Manchester City are ready to offload as many as SIX senior players in a clearout this summer.
The Athletic says defender John Stones and veteran midfielder Ilkay Gundogan headline the list of those up for sale.
Mateo Kovacic is also being touted to clubs across Europe.
Meanwhile, prospects Nico O’Reilly, Claudio Echeverri and Oscar Bobb can also leave for the right price.
The latter three could leave for loan, however, rather than be sold in the coming weeks.
The Premier League is back for another weekend of action as the title race draws to a close and relegation sides fight to stay up, here are three players to keep an eye on.
Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk has joined forward Mohamed Salah, who signed a two-year extension last week, in committing his future to the club. The 33-year-old has made 314 appearances for the Reds and will make one more this weekend against relegation candidates Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
A loss for the Foxes would see them relegated after just 2 wins since the start of the year and collecting just 18 points from 32 games this season. The Dutchman will be at the heart of the Liverpool defense, defending not only a clean sheet but the club’s chances of sealing the title early as long as Arsenal slip up against Ipswich Town. A win is imperative and Van Dijk alongside Salah should be two stars to watch closely this weekend.
Alexander Isak
The 25-year-old has scored 59 goals in 103 games for the Magpies this season and in the final stretch of the campaign, he is a no-brainer when selecting three players to highlight this weekend. Isak is objectively one of the best strikers in the world at the moment as he continues to attract attention from Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and several other top sides ahead of the summer transfer window.
However, Newcastle remain determined to keep hold of their star striker and as they push towards Champions League qualification, he may want to stay and work under manager Eddie Howe. Saturday afternoon sees Howe’s side face Aston Villa, another side chasing European qualification but after six wins in a row Newcastle are favourites by some distance. Isak is in the form of his life and he should help find the back of the net again this week.
Mikel Merino
After Arsenal had lost Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz to injuries many wrote the manager Mikel Arteta’s side off and claimed both their European run and title race were over. He admitted earlier this season that he had never played as a striker before but the former Real Sociedad ace looks right at home and has been exceptional since operating as a makeshift striker for the North London side.
The Spaniard has registered six goals and three assists for the London giants in all competitions including two assists against Real Madrid in midweek. The Gunners face Ipswich on Sunday in another crucial game in their title race which still isn’t over. Arsenal will be hoping he can continue his sparkling form and contribute more to Arteta’s side who look deadlier than ever despite the lack of a true striker.
Five first-team players are all pushing to return to full training for Tottenham this week as they prepare to face Manchester United.
After Spurs were eliminated by Aston Villa in the FA Cup, manager Ange Postecoglou opened up on how he hoped to have a number of players back available in a game that could decide his future at the club.
He said he hopes for a “reset” and that “three, maybe four, players back this week, with the possibility of one or two others in the week or two after that”. Spurs have fallen to 14th on the table and have crashed out of both domestic cups in the space of four days as the manager relies on the vast injuries as an excuse.
However, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner are all set to return to the side which will give Postecoglou a major boost in the coming weeks after many have called for him to step down from his position. Striker Dominic Solanke is behind the five stars with Postecoglou forecasting he would be out for around six weeks with the knee injury.
The likes of Richarlison, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are all ruled out, however, but after Postecoglou allowed his players Monday, Tuesday and Thursday off those who have returned may get the chance to get back up to speed before Sunday’s game. The Tottenham head coach explained how injuries have disrupted his season and have had a major effect on their inconsistent form.
“Two and a half months of asking 18-year-olds and 17-year-olds and senior players, with no rest, to play Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday, Thursday, Sunday,” he said. “If you think that is not at all a factor of how this team is performing then there’s nothing else I can say. There’s nothing else I can explain.”
The FA Cup returns as teams from across the football pyramid compete for the oldest cup competition in the world, here are three of the top players to watch this weekend.
HARVEY ELLIOTT
Liverpool are in incredible form at the moment under manager Arne Slot who has led his side to not only the top of the Premier League but also top of the Champions League. The Reds are currently still in every competition and are on course to lift at least one piece of silverware at the end of the season if fate goes their way.
Slot’s men will be preparing for Championship side Plymouth Argyle this weekend who currently sit bottom of the league under manager Miron Muslic who was appointed only last month after the departure of Wayne Rooney. The Dutchman will likely play a mix of youth players and senior stars who can finish the game off in the first half if possible.
Elliott is one of those players is a player who many think should be starting for both Liverpool and the England side who could use his creativity. Last season Harvey really made the engine tick going forward and in recent games, he has shown his worth with two goals against PSV Eindhoven and Lille whilst bagging an assist against Brentford.
The 21-year-old has bags of potential and former boss Jurgen Klopp conceded that he did not use him enough under his reign. Elliott should certainly get his chance against a Plymouth side who are struggling and many will hope Slot sees his ability once more.
ALEXANDER ISAK
Newcastle United striker Isak is perhaps the best striker in the world at the moment and many were surprised he did not make a move elsewhere this winter. The Magpies are set to face Championship side Birmingham City this weekend and after the Swedish international was brought off before the 90-minute mark manager Eddie Howe will be hoping he is ready again this weekend.
The 25-year-old has 19 goals and 5 assists in just 27 appearances this season alone which makes him one of the hottest strikers in world football.
Transfer speculation linked him to the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona in recent weeks who could not lure away the striker who seems dedicated to Howe’s side. If there is a striker to keep an eye on in the fourth round of the FA Cup it is Isak who cannot stop scoring at the moment.
MORGAN ROGERS
Rogers is perhaps the most talked about English talent at the moment as he continues to perform for Aston Villa under manager Unai Emery. Having just scored his first hat-trick in Europe, as well as making his senior England debut the 22-year-old is heading to the very top of the game much like his international teammate Jude Bellingham.
Villa face a Tottenham side this weekend who are currently in an injury crisis and have leaked 37 goals in 24 Premier League games this season. Rogers scored the only goal the last time these two sides faced each other but that was back in November when manager Ange Postecoglou had a team that was capable of playing on all fronts.
Now, Spurs come off the back of facing Liverpool and will be setting their sights on Manchester United next Sunday in a game between two teams who are nearing the relegation zone at the moment. If any player can punish a weekend Tottenham side it is Rogers and this weekend should see him find the back of the net once again.
Tribalfootball
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire admits he’s enjoying playing for manager Ruben Amorim.
Maguire has seen his form revived under the Portuguese.
He said, “I’ve been really impressed ever since he came in through the door.
“He really demands a lot. Tactically, he is really good and he really knows what he wants to free his team and players.
“We are still in the process at the moment, and in some matches we have not been good enough.
“But we players must take responsibility for that. We all need to perform better.”
United meet FCSB in the Europa League tomorrow night.
Nasarawa United Football Club has unveiled eight new players ahead of the second part of the ongoing 2024/2025 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
The eight new players were unveiled at the Lafia Township Stadium on Wednesday.
In his remarks at the unveiling, Solomon Babanjah, the Chairman of the club expressed delight in the acquisition of the players and confidence that the new signings would help the club achieve its goals in the second part of the 2024/2025 NPFL season campaign.
“Our situation in the league is somehow precarious, but with the acquisition of these top-class players, we are in the right position to turn things around and return the team to where we rightly belong to, which is the summit of the league.
“We plead for the support and prayers of all key stakeholders involved to enable us get out of this terrain.
“We thank Gov. Abdullahi Sule and our ever-present supporters and fans, both home and scattered all over, for always standing by us. God willing, we will make everyone happy this second and final half of the season,” he said.
Also, Kabiru Dogo, Head Coach of the club, in an interview with newsmen apologised to the state government, football stakeholders and fans of the club over its recent poor performance in the NPFL.
Dogo noted that the arrival of the new players would be a turning point for the club.
“We are so excited to see the impact these new signings will have on our squad this second segment of the league.
“We are very confident that they will help us to compete at the highest level and bring success to the Club,” he said.
He thanked the Nasarawa state government and supporters of the club for their support and patience despite the poor run of results from the team in the current season.
The Coach assured that some of the new players were players he had worked with and whose work rates he could vouch for, hence their acquisition.
He said that more new players were being expected to join the club for the second segment of the league season.
NAN reports that Mr Eche Amos, Media Officer of the club, in statement listed the eight new players unveiled to include: Benson Abbey and Abubakar Aliyu, who joined from Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, Peace Dewan formerly of Sunshine Stars of Akure.
Others are Solomon Chigozie from Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin, Peter Eneji, from Busaiteen Football Club of Bahrain, and Ugochukwu Leonard from Heartland Football Club of Owerri.
“We also have Benjamin Jack, from Golden Boot Football Club of Benin Republic and Onyema Emmanuel, who arrived from Ikorodu City Football Club of Lagos,” he said.
He stated that the new signings would bring their wealth of experience, skills and determination to the squad, and would be available for selection for the team’s first match of the second part of the season against Katsina United on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the Lafia Township Stadium by 4:00 p.m.
The international break brought a raft of excellent performances from some of the best players from around the world, here were 5 of the best.
ERLING HAALAND
Haaland is possibly the world’s most ferocious striker but as of late many have questioned his form for a struggling Manchester City side who have lost all four of their last four games. The international break gave the 24-year-old a new lease of life, however, as he bounced back to his old self.
The Norwegian is now the Nations League’s top scorer with seven goals in his six group games after scoring a sensational hat-trick against Kazakhstan plus a great strike and assist against Slovenia to help his nation earn promotion to the top flight of the tournament.
TAYLOR HARWOOD-BELLIS
Harwood-Bellis marked his debut by scoring just minutes after coming off the bench for England this week as he leaped and fired an emphatic header past Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher. This goal helped seal the Three Lions’ 5-0 victory and promotion to the top group of the Nations League.
What is even more impressive is that despite it being his debut, the Southampton defender also had an influence in the freekick which setup Jarrod Bowen’s first England goal as he dictated where the set piece should be played – something sure to impress future coach Thomas Tuchel.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner continued his impressive international form for Portugal as they thrashed Poland 5-1. Two goals and 1 assist seal what has been a very impressive year for the winger, who many have suggested should not be a part of the national side.
His second goal, scored with an impressive scissor kick, has been recognized as the best goal of Matchday 5 in the UEFA Nations League and only encapsulates what a true athlete he is at 39 years old as he continues to impress both for Al-Nassr and Portugal.
CHRIS WOOD
Ahead of the Arsenal clash this weekend, Chris Wood has been on fire during the international break, scoring 5 goals in just 2 New Zealand games. Wood scored two in a World Cup qualifier against Vanuatu and and a hat-trick in another qualifier against Samoa to round off a fantastic week for him.
The 32-year-old has made an incredible start to the season for Nottingham Forest, scoring eight goals in 11 games this season and will certainly be on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s radar after another week of relentless goalscoring.
BRAHIM DIAZ
The Real Madrid attacker helped Morocco continue their form in the Africa Cup of Nations Qualification group in which they now sit top by some margin. Two games against Gabon and Lesotho saw Diaz bag 5 goals without playing a full 90 minutes in either game.
A hat-trick against Lesotho saw him play just 62 minutes before being removed, only for him to return against Gabon and score another two and again being taken off. The La Liga star has not managed to earn an assist or a goal in previous international breaks since March. This proves how vital he is to his country’s set up as he continues to impress despite earning limited time on the pitch with Madrid.
Premier League title challengers Arsenal may be strengthened after the international break.
The Gunners had a lot of injuries in key positions in the early part of this season.
As a result, they are adrift of Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race and playing catch up.
Per football.london, Arsenal will be boosted by as many as five players returning to action.
Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Riccardo Calafiori may all be fit.
Arsenal will be without Ben White for some time, as he had surgery on a small knee injury.
Tribalfootball
Retired former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has named the four teammates who helped him most at the club.
On his podcast, Kroos discussed those teammates who helped him settle when first joining Real.
He recalled: “I won’t be fair because I will leave someone out, but if I have to name three, I will say Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Modric.
“Casemiro also helped me a lot.”
Kroos officially hung up the boots last week after Germany’s Euros campaign came to an end.
For the next one month or thereabout football fans around the world will be treated to the best of dribbles, skills and goals as Euro 2024 kick start today in Germany.
Some of the best players from around the European continent already converged in Germany for what promises to be a superb summer of football.
While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in mid-July will go down as failure.
Football world will be treated to the best of drama, joy, heartbreaks and many more the Euro 2024 has got to offer.
Key Stars to watch out for
Kyllian Mbappe
All eyes will be on Kyllian Mbappe because he’s a candidate for Ballon D’or. His recent move to La Liga and UEFA Champions winner Real Madrid has fuelled speculations that he’s on his way to more greatness in football circle for both club and country.
Phil Foden
Foden of England, Fresh from emerging as the Premier League Player of the year, Foden is expected to dazzle for England in Euro 2024.
Already, the three Lions have been tipped as the tournament’s favourite due to the quality in their ranks.
Jude Bellingham
This is another football star expected to shine like a million stars at the tournament, having put up a heroic performance for Club, Real Madrid last season.
Jude is already being compared to mentor, Zidane and the number 5 jersey given to him at Los Blancos is already doing the magic.
England, Italy, Portugal and France tipped as Favourite.
After proper scrutiny of the footballing nations going to be involved and the quality of players in their rank these four countries have been tipped to go far at the tournament.
It would be recalled that Italy and England played at the last final where the Azurris emerged champions after a penalty shoot- out, both countries have again made the favourite list for this edition of the European tournament.