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Man United discover Nico Schlotterbeck transfer fee as defender reaches Dortmund agreement

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Nico Schlotterbeck has previously been linked with a move to Manchester United – if the Reds are still keen on the Borussia Dortmund defender, they now know his transfer fee

Manchester United will have to fork out between £43.6million and £52.3m if they want to sign Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund. The versatile defender has previously been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

The Germany international appeared to be a cost-effective option for the summer, as he would have entered the final year of his deal in the summer. However, the goal posts have now moved as he has put pen-to-paper on a brand new contract at the Signal Iduna Park.

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He had been negotiating with club officials for months before finally agreeing to a new deal. However, there is understood to be a release clause within his deal.

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According to German outlet Kicker, a fee between €50m and €60, which works out to between £43.6m and £52.3m. The left-footed defender is one of the most versatile defenders in Europe who is also known for being composed on the ball.

United’s current left-footed central defender options are Lisandro Martinez and sometimes Luke Shaw, but both players have endured numerous injury issues over the last two seasons. Schlotterbeck would provide cover for both central defence and at left-back, if he were to arrive at Old Trafford.

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Last week, reports from Germany claimed Schlotterbeck could be available for as much as £26m, but this new contract has surely ended that possibility. Liverpool, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona have also been linked with a move.

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United director of recruitment Christoph Vivell, as a result of his vast knowledge of the Bundesliga, may still be interested in signing the 26-year-old. However, it’s likely any transfer move will not be made until United announce who will be in charge of them next season.

Nevertheless, there have been some key internal moves within Old Trafford. Harry Maguire recently signed a new deal which will keep him at the club until 2027.

This means United will go into next year with Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven as their central defensive options. It’s understood Maguire took a wage cut to remain at Old Trafford.

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When the deal was signed, he said: “Representing Manchester United is the ultimate honour. It is a responsibility that makes myself and my family proud every single day.

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“I am delighted to extend my journey at this incredible club to at least eight seasons and continue to play in front of our special supporters to create more amazing moments together.

“You can feel the ambition and potential of this exciting squad. The determination throughout the whole club to fight for major trophies is clear for everyone to see and I am confident that our best moments together remain ahead of us.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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West Ham have fresh hope – but Spurs now in uncharted territory

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After a season of turmoil, at last some light at the end of the tunnel for West Ham.

Friday’s thumping 4-0 win over Wolves – their biggest of the season so far – lifted West Ham out of the Premier League relegation zone, and plunged London rivals Tottenham into it.

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Just three points now separate four teams in the battle to avoid the third relegation spot, with Wolves and Burnley both cut further adrift.

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West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo insisted there was still “a lot of work to do” – but enjoyed a “big step” towards safety after Taty Castellanos and Konstantinos Mavropanos both scored twice at London Stadium.

“We are happy, extremely happy,” he told Sky Sports. “All of us deserve this kind of evening, especially our fans.

“The London Stadium today was amazing, bouncing with energy and helping us in the hard parts.”

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But while West Ham fans were bouncing, Tottenham supporters watching at home were likely slumping further into their armchairs as each goal went in.

Spurs, who face Sunderland on Sunday in new boss Roberto de Zerbi’s first game in charge, are now in completely uncharted territory.

So what next?

A place Spurs have never been before

While Spurs have flirted with the bottom three for the past two seasons – even during their spectacular run to Europa League glory only 11 months ago – this is the first time they have actually occupied the relegation zone since 2015.

On that occasion, the league season was only one game old and Tottenham – then managed by Mauricio Pochettino – had lost their opener against Manchester United, but recovered to finish the campaign in third place.

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To find the last time Spurs were in the relegation zone past the midway point of a campaign, you have to go back to February 1998 – when they sat 18th after 24 games.

But after 31 matches? That has never happened in the Premier League era. This is another new low.

What will worry Spurs fans even more is that across 31 Premier League seasons, a team occupying 18th place after 31 matches has been relegated on 21 occasions.

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Premier League bottom six

[BBC]

“When I look at the Tottenham team… where’s your match-winner? Who’s going to win you the game?” said ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports.

“When I look at Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, they have moments – that’s the important thing.

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“And that’s now put almighty pressure on Tottenham Hotspur, who have to go and beat Sunderland in their next game. That’s not an easy fixture.

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“Anything can happen. There will still be twists and turns. West Ham have only got to lose their next game at Crystal Palace next week and they’re right back in it.

“It’s very difficult to predict. But you need calm heads and what West Ham did today – look a threat from set-pieces, a real threat from your best players – you give yourself a real chance.”

After their trip to the Stadium of Light, four of Tottenham’s six remaining games are against teams in the top half of the table. They still have to go to Aston Villa and Chelsea, both chasing Champions League football.

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But while the stats suggest 18th position is not the place to be after 31 games, not all the data is doom and gloom for Spurs.

Of the 17 times a team has been on 30 points after 31 games (Tottenham’s current tally), only six were relegated. It is something to cling on to.

Which other teams are battling for survival?

There are sure to be plenty more twists and turns in the final weeks of the season.

But, after their hard-fought and well-deserved win against Wolves, West Ham’s players can at least breathe a sigh of relief as attention turns to their relegation rivals – Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Spurs – for the rest of the weekend.

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Up first are Forest, who host Champions League-chasing Aston Villa at 14:00 BST on Sunday, after a gruelling Europa League quarter-final first leg against Porto on Thursday.

Later in the day, Spurs, as mentioned, will have to inflict just a fourth home defeat of the season on an impressive Sunderland side if they are to move out of the relegation zone at the first time of asking.

Leeds – one point and two places above West Ham – round off the weekend’s fixtures on Monday when they travel to Manchester United.

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But it will not be easy against one of their fiercest rivals – Daniel Farke’s men have not won at Old Trafford in the league since 1981.

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A favourable weekend of fixtures for the Hammers then?

It is little wonder West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen admitted he would be keeping a close eye on the television over the weekend.

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“I’ve got three kids to entertain but I will keep an eye on the games,” added Bowen. “We have a bit of time before the game against Palace then go again.

“The spirit, the togetherness is so important in this situation. You can always have quality, but you need grit and desire and a will to win through the whole squad.

“The only thing we know as a club is to keep fighting and doing what we’re doing and take it into the next six games.”

Opta predicted table

Opta’s supercomputer still predicts that West Ham are more likely to finish in 18th than Tottenham [BBC]

Edwards sticking to ‘same message’ – but was this it for Wolves?

While those above them continue to battle it out for Premier League survival, it looks almost certain that Wolves’ race is run.

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Fifteen points from safety with just 18 points left to play for, their relegation could be confirmed as early as next Saturday if results go against them.

They have been made to pay for a dreadful first half of the season, failing to win any of their opening 19 games and picking up just three points in the process.

Defender Ladislav Krejci apologised to the fans after their defeat at London Stadium – “not just for this game but the situation in the table”.

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But manager Rob Edwards would not be drawn on whether it was a result that killed any remaining hope.

“For us it is the same message,” he told Sky Sports. We have to try to finish strong, respect every game and go for it.

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“We are all under the microscope and we have to make sure we perform.”

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Galatasaray vs Kocaelispor Prediction and Betting Tips

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Galatasaray look to take a step closer to a fourth consecutive league title when they host a weaker Kocaelispor at the Rams Park Stadyumu on Sunday in the 29th round of the 2025-26 Super Lig campaign. The Lions have remained atop the league table for almost the entirety of the league season and now need a couple more wins to finish the job.

Galatasaray suffered a disappointing loss to third-placed Trabzonspor last weekend, but returned to winning ways on Wednesday with a comfortable 3-1 win over Goztepe, retaining their four-point cushion above Fenerbahce and Karadeniz Fırtınası.

Okan Buruk’s side have clearly missed the presence of star striker Victor Osimhen, who is out injured with a broken arm, but will hope to continue their charge to match their own record for consecutive league titles (4).

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Kocaelispor, on the other hand, would have begun the season with the aim of securing survival in their first campaign back in the Turkish top flight since 2008-09, but have exceeded expectations, currently sitting in eighth place as they chase a top-half finish.

The visitors have only one win from their last six games following a goalless draw with Istanbul Basaksehir on Monday and will need to make major improvements when they visit a much better side.


Galatasaray vs Kocaelispor Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

  • The sides have met on 44 previous occasions going into the weekend. Galatasaray have won 27 of those games, and nine have ended in draws while Kocaelispor have won the remaining eight.
  • November’s meeting between the two teams marked the first edition of this fixture since the 2008-09 season and ended in a shock 1-0 win to Kocaelispor.
  • The hosts boast the best offensive and defensive records in the league this season, having scored 66 goals and conceded only 21 across 28 games played.
  • Kocaelispor hold the second-worst offensive record in the Turkish top flight this season, with only 23 goals scored after 28 games played.
  • The injured Victor Osimhen has contributed directly to 16 of Galatasaray’s 66 league goals this season in just 19 games.

Galatasaray vs Kocaelispor Prediction

With the odds strongly in favor of the Lions, Okan Buruk will be keen to see his side get revenge on the visitors after losing the reverse fixture and, hopefully, gain more ground in their title charge.

Körfez, meanwhile, can only hope to avoid a heavy defeat against a side with just two home league losses in the last four seasons.

Prediction: Galatasaray 3-1 Kocaelispor

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Galatasaray vs Kocaelispor Betting Tips

Tip 1 – Result: Galatasaray to win

Tip 2 – Goals- Over/under 2.5 – Over 2.5 goals (Four of the hosts’ last five games have produced more than 2.5 goals)

Tip 3 – Both teams to score: Yes