Leeds United are reportedly weighing up a late-window push for AC Milan forward Noah Okafor as they look to supercharge their attacking options. While no official offer has yet been tabled and direct negotiations between the clubs have not taken place, the 25-year-old Swiss international is firmly on the recruitment radar at Elland Road, as reported by The Athletic.

• Leeds eye Milan’s Swiss star Okafor
• Will join Calvert-Lewin in attack
• Daniel Farke's eyes are on survival after promotion

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Yorkshire club have wasted no time strengthening their frontline this summer. Former Wolfsburg and Manchester City striker Lukas Nmecha has arrived on a free transfer, while the Whites have also secured an agreement in principle for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, another free signing after the England forward departed from Everton.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Now, manager Daniel Farke has set his sights on Okafor. His career began in the youth system at Swiss outfit FC Basel, where he made his senior debut in May 2018. A year later, he sealed a move to Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg, where he flourished. Over four seasons, he racked up 110 appearances, finding the net 34 times and laying on 23 assists; the rich vein of form that earned him his Serie A switch.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Milan brought Okafor to San Siro in July 2023, hoping to harness his pace and direct attacking threat. The forward has since played 53 matches for the Rossoneri, scoring seven goals, but repeated injury setbacks have stalled his momentum. The flashes of brilliance have been there, yet consistency has proven elusive, something Leeds hope they can reignite in England. He spent the latter half of last season on loan at Napoli and made four appearances for the reigning Italian champions. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LEEDS?

  Leeds will open their top-flight campaign with a home clash against Everton on Monday. 

The Argentine superstar delivered a stunning reminder of his value to Miami with an 83rd minute strike against Galaxy to give his side a 2-1 lead

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner scores winner in returnLate winner moves Miami into fourth place in Eastern ConferenceLuis Suarez added a third goal in added time to make it 3-1Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

Lionel Messi capped his return from injury with a dramatic 83rd minute goal as Inter Miami defeated LA Galaxy 3-1 at Chase Stadium. After missing the last three games, the Argentine legend started on the bench before entering as a half-time substitute with his side leading 1-0. However, Joseph Pantsil’s 59th minute equaliser meant that the scores were level going into the final minutes until Messi stepped up. The Argentine danced past two defenders on the edge of the box before firing a low, well driven shot in the bottom left corner beyond the goalkeeper.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIP

Here's Messi's 83rd-minute goal. 

AFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The goal marks Messi’s 19th of the league season and puts him into the lead in the race for the Golden Boot, ahead of Nashville SC’s Sam Surridge (18) and joint third place Evander, Eric Maxim-Choupo Moting, and Tai Baribo (15).

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

Inter Miami’s 3-1 win over the LA Galaxy has moved them into fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 45 points from 24 league games. They face Tigres UANL next in the Leagues Cup quarterfinal on Aug. 20 followed by an away game against D.C. United on Aug. 23.

Bayer Leverkusen have been warned not to expect immediate miracles from their new-look squad, but Erik ten Hag has received a vote of confidence.

• Ramelow has warned Leverkusen's new signings
• Club legend has backed new manager Erik ten Hag
• Leverkusen lost their coach and numerous key players

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Leverkusen legend Carsten Ramelow has warned that the club's new-look squad "can't yet match the quality" of departed stars Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka, but has backed new manager Ten Hag to succeed. In an interview with , the former Germany international stated that while the Dutchman faces a "very difficult" situation following a summer of major upheaval, his plan is "not doomed" and he represents a "good solution" for the club.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Leverkusen have undergone a massive summer rebuild following the departure of title-winning coach Xabi Alonso and a host of key players including Wirtz, Xhaka, Jonathan Tah and Jeremie Frimpong. The exodus was expected after two seasons of unprecedented success that put their top talent on the radar of Europe's biggest clubs. Ramelow has urged for expectations to be lowered as Ten Hag takes charge of a team featuring "many young and inexperienced players."

  When backing Ten Hag to succeed in the monumental task of replacing Alonso, Ramelow drew a parallel with Liverpool. He noted that when Jurgen Klopp left Anfield, "everyone thought the world was coming to an end," yet his successor Arne Slot went on to win the Premier League title in his first season, proving that "anything is possible."

• WHAT RAMELOW SAID

  On the difficulty of Leverkusen's situation, Ramelow said: "Very difficult indeed. But it's important to evaluate the past two years differently. They were truly special. So exceptionally good and incredibly difficult to top. What's coming next needs to be put into perspective and assessed sensibly. This means: Not everything below first or second place is necessarily bad. Expectations need to be lowered. For everyone—the players, the bosses, and the fans. Nevertheless, they will once again have a team that can compete at the top. I definitely see Leverkusen in the top five."

