It will be fascinating to see the future of Marcus Rashford this summer, but it does not seem like he will return to Aston Villa.

The Manchester United forward enjoyed a successful loan spell at Villa Park in the second half of last season, but a return to the club on a permanent deal seems unlikely.

In mid-May, BBC Sport reported that the winger thinks his boyhood club ‘would be prepared to sell him for £40m to anyone this summer’. Reading between the lines, you certainly get the impression that a permanent deal at Villa Park is off the table for Rashford.

If he does end up going elsewhere, the Villans will need a replacement for the electric England international.

Aston Villa eyeing up Rashford alternative

Replacing a player with the impact and star quality of Rashford will not be easy for Monchi and Co this summer, especially with potential PSR restrictions looming over them.

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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However, it seems as though manager Unai Emery has identified his ideal target.

According to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, the West Midlands club are ‘keeping very close tabs’ on Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres.

He is a player who ‘has been on the radar of several Premier League clubs’ since leaving Manchester City, with ‘Villa seriously interested’ in adding him to their squad.

This is a move driven by manager Emery. It appears that the Villa boss would ‘absolutely love’ for his side to sign the Spain international this summer.

As for a fee, it was reported by a Spanish news outlet in May that he could cost around the £42m mark for any potential transfer to happen.

How Ferran Torres compares to Rashford

If Torres were to make the move to Villa Park this summer, he would add instant quality to their attack and bring Premier League experience, too. Of course, since leaving Man City, he has represented Barcelona, where, last season, he impressed.

Breaking into a Barca front three that contains Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and, of course, Lamine Yamal, is not easy. Yet, Torres still showed his quality last season, with 19 goals and seven assists in 45 appearances.

In La Liga, he played 27 times, scoring ten times and grabbing six assists. However, perhaps the most notable game of the 2024/25 season from the Spaniard came against his former side, Valencia, in the Copa del Rey. Torres scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 rout at the Estadio Mestalla.

It certainly would not be easy to step in for Rashford if the Spaniard moved to Villa. The 27-year-old only played 17 games for the club, but had an incredible impact in such a short amount of time.

The boyhood Man United star played 940 minutes, the equivalent of 10.4 full 90-minute games. He scored four goals and registered six assists in that time, leaving him with a goal-to-game ratio of 0.96.

Stepping into Rashford’s boots will certainly be a challenge for Torres. However, he already had a taste of the Premier League with Man City. In 28 English top-flight games, he scored nine goals and grabbed three assists.

Many Villa fans will surely be hoping the Spain international is essentially the second coming of Rashford, and the stats on FBref are there to back that up. The pair are statistically similar to each other over the past 365 days.

There are some noticeable stats which best showcase the similarities between the pair. For example, Torres last season averaged 3.09 shot-creating actions each game compared to Rashford’s 3.55 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes.

Torres and Rashford key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Torres

Rashford

Goals per shot on target

0.45

0.36

Key passes

1.54

1.77

Progressive passes

2.85

2.15

Shot-creating actions

3.09

3.55

Goal-creating actions

0.57

0.25

Take-ons completed

0.89

1.14

Stats from FBref

Stats like that show just how involved in the attack Torres is, which can certainly be said for Rashford, too. In that sense, and the fact that he maintains a similar creative output to the Englishman, suggests he would be a fantastic replacement. He is, as football scout Antonio Mango said, a “special” player.

For around £42m, Torres could be a bargain for the Villa Park side. He is, in many ways, the second coming of Rashford, and should seamlessly be able to step into his shoes. Emery wants to sign him, and the price is fair. This seems like a brilliant deal for Villa.

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Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson Jun 24, 2025

Crystal Palace have made an approach to sign a “powerful” £20m star alongside their talks for Ousmane Diomande, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace receive Europa League boost as John Textor sells stake

Since Palace won the FA Cup back in May, there has been lots of talk about whether the Eagles would be able to play in the Europa League or not next season, given John Textor was a shareholder at Selhurst Park as well as at Lyon, who are also participating in the same competition next season.

Crystal Palace now in "negotiations" to sign "dominant" 21 y/o defender

Oliver Glasner has reportedly “approved” the signing.

ByHenry Jackson Jun 20, 2025

Palace’s chances of being in the competition have just received a major boost, as Textor has now sold his shares in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson. Textor had a 43 percent stake, but he has now sold all of that to Johnson in a deal worth more than £109 million.

Textor’s sale to Johnson needs the Premier League’s approval, but if all goes well, Palace supporters could now find themselves following their team in Europe next season. As well as being owner of the New York Jets, Johnson was also a former US ambassador to the UK, and his interest in the Premier League is not new, as he’s tried to buy a football club before now, holding interests in West Ham and Chelsea.

As Palace could now be set for a season in the Europa League, they can now turn their focus to summer transfers, and while they work on a deal for Diomande, they have another player on their radar.

Crystal Palace make approach to sign Andy Diouf

According to Alan Nixon, relayed by TBR Football, Crystal Palace have approached RC Lens over a deal to sign Andy Diouf, who they see as their next signing if they can wrap up a deal for Sporting defender Ousmane Diomande.

The report states that the Eagles are aware they could potentially lose midfielder Adam Wharton this summer, given his impressive performances last season in the Premier League, and they are now putting plans in place to have a replacement for the Englishman. It is stated that Lens are willing to sell Diouf this summer, as long as they receive a bid worth £20 million.

Diouf, who has been described as a “powerful ball-carrier” in the past, played 34 times in Ligue 1 last season, scoring one goal in the process. Diouf’s versatility will make him a very useful addition at Selhurst Park, as he can operate anywhere through the spine of midfield, as a number six, eight or ten.

Apps

67

Goals

2

Assists

2

A concrete move for Diouf will likely come once the Eagles have completed the transfer of Diomande. It’s been reported that Palace are in negotiations with Sporting CP over a deal to sign the defender, as he is seen as a replacement for Marc Guehi. It could cost Palace as much as £40 million to get a deal over the line for the Ivory Coast international.

Arsenal continue to be busy planning their next moves, with five days remaining to register new players early doors before the first mini-window shuts on June 10.

Arsenal striker search ongoing with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko targeted

The consensus among reliable media outlets is that Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko are Arsenal’s two priority striker targets – amid some whispers the club are still debating Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins as well (The Athletic).

Arsenal discuss signing £80m Sesko and Gyokeres alternative who'd love to join

The Gunners’ striker search is an ongoing fascination.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 5, 2025

As per the BBC and journalist Sami Mokbel, Arsenal are discussing the frameworks of deals for both Gyokeres and Sesko, before sporting Andrea Berta, Mikel Arteta and the Gunners’ recruitment team formally decide which number nine to go for.

What is absolutely non-negotiable, though, is the club’s glaring for a prolific striker.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal scored just 69 goals in the Premier League last season – a far cry from the 91 and 88 they’d scored in the previous two campaigns – and their struggle to break sides down resulted in them drawing more games than any other side in the top half.

The stats never lie, and these numbers tell a story that Arteta is in dire need of a vocal point up front.

One of Arsenal’s options, Sesko, is fresh off the back of 21 goals in all competitions, and “concrete talks” have been held. According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, they’re the “only” side to go this far, despite Man United’s interest.

Arsenal could advance Benjamin Sesko deal in "next few days"

Speaking on The Football Terrace this week, reliable journalist Ben Jacobs has shared an update on the north Londoners’ complex pursuit.

Arsenal could advance on a deal for Sesko in the next few days, but it would require Leipzig to be flexible on his asking price. The Gunners ideally want to strike an agreement for around £59 million, whereas his release clause is currently nearer the £70m mark.

“They’ve made contact with Leipzig in the last three days,” said Jacobs.

“They have discussed whether or not there is flexibility beneath the variable release clause, set at the moment around €80 million. That’s why that one’s taking time, because Arsenal want to do Sesko for €70 million, or within that ballpark.

“I think, if Leipzig show flexibility, there is a concrete possibility that one advances in the next few days. The earlier contact with Leipzig in January is very key to this, because they were respectful of the player wanting to see out the season, and of Leipzig not wanting to sell mid-season.

“That strengthens Arsenal’s position in Sesko negotiations, because now Leipzig have a good relationship with Arsenal.”

The Slovenia international is gaining a reputation as a very “underrated” option in the market, and while his goal record is modest, Sesko’s speed, power and height arguably make him tailor-made for Premier League football.

Pakistan made it more complicated than it needed to be, but Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi led them to a nervy three-wicket win to sign off their T20 World Cup campaign. Shaheen led the way with the ball with three early wickets and finished the contest off with two sixes, while Babar shepherded a chase that he watched fall apart with an unbeaten 32.Mohammad Amir and Haris Rauf joined Shaheen among the wickets as Ireland were reduced to 32 for 6. At that stage, an early-afternoon finish appeared likely, but Gareth Delany and Mark Adair gritted their way through a 44-run partnership off 30 balls. Imad Wasim took care of the lower order with figures of 3 for 8 in four overs, in what is likely his last game for Pakistan, but a cameo of 22 from Josh Little took Ireland to 106.Pakistan were cruising through the chase after eight overs with Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar doing their bit to take any sting out of Ireland’s bowling attack. But a frenetic phase in the middle overs, when Curtis Campher and Barry McCarthy took four wickets for 10 runs, left Babar alone with a relatively long tail.But Abbas Afridi swung his way through a happy-go-lucky 17 to bring the target down to 12, while a calf injury for Little meant Ireland had to bowl spin at Shaheen. He finished with two heaved sixes to seal a win that gave Pakistan relief rather than satisfaction.

Shaheen back in love with first overs

After going eight successive T20Is without a first-over wicket – his longest dry spell in his T20I career – Shaheen finally snapped the streak today, his third ball a perfect illustration of why he has historically been so effective up front. The new ball swung and seamed back in to pierce Andrew Balbirnie’s defences and crash into the stumps. Two balls later, Shaheen got one to shape the other way, kissing Lorcan Tucker’s outside edge on the way to Rizwan. There was nearly a third when Pakistan reviewed one that clipped Harry Tector’s pad, and though that wasn’t given, Shaheen trapped Tector in front in his next over.Pakistan fans with a message for their team in Lauderhill•ICC/Getty Images

Ireland’s recovery

When Pakistan had Ireland at 32 for 6, any prospect of recovery was distant. But Ireland understood that continuing to attack was the most direct route to runs. In the tenth over, Gareth Delany hit Shadab’s first ball for six and Mark Adair pulled the last one for four. They attacked Abbas Afridi, who had not played a competitive game since his inclusion in Pakistan’s World Cup squad, for 16 runs in the 11th.It kept Ireland on track three figures, and when another slump came – from 76 for 6 to 80 for 9 – Little and Ben White batted the remaining six overs, adding an unbeaten 26 for the last wicket. An hour later, they were almost rewarded for it.

Pakistan’s jitters

Pakistan securing a straightforward win would have been an inauthentic end to the campaign they have had, and duly, the collapse came. If Pakistan felt they were sitting pretty halfway through the chase against India, it was nothing compared to the impregnability of their position against Ireland. Pakistan needed 55 in 12 overs with eight wickets in hand, with Babar and Fakhar Zaman batting, when Zaman drilled one to mid-off. It was the catalyst for flutters through the whole of the Pakistan camp as Usman Khan was deceived by McCarthy’s extra bounce in the tenth over.The memories of the chase that fell apart last Sunday were fresh as Shadab, to whom cricket is offering no hiding place at the moment, flicked his second ball to the wicketkeeper. Imad finally connected with the cut shot he’s been trying since Ravindra Jadeja bowled against him, but straight to the man at point. An unassertive top order and a non-existent middle order won’t get you out of the first round at many World Cups, and this game was the perfect illustration of the point.

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.”

Goals, goals and more goals; if there is one thing Arsenal lacked this season, it was goals.

Mikel Arteta’s side finished second in the Premier League for the third season on the bounce this year and produced the best defence in the competition.

Yet, the North Londoners scored 17 goals fewer than champions Liverpool and three fewer than Manchester City, who finished in third.

So, fans should be excited about recent reports linking the club to a Premier League-proven goalscorer, who’d be a significant upgrade on Kai Havertz.

Arsenal's striker search

It feels like every other transfer story concerning Arsenal this summer has been related to a striker, specifically Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres.

According to reports from earlier this week, RB Leipzig are holding out for up to €100m for the Slovenian star, which is about £85m, while the Sporting CP star might be available for up to €70m, which is about £60m.

However, with progress seemingly stalling with both, another name has re-emerged: Ollie Watkins.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a recent report from Gary Jacob of the Times, Arsenal could go back in for the Aston Villa star this summer.

The Gunners had an offer of around £40m for the Englishman turned down in the winter window, but according to other reports from earlier this week, an offer of that much might be enough to seal the deal this summer.

It might not be the striker signing fans were hoping for or even expecting at the start of the window, but Watkins is Premier League-proven and would be a massive upgrade on Havertz.

How Watkins compares to Havertz

Now, even though Watkins can play in a few positions across the frontline and even played in midfield in his younger days, his best position remains up top, leading the line, so much so, in fact, that podcaster Rohan Jivan described him as “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe.”

Therefore, with Gabriel Jesus set to be out for the rest of the year, his main competitor for game time at Arsenal would be Havertz, but who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, when it comes down to their raw output, which is ultimately what matters most for a centre-forward, it is the Englishman who comes out on top.

For example, in 54 appearances this season, totalling 3578 minutes, the former Exeter City gem scored 17 goals and provided 14 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.74 games, or every 115.41 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ number 29 scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 36 appearances, totalling 2809 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 140.45 minutes.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.59

0.57

Non-Penalty G+As

0.76

0.58

Progressive Passes

1.07

2.93

Progressive Passes Received

5.71

5.43

Progressive Carries

1.90

1.68

Shots

2.84

2.54

Shots on Target

1.25

1.01

Passing Accuracy

72.4%

78.4%

Key Passes

0.83

0.82

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.45

0.43

Shot-Creating Actions

1.84

2.02

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.14

Successful Take-On %

24.4%

23.7%

The comparison isn’t much better for the German international when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers, either.

For example, while he does better in some areas, such as progressive passes, shot-creating actions and passing accuracy, the Claret and Blue star comes out on top in the vast majority of relevant metrics, like expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, goal-creating actions, shots and shots on target, key passes and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Havertz is a useful player and will likely continue to be next season, but if Arsenal want to genuinely upgrade their frontline, then they could do a lot worse than signing Watkins this summer.

Benjamin Sesko has now made "unusual" demand in Arsenal transfer talks

The Slovenia international wants something out of the ordinary.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 20, 2025

It may be odd to argue, amid what was a wretched campaign for Manchester United as a whole, although 2024/25 was in many ways a season of redemption in some quarters, with Harry Maguire re-establishing himself as a central figure under the new Ruben Amorim regime.

Thrust into an unorthodox number nine berth during United’s Europa League run, in particular, the England international delivered arguably the greatest Old Trafford moment in recent years, following his last-gasp winner against Lyon.

Once written off under Erik ten Hag, having been stripped of the captaincy amid talk over a move to West Ham United, the 32-year-old, to his credit, fought his way back from the brink, having notably been hailed as “perfect” for the 3-4-3 system by Amorim.

Fittingly too, that heroic winner against the Ligue 1 side had been supplied by another man on a mission, in the form of Casemiro, with the Brazilian having also delivered the assist for Kobbie Mainoo just minutes earlier – alongside winning the prior spot-kick.

Central to that comeback, the 33-year-old is in many ways the comeback kid, having shaken off the disappointment of being left out of the starting lineup for last season’s FA Cup final, to then edging out Manuel Ugarte to get the nod for the Europa League showpiece 12 months later.

That resurgence has been a joy to behold, although the fact remains that his £70m addition was perhaps a costly, long-term mistake. Could something similar soon be repeated?

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

Speaking of fixing prior mistakes, the Red Devils appear to be searching for a suitable successor to Andre Onana between the sticks, with the 29-year-old facing an uncertain future at the club after just two years in Manchester.

Linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, the £47.2m signing made a catalogue of errors again in 2024/25 – including three leading to a goal in the Premier League – with it no surprise that Amorim is reportedly seeking a replacement.

As noted by journalist Rudy Galetti, United are said to have “renewed interest” in Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the club holding “internal talks” over whether to make a move for the German.

Transfer Focus

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

Writing in his attached piece for TEAMtalk, Galetti notes that the 33-year-old has emerged as a ‘leading target’ for the Red Devils, amid their search to replace Onana this summer.

The veteran goalkeeper – who is said to have also been considered by Chelsea – is facing his own uncertainty back in Catalonia, amid the potential arrival of Espanyol’s Joan Garcia.

Why Ter Stegen could be another Casemiro for Man Utd

It is heartwarming that a man who won the lot at Real Madrid – namely five Champions Leagues – appears to simply love life at Manchester United, with Casemiro memorably collapsing to the floor in delight following the wild celebrations after Maguire’s Lyon winner.

The one-time Porto man has looked back to his first season best in recent months, having notably described 2022/23 as the “best” individual campaign of his career, with Erik ten Hag having hailed him as the “cement” in the side at the time.

Frustratingly, however, such performances were not maintained in the following year, with Casemiro described as looking like he’s playing “in Soccer Aid” by pundit Jamie Redknapp, having failed to justify his reported £350k-per-week salary.

Casemiro’s PL record by season
Stat (*per game)	22/23	23/24	24/25
Games (starts)	28 (24)	25 (24)	24 (18)
Goals	4	1	1
Assists	3	2	0
Big chances created	7	2	3
Key passes*	1.0	0.6	0.9
Pass accuracy*	79%	83%	80%
Tackles & interceptions*	4.4	4.0	4.1
Balls recovered*	N/A	5.3	4.3
Dribbled past*	1.6	2.2	1.2
Total duels won*	55%	52%	64%
Stats via Sofascore

Despite his recent renaissance, the decision to plump for the ageing talent remains a costly one then, with the same potentially set to occur with regard to Ter Stegen – a player who takes home £102k-per-week in Barcelona.

Like his former Madrid rival, the 44-cap Germany international could bring a wealth of experience to United, undoubtedly, having racked up 422 appearances for the club to date, while winning a plethora of major honours.

Much like Casemiro too, Ter Stegen has repeatedly delivered the goods at the elite level over a consistent period, having previously been described as “extraordinary” and “among the three best keepers in the world” by former boss Xavi. Former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak also stated that it is “is crazy the way he can make some saves”.

The problem is, however, that at 33, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach man would hardly be a long-term solution, not least considering his unfortunate injury woes of late.

Indeed, last season, the long-serving Barca star made just nine appearances in all competitions, having only recently made his return from a lengthy stint on the sidelines due to a tendon issue.

That spell out of action – which saw Ter Stegen miss 51 games for club and country – follows a previous period of absence in 2023/24, in which he missed a further 19 games with a back injury.

For a club like United who have endured frequent injury setbacks in recent times, that must surely have alarm bells ringing, with Amorim unable to afford further disruption in such a key position.

Yes, like Casemiro, the 6 foot 2 ace – who ranked in the top 7% in LaLiga in 2023/24 for save percentage – can be a quality asset on his day, but those days may prove to be few and far between as his career reaches its climax.

As United found with Casemiro – and Raphael Varane before him – Spain’s elite clubs are rather canny at affloading ageing stars at the right time. United simply can’t prove another victim of that this summer.

Their best CF since Ronaldo: Man Utd eager to sign "fearless" £44m striker

Manchester United are eyeing up a move for a striker who would be their best forward since Cristiano Ronaldo.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 8, 2025

Rangers are “weighing up” a move for a striker who loves doing “special things” on the pitch, according to a new update from Sky Sports journalist Luca Bendoni.

This is expected to be a summer of plenty of ins and outs at Ibrox, with new manager Russell Martin of course keen to get in the right players to suit his own system, offloading those who he doesn’t see a future for.

Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has emerged as an exciting target for Rangers, with the 27-year-old surely not wanting to be in the Championship with Saints next season. With the 2026 World Cup looming next summer, he will want to have as good a chance as possible of making England’s squad by starting on a big stage this term.

Meanwhile, Peterborough United centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez has also been talked about as an option for the Gers, following an impressive 2024/25 campaign that saw him average six clearances and 3.5 aerial duel wins per game in League One.

On the downside, Hamza Igamane’s time as a Rangers player looks to be nearing its conclusion, with the striker said to have agreed personal terms with Lille, heading to the Ligue 1 side as Jonathan David’s replacement.

Rangers eyeing move for attacking ace

According to Bendoni on X, Rangers are now “weighing up” a move for Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Don Turgeman this summer.

Turgeman is an exciting attacking talent who would be a long-term signing for the Gers, considering he is still only 21 years of age. He has already won 10 caps for Israel, scoring once for his country in the process.

He has spoken about the brilliance he likes to produce on the pitch, while Gers fans are already getting excited and even comparing him to the great Luis Suarez.

Turgeman could be an ideal direct replacement for Igamane, coming in as a key starter and hopefully taking to the Scottish Premiership with ease, and 32 goals in 109 appearances for Tel Aviv bodes well.

Personal terms agreed: Rangers now in talks to sell "brilliant" £20m ace

Rangers are now in talks with a European club over the sale of one of their key players from last season.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 26, 2025

He should only get better as he matures as a player, and the fact that he likes to entertain could make him an immediate crowd favourite among Rangers supporters.

Manchester United have already wasted no time in the transfer market, already making huge additions to the first-team squad, after the window opened on Sunday.

Matheus Cunha has already been confirmed as a Red Devils player, costing £62.5m from Wolverhampton Wanderers, looking to hand Ruben Amorim a new option in attacking areas.

However, after the club finished 15th in the Premier League this season, it’s evident that more changes are needed to prevent such a situation from reoccurring in the future.

It presents the manager with the perfect chance to overhaul the squad and recruit players he wants to fit the 3-4-2-1 system after taking the reins back in November.

Hefty funds are likely to be spent this summer to try and right the wrongs of 2024/25, with countless names continuously being linked with a switch to Old Trafford during the off-season.

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

All areas of the United team have been subject to improvements during the ongoing window, with various names from all over the world touted for moves to join Amorim’s side.

Ronald Araujo, Ederson and Gonçalo Ramos have all been mentioned as potential summer targets, but no deals have been completed for any of the trio as of yet.

However, progress appears to have been made on a deal to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo after the Cameroonian confirmed he wanted to join the club earlier this week.

Man United Sources’ latest update confirms that an agreement for personal terms is edging closer, with the club and player set to agree on a £175k-per-week contract.

It’s been reported elsewhere that the Bees are demanding a package in the region of £70m to part ways with the 25-year-old, who’s scored 20 league goals this season.

Why United’s £70m target could be Amorim’s next Amad

Amad Diallo is a player who has taken his career to the next level at United this season, cementing himself as a key player within Amorim’s system at Old Trafford.

The Ivorian was given a chance to star by the 40-year-old after previously being handed limited opportunities by former boss Erik ten Hag – something which he’s taken full advantage of.

The 22-year-old has registered 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions, with eight of his efforts coming in the Premier League – making him the joint-top scorer along with Bruno Fernandes.

Amad can operate in a wing-back or attacking midfield role, often liking to cut inside onto his favoured left foot and get shots off, which has led to his impressive numbers in 2024/25.

Mbeumo could replicate such success at Old Trafford, given the fact he plays in a similar position and has also been known to cut inside off the right at Brentford.

His underlying stats in the Premier League this campaign are just as impressive, managing to better Amad in various key areas, which will inject added quality into the manager’s side.

The Bees star, who’s been labelled a “monster” by one analyst, has registered more combined goals and assists, along with a higher shot on target accuracy rate – handing the manager an added threat in front of goal.

Games played

38

26

Goals & assists

27

14

Shot-on-target accuracy

43%

36%

Progressive passes

3.7

2.8

Passes into final third

1.7

1.2

% of tackles won

60%

59%

Clearances made

1.5

0.9

Take-on success

47%

46%

He’s also managed to complete more progressive passes and more passes into the final third, allowing the players ahead of him to improve their own tallies as a result.

Mbeumo’s dominance doesn’t end there, winning more of the tackles he’s entered, whilst making more clearances – having the tools to star in a right wing-back role if needed.

£70m may seem like another mammoth investment from the board, but it’s one that would massively improve the options available to Amorim in various key areas.

The prospect of the Cameroonian at Old Trafford is certainly an exciting one, potentially being a deadly player in the final third – especially if he manages to follow in Amad’s footsteps in the North West.

Dorgu upgrade: Man Utd make "one of the best LBs in the PL" a top target

Man Utd could look to strengthen their wing-back options this summer

ByRobbie Walls Jun 4, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now set to say goodbye to Rayan Ait-Nouri as Manchester City are reportedly closing in £33.7m deal to sign the player.

The Algerian defender has been with Wolves since 2020, but after five seasons at Molineux, now is the time to cash in.

This follows on from Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha, bringing in £62.5m for Vitor Pereira to use this summer.

Cunha will be missed, no doubt about that, but Ait-Nouri has been one of the best players for Wolves in the Premier League over the previous few years.

Rayan Ait-Nouri's record at Wolves

Last season, the defender enjoyed his most productive season with regards to attacking output since he joined Wolves.

Across 41 matches, Ait-Nouri scored five times while registering seven assists for the club. He also created eight big chances in the Premier League for the Old Gold, while averaging 1.3 key passes and succeeding with 1.7 dribbles per game last term.

The onus for Pereira now is to find a player who can be signed cheaply that will go on to replicate the success that Ait-Nouri has at the club.

Rayan Ait-Nouri’s Wolves statistics
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
2024/25	41	5	7
2023/24	38	3	4
2022/23	27	2	1
2021/22	27	1	6
2020/21	27	1	2
Via Transfermarkt

He will have money to spend. That’s a certainty. Could he sign a player from his homeland this summer who might be an even bigger talent than Ait-Nouri?

Wolves eyeing move for Roger Fernandes

Journalist Graeme Bailey stated recently that Wolves are keeping tabs on Braga’s Roger Fernandes ahead of making a potential swoop.

Transfer Focus

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“I think the Portuguese league will be somewhere that they explore; it wouldn’t surprise me if they do look towards that league again,” said Bailey.

“I’ve heard Roger Fernandes’ name linked to Wolves in recent weeks as well, wouldn’t surprise me if he was on the agenda.”

Despite typically operating as a right-winger, Fernandes can also play either left-back or left wing-back, positions that Ait-Nouri made his own at Wolves.

Quite how highly-rated the 19-year-old is evident by the fact that he even made his debut aged just 15 years and eight months for Braga back in August 2021 – a record in Portugal’s top-flight. Ait-Nouri, by contrast, was 17 when he made his first senior bow for Angers in August 2018.

Last season, meanwhile, Fernandes made 48 appearances across all competitions for the Portuguese side, scoring five goals and chipping in with seven assists.

For context, Ait-Nouri’s final season in France saw him register just three assists in 17 games in Ligue 1, before joining Wolves at the age of 19.

Fernandes shone at both ends of the pitch. Not only did he create six big chances while averaging 1.3 key passes per game, but the youngster also won over 50% of his contested duels while averaging 1.5 tackles per match for Braga.

Last summer, talent scout Jacek Kulig praised the teenager, describing him as “Braga’s biggest jewel” and “one of the most exciting U19s in Portugal.”

It would certainly be a significant coup should Pereira land the winger this summer, especially given his high ceiling for development.

Wolves might only have to pay a fee of around £25m to secure his services. With the club raising nearly £90m by selling Cunha and Ait-Nouri, it could prove to be a wonderful bargain this summer.

Wolves now keeping tabs on £25m winger who is similar to Antonio Valencia

The Old Gold are looking to add some attacking flair this summer.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 5, 2025