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AS TRANSFER MARKET CLOSES TODAY, 10 DEALS THAT COULD HAPPEN ON DEADLINE

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The transfer window is set to shut at 11 pm this Monday but there are several deals including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal that could be completed on a busy market day.

According to London, Mirror, it has been a transfer window unlike any other. It has been full of fireworks.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of millions have been spent – with all the big boys in the Premier League getting their wallets out.

But they are not done yet, with some utterly huge transfer sagas hanging in the balance.

What will happen to Jadon Sancho? Will Declan Rice move? And where will Dele Alli end up?

By the end of today, all these questions will have reached their conclusions – whether fans like it or not.

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1. Jadon Sancho

The one all United fans want to see get over the line after a summer-long pursuit.

Borussia Dortmund have insisted that Sancho is going nowhere but if the Red Devils stump up the £109m asking price, can they really turn that down?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to see the England international signed and with the growing negativity around the club, his arrival would be a welcome boost.

2. Ousmane Dembele

Manchester United are hell-bent on landing a right-winger and have turned to Barcelona star Dembele as an alternative to Sancho.

The Red Devils only want a loan whereas Barca are keen on a permanent transfer – so plenty of work to get this over the line.

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3. Dele Alli

Once upon a time, the England international was undroppable at Tottenham but nowadays he cannot get in the squad.

Paris St-Germain have made several attempts to land him on loan and this one could go to the wire.

4. Alex Telles

After a whirlwind week for United, it appears they are closing in on the signing of Telles from Porto.

The Portuguese club initially rejected an offer from the Red Devils but the left-back has forced a move through and this deal will be confirmed today.

5. Antonio Rudiger

Lampard has left the German out of five matchday squads and a move away looks nailed on – with Spurs and PSG interested.

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How a deal is structured looks the main gripe, with

6. Lucas Torreira

One of the stranger deals that could be completed, with the Uruguayan already completing a medical and agreeing personal terms at Atletico Madrid.

However, the Spanish club must move Hector Herrera on before confirming the arrival of Torreria.

7. Edinson Cavani

With Manchester United desperate for more attacking firepower, Solskjaer looks to have landed experienced forward Cavani.

The Uruguayan left Paris St-Germain in the summer and will complete a two-year contract today at Old Trafford.

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8. Thomas Partey

Atletico Madrid’s midfield enforcer is wanted by both Arsenal and Chelsea – despite the former chasing him all summer.

But their dallying has opened the door to the Blues, who could move on from their chase for West Ham ace Rice.

9. Declan Rice

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is desperate to sign a defensive midfielder to cap off a summer of huge spending.

But West Ham have no intention of selling and with time running out, the Blues may have to look elsewhere – with one man in mind…

10. Xherdan Shaqiri

Liverpool look like they are done for incomings but Jurgen Klopp hinted Shaqiri could be on his way out.

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Sevilla and Lazio have been linked with the Swiss international – who has been further marginalised by the signing of Diogo Jota at Anfield.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Bundesliga

Boniface strike hands Leverkusen thrilling 4-3 comeback win over Wolfsburg

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Bundesliga - Bayer Leverkusen v VfL Wolfsburg - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - September 22, 2024 Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Granit Xhaka and Edmond Tapsoba REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Bayer Leverkusen pulled off a stunning Bundesliga comeback when they twice fought back from a goal down as Victor Boniface netted a 93rd-minute winner in a 4-3 home victory over VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday.

Second-placed Leverkusen have nine points from four games, level with SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankurt and two ahead of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, who play later on Sunday.

Despite taking home the three points, it was far from a convincing performance from the champions, with midfielder Granit Xhaka criticising his side’s defending.

“This is a huge wake-up call for all of us. We can’t continue with this performance,” Xhaka told DAZN.

“We can’t defend so naively. That’s not good enough and shouldn’t happen at this level. A top team doesn’t concede two goals in nine minutes! It was all far too easy.”

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Coach Xabi Alonso opted to shuffle his pack, making five changes to the team that beat Feyenoord 4-0 in the Champions League, and Leverkusen suffered a nightmare start as they conceded from a Nordi Mukiele own goal in the fourth minute.

Leverkusen levelled nine minutes later when Florian Wirtz found space on the edge of the box and swept his shot into the bottom corner, before an unmarked Jonathan Tah scored their second with a cool header at the back post.

The lead was short-lived as the visitors equalised from a Sebastiaan Bornauw header before Mattias Svanberg went on a driving run in Leverkusen’s half and curled the ball past goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky on the stroke of halftime.

Leverkusen looked more assured after Alsonso made two changes during the break and their pressure quickly told, as substitute Piero Hincapie headed home a corner in the 49th minute.

Alonso brought on attackers Boniface and Martin Terrier with Leverkusen desperately seeking a winner and Wolfsburg quickly faded under the pressure.

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The visitors suffered another blow when substitute Yannick Gerhardt was shown a red card in the 88th minute after clattering into Jeremie Frimpong from behind and then stepping on the defender’s ankle.

Sensing disarray in Wolfsburg’s ranks, the hosts surged forward and Nigerian Boniface, who started on the bench despite scoring twice in Leverkusen’s last league game, pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and rifled home the winner.

“We knew how Wolfsburg would play and what we were up against… we really wanted to turn the game around for our fans,” Boniface said.

“We managed to do that. Now, of course, we’re very happy.”

The win will fill Leverkusen with confidence ahead of their daunting clash against in-form league-leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday.

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-Reuters

 

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Bundesliga

Boniface strikes twice for Leverkusen in 4-1 win at Hoffenheim

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Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v Bayer Leverkusen - PreZero Arena, Hoffenheim, Germany - September 14, 2024 Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface scores their second goal REUTERS/Heiko Becker

Champions Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 4-1 victory at Hoffenheim on Saturday thanks to a dazzling performance by Victor Boniface that included two goals and an assist.

Leverkusen, who face Feyenoord at the start of the Champions League campaign next week, bounced back after losing to RB Leipzig just before the international break for what was their first domestic defeat in more than a season.

On Saturday they took control quickly and struck twice in the first half-hour, with Boniface twice beating the offside trap to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

The Nigerian first set up Martin Terrier for a tap-in after 17 minutes and then scored himself in the 30th.

Hoffenheim’s Mergim Berisha, making his first appearances since a knee ligament tear last November, cut the deficit in the 37th and had another chances for a second goal a little later.

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Leverkusen, however, never lost control of the game and restored their two-goal lead courtesy of a Florian Wirtz penalty in the 72nd.

Boniface then single-handedly dismantled the Hoffenheim defence with a strong run down the left, powering a shot past keeper Oliver Baumann in the 75th to lift Leverkusen to fourth place on six points.

Borussia Dortmund are top on seven points, with Bayern Munich, on six, visiting Holstein Kiel later on Saturday.

-Reuters

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Bundesliga

Guinea player, Naby Keita suspended for rest of season by Bundelisga side

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Werder Bremen have suspended Guinea’s Naby Keita for the rest of the season and forced him to pay a ‘substantial fine’ after he refused to play in Sunday’s Bundesliga clash with Bayer Leverkusen.

Keita made headlines over the weekend when he refused to travel with his teammates and instead went home after finding out that he would not make the starting lineup for the game which eventually saw Leverkusen crowned Bundesliga champions.

While reports claim Keita will receive a ‘substantial fine’, an official statement from the club has revealed he will serve a suspension. Keita will be not be selected for games for the rest of this season, while he will also be banned from training with the team and featuring in the dressing room.

Bremen director Clemens Fritz said: “Naby’s behaviour cannot be tolerated for us as a club. With this action, he let his team down in a tense sporting and personnel situation and placed himself above the team.

“We can’t allow that. At this stage of the season we need full focus on the remaining games and a team that is very close together. There was therefore no alternative to our measures.”

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The former Liverpool midfielder joined the club as a free agent on a three-year deal in the summer of 2023, following a poor spell at Anfield.

The 29-year-old was keen to defend himself and his professionalism, taking to Instagram to share his point of view. He said: “Ever since I arrived at this magnificent club, I have always shown my professionalism.

“I have always tried to help the club and the great supporters, especially during this time of poor results. Since the start of my career, I have never had problems with my discipline and have always shown an exemplary attitude. I will not accept any person trying to tarnish my image.

“To the supporters, I have always worked hard in training to get the right result at the weekend. In training, I can only give my best.”

Keita has played just 106 minutes for Bremen since moving back to the Bundesliga last summer and now will be unable to secure any further game time during the current campaign.

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