Tag Futebol

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s Crystal Palace future is in doubt with an insider revealing the player and his agent are “testing the waters over a move”.

The 28-year-old has grown into such an important player for the Eagles, helping them win the FA Cup last season and already scoring six goals in 12 Premier League appearances this time around.

In fact, former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino has called the Frenchman Palace’s “most improved” player in the recent past, and in fact of all time, hailing his impact leading the line at Selhurst Park.

“Again, Mateta, in my opinion, is probably the most improved player I’ve ever watched, I’ve ever seen. I’ve watched Mateta two years ago and the one I’m witnessing now, completely different.”

Mateta’s rise has unsurprisingly seen him linked with a move away from Palace of late, and now a new update has shared some concern for the Eagles.

Jean-Philippe Mateta eyeing Crystal Palace exit

Insider Mick Brown reports that Mateta is “testing the waters” over leaving Palace, as he eyes a new challenge.

Palace must do all they can to convince Mateta that staying put is best for his career, with the Eagles certainly doing enough of late to suggest as much, not least sealing FA Cup glory last season.

That said, the France international may look at Eberechi Eze leaving for Arsenal in the summer, and Marc Guehi continually being linked with a move to Liverpool, and feel that now is the right time for him to move on.

Arsenal now eyeing another Crystal Palace star as contract talks in danger

He’d be an excellent addition.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 22, 2025

Palace supporters will desperately hope this isn’t the case, as will manager Oliver Glasner, but at 28, he will know that he has reached a key point in his career, in terms of sealing one big move before he passes his peak.

Liverpool now eyeing Mateta deal amid fresh Crystal Palace contract concern

It’s become a running joke that players who arrive at Manchester United with a notable reputation tend to see their stock plummet, with Old Trafford having been a graveyard for the best and brightest over the last decade or so.

From Angel Di Maria to Alexis Sanchez, the signings of perceived ‘world-class’ talent have spectacularly backfired, with the pursuit of glamour names and marketing opportunities rarely equating to on-field glory.

Thankfully, it does appear that there has been a change in tack under the new INEOS regime, with Jason Wilcox and co having gone for young and hungry figures like Senne Lammens and Benjamin Sesko, alongside Premier League-proven talents in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

With potential future captain Matthijs de Ligt now starting to shine at the heart of the defence, while veteran warrior Casemiro is enjoying a midfield renaissance, a strong spine is finally beginning to emerge under Ruben Amorim.

As defeats to the likes of Grimsby and Brentford have showcased this season, however, this new-look United side are far from the finished article, with it likely to take a succession of transfer windows for Amorim to be able to build a title-challenging squad again.

Investment in new recruits is certainly needed, although there is also a sense that there still remains plenty of ‘deadwood’ to be shifted too.

The players Man Utd need to sell in 2026

Whether it is in January or next summer, United face another pivotal year with regard to squad-building, with ruthless decisions needing to yet again be made in order to take this club where it needs to go.

In the most recent window, for instance, Amorim oversaw departures for the likes of Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, with the Portuguese having taken a particularly strong stance on those latter two names.

When next summer rolls around, it would be no surprise to see further peripheral figures also sent packing, with both Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte surely at risk, amid reports that Omar Berrada wishes to implement a two-year rule for new signings.

In essence, those brought in have a maximum of two years to make their mark or face the axe, with Zirkzee – who has played just 90 minutes this season – certainly out in the cold right now, while Ugarte was reportedly the subject of a dressing down from his former Sporting CP boss at the end of last term.

Question marks also remain over the futures of the aforementioned Casemiro and Harry Maguire, amid their expiring contracts, with the Brazilian – for all his importance – regularly unable to last the 90 minutes, having been subbed off on seven occasions in the top-flight this time around.

Long-serving defender Diogo Dalot also appears another player at risk, amid the change to a 3-4-2-1 system, with the orthodox right-back having come under fire this season for his struggles on either flank.

What is clear is that the likes of Amorim and Wilcox aren’t afraid to make the big decisions, a fact that was also evident with the handling of another former world-beater over the summer.

The Man Utd flop who finally needs to be sold

Signed for just £18m, Lammens looks like one of the bargains of the season in Premier League terms, with the Belgian ‘keeper still yet to taste defeat in his new surroundings, following a near faultless five games in the United goal to date.

The 23-year-old Belgian will, as is the fact of life for a goalkeeper, make a mistake at some stage, although his strong early impression has already won over the Old Trafford faithful, with supporters and pundits alike willing him to be the second coming of Peter Schmeichel.

Getting people onside early on is particularly key in a position that Gary Neville regularly describes as the “most difficult position in English football”, with Lammens’ predecessor Andre Onana having failed to do just that upon his arrival in 2023.

Formerly part of Erik ten Hag’s famed Ajax side that reached the Champions League last four in 2019, Onana was reunited with the Dutchman four years later, joining from Inter Milan on a £47.2m deal.

The Cameroon international – who was actually available on a free transfer in 2022 – departed the San Siro having starred amid their surge to the Champions League final in his solitary campaign in Italy, producing an eye-catching display even amid defeat to Manchester City in the showpiece.

Speaking ahead of that eventual 1-0 win for the Etihad side, Pep Guardiola even hailed Onana as “one of the best in the world right now”, with it looking as if United had acquired a perfect replacement for the departed David De Gea.

Frustratingly for all concerned, the erratic ‘keeper looked a poor fit from the off, memorably lobbed from the halfway line on his Old Trafford debut against Lens in July 2023.

The sight of the £120k-per-week stopper tangled in his own goal set the tone for what was to follow, having also escaped punishment for a late punch against Wolverhampton Wanderers on his Premier League bow, before producing a string of blunders during United’s dismal European run.

In that 2023/24 Group stage alone, he made two errors leading to a goal, having followed that up with a further five errors across the 2024/25 season in the Premier League and Europa League, as per Sofascore.

Onana vs Lammens – 24/25 League
Stat	Onana	Lammens
Goals against	1.29	1.10
Save percentage	68.9%	81.3%
Save % (penalties)	25%	66.7%
Clean sheet %	26.5%	20.7%
Touches	40.32	41.59
Launch %	29.7%	32%
Crosses stopped	5.5%	11.2%
Defensive actions (outside area)	0.68	0.72
Stats via FBref

Perhaps the final straw came away at Lyon last term, with Onana engaging in pre-match verbals with Nemanja Matic, who branded him one of the “worst keepers in Manchester United’s history”.

Desperate to prove him wrong, United’s number 24 went on to play his part in both of Lyon’s goals, the second coming at the death just minutes after he had appeared to rile the home crowd by taking an age over a goal-kick.

The woes of Altay Bayindir did ensure he was subsequently reinstated, but the die was cast, with Amorim shipping out his previous first-choice stopper to Turkish side Trabzonspor late in the window.

With no buy option included as part of that deal, the 29-year-old – who has actually conceded just seven goals in eight Super Lig games in Turkey – will have to return to Manchester next summer, with INEOS swiftly needing to find a buyer for their exiled flop.

The problem is, the Red Devils will likely have to take a sizeable hit on their initial investment, with CIES Football Observatory deeming him to be worth a maximum of just €15m (£13m), even less than what United paid for Lammens.

Getting something for him is better than nothing, however, with the Red Devils needing to try and swiftly move on from this costly transfer mistake.

Joshua Zirkzee chooses club he wants to leave Man Utd for in January

He wants out of Old Trafford in the New Year.

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 18, 2025

The ripples from the Juan Soto record contract continue to spread. With the cost of keeping outfielder Kyle Tucker soaring because of it, the Houston Astros must give more consideration to trading him before he enters his platform season heading into free agency. That market is heating up, with the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees engaged in conversations with Houston.

Tucker turns 28 in January, making him three years older than when Soto entered his platform season. (Never discount Soto’s age in his value. The Pirates just gave up three pitchers for a platoon first baseman who is than Soto in Spencer Horwitz, 27.) Tucker is not the hitter Soto is when it comes to plate discipline. But he is the better defender and runner and is growing into Soto-level power.

Like Adrian Gonzalez, Shawn Green and Tino Martinez, Tucker is a lefthanded hitter who’s adding power as he ages by learning to hit the ball in the air to the pull side. Check out his fly ball rates in the past four years:

Year

Fly ball rate

2021

33.5%

2022

37.7%

2023

32.7%

2024

41.3% (career high)

He projects to be a steady 30–40 home run hitter and .550 slugger who strikes out below the major league rate and walks above it. Add in premier defense and the ability to steal 30 bases and you have a rare player. Over the past four seasons, for instance, Tucker is one of only four players to average 25 homers and 20 stolen bases. The others are Shohei Ohtani, Francisco Lindor and José Ramirez.

What is his free agent value? Start with this snapshot of player stats from 2021–24 as your guide:

Player

Age

WAR

SLG

OPS+

AAV

Juan Soto

22–25

26.0

.520

164

$51.0M

Mookie Betts

28–31

23.8

.527

145

$30.4M

Kyle Tucker

24–27

21.2

.527

145

TBD

Corey Seager

27–30

19.2

.524

143

$32.5M

It’s easy to imagine Tucker at a $35 million AAV over 10 years, given the rate of Soto inflation. Now imagine you are the Astros. You’re looking at trying to keep free agent third baseman Alex Bregman away from the Yankees, with money burning a hole in New York’s pocket, and you have Tucker and staff ace Framber Valdez entering their walk years. And from ages 27–30, Valdez (55–30, 3.08 ERA, 112 starts, 132 ERA+) is in Max Fried’s neighborhood (47–25, 2.87 ERA, 101 starts, 147 ERA+).

Tucker, Bregman and Valdez have $700-$800 million in value. No wonder this market can cause the Astros to pivot quickly while still fielding a contender.

Manchester United legend Michael Carrick has responded to links with the vacant Wolves manager's job following the sacking of Vitor Pereira. After weeks of speculation, the Premier League side finally took the difficult decision as they parted ways with the Portuguese coach following the club's nightmare start to the 2025-26 campaign, where they have remained winless after their first 10 matches.

• Wolves parted ways with Pereira

  Pereira was finally shown the door on Sunday, following the humiliating 3-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Fulham. It was the club's seventh league defeat in the 2025-26 campaign as they remain winless in their first 10 matches of the season. The club are currently languishing at the bottom of the table with just two points. Pereira helped Wolves avoid relegation last season and had even penned a new three-year contract with the club in September, only to be sacked just under two months later.

  After the Fulham defeat, Pereira had said: "I’m disappointed today. I’m not proud of my work, of our work, because I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s because mentally, we put a lot of energy in the last game against Chelsea until the last minute. But what I realised today was a very difficult game for us, tactically, technically, physically. We played maybe one of the worst games that we’ve played. Even with 11 against 11, since the first minute the energy to move, the offensive dynamic, and the energy to press was not there. After five minutes, I started to realise that something is missing today. But the game was balanced, because even then, they were not playing in a high level. But after the goal, we tried to do something, but not in our level. After the red card, it was very difficult for us."

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Man Utd legend linked with Wolves job

  Former United midfielder Carrick has been linked with the vacancy at Molineux and has now responded to the rumours, as he said on : "I’m enjoying some time out at the moment. I think I’m probably watching as much football now as I’ve ever watched really, with a free eye and kind of nothing on it. Still learning, still trying to improve, but I’m enjoying doing things like this (punditry). It’s a change, spending time with the family. I’ll see what’s next."

• Carrick was earlier linked with Rangers

  After Rangers sacked Russell Martin last month, they were also linked with a move for Carrick. The Scottish giants initially wanted Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to return, but after the 45-year-old backed out of talks, Rangers turned their attention to the ex-Red Devils star. Carrick was sacked from his first permanent managerial job at Middlesbrough in June this year. He was appointed as Boro's head coach in 2022 and he immediately took the team up the table and secured a play-off place, only to see his them beaten in the semi-finals. Boro narrowly missed out on a top-six finish in the following two campaigns, leading to Carrick's dismissal ahead of 2025-26 getting underway. However, Rangers never formally approached the 44-year-old as they eventually appointed Danny Rohl as their new manager.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Rodgers could return to England

  Multiple media reports have claimed that former Liverpool and Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers is poised to make a comeback to the Premier League after three years, as Wolves are considering appointing the Northern Irish manager as their next permanent head coach. Earlier this week, Scottish Premiership giants Celtic announced that Rodgers had tendered his resignation amid the Hoops' own challenging start to the season.

Liverpool star Mo Salah risks causing huge anger in his native Egypt as he prepares for showdown talks with national boss Hossam Hassan to discuss missing a key warm-up match ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. The Pharaohs have a friendly with Nigeria planned in early December, but lands in the same week as key matches for the Reds setting up a potential club-v-country row, which Salah hopes to avoid.

• Liverpool braced for Salah exit

  Hassan would be expected to call-up Salah for the training camp and friendly match which has been scheduled for December 12th. But Liverpool face vital Champions League and Premier League fixtures against Inter Milan and Brighton that same week. The Liverpool talisman has endured a tricky season for the champions and is understood to prefer staying with his club for these competitive matches, according to a report in the . This follows a previous disagreement two years ago when Liverpool successfully requested Salah's delayed release, angering some fans in Egypt. The upcoming talks aim to find a resolution that satisfies both parties and prevents a repeat of past tensions. 

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Fixture congestion for Liverpool during AFCON

  Salah's upcoming meeting carries significant weight, as the two parties look to finalise the player's release date for the tournament in Morocco which runs from December 21st to January 18th. The talks follow the Egyptian King’s controversial early departure from the last tournament due to injury, which caused frustration among Egyptian fans. The forward, who is just six goals shy of Hassan's own national team scoring record, could miss crucial games for Liverpool. If Egypt, one of the tournament favourites, reach the final on January 18, Salah could be unavailable for up to ten matches, including Tottenham (a), Wolves (h), Leeds (h), Fulham (a), Arsenal (a) and Burnley (h) plus a Champions League game at Marseille and an FA Cup third round tie. These negotiations aim to prevent a repeat of past tensions and find a resolution that works for both the club and country.

• High praise from Reds boss

  Salah has struggled at times this season, seemingly struggling in a new playing system and a number of key new players in attacking positions at Anfield. But boss Slot was clear in explaining why Salah remains so important to his team after reaching the incredible milestone of 250 goals for the Merseysiders.

  Slot said: "It is huge. It's almost unbelievable he has scored 250 goals at one club. Scoring 250 goals is already unbelievable, let alone at one club. You don’t see it that much in football anymore. Apart from the goal he scored tonight he had a very good performance. When we had to play long we played mainly long towards him and he could hold the ball and because of that the rest of the team could come to him and we could keep playing. 

  Slot added: "What I also liked is that he didn’t only do his offensive work really well, but he helped the team out defensively as well. After the 1-0 he was helping Virgil (van Dijk) around the halfway line and this combination of things led to me liking his performance tonight. It’s special for him to score 250 but for him to score is not special as we always know he will score."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Man City boss relaxed about AFCON

  City boss Pep Guardiola isn't worried about losing Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri for an extended period of time. Marmoush only returned to the starting XI following injury in the recent 3-1 win over Swansea, a game the 26-year-old scored in. Asked about the scheduling of the tournament, Guardiola said: "This competition (is) for their countries so they have to go. Always I try to solve the problem when the problem is in front of me. Right now I don’t think (about it). I have to use them for Sunday and next Wednesday and next Sunday before the international break. When it is going to happen they cannot be here and we will see the situation and take the decisions."

Nottingham Forest are preparing for their Europa League campaign and may now have been given a triple boost as they gear up to take on Real Betis on Wednesday.

Nottingham Forest show solidity after chaotic Ange Postecoglou induction

Ange Postecoglou isn’t someone who fails to entertain, and his side have shown excitement and vulnerability in equal measure over the first three matches of his tenure at the City Ground.

Following a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, his side began to show some of their offensive prowess against Swansea City last midweek, albeit the Tricky Trees were knocked out of the EFL Cup in extraordinary fashion after surrendering a two-goal lead.

After two defeats, Turf Moor was never an easy place to go as Burnley look to stabilise themselves in the Premier League. Nevertheless, Nottingham Forest put in a performance that has bred some optimism among supporters of what could be to come.

Fundamentally, Postecoglou’s emphasis on performance is something he believes can breed results. The Tricky Trees took on 17 shots and bossed proceedings with 63% possession against Scott Parker’s men, indicating that improvement is slowly seeping into his group of players as they work within his system.

Murillo could return for Nottingham Forest’s trip to face Real Betis on Wednesday, offering another encouraging crumb of comfort as things slowly start to come together for the Australian boss.

Evidently, his reign at the club is a work in progress and results may not come imminently. Still, the former Celtic boss won the Europa League last season with Nottingham Forest, so it is fair to say he knows how to get a result in continental competition.

Heading into the beginning of their European campaign, there could be another boost in store for the East Midlands-based outfit if developments elsewhere are to stand.

Isco could miss Real Betis vs Nottingham Forest

According to reports in Spain via Sport Witness, Real Betis playmaker Isco could be ruled out of facing Nottingham Forest on Wednesday after missing training on Monday.

The four-time Champions League winner has been absent since August and may be joined by Nelson Deossa and Pablo García after the pair also sat on the sidelines while their teammates prepare to face Premier League opposition.

Not just Luiz: Ange must now start "menacing" Nottingham Forest sensation

Ange Postecoglou will be hunting for his first win as Nottingham Forest boss against Burnley this afternoon.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 20, 2025

La Liga outfit Betis sit sixth in the Spanish top-flight after six matches and claimed an impressive 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad last Friday, earning an extended rest period ahead of opening their Europa League account.

Boasting plenty of familiar faces, such as Antony, Giovani Lo Celso and Hector Bellerin, they have plenty of stars who have enjoyed distinguished careers in England.

Regardless, Isco is one of the finest playmakers in Europe when fully fit, meaning his absence would elevate Nottingham Forest’s chances of claiming something at Estadio Benito Villamarín.

Many Tottenham Hotspur fans would have expected a victory against Bodo Glimt last night, but it wasn’t to be, as they walked away with a 2-2 draw in Norway.

Such a result could have been a lot worse for Thomas Frank, with the Lilywhites trailing by two goals heading into the final 24 minutes of the European contest.

An own goal and a Micky van de Ven effort saved the side from a shock defeat, with numerous players failing to impress in their second Champions League outing of 2025/26.

Numerous players fell way below the levels expected of the Premier League side, with Richarlison, the club’s centre forward for the clash, only registering a total of 10 touches in 90 minutes.

There’s no denying that one former player would have been perfect for their clash last night, with the Lilywhites massively lacking his presence within the final third.

Why Harry Kane would’ve got Spurs out of trouble on Tuesday

Harry Kane is a player who remains close to the hearts of the Spurs fanbase, given his time in North London, where he netted a total of 280 goals during his decade-long spell at the club.

Such a tally is the highest in the club’s history, but they’ve been without his services over the last couple of years after he joined Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.

In 2025/26, with the Club World Cup included, the 32-year-old has been nothing short of phenomenal, scoring 20 times and registering four assists – subsequently having the creative nous to produce the goods at key moments.

He’s registered 12 goal contributions in his last five matches across all competitions, further highlighting his ability to cause carnage within the attacking department.

To highlight his creative ability, he’s registered three more combined goals and assists than the Lilywhites first-team have managed in the same time period – with Frank certainly wishing he was able to call upon the Englishman.

However, a reunion could prove to be on the cards in the near future, with rumours linking the talisman with a sensational return to his boyhood club in the not-too-distant future.

Despite his impressive form away from the club, the Dane does have the ability to rely upon one player who showcased his talents massively against Bodo Glimt last night.

The Spurs player who’s emulating Kane under Frank

There’s no denying that the showing of Spurs in Norway yesterday was way below the expectations of the fanbase, with the front line coming under fire for their lack of impact.

As previously mentioned, Richarlison failed to produce any meaningful contributions, after only completing two passes all game and missing one big chance in the process.

Brennan Johnson was another player who struggled to make the desired impact, subsequently failing to complete a single dribble or cross during his hour-long display.

The Welshman has come under fire from the fanbase once again, not for the first time, after previously having to delete his social media accounts following abuse from supporters online.

However, it wasn’t all bad for Frank’s side in Norway, with right-back Pedro Porro managing to impress during the draw – undoubtedly being one of the shining lights in the disappointing showing.

The Spaniard managed to register an assist for Van de Ven’s effort, now holding an impressive record that highlights the creativity he possesses despite his defensive role.

He’s now registered 18 assists since the start of 2023/24, a number which is the highest of any Premier League defender across all competitions in the same time period.

It’s that ability to create goal-scoring opportunities at will that has seen him emulate Kane. Truth be told, the Lilywhites have missed not just the English striker’s goalscoring exploits but also his assist-making.

Indeed, the centre-forward registered 63 assists during his time in north London, with a whopping 17 of those coming in one campaign (2021/22). So good was Kane at playmaking that former teammate Matt Doherty once said: “That period under Antonio [Conte], he had a better passing range than [Kevin] De Bruyne at the time.”

Safe to say, Porro’s creativity is pretty damn good too, and he’s helping to void the creative void left behind by Kane.

However, despite the full-back’s tangible success, his underlying numbers were just as impressive on Tuesday evening, including his ability to register 78 touches during the contest.

Porro also completed 40 passes last night, 13 of which were into the opposition’s third – further showcasing the creative ability he possesses in his locker.

Numbers such as three chances created and 100% dribbles completed also add to his talents in possession, but he still managed to produce impressive figures without the ball, too.

Pedro Porro – stats against Bodo Glimt

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

90

Touches

78

Passes completed

40

Passes into final third

13

Chances created

3

Tackles made

2

Recoveries made

2

Dribbles made

100%

Stats via FotMob

The 26-year-old made two tackles during the draw, whilst also making two recoveries and one interception – arguably being the perfect all-round fullback for Frank’s system.

Questions may be asked about his display, but there’s no taking away from his ability to create chances and get the side out of trouble when they’re void of ideas in attacking areas.

Should he continue his impressive assist record, there’s no reason as to why he can’t be a crucial member of Frank’s squad in the Dane’s hunt for success during his tenure in North London.

Related Fewer touches than Vicario: Frank must drop 3/10 Spurs dud after Bodo Glimt

Tottenham Hotspur managed to rescue a 2-2 draw last night, but some players failed to catch the eye.

Posts 3 ByEthan Lamb Oct 1, 2025

Put in on a slightly tricky surface, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) displayed impressive intent as seven of their batters got into double figures, and they ended up with 196 for 7 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), whom they are aiming to beat for the first time in Chennai since 2008. Captain Rajat Patidar was the standout batter for RCB, enjoying a life on 17, then surviving three half-chances, and eventually hitting three sixes in his 51 off 32 balls.Left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad raced away to the Purple Cap with three wickets to go after his four in the first match. Khaleel Ahmed was CSK’s most economical bowler, drawing seam movement early in the powerplay, then slowing the batters down with one over in the middle, and closing out with a wicket in the 18th over.Matheesha Pathirana, replacing Nathan Ellis who had a good outing in the last game, pushed RCB back with an excellent 19th over, taking out Patidar and then conceding just one run, that too a wide.However, Tim David took toll of Sam Curran, bowling only his third over in two matches, in the 20th over, hitting him for three sixes. Had the pitch turned as much as it did in the first game in Chennai, CSK might not even have needed Curran to bowl that last over. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja managed only five overs between them for 59 runs as RCB seemed intent on not letting them get into the game. Ashwin, though, had his own back with the wicket of Devdutt Padikkal, who surprised CSK a little with his early assault at No. 3.Noor still managed to draw something out of the pitch, taking the wickets of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and Liam Livingstone. He and MS Dhoni added to the highlight reel with another brilliant stumping as Noor beat another right-hand batter on the outside edge, and Dhoni cashed in on a brief moment of the dragging of the back foot.

Everton have got themselves up and running over the past couple of matches in the Premier League, having won at their new home against Brighton & Hove Albion before securing a win on the road against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Integral in both victories was new loan recruit Jack Grealish, assisting twice and then twice again. Everton are looking to make real headway under David Moyes’ wing this season, challenging high up the table, away from the relegation dog fight.

A range of exciting signings have been made, Grealish so far proving the cherry on the cake, but Moyes appears keen to land another midfielder before the window slams shut.

Everton still searching for midfielder

Having emerged as a top target at Everton since Moyes replaced Sean Dyche in January, it looks like the pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek is going down to the wire.

However, Graham Potter might want to keep him on the books for depth, and so the Toffees may want to make a lunge for an alternative.

And perhaps that could be Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo. The 20-year-old wants to leave Old Trafford on loan before the deadline, and Everton have been credited with an interest over the past few weeks.

Man United have informed their academy product that he is expected to stay and fight for his place over the coming campaign, but much could change at the eleventh hour of the transfer window.

Newcastle United have also shown interest in signing the Red Devil, but Everton might feel that Mainoo could best foster his clear talent at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Why Everton must sign Mainoo

Mainoo might be out of favour at Man United, but he has been described as a “generational” talent by journalist Andy Dunn and as a future “£100m-plus footballer” by United writer Alex Turk.

Why? He’s already played 74 times for the senior side, scoring seven goals (including a crucial strike in the 2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City).

Even if Everton only manage to land him on a loan deal, they should consider opting for Mainoo ahead of Soucek, even though the Czech Republic international has a wealth of experience in Moyes’ former Hammers system.

Mainoo struggled last year, but he showcased remarkable quality when breaking onto the scene in 2023/24, and given his strength when carrying the ball forward and technical quality, he could add that physical shine that Moyes covets while adding some flair to the side too.

Soucek (24/25) v Mainoo (23/24)
Stats (* per game)	Soucek	Mainoo
Matches (starts)	35 (30)	24 (24)
Goals	9	3
Assists	1	1
Touches*	38.2	49.0
Pass completion	75%	87%
Big chances created	1	0
Key passes*	0.4	0.6
Dribbles*	0.2	1.3
Ball recoveries*	1.8	4.0
Tackles + interceptions*	1.9	2.9
Duels won*	5.0	5.0 (52%)
Stats via Sofascore

He’s less of a goalscoring threat than Soucek, but more active in the duel, more energetic and more fluid with his passing.

Indeed, even though he endured a tough campaign, Mainoo ranks among the top 11% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Having watched Grealish hit the ground running as a loanee from Manchester, Everton might want to sign Mainoo in the coming hours, adding some youthful exuberance and plenty of technical quality besides.

