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After a dismal 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season, it was vital that the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy invested money into the first-team ahead of 2025/26.

Thomas Frank was the man to fill the void left by Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal, with the Dane being handed the funds as a result to try and transform the Lilywhites’ top-division fortunes.

He’s so far landed duo Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons for a combined £107m, subsequently bolstering the options at his disposal within the attacking department.

Joao Palhinha has also arrived on loan, whilst Mathys Tel also made his loan move permanent – after spending the second half of the previous campaign in North London.

However, with just a couple of days remaining in the transfer window, the new boss will still want further additions to help him in his quest for success during his tenure at the club.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions before deadline day

Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo has been a surprise target for Spurs over the last couple of days, with the player himself wanting a temporary move away from Old Trafford.

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The Lilywhites hierarchy have held talks with Ruben Amorim’s side over a potential move before Monday’s deadline, but it’s unclear if a move could materialise given the Red Devils’ reluctance to offload the youngster.

However, he’s not the only Englishman currently in their sights, with Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher once again appearing on their radar, according to CaughtOffside.

They claim that Frank’s side are preparing a £35m-£40m bid for the 25-year-old, with the Spanish outfit prepared to let him leave if an acceptable offer is presented. Man United are also in the race, although Spurs are said to be the frontrunners.

It also states that Diego Simeone’s side would want as much as £45m this summer, potentially being the third big-money addition for Spurs during the current window.

Why Spurs’ £52m target would be perfect for Simons

The recent transfer of Simons to Spurs has injected added excitement into the fanbase, and understandably so when delving into his numbers from last season.

The Dutchman registered 10 goals and seven assists for Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, and ended the year as one of the most threatening attacking options in the division.

Chelsea seemed destined to land the former PSG youngster at one stage, but Frank’s men swooped in at the 11th hour, with the move finally ending their hunt for a new attacking midfielder.

If he can replicate such numbers in 2025/26 for the Lilywhites, he would be a phenomenal pickup, having the tools to star immediately – but also improve further, given he’s just 22 years of age.

However, should Simons want to be a success in North London, he will need to be aided in any attempts, which could prompt the hierarchy to land Gallagher in the coming days.

The Englishman, who is a former Chelsea first-team member, would be the perfect box-to-box option, that’s if he can replicate the numbers he produced in LaLiga throughout 2024/25.

Gallagher, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist John Cross, could offer a presence at the heart of the side which could free Simons up to cause carnage in attacking areas and show why the club forked out £52m for his signature.

Gallagher – LaLiga stats (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	32
Goals & assists	6
Pass accuracy	85%
Progressive passes	3.5
Passes into final third	2.5
Tackles won	1.8
Interceptions made	1.1
Recoveries made	5.9
Stats via FBref

The Atlético star ranked in the 89th percentile for tackles won (1.8) and in the 90th percentile for recoveries made (5.9) – showcasing his ability to regain possession for the side.

However, he would need to help transition the play after winning the ball – something which he demonstrated in abundance in Spain throughout 2024/25.

He made an average of 3.5 progressive passes per 90 at a pass completion rate of 85% – allowing him to do the ‘dirty work’ before finding the Dutchman with his line-breaking ability.

Whilst a deal for Gallagher would be an expensive addition, he would be one who could help transform Frank’s side for the better between now and the end of the Dane’s reign.

If he can strike up a partnership with Simons in 2025/26, it would be a worthwhile investment and one that can complete the summer overhaul of the midfield department.

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A Kudus repeat: "Incredible" £70m ace now wants to join Spurs after Simons

Tottenham Hotspur could now complete another deal after landing Xavi Simons earlier today.

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 29, 2025

Everton have started the Premier League season poorly after they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Leeds following a controversial penalty decision for a handball by James Tarkowski. This defeat comes after spending over £75 million in the transfer window and bringing in Manchester City’s Jack Grealish on loan.

One area in particular that has been a focus for Everton in the transfer market is attacking midfield – David Moyes’ side lacked depth in this area. So far this window, they’ve brought in Kieran Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea and Carlos Alcaraz from Southampton on a permanent deal after he spent the back half of last season on loan at Everton.

Moyes is now looking further back in his midfield ranks, as the club is considering a move for a Premier League-proven midfielder in order to ensure defeats like this don’t become a habit.

