Manchester United are currently in the middle of trying to appoint their new manager to take over at Old Trafford this summer, however, it hasn’t stopped the transfer interest from continuing with another player potentially set to join the club this summer.

What’s the word?

Journalist and transfer insider, Dean Jones, claims that Pau Torres is on the list of players Manchester United would like to sign this summer.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Pau Torres has always remained on the list, he just hasn’t been as talked about as some others in recent times, but they’ve always wanted him to be considered.”

Maguire upgrade

It has been no secret that Harry Maguire has come under a lot of criticism since he joined Man United, and with a new manager coming into the club this summer, it might be the perfect opportunity to move on the defender and bring in a younger centre-back.

According to Squawka, when you compare Torres to the Red Devils’ captain, the Villareal player has made more ball recoveries, completed more passes, won more ground duels and kept a higher number clean sheets this season. That’s all on top of the Spaniard scoring three more goals.

The £45m-rated monster who was hailed “brutal” by Santi Cazorla, is also the second most successful dribbler and is seventh for pass completion in La Liga this season, which is incredibly impressive when you consider he is amongst the likes of Toni Kroos and Vinicius Junior in La Liga.

When you consider his statistics compared to Maguire, signing the player would clearly be an upgrade for the Man United backline and could have a great impact on the improvement needed in the squad to get the club back to competing for and winning trophies.

Torres is currently excelling in Europe too this season, with Villareal progressing to the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich, beating the German giants 1-0 in the first leg with a huge chance of reaching their first semi-final in the competition since 2006.

United are not currently looking likely to qualify for the Champions League following their defeat to Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, with Tottenham Hotspur moving six points clear of the Red Devils, which could have an impact on the players they can attract this summer, including Torres.

In other news: Man United suffer big setback in ten Hag chase, supporters will be fuming

Pakistan in India 2012-13 itinerary

December 25 – 1st T20I, Bangalore
December 27 – 2nd T20I, Ahmedabad
December 30 – 1st ODI, Chennai
January 3 – 2nd ODI, Kolkata
January 6 – 3rd ODI, Delhi

Pakistan will arrive in Bangalore for the India tour on December 22 and will play the first Twenty20 international on Christmas Day. The schedule, announced by the BCCI on Thursday, has the second T20 in Ahmedabad on December 27; Chennai will host the first ODI three days later and the two remaining one-dayers will be played in Kolkata and Delhi on January 3 and 6.The BCCI’s announcement came following the Indian home ministry’s approval of the tour on Tuesday. The series is sandwiched between two legs of England’s tour of India. England play the second and final T20 international in Mumbai on December 22 – the day Pakistan arrive – before heading home for Christmas. The ODI series between England and India starts on January 11, five days after Pakistan wind up their tour.Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chairman, welcomed the announcement and said that the series was long due. “This is a great news for the people of both Pakistan and India,” Ashraf told reporters at the Gaddafi Stadium. “You can’t just clap with one hand. Both countries need each other and that strengthens the relationship. The series will be a big breakthrough and a revival of our cricketing relationship with India.”Pakistan will play their first bilateral series against India since touring the country in end-2007. However, they have met in multinational tournaments – their last meeting was in the 2012 World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. Cricket ties between the two countries were snapped following the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai by militants from Pakistan.

Marcelo Bielsa has already earned himself a cult status at Elland Road with the Leeds fans.

The Argentine, who would have been a coup for the club, joined in the summer as their new manager and has already been showing why he is held in high regard within the managerial world.

Bielsa has completely turned things around at the Yorkshire outfit and appears to have turned them into genuine promotion contenders, with the club currently sitting top of the Championship table.

Should they go on to play Premier League football next season, it would be unlikely to see him leave his position at the helm, however, if he decides to do so, it seems as though he has already ‘recommended’ to the club who should take over.

According to a report by Diario Expreso, via Sport Witness, Juan Carlos Osorio is thought to be the man Bielsa believes best to replace him.

“Osorio has the possibility to continue in England. Marcelo Bielsa recommends him for when he finishes his contract at Leeds,” the report states.

The Verdict:

Leeds fans will be hoping the day never comes whereby Bielsa decides he no longer wants to be at Elland Road.

The Argentine has given the club their first real sense of being able to win promotion to the Premier League for the first time in a very long time.

However, the 63-year-old’s ‘recommendation’ may not be a bad one as Osorio has plenty of experience of managing at the international level, with Mexico and Paraguay – albeit one match with the former.

Leeds fans – thoughts?

أعلن طلعت يوسف المدير الفني لنادي الاتحاد السكندري، تشكيل فريقه أمام الأهلي، في المباراة التي ستقام اليوم الإثنين، ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويلاقي الاتحاد السكندري نظيره الأهلي على أرضية استاد برج العرب، في إطار مواجهات الأسبوع 27 من البطولة المحلية. تشكيل الاتحاد السكندري أمام الأهلي

حراسة المرمي: محمود الزنفلي.

الدفاع: محمود شعبان – إسلام جمال – محمود رزق – صبري رحيل.

الوسط: مروان عطية – عمر الميداني – كريم الديب – أحمد رفعت.

الهجوم: خالد قمر – رزاق سيسيه. بدلاء الاتحاد أمام الأهلي

وضمت مقاعد البدلاء كلا من عمرو خليل – السيد سالم – هشام محمد – أسامة عزب – أحمد راشد – عبد الغني محند – أنيس سلتو – مروان النجار.

طالع أيضًا.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الأهلي والاتحاد السكندري في الدوري

طالع أيضًا.. تشكيل الأهلي أمام الاتحاد السكندري.. بادجي ومروان محسن يقودان الهجوم

ويخوض الاتحاد مباراة اليوم محتلا المركز الخامس برصيد 36 نقطة، أما الأهلي فيتصدر الترتيب بـ71 نقطة.

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Celtic have been credited with an interest in Fulham’s Tyrese Francois by Sky Sports.

What’s the word?

The midfielder is out of contract at the end of this season, at which point Celtic would be able to sign him in a compensation deal.

Celtic have exploited this route in recent seasons and were able to turn around a huge profit on Moussa Dembele as well as using the striker to help the Hoops to a double treble.

Celtic are fairly well off for midfielders, but are always on the lookout for emerging talents.

Crystal Palace and Valencia are also interested in Francois, suggesting he has some potential – either that or a very imaginative agent.

Shrewd business

Selectively picking up on this type of signing has to be a very viable option for Celtic in the current market place.

Showcasing Dembele has to be the way ahead – illustrating what two Champions League campaigns can do for a player’s profile.

18-year-old Francois could well enjoy a similar rise if opportunities allow him to be involved in Celtic’s first team squad next season, although he’s yet to feature for Fulham in senior competition outside of the EFL trophy.

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Loads of West Ham fans have been reacting to a big update on a possible striker signing, as reports claim they will not move for Maxi Gomez this month.

According to The Evening Standard, West Ham’s £43.5m swoop for Gomez will definitely not happen on deadline day.

The report claims Celta Vigo will not release the striker this month because they are in a relegation battle.

The Spanish outfit currently sit 18th in La Liga, two points adrift of safety, and Gomez is pretty much their only source of goals.

Look away Arsenal fans! American Soccer Fan is back to troll more fans at the London Stadium in the video below…

This is bad news for the Hammers though, who have gone off the boil in recent weeks after a terrific run of form before Christmas, and desperately need a clinical goalscorer.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side could be without Marko Arnautovic for at least a couple of weeks after the striker injured his foot during the defeat at Wolves, and there are still question marks over how committed the Austrian international will be even once he is fit.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans are fuming at this transfer update…

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Any chances Everton had of signing Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on a permanent basis this summer have surely ended following news of the west London outfit’s two-window transfer ban from FIFA, but it could be good news for Yerry Mina.

What’s the word, then?

Well, it was announced on Friday that the Blues won’t be able to bring any new players to Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2020 for breaching rules in relation to youth players, which will have a big impact on their squad.

Zouma was sent out on a season-long loan deal to Goodison Park last summer as he looked for more regular football following his return from a serious injury, and he has certainly got it after striking up a strong partnership with Michael Keane at the heart of the defence, making 23 Premier League appearances.

Even if the Merseyside outfit were considering an attempt to bring the 24-year-old north permanently, those hopes are surely over given Maurizio Sarri’s men’s struggles recently and the fact that the soon-to-be out of contract Gary Cahill and David Luiz are getting no younger.

Good news for Mina?

It certainly is.

The Colombia international would have been expected to hit the ground running when he signed in a big-money deal from Barcelona following his impressive showing for his country at the 2018 World Cup, but he simply hasn’t got going yet.

