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.
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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.
Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro has hinted that Xabi Alonso could be on his way to Real Madrid to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
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Leverkusen CEO dropped major hint on Alonso's futureClub have a 'gentlemen's agreement' with the Spanish coachAlonso favourite to replace Ancelotti at Madrid Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
reported earlier this week that Ancelotti is expected to leave Real this summer and accept the role as Brazil's new permanent manager ahead of the 2026 World Cup. With the intention of meeting the Italian coach, the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) had reportedly sent a representative to Madrid to watch the second leg of the club's Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal, as the reigning champions were knocked out of the competition.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
With Ancelotti all set to depart Santiago Bernabeu, Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso is poised to return to his former club as their new head coach, and now the CEO of the German club has dropped a major hint over the Spanish coach's future.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID
Speaking to , Leverkusen chief Carro said: "He has no exit clause, but we have a gentlemen's agreement. If a team he has played for comes, we will sit down and talk about it and we will not put any obstacles in the way."
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR XABI ALONSO?
For now, Alonso remains focused on the reigning German champions and will be next seen on the sidelines in the club's Bundesliga fixture against Augsburg on April 26.
Leeds United were not in action in the Championship this weekend as they prepare to take on promotion rivals Burnley at Turf Moor in a huge clash on Monday night.
It has been a good weekend of results for the Whites, however, as Sheffield United were hammered 3-0 by Hull at Bramall Lane and Sunderland conceded in stoppage time to draw 2-2 with Plymouth Argyle.
This means that the West Yorkshire outfit remain top of the Championship table and that will still be the case after Monday’s match, unless Burnley win by at least four goals.
The Whites beat Norwich City 2-0 in their last outing in the second tier, thanks to goals from Manor Solomon and Dan James, and will be hoping for a similarly convincing scoreline against the Clarets.
Despite the terrific position that Leeds are in at the moment in the Championship, Daniel Farke could still look to utilise the January transfer window before it slams shut in just over a week.
In fact, the club have a reported interest in signing a player from a Premier League side to come in and add to their options at the top end of the pitch.
Leeds chasing ambitious Premier League deal
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a swoop to sign Evan Ferguson on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion before the end of the window.
Transfer Focus
The report, firstly, explains how Bayer Leverkusen have joined the race for Aston Villa attacking midfielder Emiliano Buendia, which could blow the Whites out of the running for the Argentina international, who previously worked with Farke at Carrow Road.
It then adds that the West Yorkshire outfit have also already missed out on the chance to sign central defender Andrew Omobamidele from Nottingham Forest, as the Ireland international has completed a move to Strasbourg on loan with an option to make the deal permanent.
Brighton & Hove Albion'sEvanFergusoncelebrates
TEAMtalk reports that the 49ers are, now, chasing an ‘ambitious’ deal to sign Ferguson from the Premier League side on loan, in the hope of not missing out on him in the same way that they look to have with Omobamidele and Buendia.
It is an ambitious attempt by Leeds because there is plenty of interest in the striker from teams in the top flight, with West Ham reportedly keen to sign the £100m-rated forward whilst Bournemouth and Arsenal are also said to be keen on the young marksman.
If the 49ers can convince Brighton to send the forward on loan to the Championship, perhaps with the incentive that he could drop down a level and score goals on a regular basis to boost his confidence in front of goal, then they could land a second impressive Premier League loanee, alongside Manor Solomon.
Manor Solomon's form for Leeds this season
The Tottenham Hotspur loanee joined the Whites in the summer to bolster Farke’s options on the left flank and made a slow start to life in Yorkshire, with a return of zero goals and one assist in his first eight appearances.
It was a difficult start for the Israel international and that may have been down to the fact that his last competitive appearance for Spurs was back in September 2023, which meant that he did not arrive at Elland Road with much match sharpness.
Since that less-than-impressive opening eight matches in the Championship, the 25-year-old dynamo has established himself as a star for the Whites and currently looks undroppable as part of the attacking unit for Farke.
Appearances
21
Starts
12
Goals
5
Big chances created
7
Assists
5
As you can see in the table above, Solomon has offered a threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Whites in the second tier, with ten direct goal contributions in 12 starts.
Two of those goal involvements came in the win over Norwich in midweek, scoring after 30 seconds and assisting Dan James in the second half, and he will be hoping to add to his tally in Monday’s clash with Burnley.
Solomon has, therefore, been a successful Premier League loanee and Leeds could land another one by bringing in Ferguson, who could also thrive alongside the Spurs man.
