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Newcastle United are now showing an interest in signing Blackburn Rovers defender Ashley Phillips, who will be available for just £2m when his release clause kicks in this Friday, according to a report from The Sun.

Who is Ashley Phillips signing for?

Reports from earlier this month indicated that Phillips was closing in on a move to Tottenham Hotspur, with journalist Charlie Eccleshare saying:

"Tottenham set to sign highly-rated 18yo centre-back Ashley Phillips from Blackburn for around £3 million. Understood it won't affect Spurs' plans to try and sign at least one senior CB. Phillips expected to have medical in next 24 hours before hopefully joining the tour."

However, there has been little progress since that point, and now The Sun are reporting that Newcastle could make a late move to sign the 18-year-old, with Blackburn still hoping to receive £9.45m if they are to sanction his departure.

Tottenham's stand-off with Blackburn is set to come to an end this week, as a £2m release clause kicks in this Friday, which would allow Ange Postecoglou to snap up the youngster for a heavily reduced fee.

However, Spurs are waiting to see whether Blackburn find another buyer before that point, with the Magpies showing an interest, although they are yet to make an offer above what their Premier League rivals are currently willing to pay.

As such, a move to north London appears to be the most likely outcome at the moment, however there is still time for Eddie Howe to make a late swoop and hijack the Lilywhites' deal, if he is willing to outbid them.

For now, the Blackburn defender is set to continue training ahead of the Championship opener against West Bromwich Albion, but he is unlikely to be risked in games in case of injury.

Who is Ashley Phillips?

Despite the fact he is just 18-years-old, the youngster has already started to gain some first-team experience with his current club, making 14 appearances for the Rovers, including eight in the Championship during the 2022/23 campaign.

The youngster has predominantly played at centre-back throughout his short career so far, where his 6 foot 4 frame would undoubtedly be useful for Newcastle, and former manager Tony Mowbray has also praised his ability in possession, saying:

"He's 6ft 4', he's fast, mobile and can pass it really well. He can use both feet, he's composed. Ash is just a phenomenal young boy; if you were to create a defender in the mould of how you would want one, this kid has got every attribute."

It is still very early days for the Blackburn starlet, given that he only turned 18 last month, but he is showing all the signs that he could go on to be a top player in the future, and it is exciting news that Newcastle are still in with a chance of signing him.

That said, Tottenham appear to be in pole position at the moment, and the Magpies will need to move swiftly if they are going to hijack the deal for Phillips.

The teenager could be worth a push from Newcastle, though, given his clear potential to be a brilliant defender.

Liverpool are mulling over launching a bid for Wolfsburg centre-back Micky van de Ven this summer, with sporting director Jorg Schmadtke well-versed with the ace's skill set, having left the club for Anfield this year.

What's the latest on Micky van de Ven to Liverpool?

That's according to BILD's Christian Falk, who claims that the 22-year-old has a market value of just €18m (£15m) after impressing in the German Bundesliga this season.

Schmadtke signed the gem from FC Volendam in 2021 for a fee of just €3.5m (£3m) which has seemingly put Liverpool in pole position, with Premier League champions Manchester City also interested in a deal.

Stoking the fire on the swirling rumours, Van de Ven said to VI (via the Mirror): "Of course I heard of Liverpool links and I know they’ve been following me in the past. That’s it. Of course. Liverpool is a great club. There’s a chance for me to leave this summer. If a nice club with good plan arrives… I’d be open."

How good is Micky van de Ven?

The Bundesliga "giant" – as hailed by journalist Ronan Murphy – is left-footed and as such could be the perfect option for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp as he looks to strengthen his defensive ranks with a star to rival Virgil van Dijk on the left side of the Anfield backline.

And having made 33 appearances in the German top-flight this term, Van de Ven recorded an average league rating of 6.85 – as per Sofascore – and impressed with his assured passing, completing 88%; his sweeping excellence, tracking back to complete 3.1 clearances per game; and his solidness in the tackle, winning 64% of his duels.

