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Manchester United may well be ruing their decision to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club 18 months ago, with the Red Devils having taken the decision to cut short the forward’s eagerly anticipated homecoming at the tail end of last year, following the Portugal international’s explosive interview with journalist Piers Morgan.

While that affair ensured a sour end to the veteran’s affiliation with the Old Trafford outfit, it may not have tarnished the striker’s reputation at the club too greatly, having previously shone during his first spell in the red jersey.

Under the tutelage of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, the Madeira native blossomed from a precious teenager into a genuine world-beater during his initial, six-year stay in English football, with United reaping the rewards of their £12.24m investment in 2003.

Having been plucked from Sporting Lisbon at the age of just 18, the then-youngster had been earmarked for greatness after inheriting the legendary number seven shirt, albeit with it taking a few seasons for the fleet-footed starlet to truly settle in the Premier League.

When that period of adaptation was over, the ferocious talent emerged as a real leading figure both for United but also in European football in general, eventually departing for Real Madrid in 2009 with three league titles and a Champions League triumph under his belt, as well as a handful of domestic cup honours.

Taking the gamble to bring the youthful gem to the club more than paid off for Ferguson and co, with current boss Erik ten Hag potentially hoping to replicate that feat by snapping up another teenage forward in the present day.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the top-four hopefuls are believed to be interested in signing Athletico Paranaense sensation Vitor Roque, with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain also said to be in the mix for his signature.

The 17-year-old maestro – who has a reported release clause of around €60m (£53m) – is a prime candidate to emerge as another Ronaldo-esque talent that United are able to secure, with the promising striker having recently revealed that the leading goalscorer in international football history is a player that he idolises, stating:

“I like him a lot, he is an inspiration for me. He has been an idol since I was a child.”

A player with “crazy potential” according to talent scout, Jacek Kulig, the exciting Brazilian has also been compared to another footballing great in the form of his compatriot the ‘original’ Ronaldo, with that further indication of just what a sparkling asset Ten Hag and co could have on their hands.

Much like the Portuguese Ronaldo – who scored five goals and laid on six assists in 31 games during his time at Sporting, prior to moving Manchester, Roque has also made a smooth transition to life at senior level, with seven goals and three assists in 36 games for his current side.

With six goals and one assist to his name at former club Cruzeiro, it is easy to see why the forward is so highly-regarded by Europe’s top clubs, having been described as “one of the most talented Brazilian players of his generation” by Kulig.

As such, the evidence would appear to point to a player that is destined for greatness in the years to come, with the hope being that he can emulate Ronaldo in furthering his development at the Theatre of Dreams.

Manchester United have been making considerable progress under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag, who arrived at the club last year after departing AFC Ajax, and could find the perfect Cristiano Ronaldo replacement in Marcus Thuram.

Having indeed left his Netherlands homeland to take the reins at Old Trafford, Ten Hag oversaw a lucrative summer spending surge to put a new glint on the club’s sheen, and the adjustments certainly seem to be working.

While progress is immensely promising, there is more that must be done to return the club to its former glory, and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Thuram could indeed fit the bill to assume the talismanic role this year.

Out of contract with his German Bundesliga outfit at the end of the current season, Thuram has been subject to heavy speculation over his next move, with Bild reporting that his outfit could grant his departure this month for as little as £10m.

The Premier League giants are flying, with ten victories from the past 12 fixtures and the Carabao cup final a whisker away following the 3-0 first-leg victory over Nottingham Forest in the semi-final.

And with areas of the pitch still requiring reinforcements, the work that has been swiftly made to bolster Old Trafford must not be understated, but with the inclusion of someone of the “world-class” Thuram’s ilk – as lauded by VFL Wolfsburg director Marcel Schafer – prospects will only be enhanced.

This season, the £82k-per-week France international has made 19 appearances across all competitions, scoring 13 goals and registering four assists, indeed one of Europe’s most prolific marksmen.

And with the nine-cap forward ranking among the top 11% of his positional peers for rate of non-penalty goals and total shots, and the top 5% for dribbles completed, there is an undeniable sense of transitional prowess that could further enrich the Red Devils’ ferocious frontline.

If United are indeed to sign the gem, he could be the perfect replacement for the recently departed Cristiano Ronaldo, who mutually terminated his contract with the outfit in November, with the 37-year-old falling out of favour under Ten Hag’s tutelage.

During his second spell with Manchester United, Ronaldo’s performance and efficacy within the Theatre of Dreams’ system created a schism among English football, with his goal tally laudable but overall contribution indeed creating a sense of polarity.

In the “beast“, as once labelled by Atul Kasbekar, that is Thuram, who certainly boasts all the acumen to both flourish in front of goal and contribute with ball progression in the attacking third, United could actually improve on the legendary Ronaldo’s, whose acrimonious departure will swiftly become but a distant memory.

Tottenham Hotspur have finally made a breakthrough in their bid to bring Pedro Porro to the Premier League on transfer deadline day.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Fabrizio Romano who took to Twitter late on Monday evening to confirm that after an initial deal to bring Porro to London had fallen through, the deal was now back on and even on the verge of competition.

The respected journalist said: “Tottenham and Sporting have finally reached full agreement… again after very long meeting — €45m, payment terms finally approved after Sporting’s change last night

“Porro will travel to London tomorrow — he only wanted Spurs move.”

A perfect late signing

Considering just how impressive Porro has been for Sporting over the last 18 months, it is without a doubt easy to make the claim that this is very much an ideal late acquisition for the Lilywhites.

Indeed, over Porro’s 23 Liga Portugal appearances last season, the £22m-rated talent was in fantastic attacking form, scoring four goals, registering four assists and creating 11 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.6 shots, making two key passes and completing 1.8 crosses per game.

The full-back also impressed in metrics more typical of his position last time out, making an average of 1.8 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, one clearance and winning 5.3 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per match.

These returns saw the Spaniard average a quite breathtaking Sofascore statistical rating of 7.28, not only ranking him as Amorim’s second-best performer in the league but also as the 12th-best player in the top flight of Portuguese football as a whole.

It has been a similar story over his 14 league fixtures this season, with the £10k-per-week defender having already scored two goals, provided six assists and created eight big chances, as well as taking an average of 2.6 shots, making 2.4 key passes and completing 1.8 crosses per game.

At the back, the 23-year-old has once again impressed, making an average of 1.4 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 0.9 clearances and winning 4.4 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per outing.

These metrics have seen the right-back who Fabrizio Romano dubbed “perfect” and Zach Lowy labelled “special” average an even more astonishing Sofascore statistical rating of 7.34, currently ranking him as Sporting’s third-best performer in the league as well as the joint ninth-best player in Liga Portugal as a whole.

As such, considering just how well-suited Porro would appear to be for Antonio Conte’s set-up in north London, the signing of the right-back would very much look to be something of a perfect signing for the 53-year-old Spurs manager.

Tottenham Hotspur will hold ‘initial talks’ with Harry Kane in the next few weeks regarding a contract extension, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Kane to leave Tottenham?

The 29-year-old’s current contract is set to expire at the end of next season, leading to rumours about a move elsewhere for the England captain, with Manchester United said to be considering a summer swoop.

Bayern Munich have also been named as potential suitors for the striker, but there is seemingly a decent chance that he remains at Tottenham, with CBS reporter Ben Jacobs recently detailing that the forward is keen to stay put.

The Latest: Contract talks planned

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT about the Englishman’s future with Spurs, Jones said: “I expect in the next few weeks that there will be initial talks. It’ll be a situation in which they can now turn to.

“Being honest, even before the World Cup and during the tournament, asking about this, it was really a case of Tottenham just waiting for Kane’s camp to give them the green light that they were ready to have talks and to listen to what the offer would be.”

The Verdict: Fantastic news for Spurs

If the 29-year-old commits his long-term future to Tottenham, he is well on course to becoming the record Premier League goalscorer. He has netted 199 goals in the division, the third-most of any player, with the current record of 260 being set by Alan Shearer.

Hailed as ‘absolute gold’ by Gary Neville, the forward is having yet another exceptional season in front of goal, only trailing Erling Haaland in the top-flight scoring charts, having netted on 16 occasions in the league prior to today’s clash against Manchester City.

Kane has previously made no secret of his desire to win the ‘biggest team prizes’, so there would have been understandable concern that Tottenham’s continued failure to do so may affect the chances of him committing to a new contract in N17.

As such, it is fantastic to hear that he appears to be willing to enter initial contract talks, and the hope will now be for a strong second half of the season which will further convince him to stay with Spurs.

Arsenal slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Everton in their last Premier League match, although the gap at the top of the table remains five points due to Manchester City failing to take advantage, as Tottenham Hotspur secured a 1-0 win against them.

Mikel Arteta’s side have a game in hand so the gap could stretch to eight points, but he may be worried by the performance against the Toffees, which featured a lack of cutting edge as the home side were given a major lift having just appointed Sean Dyche and the players certainly delivered.

Despite having 70% possession, Arsenal simply couldn’t find the back of the net, with Eddie Nketiah failing to shine, while Gabriel Martinelli delivered just one cross during his time on the pitch and lost possession 14 times.

It is Ben White, however, who will give Arteta the biggest selection dilemma ahead of the match against Brentford.

His last two Premier League matches have seen the Englishman achieve an average Sofascore rating of just 6.3 and it might be time for the Spaniard to unleash Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Will Tomiyasu play against Brentford?

The Japanese defender is a natural right-back, unlike White, and Arteta could well look to unleash him from the start this afternoon and drop White to the bench following his recent performances.

Since arriving for £16m in 2021, Tomiyasu has gone on to make nearly 50 appearances for the North London side and has emerged as a solid first-team player, who Arteta can be comfortable calling upon when required.

With White underperforming recently, a run in the starting XI might boost the 24-year-olds confidence and give the manager a major dilemma heading into the final months of the campaign.

Indeed, when he has played this term, Tomiyasu has been solid if unspectacular, although starting just four matches in the league doesn’t do much for rhythm.

An average Sofascore rating of 6.74 ranks him as Arsenal’s 17th-best performer this term, however, he does rank in the top five for clearances made per game (0.8) and in the top ten for tackles made (1.3) and clearances (0.8), suggesting he does provide a solid defensive option when called upon.

Mitchell Dijks – his ex-teammate at Bologna – dubbed the right-back a “warrior” while after a great display against Bodo/Glimt in October, football.london reporter Kaya Kaynak graded his performance as one of the finest on the night – ‘Got forward superbly and showed that he’s more than ready to fill the right-back spot if Ben White finds his standards slipping at any point,’ he wrote.

There is no doubt Tomiyasu could shine against Brentford and with a chance to secure a regular spot at right-back up for grabs, it might just be the chance he was waiting for and what the Gunners need to reignite their title charge after a loss last time out.

Tottenham Hotspur have shown an interest in signing Barcelona forward Ansu Fati, according to reports in Spain.

The Lowdown: Spurs making summer plans…

If reports are to believed, Spurs have already started planning for the summer despite the recent conclusion of the January transfer window.

The north Londoners have apparently mapped out top targets, with Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni thought to be on their radar.

Antonio Conte’s future at N17 is still up in the air, but Spurs showing intent in the transfer market could go a long way to convincing the Italian to stay.

The Latest: Tottenham show Fati transfer interest…

According to Catalonian newspaper La Vanguardia, Tottenham are among the clubs to show an interest in signing Barcelona starlet Fati.

Arsenal and Bayern Munich are also thought to be eyeing a move for the 20-year-old as Xavi keeps the player restricted to a sparsity of La Liga starts this season.

The Verdict: Make the move?

Once hailed as Barca’s next big superstar, Fati is now being linked with a move away from the Nou Camp amid his lack of consistent game-time, starting just seven matches in the current La Liga campaign.

This may be an opportunity that Spurs could look to exploit, but suggestions indicate that the winger won’t leave Barcelona for a cheap price.

Valued at around £355m by the Spanish giants in 2020 (Daily Express), Fati has still performed well when given the opportunity this season, recording six goal contributions across 772 top-flight minutes (WhoScored).

Xavi has also called Fati a ‘spectacular asset’, highlighting just how much the Barcelona boss rates the rising star.

The player’s age, combined with the fact that his Barcelona deal doesn’t expire until 2027, gives his club plenty of footing to demand a marquee price tag. Fati’s wages are also reported to be around £199,000 per week, a salary which would make him one of Tottenham’s highest-paid players.

Financially, this move could be out of Spurs’ reach.

Tottenham may have been gifted a David Raya transfer boost as news comes to light on the Brentford keeper’s future.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye move…

There have been claims since January that Spurs are eyeing a summer move for the Spaniard with his Bees contract looking set to expire in 2024 as things stand.

Indeed, the Spain international is attracting interest from sporting director Fabio Paratici and manager Antonio Conte, according to reports.

This comes amid other rumours that the Premier League top-four chasers are looking for a long-term heir to current number one Hugo Lloris.

The Latest: Tottenham handed Raya boost…

As relayed by the BBC, Raya has now admitted that to rejecting multiple new Brentford contract offers, one last year and one in January.

After claims Tottenham want him, it appears the 27-year-old is refusing to commit his long term future under Thomas Frank in a possible boot for the Lilywhites.

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The Verdict: Good news…

Lloris’ recent injury and the downturn of his form arguably highlights the need for a long-term successor.

The France international has been a phenomenal servant for Tottenham since signing from Lyon in 2012 but it now appears the time is right to contemplate his heir.

Raya would come as both a shrewd and quality option in this regard, especially since he will be in the final year of his deal this summer.

In terms of his ability, the shot-stopper has been praised by rival bosses for his capabilities with Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi calling him ‘incredible’.

No Brentford player has played more league minutes than Raya and the interest from big clubs is a real indicator that he could be a great capture for Tottenham.

Manchester United were nearly given a scare against Leicester City but ultimately prevailed to move within three points of their city rivals on Sunday.

David De Gea had to be at his brilliant best to deny an early onslaught from the Foxes but it was the hosts who eventually prevailed, winning 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford maintained his simply stunning form, scoring twice to take his tally for the season to 24, while Jadon Sancho scored for a consecutive home game in the league as the former Dortmund man aims to revive his United career.

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, however, with one man, in particular, enduring somewhat of a rocky afternoon.

That fell the way of Diego Dalot who failed to cover himself in too much glory despite a rejuvenated Aaron Wan-Bissaka breathing down his neck.

How did Dalot perform against Leicester?

Well, the Portuguese was far from his best, with his efforts, particularly in the first-half drawing unwanted attention from boss, Erik ten Hag.

Although the Dutchman can’t have been too pleased with many of his players in that opening period, he singled out the full-back for his timid start to proceedings.

As per Samuel Luckhurst, the Red Devils manager gave Dalot “a rollicking” with the likes of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes earning too much space to operate in on the left-hand side of Leicester’s attack.

That criticism from his manager notably came just after United had taken the lead.

Those words still ringing fresh in the right-back’s ears, he would then miss a gilt-edged chance to double the scoring.

Fed the ball from the right-hand side, Dalot found himself with plenty of space to find the net inside the area but somehow didn’t score, letting down his teammates who were doing so much to improve proceedings.

It was a golden opportunity that just about summed up his day.

Although United eventually prevailed, the 23-year-old didn’t too much from an offensive or defensive point of view, supplying just one key pass and failing with all three of his crossing attempts.

Two tackles and one interception were made by the Portugal international but he could do little to thwart Leicester’s threat in the early knockings of what should have seen the Foxes take the lead.

11 times Dalot would lose possession, only making his afternoon even worse.

It wasn’t a dreadful performance by any means, but a 6/10 match rating, via MEN’s Luckhurst is perhaps indicative of a subpar display.

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery did not make wholesale changes to his squad in the January transfer window, with only two additions last month.

The Spaniard, who replaced Steven Gerrard at the helm earlier this season, brought in Jhon Duran and Alex Moreno from Chicago Fire and Real Betis respectively to bolster his options at the top end of the pitch and in defence.

Emery may now have one eye on what he wants to do in the summer transfer window and could be working with Johan Lange to identify targets to improve the squad heading into the 2023/24 campaign.

One area in which there could be some change at Villa Park next season is between the sticks. Football Insider recently reported that the club are eyeing up Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka as they consider potential replacements for Emi Martinez, who is attracting interest from across Europe.

Would Martin Dubravka be a good signing for Aston Villa?

Whilst Lange and Emery may be looking at players who could take over from their current number one, Villa must attempt to sign Dubravka to replace Robin Olsen in the summer.

The Villans could form an excellent goalkeeping department by keeping hold of Martinez, assuming that the manager wants to keep him, and bringing in a superb second-choice to push him hard for a starting place.

Unfortunately, Olsen is not good enough to provide serious competition to the Argentina international. The Swedish giant has conceded seven goals in three games in the Premier League this season – saving just 56% of shots on his goal – and let in 1.5 goals more than the xG against him suggests that the average goalkeeper would have.

He also struggled in his Carabao Cup appearance against Manchester United in November, conceding a goal half of the eight shots that he faced and making one error directly leading to a goal.

Dubrakva – who Paul Robinson once hailed as an “inspirational signing” for Newcastle – has conceded 6.7 fewer goals than the xG faced has suggested that he should since the start of the 2019/20 campaign in the Premier League, which shows that the Slovakian colossus is a superb shot-stopper who is able to bail out his defence consistently.

By stark contrast, Olsen – who conceded 17 goals from 12.7 xG faced for Sheffield United in 2021/22 – has been letting his defence down by allowing low-quality shots to beat him.

The £50k-per-week dud has not done enough to suggest that he is good enough to truly push Martinez for his place, and that is why Villa could land a big upgrade on the Sweden international by signing Dubravka, who is a proven Premier League performer based on his impressive statistics in recent years.

The Newcastle ace would offer far more between the sticks, as he has the quality to save the team points with his shot-stopping, whereas Olsen has been costing Villa with his lack of ability to stop the ball going past him.

In the public eye, it seems as if Chelsea are still confident that Graham Potter can turn things around and become a success at Stamford Bridge.

However, reports from behind the scenes suggest that Todd Boehly has already begun his search for a potential successor to the former Brighton boss, with Mauricio Pochettino the latest manager to be linked with a move to Chelsea.

Could Chelsea appoint Mauricio Pochettino?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea have now made contact with the former Tottenham and Southampton boss about taking over at Stamford Bridge.

The 50-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by Paris Saint-Germain in July and would reportedly welcome a return to Premier League management, although he did turn down Aston Villa when they approached him earlier in the season.

Pochettino still has a house in London from his time working as Spurs boss, so a move could certainly suit the Argentine, and he is said to be keen to take over should Chelsea pull the trigger on Potter.

Sunday’s defeat against Pochettino’s old side left Chelsea without a win in all competitions since their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in January, with finding the back of the net a real issue for the Blues despite their significant investment on attacking players in the winter transfer window.

If Potter’s side were to be knocked out of the Champions League when they face Borussia Dortmund next week in the return leg, it would surely spell the end of their hopes of achieving European football for next season, so Pochettino may not have to wait too long if he wants to succeed the 47-year-old Englishman at Stamford Bridge.

Would Pochettino be an upgrade on Potter?

While Potter has excelled on a small budget in the past, he has looked lost when handed almost unlimited funds, and Pochettino’s experience at the top level suggests that he could be a big upgrade at Chelsea.

Since joining Chelsea, Potter has averaged a disappointing 1.31 points per game, something which Pochettino has bettered with Southampton, Spurs, and PSG.

While he was sacked by the French giants, the coach did still lead them to a Ligue 1 title last season, so he seemingly knows how to get a tune out of world-class players, having worked with the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar.

Pochettino was dubbed “world-class” by talkSPORT pundit Jamie O’Hara after leading Spurs to the Champions League final during his time in London.

His success in Europe with Tottenham and his three trophies with PSG show that he can effectively manage a team at the top level, whereas Potter is yet to win a trophy outside of Sweden and his aforementioned points per game rate indicates that the Englishman is struggling badly.

Therefore, the experienced Argentine could be exactly what Chelsea need to turn their fortunes around and get the best out of this talented squad as the tactician has been there and done it – making him a big upgrade on their current boss.