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With the end of the season edging ever closer, Leeds United will be hoping they will have secured promotion from the Championship, ending their two-year stint in the second tier.

Daniel Farke was unable to get the club out of the division at the first attempt, losing in the play-off final against Southampton last time around, but he has returned with a vengeance this campaign.

The German has led the Whites to top spot with just nine games remaining, hoping to maintain their unbelievable form, which has seen them lose just once in the league since November.

Burnley and Sheffield United are their nearest challengers, with just four points separating the sides as they all look to secure a return to the top-flight of English football.

However, if Farke is to claim a third Championship promotion of his managerial career, he will need to make some key additions to prevent an immediate relegation – with one former player touted for a return to Elland Road in recent days.

Kalvin Phillips’ potential return to Leeds this summer

Midfielder Kalvin Phillips captured the hearts of the fanbase during his period as a player at Elland Road, becoming a crucial player during the Marcelo Bielsa era.

The Argentine dropped him into a more deep-lying midfield role, getting the best out of his passing ability, racking up 234 appearances for his boyhood side before departing in a £45m move to join Manchester City in 2022.

He’s only managed 60 appearances since his move, including two loan moves to West Ham and Ipswich Town, leading to a report emerging that he could return to Yorkshire should they achieve promotion.

According to TEAMtalk, Leeds already have a verbal agreement with the player ahead of a move, with Pep Guardiola’s side already aware of the potential interest.

Whilst the prospect of resigning the fan-favourite seems like a dream for both parties, Farke could decide against pursuing such a move by unleashing one youngster already on the books of the Whites.

The player who Farke could unleash at Leeds next season

The midfield department has been one full of quality this campaign, with Ao Tanaka cementing his place at the heart of the side after his move from Fortuna Düsseldorf in the summer.

Joe Rothwell is another player who’s emerged as a key player in recent months, but given the fact the 30-year-old is only on loan this campaign, no return is guaranteed for 2025/26.

His departure could open the door for 21-year-old Darko Gyabi to finally stake his claim for a regular starting role after making just six appearances since arriving in a £5m deal from City as part of the Phillips deal.

The midfielder has spent two years out on loan at Plymouth Argyle, making 40 appearances across all competitions this campaign, catching the eye with some of his displays in recent months.

Gyabi, who has previously been dubbed “truly exciting” by Ben Mattinson, starred in the FA Cup victory over runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool – completing the most dribbles and tackles of any player in the meeting.

Games played

35

Goals & assists

3

Tackles won

70%

Duels won

6.8

Dribbles completed

58%

Chances created

0.9

Pass accuracy

83%

His overall figures from this season in the Championship are hugely impressive, winning 70% of the tackles he’s entered, whilst also coming out on top in 6.8 duels per 90 – showcasing his excellent ball-winning abilities.

The youngster has also thrived in possession, completing 58% of his attempted dribbles, creating 0.9 chances per 90 – a phenomenal figure for a deep-lying player, making him perfect for Farke’s system.

The thought of Phillips returning would undoubtedly excite all supporters after his previous stint at the club, offering top-flight experience to a relatively youthful squad.

However, the form of Gyabi away from Yorkshire in recent times is evidence of the quality he is capable of producing – more than deserving of a place in the first team next season – having the potential to improve further given his tender age.

Not just Aaronson: Farke must axe 2/10 Leeds dud who lost the ball 17 times

Leeds United returned to winning ways last night, but one player failed to impress.

1 ByEthan Lamb Mar 13, 2025

Whilst there’s no denying that it’s been a frustrating season for Arsenal on the injury front, those injuries have allowed Hale End’s best talents to emerge, leading to praise from former defender Philippe Senderos.

Arsenal's Hale End gem could be better than Saka

Ever since the arrival of Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal academy has been a key element to any of the Gunners’ success. When the Spaniard was attempting to drag the Gunners out of mid-table obscurity and back onto Europe’s biggest stage, it was Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe who emerged to take North London by storm.

