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Man United in advanced talks to sign Premier League star, insiders also confident over another deal

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester United are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Everton central defender Jarrad Branthwaite, while Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is also being strongly linked again.

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We’ve previously reported on Branthwaite being eyed by Man United, and it now seems the Red Devils are stepping up their pursuit, according to a team of journalists on X.

The report also mentions that United insiders are confident that Arsenal left-back Lewis-Skelly is eager to make the move to Old Trafford.

This is not the first time we’ve seen Lewis-Skelly to Man Utd rumours either, with Sky Sports recently linking him as a possible target for Michael Carrick’s side.

Manchester United double transfer deal – our verdict

It seems likely that MUFC have some interest in both Branthwaite and Lewis-Skelly, but the claims being made on X today might need to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Negotiations can often happen outside of transfer windows, but it wouldn’t be super common for United to already be in advanced talks over a major signing like Branthwaite.

The England international is an important player for Everton and they’ll likely want him fully focused on performing at his best between now and the end of the season, rather than discussing an exit.

Lewis-Skelly, meanwhile, has not played much for Arsenal this season, so it makes sense that he might assess his options at the end of the campaign.

That’s quite different, however, from already being desperate to leave his boyhood club for a major rival.

Man United could do with defenders but have other more pressing needs

United might do well to bring in someone like Branthwaite, but it’s not exactly a position the club are weak in at the moment.

Likewise, Lewis-Skelly could be a decent addition but they already have Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu as options on the left-hand side of their defence.

With Casemiro coming towards the end of his contract and Manuel Ugarte performing poorly, it would surely make a lot more sense for United to start work early on major signings in midfield for this summer, rather than defence.

The post Man United in advanced talks to sign Premier League star, insiders also confident over another deal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal have made “calls” over transfer, Man City have another priority

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano has reported that Arsenal have been one of the clubs to make some contact over the availability of Sandro Tonali.

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The Newcastle United midfielder is on the Gunners’ radar ahead of the summer, but it seems there’s also some interest from Manchester City.

According to Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, there’s some uncertainty about how many midfielders Man City will sign, though for now Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is their priority target in that position.

Fabrizio Romano on Sandro Tonali

Arsenal were first linked with Tonali back towards the end of the January transfer window, as reported by David Ornstein.

See below as Ornstein posted about Tonali being offered to Arsenal, while Romano has now added that the north London giants have maintained some level of contact…

? Sandro Tonali offered to Arsenal by agent so #AFC explored but no contact with Newcastle United; nothing will happen this window. 25yo’s camp put idea to Andrea Berta so looked into as per any player of interest. #NUFC exit now impossible @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/Dj1rlbgFbH

— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) February 2, 2026

“Man United had contacts in the last few months for Sandro Tonali. Arsenal made some calls to be informed on the situation as well. Manchester City like Tonali, but the top target for Manchester City is Elliot Anderson at Nottingham Forest,” Romano said.

He added: “Man City want Elliot Anderson as a top target. Sandro Tonali is also on the short list also because Bernardo Silva is leaving and we have to see how many midfielders Man City want to add to the squad.”

Sandro Tonali to Arsenal transfer wouldn’t be ideal

As we’ve previously reported using our Transfer Fit rating system, we’re not convinced Tonali is the best signing Arsenal could make in midfield this summer.

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

Tonali would be too expensive for a player his age to be truly great value for money, and as good as the Italy international has been for Newcastle, he doesn’t look like he’d be a significant upgrade or even start over either one of Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi at the Emirates Stadium.

Perhaps we’ll be proven wrong, but if Arsenal are to spend big money on a midfielder it has to be someone who genuinely raises the team’s level like Rice did when he joined from West Ham.

Otherwise, if Arsenal are going to be spending money like that it should be on an elite striker or wide-player as that’s been arguably their biggest weakness this season.

The post Fabrizio Romano says Arsenal have made “calls” over transfer, Man City have another priority appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Arsenal “monitoring” impressive Champions League opponent, €60-70m asking price set

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Bayer Leverkusen’s talented young forward Christian Kofane after his impressive performances in the Champions League.

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The Cameroon international looks like a big prospect for the future, having impressed with seven goals and four assists in his first season with Leverkusen this term.

Capable of playing out wide or up front, Kofane is still only 19 years of age but already looks to be rated highly at around €60-70m, according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.

See below for Plettenberg’s post on X, with Arsenal described as monitoring Kofane’s situation as Leverkusen could be open to a sale for the right price…

?? Arsenal are monitoring Christian #Kofane. The 19 y/o talented striker impressed in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Several other top English clubs are also interested, and Real Madrid have been keeping an eye on him as well.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen are demanding €60-70… pic.twitter.com/lATmdJc0vA

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) April 1, 2026

Plettenberg posted: “Arsenal are monitoring Christian Kofane. The 19 y/o talented striker impressed in the Champions League quarter-finals. Several other top English clubs are also interested, and Real Madrid have been keeping an eye on him as well.

“Bayer 04 Leverkusen are demanding €60-70 million for a summer transfer. Top transfer by Rolfes/Falkenberg. Both are in good contact with agent Eric Depolo.”

Christian Kofane could be Premier League-bound

A recent report from Sports Boom linked Kofane with other clubs such as Chelsea and Newcastle, but it now seems Arsenal are stepping up their interest.

The Gunners may have to see off competition from their Premier League rivals to land the highly-rated young attacker, but they can surely present him with the most tempting project.

Mikel Arteta has done tremendous work at the Emirates Stadium, with his side leading the Premier League title race at the moment whilst still also being in contention for the Champions League and the FA Cup.

Kofane could come in and play an important role to rotate with a more experienced striker, perhaps with the view of eventually developing into the club’s first choice.

€60-70m is a lot to pay for someone relatively inexperienced, but Kofane looks very impressive so it might turn out to be a smart investment in the long term.

The post Arsenal “monitoring” impressive Champions League opponent, €60-70m asking price set appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Personal terms agreed: Tottenham star agrees deal to join Euro giants after Roberto De Zerbi arrival

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has reportedly agreed personal terms with Inter Milan as he looks set to leave Spurs this summer.

The Italian shot-stopper has mostly been a bit of a disappointment during his time with Tottenham, and it makes sense that he now seems to be nearing a move back to Serie A.

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Vicario previously impressed in spells with Cagliari and Empoli, but it’s not quite happened for him in the Premier League, and it seems he won’t be staying much longer.

According to the latest Italian football news emerging from a variety of sources, Vicario has now agreed personal terms on a €3.5m-per-season deal with Inter.

Guglielmo Vicario leaves as Roberto De Zerbi joins

While it has seemed likely for some time that Vicario would be on his way out of Tottenham this summer, it still poses an interesting challenge for new manager Roberto De Zerbi.

It perhaps could have made sense for the Italian tactician, who was announced as Spurs manager yesterday, to give Vicario another chance with THFC.

But it seems this won’t be happening, with Inter keen to move to land a new ‘keeper this summer, while De Zerbi will now face doing the same with his new employers.

Who could replace Guglielmo Vicario at Tottenham?

Tottenham have been linked with a few new goalkeepers in recent times, with the most logical target perhaps being Manchester City’s James Trafford.

Trafford is clearly unhappy at Man City after a lack of playing time, so he’ll surely be available this summer.

That could be a good option for Spurs, who would surely immediately make Trafford their number one next season.

The post Personal terms agreed: Tottenham star agrees deal to join Euro giants after Roberto De Zerbi arrival appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Liverpool & Man United transfer interest is “real reason” star has U-turned on contract, says expert

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Liverpool and Manchester United have an interest in the potential transfer of Borussia Dortmund centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck, according to Christian Falk.

Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside, Falk provided some insight into Schlotterbeck’s situation as he seems to have stalled contract talks with Dortmund.

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It seems the Germany international is keen for more time to decide his future, but Falk believes his club are concerned that the real reason is interest from Liverpool and Man Utd.

“Nico Schlotterbeck said that he must think again about the nearly finalized negotations about a new contract at Borussia Dortmund,” Falk told CaughtOffside.

“He said the reason for this is that the Club have fired the Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl (who was at the the table at the negotiation).

“But the Club think that this is just a Pretext. The real reason could be a new interest in Schlotterbeck of Liverpool and Manchester United.”

Nico Schlotterbeck transfer could fix Liverpool’s centre-back problem

Liverpool fans will no doubt hope this gives them another chance of signing Schlotterbeck, who looks like an ideal priority target for this summer.

Virgil van Dijk is not getting any younger and will surely need a long-term successor soon, while Ibrahima Konate is nearing the end of his contract, so could be leaving on a free transfer at the end of this season.

We previously gave Schlotterbeck the following rating with the Transfer Fit system we use to predict the success of potential signings…

Nico Schlotterbeck TOTAL SCORE: 16/25
Transfer fee ****
Performance ***
Achievements **
Career phase **
Squad need *****

It’s easy to see Schlotterbeck having a positive impact for LFC, even if they might also do better to consider someone younger, or with experience playing in the Premier League.

United would get a similar score, though they arguably don’t need a new central defender as much due to having a lot of depth in that position, unless Harry Maguire leaves at the end of his contract this summer.

The post Liverpool & Man United transfer interest is “real reason” star has U-turned on contract, says expert appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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£260m valuation set for three Newcastle stars amid Arsenal & Man United transfer interest

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Newcastle United have set their asking prices for star trio Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and Tino Livramento, according to the Telegraph.

The report states that the Magpies want £100m each for Tonali and Gordon, while Livramento’s asking price would be around £60m.

All three have been important performers for Newcastle, and they won’t want to lose them, so the club will hope high asking prices like that will put suitors off.

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After losing Alexander Isak to Liverpool last summer, NUFC could do without another major exit like that, but we’ve seen plenty of recent transfer news reports which suggests these players are wanted by the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United.

Sandro Tonali a man in demand

Tonali has been linked with all three of Arsenal, Man United, and Man City by Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel.

“Manchester United have Sandro Tonali very high on their shortlist for June, as reported. The player would be open to the move,” Romano also recently posted on X.

“Elliot Anderson, another name on shortlist but Manchester City are still ahead — with very serious interest.

“Man City and Arsenal, both also informed on Tonali situation.”

Anthony Gordon eyed by Liverpool

Meanwhile, our understanding is that Liverpool are leading the race for Gordon, so we could see another big move from St James’ Park to Anfield after Isak’s transfer last summer.

Gordon could be ideal for LFC as they prepare to bid farewell to Mohamed Salah at the end of this season, though other names have also been linked in that position.

Tino Livramento to replace Ben White at Arsenal?

Arsenal have been strongly linked with Livramento in a previous report from the Telegraph, and it could be that the England international will replace Ben White.

Livramento would not be as expensive as those other two players, so this might be a more realistic deal for clubs to agree with Newcastle.

The post £260m valuation set for three Newcastle stars amid Arsenal & Man United transfer interest appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Sources: “He’s keen…” – Arsenal star open to surprise transfer exit this summer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

My colleague Simon Phillips recently covered an interesting story about Chelsea’s interest in Riccardo Calafiori, and I’ve had some more information on the Arsenal defender’s future.

Although I’ve also been told there is some interest from Chelsea, it seems this is not currently considered a realistic deal for two reasons.

Firstly, Arsenal don’t want to sell to a rival, and secondly, Calafiori himself is understood to favour a return to Italy if possible, with the former Bologna man not short of interest from Serie A.

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Chelsea’s interest in Calafiori is genuine and dates back to before he moved to Arsenal, with the Blues also one of the clubs in for the player in the summer of 2024.

Still, Chelsea will likely have to look elsewhere for new defensive additions, with Nottingham Forest’s Murillo widely linked as one of their top targets for that area of their squad.

Riccardo Calafiori open to Serie A transfer return

One interesting domino effect that could impact Calafiori’s future is the situation at Inter Milan, who face losing Alessandro Bastoni to Barcelona.

Inter are looking for a replacement for Bastoni and sources in the industry have informed me that Calafiori is someone they’re keen on for that role.

Arsenal’s preference would be to keep the 23-year-old and there’s not currently anything advanced on an exit, but it looks like one to watch as the player himself is keen on more playing time.

“Calafiori isn’t pushing to leave Arsenal, but he’s fallen behind Piero Hincapie in the pecking order this season, so Inter feel it’s a deal that would be worth exploring,” one source told me. “He’s keen to return to Italy at some point, and though this is a bit sooner than expected, it can’t be ruled out for this summer.”

Arsenal will want to ensure they still have depth at the back, with Calafiori a useful option to fill in at either left-back or centre-back, though the Gunners also have a number of other names available in that department.

Arsenal could sell stars this summer

This is not the first we’ve heard about big names potentially leaving Arsenal this summer.

