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After three successive years of finishing in second place in the Premier League, Arsenal fans will undoubtedly be getting tired of their inability to end their drought without a league title.

The Gunners have now gone over two decades without a Premier League triumph, with patience potentially running thin among the fanbase should Mikel Arteta fall at the final hurdle once more.

The hierarchy have already backed the manager in his quest to reach the next level at the Emirates, spending upwards of £200m on new additions, subsequently improving various areas of the pitch.

Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi have already been added to the midfield department, adding key depth after various departures earlier this summer.

However, despite the huge funds already splashed on various new additions, countless other options are still being considered by the club in an attempt to further their ambitions of finishing top of the pile.

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

Despite the addition of Noni Madueke this summer, Arsenal are targeting the addition of Real Madrid star Rodrygo in an attempt to bolster the attacking department.

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However, any deal for the Brazilian would see them face competition from various sides, such as Manchester City and North London rivals Tottenham, for his signature.

He’s not the only attacker currently in their sights between now and the end of the window, with Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze also high up on their shortlist, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that an agreement is close between the Gunners and the Eagles over a ‘blockbuster’ £55m deal that would see the 27-year-old move to the Emirates ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

It also states that Oliver Glasner’s side are resigned to losing the England international this summer, but a deal will have to be put on hold until his side land a replacement.

Transfer Focus

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

Why Arsenal’s latest target would be as exciting as Gyokeres

Viktor Gyokeres is undoubtedly Arsenal’s most high-profile addition during the current window, which is no surprise given his goal tally at Sporting CP.

The Swedish international netted 97 goals in his 102 appearances, having the ability to transform the club’s form in the final third if he can replicate such levels in England.

However, he will have a huge price tag to live up to, after the hierarchy forked out £63.5m, including add-ons, to secure the services of the 27-year-old this summer.

The fanbase are already all aboard the hype train of Gyokeres, after the forward netted his first goal for the club in the recent pre-season triumph against LaLiga side Athletic Club.

However, despite the recent excitement around the move, the club could land a star just as impressive as the Swede should they complete a deal for Eze in the coming weeks.

The 27-year-old would provide a versatile all-round option in the final third, able to feature out wide or in the number ten position – not to mention his experience in England’s top-flight.

His stats from the most recent campaign highlight the ability he possesses in the final third, able to create for others whilst also having the tools to thrive individually.

Games played

34

Goals & assists

16

Progressive passes

3.4

Successful take-ons

2.4

Key passes made

2.1

Passes into final third

1.8

Carries into final third

1.7

Shots taken

3.5

Eze, who’s been labelled “sensational” by talkSPORT’s Rory Jennings, completed 2.4 take-ons per 90, whilst making 1.7 carries into the final third – having the tools to offer fresh impetus to the side in attacking areas.

He also registered 16 combined goals and assists in England’s top-flight last season, having the tools to provide an end product to his mazy runs into the opposition’s penalty area.

Such tallies highlight his ability to provide for others whilst being able to find the net himself, which is hardly a surprise given his tally of 3.5 shots per 90 – which ranks him within the top 6% of all players in the division.

If he can replicate the levels he’s produced at Selhurst Park in recent times, it would be a superb addition that would further improve the options at the manager’s disposal.

The prospect of Eze linking up with Gyokeres in attacking areas is one to be excited about, potentially catapulting the club to new levels of success in the near future.

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Lizelle Lee produced a sharp piece of wicketkeeping to claim the key wicket of Phoebe Litchfield

AAP28-Oct-2024

Hobart Hurricanes congratulate Lizelle Lee on her vitals stumping to remove Phoebe Litchfield•Getty Images

Nicola Carey’s shift up the order and some clutch bowling from Heather Graham has propelled the Hobart Hurricanes to a 31-run WBBL win over the Sydney Thunder.Hurricanes got their season off to the right start on Monday night, consigning Sydney to their fifth-straight loss at the recently re-named Ninja Stadium.  Carey top scored with 52 from 38 deliveries, including seven boundaries, batting at No. 3.”I’ve had a few different roles with the bat over the last few years. It’s nice to get a bit more time out in the middle,” the allrounder told Fox Cricket, adding she was surprised when her coaches suggested she bat at No. 3. “I’m not someone who is going to clear the rope, so it might look a little bit different.”Carey also played an important role with the ball, getting rid of Thunder’s second-highest scorer Anika Learoyd (29).Learoyd had shared a 52-run partnership with 21-year-old skipper Phoebe Litchfield, who hit 51 and appeared on track to guide the Thunder home.But Litchfield fell in the 14th over when stumped by swift work from Lizelle Lee off Graham.Carey had to steady the ship when Lee departed in the second over after Hurricanes lost the bat flip and were sent in.She came to life in the two-over power surge, hitting four boundaries to push the Hurricanes to 92 for 2 but was out shortly afterwards.Her departure sparked a collapse of 4 for 12 with Samantha Bates and Sri Lankan star Chamari Athapaththu tightening the screws.Sydney’s chase got off to the worst possible start when Molly Strano trapped Athapaththu lbw on the first ball.Thunder have a shot at revenge when they meet Hurricanes on Thursday night at North Sydney Oval.

Newcastle United lost to Celtic in nightmare fashion in their latest pre-season test.

Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops ran out emphatic 4-0 victors over Eddie Howe’s low-on-energy Toon on Saturday, with one of the main talking points at the final whistle coming in the form of Alexander Isak.

Now being linked with a mega-money switch to Al-Hilal he was left out completely from the disastrous runout in Scotland.

Howe did insist after the game that Isak is happy to remain at the Toon for the foreseeable future, but transfer rumblings away from this ongoing situation suggest that the Premier League side do have striker targets in mind as they prepare for any possible eventuality.

Newcastle agree personal terms with £50m centre-forward

Indeed, it’s no great secret at St James’ Park that a new centre-forward is a priority this summer.

After all, even if Isak does stay, Howe only has a raw William Osula he can rely on for some back-up firepower, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko allegedly on the Toon shop-list to add more explosive options up top after Hugo Ekitike moved to Liverpool, rather than Tyneside.

Any deal to bring the Slovenian attacker to Newcastle would reportedly cost the Premier League outfit a whopping £78m, with a far cheaper deal potentially on the horizon/

As per reports on the continent, Newcastle have now agreed personal terms with long-term target Yoane Wissa, but are still pushing hard for a club-to-club agreement with Brentford, as the Bees remain hesitant about the Magpies’ offer, having already lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United.

It remains to be seen what Newcastle have bid for the standout Brentford number 11, with previous reports suggesting he was available for around the £50m mark.

Why Wissa would be a better signing than Sesko

For such an amount, Newcastle should really be pushing hard to get a deal over the line, as the DR Congo international is a far better option than Sesko, not just in terms of being a cheaper acquisition.

Of course, nobody at Newcastle would be up in arms if Sesko were to join the building, even for such an extortionate fee.

Back in the Bundesliga, the powerful striker has garnered a reputation for being an ice-cold finisher of chances, with a bumper tally of 39 strikes coming the one-time Arsenal target’s way from 87 outings in Germany.

Yet, Wissa can boast even more strikes for the Bees than Sesko has registered for Leipzig – despite the 22-year-old’s lethal reputation – with a stellar 45 Premier League goals next to his name from 137 clashes, 19 of which came about just last season in West London.

Sekso lags just behind, in contrast, with five fewer goals in German top-flight action across the 24/25 campaign.

It’s not just goals alone that separates the pair, however, with Wissa also bettering his Slovenian counterpart in many different areas of their respective games, while also already knowing the ins and outs of the intense Premier League environment.

Wissa vs Sesko (last 365 days)

Stat – per 90 mins

Wissa

Sesko

Total shots

2.77

2.54

Shot-creating actions

2.13

1.80

Attempted passes

18.13

22.62

Pass completion %

76.5%

66.9%

Progressive passes

2.07

1.55

Progressive carries

1.85

1.68

Touches in attacking penalty area

5.03

3.51

Data by FBref

When looking at the table above, it’s clear Newcastle would be landing themselves an attacking diamond in Wissa for £50m, as opposed to rashly gambling on an expensive alternative.

The 5-foot-9 menace is perhaps more suited to linking up with the likes of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga in his fresh home, when you consider he trumps Sesko by averaging more shot-creating actions and accurate passes per 90 minutes over the last year.

Moreover, the “remarkable” forward – as he’s been labelled in the past by European football expert Zach Lowy – also averaged far more touches in the attacking penalty area over the last year, meaning he could be just the lively poacher-like presence Howe is searching for in the same mould as Isak.

Sesko might well be seen as a shinier, newer thing coming in from foreign shores, but if it were between the Leipzig number 30 and the 28-year-old, Newcastle should press on with sealing Wissa’s signature, especially if they’re already at the personal terms stage in proceedings.

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Tottenham Hotspur are “contenders” to sign an “unbelievable” defender who’s now set to cost £50m, reporter Pete O’Rourke has revealed.

Spurs looking to bolster defensive options

Spurs completed the signing of West Ham United winger Mohammed Kudus last week, with the Ghanaian arriving for a fee of £55m, while they also remain confident about sealing a deal for Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

That is according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who said: “They want to proceed with the deal, they want to sign the player. Nottingham Forest are prepared to fight. So, let’s see what’s going to happen there.

“But, for sure, the Gibbs-White deal now has an issue to be solved between the two clubs. That’s going to be one to watch in the coming days and hours, with Tottenham still hopeful and confident to get the player.”

Should Spurs get a deal for Forest star over the line, they may turn their attentions to bolstering their backline, given that they had the fifth-worst defensive record in the Premier League last season.

Club 24/25

Goals conceded

Southampton

86

Ipswich Town

82

Leicester City

80

Wolverhampton Wanderers

69

Tottenham Hotspur

65

Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke has now dropped an update on one of the centre-back’s Tottenham could target, Burnley’s Maxime Esteve saying: “Everton showed a lot of interest in him as well, now Tottenham are being mentioned as contenders for a signature if he leaves Burnley this summer.

“Spurs did try to sign him in the January window when he was doing so well; Burnley don’t want to lose Esteve, and they’ve put a £50million price tag on his head.

“I don’t think Spurs would go near that level to try and sign Esteve, but Burnley are in a really strong position to negotiate here. He’s under contract until 2029 and they can demand a substantial fee because of his contract – that price tag will probably scare off most clubs.”

"Unbelievable" Esteve could allay Spurs' defensive problems

At this stage, Burnley hold all the cards in the negotiations, but should the French defender push for a move this summer, there are clear signs that he could help allay Spurs’ defensive problems.

Remarkably, the Clarets shipped just 16 goals in the Championship en-route to promotion last season, and the Frenchman played every single game, during which time he managed to impress manager Scott Parker.

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Parker said: “First and foremost he’s a great kid and an unbelievable professional. Just his general aura about him and his humility about the boy and his professionalism, just everything about him is a top, top boy and of course you see his quality as well.”

That said, £50m would be a huge fee to pay for a player yet to prove himself at Premier League level, and with Burnley in a strong negotiating position, it would not be a surprise if Tottenham decide to move on to other targets.

FSG’s transfer ethos – getting their work done nice and early – often leaves Liverpool somewhat in the corner of the room while rivals party late into the market, enjoying the thrill of Fabrizio Romano and the rest’s transfer updates.

There are worse problems to have, it must be said. And the real success is found on the field. Liverpool are on the verge of signing Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, having already added Jeremie Frimpong.

Now, it’s time to sign a centre-forward, for Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota left plenty to be desired as Arne Slot’s focal frontmen last season, actually paling in comparison to Liverpool’s wider forward.

Liverpool’s Forwards in the Premier League (24/25)

Player

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

Mohamed Salah

38 (38)

29

18

Luis Diaz

36 (28)

13

7

Cody Gakpo

35 (23)

10

5

Diogo Jota

26 (14)

6

4

Darwin Nunez

30 (8)

5

3

Federico Chiesa

6 (1)

0

0

Data via Sofascore

Luis Diaz was even called into play as a makeshift number nine for much of the campaign, his false-nine-type qualities proving invaluable for the Reds as they marched toward the Premier League title.

Who, then, to sign? Targets like Hugo Ekitike, Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen would all do a job, but Alexander Isak is the cream of the crop, and sporting director Richard Hughes would rake in the plaudits if he got that one over the line.

The latest on Alexander Isak to Liverpool

It’s pretty clear Liverpool will sign a striker this summer. However, who that player might be is less certain. Liverpool can dream, though, and signing Isak would be an incredible way to cap off a wonderful summer.

As per transfer insider Ben Jacobs for GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool are prepared to break the British transfer record to sign Isak this summer, with Newcastle United valuing their striker at over £150m.

The “unstoppable” Isak, hailed by pundit Ally McCoist as “the best out-and-out forward in the league”, was outscored only by Mohamed Salah in the Premier League last season, his 23-goal return illustrating his elite ability.

However, Newcastle’s position on their talisman’s unavailability has been absolute (insofar as any stance can be absolute in the transfer market). Liverpool can dream, and it appears they will try, but don’t hold your breath.

Luckily, Liverpool are one of the most astute transfer operators, and they’ve already lined up the perfect alternative.

Liverpool line up Isak alternative

As per TEAMtalk, Liverpool have sounded out a potential move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez this summer, and while the La Liga side would be looking for an unrealistic £160m figure, Anfield hold a trump card.

Indeed, Diego Simeone is interested in bringing Nunez to the Wanda Metropolitano this summer, and previous reports even suggest personal terms have been agreed for around a month. As a result, TEAMtalk suggest that a swap deal is an avenue they are exploring this summer.

This would no doubt be a difficult one to get over the line, but Liverpool’s interest is long-standing and the Argentina forward would be perfect for Slot’s system.

Why Julian Alvarez would be perfect

Alvarez had been tracked by Liverpool during his time at Manchester City, where he scored 36 goals and laid on 19 assists across two trophy-laden campaigns, earning an £81.5m transfer to Atletico Madrid last summer.

His first term in Spain was his finest yet, posting 29 goals and seven assists across 55 matches, blending newfound potency with his robust and dynamic attacking style. Making a direct comment on his exploits in Spain, journalist Roy Nemer even described the player as “the best forward in the world.”

As per FBref, he ranked among the top 6% of strikers across Europe last year for passes attempted, shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 8% for progressive passes and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.

Already something of a nomad, the 25-year-old has demonstrated continual development and would now prove the perfect alternative to Isak, who is actually considered by the data-driven site as being one of Alvarez’s most comparable players.

Julian Alvarez – Career Stats by Club/Nation

Club/nation

Apps

Goals

Assists

River Plate

122

54

31

Manchester City

103

36

19

Atletico Madrid

53

29

6

Argentina

44

12

33

Data via Transfermarkt

Liverpool need a new goalscorer to perch at the front of their ship, but they also need a centre-forward who will play with flair and bring the attacking players together.

One of the Merseysiders’ attacking staples is that when the frontline clicks, they perform in concert, effectively unplayable. Isak aligns perfectly in this regard, but Alvarez too could dovetail into Slot’s set-up and provide a higher level of goalscoring threat while using his technical skills and off-the-ball intelligence to open up a new dimension.

Isak’s completeness is echoed by Alvarez, but the roots of the South American’s style are shaped by a natural quality in front of goal. As per Sofascore, he only missed seven big chances in La Liga last season, scoring 17 goals and creating nine big chances too.

And this isn’t a simple anomaly. Across his two campaigns in the Premier League, the 2022 World Cup winner scored 20 goals from 44 starts, only missing 14 big chances.

It’s pretty clear he’d prove an upgrade on Nunez, and while Isak is FSG’s first-choice pick, Alvarez might just be the perfect fallback if ambitious efforts to bring Isak over from St. James’ Park don’t pull through.

The winds of change are blowing at Anfield, all right, but there’s more still to come for the Premier League champions, who are packaging a proven squad with exciting additions who might just solidify Slot’s early success, shaping it into a dynasty.

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Each side topped their regional qualifiers with six wins from six. The top of Group B is now at stake

Andrew Miller05-Jun-20244:18

Finch: Scotland will be confident after impressing against England

Match detailsNamibia vs Scotland
Bridgetown, 8pm localBig picture: Opportunity knocks after washoutThe magic number would appear to be 109, to judge by the two very contrasting clashes that have so far taken place in Group B of the T20 World Cup 2024.In Barbados on Sunday evening, Namibia grunted and ground their way to two precious points thanks to David Wiese’s heroics in the Super Over, having only just managed to match Oman’s all-out total of 109 off the very last ball of their original 20 overs.And then two days later, on the same surface at Bridgetown (albeit a less slow and sticky version to judge by the fluency of Scotland’s openers) George Munsey and Michael Jones dispatched England’s bowlers for 90 runs in ten overs either side of a two-hour rain delay … which, by the time DLS had worked its magic, meant England would have needed a target of, yes, 109 had the weather not closed back in to ruin the afternoon’s entertainment.And so it’s back to Bridgetown we go for two teams that have been on a significant roll since the end of their respective campaigns at the last T20 World Cup in 2022. Last year, both Namibia and Scotland topped their regional qualifiers, in Africa and Europe respectively, with six wins out of six, against such less-vaunted opponents as Italy and Tanzania. Now, however, they go head-to-head with rather more than trans-continental bragging rights to play for.England’s habitual discomfort against European opponents has seen to that. Irrespective of whether Tuesday’s washout was an opportunity won or lost for Scotland, the fact that Group B’s top seeds fell short of their anticipated two points means the door is ajar for a notable upset, particularly if Australia can inflict further damage on England’s standing in Saturday’s heavyweight clash.David Wiese and Ruben Trumpelmann are key performers for Namibia•ICC/Getty ImagesIn the meantime, all that matters is victory here and now. If Scotland can grab the extra point that eluded them last time out, then maintain their 100% record in T20Is against Oman when they meet in Antigua in Sunday, then they will go into their final group game against Australia next week with qualification in their own hands. It’s a lot of “ifs” at this stage, of course. But one fewer than they needed at the start of their campaign.As for Namibia, a three-point gap at the top of Group B beckons if they can make it two wins from two – and if they need any extra incentive, they need only rewind to their last T20 World Cup campaign two years ago, when qualification for the main event beckoned after their impressive victory over Sri Lanka in their opening fixture, only for the Netherlands and UAE to rip their dream away. They’ll be doubly keen to ensure this latest strong start doesn’t go to waste.Form guideNamibia TWWLL
Scotland LWLWWIn the spotlight: Munsey and TrumpelmannIn an innings of two halves on Tuesday, Jones made the running for Scotland prior to the rain-break, including with what looked set to be the moment of the day – a violent pick-up off Chris Jordan that smashed a solar panel on the roof at midwicket. But then, in the 22-ball resumption, it was all about George Munsey, who clobbered 23 from his remaining 12 balls, including a stunning switch-hit six that a left-handed KP could scarcely have timed any better. Namibia, however, know from recent experience that that shot is a Munsey trademark – at Kirtipur in February 2023, he unfurled a similar stroke for four to bring up his maiden ODI hundred, and seal a stunning ten-wicket win with a massive 167 balls to spare. In 2017, he scored his only first-class hundred against the same opponents, in the Intercontinental Cup in Ayr.Left-hander George Munsey hit Adil Rashid for a right-handed six earlier in the tournament•Getty ImagesMunsey, however, will remember all too well what happened the last time he encountered the left-arm swing of Ruben Trumpelmannat a T20 World Cup. Facing up to the first ball of the match, in Abu Dhabi in 2021, Munsey climbed into a cut but misjudged the width, and hacked the ball onto his own stumps. Three balls later, Scotland were 2 for 3, as Calum McLeod and Richie Berrington were blasted from the crease with an aplomb to rival Mitchell Starc. And auspiciously for Namibia, Trumpelmann has started this latest tournament with similar devastation. Two balls versus Oman, two wickets in the bag, as both Kashyap Prajapati and Aqib Ilyas fell to savage, stump-seeking lbws.Pitch and conditions: The good news is that the weather in Barbados seems significantly better than it has been for the first week of the tournament. Only a small chance of rain is anticipated for each day until Sunday.Team newsNamibia endured a scare in their opener against Oman but came through in the end. An unchanged team could be in the offing.Namibia (probable): 1 Michael van Lingen, 2 Nikolaas Davin, 3 Jan Frylinck, 4 Gerhard Erasmus (capt), 5 JJ Smit, 6 David Wiese, 7 Zane Green (wk), 8 Malan Kruger, 9 Ruben Trumpelmann, 10 Bernard Scholtz, 11 Tangeni LungameniPrecisely two Scotland players got to sample the atmosphere of a Caribbean World Cup on Tuesday, but the confidence that Munsey and Jones will have telegraphed through their unbroken stand should not be underestimated. There’s no reason to think there’ll be any tweaks to the line-up that was trusted for their opening outing.Scotland (probable): 1 George Munsey, 2 Michael Jones, 3 Brandon McMullen, 4 Richie Berrington (capt), 5 Matt Cross (wk), 6 Michael Leask, 7 Chris Greaves, 8 Mark Watt, 9 Brad Wheal, 10 Chris Sole, 11 Brad CurrieStats that matter Namibia are playing in their third consecutive T20 World Cup, after qualifying for the 2021 and 2022 events. They have won five of their 12 matches to date, including the recent Super Over victory against Oman. Namibia have beaten Scotland in each of their three previous T20Is, including their only previous clash at a World Cup – a four-wicket win at Abu Dhabi in 2021. Since then, however, Scotland have won five of the six ODIs that the two teams have ever contested – including the aforementioned Munsey masterclass in February 2023.Quotes”Every game at a World Cup is a big game regardless of who the opposition is, so nothing changes in terms of process and preparation. We might not have as big a crowd watching us, but we still know it’s just as big a game and we need to win to really compete here.”
Brad Wheal, Scotland’s seamer, is braced for an important showdown.“The associates are ready. They want to play. They’re raring to go.”

Manchester United restored some sense of pride on the final day of the Premier League season with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Amad Diallo and Christian Eriksen, who scored from the spot, both got on the scoresheet to secure three points for the Red Devils after their disappointment in Bilbao.

Ruben Amorim delivered his speech to the supporters inside the ground after the full-time whistle and stated that Manchester United can overcome any situation and that they will strive to bring success back to the club next term.

United ended the 2024/25 campaign with no trophies added to the cabinet, and they will be without European football next season, which could also be seen as a potential positive to ease their schedule and allow them to focus on domestic success.

In order to get the club competing at the top of the table again, though, Amorim will need to be backed by the board to improve his squad, as the current players have simply not delivered enough on the pitch.

One player who should be replaced, as a regular starter at the very least, is centre-forward Rasmus Hojlund, who has not done enough to suggest that he can be relied on.

Why Manchester United need to replace Rasmus Hojlund

The Danish marksman arrived from Atalanta in the summer of 2023 in a deal that was reported to be worth up to £72m, which immediately put high expectations on the striker.

However, Hojlund had only scored nine goals in the Serie A during the 2022/23 campaign and arrived at Old Trafford as a young striker with the potential to improve, rather than a ready-made star who was likely to hit the ground running.

Unfortunately, the 22-year-old attacker has not kicked on in the way that the club would have hoped for when they decided to splash a significant amount of money on his services two years ago.

Rasmus Hojlund (Premier League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

30

32

xG

7.64

5.24

Goals

10

4

Minutes per goal

217

506

Big chances created

0

4

Assists

2

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Hojlund had a fairly decent first year in the Premier League with a return of ten goals in 30 games, but he has regressed throughout his United career to date, scoring just four times in the league this season.

A return of four league goals and zero assists in 32 appearances is simply not good enough. Not good enough for the Red Devils, and not good enough for a striker who was signed for £72m two years ago.

This is why Amorim must look to replace Hojlund as a starter, either with a player in the squad or by dipping into the summer transfer window. However, one player who may not come in to replace him is reported target Viktor Gyokeres.

