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Harry Maguire remains in negotiations with West Ham United over one crucial point, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The England international has been a key target of Hammers boss David Moyes this summer.

What is the latest news on Harry Maguire?

Maguire is as close as ever to leaving Manchester United this summer.

That is according to Romano, who stated that the two sides have reached an agreement in principle for the transfer with the fee being £30m. The verbal agreement has been reached, however discussions remain ongoing regarding the structure of the deal, and personal terms are still yet to be discussed.

This verbal agreement is a massive boost to West Ham, who had the England international as their top priority defensive addition this summer, and had seen a £20m offer rejected for the defender earlier in the window.

Sky Sports reports that personal terms are not expected to be a problem, however other reports are stating that due to the defenders current £190k per week wages at Old Trafford, the Red Devils have made a severance payment to their former captain in order to offset some of the wages that will be lost as he takes a wage cut down to £120k per week at the London Stadium.

It was previously reported that the defender wanted to stay at Old Trafford this season and fight for his place in Erik ten Hag's squad, however it appears the England international is resigned to the fact that a move away is the best thing for his career, especially with the upcoming Euros, playing regular first team football may be the thing that keeps him in Gareth Southgate's starting lineup for the tournament.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that whilst the verbal agreement has been reached, the crucial part is making Maguire happy with the financial aspect of the deal. Should that happen, the deal should get the green light.

He said: "Harry Maguire is still in negotiations with West Ham, so there is a crucial point: the salary of Maguire. At Manchester United it’s completely to the salary of Maguire at West Ham, so it is crucial that the sides find a way to make Harry Maguire happy with the financial point of view. The fee is agreed, £30m between Man United and West Ham, but they have to get the green light on player side. So while I’m speaking we are still waiting to get the final green light from Maguire and then Man United will go on a new centre back."

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE..

Who will Man United replace Maguire with?

There are a couple of names reported as potential Maguire replacements.

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite is a reported target for the Red Devils. The Englishman impressed many last campaign during his loan at PSV Eindhoven where he made 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring four and assisting two en route to lifting the Dutch cup with the club, whilst the Englishman ended the season with a 6.80 WhoScored rating. According to Football Insider, the Red Devils would have to part ways with £25m to bring the player to Old Trafford.

Another name that is reported as a target is Jean-Clair Todibo. The Frenchman has shone at OGC Nice following his move from Barcelona in 2020, recording average ratings of 6.82, 6.87 and 6.79 across each of the last three campaigns according to WhoScored. According to Romano, The Manchester side have asked to be informed on the conditions of a Todibo deal, with the defender one of the names being considered should Maguire depart.

Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard is another name being considered alongside Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba.

