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Former AC Milan and Juventus coach Fabio Capello believes that while Napoli midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay are both top players with excellent qualities, their skill sets differ and could potentially overlap, leading to an imbalance in the squad. The Serie A champions sit joint-top of the table and picked up a first Champions League win of the season last week, but some doubts over the gelling of the squad remain.

Conte's team selection in Napoli's latest win

De Bruyne came on as a substitute in the 51st minute during Napoli’s 2-1 win over Genoa, while McTominay started the match. Napoli were trailing 1-0 at half-time when Antonio Conte introduced De Bruyne, who played a key role in turning the game around. Conte later admitted that he is experimenting with tactical variations, in an effort to find the best way to utilise both McTominay and De Bruyne effectively.

AdvertisementAFPCapello's opinion on the McTominay-De Bruyne dilemma

Capello explained the qualities of both players and how they overlap, saying to “McTominay is in a position that De Bruyne is usurping. The two players are very different: De Bruyne has exceptional class, a unique vision of the game. McTominay is a player of insertion and strength. The two positions overlap.

“Furthermore, they lack support on the left flank: while on the right with [Matteo] Politano they are very dangerous, on the left they are a bit lacking. On Sunday he tried with [David] Neres, but it took De Bruyne's insight.”

Capello's praise for Como

The ex-England boss also had praise for Como, who brought in 16 players over the summer and currently sit eighth in the Serie A table. Capello praised coach Cesc Fabregas for the mental strength he has instilled in the squad, saying: “[The big Serie A teams] will have to deal with Fabregas's team. Congratulations to him: Como plays with the winning mentality of a big team, not a provincial one.

"They've spent money and chosen well-trained players from the Spanish school. We're dazed by tactics, but he wanted players with technique. The team wants to emerge, just like their coach."

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Getty Images SportNapoli aand Como's upcoming challenge

Napoli fans will be hoping that Conte can find the right balance between De Bruyne and McTominay, as both players are game-changers who could play a key role in helping Napoli retain the Scudetto. Meanwhile, Fabregas will be hoping his Como players continue their current rich vein of form when they face Juventus on October 19, following the international break.

It is understood that the fees are expected to go back up to the previous edition’s sum of PKR 40,000 per match

PTI13-Mar-2025Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has issued orders to review the decision to reduce match fees of players and reserves selected to play in the National T20 Cup.It is understood that the fees are expected to go back up to the previous edition’s sum of PKR 40,000 per match, and PKR 20,000 per match for reserves. Originally, the fees had been slashed 75%, to PKR 10,000 (USD 35 approx), and PKR 5000 for reserves. Even the figure of PKR 40,000 is a fall compared to 2022, when players had been paid PKR 60,000 per match.Related

PCB slashes player match fees by 75% for National T20 Cup

The decision to reduce match fees of players, as decided by the PCB’s domestic department, led to a hue and cry in cricket circles, leaving fans and critics wondering whether the board was facing a financial crunch. PCB sources, however, claim that the expense cuts have been executed because of an increase in domestic tournaments this season, leading to greater earning opportunities for players.The National T20 Cup starts on March 14, with 39 matches across three cities: Faisalabad, Lahore and Multan. The final will take place in Faisalabad on March 27. Several leading Pakistan international cricketers will be unable to feature, with the national side having left for New Zealand for five T20Is and three ODIs.

Leeds United have less than a week to prepare for their opening game of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign against Everton at Elland Road next Monday.

Despite how close the first game is, head coach Daniel Farke is not satisfied with the work that has been done on the attacking areas in the summer transfer window.

The former Norwich City boss clearly wants to bring in more attackers to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch before the deadline at the start of September.

Football Insider reported in May that the Whites are not planning to build their attack around Joel Piroe, despite the fact that he won the Golden Boot in the Championship with 19 goals.

Leeds are in the market, as Farke confirmed, to bring in reinforcements in the final third, and a new centre-forward to compete with the Dutch marksman is on the agenda.

The Championship champions will be hoping that they can find their next successful Premier League number nine, following in the footsteps of the likes of Mark Viduka and Tony Yeboah.

Leeds United's all-time top scorers in the Premier League

The Whites have not been in the top-flight for a couple of years since they were relegated under Sam Allardyce at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

From that run of three successive seasons in the Premier League, following their promotion under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020, only one player managed to break into the club’s top ten goalscorers in the history of the division – Rodrigo.

