Chelsea could push to sign a “world-class” Robert Sanchez replacement in the January transfer window, after the goalkeeper’s disastrous performance against Manchester United.
Sanchez sent off in Man Utd defeat
The Blues suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season on Saturday afternoon, succumbing to a 2-1 loss against Man United at Old Trafford, with Sanchez’s early dismissal making the task considerably more difficult.
The Spaniard saw red just five minutes into the game, after bringing down Bryan Mbeumo when the forward was through on goal, with Enzo Maresca criticising his goalkeeper for the tackle in his post-match interview.
Maresca looked at replacing Sanchez in the summer, with the west Londoners being linked with a number of goalkeepers, and the Italian may now be regretting his decision not to bring in an upgrade.
As such, according to a report from The Express, Chelsea could now push to sign AC Milan’s Mike Maignan in the January transfer window, with a view to bringing him in on a free at the end of the season.
Maignan was known to be a target for the Blues in the summer, with Maresca said to be a fan, viewing the goalkeeper as an ideal fit for his style of play, and there are signs that a deal could be possible.
The Frenchman was persuaded to remain at the San Siro during the summer, but the Italian club have since made no progress in talks over a new deal, potentially giving Maresca’s side the opportunity to sign him on a free transfer.
"World-class" Maignan could be upgrade on Sanchez
There are indications the Milan shot-stopper could be an upgrade on Sanchez, given that he has averaged fewer goals against per 90 over the past year, while he is also impressive with the ball at his feet.
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The 30-year-old has averaged 43.02 touches per 90 over the past year, compared to 40.04 from Chelsea’s current goalkeeper, which suggests the Milan captain is comfortable in possession of the ball.
Journalist Carlo Garganese has also been left impressed by the 34-time France international in the past, describing him as “world-class” after putting in a solid performance in the Milan derby.
Sanchez has made far too many mistakes over an extended time period, making three errors leading to goals in the Premier League last season, so it is no wonder Chelsea are looking at bringing in a replacement, and Maignan could be a fantastic option.
يشهد اليوم الإثنين الموافق 20-10-2025 مجموعة من المواجهات القوية والمثيرة في مختلف البطولات، وعلى رأسها الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز والدوري الإسباني ودوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة.
يخوض فريق الاتحاد السعودي مواجهة حاسمة أمام الشرطة العراقي على ملعب المدينة، ضمن الجولة الثالثة من دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة.
ويدخل الاتحاد اللقاء في موقف صعب بعد خسارته في أول مباراتين أمام الوحدة الإماراتي وشباب الأهلي، ليحتل المركز الحادي عشر في مجموعته دون أي نقطة.
أما الشرطة العراقي فيمتلك نقطة واحدة فقط، بعد تعادل وخسارة، ما يجعل اللقاء بين الفريقين بمثابة “فرصة أخيرة” لكل طرف لإحياء آمال التأهل.
وفي مواجهة أخرى بدوري أبطال آسيا، يلتقي الأهلي السعودي مع الغرافة القطري في مباراة قوية على ملعب الجوهرة المشعة.
الأهلي يحتل المركز الثاني في المجموعة برصيد 4 نقاط، خلف المتصدر الهلال السعودي (6 نقاط)، ويبحث عن الفوز لمواصلة الضغط على القمة بعد تعادله الأخير أمام الدحيل القطري بنتيجة 2-2.
وعشاق الدوري الإنجليزي على موعد مع مباراة نارية تجمع بين وست هام يونايتد وبرينتفورد، في مواجهة يسعى فيها وست هام للعودة إلى طريق الانتصارات أمام خصم عنيد.
وفي الدوري الإسباني، يلتقي ألافيس مع فالنسيا في مباراة متكافئة تُقام، حيث يأمل “الخفافيش” في مواصلة تحسين نتائجهم في جدول الترتيب.
طالع أيضًا | أول رد فعل من ميسي على خسارة الأرجنتين أمام المغرب في نهائي كأس العالم للشباب مواعيد مباريات اليوم الإثنين 20-10-2025 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد مباريات الدوري الإنجليزي اليوم
وست هام يونايتد ضد برينتفورد، الساعة 10:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس 2 HD”. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإسباني اليوم
ألافيس ضد فالنسيا، الساعة 10:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس 3 HD”. مواعيد مباريات الدوري الإيطالي اليوم
كريمونيزي ضد أودينيزي، الساعة 9:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر تطبيق “Starz Play”. مواعيد مباريات دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة اليوم
الوحدة الإماراتي ضد الدحيل القطري، الساعة 4:45 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس 1 HD”.
الشرطة العراقي ضد الاتحاد السعودي، الساعة 7:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس 1 HD”.
الشارقة الإماراتي ضد تراكتور الإيراني، الساعة 7:00 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس 2 HD”.
أهلي جدة السعودي ضد الغرافة القطري، الساعة 9:15 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “بي إن سبورتس 1 HD”.
ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنــــا
Mesmo com o Corinthians tendo buscado o empate em 1 a 1 com o Cuiabá na reta final do confronto realizado na noite deste sábado (10), na Neo Química Arena, a torcida corintiana protestou contra o elenco no fim do jogo. No intervalo, quando a partida estava empatada sem gols, os torcedores já haviam criticado bastante os atletas.
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He returned to the BBL with a stunning century at the SCG having lost his Australia T20I spot last year
AAP12-Jan-20250:46
Smith: Missing the 10k-run mark ‘hurt a little bit’
Steven Smith has set his sights on the 2028 Olympics, declaring he wants to prolong his short-form career and return to Australia’s T20 team for the Los Angeles Games.Smith produced one of the finest T20 innings of his career on Saturday, smashing an unbeaten 121 from 64 balls for Sydney Sixers against Perth Scorchers to set up a BBL victory.Australia’s former T20 captain hit seven sixes in his knock, manipulating Scorchers’ bowling and getting inventive in his efforts to target the short boundary.Related
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Smith has become something of a forgotten force in T20 cricket in recent years, and even missed selection in Australia’s squad for last year’s T20 World Cup. He has also been overlooked in the past four IPL auctions, the only franchise cricket he played last year being for Washington in the USA’s Major League Cricket.But Smith’s BBL form has regularly shown he is among the best T20 openers in the country, hitting three centuries in his last seven matches in the competition. The trio of tons brought him level with Ben McDermott for the most in tournament history, with Smith having played just 32 games to McDermott’s 100.His average of 45.88 is the highest of any local, while he holds the sixth best strike-rate of any player with 146.3.But Smith says he does not want to be a domestic-player only in the shortest format, eying off a return to Australian colours.”I’d like to play the Olympics, I reckon that would be cool,” Smith said. “We’ll see how far I go in terms of long-form cricket. But I am going to play short-form cricket for a while I think when I do finish. You never know. There are a lot of good young kids who are smacking the ball out of the park.”Steven Smith was spectacular at the SCG•Getty ImagesSmith will be 39 by the time cricket returns to the Olympics in 2028, with the sport featuring for the first time since 1900 when only Great Britain and France featured.He has not yet outlined his retirement plans for red-ball cricket, but has made no secret of his desire to play T20s longer into the future.Smith entered Saturday’s game with virtually no T20 preparation, with a 15-minute net before the BBL game his only hit against the white ball following the India Test series.He has played solely as an opener in T20, with his record generally improving the longer a tournament goes on. And with the likely chance to focus solely on the 20-over format in years to come, Smith believes his game could improve further.”I find the more I play back-to-back games you get in sync with the game,” Smith said. “Even [Saturday] I don’t think I played my first 10 balls really well. I was probably going a bit too hard for how the wicket was playing.”But if I am playing T20s regularly, I probably come out with a slightly different mindset at the start, give myself a bit more time. It’s just the gears and going up and down in the gears throughout the innings [that change for T20s]. And just playing the percentages.”
Javier Aguirre’s squad drew 0-0 against Japan in Oakland and salvaged a 2-2 result against South Korea on Tuesday
As Mexico manager Javier Aguirre continues shaping his roster for the 2026 World Cup, a handful of players already look like the backbone of El Tri: Luis Ángel Malagón, Johan Vásquez, Edson Álvarez, and Raúl Jiménez. Others are still fighting to prove they belong in the final 23. The results, draws against Japan and South Korea, may not have met fans’ expectations, but Aguirre made clear that Mexico’s foundation is set.
“I can’t say whether we’re close or far from where we want to be for the World Cup, but after a year, we’ve established a base, we’re on the right track,” Aguirre said. “Good, bad, or average football – that’s for you to judge. My job is to train, to find players for the World Cup, and to give them a clear football identity. We’ve used around 35 players so far, and we’re still searching.”
Against Japan, Mexico lost Álvarez to injury, but his replacement, Erik Lira, impressed. Many observers even argued that looked sharper with the Cruz Azul midfielder pulling the strings than with the Fenerbahçe veteran in charge.
