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Following the departure of Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham Hotspur are on a lookout for reinforcements for their backline. Jose Mourinho has apparently identified AS Monaco’s Guillermo Maripan as someone who could come in and successfully plug the hole left by the experienced centre-back.

So much so that it seemed like the Special One had already made the necessary advances to seal the deal sooner rather than later. Now, however, according to the latest reports from CDF, Steve Bruce has matched Mourinho’s efforts and is seriously interested in the Chilean defender.

Still, the same outlet states that the Ligue 1 outfit don’t want to sell their man for anything less than €20m (£18m) so Newcastle United will have to break the kitty if they really want to edge Spurs out in this race.

Maripan himself has already hinted that he would like to move to the Premier League and it does seem like he’s likely to leave France in the ongoing summer transfer window.

For a while, Spurs were indeed the favourites to acquire his services but now the Magpies have emerged as serious contenders. Of course, Bruce could certainly use an extra defender himself so this move does make sense for them as well.

As for Monaco, they want to get as much money as possible but are definitely open to selling some of their troopers due to an oversized squad and some financial issues in the club.

Verdict

If Newcastle are really serious in their attempt to lock horns with Spurs, they will potentially have to up their offer just a little bit. Daniel Levy is very well known for not exactly being open to splashing the cash so maybe that is indeed an advantage Bruce has over his rivals.

Of course, the Magpies will have to roll up their sleeves to seal the deal either way but there is a chance they hijack the move in the end.

Amidst the latest reports linking Serge Aurier with a potential exit from Tottenham this summer, Jose Mourinho of course will have to consider how to replace the Ivory Coast international.

The right-back has been frustratingly inconsistent for the Lilywhites, able to produce monstrous attacking displays (he has provided eight assists across all competitions this season), and then let also down his teammates with some shocking pieces of rash defending – by October of last year, he had conceded four penalties.

Whilst the summer transfer window will provide Mourinho with the opportunity to potentially replace Aurier in the long-term, he surely has to consider how Spurs can sustain a top-four challenge this season whilst having such an error-prone defender in the starting line-up.

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And that is exactly why Mourinho must make a huge call on Thursday night against Sheffield United, by dropping Aurier, and playing the versatile Moussa Sissoko at right-back.

The Blades have enjoyed an impressive season up till now, finding themselves in tenth in the Premier League table. One of the major hallmarks of their style of play has of course been for their centre-backs to make those overlapping runs like full-backs.

Aurier has never been the most focused of players at Spurs, and it’s shown immensely in his performances for the north Londoners. In the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea earlier this campaign, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville slammed him for his part in Willian’s first goal, saying: “He lacks concentration. He’s turning around looking over his right shoulder, not even watching the play”.

Against Sheffield United, with their three-at-the-back formation and emphasis on playing very wide and getting bodies into the box – they are fourth in the table for crosses into the box – having Aurier in the line-up would be a major liability.

Sissoko on the other hand has been a dependable, and reliable presence for Spurs, whatever position he’s played in. Speaking back in January 2018, Mauricio Pochettino waxed lyrical about the Frenchman, saying: “You have to give the credit to him because he is the only player who gives or provides balance in those transitions – offensive to defensive, defensive to offensive – in the team. There is no other player in the team who can provide that. This is the best quality he provides to the team.”

Playing him at right-back on Thursday evening will give Mourinho less to worry about, and know that Aurier’s tendency to lose his head may not cost his team in a game where they really have to win to close the gap on those teams ahead of them in the table.

A source close to the proposed takeover of Newcastle United has given a rather positive update on the prospective £300m deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian (KSA) group.

According to The Independent, the source said that “we don’t see a legitimate reason to stop the sale”, which should encourage members of the Toon Army.

The source also played down any worries that the lack of urgency from the Premier League, as well as some of the negative publicity surrounding the bid, would make the Saudis think twice, claiming that “the decision making-process (leading to the involvement in the sale) was very deliberate. They (PIF) do not make knee-jerk decisions.”

Indeed, the buying side consists of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) as well as the KSA crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), the businesswoman and head of PCP Capital Partners Amanda Staveley, in addition to the billionaire Reuben brothers, who are originally from India but are now based in London.

As the whole saga has been dragging on for a number of months now, coincided with the fast-approaching end to the 2019/20 season, there have been fears that the takeover would not be given the green light by the Premier League as it would be in danger of fizzling out.

However, given that England’s highest division could essentially put this season to bed once the league finishes, perhaps they could then concentrate on making their final decision on the deal.

