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Update: Man Utd could use Sir Alex Ferguson to beat Arsenal & PSG to midfielder signing

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester United are reportedly considering using their legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson as part of their bid to join the race for Ayyoub Bouaddi.

The highly-rated Lille midfielder is attracting strong interest from Europe’s top clubs ahead of this summer, with Arsenal known admirers of the 18-year-old.

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It was reported yesterday that Paris Saint-Germain had intensified efforts to sign Bouaddi from their Ligue 1 rivals, and now the same journalist has a new update.

See below as Abdellah Boulma has posted new information to his X account about Bouaddi now also being a target for Man Utd and their plans to deploy Ferguson to help them win the race…

?Ayyoub Bouaddi attise les convoitises en Europe. Arsenal, le Bayern Munich et Manchester United sont à l’affût. United a multiplié les démarches pour rencontrer son entourage, allant jusqu’à envisager l’appui de Sir Alex Ferguson pour le convaincre. #Mercato https://t.co/7hTTk2ZI89

— Abdellah Boulma (@AbdellahBoulma) April 30, 2026

“Ayyoub Bouaddi is sparking interest across Europe. Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United are on the lookout. United has ramped up efforts to meet with his entourage, even going so far as to consider enlisting Sir Alex Ferguson to win him over,” the journalist posted.

Bouaddi clearly still seems to be one to watch for Arsenal as well, and it will be intriguing to see if he chooses the Premier League for the next stage of his development.

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Should Ayyoub Bouaddi choose Arsenal or Manchester United?

In truth, the easy choice for Bouaddi would probably be PSG, as he could stay in France whilst also giving himself the chance to play at a higher level by moving to a club regularly winning titles and competing for the Champions League.

Bouaddi would probably not need to adapt quite as much as he would if he were moving to a new league and different country, but perhaps Lille will have some say here as they’d surely rather not lose the talented Frenchman to a rival.

Arsenal would surely also be a highly attractive destination for a prospect like Bouaddi, who could do well to choose Mikel Arteta as his next coach to help him fulfil his potential.

United, meanwhile, have an immediate gap that needs filling in midfield, so Bouaddi could probably go to Old Trafford and quickly become first choice.

A legendary figure like Ferguson getting involved could also have quite an impact on a young player making a big choice about his career, so it will be intriguing to see if that comes to pass and if it can prove decisive.

The post Update: Man Utd could use Sir Alex Ferguson to beat Arsenal & PSG to midfielder signing appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Explained: Andoni Iraola is the top target for both Man United & Chelsea – here’s how he’ll decide

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has already decided he’s leaving the club at the end of his contract this summer, but now he has to decide between Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Spanish tactician has done an impressive job during his stint in charge of the Cherries, who already have an agreement in place for Marco Rose to replace him next season.

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Iraola, meanwhile, is yet to make a final decision on his next move, but sources in the industry have confirmed to CaughtOffside that he’s a leading candidate for the Chelsea job, and that initial contacts with his representatives have taken place.

Man United are also likely to be in the mix, but here are some key factors to think about as we wait and see how this saga will unfold…

Michael Carrick’s future

As of this afternoon, there has not yet been a final decision from Man Utd on whether or not Michael Carrick will stay on at Old Trafford once his spell as interim manager comes to an end.

One well-connected source with ties to the agents industry told CaughtOffside that “Carrick is the favourite. But it’s not done yet, United will wait until the end of the season.”

Another played down talk of Carrick being the favourite, insisting that “the availability of someone like Iraola changes everything. They don’t want another Solskjaer.”

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Overall it’s a slightly mixed message, and the complicated factor for United here is that Chelsea have a head-start on them. The Blues need to start their manager search now, and have been sounding out numerous candidates, though Iraola is ahead of names like Xabi Alonso, Oliver Glasner, and Francesco Farioli on their list.

This could mean by the time United have decided, Iraola will already have something advanced with Chelsea. That’s not the case at the moment, however, with sources indicating he’s in no hurry to accept an offer now. This gives the Red Devils time, and likely a chance to speak with him after the end of the season.

Champions League football

It looks like United are heading for Champions League qualification, whereas Chelsea could miss out after their recent slump in form.

It is our understanding, however, that this will not be seen as crucial for Iraola. We’ll have to see how this develops, however, as it certainly does no harm to be able to offer experience in Europe’s top club competition, and all the benefits in the transfer market that are also likely to come with that.

Iraola’s current fine work at Bournemouth looks set to see them qualify for Europe, so it would be a bit of a step down for him if he were to take over at Stamford Bridge when they might even end this season below Iraola’s side in the table.

Chelsea uncertainty

Perhaps the most important factor here will be how much of a pull factor Chelsea still have after such a chaotic period under this ownership.

Managers like Iraola and Alonso will surely be aware that they’re going to have other offers, so might think twice about working with this board and with this slightly scattergun recruitment policy.

Iraola is not understood to be ruling CFC out, so perhaps the club can win him over to their project, but it probably won’t help their cause that MUFC look to be a more stable environment whilst being on more of an upward trajectory as things stand.

One source described the Chelsea job as a “career killer” – it’s increasingly hard not to see it that way, but the big question will be how much managers like Iraola share that view, or if they back themselves to take on that challenge.

The post Explained: Andoni Iraola is the top target for both Man United & Chelsea – here’s how he’ll decide appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Confirmed: Kobbie Mainoo signs new Man United contract and sends strong message to fans

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Kobbie Mainoo has officially signed a new Manchester United contract until 2031, declaring that he’s hungry for more success at Old Trafford.

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Describing Man Utd as “my club” in an emotional announcement video, Mainoo explained how important it is for him to keep on representing the Red Devils after coming up through their academy.

Watch below for the video put out on United’s X page this afternoon confirming the good news, which will delight United fans everywhere after there had been some speculation over the England international’s future earlier this season…

???? One of our own.

Kobbie Mainoo is here to stay ? pic.twitter.com/GQi2uJaqQG

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 30, 2026

Mainoo was out of the team under previous manager Ruben Amorim, and this led to interest from Chelsea as it looked like the youngster could have to leave in order to play regular first-team football.

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Kobbie Mainoo – a future Manchester United captain?

Mainoo has benefited a lot, however, from Michael Carrick’s arrival as interim manager, with the MUFC legend instantly bringing Mainoo back into his starting line up.

The 21-year-old has great qualities and looks like he could grow into a real leader at United, perhaps one day being a serious contender to wear the captain’s armband.

United fans will be delighted to see that Mainoo is now committing his future to the club for what should be the start of an exciting new era as the team looks to be improving a lot on the field as they have all but sealed Champions League qualification for next season.

The post Confirmed: Kobbie Mainoo signs new Man United contract and sends strong message to fans appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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£43m fee set: Arsenal ready to cash in on big-name as Euro giants eye transfer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal are reportedly ready to consider selling Myles Lewis-Skelly for around £43m this summer, with Atletico Madrid interested.

The Gunners and Atletico are currently focusing on their Champions League semi-final, with last night’s first leg finishing 1-1 in Madrid.

Still, it could also be that these two big teams will soon meet to discuss business off the pitch, with Lewis-Skelly’s future in some doubt.

That’s according to Spanish outlet Fichajes, who state that the England international is on the radar of Atletico as a potential summer target.

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The report adds that Arsenal could be prepared to consider offers in the region of £43m for Lewis-Skelly, who has fallen down the pecking order this season due to issues with how he fits Mikel Arteta’s tactics.

Myles Lewis-Skelly – should Arsenal keep or sell?

Lewis-Skelly is undoubtedly a fine talent on his day, but Arsenal have other options at left-back in the form of both Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie.

It could therefore be smart business by the north London giants to cash in on interest in a top young talent like Lewis-Skelly.

If Arsenal could bank as much as £43m for the 19-year-old, that would represent a huge amount of ‘pure profit’ due to the fact that he’s a homegrown player who came up through their academy.

In this era of ever-stricter Financial Fair Play regulations, AFC might find it’s in their best interests to sell someone like this, even if some fans might be disappointed to see a promising homegrown youngster leaving.

Could Lewis-Skelly change position?

Another thing for AFC to consider is if they could make use of Lewis-Skelly’s talents in another position apart from left-back.

A role in midfield looks like it could work for Lewis-Skelly, who has great footwork and passing, even if he perhaps lacks the work rate and defensive discipline to start regularly as a full-back.

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The post £43m fee set: Arsenal ready to cash in on big-name as Euro giants eye transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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“Of course” – Arsenal star confident of reaching Champions League final

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli insists he is confident that the club will reach the Champions League final after last night’s 1-1 draw away to Atletico Madrid.

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The Brazil international started in Madrid as the Gunners claimed an important result away from home in the first leg of this semi-final tie.

Arsenal take on Fulham in the Premier League at the weekend and then host Atletico at the Emirates Stadium for the second leg of this semi-final next week.

If Arsenal go through, it will be only their second ever appearance in a Champions League final, but Martinelli sounds optimistic about the team’s chances after getting through what should, at least on paper, be the tougher part of the tie.

Gabriel Martinelli speaks after Arsenal’s draw at Atletico Madrid

? Are you confident of reaching the Champions League final?

Gabriel Martinelli: "Of course!" pic.twitter.com/gUD0RdzDYQ

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) April 30, 2026

Speaking in the mixed zone after the game, Martinelli seemed in a positive mood about the return fixture, particularly if Mikel Arteta is able to welcome back a fully fit Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka, both of whom could only start on the bench in Madrid.

“We have so many good players, the depth in this squad is really good,” Martinelli told reports. “I think if everybody is ready it’s a big boost for us, so let’s hope everyone is ok.”

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He added: “We wanted to come here and win the game. But in the end it’s a battle against a really good team at their place. We take the draw. We’re going to re-watch the game and see the things that we did wrong and try to improve for the next one.”

When asked if he’s confident Arsenal will make it into the final, Martinelli responded: “Yeah of course. We play for Arsenal, we know how big the club is and we trust in ourselves.”

Who will win the Champions League?

Both Arsenal and Atletico are the two teams in these semi-finals who are looking to win the Champions League for the first time.

See below for the record of the final four, with Bayern Munich by far the most successful of the remaining sides historically, having won the competition six times, whilst reaching 11 finals in total.

Champions League Final appearances Victories
Bayern Munich 11 6
PSG 2 1
Atletico Madrid 3 0
Arsenal 1 0

Arsenal have only reached the final once, losing 2-1 to Barcelona back in 2006, so it could be that they’ll finally get the chance to make up for that heartbreak 20 years later.

Meanwhile, current holders PSG lead Bayern 5-4 on aggregate from the first leg of their semi-final.

The post “Of course” – Arsenal star confident of reaching Champions League final appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Mikel Arteta pushing Arsenal to accelerate potential €100m attacker transfer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly pushing for the club to intensify efforts to sign RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande this summer.

The Ivory Coast international is expected to cost around €100m, with Gunners boss Arteta making an attacking player of that profile a top priority.

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Diomande has been in superb form for Leipzig this season, emerging as one of the breakthrough stars in Europe’s big five leagues with a record of 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions.

We’ve previously broken exclusive info on Arsenal’s interest in Diomande, and now a report from Fichajes states that the north London giants appear to be accelerating their efforts.

Yan Diomande transfer situation explained

Diomande makes sense as a player in demand as we approach the summer, but what’s really going on with the talented 19-year-old winger?

In recent days, the Telegraph have reported on Liverpool doing work on this deal, with the Reds certainly likely to benefit from a top young attacker like this coming in to replace departing club legend Mohamed Salah.

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Still, another report from TEAMtalk has stated that Leipzig want to keep Diomande for one more season, and Fabrizio Romano has spoken on his YouTube channel about the Bundesliga giants being prepared to offer him a new contract.

It will be interesting to see how this develops, but clearly nothing is decided yet and Diomande may prefer to wait before jumping into a big move like Arsenal or Liverpool.

Arsenal need to win Yan Diomande transfer battle

As things stand, Arsenal are either on the brink of glory, or on the brink of a huge wasted opportunity.

Arteta’s side are looking the slight favourites over Atletico Madrid to make only their second ever Champions League final, while they can still edge out Manchester City in an extremely tight Premier League title race.

However, a signing like Diomande to add more spark to their attack is surely a priority for next season, as that’s been an area where so many of this current squad have under-performed this term.

Yan Diomande TOTAL SCORE: 18/25
Transfer fee *
Performance *****
Achievements ***
Career phase ****
Squad need *****

Click here to find out more about our Transfer Fit rating system!

If Arsenal fail to win a trophy it will surely be the front three that most fans and pundits alike will look at, with Bukayo Saka performing well below his usual standards, while Gabriel Martinelli has only one league goal all season, and the ageing Leandro Trossard has completely gone off the boil in 2026.

A signing like Diomande could change everything, so AFC need to get there ahead of Liverpool, who might struggle to find anyone better suited to filling the void that’s set to be left by Salah this summer.

The post Mikel Arteta pushing Arsenal to accelerate potential €100m attacker transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Deal “on the horizon” as 13-goal midfielder packing bags for Arsenal transfer

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal reportedly look to be making progress on a transfer deal for highly-rated Red Star Belgrade wonderkid Vasilije Kostov.

The 17-year-old attacking midfielder has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season in Serbia, scoring 13 goals in all competitions to establish himself as one of Europe’s top talents.

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According to Sportinjo, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have both shown an interest in Kostov, with the Gunners now reported as leading the race for his signature.

A source in their story suggests Arsenal are ready to pay €12m to sign Kostov, with an agreement close on a deal that could end up reaching a total package worth €20m.

Arsenal on verge of agreement for Vasilije Kostov transfer

“Arsenal could hardly wait and offered 12,000,000 euros,” the source is quoted as saying.

“The leaders of the London club knew that Zvezda would ask for more, so they offered generous bonuses and a percentage of future sales.

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“There are still details to be worked out, but with all the add-ons, the transfer could exceed 20,000,000 euros, so a deal is on the horizon.”

Kostov is also described as packing his bags to make the move to Arsenal, potentially heading to London this week.

