Kai Rooney copied Viktor Gyokeres' celebration after scoring for Manchester United's Under-16 team at the SuperCupNI.
Rooney Jr copies GyokeresScores in Man Utd's 3-0 winBeat West Cork AcademyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Kai scored for United's Under-16s against West Cork Academy on Monday, converting a penalty to make it 2-0, having first assisted Sam O'Brien's opening goal. After the second goal, Rooney Jr ran to the touchline and covered his mouth in a celebration that mirrors that of Arsenal's new signing, Gyokeres. Bassirou Nkoto scored their third goal as United won 3-0.
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United had pursued Gyokeres throughout the summer but he instead opted to move to north London. That did not stop Rooney Jr from emulating the Sweden international, however. Gyokeres covering his mouth is said to be a reference to Batman villain Bane.
DID YOU KNOW?
Kai is fast developing into a really promising prospect at United, playing for the youth teams and working his way slowly through the system. Gyokeres, last season, scored 52 goals in all competitions; Rooney Jr has found a pretty promising striker to follow in the footsteps of.
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Rooney and his Under-16 team-mates will also play Rangers and Co Tyrone in their group.
Chelsea officially announced the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich Town earlier this week, after triggering his £30 million release clause, and it is believed they’re seriously pursuing another former Man City gem to accompany the Englishman and Cole Palmer.
Chelsea announce Liam Delap deal as striker pens six-year contract
The 22-year-old was Kieran McKenna’s shining light in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Ipswich, who dropped straight back down to the Championship just one season after clinching promotion.
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The west Londoners are the first club to submit a bid.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 5, 2025
Delap bagged 12 Premier League goals for the Tractor Boys, which is impressive for an under-performing side, and Chelsea will only pay around £20 million of the clause up front with the rest due via installments (Sky Sports).
Knowing his quality, Ipswich smartly inserted a sell-on clause into the deal, hoping to make a further profit if Chelsea eventually decide he isn’t suited to them after all.
Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea
8.08
Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town
8.05
Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa
8.04
Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton
7.83
Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town
7.55
via WhoScored
“I understand the stature of this club and can see the trajectory it is on with these players and the head coach,” said Delap about his move to Chelsea.
“It’s going to be an incredible place for me to develop, and I hope to achieve amazing things here and help the club win more trophies. Growing up watching this club and how incredible it has been over the years, I wanted to come here to win trophies. When I spoke to the club, everyone wanted to get back to the very top, and they have the quality and the players to do that.
“The hunger and desire to keep adding trophies, to take the club back to where it belongs, that is the main objective.”
Delap is in very good company at Stamford Bridge, having worked with Enzo Maresca during their time together at Eastlands, as well as Palmer, with both players coming through the academy together.
According to recent reports, Chelsea are attempting to add another ex-City academy ace to their ranks who could accompany the duo – heavily-linked Borussia Dortmund sensation Jamie Gittens.
Jamie Gittens
Some media sources claim that Chelsea have already submitted an offer for Gittens, and journalist Simon Phillips says that they’re really trying to get a deal done.
Chelsea "pushing" to sign Jamie Gittens amid £20m price drop
While the consensus was that the winger would cost around £50 million, his price has now dropped to around £30 million, gifting BlueCo a £20 million discount.
Phillips also states that Chelsea are “pushing” to sign Gittens, and they have a trump card in the form of Carney Chukwuemeka, who Dortmund would ideally like to keep in the Bundesliga, so they’re actually being very open in negotiations.
“Any fee for Jamie Gittens to join from Dortmund would not be £50m, it would actually be closer to £30m,” wrote the journalist.
Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittensin action with Lille's Bafode Diakite
“This has now been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.
“Chelsea are pushing on Gittens, and again, our insiders believe that this will get over the line. SPTC sources have heard that Dortmund are ‘being nice’ to Chelsea in these discussions and this is likely to be because they want to keep Carney Chukwuemeka in some capacity. Gittens to Chelsea is moving, but there is other interest.
“If Chelsea sign Gittens, I do not believe that it will be the only new winger arriving this summer with Jadon Sancho now gone. Although, that ‘winger’ could just be another new attacking midfielder who is versatile and can play on the left wing as well as other positions.”
