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A £51 million player has now also agreed to join Chelsea this summer and manager Enzo Maresca appears set to sign him, taking the Blues' tally of new arrivals to 13 in another busy window.

Chelsea splash cash in very active transfer window

Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham), Estevao Willian (Palmeiras), Omari Kellyman (Aston Villa), Renato Veiga (FC Basel), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City), Marc Guiu (Barcelona), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United), Filip Jorgensen (Villarreal) and Aaron Anselmino (Boca Juniors) are all of Todd Boehly's latest confirmed signings, but a few more are now set to follow.

£30 million Chelsea fan favourite now ready to leave the club after U-turn

He’s changed his mind about a departure this summer.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 9, 2024

Chelsea have also sealed a £34.5 million deal for Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion, with the 20-year-old set to sign a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge after the club agreed to let Conor Gallagher go the other way.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano claims that both Gabriel Mec and Mike Penders are expected to join Chelsea as well, adding to Maresca's ever-growing crop of young talent as the west Londoners continue to build a team for the future.

There is still time remaining for Chelsea to reach an agreement over signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, having been in talks with Antonio Conte's side since last week.

Reliable journalists like Matt Law of The Telegraph refuse to rule out the possibility of Chelsea signing Osimhen and Omorodion, as Maresca's side seek to add more firepower ahead of a crucial 2024/2025 Premier League season. Chelsea have also been after a new senior winger all summer, and failed to win the race for Michael Olise, who put pen to paper on a move to Bayern Munich instead.

Chelsea were tipped to use makeweights like Raheem Sterling in a move for Olise, but the prospect of a part-exchange deal wasn't enough to make the 22-year-old choose a move across London.

Maresca's men were forced to move on to alternative targets, and according to Romano, the search for a new star wide man is now over.

Chelsea set to sign Pedro Neto as he agrees to join the club

The respected transfer journalist, sharing news on Friday evening, gave his famous 'here we go' to the signing of Wolves star Pedro Neto.

Neto has agreed to join Chelsea in a deal worth an initial £51 million, bringing an end to their hunt for a winger, in some very sudden transfer news out of the club.

The Portugal international bagged 11 assists and three goals across 24 appearances in all competitions for Wolves last season, but concerns will surround Neto's questionable injury record during his time at Molineux.

However, when fit and available, the 24-year-old's quality and proven Premier League experience should be a real asset for Maresca out wide.

Dan Ashworth has been linked with a move back to the Premier League just days after his exit from Manchester United.

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• Ashworth could return to the Premier League
• Could join Everton soon
• Linked with a move to Arsenal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ashworth recently parted ways with the Red Devils after a brief five-month stint with reports suggesting that his departure stemmed from conflicts with senior figures at the club, which led to his departure. However, the 53-year-old could return to the Premier League soon as Everton have been linked with a move for the executive, according to .

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  The report further adds that Dan Friedkin, who is all set to take over at the Toffees as their new owner, is known to be an admirer of Ashworth and he could bring the ex-United sporting director back to the English top-flight once his take over gets the Premier League's ratification by the end of this month.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Kevin Thelwell is currently serving the Merseyside club as their sporting director but it is believed that once Friedkin's takeover is completed, he would want to bring in his own people in the management.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DAN ASHWORTH?

  Ashworth has also been linked with a move to Arsenal who are looking to replace outgoing Edu, however, the Brazilian's current deputy Jason Ayto is in a strong position to fill in the vacancy at Emirates Stadium

Enzo Maresca admitted that Chelsea could sell £30m summer signing, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, in January due to dispute over his playing time.

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• Dewsbury-Hall impressed against Shamrock Rovers
• However, ex-Luton Town star not regular in Maresca's setup
• Could leave Stamford Bridge in January for more playing time

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Dewsbury-Hall showcased his talent during Chelsea’s dominant 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers on Thursday, netting his second goal for the club with a well-taken strike into the bottom corner. However, despite his contributions in cup competitions, the midfielder has yet to start a Premier League game this season. Most of his 15 appearances have been in the Conference League and Carabao Cup, leaving him frustrated with his lack of top-flight opportunities.

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  Maresca, who previously managed Dewsbury-Hall at Leicester City, played a pivotal role in the midfielder's development. While the Chelsea boss remains impressed with Dewsbury-Hall’s work ethic and performances, stiff competition in the squad has forced him to be a fringe player, making only five substitute appearances in the top-fight.

• WHAT MARESCA SAID

  When asked about Dewsbury-Hall’s future, Maresca hinted at the possibility of a January departure but avoided providing a definitive answer.

  "Unfortunately I can not say that about Kiernan or about all of the squad because when the window is open, anything can happen," he told reporters. "The only thing I can say about Kiernan is that we are very happy with the way he is working and his performances.”

  The Italian manager emphasized that the decision ultimately rests with Dewsbury-Hall and the club. He explained, “We don’t want one of our players to leave. The problem is sometimes the question is more for them. If they say ‘You don’t want me to leave but I am not happy and want to play more’, in that case, we are not going to say ‘No, you have to stay’. It’s a matter of an agreement between the club and the player. The only thing I can say is I am happy with Kiernan, then we will see.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea are set to face Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, and Dewsbury-Hall’s involvement—or lack thereof—could provide further insight into his standing within the squad. With January approaching and the transfer window opening soon, it remains to be seen whether Dewsbury-Hall will continue to fight for his place or seek a fresh start elsewhere.

The summer transfer window officially slams shut on Friday of next week and this means that Leeds United do not have much time left to complete their business.

Georginio Rutter's permanent transfer to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion was officially confirmed on Monday night, with the Frenchman becoming the latest star to move away from Elland Road in recent months.

Glen Kamara, who signed for Rennes, Archie Gray, who joined Tottenham Hotspur, and Crysencio Summerville, who moved to West Ham United, have also left the club this summer.

Meanwhile, the West Yorkshire outfit have dipped into the transfer market to land Alex Cairns, Joe Rothwell, Jayden Bogle, and Joe Rodon to bolster Daniel Farke's squad.

This means that the Whites are yet to add an attacking midfielder, winger, or striker to the group, despite losing Summerville and Rutter from the team.

However, there are still around ten days left to go before the window slams shut and there is some time left for Leeds to pursue deals for attackers to improve Farke's attacking options ahead of the rest of the 2024/25 campaign.

In fact, the Yorkshire-based outfit are reportedly eyeing up a winger from the Championship to come in and replace Summerville this month.

Leeds eyeing swoop for EFL sensation

According to Football Insider, Leeds are targeting a late swoop to bring former academy graduate Jack Clarke back to Elland Road from divisional rivals Sunderland.

The report claims that the English wizard, who was described as "unplayable" by pundit Adrian Clarke, is one of the players the club have identified as a target to come in and bolster their wide options before the deadline passes.

It states that the Whites have decided that they will sign a winger and a striker before the end of the window, following the departures of Rutter and Summerville.

The Boot Room reports that Leeds are interested in signing Clarke and goes as far as to say that the Black Cats whiz is open to returning to his former club.

It added, though, that there are a number of teams keen on the electric forward and it will not be an easy deal for Farke's side to get over the line.

The outlet also revealed that it will take a fee of around £18m to tempt Sunderland into parting ways with their star player and it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites are prepared to spend that much on a signing this summer.

If they do splash the cash and swoop to sign Clarke for £18m, the Black Cats magician could come in as a dream partner for Mateo Joseph in the final third.

Mateo Joseph's attacking potential

Leeds supporters saw first-hand how willing Farke is to give young players a chance to showcase their ability, as Gray was handed a regular role in the team and earned the Championship Young Player of the Year award.

Joseph looks set to be the latest talented prospect to get the Gray treatment from the German head coach. He started the first two games of the league season, having come into the campaign with zero senior league starts in his career.

The Spain U21 international is yet to get off the mark this term but did create a 'big chance' for his teammates, which they failed to make the most of.

