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Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on the future of Aymeric Laporte and Arsenal's interest in the defender.

The Spaniard is currently the subject of an offer from Al Nassr.

What is the latest news regarding Aymeric Laporte?

Al Nassr have improved their salary offer to Laporte in a bid to convince the Spanish international to join according to Romano.

Manchester City are reportedly open to allowing the defender to depart this window and gave the green light for the deal to go ahead due to the arrival of Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig this summer, which pushes the 29-year-old further down the pecking order at the Etihad, with the defender making just 12 appearances in the Premier League last season.

Speculation about the centre-backs future was only strengthened earlier this week when he was seen reacting and applauding new Arsenal signing David Raya on Instagram, adding more fuel to the fire.

There have been reports throughout this summer that the former Athletic Bilbao defender was considering making the switch to North London and following the likes of Oleksander Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to the Emirates to work under Mikel Arteta, who Laporte worked with for 12 months at the Etihad before he became Gunners boss.

However, it seems unlikely that the Cityzens will sell any more players to the Gunners after last summer, where the players who made the switch became key pieces in what was City's closest competitor for the Premier League title last season.

Should the Gunners be able to complete the transfer, Laporte could be the perfect replacement for summer signing Jurrien Timber, whose season looks to be over after he suffered a devastating ACL injury in the side's opening day victory against Nottingham Forest.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Romano revealed that Arsenal did hold an interest in the Spanish international earlier in the window, however the deal was very expensive. The journalist also referenced the fact that Man City were not "keen" on selling another player to the Gunners after last summer.

He said: “It’s true that they appreciate a player like Aymeric Laporte. At the beginning of the market at the end of June and beginning of July, they considered a move for Laporte, but it was very expensive. Man City weren’t keen on selling another player to Arsenal after Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko and all the others. So, that's why it was not an easy one.”

What next for Arsenal this window?

The Gunners seem to be looking in the market to replace Timber

One player who has been linked is Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. The Englishman was recently appointed as the Eagles captain, but the situation surrounding Timber could force the North London side to act upon their long-term interest on the former Chelsea man. However, the £50m price tag on Guehi's head may scupper any potential move. A cheaper alternative could be Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, who reportedly has a €25m (£21m) release clause.

Arsenal may need to see some departures to fund more incomings. One potential departure could be Folarin Balogun, who impressed last season on loan at Reims in Ligue 1. A host of sides around Europe are interested in the USA international, with Monaco having seen a verbal offer rejected. A shock report has linked the Arsenal forward with a move to the Gunners rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who have the money available following the sale of Harry Kane. The striker reportedly has an asking price of £50m, and should a side pay that, it could free up the Gunners to attack the market before the deadline.

Tired, drawn and stung by defeat, Joe Root is adamant he would love another crack at the England captaincy in Australia in four years’ time

George Dobell in Sydney02-Jan-2018Joe Root believes he is the man to captain England on their next Ashes tour in four-year’s time.While Root has been stung by the pain of defeat, he believes the lessons he has learned will stand him in good stead when the side returns to Australia. And, just as he now views being dropped from the Sydney Test at the end of the 2013-14 Ashes as “one of the best things that ever happened to me,” he now feels he has “gained a lot” from the experience of this series that will prove beneficial in the future.”Of course I want to captain England here in four years,” Root said. “Yes, it’s been a long trip with stuff that you don’t want to have to deal with on occasions but I think I’ve gained a lot from that.”I’m looking forward to the different challenges that will present themselves after this trip. I want us to be the best side in the world and that’s not going to happen overnight.”Among the lessons Root says he has learned is the requirement for more pace and spin in England’s attack and the need for England’s batsmen to make far greater contributions. And while he remains hugely respectful of the skills James Anderson offers England, he knows they cannot continue to rely upon a bowler who is now 35 years-old and almost certainly playing his final Test in Australia in the coming days.Root on…

