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Newcastle United’s transfer window thus far has been fairly underwhelming, but Eddie Howe does have a couple of weeks left to thrash out a couple of high-quality signings which could steer the club back into Europe.

The Magpies have been showing interest in Chelsea winger Noni Madueke recently, as Howe aims to bolster his attacking options.

The youngster has impressed since joining in January 2023, scoring nine goals and grabbing three assists in just 46 matches.

With the Blues signing Pedro Neto however, it looks as though the Englishman may be allowed to leave.

He isn’t the only winger Newcastle are tracking. Could Howe land an even better player than Madueke by signing another Premier League winger?

Newcastle keen on signing former Man Utd starlet

According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Newcastle have added Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga to their shortlist of potential attacking targets.

O’Rourke, while speaking on the Inside Track podcast, stated that the Magpies have opened discussions over multiple deals which could see the former Man United gem make the trip north in the coming weeks.

He certainly has experience in the Premier League and would give Howe much-needed quality on the right flank.

Could he be a better option than Madueke, however? Both starred for their respective sides last season.

Anthony Elanga’s season in numbers

The Swede made his debut for the Old Trafford side during the 2020/21 campaign, going on to make a total of 55 appearances in all competitions for the club.

It was time for a change of scenery last summer, hence the move to Forest, where the 22-year-old really came out of his shell.

In the Premier League, Elanga started 25 matches out of 36, scoring five times while chipping in with nine assists. This worked out as a goal contribution once every 2.5 matches.

Madueke, on the other hand, averaged a goal involvement every 3.2 games for Chelsea in the league last term.

Noni Madueke vs Anthony Elanga in the PL 2023/24
Metric	Madueke	Elanga
Minutes per game	47	68
Goals	5	5
Expected Goals	2.49	6.57
Assists	2	9
Big chances created	2	14
Key passes per game	0.9	0.9
Successful dribbles per game	1.6	0.8
Shots per game	1.4	1.5

Not only that, but Elanga also averaged a greater shot-on-target percentage last term (40.7% vs 38.7%), generated more shot-creating actions (70 vs 51), took more touches in the opposition penalty area (122 vs 77) and registered more progressive carries (98 vs 76) in the Premier League, albeit in more minutes on the field.

Madueke may well be playing at a bigger club but it's Elanga who has proven himself to be a more consistent outlet since moving away from Man United.

Further boasting "frightening speed" – something he was praised for by Journalist Laurie Whitwell during his days at United – this trait could be a key asset to Howe during the 2024/25 campaign.

Anthony Gordon has shone on the left flank for the Magpies, but now a quality right-winger is required which could help the club return to Europe.

Injuries may have given Howe some breathing space, but a second consecutive season without continental football won't be tolerated on Tyneside, that’s for sure.

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By
Joe Nuttall

Aug 10, 2024

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has done a wonderful job of strengthening his squad so far this summer, despite losing players such as Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby.

Qualifying for the Champions League is certainly an incentive to join Villa as the likes of Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana have moved to the Midlands this summer, joining from Chelsea and Everton respectively.

With just under a month left of the summer transfer window, Emery might need to bring in another one or two players to add some depth to his side, especially as European commitments could drain the team.

Player

Club joined

Moussa Diaby

Al-Ittihad

Douglas Luiz

Juventus

Tim Iroegbunam

Everton

Morgan Sanson

OGC Nice

Viljami Sinisalo

Celtic

Calum Chambers

Cardiff

Could the Spaniard turn to Germany in order to further bolster his first team squad, however, as he is on the lookout for another centre-forward ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Aston Villa eyeing up move for Bundesliga striker

Just a few days ago, Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed that both Chelsea and Aston Villa had submitted offers to sign German striker Maximilian Beier from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

While an offer has been submitted, discussions with the club have not yet started. He would only cost €30m (£25m) due to his release clause, which is certainly an affordable figure for Monchi and Co this summer.

Villa have had some success in recruiting players from the German top flight over the previous few years, with Leon Bailey showing last season that there are some gems to be found on the continent.

Could Emery replicate this masterstroke by signing Beier before the end of the current transfer window?

Leon Bailey’s season in numbers

The Jamaican winger arrived in the Midlands during the summer of 2021 for a fee of £25m, which was a significant sum of money at the time, considering Europe was just a pipe dream.

After 28 goals in 119 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen during his spell in Germany, it looked as though Bailey would be an impressive signing for the club.