Arsenal doing smart work on the transfer market

Recruiting elite young players like this looks like an important step for Arsenal, who could do with getting better at buying low and selling high.

Even if the priority has to be building a winning team for Mikel Arteta, modern football also means balancing the books and meeting Financial Fair Play regulations is hugely important.

Kostov looks like he has the potential to have a fine career, and though there’ll be competition for places at Arsenal, it could be that he’ll ultimately end up being someone they can sell for a significant profit later.

The post Deal “on the horizon” as 13-goal midfielder packing bags for Arsenal transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Major Liverpool departure now “one step away”, claims journalist

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is reportedly now just a step away from completing a move to take over at Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal.

This is not the first time there’s been speculation about Hughes possibly leaving Liverpool for the move to Saudi Arabia.

However, the most recent update coming from talkSPORT was that Hughes looked set to stay at LFC for the time being, despite Al Hilal’s interest.

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Alternatively, journalist Nicolo Schira has today posted on X, formerly Twitter, to claim that Hughes is closing in on taking the director’s job at Al Hilal…

Richard #Hughes is one step away to sign for #AlHilal as new sporting director. Agreement in principle for 3-years contract as revealed last March. He is set to leave #Liverpool to join the Saudi Club. #transfers #LFC ?? https://t.co/tEcTtUtz6W

— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) April 30, 2026

“Richard #Hughes is one step away to sign for #AlHilal as new sporting director. Agreement in principle for 3-years contract as revealed last March. He is set to leave #Liverpool to join the Saudi Club,” Schira posted.

It will be interesting to see how this develops, as this story clearly isn’t going away, but it’s also worth noting that Schira has a somewhat mixed reputation when it comes to getting big stories right.

[UPDATE: This has now also been reported by reputable Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, as cited and translated by Sport Witness]

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Could Liverpool be better off without Richard Hughes?

Richard Hughes and Arne Slot (Photo by Getty Images, Mark Pain/Alamy)

While it probably wouldn’t be ideal for Liverpool to lose an influential figure and to be forced to look for a replacement, there’s perhaps an argument that the Reds could do better.

Hughes will have overseen last summer’s hugely expensive and ultimately poor summer transfer window, with vast sums of money spent on signings who’ve performed poorly.

Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have endured a difficult time since arriving at Anfield, while Hughes also let Luis Diaz go and was unable to get Trent Alexander-Arnold to sign a new contract.

On top of that, a new deal was awarded to Mohamed Salah, whose form has gone off a cliff this term, with Arne Slot’s side generally struggling and slipping to fourth in the Premier League table, never really challenging for the title at any point.

The post Major Liverpool departure now “one step away”, claims journalist appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Xabi Alonso open to accepting Chelsea job on one key condition

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is reportedly open to taking the Chelsea job if he’s given ‘more control’ than the Blues are currently offering.

It seems Alonso has some interest in potentially taking over at Chelsea as they continue to hold talks with candidates to replace Liam Rosenior.

According to Simon Phillips, Alonso is open to becoming Chelsea manager, but it seems his key condition is being given what sources describe as ‘a bit more control’ in the role.

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The Spanish tactician did a great job during his time in charge of Leverkusen, leading the club to its first ever Bundesliga title, and reaching the Europa League final.

However, Alonso struggled in his spell with Real Madrid earlier this season before being sacked, and one imagines he had a lot less control in his role at the Bernabeu.

Can Xabi Alonso succeed where others have failed at Chelsea?

The Chelsea job is not a simple one, and a lot of fine managers have struggled at Stamford Bridge under this ownership in particular.

Alonso is one of the top coaches in the game at the moment, but it’s not necessarily going to be easy for even him to come in and hit the ground running in this environment.

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The former Liverpool midfielder might do well to consider waiting for other opportunities, as there’s just been so much upheaval at CFC with frequent changes to players and managers.

Still, one imagines it might also be tempting to work with a lot of top young players and to manage one of the biggest names in the Premier League, with the bonus of living in London.

Phillips’ report also mentions the likes of Andoni Iraola being on Chelsea’s radar as no final decision has been made yet on who will be the club’s next manager.

The post Xabi Alonso open to accepting Chelsea job on one key condition appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Fabrizio Romano shares photo that will fuel major Arsenal transfer story

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Fabrizio Romano is one of the most trusted journalists in football transfer news, and not one to drop hints lightly, so this Julian Alvarez and Mikel Arteta post was certainly…a choice.

See below as Romano has posted on X to fuel the Alvarez to Arsenal transfer speculation, as he shared a photo of Gunners boss Arteta with the Argentina international after last night’s Champions League semi-final first leg in Spain…

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? Mikel Arteta and Julián Álvarez at full time. pic.twitter.com/29c1KLPdUz

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 30, 2026

Of course, it may be that Romano is simply sharing an image showing good sportsmanship between two professionals after a big game they were both involved in, but in the social media era we tend to know that hints like this are usually deliberate.

Romano has previously played down Alvarez transfer talk, but he’s obviously aware of it, so to then add fuel to the fire with this image suggests that perhaps it could be something to watch after all.

Julian Alvarez impressed against Arsenal

Alvarez scored the equaliser from the penalty spot in last night’s 1-1 in Madrid, and forced a good save from David Raya in the first half.

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The 26-year-old generally put in another eye-catching display for Atletico in what has been a really strong season from him.

It’s easy to see why Arsenal might be interested in Alvarez, who has also already shown he can perform to a high standard in the Premier League from his previous spell at Manchester City.

Viktor Gyokeres was also on the score-sheet last night, but it’s not been the most convincing first season for him at the Emirates Stadium, so an addition like Alvarez would surely be useful.

Read more here about how we rated Alvarez to Arsenal with our Transfer Fit rating system!

The post Fabrizio Romano shares photo that will fuel major Arsenal transfer story appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Sources: Man United & Liverpool face obstacle to complete potential €90m transfer

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By:Mark Brus

I’ve been looking into one of the big transfer rumours that’s taken off in the last week or so, and I’m happy to be able to provide an update on the Aurelien Tchouameni saga after speaking with top sources.

Having consulted contacts close to the agents industry, plus other colleagues in the media, I’ve been able to put a bit of a picture together on the Tchouameni transfer saga.

This story was first published on the Daily Briefing – click here to subscribe to get exclusive transfer updates first!

When I first looked into the story a few days ago I was given the impression that links between Manchester United and Tchouameni were not that concrete, and that the reason for some uncertainty lies with the fact that Real Madrid will be changing manager this summer.

These situations often lead to stories snowballing a bit, and my understanding remains that Tchouameni is seen as much more likely to stay and sign a new contract at the Bernabeu than to leave the club this summer.

Aurelian Tchouameni admired by Premier League clubs

However, clearly there’s some degree of truth to talk of Man United appreciating Tchouameni and keeping an eye on his situation. It’s not necessarily the case that he’s one of their top targets, and he’s not expected to be available this summer, but of course he’s a name that’s going to be discussed internally.

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United are widely expected to target two midfielders this summer, so their list of targets is a long one, especially as rivals Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal could also all be shopping for new signings in that position. That just makes it all the more likely that the Red Devils will need to cast their net as wide as possible in case their preferred targets don’t work out.

