Football transfer news

Leeds United have confirmed that striker Patrick Bamford has put pen to paper on a new five-year contract at Elland Road.

The 27-year-old, who bagged 17 goals for Marcelo Bielsa’s side last season, had entered the final year of his contract, but it was always expected that an extension was coming sooner rather than later.

? #Bamford2026 pic.twitter.com/tl5LyZTvRT

— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 19, 2021

It may have taken a little longer than some fans had hoped, but the moment has finally arrived as Leeds took to their official website to confirm that Bamford is now tied to the Elland Road side until 2026.

Securing Bamford’s future is an enormous boost for Leeds and manager Marcelo Bielsa, who was full of praise for the striker during a press conference earlier on Thursday.

“Patrick is a very important player for us,” he said (via Leeds Live). “He is one of the best strikers that English football has.”

Bamford joins Stuart Dallas, Tyler Roberts and goalkeeper Illan Meslier in inking new contracts at the club, who have also managed to tie Bielsa down to a new one-year deal after his previous contract expired at the end of last season.

Bamford was the last of Leeds’ urgent contract worries, but those in charge at Elland Road are now likely to turn their attention to the situation of right-back Luke Ayling, whose deal has two years left to run.

There are also murmurs of a new deal for England international Kalvin Phillips, who can expect a significant pay rise from the contract he signed back in 2019.

Manchester City have confirmed star right back Lucy Bronze has undergone surgery on her right knee just two weeks before the new 2021/22 WSL season is due to begin.

Bronze has suffered multiple knee injuries throughout her career but the operation is said to have been a success and the 2020 FIFA Best Women’s Player will begin a period of rehab at the club.

Although City expect her to resume training in the ‘near future’, Bronze is likely to be a doubt for the start of what promises to be an historic WSL season.

Bronze’s absence could mean a run in the team for 20-year-old Esme Morgan. City have also utilised Olympic gold medalist Janine Beckie and even Georgia Stanway at right back in the past.

City kick off their domestic season against West Ham on Saturday 4 August, just a little over two weeks away, in a game that will be broadcast live on BBC One as part of the league’s landmark new television broadcast deal worth over £7m per year.

A few days earlier, City will have already played their first competitive game of the season when they face an as yet unknown opponent in the first leg of a second qualifying round tie in the Women’s Champions League.

The draw for that tie will be made once the first qualifying round has concluded. City are among the seeded teams in the ‘league’ side of qualifying and could be drawn against any one of PSV Eindhoven, Bordeaux, Kristianstad, Hoffenheim, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Levante or Rosenborg, depending on which of those reaches the second round.

They could not be drawn against Arsenal, who are also in the ‘league’ side of the first qualifying round and hoping to progress, as both clubs come from the same domestic competition.

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Youth prospects and building a young homegrown team is always the dream scenario for fans of any football club in the modern game.

Ultimately, there is nothing more likeable than a team your club has built from the ground up. But the reality is that not every player in the academy can make it at the top level, no matter how good they might look in the reserves. It’s a rarity and a luxury when a club can get a lengthy career out of an academy star, and a trope that needs appreciating.

90min has identified each of every 2021/22 Premier League clubs’ greatest academy graduate.

Starting in Barcelona’s La Masia, Arsenal poached a young Fabregas at 16, and what a coup it turned out to be.

Fabregas was a hit for the Gunners and progressed through the youth levels with ease, before getting a full debut in 2003 aged 16. The Spaniard blossomed into one of Europe’s most graceful yet efficient midfielders and was club captain by 2008.

Joining the club as a six-year-old, Villa knew they had struck gold with Grealish from early on.

He made his debut in 2013 as a substitute against Manchester City, and would quickly turn into the club’s most technically gifted players. Villa fought off interest as they declined and kept hold of Grealish, allowing him to mature into a player worthy of a British record transfer fee, having brought them back to the Premier League in 2020.

A one club man is a serious rarity; Brentford struck gold with O’Connor.

Capable of playing just about every position from midfield to full back, O’Connor joined as a schoolboy in 1995 and would go on to become Brentford’s longest serving player in 2015, captaining the Bees over 200 times. Everything you could ever wish for from an academy graduate.

With the work Graham Potter has done since joining Brighton in 2019, expect this name to change in the coming years.

A club that has recently put a greater push on youth progression, the man symbolising that in the side is Dunk. He signed at under-12 level and has blossomed into the club’s captain, guiding them in their ascent to Premier League football and becoming an England international in the process.

Known best for his historic spell with Arsenal – and insufferable commentary lines in FIFA 21 – Dixon actually started in the north of England.

He joined Burnley as an apprentice in 1980 and would turn pro for the club, spending two years in the first team but rarely appearing before moving on. Humble beginnings for the Gunners’ trophy-winning full back.

While not every youth academy star can make it, Chelsea ought to be doing a little better considering just how much talent they produce.

In the midst of their spending and success, though, John Terry was the local lad setting the standard. He joined Chelsea from West Ham aged 14 and would debut in 1998. That debut led to a 19 year career, where Terry captained the Blues and developed into one of the world’s best defenders.

You know you’re a special talent when Sir Alex Ferguson makes you his final signing at Manchester United before his retirement.

And while it didn’t work out in Manchester for Zaha, it didn’t reflect on his abilities. He re-signed for Crystal Palace and has since worked towards club legend status, adding flair and technical excellence to a minnow side. He’s often been priced out of a second big move, but that hasn’t tainted his ability.

Coupling aggression and the fearlessness of youth with an unrelenting technical flair and street ability, Everton had a star on their hands in a debuting 16-year-old Rooney.

That 2002 debut saw him develop into a ruthless goal getter over two years before Manchester United came calling. Now United and England’s top scorer, Everton birthed arguably the nation’s greatest ever player.

While Milner has hardly ever been deemed one of Britain’s most exciting footballers, his legacy is supremely underrated.

Stints at title-winning Liverpool and Manchester City as a key player were preceded by a humble beginning early in his career. Milner rose through the ranks at Leeds and became the youngest Premier League scorer for the club in 2002, serving as the beacon of hope before their 2004 relegation.

Honourable mention to Andy King, who stuck with Leicester and saw them go from the Championship to Premier League winners, but Lineker takes top prize.

While Lineker didn’t win a top division league title with the Foxes, he did bag goals for fun and helped them back into the top flight in 1982/83, before eventually moving onto Everton for an £800,000 fee in 1985.

While the Premier League evaded him during his career, nothing limits Gerrard from being a legend at Liverpool.

The local lad that signed professional terms at 17 and debuted in 1998, Gerrard grew into Mr. Liverpool and was captain by 2003, lifting the Champions League with his boyhood side two years later and becoming one of the best midfielders in the world.

After pumping significant investment into their academy complex, Manchester City finally have a youth system proving fruitful.

The head boy of that is Foden, who has looked nailed on to become England’s next footballing star ever since his 2017 breakthrough. The local lad with all the talent in the world, City have one of their own to truly throw all of their support at while at the top level.

The red side of Manchester has built its storied reputation on having such a rich and successful history of relying on its youth academy, making this one hard to narrow down to one.

Giggs takes top spot, just. The Welshman is one of football’s most decorated players and spent 23 years in the first team after signing on his 14th birthday in 1987. Ferguson marvelled about Giggs’ endless abilities, as he became key to United’s prolonged legacy of success throughout the 90s and 2000s.

In the eyes of so many, Gascoigne still holds the title of English football’s greatest ever player. And Newcastle is where it started.

The local lad with endless amounts of talent and promise, Gazza debuted for the Magpies in 1985 after impressing in the youth ranks, and soon became their star player, holding any Newcastle hopes on his shoulders.

Before that incident at the 2010 World Cup, Green’s stock was always rather high. And if you can look beyond the gaffe, he’s actually had a more than respectable career.

The 12-time England international started at Norwich and had become a key figure as the first choice by 2003. Green kept 18 clean sheets as the Canaries won promotion to the Premier League, and moved to West Ham to stay in the Premier League in 2006.

Before becoming a multi-time Champions League winner and ripping apart the Premier League with Tottenham, Bale started quietly with Southampton.

He debuted for the club aged just 16 in 2006 and quickly gained a reputation for being a young, attacking left back who could bang a free-kick when called upon. He earned his move to Spurs in 2007, and did alright in the following years.

Kane signed scholarship terms with Spurs at 16 but had to bide his time to explode into England’s most prolific scorer.

Learning the trade through the loan system, he had broken into Tottenham’s XI by 2014/15 and finished with 21 league goals in his first full Premier League season. Spurs have since seen him develop into one of the world’s most complete forwards, although trophies continue to evade him.

While Young is remembered mostly for his time at Manchester United following success at Aston Villa, it all started at Watford.

Young joined Watford aged ten and stayed on as part-timer having not been offered a scholarship in 2001 in order to force a way into the side. He earned a pro deal and debuted aged 18 in 2003, blossoming into a tricky winger with bags of technique and, eventually, a league title winner in two countries.

Harsh on Mark Noble who is considered ‘Mr West Ham’ for his service, but Rice looks set to succeed his legacy in fine fashion, be it with the Hammers or elsewhere.

Since breaking through in 2017, Rice has developed into a captain and leader for West Ham. Combining that local lad feeling with genuine bags of talent, Rice has a huge career ahead of him and has already shown glimpses of becoming one of England’s great midfielders.

