All posts by hc12369.com

Glasgow Rangers are still looking for their first win of the Scottish Premiership season after they were held to a 1-1 draw by St Mirren away from Ibrox on Sunday.

The Light Blues needed academy graduate Findlay Curtis to come off the bench to score an excellent goal to rescue a point for the side late in the second half.

Russell Martin’s team looked bereft of quality at the top end of the pitch until Curtis and James Tavernier, who supplied the corner that led to the goal, came on as substitutes.

If the head coach wants to bring the captain back into the starting XI, in the Champions League or against Celtic next weekend, Max Aarons may need to drop out.

Why Max Aarons should be dropped

The Bournemouth loanee is not a horrendous player and he did not put in a terrible performance against St Mirren on Sunday, but he does not offer the same level of attacking threat that Tavernier does.

Aarons has only created one chance in three starts in the Premiership for Rangers, per Sofascore, and did not create any chances in 69 minutes on the pitch in this match.

The English full-back has not offered enough going forward, whilst Tavernier has only started one of the three games and created three chances for the team, per Sofascore.

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This is why Aarons should be dropped from the XI to add more creativity to the side, but the defender is not the only player who should be ruthlessly dropped, as Lyall Cameron’s position should also be under threat.

Why Lyall Cameron should be dropped

Martin must ruthlessly ditch the Scottish central midfielder alongside Aarons after the former Dundee man put in a disappointing display against St Mirren.

The manager knows that he will get a hard-working, tireless, performance from Cameron, who runs his socks off, but the quality in and out of possession was not there for him on Sunday.

He missed a very presentable opportunity to open the scoring when Jayden Meghoma whipped a brilliant ball into the box, although it was maybe at a bit of an awkward height.

Aside from that miss, though, the 22-year-old central midfielder’s all-round performance was not good enough to justify him keeping his place in the team against Celtic next weekend, looking beyond the second leg against Club Brugge.

Vs St Mirren

Lyall Cameron

Minutes

90

Shots on target

0

Dribbles completed

0/1

Big chances created

0

Ground duels won

0/6

Aerial duels won

0/1

Tackles + interceptions

0

Dribbled past

2x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Cameron failed to deal with the intensity and the physicality of the clash with St Mirren, as he lost 100% of his duels.

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The opposition found it far too easy to get the better of him in one-on-one situations, and he did not make up for his lack of physicality with quality or creativity on the ball in the final third.

Mohamed Diomande won more duels (one) and made more tackles and interceptions (two) in just 26 minutes off the bench for the Light Blues, which suggests that he may have more to offer to the team out of possession as a physical presence.

Rangers may need physicality to deal with Celtic next weekend at Ibrox, as they look to close the already-growing gap to their rivals, which is why Cameron should be ruthlessly ditched from the XI alongside Aarons.

Related Morelos 2.0: Rangers are in talks to sign a "powerful" £5.6m-rated striker

As Rangers seek to bolster their forward line before the transfer window closes, could the Gers sign a “powerful” striker similar to Alfredo Morelos?

Posts ByBen Gray

Manchester United have submitted an opening offer for a “spectacular” midfielder, which is now being considered by his current club, according to a report.

Man Utd keen on new midfielder with Baleba the main target

INEOS and Man United are looking to sign a new central midfielder before the transfer deadline, and Carlos Baleba has emerged as one of their main targets, with it recently being revealed they could be set to make a bid for the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder this week.

However, given that a deal for Baleba could amount to over £100m, the Red Devils may have to make some sales to raise funds, and Fabrizio Romano has now revealed that Alejandro Garnacho is edging closer to a move to Stamford Bridge.

Romano said: “Chelsea and Man Utd are now in active talks to reach an agreement for Alejandro Garnacho. The contract for the player is done 100% already. Chelsea will accelerate now. Garnacho will become a Chelsea player in the summer transfer window. We’re entering the final stages. Garnacho, Chelsea player, very soon.”

While Ruben Amorim’s side are clearly looking to reinvest the potential £50m made from the sale of Garnacho on Baleba, the Brighton star is not the only target, and an offer has been submitted for a different central midfielder…

That is according to a report from Spain, which states Man United have now tabled an offer of close to €80m (£69m) for Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez, which the La Liga club are currently considering.

Hansi Flick has been unable to guarantee Lopez a key role in his side, which could open the door for the midfielder to depart, and the Red Devils believe he would be the perfect addition to the squad.

Related Man Utd now make official approach to sign £40m PL star alongside Baleba

The Red Devils have stepped up their interest in an “unbelievable” player.

Posts ByDominic Lund

There is also a feeling the Barcelona ace could be enticed by a move to Old Trafford, given the prospect of playing a leading role, and he is now considering whether to embark on a new challenge in the Premier League.

"Spectacular" Lopez could kick on at Old Trafford

The 22-year-old has predominantly featured in an attacking midfield role over the past year, and he has certainly caught the eye with his performances, performing very well across some key metrics, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.37 (79th percentile)

Assists

0.42 (95th percentile)

Pass completion %

82.2% (88th percentile)

However, the Spaniard is also a versatile player, as displayed by the fact he has most often played in central midfield throughout his career to date, and Xavi once praised his former midfielder for his attitude, stating he has a “spectacular mentality.”

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Lopez is a different type of player to Baleba, given that the 21-year-old is well-known to have more of a defensive mindset, so it would be fantastic if Man United were able to bring in both midfielders, although it is unclear whether their budget would allow that.

That is due to the fact Gianluigi Donarumma has also emerged as a target, with Amorim’s side making an approach for the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, who now looks set to leave.

Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign a free agent striker who has held talks with Manchester United, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa chasing first-team arrivals

It’s been a very low-key transfer window for the Villans so far, but with the Premier League season set to get underway in less than three weeks, the Midlands side are now stepping up their plans as they look to improve on last season’s standings.

Related Aston Villa now racing Wolves to sign "quality" £40m Ligue 1 goalscorer

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Posts ByBrett Worthington

According to The Athletic’s David Orstein, Villa have now placed a bid to sign Jaydee Canvot from Toulouse. The bid from the Premier League side has been rejected, but the Villans are continuing their pursuit of the centre-back, who is viewed as a top prospect. It is believed that Toulouse values Canvot in the region of £17 million, and they will be hoping the next offer is closer to that value.

Meanwhile, it was reported last week that Villa are in a race with Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign striker Mika Biereth. The AS Monaco forward, who is highly rated by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, scored 13 goals in 16 Ligue 1 games in the second half of last season, and that form has now put him on the radar of clubs around Europe.

Despite being under contract until 2030, Monaco are said to be opening to letting Biereth leave, but only if they receive a fee of around £40 million

Aston Villa join Calvert-Lewin race

According to The Sun, Aston Villa have now asked about Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s demands, as Unai Emery looks to bolster his attacking options.

Calvert-Lewin left Everton at the end of last season after nine years at Goodison Park, and while he continues to search for a new team, he has already spoken to interested parties. AC Milan and Newcastle United are two teams who are interested in signing the striker, but it is Manchester United who have held talks with Calvert-Lewin to gather information on his demands.

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It’s been reported that the Englishman is looking to earn £100,000 a week at his new club, and while it is unclear if this would fit into Villa’s plans, they do need to bolster the attacking ranks after allowing Marcus Rashford to leave the club following his loan spell.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Premier League record

Apps

239

Goals

57

Assists

18

Calvert-Lewin is a player Villa are very familiar with, as the 28-year-old, who has been labelled a “top striker” by Jürgen Klopp in the past, has played against Villa 10 times in all competitions, during which he has scored twice at Villa Park, one coming last season in the Premier League and one in the EFL Cup during the 2023/24 campaign.

Liverpool are moving like the champions that they are in the summer transfer market, with Arne Slot’s side welcoming a wealth of talented players to the team.

Slot has been rewarded for his magnificent maiden campaign, all right, with Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong and Giorgi Mamardashvili joining a title-winning side hungry for even more success.

And there’s more still to come. Liverpool’s careful planning across the past few years has allowed them to move into his powerful position.

With Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez both slated for Anfield exits, a few more offensive additions might lie around the corner.

Liverpool's next transfer plans

Should Diaz and Nunez indeed be sold, Liverpool have a variety of options that they might exercise to achieve the next phase of Slot’s sweeping plan.

Ekitike has linked up with the Redmen on their pre-season tour in Asia, but he is a dynamic forward who could play out on the left, should another centre-forward be coveted.

Out-and-out wingers such as Anthony Gordon and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo have also been heavily linked in recent weeks.

But if Liverpool instead choose to sign a new number nine, it’s Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak who has emerged as the leading contender, with Spanish sources claiming that the 25-year-old is right at the top of the club’s summer shortlist.

Given that Fabrizio Romano has since revealed the Sweden international “wants” to sign for the Merseysiders, there’s little question that things are going to start to accelerate – with a move to Anfield said to be his “priority”.

The Magpies, it should be said, will not roll over and allow their talisman to waltz away from St. James’ Park without a fight. Indeed, they would be seeking a British record £130m payment.

What Alexander Isak would bring to Liverpool

Ekitike is a talented and versatile forward, but he’s undoubtedly a work in progress. In Isak, Liverpool would sign themselves a number nine right at the top of his game and with a wealth of Premier League experience.

His clinical shooting his a thing to behold.

The 25-year-old joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad for a club-record £63m fee in 2022 and he has since forged quite the career for himself in England, the frontman of a fast-rising outfit, qualifying for the Champions League in two of his three terms and beating Liverpool to lift the Carabao Cup in March.

Having shaken off the injury issues that plagued him across his debut campaign, the £120k-per-week Isak is “the best striker in the world” to some, with analyst Raj Chohan saying exactly that toward the end of the 2024/25 campaign, with the forward having scored 27 goals and supplied six assists across all competitions.

Alexander Isak’s Newcastle Record

Statistics

#

Games

109

Goals

62

Goal rate

0.57

Assists

11

Assist rate

0.10

G/A rate

0.67

Data via Transfermarkt

The circumstances around the Liverpool bid for this wonderful Premier League player offer certain similarities to when Jurgen Klopp oversaw the £75m acquisition of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, the Dutchman becoming the subject of a world-record fee for a defender at the time.

Isak’s £130m price tag would also make him a record-breaking player, should he leave Newcastle this summer, which illustrates the depths of Liverpool’s desire, for they are willing to spend significant fees when the player is considered to be talented enough.

They got it right the first time. Could they strike again? Van Dijk, now Liverpool’s title-winning captain, has completed 319 fixtures for the Reds, notching 28 goals and 13 assists, winning the full gamut of silverware and cementing himself as one of the greatest players of his generation.

A leader and far more than just a tough-tackling defender (although that is one of the staples of the 33-year-old’s skill set), Van Dijk warranted such a payment because he is so much more than his position defines him as.

Isak is the same. As per FBref, the centre-forward ranked among the top 16% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last year for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

He would be tasked with scoring the goals for Liverpool, but Isak would also be expected to perform as an all-encompassing talisman. His talent demands it.

Of course, Isak and Van Dijk are not positionally similar, but they are two of the most talented players in their respective positions, having cut their teeth and developed their skills elsewhere in the English top flight before making the leap to Merseyside.

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Moreover, neither would be the youngest on the block when first arriving at Anfield, for Van Dijk was 26 years old when he made the move and Isak is, of course, 25 years old.

In a way though, this bespeaks their maturity and completeness, arriving at the club with ready-made skills at the highest level, eager to lead the team through a period of sustained success.

Described as a “special football player” by pundit Daniel Sturridge, Isak has the chance to emulate Van Dijk in making the move to Liverpool for a record fee after making his name elsewhere.

Newcastle’s remarkable rise differs to that of Southampton, but the similarities are there.

Transfer Focus

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

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If Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes do manage to pull this incredible feat off, it might just prove to be every bit as transformative as that time when Klopp rewrote the script with the capture of Van Dijk.

Related Isak's new Gordon: Liverpool lining up "explosive" £51m Diaz replacement

Liverpool are still ready to be active in the summer transfer market.

Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair

Chelsea have the chance to seal their second trophy under Enzo Maresca when they face PSG in the Club World Cup final.

It will be a tough task, as the French side are arguably the best side on the planet, evidenced by their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final.

Enzo Fernandez will be crucial as the Argentine will be tasked with trying to keep possession for the Blues, while also aiming to stop PSG from mounting attack after attack in the final third.

That being said, despite Maresca signing plenty of attacking players this summer, might the former Benfica starlet be growing worried amid the club’s latest transfer link?

Chelsea enquire over Barcelona midfielder

The list of attacking players linked with the Blues is lengthy, but Maresca now looks like he could be set to add a midfielder or two to his squad.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to Caught Offside, Chelsea, along with Arsenal, have enquired about the availability of Barcelona star Marc Casado this summer.

The Catalan giants are demanding €50m (£43m) should any club wish to make an official bid for the Spaniard.

He does have a release clause worth €100m (£86m), but due to their financial situation, Barcelona may be forced to accept a lower offer. If Maresca does sign the player, it could be bad news for Fernandez.

Why Chelsea must sign Marc Casado

Last season in the Premier League, Fernandez played alongside Moises Caicedo in the heart of the Chelsea midfield.

He registered 13 goal contributions in the top flight, while also creating 13 big chances and averaging 2.3 key passes per game for the Blues. The Argentine may be a more effective player going forward, but defensively, Casado has the upper hand.

Indeed, last season, the Barcelona starlet tackled a higher percentage of dribblers (48.8% vs 36.9%) per 90, along with committing fewer fouls (26 vs 52) and making more interceptions (22 vs 13) in their respective domestic leagues.

Marc Casado’s La Liga statistics last season for Barcelona

Accurate passes per game

53

Goals

1

Assists

3

Total duels won per game

4

Big chances created

3

Tackles per game

1.9

Via Sofascore

Furthermore, Casado also won more total duels per game (53% vs 47%) and lost possession fewer times per game (7.7 vs 12.8) than the current Blues midfielder.

With the club signing a plethora of attacking players this summer, shoring up the midfield now appears to be Maresca’s priority.

A move for Casado could have Fernandez fearing for his place in the starting XI next season, that’s for sure, with Caicedo seemingly a shoo-in to start, having been described by Maresca as “one of the best, if not the best, defensive midfielder in the world”.

Following Spain’s victory over Switzerland last November, Casado was showered with praise by teammate Bryan Zaragoza, who said: “He’s an animal. I don’t even know what to say about how he played. He’s barbaric.”

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This sort of player is exactly the type of midfielder that Maresca would love to have available to him.

Aged just 21, Casado is only going to get better with age, especially by playing in the Premier League and Champions League for the Blues.

If the Stamford Bridge side can secure his signature for a decent fee, it might turn out to be one of their best signings of the summer, with Casado representing a perfect partner to Caicedo in the centre of the park.

For Fernandez, however, it could well be bad news in the long run.

Related £17m ace nearing Chelsea exit after Madueke, it'd free up space for Ekitike

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes

Setting their sights on their seventh arrival of the summer, Rangers have now reportedly made their first approach to sign a talented young winger for Russell Martin.

Rangers open pre-season with Club Brugge draw

It’s been all change at Ibrox so far this summer. New owners have arrived in the form of the 49ers and a new manager soon followed in the form of Martin. Since then, to no surprise, several much-needed fresh faces have also made their way to Glasgow as the Gers look to turn things around after last season’s failure.

First through the door were Oscar Cortes, who completed a permanent move following his loan spell, and young Scottish talent Lyall Cameron. But those two were just the start for Rangers. Since then, they’ve welcomed four others, with Emmanuel Fernandez, Joe Rothwell, Max Aarons and Thelo Aasgaard all putting pen to paper on Ibrox deals.

The likes of Aarons and Fernandez featured as Rangers opened their pre-season with a 2-2 draw against Belgian side Club Brugge and there are still some debuts to come in the next few weeks.

Following his first game in charge, Martin told reporters: “It was very good opposition. It will really help prepare us to get better and we will learn a lot from today.

“It was nice to walk out at Ibrox with the team. I got a great reception which I’m incredibly grateful for when I walked out for the warm-up. The first half, we started okay then conceded a goal.

“What was interesting, and we’ll learn a lot, is that the habits we’re trying to instill changed a little bit and the team didn’t quite look how we wanted it to, and they managed to gain a bit of momentum again.”

As pre-season continues and fresh faces enter the Ibrox turf, however, Rangers reportedly still have unfinished business in the transfer window and may yet welcome another attacking reinforcement.

Rangers make first approach to sign Ballo

As reported by Florian Plettenberg, Rangers have now made their first approach to sign Thierno Ballo from Austrian side Wolfsberger AC this summer. The impressive 23-year-old has also attracted interest from Ajax and Mainz 05 to form a busy race to secure his signature as he looks to move on ahead of next season.

The Chelsea academy graduate left the Blues in 2022 for Wolfsberger AC on a free transfer. He was praised for his “great” form for both club and country by scout Jacek Kulig back in March, and he could now bring that form to the Scottish Premiership.

Related Rangers line up bid for 26 y/o Vardy alternative and Celtic transfer target

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Posts 1 ByHenry Jackson

After scoring 13 goals in all competitions last season too, there’s every chance that the Austrian would be capable of replacing Hamza Igamane if the Rangers star did complete a departure this summer.

The transfer window is really heating up at Rangers.

On Wednesday, the Light Blues signed not one but two new players, with Joe Rothwell and Emmanuel Fernandez both arriving, the latter for a reported fee of £3.5m.

So, with the start of Champions League qualifying now less than three weeks away, Russell Martin’s mass overhaul of the squad he has inherited continues, with more new signings seemingly set to follow soon.

Rangers looking to bolster their back line

This Rangers squad requires a lot of surgery this summer, and this is no more so the case than in defence.

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Leon Balogun has departed, joining Aris Limassol on a free transfer, while Robin Pröpper appears set to return to FC Twente too.

Meanwhile, Max Aarons has arrived on loan from Bournemouth, with Fernandez now signing too, but Martin is certainly still seeking to improve his defensive options.

Well, as reported by Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports News, Rangers are “in talks” with Wolverhampton Wanderers as they aim to sign Nasser Djiga on a season-long loan.

This would be a straight loan, with no option or obligation to buy, for the Burkina Faso international, who only joined Wolves from Crvena zvezda for a reported fee of £10m as recently as February.

The 22 year old made just six appearances in old gold following his arrival, his sole Premier League start coming at Crystal Palace in May, when Vítor Pereira made wholesale changes, with David Irvine of the Glasgow Times noting that Wolves are keen on this loan move to Ibrox so that he can ‘gain experience’ of British football.

Thus, could Djiga be a transformational addition for Rangers?

How Nasser Djiga will improve Rangers

The young defender is certainly highly-rated, described by Serbian Football Scout as a “duel monster” who reads the game well, but is also capable of a “last-ditch tackle” when required.

Nasser Djiga

Meantime, writer Kai Watson believes he is the “ideal” centre-back for Martin’s possession-oriented style, labelling him a “strong passer” who possesses a “good understanding” of defensive play.

Before moving to Wolves, he caught the eye representing Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, helping them dump out Bodø/Glimt in the play-off round, before also enjoying league phase victories over Stuttgart and Young Boys, so let’s take a look at his statistics.

Nasser Djiga 2024/25 Champions League statistics

Statistics

Djiga

Red Star rank

Minutes

720

1st

Completed passes

322

1st

Progressive passes

33

4th

Pass completion %

89.4%

3rd

Tackles

10

5th

% of dribblers tackled

100%

1st

Interceptions

4

5th

Blocks

7

4th

Clearances

27

2nd

Ball recoveries

28

4th

Touches

433

3rd

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table outlines, Djiga ranks very highly in the Champions League for all statistics included, when compared to his former teammates, doing so at a very high level, considering Crvena zvezda came up against Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Benfica, PSV, Monaco and others during the league phase.

The centre-back’s defensive metrics are universally impressive but, more notably, so are his in-possession statistics, which will make him the perfect fit for a Martin team.

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So, why will he be a more impactful signing than Aarons?

Well, in short, it’s due to what Rangers really need.

Aarons has presumably joined Rangers to play regularly, having seen just 338 minutes of action last season at Bournemouth and then Valencia, which raises serious question marks over current right-back and captain James Tavernier’s future.

Meantime, the Light Blues are desperate for central defensive reinforcements, with John Souttar and new arrival Fernandez currently the only options available to face Panathinaikos in a pivotal Champions League qualifier in just 19 days’ time.

So, while Djiga is clearly a high-potential player, he is also one that Rangers desperately require, making him a welcome and much-needed addition for Martin.

Related Ibrox's dream Igamane replacement: Rangers working to sign £5m striker

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Posts ByDan Emery

As Graham Potter looks to shape his West Ham United side ahead of his first full season in charge, the Hammers have reportedly made contact to sign an impressive Serie A midfielder who once pocketed Declan Rice.

West Ham keen on attacking additions

It’s a big few months ahead for Potter and his side following a tough start to life at the London Stadium for the former Chelsea manager. After arriving to replace the struggling Julen Lopetegui, many expected Potter to make his mark from the off and ensure that any Stamford Bridge failure became an afterthought. That new manager bounce never truly came, however, and the pressure is now on.

Graham Potter at West Ham

Record (via Transfermarkt)

Games

20

Wins

6

Draws

5

Defeats

9

Following just six wins in his first 20 games and a frustrating 14th-place finish in the Premier League, Potter and West Ham must ensure that they get off to a quick start next season.

What should help that is their potential work in the summer transfer window. Already, they’ve reportedly set their sights on attacking additions such as Adama Bojang and AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham.

Related Major club ready to sell decorated star amid West Ham race for Kudus replacement

The Hammers are beginning to be proactive on the market…

Posts BySean Markus Clifford

The latter would be a particularly wise addition given his past Premier League experience and the Hammers could yet land a relatively routine deal following his struggles on loan at AC Milan last season.

Abraham, like West Ham, endured a season to forget last time out and could certainly do with a return to the Premier League if he is to rediscover his best form in the next campaign.

It’s not just their frontline that West Ham must improve, however. Amid previous reports that David Moyes’ Everton side are interested in signing Tomas Soucek this summer, those at the London Stadium could be forced to find a replacement. And what better way to replace the towering midfielder than by signing a player who “shut down” former star Rice?

West Ham make contact to sign Musah

According to TeamTalk, West Ham have now made initial contact to sign Yunus Musah from AC Milan this summer. The American international initially looked on his way to Serie A champions Napoli in a deal worth €25m (£21m) before Milan changed their stance and demanded that price as well as add-ons. Now, the Hammers have a chance to sneak in ahead of Napoli.

Whether West Ham are willing to do what Napoli are not will be the big question, but their interest in Musah should come as no surprise. At 22 years old, the midfielder already has some impressive experience under his belt at the top level, including at the 2022 World Cup.

It was in Qatar that the Milan man caught the eye for the USA, especially against England as he helped his side earn a 0-0 draw against the Three Lions. Earning the praise of Jacek Kulig as a result, the scout claimed that both Musah and Tyler Adams “shut down” an England midfield which included Rice and Jude Bellingham.

Manchester United are in the market to sign a new centre-forward to lead the line for Ruben Amorim in the 2025/26 campaign, and that could spell trouble for Rasmus Hojlund at Old Trafford.

The latest on Rasmus Hojlund's future at Man Utd

According to the print edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by FCInterNews, Italian giants Inter want to sign the Denmark international to replace Mehdi Taremi this summer.

The Serie A side, who finished second in the league and were finalists in the Champions League, have ‘accelerated’ a move to snap up the former Atalanta attacker from the Red Devils.

La Gazzetta dello Sport adds that Hojlund has made it clear that he likes the idea of playing for Inter next season, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will really push for the transfer.

The outlet claims that Inter are pushing to sign him on loan with an obligation to make it permanent next summer, whilst Manchester United would prefer an instant sale to boost their coffers.

Hojlund is said to be valued at around £38m by the Premier League giants, which is more than Inter are willing to spend on a new striker at this time, and the two clubs are in talks over a deal that would work for all parties.

His exit from Old Trafford would pave the way for a new centre-forward to arrive in Manchester, though, and the club are already reportedly eyeing his replacement.

Man Utd in positive talks to sign Bundesliga striker

According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign former France U21 international Hugo Ekitike from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt.

The report claims that the Red Devils are progressing in positive talks to bring the former PSG marksman over to England during the summer transfer window, as they look to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

It states that the Premier League side are accelerating a deal for the 22-year-old centre-forward, after making positive contact with his representatives to discuss a move to Old Trafford.

Foot Mercato adds that United have also contacted Frankfurt to discuss a potential fee for Ekitike, who scored 22 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, and that all parties are feeling positive at this moment in time.

The outlet, however, also reveals that Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in signing the French attacker and could provide competition for his signature.

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This may be why the Red Devils are ‘accelerating’ a swoop for the young marksman, amid talks with the player and Frankfurt, as they look to win the race for his services.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as “one of the best strikers out there” in March, and his statistics in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he would be a big upgrade on what United currently have at their disposal.

24/25 season

Rasmus Hojlund (Premier League)

Hugo Ekitike (Bundesliga)

Appearances

32

33

Shots on target per game

0.4

1.5

Goals

4

15

Goals per game

0.1

0.5

Big chances created

4

12

Assists

0

8

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Ekitike vastly outperformed Hojlund at league level as both a scorer and a creator of goals in the number nine position, producing 27 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined, in comparison to the Dane’s eight.

This is why this fresh report detailing United’s pursuit of the Frankfurt star should come as good news to Amorim, who could have a huge upgrade for his attack if the transfer goes through this summer.

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Manchester City are getting through plenty of work at an early stage of the transfer window and could now pounce for one of Europe’s brightest attacking talents, according to a report.

Manchester City look to push Rayan Ait-Nouri deal over the line

While Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders look set to join Manchester City from Lyon and AC Milan, respectively, there may be more good news on the way for Citizens’ supporters if David Ornstein’s latest update on business at the Etihad Stadium is anything to go by.

With the Club World Cup approaching and the need for signings to help Pep Guardiola evident, Rayan Ait-Nouri is closing in on a move to the blue half of Manchester from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Although a full agreement has yet to be reached between all parties, there is an expectation that the Algerian left-back will head to Manchester City shortly to compete with Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake on the left-hand side of defence.

Intriguingly, Guardiola has admitted he wants to run with a small squad to ensure he is able to allocate minutes appropriately rather than harbouring fringe stars with no realistic prospect of first-team football.

“I said to the club I don’t want that (a large squad). I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.”

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His comments indicate that a quality over quantity approach may be the method of action taken to streamline his group after a trophyless season. Putting emphasis on the ‘quality’ he craves, Guardiola could now move for one of Europe’s most explosive young talents to provide a fresh injection on the flanks.

Manchester City line up swoop for Bradley Barcola

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City have extensively scouted Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola during his excellent campaign for the French giants.

The outlet claim the 22-year-old could be a long-term replacement for Jack Grealish at the Etihad, though the Champions League holders are said to value the winger at around £101 million.

Bradley Barcola’s superb campaign for PSG – Ligue 1 (Fotmob)

Completed dribbles

34

Successful crosses

7

Shots on target

39

Chances created

50

Expected goals

13.58

Touches in opposition box

228

Becoming a force on the flank, Barcola registered 21 goals and 19 assists in 58 appearances across all competitions for PSG, which has also seen Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur coming to the table for his signature.

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Nevertheless, Luis Enrique isn’t keen to lose one of his star men and is set to offer the Lyon-born star a contract that would see him remain at the Parc des Princes until 2030.

Manchester City are on the lookout for talent to shape the next few years of silverware they hope to achieve and Barcola would be someone who could thrive under Guardiola’s tutelage if he were to pitch up on English shores.