Neymar reaches 50 Ligue 1 goals in record time in 21st century

What the papers say

Newcastle have emerged as likely candidates to end England midfielder Kalvin Phillips’ frustrating time at Manchester City. According to the Daily Mail, they are preparing a bid for the 27-year-old.

Liverpool are showing an interest in Bayern Munich’s former Chelsea youth player Jamal Musiala, 20. The Daily Mirror, via German outlet Sport Bild, said the German international’s agents were not discussing a new contract with the Bundesliga club.

Off the pitch, The i reports that former Tottenham head of recruitment Paul Mitchell is tipped to become the new director of football at Manchester United. Current Old Trafford football director John Murtough’s role is at risk from the move.

Social media round-up

Lindelof: I have an option in M…

James Tarkowski has signed for Everton on a free transfer following the expiration of his Burnley contract.

Tarkowski has secured a four-year deal, keeping him at Everton until June 2026.

The 29-year-old, who has two England caps, becomes Frank Lampard s first signing of the transfer window, as the Everton manager looks to improve on the squad that finished 16th last season.

Defence was a major area of concern under Lampard and his predecessor Rafael Benitez, with Ben Godfrey and Yerry Mina suffering injury-hit campaigns. Indeed, Everton conceded 66 goals in the 2021-22 season, the 16th-worst total in the Premier League.

While Tarkowski was unable to help Burnley retain their top-flight status, the centre-back had a strong individual campaign.

No…

Giorgio Chiellini hopes Matthijs de Ligt is not taken away from Juventus by agent Mino Raiola, as he feels his defensive colleague already has everything .

Now 37, Juve captain Chiellini is in the final years of his career, but the future of the Turin giants appears to be in the hands of De Ligt.

The former Ajax captain is still just 22 and is settled in Serie A in his third season with the Bianconeri.

De Ligt underwhelmed a little following his €75million transfer to Italy but has since performed well, last committing an error leading to a chance in the league in his debut 2019-20 season.

Although De Ligt has been limited to six appearances this term, with veteran duo Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci preferred against Inter on Sunday, he is certainly be…

Everton are lining up a £10m move for Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, .

Aside from a loan spell at Royal Antwerp and two at Sunderland, the 27 year old has spent his entire career at Old Trafford, racking up almost two hundred appearances in all competitions since making his debut in September 2007 – a 2-0 League Cup defeat to Coventry City.

He has won a host of honours in his career so far, as part of the squads that won three league titles and two with United, while he helped Sunderland to the Championship title in 2007.

However, he has played just seventeen times in the league so far this campaign, and is set to fall further down to pecking order under Louis van Gaal next season, with new arrivals in his position likely.

International…

Jurgen Klopp called his Liverpool team “easy to fall in love with” after watching them ease to a 5-1 win over Toulouse that puts them in complete control of their Europa League group.

Ryan Gravenberch was outstanding in midfield, creating one and scoring another, Diogo Jota got his eighth goal in seven in Europe’s second-tier competition, Wataru Endo opened his Liverpool account and there were also goals for Darwin Nunez and substitute Mo Salah.

But the night also demonstrated the depth in Liverpool’s squad as Klopp made eight changes from the 2-0 win over local rivals Everton, handing a full debut to teenager Luke Chambers while Calum Scanlon and James McConnell both made their bows off the bench.

Debuts for Calum Scanlon and James McConnell tonight

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A late goal by substitute Danilo gave Rangers a dramatic 2-1 win over Hearts at Ibrox and breathed life into the title race.

Celtic drew 0-0 at Hibernian on Saturday and are now five points ahead of the Light Blues at the top of the cinch Premiership.

Elsewhere, Aberdeen lost 2-0 at Kilmarnock, Motherwell came back to draw 3-3 at home to Ross County and there were wins for Dundee and St Mirren, the latter victory having huge implications for St Johnstone boss Steven MacLean.

Here, the PA news agency looks at five things we learned from the weekend.

Rangers battle back to clinch crucial victory

Everything From Everyone

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC)

Philippe Clement was taking charge of Rangers for only the third time and saw th…

Former Brazil international Rivaldo has hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world and stated his belief that the Real Madrid star can win a major international tournament with Portugal before he retires.

Ronaldo has failed to replicate his phenomenal club success on the international stage with his best chance of silverware coming early in his career when host nation Portugal surprisingly lost the final of Euro 2004 to Greece.

In contrast, the former Manchester United man claimed three Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League crown during his time at Old Trafford and has also won one La Liga medal and another European Cup following his switch to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2009. Add in a multitude of individual honours, including three Ballons d Or…

Atletico Madrid are out of the Copa del Rey after Girona secured a see-sawing 3-3 second-leg draw at Wanda Metropolitano to reach the quarter-finals on away goals.

Seydou Doumbia s decisive touch from Borja Garcia s 88th-minute effort undid Antoine Griezmann s inspirational rescue act and handed Diego Simeone s men a heart-breaking exit from a tournament they last won in 2013.

Griezmann, introduced on the hour, had only moments previously completed a quickfire Atletico comeback by lashing them into the lead after helping Angel Correa level the scores inside 90 minutes.

But Girona who earlier overturned Nikola Kalinic s first-half opener thanks to goals from Valery Fernandez and Cristhian Stuani recovered to incredibly snatch back the ascendancy as a 4-4 aggregate…

Gonzalo Higuain would be delighted if Lionel Messi were to join Inter Miami, though the former Real Madrid striker has no inside information.

Messi has previously been linked with a switch to Major League Soccer, with a move across the Atlantic having been mooted as a potential option once the 35-year-old leaves Paris Saint-Germain, who he joined from Barcelona in August 2021.

He signed a two-year deal, with an option for a third, at PSG. While his first season in France ultimately proved underwhelming, Messi started the new campaign with a double and an assist in a 5-0 rout of Clermont, before playing the full match in a 5-2 victory over Montpellier on Saturday.

Asked if his former Argentina team-mate would be open to joining Miami, which with its Hispanic popu…

West Ham United are interested in signing Tanguy Nianzou from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the Hammers are considering a replacement for Issa Diop, who is on his way to Fulham, and have identified Nianzou as a potential target.

Nianzou has been on the books of German and European giants Bayern since 2020 when he joined on a free transfer after leaving French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. The 20-year-old centre-back made six starts and 11 substitute appearances  in the Bundesliga last season, scoring one goal and providing one assist in the process. The youngster also made two starts and two substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League last season.

West Ham will aim to finish in the t…