Cody Gakpo and Matthijs de Ligt were among five players sent home from the Netherlands national team camp on Thursday after being hit by a virus.

The drastic news meant coach Ronald Koeman was forced into a rapid rethink of his plans for Friday's Euro 2024 qualifier away to France.

In a statement on its website, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said Liverpool forward Gakpo and Bayern Munich defender De Ligt had left the squad, along with Newcastle United defender Sven Botman, PSV midfielder Joey Vermeen and Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

Botman, Vermeen and Verbruggen are uncapped and were hoping for their first active involvements with the Oranje, while Gakpo and De Ligt are key figures in the Dutch side.

Koeman called in Vitesse goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, Inter defender Stefan de Vrij and Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch to fortify his group.

The KNVB described the problem facing the five sick players as "a viral infection", without giving further details.

The Netherlands tackle World Cup runners-up France at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday and then host Gibraltar on Monday in Rotterdam.

Chelsea seem to have resigned themselves to making a major loss on Romelu Lukaku, who has only netted five times on loan at Inter this term.

According to a Football Insider report, the Blues are ready to move him on in at the end of the season, with Inter unlikely to try to extend his stay in Milan.

Chelsea spent £97.5milion to bring Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge in August 2021, but they are unlikely to get anywhere near that now.

TOP STORY – GERMAN CHAMPIONS LINE UP SHOCK LUKAKU MOVE

Bayern Munich are lining up a shock move for Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku to bolster their attacking options, claims Fichajes.

The report claims Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is an admirer of the Belgium striker, who he believes is one of the world's best forwards if injury free.

Bayern will not commence negotiations with Chelsea until the end of the season. The German champions had been linked with Harry Kane as they look for someone to replace Robert Lewandowski, who left for Barcelona last year.

Calciomercato reports that Chelsea may try to land a deal with Roma with a swap deal involving Tammy Abraham.

ROUND-UP

– 90min claims Manchester City have reignited their interest in signing 19-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz following a long-term knee injury which forced him to miss the 2022 World Cup. Fabrizio Romano claims Real Madrid will compete for the German's services too.

– Tottenham are interested in Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson, reports ESPN. Henderson is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from United, who could use Spurs' interest as leverage in a deal for Harry Kane, per the report

– Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto is drawing interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, while 90min claims Juventus and Napoli are among a list of Italian clubs tracking him too.

– Fabrizio Romano claims Barcelona on the cusp of agreeing to a deal with Athletic Bilbao centre-back Inigo Martinez to join the Blaugrana on a free transfer in the off-season.

– Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to let Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches exit amid interest from Milan along with Premier League clubs Aston Villa, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Tottenham and Wolves, reports 90min.

– Football London reports Arsenal are ready to ramp up their interest in Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi with a bid to come in the coming months, although he has a €60m release clause in his contract.

Folarin Balogun would be a "great addition" to the United States team, but Arsenal's Matt Turner only wants the striker to make the switch if it "comes from the heart".

Arsenal forward Balogun has excelled on loan with Reims this season, scoring 17 goals in 27 Ligue 1 appearances – behind only Jonathan David and Kylian Mbappe (both 19).

The 21-year-old's excellent form has prompted talk of a tussle for his international allegiance, with the New York-born star eligible to represent England, the United States and Nigeria.

Balogun has been a mainstay in the England Under-21 set-up, but he withdrew from the squad for this month's internationals due to injury.

That development has led to fresh hope Balogun will pledge himself to the USMNT, and Turner confirmed he had spoken to his Gunners team-mate on the matter.

"I spoke to Flo. We obviously had most of our preseason together, and I knew going into it he had some roots in the USA," the goalkeeper said on Wednesday.

"So, he and I developed a relationship pretty quickly. That's pretty much the extent of it. We check in on each other here and there.

"He'd be a great addition to our national team. I think he's done really well, obviously, for his club on loan, and we'll see.