Also said to be "flourishing" in Germany by Murphy, Van de Ven is one of the most dynamic defenders around; boasting superlative athleticism and blistering pace, the Netherlands U21 captain would slot into Liverpool's high-press superbly, capable of tracking back swiftly and matching even the most speedy of attackers in transition.

As per FBref, the £7k-per-week ace ranks among the top 10% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 7% for successful take-ons per 90, indicating that he utilises his innate abilities with aplomb.

A tenacious and fearless colossus, Van de Ven could therefore emulate Tottenham Hotspur centre-half Cristian Romero on English shores; despite Spurs' dismal defensive efforts this year, Romero has remained an impressive force and softened his domestic woes by basking in footballing glory with triumph at the 2022 World Cup.

Signing for the Lilywhites for around £42m from Atalanta in 2021, the 25-year-old has become known as a battleaxe of a defender, if somewhat brash, and has earned praise as a "Rolls-Royce" by Martin Keown.

The Argentine ranks among the top 17% of peers for successful take-ons per 90 and has clocked a top speed of 33.21 km/h this season, impressive given Van de Ven's standout attribute is his barrelling pace, producing a speed of 35.87 km/h.

Klopp must forge ahead with a deal for this Dutch dynamo, dubbed "dominant" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, providing his depleted defence with fresh legs to pump vigorous life back into the fold.

Last summer, Glasgow Rangers swooped to sign Millwall starlet Zak Lovelace as Giovanni van Bronckhorst looked like he was focusing on youth talent in order to fill out the academy squads and ensuring the Ibrox side had a plethora of teen gems ready to be plucked from the B side when ready over the coming years.

Lovelace made his Millwall debut aged just 15, becoming the second-youngest player to represent the club in their history during a substitute appearance against Coventry City in December 2021 and made another four appearances for the club, which prompted the Gers to make their move once the season finished.

It was a successful 2022/23 season for the 17-year-old, with the added pressure of trying to make an impression in the B team, he scored 18 goals in all competitions while grabbing another ten assists and was even given his first team bow against Queen of the South in August during a League Cup tie.

His performances obviously impressed Michael Beale, as he was given a two minute cameo against Celtic during their excellent 3-0 win in May and the future looks bright for the England U17 international.

With Beale clearly trying to lower the age of the Rangers side, releasing players such as Scott Arfield (34), Allan McGregor (41) and Filip Helander (30) upon the expiration of their contracts, a focus on youth could pay dividends over the next few years.

With this in mind, the Light Blues have been linked with a move for former West Ham United starlet Divine Mukasa according to the Secret Scout, who claims that the youngster has “visited Rangers and Newcastle United” after he left the London side recently.

He confirmed via Instagram he was departing and posted a heartfelt message, saying: “Thank you to all the players and staff at West Ham that have helped to develop me into both the player and person that I am today.

“This club has been my home for the past 10 years and for it to come to an end is bittersweet, but it’s time to move on to the next chapter of my career.”

Who is Divine Mukasa?

The 15-year-old midfielder would be hoping to follow in the same trajectory as Lovelace by moving to Rangers at such a young age, yet he does have pedigree at U16 level, especially for his country.

He has made nine appearances for the England U16 side, scoring three goals, and grabbing one assist during those matches, netting against Scotland, and he certainly showcased his attacking abilities by being deployed just behind the striker.

It’s evident he has a keen eye for goal, and he even managed to register two goal contributions during the U18 Premier League last term, playing against players two years older and this maturity has could entice Beale into luring him to Rangers.

The Ibrox side are trying to add some of the finest talents from South of the border to their academy and by convincing Mukasa that a move to Scotland would be the best for his development, Beale could repeat Rangers’ Lovelace masterclass from 2022.

The decision not to sign Jadon Sancho on a permanent deal evoked memories of the Chelsea of old. A ruthlessness that famously saw Carlo Ancelotti given the sack after missing out on the Premier League title in his second season – just a year on from guiding the club to the double

In the case of Sancho, the Englishman had notably scored a stunner in last month’s Conference League final, albeit while ending 2024/25 with just three goals and five assists to his name in the league. Good, but not good enough.

That has been a commendable motto for the Blues over their glorious last 20 years or so, having repeatedly hired and fired, all while increasing the competition in their playing ranks with successive statement signings.

Take Nicolas Jackson, for instance, the Senegalese striker hardly disgracing himself – suspensions aside – with 24 league goals across his first two seasons at Stamford Bridge, albeit with just ten of those coming last term. Again, good, but not quite good enough.

£30m man Liam Delap looks to have swiftly usurped the former Villarreal man in the pecking order, all while being acutely aware that failure to perform himself could see yet another fresh face acquired – a certain Hugo Ekitike springs to mind.

As the old adage goes, pressure makes diamonds, with Enzo Maresca and co no doubt hoping that more exciting additions can thrive in this pressurised environment in west London…

Latest on Chelsea's search for new forwards

Sancho is gone, but in his place, young Jamie Gittens could be set to arrive, with Chelsea still working to bring the 20-year-old back to England from Borussia Dortmund, amid his prior stint in Manchester City’s youth ranks.

Despite reports that Gittens has agreed a seven-year contract with the Blues, there appears to still be club-to-club negotiations taking place regarding his reported £55m price tag.

With that deal yet to get the green light, it is still worth the west Londoners seeking alternatives, with TEAMtalk reporting that they are among the clubs to have made an enquiry over Lyon starlet, Malick Fofana.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

That contact has come amid the Ligue 1 side’s recent relegation – something they are set to appeal – with clubs lining up to potentially pounce on their ongoing financial woes and apparent need to sell.

As per the report, the likes of Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have also made their move for the 20-year-old, with those suitors hoping to strike a deal for less than the Belgian’s previous £42m price tag.

Why Fofana could be Chelsea's next Eden Hazard

The signing of an exciting, young Belgian talent from Ligue 1 – ring any bells?

Of course, Chelsea famously won the race for a 21-year-old Eden Hazard back in the summer of 2012, with the then-Champions League holders plucking the winger from Lille for a reported fee of £32m.

198 goals and assists would follow in a Chelsea shirt for the now-retired wizard, although that doesn’t quite tell the full story. This was a player, at his pomp, who was a match for any opposition or opponent.

A man who could win a game on his own – take his solo stunner against Arsenal in 2017, for example – Hazard at his best was simply a sight to behold, jinking his way past defenders with consummate ease. It’s no wonder he was hailed the “best player in the Premier League” at one stage by pundit, Paul Merson.

Young Fofana has a way go to hit the levels of his sparkling compatriot, although the comparisons are – unsurprisingly – already being made, with GOAL noting that he has been described as ‘Eden Hazard-like’ by those in his homeland.

As per The Athletic’s Alex Barker, what particularly sets the 20-year-old apart, in a similar mould to Hazard, is his dribbling prowess, having been noted as “one of the best” in Ligue 1 in that regard.

Indeed, he notably ranks in the top 3% among his peers in France’s top-flight for progressive carries made per 90, as per FBref, while also ranking in the top 2% in that same metric among attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues.

Jamie Gittens – Borussia Dortmund

8

4

12

Kenan Yildiz – Juventus

7

5

12

Eliesse Ben Seghir – Monaco

6

3

9

Malick Fofana – Lyon

5

4

9

Antonio Nusa – RB Leipzig

3

4

7

Jean-Matteo Bahoya – Frankfurt

2

3

5

Jesus Rodriguez – Real Betis

2

1

3

Mamadou Diakhon – Stade Reims

2

1

3

Yan Diomande – Leganes

2

1

3

Bazoumana Toure – Hoffenheim

0

3

3

For context, Hazard ranked in the top 1% of Premier League wingers in that regard during his final season in English football (2018/19), having simply been a master ball-carrier for the Blues.

Like the 126-cap Red Devils star too, Fofana also boasts an end product to match that devastating flair, having ended 2024/25 with 11 goals and six assists to his name in all competitions, included six goals in just ten Europa League outings.

Described as a “starboy” by writer Zach Lowy, the Lyon gem looks destined to reach the top over the coming years, with Chelsea able to offer him the chance to follow in Hazard’s footsteps at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca's next Cole Palmer: Chelsea enter race to sign £50m PL "machine"

The incredible talent could be a star for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 28, 2025

The transfer window officially opened for business last month and Tottenham Hotspur have been busy in their attempts to improve the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

They started the summer by bringing in Ange Postecoglou from Scottish giants Celtic as their new head coach and have made four first-team signings to date.

Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro have completed permanent moves to the club after their respective loan spells, and they have been joined by attacking midfielder James Maddison along with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Spurs could still be in the market for further additions, however, and another new forward could be on the agenda after Lucas Moura departed on a free transfer.

Postecoglou could land the dream replacement for the Brazilian attacker by securing a deal to sign reported £50m transfer target, Jadon Sancho.

How many Premier League goals does Jadon Sancho have?

The England international has struck nine times in 55 Premier League appearances for Manchester United since his move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021.

His tally of 12 goals and six assists across 79 outings in all competitions for the Red Devils means that he has averaged a goal contribution every 4.39 matches on average during his time at Old Trafford so far.

Whereas, Moura produced 39 goals and 27 assists in 221 competitive clashes for Spurs, which was one involvement every 3.35 games on average.

Like United's Sancho, the former Paris Saint-Germain ace is capable of being deployed on either flank or through the middle of the pitch, which made him a versatile option for Tottenham over the years.

Postecoglou could utilise the ex-Manchester City prospect on the left or right wing in north London and this makes him a valuable player to have in the squad, particularly after Moura's departure, as he is not restricted to a specific role or position.

Sancho also has the potential to offer far more in the final third than he has shown at United so far as the 23-year-old wizard's performances for Dortmund suggest that there is an exceptional talent there to be unearthed.

Scout Jacek Kulig lauded the exciting forward as a "phenomenon" during his time in Germany and it is easy to see why when you delve into his statistics.

The English magician racked up 38 goals to go along with 51 assists in 104 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund, which works out as a direct involvement every 1.17 outings on average.

Sancho recorded 12 or more league assists in each of his last three seasons in black and yellow and could come in as a much-needed creative spark for Postecoglou if the Australian head coach can get him back to his best.

Ivan Perisic was Tottenham's top assister with eight in the Premier League last term and he was one of only three players with more than five assists, which suggests that the club did not have an outstanding creator to provide the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son with regular service.

The United winger, who has not been able to hit top form at Old Trafford, has the untapped potential to be that player for Spurs. Therefore, Sancho could be an exceptional signing for Postecoglou and the dream replacement for Moura this summer.

Harry Kane's family dream of him winning trophies at Tottenham Hotspur as the north London club intend to keep the player despite heavy transfer interest, David Ornstein has revealed.

What's the latest on Harry Kane?

The England striker was in sensational form for Spurs last season, scoring 30 league goals despite the team performing poorly and finishing eighth, and with just one year left on his contract, he has been linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United.

However, Spurs have no intention to sell their star player, particularly to a rival, and it seems that they will resist any offers for the 29-year-old this summer.

Speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel, Ornstein claimed that Daniel Levy is highly unlikely to sanction a sale for Kane this summer.

"As far as I know, Harry Kane is not for sale is Tottenham's perspective, to anywhere, not to the Premier League and a rival and Daniel Levy wouldn't want to sell unless perhaps the fee got absolutely monstrous, and we've got no evidence that that's likely to happen," he stated.

"He would like to sign Harry Kane to a new contract and then Ange Postecoglou will get a good thing going on at Spurs, they would start moving in the right direction, being competitive next season.

"We've seen other clubs who have become competitive quite quickly, and it's not beyond the realms of possibility that Harry Kane sees a Tottenham that he wants to stay at in the course of next season.

"He's a boyhood fan, his family are, their dream is really to win with Tottenham, but clearly that hasn't materialised so far."

Should Spurs sell Kane?

New manager Postecoglou has a big job on his hands, as he is taking over a Spurs squad in need of serious repair, and having failed to qualify for European football, finances may be limited at Spurs this summer.

They have already deemed a main target in David Raya as too expensive, and Postecoglou's ability to bring in his own targets may be jeopardised unless a major sale is made.

Unless there is indication that the £200k-per-week star would sign a new deal this summer, keeping him beyond the transfer window could be delaying his potential departure, and Spurs could cash in this summer in order to help fund a major rebuild of the side.

Kane, who has been described as "exceptional" by Pep Guardiola, knows that if he waits until he is a free agent next year, that he could have his pick of clubs to move to, so choosing to remain at Spurs despite their struggles would be an unsurprising decision.

Newcastle United made a long-awaited comeback to the Champions League back in 2023/24. Their fourth-placed Premier League finish in 2022/23 saw them return to the competition for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Of course, this won’t be the first time that the Magpies competed at the peak of European football. They’ve been there before and faced some of the game’s giants.

Given they haven’t been Champions League regulars, you would be forgiven for struggling to recall just how the Magpies got on in the past.

Football FanCast has taken a look back at how Newcastle did in previous years.

1997/98 – Group stage

The mid-90s saw Newcastle make waves in English football, including breaking the world transfer record to sign Alan Shearer in 1996.

While they fell agonisingly short of winning the Premier League, the Mapgies took advantage of changes in UEFA rules that allowed for non-champions to compete in their main competition.

They did need to win a qualifier, but a 4-3 aggregate win over Dinamo Zagreb (then known as Croatia Zagreb) put them into group stages. Waiting for them? Dynamo Kyiv, PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona.

The group stage was also different in those days – there were only six in total, with the winners going straight through to the quarter-finals. The two best-placed runners-up would take the remaining berths in the final eight, meaning Newcastle were up against it to progress.

Things started off brilliantly with a 3-2 win against Barcelona that continues to live long in the memory. Faustino Asprilla earned and scored a penalty before planting a bullet header in the Barca net to leave the Toon faithful in dreamland.

He completed his hat-trick with another header moments into the second half, before Louis van Gaal’s side staged their comeback.

But consolation goals from Luis Enrique and Luis Figo were not enough to prevent the Magpies from grabbing the perfect start to their group campaign.

A 2-2 draw in Kyiv followed, with Newcastle 2-0 down until a late fightback earned a point.

PSV, however, would then pick up back-to-back wins over Newcastle – without the Magpies scoring a goal. In fact, they’d then lost 1-0 to Barca before finally finding more points in the final game against Kyiv thanks to a 2-0 home win.

Newcastle weren’t able to overcome the talent in that group, finishing third behind PSV and… Kyiv. Yes, Barcelona finished bottom of the group, having lost 3-0 and 4-0 to the Ukrainian side.

That maybe makes a bit more sense when you learn a young Andriy Shevchenko scored five goals in six games for Kyiv that season, including a hat-trick at Camp Nou.

All in all, Newcastle were incredibly unfortunate. They came up against three great sides, but certainly had moments to savour.

Second qualifying round, 1st leg

Newcastle 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb

Beresford (2); Cvitanovic

Second qualifying round, 2nd leg

Dinamo Zagreb 2-2 Newcastle (aet)

Simic, Cvitanovic; Asprilla, Ketsbaia

Group C

Newcastle 3-2 Barcelona

Asprilla (3); Luis Enrique, Figo

Group C

Dynamo Kyiv 2-2 Newcastle

Rebrov, Shevchenko; Beresford, Holovko (og)

Group C

PSV 1-0 Newcastle

Jonk

Group C

Newcastle 0-2 PSV

Nilis, De Bilde

Group C

Barcelona 1-0 Newcastle

Giovanni

Group C

Newcastle 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv

Barnes, Pearce

Dynamo Kyiv

6

3

2

1

13

6

+7

11

PSV

6

2

3

1

9

8

+1

9

Newcastle

6

2

1

3

7

8

-1

7

Barcelona

6

1

2

3

7

14

-7

5

2002/03 – Second group phase

Newcastle had to wait a while before getting another crack at the Champions League. They qualified in 2002/03, though – but once again needed to play a qualifying round. Bosnian outfit Zeljeznicar fell to them 5-0 on aggregate, putting the Magpies back in the group stage.

And oh, was it one to remember. Newcastle found Juventus, Dynamo Kyiv and Feyenoord waiting for them and started as miserably as possible. They lost all three of their opening games to sit on zero points at the halfway mark.

But then something magic happened. Newcastle beat Juventus, beat Kyiv, and set up a historic tie with Feyenoord on the final matchday.

If they could claim victory in the Netherlands – and Juve beat Kyiv – Newcastle could qualify, with two slots available in the next phase of the competition.

They did just that, thanks to Craig Bellamy scoring a 91st-minute winner and Juve winning 2-1. That was history – Newcastle were the first side to ever lose their first three games and still get out of the group.

Third qualifying round, 1st leg

Zeljeznicar 0-1 Newcastle

Dyer

Third qualifying round, 2nd leg

Newcastle 4-0 Zeljeznicar

Dyer, Lua Lua, Viana, Shearer

First group phase, Group E

Dynamo Kyiv 2-0 Newcastle

Shatskikh, Khatskevich

First group phase, Group E

Newcastle 0-1 Feyenoord

Pardo

First group phase, Group E

Juventus 2-0 Newcastle

Del Piero (2)

First group phase, Group E

Newcastle 1-0 Juventus

Griffin

First group phase, Group E

Newcastle 2-1 Dynamo Kyiv

Speed, Shearer; Shatskikh

First group phase, Group E

Feyenoord 2-3 Newcastle

Bombarda, Lurling; Bellamy (2), Viana

Juventus

6

4

1

1

12

3

+9

13

Newcastle

6

3

0

3

6

8

-2

9

Dynamo Kyiv

6

2

1

3

6

9

-3

7

Feyenoord

6

1

2

3

4

8

-4

5

Their reward, of course, was yet another group phase. If you’re not familiar, there used to be two group stages before the switch to the format we see today. Barcelona, Inter and Bayer Leverkusen waited.

Leverkusen – the previous year’s finalists – proved no match for the Magpies, losing 3-1 twice in succession.

Newcastle couldn’t quite compete with Barcelona and Inter, however. The Catalonians beat them twice, while Inter smashed them 4-1 at St James’ Park. A 2-2 draw at San Siro provided an extra point, but Newcastle’s seven saw them out as the third-placed team.

Second group phase, Group A

Newcastle 1-4 Inter

Solano; Morfeo, Almeyda, Crespo, Recoba

Second group phase, Group A

Barcelona 3-1 Newcastle

Garcia, Kluivert, Motta; Ameobi

Second group phase, Group A

Bayer Leverkusen 1-3 Newcastle

Franca; Ameobi (2), Lua Lua

Second group phase, Group A

Newcastle 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Shearer (3); Babic

Second group phase, Group A

Inter 2-2 Newcastle

Vieri, Cordoba; Shearer (2)

Second group phase, Group A

Newcastle 0-2 Barcelona

Kluivert, Motta

Barcelona

6

5

1

0

12

2

+10

16

Inter

6

3

2

1

11

8

+3

11

Newcastle

6

2

1

3

10

13

-3

7

Bayer Leverkusen

6

0

0

6

5

15

-10

0

2003/04 – Third qualifying round

Unfortunately, this one ends on something of a sour note. Newcastle were back in the competition the following season and, once again, needed to win a qualifying match.

But they slipped up. Newcastle were able to pick up a 1-0 win away from home, and with the away goals rule in effect, seemed well-placed to snatch a group-stage berth. Unfortunately, the Serbians returned the favour, and then some – with Partizan winning on penalties.

Shearer was among four Newcastle players to miss in the shootout, which had remarkably gone to sudden death despite the home side missing their first three penalties.

Aaron Hughes missed the crucial penalty before Milivoje Cirkovic stepped up to break Toon hearts.

That dropped the Magpies down to the UEFA Cup, where they made it to the semi-finals. Beaten by eventual losing finalists Marseille, a double from a certain Didier Drogba ended the Toon’s European adventure that year.

That season marks the last time they competed under the Champions League banner. Of course, that will change come September.

Third qualifying round, 1st leg

Partizan 0-1 Newcastle

Solano

Third qualifying round, 2nd leg

Newcastle 0-1 Partizan (p)

Iliev

2023/24 – Group stage

Newcastle’s fourth-place finish in the 2022/23 Champions League handed them an automatic group stage berth, with Eddie Howe’s side placed in the ‘Group of Death’ alongside PSG, Milan and Borussia Dortmund.

Things started well with a commendable draw in Milan and a historic 4-1 win over PSG, but things unravelled from there as three defeats and a late equaliser denying them a win in Paris saw Newcastle finish bottom of the group.

Group F

Milan 0-0 Newcastle

None

Group F

Newcastle 4-1 PSG

Almiron, Burn, Longstaff, Schar; Hernandez

Group F

Newcastle 0-1 Borussia Dortmund

Nmecha

Group F

Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Newcastle

Fullkrug, Brandt

Group F

PSG 1-1 Newcastle

Mbappe; Isak

Group F

Newcastle 1-2 Milan

Joelinton; Pulisic, Chukwueze

Borussia Dortmund

6

3

2

1

7

4

+3

11

PSG

6

2

2

2

9

8

+1

8

Milan

6

2

2

2

5

8

-3

8

Newcastle

6

1

2

3

6

7

-1

5

Newcastle United's top scorers in the Champions League

Alan Shearer unsurprisingly leads the way in terms of goals at this level for Newcastle with seven, having spearheaded their incredible journey through the group stages back in 2002/03.

Faustino Asprilla has four to his name, while John Beresford and Shola Ameobi have three apiece, including one at Camp Nou for the latter.

There were six different scorers for each of Newcastle’s goals in the 2023/24 Champions League – will anyone be able to add to their tally in 2025/26?

Alan Shearer

7

Faustino Asprilla

4

John Beresford

3

Shola Ameobi

3

Kieron Dyer

2

Lomana Lua Lua

2

Hugo Viana

2

Craig Bellamy

2

Nolberto Solano

2

Temuri Ketsbaia

1

John Barnes

1

Stuart Pearce

1

Andy Griffin

1

Gary Speed

1

Miguel Almiron

1

Dan Burn

1

Sean Longstaff

1

Fabian Schar

1

Alexander Isak

1

Joelinton

1

Manchester United are showing interest in Juventus winger Federico Chiesa ahead of the summer transfer window, with Erik ten Hag looking to add some quality to his attacking department.

What’s the latest on Federico Chiesa to Manchester United?

According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (via TEAMtalk), the Red Devils are keen on making a surprise move for Chiesa, with the player looking for a move away from the Serie A side.

Juventus will consider bids in the region of €35m (£30m) for the Italian international, which considering his form before his horrific knee injury suffered in 2022, suggests Ten Hag would be securing a potential bargain, especially if he could get him back to his best.

Could Federico Chiesa improve Manchester United?

Before missing the majority of 2022, the 25-year-old had scored 18 goals and grabbed 14 assists since arriving in Turin at the start of the 2020/2021 campaign, underlining his attacking qualities from the left wing.

His form hasn’t been quite as sparkling since recovering, which is understandable, yet he has still managed four goals and six assists during 2022/2023, a decent enough return and a solid pre-season will surely have him back to his best.

Chiesa is statistically similar to Arsenal starlet Bukayo Saka according to FBref, with the Englishman the third-most comparable player to the Italian and given that he has been on fire over the previous few seasons, registering 44 goal contributions, it certainly isn’t a bad comparison to have.

Indeed, this season has seen the pair register similar stats across a variety of attacking metrics such as shots per 90 (2.75 to 2.43), shot-creating actions per 90 (4.56 to 4.34) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.79 to 0.63), displaying their eye for creating scoring opportunities for both themselves and others.

Both Chiesa and Saka count crossing and holding onto the ball as key strengths according to WhoScored, while they both have a similar style of play as the pair like to cut inside on a regular basis, fashioning chance after chance and this must come into Ten Hag’s thinking if he is considering launching a bid for the player.

He was lauded as “incredible” by journalist Jack Gallagher and having also shone on the international stage, helping Italy win their first European Championship in 53 years after defeating England at Wembley in 2021, he has plenty of experience and a move to Old Trafford shouldn’t faze him in the slightest.

For just £30m, the move is a gamble that could be worth every penny should he recapture his previous form.

One Tottenham Hotspur player in particular could find himself 'out of the team' due to the arrival of Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg, according to journalist Paul Brown.

What has gone on with Micky van de Ven at Tottenham Hotspur?

Van de Ven attended Tottenham's 5-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of his proposed move to the Lilywhites from Wolfsburg, as per The Daily Mail. And, he has since put pen to paper, bolstering Ange Postecoglou's defensive line.

Last term, Van de Ven featured 36 times for Wolfsburg in all competitions, registering one goal and two assists in the process, as per Transfermarkt.

Of course, Van de Ven's arrival could have a knock-on effect in terms of game-time distribution regarding his teammates, with England international Dier likely to be influenced by the impending deal.

Nevertheless, The Sun's Martin Lipton believes that Dier will be valued as an important squad player at Tottenham in 2023/24, as he stated to the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel: "“The fans don’t like Dier, but I think Dier’s role will be as a squad player, not as a first-team player. He’s important in the squad as a human being, as a man, as an experienced head, and maybe if he played fewer games he’d be a better player as well."

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks that £85k-a-week earner Dier could be sidelined in favour of Van de Ven as the latter is a better natural fit in a back four, making him a more applicable choice.

Brown told FFC: "I've always thought that Dier is a centre back only really works in a three. It doesn't look to me like Spurs are going to play with a three this season, so it may be that he finds himself out of the team once Van de Ven is up to speed. I think that Van de Ven and Romero may be the first choices ideally for the new manager in a back four."

What next for Tottenham Hotspur?

Well, Tottenham fans certainly won't be in the best of moods on the eve of their first game of the season, with record goalscorer Harry Kane now out of the club and the country, as he sealed a move to Bayern Munich.

But, there is reason for optimism, as Daniel Levy now has plenty of money to spend on a potential replacement.

O Jogo via The Sun claim that Porto forward Mehdi Taremi could be a potential replacement for Kane and the Lilywhites are said to have opened talks with the Iran international's entourage to discuss a move to north London.

Taremi is believed to be available for a fee in the region of £17 million and has just one year left on his deal at the Estadio do Dragao as rumours over his future continue to swirl.

In terms of departures, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele could be on their way out of Tottenham amid interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray, according to 90min.

Manchester United’s hectic run of February fixtures continues away to Barcelona in the Europa League this evening, with the Red Devils set to return to the venue of one of the greatest nights in their history – Camp Nou.

While there may not be quite the glamour of that fabled triumph over Bayern Munich in ’99 – with United now competing in the continent’s second-tier competition – tonight’s clash still promises a potentially mouthwatering feast of football, with Erik ten Hag’s resurgent side facing off against the runaway leaders in La Liga.

With it already set to be a stern challenge to pick up a positive result in Catalonia, the Old Trafford outfit have the further headache of being without a number of key figures, with the likes of Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial and Antony all missing through injury, while both Lisandro Martinez and Marcel Sabitzer are ruled out through suspension.

How will Man United line up against Barcelona?

With those selection issues in mind, Football FanCast predicts that Ten Hag will make three changes from the side that claimed victory over Leeds United last time out, with notable alterations set to take place defensively.

Ahead of long-serving stalwart David De Gea – who recently brought up 400 Premier League appearances –  will likely be a centre-back pairing of Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw, with club captain and defensive “liability” – as per writer Zach Lowy – Harry Maguire set to make way.

With Shaw’s move into the centre set to see Tyrell Malacia remain at left-back, the other full-back berth could well be taken up by £50m “monster” Aaron Wan-Bissaka – as once lauded by CBS Sports reporter Aaron West – with the Englishman’s defensive strength potentially set to be required.

The biggest positive for the former Ajax boss will be the return of influential midfielder Casemiro, amid his current league suspension, with the Brazilian rock set to be supported by compatriot Fred and playmaking gem, Bruno Fernandes.

As for the forward line, the absence of both Antony and Martial should ensure that there are no alterations from the win at Elland Road, with teenage starlet Alejandro Garnacho likely to offer a game-changing presence off the bench once again.