Atletico Madrid will attempt to challenge Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd to the signing of Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

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Gyokeres wanted by top clubsAtletico eager to snap him upSporting demand at least €80mFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Gyokeres is one of the most in-demand strikers in Europe thanks to his incredible goal record for Sporting, attracting interest from the Premier League trio. However, reports that Atletico are considering entering the race as they look to strengthen Diego Simeone's squad.

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The 26-year-old, who has scored 48 goals in 47 games for Sporting this season, is expected to cost upwards of €80 million (£68m/$91m) and Atleti are 'dreaming' of bringing him to La Liga. The Spanish side are looking to invest in other areas of the squad, with Tottenham's Cristian Romero on their list of possible signings. Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic and Thomas Partey of Arsenal are also on their radar, although Villarreal's Alex Baena is their top target in that area.

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Atletico could see star forward Antoine Griezmann leave at the end of the season, so they will hope to partner Gyokeres with ex-City attacker Julian Alvarez up front.

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR GYOKERES?

The Sweden international is aiming to finish the season with another Primeira Liga title under his belt before he confirms his next move in the summer.

Blackburn manager John Eustace has now confirmed that his team are interested in signing a “special” Leeds United player.

Leeds transfer news

Given the fact that the Whites sit at the top of the Championship table, it may not be a surprise to see that they are yet to do any transfer business this month. However, that doesn’t mean the club or Daniel Farke are not looking at players, as reports keep emerging of potential targets that they have in mind.

Leeds scouts watching "pacey" versatile wide player during transfer window

Daniel Farke wants to strengthen his backline and Leeds have their eye on a familiar face.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jan 13, 2025

A report has recently claimed that Leeds are looking to sign a new goalkeeper in this transfer window, given the mistakes that Illan Meslier has made throughout this campaign, even though Farke has publicly backed him. As well as looking for a new goalkeeper, Leeds scouts watched Bali Mumba in action for Plymouth Argyle this weekend, as they took a closer look at him.

The defender is known to Farke, as he is the one that gave him his Premier League debut with Norwich City, and given the German wants to improve his full-back options, they could be set for a reunion. Aside from potential arrivals, Leeds are set to see a player leave Elland Road, as Joe Gelhardt closes in on a move to Hull City. The forward is set to join the Tigers on a six-month loan deal as he searches for more football.

Eustace confirms January transfer interest in Leeds player

Gelhardt may not be the only player to leave Leeds, as when speaking to The Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn Rovers boss Eustace confirmed that Patrick Bamford is on a list of potential targets for this month.

Bamford, who was dubbed “special” by former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, has been at Elland Road for seven seasons now after joining the club from Middlesbrough in 2018. The forward has been an important player for the club, but recent reports have suggested that his time at Leeds could be coming to an end, despite being under contract until 2026.

It was reported in December that the Whites could let the £70,000-a-week man leave this month, and it now seems that Blackburn are one side interested in his services.

Eustace has revealed that he believes Bamford is a good player and went on to admit that he is on their list of players they have looked at: “Patrick is a very good player. I played with him at Derby a long time ago when he started out.

Apps

198

Goals

60

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22

“He’s a consistent performer at this level; he plays for a huge club in Leeds. But there will be lots of names thrown towards me, and I’ll just say they’re good players. You’d have to ask the club. He’s a player on a long list that we have looked at, and we’ll have to see.”

يقترب يوفنتوس الإيطالي من التعاقد مع جادون سانشو جناح مانشستر يونايتد لدعم خطه الهجومي، ويبحث السيدة العجوز عن ضم لاعب آخر من الشياطين الحمر أيضاً.

وبحسب “فوتبول إيطاليا” فقد استفسر يوفنتوس بشكل غير رسمي عن التعاقد مع ماركوس راشفورد خلال سوق الانتقالات الصيفية الحالية، ومن المعروف أن اللاعب يعد هدفاً للانضمام لصفوف برشلونة.

أقرأ أيضاً.. النصر السعودي يوافق على طلب ليفربول للاستغناء عن لويس دياز

ولا يدخل ماركوس راشفورد حسابات روبن أموريم مدرب مانشستر يونايتد، ويحاول يوفنتوس أن يعرف ما سيحتاجه النادي الإنجليزي لضم لاعبه.

