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There have been some miserable nights in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United, with Monday’s defeat to Everton ranking high on that list, having allowed the ten-man Toffees to secure a first away win at Old Trafford for former boss David Moyes.

Ironically, there were shades of Moyes’ own nadir – the 2-2 draw with Fulham back in 2013/14 – about that 1-0 loss, with Ruben Amorim again in danger of heading the same way as the Scotsman in the United dugout.

Indeed, a year in charge has yielded just 12 Premier League wins for the Portuguese coach, with the positivity of the recent five-game unbeaten run now tempered with the angle of three games without a win in the top-flight.

A key crux of the issue is the use – or rather misuse – of Bruno Fernandes in a deep-lying role, with the Red Devils crying out for a new creative hub ahead of him.

Man Utd's search for a successor to Fernandes

From netting 38 goals and assists in all competitions last term, the United skipper has been forced to almost play with the handbrake on, having even operated as the deepest midfielder following Kobbie Mainoo’s introduction against the Merseyside outfit.

Currently looking ill-suited to this 3-4-2-1 system, the 31-year-old – who came close to joining Al Hilal over the summer – might be at the centre of speculation again heading into next year’s World Cup, with his current deal set to expire in 2027.

He does still lead the way at United for big chances created (3) – alongside Amad and Bryan Mbeumo – although that is half as many as the division’s leader, Jeremy Doku (6), as per FotMob, with Fernandes’ powers perhaps on the wane in his new role.

In need of a new chief creator? Well, enter Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, with reports in Spain suggesting that the Manchester side are among the clubs to have expressed an interest in the fleet-footed Frenchman.

Reportedly valued at around £123m, the 24-year-old is also attracting attention from both Liverpool and Arsenal, albeit with INEOS viewing him as someone who would bring a ‘significant leap in quality’.

Now in his second season in Munich, following a £50m move from Crystal Palace last year, the London-born star is shining in German football. Could he be just what Amorim is looking for?

Why Olise would be a perfect signing for Man United

After a hefty summer of investment totalling almost £250m, there might be a sense that INEOS have already put together their long-term frontline, in the form of Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As the recent loss indicated, however, a couple of injuries to that latter duo highlighted the lack of real depth, while the pair’s return of just three goals between them is also cause for concern.

Sesko, in particular, is far from the finished article, with Amorim potentially able to fashion a fluid attacking trio of Cunha off the left, Mbeumo through the middle and Olise on the right, with the Bayern gem currently looking so devastating in that role in Munich.

In the Bundesliga alone this season, the one-time Reading winger has chalked up six goals and six assists for Vincent Kompany’s side, while registering seven big chances created in total, as per Sofascore.

A “magician” – according to Bayern teammate Dayot Upamecano – in the mould of Fernandes, the left-footer has also averaged 2.3 key passes per game, while eclipsing that return from his five Champions League outings, with 2.4 key passes per game.

Three goals and assists and three big chances created have also come amid a standout start to this year’s league phase in Europe, with Olise now rightly lauded as “one of the best players in the world” by the likes of teammate Serge Gnabry.

That lofty status is more than warranted, as he currently ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for assists and shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, while also ranking in the top 4% for progressive passes per 90.

Mason Greenwood

13

Michael Olise

13

Lamine Yamal

11

Antoine Semenyo

9

Ilan Kebbal

9

Christian Pulisic

7

Romain Del Castillo

7

Domenico Berardi

7

Ritsu Doan

7

Bryan Mbeumo

7

In essence, everything he does is with an attacking thought in mind, possessing that Fernandes-esque knack for being able to unlock a defence with a moment of genius.

There is also an at-times erratic quality that comes with that approach, like the Portuguese, having lost possession on average 17 times a game in Germany’s top-flight.

He is a risk-taker, however, and as Monday showcased, United could certainly do with more of that.

Having – perhaps rightly – allowed the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to depart, while clipping Fernandes’ wings, this is a squad in desperate need of a game-changer. Olise might just be that.

Worse than Bruno & Casemiro: Amorim can't start Man Utd duo together again

This change could help turn Man Utd’s season around.

