Radamel Falcao's future at Manchester United remains unclear, although media reports claim Juventus and Roma are both interested in his services. Clive Mason/Getty Images
Radamel Falcao's future at Manchester United remains unclear, although media reports claim Juventus and Roma are both interested in his services. Clive Mason/Getty Images
Radamel Falcao's future at Manchester United remains unclear, although media reports claim Juventus and Roma are both interested in his services. Clive Mason/Getty Images
Radamel Falcao's future at Manchester United remains unclear, although media reports claim Juventus and Roma are both interested in his services. Clive Mason/Getty Images

Transfer talk: Wonderkid seals ‘dream’ Arsenal move, Manchester United target trio of signings


  • English
  • Arabic

A round-up of the biggest football transfer stories circulating around Europe, including the future of Radamel Falcao, Gonzalo Higuain’s links to Liverpool, and Arsenal’s new wonderkid.

Arsenal

Premier League club Arsenal appear to be on the verge of sealing a deal for Polish teenager Krystian Bielik, his club Legia Warsaw have confirmed.

Bielik, 17, travelled to London on Friday to have a medical at Arsenal ahead of completing a move understood to be worth £2.5million (AED 13.97m).

The defensive midfielder arrived at Legia at the start of the season and has made just five starts, but it is believed Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wants to integrate the youngster into the first-team squad immediately.

“I’m going to London to fulfill my dreams. I hope I will become an Arsenal player soon,” Bielik told Legia Warsaw’s official website.

Legia coach Henning Berg, who is well accustomed to English football having spent a decade as a player at Blackburn and Manchester United, believes Bielik has a massive future ahead of him.

“He doesn’t have any weaknesses,” Berg said. “He is a physical player with good skills, good understanding, a good match mentality and good decision-making in the game. For his age, he is quite far ahead compared to others in his age group.”

Radamel Falcao

Colombian striker Radamel Falcao is attracting interest from Serie A’s two biggest clubs, with Juventus and Roma both keen to take him to Italy.

The Monaco forward is currently on a season-long loan at Manchester United, who have the first option to make the move permanent for a figure in the region of £43million (AED 240.4m)

However, a combination of injuries and squad rotation has resulted in the 28-year-old failing to cement a place in the first-team.

Falcao has made his intentions clear that he would like to carve out a long-term career at Old Trafford, but his recent snub from the squad for United’s defeat against Southampton has him considering his options.

And according to reports, Juventus and Roma have contacted Falcao’s representatives to discuss the logistics of a permanent summer move away from Monaco.

Falcao’s agent, Jorge Mendes, also cast doubt over his client’s future at United but stating the striker deserves to be starting at any club in the world.

“They have an absolutely brilliant player, one of the very best in the world, who would without any doubt play 90 minutes of the match, every time, with any other club,” Mendes said.

“I don’t know [if he will stay].

“He is a fantastic player, and I think it’s very difficult for Manchester United fans.

“The truth is, right now we don’t know what will happen. What we do know is that he will play in one of the very best clubs in the world next season, whether that is Manchester United or not.”

Manchester United

On the topic of Manchester United, fresh reports have emerged claiming manager Louis van Gaal could be given as much as £150million (AED 839m) to spend this month on new players.

Long-term targets Kevin Stootman and Mats Hummels are listed among those Van Gaal is keen to sign, while the Daily Mirror claims the Dutchman is also keen on Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne.

United already spent £150m during the summer transfer window on the likes of Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and British record signing Angel Di Maria for £59.7m (AED 333.8m)

But Van Gaal is set to meet with United chief executive Ed Woodward to discuss an outlay on new players to bolster his squad ahead of the season run-in.

Roma midfielder Strootman has been on Van Gaal’s wishlist since the summer and the Italian club revealed a “huge offer” would make them listen to bids for the Holland international.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund defender Hummels is one of the most sought-after players in Europe and given United’s defensive shortcomings this season, a move for a World Cup-winning centre-back makes sense.

Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar, who van Gaal knows well from their time together for the Netherlands, was expected to be the subject of a bid from United, although a recent knee injury makes a move to Old Trafford this month unlikely.

Kevin Mirallas

Everton forward Kevin Mirallas has decided to delay contract talks with the Premier League club until the summer, putting top clubs around Europe on alert.

The Goodison Park club are keen to tie Mirallas down to a new contract now that he’s entered the final 18 months of his existing deal and attempted to open negotiations earlier this season.

However, the Belgium international has revealed he will evaluate his situation once the season is over.

“I don’t feel any problem with my situation,” 27-year-old Mirallas told the Liverpool Echo.

“I’ve spoken very well with the manager and the chairman, and there is no problem.

“The best thing, for me and for the team, is that I finish the season well. Then after that I will go away on holiday, and when I come back we will talk about my situation.

“But like I say, the most important thing in the meantime is to play well for the team.”

Real Sociedad

Burnely’s Danny Ings is attracting the interest of David Moyes, who is keen to take the in-form striker to Real Sociedad, according to a report by The Independent.

The English forward, who has scored six Premier League goals this season, will be available on a free transfer this summer should he fail to agree a new contract with Burnley.

According to the report, the idea of playing in Spain is appealing to Ings, who wants to move to a club where he will be a first-team regular rather than make up the numbers at the Premier League’s bigger clubs.

With the 22-year-old’s contract due to expire in six months, he is permitted to talk to clubs outside of the Premier League and pen a pre-contract agreement.

Ings is also reportedly attracting interest from English clubs Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea, although Sociedad’s advantage of being able to discuss terms immediately could work to their advantage.

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

The biog

From: Upper Egypt

Age: 78

Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila

Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace

Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace

The biog

Age: 32

Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.

Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas

Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hoopla%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jacqueline%20Perrottet%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2010%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPre-seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20required%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
A cryptocurrency primer for beginners

Cryptocurrency Investing  for Dummies – by Kiana Danial 

There are several primers for investing in cryptocurrencies available online, including e-books written by people whose credentials fall apart on the second page of your preferred search engine. 

Ms Danial is a finance coach and former currency analyst who writes for Nasdaq. Her broad-strokes primer (2019) breaks down investing in cryptocurrency into baby steps, while explaining the terms and technologies involved.

Although cryptocurrencies are a fast evolving world, this  book offers a good insight into the game as well as providing some basic tips, strategies and warning signs.

Begin your cryptocurrency journey here. 

Available at Magrudy’s , Dh104 

Results

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Al Baher, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).

2.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Talento Puma, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,950m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

3.30pm: Jebel Ali Stakes Listed (TB) Dh500,000 1,950m; Winner: Mark Of Approval, Patrick Cosgrave, Mahmood Hussain.

4pm: Conditions (TB) Dh125,000 1,400m; Winner: Dead-heat Raakez, Jim Crowley, Nicholas Bachalard/Attribution, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4.30pm: Jebel Ali Sprint (TB) Dh500,000 1,000m; Winner: AlKaraama, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,200m; Winner: Wafy, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Cachao, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

Getting%20there
%3Cp%3EGiven%20its%20remote%20location%2C%20getting%20to%20Borneo%20can%20feel%20daunting%20even%20for%20the%20most%20seasoned%20traveller.%20But%20you%20can%20fly%20directly%20from%20Kuala%20Lumpur%20to%20Sandakan%20and%20Sepilok%20is%20only%20half%20an%20hour%20away%20by%20taxi.%20Sandakan%20has%20plenty%20of%20accommodation%20options%2C%20while%20Sepilok%20has%20a%20few%20nature%20lodges%20close%20to%20the%20main%20attractions.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A