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Fulham coach Marco Silva admitted that he cannot guarantee Joao Palhinha will stay at the club for long despite recently signing a new contract.

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• Palhinha wanted by Bayern
• Midfielder signed new deal
• Coach won't rule out January move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The midfielder reportedly came close to leaving the Cottagers at the end of the summer transfer window when Bayern Munich tried to sign him. The German side made a £47 million ($59m) offer, which was far short of Fulham's asking price, said to be around £70m ($88m).

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Palhinha ended up staying at Craven Cottage and soon signed a new contract, tying him to the club until at least 2028. He even spoke of his devotion to Fulham, saying: "There has been a lot of talk about my future these last few weeks…I don't forget where I came from and all the effort and dedication I've always had in fighting to achieve all the goals I've set out to achieve. And I will continue to do so. Since I arrived at Fulham, the affection and connection created will last forever regardless of what happens, that can never be called into question."

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Despite Palhinha's comments, Silva says he has little control over the 28-year-old's future and would not rule out a possible departure in January.

  "I cannot control the future – and not just about Joao. When you receive some big offers, and the size of that club, there will be more noise around," Silva told reporters.

  "What is going to happen in January or next summer I cannot control. The club has the control. He can keep playing and be a key player for us."

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Palhinha and his fellow Fulham team-mates will take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp reportedly sees AZ Alkmaar midfielder Teun Koopmeiners as an ‘ideal candidate’ to replace Gini Wijnaldum at Liverpool.

It look increasingly likely that Wijnaldum will move on at the end of the season, following five exceptional years in a Reds shirt.

While Liverpool are well-stocked in midfield areas, the void that the Dutchman could leave may lead to Klopp delving into the transfer market.

Klopp eyes up Koopmeiners as Wijnaldum replacement

The Reds have been linked with signing Alkmaar star Koopmeiners in the recent past and another report has now emerged regarding the 22-year-old’s future.

According to AS [via Sport Witness], the Dutchman is someone Klopp rates and he sees him as the ‘ideal’ potential replacement for Wijnaldum.

Roma, Inter Milan, Napoli and Sevilla are all mentioned as potential suitors, though, with Koopmeiners excelling this season, scoring 15 goals in 28 Eredivisie appearances with two other strikes coming in European competition.

Transfer Tavern take

The youngster looks an extremely talented prospect, with his goal return this season exceptional, especially as he can often play as a defensive midfielder.

His output in the final third suggests he possesses Wijnaldum’s versatility – the Liverpool star is far more attacking for his country – so he could be a shrewd addition this summer, having averaged 2.8 tackles per game in the league in 2020/21 while still showing an eye for goal.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been rejoicing about the Reds being linked with a hugely exciting young player. Find out who it is here.

Mauricio Pochettino admits that Mykhailo Mudryk “needs to understand the game better” after a 21st goalless outing for Chelsea from the Ukrainian.

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• Ukrainian signed in January window
• Yet to score competitive goal
• Still learning in English football

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blues invested £89 million ($110m) worth of faith in the jet-heeled winger back in the January transfer window when beating London rivals Arsenal to his signature and putting a big-money deal in place with Shakhtar Donetsk.

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  WHAT THEY SAID

  Mudryk has struggled to get to grips with the Premier League, and posted another blank in Chelsea’s goalless draw with Bournemouth, and Pochettino has told of the learning process that the 22-year-old is still going through: “He is improving. He still needs to learn in the Premier League, it's very fast. He needs to understand the game better, try to be more connected sometimes with the team. We need to give the time and tools for him to improve during the season.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Chelsea did create chances against Bournemouth, but failed to take any of them. Pochettino added on his side’s collective attacking faults: “We need to be tough in the way that we are trying. We need to prove our efficiency in front of goal. We need to be calm also but these circumstances are not always easy for the players. We cannot blame anyone. In the last 10 minutes, our full-backs and some defensive players wanted to do the jobs of the offensive players. Sometimes we couldn't risk the point. I prefer that to being relaxed and calm. They care a lot about the game and situation. The effort was really good.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Chelsea, who have splashed out £1 billion (£1.2bn) on new recruits over the last 12 months, have now failed to score in back-to-back Premier League games and have collected just five points from as many fixtures – leaving them 14th in the table.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Howey, who made 270 appearances during his career, has backed the Newcastle United Supporters trust who are trying to raise enough money to buy a 1% stake in the club, once Mike Ashley leaves.