Injuries have played a part but the 24-year-old hasn’t looked convincing or dominant when he has been on the pitch, and Keane and Zouma are clearly Marco Silva’s preferred partnership right now even if the latter was dismissed against Watford.

Without the France international next term though if Chelsea choose to keep him, the South American would have the perfect opportunity to finally kick-start his Everton career.

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According to Radio Galega presenter Victor Lopez – since reported on Monday by Spanish media outlet Faro de Vigo – Southampton defender Wesley Hoedt is closing in on a move to Spanish side Celta Vigo, and Saints fans have been quick to react to the rumour on Twitter.

Hopes were high when the Netherlands international arrived at St Mary’s from Lazio in the summer of 2017 that he could be a partner for Virgil van Dijk in the short term and potentially replace his compatriot in the future.

However, the 24-year-old has struggled to make the transition to Premier League football and despite being a regular under Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes, he has been completely frozen out by current manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Hoedt has failed to make the previous eight matchday squads and he would leave having scored two own goals – against Manchester City and Liverpool – in 13 Premier League appearances this term.

It is reported by Faro de Vigo that the Dutchman will become a Vigo player once an agreement with the south coast outfit is finalised and could even be presented on Tuesday.

Southampton supporters have taken to social media to give their thoughts on the potential exit, with some even expressing their condolences for the Celta Vigo fans.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction to Hoedt’s potential departure…

Check out the video below for Emma Conybeare’s rundown of which clubs need what in the January transfer window…

According to The Mirror, Nottingham Forest are planning a swap deal with Stoke between Ben Osborn and James McClean. 

The deal would see McClean team up with former managers Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane, who he worked with for the Republic of Ireland.

As far as The Reds are concerned, this is a brilliant deal that could bring a huge amount of success. Not only would McClean be a favourite of both O’Neill and Keane, but he would bring a lot of attributes that Forest are perhaps lacking currently.

The Reds have two wonderful attackers on their books in Joe Lolley and Matt Cash at the moment, who have been two of the best performers at the City Ground so far this season. However, with Cash only being 21 years of age, the 29-year-old McClean could provide some experience to Forest’s attack, given the fact that he has played over 100 Premier League games. That is perhaps what the club need at the moment with their attackers, and this is perhaps what the 24-year-old Osborn does not provide in that area of the field.

In fact, although versatile, Osborn has struggled to win over a lot of Forest fans, but McClean could earn the fans’ respect, particularly if he links up well with Lewis Grabban. Furthermore, when tracking both players’ careers, McClean has clearly played a higher level than Osborn has, and while he is older, he is closer to the standard of player that the club are seeking in their pursuit of making it to the Premier League in the coming seasons.

[ad_pod ]Newcastle have put in some stellar performances in recent weeks, not least a 2-1 win over champions Manchester City, and were unlucky not to get a point from their clash with Tottenham. One key factor in their fantastic showings has been Sean Longstaff, who has excelled as a holding-midfielder.

On the chalkboard

Rafa Benitez seems to have found his winning formula at St James’ Park – playing with a back-five and two central midfielders, the Magpies have plenty of bodies between their opponents and the goal but can spring a counter through their wide-men, while Longstaff and Isaac Hayden sit.

The latter was keen on a move away last month but is striking up a solid, young partnership with the former, who has broken through to the first team in recent months, making just his third Premier League start against City.

Pep Guardiola was full of praise for the duo in his post-match interview, saying that his side “could not deal” with them. For a 21-year-old thrown in at the deep end, it surely doesn’t get much better. Longstaff’s emergence though, could be terminal to Mohamed Diame’s Magpies career.

Diame down and out

The Senegalese has made 21 league appearances for Newcastle this season but, with Miguel Almiron set to come in and the aforementioned midfield duo, plus Ki Sung-Yueng and Jonjo Shelvey to compete with for a spot at the base of midfield, he surely won’t make too many more this campaign.

The 31-year-old joined from Hull in 2016 and has chalked up eight goals and three assists in all competitions since, but is yet to contribute this season.

Despite his versatility – the number 10 is capable of playing deep or further upfield – there seems to be no room for him, particularly now that Longstaff has stamped his authority on the starting XI.

The only people more shocked by Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Man City than City fans were the Magpies fans themsleves! Check out their brilliant reactions in the video below…