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There is no getting away from the fact that Chelsea have not had the start to the season they would’ve been hoping for.

Enzo Maresca’s side lost their opening game of their Champions League campaign, and with their defeat against Manchester United on Saturday, they have amassed just eight points in the Premier League.

Fortunately, the Blues’ League Cup clash away to Lincoln City tonight provides them with a chance to bounce back with a convincing and entertaining win.

With that said, the manager should also use it as an opportunity to play some of the younger players in the squad, like Estevao and another Cobham product.

The Chelsea youngsters who should start with Estevao

Starting from the back, tonight’s game surely gives Maresca the perfect opportunity to hand Jorrel Hato another competitive start in Blue.

Appearances

111

Starts

102

Minutes

9121′

Goals

4

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

Minutes per Goal Involvement

701.61′

Points per Game

1.86

The Dutchman may still only be a teenager, but he’s already got an enormous amount of experience, making 111 appearances for Ajax before leaving this summer.

Moving into the middle of the park, the manager should bring Andrey Santos into the team from the start.

The young Brazilian was brought on in the 21st minute for the West Londoners on Saturday, and all things considered, did rather well, completing 100% of his dribbles, completing 51 passes and earning a 7/10 match rating from the Standard’s Simon Collings.

Then, when it comes to the wide players, one of them has to be Estevao, who was taken off early at Old Trafford due to Robert Sanchez’s ridiculous red card.

The dynamic attacker might not have scored his first competitive goal for the club yet, but he provided a brilliant assist in the game against West Ham United and has generally looked a threat whenever he’s been on the pitch.

However, he’s not the only youngster who should be given the chance in attack tonight.

The Cobham ace who should start vs Lincoln

While every game is important for Chelsea, especially in cup competitions, the level of tonight’s opposition provides the club with an opportunity to give some academy talent a proper runout.

In The Pipeline

Therefore, Maresca should bring Shumaira Mheuka back into the squad, and not only that, but hand him what would be just his second start.

Yes, the young Englishman did get a few runouts in the first team last season, including a start against FC Copenhagen, but given his age, it would have been unfair to expect too much of him.

So with that said, why should he come back into the team tonight?

Well, simply put, because he is on fire this season.

For example, in just six appearances, totalling 523 minutes, the Birmingham-born goal machine has put the ball in the back of the net seven times for the youth sides.

In other words, the 17-year-old gem is averaging 1.16 goals every game this season, or one every 74.71, which makes it easy to see where talent scout Jacek Kulig is coming from when he describes him as “the next big thing from Cobham!”

Finally, it’s not just at club level where the youngster is flying, as in 16 appearances for England’s U19s, totalling 970 minutes, he has scored eight goals and provided three assists.

Ultimately, given the level of the opposition tonight and his recent form, Maresca should look to start Mheuka for Chelsea against Lincoln City.

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ByDominic Lund Sep 22, 2025

The international break has come at the best time for Russell Martin as tensions are bubbling at Glasgow Rangers due to their lacklustre start to the season. The Gers currently sit in 7th after drawing all four of their opening Scottish Premiership games.

The bigger source of strife for Martin is Rangers’ failure to qualify for the Champions League after being dumped out of the qualification round by Club Brugge 9-1 on aggregate.

The last game before the international break, despite being a 0-0 draw, was the first sign of things potentially improving for Martin. Following the 6-0 second leg defeat to Brugge, managing to be the first Scottish Premiership team to avoid defeat against Celtic looks to be something of an, albeit small, step in the right direction.

Rangers are hoping that the signing of a former Champions League winner may help capitalise on this result and turn around their poor start to the season.

Martin looking to bring in Champions League winner ahead of Europa League campaign

Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises are thought to be eyeing a move to sign ex-Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The former England midfielder is available as a free agent following his contract being terminated by the Turkish side Besiktas, where he spent the last two seasons, and according to TBR Football, Rangers are considering a move to sign the free agent.

As a free agent, Oxlade-Chamberlain can be signed immediately, but Rangers will face some tough competition to sign him as he has attracted attention from Premier League sides Leeds, Everton, Burnley and Brentford, as well as ambitious Championship side Birmingham City.

Rangers may be able to tempt Oxlade-Chamberlain to join them over these other suitors with European football. Rangers will start their Europa League campaign later this month as they face Genk, and another season in Europe may make Rangers a more appealing destination than the other clubs.

There are reports indicating other interested clubs on the continent, but it is as yet unclear whether or not these are Champions League teams, and it had been previously reported that Oxlade-Chamberlain, a Champions League winner at Anfield, was looking for a move back to the UK.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is a "great player" who can turn round Martin's fortunes

Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Arsenal in 2011, and he arrived alongside current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. The pair played together on 73 occasions, and after their time together at Arsenal, Arteta had a lot of praise for Oxlade-Chamberlain:

A player with European experience who has a history of being popular among the fans at the clubs he’s served at may be the perfect signing for Martin. Not only would he be a great addition to the squad, but his character and CV might tide unsettled fans over until he can find a way to get some better results.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered from a lack of creativity during Saturday’s defeat against Bournemouth on home turf, losing 1-0 after such good work in claiming six points from six to get the Thomas Frank era off to a flyer in the Premier League.

The hunt for a playmaker worth their salt has dominated much of the Lilywhites’ transfer window, with Xavi Simons signed on but only after botched efforts for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, who left Crystal Palace and joined Arsenal.

But the defeat against the Cherries, requiring more than an hour of action for a first shot on target, and Simons alone won’t provide the answer across the wide span of the campaign.

Mohammed Kudus has racked up a few assists already at this early point in his Tottenham career, but it’s not enough, and Daniel Levy looks ready to attack the market one last time and land a player with properties better suited to fixing this chink in the armour.

Spurs lining up D-day signing

Tottenham have what it takes to come on leaps and bounds this season, but much will depend on the coherence threaded through the first-team squad.

And without enough creative ammunition, Frank’s lofty ambitions might prove hard to hit. To put it another way, he could do with another impactful addition in the coming hours.

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, that man could be Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, with Tottenham having made an enquiry to ascertain the potential of a last-gasp bid for the England international.

Transfer Focus

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

The chances of the energetic attacking midfielder leaving are admittedly slim, but Tottenham may well pull it off if they offer a sum in the ballpark of £80m, the figure quoted as other clubs – including Liverpool – circle.

What Rogers would bring to Spurs

Aston Villa only signed Rogers from Middlesbrough in the Championship for £15m in January 2024, and already, the 23-year-old has established himself as one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.

After all, he notched 30 goal involvements across all competitions last term, blending his prolific touch with such power and confidence when carrying the ball forward.

Might Spurs be set to land a stunning repeat of their one-time masterclass in winning the race for Dele Alli, who also had strong interest from Liverpool before leaving MK Dons in League One and joining Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham in a £5m package, aged 18.

The rest is history. While Dele’s career has sadly swerved down a dark path, he will always be remembered fondly down N17 for his incredible and prodigious emergence, with Pochettino actually saying back in 2017: “If he is not the best young player in Europe, he’s one of the best. Look at his age and his statistics, the potential is massive.”

Rogers doesn’t quite carry the same weight, but he’s still showcased immense potential under Unai Emery’s wing at Aston Villa.

25/26 (Villa)

3

–

–

24/25 (Villa)

54

14

16

23/24 (Villa)

16

3

1

23/24 (Boro)

33

7

9

Not just a prolific midfielder, Rogers is something of “a machine” when on the ball, as has been noted by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell. He won 4.7 duels per league match last year, as per Sofascore, and shifted from the centre to a more attacking berth with such gusto.

While he can play out on the flank, Rogers shares a further likeness with his countryman in that he is best utilised from the centre, with journalist Carl Anka actually remarking that he has a “Dele-esque” way about him in that regard.

Adding him to the ranks would strengthen Tottenham’s creative potential, to be sure, adding something that Kudus, for all his ability, doesn’t quite inject with the needed skill at this present moment. Indeed, last term, Kudus chalked up just nine goals and assists for the Hammers in all competitions, far fewer than Rogers’ haul of 30.

Kudus is a direct and dangerous winger, but he’s not the most effective of playmakers, and with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski both sidelined, adding a player of Rogers’ profile to the mix could go a long way toward weaving together the kind of tactical harmony needed for Spurs to hit their targets and exceed them.

More exciting than Simons: Spurs chasing "one of the best LWs in the world"

Spurs could seal a more exciting signing than Simons on transfer deadline day.

5 ByMatt Dawson Aug 31, 2025

“We should appreciate the players for throwing themselves in the den without being exposed to these conditions,” Pakistan’s Test captain said

Danyal Rasool27-Jan-2025

Pakistan captain Shan Masood said he expected the team to continue their recent experiment of heavily turning tracks at home, and that they would be replicated across domestic cricket as well. After falling to a 120-run defeat at home against West Indies that levelled the series 1-1 and confirmed Pakistan’s position at the bottom of the current World Test Championship cycle, Masood maintained there were “encouraging signs” that Pakistan would seek to build on.”Domestic cricket will be played like this,” he said. “We’ve already talked about this. The more we’ll play the better we’ll get at it. We’ve shown encouraging signs. After the four matches, we’ve won three in these conditions. We dominated the first hour of the first day which could have swung the match in our favour. It’s just about winning those key moments and ensuring we’re consistent with these conditions domestically and internationally.”Since Pakistan lost the first Test against England on a flat wicket in Multan, they have reverted to producing tracks that break up and spin from the first day, rendering fast bowling almost redundant. The last four home Tests have seen Pakistan take 80 wickets, with just one falling to a seam bowler. Fingerspinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali have dominated the bowling attack, taking 70 of the 80 wickets, and frequently opening the bowling attack in each innings. It has turned around Pakistan’s straggling home form, allowing them to beat England 2-1 at home and easing to a victory in the first Test against West Indies. This Test, however, the visiting spinners turned the script around on them, with left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican of West Indies walking away with both the Player-of-the-Match and Series awards.Related

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Brathwaite: West Indies had to be 'brave' on pitch where 'you are going to get out'

“It’s a game of all stakeholders. We should appreciate the players for throwing themselves in the den without being exposed to these conditions. We know we haven’t played domestic cricket in these conditions. In some ways, it’s a kind of bravery to expose ourselves to these conditions. We practiced, but this is new for us. But we need to replicate this in domestic cricket, give our batters exposure so we play in these conditions and get runs in them. In the fourth innings, anything over 150 is a competitive score, where spinners will always have the edge.”An unavoidable outcome of such surfaces is the outsized role the toss plays. All four times, the side winning the toss has batted first, walking away with victory three times. While Pakistan were able to flip that script against England in the series-decider, West Indies’ win once more demonstrated the way these pitches can slant a game in favour of the side bowling last.Mohammad Rizwan was bowled by Jomel Warrican, who took the match and series honours•AFP/Getty Images

However, it didn’t appear that way when Pakistan bowled in the first hour, having reduced West Indies to 54 for 8, and letting that situation slip through their fingers frustrated Masood most of all. “We didn’t get the result we wanted. The positive thing was when you field first and you know the fourth innings will be difficult. So you try to restrict the opposition in the first innings. We bowled brilliantly for the first eight wickets. But we’ve talked about the first innings batting and bowling combining to do well, so you have the advantage in the third and fourth innings. If you look at our batting and bowling, and the mistakes we made collectively, that was a crucial time because their last two wickets cost us dear.”Then, with the bat, we went from 119 for 4 to 154 all out. When these collapses happen and the other side puts on partnerships, they can set you back. If we’d got them out early and got a 100-run lead, the Test match would be completely different. With Test matches on these pitches, you can’t wait to make a move, because things are decided on day one, and that is where you can win or lose matches.”This is the end of a cycle, an unhappy one for Pakistan, and for its leader. Pakistan have lost nine of their last 12 matches, all five away from home and four of seven at home. Despite starting off with a crushing away win in Sri Lanka, they have finished bottom of the WTC table, and do not play another Test for nearly nine months.Masood acknowledged Pakistan had fallen short of expectations, but did not believe the side required a complete overhaul, pointing out fine margins made the difference in this Test, and could be worked on.”The tail not getting wickets is an area of concern, and we need to finish off sides quicker,” Masood said, echoing his frustrations in South Africa, where the last two wickets adding too many runs cost them dear in the first Test at Centurion. “Against Australia, who have the best tail in the world, we got them out cheaply, but not here, or against Bangladesh or South Africa.”Batters have been proactive, but we need more contributions. You may not get hundreds here but 30s and 40s contribute to the winning conditions. Kraigg Brathwaite was an ideal example. He took the game on. One batter will need to step up in these conditions especially when the ball is new.”It’s not about holding someone responsible. This isn’t an accountability bureau. This is a team effort. Our mistake as a team was the first two innings. That was what set us back, and gave the opposition a degree of freedom. If we had a 100-run lead, I do not think they’d have been able to play in the way they did. We need to understand the direction of matches will be decided very quickly, as early as day one.”

Kobbie Mainoo is in an "uncomfortable" situation at Manchester United at the moment due to his reduced playing time, according to head coach Ruben Amorim. However, the Portuguese manager has absolutely no doubt that the young Englishman can become one of the best midfielders in the world in the near future, drawing comparisons with Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha.

• Mainoo not comfortable with bench role

  Just over a year ago, Mainoo was the name on everyone's lips. After a breakthrough 2023-24 season at Manchester United, during which he made 32 appearances, the Stockport-born midfielder became undroppable for England at Euro 2024, starting in both the semi-final and final. But Mainoo has become somewhat of an afterthought under Amorim. The head coach revealed that the youngster is "uncomfortable" in his current situation.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  The next Vitinha? Amorim confident in Mainoo's abilities

  From being one of the first names on the team sheet under Amorim's predecessor Erik ten Hag, Mainoo has lost his spot in the XI, starting none of the opening three Premier League games and making just one appearance off the bench. 

  When asked by reporters how Mainoo is reacting to the situation, Amorim said: "He’s not used to fighting for his place, maybe. He’s uncomfortable, but he’s a very good kid. He wants to learn. Sometimes it’s hard to push different things from the players."

  After being reminded of Mainoo's credentials and contributions to the Red Devils, Amorim made a comparison with Vitinha, who is often considered as one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment. "I remember Vitinha was not playing for Wolverhampton,” Amorim responded. "Nowadays, you can see that Vitinha is maybe the best midfielder in the world. So you never know. Something can happen sometimes.

  "The way I play is completely different from the last manager. I watched a lot of games from the Premier League in Portugal. You can feel then that Manchester United really [played in] transitions. He was the only guy that calmed down the game. Now we have other players that calm down the game.

  "Sometimes I expect more from Kobbie Mainoo. Sometimes, maybe if I start [him] more, Kobbie Mainoo is going to play and he’s going to get hard to take out. I need to go with what I’m feeling at the moment and that is the only feeling. He’s starting the final of the European Championship in a team that has a lot of talented players – [Phil] Foden played that game, [Cole] Palmer was on the bench. He was playing. I know all that, but sometimes I have a different way of seeing the game."

• Mainoo facing uncertain future at Man Utd

  In the final few days of the transfer window, Mainoo's future was subject to a lot of speculation. The England international is said to have demanded a move away from Old Trafford after it was evident he wouldn't be important to Amorim's plans for the 2025-26 season. Several teams expressed their interest in the midfield metronome. Indeed, rumours suggested that Premier League rivals Tottenham enquired about the availability of signing Mainoo. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, too, were considering a potential last-minute loan move. However, it was his links to Napoli which garnered the highest attention. Ultimately, none of those moves came to fruition as United blocked a loan departure.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Will Mainoo leave Man Utd in January?

  Mainoo seems adamant on finding an exit route away from Manchester. Having starred for the Three Lions at last summer's European Championship, Mainoo will have his eyes set on nailing a place in Thomas Tuchel's squad for next year's World Cup. Reports indicate that he could depart the club in January, but things could yet change if he manages to convince Amorim of his abilities in the system the Portuguese manager is insistent on using.

Two young batters produced outstanding innings at North Sydney Oval, while a well-known name also starred

AAP01-Nov-2024

Sydney Thunder recruit Georgia Voll has enjoyed the red-letter day of her career, leading her side to their biggest win with a 64-run smashing of Adelaide.In a record-breaking blitz at North Sydney Oval, Voll’s 92 from 55 balls helped Thunder smash their highest total – 212 for 5.Related

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Spinner Sam Bates then claimed career-best figures of 4 for 21 from her four overs as Strikers collapsed to be all out for 148.The result marked the Thunder’s most emphatic victory in the competition’s 10-year history, and their second win in three games to start the year. Two-time defending-champions Adelaide are now 1-2 to start the summer, in the shortened 19-game season.And Voll was the star on Friday for Thunder, in just the 21-year-old’s third WBBL match since moving from Brisbane Heat. Brought to the Thunder on a three-year deal with the chance to open, the Queenslander smashed three sixes and 12 boundaries in her knock. It marked only her second half-century in 61 WBBL games, but offered a glimpse of what is possible at the top of the order.”Definitely [that’s the best I’ve hit them],” Voll said. “I’ve been up and down the order, so it’s nice to be settled at the top of the order, play my role really well and have the backing to play my shots.It was nice to be able to bat for a long time because I got out quite cheaply in the first couple of games.”She slog-swept Megan Schutt for a six early, pulled Darcie Brown for another six and put spinner Anesu Mushangwe deep onto the North Sydney hill. The right-hander looked set for a maiden century, before she picked out Amanda-Jade Wellington at short fine-leg while trying to scoop Orla Prendergast.Voll’s runs came in 54-run opening stand with Chamari Athapaththu, before she and Phoebe Litchfield combined for a 96-run second-wicket stand off 52 balls. Litchfield also peppered the leg boundary in her 49, while bringing her creative strokeplay with a typical mix of scoops and reverse sweeps. The pair at one stage added six boundaries in seven balls, taking the game away from Strikers.Heather Knight hit 28 from 15 late on as Thunder romped past their previous high total of 204 and to the third best score of any side in WBBL history.In reply, Strikers were barely in the contest. Only Katie Mack’s 51 held the innings together early, as Shabnim Ismail took 3 for 18 before Bates ran through the middle and lower order.Rhys McKenna flayed a 22-ball 52•Getty Images

Meg Lanning produced a vintage knock and Rhys McKenna announced her arrival as a legitimate WBBL force to help the Melbourne Stars beat the Sydney Sixers.On a record-breaking day at North Sydney Oval, Lanning and McKenna produced the fastest-scoring century-stand in WBBL history before rain ended the game early. Sitting at 68 for 2 at the halfway mark, Lanning and McKenna put on 104 runs from 43 balls.Sixers were then 56 for 4 in reply when rain stopped play, falling to a 32-run loss on DLS.McKenna, a 20-year-old, blitzed her 52 from just 22 balls, playing one of the shots of the tournament when she square-drove Ellyse Perry for six. She hit three sixes in total and seven fours, as she and Lanning took the game completely out of Sixers’ control.Lanning was also in imposing form, after helping steady the ship early in her innings. She led the way as the Stars took 28 off one Lauren Cheatle over, cutting a full-toss no-ball from the left-armer for six over point. The former Australian captain also hit one of her classic cover drives for six off spinner Sophie Ecclestone, as Stars hit 127 runs from their final 10 overs.Sixers then lost wickets cheaply in reply, with only Perry scoring an unbeaten 31 after Alyssa Healy was caught behind for 4 on return from a foot injury.

Sri Lanka have a problem of plenty. This is not something that has been true for Sri Lanka Test sides in recent years. Even stranger, the kind of players they have too many are seam bowlers.In their most recent Test at The Oval, Sri Lanka’s quartet of quicks decked England for 156 in the third innings and swung the whole match around. Now, at Galle, one of the most reliably dry tracks in the world, they can’t play four specialist quicks. In fact, they have to drop half their frontline attack.Sri Lanka’s interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya spoke about the sensitivity with which they had to approach the omission of Milan Rathnayake, who in his debut series not only took 11 wickets but also produced decent innings, making 72 at Old Trafford and 43 at Lord’s.Related

• Was Milan Rathnayake's 74 in Manchester the highest on Test debut from No. 9?

• Can New Zealand outspin Sri Lanka in Galle?

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“When you come to the matter of a third fast bowler, you are talking about someone who is one of our best,” Jayasuriya said. “In the last series he [Rathnayake] not only bowled well, he batted very well too. But in Galle you have to bring spinners for the balance of the side.”The seamers make way for the return of the spinners – Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis.’We have to mention Milan specifically, because the things he did on his first tour should be appreciated,” Jayasuriya said. “He played like a mature cricketer. Unfortunately we can’t bring Milan into this XI. We can only play two quicks. Everyone knows what the Galle pitch is like. We already have filled those spots with our two best quicks: Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara.”But Milan doesn’t go out of the side having done anything wrong. I’ve spoken to him personally and impressed on him that these are the reasons, so that he knows for sure. Other players also know that he’s gone out of the side having done well.”Left-armer Vishwa Fernando, the other seamer to be omitted from the XI, had also been excellent at The Oval, bowling one of the most memorable spells of the series. He’s taken 21 wickets at an average of 21.61 this year, but will not play in Galle, with the express pace of Kumara preferred.Sri Lanka’s other conundrum is the wicketkeeping spot. Dinesh Chandimal started as keeper in their last match at The Oval, but appeared to suffer a back injury while keeping in the second innings of that game. In the first match of that series, he’d also been hit on the thumb and as such been unable to keep wickets for several days after.Chandimal will now be moved up to No. 3, however, while Kusal Mendis takes the gloves and moves down the order, possibly to No. 7.”Chandimal won’t keep, and that’s the team’s decision,” Jayasuriya said. “We had to figure out who will come out at No. 3, and it’s very tough for a No. 3 batter to keep wickets. Chandimal has taken the responsibility to bat at No. 3, and he’s doing that for the team and for the country. We have to look after him and give him that confidence.”The batting order Sri Lanka have settled on is to bring Kamindu Mendis, whose batting proficiency was thought by some to be wasted somewhat at No. 7, will now come up to No. 5, where Chandimal used to bat. Meanwhile Kusal takes Kamindu’s old spot.”We talked a lot about how we go about this, because it’s a complicated decision. We talked to Chandimal. Moving him up meant we had to bring someone else into the middle order. If we can bring a wicketkeeper to the lower middler order, that’s the best for this team in terms of balance.”

Manchester United’s side is one that has massively struggled over recent seasons, struggling to match the levels that were produced during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign.

The Red Devils have now gone 12 whole seasons without a Premier League triumph, with current boss Ruben Amorim the latest to try his luck at Old Trafford.

However, so far, the 40-year-old has been unable to transform the situation, achieving a 40% win rate in his 42 games in the role, leading to a 15th-place league finish this season.

Leeway should be handed his way, however, only having the January transfer window earlier this year to make the additions he wanted to help him in his quest at the club.

However, this summer is a huge period in his stint in charge at the Theatre of Dreams, needing to find the right players for his system if he is to be a success in the role.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions

Viktor Gyokeres is a player who has been firmly on their radar over the last couple of years, but United now appear to be in pole position for his signature after the latest update on his future.

Warren Zaire-Emery is another surprise name on the club’s shortlist, after the hierarchy made an enquiry to sign the PSG youngster, who’s currently valued at £85m.

However, a new name has entered the mix over the last couple of days, with Borussia Dortmund’s midfield star Felix Nmecha on their radar, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that the Red Devils are preparing an offer to land the 24-year-old this summer, with a £28m price tag mooted for his signature in the coming months.

It also states that the former Manchester City academy star could have his head turned by the Red Devils ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but that the Bundesliga side have no intention of offloading him.

Why United’s £28m target would be perfect for Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo has been a name on the lips of all supporters over the last couple of weeks, understandably so given the keen interest in his signature.

The 25-year-old has been a player who’s thrived in the division over recent years, but he produced his best-ever campaign last time around, scoring 20 times in the Premier League for Brentford.

However, a deal hasn’t been easy up until now, with the Red Devils having two separate offers rejected, the latest being a fee in the region of £60m.

A deal should be completed smoothly if a fee is agreed, after the Cameroonian international has agreed personal terms with Amorim’s side over a move to Old Trafford.

He could be boosted in his chances of success should Nmecha move to the club, as the German possesses a lot of qualities that would aid the forward in attacking areas.

When delving into his stats from this campaign, he’s thrived in numerous key areas, making him the perfect box-to-box option within Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Nmecha, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by former boss Nuri Şahin, has registered an 88% pass accuracy along with 5.1 progressive passes per 90 – subsequently showing why he’d be perfect for Mbeumo and having the tools to provide him with the opportunities needed.

Felix Nmecha’s stats for Dortmund in the Bundesliga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

26

Goals & assists

5

Pass accuracy

88%

Progressive passes

5.1

Passes into final third

5.4

Progressive carries

1.3

Take-ons completed

65%

Tackles won

1.3

Interceptions made

1.4

Aerials won

1.4

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed 65% of the take-ons he’s attempted, whilst also registering 1.3 progressive carries per 90, further demonstrating his desire to take the ball into forward areas.

The German has also starred without the ball, winning 1.3 tackles per 90 and 1.4 interceptions per 90, making him the perfect ball-winning option in the middle of the park.

£28m for a player of Nmecha’s calibre could prove to be one of the bargain additions of the summer, offering Amorim a new dimension to his midfield and taking the side to new heights.

If he can excel without the ball and provide Mbeumo with added chances in front of goal, it would be a sensational signing and one that could push them back up the table in 2025/26.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Jun 28, 2025

Liverpool opted against significant first-team investment after Jurgen Klopp packed his bags and put an end to his Anfield dynasty last summer.

One of the esteemed coach’s final acts, in typically larger-than-life fashion, was to bellow his successor’s name into a mic, Liverpool having finished the 2023/24 Premier League season in third place, and as Carabao Cup champions.

“Arne Slot,” the manager roared, and Liverpool’s fans echoed his rallying cry. It was the end of an era, an illustrious period of sustained success that saw the Reds win the whole gamut after several interminable seasons of disappointment, languishing below their rightful place among the big boys.

Klopp’s decision has been vindicated. Slot has won the Premier League in his first term at the helm, so dominant, taking the team left to him and shaping it into something greater.

Now, though, it is time for first-team investment. The pieces are being moved well ahead of the summer transfer window, and though fans anticipate a raft of exciting arrivals, some departures are needed too.

Darwin Nunez chief among them.

Why Liverpool must sell Darwin Nunez

While the thought of Florian Wirtz driving a Nunez resurgence is tantalising, it’s probably not going to happen.

The Uruguay international, 25, has just completed his third campaign in a Liverpool shirt, and it was probably his least productive yet.

When Nunez arrived in July 2022 for a fee rising to a club-record £85m, he arrived to much fanfare. Here was a robust, athletic and deadly forward who scored 34 goals from 41 matches in his final season for the Portuguese giants.

But he’s failed to make it work in the Premier League. Here’s a statistic: Nunez has only scored 25 goals in the English top flight, featuring 95 times and avoiding any serious stretch in the infirmary.

Klopp’s tactics are perhaps characterised by their chaos. Nunez, then, embodies some of the German’s core principles, but Slot’s businesslike approach has led to a regression, with the boss even stating in February that he “can’t accept” Nunez’s work-rate.

While the £140k-per-week talent’s time on Merseyside has been defined by wastefulness, this hasn’t really been the case this term. Instead, he’s been reduced to a small part in the grand play, scoring only seven goals across all competitions and starting but once in the Premier League since Boxing Day.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Liverpool’s plan is to part ways with the record man, and all parties welcome the prospect. With Saudi suitors interested, Liverpool might just find they can sign a suitable replacement to add to the exciting rebuild Richard Hughes is currently fronting.

Liverpool want to sign a new striker

As per Spanish reports, Liverpool are ready to challenge Newcastle United for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro, who is ready to leave the south coast club this summer.

The clubs in question are ready to meet Brighton’s €70m (£58m) demands, both eager to take the lead in the race.

Despite earlier reports to the contrary, transfer insider Ben Jacobs claims Chelsea are not actively pursuing a move, only enhancing Liverpool’s chances of getting a deal done.

What Joao Pedro would bring to Liverpool

Newcastle’s success in qualifying for the Champions League after Aston Villa were controversially beaten at Old Trafford surely ends Anfield’s hopes of signing Alexander Isak this summer, with PIF set to demand north of £150m for his sale.

Joao Pedro, conversely, is expected to leave the AMEX, and for a far smaller figure at that. The Brazil forward has been a success since joining Brighton from Championship side Watford in 2023, a deal that narrowly missed the £30m mark.

Across 70 appearances for the Seagulls, the 23-year-old has scored 30 goals and supplied ten assists. However, he’s not defined by his goal metrics, promising though they may be, with Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard hailing his “really magical” quality on the ball.

Beaten by Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch to the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award, he’s got the physicality and technical ability to become a star under Slot’s wing, smoothly replacing Nunez at number nine.

As per Sofascore, Joao Pedro has only missed 16 big chances across his two top-flight campaigns at Brighton, scoring 19 goals and supplying nine assists. He’s only started 42 matches during this period.

The foundations have been laid, and now Slot can welcome this rising star into his brood and take him to the next level, providing the title winners with a new focal frontman who can provide a richer goal threat while maintaining a dynamic, multi-faceted approach to benefit the likes of Wirtz and Mohamed Salah, among others.

Nunez’s day is done, but in his place, Liverpool can sign a striker capable of proving an upgrade while echoing some of the South American’s finer qualities.

But there’s no denying that Joao Pedro is a sharper and more complete version, as the table below highlights.

As you can see, Nunez pales in comparison to the Brighton man, who has yet to reach his potential and already has showcased high-level qualities in the Premier League.

It’s time for change. Nunez will leave Liverpool with the goodwill of the fanbase, but he must indeed depart – especially if a deal for a player like Joao Pedro is in the pipeline.

Liverpool are brewing their own version of Wirtz in "fearless" academy star

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By
Angus Sinclair

May 24, 2025

Of all Mikel Arteta’s signings as Arsenal boss, there has perhaps been none as controversial as Kai Havertz.

Since the German joined the club for £65m in the summer of 2023, he has faced his fair share of criticism from fans and pundits alike, and considering his slow start to life in North London, scoring one goal and providing one assist in his first 12 Premier League games, it’s wasn’t hard to see why.

However, once he moved up top, things started to look much, much better, and before his hamstring injury in February, the German international had amassed a tally of 32 goal involvements in 47 appearances there for the club.

Yet, if recent reports are to be believed, even a rate of return such as that might not be enough to keep him in the starting lineup, as the club are now confident of signing one of Europe’s most exciting strikers.

Arsenal's striker search

Before getting to the striker in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other top poachers Arsenal are reportedly interested in ahead of the summer transfer window, such as Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian international could be available for around £58m at the end of the season and with a tally of 20 goals and six assists in just 41 appearances, that could prove to be value for money.

Closer to home, the Gunners have kept Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins on their shortlist.

Transfer Focus

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

The Englishman is a player liked by new Sporting Director Andrea Berta, and, with a haul of 29 goal involvements in 49 games this term, it’s not hard to see why, although he’s still some way off the club’s most exciting target: Viktor Gyokeres.

According to a recent report from Spain, the North Londoners have maintained their strong interest in the Sporting CP monster and are now ‘confident’ of securing his signature.

However, there is still the small case of his fee, which, according to the report, would be around €70m, which comes out to about £60m.

While that’s a sizable sum of money, this is still a transfer Arsenal should do all they can to get over the line, as Gyokeres could be transformational for them, even if he’d be bad news for Havertz.

How Gyokeres compares to Havertz

Should Arsenal get this transfer over the line and bring Gyokeres to the Emirates next season, it would undoubtedly be with the intention of having him start as many games as possible.

So, that would also mean that, when fit again, Havertz would be his primary competition for regular game time, but who comes out on top when we compare them?

Well, despite his decent rate of return in the last year or so, the Sporting CP star wipes the floor with the former Chelsea ace when it comes to their raw output, which is, of course, the most important metric for a number nine.

For example, in 46 appearances, totalling 3700 minutes, the Stockholm-born “powerhouse,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 47 goals and provided 11 assists.

That means he’s currently averaging 1.26 goal involvements per game or one every 63.79 minutes, which only lends credence to ESPN Head Writer Mark Ogdan’s claim that he’s “the hottest striker in Europe.”

Appearances

46

34

Minutes

3700′

2776′

Goals

47

15

Assists

11

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.26

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

63.79′

138.8′

In comparison, prior to his injury, the former Bayer Leverkusen star had amassed a tally of 15 goals and five assists in 34 appearances, totalling 2776 minutes, which comes out to a less impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.70 games or one every 138.8 minutes.

There is an argument to be made that the Portuguese league is an easier level, but given the extent to which the former Coventry City gem is outperforming the Gunners ace, we reckon he’d still be more prolific in a top-five league.

Ultimately, if Arsenal have the chance to sign Gyokeres this summer, they have to take it, even if it spells the end of regularly starting games for Havertz.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 23, 2025