The Spaniard scored 26 goals in 88 matches in three seasons in West Yorkshire after his move from Valencia in the summer of 2020, outscoring Raphinha in that period in the club’s history.

As you can see in the table above, no player has scored more Premier League goals for Leeds than Viduka, who was a battering ram up front for the Whites during his time in West Yorkshire.

The Australian centre-forward mixed physical and technical qualities to be an outstanding number nine for the Whites, as Guardian writer Rob Smyth once noted that he had an “interesting mix of styles” due to his strength and ability on the ball.

Leeds are now being linked with a potential move for a player who could arrive at Elland Road with a similar style of play to the legendary striker.

Leeds have growing interest in Championship star

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United are one of the teams with a growing interest in a deal for Norwich City centre-forward Josh Sargent before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that both the Whites and Burnley are keen to snap up the USA international, who would like to remain in England, to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that the 25-year-old number nine has already turned down the chance to sign for Wolfsburg after the German club agreed a £21m deal with the Canaries, which shows the kind of money that it will take to do a deal.

TEAMtalk reveals that Farke is a big fan of the American striker, whom he signed for Norwich from Werder Bremen in 2021, and would like to reunite with him this summer.

However, the outlet claims that Leeds and Burnley are not currently willing to pay the asking price for the Championship star, and it remains to be seen where this transfer saga will go next.

Why Leeds should sign Josh Sargent

The natural reaction to this news from supporters may not be the most positive, given that Sargent struggled in the Premier League when he last played there in the 2021/22 campaign. However, he was a 21-year-old playing in England for the first time in a team that got relegated from the division, and the majority of his appearances for Norwich came on the right wing, rather than as a centre-forward.

Since their relegation to the Championship, and Teemu Pukki’s exit from Carrow Road, the USA international has had the chance to establish himself in his favoured position, as a striker, and caught the eye with his excellent performances.

Sargent won Norwich’s Player of the Season award last season, thanks to the goals and assists shown in the video above, and has scored 32 Championship goals since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, as per Sofascore.

That is why supporters should not be put off by a haul of two goals in 26 matches in the Premier League in difficult circumstances over three years ago, as his form since then shows that he has the potential to be Viduka 2.0 for Leeds.

This is not to say that Sargent is guaranteed to score goals as frequently as Viduka did for the Whites, given his exceptional record, but he has the all-round game and finishing capabilities to be Farke’s own version of the striker.

As you can see in the table above, the £21m-rated forward has developed into a talismanic figure for the Canaries in the number nine position, ranking highly among his positional peers in a host of metrics in and out of possession.

Sargent, who Tony Pulis described as “relentless”, has the physical qualities to win duels on the deck and in the air to be a target man for his side, much like Viduka was for Leeds, whilst also being a prolific scorer and creator in front of goal.

These statistics suggest that the potential is there for him to be a Viduka-esque figure up front for Leeds because he is a technically secure target man who finishes chances clinically and creates for others.

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It is now down for Sargent, if the Whites strike a deal for him, to show that he can translate that to the Premier League when played in his preferred position at that level.

Wolves have reached an agreement over the signing of an international wide player this summer, according to a significant update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Wolves prepare for visit of Man City

Wanderers get their 2025/26 Premier League season up and running on Saturday evening, with Vitor Pereira’s side facing an exciting opening clash at home to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side fell below their usual standard last term, giving up the title to Liverpool, but they are expected to be more of a force this time around, making the weekend game a huge test.

That said, Pereira is in positive spirits ahead of the match, with the Wolves manager looking ahead to a new campaign that will hopefully bring plenty of success.

“I’m positive and I’m excited because this is the best league in the world, and, for me, it’s a pleasure to be here. In football, each season is a new season. You always need to reinvent yourself because we’ll face different challenges. We need to rebuild our identity, to reinforce our identity, and this will take some time.

“We have some new players and I’m expecting another one or two or three, and the club is working on that, so we’ll see, as I cannot say now that we are at our best level, we still need to have time for this.”

Away from Saturday’s game, work continues to be done on potential new signings behind the scenes, and one piece of business is reportedly nearly done.

Wolves reach agreement to sign £10m ace

Writing on X, Romano claimed that Wolves are close to completing the £10m signing of Hellas Verona full-back Jackson Tchatchoua, with a medical booked in.

Tchatchoua could be a brilliant signing for Wolves this summer, coming in as a direct replacement for Nelson Semedo, adding attacking quality from right-back.