Nevertheless, everything is all speculation up until this point in time until they make this decision followed by an official announcement, but for now Newcastle fans will be left hoping for the best until the situation becomes clearer.

Geordies, are you more confident after hearing this update? Comment below with your views!

Many Sunderland fans have reacted to a latest report from the club over the outcome of season tickets from 2019/20.

With the League One campaign remaining at a standstill, having been halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, a decision has yet to be made on how the current season will come to a conclusion.

Sunderland, whose woes of the last few seasons have been documented via Netflix series Sunderland Til I Die, are currently on course to miss out on promotion to the Championship, just one year after losing the play-off final to Charlton Athletic at Wembley.

Whilst the season could yet be finished on the pitch,Âclaims have been made over the potential of a points-per-game system, meaning a failure to gain promotion via either route could have drastic consequences at the Stadium of Light, withÂowner Stewart Donald seemingly still keen to sell the Wearside club.

Fans of the club who are season ticket holders could also miss a number of games next season with football being played behind closed doors for the foreseeable future. The Black Cats have now responded to those supporters, answering a number of pressing questions via a Q&A session.

Reacting a tweet which shared answers to a number of important questions, these Sunderland fans responded…

What do you make of Sunderland’s decisions over season tickets and more? Let us know in the comments section below…

Chelsea’s need for new players was identified further this weekend as the Blues lost out to Champions League chasing Arsenal.

In a massively below par performance from Mauro Sarri’s men, the Blues were seen off with ease by the Gunners, and the comments following the game from Sarri suggested all is not too well within the Chelsea camp at the moment.

New players are a must then it would seem at the Bridge, and we at the Tavern think that the club need to use the next 10 days wisely and move certain players on while bringing in talent of the relevant quality to improve their squad.

And one man we feel has to be top of the shopping list is Inter Milan ace Mauro Icardi, who is once again having a superb season over in Serie A.

The Inter man, who is valued by Transfermarkt at a whopping £100m, is one of the hottest properties in world football when it comes to striking talent, and if Chelsea could sign him, it would send quite the message to the rest of the league and beyond.

Icardi is truly world class, and on his day is as good as anyone in world football.

Quick, a lethal finisher, and of the right age to spend his prime years in the Premier League, we think Icardi would be the most perfect signing possible for Chelsea in the coming 10 day period before the end of the window.

Chelsea fans, what do you think? Good signing? Let us know in the comments!

Bukayo Saka and Son Heung-min may have wanted to avoid each other in derby week, but they were forced to sit together at a Burberry fashion show.

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Gunners & Spurs impressing this seasonLong-running rivalry set to be renewedStar turns mingling away from the pitchWHAT HAPPENED?

The Arsenal and Tottenham superstars are readying themselves for a clash between north London’s fiercest rivals at Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Both sides have been in fine form at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, with 13 points apiece collected from five fixtures.

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Saka and Son will be hoping to make the difference when returning to their day job, but they have been relaxing ahead of competitive action by taking in a visit to London Fashion Week. They attended the Burberry spring-summer 2024 show at Highbury Fields in Islington – which is very much Arsenal territory – and were seated alongside one another on the front row.

DID YOU KNOW?

Saka and Son did share a brief conversation, but looked a little awkward as cameras were turned away from the catwalk and in their direction. The pair were eventually split up when Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze – an England colleague of Saka – turned up and filled a seat between them.

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Son has been a Burberry ambassador since the summer of 2022 and has starred in several shoots for Daniel Lee – the fashion house’s creative director. The South Korean forward recently hit a Premier League hat-trick in a meeting with Burnley, while Saka has registered two goals through five top-flight appearances for Arsenal.

Erik ten Hag has likened Andre Onana’s slow start to life at Manchester United to the early struggles endured by Peter Schmeichel and David de Gea.

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Change made in important positionSpanish shot-stopper allowed to move onCameroonian custodian yet to convinceWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils made the big decision to bring in a new No.1 during the summer transfer window. Long-serving De Gea was allowed to depart as a free agent after 12 seasons in England, during which he broke United’s all-time clean sheet record.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Cameroon international Onana was the man identified to fill a sizeable void between the sticks, with £48 million ($58m) invested in prising him away from Serie A giants Inter. The 27-year-old has endured an error-strewn start to life in Manchester – conceding 19 goals through 11 appearances – but legendary predecessors such as De Gea and Danish great Schmeichel did not hit the ground running either.

WHAT THEY SAID

Ten Hag is eager to point out as much, telling reporters when asked to deliver another assessment of Onana’s efforts so far: “He knows, we know, he will do much better and as every player who's coming into the Premier League, you need an integration period but he has to step up. Big United keepers like Peter Schmeichel and David de Gea started not doomed and Andre knows that it is good to know a little bit from history. We live now, we live in the future and he has to make his future by giving better performances. I'm sure he will do. He showed it at Barcelona, Ajax, Inter Milan, he was in semi-final and final of Champions League, I'm sure he will give a great performance.”

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Onana, who is already seeing questions asked of his future at Old Trafford, will be back in action on Saturday when United – who sit 10th in the table as things stand – return to Premier League action with a trip to rock-bottom Sheffield United.

Details of where the Liga MX clubs play their home games across Mexico, including stadium name, capacity, Google map location and more…

Liga MX, the top-tier professional football league in Mexico, captures the hearts of millions of passionate fans across the nation. Beyond the exhilarating matches and talented players, the league is also distinguished by its diverse array of stadiums that serve as the battlegrounds for these thrilling encounters.

From the historic and iconic venues to the modern architectural marvels, each stadium holds a unique charm that adds to the rich tapestry of Mexican football.

Whether you're a devoted fan, an avid traveler, or simply curious about the football culture in Mexico, Liga MX stadiums will have your undivided attention. Here GOAL takes you through the Liga MX stadiums that make Mexican football truly extraordinary. Let us uncover the details of these Liga MX stadiums that are not just venues, but hallowed grounds for football lovers across Mexico.

Getty ImagesClub America | Aztec StadiumStadium name:Aztec StadiumLocation: Mexico CityCapacity:87,253

Estadio Azteca is the official home of football clubs Club America and Cruz Azul, as well as the Mexico national team. The stadium has a capacity of 87,523, making it the largest stadium in Mexico and Latin America. It is also the eighth-largest association football stadium in the world.

Estadio Azteca was built in 1966 and hosted the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cups. It is the only stadium in the world to have hosted two World Cup finals. It is an iconic stadium with a rich history and is a must-visit for any football fan.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAtlas | Jalisco StadiumStadium name:Jalisco StadiumLocation: JaliscoCapacity:56,713

Jalisco Stadium is the third-largest stadium in Mexico, with a capacity of 56,713 spectators. The stadium is home to Liga MX team Atlas and was built in 1960. The stadium is named after the state of Jalisco.

Jalisco Stadium was opened in 1960 and hosted games in the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cups. The stadium is named after the state of Jalisco, in which Guadalajara is located.

Getty ImagesAtletico San Luis | Alfonso Lastras StadiumStadium name:Alfonso Lastras StadiumLocation: San Luis PotosiCapacity:25,709

Alfonso Lastras Stadium is a multi-use stadium located in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, and is currently used mostly for football matches and music concerts. It is currently the home of Liga MX team Atletico San Luis.

It is named after the late Alfonso Lastras Ramirez, the co-founder of a former football club named Cachorros de San Luis. Estadio Alfonso Lastras hosted Mexico's 2018 World Cup qualifier match against Trinidad and Tobago in October 2017.

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Crédito: GettyGuadalajara | Akron StadiumStadium name:Akron StadiumLocation: JaliscoCapacity:49,850

Akron Stadium is a modern stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, that is home to Liga MX side Guadalajara. It was built in 2007 and opened in 2010, and has a capacity of 49,850.

Akron Stadium has hosted several international matches and is a candidate to host a few matches in the next edition of the World Cup.

Missed chances proved costly for Frank Lampard's side before defensive errors in the second half saw them slip to yet another loss on the road

Chelsea cannot wait for the season to end after they suffered yet another confidence-sapping defeat at the hands of Manchester United. The Blues went down 4-1 at Old Trafford, as Frank Lampard's young charges wilted on the night United booked their return to the Champions League.

Kai Havertz, Mykhailo Mudryk and Conor Gallagher were guilty of missing huge first-half chances, and Chelsea were made to pay for their profligacy as goals from Casemiro and Anthony Martial put United in control at half-time.

Two Wesley Fofana errors compounded matters after the break, as Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford got on the scoresheet, before substitute Joao Felix grabbed a late consolation with a fine individual goal.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Old Trafford…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Kepa Arrizabalaga (6/10):

Can't be blamed for any of the goals. Assured in possession and decent save to deny Eriksen early in the second half.

Cesar Azpilicueta (6/10):

Made a couple of key defensive interventions. Age maybe starting to catch up with him.

Wesley Fofana (3/10):

Made a fool of by Fernandes to concede the penalty and gave away possession in his own box for Rashford's goal.