While fans will be eager to hear Arsenal transfer news about new signings coming in, that won’t be possible without money being raised from sales after so much big spending last year.

Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Ben White are names to watch, but a good offer for Calafiori could perhaps also be sensible for AFC to think about.

Hincapie will be joining permanently from Bayer Leverkusen, while Arsenal also still have Myles Lewis-Skelly as an option at left-back, so the club may end up deciding that Calafiori is someone they can afford to cash in on, but again, it’s far from guaranteed and would require a good offer.

Inter are the main suitors at the moment, but Juventus and Napoli are also long-term admirers of his.

The post Sources: “He’s keen…” – Arsenal star open to surprise transfer exit this summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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From Spain: Liverpool battling Chelsea & Man City to sign “unbelievable” €60m star

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City are reportedly all circling for the potential transfer of Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.

The France international is perhaps set to be available this summer, with Barca open to a sale for perhaps as little as €60m, according to Mundo Deportivo, as cited and translated by Football Espana.

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Kounde has mostly been a solid performer for Barca, and has even been praised as “unbelievable” by manager Hansi Flick, as quoted by beIN Sports, but he’s had injury problems this season and it might not be the worst time for the club to let him go while they can still make decent money from his sale.

Barcelona have had known financial issues for a few years now, meaning raising some cash from a sale like this could be important to help keep them in line with Financial Fair Play.

Jules Kounde heading to the Premier League?

It’s anticipated that Kounde could attract a lot of interest from the Premier League, and this is not the first time we’ve heard transfer rumours like this about the former Sevilla man.

Chelsea have a long-standing interest in Kounde, with BBC Sport reporting that the Blues had a bid rejected for him when he was at Sevilla back in 2021.

More recently, Liverpool have also been linked with Kounde by Fichajes, and it could make sense for the Reds to bring someone like that in.

The 27-year-old could also surely do a job for Man City, who have not been entirely convincing for much of this season as they trail Arsenal in the title race.

Kounde would add experience to a youthful Chelsea side, provide Liverpool with a possible replacement for contract rebel Ibrahima Konate, and give City more depth and a possible upgrade on the likes of Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov.

The post From Spain: Liverpool battling Chelsea & Man City to sign “unbelievable” €60m star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Breaking: Verdict on 115 Manchester City charges as 12-point punishment & ban hits club’s travel plans

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester City‘s team bus driver has been hit with 12 points on his license and a six-month driving ban after 115 charges for parking tickets.

According to leaked information from AF, the DVLA have finally hit Man City’s team bus driver, whom we cannot name for legal reasons, with a big punishment after years of built-up parking tickets.

A City spokesperson refused to comment on the verdict, but it’s understood that there is huge concern among Pep Guardiola and his staff about how the team will now travel to and from games.

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There was some suggestion that Jose Mourinho could be appointed to this special role due to his experience and expertise in ‘parking the bus’, but Guardiola is understood to have vetoed this move.

Manchester City team bus
Manchester City team bus (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

This points to an underlying cultural problem at the club, however, with Guardiola’s side clearly ill-prepared for how to position their bus and avoiding double yellow lines, perhaps due to their manager’s long-held tactical philosophy that stands so much against ‘parking the bus’.

In other news…

There’s a lot going on this April 1st, with City’s 115 charges dominating headlines, but other stories to watch out for as well, with our round-up below…

  • Players are concerned about the increasing Americanisation of this summer’s World Cup as plans are being discussed to split matches into four quarters, with Super Bowl-style concerts and performances taking place during each break and potentially stretching games out to over three hours in duration.
  • The Premier League are set to trial the use of AI for assessing VAR decisions, with a Chat GPT-style bot to be fed questions by the on-pitch referee in a bid to avoid human error and bias.
  • Ipswich Town have apologised for yet another PR blunder after inviting Darth Vader to their stadium for a visit. “Ipswich Town Football Club has, over several years, hosted representatives from a range of galactic factions. The club remains a neutral institution and does not support or endorse any Jedi, Sith Lord, or figures from any side of the Force.”

The post Breaking: Verdict on 115 Manchester City charges as 12-point punishment & ban hits club’s travel plans appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Update: Liverpool given potential obstacle in bid to sign “outstanding” €100m star

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Liverpool may reportedly face a struggle to sign RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande as the club want to give him a new contract as a reward for his superb form.

The talented young Ivory Coast international is emerging as one of the most exciting up-and-coming stars in the game at the moment, and it seems only a matter of time before he earns a big move.

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We’ve reported that Liverpool are working on signing Diomande as a replacement for Mohamed Salah, who has confirmed he’ll be leaving Anfield this summer.

However, see below as journalist Philipp Hinze has posted on X about Leipzig doing their best to keep Diomande, even if he admits the player doesn’t look unsellable…

? Yan Diomande: Leipzig are planning a contract adjustment with a performance-based salary increase to reward his outstanding development. The deal would still have no release clause. Leipzig want to keep him another season, but the Ivorian isn’t unsellable – price tag from… pic.twitter.com/O8i3CDUAMu

— Philipp Hinze (@philipphinze24) March 30, 2026

“Yan Diomande: Leipzig are planning a contract adjustment with a performance-based salary increase to reward his outstanding development. The deal would still have no release clause. Leipzig want to keep him another season, but the Ivorian isn’t unsellable – price tag from €100m and rising,” Hinze posted.

Yan Diomande transfer looks ideal for Liverpool

Diomande has shown immense potential during his time in the Bundesliga, and it’s hard to imagine he won’t be one of the top attacking players in world football before long.

The 19-year-old has 14 goals and six assists in all competitions for club and country this season, and that looks like just the kind of quality LFC need to replace Salah.

Liverpool spent big on new signings last summer that didn’t quite work out, so there could be some sense in more reinforcements in that area to make up for the lack of impact from Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.

One worry, however, is that other clubs will get involved, with Sky Sports also recently linking Diomande as a target for Manchester United.

The post Update: Liverpool given potential obstacle in bid to sign “outstanding” €100m star appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Final 2026 World Cup groups confirmed as Italy and other big names miss out

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

We now have the final groups for the 2026 World Cup after last night’s play-off results as Italy will once again be absent from the world’s biggest international tournament.

Despite winning the World Cup four times, second only to Brazil, Italy continue to go through something of a crisis as they’re now missing this competition for the third time in a row after also failing to qualify in 2022 and 2018.

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Remarkably, the last time the Azzuri won a knockout game at the World Cup was their final victory over France all the way back in 2006.

There’ll be a few other big names missing as Robert Lewandowski’s Poland were beaten by Sweden, and the likes of Denmark, Hungary, and Nigeria also miss out.

2026 World Cup groups in full

See below for the full round-up of this summer’s World Cup group stages as newly-qualified Sweden, Bosnia, Czech Republic, and Turkey join the line up…

Group A

Mexico
South Africa
South Korea
Czech Republic

Group B

Canada
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Qatar
Switzerland

Group C

Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland

Group D

United States
Paraguay
Australia
Turkey

Group E

Germany
Curaçao
Ivory Coast
Ecuador

Group F

Netherlands
Japan
Tunisia
Sweden

Group G

Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand

Group H

 Spain
 Cape Verde
 Saudi Arabia
 Uruguay

Group I

 France
 Senegal
 Iraq
 Norway

Group J

 Argentina
 Algeria
 Austria
 Jordan

Group K

 Portugal
 DR Congo
 Uzbekistan
 Colombia

Group L

 England
 Croatia
 Ghana
 Panama

Best players not at the 2026 World Cup

Lewandowski is unfortunately not going to be at the World Cup this summer, with one of the game’s greatest strikers of the modern era now unlikely to feature at this level again as he approaches his 38th birthday.

With Nigeria not qualifying, Victor Osimhen is also a huge loss in this year’s tournament, with the Galatasaray striker performing at a really high level in recent years and showing he surely belongs at this level.

Hungary also won’t be there, meaning in-form Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai gets the summer off, as does his Reds teammate Milos Kerkez.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been a joy to watch for Paris Saint-Germain in recent times, but he won’t be lighting up this World Cup as Georgia failed to qualify.

And then of course, there are so many talented players from this Italian side who won’t be there, most notably Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali, and big names from Serie A such as Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, and Moise Kean.

The post Final 2026 World Cup groups confirmed as Italy and other big names miss out appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Report: Chelsea recruitment team desperate to beat Man Utd to €100m transfer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Chelsea’s recruitment team are reportedly big admirers of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and have been for some time.

According to Simon Phillips, the talented young England international now tops Chelsea’s list of midfield targets for the summer, ahead of other big names like Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali.

Wharton has shone at Palace and also looks likely to have a role to play for England at the 2026 World Cup this summer, which could further boost his chances of earning a big move.

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Manchester United are also likely to be in contention to sign Wharton, with BBC Sport mentioning him as one of their targets to replace the departing Casemiro in the middle of the park.

Adam Wharton won’t come cheap

Whether Wharton goes to Man Utd or Chelsea, one thing that’s clear is that he surely won’t come cheap, with Fichajes reporting that the 22-year-old is likely to cost as much as €100m (£86m).

That kind of price shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle for clubs like United and Chelsea, but these major deals can be trickier in this era of stricter Financial Fair Play laws.

It could require player sales from both clubs, with Sky Sports already mentioning United’s plans to cash in on around five players in the hope of raising £100m.

Chelsea could also have assets they can bank decent money from, with Enzo Fernandez’s future looking in some doubt ahead of the summer.

Should Adam Wharton choose Chelsea or Man Utd?

Wharton will have an interesting decision to make this summer, with both CFC and MUFC looking like tempting destinations for him.

The former Blackburn Rovers youngster needs to ensure he’s playing regularly and that he’s part of a competitive project, with United perhaps looking the slightly safer bet on both those fronts right now.

Chelsea currently look up against it to qualify for the Champions League, though the Red Devils should be there after a huge improvement in form in the second half of this season.

There’s also a clear role for Wharton at Old Trafford as Casemiro is leaving, whereas he could still face more competition for a place at Chelsea if Fernandez doesn’t end up moving on.

The post Report: Chelsea recruitment team desperate to beat Man Utd to €100m transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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£100m clear-out: Man United ready to boost transfer budget by selling five players

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester United are reportedly ready to axe a long list of players this summer in the hope of raising around £100m from player sales.

According to Sky Sports, this could likely mean five major sales by Man Utd, including flops such as Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee, as well as players currently out on loan in the form of Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, and Andre Onana.

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The Red Devils are already also set to free up space on their wage bill from three players leaving on free transfers – Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and Tyrell Malacia.

If all these departures go through then it should put United in a strong position financially, especially with that added boost of what now looks like very likely Champions League qualification.

Manchester United flops to be sold

It remains to be seen how much United can realistically hope to make from some of these disappointing players, but Sky Sports suggest they’re aiming for around £100m in total.

Their report states that Barcelona have the option to make Rashford’s loan permanent for £26m, but that’s not yet guaranteed.

However, the club can factor in £38m already from Rasmus Hojlund, whose loan with Napoli is expected to be made permanent for that price.

If Rashford does end up joining Barca, that’s already a total of £64m for MUFC, who could probably expect to sell the likes of Zirkzee, Ugarte, and Onana for similar or slightly lower prices.

United were busy last summer as they signed a new front three in Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo, plus a new goalkeeper in Senne Lammens.

They now need to do major work on their midfield in particular, so these sales could end up being really important to add to their budget.

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Real Madrid eyeing up surprise transfer for in-form Liverpool star

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By:Mark Brus

Real Madrid are reportedly showing a growing interest in a potential transfer move for Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike.

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Although the France international is not expected to be a target for Los Blancos in the immediate future, his impressive form for the Reds has seen him climb up the Spanish giants’ list, according to TEAMtalk.

Ekitike has started well at Liverpool since joining from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, contributing 17 goals and five assists in all competitions so far this season.

It would be a surprise if Liverpool were to then let Ekitike go after just one season, especially as the 23-year-old still looks like he can improve even further.

Hugo Ekitike could be ideal Kylian Mbappe successor at Real Madrid

Even if this is one for the future, it’s certainly an intriguing bit of planning for Real Madrid as Ekitike could be an ideal long-term successor to Kylian Mbappe.

TEAMtalk’s report notes that Ekitike was signed by Paris Saint-Germain as a youngster with precisely that intention in mind, even if it didn’t work out for him at the Parc des Princes.

Still, it could be that Ekitike will get a similar opportunity again at some point, though LFC must surely do their best to keep him for as long as possible.

Hugo Ekitike to Real Madrid Transfer Fit rating

While it’s perhaps hard to see this move happening all that soon, we’ve used our Transfer Fit rating system to analyse how well this deal could work for Real Madrid.

See below as we scored Ekitike on five key factors, with his performances and age making him a good fit, though he loses points for what would likely be a high transfer fee, as well as the fact that Real already have a lot of top attacking players in their squad…

Hugo Ekitike TOTAL SCORE: 16/25
Transfer fee *
Performance *****
Achievements ***
Career phase *****
Squad need **

Liverpool certainly did good business bringing Ekitike in last summer, with the Frenchman performing a lot better than most of their other new additions.

A lot of money was invested in the likes of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez, all of whom have been pretty underwhelming for the most part.

Ekitike’s fine form in the Premier League surely shows he could also take that step to becoming a key player for a major club like Real Madrid.

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“I really want to…” – Bruno Guimaraes names two potential clubs he’d sign for after Newcastle

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By:Mark Brus

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has named two Brazilian clubs he’d love to play for at some point in the future.

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The 28-year-old has been a star performer at St James’ Park for the last few years, and there have recently been some transfer rumours linking him with Manchester United.

Although it’s not clear how concrete or advanced this move to Man Utd might be, Fabrizio Romano did confirm in a YouTube post that the Red Devils met with Guimaraes’ agent recently.

Still, for now Guimaraes doesn’t seem to be closing in on a departure from Newcastle, and he’s only hinted at being keen to return to Brazil at some point later in his career.

Bruno Guimaraes hints at future transfer

Guimaraes has admitted he’d love to play for either one of Athletico Paranaense or Vasco da Gama one day.

Speaking in the video clip below, as cited by Shields Gazette, Guimaraes was asked about having a Vasco shirt in his home, to which he responded: “Vasco gave me this one [shirt]. A gift.

When asked about playing for Vasco in the future, he added: “Ah, man, I really want to. If I come back to Brazil, it’s either Athletico or Vasco, man.”

[morestorioes latest]

That’s a pretty clear hint about Guimaraes’ long-term plans, but it doesn’t necessarily tell us much about what he could do this summer.

A move to United would surely be tempting for him, but Newcastle are also surely unlikely to make it easy for any suitors.

Guimaraes has been hugely important to NUFC and they’ll need to avoid another saga like last year when they were dealt the blow of losing star player Alexander Isak to Liverpool.

The post “I really want to…” – Bruno Guimaraes names two potential clubs he’d sign for after Newcastle appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Everton considering surprise transfer move for “outstanding” Aston Villa star

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By:Mark Brus

Everton are reportedly keeping close tabs on Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as a summer transfer window target.

It seems the Toffees are keen on Watkins as an option to strengthen up front in case he becomes available after a slightly below-par season at Villa Park.

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That’s according to a report from Football Insider, which also cites former Premier League scout Mick Brown describing Watkins as a potentially “outstanding” addition to David Moyes’ squad.

Everton are having a fine season and a good summer could really help establish themselves as a more genuine top four contender, with Watkins perhaps a signing that could propel them up a level.

Ollie Watkins to Everton transfer would be “outstanding”, says Mick Brown

Speaking to Football Insider about the Watkins to Everton links, Brown said: “Ollie Watkins would be an outstanding option for Everton.

He added: “I think he’s still a great option for Aston Villa as well, but it seems they might be looking to sell him at the end of the season because of their financial issues.

“Watkins is one of those strikers who is always working hard, running the channels, getting in behind defenders and causing problems.

“He might not be the most consistent in front of goal, his first touch isn’t always perfect, but he gives you something a lot of strikers don’t these days.

“Plus, he’s got bags of experience in the Premier League and he’s shown over a number of years that he can score goals at the highest level.

“So for Everton, they’re still not convinced by the strikers they’ve got, and Watkins is definitely an upgrade on them.”

What next for Ollie Watkins?

Watkins has previously been linked with bigger clubs, but it seems that chance has probably gone now.

The 30-year-old has been a terrific servant to Villa, and at his peak he surely could have been a useful option for suitors such as Arsenal and Manchester United.

Watkins Aston Villa form Games Goals
2023/24 53 27
2024/25 54 17
2025/26 43 10

Watkins scored 17 goals in all competitions last season, but he’s now down to just 10 so far this term, so it seems age is catching up with him a bit.

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Sources: Man United transfer target “highly likely” to move for “attractive” price

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By:Mark Brus

One underrated midfielder is likely to be a name to watch in this summer’s transfer market, as I’ve again been informed of a long list of big clubs monitoring him.

That player is Wolves’ Joao Gomes, who I last received information on back in November and reported on in this exclusive piece here.

The Brazilian is, I’m told, “highly likely” to be on the move this summer after a disappointing season in which Wolves are now near-certain to get relegated from the Premier League.

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

This drop to the Championship is expected to weaken Wolves’ negotiating position, likely meaning a significant drop in his asking price.

Joao Gomes transfer opportunity alerts Man United and Chelsea

Gomes has long been appreciated by the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, and other big names are now also in frequent contact to keep themselves informed of his situation.

“Man United have a long-standing interest in Gomes and he’s someone they’ll consider depending on how other midfield targets work out,” one source said. “What’s attractive in this case is that there’s an informal understanding that Wolves getting relegated means his asking price drops from €60m to more like €40-45m.”

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Sources close to Wolves have played this down, but there is a growing confidence among top clubs that there could be a bargain deal to be done for the 25-year-old, who will likely push hard to leave Molineux.

“United will be a name to watch, but Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, and Napoli have all asked about him as well,” my source added.

Joao Gomes among the midfield transfers to watch

Gomes will be just one of a long list of midfielders on the move this summer, with Chelsea’s interest unsurprising as they’re also monitoring Monaco’s Lamine Camara, as I reported here yesterday.

The Blues will also be looking at a host of other names as there’s the growing sense that Enzo Fernandez is unsettled and could look to move on.

Newcastle’s interest is also likely due to fears over being able to keep Sandro Tonali, whose agent is working on getting his client a move to one of Arsenal, Man United, or Man City.

Tottenham, meanwhile, could do well to land Gomes but much of what they can do in the transfer market will depend on whether they can stay up instead of joining Wolves in the Championship next season.

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“You need more” – Chelsea star slams club’s transfer strategy and Enzo Maresca sack decision

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella has taken the extraordinary step of publicly criticising the club for their transfer strategy and for the exit of previous manager Enzo Maresca.

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Cucurella has been a key player for Chelsea but seems very obviously frustrated with life at Stamford Bridge right now.

The Spain international feels the international break will be good for Chelsea’s players, who have suffered some awful recent results.

The Blues were thrashed by Paris Saint-Germain to be dumped out of the Champions League, and this has clearly left a bad taste in the mouth of several of the team’s players.

Cucurella acknowledged that Enzo Fernandez was also clearly not happy after the PSG defeat, and he’s now given some explosive quotes of his own in an interview with the Athletic.

Marc Cucurella on Chelsea signing too many young players

Under this ownership, CFC have focused on signing players for the future, but Cucurella seems unconvinced that it will be enough to help the west London giants succeed on the pitch.

“I understand this is part of the club’s policy, and that they want to take this direction — signing young players and looking to the future. But, for all of us who are still here and want to win big things, moments like this make you feel discouraged,” the 27-year-old said.

“We have a good core of players. The foundations are there. But to fight for major trophies such as the Premier League or the Champions League, you need more. Signing young players only might complicate achieving those goals. Against PSG, we lacked players that had gone through situations like that.

“You need time as well, and I know the young players are the ones that will have the experience in the future. But you need to find the balance between both worlds.”

Marc Cucurella on impact of Enzo Maresca departure

Discussing the decision to replace Maresca with Liam Rosenior, Cucurella added: “The moment Maresca left, it had a big impact on us.

“These are decisions taken by the club. If you asked me, I would not have made this decision. To make a change like that, the best thing is to wait until the end of the season. You would give everyone, the players and the new manager, time to get ready, have a full pre-season…

“The instability around the club comes from this, in a nutshell. We had a caretaker (former under-21s coach Calum McFarlane) first, then a new manager, with new ideas and no time to work on them. It is what it is.”

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£86m price set: Man United & Real Madrid battling to sign “incredible player”

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United and Real Madrid are reportedly both interested in a potential summer transfer window swoop for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

The England international has established himself as one of the top young players in the Premier League and it seems only a matter of time before he earns himself a move to a major European club.

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According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Real Madrid could rival Man Utd for the signing of Wharton, who is expected to be available for a fee in the region of €100m (£86m) this summer.

That’s a lot of money to pay for someone relatively inexperienced, but Wharton also looks like he surely has a big future in the game, so it could end up being a worthwhile investment.

Previously described as an “incredible player” by former Palace teammate Eberechi Eze, as per BBC Sport, this could surely be the Eagles’ next major sale.

Adam Wharton transfer looks vital for Manchester United

With United set to lose Casemiro at the end of his contract and with Manuel Ugarte being linked with Juventus by Gazzetta dello Sport, there is surely a need for the Red Devils to invest in their midfield this summer.

Wharton looks an ideal candidate, but one imagines Palace might favour selling the 22-year-old abroad if possible, so as to avoid losing him to a Premier League rival.

Still, MUFC surely need to do what they can to land Wharton, who we ranked second on their list of midfield targets, behind only Elliot Anderson.

See below as we scored the deal a 19/25 fit with our Transfer Fit rating system – find out more here about how these are calculated.

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

Wharton is someone United could build around for many years to come, so it’s surely an investment that would pay off, even if the deal clearly wouldn’t be cheap.

It’s also easy to imagine the England international being good enough to dictate the play in Real Madrid’s midfield, with the Spanish giants lacking a midfielder of that profile.

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Euro giants plan bid to sign Manchester United star after discovering specific clause

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly making Manchester United attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes a top transfer target for this summer.

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The Portugal international has been a star performer for Man Utd again this season with eight goals and 16 assists in the Premier League, and he has just a year left on his contract at Old Trafford.

Fernandes also has a release clause in his contract for European clubs, which has been reported by BBC Sport and which ESPN state he negotiated himself.

Now a report from Fichajes states that PSG have become aware of this option and manager Luis Enrique would be keen to get this deal done.

Bruno Fernandes could leave Manchester United for PSG

While Fichajes also mentions interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, it’s easy to imagine Fernandes himself leaning towards a club like PSG.

The 31-year-old has under-achieved in terms of major trophy wins during his time at United, who are not the force they once were.

Fernandes’ recent form shows he is still a world class performer at the highest level, so he might not be ready to leave Europe just yet, especially as he could surely play for a club more likely to offer him trophies.

PSG seems like a good fit for Fernandes, with Enrique said to be keen to bring him in to play alongside his other Portuguese midfield talents Vitinha and Joao Neves.

Bruno Fernandes to PSG Transfer Fit rating

Bruno Fernandes TOTAL SCORE: 14/25
Transfer fee **
Performance *****
Achievements ****
Career phase *
Squad need **

See the table above as we’ve scored Fernandes to PSG a fairly medium 14/25 with our Transfer Fit rating – find out more about the system here.

Overall, Fernandes is obviously an impressive player who wouldn’t be that expensive, but there’s also an argument that PSG would be paying a lot for someone who doesn’t have that long left at the top level, and who they arguably don’t even need that much.

This would be a luxury signing for PSG, which is fine, but there might be smarter business they could do this summer.

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Fabrizio Romano confirms “tension” about Chelsea star’s future

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By:Mark Brus

There is a “tension” about the future of Chelsea central midfielder Enzo Fernandez amid links with Real Madrid, according to Fabrizio Romano.

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Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano admitted that the Fernandez to Real Madrid talk has to be taken seriously, with the player himself hinting at an interest in living in the Spanish capital.

The Argentina international spoke in the interview below about how much he’d love to live in Madrid as it reminds him of his home town Buenos Aires…

Enzo Fernández dijo que quiere volver y le gustaría volver a River en un futuro pero estando bien. Y cuando le preguntaron qué lugar le gusta para vivir dijo que le gusta Madrid

Lo que sería verlo a Enzo en el mediocampo del Real Madrid, me vuelvo loco si se da pic.twitter.com/IksxmptUAs

— SpiderCARP ???? (@SpiderCarp23) March 29, 2026

“I’d like to live in Madrid. It’s a beautiful city, reminds me of Buenos Aires,” Fernandez said.

Enzo Fernandez recent transfer rumours

Fernandez’s future has dominated headlines recently, with a summary below of how this saga has played out…

Real Madrid could do with a midfielder like Fernandez, and it might also suit Chelsea to cash in on him at this point.

Even if the 25-year-old can be a top player on his day, he hasn’t quite been consistent enough for CFC and it’s possible that they could make big money from his sale and replace him with someone better.

Elliot Anderson is understood to be on Chelsea’s radar as they consider potential replacements for Fernandez.