"The decision has to come from the heart, because it's not necessarily an easy task to come and play in these CONCACAF games. It's a tough region at times.

"So, for us, we'd be really grateful to have him, but his heart needs to be in it."

Earlier in the week, Balogun told Sky Sports he was yet to decide on his future but has aspirations of playing at the highest level.

"My international future is not decided yet in terms of who I'll play for," he said. "But of course I want to play international football at the highest level, in the World Cups, and I want to compete at the highest level.

"I want to put myself in positions where I'm performing in front of millions of people."

Guro Reiten secured Chelsea the advantage in their quarter-final against defending champions Lyon in the Women's Champions League.

The Norwegian curled home after 28 minutes in France to hand the Blues a 1-0 lead ahead of the reverse fixture in London.

Lyon were guilty of missing a number of opportunities in the first half, although Lauren James could have added a second for Chelsea when she hit the post.

Delphine Cascarino similarly struck the woodwork for Lyon after half-time, with the eight-time champions now needing a turnaround in the second leg if their title defence is to continue.

Argentina-born Italy striker Mateo Retegui reminds Roberto Mancini of the Albiceleste's Serie A great Gabriel Batistuta.

Retegui has been handed a first Italy call-up for this month's Euro 2024 qualifiers, starting at home to England on Thursday.

The Tigre striker, who was born and raised in Argentina, where he has also spent his entire club career, qualifies for the Azzurri through his grandfather.

Strikers travelling between Argentina and Italy is not a new phenomenon, but Retegui is heading for the Italy camp, rather than a Serie A club.

"Coming like this from Argentina to Italy, not in a club team, is not so simple," coach Mancini said on the eve of the England game.

"It takes some time, but the guy is polite and smart. He is a good striker, young, we have great confidence and we have to give him some time."

Retegui has scored 28 goals in 48 Argentine Primera Division games for Tigre.

While Mancini noted comparisons with former Napoli striker German Denis, he preferred to draw parallels with the great Batistuta.

Batistuta joined Fiorentina from Boca Juniors in 1991 and was a great success both with the Viola and with Roma.

"[Retegui] is a classic striker, I see that many compare him to Denis," Mancini said. "I remember when Batistuta arrived in Italy, he reminds me of him.

"Clearly, he is a young guy and needs time and to grow. But I don't think it will take long to settle in."

Harry Kane his World Cup disappointment behind him, England manager Gareth Southgate believes.

The Three Lions captain missed a decisive penalty in the quarter-final defeat to France in Qatar, continuing the nation's long wait for international glory.

Kane would have broken Wayne Rooney's international record had he scored the penalty, as well as potentially guiding England into the last four, but he fired his attempt over the bar and the Three Lions lost 2-1.

He is not alone in penalty heartache for England, however, with team-mates Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho all missing spot-kicks in the shoot-out defeat to Italy at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final.

Going back further, Southgate himself missed from the spot in England's semi-final defeat to Germany at Euro 1996, meaning Kane is only the latest in a series of stars to suffer penalty heartache.

However, Southgate feels that will not hold back the Tottenham striker and backs him as one of the all-time greats.

"We've seen that with his performances and goals for his club that he has put it behind him," he said.

"He knows he's going to have added motivation tomorrow [Wednesday] night to come back and show everybody what he is about again in an England shirt. For us that is a good position.

"It's always difficult to compare across ages, there a lot who I didn't see because I wasn't alive. But because of his goalscoring alone, that puts him in the upper echelons of that group.

"He provides so much more for the team than that, his quality of passing, his vision, his touch, he's an outstanding player and we're very fortunate to have him."

The honour of being England's leading goalscorer is almost certain to fall to Kane, who is tied with Rooney on 53 for the Three Lions, and Declan Rice feels it would be a just reward.

"I think you can see every time he scores a goal how much it means to him. Every goal, every training session, everything he does is at such a high level," the midfielder added.

