❌

Normal view

Today — 24 March 2026Main stream

Which Big-Name Players Face a Race Against Time Ahead of the World Cup

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
24 March 2026 at 13:32

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is less than three months away, but some big-name players already face a race against time to recover from injuries in time to feature in North America. It seems as though every time the tournament rolls around, a superstar suffers some kind of injury and is forced to sit on the sidelines as the greatest sporting show on earth takes centre stage. It’s a story that England supporters only know too well. 

Back in 2002, Steven Gerrard was the next great hope in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s midfield. The Liverpool talisman scored a stunning goal in the famous 5-1 victory against Germany in qualifying, but he was sidelined for the Japan/South Korea showpiece due to a groin issue. Four years later, Wayne Rooney was the Three Lions’ talisman, but he faced a fitness race after breaking his metatarsal late in the 2005/06 Premier League season. The explosive striker would ultimately be selected; however, he was clearly not fit enough for action, and England duly crashed out after yet another quarterfinal defeat to Portugal. 

Fast forward to 2026, and there are question marks surrounding some English players, none more so than midfielder Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid man has had to endure an injury-hit year at the Bernabeu, but despite his potential absence, online betting sites still seem optimistic about England’s hopes. The latest World Cup odds at Bovada list Thomas Tuchel’s men as an 11/2 second-favourite to leave North America with the famous gold trophy in tow this July, with only Spain (9/2) considered more likely. 

Bellingham isn’t the only player who has fitness issues heading into the World Cup. Let’s take a look at the three biggest names in real danger of missing this summer’s tournament. 

Mikel Merino 

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has been one of the stars of the show for Spain in recent years. He scored a famous late winner against hosts Germany in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024, with his bullet header propelling La Roja past Die Mannschaft and ultimately on to a record-breaking fourth title. In World Cup qualifying, he continued in a similar vein, netting a blistering hat trick in the 6-1 rout of Türkiye in Istanbul to cement his spot in Luis de la Fuente’s squad.

MIKEL MERINO CRUSHES GERMAN DREAMS

pic.twitter.com/GVlVqIGw41

— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) July 5, 2024

This season, Merino was a crucial cog in Arsenal’s challenge for a famous quadruple; however, he suffered a stress fracture in his foot during The Gunners’ 3-2 Premier League loss against Manchester United in late January. The initial timeline ruled him out for at least four months, and the former Real Sociedad man underwent surgery in late February in a bid to ensure he boards the plane to North America. Whether de la Fuente selects him despite his lack of gametime throughout the second half of the season remains to be seen. 

Even without Merino, Spain still boasts arguably the most stacked side on the planet. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is the jewel in the crown, with a midfield comprising the likes of Pedri, Dani Olmo, Fabian Ruiz, Martin Zubimendi, and Rodri, capable of unlocking any defence. Even without Arsenal’s injured midfielder, they will fancy their chances of winning the World Cup this summer, with their position with the bookies as the 9/2 favourites seemingly backing up their case. 

Josko Gvardiol

While Merino may well yet win his fitness battle, someone who might not is Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol. The Manchester City man suffered a tibial fracture to his right leg in the January draw against Chelsea, a loss made all the more painful considering his fine form at the Etihad this season. His return date is thought to be the end of June, and with the tournament getting underway on June 10th, that is obviously not ideal. 

Croatia have consistently punched above their weight at the World Cup. In Qatar four years ago, they famously eliminated tournament favourites Brazil in the quarterfinals before going on to secure the bronze medal. In Russia in 2018, they reached the final for the first time ever, beating England in the semis before ultimately succumbing to a Kylian Mbappe-powered France side. 

With the next edition of the tournament around the corner, most of the Vatreni golden generation have sailed off into the retirement sunset. Gvardiol’s experience couldn’t be more important to Zlatko Dalic’s backline, and without him, the Croatian manager will have to reshuffle the deck if he wishes to emulate those previous successes. 

