Barcelona top centre-back target will leave Bundesliga club in 2026; could cost €45 million

By SokaMastas Team

FC Barcelona have made the signing of a new left-footed centre-back one of their priorities for the summer transfer window. The departure of Inigo Martinez has left a hole in the defensive unit, which the Catalans intend to fill with a new signing before the start of the season. Nico Schlotterbeck of Borussia Dortmund and Goncalo Inacio of Sporting CP, both of whom will enter the final year of their respective contracts in the summer, have emerged as potential targets. ow, according to BILD (h/t SPORT), Borussia Dortmund have been trying for months to renew Schlotterbeck’s contract without success, and at this point, his continuity appears practically ruled out. The Black and Yellows have made a formal offer to extend his contract beyond 2027, increasing his salary from €2.5 million to €8 million with bonuses, but talks are completely stalled. The German international, one of the most valued left-footed centre-backs on the market, believes he is at a decisive stage of his career and wants to play for a club that guarantees immediate competition for titles. If he does not renew, the club will be forced to sell next summer to avoid losing him for free a year later. As such, his exit in 2026 appears pretty much locked in. Schlotterbeck’s camp likes the idea of him staying in Germany, with Bayern Munich a possible option, although there are also voices that seriously value the option of moving abroad. That is where Barcelona enter the picture. Deco and Hansi Flick fully approve of his profile, which fits with the club’s search for a top-level left-footed centre-back for next season. As per the report, Dortmund value him at around €45 million, although the price is likely to drop. If they decide to sell, the German club would prioritise sending him abroad rather than strengthening a direct rival such as Bayern. While Goncalo Inacio is also an option for the Catalans, the German international fits better in terms of attributes, maturity and international experience. If the Fair Play situation improves and Barcelona return to the 1:1 ruling, they are not ruling out a January signing either. For now, Schlotterbeck appears set to leave Dortmund in 2026 and is on the Blaugrana’s agenda.

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Bayern chief talks Harry Kane release clause amid Barcelona interest

By SokaMastas Team

Bayern Munich supervisory board member Uli Hoeness is expecting Harry Kane to stay at the club amid talk of interest from Barcelona. Kane is out of contract at Bayern in 2027, which has led to speculation he could move on, but Hoeness says the club are expecting him to stay. The Bayern chief also spoke about Kane’s release clause - believed to be around 65 million euros - but feels Kane is happy in Munich and will continue. “He’s had a release clause until the end of January of every year. We assume that he will definitely fulfill his contract until 2027. And if it were up to us - and I’ve heard he wants it too - then he will extend,” he told Bild. “His family feels very comfortable. In Munich, you can still go about your business in peace. Harry Kane only ever worked with bodyguards at home [in London]. You don’t necessarily need that kind of life.” Barcelona are thought to be interested in Kane as a potential replacement for Robert Lewandowski. Kane hasn’t made a decision on his future but all signs seem to be pointing to him staying at Allianz Arena currently.

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The bold Tottenham and Everton transfer swap deal involving bargain £15m ace who has fallen out of favour

By SokaMastas Team

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank may look to freshen up his squad in the January transfer window Tottenham Hotspur are back in action on Tuesday night with an away trip to the North East to play Newcastle United. They then face Brentford at home at the weekend. Thomas Frank’s side have seen their form slump over recent weeks and pressure could start to grow on the Dane. The London outfit lost 2-1 at home to Fulham last time out. Mohamed Kudus scored their goal against the Whites at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, they weren’t able to find a leveller in the end and slumped to another disappointing result on their own patch. Spurs are being linked with a move for Everton star Iliman Ndiaye, as per French news outlet FootMercato. They will get the chance to bring in some new signings in the January transfer window. Frank will also get the opportunity to let some players head out the exit door as well this winter to free up space and funds. Ndiaye, 25, is a Senegal international with 32 caps to his name. He first caught the eye at Sheffield United and was on the books at Bramall Lane from 2019 to 2024. The playmaker scored 22 goals in 88 games for the Blades during his spell in South Yorkshire. Marseille subsequently lured him to France and he spent 12 months in Ligue 1. The Rouen-born man scored four goals in 46 matches before heading back over to England when Everton came calling for just £15million. He has since established himself as one of the Toffees’ most prized assets and has found the net on 15 occasions in 50 outings for the Merseyside club. Spurs could see him as someone to add more quality to their attacking department. If he joined them, he would give Frank more firepower at the top end of the pitch. He would also inject some more creativity into their starting XI and he has proved over recent times that he can perform at the top level.

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Newcastle Plot January Move For 'Top Class' Premier League star After Broken Promise

By SokaMastas Team

Newcastle United are expected to move for James Trafford once again in the January transfer window, according to the Daily Mail. The Magpies are making plans for next month as they look to improve on a somewhat disappointing start to the new season. After securing Champions League football last term, Eddie Howe had hoped to challenge at the top end of the Premier League table once again this time around. However, just five wins from 13 games means that Newcastle are sitting in 13th position in the table with real work to do. As a result, signing top-quality new additions will be a real priority. Newcastle's January business could start with a fresh approach to signing Trafford. According to reports from the Daily Mail, Trafford is open to leaving Manchester City after a disappointing start to the campaign. Hailed as being 'top-class' Trafford joined City in a deal worth £27million from Burnley after Pep Guardiola's side exercised a matching rights clause to beat Newcastle to his signature in July. At the time, the 23-year-old was promised that he would be Man City's first choice goalkeeper, but that changed when the club signed Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain. As a result, Trafford has been limited to cup action and hasn't started a Premier League game since August 31st. With that in mind, it's understood that Newcastle are expected to return for him next month. However, the move could hinge on Stefan Ortega, who is also keen to leave Man City, with Guardiola unlikely to allow both goalkeepers to move on. It's clear that Newcastle see James Trafford as the perfect man to stand between the sticks moving forward and it's not hard to see why, given his undoubted quality and personality. There's no doubt that he would be a top signing. The problem for the Magpies is that they already have two excellent goalkeepers vying for the first team spot in Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale. Pope has held the number one jersey for most of this season, but a series of mistakes led to calls for him to be replaced as number one. Intertwined with a groin injury to Pope, Ramsdale got his first opportunity in the Premier League on Saturday as he kept goal in the 4-1 win over Everton. Should Trafford move to Tyneside, it would surely mean that Pope or Ramsdale move on. Pope is 33 years of age and if you speak to fans, he's probably the most popular candidate to move on. That said, Ramsdale is currently on a season-long loan deal from Southampton which means that signing Trafford could be an upgrade and a permanent solution to the position. It's a difficult puzzle for Newcastle to navigate, but if Trafford is the man that they want as their number one, they'll have to find a way.

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Arteta blown away by "silky" £26m star, requests Arsenal sign him in January

By SokaMastas Team

Mikel Arteta has been left completely blown away by a "silky" forward, with the manager now personally requesting Arsenal sign him in the January transfer window. Yet again, the Gunners have been plagued by injuries this season, with the likes of Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres all spending time on the sidelines already. With Gyokeres only recently returning from a muscle injury, Mikel Merino was given the nod at striker against Chelsea on Sunday, and the Spaniard repaid Arteta for his faith in him, scoring the equalising goal in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Arteta certainly isn't short on top-quality attacking options, having spent big during the summer, but the sheer number of injuries he has already been forced to contend with may be a concern for the manager, who will be determined for nothing to derail his side's Premier League title push. As such, the manager has personally requested the signing of Villarreal forward Alberto Moleiro for the January transfer window, according to a report from Spain, which states the 43-year-old has been left completely blown away by his performances since moving to Villarreal. A number of Europe's top clubs have set their sights on Moleiro, but the Gunners are now the side most determined to get a deal done, with Arteta of the belief he would be a perfect fit for his system. rteta values the forward's versatility, and a deal could be relatively affordable, with the Spanish club setting an asking price of over €30m (£26m). The Spaniard has already matched his La Liga goal tally from the 2024-25 campaign, having found the back of the net six times in 14 outings this season, while also providing two assists. Lauded as "silky" by scout Jacek Kulig, the Villarreal star is also capable of playing on both wings and through attacking midfield, making him a versatile option for Arteta, although scout Ben Mattinson has suggested he could flourish in a slightly deeper midfield role.

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Ex-Chelsea Man Among OGC Nice Players 'Badly Beaten Up' By Own Fans in Racist Attack

By SokaMastas Team

Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice suffered their sixth straight loss on the weekend as they faced a 3-1 defeat to Lorient on away soil and, as the team bus arrived back at the club's training ground on Sunday night, hundreds of angry Nice supporters were waiting to confront the players and staff. The likes of Terem Moffi and Jeremie Boga, formerly of Chelsea, were among those attacked. INEOS-owened Nice, managed by Franck Haise, took the lead in the 12th minute courtesy of an Arthur Avom own goal, but Lorient's Laurent Abergel levelled proceedings around the half-hour mark. Sambou Soumano then scored two goals either side of the half-time interval to take home all three points. For Nice, it marked their fourth consecutive defeat in the league after recent losses to Paris Saint-Germain, Metz, Marseille and now Lorient. Recent defeats to Freiburg and FC Porto in the Europa League have also heightened the frustration among the Allianz Riviera faithful – and there were reportedly hundreds of fans waiting for the players as they returned from their dismal 3-1 loss to Lorient. According to a report from The Athletic, around 400 angry Nice supporters gathered at the club's training ground as they gathered at the entrance – where the players' cars were parked – and waited for the players as they flew back to the city's airport from the northwest of France. Sources close to the situation claimed that some players were physically assaulted. The players, according to the sources, were shocked by the club's lack of protection and security. Currently sat 10th in Ligue 1 after a torrid start to the campaign, Nice fans – as reported by Ici Azur – chanted "Move your ar***!" and called on Florian Maurice to hand in his resignation. Club President Fabrice Bocquet was also subject to abuse from the club's fanbase, but he had parted ways with his players at Nice airport, a decision that has not gone down well with the club. Matt Spiro, a France-based reporter and writer, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to report that supporters entered the team bus in frustration with Moffi and Boga – who played just once for Chelsea – being among those who were 'attacked' alongside sporting director Florian Maurice. Historically, Boga is not a popular figure for Nice supporters after he invited a number of Marseille fans into his side's home ground for their 5-1 loss to Roberto De Zerbi's side on November 21. As a way of apologising, he took to Instagram to write: "At no time, believe me, was it my intention to show disrespect toward Nice supporters. However, I understand the disappointment this may have caused. To all those I may have hurt, I offer my apologies.”

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Lamine Yamal Names Surprise Favorite Goal of His Career

By SokaMastas Team

Despite all the spectacular goals Lamine Yamal has scored for Barcelona, the superstar winger chose his “beautiful” strike against France in the 2024 UEFA Euro semifinals as his favorite. The 18-year-old already has a wealth of history-making and game-winning goals to his name in his early career, including one against Espanyol in 2024–25 that earned a Puskás Award nomination. Yet the stunning curler that clinched last season’s La Liga title for Barcelona is not the goal Yamal chose when asked to crown his favorite strike. Instead, the Spaniard picked the equalizer that etched his name in the Euro history books. “I have three. Well, four,” Yamal said when asked to name his favorite goal in an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes. “But if I have to keep one, for importance and beautiful, the goal I scored against France in the Euro Cup. I also really liked the one on Wednesday against Bruges.” Yamal found the top corner with a sensational strike from distance to bring Spain level in the semifinal against France. The 21st-minute equalizer made the winger the youngest goalscorer in Euros history at 16 years and 362 days old. Dani Olmo then bagged the go-ahead goal just four minutes later to ultimately send La Roja through to the final, where they defeated England 2–1 to become European champions for the fourth time in history.

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Man Utd ‘baffled’ by brutal decision from England head coach Thomas Tuchel

By SokaMastas Team

Manchester United are reportedly ‘baffled’ by Thomas Tuchel’s brutal decision to continue not picking Luke Shaw in his England squads. Shaw has not played for the Three Lions since the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain last year under the management of former boss Gareth Southgate. The 30-year-old has started all 13 of United’s Premier League games this season with the Red Devils looking much improved under Ruben Amorim. United badly struggled last term but after 13 games played in the 2025-26 campaign, Amorim’s side are just four points off second place. Shaw, capped 34 times for England to date, played his 300th game for United in the impressive 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday. He normally operates as a left-back – but now plays more in central defence in Amorim’s back three on the left-hand side. Despite somewhat of a positional change, The Sun reports that United sources are adamant Shaw should not be discounted as a left-back option for England, and are baffled as to why he hasn’t been picked by Tuchel. Speaking in October, United head coach Amorim said: ‘People point a finger at you if you are the national manager, if you choose this one or the other one. ‘And England has a lot of good players. You can choose two teams to win a World Cup. ‘So I think he deserves it, but also a lot of players deserve to be back. For me, I want him to go to the national team. ‘But I also want Luke Shaw to train with me, recover with me, and be prepared for my game, so I’m a little bit selfish on that. ‘So if he’s not going to the national team, for me it’s fine, because I can control better what he’s doing.’ Manchester City star Nico O’Reilly looks the most likely to be England’s starting left-back for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. But behind O’Reilly, Tuchel faces somewhat of a headache with Myles Lewis-Skelly struggling for regular playing time at Arsenal. Other options for Tuchel include Newcastle United’s Dan Burn and Tottenham’s Djed Spence. United are hoping Shaw will be picked for the tournament in North America next summer, though, with the club having had a player in all 14 of England’s World Cup squads dating back to 1958.

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Arsenal ‘laying groundwork’ for £100m-plus ‘ultimate statement signing’ in Andrea Berta masterclass – sources

By SokaMastas Team

Arsenal have quietly placed Michael Olise at the very top of their long-term attacking wishlist, with sources confirming the club are laying the groundwork for a blockbuster £100 million-plus move in the summer of 2026. The 23-year-old Frenchman, who joined Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace for £50million only 18 months ago, is seen by Mikel Arteta as the ultimate statement signing: a world-class right-winger capable of elevating the Gunners into genuine European royalty. Bayern have zero intention of entertaining January approaches, even if Arsenal’s need for creativity is laid bare by Bukayo Saka’s recent injuries and Gabriel Martinelli’s inconsistent form. Senior figures at the Allianz Arena view Olise – already with nine goals and 10 assists this season – as central to Vincent Kompany’s project and are relaxed about his contract running until 2029. A mid-season sale is categorically off the table. Yet the seeds for 2026 are being sown now. Arsenal’s hierarchy, led by Andrea Berta, believe landing a player of Olise’s reputation would send an unmistakable message: the north London club are no longer plucky challengers but genuine destination material for Europe’s brightest talents. For Arsenal it would mark their climb back to the top of European football. Arteta, speaking after Saturday’s win over West Ham, reiterated his mantra: “We must keep improving in every window. The best players want to play for Arsenal – we have to show them why.” Olise’s camp are aware of the interest. The former Reading academy star turned down Chelsea in 2024 partly because he wanted guaranteed minutes; Bayern delivered Champions League football and a platform that has seen him terrorise defences with trademark cuts inside and venomous left-foot strikes.

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