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It seems like Newcastle United’s pursuit of Benjamin Sesko has hit yet another stumbling block. The Magpies are looking to sign the striker, and have gone head-to-head with Premier League rivals Manchester United. After already losing out on Bryan Mbeumo to the Red Devils, it seems Sesko is next.

New reports from David Ornstein on Wednesday morning suggest Ruben Amorim’s side are ‘closing in’ on signing the Slovenian forward. That is despite RB Leipzig accepting a bid of £74m up front, plus add-ons, from Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, with the player wanting to move to Manchester instead.

Thus, Newcastle must turn their attention to a new striker. If recent reports are to be believed, they are targeting someone who outscored Sesko last season.

Newcastle’s next striker target

Losing out on signing Sesko is a huge blow for the Magpies. He is yet another target who has rejected them, with Joao Pedro, Matheus Cunha, Mbeumo and Liam Delap some of the attackers who have gone elsewhere.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, they will be hoping to win the race for Brentford striker Yoane Wissa. According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the 28-year-old ‘is a top alternative’ for the North Eastern outfit, if and when they miss out on signing Sesko, which seems inevitable at this stage.

However, a move for Wissa is something that could progress quickly for Howe’s side. Wissa’s ‘agent is now speaking’ to Newcastle, suggesting that the move is accelerating.

The Bees could ask for as much as £50m this summer if they are to part ways with another of their star attackers.

Why Wissa would be a good signing

It was a fantastic campaign for Wissa in the 2024/25 season. He was a key player for a Brentford side that was flying high under Thomas Frank, and enjoyed his most successful Premier League campaign.

In 35 Premier League appearances for the DR Congo international, he bagged 19 goals and assisted a further five. That exceeded the number of goals Sesko bagged last term, with the 22-year-old Slovenian star finding the back of the net 13 times in the Bundesliga.

One of the standout things about the “exceptional” Wissa, as Frank once called him, is the improvement year-on-year. His first two Premier League seasons saw him score seven times, before he scored 12 in the 2023/24 campaign and, of course, his 19 strikes last term.

The former FC Lorient star would also arguably be a better signing than another reported target, Nicolas Jackson. St James’ Park has been ‘touted’ as a destination for the Chelsea attacker should he leave this summer. He has been offered to Newcastle, according to talkSPORT, with Man United another possible destination, as are Italian giants AC Milan.

Across all competitions, the Senegal striker failed to outscore Wissa last term. He played 37 games for Chelsea, scoring 13 goals in that time, including ten goals in 30 Premier League appearances.

He started quickly, with nine goals in his first 15 games, but struggled to go on a consistent run of form after that.

However, it is not just the pure goal numbers that suggest Wissa is a better striker than Jackson. The stats on FBref go a long way to backing up the theory, and make for excellent reading in the Brentford striker’s favour.

For example, 28-year-old Wissa averaged 0.59 goals and 0.46 goals per shot on target per 90 minutes. In contrast, Chelsea star Jackson averaged just 0.4 goals and 0.29 goals per shot on target each game.

Goals

0.59

0.4

Goals per shot on target

0.46

0.29

Expected goals

0.57xG

0.5xG

Progressive passes

2.07

1.54

Ball recoveries

2.5

1.94

Of course, the £50m fee needed to sign Wissa is a big investment for the Magpies. However, they were willing to invest a hefty £74m fee into Sesko, and signing someone who is proven in the Premier League seems an excellent piece of business.

He is a big upgrade on Jackson, according to the numbers, both from a goalscoring perspective and off the ball. This could be a fantastic deal for Newcastle.

New Gordon & Isak: Newcastle in talks for "special" £70m Sesko alternative

Newcastle may have to sell Alexander Isak in the transfer market this month.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Aug 6, 2025

This summer has been one to remember for Chelsea.

On the pitch, Enzo Maresca’s side have looked sharp, making their way to the Club World Cup final with ease and then dispatching Paris Saint-Germain in the showpiece event without so much as breaking a sweat.

On top of that, the West Londoners have been active and purposeful in the transfer market, bringing in young, exciting additions to the team, like Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and most recently Jorrel Hato.

The young Dutchman could end up being an excellent addition to the Blues’ squad, although if reports are anything to go by, the club could be closing in on another talent who might end up being an even better signing.

Chelsea target better signing than Hato

Chelsea have been linked with Hato for some time now, with some reports touting the Dutchman for a move to Stamford Bridge as far back as the winter window.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, it was over the last couple of weeks that the Conference League champions really stepped up their interest in the young defender, and, ahead of rivals like Arsenal, secured his services for a fee of around £37m.

As things stand, this looks like a brilliant bit of business from the West Londoners, but it looks like they are already working on another, potentially better signing this summer.

At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which has reaffirmed Chelsea’s serious interest in Alejandro Garnacho.

The report has revealed that Manchester United are ‘now looking to make around €50-60m’ from the player’s sale, which is between £44m-£53m, and that, as things stand, the Blues have ’emerged as the most serious contender’ for his services.

It would be a lot of money to invest in a player the Red Devils are seemingly intent on selling, but there is serious potential in Garnacho, and there is every chance that he could end up being a better signing than Garnacho this summer.

Why Garnacho would be a better signing than Hato

Okay, so we have to first say that we do really believe that Hato is a brilliant signing for Chelsea, and that he could develop into a massively important defender for them in the coming years.

However, goals win games, exciting players get fans on their feet, and, for our money, Garnacho has the potential to be an even better signing for the club, at least this season anyway.

One of the main reasons the Argentine could be even more important than the Dutchman is that, somewhat surprisingly, it does feel like the West Londoners could do with some reinforcements off the left and in central areas.

For example, after Cole Palmer, Maresca isn’t blessed with an abundance of exciting back-up options to fill in as the ten, and with Noni Madueke gone, and Tyrique George reportedly keen to leave, new signing Jaime Gittens could do with some more competition and back-up on the left flank.

However, away from purely plugging gaps when and where they arise, the Madrid-born attacker could be a great signing because he is a supremely talented player and someone who, with the right coaching and in the right environment, could develop into something quite special.

Appearances

58

Minutes

3568′

Goals

11

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.36

Minutes per Goal Involvements

169.90′

For example, despite starting last season as a 20-year-old and playing in a historically poor United side, the “full-back’s nightmare,” as dubbed by former Manchester United winger Febian Brandy, scored 11 goals and provided ten assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3,568 minutes.

In other words, the young dynamo was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or more impressively, every 169.90 minutes for a team that looked unable to buy a win for large swathes of the campaign.

Moreover, he is capable of the extraordinary at times, as you only have to look at his 2024 Puskas Award-winning goal against Everton, in which he pulled off one of the best bicycle kicks we’ve ever seen.

Ultimately, there is an element of risk in signing a player who’d fallen out with his coach so publicly, but Garnacho has the raw ability to develop into a superstar, and given Chelsea’s attacking needs, we reckon he could end up being a better signing than Hato this summer.

Manchester United are desperate to restore themselves as a European superpower next season. Too long has it been since the Red Devils stood atop the Premier League pile and were feared across the continent.

But despite the woes of the 2024/25 campaign, Ruben Amorim is determined to piece together a team capable of challenging at the highest level.

Despite the slow start, this can be found through the £62.5m signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha.

Cunha isn’t quite a focal frontman; the Brazil forward is mobile and destructive and will enhance every facet of Man United’s attacking play.

However, the search for forwards doesn’t stop there.

The latest on Man Utd's search for forwards

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo remains INEOS’s focus in the summer transfer window, but it’s been revealed that Rasmus Hojlund might not be quite so close to leaving as had previously been expected.

If Hojlund is to stay put, United’s need for an out-and-out frontman will be lessened. But more depth is needed all the same, and could arrive in the form of a Premier League star desperate for a resurgence to match.

Well, according to Spanish reports, United have settled their focus on Chelsea outcast Christopher Nkunku, having entered negotiations with the Blues for the transfer of the versatile forward, who has been valued at £35m.

With Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony all touted for exits in the coming weeks, this might be a shrewd signing for a player who hasn’t enjoyed their finest form at Stamford Bridge but is undoubtedly talented enough to succeed under Amorim’s wing.

Why Man Utd want Christopher Nkunku

Nkunku’s stint at Chelsea has not gone to plan. Having signed for the Blues from RB Leipzig for £52m in June 2023, the Les Bleus star has only started 11 matches in the Premier League, with injuries and issues finding fluency hampering him.

Given that he would be arriving from a Premier League rival and, indeed, considering the type of player he is, Nkunku might even prove to be Amorim’s next version of Cunha, only a month after reeling the Wolves sensation over to Old Trafford.

Journalist Zach Lowy had remarked that the Frenchman was “unstoppable” during his time with RB Leipzig, and while his time at Stamford Bridge has left plenty to be desired, we can see from the player’s skill set his underlying dynamic ability, which remains intact.

Nkunku vs Cunha (past 365 days)
Stats (per 90)	Nkunku	Cunha
Goals	0.29	0.52
Assists	0.20	0.21
Touches	43.78	54.10
Pass completion	89.5%	71.6%
Progressive passes	2.44	4.99
Shot-creating actions	3.32	4.57
Progressive carries	1.66	3.88
Successful take-ons	0.98	2.11
Ball recoveries	2.83	4.33
Tackles + interceptions	1.86	1.91
Data via FBref

While Cunha clearly outstrips Nkunku, there’s enough on show through the data to illustrate his roundedness. All that’s still required is a return to the goalscoring form that saw 58 goals and 29 assists harvested across his final two campaigns with Leipzig.

He was, and still could be, one of the best in the Premier League, endowed with the wide scope Cunha so remarkably possesses.

Indeed, just take a look at Nkunku’s Bundesliga highlight reel to understand the level of a forward who may yet realise his potential in the Premier League.

Cunha has been singled out for his “absolutely sensational” intelligence and technical quality by pundit Micah Richards in the past, and while his arrival will elevate Amorim’s outfit, adding some further depth and electricity by the way of Nkunku could freshen up the ranks just enough to finally turn the page.

Man Utd open talks to sign Weghorst 2.0 who was "like Cristiano Ronaldo"

Manchester United are still hunting for a new talisman for Ruben Amorim’s side this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 7, 2025

West Bromwich Albion’s action-packed summer has been full of change so far.

Obviously, the first notable change occurred in the dug-out when Ryan Mason was finally unveiled as Tony Mowbray’s late successor, but more alterations have taken place since.

Centre-back titan Semi Ajayi has exited the Hawthorns for Hull City, on top of Grady Diangana reportedly looking as though he’s heading to Valencia in Spain.

Mason could instantly soften the blow of Ajayi departing the West Midlands by securing the signature of Nat Phillips, with reports now suggesting that the Liverpool colossus will move to West Brom permanently this summer.

Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be the only major loss Mason will have to stomach as the enthralling transfer window chugs along, with rumours already coming back to the surface that first-team star Tom Fellows might also be off.

Fellows' future at West Brom

It did feel as if it was going to be inevitable that any interest in Fellows would be reignited, with the England U21 international very firmly back on the radar of David Moyes’ Everton, as per a report by TEAMtalk last week.

The exciting attacker is just fresh off a breakout Championship season that saw him collect a jaw-dropping 14 assists in league action, on top of also powering home four strikes for his failed playoff-chasing outfit.

Therefore, it’s not a shock to see the Toffees chasing him, with Mason desperate to keep hold of him as he aims to guide the Baggies to promotion, especially as Josh Maja – who linked up with Fellows to devastating effect last season – edges closer to being back from injury.

But, Fellows might well feel he’s ready for the step-up to the Premier League now, as a reported price-tag of £10m begins to be circulated.

Whilst bolstering their centre-back numbers was a top priority in the wake of Ajayi upping and leaving, adding in more dynamic, creative attackers will be seen as more paramount if Fellows does exit.

West Brom's ideal Fellow replacement

According to a report by the Express and Star, West Brom could soon swoop in for AFC Bournemouth ace David Brooks on a loan basis, with Mason and Co just one of several Championship clubs keeping close tabs on the Welshman’s situation at the Cherries.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

He might well come in, therefore, and be a necessary short-term option for the Baggies to get over their homegrown product’s departure.

Indeed, the 27-year-old’s last electric loan spell away from Bournemouth down in the EFL resulted in Southampton clinching promotion at the close of the 2023/24 season.

Fellows might well even attempt to follow in Brooks’ footsteps if a Premier League switch soon opens up for him, with the 27-year-old – away from firing home two strikes for the Saints during that campaign – first getting to grips with the senior game in the Championship with Sheffield United.

Rising through the ranks with the Blades, he scored three goals and supplied eight assists in South Yorkshire.

As a result, a bumper £11.5m to the South Coast occurred, and whilst he does have a healthy 11 goals and six assists next to his name too in the luxuries of the Premier League, it’s his productive numbers in the second tier overall that will be solely catching Mason’s eye.

23/24

17

2

5

21/22

7

1

0

20/21

32

5

6

17/18

30

3

5

In total, Brooks has a sterling collection of 11 goals and 16 assists at the challenging level, with that assist haul particularly eye-catching as West Brom aim to effectively replace Fellows’ creative flair.

Hailed as “sublime” by Eddie Howe during his early Bournemouth days, this is a signing that will be seen as a statement to the rest of the Championship.

Throw Phillips into the mix and West Brom might well be deemed as serious promotion candidates, irrespective of high-profile exits souring the mood.

West Brom could sign a "fabulous" Diangana replacement who's an EFL veteran

While Grady Diangana nears to a move away from West Bromwich Albion, the Baggies could be about to land his ideal replacement.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 20, 2025

Manchester United have made ‘first formal contact’ over a move to sign a star who wants to move to Old Trafford rather than Barcelona.

Man Utd looking to upgrade on Hojlund and Onana

It is shaping up to be a frantic few months in the transfer window for the Red Devils, with a major squad overhaul potentially on the cards ahead of Ruben Amorim’s first full season in charge.

A plethora of players such as Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho have returned from loan spells and could be moved on permanently, whereas Matheus Cunha became United’s first summer signing.

More attacking additions are on the cards, with a replacement for Rasmus Hojlund being mentioned. The Denmark international has struggled for goals at Old Trafford and has been linked with a return to Serie A.

Huge Hojlund upgrade: Wilcox opens talks to sign "new Mbappe" for Man Utd

Ruben Amorim wants to sign a new centre-forward this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 15, 2025

In fact, Amorim has reportedly made it clear that Hojlund doesn’t feature in his long-term Man Utd plans, with the club looking to sell the forward on a permanent basis, although an initial loan offer which includes an obligation to buy may also be considered.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres are just two strikers who United have spoken about to solve their number nine issues.

Meanwhile, someone who has been heavily linked to replace Andre Onana is World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez.

Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world right now, there have been recent claims that the Aston Villa star wants to make the move to Old Trafford over the coming months. Now, a promising development has emerged regarding Man Utd and Martinez.

Man Utd make first contact for Emiliano Martinez

According to reports abroad, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd have now made ‘first formal contact’ to sign Martinez from Aston Villa.

It is reported that the Red Devils have approached Martinez’s agent over a deal as they want to make him first choice at Old Trafford over Onana.

They back up reports that Martinez is keen to stay in England despite interest from Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Galatasaray, who have also been in touch. However, with Martinez willing to snub a move to Spain and Turkey, it is added that this ‘further paves the way’ for Martinez to join United.

On £150,000-a-week at Villa Park which works out at £7.8m per season, Martinez’s last trip to Old Trafford was extremely eventful.

The Argentine received a red card on the final day of the 24/25 season as Villa failed to to qualify for the Champions League, and despite no European football being on offer at Old Trafford for now, he seems to be keen on a move to Manchester.

It might be a tired cliché, but this summer looks set to be Arsenal’s most important in years.

After failing to win the Premier League at the third time of asking and coming painfully close to the final of the Champions League this season, Mikel Arteta’s side have to deliver one or the other next year.

To help them do that, new Sporting Director Andrea Berta and Co have to deliver the goods in this summer’s transfer window by signing ready-made stars to help them win now.

However, while the focus has to be on those who can make an immediate impact, there is always room to pick up a few future stars, and based on recent reports, Arsenal may be about to sign someone who could be their own Rayan Cherki a few years down the line.

Arsenal transfer news

It was just over a month ago that Arsenal were linked with a £30m move for Cherki, and it’s not hard to see why some fans would love him to make his way to the Emirates.

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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For example, in 44 appearances for Lyon this season, totalling 3097 minutes, the young Frenchman scored 12 goals and provided 20 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.37 games, or every 96.78 minutes.

However, the stories touting him for a move to N5 soon dried up, and now it looks like Manchester City are going to be the ones who sign the 21-year-old, with transfers expert Fabrizio Romano confirming yesterday morning that the club had agreed personal terms with the player.

While missing out on the Lyon star isn’t ideal, the good news is that Arteta and Co might soon have their own incredibly exciting youngster on the books in Konstantinos Karetsas.

Yes, according to a recent report from Greece, Arsenal are incredibly interested in signing the Genk gem.

In fact, in something of a surprise, the report has revealed that the North Londoners are ‘very close to an agreement’ for the player, which will see them pay the Belgian outfit around €45m, which is about £38m, and leave him on loan with the team for next season.

It’s undoubtedly a lot of money to pay for someone so young, but based on his ability and potential, it may well be worth it, especially as he could be the club’s own version of Cherki a few years from now.

Why Karetsas could be Arsenal's Cherki

So, the first thing to say, and it’s an important qualifier, is that Karetsas is not at the same level as Cherki at the moment, and fans should not expect him to be.

After all, the Greek prospect is four years the Frenchman’s junior and, as a result, is much further behind in his development.

However, with some key similarities between the pair, it’s not hard to see a world in which the 17-year-old follows his development and eventually becomes a truly top-level player.

The first of these similarities is where they play, as while the Lyon ace has just about spent more time off the right this season, his most played position across his career has been in attacking midfield.

Likewise, the incredibly exciting Genk gem is primarily an attacking midfielder but has made a few appearances out wide, and according to respected analyst Ben Mattinson, his “1v1 ability and 2 footedness will make him deadly on the wings.”

That description of the youngster sounds an awful lot like the City-bound star, who has more than proven his own 1v1 ability and is unquestionably brilliant with both feet.

Furthermore, on top of his dribbling, Mattinson highlights the Genk-born talent’s ability on the ball, describing him as someone capable of playing “defence splitting passes” and saying that he should not be given any “space anywhere near the box on either side as he’ll hit the corners.”

In short, Mattinson’s description of the youngster as someone who “has it all” doesn’t feel too wide of the mark, and his underlying numbers from this season further back up that assessment.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the next 14 competitions for carries, total carrying distance and fouls drawn, the top 3% for key passes, crosses and shot-creating actions from dead-balls, the top 5% for expected assists and shot-creating actions, the top 6% for take-ons attempted and more, all per 90.

Karetsas’ Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Carries

48.80

Top 1%

Total Carrying Distance

327.41

Top 1%

Fouls Drawn

3.41

Top 1%

Carries into Final Third

3.80

Top 2%

Key Passes

3.18

Top 3%

Crosses

7.37

Top 3%

SCA (Dead-ball Passes)

1.47

Top 3%

Progressive Carrying Distance

148.03

Top 4%

Expected Assists

0.31

Top 5%

Shot-Creating Actions

5.66

Top 5%

Touches

65.09

Top 6%

Take-Ons Attempted

5.74

Top 6%

All Stats via FBref

Ultimately, while it’s a lot of money to spend on someone so young, it might end up being an incredible bit of business a few years from now, as, just like Cherki, Karetsas looks like he has everything a number ten or winger would need to succeed at the very highest level.

Related Their own Kane: Arsenal begin talks to sign "exceptional" £42m goalscorer

The promising poacher could develop into something special at Arsenal.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 5, 2025

Patrick Dorgu has become a key player at Manchester United since his January move from Lecce. The Dane, who cost the Red Devils £25m up front, has already played ten times for his new club this term, although he did miss three games due to suspension.

The 20-year-old is yet to score or assist for the first time in a United shirt. However, he did win a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes converted in the Europa League Round of 16 against Real Sociedad, showing just how deadly he can be.

With that being said, it has not all been smooth sailing for the wing-back. Aside from his red card, he was recently rotated out of the team for United’s 4-1 loss away to Newcastle United, with Harry Amass stepping into his shoes.

Amass’ full debut for United

For a football fan, there probably aren’t many better birthday presents than making your professional debut, and for Man United, nonetheless. Well, that was the case for Amass, who made a substitute appearance away to Leicester City in the Premier League on his 18th birthday.

Just weeks later, the youngster, who was born in London and played for Watford’s academy originally, made his first start in the top flight. The youngster was selected to start ahead of Dorgu at left wing-back.

Indeed, it was an impressive showing from Amass, as the stats on Sofascore reflect. The 18-year-old had 31 touches of the ball, completed 85% of his passes and won two duels. He certainly performed well.

That was certainly a sentiment that football statistician Statman Dave seemed to agree with. He was full of praise for Amass, explaining that he “didn’t look out of place in senior football” at St James’ Park last weekend.

There is certainly no worry about squad depth for the Red Devils at left-wing back, with the emergence of Amass and the signing of Dorgu. Incredibly, they are adding to that depth over the summer with another new signing.

United’s latest left wing-back signing

One of the continents where big European clubs tend to find hidden gem players is South America. Well, United may have pulled off a masterclass of their own in that sense, with the signing of youngster Diego Leon.

In the middle of January, it was confirmed by BBC Sport that the 18-year-old undertook a medical at United’s Carrington training ground. The reported fee is £6m, with the left-back set to join in the summer.

Now, United are not just signing a player without first-team experience who could one day break into the fold at Old Trafford. No, Leon has actually had years of experience at first-team level for Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno.

He has already played 26 times for the club over the past couple of years, and has even managed three goals in that time, from left-back. His 2092 minutes so far equate to 23 full 90-minute games, showing his importance to the Cerro Porteno side.

In fact, his underlying stats via Sofascore from his time in professional football so far are impressive. For example, Leon played nine key passes last term, and five this season, as well as making 45 tackles and interceptions in 2024, and 11 in 2025.

Leon key stats in 2024 & 2025
Stat	2024	2025
Minutes	1643	450
Key passes	9	5
Pass accuracy	71.5%	76.8%
Tackles and interceptions	45	11
Aerial duels won	21	11
Stats from Sofascore

One person who rates the youngster highly is football analyst Ben Mattinson. Discussing Leon in December 2024, just one month before his United medical, the analyst said he “runs like a steam train”, highlighting the physicality he will bring to Old Trafford.

Leon certainly seems like a player United fans can get excited about. The 18-year-old will bring first-team experience with him to the Premier League, and he clearly has final-third flair. He could be the perfect player for Amoirm to add to his wing-back options.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Both Amass and Dorgu may well need to watch out…

Upgrade on Rashford: Man Utd leading the race to sign £30m "monster"

Man Utd are looking for attacking reinforcements this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

Apr 16, 2025

Manchester United are now ready to sign a “machine” midfielder this summer, with Ruben Amorim eager to bolster his options in the middle of the park, but a move may only be possible on one condition, according to a report.

Man Utd searching for a midfielder

Given that Casemiro’s days as a Man United player could be numbered, Amorim may be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and a number of potential replacements have been identified.

The likes of Adam Wharton, Hugo Larsson and Joao Gomes are on the shortlist ahead of what is Amorim’s first summer transfer window as United boss, and the manager could have a major rebuilding job on his hands.

A 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City at the weekend is not the worst result on paper, but it leaves the Red Devils 13th in the Premier League table, having fallen way below expectations, with a Europa League triumph their last chance of having a successful season.

Man Utd make Liam Delap top transfer target as Chelsea ready summer bid

United and INEOS are looking to beat Chelsea to a rising star.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 7, 2025

Winning the Europa League would, of course, grant qualification to the Champions League next season, which could be crucial for Man United’s summer transfer business.

That is according to a report from GiveMeSport, which states Man United are now ready to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, should they manage to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with Amorim eager to bring in a midfield partner for Manuel Ugarte.

Man Utd’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Lyon (a)

April 10th

Newcastle United (a)

April 13th

Lyon (h)

April 17th

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

April 20th

AFC Bournemouth (a)

April 27th

The Atalanta star has a price tag of around £52m, so he will not come cheap, and the Italian club are determined to keep hold of him, given the level of his performances this season.

A deal would be easier to facilitate if Amorim’s side secure qualification for Europe’s elite competition next season, given the financial benefits provided.

"Machine" Ederson impressing in the Serie A and Europe

Atalanta are in a very strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and the Brazilian has been one of the first names on the team sheet, making 30 Serie A appearances, during which time he has provided three goals and two assists.

While the 25-year-old is capable of being a threat on the front foot, he is also solid defensively, winning 100% of his tackles and aerial duels against Arsenal earlier this season, in what Statman Dave branded a “top display”.

It is not the first time the maestro has impressed in Europe in recent memory, with football writer Carlo Garganese branding him a “machine” after his performance against Bayer Leverkusen in Atalanta’s Europa League final triumph last season.

As such, Ederson could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, at which point it is vital Amorim brings in a midfielder, despite a recent improvement in Casemiro’s performances, with the 33-year-old midfielder making 11 tackles against Man City.

“There’s a real heartbeat of cricket that it’s our duty to tap into,” says new chief executive Dan Feist

Andrew Miller11-Mar-2025English cricket is rife with new realities as the 2025 season dawns. The success of the Hundred equity sale means that county cricket will soon be awash with untold (albeit one-off) riches, but for some clubs, the implications of a lower-profile but no less significant carve-up are already being felt.In April last year, the ECB embarked on its reboot of the women’s domestic structure by announcing the winning bids for eight professional Tier 1 county set-ups. And, while gender equality had never previously counted for much in England’s domestic circles, the outpouring of reaction from the bid’s winners and losers confirmed that, for several disorientated counties, this process had been their best shot at a renewed sense of purpose.Nowhere has this been more obvious than at Chelmsford – or the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, as Essex’s HQ will now grandiloquently be known when it plays host to 30 men’s and women’s county fixtures (plus four representative games) in the course of a bumper 2025.In February, that new naming-rights deal was unveiled on board Ambassador’s flagship Ambience, which had just arrived back at Tilbury Docks from the Caribbean and was due to set sail that evening for the Northern Lights. As metaphors go, this one was full steam ahead for the club’s new journey.Related

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Dan Feist, Essex’s new chief executive, is keenly aware of the role the women’s announcement played in securing this deal. “It has raised the profile of the region, and our opportunity within it, as well as doubling the number of activation days at the ground,” he tells ESPNcricinfo. “We understand that we’ve got a huge geographical reach in the East of England, in terms of businesses on our doorstep and the sheer weight of population. There’s a real heartbeat of cricket that it’s our duty to tap into.”There’ll be pressures in the season ahead, not least on the Chelmsford groundstaff, but the speed with which the mood at the club has changed is astonishing. In July last year, Essex was still in the throes of perpetual crisis. With further penalties looming from the Cricket Discipline Commission, at the conclusion of a long investigation into historic racism claims, the club embarked on a management restructuring that included the resignation of Feist’s predecessor John Stephenson, and the discontinuation of his role. Though that move was not directly connected to the CDC’s findings, the inference at the time was that a club as financially battered as Essex could not afford to carry on paying for a traditional chief executive.How different things look now – and not simply because Essex, as a partner club of the Hundred’s most valued brand, London Spirit, are due their share of a cool £144 million as and when MCC and their tech consortium bedfellows have worked out the finer details of their new arrangement.Last month, Feist stepped officially into Stephenson’s shoes as Essex’s CEO, having previously overseen the club’s day-to-day operations as general manager, while Chris Silverwood has also returned to the club as director of cricket, eight years after his transformational stint as men’s head coach.On the women’s side, Andy Tennant – the former head coach of regional team Sunrisers – came across to Chelmsford in October, along with 14 of the 16 players who featured in last season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup. And for all that the Hundred’s machinations have reinforced the sense that Essex are lightweights on the London scene compared to their richer neighbours at Lord’s and The Oval, the club’s new brains trust are confident that their traditional homespun strengths can meet the new realities head-on.”Essex’s success has always been built around developing our own players,” Feist says, with some justification. When, in 2017, Essex landed their first County Championship title for 25 years, four of their first XI were born in the same Whipps Cross hospital as the grandee of Chelmsford grandees, Graham Gooch. “The teams that create the best pathway for players tend to be the most successful.”Silverwood was widely credited for reinvigorating those pathways during his first stint as coach, and it was a point he leant back into ahead of his comeback season. “We have to be smart,” Silverwood says. “We’re not going to compete on the money front, but we can be good at what we do. We’re bringing people through that pipeline all the time, and if we can create an over-supply of good cricketers, we get to pick the cream of the crop.”If people go on and make a good career somewhere else, that’s brilliant as well. That doesn’t worry me, as long as we are producing good Essex boys and girls to come and play for Essex.”Essex coach Chris Silverwood poses with fans in 2017•Getty ImagesThis recognition of the club’s place in England’s pecking order could be the remaking of Essex. For all of the success of the Hundred in promoting the women’s game and, as of now, replenishing the sport’s coffers, the relative emptiness of that edifice has arguably been seen in England’s recent performances, across genders.The men’s hapless displays at the Champions Trophy betrayed their lack of familiarity with a format that none of the elite players ever play domestically, while the women’s desperate failures at the T20 World Cup and the Ashes are a warning that – despite the exposure the top players have received in recent years – the women’s game will lack robustness until there’s sufficient pressure for places from a broader base of credible challengers on the domestic circuit.”The wider you can build the pyramid, the higher that has the potential to go,” Tennant says. “We want to be the best player development program in England, and we almost have to build that trading model, because we don’t have the riches of some of the Test venues. But we’re confident that we can punch above our weight and be competitive at the top end of the game.”Essex certainly has the remit to be competitive. As Feist acknowledges, they share a geographical advantage with Somerset and Durham – two other clubs that have been granted Tier 1 women’s status but are not Hundred-hosting venues – in that their catchment area extends into swathes of the country, in this case East Anglia, that are not served by any other first-class county.But there’s the East London factor too – perhaps most keenly felt two summers ago when huge numbers of Bangladeshi fans made the 30-minute journey from Tower Hamlets (and beyond) to attend three sell-out ODIs against Ireland.Essex have been in conversations about similar initiatives in the future, particularly in the lead-up to next year’s Women’s World Cup, and also plan on creating a more dedicated East London supporters’ group to firm up that connection. There is, however, a keen recognition of the need to stay grounded, particularly when it comes to the limitations of a compact venue such as Chelmsford.Bangladesh’s fans get into the spirit of the occasion at Chelmsford•Cricket IrelandWhereas other comparable counties, most notably Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, are assessing their options when it comes to relocation, Feist is confident about leaning into the existing strengths of their existing 5,000-seater home – the smallest on the county circuit, even if it could conceivably be stretched to 10,000 capacity by 2030 if their plans for a redeveloped pavilion can come to fruition.”Chelmsford is our preferred option of where we want to stay,” Feist says. “The benefit here is that we’ve got very limited competitors for the facilities at our ground, whereas if we moved and ended up in the middle of nowhere, it’s quite hard to then get a secondary income. Cricket grounds can sit there empty like white elephants for a while, so we’ve got to make sure our venue is two-way facing, community focused, and representing the region it’s based in.”In cricket, it’s only really the Utilita Bowl [Hampshire] and the Riverside [Durham] that have successfully moved, but they’ve both had their challenges to be financially sustainable, and some of the football clubs have had the same struggles.”You have to be really clear about your business model in the landscape of sport. Whether it’s Brighton or Brentford, or the difference between Bath and Saracens, it’s about knowing your role and how to make the most of it to be successful.”In the short term, however, the excitement for the new season trumps any such long-term considerations – and Essex’s women’s set-up epitomises this mood change. For them, the chance to put down even the most exploratory of roots will be a step up from their previous nomadic experience at Sunrisers. Throughout their five seasons, Chelmsford still hosted more than half their games, but the team’s primary affiliation to Middlesex meant they were only ever passing through.”The regional model was good and of its time, but you did feel as if you were representing everyone and no-one at the same time,” Tennant says. “Having a headquarters will be gold-dust. We’ll be going somewhere that the girls know as their place of work, which is quite powerful, and the fortress Chelmsford moniker is live, isn’t it? It’s a great venue for women’s cricket. It’s a really good size. We’re looking forward to making it into our fortress too.”

Stokes rings his changes and keeps attacking intent, but moribund surface is winning so far

Vithushan Ehantharajah02-Dec-2022It doesn’t matter if you score 657, as England did in Rawalpindi, or even 1,000, as Zak Crawley joked they might on the evening of day one. Big runs get you headlines – and a few records – but wickets win you matches.Even a stranger to the format can work out: if Test cricket allows you an endless supply of one and just 20 of the other, the latter is clearly more valuable. It’s like scaling a mountain. Getting to the summit in double-quick time is cool and all. But you can only say you’ve conquered it once you’ve got down in one piece. And as remarkable as England’s first innings is, beating any of their previous scores in Asia and at a world-record run-rate, coming out victorious will make it that little bit more worthwhile.But, as Pakistan closed on 181 for 0 – taking the pitch’s tally to 828 runs in two days for the loss of just 10 wickets – the prospects for the concluding three days of the match were veering towards the tedious. Getting to the bottom of this one might be like trying to get down a flight of stairs designed by MC Escher.Not that England are thinking this situation is beyond them, certainly not yet. As Ben Stokes spoke to the umpires when bad light took the players off once more, leaving Joe Root to flick off the bails at the Pavilion End and complete the formalities of an early close, England’s spirits were seemingly undimmed, if not their bodies.”It is [flat],” confirmed Will Jacks, who hit 30 from 29 balls, then bowled 12 wicketless overs for 50 in his first on-field day as a Test cricketer.. “But I guess there’s a little bit there, maybe? It’s only two days, there are three long days ahead of us. A little bit of grip, so we hope that will increase over the next few days.”It’s easy to overlook the bowling aspect of this era, and understandably so when the other suit is so breathtaking, but in many ways, it’s the most crucially considered aspect of this new England regime. If the batting is broadly defined by an absence of thought – “it’s only you and the bowler there … just watch the ball,” as Jonny Bairstow succinctly put it at Trent Bridge last summer – then the curation of England’s efforts in the field is where the real thinking goes.Throughout the English summer we saw consistent attacking fields: slips kept in for longer than usual, catchers employed in peculiar areas, bumper plans – more refined than previous versions, it should be said – opted for sooner rather than later. “It’s great for me,” James Anderson said, and you’d think he has bowled to every conceivable field across his 19 years at this level. “It’s given me a slightly different mindset with the ball. Trying to always take wickets, not just trying to hold up an end or keep the economy rate low.”That Anderson rests overnight on figures of eight overs, two maidens, 0 for 16 is not reflective of a change of tactics, or a regression to an old, conservative norm. England were funky from the off.Will Jacks insists England will keep pushing for the win, in spite of the tough nature of the pitch•Getty ImagesBoth Anderson and Ollie Robinson were afforded three slips, before the third was deemed redundant. Ben Duckett spent most of their collective opening spell stationed at leg slip, finer for Imam-ul-Haq given a left-hander’s penchant for tucking off the hip. There was a catching midwicket and straight silly mid-on employed, and indeed a short leg to the seamers. At times those positions in front of the batter were doubled, and it was notable early on that Stokes put himself at a three-quarters cover: at times he walked in so far he could have probably shaken hands with either Imam or Abdullah Shafique by the time the ball was released.Following a 20-minute mini-session before lunch, the spinners were brought on in the afternoon session, similarly reinforced with bat-pads and short legs for the right- and left-hander. Jack Leach, emboldened by Stokes’ faith in him over the summer, tried a few different release points, while Jacks would eventually swap a straighter line for some consistency outside off. Leach was even afforded a leg gully, who was close enough to the action to warrant wearing a helmet.The day ended with Stokes sending down three overs split between two tactics. He started short, with bouncers at both batters before searching for reverse-swing with a fuller, straighter examination of Shafique. By then, all England could hold on to was the fact that the bounce is getting a little more unreliable. They could do with that degrading as quickly as the sun sets in Rawalpindi. While their batting has bought them time in this match, bad light has already taken out 32 overs from two days’ play.Is there scope for anything different? It’s hard to say, especially so early in the tour. The morning moisture might assist a ball that still seems to be holding up pretty well. Perhaps the only thing they might wince at is the lack of a point of difference or two, on a pitch that even PCB chairman Ramiz Raja lambasted as “embarrassing” during his Friday lunchtime media rounds. Perhaps an express quick and a wrist spinner? Sadly the former, Mark Wood, was ruled out of this Test well before a virus ran through the squad. The latter, Liam Livingstone, joined him in the changing room just before tea after jarring his knee while fielding on the boundary.Luck is also handy, and England might consider that the two missed opportunities to remove Shafique in the space of seven deliveries were a case of misfortune rather than straight-up negligence.The first – on 54 – was a glove down the leg side off Anderson that Ollie Pope did well to reach but could not gather cleanly. Might a fit Ben Foakes have got there? Again, it’s hard to say, but it’s a hypothetical that does a double-twist when you consider that without Jacks – a late addition after Foakes felt unwell on Thursday morning – the gap in the bowling left by Livingstone’s absence would have been considerably greater. Then, on 56, Leach leapt in expectation when Shafique guided a length delivery into the midriff of Keaton Jennings (on as a sub) at short leg. The timing on the shot, however, allowed it to burst straight in and out.Related

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“We’re going to have to take a few worldie catches and have a few crazy moments go our way to win,” Jacks admitted.”There’s only one team that can win it. Pakistan look like they are happy with a draw, the way they are batting. With this team environment we’ve got and our leaders, we’ll be pushing for the win, no matter what happens.”You have to admire that enthusiasm because it is sincere and it speaks to how quickly new blood has been inculcated in this side. Stokes will spend the evening racking his brains for ways to get more creative, primarily through schemes in the field but maybe also through trying to engage Pakistan in a bit of a stand-off. Whatever patience England need to adopt will have to be reciprocated ten-fold by Pakistan’s batters, who are still 476 behind with three days to play.On Monday, Brendon McCullum, speaking on behalf of his captain at the start of the week, said there would be no draws. “If we get beat, Pakistan, we know, will have played well. I expect us to play well and if we get outplayed, that’s okay too.”For now, it looks like both sides are going to finish second to this pitch, which looks like walking away with all the joy and a second demerit point in nine months. Unless, of course, something spectacular happens. Which, given England’s recent history, is not totally out of the question.