Football supporters have flocked to social media to express their sympathy for Luka Modric after he failed to win silverware with Croatia once again.
How many trophies has Luka Modric won in his career?
At club level, the midfield maestro has won essentially every major honour available to a European footballer. Indeed, with Real Madrid he has lifted the Champion League five times, La Liga three times, the Copa del Rey twice, the Spanish Super Cup four times, and the Club World Cup five times.
On top of that, he won the Croatian national league three times with GNK Dinamo Zagreb, as well as two domestic cups in his native country too.
While he has also won numerous individual accolades – such as Croatia’s Player of the Year five times – and most notably the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
Sadly, however, Modric has yet to win a trophy with his country and this unfortunate run continued over the weekend as Spain beat Croatia on penalties in the UEFA Nations League final.
After the game, the 37-year-old was seen looking dejected as he wandered around the pitch – even though his own fans showed him plenty of love.
Despite having been part of an excellent national side that keeps performing far above expectations, Modric doesn’t quite have a trophy to show for all his efforts.
After all, in the 2018 World Cup they picked up a silver medal after losing to France in the final. While at Qatar 2022, they came away with bronze.
And now, this time in the Nations League, the veteran Real Madrid star has fallen just short once again, with another silver medal to add to his international collection.
With all this in mind, fans took to social media to outline just how gutted they were for Modric. Here are some of the best reactions…
There was still plenty of love for Modric and his achievements though.
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.
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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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 are reportedly not close to appointing a new manager despite speculation claiming Daniel Farke has agreed on Elland Road terms.
What’s the latest Leeds manager news?
The Whites are still looking to bring in a new long-term manager under new owners the 49ers Enterprises. However, the club appear to be waiting for the EFL to give the green light on a takeover before any official announcement is made on a new manager.
Time is ticking, though, with a number of Leeds’ first-team players set to report back for pre-season ahead of the new Championship season over the coming days.
There have been plenty of rumours about Farke making the move to Yorkshire, with The Daily Mail claiming on Thursday lunchtime that the German has now agreed on terms with the Whites and has even been shown around the Thorp Arch training complex following a lengthy interview process.
However, according to talkSPORT’s Jason Bourne, Leeds are not close to appointing a new manager, saying on Thursday evening:
“Sources close to Leeds suggesting to talkSPORT they're not close with an appointment of a head coach yet. Daniel Farke is being heavily linked with the role today.”
It has been a lengthy process on the search for a new manager after Sam Allardyce was relieved of his duties following a temporary stint, and Farke isn’t the only name to have been linked with a move to Leeds.
Reports earlier this month claimed that former Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira and ex-Bournemouth boss Scott Parker were also among the leading candidates. However, it looks as if Vieira is one of the favourites to take over at French side Strasbourg, so a move to Elland Road may not be on the cards.
Speculation has gone quiet with Parker, but on the face of things, you could argue that Farke is the standout option for the three mentioned.
Vieira doesn’t have any experience of the Championship, although Parker has two promotions to the Premier League on his CV with Bournemouth and Fulham, one of which came via the playoffs.
Farke plays a 4-2-3-1 system and has racked up a whopping 251 points in 138 games in the Championship with Norwich City. He led the Canaries to two titles in the second tier, so he could look to make it three with Leeds, but by the looks of it, a move may not be as advanced as some believe.
Manchester United are reportedly keeping tabs on AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his defensive options.
What’s the latest on Theo Hernandez to Manchester United?
According to Italian news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the Red Devils are keen on making a move for Hernandez this summer, although the report claims any potential move will ‘only happen in the event of a sensational offer’ and in this regard, the Italian side are demanding at least €60m (£51m).
The Old Trafford side are said to be ‘pressing’ to sign the player as they want to ‘bridge the gap’ between them and Manchester City next season.
Could Theo Hernandez join Manchester United?
Ten Hag was able to call on both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia last season as the club qualified for the Champions League due to finishing third in the Premier League, with Shaw especially performing extremely well.
The Englishman ranked as United’s fourth best player for overall rating, third for big chances created and seventh for tackles made per game, suggesting he was influential at both ends of the pitch.
With Malacia, signed just last summer, also featuring 39 times in all competitions, do United need another left-back? Making a move for Hernandez however could spell bad news for the Dutchman ahead of next season.
Indeed, last term, the Frenchman registered more goal contributions (seven to zero), progressive passes (128 to 44), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.82 to 1.22) and progressive carries (108 to 19) than the United defender, clearly suggesting that he would be a far better attacking option at left-back than the former Ajax man.
Malacia does hold the upper hand defensively however, winning more tackles (33 to 24) and more interceptions (25 to 21), yet if Hernandez does move to Manchester, he could improve on these attributes.
Milan coach Stefano Pioli lavished praise on the defender back in 2021, saying: “He can play both phases very well, with his physical abilities it is enough to stay in the game. He can very well become one of the best.
“He has only been playing continuously for a year and a half, I always tell him that he must not be satisfied with being talented.
“He has an incredible physical strength and quality, he must prove that he wants to become the best every day."
Parma forward Yann Karamoh and AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez.
The praise doesn’t stop there, as Jacek Kulig even lauded him as a “beast” previously and he even starred for France at the most recent World Cup, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.3/10 across six matches for his country as they finished runners up to Argentina, indicating that he can perform on the biggest stage of all.
A move for Hernandez may push Malacia further down the pecking order, yet it would certainly strengthen the squad that’s for sure.
Bayern Munich are hoping to steal away Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane after being given encouragement in talks with his family, according to Bild journalist Christian Falk.
This how now lead to an official bid of €70m (£60m)plus add-ons, as per David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Will Harry Kane leave Spurs?
Another summer, another saga surrounding the future of Kane, coming two years after he was very heavily linked with an exit to treble-winning Premier League champions Man City.
The 29-year-old, who is out of contract in just over a year, is entering the final 12 months of his Spurs deal. While talks have been ongoing over an extension, according to reports, there is still no sign of an official announcement confirming fresh terms.
Kane, as a result, could leave the north London club for free in 2024 – a situation which has alerted many top clubs both domestically and abroad.
Manchester United, in their hunt to sign a star striker and guaranteed goal-getter for manager Erik ten Hag, have been credited with a serious interest in the forward.
Chelsea are also linked, but perhaps the real danger comes from Europe, with continental heavyweights Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris-Saint Germain targeting Kane.
The aforementioned sides are after classic number nines to provide an injection of quality in the attacking areas, and Kane more-than fits the bill for them.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, though, appears determined to keep his prized asset and could demand as much as £100 million in one up front payment for the Lilywhites superstar.
Writing in a column for CaughtOffside, German transfer journalist Falk has shared an update on Kane's future, as Bayern are still hopeful they can somehow pull off a move.
This comes after talks with the player's family, who have given encouragement to Bayern that Kane could be open to joining them.
“Bayern are hoping to still sign Harry Kane this summer," wrote Falk.
"Thomas Tuchel is not just dreaming of one striker – he would love to have two new strikers, which is a big challenge for the bosses.
“Kane would be his No.1 target again. Perhaps the idea is playing with Kane on the 9 and Randal Kolo Muani.
“There are talks with Harry Kane’s family and I think they get the idea that he’s thinking about moving. The message from the Kane family is that he’s still thinking about going to the Bundesliga.”
Following this, Ornstein wrote in The Athletic: "Bayern Munich have submitted a formal offer for Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane.
The Bundesliga champions’ bid for the England captain is €70m (£60m) plus add-ons.
The 29-year-old has a year remaining on his current contract with the Premier League club."
How many goals has Harry Kane scored?
Kane, over a truly phenomenal career, has managed to become both Tottenham and England's all-time top goalscorers – racking up 280 for Spurs at club level and 58 for his country
The Three Lions star surpassed the legendary Jimmy Greaves to that landmark at Spurs, while Kane also usurped Wayne Rooney at the top of England's scoring charts.
If Bayern were to somehow steal the "world class" attacker away from Tottenham, it could be billed as the signing of this summer window.
Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules are often controversial in football, given the amount of money involved in the sport these days. Clubs must ensure that they run a tight ship to avoid any potential breaches.
Of course, the biggest case we've seen regarding FFP is with Manchester City. The treble winners charged back in February, with the case currently ongoing.
Meanwhile, their neighbours, Manchester United, have had similar luck after being hit with a fine for a small breach of FFP rules in a disappointing moment for the Red Devils.
They'll certainly want to avoid any more breaches of the rule.
Why were Man United fined by FFP?
As per Simon Stone of BBC Sport, the Red Devils have been fined €300k (£257.02k) for a minor breach of FFP rules. The club is said to be disappointed, with the fine a result of changes in the way that UEFA treated losses suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In full, he explained: "Man Utd fined €300,000 by UEFA for 'minor' FFP breach. Club disappointed re this. Say fine due to change in way UEFA treated COVID-19 related losses. Utd 'continue to support enforcement of rules to promote FFP + sustainability across domestic + Euro football'."
United reportedly reiterated their desire to support the enforcement of the rules to promote FFP, and sustainability across European and domestic football.
With that said, it seems as though United are keen to avoid any further breaches, given their disappointment over receiving the fine.
United's statement in full, via The Athletic, said: “While disappointed by the outcome, Manchester United accepts this fine for what UEFA acknowledges to be a minor technical breach of its previous Financial Fair Play rules.
“This reflected a change in the way that UEFA adjusted for COVID-19 losses during the 2022 reporting period, which allowed us to recognise only €15m of the €281m of revenues lost due to the pandemic within the FFP calculation.
“Post-pandemic, the clubs’ revenues have recovered strongly and are forecast to reach a record level in the current financial year. The club continues to support the enforcement of rules to promote financial fair play and sustainability across domestic and European football.”
Manchester United's losses
During the pandemic, the Manchester club suffered a net loss of £92.2m in 2021, according to the Financial Times, with revenues falling by 3% compared to the previous year.
Meanwhile, failing to bounce back in the 21/22 season, the club announced a net loss of £115.5m, but with a revenue increase of 18%.
United aren't the only club to be hit with a fine, either, with Barcelona also receiving a €500k (£428.36k) fine for wrongly reporting profits on non-player sales.
Fortunately for the Red Devils, as explained in The Athletic, the fine is related to past issues, so it will not damage their transfer budget this summer, as Erik ten Hag looks to build from the foundation set in his debut campaign last season.
Regaining a Champions League spot, United's revenue should receive a boost from featuring among Europe's elite once more, perhaps leading to far better numbers come the end of next season.
So far this summer, they've signed just one player, with that being Mason Mount. The England international arrived from Chelsea for a reported £55m.
It remains to be seen who else Ten Hag welcomes through the Old Trafford doors this summer, however.
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.
Potential new Manchester United owner Sheikh Jassim is reportedly already eyeing an incredible move to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar.
What’s the latest Man United transfer news involving Jassim and Neymar?
The deadline for third offers at Old Trafford has now passed, with Jassim making a final take-it-or-leave-it offer to take full control from the Glazers.
Jassim previously wanted a takeover 'done quickly' so he could help Erik ten Hag in the transfer market, and it looks as if the Qatari group are already identifying targets at Old Trafford, with Neymar potentially a huge statement signing.
Should Jassim’s offer prove to be successful, The Sun ‘understands that one of his first actions will be to make an incredible move to sign Neymar’.
They say that the forward ‘would be a marquee signing for the club to signal the new owners' intentions moving forward’, with PSG potentially open to offers due to the player’s struggles with injuries.
Setting the bar high…
Neymar is on a whopping salary of around €1bn-a-week (£950,000) in Paris, so Jassim would need to show his financial power to bring the Brazilian to Manchester. He's also a "huge fan" of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, so appears to be hitting the bar high when it comes to possible additions to the squad.
The 31-year-old has scored 293 goals and has provided 188 assists during his 493-game club career for Santos, Barcelona and PSG, while he has also netted 77 times for his country, showing the quality he could bring to England.
Mark Goldbridge wasn't thrilled after hearing Neymar could be a target for the Red Devils, though, but he could be happier if it is Jassim taking over at United instead of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with The United Stand presenter hitting out at the possibility of Ratcliffe keeping the Glazers involved at Old Trafford.
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.