Manchester United are now set to make an offer worth £34m for an “immense” defender, as Ruben Amorim believes he would be the ideal player to strengthen his backline, according to a report.
Man Utd looking to strengthen in all areas
A lack of goals was the real problem for Man United last season, finding the back of the net just 44 times in the Premier League, so it is little wonder that they have now set out to sign a new striker, having identified a number of targets.
Target
Current club
Goals in 24/25
Luis Suarez
Almeria
31
Hugo Ekitike
Eintracht Frankfurt
22
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Free agent
3
Victor Osimhen
Napoli
37
However, after finishing 15th in the Premier League, very few players are likely to be safe, with Atalanta star Ederson being targeted to strengthen the midfield, while the Red Devils are also racing Tottenham Hotspur for Genoa centre-back Koni De Winter.
United are already relatively well-stocked in the centre-back department, but with Lisandro Martinez still recovering from an ACL injury, it could be worth bringing in another option, and they now plan to make a bid for one of Amorim’s former players.
That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states Man United are set to propose a loan deal for Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, which would include an obligation to make the deal permanent for a fee of €40m (£34m).
Their own Zubimendi: Man Utd in talks to sign "strongest DM in the world"
Manchester United are looking to sign a central midfielder this summer.
1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 8, 2025
Amorim clearly holds Inacio in very high regard, with the manager viewing him as the ideal player to strengthen the Red Devils’ backline, and an official bid could be made soon.
Sporting have previously been hesitant to sell the centre-back, but they could now be willing to listen to offers, and United should be well-positioned to win the race, despite interest from Borussia Dortmund, given Amorim’s pre-existing relationship with him.
"Immense" Inacio could be solid signing for Man Utd
Analyst Raj Chohan has singled the Sporting star out for high praise in the past, lauding him as “immense”, and the defender put in some impressive performances en-route to his side securing the Liga Portugal title last season.
Sporting Lisbon's Goncalo Inacio
The 23-year-old, who shares the same agency as Bruno Fernandes, was one of the most consistent performers in the squad, averaging a 6.97 WhoScored match rating, while also showcasing his ability on the front foot by picking up three goals and two assists.
Journalist Zach Lowy claims that Amorim has “worked miracles” with the Almada-born defender in the past, and he has now gone on to gain more top-level experience, having established himself as a 16-time Portugal international.
As such, Inacio could be a solid signing for Man United, but their main priority should be to bring in a new striker, given that they struggled considerably in front of goal last season.
While Arsenal have made their fair share of big signings in summers past, it would be fair to say the way the club has acted in recent weeks is somewhat unprecedented.
Andrea Berta and Co have already secured the services of Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arizabalaga for a combined £65m, and on top of that, David Ornstein has confirmed that Christian Norgaard’s £15m transfer has been completed.
Furthermore, the links to Noni Madueke don’t seem to be going anywhere, and most exciting of all, it looks more like a matter of when, rather than if, the club will announce the signing of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swedish international could be a total game-changer for the Gunners, and interestingly, if reports are to be believed, the club could be looking to sign another dynamic attacker who’s a lot like him.
Arsenal target Gyokeres-esque star
After another season in which Arsenal produced the best defence in the Premier League but still fell short, signing a new striker this summer became a necessity.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
For much of the summer, the forward who looked most likely to join Arteta’s side was Benjamin Sesko. However, since it was revealed that RB Leipzig were asking for up to €100m, which is approximately £86m, the club’s focus shifted to Gyokeres.
The pivot to the Sporting CP star has been rapid, as an agreement on personal terms has already been reached, and talks between the two clubs are progressing, with some reports claiming that the final fee will be up to £70m including add-ons.
Interestingly, the North Londoners do not seem content with just the one forward signing, though, as they are also keen on Ademola Lookman.
At least that’s according to a recent report from The Athletic, which has revealed that Arsenal have held discussions concerning the Atalanta star.
The report claims that while the Gunners are fans of the talented international, they do not want to pay the Italian side’s valuation, which some reports have claimed is as high as £55m.
It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Lookman’s incredible ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’s won comparisons to Gyokeres.
How Lookman compares to Gyokeres
When it comes to Lookman’s similarities with Gyokeres, the first place to start is with the statistical side of things.
Ademola Lookman for Atalanta
According to FBref, the Swedish international was the fifth most similar forward to the Nigerian ace in last season’s Champions League.
The best way to understand how they reached this conclusion is to examine some of the underlying metrics in which the pair ranked closely, which include things like goals per shot and shot on target, passing accuracy, key passes and more, all per 90.
Goals per Shot
0.18
0.18
Goals per Shot on Target
0.45
0.44
Passing Accuracy
82.2%
80.0%
Key Passes
2.64
2.50
Aerial Duels Won %
33.3%
30.8%
However, the similarities go beyond these statistics, as just like the Sporting star, albeit to a slightly lesser extent, the Atalanta star has been “one of the best forwards in Europe” in the words of journalist Oma Akatugba recently.
For example, in the 22/23 season, he racked up a brilliant haul of 23 goal involvements in 33 games, which he then followed up with an even better tally of 27 in 45 games the following year.
Then, last season, for the third consecutive campaign, the “world-class” 27-year-old, as dubbed by journalist John Bennett, continued to blow opposition teams away by producing another 27 goal involvements, this time in just 40 games.
Ultimately, whether it’s down to their underlying numbers or the sheer weight of goals and assists they produce, it’s easy to make comparisons between Lookman and Gyokeres.
Appearances
33
45
40
Minutes
1858′
2809′
2871′
Goals
15
17
20
Assists
8
10
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.69
0.60
0.67
Minutes per Goal Involvement
80.78′
104.03′
106.33
Therefore, if Arsenal really want to supercharge their attack this summer, they should do what they can to bring in both of them.
Super agent in talks for £30m star to join Arsenal, it could be done in days
He’s trying to seal a north London move for his client.
A “superb” Celtic player is now in talks over a move away during the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph.
The Hoops continue to push hard for new signings this summer, with Aston Villa youngster Louie Barry seen as an option to come in and bolster Brendan Rodgers’ squad.
The 22-year-old excelled on loan at Championship side Hull City last season, scoring 15 goals in just 22 starts in the league, and could be sold in a hurry as Villa look to beat the PSR deadline in England.
Girona striker Bojan Miovski has also been mentioned as an option for Celtic ahead of next season, with the 26-year-old proving himself at Aberdeen in the past, scoring an impressive 44 goals in 98 appearances for the club, and 30 in 68 Scottish Premiership matches.
Yverdon Sport midfielder Moussa Baradji is another name in the mix, being tipped to potentially have as big an impact as Victor Wanyama did during his time at Parkhead.
"Superb" Celtic player in talks over exit
According to Joseph on X, Celtic bosses are “in talks” with Braga over a deal for centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke, with Championship clubs also said to be “interested” in him.
Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano reports that Braga have “sent” a bid of £1.7m the Hoops’ way, with the defender “keen” on the move. If he did leave for that amount, Celtc would make a £1.3m loss, having signed him for £3m.
This does arguably feel like the right time for Lagerbielke’s Parkhead career to come to an end, even though Rodgers did hail him back in 2023 after a rare goal, praising his “superb” mentality.
“It was a great moment for him because he hasn’t been involved in squads, other guys have been in front of him. But his attitude in training in the main has been superb and he has always been ready. The irony of him being sent off and then getting the goal was great, a really nice moment for him.”
Last season, Lagebielke was loaned out to Dutch side FC Twente, with Celtic finding it hard to justify a place for him in the squad, and it doesn’t look as though the 25-year-old’s situation is going to change next term.
The Sweden international is at a point in his career where he needs to be featuring regularly at a permanent club, rather than warming the substitutes’ bench or being loaned out.
Dream Kuhn replacement: Celtic weighing up bid to sign "electric" £12m star
With Nicolas Kühn seemingly set to leave Celtic this summer, could Brendan Rodgers sign an “absolutely electric” replacement?
Jun 27, 2025
He still has three years remaining on his current Celtic deal, so there is no reason why the Scottish champions can’t still receive a decent fee for him – more than £1.7m would be preferable – and he would surely jump at the opportunity to enjoy a fresh challenge.
Liverpool have become one of the most interesting sides to follow on the market this summer and appear primed to announce yet another signing at Anfield, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Liverpool not wasting any time on transfers
Jeremie Frimpong became Liverpool’s first signing of the window, and he has been joined by young goalkeeper Armin Pecsi from Puskas Akacemia, though more headline additions are on the way as Arne Slot gets to work.
Florian Wirtz has passed his medical on Friday ahead of a record move to the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen, and Jarell Quansah’s potential move to Germany has set the scene for the arrival of a new central defender.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehi
Recent reports suggest Liverpool have upped their interest in Crystal Palace central defender Marc Guehi and the Eagles could be compelled to sell the England international, who only has one year left on his deal in South London.
Despite the excitement emanating out of the red half of Merseyside, Mick Brown believes the Reds could entertain selling Andy Robertson, citing the financial incentives involved in a potential switch to Atletico Madrid for the Scotland international.
He stated: “In terms of wages and transfer value, they would make the most back from letting Robertson go. If they get an acceptable offer for him, I think they’ll entertain it.”
Liverpool’s first five Premier League fixtures of the new season
Bournemouth (H)
Anfield
Newcastle United (A)
St James’ Park
Arsenal (H)
Anfield
Burnley (A)
Turf Moor
Everton (H)
Anfield
Admittedly, Liverpool’s Premier League-winning side could form a very different complexion next term. There is a feeling that the dynamic has shifted regarding transfer activity at Anfield, with Slot becoming a ruthless force in his mission to claim further silverware.
In light of this, the Reds are now close to completing another deal for a star who has been edging towards a move to the top-flight holders.
Romano: Liverpool agree deal for Milos Kerkez
According to Romano, sharing the news on Friday lunch time, Liverpool’s negotiations with Bournemouth are complete and Milos Kerkez will now undergo a medical with the Reds.
Kerkez registered two goals and six assists in 41 appearances across all competitions for the Cherries last term as they narrowly missed out on continental qualification.
The Hungarian has been praised by Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola for his improved end product since arriving in the top flight, something which marks him out as the perfect replacement for Robertson, known for bombing down the left flank and whipping in dangerous crosses.
With Robertson potentially on his way out, the 21-year-old appears to be a shrewd replacement that could go on to become a leading light in Liverpool’s side for years to come should the medical go to plan.
Aston Villa have plenty of work to do in the market under Unai Emery this summer and could now bring a familiar face to Villa Park to replace Marcus Rashford, according to a report.
Marcus Rashford staying at Aston Villa is looking unlikely
In a January transfer window where the Villans had to cope with the loss of Jhon Duran, Marcus Rashford was brought in on loan to soften the blow and certainly made an impact upon arrival from Manchester United.
Four goals and six assists in 17 appearances from the Three Lions international helped Aston Villa claim a European place. However, Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Unai Emery should look for an alternative to Rashford due to his exorbitant wages.
He stated: “The main reason why I don’t think he should come is he’s going to upset the changing room. If you’re Morgan Rodgers, you’re Watkins, you’re Konsa, you’ll say ‘Rashford’s coming in on £300,000 a week.
“Okay then, well, I want £300,000 a week. That’s what happens in changing rooms. The £40 million is not the problem, it’s the wages.”
Without putting too fine a point on it, Aston Villa are under pressure to meet PSR regulations and could sell Emiliano Martinez by the end of the month to ease the gravity of their situation.
Aston Villa now contacted with info about deal to sign "special" UCL winner
He’s won everything there is to win in English football.
ByTom Cunningham Jun 4, 2025
Salaries and transfer fees are accounted for, so any swoop for Rashford is starting to become more unlikely as the days go by, especially when you factor in Barcelona’s keen interest in the Carrington graduate.
Making a swift decision, Aston Villa look to be proactive in their search for a replacement, who is a face many from the Premier League sphere will be familiar with.
Aston Villa become contenders to sign Jadon Sancho
According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are now in the mix to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United after Chelsea opted to pay the £5 million penalty in his loan agreement to send him back to Old Trafford.
The Blues had an obligation to buy the former Borussia Dortmund man for £25 million, but he wasn’t willing to cool his £300,000 per week wage demands, and Villa have quickly joined the race in recent days as they expect Rashford to depart.
Labelled “amazing” by Ian Wright, the 25-year-old registered five goals and ten assists last term in 42 appearances, showing glimpses of the form that earned him a £73 million move to Manchester United in summer 2021.
Creating 38 chances and compeleting 45 dribbles in the Premier League, Sancho has shown he still has plenty more to give at the elite level this season and capped his mini-revival with a goal in Chelsea’s 4-1 triumph over Real Betis to claim continental glory.
If Aston Villa can fit him into their wage structure, there is every chance the London-born star could be a key player at Villa Park amid Manchester United’s desire to sell high earners.
Leeds United have plenty of time ahead of them to dip into the summer transfer window to bolster their options ahead of a season in the Premier League.
The Whites know that they will have to recruit well to avoid the drop in their first year back in the top-flight, as the last six sides to go up have come straight back down again.
One player who does not appear to be on his way to Elland Road this summer, however, is winger Manor Solomon, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan in West Yorkshire.
Journalist Graeme Bailey told The Boot Room: “I am told that Solomon still thinks he can break into the first team at Tottenham. He has gained so much confidence from his spell at Leeds and now feels fully adapted to English football. He is a very interesting option, Spurs like him and are ready to let him prove himself during pre-season.”
Solomon produced 12 goals and ten assists in the Championship this season for Leeds to help them on their way to the league title, and this update suggests that he will not be joining on a permanent basis.
The other Premier League player who was on loan at Elland Road in the 2024/25 campaign was Joe Rothwell, and the club should not be looking to bring him back.
Why Leeds should not sign Joe Rothwell
The Whites should look elsewhere in the transfer market instead of attempting to bring the English whiz back from Bournemouth, because he is not suited to the physicality of the Premier League.
Rothwell arrived in West Yorkshire to provide valuable back-up in the central midfield positions for Daniel Farke in the 2024/25 campaign, and that is exactly what he did.
Appearances
36
Starts
24
Big chances created
4
Assists
4
Key passes per game
1.7
Pass accuracy
91%
As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old maestro offered a reliable presence with the ball at his feet, completing 91% of his attempted passes, and provided creativity with his ability to assist his teammates.
However, Leeds will need different attributes when they are battling against relegation from the Premier League next season, and that is why the club should avoid a deal to bring him back.
In the 2023/24 Premier League season, Rothwell lost 53% of his overall duels and 100% of his aerial battles for Bournemouth across 11 appearances, whilst being dribbled past six times in three starts.
This suggests that he does not possess the physical attributes required to thrive in the top-flight, hence why the Cherries opted to loan him to the second tier, and Leeds are now being linked with a star who would be a huge upgrade in that position.
Leeds pushing to sign Premier League star
According to reports in France, Leeds United have identified West Ham United central midfielder Tomas Soucek as a target for the summer transfer window.
The report suggests that the West Yorkshire outfit are now ‘pushing’ to bring the Czech international over to Elland Road to bolster the manager’s options in the middle of the park.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It is said that there is a chance that the former Slavia Prague star leaves the Hammers this summer, and the Whites are looking to potentially take advantage of that.
Leeds have added the 30-year-old titan to their list of targets and are seemingly set to pursue a deal for the midfielder, given that they are ‘pushing’ for him.
West Ham's Tomas Soucek
The report further claims that the Championship champions are looking for experienced options to bolster their efforts to stay in the Premier League, and Soucek – who is valued at £19m by Football Transfers – is a player who fits the bill perfectly.
Why Leeds should sign Soucek as a Rothwell upgrade
The midfield star has racked up 194 appearances in the Premier League in his career with the Hammers so far, and 245 appearances for the club in all competitions.
This shows that Soucek is an experienced player who has proven that he can perform on a consistent basis at the top level in England, as shown by how long his career at the London Stadium has been, which is not the case for Rothwell.
Soucek is also a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, with a return of 36 goals in his top-flight career, whilst Rothwell – who is also 30 – has never scored at that level.
Sky Sports commentator Andy Hinchcliffe described him as the most “dangerous” player in the box in the clip above, as he scored one of his nine Premier League goals this season against Wolves in December.
Appearances
35
xG
6.85
Goals
9
Duels won per game
5.0
Duel success rate
53%
Aerial duels won per game
2.9
Aerial duel success rate
57%
As you can see in the table above, Soucek also provides a level of physicality that Rothwell would not, as he wins duels at an efficient rate and is particularly impressive in the air.
As aforementioned, Rothwell did not win a single aerial battle in the 2023/24 season for Bournemouth in the Premier League, which shows that the West Ham star would be a major upgrade on him from an aerial perspective.
Tomas Soucek scores for West Ham
Soucek would add an imposing and physical presence to the Leeds midfield, with his ability to win duels and compete in the air, whilst the Bournemouth loanee would seemingly be a brittle option in the top-flight.
Therefore, hopefully, Leeds will win the race for the Czechia international this summer as a huge upgrade on Rothwell in the middle of the park, as he is a proven Premier League performer who can offer goals and physicality.
Leeds could land best signing since Raphinha in £35m Premier League star
Leeds United could land their best and biggest signing since Raphinha by bringing this star to Elland Road.
ByDan Emery Jun 4, 2025
Whereas, the Cherries outcast has not proven himself in the top-flight and does not offer enough physically to perform week-in-week-out at that level, which is why avoiding a deal for him in order to pursue Soucek would be a great move by the Whites.
Liverpool’s search for a new striker has reportedly taken a fresh twist, with a new option now emerging who could provide Michael Edwards and FSG an alternative to Hugo Ekitike.
Liverpool linked with Hugo Ekitike move
It’s no secret that Liverpool are ready to spend big this summer, with Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz already all likely on their way Anfield, but none of those will solve Arne Slot’s striker problem. Instead, to do exactly that, Edwards has reportedly set his sights on signing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ekitike in a deal that Chelsea are also in pursuit of.
The Frenchman enjoyed an excellent season in Germany and will now reportedly cost any potential suitors as much as £84m. Whether Liverpool are ready to match that price tag is undoubtedly the big question. The Premier League champions are already preparing to spend a club-record fee to sign Wirtz whilst also splashing out on Kerkez and Frimpong. Add £84m onto that and Liverpool could find themselves spending more than ever this summer.
Minutes
2,563
1,133
Goals
15
8
Assists
8
2
Expected Goals
21.6
5.8
When looking at the numbers, it becomes clear as to why Frankfurt are demanding such a high price to sell Ekitike. That’s not to say there aren’t some concerns, though.
As impressive as the former Paris Saint-Germain was throughout the season, scoring 15 goals and creating another eight, he significantly underperformed when it comes to expected goals and Liverpool simply cannot afford to splash out on another wasteful finisher after Nunez.
Liverpool now also open talks to sign "fantastic" £50m winger after Wirtz
Liverpool are closing in on Wirtz.
ByTom Cunningham May 30, 2025
For £84m, the Reds must be investing in a clinical striker. With that said, instead of Ekitike, Liverpool could yet target a cheaper alternative this summer who has already got an Anfield goal to his name.
Liverpool considering Goncalo Ramos swoop
According to Sam McGuire for Anfield Watch, FSG and Liverpool are now considering a move to sign Goncalo Ramos from PSG this summer. The Portugal international has often been used from the bench by Luis Enrique in France and may now seek a starting place elsewhere.
Given that he’s likely to be valued at around €65m (£55m) as PSG aim to recoup what they initially paid, Ramos would also be a cheaper option than Ekitike.
Minutes
2,563
1,066
Goals
15
10
Assists
8
3
Expected Goals
21.6
13.6
Whilst Ramos has underperformed on expected goals, he has been better in that regard than Ekitike, who has underperformed by over six goals. It’s also worth noting that, despite playing the equivalent of almost 12 games in Ligue 1, the PSG forward scored 10 goals throughout the campaign.
Dubbed “prolific” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Liverpool have seen Ramos’ goalscoring prowess for themselves in the past when he netted a penalty in the Anfield leg of PSG’s Champions League win against the Reds in March, whereas he also scored at Anfield for Benfica in 2022.
When will Rangers unveil their new manager at Ibrox?
On Saturday, the Gers concluded their generally miserable campaign at Easter Road, held to a 2-2 draw, with top-scorer Cyriel Dessers and Rangers Player of the Season Nicolas Raskin on target in Edinburgh.
As Scottish Premiership runners-up, the Light Blues will start next season early with a Champions League second qualifying round tie on 22 or 23 July, currently projected to face one of Brann from Norway, Swiss side Servette or Austria Vienna.
Thus, with that first leg a mere 62 days away already, 49ers Enterprises are under pressure to appoint a new Rangers manager very quickly, so who is on their shortlist?
Rangers' new manager search
According to a report by Sky Sports News, six men are ‘under consideration’ to become the new Rangers manager.
They are: Steven Gerrard, Davide Ancelotti, Russell Martin, Rob Edwards, Danny Röhl and Gary O’Neil.
Ever since it was confirmed that his father, Carlo, will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, becoming the new Brazil manager, it has been widely reported, including by Madrid-based outlet AS, that Davide is one of the front-runners to land the Rangers job.
Meantime, Gerrard remains one of the leading candidates too, with Mike McGrath of the Telegraph documenting how the 49ers have held a longstanding interest in bringing the Englishman back to Ibrox.
Of the six names mentioned, only Röhl is currently employed by a club, and he is ‘considering’ leaving Sheffield Wednesday, as reported by David Ornstein of the Athletic, but Rangers should not go for him, nor Gerrard nor Ancelotti, with another member of the short list making the most sense.
Who Rangers should appoint as their new manager
Rob Edwards may be a name unfamiliar to a large majority of the Rangers support, but he could be an excellent appointment.
Let’s have a look at the 42-year-old’s senior managerial career so far.
AFC Telford United
2017-18
49
20
Forest Green Rovers
2021-22
53
26
League Two title
Watford
2022
11
3
Luton Town
2022-25
104
33
Championship promotion
Edwards’ biggest career achievement to date is, without question, leading Luton Town into the Premier League which was a miraculous achievement.
The Hatters were relegated after one season in the top-flight, before Edwards departed by mutual consent back in January of this year, with the club actually going on to suffer a second successive relegation, now finding themselves in EFL League One.
Nevertheless, this should take away from Edwards’ impact at Kenilworth Road, with journalist James Cunliffe noting that he did an “outstanding” job at Luton, while Mark Ogden of ESPN praises his “ultra-positive” style of play, something that would no doubt go down well with those at Ibrox.
Meantime, Exeter City midfielder Edward Francis, who played for Edwards at youth level, praised his exceptional “man-management” and “communication skills”, adding “he always treats people well and is honest with them”.
So, Edwards is clearly a young manager on the up, which is in contrast to Gerrard.
Former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard.
The 44-year-old’s time at Aston Villa was disastrous, as documented by Gregg Evans of the Athletic, while he was then also sacked by Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq back in January following an underwhelming 18-month stint in the Middle East.
So, Gerrard’s last two managerial jobs do not suggest he is the right man for the Ibrox dugout, although he was successful during his first stint in Govan, delivering the club’s first Premiership title for a decade, historically ending Celtic’s quest for ten-in-a-row.
So, reappointing Gerrard would probably be the safe option, as he is a known quantity in Glasgow, but the 49ers should be braver and hire an up-and-coming coach with the potential to get even better, and Edwards certainly fits that bill.
Rangers can forget Ancelotti by hiring manager who's a "joy to watch"
Rangers must move on from Davide Ancelotti to appoint this British head coach.
All eyes may be on tomorrow evening, amid Manchester United’s bid to book their place in the Europa League final, although in the long-term, it is the summer transfer window that could prove make or break for the Ruben Amorim regime.
The United hierarchy will need to strike a balance between handing the Portuguese the appropriate tools for his specialised 3-4-3 system, albeit while avoiding a repeat of Erik ten Hag’s tenure, in which far too many of the Dutchman’s transfer dealings were manager-led.
Erik ten Hag
While the move for Noussair Mazraoui ranks among the more successful of the club’s captures in recent times, you really do have to look back to Bruno Fernandes’ arrival in 2020 to see an overwhelmingly positive deal done at Old Trafford.
As club legend Gary Neville stated late last year, the playmaker is the “only” player in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era to have lived up to expectations, with far too many high-profile moves having gone awry.
The INEOS era needs to begin to improve upon this wretched recent record, with perhaps United’s lowest ebb having come prior to the takeover, in the form of Wout Weghorst’s shock addition.
Wout Weghorst's record at Man Utd
For all the complications and controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at Old Trafford – not least the striker’s explosive bombshell interview with Piers Morgan – it still represented a significant, shock downgrade to have replaced the free-scoring icon with that man Weghorst.
Wout Weghorst
With Ronaldo departing on acrimonious terms, ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Ten Hag and co were forced to dip into the market for a new striker in January, particularly amid Anthony Martial’s continued injury woes.
Options in the winter window were unsurprisingly limited, with the Premier League side ultimately forced to settle on plucking Weghorst from his loan spell at Besiktas, having scored just two goals the year prior for Burnley.
While the towering Netherlands international was brutally mocked as the ‘worst player’ to have played for Manchester United, in the verdict of controversial broadcaster Richard Keys, he did enjoy the odd bright moment, having notably provided the assist for Marcus Rashford’s strike in the Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle United.
Deployed in almost a number ten berth at times, the experienced marksman also came close to netting on the break in the 2-2 draw with Barcelona at Camp Nou, having at least shown signs of life despite his obvious limitations.
Those limitations, however, were exposed by his meagre return of just two goals and only three assists in 31 games in all competitions during his six-month stint in Manchester, having almost broken down in tears after clinching a long-awaited Old Trafford goal against Real Betis.
For a player of whom many expected little, Weghorst at least popped up with a few moments to cherish. The reverse looks to be true of one of those among Amorim’s current crop.
The Man Utd star in danger of looking worse than Weghorst
On the striker front, question marks continue to surround both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee. That said, in the case of Hojlund, the young Dane did at least finish last season as United’s top scorer in all competitions, while Zirkzee, meanwhile, has scored seven times in an injury-curtailed debut campaign at the club.
Both men – as would be hoped considering their respective £64m and £36.5m transfer fees – have easily eclipsed the five goal involvements that Weghorst chalked up, although the same can’t be said of the man who arrived alongside Hojlund in 2023, Mason Mount.
Signed from rivals Chelsea on a £55m deal that summer, having had just a year left to run on his existing contract at Stamford Bridge, the Englishman initially looked like something of a coup, with Ten Hag having won the race for his signature ahead of both Arsenal and Liverpool.
A player who had provided a match-winning assist in the 2021 Champions League final, alongside notably reaching double figures for both goals and assists in the Premier League in 2021/22, Mount arrived in Manchester with real pedigree. As Ten Hag stated at the time, he is “a quality player”.
Sadly for all concerned, the marquee move has proven a real disaster to date, with the versatile midfielder the latest to seemingly be struck down by the club’s infamous number seven curse.
Whether he has simply been weighed down by taking on such an iconic jersey at the Theatre of Dreams, things really haven’t got going for Mount thus far, with the £250k-per-week asset having been repeatedly hampered by injury over the last two seasons.
Even when he has featured, the former Derby County loanee has hardly looked like nailing down a regular role for himself, with the 3-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao showcasing a case in point.
Introduced off the bench with United hoping to see things out in comfortable fashion, Mount put in an erratic and over-eager performance in the closing stages, picking up a needless yellow card, while losing the ball on seven occasions from just 23 touches.
That was, to his credit, followed up by a goal against Brentford to open the scoring at the weekend, although even that strike cannot mask his grim overall return, having now scored just twice and contributed only one assist in 41 games to date – two fewer goals and assists than Weghorst, albeit having played nine more games.
Premier League
27
2
0
EFL Cup
2
0
1
FA Cup
2
0
0
Europa League
7
0
0
Champions League
2
0
0
Community Shield
1
0
0
Total
41
2
0
While it may seem harsh to compare Mount to Weghorst, considering the latter’s status as a striker, the former has largely operated as a number ten in the Amorim regime, albeit with little success. As previously mentioned, Weghorst also operated in that role under Ten Hag.
Considering the sizeable nature of Mount’s price tag too – the tenth highest in United’s history, as per Transfermarkt – it is difficult to view his capture as anything but a flop, with time running out to make his mark before the season is at an end.
Amorim, it would seem, still has ample faith in a player he described as a “proper footballer”, although with the likes of Matheus Cunha looking set to arrive this summer – amid reports that Mount could himself be on his way – the competition in the side is only set to increase.
Hopefully, for both his and United’s sake, the Cobham academy graduate can play a vital role in clinching Europa League glory…
Worse than Bayindir: 2/10 flop must now never start for Man Utd again
Manchester United suffered their 16th league defeat of the season, losing 4-3 to Brentford.
Tottenham Hotspur chiefs are now discussing the possibility of appointing a “special” manager who’s been targeted by Real Madrid as a potential replacement for Carlo Ancelotti, and he’d be a big-name to follow in the footsteps of Ange Postecoglou.
Ange Postecoglou comments on Tottenham season amid uncertain future
Spurs face the Premier League champions elect, Liverpool, on Sunday – and defeat at Anfield could equal their record for most league defeats in a single season since the competition’s inception.
Tottenham now targeting "elite" £8.3m-a-year manager after "bold" decision
Ange Postecoglou could be replaced by a big-name.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 25, 2025
It’s been a torrid 2024/2025 for Postecoglou, who’s dealt with consistent reports linking him with the Spurs exit door, and it is reliably believed that the Lilywhites could decide to sack him regardless of whether they win the Europa League (The Telegraph).
Liverpool (away)
Sunday
West Ham (away)
May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Brighton (home)
May 25th
Tottenham sit 16th in the Premier League table after 18 top flight losses, with Postecoglou suffering from a major player selection crisis midway through the season thanks to a plethora of injuries to key squad members.
This undoubtedly crippled their chances of a respectable league finish, but languishing near the relegation zone is disastrous for a big six side like Spurs. Postecoglou has a saving grace, their promising Europa League campaign, where the Australian could end Spurs’ 17-year wait for major silverware.
“You just got to try to deal with what is before you,” said Postecoglou on Tottenham’s season.
“As you said, we are well aware our league form and league position is not good enough. But we also know there is an unbelievable opportunity on the horizon. I think irrespective of, this club has had many seasons and a lot of clubs have had seasons where they have done outstandingly well in the league but don’t have the opportunity we have right now of being in the final four of a major European competition.
“That is where the focus is and where the focus should be irrespective, especially of a club that hasn’t had a lot of success recently. We have got a wonderful opportunity. The players have and the club has and collectively if we give ourselves every opportunity to progress to a final then I think hopefully the momentum we gain from that will give us a chance to do something special.”
Tottenham talking about replacing Ange Postecoglou with Xabi Alonso
In the background, Tottenham are drawing up a shortlist of managers to replace Postecoglou.
Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth), Marco Silva (Fulham), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace), Thomas Frank (Brentford) and Scott Parker (Burnley) have all been linked as potential candidates, with a Spurs return for Mauricio Pochettino not ruled out either.
As per GiveMeSport, key decision-makers in N17 now want to show more ambition and be bold in their pursuit of a new head coach, meaning they could now target Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso.
Bayer Leverkusen coachXabiAlonso
The Spaniard guided Leverkusen to a Bundesliga title last season, finishing the league unbeaten and making history. Alonso’s side also very nearly finished the entire campaign without defeat, but were handed their only loss of 2023/2024 in the Europa League final against Atalanta.
This stellar job at Leverkusen on a limited budget has prompted reports that Real Madrid are considering him as a replacement for Ancelotti, but GMS now report that Tottenham have been talking about appointing Alonso as well.
Called a “special” manager by Arne Slot, it is hard to argue with the Dutchman’s assessment, but this move could be too far out of Spurs’ reach with Real lurking.