The 20-year-old bagged 12 goals and registered five assists in all competitions last season, with ex-Dortmund captain and sporting director Sebastian Kehl believing Gittens is “almost impossible to defend against” inside the penalty area.
Gittens is also represented by the same agency as Romeo Lavia and Tyrique George, which could further help to facilitate a deal.
Veteran pair of Patel and Madsen do hard work in chase as Leicestershire come up short
ECB Reporters Network01-Jun-2024Derbyshire Falcons opened their Vitality Blast account for the season with a tense four-wicket victory over Leicestershire Foxes at Edgbaston.Foxes chose to bat but stuttered to 97 for 6 as Zak Chappell, Pat Brown and Samit Patel took two wickets apiece before an unbroken stand of 79 in 45 balls by Peter Handscomb, who made 75 off 51, and Rehan Ahmed (36 off 22) lifted them to 176 for 6.Falcons replied with 178 for 6 in 19.1 overs thanks principally to a high-class partnership of 102 in 58 balls from 40-year-old Wayne Madsen and 39-year-old Patel. Patel smashed 64 from 32 in a scintillating knock while Madsen made a composed 43 off 35.Their quality left Falcons needing 18 from the last 12 balls and Brooke Guest lifted the first and sixth of those balls over the rope to bring Foxes down to earth after their opening-game victory over Yorkshire Vikings last night.The Leicestershire innings received an early jolt when Sol Budinger received a reminder of what a great leveller cricket can be. The opener slapped Chappell to backward point to follow Friday’s dazzling half-century with a golden duck.Rishi Patel feathered Brown to wicketkeeper Brooke Guest and Louis Kimber’s vigorous start ended when he skied Chappell to mid-off where Madsen judged a difficult catch perfectly.Handscomb continued to watch partners come and go. Wiaan Mulder lifted Brown to deep cover and Ben Cox and Ben Mike holed out to Patel to give the spinner his 343rd and 344th T20 wickets.That left Foxes on an uneasy 97 for 6 in the 13th over but Handscomb played a true captain’s innings. He worked the ball around adroitly in an accomplished half-century – surprisingly only his eighth time past 50 in 124 T20s – and Rehan offered valuable support, hitting three sixes, to lift the total to somewhere around par.Falcons paid a high price for over-aggression in the opening overs. Luis Reece charged and missed at Kimber. David Lloyd, having hit his first ball for six, was bowled by his sixth, a gorgeous, swinging yorker from Mike. Harry Came, having socked Ian Holland over mid-off for four, needlessly tried the same next ball and was caught at mid-off.At 31 for 3, Falcons’ foundations were rocky but Madsen and Patel counterattacked with selectivity and skill. Former England allrounder Patel showed his immense powers have not dimmed in a glorious knock which included four fours and five sixes before he was caught by Mike right on the square leg rope off Rehan.Madsen then lifted Mike to mid-off at which point Falcons needed 28 from 21 balls. Ross Whiteley skied Scott Currie to long-on but Guest smote Mike for mighty sixes over long-off and straight in the penultimate over to leave just two required from the last.
The Young Lions reinvented themselves at this summer's tournament, and Carsley has shown himself a qualified and capable coach at international level
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For the first time since 1984, England's Under-21s have retained the European Championship, succeeding where the senior men's side have failed over their last two continental tournaments.
Despite a slow start in Slovakia, the Young Lions ended the Euros as champions again, ousting Germany 3-2 in a pulsating final. Harvey Elliott was the star of the show and won Player of the Tournament, but a fair chunk of praise should also go to head coach Lee Carsley.
There was scrutiny over the 51-year-old following his mixed interim spell in charge of the senior side in the autumn of 2024, but he has again proved his credentials by claiming silverware. Now, he has put himself in the best position to think about taking the Three Lions job on a permanent basis some day.
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Different game
Over and over again, we see club managers who can't adapt to the different challenges posed in the international game, and vice versa. The teams who have dominated at international level are rarely managed by those who have enjoyed the bulk of their success in their careers with clubs.
