Mbeumo will love him: Man Utd submit £43m bid to sign "phenomenal" star

Manchester United have been known to splash the cash over recent years, forking out £600m under the guidance of former boss Erik ten Hag, but more money looks set to be spent during this window.

Current manager Ruben Amorim has already spent nearly £100m since taking the reins back in November, with Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha two of the additions made since his arrival.

However, there’s no denying that added funds will need to be spent this window if the club are to rise up the Premier League table and prevent a repeat of last season, which saw the side finish in 15th place.

The Red Devils have now gone over a decade without a league triumph, something that Amorim has been tasked with changing, but it’s safe to say it will be a long-term project to transform the side.

Money will need to be spent to back the 40-year-old in the market, leading to numerous names being mentioned as potential targets for the ongoing window.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Over the last couple of days, striker Ollie Watkins has emerged as a potential addition to the side, after United made contact with Aston Villa over a move for the England international.

He’s not the only forward who’s been on their radar in recent days, with talks also being held with Chelsea over a move for French forward Christopher Nkunku.

However, key work has also been done in the midfield department, with the Red Devils making huge strides in a deal for PSG’s Fabian Ruiz, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that Amorim’s side has a €50m (£43m) offer ‘on the table’ for the Spanish international, who won the Champions League with Luis Enrique’s side at the end of last season.

It also states that the 29-year-old could be open to a potential move to Old Trafford, with the hierarchy seeing him as a crucial part of the puzzle in their quest for future success.

Why United’s £43m target would be perfect for Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo is a player who’s been firmly on their radar on United’s radar over the last few weeks, with the saga showing no signs of coming to an end soon.

The Brentford star has been the subject of two separate bids from Amorim’s side, with their latest offer of £55m plus £7.5m in add-ons being rejected by Keith Andrews’ men.

However, the Cameroonian, who scored 20 league goals last season, has previously stated his desire to move to Old Trafford, but he could end up staying at the GTEC beyond the summer window.

It’s expected that the Red Devils are to return with another offer, which could see them get closer to the Bees’ asking price, potentially putting an end to their summer-long pursuit.

Given his record in front of goal, he will likely hand the club the needed threat they’ve been hunting for, but he would certainly be aided in his attempts with a move for Fabian.

When delving into the Spaniard’s stats from the 2024/25 campaign in Ligue 1, he possesses a lot of talents that would see him star alongside Mbeumo at Old Trafford.

Fabian, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Zach Lowy, has registered 9.6 progressive passes per 90, and 2.2 progressive carries per 90, showcasing his ability to take the ball into forward areas.

Fabian Ruiz’s stats for PSG in Ligue 1 (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

30

Goals & assists

9

Pass accuracy

91%

Progressive passes

9.6

Progressive carries

2.2

Key passes made

1.7

Passes into final third

7.3

Stats via FBref

He also notched 1.7 key passes per 90 and completed 7.3 passes into the final third, having the tools to provide the likes of Mbeumo ahead of him with the opportunity to thrive.

The Spaniard has also thrived without the ball, winning 1.7 tackles per 90, and making 1.3 clearances – handing Amorim the perfect box-to-box option within his 3-4-2-1 system.

It’s unclear if the French outfit would accept the rumoured proposal for the midfielder, but it’s clear that he has the tools to thrive under the 40-year-old at Old Trafford.

The prospect of Ruiz linking up with Mbeumo at the Theatre of Dreams is certainly an exciting one, potentially having the ability to catapult the club one step closer to the top end of the table.

A Bellingham & Bruno hybrid: Man Utd chasing 'one of the best no.8's alive'

Manchester United could be about to make a move for a top-level European talent.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 2, 2025

BlueCo have struck gold on Chelsea star who's worth way more than Gittens

Enzo Maresca leads his Chelsea team at the Club World Cup in the USA over the next few weeks, but he will still be aiming to bolster his squad.

Chelsea’s Club World Cup fixtures

Date

Opponent

Venue

Monday, June 16

Los Angeles FC

Mercedes-Benz stadium

Friday, June 20

Flamengo

Lincoln Financial Field

Tuesday, June 24

Esperance

Lincoln Financial Field

Indeed, several players have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge of late, notably Hugo Ekitiké. The French striker is wanted by several clubs, and now Manchester United have entered the race.

Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike

Benfica defender Tomas Araujo is another player that the Blues have targeted this week. He did sign a new contract until 2029 with the Portuguese side, and it has a release clause of €80m (£68m) inserted.

Jamie Gittens is the one target whom the club appear to be prioritising of late, although they might need to wait until the Club World Cup ends to get their man.

Chelsea keen on signing Jamie Gittens

The Blues had an initial bid rejected for the English teenager before making a €50m (£42m) offer, yet this was also rejected by Borussia Dortmund.

Maresca is now preparing a new offer to sign the English talent, who is worth €50m (£42m) according to Transfermarkt.

Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittensin action with Club Brugge's Ferran Jutgla

Across his senior career with Dortmund, the 20-year-old has already played over 100 times, registering 31 goal contributions in the process.

In terms of potential, Gittens is one of the most talented young wingers in Europe, given his goal contributions at such a young age. Should he make the move to Stamford Bridge, he would build on his experience gained in the Bundesliga.

Regarding young talent, Chelsea have a player in their squad who is worth more than double that of Gittens, and he could go right to the very top.

Chelsea have struck gold on Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer was signed for just £40m in 2023. Let that sink in for a moment. Across his two seasons with Chelsea, the Englishman has scored 40 goals and registered 27 assists in just 91 matches for the Blues.

Remarkably, this counts as a goal contribution every 1.3 games, and there is no denying that £40m has turned out to be a sublime bargain for the London side.

He was widely praised by Maresa following a victory against Tottenham last season, describing the former Manchester City starlet as “one of the best” players in the Premier League.

When compared to his peers in the top flight last term, Palmer ranked in the top 4% for shot-creating actions (5.7), in the top 9% for progressive passes (6.04), and in the top 3% for expected goals (0.49) per 90.

One of the best indeed. The best thing is, Palmer will only continue to get better and better as time goes on.

Palmer’s stunning rise is evidenced by his market value shooting up in the previous 12 months. According to Transfermarkt, the English midfielder is now worth a staggering €120m (£102m), and it looks like it will continue to soar.

Chelsea'sColePalmerreacts

While Gittens may be the next big thing to come from Dortmund, Chelsea have struck gold with their own English talent. Especially considering he is worth over double what the 20-year-old is valued at.

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£67m star prioritising Arsenal move as agent holds meeting, it's not Sesko

Arsenal are in the market for a new attacker this summer, and sporting director Andrea Berta has been handed a boost in regard to one target who appears to have his eyes firmly on a move to N5.

Arsenal maintaining Benjamin Sesko talks

The Gunners have been seriously pursuing RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko for the last fortnight.

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Talks have been held with the Bundesliga side over a move for their talismanic forward, who scored 21 goals in all competitions last season, with Arsenal and Leipzig reportedly negotiating to find middle ground on the fee.

While reliable reports suggest that Saudi sides are now expressing a keen interest in Sesko to rival Arsenal, the player’s priority is to remain in Europe, and it is believed by some media sources that the 22-year-old has already agreed personal terms (CaughtOffside).

There appears to be cautious optimism that a move can eventually be struck for the Slovenia international, but in case a deal falls through, Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres remains on their shortlist (Fabrizio Romano).

The Swede is fresh off an excellent campaign, where he bagged 54 goals in all competitions, helping Sporting to their first domestic double in 20 years.

Gyokeres’ ruthless finishing has attracted interest from across the continent, with Man United also rumoured to be contending for his services. However, he definitely won’t be leaving for £59 million, as Sporting president Frederico Varandas confirmed to the media this week.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

“I can guarantee that Viktor Gyokeres will not leave for 60m euros plus 10m euros because I never promised that,” Varandas said.

“To this day Sporting has not had an offer for Gyokeres – neither today nor last season.”

Viktor Gyokeres prioritising move to Arsenal with meeting held

While a lot of negotiation still needs to be done over a potential fee, if Arsenal decide to go there in the event they cannot agree a Sesko deal, they can be encouraged by the 27-year-old’s stance on a move to the Emirates Stadium.

According to CNN journalist Nuno Farinha, speaking on CNN Portugal, Gyokeres’ agent held a meeting with Arsenal chiefs on Wednesday to lay groundwork over a potential transfer.

Farinha also says that Arsenal has always been Gyokeres’ preferred landing spot, with the ex-Coventry City star seemingly prioritising a move to north London over Man United.

While a lot of debate is surrounding Gyokeres’ price tag, especially after Varandas’ comments, Portuguese newspaper Record recently stated that Sporting have been demanding around £67 million.

“His overall game is good. He is big and strong, he can play on the ball and his finishing is ridiculously good,” said pundit John Wenham to Tottenham News.

“That would be an exciting signing.”

Ipswich hold talks to sign "fantastic" £35k-p/w maestro who McKenna loves

Ipswich Town are now in talks to sign a “fantastic” midfielder who manager Kieran McKenna is a big admirer of, chairman Mark Ashton has revealed.

Ipswich preparing for life in the Championship

It was always going to be a tall order for Ipswich to avoid relegation from the Premier League, but much like when Burnley went down under Sean Dyche the first time around, Ipswich seemingly think they can come straight back up if they stick by their manager.

However, there are now some doubts surrounding McKenna’s future at Portman Road, with widespread reports suggesting the 39-year-old could be Brentford’s first-choice target to replace Thomas Frank, should the Danish manager complete a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Having led the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions, it will be a difficult task to find an heir to the Englishman, while signing a replacement for Liam Delap could also be tricky, given the 22-year-old managed to score an impressive 12 goals in his debut Premier League campaign.

Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath is one of the targets to replace Delap at striker, but Ashton has revealed that Ipswich are also looking to reinforce their midfield this summer.

The chairman has now confirmed that talks have been held over a deal for former loanee Jens Cajuste, saying: “Jens is a loan player who I think has done really well for us.

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“He’s had some challenges with injury this season, which have been well documented.

“Our conversations with Jens are ongoing. A deal for Jens to be here for the long term, it would need to be something that’s right for us, him and his club – and that dialogue continues.”

Mckenna has also admitted he’s a big fan of the midfielder, adding: “We’ve loved having Jens here, but there’s probably a lot to do for that to happen. We’ll see what the next few weeks brings.”

"Fantastic" Cajuste could be real coup for Ipswich

The Ipswich boss was clearly impressed by the Swedish midfielder’s performances last season, praising him for showing “fantastic character” against Nottingham Forest in April, and given that the manager knows the 25-year-old very well, he could be an ideal signing.

Not only does the £35k-a-week maestro have Premier League experience, but he has previously featured regularly for Napoli in Serie A and Reims in Ligue 1, so the Tractor Boys securing a permanent deal could be a real statement of intent.

McKenna certainly knows what it takes to win promotion, and the signing of Cajuste could fuel his side’s Championship title bid next season, although Luton Town suffering back-to-back relegations to League 1 should serve as a warning to not get carried away.

Not Gyokeres: Arsenal eyeing Sesko upgrade who's "one of the best in Europe"

Silly season is officially here, and it looks like it’s going to be a long but exciting one for Arsenal.

The areas Mikel Arteta and Co need to strengthen over the coming months are apparent, with perhaps the most significant position of need being centre-forward.

One of the names who has been most heavily linked with the Premier League runners-up in recent weeks has been Benjamin Sesko.

RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoheads at goal

The Slovenian striker looks like he could be one of the game’s next great strikers, but if recent reports are to be believed, the North Londoners are also looking at someone else who could be an even better option.

Arsenal eyeing Sesko alternative

Before getting to the man in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other talented strikers who have been touted for a move to Arsenal in recent weeks, like Evann Guessand and Nick Woltemade.

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The former enjoyed an impressive campaign with OGC Nice this season, in which he scored 13 goals and provided ten assists in 42 games, which more than justifies the £25m price tag on his head.

Likewise, the £42m VfB Stuttgart reportedly want for Woltemade doesn’t feel too unreasonable, as in just 33 games this season, the German poacher was able to score 17 goals and provide three assists while also winning the German Cup.

Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade

However, the Gunners might prefer a striker with more Premier League experience and a proven track record in England, which is where Ollie Watkins steps up.

According to a recent report from The Athletic, Arsenal have maintained an interest in the Aston Villa star despite failing to sign him in January.

The report claims that the England international, whom Arteta pushed for in the winter window, is still a topic of discussion among the club’s decision-makers, although his price could once again prove to be a stumbling block.

The Villans wanted £60m for him earlier this season, although with profit and sustainability rules still reportedly a cause for concern, there is a chance they’ll accept a lower fee in the coming weeks.

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins in action with Club Brugge's JoelOrdonez

It would be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Watkins’ immense ability, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he’d be a better signing than Sesko.

How Watkins compares to Sesko

So, with Arsenal undeniably needing a new striker this summer, who would be the better choice out of Watkins and Sesko?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, which is ultimately what matters most for a forward, it’s the Villa star who has the far better ratio of goal involvements to minutes played this season.

For example, in 54 appearances, which came to 3578 minutes of action, the Englishman, whom podcaster Rohan Jivan described as “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe,” scored 17 goals and provided 14 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 115.41 minutes.

In contrast, the Slovenian international scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 120.66 minutes.

Unfortunately for the RB Leipzig star, the comparison only becomes more one-sided when we take a look at their underlying numbers, with the former Exeter City gem coming out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, from non-penalty expected goals plus assists to progressive carries and more, all per 90.

Watkins vs Sesko

Statistics per 90

Watkins

Sesko

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.59

0.40

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.76

0.61

Progressive Passes

1.07

1.74

Progressive Carries

1.90

1.78

Shots

2.84

2.50

Shots on Target

1.25

1.10

Passing Accuracy

72.4%

67.6%

Key Passes

0.83

0.72

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.45

0.34

Shot-Creating Actions

1.84

1.93

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.34

Successful Take-Ons

0.35

1.48

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

Finally, on top of being statistically more impressive, the former Brentford star is also the safer bet, as he’s already proven that he can thrive in the Premier League, and the club needing a major trophy next season, it makes far more sense to go with the known quantity.

Therefore, while Sesko is great, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Watkins this summer, as he may be the missing piece of the puzzle that lands them a Premier League or Champions League title next year.

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Newcastle could sign "legendary" Isak replacement for £27m

Newcastle United supporters will be praying that Eddie Howe can keep hold of Alexander Isak this summer.

Securing Champions League football for next season would give the club a big boost in this regard, but with interest in the Swede circling, it may be difficult to persuade him to stay.

Newcastle United manager EddieHowebefore the match

Liverpool and Arsenal are the leading contenders to attempt a move to sign the centre-forward when the transfer window opens.

Why Newcastle must keep hold of Alexander Isak

The former Borussia Dortmund forward has enjoyed the finest individual season of his career throughout 2024/25. Across 41 games for the Magpies in all competitions, Isak has scored 27 goals while recording six assists.

At the time of writing, the Toon sit third in the Premier League table, and Isak’s 23 league goals have gone a long way in powering the club to what could be Champions League qualification next term.

Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal

This would allow Howe the chance to bring more high-profile players to the North East, while enabling him to potentially keep the likes of Isak, Anthony Gordon, and Bruno Guimaraes for another season.

If the Swedish striker does decide to move on in the summer, Howe will need to bring in a replacement who knows what it takes to score at the very highest level.

Could he turn to La Liga in the coming weeks?

Newcastle could replace Isak with Alexander Sorloth

Signing another centre-forward is certainly on Howe’s wishlist, especially with sparse options in this area of the team.

With Isak’s future uncertain and Callum Wilson not getting any younger and missing the majority of the season due to injury, money will need to be spent.

Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their first goal

Reports in Spain, Newcastle are keen on signing Atlético Madrid frontman Alexander Sorloth this summer.

Atlético signed him last summer for a fee of £27m, although it remains to be seen just how much he could cost this year, especially coming off an excellent campaign for the La Liga side.

The Norwegian was dubbed “legendary” after scoring three goals in the opening 11 minutes of the club’s 4-0 success over Real Sociedad. He ended up netting all four, in what was a stunning display.

Compared to his peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Sorloth demonstrated his sublime abilities in the final third.

Indeed, not only does he rank in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (0.96), but the striker also ranks in the top 3% for total shots (4.24) and in the top 7% for touches in the opposition penalty area, which speaks to how lethal he is in front of goal and why he would be a dream replacement for Isak.

Alexander Sorloth’s stats this season

Metric

La Liga

Appearances

33

xG

13.91

Goals

17

Shots per game

2.1

Goal conversion percentage

25%

Goal frequency (minutes)

87

Assists

2

Via Sofascore

Considering he has scored a total of 21 goals for the Spanish side, signing Sorloth could give Newcastle supporters hope that not all is lost if Isak moves on from St. James’ Park.

He has history with the Premier League, playing 16 scoreless games for Crystal Palace during the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons, but now appears to be prepared to be a key player at that level thanks to his experience in Madrid.

Should he return, the striker has matured and surely wouldn’t be fazed this time around, that’s for sure.

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West Brom can forget Mason by hiring incredible seven-time promotion winner

Another Championship season has worryingly passed West Bromwich Albion by, meaning the Baggies have been outside the luxuries of Premier League football since relegation at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

Many managers have come and gone during this testing period, with Carlos Corberan the closest to restoring West Brom back to their former top-flight glories when reaching the playoffs just last season, only for eventual promotion winners Southampton to get the better of the West Midlands side over two legs.

West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.

Now, West Brom are back in the daunting position of having to look for another new boss after parting ways with Tony Mowbray, with the next face to grace the Hawthorns helm perhaps the one that seals promotion finally.

West Brom's list of manager targets

It’s been nearly a month now since Mowbray was dismissed with the 61-year-old unfortunately unable to push the Baggies up into the playoffs on his return to the hot-seat.

Instead, he only managed to pick up five victories from his 17 games in charge, with these disappointing failures culminating in James Morrison having to take over the reins on an interim basis for the final few games of the league campaign.

There have even been reports that the ex-West Brom midfielder could be handed the vacancy on a permanent basis, but it’s far likelier that the Baggies will look elsewhere in trying to uncover the best possible Mowbray successor.

However, one option continuing to be linked with Albion is Ryan Mason. Five years younger than Morrison, he actually boasts more significant coaching experience at Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham's Ryan Mason

Yet, if West Brom can find a more experienced promotion winner over Mason, they should go full steam ahead. In fact, there’s a seven-time promotion expert who ticks all the right boxes.

West Brom could appoint "unbelievable" promotion expert

Instead of swooping in to steal coaches from Premier League outfits, West Brom could look to the lower reaches of the EFL to finally land a suitable Mowbray replacement.

With that in mind, Stockport County boss Dave Challinor could be their desired man. The current Hatters boss is a beloved figure at Edgeley Park for how much he has revolutionised the Greater Manchester side’s fortunes since joining in 2021 and is reportedly on the radar of Albion.

When he first took on the reins, Stockport were a sleeping giant marooned in the National League. But, with two promotions under his belt now – which included pipping mega-money Wrexham Town to the League Two title last year – the Hatters are on the cusp of a Championship return for the first time in over 20 years.

This will be music to the ears of West Brom as they aim to finally break out of the Championship, with Challinor already a recognised promotion expert in League Two and perhaps League One to come, meaning he could take to the next step-up swimmingly as well.

Challinor’s overall numbers as a manager

Stat

Challinor

Games managed

553

Wins

282

Draws

128

Losses

143

Goals scored

998

Promotions

7x

League titles

4x

Overall win percentage

50.9%

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Staggeringly, Challinor still has even more promotion wins to brag about than the two already mentioned with Stockport, with the table above illuminating his further five promotion successes as a lower league veteran, alongside his mammoth career tally of 282 victories.

This is where any approach for Mason could fall flat, with the Spurs coach clearly a well-regarded face in North London and one for the future. However, he has only overseen a meagre 13 games as a main manager.

Stockport County manager DaveChallinorapplauds fans after the match

Both the 49-year-old and Mason do have a connection, however, with neither figure having taken charge of a Championship game before.

But, if the “unbelievable” manager – as he’s been labelled previously by journalist Jordan Cronin – has proved anything across his distinguished time in various dug-outs to date, he often excels when a tough challenge is put in front of him.

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By
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May 13, 2025

Rangers must ruthlessly axe "sloppy" Ibrox flop who wouldn't suit Gerrard

Glasgow Rangers extended their winless run to six matches in all competitions after they held their Glasgow rivals to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.

Barry Ferguson has failed to lead the team to a win since the dramatic 4-3 victory over Dundee away from home at the end of March, and has not done his chances of landing the job on a permanent basis many favours.

The Light Blues decided to move on from Philippe Clement earlier this year and will have to source a long-term replacement for him this summer, with a familiar name leading the list of candidates.

The latest on the Rangers managerial chase

Football Insider recently reported that former Rangers head coach Steven Gerrard is the leading candidate to secure the job on a full-time basis ahead of next season.

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The outlet claimed that the English manager is the favourite for the role, ahead of Marco Rose, and that he is at the top of the club’s shortlist of options.

Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard

The 44-year-old boss usually deployed a 4-3-3 system during his first spell at Ibrox, which yielded an incredible, unbeaten, league title success in the 2020/21 campaign, and that could mean that the Gers need to recruit in a certain way to suit that system this summer.

It could also mean that there are some players currently in the Rangers squad who could move on from Glasgow because they do not fit what Gerrard would want in that position, and Danilo is a player who could fall into that category.

Why Danilo may not suit Gerrard

The Brazilian forward, who joined from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023, may not be ideally suited to Gerrard’s set-up because he has not shown himself to be suited to playing as a lone centre-forward.

Danilo has been used as a second-striker, or attacking midfielder, or as a centre-forward as part of a front two, either alongside Cyriel Dessers or Hamza Igamane, rather than being relied upon to play on his own.

That may be because the 5 foot 9 forward lacks the physicality to play as a sole number nine. He has lost 63% of his ground duels and 75% of his aerial battles in the Premiership so far this season, which shows that opposition defenders find it too easy to get the better of him.

The 26-year-old dud is reportedly on a wage of £26k-per-week, which is more than Mohammed Diomande (£12k-per-week), who provided the assist for Dessers on Sunday, and Nicolas Raskin (£19k-per-week), despite the duo being regular starters in midfield with 55 league starts between them this season.

Meanwhile, Danilo, who was described as being “sloppy” on the ball by pundit Steven Thompson, has started seven league matches this term and has struggled with multiple injuries during his two seasons at Ibrox so far.

Danilo’s Rangers injury history

Injury

Time out

Days out

Games missed

Knee injury

September 2024 – November 2024

65

12

Knee injury

December 2023 – May 2024

171

32

Broken cheekbone

September 2023 – October 2023

43

9

Via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the former Feyenoord marksman has missed 53 games through injury for Rangers since his move to the club in 2023, which shows that he is not reliable in terms of his availability.

Therefore, Rangers should ruthlessly cash in on Danilo in the summer transfer window because he does not have the physicality to suit playing on his own up front in a Gerrard system and does not have the availability to make him a worthwhile squad member, particularly with a wage that is higher than club Player of the Year Raskin and Diomande’s.

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Man Utd and Man City now offered "fantastic" star compared to Luka Modric

Manchester United are looking to enjoy a statement summer window under Ruben Amorim and could now elbow Manchester City aside for a potential bargain signing, per reports.

Man Utd begin summer window preparation

The Red Devils will be looking forward to the end of a frustrating Premier League season where they haven’t been able to reverse the current of an inconsistent run of results.

Erik ten Hag tried and failed before Amorim arrived at Old Trafford. However, the Portuguese boss has presided over a chaotic campaign that is destined to end in a bottom-half finish.

Manchester United manager RubenAmorimduring training

Nevertheless, winning the Europa League could provide a backdoor route to Champions League qualification as Manchester United and INEOS look to establish themselves among the elite.

Athletic Club await in the semi-final, which could pave the way for a showdown against either Tottenham Hotspur or Bodo Glimt should circumstances align in ideal fashion.

On the transfer front, Manchester United are eyeing an ambitious move for Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka and could land his services for a fee of £34 million.

Amorim wants him: Man Utd eye £42m bid to sign star ahead of Bayern Munich

Manchester United find themselves in a battle to sign a player Ruben Amorim really wants.

By
Brett Worthington

Apr 26, 2025

Casemiro may well depart Old Trafford, and there is plenty of speculation over new faces to firm up Amorim’s bid for success— the Red Devils’ interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha and Atalanta’s Ederson offer an inkling of where they may aim to target.

The engine room and their forward line are obvious areas to shore up, but finances will likely dictate the level of business that could occur to add strength to a side in need of a rebrand.

That said, Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign a proven midfielder who could be available for nothing this summer.

Man Utd offered chance to sign Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa

According to reports in Italy via Sport Witness, Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa alongside rivals Manchester City via his entourage.

Intriguingly, his contract with the Serie A giants is set to expire this summer, though both parties have the option to extend it by two more years, so he could be available for free over the coming months.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s record at Napoli

Appearances

148

Goals

11

Assists

17

Trophies

1 Serie A in 2022/23

Labelled “fantastic” alongside midfield partner Scott McTominay by Philip Billing, the Cameroon international has also attracted recent interest from Chelsea, while Monaco and Marseille have also made contact to gauge his availability.

Anguissa’s family want to move to England, and his agent has previously been in London and Manchester to discuss a change of scenery ahead of the summer window.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa for Napoli.

Deemed to be a similar player to Luka Modric, via Football Transfers, the 29-year-old is now potentially in line for a Premier League return after enjoying a spell at Fulham between 2018 and 2022.

After registering six goals and four assists in ten appearances across all competitions this term, it now remains to be seen whether he will end up at Old Trafford.

The new Benteke: FSG must ruthlessly sell Liverpool's £140k-p/w flop

The Premier League trophy will be ribboned in red this year, with Arne Slot almost certain to lift the title in the first season of his tenure at Liverpool.

After a summer of frustration in the transfer market, failing to convince Martin Zubimendi to part with Real Sociedad and make the move to England, Liverpool have charged through the 2024/25 campaign with such consistency and coherence that they perch comfortably ahead at the summit.

The players fell short last season, lost in the fogs of the final stretch and falling early in a three-horse Premier League title race. However, Slot’s tactical vision has been a breath of fresh air, one which has cleared the pathway toward gold.

Who saw it coming? Few at all. Maybe a certain German manager was thinking that he’d led a group of players as far as they could go within his decade-stretching project.

Klopp's early clearout

Jurgen Klopp. Leader of men. Rouser of footballers. Builder of exciting projects. But also ruthless when he wanted to be, during his time as Liverpool manager.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

That larger-than-life, grinning visage became synonymous with Anfield’s rise from the rubble over the past decade, but Klopp, for all his bubbly demeanour, acted mercilessly in cutting away the rot after replacing Brendan Rodgers in 2015.

Long-serving stars Joe Allen and Martin Skrtel were sold in the summer of 2016, Klopp wasting no time after his opening half-season, which saw Liverpool reach the Europa League final and lose against Sevilla.

But these players were recognised to be getting on and lacking the level of quality required. The sale of Christian Benteke carried more animosity.

Jurgen Klopp and Christian Benteke

Liverpool signed Benteke from Aston Villa, where he was beloved for his powerful focal presence and reliable scoring touch, for £32.5m in July 2015, one year after Luis Suarez left and took Rodgers’ hopes with him. He spent mere months on Merseyside before Klopp’s appointment.

The Belgian was hardly terrible, finishing his sole campaign in red with a modest return of ten goals and six assists across 42 matches in all competitions, but he lacked the technical ability of the likes of Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge, ahead in the pecking order and more vibrant in their football.

He fell out of favour in the months under Klopp’s wing, even remarking that the German boss ignored him, continuing to state he found it hard to understand.

Klopp ultimately knew what he wanted and acted with intent, ignoring the fact Liverpool had spent a significant sum on the striker only one year before. It’s impressive that the Reds recouped much of their outlay in August 2016, when Crystal Palace swooped in and paid £27m to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Back to the present, Slot is expected to go into the upcoming transfer window swinging, and the Dutchman appears to be taking a leaf from his predecessor’s books as he and sporting director Richard Hughes prepare to cash in on Liverpool’s new version of Benteke.

Liverpool's new version of Benteke

Unlike Klopp, Slot is stomping toward silverware in his maiden year as Liverpool’s head coach. And it’s a Premier League gold medal at that.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot

It’s remarkable that he’s reached such heights after a summer (and winter) of such nominal first-team investment. Slot’s resourcefulness and Klopp’s success in rebuilding his team before departing truly are two sides of the same shiny coin.

But now is the time for change, and Liverpool need to get busy this summer if Slot’s tenure is to be remembered as a dynasty, and not a flash in the pan.

That’s why selling Darwin Nunez has to be one of the priorities this summer. The Uruguay international, 25, has fallen heavily by the wayside at Anfield, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to get back up.

Darwin Nunez – Liverpool Stats by Season (all comps)

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

24/25

42 (17)

7

7

23/24

54 (33)

18

15

22/23

42 (26)

15

4

Stats via Transfermarkt

While his numbers aren’t shambolic, they don’t reflect the club-record £85m transfer fee paid in a positive light, nor do they tell the full tale of a player who has routinely frustrated due to profligacy in front of goal and a lack of nous in critical moments.

Slot’s unwillingness to start him mirrors Klopp’s hesitance in unleashing Benteke, who started each of Liverpool’s opening six Premier League fixtures in 2015/16, before Rodgers departed, but only seven across 23 appearances thereafter, with Klopp at the helm.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano is among the journalists who have confirmed Liverpool are expecting to sell the £140k-per-week Nunez this summer after a deal to join Al-Nassr in January fell through.

Klopp shipped Benteke out after his first stretch as the Anfield chief and now Slot is going to repeat the trick. Sadio Mane effectively replaced the hulking striker in 2016, albeit in a different position, and then Mohamed Salah followed one year later.

Selling Benteke was essential to the purchase of Southampton’s winger, however, and freeing room and resources with Nunez’s departure falls into the same boat, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez

Neither Benteke nor Nunez have played their part at Liverpool uselessly, but it’s clear that in both cases an upgrade could be scored, and given the competitive nature of the Premier League and Slot’s triumph this term, it’s important that FSG don’t rest on their laurels.

Slot, like Klopp, comes across really well but serves his role with a solemn undertow of ruthlessness that will serve Liverpool well as a whole but leave the likes of Nunez forced to find a new employer.

Just as with Benteke, way back when.

Imagine him & Van Dijk: Liverpool lead race for 'world's most in demand CB'

Liverpool are looking to sign one of football’s biggest talents this summer to partner Virgil van Dijk

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 17, 2025

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