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Leicester City will take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend and they have been handed a major blow ahead of the crunch clash.
Wolves attacker Matheus Cunha was expected to miss the game with a ban from the FA. The 25-year-old Brazilian was expected to be punished after he lashed out at a security guard during the match against Ipswich Town last week.
However, Wolves are yet to hear from the FA on any potential ban and therefore the Brazilian will be free to play on Sunday against the Foxes, according to Express and Star.
The development will be a major blow for Leicester who were hoping to face Wolves without Cunha.
Cunha could be the game-changer
The game between Leicester and Wolves could be a relegation six-pointer and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
The 25-year-old is a key player for Wolves and he could hurt Leicester with his creativity, technical ability and goal scoring prowess. Taking on Wolves without the Brazilian would have been a major advantage for the Foxes who have looked vulnerable at the back.
Meanwhile, Leicester City fans were clearly unhappy with the situation and some of them took to X to vent their frustrations.
An absolute joke. A ban should’ve been the absolute minimum after that video came to the FA’s attention. Inexcusable act which no player should get away with and you know he’ll be banned after our game. Shocking.
— Sachin Kelsen (@kelsen_sachin) December 20, 2024
Regardless, the Foxes have a quality squad and the need to start performing at a higher level. They will need to start picking up points if they want to stay in the Premier League next season. It remains to be seen whether Ruud van Nistelrooy can get the best out of his squad in the coming weeks.
The post FA decision hands Leicester a blow ahead of Wolves clash appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/fa-decision-hands-leicester-a-blow-ahead-of-wolves-clash/
Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing the French midfielder Youssouf Fofana from AC Milan.
Fofana has been a key player for Milan since joining them for a fee of around €20 million last summer. His performances have attracted the attention of the Blues. According to Fichajes, Chelsea have set their sights on the French midfielder and they are willing to pay €60 million (£50m) in order to get the deal done.
It would not be a surprise if Milan are prepared to let the player leave should Chelsea submit an official offer. They would get to triple their investment on the Frenchman and they will be able to replace him with the money on offer as well.
Fofana will add defensive cover, physicality and drive to the Chelsea midfield. The Blues have put together a quality squad and they are looking to improve further. Moises Caicedo has not been at his best since joining the club from Brighton and signing another defensive midfielder would be a wise decision.
The 25-year-old Milan midfielder could be the perfect alternative to Caicedo at times. He is capable of operating as a central midfielder as well as a right-sided midfielder as well.
Fofana has the physicality and technical attributes to do well in the Premier League and he could be an asset for Chelsea. He was linked with Manchester United before the move to Italy, but the Milan hierarchy managed to win the race for his signature.
Milan could cash in on Youssouf Fofana
It will be interesting to see if the Blues can get the deal across the line. €60 million is a lot of money for the player and Milan could be tempted to cash in on him. It will be interesting to see if Chelsea submit their offer in january.
They have started the season really well and they are second in the league table. Signing quality players midway through the season could help them launch a serious challenge for the league title.
The 25-year-old French midfielder will be attracted to the idea of joining Chelsea as well. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world and they could provide him with the platform to fight for major trophies consistently.
The post Chelsea ready to pay £50 million in order to sign Frenchman from Euro giants appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/chelsea-ready-pay-50-million-youssouf-fofana/
Liverpool are keen on signing Antonee Robinson from Fulham in january.
According to Football Insider, they will have to pay a fee of around £40-50 million in order to sign the USMNT star.
The 27-year-old left-back has established himself as a proven performer in the Premier League and he could be the ideal replacement for Andrew Robertson. The Scottish international defender is showing signs of decline and his performances have been quite underwhelming in recent months. He needs to be replaced adequately and the Fulham defender would be the ideal acquisition.
Manchester United and Arsenal are in the running for the defender as well and it remains to be seen where he ends up.
The defender has picked up 6 assists for Fulham in the league this season and he is a key player for them. It is no surprise that they are demanding a premium for him.
Liverpool have the resources to get the deal done and they must look to sign him in the coming weeks.
Man United and Arsenal need Robinson
It is no surprise that Manchester United are keen on the player. Luke Shaw has struggled with persistent injury problems and Manchester United need a more reliable presence in that area. Robinson has shown his quality in the Premier League and he could hit the ground running if he moves to Old Trafford.
Similarly, Arsenal need a quality left-back who could be an upgrade on Oleksandr Zinchenko. The 27-year-old certainly fits the profile and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.
Robinson will certainly be attracted to the idea of joining a big club in the near future. He has proven himself with Fulham and he will want to play for a club capable of winning major trophies. He is at the peak of his powers and he will want to compete at the highest level regularly.
The post Liverpool told to pay £40-50m for January target on Arsenal and Man United radar appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/liverpool-arsenal-man-united-antonee-robinson-asking-price/
Arsenal need new players as soon as possible and particularly in the attacking positions.
They have struggled to score goals this season and that is why they are currently a long way behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
After challenging for the league title for the last two seasons, Arteta was expected to sign an attacker in the summer transfer window but the Spaniard instead focused on strengthening the team’s defense.
It has become clear now that a new striker is needed at the club who can guide the North London club closer to their first Premier League title in around two decades.
Journalist David Ornstein has been discussing Arsenal’s transfer targets and he has named Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak as the player Arteta would love to sign in an ideal world.
However, The Athletic journalist went on to claim that the finances do not make sense for the Gunners to sign him.
Speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast, Ornstein said:
“I think we should cast our gaze onto Alexander Isak. We have seen how unbelievably good he is when he’s fit and in a rhythm.
“There doesn’t appear to be any progress on a new contract. Newcastle have him for several more years, and that perhaps opens the opportunity for clubs to make a push.
“He’s somebody that clubs have looked very closely at in the past. Arsenal, for example, looked to sign him when he was at Real Sociedad, they didn’t end up doing it and he went to Newcastle.
“Mikel Arteta is a known admirer of his and I think in an ideal world if they had their pick of strikers and money wasn’t a factor I do think Arsenal would seriously consider going for him. But finances are an issue and he’s goig to cost a hell of a lot of money and he has spent a lot of time out injured.”
Alexander Isak to Arsenal?
The Sweden international striker would be the ideal player to lead the Arsenal attack.
Currently, Kai Havertz has that responsibility and the German is struggling a lot this season.
Even though Isak has had some fitness issues recently, a player like him would love to play in the attacking Arsenal side. He is a ruthless finisher that the Gunners lack in their team.
Perhaps with him in their side, they could have won at least one of the Premier League titles in the last two seasons.
It remains to be seen if Arteta will enter the market for a new attacker but Isak is not the only one they have been linked with.
The Premier League giants have recently scouted RB Leipzig attacker Benjamin Sesko.
The post David Ornstein names player that Arsenal would sign in an ideal world appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/david-ornstein-player-arsenal-sign/
Southampton winger Tyler Dibling has been linked with Manchester United and Newcastle United.
According to Football Insider, the winger could be available for a fee of around £20-30 million in the summer.
The 18-year-old is highly rated across the country and he has the potential to develop into a top-class player. The likes of Manchester United and Newcastle could certainly use more quality in the wide areas and the 18-year-old would be a future investment for them.
He is already performing at an impressive level in the Premier League and he is only going to improve further.
The report states that Newcastle have a better chance of signing the player because they will be able to offer him more game time. The player is reportedly not keen on sitting on the bench at a big club and therefore the move to Manchester United does not appeal to him. It remains to be seen whether Manchester United can convince the player that he will get ample opportunities at Old Trafford.
Dibling is likely to join a big club soon
The Southampton attacker is one of the most promising young talents in the Premier League right now and he will be excited to take the next step in his career. Southampton are expected to go down this season and Dibling is too good to play in the Championship. He will want to remain in the Premier League and there is unlikely to be any shortage of clubs hoping to sign him.
He could complete the Newcastle front three alongside Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon if he joins the club. Similarly, he could be an upgrade on Antony if he moves to Manchester United.
The reported asking price is quite reasonable for a player of his potential and it remains to be seen where he ends up. Both English clubs have the financial muscle to get the deal done and they will be keen to secure his signature.
