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Ruben Amorim may have had one transfer window to get his feet under the window but despite the arrival of Patrick Dorgu, Manchester United have not made much headway.

Amorim has failed to win 20 of his 33 matches in the Old Trafford hotseat and the constant chopping and changing was there for all to see when Dorgu didn’t even start on Sunday.

Instead, young Harry Amass made his Premier League bow and in the words of Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst, he ‘did not look remotely out of his depth.’

So, there is a bright future at United if those players can be nurtured well. Amorim has some cracking young players at his disposal, notably Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven. Frenchman Leny Yoro forms part of that too.

Who will join in the summer? United fans will hope this Premier League star does.

Man United's hunt for new attackers

When Joshua Zirkzee went off injured on Sunday in the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle, you could see the pain not just in his eye but his manager’s eyes too. This was not what they needed.

Zirkzee, although not a rampant scorer, has begun to find his feet in Manchester but Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles continue. He has scored just once at club level since December.

That explains links to Wolves star Matheus Cunha with reports in recent weeks suggesting that United would like to bring the forward in over the summer.

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

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However, according to reports in Spain, he’s not the only Premier League star on the club’s radar ahead of the next transfer window.

This report notes that United have gone as far as to submit a huge bid to sign Aston Villa’s talisman, Morgan Rogers.

Now capped by England, the attacker is the subject of a £70m offer from INEOS, but sadly for those of a Red Devils persuasion, Villa boss Unai Emery deems him to be ‘untouchable’ this summer.

Their interest in the player is deemed ‘serious’ but it’s unclear whether Emery and Co will be willing to negotiate.

How Morgan Rogers could be the new Wayne Rooney

Once of Manchester City’s youth academy, Rogers has been around the houses in his bid to become a top-flight star.

The 22-year-old was at West Brom before City picked him and then he found a home at Middlesbrough, scoring seven goals and supplying nine assists in 33 outings.

Villa saw enough in that brief stint on Teeside to bring him to the Midlands in a deal worth just an initial £8m. That’s proven to be a bargain.

Morgan Rogers progression @ senior level

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2020/21

28

6

2

2021/22

17

1

0

2022/23

22

1

1

2023/24

49

10

10

2024/25

46

14

12

Stats via Transfermarkt.

Rogers is now an England international and deservedly so after a smashing campaign, not just domestically but in Europe too.

He has scored a Champions League hat-trick and bagged against PSG, taking his tally of goals for the season to 14 in 46 games. The forward has also posted 12 assists.

Capable of playing off the flanks, as a central striker and most notably in the no.10 role, his form has drawn comparisons to Wayne Rooney.

Wazza had a different footballing education. Thrown into Premier League life as a teenager, it was at United where he became a global phenomenon. A centre-forward by trade, Rooney ended up playing behind the striker, as Rogers is doing now.

After catching the eye against Latvia in the last international break, it was Glenn Hoddle who made the comparison.

Boasting similar builds at a young age – a stockier frame – it helps to propel defenders away. That said, it’s not just their upper body strength that is comparable.

Rogers possesses that low centre of gravity and ability to brush off his opponents with pace and close-knit control, just as a young Rooney was so famously doing for England and United all those years ago.

With that quality in mind, it’s arguably not much of a surprise to see him rank among the division’s finest when it comes to dribbling and successfully taking on a player.

While the Villa star is yet to find the same level of ability in front of goal as Rooney had at the same age, still just 22, there is plenty of room for him to become a more lethal attacking player.

Related Worse than Bayindir: 4/10 Man Utd flop should be nowhere near Amorim's XI

Manchester United were battered by Newcastle United on Sunday evening.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Apr 13, 2025

Nottingham Forest are in for an exciting end to the season under Nuno Espírito Santo, with their Champions League ambitions firmly within their own hands.

The Reds are just two points off third place with five games to go, with their game in hand against Brentford on Thursday night crucial to any success they could achieve in the near future.

If they were to finish in the top five and secure elite European football, it would be a truly remarkable feat, opening the doors for added investment from owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Given the Greek’s previous tendencies within the transfer market, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him once again delve into the window and splash the cash to sustain such success endured in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

With the window not far from opening, plans have already been put in place to help the side compete at the top level on a consistent basis, resulting in numerous names touted with a move to the City Ground.

An update on Forest’s pursuit of new signings this summer

Qualification for the Champions League could see Forest handed a huge injection of cash to invest further, handing Nuno the tools to try and repeat similar success for many years to come.

Matheus Cunha has been one name constantly touted for a move to join the Reds in recent months, but it appears that the Wolves star is in favour of a deal with Manchester United.

As a result, Manchester City attacker James McAtee has emerged as the club’s top target ahead of the summer window, according to Football Insider’s latest report.

They state that the 22-year-old is in favour of a switch to the East Midlands to kickstart his career after making just two league starts at the Etihad this campaign.

With just over a year left on his current deal in Manchester, Pep Guardiola’s men could be tempted to cash in, with other reports claiming a deal could set the Reds back £30m.

Why the £30m PL star would be perfect alongside Gibbs-White

Morgan Gibbs-White has been one of Forest’s leading stars over the last few seasons in the Premier League, joining in a deal totalling £42.5m in the summer of 2022.

He’s registered 16 goals and 25 assists in his 113 appearances for the club, even taking the captain’s armband in the absence of academy graduate Ryan Yates.

Such form has led to links with Manchester City over the last couple of weeks, but Nuno’s side appear to be holding firm on their £100m asking price for the England international.

Undoubtedly, all supporters will be wanting to keep hold of the 25-year-old this summer, potentially striking up a superb partnership with McAtee in the final third on the banks of the River Trent.

The City talent, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist Zach Lowy, has completed 90% of the passes he’s attempted to date, whilst also achieving 67% dribbles completed – having the tools to provide endless opportunities in the final third.

James McAtee’s stats for Manchester City in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

15

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

90%

Dribbles completed

67%

Duels won

54%

Recoveries made

5

Progressive carries

2.8

Stats via FotMob

However, despite his outstanding attacking figures, he’s also impressed without the ball, winning 54% of duels and completing five recoveries per 90 – fitting into Nuno’s hard-working and counter-attacking system at the City Ground.

The most important aspect of the manager’s tactic is to take the opportunities that present themselves when in attacking areas, something which the City youngster has done, as seen by his tally of three league goals in 2024/25.

There’s no denying that Gibbs-White has been the player the Reds have relied upon to create chances for other attackers this campaign, subsequently putting too much pressure on the midfielder to perform.

A move for McAtee this summer would help balance the attacking output across the squad, handing the manager another superb option in forward areas to cause damage in transition.

£30m may seem like a hefty sum for the 22-year-old, but should he get anywhere close to the levels produced by Gibbs-White in recent seasons, it would be a bargain – potentially allowing for another huge profit in years to come.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 24, 2025

This summer is a huge window for Manchester United if they are to overturn their lack of success in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, currently sitting in 14th position.

However, despite their lowly league standing, the Red Devils could find themselves in the Champions League next season should they manage to win the Europa League in the coming weeks.

If they are to compete at the top level, all areas of the pitch are in need of investment to inject the needed quality and depth to take the side back to their former glory.

Undoubtedly, sales are needed to provide Ruben Amorim with the funds he requires to make the necessary changes to his squad to try and push them back towards the summit of England’s top-flight.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, work is already being done behind the scenes as Amorim prepares for an overhaul of the Red Devils side this summer.

The latest on United’s pursuit of new attackers

Over the last few weeks, countless attackers have been linked with a move to United, including Liam Delap, who was seen as the club’s number one option for the centre-forward role.

However, no deal appears to have progressed despite his £30m relegation release clause, with the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle United entering the race for his signature in recent weeks.

It appears that the Red Devils have switched their attentions to other targets in the form of Viktor Gyokeres, that’s if the recent reports from Spain are to be believed.

It’s been reported that United have stepped up their attempts to land the Sporting CP striker, advancing talks and making contact with the player’s representatives ahead of the summer.

It also states that they are considering making a lucrative offer to the player and club to hand Amorim a reunion with the player who thrived under his guidance in Portugal.

Why United’s target would be perfect with Cunha

Matheus Cunha is another player who has emerged on United’s shortlist over the last couple of weeks, with the Brazilian potentially becoming their first signing this summer.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed that the Red Devils have already been in talks with Wolves over a deal for his signature, whilst also willing to trigger his £62.5m release clause.

The 25-year-old himself is open to a switch to Old Trafford, regardless of whether or not the side secure a place in the Champions League next season.

Cunha would be signed to operate in the number ten role behind the striker in Amorim’s side, handing strikers endless chances – based upon his figures of 2.1 chances created and 2.2 dribbles completed.

Such tallies would fall perfectly into the hands of Gyokeres, who could certainly end United’s pursuit of a new talisman, taking the side to the next level as a result.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one Portuguese analyst, has registered 52 goals in 48 appearances in 2024/25, potentially forming a deadly partnership with Cunha in forward areas.

He’s also managed to register 2.6 shots on target per 90 and complete 49% of the dribbles he’s attempted in the Liga Portugal – offering a constant threat to all opposition backlines.

Viktor Gyokeres’ stats for Sporting in 2024/25

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

30

Goals scored

38

Pass accuracy

75%

Shots on target

2.6

Dribbles completed

49%

Aerials won

55%

Touches in the opposition box

10.7

Stats via FotMob

Gyokeres has also impressed as a focal point, winning 55% of the aerial duels he’s entered, allowing the likes of Cunha to link up and play off him, bolstering his own goalscoring tallies as a result.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Sporting talisman would set the hierarchy back in the coming months, it’s evident that he would massively bolster the attacking department.

The prospect of the pair linking up together at Old Trafford is certainly an exciting one for the supporters, with their talents hopefully pushing the club in the right direction ahead of 2025/26.

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Manchester United took a huge step towards the Europa League final last night with a 3-0 win over Athletic Club.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 2, 2025

Glasgow Rangers had little to play for but pride and bragging rights when they faced Celtic in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Their city rivals had already wrapped up the league title last weekend, resigning the Gers to another second-placed finish, but Barry Ferguson’s men restored some pride with a 1-1 draw in front of their home fans.

Cyriel Dessers scored the only goal of the opening 45 with a tidy finish just before the half-time break, slotting into the bottom corner with his left foot after Liam Scales failed to complete a tackle on him, before Adam Idah’s second-half equaliser.

The Nigerian forward held the corner flag aloft and basked in the joy of the home support, able to celebrate in view of away supporters, finally, in an Old Firm clash.

It was his 17th goal of the season in the Premiership and the Europa League combined, which is a respectable return but does not tell the full story of his campaign.

Why Rangers could sell Cyriel Dessers

With the summer transfer window on the horizon, Rangers will have some big decisions to make on the players currently in the squad, as they have now failed to win the title in each of the last four seasons.

The Light Blues have to find a way to improve and close the gap to Celtic in the league in order to compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign, and Dessers is one star who could be a candidate to move on from Ibrox.

During the Sky Sports commentary of the 1-1 draw with Celtic, former Gers midfielder Scott Arfield noted that Dessers is “on his heels” too often when the ball comes forward, which limits how effective the team can be in transition when passes are played down the sides of the defenders.

Cyriel Dessers (Premiereship)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

35

32

Goals

16

14

Assists

4

2

Pass accuracy

70%

73%

Duels won per game

2.3

1.9

Ground duel success rate

29%

33%

Aerial duel success rate

40%

32%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers striker struggles with the physical side of the game, losing the majority of his duels without winning many per game, and is not particularly reliable as a passer.

Dessers has also missed a whopping 59 ‘big chances’ in the Premiership and European competitions combined since the start of last season, which shows that the striker is very wasteful in front of goal to go along with his struggles out of possession.

The 30-year-old forward could, therefore, be sold if the new Rangers manager does not want him to be his first-choice striker, and that could be the case if the latest report is to be believed.

The latest on the Rangers manager search

According to Football Insider, Steven Gerrard has emerged as the leading candidate to take the permanent Rangers job as manager this summer.

The report claims that the English head coach is now the ‘favourite’ to land the role for the second time in his career, having left the club back in 2021.

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It states that the former Aston Villa boss, who is currently out of work, is the favourite to be appointed as the next Rangers manager ahead of Marco Rose, the former RB Leipzig tactician.

Football Insider reveals that the 49ers are expected to play a key role in the appointment and that the 4-3-3 favoured boss is currently at the top of their list of targets for the job.

If the iconic Liverpool midfielder does become the Gers manager for the second time, this could be bad news for Dessers and his future at Ibrox beyond this season.

Why Gerrard's appointment would be bad news for Dessers

The English boss returning for a second go at Ibrox would be bad news for the Nigeria international because of the kind of striker he liked in his first spell at the club.

Only Connor Goldson (182) and James Tavernier (178) made more appearances for Rangers as outfield players under his management than Alfredo Morelos (158), which illustrates how important the Colombian star was for him in Glasgow.

Gerrard, whose reputation was described as “amazing” by former England defender Glen Johnson, won the league title for the Gers in the 2020/21 campaign with the Colombia international as his main man up front.

Morelos, once described as a “real battering-ram” by ex-coach Scot Page, scored 12 goals and provided four assists in his 29 Premiership outings, but it was also the physicality in his performances that made him so influential for the Scottish giants.

Alfredo Morelos (Premiership)

20/21

21/22

Appearances

29

26

Goals

12

11

Assists

4

7

Pass accuracy

80%

80%

Duels won per game

3.7

4.1

Ground duel success rate

42%

41%

Aerial duel success rate

36%

48%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the powerful forward provided a physical presence in the number nine role for Gerrard, winning more duels and winning a higher percentage of his duels than Dessers has in his two seasons at Ibrox.

The current Rangers striker does not have the pace, the raw strength, or the mobility that Morelos consistently displayed under the English boss during that successful period in the club’s history, as evidenced by his struggles in the Premiership this season.

Dessers’ wasteful finishing in all competitions is another reason why Gerrard may not want the Nigerian number nine to lead the line for his team next season, should he be appointed as Ferguson’s successor this summer.

Therefore, the ex-Serie A marksman may not want the legendary former midfielder to get the job because it could spell the end of his career at Ibrox if he wants a forward who is similar to Morelos at Ibrox.

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 30, 2025

It is now down to the 49ers and Kevin Thelwell to convince Gerrard to take the job, if he is their favoured candidate, to bring glory back to the club next season and beyond.

Leeds United have been given a boost in their attempts to sign an up and coming young striker who has been compared to Wayne Rooney.

Leeds transfer rumours ramp up ahead of Premier League return

The 49ers Enterprises and Daniel Farke are preparing for Leeds’ return to the Premier League following a hugely successful Championship campaign which saw the Whites win the title with 100 points.

Premier League football will result in more money being available for Leeds, and chairman Paraag Marathe has admitted the club will splash all the cash that they are allowed on new signings.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb May 14, 2025

“Whatever they will let us spend, we’ll spend. I can comfortably say that we are going to spend the very last penny that we can. It’s what we need to go full tilt for the next three years.

“I’m under no illusions that it’s going to be easy… there’s an argument to be made that there’s a widening gap [between the Premier League and the Championship]. With all due respect to the other clubs, I think we’re different. We have an opportunity and we have scale that nobody else has.”

Adam Underwood is the new Leeds sporting director, whereas Robbie Evans has been promoted to managing director, and it is shaping up to be a busy first transfer market for the pair.

A number of players have been linked with moves to Elland Road, including Man City attacking midfielder James McAtee, Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi and San Lorenzo goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

A centre-forward addition to rival the likes of Championship Golden Boot winner Joel Piroe, Mateo Joseph and Patrick Bamford is also on the cards, with Besiktas centre-forward Semih Kılıçsoy of interest.

Leeds are preparing to move for the highly-rated teenager in the coming days, according to recent reports, and a promising new development has emerged.

Leeds given boost in race to sign Semih Kılıçsoy on loan from Besiktas

According to a fresh report from Turkey, relayed by Sport Witness, Besiktas have decided that Kılıçsoy can be loaned out for the 2025/26 season following talks between president Serdal Adalı, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and scouting director Eduard Graf.

