Friday’s Football Gossip: 03.11.2023

The Ball Is Square brings you the latest daily scoop on all things football!

Reece James, the captain of Chelsea, is a target for Real Madrid, but the Blues will want a high price for the 23-year-old right-back.

25-year-old English defender Lloyd Kelly is available to sign with AC Milan from Bournemouth, however, Tottenham is also interested in him. Kelly’s contract ends in the summer of 2024, and potential teams interested in signing him include Fulham, West Ham United, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus. 

Arthur Vermeeren, a midfielder for Royal Antwerp, is a target for Barcelona as well as Arsenal, who might bid £13 million for the 18-year-old Belgian international in January.

Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim and former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane are being evaluated as potential successors for Manchester United’s “on thin ice” manager Erik ten Hag. If Manchester United were to fire Ten Hag this season, the financial consequences would exceed £15 million. 

While some members of the Manchester United team support Ten Hag’s dictatorial methods, several players have taken issue with the severe treatment of the England team’s 23-year-old winger Jadon Sancho and 30-year-old defender Harry Maguire. 

Ten Hag is considering Brentford’s Ivan Toney, Napoli and Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen, 24, and Iran and Porto attacker Mehdi Taremi, 31. 

Giovani Lo Celso, an Argentine midfielder, is willing to leave Tottenham in January, and the club would take a bid of between £15 and £20 million for the 27-year-old. 

With his future as Greece’s leader uncertain, Uruguayan Gus Poyet, 55, acknowledges there is a “possibility” he may be contacted over the Republic of Ireland position. 

With a new deal at Crystal Palace that includes a significant release clause, 25-year-old England striker Eberechi Eze will triple his earnings.