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Jesse Lingard managed to collect jerseys of both Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford after FC Seoul's pre-season friendly against Barcelona on Thursday. Yamal scored a brace, while Rashford contributed with an assist as the Blaugrana thrashed the South Korean side 7-3 in the penultimate match of their pre-season Asia tour.

• Lingard collected Yamal and Rashford's shirts
• Caught up with ex-Man Utd team-mate Rashford
• Barcelona thrashed FC Seoul 7-3

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lingard showed off his prized possessions on Instagram story as he managed to snag the jerseys of both Barcelona sensation Yamal and his former Manchester United team-mate Rashford after the pre-season friendly on Thursday. 

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lingard also caught up with Rashford after the match and shared the image of their reunion on an Instagram post. Another ex-United star, Paul Pogba, left an emotional comment under the photograph, while Nemanja Matic left a cheeky comment. 

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Since completing his loan move to Barcelona earlier this summer, Rashford has appeared in both of Barcelona's friendlies and has displayed early promise. The Red Devils outcast will hope to revive his career under Hansi Flick in the 2025-26 campaign, after a nightmare at Old Trafford.

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  The Spanish champions will be back in action on Monday as they play their final friendly of the Asia tour against Daegu.

A third club have thrown their hat into the ring for Genoa star Radu Dragusin as they make a Tuesday attempt alongside Tottenham and Bayern.

Spurs battling Bayern for Dragusin

This morning, reports from reliable media sources like transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano suggested that Spurs were firmly in the driving seat to sign the centre-back.

Levy readying move for "quality" midfielder, Spurs think he'll be a star

He’s got bags of real potential.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jan 9, 2024

Dragusin has already agreed personal terms with Spurs, and Romano broke news today that Genoa were prepared to accept their official bid for the 21-year-old.

The proposal stands at a £21.5 million fixed fee, plus an extra £4 million in add-ons and right-back Djed Spence going the other way on loan.

Bayern Munich were thought to be threatening a hijack attempt this week, but Romano's news may have eased the worries of some Spurs supporters for a time.

However, late on Tuesday evening, the Bundesliga giants came back into the fold, with Bayern making a late Dragusin bid of their own which apparently matches Tottenham's offer (Fabrizio Romano).

It is apparently now down to the Romanian over where he goes next, and while Spurs have already agreed terms, the pull of a major club like Harry Kane's new side represents a big threat.

Indeed, given Bayern are now trying to snatch Tottenham's top target to reinforce manager Ange Postecoglou's defence, this will come as a real concern for the Australian.

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been unavailable for large periods since early November, forcing Postecoglou to deploy a makeshift central defensive pairing of Emerson Royal and Ben Davies on more than one occasion.

It could be a crucial next 24 hours for Spurs, and whether they will finally land a much-needed centre-back alternative.

Di Marzio shares yet another Dragusin transfer twist

After this Bayern development, Sky journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has shared an update of his own on the saga, and it concerns a third competitor for Dragusin's signature.

On top of Thomas Tuchel's side, it is believed Napoli have been making bids to hijack Tottenham's move for Dragusin as well.

"The match for #Dragusin reopens: Genoa has also received the official offer from Bayern. Now the player decides: Napoli also tried again earlier in the day. Decisive hours," wrote Di Marzio on X.

On his website, the reporter claims Napoli raised their offer to sign Dragusin "several times" on Tuesday, but it appears he's determined to move abroad for now.

Di Marzio says Tottenham have reached an agreement for him, but Bayern's offer is actually higher, meaning the race is now open and the player himself must decide soon.

It will be very interesting to see if the pull of the Premier League gifts Spurs an advantage over one of Europe's most prestigious sides.

If not, they may have to turn to alternative Spurs targets, with Postecoglou thought to be keen on Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

With 11 days remaining in the January transfer window, West Ham United are yet to welcome a single reinforcement. And whilst they're far from in a position to panic, competing for a place in the Premier League's top six, they could yet solve some of the remaining issues in David Moyes' squad.

