All posts by n8rngtd.top

With Mbappe set to stay at Paris Saint-Germain for at least one more year, Real Madrid may have to look elsewhere

It wasn't supposed to be like this for Real Madrid; they were going to wait patiently for Kylian Mbappe to be exiled this summer, readying themselves for a last-minute bid, coaxing the France captain to the Santiago Bernabeu at a cut price. Mbappe, they assumed, would diligently wait for his long-anticipated Madrid move.

Instead, the striker has tentatively agreed to stay in Paris for at least one more year. The specifics of his deal are clouded, but it seems that the winger will make some kind of concession in order to stick around — and ensure that PSG will get an agreeable fee for him when he inevitably leaves next summer. This is a very kind thing for a player who has spent six years holding his club hostage.

Meanwhile, Madrid are left with a conundrum. Although they scored twice against Athletic Club to open their season, chances came at a premium. They were, as perhaps expected, worryingly lacking a central striking presence. It always figured that Mbappe would fill that void for the 2023-24 season. But now, Madrid are left with 33-year-old Joselu as their sole striking option — which hardly inspires confidence for a side hoping to compete for the league title.

So, Madrid might have to make a foray into the transfer market. And who to get? It's a suddenly dwindling talent pool, with some of the big names already making moves. Still, there are some options out there. GOAL takes a look at who Madrid might be able to sign with Mbappe out of the question…

• (C)Getty Images
  

  Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt)

  This would be an interesting acquisition on multiple levels. First of all, Randal Kolo Muani would give Madrid some much-needed versatility in attack. He is not exactly one to drop deep like a certain Karim Benzema, but he's a reliable enough link-up player and passer to serve as a focal point. Furthermore, his experience playing alongside Mbappe for France's national team has ensured he can work effectively with pacey forwards who like to get in behind — something Vinicius Jr could benefit from. Add his 15 goals in the Bundesliga last year, and you have a well-rounded forward.

  The added bonus here is Kolo Muani has been one of PSG's main targets for some time now. The Parisians were expected to sign him this summer, but elected to bring in Gonaclo Ramos instead. There could still be room for him at Parc des Princes — Mbappe might insist on it — but he doesn't seem like a surefire addition anymore. The transfer market can be a petty thing, especially for Madrid. They might just take some satisfaction in stealing PSG's top target.

Advertisement

• (C)GettyImages
  

  Romelu Lukaku (Inter)

  Romelu Lukaku could've sorted his next club by now. Inter seemed ready to negotiate with Chelsea for the striker, but he entered personal negotiations with Juventus when he was on the verge of sealing a move to his former club — something that didn't sit well with any of the parties involved. That move has failed to materialise as of yet, with Chelsea's €50 million (£43m/$55m) asking price proving too high for the Bianconeri.

  It leaves room for Madrid to swoop in. Los Blancos were briefly linked with the Belgian earlier in the summer, including him on their shortlist to replace Benzema. And with other suitors dwindling — rumours of a Tottenham switch have been quashed — there's certainly an opportunity here.

  He might be something of an awkward fit, though. Lukaku isn't the playmaking forward that Madrid covet and typically functions more effectively in a two-striker system. Asking him to play with his back to goal would be an immense waste of his talent. Still, some Carlo Ancelotti magic could be worked here.

• Getty Images
  

  Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)

  Dusan Vlahovic has never quite worked out at Juventus. The Serbian sealed a €70m (£61m/$75m) move from Fiorentina back in January 2022, and has only scored 17 goals in 42 games since then. But there's clearly a player in there.

  It seems strange, in that sense, to suggest that a 23-year-old needs a change of scenery to start banging them in. In this case, though, it might just be true. Vlahovic is an ideal central striker at his best, and feasts inside the box. With Vinicius and Rodyrgo either side of him creating chance after chance, he could thrive.

  Price might be an issue, though. Juventus repeatedly rebuffed Chelsea in player-plus-cash talks over Lukaku, and will look to recoup a hefty chunk of their investment — if they do indeed elect to let him go at all. Their economic situation may necessitate his exit.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

  Victor Osimhen was arguably the best striker in Europe last year, leading the line for a Napoli side that battered its way to Serie A and captured a historic Scudetto. The Nigerian striker scored 26 goals in the league and added a further five in the Champions League. Add the fact that he is still only 23 — and poised to improve — and this would be incredibly difficult to make happen.

  But it would also be a dream addition. Osimhen became a more well-rounded attacking presence last season, serving as a valuable playmaker, and combining effectively with Napoli's pacy wide players. Kvara Kvaratskhelia may have grabbed the headlines, but Osimhen's five assists are nothing to be sniffed at. It all amounts to a player Madrid would love to have. Whether they can afford him, though, is an entirely different question. Consider it unlikely – especially as he is finally about to sign a new contract.

