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Following their 2-2 draw with Real Betis, former player Stan Collymore has named one Nottingham Forest star who he believes is “finally” living up to the hype.

Ange "disappointed" by Real Betis draw

After falling a goal behind courtesy of Cedric Bakambu’s impressive finish inside 15 minutes, Nottingham Forest arguably played the best football of Ange Postecoglou’s young tenure. The Midlands club soon equalised through summer signing Igor Jesus, who then found his brace to flip the game on its head.

From there, it was Forest’s to lose and they should have extended their lead before the break. Ultimately, however, they left the door ajar for Antony to find a late equaliser for the hosts. In the end, the Tricky Trees were forced to settle for a “disappointing” draw, according to Postecoglou.

Even after making it four wins without a victory as Forest boss, however, there were positives for Postecoglou to take. The first-half display was particularly dominant and Elliot Anderson once again stood out in the middle of the park.

Related Worse call than Luiz: Ange got it so wrong with 6/10 Nottingham Forest man

Nottingham Forest secured a 2-2 draw with Real Betis in their first European game in 30 years.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Sep 25, 2025

Both the England international and another midfield star received high praise from former Nottingham Forest player Collymore after the game.

Collymore: Sangare "finally" living up to hype

After spending most of last season sidelined through injury, it was important for Ibrahim Sangare to make his mark under Postecoglou and that’s exactly what he’s doing. According to Collymore, Sangare is “finally” living up to the hype after an “incredibly effective” display against Real Betis in the Europa League.

The numbers paint a similar picture about the midfielder. Against Betis, Sangare won two out of three ground duels, was dribbled past just once, and made three recoveries. It was a display that Postecoglou will expect to see from his defensive midfielder every week.

It’s also worth noting the impact that Douglas Luiz has also had and how that may have played a part in Sangare’s revival. The former Aston Villa man was in full control when he was on the pitch and often acted as the conductor for wave after wave of Forest attacks.

Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United, meanwhile, have signed George Linde and Alex Carey as replacement picks

Danyal Rasool24-Mar-2025

Former Australia opener David Warner will captain the Karachi Kings in the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League. Warner, who was the Kings’ first pick at the draft in January, replaces Shan Masood as captain.”We have a fantastic line-up and I’m super excited to take on the role of captain this year,” Warner said.Related

PSL set for IPL clash as PCB proposes move to April-May window

PSL 2025 draft – Williamson among seven New Zealanders drafted; Warner, Mitchell among Platinum picks

Islamabad United vs Lahore Qalandars to kick off PSL 2025 on April 11; final on May 18

PCB serves Corbin Bosch legal notice after switch from PSL to IPL

Kings’ owner Salman Iqbal said Warner’s “track record as leader and match-winner aligns perfectly with our vision” while paying tribute to Masood, whom he expected to remain a “key player in the squad”.The Kings are looking to break out of a rut that has seen them miss out on the playoffs each of the last three seasons. Since winning their only title in 2020, they haven’t come close to replicating that success.Warner recently captained Sydney Thunder to the final of the 2024-25 Big Bash League, seven years on from Cricket Australia imposing a lifetime leadership ban on him in the wake of the ball-tampering fracas that engulfed Australia in Cape Town in 2018. The ban was lifted last year.George Linde has replaced Corbin Bosch in the Peshawar Zalmi squad•AFP/Getty Images

Linde replaces Bosch, Carey replaces van der DussenPeshawar Zalmi have drafted in South Africa allrounder George Linde as a full replacement for his compatriot Corbin Bosch, who pulled out of the PSL to take part in the IPL that is running concurrently.Anoher South Africa star, the Islamabad United batter Rassie van der Dussen, is set to miss part of the season for personal reasons. Islamabad have named Australia keeper-batter Alex Carey as his partial replacement.These picks were made in an online replacement draft held on Monday. Peshawar Zalmi and Kings have reserved their replacement picks for Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana and keeper-batter Litton Das respectively, while Quetta Gladiators and Kings have reserved their replacement picks for New Zealand batters Mark Chapman and Kane Williamson respectively.The PSL begins on 11 April in Rawalpindi, with the final on 18 May in Lahore.

