Manchester United will reportedly attempt to sign a centre-forward during the January transfer window to help the development of Rasmus Hojlund in the Premier League.

The 20-year-old is yet to find the back of the net since his arrival from Atalanta BC over the summer.

He has drawn a blank in each of his seven games in the competition.

Hojlund has scored three times in the Champions League, though, with the Denmark international showing plenty of encouraging signs during the early stages of his time at the club.

Anthony Martial’s struggles mean that Hojlund has become the starting centre-forward this season, and there have been suggestions that the youngster is not ready for that responsibility at this stage of his career.

Martial has only scored once this season and is out of contract next summer.

He is expected to depart in 2024 even if a 12-month extension in his deal is activated.

According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United will prioritise a new forward in the winter window, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Porto’s Mehdi Taremi and Napoli’s Victor Osimhen seen as options.

Taremi would arguably be the most straightforward of the three to sign, as the Iran international only has a contract with Porto until the end of the campaign.

Manchester United were linked with the 31-year-old over the summer, and Real Madrid are also believed to be interested in a player who has 83 goals in 160 appearances for Porto.

Toney, meanwhile, is widely expected to leave Brentford next year, with the 27-year-old said to be ready to make the step up once he has returned from an eight-month suspension.

The Englishman scored 20 Premier League goals last season, and he will be available for selection once again in the middle of January, when his ban for breaching Football Association betting rules comes to an end.

However, a recent report claimed that Brentford will not allow Toney to leave for less than £100m in January, which would be an impossible deal for Man United at that price.

Osimhen’s future is also being called into question, with his contract talks at Napoli believed to have stalled.

The Nigeria international scored 31 times for his Italian club last season, including 26 in Serie A, playing a leading role in Napoli winning the championship.

The 24-year-old is also believed to be valued by his team in the region of £100m, though, and it would prove very difficult to convince the Serie A champions to sell during the January transfer window.

[EagleOnline]

The draw for this season’s Carabao Cup quarter-final was conducted on Wednesday night, following the completion of the fourth-round fixtures.

Chelsea will host Newcastle United in what is the tie of the round. The Blues defeated Blackburn 2-0, while the Magpies hammered holders Manchester United 3-0.

Liverpool play West Ham who eliminated Arsenal in another all-Premier League affair.

Port Vale welcome Middlesbrough and Everton take on Fulham.

The games will be played in the week commencing December 18, 2023.

Carabao Cup quarter-finals:

Everton vs Fulham

Chelsea vs Newcastle

Port Vale vs Middlesbrough

Liverpool vs West Ham

[DailyPost]

The Confederation of African Football has released the list of nominees for the men’s categories for the CAF Awards 2023, scheduled for December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco.

A statement by CAF on Wednesday read in part, “A panel of CAF Technical Experts, African Football Legends, and selected media representatives from several countries put together the preliminary list for the various categories with the performance of the nominees between November 2022 and September 2023 serving as the period under consideration.”

Thirty players made the cut for the top prize; CAF African Player of the Year, whilst 20 players have been nominated for the CAF Interclub Player of the Year.

Coach of the Year, CAF National Team of the Year and Club of the Year have ten  nominees each just as CAF Young Player of the Year – for players under the age of 21.

For the first time, CAF has introduced the CAF African Goalkeeper of the Year Category (Men and Women) in the prestigious event that seeks to reward and celebrate exceptional Players, Officials and Administrators during the period under review.

It will be the first time that shot stoppers will be acknowledged for their performances, further expanding the network of winners for the annual event. 10 players have been nominated for the novel award.

The ultimate winner of each category will be decided after votes from a voting panel consisting of CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, Head Coaches & Captains of Member Associations and clubs involved in the group stages of the Interclub competitions.

The Africa’s football governing body said nominees for the Women’s categories will be announced in due course.

Senegal forward Sadio Mane was crowned CAF African Player of the Year whilst Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala was coronated CAF African Women’s Player of the Year for a record fifth time during the last Awards Gala in July 2022 in Rabat, Morocco.

Full List of Nominees (in alphabetic order by Member Association):

Player of the Year (Men)

1. Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria and Borussia Dortmund)
2. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria and Al Ahli)
3. Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso and Bayer Leverkusen)
4. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon and SSC Napoli)
5. Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon and Besiktas)
6. Ibrahima Sangare (Cote d’Ivoire and Nottingham Forest)
7. Seko Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire and Al Nassr)
8. Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo and Olympique Marseille)
9. Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Pyramids)
10. Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
11. Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
12. Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
13. Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)
14. Mohammed Kudus (Ghana and West Ham United)
15. Thomas Partey (Ghana and Arsenal)
16. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea and VfB Stuttgart)
17. Yves Bissouma (Mali and Tottenham Hotspur)
18. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain)
19. Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco and Olympique Marseille)
20. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco and Galatasaray)
21. Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco and Manchester United)
22. Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
23. Yassine Bounou (Morocco and Al Hilal)
24. Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco and Sevilla)
25. Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
26. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria and SSC Napoli)
27. Sadio Mane (Senegal and Al Nassr)
28. Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur)
29. Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
30. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Ferencvaros)

Goalkeeper of the Year (Men)

1. Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
2. Yassine Bounou (Morocco & Al Hilal)
3. Andre Onana (Cameroon and Manchester United)
4. Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
5. Edouard Mendy (Senegal and Al Ahli)
6. Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Alger)
7. Youssef El Motie (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
8. Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
9. Pape Mamadou Sy (Senegal and Generation Foot)
10. Landing Badji (Senegal and AS Pikine)

Interclub Player of the Year (Men)

1. Aymen Mahious (Algeria and USM Alger/Yverdon-Sport)
2. Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Alger)
3. Zineddine Belaid (Algeria and USM Alger)
4. Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Young Africans/Pyramids)
5. Makabi Lilepo (DR Congo and Al Hilal/Valenciennes)
6. Hussein El Shahat (Egypt and Al Ahly)
7. Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)
8. Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)
9. Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)
10. Mostafa Fathi (Egypt and Pyramids)
11. Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
12. Yahia Attiyat Allah (Morocco and Wydad Club Athletic)
13. Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
14. Youssef El Motie (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)
15. Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)
16. Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)
17. Ranga Chivaviro (South Africa and Marumo Gallants/Kaizer Chiefs)
18. Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
19. Ali Maaloul (Tunisia and Al Ahly)
20. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Esperance Sportive de Tunis /Ferencvaros)

Young Player of the Year (Men)

1. Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso and Bournemouth)
2. Souleymane Alio (Burkina Faso and New Stars)
3. Ernest Nuamah (Ghana & Olympique Lyonnais)
4. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Morocco and Betis)
5. Bilal El Khannous (Morocco and Genk)
6. Gift Orban (Nigeria and KAA Gent)
7. Lamine Camara (Senegal and Generation Foot/Metz)
8. Pape Amadou Diallo (Senegal and Generation Foot/Metz)
9. Pape Demba Diop (Senegal and Zulte Waregem)
10. Amara Diouf (Senegal and Generation Foot)

 Coach of the Year (Men)

1. Abdelhak Benchikha (USM Alger)
2. Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)
3. Juan Micha Obiang (Equatorial Guinea)
4. Tom Saintfiet (The Gambia)
5. Baciro Cande (Guinea Bissau)
6. Amir Abdou (Mauritania)
7. Walid Regragui (Morocco)
8. Chiquinho Conde (Mozambique)
9. Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
10. Pape Thiaw (Senegal – CHAN)

 National Team of the Year (Men)

1. Cape Verde
2. The Gambia
3. Guinea Bissau
4. Equatorial Guinea
5. Mauritania
6. Morocco
7. Mozambique
8. Namibia
9. Senegal
10. Tanzania

Club of the Year (Men)

1. CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
2. USM Alger (Algeria)
3. ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire)
4. Al Ahly (Egypt)
5. Raja Club Athletic (Morocco)
6. Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)
7. Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
8. Marumo Gallants (South Africa)
9. Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
10. Young Africans (Tanzania)

FC Barcelona once possessed a midfield that the greats of Europe would envy without a veil. Today, they still possess a team that displays a good level of quality all around. However, there was one component of the midfield of old that truly separated Barcelona from all others.

Sergio Busquets, now a Barcelona icon and former player, was once the backbone of the club’s midfield. The Spanish veteran possessed a unique ability to slow the game and make it run how his legs wanted it to. His contributions to Barcelona allowed the Catalan giants to enjoy their golden peek.

On the other hand, his departure has damaged the club just as much. In terms of a stylistic fit, Barcelona are unable to find any. No amount of money or scouting can enable the club to replace Busquets in the perfect way that they would ideally like. However, they may have just found an answer from within the walls of the club itself.

Heir to Busquets

As highlighted by SPORT, 16-year-old Marc Bernal is a player being looked at as the next big thing. The midfield talent possesses undeniable skill and has a massive potential. So much so that SPORT believes that Barcelona look at him as a possible new iteration of Sergio Busquets himself.

Able to play as a capable defensive midfielder, Bernal possesses great technical ability. Moreover, beyond just his accurate passing and ability to modify the game’s tempo, he also has a dynamic edge to his game. This ‘edge’ has allowed him to not just be a great conductor of the midfield but also act as a spearhead when needed.

Bernal’s own edge

Scoring goals and thwarting opposition defenders are an additional quality of Bernal’s. Currently mainly playing for Barcelona Athletic under the mentorship of Rafa Marquez, he continues to impress in the subsidiary.

Moreover, Barcelona even consider that the player will be able to prove his quality at its best when he travels to Indonesia soon. The Under-17 FIFA World Cup will allow Barcelona the chance to watch Bernal compete against the best of his age.

Traveling with the Spain side competing in the prestigious tournament, Bernal will carry a huge responsibility. Given that he is among the country’s most prominent starlets, he will be expected to lead the side’s midfield as the anchor.

La Masia’s latest

Just like Sergio Busquets before him, Bernal could be La Masia’s newest great. His contributions in the upcoming international tournament could help Barcelona accelerate his continuity even further.

Already impressing at an alarmingly fast rate as he progresses through the Barcelona ranks, Marc Bernal could potentially even reach his dream of playing under Xavi Hernandez depending on how he performs in Indonesia.

[barcanewsnetwork]

• Tchouameni linked with Premier League duo Arsenal and Liverpool
• The 23-year-old subject of enquiries but Real Madrid not interested in selling
• 14-time Champions League winners instead preparing to open new contract talks in 2024

Real Madrid have 'no intention' of allowing Aurelien Tchouameni to leave the club and consider him a key player for the long-term.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to Arsenal in recent weeks, with Mikel Arteta looking to boost his central midfield options in 2024, and Liverpool remain long-term admirers after losing out on Tchouameni's signature last year.

90min revealed in the summer that Liverpool had again asked Madrid about Tchouameni's availability ahead of their midfield overhaul, but were told that the Frenchman was not available under any circumstances.

Arsenal have also made contact with Madrid but were given the same message by officials in the Spanish capital.

Sources have confirmed to 90min that Madrid's firm stance on Tchouameni is because they regard him as a key component of their midfield moving forward, and that both club and player are very happy with how he's progressing.

It had been speculated that the arrival of Jude Bellingham could potentially impact Carlo Ancelotti's use of Tchouameni and teammate Eduardo Camavinga, but the Italian was quick to insist that would not be the case.

Aurelien Tchouameni warming up for El Clasico / Alex Caparros/GettyImages

And Ancelotti's guarantee has come to pass so far, with a tactical shift allowing Bellingham, Tchouameni and Camavinga all to feature prominently in Madrid's starting 11.

Bellingham has made a sensational start at the club, scoring 13 goals in 13 games across all competitions, while Tchouameni has established himself as a regular starter in the heart of midfield. Camavinga has flitted between playing in midfield and at left-back - a role he's learned and flourished in over the past 12 months after initially filling in for the injured Ferland Mendy.

Well placed sources have told 90min that Madrid see the trio as centrepieces of the squad for many years to come, alongside Vinicius Junior, who has signed a new four-year contract to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu until at least 2027.

A new deal for Camavinga is close to being finalised and 90min understands that talks over a new deal for Tchouameni are pencilled in for next year.

[90min]

Manchester United players have had to resort to wearing replica kits during matches as the approved Adidas clothing is too tight for them.

As a result, the sportswear giants are now scratching their heads trying to find a solution after a number of complaints from Red Devils stars. None of the United players are believed to have worn the official home socks since the second game of the league season back in August.

According to Mail Sport, the tight kits have been an issue for just about every player in the squad, including goalkeeper Andre Onana. The Cameroon international had initially donned the professional shirt, designed to be tighter than the one made for fans, but sources now claim he has opted to change to the looser, replica fit of the supporters shirt.

Onana stuck with the adidas-approved gear until October's 2-1 win away at Sheffield United. From that point onwards, the £47.5million shot-stopper has bid farewell to the old shirt and welcomed a more comfortable new one.

Ironically, a kit-related issue plagued United's goalkeeper last season when David de Gea claimed his kit was too baggy. Alterations have clearly been made without Onana's wider frame in mind and as a result the 27-year-old is suffering.

A plethora of outfield stars have even gone to manager Erik ten Hag with their complaints over the fact that the socks feel too tight on their calves. A number of United players often cut holes in the back of their socks anyway, but Ten Hag's men have opted to wear the fan-issued socks for now ever since August's 2-0 defeat away at Spurs.

Adidas are expected to have sorted the problem within the next month. One source told MailSport the German sports titans are planning to make some "light amendments."

 

 

Andre Onana is now wearing a replica shirt due to the fit of the previous professional one ( 

Image: 

Michael Regan/Getty Images)

It is unclear how much of United's poor form can be put down to the kit troubles, with the Red Devils losing five of their opening 10 league games this term. Their last outing came in the form of a humiliating 3-0 defeat on their own patch against local rivals Man City.

[mirror.]

Alex Greenwood will return to Manchester City for more medical checks after sustaining a head injury in England's defeat by Belgium in the Women's Nations League.

She was then taken off on a stretcher but was later seen walking around.

City said Greenwood had "been carefully monitored" since the incident.

They added that the 30-year-old centre-back, who was replaced by Chelsea's Jess Carter, "is alert and well and will return home later on Wednesday ahead of a review with our medical team".

"It was not nice to see her in pain," Lucy Bronze said after the 3-2 loss.

England full-back Bronze told ITV4: "Obviously when it's a head injury, it's something you can't take lightly. The medical team were superb on the pitch, making sure she was safe, so I just wish her a good recovery."

There was concern from team-mates who stood around Greenwood offering support as she received treatment from the medical staff and took on oxygen.

Blom also received treatment on the pitch and her head was bandaged up before she was allowed to continue playing.

At full-time Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman confirmed Greenwood was "conscious and talking" before adding "she's all right - when she's walking, she's all right".

[BBC]

Nigeria’s top-ranked squash players in the men’s and women’s categories Onaopemipo Adegoke and Rofiat Abudulazeez qualified for the third round of the ongoing Prime Atlantic Squash Open, National Daily Newspaper reports.

The second edition of the Prime Atlantic Squash Open – a four-day event, served off at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, Lagos Tuesday.

Adegoke, who is the defending champion in the men’s category, walked over Matthew Jimoh just as Gbenga Olowoyo advanced to the next round in the absence of his opponent, Femi Shedara.

In other men’s results, Ismail Abubakar defeated Abdulraheem Durosilorun in three straight sets 11-6, 11-6, 11-2.

In the women’s second round, Abudulazeez, Abdulraheem Khadija, Mistura Durosilorun, Blessings Isaac, Riskat Ahmed, Jadesola Olatunji, Grace Okon Udeme James, Awawu Balogun, Ruth Okoro Rebecca Auta and Ibukunoluwa Ajani all qualified for the third round.

Speaking with newsmen after the first round of matches, tournament director, Wasiu Sanni expressed delight at the level of competitiveness of the players.

“The first edition was very impressive and we had Adegoke emerge as champion.

“This edition is more elaborate and that’s why we believe it is going to me more competitive,” Sanni said.

“The quality of performance on display from these players has been terrific and aside that we hope to use tournaments like these to catch them young for the future.

“Now that squash is now an Olympic sport, we hope to nurture them so we can have good representatives for Nigeria in 2028.”

Nigeria’s No.5 in the women’s category, Durosilorun also remained confident of reaching the rounds of 32 when day two of the event serves off on Wednesday (today), National Daily Newspaper gathered.

[NationalDaily]

Former Tottenham Hotspur attacker Darren Bent has insisted that Manchester United would have ‘no chance’ of bringing in Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to replace Erik ten Hag as the club’s new manager.

Ten Hag is under significant pressure at Man United following a slow start to the 2023-2024 campaign.

His team currently sit in the eighth position on the Premier League table after their recent derby defeat to Manchester City.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, are flying under Emery and are fifth in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

When asked if Emery could be tempted to swap Aston Villa for United, Bent told talkSPORT: “He wouldn’t leave Aston Villa now. He wouldn’t.

“Not with that mess that’s going on [at Man United]. He is not leaving. No chance. At the minute, he’s at a stable football club who are going in the right direction.

“I don’t know what’s going on at Man Utd. Listen, Man United are a bigger club, I have no doubts about that, but right now Aston Villa are in a more stable position and look better than Man United.”

He added, “Do you think Eddie Howe would leave Newcastle to go to Man Utd? Absolutely not.”

[DailyPost]

Super Eagles and Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, has been nominated for the 2023 CAF Men Player of the Year award.

The 24-year-old was instrumental to Napoli’s success last season, as the club won Serie A for the first time in 33 years. Osimhen also won the Golden Boot, scoring 26 goals and becoming the highest-scoring African in the league. He was also named the best striker in the league.

At the 2023 Ballon d’Or award held on Monday, Osimhen ranked 8th on the men’s list, thus becoming the highest-ranked Nigerian player ever.

Also on the list is current holder, Sadio Mane, and Liverpool Forward, Mohamed Salah.

The Awards Gala is scheduled for December 11, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco.

See Full List

Victor Osimhen (Nigeria and SSC Napoli)

Ramy Bensebaini (Algeria and Borussia Dortmund)

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria and Al Ahli)

Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso and Bayer Leverkusen)

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon and SSC Napoli)

Vincent Aboubacar (Cameroon and Besiktas)

Ibrahima Sangare (Cote d’Ivoire and Nottingham Forest)

Seko Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire and Al Nassr)

Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo and Olympique Marseille)

Fiston Mayele (DR Congo and Pyramids)

Mahmoud Abdel Moneim “Kahraba” (Egypt and Ahly)

Mohamed Abdelmonem (Egypt and Al Ahly)

Mohamed ElShenawy (Egypt and Al Ahly)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)

Mohammed Kudus (Ghana and West Ham United)

Thomas Partey (Ghana and Arsenal)

Serhou Guirassy (Guinea and VfB Stuttgart)

Yves Bissouma (Mali and Tottenham Hotspur)

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain)

Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco and Olympique Marseille)

Hakim Ziyech (Morocco and Galatasaray)

Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco and Manchester United)

Yahya Jabrane (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)

Yassine Bounou (Morocco and Al Hilal)

Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco and Sevilla)

Peter Shalulile (Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns)

Sadio Mane (Senegal and Al Nassr)

Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal and Tottenham Hotspur)

Percy Tau (South Africa and Al Ahly)

Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane (Tunisia and Ferencvaros)

[Vanguard]