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Erling Haaland said it was a pleasure to play with Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian set up four goals for him in Manchester City's 6-2 win at Luton.

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• Haaland pays tribute to De Bruyne
• Belgian set up four goals for the striker
• Norwegian warns 'We're ready to attack'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Haaland struck five times in a ruthless attacking display by City. It was the second time the Norwegian had scored five times in a match for Pep Guardiola's side after blitzing RB Leipzig last season. However, it was the first occasion he had scored three or more goals in an away match for the Cityzens.

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• WHAT HAALAND SAID

  "Kevin De Bruyne is massive. He is doing what he is best at. It's a pleasure playing with him," Haaland told . "We know what we both want from each other. It clicks well. He is a smart player and I like to play with him."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Haaland and De Bruyne had such a good understanding last season that the Belgian ended up joking in a press conference before the Champions League final: "I prefer my wife". The pair have been unable to combine much this season as De Bruyne missed five months with a torn hamstring and Haaland spent two months on the sidelines with a foot problem.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Haaland said he was back to full fitness and fired out a warning to City's rivals for the title, FA Cup and Champions League as they aim to repeat last season's historic treble triumph. "I am getting back to my best," he said. "Finally I am feeling good. It's an amazing feeling. It's coming, we're coming. Exciting times ahead. We are ready to attack."

Alisha Lehmann has revealed the shock time that she wakes up on a non-training day, her New Year’s resolution and the saying she lives her life by.

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• Swiss star enjoying life in England
• International landmark approaching
• Lifted lid on behaviour off the field

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Switzerland international continues to ply her club trade in the WSL for Aston Villa. She is an important part of Carla Ward's side in the West Midlands, while the 25-year-old forward is fast closing in on a half-century of appearances for her country.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• WHAT LEHMANN SAID

  Lehmann is now a prominent figure on and off the field in women’s football, with the Swiss boasting an ever-growing collection of loyal supporters. They will be pleased to hear that Lehmann’s resolution for 2024 is to “do the same thing as last year” – with there no need to do anything different.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fans will also support Lehmann’s claims that she lives her life by the “don’t judge a book by its cover” mantra, but may be surprised to learn that – while getting out of bed at around 8:45am on days that she has training – the talented playmaker can lie around in bed until 1pm if she has time off.

Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has called Newcastle United “a bit silly” regarding the situation with Dan Ashworth.

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• Ratcliffe takes aim at Newcastle
• Ashworth currently on gardening leave
• Ratcliffe looking to add Ashworth to team

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Having successfully taken over the Red Devils in a minority capacity, Ratcliffe now wants to appoint Ashworth as his new transfer guru. The former director of Brighton & Hove Albion has been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United, who are unwilling to let him go until the Red Devils provide a compensation package of £20 million. Ratcliffe, who has spoken highly of Ashworth, said he does not blame the 52-year-old for wanting to move from St. James' Park to Old Trafford.

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• WHAT RATCLIFFE SAID

  “Dan Ashworth is clearly one of top sporting directors in the world,” he told The Athletic. “I have no doubt he is a very capable person. He is interested in Manchester United because it’s the biggest challenge at the biggest club in the world. It would be different at [Manchester] City because you’re maintaining a level. Here it’s a significant rebuilding job. He would be a very good addition. He needs to decide if he is going to make that jump."

  “We have had words with Newcastle who would be disappointed. They have done really well since their new ownership. I understand why they would be disappointed but then you can’t criticise Dan because it’s a transient industry. You can understand why Dan would be interested because it’s the ultimate challenge. We’ll have to see how it unfolds.”

  Ratcliffe was asked about the potential £20m compensation package for Ashworth: “A bit silly, personally. I won’t get dragged into that. What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years.

  “We had a very grown-up conversation with City about Omar Berrada. When things got done we sorted it out very amicably. They could see why he wanted to take that challenge. You look at Pep [Guardiola] and when he’s done with one of his footballers he doesn’t want them to sit in the garden for one and a half years. He doesn’t do that. That’s not the way the UK works or the law works."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Manchester United are looking to turn the club back into title challengers following the takeover. The club has failed to win the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson left and currently six down in sixth place in the table. With Ratcliffe and potentially Ashworth on board, fans will be hoping that the club can move back to the top of the Premier League and consistently battle with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  The Red Devils will next take the field when they take on Fulham on February 24 as they look to maintain their current winning run and secure a top-four finish.

Southampton fans appear eager to see Dan N’Lundulu leave the club this summer after he was linked with a move to French club Amiens.

The Saints have a busy summer ahead of them as they aim to prepare for the new campaign. They will be looking for considerable improvements on their previous term – while they did reach an F.A Cup semi-final, they could only manage a 15th-place finish in the Premier League table and looked in danger of relegation for part of the term.

There are likely to be plenty of outgoings as well as incomings and, according to @AmiensSCUnited, the Ligue 1 outfit are interested in signing 22-year-old N’Lundulu. The forward has made 16 appearances for the south-coast outfit, but he has scored just one goal (Transfermarkt).

The news was shared on Twitter by @SaintsExtra, and it seems the Southampton fans would be happy to see him leave. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the N’Lundulu news below

“I wouldn’t mind letting him go for the right price if it means we have more chances in the transfer market.”

Credit: @bfgfox

“If permanent and decent money then let him go.”

Credit: @HackedOffStuart

“Not up to it, bye”

Credit: @stgranty1

“Pls”

Credit: @dazstevnson1953

“His first touch should take him over the channel”

Credit: @saintstevo85

“Always runs round like a headless chicken. Get rid of”

Credit: @learnonskype

In other news, Southampton lead the race for this striker.

Jack Grealish was forced off injured early in the first half of Manchester City's Champions League clash with Copenhagen on Tuesday.

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• Grealish goes off injured in Copenhagen
• Midfielder seen holding groin
• He was making first start in five weeks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Grealish went down in a heap after a challenge from Diogo Goncalves and immediately had a concerned look on his face. He received a bit of treatment on the pitch and tried to continue but was quickly taken off by Pep Guardiola and replaced by Jeremy Doku.

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  Grealish was making his first start since the FA Cup third round tie against Huddersfield more than five weeks ago and had played just 17 minutes of football since then. And last Friday Guardiola urged him to rediscover the form he showed last season, when he was an integral part of the team that won the treble.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  City had a full strength squad available against Copenhagen for the first time this season. They were without Kevin De Bruyne for five months, Erling Haaland for two while John Stones has missed large parts of the campaign with separate issues, but all started at Parken Stadium on Tueday night.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GREALISH AND CITY?

  City will be hoping that Grealish's injury is not serious and that he is available again in time for Saturday's Premier League clash against Chelsea. They play the second leg at home to Copenhagen on March 6.

According to its head of recruiting, the Saudi Pro League will look to sign players "of the highest level" in upcoming transfer windows.

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• Saudi chief talks about transfer plans
• Expects less movement in winter window
• Looking to make additions to summer signings

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to FIFA, Saudi Arabian clubs invested £701 million on foreign talent acquisition in the summer. If Saudi teams' offers for Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe had been approved, that amount may have been far higher. The Player Acquisition Centre for Excellence (PACE) and director of football for the Saudi league, Michael Emenalo, acknowledged that the league had "competed aggressively" during the summer transfer window and that the emphasis was now on high-calibre additions to the summer signings.

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  As the January transfer window approaches, Saudi teams have already been linked with moves for Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho of Manchester United. Champions Al-Ittihad are also anticipated to make another attempt at acquiring Mohamed Salah, having had their September £150 million bid for the Liverpool forward rejected.

• WHAT MICHAEL EMENALO SAID

  "I’m hoping (the January transfer window) is not very busy, because I think the job that was done has been quite interesting and aggressive, and most of the clubs, I believe, have what they need,” the former Chelsea technical director told the SPL. "And hopefully the attention will now turn to work within the training facilities to improve these players and to allow the time to adapt and perform.

  "Now, whatever additional improvement that we need to do for any club, with time on our hands and preparation, we believe will be additions of the highest level. We will continue to support and to see every opportunity we have to bring more talented individuals that want to come to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is open for business."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SAUDI PRO LEAGUE?

  As Emenalo reiterated, it is now unlikely that the league will attract any top talents in the winter transfer window but will keep looking to make additions to improve the quality of the league.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is eyeing a fresh swoop for Josh King in this summer transfer window, and it looks as though they are finally set to sign him.

What’s the story?

Reports ahead of the January transfer window suggested that King could still be on Dean Smith’s side’s radar, with the news over the summer suggesting that they had put in a bid of around £16m for the Norway international.

According to recent claims made by Norwegian publication VG, King is still of interest to Villa, although the likes of Norwich and Celtic have also been name-checked as clubs who are keen on signing him after Everton let him go.

