"Underrated" £90k-per-week West Ham star growing frustrated and wants out

da dobrowin: An “underrated” £90,000-per-week West Ham United player is growing frustrated and wants out of the London Stadium, according to a report this week, with manager Julen Lopetegui at risk of losing him soon.

West Ham players who could leave in 2025

da bet7: A quartet of senior squad members in Michail Antonio, Danny Ings, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell and Lukasz Fabianski are all out of contract next summer as things stand, so Tim Steidten will have to agree extension deals or let them depart for free.

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Antonio and Ings are part of an aging strike force, with Lopetegui pushing the West Ham hierarchy to sign a striker in January amid concerns over a lack of options. Long-serving shot-stopper Fabianski is now 39-years-old and in the twilight phase of his career, and the same can be said for Cresswell, who’s been at the club for over a decade.

Vladimir Coufal will go down as a fan favourite and key player during the 2020/2021 season under David Moyes, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s arrival in the summer has negated the need for him to remain at Rush Green for much longer.

West Ham Results: 2024/25

Match

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

#10

19/10/2024

Tottenham (A)

Premier League

4-1 loss

#9

05/10/2024

Ipswich (H)

Premier League

4-1 win

#8

28/09/2024

Brentford (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#7

25/09/2024

Liverpool (A)

Carabao Cup

5-1 loss

#6

21/09/2024

Chelsea (H)

Premier League

3-0 loss

#5

14/09/2024

Fulham (A)

Premier League

1-1 draw

#4

31/08/2024

Man City (H)

Premier League

3-1 loss

#3

28/08/2024

Bournemouth (H)

Carabao Cup

1-0 win

#2

24/08/2024

Crystal Palace (A)

Premier League

2-0 win

#1

17/08/2024

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

2-1 loss

Bizarrely, summer signing Niclas Fullkrug has already been tipped to leave West Ham, with an achilles tendon injury blighting his career at the club so far. The 31-year-old’s overall fitness record has been looked into, and it doesn’t make for pretty reading, which has prompted some to question why they struck a deal with Borussia Dortmund in the first place.

He had a few issues during his time in Germany with his fitness,” said former recruitment chief Mick Brown to Football Insider.

“That, I’ve heard, played a part in the reason Dortmund were keen to let him go. So if that was an issue, and it was known in Germany, you’ve got to ask serious questions about why it was overlooked by West Ham.

“Paying almost £30million for a 31-year-old is always risky, but spending that money on a player with fitness issues at that age is a huge problem.”

A much bigger blow than losing Fullkrug would be having to part company with forward Mohammed Kudus, who is reportedly attracting interest from the likes of Barcelona and clubs in Saudi Arabia.

Kudus growing frustrated at West Ham and taking action to leave

According to Anfield Watch, Liverpool are firmly among the growing list of suitors for him. They add that Kudus is growing increasingly frustrated at West Ham, and has told his agents to explore a possible move to Merseyside. The Ghana international, called “underrated” by some, has stood out as one of Lopetegui’s key attacking players so far this season.

Mohammed Kudus celebrates for West Ham

If West Ham’s disappointing start to the season continues, there is every reason reports of this nature could begin to hold weight behind them. The 24-year-old, on a reported £90,000-per-week, was rumoured to have an £85 million release clause in the summer – but it has now expired.

Club ready to sell attacker for under £10m as West Ham eye bargain move

West Ham United chiefs sense a potential bargain transfer opportunity, with one club now ready to sell their attacking gem for under £10 million.

West Ham's rumoured transfer plans for January and next summer

Technical director Tim Steidten moved to back new manager Julen Lopetegui with nine major signings over the summer window, investing a near-£120 million in centre-back Maximilian Kilman, winger Crysencio Summerville, striker Niclas Fullkrug, Brazilian Luis Guilherme, defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, Guido Rodriguez, Jean-Clair Todibo and Carlos Soler.

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However, following a fairly mixed start to the new season for Lopetegui, not to mention Fullkrug’s injury and the fact a couple of senior forwards will be out of contract next summer, highlights the need for more attacking options.

