The German has been speaking to Sky Sports Germany about the VAR situation in the Premier League at this moment in time and the controversial incident last month.

Manchester City ran out 5-1 winners in that game with goals from Julian Alvarez, Erling Haaland and Nathan Ake sealing all three points.

There was big debate around Ake’s goal, though, which put Manchester City 2-1 up in added time in the first half.

The belief is that the strike should have been ruled out by VAR as replays showed fellow defender Manuel Akanji jumping out of the way of Ake’s goal bound header.

This was important as the Switzerland defender had been standing in front of Leno at the time, with many arguing that his movement out the way affected the Fulham goalkeeper’s ability to adjust himself accordingly and make the save.

VAR ruled otherwise, allowing the goal to stand, much to the confusion of Fulham and it seems, Manchester City star Erling Haaland.

“We had a few decisions where you think: ‘What is the video referee actually doing?’” explained Leno.

“Like in the game against Manchester City. Erling Haaland said to me himself: ‘If that’s a goal, then I’ll laugh my head off’. And when the goal was scored, he turned to me and laughed.

“As a player, you just think that the referee or the VAR must have been the only one in the stadium who didn’t understand. So, I think it’s not only like that in Germany, but also the same here.”

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It was said the player could cost just €7m, and that made him an attractive option for the Whites and Hammers.

However, as journalist Jorge Nicola now features a video talking about that chase, he claims that Fulham and West Ham would actually need to pay a little more to get it done.

The reporter says the €7m request never existed. Not even last summer, when São Paulo had already been demanding at least €10m for his departure.

It’s claimed that the Brazilian club will only accept negotiating the midfielder’s sale for at least €15m next year.

The journalist also doesn’t confirm the interest from Fulham and West Ham, even though the player had been linked to the Craven Cottage side in the recent past.

It makes sense that Maia will only leave for €15m. The midfielder had a great year at São Paulo and will definitely be chased by several clubs, especially from English football, so São Paulo have no reason to let him go for so little.

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The Villans had shown interest in the striker in the last window but were forced to end that after he suffered an injury, and the setback has had an impact on his valuation.

However, the 26-year-old hasn’t lost his appeal in England with Aston Villa, West Ham, Fulham and Brentford said to be keeping close tabs on his situation.

It’s said these four Premier League sides are ‘still vigilant and determined to obtain new information’ about the former Chelsea man.

The report says José Mourinho’s side have a desire to sell the England international to a Premier League club. Apart from Aston Villa, West Ham, Fulham and Brentford, Calciomercato.it state the Blues shouldn’t be overlooked.

The Serie A side have already signed Romelu Lukaku on loan from the west London club in the last window and their dream would be to carry out a swap deal involving Abraham and the Belgium international.

Abraham, who came up through the ranks of Chelsea’s academy, spent five years with their first team before he joined Roma in a permanent transfer in 2021.

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That’s at least according to Didi Hamann, who believes Bayern couldn’t pay the prices Fulham would now ask for their star man.

As you’ll be aware, Palhinha was on the verge of joining Bayern in the summer before the deal collapsed at the last minute as Fulham refused to sanction it on deadline day after failing to secure a replacement.

The belief had been that Bayern would reignite their interest in the January transfer window but Palhinha’s decision to sing a new deal at Craven Cottage after the window closed threw that into doubt.

There have been numerous reports in Germany since that point hinting that Bayern have now changed their mind on the player.

They reportedly have concerns about the value of any deal amid worries over a knee problem, while it’s also been questioned if they’d be happy to pay the increased figures for the player, who was set to cost as much as €74m in the deal agreed in the summer.

Hamann backs up that stance today, insisting that there is no way the German champions should be paying what would be a huge sum for the Portuguese star.

“Bayern have been playing the same football for six months, with little control and stability, and nothing has changed,” he said.

“When I recognize the problem, I have to try to fix it with the players I have available. Tuchel wanted to bring in Palhinha in the summer, that didn’t work out, and he probably doesn’t cost 60 million now, but 80 or 90.

“You can’t pay that for a player like that and it’s uncertain whether the Munich team will find another defensive midfielder in the winter, which gives them the necessary defensive stability.

“I don’t know whether Tuchel wants to survive without a six, but if you don’t pay attention, keep playing football like this, lose important games and have self-doubts, you can get into huge problems in the league in the winter.”

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That’s at least according to Record journalist David Medrano, who believes Jiménez may need to think about a change to prolong his career.

He explains that the Fulham man is now on a goal drought that goals all the way back to March 10^th, 2022, which means almost 19 months, around 600 days, have passed since his last goal in the Premier League.

He moved to Fulham from Wolves in the summer in the hope that a fresh start could kickstart things again but despite being handed a starting role by Marco Silva, he’s been unable to find the back of the net.

His performances have not been bad by any means but his inability to put the ball in the back of the net is an issue and he’s now found himself benched.

Medrano then posits that ‘perhaps it is time’ for Jiménez to think about a change of position and adapting his game accordingly.

He argues that the forward still has abilities in his locker, such as ‘reading the game and hitting the ball well’ but if he cannot score goals, then, as a striker, it is difficult for him or Marco Silva to argue that he should be starting games.

He doesn’t suggest what position Jiménez should move to, and it would be a major change for a player who has 290 appearances as a striker at club level but just 12 as an attacking midfielder on either wing.

It’s an idea he thinks the Fulham man should consider, though, as his extending goal drought continues to raise questions.

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That’s according to Fanaticos, who cover the player today and the Premier League quartet’s willingness to spend what is required to secure his signature.

Cáceres has found himself increasingly linked with a move to Europe over the last few weeks, with Tottenham in particular thought to be keen on him.

Fanaticos back this up and say with the pre-planning for the January transfer window in Europe starting to heat up, America are one of the clubs that could be most affected.

There is growing interest in Cáceres from England, with Fulham, Manchester United, Tottenham and West Ham all having shown an interest and a wiliness to spend the money required to get him.

His performances in the games between September and October have been ‘exceptional’, helping to raise his profile and generate interest in Europe too.

America are not willing to let their jewel go ‘easily’, though, and sources close to the club have confirmed to Fanaticos that the board are asking for no less than $5m for their player. That would work out at around £4.1m.

Such a figure would seemingly be no problem for any of the clubs, with Fulham, Manchester United, Spurs and West Ham all paying considerably higher fees last summer alone.

That’s the asking price either way and American seem to think that someone will pay it for Cáceres eventually, with Fanaticos adding that they’re already hunting for a replacement.

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That’s according to BILD’s Die Englische Woche, relayed by Fussball Transfers, who cover the player today and how he might not end up in Bavaria after all.

As you’ll be aware by this point, Palhinha was on the verge of joining Bayern Munich in the summer, with the German side agreeing a deal with Fulham and the player even undergoing a medical and doing media duties for his new club.

The deal collapse at the last minute, though, as Fulham failed to source a replacement on the deadline day and refused to sanction the exit.

The belief had been that Bayern would return for him in the January transfer window as they need to sign a number six, with their squad lacking in that position.

That’s been made more difficult as Palhinha has since signed a new deal at Fulham and various reports have had Bayern taking a step back, with it even claimed they’re concerned about a knee issue.

BILD continue the stepping away today, saying it is ‘doubtful’ whether Bayern will return for Palhinha as he’s become ‘more expensive’ than previously expected.

They explain that while the deal in the summer was reported at €65m would have actually cost €74m if bonuses had been activated but with his new contract now in place, those figures would have increased.

Whatever the figure now is it’s ‘possibly too much’ for those in charge at Bayern and they’re now ‘refraining’ from making another offer for the time being. Indeed, it’s quite possible they’ll look elsewhere and leave him at Craven Cottage.

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The story comes from Tuttosport, relayed by TuttoMercatoWeb, claiming that the player is not getting all the minutes he wanted at the Serie A side.

It’s said he ‘clearly expressed his disappointment and dissatisfaction’ with the situation, and the club want to sort that out.

Torino spent big when signing Ilic in a €15.7m move from Verona back in January, and it’s said they don’t want to give up on the player.

However, that’s where Fulham are brought into the picture in a quite peculiar way for this ‘intriguing transfer’.

Tuttosport writes that Whites midfielder Sasa Lukic is ‘great friends’ with Ilic, and advised the Craven Cottage side to sign the 22-year-old.

The duo play together for Serbia’s national team, having started alongside each other in the last match against Montenegro.

Now it remains to be seen whether Lukic’s opinion could have some weight on Fulham’s transfer desires. Ilic is currently valued by Transfermarkt at €19m, but his situation at Torino could definitely give the Whites some good arguments in the talks for a transfer.

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During the conversation, the player spoke to journalist João Castelo-Branco about a specific idol he has… Brazilian legend Kaka.

Pereira recalled that the first time he met Kaka was long before he joined Fulham, as he was still part of Manchester United’s academy.

“It was a Champions League match between Manchester and Real Madrid and I was a ball boy. Alex Ferguson asked the U21 and U18 players if they wanted to be ball boys, because he needed the ball quicker and so on. After the game, I waited and saw Kaka. I asked for his shirt, but he said he’d already changed. Then I said: anything then, a sock, shorts, I don’t know,” Andreas Pereira told ESPN Brasil.

“He said he had a pair of shorts, I said it would do. He gave it to me, it was incredible, and the shorts are still in a safe to this day. Every now and then, before an important game, I go and get them to give me confidence, to rub on my leg.”

Pereira then revealed a recent episode where he could speak to Kaka again. That happened with his Fulham teammate Willian, who happens to know the former AC Milan and Real Madrid star.

“Two weeks ago, I was at Willian’s house and he asked me who I really admired. I said I’d always liked Kaka a lot, because of his style of play, he was an example to me. He said he knew Kaka and said he was going to ring him. I thought: he must be joking. I kept quiet, it put me off. He called, I heard his voice and I couldn’t stand it, I cried. I spoke to him, to this day I can’t believe I spoke to Kaka. Everyone was in shock.

“Kaka even said that when he came here we were going to do something, and I joked with Willian: don’t even call me, I’ll freeze at the table. He’s always been an idol to me, I’ve always liked his style. A very special person.”

Castelo-Branco then asked if he’s taking the shorts to tonight’s game against Tottenham for luck against Ange Postecoglou’s side, and he doesn’t think so.

“I don’t know if I will, no. Something might happen to the shorts. I’ll leave it at home (laughs).”

Featuring for Fulham this season, Pereira has one goal and one assist in nine appearances, always holding a starting place in Marco Silva’s side.

Now in case he has a great game against Tottenham tonight, we may know the big secret for a good individual performance.

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That’s according to SportBILD, who say there are ‘internal medical doubts’ about the player, particularly in relation to one of his knees.

As you’ll be aware by this point, Palhinha was extremely close to joining Bayern at the end of the transfer window, when the German giants agreed a deal with Fulham.

He travelled to Bavaria, underwent a medical and even did the various media duties for the club before seeing it collapse at the last minute as Fulham hadn’t secured a replacement.

The midfielder has since signed a new deal at Fulham, but the belief has been that Bayern would renew their interest in January regardless as the current squad lacks a number six and manager Thomas Tuchel has made it clear he wants one signed.

It seems they may be looking elsewhere, though, with Sport BILD reporting that there are ‘internal medical doubts’ regarding Palhinha.

They point to his knee specifically and say Bayern see that as a ‘weak point’, suggesting they’ve seen something that’s now causing doubts about a potential move.

Those doubts have been increased because the new contract he signed at Fulham has made him more expensive for Bayern, thus they’re now thinking things over.

It’s that which has led to reports of interest in Kalvin Phillips and other players, with the deal for Palhinha now very much being reconsidered.

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