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Manchester United are ahead of Eredivisie champions Ajax in the race to sign FC Nordsjaelland forward Kamaldeen Sulemana.

What’s the story?

According to Football Insider, the Red Devils are expected to outbid the Dutch giants following recent talks after sending a delegation to Denmark in order to thrash out a deal for the 19-year-old sensation.

Sulemana has enjoyed a fabulous campaign with Nordsjaelland, bagging 10 goals and providing eight assists in just 29 appearances for the SuperLiga outfit, attracting the attention of some of the continent’s biggest clubs.

The new Rashford

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have made solid, if relatively steady, progress this season. A second-place finish in the Premier League table is secured with a game to spare, and Wednesday’s Europa League final will offer the perfect opportunity to end the club’s longest trophy drought in over 30 years.

However, a 12-point gap to Premier League winners Manchester City and a group stage exit in the Champions League outlines the work that is still be done to restore the Old Trafford outfit to their former glory.

While the starting XI have continually impressed throughout the current campaign, Solskjaer has often found his options limited when looking to the bench. The likes of Dan James, Donny van de Beek and Alex Telles have failed to grasp their opportunity when given a chance from the off, and the 20-time English champions are, therefore, keen to bolster their ranks over the summer.

Sulemana appears to fit the bill, and the similarities to Marcus Rashford in the pair’s style of play are clear for all to see. The Ghana international is a pacey forward who’s comfortable playing on either flank or through the middle.

The teenager has an extensive array of skills and tricks in his locker and is renowned for his directness and eye for goal, all key features of Rashford’s game. While James has made improvements this season and continues to work hard, it’s clear that Sulemana has more to offer than the Welshman.

If United want to secure his services, though, they’ll have to continue to fend of Ajax’s advances. The Amsterdam outfit’s sporting director Marc Overmars has been scouting the winger, while manager Erik ten Haag openly praised the Nordsjaelland man, stating: “He is an attractive player who is technically skilled and goes on an adventure and has a lot of speed.”

The Football Insider report claims Ajax have submitted a £12m offer for Sulemana, while his current employers are holding out for a £15m fee, a price United are expected to get closer to.

It could be a pivotal transfer window for Solskjaer as he attempts to real in United’s noisy neighbours, and securing some much-needed backup for Rashford out wide could significantly boost their title aspirations for 2021/22.

And, in other news…United headed for huge mistake over £58.5-rated disaster, Solskjaer must stay clear 

Celtic’s talks with Tottenham over a permanent move for Cameron Carter-Vickers are thought to be progressing well, according to The Daily Record.

The Lowdown: Carter-Vickers starring at Parkhead

The Hoops secured the services of the American defender in the final hours of the summer transfer window, adding an option-to-buy clause to the season-long loan arrangement.

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Since then, the 24-year-old has missed just one Premiership fixture, making 23 appearances in green and white. He has been the best performing centre-back at Parkhead, as per WhoScored, with Ange Postecoglou keen to make his move permanent before the summer.

The Latest: Talks progressing well

The Daily Record’s Robbie Copeland shared a story on Saturday lunchtime, with updates on both Carter-Vickers and rumoured target Zinedine Ferhat.

When it came to the Tottenham loanee, the journalist said that ‘noises coming out of the club suggest talks are progressing well’ regarding Celtic’s chances of striking a permanent deal.

The Verdict: Biggest signing of Postecoglou era?

Should a permanent move for Carter-Vickers prove to be Celtic’s next piece of January business, then it would be the most expensive addition under Postecoglou so far and therefore a major sign of intent from the club.

There is thought to be no wriggle room with Spurs when it comes to the £6m clause for the centre-back, meaning that it would surpass the £4.86m they spent on Kyogo Furuhashi last summer.

It’s good to see that the Hoops are willing to back Postecoglou, and who knows, a record fee under the 56-year-old could yet be broken for a second time this month with a possible £6.5m deal for another loanee in Jota.

In other news: Celtic now after ‘energetic’ international with January business not slowing up; Ange ‘well aware’ of target

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Darwin Nunez to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Portuguese publication A Bola (via Sport Witness), who claim that the 22-year-old’s agent, Edgardo Lasalvia, has revealed that a number of top European clubs – including Spurs – have made contact with Benfica concerning a move for the centre-forward at the end of the current campaign.

The report then goes on to state that, as a result of the Uruguay international’s spectacular form both domestically and in European competition this season, the Liga Portugal side will demand a figure of around €100m (£83.5m) in order to part with the striker this summer.

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Tottenham’s next Poyet

Considering how impressive Nunez has been for Benfica in the current campaign, it is hardly surprising to learn that Fabio Paratici has been in contact with the Portuguese giants in order to sound out a move for the youngster this summer.

Indeed, over his 23 Liga Portugal appearances this term, the £36m-rated forward has been in breathtaking form for Nelson Verissimo’s side, scoring 21 goals, registering three assists and creating eight big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.8 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the £31k-per-week goal-getter average a quite extraordinary SofaScore match rating of 7.40, ranking him as the eighth-best player in the Portuguese top flight.

The 22-year-old who James Dodd dubbed a “sensational talent” has also been in rather remarkable form over his nine Champions League outings this season too, scoring five goals and averaging a SofaScore match rating of 7.02 – firing his side to the quarter-finals of the competition.

As such, it is clear for all to see that Nunez is one of the most exciting talents in world football at present, leading us to believe the centre-forward would make an excellent addition to Antonio Conte’s current options in attack – or even a potential replacement for Harry Kane, who continues to be linked with a move away from north London.

And, should Nunez be able to continue his impressive form after a theoretical switch to Spurs this summer, although they do not play in the same position, the Uruguayan youngster could well go on to become the club’s next Gus Poyet – Nunez’s compatriot and former Tottenham attacking midfielder who scored an impressive 23 goals over his 98 appearances in for the club.

AND in other news: Conte can form “dangerous” duo as THFC plot bids for £156m pair who “really get along”

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have erupted over a fresh transfer claim involving their club and Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria.

Jurgen Klopp has already been linked to a host of new midfield additions so far this month with the Reds and FSG seemingly setting their sights on a fair few central options.

The likes of Toni Kroos and Jude Bellingham have been mentioned recently given Liverpool’s arguable lack of depth in that area.

Now, sharing some news on who Liverpool are also eyeing, Sport 1 and their reporter Patrik Berger say that the the Anfield side are one of the clubs interested in signing Zakaria from Monchengladbach.

The Swiss ace’s deal is currently set to expire this year as things stand, meaning he can negotiate a pre-contract this month or opt to leave as a free agent in the summer.

Alternatively, Monchengladbach could even sell for a cheap fee, with Sport 1 claiming they could offload for as little as €6-7 million (£5.07m-£5.8m).

Liverpool fans erupt…

Flocking to Twitter, many Liverpool fans have erupted with their takes, with some believing he could be an ‘absolute bargain’ for Klopp.

The powerhouse 6 foot 3 midfielder can play both as a defensive midfield player and a centre-back whilst still being only 25-years-old, leaving little wonder why some supporters feel this way.

Zakaria averages 1.5 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 1.9 dribbles per game, showing his quality on both sides of the ball.

Find all of their best reactions down below:

“Seems like a no brainer for Liverpool and Klopp….”

Credit: @TheKop_

“€6m-€7m??? This sounds like an absolute bargain?”

Credit: @TomBrownrigg200

“We are crying out for a midfielder. €8m would be a rob. Buy him”

Credit: @JamzLFC786

“Plz”

Credit: @jj___lfc

“Sign him up a beg and let minamino go for 7m”

Credit: @lfanCai

“This is the classic no brainer. Best bang for buck.

sign him already”

Credit: @muootarek

“SIIIUUUUUUU”

Credit: @RitsonLFC

Manchester City have been linked with a move for Southampton striker Danny Ings recently but the Citizens would be better off avoiding the 28-year-old and focusing their efforts on Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland.

According to Sky Sports, City are eyeing the former Liverpool man as a more ‘attainable’ option than the Norway international, and see Ings as a potential replacement for Sergio Aguero, who is looking increasingly likely to depart in the summer when his contract at the Etihad is set to expire.

Ings enjoyed a superb season with Southampton in the 2019/20 campaign, hitting 22 top-flight goals and finishing as the joint-second top scorer in the division but he has been unable to match those figures in a struggling Southampton side so far this season.

Although his season has been impacted by a number of short-term injury problems, the England international has just eight top-flight goals for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, although the breakdown in his contract talks may well be impacting his form.

His contract at St Mary’s is set to expire at the end of next season, which potentially opens the door for Man City to bring him in on a cut-price deal ahead of next season, whilst Ings has also admitted that he would love to join a Champions League side.

However, his injury-hit spell on Liverpool, where he would manage just 25 appearances, should be a warning to City that a move for the 28-year-old could backfire if he spends more time on the sidelines than on the pitch.

Although Eddie Howe dubbed Ings an “outstanding player” last season, there seem to be few benefits, other than financial reasons, why City should target Ings ahead of Haaland this summer, as whilst the Southampton man is a proven Premier League goalscorer, he will turn 29 this summer, whereas the Dortmund star is just 20 and has the potential to be one of the best players of his generation.

Ings would also add to City’s English quota, but there seems very little to suggest that he would be an adequate replacement for Aguero, who will undoubtedly go down as a club legend at City due to his remarkable goal-scoring record.

The Argentinian has had plenty of his own injury issues, of course, but the club would be making a huge mistake if they were to axe him this summer in favour of Ings and if they do want to find a replacement for the former Atletico Madrid man, they should go all-out for a world-class forward.

And, in other news… No goals or assists in March: £63m-rated Man City ace let his standards drop this month

Celtic’s priority ahead of the summer transfer window is seemingly set on luring the best young talent they can find to Parkhead.

Liam Shaw has already agreed a deal to join the Hoops but there are others in their crosshairs, particularly Kyle Joseph and Kwadwo Baah.

What’s the word?

The Bhoys are relentlessly striving to improve the depth of their talent pool at Paradise. As such, they could now line up a move for another young player.

That happens to be 16-year-old St Mirren gem Dylan Reid. He has recently just signed a new deal until 2023 with the club but his manager, Jim Goodwin, is wary of suitors from elsewhere.

Speaking over the weekend, he said: “He’s had his head turned by a number of huge clubs. I’m not just talking about here in Scotland.

“The two big boys [Rangers and Celtic] in Scotland would love to have him. Half a dozen of the big lads in England would love to have him and we’ve got teams in Germany as well.”

Brown successor on the cards

At the tender age of 16, Reid doesn’t have much first-team football under his belt but as the season comes to a close, he is starting to emerge as a genuine option in the middle of St Mirren’s side.

He made his senior debut against Rangers earlier this month, appearing from the bench for two minutes. The young midfielder was then among the subs again against Hamilton last weekend.

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We’ve not had a great chance to catch a glimpse of his qualities, but Goodwin only has fine words to say:

“The age situation doesn’t concern me,” the St Mirren boss began. “He’s not a small 16-year-old, he’s very athletic and strong already. Technically, he’s already as good as what we’ve got in the squad.”

“He’s been training with the first-team for a number of weeks and he looks as if he belongs here. He doesn’t look out of place in any session we’ve had him in.”

Possessing the ability to play in holding midfield, he could be the long-term successor to a certain Scott Brown.

The Hoops skipper is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with completely hanging up his boots. Brown has looked leggy at points this term and at the age of 35, you can hardly blame him.

Therefore, the idea of signing an athletic and strong midfielder like Reid certainly has plenty of appeal.

At just 16, he would undoubtedly be one for the future but as his manager says, Reid doesn’t look out of place among senior professionals.

AND in other news, Better than Christie: Celtic made error selling “quick” Rodgers gem with 65 key passes…

Manchester United have an exceptional talent on their hands in Alejandro Garnacho.

It’s been a tough decade for the Red Devils, but class is permanent and is clearly embedded into the roots of the club – as can be seen with their academy product portfolio.

Despite the emerging talents of youth players such as Hannibal Mejbri, Shola Shoretire, Anthony Elanga and Charlie McNeill – there is a bigger buzz around former Atletico Madrid prospect; Alejandro Garnacho.

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The Manchester United youngster has achieved a cool 18 goal returns (12 goals, six assists) in 30 appearances that span from the U18s to the U23s in Premier League 2.

Despite not making a first-team appearance for the Red Devils, the 17-year-old was called up to the Argentina national team last month in what looked to be a bid to get the starlet to secure allegiance – with Garnacho also able to play for Spain having been born in Madrid and growing up there.

Garnacho was described by the Spanish media (via Playmakerstats.com) as the “jewel in the crown” of Atletico Madrid’s academy, though, that was until Manchester United beat several top European outfits to his signature.

The youngster has also been described as “rampant” by Manchester United themselves, after a performance against Stoke City in which he bagged a hat-trick in the U18s’ 6-1 win.

With his record healthy, his reputation growing, and the fact that he is 17-years-old plying his trade with the U23’s – the main hype around the starlet is his adoration and subsequent comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Taking to Instagram, Garnacho has already stated: “Greatest of all times… @Cristiano” after the great Portuguese gave the youngster the match ball after hitting a hat-trick against Norwich City.

The United starlet has also been seen emulating Ronaldo’s “Siuu” celebration after netting in the academy whilst his deal with Nike is yet another resemblance of the famous attacker.

The fact that Garnacho has trained with both Lionel Messi and Ronaldo at the age of 17-years-old is incredible but he has earned the right to do so with his performances for the youth set-up.

His goal in the FA Youth Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers served as a fantastic example of his prowess as a player.

Ten Hag could instantly impress the fanbase by utilising the youngster in what looks to be a major rebuild for the club.

In other news: Ten Hag’s first blow: Romano relays big update that will leave MUFC supporters gutted…

Despite Steven Gerrard’s initial protestations, Glasgow Rangers have been by no means quiet in the January transfer window, signing Aberdeen’s Scott Wright and Bournemouth’s Jack Simpson, with Nnamdi Ofoborh expected to follow suit.

Rangers seem hellbent on stopping Celtic from an unprecedented ten in a row, having won almost all of their 26 games in the Scottish Premiership this season thus far, barring three draws.

However, they have missed out on the chance to sign a player who could have provided a real cutting edge – Jesse Lingard.

Rangers were linked with signing the Manchester United midfielder last month by TEAMTalk, but a move failed to materialise and he ultimately joined West Ham on loan instead.

Lingard, who earns around £75,000-per-week at Old Trafford, may have endured quite a dramatic fall from grace since the 2018 World Cup but there’s no doubting the fact that he would have been guaranteed a starting berth under Gerrard.

Last season, the former England international bagged two goals and an assist in the Europa League, including a goal in a 2-1 defeat against Astana in 2019, whilst he averaged more shots (1.8) per match than James Tavernier (1.2) and Cedric Itten (1.5) have managed this season so far, as per WhoScored.

For context, that would put him joint-fourth in the Rangers squad alongside Scott Arfield, just below Ianis Hagi (2), but above Ryan Kent (1.2), per WhoScored.

It led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dubbing him “top class” whilst he’s even received praise from Paul Pogba and was once tipped for greatness by none other than Sir Alex Ferguson himself.

You can’t help but feel like sporting director Ross Wilson missed a real opportunity here as he could’ve landed a player who has proven that he is able to score goals at a high level of the game, and that could have lit up Ibrox across the remainder of the campaign.

Rangers could live to regret the day they decided against making a move for Lingard.

AND in other news, Rangers can sign their Steven Davis successor in Bournemouth’s Nnamdi Ofoborh…

Jacob Murphy has revived his Newcastle United career since being deployed as a wing-back and Keith Gillespie, who joined the Magpies as part of the deal that saw Andy Cole join Manchester United, has spoken exclusively to Football FanCast about the winger’s future at the club.

After having to go out on two separate loan spells since joining Newcastle in 2017, Murphy has become a mainstay in Steve Bruce’s side during the Magpies’ recent upturn in form having started the last eight league games.

Murphy, who grew up supporting Newcastle, has scored two crucial goals this season against Wolves and Burnley, and Bruce has admitted that he wants the club to offer the winger a new deal.

Speaking on why Murphy has to remain at the club given his consistent performances and how he has the ability to change a game single handily, Gillespie exclusively told FFC:

“I’d keep him because he can change a game in an instance. So, he is definitely one of the players I’d be looking to keep at the club.

‘Ultimately, it’s up to the manager who will decide if he’s going to be a regular because players themselves want to be playing regular football.”

Having signed from Norwich City ahead of the Magpies’ first season back in the Championship, the £25,000 per week winger struggled as he was farmed out on loan to Sheffield Wednesday in 2019, where Bruce was manager at the time.

Bruce and the Newcastle board will have some tough decisions to make this summer as they have several first-team players who are set to become free agents.

Peterborough United Director of Football has told Football FanCast that he doubts West Ham manager David Moyes will spend £40m on Tammy Abraham.

The Chelsea striker is reportedly available this summer, with the Blues willing to cash in should they receive a big bid.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that he would cost around £40m, and there is said to be interest from both West Ham and Leicester City.

Abraham has scored 12 goals in all competitions this season but he has struggled for minutes at times, particularly under the management of Thomas Tuchel.

Indeed, he was not even included in the squad for the FA Cup final against Leicester, a game the Blues lost 1-0.

Fry, though, wonders just how much Moyes will have to spend this summer and, as such, doubts whether he would be willing to splurge on one player.

The Irons are currently seventh in the Premier League and are not guaranteed qualification for Europe this season despite flirting with the top four throughout the campaign.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, Fry said: “If the manager wants him, I can see them trying to back the manager.

“It depends what sort of kitty Moyes has got. If he’s got, say, £60 million to spend I don’t think he’ll spend £40 million on one player.”