Tag Futebol

Barcelona are looking to sign a new midfielder this summer and they have landed on three options as they also look to balance their books further.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Barcelona looking to sign new pivotRodriguez, Kimmich and Onana on shortlistRodriguez likeliest to join Catalan clubGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The cash-strapped Catalan team are looking to fortify their midfield for next season. Having lost Sergio Busquets last season, the club looked towards the signing of Oriol Romeu from Girona to act as a stop-gap in the pivot position. However, the experiment failed heavily and the 32-year-old midfielder has only started for the Blaugrana 17 times in the league. As such, they have landed on three names on their list for the pivot position.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

As per Mundo Deportivo, the three names on the list are Real Betis' Guido Rodriguez, Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich and Everton's Amadou Onana, who will be available at wildly different price points.

Betis' Rodriguez is the most likely signing for the Blaugrana due to their economic troubles and their non-compliance with La Liga's salary fair play rules. The midfielder would be available as a free agent and would be on fairly low wages.

Bayern Munich veteran Kimmich sits as the second option due to his vast experience in the pivot position with the Bavarians. The German has always been linked with a move to Catalonia thanks to his development under former Barca coach Pep Guardiola. With his contract set to expire in 2025, Bayern could be forced to sell the 29-year-old this summer for a reported price of close to €35 million (£29.9m/$37.5m) so as to not lose him for free next year.

Onana remains the third option and would be the costliest of the three. His move would require a major sale before coming to fruition. The 22-year-old has received a lot of interest from all across Europe and would cost the Catalans close to or over €100 million (£85.5m/$107.2m).

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Currently, Rodriguez remains the likeliest option to sign with the Blaugrana, and it has also been reported that the club will not stop looking for a pivot after the signing of the Argentine this summer. It has been reported that they look at Rodriguez as backup rather than the complete answer to their search for Busquets' successor.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

For now, the club will focus on the end of the current season as they look to secure their second place in the league ahead of Girona. They will take on Valencia later today as they look to reclaim second place.

Mashrafe Mortaza backs his batsmen in response, saying losing wickets at the wrong time has cost his side rather than shortcomings against pace

Mohammad Isam13-Dec-2018West Indies captain Rovman Powell’s claim that Bangladesh’s batsmen “do not like” fast bowling drew a fairly strong reaction from his opposite number Mashrafe Mortaza. The two sides are tied one-all heading into the decider in Sylhet where pace, like in Dhaka, isn’t supposed to play a major part because of the slow and low nature of the pitch.”It is a fact. Bangladesh don’t like fast bowling. We are definitely looking to exploit it and hopefully tomorrow we can do that,” Powell said, when asked which area in the Bangladesh side he wanted to exploit.An hour later, Mashrafe was asked if he also thought facing fast bowling was a problem for his side. But he disagreed, saying that it was losing wickets at the wrong time that hurt them in the second ODI, not pace.”We have lost a wicket at the top but, largely, we have tackled their fast bowling in the first two matches,” Mashrafe said. “Tamim, Mushfiqur, [Mahmudullah] Riyad and Shakib played them comfortably. If Tamim and Shakib didn’t get out in those stages, things would have been a lot different. I don’t think their pace bowlers have made much of an impact.”There used to be a time when it was a problem, but not anymore. Extreme pace troubles any batsman but it is manageable when it is around 140-143 kmph.”He said that Oshane Thomas, West Indies’ fastest bowler, has been handled well, with Shakib taking him on towards the end of the innings in the second game. “[Thomas] conceded at nearly six an over on both days,” Mashrafe said. “If that makes him their best bowler, then we have handled him comfortably.”I think the key has been losing wickets at important moments. We couldn’t execute our plans, which is why we made just 64 runs in the last 10 overs. Not because of pace. Shakib took 16 runs off an over from the guy who bowls 147 kmph.”Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim fell to aggressive shots off Thomas, caught behind and caught at third man, after Imrul Kayes had also been caught behind in the fourth over. Imrul also fell to Thomas in the first ODI, bowled through bat and pad.Kemar Roach has taken one wicket in the two matches so far but his change of pace, during the slog overs of the second ODI, troubled the Bangladesh lower order.In five ODIs against West Indies’ fast bowlers this year, Bangladesh’s batsmen have a batting average of 47.33, a strike rate of 104.41 and at a run rate of 6.26. Bangladesh’s batting average against pace in 2018 of 28.66 is a tad below their 10-year average of 29.16 but their run rate (5.39) and strike rate (89.88) are at par.

Manchester City are closely monitoring the situation of a new central player, but a fresh report has revealed that there are four other clubs who are also looking to bring him to the Premier League.

Man City's season so far

The Sky Blues have made an impressive start to the new campaign having won eight and lost just two of their opening ten games, meaning that they currently find themselves third in the table and are level on points with Arsenal on 24.

Having secured all three points in some fashion during last weekend’s derby, Pep Guardiola’s side will be confident that their squad are able to achieve big things this term, but that hasn’t stopped chiefs from considering who they could bolster their ranks with next year.

Bayer Leverkusen’s attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz is one of the players to have emerged as a target having impressed during his 116 senior appearances since graduating from their academy (Transfermarkt – Wirtz statistics), but the 20-year-old is also attracting significant interest from several other potential suitors.

Man City chiefs impressed by Florian Wirtz

According to TEAMtalk, Man City are keen on Florian Wirtz, but they aren't alone.

“TEAMtalk understands Chelsea and Manchester City are among five Premier League clubs keeping an eye on sensational midfield talent Florian Wirtz, while two other European giants also admire him.

"Manchester City are also among his key admirers in English football and the recruitment staff of the Treble winners have been hugely impressed with his progression in senior football.”

Florian Wirtz's style of play

Being an attacking midfielder, Wirtz is naturally much stronger in the offensive aspect of his game where he’s made an excellent beginning to the new season, posting 13 contributions (eight assists and five goals) in the same number of matches across all competitions.

The Germany international, who is sponsored by Adidas, also currently ranks in the 97th percentile for most successful take-ons which shows that he loves to use his athletic pace to dribble past his marker and create chances for himself and his fellow teammates in the final third (FBRef – Wirtz statistics).

Xabi Alonso’s “elite talent”, as hailed by football scout Jacek Kulig, is even a versatile operator having been deployed in six various positions over the grass since the start of his career, including two roles in the centre and everywhere across the frontline, so his ability to provide cover is another attractive attribute.

Furthermore, Wirtz only pockets £41k-per-week (Bayer Leverkusen salaries), meaning that he is a more than affordable option for chiefs because he would be their fourth-lowest earner on the books (Man City salaries), making this a no-brainer of a deal to pursue should the ideal opportunity present itself.

The proposed takeover of Everton continues to be a big talking point at the moment, and now a new update has emerged regarding 777 Partners and the current situation.

Everton's takeover talk

The Blues picked up a hugely impressive and much-needed Premier League victory on Sunday afternoon, battling their way to a 1-0 triumph away to a good West Ham, thanks to Dominic Calvert-Lewin's goal. It was one of Everton's best results of the season so far, and it steadied the ship greatly after some poor matches recently, as Sean Dyche continues to improve in the Goodison Park hot seat.

Away from the pitch, there has been a period of grieving, following the sad passing of legendary chairman Bill Kenwright at the age of 78 earlier this month, while the constant talk surrounding the takeover of the club has also carried on. Many Everton supporters are desperate for a deal to be struck as soon as possible, bringing an end to the Farhad Moshiri era on Merseyside, but it is clearly not going to be easy for 777 Partners to come in.

Everton takeover latest

Speaking on the Sport Unlocked podcast [via Goodison News], reporter Tariq Panja provided an update on Everton's takeover and explained how 777 Partners' payments could be made if the Blues suffer relegation from the Premier League to the Championship:

"From what I hear from the 777 deal, that will still go ahead with a bunch of contingencies in that contract based on Everton being relegated.

"If this deal goes through, these guys will still pay a similar amount, but slightly less if Everton do not come back up within two years, over a staggered payment scheme."

The idea of Everton being relegated from the Premier League for the first time in their history doesn't bear thinking about for supporters, especially with the exciting move to Bramley Moore Dock happening at the end of the season, as the Blues plan to move into a wonderful new stadium.

On the plus side, it is at least good to know that some planning is being done should the worst-case scenario happen next May, ensuring that Everton are hit as little as possible in a financial sense, should 777 Partners' takeover be completed in the coming months.

Sunday's aforementioned triumph at West Ham was a timely reminder of what this Blues side are capable of, however – they have also won away impressively at Brentford this season – and they should be looking for more of a mid-table finish in the league than worrying about going down, assuming Everton's potential 12-point deduction doesn't happen.

In Dyche, they appear to have a good manager who has made Everton difficult to break down, with even Liverpool struggling to break the deadlock in the Merseyside derby at Anfield prior to a penalty decision, and it would be a big surprise if they fared worse than they have in the past two seasons, just avoiding relegation each time.

A completed takeover would only make things easier for Dyche and his players, bringing more of a settled feeling to the club and also potentially generating more funds for transfer further down the line, but 777 Partners are putting contingency plans in place.

ScorecardWhen Timm van der Gugten joined Kieran Bull, with Glamorgan 150 for 8 and 32 overs still to play, Gloucestershire were contemplating a win within three days, a 45-minute drive up the M4, and a well-earned day off after outplaying Glamorgan for most of the game.The Glamorgan tailenders, however, had other ideas as they resisted Gloucestershire’s bowlers for the next 28 overs, with Bull showing commendable application in occupying the crease for 135 balls over nearly three hours. They shared a partnership of 73 for the ninth wicket before Bull was out for 30, but van der Gugten saw out the day unbeaten on a career-best 58.Although the visitors should win easily enough on Thursday morning – the new ball is due in five overs – Glamorgan have avoided a fourth defeat by an innings, with a slender lead of 18 runs.Gloucestershire had resumed their first innings on 284 for 6. Jack Taylor scored the two runs he needed to reach his seventh first-class century, before his seventh-wicket partnership of 155 with Ben Charlesworth was ended when the 17-year-old was caught at slip off van der Gugten for a composed 72.Taylor then became van der Gugten’s fourth victim when he was caught behind the wicket for 112, an innings that lasted 214 balls, with 14 fours and a six, while the bowler completed a splendid morning’s spell of 10-6-12-2.After Craig Miles and David Payne had further punished a tired Glamorgan attack, who were handicapped by a side injury to Ruaidhri Smith, the visitors were all out for 354, with Glamorgan facing four overs before lunch.They swiftly descended to 6 for 3, as Miles, who is leaving Gloucestershire for Warwickshire at the end of the season, demolished the top order. He took three wickets in ten balls without conceding a run to leave Glamorgan reeling, having started their second innings 217 runs adrift.Connor Brown was out first ball, then three balls later Miles trapped Tom Cullen leg before, and in his second over, he dismissed Kiran Carlson who collected a pair. Miles then dismissed Stephen Cook shortly after lunch, with Glamorgan on 34 for 4 and heading for yet another defeat within three days.David Lloyd counterattacked with a brisk 54 from 59 balls with nine fours, but there was little resistance as Cooke and Wagg both departed cheaply. Smith emulated Lloyd with his attacking approach, and with Bull an able partner, the eighth-wicket pair put on 49, before Smith, who had struck seven fours in an enterprising innings was caught behind to give Matt Taylor a fourth wicket.

Chelsea have had various iconic strikers and attackers over the years, reliable forwards who would dazzle packed-out crowds in west London with huge goals and skilful bits of play to match – the likes of Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Didier Drogba, Gianfranco Zola and Diego Costa coming to mind from yesteryear.

Unfortunately, for every legendary player to wear Chelsea blue, there are also the forgotten ones who won't look back on their time at Stamford Bridge with much fondness.

In this case, a hyped-up striker from the Bundesliga failed to ever go when switching Germany for the Premier League, in the form of misfiring marksman, Timo Werner.

When did Chelsea sign Timo Werner?

Chelsea would sign the German attacker for £45m, a sizeable fee that was justified for a striker who had been in red-hot form for RB Leipzig before joining the Blues.

He would score a remarkable 28 goals in 34 starts for Leipzig during the 2019-20 campaign, netting three hat-tricks along the way too.

One match that same season even saw Werner score three goals and register three assists, as the Bundesliga side swept aside Mainz 8-0.

Liverpool were another interested party in the mobile forward before Werner signed on the dotted line for Chelsea, a move that the 5'11 striker would live to regret.

How many goals would Timo Werner score for Chelsea?

The Stuttgart native would never replicate the lethal edge that saw him hype up for a major move away from Germany with the Premier League outfit, only scoring 23 goals in all competitions for the Blues over two seasons.

His undoing was the amount of chances he'd spurn on a regular basis whilst in west London, the 27-year-old only scored ten top-flight goals when his xG numbers suggested he should've netted far more – his expected goals coming in at 18.57, as per Sky Sports.

That being said, former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas even took to X when Werner was still with the Blues to defend the out-of-form striker, stating that the attacker "makes so many good runs" even if the goals weren't flowing at the time.

The £45m flop has since rebuilt his career after his less-than-satisfactory spell in the English capital, finding his feet again in his native Germany.

Where is Timo Werner now?

RB Leipzig managed to re-sign their former star man for a cut price fee, Werner moving back to the Red Bulls for £25m.

He would manage nine goals in his first campaign back at the Red Bull Arena, scoring on his second debut for the club against FC Cologne to ease any nerves surrounding his ineffectiveness in front of goal in England seeping into his performances in the Bundesliga.

Injuries have impacted Werner staying in the side, but he looks a much more confident attacker back in Leipzig colours than he ever did wearing Chelsea blue.

The 5 foot 11 speedster notably netted 16 times in all competitions last term in his first season since leaving Stamford Bridge, with the Blues top scorer, by contrast, having been fellow German Kai Havertz with just nine goals – thus ensuring he has outscored every Chelsea player since his departure.

He could well have given Nicolas Jackson some competition in the striker areas if he had stuck it out in west London, the young Senegalese forward only scoring two times this season after a major move from Villarreal.

While still only 22, Jackson has hardly been prolific in his career to date after netting just 13 goals during his time in Spain, while Werner, by contrast, hit 112 goals in just 207 games for Leipzig.

Chelsea fans will hope that they haven't signed another dud in attack like Werner, who struggled throughout his time in the English capital to live up to the billing of being a clinical source of goals but has since bounced back after returning to his homeland.

Arsenal may have spent big throughout a transformative summer window, but it seems Mikel Arteta is far from content as he seeks to cement his stranglehold over the Premier League…

Who could Arsenal sign this January?

Having already welcomed Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz recently on big-money deals, it should come as no surprise that funds are likely low at the Emirates.

However, that does not mean they cannot afford to dip into the market should a bargain present itself, which is exactly the suggestion made by TEAMtalk.

The report notes the Gunners' interest in promising teenage sensation Arthur Vermeeren, who Royal Antwerp have made available for just £15m, but will face competition from other European powerhouses such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona.

It is also stated that such a signing might force the former West Ham United captain into a new role, helping to further unlock the potential of the club's record signing.

Who is Arthur Vermeeren?

Having burst onto the scene at the start of the 2022/23 season, as a fresh-faced 17-year-old handed an opportunity, he quickly made himself indispensable for his boyhood club, starring in defensive midfield.

As a classic number six, boasting immense maturity for someone so young, it is actually his start to the new term that has certainly caught the eye, with the 18-year-old having posted an outstanding 7.45 average match rating, buoyed by his 88% pass accuracy combined with 1.6 key passes, 1.5 interceptions, 1.8 tackles and a whopping 8.3 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.

Despite his clear defensive prowess, other sections of the media have sought to laud the all-around assets of Vermeeren, with Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig noting: "18 years of age. G/A wasn't his strength and now he starts adding it to his repertoire. One of the most complete young midfielders in Europe."

Then, former Arsenal favourite and current Barcelona sporting director Marc Overmars would laud the teenager with further praise, suggesting: "I have no doubt that he has a fantastic level. The first time I saw him he reminded me of Xavi and Iniesta, a footballer of the same profile".

With a silky skillset and a clear ability to create whilst dictating games, it seems the latter is perhaps a more appropriate comparison.

Should the defensive-minded youngster be brought in and handed an instant start by Arteta, who does boast an acute focus on developing youth, then it might allow Rice to push further forward and start adding more goals and assisting to a game already so well-rounded.

After all, last season for the Hammers he would record six goal contributions whilst managing one key pass per game in the league, earning praise for his offensive qualities despite largely featuring as a holding midfielder. After all, even Sky Sports's Sam Blitz would claim back in June: 'The midfielder is West Ham's most reliable attacking player, yet has some of the best defensive numbers in the Premier League.'

The technical quality is there for Rice to begin his offensive journey, and it could just take the acquisition of Vermeeren to instigate it. His solid presence just behind the Englishman might provide the perfect backbone to turn Arteta's side into one capable of winning it all.

It is fair to say that it has proven a tricky return to the Premier League as far as Burnley are concerned, with one particular worry having been the shortage of goals for Vincent Kompany's side, after scoring just four times in four league games thus far.

Oh, how the Clarets wish they had a prolific presence to lead the line this season, with summer signing Zeki Amdouni – who arrived from Swiss side Basel – representing something of a gamble due to his lack of prior experience in English football.

In another world, the Turf Moor outfit may have been lining up with an almost guaranteed supply of goals through the middle, however, with the club having agonisingly missed out on the chance to sign England skipper, Harry Kane in the not-too-distant past…

Why didn't Burnley sign Harry Kane?

While it may appear fanciful to imagine, there was a time in which the former Tottenham Hotspur man could have ended up in Lancashire, having struggled to force his way into the first-team reckoning in north London.

Following a string of mixed loan spells in the lower leagues – notably scoring just twice in 15 games for Leicester City in 2013 – there were likely to have been doubts over Kane's suitability to life at the elite level, with then-boss Tim Sherwood even suggesting that chairman Daniel Levy was willing to sanction the sale of the academy graduate to the Foxes for just £600k.

It was then a year later that the Turf Moor hierarchy were also believed to be sniffing around for the promising striker, with Sean Dyche – who was in the dugout at the time – revealing that he had enquired about signing the youngster in 2014.

Despite that interest from the current Everton boss, the Clarets were said to have been quoted a figure of around £7m to be able to prise the Walthamstow native from N17, with that a rather hefty asking price for a player that was relatively "unproven" – in the words of Dyche.

With Burnley looking to splash out closer to just £3m – the fee that was subsequently spent on George Boyd – the deal ultimately never came to fruition, leaving the Lancashire side to ponder what might have been had the 6 foot 2 sensation ended up on their books.

How much is Kane worth now?

That failure to sign the emerging goal machine immediately stung as Dyche's side were relegated from the top flight at the end of the 2014/15 campaign, the same season in which Kane truly announced himself to the wider world with a stellar haul of 21 league goals for Spurs.

Despite a belief at the time from some that he would simply be a 'one-season wonder', the ruthless marksman has made those doubters look rather silly such has been his success since then, as he is now the leading scorer for both his country and for Spurs as a marker of his individual brilliance.

While also now just 47 goals behind Alan Shearer's Premier League record tally, the 30-year-old opted to depart England in order to join Bayern Munich this summer, with the £412k-per-week gem still seeking a first piece of major silverware to add to his numerous individual honours.

As an indication of just how far he has come since those links to the Clarets almost a decade ago, Kane was snapped up by the Bundesliga giants for a reported fee of around £100m, with that figure likely to have been higher had the forward's contract not been nearing its expiry at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With five goals in just six games already under his belt in Germany, the 86-cap international is already making an immediate impact in his new surroundings as further proof of just what a "world-class" talent he is – as per pundit Graeme Souness.

In truth, that transfer failure represents a painful case of 'one that got away' for the Clarets…

Leeds United may have strengthened well in the summer, but there remain holes left by the damaging departures they were forced to oversee throughout a tumultuous summer.

The exit of Rodrigo saw them lose out on their key goalscorer, whilst Tyler Adams' move to AFC Bournemouth marked the second consecutive summer that they had lost their midfield orchestrator, after Kalvin Phillips' departure in 2021. Even Max Wober, who only joined in January, quickly grew into their most reliable defensive asset at the back, remaining solid when others could not.

So, with all three of them having now left Elland Road, it was no mean feat for Daniel Farke to find their replacements.

Joel Piroe is expected to offer an alternative to the former, whilst Glen Kamara hopes to be a like-for-like replacement for the USA international. However, when it came to the former RB Salzburg titan, Joe Rodon's signing arguably marked the most perfect one to fill such a vacancy, with power, poise and pure control at centre-back.

However, the only issue that remains is that the Wales international is not a permanent fix, having only joined on a loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur. No matter how bright his start, or how imperious he remains throughout the Championship campaign, the 25-year-old will likely be recalled next summer for Ange Postecoglou to reassess his future.

This will make it all the more painful when they lose a man who is already maintaining a 7.13 average rating in the second tier, buoyed by his 92% pass accuracy, 100% dribble success rate, 1.3 interceptions and 3.8 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

The Whites have merely plugged a hole in signing the defender, with a long-term replacement for Wober still needed. Fortunately, they boast an academy full of talent just waiting to be unleashed.

How good was Max Wober?

Although an unassuming signing, given Jesse Marsch was merely recruiting another of his former players after the failures Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen proved to be, the Austrian stalwart quickly proved himself to be a cut above these two flops.

The 25-year-old had shone in his homeland, but translating those talents into the Premier League posed a completely different challenge, especially with the specifications his role demands.

Given how the modern-day centre-back is forever evolving, with power and strength just as important as ability on the ball nowadays, many wondered how the 25-year-old would stand up to the physical demands of a division famed for its high-octane games.

But, with a 6.84 average rating across his 16 appearances, it is fair to say he largely succeeded. An admirable figure buoyed by a host of stellar defensive statistics, his 71% pass accuracy was saved by his 1.7 interceptions, 1.6 tackles and four clearances per game, via Sofascore.

His rating actually made him Leeds' third-best performer in the league of those who started five or more games, and earned praise from Javi Gracia: "What I can say about Max, as everybody knows when he was available he played as a centre-back playing with Robin in the middle and he had very good performances."

The Spaniard would rush to laud him on another occasion too, outlining the immediate partnership he had struck up with Robin Koch: "In my opinion, both centre backs played really well today. They had a tough challenge. As you say with a very tall player and all the defensive line was very concentrated and the good work of the team meant we got a clean sheet."

So, to find a replacement for one of their few shining lights in an otherwise dull season will be no mean feat. Whilst many might suggest Charlie Cresswell as his natural successor from the academy, given his domineering characteristics and recent experience gained out on loan, there is perhaps another quietly shining in the background, biding his time before Farke hands him his chance.

Who is James Debayo?

James Debayo may be just 18 years old, but already he has begun making a name for himself in Yorkshire for his immense defensive displays for the youth sides.

It is a testament to both his maturity and his physicality that he has already been promoted into the U21s, having featured in their first four Premier League 2 games of the new season, three of which were wins.

To emphasise this point further, the teenage colossus actually already has 19 appearances for that side, and is just two shy of already matching the amount of games he has played for the U18s. The speed with which he is rising through the ranks is commendable and surely has caught the eye.

Even last year journalist Joe Donnohue sought to mark him out, highlighting one fine performance: "Only played first 45 but was impressive before taking an early yellow card. Had to be withdrawn at the break due to the booking."

Although only a small sample size, the two brief appearances he made in the Football League Trophy last season highlighted his defensive prowess, as despite averaging just 51 minutes per game, he still mustered 1.5 interceptions and two clearances per game, via Sofascore.

With Wober clearly being a defence-first centre-back, allowing his passing to suffer as long as he remains staunch at the back, it seems Debayo too shares this warrior-like trait which could help him to thrive in the Championship.

However, a clip shared from the Rising Ballers account instead showcases a trickery that could allow him to even surpass the Austria international, pairing his solidity with a silkiness that Elland Road has been lacking in recent years.

Then, as if the youngster needed additional aid in promoting his talents, he already has grown into a mainstay for England's U18s side, having been handed his debut by Neil Ryan.

Given Farke's ability to replace the talent he has lost, showcased throughout the summer, it is no surprise that with Wober he pushed the long-term option down the road with a shrewd loan signing. Perhaps this was merely a financial decision, or perhaps his eye has in fact been caught by one of the young defenders tearing up the academy scene, just waiting to be given their big chance to shine in the senior squad.

Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho has recently hit the headlines due to a public spat with Erik Ten Hag and it is believed that the Red Devils' stance has now emerged on the matter.

What's the latest news involving Jadon Sancho?

As per The Telegraph, Manchester United boss Ten Hag dropped Sancho from his matchday squad for their 3-1 loss to Arsenal last weekend and cited his "performances in training" as the reason for the former Borussia Dortmund ace's omission.

Sancho has since hit back at claims his level of performance in training hasn't been up to the standard in a statement on social media platform X, which partially read: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!"

Of course, Sancho is not the first player to have a public feud with Ten Hag in the Dutchman's time at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo famously aired his frustrations at Ten Hag in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan last year, which eventually spelled an end to his time in the North West, as per Sky Sports.

Sancho joined Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund for £73 million back in 2021 and has since gone on to register 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances across all competitions, as per Transfermarkt.

Now, transfer insider Graeme Bailey has written a fresh update on Sancho's future at Manchester United with Scott Saunders of 90min, giving some behind the scenes insight into the latest developments on the situation.

The 23-year-old is apparently set to meet with Manchester United's management staff behind the scenes to decide how to proceed forward following Sancho's response to Ten Hag and latest criticism. Clubs in Turkey have enquired about Sancho's availability due to their transfer window being open until September 15th. Nevertheless, Manchester United will not facilitate any exit for Sancho that would involve paying a portion of his hefty pay packet, so that likely rules out loan moves to Turkey.

According to The Daily Mail, Manchester United were willing to sell Sancho for £45million this summer and he was considered as a potential addition by Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino. Despite this, the Argentinian coach had issues with his 'mindset' and instead opted to bring in Cole Palmer from Manchester City.

What next for Manchester United?

Manchester United sit 11th in the Premier League standings with six points from four matches played and face Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in their first match after the international break.

Long-serving defender Eric Bailly has now departed for Turkish giants Besiktas on a permanent basis after spending seven years of his career at Manchester United.

It has also been revealed by The Athletic that new signing Sofyan Amrabat has a slight back issue that was detected in his medical and it remains to be seen whether he will spend any time on the sidelines.

On the back of a mixed start to the campaign, Manchester United will hope to piece together a consistent run of results and put a tumultuous couple of days behind them.