وقد ارتبط ماركوس راشفورد بالانتقال للدوري الإيطالي هذا العام بعد أن أصبح متاحاً للانتقال في يناير، ورغم الشائعات التي ربطته بالانضمام لميلان ولكنه انضم معاراً لأستون فيلا.

وقدم راشفورد أداء جيداً مع أستون فيلا، حيث سجل هدفين وصنع هدفين آخرين في عشر مباريات بالدوري الإنجليزي لكن النادي فضل عدم إتمام الصفقة.

وقد تشكل مطالب ماركوس راشفورد ومطالب يوفنتوس عقبة كبيرة في سعي يوفنتوس للحصول على خدماته، ومن المثير رؤية ما إذا كان سيواصل السيدة العجوز اهتمامه ويوجه ضربة قوية لنادي برشلونة الذي يرغب بضم الإنجليزي بعد خيبة أمله بتجديد عقد نيكو ويليامز جناح أتلتيك بلباو.

After completing a memorable two-wicket win against South Africa to qualify for the quarter-finals, Namibia seek to go a step ahead

Mohammad Isam01-Feb-2016A day after their monumental two-wicket win over South Africa, the Namibia Under-19 players appeared a happy lot in Cox’s Bazar. During a serious training session, there were plenty of smiles, but Namibia’s soft-spoken captain Zane Green said they would reserve celebrations for the end of their World cup campaign and were focused on their final group game, against Bangladesh on Tuesday.”We will wait for the celebrations after the tournament,” Green said. “Right now we are focused on the game tomorrow. We saw yesterday that anything is possible. We believe in ourselves that we can beat any team. We went into the game to win. So I think we worked hard for it and stayed positive.”The World Cup so far has been very exciting. It is the first time in Namibia cricket history that we made it to the quarter-final. After the game, we received lots of messages from home. During our chase, I think we clapped for every run and ball. We were supporting them from the dressing room. I think we play well as a team; play for one another. I think our team spirit is what takes us through.”Namibia’s coach Norbert Manyande said they want to push to be group champions. “Bangladesh is not a favorite in any way. We are ahead in the net run-rate,” he said. “They are a Test-playing nation which is why they are favourites. But tomorrow both teams are equal; there’s no favourite.”We will definitely want to finish as group champions. We know what’s awaiting us. We didn’t play against this Bangladesh team but we played against them in 2014 World Cup. We are quite confident, having won the first two matches in this tournament. Bangladesh are obviously used to the conditions but if we play the same way, I don’t see why we can’t win.”We want to prove that yesterday’s win wasn’t a fluke. We want to go as far as possible in this tournament. We knew that we could surprise a few teams, and we have shown it.”It is not a surprise that team unity is Namibia’s strength. They have played together from the Under-13 level. Namibia’s manager Andre Schmidlin displayed a photo of Niko Davin holding a bat and ball in front of his house, possibly at the age of three. Knowing what the photo was of, Davin shyly walked away to his team-mates, who were enjoying a mid-morning snack at the end of their practice session.Davin’s attraction to cricket began at an early age and he prefers playing cricket despite representing Namibia’s rugby teams at the U-16 and U-18 levels. He is a scrum half in rugby, but opened the batting and bowled legspin against South Africa.”I started rugby at the age of seven. I got into U-16 and U-18 Namibia team. I also play sevens for Namibia. Last year I broke my ankle playing rugby so I will probably choose cricket. Rugby is more popular in our country but I will choose cricket, it has more exposure. I love cricket more.”Another player who plays rugby as an inside centre is Chrischen Olivier, taller than Davin. He, however, is not sure whether his future is in cricket or rugby. “I like both sports the same. I have to choose, I am not sure yet,” he said. “In the winter is rugby, in summer it is cricket. So lucky the seasons don’t clash.”But as Davin said, they call each other “brothers”, and having achieved their maiden quarter-final place in the Under-19 World Cup, perhaps Olivier will choose cricket.

“Hopefully he doesn’t give too many secrets away to the Aussies,” Stuart Broad jokes

Matt Roller06-Jun-2023Australia hope to become the first team since England in 2010-11 to win an away Ashes series this summer, and have ramped up their attempts to do so by adding Andy Flower – the mastermind of that success – to their backroom staff.Flower, a three-time Ashes-winning coach with England, has joined the Australia squad on a consultancy basis ahead of this week’s World Test Championship final at The Oval.He is not expected to be involved in the build-up to the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on June 16, but ESPNcricinfo understands that he will return to the set-up during the latter stages of the Ashes – most likely before the third Test at Headingley starts from July 6.”It’s great to see Andy sharing his experiences of Test match cricket and playing in England,” Stuart Broad, the England seamer, told ESPNcricinfo. “He was a fantastic coach for England for many years and someone who taught me a huge amount about the game in his years as head coach.”I was very lucky to win Ashes series under him and become the best team in the world under him… I owe a lot of the traits I have as a cricketer to Andy Flower. Hopefully he doesn’t give too many secrets away to the Aussies…”Broad: Flower was “a fantastic coach for England for many years”•PA Images via Getty Images

Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, said that Australia were “lucky to have someone as experienced as Andy” in their camp heading into a busy two-month period in the UK, which will see them play six Tests in eight weeks.”[He brings] experience over here, first of all,” Cummins said, “and knows these conditions really well. Hopefully he knows the opposition, so if he can give us one little bit of insight into playing in England that we haven’t thought about then it’s worth it.”I think Andrew [McDonald] has worked with him quite a bit, and you’ve seen us over the years bring in different people at different times. We’re pretty lucky to have someone as experienced as Andy.”Related

• Flower power fuels Rockets success

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Flower coached England from 2009-14, a stint which included four Ashes series. He emerged victorious in his first three of those – in 2009, 2010-11 and 2013 – before stepping down after his side was whitewashed in Australia in 2013-14.He spent the following five years working in the ECB’s pathways, overseeing the England Lions set-up, and has since launched a successful career as a head coach in various franchise leagues around the world.That has included the Hundred, where Flower coached Trent Rockets to the title last summer. Intriguingly, since teams in the Hundred are run centrally rather than by private investors, Flower’s Rockets contract means he is still on the ECB’s payroll.

Despite a heartbreaking defeat in last Sunday’s League Cup Final, following a thrilling 3-3 draw, there are clear signs of progress from Rangers.

Philippe Clement’s Ibrox team have won four successive Premiership matches, scoring ten times across the last three, leapfroging Aberdeen this weekend.

Meantime, in the Europa League, the Light Blues have lost only once in the league phase thus far, holding Tottenham to a credible 1-1 draw in Govan last mid-week, unlucky not to beat the Premier League side.

So, with two fixtures to go, Rangers sit eighth in the gigantic league table, seeking to cling onto that position and go straight through to the round of 16 when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford and then Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox in late January.

The primary reason for the Gers’ upturn in form? Summer signings upping their game.

Hamza Igamane's stellar Rangers form

Fair to say, Hamza Igamane is a man in form, scoring five goals across his last seven appearances, including a brace during the 4-1 demolition of Nice by the French Riviera, before breaking the deadlock against Spurs a fortnight later.

When the Moroccan arrived from AS FAR for a reported £2.5m this summer, very few had ever heard of him, and expectations were not sky-high when he failed to score in any of his first six appearances for the club, before breaking this duck during the 4-0 Europa League hammering of Steaua București.

Since, Igamane has not looked back, superseding Cyriel Dessers as the first-choice centre-forward, making his transfer fee look like a bargain and some excellent recruitment, considering he’d only ever plied his trade in the Botola – Morocco’s top-flight.

However, it’s another of Rangers’ summer signings, who joined the Gers on a Bosman, who could prove to be the best value for money edition of the bunce.

Rangers' star in the making

Connor Barron arrived on a free transfer from Aberdeen this summer, with a compensation fee yet to be agreed between the two clubs; the Dons turned down a reported settlement fee of £525,000, with former-Celtic striker Chris Sutton describing the drawn-out process as “strange”.

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Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Regardless, Rangers have acquired a terrific defensive midfielder, who was receiving praise very early into his career at Ibrox.

Following just the third match of the season, a 2-1 win over Motherwell at Hampden, John Walker, host of the Scots Abroad podcast, described the signing as a “no-brainer”, adding “he’s a bit of a fan favourite” already, with Barron appearing ready to “make that step up with his technical ability”.

Sofascore have rated Barron seven or above during three of Rangers’ six Europa League matches to date, while his average Scottish Premiership rating is 6.99, receiving a seven or higher during eight of 13 league fixtures he has started.

Meantime, only two players have accumulated more than Barron’s 18 tackles in the Europa League so far; they are Adam Markhiyev (RFS, 23) as well as Kevin Mac Allister (Union SG, 19), brother of Liverpool’s Alexis, (and yes he is named after the kid from Home Alone.)

These performances have led to Barron being rated as one of Rangers’ most valuable players by Transfermarkt, as detailed in the table below, with his value of €2.5m (£2m), level with the aforementioned Igamane.

Rangers’ most valuable squad members (excluding loanees)
Player	Transfermarkt value	Signed for fee
Nicolas Raskin	€6.5m	£1.5m
Mohamed Diomandé	€6m	£4.3m
John Souttar	€4.5m	Free
Nedim Bajrami	€4.5m	£3.5m
Rıdvan Yılmaz	€4.5m	£3.5m
Danilo	€4.5m	£5.5m
Cyriel Dessers	€4m	£4.5m
Dujon Sterling	€4m	Free
James Tavernier	€3m	£200,000
Jack Butland	€3m	Free
Rabbi Matondo	€3m	£2.5m
Connor Barron	€2.5m	Free
Hamza Igamane	€2.5m	£2.5m
Jefté	€2.5m	£680,000
Robin Pröpper	€2.5m	£1.5m
All information courtesy of Transfermarkt

Thus, still only 22 years old, having made just 103 top-flight senior appearances to date, Barron is only likely to get better, making him an even more valuable asset and further adding to the sense that Rangers snapped up a bargain.

English club want to sign him: Rangers face awful Jelavic repeat at Ibrox

The Glasgow Rangers attacker has attracted interest from the Premier League.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 18, 2024

Manchester United are close to completing their second signing of the January transfer window, with an official announcement expected soon, according to a new report.

Amorim relaxed over transfers as Man Utd breeze through in Europa League

United booked their place in the last-16 of the Europa League as they beat Romanian club FCSB 2-0 at the National Arena in Bucharest on Thursday night. Second-half goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo secured victory for Rubem Amorim’s side, with the Portuguese manager hailing the win as an important one for the club.

“That is massive for us,” Amorim said after the match. “The joy of winning, the feeling of winning, but we will have two [free] weeks to work on our idea and to prepare for the games. It’s really massive for us.”

After a difficult start to his tenure at Old Trafford, Amorim’s side have now won their last three games in all competitions, and lost just once this month – that sole defeat coming at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion almost two weeks ago.

“It’s [becoming] more natural, the feeling of winning,” said the former Sporting head coach, who took over at United in November, after the win over FCSB.

“That’s really important. You can feel the dressing room is more relaxed but more relaxed in a good way because we know that everything can change on Sunday, but you feel it’s a different environment. You want to keep that feeling to work in a better way.”

Heaven on the horizon

To help continue his side’s upturn in form, Amorim has delved into the January transfer market to acquire a couple of new additions. The first is Lecce full-back Patrick Dorgu, who has an agreement in principle to join the Red Devils and is expected to fly to Manchester over the weekend to complete a medical.

Man Utd now reach verbal agreement with one step left in Patrick Dorgu deal

He will be Ruben Amorim’s first new signing at Old Trafford.

ByBen Browning Jan 29, 2025

The second, according to transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano, is Arsenal youngster Ayden Heaven. Romano reported earlier this week that the 18-year-old centre-back was set to join United after rejecting a new contract at The Emirates, as well as an approach from German club Eintracht Frankfurt.

On Friday, Romano then shared an update on Heaven’s proposed move to Old Trafford, writing on X that the teenager had arrived in Manchester ahead of completing the formal steps to make him a United player. An official announcement is expected soon.

Heaven played in a pre-season game for Arsenal against United back in July. After the game, which Arsenal won 2-1, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said of the defender: “Very impressive. At 17, I don’t know how many players are able to do that on a stage like this.”

He added: “He’s lost a duel against one of the strongest and fastest players in the world, it can happen, but the reaction afterwards, the composure, the quality, the body language that he had were all remarkable. I’m really happy with him.”

His promotion to opener was a gamble but Northamptonshire – and potentially England – are set to reap the rewards of Ben Duckett’s form

Alex Winter14-Apr-2016As the inventors of the microwave oven, penicillin and Velcro will testify, sometimes things just come about by accident. The progress of Ben Duckett can also be traced back to a chance beginning and while it may be difficult to quantify the effect on civilisation of a Duckett innings, he is at least starting to make an impact on the cricket world.Of the five players to have made higher scores for Northamptonshire than the 282 not out Duckett scored against Sussex this week, four played international cricket. Duckett hopes 2016 will help him emulate Mike Hussey, Chris Rogers, Mal Loye and Raman Subba Row.That the England management have renewed their interest in Duckett, a former captain of the Under-19s, has circumstance at its outset. With an opening batsman to find against Kent last season, Northants coach David Ripley promoted Duckett, hitherto a middle-order dasher with a habit for indiscipline – 1000 first-class runs later and he is among the most talked-about young batsmen in the country. The flashing strokeplay now feasts on shiny new balls.”Twelve months ago I wouldn’t have said I could score over 1000 runs as an opener,” Duckett said. “I didn’t think I’d be an opening batter last year but I’m learning the role.”I started my career batting lower down so you can get away with playing a bit looser. But I’ve batted better since opening so I’m going to keep playing this way. I’m still trying to learn to play as straight as I can early on in my innings. If I’m going to go to the next step, I’m going to need to be technically better as an opener and maybe a bit more patient. But I’ve made things work so I’ll try and carry it on.”Duckett rolled his form from 2015 – which included four Championship hundreds in the final eight matches of the season – into the new campaign with a maiden double-hundred in the opening round. Only the weather halted his bid for a triple-ton.”People have said, you’d take 282 wouldn’t you? And I keep saying no. I’m a greedy guy. Now I’ve got this far, I believe I can go on and score big runs. And that’s the main thing for me going forward, when I do get in and through the new ball – cashing in and staying patient. I got to 120-130 a couple of times last year and got myself out. But I suppose that’s the way that I play, I will give chances. I’m not making excuses for myself but I do play freely.”Like his batting, Duckett was living free at the start of last year. Fitness issues that had seen him dropped from the England Under-19s in 2013 returned and, after a winter spent playing in Australia, Northants dropped him from their 2015 pre-season tour to Barbados. He was consigned to the 2nd XI until the end of May. A drink-driving ban followed later in the summer.

“I take it very seriously – people may think I’m this laid back guy but I love the game and I love batting. It is what I want to do and I want to play for England”

Ripley simply puts it down to the bad choices of a young man. “I think his maturing started last year when he came back from Australia. He’s a lovely lad, he has no malice in him at all. He’s very popular in our team and with opposition.”Some of the problems he’s had have just been from making poor decisions, just being a young fella. But he’s growing up. The Barbados thing last year and the winter he had which led to that – he took something from it and bounced back well. There was no axe to grind once we’d dealt with it.”Duckett admits he needed to improve his attitude and approach. “I was in a completely different place this time last year,” he said. “I’ve been a bit lazy in the past and I’ve been honest about that. But I’m still learning, I’m still young. And I definitely need to make sure I get things right off the field to go to the next level.”On the field I’m very switched on. I honestly did not stop thinking about batting for the whole of the Sussex match. I do take it very seriously – people may think I don’t and I’m this laid back guy but I love the game and I love batting. It is what I want to do and I want to play for England when I’m older.”An innings of more than eight-and-a-half hours showcased his increased dedication and it was enough to bring Graham Thorpe, England’s lead batting coach, to Wantage Road. It is unlikely Duckett will be a candidate to partner Alastair Cook this summer but he is focused on keeping the selectors interested.”I had a chat with Graham. I’ve had a session with him before so I know him and it was nice to speak to him,” Duckett said. “My aim is to definitely get involved with the Lions, this summer or next winter. I’ve just got to keep scoring runs. The majority of the Lions stuff is white ball and my big performances have come in the red-ball format, so hopefully I can take this form into the 50-over competition and if I bat exactly like I’ve been doing in the four-day game, I think that’s all I need to do.”Ripley believes he is beginning to make a strong case. “I’ve spoken to Graham about Ben too,” he said. “So they’re on his case. He’s come through all the England programmes and there’s an opportunity there. We think about how the Test team might look like and he’s got a chance to make himself very hard to ignore if he can go on and back up the season he had last year.”

West Bromwich Albion are in the race to sign a “fantastic “player this month for a bargain fee, according to a recent report.

West Brom manager latest

The Baggies’ search to replace Carlos Corberan, who left to join Valencia before Christmas, is still ongoing as a number of managers have been linked with the vacancy. Former England interim manager Lee Carsley was one that West Brom were keen on appointing, but he is said to have turned the Championship side down, with his reasoning for doing so not clear.

West Brom struck gold on star who is now worth more than Mowatt & Johnston

West Bromwich Albion will pray this star isn’t tempted by a move away this January.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jan 4, 2025

Another manager who has been linked with the job is Blackburn Rover’s John Eustace. Eustace has done a tremendous job at Ewood Park since arriving towards the back end of last season. He has taken Rovers from a side fighting at the bottom end of the table to one that is now competing for a place in this season’s play-offs. Liverpool coach Johnny Heitinga is another option for the Baggies, as he’s been heavily linked with the role and is said to be admired by the club’s hierarchy.

Swansea City manager Luke Williams is also another manager who has been mentioned as a candidate to replace Corberan. However, there has been an update on that possibility, and it is being claimed that West Brom don’t see Williams as an option to become their new manager, despite the impressive work he has done at Swansea City.

West Brom in race to sign "fantastic" player for bargain fee

While the Baggies continue their search for a new manager, the club’s hierarchy also have plans in place to improve the playing squad, as according to reliable reporter Alan Nixon via the Ibrox News, West Brom are in the race to sign Adam Devine from Rangers this month.

Devine came through the academy at Rangers, breaking into the first team during the 2022/23 campaign. However, since then, he has struggled to be a regular in the squad and spent the second half of last season on loan at Motherwell. The 21-year-old is out of contract at the end of this campaign, but a move could happen this month.

It is being reported that West Brom are keen to add to their squad this month despite there being no manager on board yet, and they have an interest in Devine. The Midlands side could sign Devine, who is a right-back, for a “bargain fee,” due to the fact he is out of contract in the summer. Devine may find it hard to become a starter in the West Brom side, as Darnell Furlong has been performing very well and is regarded as one of the best right-backs in the division, but he would provide much-needed competition.

Adam Devine’s 23/24 Scottish Premiership stats
Apps	10
Starts	6
Minutes per game	50
Goals	1
Interceptions per game	0.6
Tackles per game	0.6
Balls recovered per 90	2.4
Clearances per 90	1.4

It was former manager Michael Beale who gave Devine his chance at Rangers, and he labelled the defender as “fantastic” after impressing during his reign. Beale said after beating Hibernian in his first game in charge of Rangers: “Delighted with Adam, it’s obvious he was playing on his weak side.

“He was targeted from goal kicks; for a young boy, he did fantastic. This season, he was supposed to be a backup to Tavernier and push him – like Patterson did.

“We’ve got high hopes for him, and that wasn’t easy tonight. I asked him to play higher up the pitch; more energy. For everyone watching, he is a young Scottish boy we can be proud of. Early days but for tonight, well played son.”

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is set to leave the Werkself this summer as he nears a free-agency move to Real Madrid, thanks to a special clause.

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Real Madrid to part ways with AncelottiAlonso set to leave Bayer LeverkusenAlonso has a special clause for Madrid departureFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

Real Madrid were supposed to be the best team in Europe after their signing of Kylian Mbappe, however, they have been dragged back down to Earth as they look set to go trophyless, unless there is a turnaround in the La Liga title race against Barcelona. As such, they are set to part ways with head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has received a lot of criticism this season, and replace the Italian with Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

It is very clear that Alonso will be Real Madrid's coach next season, but the Spaniard has a contract with Bayer Leverkusen until the summer of 2026. Sky France has now reported that Alonso has a special clause included in his contract with Die Werkself that would allow him to leave the club if Los Blancos came calling.

DID YOU KNOW?

The negotiations between Alonso and Real Madrid are still ongoing, and while it is highly likely that the 2010 World Cup winner will be on the touchline for Los Blancos, there are still a lot of details to be ironed out between the two parties. Sky France's report has also suggested that Alonso will sign a two-year deal with Madrid.

WHAT NEXT FOR ALONSO?

The Spanish coach will have a lot of planning to do when he joins Real Madrid this summer, as the squad is currently extremely unbalanced and cohesion among the players has been an issue.