  He added: "The coaching position is crucial. Xabi Alonso quickly recognized what was important and shaped the team. I was particularly impressed by how they never gave up. The team's mentality and attitude were outstanding. The new coach's biggest task now will be to achieve a similar result. However, many young and inexperienced players have joined the team so far. They can't yet match the quality of a Wirtz, Tah, or Xhaka.

  "For me, Ten Hag is a good solution. It's fundamentally important to give him a fair chance and avoid comparisons to Alonso. It's not easy to follow in the footsteps of such a successful coach – but that doesn't mean this plan is doomed. I like to think of Liverpool FC and Jürgen Klopp. When he left the Reds, everyone thought the world was coming to an end. In the end, they won the championship with Arne Slot. Anything is possible."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BAYER LEVERKUSEN?

  Ten Hag will lead his rebuilt side into the new Bundesliga season, which kicks off this weekend. His immediate challenge is to integrate the new signings and establish his philosophy following the mass exodus of established stars. Ramelow believes Leverkusen can still secure a top-five finish, and their non-participation in this summer's strenuous Club World Cup could prove to be a physical advantage over their rivals as the season progresses.

MatériaMais Notícias

A Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) divulgou, nesta terça-feira, a tabela básica da Série A do Brasileirão 2023. América-MG, Atlético-MG e Cruzeiro enfrentam Fluminense, Vasco da Gama e Corinthians, respetivamente.

Das três equipes de Belo Horizonte, Galo e Coelho jogarão na capital mineira. A Raposa, por sua vez, estreia em São Paulo. As partidas devem acontecer nos dias 15, 16 ou 17 de abril.

RelacionadasAmérica MineiroPresidente do América-MG revela ter projeto para ampliar capacidade do IndependênciaAmérica Mineiro14/02/2023Atlético MineiroTAS nega recurso do Atlético-MG e Pavon segue punido na LibertadoresAtlético Mineiro14/02/2023CruzeiroCruzeiro: Mateus Vital e Anderson treinam normalmente na Toca da RaposaCruzeiro14/02/2023

+ Novidade no ar! Acompanhe as últimas negociações de Coelho, Galo e Raposa no mercado da bola.

CLÁSSICOS!

Assim como foi no Campeonato Mineiro, o primeiro clássico mineiro do Brasileirão acontece entre América-MG x Cruzeiro, na sexta rodada. Cruzeiro x Atlético-MG se enfrentam na nona rodada. Atlético-MG x América-MG, na 13ª. No segundo turno, logicamente, os mandos de campo se invertem.

Confira os cinco primeiros jogos do América-MG no Brasileirão 2023:

1ª rodada – América-MG x Fluminense
2ª rodada – São Paulo x América-MG
3ª rodada – Santos x América-MG
4ª rodada – América-MG x Cuiabá
5ª rodada – Red Bull Bragantino x América-MG

Confira os cinco primeiros jogos do Atlético-MG no Brasileirão 2023:

1ª rodada – Atlético-MG x Vasco da Gama
2ª rodada – Santos x Atlético-MG
3ª rodada – Atlético-MG x Athletico-PR
4ª rodada – Botafogo x Atlético-MG
5ª rodada – Cuiabá x Atlético-MG

Confira os cinco primeiros jogos do Cruzeiro no Brasileirão 2023:

1ª rodada – Corinthians x Cruzeiro
2ª rodada – Cruzeiro x Grêmio
3ª rodada – Red Bull Bragantino x Cruzeiro
4ª rodada – Cruzeiro x Santos
5ª rodada – Cruzeiro x Fluminense

Granit Xhaka claims Erik ten Hag was never the problem and his decision to move to Sunderland stems from his desire to become a coach.

• Xhaka clears the air around Ten Hag
• Annoyed that coach is being portrayed wrongfully
• Says Sunderland move will shape him for future

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Xhaka’s transfer saga this summer was full of twists that kept fans guessing until the very end. After Bayer Leverkusen hired Ten Hag as the head coach, he tried to persuade Xhaka to stay and the midfielder initially wanted to stay until Sunderland knocked on the door. The Swiss international claims he had "clear and correct" talks with the Bayer manager and doesn't understand why people are blaming him for his move. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Opening up further about what led to him signing for the Black Cats, the 32-year-old conveyed that the story of the football club and it's struggles and suffering felt relatable to him. Furthermore, although not being on the same page initially, he agreed to join Sunderland as he felt it fostered the right conditions for him to become a coach in the future. However, when the Sunderland owner called Xhaka, his first thought was that somebody is playing a 'trick' on him. 

