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Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Ruben Neves this summer, albeit with Erik ten Hag's side likely to face competition for the midfielder's signature.

What's the latest on Neves to Man United?

According to Football Insider, the Red Devils – as well as rivals Liverpool – are currently said to be leading the race ahead of La Liga giants Barcelona in the battle to sign the 26-year-old, with the Portugal international facing an uncertain future at Molineux with just over a year to run on his existing deal.

The suggestion is that the former Porto man – who arrived in England on a £15m deal back in 2017 – is intent on leaving the Old Gold this summer even if Julen Lopetegui's men are able to stave off relegation in the coming months.

The 36-cap maestro – who is now valued at around £22m according to CIES Football Observatory – had appeared set to leave his current side at the end of last season, with United among those who were said to be tracking his progress at the time.

Would could Neves replace at Man United?

If Neves is brought into the fold at Old Trafford, the Wolves "hero" – as described by Express and Star reporter Matt Maher – could represent a notable upgrade on Scott McTominay, with the latter man having been linked with a move away from the Premier League outfit at the end of the season.

The United academy graduate – who could be the subject of an approach from high-flying Newcastle United – has racked up over 200 appearances for the club since emerging from the youth ranks, although has been restricted to just seven league starts this season following the arrival of Casemiro.

Although Ten Hag and co seemingly fended off interest from other top-flight clubs regarding McTominay amid the signing of the influential Brazilian, it remains to be seen if they will sanction an exit this time around, with the Scotland international's limited role this season a marker of his slide down the pecking order.

Deemed "not good enough" by club legend Roy Keane, the 26-year-old has failed to score or register a single assist in the league this season, having also been unable to offer a truly destructive midfield presence as he has averaged just 1.4 tackles and only 0.6 interceptions per game this term.

Neves, by contrast, has been far more influential from his deep-lying berth, notably scoring five goals from his 27 league starts so far this season as an illustration of his greater quality in the final third, with that attacking thrust also matched by the playmaker's workman-like approach, as he has averaged 2.4 tackles and 1.5 interceptions.

The £50k-per-week man's forward-thinking style is also showcased by the fact that he has averaged 6.56 progressive passes per game across the last 12 months, while McTominay appears far more restrained and safe on the ball as he averages just 3.34 for the same metric.

Hailed as an "incredible player" by teammate Hugo Bueno, the Wolves talisman would seemingly be a player of ready-made, Premier League quality who could go straight into Ten Hag's side, with such an addition allowing the former Ajax boss to finally move McTominay on.

As Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici continues to seek out potential replacements for Antonio Conte in the dugout – despite the 53-year-old having yet to be sacked – a whole host of names have been mooted as possible candidates for the position in recent days.

According to The Guardian, one man who does seemingly have 'admirers' at N17 is Sporting CP boss, Ruben Amorim, with the 38-year-old – whose current deal in Lisbon is set to run until 2026 – said to be interested in taking on the role.

As Football Insider previously noted, the Portuguese coach is said to be "ready" to take on a top job in the Premier League, although the Lilywhites could find it difficult to secure his services prior to the end of the season.

A further sticking point may also be the fact that the highly-coveted coach – who has also attracted interest from Paris Saint-Germain – could prove rather costly due to his €20m (£18m) release clause, albeit with that figure set to drop to €15m (£13m), this summer.

The up-and-coming manager has seemingly justified such an asking price having done an "incredible" job in his current post over the past few years, according to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, having notably knocked the Gunners out of the Europa League a week ago.

The former Braga head coach would not be the first, exciting, young Portuguese coach to try their luck in north London, with Amorim's rise seemingly evoking memories of a certain, Andre Villas-Boas.

Would Amorim be a success at Spurs?

Much like the current Sporting man, Villas-Boas made his name in his native Portugal at FC Porto, enjoying a remarkable debut campaign in charge of the club during the 2010/11 season, as the emerging coach guided his side to the treble – notably enjoying an unbeaten Primeira Liga season and winning the Europa League.

That stunning, breakout success ensured that the Porto native was swiftly snapped up by Premier League giants Chelsea for the following season at the age of just 33, having followed in the footsteps of compatriot Jose Mourinho – a man whom Amorim has also earned comparisons to.

That spell at Stamford Bridge lasted just a matter of months before Villas-Boas was shown the door, although he quickly returned to English football to take charge of Spurs in 2012, finishing fifth in that debut season with what was then a club-record tally of 72 points in the Premier League.

Despite all the early excitement of that "magnificent" season – in his own words – that enthusiasm quickly faded amid the loss of talisman Gareth Bale, with the highly-rated coach again finding himself out of a job midway through the 2013/14 campaign.

