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Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a high-profile player this summer, and one who’s been seriously endorsed by the club’s all-time top scorer, Harry Kane.

Related Tottenham advancing move for £24m defender after 'emerging' as favourites

Spurs have been told what it would take to get a deal done.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jul 23, 2025

Spurs have already announced the signings of Mathys Tel on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich, Kota Takai in a J-League record £5 million move from Kawasaki Frontale and, of course, Mohammed Kudus from West Ham.

Kudus’ transfer marked the end of a 14-year-long unofficial transfer embargo between Spurs and their London rivals, with the Ghanaian seriously impressing on his debut against Reading last weekend.

Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White was set to immediately follow Kudus to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a medical was even scheduled for July 11 (BBC), but Nuno Espírito Santo’s side blocked the transfer and threatened legal action for what they deem to be an unlawful approach.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Once the matter is resolved, Tottenham are hopeful that Gibbs-White will eventually seal his switch to N17, but the move has been significantly delayed.

In the meantime, it is reliably reported that Spurs are competing with Newcastle United and Forest to sign Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, who scored 20 goals in all competitions under Thomas Frank last season.

Despite the current abundance of holding midfielders in their squad, there are also suggestions that Tottenham are looking for another one, with £167,000-per-week Bayern Munich ace Joao Palhinha among their chief targets.

Palhinha endured a lacklustre debut campaign at Bayern last season after sealing his long-awaited move there in 2024.

The Portugal international – thanks to a combination of injuries, illness and suspension – eventually fell down Vincent Kompany’s pecking order, and reports claim he could make a return to the Premier League already.

Tottenham are reported to have contacted Palhinha’s agents, and while reliable journalist Alasdair Gold doesn’t mention this, he does back up Spurs’ interest in a piece for football.london.

Tottenham eyeing Joao Palhinha after Harry Kane praise

Gold states that Tottenham are targeting Palhinha and have the 30-year-old on their shortlist of potential midfield signings, but at least one of Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Pape Matar Sarr and Archie Gray would need to depart first.

Amid Bissouma’s links with a move to Turkey and inconsistent form, the Mali international appears their most likely candidate to make way for Palhinha.

Interestingly, Lilywhites legend Kane has already endorsed a possible Spurs swoop for the robust, tough-tackling number six, who was also called a “leader” by Marco Silva during his Fulham days.

Kane is on record calling the ex-Sporting CP star an “animal”, citing his many tough battles against him.

“I think they suit our system really well,” said Kane after Bayern signed Palhinha and Michael Olise last summer, via Florian Plettenberg.

“Palhinha is an animal in that defensive midfield role. I’ve had many battles against him.

“Michael’s ability on the ball is fantastic. The way he moves, the way he goes around players – and his final product is at a high, high level. And he’s still very young, so there’s even more improvement to come.”

According to some reports, Bayern want around £30m to let Palhinha leave, while Spurs want a deal done closer to the £20m mark.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is leading the charge to reinforce Mikel Arteta’s ranks this summer, with the Gunners determined to end their two-decade-long-plus wait for a Premier League title.

Arsenal have "submitted an offer" to sign "strong" £30m Premier League star

The north Londoners are opening talks.

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 2, 2025

Berta officially unveiled his first signing as Edu Gaspar’s replacement earlier this week.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)	Money on new signings
19/20 – winter	£0
20/21 – summer	£81.5m
20/21 – winter	£900k
21/22 – summer	£156.8m
21/22 – winter	£1.8m
22/23 – summer	£121.5m
22/23 – winter	£59m
23/24 – summer	£208m
23/24 – winter	£0
24/25 – summer	£101.5m
24/25 – winter	£0

Kepa Arrizabalaga is a now-confirmed Arsenal player after completing his medical at the club last week (Sky Sports), and the 30-year-old David Raya back-up joins from Chelsea for just £5 million.

“We are really happy to have Kepa joining us,” said Arteta about Kepa’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium.

“He is a player we know, having come up against him many times in recent seasons. He brings a wealth of experience, which his teammates will benefit from, and he has a real hunger to win.

“Kepa works hard and will elevate our levels. I know he will fit in perfectly, already knowing some of his teammates, and we are really excited about his future with us.”

Arsenal are likely to announce Martin Zubimendi’s signing at some point this week too, with Brentford captain Christian Norgaard also expected to undergo his medical in the next few days (The Athletic).

Arsenal also want to sign a new attacking-midfielder/winger, amid talks for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, but supporters are especially keen to see Berta end the club’s long wait for a prolific star striker.

While there have been tentative links to the likes of Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, two big names stand out as Arsenal’s top centre-forward targets – RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Sesko, fresh off the back of his best Bundesliga campaign to date, was a top target for Arsenal last summer and in January (Ben Jacobs), with Berta holding talks over the £94,000-per-week Slovenia international again this summer.

Gyokeres, meanwhile, is at the centre of a public fallout with Sporting and president Frederico Varandas, and the 27-year-old is believed to be very keen on a move to Arsenal, whilst being worried that his price tag could jeopardise a move (Record).

Sesko and Gyokeres eyeing Arsenal moves as Berta leads talks

As per GiveMeSport and reliable journalist Ben Jacobs, Arsenal’s intentions are clear when it comes to a deal for either man.

Berta has “advanced talks” for Sesko and Gyokeres, as widely reported elsewhere too, and Jacobs says that they would both welcome a move to north London. However, the key for a deal to be done is, of course, down to their final price tags.

Arsenal’s aim is to sign Sesko or Gyokeres for around £60 million, but personal terms shouldn’t be a problem for either really, especially considering the latter is only on around £40,000-per-week in Portugal right now.

Given the likes of Man United are also hunting for a top striker, amid links to Gyokeres in particular, Arsenal cannot afford to dilly-dally for too long here.

Manchester United’s rebuild this summer has already begun just days into the transfer market, with Ruben Amorim desperately needing to make his own stamp on the squad.

The Red Devils will be hoping for a huge reaction next campaign, after the side registered their lowest ever Premier League points tally and league finish in 2024/25.

Matheus Cunha has already completed his switch to Old Trafford, with the Brazilian moving to the North West in a £62.5m deal from fellow top-flight outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, despite the massive fee spent on the 25-year-old, it does not appear to scupper any other plans in the market, with numerous names continuously linked with a summer move to the club.

All areas of the pitch are set for investment from INEOS, with Amorim finally getting the opportunity to sign and sell players who may or may not be part of his plans ahead in the coming years.

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

Bryan Mbeumo appears to be the latest addition to be made by the United hierarchy this summer, after he confirmed his desire to leave Brentford for a switch to Old Trafford this summer.

The Red Devils will reportedly approach Thomas Frank’s side this week over a deal for the 25-year-old, but the Bees are set to demand a fee in the region of £60m for his signature this window.

The Cameroonian could be joined by another new addition at the Theatre of Dreams by Aleksandar Mitrovic, that’s if talkSPORT’s latest update on the transfer front is to be believed.

They reported that United are seriously considering a potential bid for the Serbian international, who currently plies his trade for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

The article also states that West Ham and Everton are monitoring the 30-year-old’s progress, with the Middle Eastern outfit demanding a fee in the region of £40m to part ways with their talisman.

Why Mitrovic would be a huge upgrade on Delap

Liam Delap was once seen as United’s number one target for the centre-forward role, but circumstances elsewhere have seen the club move on this summer.

The 22-year-old has completed his medical ahead of his proposed move to Chelsea this summer, after Enzo Maresca’s side triggered the £30m release clause in his contract.

It may be a blessing in disguise after allowing the English youngster to move to Stamford Bridge, with many supporters unsure whether he would be the answer to their goalscoring issues.

He did manage to score 12 times for the Tractor Boys this season – an impressive tally for a player in a relegated outfit – but it’s unclear whether he will be able to sustain a record in 2025/26.

Such a situation has seen the hierarchy targeting a move for former Fulham star Mitrovic, with the Serbian talisman massively outperforming Delap when comparing their respective figures from this season.

