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Manchester United are now circling to sign an “incredible” attacker, in what would be a hugely controversial deal, according to a report.

Red Devils moving swiftly in the transfer market

Matheus Cunha became Man United’s first signing of the summer last week, with Ruben Amorim getting his summer rebuild underway early doors, and the manager has no plans to stop there, as another forward could be on their way to Old Trafford soon.

There are conflicting reports about who United’s priority target is at centre-forward, but recruitment chiefs certainly have a number of potential options in mind, with it being revealed they are now set to make a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace

£29m

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

£84m

Bryan Mbeumo

Brentford

£60m

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£67m

Any top striker is only as good as the service he receives, however, and with widespread reports linking captain Bruno Fernandes with a move to Saudi Arabia, Amorim may also be tasked with bringing in another attacking midfielder this summer.

According to a report from The Mirror, the Red Devils have a hugely controversial target in mind, as they are now circling to sign Manchester City maestro James McAtee, who could now be edging closer towards an Etihad Stadium exit.

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McAtee has been left out of Man City’s squad for the upcoming Club World Cup, which could spell the end of his time on the blue side of Manchester, with United believed to be keen on a surprise deal to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford.

With the 22-year-old’s contract set to expire in 2026, City may view this summer as their final opportunity to cash-in on the Englishman, and reports from elsewhere have detailed they could look to hold out for a fee in the region of £25m.

"Incredible" McAtee needs fresh start

Man City have already made the mistake of letting some exciting academy graduates leave in the past, most notably Cole Palmer, who has gone on to excel at Chelsea, and there are signs McAtee could be capable of following a similar path.

Lauded as “incredible” by former teammate Oli McBurnie, the Salford-born midfielder impressed when given the opportunity during the 2024-25 campaign, scoring seven goals in 27 outings, but unfortunately his game time was far too limited.

Not only is the City ace an attacking threat, but he is also clearly a well-rounded player, given that he has impressed on some key defensive metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

1.96 (89th percentile)

Blocks

1.96 (99th percentile)

Should McAtee be willing to cross the Manchester divide, there are signs he would be able to kick on at Old Trafford, but it could prove to be a difficult deal to get over the line, given the rivalry between the two clubs.

Today is the day for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou and his team can make their fans forget about their diabolically poor domestic season by continuing their impressive European run and winning the Europa League Final.

However, with Manchester United having a stellar track record on the continent this season as well, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll get their hand on the trophy come full-time.

To give his team a better chance of coming away victorious, Postecoglou will have to make a number of changes to the starting lineup that lost away to Aston Villa on Friday night, like dropping Mikey Moore.

Why Moore should be dropped

The first thing to say is that while we think Moore should be taken out of the team, that doesn’t mean we don’t think he’ll have a large part to play for the club in the coming seasons.

After all, his youth record of 21 goals and 15 assists in 34 appearances across the various levels is nothing short of spectacular, and according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, he’s a “future superstar” in the making.

However, he is still just 17 years old, and while he has looked reasonably impressive for the senior team here and there, he’s not had a significant enough impact – three goal involvements in 21 games – to warrant a start in the club’s biggest game since the Champions League Final.

Moore’s game vs Villa

Minutes

87′

Expected Goals

0.00

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.00

Assists

0

Accurate passes

7/9 (78%)

Key passes

0

Crosses (accurate)

1 (0)

Shots on target

0

Ground duels (won)

9 (4)

Possession lost

7

Dribbled past

2

Dribble attempts (successful)

3 (0)

All Stats via Sofascore

Moreover, his inexperience showed somewhat at Villa Park, as he struggled to assert himself on the game and eventually came off the pitch in the 87th minute, having made just seven passes and failing in 100% of his dribbles.

Moreover, with Brennan Johnson still the team’s top scorer in all competitions this term, with 17 in 49 games, it should go without saying that he should be starting on the right ahead of everyone else.

The other Spurs star who should be dropped

Given the underwhelming nature of the game, there are a few other players you could bring up who should probably be taken out of the team for the final, like Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies and more.

