PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: THERE'S A NEW STARBOY IN TOWN

 Another week of Premier League action has passed meaning Christmas and 2024 are slowly creeping ever nearer.

There some great performances and stand out moments but our Player of the Week is…

Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)

Few saw West Ham having much of a chance when Kudus’s name popped up on their transfer wishlist, with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea both sniffing around, but the Ghanaian made the switch to the London Stadium and hasn’t looked back.

The Hammers paid a reported £38 million to Dutch giants Ajax for the 23-year-old’s services and it is currently looking like a massive steal.

Kudus has scored eight goals in all competitions this season for West Ham, five of which have come in the Premier League and two having come from their most recent game against Wolves.

Both goals came on the counter attack in which he was set lose by Lucas Paquetá but still had lots of work to do.

On both occasions he drove seamlessly past Wolves’ helpless defenders and produced two strong finishes, the first on his left and the second on his right, to give David Moyes’ side a 2-0 before half-time.

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Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/premier-league-player-of-the-week-theres-a-new-starboy-in-town-38749332

NO CHELSEA, LIVERPOOL OR MANCHESTER UNITED DEALS IN THE TOP TEN PREMIER LEAGUE SIGNINGS OF 2023

 A true Todd Boehly special

More than £1bn was spent by Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United this year but not a single one of their signings rank among the ten best made in 2023.

10) Craig Dawson The list of permanent managers Dawson has played for in the Premier League, presented in chronological order, is a thing of beauty: Hodgson, Clarke, Mel, Irvine, Pulis, Pardew, Gracia, Pearson, Sanchez Flores, Moyes, Lopetegui and O’Neil.

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The penultimate and perhaps most incongruous name had apparently been so affected by Dawson’s inspirational turn during West Ham’s run to the 2022 Europa League semi-finals, in which Lopetegui’s Sevilla were dumped out by the Hammers in the round of 16, that he immediately sought to sign the centre-half when the opportunity first presented itself.

Dawson helped keep Wolves – out of the relegation zone on goal difference alone – clear of the drop by seven points, with a debut goal in a thrashing of Liverpool particularly memorable. This season has brought more quietly consummate excellence, as Erling Haaland can attest. And all for little over £3m.

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Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/no-chelsea-liverpool-or-manchester-united-deals-in-the-top-ten-premier-league-signings-of-2023-38749170

TRANSFER GOSSIP: MAN UTD SEEK TO SELL FOUR TO SAUDI, LIVERPOOL OUT OF MIDFIELDER RACE

 Manchester United are seeking buyers for Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Casemiro.

John Murtough is trying to prove his worth by finding Saudi buyers for four Man Utd players, while Liverpool have backed out of the race for a Prem midfielder…

MAN UTD CHIEF SENT TO SAUDI TO SELL With Sir Jim Ratcliffe hoping to lure Dan Ashworth to Manchester United from Newcastle, John Murtough knows he’s potentially on borrowed time. So the current football director has been trying to prove his worth by selling some of the players the Red Devils want rid of.

According to the Daily Mail, Murtough went to Saudi Arabia earlier this month in an effort to sell four stars: Casemiro, Raphael Varance, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial.

Apparently, Murtough left Saudi without an agreement to sell any of that quartet but ‘established some important new relationships’ and ‘further talks are planned’.

Shifting Sancho next month is United’s clear priority, while the Manchester Evening News says Varane is hopeful the club will take up their one-year option to extend his deal which expires next summer. His performance against Liverpool certainly lends credence to that report, while the same publication suggests United remain open to retaining Murtough’s services despite the links with Ashworth.

RED DEVILS WATCH GUIRASSY IN KANE SHOWDOWN United could certainly use a striker next month and there is an opportunity with Serhou Guirassy…

The Stuttgart striker has been on fire this season, scoring 16 goals in the Bundesliga. In Europe’s top five leagues, only Harry Kane has scored more.

That and the release clause in his Stuttgart contract – around £15.2million – makes the 27-year-old an attractive proposition in January.

Which is why a host of scouts were in Munich on Sunday to watch Guirassy take on Bayern. Though the striker struggled to make an impression, United, West Ham, Fulham and AC Milan all had representatives checking on the Guinea centre-forward.

BAYERN WARY, LIVERPOOL OUT OF PALHINHA RACE Bayern are on the hunt for a midfielder next month and it was thought that Joao Palhinha might be their man. A deal was close enough at the end of the summer window that the Portugal international was allowed to fly to Bavaria for a medical but Fulham refused to sign off because they couldn’t recruit a replacement.