West Ham transfer news

Even amid a quiet window, the Hammers have been linked with a number of names, from Celtic's Matt O'Riley to out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips in two deals that would undoubtedly hand Moyes a major boost for the remainder of the campaign. Moyes recently spoke about the potential of fresh faces this month, saying:

“We said right at the start that we wanted some outs before we had people coming in.

“Our budget isn't huge in this window. There's lots of reasons why there's probably not a lot of signings going on. We probably need to sell to get some other players in. If that’s the case then we’re probably in a selling mood, rather than a loaning mood.”

Despite that budget concern, however, a fresh report has suggested that the London club are ready to spend big. According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon of The Sun, West Ham are 'ready to smash their transfer record' to sign Victor Boniface this month, with technical director Tim Steidten reportedly pushing for the move. The Hammers' current transfer record stands at a reported €50m (£43m) for Sebastien Haller back in 2019, but it seems as though they are prepared to go above that to welcome Boniface.

The Bayer Leverkusen forward has been part of an unbeaten side under Xabi Alonso this season and could be a major coup if West Ham managed to secure a deal before the end of the month.

"Complete" Boniface could be West Ham's best striker

Boniface's stats instantly suggest that he'd immediately become West Ham's best striker and would be a major upgrade on both Danny Ings and Michail Antonio. Though he wouldn't come cheap, if Moyes' side are to shock the rest of England's first tier by challenging for a place in the top six, then proving that ambition by signing the Leverkusen man could be the key. Here's how Boniface has compared to Ings and Antonio so far this season.

That said, it's no surprise that Leverkusen manager Alonso has been so full of praise for his forward this season, saying via the club's official website:

"Victor is not only a good striker, he is a complete player. And you can see on and off the pitch then he gets on very well with his teammates."

West Ham will now hope to be the ones benefitting from that "complete" ability that Boniface has when leading the line. It would certainly be a statement deal if those at the London Stadium managed to pull it off in the next 11 days.

The duo shared an unbeaten 212-run stand at Adelaide Oval after the defending champions slumped to 58 for 3

AAP04-Oct-2025Centuries to Henry Hunt and Jake Lehmann have defending champions South Australia early control of their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at Adelaide Oval.Victoria captain Peter Handscomb’s decision to bowl looked the right call when Mitchell Perry took his third wicket in the morning session, leaving the home side in trouble at 58 for 3.That brought together Hunt and Lehmann, who steadily took the game away from Victoria and at stumps SA were 270 for 3. Hunt carried his bat through the day and scored a grinding 121 from 300 balls, with 10 fours and one six. Lehmann’s 107 from 180 balls, featuring only seven fours on a slow outfield, was his fourth century in as many Shield games going back to last season.Victoria could have had South Australia in even bigger early trouble. Hunt had reached 33 and the score was 114 when he drove at a wide delivery from pacer David Moody and edged straight to Blake Macdonald at first slip. But the chance was grassed and it proved costly for Victoria.It was the slowest of Hunt’s 11 Shield centuries and he said Lehmann’s innings had been pivotal.”The momentum shifted when he came out – his presence at the crease, to put some pressure back on [Victoria],” Hunt said. “To be 270 for 3, that’s almost a perfect day for us.”Perry finished with 3 for 61 from 20 overs while Test quick Scott Boland went wicketless from 18 overs and Fergus O’Neill also failed to a scalp from his 21 overs.

Brighton and Hove Albion have been dealt a blow after learning that another one of their stars is facing a spell on the sidelines alongside Kaoru Mitoma.

Mitoma injury news

During the Premier League 1-1 draw vs Crystal Palace last week, Mitoma was forced off the pitch during the later stages of the game with an ankle injury and there was cause for concern among supporters because he was later pictured leaving the stadium on crutches.

