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A report this week has named the three "top signings" which Tottenham intend to make for manager Ange Postecoglou, following his positive debut campaign as head coach.

Spurs aiming to strengthen multiple key areas with new additions

The Lilywhites are firmly in the race for Champions League football next season, and their battle for fourth with Aston Villa looks set to be one of the real highlights of this final phase.

Tottenham teenager awaiting debut now tipped to be "one of the world's best"

He’s got a growing reputation.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 10, 2024

Barely anything separates Postecoglou and Unai Emery as the tacticians go head-to-head for a place in Europe's most prestigious competition, even if Tottenham's head coach has played down the importance of this on multiple occasions.

"I don’t think top four is the ambition. I get that top four means Champions League football, so there is a reward there, and that’s a significant reward and something you should strive for," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's Champions League hopes.

“My position on it is not so much, particularly this year, where we finish, it’s what kind of team we are, because if we finish fourth and we’re 25 points off the top, I’m not sure that’s the kind of trajectory we want to be on.

Newcastle United (away)

April 13th

Arsenal (home)

April 28th

Chelsea (away)

May 2nd

Liverpool (away)

May 5th

Burnley (home)

May 11th

“It’s part of making sure that we’re all focussed on what the ultimate ambition is. If we finish fourth this year, what it does show is that we’re progressing and we’ve made improvements, but that’s not the end goal. That’s why, for me, it’s much more important how we play between now and the end of the year, and how we finish. Then, we assess things. If we finish fourth and I feel we’ve made some progress and we’re set up for next year, then I’ll be pleased with that.”

While Spurs' head coach is more concerned with the long-term project and how his side are performing overall, there is little denying the importance of securing a top four finish. Indeed, the added revenue stream may boost the club's finances, and allow them to invest more significantly in Postecoglou's squad.

Tottenham want to strengthen in multiple areas and will need the extra cash injection. Postecoglou has already admitted that Spurs are eyeing another centre-back, while reports suggest Johan Lange is eyeing more attackers as well.

Tottenham "intend" to sign Williams, Gimenez and Hincapie

Now, a claim from Spain has named the three players which Tottenham "intend" to bring in. It is believed Spurs want to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, Feyenoord's Santiago Gimenez and Bayer Leveruksen's Piero Hincapie ahead of what will be an interesting 2024/2025 season.

Williams has earned a glowing reputation as one of Spain's brightest prospects, while Gimenez has been prolific in the Eredivisie this season. Hincapie, who featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has also featured regularly for Xabi Alonso's title-chasing Leverkusen side.

A manager who Pep Guardiola rates highly is "interested" in replacing Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, according to one reliable journalist.

Man Utd manager latest

It was an eventful weekend for the Red Devils, who eventually booked their place in the FA Cup final after a dramatic semi-final against Championship side Coventry City.

Ten Hag’s side gave up a three-goal advantage in the final 25 minutes and VAR came to their rescue in extra-time to rule out a winner for the Sky Blues, with United eventually winning on penalties.

Fabrizio Romano shares update on “amazing” boss Ratcliffe wants at Man Utd

Would he be an ideal Erik ten Hag replacement?

ByHenry Jackson Apr 22, 2024

A second successive FA Cup final against Manchester City awaits, but the nature of the performance has put more pressure on Ten Hag. The latest reports claim that the Dutchman’s job is safe until the end of the season, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe having no intention of making a change before the summer.

However, ahead of Ratcliffe’s first full season as co-owner, there could still be a change in the dugout, and a promising update has emerged over one of his managerial targets.

Thomas Tuchel to Man Utd update

On Sunday evening, Kicker journalist Georg Holzner said Man Utd and Ratcliffe have been in contact with Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, who looks set to depart the Allianz Arena at the end of the season. Holzner said that Ratcliffe highly values Tuchel and has put the feelers out over a move to Manchester.

Now, reliable reporter Christian Falk has provided an update on Tuchel, which will come as a boost for Ratcliffe. He claimed that the German is “very interested” in taking over at Man Utd and is ready for a new challenge ahead of the 2024/25 season.

This could well be music to Ratcliffe’s ears, with the 50-year-old appearing to be a top contender to come in this summer. The fact he has previous experience in the Premier League with Chelsea is also a bonus, with Tuchel actually winning the Champions League with the Blues in 2021.

Wins

35

Draws

17

Losses

11

Points per game

1.94

They defeated Manchester City in the final, with Pep Guardiola full of praise for Tuchel in the past, calling him “creative” ahead of the 2021 final.

