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The Norwegian has another Golden Boot in the bag despite his injury problems, but didn't get a single vote for the FWA Footballer of the Year

Remember when the Premier League Golden Boot was an ultra-competitive race? The top scorer's award was shared between Son Heung-min and Mohamed Salah in 2021-22, while three players finished the 2018-19 campaign on top of the charts with 22 goals. Just one goal separated the top two in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2015-16.

Then Erling Haaland came along. Last year, the Manchester City striker scored a record-breaking 36 goals in his debut season in England, obliterating the league's previous record which had stood since 1995. He finished with six goals more than nearest challenger Harry Kane, the biggest margin between top-scorer and runner-up since 2014.

And despite missing almost two months with a foot injury which continued to hold him back long after returning to action, Haaland is set to win another Golden Boot this time around – and by another big margin. The Norwegian's stonking display in front of goal against Wolves took him on to 25 goals for the season in the league, four more than second-placed Cole Palmer.

He has 36 goals in all competitions and there is a likely prospect of him taking that number to 40 by the end of the campaign, while yet again hitting the 30-goal mark in the league is not out of the question. And yet, there is a sense that Haaland's achievements are no longer getting the full recognition they deserve.

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  Snubbed by journalists

  Haaland's goal-scoring tour de force against Wolves came a day after the winners of the annual Football Writers Awards were announced. Haaland had won the men's Footballer of the Year prize last year with 82 percent of the vote, but it was no great surprise that his team-mate Phil Foden ended up winning the award instead of him in 2024.

  What was surprising, though, was the number of votes Haaland received: none. Despite leading the scoring charts all season while missing two months due to injury, despite his crucial role in City being on track to win a historic fourth consecutive title, not one journalist thought the Norwegian was the best player in England this season.

  By contrast, Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes picked up at least one vote each despite a miserable season with Manchester United, while a few writers deemed that Alexis Mac Allister, Ross Barkley, Ollie Watkins and John McGinn had enjoyed better campaigns than Haaland.

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  Normalising the astonishing

  It might be argued that Haaland has become a victim of his own success and that by scoring with such regularity, he has ended up normalising his astonishing goal tallies. For a player who scored 36 league goals last season, 25 looks ordinary to many observers and not worthy of special recognition.

  But it is. Sergio Aguero, City's all-time top scorer and their greatest striker before Haaland, only scored more than 25 league goals once in his decade with the club. And he never reached 36 goals in all competitions. Kane only reached that milestone once when he played in England, and the same is true of Salah.

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  Different rules apply

  As well as effectively securing the Golden Boot, Haaland reached another astonishing milestone on Saturday. He has now scored 201 club goals within the last five seasons, for Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and City. That's an average of 40 goals per campaign. While playing in Austria, Germany and England, he has 203 goals from 210 games.

  "Back in business" was how Guardiola described Haaland's goal-haul, which summed up the fact that he had expected more of his striker than he had delivered in recent weeks. The Norwegian had scored five goals in his previous 10 matches, numbers that would garner praise were it any other striker, or at the very least protect them from criticism.

  Haaland has been so prolific since he joined City, indeed since he made a name for himself at Salzburg in 2019, that the definition of a slump or a goal drought for him is quite different to other strikers. The longest period he has gone without a goal this season is three matches.

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  First scapegoat

  The nature of Haaland's game is that, as he is so dedicated to goalscoring, he is only lauded when he puts the ball in the net at a remarkable rate. In attritional matches where there is little goalmouth action or he misses opportunities, he inevitably becomes the first scapegoat if City fail to win.

  Roy Keane brazenly called him a "League Two player" after he drew a blank against Arsenal in March, and the Spanish media rounded on him after his quiet displays in both legs against Real Madrid. His all-round play is inarguably less impressive than the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Salah, Kane, Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney or Thierry Henry, but that shouldn't diminish from his ability to put the ball in the net.

Tottenham have reportedly been boosted in their efforts to complete the signing of a "superb" player, with a move away from his current club appealing to him and a bid potentially being tabled for his services.

Tottenham transfer news

Spurs have managed to steady the ship after suffering a dispiriting run of form, winning their last two Premier League games, including away to Nottingham Forest on Friday evening. There is a feeling that a top-four finish is once again possible, even though Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City currently occupy those positions, but new signings could ultimately make all the difference in that respect.

