All posts by z3u9t.icu

One thing that the current Leeds United squad seems to be lacking is the next great academy product. Centre-back Pascal Struijk is a graduate of their academy, but at 26 years of age, he is firmly established in the first team.

18-year-old Scottish attacker Sam Chambers has played for the senior team, but has not even been on the bench this season,

Of course, over the last few years, some excellent players have come through the Leeds academy system and made it to the first team. Kalvin Phillips is one name who springs to mind, becoming a key player in the midfield at Elland Road before moving to Manchester City.

The other player who fits the bill was Archie Gray.

Archie Gray’s career at Leeds

The 19-year-old is arguably one of the most successful academy graduates at Elland Road in recent years. He has deep family ties to Leeds, and came through their academy before breaking into the first team.

In total, the versatile midfielder, who was born in Durham, played 52 games for the club. All those appearances came in the 2023/24 campaign, a season in which he chipped in with two assists.

After a successful debut season in professional football for Gray, the youngster, who can also play at right-back and did so 30 times for the Whites, secured a big transfer. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 for a fee of around £30m.

Since moving down to North London, the 19-year-old has played 48 games for the Lilywhites. He’s once again shown great versatility, playing full-back on both sides, at centre-back and in his natural midfield role. Of course, Gray was also a Europa League winner last term.

Since Gray, Leeds haven’t had a top academy prospect break into the first-team squad and establish themselves. Well, perhaps the next big thing is waiting in the wings.

Leeds’ best academy talent since Gray

Certainly, if Gray is able to break through under Daniel Farke and become an established first-team player, the same door could be open for future academy talents on the books at Elland Road.

Well, perhaps sooner or later, that player will be Scotland youth attacker Lewis Pirie. The versatile forward joined Leeds back in 2023 from Scottish outfit Aberdeen. After starting out in the under-18s side, he’s broken into the under-21s this season.

In his first two full seasons as a Leeds academy player, his record shows why he is considered such an “exciting” prospect. At least, that is a word that former Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin used to describe him.

Indeed, Pirie has played 29 games for the club over the past couple of years. In that time, he’s found the back of the net on seven occasions, and assisted one goal, too.

Having played 1701 minutes, he has a minutes per goal and assist record of 213 minutes.

The 18-year-old is has already built up a strong reputation for himself. He can operate on both flanks and up front, and has even played deeper as a number 10 for the Leeds academy.

As we saw with Gray, Farke loves versatility, which could be a key difference to helping him reach the first-team.

Centre forward

8

2

Right wing

4

2

Right midfield

3

0

Left wing

2

2

Attacking midfield

1

0

With the versatility he offers and the clear goal threat he can bring to the table, Pirie could be the perfect option if Farke wishes to bring another academy star into the first team at Elland Road.

It will be fascinating to see if the Whites boss will look to bring through another young talent into the frame. If so, that player could very well be Pirie.

Their next Raphinha: Leeds star could soon steal the number 10 from Piroe

Leeds United may have their next Raphinha in the making at Elland Road.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 10, 2025

Manchester United’s wage bill is a site to behold, with the Red Devils forking out more than £3m a week on first-team salaires.

The Red Devils currently have a whopping annual payroll of £158,700,000, but, despite this being such a huge number, it’s actually quite a bit less than it was in the previous campaign.

A number of recent exits helped the Manchester club’s cause, including selling Alejandro Garnacho and Antony, loans for Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, whereas Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen were released.

With that being said, we at Football FanCast have ranked every Manchester United player in the first-team squad in order from highest to lowest in terms of wages for the 2025-26 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.

1

Casemiro

£350,000

£18,200,000

2

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

£15,600,000

3

Matthijs de Ligt

£195,000

£10,140,000

4

Harry Maguire

£190,000

£9,880,000

5

Matheus Cunha

£180,000

£9,360,000

6

Benjamin Sesko

£160,000

£8,320,000

=7

Luke Shaw

£150,000

£7,800,000

=7

Mason Mount

£150,000

£7,800,000

=7

Bryan Mbeumo

£150,000

£7,800,000

10

Noussair Mazraoui

£135,000

£7,020,000

=11

Lisandro Martinez

£120,000

£6,240,000

=11

Andre Onana

£120,000

£6,240,000

=11

Manuel Ugarte

£120,000

£6,240,000

=11

Amad Diallo

£120,000

£6,240,000

15

Leny Yoro

£115,000

£5,980,000

16

Joshua Zirkzee

£105,000

£5,460,000

17

Diogo Dalot

£85,000

£4,420,000

18

Tyrell Malacia

£75,000

£3,900,000

19

Jadon Sancho

£50,000

£2,600,000

20

Tom Heaton

£45,000

£2,340,000

21

Patrick Dorgu

£40,000

£2,080,000

22

Altay Bayindir

£35,000

£1,820,000

23

Kobbie Mainoo

£25,000

£1,300,000

24

Chido Obi

£15,000

£780,000

=25

Joe Hugill

£5,000

£260,000

=25

Ethan Wheatley

£5,000

£260,000

=25

Tyler Fredicson

£5,000

£260,000

28

Ayden Heaven

£4,000

£208,000

29

Dan Gore

£3,000

£156,000

Here's a detailed look at the top 10 Man Utd earners… 10 Noussair Mazraoui £135,000 per week

Noussair Mazraoui was one of many who made the move to Old Trafford in 2024, arriving from Bayern Munich after the Red Devils sold Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham.

The Morocco international penned a four-year deal with Man Utd, who will hope he can go on to star over the coming years.

9 Bryan Mbeumo £150,000 per week

Man Utd were able to offer attacker Bryan Mbeumo a big salary after making the Cameroon international a top transfer target.

The former Brentford ace cost the Red Devils more than £70m with add-ons included over the summer and penned a five-year deal at Old Trafford.

8 Luke Shaw £150,000 per week

Left-back Luke Shaw has now been a Red Devils player for 10 years and is closing in on 300 appearances for the club.

The England international may have had several injury struggles during his time as a Man Utd player, but he is still under contract until 2027.

7 Mason Mount £150,000 per week

Man Utd signed Mason Mount from Chelsea in a £60m deal in 2023, despite the Englishman having just 12 months remaining on his Stamford Bridge deal at the time.

Unfortunately, Mount missed large parts of his first season through injury, so in hindsight, the Red Devils would have been better off waiting for the player to become a free agent instead of splashing the cash.

6 Benjamin Sesko £160,000 per week

Benjamin Sesko is the latest man set to be tasked with firing Man Utd to glory, with the centre-forward choosing Old Trafford over Newcastle.

The Red Devils paid RB Leipzig an initial £66m for the towering striker, who is set to earn more than £40m in his five years with United.

5 Matheus Cunha £180,000 per week

Matheus Cunha took Man Utd’s famous number 10 shirt from Marcus Rashford after his big-money move from Wolves.

Ruben Amorim’s first summer signing at Old Trafford, Cunha was handed a five-year deal worth more than £9m a season.

4 Harry Maguire £190,000 per week

Former club captain Harry Maguire has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford on numerous occasions in recent years but remains a big Red Devils earner.

His near £10m a-year contract is set to expire in 2026, so it’ll be interesting to see if the club offer him new terms over the coming months.

3 Matthijs de Ligt £195,000 per week

Matthijs de Ligt is under contract with United until 2029, and after numeorus departues, is now the club’s third highest earner.

Former boss Erik ten Hag worked with De Ligt at Ajax previously, but it was Juventus who sold the centre-back to Man Utd in 2024, with the Dutch star penning a five-year deal.

2 Bruno Fernandes £300,000 per week

Bruno Fernandes was made Man Utd captain back in 2023, and in recent years, the midfielder has arguably been the only real marquee signing who has lived up to the hype.

The Portugal international turned down a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2025 and is under contract until 2027.

1 Casemiro £350,000 per week

The biggest earner at Old Trafford is Casemiro, who has been picking up £350,000 per week since joining from Real Madrid in 2022.

The Brazilian cost the Red Devils £50m, however, the player has come in for criticism in the last 12 months and was again linked with an exit in the summer.

If Liverpool aren’t already favourites to retain their Premier League title after signing Florian Wirtz for a British record transfer fee of £116m, then they certainly would be if they signed Alexander Isak.

Plenty of teams around the globe have dreamed of bringing the Swede to their club and the Anfield outfit could well make that a reality this summer.

Boy, what a signing this would be. Isak scored 27 goals in all competitions last term. He netted 23 in the Premier League. The only man with more was Liverpool hero, Mo Salah.

So, the Newcastle United forward is a pretty special talent and it’s understandable that the Toon have no desire to let him depart St James’ Park this summer.

Still, Liverpool are trying and they’re willing to put a lot of money on the table to bring him further south to Merseyside.

The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool

While Liverpool have dreamt of signing Isak all summer long, they haven’t made their intentions clear until this week.

Indeed, the Athletic’s David Ornstein dropped a seismic piece of news earlier in the week that the league winners have made an approach, but no formal offer just yet, to sign Isak. The Magpies have reiterated that he is not for sale, that’s despite Liverpool suggesting they are willing to pay around £120m for his services.

That being said, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has suggested that “every player has their price” and Newcastle could be brought to the negotiating table if a £150m bid is made.

Transfer Focus

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

Whether the Reds have what it takes to put that sort of money out there after breaking their transfer record once this summer already remains to be seen.

With such money involved, a move does feel unlikely. It’s why they are courting alternatives.

Liverpool's two best Isak alternatives

The main striker on the radar of the recruitment team at the moment is Hugo Ekitike. However, like the Isak situation, it’s a tricky situation. That’s because Newcastle are embroiled in this saga as well.

News broke at the beginning of the week that Newcastle are working on a deal to sign the Frenchman from Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany. Yet, he’s also a player that Liverpool like.

Ornstein again revealed on Wednesday that the Merseysiders have made contact with the Bundesliga club regarding a move.

Fabrizio Romano has already indicated that if Newcastle don’t sell Isak then they will aim to steal the Toon’s number one target away from them. Well, the wheels are in motion on that move already, with Romano revealing on Thursday that a bid has now been submitted to sign the Frankfurt striker.

Liverpool have other players on their radar, perhaps most notably Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. The most exciting name is Julian Alvarez.

A report from Spain earlier in the window indicated that Liverpool were prepared to pay around £142m for the Atletico Madrid forward and now Anfield Watch reporter Bence Bocsak has revealed that the Argentine is still on their ‘radar’.

He suggests that Alvarez is a ‘dream option’, but like Isak, it’s unlikely Atleti will sanction a sale just one year after bringing him to Spain from Manchester City.

How Alvarez compares to Isak and Ekitike

Isak would be a remarkable coup for Liverpool if they could get a deal over the line. He’s one of the best strikers around the globe and has proven over the last two campaigns that he can score goals at a regular rate in the Premier League.

Ekitike, by comparison, clearly has lots of potential. He’s already been described as “the next Mbappe” in some quarters but rather like Darwin Nunez, he’s a raw talent, someone who still needs to refine his game.

What’s Alvarez like? Well, he’s proven, not just on the continent now with Atleti but also in the Premier League, where he won trophy after trophy with Manchester City.

He’s also the complete package, cut from a similar cloth as Roberto Firmino. This is not just a goalscorer. He’s a creator, a facilitator, and someone who could thrive just as Firmino did with the likes of Salah and Cody Gakpo either side. Dare we say, it could even be with Real Madrid’s Rodrygo to one side? Liverpool are currently leading the race for the Brazilian, according to reports, but that’s a story for another day.

Described as a “monster” by Argentine journalist Pablo Gonzalez and remarkably as “the best forward in the world” by reporter Roy Nemer, he ended his debut campaign in the Spanish capital having scored 29 goals, two more than Isak, and he also registered eight assists.

Let’s also cast your mind back to his final term at the Eithad. During 2023/24, he was prolific in front of goal, bagging 19 goals and registering 14 assists. This is a player who does a lot of things right.

Goals

0.49

0.79

Assists

0.21

0.14

Shots

2.90

3.00

Pass success %

78%

77%

Key passes

1.88

1.22

Progressive passes

3.40

2.85

Shot-creating actions

3.94

2.94

Progressive carries

2.50

2.71

Analysing the numbers deeper across the last two seasons, we get a sense for what Isak and Alvarez do well, but primarily from the metrics assessed, where the Argentine superstar thrives in comparison.

The Swede is clearly more prolific per 90 minutes as far as goals are concerned but Alvarez offers the ability to create, registering more key passes, progressive passes and producing an extra shot-creating action every 90 minutes.

That means that even if he doesn’t score quite as many goals, he’s remaining a big threat in the final third and would provide that Firmino-like ability to make things happen in Slot’s attack.

Isak is the dream but here us out, Alvarez has his perks too. His overall game is certainly better, that’s for sure.

He's better than Ekitike: Liverpool chasing "monster" £60m Isak alternative

Liverpool are looking to sign a new number nine in the summer transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 15, 2025

This has been a testing first window as Arsenal Sporting Director for Andrea Berta so far. Then again, it was never going to be easy was it?

The Gunners desperately need a new striker and the footballing world knows that. RB Leipzig and Sporting are trying to milk Arsenal for all Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are worth.

The Londoners have reportedly held talks to sign both players but at this moment in time, a deal doesn’t look too forthcoming.

Still, Arsenal are active and Berta is working his socks off to ensure that Mikel Arteta’s side are ready for that opening weekend’s encounter against Manchester United.

The arrival of Martin Zubimendi will certainly help.

Arsenal’s pursuit of new midfielders

The Gunners are set to confirm the arrival of Zubimendi from Real Sociedad any day now.

The Spaniard was first linked with the club back in January when it was revealed that Arsenal were ready to trigger the midfielder’s release clause.

Fast forward several months and a deal is now on the verge of completion with it reported that he was in London over the weekend to tie up the formalities of his switch to the Emirates Stadium.

Zubimendi isn’t the only midfielder Arsenal have been tracking.

Indeed, according to TBR Football, they are ‘trying’ to sign PSG’s highly talented teenager, Warren Zaire-Emery.

Transfer Focus

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

They understand that the Gunners started talks with the Champions League winners last week regarding a move.

However, any deal looks incredibly unlikely with the Ligue 1 side informing Arsenal that the 19-year-old is not for sale.

They note that if a switch did happen, Berta and Co would need to come armed with a ‘significant’ offer.

What makes Zaire-Emery so special

With Jorginho having exited the Emirates on a free transfer and Thomas Partey’s Arsenal adventure potentially set to come to a conclusion, Arteta needs more midfielders.

Zubimendi certainly ticks one box. European football expert, Sid Lowe, has previously noted that the 26-year-old “is just about as good a deep-lying midfielder there is in Europe, apart from maybe Rodri”.

So, wouldn’t it be rather special if he were partnered alongside Zaire-Emery?

The PSG sensation may be young but the fact of the matter is that he’s rather special. The teenager’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has already described him as “one of the best midfielders in the world” while data analyst Ben Mattinson notes that he is an “Mbappe at Monaco level of talent”, largely thanks to his blend of skills.

Arsenal have enjoyed the talents of some of the best young players in Europe throughout the years, none more so in the current day than Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Yet, Zaire-Emery reminds us of a certain Cesc Fabregas.

The Spaniard was younger than the French superstar when he moved to London, just 16, but his impact in the Premier League quickly helped him to showcase why he was one of the best young players in world football.

He eventually left Arsenal behind having scored 57 and assisted 95 in 303 outings. Named captain of the club when he was just 21, making him the youngest skipper in their history, there have been few better midfielders to grace Highbury and the Emirates over the last 20 years.

In short, he was a generational talent, an assist machine, someone who oozed class and could pass through the lines like very players on the planet.

Zaire-Emery, a player generating the same level of hype Fabregas was as a teenager, is cut from a similar cloth. He notably made his Champions League debut at the age of just 17, and since then, he’s gone from strength to strength.

1. Youssoufa Moukoko

Dortmund

16 years, 18 days

2. Lamine Yamal

Barcelona

16 years, 2 months

3. Rayan Cherki

Lyon

16 years, 3 months

4. Alen Halilovic

Zagreb

16 years, 4 months, 6 days

5. Youri Tielemans

Anderlecht

16 years, 4 months, 25 days

6. Francesco Camarda

AC Milan

16 years, 7 months, 12 days

7. Warren Zaire-Emery

PSG

16 years, 7 months, 17 days

8. Charalampos Mavrias

Panathinaikos

16 years, 7 months, 29 days

Compared to midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks in the top 3% for pass success rate, the top 9% for passes made and the best 10% for switches, a ball that travels more than 40 yards the width of the pitch.

What those numbers rubberstamp is the comparison to Fabregas, one of the best passers of the modern era.

While PSG’s teen superstar doesn’t quite possess the same rate of assists just yet – producing just two last season – his ability as a deep-lying playmaker certainly evokes memories of Fabregas in the latter stages of his career.

As for his development as a youngster, it certainly has hallmarks of the way the Spaniard burst onto the scene all those years ago.

Rodrygo upgrade: Arsenal make approach for "one of the best LWs in Europe"

The incredible Champions League winner would be a Rodrygo upgrade for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 23, 2025

With time running out to ease their PSR fears, Aston Villa could have no choice but to sell a player that Unai Emery loves amid reported interest from Atletico Madrid this summer.

Aston Villa must sell players this summer

Despite their success in recent years and rise into becoming a top six side, Aston Villa must sell players to comply with PSR rules this summer. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire explained their situation on Sky Sports, saying: “I think of the 20 Premier League clubs, Villa are the ones who we’re most concerned about.

“Last season, when they did qualify for the Champions League, for every £100 of revenue that Aston Villa brought in, they spent £91 on wages. Those players will have had contract step-ups for qualifying for the Champions League.

He's like Palmer: Aston Villa could have bid accepted for £30m "machine"

Unai Emery is targeting several high-profile players this summer

ByRoss Kilvington Jun 14, 2025

“And remember, Villa have done very well in that competition. So that will be a plus. And they have sold some players as well, in both the last summer market and the January one. But I think there is still a perception that Villa will have to box clever.

“And of all of the clubs under pressure to sell players by June 30, I guess they’re the ones who are the club that gives the most attention because their spending in the last couple of years before getting into Europe was so extensive.”

It’s, therefore, likely to be a frustrating summer for those in the Midlands. Already, Emiliano Martinez has found himself among the headlines, and he’s one player who could make way to help Villa on the PSR front.

Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers is not short on admirers, although he is someone that Villa want to keep hold of in the coming months. Whichever route the Villans go down, they must approach their PSR problems with caution – avoiding a sanction at all costs – and that could yet see them sell one particular defender.

Atletico Madrid eyeing Lucas Digne move

As reported by Paul Joyce and relayed by Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid are now looking at a move to sign Lucas Digne in the event that they fail to sign Andy Robertson from Liverpool this summer.

Whilst Digne’s departure would be a frustrating one, he is the type of player that Aston Villa should be looking to move on if they are to comply with PSR rules this summer.

At 31 years old, the £120,000-a-week defender will be past the peak of his powers sooner rather than later and as Ian Maatsen looks to break into Villa’s best side, this summer could be the best time for all parties to go their separate ways.

Whether Emery agrees will be the question, however. The Spaniard has never hidden his admiration for his left-back – going as far as to describe Digne as “amazing” last year.

Leeds United are going to be playing Premier League football next season and will have to use the summer transfer window to build a squad that can compete at the top level.

Daniel Farke can look at what one of his predecessors, Marcelo Bielsa, did in the 2020/21 campaign, when the Whites stayed up in the top-flight and finished in the top half.

The Argentine head coach helped the club to avoid relegation, and set them on their way to avoiding the drop in the 2021/22 season too, and the players he had at his disposal played a key role in that.

Stars like Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford Rodrigo, and Raphinha may have stolen the headlines, but Mateusz Klich went under the radar with a return of four goals and five assists in the Premier League from a midfield position.

Leeds make first offer for midfield target

Leeds are active in the current summer transfer window to bolster their squad and are reportedly eyeing up a deal for a star who could be Farke’s own version of the Poland international.

Transfer Focus

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

According to L’Equipe, the Championship champions have submitted their first offer, worth around £22m, to Strasbourg in an attempt to sign central midfielder Habib Diarra.

The report claims that the French side have not yet responded to the bid, but they are waiting to see if any other teams come in with counter-offers, amid interest from clubs in Germany and England.

Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Evening Post has confirmed that an offer has been made, but adds that other targets in that position are felt to be more likely at this moment in time.

Why Diarra could be Klich 2.0

If Leeds can get a deal over the line for Diarra, then Farke could have his own version of Klich in the Premier League next season, because he is a well-rounded midfield star who can impact games in and out of possession.

The 21-year-old talent, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed will have a “huge future” in the game, played regularly in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg in the 2024/25 campaign and caught the eye with his displays in the middle of the park.

Diarra played 29 Ligue 1 games or more in each of the last three seasons, which shows that he has plenty of top-flight experience in a major European league, and this term was his best so far from a performance point of view.

Appearances

30

35

Goals

4

4

Big chances created

9

3

Assists

5

5

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

1.3x

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.1

1.4

Duels won per game

3.3

2.4

As you can see in the table above, his performances in Ligue 1 this season were incredibly similar to Klich’s in the Premier League when Leeds avoided the drop in the 2020/21 campaign.

These statistics show that Diarra could emulate his impact at the top end of the pitch by delivering a respectable number of goals and assists from a box-to-box midfield position, whilst potentially being even more creative when you look at the ‘big chances’ that he created.

The chart above further illustrates the similarities between the two players, particularly when it comes to scoring and creating goals, which suggests that he could be a very similar player to Klich for Farke.

Diarra’s ability to combine defensive work, as he is rarely dribbled past, with his attacking output suggests that he could be a very valuable player for the German boss in the Premier League, as he could impact games at both ends of the pitch.

He must go before Bamford: Leeds have told £11m flop he will now be sold

Leeds have told this flop that he must leave this summer, and the dud must go before Patrick Bamford.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 9, 2025

However, the Yorkshire Evening Post did report that other midfield targets are more likely, so it remains to be seen whether or not the Whites will be able to get a deal over the line for this star.

The last time a Manchester United player scored 20 Premier League goals in a single season was Robin van Persie back in 2012/13, with the Red Devils having long waited to find a prolific presence again to lead the line.

While not a centre-forward by trade, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo could well be the man to end that search, with the Cameroon international reportedly deciding to join Ruben Amorim’s ranks this summer, fresh off the back of netting 20 league goals for the Bees.

That remarkable individual campaign isn’t exactly a breakthrough one for the 25-year-old, however, with his talent having been evident ever since he arrived in west London back in 2019. Indeed, a return of 121 goals and assists in 242 games in all competitions says it all.

Season

Player

Goals

2024/25

Bruno Fernandes & Amad

8

2023/24

Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund

10

2022/23

Marcus Rashford

17

2021/22

Cristiano Ronaldo

18

2020/21

Bruno Fernandes

18

2019/20

Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial

17

2018/19

Paul Pogba

13

2017/18

Romelu Lukaku

16

2016/17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

17

2015/16

Anthony Martial

11

2014/15

Wayne Rooney

12

2013/14

Wayne Rooney

17

2012/13

Robin van Persie

26

Perhaps more importantly, the £60m-rated star has provided 70 goal involvements in 136 top-flight games to date, including the fourth goal as Thomas Frank’s men ravaged United at the Gtech in August 2022.

The speed and power with which the winger tore away from Luke Shaw on the counter, before slotting home, was truly breathtaking, with Amorim in desperate need of more of the same should that deal be wrapped up as expected.

With Matheus Cunha on one side and Mbeumo on the other, United could be a force to be reckoned with once again. How about throwing a new striker into the mix too?

Latest on Man Utd's search for a striker

“The most unlucky number nine Manchester United have ever had”. Those were the words directed toward Rasmus Hojlund by TNT’s Darren Fletcher during United’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa, with the struggling Dane seeing a header ruled out for offside as he once again fired a blank.

A measly return of four league goals in 2024/25 has ensured the 22-year-old could well be nudged toward the exit door this summer, with the former Atalanta man perhaps in line for a return to Serie A, amid interest from Champions League finalists, Inter.

With one number nine potentially departing, another could well be set to replace him, with Football Insider claiming that INEOS are accelerating their pursuit of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, with Amorim believed to be keen on a reunion with his former talisman.

Transfer Focus

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

The report suggests that the 26-year-old is the “dream” centre-forward target, following United’s failure to convince Liam Delap to make a move, with Amorim having signed the Swede from Coventry City in 2023.

As the piece does outline, however, the stumbling block is likely to be the financial package required to be able to sign the 6 foot 2 marksman, not least if his reported £83m release clause is accurate.

That said, reports elsewhere have claimed that he could depart the Lisbon side for a much more reasonable fee of £59m, with that surely worth the outlay for a player who has been in red-hot form of late.

Why Man Utd need to fork out for Gyokeres

Managing to land a player like Mbeumo – considering his Premier League-proven quality – would no doubt represent a real coup, with analyst Ben Mattinson lauding the former Troyes star as “one of the most deadly players on transition” in the top-flight.

Just as exciting, however, would be the prospect of signing the “hottest striker in Europe”, as hailed by ESPN’s Mark Ogden, with Gyokeres having set the world alight following his prolific form in Portugal.

Formerly the scourge of Championship defences, after scoring 46 goals in 117 games for Coventry, the in-demand star has gone to a whole new level at Sporting, having registered 97 goals in just 102 games over the last two years.

It is that rampant form which has led outspoken pundit Rafael van der Vaart to hail Gyokeres as perhaps a “better version of [Erling] Haaland”, with his fellow Scandinavian memorably scoring 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund, before joining Manchester City in 2022.

Both men did shine during the inaugural league phase of the Champions League last season, with Gyokeres netting six times in eight appearances, while Haaland scored eight goals in nine games for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Non-penalty goals

0.59

0.70

Shots

3.26

4.21

Assists

0.15

0.00

Shot-creating actions

3.85

1.52

Pass completion

80.0%

74.4%

Progressive passes

1.78

1.05

Progressive carries

4.29

0.94

Successful take-ons

1.18

0.35

Touches in opposition box

6.07

6.79

Progressive passes received

9.47

3.75

The Norwegian machine may have outscored the Sporting sensation, although – as Van der Vaart alluded to – it was Gyokeres who showcased more to his game, as evidenced with regard to his superior record in progressive carries, pass completion and shot-creating actions.

The scorer of 39 league goals to boot – ahead of Haaland’s return of 22 Premier League goals – the one-time Brighton man appears to be the prolific presence that United are crying out for, with the club only netting 44 times as a whole in England’s top-flight last time out.

Partnering two players who have been there and done it in the Premier League – in the form of Cunha and Mbeumo – with a figure who just can’t stop scoring right now could prove the perfect combination, with United still longing for the days of Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney leading the line.

Of course, these three potential summer arrivals would have to go some way to match the levels of those 2008 Champions League heroes, although it’s hard to think of a more exciting triumvirate since.

The new Cavani: Man Utd in talks to sign "outrageous" £50m Mbeumo partner

Manchester United could land a player who could star at Old Trafford alongside Bryan Mbeumo.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jun 3, 2025

This summer appears to be a huge window for Liverpool Football Club as Arne Slot looks to build on the magnificent job he did during his first year at the helm.

The Dutchman claimed the Premier League title at the first attempt, doing so after only making one senior addition in the form of Federico Chiesa, who only featured for a total of 104 league minutes.

Such an achievement is nothing short of remarkable, with the 46-year-old deserving of the opportunity to make his own additions and change the squad as he wishes.

With the transfer window now just around the corner, it’s a surprise to no one that work has already commenced in an attempt to land new players for Slot this summer.

Over the last couple of days, numerous names have emerged as key targets, with a real impetus on improving the options currently at the manager’s disposal within the final third.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new attackers this summer

In their pursuit of a new talisman this summer, RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has emerged as a potential signing for Slot’s side during the upcoming transfer window.

The Slovenian, who scored 21 goals in 2024/25, has appeared on their shortlist, but could cost a pretty penny over the coming months, with the Bundesliga side demanding at least £70m for his signature.

However, he’s not the only talent from such a division to be touted with a switch to Anfield, with Eintracht Frankfurt talisman Hugo Ekitiké the latest name linked, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg.

He states that the Reds have entered the race for the 22-year-old’s signature, even holding talks with the striker over a move, with Slot personally wanting the Frenchman.

Plettenberg also confirmed that Frankfurt are demanding €100m (£84m) to part ways with the 22-goal forward, who also has keen interest from fellow English side Chelsea.

Why Liverpool’s £84m target would be perfect for Wirtz

Liverpool’s hunt for new additions has shown no signs of slowing down over the last couple of weeks, with Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz another name on their shortlist this summer.

The German has already held talks with the Reds over a summer switch to Anfield, but they face competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich for the 22-year-old’s signature.

Any deal would likely set Slot’s side back over £100m this summer, with a switch to Merseyside certainly going to break the club-record £85m paid for Darwin Núñez back in 2022.

Should the hierarchy land a move for Wirtz and Ekitike, it would be a mammoth investment that highlights their ambitions of retaining their Premier League title in 2025/26.

However, the pair could form a deadly partnership for the Reds next season, with their respective figures from the Bundesliga fitting perfectly into one another’s skillset.

Ekitike, described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, loves to play on the shoulder of the defender, often darting in behind and causing all sorts of problems.

He’s received 7.6 progressive passes, which has aided him in his tally of 22 goals this season, with Wirtz able to add to such a figure if they both joined the Reds, registering a tally of 6.7 progressive passes per 90.

Games played

33

Goals & assists

23

Goals per 90

0.53

Shots on target per game

1.6

Key passes made

1.6

Passes into 18-yard box

1.1

Progressive passes received

7.6

The striker has also managed to register 1.6 shots on target per 90, whilst also registering 0.53 goals per game in the Bundesliga – allowing the German to increase his assist tally when operating alongside the Frenchman.

He’s also made 1.6 key passes per 90, with 1.1 of which being played into the opposition’s penalty area, which could see him return the favour to Wirtz – highlighting why they could be so dangerous together at Anfield.

Whilst the pair could set the hierarchy back just short of £200m this summer, their tender ages gives them the chance to develop further in the years ahead – allowing the club to sustain their recent success.

Should they transfer their skillset to Merseyside in the coming months and hit the ground running, the pair could prove to be the difference in attacking areas, making Liverpool a real force to be reckoned with in 2025/26.

Mac Allister 2.0: Liverpool working on another amazing signing after Wirtz

Liverpool could be about to replicate a deal for Alexis Mac Allister durng the upcoming summer window.

ByEthan Lamb May 28, 2025

If there is one thing that has come to define this season for Tottenham Hotspur, it’s injuries.

It’s undeniable that Ange Postecoglou’s side have massively underperformed over the last nine months, but the number and severity of the team’s injuries cannot be ignored.

For example, Archie Gray, an 18-year-old midfielder, has made 19 appearances at centre-back, nine at right-back and five at left-back this season, as there were simply no other options at certain points.

Unfortunately, this rotten luck with injuries has struck the North Londoners once again, and they will be without Dejan Kulusevski for their game this weekend and the Europa League Final next week.

Kulusevski's injury disaster

Likely in a bid to keep him fresh and to try and help rediscover some of his incredible form from earlier this season, Postecoglou opted to start Kulusevski against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Unfortunately, it was a decision that quickly came back to bite him, as just 19 minutes into the game, the Swedish international hobbled off the pitch, clearly in some discomfort.

After the game, the manager told the press that it was “just a knock” and that “he should be ok,” although this has since been proven very wrong indeed.

Just yesterday evening, the club announced that the former Juventus star had “suffered an injury to his right patella” against the Eagles and has now “undergone surgery”, which will keep him out of action for the rest of the season.

With James Maddison out for the rest of the campaign as well, it wouldn’t be hyperbolic to say that Tottenham are now in an injury crisis when it comes to the number ten position.

Unfortunately, there are simply no perfect solutions at the moment, but Postecoglou could be bold and start one of his most exciting options there on the weekend, ahead of the final.

The Spurs player who should start for Kulusevski

While some fans will want Postecoglou to play the kids this weekend, it’s probably better that he plays something close to the team that’ll take on Manchester United on Wednesday, at least for the first half.

Doing this should avoid any players getting a little rusty, and it will give the manager a chance to see how Mathys Tel fares in the number ten position.

Now, before the pitchforks come out, we know this is an unorthodox suggestion, but as things stand, there aren’t many other options.

Moreover, while the young Frenchman – who could sign permanently in a £45m deal this summer – is primarily a winger and striker, he has shown himself to be quite a creative attacker, especially with Bayern Munich last season.

For example, FBref placed him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Bundesliga last year for goal-creating actions, the top 2% for goals plus assists and medium pass completion, the top 4% for long pass completion, the top 6% for carries into the penalty area, the top 9% for assists and more, all per 90.

Goal-Creating Actions

1.11

Top 1%

Goals + Assists

1.03

Top 2%

Medium Pass Completion

86.5%

Top 2%

Long Pass Completion

72.0%

Top 4%

Shots on Target

1.54

Top 4%

Shots Total

3.69

Top 4%

Carries into the Penalty Area

2.66

Top 6%

Assists

0.43

Top 9%

On top of that, FBref considered Florian Wirtz to be the eighth most similar player to the Sarcells-born gem last season and Jamal Musiala to be the tenth.

So, if he’s statistically similar to two of Germany’s most technically gifted number tens, then there must be something in his game worth exploring this weekend, which, if successful, could see him start there again next week.

Moreover, if Ange plans to start Dominic Solanke up top, then the “generational talent,” as Spurs themselves described him internally, could almost act as a second striker at points, dovetailing with the Englishman and giving the Red Devils’ backline a real headache.

Ultimately, there simply isn’t an ideal solution to Spurs’ current injury crisis, but in Tel, Ange has a promising youngster who at least has the parts to his game that could see him do a job in attacking midfield.

Therefore, the Australian should start the Bayern Loanee there this weekend as a test case for the final next week.

Spurs can axe Solanke by signing £25m star who's only 4 goals behind Kane

Spurs could sign a striker who’s nearly on par with Harry Kane this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 12, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are in talks with the representatives of a forward once tipped to bag 40 goals per season, as chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs recruitment team aim to make him their first signing of the summer window.

Ange Postecoglou praises Spurs squad ahead of Bodo/Glimt

The Lilywhites are set to take on Bodo/Glimt in their vital Europa League semi-final second leg this evening.

£8m manager "wants the Tottenham job" with Postecoglou under threat

The Australian faces a very uncertain future as he chases silverware.

ByEmilio Galantini May 7, 2025

Ange Postecoglou and the squad travel to Norway knowing that, if they avoid a humbling defeat, Tottenham will book their place in the Europa final and present themselves with a golden opportunity to win the club’s first piece of major silverware in over 17 years.

Goals from Brennan Johnson, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke handed Spurs a crucial win at home in the first leg, and despite a late consolation goal from Ulrik Salnes, the 3-1 victory means Postecoglou’s side go into tonight with an important two-goal cushion.

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

However, Bodo/Glimt’s very impressive home record is a cause for concern for Postecoglou. The Aspymyra Stadion, located above the Arctic Circle in freezing-cold temperatures, has become an icy fortress for the Scandinavians, with Kjetil Knutsen’s side winning 28 of their last 34 European matches hosted on their artificial turf.

Postecoglou will be wary of this, but the Australian has praised his team’s mentality in Europe so far when it comes to these big knockout games.

“I think all the lads have done well and right through the campaign,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s European form.

“Particularly through the knockout stages in the second legs, whatever we’ve needed to do, they’ve done it, within the confines of our game plan and being organised, whether that was when we had to beat AZ at home and it could have got nervy and the boys handed that really well.

“We had to go to Frankfurt and win and tough venue and imposing atmosphere, and again I think the lads handled it really well, so it’ll be a similar sort of mindset tomorrow.”

Tottenham open talks with Mathys Tel over permanent deal

Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel will likely play a role in tonight’s clash, and behind-the-scenes, work has begun on making his stay at Spurs permanent.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, writing in a piece for The Boot Room, Tottenham have opened talks with Tel’s camp and are suggesting they want the 20-year-old to remain in north London.

The club have an option to buy him worth around £45 million inserted into his loan deal, but it is believed they aim to whittle down this price tag and re-negotiate more favourable terms with Bayern.

For their part, Vincent Kompany’s side are open to selling him for good this summer, though it is unclear what their final demands would be for Tel at this point if they agree to make concessions on the initially agreed £45m fee.

Dubbed “very quick” and “strong” by ex-Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann, the tactician also once claimed Tel could become one of the best strikers in world football, all while backing him to eventually score “40 goals a season”.

Tel has taken a while to get going in a Spurs jersey, but immediate adaptation to Europe’s most competitive league can often be challenging. Despite his slow start, there is reason to believe the exciting starlet could go on to become an excellent player.