Bruno Fernandes wanted by Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr as Saudi Pro League side consider offer for Man Utd captain

Bruno Fernandes is reportedly wanted by Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr with the Saudi Arabian side considering a bid for the Manchester United captain.

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  • Fernandes open to leaving Man Utd
  • Al-Nassr looking to strengthen squad
  • Ready to tempt United with a bumper offer
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    According to Al-Nassr believe that Fernandes would be an ideal candidate to bolster their midfield and are ready to table a mega bid for the Portuguese to test United's resolve. The Premier League outfit sees their financial situation strained by Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules and their budget for new acquisitions is contingent on the departure of some current players – which has further encouraged Al-Nassr to make an attempt to get Fernandes.

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    The report also mentions that Fernandes, who has a contract with United until at least 2026, is frustrated with the series of underwhelming campaigns and wants to ensure that the club's ambitions align with his own before committing his future to the Red Devils. It must be noted that United could potentially miss out on European football next season, which could further push the 29-year-old away from Old Trafford.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Meanwhile, United have already begun their summer clear-out intending to overhaul their existing roster. Raphael Varane recently announced his departure at the end of his contract in the summer. Anthony Martial is also set to leave when his deal expires in June. Christian Eriksen, with one year left on his contract, has also been put up for sale. In fact, the club is reportedly open to realistic offers for several first-team players, including Casemiro, who is the second-highest earner.

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    WHAT NEXT?

    The potential transfer of Fernandes to Al-Nassr highlights the broader trend of top European players being targeted by clubs in emerging football markets. Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr has already set a precedent and Fernandes' addition would further signify the club's intent to build a formidable team as they look to challenge for the top prizes in Asia. In the short term, Fernandes remains focused on finishing the campaign on a high with United as victory in the FA Cup final would guarantee them a spot in the next edition of the Europa League – irrespective of their league standing.

خاص.. ناديان في الدوري المصري يتنافسان على ضم محمود متولي

كشف مصدر مقرب من المدافع الدولي محمود متولي، عن مصيره بعد فسخ تعاقده مع النادي الأهلي بالتراضي خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية.

وكان النادي الأهلي قد قرر فسخ التعاقد مع متولي، بعد أن كان مقررًا انتهاء تعاقده بنهاية موسم 2024-2025.

خاص | الأهلي يُنهي التعاقد مع لاعبه ويمنحه الاستغناء

وعلم بطولات أن محمود متولي يمتلك عرضين في الدوري المصري وهما الاتحاد السكندري وسموحة.

وأوضح المصدر أن العرض الأكثر جدية، يأتي من جاتب الاتحاد السكندري وخلال أيام سيتم الإعلان بشكل رسمي.

فيفا يبرز نجوم كأس العالم للأندية.. وسام أبو علي ولاعب الزمالك السابق يجاوران مبابي وهالاند وجريزمان

الجدير بالذكر، أن نادي الاتحاد السكندري قد أعلن في وقت سابق عن التعاقد مع لاعب خط الوسط عبد الرحمن جبنة، كما يسعى لتدعيم صفوفه بلاعبين آخرين خلال فترة الانتقالات الحالية.

Arsenal could sign one of "the best midfielders in the world" who’s like Rodri

Come the end of the season, Arsenal will once again be challenging for the Premier League title after their excellent start to the campaign. Mikel Arteta’s side are currently in second place on 36 points, just a point behind Liverpool.

The Gunners’ most recent match was a 1-0 away defeat to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. The hosts took an early lead and continued to play a brave highline, which Arsenal were unable to take advantage of.

With teams starting to attack the void left by the inverted Oleksandr Zinchenko as seen this weekend, and Thomas Partey’s lack of availability recently, Arteta may look to sign another midfielder who can serve as rotation for Declan Rice or play alongside him.

Arsenal transfers latest – Martin Zubimendi

According to David Ornstein via the Athletic, Arsenal are interested in signing a midfielder, with Martin Zubimendi included in their transfer targets.

The journalist stated: "We know they like Martin Zubimendi, Nicolo Barella, Pedro Neto and others, but again I don’t know of any movement of that."

The Real Sociedad midfielder has a transfer market value of £34m as per Transfermarkt, which is a steal for someone of his quality, however, a move in the winter window is extremely unlikely due to the Gunners' financial fair play position.

Additionally, departures would have to occur first and there is no movement regarding exits for any of the club's current midfielders.

Martin Zubimendi’s style of play

Zubimendi has earned heaps of praise recently and according to Spanish national team boss, Jose Luis De La Fuente, the 24-year-old is “one of the best midfielders in the world” alongside Manchester City star, Rodri.

The Spain international has become an imperative cog in Imanol Alguacil Barrenetxea’s Sociedad side, featuring in every game this season.

The number four excels in multiple roles within the midfield, whether it is playing as a lone defensive midfielder, or working in a midfield two. This makes him the perfect backup for Arsenal, directly filling in for Rice or even partnering him when Arteta wishes to become more defensively cautious.

Zubimendi’s profile is certainly similar to Rodri’s, in terms of setting the tempo for his side to retain possession, shown by his pass completion percentage of 85.4% and his lack of shot-creating actions, 1.88 per 90.

He is also proactive out of possession, boasting similar defensive stats to Rice. The graphic below is how he compares to Arsenal’s number 41, based on their statistics in their respective leagues.

Tackles

1.82

2.15

Interceptions

1.28

1.56

Clearances

1.95

1.63

Progressive passes

5.11

7.49

Passes completed

43.32

61.28

Another crucial aspect of Zubimendi’s game is his availability, which is one of the most important yet rarely mentioned attributes to have.

He has only missed an incredible three games since 2019, whereas Partey has been unavailable for an astonishing 51. This makes the Spaniard a much more reliable option for Arteta and it almost makes purchasing the Sociedad player a safe move.

With the never-ending, intense schedule that Arsenal will endure due to domestic and European commitments, Arteta will be forced to rotate his side frequently and the fact that Zubimendi is versatile allows him to cover multiple midfield roles. He would be an excellent fit at the Emirates.

Revealed: Jadon Sancho's two conditions for 'starting again' at Man Utd after Borussia Dortmund loan

Jadon Sancho reportedly has two conditions for "starting again" at Manchester United after his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.

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Sancho returned to BVB after falling out with Erik ten HagWinger keen to head back to Old TraffordTen Hag stand-off a potential stumbling blockWHAT HAPPENED?

Erik ten Hag's tenure at United has been a turbulent one, with Sancho having fallen foul of his wrath after allegedly allowing his standards to drop in training. Sancho criticised Ten Hag on social media, and was exiled until he issued an apology, but it has yet to arrive. The relationship between Sancho and Ten Hag is described as "irreparable" by insiders, implying that the manager's exit is essential for Sancho's potential comeback.

According to , the English forward would only consider a fresh start at United should the Dutch manager depart in the summer. While United are reportedly set to plan for the 2024-25 season with Ten Hag at the helm, that could change if the team fails to qualify for the Champions League or win the FA Cup.

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Jason Wilcox, who is reportedly set to be appointed as technical director at United, is said to be inclined to give Sancho another chance. His arrival is the second condition Sancho has laid out for a return to Old Trafford. Having previously worked with Sancho during his time at Manchester City's academy, Wilcox holds a favourable opinion of the player and is open to facilitating his return to Old Trafford.

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite Sancho's desire for a United resurgence, the club's priority remains selling him as part of a broader squad overhaul. Ineos, the club's minority owners, are contemplating a fire sale to revamp the underperforming squad, with Sancho being one of the players likely to be offloaded to generate funds.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Sancho's loan spell at Dortmund has been modest, with only two goals scored across all competitions, which has potentially diminished his market value. Consequently, Dortmund may not pursue a permanent deal if there isn't an upsurge in form, leaving the door open for a United return if no alternative suitors emerge – but whether or not Ten Hag will be the one to make a final decision remains to be seen.

ExWHUemployee shares January budget news from "best placed" West Ham source

ExWHUemployee has shared some important January transfer news on West Ham and their budget for the winter window.

Steidten's task to sign new forward for West Ham

As reported by Ex last week, technical director Tim Steidten is growing more and more influential at the club and his "main focus" is signing a new striker for manager David Moyes.

Michail Antonio limped off on international duty recently, and he is expected to be out for around a month (Evening Standard). While his prognosis isn't as bad as first feared, losing the Jamaican comes as a bitter blow for Moyes and highlights West Ham's lack of number nine options.

Danny Ings appears out of favour at the club, having played just 68 minutes in the Premier League this season, with recent reports stating the Hammers are very eager for a few new options ahead of January.

West Ham striker Danny Ings.

Bournemouth forward Dominic Solanke is a target for West Ham, while rumours suggest that Steidten could go back in for Hugo Ekitike of Paris-Saint Germain.

Dominic Solanke's style of play (via WhoScored)

Gets fouled often

Likes to dribble

Does not dive into tackles

Moyes has used the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen in more central roles this term, but an injury to the latter could make West Ham's next starting eleven look very interesting. Signing a new number nine could be an all the more pivotal task for Steidten. While Antonio and Bowen could be back and firing by the time January comes around, their injury woes have drawn attention to West Ham's serious lack of depth going forward.

ExWHUemployee shares January budget news

Speaking on his Patreon, as shared by West Ham Way, reliable club insider Ex says West Ham are "struggling" with their transfer budget this winter. He claims that while there is indeed money in the pot to potentially bring in a new forward, it isn't seen as a large amount, and West Ham must be careful not to "do an Everton".

“I have spoken to the person who would be best placed to answer on our January transfer budget,” said Ex.

West Ham United manager David Moyes.

“What I was told is that Under Financial Fair Play we are struggling. We overspent in 2021 and we have to be careful to not ‘do an Everton’.

“So although there is money there in the pot, it isn’t a huge amount as the club are being understandably careful. We only need to look at the situations at Everton, Man City and Chelsea to know how serious it can be if not keeping within the parameters.”

The three aforementioned sides are in trouble with the Premier League over alleged FFP breaches, with the Toffees in particular being docked 10 points and now facing a hefty compensation bill.

It is believed Southampton, Leicester, Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Burnley are attempting to sue Everton for around £300 million, as they all believe they're entitled to compensation after Sean Dyche's repeated avoidance of relegation to the Championship.

Therefore, West Ham absolutely cannot find themselves in the same precarious situation, but it will be interesting to see how they use their limited budget when the window reopens.

Alex Morgan, Korbin Albert and the USWNT stars who need a big SheBelieves Cup as the Olympics edge closer

Time is running out for players to prove themselves ahead of Paris 2024, with places in Emma Hayes' squad still up for grabs

For the U.S. women's national team, the Olympics seemed so far away when they were treading water post-World Cup. They're just over three months away now, though, and there's still so much to figure out before Paris 2024.

New coach Emma Hayes hasn't yet arrived, but her fingerprints are all over the roster that has been selected for the SheBelieves Cup. The U.S. will begin the tournament on Saturday with a clash against Japan, with a meeting with either Canada or Brazil coming up the following Tuesday. It'll be two big tests that should give the U.S. some more insight into where they stand heading into the summer.

The squad features returning stars, some new faces, and a bunch of players on the bubble that could use some big moments before a final Olympics squad is selected.

But who has the biggest point to prove over the next week? GOAL takes a look at the USWNT stars who are under the most pressure heading into the SheBelieves Cup:

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    Korbin Albert

    Korbin Albert's situation is certainly awkward right now, and it will be for some time. For now, all she can do is keep her head down and put in strong performances on the pitch as she deals with a storm off it.

    Albert came under fire last week for anti-LGBTQ social media posts. In the hours that followed, many current and past USWNT stars – including Megan Rapinoe – came out to condemn those posts. For a player like Albert who is still so new to this program, it's not a good look.

    After a strong start to life with the national team, it seemed that the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was on the path towards an Olympic spot. Now, that doesn't feel so sure. With just 18 roster spots available and chemistry a big, big focus, it wouldn't be too hard to leave Albert out. There are other options with similar resumes and without the social media disasters.

    For Albert, the first goal of this camp will be to earn back whatever trust was lost, and she'll have to do that privately and personally. The second goal will be to not let her level drop on the field as she looks to prove that, despite what happened, she's still deserving of an Olympic spot.

    Can she do that? That will ultimately be up to Hayes. All Albert can do now is make things right as best she can.

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    Alex Morgan

    Alex Morgan's certainly made progress since the start of 2024, but an Olympic spot isn't guaranteed just yet. Her performances in the Gold Cup got her back in contention, giving her a chance at a roster spot this summer. To say that comes as a surprise would be an understatement, though, as Morgan went from being left off the Gold Cup roster to being a key contributor as an injury replacement.

    Strikers are measured in goals, though, and Morgan will need to score a few more to stay in contention, especially with more attacking options being added to the mix. If she can stay hot, she'll have a chance to get one last tournament run.

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    Mallory Swanson

    She's finally back! Almost a year after seeing her World Cup dream cruelly end due to a serious knee injury, Mallory Swanson is back in the USWNT squad. She did train with the group prior to the Gold Cup as she worked her way back to full fitness, but now she's ready to go.

    Swanson has already opened her goal-scoring account for the season in the NWSL for the Chicago Red Stars and has shown signs of being that player she was before her injury. Prior to that, you could have made the argument that Swanson was the USWNT's most dynamic attacker; now, she'll need to prove she can still claim that title if she wants starting minutes in France this summer.

    The U.S. attack is deep, with young superstars like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Jaedyn Shaw currently holding down starting spots. Swanson will need to put in a big shift to unseat any of those three, but she obviously has the talent to do just that.

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    Catarina Macario

    Speaking of players back after a long injury absence… Catarina Macario is finally fit after her ACL injury, and it's been two years since we've seen her in a USWNT shirt.

    Incoming USWNT boss Hayes has been overseeing her recovery at Chelsea, so she'll know exactly what Macario can do. The forward has been in fantastic form since making her return in London, too, which makes it seem like she's more than ready to step back into the national-team spotlight.

    When she's fit and firing, there's no player in the USWNT pool like Macario. It almost hurts to imagine how much of a difference she could have made at the World Cup last summer. If Macario was healthy, the creativity she would have added to the team could have sent the U.S. much further in the tournament.

    She's re-entering a new USWNT, though, and she'll once again have to prove where she stands in the pecking order. It's all about fitness and confidence, which Macario will need to build this camp if she is to make it onto the Olympic roster.

Rodgers must ditch Celtic dud who made zero passes vs Atletico

Celtic remain rooted to the bottom of their Champions League group after they were hammered 6-0 by Spanish giants Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

The Hoops were not helped by an early red card for energetic forward Daizen Maeda, after his raised studs gave the referee a decision to make – with the help of VAR.

Antoine Griezmann had made it 1-0 before that point but Brendan Rodgers, despite his side being down to ten, may not be pleased with how easy it seemed for Atletico to open his defence up as they went on to score another five.

Alvaro Morata and Griezmann both collected two goals each, whilst Saul Niguez and Samuel Lino also got themselves on the scoresheet for the hosts.

It would be harsh to single out one player as the reason for the result as it was such a dominant display from Atletico. However, one player, in particular, who must be ditched after this game is centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Japan international has struggled in recent matches and, again, failed to impose himself on the match with an anonymous display at the top end of the pitch.

Kyogo's performance against Atletico Madrid in numbers

Celtic's starting number nine could blame the lack of support or service up to him, particularly after Maeda's sending off, but his lack of involvement through his time on the pitch let Rodgers down.

