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iShowSpeed was seen leading the celebrations after Al-Nassr’s recent 5-1 win over Al-Fateh, with the streamer’s favourite player, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the second goal in the routine victory.

iShowSpeed in attendance as Al-Nassr demolish Al-Fateh

Al-Nassr continued their perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season on Saturday evening, winning their fifth game on the spin, which leaves them four points clear of nearest rivals Al-Hilal at the top of the table.

iShowSpeed was in attendance, with the American well-known to be a super-fan of Ronaldo, and the forward, who is still regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, rewarded the 20-year-old, scoring Al-Nassr’s second goal of the game on the hour mark.

Gary Lineker named and ranked the greatest players of all time – no Cristiano Ronaldo

Lineker has named his footballing Mount Rushmore.

ByCharlie Smith Aug 2, 2025

After the game, the Twitch streamer was directed to lead the celebrations by the 40-year-old, who instructed him how to play the drum, with the clip subsequently going viral.

It is not the first interaction iShowSpeed has had with his idol, with a video of the two meeting a little over two years ago racking up over 25 million views.

Speed’s love of the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend stems from a £1.79 donation to his stream over three years ago, which has been credited as a life-changing moment for the Cincinnati-born streamer.

With the Al-Nassr star clearly thankful for the support, he has now followed iShowSpeed on Instagram and even posted him on his story to his 666 million followers.

Fans of the duo will be hoping the gesture could lead to a collaboration of sorts in the future, although the streamer, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr, has made it clear he doesn’t want to meet his idol on stream.

Ronaldo at the top of his game ahead of 2026 World Cup

There was an expectation that the 2022 World Cup may be the Portugal star’s last, but he is showing no signs of slowing down, having scored six goals for Al-Nassr already this season, taking his tally to 99 in 112 appearances.

The legendary forward has also continued to impress at international level, most recently bagging a brace in a 2-2 draw at home against Hungary, although his side were denied early qualification as a result of Dominik Szoboszlai’s late equaliser.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s longevity can only be commended, but given that he is now 40-years-old, the 2026 World Cup will surely be the former Real Madrid man’s last opportunity to get his hands on one of the only trophies that has eluded him…

Glasgow Rangers have just over a week left to complete their remaining business before the summer transfer window officially slams shut next Friday.

The Light Blues have added Jefte, Hamza Igamane, Connor Barron, Mohammed Diomande, Oscar Cortes, Vaclav Cerny, Robin Propper, Clinton Nsiala, and Liam Kelly to their squad so far.

There could be further additions to come before the deadline passes, though, after the Gers failed to qualify for the Champions League and failed to win on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership season.

It appears as though Philippe Clement's side still needs more quality to come into the group and they are now reportedly eyeing up a new winger to bring it.

Rangers eyeing swoop for Serie A whiz

According to a reporter in Italy, the Scottish giants have enquired about a deal to sign Fiorentina winger Josip Brekalo before the end of the window.

The journalist claims that the Light Blues have 'asked' for information about the Croatia international, as they look to bolster their options out wide.

Rangers are seemingly eyeing a swoop for the 26-year-old star and this latest update reveals that the player could move on from Fiorentina in the coming days, which suggests that they have a chance to secure his services.

The £34k-per-week wizard has the potential to be an excellent partner for current Gers striker Cyriel Dessers in the final third this season if they can get a deal over the line this month.

Why Brekalo would be a dream for Dessers

The Croatian ace spent the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Hajduk Split in his home country and caught the eye with his impressive attacking displays.

After a return of one goal and zero assists in 11 outings in the Serie A in the first half of the season, Brekalo registered a sensational eight assists in 12 HNL starts for Hajduk Split.

The Fiorentina loanee, who was once hailed for his "lovely" technique by journalist Josh Bunting, completed 1.9 dribbles and made 2.6 key passes per game in the HNL, to go along with two goals.

James Tavernier

3.0

Borna Barisic

1.7

Todd Cantwell

1.7

Ridvan Yilmaz

1.5

John Lundstram

1.5

As you can see in the table above, no Rangers midfielder managed more than Todd Cantwell's 1.7 key passes per game in the Scottish Premiership last term, and three of those players – Cantwell, Borna Barisic, and John Lundstram – are not currently in the first-team squad.

This suggests that Brekalo could come in and be a huge creative presence for the Gers if he can translate his form in the HNL over to the Premiership.

Dessers, therefore, would love the winger as his statistics suggest that the Croatian wizard would create chances for the striker on a regular basis.

The Nigerian marksman scored 16 goals in the Premiership last season and has started the current campaign with three goals in five appearances in all competitions.

Rangers could forget about Hagi in swoop for "terrific" £3k-p/w gem

The Light Blues are in a difficult position with the Romania international this summer.

ByDan Emery Aug 20, 2024

Brekalo arriving at Ibrox (Hampden for now) would provide the centre-forward with another source of creativity to derive goals from in the coming months, which is why they could be an exciting pairing for the Light Blues.

Sunderland are working to re-sign Jordan Henderson and have now made contact over a sensational deal at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland flying high under Le Bris

The Black Cats have made a hugely exciting start to life under Regis Le Bris, with their new manager coming in and hitting the ground running, suggesting that a fantastic season could lie ahead.

With nine games played in the Championship in 2024/25 to date, Sunderland sit top of the table, by virtue of narrowly having a superior goal difference to Sheffield United. It is still early days, and losing Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town was a big blow, but there is every reason to believe that this could be a campaign to treasure.

Sunderland also appear to be making shrewd decisions behind the scenes, with Pedro Ribeiro coming in as Le Bris’ assistant head coach, with the 38-year-old an experienced figure, despite still being a young man in his profession. Kristjaan Speakman has said the Portuguese is “aligned to our values and playing identity”, suggesting he could be ideal for the manager to work alongside.

Meanwhile, former England international Carlton Palmer has urged the Black Cats to seal a sensational reunion with Henderson, with the midfielder starting out at the club before embarking on great things at Liverpool.

Sunderland make contact over Henderson deal

According to an intriguing update from Football Insider, Sunderland now want to seal a “stunning” move for Henderson, bringing him back to the club where he first made a name for himself.

The Black Cats “have made contact over a potential deal” for the 34-year-old, who is now at Ajax, as Le Bris’ side “plan a new-year promotion assault” in the Championship.

This is a massive update for Sunderland, with Henderson such a decorated player since leaving the club in 2011, going on to become a legendary figure at Liverpool.

After a tough start to life at Anfield, the midfielder eventually replaced Steven Gerrard as captain, going on to lift the Champions League and Premier League trophies as skipper, among multiple other pieces of silverware. Back in 2019, Flamengo manager Jorge Jesus even had this to say about him:

“Henderson is the best midfielder in the world in his position. Jurgen Klopp never removes him, but the other two midfielders, Naby Keita and Georginio Wijnaldum, are sometimes replaced.”

While some may feel that that is hyperbole, it still shows the level that Henderson was playing at during his peak, and while his very best days are arguably now behind him, his experience and quality in the middle of the park would be an invaluable addition to Sunderland’s squad.

Sunderland wasted a fortune on Mowbray flop who earned more than Bellingham

Sunderland fans won’t fondly recall this flop’s time at the Stadium of Light.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 11, 2024

It could make all the difference in the spring months, with pressure going up a gear and this young Black Cats squad being tested, with the Englishman playing in the biggest games in the world throughout his illustrious career. The fact that he knows the club so well is an added bonus, meaning he will give his absolute all.

It may have come all too late with regard to Manchester United’s Premier League fortunes, although Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad is beginning to look far stronger, ahead of a pivotal last few weeks of the campaign.

Against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night, the dominant visitors showcased the growing depth to their ranks, with the former Sporting CP boss able to call upon the likes of Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt and, of course, Amad Diallo from the bench.

At one stage looking set to miss the remainder of the season, after being struck down with an ankle injury back in mid-February, the diminutive Ivorian has beaten the odds to seal a swift return to action.

Previously the shining light of 2024/25, prior to being overtaken by Bruno Fernandes in his absence, the 22-year-old has chalked up 12 goals and assists in just 21 games under Amorim’s watch, having even looked lively during his brief cameo in midweek.

The former Atalanta starlet notably evaded his man down the right flank with a breathtaking piece of skill and trickery late on, with that moment alone signifying just what United have been missing in recent months.

Capable of operating at wing-back or in a number ten berth, the £120k-per-week wizard – who recently signed a new long-term deal – looks set to be a mainstay at Old Trafford for years to come. Now it’s time to start building a team around him…

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

If Amad’s future is to lie as a number ten, then the role on the opposite side – should Fernandes slot into a deep-lying berth – could be taken up by Matheus Cunha, with the Wolverhampton Wanderers star seemingly edging closer to a £62.5m move to Old Trafford.

That new-look frontline could then be strengthened even further with the presence of a new centre-forward, with recent reports indicating that the Red Devils remain “in the race” for Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.

As per Sky Sports Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, while it is Arsenal who are “pushing” to sign the prolific Swede, United are among the clubs also battling for his signature, alongside Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Plettenberg, the 26-year-old is able to leave Portugal this summer for a fee between €60-€70m (£51m – £63m), having struck a “verbal agreement” with the Lisbon-based side already.

Previously signed by Amorim from Coventry City on a £17m deal back in 2023, Gyokeres could represent the key to truly kickstarting the new regime in Manchester.

Why Man Utd need to sign the "hottest striker in Europe"

It remains remarkable that the Sweden international was once on the books at Brighton and Hove Albion, yet never actually managed to make a league appearance for the Seagulls, having been sent out on a handful of loan moves during his time at the Amex.

As noted by ESPN’s Mark Ogden, it was actually one-time United director, Dan Ashworth, who oversaw the measly £1m sale of Gyokeres to Coventry in 2021, with the player having since gone on to become the “hottest striker in Europe”.

The in-demand marksman had actually only scored four goals during his initial loan move with the Sky Blues, although as his former teammate Jake Bidwell revealed, he seemingly returned a “different animal” following the completion of his permanent switch.

38 Championship strikes followed over the next two seasons, while Gyokeres has since chalked up a breathtaking total of 95 goals in just 98 games in his current home, including seven across his last two Liga Portugal outings.

A monster. A machine. Whatever you want to call him, the rampaging number nine – who also boasts 15 goals in 26 senior games for his country – is simply devastating right now in front of goal, with it no surprise that Amorim might well be keen on a reunion.

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Erik ten Hag

24

3

3

Ruben Amorim

21

6

6

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

8

1

1

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

2

1

Ralf Rangnick

1

0

0

Michael Carrick

0

0

0

Total

58

12

9

What Gyokeres will need is quality service if he is potentially flourish at the Theatre of Dreams, with Amad – as well as Fernandes – potentially set to prove key in that regard, considering he has averaged 1.8 key passes per game in the league this season, while chalking up six assists, as per Sofascore.

Equally, the one-time Sunderland loanee also has that knack of driving at a defence in order to create space for his teammates, something which could certainly benefit Gyokeres, as he ranks in the top 9% among his European peers for progressive carries per 90.

That desire to make things happen in the final third also ensures that Amad ranks in the top 18% for touches in the opposition penalty box, again ensuring opportunities should arise for those alongside him.

A player who can press from the front with lightning speed, as indicated with his goal against Spurs after charging down Fraser Forster, Amad is simply a player who causes havoc. Someone who sucks defenders toward him.

In truth, having scored just 39 league goals in 2024/25, the Red Devils are crying out for similar talents who can win games on their own. Judging by Gyokeres’ heroics in Lisbon, he certainly fits the bill…

Imagine him & Bruno: Man Utd make £68m bid for "one of the best" talents

Manchester United could be about to land a star who would be perfect alongside Bruno Fernandes.

ByEthan Lamb May 3, 2025

Southampton dramatically progressed to the next round of the EFL Cup after beating Everton in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out last night, handing Russell Martin’s men their first win of the season in what has been a tricky early patch of games.

The Saints would get back into the game during normal time owing to a Taylor Harwood-Bellis equaliser, after Abdoulaye Doucoure – who was captaining the Toffees for the night – had opened the scoring at Goodison Park.

Harwood-Bellis was also donning the armband for the visitors and put in an imposing performance himself, with the ex-Manchester City man standing out at the back for his South Coast side.

Harwood-Bellis' performance vs Everton

Missing from the starting line-up during Southampton’s last Premier League loss to Manchester United, the 22-year-old will now be banging the door down for more first-team opportunities moving forward, after a calm and controlled display against Sean Dyche’s hosts.

Away from helping his team get back into the contest by heading home an effort past stand-in Toffees goalkeeper Joao Virginia in the first half, Harwood-Bellis also notched up a ridiculous 172 touches in the game, as per Sofascore, as Martin’s men dominated the possession at a hefty 74%.

On top of that, the impressive Saints number six also tallied up a staggering 150 accurate passes as a stylish operator on the ball, alongside managing 14 accurate long balls to clear away the danger when Everton looked dangerous.

The towering 22-year-old also held his own in the physical battles that came his way up against the likes of Beto for the home side – who comes in at a frightening 6 foot 4 frame – with four duels won from five in the Tuesday night clash.

That defensive prowess was also showcased as he managed to block two shots and make three interceptions to further keep the Toffees at arm’s length away from Doucoure’s opening strike.

Harwood-Bellis also confidently tucked away his penalty in the lottery of the shoot-out, with Martin now tempted to throw the young defender into the deep-end next in Premier League action, owing to the fact Jack Stephens will also be suspended for his side’s next test in the top-flight.

That might well not be the only change to the defence that Martin will consider, with Charlie Taylor also standing out as a top performer at the back at Goodison Park, who has only been given one cameo in the top league this season to date, after signing for his new South Coast employers in the summer.

Taylor's performance vs Everton

That lone appearance so far for Southampton in the league came at home versus Nottingham Forest, when the Saints boss decided to give the experienced defender a run-out late on in that disappointing 1-0 loss.

Now, he could be clamouring for a starting spot moving forward, even if that means Kyle Walker-Peters would have to be shuffled back out to the right flank temporarily, in order to accommodate for the former Burnley man slotting in.

Stat

Taylor

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches

100

Accurate passes

76/81 (94%)

Key passes

2

Accurate long balls

2/4

Accurate crosses

2/3

Looking at the table above, Taylor was crucial in getting his team back on level terms in normal time, with his cross inch perfect for Harwood-Bellis to head home from.

Moreover, the 31-year-old full-back also amassed an equally impressive amount of touches next to his teammate’s glowing total, managing 100 touches of the ball with 76 accurate passes also registered.

Even if he doesn’t displace Saints’ starting full-backs immediately, Martin will be well aware that his summer recruit can be a useful option to rely upon in crunch games to come, having also accumulated 162 Premier League appearances so far across his playing days.

The Saints boss will hope his side can kick on after this dramatic Tuesday night win and pick up their first points in the top flight soon, with a clash against fellow relegation-threatened outfit Ipswich Town up next.

Meet Southampton's best academy prospect since Ward-Prowse

Southampton are very excited about what this youngster could go on to achieve.

1 ByKelan Sarson Sep 11, 2024

After an opening game that didn't go to plan last Monday, Tottenham Hotspur made amends by blowing Everton away at home on Saturday to pick up their first win of the Premier League season.

Ange Postecoglou's side looked incredible going forward and reasonably solid at the back in a performance that should leave fans feeling encouraged about their prospects over the next ten months.

Alongside club captain Son Heung-min, who scored twice, last summer's £40m man, James Maddison, looked excellent in the middle of the park, picking up an assist and reminding people just how good he can be.

However, with the right players around him, he could reach another level and avoid the collapse in form he suffered last season. Interestingly, the club were linked to a player who'd help unlock the Englishman earlier this summer.

James Maddison's season of two halves

Maddison's arrival in North London last summer was greeted by a massive amount of excitement from the fans, and considering he had just produced 19 goal involvements in 32 games for a relegated Leicester City, it was entirely justified.

Moreover, it didn't take long for the former Foxes ace to show just how talented he was, as in his first ten league games for Postecoglou's new-look Spurs side, he scored three goals and provided five assists and looked as if he'd end the season as a nailed on starter for England and as one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, in the club's shocking 4-1 loss at home to Chelsea in early November, the Coventry-born dynamo suffered an ankle injury that would see him sidelined until the end of January, and while there was an expectation that he'd pick up where he left off for the Lilywhites, that didn't happen.

Appearances

11

17

Goals

3

1

Assists

5

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.72

0.29

In his final 17 league games, the 27-year-old could only muster one goal and four assists, which was a far cry from the form he showed before his injury.

However, in his defence, following that defeat to Chelsea, the team seemed to morph from a lean mean winning machine to one incapable of keeping a clean sheet and one prone to throwing away points, which continued when he came back from injury, making his job far harder than it needed to be.

So, a new tenacious and hardworking midfield partner could be the perfect signing to make before the window closes to help Maddison maintain his impressive start to the season, and the club don't even have to look that hard to find the perfect candidate, as they were linked with him earlier this month: Joao Gomes.

How Joao Gomes could unlock Maddison

Yes, the midfield signing that could help Maddison play to his best ability this season is Wolverhampton Wanderers ace Gomes, who, according to a report earlier this month, was supposedly 'in the sights' of the club.

That report claimed that if Levy and Co wanted to pursue the Brazilian, they would have to stump up around £50m to secure the 23-year-old's signature, and while that's a lot of money, it would be well spent.

For example, one of Gomes' biggest strengths is that while at his best he is an "all action eight", as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, he can also play in the six role if needed, meaning that he would be more than capable of helping out with the defensive work in the middle of the park, thus freeing up the Englishman to focus on happenings at the sharp end of the pitch.

In fact, Mattinson goes on to describe the eight-capped international as a "dog of a ball winner", which makes him sound like the ideal sort of player to ensure Postecoglou's side aren't overrun in midfield, and his underlying numbers only further solidify his defensive attributes.

For example, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the Champions League and the Europa League, the Rio de Janeiro-born ace sits in the top 1% of midfielders for tackles, the top 2% for tackles won, the top 3% for tackles plus interceptions, and the top 7% for blocks, all per 90.

Lastly, the 5 foot 9 international has been playing in the Premier League for a season and a half now and, as such, is far more experienced than some of the alternative options the club could potentially be looking at, so he should come in and hit the ground running.

Ultimately, Spurs cannot afford for Maddison to have another season in which he falls away in the second half, and one way to ensure that does not happen is to sign a tenacious, hard-working, Premier League-proven eight to play alongside him who can do all the dirty work and in turn, help the club maintain an element of control in matches, and Gomes fits the bill perfectly.

Therefore, while it would be an expensive transfer to get over the line, Levy and Co should do what they can to bring the Brazilian to N17 before the window slams shut on Friday night.

Watch out Son: Spurs have discussed signing £34m forward before Friday

The experienced international would be an incredible signing.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 27, 2024

After a topsy-turvy Premier League campaign that saw them ultimately qualify for the Europa League, Tottenham Hotspur must get their recruitment right this summer to help Ange Postecoglou realise his ambitions in North London.

The Australian had the Lilywhites playing some scintillating football at points last year.

Still, a cavalcade of injuries and loss of form towards the end turned what could have been a frankly unbelievable season into a promising one.

Fortunately, reports suggest Daniel Levy and Co have been hard at work in recent weeks looking for the right players to come in and help the club take the next step, and the latest name touted for a move to N17 could do precisely that – oh, and he'd been compared to Bukayo Saka.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from SportMediaset via Calcio Napoli 24, Tottenham target Federico Chiesa will join the club this summer.

The report has claimed that while there was plenty of interest in the talented winger in his homeland this summer, he has opted to move to England and is now "close to Tottenham for 30-35 million euros."

This fee converts to between £25m and £29m, which seems like value for money for a player of Chiesa's quality.

Moreover, while the Spurs' faithful might not be his biggest fans for rivalry reasons, the fact that he has been compared to Saka in the past is certainly not a bad thing.

Why Chiesa would be a great signing and his comparison to Saka

So, before we look at the main reasons why Chiesa would be an excellent signing for Spurs, let's look at his comparison to the talisman of their North London rivals, Saka.

While there are obviously some positional similarities between the two internationals, this comparison stems from FBref, which compared players in similar positions at Euro 2024, created a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and concluded that the Englishman was the ninth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Italian at the tournament.

This was not based on the eye test but more so on how closely the pair ranked for several underlying numbers, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, live passes, completed long passes, touches and touches in the attacking third, and ball recoveries, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.15

0.12

Progressive Carries

4.83

4.43

Live Passes

34.5

36.0

Completed Long Passes

1.72

1.43

Touches

47.6

47.6

Touches in the Attacking Third

26.9

25.1

Ball Recoveries

3.10

3.14

However, this comparison to the England international isn't the only impressive thing about the "unstoppable" wideman, as dubbed by Giorgio Chiellini.

For example, in just 37 appearances last season, the 26-year-old dynamo scored ten goals and provided three assists, which equates to an average of a goal involvement every 2.8 games and would've made him the fourth most productive Spurs player last season.

Ultimately, for the money being reported, this deal for Chiesa seems like a total no-brainer for Levy and Co, and the comparisons to the Arsenal ace reaffirm that fact.

Spurs hit gold on "masterclass signing" who's worth way more than Eze

The Lilywhites already have a left-sided player worth a king’s ransom.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 25, 2024

Liverpool are believed to be "super confident" of completing the signing of a "fantastic" player in the summer transfer window, with a £65m deal possible.

Liverpool transfer news

With Euro 2024 done and dusted, attention is now more likely to turn to transfers, with Arne Slot no doubt desperate to bring in new players who can aid his start to life at Anfield.

Two England players who have been linked with summer moves to Liverpool are Marc Guehi and Anthony Gordon, both of whom have been a part of their Euro 2024 journey this summer. The former is a boyhood Reds supporter, but Newcastle United are thought to be desperate to keep hold of him.

It has also been claimed that the Merseysiders have made progress in their efforts to sign Sporting CP centre-back Goncalo Inacio, with a £52m transfer mooted. Centre-back additions are vital, with Slot's squad looking slightly light in that area, and the Portuguese could be a perfect addition.

Eberechi Eze has been mentioned as a possible target for Liverpool, too, should Slot feel that the Crystal Palace star could be an upgrade on Luis Diaz out on the left-hand side.

Liverpool believe they could sign "fantastic" ace

According to a fresh claim from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are "super confident" of completing the signing of Guehi in the summer transfer window, with the Crystal Palace and England defender a wanted man after impressing at the Euros.

The Reds are "set to ramp up their pursuit" of the 23-year-old, with sources close to the club saying they "know what they need to do" to get their man. He is valued at £65m by the Eagles.

Guehi's rise in recent months has been huge, considering he has gone from being a good Premier League player to arguably England's most consistent performer at Euro 2024.

The 23-year-old filled in expertly alongside John Stones, playing a big role in the Three Lions reaching the final, with an average of 2.2 aerial duel wins and two clearances per game. He also completed 93.5% of his passes, while Kyle Walker has heaped praise on him.

"Marc, I thought he was fantastic. He didn't put foot wrong and hopefully that has got his feelings right now and settle the nerves a little bit, and we can form a good partnership along that back line."

For these reasons, it is easy to see why Guehi would be a good signing for Liverpool, with his age meaning he could even be looked at as an option to eventually lead the defence when 33-year-old Virgil van Dijk eventually departs.

That being said, the Dutchman is also a left-sided centre-back, so fitting both he and Guehi into the team from the off may not be easy, which could suggest a right-sided signing makes more sense currently, unless one of the players wants to change sides.

Liverpool lining up £45m “machine” who’d be their best DM since Fabinho

This talented midfielder wants to join the Anfield side.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 13, 2024

There is also a risk that the Palace man's performances this summer could actually lead to him being over-priced, so it is important that Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are convinced that he is their top target.

There’s always a real sense of intrigue when a player chooses to fly the nest at Manchester United, with supporters no doubt torn between wishing the star well, while also hoping that his exit doesn’t come back to bite them.

In the case of Angel Gomes, for instance, the Red Devils will certainly be ruing letting him slip from their grasp back in 2020, with the Englishman leaving on a free after limited game time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, having made just ten first-team appearances for the club in all competitions.

The youngest player to feature for the first team since Duncan Edwards after replacing Wayne Rooney at the age of just 16 and 263 days back in 2017, Gomes has since gone on to flourish in France, via a stint in Portugal, at Ligue 1 side Lille, culminating in a first senior England call-up last month.

Last season in the league, the 24-year-old created 15 ‘big chances’ and provided eight assists from his deep-lying midfield berth, with speculation rife that United are among the clubs who are eyeing a potential move for the diminutive playmaker next summer.

With less than 12 months to run on his existing deal, the 5 foot 6 sensation surely won’t be short of suitors, with the Red Devils plotting a potential Paul Pogba repeat in bringing back an asset they previously let go for nothing.

The one-time Boavista loanee may not be the only asset that INEOS could look to bring back to Old Trafford, however, with there another rising star who could be worthy of a second chance in the near future.

Man Utd have a chance to right a wrong

In cases like Pogba and Gomes, talented youngsters perhaps need to move on from the United bubble in order to flourish, allowing them the chance to gain regular game time away from the intense scrutiny that life in Manchester provides.

There is no harm in then plucking those talents once they have realised their potential elsewhere, however, with the club likely to be keeping a close watch on the likes of Willy Kambwala and Hannibal Mejbri in the coming years – two players who have buyback clauses in the deals that took them to Villarreal and Burnley, respectively.

The same could also be said of a certain Alvaro Fernandez, with the promising Spaniard having made the move to Benfica on an initial £5m deal over the summer after a six-month loan spell – a move that also includes a buyback (as well as a sell-on clause)

The 21-year-old departed after failing to make a first-team appearance for the club, with the towering left-back having arrived from Real Madrid as part of a trio of Spanish imports in the summer of 2020, alongside Marc Jurado (Barcelona) and Alejandro Garnacho (Atletico Madrid).

While Garnacho has since gone on to sparkle, both Jurado and Fernandez have fallen by the wayside, although after a bright start to life in Portugal, a return to United in the near future should be in store to help aid the club’s left-back woes.

Alvaro Fernandez's start at Benfica

Described as a “quality” player with an “amazing engine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig during his time in United’s youth ranks – where he notably made 47 U21 appearances, providing 14 goals and assists – the youngster notably sparkled during the 2022/23 campaign on loan at Preston North End.

That stint at Deepdale saw Fernandez register six assists in 42 games in all competitions as an illustration of his attacking prowess, having been hailed as “immaculate” by then-boss Ryan Lowe.

With Tyrell Malacia subsequently missing the entirety of last season through injury, and with Luke Shaw enduring his own stints on the sidelines, the hope was that Fernandez would come into the first-team picture.

Ultimately, however, he was sent on loan to Granada for the first half of the campaign, before joining his current side on an initial temporary deal in the winter window – even with Sergio Reguilon’s own loan having been cut short in January.

Yet again, United have been forced to start the new campaign without a recognised left-back, while the Spaniard has flourished again in Lisbon, notably averaging 1.8 key passes per game from his six outings in Liga Portugal in 2024/25. Only Amad Diallo (2.4) has bettered that return among those back at United in the Premier League.

He also impressed during his first Champions League start against FK Crvena zvezda last week, providing three key passes from his defensive berth in that 2-1 win, while also completing three of his five crosses.

The Spain U21 international remains rather raw, but at a time when Erik ten Hag’s side are so lacking in that left-sided department – with Harry Amass still also just 17 – he could well have been a worthy part of the Red Devils squad this season.

Thankfully, while the club have let him slip from their grasp, the inclusion of that buyback clause ensures that they could have first dibs over re-signing the 6 foot 1 ace in future, allowing Ten Hag and co the chance to rectify their mistake.

Player

New club

Fee

Scott McTominay

Napoli

£25m

Mason Greenwood

Marseille

£26.6m

Aaron Wan-Bissaka

West Ham

£15m

Willy Kambwala

Villarreal

£4.6m

Hannibal

Burnley

£5.4m

Facundo Pellistri

Panathinaikos

£6.8m

Alvaro Fernandez

Benfica

£5m

Donny van de Beek

Girona

£500k

Raphael Varane

Como

Free

Omari Forson

Monza

Free

Jadon Sancho

Chelsea

Initial loan

Anthony Martial

AEK Athens

Free

Brandon Williams

Free agent

N/A

Perhaps, both he and Gomes could be lining up back up in a United shirt once again…

INEOS believe they can afford to sign "superb" Shaw replacement for Man Utd

The Red Devils could make their move…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 22, 2024

Birmingham City have already shown that money is no issue this summer, but with the free agent market still open after the transfer window closed, Football FanCast have looked into three possible free signings to further boost their squad after an impressive start to the campaign.

Birmingham see massive overhaul

Chris Davies and Birmingham are not messing around as they look to ensure instant promotion back to the Championship this season. After breaking the League One transfer record twice, they obliterated it on transfer deadline day to sign Jay Stansfield from Fulham in a deal worth £10m plus bonuses.

He was the last of 17 new faces at St Andrews over the summer, but that upheaval hasn't had a knock-on effect on their performances, with the Blues currently sitting third after four games with three wins and a draw, level on points with the two sides above them.

But despite their lavish spending, there are still a couple of holes in the squad that could do with plugging as they look to sustain their form across a gruelling 46 game season, and we have identified three potential cheap additions that could well make the difference.

Jack Cork

Birmingham already boast several midfielders in their squad, but the majority have much of their careers ahead of them, while there is a lack of experience in Davies' engine room.

That is an issue that Jack Cork would easily fix, with the now 35-year-old a free agent after being released by Burnley. Unlikely to be able to play twice a week all season given his age, the midfield man would bring plenty of experience at the top level, having represented the Clarets in both the Premier League and the Championship, totting up over 250 appearances for them in the process.

He drew high praise from Sean Dyche back during his time at Burnley, who revealed he thought Cork was a "very good player".

“I looked at him and thought, ‘Well if they don’t want him I certainly think he’s a very, very good player’. Corky wasn’t form related. I’ve always thought he was a very good player down many, many years", the now Everton boss explained.

Available for nothing, he could help guide Davies' young stars back into England's second tier.

Sheyi Ojo

Still just 27-years-old, Sheyi Ojo has not yet delivered on the talent promised during his time at Liverpool, and now finds himself without a club.

The right-winger was released by Cardiff City over the summer, but could be useful squad player for the Blues, with Scott Wright their only recognised right-winger as things stand.

Sheyi Ojo's Championship career

Appearances

145

Goals

12

Assists

14

Minutes per goal contribution

299

Ojo has made almost 150 Championship appearances during his career to date, alongside spells in Belgium and France, while he also spent a season playing Europa League football. Still in his prime, he could be a savvy pickup for a side in League One.

Brandon Williams

Perhaps something of a longshot, a move to sign former Manchester United academy star Brandon Williams would certainly be in line with Birmingham's recent audacious transfer policy, and could be a low-risk move with plenty of upside.

Comfortable playing at either left-back or right-back, the 24-year-old was released by the Red Devils this summer after failing to impress at either Ipswich Town or Norwich during loan spells.

During his time at Manchester United, he was highlighted for praise by manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, who dubbed him "brave as a lion".

"For me, Brandon was man of the match. He's been fantastic the few games he's played. The boy has no fear, he is as brave as a lion and he got us the win", he explained.

Now a free agent, a move to League One Birmingham could be the perfect place from which to relaunch his stalling career, though having played no lower than the Championship during his career to date it may be a difficult deal to complete.