As rumours continue to surround Ruben Amorim’s future, Manchester United have reportedly joined the race to sign a much-needed midfield reinforcement in 2026.
Ruben Amorim sack update
Despite some reports suggesting that he has just three games to save his Man United job, Amorim reiterated that a meeting with club chiefs was nothing more than routine earlier this week.
Reports claimed that INEOS had already lined up the likes of Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva as potential candidates to replace their struggling manager, but Amorim has since shut down any rumours that he could be on his way out of the club.
The former Sporting Club boss also reiterated that now is not the time to change his 3-4-2-1 system, telling reporters: “No, no, no. Not once [have I thought about changing]. Not even the Pope [can make me], it will not change.”
It’s a decision that continues to split opinion. Amorim’s win-rate suggests that things wouldn’t get worse with a change in system, but he looks unlikely to change things up in the face of yet more disappointing form.
Before the manager changes once again at Old Trafford, INEOS may decide to change the players. Ahead of 2026, Old Trafford chiefs have reportedly set their sights on beating Arsenal to a talented midfield target, who would be an instant upgrade on their current options.
Man Utd racing Arsenal to sign Agoume
As reported by Caught Offside, Man United are now racing Arsenal to sign Lucien Agoume from Sevilla in the January transfer window. The Gunners already made an approach to sign the talented Frenchman in the summer, but their failed move has now potentially left the door ajar for the Red Devils to move in.
Praised for his “amazing” profile by analyst Ben Mattinson, Agoume is the type of player that United should do everything to sign when the chance arrives.
The midfielder is still just 23 years old and about to enter the peak of his powers. If Amorim is looking to replace an ageing Casemiro, then he should look no further than the Sevilla star.
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Jumping ahead of Arsenal in the race for the midfielder won’t be easy, but United already proved their attraction by landing Benjamin Sesko in the summer.
West Ham United have now suddenly become serious contenders for the signature of an “exceptional” ace, who plays for a rival Premier League club.
Potter under pressure after torrid start to the season
West Ham couldn’t have gotten off to a much worse start to the new Premier League campaign, suffering a 3-0 defeat at home against Sunderland on the opening day, before being turned over 5-1 at home against rivals Chelsea last Friday.
Speaking after the defeat against the Blues, Graham Potter admitted that both him and his squad need to turn things around soon, saying: “It was too easy to score against us so I take my responsibility and I have to do better. That is the case with all the players. They are honest and want to do more than they are at the moment.”
However, Premier League managers are not often blessed with a lot of time to put things right, so the manager is looking to inject some fresh quality into his squad before the rapidly approaching transfer deadline, with a new midfielder believed to be of interest.
West Ham United managerGrahamPotterbefore the match
That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which states Potter wants to bolster his options in the engine room as a result of the poor start to the campaign, with West Ham suddenly now serious contenders to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma.
Tottenham are eager to move Bissouma on this summer, as he has fallen out of favour with Thomas Frank, and the Hammers would be open to a deal if their rivals decide to make the central midfielder available on loan.
Potter knows the Spurs midfielder well, having worked with him during his time at Brighton & Hove Albion, before opting to sell the Mali international to the north Londoners for a fee of £25m.
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There may be some concerns over the signing of the 28-year-old, given that he was publicly criticised by Frank for turning up late several times this summer, but there are indications the former Brighton man could be a solid option for the Hammers.
The Ivory Coast-born maestro was particularly impressive during his time working under Potter with the Seagulls, with Gary Lineker describing him as “exceptional” courtesy of a solid display against Everton.
Not only that, but the Tottenham ace has continued to impress from a defensive point of view over the past year, performing well across some key metrics, when compared to other midfielders.
Statistic
Average per 90
Tackles
3.11 (91st percentile)
Interceptions
1.40 (85th percentile)
Clearances
2.70 (93rd percentile)
As such, should Bissouma become available on loan, he could be a solid addition to West Ham’s squad, with Potter’s side clearly in need of some more defensive solidity, having shipped a whopping eight goals in their opening two Premier League matches.
Tottenham Hotspur’s hunt for a new number ten this summer has certainly been a frustrating one – with the hierarchy unable to land a talent to back Thomas Frank during his first year at the helm.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze are just two players who have been on their radar this window, but neither player will be making the move to North London before Monday’s deadline.
The former has penned a new three-year deal at Nottingham Forest, whilst the latter completed a £67.5m move to join bitter rivals and boyhood club, Arsenal.
To make matters worse for the new boss, current number ten options James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski will be missing until at least 2026, with the duo suffering injury setbacks in recent weeks.
With just a number of days left in the transfer window, the hierarchy must work tirelessly to land a top-level option to help the Dane in his quest for Premier League success in 2025/26.
Spurs’ hunt for a new number ten this summer
Nico Paz emerged as a potential option for Spurs over the last couple of weeks, leading to the Lilywhites hierarchy making a €70m (£61m) offer to Como for the 20-year-old.
However, their bid for the Argentine was dismissed by the Serie A outfit, claiming he’s not for sale this summer, which has seen Frank’s men move on to different targets ahead of Monday’s deadline.
Numerous players have been considered, but it appears as though the club have made a beeline to land RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons, according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.
He claims that Spurs have recently made an offer for the Dutchman, totalling £61m including add-ons, looking to hijack his potential move to fellow Premier League side, Chelsea.
Plettenberg also stated that it is ‘seen as a matter of time’ before an agreement is reached, leaving the decision down to the player as to where he wants to play in 2025/26 and beyond.
Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s own Eriksen
Back in the summer of 2013, Spurs forked out a fee in the region of £11m to land attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen from Ajax – arriving at the club as an unknown quantity to many fans.
Former Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen
However, a deal for the Dane will arguably go down as one of the best in their history, after he made over 300 appearances over a near seven-year spell in North London.
He racked up 69 goals and 82 assists, subsequently helping the Lilywhites reach the Champions League final back in the 2018/19 campaign under Mauricio Pochettino.
Eriksen, whilst mainly being a number ten by trade, could also feature off the left-hand side of the attack, which allowed him to become one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.
Whilst he left the club just over five years ago, new boss Frank has the chance to land his own version of the fan-favourite, with a move for Simons in the next few days.
Both have experience playing in the Eredivisie, but it’s their respective playstyles that could see the Dutchman replicate the success of the Dane during his time in England.
The RB Leipzig star, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by former Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart, registered 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions last campaign – possessing that goalscoring and creative threat carried by Eriksen in the Premier League.
Games played
25
Goals & assists
17
Pass accuracy
83%
Chances created
2.2
Successful dribbles
1.4
Tackles won
75%
Duels won
5.7
However, his underlying stats are just as impressive, further providing him with the opportunity of emulating Eriksen’s success with the Lilywhites.
He’s also managed to notch a total of 2.2 chances created per 90, along with 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 – highlighting the threat he poses with the ball at his feet, able to provide the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Richarlison the opportunity to build on their impressive starts this season.
The youngster’s talents don’t stop there, winning 75% of the tackles he’s entered and winning 5.7 duels per 90, showcasing his work rate and ability to regain possession for his side – something which is vital in Frank’s relentless pressing system.
Despite making a bid for the Dutchman’s signature, it remains unclear as to where the attacking midfielder will end up come Monday’s transfer deadline.
If he does join, it would be a phenomenal piece of business by the Lilywhites hierarchy, finally landing the player they’ve been hunting for all summer – handing Frank the new attacking threat he’s been craving since taking the reins.
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Após o duelo conta o Red Bull Bragantino, Renato Gaúcho cobrou publicamente a diretoria do Grêmio e pediu reforços para a sequência da temporada 2023.A declaração pegou muita gente de surpresa, já que semanas antes o próprio comandante havia exaltado seu grupo e garantido que iria brigar de igual com os principais times do país.
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Em meio aos debates, Renato Gaúcho compareceu à sala de imprensa nesta terça-feira e deu a sua versão sobre os fatos. Como não poderia ser diferente, ele amenizou as próprias declarações, admitiu que errou e defendeu o elenco.