Palhinha has since been outstanding for the Cottagers, perhaps motivated by the thought of his big move – but it might not be to Bayern. And it definitely won’t be to Liverpool.

That’s the latest according to Sky Germany. Liverpool are no longer in the running – if they ever really were – while Bayern reckon Palhinha is too expensive right now.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/transfer-gossip-man-utd-seek-to-sell-four-to-saudi-liverpool-out-of-midfielder-race-38749301

MANCHESTER UNITED EYE SANCHO SWAP-DEAL WITH BARCELONA

 Manchester United are eyeing a potential swap-deal with Barcelona involving Raphinha and Jadon Sancho.

Raphinha has struggled for regular first-team football at Barcelona this season and has started just six games in La Liga, with the winger linked with an exit in January despite a desire to remain at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona are prepared to listen to offers for the 27-year-old next month with several Saudi Pro League sides said to be interested in a potential deal. However, Sport are reporting that Manchester United are also monitoring his situation.

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Raphinha impressed during two seasons in the Premier League at Leeds United, where 17 goals and 12 assists in 64 league appearances persuaded Barcelona to spend £55m to sign him in 2022.

Manchester United are reportedly open to a deal to bring Raphinha back to English football, as Erik ten Hag looks to improve his attacking options. Antony has struggled to make an impact since his arrival from Ajax, while Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund have scored just two league goals combined this season.

According to the report, United could offer Jadon Sancho to Barcelona as part of an exchange deal, as the club look for cost-efficient methods of strengthening in the new year. Sancho has been excluded from the first-team group since September, following a public fallout with Erik ten Hag, who criticised the 23-year-old’s application in training.

Barcelona have been credited as admirers of Sancho, while Juventus are also said to be keen on a January deal.

Read – The Premier League substitutes with the most goal involvements this season

See more – Premier League weekend: Five things we learned

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Sources:https://onefootball.com/en/news/manchester-united-eye-sancho-swap-deal-with-barcelona-38749003

MANCHESTER UNITED: SIR JIM RATCLIFFE 'WANTS NEWCASTLE'S DAN ASHWORTH AS NEW SPORTING DIRECTOR'

 Alex Young @alexwsyoung

According to Manchester Evening News, the highly rated Ashworth is INEOS Group's top target to oversee the club's transfer business after success at both Brighton and on Tyneside.

INEOS's 25 per cent stake in United is yet to be ratified, but Ratcliffe is already mulling over his plans once he takes control of the footballing side of the club

United's recruitment has been disasterous at times since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure over a decade ago, spending more than £1billion without ever mounting a serious Premier League title challenge.

Ashworth, meanwhile, has a fine reputation in the game and was key to Newcastle signing stars Kieran Trippier, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

MEN report that football director John Murtough remains a popular figure at United and any move for Ashworth would not necessarily mean the end of Murtough, who could move to a more administrative role.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/manchester-united-sir-jim-ratcliffe-wants-newcastles-dan-ashworth-as-new-sporting-director-38747613

CRISTIANO RONALDO NETS 50TH GOAL OF 2023 IN AL-NASSR WIN

 Once again showing that age is just a number, Cristiano Ronaldo hit his 50th goal of 2023 in Al-Nassr’s 5-2 win over Al-Shabab in the Saudi King Cup of Champions.

After a neat one-two, the 38-year-old finished coolly from inside the box to put his side 4-1 in front.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus man has scored 40 goals for Al-Nassr since signing on after the World Cup last year, while he has also extended his international goal record, netting 10 times in nine games for Portugal.

No player has scored more this calendar year, albeit Ronaldo has not been playing in one of the recognised “Big Five” leagues or in the Champions League like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.

Ronaldo will be looking to continue his fine form heading into the new year, as he readies himself to lead his country to his sixth European Championships – another record.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/cristiano-ronaldo-nets-50th-goal-of-2023-in-al-nassr-win-38709161

VICTOR OSIMHEN IS NAMED 2023 AFRICAN MEN'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR

 Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 African Men’s Player of the Year.

The Nigerian and Napoli striker beat off competition from Liverpool and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, as well as Morocco and PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi, to win the award for the first time.

The 24-year-old was the highest ranked African player in the Ballon d’Or honours, finishing eighth after a stunning 2022/23 season for Napoli, in which he netted 31 goals as the club won their first Serie A title in 33 years.

Osimhen also netted scored five times in as many games for his national side in 2023, making it 20 goals from just 27 appearances for Nigeria.

He will be the key man as Nigeria look to claim a first African Cup of Nations since 2013 when the tournament kicks off next month in Ivory Coast.

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/victor-osimhen-is-named-2023-african-mens-player-of-the-year-38709234

GIRONA FAIRYTALE CONTINUES AS BARCELONA BEATEN 4-2 BY SHOCK LALIGA LEADERS

 High-flying Girona reclaimed top spot in LaLiga after winning 4-2 at defending champions Barcelona on Sunday.

Artem Dovbyk and Miguel Gutierrez both scored for Girona in the first half, either side of Robert Lewandowski's equaliser, before Girona's Valery Fernandez and Cristhian Stuani sealed the victory after the break.

Girona, who remain unbeaten away from home in LaLiga this season, top the standings with 41 points from 16 games, having leapfrogged Real Madrid on 39 points after Carlo Ancelotti's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis on Saturday.

Barcelona, whose only previous defeat this season was to rivals Real at the end of October, are fourth on 34 points, level with third-placed Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand.

Barcelona fired off 31 shots, 11 of which were on target, but Girona's ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga pulled off a string of saves while the leaders scored with four out of their seven shots on target.

Dovbyk put Girona in front in the 12th minute with a shot that bounced in off the bottom of the post for his eighth goal in his debut LaLiga season.

Lewandowski then rediscovered his goalscoring touch and equalised for the hosts seven minutes later, heading home following a corner. It was the Poland striker's first goal for Barcelona in nearly a month.

Gutierrez restored Girona's lead before half-time, after the defender broke into the box and netted a fine individual effort, and Fernandez made it 3-1 in the 80th minute with a low shot two minutes after coming off the bench

"It is a tough defeat, we have not been good," Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong told DAZN. "Girona did well, but it is our fault.

"We haven't been good with the ball, neither have I, especially in the first half.

"We are seven points behind Girona, which is a lot. There is time, there is a lot of LaLiga left, but we have to improve a lot. We are disappointed, it is hard, but we can come back."

Sources:https://onefootball.com/en/news/girona-fairytale-continues-as-barcelona-beaten-4-2-by-shock-laliga-leaders-38704093

ROMA ANNOUNCE PRESS BLACKOUT AFTER CHAOTIC DRAW AGAINST FIORENTINA

 Serie A side Roma have announced a press blackout after the club’s 1-1 draw against Fiorentina.

The Giallorossi ended the game against Fiorentina to nine men, but they somehow held on to a point. But the game was chaotic and that is how it ended.

Nicola Zalewski had picked up a second yellow card to initially put Roma down to ten men, leading to Lucas Martinez Quarta equalising soon after. Romelu Lukaku’s bad tackle on Christian Kouame saw the Belgian get sent off and Roma were down to nine men.

Fiorentina couldn’t break through but after the game, Vincenzo Italiano had a vocal confrontation with Leandro Paredes, who had tackles Nico Gonzalez rather ruthlessly. Italiano hadn’t shook hands with Jose Mourinho, who also seemed to be fuming at the officiating in the game.

It has been reported that Roma will not speak to reporters after the game (via TMW) and that is likely to be in protest to Zalewski’s second yellow card, which led to him being sent off. Mourinho was initially expected to speak to the media but he will not now and neither will anyone from the club.

Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN

Sources:https://onefootball.com/en/news/roma-announce-press-blackout-after-chaotic-draw-against-fiorentina-38703983

KARIM BENZEMA INCLUDES HIMSELF IN HIS DREAM XI, BUT NOT LIONEL MESSI OR CRISTIANO RONALDO

 Al-Ittihad forward Karim Benzema (35) has revealed his dream XI during an interview with the Saudi Arabian club’s social channels. The former France international includes himself in the team, but notably not Lionel Messi (36), nor former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo (38).

Messi and Ronaldo are considered by many to be two of the best players to have ever played the game; the former has won eight Ballon d’Or, the latter five. No players have won more than the pair. However, neither were good enough to make Benzema’s all-time XI.

The absence of Messi may not be entirely surprising, given their rivalry during their time at Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, although that didn’t prevent him from naming Dani Alves at right-back. However, the absence of Ronaldo, with whom he spent nine years with Los Blancos (2009-2018) certainly constitutes a shock.

Benzema’s XI is full of former Real Madrid teammates, notably in defence, and also Les Bleus legends, notably Zinédine Zidane.

Benzema’s dream XI

Manuel Neuer; Dani Alves, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Claude Makélélé, Paul Pogba, Zinédine Zidane; Ronaldinho, Ronaldo (R9), Karim Benzema.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/karim-benzema-includes-himself-in-his-dream-xi-but-not-lionel-messi-or-cristiano-ronaldo-38704032