Football transfer news

Manchester United’s awful defeat at Leicester City on Saturday has ramped up the pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who sees his team sixth in the Premier League after a summer of heavy investment in the first team squad.

United’s form either side of the international break has been poor. Meanwhile, a theme of disjointed, uncontrolled and loose performances has been present since the very beginning of the season – even showing up in games Solskjaer’s side have won – and speculation is inevitably mounting over the Norwegian’s position at the Old Trafford helm.

Two out of work managers are the names most associated with replacing Solskjaer were a change to be made, with noise across Europe increasing. Zinedine Zidane has taken a break from the game after two trophy-laden spells in charge of Real Madrid, while former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is the other top name in the frame after leaving Inter last season – albeit after winning Serie A.

90min understands United’s hierarchy made it clear over the summer that Solskjaer would be backed, and their belief that he is the right man remains at present.

Some in the club’s top brass have always been uncertain that Solskjaer was the right man, but following talks in the summer they came together to put up a ‘United front’ over their manager. As it stands they remain adamant that they are not contemplating a change.

Fixtures with Atalanta, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City await United in the coming days and weeks, however, and poor form and results will only increase pressure with United already five points behind league leaders Chelsea.

The Times’ Paul Hirst reports that morale among the playing squad is already “at a new low” amid the disappointing run of form, with the atmosphere among the squad also described as “flat”.

Pinch of salt here, and that, but everybody’s favourite Spanish TV show El Chiringuito have reported that United have already reached out and made contact with Zidane…on the recommendation of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Zidane comes with a number of plus-points should United move in that direction. They’re trying to convince Paul Pogba to sign a new contract, and one of Pogba’s chief motivations for pushing to join Real Madrid in the past was to work with Zidane – one of his idols.

49-year-old Zidane is thought to have been holding out for the France job when it becomes available, though that isn’t expected to happen until the end of 2022 at the earliest, and after the Qatar World Cup.

One man not yet lucky enough to receive a call is Conte, according to reports in Italy, though he’d like one.

Italian journalist Fabio Santini was quoted as saying by Area Napoli that Conte has turned down the opportunity – and a huge offer – to manage newly-rich Newcastle United, because he’s waiting for a call from the Old Trafford club, who have a ready-made squad many think capable of challenging for the Premier League title.

Calciomercato follow up and state that Conte to United is ‘gathering pace’ – and that he could even give up what he’s owed in severance from Inter in order to take the job.

It’s worth noting however that despite the growing appetite for change at Old Trafford, United plan to stick with Solskjaer as it stands.

Premier League clubs have voted through legislation that will prevent Newcastle’s new owners from striking potentially lucrative sponsorship deals.

At an emergency meeting called on Monday, a motion was passed by 18 of the remaining 19 Premier League clubs that will temporarily ban commercial arrangements that involve pre-existing business relationships.

Manchester City, who are owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group and have benefited from such transactions in the past, were the only club to abstain from voting.

The Magpies were represented at the meeting by current managing director, Lee Charnley – who 90min understands is close to departing St. James’ Park alongside manager Steve Bruce – and not Amanda Staveley, who is a minority stakeholder and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the club.

The Guardian note that Charnley expressed strong opposition to the law change, and stressed Newcastle had received legal advice saying that any amendment to the current rules would be unlawful.

But the clubs went ahead with the vote anyway, with many concerned that Newcastle’s Saudi-led owners might conclude deals in their homeland which could place them at a significant advantage.

The changes, barring any interventions, will be implemented next month, and are designed to ensure that fair market price is paid by Newcastle in any forthcoming transactions.

Newcastle’s takeover by a consortium fronted by PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben brothers, and backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has been one of the most controversial deals in football history.

Allegations of human rights abuses, war crimes in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi are just a number of issues associated with the club’s new owners, although it’s been claimed that they don’t hold any relevancy because PIF – who own a majority 80% share in Newcastle – and not Saudi Arabia the state will be in control in the North East.

Nevertheless, the Premier League has been urged by Amnesty International to review their owners’ and directors’ test moving forward, with many other detractors also accusing Newcastle’s new bosses of ‘sportswashing’ – a practice designed to improve the reputation and standing of a group or organisation by purchasing, sponsoring or participating in any given sport.

Mikel Arteta claimed the decision not to send off Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur after a forceful kick on Bukayo Saka ‘didn’t make any sense’.

The Gunners’ winger could not continue after he was felled by McArthur just before half-time, but referee Mike Dean opted to only show the Palace star a yellow card.

VAR did not intervene to overturn the decision, allowing Palace to remain with a full complement of players. That allowed the Eagles to stage a second half comeback after falling behind early to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal, and they were only denied a maximum three points in stoppage time by a dramatic Alexandre Lacazette equaliser.

Speaking to the press after the game, Arteta admitted he was baffled by Dean’s decision to award McArthur just a yellow card, but was unable to provide a full update on Saka’s condition.

“Yeah, Bukayo could not continue. We had to take him off at half time. I saw the action and I can’t believe how the player continued on the pitch,” Arteta said.

Asked about how serious the injury is, he added: “I don’t know, we will see how it evolves. Obviously he couldn’t continue and he’s a boy that’s pretty tough and wants to keep playing, but he could not carry on and we have a quick turnaround for the next game, so we will see how he evolves.

“I don’t get it. With what we were explained at the start of the season and what happened tonight, it doesn’t make any sense,” Arteta continued when asked why VAR didn’t further analyse the incident.

“If we want to detect things that we think are really relevant in the game – that can change a full match – then they have to be looked at. In that situation, not only is it effecting them, but we have to take the player off because of that action as well. So it’s affecting you in two different ways. It’s not right.”

“I saw the action and I can’t believe how the player continued on the pitch.”

– Mikel Arteta

Responding to whether or not he wants to see VAR implemented differently, Arteta concluded: “Well you make a straight decision, when it’s so clear and so obvious – you know straight away and they have to play with 10 men.”

In terms of the game itself, Arsenal had taken an early lead through Aubameyang’s goal from an acute angle before being pegged back after half-time. Christian Benteke levelled the scores for Palace before summer signing Odsonne Edouard put Patrick Vieira’s side ahead with just over 15 minutes to go.

Lacazette’s late goal ensured Arsenal took home a share of the spoils, but Arteta’s primary concern will likely shift to the length of time Saka may be sidelined for – the young England star having hobbled away in obvious pain and discomfort.

Ricardo Pepi has approached the FC Dallas front office to request a transfer away from the club in the forthcoming January window, sources have told 90min.

Despite Dallas struggling at the wrong end of the Western Conference table with six wins from 29 games, Pepi has caught the eye this season with 13 goals and two assists in 22 MLS starts.

That form has carried over to the senior national team level, with the 18-year-old notching three goals and two assists in his first four caps for the USMNT. Pepi’s debut goal against Honduras made him the second-youngest USMNT player to score in a World Cup Qualifier at 18 years and 242 days old, only behind Christian Pulisic.

As previously reported by 90min, teams from the German Bundesliga and Serie A have been preparing official bids for Pepi, while Ajax have met with his representatives and Wolfsburg have agreed on personal terms. Sampdoria have already lodged a bid of €8m, while Bayern Munich are also among the interested parties.

A number of unnamed English Premier League clubs have been in touch with Pepi’s representatives in recent days. At this point, it’s unclear how far their interest goes. At least two are competing in UEFA tournaments this season.

Pepi wouldn’t be the first to come out of Texas as Dallas have exported a number of young Americans to Europe, including Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, Reggie Cannon and Bryan Reynolds.

Given Dallas’ history of facilitating big transfers to Europe, coupled with the size of clubs interested and Pepi’s desire to make the move, it would certainly be a shock if the club weren’t willing to negotiate once again on this occasion.

Let’s be honest. For about 70 minutes of Monday’s Premier League action, Arsenal’s forward line was woeful.

Despite taking an early lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Gunners just looked clunky throughout as Mikel Arteta’s 4-1-4-1 setup didn’t work.

Nicolas Pepe, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka all stepped on each others’ toes and it left Arsenal chasing the game even when they were leading. It didn’t work at all, and something needed to change.

Before turning to young Gabriel Martinelli, Arteta opted to put his faith in Lacazette, who absolutely stole the show during his 20 minutes on the pitch.

The 30-year-old Frenchman looked back to his best as he flew around the pitch with brilliant energy, combining well with Pierre-Emerich Aubameyang for what feels like the first time in years and asking real questions of a Palace defence that had otherwise breezed through the game.

After forcing Vicente Guaita to make an excellent save, Lacazette got the reward he deserved with practically the final kick of the game as he bundled home from some penalty box pinball to hand Arsenal a point which, truthfully, they didn’t deserve.

It was just his first goal of the season, which isn’t a particular surprise as he is yet to start a Premier League game this year – something that might be about to change.

There’s no denying that Lacazette’s form has dipped in recent years, and the combination of his age and the eight months remaining on his contract have left Arsenal fans ready to see the back of him, but they might be thinking twice now.

Anyone who had forgotten Lacazette’s quality will have been served a stark reminder that not only is he a competent player, but at times, he can be the team’s deadliest forward.

He might not be the prolific goal machine he once was, but Lacazette’s talent is still obviously there. It’s just up to Arteta to figure out how to maximise that and profit from it for the rest of the season, and perhaps longer if a new contract can be agreed.

This 4-1-4-1 formation is quite clearly not the answer, but Arteta did find a way to make Arsenal work with Aubameyang and Lacazette on the field for the first time in forever, and that’s the only takeaway from this match that Gunners fans will care about.