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Anthony Elanga has no regrets about leaving Manchester United for Nottingham Forest as he explained how LeBron James and Kobe Bryant inspire him.

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• Elanga joined United aged 12
• Left for Forest in £15m deal
• Reaping the rewards of regular minutes

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Elanga decided to leave Old Trafford last summer in search of more minutes. He was snapped up by Forest in a £15 million ($19m) deal, and hasn't looked back after emerging into a key player under Nuno Espirito Santo.

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  Elanga's performances at the City Ground, especially compared to fellow winger Antony's at United, certainly raise questions about the Red Devils' decision to let him leave. But he's happy at Forest, who are riding high in fourth place in the Premier League, and admitted during an interview with that he felt as though he was "never improving" at his former club.

• WHAT ELANGA SAID

  “I made the right decision, 100 per cent,” Elanga said.

  “I have not really spoken about this, but at the time at United, I was very young and I was coming into a team that was struggling. Yes, there was the thought that, ‘I am playing for Manchester United’. But I also never felt as though I was improving. I was playing for the sake of playing when I did get the odd opportunity off the bench.

  “Coming to Forest was so big for me, because suddenly I was regularly playing 90 minutes, while having the opportunity to improve. When I played, I felt like I had purpose; like I was playing and improving in the process. That was the biggest change for me. I feel as though I know the league inside-out now, because I have had the chance to learn. I have no regrets, because I am enjoying playing fantastic football with this team. We are in a really good place at the moment.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Elanga also opened up about his influences, admitting he's taken things from NBA legends LeBron James and the late Kobe Bryant.

  “I like to meditate. That relaxes me. I read the Bible. I am also reading a book called Relentless, about Kobe Bryant," he added. "I like to read about the mentality of other athletes in the past and how they reacted to certain situations and challenges. How did they get success?

  “It teaches you to stay grounded and humble. To work hard. LeBron James is another of the biggest examples of what you can achieve if you invest in yourself; if you look after yourself. That is so important to me. If I invest in myself… the only person who will stop me becoming what I become is myself."

Aston Villa kicked off their 2024//25 Premier League season with a highly impressive win over West Ham United last weekend

Unai Emery’s side looked like they were going to have to settle for a share of the spoils against the Irons, that was until Jhon Duran popped up with just 11 minutes left to score the winner.

In what was a tricky opening match, Villa securing all three points will give them plenty of confidence heading into their game against Arsenal this evening.

There could be a few changes to the starting XI, however, as some of the players failed to really shine last weekend, most notably John McGinn.

John McGinn’s game in numbers vs West Ham United

The Scot started on the left of a three-man attack to support Oliie Watkins yet struggled to really make much of an impact during his time on the pitch.

During his 62 minutes on the field, McGinn completed just 12 passes, took 26 touches and attempted zero dribbles.

The midfielder also lost possession three times while delivering zero accurate crosses, and it was clear his spell out wide wasn’t going to carve any openings for Watkins.

Emery’s attacking players will need to be excellent from the very first whistle against the Gunners today to stand any chance of securing a positive result. Could this see McGinn potentially dropped from the starting XI for a homegrown talent?

The player who could replace McGinn vs Arsenal

Ramsey was brought on for the ineffective McGinn with just half an hour of the game to be played last weekend, making a wonderful impact.

He was the one that set up Duran to score what turned out to be the winner, while he also was successful with 100% of his passes, showcasing his excellent distribution.

The Englishman looked much brighter going forwards than McGinn, as he created a big chance, made one key pass and succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts during his second half cameo.

This is the sort of performance that Emery will be demanding from the start as the Gunners travel to the Midlands this evening, which could see Ramsey given a starting berth.

The Athletic journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor lauded Ramsey as “sensational” back in 2021, but the academy graduate didn’t enjoy the most productive of spells last term as he missed 35 matches due to a series of niggling injury issues.

His impressive showing on the first weekend of the season will surely have bolstered his confidence, knowing that he is back fit and firing, ready to establish himself in Emery’s side.

The clash against the title-chasing Gunners will be difficult, but Villa did win 2-0 during their last meeting, a result which arguably cost the Emirates side the 2023/24 Premier League title.

If they channel this type of performance tonight, then there is no reason why they cannot replicate that stunning result from the end of last term.