Trevoh Chalobah (6/10):

Recovered from a shaky start. Interesting to see what role he has next season.

Lewis Hall (8/10):

Chelsea's best player by a distance. Mudryk & Havertz cost him two first-half assists and stung De Gea's palms in the second.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Conor Gallagher (5/10):

Energetic in an advanced midfield role, but lacks quality required. Dragged wide when well placed at 1-0.

Enzo Fernandez (6/10):

Needs more quality around him to see him truly shine. Some nice passes, though.

Carney Chukwuemeka (5/10):

Struggled to make much impression on the game on what was just his second league start for the Blues.

Getty ImagesAttack

Noni Madueke (5/10):

Looked to be incisive with his passing and dribbling, but struggled to create much of note.

Kai Havertz (2/10):

Looked off the pace even before heading wide from close range. The need for a natural No.9 is clear.

Mykhailo Mudryk (3/10):

Showed some good turns of pace but lacks composure in the box. Missed a huge chance at 0-0.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Joao Felix (7/10):

Lovely individual goal for the consolation. Whoever has him at the start of next season has a real player.

Christian Pulisic (6/10):

Clearly keen to make an impression and almost created a chance with a fierce ball across the six-yard box.

Hakim Ziyech (N/A):

On at 4-0 as Lampard rung the changes.

David Datro Fofana (N/A):

Given a late run out.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek (N/A):

Only introduced for the final few minutes.

Frank Lampard (5/10):

Sent out Chelsea's youngest-ever Premier League XI and on another night they might have scored three or four. Clear, however, that is he failing to instil any confidence into his players at this late stage of the campaign.

The Red Devils have never been afraid to splash the cash, with their most elaborate additions in the Premier League era including both hits and misses

Manchester United spent £1 million for the first time in October 1980 when prising Garry Birtles away from Nottingham Forest and would go on to smash their transfer record on a regular basis until acquiring Paul Pogba from Juventus for £89m in 2016.

Not all of the deals done by one of the most decorated sides on the planet have provided value for money, but there have been more hits than misses.

The Red Devils have never been afraid to splash the cash, particularly after establishing themselves as a dominant force in English football under Sir Alex Ferguson, and GOAL is on hand to bring you a full run down of their most elaborate purchases during the Premier League era.

Getty ImagesRoy Keane | £3.75m | July 1993

United swooped in after learning that Keane had a deal in place to join Blackburn Rovers from Nottingham Forest, with the British transfer record broken when luring the Irish midfielder away from the City Ground.

Keane was still a rough diamond at that point, but Ferguson polished him into a global superstar that will forever hold a place in British football folklore.

The no-nonsense midfielder would become captain of the Red Devils and the standards he demanded of himself and those around him allowed seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and a Champions League crown to be collected across 12 memorable years.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAndy Cole | £7m | January 1995

A Premier League Golden Boot winner in 1993-94, Cole’s exploits in front of goal at Newcastle made him of obvious appeal to United as they began to take a stranglehold on English football.

He would go on to record 121 efforts for the Red Devils through 275 appearances, despite regularly facing questions of his finishing ability, with history made within weeks of his arrival at Old Trafford when he netted five times in one outing against Ipswich.

Cole could always be relied upon to do his bit for the collective cause, despite being an archetypal fox in the box, and was a key man during United’s historic run to Treble glory in 1998-99.

Getty ImagesJaap Stam | £10.75m | July 1998

The Dutch defender become an iconic figure at the Theatre of Dreams through just three seasons in England – one of which was decimated by an Achilles injury.

His brutal combination of power and pace allowed him to dominant opposition strikers, with his arrival from PSV proving to be one of the final pieces in the puzzle that allowed United to pretty much sweep the board on a trophy front in 1998-99.

An acrimonious departure for Lazio was made in 2001, with Ferguson later admitting that he made a mistake, but there will always be a place for him in the hearts and minds of United supporters that were fortunate enough to catch him in action.

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Getty ImagesDwight Yorke | £12.6m | August 1998

Shortly after breaking the bank to add Stam’s unique brand of steel to their defensive unit, United dug deep again when luring Trinidadian striker Yorke away from domestic rivals Aston Villa.

He proved to be a shrewd addition to the Red Devils’ ranks as a destructive partnership was forged alongside fellow frontman Cole – with Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer proving to be more than capable deputies.

Yorke also starred in the Treble-winning campaign of 1999, when he hit 29 goals across all competitions, and moved on after finding the target on 65 occasions in total through 152 appearances.