That ultimately ill-fated spell has perhaps showcased the step up that is required to go from thriving in the Primeira Liga to then repeating that success in England, with it undoubtedly a difficult transition to make to move into one of Europe's top five leagues.

The fear will be that Amorim – who is also still in his thirties – could suffer a similar fate if he is to be appointed in the near future, with it likely something of a gamble as far as Paratici and co are concerned.

Former Celtic striker and pundit Frank McAvennie has been reacting to a transfer update on attacker Liel Abada.

What’s the latest on Abada’s Celtic future?

Abada made the move to Parkhead back in 2021 and has proven to be a smart signing by the Hoops. The 21-year-old is already closing in on 100 first-team appearances in Glasgow, contributing to 45 goals in the process.

The right-winger has contributed to 19 goals during the current campaign, and his impact in Scotland has not gone unnoticed. Premier League side Southampton are thought to be readying an eight-figure offer for Abada, who has reportedly failed to come to an agreement with Celtic over a new contract. As a result, the Hoops appear to be open to offers for the attacker heading into the summer window.

McAvennie was talking to Football Insider regarding a potential exit for Abada. He believes that the player won’t go to a bigger club than Celtic and feels that Ange Postecoglou won’t be too bothered should he leave. The pundit also described Abada as ‘terrible for a couple of games’, resulting in Postecoglou taking him out of the starting XI.

“It is inevitable players move on but he is only a young boy. He is at a big club and doing well and all of a sudden agents are creeping in.

“I do not think it will bother Ange too much. If he goes somewhere else he will be like another player. Abada is not ready to go to the Premier League. He is at a huge club, the fans love him and he has got to settle down.”

Should Celtic sell Abada?

Celtic have been in this position before when it comes to Premier League interest in one of their impressive performers so may not be too stressed at the possibility of an exit. The Hoops paid £3.6m for Abada, who is still under contract until 2026, so the ball is firmly in Celtic’s court. Should Southampton offer an eight-figure sum for the player, then the Hoops would be making an eye-catching profit which could be invested into bringing in his replacement.

Abada may have had his ups and downs this season, as McAvennie mentions, but he has shown his ability in Scotland, however, if the price is right, it could be wise to cash in, especially with the forward failing to agree on new terms in Scotland.

Arsenal seem on an unstoppable path to Premier League glory at the moment, with Mikel Arteta triumphantly at the helm.

The Spaniard has overseen vast change in the three years since taking over from Unai Emery, and despite it being his first venture as a head coach, he already seems set to write himself into the history books.

What makes the Gunners' turnaround so special is the manner in which they built their team, which is currently bursting with exciting young talent. Through shrewd and decisive acquisitions and the promotion of academy graduates, the fact that they boast the fourth-youngest average XI in the league is further testament to their imminent success and the unbridled further success their future is promised.

However, perhaps the crowning glory of Arteta's recruitment policy actually came through the departures he has instigated. The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe had shown glimpses of quality but did not boast the right mindset or consistency for his vision. And so, they were gone.

They would then be replaced by younger, hungrier models, and thus the cycle continued.

However, in Gabriel Jesus, they arguably have a top striker to hold down that position for the foreseeable future.

He is enjoying a fine return to action after his injury absence, picking up where he left off before the World Cup. The 26-year-old is the model for the perfect transfer, and as such, they are seeking to replicate it his summer with a move for Jesper Lindstrom.

Who is Jesper Lindstrom?

A tricky and versatile attacker, the Denmark international has enjoyed a fine season for Eintracht Frankfurt despite his youth.

As such, it was noted by Sky Germany (via Sport Witness) that contact had already been made over a potential deal in the coming transfer window. What makes this move even more enticing is that the German outfit are reportedly willing to sanction his sale, with €40m (£35m) being the apex of their current valuation.

With seven goals and four assists after just 22 Bundesliga games this season, the 23-year-old actually boasts striking similarities with the former Manchester City forward.

He too has scored just seven, but his six assists across 17 Premier League games slightly outperform his potential teammate.

What further draws comparisons is their shared ability to play all across the front line, with Jesus often deputising on either flank for Pep Guardiola in the past as a keen presser.

Lindstrom too marked himself as an intelligent attacker who could lead the press, as he ranked in the top 18% for successful pressures last season compared to others in his role across Europe.

His teammate Kevin Trapp has sought to praise the youngster too, as he lauded his progression: "Jesper has already made significant steps forward… you can see that he's an outstanding footballer and has very good technique."

With all the necessary attributes to emulate Jesus, perhaps bringing him in could further add to the fluidity of Arteta's system, with yet another forward capable of interchanging within their front three.

Referee Kevin Clancy and his VAR team may have made a huge mistake in the most recent Rangers game after Alfredo Morelos’ goal was controversially disallowed.

What’s the latest on VAR and Rangers?

In the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon, the Ibrox outfit took on their biggest rivals Celtic away from home in what turned out to be a thrilling match.

The home side opened the scoring through Kyogo Furuhashi before James Tavernier pulled the scores level with a superb freekick.

However, the same man struck again for Celtic before Jota made it three and Rangers could not complete a comeback even though Tavernier scored once more to see the game finish 3-2.

However, things may well have ended much differently had referee Clancy not intervened when Morelos looked to have scored from a corner.

As footage shows, the Rangers man volleyed in from close range after outmuscling Alistair Johnston but the goal was ruled out.

Was it a foul on Johnston by Morelos?

Referee Clancy noticed the possible infringement and reacted quickly to blow his whistle before the striker could even really begin celebrating what would have been the opening goal of the game.

But the replays show that Johnston was essentially pushing Morelos just as much as he was being shoved, so it seems rather harsh to punish one and not the other.

The VAR team of Nick Walsh and Daniel McFarlane, however, – was no reason to overturn the referee’s decision. And so this has left the Ibrox club furious.

Indeed, it has since been reported by Sky Sports that Rangers will now write to the Scottish FA for an explanation as to why this first-half goal at Celtic Park was disallowed.

Manager Michael Beale certainly didn’t hide his frustration after the game either, as he told the press: “There are one or two decisions that I think have gone against us, so I’m a bit disappointed with that.

“Certainly, in terms of the goal Alfredo scores first half, their boy [Johnston] isn’t trying to play the ball and if you look at Alfredo’s shirt and the number on his back it’s twisted round to his left shoulder. That would prove that both were at it.”

Aston Villa have reportedly been in contact over a potential move for Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries.

What’s the latest transfer news on Villa and Dumfries?

Dumfries, who shares the same agency as Villa defender Tyrone Mings, turned 27 today and is seemingly at the top of his game with a career-high €28m Transfermarkt valuation.

The Netherlands international joined Inter from PSV Eindhoven back in 2021 and has gone on to make 83 appearances in Italy, contributing to 20 goals in the process.

Capable of playing as a right-back or further forward in a right midfield role, the 27-year-old could well be on the move again over the coming months, with interest from the Midlands.

TEAMtalk relayed an update from Tuttomercatoweb regarding Villa and Dumfries in the last 48 hours. They said that those from Villa Park have been in touch over a possible deal and is one of the main right-back options under consideration in the Midlands.

There is also interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, but Villa’s interest is thought to be more serious.

What would Dumfries bring to Villa Park?

You could say that Unai Emery is in need of a right-back addition this summer. The Villa boss has Matty Cash and Ashley Young as his current senior options, although, the latter of the two will turn 38 in a few months and is out of contract at the end of the season.

Therefore, bringing in someone like Dumfries to rival Cash could be a wise move, especially as the Poland international has been out through injury in recent weeks.

Dumfries, described as a “monster” by journalist Alan Rzepa, has outperformed Cash during the current campaign, as per WhoScored. The Inter man has averaged more shots and key passes per game than Cash, while also registering more assists and crosses than the Villa man, so could offer a greater attacking threat.

Capable of also turning out further forward, Dumfries would bring plenty of versatility to Emery’s side and has proven experience of playing in either the Champions League or Europa League over the past five seasons.

Villa are currently involved in a late push for European football next season after winning their last five Premier League games, and should they achieve that, it could help persuade Dumfries to move to England, making this one to watch heading into Emery's first full season in charge.

نجح الهلال السعودي في تحقيق الفوز على نظيره الفيحاء بنتيجة 2-0، خلال المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم الجمعة ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري السعودي.

والتقى الهلال مع الفيحاء، على أرضية استاد مدينة المجمعة الرياضية، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الـ19 من عمر مسابقة الدوري السعودي.

وسجل علي البليهي هدف الهلال الأول في الدقيقة 85، بعد كرة عرضية من سافيتش إلى داخل منطقة الجزاء وصلت إلى ميتروفيتش ومررها إلى البليهي الذي وضعها داخل الشباك.

وتقدم أليكساندر ميتروفيتش بالهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 90+11، من ركلة جزاء سددها ببراعة.

بتلك النتيجة، يحتل الهلال صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي برصيد 53 نقطة، فيما يتواجد فريق الفيحاء في المركز الحادي عشر، ولديه 19 نقطة. أهداف مباراة الهلال والفيحاء في الدوري السعودي

كشف الاتحاد الدولي للتاريخ والإحصاء عن موقف نجم فريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح، ضمن قائمة أفضل اللاعبين في العالم لعام 2023.

وحسب ما نُشر، جاء نجم فريق مانشستر سيتي إيرلينج هالاند في المركز الأول، بعد حصوله على 208 نقاط، حيث فاز بأعلى نسبة تصويت.