Lionel Scaloni has only managed Argentina's senior and U20 teams;l Spain's Luis de la Fuente's career prior to first taking charge of Spain U21s in 2018 was particularly underwhelming; Didier Deschamps was a credible manager with Monaco, Juventus and Marseille, but will be most remembered as a coach for his work with France; Germany's previous era of serial contention that culminated in 2014 World Cup glory was built on a long-term vision with Joachim Low at the helm.
Managing a football team isn't all about the x's and o's, even despite the tactical nuances and evolutions of the modern game. Limited time on the training pitch means even the most astute of coaches can come unstuck, with Luciano Spalletti the latest high-profile flop after failing to bring silverware back to Italy. Carsley's relative lack of experience away from the England setup should not be a knock on his qualifications to take the Three Lions job.
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Following in Southgate's footsteps
Of course, England don't even need to look too far to see the benefits of promoting from within and overlooking a coach's club record. Sir Gareth Southgate, who relegated a consolidated Middlesbrough side from the Premier League in 2009 and didn't particularly set the world alight in three years in charge of the Young Lions, is the country's most successful international manager ever after Sir Alf Ramsey, who won the World Cup in 1966.
Though Southgate couldn't quite get England over the line and came under heavy fire for an over-reliance on intangibles over on-field tweaks, he still managed to steer the Three Lions to successive European Championship finals as well as two deep runs at World Cups. He has been widely credited by players, staff and pundits alike for completely changing the mood of the camp at their St George's Park training base, bringing the energy and instilling the camaraderie required to mix it with the very best in the international game. Gone are the days of cliques brought about by club allegiances, and instead, England players look forward to their meet-ups.
Southgate, brought in as an almost reluctant successor to the disgraced Sam Allardyce in 2016, learnt how to deal with the pressures of the country's most important sporting job on the fly. In 2018, he focused on fundamentals and set-pieces to plot a route through the World Cup, before his side became a more complete outfit for the Euros three years later. Only the reigning champions of France and a rare missed penalty from Harry Kane saw them eliminated in 2022, and Southgate's England then battled adversity to reach another Euros final in his last hurrah. All this came off the back of England's most infamous tournament exit in 2016 to Iceland, too.
Carsley, who remains highly regarded by the decision-makers at the Football Association (FA), would be walking into a far smoother situation than Southgate did, whenever that vacancy arises again.
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Couldn't have done any better
England U21s triumphed this summer despite being unable to call upon key players such as Jarrad Branthwaite, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Rico Lewis, Lewis Hall, Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo, Jobe Bellingham, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Tyler Dibling. A shorthanded team lacking in the star-power of their 2023 triumph took a couple of games to iron out their kinks, and Carsley wasn't afraid to make bold calls, relying upon only two players from the squad that triumphed two years ago – Elliott and centre-back Charlie Cresswell.
"The lazy thing as coaches would be to try and just reproduce what we did last time, but we've done it differently," Carsley said after lifting the trophy. "We thought outside the box with our training, with our tactics, with the way that we wanted to play, with our squad selection. We knew we had the Club World Cup in the background as well, so being able to adapt quickly to pivot if we lost players and make sure we picked the right squad that were able to not only play a lot of the minutes with less recovery time, but play to a good standard."
Winger Jonathan Rowe found success playing as a No.9, while Tino Livramento thrived at full-back after Jack Hinshelwood was brought into defence at the expense of Archie Gray.
Match-winner Rowe alluded to the impact Carsley had on the side following Saturday's victory over Germany in the final: "Grit, perseverance, determination… you name it. We all dug deep, stuck in and we all achieved what we came here to achieve. It's the start of a new wave. We have so much talent in England so it's only right that we utilise it to its full potential. With the right head coach, with the right staff, with the right mindset, with the right people, you can accomplish anything."
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Taste of the senior job
Carsley's short stint in interim charge of the England senior side during the second half of 2024 was quite the ride. The Three Lions won five of their six Nations League matches against lesser opposition in Ireland, Finland and Greece, only falling to the latter in the 94th minute at the end of a match in which the boss experimented with an attacking line up.
