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Marcus Rashford’s appearance in Jesse Lingard’s infamous ‘beans’ viral video recently did not deter Manchester United from offering the 21-year-old a new four-year contract; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clearly putting plenty of faith in the striker.

While one forward’s future at Old Trafford is now secured, another seems to be hanging precariously in the balance as Romelu Lukaku continues to be targeted by Inter Milan.

According to Sky Sports, the Serie A club are hoping to secure a two-season loan for the Belgian striker, with the option to buy for £60m at the end of it.

While Lukaku’s premature return from his summer holidays hints at a determination to stay at Old Trafford, he remains the number one target of new Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte. The Italian tried to sign Lukaku for Chelsea two years ago before the striker chose Manchester United.

If the Belgian departs Old Trafford, these strikers should become prime targets as his replacement:

Wissam Ben Yedder

The Daily Express reported that United have agreed personal terms with the Sevilla striker over a possible move to Old Trafford; the scene of arguably his finest hour in football. That was where he netted twice for the Spanish side to dump United out of the Champions League in March 2018.

Ben Yedder has been sensational for the La Liga club since joining them three years ago, scoring 70 goals for them in that time; that’s only one fewer than he scored in twice as long with Toulouse. His magnificent record with Sevilla makes the reported fee of £35m look like exceptional value.

Paulo Dybala

Carlos Tevez was a bundle of energy for two seasons at United in the late 2000s and fellow Argentine striker Dybala is cut from the same cloth. As with Ben Yedder, the Old Trafford faithful know about the damage that the Juventus man can do, having scored against United in the Champions League last October.

The 25-year-old has an excellent scoring record for the Serie A champions, netting 78 goals in four seasons in Turin. He wouldn’t come cheap – TransferMarkt.co.uk value him at €85m (£71.5m) – but United can afford to spend that amount, especially if they receive a hefty fee for any marquee players currently at the club.

James Rodriguez

The Colombian forward left Real Madrid for a two-year loan move to Bayern Munich in 2017 and the Bundesliga champions have decided against signing him permanently.

Zinedine Zidane didn’t fancy him a couple of years ago and might not fancy him now, especially with Eden Hazard and Luka Jovic arriving at the Bernabeu.

Rodriguez had a decent spell in Bavaria, scoring 15 goals and supplying 20 assists as he rediscovered some of his World Cup 2014 form following an unhappy time in Madrid.

He is still only 27 and looks a rejuvenated player following his Bayern move, while a TransferMarkt.co.uk valuation of €50m (£44.7m) makes him very affordable.

Andrea Belotti

The 25-year-old has been sensational for Torino in his four years with the Serie A club, hitting double figures in each season, including 17 last term and a 28-goal haul in 2016/17.

His excellent performances for Il Toro have seen him given the club captaincy and earn senior international recognition for Italy, for whom he now has 22 caps.

Belotti’s goal record of 70 in 148 games for Torino speaks for itself, while he is exceptional in the air, winning 4.1 aerial duels per game. He is comfortable shooting on either foot and his astute positioning has seen him likened to ex-Italy striker Gianluca Vialli.

His potency and aerial presence would make him a like-for-like replacement for Lukaku.

Callum Wilson

United have been linked with a £50m move for Bournemouth’s David Brooks and, while the Welshman is a fine winger, his team-mate Wilson should also be of interest to Solskjaer.

The striker has overcome two cruciate ligament injuries to excel for the Cherries last season – his tally of 14 Premier League goals better than what any United player could manage.

Wilson also has impressive creativity statistics, accruing nine assists in 2018/19 and averaging one key pass per game. He is a proven goalscorer in the Premier League and offers a potent threat on the counterattack, along with a tremendous attitude to bounce back from his injury hell so effectively.

Mauro Icardi

The Argentine striker has courted massive controversy in the past, marrying the ex-wife of former Sampdoria team-mate Maxi Lopez and last season refusing to play for his club Inter Milan after being stripped of the captaincy.

He is certainly a divisive figure, but on statistics alone it’s easy to see why clubs might take an interest in him.

In 188 Serie A games for Inter in six years, Icardi has scored 111 goals and broken the 20-goal mark in three seasons, with 29 in 2016/17 making him that year’s top scorer in Serie A. In addition to his goal tally, he has been praised for his hold-up play and off the ball positional sense.

Jadon Sancho

The England teenager may have come through Manchester City’s academy, but he has been identified as a summer target for the red side of Manchester. Some supporters have even urged celebrity United fans Dave and Harry Pinero to try and entice Sancho to come to Old Trafford after they posted a holiday snap with him online.