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 26, 2025

Chelsea are prepared to make another move for a “fantastic” BlueCo target after already seeing an offer rejected, according to a new report.

Chelsea enjoy big spending summer but still lack in key areas

Last summer, Enzo Maresca’s side marked themselves out as the Premier League’s second-biggest spenders behind champions Liverpool — splashing north of £280 million on new recruits.

Chelsea balanced out this major squad investment by agreeing a plethora of player sales over the course of the window, so much so that they actually a registered a negative net spend and made a small profit.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

From a purely business perspective, the summer was an undoubted success, and Maresca watched the likes of teenage sensation Estevao – who just scored a winner against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge – Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho all come in to bolster his attacking options.

However, bar the signing of young defender Jorrel Hato from Ajax, Chelsea finished the window short of new options for their backline.

After Levi Colwill’s ACL injury, which is expected to keep him out for most of 2025/2026, Maresca was clear that he wanted another centre-back and publicly urged the club to sign one before deadline day on September 1.

This wasn’t to be, leaving the west Londoners pretty short of quality in a key area, while Chelsea’s attempts to sign another goalkeeper also faltered.

Maresca is believed to be unhappy with his current Chelsea squad (Simon Phillips), but reports suggest that they’re set to try and back the Italian with a proven defender in January (Pete O’Rourke).

Meanwhile, given Delap will take a while to get back up to speed once he returns from injury, Chelsea are also looking at new striker options for the winter market — who’d come in for a cheap fee, on loan or are possibly already owned by BlueCo (Simon Phillips).

Chelsea could even choose to bring in another winger, specifically Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

Chelsea to make second Kenan Yildz approach after rejected £61m offer

Fabrizio Romano has already confirmed that Chelsea are “very interested” in Yildiz, and now a report from Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport has shed more light on the situation.

According to their information, Chelsea had a £61m million bid rejected for the Turkey international rejected last summer, but Maresca’s side aren’t resigned to giving up on his signing just yet.

It is believed that Chelsea will make a second approach for Yildiz, with the Old Lady running into some delay regarding his new contract and the Stamford Bridge side sensing an opportunity to take him from Turin.

The 20-year-old was Juve’s star forward last season, racking up 12 goals and nine assists in all competitions, totalling 21 contributions, and he averaged the highest Serie A match rating out of all of his teammates with more than 15 starts (WhoScored).

He’s started this campaign in equally imperious fashion, averaging more shots and key passes per 90 than any other Juve player in the top flight (WhoScored), but Romano says that the Premier League isn’t that tempting for him right now amid renewal talks.

Two-time Champions League winners FC Porto may not be the force they once were, but they still have a number of quality players on their books.

The Dragons have an annual payroll of €30,910,000 for the 2025/26 season, with the average player earning just over €1.1m per season. Every FC Porto player in the first-team squad has been ranked in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the season, with the help of Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Jakub Kiwior

€66,731

€3,470,000

Luuk de Jong

€48,077

€2,500,000

Jan Bednarek

€48,077

€2,500,000

Pepe

€48,077

€2,500,000

Gabri Veiga

€38,462

€2,000,000

Alberto Costa

€36,923

€1,920,000

Samu Omorodion

€31,346

€1,630,000

Diogo Costa

€27,692

€1,440,000

Nehuen Perez

€27,692

€1,440,000

Alan Varela

€24,038

€1,250,000

Pablo Rosario

€22,115

€1,150,000

Borja Sainz

€22,115

€1,150,000

Rodrigo Mora

€18,462

€960,000

Victor Froholdt

€18,462

€960,000

Pedro Lima

€17,308

€900,000

Francisco Moura

€16,731

€870,000

Zaidu Sanusi

€15,000

€780,000

Claudio Ramos

€11,154

€580,000

Joao Costa

€11,154

€580,000

William Gomes

€9,231

€480,000

Stephen Eustaquio

€8,462

€440,000

Martim Fernandes

€7,308

€380,000

Dominik Prpic

€7,308

€380,000

Deniz Gul

€6,731

€350,000

Tomas Perez

€5,769

€300,000

Here's a detailed look at FC Porto's top 10 earners… 10 Alan Varela €24,038 per week

Alan Varela signed a new deal with FC Porto in 2025, seeing his salary increase by €10,000 per week.

