After confirming the news that Kieran Tierney will rejoin the club following the end of his Arsenal contract this summer, Celtic have reportedly reached an agreement to seal another cut-price deal.

Celtic re-sign Kieran Tierney

Six years on from making the decision to leave Scotland in favour of a move to Arsenal, Tierney has put pen to paper and will rejoin Celtic when the summer transfer window swings open. The left-back has brought an end to a mixed Arsenal spell and, ultimately, one dominated by injuries instead of a flying full-back leaving his mark in North London.

2019/20

19

2020/21

19

2021/22

17

2022/23

N/A

2023/24

21

2024/25

18

Despite missing a total of 94 games through injury during his time at Arsenal and on loan at Real Sociedad, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta made sure to mention the impact that Tierney has had on the dressing room in North London.

The Spaniard told reporters after the left-back scored in his final game for the club: “He said it yesterday, I’m going to score on my last Arsenal match and he’s done it. So credit to him. A special thank you to him. He’s been part of this journey and he’s won with me. It’s true that he went to Sociedad for a few months, but it’s been a joy to work with him.

“A really special character and we wish him and his family all the very best. The doors of this club are open for him. He’s someone very, very liked at the club, in the dressing room and we want to wish him the best.”

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Whilst Celtic may have their concerns about Tierney’s injury history, they know about his quality more than most and will be desperate to see him get back to his best back in Scotland. It may well be the summer of bargains for the Bhoys too, with another agreement now reportedly reached.

Celtic reach agreement to sign Doohan – Sky Sports

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Celtic have now reached an agreement to sign Ross Doohan from Aberdeen on a free transfer upon the expiry of his current contract this summer. The goalkeeper will reportedly arrive to replace third-choice option Scott Bain, who will be allowed to leave the Scottish Premiership champions in the forthcoming transfer window.

Although Doohan is unlikely to steal the same headlines as Tierney, he could be an important arrival in his own right. The 27-year-old earned high praise from Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie back in December when he stepped up from his backup role.

Shinnie told reporters after a narrow defeat against Celtic: “I thought he was brilliant. He has waited a long time to get this chance. Unfortunate to lose Dimi obviously but those moments give other people opportunities and I thought Ross did brilliantly when called upon.”

Aston Villa have eyes on the Champions League once again next season, especially after their thrilling run to the quarter-finals this season.

To do this, they need to win their last Premier League clash this afternoon and hope other results go their way.

Unai Emery is already looking at bolstering his squad for the challenges ahead. Could he be set to raid a team who were relegated from the top flight this season?

Aston Villa eye move for Southampton midfielder

While Emery has an excellent starting XI, adding some depth to his first-team squad is certainly a priority this summer.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Villa now appear to have entered the race to sign midfielder Mateus Fernandes when the transfer window opens.

He is also being courted by Leeds United and Crystal Palace, meaning Emery must act swiftly if he wishes to sign the youngster ahead of next season.

The player would likely cost Villa around £30m should they wish to bring him in this summer.

The Portuguese starlet would be a solid addition to the current squad at Villa Park, and he could turn out to be John McGinn 2.0 for the manager, especially with the pair sharing a similar style of play.

Mateus Fernandes could be a great signing for Aston Villa

McGinn has been with the Villans since the summer of 2018, helping take the club from the Championship back into the top flight and then into the Champions League.

The Scot has made nearly 300 appearances for the Midlands side, becoming an integral part of their progression in recent years under Emery, since his move to the club in the Championship.

With the club interested in signing Fernandes from the recently-relegated side, the Spaniard might well be signing a like-for-like player in the Saints’ starlet.

According to FBref, McGinn is the seventh-most comparable player to Fernandes in Europe’s top five leagues, which speaks to how similar they are in the middle of the park, particularly at Premier League level.

Furthermore, the pair have registered similar statistics over a range of metrics this season, including goals and assists (both five), shots per 90 (1.33 vs 1.21), shot-creating actions (both 76), percentage of dribblers challenged (50% vs 41.9%) and successful take-on percentage (45% vs 42.6%) domestically.

Metric

McGinn

Fernandes

Goals

1

2

Assists

4

3

Big chances created

6

6

Total duels won per game

4.2

5.9

Key passes per game

1

0.9

Tackles per game

1

2.5

As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese ace has, actually, scored more goals and created as many ‘big chances’ in the Premier League, despite playing in a dismal Southampton team.

Despite the Saints suffering relegation after a torrid season in the top flight, football talent scout Jacek Kulig was quick to praise Fernandes for his individual excellence, saying:

“20 years of age. Big talent. One of Southampton’s players who could definitely stay in the EPL.”

