby’s start to life at Villa

Diaby became Villa’s club record signing in the summer as he swapped the Bundesliga for the Premier League in a deal worth £51.9m.

The 24-year-old has been handed lots of opportunities by the former Arsenal boss, playing 34 games across all competitions, with a goal contribution record of 12.

Emery has been able to trust the attacker in multiple positions, whether it is on either flank or as a second striker behind Ollie Watkins, which is where he has mainly been deployed.

However, Diaby is often subbed off in the Premier League, as his average minutes per game is 62. Over his 24 league games, he’s scored four times and provided six assists.

The former Bayer Leverkusen star has been relatively impressive, but in truth, he hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations of his record-breaking fee just yet.

Jaden Philogene-Bidace since leaving Villa

Jaden Philogene-Bidace only made six appearances for Villa’s first team, registering two assists in the process. One of those came in the opening match against Newcastle United, when he was subbed on for Matty Cash minutes from time.

Nonetheless, the 22-year-old moved away from the club permanently in September, when he joined Hull City for just £5m, after numerous spells in the Championship at Cardiff City and Stoke City.

Since moving to the Tigers, the dazzling winger – who can operate on both flanks – has been extremely impressive, with his performances often being game-changing for his side.

The table below showcases his stats from this season, and how he compares to his positional peers.

Philogene-Bidace 2023/24 Championship Stats
Stats (per 90)	Philogene-Bidace	League Percentile
Goals	0.46	Top 12%
Assists	0.33	Top 9%
Successful dribbles	2.90	Top 5%
Shots total	4.02	Top 1%
Carries into final third	3.03	Top 4%
Touches (Att pen)	6.45	Top 8%
Tackles	2.30	Top 11%
Stats via FBref

As you can see, Philogene-Bidace is a "fantastic" player, as per Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, and he's been absolutely immense in the Championship this season, scoring seven goals and picking up five assists, which puts him among the elite category of wingers who can provide both creativity and goal-scoring threat – while also eclipsing Diaby's top-flight return.

The latest goal involvement came last night with the youngster pulling off an audacious rabona. On first viewing it looks as though it sails straight in but it takes a slight deflection and soars into the net, cruelly going down as an own goal.

Even still, that "unreal" piece of quality has showcased the full array of the playmaker's talents – as hailed by reporter Alex Howell – with it easy to see why the Hammersmith native had even "surprised" Emery during pre-season, in the words of Howell.

The England U21 international is extremely confident, as displayed by his high shot total and direct approach via his dribbling. The latter is where most of his creative magic stems from, as he can drive past opponents with a direct approach to reach the penalty box.

Philogene-Bidace would have suited Emery’s intense approach perfectly from an out-of-possession perspective, as he ranks in the top 11% for tackles, which shows he works extremely hard off the ball to regain control for his side.

Overall, selling the in-form whiz for just £5m without giving him a real opportunity to shine could just be one of the biggest mistakes the club has made in years, representing arguably the most notable blunder of a relatively serene stint in charge so far for Emery.

Cristiano Ronaldo may need to leave Al-Nassr in order to play into his 40s, says Stuart Pearce, with “new challenges” transfer advice being offered.

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All-time great under contract in Saudi ArabiaWill celebrate notable birthday in FebruaryCould become a free agent again in 2025WHAT HAPPENED?

The Portuguese superstar will celebrate a notable birthday on February 9, 2025 and still has a year left to run on his current contract in Saudi Arabia. He has offered no indication of that deal – which remains the most lucrative in world football – being cut short.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo may, however, become a free agent next summer and face another big career call. With there talk of him playing through to the 2026 World Cup, fresh terms will be required somewhere. Pearce, who was playing second tier football at 40 years of age, believes a fresh start may help to keep CR7 hungry.

WHAT PEARCE SAID

Ex-England international Pearce – who spent 12 years at Nottingham Forest before moving on to Newcastle, West Ham and Manchester City – has told of Ronaldo prolonging a record-breaking playing career: “It won't be easy for him. He wants to play as long as he can and I admire him for that. Obviously he doesn't need the money, that is for sure. So to keep driving on and striving on, I admire that. I would say to him, as long as you're physically fit, keep going. He's playing in a much different position to me.