"If he does break the record tomorrow, it will be thoroughly deserved. He is a real leader and a lot of us will be very happy for him if he breaks the record tomorrow night."

With Antonio Conte expected to leave Tottenham by the end of the week, attention is already turning to who might be next to try their hand at what continues to look a near-impossible job.

Spurs are a big club with a fabulous stadium, passionate fanbase and talented squad.

Despite the relative success of Harry Redknapp and Mauricio Pochettino in the last two decades, as well as investing in high-profile bosses Jose Mourinho and Conte, none have been able to bring silverware to the north London club.

The only trophy Spurs have claimed since the turn of the century was the EFL Cup in 2007-08, and any new manager/head coach will be tasked with ending that drought as soon as possible, as well as ensuring another season of Champions League football.

Stats Perform looks at some of the early favourites, with Conte seemingly on the brink.

Mauricio Pochettino

The Argentinian was a very popular figure during his time at White Hart Lane – and subsequently Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Pochettino may not have won a trophy, but he presided over two title challenges and the run to the 2019 Champions League final, which resulted in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

He mostly got the best out of his players, too, and took many of them to another level.

His five-year reign included 113 wins from 202 Premier League games, a points-per-game (PPG) average of 1.89, very slightly higher than Conte's 1.88 (32 wins from 56 games).

Pochettino was eventually dismissed by chairman Daniel Levy after appearing to take the club as far as he could, so going back to him when still looking someone to take them to the next level might be a little backwards.

He would likely be a popular choice with the fans, though, and should at the very least provide some stability. Perhaps crucially, he might also be their best bet in convincing Harry Kane to stay.

Ryan Mason

It wouldn't technically be a return for Mason as he never actually left, taking on a first-team coach role after the end of his interim spell at the helm following the sacking of Mourinho in April 2021.

His second game in charge was a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the EFL Cup final, but Mason arguably did well considering his lack of experience.

Given he only took charge of six matches, it seems a little pointless to stake a claim for Mason based on his own PPG record (2.0).

But the former Spurs midfielder is the heavy favourite for the job, even if only on a short-term basis again.

Similarly to Pochettino, the thinking behind that choice would most likely be stability and that decision makers at the club may feel the players are likely to respond positively to someone they already know.

Unless he performs spectacularly, appointing Mason would probably be followed by a full-time hire at the end of the season.

Thomas Tuchel

While Tuchel would be yet another former Chelsea boss taking the reins, following in the footsteps of Glenn Hoddle, Andre Villas-Boas, Mourinho and Conte, it's hard to argue with his credentials.

The German won 35 of 63 Premier League games with the Blues, a PPG average of 1.94, as well as winning the Champions League in 2021.

Considering Spurs are eager to win a first trophy since 2008, the fact Tuchel guided Chelsea to five finals – including the 2021 Club World Cup – in less than two years will no doubt appeal, even if he did lose three of them.

Tuchel reportedly left Stamford Bridge partly due to a disagreement on transfers with owner Todd Boehly, which may not bode well given Conte's consistent complaining about the way Spurs work in the market.

Either way, the man who shared a furious handshake with Conte earlier this season could well be the same person to replace the Italian in the Spurs dugout.

Luis Enrique

The former Real Madrid and Barcelona player most recently won 27 of 48 games as Spain head coach, but international football can be a different world to the top-level club game.

Luis Enrique was very successful in his last club job at Barca, though it admittedly helped having a front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all at their peak.

He won two LaLiga titles, three Copa del Rey crowns, a Supercopa de Espana, a European Super Cup and a Club World Cup, as well as the 2014-15 Champions League as part of a historic treble.

Overall, Luis Enrique won 87 of his 114 LaLiga games (2.4 PPG), but it is difficult to compare this to counterparts at Spurs given Barca's relative dominance in Spain.

His record at Roma earlier in his career could be a better barometer, winning 16 of his 38 Serie A games in charge of the Giallorossi (1.5 PPG), before winning 14 of 38 LaLiga matches as head coach of Celta Vigo (1.3 PPG) before heading to Camp Nou. But how relevant are these spells now given he left Balaidos nine years ago?

