Football365

Richarlison, Kevin Danso and Pape Sarr have all asked to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the final days of the summer transfer window, Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed.

Tottenham’s poor start to the season continued as they were beaten 2-0 at home by an impressive Newcastle United side. Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa both pulled off great finishes as Newcastle humiliated their former player Sandro Tonali at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Richarlison, Danso and Sarr were all left out of the squad, and De Zerbi admitted after the game that the trio could depart.

“Richarlison, I don’t know,” he said (via the Evening Standard).

“He said too many times [that] he wants to leave. Danso came to me two days ago, and he said he wants to leave, and Pape Sarr, the same, but he suffer[ed] a small injury, but he is almost ready to train.”

The trio cost Spurs upwards of £95.5m. Sarr joined for an initial £14.6m in August 2021 before being loaned back to FC Metz for the 2021-22 campaign, while Spurs signed Danso on loan with an obligation to buy worth £20.9m in May last year.

READ: Carragher slams ‘absolutely criminal’ Tottenham error and reveals the ‘answer’

Richarlison, meanwhile, arrived in north London for £50m plus £10m in add-ons four years ago.

According to Fabrizio Romano, central midfielder Sarr has agreed personal terms with Juventus after being ‘offered’ to the Italian giants.

Juve are trying to beat Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray to Sarr after missing out on Franck Kessie, who has decided to rejoin Atalanta.

Romano revealed earlier on Saturday that Danso is exploring a potential exit from Spurs, which has now been confirmed by De Zerbi.

Sunderland have already failed with a season-long loan bid for the centre-half.

Spurs have been tipped to offer Richarlison to former club Everton in an attempt to help their negotiations for Iliman Ndiaye.

Richarlison has been linked with Juve, Galatasaray, Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce this summer, too.

De Zerbi reacted to the defeat to Newcastle by saying: “We will not panic.

De Zerbi ‘sorry’ for Tottenham loss

“I know very well where we are going, what the plan is, and what difficult problems we could find in our way.

“I am sorry for the fans and sorry for the players for the result, but we have to improve, and to change two seasons like the last two is impossible in 10 days and with people in the transfer market.

“We have to work hard on the pitch and find the connection with the players because last season before the end of the season we were in the Championship and we stayed up together.

“Now we have to keep clam and focus on improvement. We have a great squad and great players, we can’t use all the players we brought but if we work in this way and believe in ourselves I think we will change the last two seasons.

“If the rush is more important than the journey [then] we can’t find the solutions to the last two seasons.”

Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, Spurs always lose.

Especially after they spend well over £300m specifically to stop doing so. And especially against one of the chief victims of such largesse, who were powerless to prevent one of their most important players from jumping five places down the Premier League table. And especially after they have wedded themselves so deferentially to an apparently naked emperor.

As distant, disregarded cousins of the Big Six but bona fide members of that gilded family nonetheless, Spurs have embraced and exploited their position with particular relish in the last 12 months.

Their signings for fees this summer fall into two categories: those plucked from teams who have realised that trying to smash the glass ceiling is futile; and Manchester City cast-offs.

Two of the clubs most evidently railroaded by that first approach have equally savoured making this a historically bad start to the season.

Brentford have improved since losing Thomas Frank and Newcastle appear similarly invigorated by the departure of Sandro Tonali. Spurs have tried to transpose what they figured were the most desirable cogs in those machines, and have lost to both without scoring to go from consecutive 17th-placed finishes to bottom.

Can a football club come back to haunt a player? Tonali certainly seemed to be inhibited by something on this, his long-awaited home debut.

“I can’t wait to play in this stadium because I’ve played a few times against Tottenham with AC Milan in the Champions League and Newcastle,” the Italian international said this summer. A player with an unbeaten record in seven games against Spurs has lost his first two matches with them.

“I found a great atmosphere, I found every time a full stadium,” he added back then. The Spurs PA declaring pre-match that “we’ve spent and we’ve spent. We’re back. We’re going places. We’re huge” was perhaps not the sort of ambience Tonali had in mind.

Spurs are, in fairness, going places. But on this trajectory they are Blackpool, Huddersfield and possibly Stockport away.

