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Manchester United are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund this summer, according to The Guardian. 

Discussions between the two clubs are still ongoing over the structure of the transfer fee, although it is understood Dortmund will accept less than what they had previously hoped for as part of the deal.

Respected transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed Man United want to pay the full fee in instalments with add-ons.

The Italian journalist reports Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are keen to sign him for an initial €100m (£90m) which would break the transfer record for an English player.

While the Red Devils are yet to reach an agreement, it is claimed the German giants could accept a scenario that would see the Old Trafford club pay the figure over the next few seasons for the 11-cap England international, with an additional €20m on-top for performance-related bonuses.

As far as Solskjaer is concerned, Sancho is his top transfer target this summer, as United have been monitoring him for some time.

The right winger was Dortmund’s top scorer last season, having scored 20 goals and supplied 18 assists in all competitions (via WhoScored).

Negotiations have reportedly intensified in recent weeks as the Bundesliga challengers want to find a resolution as soon as possible in order to look for a suitable replacement in the summer.

Ed Woodward is expected to break the English transfer record for the second time during Solskjaer’s time in charge at the Theatre of Dreams, having signed Harry Maguire from Leicester City for £85m last year.

United qualified for the Champions League after clinching third place in the Premier League table on the final day of the season which has improved their chances of signing Sancho in the summer as this has increased their sizeable transfer kitty. Securing Champions League qualification has also played a key part in persuading the 20-year-old to return to England.

The former Manchester City academy graduate will be expected to compete with Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood for a place in the starting lineup.

While there is still some way to go until the transfer window closes in October, Dortmund have set a deadline of August 10 to sort out a deal for Sancho before they start their preparations for next season. The board will have to act quickly as a result if Solskjaer wants to get his man.

United fans, do you think Ed Woodward will sign Sancho this summer? Let us know down below!

Talk of Jadon Sancho possibly signing for Manchester United has died down since the sporting director at Borussia Dortmund said the winger was not leaving the Bundesliga side this summer.

With these reports, the club will possibly be looking out for an alternative option to the Englishman, and this has seen them linked with Juventus winger Douglas Costa.

Gianluca Di Marzio, who was speaking on @footballdaily on Twitter, via @ManUnitedZone_ said: “Juventus want to part ways with the player. His agents have spoken to #mufc to see if they might be interested. The problem is that he is often injured. His agents have offered him to Man United”

Sky Sports later identified that this could be a possible Sancho alternative and a lot of the United fan base have been reacting to the  player being linked to the club.

The reactions have been mixed and it is understandable to see why. Di Marzio pointed out his injury history and this is a problem if he were to sign for United as Costa has missed 533 days of football due to injury since he started playing, per 29 he may not be able to get rid of his injury struggles.

However there is no doubting the quality he possesses as he has managed to win 20 senior trophies in his career at FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus, and Bayern Munich, whilst also scoring 64 goals and picking up 94 assists in 410 games.

Here is what fans said following the news, with one suggesting that he is “better than Lingard” – indeed the Englishman only managed one Premier League goal in 19/20.

Man United fans, what are your thoughts on this news? Let us know down below!

Sheffield United are in the market for a striker, and they have recently been linked with a loan move for Rhian Brewster. However it looks like this deal might not go ahead as they are now reportedly interested in a forward from the Bundesliga.

According to journalist for the Guardian Ed Aarons the Blades, as well as Championship side Swansea, are interested in loaning Germany youth international Leon Dajaku from Bayern Munich.

The 19-year-old forward signed a four-year deal last summer at the Bavarian giants after joining from Stuttgart

The forward has made appearances for the youth teams at Bayern and VfB Stuttgart, as well as featuring a handful of times for their senior squads, but his record at youth level highlights the frightening potential he has as he has played 92 times and scored 47 goals whilst assisting 20, per Transfermarkt.

A young forward to bolster the attack could be exactly what the Blades need as they have the veterans in Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick, as well as Lys Mousset and Oliver McBurnie, who were the two top goal scorers for the club last season.

Therefore bringing in a young star looks to be an ideal signing as he would add some healthy competition to the squad. He has a very prolific record and the deal seems like a no-brainer for the club, especially when it is also just a loan move as it means there is no real risk in signing the player.

Blades fans, are your excited by this news? Comment below!

The international break has given Glasgow Rangers and the rest of Scottish football time to take stock.

For the ‘Gers, there is plenty to be happy about in terms of their performances so far this season. As it stands, they are top of the Premiership table, having won five and drawn one of their first six games. Not only that, they have yet to concede a goal, whilst they have even opened a six-point gap over their fierce rivals Celtic – although the Hoops can level things up if they win both of their games in hand.

The lack of club football has allowed the ‘Gers to do some work to Ibrox, and pictures have emerged of the upgrades being made to the players’ tunnel. However, it seems that many of the club’s supporters are unhappy with the work being done, and it appears they would rather things have been left as they were.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts – one fan called it “cheap and tacky” – and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below:

‘Gers fans, what do you make of the changes at Ibrox? Let us know what you think by commenting below!

West Bromwich Albion’s start to life back in the Premier League couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start and now they must push ahead with signing one of their summer transfer targets before the window closes next month.

Over a week ago, Football Insider claimed the Baggies were in ‘advanced talks’ to clinch Huddersfield Town striker Karlan Grant in an initial £16m deal, but it’s gone a tad quiet on that front since.

Slaven Bilic ought to push forward for that move at all costs considering just how poor his Albion side were against Leicester City at the Hawthorns on Sunday.

The Croatian elected for Callum Robinson to lead the line despite being used as a winger for much of his loan spell in the Championship last term and it’s a move that failed to pay off.

During his 60 minutes on the pitch, the 25-year-old failed to even have a shot at goal nor did he attempt to have a dribble. He was also caught offside twice, per SofaScore.

Hal Robson-Kanu was then called upon over Charlie Austin whilst there wasn’t even a place in the matchday squad for Kenneth Zohore.

It’s ever so clear that they need a goalscorer to feed off the attacking nucleus of Grady Diangana and Matheus Pereira.

The aforementioned report claims the Baggies are confident in securing Grant, so what is taking so long?

He’s been able to elevate his game onto every level each time he’s been faced with a move up the English pyramid, culminating in 19 goals and four assists for a relegation-threatened Huddersfield Town.

Grant’s former Charlton boss Lee Bowyer claims he “causes problems and scores goals” whilst ex-teammate Tommy Elphick believes he has “got everything” to succeed, as per The Totally Football Show.

This move is an absolute no-brainer, so it’s on Luke Dowling to pull his finger out and get this one over the line as soon as possible – Everton and Chelsea are next up.

AND in other news, West Brom struggling to reach an agreement for key Bilic target…

Mateusz Bogusz has long been seen as one of the next big things at Leeds United.

Fans have been calling for him to get a first-team opportunity for what seems like an eternity now, and while their prayers were slightly answered last year as he made his league debut against Charlton Athletic, it looks as though the 19-year-old is set to take a step backwards in his quest towards becoming a first-team star at Elland Road.

Indeed, it appears as though Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta have decided he is to leave on a temporary basis, with Football Insider reporting that Bogusz will be sent out on loan for the 2020/21 season. While getting some experience in senior football lower down the pyramid may end up being a good thing, you have to wonder about whether or not this would have happened if the Whites weren’t promoted.

Being a Premier League side means you have the funds to strengthen, and Leeds have done exactly that in Bogusz’s positions, bringing in Spain international Rodrigo who has featured predominantly as a number 10 so far this season, while also being on the hunt for another central midfielder.

Marcelo Bielsa has done a great chance of giving young players a chance at Leeds with the likes of Jack Clarke and Jamie Shackleton racking up plenty of appearances over the past two seasons, and it seemed logical for Bogusz to be the next in line for that type of opportunity.

The 19-year-old was the recipient of some big praise from Mateusz Klich last year, with his teammate stating that he has a ‘big future’, and while that may still be the case, he won’t get the chance to showcase his talents at Elland Road this season.

In a way, this shows one downside of getting promoted to the Premier League in that the division is much too competitive for a club like Leeds to consistently give their youngsters a chance, which may end up slowing their paths to becoming first-team stars.

Last year it was Tanguy Ndombele, this year it’s Dele Alli.

There has always been some sort of perplexing saga going on at Tottenham Hotspur with the divisive Jose Mourinho at the helm.

The €70m-rated (£64m) attacking midfielder has started just two of their eight matches in all competitions this season, even missing the matchday squad 50% of the time.

It comes not too long after Amazon’s ‘All or Nothing‘ docuseries in which Mourinho described Alli as “lazy,” although he said it with more colourful language.

As a result of a combination of the above, the 24-year-old has had his Spurs future thrown into doubt with a loan move to Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain thought to be in discussion during the final stages of the summer transfer window.

Indeed, Alli could be running out of time to convince the Special One over his credentials, so perhaps he should consider reinventing himself to give him the best shot at salvaging his career in N17.

On the Chalkboard

Currently, Mourinho’s system does not account for a number ten, which is Alli’s true position.

Instead, he looks to Harry Kane to drop deeper, thus allowing Heung-min Son to nip in behind as an inside forward – this was best seen against Southampton where the pair combined for all five goals.

Such a tactic has long been a mainstay of the Portuguese’s gameplan – think of Marcus Rashford at Manchester United and Samuel Eto’o in the treble-winning Inter Milan side.

This is probably the position Alli will need to transition into if he’s to have much of a future under Mourinho at Spurs.

Considering he’s sat on £100k-per-week as the third-highest earner at the club, if push comes to shove, Daniel Levy could well look to cash in.

In 2017, Alli was lauded as a “freak of a talent” who could one day be up there with Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes as one of the best midfielders in Premier League history, and boy was he right to after a campaign which produced a whopping 21 goals and nine assists.

But the Englishman, who is now out of the England squad too, has failed to hit such substantial heights since, managing just nine goals last season.

We also know that the 57-year-old isn’t afraid to ruffle some feathers or cast-off players he either cannot trust or cannot get the best out of.

At the current rate, Alli could well become Mourinho’s next Kevin De Bruyne, who he infamously sold whilst in charge at Chelsea before he went on to become a household name in the Premier League at Manchester City.

Of course the Belgian is merely one example – albeit a relevant one given Alli’s position – but you could also throw in Romelu Lukaku and Mohamed Salah too.

It certainly appears as if a new role as a Son-like inside forward would be the only way the two-time PFA Young Player of the Year earns any form of redemption in north London.

AND in other news, Spurs must surely regret Levy decision on £22m Mourinho target who’s better than Doherty…

Leeds United have been forced into experimenting in a key position.

Kalvin Phillips’ injury has forced Marcelo Bielsa into conjuring up a plan that involves playing Pascal Struijk as a defensive midfielder, and that should set alarm bells ringing in another man’s head.

Indeed, Adam Forshaw should be watching Struijk’s performances in the holding midfield role with a vested interest as his Leeds career may hinge on it.

Forshaw hasn’t played in over a year due to injury, but if he were available he’d likely be United’s second-choice in that defensive midfield role behind Kalvin Phillips. However, if Struijk slots in there and shines, he may drop further down that pecking order.

The former Middlesbrough man’s Leeds career already looks to be dangling by a thread, with United making no secret about the fact they wanted to sign a new midfielder in the summer. Their highly-publicised pursuit of Michael Cuisance fell apart at the 11th hour, and if Struijk usurps him in the defensive midfield hierarchy that may be the final nail in his coffin.

It’s a real shame to say that as well because Forshaw was one of Bielsa’s favourite players when he was fit and available with the Argentine previously saying that he combines the best qualities of Phillips and Mateusz Klich, but a lot has changed at Elland Road since Forshaw last played.

Struijk certainly has the talent to succeed in that role and he has earnt a lot of praise from Bielsa, who has described him as a “complete player” and “valuable” in the past.

The 21-year-old faces a huge challenge in trying to fill Phillips’ shoes over the next six weeks, but if he can show that he’s a capable defensive midfielder it could spell trouble for Forshaw’s future at Elland Road.

It’s certainly something to keep in mind in the coming weeks.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish could be about to deliver a transfer masterclass if recent reports ring true…

What’s the word?