“He’s so creative with good build-up and connection, good runners and players who are good in the spaces," said Guardiola on Tuchel before their Champions League final clash in 2021. Both [Tuchel and Nagelsmann] are so creative with the shape they play."

Should Tuchel take over from Ten Hag in the summer, it could be a decision that doesn't sit well with YouTuber Mark Goldbridge, who recently called the German an "awful fit" for what INEOS want.

You (Shami) bowl very well in the first innings of course, but this ‘second innings Shami’ nickname that you have got, you’re the best in the world in the second innings. What’s the secret behind that?
Shami: There is no secret. We keep trying to pump each other up, and keep pushing each other, all the fast bowlers. It’s a difficult job, but we push each other, we joke with each other, that feels very nice. When we are on the ground together, we never feel like we aren’t enjoying others’ success. That’s special. There’s lots of things to say, but…What are the things you can’t say? You (Ishant) are a senior after all!
Ishant: No, they don’t treat me like a senior at all [laughter]. There’s no senior-junior here. But like Shami said, we enjoy each others’ success a lot. Yes, there’s healthy competition in the team, which should be there, because that’s when your performance improves. But at the same time, if you enjoy each others’ success, and whatever you spot of the others’ bowling you go and tell them, things become much easier as a team.You’ve played almost 100 Tests. Is this your best phase as a bowler?
Ishant: It’s difficult to say. I’ve been playing for a long time. I’m only 31, but the body sometimes feels old after bowling so much. But yes, the way I’m getting wickets, and bowling in good areas, I’m bowling in different ways, so I’m enjoying it quite a lot.And you (Umesh) are strolling up and bowling 140-145 kph…
Ishant: Come, come, it’s your turn.Umesh: It’s in the genes and handed down by my family. Whatever I’ve learned from my father in childhood, he made me run around a lot and do lots of things, which is why I’ve reached where I am today. I try to maintain it.You guys have changed the face of Indian bowling from the time when new-ball bowlers would bowl a couple of overs and then be taken off…
Umesh: Yes, earlier pacers would bowl only a few overs and then the spinners would come on with turning tracks. But the way all the bowlers are bowling together, we know what our strong point is, what our areas are and we plan that way. We try, for the first 10-15 overs or how much ever we bowl, if we can each take a wicket, then it’ll be better for our spinners. And our confidence is high since we’ll get to bowl again. If we take wickets, we’ll get more bowling, which is good for us.He (Umesh) is bowling well, but what about his batting? The boundaries seem smaller now.
Shami: His power makes the boundaries in India seem small. The team has given him the full freedom – ‘play the way you want’. When we go to bat, we don’t have any restrictions about what we have to do. If you are a batsman, you will naturally try to stay at the crease for as long as you can and score as many runs for the team as possible. That is very good, but for him, he has the freedom that he doesn’t need to stay at the crease or block, he just needs to hit. He can do whatever he wants!We generally show highlights of your bowling, but we were showing your sixes package on air just now…
Umesh: Actually it’s like what Shami said. The batting coach and captain tell me to just enjoy batting. Lower down, if we can make 25-30 runs, it’s good for the team. If four of us can contribute 100 runs, it’ll be great for the team. But in the last match in Ranchi, against South Africa, the captain told me that we need to score runs quickly. He told me to go and do whatever I could. I just tried, and for anyone, if you start middling the ball, your confidence soars. I just tried to carry that forward. I am trying to do whatever my team needs. There have been times, like in England, where I had to stay at the crease and I did that too. But it’s my time to enjoy now, so I’m enjoying.Excited about the pink-ball Test? They say it moves a lot, but how much more will you make the ball do?
Ishant: That Shami has to say, because when he played with the pink ball, he got five wickets in 11 overs. I’ve been asking him, ‘What are you doing that whenever you hit the pads, it’s out. If someone pulls, it’s caught. We’re tired of just beating the bat’ So tell us Shami, we are with just beating the bat! (laughter)Shami: Well… the best thing that is there in my mind is that from the side of the captain and coaches I’ve been given complete freedom.Ishant: That way, even we have the freedom!Shami: And the biggest thing is that I’m bowling with you guys. I don’t even need to think too much. I just need to focus on the one thing you need to do in Tests: put it in a good area. I do just that and you guys make it much easier for me, so there’s no pressure on me.Ishant: We have asked you something else, you’re giving a different answer [laughter]! We are saying that the areas you’re bowling in, we’re bowling in them too. But when you hit the pads it’s in line with the stumps, and when we hit the pads, it’s missing the stumps. Why does this happen?Shami: Well people say it’s biryani [It’s down to the wonders of eating biryani]. No, it doesn’t happen like that of course. But it’s just luck and God’s grace. One thing is that the line and length I’m focusing on is being executed. I’m getting success from that so I try to repeat that.Ishant: Well bowled Shami.Shami: Thank you.