– Eu conversei com o (presidente Alberto) Guerra, com a diretoria. Me precipitei de algumas coisas que falei naquela entrevista, mas foi no sentido de tirar a responsabilidade do grupo. Eu sempre tiro a responsabilidade do grupo. Conversamos que precisamos de velocidade, mas esbarra na parte financeira – afirmou.
Calendário
Com o clima mais leve, Renato Gaúcho espera que seu time apresente um bom futebol e consiga derrotar o Cruzeiro nesta quarta-feira, às 19h30 (de Brasília), pelo jogo de ida das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil.A primeira partida será em Porto Alegre.
Manchester City have secured the future of one of their brightest young stars, with Rico Lewis committing his long-term future to the Premier League giants. The 20-year-old defender has signed a fresh two-year extension to his existing agreement, ensuring he remains at the Etihad until 2030. Reports suggest there is also an option that could stretch his stay through to 2031.
Lewis turned down summer exit rumours
Despite heavy speculation linking him with a switch to Nottingham Forest during the transfer window, Lewis made it clear he had no interest in leaving. His loyalty has now been rewarded with a contract that cements his place in Pep Guardiola’s squad for the foreseeable future. For a player who has been part of City’s set-up since he was eight years old, the deal represents the latest chapter in a fairytale rise.
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Lewis expresses pride over City commitment
Lewis could not hide his delight after putting pen to paper.
“Manchester City mean everything to me so to have been given the opportunity to sign this new contract is such a special moment both for me personally and my family,” Lewis said.
“I am still improving and developing as a player, and I know that the opportunity to carry on working with Pep, his coaching team and our amazing squad will only help me to keep getting better. I have spent so much of my life at this club. City means everything to me, so to be able to stay longer makes me incredibly happy.
“It’s an absolute honour and privilege to represent the Club every single day and to play in front of our fantastic fans who have always been so supportive of me. I will give everything to try and help us look to achieve more success both this season and beyond and with the world class squad we have, I very am excited about what the future holds for the Club.”
From academy prodigy to treble winner
Lewis has been part of City’s academy since childhood, working his way through every level before breaking into the senior side during the historic treble-winning season of 2022/23. The defender has since gone on to feature almost 100 times for the first team, a staggering achievement for a player who has only turned 20. Guardiola has increasingly deployed him as a hybrid midfielder, where his technical ability, tactical awareness and energy have added an extra layer of dynamism to City’s style of play. This adaptability has made him indispensable in a squad stacked with world-class talent.
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Trophy cabinet already stacked with silverware
At just 20 years of age, Lewis already boasts a collection of silverware that would make seasoned veterans envious. He has lifted two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the Community Shield.
Chelsea certainly appear to be a team who are aiming for a big season in 2025/26.
Enzo Maresca not only led the Blues to a wonderful triumph at the Club World Cup, but he simultaneously managed to bolster his squad in the process.
In came João Pedro and Liam Delap. Elsewhere, Jamie Gittens was signed to bolster Maresca’s wide options, while Brazilian sensation Estevao will link up with the club ahead of the new season.
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro
It is a summer of change at Stamford Bridge, and the victory stateside will only heighten expectations once the Premier League season gets underway in a few weeks.
The $125m that the club won at the tournament this summer will help fund a few of the summer signings, but Maresca will be looking to sell a raft of players to fund more incomings.
João Felix and Christopher Nkunku could be set to leave the club this summer. As to Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga and Raheem Sterling in the coming weeks.
These players could fetch decent fees, which, in turn, will allow the club to further bolster key positions.
Noni Madueke has also been sold to Arsenal, while Nicolas Jackson is being heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. These two might be the biggest losses.
Chelsea looking to sell more players
Given the imminent arrival of Estevao at Stamford Bridge, plus the presence of Pedro Neto, it was evident that Madueke’s chances of regular game time on the right flank would be limited next term.
When Arsenal began to show serious interest, it was only a matter of when and not if the Gunners would seal the deal.
Noni Madueke for Chelsea
His sale could earn Chelsea around £50m, which is a remarkable sum for a player who scored seven Premier League goals for the Blues last term.
Jackson has been subject to interest from a host of clubs since the summer transfer window opened a few weeks ago.
Recently, however, it is Manchester United who are keen on securing a move for the Senegal international.
According to reports, United have already held talks with Jackson’s representatives regarding a potential move to Old Trafford.
With Pedro and Delap looking like they will share the centre-forward workload this season, is there any room for Jackson?
Chelsea'sNicolasJacksonreacts after being shown a red card by referee Ivan Barton
Last term, he made just 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring only 13 goals in the process for the club.
His form tailed off towards the end of the season after a decent start, going on to find the back of the net on four occasions after Christmas.
Given his competition for a place in the starting XI combined with his poor form throughout 2025, Jackson could seek a fresh start by moving away from London.
Nicolas Jackson
He could easily command a fee of over £50m in the current market, and he wouldn’t exactly be a massive loss to Maresca.
The Blues might have to brace themselves for a potential offer for one of their star players, however, and he would be a far bigger loss than Madueke and Jackson combined…
Chelsea could receive an offer for Cole Palmer
While Maresca is keen on selling several of his first-team players this summer to raise funds, certain players won’t be for sale.
Cole Palmer is one such name. The Englishman is at the forefront of the club’s recent success, and he will have another big part to play next season.
An extraordinary recent report from Spain has claimed that Manchester City are looking to bring him back to the Etihad, just two years after selling him.
Indeed, Pep Guardiola is willing to offer Chelsea £147m to seal a swoop for the former City academy graduate, and he could be the final part of the jigsaw for the Spaniard.
It is highly unlikely that Maresca will even consider such an offer, despite it meaning the club could rake in £100m profit on the midfielder. He is far more important than that ahead of the new season.
What Chelsea would lose if Palmer leaves
For a fee of just £40m, Palmer has arguably been one of the finest signings in the club’s recent history.
Hailed as having a “special quality” in front of goal by Guardiola a few years ago, Palmer soon emerged as one of the finest talents in the Premier League during his maiden season at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer scored 27 goals and grabbed 15 assists for the Blues as they sealed a return to European football under Mauricio Pochettino.
Last season, the former City starlet registered 32 goal contributions across all competitions, particularly shining at the recent Club World Cup.
Indeed, the attacking midfielder was in sublime form stateside. Aside from his five-goal involvements, Palmer averaged 3.5 shots per game, created four big chances while also averaging two key passes each game.
He powered the club to the title, and it sets him up for another wonderful campaign at Stamford Bridge.
This will be the first time the Blues will play in the Champions League since 2022/23, highlighting how important it is for them to keep Palmer.
Palmer’s Premier League stats for Chelsea
Metric
2023/24
2024/5
Goals
22
15
Assists
11
8
Big chances created
17
24
Key passes per game
2.1
2.5
Shots per game
3.2
3.4
Via Sofascore
While everyone has their price, Maresca will surely be ready to turn down any official bid should it arrive in the coming days; that’s for sure.
Jackson and Madueke are certainly dispensable, with the Blues already having players better than them in the current squad.
As for Palmer, there might not be a better attacking midfielder in the whole of England who has offered as much as the Englishman since he moved to London.
There are plenty of weeks left in the transfer window, but every single Chelsea fan will be hoping that their talisman remains at the club. Not just for next season, but for the foreseeable future too.
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Chelsea are now just two games away from being crowned champions of the world.
Late on Friday night, the Blues booked their place in the Club World Cup semi-finals, thanks to a 2-1 victory over Palmeiras at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Cole Palmer broke the deadlock early, only for Chelsea-bound Estêvão Willian to score a stunning equaliser, but Malo Gusto’s late cross was deflected into his own net by Agustín Giay as the Londoners prevailed in Pennsylvania.
Enzo Maresca’s team will now take on Fluminense in Tuesday’s semi-finals at MetLife Stadium, the third different Brazilian club they’ve faced this summer, firm favourites to reach the final, where either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid await.