Sri Lanka have “lost a generation” of cricketers from the national fold, and cannot afford to do so again. Fresh from having presided over Sri Lanka’s largest ever runs defeat in ODIs, stand-in captain Lasith Malinga delivered the aforementioned grim diagnosis.Malinga’s argument is this: where for most of his career he has played in teams comprising mostly of experienced players, he now finds himself in a side where very few have more than 50 ODIs on their record. Eight of Thursday’s XI, for example, have played 37 ODIs or fewer. Of those, a stunning five have played fewer than 10 ODIs.Partly, this is the result of a rash of injuries, but also Malinga says, the failure of a generation of Sri Lankan cricketers.”What I personally think is that our problems are because we lost a generation of players,” Malinga said after the 168-run defeat to India on Thursday. “If that generation was here, we wouldn’t have an inexperienced team like this at international level. We had players like Chamara Silva, Thilina Kandamby, Jehan Mubarak, Malinga Bandara, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Tharanga Paranavitana and Malinda Warnapura.”Those players played about 10 years of domestic cricket by the time they were 29 or 30, and played internationals for two or three years, and then they were out of the international scene. We lost that 10-12 years of experience from them. It’s really hard to get that experience from a fresh-out-of-school cricketer or a club cricketer.”Malinga, in fact, was one of only four cricketers over the age of 30 in Thursday’s XI. Of the other three, Malinda Pushpakumara was making his ODI debut and another, Milinda Siriwardana, was playing his 20th ODI. Only three years ago, Malinga was playing in a side featuring the likes of Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Rangana Herath.”In previous teams, you had players who had played a 100 ODIs, or at least 50 ODIs,” Malinga said. “When I started playing in 2004, there were seven or eight experienced players in the team. A few years ago we lost that. Now our cricket has declined. We need that – every other team in the world has that experience in their XI.”Like several coaches and management staff, Malinga believed Sri Lanka’s present squad has the ability to become a good team. He prescribed a stable selection policy as perhaps Sri Lanka’s best route back to competitiveness.”A lot of our players are inexperienced at international level, but they get their places because they perform at domestic level,” he said. “I think if we gave some chances to the young players here, we will get players who can play for a long time. If we can give them experience to the team that goes to the 2019 World Cup, then you will have players who have played 30-50 ODIs.”If we keep criticising everyone one by one, we will keep getting these new teams. We have to protect the players we have. The current thinking is always: ‘The player who is in the team is bad, but the one outside deserves a place.’ As a player who has played 14 years international cricket, I think the people who are in the team are there because they are better than those outside.”On his own future, Malinga has given mixed signals. While before this match he suggested he would play for some time yet, even jesting that he would be around until 2023, he raised the possibility of retiring even this year, after this match had been lost. He claimed his 300th ODI wicket in this game, when he had Virat Kohli caught at deep point.”In the Zimbabwe and India series I couldn’t play well. I’ll see where I’m at after this series, and evaluate how long I can play given the way my body is. No matter how experienced I am – if I can’t win a match for the team and do what the team needs, there’s no point in me being here. If I can’t deliver that, then I’ll happily retire.”

Chelsea's pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo is "still on" despite their second bid being rejected by the Seagulls, claims transfers expert Fabrizio Romano.

Is Moises Caicedo joining Chelsea this summer?

It's been a hectic transfer window for Mauricio Pochettino's side so far this summer. From selling a swathe of first-team stars to signing a handful of promising youngsters, Chelsea are certainly making a splash in the market.

However, the name that has seemingly been attached to the club more than any other over the last month or so has been Brighton's Caicedo, as the saga to bring him to Stamford Bridge rumbles on.

The protracted nature of the deal is not from a lack of trying on the west Londoners' part, as according to Sky Sports, they have had two offers rebuffed by the Seagulls, the second being worth an eye-watering £80m.

That said, Roberto De Zerbi's side are under no obligation to sell after the 21-year-old signed a new £60,000-a-week contract in March this year that doesn't expire until summer 2027.

If the Pensioners want to secure the signature of La Joya, then they'll have to stump up the £100m that Brighton want – a fee that reflects the transfer of the positionally similar Declan Rice.

However, in good news for fans of the club, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that, despite their second offer being rejected, talks remain ongoing with the deal very much "still on."

He explained the situation on his YouTube channel, saying:

"From what I am told, and this is my information, is that the negotiations are not stalling now, the negotiations remain ongoing. Of course, with Brighton on their position, they want big money, and with Chelsea on their position, they don't want to overpay, but they are still speaking, they're still talking, and I still expect some contacts in the next days for Moises Caicedo.

"Then, at some point, it's going to be time to decide. For sure, the deal is still on while I'm speaking."

Who else has been linked with a move to Chelsea this summer?

While the Blues certainly seem set on signing Caicedo this summer, they're still looking elsewhere in the market for potential transfers so as not to be left empty-handed should the Ecuadorian remain on the south coast.

One of the names touted as a potential alternative is Southampton's exciting youngster, Romeo Lavia.

According to Football Insider, Chelsea are now 'plotting a full-scale hijack of Liverpool's pursuit' of the 19-year-old following the recent setback regarding Caicedo.

