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Leicester City have been linked with a move for Barcelona youngster Ilaix Moriba, with the La Liga giants fearing he could leave on a free transfer next summer.

What’s the story?

The highly-rated 18-year-old has entered the final year of his current contract with his boyhood club and has so far been unable to reach an agreement over fresh terms.

As a result, Barca are thought to be open to Moriba’s departure after being forced to train with the reserves, and several Premier League clubs are believed to have been in contact with the player’s representatives, according to 90min.

The report claims that England’s traditional ‘Big Six’ have been offered the teenager’s services, along with Leicester, West Ham United, Everton and Wolves.

Leicester City fans will be buzzing

The £22.5m-rated Moriba burst onto the scene for Barca last season, scoring one goal and providing three assists in 18 appearances for Ronald Koeman’s charges.

As per WhoScored, he recorded an average of 0.9 shots per league game in 2020/21, 0.5 key passes and 1.2 dribbles, highlighting his considerable contribution to Barca’s play.

It was hoped that the 6ft maestro would become a pivotal part of the Catalan club’s new era, but his imminent exit is now looking inevitable.

The news of Moriba’s availability will surely have a large section of Leicester fans buzzing. The Midlands outfit have largely built their recent success off the back of buying promising youngsters for low fees before developing them and selling them on for astronomical profit.

Stars such as N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Harry Maguire have all come and gone after gracing the King Power Stadium with their considerable talent, allowing the club to reinvest the proceeds of their sales into the playing squad and a new training ground.

And bringing in Moriba would fit perfectly with that management style. The Spain Under-18 international has established himself as one of the most promising central midfielders in the European game and looks destined for a glittering career.

Whether Leicester act on his attainability only time will tell, but manager Brendan Rodgers would surely be delighted at the opportunity to work with such a talented young player. The Leicester boss must act now.

And, in other news…Bye-bye Maddison: Leicester must get “phenomenal” £27m-rated gem with “magical powers” 

Marcus Rashford has hit back at the treatment he has received in the media, while reaffirming his commitment to Manchester United.

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• Rashford criticised in media
• Alleged to have partied in Ireland
• Also handed parking ticket, but has hit back

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford has penned a lengthy article for the Player's Tribune, in which he has reaffirmed his commitment to United amid severe criticism of his recent performances. He has also taken aim at the media, after seeing multiple stories surrounding a drunken night in Ireland, and parking tickets, published in multiple outlets.

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  WHAT RASHFORD SAID

  Rashford wrote: "I’m not trying to have a go at the media. I understand the game, you know what I mean? They’re not really writing about me. It’s like they’re writing about this character, “Marcus Rashford.” It can’t just be about me as a 26-year-old lad on a night out, or a lad getting a parking ticket. It’s got to be about how much my car costs, guessing my weekly salary, my jewelry or even my tattoos. It’s got to be about my body language, and questioning my morals, and speculating about my family, and my football future. There’s a tone to it that you don’t get with all footballers. Let’s just leave it at that.

  "I think some of it goes back to the pandemic. I was just trying to use my voice to make sure that kids weren’t going hungry, because I know exactly how it feels. For some reason, that seemed to rub certain people the wrong way. It seems like they’ve been waiting for me to have a human moment so they can point the finger and say, “See? See who he really is?”

  "Listen, I’m not a perfect person. When I make a mistake, I’ll be the first one to put my hand up and say that I need to do better. But if you ever question my commitment to Man United, that’s when I have to speak up. It’s like somebody questioning my entire identity, and everything I stand for as a man. Ihere. I have played for this club since I was a boy. My family turned down life-changing money when I was a kid so I could wear this badge."

• AND WHAT'S MORE

  Rashford also insists he will do anything for the United badge as he bids to get his form back on track, adding: "I can take any criticism. I can take any headline. From podcasts, social media and the papers. I can take it. But if you start questioning my commitment to this club and my love for football and bringing my family into it, then I’d simply ask you to have a bit more humanity."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Rashford has scored five league goals this season, while also registering three assists. United are currently sixth in the Premier League table, eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa and five behind fifth-placed Tottenham.

The Parisians may be losing a club legend, but they have plenty of options as they look to spend the surplus cash he'll leave behind

Kylian Mbappe's departure is not a good thing for Paris Saint-Germain. They will lose the club's all-time leading goalscorer, a global superstar, and the face of French football.

However, there is some solace to be found in the money that they can now spend to flesh out the side. With Mbappe's astronomical salary off the books, the Parisians are ready to spend big this summer in an ambitious rebuilding mission. Transfer guru reported that they are after a top-tier attacking player, midfielder, and perhaps a long-term centre-back replacement for Marquinhos.

As such, the rumour mill has immediately gone into overdrive, and so who are the players PSG are likely to be targeting once the transfer window opens this summer as they move on from Mbappe? GOAL breaks down 11 top options…

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  Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

  We've been here before on more than one occasion. PSG's interest in Rashford has simmered away for years now, the Parisians having repeatedly shown interest in signing Manchester United's left-sided forward.

  There is a sense that for all of his quality, Rashford has been rather held back by his club. United are too chaotic, too turbulent for individuals to truly thrive. And although the now-completed partial takeover by Sir Jim Ratcliffe seems poised to bring in a sense of stability, Rashford may not be able to hit his best levels for the Red Devils.

  PSG would seem a promising exit route. With Mbappe gone, Rashford would take over the mantle of being , while Luis Enrique's direct, counter-attacking football suits Rashford, who is at his best running in behind and taking on defenders in transition.

  For all of the tactical sentiment, though, a Rashford exit from Old Trafford seems unlikely. He is, after all, United through and through, and less than 12 months removed from signing a bumper new contract. Despite his inconsistent form in 2023-24, it's improbable that the glitz of Paris turns his head.

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  Rafael Leao (AC Milan)

  The reports linking them with Rashford suggest that PSG want a direct replacement for Mbappe, and in truth, Leao seems much more suited to such a role. The Milan star is not quite the same player as Mbappe; he's taller, more powerful, and a better passer.

  They do, however, share some similar traits. Both are excellent ball carriers, eager to take on a man, and thrive when they have space to run into. And at 24, Leao still has plenty of development to come.

  There are some concerns that have to be taken into consideration. Leao is a good goalscorer, but he's never netted more than 20 in a season. His ability to play against the kind of low blocks that PSG routinely face is also not quite clear.

  Still, if the idea is for PSG to sign a marquee left-sided forward who can replicate the kind of influence that Mbappe had, then Leao might be that man.

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  Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

  Osimhen is leaving Napoli at the end of the season – this much we know. The question is, where does he go? Chelsea and Arsenal seem to be the duelling favourites, two sides with a clear need for a No.9, and Osimhen is the best on the market.

  But PSG can simply never be counted out. There have been some scattered links with Osimhen already, with one of those to have reported that the Parisians are in the mix for his signature. It helps that football advisor Luis Campos once signed Osimhen when he was in a similar role at Lille.

  The tactical fit is an imperfect one. Osimhen is best used as a central striker, and has all of the traits of a dominant modern No.9. His arrival would certainly seem to clash with the signings of Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani – two big-money arrivals for the Parisians last summer who haven't quite hit the heights yet.

  But if PSG want the best goalscorer out there to replace Mbappe, Osimhen is their man.

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  Kvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)

  Since we're on the topic of Napoli… Kvaratskhelia was the biggest surprise in European football last year, a largely unknown Georgian winger who became one of the most dominant players in the world at his position. He was a focal point of Napoli's remarkable title-winning season, proving to be an able goalscorer and devastating creator for a fluid attack.

  Naturally, exit talk started by the end of the season, and he has been linked with a move to Real Madrid move for some time. PSG, though, appears to be a more natural fit if Kvaratskhelia is to leave Italy.

  The Parisians need a left-winger, and Kvaratskhelia is one of the best out there. Napoli will certainly be reluctant to sell, as they are set to lose Osimhen this summer, and won't want to see their other big-name attacker leave. But with PSG's money, and the lure of a starring role, this one could happen.

A Manchester United fan has gone viral for noting down 11 Marcus Rashford mistakes in his "absolutely embarrassing" display against Newcastle.

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• Rashford dismal against Newcastle
• Was toothless in attack and sluggish defensively
• Was taken off around the hour mark

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The England international continued his rather lacklustre and inconsistent form on Saturday against the Magpies. Rashford hardly had an impact in attack as he was given little room to manoeuvre by Tino Livramento on the right wing and was also guilty of not tracking back on several occasions. One fan, @SimonUTD11 on X (formerly Twitter), took it upon himself to document just how poor the United forward's performance had been.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rashford showed hardly any improvement after the break. To make matters more complicated, Anthony Gordon scored the opener for Newcastle which forced Erik ten Hag to look towards his bench. The Dutchman brought on Rasmus Hojlund to replace Anthony Martial, while a visibly frustrated Rashford was substituted for Antony.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Rashford has found the net just twice in 18 appearances this term, which highlights his poor return in front of goal. He was an anonymous figure for United on the pitch on Saturday evening, leaving United Stand presenter @bethTmufc to brand the forward's display as "absolutely embarrassing", highlighting specifically his "lack of effort".

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

  Rashford has failed to keep up with his 2022-23 form when he ended up scoring 30 goals. His dismal performances prompted Darren Bent to pick Arsenal's Kai Havertz rather than him in his team, whereas Tim Sherwood asserted that the forward shouldn't start for England at the upcoming Euros if he keeps firing blanks. However, he will hope to turn around his fortunes soon and find the net against Chelsea on Wednesday night at Old Trafford.

Kieran Maguire has made a definitive claim on where the potential takeover of Newcastle United is at at this moment in time.

The Lowdown: Ashley assurance

As per The Chronicle, Mike Ashley has reassured the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium that the door will stay open after the arbitration case against the Premier League is completed.

The hearing has been delayed until early next year due to issues with the disclosure of evidence, but the St. James’ Park owner does not feel as if the deal is over yet.

The Latest: Maguire’s claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire, a pundit and football finance expert who has been following the latest developments in the takeover saga, has claimed that while he does not think that the consortium will be looking elsewhere, the deal is currently ‘off’ at the moment:

“There is nothing to stop them from looking elsewhere.

“But I really think there is an element of pride in this business, to a certain extent.

“The consortium feels that they have nothing to hide and that their financial approach is honourable.

“They want to win this case because they feel they have been dishonoured by the Premier League in the approach which has been taken.

“I think that as much as anything else is preventing them from looking elsewhere.

“But there is no deal sealed because the official word is that the deal is off, even though the two sides clearly have an amicable relationship.”

The Verdict: Patience needed

While Maguire claims that the deal is ‘off’, patience is certainly needed for it to come back onto the table.

The delay in the arbitration process has not helped matters, but Ashley has not yet closed the door on the consortium and it does not seem as if he intends to do so.

Thus, assuming that the arbitration proceedings start early next year as planned, a pathway can still be made, providing that the results go in the favour of the North East club.

In other news, find out which £12m-rated maestro NUFC are eyeing here!

A concussion sustained on the training field has sidelined Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.

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• Odegaard missed three games for Arsenal
• Suffered from concussion during training
• Expected back after international break

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Odegaard has been forced onto the sidelines due to fears he suffered a concussion in training after being hit in the face with a ball, according to the The Norway international subsequently missed the games against Newcastle. Sevilla and Burnley due to concussion protocol. Odegaard is also set to miss Norway's Euro 2024 qualifiers over the international break, although his absence has been put down to a hip injury.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal will be eager to have their captain back in action as soon as possible, and it is hoped he will return after the international break. During the two-week break, Thomas Partey, Ben White, Cedric Soares, Gabriel Jesus, and Emile Smith Rowe are among a number of other players with injuries that Arteta will be hoping can recuperate in time for the Brentford clash.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Gabriel Jesus hasn't played for Arsenal since October 24 owing to a hamstring injury, but the Brazilian football federation has exercised its right to assess his condition. Brazil will examine Jesus directly, despite the Gunners' desire for him to recuperate in London during the international window, according to

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ODEGAARD?

  Odegaard will likely be back in action when the Gunners take on Brentford on November 25 as they look to keep pace with Manchester City and Liverpool.

Crystal Palace have held talks with French side Lyon over a potential deal for Spurs target Joachim Andersen, according to a report from The Telegraph.

The lowdown: ‘Magnificent’ defender on Spurs and West Ham’s radar

Andersen spent the 2020/21 season on loan with Fulham, and caught the eye with some strong performances for the Cottagers last term, although his efforts weren’t quite enough as they were relegated back into the Championship.

Andersen was labelled as ‘magnificent’ by the Daily Mirror’s John Cross for his performance against Liverpool back in March.

The 25-year-old has been attracting interest from both Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

The latest: Premier League rivals hold talks

Spurs and West Ham are set to be dealt a frustrating transfer blow in their previous pursuit of Andersen though, with Crystal Palace holding talks with Lyon over a potential agreement for the Danish defender.

Andersen has three years remaining on his current contract with Lyon, although it remains to be seen as to whether he’ll see out that deal with the French side.

The verdict: An irritating update

This will be an irritating update for both Spurs and West Ham.

With a Whoscored rating of 6.79 from the 2020/21 season whilst with Fulham, he’s shown that he can perform to a high standard in the Premier League, even despite playing in a struggling side.

He’s dominant in the air, winning an average of 3.2 aerial duels per game, which put him above any other Fulham player in that statistic from last season.

It’ll be interesting to see whether Palace’s rumoured talks with Andersen prompt any further movement from elsewhere in London – there certainly seems to be plenty of interest in the man dubbed ‘absolutely sensational’ by Fulham legend Tony Gale.

Kylian Mbappe says he is used to coaches speaking negatively to him after being criticised by Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique.

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• Mbappe criticised by PSG coach
• Says he has no problem with Luis Enrique
• Asked about possible Real Madrid move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mbappe struck three times as PSG beat Reims in Ligue 1, but coach Luis Enrique said afterwards that he was "not happy" with the forward. "I have nothing to say about the goals, but he can help the team in another way. I will talk about it with him first, but they are private conversations. Kylian is one of the best players in the world, but we want more," he said.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe, 24, is the top scorer in Ligue 1, having netted 13 of the French champions' 29 goals across just 11 matches in the top flight this season. The World Cup winner has been constantly linked with a move away from the club, with Real Madrid leading the chase, though recent reports claim the Spanish side have dropped their interest.

• WHAT KYLIAN MBAPPE SAID

  Mbappe insists his relationship with Luis Enrique is fine, however, telling reporters: "I’ve always worked well with the coaches I’ve had, like Didier Deschamps, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel and so on. These are coaches who have spoken to me ‘badly’, so to speak – but it didn’t stop me form playing well and having a good relationship with them.

  "I’m a player who’s very demanding of himself, so when I find that demand from my coaches then I’m very happy. I don’t need my manager to tell me I’m the best player in the world every day."

  Asked about the links to Madrid, he said while on international duty: "It’s not something that concerns the French national team,” began the France captain in an evasive manner. “You should come to Campus PSG and I’ll respond, the focus is on country above anything else for the next week."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

  Mbappe will likely be involved when France take on Gibraltar in Euro 2024 qualifying on Saturday. PSG return to action with a Ligue 1 clash against Monaco on Friday, November 24.

Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski would be a solid partner for Willy Boly at Wolves, Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield has suggested.

Tarkowski is out of contract next summer and is currently being linked with a move to Molineux.

According to The Telegraph, Wolves are keen on signing the 28-year-old in this transfer window, though they face competition from Premier League rivals West Ham.

It means there is no guarantee that they will be able to sign him this summer, but if they can, Hatfield believes he is a player who would complement someone like Boly nicely.

“He would certainly suit Wolves,” Hatfield said in a chat with TT. “He’s someone who can maybe offer a solid centre-back pairing for someone like Willy Boly, who I think he’d enjoy working alongside.

“Willy Boly’s obviously a player who maybe saw form tail off a little bit last season but before that was always seen as one of the best centre-backs outside of the top six.”

If Wolves do play 4-4-2 this upcoming season, which was Bruno Lage’s preferred formation during his time at Benfica, then bringing in another central defender like Tarkowski does make sense.

From his time at Burnley, he has a lot of experience playing in a flat back four. So if Lage is leaning towards a two-man central defence, then perhaps Tarkowski and Boly could be an option.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly set a retirement date that will keep his rivalry with Lionel Messi running through the next World Cup in 2026.

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• Portuguese superstar is 38 years of age
• Showing no sign of slowing down
• Intends to play for three more seasons

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is 38 years of age and, despite keeping himself in the best possible shape, is aware that the day will come when he eventually has to hang up his boots. There are no plans to do that any time soon, though, with Al-Nassr and Portugal being informed of his long-term goals.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to , Ronaldo has told his club side in Saudi Arabia that he would like to sign a contract extension through to 2027. That deal would allow him to figure for his country at another World Cup finals that will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ronaldo had previously indicated that his career at international level could be brought to a close after next summer’s European Championship – with the all-time great already up to 201 caps for Portugal and 123 goals. He is, however, now setting his sights on another global showpiece.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Extending his career towards the age of 41 will allow Ronaldo to remain in competition with eternal rival Messi. He saw the Argentine superstar savour World Cup glory in 2022 and wants another shot at that title himself. Reports suggest that he is looking to play on until “early 2027” – taking him through another three seasons.