Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise onto goalkeeper David Raya for growing into becoming more of a leader in his team.

The Spanish shot-stopper impressed at former club Brentford before joining Arsenal, but he seems to have gone from strength to strength, particularly this season.

As well as being a fine ‘keeper for Arsenal, Raya has started to stand out as a big personality in the Gunners’ squad, and Arteta admits that’s part of the 30-year-old being more settled in his role at the Emirates Stadium now.

Speaking at his press conference earlier today, Arteta was asked about Raya and gave the following response to reporters…

? Mikel Arteta has singled out David Raya for becoming more of a leader at Arsenal ?? pic.twitter.com/5CYIMqwgSN

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 7, 2025

“Personally, things change. I think his role is obviously much more settled,” Arteta said.

“But David has always been a really determined, a really confident person. I think he showed that from the very first minute that he joined the club.”

David Raya forming a key part of rock-solid Arsenal defence

Some might joke that it’s easy being Arsenal’s goalkeeper right now, and it’s probably true that Raya is helped by the fact that he has such a well-drilled back four in front of him.

More Stories / Latest News

Just In: Liverpool & Chelsea target involved in talks to sign ‘significantly improved’ contract

Nov 8 2025, 10:49

Report: Man United and Arsenal lead the race to sign German sensation

Nov 8 2025, 10:35

“I don’t know” – Ruben Amorim issues concerning update on the future of Man United star

Nov 8 2025, 9:34

Arteta has built a really strong defensive line around the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, while others like Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori have also been key, as has the protection from the likes of Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice from midfield.

Raya has also made some great saves for AFC, though, and certainly seems like a vocal and demanding ‘keeper who knows how to help organise the defenders in front of him.

The post “Things change” – Mikel Arteta names the Arsenal star who has become more of a leader appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly informed the club’s owners that a new elite signing in midfield is a must.

The Red Devils have shown some improvement in recent games, winning three and drawing one of their last four.

However, it’s still not been a great season overall for Man Utd, who will want to be back competing as serious Premier League title contenders again.

It’s hard to imagine Amorim being able to do that without better options in midfield, with Casemiro ageing and past his best, while Manuel Ugarte has struggled to impress since moving to Old Trafford last summer.

See below as journalist Indy Kaila has another update on United’s transfer plans, with Amorim supposedly telling the ownership how much he wants an elite midfielder to come in…

High level source at @ManUtd: ??

‘????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?????????? ?? ? ???? ?? ???????’ pic.twitter.com/pPAecXU99t

— indykaila News (@indykaila) November 7, 2025

The reporter also posted images of Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, which suggests they’re two players to watch.

Who are Manchester United’s midfielder targets?

As recently reported here on the Daily Briefing, Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson is emerging as a top target for MUFC ahead of January.

Anderson will also likely have interest from Manchester City and others, while United are also expected to have other options under consideration.

Baleba has been eyed by United in the past, and Fabrizio Romano recently reported via his official YouTube channel that the Brighton and Cameroon midfielder remains one to watch for Amorim’s side.

More Stories / Latest News

Report: Liverpool star exploring move away, “agent is in talks” with three top clubs

Nov 7 2025, 17:00

Report: Liverpool and Tottenham keen on generational talent, but move seems difficult

Nov 7 2025, 16:30

Report: Tottenham prepare January move for 24-year-old tipped to become a “superstar”

Nov 7 2025, 16:00

Romano has also mentioned Wharton in another YouTube video post, so one imagines it will end up being one of those three names that is targeted.

It’s hard to see anyone else who would quite live up to that ‘elite’ label, who would also be realistic and affordable.

Meanwhile, it remains our understanding that Kobbie Mainoo wants to leave, so it will be interesting to see if this happens and a replacement is brought in.

The post “A must” – Ruben Amorim tells Manchester United owners to deliver “elite midfielder” signing appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot made the reporters in his press conference laugh after a slightly confusing and cryptic comment about Dominik Szoboszlai’s improved form in the last few games.

The Hungary international has been a key player since joining the Reds a couple of years ago, but he’s really stepped up to becoming one of the team’s most important players in recent wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid.

You can read tactical analysis of Szoboszlai’s Liverpool role here, and Slot was also asked about ahead of this weekend’s big game against Manchester City.

Watch the video clip below for Slot’s slightly strange response to a question about Szoboszlai’s huge impact in the last two games…

? "You have no clue!" – What did Arne Slot mean by this cryptic response to a question about Dominik Szoboszlai's form? ?? pic.twitter.com/9ubqgba45c

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 7, 2025

Slot praised Szoboszlai for the huge impact he’s made, and admitted he’d been better in the last two games for what he felt were “obvious” reasons, though he refused to elaborate on those reasons.

The LFC boss asked the reporter if he knew what he was talking about, and the reporter responded that he didn’t, which prompted laughter from everyone present.

Slot then went on to praise Szoboszlai’s work ethic off the ball, but it’s hard to know precisely why he gave this initial response to the question.

Can Dominik Szoboszlai help Liverpool beat Manchester City?

Szoboszlai has been in superb form when played centrally this season, and he was also a key part of that successful Liverpool midfield trio alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister that won the title last term.

It will be interesting to see if the 25-year-old can maintain this form this weekend when Liverpool take on Man City at the Etihad Stadium.

More Stories / Latest News

Report: Liverpool star exploring move away, “agent is in talks” with three top clubs

Nov 7 2025, 17:00

Report: Liverpool and Tottenham keen on generational talent, but move seems difficult

Nov 7 2025, 16:30

Report: Tottenham prepare January move for 24-year-old tipped to become a “superstar”

Nov 7 2025, 16:00

This will be a huge challenge, but Liverpool will surely be feeling more confident after such an impressive win over a big name like Real Madrid in midweek.

If Szoboszlai can carry on as he has, then he’ll surely give the Reds a big chance of getting something from their trip to Manchester.

The post “Smarter not to say” – Arne Slot makes cryptic comment about Liverpool star’s improved form appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United centre-back Leny Yoro has singled out Kobbie Mainoo as a “top guy” and one of his closest friends in the Red Devils squad.

Yoro joined Man Utd from Lille last summer, and says he immediately became close with Mainoo, while he also spends a lot of time with other young players at the club, such as Amad Diallo and Ayden Heaven.

Still, there’ll undoubtedly be a few United fans who are interested to see Yoro praising Mainoo in particular amid some uncertainty over his Old Trafford future.

As reported here for the Daily Briefing, Mainoo is struggling for playing time under Ruben Amorim and could look to leave the club on loan this January.

Leny Yoro praises Manchester United teammate Kobbie Mainoo

Speaking about a wide range of topics in an interview with the Daily Mail, Yoro mentioned his friends in the United squad and revealed he’s particularly close with Mainoo.

“When I came here, he (Mainoo) was someone I was with all the time,” the 19-year-old said.

“He’s a top guy. We spend the holiday together. It’s important for us to have this type of relationship.

“I stay more with Kobbie, also Amad (Diallo), he speaks French. (Bryan) Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, Ayden (Heaven), the young guys.

“But I have a good relationship with everyone. The thing that’s good is there is no group of friends in the team. This is just one group of friends.”

Should United let Kobbie Mainoo go?

Mainoo has mostly shone when given a chance in the United team, and there’ll likely be many fans who are keen for him to stay.

It’s a bit surprising to see Amorim continuing to snub the England international, who is the latest in a long line of top players produced by the club’s academy.

More Stories / Latest News

Report: Liverpool star exploring move away, “agent is in talks” with three top clubs

Nov 7 2025, 17:00

Report: Liverpool and Tottenham keen on generational talent, but move seems difficult

Nov 7 2025, 16:30

Report: Tottenham prepare January move for 24-year-old tipped to become a “superstar”

Nov 7 2025, 16:00

If Mainoo were to go and join another big club and get his career back on track, it would surely look very bad for United and for Amorim in particular.

Perhaps the Portuguese tactician will take Yoro’s words on board here, as this is clearly someone who’s popular in the MUFC dressing room.

The post “He’s a top guy” – Man United star praises Red Devils teammate who could soon seal transfer away appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool have reportedly presented an offer worth £65m to Bournemouth for their star forward Antoine Semenyo, who wants to join the Reds.

That’s according to journalist Indy Kaila, who has recently linked Semenyo strongly with the Reds after the Ghana international’s electrifying form in the Premier League.

With six goals and three assists in his first ten league matches so far this season, Semenyo is one of the most in-form attacking players in Europe, and it’s surely only a matter of time before he moves to a bigger club.

Bournemouth notably sold key players like Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez this summer, so one imagines they could be raided once again for a top talent like Semenyo.

See below for Indy Kaila’s latest update on the Semenyo to Liverpool transfer saga…

Exclusive ?

We understand Liverpool have presented a offer to Bournemouth for Antoine Semenyo for around £65m

?? Bournemouth ? will release player if clause in the contract is met

??Special clause for 3 English clubs only

?? Antoine Semenyo wants @LFC move pic.twitter.com/1P93TeEYAn

— indykaila News (@indykaila) November 7, 2025

As you can see, LFC are said to have presented an offer worth £65m to Bournemouth, while the 25-year-old is keen on the potential move.

Still, it seems nothing is done yet, with other clubs also interested, and with Bournemouth demanding that the clause is in his contract is met.

How reliable are the Antoine Semenyo to Liverpool links?

Indy Kaila hasn’t always been known for being that reliable, but in recent months he’s improved his reputation a lot after getting some big stories right in the summer.

He’s now one of the main names pushing the Semenyo to Liverpool story, but it’s perhaps one to take with a bit of a pinch of salt while other outlets aren’t covering it in quite the same way.

There have previously been links with Semenyo from iNews, but nothing as concrete or advanced as an actual bid being made.

? Arne Slot: We beat Villa and Real Madrid because they used the tactics we expect.

What does this guy think a manager's job is…? ? pic.twitter.com/JNOb7PHJiQ

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 7, 2025

More Stories / Latest News

Report: Liverpool star exploring move away, “agent is in talks” with three top clubs

Nov 7 2025, 17:00

Report: Liverpool and Tottenham keen on generational talent, but move seems difficult

Nov 7 2025, 16:30

Report: Tottenham prepare January move for 24-year-old tipped to become a “superstar”

Nov 7 2025, 16:00

Time will tell if this reporter got this right, but it is of course easy to imagine that Liverpool really like Semenyo, and could do with bringing him in as an upgrade on the ageing and out-of-form Mohamed Salah.

Liking a player and going through the formal process of trying to sign him are two very different things, however, so let’s see what this saga looks like when we get closer to January.

The post £65m offer made: Liverpool bid for world class star who “wants” to join appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has rather bizarrely stated that it helps him when his opponents play in a style that he’s expecting.

The Dutch tactician has struggled to replicate the strong start he made at Anfield last season, with Liverpool already losing four games in the Premier League, conceding 14 goals.

At numerous times this season, Slot has spoken about teams changing their playing style against his side, compared to how they set up in his first few months in charge.

Bizarrely enough, it seems the Reds boss still feels this is an issue ahead of the upcoming game with Manchester City.

Arne Slot on Liverpool opponents’ tactics

See below as Slot says he felt it helped Liverpool that both Aston Villa and Real Madrid played in a way that they were expecting, whereas other teams that have beaten his team recently used a different style of play…

? Arne Slot: We beat Villa and Real Madrid because they used the tactics we expect.

What does this guy think a manager's job is…? ? pic.twitter.com/JNOb7PHJiQ

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 7, 2025

“It wasn’t a surprise for me how both games (against Villa and Madrid) went. It was helpful for us that the team did what we expected them to do,” Slot said in his press conference this morning.

“Because in eight out of the ten games I think we’ve played this season, we faced a different playing style than all the games these teams played before.

“But Villa and Real Madrid did what we could expect and I think that’s always helpful.”

Why can’t Arne Slot adapt his tactics?

This doesn’t seem like an ideal thing for a top Premier League manager to be saying, as he surely needs to be prepared for the fact that teams might do things he’s not expecting.

More Stories / Latest News

Report: Liverpool star exploring move away, “agent is in talks” with three top clubs

Nov 7 2025, 17:00

Report: Liverpool and Tottenham keen on generational talent, but move seems difficult

Nov 7 2025, 16:30

Report: Tottenham prepare January move for 24-year-old tipped to become a “superstar”

Nov 7 2025, 16:00

Of course it’s going to be easier if your opponents play to your strengths, but that’s surely not going to happen very often, especially if you admit that trying to adapt to the unexpected basically makes life impossible for you!

What do you make of Slot’s quotes here? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post Arne Slot makes bizarre tactical claim after Liverpool’s wins vs Aston Villa & Real Madrid appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United defender Leny Yoro has revealed that the Red Devils are focusing on getting better at set pieces this season.

Arsenal have really led the way in that department in recent times, becoming known for utilising corners and free-kicks and even long-throws really well.

Yoro has admitted that he’s been impressed with how the Gunners and other teams have got better with their set-piece plays, and he’s suggested that Ruben Amorim is now working on getting his players to achieve something similar.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Yoro discussed a number of topics about United, whom he joined from Lille last summer when he also had other offers.

Leny Yoro on life at Manchester United and a desire to improve at set pieces

Yoro was considered an elite young talent during his time in Ligue 1 and some will have been surprised when he ended up moving to a struggling United side over someone like Real Madrid.

It seems clear that the Frenchman is happy with his choice, however, and he’s now looking to do his best to help the team keep on improving.

“I know Manchester United. I know sometimes you can have a bad season, but this club is a top club so you cannot have doubts about this,” Yoro said.

“I knew the project before I came. Of course, I cannot expect the first year to finish in 15th position. But you have confidence in this club.

More Stories / Latest News

Report: Liverpool star exploring move away, “agent is in talks” with three top clubs

Nov 7 2025, 17:00

Report: Liverpool and Tottenham keen on generational talent, but move seems difficult

Nov 7 2025, 16:30

Report: Tottenham prepare January move for 24-year-old tipped to become a “superstar”

Nov 7 2025, 16:00

“There are some choices you need to make in your career. I had a lot of clubs, not just Madrid or United.”

On United’s set pieces, Yoro added: “You can see with Arsenal, they do really well on this, even the long throw. You can save the game, you can kill your game, so we’re really focused on this.”

It will be interesting to see if MUFC can make this as much of a deadly weapon as Arsenal have in recent times, with Mikel Arteta’s side now arguably favourites for the Premier League title, whereas Amorim’s side would do well to get into the top four.

The post Manchester United star says they’re “really focused” on replicating this Arsenal tactic appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has advised Chelsea’s senior players to question Enzo Maresca’s current policy of heavily rotating his side.

The Blues boss has made the most frequent changes to his starting line up this season, and it seems like it’s hurting the team from time to time.

Chelsea haven’t made the worst start by any means, but there have been some games where they’ve under-achieved and failed to look like a coherent and settled side.

In recent weeks, Maresca’s men have surprisingly lost at home to Sunderland in the Premier League, while this week they slipped up in the Champions League with a 2-2 draw away to minnows Qarabag.

Chelsea players need to challenge Enzo Maresca’s rotation policy, says Wayne Rooney

Speaking to BBC Sport, Rooney made it clear he felt that CFC should not be chopping and changing so much, and that the club’s senior players need to confront Maresca about this.

“The players want to play, they want to build relationships,” he said on the Wayne Rooney Show.

“When you keep chopping and changing then the players won’t be happy. I think that will come back to bite them.

“If they are getting results all the time then you can’t question it but if they’re not, there has to be questions asked.

More Stories / Latest News

“A must” – Ruben Amorim tells Manchester United owners to deliver “elite midfielder” signing

Nov 7 2025, 13:56

“Smarter not to say” – Arne Slot makes cryptic comment about Liverpool star’s improved form

Nov 7 2025, 13:28

“He’s a top guy” – Man United star praises Red Devils teammate who could soon seal transfer away

Nov 7 2025, 11:44

“I think most clubs now have a leadership group and as a group you have to go and question the manager.

“You hear people talk about ‘player power’ but this isn’t player power.

“I’d be concerned if the team kept changing. If i was in that [leadership] group I’d be speaking to my team-mates saying ‘Look, I’m not happy with this’.”

? Enzo Maresca explained his decision to make so many changes to his Chelsea XI as it backfired against Qarabag…?

©?UEFA 2025 pic.twitter.com/6SjerOhN4o

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 6, 2025

Does Enzo Maresca know his best Chelsea XI?

One problem for Maresca is that he’s so often had to work with such a big squad at Chelsea.

This current Blues ownership have spent vast sums of money on new signings each summer, with a long list of names joining again this year.

According to the Guardian, the ownership are backing Maresca’s current rotation policy, and it’s certainly hard to know how else the Italian tactician could manage things.

Chelsea need to compete in a variety of competitions, but that also means keeping players fresh, and giving opportunities to as many players as possible, both to keep them happy and to work out who most deserves a regular place.

The post “Question the manager” – Rooney urges Chelsea players to confront Maresca over key issue appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool remain interested in the potential transfer of Newcastle United central defender Sven Botman, who is also being tracked by Chelsea.

As first reported in my exclusive here for the Daily Briefing, Botman’s fine form at Newcastle has attracted interest from both Liverpool and Chelsea.

The Reds have monitored the Dutchman closely and could make a move, according to my sources, while Chelsea have also been mentioned as suitors.

However, the catch is that Newcastle also really want to keep Botman and are expected to hold talks over a new contract with the 25-year-old very soon as it’s a top priority for new sporting director Ross Wilson.

Sven Botman transfer situation explained – can Newcastle keep hold of Liverpool and Chelsea target?

Speaking to well-connected sources in the industry, it seems likely that Newcastle will do all they can to keep Botman, even if the interest from Liverpool and Chelsea is there.

“There’s been a delay to sorting out a new contract for Botman due to the change in sporting director at Newcastle,” one source told me.

“But a new deal for Botman is one of Ross Wilson’s top priorities. Newcastle are calm about the situation. They don’t want to sell, and he’s yet to signal that he wants to leave.”

Sven Botman could fit in well at Liverpool or Chelsea

Sources also told me: “Slot sees Botman as someone who’d fit in well. Liverpool have monitored him closely and could make a move.”

Another said: “Chelsea have been tracking Botman for a while.”

More Stories / Latest News

“A must” – Ruben Amorim tells Manchester United owners to deliver “elite midfielder” signing

Nov 7 2025, 13:56

“Smarter not to say” – Arne Slot makes cryptic comment about Liverpool star’s improved form

Nov 7 2025, 13:28

“He’s a top guy” – Man United star praises Red Devils teammate who could soon seal transfer away

Nov 7 2025, 11:44

The Blues need an upgrade on unconvincing performers like Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo, so Botman could be an ideal fit.

The Magpies ace could also fit in well in Arne Slot’s side if Ibrahima Konate ends up leaving the club when his contract expires this summer.

The post Sources: Liverpool “could make a move” for Chelsea transfer target as important talks planned appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea are reportedly emerging as potential transfer suitors for Real Madrid central defender Antonio Rudiger as he nears the end of his contract.

The experienced Germany international is set to become a free agent in summer 2026, and it remains to be seen if he’s staying at the Bernabeu.

It seems Real Madrid are open to re-starting contract talks with Rudiger, though he’s also someone who’s always stayed on the radar of his former club Chelsea, according to Marca.

The report notes that the Blues have never fully closed the door on bringing Rudiger back for a second spell, though it remains to be seen how likely this actually is.

Antonio Rudiger was a star at Chelsea but would he fit their current transfer philosophy?

Rudiger was undoubtedly a star player during his time at Stamford Bridge, helping them win the Champions League in 2021, but it’s perhaps hard to see him coming back now.

Even if it would be a popular move for most Blues fans, it isn’t the kind of deal that fits in with what the club’s current owners are trying to do.

The 32-year-old is surely past his peak, and will be 33 next season, so CFC will surely continue to prioritise younger players who they can sign on long-term contracts.

Chelsea need a new centre-back

Chelsea could do with an experienced old head like Rudiger, but the truth is that they just need almost anyone who can come in and give them an upgrade on their current defensive options.

More Stories / Latest News

“A must” – Ruben Amorim tells Manchester United owners to deliver “elite midfielder” signing

Nov 7 2025, 13:56

“Smarter not to say” – Arne Slot makes cryptic comment about Liverpool star’s improved form

Nov 7 2025, 13:28

“He’s a top guy” – Man United star praises Red Devils teammate who could soon seal transfer away

Nov 7 2025, 11:44

Enzo Maresca cannot be relying on the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo for much longer, while Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana have also been slightly disappointing.

Rudiger could perhaps do a similar job to Thiago Silva for Chelsea, who played on until his late 30s, but one imagines they’ll instead focus on players closer to their peak years.

The post Report: Chelsea have not ruled out re-signing world class star from their CL-winning side appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice arguably has a bit more to his game even than recent Ballon d’Or winner Rodri of Manchester City, according to Jody Morris.

The Gunners splashed the cash to sign Rice from West Ham in the summer of 2023, and it’s proven a great piece of business for them as he’s been a consistently world class performer at the Emirates Stadium.

Rodri won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 for his performances for Man City, but former Chelsea man Morris actually thinks Rice has even more qualities.

Rice is undoubtedly up there now in the conversation about the best midfielders in the world, with Morris discussing how he compares to Rodri and also to Chelsea’s in-form midfield man Moises Caicedo.

Declan Rice is world class, says former Chelsea midfielder

Speaking to the Metro about Rice, Morris said: “For me, that type of midfielder, I think Rodri was the pinnacle when he won the Ballon d’Or.

“He hasn’t quite hit those levels [since] because of injury. I think he’s slightly different to Rice. I think Rice has a little bit more going forward.

“Rice can play as a No.6 at a really top-class level but I think you’re taking a little bit away from what he can offer when you get him to stay there.

“At the end of last season, and this season, he plays more as a No.8. But I think he’s right up there.”

Who’s better out of Rice and Caicedo?

Chelsea fans will no doubt feel that Caicedo is the better player, but Arsenal fans would surely not swap Rice for anyone.

Morris, despite his Blues bias, has simply stated that both of them are world class.

Singing Caicedo’s praises, he said: “I think Rice is a world-class player, I think Caicedo is a world-class player. Gravenberch, his levels last year, you have to say he had to be in the Team of the Year.”

On Caicedo, he added that he was well worth the big money CFC paid for him, saying: “Anyone who costs over £100m, you’re always going to have an extra focus on how well they do. But I certainly think he’s worth more than what we paid for him based on the level of his performances.

“Last season, he was outstanding. He’s even more confident this season when in possession.

More Stories / Latest News

“A must” – Ruben Amorim tells Manchester United owners to deliver “elite midfielder” signing

Nov 7 2025, 13:56

“Smarter not to say” – Arne Slot makes cryptic comment about Liverpool star’s improved form

Nov 7 2025, 13:28

“He’s a top guy” – Man United star praises Red Devils teammate who could soon seal transfer away

Nov 7 2025, 11:44

“Not only is he producing goals, some of the passes he’s picking and his all-round display is that of an all-action midfielder.

“He’s not just a destroyer who intercepts and upsets the rhythm of the opposition. He’s going to break teams further up the pitch, like with the goal against Tottenham.

“For me he is phenomenal and he’s only going to get better. He’s becoming a leader in the dressing room.

“I don’t think you could pick anyone who’s performing better than him at the moment at Chelsea.”

Who would you pick out of Rice and Caicedo? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post Pundit claims Arsenal star “has a little bit more” than recent Ballon d’Or winner appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly ready to bring Jadon Sancho back to the club for a third spell if he leaves Manchester United on a free transfer next summer.

The 25-year-old winger has had a nightmare spell at Man Utd, proving one of their worst flops of recent times considering the amount they paid for him and the hype and excitement that surrounded his arrival.

Sancho is currently on loan at Aston Villa and struggling to play regularly there, having also been out on loan at Chelsea last season in a mostly underwhelming spell.

Previously, however, Sancho looked like an elite talent as a youngster at Dortmund, and he did well there in a second spell on loan.

According to Football Insider, the Bundesliga giants are now keen to sign him again, but only if he becomes a free agent.

Jadon Sancho could leave Manchester United on a free transfer

It looks like Sancho’s time at United is coming to an end, with the former England international due to be out of contract at the end of this season.

The Red Devils have an option to extend his deal by one more year, but a recent report from talkSPORT claimed that they were leaning towards simply letting his current contract run out in summer 2026.

Dortmund could be keen to sign Sancho again if he’s available without them having to pay a transfer fee, which they perhaps understandably view as too much of a gamble.

More Stories / Latest News

£65m offer made: Liverpool bid for world class star who “wants” to join

Nov 7 2025, 11:11

Arne Slot makes bizarre tactical claim after Liverpool’s wins vs Aston Villa & Real Madrid

Nov 7 2025, 10:52

Manchester United star says they’re “really focused” on replicating this Arsenal tactic

Nov 7 2025, 10:29

Sancho may have shone with BVB in the past, but his recent form has been so disappointing, that it’s not too surprising that they’re not prepared to pay a fee for him.

MUFC fans will no doubt hope Sancho can just move on as quickly as possible, as there seems little point in keeping him on their books for one more year as it’s proven so hard to shift him and get his high wages off their wage bill.

The post Euro giants ready to gamble with Man United transfer raid on one condition appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea have reportedly made an enquiry for Como attacking midfielder and Real Madrid transfer target Nico Paz.

We’ve previously reported on Paz being a Chelsea target, and it now seems their plans to move for the Argentina international have been confirmed.

Paz has shone during his time in Serie A and it’s not too surprising to see that the 21-year-old is now on Chelsea’s radar as they continue their policy of recruiting the best young players in world football.

According to TBR Football, CFC have made an enquiry about Paz, but it looks like Real Madrid have the advantage in the race for his signature.

Real Madrid lead Chelsea in race for Nico Paz transfer

Paz was previously on Los Blancos’ books, and they have a buy-back clause for the young playmaker, who is also said to be keen to return and prove himself at the Bernabeu, according to TBR’s report.

This clearly won’t be an easy deal for Chelsea, but it will be interesting to see if the Blues continue to push to try to turn his head away from a move back to the Spanish capital.

Paz looks like he could be a great fit at Stamford Bridge, giving Enzo Maresca another top creative option to ensure he’s not too reliant on Cole Palmer, while it remains to be seen if loan signing Facundo Buonanotte will stay at the club permanently.

? Enzo Maresca explained his decision to make so many changes to his Chelsea XI as it backfired against Qarabag…?

©?UEFA 2025 pic.twitter.com/6SjerOhN4o

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 6, 2025

More Stories / Latest News

£65m offer made: Liverpool bid for world class star who “wants” to join

Nov 7 2025, 11:11

Arne Slot makes bizarre tactical claim after Liverpool’s wins vs Aston Villa & Real Madrid

Nov 7 2025, 10:52

Manchester United star says they’re “really focused” on replicating this Arsenal tactic

Nov 7 2025, 10:29

Still, if Paz has already made up his mind about going back to Real Madrid, then perhaps Chelsea are wasting their time.

Even if CFC are a huge club, it’s hard for even many of the biggest names to compete with the history and prestige of Real Madrid, so you can’t exactly blame Paz for making them his priority for his next move.

The post Report confirms Chelsea are doing what they can to beat Real Madrid to world class playmaker appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Tottenham are reportedly lining up a move for a “statement signing” in upcoming transfer windows, which could threaten Chelsea’s plans.

A recent report from Fichajes claimed that Chelsea are interested in Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes, a player they value at around £70m.

Still, it seems Tottenham could also be one to watch in the race for the Brazil international, as they’re looking to make a big splash in the transfer market.

That’s according to Dean Jones of TEAMtalk, with the transfer expert explaining that we’re likely to see Spurs try for a marquee addition to their squad.

He mentioned Rodrygo as one possible name, though it won’t necessarily be an easy deal to get done.

Tottenham linked with Rodrygo as they eye statement signing

Rodrygo isn’t currently playing regularly for Real Madrid, but he’s previously shone for Los Blancos, showing that he could surely be a good option for a number of top clubs in the Premier League and elsewhere in Europe.

Tottenham fans would surely be excited to welcome the 24-year-old, with Thomas Frank in need of a bit more spark and quality up front.

Discussing Spurs’ transfer plans, Jones explained: “Before the January transfer window opens, I think we will get a better realisation of how high Tottenham are ready to set the bar when it comes to making new signings.

“It is a difficult window to make a statement signing, but I would expect us to get a good idea soon of their intent in terms of where they are going to take the club in 2026 and beyond.

“I already reported about the wide attacking targets being an area of priority, and that absolutely is the case, and they have been drawing up names over the past two weeks. But even as part of that, they realise that some of the names are probably going to be off-limits in the next transfer window.

“I really think Spurs will seek to make some of the biggest signings in their history. They have to be careful as part of that because there will be a chance that with new investment comes a new premium that you are asked to pay for talent.

“But if the likes of Rodrygo at Real Madrid or Yildiz at Juve become a genuine possibility in January or in the summer, then I think Spurs will put themselves in the picture.”

Where next for Rodrygo?

As already mentioned, Chelsea could also be in the mix for Rodrygo, so who would he choose if it came down to the Blues or Spurs?

If Rodrygo wants to play more regular first-team football, then Tottenham would surely be the better choice, as it’s easy to see him becoming a key player there and having the attack built around him.

Rodrygo would be a clear upgrade on the likes of Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, so it seems like a no-brainer that he’d immediately be an automatic starter in Frank’s side.

More Stories / Latest News

£65m offer made: Liverpool bid for world class star who “wants” to join

Nov 7 2025, 11:11

Arne Slot makes bizarre tactical claim after Liverpool’s wins vs Aston Villa & Real Madrid

Nov 7 2025, 10:52

Manchester United star says they’re “really focused” on replicating this Arsenal tactic

Nov 7 2025, 10:29

Chelsea, however, might be seen as the more tempting project, as Enzo Maresca’s side are probably a safer bet in terms of regularly finishing in the top four and competing for major trophies.

That could appeal to Rodrygo, but there’d also be a lot more competition at Stamford Bridge due to the presence of so many other attacking players such as Joao Pedro, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Pedro Neto, and Estevao Willian.

The post “Statement signing” lined up by Tottenham as they eye £70m Chelsea transfer target appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United are understood to have held some talks with Real Madrid over a loan transfer for Brazilian forward Endrick.

However, as first reported here for the Daily Briefing, one key issue was that Man Utd wanted to have the option to make the deal permanent, which Real were absolutely not prepared to discuss.

Los Blancos’ talks with the Red Devils now look to have fallen through, with Endrick instead looking likely to head out to Lyon on a straightforward loan deal.

Endrick has struggled for playing time at the Bernabeu and he’ll surely want to be playing regular first-team football to aid his development.

It seems Real also want that for the 19-year-old, who could then return to the Spanish capital with more experience and challenge for a place next season.

Manchester United looked at Endrick as they target forward transfer

As my sources told me, United seriously considered Endrick due to wanting a signing up front this January amid doubts over Joshua Zirkzee.

“United officials engaged in behind-the-scenes talks with their counterparts at Madrid,” my source told me.

“Endrick is one of the players they’ve been looking at for January, but they wanted the option to make the move permanent. Real Madrid only wanted a straight loan, and so now it’s Lyon leading the race.”

More Stories / Latest News

Tottenham made aware of 25-year-old target’s demands ahead of January window

Nov 6 2025, 18:29

Report: Tottenham join three-way tussle with Villa and Newcastle for Brazilian ace

Nov 6 2025, 16:55

Report: Tottenham to battle Crystal Palace for €50m-rated German powerhouse

Nov 6 2025, 16:38

As also reported on the Daily Briefing before, it looks like Zirkzee will seek a way out of United this winter, and the club could let him go, though only if they can bring in a replacement.

It will be interesting to see how Ruben Amorim’s front line looks after January, but it certainly seems like the team would benefit from some change after a slow start made by summer signing Benjamin Sesko.

The post Sources: “They wanted…” – Man United & Real Madrid transfer talks collapse appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has explained one big thing going in his favour this season that wasn’t the case for him last term.

When asked in his press conference today about Man Utd’s improved injury record so far in this campaign, Amorim made it clear that the key difference for his side now is the extra time off due to a lack of European football in midweek.

The Red Devils were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup early, which, although not ideal, does seem to have helped the team a bit as it’s meant more of a break between games and more time for Amorim to work with his players on the training ground.

We now seem to be seeing that pay off for United, who look to be improving and playing Amorim’s style of football better than they were.

Ruben Amorim on benefits of Manchester United having more time off

When asked about the team’s improved fitness this season, Amorim said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News: “I think the big reason is one game every week. You can give an extra day to the players that you know that could struggle in the next training, so I think that is the big reason.”

It will certainly be interesting to see how this helps United as the season goes on, especially as their other rivals going for the title and the top four have more games in their schedule.

More Stories / Latest News

Tottenham made aware of 25-year-old target’s demands ahead of January window

Nov 6 2025, 18:29

Report: Tottenham join three-way tussle with Villa and Newcastle for Brazilian ace

Nov 6 2025, 16:55

Report: Tottenham to battle Crystal Palace for €50m-rated German powerhouse

Nov 6 2025, 16:38

Liverpool have already shown signs of struggling with such a hefty workload, while Arsenal’s form has remained good but they have numerous key players out injured.

Tottenham are up next for United, and they’ve been pretty inconsistent so far, putting in some decent displays in the Champions League, which they qualified for after beating United in last season’s Europa League final, but with some disappointing results in the Premier League so far, particularly home defeats to Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Chelsea.

The post “I think the big reason…” – Amorim explains one big difference between Man United this season and last season appeared first on CaughtOffside.

One Leeds United player has been given some advice on his attitude after failing to make it to the national team squad once again.

That player is 25-year-old winger Noah Okafor, who continues to be snubbed by Switzerland manager Murat Yakin despite being in the Premier League and having a decent impact at Elland Road.

Okafor previously looked like an elite young talent at former club AC Milan, but it hasn’t quite worked out that way for him as he is now at a club fighting for survival in the English top flight.

It seems Yakin wants more from Okafor, as he explained his decision to once again snub him for an international call-up.

Noah Okafor told how he can improve and regain Switzerland place

Okafor has 24 caps and two goals for the Swiss national team, so one imagines there might be a place for him again at some point in the future.

However, it’s also clear that Yakin is prepared to set high standards and make an example of a big name.

More Stories / Latest News

Tottenham made aware of 25-year-old target’s demands ahead of January window

Nov 6 2025, 18:29

Report: Tottenham join three-way tussle with Villa and Newcastle for Brazilian ace

Nov 6 2025, 16:55

Report: Tottenham to battle Crystal Palace for €50m-rated German powerhouse

Nov 6 2025, 16:38

Discussing how Okafor can get back into the fold, he said: “I’ve spoken with Okafor repeatedly, telling him what I expect from him on and off the pitch. I hope my words eventually get through to him.

“We’ll continue to monitor him. Attacking players are also measured by their goalscoring [record]. Those who are currently in the squad have an advantage over Okafor in that regard.”

The post Manager wants better attitude from Leeds player appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool look like they made a massive mistake in this summer’s transfer window when they decided to let Luis Diaz join Bayern Munich whilst spending huge sums on rebuilding their attack.

The Reds were superb as they won the Premier League title last season, with Diaz playing a key part as he scored 13 league goals in 36 appearances.

Surprisingly, Diaz was allowed to leave Liverpool for Bayern for just £65m, while the Merseyside giants splashed the cash on new attacking players who just haven’t clicked at all.

See below as Diaz is now on ten goals in all competitions this season, more than Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, and Florian Wirtz combined…

Liverpool sold Luis Diaz to Bayern this summer and spent £300m on new attacking players.

The result?

Diaz – 10 goals
Ekitike – 6 goals
Isak – 1 goal
Wirtz – 0 goals pic.twitter.com/aPUmah1VIt

— Mark Brus (@MarkBrusCOS) November 6, 2025

Ekitike has started well for LFC since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt, but so far the huge sums of money spent on Isak and Wirtz has looked like a colossal waste.

Isak has not been fully fit and has just one goal to his name, while Wirtz is yet to score at all. These are players that cost £125m and £113m, respectively.

Can Liverpool’s misfiring forwards turn things around?

Although Arne Slot’s side are back to winning ways with two victories on the bounce against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, there have been major concerns all over the pitch this season.

Not only is Diaz out-scoring Liverpool’s new attackers, but he also has more than Mohamed Salah (5) and Cody Gakpo (4) so far, with those two under-performing in comparison to what we saw from them last season.

There’ll now be plenty of their fans wondering how to buy Manchester City vs Liverpool tickets for the big game at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, whilst also preparing themselves for a potential bloodbath that could all but end their title hopes before we’re even midway through November.

Liverpool have conceded 24 goals in all competitions already, and you have to fear what the in-form Erling Haaland could do to them this weekend.

In happier times, the Reds could perhaps have hoped for their front-line to bail them out, but it doesn’t look like that’s happening right now.

More Stories / Latest News

Tottenham made aware of 25-year-old target’s demands ahead of January window

Nov 6 2025, 18:29

Report: Tottenham join three-way tussle with Villa and Newcastle for Brazilian ace

Nov 6 2025, 16:55

Report: Tottenham to battle Crystal Palace for €50m-rated German powerhouse

Nov 6 2025, 16:38

Perhaps we’ll soon see the best of Isak once he gets up to full fitness, but how much longer can Liverpool wait for Wirtz to settle in and finally look like a £100m-plus player?

In Diaz, Liverpool had a proven Premier League player who contributed high numbers of goals and assists every season. How they could do with someone like him in their line up this weekend.

The post Embarrassment for Liverpool as player they sold is out-scoring £300m’s worth of new signings appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool could reportedly be set to miss out on the transfer of Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano, whose agent is in a meeting with Real Madrid right now.

That’s according to journalist Indy Kaila, who says the France international’s representatives are currently meeting with Real Madrid officials.

This is despite Upamecano also being linked with Liverpool, as reported exclusively here via the Daily Briefing recently, along with numerous other outlets.

See the X post below for the latest on Upamecano’s situation, as he perhaps now seems to be leaning towards Madrid as he nears the end of his contract at the Allianz Arena…

Dayot Upamecano’s agent with Real Madrid officials.

The meeting take place now.

— indykaila News (@indykaila) November 6, 2025

Upamecano could be a superb signing for Real on a free transfer, with the 27-year-old performing at an exceptionally high level for Bayern in recent years.

Dayot Upamecano transfer update could be mixed news for Liverpool

Upamecano moving to Real over Liverpool might not actually be entirely bad news for the Reds due to their own situation with Ibrahima Konate coming towards the end of his contract.

Konate has been a key player in the LFC defence in recent times, and it remains to be seen if he’ll sign a new deal.

However, if Los Blancos are holding talks over signing Upamecano, it could mean that Konate won’t get the chance to move to the Bernabeu, which might therefore persuade him to put pen to paper on a new deal at Anfield instead.

More Stories / Latest News

“I think the big reason…” – Amorim explains one big difference between Man United this season and last season

Nov 6 2025, 13:55

Manager wants better attitude from Leeds player

Nov 6 2025, 13:38

Embarrassment for Liverpool as player they sold is out-scoring £300m’s worth of new signings

Nov 6 2025, 13:21

As reported on the Daily Briefing, there have been concerns about Konate’s future in recent times, with Madrid looking at him after also considering Arsenal’s William Saliba until he ended up signing a new contract at the Emirates Stadium.

Upamecano is another strong option for Real, though, so it will be interesting to see if Konate ends up with any other potential suitors in the weeks and months ahead.

The post “Meeting” taking place “now” as Liverpool transfer target takes major step towards next move appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Inter Milan are reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa and there’s a belief they could get a deal done on the cheap.

Konsa has been a key player for Villa in the last few years, and it’s also seen him break into the England squad.

It could now earn him a big move to an elite European side as Inter are said to be keen on the 28-year-old, who could be available for just €35m, according to L’Interista.

Konsa looks like he could surely make the step up to playing for someone like Inter, and he’ll likely be tempted by the opportunity, which could be bad news for Villa’s hopes of keeping him.

Aston Villa to lose Ezri Konsa after other major player sales?

Villa have endured frustration in the transfer market at times in recent times, having been under pressure to cash in on players to keep in line with the Premier League’s PSR laws.

This saw AVFC let Douglas Luiz go to Juventus last summer, while Jhon Duran then left for Al Nassr in January, followed by Jacob Ramsey being sold to Newcastle United this year.

Konsa isn’t getting any younger, so it might also make sense for Villa to cash in on him now, even if €35m isn’t that much for someone who’s been really important in Unai Emery’s squad.

More Stories / Latest News

“I think the big reason…” – Amorim explains one big difference between Man United this season and last season

Nov 6 2025, 13:55

Manager wants better attitude from Leeds player

Nov 6 2025, 13:38

Embarrassment for Liverpool as player they sold is out-scoring £300m’s worth of new signings

Nov 6 2025, 13:21

Villa fans will no doubt hope they keep Konsa, but Inter’s interest will surely be a concern, and it will be interesting to see how this saga develops in the weeks and months ahead.

If Villa do end up selling Konsa for €35m then it could help fund the signing of a replacement in defence, but it surely won’t be easy to find someone who can replicate what he’s brought to the team.

The post Euro giants believe they could sign Aston Villa star for bargain fee appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United are reportedly eyeing up an exciting potential transfer move for highly-rated Bahia wonderkid striker Dell.

The 17-year-old Brazilian is drawing comparisons with Manchester City and Norway front-man Erling Haaland, with the Red Devils scouting him extensively in recent times.

It seems Man Utd have received positive feedback after officials travelled to watch Dell, and they now look the favourites to win the race for his signature.

One imagines United might need to move fast if they want to snap up Dell, who is impressing at youth level and who is sure to soon have other big European clubs chasing him.

Can Manchester United win the race for Dell transfer?

United spent many years over-spending on failed superstar signings in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, but they seem to be doing their bit to smarten up their recruitment now.

MUFC fans will no doubt hope this means they can identify the best young players like Dell before their rivals, and land them without having to spend a fortune.

Of course for now most United fans will be focusing on how to buy tickets for Tottenham vs Man United in the Premier League this weekend, but modern supporters also always have one eye on the latest transfer news.

While Ruben Amorim’s side will likely be linked with other more familiar names, it seems Dell is now another one well worth keeping an eye on.

Dell to be the next Brazilian success story in the Premier League?

Dell could be following other Brazilian wonderkids who’ve recently made their name moving to English football at a young age.

We’re seeing Estevao Willian tearing it up at Chelsea this season, while Andrey Santos will surely be another on the Blues’ books to watch out for this season.

Going further back, we’ve also seen Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus moving to the Premier League at a young age and developing into top players for big clubs.

More Stories / Latest News

“I think the big reason…” – Amorim explains one big difference between Man United this season and last season

Nov 6 2025, 13:55

Manager wants better attitude from Leeds player

Nov 6 2025, 13:38

Embarrassment for Liverpool as player they sold is out-scoring £300m’s worth of new signings

Nov 6 2025, 13:21

It will be interesting to see if Dell can also enjoy success like that if he moves to United, or if he’ll struggle like we’ve seen Endrick struggle since moving from Palmeiras to Real Madrid.

Vitor Roque also moved to Europe at a young age and flopped at Barcelona, though he’s improved since returning to Brazil and he’s now another Brazilian forward being linked with a move to the Premier League with Chelsea.

The post The new Erling Haaland? Man United officials travel ahead of potential goal machine transfer bid appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella is reportedly set to become a top transfer target for Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2026.

The Blues surely won’t want to lose Cucurella after his improved form in the last year or so, but it seems he’s firmly on Atletico’s radar.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Diego Simeone’s side may even be preparing a €40m bid for Cucurella, though one imagines Chelsea would want a lot more than that to even consider a sale.

The Spain international has become an important player for Chelsea despite initially making a bit of a slow start when he first joined from Brighton.

Jorrel Hato is now another option at left-back since moving to CFC from Ajax this summer, but Cucurella looks like he remains Enzo Maresca’s first choice, so is a sale really at all realistic?

Could Marc Cucurella leave Chelsea for Atletico Madrid?

Fichajes explain that Atletico want a new left-back and view Cucurella as a potentially crucial addition for their project.

While that may well be true, it doesn’t mean much if Chelsea don’t want to sell the 27-year-old, so it will be interesting to see if this saga really progresses anywhere.

One imagines there might be a price that would make Chelsea think about cashing in on Cucurella, but it would surely be a lot higher than the €40m Atletico are said to be preparing to offer.

More Stories / Latest News

“I think the big reason…” – Amorim explains one big difference between Man United this season and last season

Nov 6 2025, 13:55

Manager wants better attitude from Leeds player

Nov 6 2025, 13:38

Embarrassment for Liverpool as player they sold is out-scoring £300m’s worth of new signings

Nov 6 2025, 13:21

Another factor that will be important is Cucurella himself – if he wants to move back to Spain then perhaps he’ll push for Chelsea to accept any Atletico bid for him.

Overall, though, this report is from a slightly speculative source and just doesn’t quite seem to add up to anything that seems particularly concrete or likely, unless a lot changes in the months ahead.

The post Bid prepared: Club ready to pay €40m to sign important Chelsea star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

I’ve reported here before about Kobbie Mainoo looking likely to leave Manchester United this January, and I’ve been given further information about the clubs pursuing him.

With Mainoo continuing to struggle for regular playing time under Ruben Amorim, it is widely expected that the England international will push to leave Old Trafford this winter, even if the line from the club is that they don’t want to let him leave, having prevented him from doing so in the summer.

However, as first reported in my latest Daily Briefing exclusive, it looks highly unlikely Mainoo will back down on this. “They stopped him leaving in the summer, but make no mistake, he wants out, and the club know that,” one source told me this morning.

Having spoken further to other well-connected figures close to the agents industry, I can also reveal as many as ten clubs want Mainoo this January, with varying degrees of interest.

Napoli lead Kobbie Mainoo transfer race, but Premier League an option too

As others have reported, and as I mentioned last month, there is strong and concrete interest from Napoli. They wanted Mainoo in the summer and it’s still felt that they’re leading the race for his signature.

However, I can also add nine names to that list. They are as follows:

• Chelsea
• Tottenham
• Manchester City
• Newcastle United
• Leeds United
• Everton
• Barcelona
• Real Madrid
• Atletico Madrid

Chelsea are also long-time admirers of Mainoo and we’ve seen them raid United in recent times for the likes of Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho. I can’t confirm this for now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Mainoo’s name has come up in previous contacts between the two teams.

Leeds showed an interest in a loan in the summer, but it never got to an advanced stage, while some of my sources also indicated that the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle have cooled their interest.

The interest from La Liga’s big three is genuine, with Atletico understood to be showing the strongest interest, though Real and Barca are also aware of Mainoo’s situation and keeping an eye on how it develops.

With Conor Gallagher possibly being set to leave Atletico, there could be room for Mainoo to come in as a replacement, but rivals Real are widely reported as prioritising another profile of midfielder.

Will United regret letting Mainoo go?

United fans may well be concerned by the prospect of a talented homegrown player being allowed to leave, but it would most likely just be a loan for now.

Still, it’s hard to see Mainoo having a future at Old Trafford as things stand, with Amorim simply not giving him enough opportunities.

The Portuguese tactician has defended and praised Mainoo publicly, but the player is understood to be “baffled” by the fact that this has not led to more chances to show what he can do.

More Stories / Latest News

“I think the big reason…” – Amorim explains one big difference between Man United this season and last season

Nov 6 2025, 13:55

Manager wants better attitude from Leeds player

Nov 6 2025, 13:38

Embarrassment for Liverpool as player they sold is out-scoring £300m’s worth of new signings

Nov 6 2025, 13:21

Casemiro’s improved recent form will undoubtedly have helped his cause, but there’s arguably still room for Mainoo to play ahead of someone like Manuel Ugarte from time to time.

If Mainoo leaves permanently and ends up shining for another major European club it’s going to look rather embarrassing again for the Red Devils, who have seen the likes of Scott McTominay, Rasmus Hojlund and Antony improve a great deal after leaving.

The post “Make no mistake…” – Source vows Man United star will push for transfer away this January appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has made the rather bold claim that Trent Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool for an inferior team by moving to Real Madrid this summer.

The England international ran down his contract at Anfield and ended up moving to the Bernabeu, though it didn’t take too long for him to return for a reunion with his former club.

Alexander-Arnold was booed by Liverpool fans when he played for Madrid in their game in the Champions League this week.

This was met with criticism from the pundits on this week’s episode of The Overlap, but Scholes also mentioned that he felt Alexander-Arnold made the wrong move anyway.

Trent Alexander-Arnold told he left Liverpool for a worse team

During the discussion about Alexander-Arnold and his reception from Liverpool fans, Scholes said: “He probably left a better team to go to a worse team.”

While it perhaps seems a bit foolish to write off Real Madrid, it’s certainly not been the most convincing start to the season for Xabi Alonso’s side.

As well as losing 1-0 to Liverpool, Los Blancos suffered a humiliating 5-2 defeat to rivals Atletico Madrid earlier this season.

Then again, LFC haven’t exactly been doing great recently, even if their worst run of form now looks to be behind them as they followed a run of six defeats from seven with two victories in a row.

More Stories / Latest News

“I think the big reason…” – Amorim explains one big difference between Man United this season and last season

Nov 6 2025, 13:55

Manager wants better attitude from Leeds player

Nov 6 2025, 13:38

Embarrassment for Liverpool as player they sold is out-scoring £300m’s worth of new signings

Nov 6 2025, 13:21

Overall, Alexander-Arnold will probably feel some justification in making the choice he did, as he must have wanted a new challenge after so many years at Liverpool.

The 27-year-old was also able to go out on a high, winning the Premier League title in his final year with the club, while he’ll now likely feel Real can still be contenders for major trophies such as the Champions League this term.

The post Paul Scholes makes big claim about Trent Alexander-Arnold Real Madrid transfer decision appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has reportedly given the club a list of four midfielders he’d like to sign, including big names at Liverpool and Chelsea.

Real lost 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield in this week’s big Champions League game, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring the winner in an impressive display against Alonso’s side.

It now seems the Spanish tactician is keen to add the Argentina international to his squad in what looks like something of a problem position at the Bernabeu.

That’s according to Fichajes, who note that Madrid previously wanted Martin Zubimendi before he went to Arsenal, while his attention has now switched to Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Adam Wharton, and Vitinha.

Can Real Madrid prise Alexis Mac Allister away from Liverpool?

Mac Allister has been a key player for Liverpool, so it surely won’t be easy for Los Blancos to persuade the Reds to sell.

The 26-year-old does look, however, like he’d be an ideal fit for this Madrid team, with Alonso lacking someone who can dictate the play like that in the middle of the park.

LFC fans will no doubt hope Mac Allister stays and continues to play a part in the team’s success, as it would really sting to lose another big name to Real after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure this summer.

More Stories / Latest News

Euro giants believe they could sign Aston Villa star for bargain fee

Nov 6 2025, 11:16

The new Erling Haaland? Man United officials travel ahead of potential goal machine transfer bid

Nov 6 2025, 10:48

Tonali namechecks Isak when speaking about leaving Newcastle

Nov 6 2025, 10:26

Who’d be the ideal midfield signing for Real Madrid?

Fernandez, Wharton and Vitinha also look like they could do an important job in Alonso’s side, so who would be the best one for the job?

Looking at the graphic below from DataMB, it seems Vitinha is by far the best player on the list in terms of his creativity and passing in particular…

Still, given that Vitinha is a key player for PSG, he’s perhaps not the most realistic target, whereas someone like Wharton will surely be seeking a big move away from Crystal Palace before too long.

Mac Allister has the best defensive stats, though, so might make the most sense as an ideal all-rounder for that role.

The post Xabi Alonso asks Real Madrid to sign Liverpool & Chelsea stars after UCL defeat at Anfield appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool are reportedly among the suitors for Juventus attacking midfielder Kenan Yildiz, along with their Premier League rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

The Turkey international is establishing himself as one of the most exciting young players in world football, and it could be tricky for Juve to keep hold of him.

Still, it seems talks over a new Juventus contract have been scheduled to take place once certain structural changes are made at the club, according to a report from TEAMtalk.

The report notes that Yildiz has previously expressed a desire to stay at Juventus, but one imagines the delay in sorting out a new deal could be a boost for the likes of Liverpool.

Kenan Yildiz transfer situation: What we know so far

As previously reported, we’ve been informed of Chelsea having a strong interest in Yildiz, though he’s alongside other big-name attacking midfielders like Morgan Rogers on their list of targets for 2026.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano later confirmed Chelsea’s interest on YouTube (watch here), while Liverpool have also been strongly linked with Yildiz by a post from Indy Kaila in the last few days…

Exclusive ?

According to sources, super agent Jorge Mendes has met TWO English ??????? clubs in the last few weeks.

We understand @LFC are one of them

??? ??????? ??? ????? ??????

This deal only can happen if one of the high #lfc earners are to leave in… pic.twitter.com/JRNH5fhhDs

— indykaila News (@indykaila) November 5, 2025

Yildiz will clearly have plenty of exciting options available to him if he is to leave Juventus, but it’s perhaps still too early to know for sure if that will happen.

Where should Kenan Yildiz move next?

If Yildiz is to move, it will be interesting to see which club he sees as the most tempting destination.

Chelsea’s project is built around youth, so he could do well to go there to ensure he gets the chance to play regularly and develop.

More Stories / Latest News

Euro giants believe they could sign Aston Villa star for bargain fee

Nov 6 2025, 11:16

The new Erling Haaland? Man United officials travel ahead of potential goal machine transfer bid

Nov 6 2025, 10:48

Tonali namechecks Isak when speaking about leaving Newcastle

Nov 6 2025, 10:26

Still, Liverpool have more recently won major honours, so might be seen as more tempting to help Yildiz lift major silverware in his career.

The Reds already have a similar player in Florian Wirtz, however, so it remains to be seen if they could fit both of those into their XI.

The post Talks delayed: Liverpool, Arsenal & Chelsea handed potential transfer boost appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool are reportedly now the clear favourites to seal the transfer of Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi as Real Madrid look to be out of the race.

The England international is coming towards the end of his contract with Palace, making him a free agent in time for next summer’s transfer window.

As previously reported for CaughtOffside, Liverpool remain confident of signing Guehi even after missing out on him in the summer.

It seems not much has changed with Guehi’s situation, with AS reporting that the Reds remain the most likely next destination for him despite interest from other clubs.

The Spanish outlet state that a move to Real Madrid now looks virtually impossible due to the player’s wage demands, even if he had been of interest to Los Blancos.

Marc Guehi heading for Liverpool on a free transfer?

One imagines we might still see some further twists and turns in this saga, but overall it seems that Guehi is still focusing on Liverpool as his next club.

LFC came so close to signing the 25-year-old in the summer until Palace cancelled the deal late on, but it seems he’ll still get his wish to move to Anfield.

AS do also mention Bayern Munich, however, so it will be interesting to see if they can still hijack the deal at some point in the coming months.

? Virgil van Dijk praised "outstanding" Conor Bradley for how he kept Vinicius Jr quiet! ?? pic.twitter.com/poXve6TkX7

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 5, 2025

Marc Guehi to replace Ibrahima Konate?

AS mention Real Madrid’s interest in other centre-backs, and one of those is Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate – another player in the final few months of his contract.

More Stories / Latest News

Euro giants believe they could sign Aston Villa star for bargain fee

Nov 6 2025, 11:16

The new Erling Haaland? Man United officials travel ahead of potential goal machine transfer bid

Nov 6 2025, 10:48

Tonali namechecks Isak when speaking about leaving Newcastle

Nov 6 2025, 10:26

It remains to be seen if Liverpool could still perhaps persuade Konate to sign a new contract, but if he does end up leaving on a free, then replacing him with another free agent in Guehi looks like ideal business.

Konate has been a key player for Liverpool, but Guehi is a similarly top talent who’s proven in the Premier League, so he could ensure the Frenchman isn’t missed.

The post Report: Liverpool clear favourites to sign PL star as Real Madrid move now considered impossible appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool may reportedly face competition for the potential transfer of Feyenoord right-back Givairo Read as his reputation continues to grow.

The talented 19-year-old is establishing himself as one of the finest young defenders in Europe at the moment, with Bayern Munich said to be stepping up their interest.

CaughtOffside have previously reported on Liverpool’s interest in Read, and our understanding remains that he’s on a list of players being closely monitored at Anfield.

Liverpool are therefore likely to be one of the Premier League clubs referenced in a report by TEAMtalk, who also report that Bayern are really keen on Read.

Liverpool to battle Bayern for Givairo Read transfer?

Read looks like he could be an ideal signing for LFC in the near future as they still have issues at right-back following the summer departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Jeremie Frimpong joined from Bayer Leverkusen but hasn’t started all that convincingly, while Conor Bradley has been in and out of Arne Slot’s starting line up, with Dominik Szoboszlai occasionally being forced to fill in out of position on the right-hand side of defence.

Read could surely be a better option, but it seems that Liverpool and other English clubs will face competition from Bayern.

Still, “The interest from the Premier League is something to watch”, as per the source quoted in TEAMtalk’s report.

Who is “exceptional” Givairo Read?

Read looks like a player with a big future after already becoming such a key player for Feyenoord, and he’s earned big praise from his manager Robin van Persie.

The TEAMtalk report quotes Van Persie as saying: “Givairo plays like he’s been in the first team for years. His decision-making and leadership are exceptional for his age.”

More Stories / Latest News

Euro giants believe they could sign Aston Villa star for bargain fee

Nov 6 2025, 11:16

The new Erling Haaland? Man United officials travel ahead of potential goal machine transfer bid

Nov 6 2025, 10:48

Tonali namechecks Isak when speaking about leaving Newcastle

Nov 6 2025, 10:26

That’s high praise indeed for the Netherlands Under-21 international, who will surely be poached by a bigger club before too long.

As per ESPN, Read has also previously admitted to being a fan of Liverpool, though he also expressed a fondness for Barcelona.

The post “Something to watch” – Liverpool face competition to sign “exceptional” wonderkid appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool have reportedly been one of the clubs to recently meet with the agent of Juventus attacking midfielder Kenan Yildiz.

The Turkey international has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young talents in recent times, and it could be tricky for Juve to keep hold of him.

As previously reported on the Daily Briefing, the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea are also very interested in Yildiz, who could be on the move for around €90m.

Now reliable journalist Indy Kaila is reporting that Liverpool have recently had meetings with Jorge Mendes to discuss Yildiz, though a deal won’t be easy for the Reds as it could require selling a high earner first…

Exclusive ?

According to sources, super agent Jorge Mendes has met TWO English ??????? clubs in the last few weeks.

We understand @LFC are one of them

??? ??????? ??? ????? ??????

This deal only can happen if one of the high #lfc earners are to leave in… pic.twitter.com/JRNH5fhhDs

— indykaila News (@indykaila) November 5, 2025

The reporter posted: “Exclusive According to sources, super agent Jorge Mendes has met TWO English clubs in the last few weeks. We understand @LFC are one of them 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐳 This deal only can happen if one of the high #lfc earners are to leave in the summer”.

Kenan Yildiz transfer: What next for the Juventus star?

Yildiz surely has a very bright future in the game, and Juventus will no doubt hope it can be with them, though it looks like it’s going to be difficult for them to make that happen.

READ MORE: Is this tactical tweak why Liverpool look like themselves again?

The Turkey international has developed well in Serie A and Juve are a big club, but these days the Premier League is probably the most tempting destination for a top player.

Liverpool could therefore make sense as an ideal next move for him at some point soon, though it’s also hard to see precisely where he’d fit in.

More Stories / Latest News

Liverpool, Chelsea and Man United want 27-year-old star with three league titles in four seasons

Nov 5 2025, 18:00

Man United preparing January move for “very, very good” player, who is “very keen” to join

Nov 5 2025, 16:31

Liverpool eyeing manager with “a special aura” as Arne Slot replacement

Nov 5 2025, 16:30

LFC signed Florian Wirtz in that position this summer, and it’s not exactly worked out for them yet, though it’s not clear if that’s a problem with the player or with Arne Slot’s tactics, and in any case it’s unlikely to see them give up on such a big investment straight away.

United could do well to build around Yildiz, and he might do well to go there to ensure he gets a key role and regular playing time.

The post Talks held: Liverpool meet with super agent to discuss €90m Man Utd transfer target appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea are reportedly ready to make a move to beat the likes of Manchester United to the transfer of in-form Palmeiras striker Vitor Roque.

The highly-rated 20-year-old is looking back to his best recently, having previously struggled in a spell at Barcelona, and on loan at Real Betis.

It seems that big move may have come a bit too soon for Roque, who is still young and who is now looking like he’s got his career firmly back on track with Palmeiras.

With 13 goals in 28 league games in 2025, Roque is starting to catch the eye of top European clubs again, with Chelsea mentioned as one of his main suitors, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Vitor Roque transfer to Chelsea could cost €50m

Roque won’t come cheap, however, with the report explaining that Palmeiras would want around €50m for him.

The young Brazilian forward is also on the radar of clubs like Man Utd, Tottenham and West Ham at the moment, so there could be a fierce race for his signature.

Still, Chelsea have done well to recruit elite young talent from around the world in recent times, so that could lure Roque to becoming part of their project.

More Stories / Latest News

Liverpool, Chelsea and Man United want 27-year-old star with three league titles in four seasons

Nov 5 2025, 18:00

Man United preparing January move for “very, very good” player, who is “very keen” to join

Nov 5 2025, 16:31

Liverpool eyeing manager with “a special aura” as Arne Slot replacement

Nov 5 2025, 16:30

The Blues could also surely have a key role ready for him, as Enzo Maresca looks like he could do with an upgrade on Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, neither of whom have really made much of an impact at Stamford Bridge so far.

It will be interesting to see what happens next with Roque, but he’ll surely want to choose his next club carefully after things went so wrong for him at Barca.

The post New: Chelsea ready to beat Manchester United to €50m forward transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has singled out Conor Bradley for praise for the way he kept Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior quiet in last night’s big game in the Champions League.

The young right-back has become more of a key player for Liverpool this season after the summer departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, and with Jeremie Frimpong struggling for both fitness and form since he joined from Bayer Leverkusen.

Van Dijk was clearly happy with Bradley’s performance in the 1-0 win over Real Madrid last night, with the Northern Ireland international dealing with Vinicius well throughout the game and ensuring the Brazilian barely had any impact.

Watch the video clip below for Van Dijk’s reaction as he sang Bradley’s praises…

? Virgil van Dijk praised "outstanding" Conor Bradley for how he kept Vinicius Jr quiet! ?? pic.twitter.com/poXve6TkX7

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 5, 2025

Can Conor Bradley help Liverpool replace Trent Alexander-Arnold?

Alexander-Arnold’s exit was a real blow for LFC, with the England international running down his contract before completing a move to the Bernabeu.

It was never going to be easy for whoever came next for Liverpool in that position, and even a proven talent like Frimpong has been slow to settle in and find the kind of form that he showed during his time in Germany.

Bradley, however, looks like a real revelation for Arne Slot’s side, and deserved his special praise from Van Dijk.

As the season goes on, it will be interesting to see if it’s Bradley or Frimpong who end up being first choice at right-back for Liverpool.

For now, though, if the Dutch tactician picks solely based on merit, then there’s arguably a very good case for Bradley continuing to start in that position.

? "You cannot compare Trent with Connor…"

Arne Slot admits he has one concern about Connor Bradley at right-back…? pic.twitter.com/DYd4dXeybS

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 2, 2025

More Stories / Latest News

Liverpool, Chelsea and Man United want 27-year-old star with three league titles in four seasons

Nov 5 2025, 18:00

Man United preparing January move for “very, very good” player, who is “very keen” to join

Nov 5 2025, 16:31

Liverpool eyeing manager with “a special aura” as Arne Slot replacement

Nov 5 2025, 16:30

Speaking recently, though, Slot was keen to play down any comparisons between Bradley and Alexander-Arnold, which will understandably have been to try to ease pressure on the 22-year-old.

Still, a quick look at the stats below show just how effectively Bradley kept Vinicius quiet, showing that he’s very much the real deal if he can keep on performing like this and developing his game with experience.

?? ????????: Conor Bradley won 100% of his tackles and 8 duels vs. Vinicius Jr tonight.

Vinicius lost possession 19 times against him, had 0 shots, and 0 G/A. pic.twitter.com/fwJKKpaekO

— The Touchline | ? (@TouchlineX) November 4, 2025

The post Virgil van Dijk credits “outstanding” Liverpool star for nullifying world class Real Madrid threat appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has made a big claim about what Arne Slot has told Florian Wirtz about his role at Liverpool.

The Reds have endured a tricky start to the season, recently going on an awful run in which they lost six games out of seven in all competitions.

Things have improved slightly in the last couple of games, however, with back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Real Madrid, though the form of Wirtz might still be a concern.

READ MORE: Is this tactical tweak why Liverpool look like themselves again?

The Germany international has not yet had the desired effect at Liverpool, looking a shadow of the player who looked so promising at Bayer Leverkusen.

Wenger has not held back with his criticism of Wirtz, saying he expects Slot has had to tell him to get used to playing out wide after using him centrally “destroyed” his midfield.

Arsene Wenger on Arne Slot and Florian Wirtz

“When Wirtz had the choice between going to Bayern Munich or to Liverpool. He said to Liverpool, ‘I come to you if I play No.10, I do not want to play wide’. Liverpool to get him say, ‘okay’,” Wenger said during punditry duty on beIN Sports, as quoted by the Metro.

“So they start him, they destroyed their midfield because their midfield was Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, to play Wirtz they took Szoboszlai out.

“What have they done against Aston Villa? They came back to their normal midfield of last year.

“Tonight (against Real Madrid) they play Wirtz but I am sure Wirtz will play on the side because the manager has said, ‘if you want to play again you have to play wide because I do not want to disturb the midfield’.

More Stories / Latest News

Leeds United cult hero set to join his former club

Nov 5 2025, 14:35

New: Chelsea ready to beat Manchester United to €50m forward transfer

Nov 5 2025, 14:21

Newcastle United fear striker could leave for Bundesliga

Nov 5 2025, 13:24

“So that will be interesting to see, but certainly he will have to play left where he played when he was at Leverkusen.”

Liverpool fans – what do you make of the midfield at the moment, and what is Wirtz’s best position in it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post Wenger claims Slot has told Liverpool star to change position after he “destroyed” what worked last season appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has been advised to leave Old Trafford and revive his career with a loan in Italy.

That’s what Dutch footballing legend Ruud Gullit thinks Zirkzee should do, as he believes he’s still a good player, but is the latest to struggle in the environment at Man Utd.

The Red Devils have an unwanted record in recent times of signing top young talents who have then gone backwards, and in some cases have then gone on to improve elsewhere.

Gullit thinks that could happen with Zirkzee as well, as he praised the way he performed at Bologna before making what he felt was the wrong choice in moving to United.

Joshua Zirkzee advised to leave Manchester United

Zirkzee surely still has it in him to have a good career away from United, but it certainly looks like he needs to move soon to try something different.

The 24-year-old is no longer getting regular playing time under Ruben Amorim, having first been brought in under previous manager Erik ten Hag.

A loan move is surely the answer for Zirkzee now, according to Gullit.

“I think from my point of view that he should have stayed in Italy, because he was really striving,” the former Netherlands star told the Metro.

“He was really doing well at Bologna and I was hoping that he would go to Milan. I think that as soon as he went to Manchester United, it was the wrong decision.

More Stories / Latest News

Leeds United cult hero set to join his former club

Nov 5 2025, 14:35

New: Chelsea ready to beat Manchester United to €50m forward transfer

Nov 5 2025, 14:21

Newcastle United fear striker could leave for Bundesliga

Nov 5 2025, 13:24

“I mean, for a lot of players, moving to Manchester United has been the wrong decision. And whoever leaves them, plays well everywhere around Europe. I just hope that there’s a solution for him.

“Go back to Italy on loan if you can. Just play football. He’s a good player. But at the moment, it’s difficult at Manchester United.”

The post “Good player” needs to leave Manchester United, says football legend appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Tottenham are already working behind the scenes to get a January transfer window deal done for Brentford winger Kevin Schade, as I first reported in my exclusive here for the Daily Briefing.

The 23-year-old has impressed during his time with Brentford, and it seems inevitable that he could be their next big sale after the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa left this summer.

My understanding is that Spurs and Aston Villa are both keen on Schade, with Fabio Paratici already making preparations to reunite the player with his former manager Thomas Frank.

Sources in the industry told me: “Schade is seen as the perfect profile for Spurs.”

Meanwhile, another added: “Frank knows the player well and has already planned how he’d slot into the system.”

Another also said: “Fabio Paratici is working behind the scenes to reunite Thomas Frank with Schade.”

Kevin Schade to Tottenham or Aston Villa?

It will be interesting to see where Schade ends up, as both Spurs and Villa look in need of a player of his calibre right now.

It’s not obvious which club would be seen as the more tempting project, with THFC currently able to offer Champions League football, though they have not been as consistent as Villa with their Premier League form in the last few years.

More Stories / Latest News

Leeds United cult hero set to join his former club

Nov 5 2025, 14:35

New: Chelsea ready to beat Manchester United to €50m forward transfer

Nov 5 2025, 14:21

Newcastle United fear striker could leave for Bundesliga

Nov 5 2025, 13:24

Spurs have also been through a few managerial changes in recent times, whereas Villa have given Unai Emery a lot of time to build a team, and he’s mostly done a good job even in slightly difficult circumstances.

Schade could have a key role in both teams as he’d surely be an upgrade on Brennan Johnson at Tottenham, and on struggling loan signing Jadon Sancho at Villa.

The post Sources: Tottenham already working to sign “perfect profile” €55m-rated attacker appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has insisted Florian Wirtz has been incredibly unlucky and is working really hard to turn things around for himself after a difficult start to life at Anfield.

The Germany international joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a big-money move this summer, having earned the reputation of being one of the most exciting young talents in world football during his time in the Bundesliga.

Wirtz has shown some glimpses of quality for Liverpool, but we’re yet to see enough consistency from him, while he’s also lacking that end-product that the Reds will be looking for as he has zero goals and only two assists to his name so far.

Arne Slot leaps to Florian Wirtz’s defence

Still, Slot has praised the 22-year-old for doing everything he can do to improve his situation, and described him as being unlucky not to have more goal contributions so far…

? Arne Slot hits back at Florian Wirtz's critics – "He's been SO unlucky!" ??

© UEFA 2025 pic.twitter.com/aVsbTWBLeo

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 5, 2025

“If you come from a different league and you have to play every two days and there are so many away games against teams with a certain style of play, you need to adapt to that,” Slot said.

“And that goes almost for everyone, let alone for a player that’s 22. And I think he’s working incredibly hard to adapt as soon as he can, and he’s been so unlucky throughout his career here at Liverpool.”

More Stories / Latest News

“Good player” needs to leave Manchester United, says football legend

Nov 5 2025, 11:07

Not for sale: Man United told they have no chance of signing transfer target in January

Nov 5 2025, 10:45

Just In: Tottenham frontrunners to sign English striker looking to play the World Cup next year

Nov 5 2025, 10:26

How did Florian Wirtz perform vs Real Madrid?

Wirtz looked lively against Real Madrid last night as Liverpool picked up an important 1-0 win at Anfield.

See below for Wirtz’s stats as he certainly stood out as one of the Reds’ more effective creative players on the night…

Still, is it enough from a player who arrived with such a big price tag? Give us your thoughts in the comments!

The post Arne Slot insists “unlucky” Liverpool star is “working incredibly hard” to turn his situation around appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise onto Mikel Merino for the way he’s performed up front in recent times.

The Spain international arrived at the Emirates Stadium with the reputation of being a hard-working utility man in midfield, but he’s shown some superb finishing when asked to fill in up front.

Merino had a surprisingly good run in the team as a makeshift striker last season, and he filled in there again last night as Viktor Gyokeres was out injured.

Speaking after the game, Arteta singled out Merino for praise for the way he’s done his best to adapt and learn his new role…

Mikel Arteta on Mikel Merino’s performances

? "A joy" – Mikel Arteta in awe of Mikel Merino's adaptation to playing as a striker! ? pic.twitter.com/5ZlwQLdabb

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) November 5, 2025

Speaking in the video clip above, Arteta described Merino as a joy to work with, and praised his mindset to do his bit to help the team out and make such an impact in a big away game in the Champions League.

“It’s a joy to have him, I always say the same thing,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference.

“It’s his versatility on the pitch, the things that he can do. It’s his mindset, it’s his leadership.

“Today we are missing a lot of attacking players and we had to find different solutions – he comes in, in the Champions League, scores two goals.”

Mikel Merino has a big role to play for Arsenal

Arsenal have had a lot of bad luck with injuries in recent times, and they currently have all three of Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out injured.

More Stories / Latest News

“Good player” needs to leave Manchester United, says football legend

Nov 5 2025, 11:07

Not for sale: Man United told they have no chance of signing transfer target in January

Nov 5 2025, 10:45

Just In: Tottenham frontrunners to sign English striker looking to play the World Cup next year

Nov 5 2025, 10:26

That means Merino is surely going to get a lot more chances to play up front, and it seems clear he’s up to that challenge.

The 29-year-old maybe didn’t initially look like he’d necessarily be that important at Arsenal when he first joined, but he’s proven a superb addition to Arteta’s squad.

The post Mikel Arteta singles out Arsenal star for huge praise after changing positions appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United are reportedly ready to make the big decision to let Jadon Sancho leave the club earlier than expected next summer.

The Red Devils are seemingly prepared to lose Sancho on a free transfer despite having the option to trigger a one-year extension to his current contact.

That’s according to talkSPORT, who state that Man Utd are leaning towards giving up on getting a transfer fee for Sancho as long as they don’t have to pay his £200,000-a-week wages for another year.

Sancho is currently on loan at Aston Villa but hasn’t really made any kind of impact yet, with manager Unai Emery yet to trust him with an start in the Premier League.

Jadon Sancho’s career falling apart after Manchester United struggles

Sancho looked like a hugely exciting signing when he first joined United from Borussia Dortmund for big money.

However, the 25-year-old simply couldn’t make an impact at Old Trafford, even if he then showed some promise again with loan spells away from the club, first back at Dortmund, and then at Chelsea last season.

It seems clear now, however, that Sancho is really failing to get back to his best and it probably makes sense for United to cut their losses on him.

More Stories / Latest News

Big call: Man United ready to axe expensive signing earlier than expected

Nov 5 2025, 7:20

Tottenham ready to pounce if Euro giants sanction exit of striker who joined in the summer

Nov 5 2025, 7:12

Man United would have to pay £60 million for priority January target

Nov 5 2025, 7:00

It’s a sad end to Sancho’s time with MUFC, but he’ll have to find a new club willing to give him a chance next season, and at this moment in time it’s hard to imagine Villa will be keen to keep him on.

The former England international will need to start performing soon to have a chance of remaining at Villa Park, but in general it looks a long way back for him to have the kind of career it looked like he could’ve had.

The post Big call: Man United ready to axe expensive signing earlier than expected appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk couldn’t resist a little dig back at pundit Wayne Rooney after some of his recent comments criticising the Dutchman’s performances.

Van Dijk has been a star player for Liverpool for many years, but he’s been one of a number of their key names to struggle in recent times.

It’s not been the best start to the season for the Reds, though they have bounced back a little with two wins in a row after previously going on an awful run of six defeats from seven games.

Rooney recently singled out Van Dijk for criticism on his BBC podcast, and the pair were brought together on Amazon Prime Video’s coverage of last night’s game.

What did Virgil van Dijk say to Wayne Rooney?

Speaking after last night’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League, Van Dijk said some of the criticism he’d faced had been over the top.

The Netherlands international was standing right next to Rooney at the time, with the pundit taking the opportunity to defend his comments.

Watch below for the slightly awkward exchange, as Van Dijk also didn’t back down, saying it was his personal opinion that Rooney’s comments were over the top…

Van Dijk responds to Wayne Rooney’s criticism ? pic.twitter.com/L4gylSrxFl

— LFCTact (@LFCTactico) November 4, 2025

More Stories / Latest News

Big call: Man United ready to axe expensive signing earlier than expected

Nov 5 2025, 7:20

Tottenham ready to pounce if Euro giants sanction exit of striker who joined in the summer

Nov 5 2025, 7:12

Man United would have to pay £60 million for priority January target

Nov 5 2025, 7:00

“Of course, if you lose four or five games in a row as a Liverpool player then it is a fair criticism, that is absolutely normal in that sense,” Van Dijk said.

“But I think it is over the top at times as well at that point, but that is because we live in a world with so many platforms and so many people can say stuff, it will be picked up and made bigger.

“I think it is good that ex-players who played at the highest level who dealt with difficult moments as well puts a lot in perspective.”

Wayne Rooney’s response to Van Dijk

Rooney then responded: “I think what I’ve said was fair when you win the Premier League and then go on a run where you lose three or four games in a row, which you don’t expect from Liverpool over the last few years.

“As Virgil is captain I think that is your opportunity to go and lead the players and that is what I was saying. That happens in football and I think the response has been great from Virgil and the team.”

And finally, Van Dijk added: “I think if you watched games then I would definitely take responsibility. I think the comment that I signed my new deal and then it was like ‘that is it’ and I let it slide, I think that was a bit… but that’s my personal opinion and we move on.”

Van Dijk will certainly be pleased to have silenced his critics last night as he put in a strong performance to help LFC to a hugely impressive and important win over one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

The post Uncomfortable moment as Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk hits back at Wayne Rooney criticism appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal midfielder and club captain Martin Odegaard is reportedly emerging as a top transfer target for Barcelona for summer 2026.

However, the Gunners don’t want to sell the Norway international and will instead prioritise tying him down to a new contract, according to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes.

Odegaard is a world class talent on his day, and it makes sense that he’d be of interest to someone like Barca, but Arsenal surely need to do all they can to keep him at the Emirates Stadium.

Even if he’s had some recent injury problems, a fully fit Odegaard is a key part of how this Arsenal side plays, so it would be a big risk letting him go to another major European club.

Can Arsenal keep hold of Martin Odegaard?

Arsenal are building an exciting project and have done well in recent times to tie other star names down to new deals.

In recent months, we’ve seen the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri all commit to the club, so it would make sense for Odegaard to follow suit.

The 26-year-old surely has little reason to try to move on for a new challenge elsewhere, as this Arsenal team looks really close to finally going all the way in the Premier League title race, and could perhaps challenge for the Champions League as well.

Arsenal have lost stars to Barcelona in the past

There was a time when Barcelona were able to raid Arsenal for their star players, but Gooners will hope those days are over.

More Stories / Latest News

Big call: Man United ready to axe expensive signing earlier than expected

Nov 5 2025, 7:20

Tottenham ready to pounce if Euro giants sanction exit of striker who joined in the summer

Nov 5 2025, 7:12

Man United would have to pay £60 million for priority January target

Nov 5 2025, 7:00

During the Arsene Wenger years, the Catalan giants poached AFC for stars like Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Hleb and Alex Song, but the north Londoners no longer look like a selling club.

Odegaard previously played in Spain with Real Madrid, and had a loan spell with Real Sociedad, but it remains to be seen if he’d be desperate to move back to La Liga.

The post Crucial Arsenal star is top Barcelona transfer target, Gunners will try to tie him down to new deal appeared first on CaughtOffside.