وكان هالاند قد حقق أداءً مذهلًا مع مانشستر سيتي في موسمه الأول في النادي الإنجليزي، حيث ساهم في تحقيق خماسية الدوري الإنجليزي، دوري أبطال أوروبا، السوبر الأوروبي، كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، وأخيرًا كأس العالم للأندية.

اقرأ أيضًا | الاتحاد الدولي للتاريخ والإحصاء: جوارديولا أفضل مدرب في 2023.. وموقف كولر

وحل كيليان مبابي، لاعب باريس سان جيرمان في المركز الثاني بـ105 نقاط، ثم ليونيل ميسي لاعب إنتر ميامي بـ85 نقطة.

أما محمد صلاح، فلم يتواجد ضمن قائمة أفضل 10 لاعبين، حيث حل في المركز الثاني عشر بـ5 نقاط فقط، خلف كريستيانو رونالدو الذي يتفوق بفارق نقطة واحدة.

Aston Villa have reportedly set their sights on a move for Manchester City star Kyle Walker.

What’s the latest transfer news on Villa and Walker?

Walker, primarily a right-back who can also turn out as a centre-back if required, will turn 33 in May and is out of contract at the Etihad Stadium in 2024.

The England international, hailed as “fantastic” by Pep Guardiola, has made 240 appearances for City, 25 of which have come this season. Walker has seemingly fallen out of favour in recent months, though, starting just one Champions League game and 15 of City's 30 Premier League fixtures. He has won 11 major honours with City, but it looks as if a summer exit could be on the cards, with Villa Park seemingly a possible destination.

Football Insider reporter Wane Veysey shared an Aston Villa transfer story in the last 48 hours, claiming the club are ready to back Unai Emery, with the manager looking to bring in a right-back.

Walker is thought to be on Villa’s radar, with Emery believing he could slot straight into the club’s starting XI after falling out of favour under Guardiola.

Could a move to Villa Park make sense?

Matty Cash and Ashley Young are Villa’s current right-back options, with the latter of the two out of contract at the end of the season. Therefore, you can see why Emery would want to bolster his right-back ranks, with Walker previously turning out for Villa in the early stages of his career, making 18 appearances for the club and contributing to five goals during the 2010/11 season.

The £175,000-a-week defender has gone on to gain plenty of experience at the highest level for club and country and has come in for praise from Kylian Mbappe, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward labelling the full-back as a “tank once he hits his speed”.

Walker is on course to surpass 20 Premier League appearances for the eighth season in succession, and his versatility at the back, along with his speed and experience could make him a solid signing heading into Emery's first full season in charge.

Who knows, the club could be preparing for European football next season after their fine form in recent weeks, which again would mean that Villa could do with a larger squad, and with Villa seemingly having doubts about Cash, Walker could take over as the new first choice full-back in the latter stages of his career.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale's extensive “contacts book” means there is no rush to appoint a new sporting director at Ibrox, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest on Wilson's exit?

Ross Wilson first arrived in the Scottish Premiership back in 2019 and was behind the appointment of Giovanni van Bronckhorst and later Beale, not to mention he smashed the club’s player sale record twice with Nathan Patterson joining Everton for £16m before Calvin Bassey brought in almost £23m following his move to Ajax (Sky Sports).

The Scotsman left his post with the Light Blues earlier this month to accept the role of chief football officer with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League after they relieved Filippo Giraldi of his duties, which closed the chapter of his three-and-a-half years north of the border.

Beale, however, has confirmed that his summer transfer and pre-season plans remain on track and are unaffected despite the 39-year-old’s exit, having been working on preparations behind-the-scenes since November.

Speaking to Football FanCast, Jones confirmed that Rangers won’t rush into a new appointment and are likely to rely on Beale's impressive contacts list in the mean time. He said:

“I think they’ll take their time over it. Ultimately, they'll use Michael Beale and his connections to deal with the situation. I mean, he’s saying he could probably handle it himself for the time being. And with his contacts book, there's probably no immediate concerns over how Rangers do it. At the end of the day, a lot of this is about Michael Beale’s vision anyway, so it shouldn't matter too much.”

Are Rangers getting it wrong?

Rangers will definitely need to appoint a new sporting director to oversee the first-team department, because as much as Beale may think he can fulfill the role by himself, recruiting a fresh face behind-the-scenes is the only way he can fully focus on improving matters on the pitch.

And while the hierarchy might well want to wait until the summer to identify the best possible candidates rather than rushing through an appointment now, that depends entirely on how truthful Beale's claims about the completeness of their summer plans are.

Should the Gers miss out on any of their main targets – Jose Cifuentes is already attracting rival interest from Leeds United for example – they may be left in a perilous situation scrambling around for other options without the proper recruitment process in place.