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Newcastle United are confident in seeing their latest offer for an England star accepted, as they continue to strengthen their side for the campaign ahead. The Magpies are preparing for their opening Premier League game this weekend as they welcome Southampton to St. James’ Park on Saturday.

Newcastle will be disappointed with how last season panned out, so everyone at the club will be looking to improve on those standings and possibly end their drought for a trophy.

Latest Newcastle United injury news, return dates and suspensions

FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest Newcastle news involving injuries as they face Sheffield United in the Premier League.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 26, 2024

Newcastle United transfer news

Eddie Howe will be keen to see his side get off to a good start, and the aim this season will be to fight for a place in Europe alongside some domestic cup runs. The fact that Newcastle are not in Europe this season could have had an impact on their summer transfer window, as the club hasn’t been as busy as probably expected.

The Premier League side have brought in five new arrivals, but one of them is defender Lewis Hall, who was at the club last season, and another is goalkeeper John Ruddy on a free transfer.

Therefore, there could be anticipation from Newcastle supporters that the club will continue to be busy right up until that August deadline. Chelsea’s Noni Madueke has emerged as someone of interest to Newcastle in recent days, with the Blues potentially looking to move the player on.

While it has also been claimed by Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke that Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga is someone who has emerged on Newcastle’s shortlist as they look to improve their attacking options. However, either deal may have to wait, as Newcastle prioritises wrapping up a deal for a Premier League defender.

Newcastle now confident latest Guehi bid will be accepted

According to Fabrizio Romano, Newcastle are increasingly confident in getting a deal done for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi. Romano states that a new proposal has been sent to the London side, and negotiations are continuing between the two clubs, but vitally suggests the Magpies believe their latest bid will get the job done.

The Magpies have already seen two bids rejected for the defender, who played a starring role in England’s run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals. Now the club have made a third offer, and according to the Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel, the fresh offer is worth an initial £55 million, which rises to £60 million depending on payment add-ons.

He goes on to add that the previous offer from Newcastle was in the region of £48 million, rising to beyond £50 million.

Guehi has been with Palace since July 2021, when he joined the club from fellow Premier League side Chelsea. The 24-year-old has been a key component in Palace’s defence for a few years now, and given his performances for the South London side and England during the summer, it isn’t much of a surprise that teams such as Newcastle are looking to sign him.

The centre-back has two years left on his current contract at Selhurst Park, so this transfer window may represent the best time to cash in on a valuable asset.

Marc Guehi’s 2023/24 season for Crystal Palace

Last season was the first time since joining Palace that Guehi failed to play more than 30 games in the Premier League for the club. His first two seasons saw the 24-year-old play 36 times and then 37 times, but in the 2023/24 campaign, the defender played 25 times, as well as another four games in the FA Cup and EFL Cup combined.

Guehi had a few injury concerns last season, but it didn’t stop him from having a very impressive Euro 2024. The defender played in six of England’s seven games in the tournament, during which he averaged 0.5 tackles, 0.3 interceptions, and two clearances. His ability on the ball also shone through, as he averaged 74.5 passes, and he finished the tournament with a pass accuracy of 93.5 per cent.

The Premier League's pull factor swells each year, with England's top flight consistently outspending its rival European divisions and exerting dominance in the continent's elite club competition – with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City winning three of the past six editions.

Combined, English clubs have far outstripped the remainder of Europe's top-five leagues in regard to expenditure over the past three campaigns, equating to at least 40% of the continent's spending on each occasion.

Financial superiority seems to hold a healthy degree of sway. This is personified over on Merseyside by Sepp van den Berg's expected decision to sign for Brentford over Bayer Leverkusen, with both clubs willing to meet Liverpool's demand of £20m plus £5m in bonuses for the Dutch centre-back's sale.

Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal undefeated last season, with defeat in the Europa League final against Atalanta their only blemish, and given that their fielding interest in three of their centre-backs, Van den Berg would be a wonderful addition.

Liverpool bosses know that selling the 22-year-old is the right thing despite his clear talent, for he will not receive the playing time he wishes for at Anfield, behind Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah in the pecking order – with a defensive signing rumoured to be on the cards before the month's up.

Arne Slot's arrival at the helm this summer has deepened a strong Dutch undercurrent to the Reds' senior squad, but Van den Berg will not form a part of it as he moves away to kickstart his promising career.

Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo are among the brightest of Liverpool's stars, but Ryan Gravenberch is also starting to prove that he can be an invaluable centrepiece.

Why Liverpool signed Ryan Gravenberch

Last summer, Liverpool finished a busy summer of spending by signing Gravenberch in a £34m move, ending his dreary spell with Bayern Munich.

The multi-talented midfielder had emerged as one of Europe's brightest talents with Ajax but failed to impress in Germany, limited to just three Bundesliga starts throughout the 2022/23 campaign – with two of those starting berths arriving in May.

Gravenberch was plucked by Klopp last summer after a shrewd deal had been conducted for Wataru Endo, solving (temporarily) the quandary at the base of the midfield. The Dutchman's more dynamic and fluid style suggested that he could house himself across any number of roles in the engine room.

It didn't look like it last year but Gravenberch might find himself operating in the deep-lying role this season after Liverpool failed to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, indeed placed at No. 6 during his side's win over Ipswich Town last weekend and in line for another shot at the position when the Bees are welcomed to Anfield.

He was cultured in possession and combative off the ball, with the notion of a prosperous career as Liverpool's anchorman taking root, having also been awarded an 8/10 match rating by the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle.

It's early days but Gravenberch took a big stride in his development last week; now he must sustain it. He only started 12 times in the Premier League under Klopp's wing and ebbed and flowed from form.

Could he now be shaping into one of Liverpool's most important and profitable players?

Gravenberch's Liverpool future

Gravenberch's performance at the base of the centre says much about his talent as a multi-functioning type of player, having typically enjoyed the more expansive stretches of the forward end of the field.

A sweeping range of passing allows the 6 foot 3 star to dictate from deep, and he might just be exactly what Slot is looking for – a fact that could see his market value rise and then some over the coming months.

He's got the progressive technical acumen and intense approach to his play that could see him continue to go from strength to strength over the coming years, ranking among the top 10% central midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 19% for progressive passes and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

His countryman, Van den Berg, might have potential but Gravenberch wears the trappings of an elite-level player, lacking composure and conditioning somewhat but well placed to proceed to the next level.

Football Transfers' player valuation model currently records the "Rolls-Royce" – as he has been called by journalist Declan Carr – to have actually dropped in value marginally since signing one year ago, with the Netherlands international priced at €38m (roughly £32m), but this is due to his aforementioned struggles last term.

The fact it still places him above Van den Berg makes a telling comment on his projected rise over the coming years, with his display at Portman Road demonstrating instant improvements under his new boss.

Indeed, Gravenberch was branded a "passenger out of possession" during Liverpool's Premier League loss against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last season, though he has atoned for this deficiency by proving his free-moving athleticism last weekend.

Therefore, Gravenberch's slight market depreciation makes sense when considering his middling maiden year on Merseyside, enjoying flashes of brilliance but failing to produce the type of complete displays regularly that would have earned him a more prominent role under Klopp.

However, all things considered, he's one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe with a lofty ceiling indeed. Arne Slot might just have hit the jackpot with this one, already tuned to the possibility of Gravenberch adopting a deeper-placed role in midfield and perhaps solving his biggest problem.

Forget Zubimendi: Liverpool could land Rodri 2.0 with "extraordinary" ace

The club have targeted a new midfielder all summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 22, 2024

Mohamed Salah has made Premier League history by scoring and assisting in eight games across a season.

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• Salah scores and assists in West Ham win
• Egyptian makes more Premier League history
• Reds extend lead at top of table

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Salah was on fire again as Liverpool cruised to a 5-0 win against West Ham on Sunday night. The Egyptian forward bagged a goal and two assists in the match, making history in the process. The 32-year-old is now the first player in the Premier League to score and assist in eight separate games across a single campaign.

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  Salah's form has been reflective of Liverpool's under Arne Slot, who has transitioned seamlessly into the role once occupied by Jurgen Klopp. His right-winger is doing everything right so far this term and is worth his weight in gold, surely making a new contract at the club a no-brainer. Salah is set to become a free agent in the summer of 2025, unless a new deal can be agreed in Merseyside.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  With his two assists against West Ham, Salah has now moved to 10th in the all-time assist rankings, with 81. He is now above the legendary David Beckham, quite an achievement for the Liverpool man.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SALAH?

  Salah will have no plans to slow down heading into 2025. With Liverpool in pole position, the veteran winger and the Reds will be on the charge in the New Year, starting with Manchester United on Sunday.

Sunderland have reportedly agreed a deal for their fifth signing of the summer as they look to mount a promotion push under Regis Le Bris.

Sunderland start season strongly under Le Bris

Currently joint top of the Championship, Sunderland are yet to concede a goal this season and have scored six in return, though they did exit the EFL Cup at the hands of fellow Championship side Preston North End.

A 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday saw teenager Eliezer Mayenda net a brace and announce himself at the Stadium of Light, but there are still gaps in their frontline given his relative inexperience.

He wants to join: Sunderland lodge £2m bid for dream Cirkin signing

Sunderland would become even more of an attacking threat with this new signing.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 20, 2024

So far, the only attacking addition has been free agent Ian Poveda, but the 24-year-old is yet to make his debut for the Black Cats, having only played 45 minutes of a reserve match so far. Despite this, Le Bris is keen to integrate him fast.

“I think he [Poveda] can play on both sides and as a No.10 as well. His preference is to play, then after to be available for the team. He’s left footed so on the right side it could be interesting but behind the striker could be very interesting as well. We have many opportunities with him.”

Now, he could be set to sign another exciting attacker to help his promotion push.

Sunderland et to sign £10,000-a-week striker

That comes as reports suggest that striker Wilson Isidor is "on his way" to join Sunderland in a boost to Le Bris' side. The former Monaco youth talent is currently plying his trade for Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, where he scored four times in 27 appearances last season, though given he was often used from the substitutes bench he averages a goal every 230 minutes.

But now he seems set to leave and head to the north-east of England in a likely loan deal without an option to buy. Speaking to Russian outlet Sport Express, Zenit chairman Alexander Medvedev appeared to confirm the move.

"Wilson Isidore on his way to Sunderland, England", he explained.

Predominantly a centre-forward, Isidor is also capable of playing in wide areas, which will hand Le Bris another option in attack, though that could soon balance out amid widespread interest in winger Jack Clarke from across the Premier League and Championship.

According to the report, the deal will take the shape of a loan, which could also include an option to buy the Frenchman at the end of his time in Sunderland. It is unclear how much of his reported £10,000-a-week wages the Black Cats will be asked to cover.

Sunderland writer Ethan Todd dubbed Isidor a "versatile forward" and a "really clever and tidy finisher" when discussing the striker on X, both of which will come as music to the ears of Sunderland fans, though their impressive winning start to the season has shown no absence of good finishing.

They will, however, be hoping that his arrival does not signal the departure of star man Clarke.

The midfielder-turned-left back finished off a corner to give his side an early lead in an eventual 2-1 win

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• Weston McKennie bagged the opening goal for Juventus
• USMNT midfielder has now found the net four times this season in Serie A
• Juventus went on to win 2-1

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Weston McKennie hit the back of the net for the fourth time in all competitions, volleying home from a corner off a Teun Koopmeiners cross. The USMNT international found himself wide open in the box, and couldn't miss from six yards out. His tidy finish gave Juve a 1-0 lead against last-placed Monza.

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  McKennie's goal came in the midst of yet another Serie A start – albeit outside of his preferred position. Motta has used the American as a left back in recent weeks, plugging a hole for the injury-ravaged Italian side. It marked the start to an ultimately successful evening. Monza pulled a goal back soon after, but Nico Gonzalez's strike after 39 minutes was enough to secure a much-needed win.

  This is McKennie's seventh start in Serie A this season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  McKennie has played all over the pitch this season. At first, he found himself struggling to crack the XI, before being used in his preferred center midfield position. More recently, he has plugged holes at full back and even as an winger when needed.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MCKENNIE?

  With the win, Juve drew level on points with fifth-placed Fiorentina ahead of their Serie A clash next week. Motta's side are still yet to lose in Serie A.

Newcastle United secured an impressive 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon. Despite a lack of action in the transfer window from Eddie Howe, the Magpies have claimed seven points from nine in the Premier League along with reaching the next round of the EFL Cup.

This victory over Spurs will surely give the club a major confidence boost heading into the international break. Maybe Howe will be able to take the club back into Europe with the players he has at his disposal after all.

Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes were the goalscorers, with both players shining during the match.

Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes’ statistics vs Tottenham

Barnes scored the opener with just eight minutes left of the first half and the winger was lively throughout his time on the pitch.

Indeed, he managed two shots during the match while succeeding with 100% of his dribbles and winning 100% of his ground duels against Spurs.

Barnes managed just 23 matches last term due to injury issues, but he still scored five times. If he remains fit, there is no doubting his importance this season.

Isak will also be key if Howe wants his side to get back into the Champions League group stages via their league performance this season.

The Swede scored his first goal of 2023/24 against the North Londoners on the weekend, which will hopefully be the catalyst for many more over the next few months. It was a simple one, latching onto Jacob Murphy's selfless pass that took Guglielmo Vicario out of the game.

It was a strike that turned out to be the winner with just 12 minutes to go but that wasn't the only thing he did right, attempting three shots during the match as well as succeeding with one of his three dribble attempts.

