Sweden striker Isak finished coolly in the 43rd minute after Federico Chiesa latched on to Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy’s sloppy pass and cut the ball back to Isak.

But the Reds were not at their best and Shea Charles levelled on 76 minutes when Wataru Endo headed back towards his own goal, setting up a nervy final period.

Ekitike, who had replaced Isak at half-time and has impressed since his summer move to Merseyside, put the hosts back in front when Chiesa raced on to the ball and set up the Frenchman to slot home.

But, already on a booking for a foul early in the second half, Ekitike took off his shirt in celebration and was shown red, leaving Liverpool to see out the final four minutes plus added time with 10 men. He is now suspended for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Crystal Palace.

Manager Arne Slot had made 11 changes to the side that beat Everton on Saturday and this was a far-from-perfect performance from his young side.

But Liverpool, 10-time winners of the competition, have reached the final in three of the past four seasons and it is that squad depth that they will need to lean on to do the same again.

The 23-year-old winger moves from English Championship side Southampton, signing a four-year contract with an option to extend for an additional year.

The deal is reportedly worth €17.5 million, with potential add-ons reaching €4 million.

Sulemana reunites with his former Southampton coach, Ivan Jurić, who now leads Atalanta.

The former FC Nordsjaelland attacker has earned 44 caps for Ghana and featured in 26 matches last season, scoring once.

Since joining Southampton from French club Stade Rennais in January 2023, Sulemana made 34 appearances across all competitions, netting five goals and providing two assists.

He will also be teaming up again with Ghanaian national teammate Ibrahim Sulemana at Atalanta.

After a challenging period at Southampton, Kamaldeen Sulemana aims to make an immediate impact as he prepares for the 2025/26 season with his new club.

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• Kamaldeen Sulemana will excel at Atalanta – Mas-Ud Didi Dramani
• Kamaldeen Sulemana completes medicals ahead of Atalanta move

The Ghanaian winger is set to complete a move from English Championship side Southampton to the Serie A club in a deal reportedly worth €17.5 million, with an additional €4 million in add-ons.

Sulemana is expected to sign a four-year contract with the Italian side.

Dramani, who previously coached Sulemana at Danish club FC Nordsjaelland before the player’s transfer to Stade Rennais, believes the 23-year-old has the qualities needed to excel in Italy’s top flight.

“He will be better in Serie A. I think he will excel,” Dramani told JoySports.

“Speed is a huge component when it comes to talents. When you have a player who can run but can’t yet pass the ball perfectly, you give him time. He will run with the ball and learn how to pass,” he added.

Sulemana is also set to reunite with his former Southampton manager, Ivan Jurić, at Atalanta.

The speedy attacker joined Southampton in January 2023 for a club-record fee and featured 26 times in the recently concluded Premier League season, scoring one goal.

READ ALSO

• Kamaldeen Sulemana completes medicals ahead of Atalanta move
• Atalanta close to signing Ghana’s Kamaldeen Sulemana

The 23-year-old successfully passed his medical examination, and all contracts have been signed ahead of the official announcement.

Atalanta agreed to pay £18.3 million (€21.5 million) for the former Stade Rennais player, structured as an initial £15 million (€17.5 million) fee plus an additional £3.3 million (€4 million) in potential add-ons. Southampton have also secured a 15% sell-on clause as part of the deal.

Sulemana is set to sign a four-year contract with Atalanta, with an option to extend for a fifth year once all formalities are complete.

The move reunites Sulemana with former Southampton manager Ivan Juric, who had expressed strong interest in bringing him to Atalanta. The young winger is reportedly excited about the club’s project.

During the recently concluded 2024/25 season, Sulemana made 26 Premier League appearances for Southampton, scoring one goal.

However, Southampton struggled throughout the campaign, finishing last in the league with only 12 points from 38 matches.

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The 23-year-old is set to sign a contract until 2029, with the transfer fee reportedly valued at €17.5 million, payable in instalments, plus an additional €4 million in performance-related add-ons.

Southampton will also retain a 15% sell-on clause should Sulemana be transferred from Atalanta in the future.

Capable of operating as a left winger, second striker, or centre-forward, Sulemana brings versatility to the Bergamo-based side.

This past season, he made 30 appearances across all competitions for Southampton, scoring two goals and providing three assists in the Premier League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup.

His Premier League stats included one goal and one assist, averaging 55 minutes per game.

Sulemana originally joined Southampton from French Ligue 1 outfit Stade Rennes in January 2023 for €25 million.

However, the club’s relegation from the Premier League has prompted the sale of several players as part of efforts to reduce the wage bill.

The 2023/24 UEFA Europa League champions have initiated talks with his current club in the English Championship and are expected to table an offer in the region of €17 million for the 23-year-old winger.

Should the deal be finalized, Kamaldeen will reunite with his former coach, Ivan Juric. The pair previously worked together at Southampton during the 2024/25 season.

Under Juric’s guidance, Kamaldeen featured in 26 Premier League games, starting 17 and averaging 55 minutes per match. He contributed one goal and one assist during that campaign.

With transfer speculation mounting around his future in England, a move to Italy now appears increasingly likely for the highly-rated winger.

This season’s Saints are now up to 12 points to ensure Derby County’s record low from the 2007-08 season remains intact for at least another year.

City could have moved level on points with second-placed Arsenal with a win but served up a dismal attacking display a week before their FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.

They stay in third place but the dropped points on the south coast could prove costly in a tight race for a top-five finish and a place in the Champions League next season.

Erling Haaland returned from injury but offered little as Pep Guardiola’s side were content to play at walking pace against an admittedly packed Southampton defence, and looked devoid of ideas for most of the game.

Defender Manuel Akanji headed wide from a corner and Bernardo Silva saw a shot hacked off the line by Saints captain Jack Stephens.

Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was only called into serious action inside the last few minutes, clawing away a header from Ruben Dias before Omar Marmoush rattled the crossbar from long range.

But there were cheers from the stoic home crowd at the whistle as the hosts held on for just a third clean sheet all season.

Juric was appointed as Russell Martin’s successor on an 18-month deal in December but has won just two of his 16 matches.

Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Tottenham consigned the rock-bottom Saints to the earliest relegation in Premier League history with eight games still to play.

The loss against Spurs was Southampton’s 25th of the season in the league.

“Ivan came to Southampton at a tough time and was tasked with trying to improve a squad in a difficult situation,” Southampton said.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t seen performances progress the way we had hoped, but we would like to thank Ivan and his staff for their honesty and hard work as they fought against the odds to try and keep us up.

“With relegation to the Championship now confirmed, we believe it is important to give fans, players and staff some clarity on the future as we head into a very important summer.”

Simon Rusk is expected to step in as interim manager with Adam Lallana acting as his assistant.

Southampton and Leeds were the last two clubs to have parted company with two permanent managers during the same campaign – both doing so in 2022-23.

Juric lasted just 107 days at St Mary’s and oversaw only one victory in the Premier League – a 2-1 triumph at Ipswich.

His spell in charge is the ninth-shortest reign as a manager in Premier League history.

Rooted to the bottom of the standings on 10 points, Southampton require two further points to avoid beating Derby County’s record-low tally of 11, achieved in 2007-08.

Juric arrived at Southampton having been sacked by Roma in November after only 12 games in charge of the Serie A club.

The 49-year-old has previously held roles in Italy with Torino, Hellas Verona, Genoa, Crotone and Mantova.