Similarly, the fact he's not had a club job since 2017 might be seen as problematic by some fans, while it could also be argued he underachieved with Spain.

Roberto De Zerbi

De Zerbi has made his mark on the Premier League very quickly since replacing Graham Potter at Brighton and Hove Albion in September.

Brighton have thrived and find themselves in a genuine fight for Europe, with a top-four finish not out of the question at this stage as they sit seven points behind fourth-placed Spurs with three games in hand.

De Zerbi has won eight of his 19 Premier League games, while the Seagulls rank second in the Premier League for passing accuracy (86.9 per cent), average possession (62.1 per cent) and passes per sequence (4.5). They are also third for goals (35) and fifth for passes played into the opposition's box since his first game, highlighting an attack-minded approach that would certainly be appreciated by a frustrated Spurs fanbase.

Getting him out of Brighton will be easier said than done, however, having already lost one head coach this season, not to mention their renown for getting a good deal – Potter reportedly cost Chelsea £21.5million.

Spurs will almost certainly have to pay through the nose or look elsewhere.

Oliver Glasner

A surprise name that has emerged in recent days is that of Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Oliver Glasner, who impressed so many by leading the Bundesliga club to Europa League success last season.

Glasner made a promising start to his coaching career in his native Austria with Ried and LASK, before guiding Wolfsburg to seventh and fourth-placed finishes in the German top-flight.

He then made the switch to Eintracht ahead of the 2021-22 season. He could only guide them to 11th in the Bundesliga, winning just three of their 17 games in the second half of the campaign, but this came amid the backdrop of Europa League glory, eliminating Real Betis, Barcelona and West Ham before beating Rangers in the final on penalties.

Some reports suggest Levy has already contacted Glasner, whose contract expires in 2024.

This season, Eintracht sit sixth in the league and were recently knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by Napoli.

A confident Sugar Boyz team arrived in Anguilla on Tuesday where they will face French St. Martin on Thursday in the first of two Concacaf Nations League matches.

“Everything is under control,” said team manager Jamir Claxton.

“Everything has been well-coordinated. We have a very good team working in the background as well supporting me, including the General Secretary Techell Mclean, Mr. (Cuthbert) Caines, the Head of Delegation, and other members of the SKNFA Secretariat.”

Meanwhile, the players are in good spirits and looking forward to the games ahead.

Chief among them is Lois Maynard, who is based in the United Kingdom and is excited about wearing national colours again. He knows a victory will be significant for St. Kitts and Nevis to advance to the next round for Concacaf Gold Cup qualification and said the team is ready.

“It’s always a proud moment for me. I can speak for the rest of the (UK-based players) as well,” he said. “We are all proud to be here representing St. Kitts and Nevis. We have a good chance this time around of reaching the Gold Cup.”

Maynard said that the camaraderie between overseas-based and local players has been good.

“We’re all one. We all link up together as if we’ve never been apart. I think that is the most important thing to be successful as a team,” he noted.

Jamal Jeffers, a local-based player concurred.

“There are not many new players. A lot of the UK-based players have been here before so they are not new to the system or new to the country,” he said. 

Jeffers urged the country to rally behind the team, especially when they play their home match on Monday against Aruba.

“We are going to put up a strong fight because we want to reach the Gold Cup,” he said.

The Sugar Boyz play French St. Martin at 3 pm Thursday in Anguilla and on Monday, March 27th at 6 pm at Warner Park Cricket stadium.

Leandro Trossard is delighted by his fast start in an Arsenal shirt and is optimistic of his new club's chances of winning the Premier League.

Trossard was a January signing for Mikel Arteta's side after the Belgium forward impressed in the first half of the season at Brighton and Hove Albion, scoring seven goals in 16 league games.