West Ham have reportedly had a 'verbal offer' of approximately £15 million ($19m) for N'Golo Kante rejected by Al-Ittihad.

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Kante impresses for France at EurosWest Ham eye move for FrenchmanAl-Ittihad reject Hammers' first bidWHAT HAPPENED?

Earlier this week it emerged that West Ham were keen on bringing the midfielder back to the Premier League this summer. However, according to , the Hammers' verbal offer in the region of £15m was turned down by the Saudi Pro League team.

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The report adds it will take at least £25m ($32m) to even 'entertain the possibility' of selling the 33-year-old, with Al-Ittihad viewing the former Chelsea star as a key figure in their future and the player content in Saudi Arabia. West Ham still retain a strong interest in the ex-Leicester City man, though.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kante signed for the Saudi outfit last summer following the expiration of his Chelsea contract. He penned a three-year deal and has since gone onto make 46 appearances in all competitions for them. The France international is a Premier League legend but the later stages of his career in England were somewhat hampered by injury.

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Al Ittihad TwitterWHAT NEXT?

Kante, whose contract at Ittihad runs until 2026, is currently enjoying his summer holidays after France's run to the semi-finals of Euro 2024. Whether West Ham return with an improved offer for the veteran remains to be seen.

Chelsea have been one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the country this season, although that mainly stems from the unpredictability of their results and performances.

Mauricio Pochettino's side provided the entertainment once again on Sunday afternoon, squeaking past a stubborn Leicester City side in a thrilling FA Cup quarter-final that ended 4-2 in their favour.

However, while the Blues were generally the better side throughout and deserved the win, there were a couple of starters who might have played themselves out of the lineup for the next game, with one of them being Raheem Sterling.

The former Liverpool prospect has been struggling of late in West London, and yesterday's encounter was no different, although he certainly wasn't the only one.

Raheem Sterling's performance vs Leicester City

It was another tough day at the office for the Englishman on Sunday afternoon as, despite providing the assist for Cole Palmer's goal in the first half, he left the pitch to a chorus of boos from his own supporters.

The former Manchester City ace struggled throughout the match, missing a penalty that would have seen the team go two goals up within the first 30 minutes, taking maybe the worst free-kick of the season, and generally looking ineffective in attack.

It may sound harsh, but it's an opinion shared by the Standard's Nizaar Kinsella, who awarded the 29-year-old a 4/10 match rating on the day and heavily criticised him for both the penalty miss and abysmal free kick.

While those are the moments that'll stick out to most fans, the Kingston-born ace's underlying numbers from the game were also poor. In his 86 minutes of action, he completed just 13 passes, missed two big chances, was successful in just one of his four attempted dribbles, won just four of his ten duels, lost possession 14 times and misplaced his one long ball.

Raheem Sterling's game vs Leicester

Minutes

86'

Assists

1

Big Chances missed

2

Penalties missed

1

Accurate Passes

13/21 (62%)

Attempted Dribbles (Successful)

4 (1)

Duels (Won)

10 (4)

Lost Possession

14

Long Balls (Accurate)

1 (0)

All Stats via Sofascore

In all, it was a shocking performance from a player who should be stepping up and showing his younger teammates how it's done, and with how well Noni Madueke played when he replaced him – scoring from the bench – it's time Pochettino took Sterling out of the starting lineup.

That said, there was another starter for Chelsea who should be dropped for the next game, a player who very nearly cost the Blues the tie.

Axel Disasi's performance vs Leicester City

Yes, the other starter who should be taken out of the side for the clash against Burnley in just under a fortnight is French centre-back Axel Disasi.

The former AS Monaco man had an odd game, as his first-half display was rather indifferent, but his 30-yard own goal in the 51st minute turned the game on its head and allowed the Foxes back in, an opportunity they happily took, scoring the equaliser just 11 minutes later.

Unsurprisingly, this lapse in concentration – to put it kindly – is what stood out from the 26-year-old's game, with the Standard's Kinsella awarding him a 4/10 on the day and claiming that 'his game will be remembered for a moment of madness.'

