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Nottingham Forest are now in active talks to sign an “exceptional” midfielder alongside Manchester City’s James McAtee, according to a report.

Forest closing in on deal for McAtee

It was recently revealed that Forest are now closing in on McAtee, having struck an agreement on personal terms, and Fabrizio Romano has since reported that a deal could be wrapped up in the very near future.

“Nottingham Forest are closing in on James McAtee deal with Manchester City! Agreement at the final stages for fee in excess of £20m, NFFC confident to get it done… here we go, expected soon.”

The Man City ace usually plays in an advanced midfield role, so it will be interesting to see where he slots into Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, given that Morgan Gibbs-White agreed to extend his stay at the City Ground earlier this summer.

However, the Tricky Trees still remain keen on strengthening their options in the engine room, having made no new additions to their midfield up to this point, and they have now set their sights on a player from one of Europe’s biggest clubs…

Indeed, according to a report from The Athletic, Nottingham Forest are now in active, club-to-club talks over a deal for AC Milan’s Yunus Musah, and if those negotiations are successful, personal terms are expected to be a formality.

Perfect for Gibbs-White: Forest planning bid to sign £22m star after McAtee

As Nottingham Forest look to bolster their squad ahead of a European campaign, they’re plotting a move to sign an “exciting” midfielder valued at £22m

ByBen Gray Aug 11, 2025

There is a feeling that Milan could be willing to sanction a departure, too, with sporting director Igli Tare saying: “I consider Musah an excellent player, but we are looking for profiles with characteristics that fit the project we have with coach Allegri.

“We are seeking deep-lying midfielders for a three-man midfield. Musah doesn’t have these characteristics.”

Fellow Serie A midfielder, Juventus’ Douglas Luiz, also remains an option for Forest, with Nuno keen to bring in a midfielder after selling Lewis O’Brien and Danilo already this summer.

"Exceptional" Musah could excel at the City Ground

A deal for the American would not break the bank, with a transfer fee of around £26m previously being touted, and there are plenty of indications that he could be capable of kicking on at the City Ground.

The Milan ace is still young at 22-years-old, but he has already made 188 appearances at first-team level across spells with his current club and Valencia, while also collecting 47 caps for his national side.

During that time, the USA international has displayed his versatility, regularly featuring in central midfield and on both wings, and his dribbling ability could make him an exciting wide option for Nuno.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Progressive carries

2.90 (96th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.32 (93rd percentile)

Lauded as “exceptional” by former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter, Musah could be a solid option for Forest in midfield, and they will be hoping to make progress towards securing a deal before their Premier League opener against Brentford on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur are widely reported to be in talks over a deal for Crystal Palace playmaker Eberechi Eze, but he isn’t their only playmaking target, as chairman Daniel Levy assesses alternative options too.

A dramatic late move for Eze would seriously help to put a pretty miserable recent few weeks behind Spurs.

In the space of a few days in early August, Thomas Frank was forced to both wave an emotional goodbye to club legend Son Heung-min and find a way to cope without the creative influence of James Maddison.

Since Son’s departure, Cristian Romero has replaced the South Korean as captain of the Lilywhites, but Frank is still attempting to fill the gaping void left by Maddison’s serious injury.

Hearts were in mouths when the 28-year-old collapsed to the turf and was stretched off against Newcastle in Seoul, and it has since been confirmed that Maddison will miss most of the 2025/2026 season after suffering an ACL rupture.

Before losing Son and Maddison in different respects, Tottenham missed out on a £60m deal for Morgan Gibbs-White in the most bizarre fashion imaginable.

The original plan was to complement Maddison with Gibbs-White’s arrival, but in a sorry state of affairs, Frank heads into the new season with neither – despite going as far as to book a medical for the latter last month.

Dejan Kulusevski’s lengthy lay-off with an injury compounds Tottenham’s troubles, but their newly-opened talks for Eze have sparked some hope that the north Londoners can back Frank with a much-needed new creator before the summer deadline.

Spurs are in negotiations to sign both Eze and Man City winger Savinho in separate deals right now, but as we’ve seen from their transfer window so far, Tottenham’s business is rarely so straightforward.

If a deal cannot be done for Eze, the club do have fallback targets, and one of them is Como sensation Nico Paz.

Tottenham weighing up Como starlet Nico Paz after alleged rejected bid

Last week, Sky Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Tottenham had a £35 million offer rejected for Paz, but his colleague Michael Bridge now states that Frank’s side are still there for the Argentine.

According to Bridge, in a fresh Sky Sports update, it is believed that Tottenham are still weighing up Paz as an option in their search for a number 10, but it could be a very difficult deal to do.

“The main players Spurs want are a No 10, a defender and a winger,” reported Bridge in a Q&A.

“Eberechi Eze is a player who’s been on their radar for some time. But before now, it’s never gone beyond someone they’ve got an interest in.

“Now the Crystal Palace midfielder can be considered among their top targets. They are also assessing other targets, including Como’s Nico Paz – but that is looking like a difficult deal to do.”

Cesc Fabregas’ Como have set a valuation of around £60 million for the 20-year-old, which is a similar price to Eze, and could arguably be viewed as much more of a gamble.

Paz has just one full season of regular football under his belt, with Spurs in need of a more proven playmaker right now, despite some praise from footballing icon Lionel Messi.

“Nico has many qualities and understands the game perfectly,” said Messi.

“He has an impressive mind and is working with a coach who is my friend (Cesc Fabregas) who will help him grow even more.”

After Wolverhampton Wanderers rejected their opening bid to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen, Newcastle United have now reportedly been offered the chance to sign a different Scandinavian star.

Newcastle's striker search rumbles on as Larsen move stalls

From the very start of the transfer window, Newcastle have been on the hunt for a striker. It’s a search that started with Joao Pedro and Bryan Mbeumo, who both chose Chelsea and Manchester United instead. The Magpies then turned to Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sekso, who rejected them in favour of Liverpool and Old Trafford once again.

Eddie Howe found Newcastle's new Isak vs Liverpool and it's not Osula

Newcastle lost to Liverpool, yet put in an incredible performance at St. James’ Park.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 26, 2025

Meanwhile, Yoane Wissa is now back in training with Brentford in another blow for the Magpies. The 29-year-old has done everything to force a move out of the West London club, but has not seen an offer arrive that matches his valuation in return. Now, it looks as though those at St James’ Park are turning their focus towards an alternative in Strand Larsen.

On that front, however, it’s so far been a familiar story for Newcastle amid reports that Wolves have rejected their opening offer worth £50m. And whilst they’re expected to submit an improved offer, there’s no denying that time is running out to satisfy Wolves’ demands.

As an alternative to Wissa, Strand Larsen would certainly make sense. The powerful striker enjoyed an excellent debut campaign in the Premier League last time out – scoring 14 goals – and is still a player full of potential.

Once again, however, there remain question marks over Newcastle’s willingness to match the price tag that has been set and there are still other options that they could turn to this week.

Newcastle offered chance to sign Harder

According to The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Newcastle have now been offered the chance to sign Conrad Harder from Sporting CP this month.

The forward has been the subject of interest from AC Milan, who are reportedly working on a deal to secure his signature following the collapse of Victor Boniface’s move. But the door is still seemingly ajar for Newcastle to swoop in after receiving contact from intermediaries about a potential deal.

Bailey told TBR: “Intermediaries have made contact with Newcastle to inform them of the availability of Harder. We understand that Harder is a player that Newcastle have previously scouted. Newcastle are in the market for two new strikers before the window closes.”

Minutes

1,368

2,587

Goals

7

14

Assists

8

4

Expected Goals

10.3

3

Dubbed a “complete” forward by scout Jacek Kulig, Harder is full of potential at just 20 years old and coming off the back of a promising season at Sporting. With a deal seemingly there to be done for around £20m and not his £69m release clause too, Newcastle could land an absolute bargain.

Tottenham Hotspur are now pushing hard to finalise a deal for a “mind-boggling” rival, with talks recently being accelerated.

Spurs remain keen on another attacker after Simons

After missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze in disappointing fashion, Tottenham managed to get one over on Chelsea by completing a deal for Xavi Simons earlier this week.

Simons arrives at N17 with a good reputation, having performed very well for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga across the two seasons, and at just 22-years-old, he could be Thomas Frank’s number 10 for many years to come.

Season

Bundesliga appearances

Goal contributions

2023-24

32

21

2024-25

25

17

However, the Dutchman is yet to prove himself in the Premier League, and with James Maddison set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an ACL injury, Frank appears to be keen to bring in one more attacking midfielder before the transfer deadline.

According to a report from The Boy Hotspur, Tottenham have now made a decisive move to sign West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta, having accelerated talks in recent days, but the operation could be costly, with the Hammers looking to receive £50m – £60m.

Spurs are undeterred, however, and they are now pushing hard to finalise a deal, but there could be competition for Paqueta’s signature, with Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Crystal Palace also known to hold an interest.

Tottenham make highest bid for 71-cap star who's scored at the World Cup

Spurs are in talks for him right now.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 30, 2025

There is confidence the Brazilian could be a statement signing for the north Londoners, having been cleared of betting allegations and rediscovered strong form, but it could be difficult to get a deal over the line, with West Ham reluctant to lose another key player to their rivals.

"Mind-boggling" Paqueta would be exciting addition for Spurs

Former teammate Declan Rice lauded the Brazil international not long after his arrival at the London Stadium, saying: “I think now you’re seeing the real Lucas. Some of the stuff he does, even in training, it’s just mind-boggling how good he is.”

A drop-off in form coincided with betting allegations, with the 28-year-old chipping in with just four goal contributions in the Premier League last season, but he has made a strong start to the new campaign, having scored two goals in three matches in all competitions.

It was absolutely vital that Tottenham got a new attacking midfielder through the door, having lost Maddison to injury, while Son Heung-min has signed for LAFC, and Paqueta has proven what it takes to perform in the Premier League.

However, having now signed Simons, it would perhaps make more sense to focus on bringing in a new winger as a direct replacement for Son, and Manchester City ace Savinho remains keen on a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s higher-ups had the unenviable task of replacing Kevin De Bruyne this summer. The Belgian legend departed the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, upon the expiration of his contract, and now plies his trade in Napoli, where he will be hoping to guide Antonio Conte’s side to back-to-back Scudettos.

Finding the right man to step into the shoes of De Bruyne was never going to be easy. Where on earth do you start looking when you want to replace his 108 goals and 177 assists for the club? Of course, he also vacated the now-iconic number 17 shirt, which is yet to be filled.

Well, one player who won’t be donning that shirt is summer signing Rayan Cherki.

Why Cherki won’t take City’s number 17

Despite picking up an injury so soon into his City career, Cherki is one of the players people believed could fill the creative void left by De Bruyne. He has already made a strong start to life at the Etihad Stadium.

In just six appearances in the Club World Cup and the Premier League, the France international has found the back of the net twice and assisted one goal.

His only strike in the English top-flight came against Wolves on his debut in the competition.

Despite only being a short way into his career in East Manchester, Cherki has already received high praise. BBC Sport analyst Umir Irfan described him as a “genius footballer” following his goal at Molineux.

So, you might think all the signs point to Cherki taking the number 17 at City and looking to follow on from De Bruyne’s legacy. But it does seem unlikely, because at the start of the season, the Frenchman switched to the number ten shirt, vacated by Jack Grealish, who moved to Everton.

Given that Cherki has such an iconic number already, it would be a surprise to see him swap again and take De Bruyne’s old number. However, City have the perfect candidate in their squad.

Man City’s next number 17 in waiting

Over the last few seasons, City’s academy has produced some magnificent players. Some, like Cole Palmer, have now departed the club, whilst others, including Phil Foden, are still playing week in, week out at the Etihad Stadium.

Well, it is an academy graduate who could be City’s perfect option to take on the mantle of De Bruyne’s 17 shirt. Oscar Bobb has established himself as an important player under Guardiola and has impressed during his short professional career so far.

Now 35 games into his career in East Manchester, the Norwegian international has already chipped in with three goals and four assists.

Arguably, his best goal in a City shirt was assisted by De Bruyne, with the Belgian teeing him up with a pass over the Newcastle United defence last year, with the youngster showing great composure to finish.

In recent years, it has not been a surprise to hear a City player be described as “magical”. That is exactly what content creator Steven McInerney said about him at the start of the season, when he assisted Tijjani Reijnders away to Wolves.

It is more than just a great promise shown by Bobb. He has the talent to pick up the creative gauntlet thrown down by De Bruyne. Although it is a small sample size, his numbers are sensational, with the standout being that he created 3.4 chances per 90 minutes back in 2024/25.

Games played

26

4

3

Key passes

2.4

3.4

1.4

Pass accuracy

89.7%

89.8%

91%

Dribbles completed

2

2.5

2.5

There is no doubting Bobb’s talent, and the fact that Guardiola rates and trusts him so much is clear to see. The 22-year-old has averaged 85 minutes per game this season.

He could be the player in waiting to take De Bruyne’s number 17 shirt and continue his legacy.

The Norway international is just 22 years of age, so he has years ahead of him to hit the same heights as the City legend. But, as far as talent goes, it seems like Bobb has it all and could become City’s next number 17.

New Silva: Man City plot shock move to sign £65m England international

Man City would be pulling off a huge shock with this move

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 29, 2025

Everton’s start to the 2024/25 Premier League season has been anything but dull.

David Moye’s side may have lost their opener 1-0 at a raucous Elland Road, but the response was emphatic.

The Toffees christened their new Hill Dickinson Stadium with a 2-0 win over Brighton, followed by a breathless 3-2 victory at Wolves.

The ride hasn’t been smooth every week – a cagey 0-0 with Aston Villa showed they are still bedding in their summer signings, and the Merseyside derby ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat.

Yet, there is a newfound sharpness in attack.

Everton’s front four of Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye, and Beto have breathed life into Moyes’ forward line, offering pace, technical quality, and variety of movement.

Sitting 10th in the table, Everton already look like a far more threatening side going forward compared to last season.

Their next test comes against struggling West Ham, where the Toffees will be favourites to build further momentum.

Amid this early-season optimism, however, one player is quietly developing in the background.

A 6ft 5in striker who may yet become the jewel of this Everton project.

Thierno Barry finding his feet at Everton

When Everton paid £27.6m to bring Thierno Barry from Villarreal, they knew they weren’t buying the finished article.

At just 22, the French U21 international represents an investment in the future – a striker whose raw attributes suggest a ceiling as high as some of Europe’s elite forwards.

Barry arrives in England off the back of a promising season in La Liga, scoring 11 goals from an xG of 11.7 while adding four assists.

What makes him stand out is not just his finishing, but his ability to impose himself physically and stretch defences.

Ranking in the 87th percentile for aerial duels won (3.84 per 90), Barry has the profile of a classic penalty-box predator yet also shows surprising agility with strong progressive carries and take-ons.

Standing taller than most centre-backs, Barry has been compared to Dusan Vlahović and Ollie Watkins for his blend of physicality and dynamism, as noted by FBref.

He thrives in attacking the six-yard box but is equally capable of pulling wide to create space for teammates.

So far, Moyes has been cautious with his integration. Barry has featured in five league matches, totalling 142 minutes, with flashes of potential rather than complete performances.

The Everton manager has stressed patience, saying the striker will require a period of adjustment to adapt to the physicality and pace of the Premier League.

It is a smart approach. Everton have the luxury of easing Barry in thanks to the immediate impact of their new frontline.

But make no mistake, the long-term plan is to see him leading the line. Hopefully, he does not go the same way as those before him…

Why Thierno Barry can learn from Moise Kean

For Everton fans, Barry’s situation may feel eerily familiar.

In 2019, the club signed another young striker in the form of Moise Kean.

Like Barry, Kean arrived with high expectations, touted as a generational talent who could transform the club’s attack.

But unlike Barry, he was thrust into the spotlight without the right platform, and his time at Goodison never truly took off.

Kean made 39 appearances for Everton, scoring four goals and registering two assists, before a series of loan moves eventually led him back to Juventus and later Fiorentina.

It was in Serie A where his career took off.

Last season with Fiorentina, Kean netted 19 goals in 32 appearances, finishing second in the league’s scoring charts behind Mateo Retegui.

Matches Played

31

Goals

19

Assists

3

Progressive Carries

42

Progressive Passes

26

Now valued at €50m (£45m), as per Transfermarkt, Kean has become the striker many thought he could be, while drawing statistical comparisons with Erling Haaland for his explosive pace, direct style, and ruthless finishing.

Indeed, FBref notes that the most similar striker to him in Europe’s top five leagues is the Manchester City hitman. Former teammate Weston McKennie went as far as to describe him as a “beast.”

His numbers underline the transformation: ranking in the 89th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.58), the 87th percentile for total shots (3.39), and the 93rd percentile for successful take-ons (1.46).

Everton undoubtedly let a gem slip through their fingers.

Yet in Barry, they have a second chance.

The lesson from Kean’s time on Merseyside is clear: patience and the right environment are crucial.

