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Today — 21 March 2026Main stream

“Brilliant addition” – Joe Cole wants to see this Tottenham star at Chelsea

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 15:05

Former Chelsea star Joe Cole has urged his former club to sign Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, describing him as someone who’d be a “brilliant addition”.

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Van de Ven has shone at Spurs but the club as a whole have endured two difficult seasons in a row, so it would perhaps make sense for the Netherlands international to look for a move elsewhere.

Chelsea are also a little light of options at the back, so one imagines Van de Ven could easily come in as an upgrade on the likes of Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo.

Cole is a big fan of the 24-year-old, and suspects that he might be unsettled at Tottenham and open to a move for a new challenge.

Joe Cole wants Micky van de Ven transfer for Chelsea

Speaking on the Dressing Room podcast, Cole said: “Micky van de Ven from Tottenham. I think he’s looking like he wants to leave. I think he’d be a brilliant addition for Chelsea.”

It will be interesting to see what happens with Van de Ven in the weeks and months ahead, but a lot of it will surely rest on whether or not Spurs get relegated.

The north Londoners are currently just a point above the bottom three, so they could well be dragged down there in the final few games.

If Tottenham were to end up dropping down to the Championship, it’s certainly hard to imagine a player of Van de Ven’s calibre staying there.

Micky van de Ven TOTAL SCORE: 18/25
Transfer fee **
Performance ****
Achievements ***
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

See above for how Van de Ven to Chelsea scored with our Transfer Fit rating system, and find out how we calculate these here.

Chelsea linked with other defenders

Chelsea will surely sign a new defender this summer and one name they’ve been linked with a few times is Nottingham Forest’s Murillo, as per TEAMtalk.

We’ve also previously had Newcastle’s Sven Botman mentioned as someone CFC are keeping an eye on.

More recently, there have also been surprise claims of interest in Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori, according to Simon Phillips.

The post “Brilliant addition” – Joe Cole wants to see this Tottenham star at Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Chelsea ready to launch €80m package for wing-wizard but he’s already said yes to another PL club

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 14:32

Chelsea are reportedly ready to invest a total package worth €80m for the transfer of FC Koln attacker Said El Mala.

The Germany Under-21 international has shone in the Bundesliga and looks like he could soon be on his way to the Premier League.

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According to Fichajes, Chelsea are prepared to bid for El Mala and offer him high wages that could take their total investment to around €80m.

However, it may be that El Mala himself has already said yes to a move to Brighton, according to Christian Falk in yesterday’s edition of his exclusive CF Bayern Insider column.

Said El Mala set for Brighton transfer?

It remains to be seen if Chelsea could still hijack this deal, but for now it sounds like Brighton are in a strong position to sign El Mala.

According to Falk, the 19-year-old has personally agreed to the move, with his brother also set to join the Seagulls as an important part of the terms of the deal.

“It is TRUE: Said El Mala has said yes to signing for Brighton,” Falk wrote.

“The idea is that the Seagulls could offer €40m [£34.4m] to FC Köln. There was also a bid in the winter of around €30m, but that wasn’t enough for Cologne, as they needed him for the rest of the season.

“But in the summer, there’s a clearer pathway. Brighton made their offer, which is very attractive for the family! El Mala changed his agent, letting his mother take over.

Said El Mala Games Goals Assists
FC Koln 2025/26 26 9 3

“He also has a brother, Malek El Mala. Both brothers wanted to play in the same club – and they can do this at Brighton, as the south coast club also made an offer for Malek. This is the dream!

“Both can play in England, which is why Brighton are in the lead. I think this transfer will happen.”

Said El Mala faces important transfer decision

El Mala looks ready for a big move to England, but he has to pick his next club wisely in order to maximise his chances of playing regularly.

It’s clear that the teenager is very capable and it won’t do him much good to just come and sit on the bench of a club like Chelsea.

At the same time, however, the Blues have invested a lot in young talents in recent times, so could find room for El Mala as an upgrade on the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens.

Brighton seems to be his preference for now, though, so CFC might have to pull off something pretty special in order to change his mind.

The post Chelsea ready to launch €80m package for wing-wizard but he’s already said yes to another PL club appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Unfortunately…” – Liverpool star shares injury update on Instagram

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 14:02

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has shared a worrying injury update via his official Instagram account.

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The Brazilian shot-stopper has been a key player for the Reds, but now says he unfortunately expects to be out injured for a while.

See below for the post Alisson shared this morning on his Instagram stories…

“Unfortunately I’ll be out of action for a while,” he said in the post. “Already working hard to be back stronger! Thank you for the support!”

Liverpool have the depth to cope with Alisson’s injury

Liverpool would obviously much rather have Alisson fit and available, but they also have a very capable backup ‘keeper in the form of Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The Georgia international has already had to come in and play in Alisson’s place during an injury earlier this season, and he’s generally long been regarded as a big talent for the future.

It’s not clear precisely how long Alisson will be out for, but the Brazilian’s Instagram post certainly doesn’t sound too optimistic.

This means we will probably see a lot of games for Mamardashvili between now and the end of the season.

Liverpool’s injury struggles this season

LFC have had a few injury problems this season, with Alexander Isak notably out for the long term.

Conor Bradley has also been out with a lengthy injury, meaning Dominik Szoboszlai has ended up playing a frustrating amount of games at right-back.

Now there’s also some uncertainty about Mohamed Salah’s fitness as he’s set to be out of today’s game against Brighton.

The post “Unfortunately…” – Liverpool star shares injury update on Instagram appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Sources: Liverpool ahead of Chelsea after two rounds of talks over €50m transfer

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 13:46

I can reveal a major update on Eduardo Camavinga’s future after I previously reported here on contacts.

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At the time, it looked highly unlikely that Real Madrid would consider a sale, but that has changed, and there’s now even more interest in the France international.

As first reported here via the Daily Briefing, I’m told that Liverpool have had fresh contacts with those close to Camavinga, as have Chelsea.

This follows the recent update from Matteo Moretto that Real Madrid were in fact ready to listen to offers for Camavinga this summer, possibly for as little as €50m.

“There’s the growing sense that Camavinga’s time at Real Madrid is coming towards its end,” one source told me. “They’re not actively pushing him out, but privately they’re prepared to consider selling for the right price.”

Liverpool leading Eduardo Camavinga transfer chase

For now, it looks like the strongest interest is coming from Liverpool, who have been keen on Camavinga for some time.

The 23-year-old has been discussed internally at LFC, and they’ve now also had two separate meetings with the player’s entourage.

It’s not yet clear if this will definitely lead to formal negotiations with Real Madrid, but that should be something we’ll find out about soon.

Chelsea are also in the mix, with the Blues big admirers of Camavinga’s profile as they look to add another top young midfielder to their squad amid doubts over Enzo Fernandez’s future. Read here to find out their other targets in that position.

“Liverpool and Chelsea are both working to establish themselves with those close to Camavinga,” one source explained. “For now, Liverpool have done slightly more work on this deal, but it will likely be an open race.”

Eduardo Camavinga hasn’t fulfilled potential at Real Madrid

Camavinga has long been highly regarded in the game, first playing for former club Rennes as a teenager.

Whilst clearly someone with enormous potential, Camavinga hasn’t quite found his feet at Real Madrid, filling in as a utility player due to his versatility.

The Frenchman would probably benefit from having more of a key role in a set position, so it will be interesting to see if Liverpool and Chelsea can offer him that.

It’s still a risk, however, for Los Blancos to let him go unless they are confident of securing a top class replacement to bolster their midfield.

The post Sources: Liverpool ahead of Chelsea after two rounds of talks over €50m transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Family of “Mo Salah’s long-term replacement” to attend today’s Liverpool game, claims source

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 13:22

Liverpool fans may be excited to hear talk of Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise being strongly linked with the club again.

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According to a team of reporters on X, Olise’s family will be at today’s game between Liverpool and Brighton, with the France international seen as the ideal long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah at Anfield.

It’s been a disappointing season for Salah, whose form has collapsed since last season when he was on fire to help Liverpool win the Premier League title.

Now the Egypt international is starting to show his age, and Olise has shown with his world class Bayern performances that he could be the ideal long-term successor on that right flank.

Michael Olise is the dream signing for Liverpool

As you can see below, we recently ranked Olise as a 21/15 signing for Liverpool using our Transfer Fit rating system – click here if you want to find out more about how it works.

Michael Olise TOTAL SCORE: 21/25
Transfer fee **
Performance *****
Achievements ****
Career phase *****
Squad need *****

Olise would be expensive, which is the only thing bringing down his score slightly, as he ticks all the other boxes with his recent form and Liverpool’s need for a signing in that position.

The 24-year-old has a total of 35 goals in 93 games for Bayern, and has previously also shown what he can do in the Premier League with some superb displays during his time at Crystal Palace.

Bayern surely won’t sell Michael Olise

It’s hard to imagine this being a realistic deal for LFC, as Bayern surely won’t be under pressure to sell for anything other than crazy money.

Olise has a contract with the Bundesliga giants until 2029, so there’s not a big hurry for them to tie him down to a new deal, though that would surely help end all speculation.

Christian Falk for CF Bayern Insider recently provided further insight into Olise’s situation.

The post Family of “Mo Salah’s long-term replacement” to attend today’s Liverpool game, claims source appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Unwanted news” – Eddie Howe comments on Man United transfer links with Newcastle star

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 13:03

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has played down transfer rumours linking his star player Bruno Guimaraes with Manchester United.

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The Brazil international has been a key player for the Magpies and is now their club captain, with Howe insisting any speculation about him holding talks with Man Utd is nonsense.

Howe also admitted it’s an “unwanted” story as he doesn’t want his players to be distracted by stories like this.

Watch below for Howe’s reaction when asked about reports in Brazil claiming that Guimaraes was discussing a move to Old Trafford…

Eddie Howe responds to reports linking Bruno Guimarães to Manchester United ??? pic.twitter.com/xb9TXQ0Fac

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) March 21, 2026

Eddie Howe slams Bruno Guimaraes to Manchester United transfer stories

“I don’t even know how to respond to that, I don’t even think I should because it’s a waste of my energy,” Howe said.

“Bruno’s our captain, he’s fully committed. He’s injured at the moment. His only focus is coming back to fitness.

“For me, it’s a nonsense story. Unwanted news, I suppose is the best way to put it. You don’t want your players distracted.

“I don’t know how much they’ll absorb that, but for me it’s not the time to think about that. In the summer, you can sort of understand those stories a little bit more because the transfer window is open.

“But to say our captain’s in discussions with another club is totally disrespectful to Bruno more than anybody else. He’s totally committed here.”

Is Bruno Guimaraes to Manchester United realistic?

Newcastle won’t want to sell an important player like Guimaraes, but United could do with a new midfielder, or perhaps even two this summer.

According to ESPN, this deal is even being pushed by current United player Casemiro, who would like to see his fellow Brazilian move to Old Trafford to replace him.

Still, Newcastle were tough negotiators last summer when Liverpool pursued Alexander Isak, eventually paying huge money to sign him late on in the window.

Newcastle won’t want a repeat of that and United will perhaps be reluctant to enter into that kind of lengthy saga when there could be other midfielders worth looking at.

The post “Unwanted news” – Eddie Howe comments on Man United transfer links with Newcastle star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“His departure hurt us a lot” – Chelsea star hits out at club for sacking Enzo Maresca

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 12:34

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has criticised the club for sacking previous manager Enzo Maresca in the middle of the season.

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The Italian tactician won the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup with the Blues last season, but ended up leaving Stamford Bridge at the start of January.

Liam Rosenior ended up replacing Maresca, joining from Strasbourg, but things haven’t really improved since then.

Fernandez clearly isn’t happy with Chelsea’s decision, with the Argentina international admitting Maresca’s exit has disrupted the players.

Enzo Fernandez on Chelsea missing Enzo Maresca

Fernandez’s comments come amid doubts over his Chelsea future, and this outburst surely won’t help matters.

Speaking to Mexican broadcaster TUDN, Fernandez admitted he didn’t know why CFC decided to part ways with Maresca.

“I don’t understand it either,” the former Benfica man said, as quoted by the Metro.

“Sometimes there are things that we as players don’t understand, how and in what way they try to manage things.

“Obviously, it was a departure that hurt us a lot because we had an identity. He gave us an order, even though, as is the way of football, sometimes it’s good and bad.

“But he always had a very clear identity when it came to training and playing, and obviously his departure hurt us a lot, especially in the middle of the season, it cuts everything short.”

?? Throwback to THIS free-kick screamer by Enzo Fernandez – can Chelsea really afford to lose him? ? pic.twitter.com/aEXhAV6yR3

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 19, 2026

Could Enzo Fernandez leave Chelsea?

Fernandez certainly doesn’t sound too happy with life at Chelsea, and we’ve already received information on the west London giants preparing for his departure.

Chelsea are looking for replacements for Fernandez, with the feeling for some time now being that he might look for a move away.

Our understanding is that Chelsea are considering Elliot Anderson, Kees Smit, and Mateus Mane in that position.

Still, Rosenior has also spoken out and said that Fernandez is happy at the club.

The post “His departure hurt us a lot” – Chelsea star hits out at club for sacking Enzo Maresca appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Fabrizio Romano reveals Man City in “advanced conversations” with Man Utd & Chelsea target’s agents

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 11:23

Fabrizio Romano has an interesting transfer update on Manchester City’s pursuit of Elliot Anderson, with talks clearly quite advanced.

Although Romano is stressing that nothing has been completed yet, it sounds very much like Man City are currently in pole position to land Anderson this summer.

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However, speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano also mentioned that Manchester United still remain very attentive to the Nottingham Forest midfielder’s situation.

