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India have made it ten out of ten at the World Cup. They have been clinical pretty much all the way, dominating with the bat and with the ball, but that wasn’t quite the case on Wednesday in Mumbai in the semi-final against New Zealand, even if the margin of victory – 70 runs – sounds comprehensive enough. Captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged that it was among the toughest matches India played at this World Cup, adding that his side had to “stay collected” and take the “semi-final off the equation” to stay in the game and pull off a win.”The way our bowlers came and bowled up front with the new ball, getting those wickets… when you have a target [India scored 397] like that, you’ve got to take wickets upfront. And we did that exactly,” Rohit said on Star Sports after the game. “Today being the semi-finals, I wouldn’t say that there was no pressure. Whenever you play the game, there is always pressure, and obviously semi-final adds a bit of extra there. But I think the guys were doing the job.”To be honest, we wanted to take that semi-final out of the equation, not to think too much about it. We just wanted to keep doing what we’ve been doing in the first nine games that we played, and things came off for us really nicely in the second half as well.”Despite their big total, India were put under pressure by Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson, who put together 181 runs together in 149 balls in their third-wicket partnership, silencing the Wankhede crowd in the process, with Mitchell bringing up an 85-ball hundred and Williamson a resolute half-century.India also dropped Williamson – Mohammed Shami spilling a sitter at mid-on – and also missed a run-out chance when the two were batting together. At that point, New Zealand were in control of the chase. But Shami, who had picked the first two wickets, came back in the 33rd over to provide the breakthrough with Williamson’s wicket.”When the scoring rate is above nine all the time, you got to keep taking your chances,” Rohit said. “Sometimes it comes off and sometimes it doesn’t. They gave us chances, we didn’t take them. But credit to them as well in the middle, Mitchell and Williamson batted brilliantly.”Again, for us, it was important to stay calm. At one point, the crowd went absolutely silent, that’s the nature of the game. But we knew that we had to pull something up from our sleeves and need a magic, either a good catch or a run out or maybe a magic delivery. But we tried everything we couldn’t [break through], but again, Shami was brilliant.”I’ve played a lot of cricket here [at the Wankhede]. So I know any score on this ground… you cannot relax, you got to get the job done as quickly as possible and stay at it. We knew there will be pressure on us at some stage there will be partnership. We just got to stay collected and I think that’s what we did. We were calm even though we were a bit sloppy on the field. But that can happen. We’ve got nine perfect games on the field. So, these things are bound to happen. But I’m glad that we could get the job done in the end.”Virat Kohli gets the crowd going as India close in on their win•AFP/Getty Images

The Wankhede is known for being batting-friendly, and it didn’t play any differently on the day.India were off to a rollicking start, with Rohit and Shubman Gill putting up a 75-run opening stand off just 50 balls. Kohli registered his record 50th ODI century and Shreyas Iyer brought up a century of his own, hitting 105 off just 70 balls. India plundered 110 runs off the last ten overs to get to their third 350-plus total of the tournament.”The top-five-six batters, whenever they’ve gotten an opportunity, they’ve made it really count,” Rohit said. “Very, very pleased to see what Iyer has done for us in this tournament. Gill, the way he batted up front was brilliant. Unfortunately, he started getting cramps so we had to bring him back.”Kohli was brilliant as usual, played his trademark innings and got to that landmark milestone as well. All in all, the batting was superb, and that is the kind of template we want to bat with and move forward with.”

Bayern Munich are eyeing a move for Gabriel Martinelli, who is reportedly one of several players Arsenal will consider selling this summer.

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Bayern eye move for MartinelliArsenal ready to offload BrazilianBayern want a new attacker Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per BILD's , Bayern are eager to add a new player to their Harry Kane-led attack and reportedly have their eyes on Gunners star Martinelli. The German giants were also keen on signing Nico Williams from Athletic Club earlier in the summer; however, the Spanish winger is now close to signing for Barcelona. Liverpool's Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo and Dortmund's Jamie Gittens are also on the Bundesliga champions' radar.

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adds that Arsenal are keen on reducing their wage bill and are prepared to offload a host of first-team stars. Martinelli is said to be one of the expendable players alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko, Reiss Nelson, Jakub Kiwior, Fabio Vieira, and Albert Sambi Lokonga.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to a report from , Arsenal are expected to demand a transfer fee in excess of £50 million ($67m) if a club comes in for Martinelli. The 24-year-old joined the Premier League giants in 2019 and has since made 225 appearances across all competitions, scoring 51 goals. His current contract at the club runs until the summer of 2027.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

After a hectic 2024-25 campaign, the Arsenal players and coaching staff are enjoying a well-earned break. They will reassemble under manager Mikel Arteta at the end of July before heading to Asia for pre-season training.

Rightly or wrongly, Manchester City have proven particularly astute sellers when it comes to their academy assets, with recent years having seen the Etihad side rake in a profit on players they have developed in-house.

During their glittering success under Pep Guardiola previously – which notably saw the club win four Premier League titles in a row – few could contend with any such sales, with the Citizens marching on regardless.

Now, however – and somewhat conveniently – those decisions are coming under the microscope amid the champions’ sticky season, particularly with Guardiola and co now in need of a squad overhaul to freshen up their ageing ranks.

The obvious case that has come under scrutiny is the decision to cash in on Cole Palmer back in the summer of 2023, with journalist Rory Smith among those to have questioned the decision to sell “someone who might be the best player in the Premier League for £40m”.

Since departing the Etihad, Palmer has chalked up 60 goals and assists in just 79 games for his new side. In that same time frame, Phil Foden, for instance, has registered 56 goal involvements for the Citizens.

Whether the 22-year-old would have flourished quite so successfully had he stayed put in Manchester remains to be seen, with the Englishman now part of a growing list of ex-City stars who are operating in the Premier League.

Man City's academy graduates in the Premier League

Palmer is the most notable academy graduate who is now shining elsewhere in the top-flight, although he may have even been overshadowed by a certain Morgan Rogers of late, with the Aston Villa star looking particularly lively on international duty.

Sold by City for just £1m back in 2023, the midfield machine was praised by Three Lions legend, Glenn Hoddle, for his “wonderful” performance against Latvia, having also been likened to a young Wayne Rooney for his powerful display.

That latest outing has come following a stunning season back at Villa Park for Rogers, with the 22-year-old contributing 19 goals and assists for the Midlands side.

Elsewhere, Ipswich Town talisman Liam Delap – who left City for £20m last summer – has scored ten league goals for the Tractor Boys, with the England youth star now being touted with a potential move to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

Already operating for the Blues is Jadon Sancho, who left the Etihad back in 2017, as well as another academy graduate in Tosin Adarabioyo, with the towering centre-back having impressed since making a free transfer switch from Fulham last year.

Phil Foden

Man City

£109m

Cole Palmer

Chelsea

£109m

Michael Olise

Bayern Munich

£54m

Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

£42m

Brahim Diaz

Real Madrid

£38m

Romeo Lavia

Chelsea

£33m

Rico Lewis

Man City

£33m

Liam Delap

Ipswich

£29m

Jadon Sancho

Chelsea

£25m

Felix Nmecha

Borussia Dortmund

£23m

There could well be another familiar face set to join the names mentioned above in the near future, with rivals Manchester United looking to pounce on one of those to have been discarded by Guardiola’s side.

The ex-Man City star who could be on his way to Man Utd

As well as those competing in the Premier League already, there are other high profile talents who have gone on to flourish abroad, since featuring in the City youth ranks at one stage.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Michael Olise and Brahim Diaz – who scored against City earlier in the campaign – are two such figures, while a perhaps lesser-known quantity is Felix Nmecha, with the 24-year-old currently on the books at Borussia Dortmund.

The towering midfielder – whose brother Lukas also previously played for the club – was allowed to depart on a free transfer back in 2021, having made just three first-team appearances under Guardiola.

That switch to Wolfsburg was followed by a move to another Bundesliga side, Dortmund, in 2023, with Nmecha having been earmarked as the replacement for Real Madrid-bound Jude Bellingham.

Fast forward just over 18 months, and the word is that the 6 foot 3 ace could be on his way back to Manchester to join up with Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, with recent reports indicating that the Red Devils are interested in making a summer move.

The three-cap Germany international is deemed to be valued at around €48m (£40m), amid such interest, with United viewing him as a perfect replacement for the likes of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro in the centre of the park.

What makes Nmecha so appealing is his apparent likeness to the man he replaced at Dortmund, with he and Bellingham both towering, box-to-box midfielders who have shone for the Bundesliga side. Indeed, the official Bundesliga website described them both as ‘equally versatile midfield operator[s]’.

The two men are particularly alike with regard to their ability to drive forward with the ball from deep, with Nmecha ranking in the top 15% of midfielders in the Champions League for successful take-ons per 90 this season, while Bellingham is just ahead as he ranks in the top 6% in that regard.

Equally, that composure in possession is also showcased by the fact that Nmecha has a pass completion rate of 89.4% in Europe, with his Madrid counterpart again only just ahead, on 89.9%.

Not that Nmecha has hit such heights as the England star, but for City to have let a player of that mould move on for nothing, it could certainly come back to bite them – not least if he goes on to shine at Old Trafford.

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Rangers and potential new owners the 49ers Enterprises could make an £8m signing at Ibrox, with the player keen on a move to Glasgow.

Rangers impressing under Ferguson as 49ers agree deal in principle

In what has been an underwhelming season on the whole, Rangers have enjoyed a positive month under interim boss Barry Ferguson.

The Gers managed to book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals by beating Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on penalties, and days later, took down Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.

A late strike from Hamza Igamane sealed Rangers’ first win at Celtic since 2020, a result that could boost Ferguson’s chances of landing the job permanently.

The 49ers Enterprises have agreed a deal in principle to take over in Scotland and are confident it will be completed ahead of the new campaign.

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They will have a lot of work to do, such as securing Philippe Clement’s long-term successor and potentially signing and selling numerous players, and an exciting update has been made regarding the 49ers’ move to Scotland.

49ers plans for Rangers including permanent Vaclav Cerny transfer

TEAMtalk shared news on the 49ers’ plans at Rangers, saying ‘the 49ers Enterprises will back Rangers with a strong transfer budget that will help them compete on the pitch’.

It is added that an amount of £25m per season is seen as methodical and the 49ers could make Vaclav Cerny’s Rangers loan move from VfL Wolfsburg permanent.

The 27-year-old, who could miss some action in the Scottish Premiership after squirting Celtic fans with water following Igamane’s winner at Parkhead, has been a star for Rangers during the current campaign.

He’s expected to cost around £8m if Rangers want to do a deal, and Cerny himself has recently hinted he’s open to a permanent Ibrox move.

Appearances

44

Goals

17

Assists

7

Yellow cards

4

Minutes played

3,370

Asked if he wants to stay in Scotland with Rangers, Cerny said: “I definitely do. But there are so many aspects that I can’t control. All I can do is be the best I can and keep up my form and numbers.”

TEAMtalk also add that no decision will be made on a new manager until the end of the season, however, Ferguson and his coaching staff are in the frame currently.

It could be a busy few months both on and off the pitch at Rangers, and by the looks of things, a permanent transfer for Cerny will be one to keep a close eye on.

Wayne Madsen was quickly back in the groove for Derbyshire on a day of fluctuating fortunates against Worcestershire in the LV=Insurance County Championship match at Derby.Last season’s leading run-scorer in the competition launched his 15th season for the county with 87 from 134 balls before Derbyshire lost late wickets to close on 300 for 8.Billy Godleman set the tempo by hitting three sixes in a 61-ball 70 after Worcestershire had put Derbyshire in on a rain-affected opening day at the Incora County Ground. Derbyshire were well set at 189 for 3 but Matthew Waite led a fightback to finish with impressive figures of 3 for 43 from 14 overs.A wet outfield prevented any play before lunch but the ground was bathed in bright sunshine when Worcestershire decided to bowl first. It looked a good toss to win but a combination of Godleman’s intent and poor bowling saw Derbyshire seize the initiative from the start.Haider Ali is expected to provide some pyrotechnics at the top of the order but it was Godleman who lit the fuse on an encouraging first day for the home side.This was not so much Bazball as Billyball with Godleman approaching the start of the Championship season as a rehearsal for the Vitality Blast. Even Joe Leach, who settled into an early rhythm, was treated dismissively at times while Josh Tongue was flayed from the attack after three overs.In past seasons Goldeman has veered between obduracy and outright aggression but even so Leach looked surprised when Derbyshire’s former captain waltzed down the pitch and dispatched him over the long-off boundary.Tongue was cut and driven for four boundaries in the sixth over, which prompted Brett D’Oliveira to call on Waite who broke through immediately. Haider was lured into playing at a wide swinging ball which he dragged into his stumps and when Leach nipped one back to defeat Brooke Guest in the next over, Worcestershire thought they had gained a measure of control.But that brought in Madsen, who made 1273 championship runs in 2022, to drive the scoring rate along at above five an over.Ben Gibbon struggled with his length and was hammered for three consecutive fours by Madsen who helped himself to nine more on his way to 50. Godleman reached his 50 off only 42 balls and hit Leach for two more sixes before he whipped the seamer low to midwicket where Gibbon held a good catch.Leach had Leus du Plooy dropped at gully shortly before tea which did not come soon enough for Tongue and Gibbon who between them had conceded 80 runs from 11 overs.Both improved after the interval as the bowlers got more assistance when the floodlights were turned on although it was a poor shot from du Plooy, driving loosely at Gibbon, that gave Worcestershire a fourth wicket.Waite had found swing throughout the day and late movement pinned Madsen lbw to give Worcestershire a productive end to the day. Matt Lamb was run out by a direct hit from gully before Anuj Dal edged Waite low to third slip where Adam Hose took a fine diving catch.Zak Chappell and Ben Aitchison added 59 for the eighth wicket as Derbyshire claimed two batting points but Worcestershire had fought back well after the day threatened to run away from them.