After the highs and lows of last summer's Euros, Carsley was tasked in the short-term to improve the team's playing style and set up a strong foundation for Tuchel to work with. "We wanted the England team to be exciting to watch, be attacking," he said following his sixth and final match. "I see them day in and day out in the training ground and now people have seen it. I don't think it's a gamble with some of these players, they're excellent players and the mentality is what stands out for them. Any challenge you put in front of them, they want to overcome. Like I've said in the past, especially with the U21 players, they have a history of winning and expect to win when they turn up for England."
This also made Carsley believe he could be Three Lions manager on a permanent basis one day, adding: "I think it's given the staff and myself the confidence that we can do the job. You always doubt yourself whether you can do it or not. We often speak about a lot of England managers sat in the house picking the team and to have the responsibility to do that, the trust from my bosses has been a massive confidence."
It would not be a complete unknown for Carsley, while he is clearly aware that on top of philosophy and entertainment, England is now a nation that needs to win.
Liverpool have confirmed a new contract for Virgil van Dijk, fending off interest from the likes of Bayern Munich to keep the captain on Merseyside for two more years.
Liverpool seal new contracts for key stars
The Reds could officially win the Premier League this weekend in what has been a brilliant first campaign under Arne Slot. Should Arsenal suffer defeat against Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon, Liverpool could seal the title with a win at Leicester City shortly after.
However, away from the pitch, a hot topic of conversation has been on the futures of star trio Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk. Salah, as we know, has officially signed a new two-year contract at Anfield, whereas Alexander-Arnold looks set to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano had recently said that Van Dijk is set to join Salah in signing a new Liverpool contract through until 2027, and talking recently, the skipper was asked about his pending new deal: “I think first, all the focus should be going to the Hillsborough anniversary. I think that’s the main thing and then we’ll see. The focus will still be on Leicester, but maybe there’s some news. I know … but I don’t know.
“I love the club, that’s pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.”
Club have accepted "brilliant" star's exit as Liverpool line up Mane 2.0
He’s enjoyed an excellent season…
1 ByTom Cunningham Apr 16, 2025 Van Dijk signs new Liverpool deal worth over £40m
Bayern Munich were keen to sign Van Dijk on a free transfer, seeing the centre-back as a ‘unique opportunity to strengthen its defence with experience, leadership and proven quality’, but it has now been confirmed by Liverpool that Van Dijk has signed a new contract at Anfield.
Rumoured to be on £220,000-a-week beforehand, Van Dijk has become a Liverpool legend since joining from Southampton back in 2017, winning numerous trophies, and David Ornstein reports the new two-year deal is now worth £400,000-a-week.
Ornstein confirms there are no pay cut or break clauses, which will guarantee the Netherlands star is paid £41,600,000 through to the summer of 2027, by which time he’ll be 35. This is even more than the fee Liverpool paid to Brighton for star midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (£35m), but Reds fans will feel their captain deserves every penny.
Games
314
Goals
27
Assists
13
Yellow cards
25
Red cards
1
Minutes played
27,925
Trophies won
8
Talking after penning terms, Van Dijk said: “I’m very happy, very proud. There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it. “It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.”
Van Dijk is now the highest paid defender in the top flight and will be the second-highest paid player in any position once Kevin De Bruyne departs Man City this summer, behind only Erling Haaland who sits on £500,000-a-week at the Etihad.
It has been a strange season for Alejandro Garnacho. The Manchester United attacker has ten goals and eight assists across all competitions this term, but just six of those 18 goal involvements have come in the Premier League, in 31 games.
With that being said, the 20-year-old has achieved a huge milestone this season. Last weekend, he scored his 15th Premier League goal, coming against Newcastle United as Ruben Amorim’s side slipped to a 4-1 defeat.
Impressively, that took him past his idol, and one of the best players in United’s history, Cristiano Ronaldo, for goals at the same age. At 20 years old, the former Red Devils number seven had just 14 top-flight goals.
However, Garnacho certainly has a way to go before he can match Ronaldo’s legacy at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Man Utd legacy
Once described as “the greatest player of all time” by former teammate Gary Neville on Sky Sports, few in history have done it like Ronaldo. The 40-year-old is now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia, but his extraordinary career really took off during his first spell at Old Trafford.
After signing for United in 2003 for a reported £12.24m, the Portugal star scored 118 times and grabbed 60 assists in 292 appearances for the English giants.
He was phenomenal, winning three Premier League titles in a row and the Champions League in 2007/08.
That 2007/08 campaign was nothing short of extraordinary, with United winning the double and Ronaldo the Ballon d’Or in 2008, becoming the best player on the planet. He scored 42 goals and provided eight in 49 games in all competitions that season.
His move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 for a then-world-record £80m was certainly devastating for the Red Devils. He was, in many ways, irreplaceable. Although their success continued, it was never easy to replace someone like Ronaldo.
Well, they might well be in danger of a repeat situation this summer, in a deal worth even more than Ronaldo’s back in 2009.
Man Utd’s new Ronaldo in 2025
If you asked United fans 16 years ago which player they would least like to be sold, Ronaldo would likely have been the answer. Well, in 2025, the answer to that question would surely be Bruno Fernandes.
It has been an unforgettable season for United’s captain Fernandes, in what has been a poor season as a side. He has an incredible 16 goals and 18 assists in 46 games in all competitions for the Red Devils.
His eight goals and ten assists in the Premier League this term ensures it is his second-best season in terms of output since his move to United back in 2020. The only season he exceeded those numbers was 2020/21, when he scored and assisted 29 goals. As Statman Dave said, he is a “machine”.
Bruno Fernandes celebrates for Manchester United
It isn’t easy to pinpoint one performance from the Red Devils’ number eight that has been his best this season. He has managed multiple goal involvements in a single game eight times, but his best was arguably the excellent hat-trick against Real Sociedad in the Europa League.
Indeed, Fernandes’ underlying FBref numbers compared to other midfielders in the last 365 days are astounding. For example, the 30-year-old averages 9.32 progressive passes, which ranks him in the top 3% of midfielders.
Goals and assists
0.65
99th
Key passes
3.15
99th
Progressive passes
9.32
97th
Shot-creating actions
5.93
99th
Ball recoveries
6.10
85th
United fans – and Amorim – may be worrying that their captain will leave the club, given Madrid were recently linked with a move. At the end of March, the Daily Star claimed Los Blancos are targeting a £90m move for their talisman.
Bruno Fernandes
That would see him leave for even more than Ronaldo did all those years ago, and given Fernandes’ importance to this United side, there is certainly a case to be made that this would be an even bigger loss.
The Red Devils will surely be hoping Fernandes doesn’t become their new Ronaldo, in that sense.
Upgrade on Rashford: Man Utd leading the race to sign £30m "monster"
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da bet7： Palmeiras e Tombense se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira, às 20h, no Allianz Parque, pela terceira fase da Copa do Brasil. Desde a última segunda-feira não há mais exclusividade para sócios Avanti na compra das entradas. Na tarde desta terça, o clube anunciou mais de 26 mil ingressos vendidos.
> Veja tabela e classificação da Copa do Brasil-2023 clicando aqui
Atenção: para este jogo, o novo sistema de reconhecimento facial para acesso ao Allianz Parque estará em funcionamento nos setores Central Oeste, Superior Sul e Superior Oeste (Portão A), Superior Norte e Superior Leste (Portão B) e Central Leste (Portão C) somente para sócios Avanti e torcedores comuns – os demais palmeirenses que utilizam outro serviço para entrar na arena alviverde não passarão pela biometria facial. Nos outros setores do Allianz Parque, o acesso ocorrerá com o e-ticket ou o ingresso impresso.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras x Tombense: saiba onde assistir ao jogo pela Copa do BrasilPalmeiras11/04/2023BrasileirãoEndrick é colocado por site como jovem mais valioso do Brasileirão 2023, veja top 30Brasileirão11/04/2023PalmeirasTítulo paulista eleva ainda mais o patamar de alguns jogadores do atual elenco do PalmeirasPalmeiras11/04/2023
da cassino： Os sócios-torcedores palmeirenses possuem os descontos previstos em cada plano e tiveram exclusividade na compra dos ingressos via internet até segunda (10), às 10h, quando começou a comercialização para o público em geral. A venda para os sócios Avanti foi dividida de acordo com a pontuação do rating de cada associado, classificados de zero a cinco estrelas. Para este jogo, não haverá o Setor Família, que geralmente oferece gratuidade para crianças de 0 a 5 anos de idade.