With Villa, Leeds, and Palace all eyeing up a move for the youngster, he won’t remain on the south coast for long. That much is certain.

According to WhoScored, both McGinn and Fernandes count dribbling as a major strength, which means they often end up in the final third and tend to get fouled more often than other players.

Emery could do with another midfielder who loves bombing into dangerous areas, allowing the likes of Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana to do the dirty work.

On paper, he looks like a wise investment indeed.

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ByRoss Kilvington May 24, 2025

It’s fair to say Manchester United fans won’t be looking back on the 2024/25 season with any degree of fondness.

A miserable tally of 18 losses in total in the Premier League would see Ruben Amorim’s dismal Red Devils have to make do with an unimpressive 15th spot in the division, whilst a heartbreaking Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur means United won’t even have the joyful distraction of European football to look forward to next campaign.

It’s a huge summer at Old Trafford, therefore, as Amorim attempts to steer the sinking ship back on course, with a whole host of transfer rumours beginning to bubble to the surface involving outgoings and incomings.

The most notable exit that could soon be on the cards is Bruno Fernandes ditching the Theatre of Dreams, with United perhaps having to sell their standout star so they can finance some top-drawer signings through the door.

Man Utd's search for a striker

Although the ex-Sporting boss remains in good spirits that the attacking midfielder could stay put amidst interest from Al-Hilal, it could well be that United’s hand is forced in this regard if they want to upgrade their striker personnel this summer.

Indeed, French outlet Foot Mercato have reported that United will have to get rid of Fernandes and/or Marcus Rashford to try and tempt Galatasaray goal machine Victor Osimhen to England, with his annual wage costs alone coming in at an eye-watering £10m. After all, the Portuguese ace does earn a sizeable £300k-per-week salary in the current camp.

Therefore, the Premier League strugglers might well have to just bite the bullet and allow Fernandes to sadly depart, especially when you consider the Red Devils are crying out for a new, potent goalscorer away from the likes of a goal-shy Rasmus Hojlund.

That’s where the ex-Napoli man could come to the rescue, with Amorim potentially possessing his next Viktor Gyokeres very soon if his side can spectacularly purchase the “world class” – as he was once labelled by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley – menace.

Why Osimhen could become Amorim's next Gyokeres

Before delving deeper into Osimhen’s own unerring ability in front of goal, it’s only right to look at how Amorim had an instrumental part to play in Gyokeres becoming an equally ice-cold finisher of chances in Lisbon.

The Stockholm-born striker would instantly hit the ground running under the 40-year-old’s stewardship in Portugal, with a bumper 43 strikes coming his way across a memorable debut season.

The former Coventry City marksman is now up to a stunning 97 goals from 102 total appearances for Sporting, and whilst there were murmurs Gyokeres could reunite with his former manager in England, a statement move hasn’t yet whirred into motion.

But, the under-fire Red Devils boss can begin to claw his way into the Old Trafford good books by landing Osimhen instead, considering the Nigerian’s explosiveness in front of goal out in Turkey and across his goal-laden career to date means he could be the manager’s next Gyokeres.

Games played

29

33

Goals scored

26

39

Assists

5

7

Shots*

4.7

4.2

Shots on target*

1.9

2.4

Goal conversion %

19%

28%

Big chances missed

25

23

Big chances created

11

11

Amazingly, Osimhen isn’t a million miles off his Swedish counterpart’s insane Liga Portugal goalscoring numbers, with the Galatasaray number 45 actually boasting 37 goals and seven assists from 41 games in all competitions this season, away from setting the Turkish top-flight alight.

Additionally, away from just twisting and turning Super Lig defences for fun, the 26-year-old target has also proven himself as a clinical threat on the books of Napoli and Lille previously, as seen in his 94 goals for both the Serie A and Ligue 1 titans.

Therefore, whilst it might break United hearts to see Fernandes up and leave, it could well be a momentary, but necessary pain that then results in long-term success, particularly if Osmihen – who could be up for grabs for around £62m – enters the ranks and rips up yet another major league with his goalscoring prowess.

Better than Delap: Man Utd ready to pursue deal for "unplayable" £60m ace

Manchester United are reportedly ready to pursue a deal for this star who is even better than Liam Delap.

1 ByDan Emery May 31, 2025

Arne Slot’s first season as Liverpool manager has been nothing short of sensational, taking the club to new heights during the first few months of his tenure.

The Dutchman has already led the side to the Premier League title, losing on just four occasions, two of which have come after they confirmed top spot against Tottenham Hotspur.

In his 55 matches in charge of the Reds, the 46-year-old has won 38, achieving a win percentage of 69%, creating a seamless transition after taking the reins from Jurgen Klopp.

It’s safe to say he’s been a breath of fresh air in England’s top flight this campaign, but he can’t rest on his laurels and will need to strengthen this summer.

The club have gone from the hunters to the hunted, with added quality and depth desperately needed if they are to have any chance of retaining their position in 2025/26.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new signings this summer

With Trent Alexander-Arnold set to leave at the end of the season, it appears that Liverpool have wasted no time in targeting a replacement, with Jeremie Frimpong set to complete a switch to Anfield.

However, he may not be the only Bayer Leverkusen player to move to Merseyside this summer, with Florian Wirtz also on their radar ahead of the upcoming window.

Despite the attention on the aforementioned Bundesliga stars, Xavi Simons is the latest player from a German side to be linked, that’s according to a report from Spain.

The report claims that the Reds could be willing to enter talks to sign the 22-year-old, who may be tempted by a summer switch to England’s top division.

It also states that he could be available for a fee in the region of £60m during the off-season, and is seen as a Luis Diaz replacement should he depart for Barcelona in the coming months.

Why Liverpool’s £60m target could be Slot’s next Gravenberch

Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has managed to resurrect his Liverpool career this season, taking his stint at the club to new heights after the arrival of compatriot Slot.

The Dutchman struggled to make a huge impact under Klopp after his £34m switch from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023, mainly being utilised as an impact player.

He started just 12 games in the Premier League, but has been a crucial cog in their success during their title-winning campaign – starting all but one outing, highlighting his importance to the manager.

Such a fee now appears to be a bargain, with the 22-year-old having the potential to improve further over the next few years at Anfield and become one of Europe’s leading midfielders.

However, a move for Simons could see a repeat of Gravenberch, with a Dutch star arriving on Merseyside from a Bundesliga outfit and cementing his place in the starting lineup.

Whilst £60m may appear to be a huge investment from the board, it would be a deal that would improve the options at Slot’s disposal – handing him another threat in attacking areas.

When delving into his stats from the current campaign, he’s starred in numerous key areas, with his talents taming the squad up a gear in their ambitions of retaining their crown.

Games played

25

Goals & assists

17

Pass accuracy

83%

Chances created

2.2

Successful dribbles

1.4

Tackles won

75%

Duels won

5.7

Simons, who’s been labelled “world-class” by former Dutch star Rafael van der Vaart, has registered 19 combined goals and assists in all competitions – having the tools to star himself and provide others with the ammunition to succeed.

He’s also managed to notch a total of 2.2 chances created per 90, along with 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 – highlighting the threat he poses with the ball at his feet.

The youngster’s talents don’t stop there, winning 75% of the tackles he’s entered and winning 5.7 duels per 90, showcasing his work rate and ability to regain possession for his side.

If he can replicate such levels at Anfield, Simons would be a superb addition to the squad, offering Slot an added creative presence at the heart of his already impressive Liverpool squad.

Should he get anywhere near close to the levels produced by Gravenberch on Merseyside, it would be a £60m signing that would be worth every penny – allowing the club to have yet another impressive youngster on their books.

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ByEthan Lamb May 22, 2025

When looking over their 2024/25 campaign in detail, Newcastle United will very much jot it down as an overwhelming success.

After all, the Magpies would end up lifting some much-needed silverware in the EFL Cup final to end a major trophy drought, whilst Eddie Howe’s Toon would also just about qualify for the Champions League once again when finishing inside the top five spots in the Premier League.

But, that doesn’t stop there being a slight bad taste in the mouth concerning Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat to Everton on the final day, with a number of players showing to Howe they might well struggle competing in Europe’s elite competition again.

Newcastle's key underperformers vs Everton

Thankfully, Aston Villa also lost on their travels to Manchester United, meaning the Magpies luckily secured that final coveted fifth position by one slender point.

Still, Howe won’t just completely disregard the defeat, with certain individuals having a poor day at the office to end their respective seasons on a whimper.

Anthony Gordon would only see out one half of football for the Magpies, and for good reason, with nothing working out for the ex-Toffees man whatsoever down the left flank when failing to register a single on-target shot at Jordan Pickford’s goal.

Moreover, Alexander Isak looked tired and lethargic as Newcastle’s main man up top, seen in his lack of drive and energy when completing zero successful dribbles, alongside further fluffing his lines when three efforts went astray.

Jacob Murphy also looked wasteful on the ball when giving up possession a hefty 13 times, but there was one poor display that will have irked Howe the most and made him now contemplate whether this figure will be able to cut in when Champions League nights return to Tyneside.

The 5/10 star not good enough for the Champions League

Newcastle fans will obviously be over the moon that their team clinched Champions League football, irrespective of this final-day slip-up.

But, the Magpies masses won’t feel too confident moving forward that Harvey Barnes can do the business on some grand stages in Europe next season, based on his lacklustre performance against David Moyes’ well-drilled visitors.

The former Leicester City man can boast an impressive tally of nine strikes and four assists across 40 overall games, but he did struggle to get going against the Toffees, with May in general seeing a worrying dip in form.

Much like Gordon down the opposing left wing, Barnes would also fail to register a single on-target shot to try and catch the formidable Pickford cold, alongside also displaying signs of Murphy’s rashness on the ball when completing zero accurate crosses or long balls.

Barnes’ poor performances all across May
Stat	Brighton	Chelsea	Arsenal	Everton
Minutes played	90	90	76	88
Final result	1-1 D	2-0 W	1-0 L	1-0 L
Goals scored	0	0	0	0
Assists	0	0	0	0
Touches	38	51	23	34
Accurate passes	17/21 (81%)	21/29 (72%)	13/14 (93%)	15/21 (71%)
Key passes	2	2	0	1
Accurate crosses	0/4	1/3	0/1	0/2
Accurate long balls	0	1/2	1/1	0/2
Shots	3	4	3	1
Successful dribbles	1/2	2/5	0	0/1
Total duels won	3/10	3/11	1/4	1/3
Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, it’s even more clear that it’s been a rocky month for Barnes in general, as seen in the 27-year-old frustratingly ending the campaign with no goals or assists next to his name in May.

Consequently, the 5 foot 9 attacker nearly cost his team dear in their pursuit of Champions League action, with only 33 touches coming his way against Everton – actually a worse record overall than Toon goalkeeper Pope, who managed 38.

As a result, he would receive a dour 5/10 post-match rating from Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder, who stated simply that Barnes ‘didn’t deliver his best form’ against the Toffees.

Newcastle just can’t have these out-of-sorts performances popping up if they stand a chance at progressing far in the tricky competition, meaning Barnes could be warming the substitutes bench next season when fiercely contested mid-week ties are back on the Toon calendar.

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1

By
Ben Gray

May 25, 2025

While this season might have felt like one big disappointment for Arsenal fans, their team is still brilliant.

In spite of injuries, suspensions and a lack of cutting edge at points, Mikel Arteta’s side still managed to finish second in the Premier League and make it to the semi-finals of the Champions League and League Cup.

However, that lack of cutting-edge options up top and out wide was likely what ultimately prevented the North Londoners from getting over the line in any of their competitions this season and also explains the abundance of links to superstar attackers that have started popping up in recent weeks.

One of the links in question is particularly interesting, as it concerns an incredibly exciting English talent who has won comparisons to someone else touted for a move to the club: Rodrygo.

Arsenal's winger search

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other wide talents linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, like the aforementioned Rodryo and Kaoru Mitoma.

Transfer Focus

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

The latter is reportedly available for around £80m, and while that is a lot of money, he might be worth it, as not only did he score 11 goals and provide four assists in 41 games this season, but he’s also Premier League-proven.

Yet, the Real Madrid star would undoubtedly be the more exhilarating addition to the team, as on top of producing a better tally of 14 goals and ten assists in 51 games this season, he’s simply the bigger name and would be joining the club from arguably the biggest team in the world.

However, at a reported £85m, not to mention the interest from other parties and the chance he might not even want to leave Los Blancos with Xabi Alonso at the helm, Artete a Co may have to look elsewhere, at a player who’s won comparisons to the Brazilian, such as Jamie Gittens.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in the Borussia Dortmund star, but they are in a race against time if they are serious about signing him.

This is because the report has revealed that Premier League rivals Chelsea have already submitted a £55m offer for the young Englishman and are already in talks over a potential deal.

It’s unclear whether that fee will be enough, but if it’s close, then the Gunners should be doing all they can to get ahead of the Blues, as the 20-year-old’s ability and potential are undeniable, and the comparisons to Rodrygo a big bonus.

How Gittens compares to Rodrygo

Before getting into some of the other reasons why Arsenal should be signing Gittens this summer, it’s important to examine this comparison to Rodygo and where it has come from.

In this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, before creating a list of the ten most comparable players.