“I finished when I was 40, but I was a defender. It's a lot easier being a defender, I think, than it is a forward trying to create things. And you need that burst of pace and energy. My game was about maybe reading it and you could get away with it a little bit more. But when you look at Ronaldo, just incredible. For me, a big one for me, I'd been at a club for 12 years at the age of 35. Then I got a move, changed clubs to Newcastle, then changed clubs a couple of times. I had three clubs in five years, which is unusual for me. I'd been at one club for 12 years and looking back now, that was the big inspiration for me. It was a new challenge. He has to keep looking for new challenges, I think, to spur himself on.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Ronaldo has spent time with Sporting, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and Al-Nassr – picking up Golden Boots in four different countries. He is currently on Euro 2024 duty with Portugal – at his 11th major tournament – and is showing no sign of slowing down after hitting 50 goals in the Middle East last season.

It's impossible to know which Chelsea will show up these days.

Is it going to be the Chelsea who lost 4-1 to Liverpool and 4-2 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in back-to-back Premier League games? Or the Chelsea who beat a formidable Aston Villa 3-1 away from home in the FA Cup before doing the same to Crystal Palace in the next game?

Mauricio Pochettino clearly has some talent in his side, but if he can't get them to show it consistently, he might not be in the dugout for much longer.

This inconsistency is made all the more frustrating by the fact that one of their former players, who many considered a flop, has been a consistent goalscorer since leaving West London and has actually even outscored Cole Palmer this season.

Chelsea's club record signing in 2017

The player in question is none other than Spain international and former club-record signing Alvaro Morata.

The Spaniard signed for Blues in July of that year for around £60m after enjoying a fruitful 2016/17 season at Real Madrid, in which he scored 20 goals and provided six assists in 43 appearances for Los Blancos.

Appearances

48

24

Goals

15

9

Assists

6

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.43

0.37

Unfortunately for the Chelsea faithful, he would never prove to be this effective in London, and while he did manage to score 15 goals and provide six assists in the 2017/18 season, this was as good as it was going to get.

The following season, he scored just nine goals in his 24 appearances for the Pensioners before he moved to Atlético Madrid on loan in January, where he managed six goals and one assist in 17 appearances.

While his overall record of 24 goals and six assists for the Blues wasn't horrendous, he was seen by many fans and pundits alike as an abject failure, with Rio Ferdinand saying on BT Sport after the 2018 Community Shield that (via Football 365) "from a centre half's point of view, he does not scare you" while Richard Dunne was even harsher, claiming the Spaniard was "a disgrace up front, he was awful."

So, with underwhelming performances and scathing reviews, the Madrid-born forward made his move to Atleti permanent in the summer of 2019 for £58m, although the West Londoners could undoubtedly do with his goals this season.

Morata's stats after leaving Chelsea

Now, life after Chelsea wasn't necessarily all plain sailing for Morata, as his first full season back in Spain was only marginally better than his first year in England, with 16 goals and five assists coming in his 44 games for Los Colchoneros.

It was this middling return that saw him sent back to Juventus on loan for two seasons so that Atleti could sign Luis Suárez, and while some players might've downed tools at the idea of being moved on once again, the former Real Madrid youngster put his head down and enjoyed a brilliant two years in Turin.

In his first season, he scored 20 goals and provided 12 assists in 44 appearances before scoring 12 goals and registering nine assists in 48 games the following season, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.73 games for the Old Lady.

Following the end of his two-year loan deal, the "prolific" number nine, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, returned to Atlético and provided 18 goal involvements in 45 appearances for Diego Simeone's side last season.

44

16

5

0.47

44

20

12

0.72

48

12

9

0.43

45

15

3

0.40

33

19

3

0.66

Alvaro Morata's stats this season

While Morata's output across the four seasons following his move to Atlético is impressive, his performances this season have bordered on world-class.

The 31-year-old has seemingly reached a whole new level this campaign and has already found the back of the net 19 times and provided three assists in just 33 appearances.

Unfortunately for fans and Morata himself, he is currently set to miss up to ten games with a knee ligament injury, but should he be back by the end of next month – as he's expected to be – then there is no reason he couldn't end the season with 30 goal involvements.

Simeone clearly shares this sentiment, as in November, on the Spanish podcast El Larguero (via GOAL), the Argentine claimed: "Alvaro Morata is on par with Erling Haaland. In terms of goals and his numbers, he can certainly be compared to him."

While that comparison might be a step too far, Morata has enjoyed an impressive few years bouncing between Juventus and Atlético, and while he might not be the best striker in the world, his 19 goals would see him top Chelsea's squad if he was still in England

Appearances

33

28

Goals

19

12

Goals per game

0.57

0.42

The top scorer in Pochettino's squad at the moment is arguably one of the few Chelsea players who will end this season with their stock higher than it was at the start, Palmer.

The former Manchester City prodigy has found the back of the net on 12 occasions across all competitions this season, and while that is undeniably impressive for anyone in their first season at a new club, it's even more remarkable considering he's just 21 years old.

However, that is still a considerably lower goal tally than Morata's and considering the next highest goalscorer in the team is Nicolas Jackson with nine goals, the Blues are clearly crying out for a new clinical number nine this summer.

Chelsea star with 144 touches was even better than Gallagher vs Palace

Another magnificent performance from the 23-year-old.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 13, 2024

Ultimately, the Blues might have thought they were doing the right thing selling Morata when they did, but he has since proven himself in both La Liga and Serie A, and with Chelsea's current goalscoring woes, Pochettino would probably love to have him at his disposal.

Manchester United have reportedly made their final decision on Mason Greenwood's future as part of their end-of-season review.

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INEOS makes a decision on Greenwood's futureBoard members deliberatedEnjoyed a stellar season with GetafeWHAT HAPPENED?

The resolution on Greenwood comes as part of United's comprehensive reflection period, which concluded this week. The review, which also confirmed Erik Ten Hag will continue as manager, was overseen by INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, sporting CEO Jean-Claude Blanc, and United technical director Jason Wilcox.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Apart from determining Ten Hag's fate, a key focus of the review was the future of Greenwood. has now reported that United have decided Greenwood will not be reintegrated into the senior team squad and the club will instead put him on the market. The club has placed a valuation of approximately £50 million ($64m) on Greenwood and has communicated to interested parties their preference for a sale. This decision marks a significant turn in Greenwood's career trajectory, with his future at United now clearly defined by the club's strategic review.

DID YOU KNOW?

Greenwood spent the past season on loan at Getafe in Madrid, where his performances have reportedly attracted interest from several major European clubs. Atletico Madrid have shown keen interest in Greenwood, although their immediate priority is securing a No.9, with Girona’s Artem Dovbyk being a target. Despite their interest, a permanent move for Greenwood by Atletico appears unlikely due to financial constraints. Barcelona also expressed admiration for Greenwood’s abilities during his loan spell in Spain. However, their transfer priorities lie elsewhere, specifically in acquiring Athletic Club's Nico Williams. This leaves the door open for other potential suitors.

In addition to an outright sale, United are also open to the idea of another loan move. However, they prefer a structured loan deal that includes mechanisms to make the transfer permanent if certain performance-related conditions are met. This approach would ensure United retains control over Greenwood’s future while providing flexibility in the transfer market. Juventus and Atletico Madrid have both entered into discussions with United regarding a possible loan.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Recognising the likelihood of a loan move, United are going to trigger a one-year option on Greenwood’s contract. This extension will tie him to Old Trafford until 2026, ensuring that United retain leverage in any future negotiations regarding his transfer. For now, United have set the stage for a summer of significant changes, with Greenwood’s departure representing just one aspect of a broader strategic overhaul aimed at restoring the club’s competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions.

An update from BBC Sport claims that Derby County have moved to sign a "game-changer" of a striker in the January transfer window.

Derby eyeing new striker

The Rams have been linked with plenty of attacking players during the January transfer window, with manager Paul Warne seeing it as a key area to improve in before the end of the month. A recent report suggested that Derby have made a "very good" offer to sign a striker, but the individual in question wasn't named, leading to plenty of guesses from supporters. One player who it could potentially be is Sheffield Wednesday ace Michael Smith, who has been backed for a reunion with Warne after enjoying a successful time together at Rotherham United in the relatively recent past.

Another possible target is Bradford City forward Jake Young, who has scored 16 goals in 22 starts in League Two this season, as he enjoys a successful period on loan at Swindon Town. He was seen as an alternative to Corey Blackett-Taylor, however, who has now sealed a move to the Rams this month, which may end their interest in the former.

Now, another significant update has emerged regarding Derby's business in the January window, and it seems the whispers around Smith were in the right vicinity.

Michael Smith transfer update

According to BBC Sport Derby on X, Derby have tabled a loan offer for Sheffield Wednesday striker Smith, although the finances of the deal are looking slightly tricky.

