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Manchester United want to sign Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund this summer, having been impressed with the striker's performances throughout the 2022-23 campaign, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Man United transfer news?

Man United have recently been dealt a potential blow in their pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, who is believed to be the club's top target, as chairman Daniel Levy is unwilling to sell him to a direct Premier League rival.

Even though Kane's contract has just one year left before expiry, Levy is prepared to risk losing the England captain for free, meaning the Red Devils may need to turn their attentions elsewhere, having also been linked with Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

Earlier this month, it was reported that United were lining up to sign the Nigerian, but he will not come cheap, as it is detailed that Napoli are set to hold out for €130m (£113m), so Erik ten Hag could be forced to look at other options.

According to a report from Football Insider, Man United now want to sign Hojlund as a potential alternative to Kane and Osimhen, with the £11k-per-week marksman wowing Old Trafford scouts throughout the 2022-23 season.

Should they fail in their pursuit of Kane, the Red Devils are ready to move for the 20-year-old, who now features highly on the wanted list ahead of the summer window, courtesy of an impressive breakthrough season in the Serie A.

Who is Rasmus Hojlund?

Hojlund only signed for Atalanta back in August 2022, but he is already being linked with a move to Old Trafford due to his goal-scoring exploits for Italy and Denmark this season, netting nine goals for Atalanta and five for Denmark.

Hailed as an "absolute monster in the making" by football scout Jacek Kulig, the starlet has enjoyed a solid first season in the Serie A, having adapted to the higher level quickly, and all the signs indicate it won't be long before he gets a big move.

That said, you could argue that Man United need to bring in a striker who will immediately be ready to transform the club back into title contenders, and Kane fits the bill, scoring a remarkable 30 Premier League goals this season.

With better players around him, the sky really is the limit for the 29-year-old, and he should undoubtedly remain Ten Hag's top target, even if a deal currently appears to be unlikely, but it's good to see that the club have contingency plans with a potential swoop for Hojlund.

Arsenal have already started to be linked with a host of top talent all of whom can take them to the next level, after what seems set to be a failed attempt this season to take the Premier League crown from Manchester City.

Last summer marked a turning point for the club, and yet this upcoming window might prove to be even more imperative if Mikel Arteta is to maintain their challenge without allowing Pep Guardiola to run away with control of the division.

Delving into the rest of the league reveals a wealth of talent, ripe for plucking should Edu be willing to stump up the necessary funds. After all, given the campaign they have enjoyed, the Emirates has once again become an attractive proposition for top players.

Therefore, they could seek to reignite their pursuit of Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, especially given that Granit Xhaka is nearing an exit to Bayer Leverkusen. At the very least, this young Ecuadorian superstar could ease the blow of losing their ageing Swiss general.

After all, following those rejected bids in January, his agent Manuel Sierra had boldly claimed:

"The offers were received, you see what is on the table and Moises says that he wants to go forward, that it is the dream of his whole life. That it is an opportunity that may not be repeated in life."

Roberto De Zerbi has since admitted that he may well leave this summer, only adding fuel to this already stoked transfer story of a man clearly vying for a switch to the Emirates.

However, for the £90m the Seagulls will reportedly demand, he should do more than just relieve Arteta; Caicedo could revolutionise the squad.

How has Moises Caicedo played this season?

Losing their 30-year-old leader will prove a bigger blow than it might have done this time last year, as AS Roma sought to save him from a north London nightmare that put him at odds with his own fanbase.

It is miraculous the changes just one year can make.

The £120k-per-week star has arguably enjoyed his most fruitful year at the Emirates, scoring five and assisting seven in a new creative role that has allowed him to flourish. He pairs such offensive impetus with 1.3 key passes and 0.9 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Although the bar has been set high, it cannot be understated how exceptional a year this has been for Caicedo too. His Seagulls side are still challenging for European football against all the odds, with the Ecuador international at the heart of such success.

