Liverpool got an injury  concern during the international break as Alexis Mac Allister suffered a setback while training on international duty. New head coach Arne Slot has had a great start to the season after winning three of his club’s opening matches and not conceding any goals.  Slot has also enjoyed the prowess of Argentina player Mac Allister, who has played for every game of the term so far. However, it seems Slot must now find a replacement for the midfielder after he was injured in training ahead of Argentina’s World Cup qualifier with Chile on Friday.  Manager Lionel Scaloni told TyC Sports that they are observing his progress. “Alexis didn’t train because he was overloaded, he was in pain. It always happens to us, they come out to do their part.  “We’ll wait and see how he responds today. It doesn’t change our way of playing much because we’ll stay the same, but it’s true that he gives us play, set pieces. The rest of the team is more or less decided.”  Argentina will play against Chile on Friday before visiting Colombia on Tuesday, whilst Liverpool will face Nottingham Forest on Saturday at the EPL, which may give Mac Allister enough time to recover.  If he does not, Liverpool have some talented replacements on the bench, including Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Federico Chiesa who could make his debut for the club. 

Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven believes in his team after defeating Everton over the weekend. He says his squad will be more dangerous this year.  Van de Ven assisted Heung-min Son’s goal against Everton which helped the Spurs secure their first victory of the season.  The defender praised his teammates, who he thinks have become more of a threat this campaign as they look to clinch their first trophy since 2008. “I think we are more dangerous this year,” Van de Ven said afterwards. “Like the gaffer has said, we can play down the side or through the middle, and two or three balls from Cuti (Romero) to Maddison were really dangerous. I think there are more threats from us this year.  “We need to reach another level this season. Last year we were fifth, so it was a good season, but we want more. We want to win a trophy, that’s clear.”  He also spoke on how Ange Postecoglou’s tactics allowed him to set up the goal after being allowed more freedom in his new role.  “We have the possibility to do this, Ange gives us the possibility to do it and he’s never like, ‘The centre-backs have to stay behind’. I feel comfortable to play like this.  “He trusts his defenders, and he trusts everybody in the team to do what they want to do, and it’s really important for us to feel that trust and have the confidence to do it.” 

Manchester United are deciding a move this month for Brighton striker Evan Ferguson. The Red Devils had had a long-term interest in the Irish national and could sign him this month. The new United technical director Dan Ashworth signed Ferguson from Bohemians when he was in charge of transfer at Brighton.  According to the Daily Star, Ashworth could now want to reunite with Ashworth in the coming weeks.  United  believe they can draft Evan Ferguson for £50m before the summer market ends.

Manchester United have booked a medical for Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui. The Red Devils and Bayern have concluded terms over the right-back, who has been granted permission to visit England for a medical.  Foot Mercato’s Santi Aouna is reporting: “IT’S ALMOST A DONE DEAL. Noussair Mazraoui will join Manchester United. “Bayern Munich authorized Mazraoui to join MU. The Moroccan right back will take private flight in the next days “If nothing changes, a medical test is booked on Tuesday. “Contract valid until June 2029 + one year in option “Erik Ten Hag wants Mazraoui for the the Community Shield.”

Brandon Austin said his conversations with Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou played a significant role in his future with the Spurs.  Austin has been working hard behind the scenes for years, ranked highly as a shot stopper within the team but without making a competitive appearance. He played first team football on loan in Denmark at Viborg and in the USA at Orlando City and has continued to improve over time.  He is now ready to appear in recent seasons from the bench after Hugo Lloris and Fraser Forster were injured, but he was never called upon.  Therefore with Austin’s contract ending this summer, there were some questions on whether he would leave the Spurs to try his luck as number one somewhere else or sign a short-term extension with them. In the end, the team reinforced their faith in him with a brand new five-year contract.  So was it difficult to dedicate five years of his career to a club where he had served for nine years without ever appearing in a competitive game? “I think a career for a goalkeeper is different,” he told football.london. “For a goalkeeper, I’m still fairly young and I think with what we’re building here at the club, conversations with the manager and what we do on a daily basis at the training ground is really exciting and really positive and something that I wanted to be a part of. I really see myself that I can fit in here and help to bring something really positive and bring success at the club. “Obviously it’s a nice feeling to be offered that contract and to get that sorted. I’m really pleased with that and looking forward to the next few years ahead.” Forster is still absent after fracturing his foot in training back in February. The veteran former England goalkeeper was initially expected to be out for two months but has not yet returned for almost six months. With the long contract in place for Austin, it suggests that he will finally be an official number two to Vicario. However, he says that he cannot confirm this yet. “I think we just have to see what the manager chooses to do. We’re still in pre-season now and with injuries, I don’t think it’s necessarily clear about what things will be. All I can do is focus on myself and work hard in training and take any opportunities that I do get,” said the stopper.

Newcastle United could not get the £20 million compensation fee they wanted for Dan Ashworth. The Magpies allowed their former sporting director to join Manchester United. Although the club insisted on being paid for Ashworth, Chronicle Live reports that the eventual fee Newcastle got was meagre. Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson when speaking to Football Insider said: “There is quite a lot of rumour and counter rumour about how much Newcastle settled for in the end on Ashworth. “I did hear one source say to me the fee was as low as £3m. I’ve heard that it was well below £10m and nowhere near some of the numbers that have been rumoured. “At the end of the day, Newcastle were over a barrel as they admitted last week.  “The CEO Darren Eales admitted that it was very close at the last minute in terms of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). “I don’t think they were in a very good negotiating position at the death. I suspect Man United did a decent deal.”

Bayern Munich are now holding on to their price for Matthijs De Ligt. Manchester United have made two offers for the defender, but their new price of €35m is still short of what Bayern is accepting. Sky Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg says Munich are willing to sell Matthijs, but only for a price of  €50m.  Manchester’s manager Erik ten Hag welcomed Leny Yoro from Lille last week, but still wants a more experienced center-half added this summer. De Ligt was Ten Hag’s captain at Ajax and they have been close since then. The defender has already accepted personal terms with United in hopes of a reunion.