The Republic of Ireland’s leading scorer and appearance maker, Robbie Keane’s striking exploits are overlooked too often.

Before heading stateside and becoming an MLS talisman, Keane started life in the Midlands with Wolves, signing aged 15 and scoring twice on his debut by 17. Keane lit up the First Division with his goals and, with Wolves struggling financially, he was sold in 1999 for a British record fee for a teenager.

Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that Kylian Mbappe will not be sold this summer, even if he refuses to put pen to paper on a new contract.

The 22-year-old’s deal in the French capital expires at the end of the season, meaning he could walk away for free next summer. Real Madrid are interested in signing the French superstar, and may attempt to lure him to Spain at a cut-price in the current transfer window.

But Pochettino has reaffirmed the club’s stance that Mbappe will not leave this summer, and he will remain a PSG player for the rest of the season, even if he decides not to extend his deal beyond June 2022.

“Mbappé is working very well. I see him staying with us this season,” Pochettino said, as cited by Fabrizio Romano.

“There are many rumours but he’s calm. We want him to stay here. He has one more year on his contract with us. Even if he does not renew, he is still a PSG player.”

Mbappe’s head has certainly been turned this summer, and his refusal to commit his future to Paris suggests he is holding out for a move elsewhere.

90min recently revealed that Madrid are preparing to open talks with PSG over the possibility of a summer transfer, where they would make him the highest paid player in world football.

Those proposed negotiations have led to Mbappe’s reluctance to sign a new deal, causing great frustration among the PSG hierarchy. Club owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi has hit out at the Frenchman, claiming he has ‘no excuse’ not to extend his contract, after les Parisiens demonstrated their intentions by signing football icon Lionel Messi.

PSG hope that the prospect of playing alongside the Barcelona legend will be enough to keep Mbappe for the upcoming season, and may even convince him that the club’s ambitions match his own.

And the latest reports hint that the World Cup winner has indeed opted to stay put – for the time being at least – shelving any move away until the summer. Mbappe has begun the season like a man committed to the cause, starring in both of PSG’s victories in Ligue 1.

Everton’s opening game of the season must have set the nerves jangling when Michael Keane was dispossessed and handed Southampton a shock lead, but Rafa Benitez’s men recovered to ease to a 3-1 victory.

The Spanish boss may need some time to win over the blue half of Merseyside due to his Red history, but Saturday’s win was the first step towards a well-reciprocated olive branch between coach and fans.

Oh, how we’ve missed that Goodison noise! ?

Time to go Access All Areas for #EVESOU… ?

— Everton (@Everton) August 15, 2021

Next up is a tough trip to Leeds United, whose supporters will finally be able to watch their team in the Premier League (in the flesh) after 17 painstaking years. The Toffees will have to match the hosts’ intensity and quality all over the pitch – which won’t be easy at all.

So, should Benitez make any changes, and if so, who should he bring in for Everton’s second week of Premier League action?

Jordan Pickford (GK) – He couldn’t keep a clean sheet against Southampton last weekend, although that was through no fault of his own. Pickford’s job will be to shut out a Leeds side looking to bounce back – good luck.

Seamus Coleman (RB) – Experience is an invaluable commodity in the Premier League, and Coleman has got it in abundance. He’ll start on the right.

Mason Holgate (CB) – He got the nod ahead of Yerry Mina on Saturday, and gave a good account of himself. Nothing should change.

Michael Keane (CB) – The defender endured a bit of a nightmare start to the season by handing Southampton the lead, but Keane recovered to steady himself. Bouncebackability.

Lucas Digne (LB) – The Frenchman returned from injury at Euro 2020 to start against Saints, and he’ll be even sharper against Leeds. He’ll need to be sharper against a more fearsome opposition, too.

Allan (CM) – Hardworking and an often unsung hero in the midfield battle, Allan will have his work cut out against a tireless Leeds outfit. A tasty one to keep an eye on, though.

Abdoulaye Doucoure (CM) – The box-to-box midfielder promised to add more goals to his game, and that’s exactly what he did against Saints. A fine finish from Doucoure puts him on the goal trail for the trip to Leeds.

Andros Townsend (AM) – A surprise signing that few saw coming, but Townsend has enjoyed a good start to life on Merseyside. He can operate behind the striker or move out wide in a 4-4-2 system.

Demarai Gray (RW) – Like Townsend, this deal came as a surprise – but he’s got off to a flyer. Gray did the business on the weekend, and will be raring to go.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (ST) – What is there to say? Calvert-Lewin is the talisman of this side, and even if he were only half fit, he’d be out there. The England man is a shoo-in to start – and probably score.

Richarlison (LW) – Olympic gold medalist Richarlison came back with a bang last weekend, and Benitez will expect exactly the same from him again.