Willing to pay: Aston Villa want £30m "beast" who'd send Duran packing

He almost joined a PL rival this summer

1

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 23, 2024

Marcus Rashford's time at Manchester United could be nearing its end as the Red Devils welcome offers for the 'distracted' forward.

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• Red Devils open to selling Rashford
• United started welcoming bids last summer
• Saudi Arabia an 'option' for forward

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the Telegraph, United started welcoming bids for the 27-year-old last summer following a drastic loss of form. After the highs of a 30-goal season in 2022-23, Rashford managed only eight in all competitions last term, and he appears increasingly affected by off-field issues.

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  Rashford was fined two weeks' wages in January after being spotted on a drink-fuelled night out in Belfast, just two days before calling in sick for United training. That followed his benching for a game against Wolves on Boxing Day in 2022 for "internal disciplinary" reasons. These issues have led to concerns at the club about Rashford's focus and desire, with the forward apparently dealing with a number of off-field distractions – as adds.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United remain open to selling Rashford but his £325,000-a-week wages make finding a suitor difficult. claims that Saudi Arabia and Paris Saint-Germain are both 'options' should a change of country be deemed the best decision.

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• TELL ME MORE

  INEOS have been on a serious cost-cutting mission since their arrival at Old Trafford and the sale of Rashford, an academy graduate who would represent pure profit under Profit and Sustainability Rules, would appeal to the club's hierarchy.

Celtic could be active in the transfer market over the next two weeks before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the end of the month.

The Hoops have not been particularly active in bringing new players to Parkhead so far, though, with three players coming in on permanent deals.

Goalkeepers Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel have come in to compete for the number one spot and Paulo Bernardo has joined on a permanent basis, after his loan spell from Benfica last season.

The Scottish giants are reportedly on the verge of a deal to sign Adam Idah from Norwich City for a potential club-record fee of £9.5m this week.

They have agreed a deal with the Canaries and may be hoping to wrap that move up in time for him to make his second Celtic debut, having spent the second half of last term on loan in Glasgow, in the League Cup this weekend.

The Hoops have also been linked with an interest in his Norwich teammate Abu Kamara, who produced a goal and an assist against Stevenage for the Yellows on Tuesday night.

Celtic could also add to their options in the middle of the park before the end of the summer transfer window, as a new midfield target has emerged.

Celtic keen on Premier League battler

According to The Sun, the Hoops are interested in signing Liverpool defensive midfielder Wataru Endo to bolster Brendan Rodgers' squad this month.

The report claims that the Scottish giants are monitoring the Japan international's situation, as they seemingly weigh up whether or not to make a move for the former Bundesliga ace.

It states that the Hoops are 'huge admirers' of the midfield battler but it remains to be seen what that means for the current window and their plans.

The Sun adds that Liverpool are open to cashing in on the experienced brute, who has dropped down the pecking order at Anfield since Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

It reveals that Ryan Gravenberch and Stefan Bajcetic have been deemed to be better options than Endo in the number six role by the Dutch coach, which has opened the door to a possible exit.

However, the report claims that the Premier League giants are currently looking for a fee in the region of £15m for the Japanese ace, who has already been the subject of a rejected bid from Marseille.

Rodgers could, though, land a big upgrade on his only current natural number six – Tomoki Iwata – by working out a deal with his former club for Endo.

Tomoki Iwata's form for Celtic

The 27-year-old ace started the 2023/24 campaign on the fringes of the first-team at Celtic and it may not have surprised many if he had moved on, given the likes of Bernardo, Odin Thiago Holm, and Hyeok-kyu Kwon were brought in to bolster the midfield.

Patience was key for Iwata, though, as he remained at Parkhead and worked hard to make himself a genuine option for Rodgers in the second half of the season.

The Japanese maestro ended the campaign with 19 appearances and nine starts in the Scottish Premiership, which shows that he was a decent squad option for the Scottish giants.

Iwata provided a calming presence at the base of the midfield when selected, with the likes of Callum McGregor, Matt O'Riley, Bernardo, and Reo Hatate then allowed to push on ahead of him.

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic ace was reliable with the ball at his feet with a pass accuracy of 90% showing that he rarely gave possession away with his passes.

However, Iwata's mobility and physicality let him down at times out of possession. He only won 50% of his duels and made just 1.2 tackles and interceptions per game to cut out opposition attacks.