Caso ainda haja disponibilidade de ingressos, a venda física no Allianz Parque acontecerá somente no dia 12 de abril, data do jogo, das 12h até o intervalo da partida, nas bilheterias dos portões A (Rua Palestra Italia) e B (Avenida Francisco Matarazzo).
>Federação internacional faz nova lista dos 50 melhores times do mundo; veja ranking
A comercialização de entradas para associados e donos de cadeiras cativas aconteceu a partir de domingo (09), às 10h, até terça (11), às 10h, somente pelo site www.ingressospalmeiras.com.br. O setor de cobrança, localizado no 1º andar do prédio administrativo do clube social, não realizará mais a venda de ingressos físicos.
Confira os valores dos ingressos para a partida:
Gol Norte – R$ 60 Superior Norte e Sul – R$ 70 Superior Leste e Oeste – R$ 80 Gol Sul – R$ 90 Central Leste – R$ 110 Central Oeste – R$ 130
Trent Alexander-Arnold revealed that he has been taking Spanish lessons for a "few months" after his unveiling ceremony with Real Madrid.
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TAA surpised fans by spekaing fluent SpanishRevealed he has been learning for a "few months"Lavished praise on new manager Xabi AlonsoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Alexander-Arnold’s switch to Real Madrid has officially begun with the defender unveiled as the Spanish giant’s latest summer acquisition. Although his contract with Liverpool was due to expire on June 30, Real Madrid paid a fee to bring the England international to the Spanish capital ahead of schedule, enabling him to feature in the upcoming Club World Cup.
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Alexander-Arnold has signed a six-year contract with the La Liga titans. His deal also includes a staggering €1 billion (£840 million) release clause, which has been the standard for all marquee signings at Real Madrid.
WHAT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD SAID
During the unveiling ceremony, Alexander-Arnold surprised many by delivering his entire speech in fluent Spanish. It was a polished performance that showcased his effort to integrate into Spanish life and Real Madrid culture from day one. He later revealed in a press conference that he had been studying the language for "a few months" in preparation for the move.
"I think he [Perez] was happy with the amount of Spanish I was able to speak, which I think surprised a lot of people," said Alexander-Arnold.
"For me, it was important to be able to do that and it shows that the intent I have got is to come here and have a good start, to get off on the right foot and to achieve something straight away, starting with the Club World Cup."
DID YOU KNOW?
In his first media appearance in Madrid, Alexander-Arnold also took time to reflect on one of his idols and the current Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso.
"He is someone who probably impacted my game a lot growing up, seeing him pass a ball. I explained this to him as well," he said.
"Watching him pass a ball – seeing it influenced me to go and train harder at that and have a great hunger to be able to do that and to set standards. Of course, we have not had chance to formally meet yet. We will have a proper chat I am sure over the next few days and be able to talk about what he expects from me.
"It's not just me who is new here. He is a new manager who has got to get his ideas across to the whole team, which might take some time. But he has shown how amazing he is – managerial wise and as a player. His knowledge of football is there in abundance. I am excited. I will be a sponge around him, trying to soak up all the information I can to learn from him."
da 888casino： Setting their sights on the summer transfer window, Newcastle United have now received a green light from manager Eddie Howe to make their move for a defensive reinforcement worth over £30m.
Newcastle readying £30m+ move
da dobrowin： The Magpies have been forced to sit out of transfer drama in recent years, but look set to come flying out of their profit and sustainability shackles to welcome a number of key reinforcements. As a result, the rumours have been coming thick and fast over just who Howe and his side could welcome with open arms when the summer arrives.
Names such as Jonathan David, for example, have been mentioned in what would instantly ease any Newcastle fears over replacing Alexander Isak. The LOSC Lille star has matched the Swede for goals this season and could yet replace the Arsenal-linked forward if he decides to leave in the coming months.
Lille'sJonathanDavidcelebrates scoring their first goal with Edon Zhegrov
What Isak’s exit would certainly do is hand PIF their greatest spending power since arriving at St James’ Park, perhaps accelerating the Magpies’ progress under their Saudi owners.
With or without the sale of Isak, however, those on Tyneside have already reportedly set their sights on one summer target. According to The Times, Howe has now given Newcastle the green light to sign Jarell Quansah with PIF now reportedly readying a move worth £30m, plus add-ons in the coming months.
The Magpies initially wanted the central defender last summer when Liverpool came in for Anthony Gordon and it seems as though their interest in the Anfield academy graduate has remained.
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He could form quite the partnership with Isak…
ByTom Cunningham Mar 26, 2025
One year on, a deal could be far easier to advance, given how Quansah has struggled to make his mark under Arne Slot. In the face of those struggles, Newcastle reportedly hope to lure the defender to St James’ Park using the prospect of consistent game time.
"Complete" Quansah needs Newcastle move
After flying under Jurgen Klopp, Quansah has seen his wings clipped by Slot since the Dutchman’s Anfield arrival. Having started against Ipswich Town on the opening day of the season, the defender’s struggles started from the very first game of the campaign with Slot deciding to haul him off for Ibrahima Konate at half time.
Since then, things haven’t improved. The England defender has started just one Premier League game since that frustrating afternoon at Portman Road, ironically coming in a 3-3 draw against Newcastle. Having been dubbed “complete” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig last season, Quansah desperately needs a move if he is to rediscover that level.
Newcastle could certainly do with a young defender too. As things stand, Howe has just one central defender below 30 years old in the form of Sven Botman, who has endured plenty of injury struggles in the last two seasons.
da pinnacle： Liverpool are believed to be willing to spend more than £40m to secure the signing of a “great” player this summer, seeing him as a possible successor to Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their defence.
Futures of legendary Liverpool trio still unclear
da imperador bet： The Reds may be closing in on Premier League title glory this season, but there are still genuine concerns surrounding the futures of Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.
All three Liverpool legends are out of contract at the end of this season, and as things stand, none of them have signed new deals yet. It is a precarious position to be in, and one that has left plenty of supporters frustrated, in terms of the club not sorting the situation sooner.
Liverpool'sTrentAlexander-Arnoldapplauds fans after the match
Alexander-Arnold has been continually linked with a move to Real Madrid for many months now, and the fact that the Reds’ vice-captain hasn’t silenced those rumours suggests that there is a real chance that he could move to the reigning Champions League holders in the summer transfer window.
While Van Dijk and Salah have appeared to be the more likely two to stay put at Liverpool beyond this season, the former has been backed to seal a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool line up £40m+ deal to replace Van Dijk – Sky Sports
According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool are willing to pay around €50m (£42m) plus possible bonuses to sign Nico Schlotterbeck this summer, with a move to the Premier League a distinct possibility.
The Borussia Dortmund centre-back still has two years remaining on his current deal, but the Bundesliga side will be powerless to do anything if his clause is met.
It goes without saying that Van Dijk will hopefully sign a contract extension with Liverpool as soon as possible, putting to bed any talks of him leaving. If the worst-case scenario does happen and the colossal Reds skipper moves on, however, Schlotterbeck could be a good long-term replacement for him.
The 25-year-old has now racked up 123 appearances for Dortmund, as well as winning 18 caps for Germany, and former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has lauded his ability, saying:
“He is a great player, very good in tackling and strong in heading. He’s probably one of the best centre-backs in terms of ball-playing skills, not just in Germany, but in all of Europe. I really hope he can finally take the next step now.”
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ByAngus Sinclair Mar 17, 2025
Schlotterbeck is at a great age to come in, possessing lots of experience but also still being young enough to find extra gears, and his quality on the ball would surely appeal to Arne Slot, not to mention defensive expertise that has seen him average three clearances and 2.3 tackles per game across 12 Champions League appearances this season.