The Merseysiders are currently leading the chase for the Belgian's signature, having seen their opening offer of £34m plus £4m in add-ons rejected as the Saints hold out for a team to match their £50m valuation.

Should a deal for Caicedo not materialise, Pochettino's side could use some of the money put aside for the Ecuardoian and make an offer Southampton feel they cannot refuse.

While he might not be the club's number one choice, the 5 foot 11 "monster" demonstrated his qualities last season, averaging a match rating of 6.56 in an incredibly dysfunctional Saints team and maintaining a passing accuracy of 86.4% to boot, per WhoScored.

Ultimately, Blues fans should rest assured that, at the moment, the deal to sign Caicedo is still on, and even if it collapses, Lavia could be the ideal alternative.

There’s a collective understanding in pre-season about certain types of challenges. The main two goals are to gain match sharpness ahead of the forthcoming season and to avoid injury. Some players just don’t get the memo, however.There are certain footballers who aren’t quite sure what a friendly is. Those types of players simply see an opponent, the chance of victory, and the opportunity to win in any way possible. And this can usually result in some fairly reckless challenges.Unfortunately for Arsenal, too, Lisandro Martinez is one of those types of players. The Manchester United defender did not hold back in the Red Devils’ pre-season friendly against the Gunners, making a challenge arguably worthy of a red card – as you can see in the footage below.

Did Lisandro Martinez deserve a red card vs Arsenal?

It says a lot about a challenge when it warrants a red card in a friendly, such is the rarity that a referee reaches for his back pocket in such games. But Martinez’s tackle could have quite easily led to his dismissal against Arsenal.

Of course, it’s little surprise that a game between the two Premier League giants ignored all the premises of what a friendly usually is. Yet, this didn’t stop Arsenal players from showing their discontent when Martinez slammed into Bukayo Saka, with his boot particularly high.

Whilst his nickname around Old Trafford is the butcher, we’re not quite sure those in North London will appreciate the World Cup winner’s attempt to slice their star man in half.

Club captain Martin Odegaard was quick to defend Saka, too, squaring up to Martinez to start collective pushing and shoving between the two sides. The fact is, this pre-season affair was anything but friendly, as you can see in this alternative replay shared on YouTube.

What is the market value of Lisandro Martinez?

Signing the defender for a reported £57m last summer, Martinez has been a permanent fixture of Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United side ever since, proving plenty of doubters wrong along the way.

Despite his height, the 25-year-old has comfortably slotted in against some of the Premier League’s best forwards, forming a particularly impressive partnership with Rafael Varane, as the Red Devils conceded the third-fewest goals in England’s top-flight last season.

Despite enjoying an impressive debut campaign, though, Martinez’s value has decreased. According to Transfermarkt, the central defender is currently worth €50m (£43.11m), which is £14m less than United paid for him last summer.

We’re sure that Ten Hag won’t have to worry about the Argentine’s price anytime soon, however, with Martinez set to play a part under the Dutchman for years to come.

Next season will be even more important than the last for the defender, too. Having helped United regain a Champions League place, the Premier League giants must turn their attention to taking things up another level. And that could finally see them challenge for the title once again.

It will be difficult against the likes of treble-winners Manchester City, and an always-improving Arsenal side, but Manchester United may well pull off some shocks in the upcoming campaign to seal their first league title since 2013 under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Australia and Bangladesh are at odds over the timing and format of the tour tentatively scheduled for later this year after the previously planned visit by Steven Smiths’ team was scuppered due to security concerns

Daniel Brettig03-Apr-2017

Australia and Bangladesh are at odds over the timing and format of the tour tentatively scheduled for later this year after the previously planned visit by Steven Smiths’ team was scuppered due to security concerns.While the Future Tours Programme has Australia visiting Bangladesh in July for two Test matches as per the original 2015 plan, it has been reported that Cricket Australia (CA) suggested changing the tour to an ODI-based visit ahead of the limited-overs tour of India scheduled for October before the home Ashes summer.However the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is believed to have relayed to CA its preference for the tour to remain as originally mapped out, partly because the national team is presently in arguably the richest vein of Test-match form in its history, having registered wins over England and Sri Lanka in recent months.Among Bangladesh’s other reasons for maintaining the tour’s current place is that they have other proposed tours that clash with CA’s plan. Bangladesh are set to play Pakistan in July and August, before touring South Africa from mid-September to late October.The Australian proposal would by contrast maintain consistency for Smith’s team in the wake of the Champions Trophy in England. It would also allow for the selection of a limited overs-specific squad that would in turn offer the opportunity for numerous Test players to play a full Sheffield Shield schedule at home leading into the Ashes.CA and the players also need to consider rolling security assessments for Australian nationals in Bangladesh; previously, the Australian government’s travel-advice website had warned that Australians were subject to a specific threat in Bangladesh, leading to the cancellation of the 2015 tour. The current travel advice for Australians visiting the region is to “reconsider your need to travel” in light of “reliable information to suggest that militants may be planning to target Western interests in Bangladesh”. A CA spokesperson said security remained a primary concern.”We are still hopeful of touring Bangladesh in the near future but the safety of players and officials will always come first,” he said. “We will continue to monitor advice from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and our own security advisors about the security risk for any future tours of the Australian team in Bangladesh and make a decision based on this advice closer to any potential tour.”Discussions between CA and the BCB are ongoing.

Tottenham Hotspur have now opened "direct talks" with Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Which defender are Tottenham signing?

Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas has given an overview of Tottenham's potential defensive targets this summer, naming the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo, Edmond Tapsoba and Van de Ven as options for manager Ange Postecoglou.

Progress has also been made in Spurs' pursuit of Clement Lenglet, with an agreement in principle being reached over a three-year contract, meaning the last remaining hurdle is agreeing a fee with Barcelona, and a €10m (£8.6m) deal is being discussed.

Gleison Bremer has been named as another target for the Lilywhites, however Juventus' €50m (£43m) asking price is scaring off potential suitors from the Premier League, meaning the Brazilian is likely to remain in Turin for the time being.

In a new update on Twitter, Romano has now confirmed that Tottenham have opened "direct talks" with Wolfsburg over Van de Ven, and the 22-year-old is amongst the club's "top targets".

Such is Spurs' interest in the defender, they are set to submit a "verbal proposal" soon, with the player himself said to be "keen on the move".

Tapsoba remains on the Lilywhites' list of potential targets, however a deal for the Bayer Leverkusen star would be more expensive.

Is Micky van de Ven signing for Tottenham?

If Tottenham are to win the race for the centre-back, they will have to fend off competition from elsewhere, with Liverpool also being named as potential suitors, and Football Insider report the Reds have identified him as a key target.

It is no wonder some of the Premier League's top clubs are queuing up for the Wolfsburg ace, as he has a range of important defensive qualities, with football scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as a "tenacious tackler" and "dominant in the air."

Not only that, the former Volendam man is also assured in possession of the ball, ranking in the 90th percentile for progressive carries per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, indicating a willingness to drive the ball forward.

Van de Ven is still very young, and he only made his breakthrough in one of Europe's 'big five' leagues in the Bundesliga last season, but he is showing all the hallmarks of a quality centre-back, and it is exciting news that Tottenham have stepped up their interest.

During the transfer window, a picture really can paint a thousand words. At least, in the minds of supporters…When a current player is pictured with another star elsewhere, minds begin racing, future strike partnerships begin to formed, and endless trophies are imagined. All of us enter dreamland.The brutal reality is far from dream-like, though, as a picture is usually just that. A picture between two friends.Arsenal fans have been the latest fans to get sucked into the hype of a photo, with young striker Folarin Balogun pictured with Paris Saint-Germain mega star Kylian Mbappe, leaving a number of fans dreaming over a potential link-up.Balogun enjoyed an excellent season last time out whilst on loan at Stade Reims, scoring 22 goals in 29 appearances. And, now, he returns to Arsenal hoping to finally get his chance in the first team.Given the Gunners’ place in the Champions League next season, too, they will need all the help and squad depth that they can get. Having Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and the former Reims loanee as options would represent three strikers more than capable of hitting double figures in goals.Arsenal fans have been busy getting excited at the thought of another striker at the Emirates, however.

What is the latest on Kylian Mbappe?

Whenever the transfer window opens, an Mbappe transfer saga seemingly begins. This summer, the Frenchman has been linked with a move away from PSG once again after he revealed that he does not plan on extending his current contract and will, therefore, become a free agent next summer.

This means that if the Ligue 1 champions want to make some money from their star man, they will need to make a transfer happen either this summer or in January.

According to ESPN, Real Madrid, though cautious over a move, are hopeful that a deal could finally be done this summer. And The New York Times suggest PSG may be forced into selling their star this summer as to not lose him for free – so he’s essentially transfer listed and on the market, though would demand a fee of over £157m.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have been urged to drop their summer plans and go all out for Mbappe by Forbes’ Graham Ruthven. The forward could have ended up in North London as a youngster, as revealed by Arsene Wenger, who wanted him at Arsenal many years ago.

Whilst it would be a full circle moment for the Gunners to finally land Mbappe, however, it is Madrid in pole position.

Arsenal fans react to Balogun with Mbappe

The image was initially posted on the USMNT star’s official Instagram before it was quickly circulated on social media.

Taking to Twitter to react to Balogun’s picture with Mbappe, Arsenal fans reacted with hopeful glee, which you can see below:

Manchester United have held transfer talks over a move for Leeds United defender Robin Koch, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Koch?

The Red Devils appear to be working behind the scenes looking to make some additions to Erik ten Hag’s quad ahead of hi second Premier League season in charge.

The club’s takeover saga is still ongoing, meaning that the Glazers are still in control at Old Trafford. Reports previously suggested that Ten Hag wanted a midfielder and forward brought in over the coming months, however, a new centre-back also appears to be on the wishlist.

Ten Hag gave the green light to exits for Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof earlier this year, with Napoli’s Kim min-jae reportedly a top target. However, Bayern Munich now appear to be firmly in the race to sign the South Korea international, and United seemingly have their eye on a new target in Koch.

According to Sky Sports’ Plettenberg in the last 48 hours, Manchester United have placed Koch on the shortlist and have held transfer “talks” over a potential deal.

“News Koch: He‘s on the shortlist of Man Utd! Loose talks took place. Confirmed.”

Who is Robin Koch?

Koch is primarily a centre-back but can also turn out in a holding midfield role if needed and currently holds a career-high €18m Transfermarkt valuation.

The 26-year-old made the move to Elland Road back in 2020 from German side Freiburg and has made 77 appearances across three years in Yorkshire, 39 of which came last season.

The German, hailed as “outstanding” by pundit Clinton Morrison for his display against Brentford’s Ivan Toney last year, couldn’t help keep Leeds in the Premier League.

He did average more clearances and won more aerial duels than any other Leeds player last season, though, as per WhoScored, while also ranking highly for number of passes and long balls.

Tottenham have also been linked with a move for Koch, who could well be available on a cut-price deal following Leeds’ relegation, and with Maguire and Lindelof potentially departing, United may need to bolster their defensive options.

Therefore, it looks as if a move to Old Trafford could be one to keep an eye on following this update from the reliable Plettenberg, in what could be a busy few months off the pitch for United.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to replace Ange Postecoglou ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Brendan Rodgers to Celtic?

According to the Daily Record, former Hoops head coach Brendan Rodgers has not ruled out a sensational return to Parkhead this summer.

The report claims that the Northern Irishman is one of the top contenders to take over as majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is a 'huge admirer' of the tactician.

It states that Rodgers will not rule anything out after he left Leicester prior to their relegation from the Premier League earlier this year, which leaves the club with hope that they can get a deal done in the coming weeks.

Which Celtic player would thrive under Brendan Rodgers?

Desmond bringing the ex-Liverpool boss back to Paradise could be a dream come true for current Hoops forward Liel Abada as the 50-year-old would be perfect for him.

The manager typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 system and enjoyed great success with James Forrest during his previous spell with Celtic as a right winger.

Forrest, who only played 16 league games in 22/23 under Postecoglou, produced an impressive 38 goals and 41 assists in 148 matches in all competitions under Rodgers, including 22 goals and 23 assists in 82 outings in the Scottish Premiership.

The Northern Irish coach departed for Leicester in 2019 and since then, the Scottish winger has only plundered 14 goals and eight assists in 72 matches across all competitions, which shows that his production has diminished under the subsequent managers.

This proves that Rodgers, who was once lauded as a "genius" by journalist Sid Lowe, was able to get the best out of the electric right-winger and he could do the same with Abada, who plays a similar position.

The Israel international, like Forrest, is a right-footed forward who plays on his strong foot and is capable of producing goals and assists on a regular basis.

He racked up ten goals and created ten 'big chances' in 34 Premiership appearances in 22/23, despite only starting 13 times, with that coming after the whiz scored ten and produced 13 'big chances' in 24 starts and 36 outings in the previous campaign in the division.

These statistics suggest that Abada, who has played the vast majority of the games in his career as a right winger, would slot in perfectly for Rodgers on the right in his 4-2-3-1 system in the same way that Forrest did.

He would be able to stay high and push forward to score and create goals week-in-week-out as a regular starter which could lead to his numbers rocketing, as the Isreal ace would be playing more than Postecoglou allowed him to.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in a summer move for Bayer Leverkusen defender, Edmond Tapsoba, albeit with chairman Daniel Levy set to face competition in the battle for the Burkina Faso international.

What's the latest on Tapsoba to Tottenham?

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Lilywhites – as well as rivals, Arsenal – are said to be among the clubs who have been keeping a close eye on the 24-year-old of late.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider stated: "Premier League clubs are now tracking Edmond Tapsoba ahead of the summer transfer window — he’s one of the CBs to keep an eye on. Arsenal and Tottenham scouts have monitored Tapsoba in recent games but the race is absolutely open — Bayer will only sell for huge bid."

While the coveted centre-back has a market value of around £26m – as per CIES Football Observatory – as Romano alluded to it could take a 'huge bid' for Spurs to be able to pull off a deal, with the player having reportedly been valued at around €70m (£60m) back in 2021, amid interest from the Gunners.

What's Tapsoba's style of play?

It will be of intrigue to Spurs supporters that the 6 foot 4 ace is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with current first-team asset, Cristian Romero, according to FBref, amid his displays in the Bundesliga.

That likeness is showcased by the two men's defensive ability, with Tapsoba having recorded 50 tackles, 38 blocks and 36 interceptions in 32 league games this season, while the current Tottenham man has enjoyed a similar record, having racked up 68 tackles, 38 blocks and 44 interceptions from his 27 league appearances.

That comparison may be of some concern to those at N17, however, with Romero having endured an underwhelming campaign at the heart of the backline, forming part of a defence that has shipped 62 goals in the league this season – the sixth-worst record in the division.

The World Cup-winning warrior has been described as a "liability" by pundit Jamie O'Hara since making his return from Qatar back in December, while journalist Sam Dean dubbed the 25-year-old as like a "reckless teenager" amid his errant displays.

To think that the club may bring in Romero 2.0 in the form of Tapsoba would be of concern, although the Leverkusen man does possess his own quality, having been described as "complete" and "elegant" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, while ranking in at least the top 7% among his European peers for both progressive passes and progressive carries.

Even so, Spurs may be wary of bringing in a Romero-esque talent into the heart of the defence, such have been the £165k-per-week man's recent woes.