Like Barnes, Isak will be key to any success Newcastle go on to have this term, but there was an underrated hero for the club against Spurs.

Valentino Livramento’s game in numbers vs Spurs

Barnes and Isak may have got the goals which carried the team to a crucial three points, but the right-back shone against Spurs, fully demonstrating why he's been named in the recent England squad by Lee Carsley.

He was given a match rating of 9/10 by the Chronicle for his display, with journalist Lee Ryder claiming he delivered a ‘near immaculate' performance during the match.

The praise didn’t stop there, as journalist Aaron Stokes lauded the defender for his fine display, saying that Livramento was "absolutely exceptional."

The right-back made eight clearances and two tackles during the game while winning four of his seven duels and failing to be dribbled past once by an opposition player.

Going forward, Livramento succeeded with two of his three dribble attempts and made one key pass, proving he was keen on contributing at both ends of the pitch.

It was a stellar performance by the player, despite Newcastle as a whole not exactly lighting up St James' Park during the game.

The international break comes at the perfect time for Howe. With seven points on the board, it has been a solid enough start for the Magpies.

Newcastle struck gold on "sensational" ace who's worth more than Guehi

He is worth double the price they paid for him

By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 7, 2024

Harry Kane “scores all types of goals”, with one toe-poked effort in Bayern Munich training leaving the England star with a big smile on his face.

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• All-time leading scorer for Three Lions
• Strike rate being maintained in Germany
• Continues to master his art in training

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The prolific Three Lions captain has mastered the art of hitting the back of the net over the course of a record-breaking career. He is the all-time leading scorer for his country and Premier League heavyweights Tottenham.

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  Kane’s strike rate in Germany has been just as impressive, with 64 goals recorded through 65 appearances for Bayern – with that haul including an impressive number of hat-tricks. At 31 years of age, he continues to work hard behind the scenes.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  His latest session at Bayern saw Kane prod home a slightly wayward pass with his outstretched right boot. There was little control on said effort, but it still left his goalkeeping colleague rooted to the spot. Kane then wheeled away in trademark celebration.

There's an old adage in football that the table must not be judged until Christmas. Until then, it's full throttle ahead. Fight, fight, fight, but don't look at the leaderboard looming overhead.

Just fight. It's a maxim that Everton will have embraced after the opening matches of the Premier League campaign, for Sean Dyche has tasted defeat, three on the bounce, to sentence his side to the bottommost position England's top-flight offers.

Last season, the Toffees lost their opening three league fixtures and all was rather gloomy at Goodison Park, but Dyche is a stoic sort and he rallied his troops as the campaign shuffled forward, finishing comfortably in 16th despite being hit with an eight-point deduction for financial breaches.

At this stage, the Blues will be focused on finding a vein of form to lift them away from the relegation fodder, but as they chase their quarry it's paramount that the most influential players at the outfit stay fit, bringing a focal presence.

We're not just talking about Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but he's one of the most obvious…

The importance of Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Calvert-Lewin featured regularly last season, and though the England international found the back of the net just seven times, his return to fitness was welcomed after previous years of frustration and persistent setbacks.

He finished strong too, with four goals throughout April and May, and though Everton have endured a tough time to start the new season off, his goal-and-assist performance against Bournemouth suggests that he could be ready for an influential campaign.

A strikeforce to stoke the fears of divisional rivals does remain… elusive, but Everton have been faced with a new problem across these opening weeks of the season: a lack of defensive security.

Last year was characterised by an ebb and flow, but the push and pull of form rarely saw the backline sit at the crux of the problems.

Of course, Everton lost their first three games last season, so can right the wrongs of August. Moreover, Jarrad Branthwaite has yet to grace the season with his presence, and the significance of this cannot be understated.

Jarrad Branthwaite's absence

It's been keenly felt. Branthwaite is a hulking mass of muscle and energy, a defensive demon cruising toward a starring spot in the Premier League. In the words of former CEO Keith Wyness, he's a "generational" talent.

He was excellent last season, fusing with the experienced James Tarkowski and keeping 12 of those 13 clean sheets across his 35 appearances, but he's been sidelined since pre-season with a groin problem and does not look likely to return as his side take on Aston Villa this weekend.

There is a pattern. Last year, Branthwaite was benched across Everton's opening two matches, with both ending in defeat to an aggregate scoreline of 5-0. He missed one match thereafter, due to a yellow-card suspension, and has been acclaimed for his tough-tackling and commanding displays at the rear.

Everton hope to see greater fluency and confidence over the coming months but the 22-year-old will be a key cog in achieving this, ranking around the 20% mark of defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles, interceptions, clearances, blocks and aerial battles won per 90, as per FBref.

He's aggressive but not to a fault. Standing at 6 foot 5, it's no surprise that Branthwaite won 67% of his aerial battles last year, but he also won 68% of his ground duels too.

To contextualise that: Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, widely considered one of Europe's finest defenders, won 64% of his ground duels last year and has emerged on top 60% of the time across the opening three Premier League games this term.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as an "absolute monster", and Everton fans will be hoping for his imminent return to fitness, for Michael Keane does not bring more than a semblance of security to Dyche's defensive line.

Jarrad Branthwaite's market value in 2024/25

Everton have lacked all sense of tactical and defensive purchase thus far, though the defeat against Bournemouth last time out was caused by a late-stage collapse that negated the fine work of 85 minutes.

The quality and togetherness are there, they really are. Time and time again Everton have battled through adversity to preserve their top-flight status, and Dyche has the tools to ensure that remains.

He has Branthwaite. The centre-half, who made his Three Lions debut in June, was certainly not short of suitors throughout the summer – with the ghastly prospect of Liverpool signing him emerging, though, of course, this proved to be little more than hearsay.

Far more concrete, however, was the interest of Manchester United, with David Ornstein revealing that Erik ten Hag's side had made a lowball bid of £35m back in June, swiftly rejected.

The Red Devils had proposed enticing terms that would have seen Branthwaite's earnings skyrocket toward £160k per week, but it fell some distance wide of the £75m valuation that the Merseysiders demanded.

Everton believe Branthwaite sits at the table of Europe's finest defenders, with that valuation arriving in the same ballpark as figures paid for Van Dijk, Wesley Fofana and Harry Maguire, to name a few in the Premier League.

What this means, incredibly, is that Branthwaite's market value has soared since Dyche's appointment back in January 2023, when the up-and-coming defender was enjoying a loan spell in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven.

Transfermarkt crunched the numbers and worked out that the Englishman was worth just £6m at that time, with his significant rise since a product of his tireless work and keen-edged footballing mind, mixed with a healthy portion of elite athleticism and natural talent.

In fact, his current £75m price tag means that his value has risen by a ludicrous 1150%, truly cementing him as one of the finest players Everton have boasted in a long while.

Buckle up, it's going to be an interesting season. But with Branthwaite at the back, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Everton must regret offloading Koeman signing who outscored DCL in 23/24

The talent has found his goalscoring touch in recent years.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 11, 2024

Rio Ferdinand made a loaded “bet the ref’s gutted” quip on social media after seeing Manchester United battle past Arsenal in the FA Cup.

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• Dalot sent off for the Red Devils
• Maguire conceded questionable penalty
• Amorim's men prevailed on spot-kicks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  A thrilling third-round tie at Emirates Stadium went all the way to penalties before holders United put their name in the hat. Altay Bayindir was the hero for the Red Devils as wild celebrations were sparked among the visiting support in north London.

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  United had to dig deep to get over the line, with Ruben Amorim’s side taking issue with some big decisions that went against them – including the second-half dismissal of Diogo Dalot and the award of a penalty after Harry Maguire tangled with Kai Havertz.

• WHAT FERDINAND SAID

  Andy Madley was the man in the middle, with ex-Red Devils defender Ferdinand less than impressed with his performance. The former England international posted after seeing United prevail 5-3 on spot-kicks: "Another battling performance… desire, willingness to fight as a team! Bet the ref’s gutted.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  United appear to have bones to pick with the match officials as a collective, with their social media team also getting in on the act. As the dust settled on an absorbing encounter, the Reds Devils delivered a one-word “Justice” assessment on X.

Victor Boniface has reportedly had his Bayer Leverkusen contract extended but a summer sale could still happen for the Manchester United target.

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• Boniface linked with Man Utd
• Signs Leverkusen contract extension
• Summer exit still a possibility

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to , the 24-year-old's contract has been extended by another year to 2029, with the striker set for a bumper salary. The report adds, however, that a sale is also possible after this new deal following links with United.

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  The report adds the former Royale Union Saint-Gilloise star would cost at least €50 million (£42m/$52m), which is understandable considering his age profile and the fact he has scored 29 goals and bagged 11 assists in 49 games in all competitions for Leverkusen.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Boniface swapped Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for Leverkusen in 2023. In his only season at the Belgian top-flight side, he scored 17 goals and contributed 12 assists in 51 appearances.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Aside from transfer speculation, Boniface's Leverkusen take on RB Leipzig in a crunch clash near the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday.