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Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade has revealed a heated on-field exchange with Arsenal defender Gabriel after what he described as a high elbow to the face during their 2-1 defeat at St James' Park. Woltemade insists he is 'not the type of player to fall down' for fouls, highlighting frustration over dangerous challenges and sportsmanship in the Premier League.

• Gabriel and Woltemade's heated clash

  Woltemade opened the scoring for Newcastle in the first half by jumping over the Brazilian defender, only for Arsenal to mount a dramatic comeback with a 96th-minute winner from Gabriel. After the opener, Woltemade appeared to be elbowed in the face by Gabriel, but the challenge went unpunished. The incident sparked a tense confrontation between the two, which referee Jarred Gillett had to intervene in to calm down.

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  Woltemade opens up on feud with Gabriel

  Speaking to , Woltemade gave a detailed account of the incident: "After the goal, there was a situation where I felt his elbow in my face at two metres, so his arm had to be really high. I just said it to the referee that I felt something in the face, and I think it's not right to feel something in the face."

  He continued on the confrontation: "Following that, he said sorry after, so I think he knew he hit me in my face. I didn't solve the situation to be honest. I don't like this. If you do some things in-game and then a few seconds later you say sorry, that's not part of the game. I like the situation where you can have a good battle, but it always has to be fair. His elbow should not be in my face."

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  German striker not one to 'fall down' and engage in theatrics

  Woltemade made clear his commitment to fair play as he refused to go down after Gabriel's apparent elbow: "I'm not the type of player to fall down for this. It's hard because sometimes maybe you have to do this, but this is not my type of football."I just stand tall, try to play my game, and I don't exaggerate challenges. Sometimes these situations happen in football, but it should always be safe and fair. I can't control what happens, but I can control how I react, and I want to play proper football without resorting to theatrics."

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• Woltemade making a mark on struggling Newcastle

  Newcastle will look to recover quickly as they aim to close their growing gap with the top half in the Premier League standings. Woltemade is expected to maintain his spot when the Magpies face off with Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Summers like this are not the norm for Arsenal Football Club.

Aside from 2023, when Declan Rice joined the club, it’s hard to think of very many windows in which the Gunners went out with such conviction to secure their targets.

There are still just under two weeks until the window slams shut and Mikel Arteta has a new starting number nine, a new number six who was courted by some of the biggest clubs in the game, and four more signings to dramatically improve the bench.

Moreover, if that somehow wasn’t enough, the North Londoners are now closing in on Eberechi Eze and have been linked with another youngster who could have just as much potential.

Arsenal target youngster who could be as good as Eze

It’s been quite a dramatic summer of transfers so far this year, but we don’t think anything is going to quite top what happened on Wednesday night.

Transfer Focus

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

With the Arsenal fanbase still coming to terms with the news that Kai Havertz had suffered another injury, The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that Berta and Co had gone back in for Eze, despite Tottenham Hotspur agreeing personal terms.

Then, within just a couple of hours, the move was given the Fabrizio Romano ‘here we go’ treatment.

It’s the sort of transfer that could change the club’s season, and yet, it looks like the North Londoners want to make at least one more signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from French outlet L’Equipe, which has claimed Arsenal are interested in Malick Fofana.

The report has revealed that the Gunners are eyeing a move for the Ivorian international, and that while Lyon do not want to sell, they may have to due to their perilous financial position.

With the winger valued at €40m, which is about £35m, it wouldn’t be a cheap deal for Arsenal, but given Fofana’s ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could have as much potential as Eze once did.

Why Fofana could be as good as Eze

Now, we aren’t suggesting that Fofana is as good or as complete as Eze is at the moment, but there are more than a few indications that he could become as brilliant in the future.

The first is his output for Lyon last season.

In 41 appearances, totalling 2280 minutes, the “game-changing” prospect, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 11 goals and provided six assists.

That means that the 20-year-old was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 2.41 games, or every 134.11 minutes, which would be impressive for a seasoned veteran, let alone someone his age.

Moreover, he’s already picked up where he left off, as he provided the assist in Lyon’s one-nil win over RC Lens on the weekend.

The second reason we reckon the young Belgian could be an Eze-esque star in the making is the fact that his underlying numbers are nothing short of remarkable.

According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for percentage of shots on target and goals per shot, the top 3% for progressive carries, the top 6% for carries into the final third, the top 7% for crosses into the penlaty area and more, all per 90.

In other words, the dynamic winger is elite at bringing the ball up the pitch and into dangerous attacking areas, while also having a brilliant cross on him – sound like anyone else?

Finally, even though the Aalst-born gem is primarily a left-winger, he is more than comfortable playing off the right, or deeper, in wide midfield positions, which would give Arteta more tactical flexibility.

Ultimately, Fofana is already an excellent attacker, but with his output, underlying numbers and ability to play in more than one position, he could end up being as good as Eze one day.

Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to bring him to the Emirates before the window slams shut next month.

The new Havertz: Arsenal weighing up late move to sign £80m star after Eze

The big-money star could be just what Arsenal need following Kai Havertz’s injury.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 21, 2025

Manchester United played out a 2-2 draw with Everton in Atlanta, Georgia, at the weekend, as Ruben Amorim’s side won the Premier League Summer Series over in the United States.

Football is encapsulated by peaks and troughs, and so too was this closing pre-season fixture over the pond defined by some good and some bad for the Red Devils, who are desperate to find themselves once again after finishing 15th in last season’s Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Change was always going to be necessary, and INEOS have indeed acted with intent to reshape the frontline, signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from divisional rivals.

However, more is still needed. United require another central midfielder, and remain interested in replacing Andre Onana between the sticks.

But there’s no question that the most pressing, and most prominent, concern remains finding a new out-and-out central striker.

Man Utd's attacking transfer plans

Rasmus Hojlund, 22, has been vocal in his desire to stay at Manchester United next season and fight for his place at number nine, but the rumour mill suggests technical director Jason Wilcox has transfer-listed him for £30m.

The Danish striker flattered to deceive last season. Sure, he was let down by a dearth of creativity behind him, but lacked control and confidence, and scored only four times across 32 appearances in the Premier League.

And Amorim is focused on signing an upgrade, and the chosen target is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who has emerged at the centre of the transfer tussle also involving Newcastle United.

The Magpies made a £70m bid on Saturday, which was rejected. Man United haven’t, although INEOS know they can sign the Slovenian without having to sell first (whereas Newcastle must first cash in the Alexander Isak cheque).

But could the Old Trafford side yet have an even bigger deal in the pipeline?

Man Utd lining up British-record bid

According to Spanish sources, Manchester United are ready to shatter the transfer market by launching a bid for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.

The 24-year-old is one of the best players in the world, and no mistake. However, he has been the subject of persistent transfer speculation concerning the Saudi Pro League in recent years, owing largely to a new Los Blancos contract that remains unpenned.

Man United want to take advantage and remind the world that they are a superpower. A package worth €200m (£174m) is being put together, and that would make the Brazilian the most expensive player in British football history.

Why Man Utd want Vinicius Jr.

Vinicius Jr, 25, is one of football’s true superstars, having joined Real Madrid from Flamengo for a £39m fee as a teenager in 2018.

Madrid president Florentino Perez said: “He’s a player who is already considered one of the great hopes of Brazilian and world football.”

Though Sesko is a centre-forward, and Vinicius Jr is more of goalscoring winger, this would be an opportunity too good to pass up, and there’s no question that the South American is the target INEOS must prioritise.

Indeed, it’s not like he doesn’t have the skills to serve as a goalscoring sensation at the club. As per FBref, the Real gem ranked among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goals scored, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for progressive carries and the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

Perhaps he’s coming off the back of a campaign that left something to be desired, but the man still notched 22 goals and 19 assists across all competitions. In fact, he’s now surpassed 35 goal involvements for four seasons in succession.

Sesko, conversely, has yet to prove he has what it takes to take a seat at the elite table, having scored 13 goals from 33 Bundesliga fixtures in 2024/25.

The potential is there, and, of course, Sesko may well shape into one of the finest goalscorers in the business if he signs for Man United this summer, but in Vinicius Jr, Amorim would land a tailor-made figurehead with an absurd amount of technical quality. He’s the real deal.

Of course, the Brazil international is typically found coming off the left flank, and that’s an area that Cunha will be expected to play in, but the Madrid man’s compatriot started up front for Amorim’s team against Everton the other day, and Vinicius Jr, too, could be interchangeable positionally.

If the talk of his shooting ability wasn’t enough, the 25-year-old also averaged two key passes per game in La Liga last season, as per Sofascore, also averaging 2.7 dribbles and a whopping 5.8 duels per match. Earning £349k per week, you’d expect him to bring such a degree of completeness to the table.

Further, he’s one of the most recognisable faces currently competing in the Champions League, scoring in the 2018 final against Liverpool and the 2023 final versus Borussia Dortmund, triumphant on both occasions.

That’s the kind of pedigree Man United need if they are to restore themselves, rekindle that fire that once burned so bright at the height of the global game.

Described as a “legend in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vinicius Jr has already left an indelible mark at Real Madrid, and could take his development to the next level by becoming a talisman at Old Trafford.

Sure, Sesko is a talented young striker with plenty of power and much determination besides, but we’re talking about a star on a different scale here, and if there truly is a chance to bring Vini over to the Premier League, the Red Devils must pounce as they march back to the top of the European scene.

Amorim's very own Ibrahimovic: Man Utd to make bid for "phenomenal" talent

Manchester United are making moves for a player who could replicate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 4, 2025

Alexa Melton has sent a "love you" birthday message to Christian Pulisic, with the USMNT star's golf pro girlfriend reflecting on "all our mems". AC Milan forward Pulisic, who welcomes his partner to Italy on a regular basis, has turned 27 and is hoping to enjoy a productive 12 months – in what is a World Cup year – before another personal celebration rolls around.

• When did Pulisic & Melton start dating?

  Pulisic and Melton have been an item for over 12 months now, having first generated romance rumours in the summer of 2024. United States international Pulisic was spotted getting friendly with his new beau at the US Women’s Open.

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  Holidays & trips to Europe: Quality time together

  The happy couple holidayed together before and after the 2024 Copa America, with windows in their respective professional schedules being found. The pair continue to meet up as often as possible.

  Melton has taken in regular trips to Europe, allowing her to watch Pulisic in action for Serie A giants AC Milan, with plenty of time being spent on the golf course – as Pulisic is also a big fan of the sport that earns his girlfriend a living.

• Different characters: Pair bounce off one another

  Melton figured on the ‘PULISIC’ documentary from Paramount+, with her energetic and carefree nature considered to be good for Pulisic as ‘Captain America’ endeavours to relax and unwind away from the stresses of his day job.

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• Happy birthday! Pulisic turns 27

  Pulisic has now been sent a "Happy birthday – love you n all our mems" message by Melton as she shared a collection of photos on Instagram – with many of those showcasing the happy times that the pair have enjoyed together.

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It is fair to say that there was a fair bit of excitement among supporters when Glasgow Rangers finally confirmed the signing of Djeidi Gassama on a permanent deal earlier this month.

The Light Blues swooped to sign him from Sheffield Wednesday to bolster Russell Martin’s options at the top end of the pitch, and he was an exciting addition off the back of his form last term.

Gassama scored seven goals and created three ‘big chances’ in the Championship for Sheffield Wednesday, despite them not being in contention to gain promotion from the division.

He ranked within the top 14% of his positional peers in the league for goals (seven) and in the top 23% for chances created (38), which shows that he excelled as both a scorer and a creator of goals from the left wing.

These statistics show why fans were so excited to see him in action for the first time when Panathinaikos arrived at Ibrox for the first leg of the second round Champions League qualifier on Tuesday night.

How Djeidi Gassama could be a success for Rangers this season

The 21-year-old forward came on for the last 15 minutes of the win over the Greek side and immediately showed that supporters were right to be excited by the prospect of seeing him play in the flesh.

Gassama made an almost instant impact by cutting in from the left flank to fire a brilliant shot past Dragowski to put Rangers 2-0 up on the night.

That particular was not his only impressive contribution off the bench, though, as the winger also played a beautiful pass with the outside of his foot to send Nicolas Raskin through in the left channel, but the Belgian midfielder was unable to create a chance out of it.

As you can see in the table above, Gassama completed two dribbles, won all of his duels, and scored with his only shot in just 15 minutes of football off the bench for the Light Blues on Tuesday.

He could be a huge success for the Scottish giants this season as a direct and skillful left winger who can cut inside onto his favoured right foot to deliver goals, and hopefully assists, on a regular basis.

Gassama is currently valued at £1.7m by Transfermarkt and the Light Blues reportedly agreed a fee in the region of £2.2m to sign him from Sheffield Wednesday, which shows that he is not a mega-money signing.

However, at the age of 21, the French starlet could develop into a mega-money player for Rangers if he can start to produce quality in the final third on a regular basis.

Market Movers

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

Although he did not feature against Panathinaikos, Jefte could play a key role in Gassama’s development as a potential left-back option to play behind him on the left flank.

Rangers have hit the jackpot with the talented young Brazilian defender, who has had one season at Ibrox so far, and he could be a future star for the club alongside Gassama.

Rangers have hit the jackpot with Jefte

Jefte signed for the Scottish giants from Fluminense on a permanent deal in the summer of 2024, and Transfermarkt valued the youngster at a price of just £693k at the time of the move.

Then 20 years old, the full-back came over to Scotland in a team with high expectations and had a fairly inconsistent first season at the club, which should be expected given the circumstances, with his age and lack of experience in the country.

Writer Kai Watson described the left-footed ace as a “polarising figure” among the fanbase, and that may be because of his inconsistency on the pitch, as some fans may not want to be as patient with players as others.

However, Rangers do have a very exciting talent on their hands, despite Max Aarons being picked ahead of him on Tuesday, as his performances were good enough to attract interest from Premier League giants, and now world champions, Chelsea in January.

As you can see in the post from journalist Chris Jack above, Chelsea went as far as to make contact with the player’s agents at the start of this year to discuss a possible move, which illustrates how impressive his form for Rangers had been up to that point.

Jefte made 52 appearances in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, which was vital learning for the 21-year-old talent, and he will now be hoping to kick on this season.

As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian whiz ranked highly in a host of key defensive and offensive metrics in the Scottish Premiership, particularly when it came to making tackles and interceptions.

His form for Rangers led to his Transfermarkt value soaring up to £3.4m at the time of writing, which means that his valuation has jumped up by a whopping 391% and is now above Gassama’s £1.7m valuation.

This suggests that the Light Blues have hit the jackpot with the young defender because they picked him up at a fairly low value, of under £1m, last summer, and he has already soared in value to become a multi-million pound asset for the club.

At the age of 21, and with clubs like Chelsea eyeing him up, Jefte may only get better from here if Martin can work with him on the training pitch to improve and develop in the months and years to come.

Outshone by Curtis: Martin must axe "non-existent" Rangers dud after UCL

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By
Dan Emery

Jul 23, 2025

Therefore, Rangers supporters have very good reason to be excited about the future of the club’s left flank moving forward, as Jefte and Gassama are both incredibly promising 21-year-old talents who could be stars at Ibrox.

Manchester City are now the clear frontrunners in the race for an “incredible” £100m star, who could be brought in as an alternative to Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz this summer, according to a report.

Man City back out of Wirtz race

BBC Sport reporter Sami Mokbel has now confirmed that Man City have pulled out of the race for Wirtz, given that the total cost to bring the German to the Etihad Stadium would be way too expensive.

As such, the path could now be clear for either Liverpool or Bayern Munich to sign the 22-year-old, and City have moved on to alternative targets, with a fresh report revealing they are well-positioned to win the race for a Premier League star.

Man City now ready to submit formal £29m proposal to sign "pacy" defender

He’s a rising star.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 16, 2025

According to GiveMeSport, Man City are now the clear frontrunners in the race for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White, but much like the deal for Wirtz, it will be expensive to bring the attacking midfielder to the Etihad Stadium, given a reported asking price of £100m.

The Englishman is being eyed as a replacement for the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne, who has recently hinted that he could remain in the Premier League beyond the end of the campaign, with the Belgian seemingly open to the idea of signing for another English club.

Gibbs-White is now the top target to replace De Bruyne, but it remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola’s side are willing to shell out the huge asking price.

Gibbs-White could be "incredible" De Bruyne heir

Replacing De Bruyne will be a daunting task for whichever attacking midfielder City choose to sign this summer, but there are plenty of signs that Wirtz could’ve been a suitable option, given the level of his performances for Leverkusen in the 2024-25 campaign.

That’s not to say the Forest midfielder isn’t a solid alternative option, however, having already proven himself in the Premier League, picking up seven goals and ten assists for the Tricky Trees during their push for the Champions League this season.

Not only are the England international’s attacking numbers impressive, but he has also received high praise for his work-rate from ESPN pundit Janusz Michallik.

As such, there are signs Gibbs-White could be a fantastic heir to De Bruyne, despite arguably not being as flashy a signing as Wirtz, and Man City should look to wrap up a deal before interest in the 25-year-old increases.

Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed another successful season in charge of Celtic, and it could get even better if his side wins the SFA Cup final later this month.

The Hoops travel to Hampden Park to take on Aberdeen at the national stadium with the chance to secure a domestic treble, having already won the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup.

Rodgers led the team to the SFA Cup trophy and the Premiership title in his first season back at Parkhead in the 2023/24 campaign, as he came in to replace Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2023.

It has been an incredibly successful return to the club for the Northern Irish head coach, whose team won the title with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at the end of last month, and he has had to make some ruthless decisions along the way.

Rodgers is not afraid to make bold or unpopular decisions if he thinks it is the best for the team, and one example of that has been his use of central defender Maik Nawrocki this season.

Why Maik Nawrocki has not been playing for Celtic

The Polish centre-back did not make a single appearance in the Champions League campaign and has only played two matches in the Premiership to date.

He was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with Rangers at Ibrox last time out, which is the 28th time that has happened to the defender in the current term. This shows that he has rarely been used by Rodgers despite being available for the entire season.

Nawrocki could not do much more to earn more minutes in the first-team, though, because he took his chances when they came his way against Rangers and Hearts last month.

Due to injuries to Liam Scales, Dane Murray, and Auston Trusty, the former Legia Warsaw star was named in the starting XI for the first time in the campaign against the Gers, and did enough to keep his place against Hearts in the following Premiership match.

As you can see in the table above, Nawrocki put in two outstanding performances at centre-back, as he was incredibly reliable on the ball and dominant defensively, with plenty of defensive actions and impressive duel success rates.

However, the 24-year-old colossus has not played a minute of football in any competition since the full-time whilst went in the 3-0 win over Hearts, and Rodgers has explained why that has been the case.

The Celtic boss explained: “I do always prefer where I can a left-footed centre-half on that side, in all honesty because that allows you to get through the pitch quicker and have more speed playing forward.”

Nawrocki is, of course, right-footed and this has led to Scales and Trusty starting every game since that win over Hearts, as one or both of them have been fit and available since then.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

It now remains to be seen what will happen to the Polish defender in the upcoming summer transfer window, because it seems unlikely that he will be happy with just two league appearances all season.

Whilst Nawrocki is one player who could push to move on from Parkhead of his own volition, there is a player who has played even fewer minutes than the defender who should be moved on by the club – Scott Bain.

Why Celtic should move on from Scott Bain

The 33-year-old goalkeeper has been on the bench in recent weeks, with Viljami Sinisalo deputising for Kasper Schmeichel, but has not played a single minute in any competition this season.

Bain reportedly earns £7.6k-per-week at Parkhead, which is more than Hyun-jun Yang (£6k), Liam Scales (£5k), and Sinisalo (£2.5k), yet has played fewer minutes than Nawrocki in all competitions, as he has not played any at all, domestically or in Europe.

Herald Scotland recently reported that Aberdeen shot-stopper Ross Doohan, who is out of contract this summer, is being considered as a target for the Hoops, as Bain is entering the final 12 months of his deal and could look to move elsewhere.

The 27-year-old ace is reportedly on a weekly wage of £2.7k, which is less than the current Celtic third-choice currently earns, and that means that this switch in goalkeepers could save the Hoops thousands per week, potentially freeing up wages to be used in other areas of the squad.

Doohan could arrive as a cheaper third-choice option for the Scottish giants than Bain, who is earning more than several first-team stars who play regulars, as aforementioned, whilst he has not made an appearance for the club since last season.

The 33-year-old flop played three times in the 2023/24 campaign and pundit Frank McAvennie criticised the goalkeeper, telling Football Insider that having him as an option is “not good enough” for the Hoops.

As you can see in the table above, Bain has only played five league games since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, conceding seven goals in those five matches, and has not played at all this term.

This does not suggest that he has done enough for the club to justify keeping him at Parkhead on more wages than the likes of Yang, Sinisalo, and Scales, who contribute to the team on the pitch, which is why they should ruthlessly ditch him from the squad this summer.

Selling Bain, if there is enough interest in his services from elsewhere, and replacing him with Doohan, who has played 15 league games this season and earns less money per week, could be a shrewd move by the club.

It is now down to Rodgers to be ruthless once again by brutally ditching the veteran goalkeeper from the squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, whilst landing the Aberdeen stopper on a free transfer.

Celtic could sign their next McGregor in shock move for £14m Scotland star

Celtic have been tipped as a possible option for this £13.6m-rated star in the future.

By
Dan Emery

May 8, 2025

Manchester United were less than seven minutes away from disaster. Seven minutes away from essentially the end to the campaign. Then Old Trafford worked its magic…

The euphoria of Thursday’s gripping 5-4 win over Lyon has still not dissipated, with the debate raging over just where that special night ranks among the litany of magic moments in United’s European history.

Yes, it may not have been a titanic Champions League tussle with a Barcelona or a Real Madrid, yet for those chaotic, final exchanges, it certainly felt like it. Even at their lowest ebb, this United side can still conjure up memories to last a lifetime.

What this result must represent, however, is the start of something, a turning point in the Ruben Amorim regime – for the Red Devils not to go on to lift the Europa League trophy now would be a real tragedy.

Not only would success in the competition mark a fitting way to plaster over the cracks of a dismal domestic season, but it would also bring with it the potential riches that the Champions League can offer.

The difference between securing qualification or not could play a crucial role in the club’s summer transfer business…

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

Regardless of how this season finishes up for United, the Old Trafford hierarchy are likely to already be plotting just how they can improve the squad next season, with recent reports outlining their apparent interest in Bournemouth star, Antoine Semenyo.

Indeed, Sky Sports have revealed that United are deemed to be leading the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, albeit with there set to be intense competition from almost every top-six Premier League club – excluding Arsenal.

The former Bristol City man – who is said to be valued at around £70m by the Cherries – isn’t the only talent within the top-flight that Amorim is believed to be chasing, with ESPN’s Mark Ogden reporting that the Red Devils are keen on Southampton starlet, Tyler Dibling.

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 Ogden, INEOS will step up their interest in the 19-year-old sensation this summer, provided that Amorim’s men are successful in their pursuit of Europa League glory.

As per the piece, the England youth international has reportedly been valued at around £100m by the Saints in an attempt to ward off interest, albeit with that said to be an ‘unlikely valuation’ considering their relegated status.

Turning to a player who has been part of a grim campaign at St Mary’s may appear a bizarre move, although all the signs point to Dibling proving a real superstar in the years to come.

Why Man Utd could be targeting their own Cole Palmer

It was recently revealed by United youth coach Colin Little – speaking to The Athletic – that the Red Devils had actually come close to sign boyhood fan, Cole Palmer, as a 16-year-old, albeit with the young playmaker ultimately staying put at rivals Manchester City, prior to his £40m switch to Chelsea in 2023.

Arguably the “best player in the Premier League”, prior to his recent wobble in 2025 – in the words of pundit Jamie Carragher – United will be kicking themselves at having missed the boat on such a talismanic talent.

While Dibling is far from the levels of a player who boasts 63 goals and assists in just 83 games at Stamford Bridge, he has actually been described as “like Cole Palmer” by one-time United man, Dion Dublin, due to the way he plays “free and easy”.

Like his fellow left-footer, the Southampton sensation has that almost kid-in-a-playground quality to him, with such natural brilliance having seen former boss Russell Martin describe the teenager as “the most talented player I’ve ever seen”.

Capable of playing off the right flank, in an attacking midfield role or even as a number eight – much in a similar mould to Palmer – the silky talent memorably dazzled on his first Premier League start against United back in September, having earned a penalty for his side after being hauled down by a desperate Diogo Dalot.

Such a performance – which also saw Dibling sting the palms of Andre Onana with a fierce effort in the first-half – may well have made the Manchester side sit up and take notice, albeit with technical director Jason Wilcox seemingly fully aware of his talents, having handed the youngster his first professional contract during his previous role at Southampton.

With four goals and three assists to his name in all competitions this season, Dibling hasn’t exactly set the world alight, albeit while no doubt hampered by the fact that he is part of currently the joint-worst Premier League team ever.

Semenyo, meanwhile, has 16 goal involvements in 2024/25 thus far, albeit with the Palmer-like quality of his fellow forward ensuring it is Dibling who could represent the bigger talent.

If United are planning to build for the future under Amorim, making the 19-year-old the centrepiece of that project could certainly be an exciting move.

The perfect Rashford replacement: Man Utd in talks over deal for £50m star

Manchester United could forget about Marcus Rashford with a move for one player on the cards this summer.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 19, 2025

Arsenal have a huge summer ahead of them if they are to finally make the step-up and end their generational wait for a Premier League title triumph.

Mikel Arteta has led the Gunners to a second-placed finish in each of the last two seasons, looking increasingly likely to finish in the same position once again this time around.

Additions are needed in the summer if they are to push for a title battle, with squad depth needed in key areas of the pitch to prevent a repeat of the situation that has occurred this campaign.

Injuries have plagued the squad, leading to various players having to operate in unfamiliar roles, restricting the progress the Gunners have made under the Spaniard’s guidance.

However, with the summer rapidly approaching, new sporting director Andrea Berta has wasted no time in identifying targets to improve the squad and help mount their title ambitions.

The latest on Arsenal’s pursuit of new attackers this summer

In recent days, Arsenal have taken the lead in the race for Athletic Club’s Spanish forward Nico Williams, with Barcelona pulling out of the running to land the 22-year-old.

The youngster has been on the club’s radar over the last couple of years, but it appears Berta looks set to reignite interest in his signature over the coming months.

A previous report has claimed that the Gunners are willing to trigger his £50m release clause within his current contract in an attempt to bolster Arteta’s forward line ahead of 2025/26.

However, other names have already been thrown into the mix, with Real Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez the latest name touted with a summer deal to the Emirates.

According to a report from CaughtOffside, Arteta’s men are leading the race for the 19-year-old’s signature but also face stiff competition from Liverpool and Chelsea for the star, who has a £42m release clause.

Why Rodriguez would be better than Williams for Arsenal

Williams will undoubtedly be top of many fans shopping list ahead of the summer transfer window, with his figures at the top level of LaLiga nothing short of sensational.

He would undoubtedly provide the options which the manager has been hunting for in recent months, offering a solution to their ongoing injury issues.

However, the same could be said for fellow target Rodriguez, with the compatriot potentially a better and cheaper alternative than the Athletic Club sensation.

It’s been the 19-year-old’s breakthrough year as a professional, playing a key role in the club’s hunt to claim Europa Conference League glory come the end of the season.

When comparing their respective stats from the current season, Rodriguez has managed to outperform fellow target Williams in numerous key areas – highlighting how much of an impressive addition he would be in North London.

The winger, who’s been labelled “outstanding” by analyst Ben Mattinson, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed to notch a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing his clinical nature in attacking areas.

He’s also managed to complete more take-ons this season, whilst also registering more carries into the final third per 90, highlighting the threat he carries with the ball at his feet.

Rodriguez is a threat at both ends of the pitch, winning more tackles per 90, having the defensive quality and work ethic to regain possession should the Gunners find themselves under the cosh.

Either winger would massively bolster the attacking department in North London, certainly providing the reinforcements Arteta has craved over the last couple of months.

But given the age difference and contrast in quality, the hierarchy must certainly push for Rodriguez’s signature, desperately needing to pursue a move to avoid missing out on him to an English rival.

Imagine him & Gyokeres: Arsenal leading the race to sign £50m sensation

Arsenal could be about to massively improve their forward line ahead of 2025/26.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 17, 2025

An “unbelievable” manager with a release clause of £5m is now Southampton’s first-choice target to replace Ivan Juric, according to reports.

Saints' new manager search underway after Juric departure

It was always going to be a difficult task for Juric to keep Southampton in the Premier League, given the very poor start Russell Martin made to the campaign, but things couldn’t have gone much worse for the Croatian coach.

The 49-year-old oversaw just one win in the Premier League during his time with the Saints, a 2-1 victory against fellow strugglers Ipswich Town in February, and his dismissal was confirmed following the 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

With relegation to the Championship also confirmed, the board’s most pertinent task will be to bring in a new manager capable of winning promotion back to the top flight next season, and a number of targets have already been identified.

"One of the best coaches ever" front-runner to replace Juric at Southampton

The Saints could appoint an impressive young manager as a replacement for Ivan Juric.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 8, 2025

The likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Liam Rosenior and Danny Rohl are all under consideration, with the latter two managers the front-runners for the role. Rohl is eager to leave Sheffield Wednesday, and he could have the opportunity to do so if Southampton are willing to pay the £5m release clause in his contract.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, the Wednesday boss is the Saints’ number one choice to replace Juric, with chiefs starting the new manager search weeks ago.

Rohl has impressed at Championship level with Sheffield Wednesday, and sporting director Johannes Spors is believed to be a big fan, potentially making it more likely the Saints will pursue a move.

"Unbelievable" Rohl could be excellent appointment

The 35-year-old is clearly held in high regard at Sheffield Wednesday, with Josh Windass describing his manager as “unbelievable”, while also claiming he is the “best head coach” he’s played under.

It would be fair to say the German has done a stellar job with the Owls, securing Championship survival on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign, despite his side’s second-tier status looking perilous when he first took over.

Since then, the Zwickau-born manager has stabilised Wednesday in the Championship, with his side currently sitting in 13th place, indicating that he could now be ready to manage a side with aspirations of gaining promotion to the Premier League.

Rosenior is another intriguing option for the Saints, given that his Strasbourg side are on course to qualify for the Champions League this season, but Rohl could be a more attainable option, given the £5m release clause, and there are plenty of indications he could be a success at St. Mary’s.