If those of a Manchester United persuasion weren’t already resigned to enduring a dismal end to the season, the news of Amad’s fitness blow last month was perhaps the final nail in the coffin for any sense of optimism.

Just a week or so on from the close of a transfer window that saw both Antony and Marcus Rashford depart, without either man being directly replaced, the news filtered through that every supporter would’ve been dreading – Amad had been struck down with injury.

In just a matter of weeks, Ruben Amorim’s attacking options had effectively been halved, with the Portuguese coach confirming at the time that the Ivorian wizard is likely to miss the remainder of the campaign after sustaining an ankle issue.

The 22-year-old, it must be said, had been the bright spark in an otherwise grim beginning at Old Trafford for the ex-Sporting CP boss, having produced statement moments away at the likes of Anfield and the Etihad, while also netting a hat-trick in the comeback win over Southampton.

While the former Atalanta man’s hot streak has been cruelly cut short, he has already proven just what an asset he can be in the Amorim regime moving forward.

Not only that, however, but he may have also left Erik ten Hag looking a little red in the face…

Amad's record under Ten Hag vs Amorim

As Ten Hag took charge of United in the summer of 2022, few would have expected a young Amad to force his way into the first-team picture, with the £19m signing coming off the back of a difficult six-month stint on loan at Rangers, in which he started just six games in all competitions.

The decision was made to allow the winger to try his hand in the Championship for the 2022/23 campaign, going on to dazzle at the Stadium of Light for Sunderland, after netting 14 times that season under Tony Mowbray.

Frustratingly for all concerned, an injury sustained during the pre-season tour in 2023 brought a halt to Amad’s first-team hopes back in Manchester, albeit with Ten Hag seemingly hesitant to deploy the diminutive speedster when he was fit and available at the turn of the year.

In all, the £120k-per-week ace ended 2023/24 with just 12 appearances to his name across all competitions, albeit while producing one of the defining moments of Ten Hag’s turbulent reign following that winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Despite then building on that brief impact by shining on the pre-season tour last summer – having also scored against Brighton in the early weeks of the campaign – it did appear that Amad never truly earned the trust of the Dutchman. Indeed, he featured for just 36 minutes across Ten Hag’s final four Premier League games in charge.

On the fringes under the former Ajax boss, the 5 foot 8 sensation has been front and centre since then, having already registered more goals and assists under Amorim than he did under Ten Hag, despite making fewer appearances.

Having seen the impact that the relentless talent has had in recent months, it does make it all the more head-scratching as to why he was never afforded a consistent chance under the previous regime.

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Erik ten Hag

24

3

3

Ruben Amorim

20

6

5

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

8

1

1

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

2

1

Ralf Rangnick

1

0

0

Michael Carrick

0

0

0

Total

57

12

9

Even more puzzling is why ever found himself behind a certain Omari Forson at one stage – remember him?

The forgotten Man Utd man who was ahead of Amad

It really has been a meteoric rise for Amad considering what his status was just a matter of months ago, let alone this time last year.

As journalist Samuel Luckhurst stated back in December, the wideman should have been “suitably insulted” by the suggestion from Ten Hag that Antony was more deserving of a start than him, due to the Brazilian’s training form.

That clear pecking order also played out away to Fenerbahce, when it was Antony who was introduced late on as United chased a winner. Amad, meanwhile, was only called upon minutes later when the £86m flop was struck down by injury.

Where Are They Now

In truth, that moment epitomised the frustration surrounding Ten Hag’s handling of Amad, as did the decision to start Forson – then an academy asset at Carrington – ahead of him for the 2-1 defeat to Fulham back in February 2024.

As Luckhurst has since stated, such a move truly was “bizarre”, even if Forson had supplied a small assist to Kobbie Mainoo off the bench a few weeks earlier, during the thrilling 4-3 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

What was also puzzling about that decision was that the 20-year-old was approaching the end of his contract at Old Trafford, having since gone on to turn down a new deal and make the decision to depart for Monza on a free transfer.

The Englishman – who registered 22 goal involvements in 38 games for United’s U21 side – is an “exceptional” talent, as hailed by Statman Dave, yet his woes this season have showcased just what a mistake it was to bump him up at the expense of Amad.

As it stands, Forson – who, like Amad, typically operates on the flanks – has failed to score or assist for his new side, having been handed just seven first-team appearances for a team who are currently rock-bottom of Serie A. His former colleague, meanwhile, boasts 16 goals and assists across all fronts in 2024/25.

While the Monza man does still have time to make United rue their inability to keep hold of him, on current form, his free transfer exit does not appear too much of a blow – not least with Amad shining so brightly now that Ten Hag is out of the picture.

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A versatile young player is set to make the move to north London, with Arsenal shaking hands on a deal and the player ready to pack his bags, according to a report.

Arsenal preparing to host West Ham in the Premier League

Despite being bereft of attacking options, manager Mikel Arteta is sensing a potential opportunity to claw his way back into the Premier League title race.

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Liverpool dropped points again on Wednesday, with Arsenal’s former manager Unai Emery doing them a big favour by guiding his Aston Villa side to a 2-2 draw against the Reds at Villa Park.

Arsenal are now eight points behind Liverpool, having played a game less, and there is a real chance to put pressure on Arne Slot with victory over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

West Ham (home)

February 22nd

Nottingham Forest (away)

February 26th

Man Utd (away)

March 9th

Chelsea (home)

March 16th

Fulham (home)

April 1st

However, nothing but a win will do for Arteta as he attempts to reduce the gap to five points. The Spaniard has a major selection headache on his hands, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all unavailable through injury.

It is highly likely that Arsenal will go with the same front three that started their 2-0 win at Leicester City, even if Mikel Merino was needed as an emergency striker off the bench to secure a vital three points for the north Londoners last weekend.

However, critics like Paul Merson believe Arsenal have a mountain to climb.

“Arsenal were poor in the first 70 minutes against Leicester,” wrote Merson in a column for Sportskeeda.

“The football wasn’t free-flowing at all. I was gutted for Raheem Sterling because for some reason he just can’t seem to get going at Arsenal. Despite his goal in the last game, I think Merino will be left on the bench here. I expect Mikel Arteta to use the same front three he used against Leicester. If it doesn’t work out, he can always bring Merino on and hope for the same result.

“West Ham will come out and frustrate Arsenal in this game, plus the Hammers have the firepower in the form of players who can pick you off. They are also a better team in games they are forced to rely on [the] counter-attack. Arsenal have a tricky run of fixtures after this game. This is a must-win clash and they must look at one game at a time rather than getting too ahead of themselves. The title is still well out of their hands though.”

Arsenal agree deal to sign Callan Hamill from St Johnstone

In the background, Arsenal are identifying targets for the summer window, and it is believed they’ve just agreed a move to sign one highly-rated Scottish wonderkid in St Johnstone’s Callan Hamill.

According to The Athletic and reporter Jordan Campbell, Arsenal have agreed a six-figure deal for Hamill, who is “set to officially join” the Gunners on July 1. The versatile teenager can play both as a defender and midfielder, with Hamill believed to have turned down Celtic and Rangers in favour of a move down south.

Academy manager Per Mertesacker appears set to benefit from Hamill’s arrival very soon, as Arsenal build for the future.

Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be among the many clubs contending to sign in-demand Lille striker Jonathan David on a free transfer, with the player now allegedly making a decision on his next landing spot.

Jonathan David scores for fun in France with contract running down

After June 30th, the Canada international will be free to move on to new pastures at zero cost, with his contract expiring at the end of this season.

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David, who’s scored 20 goals across 34 appearances for Lille in all competitions already this season, has entered the final few months of his career at the Ligue 1 club – which has piqued interest from a host of top European sides.

The 25-year-old Brooklyn-native stands out as, potentially, one of the summer’s biggest bargain transfers. Despite barely reaching the peak of his career, David’s already hit over a century of goals for Lille, 104 to be exact, not to mention 27 assists to go with that truly impressive tally.

Man United (home)

February 16th

Ipswich Town (home)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

The former Gent sensation’s record in front of goal speaks for itself, and while you could make a case that he hasn’t been tested in a truly elite division like the Premier League just yet, that argument can be somewhat quashed by David’s record in the Champions League.

This term, he’s managed six goals in eight Champions League outings. They’ve come against big-name opposition as well, with David bagging a brace against Atlético Madrid, grabbing Lille’s winner in a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid and even scoring at Anfield – alongside another strike against Juventus.

There is little denying that David can be considered an elite-level marksman at this point, making the prospect of signing him for nothing a very tempting proposition.

Tottenham have been linked with a move for David, as have an array of other top European clubs, with journalist Graeme Bailey now sharing a potentially important update on his future.

Jonathan David makes Tottenham transfer decision after contact

According to Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, suitors believe that David has already chosen his preferred next club.

Tottenham held talks with the player’s representatives recently, alongside Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle and West Ham, but it is Barcelona who are leading the race to sign him.

Bailey claims that David has chosen to join Barcelona over Tottenham as his preferred choice, and talks are at an advanced stage. A Barça deal for the centre-forward is said to be close, so if the Lilywhites wish to pull off a hijack, or turn the tide like they did with Mathys Tel, they’re already running out of time.

Given Barca are the team David grew up supporting, by his own admission, so Spurs could be facing an uphill battle to beat Hansi Flick’s side to his signature.

“[Barcelona] was always the team I grew up supporting,” said David in 2024. “When you grow up supporting a team, it’s a dream to play for them.”

Everything you need to know about Leroy Sane's salary details playing for Bayern Munich

German winger Leroy Sane burst onto the football scene under Pep Guardiola, helping Manchester City dominate the Premier League with top performances and crucial match-winning goals.

After spending four seasons with City and winning all domestic titles, Sane embarked on a new adventure, returning to his home country by signing for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2020.

Since his arrival at the club, Sane has become a crucial player for Bayern. The addition of Harry Kane in 2023 further boosted Bayern's attack, with the two former Premier League stars forming a lethal partnership upfront.

Sane is well compensated for his contributions to Bayern’s success, but exactly how much does he earn at the Allianz Arena?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

*

• Leroy Sane's wages at Bayern Munich in numbers

  Under Sane's current contract with Bayern, he earns a remarkable £241,227 ($315,782) weekly, with his annual salary soaring to £12.5 million ($16.4m). This places the German star on equal footing with club legend Thomas Muller and Canadian sensation Alphonso Davies in terms of earnings.

  Such impressive wages highlight Sane's value and contribution to the team, making him a key player on Bayern's roster.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Leroy Sane	German	£241,227	$315,782	£12,543,785	$16,420,659

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Top earners at Bayern Munich

  Even with his impressive salary, Sane doesn't make it into Bayern's top-five earners.

  Leading the pack is England's star Harry Kane, with the legendary Manuel Neuer in second and Joshua Kimmich in third.

  In fourth and fifth are the gifted Jamal Musiala and ex-Arsenal player Serge Gnabry, both receiving equal pay at Bayern.

  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	$20,657,189

• Top earners in Bundesliga

  When you examine the wage bills of Bundesliga clubs, Bayern Munich's dominance becomes crystal clear.

  In fact, the top thirteen highest-paid players in the league are all Bayern stars, showcasing their financial might.

  Only Borussia Dortmund's Niklas Sule breaks into this 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	$20,657,189

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  Highest paid players in the world

  Although Bundesliga players, especially those from Bayern, earn significantly, they are absent from the top five highest-paid footballers globally. This elite list is predominantly dominated by Saudi Pro League players, with Cristiano Ronaldo, a legendary forward, leading.

