Manchester United have now launched a blockbuster move to sign an “absolute genius” who they have been closely monitoring this season, according to a report.
Amorim keen to bolster attacking options
As we approach the summer transfer window, it is clear that Ruben Amorim wants to bolster his attacking options, with Rasmus Hojlund set to be allowed to leave, which means a new striker will be required.
The Red Devils are edging ever closer to sealing a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian “keen” on a move to Old Trafford, although he is expected to feature in a number 10 role for Amorim next season.
As such, United could bring in a different option as an out-and-out striker, and they are expecting to win the race for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, despite interest from Chelsea, while Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta is also on the shortlist.
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Not only are Man United keen on an attacking midfielder and striker, but they could also look to strengthen out wide, and a report from Spain has now revealed they are obsessed with Paris Saint-Germain winger Desire Doue.
Amorim’s side are said to have launched a blockbuster move for Doue, as their interest ‘goes beyond casual monitoring’, and they could be willing to make a substantial offer to ensure they win the race amid interest from rival Premier League clubs.
Paris St Germain'sDesireDouereacts
PSG aren’t keen on sanctioning the 19-year-old’s departure, which means it would take a huge bid to prise him away from the French club, and reports from elsewhere have suggested Manchester City are now lining up a stunning £102m offer.
"Absolute genius" Doue could be coup for Man Utd
PSG have already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title, and they now have one foot in the Champions League final after the 1-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, with the young forward playing a major role in their success.
The France international has amassed 13 goals and 12 assists in 48 matches in all competitions, having established himself as an important player for Luis Enrique.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Ligue 1
28
6
7
Champions League
14
3
3
Coupe de France
5
4
2
The teenager has also caught the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, who believes he is one of the best attacking midfielders around at the moment.
Doue could be a real coup for Manchester United, but it seems unlikely they will be able to compete for his signature if they don’t manage to qualify for the Champions League.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim revealed after the extra-time win over Lyon in the Europa League that he would give young players a chance to shine in the Premier League for the rest of the season.
The Portuguese tactician was true to his word in the clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Sunday, as Tyler Fredericson and Harry Amass both started.
Whilst it was a disappointing 1-0 defeat for the Reds, Amass caught the eye with a bright showing in the left wing-back position for the Red Devils.
Why Harry Amass is an exciting talent
The 18-year-old starlet played the full 90 minutes against Wolves and showcased his defensive strength and tenacity, winning nine of his 13 duels. He also completed 89% of his attempted passes and created one chance down the flank.
It was his third Premier League appearance and second start this season, whilst he also played 20 minutes off the bench against Lyon, and reporter Sam Luckhurst claimed “all signs” suggest that he can “compete” with Patrick Dorgu for a starting berth next term.
This all suggests that Amass is an exciting talent who could be a future star at Old Trafford, given his emergence in the first-team at such a young age, and his strong display against Wolves.
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However, Manchester United may have already signed a player who could ruin the young left-back’s development next season and moving forward, in the form of Diego Leon.
Why Diego Leon could ruin Harry Amass' development
The Red Devils snapped up the teenage defender from Cerro Porteno in Paraguay during the January transfer window for a fee that could reportedly rise to £7m.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimarrives before the match
Whilst it is not certain to go this way, Leon could be viewed as a better long-term option than Amass because the academy graduate is a more valuable asset to be sold for PSR.
Homegrown players represent pure profit for clubs because they were not signed for lavish transfer fees and this means that United could, in theory, cash in on players like Kobbie Mainoo and Amass to give themselves more room with PSR to make big signings in other positions.
Leon’s experience at first-team level at a similar age also suggests that the potential is there for him to arrive at Old Trafford in the summer as a danger to Amass’ place in the squad.
Appearances (starts)
19 (18)
3 (2)
Goals
2
0
Big chances created
1
0
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.4
1.6
Dribbled past per game
0.7x
0.7x
Error led to shot/goal
0
0
Duels won per game
4.4
4.7
As you can see in the table above, the 18-year-old talent has already played 19 times and started 18 games at league level, despite only turning 18 this month, and outperformed the English defender in several statistics.
Leon, who was once described as an “explosive” and “marauding” left-back, has had more time to adjust to playing first-team football and that could give him an edge over Amass heading into pre-season.
Therefore, the Paraguay youth international could ruin the United academy graduate’s development by arriving as a potential upgrade on him, at the same age.
It could be an interesting sub-plot to keep an eye on during the club’s pre-season tour because there could be a big battle on between them to impress Amorim.
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Results remain inconsistent, yet Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system is starting to come to fruition at Manchester United, with the Red Devils heading into the international break in buoyant mood after convincing wins of Real Sociedad and Leicester City.
Even in Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, there were further signs of encouragement, albeit with Amorim himself admitting that his side “need to be better” in the final third.
That narrow defeat saw United fire off 23 shots without getting on the scoresheet, with the fact remaining that Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have scored just six Premier League goals between them this season.
Such a return from the Red Devils’ only senior options at centre-forward simply isn’t good enough, with the wait still on at Old Trafford for a proven and consistent number nine to lead the line.
As showcased below, not since Robin van Persie’s debut campaign has a player reached 20 league goals in a season for the club. Elsewhere in Manchester, by contrast, Erling Haaland has reached that milestone in each of his three seasons at the Etihad to date.
Season
Player
Goals
2024/25*
Bruno Fernandes
8
2023/24
Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund
10
2022/23
Marcus Rashford
17
2021/22
Cristiano Ronaldo
18
2020/21
Bruno Fernandes
18
2019/20
Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial
17
2018/19
Paul Pogba
13
2017/18
Romelu Lukaku
16
2016/17
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
17
2015/16
Anthony Martial
11
2014/15
Wayne Rooney
12
2013/14
Wayne Rooney
17
2012/13
Robin van Persie
26
Having actually only scored 37 goals in 30 top-flight games as a collective in 2024/25, it’s evident where the problem lies, with it seemingly no surprise that work is already being done on potentially trying to solve those goal-scoring woes.
Latest on Man Utd's search for a striker
In each of the last two summers, United have forked out for a ‘striker’ in the form of Hojlund and Zirkzee, with the pair costing just over £100m combined following their respective arrivals from Serie A.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
As alluded to above, however, that extensive investment has not solved the Red Devils’ woes at the top end of the pitch, with the club almost back to square one in that regard, heading into the upcoming summer window.
Recent reports in Germany have named the likes of Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres among a raft of targets that INEOS are believed to be considering, with the latter man having scored 66 goals in just 68 games under Amorim’s watch at Sporting CP.
According to the latest claims, however, the Old Trafford side could look closer to home to find a new number nine, with the Daily Mail reporting that the club are stepping up their interest in Ipswich Town talisman, Liam Delap.
As per the report, United have held internal talks regarding a move for the in-demand striker, with as many as five clubs seemingly battling for his signature.
Liam Delap against Manchester United for Ipswich Town.
The suggestion is that the presence of technical director Jason Wilcox – who knows the 22-year-old from their time at Manchester City’s academy – could have given Amorim and co an ‘advantage’ in that race, with the Englishman set to be available for around £40m, amid Ipswich’s looming relegation.
Such a move would be the first time United have plucked a new senior striker from within the top-flight since landing Romelu Lukaku back in 2017.
Why Man Utd could be set for their next Lukaku
Let’s face it, Lukaku’s time in Manchester is likely not looked upon favourably by all parties, with the Belgian star departing after just two years at the club, having been criticised by journalist Samuel Luckhurst for his “woeful and costly” finishing during Jose Mourinho’s final days in charge.
Romelu Lukaku
There were also criticisms made due to the fact that the now-Napoli man had “bulked up too much” ahead of his second season at Old Trafford, as Luckhurst noted, with those woes culminating in a swift £74m exit to Inter in the summer of 2019.
The one-time Chelsea man may not have delivered quite what was expected upon his £75m move from Everton in 2017, yet his goal return has aged impressively, when considering the woes of Hojlund et al.
Indeed, Lukaku – who was just 23 when he made the switch from Goodison Park – finished off with a respectable total of 42 goals in 96 games. Hojlund, by contrast, has scored just 24 times in 83 outings in all competitions.
Lukaku arrived with a fearsome reputation amid his tally of 87 in 166 for the Toffees, with the same perhaps true of young Delap, with the Man City youth product having scored ten times in his first full season in the top-flight for the Tractor Boys.
That return – which betters every United player in the league in 2024/25 – has seen the England U21 star described as a “problem for every Premier League defence” by data analyst Ben Mattinson.
Also described as a “wrecking ball” by Sky Sports reporter, Lewis Jones, Delap mirrors Lukaku in being able to offer that physical focal point in attack, having seemingly relished the battle with Harry Maguire in the meeting between the two sides at Old Trafford.
What has been particularly evident this season is the Ipswich star’s ability to drive his side forward, as he ranks in the top 18% of European strikers for progressive carries, and in the top 16% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
Lukaku in his pomp at Everton was also that kind of bull-dozing centre-forward – as illustrated in his catalogue of goals below – with it having been understandable as to why Mourinho and co were so keen to land his services.
There may be a risk of Delap enduring similar woes to Belgium’s all-time record scorer, not least considering he is far less experienced in top-flight football, yet he does mirror a young Lukaku in being a high potential centre-forward who has showcased what he can do up against Premier League backlines.
He is a handful, no doubt about that.
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Glasgow Rangers need a huge summer to ensure that they can bounce back and be competitive in Scotland in the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.
There is no way to describe their current domestic campaign as anything other than disappointing, as they are on course to end the year without any trophies to show for their efforts.
The board made the decision to part ways with Philippe Clement and replaced him with the interim appointment of Barry Ferguson until the end of the season.
Rangers have lost two of their last four Scottish Premiership matches under the former Scotland international, who has not done much to suggest that he deserves the job on a permanent basis – beyond beating Fenerbahce on penalties after a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox.
A deal with US investors Andrew Cavenagh and San Francisco 49ers Paraag Marathe has reportedly been agreed in principle ahead of a takeover this summer, which means that there could be plenty of change on and off the pitch ahead of next season.
There could be turnover in the playing staff, as Rangers look to build a team that can compete for the title, but one player who should remain at Ibrox is central midfielder Nicolas Raskin.
Why Rangers must keep hold of Nicolas Raskin
TEAMtalk reported earlier this year that several teams are keeping tabs on the Belgium international ahead of the summer transfer window, having been impressed by his form this season.
The outlet claimed that English sides Aston Villa, who are in the Champions League this term, and Leeds United are both keen on the former Standard Liege star, who is said to be valued at £20m by the Gers.
When the takeover is finalised, Rangers must do everything in their power to fend off interest from down south to convince the Belgian dynamo to remain at Ibrox, because he is a key player for the team moving forward.
Raskin has delivered consistently impressive performances in the middle of the park as a box-to-box midfield player, starring for both Clement and Ferguson in the Premiership this term.
Appearances
28
Big chances created
6
Assists
6
Pass accuracy
88%
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.6
Ground duel success rate
58%
Aerial duel success rate
59%
As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old star, who was signed by Michael Beale at the start of 2023, has been a defensive monster for the Gers, winning the majority of his duels and almost making four tackles and interceptions per game.
The Belgian talent has also provided quality in possession, assisting six goals, and been a metronomic figure on the ball with his high pass success rate.
Despite all of this, Raskin is not one of the very top earners at Rangers in the 2024/25 campaign, placing tenth on the wage bill at £19k-per-week.
The top ten earners at Rangers
The former Pro League starlet only just makes the top ten, earning £2k less per week than Ianis Hagi in ninth and £11k less per week than captain James Tavernier at the top of the wage bill.
This is despite Raskin being more integral to the Rangers team in the Premiership than many of the players who currently earn more than him at Ibrox.
James Tavernier
£30k
25
Vaclav Cerny
£27k
26
Cyriel Dessers
£27k
19
Danilo
£26k
6
Jack Butland
£25k
26
Rabbi Matondo
£23k
2
Dujon Sterling
£22k
11
Tom Lawrence
£22k
8
Ianis Hagi
£21k
16
Nicolas Raskin
£19k
24
As you can see in the table above, only three of the nine players above Raskin on the wage bill have started more games than him in the Premiership – one being a goalkeeper, one being the captain, and the other being a loanee.
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The new ownership should look to ruthlessly ditch some of the duds who are among the top earners at the club despite not contributing much on the pitch, and that is why Rangers must move on from Danilo this summer.
Why Rangers should sell Danilo
The Light Blues swooped to sign the Brazilian forward from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £6m in an attempt to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.
To date, Danilo has racked up 12 goals and nine assists in 42 matches in all competitions, which is far from a horrendous return in front of goal, but he has failed to establish himself as a regular starter at Ibrox.
Part of that has been down to his consistent injury issues. The 26-year-old forward has missed a staggering 53 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
This has hampered his Rangers career so far and played a part in him only starting 11 games in the Premiership during his time at Ibrox, which suggests that the club have not got value for money out of the £6m they paid for his services, as well as his reported £26k-per-week.
His lack of minutes, and contributions, on the pitch in almost two years in Glasgow has led to his market value plummeting by millions over the past 18 months or so.
July 2023
£6m (reported fee)
December 2023
£6m
March 2024
£5.1m
October 2024
£4.3m
December 2024
£3.8m
March 2025 – present
£3.4m
As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian centre-forward is currently worth £2.6m less than the £6m fee that the Gers paid Feyenoord for him back in the summer of 2023.
He is a depreciating asset who is not offering much in return on the pitch for the wages that he is earning at Ibrox, which is why the club must ruthlessly ditch him from the squad in the summer transfer window.
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Rangers must finally drop the flop who was even worse than Mohamed Diomande.
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The Light Blues must explore their options to see if there is any interest in him in an attempt to recoup some of the money that has been drained by the former Ajax starlet.
As we approached 2025, the fear was that Liverpool would lose their talisman, an all-time great in the form of Mohamed Salah, on a free transfer.
Well, the Egyptian signed a new deal and closed out an enthralling individual season for the Reds. He led Arne Slot’s team to title glory, taking home the Premier League title back in May.
The foundations Slot had built during his maiden campaign in English football were remarkable but it’s all petered out in frantic fashion throughout the ongoing term.
A year on from uncertainty surrounding Salah’s future, a different sense of uncertainty lingers heading into 2026.
This time around it feels unlikely that he’ll be staying around at Anfield for much longer. It’s a sad end for one of the Premier League’s modern-day greats.
Why Mohamed Salah could leave Liverpool
The winger had an enthralling 2024/25 season, ending the year with a whopping 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 outings. However, this term has not been a pretty one for the Egyptian who has only bagged five times in 19 appearances for Liverpool.
Slot’s side have been in a rotten run and Salah’s poor form has coincided with that. He’s been so poor, however, that the Dutchman has taken the decision to select him on the bench across the last three games. As Salah himself said post-game, it’s unheard of.
However, there lies the problem. What Salah said after the game. He launched a stunning attack on Slot after Liverpool drew 3-3 with Leeds and it has thrown his immediate future in Merseyside into doubt.
“I’m very disappointed, Salah began. “I’ve done so much for this club – everyone can see that – over years, especially last season, sitting on the bench I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel it.”
The forward continued: “It’s very clear that someone wants me to get all the blame. Club promised me a lot in summer. So far I I’m on bench three games, so can’t say they have kept those promises.
“I say many times I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship, I don’t know why. It seems like someone does not want me in the club.
“But again this club, I always support it. my kids will always support it. I love the club so much and I will always do. I called my mum yesterday because I knew I wasn’t going to start and told my mum and dad to the Brighton game [next Saturday].”
The latest on Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool
It’s thought that one of Salah’s main suitors continues to be Saudi Arabia and it would not be a surprise if he heads off to the Middle East before too long.
That’s because he’s now been totally excluded from the matchday squad for Liverpool’s clash with Inter Milan in the week.
According to Football FanCast sources, Richard Hughes and Co met after Salah made those comments and while it initially looked like he could just miss the clash with Inter, he has officially been removed from selection for a ‘short period’.
Sources suggest that the decision has been taken in consultation with manager Slot in the best interests of the player, the squad and the club. It’s thought that the boss has given the decision his full support.
Whether that means that Salah will miss Liverpool’s next league game against Brighton next Saturday remains to be seen but considering the attacker is due to head off to AFCON after that, it’s likely this is the last we’ll see of him in a Liverpool shirt, at least this year.
What the future holds in the long term is currently unknown but it’s certainly not looking good for either player or manager right now.
Gallery: How Salah interacted with Liverpool teammates in training on Monday
Mo Salah is unhappy with life at Liverpool right now.
There’s no denying that Chelsea employed a scattergun spending approach in the early days of BlueCo’s ownership, but that has since been streamlined over the past few years, with Enzo Maresca proving the perfect man for the job.
Sunday’s Premier League clash is a big one, with Stamford Bridge playing host to a top-of-the-table clash between Chelsea and Arsenal. The second-place Blues will narrow the deficit to just three points with a win.
This is a team building toward a period of sustained success, and the tactical readings suggest that Chelsea are already one of the most exciting attacking outfits in the division, even if there is a sense that there are several levels still to be scaled.
Chelsea
2nd
22.1
Man City
3rd
21.8
Arsenal
1st
20.7
Crystal Palace
5th
20.2
Man Utd
10th
19.9
However, a question mark lingers over number nine, with Liam Delap yet to prove he is the answer. Could Chelsea be looking to sign an upgrade?
Why Chelsea are searching for a striker
In fairness, Delap has spent a sizeable portion of his first months in west London in the infirmary. Still, since returning from a hamstring injury that has kept him out for much of the autumn, the English striker has started twice in the Premier League and failed to break his duck on both counts.
That said, he did net his first goal of the campaign for the Blues against Barcelona in midweek, coming off the bench and coolly converting to seal the 3-0 win after neat interplay between Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez.
However, the £30m summer signing from Ipswich Town has yet to prove he has what it takes to nail down a berth at the front of Maresca’s system, and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are searching for a potential upgrade.
They may have found one. According to Sky Germany, Chelsea are among the outfits to have been informed that Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy is worth about €50m (£44m), applicable for a number of top European outfits.
Chelsea are in the mix, and though Delap and Joao Pedro make up a dynamic central strike force in west London, Guirassy’s clinical record suggests he could add an interesting dimension to a title-challenging side.
What Guirassy would bring to Chelsea
Guirassy, 29, might not fit the age profile Chelsea have focused on targeting in recent years, but his experience and maturity in the final third would serve as a neat counterpoint to the younger generation.
Delap caught the eye for Ipswich last season, a shining light as he scored 12 goals across 37 Premier League outings. Kieran McKenna’s side were relegated, but so many teams swarmed for Delap’s signature, and Chelsea won the race.
The 22-year-old has a future at Stamford Bridge, but Maresca’s side need someone in the now who can maintain a fight against Arsenal, while pushing deep into the Champions League too.
Guirassy is “one of the best strikers in Europe”, according to German legend Lothar Matthaus, and he ranks among the top 11% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90, as per FBref.
25/26
10
5 + 1
24/25
30
21 + 2
23/24
28
28 + 2
22/23
22
11 + 0
He’s hardly just a mindless poacher, with silky footwork and intelligent positioning that allows him to roam around the attacking half and link up with teammates.
But, at his core, Guirassy is indeed a goalscorer, and Chelsea may find that Delap earns fewer minutes with the Guinean striker in the mix.
It’s a tough one, but given the promising position Maresca’s side have placed themselves into, it might just be the move to make.
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Manchester City might have closed the gap on Sunday, but this season feels different for Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been almost faultless over the last couple of months, so much so that a point away to the high-flying Sunderland feels like a defeat.
Moreover, while the Gunners finally conceded against the Black Cats, they remain unbeaten in 14 games across all competitions and are still top of the Premier League.
One of the reasons why Arsenal have been so successful is how quickly their summer signings have adapted. However, there are now reports that they could be interested in someone who could be an upgrade on Martin Zubimendi.
Arsenal target world-class midfielder
Since arriving in North London for around £58m, Zubimendi has been an ever-present figure in Arsenal’s midfield.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Spaniard has already made 14 competitive appearances for the side, in which he has scored two goals and provided one assist.
However, his place in the side might not be as secure as it seems, with the Gunners now interested in another world-class midfielder.
At least that is according to a report from Caught Offside, which claims that Arsenal are interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha.
The report has revealed that, alongside Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus, the Gunners are monitoring the midfielder’s situation.
However, in addition to convincing him to leave the reigning European Champions, the North Londoners would have to stump up an enormous fee of around €130m, equivalent to approximately £114m.
With that said, if this is a deal that can be done, it’s one Arsenal should pursue, even if that’s bad news for Zubimendi.
How Vitinha compares to Zubimendi
The first thing to note is that Zubimendi is doing a brilliant job for Arsenal so far this season and could be a key reason why they finally win the Premier League.
However, just because a player is performing well for a side, it does not mean they cannot be upgraded upon, so would Vitinha be that upgrade?
Well, both midfielders are capable of playing in central and defensive areas, so neither one takes the lead when it comes to versatility.
However, when it comes to their output, it’s a different story entirely.
For example, while the Gunners’ ace has two goals and one assist to his name this year, the PSG star already has a staggering tally of two goals and eight assists in just 16 appearances, totalling 1237 minutes.
In other words, he’s averaging a goal involvement every 1.6 games, or every 123.7 minutes, which goes some way to justifying respected analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s “the Xavi of this generation.”
Unfortunately for the former Real Sociedad star, he also comes out second best when it comes to major honours, as while he has a Copa del Rey and Euros to his name, the Portuguese star has won the Champions League, the Nations League, three Ligue 1 titles, two Portuguese League titles and a plethora of French Cups.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.24
0.13
Progressive Passes
14.7
6.25
Progressive Carries
4.02
1.06
Shots
2.29
0.86
Shots on Target
0.80
0.29
Passing Accuracy
93.6%
88.7%
Key Passes
1.84
0.87
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.84
0.87
Shot-Creating Actions
4.92
2.21
Goal-Creating Actions
0.91
0.29
Tackles Won
0.92
1.06
Shots Blocked
0.23
0.10
Clearances
0.80
1.83
Carries
103.8
42.9
Finally, it is once again the former Porto star who comes out on top when comparing their underlying numbers.
For example, “the best midfielder in the world,” as dubbed by Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, comes out way ahead in crucial metrics such as progressive passes and carries, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions and shots blocked, all per 90.
In fact, the only metrics in which the Spaniard does better are some of the defensive ones, and even then, it’s not by a significant amount.
Ultimately, Zubimendi has been unreal for Arsenal so far this year, but if Vitinha is attainable, the club should do everything possible to bring him in.
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Manchester United made it three wins out of three in the Premier League on Saturday when they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 at Old Trafford.
Bryan Mbeumo, who joined from Brentford in the summer, scored twice, whilst Casemiro and Matheus Cunha also got on the scoresheet in front of the home fans.
Bruno Fernandes, as shown in the clip above, played a crucial role in the fourth goal with his brilliant dummy, but his influence in the final third is beginning to wane.
Why Bruno Fernandes's influence is waning
The Portugal international has hit double figures for both goals and assists in all five of his full seasons at Old Trafford to date, per Sofascore, which speaks to the consistent impact that he has had at the top end of the pitch.
However, Bruno only has two goals and one assist in ten appearances in all competitions so far this term, scoring two goals from 4.29 xG in the Premier League, per Sofascore, which shows that his influence is waning.
Do not get it twisted, the 31-year-old star is still an influential player who can produce moments of magic for United, but the arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko mean that he does not need to carry the team on his back anymore.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
He still has two years left on his contract and only turned 31 last month, which means that he does still have plenty of gas left in the tank, but there is another player at United who may have Bruno’s captaincy in his sights, Matthijs de Ligt.
Why Matthijs de Ligt is a future Man Utd captain
The Netherlands international is five years younger than Bruno and may have more of a long-term future at Old Trafford, which could see him eventually snatch the captaincy if he continues to shine at the back.
After the 4-2 win over Brighton, content creator Liam Canning described his performance as “monstrous”, stating that he has “been United’s best player this season” and that the defender is “a future captain in the making” for the Red Devils.
It is hard to argue with that assessment from Canning after watching the former Bayern Munich and Juventus centre-back strut his stuff against Brighton on Saturday.
Minutes
90
Interceptions
1
Clearances
6
Blocks
1
Ball recoveries
5
Aerial duel success rate
100% (2/2)
Pass accuracy
91%
As you can see in the table above, De Ligt was ‘monstrous’ at the back for Ruben Amorim by winning 100% of his aerial duels and making several important defensive interventions.
This season, per Sofascore, the United defender has won 61% of his duels across nine starts in the Premier League. This shows that he has provided a dominant defensive force at the heart of Amorim’s back three.
Rio Ferdinand recently claimed that the Dutchman should be “the first name on the teamsheet”, which is usually reserved for the captain and main star of the team, and that is high praise coming from a player who won Premier League titles whilst playing in the same position.
De Ligt, of course, has also shown that he is a leader. He was the youngest captain in the knockout stage of the Champions League when he played for Ajax in the quarter-finals at the age of 19, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he can be a leader and a captain.
Therefore, Bruno may need to watch out as his powers seem to be waning whilst De Ligt’s stock is rising and he potentially has more years left ahead of him than the Portugal international to lead the club forward as captain, should Amorim decide that he is suitable for that role.
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Scottish Premiership reporter Ryan Cryle has now shared what he’s heard about Aberdeen’s record move to sign Sunderland midfielder Adil Aouchiche as the attacking midfielder continues to struggle out on loan in Scotland.
The Black Cats sent the Frenchman out on loan in the summer after putting together their own squad full of in-depth quality. Those in Wearside handed Regis Le Bris a squad capable of survival and more and have watched on as he’s taken them to new heights in the Premier League ever since.
Sat as high as fourth in England’s top flight, Sunderland have the chance to move into the top two if they defeat Arsenal and become the first side in eight games to score against the Gunners.
Owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus hasn’t hidden his ambitions for the club after such a strong start either, telling reporters that the Black Cats have set their sights on a top 10 finish in their first season back in the Premier League.
Whilst they continue to benefit from the players that they welcomed, however, Aberdeen are struggling after agreeing a loan deal to sign Aouchiche from Sunderland in the summer.
Reporter shares update on Aberdeen's Aouchiche move
Speaking to Mackem News, Cryle admitted that Aouchiche will have to do more to earn a permanent move to Aberdeen in what would be the club’s record deal at £1.5m.
The Aberdeen reporter said: “In terms of output, Aouchiche’s performances were quite exciting to begin with, without the final pass/shot, but left you thinking: Once he gets going, he’ll be a player.
“However, in what has been a generally dismal start to the season for Aberdeen as a collective domestically and in Europe, it feels like Aouchiche has increasingly struggled to play any active role in games.
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“There’s no rush to do a deal. However, £1.5m would be a club record fee for Aberdeen, and it seems pretty obvious to me that Aouchiche will need to do a lot more over the remainder of the season to justify such an outlay.”
Aberdeen sit as low as ninth in the Scottish Premiership and Aouchiche’s performances have hardly helped. The 23-year-old has scored just one goal and assisted another two in 14 appearances in all competitions. Given the expectations that were placed on his shoulders, there’s no denying that he’s struggling to make his mark.