The trust believes they will require about £3 million to have enough money to purchase a 1% ownership in the club, once new owners come in.

The initiative has already more than £50,000 and is being backed by people such as Alan Shearer, Rob Lee and George Caulkin, who is an ambassador for the move, and considering his strong links to Amanda Staveley that appears a smart move.

Speaking on why there’s nothing wrong with fans trying to own some of their club and what should happen to the money if they aren’t successful, Howey told FFC:

“I think there’s nothing wrong with actually trying to do it but obviously you’ve got fans that will be thinking ‘what’s the point’ and that it’s a waste of time.

“If you can raise enough funds for it then it’ll be absolutely brilliant but if the new owners don’t want the money that’s been raised then surely it can go to different charities around Newcastle.”

Mike Ashley thought he had eventually sold the club almost 12 months ago when he accepted a big from PCP Capital Partners, only for the Premier League to block the deal.

The Magpies currently sit six points above the relegation zone with just seven games remaining which will keep Ashley’s valuation of the club intact.

Leeds are one of a number of Premier League sides interested in signing Barnsley striker Daryl Dike this summer.

What’s the story?

The 20-year-old has been in fine form since joining the Championship side on loan back in the January transfer window, netting five goals in league games.

According to TEAMtalk, Marcelo Bielsa’s side are among the clubs interested in signing the 20-year-old, with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea also said to have been impressed.

The report adds that as it stands, it’s Everton who are the most interested in Dike, and that the only way Barnsley would be able to keep the striker on a more permanent basis, is if they earn promotion – they currently lie in fifth in the Championship table.

Tailor-made for the Premier League

Despite being 20, Dike already looks like a real handful as a striker, standing at an imposing 6 foot 2, and bullying Championship defences already.

A player profile done by SBNation noted: “A physical striker, Dike is more than a bruising finisher. His ‘delicate touch’ and high level of technical ability belie his size, enabling a confidence in possession with both passing and dribbling. That said, he scores a lot of goals in a variety of ways. Headed finishes, short-range placement, and long-range bombs, the 6’2” attacker can do it all.”

His teammate Jordan Williams meanwhile said: “Daryl has got a rocket of a right foot. I think he’s similar to Lukaku. He hasn’t scored as many goals yet, but he can hit a ball just as hard. He’s only 20 years of age. It’s amazing.”

Apart from having surprisingly good technical ability for a player of his size, it’s his temperament that has really got some of his former mentors talking.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Latest Leeds transfer rumours and news”]

His former coach at Virginia, George Gelnovatch, raved: “But one of the things about him that nobody ever talks about is relentlessness. He is a relentless competitor, a ruthless guy on the field. You put that inside a body like his, and it’s pretty impressive.”

Given his natural physical attributes, and the fact he seems to have the perfect mentality, Dike seems tailor-made to succeed in the Premier League.

Bielsa could help Leeds wreak havoc in the top-flight next season by signing the powerful centre-forward this summer.

Meanwhile, Leeds must keep this man at all costs this summer…

The backup striker showed that he could step into the spotlight next year by scoring the opener against Le Havre

Ekitike's second-half strike opened up an otherwise stingy contest between newly promoted Le Havre and the Parisians in Luis Enrique's first game in charge. The 21-year-old scored just after half time, the first goal in a 2-0 win.

Opportunities were sparse before the break. Although the Parisians controlled possession for long stretches, they created little. Marco Asensio, playing in an unfamiliar central position, came closest, seeing a point-blank effort denied.

But PSG found a breakthrough early in the second half. Ekitike provided it, running in on goal, and turning in a rebound after seeing his first effort saved. There was a surprise introduction for Mbappe soon after, the Real Madrid-linked winger given a runout despite being surrounded by contract renewal controversy. And he inevitably scored finding the back of the net with a calm finish right before the final whistle. It ran in contrast to an otherwise anonymous 30-minute cameo.

If this is to be his last showing in a PSG shirt — and it might be — it wasn't a striking one. Ekitike, meanwhile, only has to keep scoring and wait for his chance.

GOAL looks at what we learned during the clash at Campus PSG…

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  Lee Kang-In looks the part

  The South Korean wasn't a very PSG signing. A young, exciting playmaker from a mid-table La Liga side, with no obvious marketing appeal or social media credibility, Lee didn't seem to fit the kind of megastar profile the Parisians have chased in recent years.

  But it might just have been a shrewd piece of business. The former Mallorca man buzzed around the final third during his 45 minutes on the pitch, running at defenders and creating neat angles to connect with his teammates. Lee is nominally an attacking-midfielder, a player more likened to David Silva than Lionel Messi — the player he might expect to replace.

  Still, he looked comfortable on the right and could offer a dangerous threat, a valuable direct presence to round out an interesting attack.

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• Where's the No.9?

  A criticism often leveled at Luis Enrique's Spain side was their clear lack of a goalscoring presence. At times, the manager played with six midfielders, forcing the likes of Dani Olmo or even Gavi into a central role. And he had something of the same issue here, deploying Asensio as his No.9 — with nothing to show for it.

  Ekitike was the answer in the second half, bagging the goal. Still, it's hard to see the 20-year-old starting up front for the Parisians this season. And with Mbappe flirting with a Madrid move, a venture into the market seems likely. The Parisians have already been linked with a few targets, with Dusan Vlahovic, Randal Kolo Muani and Victor Osimhen among those named.

  And on the evidence of today, Luis Enrique will need one of them – or a surprise fourth target – to bolster his squad. There is, of course, plenty of time this pre-season for Asensio to grow into a more central role. Neymar could also assume responsibility. Or Ekitike could continue to impress. But if this was a chance to ease fears of a lack of striking options, it wasn't exactly convincing.

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  Warren Zaire-Emery bosses it

  There were calls in some corners for Zaire-Emery to be among the first XI more towards the end of previous manager Christophe Galtier's reign. And Galtier obliged, but stuck the promising centre-midfielder at right-wing-back, a position he never quite seemed to grasp.

  But here, under a new manager, he was entrusted with the central role that had seen him promoted to the first team at just 16. And the results were promising. Zaire-Emery was arguably the Parisians' best midfielder in the first half, outshining the more experienced Fabian Ruiz, and looking far more settled than the often erratic Manuel Ugarte.

  There are reasons for caution, though. Zaire-Emery is still a teenager and Le Havre will likely be favourites to go down next year. It is, indeed, rather easy to look good against weaker opposition. Still, the young Frenchman showed enough to suggest there could yet be a regular spot for him next year.

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  Ugarte needs time

  Ugarte was another newcomer that seemed very out of character for the Parisians. A well-rounded centre midfielder, a player who does a lot of things reasonably well, but doesn't particularly excel in one area.

  And on Friday, that wasn't necessarily a good thing. In fact, Ugarte tried to do a bit of everything – with very few positive takeaways. At first, his passing was too conservative, a steady stream of sideways balls. Then, it was far too ambitious, as a few were either intercepted or pinged into touch. He flew into tackles, should have been booked at least twice, and was often unsure in his positioning.

  In short, this was every bit a young player enduring a bit of an erratic debut. This is perhaps of little surprise. Ugarte is yet to turn 23, and the price tag, around €60 million (£51.6m/$64m), doesn't necessarily help with the pressure. Either way, he isn't quite ready to settle into Luis Enrique's system.

Manchester United are eyeing a big-money summer move for Wolves’ Pedro Neto as an alternative to Aston Villa star Jack Grealish.

That’s according to The Sun, who claimed that the Red Devils are weighing up a £50m deal for the 21-year-old, possibly in preference to long-term targets Grealish and Jadon Sancho.

Grealish outperforms Neto

Neto has scored five Premier League goals and provided four assists in 29 games this season. However, Grealish has netted six times in the top flight and has registered a whopping 12 assists in seven fewer games.

The Englishman is valued at £54m by Transfermarkt and is under contract at Villa Park until 2025, so it seems as if the Midlanders are under no pressure to sell their creative maestro.

Transfer Tavern take

Even though Villa seem to be in a strong position regarding Grealish, the news of United’s interest in Neto could please the Villa hierarchy.

However, in saying that, recent reports have claimed Manchester City are at the front of the queue for Grealish’s services.

Dean Smith has seen firsthand in recent weeks how his team struggles without Grealish. It seems as if United are looking at other options, though, and, hopefully their Manchester rivals will soon be doing the same.

In other news: Many Villa fans have been reacting on social media after Gabby Agbonlahor urged the club to sign 24 y/o striker, find out more here.  

Despite their improvements this season, the Gunners have lot to sort out ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League campaign

Arsenal face a huge summer as they look to build on the impressive season they have enjoyed under Mikel Arteta. With some high profile arrivals and departures expected, it’s going to be a big few months for the Gunners leading up to the 2023-24 campaign, when they will not just be competing in the Premier League, but in the Champions League as well.

From player contracts, to new signings, there are plenty of situations that need resolving before the new season gets underway in August.

Below, GOAL takes a look at some of the most pressing matters facing Arsenal over the coming weeks…

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  Saliba’s contract 

  Arsenal have done some great work when it comes to getting key players tied down to new long-term deals. Gabriel Magalhaes started things off earlier in the season, then Gabriel Martinell followed suit, and in the past fortnight extensions have been announced for Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka.

  But despite talks having been ongoing throughout the season with William Saliba’s representatives, the centre-back has yet to put pen to paper on a deal of his own.

  And with just 12 months of his current contract remaining, that is something that has to be resolved quickly this summer for Arsenal to avoid being placed in a difficult position with the France international, who could walk away on a free transfer at the end of the 2023-24 season.

  That’s why it’s imperative that contract talks come to a swift conclusion over the coming weeks.

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  Sign Rice and replace Xhaka

  An overhaul of the midfield is going to be one of the key parts of Arsenal’s summer, with their attempt to land Declan Rice at the heart of it all.

  With Granit Xhaka set for Bayer Leverkusen, a new face is needed and Arsenal have identified Rice as a priority. He will not be the only midfield arrival, as there is also interest in Moises Caicedo, Mason Mount and Ilkay Gundogan, but the West Ham skipper is the man who Mikel Arteta really wants.

  It would be a huge signing for Arsenal if they can get it done, one that would send a message of intent out ahead of the rest of the summer.

• Sort out Smith Rowe’s future

  Emile Smith Rowe remains a hugely popular figure at Arsenal, which is why his continued absence from the team on a weekly basis causes so much debate. Given what he produced last season, it’s understandable that fans are confused as to why the attacking midfielder is being constantly overlooked by Arteta.

  So Arenal need to make a decision this summer when it comes to Smith Rowe, because his current situation is not helping anybody. If Arteta does not see his part of his long-term plan, then he should be moved on, with the money that comes in being reinvested elsewhere.

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  Make a decision on Balogun

  Another player who Arsenal must decide on is Folarin Balogun. After enjoying such an incredible season on loan with Reims in France, Balogun is due for talks with Arsenal over his future this summer.

  He has already made it known that he wants to be playing regular first-team football next season and at present that looks unlikely at Arsenal. And with Balogun having just two years left on his contract, another loan spell will not do the club any good, unless he signs an extension before he went out.

  That scenario looks all but impossible, so it feels like the best thing Arsenal can do this summer is get as much money for Balogun as they possibly can. His stock is incredibly high right now and with several clubs understood to be interested, the young forward should bring in a very big transfer fee.

How to watch Arsenal vs Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup on TV and online in the United States.

Arsenal take on Manchester City in the semi-final of the FA Youth Cupgame at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

📺 Watch West Ham vs Southampton live on Sling Blue in the US

Jack Wilshere's side have managed to win just once in their last five matches in the league and are currently eighth in the U18 Premier League South.

Manchester City, on the other hand, have won seven matches in a row and are currently second in the U18 Premier League North.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the FA Youth Cup fixture between Arsenal vs Manchester City, plus team news, recent form and more.

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  Kick-off time

  Date:	April 4, 2023
  Kick-off time:	3pm ET
  Venue:	Emirates Stadium

  The game is scheduled for April 4, 2023, at Emirates Stadium. It will kick off at 3pm ET in the US.

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  How to watch Arsenal vs Manchester City online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  U.S	N/A	The Arsenal APP, Arsenal website, City+

  This FA Youth Cup game can be watched on streamed for Free on Arsenal Website, Arsenal App and subscribers can watch the game on City+ in the US.

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  Team news & squads

  Arsenal team news

  Arsenal will miss the service of left-back Elian Quaseda due to injury.

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers:	Rojan, Okonkwo, Kovacecic, Cooper
  Defenders:	Small, Kacurri, Robinson, Brown, Quamina, Rosiak, Nichols
  Midfielders:	Ibrahim, Lewis-Skelly, Gower, M'Hand, Dudziak, Nwaneri, Roberts
  Forwards:	Kabia, Kamara, Ryan, Davis, Forde, Ferdinand, Green, Benjamin

  Manchester City team news

  The Citizens have no major injury concerns ahead of the clash against Arsenal.

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers:	Grant, Murray-Jones
  Defenders:	Dada-Mascoll, Simpson-Pusey, Smith, Alleyne, Samuel, Naylor, Carrington
  Midfielders:	Susoho, Whittingham, Wright, Okeke, Harrison, Gray, O'Reilly
  Forwards:	Alfa-Ruprecht, Ndala, Lawrence, Muir, Heskey, Oboavwoduo

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  12 April, 2017	Arsenal U18 4-3 Manchester City U18	U18 Premier League
  26 October, 2013	Manchester City U18 2-0 Arsenal U18	U18 Premier League
  13 April, 2013	Arsenal U18 0-2 Manchester City U18	U18 Premier League
  16 February, 2013	Manchester City U18 4-1 Arsenal U18	U18 Premier League

  The two teams have met each other four times in the past with Manchester City winning on three occasions.

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  Useful links

  • Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

According to a report by Foot Mercato, former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino and Lilywhites defender Serge Aurier have been in contact over the possibility of a move to Paris-Saint Germain – with the Ligue 1 giants keen to strengthen at right-back.

Aurier, who has been a regular for Tottenham this season, starting more matches in the Premier League than summer signing Matt Doherty (WhoScored), has just one year left on his current deal – prompting PSG to take note.

Jose could lose Aurier

Foot Mercato even claim that former Spurs favourite Pochettino has been in contact with Aurier over a potential return to the Ligue 1 giants, coming after the 28-year-old openly admitted he would like to end his career at the Parc des Princes.

Tottenham have now even set his asking price, with Daniel Levy demanding around €12 million (£10.2m) if a deal is to be done.

Jose Mourinho, as a result, faces losing Aurier if these contacts evolve into more concrete negotiations – possibly leaving the Portuguese with few right-back options unless Tottenham take to the transfer market.

Transfer Tavern take

Indeed, Pochettino is allegedly keen on signing Aurier for the Parisiens, but it’s clear that the defender could still do a job for Tottenham when called upon.

During his resurgence earlier this season, the Ivorian received widespread media praise, with pundit Kevin Campbell calling him ‘top class’ and insisting Mourinho will be ‘over the moon’ with his form (Football Insider).

Time will tell what comes of this report, but Aurier has an admirer in Pochettino ahead of the summer window.

In other news: Tottenham have been offered a chance to sign this ‘extraordinary’ star, find out more here.