In Nashville, Jiménez ended his scoring drought with goal No. 43 for Mexico, moving into third on the country’s all-time scoring list and reminding everyone of his quality as a veteran striker. Fellow forward Santiago Giménez also eased the pressure on himself with a stunning stoppage-time strike to seal a 2-2 draw against South Korea.
Not everyone left camp on a high. San Diego FC’s Hirving Lozano, in his first call-up in more than a year, failed to make an impact in either match. Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel also had little to show as South Korea’s attackers exposed him on both goals.
With FIFA windows still to come in October, November and March – just before World Cup call-ups begin – Mexico’s roster should soon look far more defined. By then, fans and observers will have a much clearer sense of what “Vasco” plans to field in the June 11 opener. Some players moved closer to securing their spots with these performances. Others will be left wondering if they did enough. So, who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.
Getty Images Sport
STOCK UP: Erik Lira
There wasn’t much to celebrate for Mexico in their friendlies against Japan and South Korea as both opponents looked sharper and exposed several of weaknesses. Still, one bright spot was Lira. After Álvarez went down injured against Japan, the Cruz Azul midfielder stepped into the starting lineup and immediately made Mexico look more fluid in possession. Lira’s ability to progress the ball and stay composed under pressure stood out, an area where Álvarez often struggles. While it’s hard to imagine Álvarez being dropped from Aguirre’s starting XI, some experts argue his future with the national team may be as a center back rather than in midfield. Lira's rise could be a factor that sees that change push through.
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STOCK DOWN: Hirving Lozano
The left winger displayed flashes of individual quality, winning duels and taking on defenders, but his passing accuracy left much to be desired. He failed to establish himself as the offensive leader down his flank in either match. Fans might be patient with "Chucky," one of Mexico’s recent icons thanks to his European career and World Cup performances, but in a position with heavy competition and limited standout talent, the San Diego FC star missed a key opportunity to shine.
Getty Images Sport
STOCK UP: Santiago Gimenez
Giménez has just six goals in 44 appearances for the Mexican national team. The AC Milan striker has suffered from bad luck at times and also a lack of finishing touch on the national team, but his quality is undeniable. He proved it with a stunning strike against South Korea to rescue a 2-2 draw, just when it looked like Aguirre’s side would finish the FIFA window with a draw and a defeat.
The goal ended an eight-match scoring drought for Giménez, easing some of the pressure on him, as he is always under the spotlight. For now, Gimenez remains Raúl Jiménez’s backup, though Aguirre has consistently given him minutes. If he keeps finding the back of the net, he’ll be a serious contender for a spot in the starting XI.
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STOCK DOWN: Diego Lainez and Germán Berterame
Both Diego Lainez (Tigres) and Germán Berterame (Monterrey) were called up for this FIFA window due to their strong club form. However, neither has shown they can compete with Raúl Jiménez, Santiago Giménez, Hirving Lozano, or Ángel Sepúlveda – the latter missing this call-up due to injury and still not guaranteed a spot for the World Cup, though he ranks ahead of Berterame.
Lainez made his first appearance with El Tri since 2024, playing only 28 minutes – he stayed on the bench against Japan and was limited to a short spell against South Korea, where he couldn’t showcase much of his talent. He hasn’t scored for the national team since 2021. On the other end, Berterame – in four appearances for Mexico – has yet to score and has only recorded two shots on target in 180 minutes of play.
It seems likely that these two players have had their last call-ups for the foreseeable future, as they are unlikely to feature in the squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Celtic appear to be in fine shape heading into the new season under Brendan Rodgers, but not everyone will make the cut as he continues to assess his squad.
Celtic hammer Newcastle United in first home pre-season encounter
Despite the fact that Celtic are several weeks ahead of Newcastle United in their pre-season preparations, there was an air of class about the way they brushed aside Premier League opposition at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon.
The Scottish Premiership champions officially unveiled Shin Yamada as their latest signing before the match before goals from Arne Engels, Johnny Kenny, Hyunjun Yang and Liam Scales sealed a comfortable victory on home soil.
Post-match, Rodgers made it clear Celtic have work to do in the transfer market after showing their quality against a high-calibre outfit, stating: “We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but the guys that are training and working with us are doing so well.
“I would expect us, by the end of the window, to have brought in players in certain areas of the pitch that we need to go through a really long season.”
Rumours are swirling that Daizen Maeda could sign a new contract, albeit there is no confirmation on that front, leaving the Bhoys searching for attacking reinforcements across their front four positions.
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Wycombe Wanderers forward Richard Kone is thought to be on the Hoops’ radar as a contingency, though the Ivorian may only be brought in if departures are to occur in Glasgow between now and the close of play.
Fringe players moving out on loan or permanently will be key to progress on incomings, so it will come as no surprise to hear that Celtic are closing in on another opportunity to cut their wage bill.
Celtic ace Marco Tilio set to join Rapid Vienna
According to Sky Sport Austria reporter Eric Niederseer, a “basic agreement” has been reached between Celtic and Rapid Vienna that could see Marco Tilio head to the Allianz Stadion on a loan deal with an option to buy.
Brought in two years ago from Melbourne City, the 23-year-old has only made a couple of competitive appearances for Celtic and moved back on loan to his former club to find his feet from January 2024 until the tail end of last season.
Florian Plettenberg has now added a move is considered a “done deal” with Tilio set to join Vienna on loan with an obligation to buy next year, should he start 20 games.
Reported to be earning £4,400 per week at Celtic, Tilio has been involved during pre-season, albeit his presence is more down to the fact Rodgers has a shortage of wingers to work with after selling Nicolas Kuhn to Como.
With an exit now lined up, the Bhoys will hope to recoup some of the £1.5 million they shelled out for the Australia international once his departure is finalised.
Tottenham Hotspur are making surprising strides in the transfer market this month in a bid to improve Thomas Frank’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The Lilywhites officially completed the signing of Ghana international Mohammed Kudus from Premier League and London rivals West Ham United on Thursday night.
Kudus will be hoping to improve on his haul of five goals and three assists in 32 appearances in the top-flight for the Hammers last season, as he aims to provide a threat at the top end of the pitch for Frank.
The 24-year-old star could be joined by another attacking midfielder before long. Morgan Gibbs-White is expected to complete a move to Spurs, despite Nottingham Forest’s attempts to challenge the legality of their approach.
Nottingham Forest's MorganGibbs-Whitereacts after the match
Whilst Spurs will be looking at players who can step in to immediately improve the team, Daniel Levy could also pursue players with a view to them being future replacements, as well as providing depth in the short-term.
Signing a player to replace Cristian Romero, for example, could be a shrewd move by the Europa League winners, given the speculation over his future and his availability record.
Why Spurs need a replacement for Cristian Romero
In terms of his future at Spurs, Fabrizio Romano claims that it has all gone quiet between Atletico Madrid and the club over a potential deal for the Argentina international.
The Italian reporter adds that the central defender is now expected to remain at Tottenham beyond the end of the summer transfer window, in what appears to be a boost for Frank.
However, the 27-year-old star’s contract at the club is due to expire in the summer of 2027 and it remains to be seen where his long-term future will be, which is why sourcing a longer-term replacement for him would make a lot of sense.
Even if Romero, as reported by Romano, remains at Spurs this summer, signing a player who can step in to replace him in the starting XI when needed would be incredibly useful for Frank.
24/25
27
0
27
23/24
3
3
6
22/23
9
1
10
21/22
28
2
30
As you can see in the table above, the World Cup winner has not been a reliable option for Tottenham in his four seasons at the club, missing 73 matches through either suspension or injury since the start of the 2021/22 campaign.
These statistics suggest that Spurs are in need of another high-quality centre-back option to play when Romero, who scored one goal in 18 Premier League games last season, is unavailable.
This may be why Tottenham are now being linked with an interest in a new central defensive option to come in and add to their options in that area of the pitch.
Spurs eyeing move for Premier League defender
According to The Boy Hotspur, Spurs are interested in a swoop to sign Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi to come in and compete for a spot in the team.
The report claims that the club have made ‘fresh contact’ with the England international’s camp to discuss a potential transfer to North London this summer.
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It states that the Eagles are prepared to negotiate a fee within the region of £39m for their captain because his current contract at Selhurst Park is set to expire at the end of next season, which means that they would risk losing him for nothing next year if they do not cash in on him before the end of this window.
The outlet adds that Chelsea, Arsenal, and Bournemouth are also keeping tabs on his situation, but the Gunners are not able to offer him enough guarantees of regular football because they already have William Saliba and Gabriel.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
It is now down to Spurs to strike an agreement with Palace to bring the English titan to the club this summer, because he could be a dream replacement for Romero.
Why Guehi would be a dream Romero replacement
Guehi would be a dream signing for Tottenham to come in as a centre-back who can replace Romero when he is unavailable next season, whilst also having the potential to be a long-term replacement if the Argentine ace moves on in the future.
At the age of 24, he is still a young defender and could be a star at the back for Spurs for many years to come, which is one of the reasons why he would be a brilliant signing.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehicelebrates after the match
Another reason why Guehi would be a fantastic addition for the club is that he has a great fitness record. Since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, the English gem has only missed 13 games through injury, compared to Romero’s 67 matches missed through injury since that season.
This suggests that the Palace star, who was dubbed a “monster” by reporter Bobby Manzi, is more likely to be available week-in-week-out to start at the heart of the defence for Spurs in the Premier League, making him a very reliable option to have.
Appearances
34
18
Goals
3
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.6
3.1
Blocks per game
0.2
0.1
Clearances per game
4.6
2.9
Ground duel success rate
64%
61%
Aerial duel success rate
54%
61%
As you can see in the table above, Guehi and Romero produced similar statistics in a host of defensive metrics in the Premier League last season, which suggests that there may not be a big difference in quality between them.
This is yet another reason why the England international would be a dream signing to step in for the Argentine star next season, and potentially as his long-term replacement as a regular starter.
Guehi, who was described as the “ultimate” centre-back by Jamie Redknapp last season, appears to make a lot of sense for Spurs as a signing to make an immediate impact, as well as being a signing for the future, which is why the club should push to get a deal over the line.
Perfect with Gibbs-White: Spurs to make £60m bid for "phenomenal" talent
Tottenham Hotspur appear to be prepared to splash the cash under Thomas Frank this summer.
Chelsea need to shift players on amid their fine from UEFA for breaking FFP rules, and there are many different squad members who face the chopping block with no certainty over their long-term futures.
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The Blues have received a guaranteed fine from UEFA of around £27 million for not complying with “the football earnings rule, which was assessed for the first time in the 2024/25 season” (Ben Jacobs).
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
If Chelsea fail to comply with FFP over the next four seasons, they could get slapped with further penalties of up to £51.2 million (BBC) – putting more pressure on BlueCo to sell both their high earners and players deemed surplus to requirements by Enzo Maresca.
Lesley Ugochukwu, João Félix, Renato Veiga, Ben Chilwell, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja and Axel Disasi are all up for sale, as per The Athletic, with Chelsea also actively looking to offload £325,000-per-week outcast Raheem Sterling.
Noni Madueke has agreed personal terms over a move to Arsenal (Fabrizio Romano), so a potential exit for him could happen fairly soon. As well as the England international, fellow first-teamers Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson have also been linked with Stamford Bridge departures, especialluy after the arrivals of both Liam Delap and Joao Pedro this window.
There is also the matter of Carney Chukwuemeka, who is now a Chelsea player once again following the conclusion of his Borussia Dortmund loan.
The 21-year-old midfielder joined Dortmund on loan in January, playing his last game for them against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup, and their sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, has already confirmed the Bundesliga side’s intention to re-sign him.
Borussia Dortmund looking to re-sign Carney Chukwuemeka
Speaking to the media, Kehl admitted that Dortmund will hold discussions over Chukwuemeka in the next few days, and will attempt to keep the former Aston Villa prodigy in Germany after flashes of promise during his first six months.
“We will definitely have some more discussions in the next few days about his situation,” said Kehl.
Chelsea's Carney Chukwuemeka in action
“I think it was a good move from Carney to join us. Now let’s see how we manage everything. It won’t be easy, but we will try to keep him because he’s a very good player.
“It’s always easier to loan a player than to buy one, especially within Carney’s [price] range, but let’s see. We are not that far advanced [in talks] at the moment, but I can tell you that we are pretty close to the player, and he loves Dortmund.
“Everything else will be decided between Chelsea and us. That won’t be tomorrow. That won’t be on Tuesday. I think it will take some more days.”
Chelsea want as much as £40 million for Chukwuemeka, and it is unclear whether Dortmund can reach that high. He also reportedly earns around £100,000-per-week at Cobham, and with no future in the first team, Chelsea will be keen to trim that high salary off their books.
Chukwuemeka has been called a “clinical” player by France legend Marcel Desailly during his time in west London, but his three-year stay could soon be drawing to a close.
Despite already reaching a verbal agreement to sign Botafogo trio Igor Jesus, Cuiabano and Jair Cunha, Nottingham Forest have reportedly made an approach to sign another Brazilian ace.
Nottingham Forest set to sign Botafogo trio
Evangelos Marinakis has wasted no time before turning towards the South American market yet again at the City Ground. The Greek owner has had previous success when welcoming the likes of Murillo and may have completed another act of genius by reaching an agreement to sign the aforementioned Botafogo trio.
Jesus particularly stands out among the three. The impressive striker could quickly become the air to Chris Wood’s striker throne at the City Ground, having scored eight goals in Brazil throughout the 2024/25 campaign after netting 25 in all competitions in the season prior at both Botafogo and at Shabab Al-Ahli Club.
Meanwhile, if Nottingham Forest fans needed any further introduction to Jesus and Cunha, then one glimpse at the Club World Cup should have given them exactly that. Both players scored in Botafogo’s 2-1 win against Seattle Sounders, whilst Cuiabano also featured from the bench.
All signs point towards excellent business by Nottingham Forest, but the Tricky Trees are not done there. With European football to look forward to next season, those at the City Ground are in their strongest position for a long time to attract some top talents.
It’s not something that Marinakis is keen to waste, either. With three Brazilian talents already on the way, Forest have also been linked with moves for the likes of Yoanne Wissa. The Brentford forward was the subject of interest from the City Ground in January and now that interest has reportedly been reignited.
Meanwhile, Forest aren’t done in South America either amid reports that they’ve made an approach to sign a fourth Brazilian talent this summer.
Nottingham Forest make Romulo Cardoso approach
According to GE Globo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Nottingham Forest have now made an approach to sign Romulo Cardoso from Goztepe this summer. The impressive forward is still just 23 years old and would be arriving off the back of an excellent campaign which saw him score 17 goals and create another 13 in Turkey.
That said, Forest aren’t alone in the race to sign the forward. Joining them, RB Leipzig and Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers are also reportedly interested in signing Romulo this summer. The Bundesliga club will become a particular threat if they are forced to replace Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko in the coming months.
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Whether Forest’s growing Brazilian contingent helps to convince the clinical goalscorer will be interesting to see too. The City Ground is quickly becoming the place to be for South American stars on the rise and Romulo could become the latest to make his way to the Midlands.
With contact already made and a number of clubs chasing his signature, Romulo has arguably the biggest decision of his career to make so far this summer.
After confirming their first season without a trophy in four years, incoming sporting director Hugo Viana and Manchester City have reportedly made their first move to sign a Crystal Palace star who cost them the FA Cup.
Man City defeated in FA Cup final by Palace
Last year it was Manchester United who overcame Pep Guardiola’s side at Wembley to cause a great shock, as Manchester City entered the final in a partying mood fresh from Premier League title success. This time around, it was Crystal Palace sending great shockwaves. But this year, there has been no title for Manchester City to celebrate. In fact, it’s been their toughest year of Guardiola’s reign altogether.
When Eberechi Eze swept home from a blistering Crystal Palace move in the first half, it became an all too familiar story for the Citizens, who dominated the early stages only to lack the ruthlessness which saw them win four Premier League titles in a row.
Defeat didn’t come without controversy, however. Manchester City may feel as though Dean Henderson should have been given his marching orders for palming the ball away from outside of his area. And given that he then went on to save Omar Marmoush’s penalty later in the half, the Citizens should feel rightly frustrated by the decision.
Guardiola had his say on the defeat and answered whether it was his decision for Marmoush to take City’s penalty over Erling Haaland, telling reporters: “I didn’t speak with them [Haaland and Marmoush].
“They take a decision, penalties are like that. I like guys who take initiative and they decide. In that moment, it’s how they feel. They decided Omar was ready to take it.”
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For all the moments to forget against Palace, though, the Citizens did at least get a first-hand look at a player they’ve already reportedly made their move for ahead of this summer.
Man City make first move for £59m Eze
According to reports in Spain, Viana has now made an opening move to sign Eze for Manchester City this summer. The FA Cup final goalscorer reportedly has a release clause worth as much as €70m (£59m), and those at the Etihad now want to activate it.
Of course, it’s no secret that Manchester City want a No.10, either, amid their chase to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. As things stand, however, reports are pointing towards a move to Bayern Munich rather than the Premier League, which could open the door for Eze to complete his move.
Crystal Palace's EberechiEzeposes with the player of the match trophy
Losing possession just once against the Citizens, earning three fouls and completing five recoveries, Eze was everywhere to be seen at Wembley whilst also netting the all-important winning goal.
The midfielder’s season had been leading up to such a moment, and Oliver Glasner’s earlier praise should have come as no surprise this season. Describing Eze as “unbelievable” in September, the Crystal Palace boss will be well aware of just how capable his star man is of performing at the highest level.