Bayern Munich are looking at Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez as the potential solution to their goalkeeper issue, as Manuel Neuer is expected to miss the second-half of the season through his skiing injury.
Martinez, 30, had an interesting journeyman career before arriving with Villa in 2020, having been contracted to Arsenal, but loaned out to Oxford United, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United, Wolves, Getafe and Reading.
In his first two seasons with Villa, Martinez kept 26 Premier League clean sheets, earning his Argentina debut in June 2021.
His ascension to La Albiceleste's number one saw him earn the 2021 Copa America Golden Glove as the tournament's best goalkeeper, and he followed it up with another Golden Glove after securing the World Cup title in a penalty shoot-out.
Neuer's leg fracture leaves Bayern without their first-choice goalkeeper, and with only a four-point gap atop the Bundesliga, they are reportedly desperate to secure a replacement in January.
TOP STORY – ARGENTINA WORLD CUP HERO TARGETED AS BAYERN'S NEUER REPLACEMENT
According to Media Foot, it is "out of the question" for Bayern to leave the January transfer window without a new goalkeeper, and Martinez's World Cup exploits have him at the top of the list.
He remains under contract with Villa until 2027, giving the Premier League side plenty of leverage in negotiations, and after signing him for £17million, will likely have their sights set on a significant profit to part ways with their world-class shot-stopper.
However, he is not the only keeper the German giants are keeping a close eye on from the World Cup, with Sky Sports Germany reporting they also are investigating Croatia's Dominic Livakovic and Morocco's Yassine Bounou.
That report states Bayern will try to tempt 34-year-old Borussia Monchengladbach's Yann Sommer to the club on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of the season, but that will not address their immediate pressing need.
ROUND-UP
– Sport is reporting Barcelona are in advanced negotiations with Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante on personal terms, as he is able to leave Stamford Bridge on a free transfer after the season.
– Journalist Ekrem Konur claims Sevilla are the latest club to enquire about 22-year-old Angers midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, who impressed for Morocco in Qatar.
– According to GiveMeSport, Chelsea are in the race to land 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund phenom Youssoufa Moukoko when his contract expires at the end of the season, while Si Phillips adds they will also try to sign out-of-contract Manchester United prospect Alejandro Garnacho.
– Sky Sports is reporting Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and multiple Premier League clubs have taken a liking to 27-year-old Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic after his performances at the World Cup for Croatia.
– According to Fabrizio Romano, 20-year-old Italian midfielder Ibrahima Bamba will likely leave Vitoria Guimaraes in January amid interest from Atalanta, Club Brugge and unnamed Premier League sides.
Bompastor lauds 'brave' Chelsea in record-equalling Brighton win
Sonia Bompastor said she was displeased at the mistakes her Chelsea side made during their 4-2 win over Brighton in the Women's Super League on Sunday.
In the Blues' penultimate league fixture this year, they signed off at Kingsmeadow with a victory in an enthralling encounter with the Seagulls.
A brace from Sjoeke Nusken with further goals from Beever-Jones and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd earned Chelsea all three points, with Jelena Cankovic and Kiko Seike on target for the visitors.
And Chelsea were worthy of their triumph, registering an expected goals (xG) total of 4.08 from their 31 shots compared to Brighton's 2.19 from their 18 efforts.
The Blues' win also saw them equal Arsenal's record from the 2018-19 campaign of winning each of their first nine WSL games of the season.
While only in the infancy of her tenure, Bompastor also broke a record set by the legendary Emma Hayes on Sunday.
The Frenchwoman has won 13 games in a row in all competitions, exceeding Hayes’ club record of 12 consecutive wins set during the 2021-22 season.
But, it was a hard-fought victory against a Brighton side who play a similar possession-based style. As a result, both sides gifted their opposition opportunities.
This was not overly concerning for Bompastor, however, saying she was encouraged by her side's resilience to stick to their game model.
"The two teams made some big mistakes today, especially in the build-up and trying to build from the backline and the keeper," Bompastor said.
"That's something that's going to happen when you have two coaches who have a philosophy that they want to build up.
"I prefer my team and my players to be confident enough and brave enough to try again, even if sometimes you can be in that position when you lose some balls.
"Sometimes it's about making a better decision, executing more quickly, scanning better, controlling - so, a lot of small details that are really important at the high level.
"The best teams are the ones who make the least mistakes. You will always have mistakes in the game, and I want my players to be brave enough to try again."
But hot on Chelsea's heels are Manchester City, who also emerged 4-0 victors on Sunday, beating Leicester City thanks to an inspired display from Khadija Shaw.
Shaw netted the Citizens' first two goals of the game in the first half, with Jessica Park and Mary Fowler on target after the break for the hosts.
Shaw raised her overall tally at the top of the club’s all-time goalscoring chart to 88 after 98 matches in all competitions and represented her 13th strike in 14 appearances this term.
And Taylor highlighted Shaw's importance on and off the ball for his side during their win over the Foxes, labelling her a "complete" striker.
"I’d like to say I’ve helped her in that space, but I think that’s all down to Bunny," Taylor said.
"She arrives in the right moment. They were quite different in the sense that the first one she puts back where it comes almost and makes it difficult for the keeper and I think she controlled it well from Kerstin’s cross.
"The one from Leila is a little more where she gets across her defender and attacks it with power. For me, she’s a very complete striker, Bunny.
"I’ve mentioned more recently about what she gives us without her goals. Her goals are the cherry on the cake with so many opportunities to score.
"She backs that up with the numbers. The work she does without the ball is great, and it allows us to dominate."
'It's been an amazing ride' - former Man Utd and Portugal star Nani retires
Former Manchester United and Portugal star Nani has announced his retirement from football at the age of 38.
The ex-winger brings the curtain down on a decorated career, which began at Sporting CP, where he would enjoy three separate spells.
Nani's most successful period came during his eight-year stint with Man Utd, with whom he won four Premier League titles, the Champions League and Club World Cup.
He was also part of the Portugal side that won Euro 2016, captaining the side during the final victory over France following Cristiano Ronaldo's early withdrawal through injury.
Nani made 112 international appearances between 2006 and 2017 - making him the Selecao's fifth most-capped player, while he represented them at five major tournaments.
His club career was played across seven different countries - having also turning out for the likes of Fenerbahce, Valencia, Lazio, Orlando City and Melbourne Victory, before finishing his career with a short stint at Primeira Liga side Estrela Amadora.
"The time has come to say goodbye, I have decided to finish my career as a professional player," he posted on his social media channels.
"It's been an amazing ride and I wanted to thank every single person who has helped me and supported me through the highs and lows during a career which lasted over 20 years and gave me so many unforgettable memories.
"Time to turn a new leaf and focus on new goals and dreams."
Palmer surpasses Zola and could be Chelsea's greatest ever with title win, says Carragher
Cole Palmer has already surpassed Gianfranco Zola's exploits with Chelsea, and could write his name in Blues history if he guides them to the Premier League title.
That was the message from Jamie Carragher after Palmer's penalty double helped Enzo Maresca's side to an enthralling 4-3 comeback victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
Palmer has now scored from all of his 12 penalty attempts in the Premier League - the most in the competition's history without ever missing, after surpassing Yaya Toure's 11 spot-kick tally for Manchester City.
The England midfielder also has 50 goal involvements (33 goals, 17 assists) in just 48 Premier League games for Chelsea, a feat bettered by only three players.
Erling Haaland for Man City (39), Andy Cole for Newcastle United (43), and Mohamed Salah for Liverpool (46) are the only trio to reach that total in fewer appearances for a club in the competition.
Carragher believes Palmer has already secured Chelsea stardom, though further glory could await for the Man City academy product.
"When you think of Chelsea's flair players like Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard, I think Palmer has done more in 18 months than Zola did, and Zola is one of Chelsea's greatest ever players," the former Liverpool defender said on Sky Sports.
"He's on the same level as Hazard, and that came over four or five years. If he takes Chelsea to a title then he'd go down as one of their greatest ever players if he keeps doing what he's doing. He's a special player."
Maresca's band of young talent sit just four points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, whose game on Saturday against Everton was postponed due to inclement weather.
There was a storm of a different nature at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however, as Chelsea fought from 2-0 down to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Enzo Fernandez and Jadon Sancho were both on target, along with Palmer's cool spot-kick heroics, highlighting the plethora of quality on offer to Maresca.
Carragher refuses to accept the Blues' early success as a rags-to-riches story, though.
"This Chelsea team is no underdog story," the former Liverpool defender added. "This is a team that has spent £1.2billion, but what they're doing this season is something totally unexpected.
"This club are right in the mix for a title challenge."
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