Barry cannot be burdened with expectation too soon, but if nurtured properly, he has the potential to blossom into one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards.

However, this time in blue.

Everton are brewing their own homegrown Ndiaye in “fantastic” teen talent

Everton is now brewing their very own homegrown version of Iliman Ndiaye in this exciting teenager.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 22, 2025

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has been a curious player since joining from Real Sociedad in 2024, and it is now believed he could depart the Gunners just two years after his arrival.

The Spain international’s best performances under Mikel Arteta have arguably come up front, with Merino doing extremely well in an emergency striker role last season in the absence of both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.

His match-winning goals against Chelsea and Leicester City, alongside a late equaliser against Liverpool in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Anfield, were crucial in helping the Gunners comfortably secure Champions League qualification.

The Premier League title race was out of sight by that point, but Merino’s fantastic contribution amid their dire lack of striking options will always be remembered fondly by supporters .

However, since dropping back into midfield, the 29-year-old hasn’t quite been as effective at times.

During Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League earlier this week, Merino struggled in what was an ‘Odegaard-style’ role — seeing the ball even less than goalkeeper David Raya in what was a 4/10 display.

Minutes played

90

Touches

40

Accurate passes

21/28 (75%)

Key passes

1

Accurate crosses

0

Shots

1

Dribbles

0

Ground duels won

2/6

Aerial duels won

3/7

Possession lost

11x

Fouls

3

Both Rice and Merino lost the ball combined 25 times against Bilbao too, and proved ineffective creatively against Liverpool prior to the international break.

This all being said, it is only the very start of 2025/2026, and Merino’s started just three games in all competitions, making this latest claim on his future come as quite a surprise.

Arsenal preparing £70m Oihan Sancet bid as Mikel Merino could leave

According to a Spanish media source, Merino could leave Arsenal next summer, and sporting director Andrea Berta is already preparing a bid to sign Athletic Bilbao sensation Oihan Sancet to come in his place.

Interestingly, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder was one of the Bilbao players to seriously impress against Arteta’s side on Tuesday, following a dazzling 2024/2025 campaign where he netted 17 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions.

Arsenal are believed to already be preparing a £70m bid for Sancet as they look to seal his signing in 2026, despite having just spent over £250 million on new recruits, including a deal for England playmaker Eberechi Eze.

Oihan Sancet would be another statement signing for Arsenal

The fact he only has four Spain international caps is testament to the abundance of quality in Luis de la Fuente’s squad, and signing Sancet would come as yet another statement deal by Berta.

His goal return from midfield last term was up there with the very best in Europe, with teammate Yeray Alvarez calling him a “game-changer”.

He may have finally left the club, but former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy often came under huge fire during his tenure for his actions off the field in North London.

The 63-year-old spent over two decades in the role, but was constantly called into question for his lack of spending to help improve the first-team squad.

He was undoubtedly part of the reason for the Lilywhites’ failures on the pitch, with the club even going 17 long years without a piece of silverware during his tenure.

Levy often became known for offloading key talents on the books of the club, something which once again led to anger from the supporters – especially given his lack of funding after such departures.

One player in particular was sold without an immediate adequate replacement being signed in the same window, which undoubtedly contributed to his demise in the role.

Levy’s decision to sell Harry Kane from Spurs

No Spurs fan would’ve predicted the success Harry Kane would have had for the first-team in North London, after he made his first Premier League start back in 2012.

The Englishman was an unknown quantity to many despite rising through the youth ranks, but rapidly adhered himself to the supporters with his form in front of goal.

He rapidly became a first-team regular, with his first major taste of success coming in the 2014/15 campaign, scoring 31 times in his 51 outings for the Lilywhites across all competitions.

Such a year would be the fourth-best of his time in North London, with his highest goalscoring year seeing him net a total of 35 goals – subsequently winning the Premier League golden boot that year.

As a result of his tremendous goalscoring record, the 32-year-old remains their highest ever goalscorer, with his total of 280 goals breaking the record set by the late Jimmy Greaves.

However, he was sold in the summer of 2023, subsequently joining German side Bayern Munich for a fee in the region of £82m – the second highest in their history.

Whilst they received a mammoth fee for his signature, no new centre forward was brought into the club until 12 months later, with Dominic Solanke costing a club-record £65m from Bournemouth.

However, the former chairman also made a huge mistake in allowing one other former player to depart the club, with the 63-year-old unable to land the reinforcements after his move away.

Levy’s biggest mistake whilst at Spurs

After such dismal years on the pitch for a prolonged period of time, it was hardly a surprise to see numerous top-level talents moving away for pastures new.

Just like Kane, numerous players caught the eye for the Lilywhites, including Kieran Trippier who has to depart and join Atlético Madrid to fulfil his ambitions of winning trophies.

The right-back racked up over 100 appearances in North London, but failed to win a single trophy – subsequently claiming the LaLiga trophy in his second year in Madrid.

He wasn’t the only player to move to Spain to take his career to the next level, with Gareth Bale making the leap and joining Real Madrid in a £85m deal in the summer of 2013.

His move remains a club-record fee received for a player, but such a deal left a huge hole in the club’s forward line and understandably so given his record in North London.

The Welsh international, who was dubbed “world-class” by John Hartson, scored 73 goals for the club before his big-money transfer, with his final campaign in the Premier League by far and away his best.

He netted 26 times in his 44 appearances for the Lilywhites, further highlighting the task the hierarchy had in trying to replace such a top-level talent.

In an attempt to do just that, Levy decided to fork out around £60m on the signatures of Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela, but both ultimately failed to produce the goods in England.

The pair only scored 53 goals combined during their respective seasons at the club, with such a tally miles below the one Bale managed to achieve on his own.

21/22

20

11

2

12/13

33

21

8

11/12

36

10

13

10/11

30

7

2

09/10

23

3

5

08/09

16

0

0

07/08

8

2

1

Given his tally of 15 major trophies in Madrid, the player himself certainly made the right call in leaving the club, but it’s safe to say owner Levy should have tried harder to keep hold of the winger.

After seeing the replacements brought in to the club, there’s no question that Levy made a huge mess of the transfer, with such a decision one of his worst at the club.

Spurs already have dream Son heir who's yet to play in the Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur could save themselves millions with a Heung-min Son replacement within their ranks.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 3, 2025

Manchester United will travel to Anfield on Sunday afternoon, chasing their first win away to the Reds since 2015/16.

If Ruben Amorim’s side are victorious, it will also be the first time they’ve won back-to-back Premier League games under the Portuguese manager.

Last season’s result at Anfield was one of their best there in years. United came away with a 2-2 draw, thanks to goals from Lisandro Martinez and Amad, who scored an 80th-minute equaliser. That was the first time the Red Devils had scored at Anfield since 2018/19.

Amorim spoke about Martinez’s availability in his pre-match press conference, along with other team news.

Man Utd’s team news for Liverpool trip

The number of injuries in the United squad is decreasing as the season progresses, which is important for Amorim. Martinez has been sidelined since February, although the trip to Anfield has seemingly come too soon for the 2022 World Cup winner.

The United boss confirmed that the 27-year-old is not too far off a return to full training, having been back on grass for a few weeks.

Martinez is “almost returning to the training with the team,” said Amorim.

Noussair Mazraoui is another player who United have been without for a few weeks. Amorim clarified that he is unsure of his availability for the trip to Anfield, with the Red Devils gaffer saying, “I don’t know” when quizzed on whether he will feature against United.

Although he wasn’t mentioned in the press conference, Ayden Heaven did pick up a knock on England under-20s duty. However, an article from The Manchester Evening News said United have ‘played down’ any potential issue with the talented centre-back.

As for the other players involved with their national teams this week, Amorim confirmed “they are ready” to play on Sunday. He certainly has a few different options when it comes to the makeup of his starting lineup, with a few selection headaches at wing-back.

Amorim’s secret weapon at wing-back

It has not been easy for Amoirm to land on the right formula at wing-back throughout his stint as United boss.

Chalkboard

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

Patrick Dorgu has tended to be the option on the left flank.

On the right, Mazraoui has played that role well, but it is not a guarantee that he will be involved against the Reds.

That leaves two options for Amorim to go with. Amad is one of those, although he may well choose to go with the more defensive option of Diogo Dalot.

The Portuguese right-back has shown great versatility under his countryman, but right wing-back is surely where he slots in best.

The 26-year-old, who was born in Braga, has played on both flanks for United this season. However, across his six appearances, he’s played four times on the right-hand side, starting there against Arsenal on the first day of the season.

It is for his more defensive approach that he could be a better option than Amad from the start. Dalot would be coming directly up against Cody Gakpo, who is in stellar form this season.

The Dutchman has two goals and two assists in seven Premier League games so far.

United’s number two is a right-back by trade, and certainly offers a lot from a defensive point of view. Compared to Amad this season, he’s won more tackles in the defensive third per game, with 1.08 as opposed to the Ivorian’s 0.2.

Interceptions

0.81

0.4

% of dribblers tackled

100%

42.9%

Defensive third tackles won

1.08

0.2

Key passes

1.62

1.6

Crosses completed

1.08

0.2

Yet, as the numbers in the table show, Dalot does offer a threat going forward, meaning it is not just a defensive-minded selection from the Red Devils boss.

However, he certainly has the defensive nous to lock down Gakpo, one of Liverpool’s biggest attacking threats.

As Statman Dave has said, the United defender is an “underrated” member of the squad.

His ability from a defensive point of view could be key against a threat like Gakpo, as United go on the hunt for a rare win at Anfield.

Man Utd's "£100m + footballer" is becoming the new Hojlund & it's not Sesko

Manchester United simply must manage one player to prevent a Rasmus Hojlund repeat.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 17, 2025

One of the most exciting talents on Leeds United’s books right now is certainly Harry Gray. The 17-year-old centre-forward comes from a long line of Leeds players.

You can trace that back as recently as his brother Archie, who now plays for Tottenham Hotspur, and his grandfather, Eddie, a Leeds legend.

The England under-17 striker is an excellent talent. He’s shone for Leeds’ academy this season, with four goals in four Premier League 2 games, impressive in itself but even more so given he’s playing four years up.

Last season, Gray – who recently put pen to paper on a new deal in Yorkshire – was given his first-team debut by Daniel Farke, although he has not had that opportunity this term.

That might be due to Farke’s reliance on experienced players.

Farke’s reliance on experience over youth

Whilst the Leeds manager gave the youngest Gray brother his first taste of senior football at the end of last season, he isn’t one to turn to youth players a lot.

In fact, when he played former academy star Archie Gray 52 times in 2023/24, that was certainly more of an outlier.

This season, in Leeds’ battle for Premier League survival, Farke has relied on a more experienced group of players. The Whites have the seventh-highest average age in the top flight in 2025/26, at 27.1 years old, according to FBref.

There is only one player under 25 who has made an appearance this season, namely Wilfried Gnonto, who is 21 years of age.

In theory, that experience should certainly help the West Yorkshire outfit in the top flight.

Some players have years of Premier League football under their belt.

Yet, Leeds are just three points above the relegation zone, and things are not really working out for Farke’s experienced squad this season.

Perhaps it is time to take a punt on someone younger, like Gnonto or Gray.

Well, if recent reports are to be believed, Farke could soon be out of a job and replaced with someone who trusts the youngsters.

Why Leeds could benefit from a change of manager

There have been reports this week which have tipped the Whites to replace Farke with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior. Whilst former Leeds star Aidy White says that the appointment would be a “huge gamble,” there are plenty of merits to the move.

Firstly, the former Hull City manager has an impressive record in Ligue 1. He’s coached 42 top-flight games in France, winning 21, drawing ten and losing the other 11.

His average of 1.74 points per game is a real standout and a testament to his ability to churn out results.

Games

42

Wins

21

Draws

10

Losses

11

Goals for/against

73/54

Points won

73

Average points per game

1.74

The London-born manager is certainly a highly rated coach. Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley said he is “one of the best emerging British coaches,” which he proved during his time in the Championship with Hull.

He guided the Tigers to seventh in 2023/24, including fantastic performances like this. His side narrowly missed out on a playoff spot.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Rosenior try and bed the younger players into the first-team fold at Leeds. He is known for trusting those with less experience, as showcased in the average ages of his squad at Strasbourg this season.

The French side have comfortably got the youngest squad in Ligue 1, fielding a side with an average age of just 21.6 years old. However, this is not an anomaly.

The situation at Hull was the same. In his only full year on Humberside, his squad was the joint sixth youngest, with an average age of 25.4.

It is easy to see why Rosenior could be the perfect head coach for someone like Gray. The homegrown star is a talented youngster who is putting up some excellent performances in the academy.

A coach like Rosenior, who values the academy players and the breakthrough stars, could well give him a chance to shine at senior level.

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