Liverpool could sign Bayern Munich star Serge Gnabry in a swap deal with Sadio Mane this summer, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.
The Lowdown: Mane linked with exit
On Monday, Mane was linked with a surprise exit in the summer transfer window, with Bayern believed to have spoken to his representatives over a possible move.
The Senegalese superstar is out of contract at Liverpool in 2023 and the Bundesliga giants see him as a primary transfer target, especially with Robert Lewandowski potentially moving on.
Another key aspect of this update is also doing the rounds, though, now suggesting Liverpool may not be looking just for cash…
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The Latest: Gnabry to come in?
According to Sky Germany’s Plettenberg, Liverpool are considering a swap deal with Mane and Gnabry, bringing in the Bayern winger as their current superstar’s replacement.
The former Arsenal man has enjoyed an impressive spell in Germany, scoring 64 goals and registering 40 assists in 170 appearances, as well as winning the Champions League in 2020.
The Verdict: Good player, but no thanks
While Gnabry is an outstanding player in his own right – Rio Ferdinand has hailed him as both ‘phenomenal’ and world-class’ – it would still be preferable for Liverpool to keep hold of Mane.
Granted, he is three years older than the Bayern hero, but he is an incredible physical specimen, meaning he should still be a top-level player well into his 30s.
Mane has only just started to thrive in a new central role under Jurgen Klopp and it would be a huge blow to see him decide to move on now.
If a swap deal did happen however, Gnabry would certainly fit the bill, given his pace, directness and end product, but the hope is that it won’t come to fruition.
In other news, James Pearce has dropped a key Liverpool transfer update. Read more here.
Wolves have been urged to prioritise strengthening the wide positions during the upcoming transfer window by Reach PLC journalist Josh Holland, amid recent reports linking them to Newcastle United forward Allan Saint-Maximin.
The Lowdown: Confirmed interest
According to 90min, the Magpies would be open to selling the 25-year-old this summer, with the Midlands outfit believed to be just one of the clubs interested in his services, alongside fellow Premier League rivals Everton.
The Frenchman won’t come cheap for any potential suitors though, as the Mail on Sunday have claimed that Eddie Howe’s side are looking for a fee in the region of £50m for their star man.
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Following the Wanderers’ links with Saint-Maximin, the reporter has suggested that Wolves need to sign some new wingers ahead of the start of next season.
The Latest: Impressive opposition display
When asked during an interview with GiveMeSport if the club needs to strengthen out wide in the summer, Holland said:
“Yeah, of course. I think they’ve got to. Looking at their squad, you’ve got [Pedro] Neto, [Daniel] Podence, [Francisco] Trincao and Hwang [Hee-chan]. But would you say that all four of them have had a telling effect in this season? I wouldn’t say so.
“Saint-Maximin, I think we all know, is such a good player to watch. He gave Wolves so many problems [last month]. It was more like a trial game for him; it had the feeling that he was trying to impress Wolves.”
The Verdict: Traore replacement
Bruno Lage hasn’t yet found a suitable replacement for Adama Traore, but the highly-rated talent could prove to be the perfect candidate for such a role.
Whilst the £93k-per-week ace hasn’t probably been as prolific as he would have liked this season, scoring just five goals and registering four assists, he has still proven to be an absolute handful for defenders in the final third, averaging 4.3 dribbles, 1.9 shots, and 1.4 key passes per league game, via WhoScored.
Dubbed as being “unplayable” by BT Sport pundit and former Newcastle man Rob Lee, Saint-Maximin might just be the attacking profile of player that Wolves need to add to their squad ahead of next season to aim for that European finish.
In other news… Wolves have been backed to sign a ‘special’ Premier League star this summer.
Currently in their fourth successive season in League One, Sunderland are seemingly still paying for the mistakes of the last decade, with an errant transfer approach and a hire-and-fire managerial policy sparking their rapid descent down the divisions.
In their latter Premier League days, the Black Cats recruited a whole host of questionable additions in an attempt to stave off relegation, with arguably their most infamous transfer being that of a certain Jack Rodwell.
There have been many punching bags for the club’s supporters over the last few years amid all the turmoil and decline, although there has been arguably no more unpopular figure than that of the Englishman, such was the dire nature of his time at the club.
A prodigious talent during his time at Everton under David Moyes, the midfielder’s career had stalled following a high-profile switch to Manchester City in 2012, with the Southport native struggling to make the grade among the stellar crop of talent at the Etihad Stadium.
In need of a fresh start after making just 25 appearances for City in an injury-hit two-year spell, in stepped Gus Poyet to offer the youngster the chance of a revival at the Stadium of Light, with the Wearsiders securing his services on a £10m deal in the summer of 2014.
Rodwell’s Sunderland nightmare
The Uruguayan saw promise in a player who had previously made his Toffees senior debut at the age of just 16 and earned three caps for his country, although that would ultimately prove to be misguided faith as the player failed to ever truly establish himself in the side.
In truth, it couldn’t have gotten off to a worse beginning for the new arrival, who went 37 Premier League starts without his side recording a victory, eventually ending that hoodoo at the 38th time of asking with a 4-0 win over Crystal Palace in February 2017 – more than three years after joining the club.
Even that win was tainted as Rodwell was forced off in the match with injury, something which would be a familiar tale during his time with the club.
Despite continuing to hardly feature under a succession of managers as the club tumbled down into the third tier, the 6 foot 2 midfielder was still on the books until June 2018, eventually leaving on a free transfer as the club agreed to tear up his contract.
The player’s time at the club has been viewed with huge disdain as he continued to rake in a reported £70k-per-week salary despite barely featuring, with that playing its part in his signing being dubbed the worst in the club’s history by The Chronicle.
He has since spent a solitary campaign at Blackburn Rovers and 18 months at Sheffield United – where made just a single league appearance – while he now plies his trade for Australian outfit Western Sydney Wanderers.
While the 31-year-old has been a solid performer for the A-League side, with an average match rating of 7.01 so far this term, it is a sad state of affairs for a player who was once tipped to be the next Steven Gerrard by ex-Everton teammate Phil Jagielka to now be derided as a hate figure among many of the Sunderland fan base.
In other news: Advocaat had a howler on £19.8m-rated Sunderland target who “has lungs for days”
Rangers’ wait for a first victory in this season’s Europa League goes on.
Prior to Thursday night, the Gers had lost seven successive European matches for the very first time and, while that streak has come to an end, they did not claim a much-needed victory, held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Braga.
James Tavernier broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, equaling Ally McCoist’s tally of 21 European goals for the club, chasing down Alfredo Morelos’ all-time record of 29.
This looked like being the decisive goal on the night, especially when Rodrigo Zalazar was sent off for gently headbutting Nicolas Raskin, only for Gabri Martínez to equalise for the ten-men Arsenalists soon after.
The match would end ten vs ten, Mohamed Diomandé rather softly shown a second yellow card by referee Allard Lindhout in injury time, as Rangers were booed off once again.
So, after five Europa League matches, the Light Blues have just one point on the board, probably needing to win their final three fixtures, against Ferencváros, Ludogorets Razgrad and Porto to avoid an ignominious early elimination, having finished all the way up in eighth in last year’s league phase.
This was only new manager Danny Röhl’s eighth match in charge, and he certainly has a tough job on his hands, so which summer recruits underlined why they cannot be trusted by the German coach during this latest poor result?
Nasser Djiga's poor Rangers form
With both John Souttar and Derek Cornelius suffering long-term injuries on international duty last week, Danny Röhl has no choice but to keep picking Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga at centre-back, even though the latter once again let him down.
The Burkinabé international has, fair to say, not impressed since joining on loan from Wolves in the summer, very much at fault for Braga’s equaliser on Thursday, completely misjudging a ball into the box and allowing Martínez to slot the ball past Jack Butland.
Speaking during TNT Sports post-match coverage, former Celtic defender Johan Mjällby asserted that he would expect better from a 12 year old.
This though is not Djiga’s first high-profile error.
He was sent off on his home Premiership debut against Dundee before, later that month, running in the complete opposite direction as Romeo Vermant broke the deadlock just three minutes into the Champions League play-off tie, the first of nine goals Club Brugge would bag across the two legs.
Also speaking during commentary on TNT Sports on Thursday, when asked which position Rangers most urgently need to improve in the January transfer window, McCoist quickly answered centre-back, with Djiga clearly not at the required level, but which other summer recruit did not impress against Braga?
Rangers flop struggles again vs Braga
On Monday, Rangers confirmed that chief executive Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell had both been sacked, the pair widely blamed by supporters for the clubs, how shall we put this diplomatically, puzzling summer recruitment?
The most bewildering of their 13 new signings was the arrival of Youssef Chermiti for £8m, potentially rising to £10m with add-ons, making him the club’s most expensive signing of the post-liquidation era, having scored a grand total of, let’s count them up here, zero goals in two seasons at Everton.
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The Portuguese under-21 international has got off the mark north of the border, on target during a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock, Röhl’s first Premiership match in charge, and the German coach has shown Chermiti plenty of faith thus far, making him a regular starter.
However, that could soon change, with the table below underlining that he did not impress against Braga.
Shots on target
Zero
10th
Shots off target
1
1st
Shots blocked
2
1st
Expected goals
0.09
8th
Attempted dribbles
4
5th
Successful dribbles
Zero
10th
Accurate passes
11
21st
Key passes
Zero
10th
Duels contested
15
3rd
Duels won
6
9th
Possession lost
18
4th
Touches
39
16th
SofaScore rating
5.9
28th
The table emphasises Chermiti’s difficult night.
He was successful with none of his four attempted dribbles, completed just 11 passes and lost six of the 15 duels he contested, as well as turning over possession on 18 occasions from 39 touches – essentially losing the ball every 2.2 touches.
Unlike at the back, Röhl does have options for his forward line.
Danilo and Djeidi Gassama were chosen to complete the front three on Thursday, with Oliver Antman, Theo Aasgaard and Bojan Miovski all introduced as substitutes, while Mikey Moore is nursing a knock.
Thus, while Chermiti continues to offer very little, he surely should be left on the bench for Sunday’s clash with Falkirk.
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The mood around Arsenal at the moment is a brilliant one.
Mikel Arteta’s side closed the gap on Liverpool atop the Premier League to just two points with their win over Newcastle United last weekend.
Then during the week, they picked up another three points in the Champions League thanks to a steady 2-0 win against Olympiacos.
This weekend brings a fresh challenge as Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham United make their way to the Emirates for a game that Arteta can win by boldly dropping Gabriel Martinelli.
Arteta's record against Nuno
This afternoon’s game against West Ham will be the eighth time Arteta has faced off against Nuno since becoming a head coach, and as things stand, the Spaniard has a good record against him.
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Of the seven games they’ve already managed, the Gunners’ boss has won four, lost two and drawn one.
Interestingly, all seven games have been in the league, with three against Wolverhampton Wanderers, one against Tottenham Hotspur, and three against Nottingham Forest.
24/25
Forest
0-0
24/25
Forest
3-0 (Arsenal)
23/24
Forest
2-1 (Arsenal)
21/22
Spurs
3-1 (Arsenal)
20/21
Wolves
2-1 (Wolves)
20/21
Wolves
2-1 (Wolves)
19/20
Wolves
2-0 (Arsenal)
The most recent match between the two managers was a 0-0 draw at the City Ground back in February – a result emblematic of the North Londoners’ title challenge fizzling out.
Unsurprisingly, given the record, the Spaniard’s side has a healthy goal difference against the former Sao Tome-born boss, scoring 12 goals across the seven games and only conceding six.
However, while Arteta has generally gotten the better of Nuno, it would be fair to say that their most notable meeting was a 2-1 Wolves win in February 2021, as both Bernd Leno and David Luiz managed to get themselves sent off.
The Brazilian was handed his marching orders for a foul in the penalty area, and the German for handling the ball outside of it.
Arteta will be hoping for an altogether more straightforward win this afternoon, and one way he can do that is by dropping Martinelli for another attacking star.
The Arsenal star Arteta should start in place of Martinelli
Now, it might seem harsh to drop Martinelli after he scored against Olympiacos during the week, but there are a few reasons why Arteta should do it anyway and start Eberechi Eze in his place.
The first is that, under Nuno, there is a very good chance that West Ham will come to the Emirates and sit back for most of the game, looking to hit the Gunners on the counterattack.
So, to deal with what will likely be a low block, Arteta needs to get as many technicians on the pitch as possible, meaning Eze’s intricate dribbling and ability to play a pinpoint pass will be far more useful than Martinelli’s speed.
This then leads to the second argument, which is that, should the North Londoners find themselves a goal or two up by some point in the second half, the East Londoners will be forced to come out of their shape and stretch the game.
At this point, the speed and directness of the Brazilian will be far more helpful to the manager, and therefore, he could come on for the Englishman.
Now the club have a proper squad and a strong bench, it makes sense for the Spaniard to pick his starting line-ups based on how games are likely to play out, to maximise the team’s effectiveness and ensure players have the chance to play in situations most favourable to their skill set.
Finally, the reason the former Crystal Palace “magician,” as dubbed by Micah Richards, couldn’t just start in the middle of the park is that, over the last two games, Martin Odegaard has shown a level fans haven’t seen for well over a year.
He helped change the game at St James’ Park and was the Man of the Match on Wednesday, so dropping him now would be illogical and potentially damaging.
Ultimately, Martinelli deserves to play more, but given the sort of game it’s likely to be this afternoon and the need to keep Odegaard in midfield, Arteta should start Eze on the left.
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Tottenham opened their Champions League account for the campaign with a 1-0 win over La Liga side Villarreal in north London on Tuesday night, with a calamitous own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior gifting Thomas Frank’s side a precious three points.
It was a tight, cagey affair, and Villarreal had chances of their own to level, including a late free-kick in a dangerous area, but former Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe blazed it over the bar.
Micky van de Ven
7.4
Djed Spence
7.3
Rodrigo Bentancur
7.3
Mohammed Kudus
7.2
Santiago Mourino
7.1
via WhoScored
Pape Sarr also forced a low, outstretched save from Luiz on 30 minutes to keep the score at 1-0, and that’s how it stayed, with there being precious few highlights from the fairly uneventful victory — not that Frank is complaining too much as Spurs make it four wins from five in all competitions.
Midfielder Lucas Bergvall also continued his fine start to the season with a Man of the Match display against Villarreal, outshining the likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus in what was another excellent performance.
It’s been an excellent start to life under the Dane, but Tottenham’s restructured boardroom – headed by CEO Vinai Vinkatesham and minus ex-chair Daniel Levy – will bear in mind that Ange Postecoglou made the best start by any other manager in Premier League history when he first joined the club in 2023.
However, with the form on display by some of his key men, especially defensively, the early signs are extremely promising.
Frank’s side have conceded just three goals in six games this season, including the UEFA Super Cup final, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero proving imperious at the back for Tottenham.
Jamie O'Hara says Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero "walk" into Real Madrid
Speaking on talkSPORT, pundit Jamie O’Hara has claimed that Romero and van de Ven are the best centre-back partnership in the world right now, going on to claim that both of them stroll into Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid side.
TottenhamHotspur players line up during the penalty shootout
The duo have been vital for Frank since he took over from Postecoglou, and the numbers speak for themselves.
Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero shining for Tottenham
Van de Ven complements Romero by offering strong aerial ability, searing pace and consistency in clearances and interceptions.
The Dutchman’s clean-sheet rate when fit and his ability to handle one-on-one duels have become key for Spurs. Romero, meanwhile, brings aggression, leadership, and experience, especially in big games.
In Postecoglou’s final season, they featured in 18 matches together, during which Tottenham conceded just 20 goals.
Together, what van de Ven lacks in experience, Romero makes up for with leadership and composure; and while the latter’s aggressive defending sometimes invites risk, the former helps cover for him. Their strengths balance each other out, and it is clear that the pair remaining fit will be crucial to Tottenham’s prospects this season.
Chelsea secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup following an extra-time victory over Benfica at the weekend.
Reece James looked like he had powered the Blues into the next round, but a penalty from Ángel Di María sent the clash into an extra 30 minutes.
The game was suspended for a couple of hours, just minutes from the final whistle, due to a storm threat, but Chelsea finally won the clash 4-1.
It may have taken 4 hours and 39 minutes, but Enzo Maresca’s side now face off against PSG for a spot in the semi-final.
Despite the focus being on the tournament and progressing as far as possible, the manager is still keen on bolstering his squad via the transfer market.
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Reports coming from the Athletic claim that the Blues have reached an agreement with Brighton and Hove Albion regarding a move for Joao Pedro.
Brighton forward Joao Pedro
The proposed deal looks set to be in excess of £50m and the Brazilian has agreed personal terms with the club.
With a medical booked in early for next week, it appears as though Maresca is closing in on signing another key target. Just what will Pedro offer the Blues?
Why Chelsea want to sign Joao Pedro
Maresca is looking to sell both Christopher Nkunku and João Félix this summer, with both players struggling for regular gametime last season.
Nkunku may have scored against Benfica, but with clubs such as Manchester United showing some interest in the Frenchman, it looks as though he might be sold.
Felix played just 20 times for Maresca last season, scoring seven times, but the Portuguese star spent the second half of the campaign out on loan at AC Milan.
Pedro’s arrival suggests one, or perhaps both, will soon be departing Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks.
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The Brighton star is versatile, being able to operate as a centre-forward, second striker or even out wide on the left flank.
Last term, he typically operated in an advanced role centrally, scoring ten goals for the Seagulls and registering seven assists, proving he is adept in front of goal and at creating opportunities for his teammates.
Such were his performances, the 23-year-old ranks highly among his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues.
Indeed, not only does the forward rank in the top 12% for assists (0.28) per 90, but he also ranks in the top 10% for shot-creating actions (3.33) and successful take-ons (1.34) per 90.
Brighton striker Joao Pedro
Furthermore, Pedro’s ability to get the ball into dangerous areas is evidenced by the fact he ranks in the top 4% for progressive passes (3.6) and in the top 3% for progressive carries (3.05) per 90, indicating that he will offer a lot of attacking qualities for the Blues next term.
It won’t be the only area of the squad that the Italian will be keen on strengthening, however, especially with the added demands of Champions League football next term.
As such, it’s certainly worth Chelsea bringing in a defender or two this summer.
Chelsea's search for a defender
Last season, the club conceded a total of 59 goals across all competitions from 57 matches, and this record will be something Maresca aims to improve next term.
Over the same period, Chelsea scored 120 goals. This suggests that bolstering the defence is surely a bigger priority than adding to the forward line, notably Joao Pedro.
It looks as though the Blues are keen on a defender who played against them just last weekend – Antonio Silva.
Antonio Silva for Benfica.
Journalist Simon Phillips stated via his Substack that the Blues have been impressed with the youngster, saying:
“Chelsea have tried and made approaches and checks on a number of potential new centre back names this summer so far and still have more to look at and in to. Chelsea have been scouting Antonio Silva of Benfica all season and already have him added to our transfer shortlist alongside his team mate, Tomas Araujo.
“But Chelsea are looking for an out and out centre back and attentions have again turned to the 21-year-old Portuguese international who has just two-years remaining on his contract.”
The centre-back is valued at €32m (£27m) according to Transfermarkt, but Benfica will be looking for a much higher fee than that to sanction a sale considering his release clause stands at around £87m.
Given their defensive issues last term, Silva would be a better signing than Pedro, that’s for sure.
Why Chelsea must sign Antonio Silva
The 21-year-old played over 40 times last season, including all four games at the Club World Cup for Benfica.
At the tournament, Silva averaged a 92% pass success rate, while winning a staggering 80% of his total duels contested, made 2.3 tackles per game and lost possession just 4.3 times per match in the States.
These performances have attracted plenty of attention, and there is no doubt that Silva is only going to get better and better.
Accurate passes
52.3
Tackles
1.5
Total duels won
4.5
Possession lost
7.7
Clearances
4.3
Balls recovered
4
After he burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old with a goal against Juventus in the Champions League back in 2022, Jamie Carragher claimed the defender was “going to be a superstar” and his upwards trajectory certainly suggests so.
When compared to his peers in the Champions League last season, Silva ranked in the top 1% for clearances (7.7) per 90, while also ranking in the top 16% for aerials won (2.36) and in the top 9% for touches in the defensive penalty area (12.91) per 90.
An impressive array of statistics indeed, and considering his ceiling is extraordinarily high, Maresca must make signing Silva a key priority this summer.
Pedro will certainly add plenty of dynamism to the club’s attacking department, but it is at the heart of the defence where the real improvements are required given the problems Maresca’s men suffered last term.
As such, spending whatever it takes to bring Silva from Benfica to the Premier League must be the next move BlueCo are planning.
If he lands his signature, Silva will almost certainly be a better signing than Pedro.
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Leeds United now face Burnley in a transfer battle to sign a Premier League level defender on a free transfer this summer, according to a new report.
Leeds eyeing more transfers after Nmecha deal
The Whites confirmed their first signing of the summer transfer window on Sunday afternoon, as Lukas Nmecha agreed to join Leeds once his contract at Wolfsburg expires at the end of the month.
The attacking midfielder is a player who is likely to be an important figure in Farke’s team this season, but the club are not resting with just his arrival, as they are already working on more additions.
As reported by Africa Foot, Leeds have made contact with Manchester City over signing Juma Bah on a loan deal. The 19-year-old joined the Blues back in January but spent the rest of the campaign on loan at RC Lens. He now looks set for another temporary move away, with Leeds and Southampton fighting for his signature.
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Meanwhile, defender Jaka Bijol has agreed terms over a move to Elland Road this summer and a deal appears to be nearing completion. He is not the only defender on the club’s radar, as a report from Football Insider states that Alex Moreno is also interested in a move to Leeds this summer. The 32-year-old could be available for £5 million, as the Whites are in the market for a new left-back.
Leeds face Burnley in Keane battle
The list of potential new defenders to sign doesn’t stop there, as according to the Liverpool Echo, Leeds are among the teams interested in signing Michael Keane from Everton.
Everton defender Michael Keane
Keane, who has been at Goodison Park since July 2017, is out of contract at the end of this month, and while he remains in talks over a new contract, he is looking more likely to leave. That has alerted Leeds, who, along with Burnley and Sheffield United, are keen on swooping in and securing the defender on a free transfer.
The 32-year-old, who has been dubbed “immense” in the past by Harry Redknapp, has fallen down the pecking order at Everton in recent seasons. Keane went from playing 32 games in the Premier League during the 2021/22 season to playing just 12, 9 and 14 times in the last 3 campaigns.
Apps
230
Goals
16
Assists
10
Keane could be a viable option for the Whites to provide more depth behind Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk, and there aren’t many free signings on the market who provide such a wealth of top flight experience.
Manchester United have opened talks over the signing of a “fantastic” player, who is now a prime target, and they are making significant moves to get a deal done, according to a report.
Man Utd's summer rebuild now underway
The Europa League final defeat against Tottenham Hotspur once again underlined the need for Ruben Amorim to have a mass clear-out this summer, and the manager’s rebuild has now commenced, with Matheus Cunha becoming the first player to sign on the dotted line.
However, in order to re-shape his squad more significantly, Amorim may have to sanction some departures, and the manager was seen visibly laughing when questioned about Alejandro Garnacho’s future, amid widespread links to other clubs.
Andre Onana is another player who could be in the firing line, having failed to adapt to life in the Premier League, with Lyon’s Nemanja Matic famously dubbing him “one of the worst keepers in Manchester United history” back in April.
As such, United have been looking at replacements for Onana, and they are now stepping up their pursuit of AS Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar, opening talks over a deal for the 25-year-old in the past week.
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That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states the Red Devils are now making significant moves to sign Svilar, who could be a low-cost replacement for Onana, with Roma likely to hold out for a fee of around £21m – £25m.
AS Roma'sMileSvilar
The Serbian would be keen on a move to Old Trafford, but there could be fierce competition for his signature, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Newcastle United and AS Monaco all monitoring the goalkeeper’s situation in Italy.
"Fantastic" Svilar now prime target for Man Utd
The Belgium-born shot-stopper is said to have been identified as a prime target for Man United this summer, and it is clear to see why, having averaged a very impressive save percentage and clean sheet percentage over the past year, when compared to other goalkeepers.
Mile Svilar Statistics
Average per 90
Save percentage
77.9% (94th percentile)
Goals against
0.96 (92nd percentile)
Clean sheet percentage
38% (86th percentile)
Not only that, but former manager Claudio Ranieri lauded the Serbia international for his performances during the 2024-25 campaign, saying: “Mile is having a fantastic season.
“When a goalkeeper is not very busy and is suddenly called into action, showing readiness at all times like Mile does, then it means that he is truly a great goalkeeper.”
It is clear that Onana will need to be replaced this summer, having performed very poorly over the past year, and Svilar could be a savvy signing at just £21m, freeing up funds to strengthen other areas of the squad.
It seems like Chelsea will try and sign a new winger in the summer transfer window. With Jadon Sancho potentially returning to Manchester United, if they decide not to buy him permanently, they could well need reinforcements in wide areas.
Enzo Maresca’s current crop of wide men are certainly not uninspiring. Aside from Sancho, those permanently at the club include the likes of Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke.
Those two wingers have six and 11 goals to their names across all competitions, respectively, this season. In recent weeks, Tyrique George has broken through, and Cole Palmer now plays a more central role.
However, they could well look to sign an additional player in wide areas, and are seemingly plotting an ambitious move this summer.
The latest on Chelsea’s pursuit of a winger
Chelsea have been linked with a number of options should they try and sign a new winger this summer. One of those players is another Red Devils star, Alejandro Garnacho. News broke on Thursday, courtesy of talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, that Chelsea are ‘interested’ in the 20-year-old.
Transfer Focus
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Alternatives are also seemingly being considered, as the Blues could well be set to target Real Madrid star Rodrygo, according to Caught Offside. The report suggests the West London outfit are ‘stepping up their pursuit’ of the Brazilian forward this summer.
According to the article, Chelsea are the side who ‘are currently leading the race’ to sign the Los Blancos superstar, but they are not the only team in the hunt.
Their Premier League rivals, Manchester City ‘are keeping a close eye on the situation’ and could also make a move. Whichever side win the race, Madrid could command a huge fee of £101m.
Why Rodrygo would be a good signing
Make no mistake about it, Chelsea would be signing a global superstar if they manage to bring Rodrygo to Stamford Bridge. Described as “terrifyingly good” by Sam Tighe, a football journalist and broadcaster, he has been fantastic for Madrid once again this term.
It has been a productive season again for the Brazilian this season. Across all competitions for the La Liga giants, he has found the back of the net 14 times and provided a further ten goals for his teammates in 51 games.
In fact, the 24-year-old’s underlying numbers from this season from Sofascore reinforce the fact that he has played well. For example, he has averaged 2.1 key passes and 2.1 successful dribbles in those 51 appearances this season.
Key passes
78
2.1
Big chances created
10
0.3
Dribbles completed
77
2.1
Tackles and interceptions
71
1.9
Expected goal involvements
12.12xGI
0.32xGI
If there is one competition that the winger thrives in, it is the Champions League. Rodrygo has a strong record in the competition, with 39 goals and assists in 64 games. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig rightly pointed out that he “loves the UCL”.
It is a competition that Chelsea are hoping to be in next term, and they will hope Rodrygo can turn up on the biggest stage again.
Should the West London side bring Rodrygo to the club, he could be the second coming of Diego Costa. Not in the sense of how he was as a player, of course, given the former Atletico Madrid star was a striker and Rodrygo is a winger.
Instead, the similarities between the two are the fact that they are both Brazil-born, high-profile La Liga stars, who were expensive, too. Sky Sports reported that the then-25-year-old striker cost Chelsea £32m, which in today’s money, according to The Transfer Index, would be £61.5m, a steep fee indeed.
Diego Costa
Costa was sensational for the Blues. The Spain international, who has not yet retired but is currently without a club, scored 59 goals and registered 21 assists in 120 games.
Across three Premier League seasons, they won two titles, and Costa scored 20 league goals in both of those.
If Rodrygo can have anywhere near the impact at Chelsea that Costa managed, then it would be an excellent piece of business. Of course, the fee is expensive, but to acquire a player of his talent, you have to pay that kind of money.
Costa joined the Blues from La Liga and became a club legend, taking the West Londoners to astronomical heights. They will surely want Rodrygo to do the exact same thing if he moves to Stamford Bridge.
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