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Today — 18 December 2025Main stream

Man United could take advantage of key INEOS connection to get useful deal done this January

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 19:02

Manchester United defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte reportedly looks set to make way so the club can make a new signing in that position in January.

The Uruguay international has struggled to impress at Old Trafford since he signed from Paris Saint-Germain, and it now makes sense that a departure is edging closer.

According to Fichajes, it could be that Man Utd will use fellow INEOS-owned club Nice as a destination for Ugarte as they look to offload him and bring in a new signing like Carlos Baleba or Conor Gallagher.

The Red Devils would surely benefit from making some money from Ugarte’s sale, and getting his wages off their books, as it could give them more financial freedom to spend big on the signing they want for that position.

Why hasn’t it worked out for Manuel Ugarte at Manchester United?

Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United
Manuel Ugarte of Manchester United (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Ugarte had also looked a little out of place during his time at PSG, and although he has his qualities, he’s perhaps just not that well suited to a club with expectations of dominating possession and playing attack-minded football.

The 24-year-old is a tough tackling and hard working defensive midfield player who could do a job for a team whose defence needs more protection.

It’s easy to imagine Ugarte could benefit from a change of scene, and perhaps a club like Nice would get more out of his style of play.

United look in need of more of an all-rounder in that position – someone who can do their job defensively, but also have the quality of passing to dictate play and start attacks.

The likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo are perhaps the best examples of players doing this at the highest level right now, though of course they aren’t easy to find, and don’t tend to come cheap.

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Ian Wright says he would “take” this disrespected Man United star at Arsenal

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 18:35

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has slammed the way Manchester United handled the Bruno Fernandes transfer saga over the summer, and says he’d take him at the Emirates Stadium.

The Portugal international has been a hugely important part of the Man Utd team in recent years, and it’s surprising that the club seemed open to letting him go.

Wright admits he’s surprised the Red Devils acted so indecisively on this, with the pundit telling the Overlap that they should have made it clear to Fernandes just how important he was to their project.

What’s Bruno Fernandes’ situation at Manchester United?

These claims by Wright follow Fernandes himself coming out and slamming the club for making him feel unwanted.

“I could have left in the last transfer window, I would have earned much more money, I was going to leave a season ago – I won’t say where – but I would have won many trophies that season,” he told Canal 11, as quoted by the Metro.

“I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely love the club. The conversation with the manager also made me stay.

Bruno Fernandes celebrates during Manchester United's game against Bournemouth
Bruno Fernandes celebrates during Manchester United’s game against Bournemouth (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“But, from the club’s side, I felt a bit like, ‘if you leave, it’s not so bad for us.’

“It hurts me a bit. More than hurting, it makes me sad because I’m a player who has nothing to criticise.

“I’m always available, I always play, good or bad. I give my all. Then, you see things around you, players who don’t value the club as much and don’t defend the club as much… that makes you sad.”

Ian Wright slams Man United over Bruno Fernandes treatment

Wright clearly wasn’t impressed by how United handled this, and admitted he’d take Fernandes at Arsenal tomorrow.

One imagines the former Gunners striker isn’t the only fan of the north London giants who’d feel that way, with Fernandes clearly still a top performer in the Premier League and one of the few shining stars in this struggling United side.

“When you look at Bruno’s quotes, it comes back to Man United being indecisive. So someone comes in for Bruno Fernandes last summer… you shut that down,” Wright said.

“He didn’t want to go. Bruno is basically saying the club went, ‘it’s up to you if you want to leave’. That’s not what you want to hear when you’re the person who has basically held the club up by yourself.

“You want the club to say, ‘you’re not going nowhere, you’re a massive part of this’. But Manchester United didn’t do that.

“They gave him the option and said, ‘if you want to go, you can go’. What is that saying to him? I would take him tomorrow.”

Bruno Fernandes still hugely important for Man United

The stats below from FotMob illustrate just how important Fernandes still is for United, even if he isn’t getting any younger.

Fernandes still comes out on top for assists for MUFC, as well as being second for goals, and their highest rated player overall.

Overall, a record of five goals and seven assists from midfield remains as good as any player in the world will offer you in that position.

Wright will no doubt be happy seeing his old club Arsenal at the top of the table, but if there’s one kind of player Mikel Arteta’s side are lacking it’s an elite goal-scorer and playmaker from midfield.

Martin Odegaard used to provide that more consistently for the Gunners, but the goals have dried up for him in recent times, while he’s also had ongoing injury problems.

The post Ian Wright says he would “take” this disrespected Man United star at Arsenal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Report: Another club in race to sign Man United’s Marcus Rashford if he doesn’t stay at Barca

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 17:53

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is reportedly now also a target for Atletico Madrid in case he doesn’t end up staying at Barcelona.

The England international is currently on loan at Barca for this season, having fallen out of favour at Old Trafford.

But even if Rashford has made a strong start to life at the Nou Camp, it is still not entirely clear if Barcelona will choose to make his move permanent.

According to Fichajes, this has put Atletico Madrid on alert, with Diego Simeone’s side emerging as another potential suitor for him next summer.

Marcus Rashford to stay in La Liga?

Rashford clearly needed to get out of Man Utd after suffering a major dip in form there in his final couple of years at the club.

The 28-year-old remains a top class player, though, and it now seems like he just needed a change of scene and a new challenge after spending his entire career at one club.

Marcus Rashford warming up for Barcelona
Marcus Rashford warming up for Barcelona (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Rashford now seems back to his best after his move to Spanish football, so perhaps staying in La Liga could be an ideal next move for him even if Barcelona decide not to keep him.

Atletico will likely be well aware of how well Rashford has done for their rivals, showing that he could be a good fit for them if he does become available.

Man United players rebuilding their careers after leaving

Rashford is not the only player enjoying a new lease of life after leaving Old Trafford, with Antony also doing well in La Liga with Real Betis.

Elsewhere, Alejandro Garnacho has also improved since joining Chelsea, while Scott McTominay has been a huge success story at Napoli.

Even Rasmus Hojlund has shown signs of getting back to his best, also at Napoli, so it looks like Rashford did the right thing by leaving.

Some United fans would probably quite gladly have Rashford back, but it would probably be for the best for both parties to go their separate ways next summer.

The post Report: Another club in race to sign Man United’s Marcus Rashford if he doesn’t stay at Barca appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Sources: Arsenal “really like” Chelsea midfield target, plus four defender transfer options

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 15:25

Arsenal are concerned about injuries and squad depth, which could see them enter the market in the January transfer window.

If they do, they would most likely prioritise midfield and defence, with a number of top young players being considered by the Gunners, as first reported here for the Daily Briefing.

Sources with a close understanding of the situation have informed me that Arsenal are big fans of talented young Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, while Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi could be a big-name option who comes into consideration.

Ousmane Diomande, also eyed by Chelsea and Palace, is another name Arsenal have been monitoring at centre-back, while they also appreciate Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown as a versatile option to fill in a few different positions in defence and midfield.

Nathaniel Brown in action for Eintracht Frankfurt
Nathaniel Brown in action for Eintracht Frankfurt (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Arsenal already have midfield issues and could turn to Ayyoub Bouaddi transfer

I’m also told that Arsenal are similarly concerned about midfield, with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi having to play so much football so far this season.

One name at the top of their list for the moment is Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is also a target for Chelsea and other top clubs.

AFC signed Christian Norgaard in the summer, but the former Brentford man has barely featured since his move to the Emirates Stadium, leading to sources in the industry to think that could be seen as an area the club try to improve in January.

Bouaddi is an elite young talent who could perfectly fit the bill as someone who’d initially add depth but then grow into a player capable of challenging for a starting spot.

Arsenal ready to spend to help title challenge

As recently reported, Arsenal are also open-minded about attacking additions that could help them in the title race in the second half of the season.

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently two points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table, but there have been some signs of a dip in form in the last few games.

Arsenal suffered their second defeat of the season as they fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa, and they only scraped past Wolves with a 2-1 win at home to the team who sit bottom of the Premier League table and without a single win all season.

With so many injuries, it certainly could make sense for Arsenal to go out and get a few more players this winter to help them over the line in so many competitions.

The post Sources: Arsenal “really like” Chelsea midfield target, plus four defender transfer options appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“A disgrace” – Carragher continues Salah row with bold claim about Liverpool

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 14:34

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has suggested that the Reds now look better without Mohamed Salah in the team as he continued his war of words with the Egypt international.

Salah recently had something of an outburst when he spoke in the mixed zone to claim he felt he was being thrown under the bus by the club and that he no longer had any relationship with manager Arne Slot.

Carragher was not at all happy with Salah‘s behaviour and called it out during punditry duty, and he’s spoken about the saga again on today’s episode of the Overlap.

The former Liverpool defender insists he has no regrets about how he handled his response to Salah, saying he’d do the same again.

Jamie Carragher stands by comments on “disgrace” Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Carragher made it clear that he still feels the way Salah behaved was “a disgrace”, and that the 33-year-old has not in any way been disrespected by Slot or the club.

The ex-Red even suggested that this is not the Salah of last season, and that Slot’s side now looks more solid defensively since he was dropped from the starting XI.

“Oh, it was a disgrace, yeah it was,” Carragher said.

Neville later pointed out that dropping a huge name like Salah was always going to spark a “war”, to which Carragher said “bring the war on”.

Will Salah stay at Liverpool?

This public row with Carragher seems far from ideal for Salah, whose future is surely going to come into serious doubt this January.

The 33-year-old is surely not going to be happy to continue on the bench for much longer, and it’s debatable if he really warrants a place back in the team.

One imagines Salah will get a big-money opportunity in Saudi Arabia or the MLS, while perhaps big European clubs might still also take a gamble on him, even if he looks like he might now be past his best.

The post “A disgrace” – Carragher continues Salah row with bold claim about Liverpool appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Hang on a minute…” – Neville and Keane disagree on Man Utd star’s transfer dilemma

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 13:45

Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane took different views on what Kobbie Mainoo should do about his current difficult situation at Old Trafford.

The 20-year-old looks to be facing an uncertain future after a lack of playing time under Ruben Amorim, and Neville can understand him feeling like it might be the best decision for him to move on.

Keane, meanwhile, called on Mainoo to embrace the challenge of trying to break into the team, which is something normal for young players coming through at Man Utd.

See below for their debate on the latest episode of the Overlap, with the pundits discussing Mainoo and a number of other topics…

Opposing views on Kobbie Mainoo’s Manchester United situation

Neville pointed out to Keane that Amorim himself had most likely ruled out much playing time for Mainoo any time soon due to the presence of Bruno Fernandes.

The current United formation only allows for two central midfielders, and Fernandes is pretty much a nailed-on starter in every game, while there could perhaps be some rotation between Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte alongside him.

Mainoo, however, is seemingly not considered a defensive midfielder like Casemiro or Ugarte, so he’s up against Fernandes for a starting spot, which looks like a very tough challenge.

“So, I get Kobbie’s point of view that he’s like, ‘Hang on a minute. If I can play alongside Bruno, great. But if I’m actually it’s me or him, he’s always going to play. He’s brilliant,'” Neville said.

“But what’s football about? What’s what’s the the life of a professional football is most of it you’re trying to prove people wrong?” Keane responded.

Kobbie Mainoo in action for Man United vs Bournemouth
Kobbie Mainoo in action for Man United vs Bournemouth (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

He added: “He’s 20 years of age, what’s wrong with sitting and learning your trade? There’ll be times when a manager’s on your case and it’s up to you go ‘I’ll prove you wrong’.”

Keane also stated that he never felt he was just going to turn up and start for United, saying that footballers at the highest level have to prove themselves every day.

What next for Kobbie Mainoo?

United could do with keeping Mainoo for the depth in midfield, as they could find themselves short if Fernandes needs a rest or gets injured.

The Telegraph have been among the sources to link Mainoo with Chelsea, and there’s been a lot of speculation about other clubs chasing him too.

Even the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid are supposedly considering the England international, according to Defensa Central.

That gives you some idea of how highly rated Mainoo is, so should Amorim give him more of a chance to play regularly? Could his departure be one the club live to majorly regret? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post “Hang on a minute…” – Neville and Keane disagree on Man Utd star’s transfer dilemma appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Bring him back” – Liverpool urged to seal return for player they should never have let go

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 13:15

Liverpool have been advised to bring Harvey Elliott back to the club after a difficult start to his loan spell with Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old hasn’t had many first-team opportunities with Unai Emery’s side so far, despite the Reds likely deciding to loan him there to give him more minutes.

Elliott had also fallen out of favour at Liverpool, so a loan seemed like a good idea for him to get his career back on track, though it clearly hasn’t worked out for him.

Should Liverpool bring Harvey Elliott back from loan?

Discussing the Elliott situation, former Liverpool ace Don Hutchison expressed his view that the Englishman should be brought back by Arne Slot.

It’s been a difficult start to the season for LFC, so there could well be room for an extra option in their squad, with Elliott able to provide an alternative in midfield or in the front three.

Harvey Elliott in action for Aston Villa
Harvey Elliott in action for Aston Villa (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

“If you’re Liverpool, you’re probably best off bringing him back and keeping him in the squad,” Hutchison said, as quoted by Empire of the Kop.

“They only had a short number on the bench at the weekend and, probably that’s why Mo Salah was a little bit fortunate that he made the bench. [Cody] Gakpo was injured, [Wataru] Endo was injured, and [Conor] Bradley was suspended, so I think it’ll be a good move from Liverpool to bring him back.”

Liverpool need more depth

Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah for the duration of Egypt’s participation at this year’s AFCON, so that could be a major headache for Slot.

Just as fans will be starting to make their plans to buy Tottenham vs Liverpool tickets, the club needs to put plans in place to ensure their squad copes with Salah’s absence in upcoming games.

It’s not easy getting signings done in January, so Elliott being recalled could end up being the most realistic option for the Merseyside giants.

Still, we’re also seeing big names like Antoine Semenyo being linked with Liverpool, so that could be another major saga to watch out for in the weeks ahead.

The post “Bring him back” – Liverpool urged to seal return for player they should never have let go appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Sources: Man United eager for double Premier League transfer raid but face City threat

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 12:45

Manchester United are eager to seal the transfers of Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo and Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

As first reported here for the Daily Briefing, Man Utd are eyeing this ambitious double transfer in a potential spending spree, but face competition from rivals Manchester City.

The Red Devils have been in contact over Semenyo but City are also in the mix, along with Liverpool and Tottenham.

Meanwhile, Anderson’s high asking price could be a big issue for United, but perhaps less so for Pep Guardiola and co.

Antoine Semenyo to Manchester United transfer contact made

As has been widely reported, I’ve been told that there have already been calls made by United chiefs to their Bournemouth counterparts in the last 48 hours as they step up their interest in Semenyo.

Still, the Ghana international is also wanted by the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham, with my sources currently unable to give me a strong indication of any particular club leading the race for his signature.

Semenyo has a £65m release clause for the early part of January, but that drops to £60m in the summer, so it’s also still possible that clubs will wait a bit longer before attempting to do a deal for the 25-year-old.

United could definitely do with adding Semenyo now, though, as they prepare to lose both Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to AFCON, leaving Ruben Amorim short of attacking depth.

Elliot Anderson set to be transfer target for both Manchester clubs

Elliot Anderson in action for Nottingham Forest against Everton
Elliot Anderson in action for Nottingham Forest against Everton (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Anderson could leave Nottingham Forest but possibly for as much as £100m but even that high fee could still go up depending on how the 23-year-old performs at the 2026 World Cup.

The England international is high up on United’s list of targets, but some people I’ve spoken to are seeing signs of Man City moving into pole position.

“City have done a lot of work on Anderson already,” one source explained. “There have been numerous scouting missions, with in-depth analysis showing that he ticks all the boxes for their current needs. They will likely do whatever they can to get that deal done ahead of the competition.”

Pep Guardiola is understood to be determined to bring in a marquee signing in midfield as a replacement for the injured Rodri, who has continued to struggle since missing so much of last season.

Forest’s high asking price could be an issue, but City might arguably be in a stronger position on that front than United, who need to sell before they can buy as INEOS are determined to be stricter with the club’s spending.

The post Sources: Man United eager for double Premier League transfer raid but face City threat appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“In the last 48 hours…” – Fabrizio Romano reports HUGE Manchester United transfer boost

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 11:38

Manchester United have reportedly called about Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo in the last 48 hours, according to transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano.

The Ghana international has been one of the most in-form Premier League players this season, producing a total of seven goals and three assists in 15 top flight matches.

Skilful, pacey, and two-footed, Semenyo looks like the complete attacking player, and surely has it in him to make the step up to a bigger club.

Any Red Devils fans who are looking into how to buy Aston Villa vs Man United tickets might also be wondering what kind of line up they’ll see from Ruben Amorim once he loses Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to the upcoming AFCON tournament.

Those will be two big losses out wide and it could prompt United to step up their interest in Semenyo as a replacement.

Antoine Semenyo celebrates scoring for Bournemouth against Manchester United
Antoine Semenyo celebrates scoring for Bournemouth against Manchester United (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Fabrizio Romano on Manchester United’s Antoine Semenyo pursuit

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano provided an update on the Semenyo transfer saga, explaining that there’s a lot of interest in the 25-year-old.

For now, however, it seems like it’s United and City leading the race for his signature against the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham.

“City and United both called in the last 48 hours,” Romano said.

“Then Tottenham, in the last few days, have spent a lot of time in trying to attack the situation for Semenyo.

“And there is Liverpool… interested since November but, again, this depends on what happens with Mohamed Salah and also Liverpool’s financial intentions because they could have different priorities in January.”

Premier League top scorers Goals
Erling Haaland 17
Igor Thiago 11
Antoine Semenyo 7
Phil Foden 7
Hugo Ekitike 7
Danny Welbeck 7
Jean-Philippe Mateta 7

Should Antoine Semenyo be careful about United transfer?

Semenyo is at an important moment in his career, and surely needs to think very carefully about whether or not a move to Old Trafford would be the best thing for him.

Ruben Amorim isn’t doing the most convincing job with MUFC right now, and most fans probably wouldn’t be that surprised if the club soon made another change in the dugout.

That’s not an ideal situation for Semenyo to be walking into, and he might find he goes down the route of so many other top players, who went backwards after joining United.

City are a more settled side who tend to get the best out of their players and who would also surely offer a better chance of winning major silverware.

The post “In the last 48 hours…” – Fabrizio Romano reports HUGE Manchester United transfer boost appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Report: Chelsea eyeing Premier League duo for major potential midfield investment

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 10:29

Chelsea are reportedly ready to make a central midfielder a top transfer priority for 2026, with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo on their radar.

As previously reported, Chelsea want to strengthen in midfield as one of their priorities to ease the workload on Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

This has now been confirmed by a report in the Telegraph claiming that the Blues have been looking at both Wharton and Mainoo for that position.

The talented England international duo could be smart investments as they’re both young talents with big futures in the game, but it remains to be seen precisely how Chelsea will go about working on that area of their squad.

Would Mainoo or Wharton be the better Chelsea signing?

Given that Chelsea already have a world class midfield pairing in Caicedo and Fernandez, any new signing might struggle to start a lot of games for Enzo Maresca’s side.

With that in mind, CFC might not want to pay too much for someone who’s only likely to be a bench or rotation player.

That could mean a move for Wharton is unlikely, as he’s previously also been linked with other big clubs and might cost as much as £70m, as per TEAMtalk and others.

That would be a lot to pay for someone who isn’t going to be guaranteed regular playing time, and Wharton himself would probably also choose another club where he’d be given more of a key role.

Mainoo could, therefore, be a better option for Chelsea to add depth, as he’ll surely want out of Old Trafford after his recent struggles.

Man United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in action
Man United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in action (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Even if the 20-year-old didn’t go straight into the starting XI at Stamford Bridge, he’d probably still view it as a better move after being almost completely frozen out by Ruben Amorim this season.

Mainoo’s current situation might also mean he’s cheaper than Wharton, whilst still also surely being seen as a player with plenty of potential to improve in the future.

The post Report: Chelsea eyeing Premier League duo for major potential midfield investment appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Talks held: Man United meet with club chiefs to discuss transfer but new complication has emerged

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By:Mark Brus
18 December 2025 at 10:11

Manchester United have reportedly had recent meetings with Roma officials to discuss a potential transfer deal for Joshua Zirkzee.

However, it seems that a deal is not necessarily close to being agreed, and Roma may have alternatives in mind if they cannot land the Netherlands international.

Zirkzee hasn’t played much first-team football for Man Utd in recent times, so it makes sense that his future is in doubt, but it looks like this saga could get complicated, if the latest reports are to be believed.

Latest updates on Joshua Zirkzee and potential Roma transfer

According to Corriere dello Sport, United and Roma chiefs recently met in London to discuss a deal for Zirkzee, but it’s suggested that he currently looks too expensive for the Serie A side.

Joshua Zirkzee in action for Manchester United
Joshua Zirkzee in action for Manchester United (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

With no agreement in sight, it seems Roma are also looking at Atletico Madrid’s Giacomo Raspadori, according to Alfredo Pedulla’s report for Football Italia.

It will be interesting to see what this means for the Red Devils, who surely need to lower their demands for Zirkzee and simply focus on getting him off their books.

Joshua Zirkzee staying at United doesn’t benefit anyone

It’s hard to see what United could possibly get out of clinging on to Zirkzee for much longer as he’s clearly not in Ruben Amorim’s plans.

Of course, there’s always the argument that MUFC would do well to ensure they have depth in attack, but that’s not a role the player is going to be happy with, especially in a World Cup year.

United could also probably do better if they allow Zirkzee to leave now and work on finding a replacement who’d offer them a better option up front anyway.

If they keep the 24-year-old for too much longer without playing him, then his value will surely only go down even further, so it’s hard to see a positive outcome from this strategy.

The post Talks held: Man United meet with club chiefs to discuss transfer but new complication has emerged appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Yesterday — 17 December 2025Main stream

Salah vs Slot is different from Ronaldo vs Ten Hag – but who’s to blame?

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By:Mark Brus
17 December 2025 at 20:38

Liverpool manager Arne Slot and star player Mohamed Salah have had a very public falling-out, and it’s unsurprisingly drawn comparisons to Cristiano Ronaldo’s infamous exit from Manchester United.

Salah was left out of the Liverpool squad to take on Inter Milan on Tuesday night following his outburst at the end of the Leeds United game at the weekend, which itself followed three consecutive games of being left on the bench by Slot.

It now seems inevitable that Salah will end up leaving Anfield, with his future set to be resolved after his participation at AFCON over the winter period.

But should it actually be Salah making way here, or is Slot the one in the wrong?

How the Salah vs Slot row is different from Ronaldo vs Ten Hag

As much as this story shares some similarities to Ronaldo’s infamous falling-out with Erik ten Hag towards the end of his second spell at Man Utd, the situation also has some key differences that need to be factored in.

With Ronaldo, United were dealing with an ageing superstar who didn’t really fit in with the new manager’s plans. Ten Hag was new to the job, and, even if it wasn’t wise to pick a fight with such a big personality in the dressing room, he was also under pressure to impose his philosophy, and that meant building for the future without someone who wouldn’t press or track back.

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in action (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

Even if Ronaldo had his moments under previous manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it was still arguably a mistake to re-sign him and disrupt the promising squad that had been being built at Old Trafford, so in many ways it was admirable of Ten Hag to show how much he meant business by thinking more long-term about making his style of play work.

With Slot and Salah, the situation is completely different – this is a player who just fired the Reds to the Premier League title last season whilst winning the Golden Boot and generally enjoying one of his best campaigns at the club. He was duly awarded with a new contract before the summer, so you can forgive him for now wondering why he isn’t considered a key player anymore just a few months later.

But does Slot also deserve patience?

In fairness to Slot, he’s also not Ten Hag, who proved to be a disaster at United. Slot immediately delivered a Premier League title in his first season in charge, so has perhaps earned the chance to make this big call on Salah.

The Dutch tactician could perhaps have handled things differently, though, considering Salah’s role in the team’s success just a few months ago. Even if the 33-year-old hadn’t started the season well, he’s also far from the only one who would arguably merit being dropped for a few matches. The apparent attempt to single Salah out like this seems unfair and unwarranted.

Ultimately, though, the manager is paid to make these tough decisions, and Salah could also have handled his response better than he has. Sometimes big names will sit out a few matches before coming back, and any coach should be able to do that without fearing such a major backlash. Salah has achieved very little with his public outburst – it only makes it more likely he’ll continue to miss games, and it further unsettles Slot at a time when he is already under pressure to fix morale in this struggling squad.

The post Salah vs Slot is different from Ronaldo vs Ten Hag – but who’s to blame? appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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