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Manchester United target Evan Ndicka will leave Eintracht Frankfurt for nothing this summer, Fabrizio Romano reports.

What’s the latest news on Ndicka?

Ndicka made the move to the Bundesliga side back in 2018 and has gone on to make 177 senior appearances for his current employers.

The 23-year-old, who can play as a centre-back or as a left-back, is now valued at a career-high €32m (£28m) by Transfermarkt and is out of contract at the end of the season.

A potential move to Old Trafford to join up with Erik ten Hag has been speculated in recent weeks as well as Premier League rivals Liverpool, and the Red Devils have been handed a boost in a possible swoop.

Romano took to Twitter in the last 48 hours to relay an update from Frankfurt on attacking midfielder Daichi Kamada, saying that the Japan international will leave the club on a free transfer in June as expected. The transfer expected then shared news on Ndicka, adding that the same will happen with the defender, who is also "set to leave on a free".

Should Man United discuss pre-contract terms?

Due to Ndicka’s contract situation, United can actually discuss pre-contract agreement terms right now ahead of a free transfer this summer, and from the outside looking in, it appears to be a no-brainer of a decision ahead of Ten Hag’s second season in charge.

That’s because the United manager has reportedly given the green light to summer sales for defenders Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, which could leave the manager with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez as his only senior centre-back options.

Described as a “towering” defender by journalist Jacque Talbot, the Frenchman has been a solid performer in recent months, averaging a Bundesliga match rating of 6.68/10 this season, as per WhoScored, better than Red Devils defenders Varane, Maguire and Lindelof.

He has made more clearances per 90 than any Frankfurt and United player this season and also ranks highly for interceptions and pass completion rate, showing that he is also good on the ball.

Therefore, signing Ndicka for free could be a wise move, especially as he would provide a versatile option and appears to be at the top of his game with his market valuation. Doing so could then allow funds to go towards big-money midfield and attacking signings – areas that the club also want to add to over the coming months.

Newcastle United have come a long way from the days when Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley owned the club and in just over one year the club has been transformed from relegation battlers to top-four contenders.

The Magpies reached their first domestic cup final since 1999 and are currently just two points off a Champions League qualifying spot inside the top four with 12 games remaining this season – a far cry from the bitter memories Ashley left behind.

Indeed, the St James' Park faithful will have only a handful of positive moments to reflect on over the unpopular owner's 14-year reign, but just like a broken clock always right twice a day – he did have some rare success when it came to transfer business during his tenure.

Ashley made some controversial decisions during his time in the northeast, particularly with certain players' futures under the reign of Kevin Keegan and Rafa Benitez, but from an individual standpoint, he made a pretty profit on some to done the famous jersey.

One of the exits he had no choice but to sanction was the sale of Ayoze Perez in 2019 when the Spaniard who had been signed for £1.5m was sold for £30m to Leicester City after the Foxes triggered a release clause in the player's contract – a technicality that Ashley claimed to regret.

Where is Ayoze Perez now?

There is no doubt that the sale of Perez was met with fury from supporters after tallying up 195 appearances, 48 goals and 17 assists, becoming one of Newcastle's shining lights in a difficult time for the Magpies.

However, since making his £30m move to the Midlands, Perez has been unable to deliver the same output for Leicester with only 15 goals and 12 assists registered over 115 appearances – although did collect himself silverware in the form of an FA Cup back in 2021.

In more recent times, the 29-year-old – once dubbed "impressive" by Alan Shearer – found his game-time dwindling under Brendan Rodgers having often been played out of his position of a number 10 or second striker which he was so successful in at Newcastle.

Having never reached the heights once seen in the North East and running out of opportunities to convince the Leicester boss that he is worthy of a spot in his attacking threat – Perez made the move to Real Betis in January this year to get some first-team football away from the Premier League.

Over nine appearances, the Spanish forward has scored one goal and delivered one assist, hitting the back of the net against Manchester United in the Europa League but inevitably being knocked out of the European competition by the Red Devils.

With that being said, hindsight is a wonderful thing and had he stayed at St James' Park things may have been very different for Perez, however, there is no doubt that a £28.5m profit on the player who has not been in better form since is a great sale.

Leeds United saw plenty of heroes forged in their triumphant return to the Premier League in 2020, but arguably none more so than Patrick Bamford.

The wiry striker joined amidst great scrutiny from the English media, the likes of which would persist throughout his time with the Whites before he would eventually fire them into silence.

It seems that the 29-year-old's career never truly got going until he moved to Elland Road, where he became an integral spearhead at the front of Marcelo Bielsa's infamous system.

The English forward was actually one of his first signings in that summer of 2018, as he parted with £7m to tempt him from Middlesbrough. This is a figure that would only continue to rise alongside his performances.

Whilst injuries might have marred his recent campaigns, Bamford remains a great servant to the club and will likely go down in their history for his goalscoring efforts in firing them back to the big time.

How much is Patrick Bamford worth?

With a first season at the club stuttered due to various ailments, the 2019/20 campaign would see him notch 16 goals as they cruised out of the Championship, a feat that had troubled so many before them.

However, this was arguably when the media scrutiny reached its apex on the marksman. Many believed he did not have what it took to thrive in the Premier League, yet he would actually outperform his earlier tally by scoring 17 and assisting a further eight as Leeds finished ninth.

Radio presenter Matt Abbott even took to Twitter to wax lyrical about Bamford, claiming: "Absolutely stunning from Bamford. I realise folk'll moan about the fact that he hit the post, but I'm not having it – he's #LUFC personified right now".

Not only has he become a huge fan favourite, but FootballTransfers suggest that his value has soared alongside his standing in the game. They rate the apex of his expected Transfer Value at €16.8m (£14.7m), marking a 111% increase since signing.

The former Chelsea man has been a marvellous transfer for the club, serving as one of the numerous acts that Bielsa must be commended for. Whilst he has struggled of late for fitness and form, should he recapture his old ways then relegation would be far from a threat to this giant of the English game.

David Ornstein has spoken on Sky Sports about how Liverpool’s owners are staying at the club for the foreseeable future.

The Lowdown: Damning takeover blow

It had been reported that the Reds were up for sale, but it appears that Fenway Sports Group has drawn back on that idea and are now just looking for external investment.

John Henry has come out recently and categorically denied that Liverpool are up for sale, though they are looking for someone else to come on board and inject some money into the six-time European champions.

That will have likely been horrendous news for Liverpool fans to hear, especially those who have protested about the owners in recent times, and while some may have hoped that was just a smokescreen from Henry, Ornstein has issued a reality check.

The Latest: FSG are here to stay at Liverpool

Ornstein has insisted that FSG are indeed set to stay at Liverpool for the long haul amid the recent climbdown surrounding a potential takeover at Anfield.

He said: “Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, if you want FSG for longer, that looks like that’s going to happen; if you don’t, you will be a bit disappointed.

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“FSG did put Liverpool up for sale, we never knew how it was going to end and we stated that in reporting at the time, and it seems that there haven’t been the offers that they might have been hoping.

“I’m sure that’s been influenced by Manchester United going on the market, and also results like tonight [against Real Madrid] don’t help their cause.”

The Verdict: Liverpool need external money and voices

The Reds have long had to be performing at their very maximum to compete with the financial powerhouse of Manchester City, but this season looks to have taken its toll and is perhaps a sign of how investment is desperately needed.

However, the fact that FSG put Liverpool up for sale not too long ago may raise questions over their commitment to the club, and if they don’t attract external investment, there may well be another frustrating transfer window to come this summer.

If Liverpool want to keep up with big spenders such as Man City, Chelsea and Newcastle United, they need FSG to showcase why this is the club they need to be investing in to any potentially interested parties, but this season could easily have put some people off.

Liverpool have been somewhat hit and miss with their youth academy arrivals over modern times, but have landed a couple of notable deals in the form of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and most recently Stefan Bajcetic, with the former integral for all of the illustrious success under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp.

While many members of the Kirkby youth set-up fail to forge a successful future within the first-team fold at Anfield, Tyler Morton might just be one graduate to find himself in the thick of the senior action for years to come if he is to continue his meteoric rise over the coming years.

Morton rose through the academy ranks with Liverpool and forged nine displays for the senior team after regularly starring for the Liverpool U21 team, since signing on loan with Blackburn Rovers for the current season where he has made 31 appearances across all competitions, registering four assists.

Lauded as a “special player’ by journalist Callum Altimas for his displays in the Championship this season, Klopp will possibly be wishing he held his young starlet within his parent clubs’ ranks, with Liverpool tenth in the Premier League and out of both domestic competitions.

As per Sofascore, the 20-year-old has recorded an average rating of 6.97 in the second tier this term – the fourth highest in the entire squad – and has swiftly asserted himself as one of the key components in Jon Dahl Tomasson’s system.

His pass success rate of 82%, two assists, 1.4 key passes and 1.4 tackles per match have been vital in ensuring the team maintains a promotion push – Blackburn are currently eighth in the second division, one point behind sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion and with a game in hand.

And as per FBref, he ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Men’s ‘Next 8’ divisions – the eight leagues below the established big five – for attempted passes, illustrating a willingness to actively dictate the flow of the play and an aptitude as a conduit for his outfit.

Journalist Sam McGuire once lauded Morton for a “masterclass” in the middle, and if further superlative showings can be forged, his pedigree will only continue to surge. 

And the Reds’ German boss could even place the 20-year-old into contention in the stead of Fabinho, boldly ditching his £43.7m Brazilian anchor for this blossoming star.

Fabinho has been embroiled in controversy and criticism this season, discernibly below the standards he has maintained over his past seasons at Anfield and leaving pundits such as Jamie Carragher questioning “what is going on” after such dreadful displays, also at the centre of some contentious moments such as a recent “outrageously bad” tackle on Brighton & Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson in the FA Cup.

With the 29-year-old recording a lowly 6.66 rating this season, as per WhoScored, making 1.3 fouls, as opposed to the far more youthful and inexperienced Morton’s 0.9, also dribbled past 0.9 times to his team-mates 0.8, Klopp might now be inclined to take a punt on his impressive ace next season.

These might appear infinitesimally marginal differences, but Morton is growing into his skin at the maiden period of his career, while the Brazilian, now an accomplished and distinguished member of one of the current age’s most successful teams, is supposed to be at the top of his game.

Indeed, Morton is shaping into a solid, assured midfielder, and if he can finish the season with Rovers strong, then there is every possibility that he will emerge as a dependable regular option within Klopp’s system, replacing Fabinho in the process.

West Ham United are one of three clubs to have made a loan approach for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips with the Premier League champions swiftly giving a reply.

The Lowdown: Phillips sidelined…

The England international has found game-time difficult to come by at Eastlands under Pep Guardiola this season. He has played just 18 minutes in the English top flight and 13 minutes in the Champions League, managing one start in the Carabao Cup defeat to Southampton (WhoScored).

This has largely been in part to the crucial presence of Rodri in front of City’s backline and the fact that Phillips has been sidelined through injury at points over 2022/23.

The former Leeds star has been linked with a move away from Manchester this month, with The Sun sharing an update involving West Ham.

The Latest: West Ham make Phillips approach…

The outlet reported that the Irons – along with Everton and Leeds – have ‘asked’ about signing the 27-year-old, with contact made through an approach.

However, West Ham and the other interested parties have been knocked back as City are ‘refusing to do business’. Guardiola believes that Phillips still has a big part to play this season as the Sky Blues fight on multiple fronts.

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The Verdict: Unfortunate…

If David Moyes is looking for a new midfielder to shore up his ranks and reinforce West Ham’s fight for survival, Phillips would’ve been the ideal fit.

Both he and Irons captain Declan Rice already know each other from their time playing together for England under Gareth Southgate, potentially nullifying the need for any adjustment period.

Despite not getting much in the way of game-time under Guardiola, Phillips’ quality radiates from his final season at Leeds, as reflected by the figures from WhoScored. The statistical analysis claims that he averaged Leeds’ joint-second highest rate of tackles per 90 in the 2021/22 Premier League (2.7 per game) and ranked in their top five for interceptions made.

The £150,000-per-week brute has also been described as having ‘unprecedented’ quality by former Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson last year.

Indeed, he could have been an excellent signing for Moyes on loan, but the move appears to be difficult for West Ham to pull off unless City have a late change of stance.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in acquiring a new attacker to breathe life into their disappointing season…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who gave his thoughts to GIVEMESPORT regarding the Lilywhites’ pursuit of AS Roma playmaker Nicolo Zaniolo.

He claimed:

“This transfer move is in line with the fact Spurs have been looking for someone with a similar craft and creativity to Kulusevski.

“This season, there have been too many times when they have lacked a spark and that’s why Zaniolo has been identified. Of course, he’s from Serie A, a favourite place for Tottenham to go shopping.”

Spurs are one of several Premier League clubs in the race for the 23-year-old, who the Italian club are willing to sell if their £35m valuation is met.

Zaniolo can “spark” Spurs’ season

It has admittedly been a tough campaign for the white half of north London, who only last week tasted defeat for the second time this season to bitter rivals Arsenal before throwing away a two-goal lead on Thursday night against Manchester City.

The latter result marked their seventh loss of the season, which has seen them slump down to fifth, with a five-point gap opening up between them and Newcastle United despite boasting a game in hand.

It seems that manager Antonio Conte is still unsure of his best side as the end of the January window sneaks closer, with his misfiring attack causing him plenty of problems.

The usually ever-reliable Heung-min Son has just four Premier League goals, whilst £60m summer signing Richarlison is yet to score in the league.

Perhaps the issue comes down to creativity, which may require the addition of someone like Zaniolo to provide that spark mentioned by Jones.

The Italian dynamo is enduring a tough season thus far himself but has shown in the past that he could be a useful asset with a sparkling future.

This is outlined through the comments of journalist Nick Mercadante, who has dubbed the 23-year-old “unreal”, a “monster” and “the answer for Italy” in recent years.

Only last season saw him score eight and assist a further nine in all competitions, whilst maintaining one key passes per game.

Should he recapture this form, not only would he provide added goal threat and competition for places, but his ability to find a teammate would be integral in reigniting some of the club’s underperforming stars.

Spurs need something to turn around a season that seems to be fading into obscurity, and this deal could be the perfect injection of energy and creativity to kickstart the second half of the season.

Leeds United YouTuber Joe Wainman has slammed Brenden Aaronson for his ‘daft’ display in their Premier League clash this weekend.

The Lowdown: Aaronson disappoints for Leeds

Jesse Marsch’s team took on Brentford with the score finishing 0-0, as Aaronson had a poor showing for the Whites, completing just one of his three dribble attempts and only achieving a 65% pass accuracy throughout the 69 minutes he was on the field.

The draw leaves Leeds in 15th place and just a point off the relegation zone. In their last six matches, the West Yorkshire side have not won a single game.

Aaronson joined the club in May from Red Bull Salzburg and has a goal and two assists in the league from 19 appearances.

The Latest: Wainman slams Aaronson

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Wainman said that the Leeds man was poor against the Bees and was left frustrated due to the number of occasions he gave away the ball.

He stated: “I wouldn’t have even started Aaronson, I’m sorry to say.

“He falls over more often than not and gives the ball away an exceptional amount of times, trying daft little back-heels, flicks, tricks that are just not coming off for him right now.”

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The Verdict: Aaronson needs a rest

We believe that Aaronson could do with a much-needed rest for Marsch’s side, as he’s been a constant feature for them in the league this season.

The 22-year-old has played in every Premier League game this term, and when you take that into consideration along with his four appearances for the United States at the World Cup, perhaps he’s at risk of burnout.

In the game against Brentford, he lost the ball 13 times, losing six duels and committing two fouls (as per Sofascore).

Leeds have an FA Cup clash this weekend against either Boreham Wood or Accrington Stanley, but Marsch should look to shake up his Leeds side ahead of their upcoming league games.

One option they should consider is Luis Sinisterra. He came off the bench for Aaronson against Brentford and the Colombian has struggled for game time due to an injury suffered in October, playing 10 times in the Premier League with six of those being starts, averaging only 48 minutes on the pitch.

It could be a great opportunity for the 23-year-old to prove to Marsch that he’s ready to be a consistent starter for the Whites while giving the likes of Aaronson a breather.

Liverpool could utilise the January transfer window to improve and strengthen their team over the second half of the season and now a new update has emerged on a potential new target.

What’s the latest?

According to Foot Mercato, the Reds are interested in signing France and Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani.

As per the report, the Reds are joined in their interest by Tottenham Hotspur but it will cost around €80m (£68.5m) to secure the player’s signature should they act upon their interest over the upcoming transfer window.

Origi 2.0

The powers at Anfield already sanctioned a huge move for Jurgen Klopp to acquire the services of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez in the summer, with the player joining for a club record-breaking fee.

However, with the loss of Sadio Mane, Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino over the transfer window, as well as Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz suffering injury problems over the campaign so far, it would be wise for Liverpool to further explore their options to bolster the threat in the final third.

In fact, Klopp could sign a brand new cult hero just like Origi if a deal can be done for Frankfurt striker Kolo Muani and the player could be the missing piece for what they need to give them the edge that Origi delivered to compete closely for a quadruple last season.

Over 14 Bundesliga appearances, the 24-year-old – who was dubbed “strong” by teammate Sebastian Rode – has scored five goals, registered a whopping nine assists and created six big chances, as well as averaging 1.4 key passes, 1.4 possession won, two successful dribbles and 5.7 duels won per game, proving that he is a huge presence for his team.

Kolo Muani’s prolific performances in front of goal earned him a spot in the France World Cup squad last month after Christopher Nkunku picked up an injury and had to dismiss himself from the international tournament.

Upon Didier Deschamps selection of the talented striker, Eurosport Germany journalist Florian Bogner gave a compliment-filled analysis of his late inclusion in the squad, hailing Kolo Muani:

“His special talent is that he is an assisting striker – he’s up front but always has a good eye for a teammate. He and Daichi Kamada made the difference in a lot of matches for Frankfurt.

“Nkunku is more the winger type of striker [like Kylian Mbappe], Kolo Muani is more a classic No. 9, but with a lot of technical skills and contribution to others.”

With that being said, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool do make a move for another forward player during the upcoming transfer window as Kolo Muani may not be cheap but could make a difference in the team’s efforts to compete in all competitions over the second half of the season.

Crystal Palace were heavily linked with Harry Souttar in 2021 and after an impressive performance at the World Cup for Australia, the Eagles may well be wishing they had brought him in.

It was suggested last year that the south London outfit were among a number of suitors for the 6 foot 6 defender, who has established himself as a key player for Stoke City in the Championship in recent seasons.

However, a cruciate ligament injury late in 2021 meant that Palace, among other Premier League sides, were never likely to bring him in, but their interest could perhaps be reignited now that he is back fit and producing stellar performances on the world’s stage in Qatar.

The Stoke star was instrumental to Graham Arnold’s side earning their first World Cup win since 2010 as Australia beat Tunisia 1-0 last week, giving the Socceroos a real chance of qualification from Group D.

As per Sofascore, the former Dundee United man would earn a superb 7.7/10 rating for his performance, which was the joint-highest of any outfield player to feature in the game, which emphasises just how important he was to them picking up the three points.

Souttar produced a defensive masterclass for Arnold’s side, contributing six clearances, three blocks and one last-man tackle in a monumental display which was clearly a significant reason why Australia were able to earn the three points.

During BBC’s coverage of the game, commentator Danny Murphy described the giant defender as “like Superman,” while journalist Sacha Pisani labelled him an “absolute beast,” so he clearly won over the media with his display.

It is even more impressive that the 24-year-old defender already looks so good when you consider that he has made just one appearance for Stoke in the past year, which came in the League Cup this season.

Souttar would earn an impressive 8.09 rating from WhoScored as the Potters beat Luton in the League Cup and if he continues his strong recent form when the Championship resumes after the World Cup, it will surely only be a matter of time until he is being touted with a move to the top-flight again.

While Patrick Vieira has two solid centre-backs to choose from at Selhurst Park in Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi, the French manager arguably lacks squad depth in this position and Souttar could’ve been great competition in the Eagles’ defence.

After such a dominant display in Qatar, the Eagles may well be wishing that the Australia international had arrived at Selhurst Park before his injury last year.