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Osmihen, Mbappe, Muani and 12 other transfers which could shake up football in 2023

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Every transfer window is filled with rumours, intrigue and a hell of a lot of money thrown around. Teams are always looking to upgrade and the decisions they make in each transfer window can impact them for years to come. Here are some rumoured transfers which could shake up the European football landscape.

Victor Osmihen to Chelsea

Despite pouring eye-water figures down the drain on ill thought out transfer last year, Chelsea are undeterred from making a big push for Victor Osmihen. And to be fair, Osmihen has all the potential to solve their striking woes. With 26 goals in 32 games for league winners Napoli, Osmihen has proven his quality in Italy’s Serie A. Growing up a Drogba fan, it looks like Chelsea might even be a soft sell for the Nigerian. 

Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid

The transfer everyone is watching, Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid has been on the cards for over a year now but the likelihood went up 100% when the French forward dropped the bombshell he wouldn’t be fulfilling his 2023/2025 option. Real Madrid have been circling Mbappe and are reportedly as keen to have him on the books as Mbappe is to be there himself, with the PSG star reportedly seeing Los Blancos as the best place to fulfill his Champions League dream. Will they have the funds though?

Declan Rice to Arsenal

Rice has long been linked to childhood club, Chelsea, but reports suggest Arsenal are well on its way to nabbing current West Ham captain. Arteta is rumoured to be a huge fan of the 24 year old, adding Rice to an already talented Gunners squad could help take them to the next level. It’ll cost them though, with Hammers coach David Moyes telling BBC Sport he believed Rice would be worth over 150 million pounds on the market. 

James Maddison to Newcastle United

The Saudi-backed Newcastle have taken huge strides this year, competing with the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool for 4th place in the Premier League. Adding a player of Maddison’s quality to an already talented squad would add goalscoring and depth in what will be a busy 2023/24 seen for the Geordies.

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Randal Kolo Muani to Manchester United

The Eintracht Frankfurt striker was inches away from winning France the World Cup back in December, but his late miss hasn’t slowed his league form down at all. With 12 goals and 10 assists this season, it is believed Kolo Muani’s dream move is to play in the EPL – and Manchester United are doing their utmost to ensure he does it in the North. Muani could bring some reliability and stability to their off-and-on and strike force.

Mason Mount to Manchester United?

Given the career Mount has had up to this point, it would seem strange for Chelsea to let him go. Two years removed from a Champions League winners medal and a key member of recent Chelsea squads, Mount has been unable to agree to a new contract in west London. Where he goes is the big question. Manchester United are very keen but were categorically rejected for their 40 million pound offer and will now need to up their offer to nab the midfielder. 

Joao Felix to Galatasaray

Despite Felix often looking like the Blues standout player in what has been a tough period for the club, the troubled west London club doesn’t seem keen on keeping the forward – but it could be the price tag. Having recently signed an extension at Atletico Madrid, this transfer would cost Todd Boehly well over $100 million. But Felix seems to be getting chummy with Galatasaray on social media and rumours are swirling the Istanbul table toppers are keen on getting the deal done.

Reece James to Real Madrid

The second young English player linked the Madrid side, this move would be a real blow to Chelsea. When healthy, James has proved to be 1 of the better right-backs in the Premier League, able to contribute in attack and comfortable defending 1 on 1 when needed. Madrid are looking for an upgrade to their RB slot, with Lucas Vazquez filling in and Dani Carvajal perhaps beyond his best.

Rasmus Hojlund to Manchester United

Rasmus Hojlund is a name football fans might need to get used to hearing over the coming years, an ascending star of European football, swiftly moving from Copenhagen FC to Atalanta with a year stop at Sturm Graz along the way. 5 goals in 2 games for his national side, Denmark, has solidified Hojlund has a star in the making. Linked to Arsenal and Bayern Munich, it is thought Manchester United have the inside track on the signing.

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Jesper Lindstrom to Arsenal

Another young Dane, Lindstrom has been plying his trade for Eintracht Frankfurt for the past two seasons, settling into a starting role this year. Able to play anywhere across the front line, his profile seems a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s team who value positional versatility more than most.

Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City

Gvardiol was close to signing for Chelsea in the summer of 2022, with RB Leipzig nixing the deal at the last moment. Since then it seems Man City have stolen a march on their Premier League rivals and now lead the race for a player some consider to be the best centre back prospect in Europe.

Vitor Roque to Barcelona

Buying talented youngsters from Brazil and developing them into world superstars is a tried and true method for success in football, recently perfected by Barca’s rivals, Real Madrid. This time it could well be the Blaugrana who end up with the next world beater in their squad. Recently linked to Arsenal, Roque is admired by many in European football, but with his heart supposedly set on the Nou Camp, this transfer could solve Barcelona’s need for a long term striker.

Moussa Diaby to Newcastle

Newcastle could well be ready to splash the cash this summer, with the potential for multiple big incomings. Moussa Diaby is reportedly high on their list, the tricky left winger could add real dynamism to their squad. Bayer Leverkusen will be loath to lose the French youngster, whose goals and assists make up a huge part of their attack.

Kim Min-jae to Manchester United

An all-but-done deal by all reports, Manchester United’s defensive ranks could be looking very fresh this year with the addition of Kim Min-jae. After all, the giant South Korean was a huge reason why Napoli won Serie A last season. Composed and technical on the ball and a physical monster off it, The Red Devils may have just found their backline X factor.

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Harry Kane to stay?

The bets are off to work out who exactly is going to pick up Harry Kane. The star forward has been heavily linked to Bayern Munchen, Manchester United and Real Madrid, only for interest from all of those clubs to wane once talks began. It seems the price tag for one of England’s finest is a little too rich for most club’s blood at the moment and it looks like he won’t be going anywhere

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Doubts over Chukwueze’s future in Milan  

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There are strong indications that Super Eagles and AC Milan winger, Samuel Chukwueze, could exit the Guiseppe Meazza this summer following interest from Turkish Super Lïg side, Besiktas JK.

The 25-year-old joined the Rossonerri from Villarreal in the summer of 2023 but has never really settled in at Milan as he’s largely been a bit part player at the San Siro.

The AFCON 2023 silver medal winner with Nigeria has played paltry 82 minutes since the new manager, Sergio Conceicao, took over as Milan’s head coach, worsening his story with the seven-time UEFA Champions League winners.

According to Europa Calcio, Chukwueze’s future seems increasingly distant from Milan. The player’s agents have suggested him to Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s side, Besiktas, who have immediately started contacts to bring him to the Turkish Süper Lig.

The 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner was linked with a move to Alex Iwobi’s Fulham in January, but time disparity in the transfer market didn’t allow the move to materialize.

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Additionally, Milan’s technical director, Geoffrey Moncada, revealed his side were delighted the Super Eagles winger didn’t make a deadline-day transfer to Fulham.

The former Manchester United boss has given the green light to the deal, as he considers Chukwueze to be a valuable reinforcement in the attacking department.

The Turkish club are currently working on a loan-with-obligation-to-buy proposal, and are hopeful their strategy will convince Milan, who intend on recuperating the fees to secure Chukwueze from Villareal two years ago.

Chukwueze on the other hand, is seriously considering a move to Besiktas as he’s aware that he is not part of Milan’s long-term plans. With few opportunities under Sergio Conceicao, the former Villarreal player could accept the Turkish destination to re-establish himself.

Additionally, one of Chukwueze’s best friends, Victor Osimhen, has had nothing but good things to say about the Turkish Super Lig as he enjoys his loan spell with Galatasaray.

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In conclusion, a move away from Milan would be a win-win situation for all parties, allowing the Rossoneri to free up space in the squad and for the player to regain the form which saw the Italian side snap him up initially.

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Man Utd sign two and lose 10 players as disastrous window for Ruben Amorim slams shut

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Another huddle before a muddle

In spite of their awful season, Manchester United have offloaded 10 players, including Marcus Rashford, on loan while making just two new signings as the winter transfer market closed on Monday night.

The once-great team now sits 13th on the log of the Premier League table and the graph tends to slope downward rather than looking upward as the season progresses.

Any thought of European football next season is more of a mirage. Some more signings would potentially have gone a long way to getting them back on track.

Attacking recruits in particular would have been very useful given United’s goalscoring troubles this season. But it is in defence where United chiefs have chosen to strengthen this time around.

They have signed Lecce defender, Patrick Dorgu who significantly is the first signing since Amorim’s arrival. Manchester United have paid £29.2million for his signature and he has signed a contract until 2030.

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The Danish left-back was also joined by another young defender Ayden Heaven, who moved in from Premier League rivals, Arsenal.

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Amorim insists no need to panic in final days of transfer window

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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim insisted there was no need to panic in the final days of the January transfer window, despite his side slipping to another home defeat on Sunday.

Following their 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, United have now lost seven of their first 13 league home matches this season, their joint-most at this stage of a league campaign, along with 1893-94.

Goals have been hard to come by for United, with only Everton and the bottom three finding the net on fewer occasions in the Premier League.

With one day to go until the January window closes, Amorim said there would be no panic in the transfer market.

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“We are trying everything to improve the team without doing (the transfer) mistakes of the past,” Amorim said. “And trying to balance the urgency of the moment, we know all of the aspects of our club in the moment but we are trying everything.

“When the window closes we will see the players, I’m focused on improving the team as a group, we need to win more games and we will try to do that, this season is like that.

“We need small improvements, try to win points, win the momentum, then we had setbacks and we go again.”

Amorim is yet to pick up back-to-back league wins since taking charge in November but believes the performance against Palace did show signs of improvement.

“The performance improved. Not a lot, but I think we played better than the other games, even against Southampton, we played better today,” he added.

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“But when you continue to lose, especially at home, you have that feeling it’s nothing, the small improvement of the team. Let’s go again and see the next game.”

  • Reuters

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