Man United Agree £47m Transfer Fee For Andre Onana

Manchester United have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Inter Milan to sign goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Are Man United signing Andre Onana?

The Red Devils are after a new first-choice goalkeeper this summer after it was confirmed that David de Gea has officially left Old Trafford following the expiration of his contract, bringing to an end his 12-year stint in Manchester.

Onana, hailed as a "superstar" by members of the media, has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League after just one season with Inter Milan.

The Cameroon international, who worked under Erik ten Hag at Ajax, making 145 appearances under the Dutchman, enjoyed a positive first season in Italy, keeping 19 clean sheets in 41 games and helping the Serie A side to the Champions League final against Manchester City. Pep Guardiola hailed the goalkeeper following the final in Istanbul, saying:

“He [Onana] is exceptional with his feet. When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”

Personal terms between United and Onana have already been finalised at the beginning of the month, leaving a fee needing to be struck between the two clubs, something which now appears to have been agreed.

Journalist Rudy Galetti took to Twitter on Wednesday to provide an update he's heard on Man United and Onana. He claimed that the Red Devils and Inter have reached a verbal agreement over a fee worth an initial £42m plus £5m in add-ons. Details still need to be finalised, though, with Galetti saying:

“Andre Onana, the details: Man Utd and Inter already reached a verbal agreement about the transfer fee: £42m+£5m add-ons; new contacts expected in the next 24/48h to discuss the details and complete the move. The Cameroon GK is ready to join MUFC.”

Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Are Man United signing a new forward?

It looks as if a move for Onana is gathering real pace and could soon be completed with a verbal agreement in place. However, the Red Devils may not be done there and there could be further incomings and outgoings ahead of the new season.

Reports have stated that up to 13 players are up for sale, including centre-forward Anthony Martial. Should the French attacker leave, Ten Hag will be left with no senior striker option, which could result in left-winger Marcus Rashford occupying a central role once more.

There has been plenty of speculation over signing a new forward, though, with Atalanta’s Rasmus Hojlund a player of interest. It is believed that Old Trafford officials have made a cash-plus player offer for the Denmark international, however, Atalanta are only interested in a cash payment and want around £85m for the 20-year-old.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani is thought to be another option for United, so attention could soon turn to a new forward after sealing the services of Onana.

Newcastle Could Sign £40k-A-Week Attacker Within Days

Newcastle United could complete the signing of Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes in the next week or so, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Harvey Barnes joining Newcastle?

The £40,000-a-week winger looks almost certain to enjoy a fresh challenge during the summer transfer window, following a disappointing season for the Foxes. They suffered relegation from the Premier League after failing to turn their fortunes around, which is now expected to lead to an exodus of key players before the new season gets underway.

In fairness to Barnes, he was a clear positive for Leicester much of the time, scoring an impressive 13 goals in just 32 league starts, made all the more commendable because of his team's all-round struggles. The 25-year-old is far too good to be playing in the Championship moving forward, especially as he will be eyeing up a place in England's squad at Euro 2024 next summer, having won one cap for the Three Lions to date.

Newcastle have arguably emerged as the favourites to acquire Barnes' signature in the coming days and weeks, seeing him as a strong option to come in and bolster the options at Eddie Howe's disposal, likely as a replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin. Now, another update has emerged that further suggests he will be at St James' Park sooner rather than later.

harvey-barnes-premier-league-transfers-newcastle

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to Newcastle?

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano claimed that Barnes could join the Magpies in a matter of days, in what could be an important piece of transfer business:

"Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes is now close to Newcastle, I think this deal could be closed within the next seven to ten days if all goes to plan. It’s also possible for Allan Saint-Maximin to leave Newcastle. It’s not guaranteed yet, but it’s a possibility and is being discussed on club side."

Barnes has the potential to be a superb signing for Newcastle this summer, possibly coming in as a straight replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin, who flattered to deceive last season and only scored one league goal in 25 appearances. The Leicester man's goal tally was far superior in a weaker team, and his direct running and ability and get in behind could make him a potent weapon for Howe.

At 25, the Foxes ace would also be arriving at an absolute sweet spot in his career, with his best years likely to be from now until around the age of 30, meaning the Magpies could see the very best of him for an extended period of time, seeing him mature even further and become more polished as a winger.

An overall tally of 45 goals and 32 assists in the Premier League further outlines the quality ion Barnes' locker – he has been described as "unbelievable" by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, too, which is big praise from such a renowned figure in the modern game – and he is someone who can further help Newcastle grow into even more of a force, as they build a squad that is capable of flourishing across four different competitions next season, including the Champions League.

Both teams face higher expectations in Bengaluru

Australia hold the momentum going into Bengaluru, a venue where they won more Tests than they have lost against India

The Preview by Brydon Coverdale03-Mar-2017Match factsMarch 4-8, 2017
Start time 0930 local (0400 GMT)4:26

Chappell: Matter of how long Australia can maintain confidence

Big PictureIt was no surprise that a spinner took 12 wickets and was Man of the Match in the first Test in Pune. Nor was it a surprise that the winning captain scored the only hundred of the match. It was not even particularly surprising that the Test was over in two and a half days. What was surprising – flabbergasting, even – was that the spinner was not R Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja but Steve O’Keefe, the captain was not Virat Kohli but Steven Smith, and the team with a 1-0 lead after less than three days of play in this series was not India but Australia.”The pressure was off us, wasn’t it? Everyone wrote us off and expected India to win 4-0. That can’t happen anymore.” Never a truer word was spoken than those from Smith after the Pune Test. But if it was true that the pressure was off Australia in that match, it is no longer the case in Bengaluru, where the expectations on Australia will be high. Not only did they beat India in Pune, they dominated in all aspects of the game. They more than doubled India’s total in each innings, the spinners were more effective, their catching was sharper, even their use of the DRS was more assured.Pressure was on Kohli’s mind after the match, too. “How badly we batted in the first innings is the main reason why we couldn’t get back into the game,” he said. “We put ourselves under a lot of pressure.” The intensity will only increase in Bengaluru, where Australia are in the unexpected position of being able to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by the halfway point of the series. Kohli’s men must find a way to turn around their fortunes quickly, or else an ignominious fate awaits them.So, was Pune an aberration? What surprises will Bengaluru have in store? It is the only venue in this series that has hosted Test cricket before, and it is a ground at which past Australia teams have enjoyed success. Much speculation has surrounded the nature of the pitch at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the lead-up to the match, especially given Australia’s triumph on the dry, spinning surface in the first Test. What will be in it? Sharp spin? Reverse swing? Piles of runs? It should be fun finding out.Form guideIndia: LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Australia: WWWWW
1:16

Will India bounce back?

In the spotlightLast time India hosted Australia in a Bengaluru Test, back in 2010, Cheteshwar Pujara made his debut. On Australia’s next Test tour of India, Pujara destroyed the visitors in Hyderabad with 204 and a monstrous triple-century partnership with M Vijay. And he began this home season well, with three straight half-centuries against New Zealand and then hundreds in the next three Tests against New Zealand and England. But since then, Pujara’s season has quietened down a little, and India would desperately love for their No. 3 to return to his best in this match, at the venue where his Test career began against this same opposition.Steve O’Keefe was Man of the Match in Pune for his twin 6 for 35s, but on a very difficult batting pitch Steven Smith stood head and shoulders above any other batsman with his 109. Only two Australians had previously made second-innings hundreds in Tests in India: Mark Taylor and Damien Martyn. Not only that but Smith’s effort lifted him into truly elite company on the ICC’s all-time batting rankings; only five batsmen have ever achieved ratings points higher than Smith’s current level: Don Bradman, Len Hutton, Jack Hobbs, Ricky Ponting and Peter May. He will enter the Bengaluru Test with a batting average of 60.34 – not bad for a bloke who started as a legspinner batting at No.8.Team newsHardik Pandya has a shoulder niggle and is not in contention, but the remainder of India’s squad is available for this Test. It remains to be seen whether the selectors give the same XI another chance after their disappointing performance in Pune.India (possible) 1 KL Rahul, 2 M Vijay, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Wriddiman Saha (wk), 7 R Ashwin, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Jayant Yadav, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh Yadav.Australia announced an unchanged XI on the eve of the second Test, retaining Mitchell Marsh, whose bowling services were not exploited in Pune.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Matt Renshaw, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Shaun Marsh, 5 Peter Handscomb, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Steve O’Keefe, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood.Pitch and conditionsThere has been so much discussion and speculation about the pitch that India’s coach, Anil Kumble, got fed up during his press conference in the lead-up to the Test. “Can we move on? It’s only 22 yards, it won’t be different here,” he said. Both teams expect a better batting surface than in Pune, but it will still be dry and should take plenty of turn.Stats and trivia Smith needs 112 more runs to reach 5000 in Tests. Should he do it in his first innings in Bengaluru, he will be the equal third-fastest to the milestone alongside Garry Sobers, Sunil Gavaskar, Viv Richards and Matthew Hayden, and behind only Don Bradman and Jack Hobbs. India have beaten Australia only once at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, while Australia have won there twice and the teams have played out two draws. India’s win, though, did come in the most recent of those five Tests, in 2010.Quotes”The way we played last week was such a positive sign. It was a difficult wicket and we showed them we can compete in those conditions. And more importantly, we probably showed ourselves as well.”

James Maddison latest: Alasdair Gold shares big Spurs update

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is personally “looking to drive” a Spurs deal for Leicester City star James Maddison, according to reliable journalist Alasdair Gold.

And now Fabrizio Romano has confirmed a deal has been agreed upon with a medical soon to follow.

Will Spurs sign James Maddison?

Links to the England international date as far back as last year and those reports even claimed that he would be more than open to joining Spurs.

Ange Postecoglou officially begins his tenure as the Tottenham head coach this Saturday, on 1st July, but reliable media sources say that he has already held transfer strategy meetings with Levy behind-the-scenes.

Maddison, who starred for Leicester as a shining light in their relegated side last campaign, is attracting heavy interest from Postecoglou who has reportedly given the green-light for Spurs to move for him.

There have even been claims that his teammate, Harvey Barnes, is another target for Tottenham with the Lilywhites recently lodging a rejected £50 million double bid for the Foxes pair.

England midfielder James Maddison (left)

Following the signing of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario from Empoli in a £17.2 million move, it appears attention has shifted towards Maddison, with reliable reporter Gold of football.london sharing what he knows.

The journalist, writing for FL, claims that former managing director Fabio Paratici is still involved with Spurs on a consultancy basis after parts of his FIFA ban were lifted.

Paratici, like Postecoglou and Levy, is a “big fan” of Maddison and Spurs’ chairman is personally “looking to drive” a deal to sign him after Vicario.

“Paratici is understood to be aiding the club’s summer plans to rebuild the squad for new head coach Ange Postecoglou,” wrote Gold.

“The Australian is a big fan of James Maddison, as are both Levy and Paratici, and the Spurs chairman is looking to drive through a deal for the Leicester midfielder to be a part of the club’s new-look football.”

In a fresh update, Journalist Fabrizio Romano took to Twitter to say: “Tottenham have now verbal agreement in place with Leicester to sign James Maddison, here we go!

“Personal terms agreed, deal ready for £40m fee after talks advanced to final stages yesterday night.

“Next steps: medical tests, documents being prepared and then signed.”

What’s been said about James Maddison?

The 26-year-old registered 19 goal contributions for Leicester in the top flight last season, all while averaging their highest number of attempts at goal and successful key passes per 90 in the final third (WhoScored).

Speaking to talkSPORT, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy called him a “super talent” and even says he is a natural “Champions League player”.

“He’s a super talent,” said Murphy.

“The only question mark over James Maddison is his application and sometimes his attitude, but his talent is up there.

“He’s a Champions League player. He has all of the qualities needed to play Champions League and international football.”

Doolan bounces back to form with double-ton


ScorecardAlex Doolan scored just his second first-class century in three years•Getty Images

Amid all the talk about batsmen competing for a Test call-up, Alex Doolan’s name was never mentioned. And there was good reason: he entered this Sheffield Shield round with 1315 runs at 24.81 from his past three years of first-class cricket. But on the second day at the WACA, Doolan bounced spectacularly back to form with an unbeaten 202 that put Tasmania in a strong position at stumps.Of course, in order to add to the four Test caps Doolan won in 2014, he would likely need a lengthy run of good form to make up for his long lean patch. But he did have a productive Matador Cup, and his runs on the second day in Perth stood out on a Tasmania scorecard on which no other player passed fifty. The in-form George Bailey was lbw for 24 and was one of four Tasmanians out in the 20s.The Tigers had resumed on 2 for 60, with Doolan and nightwatchman Jackson Bird at the crease, and they put on 56 for the third wicket before Bird was out for 22. Bailey, Beau Webster (27), James Faulkner (13) and Jake Doran (41) all made starts, but Doolan was the only one able to go on with it, and finished the day with 33 fours, two sixes, and a new highest first-class score. His 202 had come from 311 balls.Jason Behrendorff picked up 3 for 73 and Simon Mackin collected two wickets for the Warriors. At the close of play, Simon Milenko was the crease on 5, alongside Doolan.

عبد الرحمن نادر يصل القاهرة للانضمام إلى منتخب مصر لكرة السلة

يصل عبد الرحمن نادر، لاعب كرة السلة المصري، إلى القاهرة مساء اليوم السبت، تمهيدًا لإنهاء أوراقه والمشاركة مع منتخب مصر الأول.

عبد الرحمن نادر صاحب الـ30 عامًا، لعب من قبل لفريق فونيكس صانز الأمريكي التابع للرابطة الوطنية لكرة السلة NBA.

وقاد عبد الرحمن فريقه السابق فونيكس صانز لبلوغ نهائي NBA عام 2021 للمرة الأولى منذ عام 1993.

طالع أيضًا | اتحاد السلة يعلن عن مدرب جديد لقيادة منتخب مصر

وانتقل نادر إلى صفوف فريق فونيكس الأسترالي مطلع الموسم الجاري، وخاض معه حتى الآن 8 مباريات.

يذكر، أن منتخب مصر توج بلقب البطولة العربية لكرة السلة للمرة 13 في تاريخه، بعد الفوز على ليبيا في النهائي 87-62.

Chelsea target "amazing" £34m prodigy

Chelsea are interested in signing Celta Vigo midfielder Gabriel Veiga.

What’s the latest on Gabriel Veiga to Chelsea?

According to Spanish outlet AS, the Blues, alongside both Manchester Giants, Barcelona, and Real Madrid are monitoring the 21-year-old.

The report also details that the prodigy has a clause of €40 (£34m) and it is 'certain' that he won't be at his current club next season.

With the economic cloud hanging over the Blaugrana and the Los Blancos’ prioritisation of Jude Bellingham, the pathway is open for an English club to pounce upon this unmissable opportunity.

Is Gabriel Veiga a good signing for Chelsea?

The Spaniard is a youth graduate of Celta and made his senior debut with the reserves in August 2019. He then made his first team bow in the September of the following year in a LaLiga clash against Valencia.

The 2022/23 campaign is the youngster’s first season of consistent minutes, and he has flourished into one of the club’s most productive players.

Despite playing for a side that is currently 17th and flirting with relegation heading into the final game, he has still displayed his impeccable quality.

Veiga ranks in the top 13% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries per 90, as well as the highest 11% for successful take-ons per 90, according to FBref. This is owed to his majestic dribbling and his intricate ability to weave beyond onrushing defenders.

The mercurial talent has laced this creativity with exceptional levels of output, as he has registered 13 goal contributions in 39 appearances in all competitions. This means that he ranks within the top 1% and 21% for non-penalty goals and assists per 90 respectively, which has alerted many of Europe’s most elite clubs to his limitless potential.

From a Chelsea perspective, the signing of this joyous technician could make for a formidable partner for Manuel Ugarte, who has also been linked to the West London outfit.

Mauricio Pochettino is extremely keen on bringing the Uruguayan to Stamford Bridge and the aggressive titan could be pivotal to allow innovative sparks like Veiga to excel.

The eight-cap international has made the most tackles (121) in Liga Portugal and the Champions League (29), despite being knocked out in the group stage.

Manuel-Ugarte-tackle

Due to the injuries of N’Golo Kante, the 2021 Champions League winners have desperately lacked a tenacious and defensive midfielder, with Enzo Fernandez often played as a lone six when it is clearly not his strong point.

Therefore, the signing of Ugarte instantly solves this issue and could allow others, such as Veiga, to demonstrate their true chance-creating potential.

Once lauded as “amazing” by scout Jacek Kulig, whoever gets their hands on Vigo’s best player has surely hit the jackpot, so Todd Boehly and co must ensure that it's the Blues that win the race for his signature.

Aston Villa Could Sign Their Own Kane In £40m "Monster"

Unai Emery has revitalised Aston Villa over the previous six months, and they now have an excellent chance of securing qualification to the Europa Conference League next season.

A win in their final Premier League match will secure seventh place in the table, and it represents a remarkable turnaround from where they were under Steven Gerrard – having won just two of their opening 12 league games of the season under the Englishman.

Emery isn’t stopping there however, as he looks to bolster his squad during the summer transfer window as he will be targeting further improvement in 2023/24.

One name that has been linked ahead of the window is AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham, with 90min reporting back in February that Villa are keen on signing him to bolster their attacking options.

The same outlet also more recently claimed that the Midlands side were ‘confident’ of signing the striker this summer, although the Serie A outfit could demand a fee in excess of £40m, which would break Villa’s transfer record.

What could Tammy Abraham offer Aston Villa?

The Englishman is well known by the Villa fans due to spending a year at the club in 2018/2019, helping them achieve promotion to the Premier League whilst on a season-long loan deal.

He netted 26 goals during that season and Frank Lampard subsequently gave him his opportunity at Chelsea off the back of these performances, and he went on to score 30 goals for the Blues before departing for Italy in 2021.

The 25-year-old is also statistically similar to Harry Kane according to FBref and considering just how clinical Kane has been in front of goal for club and country over the previous ten years, scoring a total of 333 goals for Tottenham Hotspur and England, it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

The duo have registered similar stats with regard to shots on target per 90 (1.38 to 1.14), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.46 to 0.38) and touches in the attacking penalty area (163 to 122) suggesting the duo offer an effective attacking threat while getting in the opposition box as often as possible.

tammy-abraham-roma-liverpool-transfer-jurgen-klopp-premier-league

Although their styles of play differ slightly, with Kane offering a counter-attacking threat and plays the ball off the ground often according to WhoScored, both the Spurs striker and Abraham have finishing and through balls as key strengths, which could allow Emery to bolster his attacking options next season.

The 11-cap striker has even described himself as turning into a “monster” under the tutelage of Jose Mourinho and Emery could very well give him the opportunity to thrive back in the Premier League.

Brad Hogg quits Perth Scorchers

Veteran spinner Brad Hogg has left the Perth Scorchers and at the age of 45 will start afresh with a different BBL club, believed to be the Melbourne Renegades

Brydon Coverdale08-Jul-2016Veteran spinner Brad Hogg has left the Perth Scorchers and at 45 will start afresh with a different Big Bash League club, believed to be the Melbourne Renegades. No official announcement has been forthcoming from the Renegades, but Scorchers coach Justin Langer confirmed on Friday that Hogg was leaving the Scorchers.Hogg, a cult figure with the Scorchers since coming out of retirement to play with them from the start of the 2011-12 season, has been their leading wicket taker with 46 wickets at 21.82. Only Ben Laughlin (60 wickets for Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes) has more BBL wickets, although Hogg had a leaner campaign last year, with just six wickets in nine games.”Very disappointing,” Langer told reporters in Perth on Friday of Hogg’s departure. “I know [where he’s going], but I can’t tell you where he’s going. But he’s leaving the Scorchers. I’m really disappointed about that. What can I say? I’m personally disappointed, professionally disappointed, but it’s his decision and life goes on.”In my opinion he’s made a wrong decision, that’s okay, that’s not my business. But I can go to bed at night knowing we offered him more money than we offered him last year, we think we’ve had as good deal with him for the last few years and it could have been a real win-win situation for him and us.”But we wish him the best, we’ve been friends since we went to school together. I think he’s been brilliant for the Scorchers. I think on and off the field he is fantastic, he’s a good friend of mine but it’s disappointing.”Hogg originally retired from all cricket in 2008, but made a comeback when the BBL started in 2011. He helped the Scorchers to back-to-back titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and unexpectedly returned to Australia’s T20 side in 2014, becoming their oldest T20 international player at 43. This year, at 45, he became the oldest man ever to play in the IPL.

Chelsea Talks With 51 y/o Manager Just Began

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea hadn't even spoken to Mauricio Pochettino about becoming manager until last week.

What is the latest on Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea?

It's been a dramatic few days for the Premier League side as the search for a new head coach really begins to heat up.

Indeed, in the week, it was reported that Luis Enrique is no longer a favourite to take charge of the Blues. This was followed up by reports that Julian Nagelsmann was also dropping out of the race.

Since then, it has emerged that former Tottenham Hotspur boss Pochettino is now being considered as a prime candidate for the Chelsea job.

However, when talking about this on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that these talks have only just begun.

He explained: "Pochettino was already in conversation with Chelsea board last summer, when they decided to go for Graham Potter. It was Potter or Pochettino. Chelsea decided in a few days [to hire Potter], but Pochettino was there and was really appreciated.

"Now he's back in the list after first contact made this week. So until last week, Pochettino never spoke to Chelsea. Now he is in the list and the conversation is there."

Will Pochettino want to join Chelsea?

This is interesting, as in some parts of the media, Pochettino was viewed as a favourite to come in at Chelsea weeks ago. For instance, Gary Nevile told Sky Sports (via BBC Sport): "If they appoint [Zinedine] Zidane, [Diego] Simeone, [Luis] Enrique, they're going to want another £300m because they won't like some of the players they've signed.

"They have to appoint a manager who is going to inherit and like the squad that they’ve got – I think that man, because a lot of them are young, is Pochettino.”

However, despite all these rumours, it seems as though the Chelsea board hadn't seriously considered hiring the 51-year-old until recently.

This could be because their favourites Luis Enrique and Nagelsmann were no longer viable options, and it doesn't necessarily bode that well if they are now trying to hire their third-choice option.

What's more, the club have already opted against Pochettino in the past. As Romano explained, they viewed Potter as the better option when they were last appointing a new boss.

With that being the case, it remains unclear if the Argentine would even want to come in. It certainly sounds as though Chelsea haven't always been totally convinced even if they may now turn to him.