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Newcastle United showing strong interest in double Chelsea transfer raid

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post Mikel Arteta drops intriguing team selection hint for Arsenal vs Man City cup final clash appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post Journalist provides insight into “better mood” inside Arsenal camp ahead of Carabao Cup final appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post Fabrizio Romano says Man United could still sign player Ruben Amorim was “pushing a lot to get” appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post Brave or stupid? Guardiola confirms this Man City star will start Carabao Cup final vs Arsenal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post “He has to deliver” – Fabrizio Romano discusses risk of Chelsea sacking Liam Rosenior appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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!

The post Thomas Tuchel pays big compliment to Arsenal & won’t rule out Max Dowman going to the World Cup appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post Another important Liverpool figure could prove key to Mohamed Salah Saudi transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post Bid prepared: Chelsea set to make first formal offer for €50m “raw talent” appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post Report: Arsenal intensifying efforts to clinch potential €70m attacker transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post “Bad news…” – Arne Slot provides mixed Liverpool injury update appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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)

The post England squad: Surprise Premier League duo called up by Tuchel ahead of World Cup appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post Sources: Man United & Liverpool considering move for Premier League star available for £30-40m appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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.

The post Euro giants monitoring Liverpool & Man Utd transfer target but PL move may be more likely – expert appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Christian Falk drops exciting morning Manchester United transfer story

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By:Mark Brus

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.

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Update: West Ham learn Axel Disasi price tag for summer

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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.

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

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By:Mark Brus

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.

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

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

Enzo Fernandez to leave Chelsea?

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

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

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

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

Chelsea to invest in young midfield talent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where should Elliot Anderson go?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Chelsea players unsettled

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

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

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

Who could be leaving Chelsea?

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

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

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

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 14, 2026

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

Manchester United’s midfield transfer targets ranked

1) Elliot Anderson

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

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

2) Adam Wharton

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

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

3) Jude Bellingham

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

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

4) Mateus Fernandes

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

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

5) Bruno Guimaraes

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

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

6) Morgan Gibbs White

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

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

7) Sandro Tonali

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

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

8) Joao Gomes

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

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

9) Carlos Baleba

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

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

10) Tyler Adams

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

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

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

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Report: Crystal Palace “planning” deal for experienced star

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Can Crystal Palace keep hold of Jefferson Lerma?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Fabrizio Romano on Richard Hughes’ Liverpool future

edwards hughes lfc
Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes

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

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

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

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

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

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

How important is Richard Hughes for Liverpool?

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

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

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

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

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Nick Woltemade decision leaked following Newcastle United issue

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

Nick Woltemade’s World Cup hopes given a boost

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

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

Champions League quarter-finals in full and predictions

Arsenal vs Sporting Lisbon

Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid

Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich

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

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

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

Arsenal to beat Sporting

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

Prediction: Arsenal to go through.

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

Barcelona should get past Atletico

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

Prediction: Barcelona to go through.

PSG too strong for Liverpool

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

Prediction: PSG to go through.

Bayern to edge it against Real

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

Prediction: Bayern to go through.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

Norway’s World Cup schedule

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

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

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

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

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

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

Martin Odegaard’s recent injury woes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

Arsenal, City, Chelsea & Bayern eyeing Pau Cubarsi

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

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

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

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

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

Barcelona’s plan for Pau Cubarsi

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But should Man United splash the cash on Jude Bellingham?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

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

West Ham need survival to secure Axel Disasi transfer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

What next for Jadon Sancho after nightmare Man United spell?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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By:Mark Brus

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

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

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

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

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

Marcus Rashford’s loan spell at Barcelona in numbers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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