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Manchester United may have strong interest from America over a potential takeover deal from the Glazers, according to Ben Jacobs.

The Lowdown: Glazers sale

It was reported in November that the Glazer family were looking to end their 17-year control of United as they put the Premier League side up for sale.

The American family, who also own NFL franchise Tampa Bay Buccaneers, acquired the club in 2005 for £790m and look set to finally put an end to an ownership that has been marred by protests and all-round discontent towards their position within the club.

Interest in United has ranged from British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Apple and Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (via Football365).

The Latest: Jacobs’ update

Speaking to GiveMeSport, CBS Sports reporter Jacobs revealed that an American-led consortium could soon find its way to the front of the billing.

He said: “I would expect strong and healthy interest from America-based or American-led consortiums, and they’re the ones that tend to work diligently and privately and don’t make a lot of noise, as they want their business to be private.

“Traditionally, those who make the most noise in the earliest stages of a takeover are usually the least credible.”

The Verdict: Needs to happen soon

From United’s on-pitch perspective – particularly Erik ten Hag’s point of view – a takeover would ideally be completed as soon as possible, with the Glazers’ reluctance to make funds available for this transfer window limiting United to making Wout Weghorst their only arrival this month so far.

They will be desperate this isn’t the case in the summer, with a lack of incomings before next season potentially threatening to undo all of Ten Hag’s good work, which has seen the Red Devils now command a strong position in the Champions League places with a six-point gap above fifth place.

Ratcliffe’s interest first emerged in November (via The Sun) after the United fan threw his hat into the ring, and in recent days, has re-entered the spotlight over a potential purchase after Greenpeace urged United not to consider bids from the 70-year-old due to the climate change impact of his company INEOS (via The Mirror). This could forge a path for a potential US charge to the ownership.

We believe that plenty of fans will be hoping the takeover is completed soon after an almost barren January window so far.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke says that Everton are ‘plotting’ a move for West Ham United defender Ben Johnson.

The Lowdown: Gordon money to spend…

Everton now have money to spend after selling Anthony Gordon to Newcastle United for a reported £40m, potentially rising to £45m.

However, the Toffees have reportedly offered the same amount to Chelsea to try and sign midfielder Conor Gallagher, so it will be interesting to see how much money they have left in the bank to potentially spend on other signings.

The Latest: Johnson move plotted

Taking to Twitter, O’Rourke says that Everton are also ‘plotting’ a move for Johnson before the transfer window closes tomorrow night.

He tweeted: “Understand Everton are plotting a move to sign West Ham defender Ben Johnson before the close of the transfer window.”

Expanding in his corresponding article for Football Insider, O’Rourke adds that new Toffees manager Sean Dyche has already ‘sanctioned’ the move and is a ‘big admirer’ of Johnson’s versatility and Premier League calibre.

The Verdict: Smart target

Everton need to strengthen in a number of key areas before the transfer deadline, including in attack after the departure of Gordon, but full-back is another area which needs cover.

Johnson is equally as comfortable playing at right-back as at left-back, and Ruben Vinagre is only on loan from Sporting Lisbon, so the Toffees will need long-term competition for Vitaliy Mykolenko on the left flank.

At right-back, Seamus Coleman is not getting any younger at 34, while Nathan Patterson has struggled with injuries ever since making his move from Rangers.

Nonetheless, considering Johnson’s Premier League experience, this would be a smart move for the Toffees, should they be able to get him signed before the deadline.

In-form Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is now close to signing a new contract at the club, journalist Rudy Galetti has claimed.

The Lowdown: Sensational season for Rashford

The 25-year-old looked completely out of sorts at times last season, but this time around, he has undoubtedly found the best form of his career to date.

Rashford has been one of the Premier League’s standout players in 2022/23, scoring nine goals and registering three assists in the competition, including 10 overall since the 2022 World Cup.

The Englishman’s current deal expires next year, however, highlighting the need for United to tie down his future.

The Latest: New deal close

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Galetti claimed that an extension is now close to being agreed:

“Based on what I know, Marcus Rashford is close to extending his contract with Manchester United. The Red Devils put a deal on the table, a long-term future proposal with his current salary.