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Meantime, Chelsea remain, as is their want, extremely busy in the transfer market, with João Pedro debuting off the bench on Friday, while Jamie Gittens has since arrived too, it could mean that another of their forward players is to take his leave.
The latest on Noni Madueke's Chelsea future
As reported by Sam Dean and Sam Wallace of the Telegraph, Arsenal are preparing a £50m bid for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke.
Meantime, David Ornstein of the Athletic notes that the England international has actually already ‘agreed personal terms’ with the Gunners, and this deal appears as though it could actually happen, with Madueke thereby becoming the tenth player to leave Chelsea for Arsenal in the modern era, six of which have done so since 2019.
Players Arsenal have signed from Chelsea (1992-present)
Players
Year
Fee
William Gallas
2006
£5m
Lassana Diarra
2007
£6m
Yossi Benayoun
2011
Loan
Petr Čech
2015
£10m
David Luiz
2019
£8m
Willian
2020
Free
Jorginho
2023
£12m
Kai Havertz
2023
£65m
Raheem Sterling
2024
Loan
Kepa Arrizabalaga
2025
£5m
Information courtesy of Premier League.com
A real mixed bag there from an Arsenal perspective, with Chelsea supporters very much viewing their North London rivals as a bit of a dumping ground, but could a highly-rated teenager be moving in the opposite direction?
Chelsea targeting Madueke upgrade
According to a report by Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are closely monitoring Ethan Nwaneri’s contractual situation at Arsenal and are ‘ready to attack the situation’.
The 18-year-old, only eligible to sign a professional contract since March, currently has just one year remaining on his deal with the Gunners, and James McNicholas of the Athletic has reported that ‘talks are at a delicate stage’, with the club desperate to tie down ‘such a valuable prospect’.
He adds that, before committing to anything, the £47m-rated youngster wants to seek assurances over his playing time, following a breakout season at Arsenal, seeing 1,378 minutes of action across all competitions, including starting 11 Premier League matches, scoring nine goals.
For context, despite his age and the fact he played 1,246 fewer minutes, he only scored two fewer goals than Madueke across all competitions, underlining the immense potential and talent that he possesses.
Indeed, Nwaneri is only the third player to score nine goals before their 18th birthday for a Premier League club, after Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, who weren’t bad, were they?
Described by Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout as a “magnificent talent”, he could well be the perfect long-term replacement for Madueke, but if it is indeed first-team opportunities that are the teenager’s priority, perhaps Chelsea are not the right club to join, considering all the wide-attacking options currently on their books.
Chelsea’s current wide attackers
Players
Age
Chelsea appearances
Cole Palmer
23
95
Noni Madueke
23
91
Pedro Neto
25
49
Christopher Nkunku
27
60
Raheem Sterling
30
81
João Félix
25
40
Jamie Gittens
20
0
Mykhailo Mudryk*
24
73
Tyrique George
19
26
Kendry Páez
18
0
Estêvão Willian
18
0
Omari Kellyman
19
0
*currently banned for doping.
All information courtesy of Transfermarkt
Fair to say, Maresca has a fair few options from which to choose out-wide, even if Mykhailo Mudryk is currently banned, while a couple of others are likely to depart, including the aforementioned Madueke and João Félix.
Nevertheless, might Nwaneri be the best of the lot?
Well, former Chelsea winger Joe Cole compared the teenager to Lionel Messi, following Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Leicester City in February, stating “you can’t mark him because he can go both ways… I don’t even want to say it, but it’s like Messi”.
Meantime, Lorihanna Balabanova of Total Football Analysis praises Nwaneri’s ‘versatility’ and phenomenal ‘potential’, adding that his ‘best attribute is his ability to find pockets and exploit spaces’.
Thus, it is clear that Nwaneri is a player who is poised to be a future star, and if there’s one thing Chelsea love, it is hoovering up such young talents, so will they strike again?
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Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of signing a free agent for manager Enzo Maresca, with the player leaving his club this summer and now readily available for hire.
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The Blues couldn’t get some high-profile deals signed and sealed in time before the pre-Club World Cup deadline, which passed on Tuesday at 7pm, but they could still add new players to the tournament’s squad thanks to a unique registration window open from June 27 to July 3.
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This does exclude winger Jamie Gittens, though, due to the fact he’ll be registered as a Borussia Dortmund player for the Club World Cup.
Chelsea’s best performers in the Premier League last season
Average match rating
Cole Palmer
7.33
Moises Caicedo
7.02
Enzo Fernández
6.95
Nicolas Jackson
6.88
Noni Madueke
6.82
via WhoScored
However, regardless of not being able to participate for Chelsea at the tournament in any aspect, if they do eventually strike a deal, club director Sebastien Kehl confirmed in an interview this week that Chelsea will hold transfer talks for the 20-year-old again.
“We spoke on the phone, in the end we did not agree, because we have different ideas about the current value of the player,” he said to Tage Spiegel.
“Jamie definitely makes our team better. We are glad that he is there. We are in a good exchange and see how things are shaping in the future.
Jamie Gittens
“Of course, at some point, if you take a player with it, you also have to sell. I assume that his market value will not fall. We will see to what extent we can keep it until the end of the tournament. There will be talks again.”
Alongside Gittens, Chelsea are believed to be prioritising new attacking additions right now, which includes a new winger, versatile attacking midfielder and another new striker after Liam Delap (Simon Phillips).
They could also add to their large crop of promising youngsters, following deals for Geovany Quenda, Dario Essugo and 19-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr from sister club Strasbourg in the last six months.
Chelsea close to finalising deal for ex-PNE defender Kian Best
According to a report from EFL Analysis, Chelsea want to sign former Preston North End left-back Kian Best on a free transfer.
The teenage defender was a “shock” departure from Deepdale this summer and is free to talk to clubs, which has piqued interest from Stamford Bridge officials who are now looking to bring Best to Cobham.
It is believed Chelsea are “close to finalising” a deal for Best after opening talks, with Maresca’s side pushing to make it happen. The England Under-19 international could then go out on loan to sister club Strasbourg to further his development.
Chelsea manager EnzoMarescaduring training
Despite interest from Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, Best is on the verge of a move to Chelsea instead, and he’s been called “different class” by the manager who gave him his senior debut in 2023.
“His intelligence, passing range and quality on the ball is different class,” said former PNE boss Ryan Lowe.
“I think you only have to look at my record, I won’t hesitate to put them in regardless of how old they are. He’s definitely deserved a place in the team so far.”
With the summer transfer window well and truly back open, Aston Villa have a huge few weeks ahead.
After failing to qualify for the Champions League after defeat against Manchester United on the final day of the season, the West Midlands side find themselves in the Europa League.
That surely makes them less appealing to top players they are looking to sign, and also means they have less money, which could make it tough to turn the loan moves of Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford into permanent deals. Spain international Asensio did not have a buy clause in his loan from Paris Saint-Germain, and it is unclear if he will come back.
Marco Asensio & Marcus Rashford for Aston Villa
Well, if it turns out that Asensio doesn’t re-sign for Villa, they seemingly have a replacement in mind.
Villa's potential Asensio replacement
It would certainly be a huge blow for Villa if they were to lose Asensio, who had a great impact and brought lots of technical quality in attacking areas to their squad. However, they seem to be targeting a fellow Spaniard to replace him.
According to a newspaper in Spain, via Caught Offside, Unai Emery and his side are seemingly targeting a move for Real Betis attacker Jesus Rodriguez. He reportedly has a release clause worth £30m in his current deal, but Betis are negotiating a new contract with the view of increasing the price of that release clause to around £43m.
Real Betis' Jesus Rodriguez.
Of course, the release clause makes this a complicated situation, and on top of that, Betis are thought to be set on keeping Rodriguez.
However, Villans’ sporting director Monchi ‘is determined to sign’ the attacker, and ‘will be leading negotiations to get the deal done’ this summer.
Why Rodríguez would be a good signing
Despite being just 19 years of age, Rodriguez had a strong second half of the campaign with Betis, after breaking into the first team under Manuel Pellegrini following a stint in the youth team until December.