Why Man Utd may not sign Viktor Gyokeres

Despite working with the United boss at Sporting, the Sweden international may not be a realistic target for the Premier League giants this summer after they failed to secure European football.

Prior to the Europa League final, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano suggested that moves for Victor Osimhen and Gyokeres could be taken off the table by a failure to land a Champions League place due to financial limitations.

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The reporter said: “He loves Gyokeres and Gyokeres loves Amorim, for sure. But for Man Utd we say it for [Victor] Osimhen and for Gyokeres too – it depends on the budget, how much they can invest, how much they can spend and what happens with European football.”

Sporting’s star number nine has been linked with Liverpool and Arsenal, who will both be in the Champions League next season, which could make it incredibly difficult for United to outbid them or convince the striker to pick a move to Old Trafford over playing European football.

Failing to sign Gyokeres would be a shame, given that the 26-year-old star has scored 96 goals and provided 28 assists in 101 matches for Sporting, but Amorim could forget about Hojlund and the former Coventry City ace by unleashing Kobbie Mainoo in a new role.

The new role Kobbie Mainoo should play for Man Utd

Whilst this may sound like a crazy idea at face value, playing a central midfielder up front as an alternative to signing a striker with 96 goals in 101 games, it is a tactical move that could make sense for United in the short-term.

Teams have been successful in the past without having a natural number nine who scored 20-plus goals. Roberto Firmino, for example, only scored more than 12 Premier League goals in one of his seasons at Liverpool, and they won the title and the Champions League during his time there.

The Brazil international was so effective for Jurgen Klopp because he brought technical quality and ingenuity in a false nine role, which was perfectly complemented by having two inside forwards, in Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, who could deliver goals on a regular basis.

Mainoo, who was described as a “generational talent” by Hojlund, is a technically excellent footballer who can offer similar qualities to Firmino in that role, and United are reportedly closing in on Matheus Cunha, who would be perfect to play alongside the England international as part of a Klopp’s Liverpool-esque front three.

24/25 Premier League

Matheus Cunha

Kobbie Mainoo

Appearances

33

25

Starts

29

19

xG

8.63

0.77

Goals

15

0

Big chances created

13

4

Assists

6

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Wolves star has the goalscoring and creative quality to be a terrific addition as one of the number ten options behind the striker, which could make him the Salah or Mane to Mainoo’s Firmino.

Whilst the United star’s haul of zero goals and four ‘big chances’ created may not immediately catch the eye, he did create those chances in just 19 starts whilst mainly playing as a central midfielder, and the star showcased his composure and quality in the box against Lyon int the Europa League.

Mainoo scored three goals from just 0.89 xG in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, which suggests that he does have the potential to finish chances efficiently, and he would have more opportunities to find the back of the net whilst playing as a false nine.

Therefore, United could forget about Hojlund and Gyokeres by unleashing the academy graduate in a new role next season, utilising his technical quality and intelligence to combine with the goalscoring quality that Cunha and Bruno Fernandes can provide behind him.

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This could be a cost-effective, short-term, solution to Amorim’s Hojlund problem, due to the financial blow of missing out on Europe, and save the club from having to spend money on a less-than-ideal striker alternative to their big targets, which could set them up to go big on a new number nine next year if they work their way back into European football.

While there is certainly more than one issue at Manchester United, much of the current problems can be centred around the long-standing woes of one key position – centre-forward.

Since arriving from Atalanta on a £64m deal back in 2023, Rasmus Hojlund has just scored 24 goals in 88 games in all competitions. Another Serie A import, Joshua Zirkzee, scored just seven times during his injury-curtailed debut campaign in Manchester.

Prior to Hojlund’s arrival, Erik ten Hag had been forced to rely on an injury-prone Anthony Martial for much of 2022/23, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s hasty exit, a fact that led to the shock, short-term signing of two-goal loanee, Wout Weghorst.

The January addition of the Dutchman marked the lowest ebb in United’s search for a stop-gap, short-term striker – following the days of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani and Odion Ighalo – while the desire for more long-term acquisitions, like Hojlund and Zirkzee, has also backfired.

Man Utd’s top PL scorer by season

Season

Player

Goals

2024/25*

Bruno Fernandes

8

2023/24

Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund

10

2022/23

Marcus Rashford

17

2021/22

Cristiano Ronaldo

18

2020/21

Bruno Fernandes

18

2019/20

Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial

17

2018/19

Paul Pogba

13

2017/18

Romelu Lukaku

16

2016/17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

17

2015/16

Anthony Martial

11

2014/15

Wayne Rooney

12

2013/14

Wayne Rooney

17

2012/13

Robin van Persie

26

Stats via Transfermarkt

That latter pursuit has sparked speculation surrounding the capture of Ipswich Town’s 22-year-old talisman, Liam Delap, although Ruben Amorim’s side need a proven, ready-made goal machine to arrive through the door this summer.

The latest on Man Utd's striker search

Alongside the desire to bring in a new number ten, in the form of Matheus Cunha, the latest reports indicate that the Red Devils are also ramping up their pursuit of Delap, with the Englishman available for £30m this summer, amid Ipswich’s imminent return to the Championship.

The former Manchester City academy graduate has enjoyed a fine season regardless of the club’s collective woes, after scoring 12 Premier League goals, although such a move would still represent a risk, considering he scored just eight times for Hull City in the Championship last term.

With that in mind, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is among those seemingly under consideration as a potential upgrade, while The Mirror have only recently reported that Amorim and co are keen on a deal for Napoli’s Victor Osmihen.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to the report, the Old Trafford outfit are ‘pushing’ to strike a ‘cut-price’ deal for the Nigerian sensation, with Amorim said to have made the on-loan Galatasaray man his ‘top striker target’.

The belief is that United are keen to strike a bargain £40m deal with the Serie A side, capitalising on the fact that the 26-year-old is set to enter the final year of his current contract back in Naples.

Amorim is said to ‘favour’ a move for Osimhen, ahead of Delap, and it’s easy to see why…

Why Osimhen could be the best signing since Bruno Fernandes

It has been made clear that INEOS are keen on pursuing a youth-centric approach to transfer dealings, a fact showcased with the recent signings of Patrick Dorgu (20) and Ayden Heaven (18), during the January transfer window.

That desire to plan for the future is all well and good, but United are crying out for figures who can instantly hit the ground running in Manchester. No longer can Amorim and co afford to play the waiting game.

Going down the route of signing the likes of Hojlund simply hasn’t worked, with the Old Trafford hierarchy needing to snap up players entering their peak years – much like with the capture of Bruno Fernandes in January 2020.

From his Man of the Match performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers on debut, the Portuguese playmaker has looked every bit a Manchester United player. Fast forward just over five years, and the now-30-year-old boasts 96 goals and 85 games in all competitions for the club.

It could be argued that bringing in Osimhen would represent a signing of similar ilk, with the former Lille man having ripped it up wherever he has been, as evidenced by his career tally of 144 goals in 258 club games.

Previously the driving force behind Napoli’s Scudetto success in 2022/23 – in which he scored 26 league goals – the towering striker is currently thriving out in Turkey, having only recently powered to 30 goals for the season across all fronts.

Lauded as the “best striker on the market” by Statman Dave, Osimhen looks like a centre-forward at the peak of his powers – much like Fernandes represented in his final full season at Sporting CP.

Osimhen (24/25) vs Fernandes (2018/19) – League stats

Stat (*per game)

Osimhen (Galatasaray)

Fernandes (Sporting)

Games (starts)

24 (22)

33 (33)

Goals

21

20

Goal frequency

89mins

147mins

Big chances missed

21

7

Big chances created

10

9

Assists

4

13

Key passes*

1.1

3.2

Pass accuracy*

67%

75%

Successful dribbles*

0.6

0.9

Possession lost*

7.7

22.8

Stats via Sofascore

While yet to sample Premier League action, Osimhen has proven himself in France, Belgium, Italy and now Turkey, with it unlikely that he’ll find the jump too great a challenge next term.

In the case of Hojlund, United can hardly be too surprised by his current woes, considering he scored just ten goals for Atalanta prior to moving to Manchester. The promising Dane is a player of potential, but in Osimhen, Amorim could find the real deal.

Indeed, with club legend Gary Neville stating that Fernandes is the only signing of the last decade who has “done more than I thought he would”, perhaps the Napoli outcast could be the best addition since the Portugal star’s arrival.

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Burnley are fighting for promotion to the Premier League and Scott Parker has wasted no time in profiling targets ahead of the summer window, per reports.

Burnley edge ahead of Championship title rivals

Following a chaotic afternoon of Championship action, Burnley emerged at the summit following a vital 2-1 victory over Coventry City on Saturday courtesy of a double from Jaidon Anthony.

Sheffield United’s unexpected slip-up at Oxford United and Leeds United’s dropped points on their visit to Luton Town have played into the Clarets’ hands, with promotion specialist Scott Parker licking his lips at the remaining fixture schedule.

Nevertheless, Burnley also have an eye on next season and potential recruits once the window opens for business. Per reports, out-of-contract Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence could move to Turf Moor on a free transfer.

Despite the Clarets’ appeal as a serious promotion candidate, West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough, Coventry City and Wrexham are among other destinations on the table for the Wales international.

Burnley’s final six Championship fixtures

Derby County (A)

Pride Park

Norwich City (H)

Turf Moor

Watford (A)

Vicarage Road

Sheffield United (H)

Turf Moor

QPR (A)

Loftus Road

Millwall (H)

Turf Moor

On the same token, West Brom star Grady Diangana is on Burnley’s radar and they have been urged to put forward a proposal for the versatile attacker by David Prutton.

Ultimately, any concrete information on high-profile targets will need to wait until the summer. Parker’s men are in a good position with the end of the campaign near, but there is plenty of work to do before celebratory champagne can be cracked open at Turf Moor.

Either way, Burnley are making tracks to lure a rising EFL star to Lancashire despite competition from Premier League clubs for his signature, per recent developments.

Burnley eyeing Bristol Rovers midfielder Kofi Shaw

According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon via The 72, Burnley are eyeing a move to sign Bristol Rovers midfielder Kofi Shaw alongside Premier League duo Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford.

Born in 2006, the 18-year-old has made ten appearances for the Gas this campaign, while his loan spell at Yeovil Town earlier on yielded two goals and an assist.

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Versatile by nature, the youngster is capable of playing across various roles in the engine room, on either flank or as a foil for the main striker.

Labelled “a clever player” by boss Inigo Calderon, he would likely be deemed as one for the future at Turf Moor, but stockpiling homegrown talent for years to come is a strategy that could save millions down the line if worked correctly.

It remains to be seen the sort of fee he would be available for if Burnley do follow up on their initial interest. One imagines he could be attainable for a relatively inexpensive fee, though only time will tell if a deal is to come to fruition.

As the fourth evening drew to a close, the setting sun caused a glare off the sightscreen that made the ball difficult to pick out of Carse’s hand

Sidharth Monga22-Jul-2025

Brydon Carse picked up two key wickets on the fourth evening at Lord’s•AFP/Getty Images

It was twilight but the visibility was fine. There was no problem from the other end. It was the fourth evening of the Lord’s Test, and India were looking solid in their chase of 193. The partnership between KL Rahul and Karun Nair was going at a control percentage of 88.Then Nair padded up to a straight delivery, seemingly misjudging both line and length. Shubman Gill, who hardly ever plays a false shot and had 601 runs to his name already in the series, came out and began missing or misconnecting full-tosses and half-volleys. His feet hardly moved, and his reactions seemed off. In his nine-ball stay, he was in control of four balls and not in control of five.Test batters don’t bat the way Nair and Gill did that day. It turns out there was a byplay going on here – a struggle to sight the ball out of Brydon Carse’s hand. This phenomenon can be best described as: when you are seeing the ball well, you see a definite point of origin out of the hand, but in this final half-hour or so, the ball was coming out of somewhere in the general area of the bowler’s hand. It was because of a glare from the sightscreen just at that time, and just at that end, with the sun setting on the off side of the right-hand batter. Carse’s height of release made things trickier.Related

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Facing fast bowling is an extreme sport at the best of times. Carse’s average pace of 139kph in that spell converts to 42 yards per second, which means you have half-a-second to play the ball. The extra millisecond spent in picking the ball can be the difference between the normal, silken Gill and the uncertain Gill with cement feet and fumbling hands.England had likely picked on something. In that four-over spell that evening, Carse landed 62.5% of his balls fuller than a good length. Fast bowlers don’t usually do that unless it is reversing, and Carse began that spell with a ten-over-old ball. It was just that end, and just that height that was causing problems.In India’s first innings, Rahul had dug out a yorker from Carse in his last over of the second evening. Whether or not it was something that Ben Stokes and England filed away and worked on, England showed great situational awareness on the fourth evening to take two huge wickets with the new ball.In a way, this was quite similar to the over that Andrew Flintoff bowled to Jacques Kallis at Edgbaston in 2008, although not remotely as egregious. Back then, the dark windows above the sightscreen were an issue. The windows were at just the right place for Flintoff to be able to take advantage of, but not for Morne Morkel, who was too tall.Shubman Gill struggled to put bat on ball in the fourth innings•Getty ImagesAt Lord’s, there was no such obvious flaw. Everything is pristine at Lord’s. But the sight boards are a little thin, almost like a mesh. They are made of polycarbonate with contravision film, which allows vision through one side and makes it look opaque from the other. This had replaced the traditional wooden sightscreen, which had blocked the views of the members.That in itself is not a problem. It has never been a problem for batters except during that half-hour when the sun is just at the right angle to create a glare just behind Carse’s release point. Bowling full at such times is clever, because full balls give batters less time to react, and inflict maximum damage.Had it been a regular feature, the batters might have brought it up with the umpires. India’s reaction has been to shrug and move on. Not that Kallis was able to do anything about a much more obvious glitch 17 years ago. He didn’t seem to try to stop play while batting, and only pointed out the windows later. That didn’t have any impact, as Kallis ducked into a Flintoff full-toss that he didn’t pick.The period of glare at Lord’s didn’t last long enough for it to be noticed at the time. These are the challenges and quirks of playing Test cricket at different venues that nothing other than experience can prepare you for. It has been that kind of series for India, where they have found ways to fall behind despite playing better cricket for longer periods. A brief window of play when the ball would be difficult to pick out of the hand of a specific bowler from a specific end at a specific time was the least expected way for this to happen.