West Ham summer signings

From

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Maximilian Kilman

Wolves

€47.5m

Crysencio Summerville

Leeds United

€29.3m

Niclas Fullkrug

Borussia Dortmund

€27m

Luis Guilherme

Palmeiras

€23m

Mohamadou Kante

Paris FC

Undisclosed

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Man Utd

€18m

Wes Foderingham

Sheffield United

Free transfer

Guido Rodriguez

Real Betis

Free transfer

Jean-Clair Todibo

Nice

Loan transfer

Carlos Soler

PSG

Loan transfer

West Ham summer departures

To

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Flynn Downes

Southampton

€17.85m

James Ward-Prowse

Nottingham Forest

Loan

Maxwel Cornet

Southampton

Loan

Nayef Aguerd

Real Sociedad

Loan

Kurt Zouma

Al-Shabab

Loan

Said Benrahma

Lyon

€14.4m

Angelo Ogbonna

Watford

Free transfer

Thilo Kehrer

Monaco

€11m

Nathan Trott

FC Copenhagen

€1.5m

Ben Johnson

Ipswich Town

Free transfer

Joseph Anang

St Patrick’s Athletic

Free transfer

Both Michail Antonio and Danny Ings could leave the club for free in 2025, potentially leading to West Ham’s interest in Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush.

The Egypt striker has been nothing short of a revelation so far this season – bagging nine goals and six assists in just nine appearances across all competitions – with reports suggesting West Ham have drawn fresh plans to sign Marmoush.

Meanwhile, it is also believed West Ham are prepared to bid for Lyon forward Rayan Cherki, as Lopetegui casts his eye on alternative attacking midfield options in the final third. Besiktas playmaker Ernest Muci and AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze are also thought to be targets for the Hammers board, so it will be intriguing to see which faces could arrive at the London Stadium in January or next summer.

West Ham’s recent 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town was their first in all competitions since late August, indicating that there is still plenty of work to do as they rebuild the squad post-David Moyes.

Vasco de Gama ready to sell Rayan Vitor as West Ham eye move

According to The Boot Room, Brazilian gem Rayan Vitor, currently plying his trade with Vaso de Gama in the Brasileiro, is now on the east Londoners’ radar.

The left-footed winger, who TBR compare to West Ham superstar Jarrod Bowen, is also being chased by Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Nottingham Forest – so he’s a man in demand at Premier League sides.

West Ham are eyeing a move for Rayan Vitor, with Vasco also said to be ready to accept an £8.5 million bid for his services. The teenager is very highly rated by his peers too, having been praised for his physicality in particular.

“What we tell the youth players is that from the moment they step into the professional ranks, they have to be held accountable as professional players,” said Vasco interim coach Rafael Paiva.

“He is a player with experience, a lot of physical ability. He is powerful, has a very strong finish, and he is a player who has just been called up to the Brazilian under-20 team. And we saw that he evolved in this process.

“He was unfortunate once again with his mistake [against Palmeiras]. A mistake that, at this level of play, costs him dearly. It cost us our defeat. But he has to be held accountable just like any professional player. And he has the technical, tactical and physical ability to withstand professional play.”

Alejandro Garnacho 'wouldn't be missed' by Man Utd as Red Devils urged to keep Kobbie Mainoo over hit-and-miss Argentine winger

Former Manchester United star Paul Parker has urged the Red Devils to prioritise keeping Kobbie Mainoo over winger Alejandro Garnacho.

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  • Parker urges Man Utd to keep Mainoo
  • Garnacho would not be 'missed'
  • Academy graduates linked with exits
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    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Manchester United have seen Argentine winger Garnacho and English midfielder Mainoo come through the academy and into the senior setup in recent years. Through the first few months of his integration with the Red Devils, Garnacho showed a lot of promise and his rise was compared to five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo's time at Old Trafford. However, he has failed to show consistency of late.

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    Mainoo was integral to United's 2023-24 campaign and forced his way into the England side which reached the Euro 2024 final. Despite this, PSR concerns mean United have been tipped to sell the homegrown duo.

  • WHAT PARKER SAID

    Speaking to , Parker said: "I’m sceptical of anything I read and hear now because so many people make things up for headlines, which seems the way to go now.

    "However, I’d look and say with Kobbie Mainoo, where he’s from and everything he is about, does he want to leave Manchester United? I would say no. I would look at the way he is as a person, is he going to be greedy in what he wants? I would say no. So I can’t see them doing that because Manchester United has been built off players who have come through like him. If they were to do that, it would just cause too many issues. INEOS and the new kids on the block are already just hanging in there, so to do that would be a big statement to make.

    "Regarding Garnacho, if someone new were to come in, I don’t think he holds the same as Mainoo. Would he be missed in that sense? I would personally say no, not at all really, and doubt he would be missed too much if he were to go. It appears that he is already looking for that move anyway and will go once he thinks that a big club abroad is going to be better than Manchester United. I think he will only find out once he gets there that it won’t be the same. He will understand that where he is now is virtually as good as it gets, and he needs to show everything."

  • Getty Images Sport

    WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

    Whether Mainoo and Garnacho stay or leave remains to be seen. They are available for United to face Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday.

VIDEO: PSG & Lionesses goalkeeper Mary Earps shows off football basketball trick shot and lands it first time at the NBA Paris Games

England international Mary Earps hit a football basketball trick shot at the first attempt when attending the NBA Paris Games.

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Paris-based star taking in NBA actionShowcased her own talentsHit nothing but net with trick shotFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The San Antonio Spurs, with French superstar Victor Wembanyama within their ranks, faced the Indiana Pacers at the Accor Arena. There were plenty of familiar faces on show at that event, with Lionesses goalkeeper Earps among them.

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The 31-year-old, who is now plying her club trade for Paris Saint-Germain, looked to get into the basketball spirit before tip off in the French capital. She was asked to showcase her hoop skills before the professionals strutted their stuff.

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Earps found the net with her hands when banking a shot in off the backboard, before then putting her feet to the test. A perfectly-struck strike looped through the air before dipping towards the target and hitting nothing but net.

Tottenham, Chelsea and the five best landing spots for Ricardo Pepi, with speculation that the USMNT striker could be leaving PSV

GOAL examines possible landing spots for Pepi, as the USMNT striker has been subject to Premier League, Ligue 1 interest

Ricardo Pepi might be on the move. Sources close to the player confirmed to GOAL last week that the USMNT striker is the subject of concrete interest from other clubs – with at least one team bidding in excess of $20 million to secure his services. Other offers, reportedly from both France and England, are likely to come.

And that's where this all gets interesting. Pepi has excelled for PSV this season, scoring 12 and assisting three in just five starts. He is averaging 1.68 goal contributions per 90 minutes. Those are the elite numbers of a ruthlessly efficient center forward. In other words, any club would be delighted to have him. But where, exactly, would he fit?

It's important to identify some criteria. Pepi will want to go somewhere that offers a higher level of competition than the Eredivisie. He will also likely want consistent minutes, as well as a path to first team football. It is also, of course, in his interest to avoid a club that might be fighting relegation. A team that plays good football that will afford him goalscoring opportunities would also be ideal.

With all that in mind, GOAL examines the best landsping spots for Pepi should he make a marquee move away from PSV.

  • Getty Images Sport

    Tottenham

    "That's just the way we play, mate."

    This one all depends on what Pepi, the talented No. 9, really needs long term. Ange Postecoglou plays an exciting brand of soccer that will lead to lots of chances for his forward players. The presence of talented wingers in Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski ensures that a mobile center forward – usually Domonic Solanke – will get his fair share of looks on goal.

    There's also a real variation to the system, with Spurs able to play both aerially and on the deck. Get yourself a No. 9 who can do a bit of everything, and Spurs seems to be the perfect match. Postecoglou has also been open about the fact he wants to strengthen his squad this month. Meanwhile, the fact that Spurs have European football to contend with should lead to plenty of chances for backups. Throw in the harsh reality of Timo Werner serving as your second choice goalscorer, and this all seems like a tailor-made fit.

    The issue remains, of course, that Spurs spent big on Solanke this summer. And there is no obvious path to immediate first team football here.

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    Brighton

    If the goal is player development, Pepi needs to look no further. What is so often forgotten in football is that most players tend to need three or four stops to reach their potential. Brighton is, for many, the perfect stepping stone club. The same might just be true for Pepi.

    The Seagulls are in something of an awkward spot in terms of their striking options. Yes, they have Danny Welbeck, who has bagged six goals in 14 Premier League appearances. But the former Arsenal and United striker is also 34, and is in the final year of his contract. Brighton would be reluctant to let a guy who can still bag a few goals leave on a free; it would make sense to hand him a new deal.

    But that would do little in terms of preparing for the future. There are other options on the squad. Joao Pedro, Evan Ferguson and Georginio Rutter are all here. But there is talk of the injury-prone Ferguson leaving in January. Pedro, meanwhile, isn't a pure goalscorer.

    But that would do little in terms of preparing for the future. Put simply: Brighton could use a striker – ideally young, powerful and a solid finisher. It's also fair to assume that they wouldn't be averse to having an American who could sell a few shirts to foreign fans, too.

  • AFP

    Lille

    Fancy another CONCACAF forward, guys? Canadian striker Jonathan David has turned in an excellent season for the Ligue 1 outsiders so far, scoring 14 and assisting two in all competitions. It's a perfect system for him – David serving as a direct presence, the razor-sharp edge of a 4-2-3-1 system. But Lille are also in a precarious spot. David is 24, and given his current form, will likely leave next summer – with Arsenal rumored to be in the running to secure his services.

    That would seem to leave room for shrewd investment now. Pepi could be an ideal replacement. He isn't the same athlete as David, but he is a more physical presence, and can certainly make all of the right runs for Bruno Genesio's side. David has also remained remarkably injury free – missing just 13 games since the 2020-21 season. He needs a rest.

    The issue is one of money. Lille might certainly be outbid by any Premier League suitor. But they would be an ideal destination.

  • Getty Images

    Chelsea

    So this one might just make sense. The Chelsea striker situation is strange. First, the tactics. They play with Nico Jackson as a traditional No. 9, with wingers on either side and the excellent Cole Palmer as an attacking midfielder. But Jackson has never truly convinced for the Blues. Nine Premier League goals is a handsome return, but he isn't exactly lethal, either. He still looks young and wayward. It is easy to forget that he wasn't a natural striker when Chelsea signed him. At times, it really shows.

    Behind him in the depth chart things get complicated. Christopher Nkunku is there, but is perhaps best used as a No. 10 in Enzo Marseca's fluid system. And although former Barcelona youngster Marc Guiu has impressed in flashes, there remains a need for a proper striker to fill out the squad that Maresca has steadily curated over the course of the last six months.

    Pepi could be that man. He will not push Jackson for starters minutes immediately, but might certainly be able to provide off the bench. He would also help out in cup competitions – even if that means settling for starts in the faraway countries brought about by the UEFA Conference League. At 21, Pepi is at the right age that Chelsea have been after in recent years.

    And most simply of all, it's easy to imagine Todd Boehly taking a punt on another marketable American talent.

Newcastle have now increased their efforts to sign 24 y/o compared to Bale

Newcastle United are believed to have upped their efforts to complete the signing of a 24-year-old ace this summer, according to a new claim.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies continue to be linked with a host of players as they prepare for the new Premier League season, with Eddie Howe aiming to have the strongest squad possible at his disposal.

Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski is one player who has emerged as a potential option for Newcastle this summer, with the Sweden international seen as an alternative to Chelsea wide-man Noni Madueke, who has also been strongly backed to complete a move to St James' Park.

Tottenham star Dejan Kulusevski celebrates

Meanwhile, Valencia's Andre Almeida has been linked with a switch to the Magpies, possibly being seen as the next man in after Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, who could be close to joining. The Portugal midfielder has made 56 appearances for his current club, as well as representing his nation in seven different youth age groups.

In attack, another striker may be needed if Callum Wilson moves on to pastures new, and Boulaye Dia and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, of Salernitana and Everton respectively, are considered top targets. Added firepower is essential for Howe this summer, with a lot of onus currently on Alexander Isak, who hasn't always managed to stay fit.

Newcastle increase efforts to sign 24-year-old

According to a new update from Turkish outlet ABC Gazetesi [via Sport Witness], Newcastle have increased their efforts to sign Galatasaray attacker Baris Alper Yilmaz, sending scouts to watch him in action last week.

Representatives were sent to Turkey to "evaluate his potential", with Aston Villa in the same boat as they look to snap up the 24-year-old in the current transfer window themselves. No bid has been tabled yet, but it looks as though he could be seen as an option to come in and boost Howe's squad.

Recently valued at €35m (£30m), Yilmaz could be a strong signing for Newcastle in the next few weeks should their scouts have seen enough to feel that he would be an ideal addition in 2024/25 and beyond.

At 24, the Galatasaray man remains a young player with plenty of improving to do, but he has already won 20 caps for Turkey, scoring twice in that time. At Euro 2024, he started five matches for his country, helping them reach the quarter-finals, as well as appearing eight times in the Champions League and Europa League combined for his club last season.

Yilmaz has also been compared to former Wales and Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale in terms of the pace and power that he can offer from wide areas.

Newcastle now big admirers of "excellent" £110,000-p/w Madueke alternative

The Magpies could make their move…

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Tom Cunningham

Aug 10, 2024

Newcastle need to improve their wide options ahead of the new campaign, with Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy hardly performing at the very top level, and the Turkish ace looks like a good option to come in and hit the ground running. His ability to thrive on either flank and in a central role makes him a versatile figure, too, so he ticks plenty of boxes.

Man City have already sold Alvarez 2.0, he’s now outperforming Grealish

da luck: One of the biggest, and arguably more surprising transfers of the summer window in 2024 was that of Julian Alvarez from Manchester City to Atletico Madrid. The Argentine World Cup winner departed the Etihad Stadium after just two seasons in an £81m move.

da betobet: His short time at the eight-time Premier League champions was hugely successful. The 24-year-old pulled on the sky blue shirt 103 times, scoring 36 times and grabbing 18 assists. That included a very impressive 11 goals and nine assists in 36 games last season.

julian-alvarez-manchester-city-tottenham-hotspur-academy-postecoglou-mikey-moore

He also has quite an outstanding trophy cabinet to show for his efforts during his time under Pep Guardiola, winning seven. As part of those seven trophies, he won the treble at the Etihad Stadium in 2022/23, which included the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup.

There has been plenty of noise surrounding his replacement this summer, and City did not end up bringing anyone in. However, they may well have had his dream replacement right under their noses but sold him a few years ago. That player is Ferran Torres.

Torres’ record at Barcelona

The Spain international made the move back to his native country in December of 2021, ahead of the 2022 January transfer window. It was a deal that represented a brilliant piece of business for the Cityzens.

They paid the Euro 2024 winner’s former club Valencia just £20.87m to acquire his services in August 2020 and received superb profit. Specifically, that was £46.7m from Barcelona up front and £8.5m in add-ons.

His time at Barca, has, on a personal note, been successful so far. He has played 117 games for the La Liga giants, scoring 26 goals and registering 14 assists. That includes a particularly successful 2023/24 campaign, his best yet in that famous blue and red shirt.

Had the winger still been at the Etihad Stadium nowadays, he could have been a perfect replacement for Alvarez while also providing some fierce competition to one of City’s current stars, Jack Grealish, whom he has begun to outperform.

Jack Grealish’s record at Man City

Since joining City in 2021 for a then-British record £100m, Grealish has certainly struggled to fully settle into a hugely successful side. The Cityzens have dominated English, and for a time, European football whilst the Englishman has been at the club, but he has never really looked like the same player he was at Aston Villa.

In 127 games for Guardiola’s side, the 28-year-old has scored just 14 goals and registered just 18 assists. His most productive campaign so far was in 2022/23, where Grealish scored five goals and assisted seven in 28 Premier League games.

He has certainly struggled to recapture the form he showed as a Villan, which earned him his big move to Manchester. His best season in England’s top flight for his boyhood club brought him six goals and ten assists.

The City number 10 has been outscored by Torres since he departed the club in the winter of 2021/22. This certainly could suggest a miscalculation on City’s part to sell the Spaniard to Barcelona, and he could have given the Englishman some stern competition for his place in the team.

Torres & Grealish record for Barca and Man City

Stat

Torres for Barca

Grealish for Man City

Games

117

127

Minutes

6,172

8,422

Goals

26

14

Assists

14

18

Stats from Transfermarkt

Interestingly, the duo have played six times with each other, and have featured in the same team for a combined 385 minutes. Had Torres stayed at the Etihad Stadium, City fans could well have seen this duo play together more often, and even compete for a direct place in the lineup.

Either way the “special” Torres, as football scout Antonio Mango described him, could have been their ideal replacement for Alvarez this summer, not least due to his flexibility to feature through the middle or on the flanks.

As it is, the versatile star is now shining away from Manchester, with there a question to be asked as to whether he was moved on too soon.

Man City messed up with £300k sale who's now worth more than Lewis

The Cityzens allowed the talented young defender to move on before his career flourished.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 6, 2024

The man who made the BCCI answerable

Mukul Mudgal is the judge who in 2001 made the BCCI liable to writ petitions and is also involved in formulating two key pieces of sporting legislation that could have a direct impact on cricket

Sharda Ugra08-Oct-2013Justice Mukul Mudgal, who heads the Supreme-Court-appointed three-man probe committee to re-examine allegations of betting and spot-fixing in IPL 2013, happens to be the judge who made the BCCI directly answerable to writs admitted to higher courts in India.In September 2001, Mudgal, a Delhi High Court judge at the time, ruled that the BCCI could not be called a private body, and therefore was not liable to challenge writ petitions filed against it, like it had done in the case of former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja, who had protested his five-year ban imposed after a 2000 investigation into betting and match-fixing. Mudgal’s 18-page judgement cited several reasons why the BCCI represented India, which had made it “amenable to writ jurisdiction.” It is the legal predecent due to which all writ petitions against the BCCI are now admitted into Indian high courts and the Supreme Court.Mudgal began his legal career in the Delhi High Court in 1973 and formally retired as chief justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in 2011. As advocate and judge, his links with sports litigation have remained strong. In the 1980s, he won record damages for India’s national table tennis champion and Asian Games medallist V Chandrasekhar after a faulty surgery led to the athlete being in a near-coma state for over a month and suffering considerable neurological impairment that ended his playing career. Mudgal was the advocate on record for a legal team that won a 1989 Supreme Court case against the BCCI filed by six cricketers (including Dilip Vengsarkar, Kris Srikkanth, Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, Kiran More and Arun Lal) banned for playing unofficial cricket in North America.Currently, Mudgal, a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, is involved in formulating two key pieces of sporting legislation that could have a direct impact on cricket. One is the National Sports Development Bill, which aims to make sports administrators answerable to the public and the government and the second is the Prevention of Sporting Fraud Bill, which gained more traction following the IPL corruption scandal in 2013.The National Sports Development Bill seeks to bring ethical governance into Indian sports administration, through restrictions on age and tenure of office bearers as well as bringing sports federations under the Right to Information Act (RTI). The exercise of the RTI in sport will requires all national sports federations to be answerable to the public in regard to their governance and accounting. The BCCI rejects the bill primarily due to its unwillingness to fall under the RTI stating that as it is registered as a private body, it remains not answerable to the public.As chairman of the National Sports Development Bill draft committee, Mudgal’s drive to overhaul sports administration India has been met with bitter resistance by all sporting bodies, including the BCCI. In 2011, he was independent advisor to the Lord Woolf committee set up for a governance review of the ICC’s functioning, whose recommendations were “rejected” by the BCCI working committee.When asked about the Supreme Court court’s suggestion on Monday that he head a new panel to investigate the IPL corruption scandal, Mudgal joked to a newspaper, “I don’t think the BCCI will be very keen to have me on the panel.” He would not comment on the “current state of cricket administration.”Mudgal’s involvement in civil, constitutional and labour law as well as public interest lititgation spans more than four decades and includes landmark judgements against sexual harassment in the workplace and those favouring prison reform and the rights of the underprivileged. His acquaintances say the dictum of “what is correct is correct” applies in Mudgal’s court.A collegiate athlete, Mudgal calls himself a hardcore cricket fan and is reported to have watched a Test between India and the West Indies on his feet for all the five days. Every time he got to the Kotla, he found that all seats were taken. In a few days time, when the Mudgal-led probe committee begins its inquiry into IPL corruption, the world of cricket will, metaphorically at least, be packed into the aisles.

Man Utd make contact to sign £600k-p/w midfielder; INEOS happy to pay £40m

Manchester United have made an approach to sign a £600,000-a-week midfielder, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly happy to pay up to £40m to complete a deal.

Man Utd want to sign new midfielder

It has been a fairly productive transfer market for Ratcliffe and sporting director Dan Ashworth, with the Red Devils moving on a number of players.

Man Utd summer departures

New club

Fee (Transfermarkt)

Mason Greenwood

Marseille

€26m

Willy Kambwala

Villarreal

€10m

Alvaro Carreras

Benfica

€6m

Donny van de Beek

Girona

€500,000

Raphael Varane

Como

Free

Omari Forson

Monza

Free

Anthony Martial

Without club

Brandon Williams

Without club

In regards to incomings, centre-back Leny Yoro and centre-forward Joshua Zirkzee have been the marquee arrivals, but more is still wanted at Old Trafford to bolster Erik ten Hag's squad.

For example, a double deal for Bayern Munich duo Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt is being worked on, and alongside the right-back and centre-back, a midfielder is also on the Old Trafford wishlist.

There have been plenty of rumours as to who that midfield addition could be, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte the most heavily linked target. There are also alternatives to Ugarte, with contact being made to Burnley’s Sander Berge, whereas talks have also been held for AS Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana.

Now, attention has turned back to a long-term target that United supporters will know all about.

Man Utd make Frenkie De Jong approach

According to Manchester World, Man Utd have made an approach to Barcelona over a deal for Frenkie de Jong. The Dutch midfielder was heavily linked with a move to work with Ten Hag during the 2022 transfer market, but as we know, a move never materialised.

Now, it looks as if the Red Devils could try again, with the report stating that ‘United have made a tentative approach to Barcelona in recent days to ascertain De Jong’s availability, with the Premier League side open to completing a deal if a fee around the £30m-£40m mark can be agreed’.

Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong

De Jong, on a whopping £600,000-a-week with the Catalan giants, has been with Barcelona since 2019 and has made more than 200 appearances for the club. Prior to that, De Jog was at Ajax, where he worked under Ten Hag, turning out 59 times under the current United boss. Ten Hag is a big fan of the current Barcelona star, saying last year:

"Frenkie is an incredible player and for every club in the whole world he will strengthen the squad because he has a unique quality. If you can get him in the squad your team will be stronger. In Spain he became even better. He's a fantastic player, plays out from the back, he always has time and it was a pleasure to work with him."

Who knows, a move this summer could finally come off, but for now, a tentative approach has been made, making this one to watch.

Crystal Palace & England star Marc Guehi to receive FA rules reminder for writing three-word message on rainbow armband in Newcastle draw

The FA are set to contact Marc Guehi over the three-word message he wrote on his rainbow armband during Crystal Palace's draw with Newcastle.

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PL celebrated LGBTQ+ weekend with rainbow lacesAll 20 clubs were also handed special armbandsFA to send Guehi rules reminder after inscribing messageFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The armbands were distributed as part of the Premier League’s support for Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign, an initiative promoting inclusivity and acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community. According to Law 4 of the game, players can wear emblems or slogans promoting football-related causes, such as Rainbow Laces. However, political, religious, or personal messages are explicitly forbidden, with violations potentially leading to sanctions by competition organizers, national associations, or FIFA itself.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

It was initially reported by thatGuehi could face an FA charge for writing "I love Jesus" on his armband. The FA recently revised its guidelines, clarifying that captain’s armbands must adhere to strict rules regarding slogans, statements, and advertising. The inclusion of a personal religious message on an armband dedicated to LGBTQ+ issues could be perceived as a more serious breach. However, as per , the FA has decided to send Guehi a reminder of their rules instead of dishing out any formal punishment to the defender.

DID YOU KNOW?

Meanwhile, Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy opted not to wear the rainbow armband as he is a practising Muslim. Instead, he wore the standard black captain’s band in Ipswich's defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. However, the Tractor Boys are now gearing up for their dedicated Rainbow Laces match, scheduled against Crystal Palace on Tuesday. The club has prepared several activities to amplify the campaign's message of inclusivity, including a pre-match stadium screen takeover featuring messages celebrating diversity in sports and society.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

As football continues to champion inclusivity through initiatives like Rainbow Laces, the balance between respecting individual beliefs and upholding shared values becomes increasingly crucial. claims that the FA will also contact Palace directly to remind the club of their current regulations regarding religious messaging on equipment.

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