Sheffield United head into this afternoon’s clash with Blackburn Rovers at Bramall Lane knowing that the result of the match is largely irrelevant to them.

The Blades have already finished in third place in the Championship and will head into the play-offs with the aim of gaining promotion back to the Premier League.

Irrespective of whether or not Chris Wilder and his men achieve that goal, Sheffield United are likely to be in the market to bolster their squad in the summer transfer window, and that could be bad news for club captain Jack Robinson.

Why Sheffield United need to upgrade on Jack Robinson

The long-serving defender, who has been at the club since his move from Nottingham Forest in 2020, has been a regular starter in the Championship this term.

Robinson has started 31 of his 34 appearances in the division, but has had some struggles of late. The 31-year-old dud lost three of his four ground duels and five of his eight aerial battles in the disappointing 2-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

Wilder dropped him for the following game against Cardiff and it led to a 2-0 win over the Bluebirds, before he came back into the team for a 2-1 defeat to Burnley.

This suggests that Robinson, who has given away two penalties and made one error that directly led to a goal this season, is a player whom the club could improve upon in the summer transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

It was recently reported that Sheffield United are one of the teams, alongside Middlesbrough and Norwich City, interested in a deal to sign Oxford United centre-back Ciaron Brown, who could come in as an upgrade on Robinson.

Why Ciaron Brown would be an upgrade on Jack Robinson

Wilder could finally move on from the English defender as a regular starter and ditch him from the side by swooping to sign the Oxford United star this summer.

Firstly, Brown could provide more of a goal threat from the centre-back position. The left-footed defender has scored four goals and provided three assists in 41 matches in the league this season, compared to Robinson’s zero goals and zero assists in 34 games.

The Oxford United colossus, who former manager Gary Holt claimed has “real hunger”, could also be more reliable in his defensive work, as he has not made a single error that has led to a shot, goal, or penalty for the opposition this season.

Appearances

41

34

Goals

4

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

1.8

Clearances per game

6.3

4.8

Ground duel success rate

66%

72%

Aerial duel success rate

67%

61%

Error led to shot, goal, or penalty

0

3

As you can see in the table above, Brown has the beating of Robinson in several key defensive statistics, whilst also providing a greater goal threat from set plays, which suggests that he could prevent Michael Cooper from being worked as much by making vital clearances, tackles, and interceptions.

He is also four years younger than the Sheffield United man and could, therefore, be a longer-term option for Wilder in the left-sided centre-back role.

He pocketed Brereton Diaz: Sheffield United racing to sign "fantastic" star

The Blades know all about his quality.

1 ByTom Cunningham May 1, 2025

This is why the Blades must pursue a deal for the Oxford United brute in the summer transfer window because they could improve their play at both ends of the pitch by ditching Robinson to bring Brown into their starting XI next term, whether that is as a Premier League or a Championship club.

Whilst Sunderland had to dig deep in order to beat Coventry City over two entertaining playoff matches, Sheffield United enjoyed a fair more straightforward route to the Wembley showpiece.

The Championship high-flyers easily got the better of Liam Manning’s Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate, with the Blades barely having to break a sweat to defeat the dazzled Robins.

Chris Wilder’s men won’t be heading into their promotion-or-bust showdown with Sunderland full of arrogance that another simple win will be picked up, however, with Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats far more of a formidable foe for United to try and topple.

The Sunderland players who could hurt Sheffield United

Whilst Bristol City just about managed to sneak into the playoff picture in sixth position, the Wearside outfit have been in and around the top six for some time now, with the Black Cats desperate to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Wilder’s side will have other ideas obviously, but the Blades will have to be switched on throughout, meaning the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Wilson Isidor will have to be kept quiet all match long.

After all, the Championship side’s top goalscorer for the season would get the ball rolling for his side away at Coventry, with an emphatic finish breaking the first leg deadlock.

Wilder will require the likes of Michael Cooper and Jack Robinson to be as switched on as they were against the Robins, with a well-deserved two clean sheets tallied up.

But, there is also the added test of keeping Bellingham quiet in the forward areas, with the 19-year-old sensation reportedly on the radar of Borussia Dortmund, and for good reason, after picking up four goals and three assists himself in league action.

Le Bris’ men aren’t solely reliant on these two to conjure up a spark, however, with centre-back colossus Daniel Ballard actually proving to be the difference-maker last time out with a last-gasp header.

Thankfully for Wilder, he also possesses a goal-hungry defender in his ranks, similar to Ballar,d who will be keen to leave his mark on the nail-biting contest at Wembley.

Sheffield United's very own Ballard

Amazingly, much like his ex-Arsenal counterpart managed versus Coventry, Anel Ahmedhodzic has previously found himself in the right place at the right time to fire his team into a momentous lead.

Way back in April 2023, United teetered on the edge of a return to the Premier League. The promotion-hungry Blades needed just one more precious victory to get over the line, and after Ahmedhodzic’s flick beat the West Bromwich Albion keeper to give Paul Heckingbottom’s men a 2-0 lead, their joyous return to the big time was finally confirmed.

The “dominant” Bosnian – as he’s been labelled in the past by scout Jacek Kulig – will hope he has more dramatic moments like this strike up his sleeve ahead of the Blades’ forthcoming trip to Wembley, but his overall defensive game this season is also in-keeping with Ballard’s imposing presence, away from mirroring his notable eye for goal.

Across 38 games in the Championship this campaign, Ahmedhodzic has been able to pick up a respectable 15 clean sheets, with his total overall donning Blades red and white in the tricky division across two campaigns coming in at a bumper 31.

Games played

72

84

Goals scored

9

6

Assists

3

1

Clean sheets

31

18

Ballard lags behind on a lesser 18 when looking at the table above, with his impressive goal tally of six also trumped by the Blades number 15, even from 12 fewer league games.

This will be a fascinating battle to take in when the Championship playoff final rolls around, with one of the two defensive enforcers having to inevitably make do with second-tier life again.

The £14m-rated colossus will be praying he’s the lucky centre-back that returns to the Premier League, but anything can happen when the nerves are ramped up.

Sheffield United struck gold on "unbelievable" star whose value's risen £5m

This Sheffield United ace will be hopeful of his chances of playing in the Premier League next season.

ByKelan Sarson May 14, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur travel to face Liverpool at Anfield this afternoon, with Arne Slot’s side needing just a single point to secure the Premier League title.

Ange Postecoglou’s men will be looking to put a dent in their title ambitions, looking to pick up some momentum ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final first leg against Bodo Glimt.

Given the lowly league standing in 2024/25, there’s no denying that all the attention will be on European football, with the competition giving the side a great chance to end the year with a trophy.

Such dismal form has led to questions being asked about the future of the Aussie in North London, with a triumph in Europe certainly bolstering his chances of remaining in charge next season.

However, if he wants to claim an unlikely win over Slot’s men this afternoon, he desperately needs to drop one player from his starting eleven after his showing against Nottingham Forest on Monday.

Why Ange needs to drop Sarr against Liverpool

Midfielder Pape Matar Sarr was recalled to the starting eleven against Forest, but failed to take advantage of the opportunity handed his way by Postecoglou.

The Senegalese international featured for 81 minutes of the defeat in North London before being replaced by youngster Lucas Bergvall – deservedly so after his own showing.

He failed to complete any of the three crosses he attempted against Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, whilst failing to win a single tackle – failing to have the desired impact at either end of the pitch.

Along with the aforementioned stats, Sarr also lost 100% of the aerial duels he entered, unable to stop the visitors from claiming all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

After such a showing, Postecoglou simply must drop him ahead of today’s clash, handing a rare start to one player in his preferred position after featuring elsewhere in 2024/25.

The player who Ange needs to start against Liverpool today

With the Europa League game certainly Spurs’ main focus for the remainder of the campaign, Ange needs to rotate his side to maintain fresh legs throughout the squad.

Injuries have already hampered the side in key moments of the season, especially in defence with the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both spending extended spells on the sidelines.

Such spells have undoubtedly contributed to their lowly league standing in 2024/25, with various players having to stand in at the back temporarily throughout the season.

Archie Gray is just one player to operate at the heart of the defence, doing so excellently given his tender age of 19 – deserving of an opportunity to operate in his familiar position.