Why Leeds should sign Evan Ferguson
The 20-year-old striker has failed to break into the starting line-up at Brighton and his recent injury issues may have played a big role in that. He has missed the last seven games with an ankle issue and was out between April and August with an ankle injury last year.
This means that it would be a gamble for Leeds to sign the Irish marksman this month because there is no guarantee that he will be able to overcome his injury issues to become a regular starter in the second half of the season.
However, Ferguson has the potential to be a “phenomenal”, as dubbed by teammate James Milner, player when he is fit and available, which could make the gamble worth it for the Whites.
As you can see in some of the clips above, the young gem can score goals at Premier League level and has an incredible knack for being in the right place at the right time.
The Irish ace has already scored 13 goals in 59 appearances in the top-flight, despite his age, and has more than made the most of the chances that have come his way.
22/23
5.67
6
+0.33
23/24
3.97
6
+2.03
24/25
0.66
1
+0.34
Total
10.29
13
+2.71
As you can see in the table above, Ferguson has consistently been a strong finisher for Brighton in the Premier League, outperforming his xG every season.
This could make him a particularly attractive target for Leeds given that they have scored 51 goals from 55.6 xG in the Championship, which suggests that they could benefit from having a clinical finisher in their squad.
Farke's next Buendia: Leeds lining up swoop for "sensational" EFL star
Leeds United have been linked with an interest in Emiliano Buendia during the January window.
1 ByDan Emery Jan 22, 2025
Solomon could also thrive with a ruthless finisher ahead of him in the team. He has only recorded five assists from seven ‘big chances’ created and Ferguson could boost the winger’s assist tally by making the most of the big chances that the forward can create on a regular basis.
Leeds could, then, have two Premier League loanees with the ability to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch, propelling the side to promotion.
Gill oozes quality on way to 34 not out as rain restricts day’s play to 68 overs at Sophia Gardens
ECB Reporters Network06-Sep-2022Glamorgan 111 for 2 (Byrom 67, Gill 34*) trail Worcestershire 454 for 9 dec (Roderick 172*, Leach 87, Barnard 75, Pollock 54, van der Gugten 4-81) by 343 runsGareth Roderick scored a career-best 172 not out to put Worcestershire in a commanding position against Glamorgan, on a day when rain meant only 68 overs were possible at Sophia Gardens.His innings was the bedrock of a first-innings total of 454 for 9, with fast bowler Joe Leach offering plenty of support in an entertaining knock of 87, in a partnership of 167 which was an eighth-wicket record for Worcestershire against the Welsh County.Glamorgan were boosted by the news off the field that the world’s second-ranked Test batsman, Marnus Labuschagne, had signed on to return for the next two seasons.On the field they were boosted by the class of their late-season replacement for the Australian, India’s Shubman Gill who oozed quality on his way to 34 not out. Opener Ed Byrom scored 67 as Glamorgan closed on 111 for 2.Related
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Glamorgan would have started the day with hopes of dismissing Worcestershire for around 300 in the overcast conditions, but instead the visitors kept building their score in Cardiff.Roderick was at the centre of those efforts, but it was Leach who was the main aggressor on his way to 87 before being caught on the boundary hooking James Harris.Roderick, who only came into the team when Pakistan star Azhar Ali failed a late fitness test on his hamstring, went on to record his first century for Worcestershire and seventh in first class cricket.Worcestershire did not show any great sense of urgency, for instance bringing up the 350 in the 111th over when they would have earned an extra bonus point one over earlier.Roderick, and his teammates, were clearly targeting his career-best score of 171 and indeed the declaration came as soon as he surpassed that mark. His unbeaten 172 came in 348 balls as Worcestershire finally declared on 454 for 9.Timm van der Gugten finished with figures of 4 for 80 off 30 overs, the pick of the Glamorgan bowlers.With the grey clouds intermingling with bright sunlight and wet weather predicted over the last two days of this match, the visiting side’s hopes of forcing victory may be confounded by a combination of rain and an increasingly flat pitch.Worcestershire did indeed get the early breakthrough they wanted when Glamorgan captain David Lloyd chased a wide delivery from Ben Gibbon, only to be caught by Jack Haynes at third slip.At the other end Ed Byrom was taking a great liking to the bowling, at one stage he had scored 38 out of a team total of 44. The highlight was a six over midwicket off Leach.Gill looked totally assured once he arrived at the wicket and suddenly Glamorgan were scoring quickly from both ends. Byrom would have been disappointed to get out with just over three overs of the day remaining, caught behind off Gibbon.
