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Celtic are back in action in the Champions League again this evening as they prepare to welcome Bundesliga side RB Leipzig to Parkhead in their fourth match.

The Hoops have picked up four points from their first three games in the competition, beating Slovan, losing to Borussia Dortmund, and drawing with Atalanta.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have already matched their points tally for their Champions League group, albeit in a different format, for the 2023/24 campaign, as they finished bottom with four points.

The Hoops will be hoping to push beyond that tally with a positive result against the German side tonight, as they head into the game off the back of an impressive win on Saturday.

Celtic faced off against Aberdeen, who are unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership, in the semi-finals of the League Cup at Hampden Park and produced a staggering 6-0 win.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, and Nicolas Kuhn scored the goals for the Hoops, with Maeda finding the back of the net three times.

Despite that impressive result and performance from the Scottish giants, there is one player who should be brutally ditched from the starting XI for this match – Kyogo.

Kyogo Furuhashi's performance against Aberdeen

The Japan international was selected to lead the line against the Dons and played 69 minutes of the 6-0 rout, scoring one goal and failing to register an assist.

His goal came in the 32nd minute after terrific and composed play from Maeda resulted in the centre-forward having a shot at an almost-empty net, with recovering defenders scrambling to get in the way, from close range.

The Hoops marksman was handed an eye-catching player rating of 9/10 by The Scotsman, who hailed how alert he was in the box and his knack for showing up in the big games for Celtic in domestic action.

Kyogo’s constant movement in behind and sharpness when making runs allowed him to stretch the Aberdeen defence and that created space for his teammates to work in, which meant that he did not have to have many touches of the ball to make an impact.

Of course, the Japanese forward also found the back of the net, with a relatively simple finish, and that is why it was a solid overall performance from the Hoops man.

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However, that should not be enough to keep him in the starting line-up for this clash with Leipzig at Parkhead this evening, due to the type of game that it could be.

Why Kyogo Furuhashi should be dropped

Rodgers must brutally ditch the 9/10 star from the team because it could end up being a similar match to the one they played in Bergamo against Atalanta.

In the game in Italy, the Serie A side had 66% of the possession and it was an evening where the Hoops had to dig in deep and exert a lot of physical power to cover ground and win duels across the pitch.

This clash with Leipzig, despite it being played at Parkhead, could be similar as they are currently second in the Bundesliga table, with six wins and just five goals conceded in nine matches.

Celtic are up against a top side, who have been in fantastic form in a major European league, and should not expect to be able to get a result without putting in a similar display to the one they put in against Atalanta.

Kyogo, therefore, is not suited to starting this match against Leipzig because he struggles with the physical side of the game when his team are not dominating the ball.

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese forward has been wasteful in front of goal in the Premiership and the Champions League, whilst also struggling in physical duels.

These statistics suggest that Kyogo would not be an ideal option to pick from the start in a game that could be dominated by the opposition, as defenders find it far too easy to get the better of him in battles – particularly in the air.

The Celtic star who should replace Kyogo

With this in mind, Rodgers must ditch the former Vissel Kobe star to unleash Adam Idah in his place, after the Irishman performed admirably against Atalanta last time out in the Champions League.

The Ireland international, whose ability was once described as “incredible” by the Northern Irish boss, has the physical frame and know-how to be the best option for Celtic for tonight’s potential game-state.

Against Atalanta, Idah won three of his five duels and two of his three aerial contests, whilst completing 14 of his 19 attempted passes, to provide the Hoops with an excellent focal point to alleviate pressure and get the team up the pitch when they needed it.

The summer signing from Norwich City stands at 6 foot 3 and has the size and strength to hold off opposition defenders to win vital duels in games where Celtic do not see much of the ball, which is not a quality Kyogo possesses.

As you can see in the table above, Idah has also won the majority of his aerial battles in the Premiership and won seven duels in seven games, despite coming off the bench in five of those matches.

The 23-year-old dynamo, who scored off the bench against Slovan in the club’s first Champions League game of the season, has the qualities that Rodgers will likely need from his centre-forward this evening.

That is why the former Liverpool boss must ruthlessly ditch Kyogo, despite his 9/10 display against Aberdeen, in order to unleash Idah as the focal point for Celtic in the number nine position at Parkhead.

Worth more than Kuhn: Celtic lost a real star whose value's soared 1,300%

The former Celtic forward has thrived since moving down south to the Premier League.

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By
Dan Emery

Nov 3, 2024

It's been revealed what Virgil van Dijk said to Paris Saint-Germain chiefs Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Luis Campos after Liverpool's Champions League exit.

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• VVD's contract is set to expire in the summer
• Tunnel chat with Campos gave rise to transfer speculation
• Dutch defender allegedly apologised for previous comments

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool’s European campaign ended in heartbreak after a dramatic clash with Luis Enrique’s side. The tie, which finished level on aggregate after Ousmane Dembele’s goal forced extra-time, ultimately saw PSG triumph in a tense penalty shootout as Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones failed to convert their spot-kicks. However, rather than focusing on the match’s outcome, attention quickly shifted to Van Dijk’s tunnel conversation, sparking concerns over his long-term future at Anfield as his contract is set to expire in the next few months.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to French broadcaster RMC Sport, the encounter between Van Dijk and the PSG officials was not pre-arranged, but rather an unplanned crossing of paths. During their exchange, the Liverpool captain reportedly apologised to Luis Campos for his comments in the first leg of the tie.

  The initial altercation stemmed from Campos’ frustration when Ibrahima Konate escaped a red card for an incident involving Bradley Barcola. The challenge had undergone a lengthy VAR review, but the officials ultimately decided against issuing further punishment. After the match, Van Dijk fired back at an infuriated Campos, saying: "It’s not Ligue 1, bro." However, the two parties have mended their relationship after a respectful exchange at Anfield.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Van Dijk apparently also went on to praise PSG, stating that they were not only the best team he had faced this season, but the strongest side he had encountered over the past three years. The top brass of the French club reportedly enjoyed the discussion and any previous tensions were put to rest.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VAN DIJK?

  While his chat with PSG chiefs has raised eyebrows, Van Dijk has done little to dispel the uncertainty surrounding his Liverpool future. Speaking on Wednesday, the Dutchman admitted he has no clarity on whether he will be part of Arne Slot’s squad next season. With his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, Liverpool and Van Dijk have yet to make progress on an extension, further fuelling speculation that his time at Anfield could be coming to an end.

Unai Emery is pushing Aston Villa to sign a “sensational” English midfielder in January, according to a recent report. The Villans were beaten by Liverpool on Saturday night, making it four defeats in a row in all competitions for the Midlands side and now three games without a win in the Premier League.

Aston Villa now have new injury concern to £150k-p/w star alongside Ramsey

Another blow for Unai Emery…

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 10, 2024

Aston Villa injury news

The defeat at Anfield ended what has been a poor 10 days or so for Emery’s side, as they have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup, lost their unbeaten start in the Champions League and lost ground in the Premier League. Not only did Villa suffer defeat, but they also suffered a few injury concerns that will have Emery sweating.

Midfielder Jacob Ramsey was forced off with a hamstring problem against Liverpool, but he was not the only player to suffer an injury problem, as fellow midfielder Boubacar Kamara was also forced off with a fresh concern. Emery was asked after the game about Ramsey and Kamara and their injuries, and he said: “Hamstring. He was feeling something.

“Kamara as well he felt something on a run back; he did. Of course, we are playing a lot of matches, but Ramsey didn’t play on Wednesday. But they [players] are always at risk of injuries. We have to accept it. They are injured now, Ramsey, hopefully not Kamara. They are coming back for the next match, hopefully Cash and Ross Barkley.”

Emery will hope to have the two players back as soon as possible, but the Spaniard already has his eye on a midfielder who could replace the more forward thinking Ramsey.

Emery pushing Aston Villa to sign £80k-p/w star from Chelsea

According to reports relayed by Caught Offside, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has emerged as a transfer target for Aston Villa ahead of the January transfer window. The 26-year-old currently plays for Chelsea and has done so since this summer, when he joined from Leicester City.

Dewsbury-Hall, who earns a weekly wage of £80,000 per week at Stamford Bridge, has struggled for regular minutes at his new club, appearing just three times in the Premier League so far this season.

This report states that the midfielder’s future at Chelsea is already in doubt, and Emery is pushing Villa to make a move in January. Dewsbury-Hall, who was labelled “sensational” by Brendan Rodgers during his time with the Foxes, played under Enzo Maresca last season, scoring 12 goals and assisting 14 in 44 Championship games, as the Foxes won the title.

However, this season, Dewsbury-Hall, who is in the 97th percentile for assists per 90 by midfielders over the last 365 days (0.28 per 90), has struggled for game time under Maresca. With him failing to make Premier League matchday squads entirely, his future could already lie elsewhere, but his contract until 2029 means Chelsea do hold all the cards at the negotiating table.

Glasgow Rangers have to find a way to improve their form in the Scottish Premiership if they want to end a run of three years without a league title.

They have not lifted the trophy since they went unbeaten in the 2020/21 campaign under Steven Gerrard, with Michael Beale as his assistant, as their closest rivals have won the last three.

Since Gerrard’s departure from Ibrox in 2021, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Beale as the head coach, and Philippe Clement have all tried and failed to match his achievement.

Clement has won a trophy during his time in charge of the Scottish giants, however, with a League Cup success last year, and is in the final of that competition, against Celtic at Hampden Park next month, this season.

His side, however, are third in the Premiership and have lost three of their 11 league games so far this term, which has left them nine points behind Celtic and Aberdeen in the title race.

The January transfer window opens for business in less than a month-and-a-half and the Belgian boss could dip into the market to bolster his team.

How Rangers' summer signings have performed

In the recent summer transfer window, Clement and head of recruitment Nils Koppen made ten new signings in an attempt to improve the squad.

Liam Kelly, Clinton Nsiala, and Connor Barron all came in after the expiry of their contracts with their previous clubs and only Barron has established himself as a regular in the team, starting ten of the 11 league games so far.

Another standout addition from that crop of recruits has been Vaclav Cerny, who arrived on a season-long loan from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg. The Czechia international has provided six goals and five assists in 18 appearances in all competitions so far.

Rangers also have two players down the left side of the pitch who have impressed since moving to the club on permanent moves, in Jefte and Nedim Barjami.

As you can see in the table above, both players have provided dynamism with their ability to dribble past opponents consistently, whilst Jefte offers defensive strength and Bajrami has the creative quality to open up defences.

Another summer signing who had a solid start to life at Ibrox is Mohamed Diomande, who joined permanently from Danish side FC Nordsjælland after a loan spell last term.

Clement could instantly land an upgrade on the midfielder, who has started eight of his nine appearances in the Premiership this season, by signing reported target Lennon Miller.

Rangers interested in Lennon Miller

The Daily Mail recently reported that the Scottish giants are one of a number of teams interested in a deal to sign the Motherwell central midfielder when the January transfer window opens for business.

Transfer Focus

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

It was claimed that Rangers and Celtic are both preparing swoops to sign the Scotland U21 international to bolster their options in the middle of the park, whilst Liverpool are also said to be keeping tabs on his situation.

Signing Miller will come at a substantial cost, however, as the Daily Mail revealed that Motherwell are looking for a fee of at least £4m to allow the teenager to move on, as they want a club-record fee in excess of the £3m they were once paid by the Hoops for David Turnbull.

It remains to be seen whether or not Celtic or Rangers are willing to pay the £4m that is seemingly required to sign him, but they are both said to be preparing offers to snap him up in January.

They may have to battle it out to convince him that they are the right next step for him in his development, which could become all the more difficult if Liverpool realise their interest in him and officially join the race – as the current leaders in the Premier League title race.

Clement and Koppen must push the boat out and do all that they can to win the race for his services, however, as he could come in as a big upgrade on Diomande in the middle of the park.

Why Lennon Miller would be an upgrade on Mohamed Diomande

Firstly, Miller is five years younger than the Ivorian ace and would come in with plenty of time left to develop and improve over the years to come at Ibrox.

This means that the Gers would be bringing in an asset with the potential to soar in value, potentially making them millions in profit on a potential £4m deal in the future.

They would also be signing a player whose performances on the pitch in the Premiership suggest that he would come in to improve Clement’s team in the second half of the season.

In the 2023/24 campaign, Diomande scored two goals and failed to provide an assist in 13 league appearances, whilst winning 52% of his duels out of possession.

Meanwhile, Miller, who has been described as “ridiculous” by James McFadden, managed zero goals and two assists in 25 league games for Motherwell, winning 68% of his duels as a 17-year-old talent.

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish starlet has outperformed the Rangers man with his contributions in and out of possession in the Premiership this term.

He has provided a greater goal threat, more ‘big chances’ for his teammates, and offered far more to his team off the ball, with 9.5 tackles, interceptions, and recoveries per game, which is why the youngster would be a big upgrade – due to his ability at both ends of the pitch.

To produce this level of performance in the top-flight on a regular basis, outshining a 23-year-old Rangers star, at the age of just 18 speaks to how big of a talent Miller is, and why Rangers must swoop to sign him as an upgrade on Diomande in January.

Including Tavernier: 3 Rangers stars that Clement must now ditch in January

Rangers must sell a few current first team players this winter to raise funds for more signings

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By
Ross Kilvington

Nov 16, 2024

Robinson, a standout for Fulham and the USMNT, insisted that he isn't thinking about a summer move

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• Antonee Robinson quashed rumors of a summer transfer
• Has been linked with a move to Liverpool
• Has 10 assists in Premier League this season

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Antonee Robinson insisted that a move away from Fulham isn't on his mind, despite speculation that he could leave the club this summer. Robinson has been a standout for Fulham this season in their unlikely European push, and has been named among the best full backs in the Premier League.

  There have been long-term links with Liverpool, while Manchester United are among reported contenders for his signature.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Robinson, 27, has been a journeyman for most of his footballing career, but has settled under Marco Silva at Fulham. His 10 Premier League assists this season has him within touching distance of the 13 set by Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 2019-20 campaign.

• WHAT ROBINSON SAID

  Robinson addressed his future in an interview with : "I've been in the game long enough now to kind of know you have to block out the outside noise and things like that because I've been on the end of it when I've not been playing well. I saw criticism when I was younger, seeing people doubting me and things.

  "So I know that there's two sides to the coin. You just have to take everything with a grain of salt. You have to believe in yourself and when things are going bad, focus on yourself, and when things are going good, focus on keeping going.

  "So, transfer rumors and stuff like that, I try not to look at. Especially like with the Liverpool one – all my friends and family are from Liverpool, so it's more of them messaging me than me seeing newspaper stuff. And I have to say, 'Look, it's just, just a story in the paper and anyone who's doing well is going to get linked to a team.' "

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ROBINSON?

  The left back was named in the USMNT squad for their upcoming Nations League finals fixture against Panama on March 20. Before that, he is set to feature for Fulham as they host struggling Tottenham on Sunday.

Paul Pogba has been distanced from a third spell at Manchester United, with the Red Devils said to be “heading in a different direction”.

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• Product of Red Devils' academy system
• Returned in 2016 as part of record deal
• Without a club after serving doping ban

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  A return to Old Trafford for the World Cup winner has been speculated on after becoming a free agent. The Red Devils academy graduate saw his contract at Serie A giants Juventus terminated while serving a worldwide doping ban.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Various landing spots for Pogba have been speculated on, from MLS to the Saudi Pro League, with a return to English football seemingly being ruled out. That is because United have no interest in taking a gamble on the 32-year-old’s fitness.

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  WHAT FABRIZIO ROMANO SAID

  Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has said in an update on his official : “We have seen stories recently about Pogba returning to Man United, but my information is there is nothing to it. I am not aware of any negotiations between Pogba and United. I have nothing concrete on this, but I will let you know if that changes.

  “Man United are heading in a different direction. They are focused on investing in young and talented players like Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven. As far as I know, Pogba is currently a free agent and available to sign for any club whenever he chooses.”

• WHAT NEXT FOR PAUL POGBA?

  Pogba, who rejoined United for £89 million ($115m) in 2016, registered 39 goals and 48 assists across his two stints with the Red Devils – taking in 233 appearances. He is clear to resume his professional career, but is yet to agree a deal with any of his supposed suitors.

A club is believed to be on the verge of tempting one Arsenal star to leave the club, and he could be one of many Gunners stars set for the exit door.

Players who could be sold by Arsenal in January

Kieran Tierney and Jakub Kiwior are two solid candidates to leave the Emirates as soon as January, but they’re by no means the only duo in danger of manager Mikel Arteta’s axe.

Arsenal targeting £54m "leader" who made history by scoring against them

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By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 20, 2024

Tierney hasn’t played a single minute for Arsenal since the summer of 2023, and it is pretty clear that the former Celtic star is out of Arteta’s long-term plans.

He’s been sidelined by a hamstring injury since Euro 2024 as well, limiting his minutes even more, but the north Londoners will be hoping Tierney can battle his way back onto the pitch in the lead up to January. Arsenal are set to sell Tierney, according to reports, and this could be in the winter if suitors come forward.

Meanwhile, there is a real belief emerging that Kiwior is likely to make a Serie A return, where the likes of Napoli, Juventus and former club Spezia are taking a real rumoured interest in the Poland international who has struggled to establish himself under Arteta.

Even Oleksandr Zinchenko could be sold by Arsenal soon, according to some reports, with the Ukraine international struggling for minutes.

“And that’s Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko, and Kieran Tierney,” said well-connected ex-scout Mick Brown to Football Insider this week.

“They’re not in the manager’s plans. When it comes to sales, you have to look at who your assets are. We know there’s been interest in Saliba, for example, but I think he’s one of the last players they’d ever consider selling for any sort of money.

“If they feel they need to raise money, they’ve got these players who they’re far more likely to turn to. That’ll take a big chunk off of the wage bill and help them to reinvest in strengthening their squad.”

Arsenal star Jorginho "very close" to being convinced by Besiktas move

As per Turkish news outlet Sabah, £110,000-per-week midfielder Jorginho is edging ever closer to leaving as well.

It is believed that Besiktas are “very close” to convincing Jorginho to join them from Arsenal at the end of the season, with the Italy international out of contract in 2025 and free to join another club on a Bosman deal.

The “world-class” former Chelsea star was rewarded with an extension for his contribution towards the back end of last term, but he’s been far more of a bit-part player over the course of 2024/2025.

Thomas Partey is in a similar situation, even if the Ghanaian has actually become a mainstay for Arteta again. One of the biggest decisions for the club is whether to keep both Partey and Jorginho, let both leave or extend their deals – but it appears Besiktas are trying to take advantage of this situation.

Desperately in need of fresh faces under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United are now reportedly chasing a former Manchester City gem who has become a star player since leaving the Etihad.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils have expectedly had a mixed start under Amorim, who was always unlikely to make an instant impact from the off given just how great a task he has on his hands. Opening his tenure with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town, the former Sporting Club boss has since defeated Bodo/Glimt 3-2, thrashed Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford and suffered defeat in his first real test against Premier League title contenders Arsenal.

What has instantly become clear in the last four games is just how much work there is to be done at Old Trafford. Manchester United simply must get things right on the transfer front with Amorim in charge. Names such as Viktor Gyokeres and Nico Williams have already been linked to the Premier League giants and they must ensure that whoever arrives perfectly slots into their new manager’s system.

The attacking duo aren’t the only ones stealing the headlines as of late, either. According to Bild via Sport Witness, Manchester United are now chasing the signature of Felix Nmecha, who has become a Bundesliga star since leaving Manchester City in 2021.

Having sent scouts to watch the midfielder in Borussia Dortmund’s recent 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich, Manchester United may hope to fend off the equally-interested Newcastle United and Chelsea in 2025. The deal won’t come cheap, however, with Dortmund reportedly set to demand an “immoral sum of money” to part ways with Nmecha, who they signed for £25m.

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Ethan Lamb

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The Red Devils may well act with plenty of caution too, given that the last ex-Manchester City graduate who went on to star at Borussia Dortmund before completing a move to Old Trafford was big-money flop Jadon Sancho.

"Creative" Nmecha could partner Ugarte

As things stand, Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation has seen Bruno Fernandes take a step back into a deeper midfield role alongside Manuel Ugarte, with Mason Mount and Alejandro Garnacho pushing on into the two advanced roles. But the new manager is seemingly just making do with the options at his disposal, making reinforcements all the more important.

The arrival of Nmecha would hand Ugarte a more natural partner and allow Fernandes to push on into the more advanced role in what would crucially get the absolute best out of the Manchester United captain.

Nmecha certainly seems ready to finally make his mark in the Premier League after being denied at Manchester City, having started seven of Dortmund’s Bundesliga games so far this season, scoring twice and assisting once from midfield. It’s a rise that’s been coming since his Wolfsburg days too, when U23 scout Antonio Mango described the midfielder as “creative”.

Potentially attempting the task that Sancho left incomplete, Nmecha could come back to haunt Manchester City by joining their arch rivals in 2025.

Paul Mullin has been given a “desperate” transfer update after “strange” events at Wrexham that have led to him being frozen out.

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• Three-time Player of the Year
• Fallen down the pecking order
• Summer move speculated on

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite being a three-time Player of the Year in North Wales, with back-to-back promotions sitting alongside 110 goals on his impressive CV, Mullin has tumbled down the pecking order under Phil Parkinson in 2024-25.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 30-year-old striker is now finding it difficult to make matchday squads, with big money having been invested on bringing the likes of Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez to SToK Racecourse. There is now talk of Mullin being moved on in the next window.

• WHAT JOE JACOBSON SAID

  Ex-Wycombe star Joe Jacobson, who is seeing his former club compete with Wrexham for automatic promotion in League One, has told of Mullin’s situation: “I'd suggest that he does leave. I'm not sure about his contract situation but if I was him, seeing the limited game time I was receiving and the way the club's going now, they're not going to go back in any direction.

  “I think they're just going to press and go forward if anything. They'll probably sign again in the summer, they've got the experience of Steven Fletcher and Jack Marriott, Jay Rodriguez there, they spent a lot of money on Sam Smith. So they're all obviously kind of ahead of him. Elliot Lee has played up there as well. So, the writing's been on the wall a little bit for Paul Mullin, but he's been an incredible goalscorer for them.

  “It's just, he's on big wages. Whether or not another team, probably within League One – especially League Two – will be wanting his signature, but it's been strange how limited game time he's had. Someone who's kind of struggled for goals at this level previously, so he'll want to prove himself, but if there's a team who are spending a bit of money, especially in League Two, I think they will be desperate to get Paul Mullin in.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PAUL MULLIN?

  Mullin has registered just five goals across all competitions this season, through 32 appearances. He has started only nine League One fixtures and appears destined to sever ties with the Red Dragons this summer despite being under contract until 2027.

With January just around the corner, Ruben Amorim will have his first opportunity to make changes to his Manchester United squad after his appointment back in November.

The 39-year-old will have numerous big calls to make over the futures of multiple first-team members, whilst also potentially wanting to bolster his ranks as they look to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Any player that does complete a move to Old Trafford will have to adapt to Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, which has worked wonders to date, helping them claim a 2-1 win over rivals Manchester City last weekend.

Such a switch has seen the likes of Alejandro Garnacho struggle to keep his place after the change of management, with the Argentine missing the trip to the Etihad after being completely left out of the squad.

However, he may find it even harder to regain his starting role should a deal be struck for one player who appears to be on the Red Devils’ radar if recent stories are to be believed.

Man Utd make bid for attacking sensation

According to one Spanish outlet, United have made a “formal bid” to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams ahead of the January transfer window.

The Red Devils aren’t alone in their pursuit of the Spaniard, with PSG and Barcelona also monitoring a move for the 22-year-old who has a €58m (£47m) release clause in his current deal.

Despite the interest from the aforementioned clubs, the report states that United are currently leading the race for his signature as Amorim looks to secure his first addition in the coming weeks.

Williams caught the eye during the summer, scoring in the Euro 2024 final against England, breaking the hearts of an entire nation who have now gone 58 years without a major international trophy.

Any deal could spell the end of one player’s time at Old Trafford, potentially ending his long-term affiliation with the club given his own rumours about a potential transfer.

Why Williams would be an upgrade on Rashford

Marcus Rashford has been at United since he was a young boy, but seamlessly made the jump into the first team as a teenager back in 2016, scoring four times in his first two appearances.

He’s since made over 400 appearances at Old Trafford, featuring under various managers, but it appears that he may have no part to play under the new regime of Amorim after being left out of the trip to the Etihad alongside Garnacho.

It’s safe to say, the Englishman now needs a fresh start to reignite his once-promising career, but the club would be holding out for a fee in the region of £40m amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

Such a figure would be a decent fee given his lack of form in recent months, but they would have themselves a readymade replacement should they sign Williams, given the recent reports.

When comparing their respective stats from the current campaign, it’s clear that the Spaniard would be an upgrade on the current first-team star, taking the forward line to the next level in the process.

Williams, who’s previously been dubbed “one of the best wingers” by analyst Ben Mattinson, may have registered fewer goals and assists to date, but has averaged more progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 – potentially forming an exciting partnership with Amad Diallo, who’s nailed down the right-sided role.

He’s also created more shot-creating actions and progressive passes offering that added creative threat that he desires in the final third to help achieve his goal of being a success at Old Trafford.

The £47m fee touted for his services would be an absolute bargain given his figures from this season, allowing the fanbase to forget about Rashford should he depart in the near future.

However, given the interest from elsewhere, United will have to act quickly to secure his services to avoid missing out on a talent who is only going to progress further given his youthful years.

Amorim must drop Man Utd star who's been "dreadful" so far this season

Ruben Amorim is looking to take his Manchester United side to the next round of the Carabao Cup tonight.

By
Ethan Lamb

Dec 19, 2024