  His former Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema, holds the second spot.

  Riyad Mahrez follows in third place, while Senegalese talents Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly round out the top five.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages GBP	Weekly wages USD	Annual wages GBP	Annual wages USD
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	£3,216,155	$4,210,425	£167,250,468	$218,942,120
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	£1,608,178	$2,105,213	£83,625,234	$109,471,060
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	£839,469	$1,098,921	£45,652,372	$57,43,893
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	£643,271	$842,085	£33,450,094	$43,788,424
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	£558,038	$730,509	£29,017,956	$37,986,458

Manchester City’s winter spending spree is underway.

On Monday, the Sky Blues unveiled Abdukodir Khusanov, joining from Lens for a reported fee of £34m.

This week, the Citizens are also expected to complete the signings of Vitor Reis from Palmeiras and Omar Marmoush of Eintracht Frankfurt, but Pep Guardiola is not done yet, now eyeing up a move for one of the most exciting English talents currently playing abroad.

Man City chasing a new winger

According to a report from Spain, Manchester City, alongside Chelsea and Bayern Munich, are set to ‘compete’ for the signing of Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens.

Fabrizio Romano adds that Liverpool are also “monitoring the situation”, with Florian Plettenberg and Patrick Berger of Sky Sports Deutschland believing the 20-year-old is valued at around €100m (£85m).

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The Englishman spent time in both Chelsea and Manchester City’s academy set-ups, but ditched the Sky Blues for Borussia Dortmund at the age of 16, taking a similar path to that established by Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho.

Since making his senior debut against Wolfsburg in April 2022, Gittens has scored 16 goals and provided 14 assists in just 84 outings for die Schwarzgelben, registering a goal involvement every 132 minutes on average.

So far this season, despite the fact Nuri Şahin’s side are struggling in general, the youngster has gone to another level, scoring seven times in the Bundesliga and four times in the Champions League, most notably on target against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in October, as well as in November’s Klassiker draw at Westfalenstadion.

You may know this player as Jamie Bynoe-Gittens however, at the start of this season, he decided to shorten his name following a discussion with his father, the pair agreeing it would be ‘easier to pronounce’.

What Jamie Gittens would bring to Manchester City

Regardless of what is on the back of his shirt, he’s certainly a player to watch, with data analyst Ben Mattinson on X particularly enthused by his “electric pace”, while Sebastian Stafford-Bloor of the Athletic believes his “two-footed finishing and blazing speed” will be impossible for new England manager Thomas Tuchel to ignore.

The 20-year-old is certainly attracting attention from clubs in England, so could we soon see him gracing the Premier League?

Guardiola has plenty of wingers at his disposal already, namely Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Savinho and Jérémy Doku, but keeps on chopping and changing in search of a winning formula.

Will Unwin of the Guardian has praised Doku’s “maverick tendencies”, saying they provide Man City with something different, which is in stark contrast to Grealish, who Richard Jolly of the Independent believes is no longer “exciting”, with Guardiola’s over-coaching responsible.

Thus, stylistically, the Man City player Gittens is most similar to is certainly Doku, so let’s see how the duo compare.

Jamie Gittens vs Jérémy Doku (23/24 & 24/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Gittens

Doku

Appearances

60

85

Minutes

3,162

4,758

Goals

0.37

0.15

Assists

0.23

0.42

Shots

2.99

2.61

Goals – xG

+6.6

+2.4

Attempted take-ons

7.41

7.15

Take on success %

45%

51.6%

Progressive carries

5.44

8.07

Touches

41

44

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table, using data since the start of last season outlines, Gittens and Doku are very similar players.

Gittens ranks higher for both goals and shots per 90, while Doku has the slight edge when it comes to assists, progressive carries and take-on success %.

Nevertheless, across Europe’s top five leagues this season, Gittens ranks second for attempted take-ons (118), behind only Lamine Yamal, who’s not bad, while the young Englishman also sits eighth for goals – xG, with an impressive tally of +4.6, bettered only by one Bundesliga player, that being Marmoush, who’s already on his way to Man City.

What is clear is that Gittens is a future superstar, so if the Sky Blues, or anyone else for that matter, get the chance to secure his services, they should certainly take it.

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington Jan 18, 2025