The 21-year-old "machine man" – as lauded by scout Jacek Kulig – too has remained creatively sound, but such tangible goals and assists give way to three tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 1.2 key passes per game. For his role, there are few in the division who can compete with him, and his 7.14 average rating has him as the fourth-most important player for De Zerbi's side, via Sofascore.

To laud him as "outstanding" is a fairly common summation of the youngster's performances from The Athletic journalist Andy Naylor, who has bore witness to a truly phenomenal campaign.

Arteta will hope to see a lot more of him next term too, as the star addition to his new-look engine room.

كشف مصدر عن أول رد فعل من وزارة الشباب والرياضة تجاه اتحاد الكرة المصري بعد توديع منتخب مصر بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023.

وودع منتخب مصر بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا المقامة في كوت ديفوار من دور الـ 16 بعد الخسارة أمام الكونغو الديمقراطية بركلات الترجيح 8-7 عقب انتهاء الوقت الأصلي والإضافي للمباراة بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لمثله.

وقال المصدر لـ بطولات إن وزارة الشباب والرياضة أرسلت خطابًا منذ قليل لمجلس إدارة اتحاد كرة القدم لإرسال تقرير مفصل عن أسباب خروج منتخب مصر من كأس أمم إفريقيا من دور الـ16 والظهور بهذا المستوى.

طالع | سيد عبد الحفيظ يوافق على تعيينه مديراً لمنتخب مصر

ولم يقدم منتخب مصر المستوي المطلوب خلال مباريات دور المجموعات أو مواجهة الكونغو في دور ثمن النهائي، حيث لم يحقق أي فوز في مبارياته بالبطولة.

وتعادل منتخب مصر مع موزمبيق في الجولة الأولي وغانا في الجولة الثانية والرأس الأخضر بالجولة الختامية من دور المجموعات بنتيجة 2-2 في جميع المواجهات.

Crystal Palace have sensationally been named as a possible destination for James Rodriguez.

What’s the latest on James Rodriguez to Crystal Palace?

According to renowned journalist Christian Martin (via AS), the 31-year-old is being tracked by a host of English clubs, including the Eagles, as he wishes to continue his playing career in England.

The Argentine said: “We understand that he (James) prioritises staying in European football. Could it be England? We understand that yes, there is a possibility that clubs like Crystal Palace, Bournemouth or even Brighton itself, which does not usually make this type of addition, at least find out the conditions in which the Colombian could arrive.

“The English clubs have the money, the big ones in Scotland too. No one would shy away from at least assessing the possibility of repatriating James to the UK. From our sources, the inquiries have been, through intermediaries, by Crystal Palace, by Bournemouth, by Everton itself.”

Since his contract was terminated by Olympiacos last month, the Colombian is currently without a club and is training in Madrid whilst he awaits the next step in his football journey.

Would James Rodriguez be a good fit for Crystal Palace?

The former Real Madrid man has previously appeared in England, playing the 2020/21 season with Everton.

The 90-cap international began his Premier League career in imperious form, as he registered six goal contributions in his first six outings.

The joyous technician seemed to have seamlessly adapted to his new surroundings with Dominic Calvert-Lewin describing him as a “top player” when he was in this formidable form.

However, the playmaker’s time in Merseyside quickly deteriorated due to injury and inconsistency, failing to appear in 15 of the Toffees’ top-flight encounters.

After this, the midfielder has had failed stints in Qatar and Greece, which has led to his current status as a free agent.

However, when considering the talent he previously displayed for his nation, as well as for Porto, Monaco, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and the early stages of Everton, it would be foolish to discard him.

Indeed, the player who made headlines at the 2014 World Cup has registered a mammoth haul of 58 goals and 61 assists in Europe's top five leagues, largely from a central attacking berth.

As a result of those phenomenal numbers, he could be an invaluable source of advice for Eberechi Eze.

The Englishman, who is quickly developing into one of the division's most graceful and creative forces, is certainly reminiscent of Rodriguez when he burst onto the scene.

The flair is there and the end product is beginning to blossom too, with the Englishman having notched 11 goals and assists this season.

