Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate has revealed that he gets calls from compatriot Kylian Mbappe every two hours to sign for Real Madrid. The French defender is into the final year of his contract and from January he will be able to hold pre-contract talks with clubs abroad. The Reds, on the other hand, are determined to offer him a new deal to avoid another situation like Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Konate's future remains uncertain

Konate has established himself as a key figure in Liverpool’s starting lineup ever since his move from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in 2021. The 26-year-old has formed a strong partnership with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the Reds’ defence and has made 147 appearances for the Premier League giants across all competitions and scored six goals.

However, speculation remains rife regarding Konate’s future ahead of the January transfer window. The centre-back is into the final year of his current contract and it is up in the air as to whether he will ink fresh terms at Anfield. 

reported last week that German giants Bayern Munich are tentatively weighing up a move to rival La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid by making a bid for Konate, who is eligible to hold pre-contract talks with clubs outside of England from January 1. Los Blancos, on the other hand, have been long-time admirers of the defender.

AdvertisementAFPAgent Mbappe at work for Madrid

Konate recently revealed that he gets constant phone calls from his France team-mate and captain Mbappe, as the Madrid star is determined to convince the defender to join him at the Spanish capital next summer. Speaking to , Konate said Mbappe "calls me every two hours to sign for Real Madrid."

Los Blancos are in no hurry when it comes to Konate, as Liverpool have only a few weeks to convince the player and make him sign a new deal before he starts to negotiate new offers. Madrid would want Konate to reject a new contract and then join them in the summer for free, quite similar to the way they landed Alexander-Arnold.

Liverpool told they won't miss Konate

Reds legend and pundit Jamie Carragher recently claimed that while he would love to see Konate stay at Anfield, if he leaves for Madrid next summer, the Merseyside club won't miss the centre-back much. He told the : "I’d like him [Konate] to stay but if he doesn’t stay, Liverpool will sign someone else. Liverpool won’t fall apart if Konate leaves. He's not Virgil van Dijk. He's a good centre-back who you hope will sign, but if he doesn’t want to sign, Liverpool will be absolutely fine. He's a very good centre-back, he's a title winner at Liverpool, he's played in the Champions League final against Real Madrid. He's obviously a quality centre-back. It's not poor management [if he goes for free]. You can't physically make somebody sign a contract. Then it's your decision, do you keep him to the length of his contract or do you sell him?"

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Getty ImagesKonate's mixed form amid Liverpool's slump

Konate has appeared in 16 matches for the Reds across all competitions this term. Despite featuring regularly under Arne Slot, Carragher believes there is still scope for the Frenchman to improve as he added: "It's still only a couple of games. He hasn't had a great start to the season and he needs to show a bit more consistency. 

"He was fantastic against Real Madrid and he needs to keep that going over the next few months, it can't just be two games on the bounce. There are no secrets [to picking up your form]. It’s about working harder and you become more professional. It’s on your mind constantly that you want to get back into good form and every you think tiny detail will make a difference, whether that’s what you eat, what time you go to sleep, it’s just becoming an ultra-professional on and off the pitch."

تحدث وليد صلاح الدين، مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، عن الحالة الصحية لإمام عاشور، وعن الأنباء التي تتردد بشأن اقتراب حامد حمدان من الانضمام إلى القلعة الحمراء.

وقال وليد صلاح الدين، خلال مداخلة هاتفية ببرنامج “ملعب أون” على قناة أون سبورت: “أداء الأهلي في تحسّن مستمر، والتعادل بالنسبة لنا أقرب من الهزيمة، اتخذنا قرارًا بعد كل مباراة بالدخول إلى أرض الملعب لتحية الجماهير، أيًا كانت النتيجة، لأننا نحتاج إلى رضاهم ودعمهم المستمر”.

وأضاف: “فيما يخص تجديد عقد ديانج، لم نناقش بعد أي ملفات تخص التجديدات نحن في فترة إجازة، وسنجلس قريبًا بحضور سيد عبد الحفيظ ولجنة التخطيط نعمل مع جميع اللاعبين نفسيًا، ونحاول قدر الإمكان ألا نخسر أي لاعب”.

طالع.. مفاجأة تقلب موازين صفقة حمدان.. الأهلي يدخل بـ”الكاش” وجلسة تحسمها

وأفاد: “بغض النظر عمن سيستمر أو يرحل، يجب أن نستفيد من كل لاعب حتى نهاية عقده، ولن نفرط في أي لاعب إلا إذا شعرنا أنه لا يرغب في الاستمرار أو يفضل عرضًا آخر”.