Everton considering move for Tottenham midfielder

Everton are considering a move for Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma. The 28-year-old has made 191 Premier League appearances and joined Spurs on a £55,000-per-week contract in 2022. Reports from Tottenham insider Paul O’Keefe have revealed how much Daniel Levy would charge Everton for Bissouma.

This fee is less than half the £30 million they paid Brighton for the midfielder in 2022, but if Spurs don’t sell Bissouma this year or extend his contract in the next 12 months, then he will be allowed to leave for free next summer.

Everton’s interest is thought to currently be in the preliminary stages, with O’Keefe saying: “I understand Everton are considering him, but not really concrete enough to say they’re going to make a move.”

West Ham were also previously interested in the Europa League winner, but that deal has not developed as of yet. On the player’s side of the move, it is believed to be his desire to remain in England for at least one more year, as he would become eligible for UK citizenship.

Bissouma is a gamble, but he may be worth it for the price

Given the “peanuts” that they would be paying, a gamble on Bissouma may be worth it. Whilst he lacks versatility, what he is good at, he excels at, with the only major red flags being his attitude towards training and his on-field disciplinary record.

Last season, Bissouma ranked among the top 17% of Premier League midfielders for his tackle success rate. He was also reliable on the ball with a pass completion rate of 89%. Where Bissouma struggled was going forward; in 100 matches for Tottenham, Bissouma has only registered two goals and no assists.

As a midfielder who is constantly making challenges, Bissouma often finds himself in the referee’s book. Last season, he averaged a booking almost once every 180 minutes of play, but he did avoid seeing red in the League. One contributing factor to his poor disciplinary record last season may have been Ange Postecoglou’s style of play, as it saw his team playing high up the pitch and often needing to take drastic measures to avoid being caught on the counterattack.

What Postecoglou can’t be blamed for is Bissouma’s training tardiness. The Mali international was left out of Tottenham’s squad for the European Super Cup, and Frank explained his absence: “Bissouma isn’t here because of disciplinary reasons. He has been late several times, the latest one too many.”

Moyes and the Everton board will have to decide whether or not they think Bissouma’s strengths outweighs these issues. For less than £14 million, he may be worth the gamble.

اعترف لاعب نادي كيرات الماتي، أن فريقه يمتلك خطة بالفعل لإيقاف نجم نادي ريال مدريد، كيليان مبابي، قبل مواجهة الفريقين في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا ثقيلًا على كيرات الماتي في كازاخستان، لحساب منافسات الجولة الثانية من دوري أبطال أوروبا في الدور المعروف بمرحلة الدوري.

ويسعى كيرات إلى خلق المفاجأة وتحقيق الفوز على ريال مدريد، خصوصًا وأن المباراة سوف تقام على أرض الفريق الكازاخستاني المشارك في دوري أبطال أوروبا لأول مرة في تاريخه.

اقرأ أيضًا .. مدرب كيرات: سنلجأ إلى بعض الحيل أمام ريال مدريد.. ولن ننظر إلى خماسية أتلتيكو

وخلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص باللقاء والذي نقلته صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو”، أشار مدافع كيرات، إيجور سوروتين، إلى أن فريقه درس جيدًا نجوم ريال مدريد وخصوصًا مبابي.

وقال سوروكين: “مراقبة مبابي جهد جماعي وجهزنا خطة لإيقافه، سنبذل قصارى جهدنا لجعله يشعر بعدم الارتياح على أرض الملعب، ريال مدريد ناد كبير وسندفع ثمن أي خطأ غاليًا”.

كما أكد سوروكين على جاهزيته بجانب بقية لاعبي كيرات لمواجهة ريال مدريد، حيث أضاف: “الأجواء متوترة، ليس بسبب الخوف بل بسبب التركيز والوعي بأهمية اللقاء”.

وعن مفتاح الخروج من مواجهة ريال مدريد بنتيجة إيجابية، اختتم سوروكين في حديثه: “الانضباط هو المفتاح لاستغلال فرصنا في لقاء الغد، الكرات الثابتة ستكون عاملًا حاسمًا ضد ريال مدريد”.

اعترف لاعب نادي برشلونة السابق، أنه قد تفاجأ من خسارة فينيسيوس جونيور، نجم نادي ريال مدريد، لجائزة الكرة الذهبية العام الماضي.