Eze's progress is accelerating at an extraordinary rate and the signing of Rodriguez for the south London outfit would only help. It would be large a statement to the teams around them, all while offering some inventive depth to the squad.

Things are looking up for West Ham United after a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Fulham last weekend but David Moyes' side are still under real threat of relegation when you consider how tight the race for survival is in the Premier League.

A number of the Hammers' most consistent performers from previous campaigns have struggled to find their best form in an underwhelming season which can perhaps only be salvaged by winning the Europa Conference League.

Fortunately for the Scottish manager, it seems as if Vladimir Coufal is returning to his best form at a vital time, and the Czech Republic international could prove to be a huge player for West Ham in the remaining fixtures, both in the Premier League and in Europe.

Is Coufal getting back to his best at West Ham?

Coufal's first season at West Ham was an incredibly consistent one, as he contributed an impressive seven assists in 34 Premier League appearances, averaging a strong 6.95 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

The right-back, who earns around £35k-per-week, had joined in a deal worth just £5.4m from Slavia Prague and quickly won over fans with his work rate and passion on the pitch, while club legend Mark Noble would label him a "machine" when appearing as a guest on the Peter Crouch Podcast.

However, his form would falter last season, as he averaged a far-less-impressive 6.56 rating from WhoScored, with four assists to his name in 28 Premier League outings.

With Ben Johnson now a fully-fledged first-team player and Thilo Kehrer arriving from Paris Saint-Germain, Moyes has often alternated his right-backs this season and has seemingly been unable to decide on his first choice, with Coufal failing to notch a single goal or assist in the top-flight so far this campaign.

However, after returning from injury during the international break, the 30-year-old helped the Hammers to a clean sheet in the 1-0 win at Craven Cottage and was given the nod against Gent in midweek, which suggests that he has re-established himself as the main man at right-back.

The Athletic's Roshane Thomas was full of praise for the Czech defender on Twitter during the game, writing:

"Vladimir Coufal is slowly getting back to his best. At one point this season it was debatable who was West Ham's best right-back. But now without question, it's definitely Coufal."

With Johnson and Kehrer ranked as the 13th and 14th-best performers in Moyes' squad so far this season according to WhoScored, it seems neither of them can be relied upon to be a reliable option in West Ham's battle to stay up, so Coufal's upturn in form might just have come at the perfect time for the Hammers.

Graham Potter was sacked by Chelsea on Sunday and Todd Boehly isn’t hanging around when it comes to finding an ideal successor for the Englishman.

What’s the latest Chelsea manager news?

Fabrizio Romano tweeted shortly after Potter's departure was announced that Nagelsmann is the “favourite candidate” to replace the former Brighton boss at the Stamford Bridge helm.

The journalist went on to explain that Nagelsmann was “mentioned yesterday during internal discussions” suggesting that he is the man Boehly wants at the club.

This comes just days after the German claimed that taking over at Tottenham Hotspur could harm his career according to Football Insider. As such, this may give the Blues a better chance of convincing him to join.

Will Julian Nagelsmann join Chelsea?

It would take a momentous offer to persuade the 35-year-old to move to the Premier League, especially after his recent surprising sacking by Bayern Munich, but it could very well happen, with Chelsea having the right infrastructure and squad to challenge for trophies.

He started his managerial career at 1899 Hoffenheim at the tender age of 28, having coached various youth teams following his decision to retire aged just 20, and it looks as though it turned out to be an inspired move.

The young tactician led Hoffenheim to top-four finishes in his first two seasons and qualification for the Champions League before joining RB Leipzig in 2019.

He continued to break records, becoming the youngest manager to win a Champions League knockout tie at just 32 years old with that seeing him dubbed a “mini-Mourinho” by journalist Martin Laurence.

The great Portuguese, of course, won the same competition as a young mastermind and if Nagelsmann can replicate his feats at Chelsea should he be appointed, it will prove to be a stroke of genius by Boehly.