وتابع: “إمام عاشور غير مصاب، ويتدرب بشكل جيد هو في إجازة مثل باقي الفريق، وبعد العودة سيشارك معنا، وسنزيد أحماله التدريبية وفقًا لاجتهاده وحالته البدنية، ومن الممكن أن يكون معنا في مواجهة شبيبة القبائل أو الجيش الملكي المغربي”.

وأوضح: “فيما يتعلق بحامد حمدان، لم نتحدث مع توروب حول أي صفقات، ولم نتطرق إلى هذا الأمر إطلاقًا معه”.

واستكمل: “بخصوص الأزمة الأخيرة المتعلقة بزيزو، قمنا بأكثر من عشرة أمور إيجابية، لكن كالعادة تم تجاهلها والتركيز فقط على الجانب السلبي، فور إطلاق الحكم صافرة النهاية، ذهبنا لتحية لاعبي الزمالك، وزيزو توجه إلى أحمد عبد الرؤوف لتحيته أيضًا”.

واختتم وليد صلاح الدين تصريحاته قائلًا: “نظمنا ممرًا شرفيًا لنادي الزمالك، رغم أن الشكل لم يكن تنظيمًا رسميًا كاملًا، وأنا وتوروب ذهبنا إلى الجهاز الفني للزمالك لمصافحتهم، ولم أتحدث مع زيزو بعد المباراة لأنه انضم إلى المنتخب الوطني”.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Cruzeiro anunciou nesta quarta-feira (20) que o argentino Nicolás Larcamón será o novo técnico do clube. O contrato é válido até o fim de 2025.

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Larcamón surgiu recentemente como opção no mercado, após ser demitido pelo León, do México, por ter sofrido eliminação no Mundial de Clubes da Fifa pelo Urawa Reds, do Japão.

➡️Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Nas redes sociais, Nicolás Larcamón comentou sobre a chegada ao Cruzeiro, sua primeira passagem pelo futebol brasileiro.

– Estou muito motivado e contente com a oportunidade de treinar este time gigante. Garanto a vocês muita paixão, muito trabalho, muita dedicação para que a gente faça juntos um grande campeonato – disse o técnico.

➡️ Cruzeiro e Gilberto negociam rescisão antecipada, diz site

O argentino de 39 anos já conquistou a Conchampions com o León, que garantiu à equipe uma vaga no Mundial de Clubes. Sua passagem pelo clube mexicano contou com 23 vitórias, 12 empates e 16 derrotas. Larcamón também tem passagens por outras equipes do México, do Chile e da Venezuela.

✍️🦊 NICOLÁS LARCAMÓN É O NOVO TÉCNICO DO CRUZEIRO! O argentino chega para comandar o time nesta temporada, com contrato válido até o fim de 2025.

A comissão técnica de Larcamón é composta pelos auxiliares Javier Berges e Damian Ayude, preparador físico Juan Cruz Mónaco e… pic.twitter.com/7IWqLLonrd

— Cruzeiro 🦊 (@Cruzeiro) December 20, 2023

If Leeds United are to collect a much-needed win on their travels next up in the Premier League away at Nottingham Forest, they will need to make sure they have packed their shooting boots.

Indeed, away from scoring three at Molineux back in September, Daniel Farke’s goal-shy Whites have regularly fired blanks on the road this season, with the 3-0 defeat handed to him last time out away at Brighton and Hove Albion only seeing the West Yorkshire outfit register a weak two shots on target.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has definitely frustrated a large volume of his new supporters, already, by regularly spurning opportunities, with five big chances missed in the Premier League this season coming courtesy of the wasteful ex-Everton marksman.

With both Lukas Nmecha and Joel Piroe not exactly banging the door down to take Calvert-Lewin’s starting spot off him, either, Farke could soon be tempted to throw Harry Gray into the senior mix more regularly, as the teenage sensation continues to frighten Premier League 2 defences in West Yorkshire.

Why Harry Gray should be in the first team

Despite only being 17 years of age, Gray has already received some first-team chances here and there, to begin to live up to his well-known family name, which has also seen Archie Gray go on to be a £40m sale to Tottenham Hotspur.

Leeds will hope they can hold on to the blistering number 45 for far longer than they managed with his Premier League-bound brother, though, with Gray perhaps the long-term fix to all their goalscoring woes.

From only 25 games lining up for both the U18s and U21s, Gray has a ridiculous 15 goals next to his name, leading to the England U17 international already being dubbed as “one of England’s best young prospects” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Of course, he does still have a very long way to go before he’s smashing goals home in the senior picture, with only one senior match under his belt to date.

But, do not be surprised if he’s handed more first-team chances very soon, having also recently penned a new long-term deal to stay put at his boyhood club, particularly if Calvert-Lewin continues to fluff his lines.

Amazingly, Gray isn’t the only goal machine being worked on at Thorp Arch at the moment, as another raw version of the 17-year-old is being brewed behind the scenes to excite Farke.

18-year-old Leeds star can rival Harry Gray

Leeds always seem to have a future talent ready on their conveyor belt, with the likes of Kalvin Phillips also homegrown, before he moved on to Manchester City.

The next starlet set for a big break at Elland Road could well be Lewis Pirie, with the 18-year-old situated in West Yorkshire ever since leaving former boyhood employers Aberdeen behind in 2023 for £200k, which is a wild fee to fork out for a rising star, especially one that was just 16 years of age at the time.

But, much like Gray, Pirie has been turning heads since a very tender age with his unbelievable goalscoring prowess to demand such an investment, with an insane 51 goals managed for club and country during the 2022/23 season, even seeing journalist James Marshment label the Scotsman as “one of the most in-demand young strikers around” when a move was clinched.

He has since slotted into the Leeds academy scene well, too, with his goalscoring promise for the U18s backing up his previous manager Jim Goodwin’s comments that he is a very “exciting” prospect.

Games played

33

Goals scored

7

Assists

1

Already, the five-time Scotland U17 international has fired home seven goals on the youth pitches in West Yorkshire, with three of those seven efforts coming during his first five breakneck outings for the U18s.

He is yet to get off the mark for the U21s, from just four appearances, but his continued rise up the ranks does bear similarities to Gray’s goal-laden ascent.

All this fresh blood excelling in attack away from the senior set-up will surely worry Calvert-Lewin when it comes to his long-term security, as the 28-year-old prays a purple patch comes his way soon, starting with a decisive strike against Forest on Saturday.

"Highly-rated" Leeds gem could now leave "on a free transfer in January"

Leeds United’s rising young goalkeeper could depart the club within the coming months.

ByJames O'Reilly Nov 5, 2025

Almost as soon as the New York Yankees lost the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night, attention turned to the impending free agency of Yankees right fielder Juan Soto. The four-time All-Star—still just 26—is poised to command a massive salary from whichever team is fortunate enough to sign him.

After the game, New York designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton made a pitch to Soto based on his personal experience with free agency—or lack thereof.

"I've never been in (free agency), so…" Stanton told reporters. "So just, 'stay with us,' would be the advice."

The reporters assembled chuckled at Stanton's plea, as did the slugger himself.

Stanton—still riding the then-record contract he signed with the Miami Marlins in Nov. 2014—is scheduled to hit free agency for the first time after the 2028 season, for which the Yankees have a club option.

Soto—who reportedly turned down a $440 million contract from the Washington Nationals in the summer of 2022—is set to follow a very different path.

West Ham are in the midst of a striker crisis as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side fail to impress once again in their latest outing at home to Brentford.

Nuno slammed for West Ham line-up after defeat to Brentford

You’d be hard-pressed to try and remember a more uninspired home performance than West Ham’s 2-0 loss to the Bees on Monday night.

Goals from Igor Thiago and Mathias Jensen sealed the deal for Keith Andrews’ side, who dominated West Ham right from the get-go and were barely troubled all night, with Jarrod Bowen’s brilliant low-drive to the far-post coming as their only real effort of the game.

By contrast, Brentford had a whopping 17 shots, and West Ham’s much-changed defence really struggled to cope.

Olly Scarles and Kyle Walker-Peters started as full-backs on their opposing sides, with Andy Irving and Tomas Soucek given the nod by Nuno in West Ham’s engine room.

In the build up, much had been made about a potential West Ham start for youngster Callum Marshall after Niclas Füllkrug picked up a thigh injury just before the international break.

However, Nuno instead opted to play Lucas Paqueta up there instead — which hardly paid dividends as the £150,000-per-week star failed to influence proceedings and lost possession 23 times on a night to forget.

West Ham have now lost all of their opening four home league games for the first time in the club’s history, and Nuno’s team selection has been slammed following the array of questionable calls.

Paqueta’s ineffective display as the number nine, combined with Marshall’s inexperience and Callum Wilson’s torrid injury record, gives Nuno a real striking conundrum to solve.

Fullkrug is expected to be back in the next few weeks, but the German has proved that he cannot be relied upon ever since his move from Borussia Dortmund last summer.

The 32-year-old missed 28 games for West Ham and Germany combined last season, and his fitness woes have stretched into 2025/2026 as supporters call on David Sullivan to sign a proven goalscorer.

West Ham 'working' on Ivan Toney deal with striker open to joining in January

According to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon, there’s been some fairly good news on that front.

Nixon writes that Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney is indeed a target for the Hammers, despite reports to the contrary.

The England international has scored for fun in the Saudi Pro League since his £40 million switch from Brentford last year, and Nixon reports that West Ham are already ‘working’ on a deal to sign Toney on loan.

The 29-year-old could also be open to the possibility as he eyes a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

Having scored 20 Premier League goals during his best season at Brentford in 2022/2023, Toney is an undeniably proven scorer at this level and has showed no sign of letting up since his move to the Middle East.

It is also believed that West Ham could be prepared to pay a large portion of his estimated £426,000-per-week pay packet, which is a real signal of intent from Sullivan and Brady amid repeated calls for them to leave the London Stadium.

Former Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon spent his entire 14-year career with the franchise before retiring after the 2024 season.

Despite living in one of the skiing capitals of the world, Blackmon, a native of Dallas, Texas, had never hit the slopes before or during his playing career. Now that he's retired, however, he took advantage of his newfound freedom and gave the beloved winter sport a try.

And he absolutely loved it.

Blackmon spoke to reporters after his first skiing experience at the ripe age of 38, and he sounded thrilled about the sport, even expressing his desire to return to the mountain soon.

"It was in my contract, (I'm) not supposed to ski. I haven't been skiing. I tried it this week, and it's awesome. I want to go back, I've been missing out," said Blackmon. "Rockies should not be skiing."

Vail Mountain is just a two-hour drive from Coors Field, but because of contractual obligations and safeguards, Blackmon was prohibited from ever venturing onto the slopes. Now that his career has concluded, he wasted no time giving the forbidden winter sport a try.

Blackmon manned the outfield at Coors Field from 2011 to 2024. The former second-round pick hit 227 career home runs and boasted a .832 OPS across 1,624 games as one of the franchise's all-time greats.

There is something different about Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have got close to Premier League glory but fallen short in the last three campaigns, and yet they seem more determined than ever.

The North Londoners sit atop the table, four points clear of Manchester City, and while they dropped points away to Sunderland, they put in a decent performance.

Moreover, while a lacklustre squad has seen the team falter in the past, Arteta’s side is full of incredible talents, including one prospect who could eventually become one of the best players in the world, surpassing the likes of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.

Rice & Saka's performances vs Sunderland

Even though Arsenal dropped points against Sunderland and weren’t at their best in the first half, their second-half display, at least from an attacking perspective, was one of their best all season.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Likewise, it was also one of Saka’s best displays of the season so far, as from the start of the second 45 up until Leandro Trossard scored the side’s second goal, the Hale End superstar was a constant threat.

If he wasn’t getting past the Black Cats’ defence with some silky close control, he was playing quick one-twos or, on occasion, switching the play to help create space.

Moreover, it was his brilliantly driven effort from his right that opened the scoring for the North Londoners and gave them a foothold in the game.

Like his captain for the day, it was a game of two halves for Rice.

The former West Ham United captain was poor in the first half and should have done better for Dan Ballard’s opener, but improved significantly in the second half.

For example, he provided the assist for Saka after winning the ball off Enzo Le Fee, and then for the rest of the game, he seemed to be everywhere.

Minutes

97′

Expected Assists

0.20

Assists

2

Key Passes

1

Accurate Passes

61/65

Shots

3

Touches

91

Interceptions

1

Clearances

4

Recoveries

3

Ground Duels (Won)

4 (3)

Aerial Duels (Won)

1 (1)

Despite his poor first half, the Englishman still ended the game having made four clearances, three recoveries and one interception while also winning four of five duels.

In all, Rice and Saka showed why they are two of Arsenal’s best players in the second half on Saturday, but even so, both could well be surpassed by one of the club’s most exciting talents, who looks destined to become one of the best in the world.

The Arsenal star destined to be the best in the world

While Arsenal have more than a few talented youngsters in the squad, there is one who seems to have the most potential of all: Max Dowman.

The Hale Ender is still just 15 years old, but has been a player of interest for over a year now, with talk of the club trying to include him in senior squads last season.

That might sound absurd, but at the start of last season, respected talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as the “most exciting prospect” he had seen “since Lamine Yamal.”

Then, this time last year, Hale End expert Will Balsam called him “the biggest talent in England.”

Unless they were watching his performances for the youth sides, fans had to take those in the know at face value; that was until pre-season.

The Chelmsford-born star in the making was finally given a taste of first-team action on the club’s summer tour and against Newcastle United, in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson, instantly began “humiliating Premier League players.”

He did the same thing to Leeds United on his Premier League debut and then became the youngest player to start a game for the club in their 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup.

Not satisfied with just breaking a club record, Arteta then made the Hale End monster the youngest player in Champions League history when he came off the bench against Slavia Prague last week.

Now, the youngster is yet to score a senior goal for the North Londoners, but every time he’s made an appearance, he has passed the eye test with flying colours.

Unlike some of the senior players, he seems to relish taking on defenders and has a level of close control that is unrivaled in the squad.

Ultimately, it’s still early in his career, but as things stand, it does look like Dowman could, in the words of one analyst, become one of “the best in world” and surpass Saka and Rice in the process.

Arsenal sold Hale End "colossus" for £2m, now he's playing just like Gabriel

Arsenal have struggled to brew defensive talents at Hale End down the years.

ByMatt Dawson Nov 10, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras finalizou nesta tarde de terça-feira (23), a preparação para o duelo diante da Inter de Limeira, pela segunda rodada do Paulistão 2024, no jogo que marca a estreia do Verdão no Allianz Parque em 2024.

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Abel Ferreira contou mais uma vez com a participação de Joaquín Piquerez e Gabriel Menino, que hoje treinaram com todo o resto dos titulares que só tinham feito um regenerativo nesta última segunda-feira.

O provável Palmeiras para encarar a Inter de Limeira é: Weverton, Mayke, Gómez, Murilo e Piquerez; Richard Rios, Zé Rafael e Raphael Veiga; Rony, Breno Lopes e Luís Guilherme.

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A bola rola para Palmeiras x Inter de Limeira nesta quarta-feira (24), a partir das 21h35 (horário de Brasília) e o jogo terá transmissão da Record e do Paulistão Play.

+ Palmeiras deve ter retorno de dois titulares diante da Inter de Limeira!

Até a tarde de hoje, 14.300 ingressos foram vendidos para o jogo que teve uma redução significativa nos preços dos bilhetes. Por conta do palco montado atrás do gol norte, todo o setor norte do Allianz Parque estará fechado para a partida de amanhã.

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FutebolPalmeirasPaulistãoPaulistão 2024

Celtic are consulting the managerial market in an attempt to bring in a new boss and are reportedly now ready to present a formal approach to their preferred candidate.

Undoubtedly, the feeling around Parkhead has changed dramatically in the last couple of weeks since Martin O’Neill was appointed in interim charge to lead the Scottish Premiership champions.

Joyous scenes against Falkirk and Rangers were tempered by a disappointing first-half collapse against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League last Thursday. However, Celtic signed off for the international break with a 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock to close the gap on Heart of Midlothian to seven points.

Furthermore, a game in hand will serve as an opportunity to move within four points of the league leaders, though, who will be in charge to lead the Bhoys’ defence of the Scottish top-flight crown?

Wales boss Craig Bellamy has ruled himself out of the Celtic vacancy. Nevertheless, Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy is the latest name to enter the running after his strong start to the campaign at the League One outfit.

Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, Nicky Hayen, and Efrain Juarez are also on the Bhoys’ radar. Meanwhile, Wilfried Nancy is the wildcard choice after his sterling work at Columbus Crew.

With several pivotal fixtures to come and off-field tension between supporters and the hierarchy continuing to linger, there is a feeling that Celtic must get this appointment right to move forward in unison.

Difficult away clashes against St Mirren, Feyenoord and Hibernian linger on the other side of the international break, so it is fair to say time if of the essence if the Bhoys are to bring someone into the fold on a full-time basis, and they may just be about to pull off that feat.

Celtic readying formal approach for Kjetil Knutsen

According to TEAMtalk, Celtic are readying an official approach for Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen after discovering that the 57-year-old is keen to take on a new challenge and is excited by the thought of taking over at Parkhead.

The report make it clear that he is still the standout foreign candidate, albeit the Bhoys also want an interview with Ipswich boss McKenna despite the fact Dermot Desmond may have to pay £5 million to secure him from Portman Road.

Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane, a former Celtic player, has yet to receive a phone call regarding the vacant position. Still, it is said that he would ‘sprint to the table if asked’ to succeed O’Neill at the helm of the Scottish champions.

The Bhoys want to come to a resolution by December at the latest and they could now be closer to finding their next permanent manager if Knutsen was able to finalise contract terms.

An alternative Celtic manager candidate has a secret release clause

Nevertheless, nothing is signed and sealed until ink physically exists on paper, so there is still a long way to go before supporters know who their next leader will be.