According to The Star, Sheffield United will allow John Lundstram to leave Bramall Lane during the January transfer window after he refused to sign a contract extension with the Blades.

It’s claimed that Palace were among a number of top European clubs interested in signing the £7.2m-rated midfielder in the summer, along with fellow Premier League side Burnley and Scottish Premiership league leaders Glasgow Rangers.

The 26-year-old was born in Merseyside and is a lifelong Liverpool fan, although he started his career at Everton.

Bargain buy?

Let’s face it, Roy Hodgson is hardly short of midfield options, as he can call upon the services of James McArthur, James McCarthy, Max Meyer and club captain Luka Milivojevic from a full-strength squad, whilst even Jairo Riedewald, who at one stage seemed destined for the exit, has impressed in recent weeks.

However, an offer for Lundstram may be too tempting to ignore, as he has demonstrated that he is both comfortable on the ball and capable of conjuring something out of nothing.

The Liverpudlian made 34 appearances in the Premier League last season, scored five goals and supplied three assists, whilst he averaged 1.3 shots, 1.4 tackles, and 1.3 clearances per game, via WhoScored.

In contrast, both McArthur and McCarthy failed to find the back of the net in the top flight last term, whilst he managed more key passes per game than Meyer as well, as per WhoScored.

Meyer’s contract will run out in 2021, which would create space for Lundstram in South London if the 25-year-old leaves on a free transfer.

Once lauded as an “incredible” player by legendary Premier League striker Alan Shearer, Lundstram was described as an “influential catalyst” after he played a starring role in the U17s’ run to the European Championships semi-final in Serbia.

He is unlikely to cost too much given his contract is almost up and although the Eagles will in all likelihood face stiff competition from Burnley and Rangers, he is surely a considerable upgrade on the likes of McArthur, McCarthy and Meyer.

After all, it’s worth pointing out the ex-Hamilton pair aren’t getting any younger and there will soon come a time when Palace will have to revamp their aging squad by bringing in fresh faces. Get it done, Parish, before it’s too late.

AND in other news, Michy Batshuayi proves to be Crystal Palace’s weakest link vs Wolves…

Celtic are currently on an extremely narrow balance beam as they continue to plod their way through the 2020/21 season. As it stands, the Hoops are nine points behind rivals Rangers, who top the Premiership table with 12 wins, two draws and no registered defeats yet.

Neil Lennon’s side look far from comfortable this term, struggling in both the league and in Europe. They have banked just the one point out of their Europa League group stage and have suffered two losses.

The manager will have a lot on his mind as he looks to make his two games in-hand over Rangers count. But there are a number of worries in his squad, with one being his inconsistent attack.

Lennon must act fast to resurrect Celtic’s form

The Bhoys may be coming off the back of a convincing victory over Motherwell, but the cracks are still very much there for everyone to see. Lennon’s attacking options have been unconvincing as of late, with Odsonne Edouard particularly surprising with his subpar performances since his return from self-isolation.

Leigh Griffiths has been subject to the bench and has made all of his impact as a substitute recently. The only solid option Lennon has is Mohamed Elyounoussi, who bagged a hat-trick against Motherwell last time out. The Southampton loanee’s tally now shoots up to an impressive 10 goals and four assists in 18 appearances this season (via Transfermarkt).

Despite being a left-winger by trade, Lennon has played Elyounoussi up front alongside a strike partner on several occasions this campaign. With Edouard seriously struggling to make an impact, the 49-year-old could opt to drop him and play the Norwegian up top with a new face coming in on the left.

Mikey Johnston has been waiting patiently for his chance with the Celtic first team. He has had some good chances under Lennon, but they have been peppered across the last few seasons. Now could be his chance to fully establish himself in the senior squad. With no margin for error, the manager must be brutal in his decisions and should consider phasing out Edouard and trying something new with Elyounoussi and 21-year-old Johnston.

Chris Sutton lauded the youngster as a “real talent” last December – Johnston went on to bag six goals and six assists in 21 appearances last season.

In other news, Celtic risk losing Kristoffer Ajer at the end of this season unless results change…