The post Fabrizio Romano confirms “tension” about Chelsea star’s future appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Club director will attend match today to watch Man United star ahead of potential transfer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte is reportedly emerging as a transfer target for Juventus ahead of the summer.

The Uruguay international has fallen out of favour after struggling to impress at Man Utd, and it makes sense that his future is now in serious doubt.

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According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Ugarte is now being eyed by Juventus, with the Turin giants set to watch him closely in today’s match between Uruguay and Algeria.

Ugarte should be in action for his country in this international friendly, and Juve are expected to have officials present to run the rule over the former Paris Saint-Germain man.

Manuel Ugarte to leave Manchester United in midfield reshuffle

We could see a lot of changes in midfield for United this summer, with Ugarte clearly not in their plans and likely to leave.

On top of that, Casemiro is coming towards the end of his contract at Old Trafford, so will be departing as a free agent.

That’s two defensive midfielders leaving in quick succession, which perhaps isn’t ideal, though we’ve seen plenty of names being linked with MUFC who could fill those gaps.

Manchester United’s midfield targets

There has been a lot of speculation about who United are making their priority in midfield, with a recent report from the Daily Mail suggesting Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali is the man they really want for that role.

Still, that report also mentioned the likes of Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, so we’ll have to see how this all pans out in the weeks and months ahead.

Cashing in on Ugarte could be useful, though, as United will need to have a lot of money to spend if they want to land a truly world class name for that area of their squad.

Juventus could also be an interesting opportunity for Ugarte to get back to his best after a difficult few years since his impressive spell at Sporting Lisbon.

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“I’m thinking about…” – Man United, Chelsea & Arsenal target responds to transfer talk

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Nottingham Forest central midfielder Elliot Anderson insists he’s only focusing on the 2026 World Cup despite plenty of transfer rumours about his future.

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The 23-year-old is enjoying a superb season for Forest and now looks certain to be a starter for England at the World Cup this summer.

Still, a big move could also be in store for Anderson, who has interest from Manchester United, according to Sky Sports and others, while we’ve also received information about Chelsea and Arsenal being keen on him.

For now, however, it seems Anderson is keen to play down speculation and focus on England while he’s with the squad for these pre-World Cup preparations.

Elliot Anderson responds to questions on his future

When asked about the ongoing transfer talk, Anderson refused to get too drawn into it, instead shifting the focus onto England and the World Cup.

“We’ve obviously got the World Cup this summer, so all my eyes are on that and playing for England,” he said in a press conference, as quoted by the Daily Mirror.

“I’ve obviously got the badge on now, so that’s what I’m thinking about at the moment.”

Anderson will surely be keen to have a strong tournament for the Three Lions as it will likely only enhance his reputation even further.

Where next for Elliot Anderson?

It seems we’re still going to have to wait a while longer to know for sure where Anderson is going to end up, and it’s not surprising that the player himself isn’t keen to give us any clues.

The England international could do well to choose a winning project like Arsenal, though it also looks like Man Utd are making progress as they close in on Champions League qualification.

Anderson could also surely get a key role at Chelsea, who have shown they’re willing to build around elite young players.

Still, BBC Sport have claimed that Man City are currently the frontrunners for Anderson, and that would be another fine move to help him play at the highest level and compete for the biggest trophies.

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Documents hint that former Chelsea star could be eyeing transfer back to Stamford Bridge

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake could reportedly be eyeing a transfer back to Chelsea as he’s building a house near their training ground.

Documents have emerged showing plans for Ake to build a mansion near Cobham, in what could be a hint about his future plans, according to the Sun.

Ake joined Chelsea as a youngster but only ended up playing 17 first-team games for the Blues before impressing in a spell at Bournemouth.

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The Netherlands international’s fine form there earned him a move to Man City in the summer of 2020, and he’s gone on to play172 games for the club, winning four Premier League titles, the Champions League, and numerous other major honours.

Time is right for Nathan Ake to leave Manchester City

Still, Ake now has just over a year remaining on his current contract at the Etihad Stadium, so it could make sense for him to plan a move away.

It remains to be seen if City would definitely sell the 31-year-old this summer, but he’s no longer an automatic starter in Pep Guardiola’s side, so there’s surely a decent chance he’d be available.

It would be surprising, however, if Chelsea were to make such a dramatic shift from their current policy of signing young players to bring Ake back to the club.

Should Chelsea sign Nathan Ake?

Some Chelsea fans will likely be keen to see the club’s owners show a bit more flexibility with their transfer strategy, as this squad could do with at least one or two more experienced figures.

Ake is a proven winner who could be a great leader for these young players at CFC, so perhaps these housing plans are an early indication that this could be a story to watch out for this summer.

At the same time, however, it’s perfectly possible that Ake is simply looking into moving into property development as he nears the end of his playing career, and the location he’s chosen won’t end up being that relevant.

Nathan Ake TOTAL SCORE: 15/25
Transfer fee ***
Performance ***
Achievements ****
Career phase *
Squad need ****

We’ve given this potential deal a 15/25 using our Transfer Fit rating system, as Ake could fill a key role at Chelsea, even if he wouldn’t be a long-term option.

The Dutchman likely wouldn’t cost a fortune, and would bring great experience whilst also strengthening an area of weakness in Liam Rosenior’s squad.

The post Documents hint that former Chelsea star could be eyeing transfer back to Stamford Bridge appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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NEW: Liverpool handed major transfer boost after multiple deals go through

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Liverpool may reportedly have been handed a major transfer boost with regards to keeping hold of Ibrahima Konate despite his contract being due to expire this summer.

The France international is close to becoming a free agent, but so too were Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk before they penned new deals late on last season.

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There’s still time for Konate to put pen to paper on a new contract with Liverpool, and it may in fact be increasingly likely due to the lack of other options out there for him.

While fans’ focus for now will be on how to buy Manchester City vs Liverpool FA Cup tickets for after the international break, there’ll also be plenty of Reds supporters keen to keep up with transfer news and rumours ahead of the summer.

And now it looks like there’s good cause for optimism about Konate’s situation despite no recent updates on him possibly agreeing a new contract at Anfield.

Other clubs have agreed defender deals

Not only have Real Madrid decided against signing Konate, with the Spanish giants informing LFC of their decision, but it’s clear other clubs are thinking the same.

Bayern Munich have recently agreed a new deal for Dayot Upamecano, meaning they’re not in the market for a centre-back this summer.

Barcelona, meanwhile, had also been linked with Konate but are now making Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni a priority instead.

This increasingly means Konate is going to struggle to find suitors, as we also already know that Paris Saint-Germain don’t seem to be in the race, while it then becomes hard to know who else can afford the 26-year-old.

Liverpool’s potential defensive targets

There’s not yet a clear picture of who Liverpool could sign to replace Konate, but one option is gone as Nico Schlotterbeck has agreed a new Borussia Dortmund contract.

One name being linked increasingly strongly is Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, but they’ve just lost Marc Guehi to Manchester City, which could make them less likely to sell another key centre-back for anything other than huge money.

That doesn’t give Liverpool a lot of options to work with either, so it could well be ideal for both parties if they can finally come to an agreement over a new contract.

What do you think? Will Konate end up staying at Liverpool after all? Give us your predictions in the comments!

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Tim Sherwood fires warning about “stubborn” Roberto De Zerbi as Spurs confident of getting deal done

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Former Tottenham player and manager Tim Sherwood has fired a warning to his old club about the risks of hiring Roberto De Zerbi at this stage of the season.

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The north Londoners now look to be closing in on appointing De Zerbi as their replacement for Igor Tudor, who left his role as interim manager yesterday.

De Zerbi has previously impressed at Brighton and Marseille and Sherwood says he’s a big fan of the Italian tactician, though he also insisted the deal is not one without its risks.

Watch below as the pundit shares his mixed views on the news that De Zerbi could now be set to take the Tottenham job at this late stage of the season…

"This is far from a safe pair of hands" ??

Tim Sherwood on the repots that Roberto de Zerbi would be interested in joining Tottenham Hotspur ?? #skysportsfc pic.twitter.com/YT7VAYJ5cD

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 30, 2026

Sherwood feels it might have made more sense to hire De Zerbi earlier, as his expansive style of play could leave the team too open in their crucial upcoming fixtures.

While there’s a time and a place for a manager like De Zerbi to build a side like that, it’s perhaps not an ideal experiment to be trying with not that many games left and with the club in very real danger of relegation.

Tottenham now confident of hiring Roberto De Zerbi

According to journalist Nicolo Schira, THFC are now said to be confident of hiring De Zerbi straight away, when it had previously been reported that he’d prefer to wait until the start of next season…

#Tottenham are confident to appoint Roberto #DeZerbi as new manager in the next hours. Ready a contract until 2030 for the italian coach. #transfers #THFC https://t.co/QDhUzR1Qmq

— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) March 30, 2026

Spurs fans will just have to hope De Zerbi can have an immediate impact and find success with his methods.

Tottenham are just a point above the relegation zone at the moment, going 13 Premier League games in a row without a win, losing eight of those.

The post Tim Sherwood fires warning about “stubborn” Roberto De Zerbi as Spurs confident of getting deal done appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Not giving up yet: Man United ready to hijack £80m Man City transfer

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United are reportedly not giving up on beating Manchester City to the transfer of Nottingham Forest central midfielder Elliot Anderson.

The England international remains Man Utd’s dream target in the middle of the park, despite the feeling being that Man City are seen as the current frontrunners for his signature.

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Still, it seems the Red Devils won’t give up, with the Sun reporting that they’re making Anderson a priority in that position.

Elliot Anderson transfer saga timeline

This follows plenty of recent speculation around Anderson, with a summary below of some recent reports on this saga…

  • 19th March – City described as frontrunners, but with United still determined to win the race for Anderson, who’d likely cost around £80m, according to BBC Sport.
  • 21st March – City described as being in advanced talks to sign Anderson, according to an update from Fabrizio Romano on his YouTube channel.
  • 25th March – United looking at Anderson as an ideal no.8 signing, and keen to get a deal done before the World Cup, according to Sky Sports.
  • 26th March – However, Sandro Tonali reported as being above Anderson on United’s list of targets in midfield, according to the Daily Mail.
  • 28th March – Our exclusive info is that Arsenal sense an opportunity to move for Anderson, as nothing is done with City yet.

Can Manchester United realistically sign Elliot Anderson?

So, overall, a real mixed picture is emerging with regards to MUFC and their midfield targets for the summer.

The most consistent line seems to be that City are in fact leading the race for the 23-year-old, but that United and other clubs are not entirely out of the running yet.

It may be, however, that Anderson is not necessarily seen as the priority for the Old Trafford club, though, as there’s a lot of talk about Tonali as well.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out, and whose information proved most accurate, and we’ll aim to give you the clearest possible transfer news insight here throughout the summer.

The post Not giving up yet: Man United ready to hijack £80m Man City transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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From Italy: Surprise new update in Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham saga

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By:Mark Brus

Former Brighton and Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi may now be open to taking over as Tottenham manager straight away.

The Italian tactician is out of work at the moment after leaving Marseille earlier this season, and has long been regarded as one of the top coaches in the game.

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Fabrizio Romano reported on his YouTube channel yesterday that De Zerbi was Spurs’ top target, but that his preference was to take over in the summer.

Still, Romano added that Tottenham were pushing to convince De Zerbi to take the job now, and it seems they may have made some progress in persuading him to change his mind.

Roberto De Zerbi evaluating five-year Tottenham contract

See below as reliable Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims that De Zerbi is now open to joining THFC this season on a five-year contract…

Apertura di De Zerbi a valutare l'offerta del Tottenham, che propone 5 anni di contratto: prossime ore decisive per il sì

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) March 30, 2026

It seems the coming hours will be decisive, with Spurs possibly closing in on their ideal managerial appointment.

If the north Londoners can get this through then it surely boosts their chances of avoiding relegation this season.

Roberto De Zerbi’s impressive record

De Zerbi is yet to take charge of a truly elite European club, but he’s become well known for over-achieving with his teams and getting them to play an attractive brand of football.

Things didn’t go entirely to plan for him at Marseille, but he still left with a decent record, and Tottenham will know all about his Premier League credentials after the job he did at Brighton.

De Zerbi record Wins Draws Losses Win %
Shakhtar 20 5 5 66.67%
Brighton 38 22 29 42.70%
Marseille 39 10 20 56.52%

Igor Tudor’s exit from Spurs was officially announced yesterday and it looks like the right call after his awful record since taking over on an interim basis.

It won’t necessarily be easy for any manager to get Tottenham out of danger of relegation, but De Zerbi seems like the best possible bet for the club at this stage.

The post From Italy: Surprise new update in Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham saga appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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