وكان الجميع ينتظر فوز فينيسيوس جونيور بجائزة الكرة الذهبية العام الماضي، وذلك بعد الموسم الاستثنائي الذي قدمه الدولي البرازيلي مع ريال مدريد.

فينيسيوس لعب دورًا كبيرًا في فوز ريال مدريد ببطولة الدوري الإسباني وكذلك دوري أبطال أوروبا في موسم تاريخي للفريق الملكي.

لكن على عكس التوقعات خسر فينيسيوس سباق الكرة الذهبية واحتل المركز الثاني خلف رودري، نجم مانشستر سيتي، الذي توج بالجائزة.

أقرأ أيضًا .. اختيارات صادمة.. لمن ذهب صوت العرب في جائزة الكرة الذهبية 2025؟

وأشار إينيجو مارتينيز، مدافع برشلونة السابق والنصر السعودي الحالي، إلى أنه كان شبه متأكدا من فوز فينيسيوس جونيور بالكرة الذهبية.

وقال مارتينيز في مقابلة مع صحيفة ماركا: ”في العام الماضي توقعت فوز فينيسيوس جونيور بجائزة الكرة الذهبية. بالنسبة لي كان فيني جونيور هو الأفضل في العالم”.

وأضاف المدافع المخضرم في حديثه: ”في النهاية، هذا هو التصويت سواء كان عادلاً أم لا”.

كما أثنى مارتينيز على قدرات زميله في النصر والأسطورة البرتغالية، كريستيانو رونالدو، حيث أوضح: “رونالدو لاعب متسلح بعقلية الانتصار وذو روح تنافسية عالية. كل جهوده منصبة فقط على الفوز والنتيجة”.

واختتم: ”إنه لمن دواعي سروري وشرف لي أن ألعب في الفريق مع شخص رائع كهذا. عندما تلقيت عرضًا من النصر كان أحد اهتماماتي الرئيسية هو فرصة اللعب إلى جانب كريستيانو. لقد أعجبني نشاطه واستعداده الدائم لمساعدة زملائه في الفريق منذ اليوم الأول”.

Sri Lanka’s head coach Rumesh Ratnayake has described his team’s performance at the T20 World Cup as “not acceptable”, and a consequence of skill “failing us” after they were knocked out of semi-final contention by India. Sri Lanka have lost all of their three matches so far in the World Cup, and cannot advance out of the group after coming into the event with the expectation they could go after an impressive last 20 months.Since the last T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka have won series in England and South Africa, cruised through the World Cup Qualifiers in Abu Dhabi undefeated, and beaten Pakistan and India on their way to becoming Asia Cup champions. But Sri Lanka lost to both those oppositions and defending champions Australia in the first week of the tournament, which Ratnayake put down to overall underperformance.”It was bad playing through and through this tournament,” he said after Sri Lanka lost to India by 82 runs. “They’ve been doing poor cricket, and that is not acceptable. We’ve been talking about it, we’ve tried to come out of it and we’ve tried various things, we’ve been fearlessly doing things, freely doing things, and I think the skill has failed us when it has been really important.”Related

• Pakistan to 'move on and bring new faces' in batting unit after group-stage exit

• Harmanpreet, bowlers demolish Sri Lanka to hand India big NRR boost

• Scenarios: How can India make it to the semi-finals?

• Harmanpreet serves up a reminder of Harmonster

Though he did not specifically say it, Ratnayake must have been talking about Sri Lanka’s batting. They have not crossed 100 in any of their three innings, whether batting first or chasing, and their collective form has directly mirrored their captain’s. Chamari Athapaththu has been dismissed in single figures in each innings for a total of ten runs at the tournament thus far. It is her worst return at a World Cup, and stands in stark contrast to the last two editions, in South Africa and Australia, where she scored over 100 runs in each event.The singular focus on Athapaththu can be traced back – probably much further, but for our purposes – to the start of Sri Lanka’s current bad patch, which started on their tour of Ireland in August. Athapaththu missed the two T20Is as she was playing in the Hundred, and though Sri Lanka started well in the first T20I and chased down 146 inside 17 overs to win comfortably, they could not reach a target of 174 in the next match. On Athapaththu’s return, for the ODIs, she notched up 0 and 22 as Sri Lanka went 2-0 down, before managing 48 when they claimed a consolation win.”From the second match up to the fifth match [in Ireland], there were situations where we were on top and we faltered,” Ratnayake said.One such situation was in the second T20I, where Sri Lanka were 101 for 2 in the 13th over but then lost 5 for 56 in five overs to lose by seven runs. Still, Ratnayake was happy with the work they did back in Sri Lanka.”Our preparation was really good back home,” he said. “We played on various types of wickets. We simulated some of those similar situations, but winning those moments, winning those appropriate situations, decision-making along with the skill hasn’t been backed up. The skill did not come through as it did as you said in the finals of the Asia Cup. So that’s something which we need to work on, rethink and come back.”Sri Lanka’s form in the World Cup has reflected that of their captain Chamari Athapaththu•Getty Images

In the Asia Cup final, Sri Lanka successfully chased 166, and though Athapaththu scored a half-century, they also had runs in the form of an unbeaten 69 from Harshitha Samarawickrama, and a 16-ball 30 from Kavisha Dilhari. Both of those are players Athapaththu herself has identified as being key to the future of Sri Lanka cricket. Ratnayake also believed Sri Lanka are “almost closing the gap”, between Athapaththu and other batters with potential, and he continues to have faith in their development initiatives.”In the past 22 months, we’ve worked hard on creating an environment which is conducive for learning,” he said. “So we are not only building up in confidence but building up in confidence so that we would back ourselves with the skill as well.”But has that confidence spilled over into overconfidence, given Sri Lanka’s fighting talk before the series? Athapaththu spoke realistically of their chances of making the semi-finals at this tournament despite being in the tougher of the two groups, and Ratnayake backed that up when he said Sri Lanka “are here to win the World Cup,” and not just participate.”Overconfidence is a thing which is verbally not accepted in our environment, so I don’t think it’s overconfidence, but they are confident enough,” he said. “That is what we thrive on and that is what we emphasise on. It’s just that when needed, we haven’t won the moments.”Now, they also have no hope of winning the World Cup but Ratnayake continues to believe in the group of players he is working with. “This has happened and we will never give up, so that’s a very heartening and a very satisfying thing for a coach to see,” he said. “As much as I’ve created an environment, I’m quite privileged and honoured to be here because they are a super lot. I know we will come through this sooner rather than later.”Sri Lanka have two days before their final match, against New Zealand on Saturday, and Ratnayake has described it as a “prime objective” to “salvage ourselves” and win that game. They will be up against a New Zealand side who will feel the same way, after their chastening defeat to Australia, and with the match a must-win to keep their semi-final hopes alive. For Ratnayake, nothing less than an almighty fight will be acceptable.

West Ham United are now in talks over a deal for a “spectacular” midfielder, and they are leading their Premier League rivals in the race for his signature, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Paqueta uncertainty

Lucas Paqueta has been one of West Ham’s key players over the past three seasons, picking up 18 goals and 14 assists during his time at the London Stadium, but it now appears as though the attacking midfielder could seek pastures new this summer.

Indeed, Paqueta now wants to leave the Hammers, amid interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Brazil, and the board are willing to cash-in, should they receive an offer in the region of £30m.

As such, Graham Potter’s side have now set their sights on a new attacking midfielder to replace the 27-year-old, with targets being identified from the Belgian Pro League and within the Premier League.

Target

Current club

League goal contributions in 24/25

Harvey Elliott

Liverpool

3

Mario Stroeykens

Anderlecht

10

Not only are the Irons keen on an attacking option, but they have also made progress in their pursuit of Borussia Monchengladbach defensive midfielder Rocco Reitz, according to a report from TEAMtalk.

The report states that talks over a deal for Reitz are now underway, with the Monchengladbach ace expected to leave in this window, given that the £17m release clause in his contract is set to become active next summer.

Everton in race with West Ham to sign midfielder who can leave for £25m

Everton are now involved in a Premier League race to sign an experienced international midfielder.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025

The German side don’t want to lose the midfielder for such a low fee, and a transfer battle, which may drive up the price, could be on the cards this summer, with the likes of Brighton, Fulham and Inter Milan also keen.

A number of bids are now expected imminently, and the Hammers should be well-placed to win the race for the 23-year-old’s signature, given that they are thought to be ahead of their Premier League rivals.

Reitz could be "spectacular" signing for West Ham

England were ultimately triumphant in the U21 European Championships, defeating Germany 3-2 in the final, but the Monchengladbach gem impressed throughout the tournament, picking up two assists in five matches.