Despite this, his first two seasons in England were a disappointment. Bailey scored only six goals across 54 matches in all competitions, hardly justifying the extravagant payout.

Things changed during the 2023/24 season, as Emery managed to bring the best out of the winger.

Bailey enjoyed his most productive league campaign of his career with regard to goals scored (10), while overall, he netted 14 times along with registering a further 14 assists from the right wing.

Metric

Premier League

Conference League

Goals

10

2

Assists

9

4

Big chances created

12

2

Key passes per game

1.5

1.2

Successful dribbles per game

1.6

2.2

Among his teammates, Bailey ranked second for goals and assists (19) in the Premier League, while also ranking third for shots on target per game (0.5), second for big chances created (12) and for successful dribbles per game (1.6), showcasing his excellent attacking abilities in a Villa shirt for the first time.

Can he build on this wonderful campaign during 2024/25? Especially as Champions League football will grace Villa Park, meaning he has the chance to shine on the biggest stage of all.

By signing Beier this summer, Emery can repeat the club’s Bailey masterclass…

Maximilian Beier’s statistics for Hoffenheim

The 21-year-old spent time on loan at Hannover 96 in the 2. Bundesliga, where he managed to score ten goals across two seasons, showing flashes of his talent.

This led to a return to Hoffenheim at the start of last season, and it didn’t take him long to make his mark for the club in the top flight.

Indeed, across his first eight Bundesliga matches, Beier scored eight goals while grabbing an assist, taking to life in the top flight with apparent ease.

Throughout the season, he scored against Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen, indicating that he didn’t faze the elite during his eventual 16-goal haul for the club.

When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s big five leagues, Beier ranks in the top 14% for non-penalty goals per 90 while also ranking in the top 11% for progressive passes received per 90 (8.33), showing that he gets into promising spaces in the opposition's final third to cause chaos among defences.

These qualities could give Emery another excellent option up top, taking some of the pressure from Ollie Watkins next season.

What Maximilian Beier could offer Aston Villa

Although he scored 16 league goals, Beier can offer much more going forwards. Indeed, he created four big chances in the Bundesliga, averaged 0.7 key passes per game and even succeeded with one dribble per game.

Of course, Emery will want another striker who can score 15 or more goals a season, but Beier’s all-round qualities could be a massive bonus to the Spaniard.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed the centre-forward following his first full season in the German top flight, saying: “His first full season in the German top tier. Great time for the 21-year-old Hoffenheim academy graduate. Much more than just a goalscorer.”

This wasn’t the only praise directed towards him either, as Hoffenheim director Alexander Rosen claimed that Beier is “incredibly fast” and this trait will stand him in good stead against Premier League defenders.

A fee of £25m could be enough for Villa to secure his signature before the transfer window slams shut, allowing Emery to bolster his attacking options without breaking the bank.

The 21-year-old has plenty of scope for development too and playing in the Champions League will expose him to the best teams and defences.

If he can impress in Europe’s premier club competition, the Midlands side will have a prodigious talent in their hands, one who will only get better and better under the Spaniard.

The next few weeks could prove to be an exciting time for the club as they seek further signings. With matches against some of the best sides in Europe coming up next season, bringing the best talent to the club will the main goal for Emery before the window closes later this month.

Offer made: Aston Villa target "dangerous" star who'd make Felix unplayable

The Villans have made an offer for this rising star.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2024

Manchester City fans have torn into Ederson after the Manchester City goalkeeper was dropped for their crunch clash with Liverpool.

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Ederson having difficult season'Keeper dropped for Liverpool clashMan City fans pile on BrazilianFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Like City, 'keeper Ederson has had an underwhelming season so far. The 31-year-old has conceded 25 goals in 16 games, keeping just three clean sheets. Now, manager Pep Guardiola has dropped the Brazilian for the huge trip to Anfield against Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. As a result, City fans have called Ederson "sh*t", a "liability", and joked that they might only lose by two goals rather than five with Stefan Ortega in between the sticks.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

@4Citytid posted on X: "About time Ederson was dropped. Been a liability at times."

@FodenPrime tweeted: "Hold on, we might actually lose 2-0 and not 5-0."

@propsMCFC commented: "We are alive here omg," while @Joshua_MCI added: "WE’RE ONLY CONCEDING TWO GOALS."

@ScoutingHive wrote: "About time, Ederson has been a liability for a while now. He needs to go in the summer."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ederson looked like he would be heading for a City exit over the summer, only for Guardiola to put on a charm offensive and convince the goalkeeper to stay at the Etihad. Ortega was first choice towards the end of last season and it remains to be seen if this selection switch will be a move to stir Ederson into action and improve his performances, or if this is a sign that Guardiola doesn't see him as his number one anymore. Either way, a big game awaits against Liverpool – who have an eight-point lead over fifth-placed City.

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This is Ortega's first Premier League start of the season. It remains to be seen if he will be in goal for City's next match in the Premier League on Wednesday at home to high-flying Nottingham Forest.

أكد المهاجم التونسي سيف الجزيري، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، على الأهمية الكبيرة التي يوليها الفريق لمباراة إنيمبا النيجيري القادمة في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

وأدلى الجزيري بتصريحات خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الذي عُقد قبل المباراة، حيث قال: “لا نخوض المباراة كأنها تحصيل حاصل، وسنخوض اللقاء لتحقيق الفوز، ونعلم أن إنيمبا منافس قوي”.

وواصل المهاجم حديثه قائلًا: “الزمالك يتطلع لتحقيق الفوز خاصة وأن المباراة على ملعبنا وأمام جماهيرنا”.

طالع أيضًا | جروس: إنيمبا ليس مُنافسًا سهلًا.. وهناك تعديلات في تشكيل الزمالك

وتابع الجزيري تصريحاته قائلًا: “نلعب في فريق كبير ونركز في كل مباراة من أجل تحقيق الهدف والفوز في المباراة”.

واختتم الجزيري حديثه قائلًا: “الزمالك جاهز لمواجهة أي فريق في الدور التالي وبالنسبة لي أتمنى مواجهة أقوى فريق في البطولة وجاهزون لأي منافس”.

ويتواجد الزمالك في المجموعة الرابعة التي تضم إلى جواره فرق المصري البورسعيدي وإنيمبا النيجيري وبلاك بولز الموزمبيقي.

ومن المقرر أن يستضيف فريق الزمالك نظيره إنيمبا النيجيري في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً غد الأحد على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي، وذلك في إطار منافسات الجولة السادسة والأخيرة من دور المجموعات للبطولة القارية.

Liverpool are bracing themselves for a late flurry of transfer activity this summer as they look to hand new manager Arne Slot a squad capable of challenging for the Premier League come the end of the season.

Transfer rumours persist at Anfield

As it stands, Liverpool are one of two Premier League sides yet to make a permanent signing this summer, with Fulham the other. But with the Craven Cottage outfit in advanced talks over a move for Arsenal man Emile Smith-Rowe, the Reds could soon be the only side with the same squad as last season.

So far, the club have waved goodbye to Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip, while Adrian has also departed for first-team football in his native Spain.

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Meanwhile, speculation has surrounded plenty of their stars with Mohamed Salah persistently linked with Saudi Arabia once more, and the Pro League sides now also thought to be keen to take Alisson as well.

Captain Virgil van Dijk has sounded less than assured about his own future too as the 33-year-old centreback heads into the final 12 months of his Anfield deal. After his side's semi-final loss at EURO 2024, the Dutchman admitted he “hasn't the slightest idea right now”. “I will think carefully this summer about what I want at club level and as an international player,” he added. “Then we'll go for it again, but first recover from this."

Another concern has been Real Madrid's rumoured interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold, though the Englishman is keen to stay for at least another season, according to reports. It all paints something of a potentially messy picture for Slot, and with Liverpool yet to welcome any fresh faces in, there is a fear that their ageing side may be left behind by those around them.

Liverpool's over 30s

Player

Age at start of 24/25 season

Alisson

31

Mohamed Salah

32

Andy Robertson

30

Virgil van Dijk

33

Wataru Endo

31

Now, those fears may have been eased.

Liverpool set for late transfer window blitz

That comes as a report from Football Insider, who claim that Liverpool are "set for a late-window signing blitz" as they look to bolster their ranks before the transfer deadline on 30th August.

It is claimed that the Reds and by extension, FSG, have "talks advancing on multiple deals", with the club looking to bring in a "wide forward, centre-back and defensive midfielder" ahead of the end of the summer.

Slot's side missed out on Leny Yoro, who opted to move to Manchester United earlier in the window for a fee in excess of £50m, something that the Reds weren't willing to match.

The Reds have been linked with free agent Adrien Rabiot, as well as Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes and Atalanta's Ederson as they look to bolster their midfield just 12 months on from signing four new midfielders.

In defence, they have been reportedly chasing a left-footed centre-back but there have been no recent updates on who that could be, while there have also been links with Andriy Lunin should Alisson depart. All in all, it promises to be a busy few weeks for the Liverpool hierarchy, and they could find themselves going from the least busy side in the division to one of the most following this new update.

Celtic could be closing in on their first summer signing, with one report now saying they’ve had a bid accepted for a long-term target.

Celtic want new goalkeeper

The Hoops and Brendan Rodgers are yet to make a summer signing following a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season, but a new goalkeeper to replace Joe Hart appears to be at the top of the list.

Alongside a shot-stopper, a winger and striker are also wanted at Parkhead, but when it comes to ‘keepers, there hasn’t been a shortage of targets.

Celtic hold talks to sign prolific teenage forward

He scored 16 goals in 17 starts last season.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 25, 2024

Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher, Trabzonspor star Ugurcan Cakir, Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson, Werder Bremen colossus Michael Zetterer, Southampton’s Alex McCarthy, Koen Casteels of Wolfsburg and Dominik Livakovic are just some of the goalkeepers that have been linked with the Hoops.

Rumours have intensified over a move for Fenerbahce’s Livakovic who has been starting at Euro 2024 for Croatia, with a €9million (£7.6m) bid submitted to bring him to Scotland.

Celtic have Livakovic bid accepted

According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Celtic’s offer for Livakovic has been accepted, with the player wanting to leave Fenerbahce this summer.

The €9m figure was mentioned again, and it is stated that an ‘official announcement will be made shortly’. Fenerbahce will reportedly replace Livakovic with Mattia Perin from Juventus, with Livakovic on course to become one of Celtic’s most expensive signings of all time, should a deal go through.

Jota

Benfica

€16.2m

Odsonne Edouard

PSG

€10.3m

Chris Sutton

Chelsea

€9.5m

John Hartson

Coventry

€9m

Eyal Brkovic

West Ham

€8.8m

It looks as if Celtic could be about to seal a marque goalkeeper signing, and Croatian football expert Richard Wilson has explained to The Herald what he could bring to Scotland, highlighting his reflex saves as his main strength.

“His main strength would be his reflex saves, and he has that knack of getting to shots that 90 percent of goalkeepers can’t get to. It’s such a small difference between a good goalkeeper and a great goalkeeper at that level, and his reflexes have been shown to be among the true elite.”

Wilson then said a move to Celtic could be a “statement signing” for the Hoops.

“For Celtic to land a goalkeeper of his stature would be a statement signing, absolutely. Fenerbahce paid the best part of 7m Euros for him last summer, and they will make a profit on that, but if you compare Livakovic’s stature to Joe Hart’s, well, Joe Hart hasn’t been in World Cup semi-finals for instance.

“He’s one of the few goalkeepers that Celtic could get with a trophy cabinet of that size. It makes sense to me though because Celtic have been in for him before, so it is a renewal of interest.”

It could be just a matter of time until Celtic get their man, making this one to watch over the coming weeks.

توجه المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، هانز فليك، بطلب عاجل إلى الإدارة خلال الساعات القليلة الماضية قبل عودة المباريات الرسمية.

وعانى برشلونة في آخر مباريات خاضها في الدوري الإسباني ولم يحقق الفوز سوى في مباراة خلال آخر 5 جولات بالبطولة، مما أفقده الصدارة لصالح أتلتيكو مدريد.

ولكن بعيدًا عن نتائج الفريق، يبحث فليك دائمًا على الأفضل للاعبين من أجل شعورهم بالارتياح الشديد لتقديم مستويات أفضل من خلال حل مشاكلهم.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تقارير: لاعب برشلونة يُفكر في الانضمام لـ الدوري الإنجليزي

وكانت من أهم المشاكل التي تواجه فليك هي شكوى مهاجمه، روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، من التغذية وطاهي الطعام الذي يسافر مع البعثة في المباريات الخارجية.

اشتكى ليفاندوفسكي من طريقة طهي أحد الأطعمة التي تعتبر أساسية في النظام الغذائي لأي رياضي، مثل البيض، وعندما علم فليك بهذا الأمر أبلغ النادي برغبته في الحصول على طاهٍ محترف، بحسب صحيفة “سبورت” الكتالونية.