Yet, in this instance, we are talking about another starter in the attack: Mathys Tel.

The young Frenchman might well be one of the more exciting players in the Lilywhites’ squad, with some at the club reportedly labelling him a “generational talent” before he arrived in February, but against the Villans, he didn’t do enough to convince us he should keep his place in the team for tonight’s monumental clash.

Tel’s game vs Villa

Minutes

96′

Expected Goals

0.00

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.15

Assists

0

Accurate passes

12/14 (86%)

Key passes

1

Crosses (accurate)

1 (0)

Shots on target

0

Big chances created

1

Dribble attempts (successful)

5 (1)

Duels (won)

14 (4)

Possession lost

11

Fouls

4

All Stats via Sofascore

For example, despite leading the line for 96 minutes, he failed to take a single shot on target, registered just 0.15 expected assists, failed in 80% of his attempted dribbles, completed only 12 passes, failed in 100% of his crosses, missed one big chance, lost ten of 14 duels, lost the ball 11 times and committed four fouls.

Add to that the fact that he’s scored just three goals and provided one assist in 19 appearances for the club this season, and it’s almost impossible to make a convincing argument about why he should lead the line against the Red Devils.

Moreover, Dominic Solanke, the man who should come in to replace him, has been far more effective in front of goal this season, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists in 43 appearances.

Ultimately, Tel could still be a useful asset for Spurs in tonight’s final, but to get the most out of him, Postecoglou would be better off starting him on the bench and then bringing him on later into the match as things get stretched so that he can exploit the opening spaces with his pace.

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Glasgow Rangers are set to miss out on the Scottish Premiership title for the fourth season running, and only an Ianis Hagi equaliser against Aberdeen prevented it from having already happened.

The Gers came back from 2-0 down against the Dons to secure a point away from Ibrox, when a defeat would have seen their city rivals crowned once again.

Rangers know that they have to improve significantly to compete for the title in the 2025/26 campaign, and that means that they will have to move on from some players who have failed to show their worth, including Ross McCausland.

Why Rangers should sell Ross McCausland

The academy graduate made his first-team breakthrough last season under Philippe Clement, but he has failed to kick on and establish himself as a key figure for the Gers.

McCausland, who was sent off for two yellow card offences against Aberdeen, has produced three goals and five assists in 42 appearances in the Premiership in the last two seasons.

The Northern Ireland international has as many red cards as goal contributions (one) in 13 outings in the Premiership so far this term, which illustrates his lack of impact at the top end of the pitch.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This is why Rangers should finally move on from the 21-year-old attacker. However, he is not the only attacker who should be ruthlessly ditched by the Gers, as Oscar Cortes should also be on the chopping block.

Why Rangers should move on from Oscar Cortes

The Colombian winger is currently on loan to the club from Lens, as he has been since January of last year, but the Scottish giants have an obligation to make that deal permanent this summer.

Rangers have to sign him permanently at the end of his loan spell, and Football Insider recently reported that those inside the club now see that as a ‘gamble’, due to his lack of success on the pitch to date.

Cortes (£6k-per-week) earns even more than McCausland (£4.7k-per-week), as per Salary Sport, and has offered even less than the Northern Irish forward in the past 18 months.

Appearances

6

8

Starts

3

4

Goals

1

0

Key passes per game

1.2

0.5

Big chances created

1

0

Assists

1

0

As you can see in the table above, the Colombian flop – who pundit Michael Stewart claimed has a “heart the size of a pea” due to his lack of desire – has rarely been available to make appearances in the Premiership, playing just 14 times in almost a season-and-a-half.

Cortes, who has dealt with several injury issues this season, was given an opportunity from the start against Aberdeen last weekend and was withdrawn at half-time after losing five of his six duels in the first 45 minutes.

Like McCausland, the 21-year-old attacker has failed to prove that he has the quality, or the availability, to be a key player for a team that wants to compete for the title in the Premiership.

