All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Newcastle United find themselves racing to sign a centre-forward and could now be set to up the ante for a star with proven Premier League experience, according to a report.

Newcastle United continue search for new strikers

Unfortunately, Manchester United have won the race to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko after a battle with the Magpies for his signature that has ended in a £74 million move to Old Trafford, subject to medical checks.

David Ornstein confirmed that Sesko won’t be joining Newcastle, but the reporter has shared some good news, revealing that Porto’s Samu Aghehowa is high on the Magpies’ radar, while Keith Downie reports that Brentford’s Yoane Wissa could be on his way to Tyneside for a fee of around £35m.

Speculation over Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson’s departure to West Ham United has left a couple of voids to be filled in the North East, and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson could also head to Newcastle as his career trajectory takes another turn. Either way, cards may start to fall once Isak’s future is resolved amid heavy interest from Liverpool.

Newcastle open talks to sign "fantastic" midfielder who's keen on SJP move

Eddie Howe has already approved…

3 ByTom Cunningham Aug 7, 2025

Plenty of options are available to Howe with the window now coming into it’s final stretch and he may now have turned his attention to another forward who is creeping up the estimations of the Geordies’ recruitment team at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United want to sign striker loved by Alan Shearer

According to Craig Hope of The Daily Mail, Newcastle have Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jorgen Strand Larsen near the top of their shortlist as they search for a new striker.

Despite only making his move to Molineux permanent this summer for £23 million, the Magpies are impressed by his character and exploits last term for the Old Gold in the Premier League.

Jorgen Strand Larsen’s record for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

38

Goals

14

Assists

5

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer is an admirer of Strand Larsen and previously said about his performance against Ipswich Town back in April: “He was a nuisance. His hold-up play was excellent and I thought his touch and his control were superb.”

Indeed, the Wolves star’s closest statistical match is none other than Chris Wood, as per FBRef, due to both players outperforming their expected goals and dominating aerial duels. The Denmark international directed 34 of his 54 shots taken on target in the Premier League last term and is now creeping up their list of potential options after missing out on a deal for Sesko.

Previous talk of a price-tag sitting at £65 million has been dismissed, so it remains to be seen if Newcastle can advance into pole position to bring the talented striker to St James’ Park before the end of the window.

Tottenham face-off against Man City in the Premier League this afternoon, and off the field, both clubs have been chatting over winger Savinho.

Today’s clash at Eastlands has been tipped as an opportunity for Lilywhites chiefs to hold more face-to-face talks with City officials over a deal for the Brazil international, coming after Spurs’ already well-documented pursuit of him.

Thomas Frank’s side have seen a bid worth just over £40 million rejected, according to Savinho’s agent, Frederico Moraes, but the player’s camp are in London right now attempting to facilitate discussions as Savinho eyes a move to north London.

The former Girona star, who will play no part today due to injury, is believed to be very keen on joining Spurs as he looks to become a Premier League mainstay ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Daniel Levy, technical director Johan Lange and CEO Vinai Vinkatesham are still dusting themselves off from the public humiliation of missing out on Eberechi Eze, with the 27-year-old coming as their second failed playmaker deal of the window after Morgan Gibbs-White.

In response, reports from Brazil suggest that Tottenham are really pushing the boat out to sign Savinho, with Levy even preparing a club-record £69 million bid.

However, City’s stance thus far is that he’s not for sale, with Pep Guardiola even publicly stating that he wants Savinho to remain in Manchester for many years.

If their move for the South American hits a brick wall, journalist Pete O’Rourke has told Football Insider that Tottenham have identified a “cheaper” alternative.

Tottenham identify Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche as "cheaper" Savinho alternative

O’Rourke claims that Spurs see Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche as that man, coming after the 23-year-old bagged seven goals and 12 assists in all competitions last season.

Other media sources believe that the Frenchman, who won silver with France at the 2024 Olympic Games, could be available for just under £50 million – so Levy will still need to pay a considerable fee.

Akliouche is no stranger to the big occasion, though, with the winger putting in some impressive Champions League performances last season, including the opening goal in Monaco’s 2-1 win over Barcelona.

Chelsea are believed to still be active in the summer transfer market, despite having just shored up their attacking line with two deals for Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho and Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte.

