Former Italian Serie A champions Juventus could sign Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen if Dusan Vlahovic decides to leave them next summer, according to soccernet.

Osimhen has been impressive for Galatasaray since his season-long loan transfer from Napoli last summer. The Nigerian striker had impressed at Napoli in the previous three seasons, and he was expected to move to a bigger club in one of the top five leagues.

However, he did not get the move. And after getting alienated from Napoli’s squad, he had to settle for a loan move to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Osimhen has produced eight goals and four assists in nine games for Galatasaray. And this has fueled rumors that the club want to sign him permanently. However, it is unlikely, due to the toll it would take on Galatasaray’s finances.

Meanwhile, Osimhen would be more keen on the transfer to a club in one of the top five leagues in Europe.

According to a recent report from Nicolo Schira, the Nigerian striker may just return to the Serie A next summer. This is as Juventus are monitoring his situation with Napoli. The Old Lady may lose Vlahovic, as he has refused to pen an extension even though his current deal expires in 2026.

If the Serbian leaves, Juventus will move to sign Osimhen from Napoli as he is a proven striker in the Serie A. The Old Lady have a penchant for singing players from other Serie A clubs. And if Osimhen okays the deal, Juventus can pull it off.

Manchester United are back in action this weekend after what has been a hectic fortnight.

The Red Devils will be under the control of their third boss as they take on Ipswich at Portman Road. Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim will lead United for the first time since arriving from Sporting Lisbon.

Ahead of that, he has been hard at work on the Carrington training pitches, getting his players up to speed with his style. And he should have a full complement of players following the international break.

Amorim is expected to give an update on everything during his first official press conference on Friday. Before that, take a look at the latest news from the red half of Manchester:

Amorim makes squad call
New Red Devils Ruben Amorim has already decided the players that won’t fit into his style of play. The Portuguese coach has been working with a small group at Carrington over the past week.

He has apparently been left surprised by the lack of speed and intensity in training, while he also believes the squad is too big. As a result, he believes that his new side needs some streamlining.

According to The Sun, he already knows the players that do not fit into his 3-4-3 system. Despite that, coaching staff and analysts are drilling players and getting them to watch demonstrations of Amorim’s set-up to get them up to speed before his managerial debut.

Neville slams Rashford and Casemiro
Gary Neville has taken aim at Marcus Rashford and Casemiro for “unprofessional” trips to the US during the international break. “They [Casemiro and Marcus Rashford ] have chosen that international break,” said Neville on the Stick To Football podcast from Sky Bet.

“If you’re talking about the minor details in being as professional as you can be and as prepared you can be for a training session on a Monday night, that isn’t the best choice of venue.

“I’m not that wound up about Rashford and Casemiro going over to the United States, but what I’m asking is, if you’ve got a four-day break, Portland is a 12-hour flight and an eight-hour time difference, your jet-lag is bad, and you feel a bit [rough].

“I’m asking the question based on professionalism – you’re playing badly, the team are losing, you’re 13th in the league, and there’s a new manager coming in – would you choose that trip as a break to recharge your batteries? That’s not a recharging trip. It’s not right that.”

Amorim’s first target revealed
Manchester United are reportedly looking to re-sign Angel Gomes as part of a recruitment drive under Ruben Amorim. The club are aware that funds are set to be limited in January, which opens up the opportunity for a shrewd move for Gomes.

The midfielder initially left Old Trafford for Lille in 2020, signing a five-year deal. That contract expires next summer, meaning Gomes can sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs.

Amorim has already given his approval to a move. Asked about a move back to Old Trafford last month, Gomes said: “There’ll always be that sentimental soft spot, so of course it’d be difficult to say no.”

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski said Jurgen Klopp was “like a father” to him at Borussia Dortmund, with the manager changing the striker’s career trajectory after one pivotal conversation.

Klopp left Liverpool in the summer after a hugely successful eight-and-a-half years at Anfield. Before that, the 57-year-old Reds legend achieved marvellous feats with German club Dortmund, winning two Bundesliga titles and reaching a Champions League final between the years of 2008 and 2015.

A key part of Klopp’s success was Lewandowski – initially an unproven youngster who developed into one of the greatest forwards of the 21st century. The Pole made 187 appearances under Klopp, notching an impressive tally of 103 goals, before joining rivals Bayern Munich.

While appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, presented by Qatar Airways, the clinical Barcelona ace was asked by Ferdinand about the specifics of Klopp’s renowned man-management skills. Lewandowski recalled one specific heart-to-heart conversation with Klopp early on in his Dortmund career, where they discussed their expectations of each other, which ended up unlocking his potential.

He said: “We lost one game in my second year at Dortmund, I think it was away and we were in the hotel. At that time I had just started to speak German, so I couldn’t understand everything.

“I felt that I didn’t know what he wanted from me, what he expected from me. I had to talk with him. Because I lost my father when I was 16 years old and, in my life, I didn’t have someone who I could always speak to about my problems. So I thought that if I went to speak to him, maybe I’d feel better.

“We spoke for like one-and-a-half hours. Even though I didn’t understand everything he said, I tried to understand. He spoke then I spoke. In that conversation it was important what we were talking about.

“For me, it was more important that he talked to me in that way, which for me was like I was speaking to my father. Maybe because of my private situation and emotions at the time, I needed that conversation.”

Lewandowski went on to score a hat-trick and provide an assist just days later in a 4-0 victory. He added: “So, in the end this kind of conversation opened up something inside me.”

The forward has not looked back since, scoring 620 club goals for the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona. He holds the joint-record for the most top-scorer awards in Europe’s top five leagues (eight) alongside Lionel Messi, and was widely considered to be deserving of a Ballon d’Or until the award was cancelled in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

His story will resonate with many Liverpool players who were transformed under Klopp and responded well to his paternal management style. Such players include current captain Virgil van Dijk and Reds hero Sadio Mane.

Liverpool Echo