Despite winning three trophies at Bayern, the Bavarian giants are in a rare title race this term and it appears to have cost the 35-year-old his job.

That said, across 243 Bundesliga games, he has averaged 1.86 points per match and his experience at managing a European superpower under immense pressure shouldn’t faze him.

On the other hand, the job was an entirely unfamiliar feeling for Potter and perhaps was a step too far for the Englishman.

Chelsea need a manager who won't shy away from the challenge of winning major honours and with BBC Sport writer Raj Chohan describing the former Bayern boss as having an “evil genius concept in his head” he could be the Mourinho-like figure to revive Chelsea.

Indeed, if Boehly wants to get the club back to the Champions League while challenging for domestic honours again, maybe an ‘evil genius’ is exactly what he needs.

Newcastle United's Kieran Trippier showed his leadership skills on Friday night after taking the pressure off Alexander Isak before his winning penalty.

What did Trippier do against Nottingham Forest?

Eddie Howe's side were able to close the gap on fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend with their dramatic victory at the City Ground on Friday night.

The game came down to a late penalty which was converted by the Swedish forward in the dying minutes of the game to see the Magpies take all three points back to Tyneside.

However, in the lead-up to Isak taking the penalty, Trippier picked the ball up and looked as if he was ready to step up and take the spot kick.

But then he offloaded the ball to Isak who had, therefore, avoided any of the mind games being played by the Forest players and this seriously impressed journalist Lee Ryder:

"We've seen nothing like that at Newcastle, really. I think everybody, including the Sky Sports production team, thought it was going to be Kieran Trippier taking it because they put up a graphic of his previous penalty kicks.

"So a great piece of genius. Really got the goalkeeper thinking and then it was just an easy task for Isak to step up and slam it in the corner."

Is Trippier still good enough for Newcastle?

There may have been some question marks over a potential slip in form from the 32-year-old right-back over the last couple of months.

And it has to be said Newcastle's defensive solidity has been tested since the return from the World Cup which has seen fewer clean sheets kept in recent weeks.

However, if there were any question marks over Trippier, they can't be on his leadership skills which were simply exemplary on Friday night.

Isak has been in fine form over the last few weeks and impressed massively in the game against Nottingham Forest, however, there was a huge amount of pressure resting on that penalty.

We have seen a number of top players miss from the penalty spot when the pressure is on and Trippier certainly helped to relieve at least some of the pressure.

With some protests being held by the hosts over the award of the penalty, it could have allowed some of the Forest players to potentially get in the head of Isak.

Instead, the Swede was able to blend into the background and avoid the attention before stepping up and slotting the ball home.

In addition to taking the pressure off Isak, it could also be seen as a method of confusing the goalkeeper with Keylor Navas seemingly expecting Trippier to take it.

And when Isak stepped forward, it will have left the Costa Rican shot-stopper trying to recall the homework he will have likely done before the game.

Wolves were heavily linked with signing Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott in January and it seems as if the Old Gold missed a trick in not bringing him to Molineux after he starred against Manchester City in the FA Cup this week.

Should Wolves have signed Alex Scott?

John Percy of The Telegraph revealed in January that Wolves were in talks with the Robins over a potential deal for the teenager but weren’t willing to meet the Championship side’s £25m price tag.

That price tag only looks likely to increase after Scott showed just what he is capable of in front of the television cameras, with the 19-year-old impressive despite the 3-0 loss against Pep Guardiola’s side.

The former Barcelona boss was certainly complimentary of Scott in his post-match conference, labelling him an “unbelievable player.”

Henry Winter, the chief football editor for The Times, was also wowed by the England U20 international’s performance at Ashton Gate.

He said: What a talent Alex Scott is. I covered him in the Eng U19s Euro triumph last summer and he’s even better now, flourishing at Ashton Gate and totally fearless against MCFC. Ex-Isthmian League. Destined for the Premier League.”

Despite his tender age, Scott has been a regular in Bristol City’s first team for two years now, with 81 senior appearances under his belt, in which he has contributed five goals and seven assists.

