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Juventus have confirmed the signing of Mohamed Ihattaren from PSV in a deal understood to be worth around €6 million (£5m/$7m) and have sent the attacking midfielder on loan to Sampdoria.

The 19-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the Turin side.

Ihattaren, who made the 2021 NxGN top 50 list of the best wonderkids in world football, will spend the 2021-22 campaign on loan at fellow Serie A side Sampdoria.

What has been said?

"Mohamed Ihattaren is a midfielder of innate class and talent," a statement on Juventus' website read. "Juventus have officially formalised his acquisition from PSV Eindhoven, a team in which he featured for in the youth system, on a contract which will tie him to the club until 2025."

Minutes later, Sampdoria confirmed his arrival for the season, saying: "President Massimo Ferrero and Sampdoria announce that they have acquired Mohamed Ihattaren from Juventus FC on a temporary basis."

Who is Ihattaren?

The midfielder joined PSV's youth academy in 2010 and rose through the ranks to make his senior debut before his 17th birthday. He soon became a first-team regular in Eindhoven but went through a rough spell earlier this year when he fell out with coach Roger Schmidt. 

Ihattaren ended the campaign with 22 Eredivisie appearances after being dropped from the squad and then suffering an injury, while he has not featured for PSV this season.

"Mohamed has gone through ups and downs in the last few years," said PSV director John de Jong. "As a young prospect, his career got off to a bright start but it has taken a turn and he has not fulfilled his potential for various reasons.

"It is a great pity, in particular for Mohamed himself. We are happy for Mohamed that he has made a move to Italy and hope he will live up to his potential."

Further reading

Chelsea's hopes of a late transfer window signing have been rocked by the news surrounding both Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez and Sevilla's Jules Kounde.

Having set out the terms for Saul, Chelsea have gone quiet on Atleti's demands to add in a £34 million (€40m) obligation to buy the 26-year-old.

Meanwhile, in a press conference in Seville, club director Monchi confirmed Chelsea missed an important deadline and must now pay the €80m (£68m) release clause for Kounde.

What did Monchi say?

"Kounde can leave before midnight if anybody pays his clause, then we can do nothing. He has the same chance to leave as all his teammates," Monchi said.

"The only offer from Chelsea for Kounde was last Wednesday at around 5pm for an amount we didn't like. It was linked to Chelsea selling a player. It was a decent fee but it didn't meet our criteria.

"We responded with a counter-offer which had a deadline of Friday, to allow us to be able to sign a replacement. They did not respond to that counter-offer before Friday. Kounde's clause never went up to €90m. It has always been €80m.

"We all decided that it was best Jules didn't travel to Elche. It's normal for players to be affected by news of any kind. Last year he had the interest from City and now Chelsea this year."

Will Chelsea sign anyone?

The transfer window shuts at 11pm in the United Kingdom, leaving Chelsea with little time to seek alternative options.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been told that he is staying and Ethan Ampadu could also remain at the club to add depth to Thomas Tuchel's side.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has had a concrete offer from Borussia Dortmund over a loan move. Even though Hudson-Odoi has been an unused substitute in Chelsea's first three league games, his move looks set to be blocked.

Elsewhere, Chelsea will try to offload Malang Sarr, Ross Barkley and Lewis Baker on loan. Eintracht Frankfurt are known to have contacted Sarr over a possible move.

Chelsea youngster Thierno Ballo has completed a medical ahead of a season-long loan move to Rapid Vienna in his native Austria. Tino Anjorin will move on loan to Lokomotiv Moscow, after Chelsea accepted a bid that includes a £17m option to buy.

These lack of deals would leave Chelsea making a net profit of around £35m after this transfer window, having only signed Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Bettinelli.

Further reading

East Bengal might have left it too late in the transfer market, with the club being among the last of the Indian Super League (ISL) teams to be active in the window. But with the transfer window closing on August 31, the Red and Golds have managed to rope in several local Indian players, some on permanent deals and some on loans.

The Red and Golds' delayed entry into the transfer market was due to the final agreement deadlock between investor Shree Cement and the club officials. The issue was resolved temporarily after the intervention of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who mediated between the two parties and helped them find a solution that would see the Kolkata club participate in the eighth season of the ISL.

It has to be noted though, it isn't necessary for a club to sign players within the transfer window as free players can be signed after the deadline day. Only players for whom a transfer fee needs to be paid or are to be loaned are needed to be signed before the transfer deadline day ends.

Players retained from last season

Four Indian players who had an existing contract with the club from last season are Mohammed Rafique, Bikash Jairu, Wahengbam Angousana and Loken Meitei. All the four players will be plying their trade with East Bengal once again in the upcoming 2021/22 season.

Players who will re-sign for East Bengal

Goal can confirm that so far three players namely Raju Gaikwad, Ankit Mukherjee and Sourav Das, who played for the club last season will once again re-sign a fresh contract with East Bengal and play for them in the upcoming 2021/22 season. All the three players joined the club during the January window last season on one-year deals.

New recruits at East Bengal

East Bengal have managed to secure the signings of 10 new Indian players so far for the upcoming 2021/22 season. 

Manuel Neuer believes Germany must follow Italy's example as they look to challenge for international trophies again.

Germany have disappointed in their last two appearances in major competitions, crashing out of the group stage at the 2018 World Cup and then being knocked out at the last 16 stage at Euro 2020 this year.

After coach Joachim Low's departure this summer, Germany will begin a new era under new coach Hansi Flick this week when they resume their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

What has been said?

Germany captain Neuer believes his side should learn from Euro 2020 winners Italy when it comes to plotting a way forward.  

"Italy were a unit. You could see how active they were, how they communicated, with what joy they played," he said at a press conference. "Italy is a good example to follow. We have to do the same thing as them.

"When I look at our team I know how much potential we have, even if we haven’t reached that level in the last few tournaments. We need to bring everything we need onto the pitch."

What has changed for Germany?

Flick, who spent eight years as Low's assistant coach at Germany, left Bayern Munich to take charge of the national team this summer.

He has called David Raum, Nico Schlotterbeck and Karim Adeyemi up to the senior side for the first time, while Marco Reus, Mahmoud Dahoud, Thilo Kehrer, Florian Wirtz and Ridle Baku have also been brought back into the squad after missing the European Championship.  

"It’s a new start with new faces," Neuer said. "We’re in a situation where we have to make up lost ground. We have high targets, especially in respect of the World Cup. We want to qualify first of all, and make a good start with the new coaching staff.

"We want to win three games and we’re all very motivated. We want to use this time to communicate with one another and get to know the new players. I want to become world champions with this team, even if it won’t be an easy process.

"I can imagine that Hansi Flick will want to play the style of football that he had so much success with at Bayern. I think it will be important to be active with and without the ball, and put our opponents under pressure from early on. That said, we’ll see more details in the next few days."

What next for Germany?

Die Mannschaft have six points from their first three matches in World Cup qualifying, leaving them three behind the leaders of their group, Armenia.

Flick's first game in charge will be away to Liechtenstein on Thursday before facing Armenia three days later. They will then round up the international period with an away game against Iceland.

Further reading

Swansea want to sign Rhys Williams on a season-long loan from Liverpool, butthe deal may hinge on whether any deadline-day offers arrive for fellow Reds defender Nat Phillips.

Liverpool believe Williams, 20, would benefit from a year in the Championship, but are yet to give the green light for the centre-back to complete his switch to South Wales.

As things stand, Swansea have made a formal offer to loan Williams for the season and the player is willing to make the move, but Liverpool also have Phillips on their books and are aware of growing interest in the 24-year-old from clubs at home and abroad.

What’s the situation?

Reds sources have insisted all summer that Phillips would not be loaned, but it appears that stance may have changed, with developments anticipated before tonight’s deadline.

Goal understands Phillips is eager to move, knowing first-team opportunities will be limited at Liverpool this season, but the Reds’ £12million ($16.5m) asking price has so far proven prohibitive.

Premier League clubs, including Brighton, Burnley and Newcastle, expressed interest earlier in the summer, while Leicester considered a bid before eventually signing Jannik Vestergaard from Southampton.

There have also been enquiries from clubs in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, with Phillips having bolstered his reputation when helping Liverpool qualify for the Champions League last season, despite one of the worst injury crises in recent memory.

Developments are expected in the coming hours, with the futures of Williams and Phillips, who played together for chunks of last season, seemingly tied together.

Any other business?

Young midfielder Jake Cain, 20, is set to join League Two outfit Newport County on loan for the season, and will possibly be followed out by both Luis Longstaff and Elijah Dixon-Bonner. Tony Gallacher, too, may leave the club on a permanent basis.

There have, as things stand, been no developments with either Sheyi Ojo or Loris Karius, both of who have been expecting to leave all summer.

Ojo has been playing with the Reds’ U23 side, while Karius is into the final year of his contract and hasn’t featured since the 2018 Champions League final.

It looks unlikely that there will be any incomings before this evening, with Liverpool set to end the window having added only Ibrahima Konate to their senior squad. Captain Jordan Henderson, meanwhile, has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2025.

Further reading 

As the Indian national team prepare for the 2021 SAFF Championship in the Maldives that will be held in October, 2021, and eventually the third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers from February, 2022, the Blue Tigers are set to take on Nepal in a couple of friendlies.

"We have set our target for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and the journey resumes from Nepal once again," reiterated India head coach Igor Stimac.

"Just to get an opportunity to play a friendly game is really fortunate for us, thanks to the Nepal government and the Nepal FA. They are a very tough side, especially when they play against us," Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri commented from Nepal.

In fact, the friendlies will serve as preparation for the Gorkhalis as well, as the two countries will be at loggerheads in the group stage of the SAFF Cup that also includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Here's how to watch the Nepal vs India international friendlies from India.

Contents

When are the Nepal vs India international friendlies?

The Indian national team are all set to play two international friendly matches against neighbours Nepal on September 2 and 5 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.

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How to watch Nepal vs India international friendlies on TV & live stream in India?

Unfortunately, the Nepal vs India internstional friendlies will not be telecasted in India as there are no official broadcasters. However, online streaming will be available on The Indian Football Team official Facebook page.

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Nepal vs India: Squads, team news & key statistics

Nepal �³�µ

Nepal's head coach Abdullah Almutairi has named 25 players for the two games against India. He has included four goalkeepers in the squad including Kiran Limbu who is a familiar face in the Indian domestic circuit.

The 29-year old Rohit Chand has played in India for HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) in 2012. He currently plies his trade in Persija Jakarta. 

However, Almutairi has chosen to exclude Arpan Karki and forwards Sishir Lekhi and Abhishek Rijal. Rijal is another player who has played in India for Mohammedan Sporting and Aizawl FC respectively. 

The 25-man Nepal squad:

Goalkeepers: Kiran Kumar Limbu, Deep Karki, Bishal Shrestha, Bikesh Kuthu 

Defenders: Ananta Tamang, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Gautam Shrestha,  Rohit Chand,  Suman Aryal, Rajan Gurung, Kamal Thapa

Midfielders: Ayush Ghalan, Bishal Rai, Nitin Thapa, Pujan Uperkoti, Santosh Tamang, Sujal Shrestha, Sunil Bal, Suraj Jeu Thakuri, Tej Tamang

Forwards: Aashish Lama, Anjan Bista, Manish Dangi, Nawayug Shrestha, Suman Lama
 

India �®�³

As part of India's camp in Kolkata, the Blue Tigers took on IFA XI in an exhibition game which they won 1-0 with Akash Mishra on target on August 16. India played another exhibition match against Mohammedan Sporting which they won 2-0 with Ishan Pandita and Farukh Choudhary finding the back of the net.

Among the 25-man India squad for the Nepal friendlies, Seriton Fernandes and Rahim Ali after their maiden call-ups to the national team camp. Meanwhile, Ishan Pandita - who part of squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup joint qualification games in Qatar in June - has been left out in favour of Farukh Choudhary.

The 25-man India squad:

Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Mandar Rao Dessai, Akash Mishra, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Seriton Fernandes

Midfielders: Lalengmawia, Bipin Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Yasir Mohammad, Glan Martins, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Jeakson Singh, Pronay Halder

Forwards: Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary

Key stats:

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Vinit Rai is set to join ATK Mohun Bagan from Odisha FC, Goal can confirm. 

The midfielder hails from the northeastern state of Assam and honed his skills at the Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur from the age of 13. He trained there for four years before signing his first professional contract with I-League side Dempo SC. 

He went on to make his I-League debut against East Bengal in the 2014-15 season as the youngest member of the squad under the guidance of then head coach Arthur Papas. He came on as a substitute for Jewel Raja in the 81st minute of the match. 

In 2016, Rai signed with ISL side Kerala Blasters and started plying his trade in the Indian Super League (ISL). He made his debut for Blasters on October 1 against NorthEast United. 

He then went to play for Minerva Punjab in the 2016 I-League season on loan from Blasters. 

In 2017, he was signed by Delhi Dynamos FC. He had a brilliant ISL season and was a vital cog in midfield for the Lions. He played 13 matches and clocked 1150 minutes. With each passing season, he began to grow in stature, and in the previous campaign for Odisha FC he played 16 matches getting 1354 minutes under his belt. He had a passing accuracy of 67.95 per cent and averaged 35.5 passes a game. 

With the departure of Pronay Halder from Bagan, the management was looking for a midfielder and Rai fits the billing. However, he will face stiff competition from Deepak Tangri who has already made his debut for the Mariners in the AFC Cup. 

Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau has hit back at his critics and revealed European clubs tried to lure him away from Brighton & Hove Albion but he opted for Al Ahly where he saw first-team opportunities.

The attacker joined the reigning African champions last Thursday from Brighton where he struggled for game time.

Having previously played in the Uefa Champions League while on loan at Club Brugge, as well as another loan-stint at Belgian giants Anderlecht, Tau’s wisdom in returning to Africa was questioned.

But the player has defended his decision, saying joining Al Ahly enhanced his chances of playing.

“The move made more sense to me than staying in Europe,” said Tau as per Sowetan Live.

“Of course, there were offers in Europe, but when I considered them and my age and all the other factors that I didn’t disclose to you guys [media], it made more sense for me to move there [Egypt].

“In most of the decisions... I consider how I feel. Why do I do that because I know I always have the support of South Africans. And I know South Africa is a footballing nation, so what’s the point of me sitting on [the bench] and not playing?

“Everyone wants to see me playing. I want to see myself playing. My family wants to see me play.  And of course, people will always have opinions. We are a big country and you can’t close that window.”

At Al Ahly, Tau has been reunited with coach Pitso Mosimane whom he previously worked with at Mamelodi Sundowns.

The player feels the situation he found himself in, to decide his next move, was not something new to him.

“But people will always have opinions on such moves and I’ve had such moves before. I went from Witbank Spurs to Mamelodi Sundowns academy when I was 17 years old. I went back to Spurs again on loan,” Tau said.

“I went to Brighton and there will still be some uncertainty regarding that move. I went to Union SG on loan. So, it is part of my career to move around and someone thinks if I stay here I was going to be okay.  

“But you don’t know what I feel at that moment, what I’m going through, you are only at home sitting and I’m going through something that I feel like it would be better for me to move.”

The player is currently in the Bafana Bafana camp preparing for the upcoming 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana.

He has been appointed as Bafana vice-captain and will be deputising SuperSport United goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. 

Arsenal are in talks to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna, Goal understands.

The Gunners hope to strengthen at right-back before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

Tomiyasu's natural position is centre-back, but he has featured more prominently on the right since joining Bologna in 2019.

Will Arsenal sign him?

Negotiations are underway for the 22-year-old, but the move depends on other players leaving the north London side.

Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin could be on his way out as he is in talks with Real Betis over a loan move. Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta already has Cedric Soares, Calum Chambers and Ainsley Maitland-Niles available to play in that position.

Maitland-Niles has been linked with a move to Everton and pleaded with Arsenal to let him go in an Instagram post.

Who else is interested?

Tomiyasu has also been linked with Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham in the current transfer window, but Spurs have since turned their attention to Barcelona full-back Emerson Royal and are set to sign him for £26 million ($35m).

How has Tomiyasu performed?

The Japan international moved to Bologna from Belgian side Sint-Truiden in 2019. He has since made 64 appearances for the Italian club in all competitions and scored two goals in Serie A last season.

Tomiyasu featured at the 2020 Olympics with Japan, playing in the 4-0 win against France as well as the 2-0 loss to Mexico in the bronze medal match. He has 23 senior appearances for Japan to his name.

Further reading

Fred continues to face questions of his presence in Manchester United's engine room, but Mikael Silvestre claims the Brazil international midfielder "brings more to this team than people realise".

Speculation regarding signing to fill the holding role at Old Trafford refuses to go away, with West Ham star Declan Rice a long-standing target.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has however been showing considerable faith in Fred, despite the 28-year-old struggling at times, and Silvestre believes the South American will remain an important part of plans.

What has been said?

The former United defender, speaking in association with NetBet, told Goal: "I think he [Solskjaer] trusts Fred enough to do that job, he brings a lot of energy to the midfield and a lot of the work he does goes unnoticed.

"He constantly recovers the ball for the team, sometimes he isn’t great going forward, but he brings more to this team than people realise. Ole must feel he is a good enough part of this team and I’d agree in terms of the way he plays because you need players like that in your squad to win trophies."

Fred has played all but 14 minutes of United's three Premier League games this season, helping them to seven points and third place.

Who else is under pressure?

While Fred has retained his spot in the United side, others have not been so fortunate. French forward Anthony Martial was generating exit talk before United put a stunning deal in place that will return five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester.

The Portuguese is expected to operate as a central striker, with Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood also vying for that role, but Silvestre says there is no guarantee that Martial will be moved on before the summer transfer window closes.

He added on Martial, who scored only seven goals last season: "Anthony has been at the club for a while and he knows what it takes to play for the club. He knows what the expectations are from the manager and from the supporters.

"It's normal to be under pressure for your position when you have a lot of competition, but I think he's the type of character where this will boost him in a good way.

"Hopefully he can get back to his best and get back some of that consistency because that has always been the question mark with him. He's got to respond in the best way otherwise his place will be in danger."

United will, with Ronaldo back in their ranks, return to action after the international break against Newcastle on September 11.

Further reading

Nigeria international Abraham Marcus has sealed a one-year loan move to Portimonense SC from Remo Stars FC.

The 21-year-old has been negotiating with the Portuguese side and a loan deal was reached with an option to buy after it expires. The club confirmed the arrival of the West African who was introduced to the media on Monday evening.

"Abraham Marcus is the new addition to the first team of Portimonense Futebol SAD for 2021/2022, having signed a one-season contract on loan from Remo Stars Football Club, with an option to buy at the end of it," the club confirmed on their official portal.  

"With regard to expectations for this new phase of his career, Marcus hopes to 'help the team win many games', also referring that the club has all the necessary conditions to do so."

The versatile forward managed to play 28 matches for second-tier side Remo Stars and could not hide his joy after joining the team.

"It is a great opportunity, I am happy to be here and to be able to play for Portimonense. I'm looking forward to joining the squad and helping my colleagues.

"I watched a few games and was able to see the qualities of the team."

The attacker made his debut for the Super Eagles in the 1-0 international friendly loss to Cameroon on June 4, 2021. He has not been included in Gernot Rohr's 30-man provisional squad for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Liberia and Cape Verde.

Nigeria squad

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); William Troost-Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Samuel Kalu (FC Bordeaux, France); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium)

Seven Others: Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Henry Onyekuru (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Innocent Bonke (Malmo FF, Sweden); Valentine Ozornwafor (Sporting Charleroi, Belgium); Tyronne Ebuehi (Venezia FC, Italy); Kingsley Michael (Bologna FC, Italy).

With Jack Grealish costing a British record £100 million ($138m) when joining Manchester City in the current transfer window, Tottenham forward Son Heung-min is now worth at least £125m ($173m), says Chris Waddle.

Big-money deals have been completed and speculated on this summer, with Harry Kane expected to generate an eye-watering fee before eventually seeing the exits blocked at Spurs.

His club colleague, South Korea international Son, is yet to attract that kind of interest but Waddle believes it is only a matter of time before the 29-year-old's true value - on and off the field - is recognised by the European elite.

What has been said?

Ex-Tottenham winger Waddle, who spoke to Goal via SpaceCasino, said of Son: "It's the catchment he gets as well with the South Korean public. Tottenham get a lot coming to the games every week. He's a hero in that country. 

"You look at players - I like Jack Grealish, he's a talented footballer, but for £100m, what is Son worth? He scores more, more assists. You would have the same predicament with Daniel Levy saying 'I want £125m for Son', and why not? 

"Jack Grealish has set the bar now for a lot of clubs to think 'my player is as good as Jack Grealish, so if you want to come knocking on my door then I want this for them'. It will go over £100m again. 

"If Grealish had a clause written into his contract that he can leave for £60-70m, that happens and Kane would probably have gone for £100m. Because Jack Grealish was £100m, Son is worth £125m and Kane is £150m. Man City have shot themselves in the foot really by paying £100m for Jack Grealish."

Why hasn't Son attracted interest?

Son has scored 109 goals in 284 appearances, breaking the 20-goal barrier in three seasons, and has 39 Premier League assists to his name.

Waddle is surprised the big boys in England and Spain have not been testing Tottenham's resolve, with a new long-term contract signed in July set to keep him in his current surroundings until 2025.

"He's an unselfish player, works hard, great attitude, always smiling, enjoys the game, and he scores goals, and creates goals," Waddle, who made 173 appearances for Spurs between 1985 and 1989, said.

"He must be a nightmare to play against. He comes at you again and again, he's always looking forward and looking positive. He has always got good energy. He is a top-class player. 

"When I read about all these clubs trying to sign certain players, he never gets mentioned. It's like 'he's a Tottenham player'. I'm surprised that your Real Madrid, Man City, Man United over the last 18 months to two years haven't knocked on the door and said 'we're going to make an offer for Son'. 

"He is proven in the Premier League - he scores, he assists, works hard, fits into the shape of a team, can play in the middle and the wing, can play as a 10. He's a top-class striker."

Son has scored two goals in four appearances across all competitions this season with Spurs looking for inspiration as Kane's future was called into question, and has helped Nuno's side to the top of the Premier League table as the only team still boasting a 100 per cent record.

18+, begambleaware.org

Further reading

Real Madrid have been left seething at Paris Saint-Germain over the way they handled negotiations for Kylian Mbappe, Goal can reveal.

The Spanish side made two bids for the France star in August, one for around €160 million (£137m/$188m) and the latest worth €170m (£146m/$200m) plus €10m (£9m/$12m) in add-ons.

Madrid then issued the Ligue 1 team with an ultimatum, insisting they would withdraw their offer if they did not receive a response by 6pm on Monday.

Why are Madrid upset?

Madrid feel PSG had twice offered them false hope regarding their offers for the World Cup winner.

Madrid and Mbappe had been given the idea that the club would be willing to sell if they could recoup the investment they made on the striker when they signed him from Monaco.

Yet when Madrid offered to do so, PSG simply ignored them instead of saying whether they would accept or reject it. The best they got was sporting director Leonardo dismissing talk of a transfer in the media.

The official silence prompted the Santiago Bernabeu side to issue the ultimatum and they walked away when the deadline passed.

Is the deal dead?

No one involved in the negotiations can completely rule out the possibility of a deal going through before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

As Mbappe will be free to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, PSG could call to negotiate on Tuesday. Madrid, meanwhile, could make one last attempt to bring PSG back to the table.

What happens next?

If Madrid are unable to push a deal through ahead of the close of the window, they will wait until next summer. They are confident they can snap Mbappe up on a free transfer in 2022.

Further reading

SV Zulte Waregem have confirmed the signing of midfielder Frank Boya from Royal Antwerp on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

The Belgian club has announced on their official website the arrival of the 25-year-old Cameroon international on a loan deal but with a purchase option to make the deal permanent.

“SV Zulte Waregem have reached an agreement with Royal Antwerp about Frank Boya,” the club said in a statement. “The Cameroonian midfielder is rented until the end of the season with a purchase option. At the end of the transfer window, Essevee wins his ninth transfer.

“Frank Boya made the switch from Mouscron to Royal Antwerp last summer. At The Great Old, the 25-year-old midfielder played 19 games last season, five of which were in the Europa League.”

Speaking after sealing the move, Boys said: “Zulte Waregem is a great club where I can once again find stability and pleasure in football. I'll be in a group where I know some players well and I'm really looking forward to playing for Essevee.”

On signing Boya, Waregem manager Eddy Cordier said: “With the one-meter 90 tall Frank [Boya], we welcome a physical player for the defensive compartment. We are convinced that Frank, with his experience in the Belgian competition, can develop further and we look forward to a positive collaboration.”

Antwerp also issued a statement confirming the exit of Boya: “Royal Antwerp and SV Zulte Waregem reached an agreement about Frank Boya.

“The Cameroonian midfielder is rented until the end of the season with a purchase option. Good luck Frank!”

Boya has played for APEJES Academy and during the winter break of the 2016-17 season he transferred to German II Bundesliga club 1860 Munich and in 2017, he joined Belgian club Mouscron.

In June 2020 he signed for Antwerp and on August 31, 2021, Boya was signed on loan by SV Zulte Waregem.

He made his international debut for the Indomitable Lions in 2016 and was named in the squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Waregem are currently sitting in position 10 of the Belgian Pro League eight points from six matches and have won two, drawn two, and lost two.

Standard Liege have confirmed a loan move, for the Democratic Republic of Congo midfielder Glody Likonza.

The attacking midfielder has been playing for Tout Puissant Mazembe, and after impressing during the trials, the Belgian outfit has opted to sign him on loan but with an option to buy him. The latter have confirmed the latest development for the Congolese.

"Standard Liege, TP Mazembe and Glody Likonza have reached an agreement," the club revealed through their official website.

"The 23-year-old Congolese midfielder will be loaned to the Rouches this season [with an option to buy]. Glody arrived for trials just under a month ago after a long period of unavailability due to a ruptured knee cruciate ligament.

"He has joined the club on loan this season with the main aim being getting back in top shape step by step. We hope he will be back to his former best form as seen during the Caf Champions League with his team.

"Our club warmly welcomes Glody Likonza and wishes him the best in our colours."

TP Mazembe signed the player from Katumbi on July 1, 2017. Since then he has played 22 Champions League matches, assisting four goals in the process from his position.

He made his debut for the national team on September 18, 2019, in a 3-2 international friendly loss over Eastern African side Rwanda. The Leopards scored their goals through Moustafa Ava Dongo and Joel Baya while Amavubi got their goals through Thierry Manzi, Ernest Sugira, and Eric Nsabimana.

The midfielder will be aiming at helping the Rouches get to the top of the Jupiler Pro League. They have currently played six matches and collected 10 points after three wins, a draw, and two losses.

They started their campaign with a 1-1 draw at home against Genk. The next match was a 2-1 win away to Waregem before falling 5-2 against Antwerp. The Rouches went on to defeat Beerschot VA and Oostende respectively by a solitary goal.

Their last assignment was against St Gilloise where they collected a massive 4-0 win. 

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has ended speculation over his future by signing a new four-year contract. 

The midfielder becomes the latest member of Jurgen Klopp's squad to commit his long-term future to the Reds, following in the footsteps of team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Andy Robertson.

Henderson arrived at Anfield from Sunderland in 2011, and his new deal will keep him on Merseyside until the summer of 2025.

An end to the uncertainty

Henderson's current deal was due to expire at the end of next season, and initial discussions over an extension had proven fruitless with the England international unimpressed by the terms offered.

This led to reports that he could leave Liverpool this summer, with Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain said to be monitoring the situation. Bizarrely, Henderson was also linked with a move to Arsenal at one point.

Goal understands Liverpool always expected a resolution to be found, and negotiations accelerated once Henderson returned from his summer break following the European Championships.

Despite his age, he is still viewed as someone who will play a big role under Klopp in the coming years and his off-field influence remains integral.

What has Henderson said?

Speaking to the club website after signing his new deal, Henderson said: “I’m obviously very honoured and proud to continue the journey I’ve already been on here. It’s amazing to finally get it done and just concentrate on looking forward and what the future may hold.

“I’m in a different place of course, as a player and as a person, from when I first walked in. I’ve learned and grown a lot over my time here, and I’ve got to thank a lot of people for that.

“I’ve loved every minute of it, even when I look back at the tough times, I was still enjoying being a part of this football club. The longer I can do that, the better for me really. I want to be here as long as possible, I’ve always said that.

“To continue this journey is incredible for me and my family, and I hope the fans and the club feel the same way.”

Whose deal will be next?

The Reds are currently negotiating with star forward Mohamed Salah over a new deal, with the Egyptian having entered the final two years of his current contract.

Sources say initial discussions have been ‘positive’, and there is optimism that Salah will, like Henderson, commit his future until 2025 with a deal that would make him the highest-paid player in Liverpool history.

Fellow forwards Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are also in the final two years of their respective deals, as are midfielders Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita. As yet, however, there has been no word of any extensions for those players.

Further reading

Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has written a funny post for London fans after Willian left Arsenal on Monday.

The 33-year-old Brazilian winger agreed to terminate the remaining two years of his contract and instead, sealed a transfer to Corinthians.

But despite, Willian leaving the Gunners, Drogba took to his Twitter handle to welcome the player back to Chelsea.

Willian confirmed his departure by stating: "Thank you Arsenal.”

Drogba, who played at Stamford Bridge alongside Willian, replied: "Oh Willyyyyyyyyyyyyyy haaaaaaaannnnnnnnnn Come back home.”

Drogba recently took to his social media pages to praise Chelsea after they beat Arsenal 2-0 in a Premier League match.

He commended the outcome of the game after first-half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Reece James were enough to seal maximum points for Chelsea and condemn Arsenal to their second straight defeat of the season.

"Arsenal vs Chelsea same old story. My team strong, real strong Chelsea," Drogba tweeted with a laughing emoji.

Meanwhile, Willian, who made 38 appearances for the Emirates club during the 2020-21 campaign, has expressed his regret that things did not work out for him at Arsenal.

"I would like to thank Arsenal for the opportunity they have given to me and for the warm welcome received by everybody at the club," he said.

"Unfortunately things on the pitch didn't go the way we had all planned and hoped. I received a lot of criticism, especially from some members of the press, that I had come here for financial reasons. I hope with my actions today explain to those people and they now understand that was not the case.

"I hope it teaches some people that they should not be so quick to pass judgement or create bad environments to make themselves important, even though I accept that's part of the game.

"All my career I have done everything to be the best I can be. I always want to win and I find it hard to accept not doing so. Unfortunately, it didn't happen for me at Arsenal and I am sorry about that.

"I came to England in 2013 and I have enjoyed every minute of my time here. I want to thank everyone who had helped me along the way to play in this wonderful league that is full of heart and spirit."