He’s registered 28 goals in his 36 appearances throughout this campaign, a tally more than double than that of the soon-to-be Chelsea man and eight more than Mbeumo – highlighting his clinical nature within the final third.

The striker has also placed more of his efforts on target and achieved a better goal per 90 rate, handing Amorim the sensational talisman he’s desired since taking the reins.

Games played

23

37

38

Goals scored

21

12

20

Goals per 90

0.9

0.4

0.5

Shot-on-target accuracy

48%

43%

43%

Shots on target per game

2.2

1

0.9

Shots taken

4.4

2.3

2.1

Aerials won

2.7

1.9

0.9

Mitrovic’s dominance doesn’t end there, winning more aerials than the aforementioned duo, handing the latter an opportunity to increase his own goal tally, given his ability to play as a focal point.

Missing out on Delap may be a concern, especially to a direct rival in the ‘big six’, but ultimately, if they were to pursue a move for the former Fulham star, it would be a sensational deal that could transform the club’s fortunes.

It may not be the glamorous name many were anticipating, but his tally of 38 goals in England’s top-flight, he has what it takes to be a success and play a key role in their revival next time around.

After Cunha: Man Utd set to make £29m move to sign their new Berbatov

Manchester United could sign their new Dimitar Berbatov this summer.

ByMatt Dawson Jun 2, 2025

Manchester United are now considering a move to sign an “incredible” Bayern Munich midfielder for just £25 million, according to a recent report.

Bruno Fernandes set to stay at Man Utd after Nations League triumph

International duty has taken centre stage in the last week or so, and like nearly every Premier League team, United have players all over the globe representing their countries.

Their best CF since Ronaldo: Man Utd eager to sign "fearless" £44m striker

Manchester United are eyeing up a move for a striker who would be their best forward since Cristiano Ronaldo.

ByDan Emery Jun 8, 2025

But not many will have had a better time with their country than Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot, who were part of the Portugal squad that won the Nations League. Portugal beat Spain 5-3 on penalties on Sunday following a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes.

Fernandes played the entire 120 minutes and even netted in the penalty shootout win, while Dalot was an unused substitute, as he was in the semi-final win over Germany.

This is Fernandes’ second trophy with his country, and after the game, the Red Devils skipper revealed “winning with Portugal is different”.

“I’m going to celebrate with my teammates and my family. It’s a special moment for everyone. Winning for Portugal is different. It’s for our family, for our people, for the country, for our people.

“Once again, the wave of red that I saw so much on social media was there and made us feel like we were playing at home. Thank you very much for all the support; it was excellent. We felt it, from start to finish, from the moment we got to the end.

“Everything we did during the game helped us win. We knew we were going up against a great team, and at the same time, we knew we were a team of the same level. We knew Spain’s qualities; we were very aggressive when losing the ball, which was very important.”

Man Utd considering move to sign "incredible" £25m Bayern Munich ace

As Fernandes continues celebrating, the Red Devils now have their eye on one of his international teammates. According to Mirror Football, relayed by Simply Utd on X, Man United are weighing up a move to sign Joao Palhinha.

The 29-year-old only joined Bayern Munich from Fulham last summer, but it was a very underwhelming first campaign for the Portuguese enforcer – he only played 17 games in the Bundesliga, as his season was hampered by injuries and competition in the midfield area.

It’s been reported that Palhinha, who has been dubbed “incredible” in the past, may leave Munich this summer, given his struggles, but it is unlikely they are going to get near the £44 million they paid Fulham in 2024. In fact, this report states that United could sign the midfielder for just £25 million.

Palhinha

Casemiro

Apps

17

24

Starts

6

18

Progressive passes

32

84

Progressive carries

3

4

Passes attempted

552

990

Passes completed

510

780

Tackles (won)

20 (14)

83 (50)

Interceptions

4

14

Blocks

13

39

Clearances

9

51

His arrival at Old Trafford could see him be the man to replace Casemiro, who, while he performed very well towards the end of the season, could be a player who is allowed to leave, given his hefty wages. Talk of an exit has gone quiet in recent months, but Amorim will want to trim his squad down given no European football, and given Casemiro’s age, he could be one that is on the chopping block.

