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Watching Marcus Rashford score an emphatic brace for Barcelona in the Champions League would have been a bitter pill to swallow for many Manchester United fans.

On the one hand, the England international is a cherished, homegrown part of the club, still a member of the club, in fact, and only out on loan with La Blaugrana. On the other hand, his permanent departure at the end of the campaign feels rather likely.

The 27-year-old’s relationship with Ruben Amorim quickly disintegrated last season, and then he was shipped out to Premier League rivals Aston Villa for a short-term stint.

Having sold Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea too, the Red Devils perhaps have something of a shortage of widemen, even having completed impressive summer deals for Prem-proven duo Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.

INEOS probably needed to ship out more stragglers than they did this summer, but they were faced with a huge task. And, in fairness, Mbeumo may well have the goalscoring ability to replace Rashford at the Theatre of Dreams.

Why Man United signed Bryan Mbeumo

Arsenal, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur. Just a few clubs who wanted to sign Brentford’s attacking talisman this summer. All failed, with Man United winning the race despite offering nothing on the European front.

One of the greatest clubs in England, if not the, United are still a dormant superpower and such signings are needed to bring them back to the fore.

Both Cunha and Mbeumo have entered the fray at a tumultuous period, but it is their quality which will help United steer through, having both been so potent in the Premier League last season.

Matches (starts)

33 (29)

38 (38)

Goals

15

20

Assists

6

7

Shots (on target)*

3.3 (1.3)

2.2 (1.1)

Big chances missed

2

9

Pass completion

79%

74%

Big chances created

13

17

Key passes*

1.8

1.8

Dribbles*

1.8

1.4

Ball recoveries*

3.8

4.1

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

1.7

Duels won*

5.5

4.7

However, Man United didn’t get it all right during the summer window, and they still need to get rid of several stars who have run past their sell-by dates.

The player of significance here has been at Old Trafford for quite some time, but just as Mbeumo’s £150k-per-week salary reflects the new, streamlined wage structure INEOS are trying to implement, so too does this undeservedly matching pay packet underline the failings of the past decade.

INEOS must sell high-earning Man United flop

One of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s principal priorities upon assuming co-ownership at Manchester United was to rewrite the financial books and stop the rot that had led to incremental losses across an extended period.

The 33-year-old Casemiro, taking home £350k per week, is probably the most obvious member of the first team who needs to move on sooner rather than later, but the man in question here is Luke Shaw, whose £150k-per-week wage sits level with Mbeumo’s.

Had Shaw enjoyed a more fortuitous career on the fitness front, this likely wouldn’t be a conversation. When United signed the left-back from Southampton for £27m in 2014, making him the most expensive teenager of all time, it was widely recognised that the post-Fergie era would still see the development of some of the country’s finest prospects.

But Shaw’s has been a rocky road, and it may well be coming to an end, having been deployed by Amorim as the left prong of a three-part central defence, starting all four of United’s Premier League matches so far.

According to Sofascore, he has only won 44% of his ground duels, which hardly speaks of the defensive security the outfit needs to rise once again.

Moreover, given that Shaw’s incessant fitness issues have permitted more than 20 starting berths in any given top-flight season just twice across the span of his career, it’s hardly surprising that noise of a potential departure to welcome a new, hungry talent on a more affordable wage is rising.

Indeed, reports from the summer suggested that INEOS were open to the stalwart’s departure, with clubs from the Saudi Pro League interested, but nothing came to fruition. Still, it suggests that he could be shipped on for a modest fee next year, especially if he maintains a degree of fitness.

Content creator Dev Bajwa put it in no uncertain terms: “Luke Shaw should not have been playing at this football club for the past two seasons.”

He might be right. Aged 30, the England international has spent the lion’s share of his professional career in Manchester, playing 202 games for the club in total and notably winning silverware such as the Europa League and the League Cup (injuries prevented him from earning a medal when Erik ten Hag’s United won the FA Cup in 2024).

