EPL
Man Utd boss explain why Club were right not to buy another striker
Erik ten Hag insists Manchester United were right not to sign a second striker last summer due to Anthony Martial still being at the club amid their Financial Fair Play concerns.
The Red Devils were fined €300,000 (£257,000) back in July after committing breaches of UEFA’s FFP regulations, serving as a warning for stronger punishments if they didn’t curb their spending.
Old Trafford chiefs subsequently gave Ten Hag a smaller budget compared to his first summer transfer window in 2022.
United didn’t pursue top target Harry Kane and instead focused on Atalanta hotshot Rasmus Hojlund, who the Red Devils eventually signed for £72 million in August, a move which raised eyebrows.
With Hojlund only being 20 at the time, Ten Hag hoped that Martial would step up and take the burden off the young Dane, but he’s been left disappointed.
Martial, 28, has spent much of the season sidelined with injury and could’ve played his final game in a United shirt due to his £250,000-a-week contract expiring in June.
Now would’ve been a perfect opportunity for the France international to stake his claim for a new deal, as Hojlund has been ruled out for a few weeks after picking up a muscle injury in training following his run of eight goals in his last seven Premier League games.
Speaking after the news of Hojlund’s injury emerged on Friday, Ten Hag was asked if he regretted not bringing in another striker to supplement his options.
“We were happy to bring Rasmus Hojlund in,” the Red Devils boss explained. “We had two strikers. Martial has done great things for us last season. So he is also on high payment in this club. We should have expected more, that is the truth. But to bring in another striker, that means you rule him (Martial) totally out at the start of the season.
“Then there is Marcus Rashford so actually we had three strikers in our squad. If you bring in a fourth, the prospects for the others will get short. So I thought – we thought – we had options. I wanted to bring in a striker in the winter but it was not possible. And we already had our problems with FFP in the summer.”
With Hojlund missing this Saturday’s match at home to Fulham, Ten Hag is expected to hand a first competitive start to highly-rated academy prospect Omari Forson. The London-born 19-year-old is expected to start out wide, with Rashford playing as a central striker and Alejandro Garnacho on the other flank.
BUNDESLIGA
Alphonso Davies’ Agent Sets Up Talks With Real Madrid And Man Utd After Bayern Fallout
Real Madrid’s pursuit of Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies has been reinvigorated after a series of developments that suggest the Canadian defender’s future remains undecided. While Bayern had recently shown confidence in retaining Davies, Real Madrid has been given fresh hope of securing his signature.
Davies is unlikely to commit to any decision before January, allowing Real Madrid time to prepare an official contract offer.
According to Christian Falk via The Daily Briefing, Davies’ agent, Nedal Huoseh, was supposed to meet with Bayern officials in Munich.
However, the meeting was shifted to a virtual call, and Bayern’s Director of Football, Max Eberl, did not attend, reportedly frustrating Huoseh. This isn’t the first instance of strained relations between Bayern and Davies’ representative.
The next set of negotiations is now expected to happen in January. Although Bayern remains hopeful that Davies will sign a contract extension, Huoseh has scheduled meetings with both Manchester United and Real Madrid to review their offers.
Real Madrid’s current proposal is similar to Bayern’s, which could give Manchester United an edge if they table a significantly better offer. Despite Bayern’s push for a swift resolution, it appears the situation will extend into the new year.
EPL
OFFICIAL: Mohamed Salah Is The EPL Player Of The Month For November
Mo Salah has been named the Premier League Player of the Month for November, solidifying his status as one of the league’s top performers.
The Liverpool star outshone rivals Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Ryan Gravenberch, Martin Ødegaard, João Pedro, Bukayo Saka, and Yoane Wissa to clinch the award.
In November, Salah played a crucial role in Liverpool’s success, contributing to five of the team’s seven goals through either scoring or assisting.
His contributions helped the Reds secure victories in all three matches, keeping them at the top of the Premier League table.
This marks the sixth time in his career that Salah has claimed the Player of the Month honor.
He now stands alongside football icons Steven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time rankings. Salah is just one award away from matching the joint record of seven, currently held by Harry Kane and Sergio Agüero.
EPL
William Saliba Delivers Huge Arsenal Boost With Clear Message On His Future
William Saliba has significantly boosted Arsenal by committing his future to the club. The French defender has been pivotal to Mikel Arteta’s squad since cementing his place in the starting lineup during the 2022-23 season.
At just 23 years old, Saliba has already surpassed 100 appearances for the Gunners and has featured in 13 Premier League matches this season as Arsenal chase the title.
His standout performances have reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants identifying him as a key transfer target.
Despite the speculation, Saliba, who is under contract until 2027, made it clear that he feels “at home” at Arsenal and has no intention of leaving.
When asked about his future, he told The Mirror: “Yeah, of course, I feel at home. I signed for the club five years ago, but this is only my third season, and I’m enjoying everything — the players, the staff, and the fans. I feel at home, so of course, why not?”
Saliba’s consistent form has earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year for the past two seasons.
His defensive contributions have been crucial to Arsenal’s success, helping the team maintain the second-best defensive record in the league with just 14 goals conceded in 14 games. Only league leaders Liverpool have a better record, with 11 goals conceded.
Even though Arsenal trail Liverpool by seven points, Saliba remains confident that the gap can be closed. “Everything is possible,” he said. “The season is very long, and we’ve experienced that in the past two years. We just have to focus on ourselves. It’s still only December, so a lot of things can happen.”
Saliba was instrumental in Arsenal’s recent 2-0 win over Manchester United, scoring a crucial second goal that helped narrow the gap to Liverpool.
The Gunners now aim to build on that momentum when they face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, seeking to avenge last season’s defeat at the same venue.
-
Sportvectru on it2 years ago
Best site to watch football live (Free and premium)
-
Sportvectru on it2 years ago
Best app to buy sports tickets 2022
-
Sportvectru on it2 years ago
10 Footballers who went to university during their careers
-
Sportvectru on it2 years ago
What Is The biggest Stadium In The World?
-
Sportvectru on it2 years ago
How much is the prize money for NPFL winner?
-
Sportvectru on it2 years ago
Football player who never got yellow card during his whole career
-
Sportvectru on it2 years ago
With Erik Ten Hag taking over Manchester United are firm favourites for 2022/23 major trophies?
-
Sportvectru on it2 years ago
10 highest-paid players in the Turkish league