I can add, by the way, that Liverpool also still have an interest in Tchouameni, dating back to when they were really keen to sign him from Monaco. Again, this is not exactly surprising and doesn’t mean a move is happening, but things can change quickly in football, so if Los Blancos decide they want to make a few sales under a new manager, then we can expect United and Liverpool to be sniffing around for Tchouameni.

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The France international has shone during his time in the Spanish capital, and would not come cheap if he were to leave.

While there is not an ‘asking price’ for him as such, my sources indicate that, with two years remaining on his current contract, interested clubs would have to pay around €80-90m for what Real feel is one of the best players in the world in his position.

The plan, however, is very much to give Tchouameni a new deal, extending his stay in Madrid until 2031. Talks have not begun yet, but are expected after the end of the season, with Bernabeu sources all confident he’ll be staying.

The post Sources: Man United & Liverpool face obstacle to complete potential €90m transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Diego Simeone rates Julian Alvarez’s chances of playing 2nd leg vs Arsenal after injury scare

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has spoken out on the Julian Alvarez injury situation as he went off in last night’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal.

Alvarez is a star player for Simeone’s side, and scored from the penalty spot in yesterday’s Champions League semi-final first leg before having to go off 13 minutes from time.

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That will have been a big worry for Atletico fans ahead of the second leg of this tie next week, but it seems the Argentina international should be fit enough to play at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking after last night’s game, Simeone made it clear he wasn’t too worried about Alvarez or any other player’s fitness, saying he expected everyone to be available for the trip to north London.

Diego Simeone provides Julian Alvarez injury update

“I don’t think there will be anyone that will not be playing on Tuesday,” Simeone said, as quoted by the Metro.

“I suppose they might be feeling some physical discomfort now. Giuliano from a knock, Julian from the fall he had in the middle of the pitch and Sorloth with a hamstring strain, but I have no doubt they’ll be there.”

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Alvarez has 20 goals in 48 games in all competitions this season, with ten of those coming in the Champions League.

The 26-year-old will surely be key for Atletico if they are to stand any chance of making it to the Champions League final, while Arsenal fans would surely have felt a lot better if their team could avoid playing against him again next week.

Who will win the Champions League?

Champions League Final appearances Victories
Bayern Munich 11 6
PSG 2 1
Atletico Madrid 3 0
Arsenal 1 0

Both semi-final ties are evenly poised after the first leg encounters this week, so it’s hard to make any predictions at this stage about who will be going through.

Paris Saint-Germain only have a one-goal lead over Bayern Munich after that thrilling 5-4 at the Parc des Princes, and one imagines Vincent Kompany’s side might still be slight favourites as they have the second leg at home.

Arsenal, meanwhile, beat Atletico 4-0 at the Emirates in the league phase earlier this season, so might be the slight favourites in their game as well, though Simeone’s side can never be underestimated and have improved a lot since that meeting earlier in the campaign.

The post Diego Simeone rates Julian Alvarez’s chances of playing 2nd leg vs Arsenal after injury scare appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Man United aim to avoid bidding war with Man City and identify three alternative transfer targets

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By:Mark Brus

Manchester United reportedly want to avoid a bidding war with Manchester City for what will likely be a hugely expensive transfer deal for Elliot Anderson.

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The Nottingham Forest midfielder looks set to be a man in demand this summer, with Man Utd emerging as one of his suitors.

Still, it seems the Red Devils would prefer to avoid paying over the odds for Anderson and could explore three alternatives instead, according to ESPN.

The report explains that Forest value Anderson at around £120m, leading United to also look at other options like Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali, and Aurelien Tchouameni.

Is Elliot Anderson overpriced?

Anderson has had a superb season for Forest and undoubtedly looks like he’s going to get himself a big move in the months ahead.

ESPN report that Forest see their valuation of the England international as fair due to the other similar fees that have been paid for top midfielders like Moises Caicedo in recent times.

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Still, United have over-spent a lot in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, and it makes sense that they want to be more careful about blowing too much on one player.

What about United’s other midfield targets?

The other names mentioned probably wouldn’t come cheap either, but Baleba, Tonali, or Tchouameni could probably still save the club a fairly significant amount.

At the same time, however, going for cheaper options can also be risky, as Baleba in particular has suffered a dip in form, while Tchouameni hasn’t ever played in the Premier League.

Tonali looks like a good option, but he’s a bit older than Anderson and probably not quite as well-rounded, so these are the difficult decisions United have to make this summer.

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Swap deal? Man United have three players they could use in bid to sign Rafael Leao

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester United are being linked again with AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, and could even have players who’d be tempting to the Italian club in a potential swap deal.

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Leao has shone during his time in Serie A and looks like he could be an upgrade on Matheus Cunha in this Man Utd front three, so it’s perhaps not too surprising that there’s fresh speculation about a possible move to Old Trafford.

The Portugal international has recently been linked with the Red Devils by the Daily Mail and Calciomercato and it could even be that there’s a new twist to this saga.

According to the latest from Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan could be offered the likes of Marcus Rashford or Manuel Ugarte as part of a deal for Leao, while the Rossoneri also have an interest in Joshua Zirkzee.

Would Rafael Leao transfer be a risk for Manchester United?

Leao has his qualities, but there’s perhaps an argument that a few factors make this a potentially risky deal for United.

Rafael Leao TOTAL SCORE: 11/25
Transfer fee *
Performance ***
Achievements ***
Career phase **
Squad need **

We recently scored Leao to United just 11/25 using our Transfer Fit rating system, though perhaps we could up that score a bit if MUFC were able to save money using players as part of this deal.

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Leao has nine goals and three assists for Milan this season, and one imagines he’d find the Premier League a big step up from Serie A.

Overall, it’s hard to imagine him setting the world alight in English football based on his current numbers, even if he is a player with undoubtedly impressive natural ability and skill.

Those attributes alone don’t necessarily guarantee success in the Premier League, though, so United should probably explore alternatives to what could be an expensive deal.

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“This cannot happen” – Mikel Arteta admits he’s “fuming” over crucial decision that went against Arsenal

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta did not hold back with his views on Eberechi Eze being denied a penalty in last night’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

The Gunners did well to come away with a 1-1 draw from a tough away game against a top team, but they were also unfortunate when what looked like a clear penalty on Eze ended up being overturned after a VAR check.

This also followed a controversial penalty being awarded to Atletico, with Julian Alvarez scoring the equaliser from the spot after what clearly looked like an unintentional handball by Ben White.

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While Arteta was ready to accept the different handball rules in UEFA competitions for the Atletico penalty, he admitted he was “fuming” with the foul on Eze not being given.

Mikel Arteta fuming after controversial Atletico-Arsenal game

? "At this level, this CANNOT happen!" ?

Mikel Arteta did NOT hold back after *that* penalty decision against Arsenal last night…?

©?UEFA 2026 pic.twitter.com/xE2CsBFb8n

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) April 30, 2026

Speaking in his press conference after the game, Arteta said: “In the manner that we gave the penalty, very disappointed. In the Premier League, it’s not a penalty, but here I have to accept that with the rules and how consistent they’ve been, for example, yesterday with Bayern Munich, I accept that this is a handball.

“What I am incredibly fuming with, is how the penalty on Ebs gets overturned in the manner that it happened, when it’s not a clear and obvious error – this changes the course of the game. At this level, I’m sorry, but this cannot happen.”

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Arsenal fans will surely share Arteta’s frustration here, as this one decision could end up being a crucial moment in the complexion of this tie.

The north London giants will no doubt feel they deserved a win in this game, which would have given them a huge advantage as they prepared for the second leg at home.

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Video: Row erupts between Diego Simeone and Arsenal star after controversial CL semi-final

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

As if there wasn’t enough drama on the pitch between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid last night, things also boiled over between Ben White and Diego Simeone after the game.

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The Gunners came away with a 1-1 draw away from home in the first leg of this Champions League semi-final tie, and while that’s a very decent result on paper, there’ll be some bad blood after two controversial penalty decisions.

On top of that, it seems Arsenal defender White angered Atletico boss Simeone by walking over the club crest as he went towards the tunnel, which some see as a sign of disrespect.

Watch below for the incident, captured by Marca, as Simeone angrily approaches White after seeing him walking on the club badge…

? Wow…Diego Simeone was NOT happy with Arsenal's Ben White after the game…??

? via @MARCAinENGLISH pic.twitter.com/QRIHPmrfLI

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) April 30, 2026

Video from Marca In English

White was seemingly in no mood to be confronted in this way, and it led to others getting involved, though what happened after that is a little unclear.

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Arsenal close to Champions League final

Arsenal haven’t been at their best recently, so to come away with a draw away from home against a top team like Atletico Madrid is surely a big positive as they chase an appearance in what would be only their second Champions League final.

Mikel Arteta’s side took the lead through a penalty from Viktor Gyokeres just before half time, but Julian Alvarez ended up equalising from the spot in the second half.

There was controversy about the Alvarez penalty as it looked a very harsh handball decision, similar to the one awarded to Paris Saint-Germain that divided opinion in the game against Bayern Munich the night before.

Arsenal were then denied a second penalty, with the referee initially awarding the spot kick for a foul on Eberechi Eze before then overturning the decision after a VAR check.

Still, AFC will surely now be confident of finishing the job at the Emirates Stadium next week and setting up an intriguing potential final against one of PSG or Bayern.

The post Video: Row erupts between Diego Simeone and Arsenal star after controversial CL semi-final appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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€75m release clause: Man United & City on alert for “ideal” transfer opportunity

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester United and Manchester City are reportedly both eyeing up a potential transfer move for Porto midfielder Alan Varela this summer.

The 24-year-old has impressed during his time with Porto, having also previously caught the eye at former club Boca Juniors.

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Having shown he can make the step up to playing in Europe, one imagines Varela might now be keen to develop further and test himself in a more competitive league like the Premier League.

Alan Varela release clause puts United and City on alert

With a €75m release clause in his contract, according to journalist Ekrem Konur, it seems Varela is on the radar of the two Manchester clubs as we edge closer to the next transfer window…

EXCL: Alan Varela is attracting serious interest, with Porto setting a €75m release clause.?

?Man City view the Argentine as a Rodri replacement if he moves on, while Man Utd see him as the ideal successor to Casemiro.@Ekremkonur & @Sportsboomcom https://t.co/oYUXUPCHiO https://t.co/Idpjlvkw7Q

— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) April 29, 2026

The reporter posted the following on X: “Alan Varela is attracting serious interest, with Porto setting a €75m release clause. Man City view the Argentine as a Rodri replacement if he moves on, while Man Utd see him as the ideal successor to Casemiro.”

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Varela certainly seems like one to watch in the weeks and months ahead, as he looks more than good enough to be on the list alongside the other midfielders United and City have been linked with in recent times.

Where should Alan Varela move next?

Varela may well have some tempting offers available to him this summer, and we’ll perhaps see other big clubs joining the race for the Argentine’s signature before too long.

Porto have often sold their best players to elite European sides if the money is right, but one imagines they’ll insist on Varela’s release clause being met.

That means he’s going to be one of the more expensive options on the market, so not necessarily the safest investment when there’ll also be proven Premier League players worth looking at as well.

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Deal progressing: PSG have “intensified” efforts to sign Arsenal transfer target

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Paris Saint-Germain reportedly seem to be making progress on a potential transfer move for Lille midfield wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi.

The talented young Frenchman has long looked one of the biggest prospects in Europe’s big five leagues, with Arsenal mentioned to us as one of his main admirers.

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Still, we’ve also previously reported for the Daily Briefing about PSG being alongside a long list of elite sides such as Manchester United and Liverpool in also eyeing Bouaddi.

Ayyoub Bouaddi transfer latest

Now the latest is that PSG have intensified their efforts to win the race for the 18-year-old in recent weeks, as per the X post from journalist Abdellah Boulma below…

?Le PSG avance en coulisses sur le dossier Ayyoub Bouaddi. L’intérêt s’est intensifié ces dernières semaines, avec plusieurs prises de renseignements et la présentation d’un projet sportif au joueur du LOSC. Les échanges se poursuivent mais Olivier Letang se montre exigeant
..À…

— Abdellah Boulma (@AbdellahBoulma) April 29, 2026

The post translates as: “PSG is making progress behind the scenes on the Ayyoub Bouaddi file. Interest has intensified in recent weeks, with several inquiries and the presentation of a sports project to the LOSC player. Discussions are ongoing, but Olivier Letang is proving demanding ..To be continued.”

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This certainly looks like a deal that could be a good fit for all parties involved, as PSG have tended to do well with signing top young French players in recent times and building around them.

However, there is also a lot of competition in that PSG midfield, with Bouaddi perhaps unlikely to start regularly when Luis Enrique also has the likes of Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Warren Zaire-Emery to choose from in that position.

Arsenal dealt Ayyoub Bouaddi blow

This could be a blow for Arsenal, who would surely be able to give Bouaddi more of a key role straight away next season.

Mikel Arteta has Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi in midfield at the moment, but he’s barely been able to rotate this term due to seemingly not trusting Christian Norgaard very much.

That could surely have allowed Bouaddi to come in and play a part pretty quickly, with the teenager perhaps then ideal to eventually replace the likes of Rice and Zubimendi as first choice once they get older and past their peak.

The post Deal progressing: PSG have “intensified” efforts to sign Arsenal transfer target appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Risk of Man United being powerless to prevent star player’s transfer as he seeks assurances

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Manchester United may reportedly be heading towards an uncomfortable situation regarding Bruno Fernandes in the upcoming summer transfer window.

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The Portugal international has been a star performer for Man Utd since joining from Sporting Lisbon back in 2020, and he’s approaching the final year of his contract at Old Trafford.

Fernandes is now said to be keen to have some assurances from the Red Devils about their ambitions, according to the Telegraph.

The report adds that Fernandes has a release clause in his contract that would leave United powerless to prevent him leaving if that fee were to be triggered.

Can Bruno Fernandes achieve his ambitions at Manchester United?

Fernandes is one of the best attacking midfielders in world football on his day, with the Telegraph reporting that he’s unsurprisingly keen to win the biggest trophies.

This could become an issue for MUFC, who have not been as competitive as they’d have liked in recent years, and indeed for much of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

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There will surely be top clubs out there who could make Fernandes a tempting offer, even if he might be a slightly risky target due to his cost, wages, and age.

The 31-year-old does, however, still boast great numbers even in this flawed United side, as the table below from the Telegraph’s article shows…

Bruno Fernandes assist stats
Bruno Fernandes assist stats (Telegraph)

Fernandes is not far away from breaking the record for assists in a single Premier League season, so it would certainly make sense for United to keep him.

There has been real improvement made since Michael Carrick took over as interim manager, and perhaps that can give the player hope of being part of a more successful United side in the near future.

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Andrea Berta talked Mikel Arteta into Arsenal transfer he initially wasn’t sure about

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By:Mark Brus

Arsenal director Andrea Berta was reportedly the key driving force behind the signing of Viktor Gyokeres last summer.

The new sporting director joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid and immediately became an influential figure, as he seemingly talked Mikel Arteta round on bringing in Gyokeres instead of Benjamin Sesko.

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That’s according to a report from the Athletic, which states that Berta did not view Sesko as good value for money, though he would have been willing to compromise if Arteta really insisted on him over Gyokeres.

In the end, it seems Arsenal managed to come to an internal agreement, with Berta winning this particular power battle and getting the striker he favoured.

Was Viktor Gyokeres signing a mistake by Arsenal chief Andrea Berta?

Gyokeres has not had the most convincing debut season at the Emirates Stadium, while Sesko ended up joining rivals Manchester United.

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All in all, it’s not that easy to see who got the better deal, with neither player hitting the ground running in English football so far, though Sesko is younger and perhaps looks the more well-rounded player overall.

See below for a graphic comparing various aspects of the two players’ games, with a pretty mixed picture emerging…

Viktor Gyokeres vs Benjamin Sesko stats comparison
Viktor Gyokeres vs Benjamin Sesko stats comparison (DataMB)

Still, with strikers it’s arguably goals that matter most, and Gyokeres has the slightly better scoring record this season, albeit from playing more games and with the benefit of better teammates and a more settled squad in general…

Striker comparison (all comps) Games Goals
Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal) 48 18
Benjamin Sesko (Man Utd) 31 11

Gyokeres was hugely prolific at Sporting Lisbon, but was perhaps never likely to be able to repeat those crazy numbers in the Premier League.

Sesko, meanwhile, was already performing in a more competitive league overall, even if it’s still a step up from the Bundesliga to the English top flight.

Arsenal fans may be frustrated, however, at Berta’s decision-making here, as Gyokeres has so often looked out of his depth at this level, with some good finishing but not much else to offer to the team.

The post Andrea Berta talked Mikel Arteta into Arsenal transfer he initially wasn’t sure about appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Yes, Liverpool miss Luis Diaz, but Bayern’s front 3 weren’t stat-padding like this in the Prem

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

I’ve made my feelings clear on PSG’s 5-4 win over Bayern Munich already, but it really is worth emphasising just how much some people are overreacting to the crazy numbers being produced by the front three of Bayern in particular.

Much has been made of the supposed declining quality of the Premier League this season, but isn’t Bayern’s dominance, if anything, the clearest example you can have that the English top flight is more competitive than ever?

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Bayern’s entire front three is, after all, made up entirely of former Premier League players. Their most recent arrival is Luis Diaz, who joined from Liverpool last summer, linking up with former Tottenham striker Harry Kane and former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, all of whom are now somehow playing the best football of their careers under former Burnley manager Vincent Kompany.

? Always a joy to watch Michael Olise play football…? pic.twitter.com/MAhjFzcbnr

— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) April 28, 2026

It might not surprise you to learn that all three of these players have boasted the best numbers in their careers at Bayern, even if they were already clearly very good players during their time in England.

Yes Luis Diaz is great but he wouldn’t be producing numbers like this at Liverpool

Liverpool fans must be regretting the decision to let Diaz go, but here’s just one example of a move to the Bundesliga massively over-stating how good he actually is…

Luis Diaz in 148 games for Liverpool – 57GA

Luis Diaz in 45 games for Bayern – 43GA

It’s much easier for a Premier League player to adapt and excel in the Bundesliga than a seasoned Bundesliga player can do in the Premier League.

— WelBeast (@WelBeast) April 29, 2026

Meanwhile, Kane already has half his entire Tottenham goal tally in under three full seasons at Bayern, while Olise has 40 goals in two seasons at the Allianz Arena, following on from a total of 16 in his entire Palace career.

It’s not rocket science, people – playing against weaker opponents domestically means it’s easier to boast crazy numbers, and to have reserves of energy to play expansive, attack-minded football in Europe as well.

Stick slightly less glamorous names like Jeremy Doku and Gabriel Martinelli into the Bayern XI and you’d likely see largely the same transformation.

The post Yes, Liverpool miss Luis Diaz, but Bayern’s front 3 weren’t stat-padding like this in the Prem appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Report: Club eyeing new target after ending interest in signing Chelsea forward

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in signing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic after deciding not to keep on-loan Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson.

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Vlahovic is nearing the end of his contract at Juve so could be a good bargain option on the market to give Bayern more cover for Harry Kane up front.

Jackson has filled that role this season since joining on loan from Chelsea last summer, but Florian Plettenberg has recently reported that the Bundesliga giants have decided not to extend his stay beyond the end of this campaign…

?? Juventus are monitoring Nicolas #Jackson and can imagine a loan move. AC Milan are monitoring the situation as well.

Jackson will return to Chelsea in the summer for now, as FC Bayern will not trigger the option to buy and a second loan is currently not planned. #CFC… pic.twitter.com/3W8i2OoAJh

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) April 28, 2026

Plettenberg also added in his post on X that Juventus themselves are among the clubs interested in Jackson, so he could end up replacing Vlahovic in Turin.

According to Fichajes, Bayern are keen on the Serbia international to come in and add depth to their list of options up front next season, and it certainly seems like a deal with some potential.

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What next for Dusan Vlahovic?

A lot has been written about Vlahovic in recent weeks and months as it’s not quite clear what the future holds for the 26-year-old.

Dusan Vlahovic Games Goals
2021/22 21 9
2022/23 42 14
2023/24 38 18
2024/25 44 17
2025/26 19 6

Vlahovic looked like an exciting young talent at former club Fiorentina, but he hasn’t quite lived up to his potential at Juventus.

This has occasionally seen Vlahovic linked with big clubs like Chelsea, as per TEAMtalk, but it was also recently claimed that he could be close to signing a new Juventus contract, as per Gazzetta dello Sport.

Even if Vlahovic has his qualities, it currently seems unlikely that he’d be an automatic starter at a top club, so perhaps a bench role at Bayern or somewhere similar could be his best bet.

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Talks planned: Chelsea to approach two more managers over vacancy

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Chelsea are reportedly planning to approach two more managers over the vacancy at Stamford Bridge, according to Simon Phillips.