However, much like Sterling, the 6 foot 3 star's overall game was also shoddy. In his 98 minutes on the pitch, he won just two of his six duels, was dribbled past twice, lost possession 11 times, was accurate in just five of his 12 attempted longballs, and committed one foul.

Axel Disasi's game vs Leicester

Minutes

98'

Own Goals

1

Error Leading to a Goal

1

Duels (Won)

6 (2)

Dribbled Past

2

Lost Possession

11

Long Balls (Accurate)

12 (5)

Fouls

1

All Stats via Sofascore

In all, even without the spectacular own goal, it was a performance to forget from Disasi, and with Thiago Silva fit enough for the bench, it might be time for Pochettino to drop him from the starting lineup against Burnley, alongside Sterling.

An unbeaten 85 from discarded England allrounder see Blast holders to nine-wicket win over Midlands rivals

David Hopps23-Aug-2019At least one England batsman was a picture of charm and grace after a desperate Ashes day. The only problem was that it was Moeen Ali, not required at Headingley, but instead refreshed by a bit of an August break and playing with grace and charm to win an engrossing West Midlands derby in the Vitality Blast.Moeen is a World Cup winner, with 186 England appearances to his name, but for all that experience he never appears more at home than in this fixture. His unbeaten 85 from 46 balls, allied to a half-century from Riki Wessels, immaculately judged a difficult run chase as Worcestershire overhauled Birmingham’s 184 for 5 with eight balls to spare.Moeen certainly enjoys facing his former county and last season hit centuries in the Royal London One-Day Cup and Vitality Blast matches at Edgbaston.Worcestershire go second in North Group and, along with Lancashire and Notts, are well placed to reach the quarter-finals by the time the group stages end next Friday: Moeen, unlikely to win an Ashes recall, can concentrate his thoughts on leading them to successive Finals Days. Birmingham, now eighth, are left to scrap with the rest and can console themselves that none of their rivals are posturing with intent.Blast crowds are on the up and around 12,000 at Edgbaston witnessed a match that was in doubt until deep into the contest. With 34 needed off four overs, Alex Thomson conceded 20 – Moeen strking successive sixes over long-on – and that was that.Worcestershire were under pressure when they required 80 off eight overs, but Moeen targeted Will Rhodes’ first over, which went for 19. A conservative over against Henry Brookes seemed too close for comfort, but when the boundaries were essential, Worcestershire found them: Moeen’s straight six off Jeetan Patel with 51 needed from 32, or Wessels’ leg-side drag against Oliver Hannon-Dalby to leave 34 off 24.Moeen stroked six sixes, five of them down the ground, while Wessels, typically, found innumerable ways to deflect and drag the ball square of the wicket. Wessels came close to falling lbw when he failed to reverse sweep Chris Green on 39, and Moeen plopped a ball or two into the open spaces, but for the most part their judgment was impeccable”I always felt we were one big over away from winning it,” Moeen said. “There was a bit of dew around and it wasn’t easy for their spinners. It’s always nice to be back playing for Worcestershire. I’ve just been going back to basics a bit.”Thoughts did not just alight on an England player currently jettisoned, but also on those who might yet be called up to reinforce a frivolous batting line-up. If Jason Roy can make a case for Test inclusion solely because of the splendour of his limited-overs form then with England in an Ashes pickle, Dominic Sibley must have had designs on a persuasive 30-odd in a T20 derby? After all, there is no Championship cricket to be had at the moment, so absurd as it sounds how is he meant to do it?Sibley, uncapped and, compared to Roy, unheralded, is a batsman designed for the long haul. He is leading the chase to 1000 runs in Division One, with 949 runs at 55.82, ahead of Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance and Hampshire’s Sam Northeast, but it’s unclear if anybody is all that interested.He began in such orthodox fashion against Worcestershire that it briefly looked as if he actually thought he on Test debut. Sadly, for collectors of cricketing oddities, he then he awoke to his task in hand and charged down the pitch to swing Pat Brown over midwicket into the Hollies Stand. Then he upped the ante, missed a sweep against Ed Barnard, wandered out his crease in vague expectation of a run and was stumped. Twelve runs off 14, as they say at Headingley, where England’s batting had been vanquished earlier in the day, was “neither nowt nor summat”.If Sibley had a unmemorable night, the Bears’ batting line-up had one of their most productive nights of an up-and-down campaign. Sam Hain, Adam Hose, Matthew Lamb and Mark Burgess all energised the innings in turn.Hain has had an extraordinarily consistent tournament with nine innings between 21 and 85, but although he comfortabley tops Birmingham’s run chart with 382 at 42.44, he is only striking at 119. The impression lingers that he is always driving himself forward, never entirely content with his scoring rate, and when he advanced to Dillon Pennington and popped him into the hands of deep midwicket, he left with another condemnatory shake of the head, one caused primarily by healthy ambition.Hose showed a bigger hitting range. His 48 from 23 included two sixes apiece off Moeen and Barnard. He hit Barnard for two sixes in an over, the second of which struck a spectator in the face at long-on. As if momentarily losing concentration, he changed tack and was caught off extra cover, trying to clear the infield.Lamb hunted out the short leg-side boundary – when he wasn’t threatening to injure the Worcestershire attack with straight drives. Pennington, sensible lad, ducked out of the way of a straight drive. Brown, stopped the next straight drive with his shin, grimaced his way through a third over, and never made the fourth. Birmingham had a score to reckon with, but they didn’t reckon with Moeen.