The 23-year-old is still a young player, but he has also picked up lots of experience already, making 62 appearances in Serie A and winning 10 caps for Cameroon.

Tchatchoua is also very capable of excelling as a right winger, and on the left flank in both full-back and wing roles, with his versatility an added bonus for Pereira.

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The Cameroonian ticks lots of boxes for Wolves, strengthening a key position ahead of the new season, and he should only go from strength to strength, given his age.

The swap – because Asha picked up an injury while warming up – needed Australia’s nod since the playing XIs had already been announced

Shashank Kishore13-Oct-2024In a late swap that needed Australia’s consent, India brought in left-arm spinner Radha Yadav in place of legspinner Asha Sobhana into the playing XI for their final group fixture in Sharjah on Sunday.Asha was seen hobbling in the middle of a warm-up session just after the toss and was quickly taken out of the playing area for treatment by the support staff. She also didn’t subsequently line-up for the national anthems. Since Asha had already been named in the playing XI, India needed Australia’s nod to make the change, which came through.Australia themselves had a big blow in the lead up with Alyssa Healy, their captain, ruled out with a leg injury. Healy, who had injured her right foot in Australia’s previous game, had to use crutches to walk. In another injury update, fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck was ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after dislocating her right shoulder in the same match.”Asha Sobhana is unable to participate in the today’s game against Australia after she suffered a knee injury during the warm-up on the sidelines of toss,” a BCCI statement said. “The ICC Match Referee requested the Australian captain [Tahlia McGrath] who agreed to the request for a replacement in India’s Playing XI. The BCCI Medical Team is monitoring Asha’s progress.”Radha’s addition offers India not just a bowling option but also some lower-order batting depth. Radha didn’t start in the first three games but made a massive impact in their win over Sri Lanka by taking arguably one of the catches of the tournament at extra cover when she had come in as a substitute fielder.On match-eve, Radha was one of the bowlers who had a long one-on-one bowling session on a side net with head coach Amol Muzumdar.

The left-arm spinner picked up 6 for 90 in the third innings of the Galle Test, his second five-wicket haul in Sri Lanka

Andrew Fidel Fernando22-Sep-2024

Ajaz Patel has 70 Test wickets at 28.50, but he has only featured in 17 of the 45 Tests New Zealand have played since his debut. This is down to New Zealand’s seam-focused strategy at home. If they need a spinner at all on pitches that tend to start out with plenty of grass on the surface, plus bounce and carry that often lasts through the course of the Test, they tend to prefer spinners who can offer more with the bat – Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, and the like.Patel, therefore, has become something of an Asia specialist, playing more than 70% of his Tests on the continent. He has thrived in Sri Lanka in particular, and on Sunday he wrapped up a second five-wicket haul in the country to finish with 6 for 90 in the second innings in Galle. Only Richard Hadlee has previously taken more than one five-wicket haul on the island for New Zealand.Related

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Patel conceded that there was “an element of frustration” at having played so few Tests despite his record. But “the hunger grows more every time you don’t get an opportunity that you want”, he said. “Every time you do get an opportunity you’re pretty hungry.”That hunger has allowed him to make the best of being in a unique subset of cricketers – an Asia specialist from New Zealand.”As a spinner you have the luxury of the ball doing a little more in these conditions,” he said. “It can be challenging as well, because when you come to these conditions you’re up against good players of spin as well. It’s a double-edged sword.”It’s about presenting the ball in good areas for long periods and using what is available to us on the day – sometimes it may be the breeze, it may be the surface, it may be the pace of the wicket.”It is responsibility I thrive on, and something I really enjoy.”Control was of course a key component of Patel’s success, but at a venue such as Galle, which presents unique conditions, so was working with his environment. There is almost always a breeze across the venue as it is bordered on two sides by the ocean. Patel needed to know how to use it.Patel has played only 17 of New Zealand’s 45 Tests since his debut•Associated Press

“Bowling into a strong breeze as a spinner is sometimes quite nice because you know you can hang the ball up there and the wind will do some work to bring it down. It’s just about using the subtle changes of pace, and using that to your advantage.”The Galle surface is also one of those on which spinners find more purchase when the seam is harder. In the second innings, Patel got to use both the new and old ball, opening the bowling alongside Will O’ Rourke before coming back when the seam was softer.Four of his wickets came with the second new ball.”There two separate phases – one with the old ball, and one with the new ball. With the old ball it was really about trying to get as much overspin as I could and trying to get something out of that surface. As the ball gets older and softer it doesn’t react off the surface as much.”Patel and the other New Zealand spinners have been working with Rangana Herath through this tour, with the Sri Lanka great having taken up the role of spin consultant. Herath, having taken 102 Test wickets at this venue, has had plenty to add, Patel said.At the end of day three, Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne said he suspected Herath to be directly responsible for his own downfall in the second innings, with Patel taking that wicket.”It’s awesome having Rangana in our side,” Patel said. “He’s someone I grew up watching bowl. In terms of stature and build we’re very similar, and he was world class. So [it has been great] having him in our corner and being able to talk me through the conditions and what’s given me success in Galle previously, and what conditions to expect.”He’s also helped me tackle different angles, different fields, and different mindsets. It’s been a privilege and we’re very fortunate to be able to tap into that knowledge. He’s been very successful at this ground.”

Manchester City have already had a busy summer transfer window, and it has been needed.

The 2024/25 season was not at all what anyone might have expected from the Citizens; certainly Phil McNulty, BBC Sport’s chief football writer, thought they’d win the Premier League, and explained he’s “not sure this will be” the time to bet against them.

Yet, after 12 months on, we know City came third and went trophyless. It was a tough season for their biggest stars, namely Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, and the busy summer of transfers was certainly needed to help put them back on their perch.

However, Pep Guardiola’s side seem to be far from done in the transfer window, if recent reports are to be believed.

Man City's latest transfer target

Three major signings have already switched to the Etihad Stadium this summer. City signed AC Milan’s Tijani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki from Lyon and Rayan Ait-Nouri from fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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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Now, with the window still wide open, Guardiola’s side could once again buy from within the Premier League.

According to a report from Football Insider last week, the East Mancunian side had ‘been working behind the scenes on a deal’ to sign Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest.

Personal terms are not considered a significant issue with this transfer. In fact, the England international is thought to have an agreement in place with City already. All that is missing is the agreement between the two clubs.

That said, it’s more likely that the player signs for Tottenham Hotspur instead. Subject of a fierce saga over the weekend, Spurs activated Gibbs-White’s £60m release clause last week, but Nottingham Forest are now considering legal action, suggesting that the Lilywhites actually made an illegal approach for the player.

As a result, that has put his move to north London in serious jeopardy, something that could allow City to strike.

Why Gibbs-White would be a good signing for Man City

There is no doubt that City need reinforcements this summer, and they have certainly made good strides so far with the three main incomings. However, adding Gibbs-White to that, after such an impressive campaign last term, would be another excellent addition.

In a superb season for Forest, their number 10 was a standout player. The 25-year-old played 34 Premier League games in 2024/25, contributing an impressive seven goals and ten assists as his side qualified for the Conference League.

One thing that will surely stand out to Guardiola is Gibbs-White’s ability to create and score in big games.

Last season, he bagged a goal and created one away to Manchester United, assisted a goal at home to Spurs and at home to City themselves, with a sensational long-range pass to pick out Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The addition of the Forest star could be bad news for Foden, who did struggle last season. Coming off the back of a PFA player of the year-winning campaign, the England international certainly underwhelmed.

He played 45 games across all competitions, scoring jus ten goals and registering six assists, less than what Gibbs-White managed in the Premier League alone.

In the recent Club World Cup, Foden seemed more like his old self, bagging three times and providing one goal in four games.

It is not just the goal and assist numbers that might be a concern for Foden. Both players excel in the same position, a number 10 behind the striker.

Whilst the City academy graduate played on the right a lot last term, he once said himself that “I prefer it in the middle”. His England teammate played as an attacking midfielder 32 times last season, too.

There is also not much difference between the pair’s key stats, via FBref. For example, last season the Forest number 10 averaged 5.27 progressive passes and 4.08 ball recoveries per 90 minutes. Comparatively, Foden notched up an average of 5.23 progressive passes and 3.1 ball recoveries each game.

Gibbs-White and Foden key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Gibbs-White

Foden

Goals and assists

0.48

0.46

Key passes

1.64

2.18

Progressive passes

5.27

5.23

Goal-creating actions

0.61

0.46

Take-ons completed

1.00

0.71

Ball recoveries

4.08

3.1

Stats from FBref

Signing Gibbs-White would be a fantastic addition for City. He is an excellent creative midfielder who works hard off the ball too, and is a “menace” going forward, according to football analyst Antonio Mango.

