Latest news with #RandalKoloMuani
New York Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Chelsea interested in Hugo Ekitike with Eintracht Frankfurt valuing striker at €100m
Chelsea are interested in Eintracht Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitike, as they seek to conclude early summer transfer business as quickly as possible. Ekitike, 22, scored 22 goals in 45 all-competition appearances for Frankfurt last season and — according to sources close to the club, granted anonymity to protect relationships — is valued at €100million (£83.9m; $114m), albeit with a negotiable payment structure. Advertisement The 2024-25 season was the France Under-21 international's second year in the Bundesliga, having moved initially on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January 2024. That transfer was made permanent the following summer for €17.5m. Ekitike has been a great success and has become one of the most coveted forwards in the division. This term, he was the club's joint-top scorer in the league with 15 goals (tied with Omar Marmoush, who joined Manchester City in January) as Frankfurt finished fourth in the Bundesliga and qualified for the Champions League for only the second time in their history — the first via a league finish having qualified via winning the Europa League in 2022. Ekitike will be expensive, though, and Frankfurt have a strong recent history of negotiating big fees, particularly for forwards. The deal to sell Marmoush to Manchester City was worth €75m and in 2023, they sold Randal Kolo Muani to Paris Saint-Germain for €95m. Chelsea's priority this summer is to sign a striker and a right-footed winger, with Ipswich Town's Liam Delap and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko among the forwards they are also considering. As reported by The Athletic in March, Chelsea are eager to move swiftly through the market this summer and finalise all incomings and outgoings by the end of June. They are keen to head into pre-season with a settled squad and to maximise the preparation time ahead of Enzo Maresca's second season. While that has always been the intended strategy, they are also emboldened by having secured their own Champions League qualification, having beaten Nottingham Forest on the final day of the Premier League season. Ekitike ended the season with 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions. Analysis by German football writer Sebastian Stafford-Bloor Advertisement Ekitike is fast becoming an excellent player. The first few months of the 2024-25 season were characterised by his combinations and understanding with Marmoush and, before the Egyptian's departure for City, they became one of the most dangerous pairings in the Bundesliga. It was in that partnership that Ekitike showed the variety within his game. A goalscorer, yes, but also a devastating counter-attacker — as Tottenham Hotspur found out in the Europa League, against whom he scored brilliantly in the first leg of their quarter-final — and a forward capable of creating chances, with pieces of skill or well-weighted passes that befuddled defenders. Either through the middle or down the left of the attack, he was a menace. He seemed to grow into the gaps left by Marmoush, becoming more central to Frankfurt's attacking game in the new year. In addition, while most obviously a technical player, he can be a formidable penalty box target, too, and has shown an aerial presence that can take defenders by surprise. Combine that with his capacity to beat defenders one-on-one, either through speed or skill, and you have the portrait of a player evolving into a complete forward. There is no question that he is still developing. He must become more efficient and is occasionally prone to snatching at chances, but he is as talented as there is in German football and Premier League interest this summer was inevitable. Additional reporting: Dan Sheldon
CNA
25-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Juventus win secures Champions League spot, Venezia relegated
Manuel Locatelli's penalty earned Juventus a 3-2 win at Venezia on Sunday to secure his side a Champions League spot and relegate the hosts, with Empoli also condemned to Serie B after a 2-1 loss at home to Hellas Verona. Juventus end the season fourth in the standings, one point ahead of AS Roma, who have to settle for Europa League football despite a 2-0 win at Torino. Venezia finished second from bottom on 29 points, with Empoli 18th on 31. Venezia had to win to have any chance of avoiding the drop, while Juventus also needed a victory to ensure fourth place, and the game lived up to its dramatic billing on the final day of the Serie A season. The hosts had the perfect start, taking the lead in the second minute. Ridgeciano Haps played a one-two with Mikael Ellertsson before passing in to Daniel Fila who volleyed past Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. A packed Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium was still celebrating when Alberto Costa rifled a shot into the Venezia net three minutes later but the goal was disallowed for handball. A quick throw in from Andrea Cambiaso caught the Venezia defence napping and Kenan Yildiz drilled in a low shot which beat keeper Ionut Radu for a 25th-minute equaliser. Six minutes later, a sloppy pass from Venezia at the back led to a scramble for the ball, which eventually fell to Randal Kolo Muani who made enough space for himself to take a shot which Radu again failed to keep out. Haps made it 2-2 in the 55th minute but, with Roma ahead at Torino, Juventus had to win and when Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, on loan from Juve, pulled down Francisco Conceicao, captain Locatelli converted from the spot to net the winner 17 minutes from time. In the end, even a win for Venezia would not have saved them from going straight back down to the second tier on a tense final day with two relegation spots to be decided and Monza already relegated. Hellas Verona's win at Empoli pulled them clear of the drop, into 14th place, and relegated the home side, while Lecce won 1-0 at Lazio to finish 17th in the standings, three points above Empoli. Lassana Colulibaly put Lecce ahead two minutes before the break and they then had Santiago Pierotti and Ante Rebic sent off in added time before the interval but hung on for a win which also denied Lazio a place in Europe.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Juventus secures Champions League berth with wild win at relegated Venezia
Parma's Antoine Hainaut celebrates after scoring a goal for his team during the Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Parma at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani celebrates after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Juventus at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP) Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani, left, celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Juventus at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP) Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani, left, celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Juventus at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP) Parma's Antoine Hainaut celebrates after scoring a goal for his team during the Serie A soccer match between Atalanta and Parma at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani celebrates after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Juventus at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP) Juventus' Randal Kolo Muani, left, celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Serie A soccer match between Venezia and Juventus at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP) ROME (AP) — Igor Tudor was hired in March to make sure that Juventus qualified for the Champions League. He fulfilled the goal — albeit barely — when the Bianconeri won 3-2 at Venezia in the final round of Serie A on Sunday to finish fourth. Advertisement Juventus finished one point ahead of Roma, which won 2-0 at Torino to secure a Europa League spot. Venezia, which was relegated along with Empoli, surprised Juventus with an early goal from Daniel Fila in the second minute. Kenan Yildiz and Randal Kolo Muani struck back to put Juventus in control after 31 minutes. Ridgeciano Haps equalized after the break for Venezia before Manuel Locatelli restored Juve's lead with a penalty. Tudor replaced the fired Thiago Motta and was given a contract through the end of the season. There was speculation that his contract included an automatic renewal in case of Champions League qualification but Juventus now appears interested in rehiring Antonio Conte, who just led Napoli to the title. Advertisement Ranieri's finale Leandro Paredes converted a first-half penalty and Alexis Saelemaekers headed in after the break for Roma in the final match of Claudio Ranieri's coaching career. Roma was 12th when Ranieri was hired in November and the Giallorossi lost just once during the second half of the season. Fiorentina in Conference League Fiorentina leapfrogged Lazio into sixth to take the Conference League spot with a 3-2 win at 10-man Udinese. Moise Kean scored the decisive goal for Fiorentina with a deflected shot. Lazio lost 1-0 at home to 10-man Lecce, which got a first-half goal from Lassana Coulibaly, and was left out of Europe. Advertisement Maldini brace Daniel Maldini scored two goals in a minute for Atalanta in a 3-2 loss to Parma. First, Maldini slid in to redirect a cross then he scored with a long-range effort. Substitute Jacob Ondrejka scored two late goals for Parma to make sure his team avoided relegation. Empoli lost 2-1 to Hellas Verona. ___ AP soccer:
Reuters
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Juventus win secures Champions League spot, Venezia relegated
May 25 (Reuters) - Manuel Locatelli's penalty earned Juventus a 3-2 win at Venezia on Sunday to secure his side a Champions League spot and relegate the hosts, with Empoli also condemned to Serie B after a 2-1 loss at home to Hellas Verona. Venezia got off to the perfect start with Daniel Fila putting them in front in the second minute but Juventus hit back with Kenan Yildiz levelling after 25 minutes and Randal Kolo Muani scored six minutes later as Juventus led at the break. Ridgeciano Haps equalised for Venezia 10 minutes after the interval but Locatelli's penalty 17 minutes from time put an end to the home side's hope of salvation, but results elsewhere meant even a win would not have kept them up. Juventus end the season fourth in the standings, one point ahead of AS Roma, who have to settle for Europa League football despite a 2-0 win at Torino. Fiorentina's 3-2 win away to Udinese means they finished sixth which gives them a place in the Conference League, after ending level on points with Lazio but with the better head-to-head record. Lazio fell to a 1-0 loss at home to Lecce, which saw the visitors, who finished 17th, secure their place in Serie A.
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Juve beat Udinese to boost UCL qualification hopes
Juventus consolidated their hold on fourth spot in Serie A with a 2-0 win at home to Udinese on Sunday, keeping the hosts on track to secure Champions League football for next season. The home side had the better of the first half but were unable to find an opener, with Randal Kolo Muani having a chipped effort saved and a Nicolas Gonzalez shot from distance was pushed onto the post by Udinese keeper Maduka Okoye. Gonzalez put Juventus in front in the 61st minute, collecting a pass in the box from Kenan Yildiz and rifling his shot into the top corner, and Yildiz was the provider for Dusan Vlahovic to secure the win two minutes from time. Igor Tudor's side go to relegation battlers Venezia on the final day of the season. Juventus moved to 67 points, one ahead of AS Roma who beat AC Milan 3-1, with Lazio a point further behind after they held Inter Milan to a 2-2 draw. Roma took the lead at the Stadio Olimpico from a corner kick in the third minute with Gianluca Mancini heading home and Milan were down to 10 men midway through the opening half when Santiago Gimenez was punished for an elbow on Mancini. The hosts failed to make the most of their numerical advantae and Milan levelled six minutes from the break, with Joao Felix guiding his effort into the net after Mile Svilar had saved from Alex Jimenez. Roma were back in front in the 58th minute, Leandro Paredes scoring direct from a free kick, the ball beating keeper Mike Maignan at his near post and Bryan Cristante netted from outside the area three minutes from time to wrap up the win. Claudio Ranieri was emotional before the game, his last in charge of Roma at the Olimpico as the home crowd paid tribute to him with a choreographed display, and takes his side to Torino on the last day, hoping to overtake Juventus in the table. That loss leaves Milan ninth in the table on 60 points and out of the hunt for a European place, which looks likely to spell the end of manager Sergio Conceicao's time in charge when the season ends. Bologna, fresh from their Coppa Italia success, are out of the Champions League race after their 3-2 loss at Fiorentina left them eighth in the standings on 62 points.
