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Sandro Tonali delivers response following claims of Newcastle ‘gentleman’s agreement’

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali did his talking on the pitch last night as he helped Italy to an important 2-0 win over Northern Ireland.

This puts the Azzuri into the next round of World Cup qualification as they bid to make it to this summer’s tournament in North America.

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Tonali scored the opening goal in some style as Italy eventually broke down a resilient Northern Ireland side, and it was the perfect response from the Magpies star after constant transfer gossip over his future dominating recent headlines.

Sandro Tonali transfer timeline

  • 6th March – Arsenal chief Andrea Berta working on a deal for Tonali, according to Tuttosport.
  • 12th March – Tonali part of three-man list of midfield targets for Man Utd, according to the Sun.
  • 19th March – United have made calls to ask about Tonali‘s situation, according to Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel.
  • 24th March – Tonali wanted by both United and Man City but prefers a return to Serie A, according to talkSPORT.

As well as that, the Shields Gazette have reported on Tonali and Newcastle having a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ over his future, which the club have denied.

Sandro Tonali lets his football do the talking

Tonali has done well to put the speculation to one side, with the 25-year-old playing a key role in helping his country one step closer to World Cup qualification.

Newcastle fans will no doubt still be keen to hear a more positive update on Tonali, whose agent seems to be doing his bit to fuel speculation at any given opportunity.

Still, NUFC fans can also expect more quality displays from Tonali if last night’s performance is anything to go by, and that can only be good news.

The post Sandro Tonali delivers response following claims of Newcastle ‘gentleman’s agreement’ appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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From Spain: Barcelona eye signing of Newcastle star who impressed against them

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Barcelona are reportedly eyeing up the potential transfer of Newcastle United left-back Lewis Hall for this summer.

The Catalan giants are exploring options for a new left-back amid some doubts over Alejandro Balde’s future, with Hall said to be on their list.

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That’s according to a report from Sport, as cited and translated by Sport Witness, while earlier today we covered Mundo Deportivo‘s claims that Manchester United were among the clubs to enquire about Balde.

Man United’s interest in Balde comes as they’ve also been linked with Newcastle’s Hall in a report from Sky Sports, so it will be interesting to see how these transfer sagas impact each other.

Lewis Hall impressed against Barcelona recently

Barca will have had a good look at Hall after his impressive showing in that Champions League last-16 first leg encounter at St James’ Park.

The England international was one of the best players on the pitch that night, earning a 7.23 out of 10 rating on WhoScored.

Lewis Hall’s performance vs Barcelona 7.23 overall rating
Pass success 82%
Key passes 5
Dribble success 67%
Aerials won 100%
Interceptions 1

It’s not surprising to see Hall now being linked with bigger clubs like Man Utd and Barcelona, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

Newcastle will surely be keen to keep hold of the talented 21-year-old, but it might not be easy, especially if he ends up having a strong 2026 World Cup with England this summer.

Barcelona to replace Alejandro Balde with Lewis Hall?

It’s perhaps slightly surprising to see Barcelona eyeing Hall when they already have Balde in that area of their squad.

Still, perhaps with Financial Fair Play to be taken into consideration, the La Liga giants are open to allowing a former academy graduate to go for pure profit.

That could be important for Barca while their finances have not been great for some time, though some might feel Hall is not necessarily that much of an upgrade for someone who also probably wouldn’t come cheap.

The post From Spain: Barcelona eye signing of Newcastle star who impressed against them appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Report: Arsenal monitoring long-time Mikel Arteta favourite as he could become available

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal are reportedly one of the clubs keeping a close eye on developments regarding Barcelona forward Ferran Torres.

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The versatile Spain international has shone during his time at Barca but could surprisingly be available this summer due help the club with their financial problems.

That’s according to a report from TEAMtalk, who mention Arsenal alongside Manchester United and Atletico Madrid as potential suitors for Torres.

The report states that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a long-time admirers of Torres, who has also previously played in England with Manchester City.

Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City before becoming Gunners boss, and although he and Torres did not overlap at the Etihad Stadium, it’s possible that he’d been monitored by the club’s coaching staff for a while before he actually joined.

Where next for Ferran Torres?

Arteta’s desire to work with Torres could put Arsenal in a good position for his signature this summer, but the 26-year-old will also want to play regularly.

Despite contributing 16 goals and one assist in all competitions this season, Torres hasn’t quite established himself as a regular starter for Barcelona, so he’ll want a more important role wherever he goes next.

Arsenal have a lot of attacking options, so it’s not guaranteed he’d start much at the Emirates Stadium, but perhaps that could change if injury-prone forwards like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus leave.