There are caveats. Savio was sidelined before the game because Spurs forwards are particularly cursed. The wide options are limited enough that world champion right-back Pedro Porro and free-kick specialist Mathys Tel were starters behind a striker who signed on Thursday. And this remains a powerfully mentally fragile team, scarred by the past couple of seasons.

Spurs were the better team until they weren’t. Marmoush could have had a penalty. Jan Paul van Hecke almost scored from a corner. Other things happened. Then Newcastle broke. Nico Gonzalez launched a ball forward, his Magpies predecessor Tonali failed to nullify the threat of Anthony Elanga and the forward latched onto Amar Dedic’s knockdown before scoring with a clever turn and finish.

Ten minutes later, Yoane Wissa’s improvised flick from a Nick Woltemade back-post header condemned Spurs to a humiliating home defeat.

Roberto De Zerbi seems entirely unperturbed, despite his team looking unfit and unprepared for a Premier League campaign which does curiously appear to have caught a handful of teams entirely off-guard.

He said simply that it was an “unfair result” and that it was “normal for a new team”.

Both sides, by the way, used five summer signings. And Spurs were at home. And have a manager appointed more than three and a half weeks ago; Matthias Jaissle has nevertheless coped exceptionally well in far tougher circumstances.

De Zerbi also explained that three players – Richarlison, Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr – all want to leave a squad far from blessed with depth or fortune with injuries, around the same time it was publicly revealed that Cody Gakpo had rejected the opportunity to join this stuttering revolution.

The Spurs manager calmly added that he knows “very well where I’m going”. Until any sort of evidence to the contrary is provided, that destination does seem to be a third successive relegation battle, and a world record for the most expensive in history at that.

Jamie Carragher criticised Tottenham Hotspur’s defending for Yoane Wissa’s brilliant goal as Newcastle United picked up an impressive 2-0 win in north London.

Tottenham were looking to bounce back after a damaging 3-0 defeat to Brentford in their Premier League opener. Newcastle have been decimated this summer, including selling Sandro Tonali to Tottenham for £100million, but they continued their good start to the season against Spurs thanks to goals from Anthony Elanga and Wissa.

Newcastle had clearly decided to target Spurs left-back Andy Robertson in the build up to the game, as new Magpies midfielder Nico Gonzalez sent a long diagonal pass towards Amar Dedic and Robertson in the 62nd minute.

Dedic beat Robertson in the air, setting up Elanga in the box. Elanga quickly swivelled before sending a left-footed strike in off the post.

Wissa doubled Newcastle’s advantage in the 73rd minute. Nick Woltemade challenged for a header from a Lewis Hall corner, which saw the ball fall to Wissa in the penalty area.

Wissa pulled off a great acrobatic effort to beat Antonin Kinsky from close range. Newcastle held off Spurs for the remainder of the game to pick up all three points and leave Spurs with two consecutive defeats under Roberto De Zerbi.

READ: Fabrizio Romano confirms £21m star leaving Tottenham as Juventus ‘offered’ deal

On co-commentary for Sky Sports, Carragher was left stunned by Spurs’ failure to mark Wissa.

He said: “The space Wissa’s got just in front of the goalkeeper is absolutely criminal. What are they doing, the Spurs defenders?

“So far, this season couldn’t have started any better for Newcastle; it couldn’t have gone any worse for Tottenham.”

Carragher went on to add: “And the answer will be more signings.”

Spurs have backed De Zerbi with over £320m of spending this summer, resulting in some big expectations that have so far not been met.

Carragher thinks Spurs will make more signings in the coming days to help De Zerbi turn results around.

“It’s going to take time at Tottenham,” the pundit said. “A lot of new players coming in… there’s no doubting the players that have come in.

‘More to come’ at Tottenham – Carragher

“You look at it and you think, ‘Ah, they’ve paid top dollar there’, but, the players that have come in, quality players.

“Certainly in midfield in Fernandes, Tonali. [I] saw signs in Van Hecke today, in terms of on the ball.

“But they won’t be finished, I think there’ll be more to come.

“It’s natural that people will panic a little bit, and I think Tottenham will go into the market again, no doubt about it.

“Not just because they’ve lost twice, but it just makes you a bit more decisive.