The Argentine midfielder has gone from strength to strength in Portugal and is now under contract until 2030.

9 Nehuen Perez €24,038 per week

Centre-back Nehuen Perez made the move to FC Porto from Udinese in 2024.

The Argentina international was only on loan at the Estadio do Dragao, but he made a move permanent in 2025.

8 Diogo Costa €27,692 per week

Academy graduate Diogo Costa made his senior debut for FC Porto in 2019 and hasn’t looked back.

The Portugal international has gone on to be first-choice for club and country in recent years and has even been linked with a big-money move away, so eventually, FC Porto could cash in on one of the best goalkeepers in the game today.

7 Samu Omorodion €31,346 per week

It looked as if Samu Omorodion would be joining Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2024, but after a deal broke down, FC Porto came in and secured the forward’s services.

The youngster made an instant impact in Portugal, scoring 11 goals in his first 10 appearances in all competitions.

6 Alberto Costa €36,923 per week

Portuguese full-back Alberto Costa returned to his native country in 2025 after a brief spell in Italy with Juventus.

The former Vitoria S.C right-back cost Porto €15m and signed a five-year contract.

5 Gabri Veiga €38,462 per week

Gabri Veiga was handed the number 10 shirt after signing for Porto from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in 2025.

Like Costa, Veiga also cost €15m and signed a deal until 2030 and can play as an attacking midfielder or out wide.

4 Pepe €40,385 per week

Not to be mistaken with the iconic centre-back who also played for FC Porto, Brazilian winger Pepe is one of three players on €48,077 per week.

After joining from Gremio in 2021, Pepe is under contract until 2027.

3 Jan Bednarek €40,385 per week

After eight years as a Southampton player, Jan Bednarek swapped St Mary’s for FC Porto in 2025 in a deal worth €7.5m.

The centre-back signed a four-year deal and is set to earn €10m in wages during that time.

2 Luuk de Jong €40,385 per week

Experienced striker Luuk de Jong was announced as a shock signing during one of FC Porto’s pre-season fixtures at the Estadio do Dragao.

He didn’t cost Porto a penny, allowing them to give De Jong a €2.5m per year deal.

1 Jakub Kiwior €66,731 per week

Top of the list as FC Porto’s hughest paid player for 2025/26 is defender Jakub Kiwior, who is on loan from Arsenal for the season.

The Poland international found game time hard to come by at the Emirates and there is thought to be an obligation for a deal to become permanent in 2026.

Newcastle United booked their place in the next round of the League Cup with a 4-1 win against Bradford at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night.

The Magpies are, of course, the defending champions of the competition after they beat Liverpool to lift the trophy at Wembley earlier this year.

Eddie Howe’s side were already 3-0 up by the time that the away side grabbed their consolation goal, which meant that the result was never in any serious doubt at any point.

Despite the convincing and comfortable nature of the overall team performance and result, some players did not showcase the best of themselves. Lewis Miley was one of those players.

Why Lewis Miley will be disappointed with his performance

It was a frustrating night for the academy graduate. Not because he was awful from start to finish, but because he let himself down with a few silly errors mixed into an impressive all-round showing.

Miley won six of his nine duels, completed 92% of his attempted passes, and created three chances for his teammates, per Sofascore. This shows that he was strong in his physical contests and creative with the ball at his feet.

However, the England U19 international produced two too many sloppy moments with the ball in his own defensive third, with two errors that led to shots for Bradford, one of which led to a goal.

As you can see in the clip above, Miley tried a risky lofted pass on the edge of his own penalty area and gave the ball away cheaply for Andy Cook’s goal, which was a stunning strike.

The 19-year-old central midfielder was not the worst player on the pitch for the Magpies, though, as it is Emil Krafth who must be ruthlessly ditched by Howe.

Why Newcastle must drop Emil Krafth

The Sweden international was handed a rare chance to impress by the head coach, having not played a single minute of football this season heading into the clash with Bradford.

Krafth, who played 18 times in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, did not take that opportunity to show that he deserves more minutes in the first team.

Instead, the rarely-seen 31-year-old defender showed supporters and Howe why he has not had much game time with the Magpies in the last 18 months with an incredibly underwhelming performance against the League One outfit.

Minutes

61

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Blocks

0

Ground duels won

0/3

Aerial duels won

0/0

Error led to shot

1

As you can see in the table above, Krafth offered very little to the team out of possession, failing to win a a single duel, and made an error that led to a shot for the opposition.

Playing against a lower league side, in a 4-1 win, at St. James’ Park should have freed up Krafth to push forward and offer a threat as an attacking force, but he ended his time on the pitch without any ‘big chances’ created and only one key pass.

Because of his error that led to a shot for the opposition, the experienced defender created as many chances for Bradford as he did for Newcastle (one) in his 61 minutes on the pitch.

He was even worse than Miley against Bradford because the midfielder, at least, created a ‘big chance’ and won the majority of his duels, which meant that the youngster had good and bad moments. Krafth, meanwhile, did not do enough on or off the ball in the game.

PIF now serious about cut-price signing after Howe tells them what he's missing

They could land a bargain deal…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 24, 2025

Therefore, Howe must ruthlessly ditch the Swedish flop from the starting XI in order to bring Kieran Trippier or Tino Livramento back into the side to face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Liverpool’s summer has been a whirlwind of activity, both in the transfer market and on the pitch.

The reigning Premier League champions kicked off their title defence with three wins from three.

They started with a 4-2 home victory against Bournemouth, followed by a hard-fought 3-2 win away at Newcastle, and a 1-0 success at home against Arsenal before the international break.

Alongside this, Liverpool have been busy in the transfer market, bringing in reinforcements like Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Geovani Leoni, Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and Alexander Isak.

While the club invested heavily in top-tier talent, they also opted to cash in on a number of established first-team players and youth prospects.

Luis Diaz departed for Bayern Munich, and Darwin Núñez moved to Al-Hilal, leaving gaps in attack that the new signings are expected to fill.

Meanwhile, Liverpool also demonstrated strategic acumen in monetising young talent, turning promising academy graduates into substantial profits.

Selling young talent for big fees

This summer saw Liverpool secure impressive deals for their emerging stars.

Harvey Elliott joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan, with a £35m obligation to buy next summer, while Jarell Quansah departed for Bayer Leverkusen, also for £35m.

Ben Gannon Doak moved to Bournemouth for £25m, and Tyler Morton headed to Lyon for £15m.

These deals illustrate how Liverpool balance long-term planning with immediate financial prudence, often selling young players at the peak of their market value to reinvest in first-team quality.

Where Are They Now

Liverpool’s approach highlights their willingness to nurture talent in-house and then sell at the right time.

By capitalising on these transfer opportunities, the club can maintain squad balance while generating funds for strategic signings.

Liverpool’s original Wirtz is a fine example of that.

Liverpool's original Wirtz

One of the standout examples of Liverpool’s successful youth sales is Fabio Carvalho.

The 23-year-old midfielder joined Liverpool from Fulham in 2022 for just £5m, having made 44 appearances for the Cottagers, scoring 12 goals and registering eight assists.

Jürgen Klopp was a fan of the young talent, seeing in him a player with the vision and technical ability that the Bundesliga’s official website claimed was reminiscent of Florian Wirtz.

Carvalho’s time at Anfield, however, was challenging. Like Wirtz in the embryonic stages of his Anfield stay, he has struggled.

The former Fulham man made just 21 appearances for Liverpool, scoring three goals, including a dramatic last-minute winner against Newcastle, but he struggled to cement a regular starting role.

Loan spells at RB Leipzig and Hull City followed, before a permanent move to Brentford last summer for £27.5m.

The sale represented a 450% profit on Liverpool’s initial investment, showcasing the club’s ability to develop talent and sell at the right moment.

Carvalho’s statistics highlight why Liverpool’s decision to sell him made sense.

Matches Played

13

Minutes Played

347

Goals

2

Progressive Carries

9

Progressive Passes

12

After making the switch to the Bees, he averaged 1.76 progressive carries per 90, completed 3.33 progressive passes per 90, and managed 2.37 shots per 90 with a shot on target percentage of 41.7%.

He completed 34.9 passes per 90 minutes with a pass completion rate of 70.8%, and his progressive passing distance per 90 was 86.7 metres.

His shot-creating actions per 90 sat at 1.97. While these numbers indicate promise, they also illustrate the gap between Carvalho and his elite contemporaries.

While Carvalho’s technical style was previously likened to Wirtz, particularly for his first touch, vision, and ability to turn quickly under pressure, it’s safe to say there is a seismic difference in quality.

Indeed, the German superstar enjoyed a stellar season last year with 22 goal involvements.

He averaged 5.02 progressive carries per 90, 6.74 progressive passes per 90, and 2.83 shots per 90 with 47.3% on target.

The Germany international completed 52.5 passes per 90 with a pass completion rate of 78.3% and accumulated 198.1 metres of progressive passing per 90.

He also generated 5.66 shot-creating actions per 90. The statistical comparison underlines why Liverpool opted to sell Carvalho.

Wirtz clearly outdoes him in multiple attacking metrics, particularly in goal contributions, progressive play, and chance creation.

However, Carvalho’s style, combining technical vision and composure, suggests that with regular game time he could still flourish in a competitive Premier League environment, as he has begun to at Brentford.

Ultimately, the sale of Carvalho demonstrates Liverpool’s dual strategy: build a squad capable of competing at the highest level, while monetising promising academy talent to reinvest in first-team needs.

Whilst it may be upsetting to see promising talent move on, the club’s market strategy highlights a balance between ambition and smart business.

Slot can bench Wirtz by unleashing Liverpool star who's "Gerrard-esque"

Florian Wirtz has endured a tough start at Liverpool.

ByWill Miller Sep 8, 2025

Chelsea are through to the last 16 of the Club World Cup and remain in contention to win the tournament, but off the field, BlueCo are making plans to reinforce Enzo Maresca’s squad further ahead of his second season in charge.

Chelsea make approach for £103k-a-week Barcelona legend who Man United want

The Blues face competition from both Manchester clubs.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 24, 2025

New signing Liam Delap scored his first goal for the club during their 3-0 win over ES Tunis this morning, with their opponents failing to register a single shot on target as Tosin Adarabioyo and Tyrique George also rounded off a routine victory for the Blues.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Chelsea will now face Portuguese heavyweights Benfica in the first knockout round, and there is every possibility that Maresca’s side can go on to lift the trophy whilst securing a massive £97 million financial windfall for the club.

“The performance, for me, was good,” said Maresca after Chelsea’s win over ES Tunis.

“It was not easy and until we scored the first goal, it was difficult to break their defensive line down. We were quite patient, and when we scored the first goal, the game became a little more open and a little easier for us.

“It’s impossible not to rotate players because playing every three days in these conditions means it’s not possible for them to play every game. The ones that played were good, and we’ve given some rest to Moi, Trev, Levi, Cucu, Cole, Pedro, many players. It’s important to recover the energy and try to win the next game.”

Chelsea have been plying their trade in near unplayable weather conditions, with the American heat causing major issues for Maresca’s side and other teams competing at the CWC.

To help lighten the load, Chelsea could take advantage of a unique player registration period. From June 27 to July 3, Chelsea are allowed to add players to their CWV roster, including new signings, on the condition they haven’t already featured for another team at the tournament.

This would rule out Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens, who is reliably believed to be closing in on a move to Chelsea, but Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande could link up with the squad if they advance on a deal for the Ivorian.

Chelsea looking to negotiate cut-price Ousmane Diomande move

TEAMtalk reported in the last few days that Maresca is a “huge fan” of Diomande and has him near the top of Chelsea’s target list for defenders.

The 21-year-old’s contract includes a £68 million release clause too, but according to an update from CaughtOffside, the west Londoners don’t fancy paying this fee.

Indeed, it is believed that Chelsea are “looking to negotiate” a lower fee with Sporting to sign Diomande, and they reiterate how convinced Maresca is by the African defender’s quality.

They’re said to be “very” keen on signing the Primeira Liga starlet, and Sporting are open to considering a bid slightly beneath his clause. However, amid interest from Newcastle United and Real Madrid, Maresca faces stiff competition for one of his top targets.

Mohamed Salah signed a two-year contract extension in April to keep him at Liverpool for the upcoming two seasons, ensuring Arne Slot has usage of his talisman as he looks to plunder further riches after an incredible term.

Liverpool won the Premier League in their first season since Jurgen Klopp stepped down from his post, and Salah was the main man. The Egypt international, who turned 33 last week, scored 29 goals and added 18 assists en route to the title, becoming the first man to achieve 47 goal involvements in a single 38-game English top-flight campaign.

However, as he gets older, Salah could do with some cover, especially with Federico Chiesa looking to return to his Italian homeland. Thus, a new right-sided forward should be signed.

How curious that Salah might be replaced by Liverpool’s next version of Sadio Mane.

Liverpool lining up new winger

What a summer this has been for the mighty Reds already. Florian Wirtz is expected to arrive in a jaw-dropping £116m deal, joining from Bayer Leverkusen alongside Jeremie Frimpong, while Milos Kerkez is set to sign from Bournemouth too.

Who could be next? Well, it might be another English-based player according to reports.

As per Caught Offside, Liverpool have entered the race for Southampton star Tyler Dibling, who is likely to leave St. Mary’s this summer. Chelsea are also keen, however, no official talks have taken place yet.

RB Leipzig have already seen a €35m (£30m) bid rejected for the England U21 international, with relegated Saints instead holding out for something more like €60m (£51m).

With so many teams in the race, Liverpool will need to act quickly to ensure they secure the signature of a teenage prospect who has the potential to become a superstar.

Why Liverpool should sign Tyler Dibling

Described as an “unreal talent” by analyst Ben Mattinson, there’s certainly something special about Dibling’s style, with his flamboyant dribbling, fast pace and capacity to manoeuvre out from tight spaces underscoring his potential in the Premier League.

Southampton endured a miserable campaign as they crashed back into the Championship, but the 19-year-old Dibling was a breath of fresh air, dynamic and positionally flexible, while simultaneously showing an attacking instinct which could be sharpened into something deadly over the coming years.

Who knows, given he has made his name with Southampton, Dibling might even prove Liverpool’s next version of Mane, certainly boasting the elasticity and electricity of the Senegalese legend, if not yet the crisp ball-striking.

Right winger

13

1

0

Attacking midfield

7

1

2

Centre-forward

5

2

1

Right wing-back

1

0

0

Mane joined Liverpool from the southern outfit way back in 2016, in a deal worth £34m. Mane, 24 upon signing, had spent two seasons with Southampton, scoring 25 goals and laying on ten assists.

He had pace and skills and all the rest, but it was under the Anfield lights that he became a superstar, Klopp fashioning him into one of the world’s best.

Now, Dibling could do the same, but with a new man at the helm. The English youngster has even been called by former Saints Under-21 head coach Adam Asghar a “special” and “fearless” talent who “is an unbelievable ball-carrier and is always impacting games.”

He’s like a young Mane in that way, and indeed, would actually be making the move to Merseyside five years the left-sided forward’s junior, when he made the leap from Southampton.

Dibling would provide relief for Salah while proving himself useful across a range of different positions as Liverpool look to challenge for silverware across multiple fronts.

He’s the real deal, and Liverpool need to bring him over before they lose him to a divisional rival.

Their new Mo Salah: Liverpool favourites to sign "incredible" £84m striker

Liverpool are planning to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 16, 2025

Manchester United are in desperate need of a summer clear-out.

For far too long, mediocrity has been accepted at Old Trafford, which has now led to a season from hell for the Red Devils, finishing in a dreadful 15th place in the Premier League under Ruben Amorim.

Marcus Rashford is surely a certainty to exit the building for good, having spent the latter stages of United’s bumpy campaign on loan at Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

Whilst he did breathe life back into his stuttering playing days at Villa Park, the bridges have already been burnt for the homegrown attacker in Manchester, with a new destination on the cards for the much-talked-about 27-year-old.

The latest on Rashford's future at Man United

A mightily impressive four goals and five assists donning Villa claret and blue still won’t be enough for Rashford to repair his damaged Old Trafford reputation.

Rashford’s exit route out of the building started to come into view when he was dropped for the Manchester Derby late last year by Amorim, leading to the Manchester-born number nine then finding himself rooted to the bench from that point onwards.

It’s a terribly sad ending for Rashford at his boyhood club, considering he was able to boast a hefty 215 goal contributions for United when he was a first-team regular.

But, now, it looks as if there’s no way back for the 27-year-old, with a dream move to Hansi Flick’s Barcelona reportedly in the offing.

He isn’t the only regular at the Theatre of Dreams that could soon be moved on with Amorim’s cutthroat mentality.

Not just Rashford: Man Utd star who is "like Giggs" must be axed

United supporters will be keen for a rebuild this summer, but there will be a certain tinge of sadness as to how Rashford’s journey will end, alongside Alejandro Garnacho’s potential departure.

The 20-year-old winger was previously viewed as a bright spark rising the ranks, with ex-Red Devils midfielder Paul Ince once even holding the attacker in the same high esteem as Giggs for his daring approach on the ball.

His unbelievable potential hasn’t just been all bold talk, however, with the Argentine sensation also pulling off wonder goals such as his acrobatic overhead kick against Everton.

But, despite tallying up a sturdy 48 goal contributions from 144 Old Trafford clashes away from just this moment of magic, his future at the club is up in the air after a public fall-out with Amorim saw him axed from the Europa League final.

Senior team

144

26

22

U18s

31

16

7

U21s

16

5

2

UEFA U19s

7

2

1

Chelsea and Napoli are now reportedly sniffing around for the academy product for around the £50m mark and if they do receive a bid like that, they must take it.

After all, United’s finances aren’t in the best of places and after failing to secure any European football, they will need all the cash they can get. Bruno Fernandes has been linked with a mega-money move to Saudi but understandably, Amorim would rather cash in on Garnacho. That’s wise in this instance.

Yet, Rashford showed there’s still plenty to see in the footballing world away from the Theatre of Dreams during his brief Villa excursion so they must learn their lesson from that situation.

As a result, the wantaway winger will pray he goes on to have a successful career away from the shackles of United, with Amorim desperate to stamp his authority no matter what.

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Tottenham Hotspur will let Mathys Tel go back to Bayern Munich this summer if they can sign a highly-rated forward, according to a report this week, with Spurs holding a “concrete” interest heading into the first summer window on June 1.

Tottenham's option to buy Mathys Tel may be renegotiated

After a mixed first season at Spurs for Tel, with the Frenchman bagging just three goals and an assist in 20 total appearances so far, there are suggestions that chairman Daniel Levy will seek to bring his costs down.

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The Lilywhites have an option to buy Tel permanently for around £42 million, which was negotiated when Spurs signed the versatile attacker on loan in January, but Levy apparently wants to renegotiate the fee needed to make him a Tottenham player next term.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

GiveMeSport and some reports from Germany indicate that Spurs will enter discussions with Bayern over a fresh deal for Tel, with the former claiming Ange Postecoglou’s side wish to bring his price down to somewhere around the £30 million mark.

The 20-year-old has displayed flashes of real promise during his time in N17, but there are arguments that Tel needs to improve his consistency and output in front of goal, so it will be intriguing to see whether Levy can whittle down Bayern’s asking price or move on to other targets.

Interestingly, credible reports this week have started linking Tottenham with another Bayern star – £242,000-per-week winger Leroy Sane – who is out of contract this summer as things stand.

Super-agent Pini Zahavi was pictured meeting with Bayern chiefs again over the prospect of a new deal, and the lengthy ongoing saga surrounding whether he’ll remain has motivated Premier League sides to consider him.

The 29-year-old has reportedly been offered to many clubs in England (Graeme Bailey), while some German media sources claim that Tottenham are currently the strongest contender to sign Sane on a Bosman deal (Sport Bild).

Tottenham unlikely to sign Mathys Tel if they seal Leroy Sane deal

The likelihood of them sealing a deal for the “dangerous” ex-Man City forward will have a knock-on effect when it comes to Tel’s future, according to Bundesliga insider Christian Falk.

Falk tells FC Bayern that, if Tottenham manage to sign Sane, they’re “unlikely” to pursue a permanent deal for Tel.

Spurs are said to hold a “concrete” interest in the former, and his agent Zahavi has a “very close” relationship with Levy, who is actively looking to find a suitable landing spot for his client if they cannot agree fresh terms with Bayern.

While Vincent Kompany’s side are attempting to restructure Sane’s initial contract offer to better suit the German, there remains a strong possibility that he chooses a move to London, especially considering his family currently reside in the English capital.

While signing a new centre forward is top of new sporting director Andrea Berta’s wishlist at Arsenal this summer, the need to strengthen in other areas of the pitch is also strong.

The Gunners have been severely hamstrung – pardon the pun – by injuries this season, notably in their forward line.

Though, there’s also been a huge degree of inconsistency, chiefly at left wing where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have scored just eight goals each in the Premier League.

So, where will Mikel Arteta and Co turn to in their bid to add an extra dose of spice to their attack?

Arsenal chasing big-money winger

For over a year now, Arsenal have been exploring a move for Spanish winger Nico Williams.

The Bilbao star dazzled at the European Championships last summer, famously scoring a goal in the final against England.

However, after no club signed him last year, interest hasn’t dampened in the young forward. He reportedly dreams of a move to Barcelona but their finances are still extremely tight. As a result, English clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea have both been interested.

If the Gunners have room for a pricier addition, perhaps AC Milan’s Rafael Leao could be their man.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Arsenal have been linked with a move in the past but their interest is now ramping up ahead of the summer, with Football Insider reporting that they are now ‘working on signing’ the Portuguese sensation.

One problem could be the player’s release clause which currently stands at an almighty £145m according to claims in Italy.

How Rafael Leao compares to Nico Williams

While Williams is quite clearly one of the most exciting young wingers in the game right now, there is an argument to suggest that his output needs improving.

This feels like a player simply ready to explode in a better side but the fact remains that he has only scored five times in LaLiga this term and 11 in all competitions.

If Arsenal are looking to add more goals to their side then perhaps Leao, despite a heftier price tag, would be a more exciting candidate here.

Described as a “superstar” by scout Jacek Kulig, he may have only scored one more than Williams in 2024/25, but he’s got a history for finding the net with consistent regularity, now reaching double figures in each of the last four campaigns. On that evidence, it’s no surprise to see that data analyst Ben Mattinson noted that he is “clinical off both feet.”

Goals

0.32

0.22

Assists

0.32

0.34

Shot on target %

39%

35%

Key passes

2.18

1.85

Progressive passes

3.91

2.89

Shot-creating actions

4.62

4.96

Succesful take-ons

2.53

3.21

Take-on success %

48%

40%

Progressive carries

5.27

5.52

When diving deeper into the numbers, the play style of each winger becomes clearer. They are both ‘carry-first’ attackers, driving at players and committing their full-back. This is what Arsenal need more of in the final third so that’s one box ticked.

Williams registers more take-ons but it’s actually Leao who appears to be more effective in one-on-one situations, registering a higher success rate.

Crucially, while the Milan sensation is a goalscorer, he’s also creative and in this Arsenal team he could take his assist numbers to the next level considering he actually ranks higher than Williams for key passes over the last two seasons.

Ultimately, Berta will have to be wise with how he spends the Kroenke’s cash this summer and thus, Leao may not be possible. However, if they are able to sign a striker and still raise additional funds, the 25-year-old should be the man they go for on the flanks.

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