Alexander Isak 

Sweden hasn’t yet confirmed their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with disappointing performances in qualifying consigning them to the European playoffs. They will have to outlast Ukraine and either Poland or Albania if they are to punch their tickets to the World Cup. And they will have to make it through those playoffs without prolific striker Alexander Isak. Then, even if they do win them, the Liverpool man may not even recover from injury in time to represent the Blågult on the grandest stage. 

Isak was the talk of the footballing world last summer as he attempted to force through a transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool. He eventually got his wish, with the Reds forking out a British record £125m to secure his services. However, he managed just three goals in 15 games before breaking his leg in the December win away at Tottenham. 

His return date is slated for the end of April at the earliest, but having played minimal football over the past few months, he will be a million miles from optimal match fitness. That will give Swedish manager Graham Potter a big decision to make ahead of the World Cup, providing his side even makes it that far.

The post Which Big-Name Players Face a Race Against Time Ahead of the World Cup appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Yesterday — 23 March 2026Main stream

The hidden factors that could decide the Premier League season

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
23 March 2026 at 17:20

The Premier League is entering its final weeks and the league table appears to be shaping itself into a familiar pattern. However the reality on the pitch is more complex. Teams are juggling league priorities with European commitments and injury problems. As a result there are several factors quietly influencing outcomes across the division. These elements go beyond goals and points. They are shaping form, affecting team confidence and shifting expectations for supporters. 

Understanding these hidden forces gives greater context to results. It also provides a clearer picture of how the title race, European qualification battle and relegation fight might play out.

Fixture congestion and its effects

One of the most talked-about challenges this season is the heavy workload for clubs involved in multiple competitions. Premier League teams that are still active in the Champions League, FA Cup and domestic league are being forced to play matches in rapid succession. This creates less time for recovery, more travelling and the need for careful squad rotation.

Arsenal’s involvement in the Champions League for example, has added rotational dilemmas to their schedule. They reached the quarter-finals after beating Bayer Leverkusen. This has extended their European commitments recently. That means players face back-to-back fixtures with little respite, making fitness management a key concern for Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff.

Managers often have to choose which competition to prioritise. Especially when league games follow closely on the heels of midweek European ties. This can disrupt the rhythm and lead to dropped points, even for sides with strong starting eleven options. These patterns influence betting markets as odds reflect not just current form but the anticipated impact of tight schedules on performance.

For followers of the Premier League who want to stay updated with how these dynamics affect match predictions and odds, using 1xbet apk download can help. It allows fans to monitor odds changes as teams cope with shifting demands on their players.

The ongoing impact of injuries

Injuries have been a prominent theme in the 2025-26 campaign. Clubs frequently have to alter their line-ups because of unavailable players. This has influenced consistency and results.

Several Premier League teams have reported significant fitness issues this season. Arsenal dealt with the absences of key players such as Kai Havertz, who was ruled out for a series of games due to a muscular injury. Similarly Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner recently revealed multiple injury problems in his squad ahead of a fixture against Manchester United.

Manchester United have also had to cope with a few injuries in recent weeks, necessitating changes to their starting line-up ahead of tight fixtures. These setbacks force managers to adjust tactics and rotate personnel more often than they would prefer.

Clubs with greater squad depth often cope better with these challenges. Those with fewer quality options beyond their core starting eleven can find it difficult to maintain consistent levels of performance. This inconsistency can lead to unpredictable results and as a result, fluctuating odds in betting markets.

The role of psychological pressure

Premier League football at this stage of the season is not just a physical battle. The mental side of the game has a major influence on results. Teams under pressure to secure the title or avoid relegation often show signs of nervousness or urgency that can affect how they play.

Arsenal’s title push for example, has seen them maintain a lead at the top of the table in recent weeks. A 2-0 win over Everton extended their advantage, while rivals like Manchester City dropped points in a draw with West Ham. This kind of pressure can test a squad’s ability to manage both excellence and expectation.

For clubs lower down the table, the stakes are different but no less intense. Each point becomes critical in the fight to avoid relegation and teams can become more cautious as a result. The mental burden of knowing that a single loss might plunge them further into trouble has a direct influence on how games are approached.

Managerial strategy and tactical nuance

Another often overlooked factor is the tactical approach taken by managers. Adjustments for specific opponents, clever substitutions and changes to formation can all have an outsized effect on matches.

A team that appears to be conscious of its next fixture may choose a more pragmatic approach in the present one. At the same time, managers who read a game well can turn around performances during the match by altering strategy. These decisions might not make headlines, but they influence outcomes and are reflected in how odds change before kick-off.

Even matches that look straightforward on paper can be upended by tactical nuance. Sometimes, a mid-table side will adopt a low block against a top side and secure a draw or even a narrow win that surprises both pundits and odds compilers. This requires detailed knowledge of team tendencies on the part of anyone analysing the league.

Why these hidden factors matter

As the Premier League season unfolds, simple league tables tell only part of the story. Fixture congestion, injuries, psychological pressure and tactical decisions all contribute to the complex reality that shapes results. For fans who follow the division closely, these elements add depth to the conversation.

Matches that seem set in stone can still produce surprises, especially when these hidden factors come into play. The final weeks of the season promise drama at both ends of the table. Understanding the full context behind results will help fans appreciate the stakes and the unpredictability that make the Premier League so compelling.

The post The hidden factors that could decide the Premier League season appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal player ratings: Kepa error & invisible Saka condemns Gunners to Man City defeat

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 23:17

Arsenal have suffered a major setback with defeat in today’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

The Gunners were pretty poor in every department, with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga making a particularly bad error on Man City’s first goal, while attackers like Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Viktor Gyokeres didn’t contribute enough either.

Nico O’Reilly scored both goals for City as they went on to lift the trophy, and few will argue that they didn’t deserve it.

Read on for our Arsenal player ratings in a performance most of these players will want to forget fast…

Arsenal player ratings vs Manchester City

Kepa Arrizabalaga – 2/10 – Unconvincing on the ball, and unfortunately just always looked prone to an error, which eventually came when he failed to deal with the cross for the first goal. Surely an end to him starting big games for Arsenal.

William Saliba – 7/10 – Kept Erling Haaland quiet very well, and probably the only Arsenal player to come away with much credit as it’s hard to find much he did wrong on the day.

Gabriel Magalhaes – 6/10 – Not the worst player on the pitch by any means, but not his usual calm self on the ball, which made it hard for Arsenal to build from the back.

Ben White – 4/10 – While Ben White has been a great performer for much of his Arsenal career, it’s perhaps easy to see why Jurrien Timber is now the clear first choice when fit. Jeremy Doku ran White ragged for much of the game when you sense Timber might’ve done a bit better to keep the City winger quiet.

Piero Hincapie – 4/10 – Like White on the other side, it was a really unconvincing display from Piero Hincapie. The Ecuador international couldn’t handle Antoine Semenyo and probably should’ve been replaced by Riccardo Calafiori a lot earlier.

Martin Zubimendi – 5/10 – Just slightly off the pace and unable to control the midfield like he can do at his best. Martin Zubimendi is perhaps tired, more than anything else, after starting so many games in what has been a very intense season for Arsenal.

Declan Rice – 6/10 – Worked harder than a lot of his teammates, but didn’t bring as much quality as he’s capable of.

Kai Havertz – 4/10 – Probably not fit enough to be starting a big game like this, and it showed. Kai Havertz has a role to play in this Arsenal squad, and has been missed through injury, but it’s obvious that Eberechi Eze would have started and would surely have been more influential had he been fit enough.

Bukayo Saka – 3/10 – Considering he captained Arsenal on the day and is their highest paid player, this was really far from good enough from Bukayo Saka. The England winger was pretty much invisible throughout and has not quite looked himself for most of this season. To show up and play like this in such an important game is pretty unforgiveable.

Leandro Trossard – 4/10 – Pretty quiet, as he has been for a while now. Somehow not replaced by Gabriel Martinelli until the closing stages.

Viktor Gyokeres – 4/10 – Worked hard and caused City some problems with his movement early on, but you want more than that from your marquee striker signing in a major cup final.

Subs: Riccardo Calafiori 6, Noni Madueke 6, Gabriel Martinelli 5, Gabriel Jesus 6

The post Arsenal player ratings: Kepa error & invisible Saka condemns Gunners to Man City defeat appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Before yesterdayMain stream

Manchester City confirmed team to take on Arsenal, with big name left on the bench

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 19:36

Manchester City’s line up to take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final has been confirmed, with Phil Foden only on the bench.

It’s mostly a strong XI from Man City manager Pep Guardiola, though, with Erling Haaland and Rodri among those starting at Wembley this afternoon.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Still, not so long ago it would have been unthinkable for a big name like Foden to be benched for a huge match like this.

See below for the full team from City, with Ruben Dias out injured and James Trafford selected in goal over Gianluigi Donnarumma…

Manchester City line up to take on Arsenal

Your League Cup final line-up! ??

XI | Trafford, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo (C), Semenyo, Cherki, Doku, Haaland

SUBS | Donnarumma, Reijnders, Stones, Marmoush, Kovacic, Nico, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Foden

? @etihad pic.twitter.com/yFQxE1CMSu

— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 22, 2026

Arsenal have also gone with cup ‘keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga over their usual number one David Raya for this game.

Can Manchester City turn their season around and dent Arsenal’s hopes?

City can never be ruled out when it comes to lifting major trophies, but at the moment they’re behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race and are probably slight underdogs in today’s game.

Still, there’s more than enough quality in this team to win the game, and that could give City the confidence they need to claw the Gunners back in the title race.

City also arguably need this trophy more than Arsenal now after being knocked out of the Champions League.

Even if City were to win today, there’s perhaps a case for saying Mikel Arteta’s men could still have the better season overall if they maintain their lead at the top of the table and perhaps add the Champions League and FA Cup to their haul.

It’s a tough one to predict, what do you think today’s result will be? Vote in our poll below…

Who's lifting the trophy today? #CarabaoCup

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 22, 2026

The post Manchester City confirmed team to take on Arsenal, with big name left on the bench appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Vital Arsenal duo out of Carabao Cup final as Arteta’s XI confirmed

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 19:20

Arsenal will be without key duo Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber for today’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.

The Gunners are chasing a first major trophy in six years, and still have a pretty strong-looking side available to them, even if Eze in particular will be a big miss due to his superb recent form.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

White is a very capable backup for Timber, even if the latter has been Mikel Arteta’s first choice for so much of this season.

There’s also an interesting selection decision in goal as Arteta has opted once again for Kepa Arrizabalaga over David Raya in this competition…

Arsenal XI to take on Manchester City

? ???????? ??

? Arrizabalaga between the sticks
? Havertz enters the XI
©? Saka leads us out at Wembley

Our goal is clear. Bring the fight, Gunners ?

? Presented by @deel

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 22, 2026

The Arsenal XI in full is: Kepa; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Havertz; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

Havertz in an attacking midfield role will be interesting to see, with big pressure on the Germany international to fill in in a position that would normally go to either Eze or Martin Odegaard.

But with both of them absent today, the former Chelsea striker will need to be at his very best to provide both creativity and a goal threat from the middle of the park.

Arsenal need a win today to set the tone for the rest of the season

Today’s game feels huge for Arsenal when it comes to their ambitions for this season.

Arteta’s project has gone well and is only missing a trophy to show for it, and one feels if they can pick up this piece of silverware today, it will be the first of many.

AFC are already ahead of City in the title race, and beating them in this competition should give them that extra belief to finish above them in the league.

A defeat, meanwhile, could hand belief right back to Pep Guardiola and co. as they look to catch up with the Gunners in the title race.

Who's lifting the trophy today? #CarabaoCup

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 22, 2026

The post Vital Arsenal duo out of Carabao Cup final as Arteta’s XI confirmed appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“Meeting took place” – Romano confirms Man Utd talks with Newcastle star despite Howe comments

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 18:52

Transfer news guru Fabrizio Romano has insisted a “meeting took place” between Manchester United and the agent of Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

This comes after Newcastle manager Eddie Howe spoke out against the stories in his press conference yesterday, slamming the speculation and making it clear that his club captain is fully committed.

See the video clip below as Howe moved to play down talk of Guimaraes being in advanced talks with Man Utd, and, in fairness, Romano has not said talks are advanced, but has stated that he’s aware of a meeting taking place…

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

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) March 21, 2026

“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,” Howe said, but it seems it’s not entirely nonsense, even if some publications jumped the gun a little.

What Fabrizio Romano has said about Bruno Guimaraes and Manchester United

Discussing the Guimaraes situation on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that a meeting like this between a big club and a top player’s agent is perfectly normal.

This also comes as United are exploring a number of midfield targets for the summer, so it may simply be early discussions to sound out options rather than anything as advanced as had previously been suggested.

“What I can confirm is that yes, a meeting took place in the recent weeks. It’s not yesterday or or today or tomorrow, but it already took place a few weeks ago between the agents of Bruno Guimaraes and Manchester United,” Romano said.

“A meeting took place and Manchester United maintain a very good relationship with the agency.

“Bruno is represented by one of the biggest agents in the world. So it’s normal to have meetings with top agents for top clubs. That’s absolutely normal.

“Then from that to meeting and reaching an agreement on personal terms, meeting and go to sign the player in the summer. There is still a long way to go. Bruno as I told you in a video this week is appreciated by Man United. Yes, but also (Sandro) Tonali is appreciated. Other players are in the list. Elliot Anderson who is also a topic at Manchester City.

“So there are many many things to clarify before Man United decide to say okay this is the midfielder we want to get. As soon as Man United will decide I will be here to tell you but at the moment the situation with Bruno Guimaraes remains about meeting yes, interest yes, but for Newcastle he’s a crucial player.”

The post “Meeting took place” – Romano confirms Man Utd talks with Newcastle star despite Howe comments appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“It’s over” for this Manchester United star at Old Trafford, says Fabrizio Romano

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 17:59

It’s over for Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana at Old Trafford, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Speaking on his latest post on his YouTube channel, Romano explained that Man Utd and Onana will look to find a solution this summer after his loan at Trabzonspor comes to an end.

The Cameroon international joined the Red Devils from Inter Milan a few years ago, but proved a big disappointment during his two seasons in the Premier League.

Onana is now on loan in Turkey and it remains to be seen what will happen next with him, but a return to United seems to very clearly off the table.

Fabrizio Romano on Andre Onana’s Manchester United career being over

“It’s over with Manchester United,” Romano said of Onana.

He added: “The intention in the summer is to find a different solution, is to find a different club.

“Eventually we will see what happens with Trabzonspor, if they can keep him or not. We will see, or other clubs in Europe, but the intention is to find a solution for Onana, not for Onana to return.”

Manchester United already have Andre Onana’s replacement

United did well with their signing of Senne Lammens last summer, with the Belgian ‘keeper impressing since arriving at Old Trafford.

Even though Lammens was not the biggest name before joining MUFC, he’s settled in well and looks clearly like he’s capable of being the club’s long-term number one.

That means Onana would surely only be coming back to sit on the bench for United, and that’s surely not a situation he’d be happy with.

There will likely be suitors for Onana as we’ve reported that clubs in Italy are keen on him ahead of this summer.

The post “It’s over” for this Manchester United star at Old Trafford, says Fabrizio Romano appeared first on CaughtOffside.

“An iconic team” – Arsenal star drops major transfer clue amid Chelsea links

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 17:44

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has made it clear how happy he is with life at the Emirates Stadium despite links with other clubs.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

The Italy international has not been playing as regularly for Arsenal this season, partly due to injuries, and partly due to the fine form of Piero Hincapie.

This has led to some uncertainty around Calafiori’s situation, with Simon Phillips even claiming that Chelsea were showing an interest in him.

Still, when asked about a possible move away from Arsenal, Calafiori strongly hinted that he’d prefer to stay as he views the Gunners as “an iconic team”.

Riccardo Calafiori plays down Arsenal exit talk

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Calafiori was asked if he ever felt homesick for his native Italy, but he made it clear that he’s happy with life in London.

“I miss the sun and would like to see friends and family more often, but I’m not complaining,” Calafiori said.

“In Italy, we’re used to observing, judging, and criticising. I like that it’s not like that here.”

He added: “I’ve always dreamed of playing in England.

“After the European Championship, my price tag increased, and my agent explained that Arsenal really wanted me.

“I knew I’d be playing in the toughest league. But I told myself I could always take a step back.

“And let’s be clear: Arsenal is Arsenal, an iconic team, unlike any other.”

Chelsea could do with a signing like Riccardo Calafiori

Even if it’s not particularly likely to happen, it’s no surprise to learn that Chelsea like Calafiori.

The 23-year-old has shone during his time in the Premier League and would give the Blues extra options in both central defence and at left-back.

See below for the score we gave Calafiori to Chelsea with our Transfer Fit rating system, and click here to read more about how it works…

Riccardo Calafiori TOTAL SCORE: 18/25
Transfer fee **
Performance ****
Achievements ***
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

The post “An iconic team” – Arsenal star drops major transfer clue amid Chelsea links appeared first on CaughtOffside.

€150m Real Madrid clear-out plan could benefit Liverpool & Newcastle

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 16:49

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is reportedly keen to make big money from player sales this summer as Eduardo Camavinga could be among the names to be sold.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the plan is to try and raise around €150m, with Camavinga perhaps set to be joined by Brahim Diaz and Andriy Lunin in being offloaded by Los Blancos.

This comes as Liverpool eye up Camavinga this summer, while our understanding is that Chelsea are also monitoring the France international’s situation.

Meanwhile, we’ve previously also received information that Newcastle United have Brahim on their list of transfer targets, so this could be a positive update for them too.

Do Liverpool need Eduardo Camavinga?

It’s a bit surprising to see a top talent like Camavinga being made available, but he arguably hasn’t shown his best form during his time at the Bernabeu.

In fairness, standard are exceptionally high at Real Madrid, and a lot of fine players haven’t quite made it there, so there’s no reason Camavinga can’t still revive his career at another big club.

Eduardo Camavinga TOTAL SCORE: 18/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ***
Achievements ****
Career phase *****
Squad need ***

We recently gave Camavinga the above rating with our Transfer Fit scoring system, with the 23-year-old looking like he could strengthen LFC for the short and long term without costing a fortune.

There is some similarly between his situation and that of Ryan Gravenberch, who was struggling at Bayern Munich before being given more of a key role at Liverpool.

That’s really helped the Dutchman get his career back on track, and perhaps now Camavinga could form a strong midfield partnership with him in Arne Slot’s side.

It seems clear that something needs to change at Liverpool this summer after a disappointing campaign, with the team not as solid as they looked in the past.

The addition of Camavinga as another more defensive-minded midfielder could help Slot get a better balance in his side.

The post €150m Real Madrid clear-out plan could benefit Liverpool & Newcastle appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Palace contact super Premier League manager to replace Glasner

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 16:32

Crystal Palace have reportedly already been in contact with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola over replacing Oliver Glasner.

Both Iraola and Glasner are out of contract with their current clubs this summer, and look set to depart, with Palace’s manager even publicly confirming that he would not be signing a new deal to extend his stay at Selhurst Park.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

Now the Daily Mail is reporting that Palace hope to swoop for Iraola as Glasner’s replacement, with initial contacts taking place.

This would be quite the coup for the Eagles if they could pull it off, with Iraola having done a hugely impressive job at Bournemouth which has seen him linked with bigger clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool.

What next for Crystal Palace and Oliver Glasner?

Glasner will be hard to replace, though, and is another manager who will surely be of interest to top clubs when he becomes available this summer.

The former Eintracht Frankfurt manager will surely always hold legendary status among Palace fans for guiding the club to their first ever trophy last season with that famous win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Glasner has also been linked with Man Utd in recent times, with the Red Devils set to review their manager situation soon.

Michael Carrick is currently in charge on an interim basis until the end of the season, and it remains to be seen if he’ll land the job permanently.

It will be interesting to see how these different manager situations impact each other, as Glasner getting the United job could, for example, help Palace land Iraola.

Meanwhile, Iraola getting the MUFC job could then also mean Carrick becomes available as a tempting option.

The post Palace contact super Premier League manager to replace Glasner appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Six Chelsea players exploring transfers away, five more could follow

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 16:13

As many as six Chelsea players are reportedly already engaging with their agents about potential transfers out of Stamford Bridge this summer.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

And there are five other Chelsea players said to be considering their futures as well, even if they’re yet to take that step.

That’s according to Simon Phillips, who has named Enzo Fernandez, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile, Marc Guiu, and Filip Jorgensen as the players looking to leave the Blues.

The other names are not yet certain, but it could become clearer later, with Chelsea’s season just going from bad to worse at the moment.

Do Chelsea need a major clear-out this summer?

Chelsea have had a miserable run of results recently, being thrashed by Paris Saint-Germain to exit the Champions League, while they’ve won just one and lost three of their last six Premier League games, putting their top four hopes in serious doubt.

Liam Rosenior hasn’t been particularly convincing since taking over as Chelsea manager, and it increasingly seems like it was a bit of a rash call to sack Enzo Maresca.

Even if Maresca wasn’t perfect, he’d done well to deliver silverware and Champions League qualification last season, and Rosenior is relatively inexperienced for such a big job.

At the same time, however, some CFC fans may well feel that a few of the club’s recent managers have been let down by poor recruitment.

A lot of these players simply haven’t delivered considering how much was spent on them, so it might be wise to allow these aforementioned names to leave and for the team to undergo a major reshuffle.

That could then also give Rosenior more of a chance to put together a squad more in his own image, as well as a full pre-season to work with them, as taking over in the middle of a season like he has is never straightforward.

The post Six Chelsea players exploring transfers away, five more could follow appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Advanced talks: Liverpool take significant steps to replace Arne Slot as manager

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus
22 March 2026 at 15:49

Liverpool are reportedly already in advanced talks over potentially hiring Xabi Alonso to replace Arne Slot as manager.

The Reds are said to have already taken significant steps to gauge Alonso’s interest in taking the job, and it sounds positive, according to Fichajes.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

The Spanish tactician became very highly regarded during a stint in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, though he struggled and didn’t last that long in the Real Madrid job.

According to Fichajes, Alonso is keen not to be out of work for too long and he seems to look favourably on the chance of returning to Anfield, where he spent a decent chunk of his playing career.

Should Liverpool replace Arne Slot with Xabi Alonso?

There’ll be plenty of LFC fans who are growing increasingly frustrated with the team’s performances under Slot, but some might also still be willing to give the Dutch tactician more time.

After all, Slot led the club to the Premier League title in his first season in charge last term, and this season was always going to be a challenge for him and his players after the shock of Diogo Jota’s death last summer.

The loss of a teammate and friend was surely always going to have a big impact on the mood inside Liverpool, so a change of manager is not necessarily going to fix things.

Others might argue, however, that Alonso generally has what it takes to be a better manager in the long run.

Slot needs to end the season strongly

Liverpool lost to Brighton yesterday to further harm their chances of finishing in the top four, but Chelsea were also beaten by Everton, which should help.

The Reds are also still in the Champions League, though they have a very tough-looking tie against Paris Saint-Germain coming up.

Overall, Slot needs to improve results and performances fast, with Champions League qualification and a decent run in the remaining cup competitions perhaps enough to help him.

But Alonso’s availability seems to have alerted the Merseyside giants and while that option is there it might be seen as too tempting to turn down.

This is more or less what happened when Jurgen Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers back in 2015 – a move which clearly ended up being the right call, and one that might not have happened if not for Klopp’s availability at that time.

The post Advanced talks: Liverpool take significant steps to replace Arne Slot as manager appeared first on CaughtOffside.

❌
❌