Here’s how India’s players reacted after winning the Champions Trophy in Dubai

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Mar-2025

KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja hug after the victory•ICC via Getty Images

.KL Rahul: “I don’t think I can say this on camera, but I was s****ing myself at the end. But we still had a couple of batters to come, so I was confident that we could get over the line.”But in moments like this and big games, it’s more about holding your composure, which we all know about. It’s not easy, but I’m happy to win this and happy to get over the line this time. I think I’ve batted in times like this in three out of the five games. And one of the games I didn’t get to bat at all, against Pakistan.”The game’s given me good time in the middle and good time to prepare for a big moment like this. It’s hard to put in words, but it’s just pure skill and the way we’ve all played our cricket growing up. We’ve had to face a lot of challenges. We’ve had to face pressure from the time we held the bat and from the time we decided to be professional cricketers. I think it’s just the first-class cricket, BCCI, how they’ve groomed every player, every talented player that comes around. They’re giving us opportunities and platforms to showcase our skills and to put ourselves under pressure and keep challenging ourselves and getting better.”Related

Rohit time is right on time for India – and it's not over yet

India's spin quartet pulls the strings in dominant display

Rohit, Gill, Iyer and Shami spill chances in Champions Trophy final

Stats – Four drops, a spin strangle, and 15 tosses lost in a row

Kohli: India ready to take on the world for the next eight years

Hardik Pandya: “It’s always amazing to win an ICC event, and especially the Champions Trophy. I remember 2017 very closely to my heart. We could not finish the job that time. But very, very pleased with the way we have played throughout the tournament. And, at the same time, how everyone contributed. That was fantastic.”Oh, brilliant. You know, that was calm, composed [from KL Rahul]. He took his chances at the right point of time. I think this is what KL Rahul is. KL Rahul has immense talent, and I don’t think anyone can hit the ball the way he can. I think that was the exhibition of how he did today.”Varun Chakravarthy: “Yeah, so I was a sudden inclusion, and I didn’t expect it to turn out like this, and it’s a dream come true. Yeah, it was good, because [in] the first innings the spin was less, and we had to be very disciplined and stick to the stumps.”Shreyas Iyer: “Feeling ecstatic, to be honest. It’s ineffable. And hard to say it in words, to be honest. It’s my first ICC trophy, and I’m kind of overwhelmed. Looking at each and everyone in the dressing room, the way we’ve turned up towards this tournament, and the way we’ve progressed, it was simply magnificent.”To be honest, I love to be under pressure whenever there’s a challenge. I feel I thrive under pressure, and I love such moments. It’s just that I’ve been getting amazing starts in the tournament, and not able to get a big one, but at the end of the day, if I’m able to contribute to a team victory, that is immensely satisfying, and I’m truly happy.”Shubman Gill: “Felt amazing. For the most part, I was sitting back and enjoying Rohit ‘s batting but we kept talking to each other and the [opening] partnership was important for us. Definitely very satisfying, we missed out on the last one that we played in 2023 [World Cup], and it’s a surreal feeling to be able to win this one, starting with the ODI series in England, winning eight ODIs back-to-back, amazing feeling.”Watching him [Virat Kohli] on the TV when I was a kid, and then playing with him, and seeing the intensity at which he plays, it’s just phenomenal to watch. And I think it tells us what the game is all about, giving his everything, and that’s the only thing that he talks about, even off the field as well – give your everything when you’re playing on the field. For him to be able to back his words like that, is just phenomenal.”Ravindra Jadeja: “My batting number is such that I’m either a hero or a zero [on finishing India’s matches often]. Hardik and KL had a good partnership in the last ten overs because the wicket was not so easy for new batsmen but the partnership they had changed the momentum of the game.”This means a lot to India. You’re a part of such a team, and there will be regrets if you’re not able to win tournaments after playing for so many years. But luckily in these two years we’ve won the T20 World Cup and now the Champions Trophy, so it’s great for team India.”Kuldeep Yadav: “Luckily [I didn’t have to bat]. Credit goes to KL and Jaddu to finish the game. There are certainly a lot of expectations when you’re playing well over the years, and you enter the tournaments as favourites, although I don’t believe in the favourites’ tag. We’ve played good cricket over the last few years, and I dedicate this win to the fans, they have a lot of expectations from us. It’s been terrific how we played this tournament.”It’s very difficult to manage four spinners on the field and the way Rohit managed was great and outstanding because you have to read the batsmen and who will bat in what situation, so whom to bowl at what time. The planning was there for the last few days according to their batting line-up and what to bowl when. It was terrific.”A big party is due, and entire India will party today.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly agreed a deal to sign a £15m player compared to former Molineux ace Morgan Gibbs-White.

