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Manchester United have been known to splash the cash over recent years, forking out £600m under the guidance of former boss Erik ten Hag, but more money looks set to be spent during this window.

Current manager Ruben Amorim has already spent nearly £100m since taking the reins back in November, with Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cunha two of the additions made since his arrival.

However, there’s no denying that added funds will need to be spent this window if the club are to rise up the Premier League table and prevent a repeat of last season, which saw the side finish in 15th place.

The Red Devils have now gone over a decade without a league triumph, something that Amorim has been tasked with changing, but it’s safe to say it will be a long-term project to transform the side.

Money will need to be spent to back the 40-year-old in the market, leading to numerous names being mentioned as potential targets for the ongoing window.

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

Over the last couple of days, striker Ollie Watkins has emerged as a potential addition to the side, after United made contact with Aston Villa over a move for the England international.

He’s not the only forward who’s been on their radar in recent days, with talks also being held with Chelsea over a move for French forward Christopher Nkunku.

However, key work has also been done in the midfield department, with the Red Devils making huge strides in a deal for PSG’s Fabian Ruiz, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that Amorim’s side has a €50m (£43m) offer ‘on the table’ for the Spanish international, who won the Champions League with Luis Enrique’s side at the end of last season.

It also states that the 29-year-old could be open to a potential move to Old Trafford, with the hierarchy seeing him as a crucial part of the puzzle in their quest for future success.

Why United’s £43m target would be perfect for Mbeumo

Bryan Mbeumo is a player who’s been firmly on their radar on United’s radar over the last few weeks, with the saga showing no signs of coming to an end soon.

The Brentford star has been the subject of two separate bids from Amorim’s side, with their latest offer of £55m plus £7.5m in add-ons being rejected by Keith Andrews’ men.

However, the Cameroonian, who scored 20 league goals last season, has previously stated his desire to move to Old Trafford, but he could end up staying at the GTEC beyond the summer window.

It’s expected that the Red Devils are to return with another offer, which could see them get closer to the Bees’ asking price, potentially putting an end to their summer-long pursuit.

Given his record in front of goal, he will likely hand the club the needed threat they’ve been hunting for, but he would certainly be aided in his attempts with a move for Fabian.

When delving into the Spaniard’s stats from the 2024/25 campaign in Ligue 1, he possesses a lot of talents that would see him star alongside Mbeumo at Old Trafford.

Fabian, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Zach Lowy, has registered 9.6 progressive passes per 90, and 2.2 progressive carries per 90, showcasing his ability to take the ball into forward areas.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

9

Pass accuracy

91%

Progressive passes

9.6

Progressive carries

2.2

Key passes made

1.7

Passes into final third

7.3

He also notched 1.7 key passes per 90 and completed 7.3 passes into the final third, having the tools to provide the likes of Mbeumo ahead of him with the opportunity to thrive.

The Spaniard has also thrived without the ball, winning 1.7 tackles per 90, and making 1.3 clearances – handing Amorim the perfect box-to-box option within his 3-4-2-1 system.

It’s unclear if the French outfit would accept the rumoured proposal for the midfielder, but it’s clear that he has the tools to thrive under the 40-year-old at Old Trafford.

The prospect of Ruiz linking up with Mbeumo at the Theatre of Dreams is certainly an exciting one, potentially having the ability to catapult the club one step closer to the top end of the table.

A Bellingham & Bruno hybrid: Man Utd chasing 'one of the best no.8's alive'

Manchester United could be about to make a move for a top-level European talent.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 2, 2025

Manchester United’s need for a new striker this summer is there for all to see, with their dismal record in front of goal massively contributing to their lowly Premier League finish this season.

Rasmus Hojlund was Ruben Amorim’s number one option in such a department throughout 2024/25, scoring just four times in the league throughout his 32 appearances.

Such a tally saw him find the net every eight games, proving that he’s not at the level required if the Red Devils are to rise back up the table in 2025/26.

He’s since been massively touted with a return to Italy, with Inter Milan and Napoli the two sides vying for his signature, but it’s likely the club would lose a whole heap on their £72m investment.

Any funds raised from a potential sale will hand Amorim the needed money to reinvest into the first team squad, to further bolster his ranks if he’s to be successful at Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s pursuit for a new striker this summer

Hugo Ekitiké has been the main option on United’s shortlist over the last couple of weeks, even holding talks with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over a move for the Frenchman, who netted 22 goals this season.