Paul Robinson has dropped a very worrying transfer claim involving Newcastle United and Joe Willock.

The Lowdown: Bruce wants Willock

As cited by the Evening Standard, Steve Bruce has admitted that he would ‘love’ to sign Willock on a permanent deal from Arsenal once the summer transfer window opens.

This comes off of the back of a very successful loan spell in the North East, where the central midfield player scored no fewer than eight goals in 14 games in total in the Premier League (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Robinson on Willock

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson, who is now a pundit after a stellar career playing for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United, has claimed that the Tyneside club will struggle to bring Willock back to St. James’ Park, and thinks that other teams in the top flight will be looking to sign him:

“Willock been absolutely brilliant in a team who, let’s not forget, have been struggling.

“There has been a lot of pressure on the Newcastle team because a lot of fans want Steve Bruce to be sacked. It’s not easy for a player when that’s going on during a relegation battle. Willock has handled that pressure though.

“Even if Arsenal are to let him go this summer I think they would struggle to sign him.

“His performance over the past few weeks have been fantastic and they have put him in the shop window. I think Premier League clubs will be queuing up to sign him.”

The Verdict: Newcastle may struggle

If other sides in the division come in to try and sign Willock, the Magpies may struggle to compete financially.

It has already been reported that they may have as little as £8-10m to spend on transfers once the market opens, which would not be enough to sign the 21-year-old, unless they can raise enough money from player sales.

Nonetheless, the Toon must try and break the bank if possible in order to bring Willock in permanently, given the impact that he had in his loan spell, which effectively saved them from relegation.

In other news, find out what ‘fascinating’ takeover insight a sports lawyer has dropped on arbitration here!

The Nigeria international is widely considered as one of the game's best young strikers, but just how many goals has he scored so far?

Napoli star Victor Osimhen has been making headlines for all of the right reasons, and his sensational performances for the Serie A side have garnered attention all across the continent.

Indeed, his outstanding goal-scoring statistics have not gone unnoticed to the eyes of Europe's wealthiest clubs, with the likes Manchester United, Bayern, and Chelsea all expressing an interest in acquiring his services in the near future.

The Nigeria international has established himself as one of Europe's deadliest marksmen this season and has similar attributes to his childhood hero, Didier Drogba.

Osimhen's game possesses the same certain brutality and devastation, with physical robustness to match his pace and presence.

The power and poise of Drogba can be seen in Osimhen's style of play and he possesses a natural ability to find the back of the net, which is backed up by his prolific record.

But just how many goals has he scored for the club so far? Let's take a look.

• Getty Images
  

  Goals for Napoli

  After a stellar 2019-20 campaign with Lille, Osimhen was being chased by numerous big clubs and moved to Serie A side Napoli for a club-record fee of €70m.

  A shoulder injury, suspensions, and coronavirus-related problems hindered Osimhen's rhythm in his debut season in Naples.

  Despite that, he still managed to end the season on a high note and scored 10 goals in the 2020-21 season, before topping that tally the following campaign.

  Needless to say, he has become a popular figure among Napoli supporters due to his efficiency in front of goal.

  Osimhen has taken his game to a whole new level this term, and his very presence on the pitch strikes fear into the heart of defenders, working in tandem to devastating effect with his partner in crime, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia to fire Napoli to glory.

  Season	Apps	Goals
  2023-24	2	3
  2022-23	39	31
  2021-22	32	18
  2020-21	30	10
  Total	103	62

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Goals for Lille

  Charleroi made a significant profit on their measly €3.5m outlay as LOSC Lille came calling, bringing him to France in a deal said to be worth up to €15m.

  The Nigerian youngster was signed as a direct replacement for out-bound Rafael Leao, who was on the verge of completing a €35m move to AC Milan at the time.During his only season in Ligue 1, Osimhen hit top form, scoring 13 goals and setting up four assists in 27 league appearances. Only Wissam Ben Yedder, Kylian Mbappe, and Moussa Dembele had a better goal tally that season.

  Season	Apps	Goals
  2019-20	38	18

• Getty
  

  Goals for Charleroi & Wolfsburg

  OSIMHEN AT CHARLEROI

  Osimhen joined Belgian club Charleroi in 2018. While his start in the European game was a bit rocky, he bounced back and slowly started showing his full potential sooner rather than later.