But now, it seems as though Villa are about to get their man.

According to Turkish journalist and Fenerbahce reporter, Talha Arslan, “Joshua King, whose name is mentioned with Fenerbahçe, is very close to an agreement with Aston Villa”.

Premier League proven

In the 5 foot 11 King, Villa would be getting someone who’s Premier League proven – he’s played 172 times in the competition, and struck 48 times and provided another 15 assists.

King would bring what his previous manager Eddie Howe described as his “unique pace” to the table, and would offer the Villa boss a different option up front.

Described as a “complete package” by Howe, the 54-cap King is exactly what Villa need to ease the burden on Ollie Watkins for next season in the Premier League.

King will know all about the Premier League, and fits exactly what Smith has recently said is his main priority in the transfer market:

“In terms of our recruitment, we talk about the sweet spots that we’re looking for, which is that the players have Premier League experience and are (ideally) British because there is no adaptation risk at all.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/aston-villa-dean-smith-transfer-window-premier-league-villa-park-emi-buendia-gregg-evans-gossip-rumours-update-news” title=”Read the latest Aston Villa transfer rumours and news!”]

And, given the fact he has been released by Everton and would be available on a free transfer, it’s surely a move that Johan Lange can’t pass up this summer.

The latest update on Villa closing in on a deal for King will surely have fans buzzing given they wanted him last summer, can get him for absolutely nothing, and has got a wealth of Premier League experience. He ticks all the boxes.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has delivered an exciting update on Aston Villa…

GOAL takes a look at a group of players that, if all goes well, could be departing MLS after this postseason

It's the nature of the beast, isn't it? In this sport of ours, the world is always wondering 'what's next'? The present rarely feels as important as the future, especially when everyone in the game is one big move away from changing it all.

So, even with the MLS Playoffs underway, there is already one eye looking towards the winter months and the transfer window that comes with them. These are the games that really count, the ones that make the difference between failure and that ever-elusive MLS Cup. They're also the games that could earn players life-changing moves as suitors watch on to see how they handle these big moments.

As the postseason continues, several players will almost certainly be playing their final MLS matches. Others, in the coming months, will see both their own and their team's resolve tested by suitors overseas. Transfer season is coming, and recent history tells us that MLS will be a target for many of Europe's elite.

But which players will the clubs overseas be keeping an eye on this postseason? GOAL takes a look:

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  Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)

  This is the big one, so we'll get him out of the way early. Thiago Almada is only 22 and already owns a World Cup winner's medal. He's learned from Lionel Messi and established himself as one of the next stars of the Argentina national team. All of that points to one fact: he isn't long for MLS.

  It was rumored that he would leave Atlanta this past winter after tasting glory in Qatar. The rumors continued into the summer, although they never turned into anything concrete. But after a season that saw him score 11 goals while assisting 16 more, can Atlanta keep hold of him any longer?

  Almada may already have gotten everything he could need out of MLS, and it does feel like a miracle that the league helped him develop into a World Cup-winner so soon. The next step, though, is to become an Argentina starter, and that leap will likely have to come with a move to a bigger league overseas.

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  John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls)

  John Tolkin has already written his name into Red Bull lore with his heroics in the final week of the season. The club's fan-voted Player of the Season stepped up and fired his hometown team to the postseason, scoring a dramatic stoppage-time penalty against Nashville SC to pull off the impossible.

  He followed that up with a stunning free-kick in the Wild Card win over Charlotte, furthering his legacy at a club that has built itself on Homegrown stars in recent years.

  Tolkin clearly has the clutch gene. He also has the confidence and mentality to take him far. The young leftback is a player that is seemingly destined for a big move, and it seems like this winter will be when that happens.

  As things stand, he's right on the fringes of the U.S. men's national team, and with the Copa America looming, a move to Europe seems like it'll be what Tolkin needs to further his career at both club and international level.

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  Facundo Torres (Orlando City)

  Arsenal were keeping tabs on Facundo Torres last January, and Ajax were linked with him earlier this year, too. When teams like that are in the picture, it feels like its only a matter of time.

  Torres took something of a step forward this season as a goalscorer, netting 14 times in 30 games after scoring nine in 33 in 2022. He's also continued his development with Uruguay, earning four more caps to take his total to 14 after earning a call-up for the World Cup last year.

  As with Almada, Torres has everything in his favor: a good pedigree, senior experience with a top South American country and proven development in MLS. And, as with Almada, it's a matter of when he leaves, not if.