One report has claimed that Feyenoord attacking Santiago Gimenez is a target for Tottenham, as they look to bring in more reinforcements in the final third, in order to provide competition for the likes of Son Heung-min, Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace and England centre-back Marc Guehi continues to stand out as possible centre-back option, with Spurs thought to be battling Manchester United for his signing, showing that Ange Postecoglou is targeting players at both ends of the pitch.

While planning for the current is important for Postecoglou, it is also essential that Spurs continue to look towards the future as well, and it looks as though they are eyeing a move for an exciting young player.

Tottenham receive Samuel Iling-Junior boost

According to TV Play [via Sport Witness], Tottenham have received a boost in their quest to sign Samuel Iling-Junior, who is currently plying his trade at Juventus.

The 20-year-old is reportedly "attracted by the idea of changing air soon", with a "new adventure elsewhere" looking increasingly possible. In fact, Spurs are "considering making an official bid" for him, and Juve could get "get more than €20m (£17.2m)" for him. Iling-Junior could be a great long-term acquisition by the north Londoners, despite the 20-year-old struggling to make his mark in a Juventus shirt currently.

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In fact, Iling-Junior has only made six appearances in Serie A this season, all of which have come from the substitutes' bench, and a return to England could be best for his development.

There is no denying his talent as a player, with football talent scout Jacek Kulig calling him "simply superb" last year, at which point he was impressing for Juve after arriving from Chelsea back in 2020. He has a tally of 35 caps to his name for England at youth team level, too, which goes to show what a highly-rated prospect he has been for a number of years now.

While Iling-Junior wouldn't be arriving at Tottenham as a key man, making an immediate difference in the top-four battle in the Premier League, he is someone with the ability to mature into a top-class winger, eventually becoming an established part of Postecoglou's plans in north London.

Kylian Mbappe's Parc des Princes tenure ended on a sour note, as PSG turned in a sluggish performance in a 3-1 loss to Toulouse.

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• PSG star opened scoring in final Parc de Princes game
• Toulouse overturned the deficit, came back for 3-1 win
• Mbappe booed before the game by Parisian fans

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  TELL ME MORE

  The Parisians took the lead early, Mbappe marking his Parc des Princes finale with a fine finish. But they rather took their foot off the gas, and Toulouse equalised soon after in the first half – and then went ahead in the second. PSG pushed for an equaliser to end Mbappe's home tenure with a bang. Still, it was the visitors who had the last laugh, Frank Magri finding the net to instead end it with a whimper.

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• THE MVP

  In the 68th minute of this game, a left-winger cut inside, a whipped a shot into the top corner to give his team a 2-1 lead. No, not that one. What Mbappe should have done, Yann Gboho did, the Ivorian scoring the winner and playing chief spoiler in this most forgettable of games for the home side. The left-winger didn't have a massive involvement throughout – he was limited to a few touches on counter-attacks. But he provided the decisive moment, and ruined Mbappe's farewell party.

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  THE BIG LOSER

  What a disappointing send off for Mbappe. PSG, in truth, haven't played particularly well of late, Luis Enrique's constant rotation plus the uncertainty of the forward's future rather impacting the champions' form. And Mbappe has been a culprit at times, finding the net consistently but never really impacting the game for long stretches. Such was the case here. He took his goal wonderfully, and looked dangerous here and there. However, he failed to influence the game on a consistent basis. It was nice to see him end his Parc des Princes tenure by finding the net but he never really looked like leading his side to a win here.

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• WHAT COMES NEXT?

  The Parisians still have a significant chunk of their season to worry about. Although they are already Ligue 1 champions, they will play two more league fixtures, before facing Lyon in the Coupe de France final on May 25.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters were offered a glimpse of silver-laden success in the future after making a resounding start to the 2023/24 campaign under Ange Postecoglou's leadership.

With the football flowing and the strikers striking on Sunday afternoon, dispatching a weather-beaten Newcastle United side that are feeling the wrath of increased competition that comes with European qualification, Spurs emerged 4-1 victors to rekindle their fight for a return to the Champions League.

But this result came off the back of a dismal run of form that saw an unbeaten Premier League start ended by a five-match winless run, changing the mood down at N17 rather quickly.

There's no disputing that injuries and suspensions have been central to the recent struggles, but this only heightens the need for January reinforcements, with Postecoglou understood to have identified his dream defensive addition.

Tottenham transfer news – Radu Dragusin

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, Spurs have earmarked Genoa defender Radu Dragusin and Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite as the top targets to strengthen the backline ahead of the January transfer window.

While signing Branthwaite is more than just an attractive proposition, Everton are battling against relegation in the Premier League after a ten-point deduction and with the 21-year-old among the best performers, the club have slapped a £75m price tag on his signature.

Dragusin has been touted at €30m (£26m) by his Serie A outfit, who are not prepared to enter negotiations if such a figure is not met; far cheaper than Branthwaite, this is by far the more plausible route for the Lilywhites whose scouts have been left impressed after watching him in action.

Postecoglou recently stated – via football.london – that his preference is to sign players that can be moulded and nurtured over the coming years, meaning the Romanian titan, aged 21, looks the perfect option.

Radu Dragusin's style of play

Dragusin is well regarded for his tough-tackling presence and imposing physicality, capable of asserting himself in the rearguard and providing a rock-solid base from which Guglielmo Vicario's goal would benefit greatly.

Having amassed 58 appearances for Genoa, scoring five goals, after signing from Juventus in 2022 on an initial loan deal with an option to buy, which was activated in the summer.

This season, he has played every minute of Genoa's Serie A campaign and has impressed for his side, seeking to establish itself as a player in the Italian top-flight once again after returning from the second tier earlier in 2023.

As per Sofascore, Dragusin has completed 83% of his passes this season, averaging 0.5 key passes, 3.3 ball recoveries and 4.5 clearances per game and finding success in 69% of his duels.

Noted for his "dominant" defending by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 12-cap Romania international also ranks among the top 21% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 14% for assists and the top 15% for aerial wins per 90, as per FBref.

Such variegated attributes underscore the modern skill set that doesn't fall upon any one segment of the defensive game, instead, Dragusin offers a range of qualities tailor-made for the fluid system of an ambitious outfit such as Spurs.

But, with the 6 foot 3 star's ferocity being his standout trait, it's clear that Postecoglou views Dragusin as the perfect understudy to Cristian Romero, who is probably Spurs' best centre-half despite the exploits of Micky van de Ven following his £43m transfer form Wolfsburg in August.

Romero is brilliant. He's tenacious, tough and commanding in the heart of the backline, having been described as the "best defender in the world right now" by legendary Argentina teammate Lionel Messi, who knows a thing or two about gauging the level of defenders.

That being said, it's not unjust to say that the 24-year-old has something of a rash streak, with pundit Chris Sutton criticising the "reckless" nature of some of his challenges.

It is this precipitous nature that resulted in his dismissal during the Lilywhites' detrimental 4-1 home defeat against Chelsea at the end of November, starting the recently snapped winless run.

Scoring against West Ham United on his return last week before stirring controversy with a lunging stamp on Callum Wilson at the weekend, Postecoglou must feel that his prized defensive asset's mercurial moments require sturdy support.

This comes in the form of Dragusin, who could emulate Romero's style and serve as the perfect counterweight to the left-sided Van de Ven.

How Radu Dragusin could slot in at Tottenham

With Van de Ven sidelined until after the new year and Romero missing three recent Premier League matches due to suspension, the Lilywhites' 58-year-old boss opted to field Emerson Royal and Ben Davies as a central defensive partnership for two fixtures.

Such an axis, coming at Postecoglou's behest, materialised at the expense of Eric Dier, who is a centre-back and performed 42 times in the role last term, but having not featured since the late capitulation against Wolverhampton Wanderers, his time appears to be up.

Out of contract at the end of the campaign and unfavoured by the new manager, Dier will be searching for pastures new in a matter of months and Dragusin could be signed as the perfect replacement, with Davies – to his credit – proving his worth as a back-up option over the past several weeks.

Waxing lyrical over the Romania native's abilities in the past, his former manager Andrea Pirlo said: "He’s physically very strong. He’s very young and must develop on a technical level, but he will have time to do it, training every day with great champions."

Moving to Genoa appears to have been the gateway to such development, and he is now growing into his skin and looking an excellent option to bolster the Spurs backline.

He's not perfect, but aged just 21 and available for around £26m, it would be wise for Postecoglou to snap him up and continue to mould this exciting Tottenham project to his own creation.

Worldwide phenomenon Ed Sheeran was seen leading Ipswich Town's Premier League promotion celebrations from a toilet inside Portman Road stadium.

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• Ipswich promoted to Premier League
• Town fan Ed Sheeran joins in celebrations
• Singer seen partying with players in club toilet

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ipswich have been wildly celebrating their return to the Premier League this past week after 22 years outside the English top-flight. Renowned Town fan Sheeran has been lapping up their achievement, and was seen partying with the team inside a club toilet at their home ground.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

  In one clip, the 'Perfect' singer was seen partying and dancing away to his 'Thinking Out Loud' hit, inside a men's toilet at Portman Road.

• SHEERAN PARTIES THE NIGHT AWAY

  And in another clip, the pop superstar was filmed singing his 'Castle on the Hill' song with Ipswich's players, before breaking into a rendition of 'We've got super Kieran McKenna'.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ipswich got promoted out of League One just over a year ago and now they have backed that up with a second straight promotion, edging out Premier League parachute payment clubs Leeds United and Southampton in the process. And they are quite right to celebrate this monumental achievement in style.

Newcastle United have been on a dire run of form in recent weeks, having suffered four defeats from their last five outings in all competitions, exiting both the Champions League and the EFL Cup in the process.

Furthermore, the Magpies are going through an injury crisis which has piled on the club's misery on the pitch, with 12 first-team members currently sidelined, while summer signing Sandro Tonali is suspended until the end of the campaign.

As a result, the board desperately need to provide adequate funds for head coach Eddie Howe to sign some players to turn the club's fortunes around ahead of the second half of the campaign. One player in particular is reportedly being eyed up by the manager.

Newcastle United transfer news – Conor Gallagher

During the summer, it was reported that Howe was looking to bolster his midfield department by bringing Chelsea star Conor Gallagher to St. James' Park ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. This was even before Tonali was confirmed as a Newcastle player. The Blues were having a fire sale to balance the books in order to avoid any Financial Fair Play slip-ups and had slapped a £50m price tag on the England international, according to talkSPORT.

However, no deal came to fruition and Gallagher managed to survive the clear-out which earned the five-time Premier League winners £237m in transfer sales to blend in nicely with their £434.5m expenditure, as per Sky Sports.

Nevertheless, the Englishman's future still isn't safe at Stamford Bridge. Gallagher's contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign and there has been little to no indication of whether or not the board will look to tie his future down at the club. Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino added fuel to the exit-talk fire last weekend by admitting he wants Gallagher to stay but that the decision is out of his hands.

“That is between the club and the player. I don’t need to talk too much because it is not my decision. He is in the starting eleven in nearly all the games and is one of the captains.

“For me, he is the type of player that the club needs to have.”

With Gallagher's future uncertain in west London, Newcastle United should be on high alert ahead of the winter window as Chelsea may look to accept an offer for the man that club legend Ashley Cole called a "leader" to avoid losing him for free at the end of next season.

Conor Gallagher's game in numbers

The best example of why Gallagher would be a great fit for Newcastle under Howe came on Tuesday night in the two sides' EFL Cup quarter-final clash at the Bridge. The 23-year-old put in a Man of the Match performance as the Magpies bowed out of their second competition in less than a week.

The Cobham academy product made a whopping 115 passes throughout the match and boasted 142 touches of the ball. Gallagher was key to making his side tick in possession and eventually breaking down a resolute Newcastle defence but was also superb defensively, managing three interceptions, eight ball recoveries and winning nine duels in total, as per FotMob.

His performance against the Geordie club on Tuesday earned him praise from journalist Josh Bunting, who described him as "superb" on the night. Gallagher even earned a 7/10 match rating from the Evening Standard.

If Howe needed further proof of why Gallagher – who is a player that the former Bournemouth boss "likes", according to journalist Ben Jacobs – would be an invaluable signing for the club in January and for the future, it smacked him right in the face in midweek.

Conor Gallagher's stats this season

Gallagher hasn't always been in the starting lineup this season, mainly due to the ridiculous wealth of talent Pochettino has available to him. However, the former Crystal Palace loanee has still been a key squad player, having made 20 appearances this season for Chelsea, including 16 in the Premier League. This comes to a total of 1,616 minutes for Gallagher, according to Transfermarkt, which is quite impressive for a player who was reportedly up for sale during the summer.

Nonetheless, Gallagher's versatility means that Pochettino can shoehorn him anywhere on the pitch and expect the industrious talent to do a job for him. Throughout his career, Gallagher has played all over the park, although the centre of midfield is his primary position.

At the beginning of the season, Howe pinpointed versatility as an attribute which would be key for Newcastle to be successful this term.

“I think [versatility] it’s going to be important this season.

“The players that can play different positions will be really valuable for us because you can never foresee what is going to happen."

Gallagher firmly fits into the category of being versatile and could tick all of the right boxes for Howe when signing a player. Additionally, he is outperforming Sean Longstaff in a number of areas this campaign and looks to be a clear upgrade on the boyhood Newcastle fan.

In and out of possession, Gallagher has been offering more to his side, as the table shows, which is impressive considering how much Chelsea have struggled this season in comparison to Newcastle.

If Chelsea are ready to sell in January, Newcastle need to be all over Gallagher as he could massively bolster the midfield department, adding more energy and quality than ever before, while proving an undoubted dream addition for Howe and co.

Arsenal fans vocally urged the club to give Vivianne Miedema a new contract as she gave a farewell speech after the Women's Super League's climax.

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• Miedema announced departure this week
• Contract expires this summer
• Scored 126 goals for the club

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arsenal wrapped up their WSL season with a 5-0 win over Brighton on Saturday, as they confirmed a third-place finish. Miedema's departure was announced earlier this week, after a season in which she suffered an ACL injury and spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 27-year-old is the all-time top scorer in the history of the WSL but she has been limited to just 13 appearances due to her injury troubles this season. Nevertheless, Gunners fans were vocal in their hope that Miedema stays, as they chanted for her to be given a new contract as she gave a farewell speech.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Miedema, who has won 118 caps for the Netherlands, won the WSL with Arsenal in 2018-19, and has also won the FA WSL Cup three times during her time in north London. She is unlikely to be short of suitors if she is allowed to leave.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Miedema's future will be central to Arsenal's summer. It remains to be seen if the club will listen to the fans or allow their hugely popular striker to leave.

In addition to signing established players ready to make an immediate first-term impact last summer – the likes of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and Brennan Johnson – Spurs also acquired a couple of teenagers with the potential to be starters for the club in the longer term.

19-year-old forward Alejo Veliz arrived from Argentine club Rosario Central, while 18-year-old centre-back Ashley Phillips came in from second-tier Blackburn Rovers. It looks as if Spurs may try to continue that two-timeline approach in January, this time with a move for Royal Antwerp's Arthur Vermeeren.

Even though he's only 18, Vermeeren has already established himself as a mainstay in the Antwerp side. He's not only started all 20 of their Pro League games this season, he's also completed the full 90 minutes in all but three. His domestic form has earned him a rapid call-up to the Belgian senior side, with two caps under his belt, and he's firmly in contention to feature at this summer's European Championships.

Man Utd rival Spurs for Vermeeren

According to Tottenham Hotspur News, Spurs have been pursuing Vermeeren, who has drawn comparisons to former Lilywhites player Christian Eriksen his "technical ability and range of passing".

However, they now face "serious competition" from Premier League rival Manchester United, who have identified Vermeeren as a "big target" for 2024. Manager Ange Postecoglou is "keen" for his side to come out on top, particularly because it would hurt to see him playing a direct competitor.

Vermeeren could be a transformative signing

Fabrizio Romano reported last month that Vermeeren is "set to leave" Belgium this year, if not in January, then definitely in the summer. The big question is where he ends up, with interest likely extend beyond the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Old Trafford.

Named in the best XI of players born in 2005 or 2006 by the CIES Football Observatory last year (Breaking The Lines), he's one of the premier midfield talents in Europe. Under-23 expert Antonio Mango has described him as a "gift to football", while talent scout Jacek Kulig has billed him a "sensation".

Vermeeren has took his chance to sign in the Champions League this season, scoring against Barcelona in the final group-stage match and becoming the third-youngest player to provide two assists in a Champions League game against Shakhtar Donestsk.

Indeed, the teenager is a player who can spot gaps in opposition defensive structures and thread the ball through, which is why he ranks as high as fifth in the Belgian top-flight for progressive passes this season (142). He was also right up there last season for take-on percentage (third with 76.2), emphasising his ability to evade pressure in the middle of the park, and tackles won (10th with 46), proving that there's a bite to his game too (FBRef).

When you combine all this with the fact that as, of January 1, he'd covered the most distance in the league (Zach Lowy), you can see how he's managed to make himself an indispensable player already. Vermeeren is an outstanding, all-round midfield package, and if Spurs win the race, his capture could be celebrated for a generation.

Jose Mourinho surprisingly claimed that his transfer to Fenerbahce "is not done yet" despite recent reports.

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• Mourinho set to join Fenerbahce
• Turkish club confirmed negotiations
• Tactician informed deal not yet over the line

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The experienced Portuguese manager, who has been out of work since his dismissal from Roma in January, is seemingly close to making a return to management. Although the club confirmed the ongoing negotiations in a statement to its investors, Mourinho informed that the deal is not yet closed.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fenerbahce have been actively pursuing Mourinho as they look to end their league title drought that dates back to 2014. Despite a strong campaign in which they collected 99 points and suffered only one defeat, Fenerbahce finished as runners-up in the Turkish Super Lig, narrowly missing out to fierce rivals Galatasaray. The club is hopeful that Mourinho's vast experience and tactical acumen will help them reclaim the domestic crown.

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  WHAT MOURINHO SAID

  "I decided I want to go but it is not done yet. I cannot confirm officially, but yes I want to go," he told "In Fenerbahce's case, eight players are in the Euros. They are not coming for pre-season before the first round so it's hard. But if I go, you know I like challenges, so if I go you know we will fight hard to be in the Champions League."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  If Mourinho does finalize his move to Fenerbahce, he is expected to sign a two-year contract, which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2026. With a squad that already showed great promise last season, the addition of Mourinho could be the catalyst they need to finally overcome their domestic hurdles and make a significant impact in European competitions.

While yet to be officially ratified, Sir Jim Ratcliffe's proposed 25% stake in Manchester United has sparked tentative hope of a brighter future at Old Trafford among supporters, with the INEOS chief already saying all the right things amid his recent public appearances.

The 71-year-old businessman revealed that he is "very excited" at the prospect of taking charge of his boyhood club, with rumours already rife regarding the possible investments that he could make in the playing squad this summer.

As per a prior report from the Standard, Ratcliffe is seeking to make Crystal Palace star Michael Olise one of his first signings at the club, with the France U21 international having a release clause in his current deal that comes into effect at the end of the season.

The former Reading man would seemingly be a wise replacement for the floundering Antony – who has no goals or assists to his name this season – yet he is not the only right-wing option that the club appear to be considering, amid interest in another young gem who is shining in the Netherlands.

Man Utd eyeing Michael Olise alternative

As per a report from journalist Christoper Michel late last month, the Red Devils are said to have their eye on PSV Eindhoven winger, Johan Bakayoko, with the 20-year-old having enjoyed an impressive season in the Eredivisie.

According to Michel, the Belgian whiz – who has also been the subject of interest from Liverpool – has a market value of around €40m (£34m), making him a relatively affordable option if a deal can be done for close to that figure.

With recent reports from talkSPORT indicating that the aforementioned Olise could command a fee 'well in excess of £50m', Bakayoko could then represent an affordable, quality alternative for Erik ten Hag and co.

How Johan Bakayoko compares to Michael Olise

As United have learned with the case of Antony – who has just eight goals and three assists in 66 games for the club – starring in Holland is a different kettle of fish to performing in the Premier League, with Olise at least having the benefit of his current experience of English football.

That being said, it is hard to ignore the impact that Bakayoko is making for a high-flying PSV side in 2023/24, with the in-demand gem scoring five times and registering a remarkable 13 assists in 29 games in all competitions.

Olise, by contrast, has just five goals and one assist to his name this term – albeit while making only nine appearances – with the Palace ace having also regularly been blighted by injury during his time at Selhurst Park.

Equally, Bakayoko's status as a worthy alternative can be seen by the fact that he has 12 goals and 18 assists in just 66 games for his current side, while his 22-year-old counterpart has a remarkably similar record of 11 goals and 20 assists from 80 games for the Eagles.

Like Olise, the nine-cap Belgium international is a dazzling left-footer who typically operates on the right flank, with his profile having even been described as "similar to [Bukayo] Saka", according to data analyst Ben Mattinson.

That likeness to the Arsenal star – who has racked up 21 goal involvements in 27 outings this term – can be seen by the duo's dribbling prowess, with Saka averaging 2.04 successful take-ons and 5.11 progressive carries per 90 across the last 365 days, while Bakayoko averages 3.73 and 7.51 for those same two metrics, respectively.

Man Utd could repeat Zlatan move by signing "the best no.9 in the world"

The Red Devils have been linked with a swoop for the world-class centre-forward.

By
Dan Emery

Jan 15, 2024

Evidently a real creative outlet from the flanks, the one-time Anderlecht youth asset is certainly a figure to keep an eye on, even amid Ratcliffe's apparent interest in Olise.