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Fabinho: Liverpool midfielder joins Saudi side Al-Ittihad

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Brazil midfielder Fabinho has completed a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad from Liverpool on a three-year deal.

The 29-year-old did not travel with the Reds to a recent training camp in Germany after the Saudi side made a £40m bid for him.

Fabinho was also left out of the club’s current trip to Singapore as the move was finalised.

Capped 29 times by his country, he joined Liverpool in July 2018 from Monaco for a fee in the region of £39m.

Fabinho said he was leaving his “home” after representing Liverpool “with the greatest honour and happiness possible” for five years.

He added: “I say this with a heart full of joy: I love this club. Thank you, Reds, for everything we’ve experienced together.”

Fabinho is Al-Ittihad’s latest high-profile signing this summer as part of a widespread influx of players into the Saudi Pro League.

Ballon d’Or winner and former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and ex-Celtic forward Jota have all joined the club managed by ex-Wolves and Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Al-Ittihad said Fabinho’s signing is part of their effort to “reinforce the team with outstanding players, who will support their journey in the upcoming phase, which includes multiple domestic and international competitions”.

Fabinho made 219 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 11 goals.

During his time with the Reds, he helped the club win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and the Fifa Club World Cup.

“We would like to thank Fabinho for all of his contributions to the club’s successes during the last five years,” said Liverpool.

Fellow midfielder Jordan Henderson has also left the Merseyside club to move to Saudi Arabia, with the England international joining Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq.

Liverpool have now lost five midfielders on a permanent basis this summer, with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita also departing after their contracts expired.

Centre-back Virgil van Dijk has, meanwhile, replaced Henderson as Liverpool captain, with defender Trent Alexander-Arnold taking over as vice-captain from Milner.

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Transfers

Man United Eye €75 Million Rated Victor Osimhen

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Victor Osimhen To Man United? Ruben Amorin Told To Sign Nigerian Goal-Getter

Manchester United have started to show interest in Victor Osimhen, who’s producing in spades in Turkey. They are mulling offering a swap that could entice Napoli to sell the striker. They plot to propose Joshua Zirkzee and some cash consideration in return, Fanatik reports (via OneFootball).

The 25-year-old has tallied eight goals and four assists in nine seasonal appearances. His release clause will amount to €75/80M in the next transfer windows. According to the publication, Azzurri coach Antonio Conte would be open to bringing in the former Bologna star, who’s having a tough time in the Premier League.

Manchester United turned their attention toward Osimhen after Sporting CP repelled them for Viktor Gyokeres, nixing a quick reunion with his former boss Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils will have to overwhelm the resistance of Galatasaray to sign the Nigerian international. The Turkish team is determined to keep him until June, as coach Okan Buruk recently reaffirmed (via Calciomercato).

“Victor plans to stay here until the end of the season. The clause doesn’t matter, and he said that. It’s up to the player to decide.”

In addition, the Cimbom recently lost Mauro Icardi for the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

 

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Man United Told To Sell Marcus Rashford For One Reason

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Manchester United are looking forward to a new era under Portuguese tactician Ruben Amori, as reported by Manchester Evening News

The 39-year-old has arrived at Old Trafford with a stellar reputation from his time at Sporting, and excitement is building ahead of his first game in charge. First up for Amorim will be a trip to Ipswich Town on November 24 (kick-off: 4:30pm) after the international break.

And he will need to make plenty of decisions if he wants to get United back to the top of English and European football. The former Braga boss will inherit a side that sits 13th in the top-flight table, although just three points off Chelsea in third.

Below, The Manchester Evening News has taken a look at what United’s new manager should do in his task to restore the Reds to their former glory…

Sign Gyokeres

Manchester United and Viktor Gyokeres seem like a match made in heaven, judging by the Swedish striker’s form at Sporting under Amorim. Transferring that level to Old Trafford won’t be easy of course, but it’s clear that United’s new boss was able to get the best out of a player who could significantly strengthen the Reds.

Will he want to join a team that looks far from Premier League title challengers though? The attraction of reuniting with Amorim is one thing but any top player will want to play for a club competing for the game’s biggest prizes, something the Reds are far off from doing right now.

There’s also the issue of being able to fund a deal with PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) needing to be carefully considered. The next point could help in that respect though…

Sell Rashford

There are several reasons why selling Marcus Rashford may benefit United. Due to his homegrown status, his sale would represent pure profit, giving the Reds some flexibility with PSR to sign Gyokeres, for example.

There is also a debate over whether he would fit into Amorim’s team. The academy graduate is not a No 10 or a wing-back and has never convinced as a striker.

Also, is he good enough to help United compete for Premier League and Champions League titles? The jury is still very much out on that one.

Kerkez deal

Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most promising left-backs with his performances this season playing a key role in the Cherries’ rise under Andoni Iraola.

United are in need of a left-sided full-back with both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia struggling with injuries. A wing-back may also be needed in Amorim’s potential 3-4-3 and the Hungarian fits the bill on both counts.

Kerkez only joined Bournemouth last summer, though, where he signed a long-term contract. Agreeing a deal, therefore, is likely to be difficult, particularly with United’s PSR considerations, but he would be a shrewd signing.

Manchester Evening News

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Galatasaray: Osimhen Wants To Stay But We Can’t Afford €75 Million Release Clause

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Galatasaray: Osimhen Wants To Stay But We Can't Afford €75 Million Release Clause

Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk insists that while Victor Osimhen does have a release clause set for January, the Napoli-owned striker ‘wants to stay with us to the end of the season.’

The Nigeria international made the move in September on loan when transfers to Chelsea and the Saudi Pro League fell apart before the deadline.

There are a series of different release clauses in his contract, including one worth €80m from the summer of 2025.

The clause is available in January, reportedly set to be worth €75-80m, and this is alerting interest from Premier League sides including Manchester United.

“Osimhen intends to stay here until the end of the season,” assured Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk in a press conference today.

“He wants to stay and has been telling me that from the start. There is a clause, but it does not matter, because he said that he will remain.

“The player is the one who ultimately decides and Osimhen says he is staying here. He said the same from the moment he arrived.”

Osimhen has certainly impressed with the Turkish club side, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in just nine games since arriving from Napoli, between the Super Lig and the Europa League.

Napoli paid €77.5m plus bonuses to purchase him from Lille in September 2020 and only extended his contract in December 2023.

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