Since joining the league leaders, Trossard has only scored once but provided six assists in just 10 league games to help Arsenal rebuild an eight-point gap to Manchester City in second.

And the former Brighton has been surprised at how quickly he has settled.

"I maybe didn't expect to make that many minutes, but injuries helped me a bit. I’m however more than convinced of my own capabilities," Trossard said, speaking at a national team press conference on Wednesday. 

"I arrived in a great group, filled with great players. That also makes it easier for new players to adapt and reach their levels.

"It was a very busy and weird period for me, but I'm very happy that I have been able to join Arsenal. I think it's been a great step for me.

"We all know how difficult it is to win the league, looking at Man City and Liverpool in recent years, but I think we have a great squad and that we have proven time and time again that we're doing well. 

"There are 10 matches left, we'll see where we end once the season finishes."

The 28-year-old is set to feature heavily for Belgium after the retirement of fellow forward and former captain Eden Hazard.

City's Kevin De Bruyne has taken the armband, and Trossard is confident the midfielder and new head coach Domenico Tedesco will prove the difference as Belgium look to rally following their group-stage exit at the 2022 World Cup.

"[De Bruyne] has a lot of experience at the highest level," Trossard said. "He knows everybody here, since he's been here for a while already. 

"A lot of the younger guys look up to him – I think that's a really big advantage for a national team captain if people look up to you.

"We have a new manager, a new staff, and I'm excited to make this new start as well.

"We're looking sharp, everybody wants to prove themselves. We also have a lot of youngsters, there's a lot of renewed competition, and it's clear everybody wants to give it their all."

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he considered international retirement following the World Cup in Qatar.

Portugal crashed out at the quarter-final stage after defeat against Morocco, with Ronaldo losing his spot in the starting line-up for the knockout stages.

Fernando Santos dropped Ronaldo to the bench for the last-16 tie against Switzerland, with his replacement Goncalo Guedes scoring a hat-trick in a dominant 6-1 victory.

Ronaldo would continue as a substitute for the clash with Morocco, which almost spelled the end of his Portugal career.

"I'm not going to lie. In our life, we have to put everything on the scale," Ronaldo said ahead of a Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein.

"We thought, we reflected, me and my family, but then we came to the conclusion that, despite the difficulties, we cannot throw in the towel. I was able to see situations at different angles. I learned a lot from that.

"I'm glad to be back. Roberto Martinez showed that he counted on me. I've always wanted to play. As you know, he talked to everyone and to me, too. And I was able to realise that I have a lot to give to the national team.

"I feel it, I want it, and my desire is to take Portugal to the highest level. I will always give my contribution when they need me."

Lifelong Manchester United fan Usain Bolt couldn’t help but express his gratitude to Erik Ten Hag for making the Red Devils a competitive force in world football once more.

The eight-time Olympic gold medallist was on hand at Old Trafford on Sunday when Manchester United rallied from a goal down to defeat Fulham 3-1 in their FA quarter-final match.

After the controversial match in which Fulham had Willian and Aleksander Mitrovic sent off in the 72^nd minute, Bolt caught up for the former Ajax boss, who now has United competing on all fronts this season and defeating Newcastle 2-0 to win the EFL Cup in February.

“The first thing I said to him was ‘thank you’. That’s the first thing I said and he was like ‘thanks for what?’ I was like ‘for bringing the glory days back’,” Bolt revealed to media about his conversation with Ten Hag.

“It feels good to watch Manchester now. The team is together, they’re as one. They’re working together, they’re working hard and you can see the purpose now, you can see the determination in the way they play.

“I was very happy with his progress and I can tell that he’s going to do a lot more. We have a lot more trophies in our future so I’m excited.”

As for the future, Bolt wanted to know who the boss wanted to bring in during the summer to continue transforming the club.

“I actually asked him about who we’re going to bring in in the summer and he was like ‘do you have any ideas?’. It was a nice, simple but fun conversation,” the 100 and 200m world record holder said.

The Premier League has launched the Fan Engagement Standard (FES) to encourage "long-term meaningful" discourse with supporters.

The announcement follows Premier League clubs' initial endorsements of the plans at the division's June 2022 AGM.

It aims to act as a framework within which clubs can tailor their own unique approaches to fan engagement, with themes including accessibility, collaboration, and communication.

Clubs are due to announce their own work in light of the FES in the coming days, and all clubs will publish a Fan Engagement Plan ahead of the 2023-34 season.

Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, said: "Supporters have always been the lifeblood of football, and Premier League fans are known around the world for their passion and enthusiasm.

"Clubs already carry out a great deal of work in this area, and the Standard is the next step in enhancing these collective efforts.

"It is vital we ensure the voices of supporters are not only heard in the stands, but also when it comes to having a say on key issues relating to their clubs. The Standard puts structures in place to establish consistency across the league and improve transparency."

The Premier League said it will oversee clubs' compliance with the FES and aim to promote good practice between club staff and fan representatives, with supporters encouraged to involve themselves in any ways made possible.

A method of assessment will also be developed during the remainder of this season by the league and selected clubs, theoretically to help determine how teams will report on the FES and how to make "recommendations for improvement".

Marcus and Khephren Thuram have expressed pride at their joint call-up to the France squad.

The brothers faced the media at France's Clairefontaine base ahead of Friday's Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands.

The pair follow in the footsteps of the Hernandez brothers, Lucas and Theo, in becoming the latest siblings to be called up by coach Didier Deschamps.

And Marcus, who starred at the 2022 World Cup, explained he was actually prouder of Khephren's debut call-up than this own.

"I learned about his selection at the same time as him," the Borussia Monchengladbach forward said. "I called him immediately. I was more proud for him than for me.

"He is a very serious person, he impresses me, and he will still improve."

The son of 1998 World Cup winner Lilian as well as Marcus' brother, Khephren is keen to forge his own reputation.

He said: "I haven't been in anyone's shadow. It's a source of pride and happiness to have a brother like Marcus. He is a very jovial person, and he has confidence in his qualities.

"I know he knows he can reach much, much higher, and he is working for that."

Ahead of the Netherlands game, Kylian Mbappe was named as the new France captain following the retirement of Hugo Lloris after the World Cup.

It is a decision team-mate Marcus supported as he said: "He's a charismatic leader on and off the pitch. He can be a unifying captain."

The Thuram brothers both feature in an exciting new generation for France, with Marcus explaining: "We are players with a lot of self-confidence. We don't ask ourselves unnecessary questions when we enter the field.

"Randal Kolo Muani was not supposed to be at the World Cup, and he came into the final and almost won it. This is a reckless generation that is not afraid of much."

Marcus is expected to leave Gladbach when his contract expires at the end of the season, with Lilian set to have a say on his next move.

"He has the place of a dad, but he knows a little about it," the forward said. "His word carries weight, I'm happy to have someone like him by my side.

"He will have a major place in the choices to come."

Could Marcus and Khephren play together for club as well as country then?

"We all have different careers," Marcus answered. "If we have to play together in a club, it will be with pleasure, but it's not an obsession."

Khephren added: "It's perfect to have him next to me, because I let him answer when I don't know what to say."

Mesut Ozil's retirement brings to an end the career of one of modern football's great, traditional number 10s.

The former Arsenal and Real Madrid playmaker announced on social media that he was terminating his contract with Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir due to continuing injury issues.

Ex-Germany international Ozil won the World Cup in 2014 and also played for Schalke, Werder Bremen and Fenerbahce during his club career.

Having garnered a big move to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2010 following his superb displays in that year's World Cup, Ozil won a LaLiga title, a Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana.

A move to Arsenal in 2013 saw Ozil flourish into one of the Premier League's greatest creative forces, while he won the FA Cup four times during his stay in north London.

Stints at Fenerbahce and Basaksehir were hampered by injury with Ozil having played just four times this season, but the 34-year-old leaves behind an unforgettable legacy.

Stats Perform takes a look at some of the key numbers behind Ozil's memorable career.

Creator in chief

The 2015-16 campaign was arguably Ozil's finest in an Arsenal shirt, with his tally of 146 chances created in the Premier League the most of any player in a single season in the competition. 

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne has come closest to breaking that record when the Belgian crafted 136 goalscoring opportunities for team-mates in the 2019-20 campaign.

Ozil managed six league goals in the 2015-16 campaign but laid on a further 19. That was the only time he registered double figures for assists in a top-flight season while at Arsenal, something he managed in each of his three seasons in LaLiga.

Assist machine

Ozil is one of just four Arsenal players to have registered more than 50 Premier League assists for the club.

His total of 54 is bested by Denis Bergkamp (94), Thierry Henry (74) and Cesc Fabregas (70).

Ozil's prolific record as a creator began well before his move to north London.

His 122 assists across a ten-season stretch between 2008 and 2018 was only eclipsed by Lionel Messi (133).

Starting in 2008, Ozil recorded more than 12 assists for five consecutive seasons. At Werder Bremen, he set up 25 goals two seasons in the Bundesliga before joining Madrid.

His numbers would only improve in the Spanish capital as he created 47 goals between 2010 and 2013.

Eye for goal

While Ozil's creative talents caught the eye, he had a penchant for scoring goals as well as setting them up.

His 33 top-flight goals in an Arsenal shirt stands as the second-best tally of any German in the Premier League, behind City's Ilkay Gundogan (39). Uwe Rosler, Jurgen Klinsmann, and Leroy Sane make up the top five with 29, 29 and 25 respectively.

Ozil's best Premier League goalscoring season was the 2016-17 campaign when he netted eight times.

Galactico

It was at the 2010 World Cup where Ozil truly made his name, starring in a youthful Germany side that reached the semi-finals.

Ozil appeared at three World Cup finals, and is one of only five players to have created at least 10 chances from open play in three different World Cups (since 1966), along with Messi, Diego Maradona, Wolfgang Overath and former Germany team-mate Thomas Muller.

Madrid signed him after his leading role in South Africa and Ozil went on to make 159 appearances for Los Blancos. Only three German players have played more matches with the club – Toni Kroos (402), Uli Stielike (308) and Sami Khedira (161). 

Wout Weghorst feels he is "doing a good job" for Manchester United after becoming a regular under Erik ten Hag.

The Netherlands international has started all 18 of United's games since joining on loan from Burnley in January – only Bruno Fernandes has been selected as many times.

He has scored just two goals so far, while assisting three more, leading to questions being asked whether the 30-year-old is the best option up top for United.

However, having played his part in United's EFL Cup triumph and helped them advance in the FA Cup and Europa League, Weghorst is pleased with what he has achieved so far.

"That's a lot of matches and it shows the trust in me," Weghorst said when asked about the number of games he has started. "It also shows I am doing a good job for the team. 

"That was the thing I wanted when I came here – to contribute and try and help the club to be successful, to win trophies.

"We have one now. We have two more to go with the Europa League and FA Cup, and we want to get as high as possible in the table and definitely reach the Champions League.

"So it just shows me that I am being part of it. And being part of us being successful and that appreciation, that’s a good thing."

United will take on Brighton and Hove Albion in next month's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, while Sevilla await in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Weghorst played 70 minutes of last month's 2-0 EFL Cup final win against Newcastle United and led the way for shots (three) and aerial duels contested (seven), as well as assisting Marcus Rashford for United's second goal.

"The match against Newcastle at Wembley was a great experience. There was a lovely atmosphere in the stadium; it has something special," he said.

"We want to win trophies. The one we have now just showed us that we can do it again; we are all hungry for more, all of us."

Weghorst is currently away on international duty with the Netherlands, who face France in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday before hosting Gibraltar three days later.