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Brazil superstar Neymar has been “tied up” by Peruvian shamans that hope to “neutralise” the threat he poses in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

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• Selecao in qualification action
• No.10 now their all-time top scorer
• Rivals eager to contain his threat

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 31-year-old forward – who has overtaken Pele to become his country’s all-time leading goalscorer – is due to be back in international action on Tuesday. Hosts Peru are aware that they are going to need all the help they can get in order to claim a positive result against the five-time World Cup winners.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With that in mind, a group of traditional healers from the jungle, mountains and coastal regions of Peru – known as Tayta Inti (Father Sun) – have offered their assistance. An effigy of Neymar has been tied up, while a colourful altar with swords, amulets, flags and photos of players from both teams featured in a ritual that took place outside Peru’s national stadium.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Shaman Felix Rondan told reporters: “We have neutralized Neymar by tying his feet. We tied him up so that he is not in good shape, and doesn't run and play well.” Shaman Walter Alarcon added that the ritual was intended to cloud Neymar’s mind so that he cannot “achieve what he is looking for, which are goals”.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Brazil won their opening game of 2026 World Cup qualifying 5-1 against Bolivia – with Neymar bagging a brace in that contest to take him on to 79 international goals – while Peru were held to a goalless draw by Paraguay.

Co-owner Todd Boehly is said to be piecing together a sensational offer for Paris Saint-Germain's wantaway superstar, but is it too good to be true?

Todd Boehly is at it again. Having relinquished control of Chelsea's transfer business following a series of high-profile misses a year ago, the co-owner is reportedly working on what would be a sensational approach for Paris Saint-Germain's wantaway contract rebel, Kylian Mbappe.

The 24-year-old is for officially for sale having rejected a new contract in the French capital, and though it is widely believed he has his heart set on a free transfer to Real Madrid in 2024, there is inevitably already plenty of clamour for his signature.

A move to Stamford Bridge would send shockwaves around the football world, but how can the Blues pull it off, and would the World Cup winner even consider it? GOAL assesses this latest bombshell in the Mbappe saga…

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  A unique opportunity

  This could feasibly be the only chance Chelsea ever have to sign Mbappe at his peak. Whether or not he moves elsewhere first, he is destined to join Real Madrid at some stage – the club he obsessed over as a boy.

  However, while Los Blancos are financially stable enough to purchase the Frenchman this summer, those in the Bernabeu hierarchy would surely prefer to wait a year and sign him on an albeit costly free transfer upon the expiry of his PSG contract.

  That provides Chelsea with a window of opportunity – even if that window is only open the slightest crack. If they can somehow put together a package that is acceptable for both PSG and the player, they will hope he becomes enamoured with the club, life in London and the Premier League, and defers his Real Madrid destiny for a few years.

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  Undoubtedly worthwhile

  Suffice to say, after just over a year as Chelsea co-owner and a period as acting sporting director, Boehly's track record with big-money transfers leaves a lot to be desired. But pursuing a superstar of Mbappe's calibre – a man who is comfortably among the top three players on the planet – is entirely different.

  While there was risk attached to splurging huge sums on relatively unproven players such as Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella, Mbappe guarantees success. Indeed, he could well be the difference between Europa League and Champions League qualification for a team like Chelsea next season in this transitional period, elevating those around him and doubtless providing the kind of prolific goalscoring that the Blues have been sorely lacking.

  If the opportunity arises to sign one of the world's best players in their peak years, you simply have to seize it, and the west Londoners have shown in the recent past that they have the finances and ruthlessness to make waves in the transfer market.

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  Pochettino's 'good relationship'

  Needless to say, Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino would be in favour of a reunion with a player he managed during his time in the French capital. He was coy on the links to Mbappe, though, saying recently: “I think in our past we were at Paris Saint-Germain with Kylian and think I need to be conscious that I cannot talk. Everything you talk is too much noise. It is a situation that is very delicate and one they need to fix in Paris with Kylian. For our side I have nothing to say.

  "We are working on our reality, our reality is different. From my side, nothing to say, only to support them. I hope they find a solution for both sides. It is a club that I love because I was a player, a captain and a coach. With Kylian we created a very good relationship, I hope they can find the best solution for both sides."

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  How could Chelsea pull it off?

  As it stands, it's not exactly clear how Chelsea plan to finance what would be a sensational deal for Mbappe, or indeed if they actually plan to take him on loan for a year. It has been reported that Boehly is trying to cobble together a player-plus-cash offer, but there are surely very few players who are both desirable to PSG and expendable to Chelsea; Reece James is untouchable, there is no way the Premier League side would be willing to part with Enzo, Levi Colwill is set to sign a new contract and Wesley Fofana has a long-term injury.

  Perhaps the Blues are already willing to cut their losses on Mudryk if it opens up the possibility of signing Mbappe, and Hakim Ziyech could well come back into the equation following his infamous failed transfer to Parc des Princes in January. Outcast Romelu Lukaku is another player who could be of interest, having been linked with the French giants in the past.

A weakened Barcelona XI faltered away from home, as the La Liga leaders lost convincingly against relegation-threatened Real Valladolid.

Barcelona's makeshift defensive unit folded in a hostile environment, and the Spanish champions crumbled to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat against a Valladolid side looking to drag themselves out of the relegation zone.

Valladolid only needed 90 seconds to score. The home team worked the ball down the wing before sending a cross into the Blaugrana box — which Andreas Christensen turned into his own net. It was 2-0 15 minutes later, with Cyle Larin converting from the spot after a clumsy Garcia foul in the box.

Barcelona were poor at the other end, lacking in attacking inspiration in the absence of Pedri and Ousmane Dembele. And when they did create, Jordi Masip made a handful of saves to keep them out, ensuring the home side took a 2-0 lead into the break.

A third came after 73 minutes, as the Blaugrana were ripped apart on the counter-attack. Garcia, deployed in an unfamiliar right-back role, played Larin onside, before failing to recover — allowing Gonzalo Plata an easy tap in at the back post.

The Blaugrana grabbed a consolation, with Robert Lewandowski rounding the keeper and finishing to move one step closer to the golden boot. But it did little to hide what was a miserable performance from a team perhaps still celebrating clinching the title.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Estadio Jose Zorrilla…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Marc-Andre ter Stegen (6/10):

  Couldn't do anything about Christensen's own goal and was sent the wrong way on the penalty. Subbed at half time.

  Sergi Roberto (5/10):

  Taken off at the break after a forgettable 45 minutes.

  Andreas Christensen (6/10):

  Nodded one into his own net in the opening exchanges. Nearly made up for it at the other end shortly after.

  Marcos Alonso (3/10):

  Entirely missing in the build-up to the second goal. Still puzzling that Xavi uses him as a centre-back.

  Alejandro Balde (6/10):

  As energetic as usual, but his final ball was lacking. There will be better days.

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  Midfield

  Gavi (4/10):

  Scrappy but ineffective. Looks like he needs a break after a long season.

  Eric Garcia (3/10):

  Started as a No.6. Gave away a penalty with a silly challenge. Moved to right-back in the second half, where he was equally poor.

  Frenkie de Jong (8/10):

  Barcelona's best player by some distance. Smooth on the ball and creative in his passing. Assisted Lewandowski for the Blaugrana's only goal. Looks like a bargain these days.

  Pablo Torre (5/10):

  Handed a start with Pedri out. Had some good moments in the first half but faded from the game.

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  Attack

  Raphinha (4/10):

  Constantly looking to run at the defence, although his decision-making was erratic. Drew an impressive save out of the goalkeeper in the first half, his only real attacking impact.

  Robert Lewandowski (7/10):

  Scored a nice goal to presumably wrap up the Pichichi Trophy in his first season in La Liga.

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  Subs & Manager

  Inaki Pena (6/10):

  Subbed on at half time with a clean sheet out of the question.

  Franck Kessie (5/10):

  Added more bite in central midfield, but not the creativity Barca needed.

  Ousmane Dembele (5/10):

  Ran a bit with the ball, but also lost it a few times.

  Ferran Torres (4/10):

  Missed a half chance that would have perhaps gotten his team back into the game.

  Ansu Fati (5/10):
  Hardly touched the ball in 20 minutes.

  Xavi (3/10):

  Made a few changes and gave the young Pablo Torre a start. None of his rotations really worked. Garcia was poor in lieu of Busquets, while Alonso failed to convince at centre-back once again. Few outside of Valladolid will remember this result, but it showed that Xavi's side have a long way to go.

GOAL gives a full run-down of the USMNT star's statistics for Chelsea in the 2022-23 season

Christian Pulisic has suffered from a disappointing season so far for Chelsea, with the USMNT forward only accumulating three goal contributions in his 26 games played. The American winger has had an inconsistent career at Stamford Bridge since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2019.

He hasn't completely reached his potential in part because of frequent managerial changes, injury problems and erratic form. However, the U.S. national team star is still considered one of the most talented attacking players in world football.

GOAL will take a look at a summary of his stats for the 2022-23 season so far with Chelsea FC in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Champions League.

🖥 You can watch Chelsea's Premier League games live with Sling TV in the U.S. – sign up here!

• Christian Pulisic overall stats 2022-23

  Appearances:	26
  Games started:	9
  Goals:	1
  Assists:	2

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• Premier League Matchday 1: Everton (A)

  Result: Win (0-1)

  Start: No

  Minutes Played: 25

  Goals: N/A

  Assists: N/A

  Cards: N/A

• Premier League Matchday 2: Tottenham (H)

  Result: Draw (2-2)

  Start: No

  Minutes Played: 5

  Goals: N/A

  Assists: N/A

  Cards: N/A

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• Premier League Matchday 3: Leeds United (A)

  Result: Loss (3-0)

  Start: No

  Minutes Played: 26

  Goals: N/A

  Assists: N/A

  Cards: N/A

The England winger scored his first Premier League goal in five months as United fought back to earn a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford against Leeds United.

Erik ten Hag has spent six months casting himself as a harsh disciplinarian determined to whip Manchester United into shape, but even he failed to withhold a smile from the touchline when Jadon Sancho came off the bench to net the leveller against Leeds United on Wednesday.

The England winger only just returned to the United team after spending several lonely months rehabilitating his confidence. His 70th-minute goal, coming as he followed up a blocked cross without hesitation, prevented Manchester United from their first home loss to Leeds since 2010.

Sancho finished the two-goal turnaround started by Marcus Rashford, who headed in Diogo Dalot's looped cross in the 62nd minute.

But the positive vibes created by Sancho could not completely offset the damage of dropped points against relegation-battling Leeds. Casemiro's three-match ban had an immediate effect as the Red Devils' midfield looked weak and disorganised. Conceding in the first three minutes of each half was unacceptable.

Manchester United are now three points up on Newcastle for third place and four points ahead of Tottenham for the final Champions League qualification spot.

GOAL breaks down the winners, losers and ratings from the Red Devils' draw…

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  The Winners

  Jadon Sancho:

  The thin margin between success and failure at this level is often determined by reflexes and assuredness. Yes, stars can create goals on their own, but they must also pounce on loose 50/50 balls and arrow them into the net. Sancho hasn't done much of that at Old Trafford. Too often, he's seemed stuck in his own head. On Wednesday, though, he quickly picked up possession in a traffic jam from a blocked Luke Shaw cross and swerved a shot past Illan Meslier. You could see his confidence after he scored that goal, even if it didn't lead to a winner. Manchester United need more of that in the coming months.

  Tottenham:

  Spurs are enjoying this sudden turnaround for their top-four hopes. They stunned Manchester City on Sunday and now have a chance to gain additional ground with Manchester United unexpectedly dropping points against Leeds.

  Wilfried Gnonto:

  The 19-year-old executed a one-two with Patrick Bamford, drove at United's defence and fired a first-minute shot past David de Gea just before Lisandro Martinez could close him down. When people talk about the speed of the Premier League, the split-second choices a player must make at a high level, they mean moments like this, up against a Champions League-calibre opponent in hostile territory. The youngest player in the Whites' line-up made it look easy to give them a crucial lift, and he also forced Raphael Varane into an own goal to begin the second half. Signing Gnonto at the summer deadline for just £4 million was a masterstroke from Leeds. A heist of Zurich, really, that could change the course of the club like Raphinha did previously.

  Tyler Adams:

  Next to fellow United States men's national team star Weston McKennie in midfield, Adams took full advantage of Manchester United's Casemiro-sized void. He forced Bruno Fernandes into the giveaway that sprung Leeds for Gnonto's early goal and continued to mix smart ball pressure and urgency to get the ball moving upon winning possession.

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  The Losers

  Wout Weghorst:

  It's difficult for someone so physically large to disappear, but the towering Weghorst went completely missing as United tried to respond to Leeds' surprise opener. When he departed, everything changed and the Red Devils rescued a point. This could be a turning point in Ten Hag's opinion of the forward.

  Casemiro:

  A silly, silly suspension from the midfielder has cost Manchester United again. He missed the team's 3-2 defeat to Arsenal on January 22 because of an unnecessary yellow card against Crystal Palace before his red-card offence against the same opponent on Saturday prompted a three-match ban. The Red Devils missed his experience on Wednesday; relying on the combination of Fred and Marcel Sabitzer, who had never started alongside one another, was always a risk. Every time Leeds won the ball in midfield, there was concern at Old Trafford that they could expand their lead.

  Fred:

  Manchester United fans are roasting Fred on social media right now, even though he didn't make any crucial errors that led to Leeds' goals. His problem is more that he can't seem to control a Premier League match, and without Casemiro, the team couldn't afford him to be a passenger. Again, he contributed too little.

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  Man Utd Ratings: Defence

  David de Gea (6/10):

  Not at fault for either goal and made a nice save from an awkward position when Pascal Struijk chested a deflected cross towards the target.

  Diogo Dalot (6/10):

  Taken to school by Gnonto on several occasions. Didn't let his head drop, though, and provided the assist for Rashford with an accurate, high-arching cross.

  Raphael Varane (5/10):

  Needed to put in a world-class performance and really lead with Casemiro out. While the own goal was a case of misfortune, his overall performance left a lot to be desired. Had the best chance at a winner but saw his header saved.

  Lisandro Martinez (5/10):

  Almost created a goal out of nothing in the first half when he scrambled to win a ball in the box and nudged it to Sabitzer. May have kicked Patrick Bamford in the face later on – his intention there is up for debate.

  Luke Shaw (6/10):

  Lukewarm. His blocked cross fell into the path of Sancho for the equaliser, but not much of an impact beyond that.

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  Midfield

  Fred (5/10):

  Didn't pick up the defensive slack left by Casemiro. Didn't ignite positive attacking play. Frustrating.

  Marcel Sabitzer (5/10):

  Probably should have hit the target when Martinez popped a ball onto his path for an early volley. Did some nice individual work to create long-shot opportunities for himself, including one that forced a difficult save, but never meshed with team-mates.

Raphinha and Jordi Alba starred as Barcelona came alive in the second half to beat Sevilla and got eight points clear of Real Madrid atop La Liga.

Barcelona can't seem to lose at the moment. The Blaugrana haven't been on the wrong end of a result since October, a run that continued with the visit of a lowly Sevilla side.

And Barca, as they have done for most of their La Liga campaign, delivered in style. They overcame a shaky first half and exploded with three goals in the second to run away 3-0 winners and take an eight-point lead atop La Liga.

After Real Madrid lost to Mallorca early in the day, Sunday night represented a massive chance for Barcelona. And in the first half, the Blaugrana looked unlikely to capitalise. Sevilla's defensive setup was difficult to crack, while an early injury to Sergio Busquets took the pace out of Barca's game.

Xavi's side were much improved in the second. Jordi Alba provided the breakthrough, darting into the box and meeting Franck Kessie's lay off with a tidy side-footed finish.

They added a second shortly after, with Gavi turning in Raphinha's angled pass from close range. Barca were well in a rhythm by the time the third came, as Alba fed Raphinha to finish a flowing move.

This was a big result for Xavi, a battering of a struggling but always dangerous opponent. And following Madrid's loss earlier in the day, Barca might just be edging close to something bigger.

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  The Winners

  Jordi Alba:

  Alba wasn't supposed to be in the XI on Sunday; he's fallen behind 19-year-old Alejandro Balde in Xavi's pecking order. But with Balde sidelined, Alba was given his chance. And he took it wonderfully. It was a classic Alba performance: constant runs, relentless energy and crucial quality in the final third. He created a few chances in the first half, and was even better in the second, scoring Barca's opener with a side-footed finish, before assisting Raphinha 20 minutes later. Alba benefitted from having little to do defensively, which suited his aging legs. Still, he showcased that he is still an impact player going forward.

  Franck Kessie:

  Speaking of unlikely heroes… Kessie was brought on as an emergency substitute after Busquets exited early with a nasty-looking ankle injury. The Ivorian seems an awkward fit in this Barca side. He doesn't necessarily have the same creative spark as Gavi or Pedri, and doesn't move the ball from a deep-lying role like Busquets. But on Sunday, he found his niche. Kessie played high up the pitch and was regularly in the Sevilla box. And from there, he assisted Barca's opener, a lovely little flick into Alba's path. He was also involved in the build-up to the second, spraying a pass to Raphinha, who, in turn, assisted Gavi.

  Raphinha:

  The former-Leeds man hasn't quite seen his Barcelona career take off yet. He's shifted positions frequently, playing on both the left and right, without avail. But with Ousmane Dembele out, Raphinha has been handed an extended run in the side in his preferred position. And he's taken advantage, tallying three goal contributions in his last two games. He approached his best on Sunday night, highlighted by a standout second half in which he grabbed a goal and an assist. Barcelona will need him to continue this form while Dembele is sidelined.

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  The Losers

  Sergio Busquets:

  As soon as Busquets is starting to move into form, injury hit. The Spain international has been excellent in recent weeks, evoking memories of old with his metronomic passing and stout tackling. He was removed after five minutes against Sevilla, though, after twisting his ankle against the turf during a collision. It didn't appear to be a malicious challenge, but Busquets seemed in serious pain all the same. The good news for Xavi is that the 36-year-old was able to walk off. The bad news is he didn't look desperately comfortable doing it.

  Ivan Rakitic:

  Rakitic endured a forgettable night at his former stomping ground. The ex-Barcelona midfielder only managed 37 touches and had little impact on the game as his side was battered by a rampant home team. Rakitic is now 34 and was phased out of the Barca side almost three years ago with the arrival of Frenkie de Jong. Still, it must hurt for the Croatian to be on the end of such a one-sided result at a stadium where he enjoyed a successful spell.

  Real Madrid:

  Madrid lost to Mallorca earlier in the day, giving Barcelona a chance to go eight points clear atop the table. And the Blaugrana got their business done in style, leaving their biggest rivals with a lot of ground to make up in the coming weeks. Real now need Barca to drop points — which they seem increasingly unlikely to do.

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  Barcelona Ratings: Defence

  Marc Andre ter Stegen (7/10):

  Had one save to make. Celebrated joyously after Alba opened the scoring.

  Jules Kounde (7/10):

  Looked comfortable throughout, even if he doesn't have the best understanding with Raphinha yet. Kept Sevilla's wide men quiet, too.

  Ronald Araujo (7/10):

  Really impressive passing performance from an ever-improving centre-back. Good to get him a rest after Barca took a 3-0 lead.

  Andreas Christensen (7/10):

  His partnership with Araujo is really blossoming. Won all but one of his aerial duels and kept the ball moving.

  Jordi Alba (8/10):

  Unlikely starter after Alejandro Balde was ruled out with the flu. Turned in his best performance since the World Cup with a goal and an assist.

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  Midfield

  Pedri (6/10):

  Lots of tidy stuff, but Pedri didn't necessarily have his best game. Didn't matter in the end.

  Sergio Busquets (4/10):

  Subbed off after five minutes with a nasty-looking ankle twist. Barca will hope it's not too bad.

  Frenkie de Jong (7/10):

  Moved to the deeper "Busquets" role after the veteran was taken off. De Jong showed why he can be a viable replacement long term with an excellent 90 minutes.

Former Manchester United man Keith Gillespie has been impressed by the form of Mason Greenwood this season, telling Football FanCast that his improvement has been “incredible”.

The young striker was again among the goals last weekend, scoring twice as United beat Burnley 3-1 at Old Trafford.

The goals mean that he has scored five Premier League goals this season, adding up to nine in all competitions.

The 19-year-old remains remarkably young, and he has primarily played on the right wing under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, instead of through the middle.

He has been in fine fettle in recent weeks, scoring four goals in three games, as he was also on the scoresheet against Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur.

Gillespie, a former winger himself, believes that Greenwood is a nightmare for defenders to deal with, and thinks that he is growing into a superb young player.

He told FFC in an exclusive interview prior to the Burnley game: “You can see with Greenwood, he can go either way when he cuts in from that right, you saw it the other day, he scores with his right foot, he is left-footed.

“It’s a great option to have because defenders just don’t know which way to send him.

“They know that he can shoot with both feet, he’s still very young and I think the improvement he’s made since a year, 18 months ago, has been incredible. It’s fantastic.”

Erik ten Hag has already been heavily backed since his arrival at Old Trafford, but more reinforcements will be needed for him to complete his squad

Manchester United spent over £220 million ($266m) in the summer transfer window, a new club record, to bring in Brazilian duo Antony and Casemiro, Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez, and Dutch full-back Tyrell Malacia.

They also managed to sign Christian Eriksen on a free transfer and Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on loan, with Erik Ten Hag wasting little time in beginning an extensive squad overhaul.

He still has work to do to finalise a squad in his image, though, and United could dip back into the winter market to boost their chances of finishing the 2022-23 season with the holy duo of silverware and Champions League qualification.

Cristiano Ronaldo's controversial exit has opened up a spot in attack, while Aaron Wan Bissaka's decline means United may have to look at extra options in defence, but who are the players most likely to join Ten Hag's revolution?

GOAL takes a look…

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  Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

  Napoli have been the surprise package of the 2022-23 season so far, recording 13 wins alongside just two draws to storm to the top of the Serie A standings while also reaching the Champions League knockout stages as Group A winners ahead of Liverpool.

  Osimhen has been key to their rise despite missing a decent chunk of the campaign with injury, scoring 10 goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, including a spectacular late winner against Roma.

  The stunning goal encapsulated all of the Nigerian's best qualities: Speed, strength, intelligence and technique as he made a superb run in behind before outmuscling Chris Smalling and rifling an unstoppable volley into the far corner of the net.

  That explosive turn of pace and quick thinking in the final third is exactly what Ten Hag's goal-shy United have missed this term, and Osimhen looks like he also has the physical toughness to be a big hit in the Premier League.

  The 23-year-old is under contract in Naples until 2025, and is reportedly being valued in excess of £100m ($121m), but such a fee could prove a bargain investment for United if he continues to improve at such a rapid rate in the coming years.

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  Denzel Dumfries (Inter)

  Louis van Gaal took an unfancied Netherlands side to within a whisker of the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, and there was no player more important than Denzel Dumfries during the Oranje's impressive run.

  Deployed in his favoured right-wing-back role, Dumfries provided an invaluable extra attacking outlet while also sticking to his duties in defence, with his standout display coming in the last 16 against the USMNT as he laid on two assists and scored one himself in a 3-1 victory.

  The 26-year-old's showings will have come as little surprise to fans of Inter, who have seen him wreak havoc on the right flank throughout his first 17 months at San Siro.

  United lack depth in that position, with Diogo Dalot having replaced Aaron Wan Bissaka in the line up after the Englishman's alarming decline over the past year.

  Dumfries would be an upgrade on Dalot, and is reportedly available for around £42m ($51m) in January, but United will have to move quickly to secure his services amid rival interest from Chelsea.

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  Goncalo Ramos (Benfica)

  Ronaldo's contract was terminated by United at the start of the World Cup on the back of his controversial interview with Piers Morgan, during which he spouted off against the club for his lack of playing time in the first half of the season.

  The 37-year-old's fortunes did not improve in Qatar as he was also benched by Portugal boss Fernando Santos, and to rub salt in his wounds, his replacement, Goncalo Ramos, instantly hit the ground running.

  Ramos hit a stunning hat trick as Portugal steamrollered their way to a 6-1 win against Switzerland in the last 16, and although he failed to follow it up with another starring display in their quarter-final loss to Morocco, Europe's biggest clubs are now on alert.

  United are among those being linked with Ramos, who has hit nine goals in 11 Primeira Liga games for Benfica this season, but again, they may need to break the bank to win the race for his signature.

  Benfica president Rui Costa has insisted the 21-year-old won't be sold unless his buy-out clause is met, which reportedly stands at a whopping £103m ($125m).

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  Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)

  Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix represents another Portuguese option for United, with the playmaker having reportedly been on their radar since his breakthrough as a teenager at Benfica.

  Felix has struggled to settle in the Spanish capital since his £113m move in 2019, and Atletico president Gil Marin has admitted he could be sold in 2023.

  ''The relationship between him and the boss [Simeone], the minutes played, his motivation right now – it makes you think that the reasonable thing is that if there's an option that's good for the player, good for the club, we can look at it,'' Marin recently told when asked about Felix. ''I'd love him to stay personally, but I don't think that's the player's idea."

  Marin's claims of friction between Felix and Simeone were further backed-up when the 23-year-old declared "when the conditions are favourable, things go better'' after his stellar World Cup turn for Portugal against the Swiss.

  Felix recorded two assists and one goal in Qatar, but his market value has dropped significantly this season as he only has seven goal contributions from 18 appearances for Atletico to his name.

  United are well placed to offer Felix a fresh start, and he could be tempted by a club reunion with his international colleagues Bruno Fernandes and Dalot.

Charlton Athletic have been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of their crucial League One finale this Saturday.

What’s the latest?

Nigel Adkins has been left sweating over the fitness of Addicks midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey ahead of the club’s must-win fixture against Hull City this weekend, as the midfielder was taken off with a knee injury Tuesday’s 3-1 win over Lincoln City.

When asked for an update on the 27-year-old’s condition after the game, Adkins said: “I don’t know. We’ve got brilliant medical staff so we’ll get it assessed. Obviously for Jake to come off there must be something going on with his knee.

“I don’t know, it might be a soft tissue injury. I don’t know, is the answer. Obviously, he’s a warrior who wants to carry on with things. We’ll see. We’ll have to get the right diagnosis and we’ll go from there. It’s not nice when anyone comes off.”

Huge blow

With Charlton simply having to win against the League One table-toppers on Saturday to stand any chance of securing a place in the play-offs, the news of a new injury, let alone one to a player as important as Forster-Caskey, is likely to come as extremely unwelcome news to both Adkins and fans of the club alike.

So far this season, Forster-Caskey has been in exceptional form over his 34 appearances for the Addicks, with the midfielder scoring six goals, providing two assists and creating two big chances, as well as making an average of 1.6 interceptions, 2.2 tackles and 1.4 key passes per game, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 7.26 – ranking him as the club’s best performer in the third tier.

As such, it goes without saying how devastating it would be for Adkins to be without the midfielder in such an important and difficult fixture, and both the 56-year-old and fans of Charlton will undoubtedly be praying for the £6,100-per-week star’s recovery in time for the clash.

In other news: Lost possession 15x: Charlton passenger who committed 6 fouls let Adkins down vs Imps – opinion

GOAL previews the continent’s stars expected to feature for their respective clubs around the world this weekend

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  Preview of Africans in Europe

  Liverpool’s African contingent will look to heap more pressure on Riyad Mahrez’s Manchester City but they have to outdo a tricky Tottenham Hotspur game on Saturday night.

  Elsewhere, Ismaila Sarr and his Watford teammates could be relegated this weekend if they are beaten by Crystal Palace.

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  Edouard Mendy

  Chelsea’s goalkeeper has had a tough few weeks with clean sheets few and far between.

  Last week’s defeat by Everton means the Senegal goalkeeper has kept only one shut-out in his last four Premier League games, a situation he hopes to change against goal-shy Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.

  Wolves have not found the back of the net in their last three games, giving the Blues the edge as they look for back to back wins at Stamford Bridge to keep Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at bay in the battle for the final two Champions League positions.

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  Ismaila Sarr

  Watford’s relegation from the top flight could be confirmed this weekend, with Sarr and his colleagues facing the drop of they fail to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

  In fairness, the Hornets are facing a losing battle anyway, with 10 points separating them from 18th-placed Everton who have a game outstanding.

  Wilfried Zaha netted the winner in Palace’s turnaround at Southampton last time out and the wide attacker will look to score his 13th league goal of the season.

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  Premier League title race

  Liverpool could go top of the league if they beat Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday night which heaps pressure on Riyad Mahrez and his Manchester City teammates who host Newcastle United on Sunday.

  Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Joel Matip are likely to play from the off against Antonio Conte’s men who need a victory to stay within touching distance of Arsenal in fourth.

  For Mahrez’s part, it remains to be seen how the Cityzens react to Wednesday’s hurtful defeat by Real Madrid.

  Having said that, with the league Pep Guardiola’s only chance of a trophy this season, the leaders will back themselves against the Magpies at the Etihad Stadium.