All posts by z3u9t.icu

Leeds United employee Noel Whelan has backed Joe Gelhardt to play a leading role against Brighton in their crucial Premier League match this afternoon. 

The lowdown: Leeds bereft of options

Already likely to be without talismanic striker Patrick Bamford after Jesse Marsch confirmed that the 28-year-old was still being ‘assessed’ during Friday’s pre-match press conference, Dan James’ suspension leaves the Whites with little in the way of attacking options.

Rodrigo completed 90 minutes in midweek against Chelsea but the Spaniard can also play in deeper roles, whilst winger Jack Harrison was added to the injury list as Leeds succumbed to a 3-0 victory at Elland Road.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-3/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Gelhardt was chosen to lead the line recently against Arsenal before being withdrawn when Luke Ayling saw red inside the opening half-hour, and Whelan has backed the 20-year-old to be handed another opportunity…

The latest: Whelan wants Gelhardt to start

Speaking to Football Insider, the Leeds ambassador urged Marsch to opt for a more ‘natural’ centre-forward option for today’s clash against Graham Potter’s side.

The 47-year-old said: “It’s very difficult as a young player to come into any squad when you’re on the back of defeats. It’s a lot to carry on your shoulders and a lot of responsibility.

“It’s made more difficult with the injuries and the sending offs. We’re losing that experience, we’re losing players. Dan James, Luke Ayling, Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, that is a huge amount of experience in these last few games we’re missing. I hope it doesn’t hurt us, I hope somebody steps into their shoes and becomes that leader. Probably a little bit earlier than they expected.

“We’ve not had a natural goalscoring striker, a number nine, all season. That’s been difficult for us. Whoever’s played there has found it quite difficult to play that number nine role. In my opinion, Gelhardt is the more natural number nine.

“He is as close as to a number nine as we’ve got at that football club and I believe he’s got to start. There’s nothing in my mind that says that kid will not thrive against Brighton. I think he can take all the responsibility, he’s got that maturity about him in his game.

“We need captains and leaders out there. It might come a little early for some but they need to rise to this challenge.”

The verdict: Time to step up

Already a match-winning hero with a late goal against Norwich City earlier in the campaign, Gelhardt may need to come to the fore once again when Leeds need him most of all.

So far this season, the Liverpudlian starlet – who was described as ‘astonishing’ by talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham – has scored twice and provided three assists in 18 Premier League outings, impressing for the most part given his tender years.

However, it’s for the Whites’ under-23s that Gelhardt has mainly flourished, netting seven goals in just 10 matches at that level, and Marsch would be well served to turn to someone with such a clinical nature for a pivotal final two games for Leeds.

Alternatively, the American could stand firm with Rodrigo or gamble on another youngster in Sam Greenwood, but whichever way the boss turns today, the Elland Road faithful could be looking for an out-of-sorts Raphinha to return to form.

In other news: Phil Hay claims Orta now wants to sign ‘unbelievable’ ace even if Leeds go down; club green-light sale

According to Tottenham Hotspur insider John Wenham, the club should not attempt to sign ‘world class’ Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres this summer if it means that Eric Dier or Cristian Romero have to drop to the bench.

The Lowdown: Torres available for transfer

The 25-year-old has recently been linked with a move away from the Spanish giants, despite still having two years remaining on his current contract, with Football Insider revealing just last month that Antonio Conte’s outfit are believed to be keeping tabs on the defender ahead of the start of next season.

In a new update, a recruitment source is since claimed to have told the same site that Villarreal are now expecting to cash in on Torres as a result of the club’s immediate need to raise cash, which has increased Spurs’ confidence that they can get a deal in the region of £45m over the line.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-newest-updates/” title=”Tottenham newest updates…” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: A world-class signing

Wenham, who regularly breaks fresh Spurs news, admitted that he would be happy for the 17-cap international to arrive in north London, as long as it would be for a ‘smaller’ fee.

In reaction to the plummeting price tag, he told Football Insider: “I don’t see the need to get this deal done as soon as the window opens.

“I think the priority for the club is a left-sided centre-back. That being said, a world-class signing will always be welcomed.

“It’s just, all of a sudden, Dier and Romero are looking really good and I don’t think we need to improve there.

“One of them would have to drop to the bench if Torres came in and I don’t really want that.

“A smaller fee would make a deal more likely, of course, and we have been linked with him for a long time now.

“I wouldn’t say no to him, put it that way. I just think the money needs to be spent elsewhere.”

The Verdict: Get it done

Despite a right-footed centre-back not being Conte’s top priority this summer, Spurs should still definitely make a move for Torres whilst he’s available at a discounted fee.

The £63k-per-week ace has been an absolute colossus in defence under Unai Emery this term, where he’s currently averaging 3.1 clearances and is winning 1.9 of his aerial duels per La Liga game, via WhoScored, showing just how much experience and knowhow he can add to a backline.

Whilst the 6 foot 2 talisman’s possible arrival could mean that certain members of the Italian’s squad would have to miss out on the starting XI, but this is a great way to provide some serious competition for places heading into next season and force others to step up their games even further.

In other news… a journalist has revealed that Conte is a ‘big fan’ of one of his Spurs transfer targets.

Liverpool are already being linked to several players this summer despite the current team still being involved in the opportunity to win three more trophies this season.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has given an update on one particular transfer target.

What’s the latest?

The Italian journalist and transfer insider took to his column with Anfield Watch to reveal one player who won’t be joining the quadruple-chasing club next season.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-liverpool-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-salah-gnabry-isak-romano” title= “Read the latest Liverpool news!”]

Romano wrote: “Renato Sanches was one of the names on the shortlist back in 2021, but a move remains unlikely, with the Portuguese’s salary demands especially ambitious and the competition for his signature high.”

Supporters will be gutted

If there is any area of the pitch that could use some fresh legs this summer it is the midfield, after FSG failed to replace Georginio Wijnaldum last summer following his move to Paris Saint-Germain, so supporters will likely be gutted that a deal for Renato Sanches is looking unlikely.

Liverpool were linked to the Portuguese midfielder last summer and more recently speculation mounted during the January transfer window but nothing materialised.

There is no doubt that age is not on the side of the majority of the current Liverpool midfielders with Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho all in their 30s, so adding the 24-year-old could have been an option to add depth and another young midfielder into the squad.

Calciomercato is now reporting that the Ligue 1 star has agreed on terms with AC Milan, so Jurgen Klopp will likely have to concede defeat on the potential signing and look elsewhere for players to bolster the midfield this summer.

With that being said, all is not lost for Liverpool as they are heavily linked with Aurelien Tchouameni and Fabio Carvalho who can both offer similar attacking ambition from an advanced midfield role.

Ultimately, whoever joins this tenacious team will have to compete for a spot in the midfield three, with the current crop proving they’re still more than capable of putting in consistent performances that have led the Kopites into potentially having one of their most successful seasons in the history of the club.

AND in other news: Romano: Liverpool in talks to sign “extraordinary” £83m machine, Klopp would love him

Tottenham Hotspur are back in action in the Premier League this weekend as they prepare to welcome London rivals Fulham to North London on Saturday night.

Spurs are looking to bounce back from successive defeats to Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in their last two games, losing 5-3 to the French giants in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

The Lilywhites have not won in the Premier League since they beat Everton 3-0 at the end of October, with one win in six in all competitions since, which is why it is so important for Thomas Frank’s team to win this weekend.

They will have to get one over Fulham in order to do so, though, and it is a club that they have many connections to through players who have played for both.

Ranking Fulham players who have played for Spurs since 2010

Counting all players who played for Spurs since 2010, there have been ten players who either played for Fulham before or after their time in North London.

Perhaps most notably, given that Dimitar Berbatov left Tottenham in 2008, is central midfielder Mousa Dembele, who played 240 matches for Spurs between 2012 and 2018, after signing directly from the Cottagers.

1

Mousa Dembele

2

Scott Parker

3

Clint Dempsey

4

Joao Palhinha

5

Carlos Vinicius

6

Lewis Holtby

7

Paulo Gazzaniga

8

Manor Solomon

9

Josh Onomah

10

Ryan Fredericks

As you can see in the table above, academy players like Ryan Fredericks and Josh Onomah rank at the bottom, with several less notable Spurs players before the top four.

It is hard to say anyone other than Dembele should be at the top, given that the Belgian star, renowned for his ability on the ball, is the only player on the list to play more than 100 games for the club, with 240, per FBref.

He was once ‘irreplaceable’ for Spurs, as shown in the post above from 2018, and Frank can unearth his own version of the midfielder by playing Lucas Bergvall on Saturday night.

Why Lucas Bergvall could be Tottenham's next Mousa Dembele

One of Dembele’s most notable attributes during his time with Spurs was his dribbling. Speaking about his former international teammate, Youri Tielemans once said: “His dribbling was amazing, you just couldn’t take the ball off him.”

Chalkboard

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

He was brilliant at carrying the ball up the pitch from the middle of the park, and Bergvall is a central midfielder who can offer similar qualities for Spurs in the present day.

Per FBref, the Sweden international ranks within the top 9% of his positional peers in the Big 5 Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for progressive carries per 90 (2.30) and the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.55).

This shows that he is one of the most productive dribblers among central midfielders in Europe, which is why he could develop into being Frank’s own version of Dembele in the middle of the park.

Bergvall, like the Belgian, does not carry a huge goal threat, having scored once in the Premier League this season, but he can get the team up the pitch with his ability to drive forward with the ball at his feet.

The Swedish star, who was dubbed a “generational talent” by the club’s head of scouting Rob Mackenzie, started as part of a box midfield against PSG earlier this week, but playing further up the pitch ahead of Archie Gray and Rodrigo Bentancur restricted how much he could drive from deep.

Therefore, unleashing him in a midfield three against Fulham on Saturday could allow him to provide supporters of both teams with a reminder of a player who once starred for them.

Own Kvaratskhelia: Spurs could see £50m bid accepted for PL "superstar"

Tottenham have been told that they could have an offer accepted for their own Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January.

ByDan Emery Nov 28, 2025

Bergvall only attempted one dribble, which he completed, against PSG, and playing him further back on the pitch to use as a threat in transition could help Spurs to win their first Premier League game of the month this weekend.

You may not want to but let’s cast our minds back to March 2023. Arsenal are facing Sporting in a Europa League knock-out match and William Saliba has gone down injured.

The replacement that day was Rob Holding. Yes, it’s remarkable just how much this squad has progressed since that day.

Holding was a loyal servant to the club but he was never really Arsenal quality. The run-in during the end of the 2022/23 campaign, a season in which the Gunners played some scintillating football, showcased just that.

After that injury on the European stage, Saliba didn’t play another minute of the season, which meant Holding was forced into the side. It did not go well at all; the Londoners only won five of their last 11 league matches, missing out on the Premier League title.

The central defender did score against Manchester City, albeit it that came in a crippling 4-1 defeat a match where Jamie Carragher explained at full-time that Erling Haaland vs Holding was a “physical mismatch.”

That sequence of games has been a learning curve for Mikel Arteta and it perhaps still scars him to this day. Arsenal have signed a whole host of defenders since and the way with which they’ve dealt with Saliba’s latest injury setback is a testament to that.

Enter, Cristhian Mosquera.

Cristhian Mosquera's stunning form for Arsenal in numbers

Holding, who? The level of progression from Arsenal’s backline since the English centre-half departed for pastures new is remarkable.

The layers of depth Arteta now has at his disposal in defence speaks volumes. At left-back, he can call on Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Piero Hincapie.

In the middle, he can call on Calafiori and Hincapie again, although right-backs Jurrien Timber and Ben White also possess the ability to play as centre-backs should Saliba and Gabriel be absent.

There will be no more Holding situations, and Mosquera’s early-season form in London proves that.

Very rarely can a football player be described as a bargain in the modern market but the £13m that Arsenal spent on Mosquera certainly looks like that.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Valencia phoned the police to report a robbery, that’s how cheap his price tag looks.

That’s because his latest two outings demonstrate that if Saliba or Gabriel are missing, there won’t be a drop off in quality.

When the French central defender hobbled off early on in the defeat against Liverpool, every supporter feared the worst, but Arsenal’s new Spanish signing was a match for the likes of Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike and Mohammed Salah.

Chalkboard

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

Yes, the hosts may well have won at Anfield but Mosquera was phenomenal, completing 92% of his passes and winning four of his five duels.

Against Forest, he was arguably even better. Saliba was still missing but his young stand-in, aged just 21, didn’t put a foot wrong.

On this occasion, he kept a clean sheet, completed 91% of his passes and lost just one of his four duels. Impressive stuff indeed.

Remarkably, however, the Gunners may well be brewing a bigger talent in the Hale End ranks.

Introducing the best centre-back Hale End has produced

When Arsenal announced the arrival of Mosquera over the summer, Andrea Berta found it difficult to hide his admiration for the young defender: “We identified Cristhian as one of the strongest young defenders in European football, and he is an important signing for our future,” exclaimed the Italian.

Well, speaking of the future, there is a world where he could be partnered by one of the most promising talents in the club’s academy.

That player is Marli Salmon. Aged just 16, he’s already been described as the Max Dowman of defenders and while he is yet to appear in a competitive fixture for Arsenal, he did make his first team bow during pre-season.

Salmon looked miles above his age and really did stand out at the heart of Arteta’s backline, featuring against both Milan and Newcastle.

Versus the Italian giants, the young defender played the final 24 minutes of that encounter and completed 94% of his passes. Against Newcastle, he featured for just 13 minutes but once again looked at ease, this time completing 100% of his passes.

He’s certainly composed at the back and testimonies from those who follow Hale End more closely indicate that he could well be on Dowman’s level.

Currently being mentored by Saliba, insider Hand of Arsenal has noted that Salmon is “rated very very highly by everyone at the club,” while suggesting that he is “the best centre-back in his age group.”

Well, data analyst Ben Mattinson has gone a step further by suggesting that the teenager is “the best centre-back Hale End has produced.”

Possessing Saliba-like calmness in possession, Salmon’s talent looks immense and it would not be a surprise if we start seeing him playing more first-team minutes in a few years.

He’s not quite ready yet, but the fact he went on the club’s pre-season tour suggests Arteta likes the look of him. Those reviews suggest he could become an even bigger talent than Mosquera. Exciting times indeed.

He dropped a 10/10: Arsenal's "signing of the summer" could be Xhaka 2.0

Arsenal may have signed their new Granit Xhaka.

ByMatt Dawson Sep 14, 2025

Leeds United are looking to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch before the transfer window officially slams shut for another year this evening.

The Whites were reportedly looking to sign Facundo Buonanotte on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this week to add to their attacking midfield ranks, after he spent last season on loan at Leicester City.

Unfortunately, Chelsea decided to pursue a loan move for the Argentine playmaker and are now closing in on a deal to add him to their squad at Stamford Bridge.

Leeds were, of course, unable to compete with the Champions League football that Enzo Maresca’s side have on offer, and look set to miss out on Buonanotte.

Leeds have playmaker on their radar

The Championship champions are still in need of another option in the frontline after missing out on the Brighton youngster, and are reportedly looking further afield for an alternative.

Transfer Focus

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

According to LeedsLive, Krasnodar attacking midfielder Eduard Spertsyan has emerged as a potential option for Leeds United on deadline day, as they could make a last-gasp move for the star.

The report claims that the Armenia international is one of a number of playmakers on the club’s radar as they look to bolster their options in that position before the window slams shut.

It adds that Bilal El Khannouss, Dilane Bakwa, and Manor Solomon are also being looked at by the Whites, as they look at traditional number tens and natural wingers on both sides.

Daniel Farke, though, worked with Spertsyan, who was linked with an £11m move to Southampton earlier this summer, and he may be a shrewd addition to the squad.

Why Leeds should sign Eduard Spertsyan

The West Yorkshire outfit should look to pursue a deadline day deal for the Armenian star because he could be an even better option than Buonanotte as an attacking midfielder.

Spertsyan has not experienced English football before, so it would be a risk in that respect, but his form for Krasnodar suggests that he has the potential to be an incredibly exciting addition to the squad.

The 25-year-old star, who was described as an “elegant” player by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is heading into the prime years of his career and could offer a huge threat at the top end of the pitch if he can adapt to the Premier League.

Appearances

28

7

Goals

11

4

Big chances missed

5

1

Key passes per game

2.1

3.9

Big chances created

6

5

Assists

6

8

As you can see in the table above, Spertsyan has delivered 15 goals and 14 assists in his last 35 appearances in the Russian Premier League, including eight assists in seven games this season.

These statistics show that the £11m-rated star is an incredibly creative player who looks to play key passes constantly each match, whilst he can also provide a significant threat as a goalscorer.

Meanwhile, Buonanotte has produced eight goals and three assists in 58 outings in the English Premier League in the last two seasons for Leicester and Brighton combined, per Sofascore.

This suggests that Spertsyan would be an even better signing for Leeds if they can get him to translate his performances for Krasnodar over to English football this season.

It would be a risky addition, given his lack of experience in England, but his immense form in Russia suggests that it could be worth the risk as an alternative to Buonanotte, who has not delivered consistently in the final third in his career to date.

James upgrade: Leeds are in late talks to seal "remarkable" £20m signing

Leeds United are reportedly in talks to sign a star who could be an upgrade on Dan James.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 31, 2025

While the major honours haven’t come – bar some FA Cups – Arsenal have had some supremely gifted players pull on the famous red and white shirt during the Emirates era.

In Mikel Arteta’s current team, you’ve got the likes of William Saliba, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who wouldn’t look too out of place in some of the club’s more successful sides.

Go back a little further, and the likes of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Özil were wowing fans every week, but perhaps the player who entertained more than any other during his stint at the club was Alexis Sanchez.

Appearances

166

Minutes

13556′

Goals

80

Assists

44

Goal Involvements per Match

0.74

Minutes per Goal Involvement

109.32′

The Chilean international racked up a stellar haul of 80 goals and 44 assists in 166 games for the North Londoners, and while his exit left a dreadfully sour taste in the mouths of fans, he remains one of the very best players to have graced the Emirates.

So, fans should be incredibly excited about recent reports linking the club with another superstar attacker who could be their new Sanchez.

Arsenal transfer news

With Arsenal’s need for more goals in the team next year undeniable, there have been several talented wingers linked with the side in recent weeks, like Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo.

Transfer Focus

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

The former could be available for just £42m in the summer, which seems like more than a fair price, as not only can he play on either side of the pitch, but he’s also scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in 40 games this year.

Mbeumo looks set to be marginally more expensive at £51m, but even then, that seems like a reasonable price for a winger who’s scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in just 40 appearances for Brentford this term.

However, if a winger has the potential to be the Gunners’ next Sanchez, they have to be truly special, like Rodrygo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are indeed interested in the Real Madrid superstar.

In fact, he goes a step further, revealing that the North Londoners are “one of the clubs that has shown the most interest” in the Brazilian international, or in other words, they are currently leading the race for him.

However, while no price is mentioned in the report, stories from earlier this month claim that it could cost up to £85m to sign the talented winger this year.

It could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Rodrygo’s incredible ability, it’s one worth splashing the cash for.

Why Rodrygo would be Arsenal's new Sanchez

Given Sanchez’s spectacular stint with Arsenal, it’s certainly a big claim to say that Rodrygo could be the club’s new version of him, but there are some key similarities.

Firstly, like the former Barcelona player with Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr, the Real ace would be making his way to the Emirates to get out of the shadow of Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.

Second, he’d be leaving one of Spain’s big two for the Gunners at 24 years old, just a year younger than the Chilean icon.

Moreover, he’d be able to add some much-needed threat to the North Londoners’ left-hand side, which has been seriously lacking this term.

For example, in 50 appearances, the Osasco-born dynamo has scored 13 goals and provided ten assists, and then last year, he managed to rack up a sensational haul of 18 goals and nine assists in 52 games.

Appearances

267

Minutes

16060′

Goals

68

Assists

50

Goal Involvements per Match

0.44

Minutes per Goal Involvement

136.10′

Furthermore, it’s not just the fact he can score and create goals from the wing; it’s the way in which he plays, the way in which he drives at defences and terrifies opposition defenders that could see him become like Sanchez.

Finally, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, also knows how to win, as, during his time with Los Blancos, he has lifted three La Liga titles, two Champion Leagues, one Spanish Cup and plenty more.

Ultimately, from the similarity in how he might join the club to his playing style and output, Rodrygo has every chance of becoming Arsenal’s new Sanchez, so Arteta and Co have to do all they can to sign him as soon as possible.

Their answer to Salah: Arsenal make offer for £63m CF who's outscoring Isak

The dazzling striker could be the one to lead Arsenal to glory next year.

ByJack Salveson Holmes May 14, 2025

Premier League football has very much taken a backseat at Manchester United with the upcoming Europa League final a huge match for everyone associated with the Red Devils.

Of course, the season wouldn’t be seen as an overwhelming success story even if Ruben Amorim’s men do lift the trophy over Tottenham Hotspur, considering his side sit in a depressingly poor 16th spot in the top-flight, but a memorable win out in Bilbao would be a much-needed ray of sunshine nonetheless.

Alongside restoring some pride, adding the Europa League into the decorated Old Trafford trophy room would also see Champions League football return to the Theatre of Dreams.

Off the back of that potentially occurring, United could be able to lure some top talents to England, with a whole host of interesting names already being linked with a summer switch to the red half of Manchester.

Man United preparing whopping £113m transfer

On top of the added bonus of being potentially back in the illustrious Champions League, the Red Devils are an attractive club to come to based on past prestige alone.

That’s a possible explanation as to why Matheus Cunha reportedly remains keen on a move to United over sticking it out with Wolverhampton Wanderers, alongside Sporting goal machine Viktor Gyokeres being linked with an Amorim reunion.

But, there is another blockbuster move reportedly in the works that could trump both of these statement deals, with reports from Spain now suggesting that United have lodged a mammoth bid of £113m to try and land RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

Amorim’s bruised giants would really show they mean business after such a turbulent campaign if they were to land the services of the dynamic Dutchman and it’s stated that they are ‘desperate’ bring him to Old Trafford.

How Simons could be Fernandes 2.0

There is a hope that Simons could come into the English game and be as dazzling as Bruno Fernandes has been in the attacking midfield positions since leaving Portugal behind.

Whilst Simons will be expected to achieve big things on his arrival – especially at that steep £113m price-tag – it’s unlikely he will come into the building aiming to directly surpass Fernandes during his Old Trafford stay.

After all, Fernandes is now up to a mighty 184 goal contributions across 288 games donning United red, with a very impressive 38 of those being notched up just this season, even as Amorim’s side sink to grim new lows.

But, Simons will still strive to be the club’s next version of Fernandes in time, with the Leipzig number 20 equally as skilful and goal-and-assist heavy as his experienced Red Devils counterpart when at the peak of his powers.

Indeed, just this campaign alone, the £113m-rated attacker has managed to pick up a blistering 11 goals and eight assists from 33 appearances, meaning he could slot in as another bright spark from the midfield areas like the Portuguese ace.

24/25

Leipzig

33

11

8

23/24

Leipzig

43

10

15

22/23

PSV

48

22

11

The pair could even link up alongside each other in Amorim’s system – with Simons also capable of playing down either the left or right wing.

Yet, it’s obvious when looking at the numbers above that the 22-year-old could go on to reach Fernandes’ lofty heights regardless of what the future United XI looks like, with a crazy 77 goals and assists amassed by Simons over the last three seasons.

After all, the modern-day United great was once just an electric performer out in Europe himself with Sporting, before going on to be given an opportunity in the Premier League to expand his game even more.

Once branded as “exceptional” by Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund for his excellent exploits in Bundesliga, it could now be time for Simons to make that same leap to England, with United needing to splash the big bucks to begin their major summer overhaul.

Man Utd's own Frimpong: INEOS plotting move to sign "phenomenal" £30m star

Manchester United could be about to land a star who could nail down one key position in Ruben Amorim’s squad.

ByEthan Lamb May 16, 2025

Looking towards the summer transfer window, Manchester United have now reportedly been offered the chance to sign a serial winner represented by the same agency as Patrick Dorgu.

Man Utd's summer plan taking shape

Whilst step one of Manchester United’s transfer plan will be to win the Europa League later this month and confirm their shock place in next season’s Champions League, they simply need to invest no matter the outcome against Tottenham Hotspur. Ahead of his first full season in charge, Ruben Amorim will have the chance to prove doubters wrong, but will finally need players who suit his system to do exactly that.

The new Amrabat: Amorim must axe 4/10 Man Utd man who lost the ball 15x

Manchester United booked their place in the Europa League final last night, setting up a clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

6 ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2025

If recent rumours are anything to go by then it will, indeed, be a busy summer for the Red Devils on both the incomings and departures front. Already, players like Antony and Marcus Rashford could be heading for the exit door as the start of a hefty clear-out at Old Trafford, which Amorim will be desperate to see end with plenty of fresh faces.

Meanwhile, on the incomings front, names such as Ronald Araujo and Yann Bisseck have threatened to steal the headlines as of late. Two defenders who squared off in one of the best Champions League semi-finals in recent memory, as Inter Milan came out on top to win 7-6 on aggregate, both would undoubtedly improve the current Manchester United backline.

Amorim is well aware of the need for improvement too, having told reporters in the build-up to his side’s Europa League semi-final victory over Athletic Bilbao: “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.”

However, despite that admission, the lure of Old Trafford remains there to exploit amid reports that Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign a serial winner.

Man Utd offered chance to sign Kingsley Coman

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United have now been offered the chance to sign Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich this summer by the winger’s agent. The Frenchman’s representatives have been knocking on doors around European football hoping to seal a move this summer, with Old Trafford seemingly among those.

A serial winner having won league titles at Bayern, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus as well as the Champions League in Bavaria, Coman may not be at the peak of his powers but he would help change the mentality in the Manchester United dressing room.

What’s more, a deal could be made easier by the fact that Coman is represented by the same agency as Patrick Dorgu, who completed a move to Old Trafford in January. With contact already established and a relationship already built between both parties, the Red Devils have an ideal opportunity.

Dubbed a player who has “incredible talent” by former Bayern manager and current Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, Coman could yet rediscover his most clinical form at Manchester United this summer.