“When you’ve won both games, you might look at a couple of deals and think, ‘Hmm, maybe we’re ok, we’ll give that player til Christmas’.

“That certainly won’t be the case on the back of two really bad defeats.”

According to reports, there could be a double exit from Tottenham Hotspur in the coming days, with Kevin Danso and Pape Matar Sarr attracting interest.

Tottenham have been incredibly active in the transfer market since narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League.

The north London side have invested over £300m on signings, having spent heavily to sign Savio, Omar Marmoush, Matheus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali and Jan Paul van Hecke.

Roberto De Zerbi‘s side could yet secure more signings before the transfer window closes, but they are also working on several exits to balance the books.

Midfielder Sarr is among those who could leave amid interest from Nottingham Forest, which is hardly surprising following the arrivals of Fernandes and Tonali.

READ: Liverpool give immediate answer to Tottenham making £69m bid for Cody Gakpo in last 24 hours

And a new report from journalist Pete O’Rourke for Football Insider claims Tottenham ‘plan to accept an offer’ for Sarr before this transfer window closes.

O’Rourke explained: “Obviously Tottenham have had a very busy transfer window with incomings and obviously they have spent big on the likes of Tonali, Fernandes and Savio as well.

“So look, they’re going to have to balance the books in some respects.

“Matar Sarr probably is surplus to requirements now at Tottenham due to the competition for places in that midfield now. He’s pretty well down in the pecking order and Roberto De Zerbi’s plans.

“So I think Tottenham would be open to offers for him, but it would have to be a decent offer for the Senegalese as well because he is under contract until 2030.”

Kevin Danso is “one to watch”

And Fabrizio Romano claims centre-back Danso is also “one to watch” in the coming days, though Spurs have turned down a loan bid from Sunderland.

Romano explained: “And then important to mention also, keep an eye on the situation of Kevin Danso because the centre-back of Tottenham Hotspur could be one to watch in the next days.

“My understanding is that Kevin Danso would be open to leaving Tottenham in the final days of the summer transfer window.

“For Tottenham, he remains an important player.

“Obviously, at centre-back, Tottenham have several players for Premier League plus internal competition, domestic competition, not European football.

“And so, when you have Senesi, when you have Micky van de Ven, when you have Van Hecke and more options, obviously, is not easy for Kevin Danso to accept to be on the bench for most of the time.

“At the same time, for Roberto De Zerbi, he was always an important player before the summer transfer window, so, in the final part of the season last season since De Zerbi arrived. Now, Danso wants to play more.

“So, let’s see what’s going to happen there. Sunderland called for Kevin Danso. Tottenham said no to loan.

“So, we have to see what’s going to happen, but for sure, there is movement around Kevin Danso, and there would be some evolution.”

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly submitted a ‘£69m bid’ for winger Cody Gakpo, and Liverpool have given an ‘immediate’ response.

Spurs have already invested over £300m on signings this summer, having paid huge fees to land Savinho, Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.

Tottenham have also landed Omar Marmoush on loan with an obligation to buy, while they have signed Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka on free transfers.

Despite recruiting Savinho and Marmoush, Tottenham could yet sign another forward before the summer transfer window closes and they remain linked with Gakpo.

Gakpo, who has also been linked with Manchester City, has been on Tottenham’s radar throughout this summer, and it has been suggested that Liverpool would sell him under the right conditions.

READ: Liverpool ‘flapping’ in the transfer market and doomed to ‘long Spurs-like season’

With Liverpool reportedly planning to sign another winger after Bradley Barcola, Gakpo risks falling down the pecking order if he stays at Liverpool this summer, and his current club could balance the books with his sale.

Now, a report from transfer insider Indykaila claims Tottenham have made a ‘£69m bid’ for Gakpo ‘in the last 24 hours’, though Liverpool have given an ‘immediate’ response.

They said on X: ‘EXCLUSIVE: Spurs tabled a £69m bid for Cody Gakpo in the last 24 hours. Anfield’s answer was immediate: rejected

‘#LFC will not even begin talks until the number hits £75m – £80m.

‘The window is closing. The valuation is set. The next move belongs to #THFC.’

Liverpool stance on selling Cody Gakpo explained

Our colleagues at TEAMtalk, meanwhile, are reporting that Liverpool have ‘softened their stance’ on selling Gakpo, who has already ‘agreed’ personal terms with Tottenham.

It is noted that Liverpool would now be open to selling Gakpo because they have ‘no qualms’ about letting him go as long as thye can sign another winger after securing the services of Barcola.

The report explains:

‘That position has now softened to a certain extent, with the Reds prepared to allow him to leave, but only if they can bring in another forward following Barcola’s arrival.

‘Liverpool do have an interest in Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr, while they have also made contact over Lille’s Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who Newcastle United are attempting to sign.’

Having lost 3-0 away to Brentford in their opening game of the Premier League season, Tottenham will look to get their first points on the board when they host Newcastle United.

Newcastle began the Matthias Jaissle era with a home game against Liverpool and looked set to take all three points before conceding an injury-time penalty, which saw the game finish level at 2-2.

Both sides played in the Carabao Cup in midweek, with Tottenham winning 5-1 at home against Charlton and Newcastle beating West Brom by a 3-2 scoreline.

Tottenham v Newcastle kick-off time

Tottenham v Newcastle kicks off at 5.30pm BST on Saturday, August 29 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham v Newcastle how to watch

The game will be shown live in the UK via Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting from 5pm.

TalkSPORT will provide full match commentary.

Tottenham team news

James Maddison fractured his shoulder from a fall during their 3-0 loss to Brentford, and while the injury is less serious than initially feared, he will be out for the next couple of weeks.

Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven missed the opening Premier League game but featured as second-half substitutes against Charlton and should now go back in the starting line-up, with Archie Gray and Marco Senesi set to drop out.

Roberto De Zerbi has already confirmed that Sandro Tonali will start against his former club, and fellow midfielder Matheus Fernandes played the full 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup after recovering from a calf injury.

Savio arrived from Manchester City in an £85million deal earlier this week and made an immediate impact against Charlton, registering a goal and an assist in a 19-minute cameo.

The Brazil international is expected to make his full debut against Newcastle, while Omar Marmoush should be in the matchday squad after reuniting with his former Manchester City teammate in north London.

Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski have been seen in training but are not yet ready to return, while Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert are out long-term with ACL injuries.

Pape Matar Sarr is yet to play this season after feeling pain in his hamstring before the Brentford game, and he remains a doubt for this fixture.

Newcastle team news

William Osula picked up a foot injury following a collision with Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk and is now set to spend a couple of weeks on the sidelines.

In Osula’s absence, Nick Woltemade started up front against West Brom but failed to impress, so Yoane Wissa could move from the No. 10 role into the centre-forward position.

That could see Joe Willock start in the No.10 role after the midfielder scored just 110 seconds after coming off the bench against Liverpool.

Newly-appointed club captain Dan Burn remains out with ankle ligament damage, while vice-captain Joelinton will be sidelined until around mid-September with a thigh issue.

Summer signing Amar Dedic registered two assists against West Brom and will continue at right-back, with Tino Livramento yet to recover from the calf injury that forced him to withdraw from the England World Cup squad.

Bazoumana Toure marked his Newcastle debut with a goal against West Brom but was substituted at half-time after feeling some pain, although the winger should be available for selection against Tottenham.

Nico Gonzalez has been in training after completing his £52million move from Manchester City and is in line for his Newcastle debut, but it remains to be seen if he goes straight into the starting line-up.

Tottenham v Newcastle odds

Tottenham are 13/10 to pick up their first three points of the Premier League season, while Newcastle are 2/1 to do likewise. The draw is 14/5.

Tottenham are 5/2 to finish in the top five this season while Newcastle are 7/1.

Tottenham v Newcastle prediction

Tottenham’s unprecedented summer spending spree led to a renewed sense of optimism at the club, while Newcastle’s season began with considerably lower expectations following the departure of some key players.

But Spurs were easily beaten by Brentford in their Premier League opener, and Newcastle were very impressive in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

The Magpies will also be feeling confident ahead of this game, having won their last two Premier League trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by a 2-1 scoreline.

This fixture guarantees goals, and there have been at least three goals in each of the last 11 Premier League games between these two sides, so we’re backing over 2.5 goals at 13/20.

Both teams have found the back of the net in 10 of those 11 games, and we’re expecting that trend to continue here with a lot of goalmouth action at both ends.

A score draw feels like the most likely outcome from this game, and it can be backed at 7/2. A 2-2 draw is available at 12/1.

De Zerbi may consider throwing Marmoush straight into the starting line-up due to the Egypt international’s brilliant record against Newcastle.

He has seven goals in five appearances against the Magpies in all competitions and is 11/5 to score against them on his Tottenham debut.

For Newcastle, Wissa produced his best performance for the club in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool. The striker will look to build on that and is 12/5 to score anytime.

Tottenham are looking to sign Real Sociedad defender Jon Aramburu in the final days of the transfer window, according to reports.

Spurs have already completed eight new signings this summer with ENIC making sure the club doesn’t find themselves in relegation trouble once again next season.

Tottenham survived by two points on the final day of last term by beating Everton 1-0 with their top-flight status secure for another campaign.

Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka all signed on free transfers, while Tottenham forked out £382m in total on Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali, Savinho, Jan Paul van Hecke and Omar Marmoush.

Tottenham are still looking to add more players before the transfer window closes with Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo in particular a top target.

And now Football Insider has revealed that Spurs could still attempt to buy a replacement for Djed Spence, who joined Inter Milan earlier this month, with Real Socieded defender Aramburu a target.

READ: Romano reveals what Barcola ‘here we go’ means for Gakpo, third Liverpool winger signing

Football Insider report: ‘Tottenham Hotspur are among several Premier League clubs monitoring the progress of Real Sociedad defender Jon Aramburu, sources have told Football Insider.

‘The Lilywhites are in the market for reinforcements at right-back after selling Djed Spence to Inter Milan and are keen to add competition for Pedro Porro.’

One player who is likely to leave before the end of the window is Pape Matar Sarr but it won’t be to French side Monaco as L’Equipe journalist Flavien Trésarrieu insisted that he is not interested in a move to the Ligue 1 club.

Trésarrieu wrote on X: ‘Small update Pape Matar Sarr and Monaco. The club sounded him out directly but the Senegalese midfielder wants to stay in the Premier League. So it didn’t go any further #ASM.’

Marmoush: ‘The Spurs project was very attractive to me’

Egypt international Marmoush completed a move worth £60m from Manchester City on Thursday with the forward happy to be at Tottenham.

Marmoush told the club’s official website: “It feels amazing to be here. I’m so excited to get started with the team and I can’t wait to meet the fans.

“Tottenham Hotspur is one of the biggest clubs in England, if not the world, and the project was very attractive to me.

READ: Premier League transfer net spend table for 26/27 season: Spurs, Ipswich, Arsenal, Chelsea…

“I’ve spoken with the Head Coach, I loved what he had to say and I’m sure our passion for the game will go very well together.”

Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange added: “Omar is a quality player and his arrival represents a statement of our intent.

“He has demonstrated that he can perform at the highest level, and we believe he can play a major role in what we want to achieve over the coming years.

“We are delighted to welcome Omar to the club and look forward to seeing him make a significant contribution as we continue to build a strong squad to realise our ambitions.”

Roberto De Zerbi said on Marmoush: “Omar is exactly the kind of player we want at this club – ambitious, hungry and determined to make a difference.

“He has incredible attacking quality but what I also love is his desire to improve and to win.

“He brings pace, intelligence and a real threat in front of goal, and I believe he can take our attacking play to another level.”

Omar Marmoush has suffered an ‘immediate Tottenham blow’, the sort which Carlos Baleba somehow overcame to join Manchester United.

It’s nonsense. All of it.

Nightmare fuel

‘Arsenal’s Champions League draw in full as Gunners handed nightmare fixtures’ – Daily Express website.

‘Man City handed nightmare Champions League draw with Arsenal also given tricky fixtures as Man United face old foes on return to competition – and Jose’s back at the Bridge!’ – MailOnline.

‘Champions League group phase predicted by supercomputer with Man Utd having a nightmare after horror draw’ – The Sun.

It turns out pretty much everyone faces difficult opponents in the Champions League now.

Horror show

That Man Utd ‘nightmare after horror draw’, by the way, is truly terrifying.

‘MANCHESTER UNITED have been tipped to agonisingly miss out on the top eight of the Champions League league phase,’ it says here. Because ‘boffins and brainiacs over at Football Ranked have crunched the numbers to predict the outcome,’ and Michael Carrick’s side are backed to finish ninth.

So they will be the highest-ranked seeded team in the knockout phase play-offs, facing the worst such unseeded side? It doesn’t bear thinking about.

In good stealth

Mediawatch does not disagree with the general premise of the latest Jeremy Cross article in the Daily Mirror: that Liverpool were previously far shrewder in the transfer market than Manchester United but are now about the same level of ‘farcical’.

But these paragraphs in particular…

‘In that same period, Liverpool conducted their own business with ruthless stealth. Big targets were kept under the radar, until a deal was so close to being completed it would be made public.

‘This happened with the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister, Alisson and Luis Diaz, to name but a few.’

…seem a bit silly, considering Liverpool felt compelled to publicly apologise for their botched pursuit of Van Dijk after Southampton reported them to the Premier League for an illegal approach.

That wasn’t particularly ruthlessly stealthy or under the radar of them.

I’m afraid I’ve got some Brad news

And as for this…

‘Negotiations are taking place with PSG about a deal for Bradley Barcola, with a deal likely to come close to the fee paid to Newcastle for Isak.

‘Under normal circumstances, such a move would leave supporters feeling overwhelmed excitement.

‘The problem is, Liverpool have turned to Barcola in desperation less than a week before the transfer window closes, having pulled out of the bidding for Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh.

…is just bizarre. Liverpool haven’t ‘turned to Barcola in desperation less than a week before the transfer window closes’ at all. They’ve been trying to sign him all summer. It’s just weirdly quite difficult to negotiate £120m transfers.

Cross should know; he tied himself into 427 knots trying to report on Elliot Anderson’s move.

What’s in a number?

‘Bradley Barcola set to wear bizarre unused shirt number at Liverpool’ – The Sun website.

‘Bradley Barcola can wear dream shirt number at Liverpool after PSG transfer agreement reached’ – Liverpool Echo.

One man’s ‘bizarre’ is exactly the same man’s ‘dream’.

We’re in seven

There is, however, some truly dreadful news for Omar Marmoush to come to terms with on that front:

‘Omar Marmoush to suffer immediate Tottenham blow after Man City £60m transfer breakthrough’

Seasoned, long-suffering readers of this column might recognise that style of Daily Express website headline, for it was reserved for Carlos Baleba’s move to Manchester United.

The ‘immediate blow’, of course, is that these adults might not be able to wear the same number on the back of their football shirt as they have been doing.

‘Moving to Tottenham will give Marmoush the opportunity to play more regularly, having only made eight Premier League starts for City last season. However, he won’t have everything his own way when he arrives in the capital.

‘That’s because he will need to pick a different shirt number, with his preferred No 7 already occupied by Xavi Simons.’

Might as well try and find the fine print which lets you move back to Manchester City, fella. You won’t play, but at least you’ll keep the No. 7.

Crist alive

Samuel Luckhurst is not wrong in pointing out that Manchester United still haven’t sold a single first-team player this summer. It remains an area in which they lag behind pretty much every other elite club.

But this is not the best way to close that argument:

‘Even one of the greatest, Cristiano Ronaldo, was burnt by his association with United.

‘When Ronaldo effectively filed for divorce with his November 2022 interview with the sycophantic Piers Morgan, Morgan said: “If it was just about money, you’d be in Saudi Arabia.”

‘Saudi was the only place to offer Ronaldo a home. Even he did not have shoppers flocking to United’s stall.’

Ronaldo ‘did not have shoppers flocking to United’s stall’ because he proved himself to be a petulant, self-centred, 37-year-old manchild whose absurd wages are no longer even close to worth it.

Of course Manchester United failed to find a buyer for ‘even’ him. Not sure how that links to them failing to offload Joshua Zirkzee.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Joshua Zirkzee is edging closer to leaving Manchester United, who are reportedly working on signing a replacement.

So far this summer, Man Utd have largely been focused on overhauling their midfield, having invested heavily to sign Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.

