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Manchester United are now ready to send a “big” offer to sign a teenager who is also being eyed by Chelsea, according to a new report.

Bruno calls to repay fan support after dismal season

It was another weekend to forget for the Red Devils, as they suffered their 14th defeat of the Premier League season against Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon. It was a game that had nothing on it for United and everything on it for the Magpies, and that showed, as Ruben Amorim made changes before a ball was kicked.

Related Worse than Bayindir: 4/10 Man Utd flop should be nowhere near Amorim's XI

Manchester United were battered by Newcastle United on Sunday evening.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Apr 13, 2025

Despite the game being over with 20 minutes left to play, United supporters continued to sing from the famous sky-high St James’ away end, and manager and captain Bruno Fernandes feels it is time they reward the support that has been shown to them.

“There’s not much to assess; we lost the game. In the first half we did good, in the second half we couldn’t keep up the way we wanted to play.

“We know that it’s been a tough season; nothing to add to that. Our position in the table is not where this club belongs, but unfortunately we are not getting the results. We need to look forward, as we have a big game coming up; we need to clear our heads and go for it.

“We are in this position because we have not been consistent in the performances we put out. We lack being more fearless, being more brave. Today this was not the case because we ended up conceding goals by trying to be brave.

“It’s easy to criticise because this club has never suffered like this, so it’s normal. You have to be aware you play for United, and criticism will be there. Our fans have been there all season during bad moments; today they were there at the end trying to cheer us up. It’s time we give something back.”

Man Utd now "ready" to send "big" offer for £75m ace

As Fernandes focuses on what remains of this season, the Red Devils leadership are looking ahead to the transfer market already. According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, relayed by Sport Witness, Man United are “ready” to make a “big investment” and sign Kenan Yildiz from Juventus.

The report states that while Juventus want to keep hold of Yildiz and the winger is happy in Turin, a sale may happen this summer if the Italian giants do not qualify for the Champions League. This opens the door for United, who are ready to make a move and sign the Turkey international but don’t state how much they are willing to spend.

However, the Red Devils are not alone in their pursuit of the exciting attacker, as Chelsea and Manchester City are also willing to make offers to secure a transfer.

Kenan Yildiz’s Juventus stats

Apps

76

Goals

12

Assists

6

Since joining Juventus’ academy in July 2023, Yildiz’s market value has continued to climb and climb. In July 2023, Yildiz was valued at one million euros; that rose to 10 million euros in January 2024 and now sits all the way at 45 million euros – Yildiz’s market value has risen by 4,500% over the year and a half he’s been at the club.

It’s even been reported that he could cost much more than that, with a figure of £75 million being mentioned in the Italian press.

All roads lead to Bilbao in the Europa League, with Manchester United still left with a glimmer of hope regarding the chance to end this wretched campaign on a real high.

For a third successive campaign, the Red Devils could round off the season with a notable piece of silverware. Even in the most desperate of times, this team can still pull a rabbit out of the hat.

European glory and the ensuing Champions League qualification would certainly be something to cherish, although it should not mask the task ahead for new boss Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese coach still yet to truly revive this sinking ship.

Currently residing in 14th in the Premier League, the Old Trafford side have now scored just once across their last four top-flight outings – a fact that has only heightened the need to bolster the forward line this summer.

With the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony all looking set to depart permanently this summer following their respective loan moves, the hope will be that funds will be available to revive this limp attacking unit.

Selected strikers – Record for Man Utd

Player

Games

Goals

Assists

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

53

29

10

Romelu Lukaku

96

42

12

Odion Ighalo

23

5

1

Edinson Cavani

59

19

6

Cristiano Ronaldo (2nd spell)

54

27

5

Wout Weghorst

31

2

3

Anthony Martial

317

90

46

Rasmus Hojlund

88

24

6

Stats via Transfermarkt

According to recent reports, it already looks as if INEOS have settled on their first leading target, ahead of strengthening for next season.

Latest Man Utd transfer news

With few distractions, outside of Europa League action, the remainder of the campaign should well be used to get ahead on the transfer front. No longer should United be left scrambling around in August or on deadline day.

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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Thankfully, the new INEOS regime appear to be keen to avoid that latter scenario, with reports already rife that the Red Devils are progressing with regard to the potential signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has outlined that United are in pole position for the Brazilian’s signature, with The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell since adding that positive talks have been held regarding the 25-year-old’s personal terms.

That comes amid claims from the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones that suggested Amorim and co are even ‘inching closer to an agreement’ for the former Atletico Madrid man, albeit with United still needing to activate his £62.5m release clause.

Jones went on to add that INEOS are keen to get terms agreed by next month, to ensure that ‘they still have headroom under Profit and Sustainability Rules’, with it likely to be the case that the club will need to sell to buy if notable deals are to be made this summer.

Having seemingly fended off competition from the likes of Newcastle United, it looks as if United are closing in on the signing of such a leading Premier League talent…

Why Man Utd could be set to sign the next Cantona & Berbatov

It has been a common theme in the Premier League era – particularly during Sir Alex Ferguson’s glory days – for United to try and raid the rest of the division for the best attacking talents, be it Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha, Robin van Persie, Dimitar Berbatov and, of course, Eric Cantona.

There are certainly shades of the latter two with regard to Cunha, with the £90k-per-week star something of a “maverick” and a “flawed genius”, in the words of journalist Nathan Juddah, albeit while combining that with his status as a “match-winner” and a “superstar”.

Those are no doubt traits shared by the great Cantona, in particular, with the iconic Frenchman a truly enigmatic and talismanic figure for United, following his arrival from rivals Leeds United on a £1.2m deal in November 1992.

The driving force of United’s domestic dominance in the early 90s, ‘King Eric’ went on to claim four league titles during his stint in Manchester, while racking up 82 goals in 182 games for the club in total.

With his collar up and chest out, the beloved forward strutted his stuff around the Old Trafford turf, combining moments of magic on the pitch, with his at-times colourful actions off it. Who can forget that Kung-Fu kick at Selhurst Park.

Cunha, meanwhile, mirrors that knack for going from the sublime to the ridiculous, with 2024/25 alone seeing him memorably score directly from a corner against Amorim’s side on Boxing Day, albeit while since receiving two separate suspensions for off-the-ball altercations.

Like Cantona, the one-time RB Leipzig man can be hot-headed, but more importantly, however, he appears to relish his talismanic status at Molineux, having now scored 14 league goals this season, after netting 12 times in 2023/24.

Capable of operating as a centre-forward or off the front – again, like Cantona – the ‘maverick’ Brazil international has that ability to switch it on in an instant, as he actually tops the division for most time spent walking on the pitch, excluding goalkeepers.

That at-times ‘lazy’ quality is something that was shared by the aforementioned Berbatov, albeit with the Bulgarian – who signed from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2008 – subsequently outlining the benefits of that approach:

The silky striker memorably claimed the top-flight Golden Boot as United romped to the title in the 2010/11 campaign, having also possessed that Cantona-esque knack for the spectacular, be it his touchline trickery against West Ham United, or his overhead-kick as part of a treble against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Cunha – who scored from range out of nothing at Anfield back in March – can also conjure up a magic moment in an instant, with the Red Devils needing that ‘maverick’ talent to revive this lifeless frontline.

Like Cantona and Berbatov before him, the 25-year-old certainly isn’t perfect, but he is a showman. It doesn’t appear that the United jersey would weigh too heavy on him…

Related Romano: What we know so far about Man Utd's £62.5m talks for Matheus Cunha

This would be some coup.

Posts ByBarney Lane Apr 22, 2025

Will Manchester City qualify for next season’s Champions League?

Last Sunday, the Sky Blues reached a third successive FA Cup final, courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley, in which Rico Lewis and then Joško Gvardiol were the scorers.

Back in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s team have enjoyed three successive victories, now seeking to win four in a row for the first time since the first four matches of this season.

Victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night would propel the Sky Blues up to third, but this won’t be easy, considering Wolves travel to the Etihad following six successive victories, achieving this in the top division for the first time since 1970.

If Guardiola is going to end Wolves’ winning streak, he should make a change to his forward line with Jack Grealish likely to come out of the side.

Jack Grealish's Manchester City decline

When Grealish arrived at Manchester City for £100m, at the time breaking the British transfer record, few would’ve forecast that, four years later, he’d merely be a peripheral figure.

The 29-year-old has started just 16 matches across all competitions this season, going a whopping 392 days without a club goal, starting only once in the Premier League since Christmas, hence why his name was a surprise inclusion against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

The table below illustrates the England international’s decline.

Jack Grealish season-by-season Man City career

Statistics

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Appearances

39

50

36

31

Starts

31

41

26

16

Minutes

2,730

3,487

2,114

1,520

Matches unused

19

11

18

20

Goals

6

5

3

3

Minutes per goal

455

697

705

507

Assists

4

11

3

5

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, since Grealish’s best season, the treble-winning campaign of 2022/23, he’s been little more than a bit part player, no longer a regular starter and not a regular contributor when it comes to goals and assists.

Jeremy Cross and Oli Gamp of the Daily Mirror believe it is very likely that Grealish will depart this summer, making it pointless Guardiola picking him for Man City’s four remaining league fixtures, so here’s who he should unleash against Wolves instead.

Chalkboard

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

Expand Collapse The Man City forward yet to fulfil his potential

Jérémy Doku joined Manchester City two summers ago from Stade Rennais, costing a reported £55.5m, with Director of Football Txiki Begiristain describing him as a “very exciting young player” who has the potential to “develop into a world-class attacking talent”.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labeled him an “explosive winger” with “superb dribbling skills” who “plays with a natural flair”.

Well, so far, we’ve only seen this in glimpses, with the Belgian scoring only six goals both this season and last, the most recent of which came during the 6-0 demolition of Ipswich all the way back in January.

Nevertheless, Doku does rank more favourably when it comes to other metrics, as outlined by the table below.

Jérémy Doku Premier League statistics 2024/25

Statistics

Doku

PL rank

Minutes played

1,307

247th

Goals

3

99th

Assists

5

41st

Progressive carries

176

1st

Attempted take-ons

175

2nd

Successful take-ons

98

1st

Take on success % (min 50 attempted)

56%

4th

Carries into the final third

83

4th

Carries into the penalty area

80

2nd

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table highlights, despite his relative lack of minutes, Doku has accumulated the most progressive carries and successful take-ons of any player in the Premier League.

Meantime, only Mohammed Kudus of West Ham has attempted more take-ons, while only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has registered more carries into the opposition penalty area.

Still only 22-years-old, Doku has the potential to be the future of this team, while the same cannot be said of Grealish.

Thus, given that Vítor Pereira is likely to set Wolves up in a low defensive block on Friday night, their back three quickly retreating and becoming a back five, Doku’s one-vs-one dribbling ability could be invaluable as Man City seek to break them down.

Related 'Shades of De Bruyne': Man City preparing to make offer for £35m sensation

Manchester City are preparing to make an offer to sign a highly-rated talent to replace Kevin De Bruyne, described as Guardiola’s dream signing.

Posts ByBen Gray Apr 29, 2025

Glasgow Rangers transfer business has been a major cause for concern since the summer of 2021.

Plenty of managers have come and gone during that time, but not one has been able to say they enjoyed success in the transfer market.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst spent big on the likes of Ben Davies, Rabbi Matondo, and Ridvan Yilmaz, but they have hardly set the world on fire at Ibrox.

Michael Beale also had money to spend, but like his predecessor, it was wasted on flops such as Sam Lammers and Jose Cifuentes, who are now playing elsewhere.

Last summer, Robin Propper and Nedim Bajrami arrived in Glasgow under Philippe Clement, but they also failed to live up to the hype generated upon their move to Scotland.

Of course, not every signing has been poor. Nico Raskin has emerged as one of the club’s best players this season, winning the club’s Player of the Year. Todd Cantwell was solid in spells, while Hamza Igamane could generate a profit for the Light Blues following a stunning debut campaign.

Perhaps the player who could become one of the most important for the club is Mohamed Diomande, who has gone about his business without much fanfare since joining in January 2024, initially on loan.

Mohamed Diomande has been a great signing for Rangers

The Ivorian midfielder joined the Gers on a six-month loan deal in the 2024 winter window, which would become permanent that summer for a fee in the region of £4.3m.

It was a gamble, especially with the money involved, but the move turned out to be a success.

He showed glimpses of his ability during the loan spell, scoring twice in 19 games, grabbing an assist too, and it looked as though he could become a key figure in Clement’s midfield.

Able to operate either as a number ten or in a slightly deeper role, Diomande’s ability to run with the ball and glide past opponents ensures he is a success in either of these roles.

With the likes of Ianis Hagi and Tom Lawrence likely to leave this summer, a space for someone like Diomande to play higher up the pitch could be available regularly. This season, the 23-year-old has scored six and registered nine assists in all competitions for the Light Blues.

His game is well-suited to a more advanced role. When compared to his positional peers across the Europa League this season, the midfielder ranks in the top 6% for assists (0.23) and in the top 11% for successful take-ons (1.14) per 90.

He has still to reach his peak years as a player, and if Rangers can keep hold of Diomande under the new manager, he could become the new fulcrum of the team.

Whoever does take charge of the Glasgow giants on a permanent basis will be keen on making their own signings. It appears as though the 49ers Enterprises have earmarked a Brazilian midfielder as one of the first of a new era this summer.

Rangers need a new midfielder

Several names have already been linked with a move to Rangers ahead of the summer transfer window opening in a few weeks.

The 49ers will be aiming to build a side that can challenge Celtic for domestic dominance, hoping that the club will return to the summit of Scottish football once again.

According to the Scottish Sun last week, the Light Blues have earmarked Basel loanee Metinho as a top target this summer.

He is currently valued a £4m, which is a significant outlay for the club. A potential move could depend on whether the new manager can raise funds by selling some deadwood.

He will return to his parent club, Troyes, when the season finishes, but with Championship clubs showing interest, acting swiftly will be key.

With Raskin being touted for a move to England this summer, the 49ers will need to replace the Belgian international sufficiently.

If Metinho arrives in Scotland, he could fill the gap left by Raskin, which, in turn, would allow him to thrive with Diomande in the midfield.

Why Rangers must sign Metinho

Metinho came through the Fluminense academy and was one of the best prospects of his generation.

Indeed, in 2021, he was lauded by SelecaoTalk, who said: “Brazil’s best from his generation. He’s called ‘Little Pogba’.”

“He’s got everything, so complete. Very similar to Gerson who also came through the Fluminense academy.”

Moving to Europe later that year, the Brazilians struggled to make much of an impact. An 18-month loan spell at Sparta Rotterdam saw him demonstrate glimpses of his talent.

Comparing Raskin and Metinho domestically this season

Metric (per 90)

Raskin

Metinho

Tackles

2.9

3

Interceptions

0.7

1.1

Possession lost

10.1

6.2

Total duels won

6.6

4.7

Balls recovered

5.7

4.5

Accurate passes

46.7

29.3

Stats via Sofascore

It wasn’t until moving to Basel earlier this year, however, that the 22-year-old finally matured enough to perform consistently well.

Operating at the heart of the midfield, Metinho has played a solid role in the club winning their first league title since 2017.

Across ten matches, he averages three tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game domestically, while also recovering 4.5 balls per game for the Swiss side.

Furthermore, his ability to retain possession is excellent, losing the ball just 6.2 times per game. The midfielder even wins an impressive 4.7 total duels per game – a success rate of 66% – for Basel.

These statistics would not only make a solid replacement for Raskin, but also someone who could work well deployed behind Diomande at the base of the midfield.

As evidenced, the Ivorian star looks better when playing in a more advanced role. Having someone like Metinho mopping up everything behind him would certainly give Diomande plenty of freedom to attack.

Much will depend on the finances available to the new manager this summer. If the Brazilian is still available for around £4m by the time he arrives at Ibrox, it is a move which could be worth pursuing.

He could be a player who may generate a magnificent profit in the years to come for the Glasgow side.

Related Rangers could sign the next Ryan Kent with move for "outstanding" star

As the 49ers look to rebuild Rangers’ squad during the summer, could they secure an “outstanding” winger on a free, who could be the next Ryan Kent?

Posts ByBen Gray May 16, 2025

Chelsea will make contact over signing an England star, following internal talks behind-the-scenes at Stamford Bridge “this week”, with Enzo Maresca’s side mapping out their plans for the looming transfer window.

Chelsea have "big" recruitment plans this summer

As per reliable journalist Simon Phillips, BlueCo have “big” plans for the summer, and are aiming to take full advantage of the special edition early window ahead of their Club World Cup campaign.

Related Chelsea have held talks with £70m rival forward who allegedly wants to join

The west Londoners could go for him this summer.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2025

From June 1 to June 10, Chelsea have a limited opportunity to register and officially sign new players before the CWC kicks off, and it is believed that Maresca’s side want a couple of their top targets through the door in that timeframe.

“Chelsea have some big plans that they are working on, and a number of players that they are looking to sign,” said Phillips in a recent Substack update.

Race for Champions League qualification with 2 games remaining

Points

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

“There will also be more significant outgoing deals done, but the decision makers at the top of the club will have a lot of work to do and some huge decisions to make.

“First of all, we’ve heard that the club want to get a couple of their new signings in the door before the competition [CWC] starts so that they can get them in and ready for preseason.”

Unfortunately for Maresca, Chelsea appear resigned to missing out on Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen, with Real Madrid steaming ahead in the race and already agreeing a deal with the Cherries to pay his £50 million release clause (Fabrizio Romano).

Chelsea were confident of signing Huijsen and reportedly ready to make him a seven-year contract offer, but the Spain starlet’s representatives are now in Madrid as they negotiate terms with Los Blancos.

This story highlights how quickly the transfer market can evolve, not to mention the magnitude of competition facing Chelsea when it comes to signing their top targets.

Chelsea set for Eberechi Eze approach after internal talks this week

Back at the drawing board, those within Chelsea are believed to hold a serious admiration for Crystal Palace star and England international Eberechi Eze.

The attacking midfielder has a £68 million release clause in his contract, and Chelsea had him on their shortlist as far back as last summer. That is according to Phillips once again, who also writes that Chelsea are set to make an approach for Eze following internal discussions “this week”.

The former QPR sensation could win his first ever major trophy before potentially departing this summer after years of being linked with a move away, as Palace take on Man City in the looming FA Cup final.

Following a haul of 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, Eze has showcased exactly why he’s been coveted for so long, with Fulham boss Marco Silva also lavishing him as a joy to watch.

“Everyone who loves football should enjoy seeing Eze on the pitch,” said Silva. “He is a top, top young player and has so much quality with everything he does on the pitch.”

Liverpool are set for a summer that could see some statement arrivals link up with Arne Slot at Anfield and they are now closing in on yet another high-profile capture, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool finally lift the Premier League trophy

Admittedly, Liverpool took their foot off the gas after being crowned Premier League champions, but that is only a natural consequence of securing glory with several matches left to spare.

Nevertheless, Arne Slot has given a positive overview of potential transfer business at Anfield as the Reds begin to put the wheels in motion to defend their status as top-flight holders.

He stated on prospective arrivals: “I don’t know if it’s going to be a lot but we know, the club, Richard (Hughes), the ownership, we are all aligned on what we are trying to achieve.

“It is already very, very positive that we kept Mo and Virgil and a few others that we are trying to sign look positive.”

Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong could be on their way to Liverpool. Both deals look to be edging closer, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is headed out of the club after his last appearance on Sunday against Crystal Palace.

Related Romano: Liverpool lead race to sign another 21 y/o defender after talks

The update comes courtesy of Fabrizio Romano.

Posts 1 ByHenry Jackson May 25, 2025

Contact has also been made between the Reds and Viktor Gyokeres’ camp amid rumours that Liverpool are set to go all out for a number nine once the window opens.

Contrary to recent times, FSG are set to use their licence to probe in the market as Slot’s men attempt to compete on both domestic and European fronts next campaign.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Liverpool have reached an agreement on personal terms with a proven Premier League performer.

Romano: Liverpool reach personal terms 'agreement' with Milos Kerkez

Speaking via GIVEMESPORT on Monday morning, Romano has confirmed that Liverpool are closing in on Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez after finding an ‘agreement’ on personal terms with the Hungary international.

He stated: “My information, guys, is that Kerkez already has an agreement on personal terms with Liverpool. So just about some small details to be clarified.

Milos Kerkez’s Premier League statistics in 2024/25

Goals

2

Assists

5

Chances created

36

Tackles won

26

Successful dribbles

22

Recoveries

169

“And then Liverpool are in contact with Bournemouth. Liverpool are still working on this one. So not only Wirtz, not only Frimpong, also in active conversations for Kerkez, and this week, the conversations will continue to get the deal done.”

Deemed to be on the move for a fee of £45 million, the 21-year-old has registered two goals and six assists in 41 appearances across all competitions, putting himself in the shop window for a switch to one of England’s elite clubs.

Liverpool need a long-term competitor for Andy Robertson and Kerkez is one of the best around in that respect. Now, it remains to be seen whether the finer details can be thrashed out to bring him to Anfield.

Alexander Isak will enjoy the off-season knowing two things: Newcastle United will play Champions League football in just a matter of months, and their success in achieving this feat (again) is largely down to his prowess in the final third.

The “intelligent” striker, as he’s been dubbed by reporter Ryan Taylor, will know more than two things, of course, but it’s these two facts which shape his footballing future and it’s this which matters most to the adoring Magpies faithful.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein believes the 25-year-old is staying put after his prolific Premier League campaign, but he’ll want to be rewarded, along with his teammates, after such a historic year, and Eddie Howe is on the same page, hoping to attack the looming transfer window with rapidity.

Here is a complete and balanced team, but it could do with some fine-tuning, for sure. With impressive prudence, Newcastle have planned ahead and are ready to strengthen their frontline.

Newcastle pushing to sign Premier League forward

As per The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, Newcastle are indeed planning for a busy window and are ready to pounce for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, having made a right-sided forward one of their priorities.

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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Edwards reveals that the Magpies are ready to lodge bids for both the winger and Crystal Palace star, Marc Guehi, in what he describes as a ‘crucial summer’ for Howe and co.

The Cameroon international has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season, and the Bees would be looking for as much as £60m to grant their talisman’s departure.

Manchester United also have a vested interest, but their ongoing efforts to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Cunha have led PIF to believe they can take the lead in the coming days.

What Bryan Mbeumo would bring to Newcastle

Howe’s walked across the breadth of the Premier League terrain, the good and the bad. He’s scrambled out of the pit of the division with Newcastle and he’s led them toward the peak, having now sealed a route into the Champions League across two of the past three seasons.

Though they’ve invested, United haven’t employed a scattergun approach on the level of some direct rivals, and yet they’ve found a formula for fluency, with Isak fronting a slick and coherent system.

Now just imagine Mbeumo in there too. Jacob Murphy has been immense all year, but Mbeumo would bring a different breed of potency, a new focal point which would ease Isak’s responsibilities and, paradoxically, allow him to take even larger strides in his remarkable development.

Premier League Top Scorers 24/25

Rank

Player

Apps

Goals

1)

Mohamed Salah

38

29

2)

Alexander Isak

34

23

3)

Erling Haaland

31

22

4)

Chris Wood

36

20

4=

Bryan Mbeumo

38

20

Data via Premier League

Mbeumo’s 20-goal haul in the Premier League this season left him behind an exclusive trio of powerhouses, with analyst Ben Mattinson rightly describing him as “one of the most deadly” players in the division.

He would elevate the existing stars, to be sure, and though Murphy and Anthony Gordon would help supply Mbeumo’s quest for goals, Isak could prove the most exciting partner for him, with the Sweden international noted to be the “best all-round forward in the Premier League” by pundit Ally McCoist.

The 23-goal Isak was only outscored by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah this season, but he also finished the 2024/25 campaign ranked among the top 16% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

The complete striker indeed. Isak could turn Mbeumo into a veritable monster, cementing his giddy form at a higher level and ensuring he enters some lofty conversations in the years to come.

Related The next Trippier: Newcastle express interest in "stupidly good" £29m star

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall May 28, 2025

When Bukayo Saka was ruled out following a nasty hamstring injury towards the back end of 2024, there was collective anguish amongst Arsenal supporters.

Saka is their star boy, a beaming ray of light in an otherwise struggling front line. Struggle, they most certainly did after his injury.

While it allowed Ethan Nwaneri a stage in which to consistently shine, their options on the left-hand side didn’t always deliver.

In 2022/23 Gabriel Martinelli scored as many as 15 goals. In 2023/24, Leandro Trossard found the net on 17 occasions. Yet, the season of 2024/25 was not as kind to the Brazilian and the Belgian, even if the former did score against Real Madrid.

Indeed, across 51 games and 56 games respectively, the pair of wingers only scored ten goals each. It’s safe to say this needed to be better with Saka out and the lack of a recognised centre forward.

So, it is unsurprising to learn that Mikel Arteta wants to strengthen his options on the flank this summer.

How Arsenal could strengthen out wide this summer

One of Arsenal’s priority targets this window appears to be Real Madrid winger Rodrygo with the Brazilian attracting serious interest from Andrea Berta and Co.

New reports over the weekend suggest that everyone at the club is aligned on the fact that the 24-year-old is the ‘ideal profile’ for Arsenal and as a result, they could launch a £59m bid in the coming weeks.

If a move fell through, then the Gunners do have other irons in the fire. One of them could be AC Milan winger Rafael Leao.

That’s according to Caught Offside, who, amid interest from Bayern Munich and Manchester United, suggest that Arsenal and Chelsea are also interested in signing the Portuguese winger this summer.

Transfer Focus

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Berta’s interest is not said to be serious yet but competition for a player valued at around £84m is evidently fierce. Chelsea have reportedly already held talks over a possible swoop.

How Leao compares to Rodrygo

From a goal threat alone, Rodrygo would be a better signing here. After all, in 2022/23, he scored as many as 19 goals, proving he knows what it takes to break down a defence.

Leao, on the other hand, has also been a consistent scorer of goals but is yet to truly explode, so to speak. Coincidentally, the best season of his career also came in 2022/23, where he beat the goalkeeper on 16 occasions.

Since then, the Milan forward’s form has been a little inconsistent, scoring 12 goals and supplying 13 assists this season, but his profile is truly scary, so much so that he reminds some of the great Thierry Henry.

Indeed, back in 2022, Milan coach Stefano Pioli said: “Leao reminds me a lot of the early Thierry Henry, who started wide then came inside.”

Possessing long strides and the ability to beat any defender in world football, Leao so often scampers down the left before cutting onto his favoured right foot and making something happen, just as Henry did when he first came to Arsenal.

It’s that sort of profile that makes him the dream alternative to Rodrygo.

Rodrygo vs Leao (2022/23-2024/25)

Stat (per 90 mins)

Rodrygo

Leao

Goals

0.34

0.40

Assists

0.24

0.31

Shot on target %

36%

36%

Key passes

1.91

2.06

Progressive passes

3.76

4.12

Shot-creating actions

4.71

4.60

Succesful take-ons

2.56

2.64

Progressive carries

5.63

5.20

Stats via FBref.

If we compare their numbers from the most successful seasons of their career to date to the end of the 2024/25 campaign, you do get a flavour for just how similar their playstyles are.

Rodrygo Birthname RodrygoBirthdate January 9, 2001Birthplace Osasco, SP, BrazilHeight 174Weight 69Profession Athlete

Pros & ConsStrong dribblerRegular trophy winnerCreativityConsistencyAerial duelsPhysicality Expand Collapse Rafael Leão Birthname Rafael LeãoBirthdate June 10, 1999Birthplace Almada, PortugalHeight 189Weight 79Profession Athlete Pros & ConsDribblingKey passesTrickeryPaceDefensive contribution Expand Collapse

As far as dribbling and creating opportunities go, there’s not much between them, with Rodrygo coming out slightly on top for progressive carries but Leao the better for progressive passes.

What does separate them, however, is that Henry-like style.

Standing at 5 foot 9, Rodrygo is the more diminutive of the two players and would be more of an Alexis Sanchez type. Leao, on the other hand, is 6 foot 2. Now, we all know Arteta loves someone of a taller build and thus, the Portugal international feels like a dream profile here.

That extra strength and pace is just what Arsenal need on the left flank.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jun 8, 2025