Newcastle after Overmars as DoF, Liverpool lead race for Bellingham transfer and Chelsea ‘back in for Kounde’

PEREIRA’S FLAMENGO FUTURE IN DOUBT

Manchester United flop Andreas Pereira’s future with Flamengo is in jeopardy with the Brazilian side refusing to confirm if they’ll make his loan switch permanent.

The 25-year-old joined Flamengo on loan until the end of the season in a deal that included a £14.5million option to buy.

But the Brazilian Serie A side aren’t sure if they plan to activate the buy option clause.

In fact, Flamengo haven’t even discussed whether signing Pereira, who’s played 14 games and scored three goals for them in all competitions, is a viable option yet, according to their vice-president of finance Rodrigo Tostes.

When asked about the Belgian-born Brazilian’s future, Tostes said, reported by Sports Witness: “I don’t know if Flamengo are going to buy him or not, it’s not even being discussed internally yet, there’s a huge deadline for us to look at this.

“What I can say is: Do Flamengo have the capacity to buy an athlete worth €20m today? Totally. There’s certainly the potential for that.

“There is no lack of people wanting to lend money to Flamengo, they can generate this revenue.

“But a series of other factors need to be considered, which you will have to give up in order to eventually be able to make this investment.

“Now, buying potential, we bought Pedro now for €14m. Are Flamengo able to buy another €20m athlete?

“Totally. Now, what has to be studied is whether this makes sense within the logic I explained to you, this positive spiral of having a super winning team and this team continuing, creating related revenues.

“Being able to continue making investments, and not putting all the investment inside a basket, for example.”

HAALAND AND MBAPPE ‘WILL BOTH JOIN REAL’

Ex-Real Madrid striker Alfonso Perez claims they will sign Erling Haaland AND Kylian Mbappe next summer.

It was reported earlier in the week how Los Blancos were planning a swoop for the pair in 2022 to create a new era at the Bernabeu.

Madrid are ready to splash the cash, with Manchester United ‘target’ Haaland and Mbappe just two players being targeted by the LaLIga giants.

The Spanish side failed to secure Mbappe’s services in August, but are free to speak to him in January with the Paris Saint-Germain forward in the final year of his contract.

Meanwhile Borussia Dortmund marksman Erling Haaland is available for just £64million due to a release clause in his contract.

And ex-Real ace Perez, who won the top-flight title and Copa del Rey with Madrid, is adamant Haaland and Mbappe will be signed next year.

In an interview with Le Journal du Real, the former Barcelona man explained how Real president Florentino Perez will work his magic to get both deals done.

He said: “Which one do I choose to build a new project? I take both without a doubt.

“At Real Madrid, there are always the best players in the world.

“Florentino will bring them both back.”

TOON READY TO HAG-GLE FOR ‘MAN UTD TARGET’ ERIK

Newcastle are willing to make Manchester United ‘target’ Erik ten Hag the Premier League’s third-best paid boss.

That’s the claim from the Mail despite Paulo Fonseca and Lucien Favre remaining the bookies’ favourites to succeed sacked Steve Bruce.

The Toon‘s new Saudi owners are reportedly ready to offer Ajax manager Ten Hag more than £11million a year gross – about £6m AFTER tax.

But the 51-year-old is reluctant to quit the Dutch champs.

Only Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola (£20m a year) and Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp (£15m) earn more than the package it’s claimed Newcastle have put together for Ten Hag.

But so far it appears the former Bayern Munich reserves and Twente boss is content to continue developing a dynasty at Ajax, after turning down Tottenham over the summer.

In four years with his home country giants, Ten Hag has won two titles and maintained Ajax‘s production line of brilliant youngsters.

And even if the Magpies pursue their interest, they could face powerful opposition from the Red Devils.

Old Trafford manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is tipped to be the next Premier League chief axed, following Sunday’s 5-0 home loss against Liverpool.

And for now ex-Roma boss Fonseca remains the favourite for the Toon job, havign been interviewed last Wednesday.

TOON OVER THE MOON ABOUT OVERMARS

Arsenal icon Marc Overmars will reportedly accept Newcastle’s offer to become their new director of football.

De Telegraaf claims the Ajax chief is ready to agree terms on a lucrative contract with mega-rich Toon following their £300million Saudi takeover.

Overmars is currently tied down to Ajax until 2024 in the same role.

But Newcastle have no qualms about paying hefty compensation to bring the Dutchman back to England.

Journalist Valentijn Driessen told Voetbalpraat: “Overmars will go, I think. If he gets the chance, he goes.

“Overmars has to start in January or February, because he has to put together the squad for the new season.

“And his successor must do that for Ajax.”

It was revealed last week that Newcastle were targeting Overmars to take charge of their transfer business.

The former Barcelona star had also been linked with a return to Arsenal.

But Overmars is instead looking set to link up with a new boss at St James’ Park.

Graeme Jones is interim gaffer at Newcastle following Steve Bruce’s exit.

CASH NO LONGER ACCEPTED

Matty Cash has reportedly been given a brand new name following his successful application for Polish citizenship.

The Aston Villa star, whose mother hails from Poland, has now become Mateusz Gotówka.

The Villa Park ace has committed his international future to Poland with the team set to face World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra or Hungary in November.

OVERMARS IN TOON

Marc Overmars is reportedly due to hold talks with Newcastle over the plans to create a director of football role at the club.

It is thought the former Arsenal star is high on their list of targets for the job.

Dutch football expert Valentijn Driessen told the sports show Voetbalpraat: “That is a great new challenge.

“He has now been at Ajax for ten years, he has shown all the tricks there.

“And he also knows that with Ajax he will never become the new Bayern Munich, or the new Paris Saint-Germain and therein ultimately lies his challenge, to possibly do the trick again with a step to another club, but then to get even higher.”

Overmars is rumoured to be keen to leave Ajax next year.

TWO BLUES

Chelsea are thought to be gearing up for a double swoop for Sevilla ace Jules Kounde and Juventus ace Matthijs de Ligt.

Reports claim the Premier League leaders are making contingency plans with the contracts of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christiensen set to expire in 2022.

Eurosport claims Kounde and De Ligt are being eyed as potential replacements for the pair should they opt to leave Stamford Bridge next summer.

BALLON D’OR LEAK

SportBible claims a sheet leaked online appears to show the winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or awards and players named as the world’s 26 best footballers.

This year’s award presentation is due to take place on November 29 with last year’s ceremony cancelled due to Covid.

The leaked post has Robert Lewandowski down as the winner of this year’s award, according to SportBible.

The post has the Poland international and Bayern Munich star named ahead of Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema.

LLOR OF LA LIGA

Fernando Llorente’s football career looks to be back on track with the former Tottenham striker set to join Spanish second-tier side Eibar.

The 36-year-old is reportedly due to join the club on a short term deal until the end of the season.

Eibar are currently one point behind leaders Almeria in Spain’s Segunda division.

HERRERA ROBBED

Anders Herrera was reportedly robbed in France’s capital Paris on Tuesday.

The former Manchester United star is thought to have had his wallet and phone taken when a prostitute entered his car, according to French news outlet Parisien.

The 32-year-old is reported to have been waiting at a red light in the Bois de Boulogne public park, in West Paris when the incident took place.

Police were called at 8:00 pm and it is claimed £169 was taken from the player.

COAD CALL

Gabriel Agbonlahor reckons Newcastle should aim higher in the market for defensive targets rather than eyeing Conor Coady.

The Wolves centre-back, 28, is thought to be attracting interest from the Magpies following a £320billion takeover of the Tyneside outfit.

Former Aston Villa Agbonlahor told Football Insider: “Conor Coady is a good player but I don’t think he’s going to improve the Newcastle United defence.

“They need a no-nonsense centre-half who’s going not going to stand for anything, not a Conor Coady.

“They need to look at better defenders than that.”

HEY JUDE

Liverpool are thought to be interested in bringing Jude Bellingham to Anfield according to reports.

The 18-year-old has impressed with his performances for Borussia Dortmund forming a solid partnership with goal machine Erling Haaland.

The midfielder has notched up three goals and seven assists in 15 Dortmund appearances this term.

The club’s Player Licence Director Sebastian Kehl told Sports 1: “There’s a lot of interest around Jude Bellingham, not only Liverpool.”

NOT IN TOON

Erik Ten Hag is reportedly being told to ignore overtures from Newcastle.

Dutch football expert Hugo Borst reckons the Ajax chief should consider offers from a top club.

It is rumoured the Ajax manager is on a shortlist of potential replacements for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should he be moved on from Manchester United.

Borst told the AD Voetbalpodcast: “His next club should really be a top club. Chelsea, for instance, because I think Bayern Munich is still a while away

“I would welcome that (a long stay at Ajax). If Ajax keeps working with those enormous salaries, they can keep getting special players.”

CASH TRANSFER

Matty Cash has reportedly been given a brand new name following his successful application for Polish citizenship.

The Aston Villa star, whose mother hails from Poland, has now become Mateusz Gotówka.

The Villa Park ace has committed his international future to Poland with the team set to face World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra or Hungary in November.

MESS MEET

Lionel Messi had a chance to catch up with one of his closest former Barcelona chums in France.

The Argentina skipper was pictured reuniting with Brazil icon Ronaldinho in l Paris.

Ronaldinho was a special guest at the Parc des Princes for Paris Saint Germain’s Champions League win over RB Leipzig.

The former PSG and Nou Camp star said: “It makes me very happy to see him at the club where I started in Europe.

“It’s something that I thought would never happen, I was sure that he would end his career with Barcelona.”

DYER IN HOSPITAL

Ipswich Under-23s boss Kieron Dyer is currently in hospital undergoing tests.

The Ipswich Town have reportedly not gone into details as to why the former England midfielder was admitted to hospital.

In a statement, Ipswich said: “The club can confirm that Town U23 manager Kieron Dyer is currently undertaking tests in hospital.

“Everyone at Ipswich Town Football Club sends their best wishes to Kieron at this time.

“We ask everyone to respect Kieron’s privacy, and we will be making no further comment on the matter.”

TITLE RACE TWO

Paul Scholes fears the battle for this year’s Premier League title could be a two-horse race following Liverpool’s 5-0 trouncing of Manchester United on Sunday.

The former Old Trafford midfielder reckons the fight for this term’s top tier crown will be between Manchester City and Liverpool despite Chelsea sitting top of the table.

Scholes told Premier League Productions: “Seeing Liverpool go to Old Trafford and win so convincingly, I think it will make City worry.

“Chelsea…I’m not sure (about), they have been great and I think they are better than I actually give them credit for but I think it’s between Liverpool and Manchester City.”

WINKS JINXED

Harry Winks and Dele Alli have reportedly been left about of the Tottenham squad that is due to face Burney at Turf Moor in the Carabao Cup.

The Evening Standard reports this could be due to doubts over the pair’s futures at Spurs under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Both players are currently fully fit and made appearances for Tottenham in their 1-0 loss to Vitesse Arnhem in the Europa.

Following the game, Winks expressed his irritation at being left out of the Spurs squad that took on West Ham last weekend.

TOON UP FOR WIRTZ

Newcastle are rumoured to have joined the race to sign Florian Wirtz, according to reports in Germany.

Sports outlet Bild claims the newly-minted Tyneside giants are keen on adding on Bayer Leverkusen starlet to their ranks

And it is thought the club sent scout Geoff Lockhart to watch the playmaker, 18, in action against Cologne.

However, Bild reckons a potential Toons move for the Germany ace is unlikely to happen before 2023.

And a number of European clubs are also thought to be interested in the player.

BEES BLOW

Brentford are set to face five months without the services of their number one goalkeeper David Raya.

The Bees stopper suffered a cruciate ligament injury to his left knee during Brentford’s 2-1 loss to Leicester last Sunday.

In a statement, the club’s medical chief Neil Greig said: “Positively, this type of injury usually heals well without the need for surgery.

“David has already begun using a brace specifically designed to aid this process.

“We anticipate the recovery period for an injury like this to be somewhere between four and five months, which will enable David to be back to his previous high levels well before the end of the season.”

XAVI PRAISE

Santi Cazorla reckons Barcelona fans could get a return to “pure Barca school” tiki-taka football if Xavi were in charge of the Nou Camp, according to reports.

The former Arsenal and Villarreal style was reportedly sharing his thoughts on Xavi as a manager.

The Spain star currently plays under Xavi for Qatar-based club Al Sadd.

Xavi has been heavily linked with a Barcelona return with current boss Ronald Koeman under pressure.

Cazorla told Marca: “He wants the ball and we train based on rondos, possession, position play…pure Barca school, to defend with the ball.

“I think that he understands football that way and he practices it. It’s not unique, but perhaps, in having the ball, Xavi is unique.

“At La Roja, when we were teammates, he always had that philosophy of football. It was very clear.”

INJURY BLUES

Chelsea are facing injury problems ahead of their trip to Newcastle on Saturday.

Thomas Tuchel could be without Cesar Azpilicueta, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Andreas Christensen.

The trio missed the club’s league cup match win against Southampton on Tuesday night.

It is thought Azpilicueta has a shoulder problem while Loftus-Cheek is struggling with a hip injury. And Christiensen is expected to have a tooth operation.

However, it is reported the Blues captain could make a return to the squad along with Christiensen.

GOOD MORNING FOOTY FANS

Chelsea needed another penalty shootout win to progress to the next round of the Carabao Cup last night.

Kai Havertz’s opener at Stamford Bridge was cancelled out by Che Adams.

And it was Reece James who netted the winning spot-kick after Saints missed two of theirs in the shoot-out.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are reportedly ‘willing to make Erik ten Hag one of the highest-paid managers’ in the Premier League.

The Mail claims they would be willing to hand him ‘a salary of £6million after tax – totalling a gross wage of just over £11m’ to take over.

That would put Ten Hag just behind £20m-a-year Man City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s £15m-a-year Jurgen Klopp in the list of the Premier League’s best-paid managers.

Elsewhere, Man City and Bayern Munich are keeping tabs on Barcelona star Frenkie De Jong, reports suggest.

According to Calciomercato, City and Bayern have been monitoring the midfielder and are said to be very impressed with what they are seeing.

Both sides are looking to take advantage of Barca’s dire financial situation by launching bids next summer.

Finally, Mo Salah is reportedly demanding a £450,000-a-week contract as Liverpool look to tie him down to a new deal.

Ekrem Konur states that the Egypt international is very happy in Merseyside, but wants a pay rise to reflect his importance in the team.

But Liverpool aren’t willing to offer him that much and are negotiating a lower wage salary.

OLE IN FERGIE TIME

Sir Alex Ferguson held emergency talks over the future of under-fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Tuesday — who is safe for now.

United boss Solskjaer is set to stay in charge for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Tottenham.

But another damaging defeat by Spurs could change that.

There are fears within the club that the atmosphere at training has become flat, with players uninspired by the coaching sessions.

And group managing director Richard Arnold is on a mission to discover what has gone wrong on the pitch after starting to take on some of Ed Woodward’s responsibilities.