The 19-year-old made a massive impact at Borussia Dortmund last season, scoring 13 goals in 43 games as they pushed Bayern Munich all the way in the Bundesliga title race. While not a direct replacement for Lukaku in that he plays as a wide man, the teenager would still be a potent goal threat and a massive signing for United if they pursue him.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Seven years after the fateful acquisition of Robin van Persie from Arsenal, United could raid the Emirates Stadium again for the Gunners’ star striker. The Gabon forward is hot property after his 22 goals made him the Premier League’s joint top scorer last season.

Arsenal’s limited transfer budget has made them willing to sell the 30-year-old to raise funds for new signings and is only a year older than what Van Persie was when he moved to Manchester in 2012.

The Dutchman effectively won United the league the following season and Aubameyang is arguably in even greater form now than Van Persie was then.

Lautaro Martinez

The 21-year-old has been in tremendous form for Argentina, scoring five goals in his last six caps and lighting up the Copa America with a brilliant back-heel goal against Venezuela in the quarter-finals. It was only this time last year that he was still playing in his homeland, but his subsequent rise has been meteoric.

Martinez joined Inter Milan a year ago and has had a solid first season in Italy, scoring nine goals in 35 games for the Nerazzurri. He has a shoot-on-sight nature to his play, averaging 2.4 shots per game in Serie A, and draws an average of 1.6 fouls per game, making him a handful for opposition defences.

Andre Silva

The 23-year-old Portugal striker was rejuvenated last season on loan at Sevilla after a disappointing first year with AC Milan. He netted nine times in 27 league games for the Andalucians in 2018/19 and boasts a reliable scoring return at national team level with 15 in 33 caps for the European champions.

During his spell with Sevilla, Silva was noted for his natural flair for getting into goalscoring positions and he also possesses magnificent crossing ability, sending in 0.93 accurate crosses per game last season. Having rediscovered his best form, now could be a good time for United to bring him to Old Trafford.

Inaki Williams

Having made his name at Athletic Bilbao as a winger, the 25-year-old was deployed mainly as a centre forward last season and consequently delivered his most productive campaign with 15 goals.

He is an incredibly consistent and reliable performer, playing in every league game for his club for the last three seasons.

Williams boasts magnificent pace and his dribbling ability makes him a nightmare for opposition defences to handle, drawing 1.4 fouls per game. He had long been a target for Liverpool but never made the move to Anfield. How sweet it would be for United if they were to pounce where their rivals hesitated.

Duvan Zapata

Juventus may have won an eighth straight title but the real heroes of Serie A last season were Atalanta, who trumped plenty of big-name clubs to finish third.

One of the main reasons for that exceptional campaign was the form of their Colombian striker, who scored 23 goals in the league for Gian Piero Gasperini’s men.

Incredibly, Zapata has spent each of the last four seasons on loan from a parent club, but his brilliant spell at Atalanta should surely secure him a permanent move to a bigger stage.

At 28, he is in the prime of his career and, unlike compatriot and ex-United flop Radamel Falcao, does not have a track record of injury problems.

Memphis Depay

The Dutch forward arrived at Old Trafford four years ago to plenty of fanfare but had a disappointing 18-month spell and was sold to Lyon in January 2017.

However, he has looked a man reborn in the south of France, with 34 goals in the last two seasons, and United could exercise a buyback clause if they wish to give him a second chance in England.

Depay’s attitude and lack of end product during his previous spell at United annoyed plenty of supporters but he seems a much more mature footballer now than in 2015.

Also, the player has said that he is open to a return to Manchester.

أفادت أحدث التقارير الصحفية الواردة من إنجلترا اليوم الجمعة، أنّ نادي ليفربول قرر أنّ يكون نشطًا في سوق الانتقالات الشتوية، حيث ينوي التحرك لضم مدافع جديد، بعد الإصابة التي تعرض لها الكاميروني جويل ماتيب.

ليفربول بعد إصابة ماتيب، والتي تبدو خطيرة وستبعده عن الملاعب كثيرًا، يفتقد كذلك جهود الهولندي فيرجيل فان دايك، الذي أجرى عملية جراحية وسيغيب حتى نهاية الموسم الجاري، إلى جانب جو جوميز الذي خضع أيضًا لعملية جراحية ولن يكون قادرًا على المشاركة هذا الموسم.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تطورات إصابة ماتيب “الخطيرة” في مباراة ليفربول وتوتنهام

ليفربول ارتبط في بداية يناير الجاري، بإمكانية ضم مدافع هذا الشتاء، ولكن لم يحرز أي تقدم بعد بشأن الحصول على توقيع أي لاعب من الذين ارتبطوا بارتداء قميص الريدز.

ثم خرج يورجن كلوب، المدير الفني للريدز، وأكد أنّ إدارة النادي ترفض إبرام أي صفقة دفاعية، بسبب الأزمة الاقتصادية التي يُعاني منها بطل الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ولكن بحسب صحيفة “ليفربول إيكو” البريطانية والمُقربة من الريدز، فإن إدارة حمُر الميرسيسايد، قررت أخيرًا أنّ تدخل سوق الانتقالات، من أجل التعاقد مع مدافع بطلب من كلوب، وكذلك بعد إصابة ماتيب.

ليفربول لن يكون لديه الكثير من الوقت من أجل دراسة الخيارات المُتاحة في السوق، حيث لا يوجد أمام النادي سوى يومين ونصف لتحديد المدافع الذي سيتم التعاقد معه، إذ تُغلق نافذة الانتقالات، مساء بعد غد الأحد 31 يناير.

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According to French publication Le Quotidien Du Foot, Aston Villa are interested in midfielder Valentin Rongier.

As the Villains look to strengthen their squad ahead of a return to the Premier League they could face competition from the likes of Southampton and Lyon for his signature according to the report.

Rongier currently plays for Nantes in Ligue 1 so a move could be risky considering Jordan Veretout’s switch from the same club. In general, French players have been hit and miss when they’ve played for the Midlands club.

Veretout endured a tough period at Villa Park but if he manages to settle better at Villa Park, Rongier could prove to be a great asset.

At the moment Villa’s midfield is pretty settled and both John McGinn and Jack Grealish should be irremovable objects going into next term.

The pair of them were sensational in the middle of the park, providing a creative spark as well as finding the net at regular intervals.

Looking at Rongier’s stats, it’s easy to compare his all action nature to McGinn. The Scot is an engine in midfield, known for his tough tackling style but also his ability to pass the ball and find a teammate.

In the play-off final he was everywhere as he put in a man of the match display. Villa’s latest target boasts similar traits, however.

24-year-old Rongier loves to get stuck in, making 86 tackles across the 36 Ligue 1 matches he featured in. McGinn, on the other hand, made just four more.

On two occasions each, both the Scot and Frenchman made six tackles in a single game. A stat that provides plenty of evidence of their no-nonsense nature.

The two players are productive when dropping from deep and bringing the ball forward too, something that’s particularly evident in the number of long balls they play.

For Villa, McGinn managed 2.7 per game last season whilst for Scotland, he played 3.7 on average.

In terms of key passes, the 5 ft 8 Nantes player eclipses him though. Dean Smith’s current midfield general made just 74 compared to their reported target’s 85.

After signing the likes of Yacouba Sylla and Veretout a number of years ago, Villa do need to be careful when looking for players in the French market.

However, some of the numbers Rongier has racked up throughout the last season are particularly impressive, so the temptation to swoop for him is more than understandable.

Whether he can eclipse McGinn remains to be seen but there are certainly signs that he may be able to match him.

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According to The Sun, Manchester United are becoming increasingly confident that David De Gea will sign a new long-term deal with the club.

What’s the word, then?

De Gea will see his current contract with United expire next summer.

According to The Sun, an offer of ‘around £300,000-a-week’ has been on the table since the early stages of 2019, but the stopper has not been prepared to accept those terms.

The same publication, though, has claimed that a breakthrough has now been made, with United prepared to offer the Spaniard a £350,000-a-week contract.

It would be fair to say that the 28-year-old did not enjoy the best of seasons last term.

But there is absolutely no question that he is one of the finest goalkeepers in world football and it would be a huge positive for the 20-time English champions if they could secure his future over the next few weeks.

De Gea can overcome a tough period

Aside from the early stages of his time at United, this has easily been De Gea’s toughest period since arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

The stopper has won the Sir Matt Busby Player go the Year award on four occasions, in addition to being named in the PFA Team of the Year five times.

De Gea conceded 54 Premier League goals last season, though, keeping just seven clean sheets in the top flight during a very tough campaign.

Watch a Man Utd fan’s epic Ed Woodward rant in the video below…

A series of high-profile mistakes in the latter stages of the season highlighted the problems that were present and De Gea has since lost his position as Spain’s number one goalkeeper to Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Talent of that magnitude just does not disappear, though, and whilst criticism in his homeland – stemming from some lacklustre performances at the 2018 World Cup – would have harmed him, the situation surrounding his contract would have also been a huge distraction in the latter stages of last season.

De Gea is an outstanding goalkeeper on many levels, though, and securing his services for the next four or five years would easily be United’s best business of what is shaping up to be a interesting transfer window.

It’s safe to say without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal would not be doing as well as they should be this season.

Arsene Wenger’s final signing as Gunners boss has been without question had a massive impact on the Arsenal XI, scoring 31 goals this season alone and recently being named the Premier League’s Golden Boot winner alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, but time isn’t on the north London team’s side.

Approaching 30-years-old, Aubameyang isn’t going to be prolific forever for Arsenal and the club could be hindered if they don’t identify a successor sooner rather than later, and one interesting name has popped up.

According to football.london, the Gunners are interested in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Sebastien Haller, who has been one of the driving forces behind the Bundesliga’s incredible rise in the past few seasons.

The French attacker has put up impressive numbers for Adi Hutter’s team this season, scoring 19 and assisting 12 in 40 appearances for Frankfurt, and Haller could be Arsenal’s long-term successor for Aubameyang.

At 24, Haller has the best years of his career ahead of him and if Arsenal are able to acquire his services soon, the club will be set for the striker position in years to come.

With a Transfermarkt valuation of £36 million, the striker is well within the range of what Arsenal can afford this summer, and that value is only going to go up the longer Haller remains at Frankfurt.

Aubameyang has been immense since joining Arsenal 18 months ago, and identifying his successor is a long-term plan that will be crucial to how the Gunners progress as a club, and in Haller, the north London side have a player who can fill the mantle in the future.

Arsenal fans, could Haller replace Aubameyang? Let us know!

Fellow academy star Angel Gomes was quick to respond to Greenwood’s Instagram post, hinting that it won’t be the last for the immensely talented Bradford-born striker.

Greenwood has scored a superb 26 goals for the youth teams this season and nearly opened the scoring for United in the first-half when he was picked out by an Andreas Pereira cross, but he couldn’t connect with his header properly and Neil Etheridge denied Greenwood a dream start to his Premier League career.

The game for The Red Devils was a shambles, as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Josh Murphy tore United apart.

Greenwood, however, at least offered hope to Manchester United fans that the future will be brighter.

Angel Gomes himself made his professional debut against Crystal Palace in 2017 and, along with Greenwood, is considered one of the brightest wonderkids to emerge from the academy ranks in recent years.

If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is to pull United out of a rut he must find a way to incorporate them into his first team squad on a regular basis next season.

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Manchester United fans have taken to Twitter in disbelief after the Daily Mail revealed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes he doesn’t need to sign a new centre-back this summer.

The Red Devils are perhaps at their weakest in the centre of defence, where players such as Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Marcos Rojo have done little to show that they can be depended on consistently.

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Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof are arguably the club’s two best options in that department, but even then the pair of them have struggled to strike up a partnership formidable enough to keep the goals out.

Jose Mourinho was famously desperate to sign a centre-back in his final transfer window at the club before his sacking, and much was made of his deteriorating relationship with Ed Woodward after no new additions were made in central defence.

Almost a year on from that window, Solskjaer and Woodward’s belief that the club still don’t need a new centre-back has sparked outrage from the United supporters on Twitter…

There were rumblings last week that Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie was hoping for one last big payday in his career, and it is thought that it would have to be away from St James’ Park if that were to happen.

The Scotland international has been a revelation for Rafa Benitez this season, adapting to his new role as left wing-back, which has seen him play some of his best football since arriving on Tyneside.

There was talk among fans of discord between Ritchie and new signing Miguel Almirón — although subsequently played down by the club — but if true, it could be a reason why a move may be on the cards for the amiable player.

According to the Scottish Sun via the Daily Record, Newcastle are looking to rival Arsenal to sign Ryan Fraser from Bournemouth, and will look to offer Eddie Howe cash plus Ritchie in any deal.

We look at the potential consequences of a swap deal between the two.

Benitez is being backed by Mike Ashley

If Newcastle — whether involving a swap deal with one of their current players or not — are willing to sanction transfer deals of around £20 million, which is approximately what the player would cost, it is likely to mean Rafa has been given the assurances he was looking for, and signed a contract extension at the club.

It would be unlikely that Newcastle would try to buy a Benitez signing if a new manager was coming in, as it would be certain that any new boss would want to bring his own players to the club.

So if the deal is given the green light, the loss of one of the fans’ favourite players would be countered by the knowledge that their beloved manager was staying.

Fans will always back Benitez, and they will have faith in his decision. As Newcastle fans constantly remind everyone — In Rafa They Trust!

Fraser would be an upgrade on Ritchie

As disappointed as supporters would be at the loss of Ritchie, they would be gaining an upgrade, with Fraser being widely considered a better footballer, and at 25-years-old, would prove better value for money than giving a new, lucrative contract to a player that will turn 30 in September.

And if you compare their stats, according to Transfermarkt.co.uk, for this season: Fraser has seven goals compared to Ritchie’s three; has 11 assists to Ritchie’s five, and he has only two bookings compared with 9 for Ritchie.

So if fans have any doubts they should be put to rest when they see Fraser play.

Bournemouth would see the return of a hero

If anyone saw the reception Ritchie was given by the Cherries’ fans when he returned to the Vitality Stadium with Newcastle this season, they will know he is still held in high regard on the South coast.

Despite slamming hope a pile-driver of a shot in injury time to deny Eddie Howe’s side the points, he was still applauded from the pitch by the home sections, such is his stature at the club.

If he was to return, there is little doubt that he would be welcomed with open arms, with many fans still ruing the decision to let him go when they did.

So in many ways, a potential deal involving both players would be a good one for all concerned — both clubs and players.

What do you think of the mooted swap deal with Ritchie and Fraser, Newcastle fans? Let us know your thoughts below…

قال أشرف صبحي وزير الشباب والرياضة، إن ما تحقق هو نتاج عمل وجهد كبير من الأندية الثلاث الذين يمثلون مصر في البطولات الافريقية.

وأشار أشرف صبحي في تصريحات رسمية إلى دور الحكومة في عودة النشاط الرياضي في ظل جائحة كورونا، وهو ما سينعكس بشكل إيجابي كبير على منتخب مصر الاول الذي يستعد لتصفيات الامم الافريقية القادمة، والمنتخب الاولمبي الذي يستعد لأولمبياد طوكيو ٢٠٢١.

صور | أشرف صبحي والخطيب وممدوح عباس يُشاركون اتحاد الكرة في تأبين الراحل عزمي مجاهد

وأكد صبحي دعمه الكبير واللا محدود للأندية الجماهيرية والشعبية، مع الحفاظ على تلك الكيانات من اي أزمات قد تواجهها، وأن الدولة داعمة بشكل كبير ولا محدود للمنظومة الرياضية.

وأضاف أن الوزارة ستقف بجانب الأندية الثلاثة الأهلي، والزمالك، وبيراميدز التي تقترب بشدة من الوصول لنهائي بطولتي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، والكونفدرالية الافريقية، بعد تحقيقهم نتائج إيجابية وفوز مستحق في الجولة الأولى من مباريات نصف النهائي لدوري ابطال افريقيا للاهلي والزمالك، و بيراميدز الذي يمثل مصر في الكونفدرالية الافريقية،

ووجه صبحي الشكر لمجالس إدارات الاندية المشاركة فى بطولتى دورى أبطال افريقيا، والكونفدرالية على الظهور بشكل يناسب تاريخ مصر الكروي في افريقيا، موضحا ان الاهلي والزمالك هما بالفعل قطبي كرة القدم في افريقيا والوطن العربي.

يذكر ان الأهلى قد حسم مباراة الذهاب فى نصف نهائى دورى أبطال إفريقيا أمام الوداد المغربى بنتيجة 0/2، وفاز الزمالك فى نفس الدور خارج ملعبه أيضا بنتيجة 0/1، وحقق بيراميدز إنجازا تاريخيا بصعوده لنهائى بطولة الكونفدرالية لأول مرة فى تاريخه بعد الفوز على حوريا كوناكرى 0/2.

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Loads of Celtic fans have been reacting to a tweet from the club, as the Bhoys wished a happy birthday to popular attacker Scott Sinclair.

It’s been a funny old season for Celtic, as in some ways it’s actually been the best of any of the campaigns since Brendan Rodgers’ arrival.

Sure, the Bhoys crashing out of both the Champions League and Europa League was a setback, but isn’t it more fun winning the league when Rangers are actually up near the top to witness it?

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The Hoops will face off against their old foes once more before the year ends, and a second Old Firm win of the campaign would be a memorable way to secure their eighth consecutive league title.

And no one would be more deserving of an iconic winner in the derby than Sinclair, who turned 30 on Monday.

The versatile attacker has racked up 60 goals and 34 assists in 152 showings for Celtic, and fans were full of praise for him on his special day.

There were even a few calls for a new contract in response to the club’s tweet – his current deal expires in the summer of 2020.

Have a look at the Twitter reactions down below…