This is similar to what BBC Sport have also reported on Anderson’s future, while Chelsea are also understood to be keen on the England international as a potential replacement for Enzo Fernandez, as we exclusively reported.

Fabrizio Romano provides details on Elliot Anderson transfer saga

Discussing the latest on Anderson’s future, Romano explained how MCFC have moved to an advanced stage of their talks with the player’s representatives.

Man Utd fans will be interested to hear, however, that they don’t seem to be entirely out of the race just yet.

“Man City are pushing to sign Elliot Anderson. They are in advanced talks with his agents in advanced conversations in terms of … just asking about the situation of the player,” Romano said.

“So nothing has been agreed, nothing has been done, nothing has been completed but I mean advanced conversations about inquiring for the player.”

He added: “So Man City have been clear. They see Elliot Anderson as a target. Again, we are not yet at the stage of personal terms agreed. We are not yet at the stage of deal done. We are not yet at the stage of deal final stages, but for sure Manchester City confirmed their interest to those close to Anderson.

“Manchester United are attentive to the situation as well. Man United love the player, but at the moment Man City are pushing because in midfield Man City will be very busy as well.”

Elliot Anderson transfer destination – who should he choose?

At the moment it sounds like it’ll either be City or United for Anderson, even if Chelsea also cannot be entirely ruled out.

As we previously reported, the Blues are big admirers of the 23-year-old but are expected to already be slightly behind the two Manchester clubs in terms of legwork done on this deal.

On the face of it, City looks like comfortably the best move for Anderson, who could have a key role there as a long-term successor to Rodri.

He’d also be joining a winning project at the Etihad Stadium, even if this season hasn’t yet gone entirely to plan for Pep Guardiola’s side.

There aren’t the same guarantees at United or Chelsea, who have been in and out of the top four in recent years and chopped and changed managers several times.

City would surely be the more stable environment, though Anderson will also surely keep an open mind as MUFC and CFC are also two massive clubs.

The post Fabrizio Romano reveals Man City in “advanced conversations” with Man Utd & Chelsea target’s agents appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Fabrizio Romano confirms Man United star would “welcome” transfer exit this summer

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 10:57

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed our recent report on Joshua Zirkzee wanting out of Manchester United in the upcoming summer transfer window.

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The Netherlands international has struggled since joining Man Utd from Bologna, and it now seems he could look for a return to Serie A.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that Zirkzee would “welcome” a transfer away from Old Trafford this summer, with a return to Italy mentioned as a possibility.

This is similar to our info from a few days ago as we reported Zirkzee wants to leave United and ideally return to Serie A even though he has also had some interest from Premier League clubs.

Joshua Zirkzee transfer update from Fabrizio Romano

“I can guarantee to you guys that the desire of Joshua Zirkzee is to change in the summer transfer window,” Romano said.

“Zirkzee would welcome a transfer out of Manchester United.”

He added: “In the summer he’s expected to leave and there is interest from Premier League. There are some Premier League clubs already calling to understand if there is a chance to sign Joshua Zirkzee in the summer transfer window, but also Italian clubs.

“Italian clubs have always been around for Zirkzee. In January Roma had been pushing, Juventus were keen as well. Now more clubs also joining the race.

“Joshua Zirkzee is absolutely one to watch for the summer transfer window and could leave Manchester United.”

Manchester United need to move Joshua Zirkzee on

It’s clear that it just hasn’t worked out for Zirkzee at United and it looks like the right decision to move him on this summer.

The 24-year-old may well go on to have a fine career in Italian football, but he hasn’t looked cut out for the fast and physical nature of the English game.

Some MUFC fans will be disappointed that this deal didn’t work out as Zirkzee looked like an exciting prospect when he joined, but he has unfortunately gone on to become the latest in a long line of flops signed in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

It will be interesting to see who United move for as a replacement in attack this summer, with more depth surely needed if Zirkzee ends up leaving.

The post Fabrizio Romano confirms Man United star would “welcome” transfer exit this summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

£40m price set: Chelsea open to offers for recent signing as PL club on alert

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 10:44

Chelsea are reportedly expected to be open to offers for flop striker Liam Delap this summer, with Newcastle United named as potential suitors.

Delap already spoke with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe while he was at Ipswich Town, before ultimately deciding on the move to Stamford Bridge.

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That’s according to talkSPORT, who suggest that the 23-year-old forward could now be available for something in the region of £40m.

Delap scored an impressive 12 goals in 37 Premier League games for Ipswich, which led to plenty of interest in him last summer.

Still, there’s no getting away from the fact that he’s been a disappointment at Chelsea, scoring only one league goal so far.

Liam Delap transfer could be risky for Newcastle United

As we reported yesterday, Delap doesn’t look like an ideal fit for Newcastle right now, even if they could do with strengthening up front.

The Magpies urgently need a top class replacement for Alexander Isak, with neither Nick Woltemade or Yoane Wissa delivering for the club so far.

Liam Delap TOTAL SCORE: 8/25
Transfer fee **
Performance –
Achievements –
Career phase ***
Squad need ***

As you can see in the table above, Delap scored just 8/25 using our Transfer Fit rating system (more detail on how it works here), which is a low score mostly based on the fact that his recent form is poor and he doesn’t have enough of an overall track record to make up for it.

NUFC can surely find a better way to spend £40m, or, even better than that, try for a more expensive player who might prove the better investment in the long run anyway.

Delap’s fee isn’t crazily high, but that doesn’t mean he’s right for Newcastle at the moment, with Howe’s side in need of a strong window to make up for the chaos of last summer when they fought long and hard to keep Isak only to lose him anyway and end up with inadequate replacements.

The post £40m price set: Chelsea open to offers for recent signing as PL club on alert appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Talks advanced” – David Ornstein says Manchester United “close” to important double deal

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By:Mark Brus
21 March 2026 at 10:20

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on new contracts for important first-team duo Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo.

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According to the Athletic’s David Ornstein, talks are advanced on new deals for the Man Utd pair, who have re-established themselves as key players for the club under interim manager Michael Carrick.

See below for details as Ornstein says Mainoo’s new contract would run until 2031 and see him earn a pay rise, while veteran defender Maguire would just be offered one more year, with the option of another on top of that…

? EXCL: Man Utd close to agreement with Kobbie Mainoo + Harry Maguire over new contracts. Proposed deal would keep 20yo midfielder at #MUFC until 2031 on improved terms. 33yo defender offered 1+1yr deal. Work still needed but talks advanced @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/EbHI6cYR2e

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) March 20, 2026

Posting on X, Ornstein said: “Man Utd close to agreement with Kobbie Mainoo + Harry Maguire over new contracts. Proposed deal would keep 20yo midfielder at #MUFC until 2031 on improved terms. 33yo defender offered 1+1yr deal. Work still needed but talks advanced.”

Maguire and Mainoo deals are good news for Manchester United

This has not been the easiest season at Old Trafford, with the club once again changing manager after Ruben Amorim’s sacking at the start of 2026, but things are ending on more of a high note.

United could only manage a draw away to Bournemouth last night, but they’ve been one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League since Carrick replaced Amorim.

A big part of that has been Mainoo’s increased involvement, with the talented young England international bizarrely frozen out when Amorim was in charge.

Maguire’s improvement has also been a big boost for MUFC, with the 33-year-old showing how important he can still be to the team.

Our information was that Maguire had been eyed by Chelsea as a surprise option to give them some much-needed experience at the back, so it’s perhaps not surprising that the Red Devils have moved fast to ensure they can keep hold of him.

The post “Talks advanced” – David Ornstein says Manchester United “close” to important double deal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Yesterday — 20 March 2026Main stream

Newcastle United showing strong interest in double Chelsea transfer raid

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 19:56

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in both Chelsea strikers Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson, according to TEAMtalk.

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The Magpies could do with strengthening up front after a disappointing season in which they have failed to replicate the success of their previous campaign.

Newcastle won the Carabao Cup final and qualified for the Champions League last term, but have suffered since selling Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

So far, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa haven’t performed well at Newcastle, so bringing in someone like Jackson or Delap could be a good move.

Still, some NUFC supporters might also be slightly underwhelmed, as both players have largely flopped at Chelsea.

Could Liam Delap revive his career at Newcastle?

Delap is still only in his first season at Chelsea, but he’s clearly found it a big step up from his time at former club Ipswich Town.

The 23-year-old scored 12 goals in 37 games for Ipswich last season, standing out as a top performer even if the club ended up getting relegated.

This season, Delap has managed just one league goal in 21 appearances for the Blues, and it could lead to speedy exit.

Newcastle might bank on Delap getting back to his best, but it would certainly be a gamble, and even if he has some potential, he’s currently a long way from being someone who could replace a world class forward like Isak…

Liam Delap TOTAL SCORE: 8/25
Transfer fee **
Performance –
Achievements –
Career phase ***
Squad need ***

As you can see, Delap gets a low score with our Transfer Fit rating system (find out more about how it works here), suggesting that whatever his price would be, it would likely be well above what he’s truly worth.

Newcastle clearly need a striker and Delap is young enough that he could still turn his career around, but there’s not really enough there to suggest he’s at the level Eddie Howe’s side really need.

Could Nicolas Jackson do a job for Newcastle?

Jackson, meanwhile, has a slightly better scoring record at the highest level, even if he wasn’t quite up to Chelsea standards.

The Senegal international has also been pretty underwhelming on loan at Bayern Munich, but in fairness to him he’s struggled for playing time due to being behind Harry Kane in the pecking order.

Here’s how we scored him for Newcastle – slightly above Delap. Do you agree with our verdict? Let us know in the comments!

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

The post Newcastle United showing strong interest in double Chelsea transfer raid appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Mikel Arteta drops intriguing team selection hint for Arsenal vs Man City cup final clash

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 19:07

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has not confirmed one way or another if it will be David Raya or Kepa Arrizabalaga starting the Carabao Cup final.

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The Gunners take on Manchester City at Wembley this Sunday with the first piece of silverware of the season up for grabs, and it could also prove a crucial part of this season’s title race between these two clubs as well.

Man City manager Pep Guardiola has already confirmed he’ll be playing backup goalkeeper James Trafford against Arsenal, but Arteta simply said “we’ll see” when asked about who’ll start in goal for his side.

Raya is Arsenal’s established number one ‘keeper for the biggest games, but Kepa has been the team’s cup goalie so far this season, but it seems Arteta isn’t ruling out bringing in Raya for this hugely important match.

Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s goalkeeper to take on Manchester City

? Kepa or Raya in goal for Arsenal this weekend?

Arteta's answer…?? pic.twitter.com/ylqX4XiTxL

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 20, 2026

Watch below as Arteta responded to a question about Kepa vs Raya, and gave little away, though he did add that it doesn’t make a big difference as they’re both quality players with a lot of experience at the highest level…

Arsenal fans will probably be hoping Arteta doesn’t take any risks given the importance of this game, with Raya surely the safer option.

The Spanish shot-stopper has been superb during his time at the Emirates Stadium, and surely deserves the chance to start in a game that could finally see the north London giants lift their first trophy since 2020.

Then again, it’s also important to keep players happy, and it would clearly show a distinct lack of faith in Kepa if he were to be left out of this game having played all of the other Carabao Cup matches previously.

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Journalist provides insight into “better mood” inside Arsenal camp ahead of Carabao Cup final

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 18:33

Arsenal are reportedly calm and in a positive mood ahead of this weekend’s Carabao Cup final clash against Manchester City.

The Gunners will arguably be the favourites to lift the trophy at Wembley this Sunday, with Mikel Arteta’s side currently top of the Premier League and into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

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By contrast, Man City have not been at their best, having dropped points in two league matches in a row to fall further behind Arsenal, while they were also knocked out of Europe by Real Madrid this week.

Speaking on YouTube, Independent journalist Miguel Delaney provided some insight into how Arsenal now seem to be in a better mood than their opponents ahead of this big game.

Arsenal calm ahead of Manchester City cup final showdown

“Arsenal are the team that are in the better mood where nothing has, as yet, gone you’d say very badly wrong they feel in a good place now as a team,” Delaney said.

“From what I’m told, the mood in the camp is one where the final is almost actually being downplayed a bit.

“There’s a calmness which marks such a contrast from you know one of the major characteristics of this season which is how every single Arsenal game or almost every single game has been ramped up.”

Only time will tell how this affects Arsenal’s performance at the weekend, but for now the club’s fans will surely be pleased to hear this positive update.

Arsenal’s recent record against Man City

For a long time Arsenal seemed to struggle in their games against City, but Arteta has done a tremendous job to turn that around in the last couple of years.

AFC are now on a run of six games unbeaten against MCFC, and that includes a victory at Wembley in the 2023 Community Shield.

City can never be ruled out, though, after all the success they’ve had under Guardiola, which also includes beating Arsenal in the League Cup final back in 2018.

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Fabrizio Romano says Man United could still sign player Ruben Amorim was “pushing a lot to get”

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 18:10

Manchester United still appreciate Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, who was a top target for previous manager Ruben Amorim, according to Fabrizio Romano.

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It seems Man Utd are still discussing their top midfield targets for the summer, with no final decision yet, but Romano has suggested Baleba remains one of the options under consideration.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano went through a list of players the Red Devils are looking at in that position, including Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali.

It is not yet clear if Baleba will still be one of United’s priorities as he was under Amorim, with Romano generally explaining that whoever the club’s new manager will end up being could be another significant factor when it comes to identifying transfer targets.

Fabrizio Romano on Manchester United’s ongoing interest in Carlos Baleba

United have been linked with Baleba several times, but it seems Amorim was key to this, even if others inside Old Trafford also like the Cameroon international.

Romano said: “We have to understand that in order to say ‘okay, Man United want his player because also the coach wants his player’. For example Ruben Amorim was big fan of Baleba at Brighton. (He) wanted Baleba now Baleba is still appreciated by people at Man United, of course, but in that case there was the manager pushing a lot to get Baleba, now it could be different so let’s see let’s follow the situation.”

It’s worth noting that Baleba’s form has dipped this season, so United could probably do better to look at other midfield targets instead of him.

At the same time, MUFC might also face a lot of competition for someone like Elliot Anderson, as reported by BBC Sport, so sometimes it’s worth keeping a lot of different players in mind.

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Brave or stupid? Guardiola confirms this Man City star will start Carabao Cup final vs Arsenal

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 17:51

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed the surprise decision to start with James Trafford as his goalkeeper against Arsenal this weekend.

Man City take on the Gunners in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, and it seems Guardiola is prepared to stick with his cup ‘keeper even for this hugely important game.

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The Spanish tactician, speaking at his press conference today, was asked about starting with Trafford over his usual no.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma, and confirmed he would be doing so.

As per BBC Sport, Guardiola said Trafford would be starting and described it as a “big moment for the team.”

James Trafford’s difficult time at Manchester City so far

Trafford joined City from Burnley in the summer, but Donnarumma joined from Paris Saint-Germain not long after.

It perhaps looked initially like Trafford would be Guardiola’s first-choice ‘keeper this season, but it hasn’t worked out that way.

The 23-year-old is a fine talent who will probably feel he could be starting for a number of other Premier League clubs, so it will be interesting to see what he decides about his future this summer.

Still, for the time being Trafford will be given the chance to make himself a hero this weekend.

What about Arsenal’s goalkeeper for the cup final?

Interestingly, it also wouldn’t be too surprising if Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also neglected to use his usual no.1 ‘keeper for this game.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has played for Arsenal in all of their League Cup and FA Cup games so far, so that would probably suggest he’ll be in the starting XI on Sunday as well.

All in all, these decisions seem slightly risky, with Donnarumma performing superbly against Arsenal in last season’s Champions League semi-finals when he was still at PSG.

David Raya is also a top performer for AFC, so could be missed in this important game when silverware is up for grabs.

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“He has to deliver” – Fabrizio Romano discusses risk of Chelsea sacking Liam Rosenior

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 17:36

Fabrizio Romano has reported on Liam Rosenior’s job safety at Chelsea, with the Blues not looking likely to sack the manager any time soon.

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Chelsea are known for changing managers pretty frequently, having already gone through Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, and Enzo Maresca as permanent appointments under this ownership.

Rosenior hasn’t had the most convincing start since replacing Maresca back in January, and Romano admits the 41-year-old has to deliver at Stamford Bridge, just like any manager.

But it seems he’s not in immediate danger, with Romano acknowledging that it’s harder to take a big job like Chelsea without the benefits of a full pre-season to prepare.

Fabrizio Romano on Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea future

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano responded to uncertainty around Rosenior after Chelsea’s humiliating Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

He said: “Obviously it was disappointing to see Chelsea going out of the Champions League like that. Paris Saint-Germain scored eight goals on aggregate against Chelsea in the Champions League. (It) was especially the Stanford Bridge one poor performance and so obviously many people (are) asking and trying to understand the situation around Liam Rosenior

“But at the moment despite all the questions I’m getting the answer I have is that Chelsea keep believing in their manager. Obviously we all know this is a results-based industry. So let’s see how it’s going to continue in the next months, but at the moment Chelsea show total commitment to the project they started with Rosenior.

“He arrived in January and it’s not the same when you arrive during the summer preseason start to do the market with the ideas of the coach as well.”

He added: “So the idea is to support Rosenior, is to trust Rosenior. Then again, he has to deliver as every single coach in the world. That’s the point.”

Is Liam Rosenior the right manager for Chelsea?

Rosenior impressed at Strasbourg, so his appointment made a lot of sense for CFC due to the two clubs both being part of BlueCo.

At the same time, however, coming from Ligue 1 to one of the top Premier League clubs is a very different level of challenge.

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

Rosenior has shown promise, but this big job perhaps came a bit soon for him as he remains relatively inexperienced.

Chelsea will no doubt hope he can continue to develop and learn, just as many of the young players in this squad are doing.

But we’ll have to see how patient the club’s fans are with that kind of approach if it doesn’t deliver success soon.

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Thomas Tuchel pays big compliment to Arsenal & won’t rule out Max Dowman going to the World Cup

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 17:09

England manager Thomas Tuchel has hinted that he’s keeping Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman as an option in mind for this summer’s World Cup in North America.

Speaking at a press conference today as he announced his latest England squad, Tuchel quite clearly left the door open for Dowman to join up with the Three Lions later on this summer.

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The German tactician was also full of praise for Arsenal for the way they’ve handled the 16-year-old’s development so far, explaining that it’s clear he’s in a good environment where he can stay grounded and keep on learning from the best.

Thomas Tuchel on Max Dowman

Speaking about a number of players who didn’t make his latest England squad, Tuchel made it clear he sees no reason to rush into selecting Dowman.

Still, the England manager definitely didn’t rule it out as something he could do when it comes to naming his final World Cup squad ahead of the tournament later this year.

? "A fantastic talent!"

Thomas Tuchel is NOT ruling out taking Max Dowman to the World Cup…? pic.twitter.com/gZgWs10WA7

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 20, 2026

“Well, he put himself in the spotlight no? With this amazing goal against Everton, and a crucial goal.”

“I think he is, at the moment, complete, and obviously a fantastic talent and an outstanding talent with this age. There cannot be a doubt about it.

“Everyone who tells me about Max praises him and is full of compliments about him. The reality at the moment is also that he competes for minutes – he’s not a regular starter for Arsenal.

“I think he’s in a fantastic environment, I think he’s in the best environment possible; in a competitive club, in a stable club, in a club where team work is the number one rule, this is how they play, this is how they function.

“So he learns from the very best, in the very best environment. And with these young guys, yeah, of course we know all these players and we see them as you do as well.

“At the moment I think he’s in a good place to fight for his position, fight for his minutes at Arsenal.

“We always have the chance to call him, maybe, up for the World Cup.

“The thing with young players is to keep their momentum, maybe, going and keep their excitement, and they have a level of fearlessness with them. So no need to call him up now and increase the pressure and increase all the noise that comes with it. But yeah, we have all options.”

Max Dowman making a name for himself

Dowman scored a memorable late goal for Arsenal in their 2-0 win over Everton, with the teenager coming off the bench in that match and almost single-handedly changing the game.

It’s not often you see a player so young playing with so much quality and intelligence, but Dowman looked very much at home at Premier League level.

The Englishman first fired in a dangerous cross that led to Arsenal’s opening goal for Viktor Gyokeres, before then running almost the length of the pitch to grab the second.

Even if he was faced with an open goal, Dowman showed tremendous skill to get himself into that position to punish Everton on the counter-attack.

In total, Dowman has played seven first-team games for Mikel Arteta’s side this season, and it’s easy to imagine he’ll get more minutes between now and May.

That could put him firmly in contention for a World Cup spot, and what a story that would be!

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Another important Liverpool figure could prove key to Mohamed Salah Saudi transfer

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 15:25

Liverpool could reportedly be at risk of losing both star player Mohamed Salah and sporting director Richard Hughes to Saudi club Al Hilal.

There is still some uncertainty about Salah’s future despite him signing a new contract at Anfield towards the end of last season.

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Al Hilal are believed to be keen on the Egypt international, and they’re also being linked with Liverpool chief Hughes, as per the Daily Mail.

If Al Hilal were to land Hughes, it could then be a useful connection for them to also go and sign Salah from Liverpool.

Should Liverpool keep Mohamed Salah this summer?

Salah’s form has dropped off a lot this season, with the 33-year-old clearly no longer at the peak of his powers.

See below for a comparison of his stats in 2024/25 and 2025/26, with Salah simply not coming anywhere close to those previous heights that saw him play a starring role in the club’s success…

Mohamed Salah's stats this season vs last season
Mohamed Salah’s stats this season vs last season (DataMB)

Salah scored 34 goals in all competitions last season, but has a total of only 10 so far this term.

His previous lowest tally in a season was 23, while this could also quite conceivably be the first time he finishes a Premier League campaign without double figures for league goals.

All in all, it might not be the worst thing for LFC to part ways with Salah this summer, even if that old saying goes ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’.

Unfortunately, Salah just doesn’t seem to have quite the same pace and sharpness to his game anymore, and Liverpool should start working on bringing in a long-term successor as soon as possible.

That, of course, could be harder if they lose a key figure like Hughes as well.

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Bid prepared: Chelsea set to make first formal offer for €50m “raw talent”

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 15:06

Chelsea are reportedly preparing their first formal transfer offer for FC Koln winger Said El Mala, potentially worth around €50m.

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The Blues are ready to pay big for El Mala and show their faith in the exciting young talent, who has also been eyed up by other top clubs in recent times.

Still, it seems Chelsea are keen to move to the front of the queue for El Mala’s signature by trying their luck with a €50m bid, according to Fichajes.

With nine goals and three assists this season, the 19-year-old has made a big impact and looks ready to make the step up to the next level.

Chelsea could do with Said El Mala transfer to give them something different in attack

It’s not been the best season at Stamford Bridge, so there could be room for further changes to Chelsea’s attacking options.

Jamie Gittens is one summer signing who’s been particularly disappointing, but many CFC fans will also have expected more from the likes of Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho.

Even Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian has gone off the boil after starting brightly, so there’s surely room for El Mala to come in and become a key player for Liam Rosenior’s side.

Said El Mala to Chelsea Transfer Fit rating

See below as we put El Mala through our Transfer Fit rating (read how it works here) and got the following score…

Said El Mala TOTAL SCORE: 19/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ****
Achievements ***
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

19/25 is a high score, with El Mala really ticking the boxes in terms of a pretty low transfer fee, good recent form, an age bracket that suggests his best is yet to come, and the fact that he improves a weak area of Chelsea’s squad.

It will be interesting to see if the west London giants can indeed get this deal done, but one imagines there’ll be plenty of interest in the Germany Under-21 international this summer, so probably a few more twists and turns in this saga yet.

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Report: Arsenal intensifying efforts to clinch potential €70m attacker transfer

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 14:45

Arsenal are reportedly intensifying their pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen’s talented young forward Christian Kofane ahead of the summer.

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The Gunners want to move ahead of any potential competitors for Kofane’s signature, with the 19-year-old set to cost around €70m, according to Fichajes.

Kofane has caught the eye in the Bundesliga this season, contributing seven goals and four assists in total.

A recent report from Sports Boom has linked Kofane with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Newcastle, but it could now be that Mikel Arteta’s side are stepping up their efforts to move into a strong position.

Arsenal eye Christian Kofane transfer in bid to reshuffle attack

Arsenal fans will no doubt be keen to see their club bring in a big name up front this summer, but there’s probably also room for a young talent like Kofane to come in and provide squad depth.

This could be the summer that we see players like Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard moving on, with neither player starting regularly for Arteta’s men this term.

That could mean Kofane can come in and fill that kind of role, perhaps with the view to developing into more of a regular starter once he gains more experience.

Arsenal like Christian Kofane’s versatility

Another good thing about Kofane is his versatility, with Fichajes claiming AFC like that side of his game.

The report adds that Chelsea could also be preparing contacts over the Cameroon international, while Leverkusen have turned down offers for him before.

Arsenal could also end up facing competition from big names like Real Madrid and Barcelona, according to Fichajes, so this saga remains at the early stages and could head in a number of different directions.

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“Bad news…” – Arne Slot provides mixed Liverpool injury update

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 14:27

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has provided an update on Mohamed Salah’s fitness as it looks like he’s going to be out of this weekend’s game against Brighton.

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The Egypt international has had a mixed season for Liverpool, but he’s looked better in recent times, scoring a sublime solo goal against Galatasaray in the Champions League this week.

However, Salah was unable to finish that game and it now looks like he’ll be out against Brighton and out of Egypt’s matches for the upcoming international break.

Arne Slot’s Mohamed Salah injury update

Speaking at his press conference today, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo, Slot said: “Unusual [he is injured], I think you expect the outcome so he is not available for tomorrow. Good thing for LFC is we go to international break, bad news for Egypt, he can’t go there.

“We hope with what Mo has shown in the past he can recovery faster than other players. He takes such good care of his body, he can be back earlier than others as history has shown. Only two weeks until we go again…”

So it’s not the worst news Liverpool fans could have heard, but it’s not ideal to be missing a key player like Salah at this important stage of the season.

It sounds like it might not be too long, so LFC supporters will hope he can return for the crucial period coming up in the race for the top four and the latter stages of both the Champions League and the FA Cup.

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England squad: Surprise Premier League duo called up by Tuchel ahead of World Cup

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 13:53

Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad has been confirmed this morning, with James Garner and Dominic Calvert-Lewin named as two surprise inclusions.

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According to the Athletic, the Everton midfielder and Leeds United striker have been selected to be given a chance in the latest international break as we get closer and closer to the 2026 World Cup.

The report also noted that big names from Manchester United were set be involved, such as Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo.

Information about the official squad was leaked earlier this morning, prior to being officially confirmed at 10am.

England squad in full

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle United), Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Lewis Hall (Newcastle United), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur)

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Sources: Man United & Liverpool considering move for Premier League star available for £30-40m

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 13:29

Manchester United and Liverpool are among the transfer suitors for Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson, as first reported here for the Daily Briefing.

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The 28-year-old’s Fulham future is in some doubt, with the player approaching the final two years of his contract, meaning this summer could be the club’s last chance to make decent money from selling him.

Still, it’s understood that one issue for the moment could be that Man Utd and Liverpool are unsure about paying his £30-40m asking price.

Antonee Robinson transfer being considered by Man United and Liverpool

United could do with an upgrade on Luke Shaw, who has performed well this season but who is not getting any younger and who has a poor injury record.

Alphonso Davies has been linked with Man Utd by my colleague Christian Falk, while there’s also been talk of the Red Devils eyeing Nathaniel Brown.

Robinson is valued by United due to his experience in the Premier League, but there’s the sense that £30-40m wouldn’t represent great value for money considering the player’s age.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are also exploring options at left-back after a slow start made by Milos Kerkez at Anfield since joining from Bournemouth last summer.

Some sources have given mixed indications about how much of a priority this will be, but Robinson is thought to be one of the names being considered to come in at least to replace Andrew Robertson as a rotation option alongside Kerkez.

Again, £30-40m would be a lot to pay for that kind of squad player, though, so Fulham might need to lower their demands for this deal to become realistic. It might also be in their interests to do so as the player’s value will only decrease further by next summer when he has just a year left on his contract.

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Euro giants monitoring Liverpool & Man Utd transfer target but PL move may be more likely – expert

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 12:55

Liverpool and Manchester United target Castello Lukeba could be heading to the Premier League despite interest from Bayern Munich.

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According to Christian Falk in his latest CF Bayern Insider column, Lukeba is being monitored by Bayern after his impressive form in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig.

However, Falk believes the deal may be more realistically affordable for Premier League clubs, which is a potential boost for Liverpool and Man Utd.

Lukeba also doesn’t necessarily look like someone who’d make sense as a priority for Bayern at the moment anyway, given that Dayot Upamecano recently signed a new contract at the Allianz Arena.

Christian Falk’s transfer info on Castello Lukeba

Discussing Lukeba and a possible move to the Premier League, Falk noted that Leipzig players often seem to end up in England, and at Liverpool in particular.

“It is TRUE: Bayern are monitoring Castello Lukeba,” Falk wrote.

“Max Eberl knows the player and likes the player. He has worked before at RB Leipzig. But, at the moment, it’s not true that FC Bayern will buy Lukeba in the summer.

“Things can change if Kim Min-jae is sold. Then they can invest the transfer fee, which is why Lukeba is still on the list.”

He added: “As you see, often RB Leipzig players end up in the Premier League. We’ve seen a lot of them – especially at Liverpool! Just look at Dominik Szoboszlai’s performances this season. This is one of the clubs that always focuses on such players.

“A while ago, Bayern bought Dayot Upamecano from Leipzig, and it was a good decision. But they can’t always do a deal like this, and we know Lukeba is an expensive player. So, perhaps there’s a deal in the Premier League to be found for the 23-year-old centre-half.”

Castello Lukeba looks ideal for Liverpool

LFC have a particular need for a new centre-back this summer as Ibrahima Konate comes towards the end of his contract, while Virgil van Dijk isn’t getting any younger and has arguably started to show signs of decline.

We’ve scored Lukeba as a strong fit for Liverpool using our Transfer Fit rating system – read more here about how it works…

Castello Lukeba TOTAL SCORE: 19/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ****
Achievements **
Career phase *****
Squad need *****

Lukeba would also surely get a similar score for Man Utd, though they already have decent depth in central defence, so arguably need him less.

The Frenchman may well favour Old Trafford over Anfield this summer, though, depending on how the ongoing battle for Champions League qualification pans out.

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Christian Falk drops exciting morning Manchester United transfer story

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 12:24

German football journalist Christian Falk has dropped an intriguing Manchester United transfer update this morning as the Red Devils remain interested in Alphonso Davies.

Writing in his latest CF Bayern Insider column, Falk stated that Man Utd are interested in Davies and that Bayern Munich could be open to listening to big enough offers.

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The Canada international was also previously eyed by United and other big clubs when his contract situation was uncertain, though he ended up signing a new deal.

Still, even if Davies is one of the best left-backs in the world on his day, he hasn’t been as convincing in recent times, partly due to ongoing injury issues.

Christian Falk on Manchester United’s Alphonso Davies interest

Discussing the Davies to United links in today’s column, Falk said: “It is TRUE: Manchester United are interested in Alphonso Davies.

“They were at the table when questions were being asked as to whether he would sign a new contract at Bayern Munich. They’re still monitoring this player, but he’s, of course, since signed a new contract at the Allianz Arena, so it will be difficult to get him at the moment.

“But there are also discussions going on at the club as to whether they need a new backup player, given all the injuries Davies keeps picking up. Before, they thought they didn’t need a player on the left-hand side because Hiroki Itō can play there as well.

“However, if there were an offer on the table (and don’t forget it cost Bayern a lot of money to extend Davies), there would be a discussion. But I can say right now that there has yet to be a concrete offer from Manchester United. If there’s an offer, perhaps Bayern will consider it, as the injuries keep coming.”

Is Alphonso Davies still good enough for Manchester United?

United fans will likely be divided over whether or not a move for Davies is the right thing, but what does our Transfer Fit rating show?

See below as we scored Davies on key metrics and gave him a fairly medium overall rating of 15/25…

Alphonso Davies TOTAL SCORE: 15/25
Transfer fee **
Performance **
Achievements *****
Career phase **
Squad need ****

Even if Davies has had a fine career as one of the top players in the world in his position, his recent form is less convincing and he probably wouldn’t come cheap.

Still, there are worse options out there, and MUFC do look like they need a new left-back as an upgrade on the ageing and injury-prone Luke Shaw.

The post Christian Falk drops exciting morning Manchester United transfer story appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Update: West Ham learn Axel Disasi price tag for summer

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 12:07

West Ham United have reportedly learned that it will cost them as much as £38m to sign Axel Disasi permanently this summer.

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The French central defender has shone for the Hammers since joining on loan from Chelsea, but it seems the Blues are still keen to make big money from his sale.

Disasi joined Chelsea from Monaco for around £38m a few years ago, and it’s a bit surprising to see that the west London giants still value him in that price range.

This is despite Disasi mostly being pretty underwhelming during his time at Stamford Bridge, though he has improved since his loan move to the London Stadium.

What next for Axel Disasi?

Disasi has previously also had a loan spell at Aston Villa, while there was some interest from clubs like Napoli and Roma prior to his move to West Ham.

It’s now reported that Chelsea and West Ham will have talks over the 28-year-old, but it remains to be seen when that will happen.

WHUFC will undoubtedly try to get Disasi’s price tag down, but one imagines it will still be a while before they can formalise their summer transfer plans anyway.

West Ham are currently battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, so staying up will surely be crucial for them in pursuit of their top targets.

Disasi has previously expressed his happiness at West Ham but it’s hard to imagine he’d be happy to stay there if they were playing in the Championship.

Chelsea will also likely feel that plenty of other clubs could be able to offer decent money for Disasi even if a move to West Ham doesn’t work out.

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Report confirms Arsenal interest in signing Newcastle United duo

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 11:44

Arsenal have an interest in both Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento of Newcastle United ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Gunners have been linked with the Magpies duo in the past, and now iNews seems to have confirmed the interest from Mikel Arteta’s side.

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It has previously even been claimed that Arsenal could be preparing a bid for Livramento, as per the Telegraph, while we’ve also covered Manchester City’s interest in the English full-back.

The latest from iNews is that Livramento’s future at Newcastle is in some doubt as there’s been a lack of progress over a new contract for him at St James’ Park.

Do Arsenal need Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali?

We’ve previously rated Tonali as a poor fit for Arsenal using our Transfer Fit rating system, as it’s hard to see the Italy international starting over Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi despite likely costing huge money to sign from NUFC.

Livramento, however, looks like a solid piece of business for AFC, scoring 17/25 and ticking pretty much every box…

Tino Livramento TOTAL SCORE: 17/25
Transfer fee ★★★☆☆
Performance ★★★☆☆
Achievements ★★★☆☆
Career phase ★★★★☆
Squad need ★★★★☆

Capable of playing both right-back or left-back, Livramento could be a useful option to ensure Arteta can continue to rotate his options at the back.

There could well be doubts over some Arsenal defenders this summer as well, with the likes of Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, and Myles Lewis-Skelly not playing as much as they perhaps would’ve liked this season.

Newcastle facing another worrying transfer window

It would be bad news for Newcastle, however, if they saw another summer dominated by players possibly leaving.

Alexander Isak left to join Liverpool last year and it proved hugely disruptive, so they could do without lingering doubts over other key players like Tonali and Livramento.

Arsenal will undoubtedly hope to pounce for at least one of those, but it will be interesting to see how strong Newcastle can be in the face of that interest.

The report from iNews adds that Newcastle want four new signings of their own as well this summer.

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Report: Newcastle United ready to make four signings in major summer overhaul

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 10:52

Newcastle United could reportedly be set to make sweeping changes to their squad this summer, with four new signings eyed up.

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The Magpies could do with something of a squad overhaul after a below-par Premier League campaign and a humbling Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona this week.

According to iNews, Newcastle are looking for four new signings – a goalkeeper, striker, right-back, and midfielder for Eddie Howe’s first XI.

It’s not yet clear which specific names could fill those roles, but there could also be other changes as the report mentions speculation over the future of midfield duo Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.

Newcastle United need a strong transfer window

Newcastle could do with avoiding more big names leaving after the very troubling saga involving Alexander Isak and his move to Liverpool last summer.

That dragged on for much of the transfer window and disrupted Newcastle a great deal, so they’ll hope to avoid anything similar happening with Guimaraes and Tonali.

If they can keep their most important players and also strengthen with those four targets they want, then things could look a lot more positive at St James’ Park next season.

This NUFC project is a promising one, but the team still needs a lot of work to truly establish itself in the top four.

It will be interesting to see what calibre of player they can lure to the club now as they’ll most likely be without Champions League football next season.

At the same time, though, Newcastle have shown that they can compete and get into Europe’s top club competition from time to time, so that should assure some players that they’re joining a strong project with a big future.

The post Report: Newcastle United ready to make four signings in major summer overhaul appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Manchester United made some calls” – Fabrizio Romano delivers major transfer update

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 10:38

Manchester United have made some calls to be informed on the situation of Newcastle United central midfielder Sandro Tonali, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano provided a major update on Tonali’s future as it looks like there’s a lot of interest in the Italy international ahead of the summer.

The Red Devils are joined by Manchester City and Juventus as potential suitors for Tonali, though it looks like the cost of the deal makes it complicated for Juve.

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With Man Utd, it seems Tonali is just one of several names on their list, according to Romano, though they have had some contacts to explore this option.

Fabrizio Romano on Man United’s interest in Sandro Tonali and what they could do in midfield

While it could still be a while before we know for sure what United will do in midfield, Romano explained that Tonali is one name the club like.

The Italian journalist also made it clear that MUFC may well make more than one midfield signing, and that further internal discussions will take place to decide on what kind of profile they’re after.

“Man United have several names on their short list for the midfielder. It’s not only one or two because this will depend on the budget,” Romano said.

“This will depend on who’s going to be the manager. This will depend on which kind of player Man United will want to sign. Could be one, could be two.

“So, there are several factors that are going to impact who is going to be the midfielder for Man United. is not only one name at the moment the list is including several names before they meet internally and they say okay let’s go for this one but for sure Manchester United made some calls to be informed.”

Romano clarified that United and City are the two clubs who have called to be kept in the loop about Tonali’s situation.

Who’d be the best midfielder signing for United?

We ranked United’s midfield targets and there’s a strong case to be made for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

Romano also mentions that United are targeting Anderson, but it surely won’t be easy to win the race for his signature after his superb form this season.

Other good fits could be Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, but Tonali didn’t score that high as we ran him through our Transfer Fit rating system.

Tonali came 7th on our list with an overall rating of 11/25, taking into account his recent form, likely cost, and current phase of his career.

The post “Manchester United made some calls” – Fabrizio Romano delivers major transfer update appeared first on CaughtOffside.

No deal: Manchester United prepared to reject club’s offer for £50m-rated star

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By:Mark Brus
20 March 2026 at 10:16

Manchester United are reportedly ready to say no to Barcelona’s potential proposal to sign Marcus Rashford on loan for a second time.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Red Devils will not accept a second loan offer as they hold out instead for a permanent sale for the out-of-favour Rashford.

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Barcelona have an option in their current loan agreement to make Rashford’s move permanent for £26m, but their financial issues seem to be bad enough to lead them to pursue another loan instead.

However, Man Utd are instead prepared to take Rashford back and find another buyer for the England international.

Manchester United believe Marcus Rashford’s value has risen

Rashford has performed well during his stint at the Nou Camp, and it seems United now feel they could get as much as £50m for him, according to the Mirror’s report.

Barca would surely do well, in that case, to sign the 28-year-old for almost half that price, but it remains to be seen if they can be persuaded to do so.

Rashford has proven a useful squad player for Hansi Flick’s side, contributing a total of ten goals and nine assists in all competitions despite only starting 21 games.

It would surely be sensible for Barcelona to simply pay the £26m required to keep Rashford, but MUFC may well do better now if he comes back to Old Trafford.

What next for Marcus Rashford?

In truth, it perhaps seems hard to imagine anyone paying as much as £50m for Rashford, whatever United may believe about his value rising.

Some United fans might even be thinking that the club should simply bring him back anyway and reinstate him in their first-team squad.

Things ended badly for Rashford at United, but he’s got back to his best during his time away in La Liga, so perhaps that can help him return to his parent club fresh and full of confidence.

Either that, or the change of scene has done him good and he’d find himself in a bit of a slump again if he were to go back to playing for United.

The post No deal: Manchester United prepared to reject club’s offer for £50m-rated star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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