• WHAT XHAKA SAID

  Talking about what unfolded this summer with , Xhaka candidly spoke on the events and rebuffed any ill-claims on Ten Hag, as he said: "It annoys me that Erik is being portrayed as the problem. He was never the problem, never! He only called me after three or four weeks because he didn't want to disturb me during the holidays. I had a very good conversation with him. He knew I was looking at an exciting offer. And maybe he sensed he would lose me. But our conversation was always clear and correct. I would have played as captain under him."

  Xhaka thought the call from Sunderland owner Kyril-Louis Dreyfus was a joke and eventually was swayed away by their eagerness to sign him. He added: "Everything happened very quickly. The first contact was made one day before departure for the Bayer camp in Rio de Janeiro. At 11 p.m., a Swiss number lit up on my cell phone. I was on my way to bed, the children were already asleep: 'Hello, this is Kyril. I'm the owner of Sunderland.' I played along because I thought someone was playing a trick on me. My agent, José Noguera, was in America at the time, with a corresponding time difference. I gave Kyril my agent's number. The conversation was clear, but brief. Ten minutes later, Jose called via FaceTime, along with the sporting director and Kyril. That's when I realised: This is serious."

  Xhaka further added: "I was honest with Kyril and told him that I couldn't really imagine an immediate return to the Premier League. But after the phone call, I felt: You have to do this, Granit! The club is coming from a situation that reminded me of my parents' beginnings – from scratch. And I feel that this experience here will be of the greatest benefit to me for my future. Why? I want to pursue a career as a coach at some point. That's why it's important to experience moments of suffering and solidarity. We will have to suffer a lot in the coming months. That's another side of football, but it's also part of it and will shape me. Furthermore, did everything, absolutely everything, to bring me back to England. When a club gives you such feelings, it would almost be rude not to consider them. I was so touched by those in charge. I couldn't say no."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR XHAKA?

  Sunderland, led by club captain Xhaka, kicked off their Premier League with a win over West Ham United last weekend and are set to face to Burnley next on August 23, before facing Championship-side Huddersfield in the first round of Carabao Cup. 

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras empatou com o Guarani em 0 a 0 pela última rodada da fase de grupos do Campeonato Paulista, neste domingo (05). em Campinas. Com o resultado, como o São Bernardo foi derrotado para o Água Santa, o Verdão garantiu a primeira posição do Grupo D e, consequentemente, o mando de campo nas quartas de final. Confira o vídeo dos melhores momentos da partida:

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAbel diz que mais dois jogadores do Palmeiras poderiam ser convocados à Seleção BrasileiraPalmeiras05/03/2023PalmeirasVeiga lamenta gol perdido e vê empate com o Guarani injusto com o PalmeirasPalmeiras05/03/2023PalmeirasEm jogo agitado, Palmeiras vence Real Brasília pelo Brasileirão FemininoPalmeiras05/03/2023

Former Chelsea star David Luiz has been embroiled in a cheating scandal after leaked messsages appeared to show him asking for a 'threesome'.

Luiz embroiled in cheating scandalEx-Chelsea man's leaked messages emergeBrazilian asked for a 'threesome'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Portal Leodias, Luiz has been cheating on his fiancée, Bruna Loureiro, with a woman called Karol Cavalcante. She claimed that they had corresponded over social media, with the two never meeting in person, before Cavalcante leaked what are purported to be private Instagram messages between her and the former Arsenal player. Cavalcante alleged that Luiz suggested having a 'threesome' with her and a friend, with one purported message between the two saying she would be 'serving the lord' if they got together. Now, the Brazilian has responded to these allegations.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT LUIZ SAID

A statement from Luiz's management agency reads: "As previously reported, although there was a brief exchange via text message, there was never any face-to-face meeting between David Luiz and the person making the contrary allegations. According to an official statement from the Magna Praia Hotel, there is no record of the player staying at the hotel to date. David Luiz reaffirms his commitment to the truth and is confident that the facts will be duly clarified."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Former Brazil international Luiz, who now plays for Cypriot side Pafos, has been engaged to Loureiro since 2019, and together they have two children. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWHAT NEXT?

It remains to be seen what will come of these revelations in the coming days and weeks. Incidentally, Loureiro posted a cryptic message on social media in the wake of the scandal. 

She wrote on Instagram: "I hope good times find you wherever you are, even on the most ordinary days. May they arrive unexpectedly, like a beautiful coincidence seemingly written by the universe. May they come as a source of peace after a difficult day. May good times always be your path, even when you're not looking for them."

Crystal Palace are reportedly exploring a sensational move to bring Conor Gallagher back to Selhurst Park, with talks already held with Atletico Madrid over a potential deal. The England midfielder, who starred during his 2021-22 loan spell with the Eagles, could return either on loan or permanently, depending on Atletico’s stance in the coming weeks.

• Crystal Palace open talks with Atletico for Gallagher return
• Midfielder played 50 games in debut season in Spain
• Atletico prefer permanent sale, Eagles exploring loan option

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Fabrizio Romano reports that Crystal Palace have approached Atletico Madrid over a deal for Gallagher. As confirmed by The Athletic, the Premier League side are weighing up the possibility of a loan move, while Atletico would prefer a permanent sale. Initial talks have been held, but no formal bid has been made yet.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gallagher enjoyed a hugely successful spell at Crystal Palace in 2021-22 on loan from Chelsea, scoring eight goals and winning their Player of the Season award. He moved to Atletico in 2024 from the Blues, but has struggled for consistent game time. Palace’s midfield options are stretched, with injuries forcing Oliver Glasner to rotate heavily at the start of the season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 25-year-old played 50 games in his debut season at Atletico but was often used from the bench after Christmas. He started their opening game of this season but was subbed at half-time and featured as a substitute against Elche last weekend. Gallagher is also part of England’s setup, with Thomas Tuchel set to name his next squad this week.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR GALLAGHER?

  Crystal Palace are expected to monitor Atletico’s stance closely before deciding whether to formalise their interest. Gallagher remains tied down on a long-term contract until 2029, meaning a deal may be complicated. With two weeks left in the transfer window, developments could accelerate quickly.

Bayern Munich's sporting director has hinted at the Bundesliga side's pursuit of Chelsea outcast Nicolas Jackson, with personal terms agreed.

Director speaks about club's transfer plansDoesn't deny attacker is on Bayern's radarBavarians reportedly reached agreement with strikerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Christoph Freund neither confirmed nor denied that the Bundesliga side were seeking a move for Chelsea outcast Jackson. There have been reports which suggest that the Bavarian giants have reached a personal agreement with Jackson, with talks set to be opened with the Blues. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Jackson has fallen out of favour under Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, with the Club World Cup winners reinforcing the No.9 position by signing Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. The Senegalese international has been linked with numerous teams over the past few months, including Aston Villa, Napoli, Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur. What's more, Maresca even dropped the ex-Villarreal frontman from the squad for last weekend's Premier League clash against West Ham. Chelsea's large asking price has proved to be a major stumbling block in the club's efforts to offload the player and generate some funds. Bayern, though, are now set to open talks with the English outfit over a loan deal. This comes after Die Roten sporting director Max Eberl asserted that Jackson was not on their radar.

WHAT BAYERN SAID

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Freund said: "I'm not denying anything. There are a lot of names floating around. The transfer window is open until next Monday, and anything can still happen before then."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN MUNICH?

Vincent Kompany's troops will take on third-tier side Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Wednesday, August 28, at the BRITA-Arena, followed by a league encounter against Augsburg on Saturday.

MatériaMais Notícias

Leonel Di Plácido desembarcou na manhã desta quinta-feira no Rio de Janeiro para realizar exames médicos e assinar contrato com Botafogo. O lateral-direito chega por empréstimo junto ao Lanús até dezembro deste ano com opção de compra fixada no término do vínculo.

Caso seja aprovado nos exames médicos, Di Plácido será a quarta contratação do Glorioso para a temporada. O lateral estava previsto para chegar no Rio no último domingo, mas por questão de logística, acabou desembarcando somente nesta quinta.

+Copa do Brasil começou! Saiba as premiações fase a fase até o título

RelacionadasBotafogoRetornos de jogadores lesionados dão força ao Botafogo em sequência decisiva da temporadaBotafogo22/02/2023BotafogoPhilipe Sampaio se reapresenta ao Botafogo após ficar internado no hospitalBotafogo22/02/2023BotafogoBotafogo volta aos treinos após folga, e Luís Castro mostra imagens exclusivas do CTBotafogo21/02/2023

+Conheça Leonel Di Plácido, lateral que está na mira do Botafogo

– Já estou aqui no Aeroporto do Rio e estou muito feliz de poder jogar no Botafogo. É um clube muito grande e de muita história, estou entusiasmado para jogar aqui e conhecer meus companheiros – afirmou Di Plácido diretamente do aeroporto em entrevista ao “ge”.

O jogador tem 29 anos e disputou as últimas seis temporadas pelo Lanús.O argentino iniciou a carreira no All Boys e também teve passagem pelo Atlético Tucumán. A velocidade e força ofensiva são as principais características do atleta.