Moeen Ali: “I’m not worried about Mo. He’s a fine player and I’m sure he’ll play a lot more cricket for England. Over the summer he was one of the most instrumental parts of our team with bat and ball. He has struggled a bit on this trip but, technically I don’t think there’s a huge amount he needs to work on. When someone is going through a tough period it’s important as a squad that you remember how valuable he has been and what he’s capable of doing.”
Playing in the IPL: “I’ll think about that after this series. I know there are deadlines to meet, but it’s most important that I spend all my time and energy on this last game.”
The ball-tampering allegations: “That was ridiculous. You know when you come to Australia, you’re playing against everyone, not just the 11 guys on the field. It’s important that next time we get here we know exactly what to expect in terms of the media barrage or, as Trevor Bayliss said the other day, the ‘Pommie bashing’ from the Australian press. You have to make sure that you’re very switched on to the way they operate.”

“Let’s be honest, there are going to be certain changes in the seam-bowling department in four years’ time unless we’re rolling Jimmy Anderson out at 40 or whatever he’s going to be,” Root said. “An extra bit of pace could be very important next time round. Having someone like Mark Wood fit for a long period of time could be very useful.”We’ve also seen how crucial the spin department can be over here, so we have to make sure it is as strong as it can be. And, as a batting group, we’ve got to be prepared to bat for long, long periods of time.”No captain in modern times has led England in successive away Ashes series (Mike Brearley led England in two away Test series against Australia, but only one was granted Ashes status) but Root, who celebrated his 27th birthday on the last day of the Melbourne Test, has the time and, it seems, the energy to try again in four years. So while some critics – notably Graeme Swann – have suggested England are compromising Root’s effectiveness as a batsman by burdening him with leadership, Root himself is adamant that the example of Steve Smith has inspired him to lead from the front in similar fashion.”You see that and you want to be the one doing it,” Root said. “Smith has probably been the difference between the teams. Take his runs out of it and we’ve been there or thereabouts to win.”So credit to him. He’s played exceptionally well. But it’s a little lesson to me on leading from the front.”Root’s previous experiences in Sydney – he was dropped at the end of the 2013-14 series as England gave debuts to three players – not only inspired him to work harder than ever to regain his place, but taught him that “chucking guys in for the last game of a series” was no way to improve the side. Scott Borthwick, Boyd Rankin and Gary Ballance all made their Test debuts in Sydney in 2014, with only Ballance going on to play another Test for England.”Being dropped made a big impact on my career,” Root said. “Being left out was one of the best things that ever happened to me.”Coming back into the team you have a slightly different view on things. You go away and give yourself the opportunity to work extremely hard on areas you want to look at. You have a different drive and determination moving forward.”Once you have played for England, you never want to do anything else. You don’t want to just play county cricket. You want to be in and around international cricket for as long as you can. It’s very easy to get that determination and drive to see where you need to get back to.”But we’re not going to improve by chucking guys in for the last game of a series. It’s really important that next time we come here, we don’t look at it in a daunted way, or feel like there’s a massive gap between the two sides, because if we do things in the right way we’ve got a really good chance next time round.”It’s really important that we start look at what we have to do now and not too far down the line. The planning for it has to start now.”

Leeds United will be craving another promotion hero to crop up sooner than their last.

It took 16 long years before the Whites could make their triumphant return to the Premier League, that which was undone in just three short seasons. Now, the search is once again on to find someone to assume that role.

Daniel Farke is sure to be a key player in any success they earn in the Championship, given his proficiency in getting teams promoted from the level, but he will need to forge a team not only capable of claiming that prize, but ensuring that their top-flight stay is not a short one.

Fortunately, rumours are persisting to link them with one man who could occupy that crucial role, as a creative leader ready to spearhead that charge.

Seeking to tempt those who already have a track record of excelling at this level, few seem more available at this moment than Gustavo Hamer, given how his Coventry City side failed in their playoff push and have since lost star man Viktor Gyokeres.

While transfer insider Dean Jones has suggested any deal might not be that straightforward, the respected journalist did state that the former Netherlands youth international could potentially emulate the success of Leeds legend Pablo Hernandez, in the second tier.

Despite that, he told Football FanCast just how influential the Dutch-Brazilian maestro could be, should the Yorkshire outfit bring him in: "Yeah he could definitely be a Hernandez-type figure for them, but convincing Coventry to sell him after they've just lost Gyokeres isn't going to be easy. I'm sure Coventry will try their best to keep the rest of that team together the best that they can, but he is a great player and at this level, he's really hard to replicate."

How good is Gustavo Hamer?

To liken him to someone of Hernandez's quality should speak volumes for just how good this 26-year-old has been of late.

With nine goals and ten assists in the league last season, Mark Robins' £4m-rated midfield general actually outperformed the figures posted by the Spaniard during Leeds' promotion year.

However, it could be argued that his apex came the term earlier, as the former Valencia man had recorded 24 goal contributions in the league alone to outline himself as a true star despite failing to win the playoffs. His bravery in dropping to their level proved to be a catalyst that ignited their eventual Premier League return, which they could now once again rely on from Hamer.

After all, it would take a degree of courage for the former Feyenoord gem to make this move to a freshly-relegated outfit, even if they are one of the biggest clubs in the division.

To further emphasise the similarities between these two stars, during their two most impressive respective seasons, both would blend technical quality with defensive steel.

The 38-year-old, whilst recording three key passes, also maintained 1.6 tackles per game, via Sofascore. Meanwhile, his potential successor saw his key passes drop to 1.8 per game, but his tackles rose to 2.6, via Sofascore.

If Farke is to assemble the team in his image though, with the quality already at his disposal and more that is hopefully set to come, Hamer could underpin any potential promotion push they make in the coming campaign.

As a consistent performer at this level, and a charismatic character to boot, he would hopefully fill the creative void that has arguably been left since Hernandez departed in 2021, helping to secure an instant promotion at the first time of asking.

Raphael Varane has revealed how he earned Cristiano Ronaldo’s respect, with the Frenchman saying there is “no need to be shy” around the Portuguese.

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French defender moved to Spain in 2011Would not be intimidated by anybodyLanded major silverware alongside CR7WHAT HAPPENED?

World Cup winner Varane completed a dream transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2011. Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo had already been at Santiago Bernabeu for a couple of years by that point and was very much the brightest light in Madrid’s galaxy of stars.

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Varane could have been forgiven for feeling a little overawed in such illustrious company, but the classy centre-half merely made a point of making Ronaldo aware of who he was and that he would not be intimated by anybody.

WHAT VARANE SAID ABOUT RONALDO

Quizzed by on whether one of his first interactions with Ronaldo saw him respond with “I’m Rapha” after being referred to as “’Varane” by CR7, the current Manchester United star said: “Yes it’s true, I think that on the field there is no need to be shy. I am someone who is quite reserved outside but on the field you have to make your own place and be respected.”

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That is a mindset that Ronaldo can get behind, as someone who has spent his entire career pursuing perfection. Varane shares a similar desire to win, but added on how even the very best in the business need to learn how to turn energy levels on and off. He added: “That's the challenge for great teams, to succeed in winning while exerting less energy on the pitch. You can't put your full energy into everything when there are games every three days. You can't run a marathon every day. I had periods where we played Clasico, Champions League, Clasico – in a week you feel like you've lived an entire life!”

Gerhard Erasmus followed up his final-over heroics from a day earlier to partner Craig Williams for a 95-run sixth-wicket stand that set up Namibia’s 17-run win

The Report by Peter Della Penna13-Feb-2018ICC/SportsfileBatsman Gerhard Erasmus followed up his final-over heroics from 24 hours earlier with his second consecutive half-century, teaming with allrounder Craig Williams for a 95-run sixth-wicket stand as Namibia handed Canada their first loss of the tournament, by 17 runs at United Cricket Field.At a ground that has been a bowler’s paradise in the opening hour of play, Canada won the toss and unsurprisingly sent the hosts in. But they struggled to break through, as Stephan Baard and Lohan Louwrens survived the Powerplay with a 47-run opening stand. Navneet Dhaliwal, whose part-time medium pace ripped apart Kenya on Sunday, struck twice in the 12th over to bring Canada back.But Williams produced Namibia’s highest score of the tournament – 82 off 89 balls – before departing in the 48th over. Erasmus had been with him for much of the way, and once again took Namibia into the last over to forge a commanding total of 268.Ruvindu Gunasekera, the tournament’s top-scorer with 207 runs, continued his stellar run with another half-century. Dhanuka Pathirana and Dhaliwal steered the chase after Gunasekera’s departure, and with 87 to win with 10 overs to go and seven wickets in hand, Canada were favorites, given the United’s short boundaries.But left-arm medium pacers JJ Smit and Jan Frylinck bowled sensational spells to rip out Canada’s middle order. The pair bowled eight of the final ten overs and took four wickets. They were at their best in the final 12 balls. With 28 needed to win, Smit conceded six singles in the 49th. Frylinck began the final over conceding just two singles over the first three balls, effectively clinching victory.

Karim Benzema is set for crunch talks with Al-Ittihad to clear the air over his future after January links with Manchester United and Chelsea.

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Benzema to remain at Al-IttihadStriker wants clarity on his futureHas been linked with Chelsea and Man UtdWHAT HAPPENED?

The French striker is staying put at Al-Ittihad, at least until the summer. However, with Benzema still feeling unsettled in the Middle East he wants to get clarity about his future before the next transfer window.

According to , the former Real Madrid striker is already engaged in discussions with Al-Ittihad this week, focusing on clarifying their plans ahead of the upcoming summer window.

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Jacobs added that there was neither a formal request nor an approval for Benzema to leave the club in January. Both Al-Ittihad and key figures in the Saudi dealmakers have expressed a desire for Benzema to extend his stay for another season.

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Although Chelse and United were linked to Benzema, there are no concrete offers from any of the English top-flight clubs. Efforts by Lyon to bring Benzema back proved impossible due to the substantial wage cut required. Meanwhile, Ittihad continue to assert that any potential bid from other clubs, including those in the English Premier League, would have been rejected.

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Benzema has a three-year deal with Al-Ittihad until 2026. Although he has scored 12 goals in 20 games, the former French international has often come under the scanner over his performances in the recent past, which has irked the striker.

Although they are the reigning champions, they currently sit seventh in the 18-team division after losing their last three league games before the mid-season break due to the AFC Asian Cup.

RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, who has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea, has a low release clause that becomes active this summer.

Sesko moved to RB Leipzig in summerHas release clause in current contractStriker of interest to Premier League clubsWHAT HAPPENED?

Sesko snubbed a move to Manchester United in the summer when he left Red Bull Salzburg to join RB Leipzig on a five-year deal. According to , his contract at RB Leipzig contains a release clause of €50 million (£42m/$54m) that can be activated in the summer.

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The news of Sesko's relatively low release clause is likely to be of interest to his admirers. United are in the midst of a disappointing season and could look to overhaul their squad in the summer, particularly as they have a striker shortage. Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Sesko as they look to boost their attacking options.

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Sesko became the youngest player to score for RB Leipzig in the Champions League when he netted against Young Boys in September at the age of 20 years and 111 days.

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Sesko may well be tempted to move on if there is interest in the summer. The youngster is not a regular starter at RB Leipzig currently but has scored seven goals in all competitions for the Bundesliga side so far this season.

Following what was a rather muted start to the transfer window for Manchester United, the recent capture of Mason Mount appears to have sprung the Red Devils into action, with an array of deals currently in the works.

Having notably tied down Marcus Rashford to a new long-term contract, the Old Trafford outfit have also agreed a fee with Inter Milan for the signing of David De Dea's heir apparent, Andre Onana, with Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund potentially set to follow the Cameroonian stopper from Serie A to Manchester in the near future.

With former Premier League title winner, Jonny Evans having also made his return to the club on a short-team deal for good measure, Erik ten Hag appears to be stepping up his preparations for the new season by adequately bolstering his ranks.

That search for fresh faces is certainly not at an end, however, with recent reports having suggested that the Dutchman is keen to sign another forward this summer, even if a deal for Hojlund is to be secured…

What are the latest Man United transfer rumours?

One name that has been mentioned as a possible attacking target is Bayer Leverkusen speedster, Moussa Diaby, with the Daily Mail recently naming United as one of the clubs who are interested in signing the ten-cap France international ahead of next season.

As per the report, the Bundesliga side are looking for a fee in the region of £50m if they are to cash in on the 24-year-old this summer, with the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa also showing a strong interest in securing his signature.

What position does Moussa Diaby play?

The former Paris Saint-Germain youth star has captivated the attention of Premier League clubs as a result of his scintillating displays in Germany of late, having racked up a stellar haul of 49 goals and 48 assists in 172 games during his time at the BayArena.

Lauded as "dangerous" by ex-Freiburg striker, Nils Pedersen, the Paris-born sensation has proven himself a real livewire down the flanks in recent seasons, having typically operated on the right wing for his current side.

As a player who likes to cut in from the right flank onto his stronger left foot, it is easy to see why the 5 foot 7 ace is said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, as per FBref, with the Egyptian wizard also sharing that knack for cutting onto his left foot from the right-hand side.

That likeness can also be showcased by both their creativity and dribbling ability on the ball, with Diaby having racked up 125 progressive carries and 104 progressive passes in the league in the 2022/23 campaign, while Salah enjoyed a similar record after racking up 120 progressive carries and 104 progressive passes.

Such a comparison is noteworthy due to the impact that the latter man has made since moving to Anfield in 2017, with the 31-year-old having scored 186 goals in 305 games for the Merseysiders to date, as well as chipping in with 79 assists.

The one-time Chelsea man has been a particular thorn in United's side over recent years, having scored 12 goals in just 12 meetings with the Red Devils in all competitions – more goals than he has scored against any other opponent in his entire career.

For Ten Hag then to be able to find his answer to the £350k-per-week superstar with the signing of Diaby would represent a real coup, with it no doubt time for United to find a player of their own who can torment their bitter rivals.

A referee reportedly stabbed a footballer during an Argentina youth game in a brawl which left the player in hospital with a punctured lung.

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Referee arrested for stabbing a playerFootballer rushed to hospitalSuffered punctured lungWHAT HAPPENED?

Grassroots referee Remigio Armoa has reportedly been arrested after stabbing a player during a match in a province of Misiones. The horrifying incident occurred after a brawl occured and players surrounded the referee. Armoa then pulled out a knife and struck one of the players in the chest. The victim collapsed and was then picked up by team-mates and taken off the pitch.

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The victim, identified as Kevin A by local media, suffered a punctured lung in the attack. However, due to timely medical intervention, he is now out of danger. Images later depicted him recovering in a hospital bed with a bandage on the left side of his chest, scrolling through his cell phone.

WHAT KEVIN'S UNCLE SAID

Speaking to the local media, his uncle informed: "Kevin is miraculously alive. For the family, it is a very delicate moment because he is the Messi of the family. He is a boy well gifted for football, thank God he had the opportunity to be in a club like Chacarita."

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Armoa attempted to flee but was later apprehended by local police, who also recovered the knife used in the assault. Later he was photographed in handcuffs, facing charges for the shocking act.

Mohamed Salah missed a penalty in Egypt’s friendly with Tanzania, but saw his blushes spared as the ball bounced in off the goalkeeper’s backside.

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Reds forward away on international dutyPreparing for Africa Cup of NationsFluffed his lines again from 12 yardsWHAT HAPPENED?

The Liverpool forward is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty as he prepares to begin his quest for continental glory in the Ivory Coast. The Pharaohs are expected to go well at that tournament, with talismanic forward Salah set to lead their charge.

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Salah was hoping to get into the goal-scoring groove during a meeting with Tanzania, and was presented with a golden opportunity to do just that when stepping up to the spot. He had already provided the assist for Trezeguet’s opener in what would be a 2-0 win, but fluffed his lines from 12 yards.

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Salah – who is sporting a new haircut – crashed his penalty against the crossbar, and was left looking a little sheepish after seeing the ball make its way into the back of the net via a deflection off the unfortunate Tanzanian goalkeeper – who knew nothing about his own goal.