Newcastle United are monitoring a potential transfer bid for Manchester United winger Amad Diallo this summer as Eddie Howe prepares to work with a new-look Magpies squad.

The North East outfit have already seen Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali leave the club and Bruno Guimaraes has emerged as a top transfer target for Premier League champions Arsenal.

Newcastle United have added Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Touré and Sean Steur to their squad but none provide the Premier League experience lost by outgoings.

The Magpies join Brighton in keeping a close eye on Diallo, who is contracted at Old Trafford until 2030, although it is currently Serie A giants AC Milan who are frontrunners for a deal.

AC Milan frontrunners for Amad Diallo transfer

CaughtOffside reports that AC Milan are prepared to test Man United’s determination to hold on to the 24-year-old. Diallo was a regular starter under Michael Carrick last term but an exit is not out of the question, with the winger scoring just two goals in 33 appearances last season.

The outlet claims that the Red Devils have little reason to push through the sale of Diallo, who is still a valued part of Carrick’s work at the club, despite his barren run in front of goal.

AC Milan are now under the stewardship of former Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim, who is said to be in the market for a ‘young and inventive winger’ to bring to the San Siro. Diallo would fit that brief.

United would only consider a sale should Diallo push for the exit, and Amorim’s close relationship with the player could help when it comes to personal terms.

Diallo was especially disappointed to see the Portuguese coach sacked last season. After Amorim was given his marching orders, the winger said: “I was a bit sad because he’s the coach who gave me more visibility and more opportunities to play for Manchester United.

“I was very sad. I even sent him a message to thank him for everything he did for me, both in my life and especially in my career.

“We had a very good relationship, almost like a father-and-son relationship. He understood me, gave me a lot of advice, and let me play freely. It’s very unfortunate, but that’s life. You have to adapt, that’s football.”

Newcastle United wingers linked with St James’ Park exit

Newcastle United have just spent £43 million on Hoffenheim winger Touré, who is a like-for-like replacement for Gordon on the left wing.

While Diallo can play off the left, the former Sunderland man is more regularly deployed on the right and would offer a different profile for Howe.

The Magpies manager currently has Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy as options on the right, with Harvey Barnes also able to play in that position.

Murphy has been linked with a move to Premier League rivals Everton this summer, with Barnes a potential target for Aston Villa – although those reports came before confirmation of the £19 million UEFA fine.

Man Utd paid £37 million to sign Diallo from Atalanta in 2021 and would likely command a fee of double that to consider an unexpected summer exit.

It will forever be one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history. In the 110th minute of the 2006 final, with France and Italy level at 1-1, Zinedine Zidane is sent off for a head-but on Marco Materazzi.

Things has started well enough for the French, with their talisman Zidane scoring from the penalty spot in the 7th minute. Materazzi would level for the Italian’s just 12 minutes later, heading home from Andrea Pirlo’s corner.

Nothing would seperate the teams as they went to extra-time. This is where a remarkable clash saw Zidane headbutt Materazzi and consequently sent off. France clung on with ten men to take the game to penalties, but David Trezeguet would miss from 12 yards, allowing Fabio Grosso to win the game and the World Cup for Italy, who scored all five of their spot-kicks.

Zidane’s actions remain one of the most talked about events in the history of sport. Speaking to Gazzetta about the event 20 years on, referee Horacio Elizondo has revealed what went down when he reached for that infamous red card.

Referee and his Linesman Did Not See Zidane’s Headbutt

While Elizondo was the man who dismissed Zidane, he didn’t actually see the whole incident. Indeed, the Argentine official was watching play further up the field, when the Frenchman clashed with Materazzi off the ball. The moment was actually spotted by fourth official Medina Cantalejo.

In the days without VAR, Elizondo had to put total faith in his team to come to the final verdict. He explained what went down:

He then revealed that he was actually pretending to chat with his assistant about the call, even though they both hadn’t seen the headbutt, but were going to send Zidane off after the fourth official’s recommendation: “I started talking to the assistant, pretending that he knew something. I wanted to make this ‘acting’ to make people understand [we were making a decision]. I told him: ‘Ten minutes to go, remain focused.’ Then I turned and gave the red card to Zidane.”

Elizondo understood that he had made a huge decision and probably expected a very strong response from Zidane. However, the Frenchman was at peace with the call, making little fuss as he left the pitch, but was keen to note that he had been provoked by Materazzi. The referee recalled their conversation:

Zidane appeared to be talking about Materazzi’s actions when he asked the referee, ‘didn’t you hear or see what happened before?’’ The Italian later claimed that he had made a comment about his opponent’s sister, stating:

“That episode should never have happened. In the tension of that final in Berlin, amidst the bickering and insults, Zidane offered me his shirt, and I said no, that I preferred his sister.”

Zidane later apologised for his actions, although did not regret what he did: “I want to ask for forgiveness from all the children who watched that. There was no excuse for it. I want to be open and honest about it. I do apologise but I don’t regret my behaviour because regretting it would mean he was right to say what he said.”

This would be the last game of Zidane’s career, exiting the game with a bang.