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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Should Manchester United sign Nathaniel Brown for €60m?

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

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

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

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

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

Man United could be favourites for Nathaniel Brown

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

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

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

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

The post Latest report: Man United cleared to sign Liverpool transfer target for €60m as club need to sell appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

FIFA World Rankings

1) Spain – 1877.18 points

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

2) Argentina – 1873.33 points

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

3) France – 1870.00 points

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

4) England – 1834.12 points

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

5) Brazil – 1760.46 points

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

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

6) Portugal – 1760.38 points

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

7) Netherlands – 1756.27 points

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

8) Morocco – 1736.57 points

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

9) Belgium – 1730.71 points

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

10) Germany – 1724.15 points

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

The post FIFA World rankings: How the top 10 national teams rank ahead of 2026 World Cup appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

? Shared ownership ? makes the move smoother.

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

— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) March 18, 2026

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

Valentin Barco to Chelsea to replace Enzo Fernandez?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post “Deal nearly done” – Chelsea closing in on midfielder signing amid Enzo Fernandez exit talk appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Newcastle United looking to reach Champions League quarter-finals

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Sandro Tonali & Newcastle United trio could be banned under UEFA rules appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Source gives Chelsea star 99% chance of leaving this summer: Five transfer suitors named appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Leeds United identify priority transfer target due to one key concern

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Leeds United tipped to sign upgrade on Dominic Calvert-Lewin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leeds United building for the future as they near safety

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

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

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

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

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

The post Leeds United identify priority transfer target due to one key concern appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Could Kieran Trippier end up staying at Newcastle?

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

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

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

Newcastle may still need Kieran Trippier

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

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

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

The post Eddie Howe urging the Newcastle board to re-sign star who’s close to becoming a free agent appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Sources on Joshua Zirkzee’s transfer situation

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

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

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

Joshua Zirkzee’s poor spell at Man United

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

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

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

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

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

The post Sources: Clubs “made aware” of Man United star’s transfer decision as exit looms appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Senegal to appeal decision to overturn AFCON final

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

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

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

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

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

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

AFCON decision is “absolute madness” says Henry Winter

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

"It's absolute madness" ?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

— Craig Burley (@craigburley) March 17, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 17, 2026

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Could Savinho to Tottenham transfer be back on?

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

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

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

Is Savinho good enough for Spurs?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Liverpool should resist the urge to splash the cash

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Saturday: Arsenal vs Everton (Premier League)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4th April: Southampton vs Arsenal (FA Cup)

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

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

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

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

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Igor Tudor aims subtle dig at major Tottenham summer signing

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Igor Tudor on his decision not to use Xavi Simons

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

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

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

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Can Xavi Simons bounce back for Tottenham?

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

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

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

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

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

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