Not only that, but the German has flourished defensively over the past year, placing very highly across a number of key metrics, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Interceptions

2.61 (99th percentile)

Blocks

1.92 (95th percentile)

Clearances

2.90 (96th percentile)

U23 scout Antonio Mango has also been left impressed by the maestro in the past, singling him out for praise after his Germany U21s debut.

As such, Reitz could be a fantastic signing for West Ham this summer, and it is promising news they are leading the race for his signature.

Liverpool recently completed what may end up being the biggest transfer of the summer when they confirmed the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Reds have smashed the British transfer record to sign the Germany international in a deal that is worth up to £116.5m, moving above the transfer that took Moises Caicedo from Brighton to Chelsea.

Liverpool, as shown in the graphic above, had never touched the £100m mark for a transfer fee for a player, which shows how much faith they have that Wirtz will be a hugely influential star for the club.

The attacking midfielder is the second signing to come in from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, after Jeremie Frimpong, and the first addition from the Bundesliga has had some very kind words to say about his new, yet old, teammate.

Liverpool’s Dutch full-back described the German star as a “very, very, very special player”, and Reds supporters should be excited by the prospect of watching him play next season.

Why Florian Wirtz is a big signing for Liverpool

The 22-year-old attacker’s form in the Bundesliga in the last two seasons suggests that he has the potential to be a difference-maker for the Premier League champions on a regular basis.

He is a number ten who has the ability to consistently deliver both goals and assists at the top end of the pitch, which means that he could be a joy to watch in the final third.

Wirtz ended the 2024/25 season with a return of 16 goals and 14 assists in 45 matches in all competitions, after a haul of 18 goals and 19 assists in 49 appearances for Leverkusen in the previous campaign.

This means that the Germany international has plundered 34 goals and 33 assists in all competitions in the past two seasons, which shows that he offers a constant threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals from an attacking midfield position.

24/25 UCL

Wirtz per 90

Percentile rank vs att. mids & wingers

Non-penalty goals

0.59

Top 6%

Expected Assisted Goals

0.20

Top 20%

npxG + xAG

0.60

Top 18%

Shot-creating actions

5.10

Top 11%

Progressive passes

6.28

Top 8%

Passes made

55.26

Top 6%

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, Wirtz was impressive in the Champions League this season, ranking highly among his positional peers as both a scorer and a creator of goals, which shows that he can perform at the very top level.

Therefore, the £116.5m-rated star could be a big signing as an attacking star who has proven himself in Germany, and they could be about to repeat that move already.

Liverpool eyeing Bundesliga striker

According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are interested in a deal to sign Eintracht Frankfurt centre-forward Hugo Ekitike in the summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Premier League champions are ‘seriously’ eyeing up a move for the France U21 international, as they look at possible replacements for Darwin Nunez.

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Plettenberg reports that Napoli are in talks with Liverpool over a deal to sign the Uruguay international, and that the Reds would not stand in his way if he wants to move to the Serie A champions this summer.

The journalist adds that the Reds believe that they have a “good chance” to sign Ekitike as a possible replacement for Nunez, despite facing competition from both Chelsea and Manchester United in the race for his services.

Eintracht Frankfurt reportedly value the young number nine at a whopping £85m, as they look to keep hold of their star man, and it remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool are willing to go that high for him.

Why Liverpool should sign Hugo Ekitike

The Premier League giants should swoop to sign the French striker from the German club before the end of the window, particularly if Nunez moves on from Anfield, because he could be a Wirtz repeat.

As aforementioned, Liverpool have landed a Bundesliga star who could be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis by signing the Germany international.

Ekitike would arrive on Merseyside as a very similar signing, as a Bundesliga striker who has the potential to make a big impact in the final third next season.

The former Paris Saint-Germain talent ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of 22 goals and 12 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions for Frankfurt, which meant that he registered four more goal contributions than Wirtz did for Leverkusen.

Ekitike’s performances in the Bundesliga, specifically, suggest that he has the quality to come through the door as a significant upgrade on Nunez, should he complete a transfer to Napoli in the coming weeks.

24/25 season

Ekitike (Bundesliga)

Nunez (Premier League)

Appearances

33

30

Goals

15

5

Minutes per goal

172

227

Big chances created

12

3

Key passes per game

1.3

0.5

Assists

8

2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the French talent could offer a bigger threat in front of goal as both a scorer and a creator for Liverpool, based off their respective form in the 2024/25 season.

The Frankfurt star, who was once described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, also still has plenty of years left ahead of him to develop and improve even further, at the age of 23.

Like Wirtz, the young forward could be a staple of Arne Slot’s attack for many years to come. They are both forwards who have proven that they can deliver quality in the here and now, whilst they also both have the potential to get even better in the future.

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It is now down to the club to agree a deal with Frankfurt to bring the promising young centre-forward to Anfield to combine with Wirtz in the final third next season.

After such a dismal season in 2024/25, Manchester United have a huge opportunity to end the campaign on a high with the Europa League final on the horizon.

Ruben Amorim’s men face Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on Wednesday night, looking to claim his first trophy in charge and secure a place in the Champions League next year.

Such an achievement could be vital in their pursuit of landing new talent this summer, with the manager already targeting new additions to help revitalise his current squad.

Qualifying for the biggest club competition in Europe could hand the Red Devils a boost of offering top-level talents an exciting project despite their lowly Premier League standing.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, work has already been done behind the scenes to hand Amorim with the tools needed to be a success at Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s pursuit of new talents this summer

Matheus Cunha appears to be edging ever closer to completing a switch to join United this summer, with the deal entering its final stages, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 25-year-old has already accepted a proposal to move to Old Trafford this summer, with the hierarchy ready to trigger his £62.5m release clause in four instalments.

However, he could be joined at the Theatre of Dreams by one of his compatriots, with Atalanta’s Ederson the latest player on their radar, according to reports in Italy.

They claim that the Red Devils have been in contact with a move to land the Serie A star, currently having the advantage over Manchester City and Juventus in the race for his signature.

The journalist also confirmed that the 25-year-old would cost a fee in the region of £50m this summer, but that the hierarchy are set to enter negotiations after the Europa League final.

Why United’s £50m target could be Amorim’s own Pogba

Paul Pogba still holds the club-record for the highest fee paid for a player, costing £89m from Juventus back in the summer of 2016, just a couple of years after departing on a free transfer.

The Frenchman made over 200 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford, helping them win the Europa League – something which Amorim could hope to replicate this week.

The midfielder caught the eye in his box-to-box role for the Red Devils, often producing a moment of magic with the ball at his feet, resulting in countless excellent strikes in the North West.

Despite leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, his spell at the club was a success, potentially replicating such a deal with a move for Ederson in the coming months.

The Atalanta star could follow in Pogba’s footsteps by completing a switch from an Italian outfit, also possessing a similar skillset, which could make him a key component in Amorim’s overhaul at the club.

When comparing his stats to those of Pogba’s from his first year at United, the Brazilian has managed to star at both ends of the pitch, making him a superb option as a box-to-box in the manager’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Ederson, who’s been labelled “monster” by The Mirror’s Ryan Taylor, has achieved a higher pass completion rate, handing other players at Old Trafford the chance to improve their own tallies.

How Ederson compares to Pogba’s first year at United
Statistics (per 90)	Ederson (2024/25)	Pogba (2016/17)
Games played	36	30
Goals & assists	5	9
Shot-on-target accuracy	31%	23%
Goals per shot-on-target	0.4	0.3
Pass accuracy	86%	83%
Tackles won	1.6	1.3
Interceptions made	1.2	0.8
Stats via FBref

Despite registering fewer combined goals and assists, the Brazilian has notched a higher shot-on-target rate along with a better goal-per-shot-on-target rate – highlighting the clinical edge he possesses in attacking areas.

He’s also won more tackles per 90 and completed more interceptions, offering Amorim the added defensive cover he needs within the midfield department at Old Trafford.

£50m may seem to be another hefty investment from the hierarchy this summer, but it’s one that would drastically improve the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.

Should he manage to reach similar levels to those produced by Pogba, it would be an excellent pickup, potentially playing a key role in any success down the line under the current management team.

Man Utd flop who should be "fourth choice" has been even worse than Onana

This Manchester United flop has been an even worse signing than Andre Onana.

By
Dan Emery

May 20, 2025

As concerns over William Saliba’s future continue, Arsenal are now reportedly eyeing a summer move to sign a potential replacement for the Frenchman in a deal worth a hefty £68m.

Arsenal's Saliba concern

After another season without a Premier League title and potentially without a major trophy altogether, Arsenal could face consequences for failure that they’ll be all too familiar with. Real Madrid, meanwhile, could land one of Europe’s best centre-backs.

The Spanish giants have reportedly set their sights on signing Saliba this summer, with likely new manager Xabi Alonso a fan of the central defender.

Arteta must axe £27m Arsenal dud who was worse than Odegaard v Bournemouth

Arsenal dropped yet more points, this time at home as they hosted Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.

By
Matt Dawson

May 4, 2025

The Madrid call is rarely one that players turn down and that should send alarm bells ringing around The Emirates. It’s a call that even Liverpool academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold is on course to accept and one that Kylian Mbappe accepted last summer. Now, Saliba could be next.

There’s no overstating the damage that the defender’s departure would do to Mikel Arteta’s side who have already struggled defensively when without Gabriel recently. Losing Saliba would be a whole new struggle for their backline as they look to make it a fourth-time lucky in the hunt for Premier League glory next season.

Known for their attacking prowess from set pieces, Arsenal’s struggles to defend such scenarios at the opposite end have gone under the radar this season. After Bournemouth came from behind to seal victory over the Gunners using two set pieces, however, it’s clear that with or without Saliba, Arteta’s side must improve on that front.

So, although losing Saliba would be a major blow, his exit would at least allow new sporting director Andrea Berta to welcome a fresh defender capable of turning that set-piece record around.

Arsenal set sights on £68m Diomande

According to Defensa Central in Spain, Arsenal have now set their sights on signing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Club this summer as Berta plans for the worst-case Saliba scenario, should he leave for the Bernabeu. Alas, any deal won’t come cheap in the coming months. The Portuguese side have reportedly slapped a price tag worth as much as €80m (£68m) on their centre-back.

Whether the 21-year-old “monster” is at the necessary level to replace Saliba is the big question. When compared, it’s clear that the Sporting man would need plenty of patience if he did step in and replace a player who some may believe is irreplaceable at Arsenal.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Ousmane Diomande	William Saliba
Starts	27	33
Progressive Passes	79	134
Tackles Won	20	36
Aerial Duels Won	78	58

However, what does stand out as a positive to take note of is Diomande’s aerial success compared to Saliba’s. Winning 20 more aerial duels in six less games, the Sporting man may have stood a far better chance of preventing Bournemouth’s two set piece goals in a frustrating Arsenal defeat last time out.

Also dubbed a player with “great” pace by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Diomande looks set to be one to watch if Saliba does swap Arsenal for Real Madrid in the coming months.

It was remarkably just over six years ago that Marcus Rashford enjoyed one of the greatest moments of his Manchester United career, with the Englishman rifling home from the penalty spot to send Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The United academy graduate had been the undoing of Paris Saint-Germain with that last-gasp spot-kick, while he also netted again in the Parc des Princes during the 2020/21 campaign, to clinch another famous win for Solskjaer and co.

Something about the Ligue 1 side appears to bring the best out of the 27-year-old, it would seem, with the in-form forward having again been electric when facing off with the Parisien outfit – albeit this time in Aston Villa colours.

The Red Devils outcast put in a simply masterful display through the middle for Unai Emery’s side, having notably produced a breathtaking assist for Villa’s third of the night as the hosts flipped the encounter on its head. In truth, it was vintage Rashford.

Frustratingly for the Villans, they could not complete the comeback after bravely crashing out, while for those back in Manchester, such a fine individual display may have Ruben Amorim thinking twice over his decision to exile the £300k-per-week marksman.

But would a return to Old Trafford really be in the best interest of all parties this summer?

Why Rashford still needs to be sold this summer

As far as Rashford is concerned, the decision to make the move to Villa Park back in February could hardly have gone better, with the Midlands side also still in the mix for a top five finish in the Premier League, while having also reached the last four of the FA Cup.

The polarising sensation has been central to Emery’s plans in recent months, with the assist for Ezri Konsa last night taking his total tally to nine goal involvements in just 15 appearances since making the move. Jesse Lingard at West Ham United anyone?

Free from the shackles and the scrutiny of being a Manchester United player, Rashford has looked reborn in claret and blue, with Tuesday night seeing him create four big chances in total – more than any other player on the pitch.

That display backed up Emery’s decision to once again select his loan star ahead of compatriot, Ollie Watkins, in the centre-forward berth, with the Villans boasting attacking depth that Amorim can only dream of – not least with Joshua Zirkzee now sidelined with injury.

Speaking on Amazon Prime, United legend Wayne Rooney suggested that he would “love” to see Rashford back playing for the Red Devils next season, while also claiming that the player himself “wants” to be back at the Theatre of Dreams.

That said, it was only in December that the England international outlined his desire for a “new challenge” after being given the cold shoulder by Amorim, with it difficult to see any form of reconciliation occurring ahead of next season.

Indeed, having found his groove at Villa, why would Rashford risk enduring another stop-start campaign back at his parent club – not least considering three of the last four seasons have been rather underwhelming for him in a United shirt.

2024/25*

24

7

3

2023/24

43

8

6

2022/23

56

30

11

2021/22

32

5

2

2020/21

57

21

18

As for the club itself, the chance to rake in a £40m fee from Villa – a deal that would represent pure profit – is no doubt difficult to turn down, with it perhaps best for everyone that a permanent separation occurs this summer.

That said, even if Amorim and co do change their mind, at least they have only opted to loan out Rashford thus far, with the option of a homecoming still on the table. The same can’t be said for everyone that INEOS have let go…

Man Utd may have made a bigger mistake than Rashford

It appears to be a growing theme that players who have left Old Trafford have gone on to shine elsewhere, albeit with the club having largely been correct in moving those players on.

Indeed, in the case of Anthony Elanga, the Swedish speedster had scored just four goals in 55 games for United prior to departing for Nottingham Forest. David de Gea, meanwhile, was public enemy number one for his mistake in the FA Cup final, before being allowed to leave for nothing.

Equally, the likes of Antony and Jadon Sancho – now on loan at Real Betis and Chelsea – had hardly pulled up any trees following their £86m and £73m arrivals, respectively, with the pair netting just 24 goals between them in 179 games.

Antony

96

12

5

17

Anthony Elanga

55

4

4

8

Amad

57

12

10

22

Jadon Sancho

83

12

6

18

Alejandro Garnacho

135

25

20

45

Dan James

74

9

9

18

Angel Di Maria

34

4

12

16

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

63

13

11

24

Memphis Depay

53

7

6

13

Even Rashford had endured a miserable 18 months after scoring just 15 goals for United following the start of the 2023/24 campaign, with few of a Red Devils persuasion having contested with any of those exits at the time.

In the case of Scott McTominay, however, it may well be a different story, with the Scotland star having actually been one of Erik ten Hag’s key men last term, before sealing a £25m move to Napoli over the summer.

Indeed, the 28-year-old was the Dutchman’s rescue act having repeatedly delivered the goods in an attacking sense, with the rampaging midfielder – who notably netted a brace at the death against Brentford – ending the season with ten goals to his name in all competitions.

The joint third-highest scorer for United in the end in 2023/24, McTominay appeared to be thriving in an advanced midfield berth, albeit with the desire to meet PSR regulations – and the pursuit of fellow midfielder, Manuel Ugarte – leading to INEOS deciding to cash in.

Ten Hag has since admitted that he “didn’t want” to sell the 6 foot 4 giant, yet was almost “forced” into agreeing to the decision due to the club’s financial constraints.

As it is, McTominay has gone on to dazzle in Naples in 2024/25 to date, with the midfield “monster” – as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson – notably netting twice last time out to keep Antonio Conte’s side in title contention.

Those latest strikes – both of which were assisted by Romelu Lukaku, no less – showcased just what the Lancaster-born hero is all about. Indeed, for his first of the night, McTominay charged from deep before curling home from outside the area. For his second, the ex-Red Devil expertly headed home after towering above the Empoli defence.

The emerging Naples sensation now has eight Serie A goals to his name this season, with only Bruno Fernandes able to match that tally for league goals back in Manchester.

McTominay is then picking up where he left off last term, with INEOS having made a rare move for United by selling a player who was actually in form – unlike the exiled Rashford.

With the Red Devils now in the midst of their worst-ever Premier League campaign, that bold call doesn’t appear to have aged well…

Forget Bayindir & Heaton: Man Utd could unleash "superb" Onana replacement

Man Utd’s goalkeeping woes continued on Sunday afternoon, with a solution needing to be found…

ByRobbie Walls Apr 15, 2025