Real Betis'JesusRodriguezcelebrates scoring their second goal
The Seville-born sensation played in 32 senior games last season for the club, scoring three times and grabbing one assist. He played a lot of first-team football, too, notching up 1739 minutes, the equivalent of 19 full 90-minute games. If anything, that shows the trust Pellegrini has in him already.
The 19-year-old attacker performed well in the UEFA Conference League last season, too. Although Betis lost in the final to Chelsea, he had an important role in their quest to the final, playing eight games and scoring against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok.
There is no doubt about it, Rodriguez stepping into Asensio’s shoes at Villa Park would be no mean feat. Not only is he ten years younger and therefore far less experienced, but the impact he had at Villa would be tough to recreate.
Even Asensio himself struggled to continue the form he showcased during the early part of his career in the West Midlands. He scored eight times and grabbed one assist in 21 games, but after a rapid start, couldn’t keep up his hot run of form past the start of April.
When looking at the underlying stats on FBref last season for both Rodriguez, a Spain U21 international, and Asensio, there are some numbers that stack up well against each other. One of those is goal-creating actions, in which the Betis man averaged 0.41 per game compared to the Villa loanee’s 0.66, showing they are both involved in their team’s goals regularly.
Described as an “explosive” player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Rodriguez will certainly bring dynamic ball-carrying to Villa Park, more so than Asensio of the stats are anything to go by. The 19-year-old averaged 4.31 progressive carries each game last season, compared to Asensio’s 2.72 per 90 minutes.
Goal-creating actions
0.41
0.66
Progressive carries
4.31
2.72
Carries into penalty area
3.17
0.93
Take-ons completed
2.44
1.06
Ball recoveries
4.72
3.05
It is not hard to see why Rodriguez will be Emery’s new Asensio. Not only are they both Spanish attackers who can play across the frontline, but he has the technical quality of the former Real Madrid star, combined with the habit of being involved in goals, even if that is not directly.
This seems like a deal Monchi wants to get over the line, and for £30m, the value of his current release clause, it could be an excellent piece of business for the Villans.
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Only Jacob Murphy, Mohamed Salah and Anthony Elanga assisted more goals than him last season…
Manchester United have now agreed personal terms with a striker following talks with his entourage, but they must shell out €75m (£64m) to get a deal done, according to a report.
Man Utd's striker pursuit heating up
Following the late heroics against Lyon to progress to the Europa League semi-finals, Ruben Amorim would’ve been hoping to ride the momentum into the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, but his side came up short in a 1-0 defeat.
It was a drab affair at Old Trafford, with Rasmus Hojlund once again failing to find the back of the net in the Premier League, having scored just one goal in his last 18 games, which highlights the need for a replacement to be brought in this summer.
The Red Devils and INEOS are now stepping up their pursuit of a new striker, and they are believed to be on the verge of signing Wolves star Matheus Cunha, having held positive talks over a deal for the Brazilian.
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Cunha is not the only option, however, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap also on the list of targets ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), there has now been a promising update in Manchester United’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen, as they are believed to have reached an agreement in principle on personal terms.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed
United have held talks with Osimhen’s entourage, and negotiations appear to be going well, with the striker seemingly keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, and Amorim’s side are now becoming more determined to get a deal done.
A deal will not be cheap, however, as the Red Devils will have to fork out the forward’s €75m (£64m) release clause, which only applies to clubs outside of Italy.
"World-class" Osimhen could be huge upgrade on Hojlund
Lauded as “world-class” by members of the media, the Nigerian is enjoying a fantastic season on loan at Galatasaray, amassing an incredible 30 goals in 35 matches across all competitions, while also providing seven assists.
Albeit playing in a much weaker league, the 26-year-old is vastly outscoring Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, and he has proven himself in one of Europe’s top leagues in the past, scoring 26 Serie A goals en-route to Napoli’s title triumph in the 2022-23 season.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Turkish Süper Lig
25
21
4
Europa League
7
6
2
Turkish Cup
3
3
1
Osimhen could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, at which point signing a new striker should be one of their main priorities, given that Hojlund and Zirkzee cannot be relied upon as a regular source of goals.