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The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has recently announced the introduction of blue cards, which will be trialled for acts of dissent and cynical fouls. Players who receive a blue card will be required to spend 10 minutes in a ‘sin bin’.
As a football fan, rather than a journalist, I must admit that I am not a supporter of this development. I fail to see the logic behind changing the current rules regarding cards, as they seem satisfactory to me. Therefore, I am not in favor of blue cards. However, I do believe that the game could benefit from other changes.
There have been reports in the media suggesting that Tim Steidten may leave West Ham if David Moyes remains as manager. However, I cannot confirm this at present.
Losing Tim Steidten would undoubtedly be a significant blow to West Ham, considering the excellent job he did during the summer. He made important signings and brought a fresh vision to the club’s project. His recent work at both Leverkusen and West Ham has been commendable.
Despite rumors that Thiago does not intend to extend his contract with Liverpool, no concrete agreements have been reached between him and any other club. This matter will likely be resolved in the summer.
Thiago is a highly professional individual who would not enter into negotiations with another club without informing Liverpool. The final decisions will be made in the coming months, and nothing has been agreed upon thus far.
I am not privy to any information regarding the situation surrounding Frenkie de Jong at this time.
In general, Barcelona will assess their position with regards to Financial Fair Play in May and determine the necessary actions in terms of player departures.
Two days ago, Deco made it clear that Barcelona has no intention of selling their top players. However, Financial Fair Play regulations may impact their transfer activity, and this will be clarified in the summer.
I am also unaware of Kenan Yildiz becoming the de facto replacement for Federico Chiesa at Juventus. Juventus is content with both players being part of their squad. Although Chiesa has attracted attention from top clubs, he has faced challenges this season due to injuries.
Kobbie Mainoo is a highly talented individual who is performing exceptionally well in Manchester United’s midfield. The club is already preparing a new contract proposal for him. This is not a future plan; they are actively working on it this year, in 2024, as his current contract still has a long duration.
Manchester United wants Kobbie to be one of the key figures in their present and future projects. He deserves a salary that reflects his abilities, and it is equally important to make him feel valued as an important player for the club.
According to my sources, initial discussions with the player’s representatives have already taken place. Positive exchanges and conversations have occurred because Kobbie is happy at Manchester United.
There are no specific details regarding the contract yet, as it is still in the early stages. However, Erik ten Hag, INEOS, and everyone at the club have complete confidence in Kobbie. They all want him to have a significant contract and a bright future at Manchester United.
Ivan Toney will not remain at Brentford after the summer, as he only has one year left on his contract.
Prior to the January transfer window, Brentford had set an asking price of £60m-£65m for Ivan Toney between October and November. However, due to the unavailability of other strikers such as Osimhen and Sesko, they increased the price to around £100m.
No offers were made because clubs were unwilling to spend that amount on a player whose contract expires in the summer of 2025. Therefore, the plan for the summer transfer window, as mentioned by manager Thomas Frank, is for Ivan Toney to join a top club.
Ivan Toney has had a new agent since August, and it remains to be seen what will happen at Arsenal. Although no proposal was made in January, he has always been highly regarded by the club.
The situation at Chelsea is also worth monitoring, as Victor Osimhen is on their list of potential targets.
One player who is already at a top club is Enzo Fernández. His agent has publicly denied all rumors regarding Enzo leaving Chelsea in the summer.
I can confirm that individuals close to Enzo, including family members and agents, vehemently deny the possibility of him departing. Enzo was well aware of the risks when he joined Chelsea, but he chose the club because he believes in their long-term project.
Enzo has received offers from other clubs at different stages of their projects, but he is not foolish. He understands that Chelsea’s plans extend beyond a few months or a year. Therefore, he has made it clear that he never considered leaving Chelsea during the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to the Source caughtoffside.com