The Seagulls forward is since confirmed to have been ruled out of competitive action for at least the next month, but in an unfortunate update for everyone associated with the club, he’s not the only senior squad member who will have to wait a while before making his next appearance.

Brighton's "high quality" player could be facing spell on the sidelines

The Seagulls have received some worrying news regarding the fitness of one of their regular features.

By
Chloe Chadwick

Dec 19, 2023

Last season, Simon Adingra spent the full term out on loan at Union SG, but having returned to his parent club on the south coast over the summer, the left-winger has firmly established himself as a regular feature of the first-team line-up under Roberto De Zerbi in the top-flight.

The Ivory Coast international has made 13 starts and four additional substitute outings so far this league campaign (WhoScored – Adingra statistics), highlighting how much the manager values him and all of the positive qualities that he can bring to the side, but the 21-year-old won’t be available for selection for the foreseeable future.

Adingra injury update

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday's encounter vs Tottenham Hotspur, De Zerbi revealed that Adingra will be absent for four weeks, the same as Mitoma, while delivering an update on the rest of his injured players.

As quoted by Brighton’s official website, it was stated: “Roberto De Zerbi confirmed at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday that Kaoru Mitoma (ankle) and Simon Adingra (hamstring) will both be out for at least four weeks.

"Some good news is that Pervis Estupinan is fit after nearly three months on the sidelines. Joel Veltman, Tariq Lamptey, Adam Webster, Solly March, Julio Enciso and Ansu Fati remain sidelined by injury.”

Adingra is an "outstanding" forward

Across all competitions this season, Adingra has posted eight contributions, five goals and three assists, from 23 appearances, showing the impact he can make in the final third, but he’s also comfortable playing in several other areas over the grass (Transfermarkt – Adingra stats).

The Abidjan native is a versatile operator having been deployed in six different positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even two roles in the midfield, so his ability to provide cover elsewhere makes him a useful option for the boss to have at his disposal.

With Josh Bunting having described Adingra’s directness and close control as “outstanding”, De Zerbi may feel that he has suffered a huge blow having lost the services of his forward, so the club will be hoping that he is able to stage his comeback as soon as possible.

Knight had injured her lower back during the opening overs of the first ODI of the series in Coolidge

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Sep-2019The CWI interim selection panel has replaced the injured Kycia Knight with Britney Cooper for the third and final ODI of the series against Australia, on Wednesday in Antigua.Knight had injured her lower back during the opening overs of the first ODI of the series in Coolidge, where Australia thrashed West Indies by 178 runs. Knight did not bat in the West Indies chase as a result, and did not feature in the second game. After “examining the scans” done on her, the CWI medical panel ruled Knight of the third ODI.Cooper joined the team in Antigua on Monday in preparation for the final game even as West Indies trail the series 0-2.Cooper last played an ODI in June in England but her single-digit scores in the series led to her omission from the original ODI squad against Australia. In six international innings this year – two ODIs and four T20Is – she has scored only 57 runs so far with a high score of 20.West Indies are also without their regular vice-captain Hayley Matthews, who had been withdrawn from the series just hours before the start of the opening ODI, due to disciplinary issues. The exact nature of her breach of the code of conduct is not known yet.

Kane Williamson recovers from hip injury to captain 15-man squad to play England and Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2019Lockie Ferguson is set to make his Test debut over the coming weeks, having been named in a 15-man New Zealand squad to play England and Australia.Ferguson, who finished as second leading wicket-taker at the 50-over World Cup this summer, has played 44 white-ball internationals, but a Test call-up has escaped him despite an impressive first-class record on account of New Zealand’s strong seam attack.ALSO READ: Ferguson has sights set on Test breakthroughKane Williamson returns from the hip injury that kept him out of the recent T20I series against England to captain the side. There are two changes from the squad that drew 1-1 in Sri Lanka, with Ferguson and legspinner Todd Astle replacing fingerspinners Will Somerville and Ajaz Patel.”There’s no doubt Lockie has been knocking on the door for a while now and we’re delighted to finally bring him into the Test fold,” said selector Gavin Larsen.”It’s well documented he has raw pace, but he also possesses a quality bowling skill set and has proved his durability. He showed good form against England in the recent T20 series and backed that up with a solid outing for the Auckland Aces in the Plunket Shield, where he claimed 4 for 23 against the Wellington Firebirds.”Our pace bowling stocks are strong at the moment and we feel Lockie will add another dimension to the picture, and will create some great competition.There is also a place for Matt Henry, alongside established seam trio Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, and head coach Gary Stead has suggested that his side will learn from Australia’s rotation policy during the recent Ashes series as a blueprint for selection.”It would be silly for us not to look at that,” he told . “They did rotate their bowlers and it was horses for courses a bit. Like us, they have quite a bit of difference in their attack and definitely we have to consider that.”There had been fears that Williamson’s injury would keep him out for a prolonged period, and he has played only four games since the World Cup final on July 14. But he is set to lead the side in both series, starting with the inaugural Test at Mount Maunganui on November 21.”Kane’s made good progress over the past fortnight,” said Larsen, and we’re delighted to welcome back a player of his class and experience.”New Zealand Test squad: Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (wk), Kane Williamson (c)Fixtures:vs England (home)November 21: First Test, Mount Maunganui
November 29: Second Test, Hamiltonvs Australia (away)December 12: First Test (D/N), Perth
December 26: Second Test, Melbourne
January 3: Third Test, Sydney

Leeds United have managed to put the demons of their relegation campaign swiftly to one side this season, Daniel Farke's side picking up an unbelievable ten wins in all competitions so far in 2024.

The Leeds juggernaut constructed by the German manager in the Elland Road dug-out has resulted in the West Yorkshire giants leaping up to second spot in the Championship recently, capitalising on Southampton showing visible chinks in their armour with two losses in their last three.

It's been a remarkable turnaround of fortunes for many donning the Leeds strip this campaign, none more so than one Whites attacker who found himself loaned out just last season only to come back and emerge as a key first-teamer with Farke at the helm.

What the media first said about Dan James when joining Leeds

Daniel James was arguably a controversial signing at Leeds from the get-go, with the Whites failing to land the Welshman once before in an ill-fated move before finally getting this deal over the line in the summer of 2021.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast's 'First Impressions' series has everything you need.

Moreover, with his Manchester United connections, the Whites masses were never going to be overly keen on a signing joining from their arch-rivals.

The inflated £25m price-tag above his head didn't help things either, considering James blew hot and cold at Old Trafford throughout his forgettable time with the Red Devils.

James would manage nine goals and nine assists from 74 appearances for the Manchester outfit, with his beginnings at Leeds also following a similar underwhelming trajectory.

During his first season at Elland Road, talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan would blast James' performances by labelling the Leeds number 20 as a "waste of money" – his poor first season in South Yorkshire coming to a head with a red card against Chelsea towards the back-end of the 2021/22 campaign, which resulted in Jordan's angry outburst.

The 5 foot 7 trickster would amass four goals and five assists during his first full campaign with Leeds, shipped out on loan to Fulham the season after owing to his game-time being significantly cut.

This past insecurity over his Leeds future is a far cry from the role he currently possesses in Farke's promotion-chasing side, however, now key to the Whites taking the second tier by storm.

Dan James' season so far with Leeds

The one-time Swansea City man is only two goal contributions this season with Leeds away from eclipsing his entire Red Devils total of goals and assists, accumulating ten goals and six assists from just 29 appearances to date.

Before picking up a recent injury, James was terrorising Championship defences week in, and week out, with the Welshman scoring in three Championship games on the spin in January as Leeds picked up comfortable victories over Birmingham City, Cardiff City and Preston North End.

Described as being "electric" earlier this season by football journalist Sanny Rudravajhala when Leeds beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 back in November, courtesy of a James strike, it's been a remarkable change of fortunes for the Welsh winger in such a short span of time.

Arguably, it's been an even better redemption story than the one Patrick Bamford has managed to pull off this season – the ageing Leeds striker bagging five goals in quick succession this campaign after being frozen out of the first-team picture.

But, Bamford was a hero for so many seasons at Elland Road before dropping off in form. Whereas, James, on the eve of this campaign, had so much more to prove to the disgruntled Whites masses.

James will aim to battle back from his recently sustained injury and return to the starting lineup very soon, hoping his continued heroics end up in Leeds winning promotion back up to the Premier League come May.

Lyon are keeping the door open for Timo Werner, but will only sign him under very specific conditions before the transfer window closes.

• Lyon keeping Werner option alive despite high wages
• RB Leipzig forward under contract until 2026
• Move only possible if other winger targets fail

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Foot Mercato, the French club are closely monitoring the German forward’s situation at RB Leipzig and could make a push in the final hours of the transfer window if circumstances arise. The 29-year-old was offered to the French club earlier this summer as a potential reinforcement for Paulo Fonseca’s squad. 

  However, initial talks stalled due to the former Tottenham and Chelsea man’s salary demands, which were deemed far beyond the club’s reach. Despite this, Lyon’s management have kept the option on standby while exploring other winger targets. If those alternatives fall through, Werner’s name is expected to resurface on the shortlist.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Werner, who is tied to Leipzig until 2026, would only be allowed to leave if the Bundesliga side fears losing him for free next year. Lyon is ready to play the waiting game until the final stages of the market to pressure Leipzig into a deal. However, the biggest obstacle remains his reported €900,000-per-month wages. For a transfer to happen, the German international would have to agree to a major pay cut, potentially reducing his salary by three or four times, to make any move possible.

  Notably, Lyon’s wage bill is under strict supervision, meaning any deal must be financially sustainable. Still, club chief Michele Kang is aware that late-market desperation and opportunity could give them a chance to sign Werner. 

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  The German spent last season on loan at Tottenham from Leipzig. However, he struggled to make an impact, scoring just one goal in 27 games in all competitions. He made just four starts in the Premier League under now-ex Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou before returning to Germany.

  Since then, he was offered a path out of Leipzig by New York Red Bulls. The forward has rejected the offer, but the MLS side have kept it open until next week.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TIMO WERNER?

  Lyon will continue pursuing other winger targets amid an uncertain financial situation. However, if those moves fail, they may reignite talks with Leipzig over Werner in a last-minute bid to strengthen Fonseca’s attack before the window closes.

The league's latest social media feature highlights jaw-dropping skills and tekkers from Matchday 3

• “Moves of the Matchday" video spotlights best skills and tekkers from weekend games
• Latest compilation features standout moments from Matchday 3 action
• Clip features David Schnegg, David Martinez, Luis Suarez and more

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• WHAT HAPPENED

  Major League Soccer has set MLS fans ablaze with its latest "Moves of the Matchday" video, a mesmerizing compilation showcasing the most impressive skills and tekkers from the weekend's matches. Showing the league's top talent and most electrifying plays, this weekend’s action highlights included a lovely assist from Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez, LAFC’s David Martinez and his superb goal, DC United's David Schnegg's lung-bursting run and several others.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The "Moves of the Matchday" series is a testament to MLS's commitment to engaging fans through social media. By spotlighting the league's most skillful players and their eye-catching tekkers, MLS not only entertains its existing fan base but also attracts new viewers who might be drawn to the high level of technical ability on show. The league also produces other regular features such as the "Save of the Matchday" and "Goal of the Matchday," all aimed at highlighting different aspects of the game.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Following the end of Matchday 3, Philadelphia Union sits atop the combined table and the Eastern Conference with nine points and are alongside the Vancouver Whitecaps, the only two teams on a three game winning start to the season. Matchday 4 kicks off on March 15, starting with the New York Red Bulls hosting Orlando City and Chicago Fire going on the road to face Toronto FC.