This suggests that he was unable to consistently make multiple defensive interventions each match to prevent Joe Hart's goal from being

threatened.

Rodgers could now upgrade on Iwata by swooping to sign Endo from Liverpool, if Celtic can agree a reasonable deal with the Premier League side.

Why Wataru Endo would be a big upgrade

The 31-year-old enforcer is an experienced defensive midfielder who has proven his quality in and out of possession in both the Premier League and the Bundesliga in recent seasons.

Despite standing at 5 foot 10, Endo has the physical quality to come in and improve Celtic's team from an aerial perspective in comparison to Iwata, who lost 53% of his aerial duels in the Premiership last term.

Whereas, the Liverpool midfielder won 58% of his aerial battles in the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign for Stuttgart and 53% of them in the Premier League last season.

This suggests that his presence in the Celtic side would provide Rodgers with more solidity defensively, from set-pieces and crosses from open play, as well as a potential threat in the opposition's box.

Endo's all-round defensive play and security in possession could also see him offer more than Iwata for the Scottish giants in the number six position.

As you can see in the table above, the 31-year-old brute has averaged far more tackles and interceptions per game in the Bundesliga and the Premier League – two of Europe's major leagues – than the Hoops midfielder managed in the Premiership last term.

Endo, who was hailed as "exceptional" and a "machine" by Klopp last season, could come in and make more defensive interventions to help his side out at the base of the Celtic midfield, which could help them in the Champions League when competing against high-quality opposition.

Imagine him & Idah: Celtic eyeing up move for "tricky" 6 ft star

The Hoops are reportedly one of the teams keeping tabs on the England youth international.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 14, 2024

The £15m-rated ace is used to playing in big matches, in Europe's major leagues, and that could give him another advantage over Iwata when it comes to playing in European games, which is another reason why Rodgers must push to land him this summer.

It's set to be a big campaign for Manchester United next season, as Erik ten Hag looks to remedy his side's poor performances in the Premier League last year and build upon their success in the FA Cup.

However, to ensure they aren't left behind by those teams in and around them, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co must provide the Dutchman with additional talent to bolster the first team.

One of the players who's been heavily touted for a move to Old Trafford this summer has been Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte, but that transfer now looks to be dead in the water due to an unwillingness to meet his hefty £51m price tag.

However, fans shouldn't be too down, as recent reports have now linked the club to another talented midfielder who could be the perfect alternative.

Manchester United transfer news

According to a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, United have now turned their attention to Atalanta star Ederson following the cessation of their efforts to land Ugarte.

The report claims that the Brazilian midfielder is one of the names the Red Devils are considering as an alternative to the PSG ace and that Ten Hag is currently 'mulling over whether to attempt to land Ederson.'

It is not entirely clear how much the 25-year-old would cost, but the report quotes an article from the Standard earlier this summer that reported on a potential £38m deal that would have seen the player move to Liverpool – a move that obviously never transpired.

In all, while Ugarte is off the table, fans should be excited at the prospect of Ederson moving to Old Trafford, as he looks like he could be the perfect alternative.

How Éderson compares to Ugarte

So, if United are now focused on signing Éderson over Ugarte this summer, how do the two midfielders stack up against one another?

Well, the first thing to look at is their attacking output, as while the pair primarily play in central and defensive midfield positions, they would still be expected to chip in with the occasional goal or assist at Old Trafford, and in this metric, the Brazilian comes out way ahead.

For example, in his 53 appearances for the Europa League winners last season, the 6 foot "machine", as dubbed by football writer Carlo Garganese, scored seven goals and provided one assist, which equates to an average of a goal involvement every 6.62 games.

In contrast, the PSG ace provided just three assists in his 37 appearances last season, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 12.33 games. While this is inferior, it's still not too concerning for someone who started more games as an out-and-out six.

That said, when you compare the 23-year-old's Ligue 1 heatmap last season to the player who could be signed in his place, it's clear that while he started as the six, he didn't really play like one.

Okay, so now that it is clear that the Atalanta star is more productive while actually playing deeper than his younger competition, does he also come out on top when we examine their underlying numbers?

Indeed, he does. For example, he ranks far better in the vast majority of underlying metrics, including but not limited to non-penalty expected goals plus assists, actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shots and shots on target, key passes and passes into the penalty area, shot-creating actions, blocks, aerial duels won, and he even makes fewer errors that lead to a shot, all per 90.