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to try and tempt a young “phenomenon” with a move to north London as we reach the latter stage of this January window, and he’s very highly-rated by those within the game.
Ange Postecoglou eyes young new forwards for Spurs
Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou is yet to be backed with the addition of an outfield signing this month, and with just days remaining of the winter window, this could spell real trouble for the Australian.
Tottenham prepared to pay £49m release clause for forward who Ange wants
The Australian is badly in need of backing before February 3rd.
ByEmilio Galantini Jan 28, 2025
The under-fire Lilywhites boss candidly admitted to reporters earlier this week that his side are playing with fire if they don’t make any more new players before deadline day on February 3rd, saying he is in “daily” talks with recruitment chief Johan Lange.
“I’m not out there trying to find opportunities for the club, that’s not my role at this time. There isn’t time to do it,” said Postecoglou on his role in January transfers.
“I have daily communication with Johan in particular, and he’s trying everything he possibly can to get the help we need. I don’t think I’m stating anything other than the obvious and for me to come here and say something else would be disingenuous. This playing group needs help, there’s no doubt about that.
Brentford (away)
February 2nd
Man United (home)
February 16th
Ipswich Town (home)
February 22nd
Man City (home)
February 26th
Bournemouth (home)
March 9th
“We’re sort of playing with fire by not bringing anyone in, but the flip side of that is the club is trying to change that situation.”
Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas explained recently that Tottenham are putting all of their focus into signing a new forward in particular, despite Postecoglou’s shortage of left-sided centre-back options.
Spurs have been in talks with Tyler Dibling recently, while a report from Spain this week even claimed that Tottenham are prepared to pay Nico Williams’ £49 million release clause, as the club eye youthful attacking options.
According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, another target is emerging in the form of FC Lorient wonderkid Eli Junior Kroupi.
Tottenham planning late January move for Eli Junior Kroupi
The reporter, writing for Football Insider, claims that Tottenham are planning a late January move for Kroupi – who is viewed by recruitment chiefs as a player who could become “world-class”.
The 18-year-old is currently on fire for Lorient, scoring nine goals in 18 appearances across all competitions, and this has caught the eye of both Postecoglou’s side and London rivals Chelsea – who are “ready to try and lure” Kroupi to the English capital.
Transfermarkt value him at around £8 million, and that is a pretty affordable figure from the perspective of an elite Premier League club.
Everything you need to know about Florian Wirtz's salary details playing for Bayer Leverkusen
German midfielder Florian Wirtz is undeniably one of Europe's most exciting talents. Rising through Bayer Leverkusen's ranks, he made his first-team debut for the Bundesliga club in 2021.
Delivering stellar performances season after season, Wirtz spearheaded Bayer to a groundbreaking 2023-24 campaign, clinching their first-ever Bundesliga title and breaking Bayern Munich's long-standing reign. Under Xabi Alonso's guidance, Wirtz was arguably Bayer’s standout player throughout the season.
In 2022, the German star committed to a five-year contract with the club, receiving a lucrative package for his invaluable contributions. Despite strong interest from top European clubs, he remains loyal to Leverkusen.
Just how much does he earn at the Bundesliga outfit, though?
GOAL delved into the figures with Capology to uncover the details!
*
Florian Wirtz's wages at Bayer Leverkusen in numbers
Under Wirtz's current contract with the German team, he earns a substantial £72,368 ($94,735) weekly, with his annual salary reaching an impressive £3.7 million ($4.9m).
Despite his outstanding performances and unwavering commitment to Bayer, Wirtz surprisingly does not make it into the top-five highest earners at the club.
Player
Nationality
Weekly wages in GBP
Weekly wages in USD
Annual wages in GBP
Annual wages in USD
Florian Wirtz
German
£72,368
$94,735
£3,763,136
$4,926,198
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTop earners at Bayer Leverkusen
Leading Bayer Leverkusen's wage list is the talented French defender Nordi Mukiele, who joined the club in the summer of 2024.
Close behind are fullback Alejandro Grimaldo and striker Patrik Schick, both earning the same wages. These two stars were instrumental in Bayer's championship-winning season.
In fourth place is Edmond Tapsoba, followed by Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios, both earning equal wages.
Player
Nationality
Weekly wages in GBP
Weekly wages in USD
Annual wages in GBP
Annual wages in USD
Nordi Mukiele
French
£135,087
$176,838
£7,024,520
$9,195,569
Alejandro Grimaldo
Spanish
£96,491
$126,313
£5,017,514
$6,568,264
Patrik Schick
Czech
£96,491
$126,313
£5,017,514
$6,568,264
Edmond Tapsoba
Burkinabe
£80,409
$105,261
£4,181,262
$5,473,553
Exequiel Palacios
Argentine
£80,409
$105,261
£4,181,262
$<
Top earners in Bundesliga
Imagine a league where no Bayer player cracks the top-five highest-paid list. This starkly highlights Bayern Munich's financial dominance, as they lead the league with a staggering wage bill. In fact, the top thirteen earners in the Bundesliga are all Bayern stars, showcasing their unparalleled investment in talent. Borussia Dortmund's Niklas Sule only manages to break into the list at number fourteen.
Player
Nationality
Weekly wages in GBP
Weekly wages in USD
Annual wages in GBP
Annual wages in USD
Harry Kane
English
£402,044
$526,303
£20,906,308
$27,367,765
Manuel Neuer
German
£337,717
$442,095
£17,561,299
$22,988,923
Joshua Kimmich
German
£321,636
$421,043
£16,725,047
$21,894,212
Jamal Musiala
German
£303,463
$397,254
£15,780,082
$20,657,189
Serge Gnabry
German
£303,463
$397,254
£15,780,082
$
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AFPHighest paid players in the world
Despite the substantial earnings of Bundesliga players, particularly Bayern's stars, they don't make it to the top five highest-paid players globally. This elite list is entirely dominated by Saudi Pro League players, with the legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo leading the pack.
Following closely is his former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, in second place.
Next, Riyad Mahrez secures the third spot, with Senegalese stars Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly completing the top five.
We have what we often cry out for, a T20I outside the World Cup with something on the line
Danyal Rasool01-Sep-20220:29
Pakistan players sweat it out in the nets
Big pictureIt still feels like early days in the Asia Cup, but one of Hong Kong or Pakistan will see their tournament draw to a close on Friday. The format for the first round means one defeat can place any side under instant pressure. With India having pulled clear through wins over both opponents, there is clarity to the mission for both the Associate and the Full Member, the giants and the would-be giant killers.There may be limited cricketing or historical evidence to suggest Hong Kong could mount a serious challenge to a side with Pakistan’s firepower, but they will be well aware a knockout in the shortest format presents a golden opportunity to spring an upset. Against India, it was the bowling that let them down, even if a spirited batting performance demonstrated the threat the side can pose. Babar Hayat, Zeeshan Ali and Scott McKechnie provided the big hitting, while Ayush Shukla, Ehsan Khan and Yasim Murtaza kept things tight, allowing just 82 runs in their 12 combined overs.Watch live on ESPN+
If you are in the USA, you can watch the Hong Kong-Pakistan game live on ESPN+, both in English and Hindi.
Pakistan, however, might feel this game plays into their hands to some extent. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan do not come flying out of the blocks, but the template they follow was similar to one that India executed against Hong Kong on Wednesday. They opened their innings conservatively, before the middle order put the bowlers to the sword, smashing 98 in the final seven overs. And while India’s approach may have been a game plan tailored to the opposition they were facing, scoring their big runs in the final overs is how Pakistan play anyway against nearly all opposition.And so we have what we often cry out for, a T20I outside the World Cup with something on the line. It might, on paper, be a mismatch, but across the tableau of relatively context-free bilateral T20Is, it is rare to find a game with as much riding on it as Pakistan against Hong Kong on Friday. It’s a game Hong Kong will savour, but they will tell themselves it might just be one they could also win.Form guidePakistan: LLWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Hong Kong: LWWWLIn the spotlightAt his best, Khushdil Shah is perhaps Pakistan’s most powerful hitter of the ball, but in Pakistan’s colours in T20I cricket, he has never come close to hitting those heights. In the game against India, which saw a limp performance from almost every Pakistan batter, Khushdil’s innings – a timid 2 off 7 balls – still stood out for its total lack of intent. Perhaps a game against Hong Kong, whose bowlers don’t quite offer the same threat as India’s is just what he needs to produce a statement innings.Kinchit Shah has come into the Asia Cup on the back of some decent form•AFP/Getty ImagesHong Kong vice-captain Kinchit Shah has had a memorable time of late. The allrounder was in decent form at the Asia Cup qualifiers and the Cricket World Cup Challenge Group, striking a half-century against Uganda and 139 against Bermuda, and picking up a four-wicket haul against Kenya. He was steady, if not quite explosive, with the bat against India, scoring 30 in 28 balls. Off the field too, things have been good. After the game against India, he proposed to his partner. A win against Pakistan to go through to the next stage would cap a blissful few days for Kinchit, both