The youngster, who’s been labelled “sensational” by one analyst, has started 14 games in the league since his move in the summer, the vast majority of which have been at the back.

When delving into his stats from the league, he’s managed to star despite the unfamiliar role, with Ange needing to rotate his pack and offering the teenager needed minutes in his natural position to continue his development.

Gray has completed 91% of the passes he’s attempted to date, completing an average of 59 passes per 90 – having the tools to succeed in such a role based upon those figures.

Archie Gray’s stats for Spurs in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	23
Games started	14
Passes completed	91%
Passes per game	59
Tackles won	50%
Dribbles completed	50%
Recoveries made	3.8
Stats via FotMob

He’s also completed 50% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst also winning 50% of the tackles he’s entered – potentially being the perfect box-to-box option in the Aussie’s system in North London.

Even though today’s clash is one of little importance to Spurs given their league position, they will want to gain some momentum ahead of the crunch Europa League meeting.

If they are to stand any chance of doing that, Gray needs to be handed a rare start, handing him the opportunity to showcase his talents ahead of the vital clash for the Aussie’s future at the club.

Spurs can forget Guehi & Huijsen by unleashing "monster" 18-year-old star

The “freak talent” could be a star for Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 25, 2025

Manchester City are now preparing an offer for an “excellent creator”, as Pep Guardiola believes the midfielder would be a perfect fit in his system, according to a report.

Man City eyeing Kevin De Bruyne replacement

Kevin De Bruyne’s time at the Etihad Stadium is set to come to an end this summer, and there is now a feeling he could end up remaining in the Premier League, as Aston Villa are ready to back Unai Emery with a move for the Belgian.

As such, Guardiola will be tasked with bringing in a replacement for De Bruyne at the end of the campaign, and a number of top-level attacking midfielders have been identified as potential targets, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue recently emerging as an option.

Doue will not come cheap, with the Blues preparing a £102m offer for the Frenchman, and he is not the only expensive signing they are considering, as Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is also of interest, and the £129m German would be keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium.

Development: Man City now close in on move to sign "world-class" £54m star

The Blues have received a boost in their pursuit of a defender, who they are expected to make a move for this summer.

ByDominic Lund Apr 29, 2025

Man City have set their sights on some renowned attacking midfielders from across Europe, but there is also an indication they may take a gamble on an up-and-coming talent, with a report from Spain revealing they are preparing a super offer for River Plate’s Franco Mastantuono.

Guardiola believes Mastantuono would be a perfect fit for his system, which means City chiefs are now seriously considering making a big offer for the 17-year-old, who has caught the eye with his performances for River Plate this season.

A number of other major clubs have set their sights on the Argentine, including Manchester United, but he is protected by a €45m (£38m) release clause and isn’t expected to leave his current club until 2026 at the earliest.

"Excellent" Mastantuono could be De Bruyne heir

De Bruyne has a remarkable assist record during his time with City, setting up 177 goals in 417 games, so it will be a very difficult task to replace the 33-year-old, but there are signs the River Plate youngster could be the ideal heir.

Football scout Ben Mattinson believes the teenager is an impressive playmaker, while also taking the time to praise his ability from free-kicks.

Most recently, the starlet scored a remarkable free-kick for River Plate in his side’s 2-1 victory against bitter rivals Boca Juniors.

At 17-years-old, it would be a tall order for Mastantuono to replace De Bruyne any time soon, but there is every indication that he could be a future star.

Molineux was a rather toxic place to be towards the end of Gary O’Neil’s bumpy Wolverhampton Wanderers stint, with the 41-year-old ending his turbulent reign with the club sat in a miserable 19th spot.

Now, however, the feel-good factor has more than returned to proceedings, with O’Neil’s replacement in Vitor Pereira successfully guiding Wolves away from any relegation danger by picking up an impressive 12 victories from 23 games in charge.

He has, of course, stamped his own authority onto the Wolves squad across those 23 clashes, but one of O’Neil’s favourites in Matheus Cunha has continued to deliver sublime displays even with the Portuguese manager taking up the helm.

The unbelievable success story of Cunha at Wolves

It was the manager before O’Neil’s arrival on the scene in Julen Lopetegui that would originally purchase the standout Brazilian, with the £35m deal to land Cunha back in 2023 – after an initial loan switch – looking more and more of a golden capture by the day.

He didn’t instantly hit the ground running in his new location, however, with only two goals amassed from his first 17 appearances at Molineux, but the trust and patience handed out to the 25-year-old at the time must have shaped him to become the spellbinding performer he is now.

Every outrageous skill Cunha attempts is seemingly coming off for him at the moment, with the South American’s new-found clinical nature in-front of goal – away from his constant trickery – further firming up his status as a fan’s favourite, seen in the forward bagging a colossal 19 strikes and counting this season in all competitions.

It will be a tall order for Pereira’s men to keep a firm grip on Cunha heading into the summer with Manchester United reportedly close to agreeing a deal for the enthralling 25-year-old.

But, the former Al Shabab boss could now have stumbled across his club’s best buy in the transfer market since the Brazilian with one commanding warrior.

Wolves' best buy since Cunha

Whilst Wolves always looked like a danger up top with O’Neil in the dugout, his disastrous defensive record as manager left a lot to be desired.

Staggeringly, O’Neil’s Old Gold would go on to ship a worrying 178 goals in total from the 100 games he was in charge of, leaving Pereira in a spot of bother upon his arrival in trying to fix his new team’s leakiness.

The answer to Wolves’ woes all along was to bring in some fresh blood in the defensive areas in January.

Former Stade Reims centre-back Emmanuel Agbadou entered through the door for a reasonable £16.6m and has become an instant upgrade on the personnel that came before him. Wolves are fine in attack, let’s be honest, but the way in which Agbadou has solved some of their key issues makes him one of their finest signings in recent signs.

Indeed, the imposing but calm 27-year-old has barely put a foot wrong since relocating to English shores, leading to him becoming a deserved stalwart of Pereira’s new look lineups.

Agbadou’s league numbers for Wolves (24/25)

Stat (* = per game)

Agbadou

Games played

14

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches*

74.7

Accurate passes*

52.9 (86%)

Ball recoveries*

5.1

Clearances*

5.8

Total duels won*

4.6

Clean sheets

4

Stats by Sofascore

Agbadou has seamlessly fit into his new environment from day one, with the 6 foot 4 enforcer instantly putting his towering frame to good use by winning a high 4.6 duels per game from 14 difficult league contests, on top of collecting a promising four clean sheets along the way.

To add further context, a declining Craig Dawson from a similar pool of 15 league games this season would only collect one pitiful clean sheet, on top of only winning a far lower 2.8 duels on average.

The “phenomenal” Ivorian – as he was recently labelled on the Wolfpack podcast – could have even more in his locker to come as he adds more Premier League experience, with Cunha before him needing adequate time to explode into life.

Much like the Red Devils target too, Agbadou has managed to transform his team’s fortunes in a key area of the pitch, with the potential down the line for the 27-year-old to also be moving on from Wolves for way more than his original £16.6m price-tag.

Related Wolves flop is now a Ballon d'Or contender and a bigger name than Cunha

Wolverhampton Wanderers must surely rue losing this talent who is now arguably better than Matheus Cunha.

Posts 1 ByKelan Sarson May 12, 2025

Despite their struggles at times this season, Wolverhampton Wanderers have been fairly consistent in front of goal. They currently sit in the middle of the pack when it comes to goals scored in the Premier League, and their 51 strikes is more than seven clubs.

According to Understat, the Old Gold have massively overachieved in their expected goals tally this term.

The metric currently has Vitor Pereira’s side at 42.83 xG, meaning they have scored 8.17 more goals than they should have. It is also the biggest overachievement on expected goals this season by any Premier League club, and by some distance.

If there is one man who has helped them to overperform so much, it is undoubtedly Mathues Cunha.

Cunha's form this season and his Wolves future

It has been yet another unbelievable campaign for Old Gold talisman Cunha. Their number 10 has been sensational for the second consecutive year, helping to keep them in the Premier League and dragging the club through tough times on the pitch around Christmas.

The 25-year-old, who is an Olympic Gold medalist with Brazil, has bagged 15 goals and managed six assists in 31 Premier League games this season. His 17 goals in all competitions are the club’s most, with Jorgen Strand Larsen the only other player in double figures.

He has put in some excellent performances, including one goal and two assists against Leicester City just weeks ago. However, perhaps his most significant was a goal and an assist against Manchester United in December, in a 2-0 win at Molineux.

However, the Old Gold forward, who has become a star at Molineux over the last two seasons, may not be able to call himself a Wolves player much longer.

A few days ago, Fabrizio Romano reported that ‘talks remain ongoing’ for Manchester United to sign him this summer, who explained ‘deal remains at advanced stages’, which suggests it will be done soon enough.

It does not appear that Cunha will stay at Wolves beyond this season, so they will need to replace his goals. They have recently been linked with someone who could do just that.

Wolves' ideal Cunha replacement

If Cunha does love Molinuex, which does seem likely at this stage, then a shock move for Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth, who has previously played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace, could be on the cards for Wolves.

Caught Offside reported earlier this week that he is ‘attracting interest from the Premier League’, with Wolves, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa all linked with a move. The price is not clear at this stage, but he cost the Spaniards £27m last season, so it could well be around the same number.

If the Old Gold are looking for someone to help them forget about losing Cunha, Sorloth could be that guy.

He has been excellent for Atleti in 2024/25, scoring 17 goals and grabbing two assists in 32 appearances. Earlier in the season, Dougie Critchley described him as “sensational”, and it is easy to see why.

The Norwegian made headlines recently for scoring an incredible four goals in 30 minutes in Atleti’s 4-0 La Liga win over Real Sociedad. After just 11 minutes, he already had a hat-trick, in one of the most eye-catching performances of the season.

It is for reasons like that, as to why Sorloth could be the perfect man to step into Cunha’s shoes. There are stats, via FBref, which suggest he can take on the mantle of scoring consistent goals for the Old Gold.

For example, he averages 1.09 goals and 0.55 goals per shot on target per 90 minutes. Comparatively, Cunha averages 0.54 goals and 0.37 goals per shot on target each game.

Goals

1.09

0.54

Shot on target %

45.3%

41.4%

Goals per shot

0.25

0.15

Goals per shot on target

0.55

0.37

Expected goals

0.81xG

0.29xG

Earlier, Wolves’ overachievement on expected goals was referenced, and that is certainly something that stands out for Sorloth. He is overachieving on expected goals by 0.28 per game this season, showing that he, too, can help maintain such a record.

There is no doubt about it, Cunha would be a big loss for the Old Gold. However, replacing him with such a clinical player like Sorloth, who can maintain such an impressive goal scoring rate, would be excellent business.

He can help fill the Neto void: Wolves looking to sign "special" £50m star

Wolves have joined a host of clubs in eyeing a move for a Premier League midfielder

ByRoss Kilvington May 12, 2025

Everton are in the market for signings this summer, with a raft of first-teamers set to depart when their deals at Goodison Park expire in a few months.

Bramley Moore awaits, and the Toffees appear to be ready to use the change of scenery as more than just a symbolic shift: this is a new era, and hopefully, a new Everton.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin may yet renew his deal, but with Armando Broja set to depart after a disappointing loan spell and Beto attracting plenty of attention from overseas in the recent past, signing a new centre-forward is going to be one of David Moyes’ priorities.

Everton chasing new striker

According to iNews’ Mark Douglas, Moyes is to be handed the powers to enforce a series of changes to his squad this summer, with sights set on rising up the Premier League ladder next year.

The Northern correspondent claims that the Toffees are ‘all in’ for Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap, who is one of the hottest commodities in England at the moment, with a £30m release clause now active following his team’s relegation.

Delap bears a throwback kind of attacking profile with a modern, technical twist, with such an approach suggesting that he could be Moyes’ next version of Louis Saha.

Moyes' next Louis Saha

Saha made 134 appearances for Everton, scoring 34 goals across three-and-a-half seasons, signed from Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.

Delap, while his own man, bears a similar kind of profile and could thrive under Moyes as the Scotsman’s next version of the dynamic striker.

Having joined Ipswich from Manchester City’s academy in a £20m deal last summer, the number nine has been the biggest success story from a frustrating campaign for the freshly-promoted side.

His commanding displays up top have given Kieran McKenna’s side a focal point, one which, more often than not, will finish the chances provided and indeed gave Ipswich a fighting chance of retaining their top-flight status.

Liam Delap – Premier League Stats (24/25)
Stats (* per game)	#
Matches (starts)	33 (30)
Goals	12
Assists	2
Shots (on target)*	1.9 (0.9)
Big chances missed	10
Pass completion	62%
Key passes*	0.6
Dribbles*	1.2
Duels won*	4.5
Stats via Sofascore

As per FBref, the Englishman even ranks among the top 15% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, highlighting his capacity to drive forward with powerful and confident strides.

This is further backed up by Opta Analyst, who described him as a “one-man battering ram” for the Tractor Boys earlier in the season.

His roundedness certainly carries similarities to Saha.

Regarded as the complete striker, Saha’s link-up play, pace and power allowed him to establish himself as one of the most talented forwards in England, only thwarted by recurrent injury problems throughout his career. Wayne Rooney even stated once that the Frenchman was his favourite strike partner.

Delap is endowed with similar athletic and technical properties, and after flourishing for a side fighting relegation all year, he could take his game to the next level as the talisman of an Everton side that, whisper it quietly, is on the rise.

A massive Beto upgrade: Everton enter talks to sign "phenomenal" star

Everton are making moves to land a new striker for David Moyes ahead of the summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 1, 2025

This summer is huge for Leeds United if they are to maintain their Premier League status after securing promotion from the Championship at the end of the season.

The Whites secured the title after registering a total of 100 points, edging out Scott Parker’s Burnley on goal difference on the final day of the campaign.

However, Daniel Farke has a massive task on his hands to keep them in the top-flight, with each team promoted in the last two campaigns all dropping back to their second tier at the first attempt.

If the club are to avoid being the next team on that list, investment is desperately needed in the squad at Elland Road to try and be competitive in what’s becoming a tricky division to perform in for newly-promoted outfits.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, the hierarchy have wasted no time in making moves in the transfer market to hand the manager with the tools he needs to survive in 2025/26.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new signings this summer

With the gap growing year-on-year in the Premier League, quality and experienced additions are needed to help Leeds be on the right side of the dotted line come May 2026.

The likes of Kyle Walker-Peters, Vladimir Coufal and Sean Longstaff have all been linked with a move to Elland Road – with all three having key experience in England’s top-flight.

However, a younger option has also been thrown into the mix in the form of Manchester City’s James McAtee, that’s according to TEAMtalk’s latest update.

Their report claims that the Whites have returned with an enquiry to land the 22-year-old after previously trying to make a move to sign him on loan last summer.

It also states that Pep Guardiola’s side have placed a £35m price tag on his head ahead of the upcoming window, with Nottingham Forest said to be edging Farke’s side in the hunt for his signature.

Why Leeds’ £35m target could be Farke’s next Buendia

During Farke’s previous rodeos in securing promotion from the second tier, he often relied on Argentine midfielder Emi Buendia, who starred during his spell under the German.

The attacking midfielder spent three years playing under his management, undoubtedly playing the best football of his career when playing for him at the Canaries.

He registered 59 combined league goals and assists during his three years at Carrow Road, undoubtedly being the manager’s shining light and main source of creativity.

Buendia was even linked with a switch to link up with his former boss at Elland Road during the January transfer window, but a move never materialised with the 28-year-old moving to Bayer Leverkusen on loan instead.

However, he could be about to land his next version of the star this summer with a deal for McAtee, with the City ace having the tools to produce the goods in Yorkshire.

The 22-year-old, who’s been labelled “special” by current boss Guardiola, has scored seven goals across all competitions this campaign, able to hand the Whites the added threat in the final third.

His underlying stats have been just as impressive, registering 3.9 shots per 90, with 1.9 of which on target – highlighting his impressive nature in front of goal.

Games played

27

Goals scored

7

Pass accuracy

84%

Shots taken

3.9

Shots on target

1.9

Chances created

1.2

Touches in opposition box

5.8

He’s also managed to provide the goods for other teammates in the final third, completing 84% of the passes he’s attempted to date – creating 1.2 chances per 90, able to create carnage just like Buendia did under Farke’s guidance at Norwich.

Whilst £35m could be a huge fee for such a young talent, it’s a deal worth pursuing for the Whites, having the potential to burst onto the scene and explode under the manager’s guidance.

McAtee has already demonstrated with limited minutes at the Etihad this season that he’s capable of producing the goods, potentially taking his game to the next level with consistent minutes under Farke in Yorkshire.

Huge Byram upgrade: Leeds make contact to sign £15m-rated star for free

Leeds United could land an upgrade on Sam Byram by signing this Premier League defender.

1 ByDan Emery May 15, 2025

Manchester United’s Europa League final woes have not only exposed the task at hand for manager Ruben Amorim moving forward, but have also put the decisions of the previous regime even further under the microscope.

Indeed, on Wednesday night, goalkeeper Andre Onana couldn’t keep out Brennan Johnson’s scruffy effort, with the Cameroonian hardly inspiring much confidence in a season in which he has made five errors leading to a goal in Europe and in the Premier League combined.

In attack, meanwhile, the decision to start Mason Mount failed to work out, with the Englishman producing an ineffective performance in which he was restricted to even fewer touches than Onana, with just 25 in total.

Ahead of the ex-Chelsea man, Rasmus Hojlund was even more peripheral as he recorded just 15 touches of his own, with the Dane again firing a blank in a season in which he has scored just ten times in total.

The common thread between that trio? Well, they were all signed in what now looks like a sliding doors summer for the Red Devils in 2023. Fresh off the back of a promising first campaign under Erik ten Hag that yielded a third-placed finish and Carabao Cup success, the club needed to kick on again with marquee moves.

The likes of Harry Kane were touted, although Hojlund and co arrived instead – the Old Trafford side are still paying the price for that decision…

Analysing Hojlund's two seasons at Man Utd

For all the talk of Kane, for a fleeting moment it looked like the correct call had been made by plumping for the youthful Hojlund, with the £64m signing – rising to £72m – enjoying an impressive cameo on debut against Arsenal.

Unleashed off the bench, the promising speedster ran Gabriel and William Saliba ragged, playing his part in the eventually disallowed ‘winner’ from Alejandro Garnacho, while drawing a clumsy foul from the former that surprisingly didn’t result in a penalty.

That bright start culminated in a standout Champions League group stage run that yielded five goals, including a breakaway effort against Galatasaray that even sparked comparisons to a certain Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Frustratingly, however, it took until Boxing Day for Hojlund to notch a first top-flight goal for the club, albeit with that breakthrough sparking a run of seven goals in just six games at the turn of the year.

Despite ultimately ending 2023/24 as the top scorer for Ten Hag across all fronts, injuries and a lack of consistency saw him slip out of the starting lineup as the campaign progressed, with the Dutch coach opting for a strikerless system in the FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City.

Perhaps, on reflection, Amorim should well have attempted a similar tweak in recent weeks, with Hojlund coming to the end of a simply wretched campaign that has yielded only four league goals.

In truth, as last season showcased, the 22-year-old does appear more effective in Europe, although even then his impact has largely come in bursts, notably netting four times across successive outings against Bodo/Glimt and Viktoria Plzen.

A streaky striker, and an expensive one at that, the former Atalanta man could be set for a swift return to Serie A this summer by all accounts, having failed to live up to expectations and the burden of being United’s leading number nine.

For all the frustration over what now looks like a costly mistake, it’s fair to say that Hojlund – who has 26 goals in 94 games – isn’t the biggest transfer misfire of the last decade or so…

Man Utd's bigger mistake than Hojlund

Dishing out £64m on a player who had scored just ten goals in Italy the year prior remains a simply headscratching decision, although so too does forking out £86m to sign Antony a year earlier.

Reportedly valued at around £25m at one stage, amid prior interest during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure, the Brazilian was earmarked as a key signing for Ten Hag in the summer of 2022, amid their prior relationship at Ajax.

With that window quickly heading to a close, and United losing their opening two games under the new boss, the desperate decision was made to plump for Casemiro and then Antony at the death, with the latter man arriving on deadline day.

Despite a lively start, which yielded three goals in his first three league appearances, the 24-year-old has been simply a disaster since then, with pundit Micah Richards notably highlighting his “lazy” approach in the dismal 7-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.

An at-times headless and petulant presence on the pitch, Antony was also dubbed “embarrassing” by club legend Gary Neville for kicking out at Jeremy Doku in the final knockings of the 3-0 Manchester Derby defeat last term, a moment that could well have resulted in a red card.

Antony

96

12

5

17

Anthony Elanga

55

4

4

8

Amad

63

13

11

22

Jadon Sancho

83

12

6

18

Alejandro Garnacho

144

26

22

45

Dan James

74

9

9

18

Angel Di Maria

34

4

12

16

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

63

13

11

24

Memphis Depay

53

7

6

13

Of course, there has been the odd bright moment – such as his Europa League efforts against Barcelona and Real Betis – yet those have been few and far between, with the exiled winger racking up just 17 goals and assists in 95 games for the club to date. To put that into perspective, even Jadon Sancho boasts a better return, with 18 goal involvements in 83 games.

Like Sancho, Antony is now something of a forgotten man after being shipped out on loan, with not even his mini-revival at Betis enough to spark hope of a fresh start in Manchester next season, despite scoring eight times in just 24 games in Spain.

As revealed by the MEN, even while a review of the current campaign and Wednesday’s showpiece defeat is likely to take place, the priority at present is cashing in on Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony, with funds needed to spark yet another rebuild at Old Trafford.

Hopefully, lessons will have been learned from the bumper deals for the likes of Hojlund and Antony, with INEOS now needing to ensure that they can at least claw back some sort of substantial fee for Ten Hag’s dismal duo.

Not just Hojlund: 4/10 dud must now never play for Man Utd again

Man Utd’s grim season ended with a whimper in Bilbao on Wednesday evening

1 ByRobbie Walls May 22, 2025

Nottingham Forest are looking for a strong finish to the season and now look to have stepped up their pursuit of a star who is being courted by a lengthy list of suitors, per reports.

Nottingham Forest still aiming for Champions League qualification

Admittedly, Nottingham Forest have lost some ground in their pursuit of Champions League football. However, Nuno Espirito Santo will still retain hope that there can be a special finish to the season at the City Ground.

Competing with the cream of the crop in the Premier League is an unenviable task. The Tricky Trees have overperformed relative to expectation, though the summer transfer window could be an opportunity to bridge the gap even further between themselves and the elite.

Making an early start on identifying targets, Nottingham Forest are now in pursuit of Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz and could be willing to match his £26 million price tag. Evangelos Marinakis is reportedly pushing to complete a deal that would see the Turkey international arrive in the East Midlands to kickstart a busy summer that could see plenty of incomings.

Offering Chris Wood support through the middle, the Tricky Trees are also in the mix to sign Yeremay Hernandez from Deportivo La Coruna, who has a release clause valued at £29 million that is set to become active.

He's perfect for Nuno: Nottingham Forest shortlist "lively" £40m striker

Forest have set their sights on a new forward, who they believe could be a perfect in Nuno’s attack.

By
Dominic Lund

Apr 29, 2025

Involvement in continental football next term will undoubtedly help Nottingham Forest’s case when it comes to putting forward convincing proposals to new recruits. For now, it remains to be seen if they can push qualification over the line.

Either way, Espirito Santo and company are now accelerating their pursuit of a prolific striker that could add another dimension in attack.

Nottingham Forest make contact regarding £30m Liam Delap

According to Football Insider, Nottingham Forest have registered their interest in Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, therefore making contact over the England Under-21’s situation at Portman Road.

Despite the Tractor Boys’ relegation to England’s second tier, the 22-year-old is expected to make an immediate return to the top flight.

Liam Delap’s impressive campaign for Ipswich Town – Premier League
Goals	12
Assists	2
Shots on target	31
Chances created	21
Aerial duels won	56
Touches in opposition box	101

His contract includes a £30m release clause, and he is also attracting interest from Manchester United and Manchester City. Everton have also made their interest known in his services.

Labelled “fantastic” by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, Delap could be joined by former youth teammate James McAtee at the City Ground amid reports the attacking midfielder is another target for Espirito Santo.

With the potential to complete a deal on the table, Nottingham Forest now face the challenge of selling themselves as an ideal environment for players to develop into Premier League stars.