Wolves make left-back Moller Wolfe fourth summer signing

After losing both Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester United and Manchester City early in the transfer window, Wolves have slowly been splashing the cash in the transfer market.

The Old Gold have made four new permanent signings for manager Vitor Pereira, one of which being Jørgen Strand Larsen following his successful loan spell at Molineux last season.

The latest addition in the Midlands is David Moller Wolfe, with the left-back costing Wolves £10m from Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar. Talking after signing a five-year deal, Moller Wolfe said:

“I’m so, so happy and so proud to be a part of Wolves, so I’m over the moon right now. I felt incredibly wanted from the second I talked to Domenico [Teti, Wolves director of football] and the second I talked to the coach.

“Obviously, the Premier League is a big, big league, especially also in Norway. It’s the biggest league that people watch, so when a Premier League club came in, and Wolverhampton came in for me, I was extremely keen on joining.”

With a new left-back signed, attention is now turning to a right-back after Nelson Semedo departed the club upon the expiry of his contract.

Approach made: Wolves now make enquiry to sign "unbelievable" £15m striker

The Old Gold have made contact over a deal for a centre-forward, with Vitor Pereira looking to bolster his attacking options.

By
Dominic Lund

Jul 30, 2025

Sevilla’s Juanlu Sanchez has been the man heavily linked with replacing Semedo under Pereira, and a development has now emerged.

Wolves reach £14.8m agreement to sign Juanlu

According to reports in Spain, Wolves have actually reached an agreement to sign Juanlu from Sevilla. A fee is worth €17m (£14.8m), however, Wolves still have to convince the player of a move to the Premier League. The report adds that Juanlu actually wants to join Serie A giants Napoli and is waiting for them to swoop.

Therefore, despite shaking hands on a near £15m deal with Sevilla, a deal could still prove complicated for Wolves.

Primarily a right-back, Juanlu can actually play further forward when required as a winger or central midfielder.

Interestingly, as per FBref, the Spaniard has even been compared to attacking midfielder Gibbs-White, who left Wolves for Nottingham Forest back in 2022.

Set to turn 22 later this month, Juanlu is capped at senior level by Spain and turned out in the Champions League with Sevilla last season.

He’s contributed to 14 goals in 74 first-team Sevilla appearances, and by the looks of things, a deal will be one to keep a close eye on following this development.

قرر الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، بقيادة البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، استبعاد أحد اللاعبين من التشكيل الأساسي، قبل دقائق قليلة من انطلاق المواجهة المرتقبة أمام غزل المحلة ضمن منافسات الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وتنطلق مباراة الزمالك وغزل المحلة في تمام الخامسة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، حيث يسعى الزمالك إلى استعادة توازنه بعد سلسلة من النتائج المتذبذبة، كان آخرها التعادل أمام الجونة والخسارة أمام الأهلي.

طالع أيضًا | خاص | إستريلا البرتغالي يواصل هجومه على الزمالك بسبب صفقة شيكو بانزا

ويأمل الفريق الأبيض في تحقيق الفوز للعودة إلى طريق الانتصارات واستعادة صدارة جدول الترتيب من نادي المصري، بينما يدخل غزل المحلة اللقاء باحثًا عن الخروج من أزمته الحالية بعد تعادله مع المقاولون العرب وخسارته أمام المصري في آخر جولتين.

وعلم بطولات، أن الجهاز الفني قرر استبعاد لاعب الوسط نبيل عماد دونجا من التشكيل الأساسي، وذلك بعد أن تعرض لإصابة بشد عضلي خلال عمليات الإحماء التي تسبق المباراة.

ويحتل الزمالك المركز الثاني في جدول الدوري برصيد 17 نقطة، فيما يأتي غزل المحلة في المركز الرابع عشر برصيد 10 نقاط.

West Bromwich Albion clinched an entertaining 3-2 victory in their final runout before the Championship season kicks off against Spanish visitors Rayo Vallecano.

Not much can often be dissected from these summer runouts, as the main priority will always be to get fitness into the legs, but Ryan Mason will hope his side can follow up this win with one or two more across the daunting opening matches in the league.

The 33-year-old will be equal parts nervous and excited as he embarks on his first proper season as a rookie head coach, with more new signings likely to be in the pipeline before September’s deadline to help Mason navigate these choppy waters.

Unfortunately, he won’t be able to convince Tottenham Hotspur prodigy Mikey Moore to move to the West Midlands, even with the bonus of Mason’s Spurs connections being on their side.

West Brom's failed pursuit of Mikey Moore

It looked nailed on that the 17-year-old attacker was going to be West Brom’s next statement capture, having already impressed the Baggies masses by signing Aune Heggebo for £4.7m from Brann, alongside ex-Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips also catching the eye as a reinforcement defensively.

However, this deal is no longer one that is feasible to get over the line, with Scottish giants Rangers pipping the Baggies to the in-demand teenager’s signature over Mason’s men, amid a battle also once forming for his signature from Birmingham City.

This is a body blow to the second-tier outfit, with Moore no doubt ready to explode into life even more away from his limited senior chances back at Spurs, having previously collected a staggering 17 goals and 12 assists from just 22 U18 Premier League appearances in North London.

Of course, there is the worry that the teenage sensation will falter away from that Spurs bubble, as the Baggies now attempt to forget about any move falling through by looking to snap up this other exciting attacker instead.

West Brom can forget Moore by signing "sublime" star

Moore is the flavour of the month, but there’s no guarantee he would be an instant success story in the Championship, away from already bagging a senior goal at Spurs during a fleeting Europa League runout.

Instead, the Baggies could be better off going after an attacking star who already knows what it takes to excel at such a demanding level in the form of AFC Bournemouth forward David Brooks – a player who once cost the Cherries £11.5m back in 2018, having later been valued at £40m amid rival Premier League interest.

West Brom had previously been tipped to make a loan move for the former Sheffield United attacker this summer, but no such move came to fruition in the end, even as the deal hung in the balance at the advanced stages.

His eventual arrival onto the scene, if a move were to get back into motion, would allow for West Brom to forget about Moore in an instant, as the Welshman has more than shown his obvious class in the testing division previously.

AFC Bournemouth

39

6

6

Sheffield United

30

3

5

Southampton

17

2

5

The 17-year-old Ibrox-bound attacker, on the contrary, has never experienced what the testing terrain of the second tier is like, even if he does look ready for an opportunity in such a division.

Therefore, going after Brooks – especially on a loan basis – feels like a more savvy move on West Brom’s end over ruminating too much over losing out on Moore, particularly when you also consider the 28-year-old can play through the middle and on both wings, much like his young Gers counterpart.

His former Bournemouth boss, Eddie Howe, even labelled Brooks as a “sublime” talent when he was first cutting his teeth on the South Coast, with his standout stint in South Yorkshire in the EFL also leading to his ex-Sheffield United manager, Chris Wilder, describing him as “superb.”

Everything is pointing in the direction of this being a sterling move to pursue to bounce back from the disappointing news about Moore, as Brooks potentially attempts to be the spark yet again for a Championship side in their hunt for promotion glory.

West Brom submit bid for "talented" overseas starlet, they've had a reply

The Baggies are moving for talent in the window…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jul 30, 2025

Arne Slot gave himself to the cause of putting Liverpool back on their perch after being anointed as Jurgen Klopp’s successor at Anfield, and he has succeeded.

Many doubted him, but Slot proved that very little is known before that opening whistle sings on matchday one, and Liverpool indeed maintained remarkable consistency across the campaign to clinch the Premier League title, their second in its modern format, and their record-equalling 20th overall.

Who’s ready to go again? Slot, certainly, will feel confident that he can follow last term’s success with an even richer adventure in 2025/26, Liverpool stocking up as they are with high-level players, nice and early, ready for pre-season.

Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have secured the defensive flanks, and a central defender may yet arrive through the Anfield gates.

But who could deny that Florian Wirtz is the cream of this thrilling transfer window?

Why Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz

When Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, they didn’t just swallow the bitter pill of one of their own up and leaving on a free, but one of their leading architects, instrumental through the illustrious sweep of the Jurgen Klopp era.

Alexander-Arnold, now, somehow, a divisive figure on Merseyside, faded into the background until we meet again, has taken with him some pretty peerless playmaking qualities. Pretty peerless, but for a select few creatives who stand at the top of a vast pyramid.

Enter Wirtz. Praised as a “genius” by Xabi Alonso, once his but now Trent’s mentor, the 22-year-old signed for Liverpool in a deal worth £116m last month and will be expected to take the Premier League by storm.

Across 197 senior appearances with Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz scored 57 goals and supplied 65 assists, bringing an artistic flair that will enrich his teammates. Vision, passing, dribbling, he’s got the lot.

It’s clear why Liverpool signed him, and it will now be exciting to see him build a rapport with Slot’s existing squad.

And indeed the forwards who may yet sign for the Premier League champions this summer.

Liverpool targeting more forwards

Most would point toward the central striker’s position as being Liverpool’s priority area (and they’d be right, especially if Darwin Nunez is sold to Napoli as expected).

However, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo have both been linked with moves away, and Federico Chiesa is also expected to leave after a disappointing year.

That’s why transfer insider Matt Thielen believes the Merseysiders could move for West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus this summer, with the Reds informed by the winger’s agent that his client has signalled his intention to join Liverpool, now willing to accept a reduced salary to join Slot’s squad this summer.

And that’s despite interest from Chelsea, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur. Kudus is expected to leave the Hammers this summer, and despite his struggles across 2024/25, there are no shortage of suitors.

This follows earlier claims that the Reds had lodged an official enquiry for the Ghanaian star, who has an £85m release clause in his contract but is expected to be available for a more affordable fee.

Why Liverpool should consider Mohammed Kudus

Kudus has endured something of a Jekyll and Hyde Premier League career so far, rip-roaring and rampant under David Moyes’ wing but decidedly out of sorts last season, albeit along with the rest of the West Ham team.

His end product certainly leaves something to be desired, having only posted 19 goals and 13 assists across 80 matches for the Irons. However, Kudus’ athleticism and energy would be a dream for any maestro, and especially so in Wirtz’s case.

Indeed, Wirtz’s ‘genius’ on the ball, his ability to place surgical passes through the lines, practically seems like a purpose-built quality for Kudus to latch onto.

The intensity of his dribbling stretches beyond what, say, Diaz brings to the table. Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku was the only man to exceed his dribble count in the Premier League last season, and he ranked among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90 (3.20), as per FBref.

And moreover, the 24-year-old’s versatility could see Slot utilise his powers from a range of areas, curving in from the left or pulling defenders away down the right.

Described as a “generational talent” by journalist Gary Al-Smith, Kudus has immense potential that perhaps hasn’t been realised yet.

Look at Ryan Gravenberch, look at Gakpo. These are rising talents who have hit new levels under Slot’s wing at Liverpool, and who is to say that the United winger won’t undergo the same exciting transformation?

He won 6.4 duels and averaged 4.3 ball recoveries per game in the Premier League last year, as per Sofascore, also completing 90% of his passes.

This is a player with staggering potential and a robust physicality to suggest he has what it takes to play an important role at Liverpool.

Given that he’d be playing alongside a one-of-a-kind sensation in Wirtz and Liverpool could snap him up for a cut-price fee, what’s not to like?

Even better than Ekitike: Liverpool open dialogue to sign £85m striker

Liverpool are hoping to sign a new striker ahead of Arne Slot’s second season in charge.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 30, 2025

Slowly and then all at once would be one way to describe Arsenal’s summer thus far.

While their rivals were making signing after signing last month, Mikel Arteta’s side appeared rather sluggish, going back and forth between Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko without making much progress towards either one.

However, over the last week or so, things have begun to change, with Kepa Arizabalage through the door, Christian Norgaard’s arrival feeling like a matter of time, and an avalanche of reports linking the club to Crystal Palace superstar Eberechi Eze.

Furthermore, Andrea Berta and Co appear intent on bringing in more Premier League talent this month, with reports now linking the club to someone who could be a dream teammate for Eze.

Arsenal target Premier League stars

While Arsenal are more than happy to shop abroad, the club are also no stranger to picking up players from closer to home, and so far this summer, they have been linked with several Premier League stars, like Morgan Rogers and Anthony Elanga.

Transfer Focus

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

The former was superb for Aston Villa last season, racking up a tally of 14 goals and 15 assists in 54 games, but such a great campaign has seen his price tag soar, and reports have suggested he could cost the Gunners as much as £70m.

Likewise, Elanga once again proved his worth for Nottingham Forest in 24/25, racking up 18 goal involvements in 43 games, which in turn has seen his potential price tag reach £60m.

However, there is another, slightly cheaper, but still exciting Premier League attacker who is reportedly in the Gunners’ sights this summer: Noni Madueke.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, which reaffirms that Arsenal are very much interested in the Chelsea star.

The report goes a step further, though, claiming that the North Londoners are now in talks with the dynamic winger, having submitted their contract offer to the player, who is valued at close to £50m, according to other reports. What makes this move doubly interesting is that the player actually spent time in the Spurs academy as a youngster.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Madueke’s ability and potential, it might be one worth fighting for, especially as he could be a perfect teammate for Eze.

Why Eze would love Madueke

So, it might be somewhat simplistic, but one of the reasons Eze might love to play with Madueke is down to his output, as that’s what’s going to help the Palace star’s own goal and assist numbers.

For example, despite not always being one of the first names on the teamsheet at Chelsea last season, the exciting winger was still able to amass a decent haul of 11 goals and five assists in 2589 minutes of football, spread across 44 appearances.

That means the 23-year-old averaged a goal or assist every 161.81 minutes for the Blues, which isn’t too bad at all, and substantially better than Gabriel Martinelli’s average of a goal involvement every 222.75 minutes and even better than Leandro Trossard’s average of one every 172.75 minutes.

On top of being a fairly reliable scorer and provider of goals, the “unbelievable” forward, as dubbed by former manager Mauricio Pochettino, has also got some brilliant underlying numbers to his name, including some that would be music to Eze’s ears.

For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 4% for touches in the opposition’s penalty area and many more, all per 90. With those qualities in mind, it’s hardly a surprise that some within the game have said that he’s “very similar to Saka.”

Progressive Carries

6.82

Top 1%

Carries into Penalty Area

4.12

Top 1%

GCA (Defensive Action)

0.04

Top 4%

Touches (Att Pen)

8.15

Top 4%

Non-Penalty xG

0.43

Top 6%

Shots Total

3.54

Top 7%

Progressive Carrying Distance

154.28

Top 7%

Shots on Target

1.33

Top 8%

Now, those three statistics could be particularly important for the Eagles ace, as they suggest the Chelsea man is truly elite at getting the ball into seriously dangerous areas, which in turn could result in better and more chances for his teammates.

Ultimately, from his output to what’s going on under the hood, Madueke looks like someone who could explode in the right environment, and therefore, we reckon he’d be an incredible teammate for Eze at Arsenal.

He's more exciting than Eze: Arsenal close in on signing £69m "monster"

The goalscorer would be a bigger game-changer for Arsenal than Eze.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 2, 2025

Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign was certainly one to forget for the club and their supporters, falling way below the levels the side have set for themselves over recent years.

The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League, with Ruben Amorim unable to turn the club’s fortunes after taking the reins at Old Trafford back in late November.

He did lead the side to the Europa League final, but lost 1-0 to fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, restricting them to no European football for 2025/26.

It may prove to be a blessing in disguise for the manager as he attempts to build a squad capable of mounting a challenge for a spot in the top four next campaign.

The transfer window presents the 40-year-old with the perfect opportunity to improve his squad, adding needed quality and depth in numerous key areas of the side at the Theatre of Dreams.

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

After Matheus Cunha joined United last week, the club have continued to make moves in the transfer market, making an opening offer for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo in the last few days.

The Red Devils placed a £55m bid that was swiftly rejected, with the Bees demanding a fee in the region of £70m, with the winger wanting a switch to Old Trafford this summer.

However, the 25-year-old could be joined at the club by Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swede once again emerging on their radar, according to reports in Italy.

They claim that they’re set to enter talks with the talisman who’s registered 54 goals this campaign, potentially setting up a reunion with Amorim after plying his trade under him in Portugal.

It also states that he could be available for a fee in the region of £55m this summer, with fellow Premier League side Arsenal also firmly in the race for the 27-year-old’s signature.

Why United’s £55m target could be Amorim’s next Bruno

Bruno Fernandes has been the shining light in what’s been a dismal year for United, with it unthinkable to imagine where the club would be without his contributions.

The Portuguese international registered 37 combined goals and assists despite the team’s failures, by far and away the most of any player in the squad – highlighting his importance to the side.

Such form didn’t go unnoticed, with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal willing to pay up to £100m for the 30-year-old star, which could prove to be the Red Devils’ last chance to cash in on his services.

However, he rejected the interest earlier this week, turning down a contract in the region of £700k-per-week, showcasing his loyalty to helping the side turn around their recent fortunes.

Fernandes joined the club from Sporting CP back in 2020, which Gyokeres having the opportunity to follow suit in the current window, potentially following in the midfielders’ footsteps.

The £55m fee touted for his signature appears to be a potential bargain, especially when delving into his underlying figures from 2024/25, having the tools to offer the club a leading talisman.

Gyokeres, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has registered a staggering 2.6 shots on target per 90 – certainly aiding his goal tally, which saw him net a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League.

Games played

33

Goals & assists

46

Shots on target per 90

2.6

Successful dribbles

1.9

Touches in opposition box

10.5

Aerials won

51%

Chances created

2.1

He’s also completed 1.9 successful dribbles per 90, along with 10.5 touches in the opposition box per 90, handing the club that fox-in-the-box type forward they’ve craved over recent months.

The Swede’s talents don’t end there, winning 51% of the aerials he’s entered, offering the club a focal point that can score and tee up other forwards within the final third.

It’s safe to say the attacking department is high up on Amorim’s demands this summer, looking to add key depth as seen by the moves for Gyokeres, Mbeumo and Cunha already this summer.

Should he complete a move to Old Trafford and get anywhere near the levels achieved by Fernandes in Manchester, it would be a superb addition and one that could play a huge role in their ambitions of rising up the table in 2025/26.

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Since leaving Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side, Marcus Rashford and Antony have played important roles for high-performing sides on the European scene.

Rashford hasn’t been at his rip-roaring best with Aston Villa, but the game-changing winger has still played his part for a side that sit on the cusp of a return to the Champions League, victory at Old Trafford this afternoon standing in his way. He’s scored four goals and provided six assists from 17 games for the Villans.

At Real Betis, Antony looks not like a man reborn but a different player altogether. The right-sided forward became something of a whipping boy for his struggles at the Theatre of Dreams after joining from Ajax in an £86m deal, but has hit nine goals and five assists since moving to Spain in January.

However, these aren’t the only former Red Devils, those having toiled in existing memory at Old Trafford, who have been remade elsewhere, with Scott McTominay forging an incredible campaign for himself over in Italy.

Scott McTominay's Serie A season

Less than a year after leaving Man United and joining Napoli in a £25m deal, McTominay has won the Scudetto and been crowned the Serie A MVP.

It’s been quite the year for the Scotland international, who has long played the bit part at Old Trafford but has been reborn as a bona fide superstar in Naples, the architect of their second league title in three years.

24/25 – Napoli

34 (33)

12

6

23/24 – Man Utd

32 (18)

7

1

22/23 – Man Utd

24 (10)

1

0

21/22 – Man Utd

30 (28)

1

1

20/21 – Man Utd

32 (24)

4

1

19/20 – Man Utd

27 (20)

4

1

The 28-year-old never quite brought it all together in the Premier League, but he’s channelled his innate goalscoring ability and reinforced his underlying metrics, averaging 6.1 successful duels and 4.2 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

It’s exactly the type of midfield robustness that has been lacking for the Red Devils this term, and McTominay’s success will not have been lost on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

However, he’s not the only former Manchester United star performing under Antonio Conte’s wing right now, and you could stake an argument for Romelu Lukaku having been even better than his Scottish teammate.

Romelu Lukaku has been outrageously good

Lukaku first moved to Italian football in August 2019, signing for Inter Milan in a deal worth £74m, leaving Man United.

He didn’t have a terrible spell at Old Trafford by any stretch, but the 32-year-old, then 25, failed to capture the magic of his time with Everton, who the Glazers paid an initial £75m (rising to £90m), two years earlier.

Scoring 42 goals and adding 15 more assists across 96 matches, Lukaku made inroads in his first year but struggled across the 2018/19 season, only bagging 15 goals from 45 fixtures in all competitions.

He’s been something of a nomad across his storied career, but who can say Lukaku hasn’t left an indelible mark on so many of his clubs?

Now, Napoli have been added to that list, with the number nine’s return of 14 goals and ten assists across the league campaign proving instrumental in the title-winning success. This means that he produced more goals and more assists than the Scottish midfielder, which is why he was even more influential and even better for the Italian outfit.

Football writer Muhammad Butt even took the time to draw praise to Lukaku amid the effusions directed McTominay’s way, hailing the “outrageously good” Belgian for his talismanic role across the campaign, bagging his second Serie A title after winning the 2020/21 edition with Inter Milan.

His goal against Cagliari on Friday night, following McTominay’s acrobatic opener, was certainly ‘outrageous’, and a reminder that he’s not just a poacher.

Here is one of the finest centre-forwards of his generation, and he underscored his legacy with a stunning season under Conte’s wing, a manager who has fallen in love with the nine and sought to make use of his talents across a number of different environments.

McTominay might have won the MVP, but Lukaku will no doubt feel that his prolific season may have warranted the vote angling his way. Ah well, the title will soften that so-called blow.

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