In his defence, the Uruguayan does come out on top in a few metrics such as passing accuracy, goal-creating actions, tackles won, interceptions and ball recoveries per 90, but that is about it.

Ultimately, while missing out on Ugarte has left some United fans feeling understandably disappointed, they should be excited about the prospect of signing Éderson, as in every measurable metric, he appears to be the better option. Therefore, Ratcliffe and Co should do what they can to secure his services this summer.

Man Utd could make 'cheeky bid' for "monster" £15m Hojlund alternative

He has less than 12 months left on his contract

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 6, 2024

The 26 finalists include the two players with the most Ballons d'Or in history, with all winners set to be announced next week

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• Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi among FIFPRO World 11 finalists
• Ballon d'Or winner Rodri included
• Injury prevented inclusion of Thibaut Courtois

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Most of the biggest names in men's soccer have been included among the nominees for this year's FIFPRO Men's World 11. It is voted upon annually by the best players in the game.

  Messi and Ronaldo are once again among the nominees. For the first time since 2018, neither of the duo won this year's Ballon d'Or – but stand a chance for inclusion among the FIFPRO Men's World 11 for the 18th straight year.

  Dating back to 2005, the award celebrates footballing excellence on the global level. The 2024 awards will mark the 20th edition, and will be revealed Dec. 9. A record 28,000 players from 70 countries have voted for the 2024 Men’s World 11 and Women’s World 11.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Other big names on the list include Man City's Rodri, Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk.

  Premier League stars Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka did not make the shortlist, however.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Messi has a chance to extend his FIFPRO dominance this year, should he make the final 11. An inclusion for the Inter Miami star, who also won Copa America last summer, would be his 18th acknowledgment – another impressive mark in a career full of individual honors.

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  THE FIFPRO MEN'S WORLD 11 SHORTLIST IN FULL

  Goalkeepers: Ederson, Emiliano Martinez, Manuel Neuer

  Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Ruben Dias, Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, Antonio Rudiger, William Saliba, Kyle Walker

  Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Jamal Musiala, Rodri, Federico Valverde

  Forwards: Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Cole Palmer, Cristiano Ronaldo, Vinicius Junior, Lamine Yamal

Leeds United are a matter of days away from kicking off their 2024/25 Championship season as they prepare to face off against Portsmouth at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Whites will be looking for a fast start to the new campaign after they narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League back in May, losing 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley.

Daniel Farke is now hoping that it is second time lucky for his side as the German goes in search of his third promotion out of the second tier, having won the title twice during his time with Norwich City.

The West Yorkshire outfit's hopes of promotion have been dealt a blow by the exit of winger Crysencio Summerville, though, as the forward has joined West Ham United on a permanent deal this month.

The former Feyenoord youngster, as shown in the table above, was a constant menace to opposition defences in the league last term and Leeds are looking to dip into the market to secure his services.

Leeds eyeing up Premier League winger

According to journalist Alan Nixon, the Whites could pursue a deal to sign Crystal Palace wide man Jesurun Rak-Sakyi before the end of the window.

The reporter claims that fellow Championship sides Sheffield United and Hull City are both trying to secure his services on loan for the 2024/25 campaign, whilst Queens Park Rangers have also been linked.

Nixon adds that Leeds could come in with a move for the 21-year-old whiz if they do not sign Jonathan Rowe from divisional rivals Norwich City.

Football Insider recently reported that the Whites have already had an offer of £7m quickly rejected by the Canaries for the England U21 international.

The outlet added that the Yellows are set to demand a fee of at least £15m for their academy graduate, who has one year left on his current contract at Carrow Road – with an option to extend that by a further year.

This means that Leeds offered less than half what Norwich want for the impressive winger and it could, therefore, be a difficult deal for Farke and his recruitment team to get over the line.

However, the German boss could forget all about raiding his former club for Rowe by securing a deal to sign Rak-Sakyi from Palace instead.

Jonathan Rowe's form for Norwich

Firstly, it is easy to see why Leeds are interested in signing the Canaries youngster to bolster their options on the flanks in the wake of Summerville's move to the London Stadium.

He's a young and proven Championship performer who could come in and hit the ground running at Elland Road, whilst also having the potential to improve and develop over the years to come – at the age of 21.

