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Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are arguably Liverpool's most important and influential players, and all may depart on free transfers at the end of the campaign.

Liverpool's summer spending (or lack thereof) has left a disquieting air around the fanbase, though contextualising the situation is important.

Arne Slot inherited a top-class squad from Jurgen Klopp and has proven throughout an impressive pre-season and opening-day victory over Ipswich Town in the Premier League that he has the gumption and tactical sharpness to succeed.

There is also a reluctance to adopt the scattergun approach that has proved ineffective for several nameless rivals, instead, the right player, should an opportunity arise, will be pursued.

Liverpool's late-stage transfer plans

Liverpool have never been the thriftiest of spenders under FSG, but there's no doubt that an addition or two could make a world of difference for Slot.

Having recently completed sales of Fabio Carvalho, Sepp van den Berg and Bobby Clark – with more fringe outgoings expected – the Reds are banking a hefty sum this summer, and must redirect the transfer cannon toward a layer of depth.

Liverpool are stepping back into the revamped Champions League and will face a catalogue of gruelling fixtures in a league-table format, so it's likely that should Joe Gomez be sold, a new centre-back will be brought in.

A holding midfielder is also coveted on Merseyside, but a recent update from transfer insider Graeme Bailey reveals that Liverpool could actually strengthen further upfield, with Atletico Madrid's Samu Omorodion offered to the Reds.

Chelsea are out of the equation after looming near completing a deal earlier in the window, but Aston Villa are also admirers and will rival Liverpool for a £30m transfer – FSG need to weigh up quickly whether to get the move done.

Why Samu Omorodion rejected Chelsea

Omorodion is scarcely into his 20th year but has already garnered quite the reputation in Spain, with the Atletico Madrid striker having made his mark on loan at Deportivo Alaves last season, bagging eight goals and an assist across 34 La Liga matches (21 starts).

It's a little convoluted, but Omorodion actually started the 2023/24 campaign with a goalscoring performance against Atletico Madrid, bagging for Granada during the league opener before convincing Diego Simeone and his crew to activate his €6m (about £5m) buyout clause.

He hasn't actually featured for Los Colchoneros but his performances with Alaves did enough to entice Chelsea, though the move fell apart after differences in financial technicalities.

Reports from Spain suggested that Omorodion had rejected the Blues after they attempted to buy 50% of his rights, and now Liverpool could be free to complete a move themselves.

The door is now open for Liverpool to complete the transfer and sharpen Slot's frontline to a fine point, but whether he will sign remains to be seen.

Why Liverpool should sign Samu Omorodion

The interminable wait for that elusive first signing goes on. Liverpool have money to spend, though whether a deal will be sanctioned is another matter entirely.

The more pragmatic side of the argument would point toward Anfield's first-class frontline, with depth on the left and at centre-forward. Salah's possible departure and a lack of actual alternative on the right flank would suggest that there lies the pressing concern.

Omorodion is pretty much exclusive to the No. 9 position, but he would offer something different in that regard, with Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and even Darwin Nunez more fluid in their positional value.

Spanish-Nigerian striker Omorodion has the pace and raw physicality to thrive in the Premier League while providing Slot with an out-and-out striker to shape over the coming years, having already been hailed as a "beast" by scout Antonio Mango.

His shifty movements and agility highlight the framework for a career of success, and while the powerful 6 foot 4 star's raw nature saw him miss 19 big chances despite only scoring nine in the Spanish top flight last term, it does suggest that he could outstrip Nunez.

Nunez joined Liverpool from SL Benfica in a move rising to a club-record £85m figure, but the 25-year-old's wastefulness across his two campaigns has left plenty to be desired.

Indeed, the Uruguay international has converted just 20 of his 67 big chances in the league for Liverpool, with his repeated efforts skewing every which way.

He missed 27 big chances last season alone in the Premier League, with his 11-goal haul only two strikes higher than Omorodion's tally.

Five years the Atleti starlet's senior, it makes a telling comment on the respective skillsets. Omorodion is young and unrefined; it's nothing to worry about that he's not yet a polished goalscorer of the highest standard.

Nunez is an incredibly dynamic and influential forward with a bundle of ways to inflict pain on his opponents, but he will need to improve swiftly under Slot, lest he lose his place in the Anfield squad.

And given that Liverpool's Dutch head coach has already proven that he has a ruthless streak about him, there's every possibility that he will move to sign Omorodion before the end of the month, for the young striker could truly grow into one of the Premier League's finest, boasting all the natural elements to do just that.

Liverpool hit gold on Klopp signing who's now worth more than Van den Berg

He could grow into a central role under Arne Slot.

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 23, 2024

Now seemingly closing in on the arrival of Manuel Ugarte, Manchester United have reportedly turned their attention towards beating Chelsea to one particular forward's signature before the deadline.

Man Utd transfer news

It's been a summer full of positives for those at Old Trafford on the transfer front. They headed into the window in need of reinforcements all across Erik ten Hag's side and look likely to end it having welcomed exactly that. Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazaraoui, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee and now Ugarte should all strengthen the Red Devils in their own right.

That said, Manchester United still might not be done even as deadline day approaches, with defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion once again exposing their need for that extra star power that one forward would certainly give them.

According to The Standard, Manchester United have held preliminary talks to sign Ivan Toney from Brentford in an early attempt to hijack Chelsea's move.

He'd revive Sterling: Man Utd target late move for £20m-rated "weapon"

The incredible talent could help the Englishman get back to his very best.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 28, 2024

The forward looked likely to be off to Saudi Arabia and Al-Ahli, before they reportedly saw their bid rejected by Brentford, who are hoping that United's interest ignites a bidding war and they eventually receive their £40m asking price as a result this summer.

A move to Stamford Bridge reportedly remains Toney's priority, but in the latter stages of the window, his future still remains up for debate, which could allow United to swoop in. The Red Devils' goalscoring problems were there for all to see last season, but the Brentford star would put those issues to bed once and for all.

"Remarkable" Toney would seal perfect Man Utd summer

Getting one over on rivals Chelsea and signing a solution to their striker problem, welcoming Toney would turn a good summer perfect at Old Trafford. For just £40m, the Red Devils would be signing a player who was only outscored by Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in the 2022/23 campaign, before he was handed a lengthy suspension for breaching betting rules last term.

Now ready for his first full season back from that suspension and on the hunt for a big move, Toney is likely to pick up where he left off. That said, the 28-year-old must ensure that he solves the dilemma of his club future in the coming days after being frozen out of Thomas Frank's Brentford side amid such speculation.

It's quite the fall from where Toney once found himself at the club and under Frank, who has been full of praise for the forward throughout his rise to stardom for the Bees.

The Brentford boss previously told the club's official website: “Ivan is amazing in many, many aspects. The way he copes with pressure and distractions is amazing. He’s been scoring goals, performing for the team and driving the team. He’s remarkable."

Bukayo Saka's hamstring injury may be worse than first feared, with Arsenal fearing a complete detachment from the bone.

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• Saka went off injured against Palace
• Arsenal star's third injury lay-off this season
• Gunners fear serious hamstring issue

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Saka went off injured in the 24th minute in Arsenal's 5-1 recent victory over Crystal Palace, and caused enough concern amongst the Gunners' medical personnel for them to order an immediate scan to diagnose the extent of the injury.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Key to the way Mikel Arteta's side play, Arsenal fans and staff alike will be immensely worried by a report from the Daily Mail that the injury sustained could be a total detachment from the bone. Called a hamstring avulsion, such injuries usually require surgery and can take up to six months to recover.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Saka has made 250 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, scoring 67 times since his debut in 2018.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR SAKA AND ARSENAL?

  Saka will be integral to any hopes Arsenal have of mounting a serious Premier League title charge, so everyone associated with the club will hope that the injury is not as serious as the reports says.

  The Gunners face Ipswich on Friday in a bid to keep pressure on Chelsea and Liverpool above them.

Jurgen Klopp's kids have faded from the prominence that saw Liverpool win the Carabao Cup and send English football into a frenzy last season.

Injuries galore at Anfield; Klopp announced he would depart at the end of the season. All was not well, but Liverpool's injury-hit first team somehow overcame its issues, with many academy stars playing instrumental roles.

It was summed up when Gary Neville infamously remarked that "Klopp's kids beat Chelsea's billion-pound bottle-jobs" after that extraordinary Carabao Cup final victory, Virgil van Dijk reminding his younger peers who's boss with the winning contribution.

Now, later into the year, Arne Slot is the new man in the dugout and Liverpool's youthful cohort has been trimmed. Slot is a practical boss, businesslike, and has shipped out several younger stars over the past few months.

Liverpool have also sold talented young duo Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg to Brentford, with both enjoying productive loan spells last season. Bobby Clark has also joined RB Salzburg in a £10m move, taking Liverpool's summer sales total past £60m.

Elsewhere, fans might have been disappointed to see Ben Doak shipped out to Middlesbrough in the Championship on a season-long loan deal, but there is a good reason…

Why Liverpool have loaned out Ben Doak

Liverpool signed Doak from dominant Scottish giants Celtic in 2022, paying a compensation fee of about £600k for a winger carrying all the properties of a world-class superstar, later down the line.

Small in stature but powerful and ferocious, Doak started to break into Klopp's plans last season and even started three times in the Europa League group stage, completing 2.7 dribbles and winning 4.7 duels on average per game, as per Sofascore.

He's clearly a player of significant potential and was even proclaimed to be a "prodigy” by Liverpool youth correspondent Keifer MacDonald, with his agent, Jackie McNamara, even dubbing him the "Scottish Wayne Rooney" for his electric pace, seat-raising potential and natural-born strength, despite a diminutive height.

A meniscus injury cruelly ended his season among Klopp's seniors in December, and he would not feature again that term. It's with that in mind that Doak has likely been pushed to a temporary exit, for he will need to hone his craft and build his match fluency.

There's something of a tacit sense at Liverpool that the right-sided forward could have served as Mohamed Salah's understudy, but Liverpool's £10m signing of Federico Chiesa has effectively precluded him from earning regular minutes this season, so a move away made sense.

He may yet thrive on Merseyside, but not all of the exciting youngsters will cement lasting roles in the Liverpool powerhouse. However, there are one or two still yet to make their senior debut who stand a very good chance, with none more so than Kieran Morrison.

Kieran Morrison, remember the name

Morrison might come to surpass Doak, he's that good. Liverpool's Scottish prospect has posted 11 goals and eight assists over 29 matches for the Reds' various youth levels, and his 17-year-old peer is demonstrating an even more clinical rate.

The Northern Ireland youth international signed his first professional contract with the club earlier this year, and he's certainly not failing to repay the faith thus far, having even been praised for his "sublime" performances by journalist Lewis Bower.

Last season, he'd yet to be promoted from the U18s to the U21s, but still enjoyed an impressive haul of 11 goals and four assists across 20 matches in the U18 Premier League.

However, the talented winger found his greatest success on the right, actually scoring seven goals from just 11 outings on that flank, something that suggests that he could make for some prolific competition for Doak, jockeying for the spot in Slot's first team.

He's yet to reach his 18th year, but despite this has now been called up to the U21s opening his account with a brace against Sunderland on Monday evening.

His dribbling skills also helped James Balagizi score the other goal in the emphatic victory, showing shades of Luis Diaz in doing so.

Diaz has been immense across the opening weeks of the Premier League season, scoring a brace against Manchester United last time out after claiming a goal and an assist apiece during the Reds' previous victory over Brentford in the Premier League.

Described as a "livewire" by journalist Peter Hall, he's one of the finest ball carriers in the Premier League, averaging 2.3 dribbles per game across his opening three matches, as per Sofascore.

The 27-year-old was consistently linked with a move away in the summer, with Barcelona known admirers, but nothing very concrete actually materialised and he is now looking to enjoy his most productive campaign yet, very much starting out on the right foot.

Liverpool youth manager Marc Bridge-Wilkinson has indirectly suggested that Morrison could emulate such a player, previously saying: "Kieran is a good technician. He is good with the ball at his feet, he likes to carry the ball and he can go past people and he can finish. He’s not afraid to risk the ball at the right times and try to create something for the team."

With both wingers, a decade apart in age, starting the 2024/25 campaign off so well, it's conceivable to think that Morrison could find himself making his senior debut at some point this year.

If he can make enough of an impression, he might even leapfrog Doak, emerging as the lightning-charged type of wide forward to gift the Liverpool support with their next version of Diaz.

Liverpool hit gold on "deadly" star who's worth millions more than Chiesa

Arne Slot is already enjoying this Reds star’s first-class ability…

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By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 2, 2024

An Arsenal icon has revealed he would consider returning to his old side in some capacity in the future.

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• Spaniard has stellar Arsenal spell
• Veteran nearing retirement from football
• Open to Gunners return one day

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After a 21-year-long career, Santi Cazorla is inching closer to retirement. The 40-year-old is nearing the end of his contract (2025) at Spanish second division team Real Oviedo and now he is considering his future career options. And the Spaniard, who spent six years at Arsenal, suggested he would be open to returning to the north London team eventually.

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  WHAT SANTI CAZORLA SAID

  When asked if he would consider a return to the Emirates, he said: "Yes, why not? Arsenal is my home. I love the club and the people, so we will see in the future. I don't know [what role I would have]. I would have to think about that but something in football for sure, because that is what I love."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Cazorla made 180 appearances for Arsenal between 2012-18, winning two FA Cups and two Community Shields. He has enjoyed a long and distinguised career and it would be no surprise to see him back at the Gunners in some way after what he did for the club.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Before he does hang up his boots, the former Villarreal star will be focusing on Oviedo's clash with Sporting Gijon in the league on January 11.

The Wisconsin-born manager has redefined the Canadian national side in his short nine months in charge

MIAMI – Jesse Marsch summed it all up following Canada's exit at the hands of Argentina in the 2024 Copa America. played the eventual champions mostly even, only for two individual moments of quality – one from Julian Alvarez, a second from Lionel Messi – to see them denied of the chance to win the first international tournament in the program's history.

Marsch, though, saw the growth.

"There's still a lot of work to do. But we've built a really good foundation," he said following Canada's exit. "I think we've made a lot of progress together. And I'm really optimistic about what the future can look like."

Six months on, and that progress has only further crystallized. They haven't lost since September, and failed to win only once – a drab scoreless draw against Mexico in Austin. Marsch has now been in the job for nine months. The revolution is underway, and the American coach has stamped his own identity on a side that is closing the gap on its southern neighbors.

"The combination of the qualities of the players in the team, and what I'm trying to do with them, meshes really well," Marsch told GOAL.

• USA Today
  

  'He thinks of us as being too nice'

  Marsch-ball is in full effect. Yes, there is a signature playing style to be found. Canada are quick, athletic and young. They play fast, and use the dynamism of star man Alphonso Davies and the finishing prowess of Jonathan David to full effect. But the real difference, according to those who have been around Marsch is a newfound attitude towards the sport.

  "I think he thinks of the Canadians as being a bit too nice," winger Jacob Shaffelburg told GOAL at MLS Media Day. "He wants to kind of bring that bit of American in there."

  This isn't necessarily a manners thing. Marsch isn't asking for rudeness. He doesn't want his side to bend the rules, or treat the game with disrespect. Rather, the Wisconsin-born former USMNT assistant is asking his side to show a bit of a cocky streak.

  "I have pushed some American ideals within the team," Marsch admitted. "About being a little bit more arrogant, believing in themselves a little bit more. Really trying to push them to not just be footballers because they like it and it's fun and they're good at it, but more about a pursuit of excellence."

  That injection of confidence was exactly what the Canada side required.

  “Jesse Marsch is the perfect coach at the perfect moment for that group,” said former Canadian goalkeeper and current Houston Dynamo GM Pat Onstad said, “someone is a little bit brash and is ready to go and be on the front foot.”

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• From afterthoughts to competitors

  That attitude – as a concept and an adjective – has proliferated through a team that was long regarded as an afterthought in CONCACAF. At the turn of the 2000s, the USMNT was just starting to tussle with regional power Mexico for supremacy in the federation (the 2-0 win by the U.S. at the 2002 World Cup is seen as the singular fixture that brought the two sides onto level footing.)

  Meanwhile, Canada struggled to assert itself. It won the 2000 Gold Cup, and finished third in 2002. They made the semifinal of the tournament again in 2007, but losses to the likes of Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica and Martinique were more indicative. They had to wait until 2022 to qualify for the World Cup.

  Although qualification was an achievement, that tournament brought further disappointment in terms of results. Canada finished bottom of their group, losing all three games. They led just once, when Davies opened the scoring against Croatia after two minutes in a win-or-go-home match (the European side eventually won 4-1.)

  At that point, the problems were everywhere. The federation was strapped for cash, John Herdman was flirting with MLS clubs, and a number of senior players outright refused to play in the 2023 Gold Cup, with one eye on the wear and tear brought about by the European calendar. That they made the quarter-finals of that tournament, while Herdman was in the process of agreeing terms with Toronto FC, is, in hindsight, a significant feat.

  Marsch, it was widely rumored, was the U.S.'s top choice to replace Gregg Berhalter. The then-USMNT manager's contract expired after the World Cup, and it was no secret that the U.S. were assessing their options for a new manager. However, when Berhalter was brought back into the fold – largely due to reported pleas from the U.S. player pool – Marsch became available

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  'I waited a long time'

  But Marsch didn't immediately jump at the job.

  "I waited a long time before I made the decision to take the Canada job, and I was looking for a situation that I thought would be rewarding for me and for the team," Marsch explained.

  And even after agreeing, Marsch stalled further. He needed 24 hours to address a problem position before signing on the dotted line: center back.

  "We knew that this was going to be an area that hadn't been the greatest in the past. This was the talk of the player pool. And then when I watched Moise [Bombito] and Derek [Cornelius,] I thought, OK, there's something,'" Marsch said.

  That caliber of talent – Bombito plays for Nice, while Cornelius has impressed for Marseille – has become the norm for Canada. Traditionally, this was a side that relied on a handful of veterans, scattered MLS players, and some additional names from the country's own domestic league.

  Now, things look very different.

  "I think the national team has got a ton of really good young players," Onstad said. "They're developing, Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies, obviously the two bigger stars. But it was really Atiba Hutchinson and the guys kind of behind them that set the stage for these guys."

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  'It has made me feel empowered'

  That has been part of Marsch's remit. He has taken the job at a unique time in the scope of Canadian soccer. The talent pool is younger and deeper than it has ever been – both in MLS and abroad. But that, too, comes with its challenges.

  Marsch's full job title is "MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach." The owners of three MLS clubs – CF Montreal, Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps – are paying parts of his $3 million salary in what a release dubbed “philanthropic contributions.” Marsch insists that the money coming from the trio of teams hasn't influenced his squad selection. If anything, it has only brought the group together.

  "It all started with the fact that those three clubs and ownerships, and specifically the three people that committed to it, really wanted me here, and were committed to it all the way,” Marsch said. “And it's made me feel empowered and like we have a really strong foundation as a team.”

Looking ahead to the future, Nottingham Forest are now reportedly eyeing a move to sign a Championship gem alongside a number of other Premier League clubs in 2025.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Nottingham Forest should note down the summer transfer window as quite the success, having signed the likes of Jota Silva, Elliot Anderson, James Ward-Prowse and Ramon Sosa, whilst avoiding any profit and sustainability consequences courtesy of departures such as Orel Mangala and Odysseas Vlachodimos.

Nottingham Forest ace sold for only £4m is now one of the best in the world

Forest may regret star sold on a cheap who is now thriving

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By
Connor Holden

Sep 13, 2024

Ward-Prowse should prove to be particularly key, arriving on loan from West Ham United as a player with a wealth of experience capable of producing the extraordinary from set pieces.

Having strengthened in an impressive manner, Forest should now be looking to move into the comforts of the Premier League’s mid-table and away from relegation trouble once and for all. It won’t be an easy job for Nuno Espirito Santo, of course, but it is one that he has clearly been backed to do by those off the pitch investing in his side.

That investment looks only likely to continue when 2025 arrives too, with the Midlands club already reportedly eyeing future moves. According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Nottingham Forest are now eyeing a move to sign Souleymane Sidibe from Stoke City alongside the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It looks set to be a tight race for the in-demand midfielder, but one that Forest will be desperate to win given just how promising the 17-year-old has looked in and around Steven Schumacher’s senior side.

With the likes of Ward-Prowse to learn from, a move to the City Ground may not be a bad idea for Sidibe either, but only time will tell whether he opts for those among the European places or a move geared around potential game time.

"Mature" Sidibe has decision to make

Whilst his focus will undoubtedly be on gaining a permanent place in Schumacher’s starting side at Stoke, Sidibe won’t be able to ignore such interest in his signature for very long, giving him quite the decision to make. If it is to be Forest who benefit from his talent, then they may well have both a partner for Morgan Gibbs-White and a potential replacement should their star man decide to leave in the near future.

Sidibe has left many impressed in the Championship from the very off, with former manager Alex Neil telling BBC Radio Stoke after handing the teenager his debut in the Carabao Cup against West Bromwich Albion last season: “I thought his performance justified why he’s been with the first team all pre-season and why I played him in the game.

“I had no concerns over him. He’s a terrific talent but he’s also really mature, for being so young. He did exactly as I expected him to do – he did wonderfully well and he’s played in a Stoke team that won the game, and played the majority of the match. I think when you’re 16 years old, most players of that age could only dream of doing something like that.”

Manchester United fans would have walked away from their side’s goalless Premier League draw with Crystal Palace this weekend very frustrated with the toothless display on offer, having seen their wasteful team notch up 15 shots in total at Selhurst Park without scoring.

Spurning five big chances in the game too, it was a polar opposite display to the one just before this frustrating stalemate, where the Red Devils tore League One Barnsley to shreds 7-0 in the EFL Cup.

Erik ten Hag would have wanted more creativity from his midfielders on the day, as the likes of Bruno Fernandes were uncharacteristically sloppy on the ball, whilst holding midfielders Kobbie Mainoo and Christian Eriksen were also largely quiet.

At least the midfield options at the under-pressure manager’s disposal in the here and now are better than the ones previous Red Devils bosses have had to cope with, as Ten Hag’s fellow compatriot in Louis Van Gaal attempted to get out a tune out of Morgan Schneiderlin in 2015 to no avail.

Man Utd's signing of Schneiderlin

Schneiderlin joined the ranks at the Theatre of Dreams nine years ago as a bumper signing, joining for a fee in and around the £27m mark after leaving Southampton behind for pastures new in Manchester.

Becoming a dependable figure for the Saints around that time – with 261 appearances accumulated by the Frenchman in total at St. Mary’s across his lengthy South Coast stay – the move to the Red Devils would, unfortunately, be too much for the defensive midfielder to handle, cracking under the pressure of the big lights of Old Trafford.

The now retired midfielder would only go on to make 47 appearances for his new employers before being moved on to Everton, with just one goal and one assist managed across his forgettable stint too.

As such, United were forced to take a hit and sell Schneiderlin for £24m, just so they could get him off their roster, with the Red Devils flop more than content with moving on after never warming to his new location.

He would equally struggle for the Toffees to further expose United’s failings in the transfer department, with the Red Devils cursing their luck that they didn’t shop more effectively in the first place, as a “world class” talent – as he has been described by ex-Liverpool man Emre Can – was also available for cheap over pursuing Schneiderlin.

When United tried to sign Gundogan

According to Sky Sports back in 2015, United were ‘close’ to agreeing a stunning £21.5m deal for Ilkay Gundogan, with the then Borussia Dortmund midfielder’s contract coming to an end in the summer of the following year.

No such deal would materialise, as the German initially stuck it out at Signal Iduna Park, but there would have been some Red Devils supporters speculating on what could have been when the experienced head finally did make the leap to England a year later with arch rivals City.

Whilst United have struggled to win major honours, Gundogan has helped City become a force to be reckoned with, accumulating 60 goals and 38 assists from 308 total games, with his efforts during his side’s treble winning 2022/23 season really sticking out.

Scoring 11 goals and picking up seven assists across winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, his two goals in the FA Cup final that campaign will be especially hard to stomach for supporters of United, with a bolt from the blue from the exceptional German helping Pep Guardiola’s men take the lead within 13 seconds against their side.

The Red Devils would have loved to have had a talent like Gundogan on their books – knowing that the German has become a serial winner at City – but their story involves the underwhelming pick up of Schneiderlin instead.

Ten Hag must instantly drop 5/10 Man Utd ace who lost the ball 11 times

Manchester United supporters would have been tearing their hair out after watching how wasteful their side was.

By
Kelan Sarson

Sep 22, 2024

Denis Irwin has identified the "biggest problem" behind Manchester United's decline as he bemoaned a "difficult" decade at Old Trafford.

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• United yet to win Premier League since 2013
• Have had six permanent managers in that time
• Irwin questioned transfers post-Ferguson

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  During Sir Alex Ferguson’s farewell address at Old Trafford, the legendary manager urged fans to stand by his successor, referencing the patience he was afforded during challenging times. Despite this call for unity, United have endured a turbulent period with six permanent managers, two chief executives, and over a billion spent on transfers.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In fact, the Red Devils have yet to win a Premier League title since Ferguson left. The current season has been one of United's worst in modern history as, with six home league defeats in their opening 12 matches, they have matched a record that dates back to the 1893-94 campaign. Furthermore, United have already suffered 10 losses in just 22 league games this season, the earliest they have reached double figures in defeats since the 1989-90 campaign.

• WHAT IRWIN SAID

  Irwin believes poor recruitment has been the key factor behind the club's inability to recapture its former glory.

  Speaking candidly about the situation in an interview with Irwin said: “It’s been a difficult ten years [post-Sir Alex Ferguson]. Everyone kind of knew it was going to be a difficult period after Sir Alex left. They’ve had a lot of experienced managers – Ole [Gunnar Solskjær] as well – that have looked like they’re going to do something, but that light has just closed.

  “They’ve won cups, like Liverpool did in their quiet period, but not been anywhere near the league in the last ten years. It’s going to take time. I’ve said before, it’s down to the players. The manager can organise [the players], he likes a 4-3-3, but it’s literally down to the players. You wouldn’t say [Manchester] United’s recruitment over the last 10 years has been great either – that’s the biggest problem.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Despite their troubles in the league, United will look to carry the momentum from their dramatic Europa League victory over Rangers into their upcoming clash with Fulham on Sunday. The last-gasp win provided a glimmer of hope for fans, but the team faces significant pressure to deliver consistent results.

Aston Villa star Jhon Duran has completed a lucrative move to Al-Nassr despite the club claiming earlier in January that they won't sell the striker.

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• Aston Villa sold Duran
• Colombian striker has moved to Al-Nassr
• Joined the club on a five-and-a-half-year deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Villans received a whopping €77million (£64.5m/$80m) transfer fee for the 21-year-old forward, who has completed a move to Al-Nassr and will now link up with elite players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte in the Saudi Pro League. Duran has penned a five-and-a-half-years contract and will earn £16.7 million ($21m) per year.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Throughout the first half of January, the Villans maintained that they would not part ways with their star forward, however, according to , the club decided to sell him once they came to know that the player had agreed personal terms with the Saudi giants. To comply with the Profit and Sustainability Rules of the Premier League, the club were compelled to sell one of their star players. The report also adds that the English side can now avoid selling stars like Boubacar Kamara in the next summer transfer window and can also go after Chelsea's Joao Felix.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The Colmbian’s rise has been rapid since he joined Aston Villa in 2023 from Major League Soccer outfit Chicago Fire in a deal worth around $18 million (£14.75 million). Duran has been one of Villa’s most promising players this season, netting 12 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR JHON DURAN?

  The player could make his debut for Ronaldo's club on Monday when they take on Al Wasl in an AFC Champions League clash.