It has been a rollercoaster few days regarding Noah Okafor’s future, but it appears that he will finally get his move to RB Leipzig after all.

To recap the news, stories emerged last week suggesting that Okafor was on the radar of Leipzig as they aim to strengthen their attack with negotiations beginning over what was touted to be a permanent deal at first.

Then, Fabrizio Romano was among the sources to state a few days ago that Milan and the Bundesliga side had agreed a loan deal for Okafor, with an option to buy that is set at a surprisingly high €25-28m.

However, following the 1-1 draw with Cagliari on Saturday night, Gianluca Di Marzio spoke of there being a blockage because the Swiss forward is still carrying an injury and the German club are looking at other targets.

Now, a new update has come from Romano on his X profile which suggests that there will be a positive conclusion to the operation after all.

“Noah Okafor will arrive in Leipzig today to sign in at RB Leipzig for €1m loan fee and salary covered. €25/28m buy option clause not mandatory included. Plan confirmed,” he states.

Okafor has largely played the role of impact substitute since arriving at Milan from Red Bull Salzburg in the 2023 summer window, and his most recent goal was in the first game of the season, the 2-2 draw with Torino.

An Englishman will strengthen the AC Milan squad during the January window, but the management need to decide which one it will be.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, we will see soon whether it will be Marcus Rashford or Kyle Walker. Milan will speak with Manchester United regarding the former in the next couple of days, while for the latter Manchester City seem willing to let him leave for free.

Due to the amended rule on non-EU players born in England, the club can only sign one. If until a few days ago Rashford seemed the absolute priority to strengthen the attack, there is now a reflection underway.

It is clear that the players have different roles, but the parameters and formulas of the two operations are also different. Sergio Conceicao considers the team already strong and who is focused on how to make it perform according to its potential.

He will evaluate in the coming days whether the City defender or the United forward could be more useful to his way of playing. In the meantime, the management will try to fully clarify the parameters of the two deals that arise from the common desire of the two players to leave Manchester.

Rashford negotiation

Rashford wasn’t even called up for the FA Cup match that the Red Devils won on penalties away against Arsenal, and it seems that he has had a total break with the new head coach Ruben Amorim.

The player’s entourage have received interest from various clubs in recent days: among the possible destinations at the moment there are no teams from Saudi Arabia, which United would like because they could even try to sell the player without giving him on loan with part of his salary paid.

In this sense, they would also avoid seeing Marcus return in the summer summer and would no longer have to worry about paying him a salary of €13.5m net per season until 2028. Rashford really likes the idea of joining Milan though, and he has let the directors know.

It is no coincidence that on Saturday Zlatan told Sky and DAZN: “When I played with him in Manchester he was really strong. In my opinion he can cover all the roles up front and makes the difference.”

Having Rashford would given Conceicao a wild card for the attack. The problem is that so far Rashford’s agent and brother have been procrastinating, making it clear that they like the transfer to Milan, but not closing the doors to the likes of Spurs, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund.

Walker on a free

Walker, on the other hand, has put the Rossoneri at the top of his list of priorities. It was his agent who sounded out the waters with the management in recent days and the conditions he hypothesised are a free transfer to Milanello and a contract until 2027.

If the player does not change his mind and is not convinced by Pep Guardiola to stay, City will let him go for free as a sign of recognition after an incredible career with the Citizens (he was bought in 2017 for €52m, and is the team captain).

Even though he is 34 now, Walker has asked for a two-and-a-half year contract, spreading over this period the €9m net per season plus bonuses that he still has to receive from City (€6m net per season).

The England internationalcan play both as a centre-back and as a right-back. He would give leadership to the department and the dressing room in light of his impressive personal trophy cabinet. His arrival would not exclude the purchase of a striker either, with Noah Okafor set for RB Leipzig.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has described their FA Cup third-round defeat to Manchester United as a “one in a thousand” occurrence.
The Gunners lost out in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Emirates Stadium on Sunday....Read Full Article >>➤

Bruno Fernandes gave United the lead in the 52nd minute before Diogo Dalot saw red nine minutes later. Gabriel Magalhães equalised almost immediately. But despite playing nearly an hour against 10 men, Arsenal were unable to score again.

Captain Martin Ødegaard missed a penalty 18 minutes from the end of normal time.

The hosts registered 26 shots in total, with Havertz guilty of two bad misses. He was also the only player to fail in the shootout, as Altay Bayindir saved his spot-kick to give Joshua Zirkzee the chance to win the game and set up a fourth-round tie for United at home to Leicester City.

“It’s unbelievable,” Arteta told the BBC.

“Obviously, you measure the performance and what we did in relation to the opposition; you know, you deserve to win the game by a mile.

“But the reality is we are out, and the only thing that’s going to be judged is that, but internally I can’t.

“I love my players. I love our team, and I love how good they are and what they do because, in 1,000 games, you should lose one, and probably it was this one. You have to understand this as well; it’s part of our industry, our game, and we move on because you don’t have time to dwell on it. On Wednesday, we have a massive one.”

The draw for the fourth round of this season’s FA Cup have been confirmed....Read Full Article >>➤

This followed Manchester United’s penalty shoot-out win over Arsenal at the Emirates.

The Red Devils took the lead through Bruno Fernandes, before Gabriel Magalhaes levelled for the hosts.

And although Diogo Dalot was sent off for United, they held on for penalties, where Kai Havertz was the only player to miss.

United will now take on Leicester City in the next round.

FA Cup fourth round draw in full:

Manchester United vs Leicester City

Leeds United vs Millwall/Dagenham and Redbridge

Brighton vs Chelsea

Preston/Charlton vs Wycombe

Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest

Coventry City vs Ipswich Town

Blackburn Rovers vs Wolves

Mansfield/Wigan vs Fulham

Birmingham City vs Newcastle

Plymouth Argyle vs Liverpool

Everton vs Bournemouth

Aston Villa vs Tottenham

Southampton/Swansea vs Burnley

Leyton Orient/Derby vs Manchester City

Doncaster Rovers vs Crystal Palace

Stoke City vs Cardiff

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Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has offered an update on Marcus Rashford’s situation, refusing to give too much away.

Rashford has been heavily linked with AC Milan in the last few days as he seems to not be a part of the plans of the new coach, who publicly admitted that the forward wants a new challenge.

The Rossoneri are looking for a forward option given the lack of depth that they have out wide and up front. However, a deal will not be simple because of Rashford’s salary and also having to agree a formula.

Rashford was left out of the squad entirely again for United’s game today, adding fuel to the fire. Amorim spoke to reporters in the press conference room after his side knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup following a dramatic penalty shootout.

“I don’t know, we’ll see. This player is a player for Manchester United, we’ll see. He has to work, he has to represent his club – and he loves his club – but I have to make choices,” he said.

“I already spoke about how I make the choices so it is what it is. So let’s continue, let’s see the next game and like I said I have to make a selection.”

Ruben Amorim offers an update on Marcus Rashford’s future at Manchester United ⏩ pic.twitter.com/FNK3KGkcyQ

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 12, 2025