Reporting via his Substack, Phillips says Chelsea have already had initial contacts with the representatives of the likes of Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso.

And now it seems the Blues will also contact the agents of Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac.

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Kovac has apparently been looked at before by Chelsea, according to Phillips, while the other names look like tempting options due to their availability.

Alonso has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid earlier this season, while Glasner is leaving Palace at the end of this season, and Iraola will also be on his way out of Bournemouth at the same time.

What does Chelsea’s next manager need?

Managing Chelsea almost looks like an impossible job at the moment as the club have had an air of chaos under this current ownership.

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The west London giants were a very different animal under Roman Abramovich, often simply hiring the best managers and signing the best players with the aim of delivering major trophies in the here and now.

This CFC project, however, is built around young players and a long-term project, but the frequent manager sackings and poor signings have complicated matters.

Whoever comes in next for Chelsea needs to be ready to work in this environment, with the expectation that they’ll be able to help young players improve and deal with a large squad.

On top of that, whoever comes in at Chelsea will need to cope with an increasingly frustrated and impatient fanbase, who don’t seem to be aligned with what the owners are trying to do.

While there are several top managers out there, it’s arguably a very different challenge to what they’ve had to deal with in their most recent jobs.

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From Spain: Barcelona chief Deco eyeing five Tottenham stars in potential transfer blitz

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

You increasingly get the sense that Tottenham’s very existence is on the line as they bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

As Spurs remain in the bottom three with just four games remaining, there is unsurprisingly growing talk of huge numbers of their best players leaving if they end up dropping down to the Championship.

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According to the latest from Spanish outlet Fichajes, Barcelona director Deco has his eye on as many as five of Tottenham’s current players – Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Xavi Simons, and Lucas Bergvall.

Needless to say, getting relegated is bad enough for Spurs, but if they also lost all of those players in one go it would be extremely difficult for the north Londoners to rebuild their side and come back up as soon as possible.

Are Tottenham’s flops good enough for Barcelona?

Realistically, it seems highly unlikely that Barca would be able to sign all five of those players mentioned, not least because the Catalan giants have financial issues that will restrict what they can do without also selling players.

It makes sense, however, that Deco would be looking at Spurs’ current situation and eyeing up a few candidates for a summer raid.

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It’s still worth asking, however, if these players are actually good enough for an elite European side like Barcelona after struggling so badly with THFC.

After all, if these players have performed so poorly that a big club like Spurs might actually be relegated, then serious questions have to be asked about not only their ability, but their mentality.

Still, some of the names there, such as Simons and Bergvall in particular, are young enough that they could learn from this difficult experience and improve as they continue developing, perhaps also benefiting from working in a more settled environment and with better coaches and players around them.

The post From Spain: Barcelona chief Deco eyeing five Tottenham stars in potential transfer blitz appeared first on CaughtOffside.

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Loan discussed as Chelsea unhappy with youngster’s development so far

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Chelsea are reportedly unhappy with Liam Delap’s development so far and have presented him with the opportunity to go on loan to Strasbourg.

The 23-year-old striker looked like a fine prospect at former club Ipswich Town, but his Chelsea future is already in doubt after just one Premier League goal in 25 games in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

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According to Simon Phillips, the Blues have already been discussing the possibility of Delap going on loan to fellow BlueCo club Strasbourg, though it seems his preference is to snub the loan and stay where he is.

It will be interesting to see how this develops, but at this moment in time it would certainly be surprising if Delap were to still be involved in the Chelsea first-team next season after such a worrying lack of impact.

Liam Delap surely needs to leave Chelsea

Delap may still have it in him to have a good career, but for now he just doesn’t look like he’s at the right level for a club with Chelsea’s ambitions.

The England Under-21 international could benefit from going to Strasbourg for more playing time in a less competitive league, or else he could also probably find suitors elsewhere.

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We’ve previously been informed about Delap having interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United, Everton, Brighton, and Sunderland amid uncertainty over his Chelsea future.

All in all, this deal clearly hasn’t worked out for CFC, but it’s hard to know how much of that is Delap’s fault, or an issue with the club.

So many other recent Chelsea signings have also flopped, with other talented young players like Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho, Andrey Santos, and Jorrel Hato also looking slightly out of place with the west London giants.

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PSG 5-4 Bayern was the game of the season, but Arsenal will be licking their lips at that defending

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By:Mark Brus

PSG’s 5-4 win over Bayern Munich on Tuesday night was undoubtedly one of the games of the season in terms of sheer end-to-end entertainment.

But does it, as so much of social media would have you think, spell bad news for Arsenal in the Champions League? I’m not so convinced.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s an absolute joy watching elite attacking players expressing themselves like this – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue at one end, and Michael Olise and Luis Diaz at the other is as good as anything in world football right now.

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But those rushing to condemn the Premier League, and particularly Arsenal, for moving away from this kind of football to a more tactical and defensive-minded game that has dominated in England this season, would do well not to overlook some important factors at play here.

Why PSG and Bayern look so much better than Premier League sides

Free-flowing attacking football is a luxury Arsenal and other Premier League teams can’t afford. Even Manchester City haven’t really played like their old selves for much of this season, and found Championship side Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final a tougher opponent than PSG or Bayern face in most of their domestic matches.

Bayern have already won the Bundesliga, as they do most seasons without any opposition, while PSG will probably come out on top again in Ligue 1 this term, as you’d expect for two clubs whose wage bills dwarf what their so-called competition in these leagues can spend.

In that context, it’s no surprise that Luis Enrique and Vincent Kompany can afford to focus on the kind of freedom and self expression we all want to see from the best attacking players in the Premier League, but there’s little need for control and discipline when your nearest challengers are probably about on a par with mid-table sides like Brentford.

Case-in-point: Arsenal beat Bayern 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the league phase of this competition earlier this season and Harry Kane didn’t have a single shot. Not so easy when you’re not playing against the likes of Hamburg and St Pauli, is it, Harry?

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Where’s the defending?

“Five-four is a hockey score, not a football score,” Jose Mourinho said back in 2004 after a particularly crazy North London Derby. “In a three-against-three training match, if the score reaches 5-4 I send the players back to the dressing rooms as they are not defending properly. So to get a result like that in a game of 11 against 11 is disgraceful.”

So, let’s be real, if Bayern or PSG defend like this against Arsenal in the Champions League final, then the Gunners are in with a serious shout.

Don’t get angry at me yet – I’m not saying it’s a guaranteed win for Arsenal, and it would be unwise to even make them the automatic favourites against Atletico Madrid.

But don’t let a vastly entertaining game cloud your judgement – these are great players, yes, but they are still being allowed to look far better than they are because they’re not being tested week in, week out the way the best players in the Premier League are. And Arsenal have already shown they can shut them down if their defence is at its best.

Far from being a warning for Arsenal if they go through against Atletico Madrid, this game tonight just shows there’s a perfectly winnable final ahead for Mikel Arteta’s side. Arguably the tougher test might come against the more defensive-minded Diego Simeone in Madrid tomorrow night.

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Video: Luis Diaz scores absolutely sensational goal in *nine*-goal PSG-Bayern thriller

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By:Mark Brus

Luis Diaz has scored one of the best goals of the night in what has been an absolutely crazy game between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.

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It’s 5-4 to PSG at the time of writing, but with a few minutes left to go it’s very hard to predict how this one is going to end as both sides produce some absolutely sublime football at the Parc des Princes.

Diaz has been a joy to watch as he so often is, and the control, composure, and quality of his finish from a delightful pass by Harry Kane surely makes his strike the best goal of the evening…

IT'S FIVE-FOUR! ?

After a VAR check, Diaz's strike stands! ? pic.twitter.com/tuU2wBvo7O

— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 28, 2026

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Luis Diaz puts Bayern Munich back in the game against PSG

Diaz timed his run perfectly, even if there was an initial VAR check for offside, with the goal eventually given as Bayern bounced back after finding themselves 5-2 down not that long before.

Dayot Upamecano pulled one back shortly before Diaz’s effort, which has made this a real game again.

Remarkably, there’s also still a whole second leg to play at the Allianz Arena next week as well!

Bayern were probably the slight favourites before this game, and if they can go back to Germany next week just a goal behind then they may still feel they can get the result they need at home to make it into the Champions League final.

PSG are the reigning European champions, though, and remain every bit as good as they were when they stormed to the trophy last season.

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Two major European clubs “monitoring” Chelsea misfit as transfer decision made

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By:Mark Brus

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson is reportedly attracting interest from two giants of Italian football in the form of Juventus and AC Milan.

The Senegal international has struggled on loan at Bayern Munich this season and it seems the Bavarian giants won’t be keeping him once this spell comes to an end.

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That’s according to journalist Florian Plettenberg, who has posted on X to provide an update on Jackson’s future, as Juve and Milan hover for the Chelsea misfit.

Nicolas Jackson set for Serie A transfer?

See below for details as it seems Jackson could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge for a move to Serie A once he’s back from Bayern…

?? Juventus are monitoring Nicolas #Jackson and can imagine a loan move. AC Milan are monitoring the situation as well.

Jackson will return to Chelsea in the summer for now, as FC Bayern will not trigger the option to buy and a second loan is currently not planned. #CFC… pic.twitter.com/3W8i2OoAJh

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) April 28, 2026

“Juventus are monitoring Nicolas #Jackson and can imagine a loan move,” Plettenberg posted.

“AC Milan are monitoring the situation as well. Jackson will return to Chelsea in the summer for now, as FC Bayern will not trigger the option to buy and a second loan is currently not planned.”

Chelsea surely won’t be keeping Jackson after his difficult spell in west London, while he’s also not done enough to impress whilst on loan with Bayern this season.

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It certainly seems like the best thing for the 24-year-old to try a new challenge elsewhere, and perhaps he’d find the step down to the Italian top flight is the best way for him to maximise his potential.

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Video: Michael Olise scores solo stunner that will have Liverpool fans drooling

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Michael Olise has scored a stunning solo goal for Bayern Munich against Paris Saint-Germain in this evening’s Champions League semi-final first leg.

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The France international is having a superb season and he continued to show why he’s becoming regarded as one of the best players on the planet with his strike against PSG tonight.

Liverpool are one of the clubs to be linked with Olise in recent times, with TEAMtalk claiming the Reds are really keen, which makes sense given their need to replace Mohamed Salah this summer.

Michael Olise goal video from PSG vs Bayern thriller

Well, Bayern are surely not going to let this guy go any time soon after he worked his magic again in some style tonight…

STOP THAT OLISE! ?

It's 2-2 in Paris & we're not even at half-time ? pic.twitter.com/GYhSay9SD6

— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) April 28, 2026

Olise has been producing big moments like this all season, with the 24-year-old now on 23 goals and 26 assists in total.

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Liverpool fans will no doubt be dreaming of having a talent like this in their attack, but with every performance like this he’s surely just becoming more and more unaffordable and unrealistic for the Merseyside giants.

Olise has been a constant threat for Bayern all evening, though they trail 3-2 at half time in what has been a crazy start to this semi-final at the Parc des Princes.

How many more goals will we see in this tie given that we have a second half still to play tonight, and then next week’s second leg at the Allianz Arena?

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“My mindset…” – Arsenal star responds to question over potential transfer away

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has played down transfer speculation over his future after being asked about a possible move away.

The Norway international is understood by CaughtOffside to be one of the candidates for a big sale at the Emirates Stadium this summer, though our report also made it clear he’s not personally pushing to leave.

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Odegaard would probably not speak openly about his potential departure at this stage of the season anyway, and he has also insisted he’s not aware of where the story has come from.

See below for Odegaard’s quote reported by journalist James Benge on X…

Odegaard on speculation over his future: I don’t know where that’s coming from. My mindset is about just doing what I can every day to do something special. There’s always going to be speculation… it’s not something I know anything about.

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) April 28, 2026

“Odegaard on speculation over his future: I don’t know where that’s coming from. My mindset is about just doing what I can every day to do something special. There’s always going to be speculation… it’s not something I know anything about,” Benge posted.

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What next for Martin Odegaard?

Odegaard is an important player for Arsenal, but it perhaps makes sense for the Gunners to think about his situation after an injury-hit campaign.

Even if the 27-year-old can be a world class player on his day, he just doesn’t seem to be capable of staying fit anymore and impacting games in quite the same way he used to.

Arsenal spent a lot on new signings last summer, so it might be that they’ll need to be more careful this year and make some major sales before further additions.

From that point of view, it could make sense for AFC to consider offers for Odegaard if anyone came in with a big enough bid.

Still, this will likely be resolved later, with all focus now on Arsenal’s upcoming Champions League semi-finals and Premier League title race run-in.

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Deal on: Chelsea open to negotiating €50m transfer, player keen on move

✇CaughtOffside
By:Mark Brus

Chelsea are reportedly open to negotiating the sale of Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella amid interest from Barcelona ahead of the summer.

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Cucurella has been a key player for the Blues in recent times, overcoming a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge to become a solid and reliable defender for the team.

It now seems Barca are eyeing up Cucurella, and he’s opened the door to the move while Chelsea could also let him go for around €50m, according to Fichajes.

This seems like it could be a bit of a risk for Chelsea after what has been a largely disappointing season for the west Londoners.

Still, it also probably wouldn’t be worth keeping an unhappy player, so if Cucurella is keen to move to Barcelona, perhaps CFC can let him go and use the money to replace him.

Could players leave Chelsea this summer?

It could be a tough summer for Chelsea in terms of keeping important players, as it’s perhaps not surprising to see someone like Cucurella tempted by a new challenge.

This Chelsea project doesn’t seem to be working out as planned, with the owners frequently changing manager and making some questionable signings.

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With the team now looking unlikely to qualify for the Champions League, whilst facing a difficult-looking FA Cup final against Manchester City, it’s sure to go down as a highly disappointing campaign for the club.

If Cucurella is considering his future, then there will surely be doubts about others as well.

Enzo Fernandez could be one as he’s been linked with Manchester City by the Athletic, while there is also genuine interest in Cole Palmer from Manchester United.

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