Foot Mercato report this afternoon that Nice are set to see newly-promoted Premier League side Fulham beat them to the signing of Israeli midfielder Manor Solomon from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Reports last week had indicated that Les Aiglons were confident of getting a deal over the line for the 22-year-old, not least following an update in FIFA’s transfer regulations on players plying their trade in Ukraine following the start of Russia’s invasion.

Solomon’s agent had also been spotted in Nice, with the midfielder having been one of new manager Lucien Favre’s priorities for the transfer window. A transfer would have also been facilitated by the fact that he owns a Portuguese passport. Instead, he has decided to join the Londoners.

The Israel international has scored 22 goals in his 103 appearances with the Ukrainian team, who are Champions League regulars. His deal with Shakhtar expires at the end of the 2023 calendar year.

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Brest announced this morning the signing of Celtic’s Karamoko Dembélé (19) – who signs a four-year deal at the Breton club after being released by the Glaswegian side, where he famously signed a contract with the first team at the tender age of 15-years old. 

Karamoko said in the official club communiqué: “I’ve come to Brest because I saw that the project presented by Greg Lorenzi was good. It’s something that suits me and I think I can get playing time here. It’s a great opportunity that came my way and I was interested”.

On his own playing style the winger said: “I’m very explosive, I play on the right or as a number 10 but I like to have fun and give the fans pleasure and of course I like to score and win.”

The English right-winger has struggled to make a big impact on Celtic’s first team, after making his reserve debut four years ago. Last season the London-born one-time capped England U18 International only made 10 appearances in Scotland, scoring one goal in 132 minutes. 

Born in the suburbs of London to Ivorian parents, Karamoko has played youth internationals for England and Scotland but remains eligible to play for Côte d’Ivoire, as does his brother Siriki who plays for Premier League side Bournemouth.

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According to Foot Mercato, Marseille are interested in AS Monaco attacker Sofiane Diop (22), although potentially insurmountable differences between the clubs make a deal unlikely at this point. 

Diop flourished under Niko Kovac in the first half of the 2021/22 season, but following the arrival of Philippe Clement in January, he saw his game time limited. Borussia Dortmund, OGC Nice and Leicester City have all been linked with a move for Diop, and Marseille are the latest side to be linked. 

However, the form of the deal represents a significant hurdle for any deal. Due to the price being touted, Marseille would only be able to bring the France U21 international in on loan with an option to buy. Monaco, however, are only interested in selling the player on a permanent deal. 

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The clubs are, therefore “far apart and in should things remain as they are, no agreement is likely.” 

L’Équipe report today that Paris Saint-Germain will not hold Presnel Kimpembe back should an offer which satisfies all parties come in this summer.

The 26-year-old’s future has been thrown into doubt since last month, when he indicated that he wanted to meet the new club  management – sporting advisor Luis Campos, and now new manager Christophe Galtier – to discuss his place in the project.

Since those comments, which took place while on international duty, it has been unclear whether he would remain at his formative club past the current window. The club themselves have been questioning his commitment, with Campos himself not appreciating Kimpembe’s words on that occasion, which were interpreted as a sort of ultimatum.

Among the centre-back’s gripes, is the fact that the behaviour of certain players off the pitch this season has not been sanctioned, in what he sees as double standards. He is also frustrated at the fact that a start who has come through the academy like him is only the 13th highest earner at the club.

With a move for Inter’s Milan Škriniar in the offing, nobody at the club is opposing themselves to a departure for Kimpembe. Chelsea has emerged as a potential destination, with Thomas Tuchel pushing to reunite with the Frenchman.

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As reported by L’Équipe, Lorient are targeting Real Valladolid defender Jawad El-Yamiq this summer transfer window in their search for an experienced central defender.

The 30-year-old Moroccan international centre-back, who spent the season in the Spanish second tier, also interested the Breton club last summer. To sign the player, say the sports daily, Lorient would need to buy out the final two years of the defender’s contract in Spain.

Having helped Valladolid to promotion back to La Liga this year, El-Yamiq has now played 45 times for the club, scoring twice, having joined from Segunda rivals Real Zaragoza in 2020 following spells with Genoa, Perugia and in his native Morocco.

Nantes had come close to signing the player back in 2017 from Raja Casablanca in a €800k deal before it fell through.

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Jérémy Gélin (25) has signed a two-year deal at Amiens, putting an end to 10 years spent at Rennes. The defender, who has recently recovered from a cruciate ligament injury, is looking to reignite his career at the Ligue 2 side. 

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Gélin spent 10 years at Rennes, racking up over 80 matches at professional level for his formative club. However, he missed the entirety of the 2021/22 season with a cruciate ligament rupture. He is now looking to bounce back from that injury in an unfamiliar environment. 

Speaking to Courrier Picard, the former France U21 international said, “It is the first time that I am contractually committing myself to a club other than Rennes. Naturally, it’s a bit strange to leave my home, my friends and the club. But everyone has their own path.”

He continued, “I decided to take a new direction in my career. Now, it’s up to me and my own performance. At Rennes, I was in a little cocoon.”

Gélin has signed a two-year contract with Amiens and is hoping to get back to his best, whilst bringing success to his new club. “Amiens are a club that have already proven themselves in Ligue 2 and they are also ambitious. The words from the management also weighed in on my decision. I also need to bounce back and to have a club that needs me and is invested in me. I am here to have the maximum game time and bring as much as possible, and why not take the club as high as possible.”

Stade de Reims have confirmed the arrival of Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz (25) on a three-year contract. He arrives from Austria Vienna on a free transfer and will wear the no.16 shirt. 

Pentz, who made his debut for the Austrian national side in March and who has since gone on to earn three caps, has also won the best goalkeeper award in the Austrian domestic division for the past two years. 

The former Red Bull Salzburg goalkeeper made 31 league appearances for Austria Vienna last season but did not renew his contract with the club. 

He brings with him Europa Conference League experience, whilst he has also captained the side on numerous occasions. Speaking in a press release, Stade de Reims sporting director Pol-Edouard Caillot said, “He is a young goalkeeper, who possesses great physical attributes and who has a great margin for progression.”

Caillot also praised the club’s recruitment team, adding, “A free agent with an attractive profile, he had many offers from around Europe. The coherence of our project made the difference.”

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As reported by Le Parisien Paris Saint-Germain are set to lose another youth player in Wilson Odobert (17), with the young striker’s contract running out at the end of last June. This is after the Meaux-born youngster refused to sign a professional contract with the Parisian side. 

Although Odobert had asked to train with the first team for next season, the PSG management team had not been able to made any promises to the striker. He comes off the back of an impressive season for the U19 squad with 19 goals in 28 games. 

AS Roma, Borussia Monchengladbach, and FC Bruges are interested in the young striker – but Odobert is said to prefer to stay in France. Troyes are set to acquire his services, where he will sign his first professional contract at the start of next week. 

After the club have lost fellow youth player Xavi Simons in a transfer to PSV Eindhoven earlier this month – the club have desperately attempted to keep young players in the squad. 

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As reported by Foot Mercato, Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach are looking to sign relegated Saint-Étienne’s Gabonese forward Denis Bouanga this summer.

The 27-year-old versatile forward’s form has fluctuated wildly over the last few seasons but, despite his club’s slow decline towards the drop, his individual displays improved last season, scoring nine goals and adding six assists before Les Verts’ play-off loss to Auxerre last month.

With just a year left on his deal with ASSE, Bouanga is being monitored by several clubs but Gladbach are very keen to sign the player, say the outlet, and, although nothing has been agreed upon just yet, the club are planning a move soon. They could yet face competition, however, as Lille and OGC Nice have also registered an interest this summer.

In a career that’s encompassed the top three divisions of France football via spells with Saint-Étienne, Nîmes, Lorient, Tours and Strasbourg, the Gabon international has scored 74 times and provided 31 assists in 249 games across all competitions.

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The United Rugby Championship continues on Friday as four matches take place, with the Sharks, Stormers, Glasgow Warriors and Connacht hosting the Lions, Bulls, Edinburgh and Ulster in their respective fixtures.

Sharks v Lions

Sharks director of rugby Neil Powell has made several changes to his side that defeated Bordeaux Begles in the Champions Cup last week as he looks to both keep the players fresh as well as broadening the squad’s match fitness.

Thomas du Toit shifts over to the loosehead side of the front-row with Dan Jooste replacing Bongi Mbonambi at hooker and Carlu Sadie named at tighthead.

Vincent Tshituka has shifted from flank to the lock position he occupied against Ospreys, replacing Eben Etzebeth and now partnering Hyron Andrews in the second-row.

Elsewhere, Springbok flankers Siya Kolisi and Sikhumbuzo Notshe swap jerseys with Jeandre Labuschagne back in the side and completing the loose forward trio is captain and number eight Phepsi Buthelezi.

Amongst the backline changes, Grant Williams is given a starting opportunity at scrum-half with Jaden Hendrikse playing off the replacements bench, while there is a new midfield pairing of Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Lukhanyo Am, in for Ben Tapuai and Francois Venter respectively.

Meanwhile, the Lions welcome back their captain Reinhard Nothnagel, who will pack down alongside former Springbok Willem Alberts in the Lions’ second-row.

Nothnagel comes in for Pieter Jansen van Vuren, who drops down to the replacements bench while PJ Botha takes over from Jaco Visagie as the Johannesburg-based outfit’s starting hooker.

In other changes, Ruan Venter shifts to number eight while Emmanuel Tshituka, who was at the back of the scrum in last week’s Challenge Cup triumph against Stade Francais, moves to the flank with Darren Landsberg coming into the starting line-up as the other loose forward with another ex-Bok, Jaco Kriel, dropping down to the bench.

The final change is in the backline where Rynhardt Jonker comes in for the injured Henco van Wyk.

The teams:

Sharks: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (c), 7 Jeandre Labuschagne, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Vincent Tshituka, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Ben Tapuai

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Quan Horn, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Ruan Venter, 7 Darrien Landsberg, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (c), 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 JP Smith
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Stean Pienaar

Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:00 local (15:00 GMT)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa), Paul Mente (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuisen (South Africa)

3⃣ changes and a positional switch as Dan du Plessis, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Ben-Jason Dixon come into our starting line-up for the festive North-South @Vodacom #URC clash.

📢 Full team announcement https://t.co/2itXvDLsGp
🎟️ Tickets here https://t.co/qcy74d4t85 pic.twitter.com/zfq8RPZRhV

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) December 22, 2022

Stormers v Bulls

Stormers head coach John Dobson has made three alterations to his run-on side for this highly anticipated derby with the Bulls as Dan du Plessis, Suleiman Hartzenberg and Ben-Jason Dixon all come into the starting line-up.

Du Plessis and Hartzenberg will link up in midfield, while Dixon comes into the second-row for the North-South clash at Cape Town Stadium.

Dixon replaces injured Springbok lok Salmaan Moerat, while props Ali Vermaak and Neethling Fouche have both been included among the replacements.

Elsewhere, Damian Willemse shift to full-back, while Godlen Masimla comes onto the bench in place of the injured Herschel Jantjies.

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Meanwhile, Bulls director of rugby Jake White has rung the changes to his matchday squad which faced Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup at Sandy Park last weekend.

Springbok second-row Ruan Nortje returns to lead the Bulls against their arch rivals while, at scrum-half, Embrose Papier starts with Zak Burger primed to get a run from the replacements bench.

Lionel Mapoe slots in at outside centre with David Kriel still sidelined through injury.

On the bench, veteran hooker Bismarck du Plessis comes in for Jan-Hendrik Wessels with Sebastian Lombard replacing Francois Klopper as prop cover and Stravino Jacobs completes the impact squad as one of the backline replacements.

The teams:

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Willie Engelbrecht, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ben-Jason Dixon, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (c)
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Clayton Blommetjies

Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco Van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp
Replacements: 16 Bismarck Du Plessis, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smit, 23 Stravino Jacobs

Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 19:15 local (17:15 GMT)
Referee: AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuisen (South Africa)

Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh

Glasgow Warriors club captain Kyle Steyn returns to the starting lineup for the 1872 Cup clash with Edinburgh at Scotstoun on Friday in one of five changes to Franco Smith’s squad.

Fraser Brown comes into the starting XV and packs down alongside Jamie Bhatti and Murphy Walker.

Sintu Manjezi is promoted from the bench to the engine room, where he lines up alongside Richie Gray.

The back row is unchanged, with Matt Fagerson on the blindside, Sione Vailanu on the openside and Jack Dempsey at no.8.

Tom Jordan comes into the side to start at number 10, partnering George Horne with Stafford McDowall and Sione Tuipulotu combining in the centres.

Rufus McLean makes way for Steyn on the wing, with Sebastian Cancelliere and Josh McKay completing the back three.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh welcome Duhan van der Merwe back into the starting XV in one of five changes.

Van der Merwe fit again after a late withdrawal through injury against Castres last Saturday and takes Damien Hoyland’s place in the side. With Wes Goosen occupying the other wing and Emiliano Boffelli at fullback.

Try scorer against Castres; Charlie Savala starts in place of the injured Blair Kinghorn at flyhalf, with Ben Vellacott, who signed a new deal at the club this week, at scrumhalf. James Lang switches to outside centre, with Chris Dean returning at inside centre.

Tom Cruse starts at hooker, with Stuart McInally missing out with Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel on either side of him.

Glen Young and co-captain Grant Gilchrist make up the second row while Connor Boyle comes in at openside flanker, with Jamie Ritchie switching to the blindside and Viliame Mata at no.8.

The teams:

Glasgow: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Steyn (c), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Sione Vailanu, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Lewis Bean, 21 Cameron Neild, 22 Ali Price, 23 Domingo Miotti

Edinburgh: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 James Lang, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Charlie Savala, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Connor Boyle, 6 Jamie Ritchie (cc), 5 Grant Gilchrist (cc), 4 Glen Young, 3 WP Nel, 2 Tom Cruse, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Patrick Harrison, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Angus Williams, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Cameron Scott

Venue: Scotstoun
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Connacht v Ulster

The Connacht management team have welcomed back a number of Irish internationals for Friday’s crucial Christmas interpro with Ulster at The Sportsground in Galway.

There are 12 changes in all from the side that defeated Brive last week, with Shane Delahunt, Oisín Dowling and Bundee Aki the only players to retain their place in the starting XV.

Captain Jack Carty, Finlay Bealham, Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver and John Porch all return after being rested for the two weeks of Challenge Cup rugby, while Mack Hansen has recovered from injury to also start.

Denis Buckley completes the front-row with Delahunt and Bealham, while locks Josh Murphy and Niall Murray are paired together. Dowling retains his place at blindside flanker, with Oliver on the opposite side for his 50th appearance and Prendergast at number eight.

Caolin Blade is chosen at scrum-half while Tom Farrell partners Aki in the centre. With Hansen and Porch on the wings, Tiernan O’Halloran is named at full-back.

Your Ulster team to face Connacht tomorrow night at The Sportsground! 👊#BKTURC pic.twitter.com/v5LgPrpbkZ

— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 22, 2022

Meanwhile, in a combo which had its debut in last weekend’s Champions Cup game against La Rochelle, 21-year-old Nathan Doak is named at fly-half alongside this week’s scrum-half, John Cooney.

In an unchanged back three, Ulster born and bred Rob Lyttle, Ethan McIlroy and Mike Lowry are named. Luke Marshall, who scored the first try of this season in the opener against Connacht, is named in the centre alongside Stuart McCloskey.

British and Irish Lion Rory Sutherland retains his started position at loosehead prop and is paired with Marty Moore at tighthead. Ulster Rugby Academy graduate Tom Stewart, who has come a long way since making his first competitive start when the province last faced Connacht with 20 points scored across the 200 minutes he has played, completes the front-row.

Iain Henderson will captain the side from the second-row alongside another leader in the squad, Alan O’Connor. Nick Timoney, responsible for a try when Ulster were last in Galway, lines out at number eight, with flankers David McCann and Marcus Rea completing the pack.

Providing the forward cover will be John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Sam Carter, and Greg Jones. Stewart Moore, who contributed to last week’s try total, is named alongside Dave Shanahan and Jake Flannery as the backline replacements.

The teams:

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 John Porch, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Jack Carty (c), 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Cian Prendergast, 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Oisín Dowling, 5 Niall Murray, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Shane Delahunt, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 David Hawkshaw, 23 Adam Byrne

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Ethan McIlroy, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Rob Lyttle, 10 Nathan Doak, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 Marcus Rea, 6 David McCann, 5 Iain Henderson (c), 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Gareth Milasinovich, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Greg Jones, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Stewart Moore

Venue: The Sportsground
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Andrew Cole (Ireland)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)