By doing this, it has been concluded that the Real Madrid star is the fifth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Dortmund ace across the last 365 days.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.31

0.32

Non-Penalty G+As

0.56

0.51

Shots

2.64

2.52

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.22

1.21

Goal-Creating Actions

0.51

0.42

Successful Take-Ons %

45.0%

44.1%

Ball Recoveries

3.20

3.32

Aerial Duels Won

0.25

0.33

The best way to see how this is worked out is by taking a look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots, goal-creating actions, passes into the penalty area, aerial duels won and more, all per 90.

However, this flattering and encouraging comparison to one of Europe’s most exciting wingers isn’t the only reason the Gunners should be after the 20-year-old.

Another is that, despite still being so young, the dynamic outlet, whom Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley dubbed “England’s best LW,” managed to score 12 goals and provide five assists in 48 appearances, totalling 2790 minutes this season.

That comes out to an impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.82 games, or mre crucially, every 164.11 minutes of action.

Finally, per FBref, the Reading-born gem sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for successful take-ons per 90, at 3.57, which is just the sort of aggressively direct winger the Gunners could use to help them terrify teams next year.

Ultimately, while it might be hard to get ahead of Chelsea, Arsenal have to try, as Gittens looks destined to reach the very top of the game, at least based on the calibre of player he’s currently being compared to.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 4, 2025

Chelsea are in pursuit of more signings after Liam Delap as we fast approach the Club World Cup, with BlueCo now running out of time to register new players before that potentially lucrative tournament begins.

Chelsea eye left-winger after Jadon Sancho return to Man United

Following the £30 million deal which sees Delap swap Portman Road for Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca and co have shown absolutely zero sign of slowing down in the transfer market.

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Instead, the Blues have continued to press on for other targets with serious gusto, holding talks with AC Milan over a move for goalkeeper Mike Maignan and reportedly chasing Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.

Maignan has apparently told Milan he wants to join Chelsea, as per Sky Sports and other reliable media sources, while journalist Simon Phillips reports that Hato is equally keen to join Maresca’s side and personal terms shouldn’t be an issue.

Liam Delap’s best Premier League games for Ipswich last season

Match Rating

Ipswich Town 2-0 Chelsea

8.08

Bournemouth 1-2 Ipswich Town

8.05

Ipswich Town 2-2 Aston Villa

8.04

Ipswich Town 1-2 Southampton

7.83

Fulham 2-2 Ipswich Town

7.55

via WhoScored

If either man is to be registered before the CWC kicks off, Chelsea will need to hurry, as they now have just three days to get them on the books at Cobham.

BlueCo are also believed to be targeting a new left-winger, especially after they couldn’t agree terms with Jadon Sancho on a permanent stay in west London. The £300,000-per-week forward is returning to Man United, and Chelsea will pay a £5 million penalty fee to dodge his obligation to buy.

Sancho’s exit, combined with Mykhailo Mudryk’s on-field ban after his failed drugs test, has exacerbated Maresca’s need for another wide option – and they have plenty of options on their shortlist.

Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens and Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams sit chief among them, according to reports this week, but they’ve been offered plenty of alternatives.

Chelsea offered Bayern Munich duo Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman

As per intriguing information from SPTC, Bayern Munich duo Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman have actually been put forward to them.

On a combined £581,000-per-week in Bavaria, Gnabry and Coman, despite their past performances, appear to have fallen down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order and are not in the Belgian’s long-term plans.

It is believed both Gnabry and Coman were offered out to Chelsea, as representatives of the pair seek potential new clubs, but Maresca’s side decided not to move forward with a deal for either.

“Obviously it looks like we have since decided to push more on Jamie Gittens than any others,” wrote reporter Phillips.

“Rafa Leao was also mentioned earlier in the Spring but nothing has moved on that.

“And we’ve also heard that Bayern Munich have offered both Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry around to many clubs, including Chelsea. Leroy Sané has also been spoken about at Chelsea due to him becoming a free agent this summer. However, our sources don’t expect us to move on any of those three.

“Chelsea are looking to bring a new left-winger as well as a hybrid attacking midfielder who can play a number of positions. Xavi Simons is a name that was mentioned to me by a good source again today, and obviously there is the noise on Mohammed Kudus now as well as Chelsea’s serious interest in Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze.”

Manchester United have turned more corners than a Formula 1 driver over the last decade or so, with every seemingly positive step followed by a hefty tumble backwards in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Only last year, the Red Devils were riding high after seeing off rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final, a moment that looked like one which could kickstart the Erik ten Hag regime. Less than six months later, the under-fire Dutchman was belatedly shown the door.

Even under the new Ruben Amorim reign, high points such as the statement performances at the Etihad and Anfield failed to inspire a consistent run of form, with the Portuguese’s debut campaign ending on a deserved sour note amid last week’s Europa League final defeat.

That limp showing will now have real ramifications heading into the upcoming summer window, with Amorim already admitting that he will likely work with a smaller squad due to the lack of European football, while incomings may also be at a premium.

Indeed, the suggestion remains that the Old Trafford side will need to sell before they can buy, with exits for the likes of Antony, Jadon Sancho and the exiled Marcus Rashford set to be prioritised by Amorim and INEOS.

The gutting of the squad could not only impact the ‘deadwood’, however, with a handful of key figures also facing uncertain futures. One deal, in particular, could evoke echoes of the past.

Man United's biggest transfer mistakes

Starting with more recent sales, there is more than a tinge of regret over the £25m sale of academy graduate, Scott McTominay, with Scotland star having scored 12 goals as the MVP of Napoli’s Serie A triumph this season, after being deemed surplus to requirements back in Manchester.

That decision to cash in will sting considering United’s current woes, although it’s worth remembering that McTominay had actually only started 18 Premier League games last term. Hardly an irreplaceable figure.

The same goes for the likes of Anthony Elanga and Dean Henderson too, even with the 2023 sales having enjoyed fine seasons at their new clubs. Indeed, Elanga has helped to steer Nottingham Forest to Conference League qualification, while Henderson starred in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup final masterclass.

Again, in hindsight, those deals may appear a mistake, although Elanga had scored just four goals in 55 games for United, while Henderson was never able to truly dislodge David De Gea during his stint in the first team.

Looking further back, it is hard to think of too many departing stars who have truly gone on to sparkle elsewhere. Danny Welbeck did end the campaign with ten league goals for Brighton, although he had endured an injury-ravaged time at Arsenal after leaving United, scoring just 32 goals in total for the Gunners.

In the view of Jose Mourinho, Welbeck – alongside Javier Hernandez and Angel Di Maria – were players the Red Devils should “never” have sold, albeit with Di Maria never managing to settle in Manchester, while Hernandez has hardly ripped things up since his 2014 exit, notably scoring just 17 times in a forgettable spell for West Ham United.

Prior to that, questions are likely to be asked of Ferguson for allowing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez to depart in the summer of 2009. Ronaldo, however, was hellbent on joining Real Madrid, with United at least raking in a world record fee. As for Tevez, the Argentine had seemingly “downed tools” under ‘Fergie’, in the view of teammate Gary Neville.

The Scotsman himself has pointed to the sale of Jaap Stam in 2001 as arguably “his biggest mistake”, although it is the decision to let go of another centre-back – Gerard Pique – that perhaps ranks among his greatest errors. Is that move about to be repeated?

Why Man Utd sold Gerard Pique

It was almost 17 years ago that a young Pique was allowed to return to boyhood club, Barcelona, after four years in England, with the LaLiga outfit – and new boss Pep Guardiola – forking out just £5m for his services.

The promising defender had failed to usurp Ferguson’s starting pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, prior to his exit, with former colleague Wayne Rooney stating that the Spaniard had lost the manager’s faith after being “bullied” in a game against Bolton Wanderers in 2007.

A peripheral figure in Manchester, the now legendary Pique went on to become a central part of Barca’s success over the next decade or so, having memorably started in the Champions League final in 2009, in which Guardiola’s men ran out 2-0 winners in Rome.

In all, the ball-playing hero would score 53 goals in 616 games at Camp Nou, winning a plethora of major honours that include three European titles and nine Spanish titles – alongside a World Cup and European Championship with La Roja.

A “phenomenon” whom his compatriot and colleague Carlos Puyol described as the “best central defender in the world” in 2019, Pique represents one that got away as far as United are concerned.

The same could be set to happen with Alejandro Garnacho…

Selling Garnacho would be Man Utd's biggest mistake in 17 years

There are no doubt parallels between Pique and young Garnacho, with the wing wizard having also been plucked from Spain as a teenager in the summer of 2020, after signing from Atletico Madrid for a fee of just £420k.

Like Pique too, the Argentine could be set for a swift exit at such a young age, with the 20-year-old in line to follow in the footsteps of the centre-back, who was 21 when he left Manchester 17 years ago.

The suggestion is that Garnacho – who was left out of United’s win over Aston Villa on the final day of the season – has been told by Amorim that he can leave this summer, having also started on the bench in the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.

The £50k-per-week winger publicly outlined his disappointment at that decision following the 1-0 loss, albeit with Amorim pointing to the “big opportunity” that the player had missed in the semi-final second-leg victory over Athletic Club.

And so, even despite racking up 21 goals and assists this season, finishing behind only Bruno Fernandes in that regard, the rising star looks in line for an exit, having previously been the subject of a bid from Napoli in January.

Fernandes himself has been touted for a departure of his own, amid interest from Saudi side Al Hilal, although whether Amorim and INEOS would sanction a sale remains to be seen.

Equally, with the talismanic skipper set to turn 31 in September, it could be argued that his best days may well be behind him, after 5 years of magnificent service. For Garnacho, by contrast, his peak years are likely to be ahead of him.

Man Utd – 2024/25 squad stats
Player	Goals & Assists	Goals	Assists
Bruno Fernandes	39	19	20
Alejandro Garnacho	21	11	10
Amad Diallo	20	11	9
Rasmus Hojlund	14	10	5
Joshua Zirkzee	10	7	3
Marcus Rashford	10	7	3
Christian Eriksen	10	5	5
Casemiro	8	5	3
Diogo Dalot	8	3	5
Manuel Ugarte	8	2	6
Stats via Transfermarkt

Thankfully, unlike Pique, United could look to rake in a sizeable fee if they do indeed cash in on the Spain-born starlet, with a £60-£70m price tag having been mooted. That said, even amid the benefits of meeting PSR regulations, would this not be an almighty mistake?

This writer was at Old Trafford the day that Garnacho announced himself to the United faithful after scoring a brilliant brace in the FA Youth Cup final, with the scrawny teenager stealing the limelight after replicating the celebration of his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo.

The words ‘Viva Garnacho’ have rung out in Manchester since that day, not least when supporters have demanded his introduction off the bench to change a game, with the electric talent one of few who regularly gets the crowd off their seats. As journalist Samuel Luckhurst noted, he is a “game-changer”.

Also described as a “diamond” by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the past, Garnacho has enjoyed a catalogue of fine moments, be it his stoppage time winner at Fulham in November 2022; his clincher away at Elland Road just a few months later; or even his remarkable overhead kick against Everton at Goodison Park last season.

His crowning moment, of course, came following his opener at Wembley in last year’s showpiece, with it showcasing a sorry state of affairs that both he and Kobbie Mainoo now face uncertain futures at the club.

As The Telegraph’s James Ducker has noted, selling Garnacho, in particular, “would come with all sorts of warnings”, with INEOS needing to be certain that such players will be “replaced with upgrades”.

A player once described as looking “like a young Cristiano”, according to Paul Scholes, Garnacho actually boasts a greater scoring record for United than the great Ronaldo, before turning 21. Is this a player whom the Old Trafford hierarchy should really be selling?

Yes, there may be doubts over his suitability to Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, but that should not define his future. Equally, concerns over his attitude have rumbled on since Ten Hag’s early days, but that is perhaps to be expected over a player still learning his trade.

There is, of course, a need to rip up this squad and start again, although if drawing up a list of players who need to be sold, Garnacho should surely be nowhere near the front of the queue…

Xavi believed Man Utd star was the 'best midfielder' in the world and as good as Iniesta

He claims the United legend would have got in Barcelona’s iconic team…

By
Ben Goodwin

May 26, 2025

It’s all changing at Tottenham Hotspur at the moment.

Ange Postecoglou may have led the club to their first trophy in a generation, but a 17th-place finish in the Premier League was enough for Daniel Levy and Co to send him on his way.

In his place, former Brentford manager Thomas Frank has been tasked with dramatically improving the club’s domestic form next season, and one way to make that happen is by adding genuine quality to the squad.

Fortunately, recent reports suggest the North Londoners may be closing in on a signing who’d be a more exciting addition to the team than Mathys Tel.

Tottenham transfer news

The transfer window may have only just opened again, but Spurs have recently been linked with many talented attackers, such as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne Wissa, who thrived under Frank’s management.

Transfer Focus

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

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Moreover, to ensure the squad aren’t left short on numbers in attack next year, Levy and Co have also re-signed Tel on a permanent transfer.

The young Frenchman did well enough in spells last season, and the potential is certainly there, but based purely on what we saw from him this year, it’s hard to describe his £30m signing as particularly exciting.

The good news is that the Lilywhites now appear to be advancing in talks to sign someone who certainly would be an exciting signing: Antoine Semenyo.

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Spurs are incredibly interested in the Bournemouth star and are ‘growing in confidence in striking a deal’ with the South Coast side.

The report does not mention how much the Ghanaian international could cost the North Londoners, but reports from earlier this month claim that a fee of up to £70m should be enough.

Now, that is certainly a lot of money, but given Semenyo’s ability and experience, it’d be worth it for Spurs, especially as he’d be a more exciting signing than Tel.

Why Semenyo would be a more exciting signing than Tel

Okay, so the first thing to address is that Semenyo has an inherent advantage here in that the newest attacking signings are going to be more exciting than a club re-signing someone they’ve had on loan before purely for the fact that they’ll represent something fresh and relatively unknown.

However, while this is undoubtedly the case here, there are other significant reasons why the Bournemouth star would be a far more exciting addition to the team than Tel, starting with their output.

In 20 appearances for the North Londoners, totalling 1257 minutes, the Sarcelles-born attacker was able to score three goals and provide a single assist, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every five games, or every 314.25 minutes.

In stark contrast, the Cherries ace scored 13 goals and provided seven assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3562 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.1 games, or every 178.1 minutes.

Moreover, while the Frenchman can play off the left or up top relatively easily, the Chelsea-born ace can play off either flank, up top or even in midfield, thanks largely to the fact he’s ambipedal.

Finally, on top of everything else, the 25-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, also comes out way on top when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

For example, he comes out on top in almost all relevant metrics, such as non-penalty goals plus assists, shot and goal-creating actions, key passes, successful take-ons and many, many more, all per 90.

Semenyo vs Tel

Statistics

Semenyo

Tel

Non-Penalty G+As

0.45

0.23

Progressive Passes

3.06

2.31

Progressive Carries

3.93

2.62

Shots

3.51

2.47

Shots on Target

1.12

0.85

Passing Accuracy

73.4%

74.4%

Key Passes

1.29

1.15

Passes into the Final Third

1.38

1.31

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.26

1.38

Live Passes

29.5

27.8

Shot-Creating Actions

3.71

2.47

Goal-Creating Actions

0.37

0.31

Successful Take-Ons

1.94

1.62

Ball Recoveries

4.44

3.62

Aerial Duels Won

1.85

0.38

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 EPL Season

Ultimately, while Tel is a talented player who could develop into something special, Semenyo is streaks ahead of him and would be a far more exciting signing for Spurs.

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 16, 2025

Having already agreed a deal to sign Jaka Bijol, Leeds United are now reportedly keen to solve their left-back problem by signing a Champions League-level defender.

Leeds discover Premier League opener

The chaos of the transfer window isn’t the only thing stealing the headlines this week. The Premier League fixtures have officially been announced and Leeds now know where they’ll be and when at the most important stages of their top-flight return.

Opening the season at Elland Road against Everton, Leeds will then face their first top six side of the season when they travel to Arsenal, before Newcastle United at home rounds off a tough start.

If the Whites do find themselves in a relegation scrap, meanwhile, then games against Sunderland in March and Burnley in one of their final fixtures in May could prove to be all-important in their battle to survive.

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ByJoe Nuttall Jun 17, 2025

Alas, the 49ers have known the challenge that lies ahead for some time now and have been making moves away from the pitch in the hope of building Daniel Farke a side capable of avoiding the dropzone.

The first to arrive on that front looks set to be Bijol. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, all documents are signed and sealed for the defender to complete his move from Udinese this summer and become Leeds’ second signing back in the Premier League after Lukas Nmecha.

After Nmecha and Bijol, however, Leeds are still not done on the transfer front. Yet to solve their left-back problem, reports are now suggesting that the Whites are keen to sign a Champions League-level solution.

Leeds keen to sign Gudmundsson

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds are now keen to sign Gabriel Gudmundsson from LOSC Lille this summer. The Swedish left-back would instantly solve Farke’s biggest problem area with Firpo set to leave and Sam Byram also heading for the exit door to leave the German without a viable option down that side of his backline.

Whilst it remains to be seen how much Lyon demand to sell their defender this summer, Gudmundsson hasn’t hesitated to share his own verdict about his future now that he’s into the final year of his contract, telling reporters: “I’m very likely to leave. It will be a very interesting summer.”

Minutes

1,785

2,616

Assists

0

10

Tackles Won per 90

1.26

1.17

Ball Recoveries per 90

4.19

3.92

Whilst the 26 year-old would not replace Firpo’s attacking output, he would provide a better option defensively and that’s arguably more important in the Premier League.

What’s more, the Swede’s experience of playing Champions League football for Lille last season, which included games against Real Madrid and Liverpool, means that he would likely take no time to adjust to the level required in the Premier League.