All posts by z3u9t.icu

Celtic are beginning to circle for key targets and could now be set to be embroiled in a high-profile chase for a prolific goalscorer, according to reports.

Celtic's striker question yet to throw up a definitive answer

Brendan Rodgers has made it crystal clear that Celtic want several options across their forward line after Kyogo Furuhashi’s departure. Meanwhile, Nicolas Kuhn moving to Como has left room for more goals to come into the side over the coming weeks.

Addressing their striker situation, the Irishman admitted Shin Yamada’s arrival from Kawasaki Frontale is just the tip of the iceberg, as he stated: “He’ll have a medical over the next couple of days and we’ll have a look at him. We’ve lost a lot of goals, so we need to replace that. Hopefully, this can be one of a number of players we can bring in that aspect.

“He’s got intensity and workrate. It’s something the scouts have seen. In terms of the club, we will bring in players to develop and players for now. Even though he’s a bit older, he’s probably one that can give us that intensity and pressure.”

Intriguingly, Rodgers has seemed to confirm the suspicion that Celtic are operating two different transfer strategies this window. On one hand, the Bhoys appear like they are trying to get ahead of the curve with ‘club’ signings, while arrivals such as Kieran Tierney come in with more of a personal touch from the manager.

Odsonne Edouard is another reported target that may fall into the latter category, albeit it is hard to envisage the Scottish Premiership champions matching his Premier League-level wages.

Balikwisha will love him: Celtic exploring deal to sign "exciting" star

Celtic could land a dream signing alongside Michel-Ange Balikwisha by landing this star.

ByDan Emery Jul 17, 2025

With Celtic clearly in the market for another leading light in attack, recent developments may point supporters in the direction of their latest pursuit.

Celtic see bid rejected for Louis Munteanu

According to reports from iAMsport.ro, Celtic have seen an opening bid of £6.9 million turned down for CFR Cluj forward Louis Munteanu, with their owner Ioan Varga said to be holding out for a fee of £15.6 million.

Meanwhile, Ligue 1 clubs Rennes, Lille and Nice are also monitoring his situation at the Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Stadium.

Louis Munteanu at the UEFA EURO Under-21 Championships (Fotmob)

Goals

1

Shots

5

Shots on target

2

Successful passes

31

Duels won

11

Earning his stripes last term, Munteanu registered 25 goals and three assists in 42 appearances across all competitions, and he kicked off the new campaign with a goal in Europa League qualifying against Paksi FC earlier this month.

Making his presence known, the 23-year-old is a clinical finisher with a track record of delivering at a high standard. However, it remains to be seen whether Celtic will bow to his lofty valuation or whether alternative targets will be pursued.

For the first time in a decade, Manchester United will begin a new season without Marcus Rashford in tow, with the former boy wonder having finally secured his long-awaited switch to LaLiga giants, Barcelona.

That loan move – which could be made permanent for a fee of around £26m next summer – has long been in the pipeline amid the Englishman’s ongoing exile back at Old Trafford, having last been seen in a United shirt away to Viktoria Plzen back in December.

Cast aside by Ruben Amorim ahead of the Manchester Derby triumph at the Etihad, the £300k-per-week enigma appears in need of reinvigoration, with his 30-goal heroics in 2022/23 standing out as a notable high point amid a mixed few years on a personal note.

2024/25*

24

7

3

2023/24

43

8

6

2022/23

56

30

11

2021/22

32

5

2

2020/21

57

21

18

Such woes have notably seen a fair few figures raise their eyebrows at the 27-year-old’s ability to still covet interest from an elite European club like Barca, with treble winner Teddy Sheringham even going as far as to suggest that the move to Catalonia is “a step up that he hasn’t deserved.”

Regardless, Rashford is someone else’s problem – or prize – now, for the next 12 months at least, with Jason Wilcox and co now needing to assemble a squad to kickstart a new era in Manchester.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have more than strengthened Amorim’s hand so far, although further surgery is surely required…

Latest on Man Utd's search for a striker

The new Premier League season is mere weeks away and Man United appear no closer to ending their number nine search, having reportedly seen their interest in Aston Villa talisman Ollie Watkins knocked back, with the Midlands seemingly unwilling to cash in on the Englishman.

To the surprise of no one, wantaway Newcastle United man Alexander Isak also won’t be ending up at the Theatre of Dreams, with the cash-strapped Red Devils said to have stepped out of the race for the £130m-rated Swede.

Alternative options continue to be considered, however, with ESPN naming Paris Saint-Germain outcast Randal Kolo Muani as one of the players on Wilcox’s shortlist, following his return from a loan spell at Juventus.

Transfer Focus

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

The suggestion is that United have been exploring a potential deal for the Frenchman, with the versatile striker said to have been offered to a number of clubs, as Juve struggle to greenlight a return due to the financial demands.

The report outlines that PSG could agree to an initial temporary deal with an obligation to buy, while a permanent move could cost in the region of €50m (£42m) – two years on from having cost the Ligue 1 side a fee of around €75m (£63m).

It is claimed that the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal have already passed up the opportunity to sign the 26-year-old, although could he prove a risk worth taking for United?

How Kolo Muani compares to Marcus Rashford

It is telling of United’s current woes that despite being cast aside before Christmas, Rashford’s return of four Premier League goals – excluding his two for Villa – still saw him finish level with Rasmus Hojlund in that regard, as well as one ahead of fellow forward Joshua Zirkzee.

That is not to say that the Englishman deserved to be persisted with, however, having notably chipped in with just seven top-flight goals the year prior, after also only scoring four times in the league in 2021/22.

Of course, the academy graduate has had his high points – namely his 17 league goals in 2022/23 – but there is little evidence to suggest that he is irreplaceable. Turning to a talent like Kolo Muani, for instance, could represent the perfect replacement.

Indeed, while many onlookers are perhaps most familar with the 39-cap France international for his last-gasp miss in the 2022 World Cup final, the former Nantes man is typically an “ice-cold” finisher, as dubbed by German legend Lothar Matthaus.

That was evident during his six-month stay in Turin earlier this year, with the dynamic striker making an instant impact for the Old Lady, having scored ten times in just 22 outings, including a return of eight goals in just 16 Serie A games.

For comparison, Rashford’s own January loan switch to Villa Park yielded only four goals from 17 appearances in all competitions, with both men having typically operated in a central role during their respective temporary moves.

Having started just 13 games in Italy’s top flight, Kolo Muani enjoyed a rate of one goal every 146 minutes, alongside an impressive goal conversion rate of 31%, as per Sofascore.

Rashford, for contrast, scored a goal every 238 minutes back in England, while enjoying a goal conversion of just 17%, having started 16 games in all.

While the latter man came out on top for assists (three vs one) and big chances created (eight vs two), the pair both averaged 1.1 key passes per game, with Kolo Muani notably enjoying a superior record for successful dribbles completed (0.7 vs 1.1).

And so, with the chance available for United to pounce, Wilcox could be able to hand Amorim an immediate upgrade on Rashford to bolster his forward line, with the striker’s form in Italy certainly reason for encouragement.

He's perfect for Watkins: Man Utd hold internal talks for "dangerous" star

Manchester United appear to be making a move to land a star who could thrive alongside Ollie Watkins.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 25, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are veering towards the close of play in the transfer market and could now be set to make a double swoop to land two stars from another Premier League club, according to a report.

Wolves defeated by Celta Vigo in pre-season

Pre-season has now come to an end for Wolves and their first few fixtures have served as a valuable tool to restore match fitness, even if the Old Gold have lost four and drawn two in the friendlies.

Nevertheless, new signing David Moller Wolfe shared his pride after making his debut for the club in a 1-0 defeat against Celta Vigo at Molineux after a £10 million move from AZ Alkmaar.

He stated: “I’m very proud. It felt incredibly good to put on the shirt for the first time and go out and meet the fans and everything. Sadly, we didn’t get the result we wanted, but we had some good moments there for sure and we’ll be ready for next week.”

With Manchester City on the horizon next weekend, Wolves fans will hope new signings are imminent and Nantes forward Matthis Abline is on the Old Gold’s radar as they aim to strengthen across their front four positions.

Intriguingly, Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza has held talks with Wolves, and it remains to be seen if discussions accelerate after both sides locked horns over the weekend.

Wolves’ completed signings this summer

Fer Lopez

Arrived from Celta Vigo

Jhon Arias

Arrived from Fluminense

Jorgen Strand Larsen

Arrived from Celta Vigo

David Moller Wolfe

Arrived from AZ Alkmaar

Vitor Pereira has recruited a high calibre of player to compete for a place in his first-team squad. However, the transfer window is seldom a straightforward environment to do business, though he is now plotting an exciting double deal before the close of play.

Wolves make contact to sign Chelsea pair Axel Disasi and David Datro Fofana

According to Caughtoffside, Wolves have made a formal approach to sign Chelsea duo Axel Disasi and David Datro Fofana, with many formulas being explored to lower the potential price including swap deals and performance-based incentives.

Napoli and Rennes will provide competition for the former, who is deemed to be worth between £25 million to £30 million at Stamford Bridge. On the other hand, Stuttgart and Nice want to sign Fofana, and it may cost £15 million to tempt him away from West London.

Wolves have now been offered chance to sign "fantastic" £15m player

He could be a brilliant signing for Vitor Pereira.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 8, 2025

Disasi spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa and made ten appearances as they secured Europa League football. Meanwhile, Fofana netted twice in nine outings at Goztepe before injury cut his campaign short.

Wolves have made contact to gather information over their availability, and it now remains to be seen whether Chelsea would be open to offloading both players.

Time is of the essence in the West Midlands to bring players through the door at Molineux and it appears that Pereira is hard at work to make that a reality.

Manchester United may have lost their opening Premier League game of the 2025/26 season, but there are certainly reasons to be positive for Ruben Amorim for the remainder of the campaign.

Matheus Cunha made his debut against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, producing an excellent performance which has given the fanbase a taste of what he can produce after his £62.5m transfer.

The Brazilian featured for the entirety of the contest, completing four dribbles – the most of any player on the pitch – just needing to add the clinical edge to build on his impressive start.

However, despite being one of three big-money additions within the final third, the hierarchy could be set to make further reinforcements across other areas of the squad.

The midfield department looks set to be the next area of improvement, but it appears that one of their targets won’t be making the move to Old Trafford before the September 1st deadline.

United’s pursuit of Carlos Baleba this summer

In an attempt to bolster the options for Amorim in the middle of the park, numerous options have appeared on their radar over the last couple of weeks.

The main target as of late has been Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba, with the Seagulls star appearing at the top of their shortlist in a quest to bolster the ranks.

Talks had previously been held with Fabian Hurzeler’s side over a move to land the 21-year-old midfielder, who made 34 appearances in the Premier League last season.

However, any deal would’ve been an expensive one, with his current employers demanding a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with the Cameroonian international.

His current boss, Hurzeler, stated last week that he was confident the player would remain at the AMEX beyond the summer, forcing the Red Devils to pursue other options this window.

Man Utd targeting move for Baleba alternative

After leaving a deal to sign Baleba, Crystal Palace’s young star Adam Wharton has once again emerged as a potential summer option for United and Amorim.

However, like a deal for the Cameroonian, it would likely cost a fee in the region of £100m, a valuation that may be out of range given their £200m spending spree to date.

The Englishman isn’t the only player currently in their sights, with journalist Fabrizio Romano stating that Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand remains a key target before the end of the window.

He states that interest has previously been registered in the Danish international, who spent two years playing his trade under Amorim in the Liga Portugal.

Romano also claims that the player himself would be keen for a reunion with his former boss, with the Portuguese outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of €50m (£43m) for his services.

Why United’s £43m target would be their own Rodri

Rivals Manchester City have often been the side to dominate the Premier League in recent years, with Rodri often being the player who has helped them in their quest for success.

The Spaniard has cemented himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, as seen by his ability to win the Ballon d’Or for 2024 – beating Vinícius Júnior to the prestigious award.

Whilst the 29-year-old has been missing for nearly a year, many Red Devils supporters would be wishing they had their own version of the world-class operator.

However, if they were to land a player of his quality, it would be an expensive addition, but a deal for Hjulmand could prove to be a bargain – especially if he can live up to Rodri’s level.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to the City star by FBref, managing to outperform him in numerous areas for the 2023/24 campaign – the last full-season he operated in before his ACL injury.

Hjulmand, who’s been labelled “complete” by analyst Ben Mattinson, dominated defensively, ranking in the 84th percentile for percentage of tackles won (58%).

Such a tally was higher than that of Rodri, who could only muster a tally of 10% less than the Dane, highlighting his ball-winning ability – something which the Red Devils desperately lack under Amorim.

Games played

30

34

Goals & assists

5

17

Tackles won

1.6

1.3

% of tackles won

58%

48%

Blocks made

1.2

0.9

Interceptions made

0.9

0.8

Take-ons completed

67%

65%

Recoveries made

7.3

7.2

Fouls drawn

1.3

1

His top-level ability out of possession is further reflected in his higher tallies of blocks and interceptions made per 90 – having the talent to finally end the club’s hunt for a new presence at the heart of the side.

Whilst Baleba may have been many of the supporters’ first choice for the midfield position, it’s vital the club spend the funds available wisely – especially considering the money already splashed in this window.

Hjulmand could provide an excellent alternative for the Red Devils, having bags of time to build on his impressive start to his career, given his tender age of just 24.

If he can continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason as to why he can’t reach the levels Rodri’s achieved in his career, potentially being the club’s answer to the Spaniard in the process.

It's not Baleba: INEOS begin move to sign £100m Ugarte upgrade for Man Utd

Manchester United Target Crystal Palace Star in Ambitious Midfield Upgrade

1 ByWill Miller Aug 18, 2025

There has been an update on the future of Rangers manager Russell Martin’s Ibrox future ahead of Sunday’s Glasgow derby against Celtic.

Martin reacts to Rangers’ “humiliating” Champions League exit

The Gers were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday evening after suffering an embarrassing 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge, losing 9-1 on aggregate over the two legs.

Any chance of a Rangers comeback was ended after going a goal and a man down on the evening after less than 10 minutes, with the hosts running riot for the rest of the game.

Martin, asked if he still had belief that he was the right man to take Rangers forward after the game, said:

“Yeah. I don’t think I’ve learned anything new tonight, just really hurt, really embarrassed by the defeat. It’s probably the toughest night I’ve had as head coach/manager. But it doesn’t it doesn’t change the fact that I think we can get this place going, we can get the team going.

“And as I said, progress and move forward and grow and we have an opportunity to really do that, to feel everything tonight that comes our way and accept it, because we have to with a manner of defeat and then we have a chance to really show some character and some growth and some personality and desire on Sunday.”

Sunday sees the Gers face rivals Celtic for the first time in the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season, with Martin going on to apologise to the supporters.

The speculation regarding Martin’s Ibrox future will only increase after the Champions League defeat, but there has been an update ahead of the Glasgow derby.

Fernandez upgrade: Rangers preparing offer to sign "outstanding" £12m star

Glasgow Rangers are reportedly preparing to make an offer to sign an upgrade on Emmanuel Fernandez.

ByDan Emery Aug 27, 2025 Russell Martin sack update from Rangers before Celtic

Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke shared an update on Martin’s future at Rangers 24 hours before their defeat to Club Brugge.

Focusing on the game against Celtic, O’Rourke stated that ’Rangers are unlikely to react quickly and sack Martin even if he oversees a defeat’ to the Hoops at Ibrox.

Should the Gers lose to Celtic, Martin’s side will already be nine points behind their fiercest rivals after just four fixtures.

O’Rourke added that ‘the Rangers board will not make any knee-jerk decisions and still have full faith’ in the 39-year-old and that ‘the 49ers Enterprises know that it is a long-term project’.

Games

10

Wins

3

Draws

4

Losses

3

Goals scored

15

Goals conceded

17

Whether or not Rangers’ stance has changed following the humiliating Champions League exit remains to be seen, but by the looks of things, Martin’s job is safe for now regardless of the result on Sunday.

As it is every year, this summer has been a hectic one for Chelsea.

On top of winning the Club World Cup and making a reasonably good start to their Premier League campaign, the Blues have been very active in the transfer market.

The board has backed Enzo Maresca with several exciting additions, including Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato, and Liam Delap.

However, much to the disappointment of some fans, they do appear to have missed out on Xavi Simons, although if reports are to be believed, they’re now targeting someone who’d be an even better signing.

Chelsea target better signing than Simons

Chelsea have been involved in several transfer sagas this summer, and one of the most protracted concerned Simons, who at one point looked destined to join the club.

Transfer Focus

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

However, after waiting for months and then finding out the Blues weren’t all that sold on him, the RB Leipzig gem decided to move to Tottenham Hotspur and put pen to paper on a seven-year contract.

Now, some sections of the fanbase are understandably upset about seeing such a talented player join their rivals, but it now looks like the West Londoners are eyeing an even better signing.

At least that is according to Ben Jacobs, who has claimed Chelsea are interested in Adam Wharton.

The journalist has revealed that the Crystal Palace gem is now on the club’s list of targets, but that he will be incredibly difficult to sign this summer.

Moreover, reports from earlier this summer claimed that it could cost as much as £100m to get him out of Selhurst Park this year.

With that said, even if Chelsea have to wait a year, Wharton would be an incredible pick up and a better signing than Simons.

Why Wharton would be a better signing than Simons

So, the first reason Wharton would be a better signing than Simons for Chelsea, and a hugely significant one, is that he’s already proven in the Premier League.

Despite still being only 21 years old, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by Matthew Stanger, has already made 38 appearances in the competition and looked like he belonged from the very first one.

Now, it is undoubtedly the case that the Dutchman has more top-flight experience under his belt, but that has come in leagues which are considered to be significantly weaker.

For example, Opta Analyst ranks the English top-flight as the toughest in the world, by quite some margin.

At the same time, the Bundesliga ranks fourth, Ligue 1 fifth, and the Dutch Eredivisie tenth, trailing the Brazilian, Belgian, and Portuguese top flights.

In other words, we know that the former Blackburn Rovers gem is more than capable of becoming a superstar in the Premier League, which cannot be said about the former PSV Eindhoven ace, especially when numerous players have looked outstanding in Germany but flopped in England, such as Timo Werner.

Finally, when you step back and take a look under the hood, the already-capped international’s underlying numbers scream that he’s destined for greatness.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 5% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for expected goals and ball recoveries, the top 7% for crosses into the penalty area, the top 8% for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for key passes and more, all per 90.

Not only are these numbers elite, but they paint a picture of an all-action midfielder who’s as brilliant at starting attacks as he is snuffing them out.

GCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.14

Top 3%

xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals

0.21

Top 5%

Ball Recoveries

6.79

Top 5%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.34

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

3.94

Top 8%

Key Passes

1.83

Top 9%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.81

Top 9%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

2.92

Top 10%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.48

Top 10%

Inswinging Corner Kicks

1.15

Top 11%

Passes into Penalty Area

1.29

Top 12%

GCA (Live-ball Pass)

0.34

Top 12%

Progressive Passes

6.92

Top 13%

Dribbles Challenged

2.65

Top 14%

Through Balls

0.34

Top 15%

Ultimately, Simons appears to be a great player for Spurs, but Wharton seems destined to become a superstar; therefore, he would be the far better signing.

He'll be unreal with Pedro: Big-money star to sign for Chelsea on Friday

The big-money dynamo will be incredible with Joao Pedro at Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 29, 2025

Leeds United recently made an approach for an “elite” player, who has since signed for Premier League rivals Manchester United in a last minute deadline day move.

Farke likely to be disappointed after Leeds' quiet deadline day

Heading into deadline day, Daniel Farke made it clear that he wanted to make two more additions to his squad, with the manager particularly keen to strengthen in attacking areas, having identified Facundo Buonanotte and Harry Wilson as targets.

However, the Whites were unable to get any new signings through the door, with it being widely reported the Cottagers pulled the plug on a deal for Wilson at the last minute, while Buonanotte ended up signing for Chelsea on loan until the end of the campaign.

As such, Farke is likely to be frustrated by the end to the transfer window, but the manager can take some solace in the fact he has managed to improve his squad in a number of key areas this summer, not least between the sticks.

Lucas Perri was signed as a replacement for Illan Meslier, who has been attracting interest from the likes of Rangers and Lorient, but a report has now revealed a different goalkeeper was being considered as a replacement for the Frenchman at one stage.

According to a report from Belgium (via The Daily Mail), Leeds made an approach to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp, but ultimately walked away from a deal when they discovered the hefty asking price.

Scouts from both Sunderland and Leeds decided against bringing in Lammens, given that it would be a risk to throw him straight in as first-choice goalkeeper in the Premier League, and he ended up joining Man United for a fee of around £18m instead.

"Elite" Lammens would've been risky signing for Leeds

Despite being described as having “elite potential” by scout Ben Mattinson, signing the former Royal Antwerp man would’ve been a gamble for Leeds, given that he is yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s major leagues.

The Belgian is just 23-years-old, meaning Perri has far more experience, and barring the trip to Arsenal, the Brazilian has made a solid start to life at Elland Road, keeping two clean sheets in his opening three Premier League games.

Leeds had deal agreed to sign "important" ace who once silenced Elland Road

It was a day to forget for the Yorkshire club…

2 ByTom Cunningham Sep 2, 2025

Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca was also left very impressed by the 27-year-old’s performances in Ligue 1 last season, saying in March: “Right now, the best goalkeeper in the world is Lucas Perri.”

As such, Leeds made the correct decision signing the former Lyon man instead of Lammens, who has a daunting season ahead of him, with the young Belgian tasked with trying to establish himself as number one for Man United.

Leeds United supporters have not been accustomed to goal-filled matches involving their beloved side since promotion to the Premier League.

Indeed, Daniel Farke’s Whites are yet to score a goal from open play in league action, with their only strike to date being Lukas Nmecha’s penalty, which won a tight affair versus Everton.

Since then, it’s been many a spurned opportunity from the West Yorkshire outfit, with the free transfer addition of Dominic Calvert-Lewin not even boosting their early-season output.

Leeds might not be so frustrated in this department right now if they had managed to win a deal for Harry Wilson on deadline day, with the Welshman never arriving at Elland Road in the end from Fulham, despite serious efforts to bring him in at the final hour.

Why Leeds failed to sign Harry Wilson

Ultimately, the top-flight newcomers left themselves with too much to do as the clock ticked down, with Fulham deciding last-minute to keep their entertaining attacker around.

Why? Well, the story is a source of frustration as far as Leeds are concerned. They initially met Fulham’s quoted asking price a few days before deadline, but with the Cottagers focused on incomings, the Londoners ended up wanting to re-negotiate a move on the final day of the window.

The Whites did return with an improved offer and while that bid was accepted, resulting in a deal sheet being submitted to get the move signed off, Fulham ultimately decided that they did not want to sell the player, communicating to the hierarchy at Elland Road that a deal was off just minutes before the 7pm deadline.

It was a bitter blow for the Yorkshire side, but it’s understandable that Marco Silva’s men wanted to keep him, knowing full well what he’s capable of at the peak of his powers.

Indeed, the “incredible” number eight – as he was once lauded by Jurgen Klopp – is capable of stunning moments like the one above, culminating in Wilson tallying up 26 goal contributions in total for Fulham in the Premier League.

With a further 30 goal contributions coming his way in the Championship for Silva’s men, Leeds might well have thought they’d struck gold by tempting Wilson to Elland Road, with the Wrexham-born forward also offering depth down either the left or right wing for Farke, amid some gaps in the German’s squad.

However, it just wasn’t to be, as Farke now has to rely on the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Daniel James until January.

Leeds did once have a tantalising winger in a similar mould to Wilson, though.

Leeds struck gold with their original Harry Wilson

Farke should hopefully have enough at his disposal to get the goals eventually flowing, with Calvert-Lewin boasting 57 Premier League goals at Everton when performing at full capacity.

He would love to have Crysencio Summerville back for selection if he could; however, notably having managed to get the very best out of the electric Dutchman during his first up-and-down season at the helm.

Arguably, his previous dynamite output in the Championship for Leeds puts him on the same pedestal Wilson once found himself on at Fulham in the second tier.

A bumper 28-goal contributions fell into his lap come the end of a breakout 2023/24 season, which somehow saw the Whites slip up in their bid to return to the Premier League in a jittery playoff final.

Still, Summerville would find his own avenue up to the top-flight with West Ham United, as Leeds were powerless to a £25m bid coming their way, in the wake of promotion failing to be secured.

Games played

89

Goals scored

25

Assists

13

Original fee

£1.3m

Fee sold for

£25m

Percentage increase

1823%

Leeds could let themselves be eaten up with regret here, considering Summerville is now strutting his stuff in London – not too far away from Wilson’s Fulham – with two assists next to his name already this campaign.

But, the table above reinforces the idea that Leeds struck gold on the Feyenoord-born attacker when they did, with Summerville purchased for just £1.3m four years ago.

Taking into account the £25m he was sold for, that is a wild 1823% increase between the two prices, with Leeds then putting their riches to good use to construct a promotion-winning team.

While they may be stunted in the here and now with no Summerville-style figure, with the Dutchman also adaptable like Wilson to play down either flank, time is still on Leeds’ side to beat the drop.

The likes of Noah Okafor, who did end up through the door this summer, could well turn into Leeds’ new, impactful Summerville-like presence down the line, with all hope not lost just yet at Elland Road.

Leeds already preparing January offer to sign £40m Calvert-Lewin upgrade

Leeds United are already preparing a formal offer to sign a star who would replace Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 8, 2025

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has played a key role in helping to facilitate some Spurs transfer deals since his arrival in N17, with the Dane now believed to be a huge admirer of one player across the continent.

Thomas Frank "key" to Tottenham agreeing Xavi Simons deal

The Lilywhites’ statement summer signing was their £52 million move for playmaker Xavi Simons.

Tottenham hijacked Chelsea’s once-advanced move to sign the Dutchman on a potential seven-year contract which could be worth a grand total of £125 million (Paul O’Keefe) – putting their spectacularly failed deals for Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White behind them.

Appearances

25

Minutes played

2,157

Goals

10

Assists

7

Bookings

5

Shots at goal per 90 minutes

2

Passing accuracy

82.9%

Average match rating

7.32

via WhoScored

Super agent Ali Barat, speaking to RMC Sport this week, revealed that Frank played a very major role in convincing the 22-year-old to join Tottenham over their London rivals.

Speaking after Tottenham’s surprise 2-0 win away to Man City, fellow summer signing Joao Palhinha, who’s enjoyed an impressive start to life back in London overall, also revealed that Frank “pushed” for him to make a Premier League return.

Now, according to reports from Spain, Frank has his eyes on yet another player.

Tottenham plan Morten Hjulmand bid amid Thomas Frank belief

As per one Spanish media source, that man is Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand.

The Denmark international is currently in fine form for Rui Borges’ side, starting all five of their Primeira Liga matches so far this season and averaging a very impressive 92.9 per cent passing accuracy (WhoScored).

After becoming a star for the current Portuguese champions since his move there over two years ago, in a deal worth an initial £15.5 million, Hjulmand’s value has skyrocketed.

His contract includes a £68 million release clause, but Tottenham are planning to test the water with a £52 million bid for Hjulmand.

Frank apparently believes he could be a “key” signing for the club, and with Yves Bissouma very likely to leave in 2026, Hjulmand could come as the Mali international’s perfect replacement.

Sporting realise that the 26-year-old could be tempted by Spurs’ “irresistible” offer of an opportunity to play English football, and there is apparent concern that this season could be the midfielder’s last in Portugal.

It feels as if every decision being made by Ruben Amorim at Manchester United is coming back to bite him, with the Portuguese coach in grave danger of becoming the latest casualty of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Scrutiny surrounds his persistence with the 3-4-3 system at Old Trafford, although his selection decisions have also been put under the microscope – not least selecting a goalkeeper in Altay Bayindir who now ranks among the bottom 3% of his Premier League peers for save percentage, as per FBref.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, the club’s summer business is also now being picked apart – perhaps with an element of hindsight – with numerous figures beginning to catch fire in their new surroundings.

Indeed, Antony has picked up where he left off at Real Betis last term, after notably registering a goal and an assist against Nottingham Forest last month, while Alejandro Garnacho played his part in Chelsea’s opener in the 1-0 win over Benfica in midweek.

Fellow ‘bomb squad’ member Marcus Rashford, too, was in the headlines following his Champions League display for Barcelona, with ex-teammate Rasmus Hojlund has also proving the doubters wrong with his own swift start in Naples.

Hojlund & Rashford's fine start to the season

One misdemeanour too many proved the end of Rashford’s relationship with Amorim back in December, with the 27-year-old having not been seen in a United shirt since trudging off away at Viktoria Plzen, prior to his exclusion from the Manchester derby.

Shipped off to Aston Villa in January, before sealing a dream move to Barcelona over the summer, the high-profile forward has begun to find his groove away from the bright lights of Old Trafford, amid what has been a particularly encouraging few weeks in Catalonia.

A breathtaking brace against Newcastle United stands out as the obvious high point, although Rashford’s sublime assist for Ferran Torres on Wednesday night ensured he now boasts seven goal involvements in just nine games for his new side.

Elsewhere on the continental stage, Hojlund showcased that he’s doing his best to follow in Scott McTominay’s footsteps at Napoli, having twice combined with Kevin De Bruyne to help steer the Serie A outfit to a 2-1 win over Sporting CP in midweek.

Much like his first goal for the Italian champions against Fiorentina, the Dane’s first of the night was him at his best, tearing away from defenders on the break, before coolly converting.

With three goals from just five games under Antonio Conte, the 22-year-old already has the edge on his Old Trafford replacement, Benjamin Sesko, with that likely to be a long-running comparison this season between the two young strikers.

Rightly or wrongly, neither Hojlund nor Rashford are part of the set-up now under Amorim, with it looking unlikely that either figure will be turning out for United again – not least with Napoli and Barcelona holding an obligation and option to buy the pair, respectively.

Those two are then figures of the past, with United needing to instead look to the future.

How Rashford & Hojlund's market values compare

“The soul has gone from the club”.

Those words from Wayne Rooney perhaps summarise the situation best right now.

What is there to get behind at Manchester United? The winning formula has been deserted. The style of play is tentative and timid. Every news story emerging from the club appears to be one of doom and gloom, be it talk of more redundancies or discussion of financial losses.

The essence of United appears to be being lost, not least amid Amorim’s hesitation to turn toward the academy, with his tenure – unlike those before him – yet to see the rise of a standout youth product.

Under David Moyes, there was Adnan Januzaj. Under Louis van Gaal, there was Rashford. Under Jose Mourinho, there was McTominay. Under Erik ten Hag, there was the FA Cup final-winning duo of Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Amorim – despite a brief period in the side for Chido Obi – has yet to truly follow suit, with his treatment of Mainoo also bordering on a sackable offence to some.

Previously the star of Ten Hag’s final season, and a vital part of England’s Euro 2024 surge, the 20-year-old has now drifted to the periphery, yet to even start a league game this term despite the ongoing midfield woes.

Tipped to depart on loan or even permanently over the summer, the Stockport native is bizarrely being overlooked by the Portuguese coach, even despite looking like a “generational talent” previously, in the words of that man Hojlund.

In flashes, his quality has been seen this season, not least when breezing through Manchester City’s midfield in the derby, although with Amorim wedded to his system, he seemingly can’t find room for arguably United’s brightest talent.

Yes, the course of a young player’s career can be turbulent, yet the lack of faith shown in Mainoo by his manager is puzzling. As Gary Neville suggested earlier this year, this is a player that the club should be “building around”.

And rightly so, this is a player following the traditions of the club in rising from the youth ranks before dazzling at the elite level.

Games

44

33

Starts

38

16

Subbed off

24

9

Goals

5

2

Assists

1

2

Yellow cards

8

3

Minutes played

3141

1639

Such is his talent and potential, he is now even deemed to be worth as much as £52m, as per Football Transfers, placing him ahead of both Hojlund (£41m) and Rashford (£47m).

Had things gone differently this summer, Mainoo might well have joined that pairing in heading for the exit door, although thankfully he remains – ready to fight for his place in that midfield.

If Amorim continues to ignore such a high-value, ‘generational’ midfielder, hopefully the next manager will see things differently.

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