Tottenham Hotspur are now leading the race for Nottingham Forest winger Brennan Johnson, as his current club may be forced to cash-in on him this summer, a report has revealed.
What's the latest Tottenham transfer news?
Journalist Ben Jacobs has recently suggested that Tottenham may "feel they're a little bit thin" at centre-back, but they are actively working on signing one before the deadline, having opened talks with Fulham over a move for Tosin Adarabioyo.
A new central midfielder is being targeted by Ange Postecoglou, with Chelsea's Conor Gallagher believed to be of interest, while the manager is also keen on a replacement for Harry Kane, with talks set to go ahead over Lille's Jonathan David and Gent's Gift Orban.
As such, it is clear Spurs are eager to strengthen the spine of their team, but they are also running the rule over new wide options, and Johnson has emerged as a key target, with Fabrizio Romano recently providing an update on their pursuit of the Forest man.
Speaking on X, the transfer expert said: "Tottenham, prepared to approach Nottingham Forest for Brennan Johnson this week. Ange Postecoglou has already approved this potential move,"
"Not easy deal as Forest already rejected big proposals but interest in Brennan is growing now."
Romano's update follows on from a report from Football Insider, which states Tottenham are now in pole position to sign the winger, who is also being targeted by Chelsea, and the deal could be done in the next week.
In the final days of the transfer window, Forest may be forced to cash-in on the Welshman, as they are struggling to comply with Financial Fair Play, after shelling out a considerable amount of money on signings last season.
The Tricky Trees will be hoping to receive a fee of at least £40m for their academy graduate, and the Lilywhites have been keeping tabs on him for some time, having left scouts wowed with some of his performances.
Read The Latest Tottenham Transfer News HERE
How many goals has Brennan Johnson scored?
Since breaking into the first team with his boyhood club, the 22-year-old has gone on to score 29 goals in 108 games, during which time he has amassed 12 assists, while he also picked up 13 goals and 14 assists in 49 appearances for Lincoln City.
The Wales international has impressed the manager of his national side, Robert Page, who said in 2022: “He’s almost the finished article now and Forest have got a wonderful player on their hands.
“I’ve been to watch him a few times and he’s playing with freedom. He’s really enjoying his football.”
brennan-johnson-2
The versatile attacker, who is capable of playing in three positions, has scored two goals in 19 appearances for his national side, and he was impressive in front of goal in his debut Premier League season last term, scoring eight times in 38 matches.
Johnson's versatility could make him a great option for Postecoglou, and Tottenham will be hoping to get a deal over the line before the September 1st deadline, having put themselves in a strong position to win the race for his signature.
Manchester United have been boosted by the news that an "amazing" transfer target looks highly likely to leave his current club in the near future, according to a new transfer report.
Man United eyeing defensive signing
The Red Devils have had a taxing start to the season, and while four wins in their last five Premier League games may suggest otherwise, big improvements are needed under Erik ten Hag.
In fairness to United, however, they have experienced some terrible luck with injuries throughout the campaign so far, with a host of key men missing all over the pitch.
Defensively, the Reds Devils have been hit particularly hard, with Lisandro Martinez a huge loss at the heart of the back-line, and the likes of Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also among those who have been absent for large chunks.
For that reason, it could be that Ten Hag aims to bring in a new defender when the January transfer window opens, bolstering his squad in the process and giving them the best possible chance to achieve success across various competitions this season.
A new update that has emerged will certainly be seen as a positive one by anyone associated with the club, as they look to secure the services of a highly-rated player.
Man Utd given Goncalo Inacio boost
According to a fresh claim from AS [via Sport Witness], Manchester United have been boosted in their quest to sign Goncalo Inacio, with an exit from Sporting CP looking on the cards from sources who know him "perfectly".
The Red Devils are described in the report as the "first option" for the 22-year-old, who has arguably emerged as one of Europe's most exciting defenders at the moment.
United are "very interested" in Inacio, who is also wanted by La Liga giants Real Madrid – they are described as a "great rival" to the Spaniards in the race to sign him – and there is a 99% chance that he will move on in one of the upcoming transfer windows.
For that reason, it remains to be seen if a January move to Old Trafford could happen, but either way, Ten Hag's look right in the mix to sign the Portuguese when he does become available.
Inacio could be a fantastic signing by United, with his performances for Sporting already so impressive, and Inacio's stats showing that he has averaged 2.5 aerial duel wins per game in the Europa League season, also enjoying an 89.6% pass completion rate in the competition. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has heaped praise on the young centre-back in the past, too, saying of him:
"I think he’d be an amazing option for any club, Liverpool or United in particular; left footed players at that level are very rare to find."
Granted, Inacio is a left-sided central defender like Martinez, so it could be hard to fit both into the team, but squad depth is vital and the Sporting ace can also play at left-back, making him a great versatile addition. Whether they can fend off competition from Madrid remains to be seen, but it is encouraging that they are among the favourites to sign him.
Mark Goldbridge has been reacting to news that Dean Henderson could be set to stay at Manchester United to provide support for Andre Onana, despite previous rumours suggesting he could be set to leave Old Trafford.
Is Dean Henderson leaving Manchester United?
According to The Manchester Evening News, Henderson could now be set to stay at Manchester United following an injury to Tom Heaton that is expected to keep the veteran stopper out for a few weeks.
Henderson had been expected to join Nottingham Forest on a loan deal with an option-to-buy amid discussions between the Tricky Trees and Manchester United, yet his future plans could now be taken out of his hands due to a lack of available options between the sticks.
Kicker via transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Matej Kovar, who is another one of Erik Ten Hag's understudies at Old Trafford is expected to join Bayer Leverkusen, as he stated on Twitter X: "Bayer Leverkusen sign Matěj Kovář from Man United on permanent deal. Fee will be €9m, as per Kicker. First part of medical tests will take place today."
Last term, £100k-a-week earner Henderson made 20 appearances on loan at Nottingham Forest and managed to keep six clean sheets in total, as per Transfermarkt.
Last year, Manchester United goalkeeper Henderson famously blasted the Premier League giants after they were believed to have failed to follow through on their promise of allowing him to replace David De Gea as number one stopper at the club after the EURO 2020 Championships.
Cited via talkSPORT, the England international said some time after joining Nottingham Forest on loan: "The conversation I had coming out of the Euros squad was 'you're coming back here to be the No.1. I got COVID, came back, so I should have still been the No.1, but then unfortunately nobody followed through with what they had told me. It was frustrating because I turned down so many good loans last summer for that reason, and they would not let me go. To sit there and waste 12 months, it is criminal really, at my age, I was fuming."
Nottingham Forest have also moved to bring in USA international goalkeeper Matt Turner this window on a four-year contract and it remains to be seen if any knock-on effect will be had with regard to Henderson's potential return to the City Ground as the window drags on, as per BBC Sport.
United in Focus cite that Red Devils boss Ten Hag has signalled that Henderson will not be available to take part in Manchester United's Premier League opener with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, with the Dutchman stating the following: “All the others (players struggling with injuries), like Henderson and Hojlund, are quite short but it will take a few weeks."
What has Mark Goldbridge said about Dean Henderson?
Speaking on The United Stand YouTube channel, Goldbridge thinks that there is 'no chance' Henderson would be able to upstage first-choice goalkeeper Onana if he is to be kept on at the club.
Goldbridge said: "There's a very big chance that Dean Henderson will have to stay and be the understudy and he has got no chance of being the goalkeeper ahead of Onana unless Onana gets injured and then if Onana comes back, he'll be out anyway. I don't really care if Dean Henderson stays as a backup goalkeeper, because he's a good goalkeeper and as a backup, that'd be absolutely fine, but it's 100% not what he wants to happen and also, it's another player really we needed to sell to bring some money in.
"It's bad news in that sense, it's horrific news for the player, but apparently Tom Heaton's got a bit of an injury so Dean Henderson may well end up staying now."
Henderson may well have to stay put for now and undoubtedly is a more than able deputy for Onana when necessary; however, you can't help but feel that his own career trajectory may suffer if he isn't gaining regular first-team involvement at Manchester United.
Liverpool have had a transformative summer in the transfer window, with not only a number of fresh faces joining the fold at Anfield but also a large amount of first-team outgoings.
Now, a fresh update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target, as Jurgen Klopp prepares for the potential departure of Mohamed Salah.
Who could replace Mo Salah at Liverpool?
According to Football Transfers, Liverpool are lining up a move for Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix.
As per the report, it is claimed that Felix is being considered as a replacement for Salah should he leave the club over the next few days, as Saudi Pro club Al-Ittihad are set to make a lucrative £100m offer that the Merseysiders may find difficult to refuse.
Is Mo Salah leaving Liverpool?
There is no doubt that the Anfield faithful will be feeling nervous over the dying days of the transfer window, with speculation mounting that their star player could be set to follow Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino to the Saudi Pro League this summer.
Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE..
Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed in his daily briefing on Monday morning [28th August] that Liverpool have no intentions to negotiate with any clubs interested in snapping up the services of their Egyptian winger:
"Even though there have been a lot of rumours about Mohamed Salah’s future over the weekend, Liverpool have been clear every day on this story: they have no intention to negotiate.
"Al Ittihad tried by improving their salary proposal to Salah, the bid is huge for the Liverpool star and would tempt any player in the world but Liverpool have no intention of negotiating."
Having said that, the rumours continue to swirl and should Liverpool find themselves in a position where they cannot retain the services of Salah for the season ahead, it would be wise for the club to line up a potential replacement, with Felix an intriguing option for the Reds.
How good is Joao Felix?
The former Chelsea loanee has been one of the hottest prospects in Europe for a long time, with his performances and development at Atletico Madrid pushing him into the spotlight as one of the most exciting forwards in top-level football.
As per FBref, Felix ranks in the top 10% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for shots in total, shot-creating actions, progressive passes, progressive carries, successful take-ons and tackles per 90 minutes played, boasting Lionel Messi as his most comparable player over the last 12 months. Not bad at all.
Not only that, the 23-year-old – once hailed an "absolute nightmare for defenders" by scout Jacek Kulig – is incredibly versatile in his positioning which has always been an attractive attribute that the Liverpool boss looks for in his players.
Felix has experience playing as a second striker, centre-forward, attacking midfielder and is comfortable operating on both the left and right wing, which makes him not only an ideal replacement for Salah but offers Klopp a player who can provide depth across the attacking threat.
It was reported earlier this year that Atletico Madrid will command a fee of around €100m (£89m) to part ways with their Portuguese talent, but Football Transfers expect a more realistic price tag to sit at £40m. That shouldn't trouble the Merseyside giants should they find themselves agreeing to a £100m departure for their very own goal machine.
With that being said, Salah's situation will be something worth watching closely over the remaining days of the transfer window, and being prepared for the worst-case scenario by lining up a move for Felix would be massively advantageous to Liverpool should disaster strike in the final days and hours.
As Manchester United crashed to defeat away to rivals Arsenal in their last Premier League outing, it was yet another day in which the Red Devils' attacking unit simply failed to click, having been reliant on a rare breakaway from Marcus Rashford to eventually get on the scoresheet.
Remarkably, the Englishman's first-half strike was the first by any member of the forward line so far this term, with the club's top-flight goals prior to that having come from Raphael Varane, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes.
While there is nothing wrong with sharing the goalscoring burden, it represents a sorry state of affairs for those at the top end of the pitch, with manager Erik ten Hag likely hoping that summer signing Rasmus Hojlund – who made a late cameo debut appearance at the weekend – can begin to catch fire following the international break.
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30
11
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7
3
29
9
3
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34
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1
One man who has particularly underwhelmed over an extended period of time is £73m man, Jadon Sancho, with it difficult to see a way back for the Englishman amid what has been another turbulent week at Old Trafford.
What has happened to Jadon Sancho at Man United?
While treble winner Dwight Yorke previously suggested that the 23-year-old was on "borrowed time" at the Theatre of Dreams, that has only been exacerbated by his recent outburst following the loss to the Gunners, with the former Borussia Dortmund man firing back at his manager on Twitter amid criticism of his training performance by the Dutchman.
In truth, however, the fact that the one-time Manchester City man had not been selected in the squad for the trip to the Emirates was of little note initially such is his lowly standing at present, with rumours having suggested that the club were even open to selling the winger during the summer window.
That marks a stark decline for a figure who was hailed as someone who "has got everything" by ex-United defender Rio Ferdinand during his time at Dortmund, for whom he scored 50 goals and provided 64 assists in 137 games.
Jadon Sancho
Now with just 12 goals and six assists in 82 appearances for the Manchester giants, Sancho has simply not delivered what was expected upon his arrival two years ago, with Ten Hag rightly said to be growing 'increasingly impatient' with the player.
As pundit Tim Sherwood noted last season, the £350k-per-week dud simply looks desperately low on "confidence" at present, having seemingly not benefitted from a spell away from the first team earlier this year.
Those longstanding woes – as well as his public jab at Ten Hag – will likely ensure that Sancho's hopes of a regular and prominent role in the side are only set to suffer even further, with it wise to consider who could replace him in the attacking ranks move forward.
Who could replace Sancho at Man United?
It has been hard for the London-born enigma to find a settled home in Ten Hag's side with both Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho the favoured options on the left flank, while Antony has been the regular pick on the opposite wing.
Sancho was even trialled as an unorthodox centre-forward option in pre-season, yet the £72m capture of Hojlund has ensured that such an experiment is unlikely to continue, hence leaving the Englishman as something of a spare part.
Equally, Ten Hag does already boast some exciting attacking talents who can step up to the plate such as Facundo Pellistri, while Amad Diallo is another who is likely hoping to find a role for himself either on the flanks or through the middle.
Amad Diallo
The Ivorian starlet was particularly impressive last season after scoring 14 goals in the second tier for Championship side, Sunderland, having helped to propel the Black Cats into the playoffs – where they were ultimately seen off by Luton Town.
That impressive campaign likely sparked excitement back at his parent club at the prospect of finally making his mark in the red jersey this season, albeit with injury having cruelly curtailed his involvement so far.
With the 21-year-old – who has scored once in nine appearances for the club to date – having also still yet to truly convince in a United shirt since his arrival from Atalanta back in 2021, it is worth considering alternative options from the academy ranks who can also take Sancho's place.
One such talent who has notably caught the eye of late is Colombian "wonderkid" – as previously hailed by journalist Bolarinwa Olajide – Mateo Mejia…
Who is Mateo Mejia?
While not a name likely familiar to most of a United persuasion, the 20-year-old – who signed from Spanish outfit Real Zaragoza back in 2019 – has enjoyed an impressive start to the new campaign, with such a promising run of form coming just in time amid Sancho's woes.
The versatile right-winger – who can also operate in a centre-forward berth – already has three goals and one assist to his name in just four appearances in all competitions so far this term, including a brace in the remarkable 10-1 demolition of Stoke City at U21 level.
That brutal rout saw the promising marksman net the game's second goal with a somewhat fortunate deflected effort from the right flank, while United's number seven on the day then bagged his second – and the home side's seventh – after calmly taking the ball around the onrushing goalkeeper and firing home.
Such composure in the final third is likely to have captured the attention of Ten Hag and his staff, with Mejia evidently a player that the club are keen to keep hold of after handing him a new deal at the end of last season, having seen his previous contract ebb towards its expiry.
The Colombia U20 international was hampered by injury last term which restricted him to just 15 appearances in total, albeit while still contributing two goals and four assists, taking his overall tally in the U21 set-up to five goals and five assists in only 22 games.
That is a far more impressive return than Sancho has achieved during his time at Old Trafford – albeit while operating at senior level – suggesting that there is a chance that Mejia could represent an upgrade in those wide berths, particularly with the current United first-teamer performing so poorly at present.
The likes of Amad and Pellistri may be the names on everybody's lips, yet it could be Mejia who emerges as one to watch this season.
Leeds United have a huge summer ahead of them in the coming months, needing to build a side capable of surviving the drop in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.
The Whites will be attempting to do something which no side has managed in the last two seasons, in maintaining their top-flight status after securing promotion from the Championship.
Southampton, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United have all tried and failed, handing Daniel Farke a huge task to prevent the club from being added to such a list.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkecelebrates after the match
The German has already had questions asked about his future at Elland Road, with the Whites manager potentially being replaced before the start of the next campaign.
Regardless of the situation, the foundations have already been laid for the summer window, with numerous players already linked with a summer switch to Yorkshire.
An update on Leeds’ hunt for new signings this summer
Over the last few weeks, rumours have emerged over Leeds making a potential move for Newcastle United’s midfielder Sean Longstaff, but could face huge competition from other top-flight sides for his signature.
Everton have been named as the latest side to enter the race for his services, with the Magpies only demanding a £10m fee to part ways with the 27-year-old.
Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff
His experience in the division could be vital for the Whites’ chances of securing survival next season, potentially being joined by Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen, if recent reports are to be believed.
It was reported by BILD via Sport Witness that the Whites are keen on a move for the 27-year-old this summer, looking to cement his place as number one under Farke.
It also states that no asking price has yet been set for his services, but that he could be open to a move to the Premier League to further his career at the top level.
Why Leeds’ target could be Farke’s next Tanaka
The 2024/25 season has been a hugely successful one for Leeds, ending their stay in the Championship, but also landing key talents such as Ao Tanaka in the process.
The Japanese international joined from Fortuna Düsseldorf last summer for a reported £3.5m fee, cementing himself as a key player in Farke’s starting eleven throughout the last few months.
He’s managed to rack up 44 appearances across all competitions, notching six combined goals and assists – even being named in the Championship Team of the Season.
Such a deal has been one of the club’s best in recent years, playing a pivotal role in their success and hopefully taking the Premier League by storm after his debut year in Yorkshire.
However, the manager could be about to land his next version of the star this summer in the form of Dahmen, who could follow in Tanaka’s footsteps by joining the Whites from a German side.
Bayer Leverkusen's Patrik Schick in action with FC Augsburg'sFinnDahmen
If he manages to get anywhere near the level of the Japanese star, he will be a fan favourite in no time, potentially playing a vital role in their chances of staying up.
The German has excelled in recent months, making 16 appearances, keeping nine clean sheets and conceding just ten goals during such a period – leading to journalist Christian Pohlmann labelling him as “extraordinary”.
Games played
16
Clean sheets
9
Goals conceded
10
Save percentage
85%
Saves made
3.5
Errors leading to goals
0
Pass accuracy
68%
His staggering numbers don’t stop there, saving 85% of the efforts that he’s faced this campaign, averaging 3.5 saves per 90 – handing Farke that added solidity he needs at the back.
Dahmen has also not made a single error leading to a goal, and is more than capable of playing out from the back, 68% of the passes he’s attempted throughout 2024/25.
Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the shot-stopper would set the club back this summer, the stats he’s produced are incredible, certainly bolstering the ranks at Elland Road.
Their dealings with landing players from Germany in recent months have been successful, as seen with Tanaka, which could lead to Dahmen being the next star to make the switch to England.
Bad news for Byram: Leeds want to sign "outstanding" £34k-per-week star
Leeds are reportedly interested in signing a Premier League defender, and it is bad news for Sam Byram.
Southampton could be set to lose one of their loanees for good, with a fresh report revealing that they have received an enquiry regarding his services.
Southampton's strikers options
The Championship side had Che Adams, Adam Armstrong and Sekou Mara as their natural options at centre-forward before the summer transfer window opened, but that didn’t stop the hierarchy from wanting to bolster their ranks even further.
Following a lengthy battle, Russell Martin’s side secured the services of Sunderland’s former striker Ross Stewart before the deadline, meaning that the boss could get rid of any existing squad members that he knew he wasn’t going to use over his new signing.
One of those was Paul Onuachu, who put pen to paper on a season-long loan with Turkish Super Lig outfit Trabzonspor, and it’s fair to say that the 29-year-old has made an exceptional start to his temporary spell on the road at the Papara Park.
The Nigeria international has firmly established himself as Abdullah Avci’s overall best-performing player so far this season with a match rating of 7.28 (WhoScored – Trabzonspor statistics), and this impressive form has caught the eye of another mystery club overseas.
Paul Onuachu attracting interest overseas
According to Turkish outlet Fotospor (via The Real EFL), Paul Onuachu is gaining attention from Turkey. Trabzonspor are "not currently exploring a permanent deal" for the attacker despite his positive start, but his displays have been taken note of by one other unnamed club in the same league.
The Southampton star's loan club had made contact to discover the price of a move but were made aware that another secret admirer had also made an enquiry, so it's likely that chiefs will want to sanction his sale next summer.
Southampton strikerPaul Onuachu.
Whilst Onuachu has failed to get off the mark at Southampton, he’s got straight up and running for Trabzonspor with five contributions, four goals and one assist, to his name in seven appearances (Transfermarkt -Onuachu statistics), form which has seen him hailed a “top finisher” by journalistJosh Bunting.
The Owerri native, who pockets £34k-per-week (Trabzonspor salaries), is also currently averaging 2.3 shots per league game (WhoScored – Onuachu statistics), highlighting his constant desire to hit the back of the net even if the end product isn’t always there.
Headed attempts
Holding onto the ball
Finishing
Defensive contribution
Aerial duels
(Data via WhoScored)
Standing at 6 foot 7, the colossus is the ideal target man, recording 4.4 aerial wins per match in the Super Lig with his physical presence posing a real threat to the opposition’s defence, making him a handful to deal with.
Therefore, Southampton permanently selling him next summer could be somewhat of a mistake because he's proven what he's capable of achieving if given a consistent run of games, so he deserves to be handed the opportunity to showcase his talents upon his return.
With the Three Lions breaking hearts every two years since 1966, England players don’t often get rewarded. But since 2003, players have been able to take the consolation prize of being voted the nation’s Player of the Year.
The likes of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney had dominated the accolade in its formative years, while these days, it’s the likes of Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham who are often in the running.
But who are the previous winners of the award? We’ve listed them here, with a detailed look at the most recent recipients.
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1 ByBarney Lane Oct 11, 2024 11 Steven Gerrard – 2012
The first name on our list is one of England’s greatest-ever midfielders and a bonafide Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard. He finished ahead of the Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck in second and Ashley Cole in third, who was still plying his trade at Chelsea.
It was the second and final time the then 32-year-old would be given the award, and to say he deserved it would be an understatement. By that point, the Liverpool icon had won 100 caps, scored 19 goals and won 64 international games. Oh, and there was the small factor that he was England’s captain at the time.
He may have ultimately ended his time without a major trophy to his name, but he will go down as one of the country’s greatest-ever midfielders.
10 Wayne Rooney – 2014
An undisputed United and England icon, Wayne Rooney falls into the same category as Gerrard in that he will always be remembered as one of the country’s finest footballers, even though he failed to win a major honour with the national side.
Wazza was given the award in January 2015 for his exceptional performances for the Three Lions over the previous year, a year that saw him play in all 13 internationals and score an impressive eight goals along the way.
The then 29-year-old was also given the captain’s armband by Roy Hodgson following Gerrard’s international retirement and would earn his 100th cap in a game against Slovenia in November.
Once again, Welbeck claimed second spot, with Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling coming in third.
9 Wayne Rooney – 2015
Our first repeat on this list, Rooney was once again awarded England’s Player of the Year award in January 2016 for his fantastic international performances in the year prior. It would be the last time he would win the award, but his fourth overall, making him the outright leader for most England Player of the Year awards.
It was a record-breaking year for the legendary forward as he played eight times, scored five goals and finally surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton’s goal tally to become England’s all-time leading goalscorer. It was an outstanding year for the Liverpool-born star, so it was only fitting that he was celebrated for it.
Welbeck finally loosened his grip on second place as a young striker named Kane took his place, while Joe Hart finished in third.
8 Adam Lallana – 2016
Now, this is the first big surprise on the list, not because Adam Lallana is a bad player – far from it – but he’s hardly a headline grabber, and so it’s surprising to look back and see that he was awarded England’s Player of the Year back in January 2017.
That said, his performances for the Three Lions in the prior year meant he deserved the award. The former Liverpool midfielder was a regular starter in 2016 and scored crucial goals against Slovakia, Spain and Scotland.
He took home a commanding 39% of the vote, with Jamie Vardy coming in second on 12% and Rooney third on just 8%.
7 Harry Kane – 2017
It was really only a matter of time before current England captain Harry Kane found himself on this list as a winner, and that moment came in January 2018.
The then 24-year-old won the award thanks to his brilliant form for the Three Lions in 2017, which saw him score seven crucial goals against the likes of Lithuania, Slovenia and Scotland to help England secure their place at the World Cup in 2018.
6 Harry Kane – 2018
Kane would follow up his win in 2018 with another just a year later, genuinely cementing his place as England’s leading man in the post-Rooney era.
The former Tottenham Hotspur star fully deserved the accolade for the second year running as he won the Golden Boot for the 2018 World Cup – in which he scored six goals as England reached the semi-finals for the first time since Italia 90.
The then 25-year-old also scored the decisive goal against Croatia in the inaugural UEFA Nations League group stage to send the Three Lions to the finals the following summer.
5 Jordan Henderson – 2019
Liverpool's Jordan Henderson consoles Jude Bellingham following England's World Cup exit.
Another player on this list that might come as a bit of a surprise to some is former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, not because of his ability but because of the role he played for England. Henderson was never a flashy player for the Three Lions or Liverpool, for that matter, but his tireless running and winning mentality were enough to convince people that he should be given the award.
His performances in 2019 warranted it as well, as he played a vital role in the side’s qualification for Euro 2020 and the team’s third-place finish in the Nations League.
He finished just ahead of Sterling and Kane in second and third, respectively.
4 Kalvin Phillips – 2020-21
Kalvin Phillips for Leeds United
This one feels like a blast from the past, yet it was only a couple of years ago. Former Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips won England’s Player of the Year award in September 2021 for his invaluable contributions to the team over the previous year.
Now, while he might be way out of the picture at the moment, when he won the award, it would’ve been hard to argue against it as he had been a permanent fixture in Southgate’s side that was a penalty kick away from winning the European Championships that summer.
In total, he won 15 caps over the year and finished ahead of Mason Mount in second place and Sterling in third place.
3 Bukayo Saka – 2021-22
Bukayo Saka for Arsenal
The first appearance of an Arsenal player on this list, Saka’s win in September last year was the first time an active Arsenal player had won the award since its inception in 2003. The then 21 year old was given the award off the back of winning Player of the Year for the Gunners for a second year running.
For as young as he was, the recognition was fully warranted as the explosive winger had been exceptional for Southgate’s side across the 2021/22 season, fully cementing himself as the country’s go-to winger on the right-hand side.
At the time of winning the accolade, Saka had earned 18 senior caps, scored four goals, provided four assists, and played a vital role in helping England reach the final of Euro 2020.
He finished ahead of Declan Rice and Kane in second and third place.
Saka has followed in the footsteps of Rooney and Kane on this list to be just the third player to win the award twice in the last decade, and it’s hard to argue that he isn’t deserving of this accolade. The Arsenal star enjoyed another stellar season for both club and country, finishing ahead of Jude Bellingham and Kane.
In his ten international appearances over the last year, the Hale End graduate scored seven goals – including three at the Qatar World Cup – provided three assists and generally wowed fans whenever he has pulled on the Three Lions.
The dynamic winger was an essential part of England’s World Cup campaign last year, and while they ultimately fell to the then reigning world champions France, Saka was exceptional in that match. His most recent outing with the national side also saw him bag a hat-trick against North Macedonia in qualifiers for the European Championships next summer.
Alongside his outstanding performances on the pitch, Saka often comes across as a genuinely lovely guy, and being named England’s Player of the Year for the second year running on your 22nd birthday seemed a fitting reward for his hard work.
Glasgow Rangers have enjoyed some moderate success in the transfer market over the previous couple of years, particularly in terms of moving players on for vast profits.
Since January 2022, the Gers have managed to sell Nathan Patterson (£16m), Joe Aribo (£10m) and Calvin Bassey (£23m) for fees much higher than what they signed for. Such events have allowed the club to establish a solid player trading model which enables them to reinvest transfer fees earned back into recruitment.
These sorts of deals won’t occur every window, but Michael Beale will know that the vast majority of players who join the club see Rangers as a stepping stone to either the Premier League or to a team performing consistently in the Champions League.
The key is to sign prospective talent at a low price and develop them, before moving the player on for a vast profit. Although this method looks like it is coming back to the fore at the Ibrox side in recent seasons, it hasn’t always been like this.
Following promotion to the Premiership in 2016, the Light Blues endured some woeful decisions in the transfer market, with managers such as Mark Warburton and Pedro Caixinha wasting money on a collection of expensive flops who rather rinsed the club dry.
One such example is Carlos Pena and his 18-month stint as a Rangers' player will surely go down as one of the worst deals in their recent history.
How much did Carlos Pena cost Rangers?
Caixinha went into his first transfer window as manager of the Gers with an ambition to build a side which could finally end Celtic’s hegemony of Scottish football. While he could be praised for his adventurous proposal, it ultimately failed.
Pedro Caixinha
He signed players such as Fabio Cardoso, Dalcio and Eduardo Herrera in a bid to topple Celtic, yet they all failed to settle in Scottish football, departing within two years of arriving in Glasgow.
Pena was the most expensive signing that summer however, costing the club a fee in the region of £2.2m from Guadalajara and even after just a few matches, it was clear that the Mexican was miles off the pace. He struggled to adapt to the physicality of Scottish football as Caixinha’s reign turned into a nightmare of epic proportions.
How much did Carlos Pena earn at Rangers?
It was reported that Pena was earning around £26k-per-week upon signing for the Light Blues and this was a staggering amount considering they had spent just one season back in the top flight, finishing third behind Celtic and Aberdeen.
This money would have been better off going towards a player who was slightly younger and may have had a brighter future ahead of them, or indeed, someone with plenty of experience in European football who could have adapted much faster than Pena.
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Not only did it turn out to be Caixinha's worst-ever signing, but it is arguably the biggest waste of money since Rangers returned to the Premiership seven years ago, and his performances on the field didn’t exactly warrant the massive weekly outgoing either.
How did Carlos Pena perform at Rangers?
The short answer is indeed a hard no, yet it is perhaps more beneficial to take a deeper look into just how poor he really was at the club.
Having won 19 caps for Mexico, which included appearances at the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Copa America, first impressions of the attacking midfielder seemed promising, yet that swiftly changed when he took to the field wearing a Rangers shirt.
Across his first nine matches for the Gers, he did manage to score five goals, including a double against St Johnstone, yet his overall performances were disappointing, with the player really struggling to adjust to the game in Scotland, and he looked a shadow of the player that had registered 62 goal contributions – 50 goals and 12 assists – over 192 matches for Club Leon in the years prior to him arriving in the Premiership.
Having cost £2.2m in June 2017, Pena ended up costing Rangers a staggering £440k per goal, having made only 14 appearances in total before moving on from the Glasgow side at the beginning of 2018.
What happened to Carlos Pena next?
He agreed to join Mexican side Cruz Azul on loan in January 2018 as his Gers nightmare was coming to an end, and it was Caixinha who signed him, having been sacked from the Ibrox side in October the previous year after just six months in charge.
Their sporting director Eduardo de la Torre praised Pena, saying: “We have been in talks with Carlos and Rangers for ten days.
“He is a player our coach knows very well and he told us to get him. Pedro knows what Carlos can give the team.”
He obviously didn’t watch him in a Rangers jersey. Another loan spell at Necaxa for the 2018/19 season was agreed, yet this was cut short and Steven Gerrard finally terminated his contract in February 2019, a full 85 weeks after he joined the Gers.
Rangers Review journalist Derek Clark didn’t hold back when criticising the player, saying: “Disastrous transfer in what was an equally disastrous spell for the club.”
This was said last year after the Court of Arbitration of Sport justified the reasons behind the Light Blues cutting Pena’s stay in Glasgow short, and it ended a near three-year look into the matter.
Rangers are in a far better place now than they were back in the summer of 2017, and while there will be the odd transfer blunder here and there, it doesn’t happen nearly as frequently as it did in the first few years following promotion.
Pena was an abysmal signing during an abysmal period for the club and it's one which arguably set the Gers back further when they really needed to settle down and build a proper side capable of challenging for honours.
£2.2m was an awful lot of money in 2017, especially with the club not in European competition and following the recent success stories of Aribo, Bassey and Patterson, Beale could look forward to developing his players well with a view to securing lavish transfer fees once some of them are ready to report the club.
Summer signing Jurrien Timber sustained a serious injury on his home Arsenal debut and is set to spend a significant spell out on the sidelines and now the Gunners must work out how to replace him – we've got some ideas.
Is Jurrien Timber injured?
Indeed, the Dutch right-back, who arrived from Ajax, was signed in a deal reported to be in the region of £38m but lasted just 50 minutes into his first Premier League appearance – a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest – before coming off with a knee issue.
Sadly, the North London club have since confirmed the severity of the injury, releasing a statement saying: "Further to detailed assessments with consultant specialists since Saturday, we can confirm that Jurrien Timber has sustained an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
"Jurrien will undergo surgery in the coming days and will be out of action for a period of time."
With that in mind, Football Fancast has decided to figure out who will be best suited to take his spot in the team.
Of course, though, it won't just be as simple as trying to find depth at left-back, as Timber was able to cover centre-back and right-back as well; meaning William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Ben White will hope to stay fit or else Rob Holding could soon be straight back into the starting team.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Zinchenko is obviously the first name that comes to mind as he played left-back for the Gunners 27 times in the league last season.
Still, he had some fitness struggles too and has carried that into the new season, having not been fit enough to be involved against Forest or Manchester City in the Community Shield before that.
The good news, however, is that Zinchenko has been spotted in training this week on Arsenal.com, so he could be nearing a return to full fitness shortly.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu-Arsenal
With Zinchenko recently out, Tomiyasu was the player asked to come on off the bench for Timber against Nottingham Forest last Saturday and may well start there this Monday away at Crystal Palace.
Still, the Japan international has also had some fitness issues in recent times. Having missed 107 days of action last term, he too can't be fully trusted to remain healthy for a full campaign.
What's more, Tomiyasu isn't a natural left-back either, having only played there nine times in his career (via Transfermarkt), as he tends to play right-back or centre-back more frequently.
Of course, the same can be said about Timber – who wasn't signed to be a left-back, having spent very little time (eight games before joining) in that position before – so the Japanese defender may need to cover multiple areas of the pitch, leaving a gap on the left side of the defence.
Jakub Kiwior
Arsenal central defender Jakub Kiwior.
The Polish defender arrived last January and while his first three starts in the Premier League saw him play at centre-back, Arteta moved him to left-back for the final two games of the season.
Such versatility may come in handy now, especially as Kiwior is left-footed and so may be a more natural fit than the right-footed Tomiyasu.
It's interesting to note that Kiwior was trusted to finish the season at left-back last term, despite Kieran Tierney being available – who we'll come onto now.
Kieran Tierney
Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney.
The Scottish left-back would be a first name on the team sheet for many teams across Europe but he just doesn't seem to fit into Mikel Arteta's plans.
After all, having started 22 league games in the 2021/22 season, Tierney started just six last term as he well and truly lost his spot in the team to Zinchenko.
As a result, it seems quite likely that he will be sold this summer. And what's more, as per a report in the Daily Mail, the expectation, despite Timber's injury, is for Tierney to be sold – provided the Gunners receive a suitable fee.
However, if Arsenal don't receive an acceptable offer, perhaps it will make more sense to hang on to the Scot for the time being.
In that same report, Manchester City's Joao Cancelo is named as a known target – although reports in Spain have strongly linked Barcelona with the fullback as well.
In less glamorous news, according to the Daily Express, Arsenal could turn to Southampton full-back Kyle Walker-Peters or Leicester City's Timothy Castagne before the summer transfer window shuts.
Read the latest Arsenal transfer news HERE…
While Tom Canton of football.london has mooted Mohamed Simakan and Benjamin Henrichs, who both play in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig and have been linked with the English club in the past.
There is certainly plenty to consider for Arteta and with the transfer window closing in just a matter of weeks, he may have to make a big decision soon.