Across 61 minutes of action against Atletico, the former Vissel Kobe star had just eight touches of the ball in total and made a staggering zero passes from one attempt.

Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi.

Hoops goalkeeper Joe Hart even had more touches (51) than the striker and the Japanese dynamo's lack of physicality played a huge part in his struggles as opposition players beat him in 75% (3/4) of his duels.

Hyun-gyu Oh, Rodgers' alternative number nine option, came on at half-time and completed two passes to go along with winning seven of his nine duels in 45 minutes.

The South Korea international utilised his physicality to provide Celtic with an outlet at the top end of the pitch, which is something that his teammate was unable to do.

The statistics that show why Rodgers could ditch Kyogo

Rodgers must now brutally ditch Kyogo against Aberdeen at the weekend as his recent form, including Tuesday night's display, has left a lot to be desired.

Over his last three starts in all competitions, the right-footed whiz has played 216 minutes of football and made three passes in total – out of seven attempted.

Along with that, he has failed to contribute with a single goal or assist to make up for his lack of involvement outside of the penalty box, which puts his impact, or lack thereof, on matches in the spotlight.

Statistic

Kyogo's last four Celtic appearances (via Sofascore)

Goals

Zero

Assists

Zero

Passes completed

11

Big chances missed

Two

Key passes

Zero

As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old attacker has been in dismal form in front of goal over the last four matches for the Scottish giants.

He has not provided an attacking threat or a physical presence to bring his teammates into the match and Rodgers must now take him out of the XI in order to start Oh, who showcased his physicality off the bench on Tuesday, against the Dons.

Cristiano Ronaldo performs kettlebell squats while Georgina Rodriguez hilariously strikes pose in gym mirror as Al-Nassr striker starts preparing for return to Portugal national team

Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted working out in a gym with partner Georgina Rodriguez as he gears up for a return to the Portugal national team.

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Ronaldo filmed performing kettlebell squatsGeorgina hilariously posed beside RonaldoRonaldo omitted from Portugal squad for Sweden friendlyWHAT HAPPENED?

Georgina Rodriguez shared a video clip on her Instagram story from a gym, where she filmed her partner and Al-Nassr striker Ronaldo performing kettlebell squats while she hilariously posed in front of a mirror in ultra-casual fashion.

Georgina Rodriguez InstagramAdvertisementIG:georginagioTHE GOSSIP

After being left out of the Portugal squad for their first friendly match of the March international break against Sweden, Ronaldo took a short trip to a beach in Saudi Arabia with his family. With the Saudi Pro League on hold, the 39-year-old enjoyed a well-earned rest period.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ronaldo's compatriot and Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo recently claimed that the Portuguese national team is not entirely dependent on the Al-Nassr star, who he considers to be well past his prime. Despite those comments, Ronaldo is now beginning to prepare for his return to the national team fold, with Euro 2024 only a few months away.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR CRISTIANO RONALDO?

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star is expected to return to Roberto Martinez's side ahead of Portugal's second friendly game against Slovenia on March 26.

مدرب سموحة: هدفا بيراميدز من أخطاء.. وأتمني نظام جديد لـ الدوري في الموسم الجديد

تحدث أحمد سامي المدير الفني لنادي سموحة، عن خسارة فريقه أمام بيراميدز، في المباراة التي استكملت بينهما اليوم الثلاثاء، على ملعب برج العرب بالإسكندرية.

واستكملت مباراة بيراميدز وسموحة، التي لعبت ضمن مواجهات الأسبوع الـ 28 من عمر بطولة الدوري المصري، بعد أن توقفت يوم الجمعة الماضي بسبب حريق في أحد مدرجات استاد الإسكندرية.

وفاز فريق بيراميدز على سموحة، بنتيجة 3-2، ليحصد 3 نقاط جديدة تضاف إلى رصيده في صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع.. فيديو | بيراميدز يفوز على سموحة في المباراة المستأنفة ويبتعد بصدارة الدوري

وقال سامي خلال تصريحات عبر قناة أون تايم سبورت بعد المباراة: “هدفا بيراميدز اليوم أخطاء مننا، وكان لدينا فرصة لـ حسام حسن سهلة جدًا، لكن لا يوجد توفيق”.

وأضاف: “جربنا أشياء جديدة لعبنا 41 دقيقة اليوم، الأمر انتهى ولن أقدر على الحديث، نريد أن يمر الموسم بعد كل ما مر به”.

وأكمل: “أتمنى أن يحدث نظام جديد ومختلف في الموسم المقبل، المسؤولون يأخذون قرارات، لا يقلقون من شيء ونحن داعمين لأي قرار”.

وأتم: “أتمنى أن اللائحة تكون واضحة ولا يكون هناك أحاديث أو بيانات، أتمنى الدوري المصري يعود لقوته في الموسم الجديد”.

Man United: Red Devils once had PL ‘superstar’ on trial, now he’s terrorising Shaw

Manchester United have become synonymous with missing out on star players on the cheap in recent times, with the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe having been just two of the high-profile names that could have ended up at Old Trafford for next to nothing.

The Red Devils' inability to pull the trigger with regard to signing up-and-coming talent has certainly come back to bite them more than once, with that having been evident with regard to a player who has already impressed against Erik ten Hag's side this season, in the form of Pedro Neto.

Why didn't Man United sign Pedro Neto?

The current Wolverhampton Wanderers star – who has spent the last four years in English football – could have arrived in the Premier League much sooner had United not foolishly passed up the chance to sign him back in 2016, with the then-teenager having been taken on trial during Jose Mourinho's time at the helm.

As it proved, however, the young Portuguese sensation seemingly did not do enough to impress the powers that be in Manchester as he promptly returned to Primeira Liga side, Braga, missing out on a potential dream move to the Theatre of Dreams in the process.

It did not take long for Mourinho and co to realise their mistake, however, with reports in the summer of 2017 indicating that the club were interested in making a move for the emerging talent, following his fine start to life in his homeland.

Pedro Neto and Max Kilman

It was Serie A side Lazio who ultimately won the race as Neto made the move to Italy on a two-year loan deal in that same window, prior to joining Wolves alongside Bruno Jordao for a combined fee of just £18m.

That figure was soon dwarfed amid reports that United were among the clubs keen on signing the £50m-rated winger in 2021, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer viewing the 5 foot 8 speedster as an alternative option to the likes of Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish – while a £50m move to Arsenal was also mooted last year.

That valuation has since dropped to £9m – according to CIES Football Observatory – following an injury-hit last few years for the 23-year-old, yet on the evidence of his form so far this season, the four-cap international is looking back to his best.

How has Pedro Neto performed this season?

Although the Old Gold currently find themselves in 16th after picking up just four points from their opening six league games, the fleet-footed "superstar" – as hailed by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher – has been a real shining light on the flanks, scoring once and registering four assists already this term.

The player with the second-most chances created in the division, Neto was particularly impressive in the defeat to Liverpool earlier this month, producing a simply 'majestic showing' – as per 90min's James Cormack – after running the Reds ragged in the first half.

Such devastating quality was also on show at the weekend as the £50k-per-week asset produced a breathtaking solo goal against newly promoted strugglers, Luton Town, helping almost single-handedly earn a point for the ten-man visitors at Kenilworth Road.

The promising wideman had also looked rather electric prior to that against the Red Devils on the opening weekend, with opposition full-back Luke Shaw having had 'his work cut out' due to Neto's pace, as per 90min's Jamie Spencer.

The latter man was a constant thorn in the side of the Englishman as he attempted 15 crosses on the day down the right flank, registered four key passes and completed four of his six dribble attempts, as 'some of Wolves best chances came down [Shaw's] left side' – according to GOAL's Richard Martin.

With Ten Hag currently without the likes of Anthony and Sancho, having a figure like Neto on the right flank would have been a perfect fit due to his creative quality and relentless, direct nature, with it looking like another case of 'one that got away' for those at Old Trafford.

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