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West Ham United have made an offer to another free agent alongside Guido Rodriguez, according to a new report.

West Ham’s summer signings so far

The Hammers and technical director Tim Steidten have been busy so far this summer in the transfer market, bringing in a number of new players ahead of Julen Lopetegui’s first season in charge.

Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme was the first signing of the Lopetegui era, arriving from Palmeiras. He was then joined by experienced goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, who left Sheffield United upon his contract expiry.

Max Kilman then put pen to paper at the London Stadium to reunite with Lopetegui following their time at Wolves, and the centre-back remains the club’s most expensive addition of the window. Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug became the club’s fourth and fifth signings, joining from Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

Jose Mourinho wants £90k-p/w West Ham star after Hammers hijack Rodriguez

It comes as a domino effect from the events of the last week.

By
Ben Browning

Aug 6, 2024

Rodriguez will join the quintet in London for the upcoming Premier League season, arriving on a free transfer after leaving Real Betis in the summer. After the Argentine, though, another free agent appears to be of interest to the Irons.

West Ham have made offer to Mats Hummels

According to Hammers News, West Ham have made an offer to free agent Mats Hummels after he left Borussia Dortmund earlier in the summer, with the player set to make a decision on his future this week.

A top agent source close to the West Ham board told Hammers News: “A contract offer was made and it has been made clear it remains on the table. He will be making a decision at some point this week.”

Since then, Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has said that West Ham's top flight rivals Brighton are also keen on the 35-year-old centre-back.

Hummels and Fullkrug helped Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final last season, and who knows, the pair could be turning out alongside each other again fairly soon.

Should West Ham win the race to secure Hummels’ services, then they would be getting a defender with plenty of experience at the highest level.

As can be seen, the German has won plenty of major honours throughout his career, while making 442 appearances in the Bundesliga, 90 in the Champions League and winning 78 caps for his country. With no fee required, he could be a shrewd addition alongside Kilman at the back, making this one to watch over the coming days.

Marseille have had to overcome a "mental block" to win at home, as they beat Monaco 2-1 thanks to Mason Greenwood's late winner.

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• Greenwood scores late winner vs Monaco
• Marseille record just their second home win
• Boss De Zerbi delighted with victory

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Marseille have endured some terrible home form this season, and had won just once in five games before their clash with Monaco on Sunday. It is in stark contrast to their away performances, where they have won six and lost one of their seven games. The victory over Monaco marks a potential change in fortunes, with victory sealed by Greenwood's last-minute penalty.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The win leaves Marseille second in Ligue 1, with 26 points from their 13 games. They are seven points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who are yet to lose. They have lost three games this season, but De Zerbi believes they can now put together a run after learning to "express themselves".

• WHAT DE ZERBI SAID

  De Zerbi told reporters:  “I hope that it is the start of an important story at the Velodrome. Lots of people come to see these matches and it has been a shame to not be able to express ourselves. There was undoubtedly a mental block, with players not necessarily calm, not always clear-headed, with fear of making errors and with anxiety.

  “We saw it against PSG, Angers, Auxerre, in the second half against Reims, and even in sequences against Nice – we weren’t ourselves. I am happy to see them express themselves finally and not be at 20-30% of their capacities."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Marseille are next in action against Saint-Etienne on Sunday as they aim to continue their superb away form.

With Matt O'Riley's future still in doubt, Celtic are reportedly eyeing a new midfielder to replace the Dane this summer in a deal that could be worth £10m for Brendan Rodgers' side.

Celtic transfer news

The Bhoys have so far endured a relatively quiet summer transfer window, finding their replacement for Joe Hart in Kasper Schmeichel whilst also signing a backup in Viljami Sinisalo and welcoming Paulo Bernardo on a permanent deal. Rodgers' side, with those three fresh faces, will be looking to retain their Scottish Premiership crown once again.

After finally turning last season's loan move permanent, Bernardo told Celtic's official website: “It’s amazing for me and it’s a big step in my career. I really enjoyed last season when we won the championship and the cup, so it was great for me – my first two titles in my career, too.

“I love the atmosphere at Celtic Park and away in all the games. Celtic is a big, big club. The fans feed us in the game so we can score one more goal or win the game in the last minute."

Celtic turn attention to £3m star who'd be a better signing than Idah

The Hoops are reportedly interested in a swoop for the Premiership star this summer.

4

By
Dan Emery

Aug 1, 2024

Bernardo may well just be the start when it comes to further arrivals too. According to Sky Sports, Celtic are eyeing a move to sign Daniel Gazdag from Philadelphia Union in a deal that could be worth a reported £10m, should O'Riley leave this summer. The Dane has been the subject of significant interest, including from Atalanta, who have reportedly submitted as many as three bids for the Celtic star.

Losing O'Riley would undoubtedly be a major blow, but it seems as though those in Glasgow are wisely preparing to replace their midfielder in the event that he does depart.

"Incredible" Gazdag could replace O'Riley

Whilst replacing O'Riley will be no easy task if he does depart this summer, signing Gazdag could be an intelligent move from those at Celtic Park. For just £10m, the Bhoys could sign a surprise O'Riley replacement who has starred in the MLS. The main concern if Rodgers loses O'Riley is replacing his output, given that the Dane managed 13 goals and 11 assists last season, but Gazdag has more than proven his eye for goal.

The Hungarian scored 14 goals and assisted one in 21 MLS appearances last season and may well get the chance to replicate that in the Scottish Premiership. Earning plenty of praise as a result, Philadelphia manager Jim Curtin told the official MLS website: "Dániel does so much work defensively for us that a lot of players can’t match. His goals and assists are incredible – the way he links our back four to our forwards is great – but I love the defensive work he does.”

So, if Celtic can make a profit by selling O'Riley and then pursuing Gazdag, Rodgers' side may still be well placed to win yet another Scottish Premiership title in the forthcoming campaign.

The tournament, which pits MLS sides against their Liga MX counterparts, is expected to continue in 2025 amid criticism, clash with other tournaments

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• Leagues Cup reportedly to be played in 2025
• MLS considering new format in which 18 clubs participate
• Month-long tournament would clash with 2025 Club World Cup, Gold Cup

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The oft-criticized Leagues Cup will be played next summer, according to a report from . The tournament, which included every MLS club and all Liga MX sides, was thrown into jeopardy due to the expected clash with the new 2025 Club World Cup and Gold Cup. Last year, the tournament ran from July 26-August 25, with MLS postponing its regular season.

  The newly-formed Club World Cup, which announced its draw Thursday afternoon, will run from June 15-July 13. Meanwhile, the Gold Cup, an international competition that typically includes players from MLS, is set for June 14-July 6.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  MLS is reportedly considering changes to Leagues Cup next year, though. The 47-team field could be shrunk to just 36, with 18 teams from each league set to feature. Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami will both be in the Club World Cup, although their matchups with top European sides would likely lead to early exits from the competition.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  There also remains concerns that Leagues Cup conflicts with U.S. Open Cup – a tournament that includes the entirety of the United States soccer pyramid. Last year, MLS clubs were given the option to send their MLS Next Pro youth sides to the tournament. As a result, only eight MLS first team sides appeared.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LEAGUES CUP?

  MLS and Liga MX are yet to announce the exact format for Leagues Cup, although it appears the competition will continue. Columbus Crew are the reigning holders after beating LAFC in the final.

Glasgow Rangers face an incredibly important week in their 2024/25 season as their future in the Champions League and the League Cup hangs in the balance.

Firstly, the Light Blues host Dynamo Kyiv at Hampden Park, as they continue to play home matches away from Ibrox, in the second leg of their qualifying tie, having drawn 1-1 last week.

The Ibrox giants then return to the national stadium when they host St. Johnstone in the League Cup, which was the only competition the Gers won last season.

If things do not go their way, Philippe Clement's side could be out of two competitions before by the end of the week, or they could progress in both.

This emphasises how important it is for head of recruitment Nils Koppen to get any business that Rangers want to do done as quickly as possible, as the campaign has started and important matches are coming thick and fast.

Clement needs signings in so that they can train and adapt to their new team and teammates whilst also being available to play in these big games.

Rangers interested in midfield ace

With this in mind, one player the Scottish giants must push to complete a deal for before the summer transfer window slams shut at the end of the month is one of their reported targets.

Danish outlet Tipsbladet recently reported that the Light Blues are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Gustavo Puerta.

The outlet claimed that Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, Anderlecht, PAOK, a big club in Denmark, and sides from the Bundesliga are all vying to secure a move for the Colombia international this summer.

This shows that the Scottish Premiership outfit will need to beat off competition from a host of clubs across Europe and convince the player that Ibrox (Hampden for now) is the best next step for him in his career.

It stated that Bayer Leverkusen see him as an important part of their plans for the 2024/25 campaign and would not be willing to let him go easily.

However, Tipsbladet revealed that Anderlecht have been prepared to offer to take him on a season-long loan deal with an option to make it permanent next summer for €6m (£5m), and it remains to be seen whether or not that is an attractive bid for the German champions.

If Rangers could secure a similar deal and convince Puerta to make the move to Scotland then he could be a dream signing for current midfield star Connor Barron in Glasgow.

Connor Barron's impressive start to life at Rangers

The Light Blues moved quickly to sign the Scotland U21 international this summer after his contract with Premiership rivals Aberdeen expired at the end of May.

He is the only summer signing to have started all three of the club's games in all competitions so far, which speaks to how impressed Clement has been with him, both in training and in matches.

One thing that has stood out in his early outings in a Rangers shirt has been his energy and mobility in the middle of the park, as the young ace has buzzed about the pitch to make important contributions in and out of possession.

As you can see in the table above, Barron has been a nuisance to opposition teams, with four duels won and 3.5 tackles and interceptions combined per game.

He has been constantly breaking up attacks across the first two matches and, hopefully, that will continue to be a trend throughout the rest of the season.

The 21-year-old star's work in possession has also been secure and impressive, with a pass accuracy of 92%, which may be a surprise after he ended the 2023/24 campaign with a pass accuracy of 79% for Aberdeen in the Premiership.

Barron has stepped up to his new environment and the early signs are that he is going to thrive under the pressure of playing for Rangers and competing for trophies.

Clement could now find a dream signing to partner him and Mohammed Diomande by signing Puerta to bolster his midfield options this summer.

Why Rangers should sign Gustavo Puerta

The Gers should swoop to bring the Leverkusen starlet to Ibrox before the window slams shut because he is another energetic and defensively sound midfielder who can also offer quality in possession.

Like Barron, the 21-year-old is a classic all-rounder in the middle of the park who likes to buzz around the pitch to win the ball back and then drive his team forward when he has it, which could make them a dream pairing in midfield.

The 2023/24 campaign was a difficult one for him, though, as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga without losing a match, which made it hard for him to break into the side. This meant that the young gem only made seven appearances in the division, but he did complete 95% of his attempted passes and won 78% of his ground duels in that time.

He has not had many opportunities to shine with the German giants, which is understandable given their incredible season under Xabi Alonso, but he did catch the eye for Colombia at U20 level last year.

As you can see in the table above, Puerta showcased his quality in and out of possession in two international tournaments at youth level in 2023.

The £5m-rated enforcer was once described as an "exceptional all-rounded" midfielder by U23 scout Antonio Mango and these statistics back up that claim.

He won the majority of his duels whilst making multiple defensive interventions to cut out opposition attacks, whilst also offering creativity and efficiency in possession.

Rangers could drop Lawrence by signing "sensationally intelligent" star

The Light Blues have been linked with an interest in the young midfielder this summer.

1

By
Dan Emery

Aug 11, 2024

This suggests that Puerta could be a dream signing to partner Barron in the middle of the park as they could combine to provide a sensational defensive screen in front of the back four to help Rangers constantly win the ball back and dominate matches.

The American star is once again in the spotlight due to his inability to get consistent minutes at Borussia Dortmund

Transfer season is here, and like clockwork, the debate over Gio Reyna's future has returned. As the window approaches, the focus shifts once again to where the talented but underused U.S. international midfielder might best continue his club career.

This has been going on for a few windows now and, to be fair, that's because there's never really been a resolution either way. Despite his best efforts, Reyna remains in that perpetual state of limbo at Borussia Dortmund, and he hasn't been able to escape it for a few years now.

So here we go again. Let's fire up the discussion: where in the world should Gio Reyna end up? A stay at Dortmund, a rebuild in Spain, Italy or France, a second crack at England – all of it's on the table, but those aren't the options most discussed right now.

The spotlight is currently on MLS, the league Reyna – a former NYCFC academy standout – skipped to launch his career at Dortmund. Could it be a logical landing spot now? Several USMNT legends seem to think so.

It's clear that that question will be the talk of American soccer once again during these winter months.

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  The situation

  Admittedly, injuries have taken their toll this season and played a significant role in Reyna being limited to just four appearances. Yet, the 22-year-old has been limited to 56 minutes of action since his return on Nov. 23. That is what is raising concerns about his future at Dortmund.

  In total, Reyna has played a whopping 61 minutes this season in all competitions, with 33 of those minutes coming across four Bundesliga appearances. That's not great, to put it lightly.

  So that brings up the big question with Reyna: are Dortmund just taking things slowly with him, or does he remain outside of their current plans? It's tough to tell at the moment, only Nuri Sahin knows. Sahin's promotion as manager in the summer of 2024 brought some reason for optimism, as did the departure of legendary Marco Reus, but, so far, that optimism hasn't really led to any playing time. Faced with a choice this summer, Reyna chose to stay, and Sahin's arrival along with Reus' move to MLS likely played a factor.

  Regardless of the reasoning, Reyna needs to play. As legendary USMNT star Landon Donovan so eloquently put it, Reyna is a "soccer player", not a "soccer practicer." Playing time is how you get better. Playing time is how you take your career further.

  Reyna has struggled to find that in recent years. After playing nearly 2,000 minutes in 2020-21, he hasn't played more than 611 league minutes in any of the three-and-a-half seasons yet. That lack of playing time is why he made a move last season and, although it failed to help much at all, it did offer some insight into what a potential next step could look like.

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  Past options and decisions

  Last season, Reyna faced a similar situation and ultimately chose a move that might have been the least helpful one. Of course, there is the benefit of hindsight but joining Nottingham Forest on loan was the wrong move.

  In search of more playing time, Reyna joined the relegation-battling club but Forest never really found any reason to play him. They weren't trying to develop a young talented player's confidence, they were trying to survive in the Premier League. Ultimately, Nuno Espirito Santo needed to play guys he trusted, and he never fully trusted Reyna, who made just two starts and played just 230 Premier League minutes.

  Despite how Reyna's move to the Premier League not panning out, the teams who he rejected to make his move last year could provide a look at teams who could be interested in this transfer window.

  Last January, Reyna was linked to multiple clubs all over Europe. Spanish sides Sevilla, Real Sociedad and Villarreal were all linked. So, too, were Marseille, Monaco and Lyon. You can add in Benfica, one of the game's premier talent developers, too. Serie A side Fiorentina were reportedly in the mix as well, and we know how Americans have fared in Italy lately.

  All that indicated that, even one year later, Reyna has options if he does choose to go elsewhere. Europe should provide him a landing spot, and a good one at that, although several USMNT legends believe Reyna is in need of a more drastic move.

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  The viewpoints of legends

  Donovan didn't mince words: he thinks Reyna is wasting his time. The last few years of Reyna's career haven't helped him grow and, right now, that's exactly what he needs to be doing.

  And so Donovan offered a solution: come to MLS, play every minute you can and get better.

  "In a case like Gio, great you signed with Borussia Dortmund, great you went on loan to Forest. You don't play soccer," Donovan said on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast. "I used to hate this. You're a soccer player, you're not a soccer practicer. You're not a soccer-contracted person. You're a soccer player. Do you want to play soccer or not?"

  He added: "Now I know injuries [were a factor] with Gio. I just get so sick of this bullsh*t. People crap on MLS all the time and I get it. Guess what? Gio Reyna in MLS would play 300 games by now, hopefully would've been fit, and he's 20. Maybe then he would've gone somewhere in Europe and gone and played. It's just frustrating because a guy with that talent [should be further ahead]. A lot of people in camp say he's the most talented guy."

  Donovan isn't the only USMNT legend to say it. Tim Howard hailed Reyna as a "special talent", but reiterated that things need to get better before the World Cup. Alexi Lalas, meanwhile, wrote on FOX that Reyna should seriously consider a loan to MLS, namely the MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy, who could use him as a Riqui Puig replacement.

  However, is MLS the right fit for Reyna? If he were to join in January, he still wouldn't play until the final days of February, which would flush away two more months where he could be playing. Maybe a move in the summer could make sense but, given Reyna's options in Europe last time around, it doesn't feel like he has to make that call just yet. Reyna clearly wants to play in Europe, which is why he went there at such a young age, and, despite his struggles, there's no reason to give up on that dream just yet.

  That dream, though, has to make sense.

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  What Reyna should do

  "Europe" is a broad term. Does that mean Champions League teams? Teams playing in continental competitions? A top-five league? It's all completely subjective, isn't it?

  For Reyna, staying in Europe is fine, but it needs to be at a club that allows him to flourish. Look at what the USMNT's PSV contingent is doing every week. Would it not benefit Reyna to do what Malik Tillman is doing every week, even if that means taking a slight step backwards in terms of leagues? Tillman looks set to earn a mega transfer at some point soon after taking his own step back from Bayern to PSV – couldn't a similar move work for Reyna?

  It doesn't have to be to PSV or to a league like the Eredivisie, either. Dortmund is a club that wants to complete with the football's elite clubs, so there are small steps back that could see Reyna end up at a very, very good team. Sevilla, for example, were in for him last year. Would playing for a team that regularly competes for the Europa League trophy be that big of a step back?

  While there are contrasting views on what should be next for Reyna, it all comes down to what does Reyna think and, perhaps just as importantly, what does Dortmund think?

  Despite all that's gone on, Reyna made it clear this summer that he felt he still had a future with the club. Injuries may have impacted his ability to seize that future, but, now healthy, that chance may be there again. Realistically, he now has about a month and a half to do so as the noise grows louder. Every week with another late cameo or DNP is another missed chance to quiet the critics and establish himself as a Dortmund contributor.

  With just a year and a half until the World Cup, every moment counts. Reyna didn't particularly enjoy his first World Cup experience and, if he wants a better crack at a potential second trip in 2026, he needs to head into it fit and in-form. He can't do that from the Dortmund bench, particularly with all of the talent currently in the USMNT.

  So what's Reyna to do? Can he make the most of this month and earn a role going forward? Should he start re-assessing his options in Europe? He'll have to make that call soon, and we'll see what he learned from the last time as he approaches another career turning point with the start of this new transfer window.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has delivered a telling response when asked about Marcus Rashford's latest squad omission.

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• Rashford left out against Wolves
• Amorim explains his absence
• Man Utd lose 2-1 at Wolves

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The England international was once again left out of United's squad, this time against Wolves on Thursday, in a match they went onto lose 2-0. When asked why the 27-year-old did not make the cut, head coach Amorim said, "You can make your mind up".

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  WHAT RUBEN AMORIM SAID

  He told reporters: "It's always the same reason it's going to be. We have to be the same professionals, the same guys, winning or losing. Losing, I have to be stronger. I will continue with my idea until the end."

  When asked if he had not shown anything different since leaving him out of the team, he replied: "If he's not here, you can make your mind up."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rashford has been left out of four straight United games by Amorim but it didn't make much difference at Wolves as the 10-men Red Devils slumped to a poor loss. The forward said he was "ready for a new challenge" earlier this month amid links with a Saudi Pro League move. And if he keeps getting left out, a transfer exit seems inevitable.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Amorim's United side, who are down in 14th and have lost four of their last five league games, will try to end 2024 on a high when they host Newcastle United on Monday.

Crystal Palace have agreed a deal to sign another "elite" new player for Oliver Glasner, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Crystal Palace transfer rumours

The Eagles recorded their first win of the season in the week over Championship outfit Norwich City in the Carabao Cup. However, after the victory, Glasner refused to be drawn on transfer speculation.

Imagine him & Lacroix: Crystal Palace to make late bid for Guehi successor

The Eagles are looking to add to their defensive department before Friday’s deadline.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 28, 2024

“I turn 50 tomorrow and I think I have one free wish, and my wish would be that I don’t have to answer questions about the transfer window, so you can decide if you give me a gift or not.

“They did it fantastically, especially how we scored the goals. It’s almost (midnight), I don’t think about the transfer window, and I hope tomorrow when we meet for training I hope we get some good news.”

It does look as if there will be some more incomings and outgoings at Selhurst Park before the deadline, though, with Eddie Nketiah on course to join from Arsenal and Sam Johnstone joining Wolves.

Nketiah is set to cost Palace an initial £25m plus a further £5m in add-ons, and by the looks of things, he’ll soon be joined by a defender.

Crystal Palace agree Maxence Lacroix deal

According to Romano, Palace have also agreed a deal with Wolfsburg to sign centre-back Maxence Lacroix.

The Athletic have provided more details, saying a transfer will be worth an initial €18m (£15.2m) for the 24-year-old, with a potential €3m (£2.5m) due in add-ons.

Romano added on Thursday morning: "Maxence Lacroix to Crystal Palace, story confirmed and here we go! All documents are approved by #CPFC and Wolfsburg, fee around £18m. He’s always been the #1 target for Glasner to replace Andersen. Medical in London in the next 24h."

Personal terms are seemingly agreed with the Frenchman, who could come in and provide a much-needed option at the back after Joachim Andersen’s move to Fulham and Marc Guehi still being linked with a move to Newcastle.

Lacroix, called an "elite defender" by journalist Tobias Kröger has been with Wolfsburg since 2020 after leaving FC Sochaux and has made 130 appearances for the Bundesliga side, scoring seven goals in the process.

It now looks as if a move to England with Palace could go through before the deadline, providing there isn't a late hitch over the next 24 hours or so.

Chelsea failed to secure their primary striker target, Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, after the deal went down to deadline day. Chelsea failed to agree terms in the final hours of the transfer window, ending the summer without a striker addition.

Osimhen has instead sealed a move to Galatasaray on loan, with other factors included in the deal, such as a lower release clause being inserted into his Napoli contract, and Galatasaray having no buy option.

Osimhen made 32 appearances in all competitions for Napoli last season, scoring 17 goals, providing four assists, and totalling 2,476 minutes played. As it happens, he'll now be joining a certain Hakim Ziyech in Turkey.

Ziyech's time at Chelsea

Ziyech was bought to Chelsea during Frank Lampard's reign, for a fee of £33.3m, signed during February, but joined the club in the summer of 2020.

Making 107 appearances for the club, Ziyech managed just 14 goals and 13 assists, a shadow of his Ajax form, where he delivered 49 goals and 81 assists in 165 games played.

This wasn't helped by his early injury issues in 2020 under Lampard, missing 14 matches with knee and hip injuries, at a time he was considered a starter under the English coach.

Some of the Moroccans' best performances for the Blues came in the Champions League, scoring two goals in the infamous Champions League run under both Lampard and Thomas Tuchel, where Chelsea lifted the trophy in 2021.

But things have been going downhill for Ziyech since the 2022/23 season, where he only managed 24 appearances, totalling 943 minutes for Chelsea, spelling the end of his time at Stamford Bridge, and moving to Turkey to continue his career with Galatasaray, now alongside the aforementioned Osimhen.

Ziyech's time at Galatasaray so far

In his first season for the club where he was on loan, Ziyech made 23 appearances in the 2023/24 campaign across all competitions, scoring eight goals, providing four assists, and featuring for 1,334 minutes played.

Ziyech actually finished the season in relatively good form, scoring four goals and providing one assist in the final six Süper Lig games.

Since this performance, Ziyech was an unused substitute against Adana DS in the Süper Lig, as the likes of Kerem Akturkoglu, and Baris Alper Yilmaz have been preferred to the Moroccan.

Now a permanent figure at the Turkish club, signing in a paltry £2.5m deal this summer, the 2024/25 campaign has seen a torrid start with the 31-year-old making four appearances and providing no goal involvements in his 237 minutes. He has also now been an unused sub in two Süper Lig games, out of a possible three.

Coming towards the back end of his career, Ziyech faces the challenge of getting back into the Galatasaray starting XI, and the signing of Osimhen could actually be his route back in.

Widely known for his passing ability, the Moroccan could provide the creation needed in order for Osimhen to thrive in the box, receiving crosses from all angles, box entry passes, and shot-creating actions.

Osimhen could just be the saviour for Ziyech at Galatasaray, and a way back into the starting XI based on the attributes he can offer the team, especially in a duo with their new talisman.

Chelsea struck gold on £0 signing who's now worth 4x more than Sancho

He’s already proving to be a key figure under Enzo Maresca…

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 3, 2024

Here's what the Red Devils should do when the window opens to give Ruben Amorim the best chance of getting the team back on track

Manchester United have never needed a transfer window so urgently. For the first time ever, the Red Devils spent Christmas in the bottom half of the Premier League table and if no major changes are made, they will be on course for their lowest league finish since 1990.

Despite spending around £600 million ($752m) on new players in the last three summers and having one of the biggest wage bills in Europe, United somehow have a squad that is barely fit for purpose, especially not one that chimes with Ruben Amorim's vision for the team. The Portuguese has tried to revolutionise the team's style of play and, unlike predecessor Erik ten Hag, is not willing to compromise on his ideals. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that many of the players are not capable of enacting his ideas.

Given how much money United spent on sacking Ten Hag and buying Amorim out of his contract with Sporting CP, they must now equip the coach with the players he wants in order to make his vision a reality. And that does not just mean getting new players in; it also means getting rid of the dead wood within the squad.

Here are six moves United should make when the January transfer window opens. It can't come soon enough…

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  Move Rashford on

  As much as Amorim insisted repeatedly that leaving Marcus Rashford out of his matchday squads is a "normal situation", there is nothing normal about it not wanting one of the club's highest-paid players even on the bench, never mind starting. The club therefore needs to find a solution to this impasse as soon as possible.

  As sad as it is to see a previously much-loved homegrown player in this predicament, there is a general acceptance that Rashford has reached the end of the road at United, and rather than try to mend relations, a clean break is the best solution for all parties.

  Rashford has acknowledged that by saying he needs "a new challenge" in an interview, and even if those remarks irked Amorim, the player was merely saying in public what many people have been suggesting privately. Rashford's colossal salary – a reported £325,000 ($407k) per week – and his recent attitude means he will not be easy to shift, but the club need to look at what Arsenal did with both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil. The striker and the midfielder were on massive wages and long-term contracts, but they did not meet Mikel Arteta's standards and the Gunners have gone from strength to strength since they both left.