23 transfers, 24 if you count Buonanotte, have been conducted by Chelsea – and that’s not even including their various outgoing loan deals for the likes of Marc Guiu and Aaron Anselmino.

BlueCo’s hustle in the market has yielded over £300 million in player sales with around £320 million spent on new signings, with Enzo Maresca’s side registering a net-spend of just £20 million as they navigate PSR excellently.

Joao Pedro

Noni Madueke

Jamie Gittens

João Félix

Jorrel Hato

Djordje Petrovic

Liam Delap

Lesley Ugochukwu

Dario Essugo

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Mamadou Sarr

Renato Veiga

Estevao

Armando Broja

Kendry Paez

Carney Chukwuemeka

Alejandro Garnacho

Mathis Amougou

Facundo Buonanotte

Basir Humphreys

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Marcus Bettinelli

Christopher Nkunku

Alfie Gilchrist

Exits for Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Mathis Amougou and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have made room for the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens and Jorrel Hato, but if Chelsea want to register Garnacho and Buonanotte for their Champions League squad next season, more sales could be required.

This is especially the case if Maresca wants to include Barcelona star Fermin Lopez, who is now a top target for Chelsea heading into deadline day after they missed out on Xavi Simons to Tottenham.

The Spaniard has become a key player for Hansi Flick, bagging eight goals and 10 assists in 46 total appearances last season, and Chelsea are believed to be trying their luck to sign him.

Reports suggest Maresca has been in contact with Lopez personally, and Chelsea are prepared to offer Barça a maximum of around £50 million for the player, not to mention a lucrative contract worth £250,000-per-week, but the player’s club want £60m (Sport).

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea have even made a £40m bid for Lopez, but Barça are not keen on selling and must rely on the player’s decision to force through a transfer – unless they trigger his seismic £433 million release clause, of course.

Chelsea "working tirelessly" to sign Fermin Lopez after Facundo Buonanotte

As per TEAMtalk, Chelsea are “working tirelessly” to convince Lopez to join them, even after their deal for Buonanotte.

The Blues are ready to offer him a “lucrative” long-term contract, as previously reported, and personal terms aren’t expected to pose any issue in this potential deal.

While Barça are a roadblock, Chelsea appear to be doing all they can on the player front.

TT sources also claim that Lopez is warming to the idea of a Stamford Bridge move, but is yet to fully commit to the idea. The 22-year-old has emotional ties to Barça, having grown up as a lifelong fan, and he’s publicly denied notions he would leave this summer.

That being said, players can pull U-turns, and the prospect of a Premier League move is enticing for any athlete at any level.

David de Gea will go down as one of Manchester United’s greatest-ever goalkeepers in their history – undoubtedly exceeding all the expectations placed on him after joining in the summer of 2011.

The Spaniard racked up 545 appearances for the Red Devils over a 12-year period, subsequently keeping 190 clean sheets – the most by any player in their history.

He also won five major trophies, including a Premier League title in his second year at the club, with Ruben Amorim wishing he was able to rely on such a talent in 2025.

Former boss Erik ten Hag decided in the summer of 2023 that the player was no longer part of his plans, subsequently releasing him at the end of his contract at Old Trafford.

Such a decision was an unpopular one with the fanbase, even more so a couple of years on, after the performances of the player who was brought into the club to replace him.

Andre Onana’s time at Manchester United

In the summer of 2023, United forked out a fee in the region of £47m to sign goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan, with the Cameroonian seen as the player to take the club up a level.

However, his spell in Manchester has been nothing short of a disaster, contributing to nine errors leading to goals – the most of any player in England’s top-flight since his arrival.

He’s not been used in any of the Red Devils’ Premier League outings so far this campaign, with his only outing coming in the Carabao Cup second round defeat to League Two side Grimsby Town.

The Cameroonian was arguably at fault for both of the Mariners’ goals, before being unable to prevent the hosts from claiming a shock victory in the penalty shootout.

Senne Lammens has been brought in to provide added competition between the sticks, but the hierarchy have already sanctioned the departure of their Onana upgrade.