Rowe is someone Farke could work with on the training pitch to help him fulfill his potential but he is also an excellent player who could make an instant impact on the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, the 21-year-old dynamo was a goal threat for the Canaries in the second tier last term, in his first full season at senior level.

12 goals from an xG tally of just 5.36 also shows that Rowe's finishing was exemplary. He rarely wasted a high-quality chance to find the back of the net, scoring almost seven more goals than expected based on the quality of opportunities that were created for him.

However, the English gem did not provide much in the way of creativity. The Norwich youngster made less than one key pass per game and only created one 'big chance' in 32 outings during the regular season.

This suggests that Rowe would be unlikely to replace the creativity Summerville displayed on the flank, with his nine assists in the Championship.

Whereas, Rak-Sakyi is a player who could come through the doors at Elland Road with the potential to make an impact as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Why Leeds should forget about Rowe

Instead of splashing out a staggering £15m to sign a player from one of their Championship rivals, the West Yorkshire side could save their money and land a loan deal for the Palace youngster as a potentially better alternative.

Rak-Sakyi is coming off the back of a frustrating season where he was used as a squad player for the Eagles – making just eight first-team appearances.

He did, though, fire in four goals and provide one assist in three U21 matches for the Premier League 2 side, which offered a glimpse at the quality he can offer.

His form at academy level for Palace has always been strong. Rak-Sayki has scored 24 goals and assisted eight in 40 U21 games for the club, along with eight goals and eight assists in 17 U18 matches.

The left-footed ace, who was described as "remarkable" by Roy Hodgson, has also showcased his attacking quality in senior football with Charlton on loan in the 2022/23 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, Rak-Sayki was a star for the Addicks with his ability to score and create goals, with 23 direct goal contributions in 43 matches.

Albeit at a lower level, the Palace youngster outscored Rowe and provided far more creativity for Charlton than the Norwich whiz did in the Championship last season.

Rak-Sakyi's statistics at academy level and in League One suggest that the potential is there for him to offer more than the £15m-rated Leeds target at the top end of the pitch, due to his goalscoring prowess and creative quality.

Imagine him & Gnonto: Leeds in the race to sign "exciting" star

The Whites are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Premier League defender.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 6, 2024

Therefore, Farek could forget all about a move for Rowe this summer by winning the race to sign the former Charlton loanee to bolster the squad.

GOAL takes a look at six first-time FIFPRO World 11 nominees, with some big names making their debuts on the 2024 shortlist

The footballing world has been lucky in recent years, with so many top players performing at their peak for so long. There are many nominees on this year's FIFPRO Men's World 11 shortlist with multiple acknowledgments under their belt. But at some point, the next generation has to come through.

For some, such as Phil Foden, a first time nomination has perhaps come a little late. But for the majority of the six first-time nominees, everything seems to be coming together at exactly the right time, with many years of promise to come.

No nominee is guaranteed a spot among the final 11 winners, of course (the 2024 winners will be revealed next week). But a glance at the ages here, ranging from 17-24, suggests that the select group might be award contenders for the foreseeable future.

GOAL looks at the first-time nominees for the FIFPRO Men's World 11, how they got here, and why there could be further nominations in their future.

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  Jeremie Frimpong, Bayer Leverkusen

  One for the purists! Jeremie Frimpong was a crucial part of Xabi Alonso's immensely successful Bayer Leverkusen team, serving as a valuable dynamic attacking presence as a right wing back. His nine goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga alone are part of the reason why the German side broke their "Neverkusen" curse.

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  William Saliba, Arsenal

  The best center back in the Premier League? He's certainly up there. The attacking players may get the plaudits for Arsenal, but it's their rock solid defense that have made them perennial title contenders. Saliba is the Rolls Royce at the heart of it all, forming a formidable partnership with Gabriel at the back. With the duo bossing it, Arsenal conceded just 29 goals in the league last season.

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  Phil Foden, Manchester City

  It's quite incredible that it's taken Phil Foden this long to get voted onto the shortlist. Then again, it did seem as if last year was when it finally came together for the man Pep Guardiola once likened to Andres Iniesta. Erling Haaland did all of the goalscoring for City last year, but Foden provided pretty much everything else, putting up his best attacking numbers to date and winning the PFA Player of the Year.

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  Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich

  What a class of young midfielders Europe has these days. Jude Bellingham, Florian Wirtz and Foden would be enough. But throw Musiala in, and the next generation looks bright. Bayern may have gone without a trophy last season, but none of that can be blamed on the former Chelsea academy talent, who was magnificent throughout. He scored 12 and assisted eight to complete a breakout year. More honors are sure to come.

With the Julen Lopetegui era at West Ham United beginning this summer, the Hammers' new boss is set to race a fellow Premier League side to sign a new defender.

Hammers make moves for new defensive players

One of Lopetegui's first pieces of business as West Ham boss saw him reunite with Max Kilman. The Spaniard had made Kilman captain during his time with Wolverhampton Wanderers and a £40million deal saw the central defender make the move to the London Stadium this summer.

Fabrizio Romano: West Ham submit proposal to sign "outstanding” new player

He scored 19 league goals last season.

By
Tom Coates

Jul 23, 2024

Clearly not content with the arrival of Kilman, the Hammers remain linked with a number of other defensive players. Recent rumours have linked the East London outfit with a move for former Chelsea centre-back Fikayo Tomori who now plays his football in Italy with AC Milan.

Another name doing the rounds in West Ham circles is that of Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The right-back is set to be shown the door at Manchester United this summer and the Hammers have been quick to enquire about a deal for the player. It is claimed that the Red Devils are willing to listen to offers for the 26-year-old meaning it could be a good opportunity for the Hammers to strike a deal.

With more defensive reinforcements high on the Hammers' list of priorities, it appears that the club are now interested in a highly-rated full-back from Europe.

West Ham explore deal for Bayern Munich defender

As first reported on the X account of Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, West Ham are interested in a deal for Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui. The report claims that the first "concrete talks" have taken place between the two parties with Manchester United also working on a deal for the Moroccan.

Plettenberg states that Mazraoui is at the top of the Hammers' list of targets for this summer and that a fee in the region of €15million to €20million (£12.5million to £16.8million) could be required to tempt the defender away from Bavaria.

With Mazraoui currently commanding a weekly wage of £130,000-a-week, it may be in Bayern's best interest to get the right back off their books so that they can fund new signings this summer.

Since arriving from Ajax in 2022, the 26-year-old has struggled for consistent minutes with Bayern, making just 19 Bundesliga appearances last season. Despite this, Mazraoui still stood out as a consistent defender with a useful attacking edge.

With Ben Johnson already departing the club at the expiration of his contract, the Hammers could be looking a little light on right backs going into next season. Additionally, current starter Vladimir Coufal is attracting interest from abroad meaning that Lopetegui could soon be left without a senior player in this position.

Regardless of their need to replace outgoing right-backs, Mazraoui could be an excellent addition to West Ham's side going into next season.

Former Spain manager Javier Clemente has told Vinicius Jr that Spain is "not a racist country" and says the Real Madrid star must control his temper.

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• Vini Jr has faced vile racist abuse in La Liga
• Clemente hits back at Real Madrid star
• Says his issues are "not a problem of colour"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Vinicius Jr has been the target of sickening racial abuse during his time in the Spanish capital with Real Madrid. The Brazilian has broken down in tears when talking about the racism he has faced in La Liga and has said openly that he thinks Spain should be stripped of World Cup hosting duties in 2030 if no progress is made on the issue.

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  The latest incident of racism in La Liga has seen three people arrested for alleged abuse aimed at Barcelona stars Lamine Yamal and Raphinha during October's El Clasico. Yet former Spain boss Javier Clemente has now spoken out on the topic and claimed Vinicius Jr's issues are "not a problem of colour", and that he could try to control his anger.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Clemente told : "I would like him not to be so angry on the pitch. If he gets kicked, he should take it and keep it. In football there are bad tackles or wrong refereeing decisions, but if you can't take that, you don't like it. He is a great player, but he argues with his opponent, he argues with the public, he argues with the referee, he argues with my sister… I think that if the lad were to reflect on this, he would be a person loved by everyone. It is not a problem of colour. We are not a racist country and that is very clear. What happens is that he has focused on it like this because it has interested him and I think that it is not good for him."

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• WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS

  La Liga president Javier Tebas has claimed that progress is being made in the battle against racism but has warned there is "a long way to go" to eradicate such abuse from the game. Vinicius Jr is, however, on the sidelines for the time being after being ruled out of action by Real Madrid for the next three weeks with a hamstring injury.