• 18-year-old Senegalese forward Ibrahima Cissé has broken into the KAA Gent first team this season
• AS Monaco want to sign the teenager but face strong competition from England
• Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion are all monitoring his progress
• Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have also made enquiries
• No official negotiations have started despite the growing interest across Europe

Teenage striker Ibrahima Cissé has become a regular face in the KAA Gent first team this season. The 18-year-old is now attracting attention from several major European clubs.

The Senegalese youth has made twelve appearances in all competitions. He has found the net once. A transfer this summer now looks possible for the young attacker.

Clubs across the continent are tracking his development. AS Monaco have emerged as serious candidates to secure his signature. The French outfit aims to continue their policy of recruiting Europe’s brightest prospects.

If Cissé moves to the Principality, he would join the club’s prestigious Groupe Élite programme for top young talent.

However, Monaco will not have a clear path to complete the deal. Premier League sides are also chasing the forward. Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion have all registered interest in the Belgian-based player.

German clubs are also keen. Both Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig have asked about his situation. Despite the widespread attention, no concrete talks have begun at this stage.

• Belgian striker Lois Openda will return to RB Leipzig after Juventus chose not to sign him permanently
• The 26-year-old scored only two goals in 37 matches during his disappointing loan spell in Serie A
• AS Monaco and Nottingham Forest are now the leading clubs interested in securing his services
• Openda previously netted 41 goals in 93 games for the German club before his temporary move to Italy

Lois Openda is set to travel back to Germany this summer. The Belgium international will rejoin RB Leipzig when his loan agreement with Juventus comes to an end.

The Serie A side has decided against making the move permanent. They had the option to buy the player, but they will not trigger it after a difficult season. The forward managed just two goals across 37 appearances in all competitions during his time in Turin.

Despite this poor run, the 26-year-old remains a valuable asset. Since his €40 million transfer from RC Lens in 2023, he has scored 41 times in 93 outings for the Bundesliga club. His form at Lens was also impressive, with 21 goals in 42 matches helping the French side challenge Paris Saint-Germain for the title.

Now, several teams want to take him away from Leipzig. AS Monaco is leading the chase in France. The Ligue 1 club sees him as a possible replacement for Folarin Balogun, who may leave for England.

Nottingham Forest has also entered the race. The Premier League team hopes to strengthen their attack with the Belgian. German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt is monitoring the situation as well.

• Paul Pogba has featured in only six matches since returning to the pitch
• The 33-year-old Frenchman has battled persistent knee swelling and muscular issues
• Monaco’s former assistant manager confirms the midfielder will likely remain at the club
• The former Manchester United star still has one year left on his current deal
• Club officials were reportedly surprised by Pogba’s recent social media hints about staying

Former AS Monaco assistant boss Damien Perrinelle has dismissed speculation surrounding Paul Pogba’s future at the Ligue 1 side. The French World Cup winner has endured a deeply frustrating campaign due to ongoing fitness problems.

Pogba, aged 33, has managed just six appearances for the Principality club this term. He has started only one match and accumulated a mere 115 minutes of football. These limited minutes fall well below the standards expected of the former Juventus star.

Earlier this season, Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro raised serious concerns about the player’s long-term prospects. He suggested that significant improvements were necessary for Pogba to remain at the Stade Louis II beyond the summer.

Medical reports from Nice-Matin indicate that the midfielder suffers from regular knee swelling. This condition has triggered a series of muscular injuries as his body compensates for the underlying weakness.

Despite these setbacks, Pogba recently hinted at remaining in France next season through a social media update. This statement caught some club staff off guard, as formal discussions about his future have not yet commenced.

Perrinelle, who departed Monaco at the season’s end, offered a more optimistic view. He revealed that the midfielder’s performances showed marked improvement during the closing weeks of the campaign. The coach expressed confidence that Pogba will honour the second year of his two-year agreement.

• Liverpool FC will host AS Monaco in a summer friendly at Anfield on Sunday, 9 August.
• The match kicks off at 2:30 PM BST and marks Monaco’s penultimate warm-up fixture.
• Both clubs are currently without permanent managers following recent departures.
• The Reds are expected to appoint Andoni Iraola, while Monaco target Filipe Luis.
• This will be the first meeting between the sides since the 2004-05 Champions League.

Liverpool FC have confirmed they will face AS Monaco in a pre-season exhibition match at Anfield. The game is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, August 9, with kick-off set for 2:30 PM local time.

This fixture is likely to serve as Monaco’s second-last preparation match before they resume competitive action. The Ligue 1 side will return to domestic league duties approximately two weeks after this encounter. Additionally, the French club must prepare for UEFA Conference League qualifying matches later in August.

The last time these two teams met was during the group phase of the 2004-05 Champions League campaign. On that occasion, Liverpool went on to lift the trophy, famously overcoming a three-goal deficit against AC Milan in the final.

Currently, neither club has a manager in place. Liverpool recently parted ways with Arne Slot, whilst Monaco have also moved on from Sébastien Pocognoli. Reports suggest the Merseyside outfit are close to securing Andoni Iraola as their new head coach. Meanwhile, Monaco are rumoured to be considering former defender Filipe Luis for the managerial role.

• Sadibou Sané set to join AS Monaco from FC Metz
• Transfer fee could reach €10 million with bonuses
• 21-year-old defender to sign contract until 2031
• Follows Lamine Camara’s path from Metz to Monaco
• Club also nearing deals for Nazinho and Mathys Detourbet

AS Monaco are close to signing defender Sadibou Sané from FC Metz. The 21-year-old centre-back will leave the French second division club to join the Ligue 1 side.

The move follows the same route as Lamine Camara. Two years ago, Camara joined Monaco from Metz after the club fell to Ligue 2. That transfer proved successful. Now Camara could move to the Premier League for a big fee.

Sané is another talent from the Génération Foot academy. He will travel through Metz to reach Monaco.

French newspaper L’Équipe reports that all parties have agreed in principle. The deal is not complete yet. However, the transfer should cost around €10 million. This includes a €7 million base fee and €3 million in extra payments.

The young defender looks set to sign a long contract until 2031 with Monaco.

The club is also signing other players. Deals for Nazinho and Mathys Detourbet are done but not yet announced.

• Ansu Fati will leave FC Barcelona after 14 years at the Catalan club
• AS Monaco plan to sign the 23-year-old forward for €11 million
• The arrival of Anthony Gordon at Camp Nou has blocked Fati’s return path
• Fati scored 12 goals in 30 games during his loan spell in France
• The French club may ask the player to reduce his salary or negotiate the fee down

Ansu Fati is ready to exit FC Barcelona this summer. The 23-year-old forward will complete a permanent transfer to AS Monaco. This move ends his 14-year stay at the Catalan giants.

The Spanish international spent two of the last three seasons away from Camp Nou on loan. He first joined Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League. He then moved to AS Monaco in France. These temporary spells failed to earn him a place in Barcelona’s future plans.

During Hansi Flick’s first year as manager, Fati played rarely. He became frustrated with his lack of minutes on the pitch. Last summer, he secured a loan move to the French side to find regular football. He hoped to impress and return to Barcelona as cover on the left wing or as a striker.

However, the club recently signed Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United. This new arrival has closed the door on Fati’s return. According to Mundo Deportivo, Monaco will now make his loan move permanent. The player is expected to accept the transfer unless there is a late change of heart.

Monaco hold an €11 million buy option in the loan deal. They may ask Fati to accept a significant pay cut. Alternatively, they could try to negotiate a lower fee with Barcelona. The forward still has two years left on his contract with the La Liga club.

His season in Ligue 1 was not perfect, but it was his strongest campaign in recent years. He netted 12 goals in 30 matches across all competitions. He played 1,320 minutes and missed only nine games through injury. Given his long history of fitness problems, these numbers mark clear progress. This was the second-most minutes he has managed in a single season. It was also his best-ever goal-scoring return.

• Paul Pogba has played only 115 minutes for AS Monaco this season
• The French midfielder signed a two-year contract last summer
• Club owner Dmitry Rybolovlev pushed for his signing, not the CEO
• New coach Filipe Luis arrives as Pogba faces an uncertain role
• Talks about his future will happen this summer

Paul Pogba’s first year at AS Monaco has disappointed fans. The 33-year-old midfielder has spent most of the season on the sidelines. He has made only six appearances in Ligue 1. He started just one match. His total playing time is only 115 minutes.

The French star joined the club last summer on a free transfer. He signed a two-year deal with the Principality side. However, injuries have ruined his campaign. Local newspaper Nice-Matin reports that his knee swells up often. This causes other muscle problems. His body compensates for the weak knee.

Thiago Scuro, the club’s CEO, spoke about the situation earlier this year. He said Pogba must play more minutes. If he did not, the club would discuss his future this summer. That conversation has not happened yet. The CEO’s comments suggest Pogba might leave before his contract ends.

The situation is complicated. Club owner Dmitry Rybolovlev wanted to sign Pogba. The CEO did not lead this transfer. The owner also pushed for Pogba to start against FC Metz late in the season. This shows the owner still supports the player.

Pogba posted on social media recently. He hinted he wants to stay next season. This message surprised some people at the club. They have not held talks about his future yet.

AS Monaco have appointed Filipe Luis as their new manager. It is unclear what role Pogba will have under the new boss. It is also unclear if he can stay fit enough to play. His future at the club remains doubtful.

• AS Monaco are close to agreeing permanent terms with Ansu Fati
• The forward is currently on loan from FC Barcelona with a €11m buy clause
• Wage demands had previously blocked the transfer from going ahead
• The Spain international impressed during his loan spell last season

AS Monaco are on the verge of signing Ansu Fati on a permanent basis. The Spanish forward has spent the current campaign on loan from FC Barcelona. He joined the Ligue 1 side with an option to buy set at €11 million.

Earlier this year, the player’s father, Bori Fati, made it clear that his son wanted to stay in the Principality. The 23-year-old enjoyed a successful spell with Les Monégasques last season.

Money issues had caused delays in the negotiations. Fati earns €500,000 each month at Barcelona. Monaco currently pays half of this amount. The French club cannot afford to match his full salary.

However, fresh talks have brought positive results. Local newspaper Nice-Matin reports that both sides are close to reaching an agreement. The club now looks set to trigger the purchase option.

• Filipe Luís has agreed to become the new head coach of AS Monaco until 2028
• Bayer Leverkusen had identified the Brazilian as their top choice to replace Kasper Hjulmand
• Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirms Monaco have won the race for the manager’s signature
• Leverkusen are now considering Andoni Iraola and Oliver Glasner as alternative targets
• Both Iraola and Glasner appear reluctant to leave their current clubs in England

AS Monaco are poised to appoint Filipe Luís as their new head coach. The Brazilian has agreed terms on a contract that will keep him at the Ligue 1 club until 2028.

According to renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, the deal is now in place. This development ends speculation that the 39-year-old would move to Germany.

Bayer Leverkusen had targeted Luís to replace under-pressure manager Kasper Hjulmand. The Danish coach is widely expected to lose his job following a disappointing run of results.

The Bundesliga champions must now search for other candidates. They have also shown interest in Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner. However, both coaches seem keen to remain in the Premier League rather than relocate to Germany.

• AS Monaco have sacked head coach Sébastien Pocognoli after just eight months in charge
• The Belgian won only 16 of his 38 matches since replacing Adi Hütter in October
• Back-to-back defeats against Lille OSC and Strasbourg ended Monaco’s Champions League hopes
• Departing Lille OSC boss Bruno Genesio is the favourite to take over at the Principality
• The club are planning a major reshuffle with more departures expected

AS Monaco have dismissed head coach Sébastien Pocognoli following a disappointing end to the campaign. The Belgian took charge in October after the club sacked Adi Hütter, but he has failed to secure a Champions League spot.

Pocognoli leaves with a record of 16 victories from 38 matches. Monaco were in contention for a top-three finish, but consecutive losses to Lille OSC and Strasbourg derailed their European ambitions.

The Principality club will compete in the Conference League play-offs next term. They secured this spot after Lens won the Coupe de France. However, this European qualification was not enough to convince the board to keep Pocognoli.

The club’s owners are now planning a major reshuffle. Reports suggest several other figures could leave in the coming days.

Bruno Genesio has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Pocognoli. The Frenchman is set to leave Lille OSC at the end of the season. However, Monaco face competition from both Marseille and Paris FC for his signature.