  He was named Charleroi’s Player of the Season for the 2018-19 campaign after hescored 20 goals in 36 games in all competitions for the Zebras and he ended the season as the club's top scorer. His form also led him into Nigeria’s 23-man squad for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

  Osimhen's excellent performances drew interest from clubs all across Europe, with Milan, Schalke, Arsenal, and many more vying for his signature.Indeed, the Belgian side converted his loan move into a permanent one for just €3.5m in the summer of 2019, only to make a quick buck by sanctioning a sale in the same transfer window.

  Season	Apps	Goals
  2018-19	36	20

  OSIMHEN AT WOLFSBURG

  Osimhen started his career at the Ultimate Strikers Academy in Lagos, before starring for the Super Eagles at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.He gradually progressed through the ranks and signed a pre-contract with Wolfsburg, with the view to join the German top-flight outfit in January 2017.

  He made his official debut for the club on May 13, 2017, coming on as a substitute in the 59th minute of a 1–1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

  However, his time at the German club was riddled with injuries and he ultimately had to look for loan options to get more playing time.

  Season	Apps	Goals
  2017-18	2	0
  2016-17	14	0
  Total	16	0

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  Goals for Nigeria

  Osimhen's swift rise to the summit has more often than not been the result of his glowing performances for the Super Eagles across various age levels.

  Indeed, his extremely promising performances at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup caught the eyes of many European scouts, as he won the highest goal scorer award with 10 goals, playing a pivotal role in ensuring that the Nigeria U-17 squad 2015 were eventually crowned tournament champions. He earned a move to Wolfsburg off the back of that tournament.

  Osimhen made his made his senior debut for Nigeria in a 3–0 friendly win over Togo in 2017, but had to wait until March 2021 to open his international account in an AFCON qualification match against Lesotho. While his international career is still in its early stages, the former Nigeria U-17 goal machine is among the 10 highest Super Eagles goal scorers, and boasts a superb goals-to-game ratio.

  He also netted four goals in one game against lowly Sao Tome & Principe.

  Year	Apps	Goals
  2023	3	2
  2022	4	5
  2021	8	5
  2020	1	1
  2019	7	4
  2018	1	0
  2017	1	0
  Total	25	17

The Netherlands defender has arrived at Arsenal and signed a long-term contract with the Gunners after moving from Ajax.

Arsenal's summer has got off to a busy start. After missing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City last season, it was quickly identified that the first-team squad needed more depth if the Gunners were ever going to return to the summit of English football.

The headlines have largely been dominated by the club's pursuit of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz in recent weeks. However, quietly in the background, Arsenal have been working hard to hammer out a deal to sign Jurrien Timber from Ajax.

That deal has now been agreed, with the Gunners sealing a transfer worth €46 million (£40m/$52m) to bring the Netherlands international to north London and add to Mikel Arteta's options.

The only question now he's officially through the door is how Timber will slot into the Arsenal backline. There are a number of different options, which GOAL takes a look at below…

• Getty
  

  The story so far

  Timber is not a new face on the scene. Despite being just 22 years old, he has already made well over 100 appearances for Ajax and earned 15 caps for the Netherlands.

  Continuing a fine tradition of world-class youth development in the Dutch capital, Timber flew through the age groups at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, before making his senior debut in 2020. He has scarcely been out of the starting XI since, helping Ajax to Eredivisie titles in 2021 and 2022.

  While the 2022-23 season was a torrid one for the Amsterdammers, Timber's reputation remains sky high. No one in the Ajax squad made more appearances than him last campaign, and he was picked in various outlets' Eredivisie team of the season.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  A blow for Manchester United?

  Timber had long been expected to turn up in the Premier League at some point. However, Manchester United had always seemed like his most likely destination. It was under Erik ten Hag at Ajax that Timber developed into a top-class defender, and the United boss made no secret of his desire to bring him to Old Trafford last summer. “I think that all top clubs in Europe have Timber in their sights," he said.

  This kickstarted a frantic few months of rumours, but in the end the two clubs could not agree a deal. Louis van Gaal, a huge fan of Timber, might have played a role in the move failing to materialise, as he seemed to warn his golden boy off joining the Red Devils in June.

  Regardless of whether Van Gaal influenced proceedings, Ten Hag's hopes of signing Timber have now been extinguished.

• Getty
  

  The details of the deal

  That's because Arsenal have swooped in to secure Timber's services this summer. Personal terms were not an issue, due to the player's enthusiasm for the move and the Gunners' generous offer.

  Reaching an agreement on a transfer fee has been significantly harder, though. Timber has two years left on his deal, so Ajax could feasibly have held onto him for another season before selling him on.

  That is likely why they rejected the Gunners' initial bid of £30 million ($38.1m) in June. However, a deal has now been struck, and Timber has now signed a long-term contract in north London.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  What will Timber bring to Arsenal?

  So, why exactly have Arsenal been convinced to spend all that money on Timber? His greatest attribute is his zen-like composure on the ball. Following in a long line of Dutch defenders before him, Timber is superb technically, with no Eredivisie player completing more short passes than him during the 2022-23 season.

  For a possession-heavy side like Arsenal, this will be a priceless asset. It's worth noting that Timber's 74.7 completed passes per 90 minutes was comfortably higher than what any Arsenal player managed last campaign too, though this should be taken with a pinch of salt, considering how dominant Ajax are in the Netherlands.

  In addition, his patience on the ball should suit him well to the Gunners' style of play. As Timber is so confident retaining possession he often waits until the opposition has committed as much as possible before firing his pass through the lines.

  Arsenal lit up the Premier League with their lightning-quick transitions last term, and it's easy to see Timber playing a quarterback-like role from the heart of the defence.

Southampton have been linked with Nice striker Evann Guessand and the 19-year-old could prove to be a superb option for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side ahead of next season.

According to the Daily Mail, both Southampton and Newcastle United are keen on signing the teenage forward this summer after his impressive performances on loan at Lausanne in Switzerland.

Guessand has contributed seven goals and five assists in 32 appearances in the Swiss Super League this season, which included a scorpion kick finish against Zurich back in March, earning him comparisons with legendary striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Whilst the Saints have a number of young forwards on their books already, with the likes of Nathan Tella, Dan N’Lundulu and Michael Obafemi all challenging for a spot in Hasenhuttl’s side, Guessand’s impressive record this season suggests that he could definitely challenge in Southampton’s side in the future.

According to Transfermarkt, his contract with Nice is set to expire in the summer, which suggests that Southampton could sign him on a pre-contract deal ahead of next season, meaning they wouldn’t have to pay a transfer fee.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-southampton-news%2c-transfer-rumours-and-more” title=“Latest Southampton news, transfer rumours and more!“]

Although Guessand’s age suggests that the Saints may have to pay a compensation fee, you would imagine that it would be well worth the risk to try and sign him this summer, as he appears to have a bright future.

Danny Ings and Che Adams have formed a strong partnership at times this season but Southampton have struggled when either has missed a game, which suggests that they need to add some quality depth in that position ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, so Guessand’s signing would make a lot of sense.

Therefore, given the 19-year-old’s obvious potential, Southampton vice-chairman Martin Semmens must try and bring him to St Mary’s this summer, as he is someone who could definitely benefit the Saints on the pitch and from a financial perspective in the future.

In other news… Hasenhuttl headed for Saints disaster with £5.4m-rated flop, his form has vanished

The defender could add a fourth Champions League title to her incredible trophy haul this week – so is she one of the greatest Lionesses of alltime?

It’s just over a week before the 2022-23 Women’s Champions League final when Barcelona stars Lucy Bronze and Ingrid Engen sit down to chat to the media all about the Catalans’ meeting with Wolfsburg in Eindhoven. It’ll be a fourth final for Bronze, with her having won all of her previous three. It’s a stat line that comes up several times during the call.

Engen, sadly, has yet to hoist the UWCL trophy high above her head, having lost the two finals she has participated in. When a member of the press frames their question with that fact at the start, the midfielder cannot help but interrupt. “Yeah, I don’t have the same stats as Lucy,” she interjects, in jest, before the two team-mates and the journalist enjoy a good laugh together.

In Engen’s defence, few players do. Not only will England international Bronze maintain that rare 100 percent record, and see her Norwegian team-mate lift a first title, if she can help Barca win on Saturday – she will also join the special club of players to have won the UWCL with two different teams.

It’s current made up of 18 names, 15 of whom are German. Given four different German clubs won the competition between 2005 and 2014, that’s no surprise. Bronze, though, could become just the fourth player of a different nationality to do it, after Jess Fishlock, Kheira Hamaraoui and current team-mate Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic.

She’d be the first English player to achieve the feat. None of the group that became champions of Europe with Arsenal in 2007 enjoyed that success again elsewhere – nor have any of the various English players who won it with Bronze at Lyon.

Where, then, does Bronze rank among England’s greatest-ever players?

• Getty
  

  Overcoming early setbacks

  Bronze's career started in promising fashion. She won the league with Sunderland as a 17-year-old and the Euros with England's Under-19s that same summer. Soon after, she moved to the United States for college and won two titles with the Tar Heels as part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's impressive women's soccer programme.

  But not long after those early successes, Bronze would be hit with a series of knee injuries that sidelined her for 12 months. Several years later, she would explain in an interview with that, at the time, she thought it was "punishment" for missing her best friend's funeral because of the U19 Euros.

  "I think that’s why my knee injuries never bothered me," she explained. "People tell me it must have been so hard, but I got on with it because there’s a lot worse things that can happen."

  There were uncertainties about whether Bronze would make it as a top-level player, too. She has spoken about being told that she wasn't good enough when she was younger, while it took so long for her first senior England call-up to come along that she considered representing Portugal, the nation of her father.

  Fortunately for the Lionesses, it wouldn't come to that…

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Coming to the fore

  Bronze’s rise to becoming one of the best full-backs in the world was a gradual one. Upon her return to England after college, she’d win back-to-back Women’s Super League titles with Liverpool and her form started to be recognised with individual accolades.

  Her marauding runs, tireless work ethic and battling attitude were all key traits that would help her ascend to the top, complemented by good decision-making, cool composure and an ability to be a threat in the final third – either by creating chances or scoring them herself.

  Bronze finally debuted for England in the summer of 2013 and was part of the squad that disappointed at the Euros the same year, albeit without getting on the pitch. Two years later, her role at the Women’s World Cup was massively different. She was a key part of the starting XI as the Lionesses finished third. Indeed, it was her rocket of a goal against Norway that saw her country win their first-ever World Cup knockout game.

  “Potentially the best right-back in the world," then-head coach Mark Sampson said of Bronze after that match. From that point on, she took her game to new levels, getting better and better and better.

  In 2016, she won the league again, this time with Manchester City, and the following year she joined the biggest club in the women's game – Lyon. It was that transfer that seemed to confirm her status as one of the world’s best.

• Getty
  

  Lyon’s English contingent

  Bronze was one of several English players that represented Lyon between 2017 and 2021, but she was the one who became the most important for them.

  Nikita Parris’ goalscoring record from her time in France is impressive and she stepped up well when Ada Hegerberg was out in particular, but she was always competing with a very strong group of forwards during her two seasons. Izzy Christiansen, meanwhile, saw her time with Lyon spoiled by injury; Alex Greenwood started regularly enough in the league but was largely on the bench in Europe; and Jodie Taylor struggled to hit the back of the net during her short spell.

  Bronze, meanwhile, started – and won – all three of the Champions League finals Lyon reached while she was there. Of the 24 games in the competition she was available for, she was in the line up for 23 of them. Only twice was she subbed off.

  The full-back was a constant for the European champions. To nail down such a role in a team like Lyon’s takes more than just talent – you need the right mentality, too. Bronze had that in spades.

  “People don’t always appreciate how hard it is to focus on so many competitions at the same time, regardless of how good you might be and the talent you have,” she told GOAL in an exclusive interview back in 2019, after winning the treble for the first time in France. “It’s still hard to keep your focus and your drive in every single game, but that’s the expectation at Lyon. It’s 'every single game is [to] win', because you’ve got to have that focus to win trophies.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  A new challenge

  Bronze is now embarking on a new challenge with another of Europe’s biggest teams – Barcelona. Since she was part of the Lyon team that beat them back in 2019, Barca have grown massively to be one of the best teams in Europe, winning their first continental crown two years after. At the same time, Bronze has continued to perform at a very high level, so much so that the Spanish champions recruited her last summer.

  Jonatan Giraldez rotates his team well, but Bronze is seen as his first-choice right-back, with her able to add a lot to this team both in terms of her quality and her experience. Speaking to the press last week, it is the importance of the latter that Engen talked up when discussing what her new team-mate has added to the side.

  “She shows it on the pitch a lot for us,” she explained. “It is like she has come in and felt good from the beginning, even though it's maybe a different style of football. I think she has shown that she suits Barcelona really well and she brings a lot of good physique for us, both defensively and offensively. It's been a really good match, I would say.”

  One would typically assume that the experience Bronze has would be of particular benefit to the youngsters in the Catalans’ squad, but the player herself says that’s not always the case. “It's funny because I don't think it's the younger players that ask as much,” she said. “When you're a young player, you just enjoy every single moment. I think as you get older, you learn to find out more about experiences.

  “One of the players that probably asked me the most about stuff would be Alexia [Putellas] but, equally, their experiences are things that I can learn from as well. I don't think it's necessarily you tell them, 'Well, this is how we should do things'. I think it's just learning from each other and sharing the pressure of going into games.”

Manchester City’s hopes of signing Dusan Vlahovic this summer look to have taken a blow, after Fiorentina’s asking price for the Serbian was revealed.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Football Italia), Fiorentina have significantly raised their asking price for the 21-year-old striker from €40m (£34.4m) to €60m (£51.6m) ahead of the summer.

