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'Titanic' Sporting defender 'on Man City's radar' after Champions League sucker punch
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F47%2Fmaxi-araujo.jpg "Sporting Lisbon's Maxi Araujo pictured on October 5, 2024")
Manchester City have supposedly shortlisted Sporting Lisbon and Uruguay wide man Maxi Araujo as a possible signing for 2025 to address their issues on the left-hand side.
The 24-year-old joined the Portuguese giants from Mexican side Toluca in an £11.3m deal over the summer and shone as a left wing-back for Ruben Amorim before the latter's move to Manchester United.
Araujo has registered two goals and one assist from his first 12 appearances in a Sporting shirt, netting one of those strikes in Sporting's 4-1 thrashing of Man City in the Champions League on November 5.
Also a 20-cap Uruguay international, Araujo has been directly involved in 11 goals for his nation (three of his own and eight assists) and netted twice at the 2024 Copa America en route to the semi-finals.
Saliba's successor: Arsenal pursuing 21-year-old wanted by 'every top English club'
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F39%2Fwilliam-saliba.jpg "Arsenal defender William Saliba on September 22, 2024")
Arsenal have reportedly identified RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba as a possible successor to William Saliba if the latter is lured to Real Madrid.
Los Blancos are expected to intensify their efforts to sign a new centre-back next year in the wake of Eder Militao's second serious knee injury, which will keep him out for the rest of the season.
David Alaba is also yet to return from the ACL issue he suffered this time last year, and Saliba is thought to be high on Real's list of potential signings, alongside Tottenham Hotspur's Cristian Romero.
Arsenal will no doubt fight tooth and nail to fend off interest in Saliba, who has established a reputation as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and signed a new deal at the Emirates last summer, meaning that he is not due to become a free agent until 2027.
Chelsea targeting move for Ipswich hotshot with 'exceptional transfer metrics'
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F45%2Fliadel.jpg "Ipswich Town's Liam Delap celebrates scoring with Sammie Szmodics on November 10, 2024")
Chelsea have supposedly earmarked Ipswich Town frontman Liam Delap as a possible transfer target for the summer of 2025.
Even though the Tractor Boys have just one win to their name in the current top-flight season and are languishing in 17th place in the Premier League table, their predicament is no fault of the former Manchester City striker.
From 11 appearances in the top division this season, Delap has contributed six goals and one assist, both scoring and setting up Sammie Szmodics in Ipswich's shock 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur two weekends ago.
Delap has scored half of Ipswich's top-flight goals in 2024-25, and the 21-year-old is one of just three Premier League players to have bagged at least 50% of their team's league goals in the current season, the others being Erling Haaland and Chris Wood.
Will Gyokeres, Quenda arrive? Amorim discusses Man United transfer strategy
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Fgeovany-quenda-viktor-gyokeres.jpg "Sporting Lisbon's Geovany Quenda and Viktor Gyokeres on September 22, 2024")
New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has insisted that he must always have "the final word" when it comes to the club's recruitment.
Man United now have a specialist team in the football department at the club, including CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, with all three having major roles when it comes to the buying and selling of players.
However, Amorim, speaking during his first press conference as Man United head coach on Friday, opened up on the importance of having "the final word" on recruitment, with the 39-year-old believing that he is in "a strong position" to make the final call.
"I think it has to be all together. Because if you are a coach that is coming here and already chose the players he could be wrong. Because this is a football club that will be here for a long time and you as a coach don't know that," Amorim told reporters when questioned on the recruitment strategy following his arrival.
'You have to listen' - Rodri opens up on Real Madrid links
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F39%2Frodri_1.jpg "Manchester City's Rodri pictured on September 18, 2024")
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has seemingly opened the door to a future move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Los Blancos are believed to be keen to lure Rodri back to his homeland after he previously played for Real Madrid's local rivals Atletico Madrid.
Despite their interest in Rodri, Real Madrid opted to boycott the recent Ballon d'Or awards after the Man City star pipped Vinicius Junior to the top prize.
Rodri previously stated that he was not bothered by Real Madrid's non-attendance, although he admitted that it was a stance he would not have taken.
"Pep might be selfish": How might City respond to "audacious" McAtee bid?
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F40%2Fjames-mcatee.jpg "Manchester City's James McAtee on September 18, 2024")
Manchester City midfielder James McAtee has reportedly been the subject of an "audacious" bid from Leeds United.
The 22-year-old was integrated into Pep Guardiola's first team over the summer but has been limited to fleeting opportunities, only making six appearances and scoring once in October's 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava.
McAtee has also been restricted to just one Premier League minute against Ipswich Town in August; since that brief cameo he has been an unused substitute in City's last nine top-flight matches.
The fitness troubles of Kevin De Bruyne have not yet led to an increase in first-team exposure for McAtee, who is now in the final two years of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Amorim 'eyeing' Tottenham star as Man United plan becomes clear
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F47%2Fpedro-porro-cristian-romero.jpg "Tottenham Hotspur duo Pedro Porro and Cristian Romero on August 24, 2024")
Pedro Porro's agent is reportedly 'convinced' that Ruben Amorim will attempt to bring the Tottenham Hotspur defender to Manchester United following his arrival at Old Trafford.
Amorim is widely expected to implement a 3-4-3 formation at Man United, with the Portuguese having so much success with that system during his time in charge of Sporting Lisbon.
Porro played under Amorim at Sporting, with the Spain international thriving down the right, and according to AS, Pedro's representative believes that Man United will now make an attempt to sign the defender.
The report claims that Amorim has an 'excellent relationship' with Porro, and the Red Devils could potentially move ahead of Real Madrid to the top of the queue for his signature.
From Paris to Manchester? Man United 'eye January deal' for PSG forward
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F41%2Fousmane-dembele-randal-kolo-muani.jpg "Paris Saint-Germain duo Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani on November 28, 2023")
Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani.
The Red Devils have struggled to convert chances this season, with their two senior forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee only managing three goals between them in all competitions.
Man United are expected to move for a new long-term centre-forward next summer, with Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres and Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez thought to be their leading targets in the final third of the field.
However, it is believed that the 20-time English champions could look to bring in a new striker on loan in January, with incoming head coach Ruben Amorim determined to bolster his options in that area of the field.
Man United 'in battle' with Real Madrid, PSG for 40-goal forward
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F46%2Fruben-amorim.jpg "New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim pictured in November 2024")
Manchester United have reportedly joined the race for Atalanta BC attacker Ademola Lookman, with the Red Devils potentially battling Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature.
Lookman, 27, has been in excellent form for Atalanta during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring eight goals and registering five assists in 14 appearances in all competitions, including two goals and one assist in four Champions League matches.
The Nigeria international managed 17 goals and 10 assists in 45 appearances last term, meanwhile, including a hat trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final at the end of May, while he has struck 40 times in 92 outings in total for the Italian outfit since his arrival in the summer of 2022.
Lookman's current deal with Atalanta is due to expire in June 2026, and there is currently a host of speculation surrounding his future, with a number of clubs believed to be interested in his signature.
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