This season has seen the Englishman make 32 appearances in the Championship, contributing four assists and earning a 6.84 rating from WhoScored for his performances, which would rank him as the third-best performer at Wolves if he had replicated those performances in Old Gold colours.

Considering no player at Molineux has managed more than two assists in the Premier League this season, Julen Lopetegui could have definitely used a player of Scott’s creativity in his side.

Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat against Liverpool saw Wolves once again fail to find the back of the net in the top flight, with Lopetegui’s outfit still ranked as the joint-lowest scorers in the division.

With Ruben Neves (potential transfer) and Joao Moutinho (contract expiry) both looking likely to depart Molineux for different reasons in the summer, a talented young midfielder such as Scott could have been the ideal signing in January.

After another strong display which has earned the Bristol City man a lot of media attention, he may now be destined for bigger things than Wolves, while his January asking price only looks likely to rise further.

Therefore, the Old Gold arguably missed a trick by not signing Scott in the winter transfer window.

Sunderland defender Lynden Gooch has confirmed that he will be ‘back out running’ on Monday after a spell on the sidelines at the Stadium of Light.

The Lowdown: Injury concerns

The American has been a regular feature for Tony Mowbray this season making 19 starts in the Championship but hasn’t featured since the 3-1 defeat to Swansea City in January.

The Black Cats boss has opted to play Trai Hume in the 27-year-old’s absence, but having missed the last five league games, he’s now delivered a positive update on his recovery and exactly what his injury has entailed.

The Latest: Gooch fitness update

Speaking to Sunderland’s official website, Gooch confirmed that he’s set to return to the grass at the Academy of Light and is hopeful that he’ll be available for selection again in the weeks ahead.

“I’m going to be back out running on Monday so just a couple of weeks away. It was my knee, a bit of cartilage damage so it has taken time to heal. I’m itching to get back out there.

“The lads have done brilliant, so I’ve got a lot of hard work ahead to get back into the team.”

The Verdict: Boost for Mowbray

Gooch has become a Sunderland fan favourite over the years having worked his way up through the academy ranks and it’ll be a huge boost for Mowbray to learn that he’ll soon have him back at his disposal.

The Santa Cruz native was averaging 1.6 clearances and 1.5 tackles per second-tier game prior to his absence and provided the manager with great versatility, having operated in four different positions throughout the season (WhoScored).

The Unique Sports Group client is also a threat in the final third having posted 62 senior goal contributions during his time in the northeast.

Gooch was previously dubbed a ‘warrior’ by former Black Cats manager Alex Neil, and he’ll undoubtedly use his fighting spirit to return to action as quickly as possible.

Insider ExWHUemployee has revealed that West Ham United have not made an offer to try and sign Kalvin Phillips on loan despite rumours.

What’s the latest?

As per The Sun, the Hammers were one of a number of Premier League sides to make an enquiry to Manchester City about loaning the midfielder until the end of the season.

Leeds United were also said to be keen on bringing their former player back to Elland Road and Everton were in the mix too. It remains to be seen how genuine their interest is, but Ex has refuted the idea that West Ham have put in an offer.

Indeed, while writing about it all on The West Ham Way Pareon, Ex revealed City have “made it clear” that the Englishman is not going anywhere this winter.

He said: “The rumours surrounding an offer in for Kalvin Philips are not correct as Manchester City have made it clear that they wish to hang onto the player.”

Rice replacement?

Phillips left Leeds for City in the summer for a reported fee of £45m but he hasn’t made a great impact at his new club in his debut season – with just 18 minutes of Premier League action to his name so far.

With that in mind, it might have made sense for West Ham to see if the player was available, especially as David Moyes supposedly rates the player very highly.

What’s more, with Declan Rice expected to leave the Irons next summer, it could be time to start planning for a future without their star man.

However, it seems as though Pep Guardiola has no plans on letting Phillips leave mid-season – even despite some recent issues with the players’ weight.

Taking that all into account, it looks as though this deal has well and truly been put to bed.