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Yesterday — 19 March 2026Main stream

Sources: Chelsea “prepared” for Enzo Fernandez exit, three transfer targets to replace him revealed

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 21:35

Chelsea have already begun work on replacing unsettled midfield star Enzo Fernandez ahead of this summer.

Sources in the industry have told me this afternoon that Chelsea chiefs are carrying out extensive work on three main targets for that position, and others could soon come into the equation too.

This story was first published on the Daily Briefing – click here to subscribe to read exclusive transfer news ad-free!

As reported earlier this season, one name Chelsea really like is Elliot Anderson, though there’s an awareness that Manchester City and Manchester United may already be further ahead in the running at the moment.

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As I also mentioned in that report, there are some sources close to Chelsea who’ve felt for some time that a Fernandez exit shouldn’t be ruled out, and it seems the Argentine’s future is now more uncertain than ever.

Enzo Fernandez to leave Chelsea?

Fernandez himself has fuelled speculation over his future with his comments after the defeat to PSG, and we’ve since heard talk that his chances of leaving Stamford Bridge could be as high as 99%.

Speaking to a few more well-placed sources, who’ve asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, it seems there have been doubts about Fernandez for some time.

Looking at the 25-year-old’s contributions on the pitch, it’s fair to say that, despite some moments of quality, he’s not quite been consistent enough to justify the big fee CFC paid for him.

“Chelsea ideally don’t want to sell, but they’re also realistic about Enzo’s situation ahead of this summer,” one source told me. “It’s been a topic of discussion for some time, so they’ll be prepared.”

Chelsea to invest in young midfield talent

As is the way under this Chelsea ownership, the club will once again look at elite young talents in midfield if it comes to having to replace Fernandez.

Anderson is high up on Chelsea’s list, as confirmed by multiple sources, but keep an eye as well on AZ Alkmaar sensation Kees Smit, and Wolves teenager Mateus Mane.

As already mentioned, Anderson has been heavily pursued by the two Manchester clubs and would cost £100m or more, so that’s far from a straightforward deal for Chelsea.

Still, I’m told that plenty of people inside the club are actually optimistic that the squad would be in “much better shape” if they were able to bring in Anderson as a potential upgrade on Fernandez.

Smit and Mane are a bit less experienced and more raw, but are still well-liked by Chelsea’s recruitment team, with the Blues possibly open to signing one of them along with a slightly more proven name (but still ideally in the under-24 age bracket).

The post Sources: Chelsea “prepared” for Enzo Fernandez exit, three transfer targets to replace him revealed appeared first on CaughtOffside.

BBC claim Man City are clear frontrunners for £80m transfer but Man United not giving up yet…

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 20:00

Manchester City reportedly look to be the clear frontrunners for the potential £80m transfer of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

But that seemingly won’t stop Manchester United from pursuing the England international, according to BBC Sport.

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Anderson has been in superb form for Forest this season, and now also looks like a near-certainty to start for England barring any surprise World Cup news this summer.

It seems clear that Anderson could shine at City or United, having produced some terrific stats with his Premier League performances throughout this campaign.

All-rounder Elliot Anderson would be a dream signing for most top clubs

See below for Anderson’s stats that show just how well he contributes in so many different metrics, with the 23-year-old showing himself to be the kind of all-rounder that could carry the best sides to success…

Elliot Anderson stats against other top PL midfielders
Elliot Anderson stats against other top PL midfielders (DataMB)

Anderson looks ideal to replace someone like Rodri at the Etihad Stadium, with MCFC perhaps in need of a younger player in that role now after the Spaniard’s recent injury problems.

United, meanwhile, have Casemiro approaching the end of his contract, with the BBC noting that they’re already looking to replace the veteran Brazil international.

As reported here for the Daily Briefing, Chelsea also have a long-standing interest, even if our information is that City and United look more likely for the moment.

Where should Elliot Anderson go?

Anderson will likely have a long list of options this summer, but he’ll have to pick carefully for this important next step in his career.

The former Newcastle youngster has flourished at Forest and will need to continue playing regular first-team football, which is probably more likely for him at United than at City.

Even if Anderson looks more than good enough to replace Rodri, it won’t necessarily be easy, while there’s also Nico Gonzalez to compete with.

Kalvin Phillips is a name for Anderson to keep in mind, as he looked superb for Leeds United before really struggling and seeing his career go majorly downhill at City.

Then again, a lot of big names have also gone backwards at MUFC in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, so perhaps keeping other options like Chelsea in mind wouldn’t be the worst idea.

The post BBC claim Man City are clear frontrunners for £80m transfer but Man United not giving up yet… appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Many Chelsea players “fed up” and consulting agents over transfer options

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 18:07

A lot of Chelsea players are reportedly “fed up” and some have even spoken to their agents about potentially leaving Stamford Bridge, according to Simon Phillips.

Although no specific names are mentioned in the report, it makes sense that a decent chunk of Chelsea’s players are not entirely happy with how things are going right now.

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The Blues were thrashed by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League over two legs, losing 8-2 on aggregate to exit the competition at the last-16 stage.

Liam Rosenior recently replaced Enzo Maresca as manager and has had a mixed start, but generally looks a little out of his depth in such a big job this early in his coaching career.

Chelsea players unsettled

Phillips cites sources in his piece saying “a lot of the players are confused, fed up, ready to clock out and not get injured for the World Cup, with some asking agents to get moves already”.

This seems far from ideal for Chelsea as they really need to turn things around between now and the end of the season, as there’s still plenty to play for.

Rosenior’s side can still qualify for next season’s Champions League if they finish strongly in the Premier League, while they have a relatively easy-looking path to the FA Cup semi-finals as they take on Port Vale in the next round in April.

Who could be leaving Chelsea?

Ultimately, CFC won’t just allow key players on long-term contracts to leave, but there’ll perhaps be one or two who’ll be looking for a way out.

One big name that does seem to be facing uncertainty is Enzo Fernandez, with another Simon Phillips report stating there could be a really high chance of him leaving Chelsea this summer.

Big names like Manchester City and Real Madrid were mentioned as potential suitors, but one imagines the west London giants would demand huge money for the Argentina international.

The post Many Chelsea players “fed up” and consulting agents over transfer options appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Ranking Man United’s ten midfield transfer targets from best to worst

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 17:28

Manchester United’s midfield could look very different next season as Casemiro comes towards the end of his contract, while doubts linger over the future of both Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.

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The Red Devils have been linked with a host of big names in that area of their squad, so much so that it’s not out of the question that their entire midfield three could be made up of new signings next season.

Just a few days ago we took a look at how Man Utd could line up next season if they land just three of the main names they’re being linked with, but their list of targets actually seems to be even longer.

? How Manchester United could line up if they land their DREAM midfield targets for this summer! ? pic.twitter.com/ZF60lGn5uS

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 14, 2026

So which players would be the best pick to strengthen this United midfield? Read on for our power ranking based on our special Transfer Fit rating system, which takes into account player cost, age, and other key factors.

Manchester United’s midfield transfer targets ranked

1) Elliot Anderson

Elliot Anderson TOTAL SCORE: 19/25
Transfer fee *
Performance *****
Achievements ***
Career phase *****
Squad need *****

Although Elliot Anderson would not come cheap, he’s been arguably the outstanding midfield player in the Premier League this season, and looks a certain to start as a key player for England at the World Cup. He loses points for his steep price, which has been reported by the Telegraph and others as £100m or more, but there’ll surely be plenty of top clubs who’ll see that as a price worth paying.

2) Adam Wharton

Adam Wharton TOTAL SCORE: 19/25
Transfer fee *
Performance *****
Achievements ***
Career phase *****
Squad need *****

Pretty much on a par with Anderson, there’s surely going to be a big move in store for Adam Wharton this summer. He’s really looked the part at Crystal Palace and even if he’s slightly behind Anderson in the pecking order for England, fans of United and other big clubs would surely be really happy to sign him this summer, even if again he’s unlikely to move for anything other than a massive fee.

3) Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham TOTAL SCORE: 18/25
Transfer fee *
Performance ***
Achievements *****
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

With reports that Man United will do their best to keep Bruno Fernandes, as per the Daily Mail, it also surely makes sense for them to plan something big in the event of his departure. Well, names don’t come much bigger than Jude Bellingham, who has been linked with a move to Old Trafford by Spanish outlet Fichajes, even if they also state that Real Madrid are not keen to sell.

4) Mateus Fernandes

Mateus Fernandes TOTAL SCORE: 15/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ***
Achievements *
Career phase *****
Squad need ****

Mateus Fernandes has been linked with United by talkSPORT in recent times after a hugely impressive season with West Ham. His transfer fee probably won’t be as high as some of the names on this list, especially if the Hammers get relegated, and he’s young enough that he’ll keep on improving, even if he’s also relatively inexperienced compared to some of the club’s other rumoured targets.

5) Bruno Guimaraes

Bruno Guimaraes TOTAL SCORE: 13/25
Transfer fee *
Performance ***
Achievements ***
Career phase **
Squad need ****

A report from Reuters claims United are in advanced talks over signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle. While the Brazilian is undoubtedly a top player, it’s perhaps debatable if he’d really be the absolute best option out there considering he’ll be turning 29 early next season.

6) Morgan Gibbs White

Morgan Gibbs White TOTAL SCORE: 12/25
Transfer fee *
Performance ***
Achievements *
Career phase ***
Squad need ****

Probably not quite the level United need, but Morgan Gibbs White has had another fine season for Nottingham Forest and looks like he could make an impact at a bigger club. A perfectly solid addition for United if they can’t land slightly more glamorous targets.

7) Sandro Tonali

Sandro Tonali TOTAL SCORE: 11/25
Transfer fee –
Performance **
Achievements **
Career phase ***
Squad need ****

We recently gave Tonali to Man Utd a score of just 11/25 and we’re sticking with that – the big transfer fee that would likely be required just doesn’t look justified. The Italy international has been a key performer for Newcastle, but he’s not exactly someone with any outstanding qualities to really improve this MUFC squad.

8) Joao Gomes

Joao Gomes TOTAL SCORE: 10/25
Transfer fee **
Performance *
Achievements **
Career phase **
Squad need ***

At the lower end of medium, Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes could be an option worth looking at, but it’s also hard to see him being quite good enough after a season where he’s been part of a Wolves side who look certain to get relegated after some really poor form.

9) Carlos Baleba

Carlos Baleba TOTAL SCORE: 9/25
Transfer fee –
Performance **
Achievements *
Career phase ***
Squad need ***

At one point this would have been higher, and it could still be again, but Carlos Baleba’s form has really gone downhill this season. Brighton would probably still want a big fee for a young player who obviously has a lot of potential, but it would be a big gamble at this moment in time.

10) Tyler Adams

Tyler Adams TOTAL SCORE: 9/25
Transfer fee **
Performance *
Achievements *
Career phase **
Squad need ***

We’ve reported on Tyler Adams being someone United and other big clubs are looking at as he’d possibly be available on the cheap this summer. While that could mean he’s a useful backup option, it’s hard to see him as someone who should be high up on the list of a club as ambitious as United.

The post Ranking Man United’s ten midfield transfer targets from best to worst appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Report: Crystal Palace “planning” deal for experienced star

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 15:09

Crystal Palace could reportedly be planning new contract talks with Jefferson Lerma in order to secure his future at Selhurst Park.

The 31-year-old has been a key player for Palace in his three seasons at the south London club, having previously also shone at former team Bournemouth.

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Palace need to ensure they can keep a lot of this squad together ahead of what could be a pretty chaotic summer as manager Oliver Glasner has already confirmed he’ll be leaving.

On top of that, there will surely be interest in key players like Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta, while Marc Guehi left for Manchester City in January and Eberechi Eze made the move to Arsenal last summer.

Can Crystal Palace keep hold of Jefferson Lerma?

CPFC surely need to avoid losing too many key members of this squad all at once, with former Premier League scout Mick Brown discussing Lerma’s future with Football Insider.

“Players like Lerma are key to what Crystal Palace are doing,” Brown said.

“He’s versatile enough to play in midfield or at the back, always puts in a solid performance and has plenty of experience in the Premier League.

“I expect they will be planning to extend his deal and keep him at the club beyond the end of the season, because there’s already enough players who might be leaving.

“A lot will depend on what he wants to do, does he want to stay? They’ll have to sit down with him before making a decision that works for everybody.”

Palace fans will certainly be hoping for a positive update on this soon.

The post Report: Crystal Palace “planning” deal for experienced star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“I can confirm” – Fabrizio Romano drops major Liverpool update that will impact transfer plans

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 14:56

Liverpool director Richard Hughes is a top target for Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal, as has now been confirmed by the reliable Fabrizio Romano.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano addressed recent claims that Hughes’ Anfield future could be in doubt due to interest from Saudi clubs.

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It seems there is truth to the stories, with Romano suggesting it’s going to be something to watch, but it’s not yet clear if a move will definitely happen due to Hughes being happy at Liverpool.

Hughes previously impressed in a similar role at Bournemouth before moving to LFC in the summer of 2024, but now it’s not clear how much longer he’ll be staying.

Fabrizio Romano on Richard Hughes’ Liverpool future

edwards hughes lfc
Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes

Speaking in his latest YouTube post, Romano said: “According to reports in Saudi Arabia, and I can confirm that it’s true, that Richard Hughes, Liverpool director, is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, especially from Al-Hilal.

“So, Richard Hughes is now the clear favourite to become the future director at Al-Hilal. The point is the timing and when this is going to happen.

“Because Richard Hughes remains absolutely and totally committed to Liverpool project and he’s very happy at the club.

“So, he remains completely focused on the Liverpool project, but the interest from Saudi is true.

“So, they are trying from Saudi to find a solution for Richard Hughes, for now, for the future.

“Let’s see if they are going to be able to find a way to appoint Richard Hughes, but I can confirm the admiration, I can confirm the interest. Let’s see what Richard Hughes decides to do.”

How important is Richard Hughes for Liverpool?

Hughes has a big role in Liverpool transfers, so it certainly seems like it would not be ideal for the club to have to replace him.

As previously reported here, though, Hughes hasn’t always got things right, such as when he overruled Arne Slot over the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich.

And although Hughes helped Liverpool secure statement signings such as Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike last summer, it would probably be fair to say they’ve not quite had the impact that many would have hoped.

Sometimes change is good, so perhaps this is an opportunity for Liverpool to bring in someone who could improve their recruitment, even there’d be some short-term pain in terms of working to find a replacement.

The post “I can confirm” – Fabrizio Romano drops major Liverpool update that will impact transfer plans appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Nick Woltemade decision leaked following Newcastle United issue

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 14:34

Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade is reportedly set to be named in the latest squad for the German national team despite his difficult situation at St James’ Park.

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Woltemade started well when he joined Newcastle from Stuttgart in the summer, and he had been on the radar of big clubs like Bayern Munich prior to his move to the Premier League.

Still, there’s no doubt that Woltemade’s recent form has dipped quite considerably, with the 24-year-old on an awful run of just one goal in his last 21 games in all competitions.

It seems, however, that Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann is still giving Woltemade his backing, according to the Shields Gazette.

Nick Woltemade’s World Cup hopes given a boost

Woltemade still seems to be in Germany’s plans as Nagelsmann is expected to name him in his latest squad, which will be confirmed later today,

That’s a big boost for Woltemade ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where his country will be one of the favourites to win the competition.

Newcastle fans will surely be surprised that Woltemade has managed to keep himself in contention, though, after such a dry spell in front of goal for Eddie Howe’s side in recent times.

If Woltemade can’t turn his form around quickly, there’s surely still a big risk that he’ll ultimately miss out on the summer trip to North America.

It will also be interesting to see what happens with the Germany international’s situation in the summer transfer window, as Bundesliga clubs might still be keen on him even if it hasn’t quite happened for him in English football so far.

One imagines NUFC would also be open to letting Woltemade go unless they see a huge improvement from him in their next few games.

The post Nick Woltemade decision leaked following Newcastle United issue appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Champions League quarter-finals in full: Can Arsenal or Liverpool go all the way?

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 14:06

Arsenal and Liverpool are the only two Premier League clubs to make it as far as this season’s Champions League quarter-finals.

The Gunners are set to take on Sporting Lisbon in their next game on the 7th of April, with the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium set to take place eight days later on the 15th of April.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have been drawn on the other side of the bracket as they take on reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain.

If the Reds get past PSG they’d take on either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, while success for Arsenal against Sporting will set them up for a semi-final against either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid.

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So, in theory, we’re looking at a possible Arsenal vs Liverpool final, but how likely is that?

Champions League quarter-finals in full and predictions

Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid

Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich

Arsenal are one of the best teams in Europe this season and were arguably a little unlucky when they were beaten by eventual winners PSG in last season’s Champions League semi-finals.

Mikel Arteta’s side will now be big favourites to beat Sporting, but Liverpool are having a difficult season and also face a far tougher tie, with PSG surely the favourites to progress to the semis again.

Here’s our best effort at predicting the outcome of these Champions League quarter-finals…

Arsenal to beat Sporting

Provided Arsenal don’t get complacent or suffer an injury crisis, this is surely the best tie the north Londoners could have hoped for. They beat Sporting 5-1 away from home in the league phase of the competition last season, and should be too good for them again here.

Prediction: Arsenal to go through.

Arsenal CL record Played Wins Draws Losses
2025/26 10 9 1 0

Barcelona should get past Atletico

These games really can go either way, but Barcelona look the real deal at the moment after the way they absolutely dismantled Newcastle. Of course, Atletico did a pretty good job in that first leg win over Spurs, but were somewhat less convincing in the second fixture against what is a far weaker team.

Prediction: Barcelona to go through.

PSG too strong for Liverpool

Liverpool came back well against Galatasaray, winning their second leg 4-0 after a surprise 1-0 defeat in the away leg. Perhaps Arne Slot’s men will find that extra level in Europe after a disappointing domestic campaign, but the reality is that they’ve fallen some way behind with the changes to their squad this season. PSG beat them last term and they’re more than good enough to do so again.

Prediction: PSG to go through.

Bayern to edge it against Real

Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich have been outstanding this season and probably the best team in Europe alongside Arsenal. Harry Kane is on fire, Michael Olise has taken his game up a level, and they’re really well-rounded in every department. While it’s unwise to ever bet against Real Madrid in this competition, they’ve not quite been at their best this season, so we can see Bayern just about getting through a close tie.

Prediction: Bayern to go through.

Will we see a Premier League winner in the Champions League?

All four other English clubs, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle, exited the Champions League this week.

We’re currently predicting Liverpool to go out at the next stage of the tournament, but Arsenal should reach the semi-finals for the second year in a row.

Beyond that, however, the gruelling Premier League schedule and tough opponents each week make it harder for English sides in Europe.

We’ve seen that illustrated clearly by both Chelsea and Newcastle in particular, as they both fell apart rapidly in the latter stages of their respective away fixtures against PSG and Barcelona.

PSG in particular have a real edge from the fact that Ligue 1 really isn’t that competitive, meaning Luis Enrique can quite conceivably rest players for domestic games in order to keep them in peak condition for their European matches.

So, if you want a really early prediction for the final, don’t be too surprised if it’s Barcelona against either one of PSG or Bayern.

Who do you see as Champions League favourites? Let us know your predictions in the comments!

The post Champions League quarter-finals in full: Can Arsenal or Liverpool go all the way? appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Will Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard make it to the World Cup?

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 13:26

Martin Odegaard has been missing in action for Arsenal in recent weeks, and he’s now also been left out of Norway’s squad for their upcoming pre-World Cup friendlies.

The Gunners captain is one of the best midfielders in the world on his day, and if not for some rotten luck with injuries he’d surely be one to watch with the Norwegian national team at the 2026 World Cup this summer.

Still, there must now be some doubt about whether Odegaard will definitely make it to the tournament after repeated fitness issues all through this season.

Norway’s World Cup schedule

There’ll surely be plenty of Norway fans starting to think about placing bets on how well their national side will fare at the World Cup and they can also look into a Norway casino guide for other online gaming options.

Unfortunately, fans travelling to the US might be disappointed to learn that Las Vegas won’t be hosting any games, though there should still be some other destinations for poker and other pass-times to keep supporters busy in-between matches.

Norway are in Group I along with France, Senegal, and an as-yet undetermined playoff winner, with some of those final slots yet to be confirmed for the tournament.

This is undoubtedly a challenging group so Odegaard’s potential absence through injury looks like a huge concern.

Still, Norway finished top of their qualifying group and kick-off their World Cup on June 16th, before then taking on Senegal on the 22nd and France on the 26th.

Two of Norway’s games are being played in the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, and the other is in the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

Martin Odegaard’s recent injury woes

Odegaard has had five separate injuries that have limited him to just 28 games in all competitions for Arsenal this season, and it’s not clear if he’ll be able to play for them in this weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

See below for the various issues that have kept Odegaard out of the Arsenal side for so much of this season and which could yet see him miss his country’s first World Cup in 28 years…

Odegaard injuries 2025/26 Duration Games missed
Knee 26 days 6
Knock 8 days 2
Muscle 10 days 2
Knee 53 days 8
Shoulder 13 days 3

Arsenal have coped well without Odegaard as Eberechi Eze has stepped up in his absence, but Norway’s World Cup squad would surely be significantly weakened without their star midfield player.

There’d still be Erling Haaland up front, but Odegaard is needed to pull the strings and to provide the Manchester City striker with the kind of service he needs.

The post Will Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard make it to the World Cup? appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Sources: Arsenal among clubs who “love” this “near-flawless” wonderkid

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 13:04

Arsenal are among the clubs interested in an ambitious potential transfer for Barcelona wonderkid central defender Pau Cubarsi.

As first reported here for the Daily Briefing, it’s important to start by saying that Barcelona are obviously very keen to keep their star centre-back, who at 19 years of age is already one of the best in Europe in his position.

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Cubarsi is protected by a €500m release clause in his Barca contract, which runs until 2029, so this would not be an easy deal for suitors to do this summer, even if eyes are very much on his situation as no new deal in the next year or two could change things dramatically.

Arsenal, City, Chelsea & Bayern eyeing Pau Cubarsi

I’m told that the four main clubs eyeing Cubarsi are Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich.

“While it’s not necessarily a realistic one for the moment, there’s a lot of love for Cubarsi at Arsenal, City, Chelsea, and Bayern,” one source with close ties to the agents industry told me.

“I can’t name names, but a recruitment official from one of those clubs praised Cubarsi for his ‘near-flawless decision-making’ and ‘intelligence beyond his years’.”

It’s understood that there has not yet been any formal or informal contact between clubs and Cubarsi or his representatives, but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that they could soon try to establish a connection there.

If there’s any indication at all that Cubarsi stalls over a new contract, then that could be the moment for clubs to get involved and make him aware of their interest.

Barcelona’s plan for Pau Cubarsi

Still, sources close to Barcelona insist that there is no concern over Cubarsi’s situation, and plans to improve his contract soon.

It is also understood that the Catalan giants will likely end up offering him the captain’s armband in the coming years to highlight even more just how important he is to the team.

This is Cubarsi’s third season as a first-team regular at the Nou Camp, while he also has ten caps for the senior Spanish national team.

In short, everything is very much in place for Cubarsi with his current club, and there’s no current sign of him exploring other options, but as ever with these things, the situation could always change at any moment and there’ll be big clubs ready to pounce if they do.

The post Sources: Arsenal among clubs who “love” this “near-flawless” wonderkid appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Bid prepared: Man United ready to launch audacious €120m Jude Bellingham transfer bid

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 12:18

Manchester United are reportedly ready to launch an audacious €120m bid for the transfer of Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.

The England international has been one of the top players in world football in his position for some time now, and one imagines many Man Utd fans would love to see him at Old Trafford.

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It will be interesting to see if any other outlets pick this up, but for now transfer rumours linking him with the Red Devils come from Spanish site Fichajes.

Their report claims that United could be prepared to pay €120m to bring Bellingham to the club this summer, though they add that it’s unlikely Real Madrid would let him go.

Jude Bellingham to Manchester United transfer might not be as crazy as it sounds

While this wouldn’t be an easy deal to do, and Fichajes aren’t everyone’s idea of a top tier source, this story might not be as crazy as it sounds.

We know Bellingham was wanted by United in the past, with BBC Sport reporting on them giving the player a tour of their training ground when he was still a youngster.

Since then, Bellingham has kept on improving and has the qualities to make an impact with MUFC, though his form has also taken a bit of a dip this term, partly due to injuries.

What this could mean, however, is that even if Real would probably ideally keep faith with the 22-year-old for a bit longer, there might be a price that could tempt them.

But should Man United splash the cash on Jude Bellingham?

Whether United should make a big bid for Bellingham is another question, though, and in this era of tighter Financial Fair Play regulations, it might not be worth the risk.

Fichajes make it clear that United could pay €120m or even slightly higher for Bellingham, but there would also be his high wages to take into account, and there are probably players out there who’d offer similar qualities without costing quite as much.

Then again, this is a position the club could do with strengthening in, and it may be that a marquee signing of this stature is required if Bruno Fernandes leaves, though the Daily Mail report that they’re doing what they can to keep the Portuguese superstar.

Jude Bellingham TOTAL SCORE: 18/25
Transfer fee *
Performance ***
Achievements *****
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

Running Bellingham through our Transfer Fit rating system (find out how it works here) we scored this as a strong fit at 18/25.

If Bellingham’s form improves and he gets over his injuries, it’s easy to see that score going higher in the near future, but then that would also hit his transfer fee score.

Time will tell how much substance there is to this story, but there are reasons this shouldn’t be entirely dismissed.

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Talks planned: Chelsea & London rivals set to discuss transfer deal

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 11:33

Chelsea and West Ham United are reportedly planning to hold talks over a permanent transfer deal for Axel Disasi to move to the London Stadium.

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The French centre-back is currently performing well on loan with the Hammers, and it seems unlikely that there’ll be a first-team role for him back at Stamford Bridge any time soon.

According to Football Insider, this now means Chelsea and West Ham are set for discussions over making Disasi’s move permanent, though it’s not necessarily going to be straightforward.

The report suggests that one issue could be Chelsea’s asking price, as they’ll want to make back as much as possible of the £38m they spent signing Disasi from Monaco.

West Ham would surely struggle to afford that, and it doesn’t really look like good value for money anyway, even if the 28-year-old has done well during his time with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

West Ham need survival to secure Axel Disasi transfer

Unsurprisingly, it also seems that West Ham surviving in the Premier League will be key to them keeping hold of Disasi, according to Football Insider.

Disasi likely won’t be keen on playing in the Championship, and he’d surely have other offers to consider if WHUFC were to end up getting relegated.

Disasi previously also had a loan spell with Aston Villa, and there’d surely be a lot of clubs out there who’d be interested in him.

West Ham have shown some improvement in form recently, so might still be able to turn their season around and escape the bottom three.

If they do so, they’ll need a really positive transfer window, and keeping hold of Disasi makes sense as one of their priorities.

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Euro giants confident of signing Man United star but he’ll have to accept one key condition

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 10:41

Borussia Dortmund are reportedly confident that they could convince Manchester United misfit Jadon Sancho to join them for a third spell.

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Sancho is currently on loan at Aston Villa and will surely be leaving Man Utd this summer as he comes to the end of his contract after a pretty miserable spell at Old Trafford.

Still, the 25-year-old has previously shone at Dortmund, first as a youngster, and later when he returned there for a brief loan spell.

According to the Times, Dortmund would be keen to sign Sancho again, though he would likely have to accept a significant pay cut at the Bundesliga club.

What next for Jadon Sancho after nightmare Man United spell?

Sancho needs to get his next move right after a really difficult time since first joining United from Dortmund back in the summer of 2021.

At that time, the England international looked like one of the biggest talents in the game, but his career has really gone downhill since then.

Sancho did well when he returned to BVB on loan, but he’s struggling on loan at Villa this season and was also underwhelming during a loan stint with Chelsea last term.

Returning to Dortmund could be ideal to help Sancho revive his career, as he’s so often looked happiest and at his best with the German side.

At the same time, his form has dipped so much that it’s also possible he’ll have to move somewhere like Saudi Arabia if he wants to keep earning the kind of money he’s on now.

The Mail have previously reported that Sancho earns around £250,000 a week, and it certainly makes sense that Dortmund would be highly reluctant to pay that, as surely would plenty of other clubs in the Premier League and elsewhere in Europe.

That could limit Sancho’s options slightly, but he surely needs to focus more on football now than on his earnings.

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Barcelona confident Man United will accept surprise solution to Marcus Rashford transfer issue

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By:Mark Brus
19 March 2026 at 10:20

Barcelona are reportedly set to try for a second loan spell for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford instead of signing him permanently this summer.

Rashford has impressed since joining Barca on loan from Man Utd this season, but it seems the Catalan giants are still unsure about paying his £26m asking price.

That’s according to a report from the Daily Mail, which states that Barcelona are confident they can persuade United to simply allow the England international to join them on loan again.

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It’s slightly surprising that Barcelona aren’t prepared to spend a relatively low fee on making Rashford’s move permanent, and it also seems far from ideal from United’s point of view to miss out on a sale.

Still, the Mail suggests the La Liga club are optimistic they could do it, and MUFC may end up favouring this over trying to find another buyer for Rashford.

Marcus Rashford’s loan spell at Barcelona in numbers

Rashford looked far from at his best towards the end of his time at United, but he’s performed well at the Nou Camp even if he hasn’t always been an automatic starter.

The 28-year-old has a total of ten goals and nine assists in all competitions so far this season, which is a very decent return considering he’s only been named in Hansi Flick’s starting XI 21 times. In the Champions League this has translated to a goal every 97 minutes on average.

Rashford has often had to make do with a place on the bench, but he’s had a positive impact as a super sub in this Barca side, and his versatility also makes him a useful option in that kind of role, as he can be brought on as a winger or a striker depending on the situation.

As the graphic below shows, he’s clearly no Lamine Yamal or Raphinha, but it would surely make sense for Barcelona to try to keep him around for a bit longer if possible…

Marcus Rashford stats vs Lamine Yamal and Raphinha
Marcus Rashford stats vs Lamine Yamal and Raphinha (DataMB)

Overall, there seems a very strong case for Barcelona keeping Rashford and perhaps even signing him permanently given how cheap he’d be.

Still, we know the club have had financial issues in recent times and that might be why they’re reluctant to commit to this transfer fee for now.

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Before yesterdayMain stream

Latest report: Man United cleared to sign Liverpool transfer target for €60m as club need to sell

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 18:29

Manchester United are reportedly one of the main clubs in the mix for the potential transfer of Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown this summer.

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And they’ve been given a boost as it seems Eintracht need to sell players due to financial issues, with Brown available for an asking price of around €60m, according to Sport Bild, as cited and translated by Sport Witness.

Man Utd could be joined by Real Madrid and Barcelona in the race for the Germany international’s signature, however, while he’s also been linked with other Premier League clubs in the past.

Our understanding is that Arsenal are also among Brown’s admirers, while a recent report from Fichajes also mentioned interest from Liverpool.

Should Manchester United sign Nathaniel Brown for €60m?

It’s never easy to know whether or not a transfer will work out, but Brown is clearly highly regarded and arguably not too expensive for an in-form player of his age group.

United also look in need of a new left-back as an upgrade on the ageing and injury-prone Luke Shaw, and with Patrick Dorgu recently playing in a more attacking role.

We have therefore given the potential Brown to MUFC deal a Transfer Fit rating of 19/25, which makes him a strong fit…

Nathaniel Brown TOTAL SCORE: 19/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ****
Achievements **
Career phase *****
Squad need *****

Find out more about what the categories mean and how we score them here, with Brown certainly coming out very favourably.

Man United could be favourites for Nathaniel Brown

While it’s early days yet, there could be a variety of good reasons to think United would be the favourites to sign Brown.

The 22-year-old would surely see a move to Old Trafford as one that ticks a lot of boxes, especially if they end up qualifying for the Champions League, which now looks likely.

It’s also easier to see a pathway to becoming a starter at United than at Liverpool or Arsenal, who have a number of other left-backs.

Meanwhile, Real and Barca may also be interested, but Premier League clubs have often been able to out-spend major European clubs in recent times, so that could see Brown choose United for higher wages, while United might also find it easier to meet Frankfurt’s demands for the player.

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FIFA World rankings: How the top 10 national teams rank ahead of 2026 World Cup

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 17:49

The latest FIFA World rankings have been released and are now being updated in real time so you can keep track of the world’s best national teams ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

There are some interesting recent moves in FIFA’s ranking via their official website, with Morocco all the way up three places to 8th in the world.

Meanwhile, Belgium and Germany are down one place, but there’s no change nearer the top as the usual suspects are positioning themselves as favourites.

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Read on for the current top ten national teams in the world as we gain an insight into the favourites for this summer’s World Cup…

FIFA World Rankings

1) Spain – 1877.18 points

Having won Euro 2024, it’s no surprise to see Spain top of this list, with world class talents like Lamine Yamal and Pedri sure to make them a force to be reckoned with at the 2026 World Cup. Last time they won this trophy, they also went into the tournament on the back of success at the Euros two years before, so that’s a good omen for them as they look to lift this title for the second time.

2) Argentina – 1873.33 points

The reigning World Champions, Argentina will be looking to retain their crown this summer, and are only really behind Spain as the favourites. Lionel Messi is four years older now, though, and arguably a long way past his prime, so how crucial will that be for the South American giants?

3) France – 1870.00 points

On paper, possibly the best squad at the tournament. France’s team is absolutely packed with superstars, with Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, and William Saliba arguably the best players in the world in their respective positions right now, while even the reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele won’t be guaranteed a starting spot. Les Bleus last won this trophy in 2018 and will now be eager to make up for defeat in the final of 2022.

4) England – 1834.12 points

Could this finally be England’s year? They’re certainly looking as strong as ever as they sit fourth in the world rankings, and they’ll hope that new manager Thomas Tuchel can be key in helping them go one step further than Gareth Southgate was able to take them.

5) Brazil – 1760.46 points

The team with the most World Cups, but no win since all the way back in 2002, can Brazil finally re-establish themselves as the big force of world football? There’s plenty of talent in this side, even if it’s not the Brazil of old, and manager Carlo Ancelotti has been a trophy-winning machine at club level, so could be the key to bringing a sixth World Cup to Brazil.

Most World Cup wins by country Number of titles
Brazil 5 – 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
Germany 4 – 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
Italy 4 – 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
Argentina 3 – 1978, 1986, 2022
France 2 – 1998, 2018
Uruguay 2 – 1930, 1950
England 1 – 1966
Spain 1 – 2010

6) Portugal – 1760.38 points

Messi finally lifted the World Cup in 2022, so can Cristiano Ronaldo do it with Portugal in 2026? His country are clearly not the favourites, but sitting in 6th in the world rankings shows that they’re up there with the best on their day. With a bit of luck, Ronaldo could finally get that one elusive trophy to end his career on the ultimate high.

7) Netherlands – 1756.27 points

Remarkably, the Netherlands have still never won the World Cup, but they sit 7th in the current world rankings as they continue to be up there with the finest teams in world football. This is not really as great a side as some of their previous ones, but you can never rule them out.

8) Morocco – 1736.57 points

Controversially named AFCON winners after January’s final defeat to Senegal was overturned, Morocco are progressing a lot and will be looking to build on their run to the semi-finals in the last World Cup.

9) Belgium – 1730.71 points

Their golden era of having the likes of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne at their peak has now passed, but 9th is a decent score here for Belgium, who still have a lot of talent in their squad that could take them on a decent run in the World Cup.

10) Germany – 1724.15 points

Germany haven’t been at their best for some time, despite a great history in World Cups, of which they’ve won four. It’s been tough replacing recent legendary figures like Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, and Mesut Ozil, but they often seem to find a way to go far in major tournaments, so could do so again even if it’s not a vintage side.

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“Deal nearly done” – Chelsea closing in on midfielder signing amid Enzo Fernandez exit talk

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 16:18

Chelsea are reportedly closing in on a transfer deal for Strasbourg defensive midfielder Valentin Barco already.

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There’s still a few months before the summer transfer window, but the Blues seem to be advancing on the signing of Barco from fellow BlueCo club Strasbourg, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

Posting on X today, the reporter stated that this deal was nearly done due to smooth negotiations between the two clubs, who obviously have a good relationship due to both being part of the BlueCo group led by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali…

? #ChelseaFC ??
Chelsea are closing in on Valentin Barco, who has shone at Strasbourg.

? Shared ownership ? makes the move smoother.

? Talks ? at advanced stage, deal nearly done. pic.twitter.com/2PkTl4R1Y4

— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) March 18, 2026

It seems Chelsea fans can start to get excited about this one as a deal could be done quickly, and this story comes just a few days after Fichajes also linked the 21-year-old with the west London giants.

Valentin Barco to Chelsea to replace Enzo Fernandez?

A lot could change between now and the summer, but perhaps Barco is being targeted to replace Enzo Fernandez amid question-marks over his future at Stamford Bridge.

According to Simon Phillips, five clubs are eyeing up Fernandez and one source even suggests there’s a 99% chance that the Argentina international will leave CFC this summer.

When analysing the Barco to Chelsea transfer recently, we scored it as just 13/25 with our Transfer Fit rating system, but we can now bump that score up a bit…

Valentin Barco TOTAL SCORE: 17/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ****
Achievements **
Career phase ****
Squad need ****

We would now rate this at 17/25, adding points because Fernandez’s departure would increase Chelsea’s ‘squad need’ for the player, while smooth negotiations also suggest they’ll be getting this promising young talent for a favourable price.

Find out more about how we calculate our Transfer Fit ratings here!

Chelsea have previously used their relationship with Strasbourg to hire Liam Rosenior as manager, while Emanuel Emegha will join the Blues from the Ligue 1 club next season.

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Sandro Tonali & Newcastle United trio could be banned under UEFA rules

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 16:01

Newcastle United are at risk of losing four key players to suspension if they make it past Barcelona in tonight’s Champions League clash.

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Sandro Tonali is one of Newcastle’s most important players who’s now just one booking away from a ban, while there’s also concern over Joe Willock, Joelinton, and Dan Burn.

Newcastle drew 1-1 with Barcelona in their first leg tie at St James’ Park, and will tonight look to cause an upset at the Nou Camp.

It won’t be easy for Eddie Howe’s side, but they can perhaps take some confidence from that first leg, even if it wasn’t the result they wanted as Lamine Yamal snatched a 1-1 draw with a stoppage time penalty.

Newcastle United looking to reach Champions League quarter-finals

It remains to be seen if Newcastle can make that step up and get a big result tonight, but even if they do, they’ll have to hope the likes of Tonali, Willock, Joelinton and Burn are careful.

It would be a huge blow for the Magpies to get through to the quarter-finals but then find themselves without these key players.

Tonali has been in superb form this season and would surely be the biggest loss for the club if they were to go through tonight.

The Italy international’s performances have seen him linked with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United in recent times, so it could be that he’ll be on his way out of St James’ Park in the summer.

For now, though, his focus will surely just be on trying to help Newcastle achieve something special in this competition.

It’s not gone great for Premier League clubs so far, however, with Manchester City and Chelsea already both out, while Liverpool and Tottenham trail going into their second leg ties tonight.

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Source gives Chelsea star 99% chance of leaving this summer: Five transfer suitors named

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 14:58

Chelsea central midfielder Enzo Fernandez is reportedly attracting interest from as many as five clubs ahead of this summer.

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And according to Simon Phillips via Substack, there are sources who expect there’s a 99% chance of Fernandez leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of this season.

The five clubs mentioned in the report are Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Al Hilal, and Al Nassr.

It seems Fernandez could ask to leave Chelsea despite being under contract on a long-term deal, with the Argentina international seemingly unsettled and open to a new challenge.

Is the time right for Chelsea and Enzo Fernandez to part ways?

Fernandez hasn’t quite lived up to expectations at Chelsea, and perhaps it would also be fair to say that the club won’t have lived up to the kind of project he thought he was joining.

The 25-year-old arrived from Benfica in a big-money move in January 2023, looking like one of the most exciting talents in world football.

It also seemed at that time like Chelsea’s new owners were building something really ambitious as they focused on elite young players for a long-term project.

By now, however, the likes of Fernandez were probably expecting CFC to be closer to really competing for the biggest trophies.

The nature of Chelsea’s Champions League exit will surely be a big concern, though, with PSG really thrashing them over both legs.

Perhaps Fernandez would now do well to consider another project, while Chelsea might also justifiably feel that they could do something a bit different in midfield.

For all of Fernandez’s qualities, he hasn’t really been consistent enough and perhaps a big offer could be tempting so the Blues can add to their budget and invest in a few positions this summer.

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Leeds United identify priority transfer target due to one key concern

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 14:46

Leeds United have reportedly identified the signing of a new striker as one of their priorities due to concerns over Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

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The England international has had some good moments in a Leeds shirt since joining on a free transfer from Everton last summer.

However, it would also be fair to say that Calvert-Lewin has not quite been consistent enough, and that Daniel Farke could benefit from more of a goal threat up top next season.

Even if Calvert-Lewin has proven good enough to help Leeds fight against relegation, it would perhaps make sense for the club to think bigger as they’ll want to work their way up towards being more of a safe mid-table side before too long.

Leeds United tipped to sign upgrade on Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Speaking to Football Insider, former Premier League scout Mick Brown explained why he thinks there is some concern behind the scenes at Elland Road about Calvert-Lewin’s reliability.

“There are still a few concerns about Calvert-Lewin,” Brown said.

“He’s done better than most people expected him to do since he’s joined Leeds, but he’s still not the type of striker you want to rely on as your source of goals.

“His record, even this season, tells you that he goes through peaks and troughs, so there are doubts about whether he can do it consistently.

“Calvert-Lewin has given Leeds enough to help them stay in the Premier League this season.

“But I’m told they are looking to sign a new striker, somebody with a bit more consistency in front of goal as a replacement for Calvert-Lewin when he’s not doing it.

“The way Leeds play as well, they could start them both up front together, but it would give them more options than what they’ve currently got.

“The only question now is about money and where they’re going to get the player they want. That’s something they’ll be working on behind the scenes.”

Leeds United building for the future as they near safety

Leeds are not safe yet, but they don’t currently look like being one of the more likely teams to get relegated this season.

The newly-promoted side are currently on a run of five games without a win, but their form earlier in the season has still put them in a reasonably strong position.

Leeds currently sit in 15th place, only three points above safety, but clubs like Tottenham and Nottingham Forest are currently in much worse form.

Wolves and Burnley seem like near-certainties to go down at this point, so there’s a four-way battle to avoid that final relegation spot.

Leeds look like they should be able to survive, and it will be interesting to see what that means they can do in the summer transfer window.

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Eddie Howe urging the Newcastle board to re-sign star who’s close to becoming a free agent

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 14:07

Newcastle United are reportedly being urged by their manager Eddie Howe to keep hold of Kieran Trippier as he edges closer to the end of his contract.

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The veteran England international is set to become a free agent this summer after four years at St James’ Park, but the club could still end up keeping him.

According to a report from Football Insider, Howe is pushing for Newcastle to give Trippier a new contract to avoid losing him on a free at the end of this current campaign.

Trippier had fallen out of favour at one point, but he’s now back to his best and performing well in Howe’s side, leading the Magpies boss to change his mind about the player’s situation.

Could Kieran Trippier end up staying at Newcastle?

It remains to be seen if Trippier will definitely accept an offer to stay at Newcastle, having previously come close to moves to Turkish clubs which ultimately fell through.

The 35-year-old has had a fine career, most of which was spent playing in the Premier League, apart from a three-year spell at Atletico Madrid.

Perhaps Trippier will now be keen for a new challenge for what may be one of the final moves of his career.

Newcastle may still need Kieran Trippier

Still, it looks more and more like Newcastle still need Trippier, with some doubts over Tino Livramento’s future ahead of this summer.

The former Chelsea youngster is being linked with Arsenal and other big clubs, and it won’t be easy to replace him if he does move on.

It could therefore be simpler for NUFC to keep Trippier for at least one more year in case they struggle to find another replacement available on the market.

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Sources: Clubs “made aware” of Man United star’s transfer decision as exit looms

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 13:48

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee is keen to leave the club and return to Serie A this summer, as first reported here for the Daily Briefing.

The Red Devils are also prepared to sell Zirkzee after a difficult spell at Old Trafford, with clubs aware of the situation.

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As per my sources in the industry, Premier League clubs have now cooled their interest in Zirkzee as he’s not keen to stay in England, with Juventus, AC Milan, and Napoli on alert over potentially bringing him back to Italy.

One issue, however, is that these clubs are only looking to sign Zirkzee on loan, with his asking price of €35m looking too high.

Sources on Joshua Zirkzee’s transfer situation

“Zirkzee’s return to Serie A is gathering strength,” one source told me in a call this morning. “Premier League clubs have been made aware of his stance, so they’ve dropped their interest. Juventus, Milan, and Napoli are keeping an eye on his situation and could move.”

MUFC will no doubt hope to get a decent offer for the 24-year-old, but it may be that there’ll have to be some compromise somewhere.

It remains to be seen if that will be in the form of a loan with an obligation or option to buy, but the thing that’s clear is that Zirkzee will surely be leaving Old Trafford this summer.

Joshua Zirkzee’s poor spell at Man United

Zirkzee impressed at former club Bologna and could still revive his career back in Italian football, but it’s certainly been an underwhelming spell for him with United.

The Dutchman scored 11 Serie A goals in his final season with Bologna, but has only five in 50 Premier League appearances across two seasons with Man Utd…

Joshua Zirkzee all comps Games Goals
Bologna 2023/24 37 12
Man Utd 2024/25 49 7
Man Utd 2025/26 20 2

Zirkzee doesn’t exactly look the most tempting option for clubs right now, but there’s always a chance that we’ll see the best of him again once he returns to an Italian club.

Other recent United flops and misfits such as Rasmus Hojlund and Scott McTominay have done well at Napoli, while Antony has also revived his career since leaving United, albeit in La Liga with Real Betis.

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“Absolute madness” – Senegal to appeal AFCON final verdict in more pre-World Cup drama

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 12:55

As if there weren’t already enough subplots heading into the 2026 World Cup this summer, Senegal and Morocco are now battling over the AFCON title months after the final actually took place!

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Although Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the AFCON final back in January, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) have overturned the result and handed Morocco a 3-0 victory.

The final was marred by a brief period of interruption when Senegal’s players refused to play in response to a penalty decision.

However, the game did end up continuing, with Senegal taking the trophy, only there has now been a decision two months later to strip them of the title as they’re judged to have forfeited the match.

Senegal to appeal decision to overturn AFCON final

Still, Sky Sports are now reporting that Senegal will appeal this verdict, as per the video below…

BREAKING: Senegal say they will file an appeal over the decision to strip them of the AFCON title and award it to Morocco ? pic.twitter.com/QIaCxVXaPO

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 18, 2026

It will certainly be intriguing to see how this saga develops, and if it’s resolved by the time the World Cup kicks off in North America this summer.

Both Senegal and Morocco have qualified for the tournament, and although they’ve been drawn in different groups, there’s always a chance they could meet later in the competition.

This could be a major distraction for both teams, however, and it’s far from ideal to have another story like this dominating after so many other issues involving this year’s World Cup.

AFCON decision is “absolute madness” says Henry Winter

See below as journalist Henry Winter described it as “absolute madness” and questioned how it took them so long to come to this decision…

"It's absolute madness" ?

Henry Winter and David Ornstein react to the news that Morocco have been awarded the 2025 AFCON following a 'crazy decision' to overturn Senegal's victory ? pic.twitter.com/3K12jhogaE

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 18, 2026

“How come it’s taken two months to decide something like that? It should’ve taken them about two minutes,” Winter said.

“It’s absolute madness, and it’s damaging to African football, and it was damaged on the night as a lot of people were saying.

“I feel for Sadio Mane, who I thought was one of the few Senegalese who came out with credibility intact having urged his teammates to come back onto the pitch.

“The referee could very easily have made Senegal forfeit on the night.”

He added: “It’s one of the most extraordinary decisions in tournament history. For the hosts to be crowned the winners two months afterwards, it’s ridiculous.

“What are they going to do with these players who’ve got their medals? Are they going to have to give them back, drive around Morocco handing these medals over?

“It’s a crazy decision. If you’re going to do something like this you have to act more quickly.”

The post “Absolute madness” – Senegal to appeal AFCON final verdict in more pre-World Cup drama appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Couldn’t make this stuff up” – Former Chelsea player reacts to bizarre Liam Rosenior moment vs PSG

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 12:27

Former Chelsea player Craig Burley was clearly far from impressed with Blues manager Liam Rosenior in last night’s heavy defeat against Paris Saint-Germain.

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Rosenior was seen passing notes to his players late on in the game when the tie was already well and truly over, and Burley posted his disbelief about it on X, formerly Twitter.

See below as the ESPN pundit hit out at Rosenior for his antics, with the clear implication being that the Chelsea manager must have been doing this stuff for the cameras as there seemed so little point in handing out such sophisticated tactical instructions when six goals behind on aggregate…

Six goals behind with 5 mins left and Rosenior is sending on instructional notes to his players. Couldn’t make this stuff up ????

— Craig Burley (@craigburley) March 17, 2026

“Six goals behind with 5 mins left and Rosenior is sending on instructional notes to his players. Couldn’t make this stuff up,” Burley posted.

Chelsea lost 5-2 away to PSG and 3-0 at home last night as they were dumped out of the Champions League in rather humiliating fashion in the end.

Is Liam Rosenior doing a good enough job as Chelsea manager?

Rosenior impressed at former club Strasbourg before being appointed as Enzo Maresca’s replacement as Chelsea manager in January.

The 41-year-old is relatively inexperienced at the highest level of management, but looked like a good fit due to having already worked with the BlueCo group.

Liam Rosenior Wins Draws Losses Win %
Strasbourg 31 15 17 49.2%
Chelsea 10 2 6 55.6%

So far, however, Rosenior has not had the most convincing start to life at Stamford Bridge, with CFC particularly poor in the Champions League.

They’ve also lost big games against Arsenal in both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final and in a Premier League trip to the Emirates Stadium.

For now, Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League table and not out of the running for Champions League qualification just yet, but Rosenior will surely know he needs to improve.

? One Chelsea fan has found something to distract them from tonight's awful performance ? pic.twitter.com/f86VJX8wYr

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 17, 2026

The post “Couldn’t make this stuff up” – Former Chelsea player reacts to bizarre Liam Rosenior moment vs PSG appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Report: Manchester City ready to sell star depending on other transfer targets

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 11:50

Manchester City are reportedly ready to consider letting Savinho go this summer as they potentially make further changes to their attack.

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City brought in Rayan Cherki last summer and then Antoine Semenyo in January, which has only made it harder for Savinho to see much playing time.

We recently reported our information that Savinho was viewed as untouchable at the Etihad Stadium, but things could change.

According to Football Insider, although City manager Pep Guardiola has backed Savinho, there is some chance of an exit if further signings come in in that area of the squad.

Could Savinho to Tottenham transfer be back on?

Savinho was a target for Tottenham last summer, but City blocked the move and got the Brazilian to sign a new contract.

Football Insider now suggest Spurs could still look at Savinho, though one imagines that will obviously depend on how the club fares in their relegation battle.

The north Londoners could still go down this season, and that would surely prevent them signing a big name like Savinho.

Is Savinho good enough for Spurs?

We’ve also previously reported on Spurs still being keen on Savinho, but is he actually a good target for them even if they stay in the Premier League?

Signing him from a rival would likely make him quite expensive, and he’s not shown much during his time in the Premier League, even if he looked like a top talent during his time with La Liga outfit Girona…

Savinho TOTAL SCORE: 12/25
Transfer fee *
Performance **
Achievements **
Career phase ****
Squad need ***

Using our Transfer Fit rating, we judge Savinho to be a 12/15 signing, which is the lower end of medium. Would you say that’s about right, too harsh, or even too kind? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post Report: Manchester City ready to sell star depending on other transfer targets appeared first on CaughtOffside.

From Italy: Arsenal & Man United handed significant transfer boost after surprise development

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 10:56

Arsenal and Manchester United may have been given some very promising transfer news as Juventus have reportedly cooled their interest in Sandro Tonali.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Newcastle United and Italy midfielder had been a top target for Juve manager Luciano Spalletti, but the deal now looks less likely.

Instead, it seems that the Serie A giants could instead go for Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka, who looks a more realistic target as he’ll be a free agent this summer.

This could mean Arsenal and Man Utd will find it easier to land Tonali, who may well have been tempted by the opportunity to return to Italy, but with that opportunity now gone.

That said, we’ve looked at Tonali as an option for Arsenal and United with our Transfer Fit rating system and he scored pretty low for both.

Sandro Tonali transfer doesn’t look like value for money for Arsenal or Man United

Ultimately, Tonali is probably just going to be too expensive compared to other similar players out there, with neither his overall form or age making him a sensible enough investment.

For United, we scored his suitability at 11/23, as per our table below…

Sandro Tonali TOTAL SCORE: 11/25
Transfer fee –
Performance **
Achievements **
Career phase ***
Squad need ****

That’s the lower end of medium, with the former AC Milan man potentially useful for the Red Devils considering their needs in midfield, but we wouldn’t advise making him a priority.

While Tonali has shone during his time at St James’ Park, he doesn’t have particularly outstanding qualities compared to other in-form midfielders like Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, who are also younger so could keep on improving, whereas Tonali turns 26 in just over a month, so has probably just about peaked.

For Arsenal, he gets an even lower score as there’s simply nothing there that suggests he’d start over either Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi.

Sandro Tonali TOTAL SCORE: 7/25
Transfer fee –
Performance **
Achievements **
Career phase ***
Squad need –

Arsenal already have Christian Norgaard as a solid and reliable backup, and that’s surely not a role Tonali would be happy with, so there’s just very little chance that this deal would make any side particularly happy.

The links won’t die down, though, so perhaps we’ll be proven wrong as these clubs seem like they may be really determined to land Tonali, who might also be seen as a tempting opportunity due to the fact that he wants out of St James’ Park to further his career.

The post From Italy: Arsenal & Man United handed significant transfer boost after surprise development appeared first on CaughtOffside.

£245m spending spree: Liverpool targeting big-name trio to join Xabi Alonso revolution

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By:Mark Brus
18 March 2026 at 10:37

Liverpool could reportedly hire Xabi Alonso to replace Arne Slot as manager, and target Adam Wharton, Alessandro Bastoni, and Bradley Barcola in this summer’s transfer window.

The Reds are being linked with this stunning £245m triple swoop in a report from TEAMtalk, which cites claims coming from Spain.

It seems that Slot’s position as Liverpool manager could be in real danger after a disappointing second season at Anfield for the Dutch tactician.

And despite spending so much on new signings like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz last summer, they could do so again if they appoint Alonso as the man to take charge of this new-look squad.

This Liverpool transfer story would be sensational, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves

While it’s perfectly possible that we’ll see Liverpool doing crazy things in the market again this year, there’s a lot that needs to happen first before we can really treat these claims as super reliable.

Firstly, there’s still a long way to go between now and the end of the season, with Slot potentially still able to win silverware and guide the club into the top four.

Given that the former Feyenoord boss did so well in his first campaign, even some disappointment this year would surely mean he has credit in the bank, so to speak.

Alonso’s availability might make LFC tempted to make a change while they can, but it definitely seems too early to think of this as concrete.

On top of that, agreeing deals for such top players won’t be easy, with PSG unlikely to be keen on selling Barcola, and under little financial pressure to do so.

Wharton and Bastoni might be more realistic targets, but it’s also not clear how easy it would be for Liverpool to have two summers in a row of such big spending.

Liverpool should resist the urge to splash the cash

There’s also surely an argument that Liverpool need to slow down a bit when it comes to this squad overhaul they’re embarking on.

The Merseyside giants barely made any changes to their squad when Slot first replaced Jurgen Klopp and won the Premier League title.

Bedding in the likes of Isak, Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez hasn’t really gone to plan, with the team perhaps changing too much too quickly.

There’s now surely a case to be made for keeping this squad together and allowing Slot to help them grow as a team, rather than simply rushing into the market for even more new players who’d need time to adjust and settle.

One signing in defence would probably be sensible as Ibrahima Konate is close to the end of his contract, but the rest of the side arguably isn’t in need of wholesale changes anyway.

The post £245m spending spree: Liverpool targeting big-name trio to join Xabi Alonso revolution appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal’s next four games will make or break their season – here’s how

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By:Mark Brus
17 March 2026 at 17:25

It’s no exaggeration to say that the fate of Arsenal’s season probably rests on the club’s next four games, one in each competition they’re still challenging for.

It’s been an exciting season for the Gunners, but there do still seem to be some signs of nerves in Mikel Arteta’s side, who haven’t enjoyed too many moments of playing their best or most stylish football.

Still, this is an Arsenal side that knows how to grind out results and nick goals on well-worked set-pieces, and that’s served them well so far, with the north Londoners seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table and preparing for a Carabao Cup final.

They’re also still in the Champions League and FA Cup, having lost only three games in all competitions all season, but things could change very quickly in just the next four games. Here’s how…

Saturday: Arsenal vs Everton (Premier League)

Arsenal may be seven points ahead of Man City, but Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand. After some recent slip-ups with draws away to Brentford and Everton, it’s absolutely vital that Arsenal get three points.

This will be seen as a winnable fixture just as City travel to take on a resurgent West Ham, so expect football betting sites to start leaning even more heavily towards the Gunners if results go their way today.

A win for Arsenal and either a draw or defeat for City will feel very much like too far for the Sky Blues to come back from. At the same time, if AFC slip up again, there could be enough of a swing to majorly put things back in MCFC’s favour.

17th March: Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen (Champions League)

Just a few days before the Carabao Cup final, Arsenal will have to focus hard to avoid an upset against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

Arteta’s side were not too convincing in that first leg tie, but escaped with a 1-1 draw thanks to a late Kai Havertz penalty. If they don’t play much better at the Emirates Stadium, then this Leverkusen side is more than good enough to cause a surprise.

This Arsenal side is surely good enough to end the club’s hoodoo in the European Cup, but it’s fine margins at this level and they’ll need to be on their game even if they do have one eye on potentially picking up silverware just a few days later.

22nd March: Arsenal vs Manchester City (Carabao Cup final)

Needless to say, this is a huge game that not only represents the chance for some early-season silverware, but it brings together the two title contenders and will likely tell us a lot about who is in a stronger position to go on and finish as champions.

Arsenal could really do with that psychological boost against City, even if their record against them has improved in recent times, with the club still chasing a first trophy since all the way back in Arteta’s first season in charge in 2020.

If City come out on top, it could really spur them on to go on the kind of run that has previously seen them overpower Arsenal in the closing stages of the campaign.

4th April: Southampton vs Arsenal (FA Cup)

On paper, this is a pretty favourable tie in the next round of the FA Cup for Arsenal, but they can take nothing for granted.

If the Gunners end up out of the title race, the Champions League, and on the losing side of the Carabao Cup final by the time this match comes around, it will be hugely important to salvage the season by winning the FA Cup.

Southampton looks like a decent opportunity, but this is a club that have a surprisingly good record against Arsenal when they’ve been in the Premier League, so there can be no room for any complacency at the St Mary’s Stadium.

The post Arsenal’s next four games will make or break their season – here’s how appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Igor Tudor aims subtle dig at major Tottenham summer signing

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By:Mark Brus
15 March 2026 at 02:30

Tottenham’s interim manager Igor Tudor has aimed a subtle dig at Xavi Simons as he attempted to explain why he’s not starting him.

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The Netherlands international looked like an exciting signing when he joined Spurs from RB Leipzig last summer, but he’s had a fairly underwhelming first season in the Premier League.

Simons has just two goals and five assists for Tottenham so far, so it’s perhaps not too surprising that he’s no longer guaranteed a starting spot.

Still, the north London outfit spent a lot of money on the 22-year-old last summer, with BBC Sport reporting his fee as being £52m at the time.

Igor Tudor on his decision not to use Xavi Simons

When asked about Simons in his press conference, Tudor made it clear that even if the former Leipzig man was a major signing for the club, he currently felt he couldn’t start him as he was simply doing his best for the team.

Watch below for Tudor’s answer, with the Croatian tactician still offering Simons something of a lifeline, however, by suggesting that he could still get into the team at a later date even if he hasn’t been so far…

? Igor Tudor has explained why he's not giving playing time to big summer signing Xavi Simons…? pic.twitter.com/GQJE4GywMZ

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 14, 2026

Can Xavi Simons bounce back for Tottenham?

Simons surely has it in him to turn his Spurs career around, but it will be interesting to see what happens with him this summer.

For one thing, if THFC do end up getting relegated, it’s perhaps hard to imagine him sticking around to play in the Championship.

There could also be some sense in the club selling him or sending him out on loan so he can improve certain aspects of his game.

For all his natural talent and ability, Simons looks like he still needs to mature with his decision-making, while he’s perhaps also struggled with the physicality of English football, which is something he can work on and which could happen with age anyway.

The post Igor Tudor aims subtle dig at major Tottenham summer signing appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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