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Pep Guardiola's body language suggests he is running out of ideas as Manchester City's dismal run of form continues, according to an expert.

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• City collapse against Feyenoord
• Guardiola exhibits concerning behaviour
• Enduring worst run of his managerial career

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Guardiola looked unusually worse for wear after City's stunning collapse against Feyenoord in the Champions League on Tuesday, showing up for his media duties with a cut on his nose. It had been an extremely stressful evening for the 53-year-old, who watched his side throw away a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 – a result which followed five straight defeats in all competitions.

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  There are deep issues at the Etihad Stadium right now, and an expert believes Guardiola's body language after the match shows he has "no idea" how to turn things around. The City boss cut his nose by scratching himself, a sign of "extreme anguish", with the City boss later forced to release a statement after making a "hurt myself" comment in his press conference.

• WHAT THE BODY LANGUAGE EXPERT SAID

  “Pep Guardiola’s press conference is even more telling, it shows that he is absolutely at the end of his patience," Darren Stanton told OLBG. "He is touching his head, shrugging his shoulders and doing hand to mouth gestures.

  “He flashes a fake smile and keeps talking about what his team already has rather than what needs to change. I think he has no idea how he’s going to turn things around.

  “Non-verbally he is saying that they have no issues which means he cannot work out a strategy going forward which will end this run of form.

  “When asked about his cuts he offers a sarcastic response and that is used as a deflection. The fact he has scratched himself is showing extreme anguish and I think it’s because he thinks that he is doing everything right but it hasn’t worked.”

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• '20 red flags'

  Stanton continued by claiming Guardiola displayed "around 20 red flags" as he sat dishevelled on the bench, giving off the look of someone who doesn't believe he will be in charge of City for much longer.

  “Pep Guardiola is a broken man. There are around 20 red flags in his behaviour. There are combinations of anger, frustration and devastation," he added.

  “These are normal things to expect from someone in his situation, but he’s had disappointment before and not been as animated as he was against Feyenoord. He buries his head in his hands and it’s the opposite of a power stance which would be hands on his hips and feet spread apart.

  “He’s almost in a foetal position and trying to curl up in a ball, it’s like he just wants the current situation that he’s found himself in to end. He wants it to be over.

  “He's going through purgatory and I think these are the most extreme gestures that we've seen him make. I really believe he feels like he's not going to be around at Manchester City for long.

  “He’s dejected, he’s disappointed, he’s angry, when players are mentioned he turns his face away which suggests that they are going to be in for a rollocking.”

Wayne Rooney appears to be taking after his old manager Sir Alex Ferguson after his Plymouth Argyle side showed off their late goal threat yet again.

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• 'Fergie Time' became legendary at Man Utd
• Rooney involved in many late Utd goals
• Plymouth making a habit of last-gasp strikes

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the Plymouth Herald, the Pilgrims have scored five of their 17 Championship goals this season in 90-plus minutes of home matches – the latest of which came in Friday night's come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Watford as Andre Gray snatched last-gasp equaliser. As a result, Argyle have picked up an extra six points, leading the publication to come up with the moniker of 'Rooney Time' – many years after 'Fergie Time' was popularised when Ferguson was in charge at Manchester United.

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  While Plymouth's fighting qualities at home are admirable, Rooney's side are just two points outside the Championship relegation zone this season. The 39-year-old has won just five of his 18 games in charge since taking over as manager in the summer, and he faces a battle to avoid the drop down to League One.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While United had a history of scoring important, late goals under Ferguson, rivals fans came up with the phrase 'Fergie Time'. It was claimed that the Red Devils were given a helping of undeserved added time when the Scot's side were losing, seemingly giving them an unfair advantage.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Rooney's Plymouth side, who have the worst away form in the division, travel to Norwich City in their next Championship clash on Tuesday night. They follow that game with another away fixture four days later against mid-table Bristol City.

With the new Premier League campaign fast approaching, Aston Villa have reportedly tabled a new offer to sign their eighth fresh face of the summer transfer window for Unai Emery.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans have far from sat back and simply admired their Champions League place this summer, instead instantly stepping onto the front foot to welcome several reinforcements. The likes of Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea have all arrived, whilst academy graduates Jaden Philogene and Cameron Archer have completed their returns and Amadou Onana has become the latest to move to the Midlands.

