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Lukaku’s Coppa Italia ban dropped in stand against racism, UEFA urged to increase payments to non-elite European clubs, Agents looking to cash in this summer before new FIFA commissions regulations kick in, Wrexham earn promotion back to EFL, PSG confirm record losses for 21/22 season, Nagelsmann, Zidane, Pochettino, Alonso all on the coaching carousel, and West Ham hold France’s UEFA ranking in their hands.

Let’s get on with it.

Table Tops

Fixtures We’re Watching

• Atalanta v Roma

• Luton Town v Middlesbrough

• Fenerbahce v Istanbulspor

Full schedule + where to watch

Starting Lineup

• Lukaku's ban quashed in statement against racism, can now play in Coppa Italia semis against Juventus (ESPN)

• UEFA urged to make ‘substantial increase’ in payments to non-elite European clubs (TA)

• Premier League clubs set to smash record transfer spend of £1.9bn as agents look to cash in before new FIFA regulations kick in (DM)

• Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney react to Wrexham promotion (90MIN)

• Mourinho, Ancelotti, Bale on new UEFA board (ESPN)

• Monchi emerges as contender to take over as Director of Football at Tottenham (FE)

• FIFA warned there’s ‘no room’ for Club World Cup expansion as they are urged to halt ‘endless growth’ (365)

• Burnley 'asked for observations' over team changes by EFL (BBC)

Transfer Rumors

• Chelsea looking at €100m plus Lukaku to land Argentinian World Cup star, Lautaro Martinez (CO)

• Eden Hazard could exit Real Madrid in favour of a Premier League return this summer (FE)

• Harry Maguire open to Serie A move as Italian giants register loan interest (FM)

• Marseille to sell Mattéo Guendouzi with Denis Zakaria lined up as replacement (GFFN)

• Manchester City considering signing 20-year old Brentford fullback, Aaron Hickey (CO)

• USMNT defender Joe Scally signs contract extension with Borussia Mönchengladbach (BN)

• Celtic and Rangers want to sign German talent currently playing for Köln, Denis Huseinbasic (SW)

• Napoli switch focus from Udinese’s Samardzic to Atlanta’s Almada (FI)

• Man United are tracking Swedish wonderkid Otto Rosengren, 19, his club's sporting director confirms (DM)

• Real Madrid preparing new contract including £1bn clause for Eduardo Camavinga (CO)

• From Lenglet to Umtiti, Inter talk defenders with Barcelona (FI)

• Aston Villa want €10m discount for Denzel Dumfries – Don’t want to go above €30m (SW)

Data Based

• 10 incredible stats from Newcastle’s 6-1 mauling of p*ss-poor Tottenham (PF)

• Most Champions League Goals: All-Time Top Scorers (OA)

• Valencia the least effective team in La Liga as concerning statistics emerge (FE)

Offsides

• MLS fines Bruce Arena for criticizing VAR as ‘phony baloney’ (WST)

• Ex-Celtic star issues apology after being accused of making Nazi salute during goal celebration (SUN)

• Come on Dutch fans…PSV vs Ajax play suspended after Steven Berghuis targeted by missile in fiery Eredivisie showdown (DR) and Beer-throwing halts second Eredivisie match of the weekend (TG)

On The Ball

• Riqui Puig among investors in new soccer esports game, GOALS (WST)

• How much Berlusconi has spent on Monza since 2018 takeover (FI)

• PSG confirm record losses for 2021/22 season (90MIN)

• West Ham on verge of £17m windfall – £12m already received (CO)

• Man Utd fans concerned after investigations into Elliott’s sale of Milan (FI)

Coaches Box

• Julian Nagelsmann pulls out of the running to become Chelsea head coach (DM) and Chelsea have rejected the chance to appoint Luis Enrique (FE)

• Zinédine Zidane remains priority in PSG manager search (GFFN) but Zidane wants to return to coaching with Juventus (FI)

• Ex-Mexico boss Martino interested in MLS return (ESPN)

• Marcelo Gallardo and Franck Haise among possible candidates to become Nice manager (GFFN)

• West Ham in official talks to land Portuguese manager, Paulo Fonseca (CO) but now an exciting young manager, Xabi Alonso, is emerging as candidate to replace Moyes (CO)

Throw Ins

• Prince William sends special message to Wrexham after Welsh side secure promotion (MN)

• Kylian Mbappé’s uncle makes himself manager of US Ivry after sacking coach as president (GFFN)

• How the US almost got pro/rel before MLS changed everything (WST)

Injury Time

• Man Utd fear Varane could be out for rest of season joining fellow first-choice centre-back Martinez on sidelines (SUN)

• Klopp confirms forward, Firmino, will now miss next three matches due to muscle injury (CO)

• Javi Gracia provides worrying injury update on Leeds star, Tyler Adams (CO)

• Skriniar not expected to play for Inter again after surgery (FI)

Rankings

• France’s UEFA ranking in the hands of West Ham ahead of semi-final against AZ Alkmaar (GFFN)

• Rangers carrying the European fight for Scotland as they sit above Barcelona and Real Madrid in UEFA ranking list (DR)

• Inter, Milan and Napoli move up in UEFA rankings after latest European results (FI)

GlobalFootballRankings.com updates as of April 23, 2023

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