  The question now is how far he can lead Orlando City before that time comes, having already helped carry the club to a U.S. Open Cup title last season.

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  Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)

  Miles Robinson's contract at Atlanta expires at the end of the season, and it appears he'll have some choices to make. He had been linked with PSV during the summer, where he could've joined fellow USMNT stars Sergino Dest, Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman. However, many teams in Europe will look at Robinson and see a major asset. USMNT experience, MLS dominance and just 26 years old… What else could teams want?

  He's shaken off any concerns that were lingering after his horrible Achilles injury, which robbed him of a World Cup place. If not for that injury, he may be in Europe already, but instead, Robinson remains a key figure at the heart of the Atlanta defense.

  He seems ready for the next step, though, as he looks to lock down a starting place for the USMNT on the road to 2026.

Aston Villa and Manchester United are both interested in signing teenage defender Josh Feeney, according to the Daily Mail.

The Red Devils have enquired about a move for the Fleetwood Town youngster, but Villa are viewed as front runners for the 16-year-old centre-back. As to be expected, plenty of Villa supporters have been sharing their thoughts on the transfer update on social media.

Feeney, who is yet to feature for Fleetwood at senior level, already stands at 1.93m (6 foot 4). He is captain of England’s under-16 side and scored in a 6-0 win against Northern Ireland four days ago.

It seems that he is catching the eye at both Villa Park and Old Trafford, and any deal could end up costing a significant six-figure sum. Feeney has the freedom to choose his next club from July onwards, according to the Daily Mail.

Villa fans react

@villareport shared the news regarding Feeney on Twitter on Friday evening. Here is what these Villa fans had to say in response, with many enjoying the update.

“Guy looks like he is going to be massive with the proper nurturing”

Credit: @The_Isonwolf

“Josh Feeney Central defender – 6’4, 16 years old. Everyone wants to join Villa”

Credit: @espenstrand

“Nice!!!”

Credit: @LoveMcGrathpod

“That 2025 Champions League title looking real likely now”

Credit: @tom_avfc1

“We will have the best academy known to man, no joke”

Credit: @AlfieFotherss

“It’s the Mail. If correct, I guess this would be as an investment into the academy, which is sensible I’ve never seen him play though.”

Credit: @AVFCOliver

In other news: Many AVFC fans buzz at club’s interest in Arsenal midfielder, find out more here. 

According to a report by the Sun, the promise of first team football ‘could be enough’ to convince Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus to make the switch to Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

The Lowdown: Spurs and Jesus…

Recently, Spurs have been touted with interest in the Brazilian as part of a possible swap deal for star striker Harry Kane – who is now believed to want out of north London this summer (Sky Sports).

The coronavirus pandemic ensures that clubs do not have mounds of money to spend when it comes to blockbuster transfers and part-exchange deals may be seen as a good alternative.

Reports suggest chairman Daniel Levy could demand up to £200 million for Kane with City apparently interested in using makeweights to bring his asking price down.

The Latest: Jesus could be convinced by Tottenham move

Sharing the latest on Tottenham and Jesus, the Sun believe that the 24-year-old joining Spurs as part of a Kane swap deal is far more likely than Raheem Sterling, who is now being touted with another potential switch to Arsenal.

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It is believed Jesus’ £90,000-per-week wages won’t be a problem for the Lilywhites, even if they are increased, and the promise of first team football could convince him to join Spurs this summer.

He bagged nine goals and four assists in 22 Premier League starts for the Premier League champions over 2020/2021 (WhoScored), and despite the departure of club legend Sergio Aguero, Jesus is still not seen as the man to lead City’s forward line.

The Verdict: Do it Levy…

Lauded as an ‘incredible fighter’ by his manager, Pep Guardiola, Jesus is revered at the Sky Blues for his work off the ball and other aspects of his game than goalscoring acumen – including a tireless work rate (mancity.com).

He is prolific at finding the net too, however, having scored 103 career goals in total across his spells at both City and Palmeiras.

Valued at around £54 million by Transfermarkt, Levy could feasibly bypass a fee entirely if he was included in a swap deal for Kane.

The Englishman would undoubtedly be a huge loss for the club, but Jesus is arguably a capable alternative if plenty of cash comes Spurs’ way as part of the deal as well.

In other news: Negotiations now underway for this ‘exciting’ Spurs youngster, he wants to leave…find out more here.