August 2024 – Page 10 – Football Flame    

Month: August 2024

PREMIER LEAGUE

Why Liverpool are willing to sell young players this summer

Liverpool's seemingly sudden willingness to sell their young players is a result of various factors, rather than an order from new manager Arne Slot, Football Flame understands.Fans have voiced concerns on social media as Liverpool continue to entertain the departures of a number of young talents. Fabio Carvalho left for Brentford in a deal worth up to £27.5m, while the likes of Ben Doak, Bobby Clark and Sepp van den Berg are all facing uncertain futures at Anfield over the final weeks of the summer transfer window. Young players played a huge role in Liverpool's 2023/24 campaign, including their famous triumph over Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final, but sources have confirmed to 90min that such a level of exposure was not planned for their academy talents and was largely forced upon ...
Champions League

Lille defeats Fenerbahce in Champions League qualifying

Canadian Jonathan David's 118th-minute penalty for France's Lille on Tuesday ended Turkey's Fenerbahce's hopes of making the revamped Champions League.Lille advanced as the 3-2 winner over Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce after two legs in the third qualifying round.David's penalty lifted Lille into a 1-1 draw Tuesday. Lille won the first leg 2-1.Fenerbahce scored in the first minute of second-half stoppage time through Bafode Diakite's own-goal to go 1-0 ahead in the second leg in Istanbul and take the match to extra time.Mourinho was hired in June on an $11-million annual salary to try to win Fenerbahce’s first Turkish league title since 2014. He was attempting to get his new team into the revamped 36-team league stage of the Champions League, which he won with Porto in 2004 and Inter ...
Ligue 1

PSG in discussion with Man United over Jadon Sancho’s availability

Paris Saint-Germain remain in discussions with Manchester United regarding the availability of Jadon Sancho who returned to the club this summer following a loan spell with Borussia Dortmund. Any deal that could be struck for Sancho is separate to the one being negotiated between PSG and United for Argentinian midfielder Manuel Ugarte.RMC Sport say that Sancho, 25, is 'interested in joining the Parisian club', but United would only let him leave if PSG meet their asking price of around £51million. It comes after Erik Ten Hag had revealed new plans for the £77m star last week, with the Dutchman stating that the England forward could play more centrally as a No 9 in the Dutchman's front three.'Jadon can, of course, play as a striker,' Ten Hag said, when asked on his position. 'He c...
BUNDESLIGA

Christoph Freund talks Bayern Munich’s win over Wsg Tirol, Leon Goretzka, and Désiré Doué

Bayern Munich closed out its preseason with a 3-0 victory over WSG Tirol, which left sporting director Christoph Freund pleased with what he saw. “It was an important friendly because many of the boys came back later and now they’ve got minutes. So it was exactly what we wanted. The game served its purpose. It was a decent match and it’s important that everyone has a game under their belt. It’s good that everyone is back now and the coach will choose the right line-up on Friday,” said Freund (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).One player who was not in the lineup against WSG Tirol and who probably won’t feature against SSV Ulm either is midfielder Leon Goretzka. When asked if Goretzka would stay at Bayern Munich, Freund said, “We’ll see.” Regardless, Freund does expect Goretzka to comp...
SERIE A

Atlanta United Goes All-In with Shomurodov from AS Roma

The news that Atlanta United is negotiating the signing of Eldor Shomurodov, a forward from AS Roma, is one of those moments that makes the most attentive fans scratch their heads and wonder if the team is betting too high or if they've found the missing piece to dominate the league.Shomurodov, at 29, isn't just any name. His journey through Europe, with stints at Roma and a loan to Cagliari, shows he's a player who knows how to adapt to different environments and styles of play. Plus, his stats with the Uzbekistan national team—27 goals in 55 appearances—paint the picture of a striker who can make a difference wherever he plays. What stands out most in this deal is the potential impact Shomurodov could have on Atlanta United and, by extension, MLS as a whole. Atlanta United has alr...
TRANSFERS

Vinicius Jr. offered $1.6 billion Saudi deal

Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. has been offered a lucrative deal worth more than $1.6 billion to play in Saudi Arabia, according to multiple reports including Reuters and ESPN. Citing anonymous sources, Reuters reported that Vinicius was approached by Saudi officials and offered a five-year contract worth around $328 million per season, plus bonuses, to join the Saudi Pro League (SPL).CNN Sport has contacted Vinucius' representatives and the SPL for further comment. According to Reuters and ESPN, the deal also includes a separate 10-year contract to be an ambassador ahead of the 2034 World Cup, which is set to be held in Saudi Arabia.Vinicius has not yet rejected the possibility of leaving the Spanish capital, Reuters reported, and is studying the offer with his team. The 24-year-o...
LALIGA

Kylian Mbappe ready to make Real Madrid debut in UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta

Kylian Mbappe appears ready to make his debut for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta on Wednesday. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said the France striker arrived in good shape following the European Championship and was adapting well to the team after a week of practice. Mbappe “could play tomorrow,” Ancelotti said Tuesday at a news conference at the National Stadium in Warsaw where the match will be played.The 25-year-old Mbappe is the biggest draw in the Polish capital after finally joining Madrid following a drawn-out saga with his former club, Paris Saint-Germain. He was introduced to the club’s fans at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium last month but wasn’t part of the squad on its U.S. tour while he rested after Euro 2024.He joins a slew of world-class forwards at Mad...
NEWS

Jose Mourinho says Fenerbahce can win Europa League if refs improve

Jose Mourinho was fuming after Fenerbahce failed to qualify for the Champions League group stages, but suggested the Turkish side can win the Europa League if the standard of refereeing improves. The 61-year-old faces a potential reunion with Manchester United as Fenerbahce dropped into the Europa League competition after being beaten by 10-man Lille on Tuesday evening. Fenerbahce went into the game trailing 2-1 on aggregate after losing in France last week, with an equaliser eventually coming in the 91st minute of the game before Jonathan David scored to win the match in extra time.Lille's Aissa Mandi was sent off as the Ligue 1 side found themselves a man down in a match where seven yellow cards were dished out by Spanish referee Jose María Sanchez. Mourinho had previously overs...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Luke Shaw injury setback confirmed as Man United release fresh statement

Manchester United have announced that left-back Luke Shaw is set to miss the start of the season with a calf injury.The star, who hasn't played a minute for United since he suffered an issue just before half-time against Luton Town back in February, recently made his return to football at the European Championships, where he played three halves of football for Gareth Southgate's England side that finished runners-up to Spain. In a statement released by the club on their website, they wrote: "Luke Shaw will miss the opening games of the Premier League season due to a calf injury sustained at the start of pre-season training. He is working hard on his rehabilitation with a view to being available after the first international break." Throughout preseason, there's been the lingering...
TRANSFERS

Man United sells Wan-Bissaka to West Ham ahead of impending arrival of Mazraoui and De Ligt

Manchester United sold Aaron Wan-Bissaka to Premier League rival West Ham on Tuesday, ahead of the likely arrivals of two more defenders to Old Trafford.Wan-Bissaka moved for a reported fee of 15 million pounds ($19 million) to end a five-year spell at United. One of the best one-on-one defenders in the English game, Wan-Bissaka will compete with Vladimir Coufal for the right-back spot at West Ham. United appears to have lined up a replacement for Wan-Bissaka in Morocco full back Noussair Mazraoui, who is reportedly close to joining from Bayern Munich along with Netherland center back Matthijs de Ligt. There was footage on Monday of De Ligt heading to Manchester to complete the move.United has already bolstered its defense in this transfer window by signing 18-year-old center bac...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Cole Palmer ‘commits himself to Chelsea until 2033’

Cole Palmer has signed a two-year contract extension with Chelsea, according to reports. The 22-year-old - who arrived from Manchester City in a £42.5million deal on transfer deadline day last September - has now apparently committed himself to the Blues through until June 2033.Palmer enjoyed a standout campaign last season, scoring 22 Premier League goals. The Chelsea winger was part of the England squad which reached the final of Euro 2024, where he scored an equaliser after coming off the bench in the defeat against Spain. The Blues posted a picture of Palmer on their official X account on Tuesday afternoon and the PA news agency has contacted the club seeking an update.
Ligue 1

Nice reject approaches from multiple clubs for Evann Guessand

According to a report by L’Équipe, at the start of the summer transfer window, Evann Guessand’s future at OGC Nice looked far from certain. The French outlet writes that Guessand had rejected a contract extension in January which was reportedly far below his expectations, while Nice unofficially were willing to listen to offers for the forward if they were around the €20 million mark. This situation is far removed from the one that Guessand and Nice now find themselves in. The forward has become vital after Terem Moffi (25) suffered an ACL rupture that will likely rule him out of the majority of the upcoming season. The absence of Moffi means that Nice have only Guessand and Gaëtan Laborde (30) in their striking rotation. And in recent days, this has led to the club reopening talks w...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Everton also wants Nketiah but they can only sign him on loan

Arsenal wants to sell Eddie Nketiah and has been in talks with Olympique Marseille regarding the striker’s transfer. The Englishman has agreed on personal terms with the Ligue 1 side and is eager for the move to materialise. Arsenal is aiming to secure a good fee for Nketiah’s departure and is open to other clubs joining the race, which has prompted Everton to express interest. Everton is keen on acquiring Nketiah due to his Premier League experience and his status as a player from one of the top clubs in the competition. However, a report from Football Insider suggests that it is unlikely Everton will complete the signing due to their financial constraints. The report indicates that although Arsenal has proposed a loan deal with an obligation to buy, Everton may struggle to meet this...
BUNDESLIGA

Official | Maximilian Beier joins Borussia Dortmund for €29m

Borussia Dortmund have announced that they have completed the signing of Hoffenheim and Germany striker Maximilian Beier. The 21-year-old joins for €29m plus €2m in add-ons, reports Sky Germany and signs a contract at the Signal Iduna Park until 2029. Hoffenheim also has a sell-on clause in the agreement. Beier will replace Niclas Füllkrug who last week joined West Ham for €30m after only a season at the club. On moving to Dortmund, Beier said: “I am really looking forward to this next, big step in my career. In the conversations with Borussia Dortmund, I felt from the first minute how much they wanted me and I immediately had a great feeling. I am proud to be able to play for one of the best teams in Europe from now on and am extremely motivated to get started and bring joy to the fans...
SERIE A

Why Genoa could delay Nico Gonzalez Juventus move despite agreement

Juventus and Fiorentina have agreed a fee for the transfer of Nico Gonzalez, but La Viola do not want to let the Argentine go before securing a deal for Albert Gudmundsson, who Genoa do not want to lose until they find a suitable replacement themselves. Nico Gonzalez part of Serie A transfer merry-go-round Reports on Monday morning confirmed that Juventus have agreed to pay a fee of €30m to sign Nico Gonzalez from Fiorentina. The player has informed his current employers of his desire to leave the club in order to play Champions League football. Sky Sport Italia add that Fiorentina ‘promised’ they would allow Gonzalez to leave the club in the right circumstances after turning down offers from Brentford and Leicester City in the past. However, despite the fact that Juventus have got the...
LALIGA

Flick and Baby Barca get a dose of reality at just the right time

No one said wins would come easy for Hansi Flick and his young Barcelona players. What made them special throughout the preseason was completely absent on Monday night. No intensity. No fight. That being said, Monaco had a very different tactical approach than Manchester City, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. In this game, this Barcelona team, for the first time, were the favorites. They were playing at home, and although they fielded some young and inexperienced players, namely Marc Casadó, Marc Bernal, Pablo Torre, and Pau Víctor, they were expected to come out on top. After all, it’s been over a decade since Barcelona last lost their inaugural Joan Gamper match. In the end, it was naivete that lost them the game. One bad touch from Marc Bernal in front of goal was all it took to sink the ...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Zubimendi Snubs Liverpool’s €60M Offer for Sociedad Stay

Liverpool have faced a significant setback in their summer transfer plans, with Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi deciding to stay put in Spain. Despite the Reds identifying Zubimendi as their top target for the defensive midfield position, the player has firmly informed Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, that he will not be making a move to Merseyside this summer. Zubimendi’s Decision to Stay: A Blow to Liverpool’s Plans Liverpool’s interest in Zubimendi was no secret. The club saw the 25-year-old as an upgrade on Wataru Endo, with manager Arne Slot being particularly impressed by Zubimendi’s performances for both Sociedad and the Spanish national team. The midfielder’s €60 million (£51.3 million) release clause seemed a reasonable price for such a talent, and Liverpo...
TRANSFERS

Conor Gallagher stuck in transfer limbo as Chelsea star trains on his own in Madrid

Conor Gallagher is unclear on where his future lies with Atletico Madrid unsure if they can complete his move from Chelsea. A deal for just over £33million has been agreed between the two parties but the transfer has not yet been completed with the Spanish outfit hampered after their expected sale of Samu Omorodion to the Blues fell through at the eleventh hour. It leaves those at Atletico scrambling to find the necessary funds as Gallagher remains in a Madrid hotel, reports the Telegraph, where he's been for the past five days. The La Liga outfit put up a picture on their social media of the England international at the Wanda Metropolitano, sparking suggestions that the move was about to be announced. Gallagher has had to maintain his own fitness as he waits to see whether Atletico can...
TRANSFERS

Report: Aaron Wan-Bissaka agrees Man United settlement ahead of West Ham move

Manchester United have reportedly agreed a settlement with Aaron Wan-Bissaka ahead of his proposed move to West Ham United. The Hammers are left Vladimir Coufal as their sole right-back after seeing Ben Johnson join Ipswich Town on a free transfer earlier this summer. West Ham initially identified Bayern Munich's Noussair Mazraoui as their top full-back target before Man United entered the race for the Morocco international. The Hammers soon turn their focus to Man United's Wan-Bissaka, who has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Old Trafford. It was recently reported that the two clubs had made progress in negotiations over a permanent transfer for the former Crystal Palace man. Man United agree Wan-Bissaka settlement According to the Daily Mail, Wan-Bissaka is set to unde...
Ligue 1

Official: RC Strasbourg sign Caleb Wiley on loan from Chelsea

Apparently this deal was not quite officially official before, but it is now. Young left back Caleb Wiley has joined RC Strasbourg on loan for the season, just as it was expected when he signed with Chelsea the other week — and just as it was expected when Strasbourg themselves were pursuing the 19-year-old US Olympian. For whatever reason, Strasbourg ended up not signing him directly; instead he’s on Chelsea’s books and now he takes up a precious international loan spot as well (precious because we have dozens of players who need loan assignments, and FIFA limits international loan to just six — gone are the days of Michael Emenalo’s Free-wheeling, free-dealing Loan Army!). Wiley is our second loanee at RCSA after Andrey Santos. Goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović was recently linked as well — th...
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