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Manchester United aren't in a position to change hands at ownership level and the situation is 'still the same' despite reports from Qatar, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest takeover news involving Manchester United?

As per Qatari-based media organisation Al Watan via The Manchester Evening News on Monday, reports started to circulate that Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Nine Two Foundation had won in their bid to take 100% control of Manchester United, with their editorial director Fahed al Emadi stating: "The announcement of the deal will be very soon."

Nevertheless, al Emadi retracted his statement soon after, tweeting: "Contrary to certain media and social media reports overnight, Al Watan is not owned by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and Al Watan's media report yesterday speculating about possible movement in the Manchester United takeover process was based on international media reports, as stated in the article itself, and with such news widely circulating periodically in international media for many months."

The Daily Mail cite that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS are rival bidders to Sheikh Jassim and are proposing to buy a majority stake in the club that would allow the Glazer family to stay on for a period of time after the takeover before performing a 'sourced buyout' of the Premier League giants.

ESPN claim that several minority investment firms are waiting to hear whether they have been successful in their quest to gain some footing at Manchester United and are still in the process as the Glazer family weighs up all potential options.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Romano has stated that despite media reports, Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation are no closer to buying Manchester United than they were before.

Romano said: “It’s still the same. I'm really sorry Man United fans, but we can't control that. The reality is that, at the moment, nothing has changed. It's still up to the Glazers.”

What next for Manchester United?

Manchester United face a crucial few days at ownership level; however, that will not deter Erik Ten Hag in his bid to secure several new signings this summer ahead of next term.

Multiple players have been linked with the possibility of a move to Old Trafford and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has cropped up as a key target for the Red Devils, who are said to be in the process of formalising their interest in the England international with a bid for his services in the near future, as per Sky Sports.

Atalanta rising star Rasmus Hojlund is also on Manchester United's radar and talkSPORT claim that they are set to press ahead with their pursuit of the 20-year-old striker as Ten Hag looks to bolster his forward line.

Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is in the sights of Manchester United and has rejected a new contract at his current employers amid indications that he is attracting attention from the Red Devils, as per 90min, signifying that a lot of intriguing scenarios could appear in the next few weeks at Old Trafford both regarding potential ownership and player recruitment.

Crystal Palace have submitted a bid for Sunderland winger Jack Clarke, but there are a number of Premier League clubs vying for his signature, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest Crystal Palace transfer news?

Despite not having a new manager in place ahead of next season, Palace have already been linked with a number of players, including former loanee Conor Gallagher, who Chelsea could let leave for £40m, according to talkSPORT's Alex Crook, while the Eagles are closing in on a move for Bournemouth midfielder Jefferson Lerma, as reported by Romano.

The Eagles are also expected to bid for Galatasaray right-back Sacha Boey, who is valued at €15m (£13m) by the Turkish club, however, there will be a number of teams battling for his signature, with Arsenal and Wolfsburg expected to make offers.

There may also be a number of key departures at Selhurst Park this summer, as Jean-Philippe Mateta wants to leave, while Wilfried Zaha has been linked with a move elsewhere, with his contract set to expire at the end of June.

As such, Palace may be tasked with replacing the winger, and Romano now reports they have already submitted a bid for Sunderland's Clarke, but there is set to be fierce competition for his signature.

Burnley and Brentford have also submitted bids for the 22-year-old, and there is a chance that he remains at Sunderland, given that a new deal is currently being negotiated, as the Black Cats consider him a "vital" player.

Should Crystal Palace sign Jack Clarke?

Hailed as "unreal" by journalist Josh Bunting, the winger played a vital role in Sunderland's promotion push in the Championship last season, weighing in with 11 goals and 13 assists in all competitions, the most attacking contributions of any player.

The £17k-per-week ace averaged two dribbles per game in the second tier, the same amount as Zaha averaged in the Premier League, while a figure of 1.7 key passes ranks him way out in front as the Black Cats' most creative player.

Although no Crystal Palace fan will want to see Zaha leave the club, there are signs that Clarke could be a very good replacement, ranking in the 86th percentile for successful dribbles per 90, when compared to players at a similar level.

The Sunderland gem is yet to gain any experience above the Championship, however, he is showing all the signs that he is ready to make the step up, and it looks as if this will be one to keep an eye on.

Manchester City have been handed a fresh boost in their efforts to try and hold onto Ilkay Gundogan, with reports in Spain suggesting that Barcelona's financial uncertainty could scupper a deal for the player.

Is Ilkay Gundogan leaving Manchester City?

The midfielder has remained a key part of the City machine this season, with the player featuring in 31 Premier League games so far. Only five players in the squad have featured in more outings than the German and he has also produced a total of eight goals and four assists along the way, becoming a key component of their title triumph.

Therefore, if he were to leave, it would leave a gaping hole in Pep Guardiola's team. It has looked like a real possibility, though, with rivals Arsenal the most recent team to be credited with an interest in signing Gundogan. In addition to that, with his deal expiring this summer, Barcelona have been eager to wrap up a deal for the former Borussia Dortmund man.

However, it now appears that there is hope of Gundogan staying at the Etihad Stadium. According to a report from Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), despite Barcelona having reached "an agreement in principle" with the midfielder's agent, their current financial situation means a deal could be scuppered.

The Catalan giants cannot register new players as yet, and the hold up with this amid their own economic worries – coupled with City now deciding to offer the German better terms themselves – means it is now no longer clear as to whether he will end up moving to Spain.

Is Ilkay Gundogan moving to Barcelona?

City will be hoping that this means they are more likely to get the player to commit to the club – especially considering how well he has performed for them.

With a WhoScored rating of 7.11 this season, Gundogan is within the side's top ten performers and has outplayed the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva in this department, while his goal tally makes him the highest-scoring midfielder for Pep Guardiola's team. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has also praised the player in the past for how good he has been, calling him a "genius". It shows just how highly valued the German is.

Meanwhile, the CIES Football Observatory suggests his value should be somewhere around the €40m (£34m) mark, so if City were to lose him on a free transfer, it could be a massive blow for them. Regardless of the Citizens' riches, to lose a player of such value without generating a fee would be bad business – but it appears there is now hope that the club could keep him at the Etihad Stadium.

Chelsea have brought in a raft of different players across the duration of 2022/23, strengthening both last summer and in the January transfer window.

The Blues have spent close to £600 million since co-owner Todd Boehly came to the fore at Stamford Bridge, though that hasn't improved their standing in the Premier League, as they sit 12th in the table with just two games to go.

Some arrivals have been more successful than others, naturally, though there have also been some that haven't been afforded a proper opportunity to stake a claim for first-team action.

Carney Chukwuemeka would fall into the latter category since his £20 million move from Aston Villa, with things not going to plan for the 19-year-old since his move to west London.

What's the latest news involving Carney Chukwuemeka?

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones thinks that Chukwuemeka will try and force his way back into the reckoning at Chelsea next term.

Jones told FFC when asked about the possibility of Chukwuemeka being sent out on loan: "I mean, some players are going to go out on loan. Chukwuemeka absolutely didn't join Chelsea with the intention of being sent out on loan the following year. That's not in line with what he was sold when he joined Chelsea. He joined this club because he felt there was a good path for him into the first team and he's got every intention to try and make that happen."

So, it looks as if Boehly has sold Chukwuemeka a dream as it's now been reported that the midfielder is being lined up for a loan.

In 2022/23, the youngster has made just 13 appearances for the Blues in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt, demonstrating that he has a right to be frustrated with his lack of involvement at his current employers.

Chelsea have recently refused to release £100k-a-week ace Chukwuemeka to play in the Under-20 World Cup for England, as per The Daily Mail, something that would've given him more exposure in a high-stakes environment.

Blues' caretaker boss Frank Lampard explained the decision not to let Chukwuemeka join up with his international teammates, stating: "He's a Chelsea player and we have injuries in that area. It was a big move for him and he hasn't managed to get many minutes, but hopefully there's an opportunity for him in these three games. Where we have lost players we need him to stay. There's a possibility he can join up at the end of the season if the England get through to the next stages so that might mean the best of both worlds in an ideal way."

The light at the end of the tunnel may be there for Chukwuemeka to get some minutes under his belt at Chelsea, though the playmaker who was labelled as "exciting" by former boss Graham Potter earlier this term will feel like he was sold a dream that hasn't been delivered on at Stamford Bridge so far.

Despite being utilised sparingly, WhoScored notes that the ex-Aston Villa protege has recorded an average pass accuracy of 84.7%, demonstrating that he can be trusted with the ball in tight spaces.

In 2021/22, when he was getting more first-team openings at Aston Villa, Chukwuemeka managed an average match rating of 7.24/10, according to the same outlet, which is probably a big reason why Chelsea batted off stiff competition from the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan to secure his signature.

Looking forward, pre-season could be the perfect chance to show his qualities to whoever assumes the managerial vacancy at Chelsea, which is likely to be Mauricio Pochettino as things stand.

Everton are considering submitting an official offer to bring UD Almeria striker El Bilal Toure to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Toure to Goodison Park?

The Mali international only arrived at the Power Horse Stadium last summer, but during his 20 appearances in his debut season in La Liga, has rapidly become Rubi's best-performing offensive player, so despite his contract not running out until 2028, has caught the eye of Farhad Moshiri and Sean Dyche on Merseyside, but not for the first time.

Back in April, GOAL in Spain reported that the Toffees had made contact with the 21-year-old's representatives to discover what it would take to complete a deal during the upcoming window, and they must have liked the information that they discovered because they are now seriously contemplating testing the waters by tabling a financial bid.

According to the Daily Mail, Everton are "looking" at making an offer for Toure as they hope to "strengthen" their attacking ranks ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Goodison Park outfit's search for a new striker has "led them" to the £5k-per-week ace, who is also attracting "interest" from Thomas Frank's Brentford.

The Toffees target's price tag is at this stage unknown, but whether they do or don't follow through with their pursuit is likely to "depend" on their league status at the end of the current campaign.

Should Everton sign Toure?

Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin has once again been severely hampered by injuries this season, and with Neal Maupay and Ellis Simms having not lived up to expectations either, Dyche will need final third reinforcements and Toure could be the missing piece of the puzzle.

Almeria's talisman, who has the ability to play equally with both feet, has eight goal contributions (six goals and two assists) in 19 La Liga outings this season, form which has seen him receive two man-of-the-match awards and previously be lauded a “major talent” by journalist Graeme Bailey.

Standing at 6 foot, the centre-forward isn’t the tallest of players but still makes a great target man as he’s currently averaging 2.2 aerial wins per league game, so is likely to be a strong physical presence when it comes to getting on the end of long balls and set pieces.

Finally, Toure has the versatility to operate out wide on both the left and right flanks and even in attacking midfield alongside his natural position up top so he would provide the boss with great cover across the pitch should he ever need it, making him an ideal candidate to put pen to paper on Merseyside.

Everton rarely shy away from controversy on and off the pitch and this season has been no different with yet another managerial sacking alongside a troubling Premier League financial investigation.

If that wasn't enough drama for one club, the Toffees are currently battling a tightly contested relegation battle and with just six games left to save their season, sit 18th in the drop zone.

Sean Dyche can barely be blamed for the trouble unfolding at the club, but will be the focal point for the Goodison Park faithful when it comes to damage control on the pitch and will be expected to save the season as his predecessor Frank Lampard did just 12 months ago.

Whether the former Burnley boss manages to retain Everton's Premier League status this season or not, there is a lot of work to be done in the summer in terms of personnel in the squad and developing a better future for the Toffees, with mistakes needing to be repaired and loose ends tied before they return to action next season.

One of those loose ends is no doubt Everton attacker Dele Alli, who was sent out on loan to Besiktas at the start of the season after failing to make an impact on Merseyside.

Sadly, he has already been frozen out by the Turkish club and will recover from his season-ending injury in England.

It is reported that the former England star will have his ties severed at Everton and will be free to leave Goodison this summer, which could pave the way for Dyche to bring through an academy star who could help forget the nightmare that has been Alli's tenure on the blue side of Merseyside.

That breakthrough player could be attacking midfielder and former U18s captain Sean McAllister, who has consistently impressed in the academy and could finally get his chance in the first team.

Who is Sean McAllister?

The 20-year-old talent joined the Blues from Dungannon Swifts back in 2019 and has quickly risen through the ranks of the youth set-up to become a key player for both the U21s and U23s.

This season, the midfielder put in some outstanding performances in the Football League Trophy and ended the tournament as the highest-rated player (8.05) in the entire squad – as per Sofascore.

Over two appearances in the competition, the Northern Irishman – who was dubbed a "great athlete" by Dixie Robinson – scored one goal and registered three assists as a marker of his attacking prowess.

Diving deeper into the stats, McAllister successfully completed 50% of his dribbles, as well as averaging 1.5 key passes and registering 1.5 shots on target per game.

In total, the youngster has tallied up 17 goals and delivered 17 assists in the U18s and U21s with a goal contribution every 143 minutes, further proving that he is a huge presence in the final third.

Last week, Everton's hot prospect was rewarded with a brand new contract to secure his future at the club until the summer of 2024 and he spoke out about his hopes for the future upon penning the deal:

"I have trained a few times with the senior side, and I hope to get a few more in. But I want to keep impressing with the Under-21s and maybe get a loan deal if one comes, too."

Indeed, the player may be keen to go out on loan soon, however, he could become an important player in the first-team squad to bolster the attacking threat at Goodison Park should they either be relegated or find themselves suffering further financial constraints.

With that being said, the future is looking bright for McAllister and if he continues to thrive in the academy, it won't be too long before the youngster follows in the footsteps of Tom Davies, Anthony Gordon and Ellis Simms.

Before Jurgen Klopp arrived at Liverpool during the 2015/16 season, their success in the transfer market over the preceding five years had been woeful to say the least, with only a few gems making up for the countless flops that joined under Roy Hodgson and then Brendan Rodgers.

One of those standout purchases was Joe Gomez, who arrived at the Reds from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2015 for a paltry sum of just £3.5m with the 18-year-old highly regarded upon his arrival on Merseyside.

He only had 24 senior appearances to his name before signing for Rodgers, and it was evident he was a player earmarked for the future.

Fast-forward nearly eight years later, and he is still standing in the Liverpool first team while his value has soared.

How much is Joe Gomez worth now?

It took a few seasons for the Englishman to break into the side on a regular basis, having to wait until the 2017/18 campaign to make more than 20 Premier League appearances for the club, yet he was about to become part of the greatest Liverpool era since the halcyon days of the 70s and 80s.

Gomez would win the Champions League and a Premier League winners medal while adding in countless other trophies all while remaining a key part of the team. Although never truly one of the first names on the team sheet, Klopp is certainly a fan of the defender, saying this back in 2020:

“He is a sensational footballer, which is good. He has outstanding speed, which helps us a lot to keep our last line high; he is a really good challenger; good in one-on-one situations; football-wise, I said already, good.

“The package is really nice. It was always clear in the moment he starts playing and can get rhythm again, everything will be fine – and that’s how it is.”

High praise from one of the finest coaches in the world and although Liverpool have been patchy this term, Gomez has managed to achieve a Sofascore rating of 6.92/10, ranking him as the second-best centre-back in the squad.

The initial £3.5m outlay back in 2015 now looks like a stroke of genius, particularly with Football Transfers now valuing the 25-year-old at €33m (£29m) which represents an increase of 728%, a staggering rise.

Having signed a new long-term deal last summer, Klopp could certainly cash in on the player for a massive profit, however, with his ability, keeping him at Liverpool may be the wisest move.

Tottenham Hotspur fell to yet another disappointing Premier League defeat yesterday, as Cristian Stellini oversaw a miserable afternoon against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It marked their third league game without Rodrigo Bentancur, who was ruled out for the foreseeable future following his injury against Leicester City. The Uruguayan will undergo ACL surgery, thus leaving a gaping hole in the engine room alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

The Denmark international had struck up a fine partnership with the 25-year-old, so to break them apart will only scupper their top-four hopes further.

This defeat to the Old Gold represented a missed opportunity to capitalise on Newcastle United’s loss, and they must find a solution for their midfield vacancy to avoid dropping more points in their race to retain Champions League football once again.

Who could replace Bentancur at Spurs?

Whilst Oliver Skipp has deputised over the last few games, Pape Matar Sarr is the outstanding candidate for Stellini and Antonio Conte to be Bentancur’s long-term successor going into the new season.

He boasts the energy and quality that differentiates him from Hojbjerg, whereas the English midfielder does not. The 27-year-old records an 89% pass accuracy per game, and acts as more of a deep-lying playmaker alongside his 80.9 touches per game, via Sofascore.

The Senegalese youngster was thrown into the deep end to face AC Milan last month and showed poise and maturity beyond his youth. He earned a 7.1 rating for that display, making 77 touches, one key pass and maintaining an 83% pass accuracy. This was underpinned by a mammoth five tackles too according to Sofascore.

Journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor was full of expectation for Sarr upon his return from a loan spell, as he took to Twitter to claim: “There’s so much ability there.”

With just eight senior appearances under his belt for the Lilywhites, if he is to replace their injured stalwart then the end of this season represents a fine opportunity to build up his confidence in the first team.

When compared to other midfielders across Europe, the 20-year-old ranks in the top 1% for interceptions and the top 14% for tackles, whilst surprisingly also in the top 15% for assists, via FBref.

All the attributes are there for Sarr to star for Spurs and put to bed their injury woes as they enter the business end of the season.

Leeds United have reportedly contacted manager Gerardo Martino over a potential move to Elland Road.

The Lowdown: Martino profiled

Martino is an experienced coach who is currently out of work after leaving Mexico following last year’s World Cup in Qatar. The 60-year-old managed Barcelona back in 2013 and has even worked in the MLS with Atlanta.

He has a win over Leeds legend Marcelo Bielsa on his CV and has connections to the Argentine in regards to also managing the national side and Newell’s Old Boys.

In total, Martino, who plays a 4-3-3 system, has managed 413 games during his career, winning 223 of those.

The Latest: Leeds links

Argentine outlet TNT Sports shared a story on Monday evening regarding Leeds and Martino.

They claimed that contact has been made over a potential move to Yorkshire. Martino is yet to rule out an offer but would prefer to take over a side in the summer, when he has time to properly build a squad in his image.

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The Verdict: Big struggle

Leeds have found it a major struggle when it comes to replacing Jesse Marsch, with Andrea Radrizzani and the 49ers Enterprises suffering a number of setbacks. Therefore, it could be a wise move to look at an interim appointment until the summer, when it seems most managers want to get back into work, including Martino.

Who that could be remains to be seen, although the likes of Steven Gerrard and Nuno Espirito Santo have been linked and already have Premier League experience under their belt, so are perhaps ideal short-term solutions despite questions over their long-term suitability.

Vinny O’Connor has claimed live on Sky Sports that Newcastle United may have finally reached a compromise for Anthony Gordon.

The Lowdown: Persistence set to pay off

The Magpies were keen on landing Antony Gordon over the summer only to be bullied out of any deal by Chelsea who were said to be willing to pay £60 million for the young winger.

However, Newcastle have not lost any interest in Gordon as they are now seemingly keen on bringing him in before Tuesday’s deadline, although agreeing on a transfer fee has appeared to be the big stumbling block.

Gordon appears to have taken matters into his own hands of late in trying to force through a move as he failed to turn up to training for three days in a row before making a shock appearance this morning.

The Latest: Newcastle could soon land Gordon

O’Connor – who’s been positioned outside of Everton’s training ground – has claimed Newcastle and Everton may have now reached an agreement for Gordon to move up north and join Eddie Howe’s side.

He said: (13:45) “So Newcastle we know of the interest and we know they’ve been in contact, the difference between the two clubs there is in regards to a fee and we’re wondering now, or certainly, we’re hearing noises that maybe a compromise has been reached that would see Everton get a fee in the region of £40-45 million but that is still far from being confirmed at the moment.

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“As I say, still up in the air Anthony Gordon’s future, it appears though in the remaining days of this transfer window that Anthony Gordon could be moving on.”

The Verdict: Gordon the man Howe wants

While Gordon’s attacking numbers are nothing to be amazed by and will certainly raise questions as to why Newcastle could potentially shell out over £40 million for the winger, it may well be his underlying numbers and off-the-ball work that’s got Howe’s attention.

This is because Newcastle are currently using a very high-intensity game plan that sees them press from the front and Gordon’s speed that’s been on show this season will be a huge asset for the Magpies.

Out of all the Everton players, Gordon has made the most tackles in the final third (FBRef) which shows how capable and willing he is to defend from the front, which could be invaluable for Newcastle to allow players such as Miguel Almiron and Joelinton to have a rest if Gordon is capable of doing the job they’ve done so far.