This is why Rangers must immediately, and ruthlessly, move on from Cortes as soon as they officially sign him on a permanent deal, whether that means loaning him out to another team to go and attempt to play regular football, or to another team on a permanent basis.

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Rangers need reliable players who can perform week-in-week-out to put themselves in contention for the biggest trophies, which is why McCausland and Cortes should be axed this summer.

Chelsea didn’t blow Everton away last time out in the Premier League but the 1-0 win on home soil was still crucial in the Blues’ bid to pick up a Champions League spot come the end of May.

Enzo Maresca’s men are flimsily holding onto fifth position in the current league standings, with Nottingham Forest only below the West Londoners on goal difference, meaning more wins need to be clinched across their last four clashes to possibly dine at Europe’s elite table.

Sealing a place in the esteemed Champions League would also enable Chelsea to attract some top stars through the door this approaching transfer window, with the Blues still insistent they can get one statement deal over the line to enhance their defensive options.

Chelsea remain in contact for "unbelievable" star

Much of the chatter from a defensive point of view in recent weeks when it comes to Chelsea has concerned Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

Yet, the Blues may not be content with just strengthening the centre of their backline with a new full-back being lined up.

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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Indeed, as per a report journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea remain in constant contact surrounding a deal for Barcelona’s star man at the back in Jules Kounde and would allegedly ‘love’ to sign him this summer.

The report further elaborates that Kounde’s future in Spain is up in the air, meaning Barca could soon cash in on the in-demand defender who has admirers in the form of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.

Fresh off scoring a late winner for Hansi Flick’s men in the Copa Del Rey final versus Real Madrid, the hope will be that the “unbelievable” 26-year-old – as he’s been described by his manager this season – can be the classiest right-back figure to grace the Stamford Bridge turf since Cesar Azpilicueta’s celebrated stint.

How Kounde could be Chelsea's best right-back in years

It’s clear from Maresca’s last team selection against the Toffees that a new, fresh right-back body is a priority, with Moises Caicedo the preferred option here over his regular midfield duties.

Therefore, everyone at Chelsea will be praying that Kounde’s potential arrival on the scene can be as impactful as Azpilicueta’s was back in 2012 when he left Olympique de Marseille behind for good.

Indeed, the current Atletico Madrid veteran went on to cement himself as a modern day great whilst at the Blues, with two Premier League title triumphs and one Champions League success major highlights of his lengthy 508-game stay.

Away from Chelsea’s trophy cabinet filling up with the 35-year-old a trusted member of the team, the Spaniard would also chip in with 17 goals and 51 assists as a constantly expansive and forward-thinking outlet down the right, with the new Blues target also unafraid to maraud forward for his side, away from completing his routine defensive duties.

Kounde’s La Liga numbers (24/25)

Stat – per 90 mins*

Kounde

Games played

32

Goals scored

2

Assists

3

Touches*

79

Accurate passes*

50 (89%)

Big chances missed

3

Big chances created

6

Total duels won

4.2

Stats by Sofascore

Since the former club captain left London behind, it’s safe to say Chelsea have struggled to replace him with Malo Gusto exciting but raw and Reece James spending more time on the treatment table than he has on the grass.

As a result, Kounde would be a brilliant asset and one who can provide the goods in both penalty boxes too, having managed to amass a mightily impressive 12 goal contributions as an explosive option, with five of those coming across 32 La Liga clashes as Barca aim to become champions come the close of May.

With that in mind, the £51m-rated France international would be able to offer everything James can when he’s fully fit by offering goals and assists galore from defence.

Before any signings enter the building, however, Chelsea will need to be calm and composed in their hunt for a top-five finish in the Premier League, whilst their coveted target aims to sensationally pick up yet another trophy in the Champions League at Barca.

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Chelsea have taken a huge tumble in their race for Champions League football next season, after drawing 2-2 with 18th-placed Ipswich Town, having gone in 2-0 down at half-time.

The Blues held a whopping 74% possession in the game, generated 2.14 xG, created four big chances and took 34 shots, only converting all of this attacking input into two goals.

Enzo Maresca’s side now sits fifth in the Premier League after 32 games played, one point behind fourth-placed Manchester City and three points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.

With six games left to play, chances for points are becoming fewer and fewer.

Many will use this result to continue directing their frustration at Maresca, but after two defensive lapses in the first half and plenty of missed chances in the second half, it’s hard to look anywhere beyond the players on the pitch for this one.

One of those at fault (again) was Robert Sanchez.

Robert Sanchez's performance vs Ipswich

One of the worst performers for Chelsea once more was the man between the sticks. Sanchez has had a shocking spell between the sticks this term and it only got worse when the Tractor Boys came to town.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

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Indeed, Sanchez only made two saves in the game, of course, conceded two goals and only completed 64% of his passes, often putting his own teammates under pressure.

The 27-year-old had 35 touches and only completed one of his nine long balls attempted. Not only did he put Chelsea under pressure when playing out from the back, but he also didn’t save the Blues to make up for it when Ipswich did get chances, conceding two goals from four shots on target.

The Sanchez issue isn’t a new one in the Chelsea fanbase; in fact, it is one of the most highly scrutinised. But their other highly scrutinised position is centre-forward, and today’s performance won’t help to eradicate any of those concerns.

Nicolas Jackson's performance vs Ipswich

Nicolas Jackson has only recently returned from injury, injecting some much-needed pace to the front line, working hard and giving opposition defenders something else to worry about.

However, after a 5/10 display from the Senegal international, according to The Express, it is clear that Todd Boehly needs to spend big in the summer to add to their striking department.

Jackson vs Ipswich

Stat

Jackson

Minutes

87

Touches

20

Shots

5

Accurate Passes

8/11

Ground Duels Won

1/4

Aerial Duels Won

3/7

Possession Lost

4

Stats taken from Sofascore

Jackson has made 27 appearances this season, scoring nine goals and providing five assists for the Blues. Despite adding much-needed directness from the front since returning to the side, it’s games like this one against Ipswich that highlight exactly why Chelsea need to invest in a different profile of striker in the summer.

The 23-year-old had as many as five shots in the match, with all five of those shots being off-target, as well as hitting the post from a tight angle at point-blank range. Jackson only managed 20 touches in the game, completing just eight of his 11 passes and losing seven of his 11 duels – ground and aerial.

Chelsea had 19 shots from inside the box, had 55 touches inside the box and put 46 crosses into the penalty area against Ipswich, but Jackson failed to make an impact with all of that action.

This proves Boehly and Clearlake will need to spend big this summer, adding a more box-dominant centre-forward to this squad to fight it out alongside Jackson for the striker position.

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Numbers reflect the dominance New Zealand and South Africa have had in Tests in India and how India have not been able to play to their strengths

S Rajesh18-Nov-2025India’s 30-run loss to South Africa in Kolkata has evoked strong reactions from home fans and pundits, and not without reason: this is India’s fourth defeat in their last six home Tests. In October-November 2024, they had lost 3-0 to New Zealand; only a 2-0 series win against a weak West Indies line-up separates those defeats from this one.Clearly, this is an unusual occurrence for India, who have not been used to losing at home over the last several years. Before this wretched run over the last 13 months, their previous sequence of four home losses spanned 28 Test matches, or seven years from February 2017 to January 2024.ESPNcricinfo LtdAfter the last of those defeats, against England in Hyderabad, India won six Tests on the trot going into that horrific New Zealand series. That means, in their last 34 home Tests before hosting New Zealand, India had a 25-4 win-loss record, the best among all teams at home in that period.Related

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From there, they have slumped to a 2-4 win-loss record at home in the last 13 months, their worst stretch at home in 53 years: the last time they lost four in a six-game sequence was way back in the 1969-72 period, against Australia and England.That wouldn’t have felt half as disastrous though, as India were nowhere near as strong a team then, even at home – they only had a 5-4 win-loss record from their previous 25 home Tests. Moreover, the last of those four defeats in the six-game sequence came three years after the fifth: India didn’t host a single Test between January 1970 and November 1972.