A number of Manchester United fans online have slammed Casemiro after he picked up a straight red card for a reckless challenge in his most recent appearance.

Why was Casemiro sent off against Southampton?

In their latest Premier League outing, the Red Devils failed to win in front of their own supporters as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford against Southampton.

Erik ten Hag and co understandably came into the match as favourites, with the Saints stuck at the very bottom of the table but one poor decision from United’s central midfielder made things an awful lot more complicated on the day.

Indeed, with just 34 minutes played, Casemiro lunged in on Carlos Alcaraz and while referee Anthony Taylor initially just booked the 31-year-old, it was upgraded to a red following a VAR check.

This isn’t the Brazilian’s first straight red card of the season either. After all, he was given his marching orders in February against Crystal Palace in another ill-judged moment at Old Trafford.

As a result, he now faces a four-match suspension which could see him miss the FA Cup quarter-final at home to Fulham on top of three league games against Newcastle United, Brentford and Everton.

It seems as though the midfielder’s poor discipline has left some Man Utd fans at their wits’ end. Here are some of the best reactions online…

Liverpool don't boast the most prolific of youth academies, but when the Merseyside outfit unearths a diamond, it glistens brighter than most clubs can dream of.

The salient modern examples, of course, being Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen, but more recently it is Trent Alexander-Arnold to have plied his formative years with the Reds before ascending to the first team and playing an integral role in the illustrious endeavours under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp.

Alexander-Arnold, who cost the club nothing and is now valued at £80m by Football Transfers, has forged 262 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring 15 goals and serving a remarkable 65 assists from his right-back position, instrumental in gleaning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup among other major honours and heralded as "out of this world" for his creative ingenuity by English footballing icon Gary Neville.

The Reds have failed to reach former heights this season, currently battling to preserve coveted status in the Champions League and facing no feasible route toward silverware this season to complement the Community Shield triumph in the campaign's curtain-raiser against Manchester City, and the 24-year-old has been harangued by the masses for his questionable displays, even branded a "training dummy" by journalist Casey Evans for his insipid performance against Real Madrid.

Regardless, he is one of football's brightest stars, and Klopp must now look to replicate the success in nurturing the prodigy to prominence by turning to Layton Stewart, who might just be Liverpool's next big thing.

Who is Layton Stewart?

Granted, Stewart is a striker; Alexander-Arnold is technically a defender.

But the Scouse-born duo bear a semblance in their prolific natures from their respective roles and Stewart could certainly emulate the feats forged by his senior peer over the coming years.

The 20-year-old has exhibited a cutting edge scarcely seen at youth level, scoring 44 goals and assisting seven more from 58 appearances across Liverpool's various youth levels, having also made his senior debut for the Reds in the Carabao Cup earlier this season, playing against third-tier outfit Derby County.

In the Premier League 2 this term, Stewart has been particularly emphatic in his displays, netting ten times from just nine starting appearances and scoring in four consecutive outings since recently returning from injury.

Hailed for his "confident" aura by journalist Andy Kelly, the budding talent is well on his way to earning a more prominent role within Klopp's senior system.

Indeed, if he continues his Midas touch in front of goal, there is no reason why he cannot mirror the incredible success of Alexander-Arnold and flourish at the front of one of European football's most illustrious sides.

Tottenham Hotspur would be looking for a much higher offer than £100m in the summer if they are to allow Harry Kane to leave the club.

Does Harry Kane want to leave Spurs?

There have been reports suggesting the England captain would be open to listening to the contract offers that the club are expected to put forward in the coming months.

However, there have also been some claims that the 29-year-old is looking to leave Spurs in the summer with the likes of Manchester United said to be interested.

That being said, perhaps the most important thing is Daniel Levy and Spurs are reluctant to allow Kane to leave this summer despite his contract close to entering its final year.

And speaking on the FIVE YouTube channel, David Ornstein has claimed the price – if Spurs were to listen to offers – would be well over £100m:

"Daniel Levy will want the highest possible price. And there was a report in The Times, ahead of us recording this, that they want at least £100m in a lump sum. And that isn't the final price – that would be, like, the initial outlay.

"You will speak to people at Tottenham who will hypothetically say way higher than that [£100m], crazy numbers, to even consider it with just a year to go. And that's their stance at the moment."

Should Spurs allow Kane to leave in the summer?

Just two years ago, Kane tried to force his way out of north London with Manchester City said to be interested in the England captain.

However, the 29-year-old lost the battle and has been with Spurs ever since as Pep Guardiola's side were unwilling to match Tottenham's price tag for Kane.

Since then, Kane has gone on to score a further 38 Premier League goals and become the club's highest-ever goalscorer b surpassing Jimmy Greaves' record.

And there could well be a feeling that Kane has done his part for the club and Spurs should grant his wish – if he does want to leave – with just one year remaining on his deal.

But this is a business, and Spurs will have their price set on Kane that Levy should stick firm to if clubs are going to come in for Kane over the coming months.

Kane is not a slightly above-average player who Spurs will be able to replace with ease if they are to part ways.

This is a striker who is at the very top of his game. Not only would it cost a huge amount of money to find a potential replacement, but there is no guarantee of finding someone to come in and match his consistent output of goals.

Signing a club's best player should not be easy for any interested party – no matter how big of a club they are – and Levy absolutely should stand firm on his valuation of the striker.

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been made available for transfer at Stamford Bridge, according to reports.

What's the latest on Loftus-Cheek's future?

The Premier League playmaker has worked his way up through the academy ranks in the capital to become a regular feature of the senior first-team, but with his contract set to expire next summer, has already been linked with an exit this season.

The Daily Mail reported that Newcastle United were plotting a move for the 27-year-old in January and were also eyeing an approach for his fellow teammates in Hakim Ziyech and Conor Gallagher, but it was stated that Graham Potter wouldn't let him or any of the trio leave as a result of the injury crisis his squad were facing at the time.

Football Insider have since claimed that England's former international is now being tracked by several unnamed clubs in the UK and is attracting interest from AC Milan and Roma in the Serie A, with the SW6 outfit not keen to activate the one-year extension option that's included in his current terms.

Now, according to Football Insider once again, Chelsea are expected to officially make Loftus-Cheek "available for transfer" at the end of the season with the hierarchy "not keen" to trigger the option to extend his stay for a further 12 months.

The Adidas-sponsored star has pretty much been a mainstay in the team since Potter's arrival having featured in 21 of his 30 games in charge, and has even publicly praised the boss for his efforts, but it sounds like this isn't set to change the club's decision on his future.

Would Chelsea be right to sell Loftus-Cheek?

Chelsea have already previously sold academy graduates like Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori while Mason Mount could also be on the verge of a departure, but considering the positive impact Loftus-Cheek has had on the team of late, the club should keep hold of him and give him a chance moving forward.

The £120K-p/w talent currently ranks in the 98th percentile for progressive carries and the 96th percentile for successful take-ons per game, compared to other players in his position via FBRef, showing his desire to get forward and create as many chances as possible in the final third. The Blues prospect has also clocked up his fair share of goal contributions since making the step-up to the senior first-team, netting 13 strikes and providing 17 assists at the Bridge (Transfermarkt).

Loftus-Cheek has been dubbed a "dangerous" player by journalist Josh Bunting and he is certainly someone that could go on to become a key player in the centre for Chelsea if they were to have a change of heart before the end of the season.

Manchester City are thought to be interested in signing Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes this summer, according to a recent report.

The Lowdown: City set for rebuild?

It has been reported by GiveMeSport that a trio of Man City players could be set to leave the club in the summer transfer window, with Ilkay Gundogan, Aymeric Laporte and Bernardo Silva all tipped for exits.

With two of those players operating in midfield, and Rodri also being linked with a departure at the end of the season, Pep Guardiola may be forced into strengthening in the centre of the park, and the Sky Blues have been linked with several options.

City are said to be in ‘pole position’ to sign Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, as a result of the £40m buy-back clause they inserted into his contract when they allowed him to leave last summer, and Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister has also been named as a potential target.

The Latest: Guimaraes targeted

According to the print edition of the Sunday Mirror (19/03/2023, p78), via The Manchester Evening News, Man City have a ‘strong interest’ in Guimaraes, and could make a move for the midfielder in the summer transfer window.

There may be competition for the Brazilian’s signature, however, as Real Madrid are also thought to be interested. In order to win the race, the Sky Blues could offer Kalvin Phillips as a bargaining chip, with the midfielder struggling to break into the first team.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The central midfielder has been a vital player for Newcastle ever since his arrival in the Premier League, making a total of 20 top-flight appearances so far this season, during which time he has weighed in with three goals and three assists.

Hailed as ‘incredible’ by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, the 25-year-old is ranked as the Magpies’ fourth-best performing player in the league, as per SofaScore, recording an average match rating of 7.11, the highest of any midfielder.

Over the course of the past year, the maestro has averaged 0.26 non-penalty goals per 90, placing him in the 97th percentile compared to other midfielders, while he is also solid defensively, ranking in the 90th percentile for tackling.

Given that he is a threat going forward, as well as being skilled in the defensive side of the game, Guimaraes would be an excellent addition to the squad, however, it would not be a surprise if Newcastle are unwilling to sell, in light of his performances this season.

Former top-flight footballer Steve Nicol has claimed that there is no way back for Romelu Lukaku at Chelsea once his loan spell at Inter Milan ends this summer.

Is Romelu Lukaku leaving Chelsea?

The striker has had an injury-hit season following his return to Inter, managing just five goals in 18 appearances.

Inter CEO Beppe Marotta has now confirmed that Inter do not plan to keep the player once his loan from Chelsea expires, meaning the striker will be stuck in limbo.

He forced his way back to Inter just a year after re-joining Chelsea for a then-club record £97.5m switch, and has seemingly burned his bridges in west London.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Nicol has claimed that there is no chance of a fresh start at Stamford Bridge for the 29-year-old.

Asked if he could yet revive his Chelsea career, Nicol said: "Absolutely not. No chance. He won't be there. He will not be at Chelsea at the start of next season. They will have to bite the bullet.

"Lukaku has shown in his time with other Premier League teams, mid-table teams, that he can be successful. And I think that's where he will probably end up. Because the Premier League teams can afford to pay him more than other sides in Europe, so I see him ending up somewhere in the Premier League in the mid-table."

Who could Chelsea sell Lukaku to?

Given his hefty wages at Inter at over £185k per week, Lukaku would likely need to take a pay cut, even if joining a team lower down the Premier League table.

If Everton survive relegation, then his previous success there could perhaps interest them in a move, but given their relatively low levels of spending in the most recent windows, Lukaku may be out of their price range.

The future of Harry Kane could also play a part in Lukaku's future. If the Englishman leaves Tottenham Hotspur, Lukaku could be an option to replace the striker at Spurs, and having worked with Antonio Conte before at Inter, there may be interest in a reunion should the Italian manager stay at the club.

Chelsea do need a centre-forward, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang proving to be an unsuccessful addition up front, but given the disaster of his previous return to the club, it seems highly unlikely that Lukaku would be welcomed back too eagerly.

Lukaku has found himself at a crossroads in his career, as Inter – the side he found the most success at two years ago – are unwilling to take him back, while his potential other suitors seem limited. At 29, he may be beyond his best years, and his injury problems may be off-putting for clubs competing in European competition, so perhaps Nicol's claim won't be too far detached from reality.

Edu Gaspar is reportedly eyeing up an Arsenal summer move for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Sangare as he looks to give Mikel Arteta some added quality ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Ibrahim Sangare to Arsenal?

According to 90min, PSV are preparing to agree to the departure of Sangare during the summer transfer window as a few Premier League teams have shown interest.

Arsenal face stiff competition, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur all keen on luring the midfielder to England ahead of next season.

Sangare has a release clause of €37m (£32.5m) and that is more than affordable for Arteta as he looks to plan ahead for the club's first foray into the Champions League in six years.

Will Arsenal sign Ibrahim Sangare this summer?

There is no doubt the Ivorian could move to the Premier League this summer, especially with PSV preparing for his departure and Arsenal could suit him well.

Arteta has a wonderful midfield triumvirate containing Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, and Granit Xhaka, yet only the Norwegian is under the age of 25 and in order to improve, the Spaniard will need to strengthen.

The PSV sensation would not only add strength in depth to the Arsenal side, but he could be the perfect heir for Partey, especially as their play styles are fairly similar.

Indeed, this season, the two midfielders have registered similar statistics with regard to goals (four to three), shots (27 to 25), pass success rate (86.5% to 84.3%), goal-creating actions (five to four) and tackles won (both 31), clearly proving just how comparable to the two are.

They are both effective at going forward and providing an attacking threat from the centre of the pitch, while being able to chip in defensively when required, judging by each winning 31 tackles.

WhoScored states that both Partey and Sangare’s key strengths are passing, dribbling and aerial duels and the Ivorian could be a straight replacement for Partey should his performances decline or Arteta decides to move him on.

The 25-year-old brute was praised by his former PSV manager Aad de Mos, who described him as “dangerous” and going by his statistics this season, such praise is certainly justified.

It’s no secret that Arteta is keen on bolstering his midfield, especially with a much higher standard of opposition to come next season when they take to the Champions League. Sangare would be a wonderful addition to their squad and over time, could develop into the ideal Partey heir.

Journalist Charles Watts has claimed that Arsenal are remaining tight-lipped over the injury status of William Saliba but he believes it won't be as bad as the Takehiro Tomiyasu setback.

What's the latest on William Saliba and his Arsenal injury?

The French centre-back missed the club's last Premier League game due to a back injury that has also consequently stopped him from going on international duty this week.

Indeed, Saliba was absent against Crystal Palace after coming off early in the recent defeat against Sporting Lisbon. This is particularly bad timing for the Gunners, as Tomiyasu also picked up an injury in that Europa League match.

In an unfortunate update on the right-back, it has now been revealed that the Japan international will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.

On the Saliba front, however, Watts has explained that there aren't any "noises coming out" from the club right now and so the situation remains uncertain.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: "I don't know what's going on with Saliba yet. I can't tell you, unfortunately; it's not been announced. There's not really any noises coming out from Arsenal about it.

"So we'll have to wait and see with Saliba exactly the extent of this injury. Fingers crossed, it's nothing like Tomiyasu. I don't think it is.

"But we'll have to wait and see, and see exactly what Arsenal confirm when it does come to Saliba.”

When was Saliba expected to be back from injury?

After the win against Palace, manager Mikel Arteta sounded concerned about Tomiayu's chances of an early return, saying (via football.london): "It’s not looking good. Tomi is not one to exaggerate things. He was really concerned straight away and we are concerned."

As explained above, he's since been proved right. On Saliba, though, he was more positive: "We hope Willy is going to be better news. Again we have to wait to tomorrow [Monday] to get a better picture."

Seeing as it's now Wednesday and no official statement has come out, and Watts hasn't been able to learn anything notable, it could be potentially worrying.

However, no news is often good news and with a few weeks off now while the international break takes place, there is no reason for Arsenal to rush to provide any specific diagnoses on Saliba just yet.

Still, he's been key for the Gunners this season with pundit Jamie Carragher noting "he looked the real deal" when making his Premier League debut.

Seeing as the 21-year-old had started every league game since then, right up until his recent injury, Arteta will no doubt be desperate to have him fit again as soon as possible.

Newcastle United have entered the race to bring Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Brandt's future?

Eddie Howe is reportedly keen to bolster his midfield ranks in the summer following the departure of Jonjo Shelvey and is likely to be financially backed by the club’s owners, who could be set to receive a significant sum should they qualify for the Champions League.

The Germany international will be out of contract at the Signal Iduna Park next summer, and being Edin Terzic’s best-performing offensive player, – only behind Jude Bellingham overall, as per WhoScored – he has been attracting interest ahead of the upcoming window.

In March, 90min reported that the Bundesliga giants had opened talks with the 26-year-old regarding an extension as a result of the Magpies, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all monitoring him, and it sounds as if the north-east outfit have since decided that they officially want to compete for his services.

According to German outlet Bild (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are the latest club to “join the chase” for Brandt, with Howe placing him on his “wish list” for the summer. The Dortmund midfielder has supposedly told those close to him that a move to the English top flight would “definitely appeal” to him, with the Gunners once again name-checked alongside their north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli.

Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl is believed to have offered his star a new deal worth €7m (£6m) per year, but with the significant interest from elsewhere, this game of “poker” could be set to continue for a while.

Would Brandt be a good signing for Newcastle?

Brandt is naturally an attacking midfielder and has been hailed as a “joy to watch” going forward by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so should the hierarchy be able to secure his services ahead of their fellow competitors, Newcastle could be getting a fantastic player.

The Nike-sponsored star has scored nine goals and registered five assists across all competitions this season, via Transfermarkt, whipping in a total of 127 crosses into the final third, highlighting his prolific edge and the threat he provides around the opposition box.

The £116k-p/w playmaker also has the flexibility to operate in a variety of positions across the midfield and the frontline, with this versatility likely to be attractive to Howe, so should the opportunity to sign him arise, we think PIF have a no-brainer of a decision to make.

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Italy sensation Mateo Retegui this summer and his potential arrival at Elland Road could see Patrick Bamford finally leave.

Could Leeds sign Mateo Retegui?

According to Italian news outlet Area Napoli, Leeds are one of the sides showing an interest in the 23-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window but could face competition from both Milan clubs and Eintracht Frankfurt for his signature.

The Argentine-born striker, who qualifies for Italy through his maternal grandfather, has enjoyed an impressive campaign at club level, contributing seven goals in just nine league appearances for Tigre, having joined them on loan from Boca Juniors for the season.

This has led to him earning a strong 7.11 rating from WhoScored for his performances in Argentina's top flight, while he has a 7.07 rating in the European Championship after scoring in both of Italy's games in the recent international break, including once in the 2-1 defeat against England.

The forward also spent the 2022 season on loan with Tigre, crashing in 23 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, so it is easy to see why he earned the call-up to Roberto Mancini's side recently, which has clearly attracted the interest of clubs across Europe.

2006 World Cup-winning manager Marcelo Lippi was full of praise for the Boca Juniors star on Super Deportivo Radio after his performances during the international break, outlining attributes that should come as music to the ears of everyone associated with Leeds.

He said (via FC Inter News): "He’s the classic centre-forward who scores. He has a strong header. I like how he plays in the box, that’s why I think he’s a good striker.”

It does seem that Retegui's future lies away from Argentina and if Leeds do sign him this summer, it would surely see one of the strikers at Elland Road leave, with Bamford a prime candidate given he has just two goals in the Premier League so far this term.

How has Bamford played this season?

This campaign has been an extremely underwhelming one for Bamford, with the former Chelsea man once again failing to live up to the performances he showed under Marcelo Bielsa in the top-flight, when he managed 17 goals.

Not only has the 29-year-old only bagged twice in 2022/23, but he has massively underperformed his xG by nearly five, and that could be the difference between safety and relegation in what is an extremely tight battle to avoid the drop.

Considering Bamford is ranked as the 22nd-best performer in Javi Gracia's squad with a 6.34 average rating according to WhoScored, it seems clear that he cannot be considered a reliable long-term option at Elland Road.

Retegui has also averaged more shots (3.9 vs 1.7), key passes (0.6 vs 0.5) and dribbles (0.4 vs 0.2) per game than Bamford, outlining him as a better all-rounder in attack.

As such, it is evident that the Italy star could be a big upgrade on the struggling Leeds star this summer.