“Rashford is now convinced that he’s making the right choice to renew at Manchester United, as confirmed by Erik ten Hag a few weeks ago.”

The Verdict: As big as any signing

This is clearly great news for United, with Rashford someone who is going to play an enormous part in the club’s future, having been hailed as ‘spectacular’ by Casemiro.

At 25, the hope is that the £200,000-a-week attacker’s best years are still ahead of him, and his all-round game becomes even more polished, he could become one of the world’s leading attackers.

Rashford’s resurgence is also a timely reminder to supporters that footballers are human and can suffer both good and spells, with some arguably even willing to see him leave Old Trafford last year.

This has been a devastating season from him, however, and it would now be a huge shock if he didn’t sign a new contract, as he looks to add to his 111 United goals.

A key feature of Newcastle United’s rise over the last 12 months or so during the PIF regime has been the club’s astute dealings in the transfer market, with the Magpies taking a more measured approach to signings, rather than targeting high-profile, marquee additions.

That was no doubt evident last year as the experienced figures of Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier – among others – were brought in to aid in the bid for survival, before the northeast side again acted wisely over the summer to secure the services of Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Alexander Isak.

That knack for clever business was seemingly again continued in the recent January window, with the Tynesiders securing possible figures for the long-term in the form of Harrison Ashby and Anthony Gordon from West Ham United and Everton, respectively.

Although there may be concerns over the £45m fee that was splashed out on the latter man, that was seemingly an indication of the club’s faith in a player who can thrive at St James’ Park for years to come, with sporting director Dan Ashworth having also managed to secure a reduction on the Toffees’ previous £60m valuation.

With the inexperienced Ashby – who has made just seven senior appearances for the Hammers – coming through the door for a knock-down price of just £3m, it does appear that PIF have again avoided the temptation of unnecessarily splashing the cash.

That being said, however, Newcastle’s ownership may well have made a rare mistake in not strengthening a key area in the winter window, with deadline day having come and gone without the signing of a new central midfielder.

That need for a fresh face in the centre of the park was only heightened by the loss of long-serving playmaker Jonjo Shelvey to Nottingham Forest, with manager Eddie Howe subsequently admitting that his squad may be “light in a couple of areas”.

There had been reports throughout the month that the top-four hopefuls were eyeing a deal for long-term target Conor Gallagher, with the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards (Live feed, 31/01/2023, 14:32) revealing that a last-ditch loan attempt had been made for the Englishman, albeit with Chelsea reluctant to part ways – particularly on a temporary deal.

With no other suitable alternatives having seemingly come available – with Gallagher’s teammate Ruben Loftus-Cheek previously mooted as a possible option – Howe has now been left with limited options in the midfield ranks.

Outside of the regular trio of Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes, there is seemingly little quality depth, with resurgent Brazilian, Joelinton – who has featured on the left flank of late – arguably the only other senior option in that position.

While the Magpies do have promising youngster Elliott Anderson as a regular fixture in the first-team, the 20-year-old is still rather untested at Premier League level, having spent last season on loan in League Two with Bristol Rovers.

The fear will be that any injuries or suspensions – including Guimaraes’ recent dismissal against Southampton – in the coming months could derail the club’s top-four charge, with the northeast side potentially set to be left to rue the failure to secure a midfield acquisition on deadline day.

While there is wisdom in not turning to a late, ill-fitting panic buy, Newcastle had seemingly been crying out for a new recruit for months.

One man who may well not be getting much joy from Manchester United’s recent resurgence under Erik ten Hag is club captain Harry Maguire, with the England international having largely been twiddling his thumbs on the sidelines in recent months.

Despite having had a ‘very good World Cup’, according to pundit Graeme Souness in his Daily Mail column, the 29-year-old has remained resigned to a watching brief throughout the campaign at club level, with just four starts in the current Premier League campaign.

Having been axed from the starting XI following the horror show at Brentford in August, the former Leicester City man has largely been unable to regain his place in the team since then, having even seen usual left-back Luke Shaw given the nod at centre-back on occasion.

With Maguire now restricted to late cameos off the bench, it does appear to be becoming a matter of when and not if the £80m man will be moved on from Old Trafford, with Jamie Carragher stating in September that it is ‘too late’ for the struggling skipper to save his United career.

Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst has since revealed earlier this week that the £190k-per-week dud could well be one of the first-team assets to be shown the door this summer, with Ten Hag seeking to continue his revamp of the squad.

However, rather than splashing the cash on a replacement for the 53-cap brute – with a new striker and midfielder also set to be prioritised – the former Ajax boss could seemingly consider turning to the youth ranks to find a suitable option as Maguire’s long-term successor.

A perfect candidate already appears to have revealed itself in the form of 19-year-old starlet Rhys Bennett, with the teenager having proven his talents in recent times after leading the club’s U18 side to FA Youth Cup glory last term.

The commanding centre-back had started the final four games in the competition, while notably getting the Red Devils off to the perfect start in the showpiece after scoring in front of a packed crowd at the Theatre of Dreams.

That glorious winning run showcased the youngster to be a “good character and natural leader” in the side, according to Luckhurst, with the promising gem having since gone on to make an impression on Ten Hag after featuring in a handful of matchday squads this season.

Although a competitive first-team debut has yet to emerge, Bennett was involved off the bench in the mid-season friendly defeat to Real Betis in December, with experienced team-mate Tom Heaton lauding him as “excellent” as a result of his confident display.

The aim must now be for Bennett to truly force his way into the first-team reckoning sooner rather than later, with his chance of staking a claim only likely to be enhanced by Maguire’s seemingly inevitable summer exit.

Tottenham Hotspur may end up having to sell Harry Kane to Man United, believes talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor.

The Lowdown: Kane contract running…

The 29-year-old is approaching the final year of his current Spurs deal which expires in 2024, meaning it’s crunch time for chairman Daniel Levy.

Antonio Conte’s side must now make the decision over whether to push forward with new contract talks or contemplate selling him for a big fee this summer.

The Premier League top four chasers are thought to be unwilling to sell to direct English rivals like United with Bayern Munich and potentially Real Madrid interested from abroad.

The Latest: Agbonlahor makes Kane claim…

Speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor, a talkSPORT regular, claims Tottenham might not have a choice but to sell Kane to the Red Devils.

The former Aston Villa striker says Kane may wish to stay in England and battle for Alan Shearer’s all-time PL scoring record for another club.

“Harry Kane has got 18 months left.

“In the summer, he’ll either sign a new contract or leave.

“But Spurs might be in a position where Kane says he is only going to an English club – because he’ll want to break Shearer’s record.

“Tottenham might not have a choice in whether they sell him to a Man United.

“It’s a really difficult position for Spurs. As much as they say they won’t let him go to a rival, if he runs into the final year of his contract – they could lose a £70m striker for nothing.

“It’s going to be horrible because without him they are nothing.”

The Verdict: Nightmare scenario…

Kane leaving Spurs for United would be a truly nightmare scenario for Conte and Levy.

We can’t imagine it happening and surely the Lilywhites would want to keep hold of Kane for an extra year and let him for free as an alternative – if he doesn’t sign a new deal.

Those extra 12 months of free-scoring for Spurs would be invaluable and arguably worth more than any transfer fee for Kane this summer.

The England international has once again proved just how vital he is to the club – bagging 17 goals and an assist in 22 league appearances over 2022/2023.

In Tottenham’s most recent encounter against Man City, Kane surpassed the legendary Jimmy Greaves as the club’s all time top scorer and we believe he is destined to clinch Shearer’s record also.

Tottenham Hotspur were recently credited with an interest in the Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot and there is now a belief that he is looking for a Premier League move.

Do Spurs want to sign Adrien Rabiot?

Reports suggest the French midfielder is a player who the Lilywhites have looked at recently as a potential option to bolster their midfield.

And it is believed the midfielder has even been offered to the north London club by his agent ahead of the 27-year-old’s contract ending in the summer.

Spurs have done business with Juventus recently with the signings of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur which has established a good relationship between the clubs.

Now, speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Frenchman would like his next transfer to be one that’ll take him to the Premier League:

“What we can say is that Juventus feel it’s going to be really difficult to extend his contract. They would love to keep Rabiot, but they know the conditions of the salary could be really difficult to match for Juventus and this is why there is a possibility for Rabiot to leave and become a free agent.

“Keep an eye on this possibility, and his biggest dream, from what I understand, is to play in the Premier League. So keep an eye on Adrien Rabiot, because Premier League clubs could be on the point and on the verge of starting contacts for Adrien Rabiot.

“So one to watch for the summer because the player dreams of Premier League football.”

Is this the end for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg?

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has played a huge role in Tottenham’s starting XI since making the move from Southampton nearly three years ago.

The Danish midfielder has already racked up 130 appearances for the north London club where he has provided Spurs with 10 goals and 14 assists.

And his importance to the side was highlighted on Sunday evening when the 27-year-old provided a stunning pass to set Ben Davies through before he laid off Emerson Royal to give Spurs the lead.

The 2022/23 campaign has been Hojbjerg’s most prolific in a Spurs shirt with the Dane returning five goals and five assists across all competitions.

In comparison, Rabiot has provided Juventus with a higher number of shot-creating actions per 90 minutes as well as more tackles per game (via Fbref).

Speaking during last year’s World Cup, France manager Didier Deschamps was left in awe of the Juventus midfielder and his development:

“He’s changed a bit, he’s taken something away and today he’s a complete midfielder. He is said to be a balance player, but he is capable of doing as well in defence as in attack. He’s smart, he always knows where he needs to be.”

However, the current Spurs midfielder has returned almost double the number of passes per 90 minutes this season and has offered more than double the number of progressive passing yards.

So if Spurs were to look to bring in the Frenchman on a free this summer, it would be interesting to see what role in the side Rabiot would take on.

After all, Spurs also have Rodrigo Bentancur and the young pairing of Pape Matar Sarr and Oliver Skipp proved more than capable on Tuesday night in the Champions League against AC Milan.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Liverpool midfielder James Milner may leave this summer amid transfer interest in Jude Bellingham.

What’s the latest on Milner, Bellingham and Liverpool?

The Reds have been said to be in the market for a new midfielder for some time now and the Borussia Dortmund star is understood to be one of the club’s biggest priorities this summer.

However, manager Jurgen Klopp made it clear in January that the club don’t have the resources to just go out and sign expensive new players. With that in mind, it seems a few midfielders could be leaving Liverpool this summer to make way for Bellingham.

Indeed, while talking on his YouTube channel, Romano noted that loanee Arthur Melo won’t be joining the club on a permanent basis, while Milner’s future is yet to be decided.

He said (3:40): “Let’s see what happens with James Milner. This will be decided in the final months of the season.

“But also Arthur Melo. Arthur will not stay at Liverpool next season. The idea is clear, he is expected to return to Juventus and then Juventus will discuss with other clubs to find a solution for Arthur.

“But Liverpool will cut many players from that position because Jude Bellingham is the big target. Of course with Man City and Real Madrid also involved in the race.”

What could Milner’s contract situation mean for Liverpool transfers?

Milner has been a great servant for the Premier League club since arriving from Manchester City for free back in 2015. The Englishman has played over 300 games for the Reds, winning essentially every major trophy available.
However, at 37 years of age now, it might be time for him to retire soon or at least bring his time with Liverpool to an end. With his contract set to expire this summer, this could be the right moment for the two to part ways.

Saying all that, Milner has still played in 28 games across all competitions this season for Klopp (albeit mostly as a sub), so it’s not as if he’s an unused squad member,
But with a fee in the region of £130m being quoted for Bellingham, Liverpool may have to cut costs in other areas to fund a move and so perhaps the club will decide against renewing the contract of their veteran midfielder this summer.

An update has emerged regarding the fitness of Glasgow Rangers ace Malik Tillman ahead of the Viaplay Cup final next weekend…

What’s the latest on Malik Tillman’s fitness?

According to Football Scotland, the USA international is ‘likely’ to return to training with his team-mates this week ahead of the Hampden Park showdown on Sunday.

The report claims that the 20-year-old missed the 3-0 win over Livingston in the Premiership on Saturday due to a hamstring issue, but he will not remain out of action heading into the cup final clash against Celtic.

It is stated that John Lundstram and Ryan Jack are also nursing injury issues and are facing a race against time to be fit for the Sunday decider.

This news comes after the Light Blues head coach Michael Beale, claimed at the weekend that it was “by no means certain” that Tillman would be back this week.

Tillman’s return would be a huge boost for Rangers

Having Tillman fit and available to face the Hoops would be a welcome relief for Beale, as the return of the attacking midfielder would offer a huge boost for Rangers heading into the final.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have been in phenomenal form this season, winning 24 of their 26 Premiership matches to date, and the Gers will need their best players available to give them the best chance of lifting the trophy on Sunday.

Celtic have only conceded 18 goals in their 26 top-flight outings, which suggests that if Postecoglou goes with his regular league XI for the Viaplay Cup final, it could be quite difficult for the Light Blues to break them down.

Therefore, Tillman’s availability would be crucial, as the Bayern Munich loanee has been a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch since arriving at Ibrox last summer. The 20-year-old has plundered nine goals and five assists in 36 matches in all competitions for the Gers, including seven goals and four assists in 23 league appearances.

These statistics indicate that the youngster offers a big goal threat who could cause Celtic a few problems with his ability to arrive into the penalty box to goalscoring effect.

Tillman has also created a whopping ten ‘big chances’ for his team-mates in the Premiership – two more than James Tavernier – and this shows that the American gem is adept at providing the other forwards at Ibrox with quality opportunities from which to score.

Therefore, the USA international’s return would be a huge boost for Beale this weekend, as Tillman has the quality to finish off chances whilst also creating them for his team-mates, and his ability in possession could be vital to opening up the Hoops’ impressive defence.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale suffered defeat for the first time since entering the dugout at Ibrox as his side lost in the League Cup final on Sunday.

The Scottish giants lost 2-1 to their bitter arch-rivals and were unable to secure the first trophy of the new era at the club, following the manager’s arrival during the break for the 2022 World Cup.

Kyogo Furuhashi’s double either side of half-time was enough to secure the win for Celtic, despite Alfredo Morelos pulling a goal back in the second half, and the Light Blues will now have to turn their attention to the Premiership and the Scottish Cup.

On a disappointing day for the Gers, one player who must be ruthlessly ditched from the team after his performance at Hampden Park is midfielder John Lundstram.

Should John Lundstram be dropped for Rangers?

The Englishman was an injury doubt heading into the game and did not look ready to be playing, as he left a lot to be desired with his display in the middle of the park.

Journalist Josh Bunting claimed that the former Sheffield United man “really struggled”, while reporter Mark McDougall stated that Celtic “dominated” the midfield as Lundstram looked “poor”.

Rangers Review’s Derek Clark was also scathing in his assessment of the 29-year-old’s performance, writing: “A poor performance from the Scouser who looked a yard off the pace and lost out in almost all his duels. He was often slow and cumbersome in possession.”

The £22k-per-week dynamo has enjoyed a strong season in the Premiership, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.07 across 25 matches, but the signing of Nicolas Raskin now means that there is competition for places, and even one bad outing could cost a player their place in the starting line-up.

This could be the case for Lundstram, as his dreadful display in the final should result in Beale ruthlessly dropping him from the starting XI for their upcoming match against Kilmarnock next weekend.

Raskin has made a strong start to life in Scotland, with an average Sofascore rating of 6.95 in his first two matches, winning 73% of his individual duels and completing 89% of his attempted passes.

The 22-year-old has shown that he can handle the physical contests of Scottish football and has demonstrated his quality in possession by being reliable with the ball at his feet.

Raskin’s early promise could tempt Beale into throwing him into the start for the clash against Kilmarnock, and after his woeful performance against Celtic, Lundstram is the midfielder who should duly be ditched from the team in order to free up a space in the starting XI.