Worcestershire 159 for 8 (Parnell 81*) beat Derbyshire 156 for 4 (du Plooy 52) by two wicketsWayne Parnell scored his maiden Vitality Blast half-century for Worcestershire Rapids as they overcame a wobbly start and finish to their innings to edge out Derbyshire Falcons by two wickets at New Road.The South African all-rounder, who celebrated his 30th birthday yesterday, rescued the Rapids after they had slipped to 35 for 3 in reply to Derbyshire’s 156 for 4. He reached his half century off 34 balls with the aid of four sixes and one four.Ben Cox and Ross Whiteley proved crucial support but then the Rapids lost four wickets for seven runs when the finishing line was in sight before victory was secured with one over to spare.Parnell finished unbeaten on 81 from 46 balls with seven sixes and two fours to move the Rapids within one point of leaders Lancashire Lightning.Derbyshire were put into bat on the same pitch used for the Rapids’ run blitz against Durham on Sunday.Dillon Pennington took the new ball and his third legitimate delivery accounted for captain Billy Godleman (0) who shaped to cut and was caught behind.Luis Reece found the England Under-19 paceman to his liking in his second over as he collected two fours and a huge six over mid-wicket.But he perished to the last ball of the power play on 29 when deceived by a slower ball from Pat Brown which he scooped straight to mid-off.Skipper Brett D’Oliveira came into the attack and Wayne Madsen (28) fell to a fine diving catch by Parnell at cover with the South African celebrating with a series of press-ups.The legspinner struck again when Matt Critchley (9) tried to repeat his straight six from earlier in the over and was pouched at long off.The ball was sticking in the pitch and batsmen were struggling to time the ball.Veteran opening batsman Daryl Mitchell tied down the Derbyshire batsmen with a mid-innings spell of four overs for just 15 runs.But Leus du Plooy and on loan Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens gave the innings some late momentum with an unbroken stand of 70 in seven overs.Du Plooy brought up a 46-ball half-century with five fours and Stevens ended unbeaten on 26 from 18 deliveries.In reply, Fynn Hudson-Prentice claimed the scalps of Martin Guptill and Riki Wessels in the space of four balls in his first over, and that became 35 for 3 when Callum Ferguson (6) was caught off a leading edge at cover from the first delivery by Reece.Parnell added some impetus to the Rapids innings and a six over mid-wicket off Reece brought up the 50 in the eighth over.Cox gave him good support until he was caught around the corner off Mark Watt (20) but Whiteley proved to be a useful ally to Parnell in a stand of 49 in just four overs. He made 20 off 12 balls before he was bowled by Watt and then Ed Barnard (0) was run out from the following delivery.Mitchell (5) fell to Rampaul with 10 still needed and then D’Oliveira (1) was bowled by the West Indian paceman at 149 for 8.But Parnell drilled Alex Hughes for six over long off amidst great excitement and relief amongst the 3,000 crowd to settle the contest in the Rapids’ favour.

يواصل مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك إبرام صفقات لتدعيم صفوف فريق الكرة، استعدادًا للمنافسات المقبلة، من أجل الاستمرار على منصات التتويج.

وكان الزمالك قد نجح قبل أيام قليلة في اقتناص لقب كأس السوبر الإفريقي بفوز على الغريم التقليدي النادي الأهلي، بركلات الترجيح.

ناصر منسي: بكيت بسبب فيديو جماهير الزمالك.. وجوميز تنبأ بتسجيلي أمام الأهلي

وعلم بطولات أن نادي الزمالك قد تعاقد مع اللاعب الغيني جيفرسون كوستا صاحب الـ19 عامًا من أجل تدعيم صفوف الفريق.