Beto upgrade: Everton battling PL rivals to sign “unstoppable” £17m gem

Everton could continue their summer spending spree with another centre-forward addition to replace Beto

By
Will Miller

Aug 30, 2025

While it might be something of a cliché, this season does feel like it’s going to be Nottingham Forest’s most important in a very long time.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side will need to prove that their form in the Premier League last year was no fluke, and on top of that, they’ll want to go as far as they possibly can in the Europa League.

Fortunately, there’s no reason to suspect that the Tricky Trees won’t be as good as they were last season, especially since the talismanic Morgan Gibbs-White is set to remain at the City Ground for the foreseeable future.

Moreover, while losing Anthony Elanga isn’t ideal, the club now look set to land someone who could be the perfect replacement.

Forest target perfect Elanga replacement

While the Gibbs-White saga has understandably dominated the headlines when it comes to Forest this summer, the club have made several smart additions to Nuno’s team so far.

Transfer Focus

Jair Cunha, for example, looks like he could develop into a useful defender for the side, while Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus produced a combined tally of 25 goal involvements last season, which could make all the difference this year.

However, there are still just over two weeks until the window slams shut, and the Tricky Trees seem intent on making the most of that time, reportedly set to welcome Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson to the club, alongside Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Yet, according to a recent report from mainland Europe, Forest are also closing in on signing Dilane Bakwa.

The Belgian journalist has revealed that, while the club have seen their €26m + €5m (£22m + £4m) rejected by Strasbourg, the two clubs are now much “closer to an agreement” than before, and the transfer is now “almost there.”

While Tavolieri does not mention what the final fee for the French winger is likely to be, a story from L’Équipe from earlier this month claimed that the French side value him at up to €35m, which is about £35m, and while that is a lot of money, Bakwa would be worth it.

Why Bakwa would be a perfect Elanga replacement

So, while there is no debating that Elanga was brilliant for Forest last season and one of their most important attackers, it certainly appears that not only would Bakwa be a great replacement, but potentially even an upgrade.

For example, when it comes to their pure output last season, which is fundamentally what matters most for any attacker, it’s the Frenchman who comes out on top.

In his 31 appearances for Strasbourg, the dangerous “diamond,” as dubbed by journalist Zach Lowy, scored six goals and provided nine assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.06 games.

In contrast, the Swedish international scored six goals and provided 12 assists, but did so in 43 appearances, which comes out to a far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games.

However, it’s not just their output that paints the 22-year-old in a better light, as he comes out comfortably on top when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.41

0.36

Progressive Passes

4.66

2.27

Progressive Passes Received

8.99

8.24

Progressive Carries

3.86

3.67

Shots

1.87

1.58

Shots on Target

0.79

0.86

Passing Accuracy

72.9%

65.3%

Key Passes

1.70

1.80

Passes into the Final Third

2.42

1.15

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.44

0.94

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.36

0.29

Live Passes

34.7

25.1

Shot-Creating Actions

3.97

3.67

Goal-Creating Actions

0.58

0.65

Tackles

0.94

0.68

Blocks

0.76

0.40

Interceptions

0.54

0.22

Clearances

0.97

0.90

Successful Take-Ons

1.81

0.90

In fact, it’s not even close, as the Créteil-born gem comes out ahead in almost every single relevant metric, including but not limited to non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, shot-creating actions, tackles, interceptions and more, all per 90.

In other words, the Ligue 1 ace looks to already be a relatively complete winger, who is as capable of creating chances as he is scoring them, and has no problem tracking back to do his defensive work either.

Ultimately, while he might cost them a little more than they were planning, Forest should be doing all they can to sign Bakwa as soon as possible, as not only does he look like the perfect replacement for Elanga, but he is also a potential upgrade.

Their new Gibbs-White: Nottingham Forest in race to land £30m star on loan

The hugely exciting gem could be a game-changer for Forest this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 14, 2025