He has been handed an opportunity after an impressive summer, in which the youngster scored four goals during pre-season, with two strikes against Hannover, one against Schalke, and one against Valencia.

Last season, all 20 of his appearances in the Championship came as a substitute but he did get a chance to impress as a starter against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup.

As you can see in the table above, Joseph found the back of the net twice against the Premier League side and created two chances for his teammates, which shows that he can make a big impact when given time and service.

The Spanish striker, who scored 19 goals in 33 games for the club at U21 level, did not have Rutter to provide him with service against West Brom on Saturday, and the signing of Clarke could provide him with a player who can create chances for him.

Why Leeds should sign Jack Clarke

Firstly, the 23-year-old gem came up through the ranks at Thorp Arch and may not take much time to settle in, as he has lived in the area and will already know people around the club.

This could allow him to hit the ground running in a way that a signing with no prior experience in the area or at the club may not be able to do this summer.

Secondly, he is a proven Championship performer who has the quality to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch, based on his form for Sunderland in recent seasons.

As you can see in the table above, the English sensation has provided a big threat in the final third for the Black Cats, as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

This suggests that he could arrive at Elland Road this summer and Farke could expect him to immediately be a key player for the team, due to his proven quality at that level.

His creative prowess could also make him the perfect winger to play alongside Joseph, as he has the ability to consistently create high-quality chances for the forward.

In the 2023/24 campaign, Clarke created 12 'big chances' for his teammates and racked up 9.77 xA in the Championship. However, he was only rewarded with four assists, which shows that his fellow attackers let him down with their wasteful finishing.

Farke could land his own Raphinha in Leeds swoop for "electric" wizard

The Whites are reportedly interested in signing the Championship winger this month.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 20, 2024

This suggests that Joseph would not be starved of service at the top end of the pitch if Leeds sign the winger, which is why they could be an exciting pairing for the club.

AC Milan have warned Manchester United that they will not pay the entirety of Marcus Rashford's wages as they pursue a loan for the attacker.

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• Man Utd & AC Milan in Rashford talks
• Serie A side will only pay half his wages
• Juventus also said to be interested

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Serie A side are in talks with the Red Devils over a possible temporary move for the England attacker, but reports they are only willing to pay half of his salary. United, meanwhile, are demanding any team hoping to sign him on loan will have to cover most of his £325,000-per-week earnings.

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  Even paying half of Rashford's salary would see him become their highest-paid player, as Alvaro Morata is currently top of the wage bill with a reported £150,000 per week. United may look to ship Rashford elsewhere if Milan stand firm, with Napoli and Juventus also said to be interested.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United need to offload Rashford before they can bring in any new signings to strengthen Ruben Amorim's squad. Having been dropped from the squad altogether in recent weeks, Rashford has said he is ready to leave, but a January move is proving complicated.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

  Talks between Milan and United will likely continue as they look to come to terms over a deal that suits all parties before the month is over.

Aston Villa are already looking at signing a "faultless" £20 million Premier League player in January, as he considers a mid-season exit.

Nearly £150 million spent during busy summer window at Aston Villa

Club transfer chief Monchi led Villa's charge for new recruits in the summer, with the Champions League outfit spending nearly £150 million on eight major signings in Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen, Jaden Philogene, Cameron Archer, Samuel Illing-Junior, Lewis Dobbin, Enzo Barrenchea and Ross Barkley.

Coach hails "favourite" Aston Villa gem in "wonderful" ace yet to make his debut

He’s also “very brave” and “very helpful” in defence.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 7, 2024

Villa boss Unai Emery lost key players over the summer, like Douglas Luiz, who bagged 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions last season and played a crucial role during their charge for a fourth-placed finish.

Luiz ended up joining Juventus with both Iling-Junior and Barrenechea coming the other way. PSR concerns meant Emery and Monchi simply had to contemplate these kinds of sales, with star winger Moussa Diaby also sealing a £52 million move to Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.