Southampton’s Premier League struggles

Southampton won promotion to the Premier League last summer after beating Leeds in the play-offs, however, their campaign in the top flight has been troubled from the outset.

Saints lost eight of their opening nine games, and their 1-0 win against Everton on 2 November was their only victory in their opening 23 league fixtures.

Juric, who had no previous experience in English football, was unable to inspire the squad after replacing Martin in the dugout, losing each of his first six games.

Southampton sat nine points adrift of safety when Juric walked through the doors, but Sunday’s loss against Spurs left them 22 points shy of 17th-placed Wolves.

They are only the third team to lose as many as 25 of their first 31 games of a top-flight campaign, after Sunderland in 2005-06 and Sheffield United in 2020-21 (both also 25).

Southampton have conceded the most goals in the league (74) by far, and are the lowest scorers in the top four divisions of English football (23 goals in 31 games).

No team has ever had fewer points in the Premier League after 31 games (10), although Sunderland in 2005-06 & Derby in 2007-08 had the same tally too.

The Wales forward converted Djed Spence’s cut-back in the 13th minute, before he latched on to James Maddison’s header over the defence to flick in a second three minutes before half-time.

Mateus Fernandes replied in the 90th minute, but Mathys Tel claimed his first Spurs league goal with a penalty in added time to ensure Saints became the first Premier League side to be relegated with seven games left, beating the previous record of six.

A subdued atmosphere hung over Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following another pre-match fan protest against chairman Daniel Levy and discontent with manager Ange Postecoglou, following a run of one win in their last 10 home league games that had left them fifth from bottom at the start of the day.

Spurs started brightly though, with Johnson and Lucas Bergvall creating problems and Cristian Romero’s thumping header forcing Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale into a smart stop from a corner.

Things could have turned sour for the hosts, though, when Kamaldeen Sulemana drifted in at the far post following a rare foray forward for the visitors, but his shot was deflected on to the post by Pedro Porro.

Spurs responded immediately to claim the opener and ease nerves through Johnson’s 10th league goal of the campaign.

Romero was again denied by Ramsdale when another powerful header struck the face of the former Arsenal keeper.

Bergvall thought he had doubled the lead when he bundled home Romero’s knock-down from a free-kick, but the Argentine defender was judged to have been offside after a four-minute video assistant referee (VAR) check.

Boss Postecoglou was visibly frustrated on the touchline, but cracked a smile when Johnson caught the Saints defenders on their heels and slotted past Ramsdale.

Southampton improved after the break and dominated possession, with Fernandes chesting down Sulemana’s cross and firing through the legs of Vicario in the 90th minute for a late consolation.

Ramsdale made five saves – including fine stops from Spence and Dominic Solanke – to keep the hosts at bay, but Tel’s penalty – following a foul by Welington on Johnson – sealed Southampton’s fate with an instant return to the Championship.

Rooted to the bottom on 10 points, Saints now need two more points to avoid beating Derby County’s record-low tally of 11, achieved in 2007-08.

Spurs’ 11th win of the season moved them up to 13th in the table with 37 points.

The Reds were miles below their best after their energy-draining late win at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday – but all that matters at this stage of the season is results.

This takes them one step closer to the title and leaves Saints still in danger of the lowest Premier League points total ever.

The visitors allowed themselves to dream when Will Smallbone took advantage of a huge mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson to slot in from a tight angle.

But Reds boss Arne Slot made a triple substitution at half-time and Liverpool were much improved.

Darwin Nunez, perhaps fortunate not to be one of the ones replaced at the break, slotted in from Luis Diaz’s cutback.

And then the Uruguayan striker was fouled by Smallbone for a penalty, which Mohamed Salah predictably dispatched with style.

Liverpool fans started singing “now you’re going to believe us, we’re going to win the league” after that.

Salah also netted another spot-kick late on, for his 27th goal of the season, after the video assistant referee spotted a Yukinari Sugawara handball.

Second-placed Arsenal have two games in hand – including Sunday’s match with Manchester United – but it is impossible to see anyone overhauling Liverpool.

Both sides made six substitutes as Southampton lost captain Jan Bednarek to an early head injury – with football laws allowed the opposing team to also make an extra substitution during the game.

Christopher Nkunku opened the scoring for the Blues in the 24th minute when he headed in Tosin Adarabioyo’s flick-on following a corner.

Twelve minutes later, Nkunku set up Pedro Neto who beat Saints keeper Aaron Ramsdale with a low finish when through on goal.

Just before half-time Chelsea added a third as Levi Colwill rose highest to nod in Neto’s wide free-kick.

In the 78th minute substitute Tyrique George set up Marc Cucurella who rounded off a fine counter-attack with a drilled finish.

Dominant Chelsea move fourth in the Premier League table, two points clear of Manchester City and Newcastle who play on Wednesday.

Before the match about 100 Chelsea fans protested against the club’s ownership with banners and chants of “Todd Boehly out”.

Sulemana, who faced criticism following Southampton’s FA Cup exit last weekend, responded impressively by scoring his first Premier League goal of the season in Saturday’s home loss to the Cherries.

Speaking after the match, Juric highlighted the former Stade Rennes star’s talent and influence on the pitch.

“He’s a great guy, great quality. I think he can do really well,” he said.

“Today he scored a great goal, he was dangerous all the match and I’m very happy with him,” he added.

Meanwhile, fellow Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo provided an assist for Marcus Tavernier’s goal in the game.

With Southampton currently struggling near the bottom of the Premier League table, they will aim to bounce back when they host Brighton at St. Mary’s next weekend.

The hosts looked in total control with a 3-0 lead inside 41 minutes, only for a fortuitous Jan Bednarek goal and Paul Onuachu’s thumping header – in the first of 12 added minutes – setting up a tense and thrilling finale.

Saints, who had battled back brilliantly in the second half, then almost snatched an equaliser but Ola Aina spectacularly cleared Bednarek’s header off the line.

Such drama looked unlikely for much of the match after Forest took 11th-minute lead when Elliot Anderson drove from midfield and shot low into the bottom left corner for his first goal for the club.

Callum Hudson-Odoi buried the second from the edge of the box in the 28th minute after another defensive mistake by Southampton and Chris Wood headed in his 14th goal of the season to add a third before half-time.

Unbeaten now in eight league games with seven wins and a draw, Forest remain third on goal difference, but are seven points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth in a further boost to their hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.

Both they and Arsenal are six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Southampton have lost 18 games this season, including all five league matches since Ivan Juric was appointed in December, and stay bottom of the table with six points.

The Ghana winger posed a significant challenge for the Red Devils throughout the match, making the most successful dribbles and frequently getting past Leny Yoro on Southampton’s left flank.

Although Amad Diallo’s impressive hat-trick within 12 minutes sealed the win for Manchester United, Amorim was quick to highlight the threat posed by the Black Stars forward.

“They [Southampton] did a very good job creating spaces between the lines,” Amorim said. “Their number 20 [Kamaldeen Sulemana], with a lot of space behind him, we had some difficulties stopping that player.”

Southampton initially took the lead through an own goal by Manuel Ugarte, following a flick from Tyler Dibling, before Amad’s hat-trick put the game beyond reach.

Kamaldeen was making only his third Premier League start of the season.

United appeared to be heading for a fourth consecutive top-flight home defeat for the first time since 1930 as they laboured badly trying to overcome a Southampton side who had won just once all season and suffered a 5-0 home loss to Brentford on their last league outing.

But Diallo, a week after signing a new five-and-a-half-year contract, had other ideas.

The Ivorian, moved into an attacking role from the wing-back position he started the contest in, took the game by the scruff of the neck, levelling nine minutes from time. He surged into the box, profited from a fortunate break of the ball and drove the rebound past Aaron Ramsdale.

A minute into stoppage time, Diallo kept running on to Christian Eriksen’s chipped return pass before beating Ramsdale with a first-time effort.

And he capitalised when Taylor Harwood-Bellis failed to control Ramsdale’s pass, nipping the ball away from the former Manchester City defender and passing the ball into an empty net to complete his first senior hat-trick.

“He did a great job. But he has a lot to improve,” head coach Ruben Amorim said after the game. “He has the same responsibility as every player who play for Manchester United

“He is in a great moment and he is having a very good season.”

It was awful luck on Southampton, who deserved so much more for their efforts but all they had to show was a Manuel Ugarte own goal from a corner.

United, for long periods, showed Amorim was right to express his concerns about his side’s effectiveness against lesser opposition after encouraging performances against Liverpool and Arsenal.

But Diallo, who has responded better to Amorim’s arrival than anyone else at Old Trafford, was not to be denied and walked away with the match ball in celebration as the home fans cheered him down the tunnel.

First-half strikes from Nunez and Harvey Elliott gave Liverpool firm control, although Cameron Archer pulled a goal back to give the hosts hope.

Southampton were led by interim manager Simon Rusk following the sacking of Russell Martin after Sunday’s 5-0 home defeat by Tottenham, and they started brightly but fell behind after 25 minutes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold did superbly to escape pressure from two Southampton attackers before finding Nunez with a through ball, albeit via a huge deflection off Jan Bednarek. The Uruguay international took advantage of Alex McCarthy’s slip to place his finish out of the goalkeeper’s reach.

Any hopes Southampton fans had that cup duty would distract from their struggles at the foot of the Premier League evaporated when Elliott doubled Liverpool’s lead eight minutes later.

The England Under-21 midfielder – making his first start of the season – sent a shot into the bottom left corner via a deflection after Cody Gakpo played him in on goal.

Slot – sitting in the stands while serving a one-game touchline ban – must have felt the game was going comfortably Liverpool’s way as the visitors withdrew Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez at half-time in favour of Konstantinos Tsimikas and Federico Chiesa.

Liverpool eased off and paid the price just before the hour mark when Archer collected the ball, ran half the length of the pitch virtually unchallenged and curled a stunning strike into the far corner of Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal.

Southampton grew in confidence but had Taylor Harwood-Bellis to thank for clearing Chiesa’s goal-bound effort, and while they fashioned a few promising attacks none of them led to an equaliser.

They wanted a penalty in the final minutes of injury time, but referee Simon Hooper judged Jarell Quansah did not drag down Mateus Fernandes when through on goal.

Last season’s cup winners join Arsenal and Newcastle in the semi-finals, as will one of Tottenham or Manchester United who face off in the final last-eight tie on Thursday (20:00 GMT).

Martin, 38, guided the Saints to promotion last year in his first season in charge, beating Leeds United in the play-off final at Wembley.

But the loss against Spurs was Southampton’s 13th in the league this campaign from 16 games.

Their only win this season was against Everton in November, while the St Mary’s club have scored a league-low 11 goals.

“Going into the start of the season, we all knew the challenges that we would face this year as we readjusted to life in the top flight, competing in the best and most competitive league in the world,” said a Southampton statement.

“However, the reality of our situation is clear. The board have supported Russell and his staff and been open and transparent regarding our expectations.

“We have all been on the same page in recognising the urgency of needing results to improve.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell and his staff for all the hard work and dedication they have given the club on and off the pitch over the last 18 months.

“Everyone connected with Southampton FC will always have fantastic memories of last season, especially the play-off final win in May.”

Southampton Under-21s manager Simon Rusk will take interim charge of the senior side and his first game will be a Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Premier League leaders Liverpool on Wednesday.

Martin’s dismissal comes on the same day as fellow top-flight strugglers Wolves decided to sack manager Gary O’Neil.

Southampton exposed in Premier League

Southampton were 5-0 down to Tottenham before half-time and frustration from some of the home fans was directed at both Martin and club owners Sport Republic.

Despite making nine permanent signings in the summer, Saints’ squad has been exposed in the Premier League, with the lack of goals and a porous defence.

“This is a very precarious job,” said Martin after the game. “I can’t sit here after losing 5-0, being bottom of the table and pretend I’m feeling confident about my job.

“I’ve no choice but to work and to fight. That’s all I’ve done in this job and I’ll continue to do that until I am told otherwise.”

No team has ever had five points or fewer at this stage of a Premier League campaign and avoided relegation.

Martin has refused to compromise on his possession-based passing principles but it has not worked as:

• Only four teams have had a worse goal difference after 16 Premier League matches of a campaign than Southampton’s -25

• Southampton have had more errors leading to goals than anyone else this season (10) and more mistakes leading to shots than any other side (26)

• Saints have faced 108 shots on target this season – the most in the Premier League

Southampton’s next league game will be a trip to Fulham before they host West Ham and travel to Crystal Palace before the end of the year.

“They have imploded a lot,” BBC Sport pundit Danny Murphy told Match of the Day 2.

“Football is ruthless and when you are at the bottom and the hierarchy and supporters want to stay up, you are going to get moved on. Someone else is going to come in and have a hell of a job but I think it’s too late.”

He added: “You have to be more flexible than he [Martin] was. Ultimately, in the Premier League if your recruitment isn’t very good and you don’t have a lot of Premier League experience, you are going to struggle and that is what happened.”

Southampton fans held up a banner at the game against Spurs which read: “RM: Get out of our club!”

“It is harsh seeing the Russell Martin banner. Not long ago he got them up and was a hero,” former Republic of Ireland keeper Shay Given told MOTD2. “The Premier League is a big step up from the Championship.”

Sancho wrapped up the scoring for the Blues after goals from Axel Disasi, Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer had put them in control.

Saints briefly levelled at 1-1 through Joe Aribo but their capacity to self-destruct was underlined when, after falling 3-1 down, captain Jack Stephens was sent off by referee Tony Harrington for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair after a lengthy VAR check.

With Chelsea flying high and their hosts bottom of the table, there was no doubting who the favourites were going into the match.

And when goalkeeper Joe Lumley failed to clear Enzo Fernandez’s near-post corner, Disasi headed home from two yards out to put the visitors in front.

The lead lasted just four minutes, though, as Joe Aribo made up for squandering an earlier chance by turning home an excellent cross from full-back Kyle Walker-Peters for a deserved equaliser.

But another Lumley mistake – this time while playing out from the back – allowed Nkunku to score in an empty net and restore Chelsea’s lead.

They doubled that advantage just after the half-hour as Madueke’s tricky dribbling took him past Ryan Manning before stroking the ball into the far corner.

And what already looked an uphill battle became even harder for Saints when Stephens was dismissed.

Palmer and Tosin Adarabioyo hit the woodwork as Chelsea continued to dominate – and the second half brought further trouble for Russell Martin’s struggling side.

Joao Felix headed a simple chance wide immediately after the break, Tosin again hit the woodwork in the 53rd minute and Palmer, Madueke, and Nkunku all had chances to extend the lead.

It was Palmer who finally did so, scoring his ninth of the season after Nkunku’s initial effort had been blocked.

Substitute Sancho then opened his Chelsea account by finishing in a one-on-one chance from Malo Gusto’s through ball.

The Saints came into the game rooted to the bottom of the league with just a single win to their name this campaign.

Despite Arne Slot’s side looking far from their most potent following the international break they were handed a 30th minute opener.

Conor Bradley saw his initial effort saved but the Saints failed to clear their lines and some awful defending resulted in Dominik Szoboszlai capitalising to fire home the opener.

However, the Saints were back in the game before the break when Andrew Robertson brought down Tyler Dibling and Adam Armstrong netted, despite seeing his initial penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Southampton were then dreaming of a shock victory when Mateus Fernandes fired them into a 56th minute lead.

However, Liverpool were once again saved by Salah who fired home a 65th minute equaliser and then completed the fightback by netting the winning penalty.

When Haaland shrugged off Jan Bednarek to turn Matheus Nunes’ fifth-minute cross beyond Saints keeper Aaron Ramsdale for his 11th league goal of the season, the visitors seemed set for a heavy defeat.

But a combination of their own dogged defending and some poor finishing from City, with Haaland the chief culprit, ensured a few home nerves before the final whistle.

The result extended City’s unbeaten Premier League record to 32 games. They are now only six weeks away from going a full 12 months since their last defeat, by Aston Villa on 6 December.

Although they deserve credit for the way they battled, the result did nothing to help Southampton’s problems towards the foot of the table.

Russell Martin’s men still only have a single point to their name almost a quarter of the way through the campaign.

They can take solace from the knowledge that the only previous time they failed to win any of their first nine games, in 1998-99, they stayed up, but Martin needs to hope Southampton’s owners show him some patience as he looks to change the club’s fortunes following their return to the top flight.

Ayew scored in the 98th minute on Saturday to seal a 3-2 comeback win for Steve Cooper’s team at the St. Mary’s.

Cameron Archer opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and just before the 30th minute, Joe Aribo doubled the lead for Southampton to end the first half 2-0.

Facundo Buonanotte pulled one back for Leicester in the 64th minute, bundling home Abdul Fatawu’s cutback.

Jamie Vardy then equalised from the penalty spot after Ryan Fraser was shown a red card and conceded a penalty.

In the dying moments of the game, Ayew found the net, drilling the ball through a crowded box to seal the comeback.

Reflecting on the game, Ayew attributed his goal to instinct and described it as a great moment.

“It was my natural instinct. As Premier League players, we need to improvise in certain situations, and that’s what I did. Sometimes you work on it in training, and it doesn’t happen in the game, but this time, it worked,” the Ghana striker said.

“It was a special moment because it’s my first goal for the club in the league. I believe in myself and my abilities. I know I can bring a lot to the team,” he added.

Jordan Ayew will hope to keep his place in the team when Leicester City host Nottingham Forest on Friday night at the King Power Stadium.

Ayew shone on his return to club football after the Black Stars’ disappointing results in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Sudan.

The former Crystal Palace forward scored a dramatic injury-time winner, helping the Foxes rally from two goals down to clinch victory over the Saints.

Southampton took a commanding lead in the first half, with Cameron Archer and Joe Aribo scoring to put the home side ahead before the break.

Leicester began their comeback in the second half when Facundo Buonanotte found the net in the 64th minute, assisted by Ghanaian winger Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.

The visitors then drew level in the 74th minute, thanks to a penalty converted by veteran forward Jamie Vardy.

In a thrilling finale, Ayew, who joined Leicester this summer, made a decisive impact by scoring in injury time after being set up by Harry Winks.

His goal secured a memorable win for the Foxes and marked his first goal for the club in seven Premier League appearances.

Both Ayew and Issahaku came off the bench after returning from international duty and played pivotal roles in the comeback.

The duo will aim to inspire Leicester again when they face Nottingham Forest at the King Power Stadium on Friday, October 25.

The 22-year-old could see his first action of the season this Saturday when Southampton faces Leicester City at St. Mary’s Stadium.

Sulemana is yet to play for the Saints this season, making his potential comeback a major boost for the team.

During a press conference on Thursday, manager Russell Martin provided updates on the squad, stating, “Everyone is pretty much the same. Ross came off during the match against Arsenal and won’t be available, but it’s not a long-term injury. It’s a frustrating setback for Ross, which is disappointing for him and for us.”

He added, “Kamaldeen is now fit to join the squad, and Will Smallbone has also returned, so we have a couple of positives.”

Sulemana has been sidelined since suffering an injury in a pre-season friendly against Oxford United.

Last season, while competing in the Championship, he contributed three assists over 948 minutes of play before a December injury disrupted his progress.

Two goals in 10 second-half minutes from Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli ensured the Gunners made a full recovery after being stunned by Cameron Archer’s opener for the visitors, before Bukayo Saka confirmed the three points late on.

It meant Arsenal became only the second club in Premier League history to record 400 home wins, and they remain within one point of Premier League pace-setters Liverpool before the international break.

Southampton, who still only have one point after seven games, had struggled amid incessant Arsenal pressure from the outset but, albeit at times unconvincingly, the visitors successfully held out until half-time.

Saints took an unexpected lead 10 minutes after the restart, Archer providing a neat finish on the counter attack after Raheem Sterling, making his first league start for the Gunners, was dispossessed by Mateus Fernandes.

That only served to spark Arsenal into life, however, and the hosts responded just three minutes later when Havertz curved an excellent finish in off the post, before Martinelli timed his run perfectly to meet Saka’s cross at the back post.

With Arsenal unable to put the game out of reach, Southampton produced a spirited response but were twice denied by the woodwork when Dibling’s effort deflected on to the post and Adam Armstrong hit the crossbar from the resulting corner.

But Saka, provider of his side’s first two goals, scored the third in the closing stages with a clinical finish, as Arsenal extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 16 matches.

After suffering two consecutive defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool, the Cherries bounced back to secure a vital victory at the Vitality Stadium on Monday.

Evanilson opened the scoring for Bournemouth in the 17th minute, followed by Burkinabe international Dango Ouattara, who doubled the lead just 15 minutes later.

Semenyo then extended the advantage in the first half, skillfully manoeuvring past several defenders before slotting a low shot into the left corner from the edge of the box.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Potter praised Semenyo’s resilience and determination throughout his career.

“It is a great story it is really nice to hear that type of path he has been on as you said before. He has had ups and downs he has had to suffer in the lower leagues and have some experiences where he doesn’t play but he kept going great story for any young player,” he said.

Potter emphasized the importance of patience, stating, “But he is taken his he is using all these experiences and he has arrived in the Premier League somewhat in a humble way appreciative of what he has got now and appreciative of the journey he has been on and how much he is contributing. It is a really nice story.”

Semenyo will look to build on his strong performance as Bournemouth faces Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, October 5, with kick-off set for 14:00 GMT.

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• Antoine Semenyo scores as Bournemouth cruise past Southampton [Video]

Bournemouth took an early lead in the 17th minute, with Evanilson finding the back of the net after a precise assist from Marcus Tavernier.

The home team then extended their lead in the 32nd minute when Dango Ouattara capitalized on a clever pass from Lewis Cook.

Semenyo added a third goal just before halftime, again set up by Cook, putting Bournemouth in a commanding position with a 3-0 advantage in the 39th minute.

Antoine Semenyo’s stocks continue to rise in the Premier League 🇬🇭📈

The Cherries are in complete control against Southampton 🍒💣

📺 Stream #BOUSOU on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/BN8rlVvwPY

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 30, 2024

Southampton, struggling to find their rhythm, managed to pull one back early in the second half. Taylor Harwood-Bellis scored with a header from a set piece in the 51st minute.

Despite Southampton dominating possession at 60% and making several substitutions, Bournemouth’s defense remained resolute.

Semenyo’s goal marked his third of the season and played a crucial role in securing all three points for his team.

This win narrows the historical gap between the two clubs, with Bournemouth now boasting five victories compared to Southampton’s ten.

The Cherries will look to build on this momentum as they prepare to face Leicester City in their next match. Semenyo’s exceptional display earned him the Man of the Match award.

Semenyo is expected to be named in Ghana’s squad for the doubleheader against Sudan in the 2025 Africa Cup of Natons (AFCON) qualifiers.

The Saints are set to face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, with kick-off at 18:00 GMT.

Speaking during a pre-match press conference, Martin provided an update on Sulemana, who has been sidelined since preseason with an injury.

“We have no one coming back that we didn’t expect… Kamaldeen is still a bit away from being with us,” Martin said.

Sulemana, who made 18 appearances and contributed two goals and an assist in the Championship last season, is yet to feature in the Premier League this term following Southampton’s return to the top flight.

Additionally, Southampton will be without midfielder Will Smallbone, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Both Smallbone and Sulemana are expected to be back after the international break in October.

Southampton, currently without a win in five league games, will be hoping to turn their fortunes around in their upcoming match against Bournemouth.

The Red Devils went into the recent international break on a low after being comprehensively beaten by Liverpool, and needed to put in a performance on their return to action.

They survived a difficult start before a penalty save by Andre Onana from Cameron Archer proved the turning point as soon after they took the lead.

Summer signing De Ligt got the opener, heading into the bottom corner from Bruno Fernandes’ fantastic ball into the box.

Six minutes later Manchester United doubled their lead, Marcus Rashford opening his account for the season with his first goal since March, guiding a low strike through a crowd into the net.

The double blow seemed to quell Southampton’s eagerness and Manchester United were comfortable in the second half.

A bad day was rounded off for Southampton when Jack Stephens was shown a straight red card late on for a reckless challenge on Alejandro Garnacho.

The substitute then wrapped up the win for the visitors with a thumping finish into the roof of the net deep into stoppage time.

The Ghana international is being brought in as a replacement for Steven Bergwijn, who is set to depart the Eredivisie giants for a move to Saudi Arabia.

According to renowned football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Sulemana’s loan deal includes an option for Ajax to purchase the player, despite his current contract with Southampton running until 2027.

🚨🔴⚪️ EXCL: Ajax verbally agree loan deal with buy option with Southampton for Kamaldeen Sulemana.

Personal terms are still in negotiations.

Deal can happen IF Steven Bergwijn leaves the club with Al Ittihad working on this possibility. 🟡⚫️🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/e02awekFKs

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 2, 2024

Ajax had initially shown interest in Sulemana back in 2021, but he opted to join Stade Rennes from FC Nordsjaelland for a fee of €17 million during the summer transfer window.

In January 2023, Sulemana made the move to Southampton in a €25 million transfer. While in France, he made 47 appearances for Rennes, scoring six goals and providing four assists.

At Southampton, he played 44 games, netting twice and assisting four times. However, he has yet to feature in the Premier League this season due to injury.

The speedy winger, who is currently recovering from an injury, has also been ruled out of Ghana’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola and Niger.

Sulemana has made 19 appearances for Ghana’s senior national team but is still seeking his first goal.

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the two clubs had reached an agreement on a £25million deal.  Arsenal will receive £18m upfront plus £1m should Southampton avoid relegation this season, with the remaining £6m based on incentives.

After passing his medical, the 26-year-old has signed a four-year deal with the option of a fifth that could see him stay at the club until 2029.

Ramsdale’s departure has led to Arsenal agreeing a deal with Bournemouth for the loan signing of goalkeeper Neto. The Athletic reported on Thursday Arsenal were exploring a move for Neto after hitting an impasse in talks over Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.

Upon joining Southampton, Ramsdale said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The way the manager wants to play, the way he was when I spoke to him, he was just full of so much enthusiasm. I’d never met him before, but he made me feel about eight feet tall, which is just what you want.

“Coming back down to the south coast as well for me and my family, it would be an easier transition than most, so I feel like I can hit the ground running.

“I’m looking forward to this year, just getting back to what I do best and having a big smile on my face while doing it here.”

Ramsdale’s move to the south coast ends his three-year stay in north London having joined from Sheffield United for £24m.

He played every minute of every league game as Arsenal finished second behind Manchester City in 2022-23.

David Raya joined on an initial loan deal from Brentford last summer and became Mikel Arteta’s first-choice goalkeeper for the club’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns. The Spaniard has since made the move permanent and cemented his status as Arsenal’s first-choice No 1.

Ramsdale was limited to FA Cup and League Cup appearances last term, making 10 appearances in all competitions, with six of those coming in the Premier League.

He kept 32 clean sheets in 82 appearances in all competitions for the club and has earned five England caps.

Ramsdale, 26, is expected to make the move before Friday’s transfer deadline, with Saints paying £18m upfront with the potential of £7m in add-ons.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent after Southampton’s 5-3 Carabao Cup second-round win at Cardiff, Saints boss Russell Martin said: “If it happens it’s very, very exciting.

“But we’ll have to wait and see. I’m sure we’ll talk about it at some point if and when it happens.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers had been in talks with Arsenal about signing the keeper, who is back-up to David Raya at Emirates Stadium.

However, they pulled out because of the deal being too expensive.

Ramsdale played every minute of every league game as Arsenal finished second behind Manchester City in 2022-23.

However, he lost his place to Raya, who joined on loan from Brentford last season.

Ramsdale made just six league appearances while Arsenal have since turned Raya’s loan into a permanent signing.

In total he made 78 Premier League appearances for Arsenal after joining from Sheffield United in 2021 for £24m.

The ex-Bournemouth keeper joins a Southampton side that has lost both games since winning promotion back to the Premier League.

Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, 34, started the games against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, both of which ended in 1-0 defeats.

Ramsdale has five England caps, the most recent coming against Iceland in June in England’s farewell game before the European Championship in Germany.

Southampton are away to Brentford on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Sulemana was injured in a preseason match against Oxford United and was initially expected to be sidelined for about a month.

However, ahead of Southampton’s Premier League opener against Newcastle United on Saturday, August 17, at St. James’ Park, Martin provided an encouraging update on the Ghanaian winger’s recovery.

In addition to Sulemana, Martin also gave fitness updates on Adam Lallana and Ross Stewart as Southampton prepares for their return to the EPL.

“Kamaldeen is nearly fit, Ross Stewart is nearly back in contention, Adam Lallana is nearly back, so they’re in a really good place,” Martin said.

Sulemana joined Southampton during the January transfer window of the 2022-2023 season from French Ligue 1 side Rennes. In his debut Premier League season, he scored twice in 18 appearances.

The Ghanaian international is expected to be out for three to four weeks, meaning he will miss Southampton’s opening match against Newcastle United and the subsequent home game against Nottingham Forest.

Sulemana sustained the injury during a pre-season friendly against Oxford United and was seen leaving the stadium with a protective boot.

His absence leaves Southampton with a thin selection of wingers, with only Sam Edozie and Sam Amo-Ameyaw fully fit.

However, Ben Brereton Diaz, Adam Armstrong, and Tyler Dibling are available for wider roles.

The club is looking for reinforcements, considering a potential loan move for Ryan Fraser and showing interest in Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

Martin also updated on French forward Sekou Mara, who was substituted during the Oxford match, and expects Mara to return by Wednesday.

In a statement to the Daily Echo, Martin said: “Kamaldeen will be out for three weeks. Sekou should be back by Wednesday.”

Sulemana joined Southampton in February 2023 for a €25 million fee, becoming the club’s record signing.

It is believed Southampton have had a long-standing interest in the 21-year-old forward, but their bid falls significantly short of what the Reds would want to sanction a permanent move.

Carvalho has impressed during Liverpool’s pre-season tour in the United States, having scored in wins against Arsenal and Manchester United.

New Liverpool manager Arne Slot believes he can use him in his 4-2-3-1 formation unless a substantial offer convinces Liverpool to sell.

With the amount of players joining up late with his squad, Slot has been able to asses his young players and Carvalho, along with defender Sepp van den Berg, have stood out.

However, Carvalho may still find first-team opportunities limited when the rest of the Premier League club’s players, including forwards Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo, return from extended breaks after the Copa America and Euro 2024.

Other clubs have also expressed an interest in Carvalho, who spent last season on loan at RB Leipzig and Hull City.

He scored nine goals in 20 games for the Tigers and another loan move would be considered a last resort.

The Foxes need to win just one of their remaining two matches against Preston or Blackburn to go up, but their place in the top-flight could also be sealed as early as Friday if Leeds lose at QPR.

A cool low finish from Fatawu gave the hosts a deserved first-half lead against a Saints side that struggled to deal with the Foxes’ press and purpose before the break.

Southampton improved vastly immediately after half-time but they were overawed by the clinical Foxes, who doubled their lead through Wilfred Ndidi’s powerful header.

A stunning second from Fatawu followed, then the winger set Jamie Vardy up for his 18th of the season before the former England striker provided the assist for the Ghana international to complete his treble.

The victory moves Leicester four points clear at the summit and keeps them on track to amass 100 points.

While defeat leaves fourth-placed Saints mathematically capable of finishing the season equal on points with second-placed Leeds – who have hugely superior goal difference – a Whites draw against QPR on Friday or an Ipswich win at Hull on Saturday would be enough to consign the south coast club to the play-offs.

The 21-year-old who has been out of action since late November having suffered a hamstring injury against Bristol City has been named in Black Stars’ 55-man provisional squad for the tournament scheduled to be hosted from January 13 to February 11.

However, Southampton manager, Russell Martin speaking in a presser ahead of their game against Queens Park Rangers confirmed that the former Stade Rennais attacker will not be available for the tournament due to the injury.

Asked for a timeline on Kamaldeen’s return to fitness, Martin pointed out that he won’t be back in time for AFCON.

“Kamaldeen won’t be in the squad. I’m sure I’ll chat to Chris (Hughton) about where he is in his fitness. He is going to be nowhere near ready for that. He won’t go. Kamaldeen will be fit towards the end of January or the start of February. This could change, I don’t know (for sure),” he added.

Kamaldeen has featured 13 times for Martin this season. He is yet to score his first goal in the Championship but has recorded three assists.

Kamaldeen Sulemana becomes the second player to be ruled out of the tournament after Brighton manager, Roberto De Zerbi also confirmed that Tariq Lamptey will not be available for the tournament due to an injury.

Meanwhile, the final 27-man squad for the tournament will be announced on January 3 by the head coach for the side, Chris Hughton.

Ghana is in Group B for the tournament and will face Cape Verde, Egypt and Mozambique in the tournament which will be hosted in Ivory Coast next year.

The Black Stars of Ghana will first come up against Cape Verde at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on January 14, 2024, then face Egypt at the same venue four days later and then Mozambique at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on January 22, 2024.

The 23-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in midweek in Southampton’s win against Bristol City at the St. Mary’s. Sulemana was substituted in the 34th minute after suffering the setback.

However, head coach for the Saints, Russell Martin speaking in a press conference on Friday afternoon ahead of their game against Cardiff City on Saturday confirmed that the former FC Nordsjaelland winger together with summer signing Ross Stewart will be out until next year.

“Both be out for quite a while,” said the manager. “It’s really disappointing for different reasons. Ross has worked so hard to get fit and he lands in a real compromising position late in the Huddersfield game.

“We won’t expect him this side of Christmas, more likely mid-to-late January. He’s seeing a specialist. We’re really heartbroken for Ross. It’s not the same injury. I feel like we haven’t rushed him, everyone’s been in agreement with the plan. It’s really unfortunate and we’re really disappointed.

He continued, “Kamaldeen felt his hamstring on Wednesday night, he’ll have a similar timeline to Ross. Two big losses but when someone gets injured it’s an opportunity for someone else. They’ll get everyone’s best care and attention.

“We’ve been really clear about January, what we need and what we want. We didn’t envisage those two getting injured, so it might change the plan a little bit. It depends on their progress and the results between now and then. People will have the chance to step up now to take the opportunities. Everyone else has to be ready,” he added.

Kamaldeen Sulemana, who joined Southampton from Stade Rennais has so far made a total appearance of 13 with three assists to his credit.

It remains unknown if Sulemana will be fit on time to make the Black Stars squad for the tournament slated to be hosted in Ivory Coast.

The 34th edition of the tournament has been scheduled to kick off from January 13 to February 11.

Meanwhile, Ghana have been housed in Group B alongside, Egypt, Cape Verde and Mozambique.

The 19-year-old has signed a seven-year contract in a deal which could rise by a further £5m with add-ons.

Lavia made 34 appearances in all competitions last season but could not help prevent Saints’ relegation from the Premier League.

“I’m really happy join Chelsea and be a part of this exciting project,” said Lavia.

“It’s an amazing football club with a great history and I’m really excited to get started.

“I can’t wait to meet all my new teammates and build a chemistry to achieve great things together.”

Liverpool were also keen on Lavia, but the Reds had a third bid – believed to have been for around £46m including add-ons – rejected by Southampton earlier this month.

Lavia becomes the second player this week to have opted for Chelsea over Jurgen Klopp’s side, following in the footsteps of Moises Caicedo, who joined the Blues from Brighton for a £100m fee which could rise to a British record £115m.

Having come through the youth system at Anderlecht, Lavia moved to Manchester City in 2020 after being spotted at a tournament in Belgium attended by Pep Guardiola. The youngster made just two senior appearances at City – in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup – as he struggled to break into the club’s first team and joined Saints in July 2022 for £10.5m.

City will collect 20% (£10.6m) of the initial £53m fee received by Southampton because of a sell-on clause.

Lavia made his debut for the Belgium national team earlier this year, coming on as a substitute with ten minutes to play in a friendly victory over Germany.

In a statement, Southampton paid tribute to Lavia for his “efforts and professionalism” during his one season with the club, wishing him “every success in what [they] are sure will be a fantastic career”.

Lavia thanked Southampton fans for their support in a goodbye message on Instagram.

“I’ve instantly felt the love for you all despite us not achieving our shared goals,” Lavia wrote.

“I’ll never forget the belief the club and Saints all around the world showed me and I hope I was able to repay the faith you put in me.

“I would especially like to thank all my teammates and staff members within the club. You have all played a massive part in making my integration into real professional football easier.

“For those reasons, this club will always remain close to my heart. Good luck this season and I look forward to seeing the club marching back to the Premier League where it belongs very soon!”

The 19-year-old, who has one senior cap for Belgium, is yet to have a medical before the move to Stamford Bridge.

Lavia made 34 appearances in all competitions last season but could not stop Saints being relegated from the Premier League.

Liverpool also bid for Lavia and he is set to be the second target they missed out on to Chelsea after Moises Caicedo.

Chelsea completed the signing of Ecuador midfielder Caicedo, 21, on Monday for a £100m fee that could rise to a British club record of £115m.

Liverpool had a third bid for Lavia – believed to have been about £46m including add-ons – rejected by Southampton last week.

Lavia came through the youth system at Anderlecht before he moved to Manchester City in 2020 having been spotted at a tournament in Belgium attended by Pep Guardiola.

The youngster made just two senior appearances at City – in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup – as he struggled to break into the club’s first team and joined Saints in July 2022 for £10.5m.

City are believed to have a buy-back option on Lavia that does not come into effect until next summer.

The Premier League champions will be in line to collect 20% of the fee received by Southampton because of a sell-on clause.

The England international, 28, has joined the Hammers on a four-year deal.

Ward-Prowse joined Southampton at the age of eight and made 410 senior appearances as well as captaining the club, who were relegated to the Championship last season.

“I’m buzzing to be here at West Ham United,” he said.

“From the outside looking in, this is a club that has been on the rise for a number of years now and coming off the success in the Europa Conference League last year, you can feel there is real momentum around this club.”

West Ham manager David Moyes said: “He’s performed to a very high level in the Premier League over the last decade, constantly producing good numbers season after season.

“His leadership qualities are obviously another huge plus for us – he’ll be a big voice for us, someone who drives the team on from the middle of the pitch.”

Ward-Prowse made his Saints debut as a 16-year-old in an EFL Cup tie against Crystal Palace in October 2011, while making his top-flight bow on the opening day of the 2012-13 season.

Renowned for his set-piece delivery, only David Beckham has scored more than Ward-Prowse’s 17 goals from direct free-kicks in the Premier League.

Southampton said Ward-Prowse, who was appointed club captain in 2020, is “one of the finest talents to ever come out of the Saints academy”.

A statement read: “His commitment to Southampton FC over two decades, his professionalism both on and off the pitch, and his support in the community means he leaves with his legacy as a Saints legend well and truly cemented.”

West Ham, who sold England midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105m, have been trying to sign Ward-Prowse for much of the summer.

His arrival follows Mexico midfielder Edson Alvarez joining the Hammers from Ajax in a deal thought to be worth about £35m.

West Ham have also agreed a deal for Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, while they are interested in signing Cole Palmer on loan from Manchester City.

While the offer is expected to be rejected as Southampton hold out for their £50m valuation, it comes close enough that talks between the clubs could continue.

Liverpool have seen three bids for Lavia rejected so far this summer, the latest of which was worth around £45m.

Chelsea want to sign two midfielders before the transfer window closes at the end of the month and have also bid for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Leeds’ Tyler Adams.

Lavia has four years left on his Southampton contract after joining from Manchester City last summer.

However, the Belgium international is expected to leave after Saints were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Lavia did not come off the bench during Southampton’s win over Sheffield Wednesday on the opening weekend of the season, while he was not named in the squad for the Carabao Cup defeat at Gillingham on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse is set for a medical at West Ham after the clubs reached a full agreement.

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• Chelsea prepare new Moisés Caicedo bid after he misses friendly for…

The deal is worth an initial £32m and the 20-year-old Englishman has signed a five-year contract.

Livramento, who joined Southampton from Chelsea for £5m in 2021, is Newcastle’s third summer signing.

“Tino is a very talented young player with an exciting future ahead of him so we are delighted to sign him,” said manager Eddie Howe.

“At 20, he already has lots of attributes that I admire, but he also has the potential and drive to really grow with this team.

“I’m looking forward to working with him and to seeing him develop in a Newcastle shirt.”

“The way the manager plays football is really attractive and I feel like it suits me as a player,” said Livramento.

“With how well the team did last season, the trajectory that we’re on now, I’m just looking forward to being a part of that.

“To be able to learn from Kieran Trippier is another big thing for me. Hopefully, he teaches me how to become a better player and a better full-back.”

Livramento made only two Southampton appearances last season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2022.

He came on as a substitute in their final two Premier League games against Brighton and Liverpool.

Livramento played 32 matches in 2021-22, including 28 in the Premier League.

Newcastle, who finished fourth in the table last season, have signed Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali and England winger Harvey Barnes this summer.

They host Aston Villa on Saturday in their first game of the season.

The 24-year-old will fly to Monaco to have his medicals next week after agreeing personal terms.

Salisu was not included in the Southampton squad for their pre-season friendlies against AZ Alkmaar on Saturday or Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Fulham had been close to agreeing a £15million deal to sign Salisu earlier this month before Marco Silva’s side switched their attentions to a successful pursuit of Calvin Bassey.

Salisu made his last appearance for Southampton in March. He was left out towards the end of the season due to issues with his commitment and application in working back from injury.

He, however, featured 22 times in the Premier League last season.

His Southampton contract expires next summer and, having previously held talks over extending his deal, looked unlikely to stay following the club’s relegation to the Championship.Mohammed Salisu was part of the Black Stars squad that featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and scored just a goal.

The 21-year-old suggested conversations held when he sought a move to the Premier League indicated he would play a bigger role – but there was a management change in the middle.

Kamaldeen arrived from Stade Rennes for a fee of around 25 million Euros on deadline day but manager Nathan Jones, who wanted power and potency, was sacked just 12 days later.

Kamaldeen remained in the team under Ruben Selles until being dropped following a 2-0 defeat to Brentford – with the Ghanaian then only starting four of the Premier League’s final 11 matches.

The youngster returned to the XI on the last day of the season for the first time in a month and netted twice in a 4-4 draw with Liverpool, including a sublime solo goal.

“It might have been too late but I’m glad I finally have my goal, it’s good for me,” Kamaldeen reflected, speaking to the Daily Echo.

“When I came here that is what I wanted to do – set up goals and score to help the team to get results. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do it but I got my goal.

“There’s a feeling of, why didn’t it come before, why didn’t I score before? But I am glad I have made my mark on the last day and showed what I can do on the good days.”

He added: “I would say that football can be very hard sometimes, especially with the situation we’ve been in – it’s been the hardest.

“I want to play every game and that is the conversation we had and one of the main reasons I tried to move from France – to get game time.

“When I saw the situation I felt like I could help. That’s why I came here but since I arrived it has been difficult with the game time, I don’t start some games and have to come in from the bench.

“Sometimes it is based on my physicals, I didn’t have enough playing time in France and the physios and coaches have tried to take care of me, but sometimes it has been tactical.

“It has been hard mentally to not play but I am still young and learning how to make a difference in the team and from the bench, and I have had both – this is good.”

Kamaldeen was signed on deadline day alongside former Genk striker, Paul Onuachu, who has played even less of a role at St Mary’s with no goals and just 11 league appearances.

But the money spent on Kamaldeen eclipsed Onuachu’s £18million fee and the fee the club paid for strikers Guido Carillo and Danny Ings in seasons gone. 

“Being the record signing of the club everyone expects a lot from you, especially when we are in a situation like this to come in,” Kamaldeen said.

“Of course, I knew what the situation was and knew I could take the pressure. I believed that I could help the team but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. The situation became hard, it’s a learning stage for me and I will take it forward.”

Sport Republic CEO Rasmus Ankersen, in a new interview with the Daily Echo, indicated the club intend on keeping some of their best talents this summer despite relegation.

Kamaldeen, however, was already a target of Premier League survivors Everton in the recent January window and will have alerted clubs to his presence with a timely final-day brace.

He insists he does not know where his future lies, admitting: “I’m going to take it from here, I have scored the goals to make my mark on the fans and I am happy on the last day so we will take it from there.

“My future is not in my hands, we don’t know what the future holds. If I am here for the pre-season I will be here and will be ready to put all the hard work needed to bring Southampton back where it belongs.”

Reflecting on the move to England, Kamaldeen added: “My life outside has been train, go home, train, go home. It has been strictly football. How to get better and how to improve the team, so I haven’t really explored Southampton!

“When you have had a tough weekend it is hard to go outside and do other stuff so I have been strictly inside, focussed on what I have to do to play and to support the team.

“It is easier speaking English, when I arrived in France it was harder, in the beginning, to speak French and adapt but here I need no translation, you fit in the dressing room, you understand the tactics and everything.

“If you have to do anything by yourself, it is also easier. I would say life has been easier because of the English but also hard because of the football situation.”

The Saints were beaten at home by Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

Heading into the game, Southampton needed a win to keep their chances of survival alive despite sitting at the bottom of the league log with 24 points after 36 games played.

Goals from Carlos Vinicius and Aleksandar Mitrović secured the win for Marco Silva’s side.

Salisu, 24, joined the Saints from Real Valladolid in the summer transfer window of 2020 and has since become a key player for the team.

Unfortunately, injuries this season has meant that he missed a lot of games.

Sulemana on the other hand only joined Southampton in the winter transfer window. He was recruited from Stade Rennes to strengthen the squad of the Saints in a bid to avoid relegation.

Although he has done well, it has not made any significant difference for Southampton.

However, the pair will play in the English Skybet Championship next season following the relegation from the Premier League after 11 years.

Southampton will now wrap up their campaign against Brighton and Liverpool.

The centre-back was exiled from the squads that faced West Ham and Manchester City as Premier League action resumed after the international break, with both ties ending in defeat for the relegation-stricken side. 

Whilst the club has blamed the absence on an ‘unspecified injury’ picked up whilst on duty for the Ghanaian national team, Salisu returned to training last week. 

According to The Athletic, the 23-year-old is instead considering his options after prolonging discussions over a new deal to keep him at St Mary’s for more than a year. 

The Black Stars player signed for Southampton in the summer of 2020 from Real Valladolid, after attracting a raft of suitors – including Manchester United and Rennes –  but is entering the last 12 months of his contract, which expires in the summer of 2024.

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• We will seek revenge against Uruguay – Ghana defender Mohammed Salisu

• Salisu completes Southampton switch

With Southampton sitting rock-bottom in table after a lacklustre season, a number of players with time running down on their deals with the Saints are waiting to see if the club is relegated at the end of the season before working out their next move. 

Having recorded just two wins since the mid-February, Southampton could be facing their first spell in the Championship since 2011/12. 

Newcastle are said to be interested in adding the defender to their squad as they look for greater depth in the hope of adding European football to their fixture list this season. 

Discussions have been further complicated by intricacies within the organisation which represents the player. 

Salisu’s agency, JM 10 – which was founded by the father of Chelsea and United star Juan Mata – was acquired by CAA Base last season, and this presented additional complexities. 

The player has made 80 appearances for the club since joining for a £10.9million fee two-and-a-half years ago and has been an important presence that the club, trapped in a relegation battle, can ill afford to go without for much longer. 

Haaland, absent from City’s previous league win over Liverpool with a groin injury, displayed his athleticism to meet Jack Grealish’s cross for City’s third and take his remarkable league tally this season to 30 goals in 27 games.

It was also his 44th goal in all competitions for City this season – equalling the most by a Premier League player in a single campaign.

Kevin de Bruyne registered his 100th Premier League assist as he set up Haaland to give dominant City a half-time lead at St Mary’s, before Grealish continued his impressive post-World Cup form as he beat Gavin Bazunu at the second time of asking.

Sekou Mara emerged from the Saints bench to reduce the deficit following Haaland’s acrobatic second, but just 75 seconds later City were awarded a penalty for a foul on De Bruyne which Julian Alvarez calmly converted.

It completed an eighth consecutive win in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side, who maintained the pressure on Arsenal before the Gunners face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday (16:30 BST).

Southampton remain four points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table and time is running out for Ruben Selles and his players to rescue their situation.

A fragmented first half never really got going as both sides were forced into two substitutions apiece with Richarlison and Ben Davies coming off injured for Spurs and Saints’ Armel Bella-Kotchap and Jan Bednarek also replaced.

Pedro Porro broke the deadlock, hammering a shot into the roof of the net just before half time.

Che Adams levelled 47 seconds into the second half, but Saints were staring at defeat with 15 minutes to go thanks to Harry Kane’s header before a fine Ivan Perisic effort.

But Theo Walcott inspired Southampton’s comeback with a slotted finish from Sekou Mara’s header and Ward-Prowse completed it from the spot to secure a vital point.

Casemiro’s second red card of the season gave the visitors a numerical advantage but they were unable to capitalise on it despite going close on a number of occasions.

Even before Casemiro’s early exit for a dangerous tackle on Carlos Alcaraz, David de Gea needed to make a brilliant reaction save to turn away Theo Walcott’s close-range header.

De Gea then produced a one-handed save after the break when Walcott found himself running clear of the home defence, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared off the line when Scott McTominay turned a Kyle Walker-Peters cross towards his own goal. In addition, James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick skimmed of the top of the bar and Walker-Peters also hit a post with an angled drive for the visitors.

United had some dangerous moments themselves, with captain Bruno Fernandes’ goalbound effort tipped on to the inside of a post by Gavin Bazunu.

The result consolidates United’s top-four position, while Southampton are effectively three points from safety given their goal difference, with 12 games of the campaign remaining.

Ward-Prowse scored the game’s only goal in first-half stoppage time, sending a curling effort over the Chelsea wall and into the corner from the edge of the penalty area.

The result means Chelsea have now won just two games in their last 14 in all competitions.

Managerless Southampton will hope it can kick-start their attempts to escape the relegation zone.

The visitors started magnificently in west London and twice went close to scoring before Ward-Prowse’s strike, with Kamaldeen Sulemana shooting straight at Kepa Arrizabalaga before Kalidou Koulibaly blocked Stuart Armstrong’s follow-up.

The half-time introduction of Raheem Sterling breathed new life into the Blues’ toothless forward line, but Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ crucial block denied the England international an equaliser midway through the second period.

Romain Perraud followed suit minutes later with a tremendous goalline clearance to prevent a Sterling header from ending up in the net, as Potter’s team failed to score for the sixth time in 2023.

There was a lengthy stoppage towards the end of the second half because of an injury to Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, who was caught in the face by Southampton substitute Sekou Mara.

The 33-year-old needed oxygen treatment on the pitch before being carried off on a stretcher, although he was conscious as he left the field.