The former United star who is an upgrade on Onana

Alongside Onana, Altay Bayindir is also another option on the books for United, subsequently filling the void left by the Cameroonian since the start of the new campaign.

The Turkish shot-stopper has made three league appearances to date, conceding four times, only achieving a 55% save percentage, leading to their recent addition of Lammens.

However, despite the three options currently at Amorim’s disposal, he certainly would’ve benefitted had the hierarchy kept hold of Dean Henderson a couple of years ago.

After climbing through the ranks at Old Trafford, the ‘keeper was sent on various loan spells – with his latest being at Nottingham Forest during the 2022/23 campaign.

Whilst he kept six clean sheets at the City Ground, it wasn’t enough to catapult himself into the first-team setup – subsequently joining Crystal Palace in a £20m transfer in the summer of 2023.

Such a transfer has come back to bite the Red Devils, with the Englishman taking his career to the next level at Selhurst Park with regular game time in the last few seasons.

When comparing his stats to those of Onana from last season, he massively outperformed the United flop in key areas – not to mention winning double the amount of trophies too.

Games played

38

24

Saves made

2.7

2.5

Clean sheet percentage

29%

26%

Save percentage

70%

66%

Short pass accuracy

99%

98%

Errors leading to goals

0

6

Defensive actions (outside box)

1.1

0.6

Trophies won

2

0

Henderson, who’s been described as “incredible” by one analyst, made more saves per 90, whilst also producing a better clean sheet percentage rate – subsequently offering a more consistent option between the sticks.

His dominance is further reflected in his higher pass completion rate, whilst also registering fewer errors leading to goals – numbers which could provide a more reliable option for the Red Devils.

To rub salt into the wounds, his price has soared since his departure, with FootballTransfers now valuing the former academy graduate at £25m – a figure higher than the one they sold him for two years ago.

Given his form away from Old Trafford in recent times, it’s safe to say the club made a mistake in allowing the shot-stopper to depart the club – with their loss now Palace’s gain.

The Red Devils have spent a whole heap of cash trying to replace De Gea in recent years, but it’s evident that they would’ve been better off keeping hold of Henderson.

Sold for £5m: Man Utd must rue selling £43m star who'd get Sesko firing

Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one player to depart Old Trafford in recent times.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 5, 2025

On Sunday afternoon, Alexander Isak will sit on the bench at Burnley’s Turf Moor. Perhaps he will be introduced in the second half, playing 20 or 30 minutes of football for his new club, Liverpool.

The main thing is that Liverpool prevailed in their summer-stretching bid to sign Newcastle United’s talisman, completing the highly-charged transfer on deadline day for a British-record £125m fee, not long after the Reds had broken the previous record when signing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m.

Liverpool’s summer spending spree was conducted with the view from the FSG offices that it would be something of a one-off, a remarkable statement of strength that would secure Anfield’s future for many years to come.

And though some felt the deal was somewhat unnecessary after Hugo Ekitike joined from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the summer, it was absolutely right that Liverpool pushed hard to land the signature of one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards.

How Isak compares to Premier League strikers

Liverpool spent more this summer than any team had spent before across a single transfer window, and now Arne Slot’s side are expected to deliver: they must defend their Premier League title; they must battle against the continent’s finest for a seventh Champions League triumph.

Isak will help in the pursuit of all that. The 25-year-old scored 27 times for Newcastle last season and has emerged over the past few years as one of the best strikers in world football, so intelligent and influential and clinical in front of goal.

Mohamed Salah is known for his success in the final third, but Isak has actually been scoring at a more prolific rate since joining Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022, and the overload of creative quality at Slot’s disposal suggests the Swede will only go from strength to strength on Merseyside.

Erling Haaland

100

88 (0.88)

Mohamed Salah

111

67 (0.60)

Alexander Isak

86

54 (0.63)

Ollie Watkins

115

50 (0.43)

Chris Wood

95

39 (0.41)

Bryan Mbeumo

101

39 (0.39)

However, as already suggested, there are some who maybe feel that a record-breaking bid for Isak was superfluous, especially with Slot already having an Isak-esque talent in the ranks.

Liverpool already sold an Isak-esque talent

Sadio Mane was considered an irreplaceable part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, and he was, but FSG hit the jackpot in signing a positional successor in Luis Diaz, who proved instrumental in winning a horde of silverware across his three-and-a-half years at the club.

A left-sided forward by trade, Diaz was regarded as a “magical” player by the likes of Liverpool reporter Matt Addison, not quite hitting the same clinical heights as Mane before him but still contributing crucially throughout his spell at the club.

And last year was his best of the bunch, posting 17 goals and eight assists across the campaign. While consistent performances as a striker were bound to raise his output, Diaz still played the role extremely well, never goal-hanging and instead adding a dimension to Liverpool’s build-up play and altogether widening the scope for the likes of Salah and Cody Gakpo, who both enjoyed terrific campaigns in front of goal.

Long regarded as one of the most electric and direct wingers in the Premier League, Slot opted to refashion Diaz into a centre-forward last season, with Darwin Nunez toiling in front of goal.

And the results reinforced that decision, just one of a myriad of tactical enforcements that have established Slot as a Premier League champion and “one of the best coaches” in the world, as remarked by analyst Joe Baker.

Isak arrives at Liverpool as an upgrade in regard to being a centre-forward, but Diaz offered something very distinctive, a blend of sharp-paced athleticism and nifty tricks on the ball, all translatable to an unnatural berth at number nine.

After all, Diaz ranked among the top 3% of positional peers in the Premier League last season for non-penalty goals scored per 90, statistics courtesy of data-led platform FBref.

This much-improved focus in the final third, combined with a dynamic approach to the physical side of the game, led FBref to liken Diaz to Newcastle’s Isak, who had been named by pundit Ally McCoist as being “the best all-round centre-forward” in England.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland might have more of a predatory instinct in front of goal, but you can see why Liverpool invested such an effort into signing Isak, who brings more to the table, who will carry something of Diaz’s style of play through the campaign.

Diaz was an immense and perhaps even underrated member of a multi-title-winning Liverpool side, but he appeared to have been pining for a transfer, first looking toward Barcelona and then Manchester City and the Saudi Pro League too, before eventually completing a move to Bayern Munich, where he is thriving.

It’s the news that Pep Guardiola’s side had come close to signing him that perhaps rankles some within the Reds fanbase, with Liverpool proposing to the Sky Blues a scenario in which City signed the Colombia international and Liverpool got Julian Alvarez in return upon realising that Diaz wanted to join their domestic rivals.

Diaz’s desire to leave Liverpool and join a domestic rival underscores a further similarity between his case and that of Slot’s new focal frontman, and let’s just be grateful that he was at least willing to remain at the club and continue to ply dutifully toward the outfit’s goals.

The versatile forward, in any case, served Liverpool extremely well, and though he carried some similarities to Isak, there’s no question that Liverpool fans and those involved at the club will consider the arrival of the Sweden star a significant upgrade and a fantastic deal, even though Isak’s signature came at such a premium.

FSG have already sold Liverpool's homegrown Zubimendi for just £15m

Former Liverpool player is now starring as a deep-lying playmaker reminiscent of Zubimendi.

ByWill Miller Sep 12, 2025

In an attempt to solve one of their biggest problems, Manchester United are now reportedly willing to submit a big-money offer to sign a Real Madrid star in 2026.

Ruben Amorim sack update

Having been handed the benefit of the doubt last season, Ruben Amorim simply had to get off to a good start in the current campaign. After just one win in four Premier League games and a shock Carabao Cup defeat at the hands of Grimsby Town, however, time is running out for the former Sporting Club boss to save his job at Old Trafford.

Reports are now suggesting that he has just three games to turn things around and keep hold of his position. That would mean that this weekend’s clash against rivals Chelsea, next weekend’s trip to face Brentford and then the visit of Sunderland are all must-not-lose games for the Red Devils. Failure to avoid defeat, especially against Brentford and Sunderland, may leave INEOS with no choice but to bid farewell to Amorim.

Whether those reports spark a change in system at Man United is the big question. Amorim was adamant once again last weekend that the problem is not with the system and when asked whether he would change it, he told reporters: “I’m not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man.”

It's not Hojlund: Man Utd let "incredible" Sesko upgrade go for just £16m

Manchester United may now be regretting letting go of one former star who’s better than Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 18, 2025

The solution could, instead, be to bolster his system with further reinforcements, with transfer reports already indicating the big-money target that Man United have set their sights on for 2026.

Man Utd willing to bid £87m for Valverde

According to reports in Spain, Man United and INEOS are now willing to submit an offer to sign Federico Valverde from Real Madrid worth as much as €100m (£87m) in 2026.

The impressive midfielder would be an instant upgrade on Manuel Ugarte and would finally provide Amorim with the technician that he needs to make his double pivot work. Whether the Real Madrid star decides to ditch the Spanish giants for a side in turmoil remains to be seen, however.

Minutes

3,032

1,785

Progressive Passes P90

6.71

3.08

Goals

6

1

Ball Recoveries P90

5.16

6.16

When compared, it’s Valverde’s passing ability and knack for goals that stands out, whilst Ugarte’s struggles to do the same represent why his Man United career is yet to take off.

In the Real Madrid man, United would be signing one of the best midfielders that European football has to offer and those in Spain have been well aware of that for some time.

Full of praise for Valverde, former Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said: “I make the decisions, but the player is always available. He never asks for anything. That is his strength, and that’s why I believe he’s arguably the most complete player in football. He could even play as a center-back without any problem.”

Ruben Amorim stood before Old Trafford at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, and he declared that Manchester United would rise again after a wretched year for the club. His promise was couched in specific terms.

It felt genuine and rousing, but the frustrating start to the new campaign has done little to overturn the issues of last year, with United finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

One step forward, two steps back. However, there have been signs of improvement this season. Namely, much has been made of the Red Devils’ chance creation, underperforming right now in front of goal.

Man United

7

11.8

Man City

14

11.3

Crystal Palace

8

11.2

Brighton

9

10.3

Chelsea

11

9.9

Still, this points toward potential success in the final third, and perhaps vindicates Amorim’s decision to get rid of the controversial ‘bomb squad’.

Why Amorim got rid of the bomb squad

Amorim’s decision to axe a number of Man United players pushing for moves away was an understandable decision, but one which indeed came with more than a measure of notoriety.

Comprised by Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Jadon Sancho, INEOS have succeeded in offloading, permanently or otherwise, 80% of that fodder, with recent news telling the story of Malacia’s reintegration into the United fold.

Amorim has been working tirelessly toward creating a new culture at the Theatre of Dreams, a hothouse for player development and success on the field. There have been a few bumps in the road to put it mildly, but he continues to work toward this goal.

The departure of Rashford, who has joined Barcelona on loan after falling out of favour under Amorim and spending a spell with Aston Villa last term, stings most of all. His United career has been punctuated with immense bursts of form, but also many frustrating moments.

Treble winner Teddy Sheringham even made the unflinching remark that the Three Lions man has earned “a step up that he hasn’t deserved”.

However, few could deny Rashford has earned his flowers across these opening months in Catalonia, two goals and five assists across nine matches in all competitions.

Likewise, Antony and Garnacho and Sancho won’t be remembered too fondly, with a mix of high salaries, high transfer fees and high expectations, leaving a bitter taste indeed.

Perhaps it’s an indication of the scale of the rebuild required at Man United that Amorim might need to turn a new variation of the bomb squad away. Indeed, there are a number of first-teamers who must be axed from the first team.

Man Utd's new bomb squad

Manchester United are still performing below expectations and below the ostensible level they are capable of. Signings such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha spoke of a promising strategy from INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but there are still too many stragglers.

Some stars have been at the club for too long and need to be shipped out so as to reshape and redefine this team. There are three in particular, of a defensive persuasion, who cannot wear the Red Devil shirt this time next year. Having played a combined 760 appearances for the club, enough football has been played for a decision to have been made: they need to go.

Harry Maguire, at least, is out of contract at the end of the season, and so will likely be bid farewell and allowed to venture off for a new chapter. However, Luke Shaw is in the penultimate year of his contract, and he’s not pulling his weight.

Man United’s wage bill is a mountainous thing. Fourth in the standings is Maguire, whose £190k-per-week pay packet is possibly not an accurate reflection of his quality, of his role in the Old Trafford system.

Likewise, the £150k-per-week Shaw’s once-prodigious potential has been eroded by injuries, so many injuries. A shame, for he was once billed for greatness and has still played a solid part over the past decade, but the 30-year-old operates as a left-sided centre-back in Amorim’s system, and there’s an upgrade out there, for sure.

Then, at a lesser cost to the club, but still a sizeable drainage, is Diogo Dalot, who earns £85k per week and has had his ups and downs in Manchester, but is also at odds in Amorim’s set-up.

The Portuguese international’s contract expires in 2028, but given that he is only 26 years old, there are surely suitors out there who would pay to take him off INEOS’s hands. Last season, YouTuber AliceTalksFooty claimed the full-back had “fallen off a cliff”, so poor was his form.

As Amorim continues to piece together a fluent and sustainable system at Man United, perhaps it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world to get rid of these defenders, all long-serving stars and all epicentral to the turmoil at the club.

These defenders, moreover, make up about 14% of Man United’s towering wage structure, a total of £425k per week, and that’s a sizeable amount which could be applied to new additions, strengthening key areas and shrewdly bringing over more defensive additions for cheaper fees and on lesser salaries, as is Racliffe and technical director Jason Wilcox’s objective.

While Rashford, Garnacho and co are all talented players, Amorim is ultimately the one in charge, and he felt that cutting out deadwood who weren’t fully committed to the cause was for the greater good of his United team.

Maybe the scale is that much larger, and maybe more change is needed if Manchester United are finally going to stop the rot.

Not just Hojlund: Man Utd must rue selling a CF who's outperforming Mbeumo

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one former player to depart Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 3, 2025

Over the years, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side have not been short of superstars. Whether they are homegrown players, like Phil Foden, or brought in from other clubs, both in the Premier League and abroad, the Spaniard has certainly coached some big names.

Foden is certainly one of the players who could fit into that category, and fellow England international Raheem Sterling became one of the best players in the league under Guardiola. Of course, you have the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri who joined from clubs across Europe, and helped bring success to East Manchester.

One of the latest players who falls into this category is certainly Erling Haaland.

Erling Haaland's current market value

The start that Haaland has made to the 2025/26 campaign has been astronomical. There has only been one game in the top flight in which he has not scored. He has completely dominated the Premier League this season.

Let’s look at that from a numerical point of view. The Norwegian forward has played nine games for City across all competitions, and already has 12 goals.

He’s found the back of the net nine times in seven Premier League appearances, with the other three coming in two Champions League games.

The City number nine has carried his imperious form over to the international arena, too. He’s scored nine goals for Norway this season, including back-to-back hat-tricks and five goals in a World Cup qualifier against Moldova.

Guardiola says Haaland’s form is “better than ever” this season, and it is easy to see why. His unstoppable run is also reflected in his current market value, with CIES Football Observatory deeming him to be worth as much as £208m.

However, the 25-year-old is not the only player in the Citizens squad who looks like a £100m talent in the making, reinforcing the fact that Guardiola’s side is still filled with superstars.

Man City star is looking like a £100m player

Haaland is, without doubt, City’s most important player this season. He’s scored nine of their 15 Premier League goals so far, so they would certainly be a lot lower in the table without him leading the line.

At the other end of the pitch, summer signing Gianluigi Donnarumma has made some extremely important contributions.

The Italian goalkeeper joined from Paris Saint-Germain at the back end of the window and has been crucial for Guardiola.

The shot-stopper, who lifted the Champions League with the Parisian side last season, has slotted seamlessly into his new club. Having played six games across all competitions, he’s kept three clean sheets and conceded just four goals.

Saves such as this one from Bryan Mbeumo’s effort show why he will be so important for City. Making his debut in a Manchester derby, the Italian was able to tip wide the Manchester United winger’s strike, which seemed destined for the bottom left corner.

His singing has been a big coup for City. Donnarumma’s consistency for PSG was clear to see with some of his numbers.

He regularly had a save rate in the 70s, with his highest coming in 2023/24, where it stood at 79.1%. In a City shirt, it’s currently at 66.7%.

2021/22 (PSG)

2.9

75.3%

2022/23 (PSG)

3.3

75.2%

2023/24 (PSG)

3.5

79.1%

2024/25 (PSG)

2.3

70.2%

2025/26 (Man City)

1.3

66.7%

One City page over on X, City Chief, said the Citizens have “got a £100m goalkeeper for £25m,” and it certainly feels that way based on Donnarumma’s start to the season.

He has been imperious between the posts for his new side, with his size, reflexes and the way he commands his box making it hard to score past him.

Football scout Antonio Mango once said the former AC Milan star was a “generational” talent. Well, all the evidence this season certainly makes it clear why that is the case. Just like Haaland, Donnarumma has been key to Guardiola in the early parts of the season.

Man City have signed the "best in the world" & he's a new Rodri-type player

Manchester City have a new Rodri-type player in their glittering ranks who is one of the world’s best.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 16, 2025

Some of the best right-backs in today’s game are arguably even better going forward than they are at the back.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi and Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold are viewed as the greatest right-backs currently, however, in generations gone by, we have seen some unbelievable full-backs on the right-hand side.

The Best 15 Right-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

Where does new Real Madrid star Alexander-Arnold rank?

1 ByCharlie Smith Oct 8, 2025

Here is a look at 20 of the greatest right-backs in footballing history, factoring in their longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their team and personal accolades.

20 Maicon

Starting off the countdown is Maicon, one of numerous Brazilian right-backs to be included. Best known for his time at Inter Milan, Maicon looked like a centre-back but had all the power, athleticism and final third product to make him a world-class full-back.

He won the Champions League at Inter Milan as well as lifting four Serie A titles and three Italian Cups, starring under Jose Mourinho.

19 Eric Gerets​

Eric Gerets​ actually began his amateur career as a striker before turning professional with Standard Liege and would end his playing days as one of the best right-backs, recognised by being nominated for the Ballon d’Or on numerous occasions.

Regarded as one of the greatest players in Belgian football history, Gerets ended his career as part of a dominant PSV side, winning six Eredivisie titles in seven years during the 1980s and 1990s, as well as lifting the European Cup.

18 Claudio Gentile

A key part of Italy’s 1982 winning World Cup team, Claudio Gentile’s style of play was no-nonsense, something which saw him have a brilliant 17-year career.

Gentile was anything but gentle in the tackle and has gone down as a Juventus legend, being inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2025.

He was included in the Team of the Tournament in the 1980 Euros and 1982 World Cup, highlighting the impact he made.

17 Kyle Walker

In his prime, there was no getting past Kyle Walker, who is arguably one of the quickest right-backs of all time.

As well as his blistering pace, Walker was solid defensively and got forward regularly, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League at Man City. A key part of Pep Guardiola’s dominant side, Walker also has just under 100 England caps.

16 ​​​​​Dani Carvajal

Real Madrid icon Dani Carvajal may not be the most eye-catching right-back in history, however, his longevity and consistency earn him a place in the top 20.

Lifting an incredible six Champions League titles at the Bernabeu and the Euros with Spain, the Madrid captain is one of the most successful right-backs in history and will rightly go down as a Los Blancos legend.

15 Manfred Kaltz

German right-back and Hamburger SV legend Manfred Kaltz spent over 18 years across the 1970s and 1980s, winning two Bundesliga crowns, two DFB-Pokal titles and the European Cup during his club career.

He lifted the Euros in 1980 with Germany and was known for making an impact in the final third, scoring more than 100 goals in his career.

14 Manuel Amoros

Manuel Amoros won multiple league titles with Monaco and Marseille during his club career, while on the international stage with France, lifted the Euros in 1984.

His career lasted 17 years and his performances rarely dipped, resulting in his winning 82 caps for his country and making 500 club appearances.

13 Wim Suurbier

Dutch star Wim Suurbier helped Ajax dominate European football under Rinus Michels and Stefan Kovacs under the club’s famous Total Football philosophy.

A key member of the side that won three successive European Cups in the 1970s, Suurbier also helped the Netherlands to two World Cup finals and was known for his explosive pace and technical ability.

12 Gary Neville

Although he won’t admit it, Gary Neville was a key part of Man Utd’s dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson and spent his entire career at Old Trafford.

An excellent crosser, Neville was brilliant defensively, winning eight Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, four FA Cups and three League Cups. He made a whopping 600 appearances for United and was capped 85 times by England.

11 Mauro Tassotti

AC Milan legend Mauro Tassotti spent 17 years at the San Siro, winning 19 honours and making just under 600 appearances for the Italian giants.

A member of one of the world’s greatest defences alongside Franco Baresi and Filippo Galli, Tassotti helped transform the right-back role in the 1980s and 1990s, with his attacking qualities being an inspiration for others.

Back in the summer of 2008, very few Tottenham Hotspur fans would have recognised the name of Luka Modrić as the club secured his signature from Croatian outfit Dinamo Zagreb.

The hierarchy forked out a reported £16m, with real hope and expectation on his shoulders to provide the goods in the midfield department in North London.

It’s safe to say his spell with the Lilywhites surpassed the expectations of everyone involved, with Modric going on to feature 156 times during his four years at the club.

However, his incredible displays in the Premier League attracted the attention of Real Madrid during the summer of 2012 – resulting in a £30m switch to the Santiago Bernabéu.

13 years on, the club are still searching for their next version of the Croatian superstar, with current boss Thomas Frank having two youngsters at his disposal who could reach such levels in the years ahead.

Spurs’ most impressive youngsters in 2025/26

Archie Gray may have cost the Spurs hierarchy a pretty penny at £40m, but it appears as though it’s an investment for the immediate and long-term future.

The 19-year-old has already racked up over 50 appearances for the Lilywhites, operating in various different positions such as right-back, centre-back, left-back and his natural central midfield role.

Given his tender age, he likely has a future ahead of him in North London, with Frank already having trust in the teenager to produce the goods – as seen by his start in the Champions League this week.

However, Gray isn’t the only youngster who’s already cemented himself within the new manager’s plans, with Lucas Bergvall thriving with valuable first-team minutes.

The Swede also arrived at the club last summer, with the Lilywhites hierarchy forking out a fee in the region of £8.5m for his signature from homeland club Djurgarden.

Many expected him to originally link up with the youth side, but he rapidly cemented his place in the first-team setup – registering a total of 57 appearances in the last 15 months.

He even netted his first Premier League goal earlier this campaign, scoring the superb 3-0 triumph over city rivals West Ham United at the London Stadium.

Despite showings of the aforementioned duo, one other player currently on their books could prove to be their perfect answer to former fan-favourite, Modric.

The Spurs star who could be their next Modric

As seen by the additions of Gray and Bergvall in recent years, the Spurs hierarchy have shifted their recruitment to land younger talents to decrease the age of the squad.

The current age of the first-team squad is 25.3, making Frank’s side one of the youngest in the division – but it’s not stopped them from making an excellent start to the new season.

His men currently sit in sixth position after eight outings and ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, just five points off pace setters and North London rivals, Arsenal.

However, their investment hasn’t stopped numerous academy talents from thriving and staking their claims for regular roles within the first-team.

Luca Williams-Barnett has already made his senior debut at the age of just 16, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup triumph over Doncaster Rovers back in September.

Numerous of their impressive young talents are currently out on loan, with attacking midfielder Tyrese Hall gaining valuable first-team action at League Two side Notts County.

The 20-year-old has spent numerous years in the youth setup, but he’s taken his first leap into professional football with the Magpies in the 2025/26 season.

Games played

9

Goals & assists

5

Pass completion rate

81%

Chances created

1.2

Successful dribbles

1.9

Shots on target

1.2

Tackles won

3.4

Duels won

6.8

He’s wasted no time in impressing for Martin Patterson’s side, subsequently scoring five times and registering one assist across all competitions to date.

Hall has already netted three match-winning goals during his temporary stint in Nottingham – already cementing himself as a key member of the squad during their promotion push.

As a result of his impressive form in recent years, former Lilywhites star Jermaine Defoe has been singing his praises, claiming that he has a “Luka Modric sort of vibe” to his current playstyle.

Given the jump between League Two and the Premier League, it will certainly take time for the youngster to make his impression on Frank’s first-team squad.

However, his recent form is evidence that he has bags of talent within his game at present, with the midfielder having the chance to prove Defoe right in the coming years.

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