وأتم نادي الزمالك تعاقده مع كوستا لمدة 4 سنوات مقبلة، حيث حصل الزمالك على البطاقة الدولية للاعب الغيني.

حسين لبيب: الزمالك “مارد” الكل يخاف منه.. ومواجهة ريال مدريد ستكون حدثًا تاريخيًا

وخضع كوستا للكشف الطبي بنجاح وسينضم لتدريبات فريق الزمالك مواليد 2005.

وكان الزمالك قد أبرم العديد من التعاقدات خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية، أبرزها انضمام البولندي كونراد ميشالاك ومحمود بنتايج وعمر فرج.

Kai Havertz claimed he is ready to be the first-choice number 9 at both Arsenal and Germany after an impressive debut season at Emirates Stadium.

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• Havertz ready to play as No.9 for Arsenal and Germany
• Drew comparisons with Haaland and Kane
• Scored 14 goals in debut campaign with the Gunners

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Germany international was off to a rocky start after moving to Arsenal from Chelsea last summer. However, he slowly played his way into form as the season progressed and finally ended up scoring 14 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions and providing seven assists.

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  After an impressive debut season under Mikel Arteta, Havertz is now confident to deliver for his country at the upcoming Euro 2024. The forward claimed he is ready to be the target man for Germany, although he does not see himself as a traditional No. 9. He even cited Erling Haaland and Harry Kane's examples while explaining how the role of a striker has evolved in modern football.

• WHAT KAI HAVERTZ SAID

  Speaking to (via ), the 24-year-old said, "I clearly see myself as a number 9 in the national team – and that’s what I am now at Arsenal. But I don’t mean the classic nine. Where else are they available? Even Erling Haaland or Harry Kane, who you immediately think of, don’t just stand in the box and wait for the finish. The players who are waiting there no longer exist in modern football.

  "I am someone who enjoys letting go and making deep runs. But it is also clear to me that I will be measured by goals."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR KAI HAVERTZ?

  The former Bayer Leverkusen star will be next seen in action on June 3 as Julian Nagelsmann's side take on Ukraine in an international friendly.

Southampton are one of a number of clubs who are interested in signing a highly-rated young player, according to a fresh transfer update regarding Saints' January business.

Southampton transfer news

Russell Martin's side are really putting the pressure on Ipswich Town in the Championship promotion race, now sitting just three points behind them in third place in the table. New signings would be a big shot in the arm for Southampton this month, and there have been a lot of players who have been linked with moves to St Mary's.

Liverpool attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho had emerged as a reported target for Saints, though he is set to join Hull, while Aston Villa starlet Lamare Bogarde is also believed to be a loan option. Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland is also a man in demand at the moment, outscoring anyone in the Scottish Premiership so far this season, and he is another player who has been linked with Southampton, in what threatens to be a busy month.

Now, another rumour has emerged regarding Saints' transfer business, with a highly-rated player believed to be on the south coast club's radar.

Southampton want Ussumane Djalo

According to a new transfer update from The Daily Mail, Southampton are keen on signing Porto midfielder Ussumane Djalo, having sent scouts to watch him in action. They aren't the only club interested, though, with an £8m move in the offing, due to a relatively low release clause that exists in his current contract.

"A number of English sides are monitoring Porto's teenage midfielder Ussumane Djalo. The 19-year-old has impressed in the UEFA Youth League and drawn attention from watching scouts. Manchester United, Brighton, Everton and Southampton have all had representatives spotted at Porto youth games in the last few months.

"The Portuguese have inserted a release clause around £8m for the skilful youngster who is considered a strong all-rounder. However, Confidential understands he could be prised away this month for considerably less."

Djalo is still a player who is learning his craft, not yet making an appearance for Porto's first team, but he has shone at youth team level for Portugal, as his statistics below outline.

Portugal Under-19s

6

0

Portugal Under-18s

11

0

Portugal Under-17s

13

1

Portugal Under-16s

4

1

Portugal Under-15s

3

1

The teenager is someone who is capable of playing in central midfield or more of an attacking midfield role, and he is a player who could add an extra sprinkling of creative magic in the middle of the park for Southampton, potentially helping change games from the substitutes' bench at times.

Southampton working to sign "unbelievable" new player for Russell Martin

Fabrizio Romano says Saints are “pushing to sign” him.

ByHenry Jackson Jan 7, 2024

Granted, Djalo's lack of football at senior level could make his signing a risky one, but it is encouraging to see Southampton considering taking a gamble on an upcoming star.