Fabrizio Romano: "Magnificent" player wants "perfect" move to Arsenal

Arsenal have emerged as the dream destination for one player this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, with sporting director Andrea Berta continuing to carry out his extensive transfer window shopping ahead of 2025/2026.

£70m star wants to join Arsenal after Norgaard and Mosquera, talks ongoing

The north Londoners mean business this summer.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 28, 2025

Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi and Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga are both poised to be announced as new Arsenal players shortly.

Kepa completed his Arsenal medical in the last few days as he closes in on a £5 million switch from Stamford Bridge (Sky Sports), while Zubimendi touched down in London last week to finalise his near-£56 million transfer to the Premier League.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

The Spaniards will be joined by Brentford captain Christian Norgaard, too, with Arsenal widely reported to have agreed a £15 million deal for the Denmark international, including add-ons.

The 31-year-old has been permitted to travel for his Arsenal medical (Fabrizio Romano), and ex-Tottenham director Frank Arnesen says Mikel Arteta may have just snapped up a bargain.

“If he can take a step up and come to Arsenal, it would be fantastic. Every dressing room would be thrilled to have him. He has the right mentality, is a team player and has the attitude,” said Arnsen to Tipsbladet earlier this week.

“Mikel Arteta was fantastic as a player, I think, and as a coach he has done absolutely superbly, both as an assistant at Manchester City and afterwards at Arsenal with the way he plays football.

“He doesn’t just take a player in without knowing exactly what he’s going to use him for. Maybe he won’t play 50 games, you don’t know, maybe it’ll only be 30, but it’s about the whole package. He gets the whole package with Christian.”

Berta has wasted no time in moving on to Arsenal’s next target after Norgaard, either.

Valencia'sCristhianMosquerain action with Atletico Madrid's Samuel Lino

The Gunners have opened talks with Valencia over signing versatile young defender Cristhian Mosquera, and there is real optimism that they’ll reach an agreement for their fourth signing of the summer, even if their opening bid of £16 million was rejected (The Guardian).

Cristhian Mosquera wants "perfect" move to Arsenal

While there’s still some way to go in club-to-club talks, Berta will not run into any trouble on the player’s side.

As per Romano, speaking on the ‘Here We Go’ YouTube channel, Mosquera thinks Arsenal are the “perfect” move for him, and the 21-year-old wants to challenge Arteta’s preferred centre-back pairing.

Cristhian Mosquera for Valencia.

“My understanding is that the player wants to go to Arsenal. He sees Arsenal as the perfect opportunity for his career,” said Romano.

“Of course, you have to compete with Gabriel, with William Saliba, but what I’m hearing is that Mosquera is not scared. Obviously, he knows that these two defenders are probably the best in the world, but he wants to be there. He knows that Arsenal will have many games; with Mikel Arteta, young players develop very well. So Mosquera said yes to Arsenal.”

Able to play at both right-back and centre-back, the “magnificent” Mosquera could plug multiple gaps for Arteta, but his arrival surely spells the end of Jakub Kiwior – who’s been tipped to leave if they do sign the Spain Under-21 international.

He'd be amazing with Gittens: Chelsea in contact for £43m "special talent"

Unfortunately for Chelsea, they missed the boat on signing Jamie Gittens before the Club World Cup. The mini transfer window, which took place before the new look competition begins late this week, shut last Tuesday. The West Londoners only brought in Liam Delap and Mamadou Sarr in that initial window.

Gittens was a huge target for the Blues, with Enzo Maresca’s side set to ‘insist again’ according to Fabrizio Romano, who explains ‘the player wants the move’ at some stage this summer. The two parties have already agreed on personal terms ahead of the proposed move.

Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Bynoe-Gittensin action with Lille's Bafode Diakite

That deal will not be the only one Chelsea are working on whilst the Club World Cup goes on. There are other targets the club are trying to sign.

Chelsea’s defensive transfer target

Such is the way of modern football, it is a busy period for Chelsea. Just weeks on from their UEFA Conference League success, they will look to win the Club World Cup and also make signings to strengthen their squad.

Transfer Focus

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

One of those players they are trying to bring in is Jorrel Hato. Romano explained over on YouTube, via GiveMeSport, that Chelsea ‘remain interested’ in signing the Dutchman. They have seemingly had contact with Ajax over a potential deal.

However, they are not the only London-based Premier League side who have made contact. North Londoners Arsenal have been ‘calling to be informed’ about Hato’s situation.

Whichever club it is who wins the race will have to spend a reported £43m on the defender, according to Caught Offside.

Why Hato would be a good signing

Should the Blues bring Hato to Stamford Bridge over the summer, he would be joining the club with a high reputation. Described as a “special talent” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, he is a hugely exciting young player.

Ajax Amsterdam's JorrelHatocelebrates after the match

A versatile defender, the 19-year-old can play as a centre-back, but did primarily feature as a left-back last season for Ajax. He played 50 games across all competitions, showing attacking nous by grabbing six assists and scoring three times along the way.

In a separate post over on X, Mattinson described Hato, who was born in Rotterdam, as an “exceptional athlete”. That is something that certainly stands out when watching him play, as the video below shows. He is incredibly physical, which has helped him at such an early stage of his career, often allowing him to get the better of attackers.

His numbers going forward are impressive, too. Not only did he register six assists last season, but some of the underlying stats on FBref show just how good he can be in advanced areas.

He is certainly progressive, averaging 3.89 passes into the final third per game, which places him in the top 21% of full-backs from the Eredivisie.

Passes completed

54.11

94th

Pass competition rate

89.4%

99th

Assists

0.21

94th

Passes into final third

3.89

79th

Progressive passes

4.17

64th

Well, perhaps Chelsea fans can get excited about a partnership forming with Hato and Gittens. The Dortmund winger, who is going to the Club World Cup with the Bundesliga side, made some major contributions for his side last term.

In 48 appearances for the German side last season, Gittens managed 12 goals and five assists, featuring as a left-winger in 37 of those games.

One of those goals was a strike away to Real Madrid, in which he became ‘the youngest English player to score’ against Los Blancos, as per TNT Sport.

Just imagine the progression in the final third of Hato combined with the goal threat of Gittens; it could be a match made in heaven for Chelsea. The pair could make each other unplayable, and combine to form a deadly partnership.

On top of his attacking construction, the Blues would be signing a superb young defender. Just as Mattinson pointed out, he is athletic and physical enough to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

For £43m, this could be a bargain for the team on the Blue side of West London. Chelsea would be adding a dynamic young defender who offers lots going forward, and can build an unstoppable partnership with Gittens on that left-hand side.

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ByJoe Nuttall Jun 12, 2025

Celtic table bid to sign a star who'd unlock Yang's "world-class" potential

The summer transfer window officially opened for business on Sunday and Celtic will be looking at ways that they can improve their squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Brendan Rodgers may have a domestic treble in his sights after his side ended this year with two of the three trophies, winning the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup.

The Northern Irish head coach will have at least one signing in the building by the start of next month, though, as Kieran Tierney is set to arrive from Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract at The Emirates expires.

With Greg Taylor out of contract and Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan deal expiring, the Scotland international is the only left-back on the club’s books heading into next season.

As well as wanting new signing to arrive to improve the team, Rodgers will also be hoping that some of the younger players in the squad can kick on and improve.

Hyun-jun Yang has shown plenty of promise during his two years at Parkhead so far, and his progression from year one to year two suggests that a big third season could be coming.

Why Hyun-jun Yang could be a star for Celtic

The South Korean attacker joined the Scottish giants from Gangwon on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023, and did not enjoy the best first year in Glasgow.

Yang ended the 2023/24 campaign with a return of one goal and three assists in 31 appearances in all competitions for the club, which shows that the winger provided little in the way of quality at the top end of the pitch.

This term, however, the 23-year-old star produced six goals and six assists in 34 matches for the Scottish Premiership champions in all competitions, whilst playing on the right and the left flank.

These statistics show that Yang has improved during his time at Parkhead, learning with more experience in Scottish football, and that is further illustrated by the difference in his performances in the top-flight.

Appearances

24

23

Goals

1

5

Conversion rate

5%

25%

Possession lost per game

9.8x

6.8x

Assists

3

2

Pass accuracy

81%

86%

As you can see in the table above, the South Korean star delivered more quality in front of goal and was more reliable in build-up play for Celtic, by being more efficient with the ball.

Gangwon president Kim Byung-ji claimed he “could easily become a world-class player like Son Heung-min” ahead of the winger’s move to Scotland, which illustrates how highly he is rated in his home country.

Yang is not at a world-class level, yet, but he is clearly improving, and Celtic are now reportedly interested in signing a player who could help to take his game to the next level in the future.

Celtic bid to sign English star

According to Football League World, Celtic have made an approach to sign Peterborough United left-back Harley Mills in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Hoops have tabled a bid to sign the 19-year-old defender from the English League One club, although it remains to be seen whether or not the Posh are willing to accept it.

Transfer Focus

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

It adds that Premier League side Fulham have also made an offer of £1m for the impressive young full-back, which shows that there is set to be plenty of competition for his signature in the coming weeks.

Football League World adds that he would only join the Cottagers as an U23 player to bolster their academy, whilst the Hoops are looking for a player to compete with Tierney.

Meanwhile, Peterborough are also looking to pin the player down to a new contract, and it could be down to the player to decide which path is best for him moving forward.

If Celtic are able to win the race for Mills, though, then they could sign a left-back who could help Yang to fulfill his potential at Parkhead in the years to come.

Why Mills could be a great signing for Yang

At the age of 19, the Peterborough United star would arrive at Parkhead as a long-term signing who could grow into being the first-choice left-back for years to come.

Yang

This means that he and Yang could form a long-term partnership down the left flank if Rodgers opts to deploy the South Korean forward on the left wing, providing him with chances to cut inside onto his stronger foot instead of being forced down the line or backwards when on the right.

Mills only emerged as a regular starter for the Posh towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign, but his performances in the EFL Trophy and League One suggest that the potential is there for him to be an excellent option for Celtic.

The teenage star’s “stunning” free-kick at Wembley helped Peterborough to win the EFL Trophy in April, whilst he also averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game across six appearances in the competition.

His form in League One, albeit only across 11 matches, also suggests that he could come in to offer more to the team from a defensive perspective than Taylor, who could leave on a free transfer this summer, did.

Appearances

28

11

Tackles per game

1.3

2.2

Interceptions per game

0.6

1.0

Clearances per game

1.9

2.5

Error led to shot or goal

2

0

Ground duel success rate

58%

65%

Aerial duel success rate

43%

57%

As you can see in the table above, Mills appears to be superior to the Scottish left-back across the board as an out-and-out defender, making more tackles, interceptions, and clearances per game, whilst also being stronger in his duels without making any big errors.

This suggests that the £1m-rated star could come in and lockdown the left-back position as a brilliant defender who could stop opposition wingers from pushing Celtic back in matches.

Not only could that improve the Hoops from a defensive perspective, but it could also free up Yang to play higher up the pitch on the left wing and closer to the opposition goal.

The South Korean star, if deployed on the left, would not have to track back as much if Celtic have a much better defensive full-back behind him instead of Taylor, potentially allowing him to be closer to goal to have more opportunities to score and create in the final third.

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This could, therefore, take his game to the next level and allow him to continue his upwards trajectory in a Hoops shirt, on his path to living up to the “world-class” claim.

"Liverpool not mucking around" – Piers Morgan reacts to LFC bid for £80m+ star

Liverpool are making waves in the transfer window this summer and even television personality Piers Morgan has chimed in, with the well known Arsenal supporter unhappy at the news coming out of Anfield this week.

Liverpool closing in on three summer signings

Arne Slot has become a hero at Anfield following a season that has saw his side become Premier League champions, and celebrations will continue long into the next few weeks from anyone of a Liverpool persuasion.

However, there have been headline-grabbing stories elsewhere involving the Reds, not least Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave his boyhood club for Real Madrid.

Liverpool'sTrentAlexander-Arnoldcelebrates after winning the Premier League

What has been more impressive in light of a significant departure is Liverpool’s quickfire response in the market. Turning heads around Europe, Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong appear to be on their way to Anfield.

Laying down a statement of intent, the top-flight holders have reportedly seen off competition from Manchester City and Bayern Munich for the former, who clearly views the Reds as an environment where regular silverware can be won for the foreseeable future.

Milos Kerkez has agreed personal terms with the Reds, lending credence to the thought that Slot could be set to build a dynasty while in charge.

Romano: Liverpool on verge of £45m star signing after personal terms agreed

The Reds are close to completing a deal.

3 BySean Markus Clifford May 26, 2025

Either way, this window feels like it could be a significant one for Liverpool. They have needed to wait their turn during Pep Guardiola’s four-in-a-row era, but you feel the tide may be changing between the Reds and their rivals.

Arsenal have also been firmly in that conversation, so much so that media personality Morgan has now shared his thoughts on the news coming out of Merseyside.

Piers Morgan reacts to Liverpool's Florian Wirtz bid

Taking to social media platform X, Morgan has questioned why Arsenal haven’t taken a similar course of action to Liverpool’s speedy pursuit of a key target like Wirtz. Questioning Mikel Arteta’s authority, he also praised the Reds for ‘not mucking around’ as they look to defend their title come the start of next season.

Admittedly, he does have point, but Liverpool fans will be quite happy that they are the ones leading the race for a player who has registered 16 goals and 15 assists in 46 appearances this term.

Next campaign, Arsenal are expected to be at the forefront once again in the title race. The Reds managed to finish ten points ahead of their nearest challenger, albeit their run-in results were a consequence of winning the league with games to spare.

Liverpool are a winning machine when it matters at present and are showing no signs of slowing down, so there is every reason for the red half of Merseyside to be excited at what 2025/26 could have in store, while fans in North London must count on their club to find the right number nine to lead the line for Arteta next term.

Maresca must axe 2/10 Chelsea dud who's becoming the new Havertz

Heading into their away tie with Newcastle United on Sunday, Chelsea were deep in some pretty impressive form in the Premier League.

The Blues were five league games unbeaten heading into his one – which included a stunning 3-1 victory being picked up against Arne Slot’s title-winning Liverpool – but all that positive energy came crashing down at St James’ Park as Eddie Howe’s Magpies ran out comfortable 2-0 victors.

Chelsea’s task on the day was made a lot harder by a clueless first-half red card, but there would have still been a lot to moan about from Enzo Maresca’s perspective at the full-time whistle, irrespective of his side having to play all of the second 45 minutes a man light.

Chelsea's biggest underperformers at St James' Park

Before touching on the rash red card, the likes of Noni Madueke struggled to ever get going in attack for the visitors.

Whilst Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak busted a gut for the Toon cause up top, Madueke was timid and limp in approach, seen in the 23-year-old failing to a register a single effort on Nick Pope’s goal during his forgettable 45-minute stint, as well as losing all four of his contested duels.

Noni Madueke for Chelsea

Romeo Lavia would last far longer on the St James’ turf, but he wouldn’t be deserving of any praise himself come full-time either, with his lackadaisical approach early on gifting the ball to Newcastle to take the lead via Sandro Tonali.

Moreover, the usually electric Cole Palmer once again failed to spark into life with possession squandered a hefty 14 times, but the elephant in the room that remains is Nicolas Jackson’s hot-headed dismissal.

Jackson would brainlessly connect with Newcastle defender Sven Botman using his elbow, meaning the ex-Villarreal centre-forward will now be suspended for the rest of the season.

This could be the last time Chelsea fans see the 23-year-old lead the line for the Blues in the Premier League, therefore, with the pantomime villain very much turning into Stamford Bridge’s next Kai Havertz.

Chelsea's next Havertz

Much like Jackson now, Chelsea fans would regularly lament the amount of missed chances Havertz would spurn for their team when he was still on the books of the West London outfit.

Kai Havertz

That is the case despite the German popping up with 32 strikes overall – which included the now Arsenal man scoring a winner in a Champions League final.

Despite that, he would still infuriate the Stamford Bridge masses with his consistent wastefulness, seen in him missing a colossal 14 big chances in Premier League action during his final Blues season.

Games played

30

35

Goals scored

10

14

Assists

5

5

Big chances missed

19

24

Goal conversion %

13%

18%

Big chances created

6

8

Jackson has actually bagged a promising 29 strikes in total for Maresca’s men over two seasons, yet – much like Havertz – he gets regularly under the skin of the restless Chelsea fanbase with his off performances, seen in him missing a mammoth 19 big chances during the 2024/25 campaign.

Therefore, his hot-headedness away at Newcastle could be the final straw that sees Jackson – the club’s new Havertz-like scapegoat – moved on.

London Evening Standard journalist Dom Smith suggested that the £32m signing ‘ruined’ his side’s chances of a big win, handing him a dismal 2/10 post-match rating.

But, it shouldn’t be completely ruled out that the 23-year-old goes on to be a success elsewhere, with Havertz showing in flashes for Arsenal – as per his 29-goal haul from 85 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s men – that a damaging experience for the Blues isn’t the be-all-and-end-all.

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ByKelan Sarson May 11, 2025

Their answer to Salah: Arsenal make offer for £63m CF who's outscoring Isak

It’s been another season of disappointments for Arsenal this year.

Mikel Arteta’s side couldn’t get past Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League despite creating enough chances; they fell to Newcastle United in the semi-finals of the League Cup and didn’t even get past the Third Round of the FA Cup.

Worse yet, after running Manchester City so close in the Premier League for the last two seasons, the Gunners completely fell away from Liverpool this year, who are currently 15 points ahead with two games to go.

1

Liverpool

83

37

83

2

Arsenal

66

33

68

3

Newcastle

68

45

66

4

Man City

67

43

65

5

Chelsea

62

43

63

One of the reasons the Reds have had such a comfortable time of it is the incredible, talismanic form of Mohamed Salah, something Andre Berta and Co are seemingly intent on bringing to the Emirates next season in the shape of a striker who’s outscoring Alexander Isak this year.

Arsenal's striker search

As things stand, Arne Slot’s Champions-elect have scored a whopping 17 goals more than Arsenal, so it’s hardly been surprising to see the Gunners linked with a host of prolific number nines in recent weeks, like Jonathan David and Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

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

The former is set to be available for free this summer, and it’s not hard to see why so many teams, including the North Londoners, are vying for his signature, as in just 48 appearances for LOSC Lille this season, the Canadian poacher has scored 25 goals and provided 12 assists.

Sesko, on the other hand, would cost Arteta and Co around £67m, but as he’s still just 21 years old and has managed to rack up 21 goals and six assists in 44 appearances for a team in one of Europe’s top five leagues, it would be hard to argue that’s not a fair valuation.

RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates

However, to really take that next step, the Gunners need to bring in someone with a truly remarkable record, someone like Viktor Gyokeres.

According to a recent report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, Arsenal remain incredibly interested in the Swedish international and have stepped up their pursuit of him.

The report has revealed that the club have now made an offer to the Swede’s agent worth around £7m a year, which is about £135k-per-week, and that they are prepared to make an offer of up to €75m (£63m) to Sporting CP.

It would be a costly transfer to get over the line, but given his incredible goalscoring ability, it’d be more than worth it, especially as he could become Arsenal’s own Salah.

Why Gyokeres could be Arsenal's own Salah

So, the first thing to say is that this comparison obviously has nothing to do with their position, as Salah almost exclusively plays off the right, while Gyokeres is an out-and-out centre-forward.

Instead, the latter could become Arsenal’s version of the former in the sense that his sensational goalscoring ability could fire the club to glory next season, making him a talisman for Arteta’s side.

It’s not hard to imagine this happening either, as in 50 appearances across all competitions and totalling 4038 minutes this season, the Swedish “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 52 goals and provided 13 assists, which comes out to an average of 1.3 goal involvements per game, or one every 62.12 minutes.

In contrast, Isak, who has long been a target for the Gunners, has scored 27 goals and provided six assists in 41 appearances, totalling 3234 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.24 games, or every 98 minutes.

Moreover, the Stockholm-born phenomenon is also leading the race for the European Golden Boot, with 38 goals in just 32 league games, while second-placed Salah has 28 goals to his name in 36 league appearances.

1

Gyokeres

32

38

1.18

2

Salah

36

28

0.77

3

Mbappe

31

27

0.87

4

Kane

30

25

0.83

5

Lewandowski

31

25

0.80

Ultimately, while it might cost the club a pretty penny, they should be doing all they can to sign Gyokeres this summer, as his simply sensational ability to put the ball in the back of the net could see him become a Salah-esque talisman for them next year, and lead them to the title.

He's a lot like Xhaka: Arsenal working hard to sign £43m "duel monster"

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ByJack Salveson Holmes May 13, 2025

Man Utd could land a bigger talent than Amad in "unplayable" £60m star

A recent report suggested that there are just four players deemed to be unsellable this summer at Manchester United, with almost the entire squad at risk of being shown the door, should a suitable offer arrive.

Unsurprisingly – despite recent interest from Saudi Arabia – talismanic captain, Bruno Fernandes is among that select quartet, with the 30-year-old only recently lauded as “one of the top players in the world” by compatriot, Ruben Amorim.

20-year-old wing-back Patrick Dorgu was also named, having only joined the club from Lecce in January, while man of the moment Harry Maguire appears to be another set to stay put, having been described as “perfect” for the 3-4-3 system by his manager.

The final name mentioned on that list was a player who only recently signed a new bumper contract extension, with Amad Diallo committing his future to the club until the summer of 2030.

Previously something of a bit-part player in previous regimes, the returning Ivorian now looks set to be front and centre under Amorim – and deservedly so.

Amad's record under Ten Hag vs under Amorim

There was a feeling that Amad’s chance would never come at Old Trafford, with the former Atalanta wonderkid having actually signed as far back as October 2020, before eventually arriving just a few months.

An inventive header against AC Milan on debut showcased a mere glimpse of why United had forked out an initial fee of £19m, albeit with the then-teenager going on to play just eight games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s watch.

Sent out on loan to Rangers and then Sunderland, Amad’s subsequent return to the first-team squad was halted by injury on the pre-season tour in 2023, with Erik ten Hag seemingly hesitant to unleash the forward even when he was back to full fitness for the start of 2024.

While last season ended on a high with his first Premier League goal against Newcastle United, having netted the winner in the FA Cup thriller against Liverpool, he never seemingly earned the faith of the Dutchman, having again slipped behind Antony in the attacking pecking order prior to Ten Hag’s dismissal.

Reinvigorated during Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim spell, which yielded two goals, the £120k-per-week winger has also been a shining light following Amorim’s arrival, having chalked up an assist from wing-back for the first goal of the Portuguese’s tenure against Ipswich Town.

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Erik ten Hag

24

3

3

Ruben Amorim

22

7

6

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

8

1

1

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

2

1

Ralf Rangnick

1

0

0

Michael Carrick

0

0

0

Total

59

13

10

High-profile goals have since followed against the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, alongside a blistering hat-trick against Southampton, with Sunday’s consolation strike against Brentford marking his 13th goal involvement in just 22 outings under the new boss.

Injury had hampered his progress between February and April, but fit and firing again, Amad will be crucial over the coming weeks, and potentially years.

That said, it is exciting to suggest that an even bigger attacking talent could be on their way to Manchester this summer…

Man Utd could sign an even bigger talent than Amad

The last year or so has marked a real rise for Amad in a United shirt, having stepped into the limelight and stayed there, seemingly unburdened by the pressures that have shackled far too many before him.

Amad Diallo

A refreshingly positive and front-foot player, the diminutive wideman is a talent that gets the crowd off their feet. The next challenge, however, is to find real consistency, particularly on the Premier League front.

That is a quality that reported summer target, Bryan Mbeumo has showcased in abundance, with the Cameroon international having enjoyed a simply stunning campaign for the Bees in 2024/25.

Recent reports have claimed that the Red Devils are eyeing a potential move for the £60m-rated sensation this summer, with interest also being shown in another shining top-flight talent, Matheus Cunha.

It is Mbeumo, however, who has eclipsed both Cunha and Amad – as indicated below – with the France-born speedster racking up 18 goals and six assists in the league this season. To put that into perspective, not even Marcus Rashford has reached 18 goals in a Premier League campaign in his career so far.

Games

23

30

35

Goals

7

15

18

Assists

6

6

6

Big chances created

5

12

16

Key passes*

1.7

1.8

1.8

Pass accuracy*

85%

79%

74%

Successful dribbles*

1.7

1.9

1.3

Possession lost*

10.8

15.7

17.0

Fouls won*

1.0

2.3

1.2

That record of 16 ‘big chances’ created also outlines just what a weapon Mbeumo has been under Thomas Frank, with not even United’s creative hub, Fernandes, able to better that tally (14), as per Sofascore.

There’s no denying that this has been by far Mbeumo’s best season since Brentford’s promotion, although that’s not to say he hasn’t impressed previously, having registered 67 goals and assists in 140 appearances in the competition – including 18 goals in 2022/23 and 2023/24 combined.

Amad, meanwhile, has just eight goals and eight assists in the Premier League to date – albeit from only 35 games – with Mbeumo something of the benchmark when it comes to the very best that the division has to offer.

Simply “unplayable” on his day, in the words of Frank, the former Troyes man would be a worthy option as a number nine, a number ten or even in a wing-back berth, with the potential there for him to emerge as United’s new attacking figurehead.

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Offer made: Chelsea now submit £47m bid to sign "world-class" goalkeeper

Chelsea have now submitted a £47m offer for a “world-class” goalkeeper, and talks are expected to move quickly in the coming weeks, according to a report.

Maresca and Chelsea's goalkeeper problem

After a poor showing in the 2-1 UEFA Conference League defeat against Legia Warsaw, the Blues have responded with back-to-back victories, most recently picking up a 1-0 victory against Everton at Stamford Bridge, securing their third Premier League clean sheet of the month.

Robert Sanchez has returned to the starting XI in the Premier League, and the recent defensive showings have been much-improved, but the mistakes the Spaniard made earlier in the campaign are likely to be in the back of Enzo Maresca’s mind.

Sanchez has made five errors leading to goal in the Premier League, the joint-highest number of any player in the division, meaning there have been widespread suggestions that Maresca could look to bring in a replacement in the summer.

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AC Milan’s Mike Maignan is one goalkeeper of interest, with the west Londoners making contact over a potential deal earlier this month, while they are also in the race for Angers shot-stopper Yahia Fofana, who has been recommended by Didier Drogba.

However, it appears as though a different goalkeeper could be one of Chelsea’s key targets, with a report from Spain revealing they have now submitted a €55m (£47m) offer for Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel.

Kobel’s performances for Dortmund have attracted the attention of a number of European clubs, but the Blues are the most interested party, and talks over the deal are expected to move quickly over the next few weeks.

The 27-year-old has made it clear he wants to play for an elite club, which means a move to Stamford Bridge could be of great appeal, should they manage to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

"World-class" Kobel could be Sanchez upgrade

The 6 foot 5 colossus is clearly very highly regarded by his current employers, with Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl lauding him as “world-class”, while he also impressed scout Ben Mattinson in the semi-finals of the 2024 Champions League.

The Swiss shot-stopper’s top-level experience is likely to be appealing to Chelsea, while he has also received plaudits for his ability in possession of the ball, which could be crucial, given Maresca’s passing style of play.

While the Blues have started to pick up more clean sheets recently, Sanchez’s howlers earlier in the campaign indicate it is the right decision to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, and it is exciting news that the move for Kobel is now gaining traction.

INEOS eye shock move to sign ex-Man Utd youth goalkeeper for bargain £17m

Manchester United are now eyeing a shock move to sign an “unbeatable” goalkeeper for a bargain £17m fee in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

Man Utd drawing up goalkeeper shortlist

Andre Onana has put in some very disappointing performances as of late, with his late blunder against Lyon last Thursday night costing his side a crucial away win in the Europa League quarter-final, and Man United have now started to draw up a list of replacements.

FC Porto’s Diogo Costa has been named as a leading candidate to replace Onana, but with the Portugal international protected by a £64m release clause in his contract, the Red Devils will have to pay a hefty sum if they are to get a deal over the line.

As such, United could look at some cheaper alternatives, and they have also joined the race for Angers shot-stopper Yahia Fofana, who is attracting widespread interest from the Premier League, having put in some impressive performances in Ligue 1 this season.

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Fofana may cost just £15m this summer, making the Ivory Coast international an affordable option, and the same applies to Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, with Man United now interested in a shock move for their former academy player, who spent 18 months in the acadmey between 2014 and 2016.

That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which states Milinkovic-Savic has a release clause of just €20m (£17m), which is set to become active at the end of July.

Torino'sVanjaMilinkovic-Savicduring the warm up

Torino owner Urbano Cairo is eager to receive the full amount, but United believe the goalkeeper’s value is around €12m (£10m), so the two clubs may still be some way apart, and there could be competition for his signature from Premier League rivals Chelsea.

"Unbeatable" Milinkovic-Savic impressing in Italy

The 28-year-old is enjoying a very impressive campaign in the Serie A, having been lauded as “unbeatable” for his record of saving penalties, while he has also looked very solid in general play.

The Serbian ranks extremely highly on a number of key metrics for goalkeepers over the past year, and he places in the top 2% for touches per 90, indicating he is composed in possession of the ball, which may be of key significance to Ruben Amorim.

Statistic

Average per 90

Save percentage

78.7% (95th percentile)

Goals against

1.06 (83rd percentile)

Touches

48.0 (98th percentile)

Save percentage (penalties)

57.1% (92nd percentile)

Amorim has confirmed that Onana will start for United against Lyon in the crucial Europa League encounter on Thursday evening, but the Cameroonian could be running out of chances, having been dropped for Altay Bayindir against Newcastle United last weekend.

Should the former Inter Milan man fail to make major improvements between now and the end of the season, it seems likely Amorim will bring in a replacement, having identified a number of targets, and Milinkovic-Savic has proven he could be a fantastic choice.

Saved by Ndiaye: Everton's 6-pass star proved he must be axed this summer

David Moyes has turned Goodison Park into a fortress, with Everton’s hard-fought draw against Arsenal marking the sixth Premier League game in a row that defeat has been avoided on home turf.

Everton were breached after a prickly opening half hour when Raheem Sterling played Leandro Trossard into space and the Belgian dispatched a cool finish past Jordan Pickford.

Everton managerDavidMoyescelebrates after the match

However, this new version of Everton has confidence in abundance, and Moyes’ half-time team talk appeared to stir his squad into life, for Iliman Ndiaye slotted home from the spot after Myles Lewis-Skelly brought Jack Harrison down in the box.

Ndiaye’s return is significant, sparking attacking zest back into the Toffees team.

Why Iliman Ndiaye's return was important

Ndiaye has probably been Everton’s standout player this season, but he’s missed the past month-and-a-half of action due to injury and has been sorely missed, even though Moyes’ side have done alright.

However, his return to the starting line-up today reminded the Blues of the quality of player they have in their midst, with Ndiaye’s coolly-taken penalty marking his ninth goal of the season.

However, his second-half spot-kick didn’t tell the full tale of the tape, with the Senegal winger also winning six duels and making two tackles, as per Sofascore, to help his team go punch for punch with a combative Arsenal side.

The balance and electricity that he brings to the table will help Moyes’ side to no end over the closing weeks of the campaign.

However, not all of Ndiaye’s teammates can say they matched his levels on Saturday afternoon, with Abdoulaye Doucoure in particular beginning to look like a man playing on borrowed time.

Abdoulaye Doucoure needs to go

Everton are changing scenery this summer, and Doucoure needs to be part of the exodus. Moyes has surprised even himself with the incredible turnaround on Merseyside since he replaced Sean Dyche in January, but with so many first-team players out of contract this summer, there’s plenty to do in the transfer market.

Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure

The anticipated returns of Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil, who came on for Jack Harrison in the closing stages this afternoon, suggest that Doucoure, who is 32, seemingly declining and entering the last few months of his contract, is set to depart.

Couple that with the winter loan signing of Charly Alcaraz, who will sign on a permanent deal if he features across three of Everton’s last seven games of the season, and it’s clear that Moyes must ensure the veteran is not playing at Bramley Moore.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

22

Shots (on target)

1 (1)

Accurate passes

6/9 (67%)

Key passes

0

Dribbles

0/0

Tackles + interceptions

2

Duels won

3/12

Dribbled past

2x

Against Arsenal, he brought his usual huff and puff and forced David Raya into one second-half save, but it wasn’t enough to suggest he’s got enough left in the tank to play an important part over the coming campaign.

It was a flat and uninspiring performance, Doucoure only completing six passes all game, losing nine of his 12 contested duels and failing to even attempt a dribble.

Given that the Malian midfielder is currently Everton’s highest-paid player at £130k per week, it feels like a no-brainer that he should be cut loose this summer.

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