  Rashford leaving is vital if Amorim wants to see through the cultural reset the club needs so badly, and it is also necessary for financial reasons. Even if the striker is sold for a reduced fee, the sale will go down as 'pure profit' and help the club meet the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

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  Give Amad a new contract

  Four years after joining the club as a little known and inexperienced 18-year-old, Amad Diallo has turned into arguably United's best player. He has contributed to 10 goals since Ten Hag's departure, single-handedly downing PAOK, helping destroy Everton and sparking the late comeback win in the Manchester derby. His work-rate and his attitude to pressing – just take how he chased down Fraser Forster to score at Tottenham – is also hugely impressive and is exactly what United need to cling on to in these times of strife.

  Amad's emergence as United's best player also comes at a time when he is dangerously close to leaving the club for free. The 22-year-old's contract expires in June and from January 1 he will be free to speak to rival clubs. That is why it is imperative for United to not just trigger the one-year extension clause in his current contract, but to show him how important he is by offering him a lucrative long-term deal..

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  Sign a left-wing-back

  To be brutally honest, United have not had a reliable left-back since Patrice Evra. Luke Shaw is an excellent defender and attacker when fit, but he has been dogged by repeated injury problems ever since breaking his leg early in his second season at Old Trafford and cannot be relied upon. He has played just 98 minutes of football this season and is currently sidelined with a muscle problem, a likely consequence of him fighting to be fit for England at the European Championship. His deputy, Tyrell Malacia, missed 17 months of football following two knee operations and has struggled badly since returning, being taken off at half-time in three of his four outings.

  United have effectively had no reliable left-back for the past two seasons, and their weakness in this position has become even more glaring since the arrival of Amorim due to the coach's use of wing-backs. Diogo Dalot has had to play there, but his best position is on the right, while Noussair Mazraoui is much more comfortable in the back three.

  The club are close to announcing a deal for 17-year-old Paraguayan left-back Diego Leon, but he will not be arriving until he turns 18 in the summer and will be part of a long-term plan rather than ready to come in and immediately hit the ground running.

  There are, though, plenty of good, more experienced options out there. Alphonso Davies is running down his contract with Bayern Munich and will be available for free, although Real Madrid are doing their best to convince him to move to the Spanish capital. Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez, who has been excellent in his side's two 3-0 wins at Old Trafford in the last year, would also be a smart buy.

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  Bring in a defensive organiser

  United spent £60m ($75m) on defenders over the summer, but their backline has looked vulnerable throughout the season, both under Ten Hag and Amorim. The team have let in 17 goals in nine games since the Portuguese took charge, shipping seven alone against Tottenham and Bournemouth.

  Of particular concern is their weakness from set-pieces. United have conceded 18 times from dead-ball situations in 2024, more than in any other calendar year in Premier League history. Bournemouth's opening goal in their 3-0 win at Old Trafford was the seventh time in six games United had conceded a goal from a set play. Oppositions are deliberately targeting this weakness and Amorim said he could sense the whole stadium was anxious every time the team conceded a free-kick.

  The solution is to sign a central defender with experience and authority. The fact that United have had to lean on the 36-year-old Jonny Evans for a second season underlines their poor recruitment in defence, as has the fact that Harry Maguire has emerged as a key player 18 months after the club tried to sell him to West Ham. Maguire turns 32 in March and is nearing the end of his contract, so some new blood is needed.

  United should look to the Bundesliga for a solution to their defensive woes. Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba, who won the title playing in a back-three for Xabi Alonso and was a target in 2023, would be an excellent signing, as would his defensive partner Jonathan Tah. Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck is another attractive proposition. Closer to home, Nicola Milenkovic is a towering presence who United know all about after he scored against them in Nottingham Forest's 3-2 win at Old Trafford earlier this month.