City were recently linked with a move for the former Partizan Belgrade striker as they eye up a replacement for the legendary Sergio Aguero this summer, with the Argentinian striker confirmed to be leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Whilst Pep Guardiola’s side have played without a striker on a number of occasions this season, failing to bring in a natural striker in the summer would leave them with just Gabriel Jesus and 18-year-old Liam Delap as options for the Spanish manager up front next season.

Therefore, it seems likely that the Citizens will attempt to sign a striker this summer and after Erling Haaland’s extortionate asking price was revealed earlier this year, Vlahovic could have been a cheap alternative.

Although he would still be significantly cheaper than the Norway international, this news on Fiorentina raising their asking price for Vlahovic will certainly come as a blow to City, and Guardiola will surely be frustrated that teams are asking for so much for young strikers at the moment, especially in a post-pandemic transfer market.

The Serbia international could still prove to be worth the inflated asking price, however, as he has hit 21 goals in 34 Serie A appearances so far this season, earning an impressive 6.93 average rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Former Serbia striker Darko Kovacevic was full of praise for Vlahovic recently, saying:

“He is just 21-years-old and is showing great things.

“I don’t say this because he is Serbian like me, but because he is a very high-level player and a hard worker.

“If he continues like this, in three, four years he will be among the top five best strikers in the world.”

Therefore, Vlahovic is clearly destined for big things in the future and would have perhaps been an excellent addition to City’s side this summer, but his increased asking price may well discourage Txiki Begiristain and Guardiola from bringing him to the Etihad.

Given teams know that City need a striker and that they are a very wealthy club, selling teams will almost certainly be boosting the prices of their players if the champions-elect come calling and that, understandably, will have Guardiola fuming as he looks to improve his squad.

And, in other news… Man City handed huge boost with “exceptional” PL star, Txiki must deliver

How to watch AC Milan against Lecce in Serie A in the US as well as kick-off time and team news.

AC Milan are served a fresh challenge now that Juventus are set for a points boost in Serie A. The Rossoneri, all of a sudden, find themselves out of the top four when they host Lecce at San Siro on Sunday.

💻 Watch AC Milan vs Lecce live on Paramount+ today!

Stefano Pioli's men have sealed a spot in this year's Champions League semi-finals with a 2-1 aggregate win over domestic leaders Napoli, but have work to do in ensuring European football next season as well.

Lowly-placed Lecce are just about a couple of points clear of the bottom three after the 1-1 draw against Sampdoria and will be looking to avoid extending their winless run to 10 matches.

GOAL brings you details on how to watch the game on TV in the US as well as how to stream live online.

• Getty
  

  Kick-off time

  Game:	AC Milan vs Lecce
  Date:	April 23, 2023
  Kick-off:	12pm EDT
  Venue:	San Siro

  The Serie A game between AC Milan and Lecce is scheduled for April 23, 2023, at the San Siro football stadium in Milan, Italy.

  It will kick off at 12pm EDT in the US.

Advertisement

• (C)Getty Images
  

  How to watch AC Milan vs Lecce online – TV channels & live streams

  TV channels & streaming options

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  U.S.	N/A	Paramount+

  In the United States (US), the game can be watched live on Paramount+.

• Getty
  

  Team news & squads

  AC Milan team news

  Davide Calabria is out suspended and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is injured, while Alessandro Florenzi could be called to cover for Calabria at right-back. Elsewhere, Pierre Kalulu is likely to replace Simon Kjaer at centre-back.

  Olivier Giroud could be offered some rest while one of Ante Rebic or Divock Origi is likely to be handed a start up front.

  AC Milan possible XI: Maignan; Florenzi, Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez; Tonali, Pobega; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Leao; Rebic

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Maignan, Tatarusanu, Vasquez, Mirante
  Defenders	Tomori, Kalulu, Gabbia, Thiaw, Kjaer, Hernandez, Ballo-Toure, Dest, Florenzi
  Midfielders	Tonali, Bennacer, Bakayoko, Pobega, Vranckx, Krunic, De Ketelaere, Diaz, Adli
  Forwards	Giroud, Rebic, Leao, Origi, Messias, Saelemaekers, Roback

  Lecce team news

  The visitors continue with injuries to Marin Pongracic and Kastriot Dermaku, as manager Marco Baroni is likely to name the same team from the Sampdoria draw.

  The scorer in that match, Assan Ceesay, may be started ahead of Milan loanee Lorenzo Colombo in the attack.

  Lecce possible XI: Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Umtiti, Gallo; Oudin, Hjulmand, Blin; Strefezza, Ceesay, Di Francesco

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Falcone, Bleve, Brancolini, Samooja
  Defenders	Bachirotto, Umtiti, Ceccaroni, Romagnoli, Tuia, Pezzella, Gallo, Gendrey, Cassandro, Lemmens
  Midfielders	Hjulmand, Samek, Blin, Gonzalez, Maleh, Askildsen, Thorir, Berisha, Banda, Di Francesco, Strefezza, Oudin
  Forwards	Colombo, Ceesay, Persson

  Head-to-head record

  Date	Result	Competition
  January 14, 2023	Lecce 2-2 AC Milan	Serie A
  June 22, 2020	Lecce 1-4 AC Milan	Serie A
  October 21, 2019	AC Milan 2-2 Lecce	Serie A
  March 11, 2012	AC Milan 2-0 Lecce	Serie A
  October 23, 2011	Lecce 3-4 AC Milan	Serie A

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  Useful links

  • AC Milan team page

  • Live soccer on TV in the U.S.

  • Why Zlatan won't get a medal if Milan win UCL

The Blues' new hierarchy once again find themselves on the hunt for a new manager, and one outstanding candidate is already dominating the headlines

Having prematurely pulled the plug on their so-called long-term Graham Potter project, Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali find themselves searching for their third manager of the 2022-23 season.

They are planning to interview as many as five potential candidates, including Mauricio Pochettino and Luis Enrique, but one name stands out from the usual rabble of managers linked with each top job: Julian Nagelsmann.

Ironically, the German tactician finds himself out of a job because, among other reasons, Bayern Munich did not want to pass up the opportunity to finally hire former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel. Football, eh.

🏆 TOP STORY: Messi to leave PSG unless he accepts pay cut

📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Should Chelsea appoint Nagelsmann?

🚨 MUST READ: Why Chelsea will regret firing Potter

Though it has been denied that Chelsea's dismissal of Potter was at least in part motivated by Nagelsmann's sudden and serendipitous availability, that is hard to believe.

While Boehly and Eghbali are said to have some concern over his tender age of 35, the chance to bring in an elite coach who could provide the longevity they crave may prove too good an opportunity to ignore.

But is he the right fit for the struggling Blues?

• Getty Images
  

  An attacking, front-footed style

  Nagelsmann's reputation burgeoned in Germany before his move to Bayern thanks in no small part to his front-footed, attacking style of play.

  An admirer of Pep Guardiola's methods, he prefers a 4-2-3-1 shape that has brought the best out of a host of forward players in his time as a coach.

  Deploying a possession-based approach and an aggressive counter-press without the ball, the 35-year-old was a serial overachiever as he guided both Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig into the Champions League, reaching the semi-finals with the latter long before they were established regulars in the competition.

  Chelsea play their best football in a 3-4-3 formation that unleashes Reece James as a wing-back, and as luck would have it, Nagelsmann experimented with a back three in the latter days of his Bayern tenure.

  Although he had varying degrees of success, it was in that shape that Die Roten earned a 1-0 win away at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last-16 first leg – a performance that was hailed as a tactical masterclass.

Advertisement

• (C)Getty Images
  

  A skilled man-manager – but not always

  While Nagelsmann's youth is apparently a concern for Chelsea's owners, he has astutely used it to his advantage in the dressing rooms he has graced.

  His closeness in age to the players means he has been seen more as an older brother figure rather than a boss or temperamental father, and he works to ensure he is a disarming and relatable presence.

  A number of players, including imminent Chelsea signing Christopher Nkunku, have taken huge strides forward under his stewardship.

  However, at Bayern Munich he is said to have had less success with that approach, failing to win over and sometimes clashing with the club's senior players, who are more or less the same age as him – most notably Manuel Neuer after he ruthlessly sacked his goalkeeping coach and close friend Toni Tapalovic.

  Chelsea have a much younger, less experienced squad, so he would hope to avoid similar issues at Stamford Bridge.

• Getty Images
  

  He's no Mr Nice Guy

  One criticism often levelled at now-former Chelsea manager Potter was that he was simply too nice to command respect and was like a broken record when faced by the media.

  Nagelsmann is the antithesis of that. e has gotten himself into trouble in the past with his barbed press conferences, while also possessing a Mourinho-esque charm.

  GOAL Germany's Jochen Tittmar explains: "In Germany, he always offends with brash statements, whether at press conferences or before and after games on TV. Certainly not every witty statement is a hit, but he is actually very clear in his statements and has always been so.

  "In April 2022, before the match against Borussia Dortmund, he said about the motivation of his team: 'We're not with the volunteer fire department Sud-Giesing (a district of Munich), but with FC Bayern Munich.' The fire department then felt attacked and discredited, so Nagelsmann actually had to apologise and also visited the fire department to rebuild bridges."

  These are actually traits that will appeal to the Chelsea faithful, who never actually warmed to 'nice guy' Potter. The man in the Stamford Bridge dugout seemingly needs to have a nasty edge.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  'Complex' training routines

  Robert Lewandowski was another player who clashed with Nagelsmann before his eventual departure to Barcelona, and one reason behind that was the coach's training regime.

  "As a coach, Nagelsmann, like Tuchel, is considered a tactics tinkerer who comes up with many complex forms of training," Tittmar adds. "It was said, for example, that Lewandowski's training sessions under Nagelsmann were too complex and he complained about it."

  Once again, Chelsea's more youthful squad is likely to be more malleable and open to change, enabling a tactician who is similarly meticulous to Tuchel to implement his reputedly outside-the-box ideas.

Real Madrid cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League, beating Liverpool 1-0 at the Bernabeu to progress 6-2 on aggregate

No miracle. No comeback. In the end, not even a goal for the travelling Liverpool supporters to get excited about.

The Reds had descended on the Spanish capital dreaming of the most unlikely of escape acts, but all they got was another harsh lesson from Real Madrid, their Champions League bete noir.

For the fourth time in six seasons, Liverpool’s European dreams were dashed by the kings of this competition, with Karim Benzema’s late strike securing a 6-2 aggregate win and sending Carlo Ancelotti’s men into the quarter-finals.

A sobering reality check for Reds fans, many of whom made an early exit as the game, and indeed the tie, petered out in the dying stages.

Their side had a few opportunities, mostly in the first half, but in truth never looked likely to make any inroads into that 5-2 first-leg deficit.

The damage, most certainly, was done at Anfield, when a two-goal lead became a three-goal problem in little more than 45 minutes, but for Jurgen Klopp and his players, this was a galling reminder of just how far they have fallen since losing to Real narrowly in last season’s final.

GOAL takes a look at the winners and losers from the Bernabeu…

• WINNER: Vinicius Junior

  What does he have against Liverpool? Is it personal at this point? Certainly, Vinicius Junior enjoys playing against Trent Alexander-Arnold.

  The winger was electric from the outset, running rings around Liverpool’s right-back. He could have perhaps grabbed a goal in the first half after turning Ibrahima Konate inside out, but his shot was tame.

  He inevitably made an impact, though, setting up Benzema for Madrid’s only goal on the night. It wasn’t the prettiest assist, more a simple stab to a wide-open player.

  Still, it was another goal involvement against his favourite European opponent.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  WINNER: Alisson

  He may have blundered in the first leg, gifting a crucial goal to Vinicius Junior, but nobody could fault Liverpool’s goalkeeper here.

  What a performance the Brazilian turned in. His first-half save from Vinicius, an instinctive block with his forearm from point blank range, was superb.

  His next, from Eduardo Camavinga, was even better: a touch onto the crossbar at full stretch.

  There was another after the break, one-on-one against Fede Valverde, and only some slapstick defending and a lucky ricochet denied him a deserved clean sheet.

• Getty
  

  LOSER: Trent Alexander-Arnold

  If ever a corner summed up a night. A tie, even.

  With less than 10 minutes remaining, and the game descending into nothing, Liverpool’s centre-backs and forwards prepared to receive an Alexander-Arnold delivery from the right.

  It didn’t arrive, the ball instead sent miles beyond the far post, allowing Madrid to break. Alexander-Arnold’s shoulders slumped as he launched into yet another recovery run back towards his own goal.

  He’s made a few of those over the course of this tie. He won’t want to see Vinicius Junior again in a hurry, that’s for sure.

  The Brazilian was too slick and too skilful for the Englishman, who did make one good challenge to deny Benzema a goal, but otherwise looked like a broken man, with even his famous passing radar going awry.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WINNER: Luka Modric

  It has been clear for quite some time now that Modric is among the best midfielders to ever do it. And Wednesday night’s showing was another impressive cut for his extensive highlight reel.

  The Croatian neither scored nor assisted, but took the sting out of Liverpool’s game early.

  The visitors were predictably adventurous from the first whistle, but Modric’s composed passing and ability to play between the lines ensured Madrid had time to breathe in the early stages.

  He contributed going forward, too, sending a shot just over the crossbar in the first half and setting up Valverde for a narrow miss in the second.

  Unsurprisingly, when Modric left the field, he did so to a standing ovation from the Santiago Bernabeu. The man's a living legend.