وبالفعل، بدأ برشلونة في إجراء مقابلات مع بعض الطهاة المحترفين للبداية مع الفريق ولكن مع شرط هام وهو عدم المبالغة في الراتب حتى لا تحدث أزمة أخرى للنادي.

The Premier League has become the greatest league in world football over recent years thanks to the influx of star players, brilliant managers and the fantastic support that all 20 sides receive.

It makes sense then that the best league in the world also produces some of the best teams, and with the best teams come the highest points totals.

With that in mind, we here at Football FanCast have looked back at the highest points tallies in Premier League history to see which teams can indeed be considered among the very best to have ever played in the competition. In the event of a tie, we've used games played and goals scored as tie-breakers. Here's how it all breaks down:

Manchester City

2017/18

100

1st

Liverpool

2019/20

99

1st

Manchester City

2018/19

98

1st

Liverpool

2018/19

97

2nd

Chelsea

2004/05

95

1st

Manchester City

2021/22

93

1st

Chelsea

2016/17

93

1st

Liverpool

2021/22

92

2nd

Manchester United

1993/94

92

1st

Manchester United

1999/00

91

1st

Manchester City

2023/24

91

1st

Chelsea

2005/06

91

1st

12 Chelsea 2005/06 91 points

Kicking things off, we have the 2005/06 Chelsea side, who, under Portuguese mastermind Jose Mourinho, managed to lift the Premier League title for a second consecutive season, all while racking up an impressive points total of 91.

It was a brilliant way to celebrate the club's centenary season, and while they failed to add any more cups to their trophy cabinet, they dominated the league.

Manchester United were the Blues' closest challengers, and despite beating them 1-0 at Old Trafford early on in the campaign, they ended up finishing eight points behind them. But having only scored 72 times along the way, Chelsea were the most goal-shy of the other teams to accrue this many points in a season.

Manager

Jose Mourinho

PL record

P38 W29 D4 L5

Top PL scorer

Frank Lampard (16)

FA Cup

Semi-finals

League Cup

Third round

Champions League

Round of 16

11 Manchester City 2023/24 91 points

Man City secured a record-breaking fourth consecutive league title by breaking the 90-point barrier. While they fell just short of Manchester United's 1999/00 tally of 97 goals (see below), 96 isn't too shabby. And with Arsenal pushing them all the way, every last goal was crucial.

It has been customary for Pep Guardiola's City side to go on a mammoth run in the second half of campaigns, and that's exactly what they did here – going unbeaten since early December and winning each of their last nine games to keep the impressive Gunners at bay as they did the previous year.

Manager

Pep Guardiola

PL record

P38 W28 D7 L3

Top PL scorer

Erling Haaland (27)

FA Cup

Runners-up

League Cup

Third round

Champions League

Quarter-finals

10 Manchester United 1999/00 91 points

Manchester United were just coming out of their era-defining treble-winning season, so they'd likely have been forgiven had their levels dropped ever so slightly. Well, maybe with any other manager, that is.

Sir Alex Ferguson lit a fire under his men as they flew out of the blocks from that first whistle and never stopped.

They finished the campaign 18 points ahead of nearest rivals Arsenal, and while they failed to lift any other domestic trophies that year, they did win the Intercontinental Cup.

Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson

PL record

P38 W28 D7 L3

Top PL scorer

Dwight Yorke (20)

FA Cup

Withdrew

League Cup

Third round

Champions League

Quarter-finals

9 Manchester United 1993/94 92 points

We're sticking with the red side of Manchester for a moment, and while their triumph in the 1999/00 season was incredibly impressive, their 1993/94 Premier League campaign might have been even better.

The team had just won their first league title in 26 years, so there was a question as to whether this team had the mentality to go again and defend their title – and they did.

This defence was, of course, helped by the arrival of a young Irish midfielder by the name of Roy Keane in the summer break.

Once the whistle had gone in the final game of the season, United were eight points clear of Blackburn Rovers in second place and would then go on to beat Chelsea 4-0 in the FA Cup final to secure a historic double.

Manager

Sir Alex Ferguson

PL record

P42 W27 D11 L4

Top PL scorer

Eric Cantona (18)

FA Cup

Winners

League Cup

Runners-up

Champions League

Second round

8 Liverpool 2021/22 92 points

Now, this is an interesting one, as the 2021/22 Liverpool side was a genuinely fantastic team and one that managed to accrue 92 points in a 38-game season – United played 42 in 1993/94 – and yet, they are the first side on this list that ended their season as Premier League runners-up.

Yes, the Reds' side that managed 28 wins, six draws, just two defeats, and 92 points did not end the season as champions, all thanks to a certain Sky Blue team we'll get onto later on.

However, coming in second place does not mean that the team aren't worth talking about, as Jürgen Klopp's side were fantastic in this campaign and were, even in May, on for an unprecedented quadruple.

In the end, they finished the campaign as FA Cup and League Cup winners, which should be considered a good season by anyone's standards.

Manager

Jurgen Klopp

PL record

P38 W28 D8 L2

Top PL scorer

Mohamed Salah (23)

FA Cup

Winners

League Cup

Winners

Champions League

Runners-up

7 Chelsea 2016/17 93 points

We're back with the Blues for our next entry, and to say their 2016/17 title win was quite the surprise would be an understatement.

Chelsea were tipped for a title challenge the season prior when they were under the management of managerial legend José Mourinho, but a string of poor results saw him lose his job in December 2015, with Guus Hiddink brought in on an interim basis.

Unfortunately, this did little to steady the ship and come the end of the season, Chelsea found themselves all the way down in tenth place and with no silverware to their name, so when Antonio Conte was tasked with improving the team's fortunes the following season, there was very little expectation from the fans.

These low expectations were lowered yet further when Chelsea lost two and drew one of their opening six games of the season, only for Conte to galvanise his team and lead them on an impressive 13-game winning streak.

The Blues eventually won the league by a seven-point margin ahead of bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, which probably made it all the sweeter for the fans.

Manager

Antonio Conte

PL record

P38 W30 D3 L5

Top PL scorer

Diego Costa (20)

FA Cup

Runners-up

League Cup

Fourth round

6 Manchester City 2021/22 93 points

Okay, so we have already covered the brilliant 2021/22 Liverpool side that couldn't quite win the league despite amassing 92 points, and now we have reached the reason why.

The 2021/22 Manchester City side might not be the very best City side we have seen over the last decade, but they come mighty close.

It took them a little while to kick into full swing, losing two and drawing two of their first ten league games, but following on from that tenth game, they would only lose once more all season, while drawing four and winning another 23.

They also gave us one of the best final days of the season ever, with an exhilarating comeback win against Aston Villa to seal the title.

Manager

Pep Guardiola

PL record

P38 W29 D6 L3

Top PL scorer

Kevin De Bruyne (15)

FA Cup

Semi-finals

League Cup

Fourth round

Champions League

Semi-finals

5 Chelsea 2004/05 95 points

We've reached our third and final Chelsea entry on the list, and we reckon it remains their most impressive Premier League triumph of all time – it helps that it was their first.

It was the Special One's first season in charge of the Blues, and to say he exceeded the expectations placed upon him would be a colossal understatement.

The team would win the League Cup, reach the semi-finals of the Champions League and utterly dominate a Premier League that until that point, had been shared between Arsenal and Manchester United for close to a decade.

However, perhaps more impressive than anything else is that they won the league while conceding just 15 goals – 0.39 goals per game – a record that still stands today.

Manager

Jose Mourinho

PL record

P38 W29 D8 L1

Top PL scorer

Frank Lampard (13)

FA Cup

Fifth round

League Cup

Winners

Champions League

Semi-finals

4 Liverpool 2018/19 97 points

We have reached our second Liverpool entry on this list, and unfortunately for Reds fans, it is another case of a team placing on this list and somehow not coming away from the season as champions.

Klopp's 2018/19 Liverpool side were mesmerising to watch in league and cup, racking up 30 wins, seven draws and one defeat, alongside a positive goal difference of 67 and 97 points to boot. However, it still wasn't enough, and as it was three years later, Man City were the ones who just about pipped them to the title.

That said, they ended the season as champions of Europe after beating Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid, so it's still a campaign that fans can look back fondly on.

Manager

Jurgen Klopp

PL record

P38 W30 D7 L1

Top PL scorers

Sadio Mane & Mohamed Salah (22)

FA Cup

Third round

League Cup

Third round

Champions League

Winners

3 Manchester City 2018/19 98 points

Manchester City's second entry on this list, and once again, it comes at the expense of Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool.

The Citizens had an impressive start to the season, with 13 wins and two draws from their first 15 games, but three losses in their next four left them lagging behind the Reds on Christmas Day.

However, as City have now grown accustomed to doing, they went on a 14-game win streak in the final part of the season to win their second title on the bounce.

The final game against Brighton & Hove Albion did require a comeback after a 27th-minute Glenn Murray goal, but the score ended 4-1 in favour of the Sky Blues.

Manager

Pep Guardiola

PL record

P38 W32 D2 L4

Top PL scorer

Sergio Aguero (21)

FA Cup

Winners

League Cup

Winners

Champions League

Quarter-finals

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Manchester United reportedly want to sell Casemiro this summer and replace him with an “excellent” midfielder whom Bruno Fernandes admires greatly.

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The Red Devils could have one of their busiest summer transfer windows in recent memory ahead of them, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to make his mark, hopefully bringing in Dan Ashworth as sporting director at the same time.

There is also no guarantee that Erik ten Hag will be in charge once next season gets underway, following a poor campaign that could even see United miss out on European football entirely. A heavy defeat in the FA Cup final against Manchester City next weekend could potentially mean curtains for the Dutchman, although that remains to be seen.

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Thomas Tuchel has been linked with replacing him in recent times, with the German confirming that he will be leaving Bayern Munich, but it appears as though Ratcliffe is still mulling over his decision.

In terms of new signings, RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko continues to be linked with a summer move to Old Trafford, with his agent reportedly at United's stadium recently. Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva is also seen as a target, but Liverpool are hovering ominously and looking to hijack the move.

Michael Olise is being backed to become a Red Devils player in the summer window, too, following another impressive season for Crystal Palace – one that included him scoring twice in the recent 4-0 win at home to Ten Hag's men.

Man Utd want "excellent" Casemiro replacement

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United want to sign Benfica ace Joao Neves this summer, as they look to offload Casemiro at the same time.

The report says that Casemiro will likely "land in Saudi Arabia with his price set at around €30m", but the Red Devils are "waiting for a concrete offer before bidding him farewell". Meanwhile, Neves "has now become a priority", along with Olise, for that matter.

This is exactly the kind of business that United should be looking to do ahead of next season – replacing an ageing player who is past his best with a young star who has an enormous amount of potential.

At just 19 years of age, Neves has already become a key man for Benfica, making 33 appearances for them in the Primeira Liga this season, of which 27 have been starts. He has racked up an 89.9% pass completion rate in that time, as well as averaging two tackles per game.

Fernandes is someone who values his compatriot greatly as a player, with United's captain saying of him: "He is an excellent player and an excellent kid. He will have a bright future wherever he goes."

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Phil Jones slammed a fan who claimed his career was a "shame" as the former centre back launched a scathing attack to defend his Old Trafford legacy.

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Article continues below

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• Jones spent 12 years at United
• Racked up 229 appearances across competitions
• Won five major honours including a PL title

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After signing for Manchester United from Blackburn Rovers in 2011 under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, the centre-back was initially hailed as one of the most promising young defenders in English football. Unfortunately, recurring injuries hampered his progress, restricting him to only 13 appearances over his last four seasons with the Red Devils.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In the twilight of his career, Jones often faced ridicule from fans for his dismal injury record. His past achievements drowned into oblivion as the defender struggled to secure a squad berth at Old Trafford and subsequently settled into a premature retirement.

• WHAT JONES SAID ABOUT HIS CAREER

  Jones recently opened up about his career in a candid discussion on the podcast, where he recalled an interaction with a fan who described his career as a "shame".

  "Someone said to me, ‘Oh, it’s a shame about your career, Phil, but it’s lovely to meet you,’" Jones recounted during the interview. "I said, 'You what? What do you mean?' I’ve been at United for 10 years, won the Premier League, played over 200 games for United, played in two World Cups, won the Europa League and FA Cup, and you’re trying to tell me it was a shame?"

  Jones used the moment to assert his pride in his time as a professional footballer. “That was me standing up for myself and having respect for myself, saying, ‘No, this stops now.’ I’ll tell you how my career went. Of course, I would’ve liked to play more, but I’ve lived the dream. 99% of people would snap their right hand off now for their kids to come through and have the career I had,” he explained.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Jones made 229 appearances for United during his stay at Old Trafford. He won five major trophies, including a Premier League title, an FA Cup, a Europa League title and two FA Community Shields.