Shaw might have big ambitions, but sadly, he isn’t at the level required for a club who might demand a place challenging for the Premier League title, but presently face a battle to secure a place in any level of European competition next term.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of the Manchester derby last weekend, pundit Gary Neville conceded that his countryman was “nowhere near it”, and the question now lingers as to whether he is fit for purpose in Amorim’s three-man backline.

Having entered the penultimate year of his deal at the club, it seems unlikely that technical director Jason Wilcox would renew terms for a struggling star who has been around for an age but hardly produces the consistency of performance to warrant a salary in line with a new superstar such as Mbeumo.

Shaw can hold his head high, especially due to all the fitness troubles he has been plagued by, but it’s time for the Three Lions star to move on.

It's not Hojlund: Man Utd let "incredible" Sesko upgrade go for just £16m

Manchester United may now be regretting letting go of one former star who’s better than Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 18, 2025

Manchester United could be set for a huge Bruno Fernandes transfer decision in January with several clubs reportedly lining up to lure the struggling Red Devils captain away from Old Trafford. The timing couldn’t be worse for United, who are stumbling through a nightmare start to the season, leaving rivals circling like sharks around a sinking ship.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  £100m summer rejection that shook United

  Back in the summer, Saudi giants Al-Hilal came knocking with a jaw-dropping £100 million bid for Fernandes. The proposal sent shockwaves through Old Trafford, but both the club and the Portuguese maestro turned it down. Fernandes made it clear at the time that while he remained loyal, he would not stand in the club’s way if United ever decided it was time to cash in. For now, he’s under contract until 2027, but that long deal might not be enough to fend off renewed interest when the transfer window reopens.

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• Saudi temptation: £700k-a-week deal on the table

  Reports suggest the Saudi Pro League isn’t giving up that easily. According to the , multiple clubs from the oil-rich league are ready to test United’s resolve again in January, with a staggering £700,000-a-week tax-free package lined up for Fernandes. That’s more than double his current earnings, a figure that could turn any head, no matter how loyal. The financial pull from the Middle East has already tempted several high-profile stars away from Europe, and the 31-year-old playmaker could soon be the next big name on their list.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Europe’s big guns on standby

  It’s not just the Saudis lurking. Top European clubs are also keeping a close eye on the situation. Fernandes remains an incredibly valuable asset, creative, influential, and, crucially, not cup-tied, thanks to United’s absence from European competition this season. For Champions League contenders looking to strengthen mid-season, he represents a golden opportunity: a world-class attacking midfielder ready to slot straight into continental battles without restriction.

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• Fernandes out of position and out of patience

  Part of the problem lies in Amorim’s tactical experiment. The Portuguese coach has insisted on deploying Fernandes in a deeper midfield role, one that shackles his natural attacking instincts and forces him into defensive duties. It’s a move that’s drawn heavy criticism, with many arguing that United’s most creative spark is being wasted in a role that doesn’t suit his strengths. Fernandes, known for his fiery competitiveness, has been spotted gesturing in frustration more than once this season, his body language betraying growing discontent.

Tottenham Hotspur are attempting an ambitious end to the summer transfer window by backing Thomas Frank with multiple key additions.

Spurs have a few key areas of the first team to reinforce, especially following James Maddison’s long-term ACL injury and club legend Son Heung-min’s departure to MLS.

Dejan Kulusevski is also expected to remain out for a long time yet too, after injuring his knee towards the back end of last season, while defender Radu Dragusin’s own ACL tear in January means he might not be back until December.

As Tottenham’s injury nightmare continues into the Frank era, it is reliably believed that Spurs are targeting three major signings before deadline day on September 1 – a new centre-back, winger and attacking midfielder.

This is backed up by Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge in a Q&A from last week, with the Lilywhites since identifying Bayer Leverkusen star Piero Hincapie as their ideal central defensive target (Paul O’Keefe).

Before any move for the Ecuadorian, though, it is more likely that Tottenham will put pen to paper on a deal for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze.

Eze has already agreed personal terms to join Spurs, according to reliable media sources, with Daniel Levy and Steve Parish holding fresh talks over the 27-year-old’s transfer this week (Fabrizio Romano).

A move for the England international is on the verge of being completed, but final details remain before Spurs can fully seal an agreement for Eze, with Palace also on the hunt for a replacement, which could be Leicester City’s Bilal El Khannouss.

Alongside Eze, Tottenham have been pursuing Man City winger Savinho in a separate deal (Fabrizio Romano).

The player’s own agent, Frederico Moraes, told Jorge Nicola last week that City rejected a £42 million bid from Spurs for the Brazilian, with Pep Guardiola’s side holding out for closer to the £67 million mark.

Savinho is currently out injured for weeks and missed City’s opening day 4-0 win over Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, and Guardiola is personally keen for the 21-year-old to remain at Eastlands.

Savinho adamant he'd join Tottenham with Levy ready to spend over £60m

The former Girona star would be an absolutely excellent addition for Frank.

Savinho was a key member of the Girona side that shockingly competed for a La Liga title in 2023/2024, bagging 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions that year, and he managed double digits for assists again last season at City.

He can play both on the right and left-hand sides too, as well as through the middle on occasion, so the South American would be an adept replacement for Son and cover for Kulusevski.

Despite Guardiola’s stance, City’s price tag and his injury, journalist Graeme Bailey has told TBR Football that Spurs have no intention of throwing the towel in when it comes to signing the player.

It is believed that Tottenham held fresh talks over a deal for Savinho on Sunday, and the forward is adamant behind-the-scenes that a move to Spurs is something he’d be open to.

As well as this, Levy is apparently ready to spend over £60 million on his potential signing, and any fee beyond that mark would come much closer to City’s reported asking price.

This is definitely still one to watch in the coming days, as Savinho will want guaranteed game time ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Patterson, Ward and Goodwin picked on recent Shield form despite all three not being in the first-choice XIs of their respective states early in the Shield summer

Alex Malcolm15-Jan-2025

New South Wales allrounder Jack Edwards has been named captain of a youthful Australia A 12-man squad to face England Lions in the upcoming four-day game in Sydney from January 30, with the squad also featuring two other fast-bowling allrounders in Aaron Hardie and Will Sutherland.Kurtis Patterson, 31, has also been recalled to the Australia A fold for the first time since 2020 and is the oldest player in the squad.Australia’s selectors have pushed for youth and have only retained five players from the squad that faced India A in two four-day games in October and November, with Jordan Buckingham, Fergus O’Neill, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli and Brendan Doggett all getting another opportunity, although Doggett was only drafted into that series as a late injury replacement.Related

Connolly, McSweeney, Kuhnemann included for Sri Lanka tour

Cummins, Hazlewood included for Champions Trophy

There was no room for Marcus Harris, Jimmy Peirson or Nathan McAndrew, who performed solidly in the second Australia A game in Melbourne. Former Test batters Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb were also not selected. The latter was very close to being selected for the Sri Lanka Test tour and is currently captaining the Cricket Australia XI against England Lions in the first match of the tour in Brisbane.Cameron Bancroft is unavailable through injury after fracturing his shoulder in the BBL. Veteran two-Test seamer Michael Neser, who injured his hamstring in the Australia A game at the MCG, has also not been selected.The selectors showed how much they valued performances in the Australia A matches during the Test series against India with Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas and Beau Webster all selected for their Test debuts after good performances against India A. Doggett was also called into the Test squad for the second and third Tests as fast-bowling cover following his stunning 6 for 15 against India A in Mackay.CA contracted fast bowler Xavier Bartlett gets an opportunity after missing the two Australia A matches with a side injury. He took 5 for 32 in his last first-class match for Queensland before the BBL break.Aaron Hardie is the only member of the Australia A squad who is also in the Champions Trophy squad•Getty Images

By overlooking Harris, Renshaw and Handscomb, the selectors are looking to the future on the batting front with the exception of Patterson. Jayden Goodwin and Tim Ward, like Patterson, have been rewarded for outstanding recent Shield form despite all three not being in the first-choice XIs of their respective states early in the Shield summer.Ward, 26, played four matches for Australia A against New Zealand A in 2023 and made three half-centuries in eight innings but was dropped by Tasmania last season. However, he has bounced back strongly with scores of 51, 92, 96, 7 and 142 since being recalled by Tasmania in November.Goodwin, 23, is currently playing in the CA XI alongside Ward and is highly regarded by the national selectors despite only averaging 32.38 across 27 first-class innings. But he made scores of 94, 139 and 69 in Shield cricket in November with the latter two coming against South Australia in a pink-ball game, which featured Doggett and Australian white-ball pacer Spencer Johnson.Hardie is the only member of the Australia A squad who is also in Australia’s Champions Trophy squad. He has not been bowling recently due to an ongoing quad issue and has only played one first-class match this summer after a lean season with the bat last year in red-ball cricket. But he has scored a century for Australia A previously in New Zealand in 2023.Sutherland, 25, is the only full-time Shield captain in the squad, but Edwards captained NSW in three Shield games prior to the BBL break, standing in for the absent Moises Henriques, and is NSW’s permanent 50-over captain. It will be the first time Edwards has represented Australia A, having played all 37 of his first-class matches for NSW, averaging 28.21 with the bat and 26.69 with the ball.Australia A squad: Jack Edwards (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Brendan Doggett, Jordan Buckingham, Jayden Goodwin, Aaron Hardie, Fergus O’Neill, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe (wk), Corey Rocchiccioli , Will Sutherland, Tim Ward

Real Madrid emerged victors with a man down against Real Sociedad at the Anoeta on Saturday, but the club are extremely unhappy with the controversial sending off of Dean Huijsen. In light of the incident, Madrid are believed to be compiling a report which will include all the officiating errors from the current season and the previous one, and this will be submitted to FIFA.

• Madrid angry after Huijsen's sending off against Sociedad

  Real Madrid made it four wins out of four in La Liga under new head coach Xabi Alonso with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in a tricky away fixture against Real Sociedad. However, the three points came at a huge cost, with Huijsen, one of the first names on the team sheet, receiving a straight red in controversial circumstances. In the 32nd minute, Huijsen made contact with Mikel Oyarzabal's shoulder, with the duo sprinting side by side. The ball was visibly not in total control of the Sociedad captain, who went down after the challenge from Huijsen. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano immediately pulled out the red card, judging the defender's action to be a denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Madrid's feud with La Liga referees continues

  The theme from last season seems to have carried over into the ongoing one. Where ex-boss Carlo Ancelotti kept reiterating how he was unhappy with some of the decision-making, it was Alonso yesterday who stood up for his players and expressed his thoughts. After Huijsen was sent off, the Basque-born manager protested the decision and earned a yellow card himself. In the aftermath of the game, footage surfaced online which seemed to indicate the words exchanged between Alonso and the referee.

  "Jesus, I don’t want to, but you’re making me think badly, man," Alonso told the referee. "Haven’t you seen that [Eder] Militao is on the side? But Militao is on the side! He’s five meters from the play. This one will go to the CTA (Technical Committee), for sure. It will go on video [for review], for sure."

  In the post-match press conference, Alonso made it clear that Huijsen did not deserve a red. "For me it was a yellow card. Militao was close, the ball wasn’t under control, and there were still 40 meters left," the former Bayer Leverkusen coach said. "That’s my interpretation. The referee had another one, and VAR should have had another one too, but I’ve seen the replay and I haven’t changed my mind. I asked him, he gave me his explanation, but I wasn’t entirely convinced. We’ll leave it at that."

• Madrid urge FIFA to 'take good note of what's happening in Spanish football'

  After the game, Real Madrid TV, the club's official media channel, announced that Los Blancos would compile a report documenting all the errors in refereeing this season and from the last one. "Real Madrid is preparing a report with everything that has happened in these first four rounds of La Liga and what happened last season," said the announcement. "A dossier, that report, which is going to be submitted to FIFA so that they take good note of what is happening in Spanish football with regard to refereeing."

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• AFP
  

  Crisis in defence ahead of Madrid's Champions League opener

  Although Saturday's victory was overshadowed by the controversy, Alonso and his troops will be eager to put that behind and focus on Wednesday's Champions League opener against French side Marseille. Madrid were dealt a huge blow on the eve of the Sociedad fixture, with Antonio Rudiger ruled out with a thigh injury which will keep him out of action until December. However, Huijsen will be available with his suspension only served domestically.

Hardik Pandya climbed four places up to No. 3 among T20I allrounders after contributing in India’s win against Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2024India’s left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh has risen to joint-eighth among bowlers in the latest update to the T20I rankings. This comes on the back of his Player-of-the-Match performance of 3 for 14 in the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior on Sunday. Arshdeep went up by eight places and is level with South Africa’s Anrich Nortje in the top 10. He also achieved his career-best rating points tally – 642.Arshdeep’s team-mate Hardik Pandya, meanwhile, moved up four places to No. 3 among T20I allrounders. After sharing the new ball with Arshdeep and bagging 1 for 26 in four overs against Bangladesh, Pandya smashed an unbeaten 39 off just 16 deliveries. Thirty-two of those runs came in boundaries as India finished the 128-run chase with 49 balls to spare. The win gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.While the bowlers’ rankings continue to be led by legspinner Adil Rashid, his England team-mate Liam Livingstone and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee form the top two on the T20I allrounders’ charts.Full rankings tables

Click here for the full team rankings

Click here for the full player rankings

Ireland trio gain in ODI rankingsIreland beat South Africa by 69 runs to wrap up the ODI series with a consolation win, and batter Curtis Campher, who scored 34 in the win, climbed up two places to No. 62 among batters.Seamers Craig Young and Graham Hume were beneficiaries too, although Ireland lost the series 2-1. Young’s seven wickets in three games – including 3 for 40 in the win – helped him rise 12 spots to No. 44, while Hume, who also bagged 3 for 29 in the third ODI against South Africa, jumped 23 places up to No. 47.

South Africa will rest several first-choice players on their tour of the UAE this month, where they face Afghanistan and Ireland in white-ball matches, as their Champions Trophy preparation gets underway. None of Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee, David Miller or Heinrich Klaasen will feature in either the ODI or T20I squads. The management has widened the player pool instead with some fresh names.Allrounder Jason Smith, who made his T20I debut in West Indies last month, has been given a maiden ODI call-up alongside legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter, who has recovered from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Caribbean tour. The other new face is 21-year-old seam-bowling allrounder Andile Simelane, who has been part of South Africa Emerging and ‘A’ sides recently and has been named in both the ODI and T20I squads against Afghanistan.South Africa ODI squad vs Afghanistan, Ireland•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Lungi Ngidi, who suffered a right calf injury during the Caribbean tour, has recovered and is expected to lead the attack but Quinton de Kock, who has not confirmed his retirement from T20Is, does not feature. Kwena Maphaka, who made his debut against West Indies, has not been included as he completes his final school examinations. Donovan Ferreira is the only other player from the West Indies T20I series who will not be on this tour, while Matthew Breetzke has been included in the T20I squad.Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks and Simelane are part of the ODI squad against Afghanistan, but not for the ODIs against Ireland. Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton are present only for the Ireland ODIs.South Africa T20I squad vs Ireland•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“We have decided to give opportunities to some of the fringe players as well as those who have impressed in recent weeks and months,” Rob Walter, South Africa’s white-ball coach, said in a statement. “This has been a deliberate move from management, in line with our goal of building a wider pool of players to choose from, as we prepare for the major ICC tournaments taking place over the next 18 months, with a long-term view on the 50-over World Cup in 2027.”South Africa ODI squad against AfghanistanTemba Bavuma (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqabayomzi Peter, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.South Africa T20I squad against IrelandAiden Markram (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Patrick Kruger, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad WilliamsSouth Africa ODI squad against IrelandTemba Bavuma (capt), Ottneil Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams

Glasgow Rangers are set to confirm their first signing of the Russell Martin era as they close in on a deal to sign right-back Max Aarons from Bournemouth.

Fabrizio Romano reports that all of the documents have been signed to complete a season-long loan move for the former England U21 international, who is set to bolster the club’s defensive options.

Aarons is no stranger to the new Rangers boss because he came through the Norwich academy when the former Scotland international was the club captain at Carrow Road.

Speaking on the Talk Norwich City podcast in May, the 25-year-old defender explained why he thought Martin would become a manager in the future when they trained together.

Aarons said: “When he came and trained with us he had an aura. I always knew he would go on to be a manager. I think players who played with him always knew that as well.

“I knew we had to be on it when he was training with us and giving 110 per cent because if not Russ would tell you and I loved that.”

What Max Aarons could bring to Rangers

It is fair to say that Rangers are not signing Aarons at the apex of his career, as he has had a difficult time of things since leaving Norwich to sign for Bournemouth in 2023.

After missing just two games through injury in his entire time in Norfolk, the full-back suffered two injuries that kept him out for 15 matches combined in his first year at the Vitality, which heavily disrupted his progress with the Cherries.

The right-footed whiz only played 23 games in the Premier League in his first 18 months with Bournemouth, before being loaned out to Valencia, where he played five times, in the second half of the 2024/25 season.

However, if Rangers can get Aarons back to his best, then they could have a reliable defender who can also provide quality in possession, based on his impressive displays for Norwich when they won the Championship title in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 campaigns.

As you can see in the table above, the former Canaries star, who was named in the PFA Team of the Year on both occasions, offered a threat at the top end of the pitch whilst also helping his team to keep plenty of clean sheets.

Those performances for Norwich came in a ball-dominant team that won the league title both times, which shows that he can thrive as a full-back in a side that competes at the very top of the league, as Rangers will do next term.

As shown in the clip above, Aarons excels at linking up with teammates to maraud down the flank in transition, helping his team to get up the pitch quickly and effectively to create chances in the final third.

The English whiz struck up an exceptional partnership with Emiliano Buendia on the right flank, as they played at right-back and right-wing week-in-week-out in both of those title-winning seasons for Norwich.

Buendia was a natural number ten who was utilised as a right-winger by Daniel Farke, with the license to drift infield into central areas to create space for Aarons to bomb on and make runs into the final third.

That partnership clearly helped the full-back to flourish, given his form for Norwich in those seasons, and that is why Martin can make the defender explode again by signing Tyrhys Dolan, who is a reported Rangers target this summer.

Why Tyrhys Dolan is perfect for Max Aarons

The Light Blues should sign the Blackburn Rovers forward before the end of the summer transfer window because he could be the perfect signing alongside Aarons.

Dolan could also be a bargain signing for the Scottish Premiership giants because his contract at Ewood Park is due to expire at the end of this month, which means that he is set to be available on a free transfer.

It is his quality and versatility on the pitch that Rangers should be most interested in, though, as the wing wizard, who created seven ‘big chances’ for his teammates in the 2024/25 campaign, has the potential to be a Buendia-esque figure ahead of Aarons on the right flank.

Dolan, who was once lauded as “outstanding” by former boss John Eustace, is a versatile attacker who can comfortably play out wide on the right or in a central position.

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old whiz has predominantly played as a right winger, but has plenty of experience as a striker and as a number ten.

This suggests that he would be perfectly suited to playing a similar role to the one that Buendia played ahead of Aarons at Norwich, as he can start out wide on the right and drift inside to create space for the full-back on the overlap.

Interestingly, Adam Armstrong played a similar tactical role for Martin in the 2023/24 campaign in the Championship, as he started on the right wing before coming infield to play as a striker.

This particular position for Dolan, who scored seven goals and provided six assists this season, would be slightly different, coming into a number ten area instead of playing as a number nine, to make sure that Aarons can thrive as an overlapping full-back.

Joe Aribo repeat: Rangers star agrees terms to leave Ibrox for £30k-a-week

Rangers could repeat their Joe Aribo masterclass as one of their stars looks set to move on from Ibrox.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 19, 2025

Therefore, Dolan could be the perfect signing for the Light Blues to help Aarons explode next season, because of the goals and assists he can provide as well as the positional flexibility to play a unique tactical role.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, they missed the boat on signing Jamie Gittens before the Club World Cup. The mini transfer window, which took place before the new look competition begins late this week, shut last Tuesday. The West Londoners only brought in Liam Delap and Mamadou Sarr in that initial window.

Gittens was a huge target for the Blues, with Enzo Maresca’s side set to ‘insist again’ according to Fabrizio Romano, who explains ‘the player wants the move’ at some stage this summer. The two parties have already agreed on personal terms ahead of the proposed move.

That deal will not be the only one Chelsea are working on whilst the Club World Cup goes on. There are other targets the club are trying to sign.

Chelsea’s defensive transfer target

Such is the way of modern football, it is a busy period for Chelsea. Just weeks on from their UEFA Conference League success, they will look to win the Club World Cup and also make signings to strengthen their squad.

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One of those players they are trying to bring in is Jorrel Hato. Romano explained over on YouTube, via GiveMeSport, that Chelsea ‘remain interested’ in signing the Dutchman. They have seemingly had contact with Ajax over a potential deal.

However, they are not the only London-based Premier League side who have made contact. North Londoners Arsenal have been ‘calling to be informed’ about Hato’s situation.

Whichever club it is who wins the race will have to spend a reported £43m on the defender, according to Caught Offside.

Why Hato would be a good signing

Should the Blues bring Hato to Stamford Bridge over the summer, he would be joining the club with a high reputation. Described as a “special talent” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, he is a hugely exciting young player.

A versatile defender, the 19-year-old can play as a centre-back, but did primarily feature as a left-back last season for Ajax. He played 50 games across all competitions, showing attacking nous by grabbing six assists and scoring three times along the way.

In a separate post over on X, Mattinson described Hato, who was born in Rotterdam, as an “exceptional athlete”. That is something that certainly stands out when watching him play, as the video below shows. He is incredibly physical, which has helped him at such an early stage of his career, often allowing him to get the better of attackers.

His numbers going forward are impressive, too. Not only did he register six assists last season, but some of the underlying stats on FBref show just how good he can be in advanced areas.

He is certainly progressive, averaging 3.89 passes into the final third per game, which places him in the top 21% of full-backs from the Eredivisie.

Hato passing stats vs. Eredivisie full-backs

Stat (per 90)

Hato number

Rank

Passes completed

54.11

94th

Pass competition rate

89.4%

99th

Assists

0.21

94th

Passes into final third

3.89

79th

Progressive passes

4.17

64th

Stats from FBref

Well, perhaps Chelsea fans can get excited about a partnership forming with Hato and Gittens. The Dortmund winger, who is going to the Club World Cup with the Bundesliga side, made some major contributions for his side last term.

In 48 appearances for the German side last season, Gittens managed 12 goals and five assists, featuring as a left-winger in 37 of those games.

One of those goals was a strike away to Real Madrid, in which he became ‘the youngest English player to score’ against Los Blancos, as per TNT Sport.

Just imagine the progression in the final third of Hato combined with the goal threat of Gittens; it could be a match made in heaven for Chelsea. The pair could make each other unplayable, and combine to form a deadly partnership.

On top of his attacking construction, the Blues would be signing a superb young defender. Just as Mattinson pointed out, he is athletic and physical enough to cope with the demands of the Premier League.

For £43m, this could be a bargain for the team on the Blue side of West London. Chelsea would be adding a dynamic young defender who offers lots going forward, and can build an unstoppable partnership with Gittens on that left-hand side.

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It’s been a pretty miserable season for Manchester City, given their own sky-high expectations, but it could still end with silverware.

On Sunday, the Citizens reached a third successive FA Cup Final, courtesy of a rather comfortable 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, in which Rico Lewis broke the deadlock after less than 100 seconds, before Joško Gvardiol’s towering header sealed the deal.

After the match, when asked if winning the FA Cup and finishing third would constitute a successful season, Pep Guardiola adamantly exclaimed “nope”, adding “this season has not been good… we are a thousand million points behind Liverpool”.

Guardiola also stated that both he and the club need to make the right decisions to ensure that next season is better, so could the arrival of one of the most sought-after teenagers in world football help reinvigorate and re-energise this team?

Kevin De Bruyne's Manchester City farewell

Since confirming that he will leave Manchester City this summer, Kevin De Bruyne’s performances have been mixed.

First, he scored this sumptuous free-kick against Crystal Palace that sparked a turnaround, with the Citizens 2-0 down at that point, before fighting back to prevail 5-2.

A week later, however, the Belgian’s performance against Everton at Goodison was widely criticised, with Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News stating that he failed to ‘make the decisive breakthrough’ and that his passing actually ‘got worse as the game went on’.

Then, to the surprise of many, De Bruyne was an unused substitute for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final win at Wembley, despite having started the previous four Premier League fixtures.

So, it appears as though Guardiola is phasing out a player he himself described as “one of the best” midfielders to ever grace the Premier League, because do Man City have their eyes set on a 17-year-old De Bruyne replacement?

Pep Guardiola's dream De Bruyne replacement

According to a report from Spain, Manchester City ‘are seriously considering… making a considerable offer’ to sign River Plate attacker Franco Mastantuono.

The report claims that Guardiola is ‘in love’ with this 17-year-old talent, as he ‘would fit perfectly’ into this Man City team, although another prior report from the same source believes Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also have a ‘firm’ interest.

So who is Mastantuono, and why are so many top European clubs chasing his signature?

Why Man City want to sign Mastantuono

Well, let’s take a look at the teenager’s career statistics to date.

As the table outlines, Mastantuono is still very inexperienced, which isn’t too surprising considering he’s just 17 years old, but he has been earning rave reviews.

As noted by Graham Ruthven in the Soccer Dispatch, Mastantuono wrote his name into River Plate folklore by scoring this stunning free-kick during Sunday’s 2-1 Superclásico victory over Boca Juniors at the Monumental.

Meantime, Guillem Balague believes he will be the next Argentine ‘sensation’, while Ben Mattinson of Breaking the Lines labels him a ‘skilled artist’, praising his ‘elegance​​​​​​​’ and ‘fearlessness to take on players’.

River Plate board member Stefano Di Carlo​​​​​​​ has confirmed that they intend to keep Mastantuono at the club ‘for the remainder of 2025’, with la Banda set to compete at the Club World Cup this summer, drawn alongside Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey and Inter Milan, possibly hoping impressive performances will increase his value.

However, Fabrizio Romano reports that he has a release clause of €41m (around £35m), suggesting clubs should act fast.

From a Man City perspective, Mattinson​​​​​​​ believes Mastantuono​​​​​​​ has “shades of De Bruyne” given his “elite potential” as a chance creator, showing that the recently dethroned Premier League champions should go all out to secure his signature, even if they would be forced to wait a few months for him to actually arrive.

The teenager could then represent the perfect successor to the veteran Belgian at the Etihad.

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