Manchester United have now held internal talks over signing a former Barcelona player on a free transfer this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd eyeing cut-price deal after Europa League disaster

Of course, winning trophies is always important for a club the size of Man United, but Europa League glory was arguably even more important from a financial point of view, given that success in the competition grants qualification to the Champions League.

Having failed to qualify for Europe’s elite competition next season, United are thought to have missed out on £85m, which could hamper their ability to bring in their top targets this summer, in what could be a very important window.

That is according to Jamie Carragher, who has insisted the Red Devils will need to splash the cash to rebuild Ruben Amorim’s squad, although the former Liverpool man has doubts over whether the former Sporting CP boss is the right man for the job.

Carragher said: “Backing him means getting behind a big idea; a system of play that is uncommon among the elite of Europe, requiring specialist footballers and a squad of back-up wing-backs and centre-halves so he can play three at the back.

“It means spending big on redesigning the squad to meet Amorim’s specific needs in the knowledge that, if he underperforms again next season, his successor will most likely revert to a flat back four.”

However, it appears as though INEOS are set to stand by Amorim, and they have now set their sights on a new target, who could suit the manager’s style of play, having internally discussed a move for Wolverhampton Wanders right-wing back Nelson Semedo.

That is according to a report from Football Transfers, which states Semedo’s name has been raised during talks over Matheus Cunha, with the full-back set to leave Molineux on a free transfer this summer.

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ByDominic Lund May 26, 2025 "Outstanding" Semedo could be ideal for Amorim

The 31-year-old is accustomed to playing at right-wing-back, which could make him a good fit in Amorim’s three-at-the-back system, while his availability on a free transfer is ideal for Man United, having missed out on Champions League football.

Not only that, but the £80k-a-week Wolves star has proven himself in the Premier League over the course of a number of years, with Garth Crooks saying in the 2023-24 season: “Nelson Semedo deserved a mention as he was outstanding. His ability to get forward, but also defend with equal measure, was impressive.”

Admittedly, the former Barcelona man wouldn’t be the most exciting of signings, and there are other areas of the squad in more urgent need of strengthening, with the lack of goals from Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee a real problem.

However, Semedo could be a solid signing as a rotation option at the very least, and the fact the Portuguese defender is available on a free transfer makes him even more appealing.

Celtic are stepping up their transfer business under Brendan Rodgers and have now made their interest in an exciting attacker concrete by submitting an official bid, according to a report.

Celtic land Kieran Tierney with more bodies to follow

In what became an emotional announcement on Tuesday, Kieran Tierney has officially returned to Celtic, and the Scotland international has signalled his intent to hit the ground running at Parkhead.

“Everybody’s known for a few months and just to be here with the Celtic strip on again just feels amazing. I spoke with the manager, and obviously I had worked with him before and I’ve always kept in touch with him. He’s one of the best so I’m so lucky and grateful that he’s given me the chance to come back again.”

Kickstarting the Bhoys’ incomings, he could soon be joined by Callum Osmand as the Fulham youngster nears a move to Celtic. The Wales youth international is set to arrive from Craven Cottage for a nominal compensation fee after rejecting senior terms in West London.

Following his exploits with Scotland over the last few days, Lennon Miller has continuously been linked with the Bhoys after making a name for himself at Motherwell.

Despite heading into the final year of his deal, the Wishaw-born star is said to be valued at £7.5 million. Besiktas midfielder Demir Tiknaz has also been mentioned as an alternative amid complicated permutations involving loan club Rio Ave.

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There is a feeling that there plenty more to come at Parkhead, so it won’t come as a surprise to hear that Celtic have now submitted an offer and received a reply for another reported target.

Celtic receive reply to Nilson Angulo offer

According to Studio Futbol, Celtic have seen a formal bid rejected for Anderlecht winger Nilson Angulo and could return with a second offer to sign the Ecuador international. Several clubs around Europe are said to be privy to his situation, including Premier League giants Liverpool, who have reportedly scouted the 21-year-old during his recent time on international duty.

Nilson Angulo at Anderlecht

Appearances

64

Goals

3

Assists

3

Born in Quinininde, Angulo completed 44 dribbles on league duty last term and could be one part of a strategic effort from Brendan Rodgers to introduce further variation in the final third.

Iconic figure Jota has been ruled out for the next few months due to injury, heightening the need for reinforcements to ensure the Bhoys aren’t caught short in the wide areas.

It remains to be seen whether Celtic opt to submit an improved bid for his services, but fans can take solace either way from the fact their side are active in the market.

The Parkhead hierarchy have plenty of financial muscle to flex after another successful campaign both domestically and in Europe, so it is reasonable to expect that Rodgers will have a strong squad to pick from once the Champions League qualifiers arrive.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to tackle the summer transfer market following the confirmed arrival of Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement in the dugout.

Tottenham announce as Thomas Frank as their new manager

Spurs were repeatedly linked with Frank after chairman Daniel Levy made the tough decision to sack Postecoglou, with the Australian helping to end their 17-year wait for a major trophy but also guiding them to 22 Premier League defeats last season.

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On Thursday evening, Frank was officially unveiled as the Lilywhites’ fifth manager since 2019, after Spurs triggered his £10 million release clause and reached an agreement on his backroom staff.

“Thomas has extensive experience in English football having joined Brentford in 2016 – since becoming one of the longest-serving current managers in the Premier League,” a club statement said.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

“During his time at Brentford he transformed the Club, moving them up from the Championship to an established Premier League side, consistently and significantly outperforming expectations for an extended period of time.

“In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game. He has a proven track record in player and squad development, and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead.”

On paper, Frank is arguably a perfect for the north Londoners, having worked wonders with limited resources at Brentford whilst also operating under a data-driven recruitment model.

However, the Dane also has zero experience managing a team of this magnitude, nor does he boast any silverware or Champions League know-how, yet he is the man who is about to lead Tottenham into Europe’s most prestigious competition next term.

If Frank is to become a success at Spurs, Levy will need to back him in the transfer market, and this summer is set to be another crucial one.

Frank’s side are reportedly trying to hijack Man United’s move for Bryan Mbeumo, but that is not all.

The 51-year-old has already recommended Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to Tottenham, according to GiveMeSport, and it is now reported that he’s also a fan of Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White.

Thomas Frank "pushing" Tottenham to move for Morgan Gibbs-White

That is according to journalist Sebastien Vidal, who claims that Frank is “pushing” for Tottenham to sign Gibbs-White in a “statement” move.

The England international, despite this report that a £51 million deal is possible, is likely to cost far more. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have him under contract for another two years, with other reports claiming Forest could demand as much as £100 million for him this summer.

Gibbs-White was a superstar player for Forest during their unlikely push for Champions League football last season, bagging seven goals and 10 assists in all competitions, so Spurs will have to seriously dig deep into their pockets to get them talking.

While there was nothing riding on Sunday afternoon’s game between Arsenal and Southampton, it was still a frustrating match for the Gunners, one that told the story of how this season has gone.

Draws have been Mikel Arteta’s downfall, as have conceding from set-pieces. A draw looked likely until the 90th minute when Martin Odegaard fired home a rare goal, but that defensive ineptitude from set-plays came back to bite them again.

The visitors took the lead through Kieran Tierney but a second-half goal from Ross Stewart at a corner looked as though it has handed the Saints just their 13th point of an arduous campaign.

Truth be told, Southampton deserved to take something from the game for all their endeavour, but in a classic tale of their own season, they couldn’t hold on.

So, what do we discuss from this one? Perhaps we’ll start with a host of farewells for those at Arsenal.

Arsenal's triumphant send off

It’s safe to say this was not the strongest of lineups from Arteta, who selected the aforementioned Tierney at centre-half, Ethan Nwaneri on the right and Raheem Sterling on the left. Oleksandr Zinchenko even featured at left-back.

The performance of all four of those players was rather mixed, although for Tierney, it was a heroic send off.

The Scot is set to leave the Emirates Stadium behind this summer at the conclusion of his contract and having appeared in front of the home support one last time a week ago, concluded his Arsenal journey with a goal on Sunday.

What he was doing popping up inside the box is anyone’s guess but the defender got across his man and steered the ball home from close range after Ben White had picked him out.

While Tierney enjoyed his final day in Arsenal colours, Sterling certainly did not.

Upon signing for the club, he revealed that we were ‘going to see the best’ of him. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

The winger, on loan from Chelsea, is set to return to his parent club and will do so having failed to score in the Premier League all season.

His performance at St Mary’s summed up his sorry loan spell. The England international had just a solitary shot and didn’t create a key pass before he was subbed off in the 63rd minute.

Minutes played

63

Touches

30

Accurate passes

15/15

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/1

Shots on target

0

Shots off target

1

Successful dribbles

1/2

Possession lost

4x

Tackles

1

Elsewhere, it may also have been a final day out in Arsenal colours for Thomas Partey, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

Reports suggest that the club would like to keep him in north London but there has been no breakthrough in contract talks just yet.

Of the rest of the Arsenal starters, it feels likely that it was Zinchenko’s final outing too.

Chalkboard

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

Why Arsenal must get rid of Zinchenko

When the £30m Ukrainian signed for the club in 2022, it marked a bit of a revolution in the Arteta era.

He joined alongside Gabriel Jesus that summer from Manchester City and it looked like the two missing pieces of the jigsaw had been added.

Zinchenko was a fine addition and looked a million dollars playing in that inverted full-back role. However, as voiced by certain sections of the media, he has proven himself to be too much of a “liability” from a defensive point of view.

You can’t criticise the left-back’s technique or touch. That was evident against Southampton when he plucked a high ball out of the sky with remarkable composure, stopping it dead in his feet. He didn’t do a whole lot wrong this weekend, but then again, he also didn’t produce anything too positive against the division’s worst side.

Minutes played

70

Touches

86

Accurate passes

60/63 (95%)

Key passes

1

Accurate crosses

2/3

Ground duels won

2/3

Aerial duels won

1/1

Possession lost

6x

Interceptions

1

Tackles

2

At the technical side of the game, he is outstanding; very few left-backs can do what he does. Sadly for the 28-year-old, his time at the club is likely now going to come to an end.

Back in January, the Ukraine international was attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund but whether their interest is still there, remains to be seen.

Zinchenko would undoubtedly still make for a fine squad player, although with the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly and the presence of Riccardo Calafiori, he simply isn’t going to get much game time.

It perhaps said it all on Sunday that without Odegaard starting, Arteta preferred Nwaneri as the more advanced midfielder, rather than Zinchenko, something the manager had tried with relative success in games against PSV Eindhoven and Brentford in the latter stages of the season.

While he did score against PSV, that is now likely to be his last goal in the red and white of Arsenal.

After 91 appearances for the Londoners, it’s time for him to move on.

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Liverpool’s defence played a huge role in their ability to claim the Premier League title this season, offering Arne Slot a strong foundation to build his side off.

The Reds conceded just 41 times in their 38 outings, with only runners-up Arsenal conceding fewer goals, with their impressive tally of 34, highlighting how impressive Slot’s backline were in 2024/25.

They also kept 14 clean sheets – the most of any side in the division – with the ability to keep the ball out of the net playing a massive role in their success within England’s top flight.

Such a department has been boosted massively over the past few months, after club captain Virgil van Dijk signed a new two-year deal at Anfield, extending his stint on Merseyside to just under a decade.

Despite the Dutchman signing a new deal, the hierarchy have wasted no time in targeting other players in such an area to help the side in their quest to retain their title.

The latest on Liverpool’s hunt for new defenders this summer

With Jeremie Frimpong already agreeing a move to join Liverpool this summer, the club have wasted no time in landing a replacement for the outgoing Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Milos Kerkez is another name who looks set to make the switch to Merseyside this summer, with the Hungarian in advanced talks over a switch to Anfield – potentially costing a fee in the region of £45m.

The pair could be joined by another defensive reinforcement, in the form of Rennes centre-back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, according to Moroccan outlet Le360 Sport.

They claim that the Reds have already made a concrete offer to sign the 19-year-old, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Ligue 2 outfit Amiens.

It also states that Newcastle are also interested in the teenage star, with Slot’s men the only side to present a bid for his signature, but doesn’t reveal how much the proposal is for the youngster.

Why Liverpool’s latest target would be Slot’s own Huijsen

Over the last couple of months, Liverpool have been keeping a close eye on the progress of Spanish centre-back Dean Huijsen after his impressive stint at Bournemouth this season.

The 20-year-old featured in 32 league games for the Cherries in the Premier League, scoring on three occasions, even winning their Player of the Year award.

Such form led to the Reds’ hierarchy meeting with the defender’s representatives a couple of weeks ago, but he rejected a stay in England to return to Spain in favour of a £50m move to Real Madrid.

Undoubtedly, his decision to move to the LaLiga outfit has been a blow for Slot’s side, but they could land their own version of Huijsen this summer, in the form of current target Ait Boudlal.

The Moroccan could follow suit of the Spaniard, who achieved his move to the Premier League after spending a stint on loan at Roma from Juventus, plying his trade for another team in Italy before getting his chance to shine.

The Rennes ace has done the same this campaign in France, moving to Amiens and gaining valuable minutes to aid his progression at the top end of the professional game.

Should he move to Liverpool this summer, Ait Boudlal would have the potential to emulate Huijsen’s levels in the Premier League, offering needed depth to Slot at the heart of the defence.

Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal’s stats on loan at Amiens (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	9
Goals & assists	1
Pass accuracy	83%
Dribble success	60%
Tackles won	47%
Aerials won	2.3
Total duels won	4.9
Stats via FotMob

His stats this season highlight the talent he possesses, having the ability to improve massively under his guidance in the years ahead, especially considering his tender age.

Ait Boudlal, who’s been labelled “complete” by talent scout Antonio Mango, has already been a regular at multiple levels of the internal setup within his country – having a huge part to play in their future success at competitions such as AFCON.

It would certainly be a signing for the future, but the signs are there for the teenager to follow suit of Huijsen and make a sensational switch to England from Rennes this summer.

It’s unclear how much a deal would set the hierarchy back in the coming months, but if he manages to get anywhere close to the levels produced by the Spaniard, it would be a bargain and one that could hand the club a huge talent in their quest for title glory.

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Nottingham Forest have now made an approach to sign a Champions League “gladiator” for free, according to a recent report.

Ins and outs expected as Forest prepare for Europe

The first part of the summer transfer window has just closed, but that doesn’t mean clubs are not actively working on transfers in time for when the window reopens again on Monday June 16. Forest are expected to be very busy this summer, as they prepare for European football and look to continue their fine 2024/25 form into the new campaign.

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Already the Reds have agreed to let one player leave the City Ground, as Fabrizio Romano has reported that Lyon have reached an agreement with Forest to sign goalkeeper Matt Turner. The French side are willing to pay €8 million, which is roughly £6.7 million.

He may not be the only exit on the cards, as it’s been reported that Newcastle United have made contact with Forest over signing Anthony Elanga. The Magpies tried to sign the Sweden international last summer but failed, and they are now looking to wrap up a deal 12 months on.

The Reds are of course also working on incomings, and while they work on a potential deal for midfielder Douglas Luiz, they are also keeping an eye on Lucas Cepeda from Chilean top flight side Colo-Colo. The winger is said to have a release clause of just £4 million and is interested in making the step up to a major European League.

Nottingham Forest submit offer for Reinildo

Forest just announced their retained list this week and revealed Harry Toffolo would be leaving following the expiration of his contract. It now appears as though the club have already found his potential replacement, as according to reporter Ben Jacobs, Forest have submitted an offer to sign left-back Reinildo on a free transfer.

The 31-year-old currently plays for Spanish giants Atlético Madrid and has done so since January 2022. The defender’s contract has been extended to the beginning of August, so he can participate in the Club World Cup for Atlético. But after that, he looks set to leave the club, and as well as Forest, Sunderland and Leeds have made approaches over a potential deal, as well as teams from Saudi Arabia.

The 49-cap Mozambique captain, who has been dubbed a “true gladiator” by scout Jacek Kulig, has struggled to be a regular in Madrid. He finished the 2024/25 campaign having played 29 games in all competitions, 19 of which came in La Liga, regularly from the substitutes’ bench.

Apps

19

Starts

10

Clean sheets

4

Interceptions per game

0.8

Tackles per game

0.9

Balls recovered per game

2.7

Clearances per game

1.7

Duels won per game

2.6 (49%)

With Toffolo leaving and Alex Moreno returning to Aston Villa, it means Forest don’t have a recognised natural left-back in their squad, and therefore, there may be some urgency in beating the likes of Leeds and Sunderland to the signature of Reinildo, especially given his experience in European football.

Crystal Palace are now in talks over signing a 32-year-old international on a free transfer, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace stepping up transfer plans

The Eagles have been waiting for clarification on their participation in the Europa League for next season, and with reports now emerging that they could be allowed in the competition, the club are likely to go ahead with their transfer business.

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It’s already been reported in the early parts of this transfer window that Palace have made an approach to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting. The Portuguese side want £40 million for his services, and his arrival could be seen as a replacement for Marc Guehi, who is continuing to be linked with a move to Newcastle United.

In fact, Andrew Musgrove has now revealed that Palace could be open to the idea of letting Guehi leave as long as they get Matt Target in a swap deal. That is because Ben Chillwell has returned to Chelsea, and the Eagles want another option behind Tyrick Mitchell, with some cash coming their way as well.

They are not the only defenders the club are looking at, as it’s also been reported by The Sun that Oliver Glasner is pushing the South Londoners to sign Strahinja Pavlovic from AC Milan. Glasner is a big fan, and while Milan value the Serbian at £40 million, Palace may look to start the bidding at around the £25 million mark.

Crystal Palace now in talks to sign goalkeeper Walter Benitez

It appears that Glasner wants to strengthen the spine of his team, as according to reporter Uriel Lugt, relayed by Ben Jacobs, Crystal Palace are also in talks to sign goalkeeper Walter Benitez.

The 32-year-old has been at Dutch side PSV Eindhoven since July 2022, but he is now coming to the end of his contract this month, and the Eagles are looking to swoop in and sign him on a free.

Benitez has been a regular in the PSV side since joining the club and, in the last two seasons, has been a key performer in the club winning the Eredivisie, the Dutch Cup and the Dutch Super Cup. In the 2024/25 season, Benitez, who has been capped by Argentina, kept nine clean sheets in 34 league games.

Walter Benitez’s PSV stats

Apps

134

Goals conceded

152

Clean sheets

43

His potential arrival at Selhurst Park would see him go up against Dean Henderson for the number one spot. That is because Matt Turner’s loan spell at Palace has now come to an end after playing just four games for the club, which all came in the cup competitions.

Despite being older, Benitez may be seen as an upgrade to Turner, as his experience and track record of winning and playing in Europe is something that Glasner will want to have more of in his squad as they look ahead to the 2025/26 season.

Cursory comments regarding Newcastle United’s wealth must be frustrating for the Toon faithful, and indeed the powers that be at St. James’ Park.

While several divisional rivals have struggled to direct their hosepipe stream of transfer funds over the past several years, Newcastle have been diligent and calculated under the wing of Eddie Howe.

However, last summer’s window left plenty to be desired. In that regard, it’s all the more remarkable that Howe led his Magpies to glory in the Carabao Cup and sealed a place in next season’s Champions League proper after finishing fifth in the Premier League.

With talisman Alexander Isak expected to stay put now that Newcastle have registered themselves for a return to Europe’s elite stage, focus has turned to a right-sided forward.

However, Newcastle have already hit a bump in the road on that front.

Newcastle's search for a right winger

The overload of reports on the matter has made it clear for a while that Newcastle have held a vested interest in Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, one of the Premier League’s standout stars last season.

1.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

2.

Alexander Isak

34

23

3.

Erling Haaland

31

22

4.

Chris Wood

36

20

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

38

20

Mbeumo finished fourth in the goalscoring charts, no doubt contented with his placement given the calibre of those ahead of him, and he would have added quite the dimension to Howe’s brood, had he not rejected interest from Newcastle and a host of further suitors.

The reason? Mbeumo has chosen Manchester United as his desired new stomping ground, in spite of the Red Devils finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, another interested party.

Newcastle have missed out on Mbeumo, but they could yet secure a fantastic new winger. They might even have the perfect fit, having profiled him one year ago.

Newcastle strengthen interest in winger

According to The Northern Echo, Nottingham Forest are on alert as Newcastle gear up to reinforce their interest in Anthony Elanga, who was the subject of a rejected £50m bid on transfer deadline day in August 2024.

The Tricky Trees would expect negotiations to start in a similar ballpark, though in truth, United would perhaps need to pay north of that figure, having held initial discussions this year to discuss the possibility of a deal.

While fellow Premier League forwards Joao Pedro and Antoine Semenyo are on PIF’s radar, the 23-year-old Elanga is felt to be Howe’s leading target.

What Anthony Elanga would bring to Newcastle

Nottingham Forest signed Elanga from Manchester United for a fee of £15m in July 2023, with the young forward earning scant opportunities at Old Trafford.

Two years on, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone willing to testify that the star’s decision was a bad one, instrumental in the club’s rise into European competition last year and in staving off relegation during 2023/24.

24/25 – Forest

38

6

11

23/24 – Forest

36

5

9

22/23 – Man Utd

16

0

1

21/22 – Man Utd

21

2

2

20/21 – Man Utd

2

1

0

Still only 23, remember, the Sweden international could become a bona fide star in the years to come, with a transfer to Howe’s Newcastle sure to spark an acceleration of development.

His blistering speed and powerful athleticism even suggest Elanga could bloom into Howe’s new version of Allan Saint-Maximin, though perhaps one who offers a tad more by the way of clinical output.

As per FBref, Elanga ranked among the top 6% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 10% for goal-creating actions and the top 3% for crosses per 90.

He didn’t rank that highly across ball-carrying metrics, but do not let this fool you: Elanga is one of the most electric wingers in England, simply reduced in his intensity due to Nuno Espirito’s pragmatic tactics (often hemmed in, Forest ranked 18th for possession with a 42% average).

He’s got that “X-factor pace”, all right, as was agreed by Sky Sports pundits Andy Reid and Jamie Redknapp. And in that regard, Newcastle could unearth their new version of Saint-Maximin, one who could offer more of a clinical threat than the fleet-footed Frenchman.

Saint-Maximin’s qualities have earned him cult status on Tyneside, with reporter Pete O’Rourke also noting his own “X-Factor” quality, having been hailed as a real “box of tricks” due to his frightening speed and dribbling prowess.

While his £23m transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli back in 2023 was bittersweet, Howe clearly knew what he was doing, however, with the winger posting 13 goals and 21 assists across 124 matches at Newcastle, a contribution rate of only 0.28.

Elanga, conversely, has been far more prolific in Nottingham, heaving an almost identical haul of 11 goals and 21 assists for the City Ground side, but doing so across just 82 fixtures in all competitions, a rate of 0.39.

Though Elanga wouldn’t bring the innate goalscoring quality of Mbeumo to the Newcastle fold, he could definitely make a big difference, promoting creativity and taking his athletic qualities into a more fitting park, with Howe’s expansive system allowing him to roam and find the likes of Isak in the middle.

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

Of course, given that he only missed six big chances in the Premier League last term, converting six more, as per Sofascore, there’s every reason Howe could fashion this talented up-and-comer into a rip-roaring sensation, one bursting with completeness and layers befitting of a place in one of the most exciting projects on the continent.

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Although much of the focus has been on incomings so far this summer, one Manchester United player has now reportedly accepted an offer to leave Old Trafford.

Man Utd still working on player sales

With Matheus Cunha already signed for big money and a fresh offer worth over £60m now reportedly submitted to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United must clear some deadwood out of Ruben Amorim’s squad this summer.

The Red Devils must secure departures for the likes of Antony, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho, who Amorim has reportedly told to find a new club this summer.

To that end, reports suggest that there is already work taking place to show the door to a number of players with Hojlund one of the likeliest to depart at this stage. The Dane has been linked with a return to Italy and is reportedly excited by the potential of a move to Serie A champions Napoli this summer.

Meanwhile, Antony has also been the subject of interest from clubs around Europe. The Brazilian enjoyed an impressive revival on loan at Real Betis in the second half of last season and is now reportedly on Bayer Leverkusen’s radar in an unexpected reunion with former manager Erik ten Hag.

Selling Antony and Hojlund would at least be a start for Manchester United, but they may not have the same luck when attempting to show Andre Onana the door.

While they continue to chase Emiliano Martinez, the Red Devils may see their pursuit scuppered by Onana’s reluctance to depart and instead compete for his place.

With their pre-season getting underway on July 7, United will be keen to have their business complete and that includes sales such as Hojlund, Antony, Onana and one big-money player.

Jadon Sancho accepts £160k-p/w offer to leave Man Utd

As reported by Turkish outlet Sabah and relayed by Sport Witness, Jadon Sancho has now reached an agreement to sign for Fenerbahce in a move that will see him earn €10m-a-year (£8.5m-a-year), which translates to £160,000-a-week. Jose Mourinho’s side are looking at an offer of €18m to sign Sancho, who also has interest from Serie A.

The former Borussia Dortmund ace was supposed to be a transformative signing at Manchester United when he first arrived for around £73m in 2021, but things couldn’t have gone much worse.

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Following a subdued first two seasons at the club, Sancho rediscovered some of his spark on loan at Borussia Dortmund only for last season’s loan spell at Chelsea to prove that was nothing more than a false dawn in familiar surroundings. Now at a crossroads with neither Chelsea nor Amorim wanting his talents at their disposal, the England international desperately needs a permanent fresh start.

Appearances

83

Goals

12

Assists

6

20 goal involvements in 83 appearances for the Red Devils sums up Sancho’s struggles in a United shirt and, after four years at the club, the best solution for all parties could be a permanent exit.

Celtic completed their first signing of the summer transfer window earlier this week when they announced that Kieran Tierney has re-joined the Glasgow giants.

The experienced defender will officially link up with his new teammates when his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the month, returning to Scotland as a free agent.

Tierney came up through the academy system at Parkhead and won five Scottish Premiership titles during his time in the first-team, a haul that he will now be looking to add to.

The 28-year-old full-back amassed 37 assists in 170 appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions, and he will be aiming to provide that sort of creativity down the left flank for Brendan Rodgers.

Tierney is set to come in as a direct replacement for Greg Taylor, whose Celtic contract expires this summer, but the Hoops have also lost their second-choice left-back, as Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan has come to an end.

Why Celtic need to replace Jeffrey Schlupp

Celtic will play in four competitions next season: the Champions League, the Premiership, the League Cup, and the SFA Cup. Because of this, having depth across the park in every position is vital for Rodgers.

It is not enough to just have one player in each position, and that is why the Bhoys have to sign a back-up left-back to replace Schlupp, particularly when you take Tierney’s injury history into account.

The Arsenal left-back has missed 45 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, which means that there is a concern that he will not be available on a consistent basis for Rodgers next term.

This emphasises the importance of signing a replacement for Schlupp because the Hoops will need a left-back who is good enough to step in and start when Tierney misses games through injury over the course of the season.

Jeffrey Schlupp (24/25)	Premiership	Champions League
Appearances	13	2
Starts	7	1
Goals	1	0
Assists	1	0
Tackles + interceptions per game	1.7	7.0
Duel success rate	52%	71%
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Schlupp was needed to start eight matches in the Premiership and the Champions League, despite only joining in January, which shows how important it is to bring in a quality back-up option in that position.

Celtic, therefore, need a left-back who provided the quality, particularly defensively, that Schlupp provided during his five-month loan spell at Parkhead.

The Scottish giants are in the market for another option in that position and their latest reported target could be an even better signing than the Palace loanee was.

Celtic progressing in deal for Scottish defender

According to a recent claim by journalist Graeme Bailey, Celtic are progressing in their pursuit of a deal to sign Josh Doig from Sassuolo in the summer transfer window.

The reporter was speaking about Harry Toffolo’s situation, after it was confirmed that he is leaving Nottingham Forest on a free transfer, and all but ruled out the Hoops in the race for his signature, due to their interest in Doig.

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Bailey told EFL Analysis: “He’s an interesting one. I did hear a little bit of a squeak for Celtic, but I don’t think there’s anything in that. I do know Celtic are looking at Josh Doig and I think that one’s progressing, to be fair.”

This suggests that the Hoops are moving forward in a deal to bring the Scottish defender back to Scotland, in what would presumably be a permanent move, given that he was just a key part of Sassuolo’s title-winning season in the Serie B.

If Celtic can finalise a transfer to sign Doig from the newly-promoted Serie A outfit before the end of the summer transfer window, then they could have an even better signing than Schlupp.

Why Josh Doig would be a better signing than Jeffrey Schlupp

Perhaps the biggest reason why he would be a better signing than the Palace loanee was would be the permanent transfer aspect of it, as it would be a long-term solution to that position.

Schlupp was only a short-term stop-gap until the summer, whereas Doig is 23 and could be Celtic’s back-up, or first-choice, left-back for many more years to come.

This means that Celtic could get far more long-term value out of this signing, should they sign him permanently, if he adapts well and performs on the pitch as hoped.

Doig, who former boss Gabriel Coffi claimed has “incredible potential”, also put in good enough performances on the pitch in the Serie B this season to suggest that he could be a quality addition to the squad when called upon as a back-up to Tierney.

24/25 Serie B	Josh Doig per 90	Percentile rank vs full-backs
Passes attempted	54.48	Top 6%
Pass accuracy	77.4%	Top 27%
Progressive passes	3.70	Top 22%
Progressive carries	3.00	Top 9%
Successful take-ons	1.23	Top 15%
Touches in the opposition’s box	1.81	Top 38%
Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star could be well-suited to playing in a ball-dominant Celtic team, particularly in a similar role to the one that Taylor played this term, inverting into a midfield position in possession.

These statistics show that Doig is incredibly comfortable and progressive in possession, excelling as a passer and a carrier of the ball, which suggests that he would thrive under the unique demands that Rodgers places on his left-back.

Therefore, the Sassuolo star, who started 25 Serie B matches, could be a perfect fit for what Celtic are looking for in that position, which is another reason why he would be a terrific signing for the club.

Overall, he would be an even better signing than Schlupp due to his age, with plenty of room left to improve, his long-term potential as a signing due to it being on a permanent deal, and because of the quality that he can produce on the pitch.

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