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Aston Villa are still expected to be active in the closing stages of the transfer window, and are eyeing up a late move for a Premier League player according to reports.

Focus on exits after winning start

Unai Emery's side got their 2024/25 Premier League campaign off to a winning start courtesy of Jhon Duran, whose 79th minute winner ensured that they picked up all three points against a stubborn West Ham United at the London Stadium. Now in the Champions League for the first time, it has been a busy summer for the Villans with eight new faces arriving at the club.

Amadou Onana, who scored four minutes into his Villa debut, was the headline arrival in a £50m move while Ian Maatsen also set them back in excess of £30m this summer. Elsewhere, they have utilised buy back options for both Cameron Archer and Jaden Philogene, while Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea arrived as part of the agreement to send Douglas Luiz to Juventus, albeit in seperate deals.

Aston Villa's new signings (summer 2024)

Player

Fee

Amadou Onana

£50m

Ian Maatsen

£37m

Cameron Archer

£14m

Jaden Philogene

£13.5m

Lewis Dobbin

£8m

Samuel Iling-Junior

£11.8m + add-ons

Enzo Barrenechea

£6.7m + add-ons

Ross Barkley

£5m

Now, they have turned their attentions to exits, and Archer has already departed once more to join newly-promoted Southampton. Meanwhile, Unai Emery revealed that left-back Alex Moreno is set to depart in the near future.

Another player that the club are open to offers for is Brazilian defender Diego Carlos, who still has two years left to run on his £100,000 a week deal in the Midlands but has been deemed surplus to requirements and has attracted attention from Fulham.

Should he depart, Villa will sign a replacement, and now they are in talks with a player who could well prove to be an upgrade.

Aston Villa in discussions over £45m England defender

That comes as HITC reveal that Aston Villa are among the clubs holding discussions over a potential move to sign Liverpool outcast Joe Gomez this summer.

The defender, who was part of the EURO 2024 squad with England but didn't play a minute, was left out of Arne Slot's squad for the 2-0 opening day win over Ipswich Town despite not being injured.

Aston Villa now keeping tabs on 6 foot 4 in-demand midfielder for Emery

He’s one for the future…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 17, 2024

Though the Reds are not actively looking to sell him, the decision has left Gomez "considering his future" at Anfield, weeks after the club accepted a £45m offer from Newcastle to sign him as part of a deal to take Anthony Gordon to Anfield, only for the move to collapse.

And HITC claim that Villa are a potential landing spot for Gomez, with the Midlands side having "already spoken with Gomez" through his agents as a potential replacement should Carlos depart, though they are also thought to be keen on Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida and would only sign one.

At 27-years-old, Gomez is in the prime of his career and is keen to play first team football, having appeared 51 times in Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge. Though he could be a costly addition, he would offer Unai Emery plenty of versatile cover across the backline in what promises to be a long season for the Villans.

Aston Villa might well look to add to the eight signings they have made so far this summer before Friday’s transfer deadline. Ahead of a return to the Champions League, the Villans have looked to bolster their squad in all areas this summer, with their marquee signing being a £50m move for Amadou Onana from Everton.

With just over 24 hours left before the 2024 summer window slams shut, Unai Emery’s side have been linked with one player who could add quality and experience to their squad before they return to European football’s most elite club competition.

Aston Villa target Eredivisie defender

The player in question here is Feyenoord and Netherlands international defender Lutsharel Geertruida. According to a report from Graeme Bailey, the 24-year-old is a key target for Emery, who ‘has made clear to Monchi’ that he wants to sign the defender before tomorrow’s deadline.

Bailey reports that a price of £35m would be enough to get a deal over the line, with 'confidence' remaining that the move can be completed, albeit with the need for Monchi to make room in the squad.

That said, the Villans are now facing competition from RB Leipzig in the race for the defender, with it yet to be seen just whether he will end up at Villa Park this summer.

Why Geertruida would be a good signing

The Dutchman was a crucial player under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot last season in his native Netherlands. He played 34 times in the top flight, scoring eight goals and registering five assists, an impressive return. He was an ever-present in the Rotterdam side’s victorious Dutch Cup campaign, too.

One of the biggest strengths of the Feyenoord academy graduate is his versatility. He can play right across the back four, which might well make him such an attractive prospect for Emery and Villa this summer. Last season, he played 35 times at right-back, nine times at centre-back and even three games at left-back.

Not only that, but the Dutchman can also bring more leadership to Emery's side. He captained the Dutch giants on 25 occasions last season and was described as a "leader" by football analyst Ben Mattinson. One thing is for sure, you can never have too many leaders, and this experience could be crucial for Villa to lean on next season.

Indeed, the 24-year-old is statistically comparable to one of Emery’s crucial defenders at Villa Park, Ezri Konsa, who played 35 times in the Premier League last season. According to FBref, the pair are similar players statistically, and it means the Spaniard could have the second coming of the England international in his side.

Where the pair are most comparable is from a defensive point of view. The FBref stats suggest they are neck-and-neck in terms of all-round ability, with Geertruida last season averaging 5.38 ball recoveries and 2.37 combined tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes. In comparison, the Villa number four averaged 4.16 ball recoveries and 2.4 tackles and interceptions.

Stat (per 90)

Geertruida

Konsa

Ball recoveries

5.38

4.16

Tackles + interceptions

2.37

2.4

Blocks

0.53

1.06

Clearances

1.45

2.14

Aerial duel win %

63.6%

68.2%

Where the Feyenoord defender edges it over the England international is his ball-playing abilities. By no means is this a weak point of Konsa’s game, but his stats are far lower than the Dutchman. Last term, Geertruida averaged a whooping 7.93 progressive passes and 2,54 progressive carries each game, compared to 3.99 progressive passes and 1.09 progressive carries.

It is worth considering that the in-possession stats for the Feyenoord number four have been boosted by the fact he spent large parts of last season playing right-back, a position where he would naturally progress play more regularly.

For a fee of around £35m, singing Geertruida could cap off an excellent window for the Villans. They would bring in a very similar player to Konsa, plus add someone with impressive versatility into the squad. It could be an extremely smart move by Villa, who have a huge season ahead.

He's like Salah: Aston Villa chasing late move for Joao Felix upgrade

Unai Emery may have some more transfer business to conduct between now and the Friday evening deadline

1 ByRoss Kilvington Aug 29, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a busy summer, bringing in five players so far, as they look to build on an impressive 14th-place finish last season, finishing 20 points above 18th-place Luton who were relegated. They are also close to confirming the signing of Brazilian midfielder Andre from Fluminense.

With the transfer window shutting in a matter of hours, the Old Gold might well look to add another signing to their squad. Recently, they have been linked with one defender who could add experience and quality to a backline which has been depleted this summer.

Wolves target Premier League defender

The player in question here is West Ham United and Morocco centre-back Nayef Aguerd. According to a report from Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian, the Molineux club are ‘interested in signing’ the 28-year-old before the deadline on Friday evening.

The Hammers number 27 is believed to be ‘out of favour at the London Stadium’ ahead of the 2024/25 season under new boss Julen Lopetegui. Wolves, who are targeting defensive reinforcements after selling captain Max Kilman to the East London outfit for £40m, want to sign him on a loan deal this summer.

Why Aguerd would be a good signing

Last season under David Moyes, the Morocco international had a sparse role to play at the London Stadium. He played just 28 games in all competitions, which included 21 games in the top flight of English football.

However, at the back end of the season, the 28-year-old did not have as much involvement as he did at the beginning of the campaign. Aguerd was not part of the West Ham squad for the final five games of the Premier League season.

Should the Old Gold get a deal for the Moroccon over the line this summer, they could well be signing a hybrid of former skipper Kilman, and 34-year-old Wolves defender Craig Dawson, who has also spent time playing at the London Stadium.

According to FBref, the West Ham defender is similar to both defenders, and it certainly rings true when comparing the stats of the trio. Like Kilman and Dawson, the West Ham number 27 is a brilliant box defender.

Per 90 minutes as per FBref, Aguerd averages 2.09 tackles and interceptions per game, compared to 1.88 for Wolves’ 34-year-old defender, and the new West Ham centre-back who averages 2.26. Standing at 6 foot 2, the Moroccan is certainly an imposing figure and wins an average of 2.33 aerial duels per game. In contrast, Kilman wins just 2.26 per game, but Dawson does lead the way with 2.57.

Stat (per 90)

Aguerd

Kilman

Dawson

Tackles and interceptions

2.09

2.26

1.88

Aerial duels won

2.33

2.26

2.57

Aerial duel win %

60%

70.5%

66.3%

Clearances

4.13

4.79

4.9

Ball recoveries

4.95

4.66

4.08

The 28-year-old was described as a “superstar” by one journalist following the World Cup in Qatar and that certainly rings true when looking at the stats, which perfectly demonstrate the excellent box defender he is.

There is no doubt that Aguerd is out of favour at the London Stadium this summer, and with Wolves seeking reinforcements at the back, it could provide the dream solution for both parties.

The Old Gold can recruit a top Premier League centre-back to help with depth and quality at the back – even after bringing in 18-year-old Bastien Meupiyou from Nantes – whilst the Moroccan gets regular minutes in the top flight.

Better than Ahmedhodzic: Wolves plot late move for "astounding" Kilman heir

Gary O’Neil could be set to bolster his defence…

ByRoss Kilvington Aug 28, 2024

After an unbeaten start to the new Premier League season, Arsenal didn't particularly need an international break to get in the way of things. Nor did many top-flight teams saying that.

The Gunners began their conquest for glory with wins over Wolves and Aston Villa but Brighton halted them in their tracks courtesy of Declan Rice's controversial red card.

Rice will, of course, now miss the big clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon. With Mikel Merino also missing after suffering a shoulder injury during his first training session, it's safe to say Mikel Arteta is going to have to rustle up a cunning plan to defeat Arsenal's fierce rivals.

They will, however, be buoyed by a new option for their attack. Following his deadline day loan move from Chelsea, Raheem Sterling has had nearly two weeks' worth of training to get used to the style of things in the north side of London.

It's unlikely he's given a start straight from the off but we'd all love a derby day debut goal, wouldn't we?

That said, they will have to try and achieve that without skipper Martin Odegaard.

The latest on Martin Odegaard's injury

On Monday evening Arsenal fans across the globe sat there rocking back and forth. The unthinkable had happened; a big injury blow during what has to be described as a rather pointless international break.

We're being a bit petty here, but for Odegaard to pick an injury ahead of a vital week of action for Arteta's side is incredibly frustrating.

They face Spurs on Sunday, then get their Champions League quest underway in midweek before facing Manchester City the weekend after.

So, what's the prognosis on the Norwegian? Well, during his nation's win over Austria early this week he was on the end of a rough challenge that resulted in the midfielder's ankle twisting nastily.

Initially thought to have a 50/50 chance of making the game it's now unlikely he'll play any part with suggestions that he could be absent for the next three to four weeks of action.

That's according to Norway team doctor Ola Sand, who said: "Such ankle injuries often take at least three weeks. Anything other than that is just a bonus and then it can take longer. What we have so far obtained from the MRI examination in London is that there is probably no fracture in the ankle.

"Arsenal are almost certain there is no breach, but this may still take some time. In the event of a fracture, we are talking about being out of action for six weeks plus."

So, it's not great news over the international break, really. Rice may have scored against the Republic of Ireland but with Riccardo Calafiori also nursing a knock, Arteta is unlikely to be too pleased.

There was also a slightly concerning display from Brazil's Gabriel Magalhaes.

Gabriel's 4/10 performance for Brazil

Now a mainstay at the heart of the Brazilian defence, as well as for his club side, the centre-back is slowly but surely making himself a major part of his nation's team.

However, an unconvincing display during the South American country's 1-0 defeat to Paraguay is unlikely to do him too many favours in the battle to impress supporters.

Indeed, he was arguably at fault for the only goal of the game. A ball came into the box from the left channel and truth be told, his headed clearance was weak and not really away from danger.

The Paraguayan's pounced on Gabriel's misfortune with Diego Gomez picking up possession on the edge of the box before bending a luscious finish beyond Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.

What did the stats say? Well, on that front it wasn't an awful night.

Minutes played

90

Touches

94

Accurate passes

75/83 (90%)

Ground duels won

2/3

Aerial duels won

2/3

Possession lost

8x

Clearances

4

Interceptions

1

Tackles

1

Long balls

4/9

The media didn't really agree with that impressive assessment though with one Brazilian outlet, Zerho Hora, handing him a 4.5/10 match rating. Some people are tough to please, eh?

Arsenal fans will no doubt hope that this was a minor blip and Gabriel will be at the top of his game when he resumes his partnership with William Saliba this weekend.

Arsenal's "elite" star could be unleashed in new role after Odegaard blow

Martin Odegaard was injured on international duty with Norway.

ByMatt Dawson Sep 10, 2024

It’s not been a great campaign for Manchester United so far this year, but after back-to-back defeats, Erik ten Hag’s side picked up their second Premier League win of the season away to Southampton on Saturday.

The Red Devils managed to weather some early pressure from the Saints before putting three past them to collect all three points and hopefully kickstart a run of better form.

However, it wasn’t the perfect performance, and with a League Cup tie against Barnsley to come this evening, it would make sense for Ten Hag to make some changes and drop a starter who didn’t have his best game over the weekend.

Kobbie Mainoo's game in numbers

Yes, the starter in question is wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo, and before the pitchforks come out, we aren’t saying he should sit out for multiple games, but considering he seemed a little off the pace on Saturday, it wouldn’t hurt him to miss tonight’s clash.

It isn’t just us saying the young Englishman had an off-game for the Red Devils, either.

ESPN’s Adam Brown gave him just a 5/10 after the clash, writing that it was a ‘difficult match’ for the teenager, which ‘saw him struggle to move the ball forwards, giving away possession on a number of occasions.’

It may sound harsh, but it’s an assessment backed up by the Stockport-born gem’s statistics from the match. For example, in his 96 minutes of action, he failed in 50% of his dribbles, lost the ball 14 times, committed two fouls and misplaced his one cross.

Overall, the young “baller,” as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, didn’t have the best of games for United, which is one of the reasons he should be dropped for tonight.

The others are that he shouldn’t be overplayed at his age, and it will allow Ten Hag to give another midfield star some much-needed minutes against weaker opposition.

Why Manuel Ugarte should start

So, when the teamsheets for tonight’s fixture come out, Manuel Ugarte should start in the midfield ahead of Mainoo, and there are two simple reasons why.

The first is what we touched on above about the need to manage the youngster’s minutes this season, as while he has bags and bags of talent, playing him into the ground will do nobody any favours and could impact his development a few years down the line.

However, the second and primary reason Ten Hag should be selecting the summer signing this evening is that after playing against Paraguay for 79 minutes and Venezuela for 90 minutes during the international break, he is clearly fit enough to play.

That said, while he seems to be physically ready to start for United, he won’t necessarily have the match sharpness nor the full awareness of what the manager wants him to do for the team, and the best way to remedy that is to get him playing competitive games as soon as possible.

Now, if this was a league match, then it would be quite risky to throw the Uruguayan “monster”, as dubbed by Statman Dave, into the fray, but as Barnsley are currently plying their trade in League One, even a slightly rusty and disjointed display from the 24-capped international should be enough.

Tackles

4.21

Top 1%

Interceptions

2.06

Top 1%

Tackles Won

2.42

Top 2%

Dribblers Tackled

1.87

Top 2%

Ball Recoveries

7.63

Top 4%

Pass completion

91.3%

Top 5%

After all, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, the 23-year-old sits in the top 1% of midfielders for tackles and interceptions, the top 2% for tackles won and dribblers tackled, the top 4% for ball recoveries, the top 5% for pass completion and the top 9% for carries, all per 90.

Ultimately, Mainoo could do with a rest after a slightly underwhelming performance last time out, and Ugarte needs to get more minutes under his belt to better understand his role at United. Tonight’s match against Barnsley presents Ten Hag with the perfect opportunity to do both.

Mainoo dropped, academy duo earn 1st start: Predicted Man Utd XI v Barnsley

Ten Hag rings the changes in the League Cup.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 16, 2024

Potentially stealing the headlines in the transfer window once again, Chelsea chiefs now reportedly believe that the addition of one particular defender would boost Enzo Maresca’s options in the Premier League.

Chelsea transfer news

The Blues have quietly silenced some of the doubters in their project in recent weeks, easing past Wolverhampton Wanderers, defeating Bournemouth late on and, most impressively, smashing London rivals West Ham United. Of course, such games should be routine, but such is the disastrous form that Chelsea have been in throughout the last couple of years, no result is a guarantee.

The aim for Maresca’s side will simply be to push on even further. They’ll want to turn such results back into routine victories, whilst competing with the rest of the Premier League’s top six. And to do that, they may just turn back to the transfer market.

Poch wanted Chelsea to sign a "£100m player" but Jackson arrived instead

The Blues may have made a mistake in the transfer market.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 20, 2024

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea chiefs now believe that Milos Kerkez would make Maresca’s defensive options perfect, with the Bournemouth left-back providing backup for Marc Cucurella over the out-of-favour Ben Chilwell.

The Blues aren’t alone in their interest, however, with Liverpool and Manchester United also eyeing the Hungarian. That said, what Chelsea want in the transfer market, they usually get thanks to Todd Boehly’s willingness to splash the cash.

Kerkez, just 20 years old, enjoyed a solid debut campaign at Bournemouth last season and has picked up where he left off so far in the current campaign. A player with plenty of potential, he’d certainly suit the profile of players that Chelsea have signed since the arrival of Boehly.

"Fantastic" Kerkez can replace Chilwell

After losing his place to Cucurella, an exit seems inevitable for Chilwell at Stamford Bridge, making room for Kerkez to arrive and provide competition for the Spaniard under Maresca. On the rise, the left-back has been receiving high praise since arriving at the Vitality Stadium since his very first game, with journalist Bence Bocsak dubbing his debut as “fantastic” last season.

What will be interesting to see is just how much Bournemouth demand for the Hungarian, having signed him for a reported £15.5m just last summer. Of course, the Cherries are no strangers to demanding a hefty fee, having sold Dominic Solanke to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £65m a few months ago.

Kerkez, no matter his price tag, is one to watch amid interest from around the Premier League in a race that Chelsea will hope to win. When it comes to the transfer market, the Blues rarely lose out.

Chelsea are ready to brutally axe a young player frozen out by Enzo Maresca as early as the January transfer window as they look to continue their squad overhaul at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's squad log-jam still an issue despite amazing form

Chelsea have made a strong start to the Premier League season, but they are still battling with their squad size as they look to put together a challenge for the Premier League’s top four. Much was made of their “bomb squad”, which saw several players left out of first team training and told to find moves away in the final weeks of the summer transfer window.

Maresca assured the media that it was far more simple than it looked from the outside: “I am not working with 42 players. I am working with 21 players. The other 15-20 players are training apart. I don’t see them. It’s not a mess like it looks from outside. Absolutely not”.

Some, like David Fofana, managed to move away, but others have been stuck in limbo, with Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka among those who have since been reintegrated into first team training after missing out on exits.

Chelsea’s bomb squad players still at the club

Ben Chilwell

Deivid Washington

Harvey Vale

Carney Chukwuemeka

Lucas Bergstrom

Cesare Casadei

Speaking after the win against Brighton, Maresca seemed to suggest that gametime was unlikely for either, saying of Chukwuemeka: “We decided at the beginning of the season it’s probably better [for him] to leave and go somewhere. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. He’s our player. He had some minutes the other day, but today [on Saturday] he wasn’t involved. Hopefully we can give him more minutes.”

Now, he appears ready to axe yet another member of the bomb squad.

Milan chase Chelsea midfielder

That is according to reports coming out of Italy, which claim that the Blues are ready to cash in on Italy U21 international Cesare Casadei as early as the January transfer window. The midfielder was part of Enzo Maresca’s set up at Leicester City before his loan was cut short by Chelsea in January, and he has featured sparingly.

Clearlake now ready to sell £90,000-a-week Chelsea defender for just £17m

The Blues are showing a ruthless streak with their squad.

ByBen Browning Sep 30, 2024

Former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino dubbed the Italian a “very good” profile of player during his time at Stamford Bridge, and he regularly featured for Leicester last season under Maresca. But now, Milan Live report that the Blues “would be willing to sell” the midfielder as early as January, with Casadei having changed agents in move that may help facilitate a departure.

Signed for £12m in 2022, the midfielder still has four years left to run on his £7,500 a week deal at Stamford Bridge, and it is added that any departure would likely be a permanent one. Though he featured against Barrow in the EFL cup, the arrival of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall over the summer has pushed him further down the pecking order, with all of Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo fighting it out for a spot in midfield.

A return to Italy could be just what is needed to reignite his career, while the Blues would be unlikely to take too much of a loss on the 21-year-old were he to leave permanently.

Kieran McKenna will be glad that his Ipswich Town side aren’t currently occupying any of the bottom three spaces in the Premier League, despite falling to a shocking 4-1 victory to West Ham United last time out.

Thankfully, at this moment in time, there are three worse teams than the Tractor Boys, with Wolverhampton Wanderers rock bottom of the division having shipped a dreadful 21 strikes, whilst Southampton and Crystal Palace make up the other two lowly spots.

McKenna will be well aware that his team could slip into those murky waters soon if they’re not careful, but will be grateful for the fact that he has Liam Delap at his disposal to attempt to remain outside of those unwanted positions.

Delap's electric start at Ipswich

Delap did enter the building in Suffolk with a reputation for being a clinical finisher, having bagged a ridiculous 35 strikes from 36 games playing for his former employers Manchester City at U21 level.

But, it’s a different kettle of fish altogether replicating those heroics away from the comforts of youth pitches in the men’s game, yet the 21-year-old has managed to seamlessly fit in at Portman Road so far as an entertaining goal machine.

He has amassed a healthy goal return of four strikes from seven games to date, with his contributions crucial in Ipswich at least gaining some points next to their name early on in their new unforgiving league.

Ipswich still remain winless, but without Delap, they would be struggling a lot more with losses galore next to their name instead of some hard-fought draws.

His stunning brace against Aston Villa last month, for example, aided McKenna’s men in picking up a respectable 2-2 draw against Unai Emery’s men, who then faced off versus Bayern Munich in the Champions League a matter of days after this clash.

Labelled as an “incredible” talent by Pep Guardiola when still cutting his teeth at Man City, Ipswich look to have struck gold on Delap who is proving himself to be a top star like his former world class manager stated, more than justifying the £20m price tag above his head in the process.

Of course, the Tractor Boys’ predicament loitering near the foot of the top-flight pile does mean a team from higher up the division could take a fancy to the electric 21-year-old soon, as Ipswich prepare to bat away some notable suitors in January.

Delap's value in 2024

According to new reports, Delap is being looked at by a whole host of clubs higher up the Premier League standings including Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, with a bid in and around the mark of £34m perhaps enough for the Tractor Boys to consider parting ways.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

That would make the 6 foot 1 attacker the Suffolk club’s record departure which would represent some excellent business, considering he has only been on the books of the newly promoted club since the summer.

Player

Amount they left for

1. Tyrone Mings

£9.4m

2. Connor Wickham

£7.5m

3. Richard Wright

£7.5m

4. Kieron Dyer

£7.5m

5. Titus Bramble

£5.6m

Sourced by Transfermarkt

But, Delap moving on to the likes of Spurs or Enzo Maresca’s men would severely weaken McKenna’s charges in their short-term aspirations, especially if they are serious about their hopes of remaining in the promised land of the Premier League past this campaign.

Without the former Man City wonder-kid’s strikes in the league, Ipswich would only be on a paltry two goals, with Delap sticking it out for the entirety of the season more important arguably than them winning that touted £34m.

Ipswich could well look to cash in down the line, especially if they do end up falling back to the Championship, but it will be a huge priority this coming transfer window to keep a firm grip on the standout marksman.

Ipswich could axe Hutchinson with January move for "unique" PL star

Ipswich Town could be tempted to revisit this transfer in January.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 7, 2024

Manchester United have been handed a fresh update on one of their main long-term transfer targets that Erik ten Hag is in love with, according to a new report.

Manchester United target midfield additions

Currently 12th in the Premier League after a disappointing start to the season, Erik ten Hag is under pressure at Old Trafford, and there appear to be concerns amid the Manchester United hierarchy about the future of the club.

The Red Devils threw away another lead in Turkey to be held to a 1-1 draw by Fenerbahçe, their third consecutive draw in the Europa League, and they are yet to truly put together an impressive performance this season aside from a 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.

Many of those problems appear to stem from midfield, where Casemiro is well past his best and Christian Eriksen is also some way beyond his peak, though he has returned to the fold in recent weeks.

This has left much of the pressure on young star Kobbie Mainoo, who is now sidelined through injury, as well as plenty of expectation on the shoulders of Manuel Ugarte, who was signed from Paris Saint Germain in the final days of the summer transfer window in a deal worth £42m.

Manchester United’s midfield options this season

Starts (all competitions)

Goals and Assists

Casemiro

7

0

Manuel Ugarte

2

0

Kobbie Mainoo

8

0

Christian Eriksen

8

7

The departure (and subsequent form) of Scott McTominay has only made the midfield issue more glaring at Old Trafford, and there are problems for Ten Hag (or any future manager) to solve both internally and in the transfer market going forwards. Now, they may have been handed a perfect opportunity to do just that.

Discount available on midfielder Ten Hag loves

That comes as reports from Spain claim that Barcelona are now ready to cash in on Frenkie de Jong at a new discounted price amid longstanding interest from the Red Devils.

The Dutchman, who returned to action recently after a long layoff with an ankle injury, has been overshadowed in the Barcelona engine room since his move from Ajax by the emergences of Pedri, Gavi and Marc Casado, leaving him facing an uncertain future as he heads into the final 18 months of his contract at Camp Nou.

He is held in incredibly high regard by Ten Hag, who coached him at Ajax and was full of praise for him when his Manchester United side faced Barcelona two years ago: “Frenkie is an incredible player and for every club in the whole world he will strengthen the squad because he has a unique quality.”

The Red Devils boss pushed hard to sign the midfielder in the 2022 summer transfer window, and had even reportedly agreed a 85m euro (£70.1m) fee with Barcelona only for a move to break down.

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The potential incoming boss is desperate to bring someone with him to Old Trafford.

ByBen Browning Oct 25, 2024

Speaking after the fact, Ten Hag mourned the fact that a deal didn’t go through, pinpointing De Jong as key to his style of play.

“Frenkie de Jong and Casemiro, they would be really connected with each other. They would have been really complimentary with each other, absolutely. If you want to play the Ajax style, you need that type of player.”

Now, a fresh report has claimed that Barcelona have opened the door to his departure once more, and have lowered their asking price for De Jong to 70m euros (£58m) after he fell down the pecking order at Camp Nou.

The news comes as Manchester United “continue to show strong interest” in the 27-year-old Dutchman, with the midfielder viewed as a key type of midfielder to help Ten Hag’s side progress the ball from defence to attack, as he did at Ajax. Could he be the man to finally knit Ten Hag’s problematic side together?

One Manchester United star is very happy with the news that Ruben Amorim looks set to replace Erik ten Hag as their new manager, according to a recent report. It has been a frustrating and disappointing season for the Red Devils so far, and defeat to West Ham on Sunday afternoon was the final straw, as the hierarchy decided it was the right time to cut their losses with Ten Hag and replace him with what looks to be Amorim.

£8m+ manager now agrees to become new Man Utd manager after INEOS contact

Sir Jim Ratcliffe isn’t hanging around.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 29, 2024 Man Utd closing in on Ruben Amorim appointment

United announced on Monday morning that Ten Hag was no longer their manager, after four defeats in their opening nine Premier League games. The Red Devils placed their thanks and wished the Dutchman all the best in their statement confirming the news.

News has since turned to who could be replacing the Dutchman after two and a half years at the helm, and it looks as though Sporting CP manager Amorim is the club’s preferred choice. The Portuguese tactician has been on United’s radar for a while now, and it was reported earlier this month that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had made an approach for Amorim.

Amorim now looks set to become the new boss, as he’s agreed in principle to take the job. United have also now completed a deal with Sporting and will pay his 10 million euros (£8.3m) release clause in order to bring him to Old Trafford.

Amorim has had a very successful reign at Sporting, winning two Portuguese League titles, two League Cups and a Super Cup, and the news that he looks to be heading to United has gone down very well with one player in particular.

Bruno Fernandes "delighted" if Man Utd sign Amorim

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is “delighted” that Ruben Amorim has been chosen to replace Ten Hag as the club’s new manager. Fernandes, who is on a weekly wage of £300,000 at Old Trafford, has been at United since January 2020, joining from Sporting, so there is no doubt he has been keeping a close eye on his former club and their current manager.

The report states that Fernandes is a huge admirer of the potential new man in charge after the impressive work he has done in Portugal. The 39-year-old manager has won 161 of his 227 games in charge of Sporting, losing just 33. He has got his side playing some very attacking football, as they’ve scored 499 goals under him, including an incredible 30 in nine league games so far this term.

Apps

246

Goals

79

Assists

71

It hasn’t been the best of starts to the season for United or Fernandes on a personal level, as the midfielder has yet to score this season, but he has grabbed a few assists in the Premier League and the EFL Cup. The Portuguese star signed a new contract during the summer, and he will be expected to be a key player under the new manager’s regime.