All posts by z3u9t.icu

Since taking the Arsenal job, when the club were at their lowest point in a generation, Mikel Arteta has made some seismic changes.

Some of the most significant have come in the transfer market, as the Spaniard spent a massive sum of money building a squad capable of challenging for major honours domestically and on the continent.

In doing so, the former captain has signed an enormous number of players over the years, and while some haven’t exactly panned out, like Willian, Pablo Mari and Nuno Tavares, others, like Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Magalhaes and David Raya, certainly have.

In fact, it would be fair to say that one of Arteta’s acquisitions is now comfortably the club’s best signing since Mesut Özil joined the team over a decade ago.

Özil's Arsenal career

It’s a moment that no Arsenal fan who was around at the time will forget, Özil being announced on transfer deadline day 2013, in what was a club-record £42.4m deal at the time.

The German international was leaving Real Madrid to come to the Emirates, and saying that fans were excited about it would be a colossal understatement.

It didn’t take long for the mercurial midfielder to make good on his transfer fee either, as on his debut, away to Sunderland, he provided a brilliant assist for Olivier Giroud.

Throughout his stint in North London, the World Cup winner made 254 appearances for the club, scoring 44 goals, providing 75 assists, and playing a significant role in three FA Cup triumphs.

Unfortunately, after signing his bumper £350k-per-week deal in 2018, things started to go wrong, and he began to face criticism for his perceived lack of work rate, which worsened when Arteta took charge.

However, while things ended poorly, and he eventually left for nothing to join Fenerbahçe in January 2021, it cannot be forgotten that in his pomp, Özil was an incredible footballer to watch and, had the club built around him, he may have led them to league glory.

There have been some great signings made in the years since he left, but one potentially era-defining acquisition under Arteta could be fairly described as the club’s best since the German.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Arsenal's best signing since Ozil

As we mentioned above, Arteta has made his fair share of impressive signings since taking the job at Arsenal, but in terms of needle-moving purchases, the spotlight falls on one player: Declan Rice.

The former West Ham United captain moved to the Emirates for a club-record fee of £105m in the summer of 2023, and while there was a mountain of pressure on him, he’s since surpassed every expectation people had of him.

In fact, the fans often sing about signing him for half-price, and while that is somewhat tongue in cheek, there is likely an increasing portion of the support that is genuinely starting to believe it.

Appearances

94

Minutes

7640′

Goals

14

Assists

18

Goal Involvements per Match

0.34

Minutes per Goal Involvement

238.75′

For example, since moving to North London, the “world-class” midfielder, as dubbed by journalist Tom Marshall-Bailey, has made 94 appearances, in which he’s scored 14 goals and provided 18 assists, despite moving between the six and eight positions.

We saw just how devastatingly effective the Englishman can be last night when he scored two stunning free-kicks against Real Madrid to give his side an incredible opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since the 08/09 season.

On top of his impressive level of output, the 26-year-old also has some sensational underlying numbers.

For example, FBref places him in the top 4% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, the top 6% for assists, the top 7% for goals plus assists, the top 8% for shot-creating action from dead-ball passes and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Arsenal would have expected Rice to perform to a high level considering his price tag, we are not sure they nor anyone else expected him to be this good, and that’s why he’s their best signing since Ozil.

Arsenal have struck gold on "unplayable" star who's their own Bellingham

The incredible talent looks destined for greatness with Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 9, 2025

Arsenal are ready to swoop for a young centre-forward very soon, and it is believed Mikel Arteta’s side are in pole position to secure his signature ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool.

Andrea Berta to target new striker for Arsenal this summer

The club’s new sporting director, Andrea Berta, is set to target a new striker for Arsenal this summer.

Arteta wants "world-class" player with Arsenal in advanced talks to sign him

The Spaniard is a major admirer.

ByEmilio Galantini Mar 29, 2025

Berta put pen to paper on a contract to replace long-serving transfer chief Edu Gaspar around three weeks ago, according to Fabrizio Romano, and a new number nine is said to be high on the Italian’s agenda heading into this summer.

Fulham (home)

April 1st

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

April 26th

Arsenal have already identified targets, with the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt star Hugo Ekitiké, Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres all linked to joining Arteta’s side before the start of next season.

As well as the aforementioned trio, Arsenal have been sporadically linked with homegrown stars like Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, who former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood recently urged Berta to sign.

“That is a no-brainer for me,” said Sherwood.

“I put Delap in front of [Ollie] Watkins, considering what Arsenal need at the moment. And he’s ahead of [Benjamin] Sesko, who Arsenal have been touting around for. Ipswich would be consigned to the Championship already without him. I think £40m would get him now.

“He would really develop under [Mikel] Arteta and give Arsenal something different, he’s strong, holds the ball up, runs from deep. He knows the league. I think he is an absolute no-brainer for Arsenal. If Ipswich get relegated, his value will still be up there, about the same price. £40m is nothing for Arsenal, he’s got a huge future ahead of him.”

Both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz won’t be available for quite a long time after sustaining serious injuries, so a prolific new forward is quite simply imperative for Arsenal, with the only question being who is their most ideal fit.

Arsenal ready to make "imminent move" for Blackburn starlet Harvey Higgins

Alongside the senior team, Berta will be overseeing the development of their youth setup, and Arsenal reportedly have their eyes on one of England’s brightest, up-and-coming forward talents.

That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, who writes that Arsenal are ready to make an “imminent move” for Blackburn Rovers sensation Harvey Higgins.

The Gunners are apparently “in the driving seat” to strike a deal for Higgins, who is “regarded as one of the most exciting talents in the country”. The 16-year-old is also attracting attention from Chelsea, City, and Liverpool, but Arsenal are hoping to win the race for his services by swooping first.

Higgins could even end up replacing former Arsenal youth striker Chido Obi-Martin, who departed N5 for Man United recently and has already made senior appearances under Ruben Amorim.

A “world-class” striker has identified Manchester City as a destination in the summer transfer window, having made it clear he wants to move to the Premier League, according to a report.

Man City planning major rebuild

After winning an unprecedented four titles on the spin, Man City have finally dropped off this season, having lost nine of their 28 Premier League games up to this point, and manager Pep Guardiola is now planning a major summer rebuild.

The overhaul got underway back in January, with the likes of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov moving to the Etihad Stadium, but Guardiola has his eye on several other targets.

A report has suggested City may have closed a deal for Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, with Rodri’s absence exposing the need to bring in additional options in midfield, while they are also weighing up a move for Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga.

Guardiola is also keen on bolstering his wide options, with SC Braga winger Roger Fernandes recently emerging as a target, amid the uncertainty surrounding Jack Grealish’s future.

Man City send scouts to watch 21-year-old midfielder compared to Bellingham

He’s been superb this season when not injured.

ByBarney Lane Mar 10, 2025

One position in which there is seemingly little need to strengthen is striker, given that Guardiola has Erling Haaland at his disposal, however a new report has suggested there could be an opportunity to bring in a new option in the summer.

According to A Bola (via Sport Witness), Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres wants to move to the Premier League, and he has made it clear he wants to join either Man City, Arsenal or Liverpool.

Gyokeres’ summer exit is described as ‘inevitable’, and a move to the Etihad Stadium could be on the cards, should the Sky Blues be willing to stump up the €70m (£59m) asking price, which could rise even higher if a bidding war breaks out.

"World-class" Gyokeres in red-hot form

The Swedish striker has been extremely impressive this season, scoring 39 goals in 40 games in all competitions, 11 more than Haaland, albeit in a much weaker league.

The 26-year-old has had a steady rise to the top since emerging as a consistent goalscorer for Coventry City in the 2021-22 Championship campaign, and he is on course to record his best-ever goal return this term.

Season

League appearances

Goals

2021-22

45

17

2022-23

46

21

2023-24

33

29

2024-25

24

27

Having been lauded as “world-class” by members of the media, there is every indication the former Coventry man could make a real impact at one of Europe’s top clubs, but there are major doubts over whether he would be a necessary addition to Guardiola’s side.

It is unlikely any player in the world would be able to dislodge Haaland in the City starting XI, and Guardiola would risk both strikers becoming unsettled if he decided to bring in Gyokeres this summer, so it is probably wise to focus on strengthening other areas of the squad.

The dust has settled, acceptance firmly embedded in the myriad of Liverpool supporters who thought Wembley would bring more joy, sparking the beginning of a double for Arne Slot in his debut season.

And that is important, that last part. Slot has not yet spent a year in the hot seat. Jurgen Klopp left after winning the Carabao Cup last term, falling short across other routes.

But this time, Liverpool have surprised the world by imperiously shifting into pole position in the Premier League. 12 points cover the ground between Anfield and their closest competitor Arsenal. It’s a significant gap and one that ceding would mark an unprecedented collapse in the business stretch.

However, FSG will bore witness to a startling polarity against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final, with Alexander Isak once again reminding Liverpool and the rest of them that he will be the most covetous option on the market when it opens in a few months.

Alexander Isak showed why Liverpool need him

Isak. Born in Sweden, reared under the fabled Sociedad mountains and shaped into a superstar at Newcastle, getting better and better after joining for a club-record £63m fee in 2022.

After sealing the Magpies’ victory over Liverpool, respected analyst Raj Chohan hailed him as “the best striker in the world this season, bar none.”

That’s 23 goals for the campaign, three assists. It’s no surprise he’s so desperately wanted for by Europe’s elite, Liverpool among the most interested.

But it’s not just the numbers. Isak is so intelligent and instinctive. His movement and anticipation are second to none. Injury problems, also, seem to have deserted him.

Indeed, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has confirmed Anfield’s desire to bring him in this summer, though finances will determine the true substance of the pursuit.

Isak is a superstar, but Liverpool boast a first-class squad that such a player would love to join, especially with the likes of Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz all flattering to deceive and thus facing potential sales this summer.

Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore

While the frontline needs to be revamped, Liverpool certainly don’t need to replace any of their starting midfield options, merely bring in some competition, some depth.

After all, they are regarded as one of the best in the business, repurposing Liverpool’s engine room and driving it toward trophies.

All three were signed by Klopp, but one in particular has Slot’s mark on him, thriving in a new role.

Slot's Liverpool triumph is now worth as much as Isak

Liverpool’s season has been stained by the performances over the past several weeks, but there’s still a Premier League title on the line and that was the all-important prize before the season started – in fact, such success was considered out of Slot’s reach by most.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

But the mood shifted quite swiftly as Liverpool proved themselves title contenders. Now, they are way ahead in the driving seat.

Pre-season trepidation devolved into something more worrying when Liverpool failed to sign Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi last summer, doubly so when Ryan Gravenberch was promoted to the first-choice at number six. An internal solution to an obviously outward problem.

Only, it wasn’t so. In fact, Liverpool have gone from strength to strength with the Dutchman partnering Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the Red centre.

He’s been nothing short of a revelation, with Reds reporter Ste Hoare hailing him for his “sensational” performances this term. Had Gravenberch failed to adapt to Slot’s teachings, Liverpool would not be ahead in the title race.

As you can see, the leaps and bounds he’s made this year have been extraordinary, so much more composed and intelligent with his distribution, also providing an athletic and energetic approach to meld with his central peers.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

29 (29)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

2

Touches*

28.8

65.5

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.8

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.5

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

4.7 (58%)

The decision to sign Bayern Munich’s struggling prospect for £34m in August 2023 looks all the more clear. Klopp saw something in the Netherlands star, and Slot has now activated his latent brilliance.

In fact, as per CIES Football Observatory – the world’s leading football-focused statisticians – Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder is currently worth about £88m, marginally more than Newcastle’s Isak: £87m.

Now, the free-scoring striker is going to fetch a heavier cost if he is to leave this coming summer. Newcastle have already revealed they are looking for a sum in excess of £150m to grant his sale.

Though Gravenberch has looked somewhat leggy in recent weeks, it’s hardly surprising given he’s started the vast majority of Liverpool’s fixtures. Indeed, the 22-year-old’s 3,516 minutes played across all competitions this year is surpassed only by Virgil van Dijk and Salah.

Comparatively speaking, he’s got every bit as much potential as a player like Isak, who is three years the midfielder’s senior. If he continues to make headway over the coming years, there’s no telling how high Gravenberch might reach as he soars toward the uppermost echelon of midfielders playing in Europe right now – if he’s not reached that level already.

Suarez 2.0: Liverpool line up move for "the most complete CF in the world"

This free-scoring centre-forward would be an even bigger deal than Darwin Nunez at Liverpool.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 16, 2025

Aston Villa have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after they beat Belgian giants Club Brugge 3-1 away from home in the first leg.

The Villans, who host the Pro League side in Birmingham for the second leg next week, secured the win thanks to goals from Leon Bailey and Marco Asensio, either side of an own goal from Brandon Mechele.

Unai Emery will be delighted that his side have a healthy advantage to take back to Villa Park as they look to secure their place in the last eight of the competition.

Things could have been different, however, if not for an unbelievable clearance from England international Tyrone Mings, who prevented Hans Vanaken from putting the hosts 2-1 up by diverting his header just past the post with an athletic intervention.

Whilst there were plenty of positives to take from the evening clash in Bruges, there were also some disappointing individual performances for the Premier League outfit.

One player who did not show the full extent of his quality at the top end of the pitch was Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, who started on the left flank.

Marcus Rashford's performance against Club Brugge

Emery selected the England international ahead of the likes of Asensio and Jacob Ramsey to play as part of an attacking midfield three behind Ollie Watkins, alongside Morgan Rogers and Bailey.

Whilst Rogers forced the own goal from Mechele with a brilliant cross in the second half and Bailey opened the scoring with a sublime half-volleyed effort into the bottom corner, Rashford ended the game without any direct contribution to a goal for the Villans.

Chalkboard

The right-footed speedster was taken off in the 64th minute after a fairly uneventful showing on the wing, as Club Brugge right-back Kyriani Sabbe largely kept him quiet – winning five of his six duels and making four tackles.

Rashford did not create a single chance for his teammates in those 64 minutes on the pitch. However, he did create a chance for himself when he worked an opportunity on the right side of the pitch, making an underlapping run to fire an effort at Simon Mignolet from a tight angle.

The 27-year-old forward also let himself down out of possession by losing four of his five duels and failing to make a single tackle or interception to help his side out defensively.

Whilst it is his natural position to play out on the left wing, it may be worthwhile for Emery to see how he fares as the lone centre-forward for the Villans before the end of the season.

Why Marcus Rashford should be used as a striker

Firstly, Rashford has the blistering pace that would allow him to make runs on the last line to create chances for himself against teams that play in a mid-to-high block.

The English forward has played 153 matches as a centre-forward in his club career for Villa and Manchester United combined, which shows that it is not a position that he is unfamiliar with.

As you can see in the clips above, Rashford has the quality to score brilliant goals at Premier League level from positions off the left or centrally, which suggests that he can comfortably play in either role.

The experienced forward’s career record as a striker, at club level, also suggests that the potential is there for it to be his best position on the pitch for the Villans.

Appearances

153

226

51

Goals

59

69

13

Assists

20

36

7

Goals + assists per game

0.52

0.46

0.39

As you can see in the table above, Rashford is at his most productive in front of goal when playing as a centre-forward, with 0.52 goals and assists combined per game on average throughout his career.

This is important to keep in mind because Ollie Watkins was even worse than Rashford in the win over Club Brugge and Emery should boldly drop him from the starting XI for this weekend’s clash with Brentford.

Why Ollie Watkins should be dropped

Villa left themselves with the former Bees man as their only recognised, natural, centre-forward when they sold Jhon Duran during the January transfer window.

However, they brought in the likes of Asensio, Donyell Malen, and Rashford, who can all play across the frontline, and Emery should utilise Rashford’s versatility to provide Watkins with a rest against Brentford – ahead of the second leg clash with Club Brugge next week.

Watkins put in a tired showing against the Belgian side on Tuesday night. The Villa star played 89 minutes without registering a shot on target, a key pass, or a completed dribble, whereas the Red Devils loanee at least managed a shot on target to test Mignolet and completed a dribble.

Rashford, at least, troubled the goalkeeper and tried to make things happen by dribbling at defenders in the final third, whilst his international teammate did little to cause the opposition any problems at all.

The ex-Brentford man was described as “world class” by journalist Jack Grimse last year and has scored 31 goals in the Premier League since the start of last season, but that does not make him immune to criticism or to the odd bad performance.

Watkins was handed a dismal player rating of 3/10, worse than Rashford’s 4/10, by the Express, who noted that he only had one shot on goal, and now could be the time for Emery to boldly drop him from the XI.

The 29-year-old forward lost seven of his eight duels in the game, as Club Brugge defenders dominated him in physical battles, and he has now gone four games without a goal – missing three ‘big chances’ in the process.

His poor display in Bruges, coupled with his wasteful form in front of goal of late, suggests that this could be the right time for Emery to take him out of the firing line for a game, both to provide Rashford with a chance to show what he can do as a striker as well as handing Watkins a much-needed rest.

Even better than Rogers: 8/10 star just saved his Aston Villa career

This Aston Villa star may have just saved his career at the club with this performance.

ByDan Emery Mar 5, 2025

This would, hopefully, allow the England international to return to the starting line-up against Club Brugge for the second leg with fresh legs and a desire to bounce back with a strong showing to secure the club’s place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Leeds United are looking likely to win promotion to the Premier League under Daniel Farke after spending two seasons in the Championship.

The Whites have made Elland Road a fortress and have been just as devastating away from home in recent months, with a 3-1 win at Sheffield United the latest highlight of an incredible campaign.

However, it hasn’t been plain sailing for Farke’s side, with goalkeeper Illan Meslier coming in for criticism during the season after making multiple mistakes.

6 Leeds United players in danger of Elland Road axe

It could be a busy summer in Yorkshire.

1 ByCharlie Smith Feb 11, 2025

The first high-profile error came against Sunderland which cost Leeds two points, then another horror show led to more dropped points away to Hull City.

Against the Blades, Meslier looked extremely shaky early on and scored an own goal, with the Frenchman in the negative for goals prevented, as per FotMob.

But who could replace Meslier at Leeds? We’ve looked at a plethora of shot-stoppers that 49ers Enterprises could target over the summer.

1 Caoimhin Kelleher Liverpool

Caoimhin Kelleher of Liverpool is likely to be a man in demand this summer. The Reds currently have Alisson Becker as first-choice and Giorgi Mamardashvili will link up with the Reds squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Therefore, Kelleher could be on the move. He has shown his quality at Anfield, keeping 23 clean sheets in 64 appearances. The Republic of Ireland international has won six major honours at Anfield and appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation.

2 Aaron Ramsdale Southampton

At the other end of the Premier League table are Southampton, who invested in Aaron Ramsdale as their No 1 after beating Leeds in the play-off final in 2024.

But things haven’t gone to plan for the Saints, who are on course to return to the Championship, which may result in a number of star players leaving St Mary’s.

Ramsdale, despite conceding plenty of goals, is performing better than the likes of Nick Pope and Emiliano Martinez when it comes to Premier League goals prevented, showing that in a side with a solid defensive base such as Leeds’, he could be a shrewd addition.

3 Mads Hermansen Leicester City

Another newly promoted side who may come straight back down to the Championship is Leicester City, along with No 1 goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.

The 24-year-old has been among the Foxes’ best performers this season, as per WhoScored, while also having a positive goals-prevented ratio.

If Leicester come straight back down, perhaps an immediate return to the Premier League with Leeds could appeal to the Dane.

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ByRoss Kilvington Jan 29, 2025 4 Joan Garcia Espanyol

If Leeds want to look abroad for a goalkeeper target, Joan Garcia of Espanyol could be an ambitious option. The 23-year-old, who helped Spain win Olympic gold last summer, has been outperforming Jan Oblak and Thibaut Courtois in the shot-stopping stats, as per FBref.

He has also been heavily linked with Arsenal in a £20m+ transfer, but the guarantee of first-team football at Elland Road may also appeal should Leeds be promoted.

5 Vanja Milinkovic-Savic Torino

Over in Italy, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic could be another potential European target for Leeds. The Serbia international, who currently plays for Torino, was once on the books of Man Utd in 2014 and is seemingly at the peak of his powers at the age of 28.

Milinkovic-Savic has made more saves than any other Serie A goalkeeper in 2024/25 and is also near the top of the charts for save percentage, while also preventing more goals than any other ‘keeper in the division.

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ByRoss Kilvington Feb 3, 2025 6 Conan Ledesma River Plate

One goalkeeper who was linked with Leeds during the January transfer window was Conan Ledesma of River Plate.

The Argentinian, once called “the best goalkeeper in the universe”, has plenty of experience in La Liga during his time with Cadiz, averaging a clean sheet every three games in the Spanish top flight.

At the age of 32, Ledesma wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but he appears to be a player on Leeds’ radar, and as he is second-choice at River, he could become an option even if it isn’t as a regular starter in West Yorkshire.

7 Noah Atubolu Freiburg

If Leeds want a young shot-stopper to come in and replace Meslier, Noah Atubolu of Freiburg could be their man. The Germany U21 international appears to be going from strength to strength, and recently set a record of saving four Bundesliga penalties in a row.

As we know with Meslier, his record of saving spot-kicks isn’t as impressive, and with Atubolu outperforming the likes of Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer for save percentage, he could be a shrewd signing.

8 Viktor Johansson Stoke City

Arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship at this moment in time is Stoke City’s Viktor Johansson. Picked up from Rotherham United over the summer, Johansson has continued to impress in the second tier and is the best ‘keeper in the Championship for goals prevented.

Statistically, Johansson has an Expected Goals on Target (xGOT) total of more than 55 but has only let in 44, as well as a better goals-prevented ratio than Burnley’s James Trafford. The Sweden international appears to be in his prime at the age of 26, so he may well be of interest to the Whites.

9 Guillaume Restes Toulouse

Called the second-best goalkeeper under the age of 24 in the media last year was Toulouse’s Guillaume Restes, who is still just 19 years of age.

The Frenchman has already established himself in Ligue 1, making more than 60 senior appearances for his current employers. Should Restes’ impressive rise continue, so will his price tag, but if Leeds are willing to spend their potential Premier League fortune on a new goalkeeper, he could be a smart long-term investment.

10 Michael Cooper Sheffield United

Although a repeat appears unlikely, we have seen a recent deal between Leeds and Sheffield United, with Jayden Bogle swapping Bramall Lane for Elland Road last summer.

Should Leeds win promotion and the Blades fall short under Chris Wilder, Michael Cooper could perhaps be a target for the Whites, with the shot-stopper starring after joining from Plymouth Argyle in 2024.

He has been one of the top ‘keepers in the Championship with Trafford and Johansson, and despite a lot needing to change between now and the summer, crazier things have happened.

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1 ByCharlie Smith Feb 14, 2025

Manchester United are now eyeing a move for an “elite” striker who has an £83m release clause, with recruitment chiefs identifying alternative targets to Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen, according to a report.

United's search for a striker

With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee flattering to deceive this season, Man United have set their sights on signing a new striker this summer, and several highly-rated options have been linked with moves to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have now made contact to offer Osimhen a big salary, with the Nigerian forward poised to leave Napoli in the summer, while they have also been chasing Gyokeres, who Ruben Amorim knows very well from their time together at Sporting CP.

Reports from Spain have suggested United have already struck an agreement to sign Gyokeres in the summer, although with no other sources corroborating the news, it is probably wise to be very skeptical about such a deal.

Man Utd progressing in talks to sign £33m ace who wants Old Trafford move

The summer transfer window is still a few months away from opening but United are looking to wrap up a deal fairly quickly.

1 ByBrett Worthington Feb 17, 2025

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Man United are now identifying alternative targets to the Sporting star, and they are contemplating a move for FC Porto’s Samu Omorodion, who has also impressed in the Liga Portugal this season.

Amid fears they could miss out on their top targets, perhaps owing to their very poor league position, United have picked out Omorodion as an alternative option, with scouts watching him in action earlier this month.

The Porto star nearly completed a £34.4m move to Chelsea last month, but the Blues were unable to strike an agreement on personal terms, opening the door for a potential move to Old Trafford in the summer.

However, INEOS are at risk of having to shell out a considerably higher fee, as the 20-year-old has a release clause of over £83m.

Omorodion impressing in debut Liga Portugal season

While Gyokeres has been getting the majority of the headlines, the Spaniard has also been on the scoresheet regularly in the Liga Portugal this season, with 13 goals and three assists to his name in 18 outings.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson believes a big move could be on the cards for the youngster soon, in light of his impressive performances this season, branding parts of his game as “elite”.

Gyokeres has proven himself over a more sustained period, while the Sweden international also has six goals in eight Champions League games this season.

However, given United’s current league position, they may find it difficult to compete for the Sporting forward this summer, and Omorodion’s goal record suggests he could be a suitable alternative option.

Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters will have renewed optimism now that their lowly side can beat the Premier League drop with Vitor Pereira picking up some standout results since taking on the reins.

Indeed, the Portuguese manager has inspired his relegation-threatened troops to pick up some big victories against the likes of Manchester United and Aston Villa since replacing Gary O’Neil, with the Old Gold now up to 17th after looking doomed to be heading for the Championship under the previous regime.

Whilst Pereira will be happy with the fight on display for the most part, he will perhaps want a little more from the attackers at his disposal, away from Matheus Cunha continuing to dominate the spotlight.

The numbers behind Wolves' attack this season

The ex-Al Shabab boss has had to deal with some bad luck in the striker department when it comes to unfortunate injuries, with one of his stars up top – alongside Cunha – in Jorgen Strand Larsen now sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Before this unwanted development, the Nordic sharpshooter was up to a sizeable seven goals in the Premier League for the season, with Cunha only boasting more top-flight strikes in the Old Gold camp at 11.

With Larsen now out, it has exposed the lack of attacking quality in the striker positions, with Hwang Hee-Chan way off the boil so far this campaign.

From 21 appearances across 2024/25 to date, the out-of-sorts South Korean only has two strikes next to his name, which is a disappointing return so far considering he managed to bag 12 top-flight strikes during a far more successful 2023/24 campaign.

Whilst Pereira laments his striker options, there is a former Old Gold hero who is currently outscoring both Hwang and Larsen at his current employers.

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The former Wolves striker who is now outscoring Larsen & Hwang

Wolves have had their fair share of modern-day legends in recent years as the club rose from the doldrums of EFL obscurity to Premier League glory.

One of those faces that is definitely well-liked to this day is Raul Jimenez, with the Mexican a long-standing servant of the club over many seasons before his departure in 2023.

Across five celebrated campaigns in the West Midlands, Jimenez would help himself to a hefty 57 goals and 22 assists, with the now 33-year-old even having to battle back from a serious injury during his goal-laden spell at Molineux to continue to prove his worth.

Whilst he is now firmly in the twilight years of his career, the goals haven’t dried up for the Mexican donning his new Fulham colours, with Jimenez bettering both Larsen and Hwang this season in terms of output.

24/25

24

9

2

23/24

24

7

0

22/23

15

0

1

21/22

34

6

4

20/21

10

4

0

19/20

38

17

6

18/19

38

13

7

Amazingly, Jimenez is close to eclipsing his Premier League best at Molineux strutting his stuff now at Craven Cottage, with the veteran attacker boasting 11 goal contributions this season in the top-flight to beat Larsen and Hwang’s weaker numbers consequently.

Marco Silva would even describe Jimenez as “incredible” this season when he became Mexico’s highest-ever goalscorer in the elite division, with the ex-Everton boss thankful that Wolves decided to offload the towering 6 foot 3 striker when they did. On the flip side, the Old Gold must regret letting him go.

In an alternate reality, Pereira wouldn’t turn his nose up at having Jimenez in his Old Gold camp, but the popular Wolves boss will just hope the goals keep flowing in big games to come near the foot of the division away from looking back at past attackers.

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Whilst they must act with caution amid their PSR concerns, Aston Villa are now reportedly keen to sign a Serie A midfielder who kept Morgan Rogers quiet last season.

Aston Villa still face PSR concern

With June 30 and the PSR deadline approaching, Aston Villa are running out of time to sell players and face what could be the most important week of their summer. At this stage, the likeliest players to depart seem to be Emiliano Martinez and Leon Bailey. The former has been the subject of interest from Manchester United and although Villa won’t be desperate to sell a key man to a rival club, they may have no choice before next month.

Of course, the departure of Bailey would be far easier to stomach this summer. The Jamaican winger fell down the pecking order last season following the arrival of Donyell Malen and even after the loan spells of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio came to an end, he remains a player who Villa could be wise to sell this month.

Whether the likely sale of Philippe Coutinho to Vasco da Gama solves Villa’s problems completely is also a big question. To that end, reports have claimed that it will help them on the PSR front but it will not solve their issues entirely. Even after the former Liverpool star’s exit, Villa may still require one more sale before a much-needed PSR reset.

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It’s then that those in the Midlands will be able to shift their focus back towards incomings and potentially a Serie A midfielder who pocketed Rogers last season.

Aston Villa keen to sign Jens Cajuste

According to Area Napoli, as relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are now keen to sign Jens Cajuste from Napoli this summer. Following a season on loan at Ipswich Town, the midfielder will now reportedly be allowed to leave the Italian club for as little as €10m (£8.5m) in the coming months.

Whilst his first season in the Premier League featured a relegation, Cajuste still stood out at times for Ipswich Town. In fact, one of his best games came against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side in a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.

Keeping attacking midfielder Rogers quiet, Cajuste made three interceptions – more than any other central midfielder on the pitch – and completed five recoveries. Rogers, meanwhile, was limited to just one successful dribble and won a third of his duels in a frustrating afternoon.

One of several solid performances, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was often full of praise for Cajuste during his time at the club – telling reporters when asked about the midfielder in April: “He’s a really terrifically talented footballer, but in terms of his robustness he’s making really good progress and he’s improved as the season’s gone on.”

Manchester United have now opened talks to sign an “insane” £13m+ colossus, making contact with his representatives in recent days, according to a report.

Man Utd set sights on new goalkeeper

It would be fair to say that Andre Onana has flattered to deceive ever since arriving from Inter Milan, and Ruben Amorim even dropped the goalkeeper for Altay Bayindir at times during the 2024-25 season, with the Turk playing three of the final four Premier League games.

As such, it is no surprise that United are now looking to bring in a replacement for Onana, and they have set their sights on a number of ambitious targets, many of whom are vastly experienced at Champions League level.

Target

Current club

UCL appearances

Gianluigi Donnarumma

PSG

40

Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Barcelona

85

Emiliano Martinez

Aston Villa

14

Diogo Costa

FC Porto

23

That said, it could be difficult to attract some of Europe’s top goalkeepers after the Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, and the Red Devils have now joined the race for a perhaps more attainable target.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Man United have now opened talks with the entourage of OGC Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, although given that the two clubs are owned by INEOS, a deal may not be possible until January 2026.

United cannot do business with the French club until September, so they may wait until January before making a move for the goalkeeper, who is valued at over £13m, or failing that they could look to bring him in on a free transfer next summer.

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AC Milan and Galatasaray could provide competition for Bulka’s signature, with United yet to engage in formal club-to-club negotiations, indicating the potential move is not yet at an advanced stage.

"Insane" Bulka impressing in Ligue 1

Football scout Ben Mattinson has expressed his shock that the 25-year-old has remained at Nice for so long, given his impressive performances in France, saying: “Marcin Bułka was insane vs PSG. I’m surprised he’s still at Nice after being the best GK in Ligue 1 last season.

“The combination of his shot stopping prowess and quality both-footed distribution whilst being 6’6” makes him a great option for big teams.”

Indeed, the Polish shot-stopper put in what could be a career-best performance against former club PSG back in April, achieving a 10 SofaScore rating after making nine saves from inside the box and preventing 2.53 goals.

Nice ran out 3-1 winners against the European champions, embarrassing them in their own backyard courtesy of their colossus between the sticks, who averaged the second-highest Ligue 1 rating in the squad last season.

As such, Bulka could be an excellent signing for Man United, and he may be a more attainable target than the likes of Donnarumma and Ter Stegen, although the fact they will have to wait until January is frustrating.