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.

Man Utd record for selected wingers (past and present)
Player	Games	Goals	Assists	Total G/A
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
Stats via Transfermarkt

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

By
Robbie Walls

May 22, 2025

As Manchester United look to follow up on the arrival of Matheus Cunha with more fresh faces, INEOS are reportedly readying an opening offer worth £25m to sign a Ligue 1 defender for Ruben Amorim’s side.

Man Utd complete Cunha signing

Kicking off the summer in style, the Red Devils have officially secured the arrival of Cunha, triggering his £63m release clause at Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Brazilian’s arrival should go a long way towards solving their attacking problems in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, having scored 17 goals and created a further six in all competitions last season.

Cunha has already received the approval of many around Old Trafford, including club legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who said: “Cunha’s the type of player that suits this system that Ruben Amorim wants to play.

“They’ve lost three players who play in that type of position so they need to fulfil that, they’ll need to fill those roles definitely or else they’re going to struggle. They need to score goals.

“Ruben Amorim said at the weekend that they’re just struggling to score goals, so you need players who can take risks, good in the final third, and Cunha’s got a lot of ability.”

Man Utd want Premier League target man to play up front with Mbeumo and Cunha

The Red Devils have already signed Cunha and submitted a bid for Mbeumo.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 6, 2025

INEOS are reportedly not done there, either. Recent reports have revealed that Manchester United have now submitted an opening bid to sign Bryan Mbeumo, who is prioritising a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils have also reportedly set their sights on adding a defensive boost to their list of summer arrivals as they look to rebuild their squad in Amorim’s vision.

Man Utd readying £25m Vanderson offer

According to reports in Spain, INEOS and Manchester United are now readying a strategic €30m (£25m) offer to sign Vanderson from AS Monaco. The talented right-back would instantly hand Amorim another wing-back option and could compete with Noussair Mazraoui for a starting place in a crucial position in the manager’s system.

Minutes

2,064

2,838

Assists

3

1

Tackles Won

48

68

Ball Recoveries

153

149

Described as “unique” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Vanderson would push Mazraoui all the way for a starting place. The Monaco star, as the stats highlight, particularly impressed last season when recovering possession and also created more than Mazraoui going forward.

It’s the type of depth that Amorim needs in his squad if he is to turn what has been a disastrous start into a long and successful Old Trafford tenure. For just £25m too, Vanderson’s arrival would crucially not break the bank at a time when Manchester United’s finances are delicate.

It looks set to be a busy summer for the Red Devils, who are aiming to get their business done as early as possible.

During Burnley’s heyday in the Premier League under Sean Dyche, the Clarets were well-known for being an attritional side defensively.

Indeed, come the end of the memorable 2017/18 campaign that saw Burnley finish in an unbelievable seventh spot, Dyche’s brave troops had only shipped a slim 39 goals in total. To add more context, Arsenal would amazingly ship 12 more strikes, despite finishing in fifth.

This could well mean Parker’s camp in the here and now stand a fighting chance at Premier League survival, having only just leaked a remarkably low 16 goals themselves on the way to sealing automatic promotion in the Championship.

But, all the publicity surrounding Burnley’s rock-solid defence has come back to bite them, with valiant Clarets centre-back CJ Egan-Riley now heading for the exit door.

Egan-Riley's situation at Burnley

Egan-Riley was a key component of the Clarets’ formidable defence in 2024/25, culminating in the former Manchester City defender picking up a bumper 26 clean sheets from 41 Championship ties.

Unfortunately, his contract situation at Turf Moor has become Burnley’s own undoing, with the 22-year-old’s current deal at the club expiring later this month, leading to him seeking out other employers in the form of RC Strasbourg and West Ham United.

This would be a disorienting loss for the Clarets to come to terms with, considering his crucial spot in the promotion-winning side under Parker, but they could win themselves a dream replacement by securing the services of an experienced Premier League centre-back.

Burnley's "outstanding" Egan-Riley replacement

Burnley will be well aware that adding in experience here and there could be vital in boosting their survival chances, with the Clarets of old relying on seasoned heads such as Ben Mee and James Tarkowski to get them out of sticky situations.

Joe Gomez could come in and offer that same level of protection, with a recent report from the Empire of the Kop revealing that amid interest from Leeds and the Clarets, Liverpool wouldn’t stand in the way of the 28-year-old if he did fancy leaving Anfield behind this summer, having now placed a £25m price-tag above his head.

Whilst the London-born centre-back has been troubled by recurring injury issues in recent seasons – as seen in him missing a combined 29 games across the last two campaigns – he has shown in the past for the Reds that he can be an imposing presence at an elite level.

This is evident in Gomez only leaking 106 goals from 149 Premier League contests and counting, with the Liverpool number two’s calm and composed presence potentially critical in easing Burnley’s nerves up a division with Egan-Riley no longer around.

Gomez’s overall PL numbers

Games played

149

Goals conceded

106

Tackles

211

Tackles won

72%

Recoveries

720

Duels won

590

Aerial battles won

253

Passes per match

53.79

Wins

99

Clean sheets

47

Stats from the Premier League

When glancing at the table above, it’s even clearer that Gomez would be a welcome addition to Parker’s ranks to replace Egan-Riley.

Indeed, the “outstanding” defender, as he was once praised by Reds teammate Virgil Van Dijk, averages a 72% tackle success rate across his wealth of top-flight experience.

Moreover, he didn’t look out of place either last season when thrown into the deep-end by Arne Slot, with a high 89% pass rate averaged across his nine league contests. Egan-Riley, despite being front and centre of the Clarets’ defence all season long, only averaged an 86% pass rate on the contrary.

Of course, Gomez has been helped on Merseyside by the exceptional calibre of the teammates around him.

But, to try and immediately plug the hole left behind by Egan-Riley, Burnley could do far worse than snapping up the consistent Liverpool number two in their efforts to try and secure survival.

Related He could be Parker's next Cairney: Burnley looking at signing £12m star

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Jun 3, 2025

Chelsea are now eyeing a summer move for a “composed” defender, with manager Enzo Maresca believed to be a keen admirer, according to a report.

Blues eyeing centre-back amid latest Disasi update

Axel Disasi has spent the second half of the season on loan at Aston Villa, and it looks as though the 27-year-old could be heading for a permanent exit at the end of the season, with the Villans now opening talks over a summer deal.

Maresca’s side have been faring well in their pursuit of the Champions League without Disasi, and they are now just one win away from securing qualification for Europe’s elite competition next season, with the crucial trip to Nottingham Forest pencilled in for next weekend.

As such, it could make sense to sanction the Frenchman’s departure, but Maresca may be keen on bringing in a top-level replacement, should his side return to the Champions League, with FA Cup-winning captain Marc Guehi among the potential targets.

After leading his Crystal Palace side to FA Cup glory, Guehi is likely to have no shortage of interest this summer, but the 24-year-old is not the only English centre-back of interest to the west Londoners.

According to The Telegraph’s John Percy, Chelsea are now interested in signing Leicester City defender Ben Nelson, who caught the eye with his impressive performances for Oxford United in the Championship last season.

£172k-per-week star keen to join Chelsea regardless of Champions League race

He’d want the move to Stamford Bridge no strings attached.

13 ByEmilio Galantini May 17, 2025

The Blues have been keen on Nelson for quite some time, having also considered a move back in the January transfer window, and their interest seems like it stems from their manager, with Maresca believed to be an admirer.

The Italian has previously described his former player as “ideal”, while also adding: “He’s quick. He can play right or left – it’s perfect.”

"Composed" Nelson destined for the top

Not only is Maresca a big fan of the Leicester ace, but he also impressed teammate Peter Kioso during his time with the U’s, with the fellow defender saying: “Nels has come in and done what he’s needed to do. Credit to him, he’s still a young lad and I feel like he’ll go to the very top in football, just from his mentality and how he reads the game, and how composed he is.”

Player

Current club

Potential cost

Marc Guehi

Crystal Palace

£60m

Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid

Unknown

David Hancko

Feyenoord

£42m

Ousmane Diomande

Sporting CP

£68m

The 21-year-old missed large parts of the campaign with injury problems, but he remained a key player when fit, making 17 appearances for Oxford in the Championship, featuring at centre-back on every occasion.

Having put in some solid performances in the second tier at a young age, the £5k-a-week defender may soon be ready to make the step-up to the Premier League, but Chelsea should also make sure to bring in a more experienced centre-back, having identified a number of targets.

Chelsea are one of the busiest Premier League sides this transfer window, with just days remaining for Enzo Maresca and BlueCo to register new players in time for the Club World Cup.

Who Chelsea could sign after Liam Delap

The Blues have already sealed their first signing of the summer after shaking hands on a deal for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap (Fabrizio Romano), who joins in a £30 million deal, but Chelsea are by no means done following the Englishman’s arrival.

Chelsea inform £170k-a-week star they're ready to pay his £50m release clause

The Euro 2024 winner is a serious target for Enzo Maresca’s side.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jun 3, 2025

Work is happening behind-the-scenes at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea attempting to bring one or two more signings through the door before they kick off their CWC campaign on June 16 against Leon (Simon Phillips).

Race for Champions League qualification – Final standings
Rank	Team	Points	GD
3	Man City	71	+28
4	Chelsea	69	+21
5	Newcastle	66	+21
6	Aston Villa	66	+7
7	Nottingham Forest	65	+12

It is believed that the west Londoners are laying the groundwork on potential deals for wingers and attacking midfielders as one key item on their agenda. Chelsea held talks with the representatives of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams last week, and informed the Spaniard’s camp that they’re prepared to pay his £50 million release clause.

As well as the 22-year-old, Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jeremy Doku (Man City), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Max Tillman (PSV), Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund), Alejandro Garnacho (Man United) are all reportedly on Chelsea’s shortlist of wide-attacking targets.

Chelsea are expected to sign a centre-back too, amid links to Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, and they’re currently in talks with AC Milan over a deal for French international goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

The 29-year-old’s contract expires next summer, and this situation has alerted Chelsea to a potential upgrade on Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen.

However, there is still a major gap when it comes to price, so the west Londoners are prepared to walk away and stick with what they have if Milan don’t lower their demands.

That being said, even if the clubs are failing to find common ground right now, Chelsea do have the player’s approval.

Mike Maignan gives green-light to join Chelsea from AC Milan

According to Football Italia, Maignan has given his green-light to join Chelsea, with the Frenchman approving a switch to Cobham as he ponders life after the San Siro.

The outlet adds that a formal bid is expected to arrive from Chelsea “in the near future”, and if they can reach an agreement on Maignan’s final asking price, he could depart the Rossoneri “in the coming days”.

There is no doubt he would be a stellar addition between the sticks, with Liverpool star Alisson believing Maignan is in the “elite” bracket of keepers. Milan are also eyeing up Torino number one Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the event they do lose their star shot-stopper.

This saga definitely appears one to watch over the next week, and it could prompt BlueCo to undergo a major goalkeeping reshuffle considering Chelsea’s backlog of five keepers already on their books.

New Rangers manager Russell Martin is willing to sell a “brilliant” player in the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer update.

Martin eyeing first signings as Rangers boss

The Martin era at Ibrox is officially underway, with the former Southampton boss hoping to bring plenty of success back to the club, having had to watch rivals Celtic dominate the Scottish Premiership over the past decade or so.

The 39-year-old is clearly extremely excited to get started, admitting as much soon after his confirmation as Rangers’ next manager: “It’s an incredible feeling. I’m really grateful to the board, to Patrick (Stewart), to Kevin (Thelwell), for their faith in me. It’s been a tough and rigorous process and it’s taken some time, but that’s what you expect when you want to be manager of a club of this stature, size and expectation. I’m desperate to get started and I’m excited about what’s to come.”

It’s now a case of Martin being backed in the transfer market, with the Englishman signing players who he sees as ideal for him, and Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes could reportedly be his first addition. He knows the player well from his spell in charge of Saints, and he could add quality in possession, having completed 90.8% of his passes in the Premier League in 2024/25.

That said, some current Gers players could depart before next season gets underway, and a key update has dropped regarding one individual.

Martin could sell McCauslandAccording toThe Daily Record,Ross McCausland's Rangers future is up in the airbecause Martin is considering listening to offers for him.It is stated that Championship side Cardiff City are the latest club to show an interest in signing him this summer, with the 22-year-old preferring to stay put at Ibrox.

It’s ruthless from Martin, should he dispatch of McCausland in the summer window, considering the Northern Irishman is a talented young player who has been lauded by Lee McCulloch in the past.

“McCausland was absolutely brilliant. Bubbly, has pace, technical first touch. Tremendous. Playing in this cauldron, given the magnitude of this game, he looked full of confidence. I think the fans really took to him. He really gave the stadium a lift.”

However, McCausland was limited to only four starts in the Scottish Premiership last season, suggesting he isn’t seen as a key man moving forward, so the club do have a big decision to make this summer.

Related The new Lundstram: Martin wants to make £18m star his first Rangers signing

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Posts ByBen Gray Jun 8, 2025

He only has two years remaining on his current deal, so time is running out before his price tag starts to drop, and if Martin feels like he is an expendable figure, moving him on now makes the most sense.

Manchester United have now made an enquiry over signing a £34 million defender who is also wanted by Tottenham Hotspur and once rejected a move to Arsenal.

Man Utd eyeing defensive reinforcements this summer

It could be said that there are multiple positions United need to address this summer, with strengthening their forward line clearly a key agenda, given the arrival of Matheus Cunha and the expected arrival of Bryan Mbeumo. But as well as looking at the front of the team, Ruben Amorim is also mindful about his defence, and they are now looking at potential arrivals there.

Man Utd considering move to sign "incredible" Bayern Munich star for £25m

Amorim has identified a player he believes will transform his midfield and knows the Premier League well.

1 ByBrett Worthington Jun 9, 2025

At the end of last week, it was reported in Spain that INEOS were readying a £25 million bid to sign Vanderson from AS Monaco. The Brazilian is a right-back by trade, so he would likely be a player to compete for a starting spot in Amorim’s wing-back role. The 23-year-old finished last season with one goal and three assists in 29 Ligue 1 games, and that earned him a call-up to the Brazil squad in Carlo Ancelotti’s first games in charge.

As well as preparing a bid to sign Vanderson, reports have emerged that United have opened talks to sign Aymeric Laporte from Al-Nassr. The Frenchman is expected to leave Saudi Arabia this summer, and that has alerted United, who would be making a bold move given his time at Manchester City. Al-Nassr are looking to get around £23 million for Laporte.

Man Utd make enquiry to sign Evan Ndicka from Roma

Laporte is not the only centre-back on the radar of the Red Devils, as according to RMC Sport, Man United have now made an approach to sign Evan Ndicka from AS Roma, who once rejected a move to Arsenal, saying: “I’m not pretending that I don’t see the rumours. But I have respect in Rome and I respect them. I have three years remaining on my contract, we will see what happens later.”

Amorim is looking to strengthen his options in defence, and Ndicka is now a name that is under consideration by the Red Devils. However, they are not alone, as Tottenham have also made an approach to Roma over a possible deal, and they could hold an advantage over United, as they can offer the defender Champions League football.

Despite being under contract until 2028, Ndicka, who has been dubbed “superb” by scout Jacek Kulig, is allowed to leave Roma this summer, with them reportedly looking to get €40 million, which is roughly £34 million, for his services.

Apps

38

Starts

38

Assists

1

Touches per game

75.3

Balls recovered per game

3.5

Dribbled past per game

0.2

Clearances per game

3.8

Errors leading to goal

0

The 25-year-old, who has been capped six times for the Ivory Coast, joined the Italian team in July 2023 on a free transfer. During his time in Italy, Ndicka has been a consistent performer for Roma, playing in every league game during the 2024/25 campaign.

He started all 38 matches and helped Roma keep 16 clean sheets. United have seen Victor Lindelof depart Old Trafford, and with Lisandro Martínez still recovering from his long-term injury, Amorim may see Ndicka as a player who can provide not only competition but also improve their defensive organisation.

Celtic’s season came to an end on Saturday when they were beaten by Aberdeen on penalties in the final of the SFA Cup at Hampden Park, which put an end to their hopes of clinching the treble.

It was still a successful season for the Hoops, though, as they won the Scottish Premiership title and the League Cup, beating Rangers on penalties in the final of that competition.

All eyes will now turn to the summer transfer window, and Brendan Rodgers has already got one signing coming through the door, as Kieran Tierney will arrive on a free transfer from Arsenal at the end of June.

The Scotland international is not the only free agent who appears set to make their way to Parkhead, however, as the club are reportedly closing in on another bargain deal.

Celtic set to make second summer signing

According to The Press & Journal, Celtic have agreed a pre-contract deal with Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan to return to the club in the upcoming summer transfer window as their second signing after Tierney.

The report claims that the Scottish shot-stopper is out of contract this summer and that the Hoops have already wrapped up a transfer to bring him back to Glasgow, having come up through the academy at Paradise.

It states that Doohan, dubbed “brilliant” by teammate Graeme Shinnie, is poised to replace veteran goalkeeper Scott Bain, who could be on his way out of the club with 12 months left on his contract, and that it is a move with homegrown restrictions in Europe in mind.

Transfer Focus

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

Celtic need four homegrown academy graduates in their matchday squad in Europe, and the Aberdeen titan would fill one of those spots, which is why he could be a shrewd signing.

Why Ross Doohan could be Luke McCowan 2.0

Signing a back-up goalkeeper on a free transfer may not be a particularly exciting addition, in comparison to a big-money signing from abroad, like Arne Engels, but it is one that has shades of the move for Luke McCowan last summer.

Celtic signed the central midfielder from Dundee last year for a reported fee of £1m, and it turned out to be a terrific piece of business as a low-cost addition who was already proven in the Premiership.

The 27-year-old star hit the ground running, as he did not need time to adapt, and ended his first year at the club with seven goals and nine assists in 41 appearances in all competitions.

Appearances

15

Saves

33

Successful run-outs

20

Penalties saved

1/1

Duel success rate

100%

Clean sheets

2

As you can see in the table above, Doohan made 15 appearances in the Premiership this season and is set to arrive at Celtic as a proven quantity at that level, making him an ideal signing as a back-up to Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.

Like McCowan, the free agent signing will not join the Hoops as a regular starter or as a big-name signing, but he could be a dependable option when needed throughout the season as a Premiership-proven star who does not need any time to adapt to the league.

Therefore, this is a move that makes a lot of sense and one that could be a shrewd deal for Celtic, despite it not being one that is likely to excite many.

He'd take Engels to the next level: Celtic expected to move for £10m star

Celtic are expected to make a move to sign a star who could take Arne Engels to the next level.

ByDan Emery May 26, 2025

There’s been a lack of activity in the transfer market so far this summer from Newcastle United, but fans shouldn’t worry; Eddie Howe’s side are looking to make several signings.

Having qualified for the Champions League on the final day of the Premier League season, the Magpies faithful will expect the squad to be rewarded for their Herculean efforts, winning the Carabao Cup too.

But sporting director Paul Mitchell stands down at the end of the month, and frustrations are already reaching boiling point for some given transfer targets like Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo appear to be headed elsewhere.

Mbeumo scored 20 goals across 38 top-flight fixtures, earning praise from Thomas Frank for his “unplayable” attacking performances.

However, with Mbeumo seemingly out of reach, Newcastle are turning their attention elsewhere, and might have found an exciting option perhaps not yet discussed by the biggest channels.

Newcastle enter race for Mbeumo alternative

As per Caught Offside, Newcastle are in the running for versatile RB Leipzig forward Antonio Nusa, though they are joined in their interest by a host of clubs, including Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

Valued at €45m (£38m), the 20-year-old has only been playing in Germany for a year but has made good progress, showcasing his range of attacking qualities. Thus, he could be snapped up before his stock rises higher still.

While there haven’t been any official proposals from the suitors yet, bids may materialise quickly, so Newcastle might be wise to act now and bring a top talent to St. James’ Park – one who might even outgrow Mbeumo in the future.

What Antonio Nusa would bring to Newcastle

Hailed as a “future icon” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Nusa has impressed across his maiden campaign in Germany, scoring five goals and supplying seven assists across 36 appearances.

The Norwegian talent has yet to find the kind of goalscoring form that has defined Mbeumo’s time in the Premier League, but there’s more to his skill set than that.

In the Champions League, particularly, he impressed. As per FBref, Nusa ranked among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s elite competition for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90.

There’s a long road ahead for Nusa if he wishes to prove himself as a better signing than Mbeumo in the future, but his underlying data certainly suggests he has what it takes.

Matches (starts)

25 (16)

38 (38)

Goals

3

20

Assists

3

7

Shots (on target)*

1.0 (0.3)

2.2 (1.1)

Big chances missed

1

9

Pass completion

78%

74%

Key passes*

0.8

1.8

Big chances created

6

17

Dribbles*

1.6

1.4

Ball recoveries*

3.1

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

1.7

Duels won*

4.1

4.7

Nusa is still very young – five years Mbeumo’s junior, in fact – but you can already see a combativeness and efficiency in his ball-carrying that suggests he too could sustain complete performances in the Premier League.

Moreover, the Norway international might not have converted that many chances, but he only missed one big chance in the Bundesliga last term, highlighting an underlying clinical edge that Howe could harness over the coming years, using the player’s pace and power to get him into dangerous positions.

Mbeumo will cost a pretty penny to prise from Brentford this summer, and given the strength of Newcastle’s existing frontline, adding an up-and-coming talent who can challenge for places might just be the winning formula for Howe’s side, as they step back onto the continent’s biggest stage.

Mbeumo & Pedro hybrid: Newcastle confident of signing "dangerous" £55m star

Newcastle are looking for a versatile forward

1 ByJoe Nuttall Jun 13, 2025

Looking to make a statement by doing what Nottingham Forest failed to do, Leeds United have reportedly joined the race to sign a USA international.

Leeds' transfer plan after Bijol

After welcoming Jaka Bijol from Udinese, it looks as though Leeds’ summer business is far from over. Their focus following the defender is reportedly transfixed on signing fresh midfield reinforcements and one of the biggest names mentioned on that front has been Douglas Luiz. The Juventus midfielder is set to leave Turin this summer and could be on his way back to the Premier League courtesy of those at Elland Road.

He’s not the 49ers’ only option, however. Reports have also mentioned the likes of Habib Diarra – going as far as to suggest that the Whites have already submitted an offer to sign the Strasbourg captain this summer. The interest should come as no surprise as Leeds step into the Premier League either, given the partnership that he would form with Ao Tanaka.

Minutes

2,352

3,584

Progressive Carries

61

38

Tackles Won

13

58

Ball Recoveries

90

217

When compared it is, as if often the case, Tanaka who stands out but Diarra has plenty to offer in his own right and his ability to progress play whilst carrying possession would hide one of the few weaknesses that the Leeds star has.

Even if they secure a deal to sign Diarra, however, Leeds still may not be done with their summer business. The 49ers are seemingly looking to make a statement this summer and create a squad capable of first avoiding Premier League relegation, then so much more.

With that target in mind, the American owners have now reportedly joined the race to sign a UCL-level star ahead of Leeds’ top-flight rivals.

Leeds join Timothy Weah race

According to The Guardian’s Ed Aarons, the 49ers and Leeds have now joined the race to sign Timothy Weah from Juventus this summer after he rejected the chance to join rivals Nottingham Forest.

Romano: 49ers "in negotiations" to seal "complicated" £20m+ Leeds transfer

He is ‘really appreciated’ at Elland Road.

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 27, 2025

The American international was left out of Juventus’ squad to face Manchester City in the Club World Cup on Thursday alongside Samuel Mbangula after the Italian giants reached an agreement with Forest, before Weah burst their bubble in ruthless fashion. Now, Leeds, Everton and Bournemouth have set their sights on signing the winger.

Dubbed “one of the most versatile players in world football” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, Weah was used as a forward and on both flanks for Juventus last season. Despite that, he’s now on the move – potentially leaving Leeds to take full advantage.

In one swoop, Leeds could deal Forest a frustrating blow and land someone who’d quickly become a key member of Daniel Farke’s squad at Elland Road.