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EPL: Ayden Heaven urges Man Utd to maintain European faith

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Ayden Heaven believes a return to European football is well within Manchester United’s reach following Monday’s 4-1 win at Wolves.

Victory at Molineux left Ruben Amorim’s men just a point outside of the top four in the Premier League and in the hunt for a place in next season’s Champions League.

United recovered from a disappointing draw with lowly West Ham last week, thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ double and further goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde had cancelled out Fernandes’ opener with bottom-of-the-table Wolves’ first goal in the Premier League since October 26.

United ended the 2024/25 season in 15th place — their lowest top-flight finish in 51 years — and missed out on European qualification by losing the Europa League final to English rivals Tottenham.

But a lack of continental football could yet help the fallen giants rebuild under Portuguese manager Amorim, with teenage United defender Heaven saying: “We dropped points in the last game (at home to West Ham) and this was the chance to go and redeem ourselves and get more points. I feel like we did that, especially in the second half.

“We knew it wasn’t good enough that we conceded. He (Amorim) just told us (at half-time) to do what we can do and we did that as you saw.”

United’s surprise 1-0 loss to 10-man Everton at Old Trafford is the lone defeat in their last nine games, with a buoyant Heaven insisting after the Wolves match: “I don’t think anyone can stop us when we play like this.”

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The 19-year-old, asked about the prospect of European football, added: “Hopefully we can be in Europe next season, which I think we’ll do.

“Of course, that’s where Manchester United belong.”

Heaven was speaking after making a second successive start for United after fellow centre-backs Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt were both injured, with Amorim retaining the rising star in his defence following a 1-1 draw against West Ham.

“He’s trusting me a lot,” said Heaven of Amorim. “I feel like I’m working hard every day in training and I’m showing he can trust me in the games that I’m playing.”

United’s next match is at home to Bournemouth on Monday.

AFP

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Atletico push for Lookman as Fenerbahce near deal

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Atletico Madrid have intensified efforts to sign Ademola Lookman as the Turkish club Fenerbahce edge closer to completing a deal for the Nigeria forward, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Spanish side tried to sign the 28-year-old last summer but failed to reach an agreement with Atalanta.

Their primary midfield target, Leon Goretzka, announced on Friday that he would not leave Bayern Munich until the summer, forcing Sporting Director Mateu Alemany to pursue alternative options.

Atletico are now targeting Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi for midfield reinforcement, but Lookman remains their priority signing.

However, competition for the Nigeria international is fierce. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Fenerbahce’s deal is at the final stages, with the Turkish club offering a package worth €40m including variables.

According to Spanish publication Marca, Atletico acknowledge that Fenerbahce’s bid is currently higher than theirs, though they will do all they can to bring Lookman to Spain.

The player had expressed interest in a move to Spain during the summer.

Diario AS reports that Fenerbahce sporting director Devin Ozek is currently in Bergamo trying to finalise the deal.

Romano posted on Friday that while Atalanta and Fenerbahce have a verbal agreement on a €40m package, they are yet to agree on payment terms and conditions.

He added that Atletico Madrid have been calling in recent hours to ask about deal conditions.

Atletico could return for both Goretzka and Lookman in the summer, depending on what business Alemany completes before February 2.

See also  Lookman stunner rescues Eagles in AFCON opener
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Bayern confirm Goretzka’s end-of-season exit

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FC Bayern Munich have confirmed that midfielder Leon Goretzka will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

The confirmation was given by Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund, who said the 29-year-old will complete the season with the club before moving on as a free agent in the summer.

According to Fabrizio Romano’s post on Friday, Freund was quoted as saying, “Leon Goretzka will leave FC Bayern in the summer as a free agent, not now. Leon’s time at FC Bayern will be over in the summer. He will go another way after 8 successful years. We’ll fight together in the coming months to achieve big things.”

The statement rules out any immediate departure, with Bayern expecting Goretzka to remain part of the squad for the rest of the campaign.

Goretzka joined Bayern in 2018 from Schalke and has been a key member of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.

During his time in Munich, he won multiple Bundesliga titles, domestic cups, and the UEFA Champions League.

Despite increased competition for places in recent seasons, the Germany international has remained an experienced figure within the squad.

Bayern and Goretzka are now set to focus on their remaining objectives for the season before the midfielder begins a new chapter in his career this summer.

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West Ham sign Fulham winger Traore

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West Ham announced on Wednesday that they had signed winger Adama Traore from Fulham for an undisclosed fee.

The 30-year-old will be reunited at the London Stadium with manager Nuno Espirito Santo, with whom he worked previously at Wolves.

The Premier League strugglers described the forward as “strong, quick and able to create and score goals”.

Traore, who has been a peripheral player for Fulham this season, came through Barcelona’s youth system before joining Aston Villa in 2015. He has also played for Middlesbrough and Wolves.

The winger, who has made 262 Premier League appearances, scoring 14 goals, said he wanted to help relegation-threatened West Ham to the “maximum”.

“I love the challenges,” he said. “I think, of course, we have to go game by game. And this is what we’re going to do, trying to do our best. I think everything comes from belief. And I believe we’re going to achieve what we’re looking for.”

Nuno is relishing the chance to link up again with Traore, who has won eight caps for Spain.

“Adama is someone who knows the Premier League very well, and his qualities, both as a player and a person, will help us between now and the end of the season,” he said.

“He will give us a different option in attacking areas. He is also motivated to fight for us and ready to bring energy, commitment and determination to our challenge.”

West Ham are third from bottom of the Premier League, five points from safety, but have won their past two matches, against Tottenham and Sunderland.

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The club has been active in the January transfer window as they battle for survival, signing forwards Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos earlier this month.

The January window closes on Monday.

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