But the Red Devils remain in the market for further recruits, with reports indicating that they could yet sign a left-back, left winger and/or striker in the closing days of this summer’s transfer window.

This partly depends on exits, with journalist Ben Jacobs reporting that the Red Devils will step up their move for a striker if/when Zirkzee leaves.

READ: What each Prem club must do in final week of summer transfer window…

Jacobs explained to Betway Insider: “A left-back seems to be the priority.

“They’ll be alert also to a No. 9, and if Joshua Zirkzee goes, that also becomes more pressing in the final hours or days of the window, and yet, if Manchester United can’t reinforce, then they obviously have the ability not to sanction a move.”

Zirkzee has been surplus to requirements at Man Utd for at least this summer, while he dropped behind Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in the pecking order last season.

The Dutchman previously insisted on sticking around to fight for his place, but he now appears to have admitted defeat.

On Thursday afternoon, Romano reported that the attacker is closing in on a move to Serie A outfit Fiorentina, who have made an ‘official bid’.

He explained on X: ‘Fiorentina are in advanced talks to sign Joshua Zirkzee as official bid has been sent to Manchester United.

‘€5m loan fee, buy clause included in the deal with negotiations underway with #MUFC and player’s camp.

‘Deal on.’

Potential replacement for Joshua Zirkzee named

This could open the door for United to sign a new striker, and it has been reported that the Red Devils are looking to compete with Tottenham Hotspur to sign 23-year-old Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic.

Alternatively, Man Utd could have moved for Ollie Watkins before he recently moved closer to joining Al-Hilal and ex-United player Lee Sharpe thinks he “would be an ideal buy”.

“I think he would be an ideal buy,” Sharpe told Metro.

READ NEXT: Bruno is Man Utd’s Batman. And their fans should cheer the f*** up…

“He holds the ball up well, he’s quick, he scores goals and I think he’s at the age where he would have come in and not been overawed by Manchester United and what would have been expected of him as a number nine.

“I think he would have thrived and been be a great signing and Sesko would learn so much from him.

“It looks like he has looked at Saudi for the wages towards the end of his career, but I definitely think he could have come to Man United and had success for two or three years.

“He’d have been great to have around the club and great for Sesko so I wonder whether they might have missed a trick there.”

The length of time James Maddison will be unavailable for Tottenham for has been revealed, while it’s also known when £85million new boy Savinho will debut for the club.

Maddison spent almost all of last season sidelined with an ACL injury, and only came back right at the very end of the season. A “small problem” precluded him from being involved in pre-season, before the midfielder came off the bench in the season opener against Brentford.

Maddison played 22 minutes in the 3-0 loss, and fractured his shoulder when falling. Roberto De Zerbi has revealed that the Englishman has a “small injury” to his shoulder after that match, and the length of time he’ll be out has been revealed.

It’s good news for Tottenham, as insider David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Maddison will miss ‘up to two weeks.’

It’s a better prognosis than it could’ve been, after an MRI was said to have revealed a slight break following the Brentford game.

It does mean, though, that after just 22 minutes back in the side, Maddison will miss Wednesday’s League Cup tie against Charlton, the weekend’s Premier League visit of Newcastle, and likely the trip to Nottingham Forest the following week.

Savinho expected to make Tottenham debut against Charlton

While Maddison will be missing for the Charlton game, new signing Savinho is expected to be involved.

Sky Sports‘ Michael Bridge reports (15:16, Wednesday, August 26) that the new signing from Manchester City is expected to debut in the League Cup fixture.

The Brazilian winger is said to be fit and available, having featured in City’s pre-season.

His transfer, initially of £75million and potentially rising to £85million, was completed on Tuesday, with the winger revealing his desire to to head to the north London club had been strong.

He said: “Tottenham has everything. It has one of the best managers in the world, it has the best training ground in the world, it has the best stadium in the world.

“Whenever I came to play against Tottenham here, I always talked to my representatives about the club. When he said the club was interested, I was very happy. I always wanted to be here now.”

Savinho, or Savio as he has back on his shirt after reverting back to the name emblazoned on his back during his time at Girona, will get his first taste of being a home player at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he steps out onto the field against Charlton.