personal and professional.Pitch and conditionsThe weather is expected to be oppressively hot throughout the tournament, and Friday in Sharjah will be no different. The slower bowlers have tended to prosper here of late, although the small boundaries might be a temptation for the batters tooTeam newsThere’s a cloud around Naseem Shah’s fitness. In the event of his absence, Mohammad Hasnain would be the like-for-like replacement.Pakistan: (probable): 1 Babar Azam (capt) 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 3 Fakhar Zaman 4 Iftikhar Ahmed 5 Khushdil Shah 6 Shadab Khan 7 Asif Ali 8 Mohammad Nawaz 9 Mohammad Hasnain 10 Haris Rauf 11 Shahnawaz DahaniDespite the defeat to India, Hong Kong will have been encouraged by their performance, with the bat in particular. Expect an unchanged side.Hong Kong (possible): 1 Nizakat Khan (capt) 2 Yasim Murtaza 3 Babar Hayat 4 Kinchit Shah 5 Aizaz Khan 6 Zeeshan Ali 7 Scott McKechnie (wk) 8 Haroon Arshad 9 Ehsan Khan 10 Ayush Shuka 11 Mohammad GhazanfarStats and trivia Pakistan are yet to win a T20I in 2022. The two games they played in the format – against India and Australia – have ended in defeat Haris Rauf is five wickets shy of matching Shaheen Afridi’s T20I tally of 47. Should he get there against Hong Kong, it will have taken him five fewer innings than Shaheen to get there.
County seeks influential figurehead in the wake of racism allegations
David Hopps20-Aug-2022Yorkshire are expected to sign Shan Masood, the Pakistan opening batter, after he confirmed that he had turned down Derbyshire’s offer of a new contract and would leave the club at the end of the season.Masood, who is regarded in Derbyshire circles as one of their most influential overseas signings, could also be offered the Yorkshire captaincy following Steven Patterson’s decision to step down as leader of the Championship side at the end of last month and the departure of England’s allrounder, David Willey, who was in charge of the T20 side, to Northamptonshire.Masood is seen as a perfect fit for Yorkshire as they seek to promote an all-inclusive culture in the wake of racism allegations from their former player, Azeem Rafiq, which sparked the biggest crisis in the club’s history and brought charges of bringing the game into disrepute from the ECB after a prolonged investigation.As a multi-format player, whose international days might be drawing to a close, Masood could also be expected to become an important figurehead in minority-ethnic communities as Yorkshire work to build trust across all parts of the county.His considered leadership was a prime factor in Derbyshire’s qualification for the Blast quarter-finals, as well as a more stable season in Division Two of the LV= Championship, but he was called up by Pakistan for a Test tour of Sri Lanka and Derbyshire crashed and burned in their last-eight Blast tie against Somerset at Taunton.Related
'I have moved on with my life': Andrew Gale refuses to defend ECB racism charge
Derbyshire had been in discussions with Masood, 32, regarding an extended contract for several months and despite a significantly improved offer, he has decided to take on potentially a hugely influential role.Derbyshire’s head of cricket, Mickey Arthur, was philosophical about Masood’s departure but nevertheless it is a blow for his efforts to change the county’s reputation as one of the weakest in the country.”Bringing Shan to Derbyshire was my priority when joining the club last winter,” Arthur said. “He’s shown the performances I knew he was capable of in county cricket and we’ve been keen to extend his deal since very early on in the season.”The contract renewal reflected his performances and value to the club, but ultimately we couldn’t match the offer. The other county set their stall out to bring in Shan and while it is of course disappointing to lose a player of his calibre, I and everyone at the club wish him the very best for the future.”We’ve seen a different Derbyshire this year and the group have surpassed people’s expectations. We’re shaking off that underdog tag and teams know when they play us that it’s going to be a competitive game. There’s more to come from this group and we’ll supplement that core with overseas recruitment, the process for which is already underway.”Masood offered optimistic words in return. “Derbyshire is a great club with a very positive outlook and inclusive culture. Under Mickey’s project I see the group challenging for trophies and reaching greater heights in the very near future. It has not been easy making this decision, but I feel this move is the next phase of my life and career.”He is on course to finish the season with more than 2,000 runs across all formats, including a double century against Sussex.Yorkshire explored the possibility earlier in the summer of signing Moeen Ali as another statement signing, although that prospect was always unlikely. Moeen said in June that he would be open to joining Yorkshire for cricketing reasons but “not as a publicity stunt” before making an expected switch from Worcestershire to his first county Warwickshire and his home city of Birmingham where his popularity is evident, not least in his leadership of Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred.Yorkshire would welcome a similar impact from Masood as they try to reinvigorate a county where membership has fallen to historically low levels and debts remain around £20 million.
Nottingham Forest have been handed a big boost in their pursuit of a striker who scored 23 goals last season, with his current club now open to selling him, according to a new report.
Nottingham Forest latest news
Forest will be looking to continue their incredible Premier League season on Sunday when they welcome the top flight’s bottom-placed side Southampton to the City Ground.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, who only narrowly avoided relegation last season, are currently third in the table, having won 12 and lost just four of their 20 games so far. Most recently, they drew 1-1 with league leaders Liverpool, who they also beat earlier in the season.
Ahead of the draw with the Reds, Forest confirmed that goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has rejoined the club on a deal until the end of the season.
Hennessey, who has won 109 caps for Wales, originally joined in 2022 and went on to make nine appearances before leaving the club at the end of the last season when his contract expired. The 37-year-old, however, has remained active around the training ground while recovering from injury, and has now penned a short-term deal until the end of the campaign.
“Unfortunately Wayne had a serious injury at the end of last season which was a tough moment for everybody inside the training ground,” Nuno said in a press conference on Monday. “But he has improved and now he’s a big part of us, especially in the goalkeeping community which is a small group.
“He’s signed his contract and it’s a pleasure to have him around. His knowledge, his experience, the way he goes about his work, it’s really good to have him.”
Musa now for sale
Another player who could potentially soon be signing a contract at the City Ground is FC Dallas striker Petar Musa. The Croatia international moved to Major League Soccer outfit Dallas from Benfica in February, and went on to score 17 goals in all competitions for the Toros in the 2024 season. Prior to his move to Texas, Musa had also scored six times for Benfica – meaning he finished the year with 23 goals.
Forest reportedly made contact with Dallas over Musa heading into the January window, and according to renowned reporter Rudy Galetti, the MLS club are now open to selling the 26-year-old ahead of the start of their 2025 season, which kicks off in February.
“FC Dallas are open to evaluating bids,” wrote Galetti on X, adding that it would cost any interested party around £15 million to secure his services.
Forest face some serious competition for Musa, however, with Galetti reporting that both Leicester City and Serie A giants AC Milan are also keen on the striker, with the latter having confirmed their interest to Musa’s camp.
According to X account TheCroatianLad, Musa recently signaled his desire to return to Europe, saying: “In football, you never know. We’ll see. Of course, one day I’d love to play in one of the big five leagues.”
Jude Bellingham confirmed he was involved in a training ground bust-up with Real Madrid team-mate ahead of Arsenal game.
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Bellingham confirmed bust-up with Rudiger Rudiger tackled Bellingham in Madrid training Los Blancos face Arsenal on Wednesday Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The reigning champions are aiming for a historic comeback against Arsenal in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final fixture at Santiago Bernabeu after they went down 3-0 at Emirates Stadium last week. Declan Rice's two free kick goals and a strike from Mikel Merino helped the Gunners register a thumping win in North London.
AdvertisementAFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Ahead of the crucial encounter, reported that Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham was involved in a training ground bust-up with Antonio Rudiger after the German defender caught him with a harsh tackle. The Englishman reportedly angrily confronted his colleague on the training pitch, and the duo "had to be separated" by other Los Blancos stars.
WHAT JUDE BELLINGHAM SAID
In the pre-match press conference, the 21-year-old confirmed the training ground incident as he said: "It's football, it's normal on the pitch that emotions get high. You communicate with teammates louder than you'd communicate with your mum and dad.
"For every negative interaction you see, there are 20 positive interactions. That will get lost in the media, which is fine, as long as the team respects each other to have those honest conversations."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?
After facing the Premier League giants this Wednesday, Carlo Ancelotti's side will be back in action in La Liga on April 20 as they take on Athletic Club at home.