Man Utd, meanwhile, might also find a role for the former City man after slightly inconsistent form from Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko this term.

Barcelona making changes up front

TEAMtalk also suggest one reason Barcelona are looking to offload Torres is so they can use him in potential swap deals.

Offering Torres to Atletico Madrid could help the Catalan giants in their pursuit of Julian Alvarez, while it might also be a good way to bring the price tag down for on-loan Marcus Rashford if they want to sign the United star permanently.

It will be interesting to see if there are any Arsenal players who might be of interest to Barca in such a deal, but no obvious candidates come to mind.

The post Report: Arsenal monitoring long-time Mikel Arteta favourite as he could become available appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Crystal Palace poised to bank additional £26m from Michael Olise transfer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Crystal Palace could reportedly be set to bank more money from the sale of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich as he’s now being strongly linked with a transfer to Liverpool.

The France international has become established as one of the best players in the world during his time in Germany, and it makes sense that we’re now seeing speculation about him coming back to the Premier League.

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Olise looks ideal to help Liverpool replace Mohamed Salah, who has confirmed he’ll be leaving Anfield at the end of this season.

Still, Bild report that Liverpool might have to pay as much as £173m to persuade Bayern to let Olise go, with the 24-year-old potentially becoming the most expensive Premier League signing of all time.

This would eclipse the record-breaking fees the Reds themselves paid for Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz last summer, and it could also mean extra cash for Olise’s former club Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace negotiated sell-on clause in Michael Olise deal

Olise shone during his time at Palace and it looks like the south London club expected there might be even more money to make from him further down the line.

According to reports, the Eagles insisted that Bayern give them 15% of any future sale, which could mean they receive as much as £26m if Olise really does end up joining LFC for £173m.

MORE: Why Michael Olise is PERFECT for Liverpool

That might not be earth-shattering money that can help them land the best players in the world, but it’s also a pretty significant amount considering they already sold Olise to Bayern for £50m two years ago.

This could go down as smart business by Palace, even if it’s obviously a blow to have lost a world class talent like this.

Liverpool might not be able to afford such a high fee, however, and are also being linked with other top attacking players such as Yan Diomande, Morgan Rogers, and Anthony Gordon.

The post Crystal Palace poised to bank additional £26m from Michael Olise transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Sources confirm Chelsea pursuit of £86m transfer from London rivals

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Chelsea have an interest in Tottenham wonderkid central defender Luka Vuskovic ahead of the summer transfer window, CaughtOffside understands.

The talented 19-year-old has been linked with a host of top clubs, including Chelsea, in German media, and our sources have confirmed these claims to be accurate.

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The Blues are known for scouring the market for the best young players in world football, and Vuskovic certainly looks to be establishing himself in that department.

The Croatia international is yet to play a single minute for Spurs but has looked hugely impressive with his defensive displays for Hamburg during his loan spell in the Bundesliga this season.

“It’s true that Chelsea are interested,” one well-connected source told us. “They’ve done their homework on him and he’s high up on their list as they look for a new centre-back.”

Luka Vuskovic transfer won’t come cheap

Other sources also confirmed Chelsea’s interest, while others once again mentioned Bayern Munich as being big admirers of the teenager, though it’s unclear if a defender is a priority for them at this stage.

Chelsea’s interest is the strongest for the moment, according to most of the people we’ve spoken to, but others such as Liverpool and Barcelona could also be in the mix.

However, one issue for interested clubs is that Tottenham are not at all keen to let Vuskovic go, and he may already have a market value of around €100m (£86m).

Chelsea have shown that they are prepared to invest big money in elite young talents like that, so it might be that this kind of deal isn’t beyond them.

Still, Spurs are in control of the situation as Vuskovic is tied down to a contract until 2030.

Tottenham relaxed over Luka Vuskovic interest

For what it’s worth, THFC sources insist they have not been approached over Vuskovic and that they do not plan to sell.

That sends a clear message, but the nature of the transfer market is often such that clubs don’t enter into direct negotiations until quite late on after talks between other parties.

It has not yet been confirmed if Chelsea have spoken to anyone around Vuskovic, but the sense is that that could happen soon.

The post Sources confirm Chelsea pursuit of £86m transfer from London rivals appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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17 G/A this season: Man United offered chance to sign 3x title winner

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Barcelona forward Ferran Torres as he’s likely to be made available this summer.

Barca are looking for solutions to their financial problems, and that could mean offloading some big names, including Torres, despite his fine form this season.

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The 26-year-old has an impressive return of 16 goals and one assist for Hansi Flick’s side this term, despite not always being a regular starter.

According to TEAMtalk, Barcelona have explored offering Torres to both Man Utd and Atletico Madrid ahead of this summer.

The report adds that the Red Devils have been looking for a versatile attacking player of this profile, so Torres could make perfect sense for them.

Manchester United to bring Ferran Torres back to the Premier League?

Torres is a previous Premier League title winner during his time with United’s rivals Manchester City, while he’s also picked up two La Liga titles during his time at the Nou Camp.

There could certainly be a lot of benefit to adding an experienced winner like that to this United squad, depending on what kind of price they’d have to pay for him.

It remains to be seen precisely what kind of deal could be discussed here, but for now it seems TEAMtalk believe the Torres offer to relate to Barcelona’s negotiations for Marcus Rashford.

It may be that the Catalan giants hope to pay less to make Rashford’s move to the club permanent if they include the Spain international in the deal.

Ferran Torres TOTAL SCORE: 16/25
Transfer fee **
Performance ***
Achievements ****
Career phase ***
Squad need ****

Torres scores 16/25 with our Transfer Fit rating system – read more about how it works here.

Will Barcelona end up signing Marcus Rashford?

As we reported yesterday, there is uncertainty about Rashford joining Barcelona permanently after his successful loan spell there this season.

Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan are now understood to be exploring Rashford’s situation, but perhaps Barca will be able to afford the move if they offload Torres or include him in a deal with MUFC.

United already have decent attacking options to choose from, but they should surely consider an option like Torres if he does become available, especially as there seems little prospect of Rashford returning and becoming a key player again at Old Trafford.

The post 17 G/A this season: Man United offered chance to sign 3x title winner appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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New: Liverpool & Arsenal handed boost in pursuit of €30m wonderkid transfer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Liverpool and Arsenal may have been handed a boost in their rumoured transfer pursuit of talented young Stuttgart centre-back Finn Jeltsch.

According to Christian Falk in his latest CF Bayern Insider column, there doesn’t seem to be genuine interest from Bayern Munich in Jeltsch ahead of this summer.

Falk acknowledges that a number of top clubs are keeping an eye on the 19-year-old and that Bayern are also aware of him, though he insists a new central defender is not currently a priority for them.

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This could be a positive piece of transfer news for Premier League giants Liverpool and Arsenal, who have been linked with Jeltsch by TEAMtalk recently.

Finn Jeltsch not a transfer target for Bayern Munich

Jeltsch surely has it in him to move to a bigger club before too long, but for now it seems Falk does not expect Bayern to be serious players in the race for the Germany Under-21 international’s signature.

Falk also added that Jeltsch could cost around €30m and him moving to the Premier League might be more realistic, in an exciting update for Liverpool and Arsenal.

“It is NOT TRUE: Bayern are keeping a watching brief on Finn Jeltsch,” Falk wrote.

“Bayern know the player, and everyone is watching him – including multiple scouts from the Premier League. He’s doing very well. He’s 19 years of age and has a German past, which is why he’s so interesting for the German national team as well.

“However, at the moment, there aren’t any direct offers for the defender. He’s a player for the future. But Bayern aren’t searching for a centre-back at the present time. He’s on a list, a long list, I would say, like some others, but nothing is concrete yet.

“He’s worth about €30m [£25.9m] in a potential sale. So this is a price that perhaps the Premier League will pay.”

Do Liverpool and Arsenal need Finn Jeltsch?

Jeltsch is still relatively inexperienced, playing only 47 games for Stuttgart, even if he does look like a big prospect for the future.

LFC need defensive depth as Ibrahima Konate comes towards the end of his contract, while Virgil van Dijk is also not getting any younger.

That could mean there’s a role there for Jeltsch, but it surely won’t be easy for him to make such a big step up, with the Reds perhaps in need of someone closer to their peak.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are already very well covered in defence, so probably need to focus more on their midfield and attack for this summer.

The post New: Liverpool & Arsenal handed boost in pursuit of €30m wonderkid transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Growing suspicion: Expert gives Liverpool hope of signing “unbelievable” Man United transfer target

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By:Mark Brus

Liverpool’s links with Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies have been described as interesting by German football transfer expert Christian Falk.

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Writing in the latest edition of his CF Bayern Insider column, Falk said he had a growing suspicion about what could happen with Davies as there’s perhaps the growing sense that Bayern could listen to offers for the Canada international.

Falk did not explicitly say he’s aware of Liverpool pursuing Davies, but he seems to think the 25-year-old could be available if there are any interested clubs,

This follows Falk also previously claiming Manchester United had an interest in Davies, so this could be saga well worth monitoring in the coming weeks and months.

What Christian Falk has said about Alphonso Davies

Writing in another recent column, Falk fuelled speculation of Davies being a target for Man Utd by saying: “It is TRUE: Manchester United are interested in Alphonso Davies.”

Discussing links with Liverpool in this week’s column, the journalist added: “It’s a very interesting rumour suggesting Alphonso Davies was offered to Liverpool by intermediaries. It’s true that there are thoughts within Bayern, as the Canadian has picked up yet another injury, that if a big offer is on the table, perhaps they would sell him.

“He hasn’t done anything to dispel these rumours. He’s quiet on the situation. So, I have a growing suspicion with regard to this subject!”

Do Liverpool need a new left-back?

Andrew Robertson will be out of contract at Liverpool this summer, and Milos Kerkez hasn’t been entirely convincing during his time at Anfield so far.

That could mean there’s room for someone like Davies to come in, but is he really the right option considering his recent injury record, dip in form, and likely high transfer fee and wages?

Alphonso Davies TOTAL SCORE: 14/25
Transfer fee **
Performance **
Achievements *****
Career phase **
Squad need ***

See above for our Transfer Fit rating for Davies to Liverpool – and click here to find out more about how these are calculated.

Previously described as “unbelievable” by Bayern teammate Joshua Kimmich, as per the Bundesliga site, it could be that Davies still has it in him to revive his career, but it currently looks a risky deal for the Reds.

The post Growing suspicion: Expert gives Liverpool hope of signing “unbelievable” Man United transfer target appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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“We spoke to…” – Klopp admits Liverpool explored another signing before going with Salah

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By:Mark Brus

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has finally broken his silence on past stories about how he supposedly wanted to sign Julian Brandt instead of Mohamed Salah.

It seems this is not entirely accurate, with Klopp insisting that although he and Liverpool also spoke to Brandt, there’s no truth to claims that he wasn’t convinced about signing Salah.

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The Egypt international has now become an all-time Liverpool great after a stunning career at Anfield, during which time he’s scored 255 goals in 435 games, winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Brandt is a fine player but he hasn’t proven to be in that category, so LFC fans will surely be relieved that that deal didn’t happen instead, but how close was it?

Jurgen Klopp discusses Julian Brandt and Mohamed Salah story

Klopp has opened up about exploring a number of options before Liverpool finally settled on Salah, which the German insists is perfectly standard.

“There’s always a story that I wanted to sign Julian Brandt or something like that,” Klopp told The Anfield Wrap.

“This is the situation, with that when you go for a winger you talk to seven or eight, and yes, we spoke to Julian Brandt but we spoke to Mo Salah, it’s not he (Brandt) didn’t want it so we took him (Salah).

“Whatever people think, I don’t care, but in the moment we were 100 per cent convinced he was the one, more convinced than he was probably in that moment because he, at least not with us, maybe inside he was.”

Is Mohamed Salah in your all-time Premier League XI?

We’ve put together this all-time Premier League XI, with Salah included on the right flank, but would you have him in there over the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, or David Beckham?

? Premier League All-Time XI ?

With Salah set to leave Liverpool, there's surely no arguing with his place in this team ??

What changes would YOU make? ? pic.twitter.com/CFpfWUlXyy

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) March 26, 2026

While Salah is sure to be remembered as one of the best of the Premier League era, how does he actually compare to legendary figures like Wayne Rooney and Thierry Henry? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

The post “We spoke to…” – Klopp admits Liverpool explored another signing before going with Salah appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Swap deal unlikely as Liverpool face PSG competition for €100m transfer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Liverpool are reportedly unlikely to be able to use Cody Gakpo as part of a deal for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, according to Christian Falk.

Writing in his CF Bayern Insider column, Falk exclusively revealed that Paris Saint-Germain are now also potentially set to rival the Reds for Diomande this summer.

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Gakpo has had a mixed spell at Liverpool and the club could perhaps do with replacing the Netherlands international with a superior attacking option for next season.

Still, Falk thinks it’s unlikely that the Merseyside giants would succeed in using Gakpo in any deal with Leipzig for Diomande.

Yan Diomande to Liverpool transfer update

Discussing the latest on the Diomande to Liverpool story in today’s column, Falk said: “I heard the rumours of a potential swap deal being in the works for Cody Gakpo and Diomande.

“Liverpool need a replacement with Mo Salah set to leave this summer, and it’s going to be difficult for them to bring in Michael Olise. I know that because Bayern Munich have made that crystal clear. So that’s why it would be a good option to get Yan Diomande.

“However, the rumours of a swap deal hold no truth. I heard there was no offer from Liverpool, and also, Leipzig wouldn’t make this swap deal because Gakpo is too expensive. Not to mention that they have a completely different profile in mind; they’re searching for younger players who can develop at the club. So, they’re not interested in Cody Gakpo.”

PSG rival Liverpool for Yan Diomande

LFC are unsurprisingly not alone in pursuing Diomande this summer after the Ivory Coast international’s exciting form in the Bundesliga.

With ten goals and six assists in the German league so far this season, it’s clear that Diomande is a hugely exciting young talent who could thrive at a bigger club.

Liverpool need someone like that to help them prepare for life after Salah, but PSG look like a threat to that possibility, according to Falk.

Discussing PSG’s interest in the €100m-rated 19-year-old, Falk said: “I heard there’s always been Liverpool scouts in attendance at RB Leipzig’s recent matches in the stands. But also, there were scouts from PSG – so, be careful, Liverpool!

“The big advantage is that RB Leipzig would sell if an offer came in above the €100m mark. Bayern Munich are also keen on the 19-year-old, but this is too expensive for the Bavarians, so they won’t be involved in the poker. This is good news for the Premier League and PSG.”

The post Swap deal unlikely as Liverpool face PSG competition for €100m transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Sources: Arsenal “sense” chance to beat Man City & Chelsea to £100m transfer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal “sense an opportunity” to get involved with one of the major transfer sagas of the summer as they explore a deal for Elliot Anderson.

As has been widely reported, both here and elsewhere, there is a huge amount of interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Anderson, which will come as no surprise after his tremendous form this season.

This story was first published on the Daily Briefing – click here to subscribe to make sure you get these exclusive updates first!

The England international has stood out as one of the top players in his position in the Premier League, and arguably all of Europe’s big five leagues, and there’s been the sense for some time that Manchester City are leading the race for his signature.

Most recently, however, sources have informed me that Chelsea are serious about Anderson as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez amid doubts over his Stamford Bridge future.

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Arsenal sense Elliot Anderson transfer opportunity despite Man City links

The latest I’m hearing is that we can’t discount Arsenal in the Anderson story, with the Gunners also big fans of the 23-year-old’s qualities.

“Don’t rule out Arsenal just yet,” one source close to the agents industry told me on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships.

“Man City have had talks, they’re feeling positive about their position, but nothing’s done yet. What I’m hearing is that Arsenal sense an opportunity to get something done. We’ll have to see if they’re right, as other clubs have done more work on this as of now.”

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

How we rated Elliot Anderson to Arsenal with our Transfer Fit scoring system

Although Arsenal already have good options in midfield, it’s a position they’re open to strengthening in this summer after relying heavily on both Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi this season.

Christian Norgaard hasn’t had many opportunities at all, so one imagines Mikel Arteta is keen for a more trusted third option to allow him to rotate more in that department.

Anderson is a similar profile to Rice, so it makes sense that he’s someone Arteta is keen to have at Arsenal as well.

Elliot Anderson transfer looks too expensive for Arsenal

However, it is worth noting that Forest are likely to want upwards of £100m for Anderson.

While we’ve seen AFC may that kind of money before for Rice, it’s far from ideal for the club when they also look in need of a marquee signing in attack this summer.

Many sources I’ve spoken to have indicated that a left winger and striker could be looked at as major investments, so that doesn’t leave much room for a midfielder like Anderson as well.

The sale of a big name like Martin Odegaard could perhaps facilitate more spending throughout the squad, but that’s far from a certainty at this point.

Overall, the Anderson situation remains open. City might feel confident, but others have played that down and we’ll likely see further links in the weeks and months ahead. Arsenal really like him, as do Chelsea, and I’d also expect the likes of Newcastle and Bayern Munich to keep an eye on the situation too.

The post Sources: Arsenal “sense” chance to beat Man City & Chelsea to £100m transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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€60m Bruno Fernandes transfer bid set to come in from surprise club

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester United can reportedly expect a surprise €60m transfer bid from Galatasaray for star player Bruno Fernandes this summer.

The Portugal international’s contract at Old Trafford runs until 2027, causing some uncertainty surrounding his future ahead of the next transfer window.

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Still, few would have expected Galatasaray to be one of Fernandes’ suitors, even if Turkish clubs do often have a fair amount of money to spend, leading big names like Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sane to join Galatasaray in recent times.

According to Fichajes, the club are now setting aside €60m to try to pounce for Fernandes this summer as they sense an opportunity for this ambitious deal.

Bruno Fernandes to leave Manchester United?

It’s not yet clear what will happen with Fernandes, as Man Utd will surely want to keep the 31-year-old after his superb form again this season.

According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils have been keen not to lose Fernandes and may refuse to sell him, even if there’s the risk of losing him on a free in a year’s time.

If Fernandes does end up leaving United, it’s perhaps also more likely that he’d fancy a move to another major club in a more competitive league than Turkey.

His form this season shows he’s still at the very top of his game, so he doesn’t necessarily need to be thinking about a big pay day in the Turkish or Saudi leagues just yet…

Bruno Fernandes Games Goals Assists
PL 2025/26 28 8 16

Fernandes is on the radar of PSG and Bayern Munich, as per our recent report on his future, so that could still end up being something to watch.

Overall, though, it’s surely going to be very hard for this new MUFC project to take off if they’re having to replace an influential player like Fernandes this summer.

The post €60m Bruno Fernandes transfer bid set to come in from surprise club appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Update: Liverpool ready to go all in with historic €100m transfer to replace Mohamed Salah

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Liverpool reportedly look ready to go all in for the transfer of RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande as their replacement for Mohamed Salah this summer.

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There’s been a lot of speculation about wingers Liverpool could sign in the next transfer window, with Diomande frequently mentioned as a top target.

Below are some key recent updates on the Diomande to Liverpool story…

Now a new update from Fichajes states that LFC look to have decided to make Diomande their priority target, even if he costs €100m.

Liverpool prepare historic Yan Diomande transfer investment

According to Fichajes, Liverpool are ready to make a ‘historic’ investment in Diomande as they prepare for the post-Salah era.

The talented 19-year-old has shone in the Bundesliga, establishing himself as one of the most exciting young players in Europe’s big five leagues.

With ten goals and six assists in the German top flight this season, it’s easy to see Diomande having an impact with better players around him, so a move to Anfield could be an ideal next step in his career.

It won’t be easy replacing a club legend like Salah, but Diomande looks like one of the more realistic options out there right now as Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise surely won’t be available.

Yan Diomande Transfer Fit

Using our Transfer Fit rating system, we’ve scored Diomande a strong fit as a potential signing for Liverpool.

Yan Diomande TOTAL SCORE: 17/25
Transfer fee *
Performance *****
Achievements **
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

He’d be expensive, which is one weakness, while he’s also inexperienced, but that means there’s a huge amount of potential for him to improve as he gets older.

How happy would you be with Diomande joining Liverpool? Give us your thoughts in the comments!

The post Update: Liverpool ready to go all in with historic €100m transfer to replace Mohamed Salah appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Formal approach prepared: Man Utd rival Arsenal for midfielder who’s moved to the top of their list

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United are reportedly expected to make a formal approach for the transfer of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali this summer.

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Speculation surrounding Tonali’s future is hotting up, with some key recent updates emerging on the Italy international’s situation:

  • 6th March – Arsenal chief Andrea Berta working on a deal for Tonali, according to Tuttosport.
  • 12th March – Tonali part of three-man list of midfield targets for Man Utd, according to the Sun.
  • 19th March – United have made calls to ask about Tonali‘s situation, according to Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel.
  • 24th March – Tonali wanted by both United and Man City but prefers a return to Serie A, according to talkSPORT.

And now, it seems Tonali is expected to be the subject of an approach from MUFC at the end of the season as he’s worked his way above Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton on the Red Devils’ list of targets in that position, according to the Daily Mail.

Should Manchester United be targeting Sandro Tonali?

Tonali is a fine player and it makes sense that he’s been considered by the likes of United and Arsenal.

At the same time, however, it’s not that clear to us why he’d be a priority at Old Trafford, with players like Anderson and Wharton looking like superior talents, who are also younger so would be better long-term options.

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

See above for the Transfer Fit rating we recently gave Tonali to United – and click here to read more about how we calculate these.

Overall, Tonali just looks too expensive to be worthwhile, but perhaps the issue is the availability of other targets.

Anderson, for instance, has been linked with United by BBC Sport, but they’ve also been among the outlets to name City as the frontrunners at this stage.

Even if Tonali is not ideal, he’s still a top player who’s proven himself in the Premier League, and it’s a position United desperately need to strengthen in as Casemiro will be leaving this summer and Manuel Ugarte has proven a major flop.

The post Formal approach prepared: Man Utd rival Arsenal for midfielder who’s moved to the top of their list appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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“Creative” star on Liverpool’s list as surprise transfer possible despite recent contract extension

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By:Mark Brus

Liverpool are reportedly one of the admirers of Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, who could possibly make a surprise move this summer.

That’s according to Ben Jacobs on X, with the journalist providing a Liverpool transfer news update and looking at a few Reds targets for the next transfer window.

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With Mohamed Salah announcing he’ll be leaving the club at the end of this season, Jacobs has named the likes of Michael Olise, Yan Diomande, Bradley Barcola, and Anthony Gordon as names to potentially look out for out wide.

But Jacobs also says Liverpool could look at a “creative” central attacking player like Rogers as well, with the England international possibly set to be available despite only recently signing a new contract at Villa Park…

Liverpool could sign two wingers this summer.

On the right, finding a Mo Salah successor is something #LFC have been planning for long before negotiating an exit package allowing the Egyptian to leave on a free.

New left-winger on the club's radar since Luis Diaz departed for… pic.twitter.com/LPnMXhFVuQ

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) March 26, 2026

Rogers is also firmly on Chelsea’s radar, as we’ve previously reported, while this is not the first time Liverpool have been linked with him.

Fichajes named the Merseyside giants as one of Rogers’ suitors, and they stated Villa could let the 23-year-old go for around £80m.

Morgan Rogers transfer would not be entirely without risk for Liverpool

Rogers is undoubtedly an exciting talent, but there’s no guarantee he’d succeed at LFC, and you only need to look at Florian Wirtz to see why.

Wirtz is a similar style of player at a similar stage of his career, and he’s struggled to fit in in Arne Slot’s side since a big-money move last summer.

Rogers has the benefit of being proven in the Premier League, so perhaps he could be an upgrade on Wirtz, but it’s also not obvious how the pair might fit in together.

For this reason, we’ve been a bit cautious and given Rogers a 14/25 rating considering how expensive he’d probably be…

Morgan Rogers TOTAL SCORE: 14/25
Transfer fee *
Performance ****
Achievements ***
Career phase *****
Squad need *

Find out more about how we rate transfers here.

Rogers will surely get a big move at some point, but Liverpool just doesn’t quite feel like the right fit as they probably need a more explosive wide-player as a better fit for their DNA.

There will likely be plenty of other options for Rogers, though it’s also worth noting that his recent form has dipped a little, which could play into clubs’ minds and lead them to look at other options this summer.

The post “Creative” star on Liverpool’s list as surprise transfer possible despite recent contract extension appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Report: Man United enquire about €60m Liverpool transfer target, City & Villa also in the mix

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United are reportedly among the clubs to have made an enquiry about Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde.

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That’s according to a report from Mundo Deportivo, who also link Manchester City and Aston Villa as suitors for the Spain international, whose future at the Nou Camp could be in some doubt.

Balde was also recently linked with Liverpool by another Spanish outlet Fichajes in a deal potentially worth €60m, but it’s not yet clear what will happen with him this summer.

Although there is a lot of interest in Balde, Mundo Deportivo report that the 22-year-old is keen to stay at Barcelona.

They add that there have not yet been any formal offers for the player, even if it would appear that there have been some initial contacts to register an interest and explore the situation.

Alejandro Balde transfer looks a good fit for Manchester United

Balde has arguably not been at his very best for Barca this season, but he remains a top talent who looks like he has a big future in the game.

Man Utd could also do with a new left-back as an upgrade on the ageing and injury-prone Luke Shaw, which is why we recently gave this a very high score with our Transfer Fit rating system – click here to read more about how these are calculated…

Alejandro Balde TOTAL SCORE: 20/25
Transfer fee ****
Performance ***
Achievements ****
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

If United can get Balde, it would surely improve their squad for both the present and future, and previous reports of him costing €60m also suggest this could potentially be a bargain.

Where should Alejandro Balde choose if he leaves Barcelona?

Balde may well look favourably on a move to Old Trafford right now as United look to be heading back into the Champions League for next season.

At the same time, it’s been a bit of a chaotic club in recent years, so somewhere like Liverpool, City, or even Villa might be more tempting.

LFC also look like they could do with an upgrade at left-back, with Milos Kerkez proving slightly disappointing in his first season at Anfield.

It’s not clear if City would be the best move, though, as Balde might struggle to get ahead of the in-form Nico O’Reilly in the starting XI.

Villa might be another interesting move as they’re once again challenging for Champions League qualification and could give Balde a key role as a long-term successor to Lucas Digne.

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Mohamed Salah to be offered perfect transfer opportunity to keep him in Europe

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By:Mark Brus

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is reportedly emerging as a transfer target for Barcelona as he’s set to become a free agent this summer.

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The Egypt international has announced he will be ending his time at Anfield once this current season comes to a close, and it’s not yet clear where he could go next.

Our sources have indicated that the Saudi Pro League or MLS are likely options for Salah, but it could be that he’ll still end up staying in Europe.

That’s according to Fichajes, who report that Barcelona are tempted to swoop for Salah, with manager Hansi Flick already planning a role for him in his team.

Despite Salah’s dip in form this season, it may be that the 33-year-old still has it in him to perform at the highest level.

Barcelona transfer could be ideal next step for Mohamed Salah

We’ve seen the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continuing to play into their late 30s at top European clubs, and it looks like Salah could have it in him to do the same.

However, there’s no doubt that that would be slightly easier for him if he swapped the fast and furious Premier League for the slightly slower-paced and technical La Liga.

Salah could in fact come in and take the place of Robert Lewandowski up front in this Barca side, with the Poland international set to turn 38 later this year.

Lewandowski has been able to perform at a high level during his four years in Spain, so perhaps Salah can now step into that role and aim for something similar.

This story comes as Jamie Carragher speculated that Salah might still be eyeing one more European club before thinking about somewhere like the Saudi Pro League or MLS.

The post Mohamed Salah to be offered perfect transfer opportunity to keep him in Europe appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Fabrizio Romano confirms majorly worrying Manchester City transfer update

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has opened the door to a potential transfer to Real Madrid, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano.

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Speaking on Instagram, Romano made it clear that Rodri has still not agreed a new contract with Man City, putting his future into some doubt.

This follows the Spain international himself speaking out and hinting that he’d be open to playing for Real Madrid at some point in the future.

It remains to be seen if Los Blancos are actually keen to sign Rodri, but he’s one of the best in the world in his position on his day, and it’s easy to imagine he might be keen to return to La Liga.

Rodri open to Real Madrid transfer despite spell at Atletico Madrid

Rodri has made it clear that he’d have no issue playing for Real despite also having a spell with their rivals Atletico earlier in his career.

The 29-year-old started his senior career at Villarreal, but spent time in Atleti’s academy and also spent one season there as a professional before moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2019.

Discussing his City future, as quoted by Sky Sports, Rodri said: ““I have a year left on my contract. There will come a point when we’ll have to sit down and talk.

“There are other players who’ve taken that path (between both Madrid clubs). Not directly, but over time. You can’t turn down the best clubs in the world.

“I would like to return (to LaLiga) yes, of course. For me, LaLiga is where I started. I still follow it, not as much as before, but I still follow it. But right now, I am very happy here (in the Premier League).”

Real Madrid are expected to let Eduardo Camavinga leave this summer, so that could mean they’ll be in the market for someone like Rodri to take his place in midfield.

The post Fabrizio Romano confirms majorly worrying Manchester City transfer update appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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From Italy: Man United & Liverpool studying top CB ahead of potential transfer

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United and Liverpool have reportedly had scouts in Italy to study in-form Juventus central defender Pierre Kalulu.

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The France international is impressing in Serie A at the moment, and it’s not surprising to see transfer rumours linking him with clubs in the Premier League.

According to Il Giornale, as cited and translated by Sport Witness, Man Utd and Liverpool have been tracking Kalulu, while Juventus hope to tie the 25-year-old down to a new contract.

This chimes with our recent exclusive on United and Liverpool scouts giving “very positive” feedback on what they’d seen from Kalulu’s recent performances.

What our sources said about Pierre Kalulu transfer situation

“United and Liverpool have had scouts watch Kalulu play recently and the feedback has been very positive,” one source said.

“United are looking at a long list of options and Kalulu is one they really like,” another source said. “We can also expect Liverpool to step up their interest, whether or not they lose Ibrahima Konate.”

Sport Witness note that Kalulu is represented by CAA Stellar, who are also the agency of Konate, as well as of MUFC duo Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw.

Tottenham and Newcastle could also be two clubs to watch out for in the race for Kalulu’s signature, we’ve been told.

Liverpool need to win the race for Pierre Kalulu

Using our Transfer Fit rating system, we’ve given Kalulu a high score for Liverpool as they could really do with a central defender of his quality this summer amid doubts over Konate’s future, and with Virgil van Dijk ageing and perhaps starting to look past his best…

Pierre Kalulu TOTAL SCORE: 18/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ****
Achievements ***
Career phase ***
Squad need *****

Kalulu wouldn’t be crazily expensive, is in good form and at a good stage of his career, and would surely go straight into the LFC XI as a key player.

United probably don’t need Kalulu quite as much as they have a decent amount of depth from the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Ayden Heaven.

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