Speaking to the club's official website after sealing his return, Philogene said: “It’s the latest chapter in my Villa journey and hopefully I can play my best, get game time and do it in front of the fans.

“What I did at Hull, I want to do the same things at Villa Park; make the fans aware of my skills and score goals. It’s a dream come true. When I was a little boy I wanted to play in the Champions League. I’ve always thought I want to be there one day and here I am.”

Imagine him & Watkins: Aston Villa looking at £50m Williams alternative

There’s a realistic chance that he signs for the Villa Park side this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jul 21, 2024

Not resting on their laurels, however, after welcoming their seventh arrival, the Midlands club have instantly turned their attention towards another summer target. According to Gune Bakis in Turkey, Aston Villa have tabled a fresh €30m (£25m) offer to sign Semih Kilicsoy from Besiktas this summer and must now wait for the Turkish club's verdict on their new bid.

Besiktas have already reportedly rejected one offer from Villa for their 18-year-old forward which would have seen Alex Moreno move in the opposite direction on top of an €18m (£15m) transfer fee. Those in the Midlands have since upped their offer, though without the inclusion of Moreno, as they look to land a future star.

"Superb" Kilicsoy can replace Duran

Given that Jhon Duran's Aston Villa future has continuously been thrown into doubt this summer, it's no surprise that the Villans have gone in pursuit of a potential replacement in Kilicsoy. At 18 years of age, two years younger than Duran, the Besiktas forward enjoyed an impressive campaign in Turkey last season to earn the reported interest of Manchester United, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.

Replacing Duran may not be an easy task, given how clinical he was with such little game time last season, but investing in another young forward who hit double figures for league goals last time out would certainly go a long way towards filling that potential void.

Dubbed "superb" by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, Kilicsoy has quite the decision to make this summer if Besiktas accept Villa's reported offer. The Premier League and the chance to step into the Champions League in the Midlands potentially awaits for the young forward this summer, as Emery looks to welcome yet another addition.

The Enzo Maresca revolution is underway, at Chelsea, with the Italian already taking charge and making his mark on the Blues squad.

He’s overseen three matches, a draw with Wrexham, and a defeat to Celtic whilst winning the most recent friendly outing against CF America during their tour of the US.

Maresca has implemented his three-back system, placing expectations on his centre-backs to be comfortable in possession, whilst being strong defensively to allow for his system to be a success at Stamford Bridge.

French defender Benoit Badiashile has struggled during pre-season, making an unforgivable mistake against Celtic, gifting possession away in his own penalty area before being punished by the opposition.

It comes as no surprise to see the club targeting more defensive reinforcements after their defensive frailties in recent matches, with one player once again on the club’s radar.

Chelsea want £60m defensive ace this summer

According to journalist Sami Mokbel, Chelsea continue to monitor the situation of Nottingham Forest centre-back Murillo ahead of a potential move to west London this summer.

The Brazilian youngster enjoyed a stellar campaign at the City Ground during his debut season in English football, featuring in 32 straight matches and claiming the club’s Player of the Year award.

Murillo only joined the Reds for a fee in the region of £15m this time last year, but as a result of his excellent season on Trentside, he could be on the move with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis demanding a £60m fee to part ways with his defensive wonderkid.

It may seem a huge figure and one that is slightly inflated given his limited time in the Premier League, however, he would be a phenomenal signing, potentially taking the place of one current Blues star.

Why Murillo would be better than Colwill for Chelsea

Levi Colwill came through the Chelsea academy after joining the club at the age of nine, making his first team debut back in the previous season after two previous loan spells at Huddersfield Town and Brighton.

He made an immediate impact on the first team for his boyhood club, making 23 appearances last season, looking more than comfortable at the back under then-boss Mauricio Pochettino.

However, despite his immediate impact, he could find himself without a spot in the starting lineup, should Murillo arrive at the club, with the Brazilian producing some impressive figures despite featuring for a side in a relegation battle.

The “exceptional” ace, as described by analyst Ben Mattinson, managed to complete more progressive passes and successful take-ons per 90, demonstrating his comfortability on the ball – making him perfect for Maresca’s system.

The Brazilian has also completed more clearances and blocks in 2023/24, showcasing his defensive capabilities despite featuring in a side that, at times, were constantly bombarded in games against higher-quality opposition.

Murillo has showcased his ball-striking ability, nearly scoring two goal of the season contenders from his own half, with the youngster certainly not afraid to produce a spectacular moment or two from the back.

He may be an expensive addition, but given his impressive first season in England, there is huge potential for him to improve further.

His attributes with and without the ball make him perfect for the new Chelsea boss, with his talents hugely improving the current options available at Maresca’s disposal.

Chelsea could land a bigger talent than Osimhen in £75m "nightmare"

The Blues are still on the hunt for a new centre-forward.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 2, 2024

Former Real Madrid star Rafael van der Vaart has shared some surprise revelations about Cristiano Ronaldo's time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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• Ronaldo starred at Real Madrid
• Incredible work ethic revealed
• Selfish attitude also highlighted

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ronaldo spent almost a decade at Real Madrid, after moving to the Spanish capital from Manchester United, winning a host of titles including four Champions League crowns. The Portuguese superstar established himself as one of the best players in the world during his time in Madrid and left in 2018 for Juventus as the club's all-time top scorer after netting 451 goals in 438 appearances.

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  While Ronaldo is best-known for his outrageous talent he is also famed for his incredible work ethic. Van der Vaart has used a rather revealing anecdote to highlight just how hard Ronaldo worked at Real Madrid and also offered some insight into his single-minded attitude.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  The ex-Real and Tottenham playmaker told talkSPORT's The LineUp: "He never left his house! I always say as a joke, Ronaldo is the only player that I never saw his willy! He was the first one on the training [pitch]! And the last one who went. First of all his body, wow! A machine. He was a little bit ahead of his time, players now are the same. But his training in the gym, food, sleep. For him that was more important than training extra hard."

  Van der Vaart also spoke about Ronaldo's selfish mindset. He said: "Ronaldo was so unbelievably selfish, if we won 6-0 and he did not score, he was not happy. When we lose but he scored twice, it'd be alright!"

  However, the Dutchman insisted Ronaldo's behaviour was not a problem, adding: "No, no! It was just that he needs to score. It was the same with Ruud van Nistelrooy, I had so many chats with him and it was so interesting because he was always like 'I need my goals! I need my goals!'"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO

  Ronaldo is now in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr but is continuing to bang in the goals at the grand old age of 39. The Portuguese superstar hit his 900th career goal back in September and has been tipped to hit the 1,000 mark before he finally hangs up his boots.

England manager Thomas Tuchel and captain Harry Kane have reacted to the news of England's opponents for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

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• England face Serbia, Albania, Latvia & Andorra
• Tuchel & Kane give their verdict
• Manager says they have "strong opponents"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Three Lions will play Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in Group K after the European qualifying draw took place in Zurich earlier today. Kane responded to the draw on Instagram, posting a screenshot of the group captioned: "Looking forward to getting started on the road to the 2026 World Cup", while England posted a longer video of Tuchel reacting to the news and giving credit to England's "strong opponents".

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  Tuchel's side will be heavy favourites to win the group, especially considering how consistently strong the England men's team have been in recent qualifying campaigns. However, there certainly will be some tough challenges on the way; in particular, the fixtures against Serbia — who made things difficult for England in the group stages of Euro 2024 — and Albania, who equipped themselves well in the same tournament's 'group of death', getting a point against 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia and narrowly losing to Italy and tournament winners Spain.

• WHAT TUCHEL SAID

  Tuchel said: "Today was kick-off, a very exciting day. We know our group, four opponents, strong opponents: Serbia, Albania, Latvia – which is a new challenge for all of us – and Andorra. I can't wait to start in January and can't wait to see you in March when we play our first matches. Let's keep things going together."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  This draw marks the start of a new dawn for England, with their first-ever German manager taking charge on January 1. After a short break from club football, the 51-year-old seems fresh and excited about the new challenge ahead. That's not a huge surprise — the talent in England's ranks means he will be confident he can lead the country to glory at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, and end almost 60 years of hurt.

Yet to reach an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain over a deal to sign Manuel Ugarte, Manchester United are now reportedly in constant contact to land an alternative midfielder this month.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils have been among the winners of the summer transfer window so far, welcoming Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee and Noussair Mazraoui to strengthen both Erik ten Hag's backline and offensive options. The Dutchman has no excuse but to get the best out of this Manchester United side following such a successful window, with the pressure on to improve on last season's dismal campaign.

One weakness that the Red Devils haven't solved, however, is in defensive midfield, where Casemiro struggled last time out. There were plenty of signs last season that the 32-year-old is now past his peak and needs replacing, with the likes of Ugarte linked to Old Trafford as a result.

The PSG midfielder – still just 23 years old – would be an ideal option, but Manchester United are yet to reach an agreement with the Ligue 1 champions over a summer move, perhaps leading them to alternative options.

According to AS via Sport Witness, Manchester United are now in constant contact with all parties to sign Ederson from Atalanta in a deal that would reportedly be worth €60m (£51m) this month. The Red Devils aren't the only interested club, however, with Premier League rivals Aston Villa also looking to sign the midfielder alongside Atletico Madrid.

Man Utd offered chance to sign "confident" star who won 30 trophies at PSG

He would certainly bring plenty of experience…

By
Tom Cunningham

Aug 16, 2024

With just two weeks left until the summer transfer window slams shut, those at Old Trafford will have to come to a decision as soon as possible. They must decide whether to give up on their Ugarte pursuit and, instead, focus on Ederson, or push on in an attempt to land the PSG star.

"Strong" Ederson is better than Casemiro and Ugarte

If United do miss out on Ugarte this summer, then it should quickly prove to be a blessing in disguise if they manage to land Ederson instead. The Atalanta ace would be an instant upgrade on Casemiro and offer more than Ugarte would have managed at the heart of Ten Hag's midfield, given last season's numbers.

Whether it was on the ball – crucially progressing the ball – or off the ball, when he was recording excellent ball recovery numbers, Ederson outperformed both Ugarte and Casemiro last season, becoming a vital cog in Atalanta's Europe League-winning machine.

Earning plenty of praise as a result, South American football expert Tim Vickery described Ederson as a "strong and well built central midfielder".

Now a fully fledged Brazil international and fitting the profile of what Manchester United so desperately need to complete their summer spending, Ederson looks to have emerged as a last-ditch Ugarte alternative who would solve Ten Hag's Casemiro problem in an instant at Old Trafford.

Bukayo Saka suffered his third hamstring injury of the 2024-25 campaign as he limped off during Arsenal's 5-1 win against Crystal Palace.

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• Saka suffers hamstring injury against Palace
• Winger spotted leaving Selhurst Park on crutches
• Arteta admits he's 'worried' about England star

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Arsenal star had to be substituted in the 23rd minute of the game after he went down on the ground grabbing his hamstring. He was replaced by Leandro Trossard as Arsenal went on to win the match 5-1, and was later spotted leaving Selhurst Park on crutches.

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  HOW LONG IS SAKA OUT FOR?

  Manager Mikel Arteta provided an update on Saka's condition as he admitted that the star player will be out for "many weeks" having torn his hamstring.

  “It's not looking good. He's going to be out for many weeks,” Arteta told reporters. "It's a huge blow, but it's going to be a big exercise for us to overcome another challenge."

• WHAT GAMES WILL HE MISS?

  Saka will definitely miss the Gunners' match at home to Ipswich Town on December 27, with reporting that could be the first of 15 games the England international is forced to sit out. Arteta's side then visit Brentford on January 1 and finish a run of three games in nine days when they head to Brighton on January 4. Arteta assured that the medical team is looking into the injury with seriousness and added: "Probably there are ways to prevent the injury. There are a lot of factors. We are looking at everything and what we can do differently."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  This is the England international's third hamstring injury in the 2024-25 campaign after he picked up similar knocks while on international duty in October and November. However, none of those injuries were serious enough to keep him out of action on a long-term basis.

Fulham have had a busy summer transfer window once again. The Cottagers have brought five new faces to the club as they look to strengthen Marco Silva’s side to improve on the 13th-place finish last campaign.

A large aim for the window for Fulham this summer has been to strengthen things at the back. To help with that task, Silva has brought back two former players to the club.

The first is academy graduate Ryan Sessegnon, who joined on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Tottenham Hotspur. Joachim Andersen, who spent a season on loan at the club in 2020/21, signed from Crystal Palace for £30m.

The other defensive signing saw Villarreal centre-back Jorge Cuenca make the move to Craven Cottage for an undisclosed fee. The Cottagers also signed Sander Berge from Burnley for a fee of around £25m.

It has certainly been a hectic few months for Fulham in the transfer window, and they have added some talented players to their squad. However, their marquee signing this summer has been Emile Smith Rowe, and he has begun to make waves already in his short time at the club.

Smith Rowe’s move to Fulham

The marquee signing at Craven Cottage this summer has certainly been Smith Rowe, who joined the club from Arsenal. The Hale End academy graduate made the move from North to West London for an initial price tag of £27m, although that is a deal that could rise to £34m with add-ons.

The past few seasons have not been easy for the talented attacker, who has struggled with injuries and regular minutes as a knock-on effect of those fitness issues. Last term, the England international played just 13 times in the Premier League and three games in the Champions League.

However, his season in 2021/22 was phenomenal, with Smith Rowe showcasing his sparkling talent. The Fulham number 32 scored ten goals and registered two assists in 33 Premier League games that season, his best return. It was a campaign that showed off his slick close-quarter dribbling and exceptional control of the ball.

It is certainly an enterprising and ambitious signing from the Cottagers, and Smith Rowe is already repaying their faith. The Hale End graduate scored in his first home game against Leicester City, finishing off a tidy move to give his side a 1-0 lead.

The investment of up to £34m for such a talented attacking midfielder certainly seems like a superb addition to the Fulham squad.

It may also be the case that the club can make their money back on the attacker, through the sale of another highly valued player, who could leave this summer.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Antonee Robinson’s value in 2024

The player in question here is American left-back Antonee Robinson. The 27-year-old has impressed during his time at Craven Cottage, after joining the club in 2020. Football analyst Ben Mattinson called Robinson "insane", and that is certainly a thought shared by Silva.

The Fulham boss played the American, who has 46 caps for his country, in all but one of the 38 Premier League games last term, and he got six assists in that time. He has started this season excellently, too, registering an assist against the Foxes last Saturday afternoon.

That said, he has been linked with a move away from the club this summer, with a report from GiveMeSport in the last few days suggesting Manchester United are interested. As per an earlier report, he is valued at around £40m, meaning the Cottagers would make back the money they paid to sign Smith Rowe.

Perhaps surprisingly, Robinson is not one of Fulham’s highest earners and is in the seventh-highest pay bracket at Craven Cottage, one of four players to earn £50k per week as per Capology.

Given the fact the full-back is a key attacking outlet and works hard off the ball, selling him this summer is a risky move. However, they have the chance to recoup the fee they paid for Smith Rowe, meaning it could be a lucrative deal for Fulham to do this summer.

Whether he sticks around or does move away, they've certainly struck gold on this signing, one they completed for just £2m.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: summer transfer window 2024

Find every incoming and outgoing for each 2024/25 Premier League club here.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Sep 18, 2024

Manchester United are reportedly ready to use Marcus Rashford as a makeweight to sign Napoli's Victor Osimhen.

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• Rashford wants out from Man Utd
• Napoli swap deal considered
• Red Devils want to sign Osimhen

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford has not been a major part of Ruben Amorim's plans at Manchester United as the England international has been left out of three of the Red Devils' last four matchday squads, following on from an interview in which the forward revealed his desire to leave for a 'new challenge'.

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  Per , United, who are cash-strapped after their extravagant summer, are considering proposing a swap deal to Napoli to try and sign Osimhen. The Nigerian striker wants to leave Gli Azzurri for good and is currently away on loan at Galatasaray. Osimhen has a £62 million ($76.8m) release clause, but United could bring that amount down by throwing Rashford into the deal. The two clubs negotiated over the summer, with Scott McTominay thriving in Italy after leaving Old Trafford.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  United are looking to sign a striker this January as the Red Devils are struggling to find balance in attack, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggling in the role as the lone striker. As such, United have been linked with multiple strikers, including Amorim's former Sporting CP hitman Viktor Gyokeres, but are said to be struggling for funds at the moment.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  The Red Devils have until the end of the January transfer window to try and figure out what the situation is regarding Rashford and Osimhen. Until then, Amorim will have to focus on getting United back on track on the pitch, starting with Sunday's daunting trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool.