Now that Roma are close to Rodrigo Mora from FC Porto, they are putting their focus onto Olympique Lyonnais winger Malick Fofana, preferred to Inter's Luis Henrique.
Gian Piero Gasperini has been very vocal about the need for reinforcements in attack, and while Mora can play a wider role, he is generally more central.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – SEPTEMBER 07: Malick Fofana of Belgium runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Belgium and Kazakhstan at Lotto Park on September 07, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)
According to Fabrizio Romano, their prime target now is Fofana, and the feeling is mutual, as he would rather come to Serie A than Galatasaray.
Tuttomercatoweb had suggested a €40m proposal was on its way, and the good news is that the player seems to favour Roma despite the fact Galatasaray could offer him a higher salary.

#Belgium #malick #rodrigo

Yesterday's 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund marked the official end of Roma's pre-season, a period filled with the usual highs, lows, hyperbole, and overreactions we see every August. While the Giallorossi looked much sharper in Dortmund than at any point during the summer schedule, there was still a noticeable lack of pace on the left side of the attack, a wrinkle they haven't been able to smooth out for several years.
Since Sunday is typically a day of rest, we'll spare you the trauma of recounting Roma's many failures in this department over the past few years. Instead, we'll focus on a relatively new name in the Giallorossi transfer web: Lyon left-winger Malick Fofana. A 21-year-old winger, Fofana began his professional career with Gent in his native Belgium before signing with Lyon on a €19.5 million transfer in January 2024.
In his first 18 months with the club, Fofana scored 15 goals and provided five ******* ists in roughly 1,000 minutes across all competitions, an impressive start for an 18- or 19-year-old making the jump to Ligue 1. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to build on that success last season after missing nearly six months due to ankle surgery. Still, during his brief time on the pitch last season, Fofana managed two goals and an ******* ist in 749 league minutes.
Despite the injuries, Fofana has the necessary pace and trickery to take flight under Gasperini. The problem, as you're no doubt aware, is cost and competition. According to Nicolo Schira, Roma have lodged an official €40 million bid for the Belgian international but face a stiff challenge from Galatasaray, which can offer Fofana a higher salary.
With opening day only a week away, the time for delays has long since passed. Whether it's Fofana, Rodrigo Mora, or a mysterious dark horse candidate, Roma's attack needs an injection of speed and creativity.

#since #official #pace

It feels like last summer's Newcastle United transfer window has had an enormous impact on this current one.
With Elanga and Wissa misfiring all campaign and Ramsey taking a while to show his quality, I wonder if the board are nervous of making the same mistakes and potentially overpaying for another underwhelming signing.
Our only real success of last season's transfers was Malick Thiaw who had never played a minute of Premier League football.
Add to that three of our best signings under this ownership have been Bruno, Isak and Tonali, who all fit that profile too.
Are the board becoming too obsessed with uncovering more of those and not trusting in the tried and tested?

#board #united #ramsey #malick

Brentford are preparing a renewed move for West Ham United's El Hadji Malick Diouf, with a package worth close to £40 million being put together for the 21-year-old Senegal international. Journalist Graeme Bailey broke the news on X, reporting that the Bees are serious and intent on prising him away from East London this summer.
West Ham signed Diouf from Slavia Prague last year for somewhere in the region of £19–22 million. A £40 million offer would effectively double that outlay in barely twelve months. The Hammers are operating in the Championship after last season's relegation, which adds a dictating factor to every contract and transfer conversation at the London Stadium right now.
Diouf contributed five **** ists across 32 Premier League appearances in 2025/26, logging 2,711 minutes despite West Ham's drop. Zero goals, yes, but his underlying numbers told a different story. He averaged 3.62 crosses and 0.23 big chances created per 90 minutes, figures that placed him among the division's elite full-backs. He went to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Senegal and featured in three matches. Nuno Espírito Santo reportedly views him as a "polished diamond" for the club's Championship promotion push. That's not PR fluff; that's a technical **** sment.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 25: El Hadji Malick Diouf of West Ham United warms up prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton at London Stadium on April 25, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Here's the thing: West Ham don't need this money. They've already banked a combined £140 million from selling Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes this summer. There's zero financial pressure forcing Nuno's hand. Diouf's Championship output would be absurd; a left-back with World Cup minutes and Premier League-level crossing accuracy playing in the second tier is a categorical mismatch in West Ham's favour.

#west

BBC Radio Newcastle have been discussing which player should be appointed captain for Newcastle United's 2026-27 season, following the departure of Bruno Guimaraes to ******* nal.
Lee Hawthorn gave eight potential options for the the armband and you can read all about them on this page, but here are his top two players that he wants new head coach Matthias Jaissle to consider for captaincy.
2. Malick Thiaw
So, hands up, Malick Thiaw wasn't originally on this list. I had seen some chatter online about the defender potentially taking the armband but I hadn't really seen anything to suggest he would be. Obviously, Matthias Jaissle has seen something in the German that I haven't because Thiaw was the captain in the new head coach's first game in charge for the friendly with Valencia. There's a chance it was just a nice birthday presenter for Thiaw but at 25-years-old he's now one of the older players of the new crop for Newcastle 2.0 and was one of the few players who finished last season with any credit. I still think there is a chance Newcastle will name a club captain, but now my eyes have been opened to the very real possibility to Malick Thiaw leading the Mags out at St. James' Park this season.
1. Dan Burn

#captain #players #seen

Roma are reportedly lining up a summer bid for Lyon forward Malick Fofana to bolster their attacking ranks. According to recent domestic reports, the Belgian starlet has become one of the club's top targets.
Gian Piero Gasperini is keen to reinforce his attacking options after helping Roma return to the Champions League for the first time since 2018. The Giallorossi have already signed Donyell Malen on a permanent deal. Furthermore, Santiago Castro has joined the club from Bologna for a reported fee of €35 million.
In addition to Castro, Roma could soon meet Bologna at the negotiating table again to discuss the future of Jonathan Rowe. They've also been exploring a move for Strasbourg's Diego Moreira. However, that deal now appears to be dead in the water, prompting the Giallorossi to expand their search for a new winger.
Priced out of the move for RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa, Roma have now set their sights on Malick Fofana. After an impressive 2024/25 breakout season, the 21-year-old suffered a severe ankle injury that sidelined him for almost the entire 2025/26 campaign.
Concerns over Fofana's fitness could make Roma hesitant to meet Lyon's asking price, especially given his lengthy spell on the sidelines. However, his explosive pace, direct running and ability to operate on either flank make him an intriguing option for Gasperini.

#fofana

Newcastle United have explored a deal to sign AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori, according to Calciomercato.
The Magpies have been linked to the English star for some time, and perhaps this summer might be the perfect time to make a concrete move.
Newcastle could use another defender in the ranks as Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw have had their fair share of injury setbacks.
Also, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are advancing in age. The Geordies could use another reliable presence at centre-half.
He is available for €15 million, making him a very viable option for Newcastle as they look to give new boss Matthias Jaissle a solid squad for the 2026/27 campaign.

#newcastle #time #fikayo #tomori

Malick Fofana is one of the names on Roma's shortlist to strengthen their attacking wingers.
The Lyon talent is popular with the Giallorossi management, who have already initiated initial exploratory discussions with the French club, whose valuation is around €50 million.
According to Sportitalia, Roma have also resolved any remaining concerns regarding the 2005-born player's fitness.
Last season, the Belgian was sidelined for a long time with an ankle injury, while two years ago he struggled with a knee problem.
The reassurances received about his health have strengthened the interest of the Giallorossi club, which considers Fofana a solid option for the left flank. Despite this, Antonio Nusa remains the priority.

