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It's no surprise that a striker is a "big priority" for Gary O'Neil and Wolves as we approach the final stretch of the January transfer window. They've already offloaded two of their options in that department on loan this month, with Fabio Silva joining Rangers and Sasa Kalajdzic heading back to Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Wolves have reportedly made an offer to sign PSG forward Hugo Ekitike on loan with an option to buy, but they've failed to make a decisive breakthrough on that one just yet, and there's also been interest in Danny Ings at West Ham, with talks taking place over a temporary move.

A third candidate is Southampton striker Che Adams, who's out of contract at the end of the current season. Wolves have contacted Southampton to gauge his availability, and according to a fresh update, the Scotsman may be the prime candidate to move to Molineux.

Adams the lead option for Wolves move

Speaking to GiveMeSport, transfer insider Dean Jones provided an update on Wolves' striker targets. He says the club have to carefully consider the finances involved with each move, and from that standpoint, Adams stands out as the likeliest addition.

Jones said: "Ekitike has been on Wolves’ radar because he has more versatility than other forwards mentioned. We also have to consider the financials around them bringing in players. Ings is on such hefty personal terms at West Ham that it makes me wonder if it genuinely becomes possible, and Adams might just be a bit more suitable at this specific moment. I think that’s what they are trying to understand right now. They can only really do a loan deal."

"Amazing" Adams can ease burden on Hwang

Prior to Saturday's game against Swansea City, Adams had scored eight goals and provided two assists in 24 Championship appearances, which sounds decent without being spectacular. However, it's important to place those numbers in the context of his limited minutes – he's only started 12 games, and ranks seventh in the league for non-penalty goals per 90 minutes (0.54).

It's all the more impressive that he's putting up those numbers when he isn't able to get into a rhythm, and when he had to deal with the disappointment of being denied a Premier League move last summer (Everton made a £12m bid for his services, but it was rejected by Southampton). Manager Russell Martin says his form this season is "amazing" in those circumstances.

Adams has only scored 25 goals in 124 games in the top flight, under-performing relative to his xG and missing 45 big chances, but Southampton will have to sell him on the cheap if they want to bank any sort of fee ahead of the expiry of his deal, and that limits the risk for Wolves. He can take some of the pressure off ten-goal Hwang Hee-chan, with the South Korean still doing the majority of the scoring.

Wolves are operating under the constraints of the league's Profit and Sustainability Rules, and they clearly need a striker, so there's a limit to how picky they can be.

Glasgow Rangers are closing in on the signing of midfielder Mohammed Diomande, with the player having flown in to Glasgow today to finally complete his £4.5m move to the Gers.

This will be Philippe Clement’s second January signing following the arrival of Fabio Silva on a loan deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and with just eight days left until deadline day, the Belgian manager will be hoping he can lure another player or two to the club.

There is no doubt that the 49-year-old will be keen on bolstering his attacking options and this could lead him to bring in another winger or centre-forward.

The long-term injury suffered by Abdallah Sima on international duty has heightened this need and the club have been linked with numerous players over the previous few weeks.

Rangers’ search for new signings

Clement has been busy during the winter break and one player who the club have been linked with is Vitesse Arnhem winger Million Manhoef.

At the start of the month, TEAMtalk reported that the Gers were keen on bringing the Dutchman to Glasgow during the January transfer window and that it could cost them a fee of around £3m.

Clement could land Barisic's next Kent in Rangers move for £3m wizard

The Light Blues are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Eredivisie hotshot.

By
Dan Emery

Jan 23, 2024

With news of Sima’s injury, however, a move for the youngster must now be a priority, especially as he can play on both flanks and Clement may be tempted into making a concrete offer for the talented winger.

This notion is certainly backed up by Football Scotland, who also state that the blow regarding Sima should push Clement into trying harder to sign Manhoef, although no official approach has been made as yet.

Could things change in the next seven days, however? Especially if the Gers struggle in their matches against Hibs tonight and St Mirren on the weekend.

Not having Sima’s direct goalscoring threat will be tough to handle for the manager, and he will be forced to play Rabbi Matondo on the left wing in his absence.

Abdallah Sima has been Rangers’ best attacker this season

When the Senegal international joined the club last summer on a temporary switch from Brighton and Hove Albion, his talent was obvious, but it was clear he may need time to settle.

Fast-forward six months, however, and Sima entered 2024 having scored 15 goals and grabbing two assists across 33 matches for the Light Blues, thus ranking second among the squad for goals scored this term.

His impact has been impressive and not just in terms of goals either, as he also ranks first in the squad for successful dribbles per game (1.5) and second for total shots per game (three), proving himself to be a handful in the opposition penalty area.

There is no timeline for his return, but not having him in the starting XI is a significant blow to Clement and the rest of the first team, especially as they chase a treble.

Although Manhoef is still developing, could he be an ideal player to perhaps replace Sima in the squad and hit the ground running should he move to Glasgow this month?

The stats that show why Million Manhoef can replace Abdallah Sima

Predominantly a right-winger, the 22-year-old has played on the left side of the pitch 27 times during his fledgling career so far, scoring four goals and providing four assists, which is not a bad tally considering it is not his favoured position.

With new signing Diomande looking to fill the left slot in central midfield, the Ivorian could perhaps link up well with the young Dutchman, and they could form a solid duo.

Indeed, Diomande has averaged 1.1 key passes per game this season along with creating three big chances and according to analyst John Walker, the young midfielder will “drive with the ball and break quickly” when he wins it in the heart of the midfield and this could allow him to create opportunities for Manhoef.

Not only that, but he could also link up well with the winger in the final third, as he is known for breaking into the penalty box via late runs and this could add another string to Clement’s attacking bow.

Manhoef may not be as prolific as Sima, but he has netted four goals for a team who are bottom of the Eredivisie and struggling to create much during their games this season.

Indeed, the winger is responsible for 31% of their goals this season and if he can shine that much in a team who are struggling, then imagine him alongside Diomande at Rangers.

Million Manhoef could be Rangers’ own Mohamed Salah

According to Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig, when profiling the winger last year, Manhoef is a similar type of player to Mohamed Salah, suggesting he may be Clement’s own version of the current Liverpool phenomenon.

According to WhoScored, both Manhoef and Salah excel at finishing and for key passes, indicating that they are both clinical in front of goal, yet can also showcase their selfless side and create big chances for their teammates.

Not only that, but they both also like to cut in often and this could allow Clement to play the Dutchman on the left without having to worry about a drop in his performances, especially as he would make regular inroads to the opposition penalty area.

Of course, the 22-year-old has a long way to go before reaching the level that Salah has been operating at since his move to Liverpool in 2017, but the talent is clearly there.

Signing Diomande for £4.5m means Clement may not have much room to manoeuvre regarding another expensive outlay, but if he could perhaps move a few players on in the next week or so, it may help his cause.

Another attacker is required before the deadline next Thursday and Manhoef fits the bill perfectly. He is young, has plenty of potential and looks as though he could make an impact at the Light Blues straight away.

Clement does not have much time to act and with the second half of the season promising so much, it could be a risk worth taking.

Steve Clarke has turned his side's fortunes around and they are out to make history in Germany this summer

Back in 2021, Scotland were braced for their first taste of major-tournament football in a quarter of a century. Fuelled by a 1977 disco hit and led by a coach who knew how to squeeze every ounce of talent out of the group, excitement across the country was palpable.

But Euro 2020 simply did not scratch the itch. Not only were the results disappointing, with a scarcely watchable 0-0 draw with England the highlight, Covid restrictions meant that a sizeable portion of those who wanted to attend the games at Hampden Park and Wembley were unable to do so.

Thankfully, after missing out on a spot at the 2022 World Cup, the Tartan Army will be out in force this summer, having breezed through Euro 2024 qualifying. After that excellent campaign, hopes were sky high as they target a first-ever progression to the knockout stages in a major tournament. However, Clarke must have smashed a few mirrors and walked under some ladders after qualification was confirmed, with Scotland enduring a seemingly never-ending stream of bad luck over the past few months.

Their injury list is of the biggest concern. Serie A Midfielder of the Year Lewis Ferguson is not available after a standout campaign with Bologna, while Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey's absences create an issue at right-back. Lyndon Dykes might have started up front too, but he's injured, while potential wildcard Ben Doak has been forced to withdraw as well.

Their recent form has also been concerning, too. Since seeing off Cyprus in their fifth qualifying game, Clarke's side have won just one of their subsequent nine matches, with that victory coming against 203rd-ranked Gibraltar. This must come with the caveat that England, France and Spain were among their opponents during this period, though they have also lost to Northern Ireland and, most recently, failed to beat Finland in their final warm-up game.

Despite this, if Scotland taught us anything during their road to the finals, it's to expect the unexpected. Here, then, are a few reasons why the Tartan Army might finally be roaring out of the group stages this summer:

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  Outstanding qualification campaign

  Their recent dip in form should not detract from how Scotland booked their place in this summer's tournament. Kicking-off with a routine victory against Cyprus, the fire was lit in their following game against Spain. Clarke's charges were not given a hope of taking anything from La Roja, but spurred on by a raucous, sell-out crowd at Hampden Park, they managed to secure a 2-0 win.

  It was nothing short of a generational result for Scottish football, with Scott McTominay netting both goals. They managed to ruffle a few feathers along the way too, with Spain captain Rodri blowing his lid after the game. "For me, it's a bit rubbish because it's always wasting time. They provoke you. They always fall. This is for me not football. The referee has to take part of this and he says nothing."

  The atmosphere that night was feverish and Scotland drew on a similar energy out in Oslo the following game, when Clarke's side battled back from 1-0 down to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over Norway

  Ex-Chelsea and Scotland icon Pat Nevin was there and recalled to GOAL, via NewBettingSites.uk: "To this day, I’m looking back at my Scotland-watching career, I don’t know if I’ve been more excited. We’re 1-0 down and I’m thinking: ‘Stevie, go for it’. And he wasn’t letting the lads off the leash. They took Erling Haaland off and then he let them go. There’s a moment in Braveheart when they get the poles up and they’re going: ‘HOOOLLLDDD, HOOOLLLDD’. We were a bit like that. It was genius moment."

  After those three victories, Scotland were suddenly in the driving seat, and back-to-back wins over Georgia and Cyprus all but confirmed a top-two finish. They eventually came second, after losing to Spain in the return fixture, but the confidence this campaign will have given the squad is hard to overstate.

  At the beginning of qualification, the best fans might have hoped for was progression through the play-offs. Instead, they saw off a host of top European sides to make it through automatically. It proves this Scotland team is built differently to those who have faltered before.

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  Incredible midfield

  Throughout this run, Scotland's midfield were vital. It's clearly the area of the pitch where they're strongest, with the middle of the park packed with seasoned Premier League talent.

  Brighton's Billy Gilmour, still only 22, is the technician of the group, with Scotland set to benefit from his development under Roberto De Zerbi. John McGinn, meanwhile, has had perhaps his best-ever club season coming into the tournament, helping Aston Villa secure Champions League football. The midfielder scarcely missed a game for Unai Emery's team and often plays a more advanced role for his country, chipping in with goals and assists.

  Celtic captain Callum McGregor is another more-than-solid hand, while Ryan Christie – who's come on leaps and bounds at Bournemouth – might not even make it into the starting XI. Scotland's midfield unit is full of industry, creativity and spirit, and their efforts will be pivotal to any success the team as a whole has at the tournament.

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  Don't worry about goals

  And we haven't even mentioned Scotland's midfield wildcard either. McTominay has not always been fully trusted or appreciated at Manchester United, but at international level he has the license to do as he pleases. He's repaid that faith placed in him in spades over the past year or so.

  McTominay finished the qualification campaign with an outstanding seven goals, but his influence in this team extends far beyond finishing. The 27-year-old takes the term 'box-to-box midfielder' to a new level whenever he pulls on a Scotland shirt. Clarke trusts him to pop up wherever he's needed, and he'll often be found arriving at the edge of the box to finish off a cutback. There are a few doubts over Scotland up front, particularly after Dykes' injury, but if McTominay can maintain this scoring touch, Scotland should have enough to win games.

  They've got a surprise package to bring off the bench, too. Lawrence Shankland is not a well-known name outside of the Scottish Premiership, but his goal record speaks for itself. The Hearts man has plundered 42 league strikes over the past two seasons, forcing his way into international contention in the process. So while Che Adams will most likely start, Shankland is a fantastic option to bring on and impact proceedings.

  "He’s been fabulous," Nevin told GOAL. "He’s one of these guys who’s a slightly late developer. But he was always a goal-scorer and now he’s rounding his game a bit more. His hold-up play is getting better. His links are better than they used to be. But he’s still a goal-scorer. Left foot, right foot, header – it doesn’t matter. I don’t think he’ll start the first game, but when he gets his opportunity, it could be that he’s the one who raises a few eyebrows."

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  Outstanding left side

  And it's not just in midfield that Scotland can boast genuine, top-class talent. For a while, having two excellent left-backs in Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney felt like a bit of a curse for Scotland, considering how light they were in other areas of the field.

  After previous managers struggled for a compromise, Clarke has long since found a solution, with Tierney forming part of his back three and Robertson acting as a flying wing-back. The pair's attributes meld together perfectly, as Robertson carries the ball from deep like few others at the tournament, while Tierney's penchant for line-splitting passes also helps Scotland get up the field quickly.

  Speaking to recently, the latter said: "I love that left centre-back position and I love playing with [Robertson]. We’ve got that connection where we know where we’re going to be and if one goes, the other knows to stay. We’ll interchange or find each other with a long pass. That comes from playing with each other a lot."

As we head into the final days of the January transfer window, Morgan Rogers looks by far the likeliest addition for Aston Villa, who have already signed Kosta Nedeljkovic from Red Star Belgrade in a buy-and-loan-back deal.

After an improved offer, Villa are in fresh talks with Middlesbrough over signing the attacker and are hopeful of completing a deal in the early part of this week. Rogers wants to join and is the top priority for Unai Emery, who's bidding to keep Villa in the Premier League top four.

All the while, though, Villa sporting director Monchi is apparently in talks over yet another player as they continue to display their ambition and flex their muscles in the transfer market.

Villa make contact over Goncalves

According to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, via SportsView, Villa are in talks over Pedro Goncalves at Sporting. The club have apparently been long-term admirers of the Portuguese and have now reignited their interest in the final days of the window.

Monchi and his recruitment team have been in contact with the player's entourage to establish contractual details, but they know a deal won't be easy. Goncalves' current terms run until the summer of 2027, and his release clause stands at £68m.

Goncalves would be "brilliant" signing

Goncalves actually spent two years on the books of Villa's Midlands rivals Wolves, but he only ever made one appearance (as a substitute in the EFL Cup). He would return to Portugal with Famalicao in 2019, and then move to Sporting a year later.

Primarily a central midfielder who can also play as a number 10 and on both flanks, Goncalves has put up some eye-watering numbers during his stint in Lisbon. Across 158 appearances to date, he's been directly involved 111 goals, despite the fact he often takes up a deep starting position.

He won the league's Golden Boot in his first season with 23 goals, and is on course to continue his record of ranking eighth or higher for direct goal contributions every year.

Goncalves caught the eye of English audiences last season when he scored what proved to be the Europa League goal of the season away to Arsenal, as Sporting dumped the eventual Premier League runners-up out of the competition at the round of 16 stage. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta admitted that he'd shown "incredible" perception, vision and execution in his "superb" effort.

Late January transfer at Aston Villa could supercharge Moussa Diaby

A new attacker is a priority for Unai Emery this month.

By
Tom Lever

Jan 28, 2024

Journalist Zach Lowy, who has covered Portuguese football, says that he'd be a "brilliant signing" for Emery and Villa. It's unclear whether they view him as a summer target or intend to spring a late winter move, and whether they'll be willing to activate his hefty release clause and shell out a club-record fee. This, though, is the kind of deal that could announce their arrival on the Champions League stage, should they get there.

Ageing Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been told he's now a long way short of his very best by ex-Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys.

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• Ronaldo subdued in Portugal's Euro 2024 opener
• Superstar warned he doesn't know when to quit
• Forward will celebrate 40th birthday in 2025

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo couldn't find the target as Portugal came from behind to beat Czechia on Monday in their opening game of Euro 2024. The 39-year-old, who has become the first player to feature in six European Championship finals, came in for criticism from broadcaster Richard Keys during the game as he believes the superstar does not know when it's time to hang up his boots.

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• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Keys told beIN Sport: "We all know that he has been one of the best of his generation. There is only one other to match, or maybe better than what he was capable of doing, It’s not Ronaldo anymore. It is a long, long way from being Ronaldo anymore. There are times when I’ve been watching him and thought – he could go on in this tournament to prove me entirely wrong – but running is not his friend.

  "The other thing that bothers me is, as they come into the tournament, everything’s fine. The minute he comes off or doesn’t start, big trouble. They’re like boxers, again players. They never quite know when the time is right to call it a day and I think he’s in that category."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo headed into the tournament after scoring 10 goals in qualifying for Portugal and enjoying a prolific, but trophyless, campaign in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr. The forward enjoyed a 50-goal season and has vowed to come back "even stronger." The former Manchester United man has also batted away suggestions of retirement and has previously claimed he can play into his forties.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO

  Ronaldo may not be thinking of hanging up his boots just yet but is surely featuring in his final European Championship for Portugal. Roberto Martinez's side will aim to make it two wins from two at Euro 2024 when they take on Turkey next in Group F. Turkey also head into the game with three points in the bag after a lively win over Georgia.

Sergiy Rebrov claimed Ukraine players "showed the spirit of the country" after his troops scripted a stirring Euro 2024 comeback against Slovakia.

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• Ukraine beat Slovakia 2-1
• Scored late to clinch the three points
• Rebrov delighted with his team's character

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The completed a remarkable comeback against Slovakia, securing a 2-1 victory in Dusseldorf on Friday. This victory is vital for Ukraine's hopes of advancing to the knockout stages after their heavy 3-0 defeat to Romania in their opening match. Going into the half-time break trailing 1-0 after a goal by Slovakia's Ivan Schranz in the 17th minute, Ukraine turned the tables in the second half with goals from Mykola Shaparenko and substitute Roman Yaremchuk.

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  WHAT REBROV SAID

  Rebrov's calm and focused approach during half-time was crucial. "I didn't shout [at half-time]. We had to react in the second half," Rebrov told reporters. "We weren't pressing high enough. We understood this was our chance and that's what I said. I said 'Don't worry about the score and just go for it'.

  "This is not a different team. There was a different spirit — I am pleased for the players — they showed the spirit of Ukraine and deserved this win. It was important to win for our country, our fighters, our supporters."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite the loss, Slovakia still has a viable path to qualification. They had previously defeated Belgium 1-0, and their manager, Francesco Calzona, remains optimistic. "We had the opportunity [today] but we knew we had to win against a team who had to win at all costs," Calzona said. "We are the Cinderella story of the group stage — the fact we're still competing at Matchday 3 is significant. We try to play football against anyone, regardless of the opposition, and I'm proud of that. We'll do everything in our power to beat Romania".

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  WHAT NEXT FOR UKRAINE?

  Ukraine will have their tails high when they take on Belgium on June 26 in the final group match. A victory will fire them to the knockouts at the expense of Romelu Lukaku and Co.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement has shown that he is looking to establish a player trading model at the Ibrox side which could allow them to gain maximum profit for players that they sign cheaply and below market value.

The likes of Mohamed Diomande and Oscar Cortes are two signings who could emerge into wonderful players during their spell in Glasgow and this will allow Clement to move them on further down the line for a fee far greater than what he initially paid.

The Light Blues have made a profit on Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo, and club record sale Calvin Bassey since January 2022, but these three have been the only ones since the club returned to the Premiership in 2016.

It wasn’t always like this, as at the turn of the century, Rangers were selling players regularly and one player went on to rake in the club a staggering £8m when he was sold to Newcastle United in 2005 – Jean-Alain Boumsong.

How much Rangers signed Jean-Alain Boumsong for

After securing a sublime treble during the 2002/03 campaign, Alex McLeish was under pressure to deliver further success, yet financial constraints at the club meant he had to sell off some key assets.

Out went Neil McCann, Lorenzo Amoruso and Barry Ferguson, to be replaced by Nuno Capucho, Emerson and Henning Beg, ageing players who were all clearly nearing retirement rather than being at their peak.

This turn of events led to the club enduring a horrific season. Not only did they finish 17 points adrift of Celtic in second, but the Gers failed to lift a trophy, and it meant McLeish was facing considerable pressure from both the board and the supporters to get things right ahead of the following campaign.

He did manage to secure the services of Dado Prso – a Champions League finalist – on a pre-contract agreement, while the biggest signing looked like it was going to be that of Boumsong, who had also signed a pre-contract with the Gers in December 2003.

They had fought off interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, and Inter Milan to secure the highly rated defender, and it would soon prove to be a lucrative decision…

Jean-Alain Boumsong shone for Rangers

The Frenchman must have found playing against the likes of Livingston, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and Dundee a culture shock considering he had faced off against Paris-Saint Germain and AS Monaco just months prior, yet he adapted well to Scottish football.

During the first half of the season, Boumsong featured 28 times for the Light Blues as they improved massively from the previous season. McLeish’s side were challenging for the title, and they had even secured two Old Firm wins during November to really ramp up the pressure on Celtic.

During this time, the centre-back was still a regular in the France national team, proving just how big a coup it was to bring him to Scotland and his performances did not go unnoticed.

How much Rangers sold Jean-Alain Boumsong for

The supporters knew that keeping a player like Boumsong at Ibrox for the long term was never going to be an option. Getting a couple of years out of him before selling for a profit was looked upon as the best-case scenario.

When Newcastle offered £8m during the January transfer window in 2005, McLeish was never at liberty of turning it down, especially with the growing financial problems rearing their head at Ibrox.

Graeme Souness – a legend among the Rangers faithful – lavished praise on the Frenchman.

"He is a young man who has a great desire to be the best,” the former Liverpool legend said. “He is a communicator on the pitch. You can never have enough of them. It is something we have been lacking; we don't have enough people who are talkers.

"The supporters will enjoy watching him play. He is potentially a top man in our football team. I think he expects to be up there with the likes of [John] Terry and [Rio] Ferdinand.”

Judging by his displays on the continent for Auxerre and in Scotland for the Light Blues, Souness looked as though he had secured a player who could become a key part of his Newcastle side for the next few years.

Little did everyone know, but the Gers clearly got the best deal as they hit the jackpot by selling Boumsong for £8m.

Jean-Alain Boumsong’s career statistics

The 6 foot 3 colossus failed to live up to his lavish transfer fee, going on to make a total of just 59 appearances for the Magpies, spending just 18 months in the north-east of England before joining Juventus in 2006.

The Old Lady had been relegated to Serie B due to their involvement in the infamous Calciopoli scandal in 2006 and Boumsong spent just one full season in Italy before moving back to France, joining Lyon in 2007.

85 appearances for the French side saw him pick up a Ligue 1 winners medal, and he eventually finished his career in Greece, playing 75 times for Panathinaikos before retiring in 2013.

It was evident that the former Auxerre defender was a standout during his spell in Scotland, and he was not going to last long north of the border.

It turned out he couldn’t quite replicate these displays in the English top flight, however, and he was even voted as the 17th worst player to ever feature in the Premier League, a remarkable feat considering how well he had done in Glasgow.

Boumsong still ranks as the fifth-highest sale in the club’s history, ranking only behind Bassey, Patterson, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Alan Hutton, showing how big a fee it actually was, especially since it has nearly been 20 years.

Rangers struck gold on free transfer who's now become a "cult hero"

Rangers struck gold on a midfielder who they signed in 2021

By
Ross Kilvington

Feb 7, 2024

While the Ibrox side simply cannot attract players like this anymore, Clement should be targeting promising youngsters who have the capacity to develop into sellable assets, and then rinse and repeat this in order to generate funds for future transfers.

Hopefully, the summer transfer window can see the club move on a few players for big transfer fees and, in turn, this can be used to sign future superstars.

As their form improves in the Premier League, Manchester United are already hard at work on their desired deals for the summer transfer window as they look to raise their ceiling for the 2024/25 campaign.

Erik ten Hag's side have already been in contact with the entourage of long-term target Frenkie de Jong to make it clear that they're ready to sign him if he becomes available, with Barcelona considering a sale and the player now open to assessing the offers on the table.

Elsewhere, the Red Devils are leading the race to sign Teun Koopmeiners from Atalanta, who's been valued at around £51m and may prove to be too expensive for rival suitor Juventus.

Another reported target for United is Crystal Palace's Michael Olise, with Fabrizio Romano saying last month that they will consider activating the Frenchman's release clause, but stressing that "many clubs" are interested.

Chelsea activated a £35m provision in Olise's deal during last summer's transfer window, but the wide player elected not to make the move to Stamford Bridge and instead penned an extension at Palace that significantly increased the exit clause.

Olise drawn to Man Utd as Ratcliffe gives green light

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Ben Jacobs said that new United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe will "endorse" the interest in Olise, and says the Frenchman is "tempted" by the idea of moving to the 20-time champions.

Man Utd star who won 100% aerial duels outshone McTominay v Aston Villa

Man United picked up a huge three points in their hunt for Champions League football.

By
Tom Lever

Feb 11, 2024

"Even though Olise signed a new contract in the aftermath of Chelsea failing to trigger his complicated release clause, there is absolutely no doubt that he is a potential 2024 departure. Manchester United's old regime, before INEOS, really like Olise and he is tempted by the prospect of a move to Old Trafford as well.

"There is continuity between Manchester United's current recruitment team and anything INEOS do. They like a profile like Olise, so he can be termed a concrete target ahead of the summer."

"Laughable" Olise is too good for Palace

Telegraph journalist Sam Dean has billed Olise and Palace team-mate Eberechi Eze as two of the most "watchable" players in the league, and described the gulf in quality between him and his team-mates as "laughable at times".

The 22-year-old demonstrated this with a truly scintillating run of form immediately before a recent hamstring injury that saw him notch eight direct goal contributions in eight games and give defenders at Manchester City, Brighton, Chelsea, Brentford and Sheffield United nightmares.

It's abundantly clear at this point that he's too good to be slugging it out near the bottom of the table with Palace, and is more than ready to take the step up to the elite level. Now that they've raised his release clause, the Eagles can sell him on favourable terms, and he can choose his preferred destination. United fans will be praying that Old Trafford is top of his list.

Inter Miami and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has dropped another retirement hint, as he admits that “the flame of football is going out”.

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• Veteran frontman is now 37 years of age
• Has been struggling with knee problems
• Aware that end of career is approaching

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Veteran frontman Suarez is now 37 years of age and has been managing long-standing knee problems for some time. He shelved any plans to hang up his boots when being presented with the opportunity to reunite with former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi in MLS.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Suarez is, however, aware that the end of his distinguished career is approaching. He is currently on international duty at the 2024 Copa America, with an impressive haul of caps for his country being taken to 140 – with 68 goals recorded along the way.

• WHAT SUAREZ SAID

  He is not ready to call it quits just yet, with silverware to be chased down with club and country, but has said of the short-term future: “I am enjoying every moment very much. It's something that, as I get older, you enjoy more and more because you know that the flame of football is going out. I'm just one more player, you've seen that. Whether I play or not, I'm happy with the part I'm doing and trying to help in any way I can.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Suarez is no longer a guaranteed starter for Uruguay, but he has an important role to play in their squad – with his vast experience being put to good use. They are currently readying themselves for a Copa quarter-final clash with Brazil, which Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior will sit out through suspension.

Newcastle United CEO Darren Eales says the club "love" Eddie Howe and want to keep him amid links with the England job after Gareth Southgate's exit.

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• Southgate resigns as England boss
• Howe linked with vacant position
• Newcastle "love" Howe & want him to stay

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following Southgate's resignation as England boss, Newcastle's Howe has been installed as one of the favourites to replace him. The former Bournemouth manager has long been admired by the Football Association but the Magpies see him as part of their "long-term future", according to Eales.

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  WHAT THE NEWCASTLE CEO SAID

  When asked if Newcastle could 'fight' to retain Howe amid the England links, Eales told The Athletic: “Yes, absolutely. I don’t want to speak on hypotheticals so let me just step back and go, going into a new season, for us as a club Eddie has done a brilliant job.

  “I’ve had the blessing to be able to work with Eddie and see how day-to-day and in terms of that man-management, on the grass, he is very hands-on. He’s a great developer of players. He gets the psyche of the club and Newcastle and the fans. We’ve seen that with the way the team and the supporters have that affinity.

  “For us, he is exactly the right man for the project we are on at Newcastle United and that is why we are committed to a long-term deal with him. That’s why we think he’s the right man for Newcastle. We love him.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Southgate stepped down as Three Lions manager just two days after their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. Despite guiding them to two Euros finals and a World Cup semi-final during his near eight-year tenure, the 53-year-old moves on and now the hunt for his successor is in full swing. And while Howe is a target, the report adds Newcastle believe they are protected by the absence of a set release clause in his multi-year contract – one that he signed in 2023.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  For Howe, it seems he will be in the Newcastle dugout when the new Premier League season starts in August, while the search for a Southgate replacement intensifies.

  Eales added: "He’s a top coach, he’s the right coach for Newcastle United at the right moment and this is the coach we want to lead the club for the future. Absolutely, [he will be here for the season opener against Southampton] yes."