"BBC Derby Sport understands Derby County have made a loan offer for Sheffield Wednesday striker Michael Smith including a significant wage contribution but we're told the Owls are demanding an excessive fee in return. Smith has made 14 league appearances this season."

Smith could be an excellent option for Derby, as they look to bring in extra firepower to give themselves the best possible opportunity of making the leap from League One to the Championship this season.

Granted, the 32-year-old has struggled to make an impact in a relegation-threatened Owls side of late, only scoring three goals in 14 Championship appearances this term, but he may flourish in the league below, especially under a manager that he knows so well in Warne. Former Wednesday boss Darren Moore has heaped praise on him in the past, saying:

“Michael Smith is a game-changer today. The quality showed at the end of it, and that’s what Michael is. He was in the right place at the right time and that’s what quality strikers do."

Related Derby have made “very good” offer to sign new forward

A bid is believed to have been submitted.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Jan 21, 2024

That seems like a good way to describe Smith, whose aerial ability and eye for goal can impact any game on his day, and he scored 37 League One goals in 2021/22 and 2022/23 combined – the first was at Rotherham and the other was with the Owls – showing that he can be a real force in the division that Derby are currently trying to get out of.

Nottinghamshire move a step closer to qualifying for the knockout stages of the Royal London Cup with a brutal batting display

ECB Reporters Network26-Apr-2019Nottinghamshire moved a step closer to qualifying for the knockout stages of the Royal London Cup with a brutal batting display against Leicestershire at Trent Bridge.For the sixth time in three years Notts went past 400 in one-day cricket, before closing on 433 for 7. Ben Duckett and Steven Mullaney led the assault upon the Foxes attack but the four other member of the Outlaws top order also hit punishing half-centuries. Duckett scored 86 from only 61 balls and Mullaney went even faster, bludgeoning 81 from 41 balls.The run chase was interrupted by rain, resulting in a revised target of 347 from 37 overs but the soaring run rate counted against the visitors, as wickets began to tumble at regular intervals. Luke Fletcher claimed figures of 3 for 53 as the Foxes were bowled out for 259 in 33.2 overs, leaving the home side as victors by 87 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.Earlier, Notts’ initial plans were thrown into disarray just before the toss when the in-form Ben Slater was withdrawn after picking up a slight niggle in the warm-up. His deputy at the top of the order, Chris Nash, proved to be an able replacement and an ideal foil for Joe Clarke as the hosts added 82 in the opening 10-over Powerplay.Clarke had been spilled on 26, driving Chris Wright to the finger-tips of Paul Horton at cover but he offered very little else to the fielding side until clipping to short fine leg for 55. Nash, who had helped add 108 for the first wicket, then fell to the spin of Colin Ackermann for 56.Duckett went through his full repertoire of shots, hitting boundaries all around the wicket as he reached his 50 from 41 balls. The left-hander dominated a third-wicket partnership of 106 with Jake Libby, before tamely ramping the ball straight into the hands of wicketkeeper Lewis Hill. Libby had reached his first one-day 50 from 45 balls and advanced his score to 66 before holing out.The impetus was maintained with a thrilling partnership of 91 in only 7.3 overs between Mullaney and Tom Moores. Both eventually lost their wickets to Gavin Griffifths, the most successful Leicestershire bowler with 3 for 92, leaving James Pattinson to club the 14th and final six of the innings.The Outlaws total was their second highest in history, falling just short of the 445 for 8 that they made against Northants in 2016.Mark Cosgrove and Harry Dearden put on 106 for the first wicket in only 13.2 overs as the Foxes tried to lay the foundations for an unlikely victory chase. Pattinson broke their stand, pinning Cosgrove lbw for 59, shortly before Mullaney bowled Ackermann.At 152 for 2 from 21.5 overs, a shower of rain forced the players from the field and left a revised target of almost 13 runs per over. Dearden, who had become the eighth player in the match to pass 50 fell in the quest for quick runs and was immediately followed back to the pavilion by two team-mates.Sharp work by Pattinson ran out Paul Horton for 36 and Arron Lilley was bowled first ball by Patel. Hill scored a defiant 21 from only 10 balls but was one of three wickets to fall in the same Fletcher over.The outcome means that Notts have taken maximum points from their first four matches for the first time since 2013. Leicestershire’s defeat leaves them on two points from five matches and unable to qualify from the group.