Leeds are looking at a temporary deal for Kılıçsoy, so this will come as welcome news for the 49ers, Farke and Underwood. Compared to Rooney by analyst Ben Mattinson due to his “short, stocky build, powerful ball-striking and intelligent link-up play”, Kılıçsoy is under contract with the Super Lig side until 2028.

Semih Kılıçsoy stats at Besiktas

Games

82

Goals

16

Assists

9

Capable of playing as a centre-forward or on either wing, Kılıçsoy would offer a versatile attacking option for Farke and one who has made over 40 appearances in all competitions in 2024/25, scoring four goals and registering six assists.

The perfect night for Manchester City.

On Tuesday, the Citizens swatted aside Bournemouth 3-1 at the Etihad, meaning they require just a point at Craven Cottage on the final day to secure a 15th successive season of Champions League football.

Well, given that the Sky Blues have won each of their last 17 meetings with Fulham, a sequence that dates back to 2011, one would imagine that they’ll get the job done on the banks of the River Thames on Sunday.

Not only that, Rodri made his long-awaited return, introduced as a late substitute 240 days after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture against Arsenal in September.

Rodri Pep Guardiola Manchester City

Meantime, after the match, the Man City faithful paid tribute to Kevin De Bruyne, given that this was his last-ever appearance at the Etihad, widely considered to be the club’s greatest-ever player.

Looking ahead to the future, one player in particular impressed on the evening, giving Pep Guardiola food for thought going forward into the Club World Cup and next season.

How Manchester City swatted Bournemouth aside

Man City’s victory over Bournemouth was never really in doubt from the 14th minute onwards when Omar Marmoush’s absolute thunderbolt broke the deadlock, thwacking the post on its way in, giving Kepa Arrizabalaga no chance whatsoever.

This was the best genre of goal; one where those in attendance are gasping with disbelief at what they’ve just witnessed each time the strike is replayed to them on the jumbotron.

Bernardo Silva lashed home a second on the cusp of half time, before the Cherries were presented with a glimmer of hope, with Mateo Kovačić sent off for a last-man foul on Evanilson.

Nevertheless, just six minutes later, Lewis Cook was also dismissed by referee Thomas Bramall for a knee-high tackle, extinguishing any hope of a comeback, before Nico González rubber-stamped the victory, scoring his first goal in the Premier League.

Daniel Jebbison did get Bournemouth on the board right at the death, very much of the consolation variety, and this did nothing to dampen the mood, with the Man City support in good voice and good spirits, and full credit to them, just three days after defeat in the FA Cup Final.

With a Champions League spot now all but secured, planning can well and truly start for next season, so has one player in particular staked a claim to be a central pillar in Guardiola’s future plans?

Man City star showed they can forget Wirtz

As was widely reported on Monday, including by Rob Dawson of ESPN, Manchester City have withdrawn their interest in Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz due to the amount of money the deal would cost in terms of both transfer fee and wages.

Paul Hirst and Paul Joyce of the Times claim that die Werkself valued the 22-year-old at £126m, with Bayern Munich currently his most-likely destination, although Liverpool and Real Madrid remain interested.

For Man City, they won’t be getting their hands on Wirtz, but they did sign another Bundesliga superstar back in January that may help mitigate this blow.

Marmoush’s strike against Bournemouth, which we’ve already mentioned, was breathtaking, continuing his rich goal-scoring form since arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of £63m earlier this year.

Omar Marmoush Manchester City

His sublime performance on Tuesday evening showed the Egyptian at his best.

Marmoush is both a creator and a goal-scorer, taking his tally to eight in Manchester City colours, these coming in just 21 appearances to date, with all seven of his Premier League strikes coming at the Etihad, most notably bagging a hat-trick against Newcastle in February.

Omar Marmoush statistics vs Bournemouth

Statistics

Marmoush

Match rank

Goals

1

=1st

Shots on target

1

=1st

Shots of target

1

=3rd

Shots blocked

1

=1st

Passing accuracy

93%

6th

Key passes

1

=4th

Sofascore rating

7.3

=3rd

All statistics courtesy of SofaScore

This is on top of the 20 goals he managed for Frankfurt before making the move, with only five players scoring more Bundesliga goals than him this season, namely Harry Kane, Serhou Guirassy, Patrik Schick, Jonathan Burkardt, Tim Kleindienst, despite his winter departure.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described Marmoush as a “proper maverick”, while Sultan Babajide of Breaking the Lines documents how he is a ‘versatile player’ who is ‘capable of being important in every phase of play’, praising his ‘technical skills, tactical understanding, and strong work ethic’.

Meantime, Karim El-Shesheiny of Total Football Analysis outlines how the Egyptian can be deployed in many ‘different positions’ across the forward line, adding that he is more ‘dynamic’ than most other forwards, while also ‘good at defending’ out of possession.

So, what is clear is that Marmoush is a very well-rounded attacker, both capable of creating chances, but also scoring them himself from all distances.

Thus, while many of Europe’s biggest clubs are searching for a new striker, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus and many more, Man City managed to snap one up, even though they already have Erling Haaland in their ranks of course, a duo most teams around the world will be envious of.

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Posts ByBen Gray May 20, 2025

It feels as if this summer is make-or-break for Ruben Amorim’s long-term future at Manchester United.

Amorim’s stint in charge to date hasn’t gone to plan whatsoever, with 17 wins and 17 defeats coming his way from 42 contests, culminating in the Red Devils having to stomach a shambolic 15th final place finish in the Premier League.

Therefore, the recruitment in and out of Old Trafford this chaotic transfer window has to be spot on, with the underperformers nearly nailing down the signature of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha to offer up at least one ray of much-needed positivity.

Unfortunately, that excitement has been short-lived as modern-day United great Bruno Fernandes now reportedly edges closer to the exit door. But his departure could be softened immediately by one bold replacement entering the Theatre of Dreams.

Man Utd lining up Fernandes replacement

The graphic above gives you just a flavour as to why the Portuguese ace leaving would be a disaster, with the 30-year-old just fresh off a combined 19 goals and assists in Premier League action, despite United sinking to 15th spot.

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But, Amorim and Co. would surely bounce back from Fernandes’ exit swiftly if they were successful in landing Sporting star Pedro Goncalves, with a new report from Portuguese outlet A Bola – via Sport Witness – indicating that he is being lined up as a like-for-like replacement.

The suggestion is that the Red Devils are ‘considering making an offer’ for the 26-year-old, with any move likely to be ramped if Fernandes departs – although it could still take place regardless.

Losing the experience United number eight to Al-Hilal for mega millions would be able to finance the deal, with the report further stating that Amorim’s ex-employers would only cash in if his €80m (£67m) release clause is met.

How Goncalves compares to Amad

Signed the exciting “creative force” – as he’s been glowingly branded by football analyst Ben Mattinson – wouldn’t be purchased to just plug the gap of Fernandes.

The former Wolves flop is also a tricky customer down the left or right flank, thus representing a potential upgrade down the channels than another of United’s bright gems in Amad Diallo.

Goncalves will be chomping at the bit to change his negative Wolves narrative if he does return to England, having already caused ripples when scoring this blinder away at Arsenal in 2023.

Amad has also had to bounce back from his own difficulties at Old Trafford, albeit while tallying up 11 goals and ten assists last season as the United ship regularly hit icebergs.

That said, the “incredible” Goncalves – as he has been praised by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – might well have the beating of the Ivorian down either channel or through the centre as a number ten when assessing his glittering career numbers in Lisbon.

Goncalves’ G/A numbers for Sporting by position

Position played

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

LW

98

28

34

RW

55

34

9

CM

36

18

12

SS

3

1

0

AM

3

1

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

When assessing the table above, it’s clear how flexible Goncalves can be for the cause, with an amazingly high 30 goals and assists tallied up from 36 games centrally, on top of also registering a combined 105 goal contributions down either wing in the Portuguese capital.

On the flip side, Amad, who is still raw at an earlier stage in his career, has just 26 goal contributions overall when donning a Red Devils strip, meaning he might well have to forfeit some first-team action if the Bruno-like target does join the building.

Sporting Lisbon's Pedro Goncalves.

The overriding anxiety will be that Goncalves has already flopped once in England, which could result in another high-profile failure coming up on his CV.

But, Fernandes entered the English game back in 2020 with a similar hype surrounding his name, having amassed an astounding 113 goals and assists from just 137 appearances for Sporting.

Consequently, it just feels written in the stars that this deal could go down as a similarly golden hit, as Goncalves aims to be a transformative figure that guides United to better days.

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Posts ByDan Emery May 30, 2025

Leeds United chiefs 49ers Enterprises have now been told it will cost just £10 million to sign an “unbelievable” English midfielder this summer.

Lukas Nmecha kicks off Leeds' summer business

The transfer window has now officially reopened after closing for a week, and the Whites haven’t wasted any time in getting a signing over the line. On Sunday afternoon, Leeds announced that Lukas Nmecha has agreed to join the club and become their first new face of the summer transfer window.

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The Germany international has joined the Yorkshire side on an initial two-year deal and will arrive on the 1st of July, once his contract has expired at Wolfsburg. Nmecha is already known to English football, having developed in Manchester City’s academy as well as having spells at Preston and Middlesbrough.

Nmecha told Leeds’s media team: “It’s just a great challenge, and I’m really excited to get to know the team. I’ve spoken with the manager many times, and I’m excited to play that style of football that they played in the Championship, even in the Premier League. I saw that there was dominance last season in terms of possession and the goals. I’m an attacking player, so obviously that’s exciting for me.

“Of course, in the Premier League, there are some big boys in there where you can’t play like that all the time, but I think the idea of the manager is to play good football, possession football, and that’s what I’m used to and what I love doing.

“I wish we could get going now, but we still have a few weeks of pre-pre-season, getting the runs in and all that! But I just can’t wait to start training now.”

Leeds told it will cost £10m to sign Champions League midfielder

With Nmecha now officially through the door, the 49ers are turning their attentions to Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff, and according to Football Insider, suitors have been told a bid of just £10 million will be accepted this summer.

It was reported in May that Leeds were plotting a double swoop for Callum Wilson and Longstaff, who is earning £50,000 a week at Newcastle.

Entering the final year of his contract at St James’ Park, the update claims his future “definitely” lies away from Tyneside.

Daniel Farke is keen to add Premier League experience to his midfield this summer, but he won’t have a free run at Longstaff, as David Moyes’ Everton are also keen on the midfielder.

Sean Longstaff’s 24/25 Premier League stats

Apps

25

Starts

8

Key passes per game

0.2

Interceptions per game

0.3

Tackles per game

1.1

Clearances per game

0.3

Longstaff, who has been dubbed “unbelievable” by Alan Shearer in the past, has Champions League experience, helping his side qualify for Europe’s elite competition this season and making five appearances in their last European quest, scoring in a 4-1 rout of current champions PSG.

The transfer window may be closing for six days this afternoon, but that won’t stop Arsenal from working on potential deals.

Mikel Arteta’s side finished second in the Premier League for the third time on the bounce this season, and while they managed to make it to the semi-finals of the Champions League, that’ll only fuel the team’s hunger to finally get over the line next year.

The Gunners have been linked to a host of talented players in recent weeks and months, but the one who looks closest to putting pen to paper and moving to North London is Martin Zubimendi.

Yet, as brilliantly talented as the Spaniard is, there is now another international linked with Arsenal, who’d be an even more exciting signing.

Arsenal transfer news

Amazingly, the first reports linking Arsenal to Zubimendi appeared all the way back in January 2023, and while they became a little stronger last summer, they really took off this January.

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It was at the start of this year that Sami Mokbel claimed that the Real Sociedad star would be making his way to the Emirates at some point this summer, but since then, there has been some concern among fans that Real Madrid could turn his head.

After all, there has been no shortage of publications from the midfielder’s homeland claiming that Los Blancos would convince him to turn his back on Arteta and join up with Xabi Alonso.

Fortunately, that all seems to be nothing more than paper talk, as respected journalist David Ornstein revealed this morning that the powers that be at the Emirates consider the move to be “done & signed.” At the same time, Real sources claim that the Spanish giants never truly pursued the player.

In yet more good news, the Gunners have now also been linked to another international star, someone who’d be a more exciting acquisition than Zubimendi: Anthony Gordon.

Yes, according to Ornstein’s latest report for The Athletic, the Gunners are now interested in the Newcastle United star.

He claims that the Toon star has his ‘admirers’ at the Emirates, a claim James McNicholas backs up in the same article.

While no price is mentioned, reports from earlier this month linking the player to Liverpool claim he could cost around £80m.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Gordon’s ability, it’s one worth fighting for.

Why Gordon will be more exciting than Zubimendi

So, the first thing to say is that when Zubimendi finally makes his way to the Emirates, he will be an incredible signing for Arsenal.

After all, we saw him put in stellar performances for Spain in the semi-final and final of the Nations League, and you don’t get chased by some of the biggest clubs in the world if you aren’t someone special.

However, when it comes down to pure excitement, there is one massive reason why Gordon would provide more of it in North London: his output.

At the end of the day, fans watch football for the goals and attacking trickery which the Newcastle United star should bring to N5 in abundance.

For example, in 48 appearances last season, totalling 3869 minutes, the former Everton star managed to score 12 goals and provide 16 assists, which came out to a superb average of a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 138.17 minutes.

Gordon’s recent form

Season

23/24

24/25

Appearances

48

42

Minutes

3869′

2946′

Goals

12

9

Assists

16

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0.38

Minutes per Goal Involvement

138.17′

184.12′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Even this year, when he’s not been at his very best, the dynamic “nightmare,” as he described himself, scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 42 appearances, totalling 2946 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.62 games, or every 184.12 minutes.

Ultimately, while Zubimendi will almost certainly help Arsenal tick and will likely help kickstart plenty of attacks from the base of midfield, it’s Gordon who’ll either finish them or help them along by taking on opposition defenders and getting the fans on their feet.

Therefore, while he won’t be cheap, the club should do all they can to sign the Newcastle star this summer, as he’d be a tremendously exciting addition to the team.

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Like the first two editions, the competition will clash with other T20 competitions in Australia, the UAE and Bangladesh

Sreshth Shah07-Jun-2024

Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj pose with the trophy in last season’s final•SA 20

The third season of South Africa’s SA20 tournament in 2025 will be played from January 9 to February 8. The six-team 34-game competition will run in a window similar to the first two seasons. It will overlap partially or completely with Australia’s Big Bash League, the ILT20 in the UAE and the BPL in Bangladesh during a packed December-February window for league cricket.”Following two successful seasons, our plan is to continue to own the South African summer and provide an opportunity for everyone to enjoy some of the biggest names in world cricket, whether in packed stadiums or via the global broadcast,” Graeme Smith, SA20 commissioner, said in a press statement. “Our fixtures, auction, and player announcements will be revealed over the coming months and planning is already fully in motion. We can’t wait to bring another incredible sport and entertainment event to life for players and fans.”With the SA20 ending on February 8, there may not be a lot of time until the start of a proposed ODI tri-series in Pakistan, where South Africa and New Zealand would be the other two teams. The dates for that series or the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan also in February 2025 have not been officially announced.Last year, the SA20 clashed with South Africa’s Test tour of New Zealand, and Cricket South Africa (CSA) prioritised the franchise competition, choosing to send a second-string squad for the away tour.In 2023, the first season, CSA withdrew from a three-game ODI series in Australia that was clashing with the SA20 and gave up the opportunity to earn 30 points in the erstwhile World Cup Super League table, a choice that had briefly put their qualification into the 2023 ODI World Cup in doubt, although they comfortably qualified in the end.Sunrisers Eastern Cape, owned by India-based Sun Group which runs Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, have won both seasons of SA20. Trying to stop them from completing a hat-trick of titles will be last season’s losing finalists Durban’s Super Giants, Pretoria Capitals, Joburg Super Kings, MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals.