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Manchester United signing Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa this summer would be a surprise as he would be a 'big name contender' to challenge David De Gea between the sticks, according to journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving Diogo Costa?

According to A Bola via METRO, Manchester United are interested in signing Costa from Porto this summer and he has emerged as a priority target for Erik Ten Hag.

The report states that the Red Devils are reluctant to activate his £64 million release clause and are trying to get his current employers to lower the price of the £24k-a-week ace.

As per The Guardian, they also detail that Manchester United are known admirers of Costa; however, Newcastle United and Chelsea are also keen on the Portugal international this off-season.

David De Gea's future at Old Trafford is uncertain and he may well depart the club following a distinguished period of service stretching back to 2012, as per 90min.

Contractually, De Gea will be free to leave Manchester United at the end of the month when his deal at the Red Devils expires; however, Ten Hag does have an option to extend his terms at the Premier League giants by a further 12 months.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones has indicated that he would be surprised if Costa was brought to Old Trafford this summer.

Jones told FFC: "To be honest, I would just be surprised generally if they brought in a big-name contender for De Gea. It doesn't really add up with what their intentions should be in this transfer window. They either replace David De Gea or they focus the main bulk of their money on other positions."

Would Diogo Costa be a good signing for Manchester United?

Costa is a very accomplished goalkeeper who is highly regarded among his peers due to his safe handling and his composure and distribution on the ball.

In 2022/23, the 23-year-old made 40 appearances in all competitions for Porto, recording 20 clean sheets in total, as per Transfermarkt.

As per FBRef, Costa has also managed to produce a save percentage rate of 77.2% in the Primeira Liga, demonstrating his reliability between the sticks.

Former Brazil international Helton was full of praise for Costa last year in an interview with Noticias ao Minuto, stating: “He [Costa] has the possibility of being the best goalkeeper in the world. I knew his qualities, and this is not a surprise to me. He took over at FC Porto and the national team as well, and this, even if there is Rui Patrício, an excellent goalkeeper.”

It is easy to see why Costa would warrant such high appraisal and he could well be a long-term replacement for De Gea if the latter chooses to depart Old Trafford.

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has revealed that he knew his hamstring was close to breaking point before he tore it at the start of the season.

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De Bruyne reveals hamstring painBelgian knew he was at risk of big injuryMidfielder made triumphant return to actionWHAT HAPPENED?

De Bruyne made his first appearance in almost five months when he came off the bench in the 5-0 hammering of Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup, after undergoing surgery in August to treat his ruptured hamstring. He took little time to get his first assist of the season, setting up Jeremy Doku. The Belgian spoke of his joy at returning to action after the game and admitted it was only a matter of time before he seriously injured the hamstring, which he also aggravated during the Champions League final.

AdvertisementWHAT DE BRUYNE SAID

"I had three hamstrings [injuries] in a row but they were nowhere near the same place. I had so much scar tissue that it could snap at any moment," De Bruyne told reporters. "People said I returned too quickly but when you train three weeks in a row without any issue it was fine. I played against Arsenal for 40 minutes or so but then after Burnley it just needed to be done."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

City coped well without De Bruyne, winning their first six Premier League games of the season before having a brief slump in form. But they are now clicking into gear again and his return comes just as they are preparing their assault on the Premier League title and looking to repeat their incredible success of last season. De Bruyne revealed how hard it was to watch City's games while he was recovering.

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'I DON'T LIKE IT'

"No. I can watch whatever football and I watched every game but I don't like it," De Bruyne added. "They've obviously been alright. After the year we had last year there will be ups and downs but most of the games except for Villa and maybe Wolves we did fairly well. We are there with the other teams. If you're here with all the teams around you're not going to be far away. We are where we need to be, but we need to try and continue that."

The incident is under investigation while security has been increased on the team’s route to the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Sep-2017A broken window of the Australia team bus is “believed” to have been caused by a small rock or stone thrown at the bus when the players were returning to the hotel on Monday evening in Chittagong. No player was injured, Cricket Australia confirmed. The incident is under investigation while security has been increased on the team’s route to the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.”On route back to the hotel last night a window on the Australian team bus was broken. No one was injured in the incident,” Cricket Australia’s security manager Sean Carroll said. “Team security personnel are currently in discussion with local authorities while they investigate the cause, which is believed to have come from a small rock or stone.”Bangladesh authorities are taking the incident seriously and security has been increased on the route.”To date we have been happy with security measures that have been in place and we are comfortable with the response from the Bangladesh authorities and the increased security presence we have been provided in light of the incident.”The BCB issued a statement after the lunch break on Tuesday to say it was treating the matter with “utmost seriousness” and a “high-power” committee had been formed by the concerned security agencies to investigate the matter. The statement also said the Australian team had expressed its “satisfaction and comfort” with the beefed up security measures after Monday’s incident.ESPNcricinfo has learned the BCB authorities believe that street children may have thrown something at the bus.Both teams reached the ground safely on Tuesday morning for the second day’s play after Bangladesh were 253 for 6 at the end of the first day.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been able to bolster his squad with two new additions since joining the club to replace Ange Postecoglou last month.

Odin Thiago Holm and Marco Tilio have come in to complement his options in the middle of the park and out wide.

The Northern Irishman has still well over a month left to make further signings before the deadline passes and one player who has been touted with a possible move to Parkhead is former Hoops star Kieran Tierney.

It was reported by The Scottish Sun at the end of last month that the Arsenal left-back would consider a return to Paradise if an offer came his way.

The defender is currently considering his future at The Emirates and a loan could be on the cards, although his £120k-per-week wages could prove to be a stumbling block unless the Gunners are willing to subsidise them.

Journalist Dean Jones has cast his own doubt over the likelihood of a deal being done but has also stated that it would be a fantastic piece of business if Rodgers can get it over the line.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the reporter said: "I think if Tierney did return to Celtic, he would be the biggest player at the club, and it'd be an unbelievable moment.

"I'm just not sure that they can get to that price point. Newcastle were put off by it, recently. and it doesn't seem like Arsenal are going to budge."

What is the market value of Kieran Tierney?

The Scotland international is valued at €36.4m (£31.1m) by FootballTransfers and left Celtic for a fee of £25m when he moved to Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

The Hoops have never spent £15m or more on one signing in their history and the highest earner at the club is reportedly Callum McGregor on £32k-per-week, significantly less than Tierney's £120k-per-week.

His market value is also considerably ahead of every player in Rodgers' squad as Celtic's most valuable star, as per FootballTransfers, is currently Israel international Liel Abada at €16.9m (£14.4m).

This suggests that the Arsenal ace, who won 11 trophies during his first spell at Parkhead, would come in as the biggest star at the club, certainly in terms of his worth.

He is already a proven Scottish Premiership performer who would be able to hit the ground running in order to make an instant impact on the pitch, rather than arriving as an unknown with no prior experience playing in the country.

Tierney was named as one of the stars of the PFA Team of the Year in three of his last four seasons in Scotland; including the 2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18 campaigns.

This suggests that the 26-year-old, who has won the FA Cup during his time in England, was the standout left-back in the country throughout his time in Glasgow, which is another reason why he would be a phenomenal signing as he has showcased his ability to be an outstanding player at that level.

Therefore, Rodgers and the club must work hard to strike an agreement with Arsenal, if the Premier League side are willing to be flexible with the player's wages in a possible loan deal ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke has been a long-time transfer target for West Ham this summer and a significant update has now emerged.

How old is Dominic Solanke?

The former Liverpool striker is still only 25 years of age and has matured into an important player for Bournemouth, helping them get back into the Premier League after scoring 29 goals in the Championship in 2021/22.

Last season, Solanke did a solid job back in the top flight, netting six times and registering seven assists, and he has also bagged one of each in his first two league outings of the current campaign, with his goal coming against West Ham.

The Englishman has been continually linked with a summer move to the Hammers, as they eye up attacking additions, having replaced Declan Rice with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse in midfield, and there should still be money left over for further reinforcements higher up the pitch.

Now, a new claim has emerged that suggests the east Londoners are pushing hard to secure the signing of one of their primary summer transfer targets.

Will West Ham sign Dominic Solanke?

According to Football Insider, West Ham have now submitted an offer for Solanke, as they look to seal a significant piece of transfer business:

"West Ham have submitted a formal bid for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, sources have told Football Insider. The offer is believed to be around the £35-40m mark with the London club waiting on a response from their Premier League counterparts.

"Bournemouth also have concrete interest in Solanke from another top-flight English club in the market for a centre-forward. It leaves the future of the England international, 25, up in the air in the final ten days of the summer transfer window."

This is an exciting update from a West Ham perspective, with Solanke now a proven Premier League striker who has the attributes to be a real handful leading the line. In many ways, he is like a younger version of Michail Antonio, possessing his physical power and pace, as well as an eye for goal that has become more ruthless as he has matured as a footballer.

At 25, there is still so much time for the ex-Liverpool man to further improve as a player, perfecting his all-round game, and he could be the ideal competition or replacement for Antonio, allowing David Moyes to rotate his squad more effectively across three different competitions.

Read the latest West Ham transfer news HERE…

Former managers clearly think highly of Solanke as a player, with Gary O'Neil lauding his importance to the cause for Bournemouth last season, saying:

"Dom works his socks off for me and you can see he comes off and we’ve not created loads of chances for him and he’s put in a load of work. People that maybe don’t know, could underestimate how big Dom is for this group. Absolutely massive. I couldn’t ask for a better number nine to go and face the challenges that we’re faced with."

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp described him as "fantastic" during their time together at Liverpool, so West Ham could have a gem on their hands if they can get a deal over the line.

Middlesex’s campaign against relegation remains active with an ECB discipline commission set to re-examine their overrate fine after a crossbow bolt forced an abandonment at the Oval

George Dobell11-Oct-2017The English domestic season may have ended almost two weeks ago, but it still remains unclear whether Middlesex or Somerset will be relegated from Division One of the County Championship after the ECB confirmed they are considering Middlesex’s appeal against an overrate penalty.Middlesex, the 2016 County Champions, were docked two points for a slow overrate following the early abandonment of their Championship match against Surrey at The Oval at the end of August. While they were initially told there was no appeal process available to them, the ECB have now referred the case to their Cricket Discipline Commission which is expected to reach a decision next week.”We can confirm Middlesex CCC have appealed against the recent two-point penalty imposed for a slow-over rate during their Specsavers CC match against Surrey,” an ECB spokesman told ESPNcricinfo. “We have referred the club’s appeal to the Chairman of the Cricket Discipline Commission who is currently considering his response.”Middlesex claim that, given the extraordinary nature of the game’s abandonment – the match was ended on the instruction of police after a crossbow bolt was fired from outside the ground and landed on the playing surface – they were denied the opportunity to rectify their overrate issue.Although they were batting at the time, they state they intended to declare within a few overs and had ample time to bowl the overs required with the weather set fair. They also claim that they were assured by match officials, at the time of the abandonment, they would face no such penalty.Were Middlesex to have the penalty revoked, it could well have ramifications for other sides and Somerset in particular. Somerset appeared to have achieved Division One survival with a crushing victory over Middlesex in the final round of Championship matches. But, having finished just one point above Middlesex, Somerset remain vulnerable should the overrate penalty be revoked. They might well claim, however, that they went into the final game knowing what was required of them and to change the goal posts now would be unreasonable.It appeared initially that Middlesex had accepted the sanction. The club released a statement on September 9 in which their chief executive, Richard Goatley acknowledged “there is no scope for any further appeal” and urged Middlesex’s players to “maximise the points we take in the final few games to mitigate this loss as much as possible.” They also provided ESPNcricinfo with a statement in which “categorically” confirmed they had given “no consideration” to “any legal action… against the ECB” in relation to the incident.But the club has continued to make representations behind the scenes. And, as the impact of the points penalty has become more apparent, they have stepped up those representations. While no formal appeals route was open to them, they requested a special hearing from the ECB in which they could make their case.Middlesex were also bitterly disappointed by the Taunton pitch prepared for their final Championship match of the season. Clearly prepared to suit Somerset’s spinners, it was branded “disgraceful” by Angus Fraser, the Middlesex director of cricket and England selector, who went on to say he had “never seen such a doctored pitch.” While an ECB investigation found the surface to be “below average,” no points penalty was imposed.This is the second year in succession in which the relegation issue has been muddied by disciplinary action. Durham were relegated at the end of 2016 as a punishment for their financial problems, with Hampshire reprieved in their place. It is a scenario that does nothing to enhance the reputation of the competition or the ECB.

USWNT star Emily Fox has been reunited with Alessia Russo at Arsenal, after playing college soccer together at the University of North Carolina.

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Fox signs for ArsenalReunited with college teammate RussoLook ahead to Gunner's scheduleWHAT HAPPENED?

After confirming her transfer to West London from the North Carolina Courage, it became a realization that Fox would be reunited with her former college teammate. The Tarheels duo won the 2019 NCAA championship together and were runners-up in 2018.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT FOX POSTED

In 2019, Fox posted a photo of her and teammates – including Russo – on Instagram. Pictured is a 19-year-old version of the England phenom and a 21-year-old USWNT star.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Russo and Fox already having chemistry will be a major boost for the Gunners, but the pure concept of adding the USWNT star is a simple improvement in their defense. A rock-solid defender, Fox will compete for minutes at the fullback position while also offering an attacking presence on the pitch. With Katie McCabe opposite at left fullback, Arsenal could immediately be looked at as having the best fullback duo in the WSL.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR FOX AND ARSENAL

The Gunners are back in action on Sunday against Watford in the FA Cup, before returning on January 20 in WSL action against Everton. Fox could make her debut in either contest, but it's more likely to be the latter.

Leeds United continue to be linked with a man certain to ease the biggest issue emerging from Elland Road of late…

Who are Leeds United signing this summer?

Having already welcomed Ethan Ampadu and Karl Darlow to the club this summer, it could be argued that Daniel Farke has sufficiently bolstered a weak backline.

It seems like the German clearly feels that way too, given how reports are detailing their new pursuit of Swansea City striker Joel Piroe.

Football insider has offered a fresh update, suggesting that it will take a sum of around £20m to tempt the Welsh outfit to part with their star man, who has just one year left on his deal at The Swansea.com Stadium.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

They are set to battle with a host of Championship clubs for his signature.

How good is Joel Piroe?

Whilst acquiring the Dutchman would mark outstanding business in its own right, the current injury crisis plaguing Farke's front line is a point of serious concern that makes this move even more important.

Journalist Graham Smyth wrote on Twitter: "Bamford (hamstring) and Rutter (core muscle injury) now doubtful for Cardiff but Farke not yet certain of timescale."

To be without these key attackers for the opening day of the new campaign will be a worry for the new boss, which he will seek to ease before that deadline in just under a week.

Although both struggled last season in the Premier League, at present this would leave them with only youth team strikers to occupy such a role, or else be forced to play someone out of position.

That is where Piroe would come in as a star above all else, likely even the injured pair.

After all, the 23-year-old has shone ever since trading his homeland for England, scoring 22 goals and assisting six in his debut year, before posting a further 21 goal contributions in the league just last season.

Such form unsurprisingly has drawn praise, with Chair of the Swansea City AFC Foundation Andrew Rhodes having predicted something "special" from their new frontman. That has since come to fruition.

Russell Martin would later outline this, detailing his lethal scoring touch as a fine asset in April 2022: "If you wanted it to fall to anyone, it is him, he is so clinical with both feet, and he is a great technician. But the most important thing he has is the right mentality when he gets around the goal.

“He shows composure, he is calm, and he just focuses on his technique, something that all top strikers possess."

Whilst Bamford might have scored 16 during his last Championship campaign, and Rutter boasts immense potential that could thrive under less pressure their new level brings, Piroe would still represent a far more reliable source of goals given he has shone for two consecutive years now.

The former proved himself far from the requisite level last campaign in the top flight, missing 13 big chances as they fell to the drop. Meanwhile, the Frenchman would start just once following his club-record switch in January.

For just £20m, the young finisher would take the goalscoring burden off both of these struggling forwards, hopefully to fire Farke to an instant promotion.

Celtic’s move for Maik Nawrocki is on the verge of being completed, according to an update from reliable reporter Mark Hendry, sharing an update on Saturday morning.

Who have Celtic signed in 2023?

The Hoops have enjoyed a fairly productive summer transfer window so far, with Norwegian prospect Odin Thiago Holm, exciting attacker Hyun-jun Yang, Aussie star Marco Tilio and midfield enforcer Tomoki Iwata all arriving through the doors at Parkhead to work under new boss Brendan Rodgers.

There is still plenty of work to be done to tailor the squad to the returning manager’s liking though, especially after Ange Postecoglou’s star man, Jota, left to join Al Ittihad in a record departure worth close to €30m (£26m).

A centre-back looks to be next up on the agenda, with reports emerging late last week that the Bhoys board have lined up a move for Nawrocki, a promising 22 year-old Poland youth international who currently plies his trade for Ekstraklasa club Legia Warsaw.

Reports in the player’s homeland broke the news that Celtic had “entered the game” for the youngster and would compete with Turkish Super Lig club Galatasaray for his signature, and it appears the Parkhead outfit have now won the race.

Taking to Twitter from Japan on Saturday, where the Hoops were in action against Gamba Osaka, Football Scotland’s Hendry said: “Nawrocki is in the UK to do medical tests and sort out his contract details with fine tooth comb. Expect real (deal*) to be completed soon.”

Is Maik Nawrocki good?

Celtic fans can be forgiven for not knowing much about their imminent new arrival, but the 6 foot 2 ace certainly looks like a player with real potential. He's been in the Polish top flight since he was 19, starting with Warta Poznan before moving to Warsaw.

His first season in the capital didn’t exactly go to plan, as one of the country’s biggest clubs slumped to 10th in the final league standings, but he did manage 18 starts in the top flight, forcing his way in as a regular feature in the first XI.

His second campaign with the club – this season just finished – Nawrocki started 23 games in the league as they shot up to a second place finish, and he actually proved to be a consistent source of end product from set pieces too, scoring four times and providing one assist to boot, averaging a direct goal contribution one out of every five lots of 90 minutes, an impressive rate for a centre-back.

The youngster has yet to make his mark on the senior national team setup. He has been able to break into the fold for their Under-21 side though, making his debut for them in 2021 having already featured at various youth levels for the Under-15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 sides, so one would have to assume it’s only a matter of time before that progression leads him into the senior set-up.

What probably appeals most to Rodgers is the defender’s versatility, as not only is he equally comfortable on either side at centre-back, but he can also function as a full-back or even further ahead in defensive midfield, which likely reminds the boss of another towering player he had at his disposal during his last stay in Glasgow, Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have been linked to a midfield talent ahead of the summer transfer window in a player with Premier League experience.

Julen Lopetegui will have a number of obstacles to overcome in the break, however, the Spaniard could ease the woes surrounding the expected departure of Ruben Neves in a rumoured loan deal.

The former Real Madrid boss faces the uphill challenge of improving his side while balancing the club’s finances following the emergence of FFP issues.

Seeking quality with lower price tags is essential this summer, with the latest link being easy on the club’s wallet.

What’s the latest on Fabio Carvalho to Wolves?

As reported by transfer expert Ben Jacobs for CaughtOffside, Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho is admired by a number of clubs including Wolves.

The report states that Liverpool have no interest in selling the midfielder, however, could see the 20-year-old depart on a loan deal.

The £32k-per-week ace could be a strong talent for Lopetegui to borrow in a beneficial move for both parties, with the Portuguese itching for game time.

What could Fabio Carvalho bring to Wolves?

Playing predominantly as an attacking midfielder in the heart of the pitch, the former Fulham gem worked his way through the Londoners’ academy before signing for Liverpool last summer.

Having made just 13 appearances and four starts this campaign, the “magic” attacker – as dubbed by pundit Jack Collins – could bring a new lease of life to Wolves’ attack.

Neves was Molineux’s top provider in attack this campaign, highlighted by his six goals and a single assist.

However, despite being the shining light in a lacklustre season, the Portuguese midfielder’s numbers are far from mindblowing and amid the pending disappointment of his departure, Lopetegui could replace and upgrade the squad’s creative outlet by capturing Carvalho.

In his final campaign at Fulham, the youngster had 18 goal contributions, scoring ten himself and assisting eight – as per WhoScored – in a year that solidified his status as an academy graduate turned first-team player.

Wolves are lacking inspiration, being the Premier League’s lowest-scorers and are expected to lose a host of attacking talent this summer, so a reshuffle is essential at Molineux this summer.

Carvalho could provide a streak of danger to the clubs’ attack, as highlighted through his numbers over the past year, in a period that has seen the youngster starved of game time.

As per FBref, the attacker averages 0.39 non-penalty goals per 90, ranking him in the top 1% of his position in Europe’s top five leagues, based on his minutes played.

The youngster also excels in being progressive in midfield, as highlighted through his 2.73 progressive carries per 90.

Despite not playing as much football, which can be detrimental to a player’s development, Carvalho has continued to showcase a high level of his quality, particularly in comparison to Neves.

The Wolves captain averages 0.09 non-penalty goals per 90, as well as flagging when carrying the ball making an average of 0.83 of progressive carries per 90 – as per FBref.

A reshuffle in personnel and formation could allow the youngster to blossom and enjoy his football again under the watchful eye of Lopetegui, but only time will tell if Jurgen Klopp will allow the 20-year-old to depart.