With Euro 2024 and the Copa America fast approaching there is plenty of on-field action to look forward too and, here at SBOTOP, we’re getting ready for a double showcase of the very best of international football.
The brightest stars of the beautiful game will be on show and football’s biggest clubs will be watching closely with a view to snapping up the best performers in advance of the 2024/25 domestic campaign. The transfer rumour mill is already turning and an interesting story has cropped up in Spain, where La Liga giants Barcelona have their eyes on a Premier League star.
Following the departure of Jurgen Klopp and the arrival of Arne Slot as Liverpool manager, they are ringing the changes at Anfield and that could mean some movement in the market, and Camp Nou chiefs are rumoured to be preparing a move for the Reds’ Colombian winger Luis Diaz.
Following the arrival of Hansi Flick as Barcelona’s new head coach the Catalans are hopeful of challenging champions Real Madrid next season, though the La Liga 2024 betting odds say they have an uphill battle. The Spanish press have suggested that Barca sporting director Deco is keen on tempting Diaz to join the Blaugrana, possibly offering Brazil winger Raphinha as part of any deal.
The 27 year old Reds star has distanced himself from any speculation and is concentrating on Colombia’s Copa America campaign but, in the meantime, the money men in Catalonia and on Merseyside are working 24/7. Slot will not be rushed into any deal though. He has a tough act to follow at Liverpool and wants the very best players at his disposal.
In other Premier League 2024 news West Ham United have agreed a deal, which could rise to £25m, to bring Brazilian starlet Luis Guilherme to the London Stadium. The 18 year old Palmeiras winger will be the first incoming of the Julen Lopetegui era at West Ham and fans will hope the new boss has already unearthed a gem. The fee is reported to be £19.2m with £5m in add-ons and a potential 20 per cent sell-on clause for Palmeiros.
He’s a quick winger who can also play as a number ten and Guilherme fits the profile of an exciting footballer the Hammers fans yearn for. He made 19 appearances in the Brazilian top flight last season and has starred for the Selecao at U17 and U20 level.
Down in South London Crystal Palace chiefs are bracing themselves for interest in their bright young stars, and winger Eberechi Eze will be under the spotlight having made the England squad for Euro 2024. Should he impress in Germany Eze could well attract the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs and he has a release clause of £60m.
One English striker who has missed the cut on a Euro 2024 place is Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke and he has a release clause of £65m, which looks very reasonable after he finished last season as joint fourth top scorer in the Premier League with 19 goals, alongside Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa and Manchester City’s Phil Foden. Solanke has been linked with a return to Chelsea where he played in the academy while Tottenham Hotspur are also tracking the 26 year old.
Managerial moves
Newly promoted Leicester City’s search for a manager continues and there could be a sensational return to Premier League football for ex Cardiff City and Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He left Old Trafford in 2021 and the Old Trafford playing legend has been linked with the managerial vacancy at Burnley following the departure of Vincent Kompany to Bayern Munich.
The 51 year old Norwegian may well prefer a return to the top flight and Leicester could be a good fit. He did a good job as boss of the Red Devils and Solskjaer has a reputation for working well with young emerging talent.
Meanwhile, up at Old Trafford the future of the current head coach is yet to be confirmed and the speculation has reached fever pitch following reports that former Bayern and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has met with Manchester United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ten Hag has just delivered an historic FA Cup win for the club and he is said to be getting restless at the club’s apparent lack of a commitment, though he has support among many of the Red Devils’ fans who are wary of another change following a decade of turmoil.
But there could well be another change on the cards and another Bundesliga boss has been mentioned, with Borussia Dortmund’s Edin Terzic also impressing Manchester United directors after he led BVB to a Champions League final.
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