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Manchester United have now made a bid worth £30 million to sign a “monster” striker in this transfer window, according to a recent report.

Man Utd chasing multiple targets as they search for a new striker

The Red Devils are continuing to work on a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, a transfer saga that has lasted all summer so far. United return to pre-season training next week, and the hope is that they can have a deal wrapped up for the Cameroon international by then, but he may not be the only attacking signing either.

Worth £40m less than Gyokeres: Man Utd to offer huge salary to unexpected striker

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Given the struggles in front of goal last season, it is no surprise that United are in the market for a new striker to replace Rasmus Hojlund. It was reported over the weekend that United have placed Genk striker Tolu Arokodare on their list of targets after he scored 23 goals in 45 matches last season. The forward is not as well known as the likes of Victor Gyokeres and Dušan Vlahović, and for that, he could cost the Red Devils just £20 million this summer.

As well as keeping an eye on Arokodare, United have held talks with the representatives of Moise Kean and have now been offered the chance to sign the striker from Fiorentina.

A report states that he could be available for £44 million after finding his form once again back in Italy, but any deal rests on Ruben Amorim, as he has yet to decide whether he wants the Italy international.

Man Utd table £30m bid to sign Ivan Toney

The list of potential new strikers arriving at Old Trafford this summer doesn’t stop with Kean, as according to a report from Spain, Man United have now made an opening bid of €35m (£30m) to sign Ivan Toney from Al-Ahli.

The report states that United have decided to act quickly and make a move for Toney, as they believe his experience in English football and his physical strength could make him a success at Old Trafford.

It goes on to add that contacts between both clubs and the player’s entourage have already taken place, and now United chiefs are confident they can complete a deal for the English international in the coming days, as Toney would welcome a move back to England and the Premier League.

Since moving to Saudi Arabia last summer, Toney, who has been dubbed a “monster” by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, has scored 23 goals in 30 Saudi Pro League appearances. The 29-year-old also scored a further six in the AFC Champions League Elite campaign.

Toney

Hojlund

Apps

85

62

Goals

36

14

Assists

11

3

While Toney, who earns a staggering £400,000 a week, may be older than United’s current first-choice striker Hojlund, the 29-year-old has proven in the Premier League and in Saudi Arabia that he has a better killing instinct than the Denmark international.

During the 2023/24 season, Toney netted 20 league goals in the Premier League, which is far greater than what Hojlund has managed in the last two campaigns combined.

Bruno Fernandes is staying. Matheus Cunha is joining. Bryan Mbeumo could be next. The future of Manchester United could perhaps be a brighter one…

Of course, Red Devils supporters have been down this road before, with ‘winning the window’ rarely translating into on-field success – just look back to 2021 and the statement signings of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The difference this time, however, is that Ruben Amorim and co appear to be ready to raid the Premier League for ready-made solutions, hence their pursuit of Cunha and Mbeumo, with the club having far too often looked abroad for reinforcements over the last decade or so.

As the MEN’s George Smith noted, amid Cunha’s arrival, United had not signed a proven top-flight attacker since prising Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in 2018, with Romelu Lukaku having joined from Everton a few months earlier.

Those deals aren’t exactly shining examples, although in the case of Lukaku, his return of 42 goals in 96 games has certainly aged well, not least considering Rasmus Hojlund has scored just 26 times in 95 outings in all competitions.

Hopefully, both Cunha and Mbeumo – should the latter sign – can replicate and exceed the Belgian’s return at Old Trafford, with United wise to be continuing this approach of looking closer to home for new additions.

Man Utd keen on signing another Premier League star

The bombshell news that Mbeumo is keen to join Amorim’s side came following the news that United had lost the race for Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, with the Englishman opting to reunite with former Manchester City youth coach, Enzo Maresca, at Chelsea.

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Amid that potential setback, The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell has reported that the club are considering centre-forward alternatives, namely Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Antoine Semenyo, with Amorim also keen on acquiring an ‘athletic No.8’, while a new wing-back could also be ‘on the agenda’.

The search for new options on the flanks may have seen United turn toward another top-flight talent, in the form of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Pervis Estupinan, with reports in Spain indicating that the Ecuadorian has emerged as a ‘priority’ target.

The belief is that while the 27-year-old is attracting interest from a long list of suitors, it is the Red Devils who are showing the ‘strongest interest’ at present, having ‘set their sights’ on the full-back.

This comes amid prior reports which suggested that INEOS had actually held talks over a move for the £15m defender, with any potential deal ensuring Amorim could land an immediate upgrade on January arrival, Patrick Dorgu.

How Estupinan compares to Dorgu

It is undoubtedly still early days in Dorgu’s United journey, having signed from Lecce on a £30m deal in January, although it hasn’t exactly been plain sailing, not least when considering the 20-year-old’s red card against Ipswich Town in February.

There have been notable bright moments – including winning a penalty in the 4-1 thrashing of Real Sociedad at Old Trafford – yet the promising Dane is yet to truly convince, with club legend Gary Neville including him among those who are “not good enough” among the current crop.

The addition of Estupinan to bolster that left flank could then represent the perfect upgrade, with the experienced star recognised as “one of the best left-backs in the Premier League” by manager Fabian Hurzeler.

While the 2024/25 campaign ended in the attack-minded full-back providing just one goal and one assist in the league, he had previously registered 15 goal involvements in the two seasons prior to that, across all competitions.

For comparison, the young Dorgu has so far registered no goals and just a solitary assist during his brief time in Manchester, after previously racking up only five goals and two assists in 57 games in Italy.

While the winter signing’s age must be factored in, it is also worth noting that Dorgu did actually play as a winger on occasion in Serie A, with it yet to be seen if he can provide that much-needed end product.

Dorgu vs Estupinan – 24/25 PL record
Stat (*per game)	Dorgu	Estupinan
Games (starts)	12 (10)	30 (26)
Goals	0	1
Assists	0	1
Big chances created	1	5
Key passes*	1.0	0.9
Pass accuracy*	86%	88%
Tackles & interceptions*	2.9	3.4
Balls recovered*	3.1	4.9
Successful dribbles*	0.3	0.6
Errors leading to goal	2	0
Stats via Sofascore

As indicated above, while the current United man is certainly not too far behind across a string of metrics, it is Estupinan who comes out on top in numerous key areas, including tackles and interceptions, ball recoveries, successful dribbles and pass accuracy, emphasising his quality at both ends of the pitch.

It’s not to say that Dorgu should simply be cast off so soon into his time in English football, yet at just 20, the jury is out on whether he can be a consistent, regular performer at Premier League level.

As journalist Samuel Luckhurst suggested after the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, the left-footer arguably looked ‘out of his depth’.

With that in mind, a rival or competitor to the Denmark international is certainly needed this summer – by signing the Seagulls star, Amorim may even be getting himself an immediate upgrade.

He's outscored Mbeumo: Man Utd weighing up bid for £40m Delap upgrade

Manchester United are preparing a move for a star who could thrive at Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 4, 2025

Newcastle United are now considering a move for a £27m striker, who could be brought in to partner Alexander Isak, according to a report.

Race for Isak heating up

It is no surprise that so many clubs are keen on signing Isak this summer, given just how impressive the Swedish forward has been this season, most notably scoring against Liverpool in the EFL Cup final to help end Newcastle’s 70-year wait for a trophy.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League

33

23

6

EFL Cup

6

3

0

FA Cup

2

1

0

Arsenal are now ramping up their pursuit of the striker, with a jaw-dropping £127m offer now being prepared, while he has also been identified as a dream signing for Liverpool, having left manager Arne Slot impressed at times this season.

That said, the Magpies remain in a strong negotiating position, with the 25-year-old contracted until the summer of 2028, so they may be able to retain his services beyond the end of the campaign.

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However, according to a report from Spain, Newcastle are now considering a move for Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth as a potential replacement for Isak, should their talisman move on this summer.

Alternatively, the report adds Sorloth could be brought in as a partner for the Sweden international, should Eddie Howe’s side secure a place in the Champions League, with the Tynesiders weighing up the possibility of forming a top-level attacking duo.

There is a belief that the Atletico forward would be able to adapt to life in the Premier League, and his qualities make him a good fit for Howe, who is looking for a strong and aerially dominant forward.

"Stellar" Sorloth impressing in La Liga

The Norwegian has not been at Atletico for long, arriving in a €32m (£27m) deal last summer, but he has certainly caught the eye during his debut campaign with the Spanish side, netting 21 goals in all competitions, including 17 in La Liga.

The 29-year-old didn’t manage to make the desired impact in the Champions League, with Atletico exiting the competition at the hands of Real Madrid, but the Spanish side should be encouraged by his first season in Spain.

The Norway international ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to other strikers, while also placing in the 95th percentile for aerials won, showcasing the threat he poses in the air.

Lauded as “stellar” by journalist Zach Lowy, there are signs that Sorloth could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle this summer, but it seems unlikely that Atletico would be willing to cash-in, given his exploits in his first campaign with Atletico.

Glasgow Rangers are set to miss out on the Scottish Premiership title for the fourth season running, and only an Ianis Hagi equaliser against Aberdeen prevented it from having already happened.

The Gers came back from 2-0 down against the Dons to secure a point away from Ibrox, when a defeat would have seen their city rivals crowned once again.

Rangers know that they have to improve significantly to compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign, and that means that they will have to move on from some players who have failed to show their worth, including Ross McCausland.

Why Rangers should sell Ross McCausland

The academy graduate made his first-team breakthrough last season under Philippe Clement, but he has failed to kick on and establish himself as a key figure for the Gers.

McCausland, who was sent off for two yellow card offences against Aberdeen, has produced three goals and five assists in 42 appearances in the Premiership in the last two seasons.

The Northern Ireland international has as many red cards as goal contributions (one) in 13 outings in the Premiership so far this term, which illustrates his lack of impact at the top end of the pitch.

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This is why Rangers should finally move on from the 21-year-old attacker. However, he is not the only attacker who should be ruthlessly ditched by the Gers, as Oscar Cortes should also be on the chopping block.

Why Rangers should move on from Oscar Cortes

The Colombian winger is currently on loan to the club from Lens, as he has been since January of last year, but the Scottish giants have an obligation to make that deal permanent this summer.

Rangers have to sign him permanently at the end of his loan spell, and Football Insider recently reported that those inside the club now see that as a ‘gamble’, due to his lack of success on the pitch to date.

Cortes (£6k-per-week) earns even more than McCausland (£4.7k-per-week), as per Salary Sport, and has offered even less than the Northern Irish forward in the past 18 months.

Oscar Cortes (Premiership)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

6

8

Starts

3

4

Goals

1

0

Key passes per game

1.2

0.5

Big chances created

1

0

Assists

1

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Colombian flop – who pundit Michael Stewart claimed has a “heart the size of a pea” due to his lack of desire – has rarely been available to make appearances in the Premiership, playing just 14 times in almost a season-and-a-half.

Cortes, who has dealt with several injury issues this season, was given an opportunity from the start against Aberdeen last weekend and was withdrawn at half-time after losing five of his six duels in the first 45 minutes.

Like McCausland, the 21-year-old attacker has failed to prove that he has the quality, or the availability, to be a key player for a team that wants to compete for the title in the Premiership.

This is why Rangers must immediately, and ruthlessly, move on from Cortes as soon as they officially sign him on a permanent deal, whether that means loaning him out to another team to go and attempt to play regular football, or to another team on a permanent basis.

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Rangers need reliable players who can perform week-in-week-out to put themselves in contention for the biggest trophies, which is why McCausland and Cortes should be axed this summer.

The legspinner wasn’t required during Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign but is now the second-leading wicket-taker in the WBBL

Tristan Lavalette20-Nov-2024After being benched through the recent Women’s T20 World Cup, watching on helplessly as Australia’s title hopes fell apart on the spin-friendly surfaces in the UAE, Alana King seemingly has a point to prove.Her eye-catching numbers in the WBBL suggest this is a determined cricketer wanting to make a statement to the national hierarchy.Bowling with a lot of energy, spinning the ball hard in trademark style, King has taken 17 wickets from eight matches to be the fulcrum of an inconsistent Perth Scorchers side fighting for a finals berth.To be clear, there is natural disappointment at her omission in the UAE, which extended an absence in the format that stretches back to the previous World Cup in South Africa. “Not playing a game, obviously it was disappointing. But it’s a pretty tough team to break into,” King told ESPNcricinfo. “It was tough watching, but I still trained really hard.”Related

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King, however, doesn’t hold grudges even though it would be tempting to ponder what could have been. It’s not hard to envisage her sharp legspin, with King having that unparalleled ability to really rip it like her hero Shane Warne, and general exuberance sparking a wheezing Australian team at the business end of the T20 World Cup.”There’s nothing to prove. I think the Australian selectors and the coaching staff know what I’m capable of doing,” King said.Itching to return to the field, King didn’t have to wait long with the WBBL season starting just a week after the T20 World Cup. Any resentment she may have felt in the previous weeks were gone. Playing with seemingly a permanent smile, King kept it simple.”For me, it was more so just getting back out there and having fun,” she said. “I play cricket because I have fun no matter what colours I’m putting on. I was just excited to get out on the park and play with my team-mates.”I’m back doing what I love doing, and that’s ripping a few leggies. It’s not all carefree, but I took a pretty easy approach to the WBBL to be honest.”King started the season in style with a three-wicket haul as Scorchers successfully defended 122 for 8 against Melbourne Stars at the WACA. It was the blueprint for Scorchers’ early season success as King’s composure under pressure helped her team defend several low totals.King has been the go-to for skipper Sophie Devine with her flexibility at bowling through the phases proving invaluable. She opened the bowling on one occasion, while King has been clutch at the death underlined by a career best 5 for 16 to stifle Brisbane Heat’s chase of 143 at the WACA.

The commentary box has been marveling at Alana King's bowling last night, so the truck decided to put this split screen togetherpic.twitter.com/6vcka89cPl

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 3, 2024

“I just want to keep getting better with my skill-set and getting exposed to different situations and stages of the game,” she said. “This isn’t just about the Scorchers, this is hopefully going to help me for Australia if they need me for certain roles or to bowl in specific phases.”I’m getting exposed to that in the WBBL and hopefully that can translate into giving me more options in the Aussie colours.”King has been particularly outstanding at the WACA, a ground traditionally regarded as a graveyard for spinners. But the surface’s extra bounce can be beneficial for spinners, particularly taller bowlers like Western Australia men’s offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli who has dominated on the ground for several seasons.

It’s been a little bit challenging, but that’s the way T20 cricket works. You’ve got to be adaptable and the best bowlers adapt the quickestAlana King on having a tougher time on the road

The fairly diminutive King has seemingly mastered WACA conditions at her adopted home ground having made the move to the country’s west coast four years ago. She has taken 11 wickets at an average of just 5.36 in three WBBL matches at the ground this season as Scorchers successfully defended scores of 122, 142 and 108.Among her repertoire, King cunningly loops the ball high in the air leading to baffled batters often misjudging off the wicket. “I’m not a tall person by any means, so having that extra bit of bounce has helped me get different modes of dismissals,” King said. “It’s helped bring the slip into play a bit more and getting a few caught and bowls because the batters are probably not used to the bounce that I’m getting over there. I absolutely love bowling at the WACA.”Being in the WA and Scorchers set-up has also given her access to WA men’s spin coach, and former Test wristspinner, Beau Casson, who has become a mentor. “We make sure that I’m having good rhythm through the crease, that’s probably the biggest one,” King said. “We just make sure that my alignment is all going towards the target.”Just making sure that all my preparation is what I need it to be to feel fresh, feel good, and everything is smooth when I’m going into a game.”Perth Scorchers face a fight to reach finals: “We know our best can beat any team. The vibes are still high.”•Getty ImagesKing, mirroring her team, has had less success on flatter east coast surfaces. She had the unflattering figures of 1 for 89 across a three-game swing against Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder, where batters were more comfortable taking her on. King did rebound with 3 for 29 off four overs to rein in Adelaide Strikers at Karen Rolton Oval.”I hold myself to pretty high standards in making sure that I keep going back to a length that I’m comfortable bowling,” King said. “It’s been a little bit challenging, but that’s the way T20 cricket works. You’ve got to be adaptable and the best bowlers adapt the quickest. That’s what I’m trying to do.”King’s stellar WBBL season should see her in the frame to return to international cricket with Australia playing three-match ODI series against India next month, followed by a tour of New Zealand, before the Ashes begins in January and culminates with a day-night Test match at the MCG.”It was obviously quite a quick turnaround between the World Cup and WBBL, so we haven’t reviewed the World Cup yet as a group,” King said. “But Dan Marsh [Australia assistant coach] has been in contact with me. He’s been happy. He sends me messages and bowling reports from every game, so the feedback has been good.”King also has her sights on the upcoming auction of the Women’s Premier League, which she has yet to crack previously. “I’d love to be part of it. From what I hear, it’s a lot of fun. It’s a great tournament,” she said. “But that’s out of my control. What will be, will be.”In the meantime, King is focused on lifting a slumping Scorchers into the finals. “We’ve shown that we can be a team to be reckoned with,” she said. “We know our best can beat any team. The vibes are still high.”

Alan Gardner is joined by Andrew Miller and Vithushan Ehantharajah to catch up on the latest news and the start of the County Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Apr-2023It’s the start of the English summer (sort of), and there have been some occasional outbreaks of cricket between the showers. After a few weeks off, the pod is back, with Alan Gardner, Andrew Miller and Vithushan Ehantharajah sitting down to catch up on the news – from the CDC verdicts at the end of March, to the early rounds of the County Championship and what’s been going on at the IPL. There’s also a snippet from our new women’s cricket segment, as Valkerie Baynes and Firdose Moonda take a look at the state of the game.