All posts by z3u9t.icu

It has been a really poor season for Manchester United, who are battling to get a top-half finish this season.

However, things were not made easier with the news a couple of weeks ago that Amad is out injured. The Ivorian attacker has been sensational under Ruben Amorim – contributing with nine goals and seven assists – but will miss the remainder of the season.

It’s safe to say that the 22-year-old has had a real impact on the Red Devils this season and will be a big miss.

With Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount also out with injury, it leaves Amorim thin on the ground in terms of options in that number 10 role.

Man United's current attacking midfield options

Amorim has four realistic options to play as a number 10. One of those is Bruno Fernandes. United’s captain has been playing deeper at times under Amorim, but his goal threat is obvious. He has ten goals and 12 assists this term.

The United boss has also tended to start Joshua Zirkzee behind the striker in recent weeks. His excellent ability to link play up and find runners beyond him, plus the physical presence he offers, means he could work well as an attacking midfielder in the dual 10 system Amorim employs. He has already shown great signs when playing there in recent weeks.

Alejandro Garnacho offers something unique at attacking midfield. He is unlike any other United player, someone who will relentlessly dribble at the opposition defence and try and take them on one-vs-one. The youngster has 14 goal involvements this season but has been in a drought.

Christian Eriksen is the fourth realistic option Amorim has to play in the role. Now into the final few months of his deal at United, the Denmark international has not featured much this season but possesses the timeless ability to unlock a defence with one pass.

However, amid this injury crisis, perhaps Amorim wishes United still had a former academy graduate on the books who has impressed after leaving the club.

Former Man United academy graduate would now be perfect

In the last few seasons, so many academy graduates have departed Old Trafford permanently. That includes established first-team players like Scott McTominay, who moved to Napoli, and less experienced yet high-potential players like Teden Mengi, who is now at Luton Town.

Another recent academy departure was attacking midfielder Andreas Pereira. The Brazilian, who went on several loan spells during his time at Old Trafford, made 75 appearances for the club, scoring and assisting nine times.

In 2022, he made the move to West Londoners Fulham for a fee in the region of £10m. Since joining the Cottagers, Pereira has thrived. In 108 games for the club, he has scored on ten occasions and grabbed 19 assists. His valuation of as much as £17.5m by Football Transfers shows just how much he has improved.

In his first two Premier League campaigns at the club, he managed to hit ten goal involvements. He also managed to get on the scoresheet in a 2-2 draw at Anfield against Liverpool this term, which surely brought a smile to the faces of United fans.

Pereira’s performances have been impressive over the past few seasons so much so that you can now draw a statistical comparison with Martin Odegaard and remarkably Phil Foden who are adjudged to be similar players via FBref.

The Arsenal captain, who is valued as highly as £90m by Transfermarkt, has three goals and six assists for the Gunners this season.

The statistical evidence suggests that both midfielders have been creatively excellent players over the season. On average, Pereira plays 2.67 key passes per game, compared to 2.33 for Odegaard. The Fulham star also averages 5.27 shot-creating actions per game, with the Arsenal skipper slightly less at 4.68 per game.

Key passes

2.67

2.33

Goals and assists

0.27

0.31

Shot-creating actions

5.27

4.68

Tackles and interceptions

1.37

1.1

Ball recoveries

4.66

3.62

Perhaps Amorim wishes he had the former United star to call upon this season. As Statman Dave said, he is an “underrated playmaker”, and could have made a real difference for the Red Devils this season.

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Manchester United are ready to trigger a “world-class” player’s release clause in the summer if Alejandro Garnacho leaves the club, according to a recent report.

Man Utd suffer Kobbie Mainoo blow

The Red Devils will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday, as they travel to Goodison Park for the final time to play Everton. There isn’t much for United to achieve in the Premier League now, given the gap to the European places, but Ruben Amorim will be aware that his side need to start winning games simply for mentality and pride’s sake.

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One player who will definitely be out of the game against the Toffees is midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, as he picked up an injury during training in the lead up to the game against Tottenham. It has been reported that Mainoo could be out of action for United until after the March international break, meaning he could miss United’s next seven matches, with one being against Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Amorim was asked about Mainoo’s fitness both before and after the defeat to Tottenham over the weekend. He revealed before the game that Mainoo “felt something during training“, which led to the midfielder being unavailable last weekend. Then, after the game, Amorim was asked how long he expected Mainoo to be out for. “Let’s see, I think weeks,” Amorim told reporters.

Man Utd ready to trigger £62.5m star's release clause

Away from injury news, according to Give Me Sport, Man United are ready to trigger Matheus Cunha’s release clause if Garnacho leaves the club in the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils have made Cunha a transfer target and are ready to act, but only if Garnacho leaves, as he was heavily linked with a move to Napoli during the January transfer window. The report states that there is confidence that Cunha, whose release clause in his new contract is worth £62.5 million, would be interested in a move to Old Trafford.

United are long-term admirers of the Brazil international and, given how well he has done for a struggling Wolves side this season, they believe he has the experience and style to make a big impact at Old Trafford and help transform their attack.

Meanwhile, United could be open to selling Garnacho in the summer, as doubts remain about whether he fits into Amorim’s style, and he would be a player who would bring in a lot of pure profit on the PSR front.

Apps

24

Starts

22

Goals

12

xG

5.67

Chance conversion

16%

Shots per game

3.2

Assists

4

xAG

4.11

Big chances created

12

Key passes per game

1.7

Cunha, who has been dubbed “world-class” by football writer George Larkin, would be an excellent signing for United – the 25-year-old has 12 goals in 24 Premier League games this season and his ability to play as a number nine or 10 means he would offer options to Amorim that he doesn’t really have now.

If United decide to sell Garnacho for the £70 odd million they want and pay £62.5 million to sign Cunha, it could be a transormational piece of business,

Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup on Sunday after they were beaten by Premier League rivals Fulham on penalties at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils found themselves 1-0 down to a Calvin Bassey header but battled back to draw level through Bruno Fernandes, taking the game to extra time.

Ruben Amorim’s side were unable to find a winner in the additional 30 minutes and the tie went down to spot kicks, with two misses for United sealing their fate and denying them a quarter-final clash in the competition they won under Erik ten Hag last season.

It was a disappointing performance and result for United, in a season that feels full of them for the club, and Amorim’s last realistic chance at a trophy this term is now the Europa League.

The Portuguese head coach, who joined from Sporting to replace Ten Hag, may already have one eye on the summer transfer window and the decisions that he will have to take over several players.

One player who could be on the chopping block is Swedish central defender Victor Lindelof, who was one of the players to miss from the spot on Sunday.

Victor Lindelof's performance against Fulham

The 30-year-old centre-back came off the bench to replace Leny Yoro in the 54th minute and may not have expected to rack up 67 minutes of action, including extra-time.

As part of a back three, Lindelof was fairly protected and put in a decent enough showing against the Cottagers, winning all three of his duels and completing 96% of his attempted passes.

The Sweden international made four clearances and two tackles, without being dribbled past a single time, and seemed to be on course for a solid outing at the heart of the defence.

Unfortunately, however, Lindelof’s own bravery let him down in the end. The centre-back stepped up to take one of the penalties, before the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Chido Obi-Martin, and saw his fairly weak effort saved by Bernd Leno.

As you can see in the clip above, the Swedish titan has proven in the past that he can stick away penalties in pressurised moments in the FA Cup, scoring at Wembley to book a place in the final in 2023.

Despite a decent performance outside of his penalty miss, Lindelof is one of the players who should be moved on by Amorim in the summer window.

Why Victor Lindelof should be let go

The former Benfica star is out of contract at the end of June and he has not done enough on the pitch to suggest that the Portuguese head coach should be looking to extend his deal at Old Trafford.

With only a couple of months left to go in the season, Lindelof has yet to start a Premier League game for United. All six of his appearances in the top-flight have been as a substitute, which speaks to where he is in the pecking order of centre-backs.

Chalkboard

This shows that he is not a frontline option for United, as he was rarely selected by ten Hag or Amorim, although part of that has been down to his recent struggles with injuries.

As you can see in the table below, Lindelof remained relatively injury-free, with no long-term absences, in his first years at the club, but he has missed a whopping 37 matches since the start of last term.

24/25

2

15

23/24

2

22

22/23

1

4

21/22

3

5

20/21

1

3

19/20

3

2

18/19

1

5

17/18

0

0

Lindelof, who has made 270 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils, has not been reliable enough in terms of his availability in the last two seasons, which has also led to him being on the fringes of the squad.

Therefore, Amorim must allow the experienced central defender to move on from Old Trafford in the summer when his contract expires, but he is not the only player who must be ruthlessly let go.

Argentina international Alejandro Garnacho is another dud who the former Sporting manager must cash in on when the summer transfer window opens for business.

Why Alejandro Garnacho should be sold

Firstly, there was reported interest from several clubs in the January transfer window, including Napoli, Chelsea, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid.

This suggests that there are plenty of teams who would be willing to do business with United if they decided to sell Garnacho when the next window opens up, rather than it being a case of the Red Devils needing to find a team to take the player off their hands.

The 20-year-old dynamo has had some terrific moments in a United shirt, as shown in the clips above, but his regression in the current campaign is a cause for concern with his decision to walk down the tunnel after being substituted against Ipswich last week undoubtedly the nadir of his career so far.

It was a moment that displeased some, including Man United writer Alex Turk, who suggested that the youngster needed to “grow up a little.”

So, with Garnacho (£50k-per-week) reportedly earning more than teammates Patrick Dorgu (£40k-per-week) and Kobbie Mainoo (£20k-per-week) his declining performances on the pitch suggest that the club should certinaly look to cash in on him before they look to increase his wages.

Appearances

36

26

Goals

7

3

Big chances missed per 90

0.2

0.7

Big chances created

6

3

Assists

4

1

Key passes per 90

1.6

1.3

As you can see in the table above, the academy graduate’s output in the final third in the Premier League has decreased this season, with more ‘big chances’ missed per 90, fewer goals, and fewer assists and key passes per 90.

This, essentially, means that the United youngster is not offering as much as he did in the 2023/24 campaign as a difference-maker in front of goal, which has made him less and less effective on the pitch.

These statistics show that Garnacho, who missed two ‘big chances’ in the loss to Fulham on penalties, is trending downwards and United should look to extract the maximum out of his current value, amid interest from a host of teams.

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Selling him now could result in United hitting the jackpot if his form continues to plummet in the years to come and his value falls along with it, which is why Amorim must finally ditch him, after opting against it in January, as well as Lindelof in the summer.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now showing interest in a summer move for an “immense” defender, who is set to be available on a free transfer, according to a report.

Wolves move six clear of the drop

At one stage this season, Wolves found themselves in a perilous position, however, an uptick in form under the helm of Vitor Pereira has moved them six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with 10 games left to play.

Pereira’s side are by no means out of the woods yet, but Ipswich Town and Leicester City are in very poor form, so it is becoming increasingly likely they will avoid relegation to the Championship.

Wolves’ upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Southampton (a)

March 15th

West Ham United (h)

April 1st

Ipswich Town (a)

April 5th

Tottenham Hotspur (h)

April 12th

Manchester United (a)

April 19th

As such, the Old Gold can tentatively start making plans for the summer transfer window, and they have recently sent scouts to watch Viktoria Plzen striker Rafiu Durosinmi.

The Wanderers may be forced to bring in a new forward, given that Matheus Cunha, who has a £62m release clause in his contract, has now started to attract widespread interest.

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However, according to a report from The Daily Mail, Wolves are also keen to strengthen at the opposite end of the pitch, with it being revealed they are now showing an interest in Everton defender Michael Keane.

Keane is set to be available on a free transfer at the end of the season, upon the expiration of his contract with the Toffees, and a number of clubs are watching the centre-back.

Saudi Pro League side Al Riyad and MLS team FC Dallas are also looking at the Englishman, so Wolves may face competition for his signature, should they decide to formalise their interest.

"Immense" Keane is proven in the Premier League

The 32-year-old has a plethora of experience in England, making 249 appearances in the top flight across spells with Manchester United, Burnley and Everton, and he scored a late winner for the Merseyside club at Molineux back in 2021.

During his time with the Toffees, the 12-time England international has been lauded as “immense” by Harry Redknapp, but he has started to play more of a bit-part role this season, appearing for just two minutes in the Premier League in 2025.

As such, there are question marks over whether Wolves should pursue a move for the Everton defender, and it would admittedly not be the most exciting of summer signings.

However, Keane’s vast experience in the Premier League suggests he could do a good job as a squad player at the very least, and it is an added bonus that he is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, which would make it a low-risk move.

Celtic themselves with a gap in their strikeforce in the January transfer window when they decided to cash in on Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Scottish Premiership leaders sold the 30-year-old centre-forward to Ligue 1 side Rennes for a reported fee of £10m and did not opt to dip into the market to land a direct replacement for him.

That was despite his return of 85 goals in 165 matches for the club in all competitions during his time at Parkhead, as they decided that Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda had enough between them to cover the centre-forward position.

The performances of both of those strikers this season suggest that Celtic have not suffered as a result of Kyogo’s exit from the Scottish giants.

Why Celtic do not miss Kyogo Furuhashi

Maeda has typically been deployed on the flanks as a Celtic player but Kyogo’s move to France has provided him with an opportunity to play more games through the middle.

The Japan international has racked up an eye-catching 28 goals and nine assists in 43 matches in all competitions, averaging a goal every 119 minutes for the Hoops.

Idah, meanwhile, has scored 14 goals and provided one assist in 43 matches for Celtic, averaging a goal every 134 minutes as a centre-forward.

Whereas, Kyogo has scored 12 goals in 36 games for the Hoops and Rennes combined this season, averaging a strike every 178 minutes.

These statistics suggest that Celtic do not miss the Ligue 1 striker because Idah and Maeda have scored more frequently than him this season. However, there is a former Parkhead number nine who is scoring even more frequently than all three of them – Hyeon-gyu Oh.

Hyeon-gyu Oh's goal return since leaving Celtic

In the summer of 2024, Brendan Rodgers decided to move on from the South Korea international, after 18 months in Glasgow, by selling him to Genk in a reported £4.5m deal.

That came after the former Suwon Bluewings number nine had scored 12 goals in 47 matches for the Scottish giants in all competitions, including 11 goals in 36 Premiership outings.

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Since his move away from Parkhead, Oh has struggled for consistent game time in Belgium. The 23-year-old centre-forward has only played 671 minutes for Genk across all competitions but has scored an impressive ten goals in that time.

This means that the former Celtic man has averaged a goal every 67 minutes this season, which is an incredibly prolific return and shows that he has scored even more frequently than Maeda, Kyogo, and Idah when he has been on the pitch.

Appearances

27

27

Starts

2

15

Goals

7

8

Big chances missed

4

13

Minutes per goal

69

164

Conversion rate

23%

15%

As you can see in the table above, Oh has also been more clinical than Idah at league level this season, after the Ireland international was signed permanently to replace the South Korean forward.

Celtic, however, do have two excellent forwards in the Irish marksman and Maeda, who have both averaged more than a goal every other 90 minutes on average, and they may not regret the decisions that led to them ending up with those two options.

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It is, though, nice to see Oh doing well for himself since moving on from Parkhead, even if he is not starting games on a regular basis, and it will be interesting to see how the striker fares in the future.

Former West Ham boss David Moyes has set his sights on strengthening his Everton ranks in January, with reliable insider ExWHUemployee saying he could now spark a reunion.

West Ham are bracing for a significant clear-out during the January window as Nuno Espírito Santo looks to reshape his struggling squad.

With the Hammers languishing in the relegation zone, several high-profile players could be heading for the exit door.

Niclas Füllkrug tops the list of potential departures, after the German striker reportedly told West Ham he wants to leave in January. The £27 million signing from Borussia Dortmund has endured a nightmare spell plagued by persistent fitness issues, missing 28 games for club and country combined last season, and has failed to make any meaningful impact since his arrival.

His agent has even admitted that a move away would be best for both parties, though West Ham insist they won’t sanction his exit until a suitable replacement is found.

Achilles tendon

08/09/2024

02/12/2024

16

Hamstring injury

11/01/2025

01/04/2025

12

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta is another player reportedly keen on securing a January departure. The Times reported recently that the 28-year-old outright wants to leave, with Fabrizio Romano also confirming in his GiveMeSport newsletter that a Paqueta exit is indeed possible.

Aston Villa came fairly close to signing Paqueta last summer after holding talks, but the move fell through, with West Ham’s star kissing the badge as a show of loyalty after scoring away to Nuno’s Nottingham Forest in August.

Nevertheless, an exit is apparently on the cards for him, as it is for out-of-favour midfielder Guido Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is actively seeking a January exit after a disappointing spell since joining on a free transfer from Real Betis in 2024, with River Plate, Espanyol, Club América and ex-club Betis all vying to sign him for a cheap fee mid-season (El Intransigente).

Young winger Luis Guilherme could also be moved on after failing to establish himself in the first team since his arrival from Palmeiras last year.

ExWHUemployee says David Moyes wants to sign James Ward-Prowse from West Ham

Finally, James Ward-Prowse appears destined to leave after being immediately axed from the squad following Nuno’s appointment.

Despite being a first-team regular and one of the captains under Graham Potter, the set-piece specialist is not in Nuno’s long-term plans and is resigned to departing in the winter.

Sharing an update on the 30-year-old’s future, ExWHUemployee has claimed that Moyes could look to sign Ward-Prowse for Everton after he initially brought him to the Hammers from Southampton during his spell in charge at the London Stadium.

Ward-Prowse actually did well under Moyes, making an impressive start and providing two assists in a 3-1 home win over Chelsea — becoming the first player to register two assists on his Premier League debut for West Ham.

His first season was rather productive. The midfielder, who Moyes called a “team player”, scored seven goals and registered seven assists in the Premier League alone, totaling 18 goal contributions across all competitions in over 50 appearances.

However, it was all downhill after Moyes left.

Ward-Prowse lost his importance under new manager Julen Lopetegui and was sent on loan to Nottingham Forest. The loan was then terminated mid-season by none other than Nuno, who was in charge of Forest at the time.

He returned to West Ham and played regularly under Graham Potter, but when Potter was dismissed and Nuno ironically became West Ham’s new manager, Ward-Prowse was immediately excluded from the squad again.

Now, Moyes is offering him yet another chance to shine at Everton, and he may well be eager to listen.

Celtic provided the perfect response to their 3-2 defeat to their rivals before the international break with a 3-0 win over Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday.

The Hoops had allowed their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to be cut down to 13 points by losing to Rangers, but immediately bounced back with a convincing win over the Jam Tarts.

Daizen Maeda took his tally for the season to 30 goals in all competitions for the Bhoys with his two strikes against Hearts, whilst Jota added another goal to his collection since his return to Parkhead in the January transfer window.

Whilst many will focus on the attacking talent that was on display, as Jota and Maeda stole the headlines with their goals, the presence of Callum McGregor in the middle of the park was equally as important.

Why Callum McGregor's performance was important for Celtic

The retired Scotland international missed the 3-2 defeat to Rangers before the break through injury and returned to show the Hoops what they missed with a sublime display in midfield.

Celtic’s captain lined up alongside Reo Hatate and Arne Engels in the midfield three against Hearts on Saturday and stood out as the star performer in that area of the pitch.

Pass accuracy

89%

81%

99%

Passes completed

59

34

66

Key passes

1

0

2

Big chances created

0

0

1

Tackles + interceptions

0

1

2

Dribbled past

1x

0x

0x

As you can see in the table above, McGregor outperformed his positional peers in the match with his exceptional use of the ball and his reliability defensively.

This illustrates why his display was so important for Brendan Rodgers against Hearts because it highlights the quality he brings in and out of possession.

The left-footed star provides a metronomic presence at the base of the midfield for Celtic with his ability to complete passes efficiently under pressure, completing 94% of his passes overall in the division this season.

McGregor, who completes 73 passes per game on average, can control games for the Hoops by dictating the tempo of matches with his passing quality, whilst also frustrating opposition teams because of his press resistance on the ball, forcing them to drop back deeper.

This is part of the reason why Celtic struggled without their captain when they faced Rangers at Parkhead before the break, as Engels is not best suited to that role as the number six.

Why Arne Engels struggled against Rangers

The former Augsburg star started at the base of the midfield, with Luke McCowan and Hatate in the number eight positions, and struggled against the Gers.

Engels is usually tasked with playing as one of the more advanced midfielders, looking to score and create goals, but had to step up in a deeper role against Rangers because of his captain’s injury.

Pass accuracy

88%

94%

Touches

76

89.1

Passes

51

73.2

Ground duel success rate

20%

59%

Possession lost

14x

7.2x

Tackles + interceptions

0

1.7

As you can see in the table above, the Belgium international failed to live up to the standards that the skipper has set for that position in or out of possession, losing the ball far too frequently and offering little protection to the back four.

The 21-year-old starlet should not be expected to be as effective in that role, though, because he is an attack-minded player who has a future as a number eight for Celtic, rather than as a deep-lying conductor of play.

Engels has racked up ten goals and 12 assists in all competitions for the Scottish giants this term, which shows that he has excelled at his natural game – scoring and creating goals.

The former Bundesliga whiz is not the long-term successor to McGregor, because that is not his natural game, and that is why he struggled in the game against Rangers before the break.

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Rodgers, though, may have already unearthed his next version of the Celtic captain by bringing 19-year-old academy starlet Jude Bonnar into the first-team group.

Why Jude Bonnar could be the next Callum McGregor

The teenage dynamo has been in the matchday squad on five occasions in all competitions since the start of February, and got ten minutes off the bench in a 5-1 win over Aberdeen in the Premiership.

That ten-minute cameo, in which the Scotland U21 international completed all four of his attempted passes, was his first-team debut for the Hoops and the manager spoke to his suitability for the team after the match.

Rodgers told the Daily Record: “He’s got a good profile and fits how we want to play. So that is a nice little taster for him.”

This suggests that the Northern Irish boss sees potential in Bonnar and believes that the teenage talent has the technical skills and know-how to suit the way that his team lines up, with a number six and two eights in a midfield three.

The B team star, whose ability was described as “unbelievable” by former coach Alan McGrillen, spoke to Celtic TV after the game and admitted that he looks up to McGregor as a role model, because of how he acts on and off the pitch every day.

Bonnar has already shown a tiny glimpse of his metronomic qualities, completing 100% of his passes in his cameo against Aberdeen, and Rodgers could look to help him develop and refine that ability to mould him into the new version of McGregor in the future.

The Scottish youngster has also shown the potential to offer a goal threat, as the captain has with eight goals in 28 league matches this term, with a return of ten goals in 46 B team games.

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This is only the start of the road for Bonnar, though, and there is plenty more time left for him to progress as a player and forge his own way in the game, hopefully at Celtic.

The very early signs, however, are that the potential is there for him to develop into McGregor 2.0 for Rodgers as a composed and controlling midfield star who can also provide a goal threat.

Leeds United have the opportunity to improve the first-team squad this summer, regardless of the division they find themselves in between now and the end of the season.

The Whites remain in a solid position to claim promotion from the Championship, currently occupying second place under Daniel Farke – with the German having the chance to win his third second-tier title.

However, the last few weeks have seen the side stutter towards the finish line, winning just one of the last five matches, surrendering their lead at the top of the table.

The last clash in the league saw Farke’s men draw 2-2 with Swansea City after a 97th-minute equaliser from Zan Vipotnik secured an unlikely point for the visitors.

One player in particular failed to deliver during the clash with the Welsh outfit, leading to questions over his long-term future at Elland Road, with many unhappy with his recent showings.

Illan Meslier’s future at Leeds United

Goalkeeper Illan Meslier has been Farke’s number-one option between the sticks this season but has often produced a moment of madness, costing the side all three points.

He made two separate errors against the Swans at the weekend, with his penalty save forgotten after his mistakes which handed the visitors a point in Yorkshire.

The Frenchman hasn’t been a stranger to a mistake this campaign, currently having a goals prevented xG of -2.7 – massively impacting the club’s chances of getting promoted.

Regardless of what division the club find themselves in next season, Farke must part ways with the 25-year-old if the side are to reach the next level – with his mistakes ultimately too costly.

However, the goalkeeper shouldn’t be the only player to depart the club this summer, with the manager brutally needing to part ways with one player who’s not at the level required for the top flight.

The Leeds star who wouldn’t cut it in the PL

Ahead of the summer, numerous players’ contracts are set to expire, with time running out for the hierarchy to secure an extension on players whose deals are coming to an end.

Junior Firpo is just one first-team member who could depart Elland Road this summer, with the Spaniard no closer to agreeing a new contract – with teams in Spain already registering interest in his services.

Sam Bryam is another player who could leave this window, with the club needing to avoid offering him a new deal – especially if they are to achieve promotion by the end of the year.

The 31-year-old, who’s been labelled “reliable” by one analyst, is currently in his second spell with the Whites, after rejoining on a free transfer in the summer of 2023.

The right-back has been a valuable squad member this campaign, making 30 appearances – but only 15 have come from a starting role, with the likes of Firpo and Jayden Bogle ahead of him.

However, the stats he’s produced are unfortunately not up to the level of a Premier League standard, with the 49ers needing higher quality players if they are to maintain their top-flight status if they secure promotion.

Games played

30

Games started

15

Pass accuracy

83%

Touches per 90

75

Tackles won

1.2

Duels won

5.3

Aerials won

2.2

There’s no denying he’s been a tremendous servant for the club over the years, but ultimately he’s coming to the back end of his career with Farke needing to offload him and invest in new blood.

It will be a harsh decision to part ways with him given his extended time with the Whites, but unfortunately, the club need to do what is right if they are to be more competitive in the years ahead, whether that’s in the Championship or the Premier League.

Leeds sold Meslier upgrade for just £1.4m, now he's a "superstar"

Leeds United will now rue getting rid of this Illan Meslier alternative.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 31, 2025

It’s been an unusual season for Arsenal this year.

On the domestic front, injuries and some lacklustre form in periods have cost them any real chance of lifting the Premier League title at the third time of asking.

However, in Europe, there is now a real feeling that Mikel Arteta’s side could go all the way in the Champions League after dismantling Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final earlier this week.

Yet, as well as the team played on Tuesday, there was still one starter who was a little underwhelming and even received a 6/10 match rating from the Express’ Charlie Parker-Turner: Martin Odegaard.

It’s been a campaign to forget for the Gunners’ captain and two-time Player of the Season, but based on recent reports, the club could sign someone in the summer who may well get him back to his very best next season.

Arsenal transfer news

Surprisingly, given their immense record at the back and need for attacking reinforcements, one of the players most recently touted for a move to the Emirates this summer has been Dean Huijsen.

Transfer Focus

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

The Bournemouth star, whom FBref has places in the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for interceptions and the top 2% for non-penalty expected goals plus assists per 90, reportedly has a £50m release clause in his contract.

However, fans shouldn’t worry as the North Londoners also seem hell-bent on signing a new striker as well, with Benjamin Sesko reportedly still on their list of targets, per David Ornstein.

Yet it appears that another striker from the continent has now jumped ahead of the Slovenian on the Gunners’ list of transfer targets, someone who could get Odegaard back to his best: Viktor Gyokeres.

Yes, according to a recent report from the Portuguese outlet A Bola, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Sporting CP star.

In fact, the report goes a step further, revealing that the Premier League side have now prepared an offer for the player, who could leave the Lisbon outfit for anything from €70m – £61m – to €100m – £87m.

So, it would require an extraordinary amount of money to sign Gyokeres this summer, but given his immense ability, it would be worth it, especially as he could get the best out of Odegaard again.

Why Gyokeres would revive Odegaard

So, it’s no secret that Odegaard has struggled somewhat this season. Compared to his 23 goal involvements in 48 games last year, he currently has just 13 in 35 games.

So, with that said, how would Gyokeres help him get back to his best, if not beyond it? Well, the simple answer is his output.

Since moving to Portugal in the summer of 2023, the former Coventry City star has been a lean, mean goalscoring machine, and even when Ruben Amorim left earlier this season, he’s continued to be simply unstoppable.

Appearances

94

Minutes

7689′

Goals

87

Assists

26

Goal Involvements per Match

1.20

Minutes per Goal Involvement

68.04′

For example, since the start of last season, the “ball-striking monster,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored a simply staggering 87 goals and provided 26 assists in 94 appearances, totalling 7689 minutes.

In other words, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by Mattinson, has maintained an average of 1.2 goal involvements every game, or one every 68.04 minutes, since moving to Lisbon.

Moreover, he’s also been incredible in Europe’s top competition, the Champions League, and has a tally of six goals in just eight appearances, including a hat trick against Manchester City.

So, just imagine a striker as deadly and powerful as the Swede starting ahead of Odegaard next season, the Norwegian’s assist numbers would go through the roof.

Moreover, if the Gunners had a more clinical frontline this year, he’d already have more, as, according to Understat, his four league assists this term have come from an expected assists figure of 6.16.

Ultimately, Odegaard is an incredibly talented player who has not enjoyed a particularly good season, but with someone like Gyokeres in the team next year, he could bounce back and remind everyone why he’s the club’s captain.

White repeat: Arsenal in the leading pack to sign "dominant" £50m phenom

The sensational talent would make Arsenal’s squad so much better.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 11, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is in the market for a potential new manager this summer, with Ange Postecoglou likely to leave after a disappointing season.

Ange Postecoglou facing Spurs exit regardless of Europa League

News sources across the British media, including Mirror journalist John Cross and The Telegraph’s Matt Law, have heard from their sources that Spurs could part company with Postecoglou, even if they win the Europa League.

Tottenham now "ready to sell" £50m-plus star and replace him with 24 y/o

Spurs are hatching a plan to reshape the squad.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2025

It would be quite a feat for the Australian to clinch Tottenham’s first piece of silverware in 17 years amid a campaign blighted by injuries, protests from supporters and potentially their worst ever Premier League season to date.

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Brighton (home)

May 25th

The Lilywhites face this year’s fairy-tale overachievers Bodo/Glimt in the Europa semi-finals, a side nobody expected to get this far, and Postecoglou’s men are the overwhelming favourites to reach this year’s final in Bilbao.

However, even in the event that Postecoglou keeps good on his promise by winning a major trophy during his second season in charge, something he confidently predicted right at the start of 2024/2025, Spurs’ torrid domestic form and lack of backing from fans could mean he still parts company.

Levy has the likes of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Brentford’s Thomas Frank on Spurs’ managerial shortlist to replace Postecoglou, according to reports,

Further abroad, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has previously shared news of Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi attracting admirers from within Spurs, but it will be very hard for Levy to prise the Nerazzurri boss away from Italy.

The dissatisfaction around N17 right now after this tepid campaign has caused tensions in the stands to reach boiling point, so Levy and ENIC are under real pressure to get this next appointment right, make smart investments into the squad and turn Tottenham’s fortunes around.

Tottenham now eyeing Burnley manager Scott Parker

As per The Mail and journalist Mike Keegan, a new name is now on Tottenham’s growing list of linked head coaches – Burnley boss Scott Parker.

The former Lilywhites and England midfielder amassed 63 appearances for Spurs during his playing days, and has since gone on to enjoy some successful stints during his managerial career – guiding both Fulham and Burnley to Premier League promotion.

Bar a failed stint at Jupiler Pro League side Club Brugge, the 44-year-old has showcased some promise in his early career as a tactician, and it is believed Tottenham are fans of Parker as a manager.

He’s also attracted praise from his peers, with Man City boss Pep Guardiola branding him one of English football’s new “innovative” coaches back in 2021, while former Tottenham left-back Ryan Sessegnon called Parker a “top coach” when he was linked with the hot seat four years ago.

“He’s a top guy, top man and a top coach. He’s just an all-round great guy,” explained Sessegnon.

“He obviously has a philosophy of play and sticks to it and all the players are buying into that. Recently, it hasn’t been so good for them in terms of results, but I think the performances and effort is still there.”