This is going to be a big summer for Liverpool. Bigger, perhaps, than any stretch of off-season at Anfield since Phil Coutinho was sold to Barcelona for an exorbitant fee and Alisson and Virgil van Dijk were brought in as replacements.

FSG have a bit of a reputation for being frugal in the transfer market, but Liverpool are hardly averse to strengthening and know that they have chinks to cover if they are to successfully defend their Premier League title next season, challenge for the Champions League too.

But with Trent Alexander-Arnold off to Real Madrid, Andy Robertson declining, Darwin Nunez set to be sold after a disappointing three terms, Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation uncertain, and Ryan Gravenberch lacking competition at number six, it’s understandable that Arne Slot should demand investment.

That exhausting list isn’t actually exhaustive, though. Liverpool are always attentive to opportunities, and what’s bigger than Florian Wirtz’s desire to leave Bayer Leverkusen in search of a new challenge?

Liverpool's pursuit of Florian Wirtz

Former Leverkusen star Patrick Helmes remarked at the start of the season that Wirtz is “probably the best midfielder in the world.” He may well be right.

Wirtz, certainly, is one of the most exciting and entertaining playmakers in the business, having played an instrumental role in Xabi Alonso’s invincible domestic double last year and now finishing the current campaign with 31 goal involvements to his name.

Though he typically operates from a number ten berth, the Germany international is proven across a whole range of attacking positions, with his seasonal Bundesliga heatmap, sourced via Sofascore, denoting a left-leaning preference.

Attacking midfield

169

48

57

Left winger

21

4

5

Right winger

17

8

5

Centre-forward

15

7

7

Central midfield

5

0

3

While Bayern Munich have the lead in the race for the attacking midfielder, Liverpool and Manchester City are both hot on his trail, as per The Athletic.

Who knows where he’ll end up, but given Die Werkself are looking to claim some £101m for his sale, Liverpool have lined up alternatives.

Liverpool eyeing marquee deal

Liverpool will lose Alexander-Arnold this summer, and, yes, it would be a shock if he didn’t sign for Real Madrid. However, Rodrygo may travel in the opposite direction, having been left disgruntled by his role at Los Blancos this year.

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are plotting to make their move for the Brazilian forward, who would cost FSG something in the region of £85m.

Arsenal are also named as suitors, but it’s said that Mikel Arteta’s side are deterred by Real Madrid’s financial demands, thus leaving the door open for Liverpool to make their move as the Gunners not wanting to pay the fee could give them an advantage in the race to sign him.

Scout Mick Brown is quoted as saying that the Reds are not happy with their current forward options and that they could make a move for the Brazilian if he becomes available this summer.

Why Rodrygo would be perfect for Liverpool

Only a few months ago, in March, Jude Bellingham claimed Rodrygo is “the most gifted player in the squad.”

There’s been something selfless about the versatile winger’s time at the Santiago Bernabeu, for he has never quite reached the reputation of his frontal peers yet has been one of the most important players under Carlo Ancelotti’s wing.

Across 267 appearances for Real, Rodrygo has notched 118 goal contributions, a very good return when considering he arrived at the club an 18-year-old in 2019, leaving his Brazilian homeland, leaving Santos.

It might not have been the best of seasons for the South American, but he’s still showcased his skills wonderfully. As per Sofascore, the £202k-per-week talent has still hit six goals and five assists from just 22 La Liga starts, averaging 1.6 dribbles and key passes per game while winning 56% of his ground duels.

Real Madrid rarely sell players they don’t want to, but Rodrygo’s situation is a little more complex: with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior both nailed down in their left and central berths, Liverpool’s target has been ferried off to the right, where he’s at his most ineffective.

Despite Rodrygo’s frustrations this season, deployed in his favoured left-sided position only 12 times (though scoring six goals and supplying six assists), he has played 50 games and still stands firm against Wirtz. He’s even been described as a “magician” by Statman Dave.

In balmier conditions, angled toward breeding positivity for the wideman, there’s no telling how far he could climb. Slot has something of a knack for getting the best out of bothered stars, and Rodrygo could be next, having been praised for being a “more mature player” than compatriot Vini by former Brazil boss Tite.

A man for the big moments, you’d be surprised if Rodrygo didn’t have a say in Liverpool’s efforts on the continental front going forward, should Slot win the race for his services.

It’s not just his clutch moments, though, with an underlying surety in his actions illustrating his world-class quality. As per FBref, the 24-year-old ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and for carries into the final third and the top 12% for passes attempted.

Rodrygo is fleet-footed, but he’s also inventive and crisp on the ball. Eager to get on it, his vicious blend of deadliness and dynamism suggests he would be a tailor-made addition to Slot’s project, especially if the Dutch coach is willing to unleash him from the left flank, as the player wishes but rarely receives in the Spanish capital.

Ultimately, either Rodrygo or Wirtz would have a significant impact on a flourishing Liverpool side. Wirtz might feel like the most favourable pick, but the £85m-rated star’s stunning career has merely lulled this year, and if Slot were to pick him back up from the Madrid wayside, he might just take his team to the next level.

A better signing than Wirtz: Liverpool ramp up move for "the next Mbappe"

Liverpool’s primary goal this summer remains signing a new centre-forward.

ByAngus Sinclair May 16, 2025

Arsenal are now leading the race to sign an “incredible” £30m forward this summer, having overtaken rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race for his signature, according to a report.

Gunners set sights on new forwards

While the dream of winning the Premier League title may be over, it is an exciting time to be an Arsenal fan, with Mikel Arteta’s side potentially just two games away from reaching the Champions League final.

The Gunners blitzed past Real Madrid in the quarter-final, despite being without an out-and-out striker, but in order to push for the title next season, Arteta may need to bolster his attacking options this summer, and multiple forwards could be brought in.

A striker is of particular interest to the north Londoners, having recently held talks over Lille’s Jonathan David, with the Canadian joining the likes of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak on the shortlist.

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1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 19, 2025

With Bukayo Saka’s absence this season exposing the lack of depth out wide, Arteta could also look to sign a new winger this summer, and it was recently revealed that Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman could be available for a fee of just £30m.

There has now been a new update on Arsenal’s pursuit of Coman, with a report from Football Insider revealing they are now leading the race to sign the forward, despite interest from rivals Tottenham.

The Frenchman could be allowed to leave Bayern this summer, given that he has fallen down the pecking order, and the Emirates Stadium is said to be his most likely destination, with Spurs unable to offer consistent Champions League football.

The Gunners may face competition for the winger’s signature from Saudi Pro League clubs, but they should stand a good chance of winning the race, given that Arteta will have a lot of money to spend this summer.

Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures

Date

Crystal Palace (h)

April 23rd

Paris Saint-Germain (h)

April 29th

AFC Bournemouth (h)

May 3rd

Paris Saint-Germain (a)

May 7th

Liverpool (a)

May 11th

Coman could be "incredible" signing for Arsenal

The Paris-born winger may not currently be receiving as much game time as he has previously, but he continues to impress when given the opportunity, most recently scoring in his side’s 4-0 victory against Heidenheim last time out.

Not only that, but the “incredible athlete”, as lauded by BBC journalist Raj Chohan, has proven himself at the highest level in the past, most famously scoring the winning goal for Bayern Munich in the 2020 Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.

It is clear the Gunners could do with more depth in attack, having been left light on numbers for large parts of this season, and Coman’s top-level experience indicates he could be a fantastic signing, especially at just £30m.

Sheffield United have completed a free deal for Patrick Bamford following his departure from Leeds United earlier this season, with the striker signing a short-term contract until January 2026.

The Blades are desperately attempting to turn their season around following a miserable start which saw Chris Wilder return to replace Ruben Selles just three months after he left the club.

Now as low as 22nd and far from the promotion hopes that they had in mind, those at Bramall Lane suddenly find themselves in an early, unexpected relegation scrap which they’ll be looking to turn on its head after the international break.

Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Queens Park Rangers at least stopped the rot and handed the Blades their first clean sheet in four games, but they must find a way to turn a draw into all three points in a crucial clash against rivals Sheffield Wednesday on 23 November.

Speaking to reporters after the QPR stalemate, Wilder admitted his frustration afrer what he felt was a performance worthy of three points.

Goals were once again the problem for Sheffield United, but the arrival of Bamford could help put an end to their unexpected woes in the Championship.

Sheffield United sign Bamford

As reported by The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath, Sheffield United opened talks to sign Bamford just this week, and things have moved quickly as the Blades announced an agreement on Thursday morning.

The former Leeds forward has been a free agent since leaving Elland Road in August, but now seemingly has the chance to make a return to the Championship on a prove-it deal lasting just a few months.

If Wilder is looking for goals then getting the best out of Bamford will give him exactly that. The 32-year-old has stolen headlines in the Premier League at his best and has as many as 69 Championship goals to his name throughout his career.

Previously dubbed “fantastic” by Leeds boss Daniel Farke, Bamford has the perfect opportunity to get the latter stages of his career back on track by joining Sheffield United. And he could even get the perfect chance to impress on his debut in the derby if he proves his fitness in time to face Sheffield Wednesday.

Wilder set to make ruthless January decision as three Sheffield Utd players get the axe

While West Ham United have certainly signed some real talents over the last few years, they’ve unfortunately made more than their fair share of poor signings.

For example, the likes of Andy Irving, Mads Hermanssen, and Gianluca Scamacca are either failing to make the grade or have already failed, and that’s just from the last few summers.

Yet, perhaps the most disappointing addition the East Londoners have made in recent years is Niclas Füllkrug.

Fortunately, it looks like the German could be moving on sooner rather than later, although West Ham should make sure they get rid of another flop at the same time, someone former manager David Moyes was particularly excited about.

Füllkrug's West Ham disaster

When West Ham splashed £27m on Füllkrug last summer, there was a fair deal of excitement from some in the fanbase, as while he was certainly on the older side, he had just come off a stellar season for Borussia Dortmund in which he reached the Champions League final and chalked up 15 goals and provided ten assists in 43 appearances.

As if that wasn’t enough, he had also just spent the summer playing for Germany in the Euros.

Unfortunately, even those with the lowest of expectations for the veteran striker have since been disappointed with his efforts in East London.

In his first campaign with the club, injuries limited him to just 20 appearances, totalling 877 minutes, in which he scored just three goals and provided two assists.

This season has not been much better, as before his current injury, the 32-year-old had failed to score a single goal or provide a single assist in seven appearances, totalling 385 minutes.

Füllkrug’s West Ham career
Season	24/25	25/26
Appearances	20	7
Minutes	877′	385′
Goals	3	0
Assists	2	0
Goal Involvements per Match	0.25	0.00
Minutes per Goal Involvement	175.4′	N/A
All Stats via Transfermarkt

So, with the former Dortmund star being both woefully ineffective and injury-prone, most fans weren’t too upset when news broke of his desire to leave the club in the winter window.

It now looks like such a move will occur, with several Bundesliga sides readying offers to take him off the Hammers’ hands.

Füllkrug will probably end up doing alright back in Germany, but his departure would be best for all parties involved, which is also the case for another West Ham dud Moyes once thought would be a success.

The West Ham star who must be sold

Aside from Füllkrug, the West Ham player most in need of being sold in the winter window is, unfortunately, James Ward-Prowse.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

The expectations around the Englishman’s £30m move in the summer of 2023 were even higher than for the German’s arrival, with then-manager Moyes highlighting his “leadership qualities” as a reason why he could become a “big voice” in the dressing room.

Now, to his credit, the former Southampton captain didn’t have the worst of starts during his time in the capital and actually ended his first campaign with a reasonable enough tally of seven goals and 12 assists in 51 appearances.

However, the wheels very quickly came off the following season as new manager Julen Lopetegui didn’t fancy him in his midfield and sent him away on loan to Nottingham Forest.

Unfortunately, Nuno, who was in charge of the Tricky Trees, also quickly realised he did not want the Englishman in the heart of his midfield and barely gave him any game time.

So, the Irons recalled the 31-year-old, and under Graham Potter, he once again became an important part of a team.

However, whether it was age, poor form or something else entirely, the former Saints star came back and looked miles off it and continues to look off the pace into this season.

He simply didn’t have the physicality or athleticism to do the defensive work required of a central midfielder, and he also became far more ineffective going forward.

So when Nuno was appointed manager in September, it was not a surprise to see the Portsmouth-born ace left out of the squad entirely.

Since the Portuguese manager has been in the dugout, the 11-capped international has not even featured in a match-day squad, and it is therefore fair to say his time at the London Stadium is well and truly over.

Therefore, like with Füllkrug, West Ham should sell Ward-Prowse as soon as possible.

West Ham star with "KDB-type quality" looks like Nuno's new Gibbs-White

The incredible talent could play a massive role in helping Nuno keep West Ham United in the Premier League this season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 11, 2025

After Erik ten Hag’s dismissal from Manchester United in October last year, it was always going to be crucial that the hierarchy made the right call with their next appointment.

The Red Devils board turned to Ruben Amorim to fill the void, but around 13 months on from his arrival, he’s still struggling to provide the goods on a consistent basis.

He’s currently achieving a 41% win record in his 56 matches in charge at Old Trafford to date, with the 40-year-old only registering a total of 23 victories across all competitions.

His 3-4-2-1 system is yet to be seen in full flow, as numerous players are still getting used to the demands of the manager’s intricate system in the Premier League.

One player in particular has had to adapt his playstyle over the last couple of months as a result of the switch, but he’s struggled in 2025/25 – as seen by his stats in recent weeks.

The stats behind Dalot’s struggles in 2025/26

Diogo Dalot was signed by United back in 2018 from boyhood club Porto, with the Portuguese star seen as the long-term solution at right-back at Old Trafford.

The 26-year-old has already racked up over 200 senior appearances for the Red Devils since his transfer, but concerns have been raised about his performance levels in 2025/26.

He’s been asked to operate in a more advanced right-wing-back role as a result of Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system – a position in which he’s massively struggled to date.

In his 11 appearances in the Premier League, he’s massively struggled in possession, as seen by his lowly tally of just 2.8 progressive passes completed per 90.

Such a tally ranks him within the bottom 20% of all full-backs in the division this season, further showcasing his lack of impact when in possession this campaign.

Going forward, he’s also massively struggled to impress, as seen by his tally of just 1.7 passes into the final per 90 – which also places him in the bottom 14% of other defenders in the league.

When he gets himself into shooting positions, Dalot has also massively struggled in the Premier League, as seen by his tally of zero shots on target, the joint-worst of any player in the division.

It’s evident that he’s massively struggled to impress since the arrival of his compatriot, with the manager desperately needing to address the situation in such an area.

The star who can end Dalot’s Man Utd career

In an attempt to fix the issues in the wing-back department, Amorim has put faith in Amad Diallo to try and nail the place down as his own in recent months.

The Ivorian, who’s primarily a winger, has managed to impress in the role, with the 23-year-old netting 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions in 2024/25.

In the current season, the youngster has continued to impress, already netting a goal and two assists – with his only goal a tremendous strike in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.

However, the manager could be presented with an issue in the months ahead, with the player set to join up with the Ivory Coast national team for the African Cup of Nations.

Despite the issues, the manager could call upon academy star Bendito Mantato to try and fill the void and solve the long-standing problem in wide areas.

The Englishman joined the academy at the age of nine, subsequently spending his entire youth years with the Red Devils and is now a star performer in the youth ranks.

He’s made three appearances for the U18 squad during the early stages of this season, but has managed to impress – as seen by his tally of three goals and three assists.

Mantato, who started out as a winger, has even played as a full-back for the academy sides, subsequently allowing him to make 11 appearances for the under-21 side this campaign.

As a result of his recent performances, analyst Ben Mattinson has already labelled “explosive” – even touching on his ability to get up and down the pitch with his tireless nature.

Games played

14

Goals & assists

9

Pass accuracy

89%

Successful dribbles

1.1

Tackles made

3.4

Duels won

6.7

Duels won

49%

Fouls won

1.3

The youngster starred in the U18s 7-0 demolition of Liverpool at the weekend, with the wideman finding the net early on to get the ball rolling against their bitter rivals.

At just 17, expectations will no doubt have to be managed by the club and Amorim, but it’s evident that he’s a player with bags of talent and potential for the future.

However, if he does manage to continue his current trajectory, there’s no reason why he can’t replace Dalot in the first-team setup and save the hierarchy millions.

The Portuguese international is certainly on borrowed time at Old Trafford, with the full-back needing a miracle to prevent the hierarchy from looking at options to replace him.

Better than Dorgu: Man Utd plot move to sign 'the world's most coveted LB'

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ByEthan Lamb Dec 2, 2025

The allrounder says he’s not feeling apprehensive ahead of his return to match bowling for the first time in 12 months

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff03-Oct-2025Cameron Green has declared he will not be under any bowling restrictions by the time the Ashes starts, and is up for the challenge of batting at No. 3 as an allrounder.Green hasn’t bowled in a match since undergoing back surgery last October after suffering his fifth stress fracture. That will change this weekend when Green makes his bowling return in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield opener against New South Wales at the WACA ground, starting Saturday.Related

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Green will be restricted to just eight overs for the match, with WA skipper Sam Whiteman needing to manage his overs across the game, but will build up steadily in the ensuing Shield matches and ODIs for Australia.In total, Green expects to play three Shield matches as well as Australia’s ODI series against India before the Ashes begins at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 21.”It’s been a long 12 months, but feeling really good,” Green said on Friday, before adding he was feeling no apprehension ahead of his bowling return. “The body’s in a good place. It’s been a really good rehab journey. I feel stronger, fitter, my action feels good.”It will be eight overs for the [Shield] game. Just a steady build-up. The first Test should be no restrictions. That’s kind of the whole plan of the last year.”That’s why it’s been such a slow build up – so that you’re peaking by the time the Ashes comes around.”Green will bat at No. 4 for WA in their Shield opener despite being the incumbent Test No. 3 having batted in that position in Australia’s last four Tests. Green only averaged 23.50 across those matches but scores of 52, 26, 42 and 46 in tough batting conditions in the Caribbean were worth more in the context of those games.Australia’s selectors have made a point of allowing states to use Test players in whatever batting position they need, even if that is different to their position in the Test team. WA prefer to keep Jayden Goodwin at No. 3 and bat Green at No. 4 given he averages 67.09 from 26 Shield innings in that position for WA with five centuries and six fifties. He also averages 53.60 in six Test innings at No. 4 thanks to his career-best 174 not out against New Zealand last year.But there’s a chance he will remain at No. 3 in the Ashes despite big questions as to whether Green can handle the workload of batting so high in the order and also bowling crucial overs.But with fellow allrounder Beau Webster also in the Test side, Green is confident of being able to bat at first drop.”Shane Watson used to open the batting and bowl,” Green said. “People probably don’t realise how tough that was. Spending so long in the field bowling, and then expected to go out there and bat the last 10 overs of the day for example, is really challenging.”But I think I’m in a bit of a different place. Let’s say I’m batting up the top, and Beau’s batting six, for example – he might take more of the [bowling] load.”Rising star Sam Konstas will be part of a strong NSW line-up for the upcoming match at the WACA, with the opening rounds of the Shield season a huge chance for the 20-year-old to push his case to open in the Ashes.Konstas struggled badly during the 3-0 Test series win in the West Indies, but has since rebounded with some strong displays for Australia A against India A in India.Other contenders looking to push their case to open alongside Usman Khawaja include Marnus Labsuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Jake Weatherald, Marcus Harris, Josh Inglis, Campbell Kellaway, Kurtis Patterson, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft.