Despite denials from Pep Guardiola that Kevin De Bruyne will leave Manchester City, the club have decided Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze could be their playmaker if Kevin decides to head to the middle east. Saudi teams are difficult to refuse when huge 16 knockout stage. He is happy in Paris and has had early discussions about renewing his contract which expires in 2026 however he is very keen to continue his career playing in the Premier League and particularly joining up with Pep Guardiola. Donnarumma was the hero of Euro 2020 and player of the tournament in which he starred in the penalty shootout when the Italian side beat England. As I have reported to you previously, current No 1 keeper Ederson is exploring a move to join Saudi club Al-Ittihad.
Tottenham continue the clearout
Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has completed a deal which takes him to Marseille. The French club have taken him on a loan deal with an obligation to make the transfer permanent for £17million next year. Marseille have added the Denmark international to the signing of Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood last week for £27million. Spurs will also collect a payment if Hojbjerg moves clubs in the future. The 28-year-old was successful under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte but he does not fit in with current coach Ange Postecoglou’s style of attacking play. Tottenham have now removed Eric Dier, Ivan Peresic, Ryan Sessegnon, Tanguy Ndombele and Japhet Tanganga from the club. Joe Rodon has been sold to Championship club Leeds United.
Fans annoyed at Chelsea’s treatment of Chalobah
Many Chelsea fans are upset that several players have been left out of the squad playing In the pre-season tour of America. Top of the list is Trevoh Chalobah and when I contacted the press office no explanation could be given. Fans feel Chalobah has been treated unfairly by the Blues and it looks like coach Enzo Maresca does not plan to use him anytime soon. Kepa Arrizabalaga is now in the final 11 months of his contract and Chelsea are desperate to unload him from the squad. Romelu Lukaku, David Datro Fofana, Cesare Casadei and Alfie Gilchrist have also been left at home. Italian side Como are interested in Alfie and they have former Chelsea and Arsenal player Cesc Fabregas as their coach.
Arteta says “We must upgrade”
Mikel Arteta said this week that upgrades in certain positions are the only way the Gunners can progress at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal face Liverpool in American city Philadelphia this coming week and he said, “We have to improve. Perfection in this league requires different standards and relate that word to winning the Premier League.” He also spoke about their new signing, the versatile Bologna defender Calafiori: “We know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources in terms of numbers where we are short, so we will try our best.” England players Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Aaron Ramsdale are not playing in America with the Arsenal squad having been granted an extra holiday period following the Euros.
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Erik Ten Hag wants McTominay to stay
To those Manchester United fans who are worried about losing Scott McTominay to Galatasaray, Tottenham or Fulham the word from coach Erik Ten Hag is “don’t worry.” He claims he has no intention of selling the 27-year-old Scot’s midfielder. McTominay started 27 matches last season and achieved joint third highest scorer after he moved forward to a more advanced role. Scott has another 12 months left on his contract and Ten Hag said, “We want to keep him and he is a very important player for our squad. Speculation about selling McTominay started again when United signed 18-year-old French defender Leny Yoro and Dutch international striker Joshua Zirkee because the club has to stay inside the FA Financial rules and needs to bring in money.
*United tell me they have given the iconic No9 shirt to Rasmus Hojlund for the 2024/5 season. He previously held the No11 shirt. He is United’s number one striker with 16 goals last season. The 21-year-old has inherited the number from Anthony Martial who left the club a few weeks ago. New signing Joshua Zirkzee will likely take the number 11.
Ballon D’or winner should be Rodri
There is huge support for Manchester City midfielder Rodri to win the Ballon D’or. Rodri won Player of the Tournament at the Euros and has now impressively been named as the top player at the Euros, Club World Cup, Nations League and Champions League. He is considered by millions to be the world’s best holding midfielder. Rodri has recognised and accepted in the past that it was usually front players such as Messi and Ronaldo who won but Real Madrid’s Luca Modric broke the mould recently. Rodri is heavily tipped to beat Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.
City in position to sign Donnarumma
Manchester City have contacted Paris Saint-Germain’s Italian goalkeeper Donnarumma because they believe Ederson could leave very shortly in order to play in Saudi Arabia. City are prepared to put £50million on the table to get their man. Donnarumma led Italy to Euro glory in 2020 but this year saw his team beaten by Switzerland in the round of be offered to him he will have to make a quick decision.
Two things are happening right now…Eddie lost his two biggest Newcastle board member supporters in Amanda Staveley and her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi when they stepped down as directors. Secondly Paul Mitchell has been recently installed as Newcastle’s Sporting Director and he has worked with Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton and Tottenham and would like to install the Argentine if Howe quits. Time is not on Newcastle’s side because they do not want to go into the new season with the managerial job unsettled and time is needed if a new boss arrives and has to start whilst hardly knowing his players. Howe did not have a say in Mitchell’s appointment and if he does leave Pochettino can expect his phone to be ringing with a new job offer.
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