Villa's exit deals, which brought in around £122 million, meant the club managed to register a net spend of just £28 million over the course of the last transfer window. Emery could've made another late signing as well in Lutsharel Geertruida as well, but their proposed deal with Feyenoord was hijacked by RB Leipzig.

In any case, it was still a successful window for Villa, who replaced their departed 2023/2024 stars with real quality, and they weren't afraid to invest in a bid to back Emery for this season.

Aston Villa looking at signing Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior

According to journalist Graeme Bailey and The Boot Room, the Villans already have their sights set on January, with Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior a potential target.

It is believed Villa are one of the few clubs looking at signing Kiwior, as the Poland international considers a mid-season departure from the Emirates Stadium. The 24-year-old, who cost Arsenal around £20 million to sign from Spezia last year, made 20 Premier League appearances under Mikel Arteta last season – impressing in a makeshift left-back role for the most part.

ESPN Chile reporter and Arsenal fan Eduardo Hagn heaped praise on Kiwior even before then, calling him "faultless" in possession after a solid 2022/2023 display against Newcastle United.

The defender was subject to inquiries from many Serie A sides over the summer as well, according to Bailey, with AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma and Bologna all contacting Arsenal over Kiwior's availability.

Chelsea have activated the one-year option in Guro Reiten's deal as the club starts to address the list of nine players out-of-contract this summer.

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• Nine Chelsea players set to be free agents this summer
• Club has now worked to extend two of those
• Lionesses star Bright could be next after 'discussions'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Reiten has been one of Chelsea's best players this season, with no team-mate scoring more than her six Women's Super League goals, and so to extend her contract until the summer of 2026 is an important bit of business done by the Blues.

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  The news follows another contract extension on Monday, which saw centre-back Aniek Nouwen pen a new one-year deal at the club. The Netherlands international, who is currently recovering from an ACL injury, was another of the nine players set to leave this summer. She will now be sticking around for at least an extra 12 months.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  That leaves Chelsea with seven players to make a decision on now: Lionesses star Millie Bright, goalkeeper Zecira Musovic, full-back Eve Perisset, midfielder Erin Cuthbert, winger Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and the injured duo of Sophie Ingle and Kadeisha Buchanan. Like Reiten, Rytting Kaneryd has a one-year option in her contract.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Last week, reported that Bright 'has been in discussions' over a new contract at the club, with Cuthbert and Buchanan also described as players Chelsea 'want' to agree deals with. As the Blues start to really get to business on sorting these situations out, one of that trio is likely to follow Nouwen and Reiten and be the next to extend their stay in London.

Manchester United supporters would have excused the nervousness of the opening day win against Fulham in the Premier League, with new recruit Joshua Zirkzee scoring late on to secure a slim 1-0 win versus Marco Silva's Cottagers, to spare the blushes of Erik ten Hag watching on.

Now, however, the same forlorn mood that engulfed Old Trafford for large spells of last season has returned, as Arne Slot's Liverpool trounced the out-of-sorts Red Devils 3-0 last time out, on what has become a very happy hunting ground for the Reds in recent years.

Losing in the last minute to Brighton and Hove Albion the match before did make this showdown with their arch-rivals feel even more important, but the Premier League titans just couldn't handle the immense pressure on their shoulders and rolled over in the end for Mohamed Salah and Co to comfortably pick up three points

Ten Hag will be bitterly disappointed with the efforts of his senior individuals that continue to underperform, with Casemiro notably trudging off the pitch at the Theatre of Dreams in a downbeat manner, after a horror-show display against Liverpool saw him be hooked at half-time.

Casemiro's decline at Man United

Once costing the Red Devils an eye-watering £70m, picking up Casemiro back in 2022 was meant to be an almighty statement purchase, especially when you consider his golden trophy haul playing for Real Madrid before making the switch to England.

Winning an astounding five Champions League winners medals when starring at the Santiago Bernabeu, the now 32-year-old holding midfielder must look back on that patch of his career with even more nostalgic fondness, as he continues to decline at Old Trafford.

The waning South American midfielder was at fault for both of Liverpool's first-half strikes in the one-sided affair on Sunday, gifting strikes for Luis Diaz to then confidently convert with the Colombian attacker loving life in Manchester, as the game swung heavily in the away side's favour.

It wasn't a real shock to see his Dutch manager bring him off at the half-time interval, therefore, as a passing of the old guard to the next generation at the Red Devils occurred, with 19-year-old Toby Collyer thrown into the action in his place.

Giving up possession 14 times across his disastrous 45-minute showing too, alongside other worrying numbers from the crushing defeat, this could signal that the end of Casemiro's career at Man United is on the horizon.

He equally had a shocker of the same magnitude last season when Ten Hag's men were badly humbled away at Crystal Palace by four goals, as the 32-year-old was dribbled past an outrageous seven times, leading to the Eagles toying with the once esteemed Real Madrid figure.

This damage to his ego in Manchester has resulted in his transfer value taking a major hit, with the lacklustre United number 18's value in the here and now nowhere near the extortionate £70m he once was worth at the height of his playing days.

Casemiro's transfer value in 2024

As per Transfermarkt, the Brazilian midfielder is now worth just £17m, a far cry off that bumper amount Ten Hag's side forked out to win his services only two years ago.

With his highest-ever estimated transfer value recorded by Football Transfers coming in at £70.5m as well, it's fair to say his career has taken a swift decline playing for the up-and-down Red Devils, who continue to spend lavish amounts.

Man United rank as the second-highest spenders during the recently closed transfer window in the Premier League, just behind Todd Boehly-backed Chelsea, with a spending outlay of £205.9m according to Sky Sports.

Their wild spending habits have seen the likes of Leny Yoro, Matthijs De Ligt and Manuel Ugarte all join the building, as fans of the underperforming giants pray that not a single big purchase this summer goes on to be an expensive flop like Casemiro is turning into.

Away from all the very expensive new buys entering through the door, Ten Hag will have been pleased with the efforts of Amad Diallo so far this campaign, who had been stuck on the fringes at Old Trafford for a while.

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Market Movers

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Diallo's promising performances this season

The former Atalanta winger once cost the Red Devils £37m, which looking back could be seen as a rash purchase in itself, particularly when you evaluate that his own price tag has dropped down to below Casemiro's at £15m, according to Transfermarkt.

Yet, Diallo is now finally making a positive impact and will feel content with where he now finds himself in his topsy-turvy career in Manchester, having shone in spells during the early stages of this bumpy campaign. After all, it's not as though he's been the catastrophic flop that positional peer £80m Antony has turned to.

The 22-year-old attacker would only make nine Premier League appearances in total last season, with the increasing likelihood that he would be offloaded sooner rather than later.

Now, however, he has become an exciting player to watch during gloomy times at the top-flight club, with his bright display against Brighton before the sobering loss to Liverpool deserving of the goal he was rewarded with.

The once ostracised United number 16 also tried to give his downtrodden side a boost when coming off the bench against Liverpool last time out, with one big chance created from his promising 21-minute cameo. No United player had more touches in the opposition's penalty area than the Ivorian either.

It was somewhat of a surprise to see the United boss switch up his starting XI and drop Diallo for the crunch clash with Slot's men, as Diallo strives to get back into the first-team mix for United's next Premier League tie after the international breakaway at Southampton.

The former Sunderland loanee – who was once labelled as a "superstar" by football creator Liam Canning – will also aim to keep being a creative spark so his transfer value can eventually rise above the current £15m price tag that he has next to his name.

His value could potentially even soar above that of Casemiro's down the line, who is in dire need of breathing life back into his poor playing days.

With the ex-Real Madrid man's contract expiring in 2026, it will be intriguing to see if the South American underperformer is put up for sale in the near future, with the stuttering top-flight giants fully aware that his stock is at a radical all-time low.

With Ten Hag's neck also on the line again in the Man United dug-out as a result of his team's continued failures, this could now be the end of Casemiro in a Red Devils strip, whilst Diallo heads in the opposite direction, finally starting to show why he was brought to Carrington a few years ago.

Man Utd have an amazing teen who could be more exciting than Toby Collyer

Manchester United have a whole host of youngsters ready to make it in the first team.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 2, 2024

Everton have desperately lacked the attacking presence in recent years, with the lack of a clinical option in forward areas halting the progress of Sean Dyche’s side.

The Toffees produced an excellent campaign last season, finishing 14 points clear of the relegation zone after being hit with a combined eight-point deduction for breaking the Premier League’s PSR rules.

However, despite the excellent turnaround, the forward line struggled for large parts of the season, registering just 40 goals in 38 games –

with the backline’s impressive record aiding the club’s attempts to secure survival against the odds.

As a result of the poor goalscoring form in 2023/24, Dyche and the hierarchy have tried to combat the issues with the additions of Iliman Ndiaye and Armando Broja – potentially putting the future of one player at risk.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s stats in 2023/24

After numerous years of constant injury issues, striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin enjoyed a relatively strong 2023/24 campaign – featuring 32 times in the league – only missing six outings.

He was often the focal point for Dyche’s side, finishing the season as the club’s joint-top scorer in the Premier League, matching Abdoulaye Doucoure’s tally of seven goals in the league.

The addition of Broja could put Calvert-Lewin’s starting role at risk, with the Chelsea loanee needing valuable first-team minutes to regain his best form after a stop-start two years with injuries and unsuccessful loan spells.

The fanbase and Dyche will be hoping that the Albanian and Calvert-Lewin can work in tandem to improve the Toffees’ recent form which has seen them lose all three of their opening league outings in 2024/25.

However, they may have been better off keeping one star who was sold by the club five years ago.

Why Everton may have sold one star too early

Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru was signed by former boss Ronald Koeman during the summer of 2017 – with high hopes of being a hit at Goodison Park after registering 25 goals in all competitions in the season prior.

However, he was immediately sent on loan to Anderlecht – achieving double figures once again – but after issues with a work permit, he was subsequently sold to Monaco in the summer of 2019 without making a single appearance for the Toffees.

Whilst the situation of his permit was far from ideal, it could’ve been resolved, with the now 27-year-old finding his goalscoring form once again in Saudi Arabia in recent years.

Last season, Onyekuru scored 11 goals in all competitions, outscoring current Everton ace Calvert-Lewin by three goals – albeit in a slightly lower-quality division.

However, it’s the Nigerian’s pace – which saw the one-time Galatasary man previously clocked as the fastest player in Turkey – and ability to find the back of the net that make him key, two qualities that Dyche’s side currently lack in the final third.

Given his recent goalscoring exploits, the club may have made a mistake in allowing the talent to leave Merseyside.

Whilst the club managed to make a profit on the transfer, Onyekuru would’ve thrived in the Premier League with his pace and power – potentially helping the club avoid their recent struggles in front of goal.

Everton hit gold on "magic" talent who's worth more than Richarlison

This Lampard signing could be a difference-maker this season…

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 10, 2024

Manchester City have reportedly reached a full agreement with Lens to sign centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov.

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• Man City tracking Lens' Khusanov
• Deal struck with French team
• Set to be City's first signing in January

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A full agreement has been struck between both teams and only a few details need to be sorted over the weekend before the transfer is sealed, Julien Laurens reports. City will pay €40 million (£34m/$41m) for the centre-back, Fabrizio Romano reports, with Khusanov to undergo a medical in the coming days.

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  City boss Pep Guardiola has demanded January signings following a string of defensive injuries and now he appears to have got his man in the talented 20-year-old. The struggling Premier League defending champions have been shipping more goals this season than in campaigns gone by and perhaps Khusanov can help with that issue.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Khusanov, who joined Lens from Belarusian Premier League team Energetik-BGU in 2023, has already racked up 18 caps for Uzbekistan. He has also only played 31 times for the Ligue 1 outfit but looks set for a big-money move.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  It remains to be seen if Khusanov has played his last game for Lens and if he makes his City debut next week, with games against Brentford and Ipswich Town to come in the Premier League.