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In the end, injuries opened the exit door for Smith Rowe who swapped The Emirates for Fulham last summer, but his impact at the start of Arteta’s reign should not be forgotten anytime soon. Saka, meanwhile, has become the star of the show at Arsenal and his injury has no doubt played a part in what is likely to be another failed Premier League title push.

In his absence, however, the Gunners have had the chance to turn towards Hale End to uncover yet another gem who may even be better than their current star. Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Arsenal Invincible Senderos was quick to lavish praise on Ethan Nwaneri, claiming that his potential has no ceiling.

The former defender said: “He’s a special player. I think he’s learned from a lot of the Arsenal players who play on the right, right-wingers who come in on their left. I think Bukayo is a great example, an academy player who’s done that.

“Ethan – even more so – in the last few months I think is a special player who can make things and plays without fear again, tries things even in difficult situations, but also understands what is required and I think it shows why he’s been getting minutes.

“I don’t think there is a ceiling, I think he has attributes for the modern game and definitely suits Arsenal’s style of play and they found a way because of injuries or thanks to injuries, to give him his opportunities.

“We’re talking about special types of players, Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly who have this maturity at a young age and are able to play at such a high level, it’s really impressive.”

"Special" Nwaneri is a rising star

Both Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have stolen the show at times in an Arsenal shirt at times and both continued to do so on England duty in the last week or so. First came Lewis-Skelly’s moment, with the left-back stealing the headlines for his debut goal for the senior side. Then, it was the turn of Nwaneri to make his mark, scoring a sensational effort for England’s U21s on Tuesday night.

Starts

7

30

Goals

3

5

Assists

1

3

Key Passes per 90

1.19

1.34

Although it’s worth noting that Saka was playing in a far less complete Arsenal side at 18 years old, there’s no denying that four goal involvements in seven Premier League starts makes for an impressive total for Nwaneri.

Five years younger than Saka, the latest Arsenal gem is only going to get better and better, perhaps even eclipsing his current teammate.

Celtic are due to return to action in the Scottish Premiership this weekend as they prepare to host Hearts at Parkhead after the international break.

The Hoops are currently 13 points clear at the top of the table and will be hoping to wrap up the title within the next few weeks, before concentrating on winning the SFA Cup to complete a domestic treble.

Brendan Rodgers’ side did suffer a small setback last time out, though, as they were beaten 3-2 at Parkhead by their city rivals Rangers, who scored an 88th-minute winner.

A win against the Ibrox side would have sent them a staggering 19 points clear at the top of the table and put them one step closer to the league, but now they will have to wait a little bit longer.

There were some lessons to be learned for Rodgers and his team in that humbling defeat to Rangers in front of their home crowd, though, that can be used in the final couple of months of the season.

One was that central defender Maik Nawrocki should keep his place in the team and be given more minutes between now and the end of the season.

Why Maik Nawrocki could improve Celtic's defence

It is fair to say that Celtic have had the best defence in the Premiership this season. They have only conceded 20 goals in 30 matches – eight fewer than any other club – and have kept the most clean sheets in the division – 19.

That does not mean, however, that it is impossible for Rodgers to improve the backline in the coming weeks and months, or ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Starts

19

16

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.4

1.7

Ball recoveries per game

3.4

3.8

Error led to shot

4

1

Error led to goal

1

0

Penalties committed

0

1

As you can see in the table above, Auston Trusty and Liam Scales have combined for six errors that have led to shots or goals for the opposition, as well as one penalty committed, in the left centre-back position in the league this season.

This suggests that Celtic could improve their defence by cutting out the avoidable mistakes when playing out from the back or when attempting to make clearances inside the box.

Since the start of last season, Nawrocki has played 11 times in the Premiership for the Scottish giants and he is yet to make a single error that has led to a shot, a goal, or a penalty for the opposition.

The Polish titan won 70% of his duels and made four interceptions, without being dribbled past once, in the game against Rangers, which was his first start of the campaign.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Nawrocki’s outstanding first appearance of the league season, coupled with his error-less 2023/24 campaign, suggests that he could offer more defensive solidity than Trusty and Scales, which is why he could improve Celtic’s defence in the left-sided centre-back role.

Rodgers could, now, repeat the blinder he played by unleashing the Polish ace for the first time this season against Rangers, as his first-choice goalkeeper is set to be out against Hearts.

The latest on Kasper Schmeichel's fitness

Kasper Schmeichel saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo for Denmark against Portugal during the international break, but he also suffered a shoulder injury in that match that could see him miss a period of the season.

According to The Scottish Sun, the Danish colossus is not expected to be a long-term absentee, with a view to it extending into next season, but he is due to be out of action for the foreseeable.

The report claims that the former Leicester City stopper will have an MRI scan to determine the exact length of his absence, with the first game he is set to miss coming against Hearts this weekend.

Celtic have the experienced, 33-year-old, Scott Bain, who has played 78 matches for the club in his career, and he could be viewed as the ‘safe’ option between the sticks this weekend.

However, Rodgers should, instead, call upon 23-year-old Viljami Sinisalo to make his Premiership debut for the Scottish giants, in the hope that he can repeat Nawrocki’s success in his first start of the season against Rangers.

Celtic could hit the jackpot with Viljami Sinisalo

The Finland international made the move to Parkhead last summer from Premier League side Aston Villa on a permanent deal and has rarely been seen on the pitch for the Hoops.

To date, Sinisalo’s only appearance in any competition for Celtic came in a 5-0 win over Raith Rovers in the SFA Cup, which also means that he has yet to concede a goal for the club.

The 23-year-old titan’s form for Finland and for Exeter on loan in the 2023/24 campaign, though, suggests that the potential is there for him to be a star for the Hoops.

As you can see in the clip above, Sinisalo has already shown that he can produce big saves on the international stage for his country, with that exceptional double save last summer.

His form on loan at Exeter in the English League One last season also showed that he is an excellent shot-stopper who could catch the eye of the Celtic supporters, if he can translate his performances over to the Premiership.

Appearances

45

Penalties saved

3/8

Goals prevented

+5.45

Save success rate

70%

Ball recoveries per game

9.8

Ground duel success rate

69%

As you can see in the table above, Sinisalo played all bar one of Exeter’s games in the league last season and conceded 5.45 goals fewer than expected based on the xG of the shots against him.

Schmeichel, meanwhile, has conceded 1.08 fewer than expected in the Premiership this term, which speaks to just how impressive the Finnish star’s form was in the 2023/24 campaign.

This suggests that the potential is there for Sinisalo to be even better than the great Dane as a shot-stopper, if he can reach those levels in the Scottish top-flight, by making huge saves to bail his team out.

That is why Rodgers must unleash the Finland international ahead of the experienced Bain this weekend, because he could emerge as a star performer for Celtic.

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ByDan Emery Mar 26, 2025

Therefore, the Hoops could hit the jackpot by unearthing an international goalkeeper who has the quality to replace Schmeichel in the future, as the experience he could gain from these matches could help him to settle in as the Danish ace’s successor further down the line.

Chris Sutton admits he is “not sure what has happened” to an “excellent” Celtic player, following the weekend defeat away to St Johnstone.

Celtic suffer disappointing Scottish Premiership loss

Brendan Rodgers’ side produced a strangely below-par display on Sunday afternoon, losing 1-0 away to their bottom-of-the-table counterparts, in a result that few saw coming. The manager himself was livid at what he saw, sharing his unhappy comments after the game and making it clear his players had been read the riot act.

“There’s definitely anger. I’m trying to control it. And listen, I look at my own self first and foremost. I’m proud of my career and how I teach players and how I inspire them and how I motivate them. Am I doing the very best job I possibly can to inspire these and motivate these to get over the line? So that’s my first look.

“But I just think there’s a comfort there I don’t like. And it doesn’t matter if you’re 13 points or three points ahead. It’s not enough. We have to be much better than where we were in our ambition in the game.”

Rodgers sets high standards at Celtic and it is good to see him lambast his players, rather than go easy on them because of the state of the Scottish Premiership title race. The Hoops may be 13 points clear of Rangers, but it is clear that the 52-year-old is taking nothing for granted, not enjoying seeing his players perform with complacency.

Sutton bemused by "excellent" Celtic player's form

Taking to X after Celtic’s loss to St Johnstone, Sutton gave an assessment of the form of winger Nicolas Kuhn, among others, admitting he doesn’t know what has happened to him.

Sutton has every right to question the form of Kuhn, who made such a bright start to life at Parkhead, being lauded by Rodgers upon his arrival: “We believe he is a dynamic player who has an excellent level of quality and all the attributes to fit well into our style of play He has the profile we are looking for, he has a real attacking intent, a player with great pace and ideas, the ability to create and score goals and a player with a great energy and work ethic.”

Worse than Kuhn: Celtic must axe star who lost the ball every 4 touches

Celtic slipped to a shock defeat to bottom side St Johnstone on Sunday afternoon

ByRobbie Walls Apr 6, 2025

The German, thought to be on around £12,000 a week at Parkhead, has only scored twice since early January though, coming in 14 appearances, with a couple of assists also coming his way in that time. A long campaign may simply have caught up with him, but it is clear that he isn’t the force he was.

Sheffield United must simply get back to winning ways in the Championship on Good Friday or their promotion push will be significantly derailed once more.

Indeed, heading into this must-win fixture versus relegation-threatened Cardiff City at Bramall Lane, Chris Wilder’s Blades are now without a victory from their last three outings in the second tier, whilst Leeds United and Burnley continue to pull off results to push away inside the coveted top two.

Regardless of what fate awaits the South Yorkshire giants, this coming summer transfer window looks likely to be a busy one, with one defender already being linked to join Wilder’s ranks.

United's interest in new £15m man

The United boss will be well aware that a minor rebuild will need to take place when the window swings back open, owing to the multitude of loanees that currently call the Blades home, among other factors at play.

One problem area for the promotion chasers that will presumably be addressed is the centre-back department, with Rob Holding needing to be drafted in as a late arrival in January here to boost numbers, away from Wilder’s regulars.

United’s new chosen man could well be £15m-rated Sunderland centre-back Daniel Ballard, with reports recently revealing that there’s interest on the end of the South Yorkshire side involving the ex-Arsenal youth product.

With 112 Championship career games under his belt, the experienced 25-year-old would be a worthwhile addition to the Bramall Lane camp, but his sketchy injury record – which has seen him be sidelined for a weighty 26 games this season – could put off Wilder and Co forking out an excessive £15m.

Instead, alternative targets could be looked at, or Wilder might pull all his trust in this defensive star already at his disposal who is amazingly worth more than Ballard’s steep valuation.

The "dominant" United star worth more than Ballard

After all, the defender in question here can already boast Premier League experience with the Blades over Ballard’s EFL-centric career path, having tallied up 31 top-flight appearances to date.

Of course, Anel Ahmedhodzic won’t look back on his Premier League voyage with United fondly – considering his lowly side finished rock bottom of the pile at the end of the 2023/24 season – but he’s more than bounced back this campaign as Wilder’s men attempt to instantly return.

The “dominant” defender – as he was once lauded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – has been a stalwart of his manager’s reinvigorated XI all season long, with this goal one of three goal contributions he’s managed to chip in with from 34 league clashes.

More importantly, over firing home crucial winners such as the one versus Middlesbrough, the Bosnian has also been a reliable brick wall when many a Championship side has bombed forward attempting to breach the Blades, with the 26-year-old colossus picking up a hefty 14 clean sheets along the way.

Matches played

34

Goals scored

2

Assists

1

Touches*

59.8

Accurate passes*

43.1 (90%)

Ball recoveries*

3.6

Clearances*

4.6

Total duels won*

3.9

Clean sheets

14

Value when joining

£5.1m

Value now

£20m

These regular standout showings – as can be seen glancing at his impressive numbers above – make United’s move to land the ex-Nottingham Forest man for just £5.1m back in 2022 look like a great steal, considering past transfer rumours surrounding Ahmedhodzic hint that he now has a £20m price tag above his head.

With Wilder also having the likes of experienced head Jack Robinson to call upon here, a splurge of £15m to land Ballard might not be deemed necessary after all, especially if other cheaper targets are out there.

Before any possible new faces enter through the door, however, United will be desperate to make their promotion dreams a reality, with Ahmedhodzic needing to remain rock solid during some crunch clashes to come.

Their next Burrows: Sheffield United lining up move for £15m "warrior"

Sheffield United could land their next Harrison Burrows in this top EFL performer.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 15, 2025

England international and former star Kalvin Phillips is reportedly interested in a move to Leeds United, who sealed their return to the Premier League on Bank Holiday Monday.

Leeds back in the big time

After a two-season hiatus from the Premier League, Leeds United sealed their return to English football’s top flight this week. Having thrashed Stoke City 6-0, Leeds then watched on as Sheffield United failed to beat Burnley in the afternoon kick-off, losing 2-1 at Turf Moor. That result confirmed the Blades’ place in the play-offs and, at the same time, ensured automatic promotion for both Leeds and Burnley.

Unsurprisingly, the promotion sparked widespread celebrations across the city, with thousands of fans gathering outside Elland Road to revel in the moment.

The players joined in the celebrations too, popping bottles of champagne and belting out the traditional chant: “We are going up!”

Speaking after the full-time whistle, Leeds defender Joe Rodon told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “For me it hasn’t sunk in yet. I don’t think it will until the end of the season, but I’m just delighted for everyone involved with the club, the fans and what it means to them. It’s what everyone has worked for all season and I’m buzzing.”

Skipper Ethan Ampadu added: “It’s amazing. If you look at the scenes here, as it was after the final whistle, just pure excitement. Within ourselves we’ve got another target, so we can enjoy this now, but we’ve got another target we want to achieve. But right now, it’s very good.”

Phillips wants Leeds return

Just a day before Leeds’ promotion to the Premier League was confirmed, Football Insider reported that Kalvin Phillips is now interested in a sensational return to Elland Road on the assumption they would indeed go up.

Phillips, a product of the Leeds academy, made his name with the Whites before securing a £45 million move to Manchester City in the summer of 2022.

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Since then, however, the England international’s career has been on a steady decline. Despite earning over £20 million in wages thanks to his big move, Phillips failed to establish himself at the Etihad. Underwhelming loan spells at West Ham United and Ipswich Town followed, where he again struggled to make an impact, and City are now braced to accept a huge loss on the fee they paid.

Football Insider claims the 29-year-old is pushing for a return to Leeds in a bid to revive his career. He also reportedly hopes that a move back to Elland Road can reignite his chances of an England recall, having not featured for the Three Lions since 2023, before which he racked up 31 caps.

Speaking about Phillips’ potential return to Leeds, former Manchester United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider: “To me, he’s a Leeds United player, he suits the club and he’s comfortable playing there, the fans love him and he feels at home there.

“That’s why he’s struggled since the move away, so a return would make a lot of sense. We’ve seen similar before with Wilfried Zaha at Crystal Palace, some players suit certain clubs, they get the backing from the fans and it allows them to perform beyond their usual standard.”

Following a campaign full of moments to forget defensively, Manchester United are reportedly prioritising a summer move to sign a central defender who is now a Champions League finalist.

Man Utd's summer wishlist

At risk of sounding like a broken record given how often the Red Devils have been in this exact position in the last decade, Manchester United simply must get this summer right.

The jury is still out on Ruben Amorim, who has had the excuse that these are simply not his players in a system that requires certain profiles to thrive. But that excuse cannot be something to fall back on in the next campaign if the former Sporting Club boss is backed this summer.

If the Manchester United boss is to stand any chance of turning things around in the coming months, then a number of arrivals are needed. And that could yet include the likes of Matheus Cunha and Patrik Schick.

The former would be a particularly impressive signing following an excellent individual campaign at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Single-handedly keeping his side alive at times before Vitor Pereira arrived to turn things around, Cunha is now likely to leave the club this summer courtesy of a reported release clause worth around £63m.

Regarding Manchester United’s interest, recent reports suggest that it is the Red Devils in the driving seat for his signature in what would be a fantastic way to commence a crucial summer.

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Whilst Cunha would undoubtedly provide United with an attacking solution, there would still be plenty of work to do at the other end. Alas, that’s something the Red Devils seem to be well aware of, with signing one particular target now reportedly among their top priorities.

Man Utd prioritising Bisseck move

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now prioritising a move to sign Yann Bisseck this summer and are already considering a formal proposal to sign the central defender.

A Champions League finalist after playing his part in Inter’s stunning 7-6 aggregate victory over Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals, Bisseck would be an excellent addition to Amorim’s backline. Among all the goals, the defender played his part across two legs in a starting role in both the away leg and then Tuesday’s San Siro thriller.

Dubbed “dominant” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Bisseck’s experience in a back three would also hand Amorim a perfect option as he looks to solve Manchester United’s defensive problems once and for all.

Whether those at Old Trafford can convince a Champions League finalist into a summer switch to a side currently struggling in the depths of the Premier League will be the big question in the coming months, however.

Even though there are four Premiership matches still to play, Rangers supporters’ focus is very much on their plans for the summer.

Sunday sees the final Old Firm of the season, with the Gers actually targeting a third successive victory over their fiercest rivals, although it hasn’t helped much, given that Celtic sit 17 points clear at the top, crowned champions last weekend.

If Rangers are going to bridge that gap over the summer, they’ll need to get their recruitment spot on, so could bringing a “massive talent” in on loan prove to be a smart move?

Arne Engels' impact this season

On deadline day last summer, as a replacement for Matt O’Riley, Celtic broke their transfer record to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg for a reported £11m.

So, has the Belgian proved to be good value for money this season?

Let’s have a look at the midfielder’s statistics to help decide.

Appearances

48

Minutes

3,017

Goals

10

Penalty goals

8

Assists

12

Big chances created

14

As the table outlines, Engels’ output this season is pretty impressive this season, albeit his goal-scoring numbers are somewhat inflated by the fact he has converted eight penalties.

Nevertheless, at 21-years-old, there’s still plenty of time for him to come good and, flipping it to Rangers, they simply cannot afford to spend £11m on a player, their record signing of the modern-era is the £7m paid to make Ryan Kent’s move permanent in 2019.

So, should the Gers utilise the loan market to add quality to their squad, with another ex-Liverpool youngster potentially available?

Rangers' midfield target

As outlined already this week, Rangers may have the chance to reignite their prior January interest in Bobby Clark, with the youngster in line for a loan exit from Red Bull Salzburg this summer.

The 20-year-old spent time in Birmingham, Newcastle and then Liverpool’s academies, making his breakthrough on Merseyside, appearing 14 times for the Reds’ first team, most notably winning the EFL Cup against Chelsea at Wembley.

Then, last summer, after Jürgen Klopp’s long-time assistant Pepijn Lijnders was appointed as Salzburg’s new manager, he convinced the Austrian Bundesliga side to pay £10m to secure his services, the third-biggest fee Salzburg have ever paid.

Fair to say, this has not worked out for anyone involved; Lijnders was sacked just before Christmas, while die Roten Bullen remain fourth in the table, on course for their lowest finish in two decades, set to enter the Conference League in the second qualifying round, having featured in the Champions League group phase in each of the last six seasons.

As a whole, this campaign has been a complete catastrophe for Salzburg, while it’s not gone much better for Clark personally.

Appearances

24

13th

Minutes

1,142

16th

UCL minutes

326

14th

Goals

1

=12th

Assists

2

=9th

Due to his lack of minutes, a report by Christoph Nister of Kronen Zeitung claims that the plan is for Clark to be loaned out next season, so should Rangers make a move?

Well, despite the fact it has not worked out for Clark in Austria, he is still a quality player.

Newcastle reporter Lee Ryder has hailed him as a “really exciting player”, Ciaran Varley of BBC Sport is impressed by his ‘fast footwork’ and eye for goal, while Caoimhe O’Neill of The Athletic described him as an “attacking midfielder” who “plays close to the striker” and “is very athletic”.

So, let’s analyse how he compares to the aforementioned Engels – with the pair noted as similar players in this season’s Champions League, as per FBref.

Non-penalty goals

31%

31%

Shots

23%

54%

Assists

28%

94%

Shot-creating actions

43%

70%

Pass completion

47%

4%

Progressive passes

32%

37%

Progressive carries

71%

52%

Successful take-ons

42%

36%

Tackles

83%

71%

Interceptions

24%

20%

Touches

68%

64%

As the table outlines, Clarke and Engels are stylistically very similar, with the Englishman actually coming out on top for a high proportion of these Champions League statistics this season, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that Salzburg were generally hopeless in that competition, losing seven of eight fixtures, finishing third-bottom.

Thus, Clark would certainly be worth Rangers taking a punt on, a move that the 20-year-old may find even more attractive, if a certain Steven Gerrard is re-appointed manager.

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ByBen Gray May 2, 2025

Attackers have usually been the players to capture the hearts of the Manchester United fanbase over the last few years, catapulting the side to various levels of success.

Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy are just three attackers who have started at Old Trafford since the turn of the decade – helping the club win countless Premier League titles.

The Portuguese star has undoubtedly gone on to achieve massive things in the professional game, banking the Red Devils a huge profit after leaving in a £80m deal back in the summer of 2009.

However, fast-forward to the present day, Ruben Amorim doesn’t have such talent at his disposal within the final third, contributing to their lowly Premier League standing.

The summer transfer window presents a huge opportunity to strengthen such a department ahead of 2025/26, with countless players already touted with a switch to the North West.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Even though the transfer window is yet to open, the centre-forward position has been the one with the most interest, with various players in the frame to switch to United.

Liam Delap has been the name at the top of the list over the past few weeks, with the Amorim’s side said to be in pole position to trigger his £30m relegation release clause this summer.

However, he’s not the only forward who’s been strongly linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo also on their radar, according to one Spanish outlet.

Their report claims that the Red Devils are preparing a £65m bid for the Cherries forward, who’s managed to register 11 goals and six assists across all competitions this campaign.

It also states that the interest in the 25-year-old has come directly from the manager, with the boss seeing the Ghanaian as the perfect attacking option to transform his side.

Why United’s £65m target would be perfect alongside Cunha

Matheus Cunha has been another name on the lips of United supporters over the last couple of months, with the Wolves attacker appearing to edge closer to a move to join the club.

The Brazilian international has been a key target in recent times, with various reports claiming that Amorim’s side are willing to trigger the £62.5m release clause within his current deal at Molineux.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed talks were still at an advanced stage between the club and the 25-year-old, with the prospect of no European football no issue to Cunha.

His tally of 15 goals and six assists in the league this season would certainly improve the current situation, operating in an attacking midfield role should he complete a switch to the Theatre of Dreams.

Cunha’s figures of two chances created and 2.1 successful dribbles per 90 showcase the threat he poses in attacking areas, handing Semenyo the ammunition to succeed alongside the Brazilian international.

The Cherries attacker has also thrived in England’s top-flight throughout 2024/25, which could see him form a deadly partnership with the current Wolves gem based on their respective figures.

Semenyo, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Sue Smith, has registered 3.6 shots per 90 this campaign, along with 1.2 shots on target per 90 – highlighting the threat he poses with the ball, offering the side a needed eye for goal.

Games played

35

Goals & assists

14

Pass accuracy

78%

Shots taken

3.6

Shots on target per game

1.2

Dribbles completed

55%

Aerials won

1.9

Touches in opposition box

5.9

He’s also completed 55% of the dribbles he’s attempted, along with 1.9 aerials won, handing Amorim an all-round option to run the channels and play off should they need a focal point.

The Ghanian’s impressive figures don’t stop there, averaging 5.9 touches per 90 in the opposition box per game – handing the Red Devils a ‘fox in the box’ type forward they’ve been missing.

£65m would be a huge fee for another forward from the Premier League, but Semenyo has proven over recent months that he’s more than capable of stepping up to the task at Old Trafford.

The prospect of a partnership between him and Cunha under Amorim’s guidance is certainly an exciting one, potentially playing a key role in leading the side back to their former glory.

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When it comes to brilliant players, Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with more than their fair share over the last ten years.

The likes of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min were genuinely world-class for the Lilywhites and, as a result, formed one of the best attacking partnerships the Premier League has ever seen.

Likewise, Mousa Dembélé and Cristian Eriksen were sensational in midfield, but someone who arguably doesn’t get the credit he deserves anymore is Dele Alli.

While the Englishman is still struggling to find form in Italy at the moment, he was near enough unstoppable for several years at Tottenham, and based on reports from the last few weeks, Daniel Levy and Co could sign the club their next Dele.

Dele's Spurs career

In February 2015, Tottenham agreed to pay then-League One side MK Dons £5m for an incredibly exciting 18-year-old prospect by the name of Dele.

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While it usually takes youngsters a number of years to get up to speed in a top-flight team, the Milton Keynes-born gem took no time at all and, by the end of his first campaign in the capital, had racked up an astonishing tally of ten goals and ten assists in just 46 appearances.

Such an explosive start to life at the highest level saw him win the PFA Young Player of the Year award, and he did not stop there, as his sophomore season with the Lilywhites was even better and saw him score 22 goals and provide 12 assists in 50 appearances – enough to win a second successive Young Player of the Year award.

For a while, it looked like the youngster was going to become one of the very best players in the world, someone capable of playing in multiple positions at the highest standard.

However, as we know, that didn’t happen, and after a few seasons of increasingly disappointing performances, Dele moved to Everton in February 2020 – almost five years after signing for the North Londoners.

Appearances

269

Minutes

19162′

Goals

67

Assists

58

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

153.29′

The club haven’t had a player like the 37-capped international, but there is a chance they could do so soon.

Spurs' potential new Dele

The last few weeks have seen many talented players linked with moving to Spurs, but perhaps one of the most exciting names, and someone who could be the club’s new Dele, is Xavi Simons.

According to reports from late last week, the North Londoners are ‘favourites’ to land the incredibly talented international from RB Leipzig, although doing so would cost up to £67m.

Described as “one of the best 10s in the world” in the words of one analyst on social media, what is it about the Dutchman that means he could be the Lilywhites’ new Dele?

Firstly, he is incredibly versatile and can play on either wing, up top, as a second striker and in attacking and central midfield areas, so just like the Englishman, he could thrive just off the centre-forward or deeper if required.

Moreover, just like the former MK Dons gem in his early seasons in North London, the Amsterdam-born “superstar,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is an output machine.

Appearances

43

Goals

10

Assists

15

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

Appearances

33

Goals

11

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.57

For example, in 43 appearances last season, he scored ten goals and provided 15 assists, and in 33 appearances this season, he scored 11 goals and provided eight assists, coming out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.72 and 1.83 games, respectively.

Finally, and this is rather difficult to prove with statistics, but just like the Englishman was, the former PSG gem is capable of some utterly sublime bits of skill and has scored more than his fair share of brilliant goals for Leipzig and PSV.

Ultimately, Spurs have been crying out for another young talent to come in and have the sort of effect Dele did when he first joined almost a decade ago, and while he’s a little older, Simons could be just that player.

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