The post Newcastle have advantage over Man United in the race to sign £20-30m-rated attacker appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/newcastle-man-united-want-sign-tyler-dibling/
Manchester United have shown signs of improvement under new manager Ruben Amorim.
It is still early days but the Portuguese manager has been able to get the best out of some of the players but results have not totally gone in their favour.
Even though they beat Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, they have lost crucial matches against Arsenal and Tottenham.
Out of the eight matches he has managed so far at the club, Amorim has been able to win just four of them.
It clearly shows that new signings are needed in the squad in order to improve the standards of the squad and add quality.
One player who has been recently linked with a move to Old Trafford is Paris Saint-Germain attacker Randal Kolo Muani.
Since Marcus Rashford has expressed his desire of a new challenge and his potential transfer away from the club at a crucial stage according to Fabrizio Romano, the Red Devils may have to enter the market soon to sign a new attacking player.
Premier League rivals Arsenal are expected to give tough competition to Man United in the race to sign Kolo Muani.
Transfer expert Romano has provided both the clubs a boost in their pursuit of the attacker, reporting that his exit from the Ligue 1 club is almost guaranteed.
He wrote on his X account:
“Kolo Muani’s exit in January is considered sure and almost guaranteed, as Luis Enrique keeps showing he doesn’t count on the French striker anymore.
“PSG are open to discuss Randal’s exit on their conditions, same as Milan Skriniar.
“Plan reported 10 days ago, confirmed.”
Kolo Muani’s exit in January is considered sure and almost guaranteed, as Luis Enrique keeps showing he doesn’t count on the French striker anymore.
PSG are open to discuss Randal’s exit on their conditions, same as Milan Skriniar.
Plan reported 10 days ago, confirmed. pic.twitter.com/CUAp9Z020w
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 21, 2024
Man United should take a risk on Randal Kolo Muani
The Red Devils have nothing to lose as far as this deal is concerned.
PSG are desperate to offload the player and the Premier League side should consider a loan move until the end of the season.
The attacking depth in Ruben Amorim’s side is thin and an addition like Kolo Muani could help the club in the second half of the season.
The post “Almost guaranteed” – Fabrizio Romano issues encouraging update on Man United target appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/fabrizio-romano-update-man-united-target/
Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min has been linked with a move away from the North London club.
According to Fichajes, the 32-year-old is reportedly a target for Atletico Madrid and they could look to sign him in the coming months.
The South Korean will be a free agent in the summer of 2025 and Atletico Madrid are willing to bring him to La Liga if the conditions are favourable.
Atletico Madrid need more quality and depth in their attacking unit and the 32-year-old could be the ideal acquisition. He is versatile enough to operate anywhere across the front three and he will chip in with goals and assists.
There is no doubt that Son has the physical and technical attributes to do well in La Liga and he could be a key player for Diego Simeone and his side in the short term.
The South Korean has 7 goals and 6 assists in all competitions this season and he will look to hit the ground running at Atletico Madrid if the move goes through.
Atletico move could be tempting for Son
Son has not been able to win trophies at the club level with Tottenham and a move to Atletico might improve his chances. Atletico Madrid have a quality squad at their disposal and a world-class manager at the helm. Son might stand a better chance of winning a trophy with them.
It would be a major bargain if Atletico Madrid can secure his signature in the summer.
It remains to be seen how the situation develops. Ideally, Tottenham should look to keep him at the club and agree on an extension with him.
Regardless of his age and recent signs of decline, he remains a proven performer at the highest level, and he is undoubtedly one of the best attackers in the Premier League. Any club signing him would have a game-changer on their hands.
The post La Liga giants plot bargain move for 13-G/A Tottenham star appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/atletico-madrid-plot-bargain-move-tottenham-son-heung-min/
Manchester United are interested in signing the River Plate midfielder Franco Mastantuono.
The 17-year-old Argentine midfielder is highly rated across Europe, and he is on the radar of multiple clubs. However, Manchester United are in no hurry to get a deal done, and they are set to monitor him over the next few months, as per GMS.
It will be interesting to see if Manchester United come forward with an offer to sign him at the end of the season. He has a £38 million release clause in his contract. Manchester United certainly have the financial resources to get the deal across the line, and it will be interesting to see if they can secure his signature in the coming months.
The player is thought to be on the radar of Liverpool. He has been likened to Phil Foden because of his style of play. He will add goals and creativity to the side.
The 17-year-old is regarded as one of the finest young prospects in South American football right now, and he could be a future asset for Manchester United if they can get the deal done. Even though the asking price might seem steep right now, Mastantuono has the quality to justify the investment in the coming seasons.
Manchester United United manager Ruben Amorim is not keen on rushing a deal for the youngster in January and he will monitor the midfielder’s performances before deciding on a potential move. It remains to be seen how the situation unfolds.
Mastantuno would be a quality addition
Manchester United need more quality and depth in the middle of the park, and the 17-year-old could be a long-term prospect for them. The opportunity to move to England will be quite exciting for the youngster and regular exposure to English could accelerate his development.
Mastantuono is expected to develop into a world-class player with the right guidance. Manchester United have helped several young players fulfil their potential over the years and they could play a key role in his development as well.
The post Man United set to monitor £38 million-rated midfielder ahead of potential move appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/man-united-monitor-franco-mastantuono/
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing Feyenoord defender David Hancko.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Slovakian international defender could move in 2025, and he has attracted the attention of the top Premier League clubs. He has been linked with Manchester United in the past.
European heavyweights such as Juventus and Atletico Madrid are keen on the defender as well. However, any move might have to wait until the end of the season. The 27-year-old is unlikely to be sold midway through the season in January.
Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile have been linked with the move away from Chelsea, and they have been quite underwhelming with their performance. Chelsea will need to replace them adequately and signing the Feyenoord defender could prove to be a wise decision. At 27, he is at the peak of his powers, and he will look to test himself at the highest level. The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be quite exciting for him, and he will look to establish himself as a key player for the Blues.
Tottenham keen on David Hancko
Similarly, Tottenham have struggled with injury problems at the back. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are sidelined with knocks and Radu Dragusin is the only fit central defender at the club right now. Signing another quality central defender would be a wise decision.
It will be interesting to see if Tottenham or Chelsea come forward with an offer to sign the player in the coming months. The defender is reportedly valued at €50 million and the English club certainly have the financial resources to pay up.
Hancko has the physicality to adapt to English football, and he could be a key player for the Londoners. It will be interesting to see where he ends up. He has worked under Liverpool manager Arne Slot at Feyenoord and he has been linked with the Reds as well.
The post Chelsea and Tottenham line up 2025 move for €50m-rated defender appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/chelsea-tottenham-line-up-2025-move-david-hancko/
Premier League clubs, particularly Manchester United and Arsenal, are all preparing to make moves in the January transfer window.
With Man United fighting to win the Europa League and Arsenal looking to challenge for the Premier League and the Champions League titles once again, both clubs will be determined to strengthen their squad next year.
An area where they both have struggled this season is the striker department.
For Man United, Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been inconsistent while Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have both failed to make an impact in the Premier League this season.
In order to address those issues, they are targeting a move for RB Leipzig attacker Benjamin Sesko.
According to TBR Football, Man United and Arsenal scouted the Bundesliga attacker during his team’s match against Bayern Munich.
Although RB Leipzig suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat against Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich side, Sesko managed to score a goal and impress the clubs that were in attendance to watch him play.
As per the report, more than 20 clubs were present in Munich to see the striker play against the German giants.
Man United and Arsenal are actively looking for new additions
He was not the only player on their agenda though. Bayern’s attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala is the other player they were scouting.
The 21-year-old attacker has been in fine form this season, already scoring 11 goals for the German team.
His fine form has not gone unnoticed and teams all over the world and interested in securing the services of the attacker.
He is physical and his finishing ability is brilliant, making him the ideal option for Premier League clubs to explore in the near future.
The player is often compared to Manchester City attacker Erling Haaland due to their similar physique, playing style and finishing quality.
Fabrizio Romano has already provided an encouraging update about Arsenal ahead of the January window.
The post Report: Man United and Arsenal scout 11-goal striker ahead of January transfer window appeared first on CaughtOffside.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/12/21/man-united-arsenal-striker-scout/
