All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Liverpool are flying under Jurgen Klopp's managerial acumen this season but the players know that the German's reign is drawing to a close, having announced his decision to step down later this year.

Trophies have been won from all angles over the duration of Klopp's tutelage but he has admitted that he is "running out of energy" and FSG now have an onerous task of replacing an irreplaceable figure.

Nonetheless, the Reds are in a superb position and boast a squad brimming with talent, and if the right manager is brought in, Liverpool 2.0 will enjoy silver-laden success for years to come.

Liverpool's manager shortlist

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso and Italian Roberto De Zerbi are considered the frontrunners at this early stage but Liverpool have mapped out more than just two options to succeed Klopp.

Ruben Amorim, leading Portuguese table-toppers Sporting Lisbon, is also on the radar though according to Record – via TEAMtalk – the 39-year-old will not enter discussions with the Anfield side until the end of the season.

Liverpool eyeing "serial winner" manager who's perfect for Nunez

Jurgen Klopp’s illustrious tenure is drawing to a close but Liverpool are working to seal a stunning replacement.

ByAngus Sinclair Feb 2, 2024

Amorim is also understood to have a €20m (£17m) release clause in his contract that Liverpool will need to meet to prise him away from the José Alvalade Stadium.

The perfect manager for Trent

While that release clause is rather lofty, FSG will be hellbent on securing Klopp's perfect successor and may well be content with granting such an outlay to ensure Liverpool continue to thrive.

Amorim might not be long into his managerial career but he has worked wonders in Lisbon and toppled the Benfica-Porto monopoly in 2020/21, winning the Liga Portugal with Sporting, and has won the Taça da Liga on three occasions, twice with his current club and once with S.C. Braga.

Such success has led journalist Zach Lowy to herald his "special" approach; an impressive trophy haul in the maiden phase of his career does him no harm in staking a claim to lead Liverpool's talented players.

Across 190 matches at the helm with Sporting, the former Benfica defender boasts a noteworthy 2.25 points per match, and while he favours a three-man defence – something Klopp has never utilised with Liverpool – tweaking the squad in this regard is hardly going to lay waste to the club's long-term plans.

Matches

207

Win

146

Draw

28

Loss

33

Goals for

440

Goals against

186

Points

466

Points per match

2.25

Trophies

4

It could even bring the best out of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has long been a right-back but is starting to shift into a central midfield role in possession to maximise his world-class creative ability.

As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, shot-creating actions and passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes, the top 11% for interceptions and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90.

Amorim's possession-heavy style – which has seen Sporting hold 59.3% of the ball to Liverpool's 59.5% this season – could well benefit him massively. Indeed, it's arguable that the Reds would see no less of the ball than they have under their German hero.

Additionally, the requirement of a wing-back (Amoriom uses a 3-4-3 formation) could be perfect to allow Alexander-Arnold to take his influence to new heights, providing him with a greater license to roam and continuing a development that might lead to a future role of permanence in the centre of the park.

When Sir Jim Ratcliffe agreed a deal to buy 25% of Manchester United from the Glazers in December for £1bn, he vowed to invest £236m into the club's Old Trafford stadium. By capacity, it's the largest venue in the Premier League, but it won't be hosting any matches when the UK and Ireland stage Euro 2028 in anticipation of potential redevelopment work.

Rank

Stadium

Club

Capacity

1

Old Trafford

Manchester United

75,563

2

London Stadium

West Ham United

62,500

3

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham Hotspur

62,062

4

Anfield

Liverpool

61,000

5

Emirates Stadium

Arsenal

60,704

6

Etihad Stadium

Manchester City

55,097

7

St James' Park

Newcastle United

52,338

8

Villa Park

Aston Villa

42,660

9

Stamford Bridge

Chelsea

41,798

10

Goodison Park

Everton

39,571

There were even reports earlier this month that Ratcliffe had considered building an entirely new facility, but Sky Sports clarified at the time that all options were still on the table, and no decision had been made.

Big news on Ratcliffe's Old Trafford plans

Now, in a fresh Old Trafford update from The Daily Mail, it's emerged that Ratcliffe and his company INEOS are making progress on a 90,000 "new Old Trafford", with contact made with "potential investment partners" as they look to move forward "rapidly" with plans to either "rebuild or refresh" the stadium.

Significantly, they have already "ditched" the idea of moving to a new site and would prefer to rebuild the current ground instead. The hope is that the work can be completed by 2029.

Ratcliffe's plans certainly aren't short of 'wow' factor, with the British businessman aiming to increase the capacity by considering the possibility of a new 'Stretford End' based on Tottenham Hotspur's single-tier 'Kop' stand behind the goal.

They have held initial talks with local politicians, including Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, over securing government funding, and will also speak to the Football Association about hosting England matches at the so-called "Wembley of the North".

Ratcliffe wasting no time

It was only earlier this week that the Premier League officially ratified the deal between Ratcliffe and the Glazers, with FA approval expected to follow in due course, but he's making his limitless ambition clear to United supporters straight away.

In addition to the stadium plans, the 71-year-old is assembling his new club hierarchy, with Omar Berrada already set to join as CEO after defecting from Manchester City. They have made Dan Ashworth their first and only sporting director target, and he wants to join, while they are also keen to recruit Southampton director of football Jason Wilcox to report to Ashworth.

Man Utd star who was 'like Maradona' is already up for sale by Ratcliffe

The Man United star has struggled after his excellent debut.

ByTom Lever Feb 16, 2024

Come the end of the season, there will also be a vital decision to make around manager Erik ten Hag, one that might hinge on whether United manage to qualify for next year's Champions League.

Leeds United moved up to second in the Championship table earlier this week and they are now in the automatic promotion places alongside Leicester City.

The Whites beat Swansea 4-0 away from home and that allowed them to leapfrog rivals Southampton, who had been beaten 3-1 by Bristol City.

Daniel Farke was brought in last summer and the German head coach has done a fantastic job so far as his side are competing for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The former Norwich City tactician has also showcased his ability to bring through and develop young players as Mateo Joseph and Archie Gray have emerged as first-team options.

He had worked with and developed the likes of James Maddison, Max Aarons, Andrew Omobamidele, and Ben Godfrey, among others, during his time with the Canaries, and could work his magic once again with Whites youngster Sonny Perkins, who could be Patrick Bamford's long-term successor.

The 20-year-old whiz returned from a disappointing loan spell with Oxford United in January but could still have the potential to be a future star for Leeds, if Farke can get the best out of him and provide the talented gem with the opportunities that Joseph has had.

Mateo Joseph's emergence this season

The Spanish-born striker has had chances to impress the former Borussia Monchengladbach head coach this season with 12 first-team appearances.

He has played nine times in the Championship, with all of those outings coming as a substitute, and featured in all three of the club's FA Cup matches so far.

His first senior start of the 2023/24 campaign came against Plymouth in the FA Cup at Home Park earlier this month in a 4-1 win, in extra time, for the Whites.

Joseph came incredibly close to opening his account early on in the match as he brilliantly worked room for himself in the box before lashing a shot towards the top corner, only to see the goalkeeper brilliantly tip it over the bar.

His first-team emergence came after an impressive return of 20 goals and three assists in 37 appearances for the club at U18 and U21 level combined.

However, the England U20 international, who has scored three goals in ten matches for his country at that age group, has not had a loan away from Yorkshire to play regular first-team football yet.

Farke has provided him with an opportunity to showcase his quality in the senior squad without an external development process at another club.

Perkins, on the other hand, spent the first half of the season on loan with Oxford United in League One and endured a frustrating time with the third tier club.

However, one bad loan should not ruin his prospects entirely as the potential is still there for him to emerge as a successor to Bamford, who is now on the wrong side of 30 and out of contract in 2026.

Patrick Bamford's form this season

The former England international, who turns 31 later this year, has been in impressive form of late for the Yorkshire-based outfit but struggled at the start of the season.

Bamford failed to provide a single goal or assist for the club in his first 16 league appearances of the 2023/24 campaign, although all of those outings came as a substitute, as Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter had nailed down the starting spots.

Since then, the 30-year-old marksman has contributed with four goals and one assist in six Championship starts for Leeds since the turn of the year.

His most recent goal – against Rotherham United – did come in controversial fashion, though, as the former Chelsea prospect appeared to guide the ball into the back of the net with his arm, which was not spotted by the officials.

The English attacker, therefore, does not need to be immediately replaced but his contract expires in 2026 and Farke may already have one eye on what life will look like after him.

Bamford, who has scored 56 goals in 176 matches for Leeds in all competitions throughout his career, is a left-footed centre-forward who has provided goals at a respectable rate, and Perkins has the potential to emerge as his successor.

Sonny Perkins' goalscoring potential

The 20-year-old number nine, who is also a left-footed dynamo, was sent back to the Whites in January as Oxford boss Des Buckingham revealed that he was unfortunate to have two experienced options ahead of him that led to just three League One appearances.

However, Perkins' form at youth level for West Ham United, Leeds and England throughout his short career so far suggests that the quality is there for him to become a first-team option for Farke in the future.

He has played 16 times for his country from U15 up to U19 level to date and contributed with ten goals, which a return of one strike every 1.6 games on average.

Prior to his move to Yorkshire, Perkins plundered 21 goals and provided five assists in 55 matches for West Ham at U18 and U21 level combined.

The young whiz, who former boss Michael Skubala once hailed as a "goal machine", joined Leeds for the 2022/23 campaign and hit the ground running with a return of 12 goals and three assists in 20 Premier League 2 outings, including the play-offs.

These statistics suggest that the 20-year-old finisher can find the back of the net on a regular basis when on-form and playing consistently, given his form for two clubs and his country, but Perkins must now prove it at the top level.

He did score his first senior goal for the Whites with a strike off the bench against Cardiff in the FA Cup at the start of 2023, in a 2-2 draw in Wales, which shows that the gem can score in a first-team setting.

Appearances

42

28

Goals

23

17

Assists

Five

Two

Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, both Perkins and Joseph have been prolific for Leeds, and West Ham in the former's case, at U21 level as centre-forwards.

Farke, therefore, has two fantastic young prospects in the number nine position but the former Oxford United loanee may need a bit more work on the training pitch after his frustrating loan spell.

The German head coach must work his magic with Perkins, having developed many young talents throughout his career as aforementioned, to unearth his potential and find a long-term successor to Bamford up front for the Championship side.

Despite spending over £125m during the summer transfer window, Newcastle United failed to sign any new players in January due to concerns over their FFP.

Newcastle's chief executive Darren Eales suggested earlier this year that the club must sell players before making any major signings, with the club on the limit of the Premier League's FFP rules.

Players such as Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes joined the Magpies during the summer, as the board looked to back manager Eddie Howe as they entered their first Champions League campaign in 20 years.

Howe's side failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition and have struggled in the Premier League due to injuries to key players throughout the campaign. Joelinton and Sven Botman have both had extended spells on the sidelines with injuries – with the club's Premier League performance suffering as a result.

The focus will now likely be on improving the club's fortunes next season, with the return of one exciting loanee potentially set to bolster a forward line that already includes club-record capture, Alexander Isak.

Newcastle may have a dream Isak partner

Yankuba Minteh joined the club for around £5.8m on July 1st 2023 from Danish side Odense BK, before immediately joining Feyenoord on loan for the rest of the 2023/24 campaign.

The 19-year-old, who is "frightening for defenders" – according to journalist Antonio Mango – has a big future ahead of him after impressing in Denmark, prior to his move to Tyneside earlier this year.

The Gambian winger may only have featured 17 times for Odense, but it didn't take him long to make an immediate impact on their first team despite his tender age.

In what was his first season as a professional footballer, the youngster scored four times and assisted six times for his teammates in a campaign that saw Odense finish ninth in the Danish Superliga.

The winger has continued his brilliant form from last season during his current loan spell in the Netherlands under the guidance of talented manager, Arne Slot.

Yankuba Minteh's stats this season

The teenage whiz has scored three times in his 16 appearances in the Eredivisie, as he looks to gain experience ahead of a potential first-team spot for Newcastle next season.

His goal contributions this season may not seem overly impressive, but when delving into his stats per 90 this season, the youngster has excelled in a season of development. The forward averages 9.6 progressive carries per game – a figure that ranks him within the top 1% of players in the Eredivisie.

Minteh has been a real threat for Feyenoord this season, completing 4.7 successful take-ons per 90 and averaging 10.5 touches per game in the opposition's 18-yard box.

It's not just in attacking areas where young Minteh excels, he also ranks highly defensively – averaging 2.7 tackles per 90 – a remarkable figure for an attacker, but also a player of his young age.

Although the youngster is yet to make an appearance for Newcastle, his loan spell at Feyenoord is proving that he has huge potential to be a hit at St James' Park, potentially forming an exciting long-term partnership with Isak in the forward line.

In The Pipeline

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

The latter man has endured his fair share of injury woes since arriving in England, although the towering Swede does still boast 14 goals in just 25 games in all competitions thus far, indicating just what a clinical talent he is.

With Minteh – who has recorded two assists and created three 'big chances' in Holland in 2023/24 – able to supply quality service to the former Real Sociedad man, it could prove to be a mouthwatering pairing indeed.

Unbeaten in 12 Championship games and on course to seal automatic promotion, Leeds United could soon begin to turn their attention towards summer targets who could become part of a Daniel Farke side who may be attempting to maintain a Premier League place.

Leeds United transfer news

To say that Farke's side are flying would be an understatement. As the final stretch of the Championship season nears, the Whites are perfectly placed to secure promotion and perhaps even leapfrog Leicester City to win the league in dramatic fashion. That said, promotion should mean a busy summer when it comes to building a team capable of staying up in the top flight and that could see the likes of former winger Jack Clarke arrive.

Recent rumours have linked the Yorkshire club with a move to sign the Sunderland star in the event that they lose Wilfried Gnonto or Crysencio Summerville this summer, only for Carlton Palmer to recently pour cold water on that rumour. Clarke, of course, previously played for Leeds, before finding his feet at the Black Cats and now looks destined for a big move.

Instead of sealing the winger's return, however, those at Elland Road could turn their attention to cheaper alternatives to boost Farke's attacking options this summer. Football League World looked at five potential free agents Leeds could target in the summer, claiming Farke and co may look to sign Coventry City's Callum O'Hare.

The attacking midfielder has enjoyed yet another impressive campaign in England's second tier and may now finally get the chance to star in the Premier League. It could certainly be a wise move by Leeds, with or without promotion this season, given O'Hare's proven ability to light up the Championship and break down low blocks.

Farke masterclass: "Outstanding" Leeds star wants to sign long term deal

The Leeds boss has made quite the impression.

ByBen Browning Mar 9, 2024

His free agent status will undoubtedly extend the line for his signature, but Leeds may well hope to be front of the queue should they decide to make their move this summer.

"Incredible" O'Hare can make Premier League step

After suffering play-off heartbreak at the hands of Luton Town at Wembley last season, there's no doubt that O'Hare will still be eyeing that crucial Premier League step in his career. And that step could come courtesy of Leeds this summer.

Appearances

26

Goals

9

Assists

4

It is one that Coventry City manager Mark Robins will know that the midfielder is capable of making too, having sung his praises earlier this season. Robins said via the Coventry Telegraph:

"I heard someone come in at the start and I wondered who it was; I thought it was a rock star!

“Callum walked in and I realised what it was. But he’s been greatly missed by everyone. His presence and his energy, regardless of whether he’s on the pitch or not, is incredible.

"And that’s what you miss, so to have him back in the dressing room is huge. Before when he wasn’t playing he was in the dressing room at home games and he made a difference because of the way he is, giving people energy.”

Newcastle United are eyeing up a move for a young, high-potential striker as they look to bolster their ranks this summer, it has been reported.

Newcastle's Financial Fair Play concerns

Looking likely to miss out on European football this season as things stand, Eddie Howe's side could soon be toeing a tightrope when it comes to Financial Fair Play this summer. CEO Darren Eales has previously confirmed that the Premier League regulations may have to see them part ways with some of their stars, including Bruno Guimaraes.

Club may trigger release clause to sign "exceptional" Newcastle star

What a blow this could be for the Magpies this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 12, 2024

"It's just the nature of the beast. If you trade players on it creates more headroom . You have to keep growing that headroom, increasing commercial revenue and player trading.

"Any decision we make will always be against the backdrop of the medium to long-term benefit for the club. It's difficult to say specifically on certain players, but I can say that, if we're going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players.

"Whether that is because of the contract length of the player in question, the offer is too good to refuse, you need to reload in certain areas, but all of this could make sense to trade that player."

But a wider part of the Newcastle strategy has been to recruit young stars; Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall are both examples of that at full-back, while Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali (both 23 years of age) show a clear plan for long-term success.

Elsewhere, they have signed talented winger Garang Kuol, who is currently on loan in the Netherlands and is expected to have a future on Tyneside. Now, they are hoping to repeat that success at centre-forward.

Newcastle eyeing new forward

Now they look set to continue that trend elsewhere in the squad. As per journalist Pete O'Rourke, though no specific names have been earmarked for a move to St James' Park this summer, there is a clear plan in place at the top of the pitch.

The Magpies will look to sign a 'young high-potential centre-forward' who can provide cover and later competition for Alexander Isak, though it is added that 'the talent level of any incoming forward would depend on the club’s summer budget'.

Of course, Howe can currently call upon Isak as well as former Callum Wilson, but the latter has declined in recent seasons and is becoming increasingly susceptible to injuries.

Callum Wilson form

PL 22/23

PL 23/24

Appearances

31

16

Goals

18

7

Assists

5

1

Min per goal

104.7

122

Games missed

6

13

Shots on target per 90

3.36

3.03

As a result, Wilson could end up leaving this summer, having been put up for sale to no success in January. Isak too is reportedly the subject of interest from Arsenal, who tried to sign him during his time at Real Sociedad, but no concrete proposals have been made.

In an ideal world, a new striker could come in as a direct replacement for Wilson, allowing the Magpies to rejuvenate their frontline with a younger and more available option, all while keeping within FFP rules. Now, the hunt is on to find who that striker is.

West Bromwich Albion will want to continue their unbeaten March with a win at Millwall on Good Friday, extending their positive sequence of results without a loss to seven Championship games.

Baggies supporters will be eager to see Tom Fellows back in action over the Easter period too, with the 20-year-old homegrown product starring on international duty after also setting the second tier alight recently.

Scoring in West Brom's last victory over Bristol City, alongside making his debut for the England Men's Elite League Squad versus Poland last Friday, the sky looks to be the limit for the young hotshot.

Fellows will feel as if he deserves a heftier pay packet at the Hawthorns subsequently, with one ageing defender currently raking in more than double the 20-year-old's lesser £6k-per-week salary surprisingly.

Erik Pieters' wage at West Brom

Erik Pieters has proven to be a worthwhile asset to Corberan over the last few weeks however, regardless of his handsome pay packet.

The ex-Burnley man has started seven of West Brom's last eight Championship contests, filling in as a utility figure at centre-back and performing admirably as a back-up man when needed to step up.

Yet, the 35-year-old's wage – compared to others in the Baggies squad – could still be argued as being extortionate especially when contrasted with Fellows' £6k-per-week pay packet.

Moreover, with his contract coming to an end at the Hawthorns in the approaching summer and his status as a veteran, there must be a time soon when the adaptable Dutchman will consider hanging up his boots.

Until then, however, the West Brom number 15 will be earning a substantial £15k-per-week despite 20-year-old Fellows exploding onto the scene and eclipsing his appearance total in the Championship at 25 games in his first breakthrough campaign.

Pieters earns more than some other trusted first-teamers in the West Midlands too, with Corberan and Co surely tempted now to offload the Dutch defender when his contract is up in June to free up the wage bill more.

Erik Pieters' wage compared to the West Brom squad

Remarkably, Pieters at this moment in time earns more than loanee Mikey Johnston – the breakout Baggies star taking to the EFL like a duck to water, with six goals from ten games.

Yet, the Celtic loanee earns £5k shy of Pieters' salary at £10k-per-week despite all of these heroics.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

Moreover, the ex-Clarets man earns more than regimented first-team faces Alex Palmer and Conor Townsend currently with the dependable West Brom goalkeeper and right-back falling just short of Pieters' pay packet at £10.9k-per-week and £11.5k-per-week respectively.

That's even with Palmer starting every single minute of action this season in the Championship possible, whilst Townsend has only been missing from three second tier contests.

1. Adam Reach

£40k per week

2. Daryl Dike

£32.3k per week

3. Jed Wallace

£25k per week

4. Okay Yokuslu

£25k per week

5. Alex Mowatt

£22.8k per week

The 35-year-old is some way off being near the top five earners at the West Midlands club this campaign, but with his future needing to be decided very soon, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Pieters become a free agent in the off-season.

West Brom would be able to find an adequate replacement for Pieters down the line, with Caleb Taylor another on the conveyor belt of youngsters like Fellows who could be gifted opportunities as a 21-year-old centre-back in the wake of the Dutchman's potential exit.

Fellows, regardless of his wage or not, will just want to continue performing to the same heights he is currently on the way to the Baggies potentially winning promotion.

The first impression is always vital when a new player arrives at a club, especially for a side like Manchester United.

When anyone joins the Red Devils, whether it be a player or a manager, the expectation is to bring success and perform almost instantly.

In recent years, only a handful of signings have consistently performed at Old Trafford, with the likes of Antony and Jadon Sancho being examples of individuals who have been unable to star in the Premier League thus far.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at another player who once promised to be a world-beater but instead failed to live up to their apparent potential.

Meet the star who was meant to be the next Cristiano Ronaldo

In 2011, a promising Belgian talent named Adnan Januzaj joined Man United from Anderlecht as a 16-year-old, where he instantly impressed.

On October 5th, 2013, the number 44 was announced in the starting lineup for the first time under David Moyes as Man United faced Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

The then-18-year-old was absolutely electric, netting a brace that handed the Red Devils a 2-1 win, which was certainly the perfect way to introduce yourself to the footballing world.

After the game, Januzaj received plenty of praise and encouragement, with Moyes comparing his quality to Wayne Rooney and United youth coach Eric Harrison stating: “Januzaj is outstanding and I think he is similar to Cristiano Ronaldo".

However, the following season saw the arrival of Louis van Gaal, which the winger later claimed to be the reason why he never lived up to his potential at United, despite being an "unbelievable" talent, as per football creator Liam Canning.

Roy Keane's “biggest disappointment" has now become "superb" for Man Utd

The United star has had a remarkable turnaround after a difficult start.

ByTom Lever Mar 14, 2024 Adnan Januzaj’s career since his debut

During the Dutch manager’s first campaign at the club, Januzaj’s minutes and opportunities took a huge hit, starting just seven times in the 2014/15 Premier League.

A year later, the Belgium international only made just two league starts across the campaign, which was due to two separate injuries and a short loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.

With the left-footed ace failing to progress much further, in 2016, he joined Sunderland on a season-long loan in an attempt to revive his career, but over 25 matches, he failed to score a single goal.

In 2017, Januzaj eventually left Old Trafford after a troubled few seasons, joining Real Sociedad in a deal worth £9.8m, a club he would go on to score 23 goals in 168 appearances for.

Five years later, the former Red Devil moved to another La Liga side, this time joining Sevilla on a free transfer, which is where he plays his football today.

Man United

63

11

Borussia Dortmund

12

2

Sunderland

28

4

Real Sociedad

168

44

Istanbul Basaksehir

17

6

Sevilla

17

1

Despite being at the club for two seasons, Januzaj has only made 17 appearances, with a failed loan spell at Istanbul Basaksehir in between, where he scored three times in 17 games.

Fast-forward to this season, and the former wonderkid has featured just eight times, even though he has not suffered from any injuries. Januzaj has averaged just 24 minutes per game, and he truly cannot get a game, starting zero times.

At just 29 years of age, the number 25’s career has become completely stagnant, and there have been no signs of him turning it around, especially not at Sevilla.

In truth, it is extremely sad and disappointing to see how Januzaj’s career has unfolded, especially considering just how fantastic he was in his first season under Moyes, after being compared to the legendary Ronaldo in his early days at Old Trafford.

Despite a slightly disappointing draw against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday night, it’s been a brilliant few weeks for Arsenal.

They have climbed back to the top of the Premier League thanks to Liverpool’s draw over the weekend, big wins against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, and their impressive draw away to Manchester City.

That said, while Mikel Arteta’s side are scoring goals at a reasonably healthy rate, they’re still missing chances which could cost them come May.

Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have done admirable jobs thus far this season. Still, the latter has missed a significant portion of the campaign and could be in danger of losing his place in the team, as recent reports suggest Arsenal may be about to repeat their Declan Rice trick with another target in the summer.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Brentford striker Ivan Toney could be leaving the Bees in the summer, and Arsenal, alongside several other Premier League clubs, are still “monitoring him closely.”

The good news for the Gunners is that Plettenberg has revealed that his new price is in the region of £30m to £40m, which is considerably cheaper than the £100m reported before and during the January transfer window.

However, the bad news is that to get their man, the north Londoners will have to wrestle with Chelsea and West Ham United, among other unnamed top-flight sides.

He might not be the big-name striker Gooners are craving, but at a potential price of £40m, it seems like an offer too good to turn down, especially when comparing his goal record to Jesus’ from last season.

How Ivan Toney compares to Gabriel Jesus

Now, the first thing to say is that if Arsenal were to complete this deal, it would mirror the signing of Rice last summer in the sense that they would be going to a fellow London club who are below them in the league and poaching their best player.

Moreover, if the Englishman can reproduce the form he showed for Brentford last season, he could have a similarly seismic impact on the Gunners.

That said, how does the former Newcastle United gem compare to the man he’d likely replace in the team, Jesus?

Well, this season is a hard one to make direct comparisons with, as the 28-year-old missed a significant portion of it due to an eight-month betting-related ban, but when comparing their records from last year, there’s only one winner.

In his 33 appearances for the Gunners, the former Manchester City ace scored 11 goals and provided seven assists, meaning he achieved an impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.83 games in red and white. However, the Brentford man did even better.

Appearances

35

33

Goals

21

11

Assists

5

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.74

0.54

In his 35 games last season, the Northampton-born “monster,” as manager Thomas Frank dubbed him, scored a whopping 21 goals and provided five assists. This means he achieved a seriously impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.34 games for a significantly weaker side.

Ultimately, there is a slight risk present due to his time out of the game, but if Arsenal can secure the Englishman’s signature for £30m-£40m, they absolutely should, as having a poacher of his calibre in the team could be the difference between winning the league next season and finishing runners-up.

Arsenal leading race to sign £69m Gabriel upgrade ahead of Chelsea

The exceptional talent could help further improve the Gunners’ biggest strength.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 11, 2024

Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano has provided a significant contract update regarding a “fabulous” Manchester United player.

Man Utd transfer news

This feels like one of the biggest summer transfer windows in United's recent history, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe becoming part-owner of the club and taking control of on-pitch dealings. Sunday's penalty shootout win over Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-finals was another reminder of how flawed this squad is, both in terms of quality and mentality, with the Red Devils coming so close to blowing a 3-0 lead and then heading out of the competition in embarrassing fashion.

New signings are badly needed all over the pitch and Real Madrid cente-back Nacho has emerged as a surprising target this summer, with the Spaniard now 34 years of age. He remains a good player, but supporters are unlikely to be enamoured if he is seen as a key man, given his age.

Thankfully, younger players have also been linked with switches to Old Trafford, however, and Juventus defender Gleison Bremer is also considered a target, having won an average of 2.9 aerial duels across 32 Serie A starts this season.

While new faces are essential for Erik ten Hag, assuming the Dutchman is still in charge at the end of the campaign, it is also vital that certain key men are kept on, and an important update has emerged regarding one such player's future.

Romano shares Man Utd contract news

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano claimed that Kobbie Mainoo remains likely to sign a new deal at Manchester United this summer, with the teenager happy at Old Trafford despite the talks moving slowly: "The conversation is ongoing. It's not something urgent in the sense that, obviously Manchester United already know very well that he has an important contract. So it's not something that has to happen this week or next week.

"But the conversation is ongoing. Man United want Kobbie to be one of the faces of their project, for present and future. From what I understand, also the player is happy there. He believes it's not easy to find that kind of space in any other club around Europe."

Mainoo has to be considered one of the most important players at United already, following a meteoric rise that has seen him become an integral part of his side's midfield.

While the likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen look a long way past their best, the 19-year-old has been a vibrant presence, performing so impressively that he looks a safe pick to make England's Euro 2024 squad, winning the Man of the Match award on his senior debut for his country and being hailed by manager Gareth Southgate.

Ratcliffe must get rid of Man Utd figure who dropped a 1/10 v Coventry

Manchester United’s FA Cup victory over Coventry should be the final straw.

ByMatt Dawson Apr 22, 2024

To lose Mainoo would be a crippling blow for United, but the fact that he seems happy is a massive boost, and given his boyhood ties to the club, he will surely be desperate to become a legend there eventually, helping them return to the top of the English game.