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Newcastle United have made a rather late attempt to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer transfer window, according to Calcio Mercato.

However, as per the outlet, AC Milan are hopeful that they can tie the 38-year old down to a new deal very soon, after originally having disputes over how much money that they want to pay him.

The Italian giants originally wanted to pay him five million euros with a maximum of six being offered, but Ibrahimovic requested seven.

However, the veteran is thought to have softened his position on the deal as it looks like the Magpies may have come in too late for him.

Indeed, what a coup it would be to recruit one of the biggest names in world football. Ibrahimovic has scored a quite staggering 529 goals over the course of his long career in the beautiful game, 467 playing for the likes of big European giants like Juventus and FC Barcelona as well as netting a further 62 strikes for the Swedish senior international side (via Transfermarkt).

The Swede has also won a plethora of titles in his career, including winning footballer of the year a quite stunning 13 times, 11 for his native country Sweden and two while playing in Italy (per the website).

Having had experience playing for Manchester United in England as well, Ibrahimovic knows the Premier League well, and could still have proved to be a good asset at St. James’ Park, both on and off of the pitch.

Nevertheless, it looks as if the striker will be staying in Milan in what is a bit of a blow to the Toon.

Geordies, would Ibrahimovic have been a good signing? Comment below!

One of the heroes of that great Leeds team of the early 2000s, Ian Harte more than most would have been chuffed to bits at seeing his former side clinch their return to the Premier League.The Whites secured their top-flight status thanks to rivals West Brom slipping to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town on Friday night, meaning that they have guaranteed a top-two spot in the Championship and automatic promotion.And Harte was quick to take to Twitter to share his thoughts on Leeds’ Premier League return.

Having played in the Premier League in his time with Leeds, Harte will know all about the kind of magic that Elland Road can inspire when hosting top-flight football.

In what has been a long and drawn-out campaign, Marcelo Bielsa’s side have completed their main goal of finally getting out of the Championship, and they’ve done it with some games to spare too.

No more play-off heartbreak, and no more worrying about a late meltdown. The job is done, and now it’s time to celebrate.

Chelsea have been linked to Stoke City’s rising teenaged star Mohamed Sankoh, who is currently out of contract.

The 16-year-old striker has appeared on the west London outfit’s radar after impressing with the Potters’ youth side. According to The Mirror, Sankoh has been offered a new contract by Stoke but he is putting off signing and is expected to leave the Championship outfit this summer amid serious interest from top-flight clubs.

Chelsea have already put themselves in good stead going into next season with two impressive new attacking options. The additions of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner should make Frank Lampard’s forward threat a lot more dangerous.

Signing Sankoh, especially on a free transfer, could be very smart business for the Blues. In six under-18 appearances, the Dutch youth international has scored three times and has been named on the bench on eight occasions for the reserve league, despite his young age (via Transfermarkt).

Sankoh seems to be perceived as advanced beyond his years and moving to a club with a strong academy focus like Chelsea could be hugely beneficial for his growth. The Blues have already nurtured young talents Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Billy Gilmour and Reece James, so the Stoke forward could become Lampard’s newest project.

At 16, there’s plenty of time for Sankoh to be developed into a high-quality forward and he could follow a similar path to Abraham, who has been Lampard’s first choice number nine for the majority of this season.

However, bringing the Netherlands native to west London could spell the end of Abraham, who has already been forced to play second fiddle to Olivier Giroud in recent weeks.

With Werner also joining the ranks, there’s no question over where his position will be in the squad. The attack will very much revolve around the man who scored 34 goals in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig this season, with Giroud potentially being second choice.

Therefore, with Abraham already sliding further down the pecking order, the possible addition of a vastly improving Sankoh could further push the England international out of the picture.

Do you think Chelsea should sign Mohamed Sankoh this summer? Have your say in the comments below!

Former Sunderland ace Kevin Phillips has shared his latest thoughts to Football Insider about Newcastle United man Matty Longstaff as news broke that Udinese had tabled him a lucrative contract.

Sky Sports revealed that the academy graduate, who currently earns just £850 per week, has been offered a deal by the Italian team believed to be in the region of £30,000-a-week with a signing-on bonus.

The Tyneside club’s original contract offer was just half of that but The Telegraph now claim that they have come back with an improved offer worth more than £20,000 per week.

Phillips insisted the Series A side would be getting a bargain with the compensation fee for Longstaff, said to be only £400,000.

“I was shocked,” the ex-England striker told Football Insider.

“You would not put Udinese as one of the biggest Italian clubs.

“I was surprised but they might be able to get him for £400,000 which is nothing to get a player of his quality.

“It would be a great lifestyle move for him but at his age he just wants to learn and play football.

“He will be thinking, that if the new owners come in and bring in a new manager, he might not be their kind of player.”

Perhaps Phillips is right when he says that Udinese are not one of the biggest Italian clubs, as they are arguably struggling in Italy’s top flight and are currently languishing in 14th place, just three points above the relegation zone, as per BBC.

The England under-20 international, who will be out of contract on 30 June, has scored three goals in 12 senior appearances under Steve Bruce this campaign so far, according to Transfermarkt.

By breaking through into the first team, he has shown the quality that Phillips believes he has, but moving to a different country may prove to be a great lifestyle move for him. Moreover, at only 20 years of age, Longstaff may just want to learn and play football as Phillips suggests.

However, under potentially new owners and possibly a new manager, providing that the prospective takeover at St. James’ Park is approved by the Premier League, the central midfielder may not be their ‘marquee’ kind of player.

Geordies, will Matty Longstaff be at Newcastle next season? Comment below with your views!

[ad_pod ]Crystal Palace failed to hold onto their half-time lead on Wednesday night as Southampton came back via James Ward-Prowse – despite the Eagles’ numerous opportunities in front of goal, their finishing was once again lacklustre and they paid the price.Wilfried Zaha was a menace throughout and fired his side in front in the first half, but lost his head late on and was sent off for sarcastically applauding the referee after being booked – a gesture for which he will be reprimanded by the FA.Despite the big striker having scored against Spurs in the FA Cup last weekend, Roy Hodgson elected not to start Connor Wickham and instead gave the nod to Jordan Ayew – the Ghanaian worked hard but never looked too threatening, as has been the theme throughout the season.The Saints equalised with 13 minutes of regulation time remaining, at which point Hodgson may have felt it necessary to bring on a fresh pair of legs up front – instead, the former England boss stuck with Ayew until the final whistle and one can’t help but feel that, had Wickham or Christian Benteke been on the field, the Croydon outfit could have secured all three points.Negative substitutions and tactics have been a point of controversy for Palace this season and this surely isn’t the first time the Selhurst Park faithful felt that Hodgson’s game management was poor.The 71-year-old’s post-match comments did nothing but make it worse – here’s how the Palace fans reacted on Twitter…

Mohamed Salah reacted in “the best way possible” to seeing Liverpool turn down a £150 million ($189m) bid for him, says Andy Robertson.

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Egyptian star subject of big-money bidReds reluctant to sellPrized asset remains at Anfield for nowWHAT HAPPENED?

The Egyptian superstar was the subject of a big-money approach from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad prior to the window in England slamming shut. Teams in the Middle East are still in a position to bolster their respective ranks, meaning that an improved offer may yet arrive at Anfield. Liverpool consider the matter to be over, though, with Jurgen Klopp never paying too much attention to the “fuss” that Salah’s future was causing. The Reds have their talismanic forward tied to a contract through to 2025 and have been given no indication by the 31-year-old forward that he is looking to move on.

AdvertisementGettyImageWHAT THEY SAID

Robertson has said when asked about the potentially distracting Salah saga: “For us we block that out, Mo blocks it out. We let other people talk about that. For us there is no concern. For us Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool player and we believe that is what is going to be the case for the foreseeable future. He’s the ultimate professional. He does what it does, he is one of the best players in the world and he is professional. He lets other people do the talking, let’s other people say what they have to say, but he’s always been committed to Liverpool and you saw that with the performance he put in.

“The club’s position was that it knocked it back, it rejected the bid and that is what the stance was. For me Mo has been Mo all week. He’s not been affected; I’ve been around him a lot and he’s not been affected by anything. Mo has reacted in the best way possible.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Salah was among the goals for Liverpool in their 3-0 victory over Aston Villa – taking him to 188 in total for the club – and Robertson added on noise that nobody on Merseyside can control: “Look, there is speculation around a lot of players and it is how we deal with it and he (Salah) has obviously done well. Our squad is what it is and that’s the squad that is going to go forward now with the window shut. It is about getting the most out of the squad, it is about looking forward to the season ahead and trying to do better than what we did last season.”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Liverpool missed out on Champions League qualification in 2022-23, forcing them into the Europa League, but they have made a positive start to the current campaign and sit third in the Premier League table at the first international break after picking up 10 points from a possible 12.

Jude Bellingham is a global icon at Real Madrid, but his potential was spotted when leaving Birmingham team-mates “chasing hotdogs” at the age of 16.

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Burst through as a teenagerCaught the eye at St Andrew'sAlready one of the world's bestWHAT HAPPENED?

Kristian Pedersen formed part of the Blues’ squad when a precociously-gifted teenager stepped up from the academy ranks to join in with first-team sessions. Few knew what to expect at that stage, with Bellingham an unknown quantity even to those working alongside him at St Andrew’s.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

It did not take long for the youngster to earn respect, with his stock soaring to the point that a move to Borussia Dortmund was made in 2020 before eventually heading on to Santiago Bernabeu for €103 million (£89m/$110m) in the summer of 2023.

WHAT THEY SAID

Pedersen is not surprised by Bellingham’s impact in Spain – with 13 goals recorded through 14 appearances for Real – with the England international boasting a usual habit of making a positive first impression. Denmark international Pedersen has told of watching Bellingham break through: “I don't know if the rest of us were joking a bit about it, but I was a bit sceptical at first that a 16-year-old was allowed to play for us. He has to prove himself if they think he's that good, but I myself was a little sceptical. But as long as he performs well in training, there's nothing wrong with it. And already in the first training session, some of the things he did there were amazing.

“We had an exercise, I can remember, where we did one-on-one drills. And by chance, I had to go up against Jude, and he completely sent me chasing after hotdogs. He's just really strong one-on-one. And he's smart and very mature for his age. It surprised me a lot. There were some mixed opinions. There was no doubt that everyone in the squad knew that Jude is a top-class player. But retiring his number after a season as a 16/17-year-old… That was quite a move by Birmingham. You can then simply say that it has turned out to be the right decision.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Eyebrows were raised when Birmingham retired Bellingham’s No.22 jersey, but he is a now a Kopa Trophy winner, the favourite to land the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2023 and a player being tipped by many to eventually follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as a multiple Ballon d’Or winner.

The Lionesses were far from their best in Brisbane against Haiti, so what can Sarina Wiegman alter before a tough test against Denmark?

When England opened their Women's World Cup campaign against Haiti on Saturday, many expected the European champions to have too much for the debutantes to handle. Forty-nine places separate the pair in the FIFA world rankings, after all. However, it certainly didn't look like that on the night, with the Lionesses needing a big save from Mary Earps late on to secure a 1-0 win.

It was a sloppy opening performance from the Lionesses, there's no doubt about that. Several players were far from their best as a Georgia Stanway penalty proved to be the difference in Brisbane. That said, the likes of Australia and the United States women's national team are other contenders for the title that haven't come out in top form from the off.

It's not a huge concern for head coach Sarina Wiegman, but she will certainly want to see improvements, especially with Denmark up next, the Euro 2017 finalists expected to be the Lionesses' biggest challengers for top spot in Group D.

So, what could the coach change for that second match? And what can the players improve on themselves? GOAL takes a look…

GettyIncrease Greenwood's influence

Ever since Leah Williamson's ACL injury in April, it has been anticipated that Alex Greenwood would partner Millie Bright in the heart of England's defence. However, after playing at left-back in the send-off friendly against Portugal, the Manchester City star was there again on Saturday as Jess Carter lined up alongside Bright instead.

Carter was one of the Lionesses' best performers on Saturday, with her proving to be a reliable presence while Bright shook off some serious rust. Greenwood, meanwhile, had more touches of the ball than any other player on the pitch, but her influence in possession was limited by the fact she was playing on the left.

For her club, Manchester City, she is almost like a conductor with the ball at centre-back, spraying passes out wide with that wand of a left foot while also playing a key role in the short-passing game and occasionally driving into midfield, all to help start attacks.

Greenwood put in a few decent crosses from the left against Haiti, but one can't help feel that her influence on the game is limited in the role she's currently playing. It's unlikely that she'll swap with Carter at this point, but England would certainly be better off if Wiegman could make some tweaks that increase her impact.

AdvertisementGettyFree up Walsh

Also unable to have a greater influence on England's play on Saturday was Keira Walsh, the Barcelona star completely marked out of the encounter by Haiti's smart game plan. She got into things a little bit more in the second half as the opponents tired, but still only had the sixth-most touches of any player, which is quite low for the Lionesses' holding midfielder.

It's nothing particularly new to team or player, though. Wiegman even noted after the match: "We’ve seen it all the time, they try to take her out. We couldn’t find her all the time."

So, what could be done to address this? The coach talked about how the team could've been "quicker" in exploiting "opportunities on the side" while Walsh was swarmed by Haiti shirts, for one, but whether someone from central defence can step into midfield or the trio in the middle can rotate more to get Walsh free, Wiegman and co. will need to figure out some way to counter this plan because more and more opponents are going to do it.

Address the lack of presence in the No.10 role

Another problem in midfield was in the No.10 role. Ella Toone has struggled to really make her presence known in this position since coming into the starting XI and that was the case again on Saturday, with very few of her involvements in the match coming in those spaces on the edge of the box, in front of the Haiti defence.

When Lauren James got ready to come on in the second half, one thought it might have been to replace the Manchester United midfielder given James had performed very well in the attacking midfield position against Portugal earlier this month. However, it was winger Lauren Hemp instead who made way. The only other change made by Wiegman was to swap Alessia Russo for Rachel Daly, with all of the Lionesses' midfield options from the bench staying in the dugout.

Denmark are going to be another tough team to break down on Friday – as are fellow Group D opponents China, judging by the pair's close encounter later on Saturday – so having someone higher up in midfield who can unlock these sides is going to be important, whether that's encouraging Toone to pick up those pockets more or making a change to the line up.

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GettyPut chances away!

It's easier said than done but England simply have to be more clinical. A large number of chances came and went on Saturday, with Russo, Hemp, Daly and Chloe Kelly all guilty of not working the goalkeeper hard enough at times. The Lionesses have only scored once from open play since February.

"We’re missing ruthlessness," Wiegman said. "It’s easy to say, but what does that mean? Sometimes [it's] the connection with the cross, the timing of the cross, where the cross ends in the box and the connection in front of the goal. We were very close a couple of times to scoring. The defence was tough. We’ll keep trying and working on it and start tomorrow again."

Many were calling for Daly to start ahead of Russo for this game, and there's no doubt there will be even more of that noise now – but everyone knows that Wiegman isn't one to ring the changes. Whoever starts against Denmark needs to bring their shooting boots because it seems chances could be at more of a premium in that match.

The U.S. fell at the quarterfinal round once again, with the latest loss coming as a result of some disastrous defending

This run promised to be different for the U.S. under-20 men's national team. After storming through the group stage without giving up a goal, the U.S. battered New Zealand, 4-0, to book their spot in the quarterfinals. Waiting them was Uruguay, a team that had been pushed to the limit by Gambia and would enter the quarterfinal on short rest and shorthanded.

But this run, as it turns out, wasn't different. In fact, it ended the exact same way the three previous tournaments did: with quarterfinal heartbreak and a team left wondering what could have been.

The U.S. defense, perfect through the first four games, imploded in the 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, handing the winners two tournament-ending goals. The first came on a mistake from Justin Che, whose sliding effort left the backline completely exposed for an Anderson Duarte finish in the 21st minute.

The second, though, was even worse, as Josh Wynder deflected home a relatively harmless cross, and it was the youngster's own goal that effectively ended the team's tournament run.

They'll feel that run ended prematurely and, in some ways, they'll be right. While Uruguay were the better team, they were never truly in control, but they sure did take advantage of the U.S. group's catastrophic mistakes.

It's because of those mistakes that another group of American players have failed to advance past this round of the tournament and, with Israel waiting in the semifinals, the U.S. would have had hopes of winning it all. Instead, they'll head home knowing that they proved to be their own undoing.

GOAL rates the U.S. players from Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades

GettyGoalkeeper & Defense

Gabriel Slonina (6/10):

Nothing he could have done on either goal, which were the only two goals he conceded this tournament. A cruel exit for a player that showed well in Argentina.

Caleb Wiley (4/10):

Gave the ball away way too often. Was nowhere near his best as he never quite made Uruguay uncomfortable down that left-hand side.

Josh Wynder (3/10):

A horrible, horrible moment for the youngest defender in the squad. Got his sliding clearance all wrong, putting it into the back of the net to effectively end the tournament run.

Brandan Craig (6/10):

Never really saw the best of him, especially in the first half as he was relatively uninvolved in the buildup. Craig's passing was key to the first few wins, but we didn't see much of it here.

Justin Che (3/10):

Totally at fault for the opening goal as his slide tackle attempt was totally unnecessary. His poor decision took him completely out of the play, leaving his team exposed for that game-winning goal.

Michael Halliday (4/10):

A rough first half for the right wingback before being replaced early in the second after the goal came down his side. Came into the XI ahead of Jonathan Gomez, but hindsight probably says the Real Sociedad man should have started.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Jack McGlynn (5/10):

Even McGlynn wasn't immune from a bad performance, as his decision-making was totally off. One sequence saw him take a wild shot rather than advancing the ball out wide, symbolizing the U.S. panic that loomed large throughout.

Obed Vargas (5/10):

Feels like another mistake from Varas, who went with the youngster Vargas over the captain in Daniel Edelman. Didn't take long to rectify his mistake, though, as Edelman came in early in the second half to replace the Sounders star, who simply wasn't impacting the game enough.

Owen Wolff (5/10):

Played in that right wing/midfield hybrid role, but it never really worked. Rightfully taken off at halftime to get Kevin Paredes on.

GettyAttack

Diego Luna (6/10):

Started at striker, but played better once moved out of that No. 9 role. Was a target for Uruguay all game as he was repeatedly hacked and fouled by the opposition. Never really lost his cool, but you could tell that physicality took a toll.

Cade Cowell (5/10):

The knock on Cowell has been his inability to really combine in the final third, and we saw plenty of it in this one. Good on the dribble, but just couldn't do anything to break Uruguay down as he struggled when he got close to the box.

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GettySubs & Manager

Kevin Paredes (5/10):

Came on as the U.S. changed systems, but never really looked his best. His late arrival at the tournament will leave many wondering what could have been had he been here the whole time.

Rokas Pukstas (4/10):

Most notable contribution was actually blocking a goal-bound shot from Cowell.

Daniel Edelman (5/10):

Came on to help control the midfield, and Uruguay were more than content to let the U.S. do so after going up 2-0. Because of that, he didn't feel very helpful.

Jonathan Gomez (N/A):

Came on for Wynder as the U.S. pushed for a goal, but never really did much.

Quinn Sullivan (5/10):

Had gotten everything right in the first four games, but there were plenty of decisions worth questioning in this one. Starting XI never clicked and never turned to a true striker in Yapi as the U.S. chased. Overall, not a good game from the U.S. – nor their coach.

Flying wingers and playmakers who love a late run into the box are the order of the day with regard to smart FPL picks

Who are the best Fantasy Premier League midfielders for 2022-23?

Midfielders are historically the best assets on FPL, with players who fall into that category quite often providing more goals and assists potential than forwards in the modern game.

Explosive wingers who cut inside are always popular, while central midfielders who dart into the box at every opportunity are also essential, and there is great value to be found from the top of your budget right down to the bottom.

With the game now open for another season, GOAL has a list of the top midfielders to help you pick the strongest possible squad.

Alexander-Arnold & the best fantasy football forwardsHere are the best forwards to pick on FPLWhich goalkeepers are best for fantasy football?GettyMohamed Salah | Liverpool | £13m

Liverpool's Egyptian king Mohamed Salah was the highest scoring player on FPL once again last season as he won a share of the Golden Boot by scoring 23 Premier League goals.

Salah also recorded 13 assists, and his potential for both scoring and setting up goals will be as high as ever in 2022-23, especially now that he has £64 million ($76m) new boy Darwin Nunez to link up with in the final third.

AdvertisementGettySon Heung-min | Tottenham | £12m

The man who shared the Golden Boot with Salah last term is available for a whole million less than the Liverpool star on FPL in 2022-23.

Son Heung-min will be one of the most popular picks on the game again on the back of his best season yet for Tottenham, who appear to be heading in the right direction under Antonio Conte.

With Harry Kane and £50m ($60m) summer signing Richarlison to work alongside, Son will surely have plenty of opportunities to reach the same heights in the upcoming campaign.

Getty ImagesKevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | £12m

Kevin De Bruyne recorded 15 goals and eight assists in 30 Premier League appearances last season to help Manchester City clinch their sixth title.

That haul earned the Belgian 195 FPL points, the fourth-best tally on the game for a midfielder, and that number could increase drastically in 2022-23.

De Bruyne will now have prolific Norwegian forward Erling Haaland to provide for, which boosts his chances of breaking the assists record he holds alongside Thierry Henry.

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GettyRaheem Sterling | Manchester City | £10m

Raheem Sterling will be a great option for FPL managers once again in the upcoming campaign, though he may not necessarily be turning out for Manchester City.

The England winger's output in the final third has been impressive throughout his seven-year stay at the Etihad Stadium, but he has the potential to improve even more, wherever he plays.