All posts by z3u9t.icu

Liverpool could have been handed the perfect tonic to Jurgen Klopp's impending departure with a potential "world-class" midfielder eyeing up a move to Anfield.

Liverpool slip up but three still to play for

Sunday's 4-3 FA Cup defeat at the hands of Manchester United ensured that Liverpool will not be taking home four trophies in Klopp's final season, but picking up three remains firmly on the table.

They have already bagged the Carabao Cup courtesy of an extra-time winner from Virgil van Dijk against Chelsea, while they sit joint top in the Premier League with Arsenal travelling to take on third-placed Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on March 31st.

Given that at least one of those two sides will have to drop points, it could see Liverpool open up a gap atop the Premier League, or at the very least improve their standing among the top three.

Arsenal

28

20

4

4

46

64

Liverpool

28

19

7

2

39

64

Manchester City

28

19

6

3

35

63

They also stand a strong chance of winning the Europa League, a competition that Klopp is yet to win during his time on Merseyside having lost in the final in his first season in charge. They face Serie A side Atalanta in the last eight before possibly taking on one of Marseille and Benfica in the semi-final, and they could yet face Bayer Leverkusen in the final, with plenty of eyes on Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso.

The German's departure will see plenty of change at Anfield, and it is likely that any new boss will need time to adapt the squad to their own needs. However, they could be handed a boost with one world-class talent considering the switch this summer.

Kimmich considering Liverpool move

That comes in the form of Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who is reportedly open to leaving the Allianz Arena this summer and has been linked with a move to Anfield. Arguably one of the best in his position, the 29-year-old has fallen down the pecking order under Thomas Tuchel and has rarely completed 90 minutes this season.

That has not dented his ability though. Back in 2021, then Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge spoke in glowing terms about the midfielder.

"It is no exaggeration to say that Joshua Kimmich is the very embodiment of world-class. There's only one Joshua Kimmich and we're very glad he plays at Bayern."

But that may not be the case for long. According to Sky Sports Germany and reporter Florian Plettenberg, he is ready for change. So too are Bayern, with a report claiming that the German giants are 'prepared to sell Kimmich this summer if a suitable offer comes in' and that for his part, Kimmich is 'open to discussions with potential buyers'.

With his contract due to expire in the summer of 2025, it could well be a bargain buy for any top club, but not all of them will be able to enter the bidding war. That comes as it is added that "only five top clubs" are under consideration for the 29-year-old, namely Manchester City, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Arsenal.

Of those, Barcelona may be unlikely to finance a move, while Arsenal have already spent in that area, bringing in Declan Rice last summer. Real Madrid also appear well stocked, with Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, all of which could leave Liverpool with a relatively clear run at the Bayern star.

One stumbling block could be his wages, with Kimmich thought to earn around £320,000 per week with the Bavarian side. However, if Liverpool are prepared to stump that sort of money up, they could have a perfect addition for their transition period.

Without the distractions of European football, Ange Postecoglou has had plenty of time to instil his philosophy at Tottenham Hotspur this season.

Even with the departure of the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, Harry Kane, Spurs are in an excellent position to qualify for the Champions League.

This highlights just how impressive the Australian boss has been since joining, especially in regard to how he’s changed the culture at the club, which had become rather toxic in recent years.

Under Postecoglou, the Lilywhites have been particularly impressive in the final third this campaign, only failing to score once all season, with Heung-min Son at the forefront of that, but there’s a star at the opposite end of the field who’s arguably become Spurs’ best player this term.

Heung-min Son’s 23/24 Premier League season

For years, the partnership of Harry Kane and Son has torn Premier League defences apart for fun, with the South Korean scoring 160 goals in 399 appearances for the Lilywhites.

With Kane leaving for Bayern Munich in the summer, the expectation was that Son’s performance would see a slight drop-off, but that certainly hasn’t been the case for the captain.

This season, Son has alternated between a left-wing role and a false nine, thriving over his 26 appearances, scoring 15 goals and providing eight assists, which is a mightily impressive return.

The number 11 is absolutely instrumental to the way Postecoglou’s side plays, with Son registering ten more goal contributions than the next best in the Spurs squad, Richarlison.

However, there’s one player in the squad who has potentially been Spurs’ best player this campaign, especially for his influence at the heart of the backline, with his performance against Luton Town highlighting that.

Cristian Romero’s performance against Luton Town

Spurs’ Argentine rock, Cristian Romero, has been simply superb this campaign, becoming a leader in the side at just 25 years of age.

The World Cup winner has started 24 matches in the Premier League this season, keeping six clean sheets while also being a threat in the final third, scoring on four occasions.

Romero further underlined his importance in the side against Luton on Saturday, where he was completely dominant, earning a 7/10 rating from the Evening Standard.

With the visitors scoring early, the Hatters became content with holding onto their narrow lead, sitting back and attempting to catch Spurs out on the counter-attack.

Clearances

3

Dribbled past

0

Duels won

5/6

Passes completed

92

Pass accuracy

91%

Touches

106

As you can see in the table above, Romero wasn’t provided with an opportunity to showcase that he’s a defensive "monster", as dubbed by journalist Charlie Eccleshare, with three clearances and six duels being his only defensive actions.

However, it was the former Atalanta defender’s ability on the ball that separated him from the rest, taking 106 touches and 92 passes with a remarkable pass accuracy of 91%.

Amazingly, this has just become the norm for the number 17, as displayed by his average rating of 7.30 this season according to Sofascore, and he may just prove to be Spurs’ best player over the campaign if he continues to perform at this level.

With Alisson Becker now back from injury, Liverpool's shock 3-0 defeat against Atalanta in the Europa League could turn out to be Caoimhin Kelleher's final game at the club, with exit links stealing the headlines and the Reds turning their attention towards a replacement.

Liverpool transfer news

The Irishman has stepped up suberly to complete the impossible task of filling in for Alisson during the Brazilian's spell on the sidelines but is likely to drop back down to the bench now that his fellow shot-stopper is back. To sum up Kelleher's unexpected impact, he has now played more games than Alisson this season, rarely looking out of place in the process.

Klopp must drop Liverpool’s 3/10 struggler who was worse than Nunez

The Reds suffered a chastening Anfield defeat in the Europa League vs Atalanta.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 12, 2024

Those performances have attracted plenty of interest from Celtic, however, who have been linked with a move for Kelleher in the last few months. Now, when the summer window swings open, the Bhoys could make a move worth a reported £20m to find their replacement for Joe Hart.

Kelleher's potential exit has signalled Liverpool into action too. According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Filip Jorgensen this season ahead of a possible move to sign the Villarreal shot-stopper this summer.

The 21-year-old has impressed this season and Liverpool aren't the only club allegedly interested, with Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers also reportedly eyeing moves to sign Jorgensen in the coming months. Standing at 6 foot 3, it's no surprise that a goalkeeper of Jorgensen's stature and potential has attracted such interest.

"Revelation" Jorgensen can become new Alisson deputy

For young goalkeepers, there's arguably no one better to learn from currently than Alisson. We've seen how much Kelleher has benefitted from following in the Brazilian's footsteps this season and now Jorgensen could get the chance to do the same.

Just 21-years-old and a towering figure, the Dane certainly ticks plenty of boxes when it comes to becoming a top goalkeeper, but now he must realise the potential that those in La Liga believe he has in abundance. X account La Liga Extra didn't shy away from praising Jorgensen last month.

The only concern with a move to Liverpool would, of course, be playing time thanks to just how good Alisson is. As shown this season though, the 31-year-old isn't injury-free and one knock could quickly create the ultimate opportunity for Jorgensen in the same way that it did for Kelleher in the current campaign.

With change afoot at Anfield, Jorgensen could arrive to instantly become the next shot-stopper to follow in Alisson's footsteps, potentially becoming a long-term solution for Liverpool in the Premier League in the process.

With the Scottish Premiership title race still hanging in the balance, Rangers have turned their attention to handing Philippe Clement a boost away from the pitch, with the Gers now hopeful of putting an end to a frustrating contract saga.

Rangers contract news

As things stand, it's set to be a busy summer of departures at Ibrox, with Leon Balogun, Borna Barisic, Kemar Roofe, Ryan Jack and Jon McLaughlin all among those set to leave as free agents. It's quite the act from those at the club, but one that may leave Clement room to make his mark in his first summer transfer window in charge.

Clement can ease Ridvan blow with Rangers' "surprise" Barisic rival

Clement must make a few changes to his starting XI ahead of the trip to face Dundee…

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 17, 2024

On that front, Rangers have already been linked with permanent moves for Fabio Silva and Oscar Cortes in moves to bolster Clement's attack. The Gers will be hoping to have the lure of champions heading into the summer, but it remains to be seen whether they can force another slip from Celtic and regain any advantage in the title race.

One player who will undoubtedly play a part in that ambition is John Lundstram and Rangers will hope that remains the case. The former Sheffield United midfielder looked on course to leave with contract talks stalling and his deal running out. Now, however, according to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Rangers are hopeful that an agreement can be reached with Lundstram with talks ongoing.

It would be quite the turnaround if the Gers managed to keep hold of Lundstram, with clubs in England still keen, and it also looked as though contract talks were proving to be all too difficult. With time running out, both parties must make their decisions one way or another, especially as Rangers' title fight continues to take unexpected twists and turns against Old Firm rivals Celtic.

Clement added to the confidence regarding Lundstram's future, recently saying: "I'm totally confident about that. There's a lot of love on both sides so then there will be a solution one moment."

"Brilliant" Lundstram is key for Rangers

Whilst several changes are on the cards this summer, Rangers would be wise to do everything in their power to secure Lundstram's future. The experience that he adds could be key for several sides and remains important in the Gers' bid for title success in Scotland.

Having started in all but three of Rangers' Scottish Premiership games this season too, it's clear that Clement sees Lundstram as a crucial part of his side. If he does leave on a free, meanwhile, then the 30-year-old will be one to watch, having earned plenty of praise during his time in England.

Former manager Chris Wilder was among those with nothing but good things to say, once saying: “I’ve got to say…I thought John Lundstram was outstanding when he came on. He’s come out the team for a couple of games. He’s been brilliant for us. His energy levels have dropped down but we’ve got genuine competition and John knows that”.

How to define Tottenham Hotspur's infuriating defeat against arch-rivals Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon? How to define Ange Postecoglou's first campaign at the helm after replacing Antonio Conte at the struggling London club last summer?

Tottenham's narrative is complex and multi-layered, with more depth required than a perfunctory glance at the slide from the fantastic early-season, table-topping form and subsequent inconsistency that has left Champions League qualification dangling by a thread in the final phase of the campaign.

Without question, there is much scope for growth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but there is also a vast stretch of land between the current crop and the coveted location at the forefront of domestic and continental football.

Maybe Tottenham will fail in their bid for a place among Europe's elite next year, maybe that's okay. Of course, there's still every chance that Spurs will prevail against Chelsea, against Liverpool, against Manchester City, it's just a tough run to close the campaign.

One of the chief reasons behind the dip in form, or rather the failure to emulate that early-stage brilliance, has been the struggles of James Maddison, who was so influential in his creative performances early on, transferring from relegated Leicester City for a £40m fee last summer.

James Maddison's season in numbers

What better way to start off your journey at a new club than by earning the Premier League's Player of the Month award for August? Thus Maddison had set the tone under Postecoglou, emphatic in lifting the north London side after a terrible 2022/23 campaign that culminated in the sale of Harry Kane.

But an ankle injury suffered against Chelsea in November has kept the 27-year-old away from his finest football ever since, slashing a detrimental blow through the verve that had left Lilywhites supporters giddy.

As per FBref, the Three Lions star ranks among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for passes attempted and the top 1% for progressive passes and shot-creating actions per 90 – evidence, surely, of an elite-level playmaker.

But there's no denying that Maddison has failed to reclaim that blistering pre-injury form that had left the Premier League in a frenzy, with his 3/10 match rating – by football.london – in Spurs' recent loss against the Gunners emblematic of the bitter lapse that sent Spurs' season into a spin.

Spurs 2-3 Arsenal: Player ratings & match recap

Arsenal took on Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

ByMatt Dawson Apr 28, 2024

While Dejan Kulusevski, Brennan Johnson and co have strengths in their wide play, Gareth Bale would have been the ultimate partner for Maddison to fire himself back into his finest form, even more so than had Kane remained at the outfit last summer.

Why Spurs signed Gareth Bale

After a promising start to life on the professional scene with Southampton, scoring five goals and supplying 12 assists across 45 matches as a teenage full-back in the Championship, Bale captured the attention of Premier League heavy-hitters Manchester United and Tottenham, with the latter winning the race and signing the 17-year-old for an initial £5m in May 2007.

Incredibly, Bale proved to have something of a penchant for disaster and failed to win any of his opening 24 matches for Spurs, though he put this ill-fortuned reputation behind him and forged a pathway to the top of the game, shifting to a forward-placed role after his supreme athletic ability and blooming deadliness in front of goal become clear.

Across 237 appearances over two spells with Tottenham, the Wales phenomenon posted 72 goals and 57 assists and established himself as one of the finest forwards in Europe, with his final campaign during his first spell – in 2012/13 – securing a return of 26 goals and 14 assists from 41 matches in all competitions.

21/22

20

11

2

12/13

33

21

8

11/12

36

10

13

10/11

30

7

2

09/10

23

3

5

08/09

16

0

0

07/08

8

2

1

The 34-year-old, now retired, improved with each passing campaign and won the PFA Player of the Year during that last, pre-Spain season in London.

Hailed as "unbelievable" and a "super talent" by Andre Villas-Boas back in 2013, the 111-cap international indeed went from strength to strength at Tottenham and dazzled, through his incredible Champions League performances against reigning champions Inter Milan in 2010/11, his ridiculous rate of prolific form, his frightening pace and power.

Bale has etched his name into Tottenham's halls eternally and while he left when a certain Spanish club came calling, he is remembered as a modern legend down at N17, where he cut his teeth and became one of the standout stars of his generation.

Why Spurs sold Gareth Bale

Tottenham sold Bale to Real Madrid in 2013 for a world-record £85m fee, eclipsing the previous record that saw Los Blancos bring Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish capital from Manchester United in 2009, making a jaw-dropping 750% profit on the one-time outlay that Daniel Levy granted to bring the teenage talent to the side.

It was a staggering transfer but not without full merit, with the Welshman proving his worth as one of Europe's best with his performances at Tottenham and fully deserving a shot at Real, one of the most prestigious and illustrious outfits in the world.

Reports suggested that Manchester United were hellbent on signing Bale after that initial failure to land their man, way back when, though Spurs supporters' pains were spared when he headed overseas, a move that proved auspicious for him.

Having retired at a relatively early age, Bale can rest with a stunning trophy cabinet at Real Madrid that saw him plunder five Champions League titles, three La Liga trophies and one Copa del Rey, among a host of other honours.

European football expert Zach Lowy outlined the facets that have left this wonderful star a true sensation of his time, saying: "Gareth Bale took Wales to the Euros semifinals, took Real Madrid from zero Champions Leagues in 11 years to five Champions Leagues in 8 years, and has just taken Wales to their first World Cup in 64 years. Legend of the game."

While Tottenham's erstwhile maverick didn't enjoy his trophy-laden days at the club, he is truly one of the greatest to play the game, and would be the standout among the current crop, enhancing the games of his peers considerably.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Tottenham fans have been sent into something of a frenzy after two potential summer transfer targets were spotted in north London over the weekend.

Additions needed for Postecoglou

Though Tottenham have defied plenty of expectations this season in the wake of losing Harry Kane over the summer, they are clearly still in need of new faces.

The Lilywhites side suffered a tough period with injuries and they look set to miss out on Champions League football, with Ange Postecoglou's side fifth in the Premier League as it stands, only good enough for the Europa League.

They trail Aston Villa by seven points, and though they have two games in hand on their rivals for fourth place, they face Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea in their final five games in a tough end to the season.

Spurs scouts spotted watching 40-goal star but prefer his £33k-p/w teammate

The Lilywhites team were spotted amidst the crowds of spectators.

ByBen Browning Apr 29, 2024

It means that they will likely have to settle for Europa League football next season after a season out of Europe, and they will need a bigger squad to be able to compete on all fronts.

Certainly, cover at left-back is essential, while a midfielder also features high on the Tottenham wishlist with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg likely to leave and Oliver Skipp having started just four games so far this season.

There is also the need for another attacker, with a central striker on their radar amid links to Brentford striker Ivan Toney in recent days, a move that would allow Heung-Min Son to return to his favoured wide position.

Tottenham's strikers this season

Richarlison

Heung-Min Son

Starts

17

29

Goals

10

16

Assists

3

9

Minutes per goal

140

155

Shots on target per 90

1.48

1.16

Now, an alternative has been spotted enjoying the hospitality of the North London club.

Teammates spotted at North London derby

That comes as Feyenoord pair Santiago Gimenez and Lutsharel Geertruida were both spotted at the Tottenham Hotspur for the derby defeat on Sunday. Spurs have been strongly linked with the Mexican striker in particular, who has found the net 21 times in 29 Eredivisie outings this season.

Despite having three years still to run on his £29k per week contract in the Netherlands, Gimenez expected to be on the move this summer.

He has come in for praise from all corners, with Feyenoord icon Mario Been dubbing him a "fantastic" player after one particularly impressive performance against Ajax.

"Gimenez truly is fantastic," Been told ESPN. "He hadn't even touched the ball before his first goal, but that was a fantastic finish. Feyenoord have immense goalscoring prowess."

Reports broke last week that Tottenham had made an approach to the Mexican's agents, and this could be seen as the next step in their attempt to win his services ahead of a host of other clubs.

It remains to be seen whether or not it is a race that they win, but it appears clear that Gimenez features highly on their list of potential summer additions ahead of the new season.

Tottenham Hotspur have not had a great deal of luck when it comes to managers in recent history, at least before the arrival of Ange Postecoglou, that is.

Following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino, Daniel Levy turned to José Mourinho, but within less than two years, it was clear that the Special One wasn't quite so special anymore, and after an interim stint from Ryan Mason, fellow Portuguese coach Nunu Espírito Santo was brought in.

Now, while the former Chelsea boss was far from a success in N17, he lasted for at least two seasons.

Whereas, after just a few disastrous months in the job, Nuno was handed his P45; although he did get at least one decision right, as a player he brought in during his short tenure has seen his value soar over the last couple of years.

Pape Matar Sarr's Spurs career

Yes, the player in question is Senegalese midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, who joined Nuno's Lilywhites side in August 2021 for around £15m from Ligue 1 side FC Metz.

The then-18-year-old spent the following season on loan with the French side, where he made 34 first-team appearances, scoring one goal and providing three assists, before joining up with Antonio Conte's Spurs for the 22/23 campaign.

Unfortunately, the incredibly talented midfielder would have to wait until January 1st to make his first-team debut under the Italian's watch.

He came off the bench in a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, but just two weeks later, he would make his full debut, starting at the base of midfield in the North London Derby.

In all, he ended the campaign with 14 appearances for the senior side, in which he registered his first assist, and while the club were in a sorry state off the back of Conte's sacking, he was a glimmer of hope for fans to hang onto.

Season

22/23

23/24

Appearances

14

34

Goals

0

3

Assists

1

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.07

0.17

This year, under the progressive tutelage of Postecoglou, the 21-year-old has become a far more regular fixture in the team. With one game left this season, he has made 34 appearances for the Australian, in which he has scored three goals and registered three assists.

The club were so impressed with the youngster's ability that they offered him a brand new £70k-per-week contract in January that'll keep him in N17 until June 2030.

So, thus far, the Thiaroye-born gem is proving U23 scout Antonio Mango correct in his assertion that he's "so good at football it's frightening."

Understandably, this incredible form and promise have seen the midfielder's valuation balloon recently, and as things stand, he's worth more than some outstanding players.

Pape Matar Sarr's valuation in 2024

According to CIES Football Observatory, Sarr is now worth €50m, which is around £43m, or £28m more than he cost Spurs in 2021.

1

Pape Matar Sarr

€50m

£15m

2

James Maddison

€40m

£40m

3

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

€30m

£15m

4

Rodrigo Bentancur

€20m

£21m

4

Oliver Skipp

€20m

Academy

5

Yves Bissouma

€15m

£25m

5

Giovani Lo Celso

€15m

£42m

If that wasn't good enough, his new valuation also makes him the club's most valuable midfielder and means, notably, he is worth more than Son Heung-min and Leandro Trossard.

The Lilywhites captain is currently priced at €30m – £26m – by CIES, while the Gunners' Belgian goalscorer is valued slightly higher at €40m, which is £34m or still £9m less than the Senegalese international.

Appearances

35

45

Goals

17

17

Assists

9

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.74

0.42

This price discrepancy likely isn't down to the wingers' performance this season, as the South Korean has racked up 17 goals and nine assists in 35 games, while the former Brighton & Hove Albion man has 17 goals and two assists in 45 matches, but more about their ages.

For example, Son is currently 31, and Trossard is set to turn 30 this year, so regardless of how effective they currently are, they lack much resale value as, within a few years, their output will start to drop noticeably, as explained by The Athletic's dive into the age players peak depending on position, and for wingers, it's 26.

Ultimately, Spurs have a real diamond of a player in Sarr, and while he isn't quite having the impact on games that his captain is at the moment, his importance to Postecoglou's system is only likely to grow, and his soaring valuation is just a reflection of that.

Spurs eyeing dream Son partner who's 'one of the best players in the PL'

The incredible talent could thrive in Postecoglou’s system.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 13, 2024

Manchester United are FA Cup Champions for the 13th time! They beat bitter rivals Manchester City 2-1 at a sunny Wembley stadium, to win the iconic competition once again and end the season on a high note.

First-half goals from academy graduates Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo were enough to get United over the line, despite a late scare after Jeremy Doku pulled one back for City in the 87th minute.

Garnacho was somewhat gifted his goal, following a lapse in communication between Stefan Ortega and Josko Gvardiol. The youngster pounced on the loose ball after some good pressure and simply passed it into an open net 30 minutes in.

It was just nine minutes later when Mainoo doubled his side’s lead, capping off a delightful move which included an inch-perfect long pass by Marcus Rashford and a first-time, no-look assist courtesy of Bruno Fernandes. Mainoo slotted cooly past Ortega before celebrating in front of the Man City fans.

United withstood the pressure piled on by City, with Andre Onana making some superb saves to deny Kyle Walker twice. Although he should have stopped Doku’s effort going on, United held on to win the cup.

There were some stellar performances across the board from United, particularly in midfield, where one of their young stars ran the show against City.

Kobbie Mainoo's game vs Man City in numbers

There were many viable contenders for the official Player of the Match award, but Mainoo was the man who claimed the prize. Aside from his wonderful goal, he put in an excellent performance across the board, and his award was more than justified.

As per Sofaccore, Mainoo’s 31 touches included a completion rate of 84% of his passes on that hallowed Wembley turf, a total of 21 out of 25. He also completed his sole dribble of the game and made one, vital clearance. Plus his winning goal. It was a pivotal performance.

It was such an impressive performance that The Manchester Evening News’ Chief United writer Samuel Luckhurst gave the 19-year-old a 9/10 for his efforts at Wembley. He noted how Mainoo 'capped a wonderful six months' during his first full season with United’s first team.

Indeed, it could be the start of a summer to remember for the young midfielder. He is part of England’s 33-man training camp for Euro 2024 and seems destined to make the squad in the summer. It certainly feels like we are witnessing the start of a legendary career.

Bruno Fernandes' game vs Man City in numbers

Perhaps even better than Mainoo on the day was United’s captain, Fernandes, whose match-winning assist to set up the 19-year-old England international was sublime. The perfectly waited, first-time ball into Mainoo was impressive enough, but he did it without looking; a dream assist in an FA Cup final.

Fernandes actually received one less rating than Mainoo got from Luckhurst, just an 8/10 for the United captain. He explained Fernandes’ performance kept up with 'his status as Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year', and described his pass to Mainoo as 'exquisite'.

It is safe to say that Fernandes’ stats reflected his wonderful performance at Wembley. He has 52 touches of the ball, winning all five of his tackles and an impressive eight of his 11 duels. Most importantly though, Fernandes’ creative influence shone through, creating five chances and one big chance, as well as registering his assist for Mainoo.

Player

Amount

Fernandes

5

Gvardiol

5

Rodri

2

Bernardo Silva

2

Foden

2

Doku

2

Alvarez

2

It was the perfect end to the season for United’s Player of the Year, continuing his fine late-season form into the biggest day on United fans’ calendars in 2023/24. His focus will now turn to helping Portugal lift Euro 2024.

If that really was Erik ten Hag’s last game as United manager, it was the perfect way to go. He has now won two trophies in his two seasons in charge. He said it himself at full time; winning trophies, “it’s what I do”.

Man Utd can forget McKenna with 4-2-3-1 boss who's "always liked" Rashford

There could well be a change in the dugout at Old Trafford…

ByJoe Nuttall May 25, 2024

As Eddie Howe and Newcastle United look to strengthen their squad depth this summer, they've been linked with a fresh face to hand their side an exciting attacking boost in the transfer window.

Newcastle transfer news

Newcastle aren't wasting any time this summer. Already, it looks as though Lloyd Kelly is on his way upon the expiry of his current Bournemouth contract, whilst Tosin Adarabioyo could also complete a similar move at the end of his Fulham deal. The two defenders could be just the start of a busy summer for the Magpies, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season.

Howe could bin Longstaff in Newcastle swoop for "immense" £30m award-winner

The player has produced an excellent campaign in 2023/24.

ByEthan Lamb May 31, 2024

It's not just their backline that those at St James' Park need to upgrade though, especially if Miguel Almiron does leave in the coming months. The winger hit new heights in the 2022/23 season, but failed to return to such form this season to hand Newcastle a fresh problem going forward.

Now, in search of rediscovering that quality, the Magpies have reportedly turned to a fellow Premier League side and a winger who earns a reported £45k-a-week at his current club.

According to L'Equipe, Newcastle have expressed their interest in Bryan Mbeumo ahead of a potential move to sign the Brentford winger this summer. Mbuemo was a standout in the absence of Ivan Toney for the majority of the campaign until he suffered an untimely injury blow. Nonetheless, it seems as though that form was enough to attract Newcastle, who are also reportedly joined by Liverpool in their interest.

With doubts over the future of Almiron and the winger struggling to replicate the form of last season, Mbeumo could step in to offer Newcastle the ultimate upgrade in the summer transfer window.

"Brilliant" Mbeumo can replace Almiron

Still just 24 years old, Mbeumo is entering his prime, which makes now the perfect time to leave Brentford and complete a big move elsewhere. Whilst the attention has been on Toney's future, it is the Cameroon international who could steal the headlines in deserving fashion this summer to become Newcastle's Almiron replacement.

Goals

9

3

Assists

6

1

Key Passes

32

24

Take-ons Completed

26

23

Those at Newcastle will be hoping to see Mbeumo end his current St James' Park record if he does complete a move, however, given that he's never won there with Brentford in a frustrating run for the winger.

That record aside, however, Mbeumo is a player on the up and one who has been recognised by Brentford boss Thomas Frank in the past, who said via FourFourTwo: "It’s brilliant I must say. He’s been brilliant for us this year in the Premier League. He came back from a minor injury, we knew that he wanted to play ready for Tuesday. And three quality finishes, very composed.”

Ipswich Town won't want to completely lose their identity heading up to the Premier League, with the Tractor Boys an absolute joy to watch last season in full flow.

The likes of Leif Davis were unstoppable at points for Kieran McKenna's men marauding forward, helping himself to a staggering assist haul of 21 in total, but the Suffolk outfit will know that the step-up in quality means they'll have to be tougher at the back.

Ipswich were a leaky side last campaign despite their promotion heroics, conceding 16 more goals than Championship title-winners Leicester across the 46-game season, and that could be why they're being linked with a number of new defensive recruits.

Ipswich looking at 6 foot 1 rock

According to football journalist Graeme Bailey, Ipswich Town are considering signing former loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer but will face stern competition to land his services.

The 6 foot 1 centre-back, who is currently on the books at Celtic as a key cog under Brendan Rodgers, is also being eyed up by London-based duo West Ham United and Fulham this transfer window, as per Bailey, with the Scottish side adamant that they will aim to keep hold of their star 26-year-old despite all this interest heating up.

This could mean Ipswich are now hunting the signature of Carter-Vickers down over exploring a deal for Joe Rodon, who they have also been heavily linked with this transfer window, as McKenna tries to strengthen his side's porous defence ahead of their voyage up to the Premier League.

Opening the season now facing off against Liverpool and Manchester City will no doubt leave those at Portman Road anxious about how many goals they could potentially ship, with Carter-Vickers' signature likely to shore up the Tractor Boys at the back, to try and keep their heads above water in the top-flight.

How Carter-Vickers compares to Joe Rodon

Whilst Rodon is a hot property at the moment, and rightly so after an electric season on loan in the Championship with Leeds, Carter-Vickers would also arrive in Suffolk with plenty of hype attached to his name.

Winning seven trophies in total now for the Bhoys since joining at the start of the 2021/22 season, with two inclusions in the Scottish Premiership Team of the Season along the way, the towering defender could now see this as the perfect opportunity to move on and to prove himself in the top English division.

Games played

25

43

Goals

1

0

Assists

1

0

Touches*

92.8

83.7

Accurate passes*

77.0 (91%)

66.0 (91%)

Interceptions*

0.6

1.2

Tackles*

0.8

1.1

Ball recoveries*

5.7

4.2

Clearances*

3.4

4.5

Head-to-head with Rodon across the last season, Carter-Vickers goes up against the current Tottenham Hotspur man valiantly, bettering him in certain areas, even in spite of having an injury-heavy last season for his Glasgow-based employers.

The USA international will also feel there's unfinished business for him in the Premier League, having never made appearance in the top division for Spurs, when he was still on the roster of the North London club as a promising gem for the future.

Once tipped for great things at Spurs though, with ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino even declaring that a younger Carter-Vickers had the potential to be "one of the best centre-backs in England in the future", Carter-Vickers will sense that this is finally his moment to shine in England, after being offloaded to Celtic for around the £6m mark in 2022.

Coming into the side potentially to add numbers, battling it out with the likes of Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess in the heart of defence, McKenna would be over the moon if this move got over the line.

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