Whilst it could spell bad news for Foden, there is no doubt that the Forest star would be a strong signing and help City climb the table again this season.

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One of the biggest priorities for Arsenal this summer is to sign a new centre forward with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko both touted.

Yet, the Gunners must also bolster their options out wide where Bukayo Saka could do with added assistance on the right wing. Upgrades on Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, the scorers of ten goals apiece last term, could also be upgraded.

Andrea Berta has reportedly been looking at whole host of options with Premier League trio Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers all reportedly on their radar.

However, reports over the last 48 hours have suggested that Noni Madueke is now a very realistic option for Arsenal in the transfer window.

How Arsenal could strengthen out wide

The ever-reliable David Ornstein revealed to his followers on Saturday afternoon that Arsenal have agreed personal terms with Madueke.

Club-to-club talks are yet to take place but the Gunners have clearly not done a lot of work on the player side.

Chelsea are now expecting a bid from the Gunners in the forthcoming days, according to Sky Sports.

Capable of playing on the right or the left, the England international would add solid cover along the Arsenal attack, but truth be told, they can surely do better than this.

Transfer Focus

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

Well, one option is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. They have flirted with making a move for the Brazilian for most of the window and according to prior reports, positive talks have been held regarding a move.

Reports from Spain a few days ago suggested that Arsenal were prepared to put a whopping £78m on the table to prise the winger away from the Spanish capital and it’s now been revealed that he actually fancies a move.

According to Gunners insider, Hand of Arsenal, intermediaries working with clubs in Saudi Arabia have been told that “in no uncertain terms that Rodrygo’s preference is to move to the Premier League.”

The report goes on to reveal that Arsenal is the Brazil star’s “absolute priority” if a deal can be struck with Madrid.

How Rodrygo compares to Noni Madueke

There are understandable concerns from Arsenal supporters that Madueke would be another dud Chelsea player they’ve signed.

However, he does have immense talent. The winger scored a Premier League hat-trick in 2024/25 and despite the wealth of riches available to Enzo Maresca in attack, the England international still started 27 games in the top-flight.

Yet, he’s not Rodrygo, is he? The Brazil “superstar”, as he’s been dubbed by former teammate Luka Modric, has a history of scoring plenty of goals in Spain and the best campaign of his career came back in 2022/23, when he found the net on 19 occasions.

He may have only scored six times in LaLiga throughout the last campaign but he found the net 14 times across all competitions. He also supplied 11 assists to rubberstamp his threat as a creator too.

Madueke, on the other hand, only scored 11 goals in all competitions and registered just five assists. Already, we can see that Rodrygo produces better output. But, where else does the 24-year-old Madrista thrive?

Goals per game

0.24

0.25

Assists per game

0.11

0.20

Shots *

3.54

2.52

Key passes *

1.42

2.29

Progressive passes *

3.05

5.05

Shot-creating actions *

3.50

4.95

Successful take-ons *

1.99

2.29

Progressive carries

6.81

5.28

Carries

28.4

41.5

Touches

43.4

62.6

Well, in 80% of the metrics analysed, it’s the Madrid sensation who comes out on top. Not only does he produce more goals and assists per game, but he’s just overall a much greater threat in the final third of the pitch.

Madueke does trump him for progressive carries, but that aside, there are some big wins for Arsenal’s £78m target, perhaps most notably in a creative sense, where he registered more progressive passes, shot-creating actions and key passes.

Yes, Arsenal had problems scoring goals last term but with Saka out injured, they also lacked a bit of creativity. After all, no one in the Premier League came close to matching his level of output in that regard.

Saka produced the highest number of expected assists per 90 minutes last term (0.52) in the entire division, more than even Mo Salah, who produced 0.48.

So, with Rodrygo looking a lot more like the complete package when compared to Madueke, he must be Arsenal’s biggest priority once they’ve got a striker over the line.

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Leeds United have received approaches from a number of clubs to sell a player who Daniel Farke called “outstanding” last month.

Players who could leave Leeds if they win promotion

The Whites are in a strong position to get the job done and win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League over the coming weeks.

Farke’s side are five points clear of third-place Sheffield United heading into the Easter weekend, knowing a maximum of seven points from their next three games will get the job done.

Should Leeds go up, a number of players from the current squad could be on the way out of the Eland Road door. Goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who has recently been dropped for Karl Darlow, may well be one to exit.

Meanwhile, Leeds are also unsure of Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford’s ability to make the step-up to the top flight, with the former failing to score in his last eight and Bamford’s injury history in recent years telling.

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Left-back Junior Firpo is also out of contract at the end of the season, as is fellow full-back Sam Byram. Now, another player has been linked with a move away from Yorkshire, however, he is looking to remain at Leeds.

Leeds receive approaches to sell £15k-a-week star Ilia Gruev

According to a report from TEAMtalk, a number of clubs have approached Leeds over a move to sign Ilia Gruev this summer.

The 24-year-old is being eyed up by several sides, however, it is added that the midfielder is happy at Elland Road and is looking to stay, should the Whites win promotion.

The report says that ‘Gruev is very comfortable at Leeds and believes in the project they have embarked upon’ and ‘wants to prove himself’ in the Premier League.

Currently on £15,000-a-week in Yorkshire, the Bulgaria international has missed parts of the season with a serious knee injury but has regularly been trusted by Farke, especially in away games. Farke actually hailed Gruev just last month, calling him “outstanding” for most of 2024 until his injury.

“Ilia Gruev, since he came into our line up more or less in January ’24 I would say, probably until his big injury, he was our most consistent player. He was outstanding for us, defensive-wise offensive- wise, controlled our game.

“Then he sacrificed his body. I think it was away at Norwich. Got a tackle against him. He was out for everyone said more than four months. He worked so hard and his socks off in his rehab more or less three and a half months in order to come back as quick as possible.

“Everyone was moaning when he was out about our away form, we don’t win away games anymore. Ilia Gruev, after being out for three and a half months, we brought him back, Burnley, away, clean sheet. Watford away, clean sheet, win, Coventry away, clean sheet, win.

“Yes, right now, after all his rhythm is a bit away after he was out, after he was back, after being out for three and a half months, he had one or two poorer performances in the starting lineup away at Sheffield and against Sunderland, but we still managed to win both games when he was in the starting line up and everyone is like complaining a little bit about him.”

Gruev’s future could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months, especially with Leeds being linked with a move for Borussia Monchengladbach’s Julian Weigl in recent days.

Manchester United are keen on signing a “super” striker, who is now likely to be available for just £30m this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd stepping up striker pursuit after derby stalemate

Man United’s attacking issues were glaring during the 0-0 draw in the Manchester derby, failing to create a big chance in the entire match, which indicates Ruben Amorim may have to bring in a playmaker during the summer transfer window.

However, striker has also been a problem position for far too long, and United are now stepping up their pursuit of some top forwards from across Europe, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen reportedly being identified as their number one target.

However, there have been conflicting reports about which striker the Red Devils are most interested in signing, with Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap also thought to be one of the main options for the summer transfer window.

Man United's striker targets…

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Victor Osimhen

Napoli

£62.1m

Matheus Cunha

Wolverhampton Wanderers

£62m

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£64m

Lorenzo Lucca

Udinese

£25m

Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

£30m

Previously, Delap had been valued at around £40m, with a number of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, also expressing an interest in the English forward, but there has now been a suggestion he could be available for even less.

That is according to an update from Romano on X, with the transfer expert stating the striker’s release clause will drop to just £30m in the event of relegation, which is looking increasingly likely, with Ipswich now 12 points from safety.

United are said to remain “keen” on the striker, alongside Chelsea, with Man City set to receive 20% of the proceeds from any transfer.

£65m price drop: Man Utd and Amorim increasingly keen on "special" forward

The Red Devils are set to battle it out for a winger, whose price tag may have dropped considerably.

1 ByDominic Lund Apr 9, 2025 "Super" Delap could be exactly what Man Utd need

United took a risk bringing in Hojlund for £72m, given that the young Dane had no experience in the Premier League, and it would be fair to say the move hasn’t worked out thus far, having scored just 24 goals in 84 games.

Delap, on the other hand, has proven himself in the Premier League this season, scoring 12 goals in 30 games, which is a very impressive return, given that his side are near certain to be relegated to the Championship.

Pundit Danny Murphy has also spoken very highly of the Ipswich star, saying: “I just don’t see a weakness for him. He has scored enough goals in a struggling side really, but if he gets a lot of chances he will score more. He has just got that lovely balance between physical and technical [ability] and rarely do you get both. He is a super talent.”

A fee of just £30m for the 22-year-old could be an absolute steal, and Man United should look to capitalise on Ipswich’s relegation by securing a bargain move for the forward.