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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo is aiming to use the 2025 summer transfer window to bolster a squad which secured European qualification last term.

Given how well the club performed throughout 2024/25, Forest have a genuine chance of winning the Conference League.

Santo has shown admiration for plenty of potential targets, including Yunus Musah and Lukas Ullrich, but it appears as though one Serie A star has been linked more than most…

Latest on Nottingham Forest’s interest in Timothy Weah

As was widely reported earlier this month, including via transfer insider Gianluca Di Marzio, Forest were believed to be interested in signing Timothy Weah this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

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Juventus appeared to be demanding just £12m for Weah, should they agree to cash in, which looked to be a solid piece of business by the club.

Last season, the American played 43 times for the Serie A giants, scoring six goals and grabbing five assists in the process.

In the top flight, he recorded an impressive goal conversion percentage of 24%, while also creating four big chances and averaging 0.6 key passes per game.

He played across several positions last year, predominantly on the right flank, a position which the Midlands side are keen to bolster.

After stepping up their pursuit of the one-time Celtic loanee, however, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed on Friday that Forest had actually walked away from any negotiations, despite the deal being “close”, after carrying out “extensive data analysis”.

As such, the City Ground outfit may need to turn their attention elsewhere, with one Brazilian star seemingly on their radar…

Why Nottingham Forest must sign Pepe

As reported by ESPN earlier this week, four Premier League clubs have opened talks to sign Porto winger Pepe this summer.

Forest have been named as one of those clubs, along with Aston Villa, Fulham and Burnley. The fact that Santo led them to Europe indicates that they could potentially be one of the frontrunners.

Pepe’s statistics for Porto (league only)

Goals

3

Assists

2

Big chances created

5

Key passes per game

1

Successful dribbles per game

0.6

Shots per game

1

Via Sofascore

A fee of £21m has been set, which is more than affordable for the Midlands side, no doubt about that.

While Weah may be the cheaper option, Pepe is certainly the bigger talent. Last season, the Brazilian dynamo registered an impressive total of 11 goal contributions across all competitions.

When comparing the pair via their domestic stats last term, it becomes clear who enjoyed the more productive campaign. Indeed, Pepe not only recorded more shots per 90 (1.36 vs 1.15), but he also registered more shot-creating actions (2.71 vs 1.98), goal-creating actions (0.36 vs 0.16) and more touches in the opposition penalty area (79 vs 35), showcasing his superiority in these metrics.

South American football expert Tim Vickery lauded the winger when he was linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur a couple of seasons ago, saying:

“I certainly remember him as a winger with Gremio, little mosquito kind of winger, who can do either flank.”

His ability to play on either wing could also come in handy, giving Santo some added flexibility, especially if injuries start to play their part.

It is clear that the manager wants to bring those to Forest who have proven ability on the biggest stages. Having scored in the Champions League, Copa Libertadores and Europa League, as well as gaining two caps for Brazil, Pepe would be an excellent signing.

Related Nottingham Forest join race for one of the rising stars of U21 Euros

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 26, 2025

Chelsea once agreed a £200m+ deal to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona, however, a former Blues star stopped the Argentine icon moving to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s best signings under Abramovich

After Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea for £140m in 2003, he turned the Blues into a force to be reckoned with, especially in the transfer market, smashing the club’s record signing on numerous occasions. In total, the Russian spent more than £2bn on player signings while also splashing £90m when it came to hiring and firing managers.

Related Chelsea's most expensive signings of all time

Todd Boehly has spent big in recent years.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

Major trophies would be a regular occurrence for Abramovich during his time at Stamford Bridge, but he would eventually sell up in 2022.

Abramovich’s top Chelsea signings in pictures

Abramovich employed numerous managers for Chelsea, and one of the most successful bosses he hired was Jose Mourinho.

Across two spells as Chelsea manager, Mourinho won eight major honours, including lifting the Premier League on three occasions.

Jose Mourinho honours at Chelsea

Years won

Premier League

2005, 2006, 2015

FA Cup

2007

League Cup

2005, 2007, 2015

Community Shield

2005

He managed some top-quality attackers in London, including Didier Drogba and Eden Hazard, however, Mourinho so nearly worked with Messi at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea agreed £200m+ deal to sign Messi under Abramovich

Back in 2014, Chelsea attempted to sign Messi from Barcelona, with Mourinho holding a face-to-face video call with the legendary attacker.

The manager looked to have persuaded Messi to depart the Nou Camp for Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea agreeing to trigger Messi’s €250m (£210.9m) release clause and hand him a huge wage packet in England worth around £50m per season plus 70 per cent of image rights. Mourinho reportedly told Messi he couldn’t wait to work with him, as per Gianluca Di Marzio.

Messi was also quoted admitting he actually wanted to move to Chelsea.

However, former Chelsea midfielder Deco was alerted of a deal by Cesc Fabregas and made Messi’s father and agent Jorge, aware of the talks, which led to a deal ultimately falling through.

As we know, Messi has continued to show why he is one of the greatest players of all time and would eventually leave Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

The attacker then headed to the MLS with Inter Miami and has never played in the Premier League, so Chelsea fans may think differently of Deco knowing he helped stopped a transfer.

The transfer news is starting to heat-up at Rangers.

Following Russell Martin’s appointment, and with the start of Champions League qualifying little over five weeks away, Rangers need to act quickly in the transfer market, seeking to rebuild their squad at Ibrox.

So, with one centre-back seemingly on his way out of Ibrox, could the Gers’ land a vastly experienced defender?

Rangers' search for a new centre-back

Defence is clearly an area the Gers are looking to improve this summer with links to English centre-back Harry Darling emerging on a regular basis.

That being said, Darling isn’t the only defender on the club’s radar heading into the forthcoming weeks.

According to a report by the Leicester Mercury, Rangers have initiated talks to sign Conor Coady from Leicester City this summer, having lodged an enquiry in a bid to understand what it might take to sign the former England international.

Football Insider revealed on Sunday that, with the Foxes needing to offload players following their relegation to the EFL Championship, Coady could be one name on the chopping block, handing Martin and Co encouragement in their attempts to sign the defender.

The 32-year-old is vastly experienced, having made almost 200 Premier League appearances to date, joining Leicester from Wolverhampton Wanderers two years ago for a reported fee of around £7.5m.

Analyst John Walker labels Coady “highly intelligent”, praising his in-possession play, so could Martin convince him to move to Glasgow?

How Conor Coady could finally replace Goldson at Rangers

Back in the summer of 2018, following Steven Gerrard’s arrival in Govan, Rangers signed Connor Goldson from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported fee of £3m, and what a bargain this would prove to be.

Despite requiring heart surgery during his time with the Seagulls, the Englishman would go on to make 309 appearances for the Light Blues, winning all three domestic trophies, a near ever-present fixture of the Gerrard-era, as well as being a key figure in the side that reached the Europa League Final in Seville three years ago.

Graham Falk of the Scotsman labels him a ‘stalwart’ of Rangers’ recent success, and many would argue that the club have not replaced him since he was allowed to leave for Aris Limassol last summer.

The need to replace him has only been made greater by news surrounding Robin Pröpper, who could be poised to depart Rangers this summer.

Indeed, reports suggest that FC Twente are ‘desperate’ to re-sign the centre-back for £1.5m, just a year after the Eredivisie outfit sold him to the Gers for around double that fee.

They go on to say that Pröpper ‘will hold talks’ with new manager Martin before making a concrete decision over his future, but few supporters would mourn his exit, given that Ewan Paton of the Rangers Review asserts that Scottish football is ‘too quick and physical for his capabilities’.

So let’s assess if Coady would be an upgrade.

Coady vs Pröpper 24/25 comparison

Statistics (per 90)

Coady

Pröpper

Appearances

26

43

Minutes

2,002

3,210

Tackles

0.6

1.2

Interceptions

0.7

1.2

Clearances

3.8

4.9

Blocked shots

1.3

0.7

Ball recoveries

3.3

4.4

Aerial duel success %

37.14%

54.04%

Ground duel success %

53.33%

53.26%

Passing accuracy %

91.47%

85.81%

Touches

64.6

75.5

Average Sofascore Rating

6.60

6.69

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, SofaScore and Squawka

The table suggests that Pröpper was more impressive than Coady this season, with the Dutchman boasting better statistics for most metrics included, but some context is required.

Rangers finished second in the Premiership while Leicester were relegated from the Premier League, thereby skewing the data, while it is worth considering that England’s top flight is, according to Global Football Rankings, the strongest division in the world, with Scotland’s first division ranked all the way down in 43rd place.

The most interesting statistic from the table above, however, is Coady’s excellent pass completion percentage – better than Propper – which would fit into Martin’s style of play perfectly.

Meanwhile, as outlined by Tim Spiers of the Athletic, the Englishman is known for his outstanding leadership qualities, describing him as an ‘intelligent ball-playing centre-back’.

Thus, still only 32 years old, Coady still has plenty to offer and, if Rangers are able to snap him up on the cheap, he would be an excellent addition, reminiscent of Goldson’s move to Glasgow all those years ago.

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Posts ByRoss Kilvington Jun 15, 2025

Nottingham Forest have Europa Conference League football to look forward to next term and are now progressing in their attempts to bring a highly-rated forward to the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest transfer targets as they prepare for Europe

It wasn’t to be for Nottingham Forest in their pursuit of Champions League football, though a place in Europe’s third-tier continental tournament could offer a realistic prospect of silverware next season.

West Ham United and Chelsea’s previous exploits in the Europa Conference League will offer Nuno Espirito Santo all the encouragement he needs, but the Portuguese boss knows signings will be necessary to balance their trophy bid with domestic endeavours.

According to reports, Nottingham Forest are interested in a permanent deal for Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, though there could also be a possibility of a loan agreement in the eyes of former scout Mick Brown.

Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes is a surprise target for the Tricky Trees, lending credence to the notion that they will go all out this summer following an impressive Premier League campaign.

Intriguingly, Espirito Santo stopped short of confirming he would be in charge next term after his side missed out on Champions League qualification, stating: “We are in good place and now it’s time to reflect and focus on the future. This is not a moment to speak about me. It’s about the club.”

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They’re already thinking about the summer transfer window.

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 22, 2025

Either way, there is plenty to be positive about on reflection. Nottingham Forest have shown they are a force that can compete with the best after conducting a mass overhaul across the last couple of years in the East Midlands.

Sparing no expense, the Tricky Trees are now advancing in their pursuit to sign a talented forward who has likened himself to Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr.

Nottingham Forest in advanced Igor Jesus talks after £18.5m offer

Per Fogao Net, Nottingham Forest have made an offer to sign Botafogo forward Igor Jesus for £18.5 million and talks are now believed to have progressed to an advanced stage.

Negotiations between all parties are moving along nicely, leaving the final decision down to the Brazil international, who has previously pointed out similarities between himself and countryman Vinicius Jr.

Igor Jesus statistics in 2025 – Serie A (Fotmob)

Shots

33

Shots on target

13

Completed dribbles

5

Dribble success

62.5%

Chances created

14

Duels won

62

Enjoying a bright start to the year, Jesus has netted seven goals and laid on a solitary assist in 23 appearances across all competitions for Brazil’s reigning top-flight champions.

Chris Wood has been a talismanic figure at the City Ground of late, though his age may work against him moving forward and securing an alternative option would make sense to bolster squad depth.

Now, it remains to be seen if Nottingham Forest can push a deal over the line as they look to build on an impressive campaign by keeping pace with contenders for European football in 2025/26.

Even the best managers spend time out of the game, with some waiting for the right opportunity to reignite their careers, while others just want a break from the high-octane life of being a top-level boss.

Several high-profile managers who find themselves out of work could be options for clubs in the Premier League and across the continent to replace those under pressure.

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Posts ByCharlie Smith Oct 21, 2025

Here, Football FanCast takes a look at a selection of active managers who are out of work at the moment.

1 Massimiliano Allegri Last job: Juventus (May 2024)

The veteran Italian coach Massimiliano Allegri has a glittering CV. Not only has he won six Serie A titles across spells at Juventus and Milan, but the 57-year-old has won five Coppa Italia trophies, too.

A serial winner indeed, but Allegri left the Old Lady at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and is still without work, making him one of the standout options on this list.

2 Francesco Farioli Last job: Ajax (May 2025)

Francesco Farioli has been quietly making his name as an up-and-coming manager in recent years, with his early career already taking him to Turkey, France and the Netherlands.

His most recent spell at Ajax had the Dutch giants on the brink of an Eredivisie title, but a sensational collapse saw them win just one of their final five games to let PSV – who themselves had a commanding lead at one stage – off the hook.

Farioli resigned in the aftermath of their dramatic season conclusion despite qualifying for the Champions League.

3 Jurgen Klopp Last job: Liverpool (May 2024)

Jurgen Klopp called time on his dazzling nine-year stay at Liverpool in 2024, leaving the club having restored them as champions of England in 2019/20 after earning their sixth European Cup a year earlier.

Klopp has since taken up a role at Red Bull, where he was appointed as global head of soccer at the start of 2025. Since then, he has been linked with the vacancy at Roma, who recently bid farewell to Claudio Ranieri.

However, Klopp had insisted that he had run out of energy upon his Liverpool exit, so perhaps he will take some time yet before deciding his next coaching role.

4 Julen Lopetegui Last job: West Ham United (Jan 2025)

Julen Lopetegui has been unemployed since being let go by West Ham United in early 2025, having been unable to improve the Hammers’ fortunes after replacing David Moyes at the London Stadium.

A Europa League winner with Sevilla, the Spaniard’s CV remains an impressive one, and had previously displayed his managerial prowess in the Premier League with Wolves, so perhaps a better match-up can bring the best out of the ex-Real Madrid and Spain boss.

5 Thiago Motta Last job: Juventus (Mar 2025)

Thiago Motta announced himself in the managerial world by steering Bologna to an unlikely Champions League place in 2023/24. His success led him to joining Juventus, who had parted with Massimiliano Allegri.

However, his spell as Bianconeri boss was underwhelming, and was dismissed with their Champions League qualification hopes under threat, while their European campaign also had its struggles, exiting the play-off round to PSV.

Motta was sacked in March as results in Serie A continued to disappoint.

6 Marco Rose Last job: RB Leipzig (Mar 2025)

Marco Rose has had a relatively chequered history when it comes to success in the dugout.

After enjoying league success at Red Bull Salzburg, Rose had mixed spells at Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig, his most recent club.

His tenures saw a mixture of Champions League qualifications and mid-table finishes, with the 2024/25 campaign seeing RB Leipzig fail to get out of the league phase in the Champions League as well as a drop-off in form in the Bundesliga. As a result, he is looking for a fifth job in eight years.

7 Roger Schmidt Last job: Benfica (August 2024)

Roger Schmidt has been out of work since leaving Benfica in August 2024. Across two seasons with the Portuguese side, the German led the club to the league title in his maiden campaign, also winning the Portuguese Super Cup.

Benfica could only finish second behind Sporting CP last year, and after winning 7 points from 12 in the 2024/25 campaign, Schmidt departed the club.

He is no stranger to the pressures of managing a top side, also enjoying spells at PSV and Bayer Leverkusen, but it remains to be seen where he ends up next.

8 Gareth Southgate Last job: England (July 2024)

Gareth Southgate bowed out after eight years of service as England manager, having twice taken them to the brink of European glory.

The end of the European Championship campaign in the summer of 2024 brought about the end of his tenure, with Southgate calling time after securing two runners-up medals and a first World Cup semi-final since 1990.

Despite him being linked to vacancies at Manchester United and former club Crystal Palace in the recent past, he had originally claimed that he would take a year out after cutting ties with the national team. Does that mean his next role is around the corner?

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Posts ByBen Browning Jul 17, 2024 9 Erik ten Hag Last job: Manchester United (October 2024)

Erik ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United having led them to a League Cup triumph in his first season and the FA Cup in his second, but it wasn’t good enough to save his job.

Premier League finishes of third and eighth proved to be what Ten Hag was judged on. Adding in the fact that the Old Trafford side ended bottom of their Champions League group in 2023/24, it was clear he couldn’t get the team playing to his desired style on a consistent basis.

Perhaps a spell at a club with less pressure will allow him to restore his reputation. Having said that, he was linked with the vacant role at Bayer Leverkusen in May, with Xabi Alonso recently departing the German Bundesliga club.

10 Edin Terzić Last job: Borussia Dortmund (June 2024)

Edin Terzić led Borussia Dortmund to a surprise appearance in the 2023/24 Champions League final. A 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid was perhaps expected, but it looked like it could usher in a new era for the German side.

Just a week later, Terzic left Dortmund after three seasons in charge across two separate spells. Still young in managerial terms, he could be an ideal candidate for any major job that opens up across Europe.

Manchester United are thought to be increasingly confident of completing the signing of a “very quick” defender on a free transfer this summer, according to a new update on Sunday.

Europa League final vital for future Man Utd signings

The Red Devils’ Premier League season is effectively over, and has been for many weeks, following a hugely disappointing performance in the competition.

United can still save their campaign by winning the Europa League later this month, however, with a final meeting with Tottenham on the horizon in Bilbao on May 21st. Ruben Amorim will know the importance of winning the trophy, not only because it will add to the club’s silverware collection, but because it will also secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

Returning to Europe’s biggest club competition will allow the Reds Devils to attract a higher calibre of player this summer, with Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford, which wouldn’t go down well at St James’ Park.

Elsewhere, Wolves forward Matheus Cunha continues to stand out as one of United’s most likely signings before the upcoming window comes to a close, in what has the potential to be a hugely exciting piece of business.

Man Utd confident of signing Jonathan Tah

According to The Sunday Mirror [via United In Focus], Manchester United are now increasingly confident of signing Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah at the end of the season. The 29-year-old will be available on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer, and he is believed to like the idea of testing himself in the Premier League.

A new centre-back is a must for United in the summer, even though Harry Maguire has enjoyed a good spell of form and Leny Yoro looks like a player with enormous potential. Maguire isn’t getting any younger, and is flawed in terms of a lack of pace, while Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt are injury-prone players.

In Tah, United have a great option to bring in, with the German winning the Bundesliga with Leverkusen last season, as well as making 400 appearances for them in total and winning 35 caps for Germany.

Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes has heaped praise on him in the past too: “He’s a young player with a lot of potential. He’s physically strong and very quick. Everything is possible.”

At 29, he admittedly isn’t a young signing for United, but he is still at an age where he could easily remain in and around his peak for the next three or four years.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham May 11, 2025

Added competition in defence is vital for Amorim moving forward, and the fact that Tah is keen on trying his luck in the Premier League acts as a further boost to them getting their man.

Newcastle United have now joined the race to sign a “very quick” defender who’s among the “world’s best”, according to a report.

Newcastle's summer transfer plans taking shape

Should Newcastle manage to secure Champions League qualification by finishing in the Premier League’s top five, the 2024-25 campaign is likely to go down as a resounding success, having also ended their 70-year trophy drought by lifting the EFL Cup.

However, the PIF have grand plans for the Magpies, and having enjoyed their first taste of success, they are likely to be even more inspired to compete for more major honours, which means some new additions to the squad could be required this summer.

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo could be a key target in attack, with the right-winger recently being identified as the ideal option to bolster Eddie Howe’s frontline, while the PIF are now racing to sign Girona’s Yangel Herrera to reinforce the midfield.

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Posts 1 BySean Markus Clifford May 4, 2025

A new centre-back has also been of interest for quite some time, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi a long-standing target, and there has now been a new update on the Tynesiders’ pursuit of a defender.

According to a report from The Sun, Newcastle have now joined the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer, having announced his intention to leave the German club when his contract expires.

Guehi remains the Magpies’ top target, with the Palace captain set to leave Selhurst Park this summer, but Tah has now been identified as an alternative option, with Howe desperate to bring in a new defender this summer.

There could be stiff competition for the 29-year-old’s signature, however, with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also keen, in light of his impressive performances for Bayer Leverkusen…

"Very quick" Tah among "world's best" defenders

Leverkusen were unable to retain the Bundesliga title this season, but they did an incredible job to pip Bayern to top spot in the 2023-24 campaign, going the entire season undefeated, and it would be fair to say the German defender impressed Xabi Alonso.

Alonso said: “Jonha is performing at the highest level and I am really happy for him because he deserves all the praise and all the good moments he’s living – that he keeps playing for us and happily for the national team as well. I think he is one of the world’s best defenders.”

Former Germany boss Joachim Low once described the 29-year-old as “very quick”, while he is also very impressive in possession of the ball.

Tah’s availability on a free transfer makes signing him an even more attractive proposition for potential suitors this summer, and it is promising news that Newcastle have now joined the race.

Ruben Amorim has a huge task on his hands this summer to try and make himself a success as Manchester United manager, with an overhaul of the squad desperately needed.

Despite their poor form in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, the 40-year-old has the opportunity to end the season on a high given their semi-final status in the Europa League.

Regardless of whether the Red Devils go all the way and win the competition, it can’t deflect from the fact that new signings and departures are needed to restore the club’s former glory.

However, it’s down to Amorim to sell the right players and decide who the key additions are to fill any of the gaps left by their sales to push them back in the right direction.

With the window rapidly approaching, the hierarchy have wasted no time in trying to conduct business, looking to make a quick start in their ambitions of improving the side.

The latest on United’s hunt for summer signings

A striker has been at the top of United’s shopping list in recent weeks, as seen by their pursuit of landing Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap ahead of the summer window.

It was reported at one stage that the 22-year-old was their top target for the centre-forward position, but their hunt appears to have switched to Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The hierarchy have already made contact to sign the Frenchman, looking to land a new talisman, with the 27-year-old being a good option given his tally of 14 league goals in 2024/25.

However, despite their hunt for attackers, a new midfielder is also on the agenda, with Atalanta star Ederson the latest player touted with a switch to Old Trafford.

According to Fabrizio Romano, reporting for GIVEMESPORT, the Red Devils are already in talks over a move for the Brazilian, potentially partnering one of his compatriots at the club should they secure deals for the pair.

Why Ederson would be perfect for Cunha at United

Wolves forward Matheus Cunha appears to be the club’s number one target this summer, that’s if the latest rumours are to be believed over his potential move.

It was confirmed in recent days that the two sides were in talks over a deal that would see Amorim’s men trigger the 25-year-old’s £62.5m release clause in his contract.

Such a deal would improve the options at the manager’s disposal, with his tally of 14 league goals undoubtedly handing United the added attacking threat they’ve craved.

He could be aided in his attempts by Ederson should he, too, move to the Theatre of Dreams, with the 25-year-old having all the tools to provide Cunha with opportunities in attacking areas.

The Brazilian, who’s been labelled as a “monster” by The Mirror’s Ryan Taylor, has starred in possession this campaign, registering a staggering 6.5 progressive passes per 90 – handing Cunha with the ammunition needed in attacking areas.

Ederson’s stats for Atalanta in Serie A (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

32

Goals & assists

5

Pass accuracy

87%

Progressive passes

6.5

Passes into final third

5.3

Passes into 18-yard box

1.3

Tackles won

1.5

Interceptions made

1.2

Aerials won

1.3

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed 5.3 passes into the final third at a completion rate of 87%, showcasing his impressive ability with the ball at his feet this year in Serie A.

Out of possession, Ederson has also impressed, winning 1.5 tackles per 90 and making 1.2 interceptions per game, having the ball-winning talents to be the perfect box-to-box option for Amorim.

If the side are to make the leap back up the league table in 2025/26, it’s pivotal that the board backs the manager in his quest to allow him to be a success in the role.

It’s unclear how much deals for Cunha and Ederson would set the hierarchy back in the upcoming window, but the pair are two additions that need to be made to improve the current situation.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Apr 25, 2025

Manchester United are down to the bare bones in attacking areas for the rest of the 2024/25 campaign. Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho are the only natural attacking players left for Ruben Amorim to select from this term, not counting the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount, who can play as number 10s.

Joshua Zirkzee picked up a hamstring injury at the weekend against Newcastle United and could miss the rest of the season. Meanwhile, winger Amad has now been out for some time with an ankle injury.

This will surely bear weight in the transfer window, with United needing to add reinforcements in attack to avoid situations where they are thin on the ground in terms of depth. In fact, they have been linked with one player who could do just that.

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

If there is one player who is wanted by a multitude of Premier League clubs during the 2025 summer transfer window, it is Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. Well, United are certainly one of the sides interested in signing him this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

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In fact, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, the Red Devils have had ‘a major breakthrough’ in their pursuit of the England under-21 star. Their sources suggest United’s ‘package is far more solid’ than any other side in pursuit, with the Old Trafford outfit having moved ahead in the race.

The main competitor to Amorim’s side for Delap’s signature is reportedly Chelsea, as well as their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

Whichever side wins the race for Delap, they would have to pay just £30m due to a relegation release clause in his contract at Portman Road.

Why Delap would be a good signing

Despite the Tractor Boys’ struggles in the Premier League this term, it has been a season to remember for the former Manchester City academy star Delap. Football statistician Statman Dave believes he is “going straight to the very top”, and there is certainly evidence of that this term.

The 22-year-old has 12 goals and two assists in 31 top-flight appearances this term. That is even more impressive when you consider Kieran McKenna’s side have scored just 33 times in the top flight, with Delap’s 12 an impressive 36% of their goals.

Another thing to note about the England under-21 striker is his ability to score against some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League. This season, he scored twice at home in a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa and also has goals against Spurs and Chelsea.

Should the Red Devils bring Delap to the club this summer, he could prove to be the perfect upgrade on Marcus Rashford. The England international is currently on loan at Aston Villa, where he has an impressive three goals and six assists in 15 games, including this exceptional assist against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Villans boss Unai Emery said it “depends on the circumstances” as to whether he will stay at the club from United. Delap – who has been dubbed a “monster” by teammate Alex Palmer – has enjoyed a more successful campaign in the Premier League than the deadly attacker, who has just five goals and four assists for United and Villa.

So, from a goals and assists point of view, the Ipswich star would arguably improve United’s squad, although Rashford offers lots outside of goal involvements. However, Delap is outscoring Hojlund this term, who has just three top-flight goals.

Not only that, his underlying numbers are better across the board than the United number nine. For example, as per Squawka, he averages 1.2 shots on target and has a 24.49% conversion rate per 90 minutes, compared to Hojlund’s 0.6 shots on target and 17.65% conversion rate each game.

Delap vs. Hojlund key stats 2024/25

Stat (per 90)

Delap

Hojlund

Shots on target

1.2

0.6

Goals

0.5

0.2

Conversion rate

24.49%

17.65%

Chances created

0.8

0.8

Take-ons completed

1.5

0.4

Aerial duels won

2.1

1.2

Stats from Squawka

A deal to sign Delap seems like a perfect move for United. Not only is he cost-efficient, but he is proven in the Premier League and is outperforming some of their biggest stars, including Rashford, when it comes to goals and assists.

This seems like a dream market opportunity for Amorim’s side, who can elevate the squad and make them even more deadly in front of goal.

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Berta considering deal for Saka alternative at Arsenal

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Saka was a sore miss during his lengthy lay-off due to a hamstring injury, with the £195,000-per-week star finally returning to action this week in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham – scoring their second and playing a crucial role as Arteta’s side grabbed all three points.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Everton (away)

April 5th

Brentford (home)

April 12th

Ipswich Town (away)

April 20th

Crystal Palace (home)

TBD

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

His absence seriously debilitated Arteta, who watched on from the sidelines as Liverpool eventually seized a huge gap at the top of the Premier League table, with Arne Slot’s side now looking certain to win this year’s domestic crown.

According to GiveMeSport, Berta is pondering the transfer of a Saka stand-in who can provide a real quality and an attacking threat when the 23-year-old is unavailable – as Arsenal look to avoid being left short again in another title challenge next term.

We’ve already seen Arsenal repeatedly linked with a move for Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams this week, who’s capable of playing both on the left and right, while some reports believe Berta could land versatile Wolves forward Matheus Cunha.

New targets are likely to emerge before the first summer transfer window on June 1st, and a very surprising name has now come to light.

Mikel Arteta "determined" to sign Antony for Arsenal

According to reports in Spain, £200,000-per-week Man United outcast Antony is now being considered by Berta.

The Brazilian has seriously come into his own since departing Old Trafford on a loan deal to Real Betis, notching four goals and four assists in 12 appearances, including some big performances in Europe which helped the La Liga side to a Conference League quarter-final place.

Antony’s rejuvenated form has caught the eye of Arsenal’s head coach specifically, who is said to be a big admirer of the former Ajax sensation not wanted by Ruben Amorim.

Indeed, it is believed Arteta is “determined” to sign Antony for Arsenal, and sees the 25-year-old as perfect for his system. In response, Berta and Arsenal intend to open swift negotiations and want to secure his signature “as soon as possible”.

Arsenal are also prepared to submit a significant bid for Antony and better any offer made by Betis to keep him permanently. United, meanwhile, think the next window will be a golden opportunity to cut their losses on the forward.