Manchester United are now considering a shock move to sign an “exceptional” attacker from one of their bitter rivals this summer, according to a report.
Man Utd pursuing new attacking midfielder
In truth, very few Man United players can hold their heads up high this season, given that they are on course for their worst-ever Premier League finish, but Bruno Fernandes has once again proven himself to be a top player.
The 30-year-old has 17 goals and 18 assists to his name in all competitions, most recently scoring in the 5-4 victory against Lyon to help his side progress to the Europa League semi-final, which is the Red Devils’ last chance to make a success out of this season.
Fernandes has put in some top-drawer performances, but United’s league position underlines the fact they cannot rely solely on the Portugal international, and they have now set their sights on a new attacking midfielder.
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RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons appears to be one of the main targets for the summer, with INEOS reportedly sanctioning a £115m+ offer for the Dutchman, despite the financial difficulties at Old Trafford.
However, there have also been suggestions that Man United could look at bringing in a cheaper alternative, with a report from The Telegraph revealing they are now monitoring developments around Manchester City attacking midfielder James McAtee.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts withJamesMcAtee
McAtee’s future at the Etihad Stadium is up in the air, as he is set to enter the final year of his contract this summer, and he wants to receive regular game time next season, having only played a sporadic role for City this term.
There is widespread interest in the 22-year-old, with the likes of Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen also in the picture, so there could be stiff competition for his signature.
"Exceptional" McAtee needs regular game time
The 22-year-old is now at an age where he needs to receive regular game time, but Pep Guardiola has been unwilling to give the attacking midfielder a consistent run in the side, often limiting him to appearances from the substitutes’ bench.
However, the Englishman has impressed when given the opportunity, scoring seven goals in all competitions this season, while he also caught the eye of reporter Ryan Taylor during his time with Sheffield United.
Back in January, it was reported Man City would be willing to cash-in on the Salford-born midfielder for just £25m, which feels like a fair fee, given his talent.
However, it seems very unlikely that City would be willing to sell McAtee to their bitter rivals, especially considering there is widespread interest from other English and foreign clubs.
Leeds United will be playing Premier League football next season. Daniel Farke, his staff, and the players all celebrated after the full-time whistle of Burnley’s win over Sheffield United.
Sky Sports were on hand to capture the celebrations and took a moment to have a word with the German manager, who was not too interested in looking ahead to the future.
Daniel Farke
Farke said “don’t scare me with the Premier League” to the reporter, partly in jest, but that is now the big problem that the club have to solve in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The West Yorkshire outfit will be tasked with building a team and a squad that is capable of stepping up to the Premier League without coming straight back down.
This means that Farke and his staff will have to make some incredibly ruthless decisions on players and their futures at Elland Road, as some may not be cut out to make the step up, and one player who could be on the chopping block is Patrick Bamford.
Why Patrick Bamford could leave Leeds this summer
The former England international is still contracted to the club through to the summer of 2026, which means that it is far from a certainty that he will be on his way out ahead of next season.
Bamford has made a return to the team in recent weeks, coming off the bench in the last five matches, but there has been little evidence to suggest that he would be good enough to be an option in the Premier League.
Since the start of last season, the English striker has scored eight goals from 11.63 xG in 48 Championship matches, including zero goals from 2.11 xG in 15 games in the division this term.
There is not much hope of Bamford being an effective player in the Premier League for Leeds next season if he cannot make the most of his chances in the second tier, underperforming his xG by almost four goals.
Patrick Bamford’s declining form
Season
Appearances
Goals
24/25
16
0
23/24
35
8
22/23
31
6
21/22
10
2
20/21
38
17
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, he has failed to kick on since his return of 17 goals in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign, failing to hit double figures in all competitions in any of the following four seasons.
These statistics suggest that the left-footed dud should be moved on by Leeds in the upcoming summer transfer window, in order to make room for a player who could make the step up.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Bamford was linked with a move to Wrexham during the January transfer window and this suggests that there could be a level of interest in his services heading into the next window, which Leeds could now capitalise on.
This also means that he may not be one of the first players out of the door, though, because his contract is not expiring and it may take time for a deal to be finalised for him to move on from Elland Road, particularly as the top earner on £70k-per-week – as per Capology.
Instead, one of the first players who should be axed by the Whites this summer, ahead of a Premier League season next term, is versatile defender Sam Byram, who is out of contract this year.
Why Leeds should release Sam Byram
The 31-year-old defender’s deal runs out at the end of June and this means that Leeds have an instant decision to make on his future in the coming weeks.
Farke loves the English full-back, as evidenced by the reported claim that he had to convince the club to sign him on a free transfer in 2023 despite reluctance from above him, but the manager must be ruthless with his decisions to build a team capable of competing in the Premier League.
The German boss, who also signed him during his time in charge of Norwich City in 2019, must axe Byram from the squad and attempt to recruit competition for Jayden Bogle in the right-back position.
His availability is a slight concern because the defender has not played more than 18 matches in all competitions in six of the last eight seasons, but he has played 73 times for Leeds in the last two campaigns combined.
Signing him to a new deal would require a show of faith that his fitness issues are fully behind him and that he is able to cope with the intensity and the rigours of the Premier League week-in-week-out.
24/25 Championship
Sam Byram
Appearances
34
Starts
15
Key passes per game
0.2
Assists
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.5
Duel success rate
55%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Byram has been a solid, but unspectacular, performer in the Championship for the Whites in the current campaign.
But it remains to be seen how useful the defender would be in the Premier League if his current role is only to be a back-up option in the second tier. His lack of outstanding displays at that level suggests that he would not handle the step up to the top division.
Leeds defender Sam Byram.
This is why Leeds must be ruthless by axing the £20k-per-week ace from the squad, particularly with his contract situation providing the club with an opportunity to move him on without having to find a buyer.
The Whites need to build a squad that can survive in the Premier League and that is why they should brutally part ways with the out-of-contract defender to make room for another player to come in and take his place in the squad in the summer transfer window.
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This could make Byram the first player to be moved on ahead of promotion to the Premier League this summer, with Bamford possibly following him out of the door later in the window.
Former Glasgow Rangers chairman Dave King has confirmed that a takeover of the club is expected to be finalised in the middle of June, ahead of the summer transfer window.
The US health insurance tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers Enterprises are poised to take control of the Light Blues in just over a month, which will mark the start of a new era at Ibrox.
Results on the pitch in recent seasons suggest that a new direction and new leadership have been a long time coming, as Celtic have won the Scottish Premiership title in each of the last four seasons.
The Light Blues, who held their rivals to a 1-1 draw last time out, are going to end the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy to show for their efforts, and with Barry Ferguson in interim charge after Philippe Clement was dismissed earlier this year.
Rangers will be on the lookout for a new manager to lead the club into a new era under the 49ers, and there are already plenty of names being floated around.
One popular suggestion has already been ruled out as a contender, though, as it has been revealed that Steven Gerrard will not be the new Rangers manager.
Why Steven Gerrard will not be the next Rangers manager
The English head coach is currently a free agent, having left Al-Ettifaq earlier this year, and this means that the Gers would not have to pay any compensation to bring him back to Ibrox.
Steven Gerrard
Despite being an attractive target, having also won a Premiership title for the Light Blues during his previous spell as the manager in Glasgow, the 49ers will not be pursuing a deal for the English boss.
TEAMtalk recently revealed that the new owners want to appoint a manager who does not have any links to the club, as they want a fresh face to build a new philosophy and way of playing to lead the team forward.
Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard
The report claimed that the 49ers are planning to build the club gradually, and their first move is going to be to appoint a manager who can lead a long-term project at Ibrox.
TEAMtalk’s article does not explain outright why they do not want anyone with prior experience at Ibrox, but it could be to avoid complacency and to avoid emotions dictating decisions.
It is the kind of ruthless decision that suggests that they could also be ruthless with underperforming players in the summer transfer window, particularly when it comes to the ones who are near the top of the wage bill.
The top ten earners at Rangers
Rangers have failed to win the league title in each of the last four seasons. This means that they have underperformed for several years, and suggests that the squad is not good enough.
James Tavernier, who has registered four goals and ten assists in the Premiership and the Europa League this season, is reportedly the top earner at Ibrox on a weekly wage of £30k.
As the captain and a regular starter who contributes with goals and assists on a regular basis, it is hard to argue that he does not provide value for money at this moment in time.
James Tavernier
£30k
Vaclav Cerny
£27k
Cyriel Dessers
£27k
Danilo
£26k
Jack Butland
£25k
Rabbi Matondo
£23k
Dujon Sterling
£22k
Tom Lawrence
£22k
Ianis Hagi
£21k
Nicolas Raskin
£19k
As you can see in the table above, though, there are some players who are not performing well enough this season to justify them being among the top earners at the club.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Jack Butland is one of those players who have not done enough on the pitch in the 2024/25 campaign to make his £25k-per-week wages worthwhile for the Light Blues.
The 49ers should, now, be ruthless in the summer transfer window by attempting to move on from the former England international, so that he is not part of the new era at Ibrox, as will be the case for Gerrard.
Why Jack Butland should not be a part of the 49ers era at Rangers
Rangers will need to make brutal decisions on players in order to improve the squad and to ensure that they can compete for major trophies next season, which means that they will have to make some bold calls on stars who have not hit the heights they once reached.
Jack Butland
Butland enjoyed an excellent debut season with Rangers after his move from Crystal Palace on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, as he kept 25 clean sheets in 58 appearances in all competitions for the club.
The current campaign has not gone as smoothly for the experienced shot-stopper, though, as he is currently the second-choice behind Liam Kelly and has only kept 14 clean sheets in 42 appearances.
Unfortunately, errors, like the one in the clip above, have become too commonplace for Butland, who was once described as “error prone” by journalist Luke Hatfield.
The English goalkeeper conceded 1.32 more goals than expected, based on the xG of the shots against him, and kept two clean sheets in his ten outings in the Europa League this term.
Appearances
38
26
Save percentage
71%
67%
Clean sheets
18
10
Error led to shot
1
2
Error led to goal
0
2
Penalties committed
0
1
As you can see in the table above, Butland’s form in the Premiership has also declined after his impressive debut season in Scottish football between the sticks, as he has been an unreliable presence in goal for the Light Blues with his mistakes.
He has been far too ‘error prone’ in the top-flight, with five errors that have led to shots, goals, or penalties for the opposition, and has kept eight fewer clean sheets, which has led to him losing his place to Kelly.
Jack Butland
Therefore, the club must be ruthless with Butland and attempt to move on from him in the summer transfer window because his performances suggest that he should not be a part of the new 49ers era at Ibrox, as his performances have not aligned with his place in the wage bill.
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It is now down to the new owners, once they are in place next month, to make that call and to recruit an upgrade on him before the start of next season.
Defensively, West Ham United have struggled in the 2024/25 Premier League season.
The Hammers, now led by Graham Potter, have one of the worst records in the top flight when it comes to conceding goals. There are only four sides that have shipped more than the East Londoners, with three of those the relegated sides.
As per Understat, West Ham have let in 59 goals this term, averaging 1.68 goals conceded per game. That overall number is actually more than three better than their expected goals against total, which is currently 62.73 xGA.
With that in mind, it might not be too much of a surprise that the Hammers are chasing some defensive reinforcements this summer.
The latest on West Ham's hunt for new defenders
One of the more ambitious defensive signings West Ham could try and make this summer would be to bring David Hancko to the club.
The Slovakian international seems destined to leave Feyenoord in a few weeks time, and Dutch publication Voetbal International report there is interest from Atletico Madrid, Al Nassr and Chelsea, as well as the Hammers.
Feyenoord'sDavidHanckocelebrates scoring their third goal
The left-footed defender can play both left-back and left centre-back, and would add plenty of experience at the heart of the Hammers’ defence. He has made 44 appearances this term, for a Feyenoord side who have conceded just 33 top-flight goals.
Another defensive player who West Ham seem like they could be in for this summer is Kyle Walker-Peters. The Southampton man was part of a relegated side this season, but has been an important player for the South Coast side.
Southampton'sKyleWalker-Petersapplauds their fans after the match
A report from journalist Greame Bailey suggests the Hammers are one of the sides trying to sign Walker-Peters on a free transfer this summer. However, they will face competition from his former club, Tottenham Hotspur and South London side Crystal Palace.
Despite the leaky defence at St Mary’s, there is no denying Walker-Peters’ quality. Former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl once said he is an “unbelievably smart footballer”, and compared him to legendary right-back Phillipp Lahm.
The Hammers will certainly need to raise funds to afford the wages of both of these players. There is one obvious candidate who could leave the club to make room in the wage budget.
The defender West Ham must axe this summer
One player who has had no involvement in a Hammers shirt this season is Kurt Zouma. The Frenchman, who hails from Lyon, is currently out on loan at Saudi Arabian side Al-Orobah and has not played for West Ham at all this season.
Kurt Zouma for West Ham
In fact, the former Chelsea player has not had too much first-team football for his temporary side Al-Orobah, either. He has only featured 16 times in all competitions, with 15 of those games coming in the Saudi Pro League.
At one stage, the centre-back was viewed as a vital cog in the works at the London Stadium. He joined the club in 2021 for £25m after leaving Chelsea, and was described as the club’s “first choice” signing at by former manager David Moyes at the time of his arrival.
The 30-year-old made just over a century of appearances in the famous claret and blue shirt, specifically reaching 103 games for the club. Zouma even skippered the club on 37 occasions and scored six times, including one goal in a 2-1 win away to Luton Town last term.
The Frenchman was also an important figure in the Hammers’ Conference League triumph back in 2022. As per Sofascore, he played seven games in that competition, averaging 2.8 aerial duels won and 1.9 tackles won per game.
Zouma stats in 2021/22 Conference League
Stat
Per 90
Total
Minutes played
68.1
477
Pass accuracy
85.5%
85.5%
Long balls completed
1.7
9
Tackles and interceptions
1.9
10
Aerial duels won
2.8
15
Stats from Sofascore
Overall, it does seem as though Zouma’s career has petered out at the London Stadium. His contract will expire in a few weeks’ time, and it seems unlikely to be renewed, given his current loan move to Al Orobah.
Not only will that free up money on the wage budget for the Hammers, but they will also be able to reinvest it into new signings that could include Hancko and Walker-Peters.
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Arsenal are now racing Barcelona to the signing of a “complete midfielder”, and £52m could be enough to seal a deal, according to a report.
Gunners planning to seal midfielder deal soon
The Gunners are looking to strengthen in several key areas this summer, with signing a new striker and central midfielder among their priorities, and they want to get a deal wrapped up for Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi as quickly as possible.
Talks to sign Zubimendi are progressing well, despite interest from other clubs, including Spanish giants Real Madrid, and there is a belief a deal could be agreed by June, potentially making the Spaniard one of Andrea Berta’s first signings.
However, with the move for the Sociedad star yet to be completed, there is still a possibility the north Londoners will bring in a different midfielder this summer, and there may need to be more than one new addition in the middle of the park.
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That is because Thomas Partey has now held exit talks, with the Ghanaian now highly likely to leave this summer, alongside fellow midfielder Jorginho, who is out of contract in the summer.
According to a report from Caught Offside, another potential midfield target Arsenal have in mind is Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulmand, with the Portuguese side now willing to cash-in on their captain for the right price this summer.
Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their second goal with Sporting CP's MortenHjulmand
Despite Hjulmand having a €80m (£69m) release clause in his contract, Sporting value the midfielder at €50m – €60m (£43m – £52m), and there is no shortage of interest in his services.
Within the Premier League, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have also expressed an interest in the Sporting maestro, while Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris-Saint Germain headline the interest from abroad, so there may be fierce competition for his signature.
"Complete midfielder" Hjulmand could be solid signing
Should Partey move on this summer, it would be wise to bring in a like-for-like replacement, and scout Ben Mattinson has stated Hjulmand also excels in the defensive side of the game.
The Danish midfielder has been a key player for Sporting over the past two seasons, picking up two goals and two assists in the Liga Portugal this term, while also displaying his leadership abilities by captaining the side.
Having first proven himself in the Serie A with Lecce, prior to joining Sporting, Hjulmand now has a track record which suggests he is ready to make the step-up to a top club, and it is promising news that Arsenal are in the race for his signature.
The transfer window is just around the corner, and as Mikel Arteta told the press just last month, it’s set to be a massive one for Arsenal.
The Gunners failed to get over the line in any competition this year, and while injuries have played their part, one of the team’s most significant problems, which most agree on, is their lack of a truly clinical striker.
So, it’s not been surprising then, that in recent weeks, the North Londoners have been heavily linked with several top-class number nines, perhaps none more than Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, who could be available for around £70m.
However, the club seem intent on revolutionising the entire attacking unit, and reports have now touted another superstar for a move to the Emirates, a star who’d be a dream teammate for the Swede.
Arsenal's attacking transfer targets
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other attacking talents who’ve been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Daizen Maeda and Jamie Gittens.
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 has been enjoying a simply spectacular campaign north of the border with Celtic, in which he’s scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists in 48 games and best of all, he could be available for just £25m.
Gittens, on the other hand, could cost up to £51m, but as he’s still just 20 years old and has managed to rack up a stellar haul of 12 goals and five assists in 46 games for Borussia Dortmund this season, he looks like he’d be worth it.
However, to really get the most out of Gyokeres and take the club’s whole attack to another level, the Gunners will need to sign a true superstar, someone like Rodrygo.
Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of a few Premier League sides keen on the Real Madrid star.
Alongside the North Londoners, the report has revealed that Liverpool and Manchester City have contacted the player’s representatives and remain in contact today.
In terms of how much the winger might cost Arsenal, a report from earlier this week claimed that he could be available for around €100m, which is about £85m.
Real Madrid'sRodrygolooks on
It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Rodrygo’s immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be ideal for Gyokeres.
Why Rodrygo would be a dream for Gyokeres
So, to keep things simple, there is one primary reason why Rodrygo would be a dream teammate for Gyokeres, which all others stem from his output.
For the Swedish goal machine to make the most of his incredible finishing ability, he’s going to want to have someone as effective as Saka to the left of him, and that could be the Brazilian.
For example, in 50 appearances this term, the “world-class” attacker, as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has scored 13 goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games.
Appearances
50
48
53
Minutes
3290′
3313′
3262′
Goals
13
9
10
Assists
10
6
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.46
0.31
0.33
Minutes per Goal Involvement
143.04′
220.86′
181.22′
In comparison, Leandro Trossard has produced 18 goal involvements in 53 appearances, and Gabriel Martinelli has produced 15 in 48, which comes out to an average of one every 2.94 and 3.2 games, respectively.
Moreover, besides having far better raw output than the North Londoners’ current left-wing options, the 24-year-old has some seriously impressive underlying numbers to his name.
According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for carries into the final third, the top 2% for pass completion and passes blocked, the top 4% for progressive carrying distance, the top 9% for shot-creating actions from take-ons and more, all per 90.
Finally, despite his age, the Osasco-born dynamo has seen it all and won it all at club level, with two Champions League titles, three La Liga titles and a handful of other cups to his name, so while some of Arteta’s other options might struggle to step up on the biggest stages, it’ll just be another game to the Real star.
Ultimately, thanks to his brilliant output, impressive underlying numbers and the immense amount of experience he has at his age, Rodrygo would be a dream teammate for Gyokeres and Arsenal should do what they can to sign him.
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Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Tottenham Hotspur and their chances of appointing a former Bayern Munich manager who they’ve reportedly contacted.
Tottenham players back Ange Postecoglou amid mounting pressure
Ange Postecoglou faces a very uncertain future in N17, following a disastrous Premier League campaign, where they’ve tasted defeat on 19 occasions in the top flight alone.
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He appears pretty keen on Spurs.
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According to The Telegraph, this woeful domestic form means Postecoglou and Spurs could part ways at the end of the season, regardless of their campaign in the Europa League.
West Ham (away)
May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Brighton (home)
May 25th
However, midfielder James Maddison has now publicly backed the 59-year-old, stating that the squad are “100 per cent” behind their head coach despite their “unacceptable” 2024/2025.
“We’re behind the manager, 100 per cent. I think he’s a great man,” said Maddison in a press conference.
“He’s the first person to tell you, I’ve heard it myself, that we’ve had a poor season, especially in the league. We’ve been very good in Europe, but the league season’s probably been unacceptable, and we can all take collective responsibility for that.
“But he’s my manager, he’s my gaffer, I respect him an awful amount.
“The narrative is something that we players try and keep away from because it’s not healthy to read into what you lot are talking about – the manager’s position. I just know that I come into work every day and see the lads listening, taking on the messages, how he wants to play and trying to do what’s best for this club.”
Intense pressure has surrounded the Australian for months, and a succession of managers have been linked as candidates to replace him.
According to reports in Germany last week, one of the names under consideration is Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac.
The 53-year-old has helped to steady the ship at Dortmund after Nuri Şahin’s dismissal midway through the campaign, and enjoyed previous success at Bayern, where he won a Bundesliga title, DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup.
According to Bild, Tottenham made recent contact with Kovac via an intermediary, and are believed to be big fans of his intense style of play.
Fabrizio Romano shares update on Niko Kovac's links to Tottenham
Following these reports, the reliable Romano has shared an update on Kovac and his links to Spurs.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, the journalist says that nothing is advanced between Kovac and Tottenham just yet, based off the lack of information he’s heard, but he doesn’t entirely rule out the tactician as an option.
“I’m not aware of anything advanced on this one yet,” said Romano.
“Spurs will not make any decision now with the Europa League semi-finals due to start soon.”
The former Croatia captain could be a solid outside candidate, with Kovac attracting praise for his leadership qualities.
“He [Kovac] has experience, he was a very good player and was the captain of the Croatia national team,” said German footballing legend Lothar Matthäus.
“He has charisma, he has passion, he knows about football. He was a leader as a player and is showing this as a coach too.”
Celtic ended the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw against St Mirren at Parkhead, having already clinched the title at the end of last month.
Jonah Ayunga’s goal gave the away side a shock lead at the start of the second half, but James Forrest stepped up in stoppage time to score a league goal for the Hoops for the 16th consecutive season – an extraordinary achievement.
As you can see in the clip above, central defender Liam Scales failed to get good distance on his headed clearance, which teed up Ayunga to rifle the ball into the back of the net.
Liam Scales' performance against St Mirren in numbers
The left-footed defender came into the side to replace Auston Trusty next to Cameron Carter-Vickers, with a chance to catch the eye ahead of the cup final.
Liam Scales
Whilst he may not be happy with the goal that Celtic conceded and his part in it, Scales did a lot of good work in the match to keep the away side at bay.
The central defender ended the 90 minutes with eight clearances, four interceptions, and eight duels won, including seven out of 11 aerial battles won, which shows that he made a number of key defensive interventions.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Meanwhile, central midfielder Paulo Bernardo was even worse than Scales and should be dropped by Brendan Rodgers for the SFA Cup final clash with Aberdeen next weekend.
Why Paulo Bernardo should be dropped
The Portuguese midfielder was given another chance to impress in the middle of the park ahead of the cup final, as Reo Hatate has been ruled out through injury.
There is a vacancy in the midfield next to Callum McGregor and Arne Engels, due to the Japanese star’s absence, and it should be Luke McCowan who is given the nod, not Bernardo.
Paulo Bernardo
In the clash with St Mirren, the former Benfica starlet lost 67% (4/6) of his duels and failed to create a single chance for his teammates in 54 minutes on the pitch.
This shows that he struggled in and out of possession for the Hoops and was even worse than Scales, who at least made numerous defensive interventions and completed 94% of his attempted passes.
Vs Aberdeen & St Mirren
Luke McCowan
Paulo Bernardo
Key passes
6
1
Big chances created
1
0
Assists
2
0
Shots
4
6
Goals
1
0
Duels won
4/9
7/12
Tackles + interceptions
4
6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, in the two matches since Hatate suffered his knee injury, McCowan has provided far more quality in possession from a midfield position in comparison to Bernardo.
These statistics suggest that the former Dundee man is more likely to make a big impact from the start at Hampden Park against Aberdeen next weekend, given his recent form in front of goal.
Therefore, Rodgers must take Bernardo out of the starting XI to bring the Scottish dynamo back into the side when the team takes to the field with the ambition of winning the treble.
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Looking to make an instant statement ahead of their return to the Premier League, Leeds United are now reportedly set to make their first move to sign one of their summer targets in the coming days.
49ers set to back Leeds this summer
Perhaps desperate to avoid following in the footsteps of Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton next season, the 49ers are reportedly ready to back Leeds in pursuit of reinforcements this summer. And as such, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast. Among the names already mentioned includes Everton’s Beto and Jamie Vardy, who is set to leave Leicester at the end of the campaign.
If those reports are anything to go by, then it seems as though signing a fresh goalscorer will be among Leeds’ priorities in the coming months alongside finally replacing Ilian Meslier.
In charge as those reinforcements potentially arrive looks set to remain Daniel Farke too, despite earlier reports claiming that he could be shown the door with or without automatic promotion.
Amid all of the title celebrations, club chairman Paraag Marathe confirmed his backing for Farke, telling reporters: “I’m very excited to run it back with Daniel and collaborate with him.
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“I’m under no illusions that it is going to be easy. The past two seasons the three promoted teams came straight back down but we have something they don’t have, we have Daniel Farke first of all. I have ended the speculation. He is my man.”
It will be an important season on a personal note for Farke, who is set to get his chance at Premier League redemption. This time around could finally be different too. Unlike his time at Norwich City, the German looks set to have a squad at his disposal ready to avoid relegation and that could start with the arrival of one particular star.
Leeds set to make move for Kilicsoy in coming days
According to Fotospor, the 49ers and Leeds are now set to make their opening move to sign Semih Kilicsoy in the coming days. Scheduled to fly in to submit an opening offer to sign the Besiktas star, Leeds could be about to commence their summer business in ambitious fashion.
The 19-year-old forward has enjoyed an excellent couple of seasons in Turkey, and now looks ready to take the Premier League by storm as someone who’s found himself at the centre of plenty of praise.
Compared to Sergio Aguero and described as “intelligent” by analyst Ben Mattinson in 2024, Kilicosy has only impressed more and more ever since.
In the current campaign, the teenager has been involved in 10 goals in all competitions, with four goals and six assists, to follow last season’s impressive 15 goal involvements for Besiktas. Now, in the latest step in his development, a move to Elland Road potentially awaits.
As Tottenham prepare to take on Manchester United in Bilbao in a Europa League final that will save one side’s season from disaster, we sat down with former Spurs midfielder and top flight manager Gus Poyet to chat about the two men in the dugouts.
Pressure mounting on Postecoglou
No doubt aware of the importance of the showdown in Spain not just for Tottenham but for his own future, Postecoglou has been in no mood to joke around with reporters in the build-up to the final.
Asked about a comment by Ruben Amorim that the Red Devils couldn’t possibly lose to the Lilywhites a fourth time this season, the former Celtic boss responded: “I’m sure in there, there’s some Portuguese humour. There’s a little irony there. I’m sure Ruben doesn’t think that way. We’ve had some good games against United this year and last year, and we have come out on top, but it’s the final of a major tournament.
“I think the one thing you don’t look at is previous head-to-head comparisons. They become irrelevant, it’s all about who performs on the day.”
There have indeed been widespread reports that the 59 year-old will be sacked if Spurs do not end their wait for a trophy next week, and speaking to Football FanCast in partnership with BetBrain, former White Hart Lane midfielder Poyet insisted the game is bigger for Ange than for his Portuguese counterpart: “I would think Ange (has more pressure), because of his words a few months ago when he said ‘I always win a trophy in my second season.’
“When you commit like that, it’s a big commitment because it’s not easy, especially at Tottenham. Now, the opportunity is massive, so it will be amazing if he wins it.”
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However, with United also toiling domestically, sitting just one point ahead of Tottenham with an abysmal goal difference of -11, the Uruguyan revealed there may be some regrets seeping in for the former Sporting CP boss: “I think for Amorim, it (winning the final) would be a plus to have an OK season. Maybe personally for him it would be important.
“But for the club, Man United, we all dream of managing one of those big clubs, but when you see what is happening he’s probably thinking ‘What did I do?’, and that’s a really bad feeling.”
Matches
25
Wins
6
Draws
6
Losses
13
Points
24
Goals for
30
Goals against
41
Indeed, the 40 year-old’s top flight form has been nothing short of embarassing – by his own admission – having gathered just 0.96 points per game since arriving in November of last year, which would return just over 36 points in a full campaign. Since the switch to a 20-team competition in 1995/1996, the average points needed for Premier League survival has been 37.86, meaning the Red Devils are well and truly in relegation form since Erik Ten Hag was replaced.