Dušan Vlahović has also emerged as a surprise target, with the Serbian international wanting a Premier League move this summer, but his hefty wage demands could prove to be a stumbling block.

As a result, the Red Devils have turned their attention elsewhere, plotting a big-money move to sign Fiorentina striker Moise Kean, according to Corriere Fiorentina via Sport Witness.

The report claims that the club are closely monitoring the Italian’s progress and could make a move during the off-season if they fail to land other key targets.

It also states that the 25-year-old currently has a £44m release clause in his deal with the Serie A outfit, a potential bargain given his record of 25 goals in 44 outings this campaign.

Why United’s £44m target could be Amorim’s own Haaland

Most teams around the world must wish they had a talent as big as Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian forward a constant threat to countless backlines.

The 24-year-old has demonstrated his clinical edge during his time at Manchester City, netting a staggering 121 goals in his 142 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Such a record previously catapulted the Citizens to a famous treble back in 2022/23, emulating the success set by United during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

He’s even set the record for the most goals scored in a single 38-game Premier League season, netting a hat-trick in the 6-3 battering at the Etihad that campaign.

However, talents like Haaland are extremely hard to come by, with many costing extortionate transfer fees and making them virtually impossible to sign.

That could be about to change with the Red Devils’ potential deal for Kean, with the Italian talisman being ranked as a similar player to the City star by FBref.

He’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, including a better goal per shot on target record, evidently making the most of the chances that fall his way within the final third.

Games played

31

31

Goals & assists

20

25

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

70%

66%

Progressive carries

1.4

0.7

Take-on success

44%

36%

Carries into final third

1

0.4

Aerials won

54%

53%

Kean, who’s been labelled “remarkable” by journalist Marco Messina, has also completed more passes and won more aerial battles – showcasing his all-round nature that could play a vital role in United’s build-up.

His dominance doesn’t stop there, completing more take-ons and progressive carries per 90, subsequently able to create his own opportunities without relying on players around him.

Given the prices quoted for other forwards in and around Europe this summer, a deal for Kean could prove to be an excellent one, handing Amorim the ammunition he desperately needs.

If he can replicate Haaland’s success in England’s top flight, it would be one of the signings of the window, offering the side a clinical option that could transform their ambitions of rising up the table in 2025/26.

He'd be perfect for Bruno: Man Utd set to hold talks for "incredible" star

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ByEthan Lamb Jun 20, 2025

Will Chelsea make any more signings ahead of the Club World Cup?

Last week, the Blues unveiled Liam Delap as their new signing, paying Ipswich his £30m release clause.

Now, Chelsea have until 7pm (BST) on Tuesday 10th June to register any more signings ahead of the Club World Cup, with their opening fixture against Los Angeles FC taking place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta the following Monday.

So, before then, will Enzo Maresca have another new centre-forward at his disposal?

Chelsea chasing another striker

The Blues are looking to significantly improve their forward line this summer with mooted interest in Frankurt forward Hugo Ekitike.

Transfer Focus

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

Further reports have suggested that a deal could be on the cards for Jamie Gittens too, with the club having held talks with his club side, Borussia Dortmund, ahead of a possible move. However, there are more targets on the horizon for BlueCo.

Indeed, according to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are targeting a move for Brighton & Hove Albion forward João Pedro, with Newcastle United also interested.

Fabrizio Romano claims that the Brazilian is ‘expected to leave Brighton’ this summer, after not featuring in any of the Seagulls’ final five Premier League fixtures this season, the first three due to suspension, before being left out of two matchday squads by manager Fabian Hürzeler following a training ground ‘altercation’ with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.

Reports in Spain claim that the Albion value their star striker at around £70m, with Football.London noting that Chelsea are willing to pay around £50m, so some sort of compromise will have to be made if Pedro is going to feature stateside this summer.

How Pedro and Delap could function together at Chelsea

Having only just signed Delap, pointedly presenting him with the number nine shirt too, it may seem peculiar that Chelsea are targeting another attacker.

Nevertheless, with Christopher Nkunku on his way out this summer, Matt Law of the Telegraph believes they are in the market for a versatile forward, but is Pedro actually a bigger talent than his potential future teammate?

Let’s try and answer that question.

Goals

0.46

0.42

Assists

0.28

0.07

Shots

1.94

2.29

Shots on target %

35.7%

43.9%

Shot-creating actions

3.32

2.15

Open-play passes completed

20.8

7.4

Chances created

1.3

0.7

Lay-offs completed

1.6

0.9

Touches

44

24

As the table outlines, Delap is much of a penalty box presence, emphasised by the fact he registered more shots, a higher proportion of which hit the target, while also taking almost half the number of touches on a per 90 basis.

Pedro meantime, is a significantly more well-rounded forward, underlined by his higher number of chances created, passes completed and touches per 90 statistics.

Bundesliga commentator Kevin Hatchard has hailed his “really magical” quality on the ball, while Adrian Clarke of the Premier League labelled him ‘hardworking, creative, and calm in front’, praising his ‘deft pieces of link play’ and believing he has started to show ‘a poacher’s instinct’ this season too.

Meantime, Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout notes that Pedro ‘is capable of playing anywhere across the attack’, while Liam Tharme of the Athletic outlines how he is adept at ‘dropping deep to link play’.

Thus, this all suggests that Delap and Pedro could function in a team together, with the former holding his position in the penalty area, while the latter drops deep to link play alongside Chelsea’s abundance of other high-quality attackers.

Thus, he would surely be an excellent addition for the Blues, even if getting this deal over the line by Tuesday appears unlikely at this stage.

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ByEthan Lamb Jun 7, 2025

Leeds United are now readying a £6 million bid to sign a “complete” defender who is also wanted by Premier League side Everton, according to a new report.

Leeds’ transfer plans beginning to take shape

The Championship season has now come to an end for the Whites, so all focus will be on next season and what they would like to do in the summer to give them the best chance of staying in the Premier League. The transfer window has yet to open, but already the Yorkshire side are being linked with several players in a bid to strengthen their side.

Leeds can wave bye-bye to Firpo by signing "complete" £15m left-back

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Ethan Lamb

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Signing a new striker looks to be a high priority for Leeds, as they don’t want to rely on just Joel Piroe next season. The Whites are said to be one of a number of teams looking into signing Jamie Vardy this summer, as the veteran striker becomes a free agent after leaving Leicester City.

Meanwhile, Leeds have also held internal talks about signing Troy Parrott from AZ Alkmaar after his impressive season in Dutch football. However, this could be a costly purchase for the Championship winners, as he could cost as much as £20 million.

Another forward the Whites are interested in signing is Moussa Djenepo, who has a £1.7 million release clause, which Leeds are now willing to trigger. Djenepo is currently on loan at Turkish side Antalyaspor from Standard Liege, but he doesn’t want to make the switch a permanent one, meaning the door is open for Leeds to swoop in and get their man.

Leeds readying £6m bid to sign "complete" defender ahead of Everton

But it isn’t just forwards that Daniel Farke wants this summer, as according to Scouts in Attendance on X, Leeds are now ready to make a £6 million bid to sign Panathinaikos right-back Georgios Vagiannidis.

They share news from Greek media that Leeds officials will be there this weekend to watch Vagiannidis in action for Panathinaikos against rivals Olympiakos. It goes on to add that while they will be doing some scouting of his performance, Leeds are already willing to make a bid worth 8-10 million euros, which is roughly £6-8 million.

The Whites are not alone in their pursuit of the full-back, as it was reported over the weekend that Everton are in advanced talks to sign Vagiannidis after putting forward their proposal. However, Leeds will hope the fact they are back in the Premier League means they are on an even playing field when it comes to signing the defender.

Georgios Vagiannidis’ Panathinaikos stats
Apps	103
Goals	3
Assists	5

The 23-year-old, who has been described as a “complete” defender by scout/writer Jacek Kulig, has played for Panathinaikos for most of his career, except for a short spell at Inter between 2020 and 2021 – he did not play for the Italian giants and was instead loaned out to Sint-Truiden.

Vagiannidis’ potential arrival at Leeds would see him join Jayden Bogle in fighting for the right-back spot.

Already thinking about summer targets, Crystal Palace have now reportedly set their sights on signing a young defender who’s earned comparisons with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk for his abilities in the air.

Glasner urges Crystal Palace to embrace final

Whilst transfer rumours continue to come thick and fast off the pitch, Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner have been preparing for one of the biggest games in their history this week. Wembley and the FA Cup final awaits the Eagles, as they go in pursuit of their first-ever FA Cup victory.

In front of them stand a Manchester City side looking to restore some pride to what has been their worst campaign under Pep Guardiola. Still battling for Champions League qualification with two Premier League games to go, the Citizens find themselves in unfamiliar territory and in with every chance of falling victim to a shock upset at Wembley.

The nerves will only be natural for all involved in South London, but Glasner has urged his players to embrace the occasion, telling reporters this week: “What is clear is that we should feel no burden. Pressure comes when you are trying to avoid relegation, when you are playing for your future, the future of the football club and the club’s employees.

“But playing in a Cup Final means that you can achieve something incredible. This is what we are all playing for, this is the childhood dream! When these players were kids, I’m sure they all watched the Cup Finals and dreamed of one day being involved in one. Now, everyone has the chance to fulfil that childhood dream.”

Scouts sent: Crystal Palace racing to sign "impressive" Serie A defender

He could replace Marc Guehi…

ByTom Cunningham May 13, 2025

It is also worth noting that FA Cup final victory would also see Crystal Palace qualify for the Europa League in a moment that would have an impact both on and off the pitch.

Crystal Palace targeting De Winter

One deal that Europa League qualification would help with is for a Serie A star. According to Football Transfers, Crystal Palace are now targeting a move to sign Koni de Winter from Genoa this summer. The central defender has only been at the Italian club for a year, but they’re already hoping to make profit by selling the former Juventus man for around €30m (£25m) in the coming months.

Dubbed a “gifted footballer” by U23 scout Antonio Mango during his Juventus days, De Winter has only pushed on at Genoa to earn comparisons with Virgil van Dijk by Football Transfers.

Those comparisons are certainly understandable, too. According to data relayed by their report, De Winter is well above average when it comes to his aerial performance in the Serie A, so it’s perhaps no surprise he’s scored three times with his head in his 22 league starts this term.

It’s the type of impact in both boxes that Crystal Palace should go all out to sign this summer, as Glasner looks to reinforce his backline.

Whilst their Champions League hopes hang in the balance, Aston Villa have reportedly set their sights on signing a Real Madrid player who will be allowed to leave for the right price this summer.

Aston Villa face important summer after win over Fulham

It’s been a mixed season for the Villans as they head into the closing stages of the campaign. Although Unai Emery’s side have enjoyed some incredible moments against the likes of Bayern Munich and very nearly against Paris Saint-Germain, they’ve also found themselves frustrated in the Champions League race and dumped out of the FA Cup at the semi-final stage.

Aston Villa and Monchi racing to sign "outstanding" £34m Turkish League star

Scouts have been sent to watch him in action.

ByHenry Jackson May 2, 2025

Now, with a handful of games remaining, it will be their race to finish inside the top five which defines the narrative of Villa’s season. Emery recently had his say on what is set to be a frantic battle, telling reporters before his side’s win against Fulham: “2nd May today, and we are very, very excited.

“Our motivation is so, so high, motivation to finish the season, really feeling it’s our moment to play, showing as well our capacity through the most important way to get our objective, Premier League. And, of course, Villa Park is very, very important. We will need tomorrow our supporters, our fans to be with us.”

Meanwhile, off the pitch, a place among Europe’s elite would also have a significant impact on the Villans’ transfer plans. Recent reports have suggested that they’ve already got some PSR concerns and missing out on a place in the top five would hardly ease those concerns.

On that front, player sales have already been mooted too. The likes of Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers have already found themselves on Chelsea and Liverpool’s radars, but whether Villa are desperate enough on the PSR front to sell two of their biggest stars remains to be seen.

Aston Villa prioritising Lunin move

Away from potential departures, those in the Midlands are also already setting their sights on potential incomings. According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa are now prioritising a move to sign Andriy Lunin from Real Madrid, who will allow their second-choice goalkeeper to leave for the right price this summer.

The shot-stopper has played a larger role than in previous seasons thanks to Thibaut Courtois’ injury, but has found himself once again benched since the Belgian’s return. As a result, an exit could now be pending and an opportunity to land a replacement for 32-year-old Emiliano Martinez.

Dubbed a “fantastic” goalkeeper by scout/writer Jacek Kulig last season, Lunin may well be ready to step into a No.1 role and out of the Courtois shadow at Real Madrid. At 26 years old, the shot-stopper is at the peak of his powers and could yet find himself on his way to Villa Park this summer.

Manchester United dropped more points in the Premier League on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

The Red Devils needed a 96th-minute equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund to secure a point against the Cherries last time out, as he deflected the ball into the bottom corner with just a few minutes left to play.

Manchester United have, now, drawn nine and lost 15 of their 34 matches in the Premier League this season, leaving them in 14th place in the table as it stands.

That is, quite obviously, not good enough for where the club should be – competing for titles and trophies – and that is why the upcoming summer transfer window is a big one for Ruben Amorim and INEOS.

The club have to get their recruitment work spot on to build a squad that is capable of competing with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal next season.

One area of the pitch where the club could look to improve is the two number ten positions, after Alejandro Garnacho put in a disappointing display against the Cherries.

Why Manchester United should find an upgrade on Garnacho

The Red Devils academy graduate started alongside Bruno Fernandes in the two attacking midfield roles behind Hojlund in the draw down south, and failed to deliver an effective performance.

Garnacho had eight shots on goal, five of which were blocked, and missed one ‘big chance’ in the match, which shows that he was incredibly wasteful in front of goal, and the forward failed to create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

That has been the story of the season for the Argentina international. He has been wasteful with the chances that have been created for him, whilst not doing too much to create for his fellow attackers on a consistent basis.

Garnacho has not proven himself to be a reliable attacker, as either a scorer or a creator of goals, in the Premier League for the Red Devils this season, which is why they should attempt to bring in an upgrade on him in the summer transfer window.

Appearances

33

Starts

22

xG

7.06

Goals

5

Big chances missed

13

Big chances created

3

Key passes per game

0.9

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old dynamo has underperformed in front of goal, missing a whopping 13 ‘big chances’, and created less than one chance per appearance in the division on average.

Garnacho is capable of the spectacular, as evidenced by the incredible goal against Everton in the video above, but he has not performed consistently enough in the final third to be relied upon week-in-week-out.

This is why the latest news on Manchester United’s interest in signing a new attacking talent should be welcomed by Amorim, who needs more quality from his squad in the final third.

Man Utd plotting talks to sign Serie A forward

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of a number of teams interested in a deal to sign Ademola Lookman from Atalanta in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The report claims that fellow Premier League teams Arsenal, Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Chelsea are also keen on a swoop for the Nigeria international, who previously played for the likes of Fulham and Everton in the English top-flight.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that Atalanta are looking for a fee of up to £55m in order to part ways with the impressive forward. That price tag is said to have made it difficult for Barcelona and Juventus, who are also interested in Lookman, due to their respective financial situations.

CaughtOffside adds that the Premier League clubs interested in the winger, including Manchester United, are planning to hold talks over a deal to bring him back to England this summer.

INEOS must, now, push to win the race for the 27-year-old Atalanta star because he could come in as a big upgrade on Garnacho to improve Amorim’s options at the top end of the pitch.

Why Ademola Lookman would be a big upgrade on Alejandro Garncho

As aforementioned, the current Manchester United forward has proven himself to be unreliable in the final third with his wasteful finishing and lack of creativity in the Premier League.

Lookman, on the other hand, has excelled as both a scorer and a creator for Atalanta in the past three seasons, since his move to the club in the summer of 2022.

As you can see in the chart above, the Nigerian superstar has vastly outperformed Garnacho across a host of key attacking metrics over the past 365 days of league and European action, averaging more non-penalty goals, Expected Assisted Goals, shot-creating actions, and assists per 90.

This, immediately, suggests that Lookman, who Gian Pero Gasperini dubbed “extraordinary”, could come in as an upgrade on Garnacho next season, by providing a greater threat in the final third.

The Atalanta star’s form over the past 365 days is not a flash in the pan, either, because he has been remarkably consistent in the Serie A over the past three seasons.

Appearances

31

31

28

xG

9.08

9.21

9.75

Goals

13

11

13

Big chances missed

7

8

13

Big chances created

10

10

10

Key passes per game

1.3

1.6

2.0

Assists

6

7

5

As you can see in the table above, Lookman is the picture of consistency with his contributions as both a scorer and a creator of goals, consistently creating and scoring goals at an impressive rate.

The £55m-rated star has proven that he has the quality to make the most of chances that come his way, outperforming his xG in all three seasons, and he has hit double figures for ‘big chances’ created each time as well.

These statistics suggest that Lookman would be a fantastic signing for Manchester United because he could offer more to the team than Garnacho, as both a scorer and a creator, to give the team a greater chance of winning matches by contributing to more goals.

This is why the Red Devils must work hard to beat off competition from the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal to convince the Atalanta star to make the move to Old Trafford this summer.

Better signing than Huijsen: Man Utd preparing bid to sign £51m "monster"

Manchester United are plotting a bid to sign a star who’d be an even better addition than Dean Huijsen.

ByDan Emery Apr 28, 2025