For instance, compensation running into the millions of pounds would be due to Newcastle United as per the terms of Howe’s exit. His salary, and that of his usual assistant, Jason Tindall, are not insignificant in the eyes of United.

With Kenneth Taylor, Tijjani Noslin and Josip Sutalo playing key roles, SS Lazio have made a fantastic start to the season. Thanks to the Dutch players and the Ajax loanee, the Biancocelesti are even top of Serie A. VoetbalPrimeur discusses the Roman side’s success with Tommaso Fefè, who covers the club closely for Radio Olympia.

Taylor and Noslin were joined by Sutalo at the Stadio Olimpico this summer. Lazio have signed the Croatian defender on loan from Ajax, where he never quite managed to live up to expectations. In the Italian capital, however, he has made a strong start.

“Personally, I never doubted that he could be a reliable player. He has a wealth of experience, including with his national team, and he’s already proving to be a key figure, even though he’s only just arrived,” Fefè told VoetbalPrimeur.

Unlike at Ajax, Lazio supporters are also enthusiastic about the qualities of the 26-year-old Sutalo. “Lazio fans are very pleased with his performances. At Ajax, he probably suffered from the fact that the club was going through a period which – by its own historical standards – wasn’t exactly brilliant,” says the reporter from Radio Olympia, a sports station in Rome.

Sutalo initially started on the bench, but he benefited from the absence of Danilho Doekhi, another of Lazio’s summer signings. “Doekhi was a first-team regular, but then suffered a hand injury, after which Sutalo took his place. Lazio are not playing in European competitions this year and have already been knocked out of the domestic cup, meaning the manager has little opportunity to rotate the squad. If Sutalo continues to perform at this level, there is no reason whatsoever for Gennaro Gattuso to change the pecking order.”

According to Fefè, it is clear that Lazio are keen to keep Sutalo. The Romans are currently on loan for around three million euros, but hold an option to buy for 7.5 million. “From a sporting perspective, there is no doubt about it: given his current form, the club would like to sign him on a permanent basis. The issue, however, is financial in nature. It remains to be seen whether Lazio will face restrictions in the transfer market at the end of the year – because certain budgetary targets may not have been met – and, moreover, whether sufficient funds will be available to complete the permanent transfer,” the Italian journalist cautions.

At Lazio, Sutalo was reunited with his former Ajax team-mate Taylor, who is a key player in Rome. “Taylor immediately made an excellent impression on the Biancocelesti. Even in his first few matches last winter – shortly after his arrival in January – it was clear that he is a talented midfielder, and above all a player with a lot of personality. This year, under Gattuso, he is playing in a slightly deeper role compared to last season under Sarri, but he remains an indispensable pillar of the team’s balance.”

Thanks to his strong performances, Taylor (24) has already been tentatively linked with a transfer. English clubs in particular are said to be showing interest in the midfielder, who opened the scoring against Parma (2–1) just last weekend. “Lazio would prefer not to let anyone go in January. It would take a very substantial offer to convince the club to enter into negotiations,” emphasises Fefè. “There are several suitors in the Premier League – including some top clubs – but as far as I know, Lazio have not yet received any official enquiries. However, should the player continue to perform at this level, the situation could look very different by next summer.”

Noslin, too, has become a key figure in Gattuso’s team, although this has gone somewhat under the radar in the Netherlands. “It took Noslin some time to find his feet. He joined from Hellas Verona two years ago for a substantial fee (around 16 million in total, including bonuses), but it is only since the start of this season, under Gattuso, that he has found the consistent form that had eluded him in the two years prior.”

Remarkably, the 27-year-old former Fortuna Sittard player has been playing up front since the start of this season. ‘The manager has – better than his two predecessors – figured out how to fit the player tactically into the team’s attacking patterns. He possesses impressive physical attributes and runs a lot to create space for his teammates; Gattuso rates him very highly for this.’ Noslin repaid that trust with two goals and two assists in seven Serie A matches.

Thanks in part to Sutalo, Taylor and Noslin, things are going well for Lazio in Serie A at the moment. The Romans are joint top of the table with Internazionale. Fefè, however, makes no mention of any title hopes. “Personally, I think Lazio can remain in the running for a place in the upper half of the table right until the end, and might even qualify for European football next season. Back in August, we were all still sceptical about the coming season; the squad hadn’t been strengthened sufficiently and Gattuso himself was coming off the back of a spell with rather disappointing results as manager.”

What’s more, the first official match resulted in an immediate cup exit. “After the defeat against Serie B side Mantova in the Coppa Italia, morale had hit an absolute low,” recalls the local radio club correspondent. “But the arrival of Frattesi, Gudmundsson, Pinamonti and Sutalo – combined with a surprisingly strong start – has completely turned those initial expectations on their head. Now every supporter is hoping this winning run will last as long as possible.”

Whether Gattuso’s current squad is capable of repeating the success of 2000 remains to be seen. Back then, a team featuring, amongst others, Alessandro Nesta, Diego Simeone, Pavel Nedved, Juan Sebastián Verón, Sergio Conceição and Siniša Mihajlović won the Scudetto for the second – and so far last – time in the club’s history.

Lazio are back in action on Tuesday evening. Gattuso’s side will then travel to face Sassuolo.

How strong are Feyenoord, PSV and Ajax’s chances in the Europa League? The European women’s football tournament, one tier below the Champions League, has already reached the last sixteen, and the Netherlands still has three teams in the running.

PSV and Ajax have come through the Champions League qualifiers and are therefore, on paper, among the stronger sides in the Europa League. Feyenoord have been unlucky to face a gruelling draw for the round of 16, which begins on Wednesday evening with the first legs.

On their European debut, the Feyenoord women put in a creditable performance to progress through the Europa Cup qualifying rounds, knocking out Anderlecht from Belgium and the Norwegian side Valerenga. As a ‘reward’ for that strong qualifying campaign, Marc Pieters’ side were drawn against the toughest possible opponents in the main tournament.

On Wednesday evening at 7.00 pm, Feyenoord will travel to face VfL Wolfsburg, who have finished first or second in the German league every year since 2012. Wolfsburg reached the Champions League final in 2023 and are currently ranked sixth in Europe according to the coefficient rankings.

The German club, where Dutch international Ella Peddemors is currently the top scorer and former Twente defender Lieske Carleer also plays, is therefore considered the clear favourite to win the Europa Cup.

PSV won the national title for the first time last summer and hoped to continue their upward trajectory in Europe. However, partly because several key players were sold, the Eindhoven side failed to qualify for the main phase of the Champions League.

That was a major disappointment, as PSV’s women’s football manager Sandra Doreleijers acknowledged. But it also presents opportunities. “Last year, the Europa Cup final was between two Swedish teams – that says a lot. It’s quite possible that Dutch teams will now go a bit further in that tournament, especially as we have three of them in the mix.”

Nevertheless, PSV, like Feyenoord, have not been handed an easy draw. Eintracht Frankfurt are their opponents at the Herdgang on Wednesday evening. That side have finished third in the German league for five years running and have also racked up quite a few European victories during that time.

Last year, Frankfurt – where the Dutch player Danique Tolhoek plays as a striker – reached the semi-finals of the Europa League. There, they lost to BK Häcken, who went on to win the tournament.

Ajax failed to get past Real Madrid in the Champions League qualifiers, but now has the most favourable draw on paper in the Europa League: the Amsterdam side will face Malmö FF from Sweden. That club was founded in 2019 – it is a different club from the Malmö that was active in women’s football at the start of this century – and is competing in European competition for the first time this year.

In many respects, Malmö is still a bit of an unknown quantity, but Ajax captain Sherida Spitse isn’t worried about that. Speaking to ESPN, she said that, in her view, winning the Europa Cup is a real possibility.

“When I look at who’s still in the competition, I do think it’s realistic,” said Spitse. “But we all need to stay fit; we need to maintain a certain momentum. It won’t be easy. But I do think it’s possible.”

"We believe that Mbappe's outrageous remarks have harmed the Chinese people, crossed a line, and exceeded the scope of freedom of speech. Mbappe is a Real Madrid player, and the club bears significant responsibility. We reiterate that words and actions that hurt the feelings of the Chinese people will naturally be met with resistance from all sectors of Chinese society. We hope Real Madrid will not indulge in wishful thinking. Until Real Madrid issues an apology, all other discussions are off-limits."