#french

West Ham have turned down a bid for reported Brentford target, right-back El-Hadji Malick Diouf, and want the 21-year-old to help them return to the Premier League. (Football Insider)
The Hammers are also interested in a move for Coventry City's USA international striker Haji Wright and Senegal international forward Habib Diallo, 31, of French club Metz. (Football Insider)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.
[BBC]

#Football

Jeremy Doku was a second-half sub in Belgium's 4-1 Round of 16 victory over hosts USA at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Men's Team
Our 24-year-old winger sat out the first 67 minutes of the game in Seattle before replacing Dodi Lukebakio with the Red Devils already 3-1 up.
Atalanta's Charles De Ketelaere had been the star up until that point, scoring Belgium's first two goals either side of Malick Tillman's equaliser for Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT.
Belgium were firmly in control just before the hour mark, when Hans Vanaken leapt on a mistake from goalkeeper Matt Freese to double their advantage.

The United States Men’s National Team continues to advance at the 2026 World Cup, having taken down Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 by a 2-0 margin. The tournament field continues to narrow, and the opponents grow more daunting, with Belgium hoping to spoil the co-hosts’ party and advance to the quarterfinal. The European program is looking to improve on a third-place finish in 2018, which would be quite the welcome surprise well after a golden generation. Seattle, Washington’s Lumen Field – a 72,000-seat multi-purpose stadium with a temporary stitched natural grass surface – hosts the fixture.
This is the eighth all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USMNT carrying a 1-6-0 record and falling in the most recent match, a friendly defeat (2-5) in March. Ranked 10th internationally by FIFA, Belgium reached the World Cup by finishing atop UEFA’s Group J of qualifying with a 5-0-3 record, besting Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. At the current competition, the Red Devils claimed Group G with draws against Egypt (1-1) and Iran (0-0) and a victory over New Zealand (5-1) before requiring extra time and a fortuitous penalty to top Senegal (3-2) in the Round of 32.
Rudi Garcia was appointed to lead the program in January 2025, his first international gig after leading a variety of club sides including Lille, Roma, Marseille, Lyon, Al Nassr, and Napoli. The 62-year-old Frenchman believes that his squad is “very driven” and “aiming high” with the capacity to “achieve great things.” He has praised the “oldies” in his group, defending them against treatment as “has-beens.”
Garcia named a 26-player roster for the World Cup. The Belgian Pro League is home to three of the call-ups, while seven talents are on the books of Premier League clubs, five compete in Ligue 1, and five can be found in Serie A. Notable absences include Michy Batshuayi, Loïs Openda, Matz Sels, and Malick Fofana.
***
GOALKEEPERS (3): Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Strasbourg)
DEFENDERS (9): Zeno Debast (Sporting CP), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Koni De Winter (Milan), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Nathan Ngoy (Lille)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Axel Witsel (Girona), Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Diego Moreira (Strasbourg), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa)
FORWARDS (7): Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal), Jérémy Doku (Manchester City), Dodi Lukébakio (Benfica), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille)
***
Garcia has utilized a few different formations but appears to be sticking to the 4-2-3-1/5-4-1 at the World Cup, with a traditional midfielder dropped into the back line when defending. The squad engages in a total press that “force

According to a report from Bild (as captured by iMiaSanMia), Germany had trouble figuring out who would take the next penalties when the count was at 3-3 after Manuel Neuer’s big save.
Many of the players hesitated to step up until Jonathan Tah said he would take the shot. Of course, Tah missed badly:
At 3-3 in the penalty shootout after Manuel Neuer’s save, there were difficulties to find a sixth taker. Leon Goretzka, Waldemar Anton, Nathaniel Brown and Malick Thiaw hesitated and dodged the challenge due to the immense pressure. Jonathan Tah, who had never taken a penalty in his career before, stepped up and missed.
The report did go deeper as Joshua Kimmich was rumored to approach Goretzka twice to take it, but the midfielder declined:
Joshua Kimmich asked Goretzka twice whether he wanted to take the sixth penalty, the latter refused. Jonathan Tah stepped up after that.

Germany went into the match as massive favorites over a relatively small football nation of Paraguay. Despite Germany’s historic success and their first trip to the knockout stage since 2014, Die Mannschaft would fall short once again in ugly fashion in a penalty shootout to the South American side.
An absolute joke off a foul overuled a goal for Germany that would have surely sealed the deal for Germany to book their Round of 16 ticket. Not to mention the VAR overturn, there was a clear missed handball as well as Manuel Neuer’s brilliant through ball to Kai Havertz that was blown down for seemingly no reason.
In a match where almost all fans were calling for Kimmich to be moved into midfield, the Bayern Munich veteran finally put in a good performance at right-back. While Malick Thiaw would have been a great option to start in this position, Kimmich was highly effective in this role.
While Jamal Musiala in 2026 is a far cry from the version we saw in 2022 or 2024 tournaments, he provided some much needed energy in an attack that was simply ineffective. Despite all the possession, no one was able to create, although Musiala did inject some life when he came on the pitch.
While Kai Havertz will receive the honors today, he did not do much outside of his goal which provided Germany with a lifeline before heading to added time. Considering the amount of minutes the **** nal forward played in this game, a lot more would be expected from the Champions League finalist.

Germany, having already confirmed top spot in Group E, face Ecuador in their final group match on Thursday at the New York New Jersey Stadium. While Germany aim to continue their flawless run, Ecuador are chasing their first goal of the tournament along with a vital three points to keep their hopes of progressing alive.
Germany arrive in excellent form after winning both of their group matches. They began with an emphatic 7-1 victory over Curaçao, demonstrating their attacking strength, before following it up with a 2-1 win against Ivory Coast. Those results ensured their progression to the next round as group winners.
With qualification already secured, head coach Julian Nagelsmann is expected to make several changes to his starting eleven.
One setback for Germany is the injury to Nico Schlotterbeck, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament after suffering ankle ligament damage in the match against Ivory Coast.
In defence, either Antonio Rüdiger or Malick Thiaw is expected to partner Jonathan Tah at centre-back.

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (AP) — Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup and beyond with a left ankle injury sustained during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast.
Tests on Sunday back at the team camp in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, revealed Schlotterbeck, who had started both of Germany’s opening games in the tournament, sustained an injury to the medial ligament in his ankle and will be out for several months, the German soccer federation said Monday.
“We will sorely miss Schlotti on the field as an outstanding defender, especially also his brilliant ability to build up play from the back,” Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said. “It could have been his World Cup. We all tried to lift his spirits yesterday. Luckily, he’s a very positive person who’s already looking ahead.”
Schlotterbeck, who plays for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, was to stay with the Germany squad for the rest of the World Cup.
“It’s a great sign that he’s staying with the squad for now, as he has an impact off the field as well,” Nagelsmann said. “Despite his absence, we’re still very well-equipped at center-back for the World Cup with Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger, Waldemar Anton, and Malick Thiaw.”

Wendie Malick credits daily exercise, hiking, Pilates and horseback riding for staying active at 75
She emphasizes laughter, gratitude rituals and savoring life's moments as key to her overall well-being
Malick is unsure about a Hot in Cleveland reboot, saying it would feel strange without Betty White
Wendie Malick is opening up about her secrets to staying in shape — including her "love" for a good martini.
During a Shrinking FYC event on Saturday, June 6 at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, Malick, 75, said that she does try to follow a regular fitness routine and opened up about trying "to stay healthy" in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.

Manchester United are said to be weighing up an offer for Borussia Dortmund and Germany centre-back Waldemar Anton.
According to The Mirror, the Premier League outfit are considering lodging a bid of around €40.5 million for the 29-year-old, who has been watched in action by scouts from the Red Devils.
Anton was first linked with a move to Old Trafford back in March by Sky Germany, who also mentioned Aston Villa and Atlético Madrid as suitors.
The 29-year-old is part of Germany’s squad for the World Cup and faces strong competition in central defence from Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger and Malick Thiaw.
He joined BVB from VfB Stuttgart in 2024 and is under contract until 2028.