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Manchester United are in the market for talent with the hunger to improve their squad and could look to an England Under-21 international amid his reported affordability this summer.

Manchester United hard at work on summer signings

With Matheus Cunha already through the door at Old Trafford, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo could be next on the list for the Red Devils as Ruben Amorim looks to sharpen his blunt attack ahead of the new campaign.

However, there could also be movement down the other end of the pitch, with former scout Mick Brown hinting that Manchester United will step up their transfer pursuit of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on the assumption that they are able to sell Andre Onana.

He stated: “Man United have made it clear they would like to sign Martinez. They’ll take whatever they can get for Onana, and then they’ll make contact with Aston Villa and see if they can get a deal over the line.

“He’s seen as a huge upgrade on Onana so they’re prepared to take a hit to get things moving. If Man United could swap Onana for Martinez tomorrow, they’d jump at it. Martinez is in his 30s now, but he’s a very capable goalkeeper and they’re not concerned about that.“

Atalanta’s Marco Carnasecchi is also in the frame to replace Onana, with the Red Devils prepared to submit a £43 million bid to land the Italy Under-21 international.

Related Man Utd now negotiating "complex" big-money transfer to sell £200k-p/w star

He wants to leave.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Jun 28, 2025

Despite their poor Premier League position last term, Manchester United have certain pulling power that is hard to ignore for prospective recruits, as witnessed with the likes of Cunha and potentially, Mbeumo.

Now, Amorim will hope to put that to good use amid recent reports associating the Red Devils with a move for a talented English midfielder.

Manchester United discover Hayden Hackney price-tag

According to EFL Analysis, in a conversation with journalist Graeme Bailey, Manchester United have watched Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney Hackney alongside almost every other club in the English top-flight due to his standout displays at the Riverside Stadium.

Providing further insight, Bailey has claimed that the England Under-21 international could be available for as little as £20 million this summer, though there is potential for £25 million being needed before the prospect of a switch could be seriously considered.

“Hayden Hackney obviously does have a lot of interest from some teams in Europe and in England there are a host of clubs who have watched him; there isn’t a single Premier League club who hasn’t watched Hackney,” said Bailey.

“He’s doing well and Middlesbrough will have a price on him. If someone comes in with £20-25m it’ll be very hard for Middlesbrough to turn that down. It’s pure profit. There is an awful lot of interest in him. Obviously he is at the U21 Euros with England now and doing well there. Do I expect Hackney to still be at Boro come September? I’d be surprised at this point if he was still there.

“So yes, I do expect Hackney will go. The likes of Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Man United, and West Ham have watched him.”

Hayden Hackney’s key statistics in 2024/25 – EFL Championship (Fotmob)

Chances created

66

Successful dribbles

39

Touches in opposition penalty area

73

Tackles won

56

Recoveries

281

Hackney – called “exciting” and “one of the finest midfielders outside the Premier League” by pundit Carlton Palmer – registered five goals and three assists in 44 appearances across all competitions last campaign, though was powerless to stop Middlesbrough being unable to make the playoff berths.

Nevertheless, his displays haven’t gone unnoticed, and Manchester United may feel they can bring some youthful exuberance to an ageing engine room should they secure his signature.

Fending off competition from other clubs is always a tough task. However, Amorim’s men have proven they can do that already in the window, so it wouldn’t be a major shock if they were to repeat the trick with Hackney.

Surrey loanee the spark with the ball as Gloucestershire ship 13 wickets in the day

ECB Reporters Network25-Jun-2024

Yorkshire 456 (Bean 164, Lyth 129, Singh Dale 3-70) beat Gloucestershire 197 (Revis 3-30, Thompson 3-37) and 237 (Akhter 70, Hill 3-43, McKerr 3-48) by an innings and 22 runsYorkshire claimed 13 wickets in the day to wrap up a three-day innings-and-22-run victory over Gloucestershire at Scarborough – their first of this season’s Vitality County Championship.At the eighth attempt, Yorkshire recorded a 22-point haul to breathe life into a promotion push which has struggled to get out of the blocks since being labelled as Division Two title favourites before a ball was bowled in April.This performance, with bat and ball, was one which indicated such a pedigree.Gloucestershire, replying to a first-innings 456, started day three on 168 for 7 in their first innings and were made to follow-on 259 runs in arrears having been bowled out for 197. Seam bowling allrounders Jordan Thompson and Matthew Revis finished with three wickets apiece.The visitors, who suffered their second defeat in eight, started their second innings at midday and were bowled out for 237 after tea. Seamer Zaman Akhter hit a consolatory career best 70.On-loan Surrey fast bowler Conor McKerr, making his Championship debut for Yorkshire, impressed by taking five wickets in the day – two at the end of the first innings and three more in the second. He was on a hat-trick twice and claimed the winning wicket.Despite losing Ben Charlesworth, bowled by Vishwa Fernando in the second over, Gloucestershire made an encouraging start to their second innings.They reached 55 for 1 thanks to Cameron Bancroft and Ollie Price, who were in determined mood. But, just as they did on day two in striking five times late in the day, Yorkshire remained patient and took their chance when it arrived.Price, Bancroft and James Bracey all fell in the space of five afternoon overs, leaving the score at 73 for 4 in the 28th over.Price edged Revis to fourth slip to fall for 27 before Bancroft, on 26, was trapped lbw by a big in-swinger from George Hill. And then came a catch which will be a strong contender for the best of the summer anywhere on the county circuit as Adam Lyth helped Sri Lankan overseas Fernando oust Bracey.Gloucestershire’s wicketkeeper-batter aimed a pull at the left-arm quick but could only cue-end it to Lyth’s left at second slip. Diving full-length to his left, Lyth held a one-handed stunner to continue a memorable game for the veteran on his home ground having scored 129 in the first innings amidst an opening partnership of 307 with Fin Bean, who made 164.When captain Graeme van Buuren edged a drive behind at Thompson – 82 for 5 in the 33rd over – the writing was on the wall for Gloucestershire.So it proved. McKerr struck twice in two balls late in the afternoon to get Miles Hammond caught at leg-slip off a gloved pull and Ed Middleton caught at second slip.Earlier in the day, Surrey’s McKerr helped polish off Gloucestershire’s tail in the first innings, finishing with figures of 2 for 28 from 17.3 overs. In the second innings, he returned 3 for 48 from 11.4 overs.Hill claimed the seventh wicket of the afternoon in its closing stages, Beau Webster caught behind for 30 to leave Gloucestershire 158 for 8.Akhter gave the visitors some cheer with three sixes off Dom Bess’s offspin. One, reverse-swept over cover, was fabulous and he reached his fifty off 54 balls in the early evening. He shared 58 for the ninth wicket with Dom Goodman to hold things up before being bowled by Hill.McKerr then had Ajeet Singh Dale caught behind down leg to seal victory. Goodman finished with a career best unbeaten 38.Yorkshire wrapped up Gloucestershire’s first innings, which resumed on 168 for 7, inside the opening 50 minutes of the play. Thompson added his third wicket of the innings – Akhter caught at first slip – before McKerr wrapped things up.McKerr has been with the county for the last few weeks, playing four times in the Vitality Blast. A peripheral figure at the Kia Oval, he trapped Goodman lbw and had Singh Dale caught at mid-on next ball.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin on course to depart as a free agent, Everton are now reportedly keeping a close eye on an impressive striker who Erling Haaland believes is “incredibly talented”.

Calvert-Lewin set to leave Everton

After nine years at the club, Calvert-Lewin remains on course to leave at the end of his current contract this month. Everton confirmed that they are still in talks with his representatives, but a resolution at this stage does not seem likely. The Toffees, instead, must turn their focus towards replacing their forward or perhaps even finding the perfect upgrade.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Everton record (via Transfermarkt)

Appearances

273

Goals

71

Assists

22

The 28-year-old’s best work undoubtedly came under Carlo Ancelotti, as is the case for most players, but he hasn’t been able to reach the same quality ever since. Without the Italian, the forward’s Everton career can be summed up by looking at a frustrating injury history which often stood in the way of a talented forward ever truly reaching his potential.

In need of a replacement, the Toffees have already been linked with moves for the likes of Hamza Igamane from Rangers and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Evan Ferguson. The latter would be a like-for-like replacement for Calvert-Lewin given his stature and ability to use that stature to his advantage whilst possessing an impressive technical ability.

In many ways, Ferguson would be a throwback to the player that Calvert-Lewin once was – a young, tall forward full of potential. The Irishman will be desperate to head down a more successful path, however, and getting his career back on track by joining David Moyes in Merseyside may be the perfect first step.

Alternatively, Everton could also turn their attention towards a Bundesliga talent who has already earned high praise from the likes of Haaland and would replace Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring prowess from the wing.

Everton keeping close eye on Nusa

As reported by Caught Offside, Everton are now keeping a close eye on Antonio Nusa. The RB Leipzig winger has shown glimpses of his talent since swapping Club Brugge for the German side and is now reportedly valued as high as €45m (£38m).

Whether Everton are in a position to pay that price is the big question. At 20 years old, there’s no doubt that Nusa has the potential to turn that price tag into a bargain deal in years to come.

The Leipzig star stole the headlines whilst on international duty with Norway recently when he scored a sensational goal against Italy and it’s not the first time that he’s impressed for his country.

Just last year, Nusa earned impressive praise from Haaland. The Norway forward and Manchester City star told reporters: “He’s exceptional. We need to be careful not to put too much pressure on him, even though he’s incredibly talented. His continued development is what matters most.”

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford Jun 13, 2025

The praise in Norway doesn’t get much higher than that. Simply put, Nusa is not someone that Everton should want to miss out on this summer.

Arsenal are now keen on signing a Premier League striker who has a £70m asking price, with his club now willing to sanction a departure this summer, according to a report.

Gunners' striker pursuit rumbles on

There have been persistent calls for Mikel Arteta to sign a striker for quite some time now, although Ian Wright has stressed the importance of signing the right player, rather than rushing into any decision.

The Gunners legend said: “I think that the worry [for Arsenal] more than anything is that you can go out there and pay 60, 70, 80 for a striker and it doesn’t work. I don’t think Arsenal can afford to get that striker that doesn’t hit the ground running for them.

“They have to get the one that they want, and maybe that is what Mikel is doing, and in the meantime, he’s trying to get by and again we’ve fallen short of it.”

With the summer transfer window now rapidly approaching, there is certainly no shortage of options on the shortlist, with recruitment chiefs searching far and wide for a new forward, who could be the final piece of the jigsaw for Arteta’s side.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

£70m

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting CP

£67m

Hugo Ekitike

Eintracht Frankfurt

£84m

Julian Alvarez

Atletico Madrid

£126m

There are also options from within the Premier League, however, and a report from The Sun has revealed Arsenal are now keen on signing Brighton & Hove Albion striker Joao Pedro, with the Seagulls willing to cash-in for £70m this summer.

Newcastle United and Aston Villa are also credited with an interest in Pedro, while Chelsea are known to have made a £51m bid for the forward recently, with the Blues still looking to sign a striker despite advancing towards a deal for Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap.

"Special" Pedro enjoyed impressive 24/25 campaign

It could make sense for Arsenal to bring in a striker who is already proven in the Premier League, and the Brighton star fits the bill in that regard, having picked up ten goals and six assists in 27 matches during the 2024-25 campaign.

Presenter Sam Ucko has also been left impressed by the Brazilian in the past, describing him as a “special player”, who will “go to the very top”.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Jun 2, 2025

That said, there are doubts over whether the 23-year-old would be capable of taking Arsenal’s attack to the next level, given that he is not an out-and-out striker, ranking in just the 19th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year.

Instead, it may be suitable to bring in a striker who is clinical in front of goal, and the Gunners have now agreed personal terms with Gyokeres, who scored 39 goals in 33 games for Liga Portugal title-winners Sporting CP.

On a day of goodbyes for Manchester United, there was a small insight into what will hopefully be a brighter future under Ruben Amorim, following a deserved 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday evening.

Free from the shackles of expectation, the Red Devils were in positive mood right from the off despite the backdrop of their midweek disappointment, with Mason Mount twice going close in the opening exchanges.

The hope of signing off this wretched Premier League campaign with a win was then bolstered even further following Emi Martinez’s dismissal on the stroke of half-time, with the Argentine foolishly barging into the onrushing Rasmus Hojlund on what could be his final outing for the Midlands side.

After enduring a shaky moment of their own at that same end after the break, involving a controversial call on Altay Bayindir, the wasteful hosts eventually made the breakthrough at Old Trafford following a fine header from Amad Diallo at the backpost. The provider? Well, Bruno Fernandes, of course.

A subsequent foul on Amad then allowed Christian Eriksen the chance to end his United career with a goal from the penalty spot, with the veteran Dane set to depart at the expiry of his contract, alongside Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans.

That experienced trio could be among the first departures of what is expected to be a hectic summer in Manchester. Could the aforementioned Hojlund also be on his way?

Rasmus Hojlund's game in numbers vs Villa

If ever there was a game to epitomise Hojlund’s campaign, it was this one, with the 22-year-old showcasing real endeavour and the odd flash of quality, albeit while still lacking that vital end product.

The Denmark international did play his part in Martinez’s red card, although it remains to be seen whether he would have scored had the Villa ‘keeper not intervened, with United’s number nine taking a particularly wayward touch regardless.

As for the second half, the former Atalanta man – who did tee up Mount’s header early on – failed to capitalise on a Kobbie Mainoo pullback as his poor touch wasted a gilt-edged chance, with it having looked at that stage that the home side would again fire a blank in front of goal.

That luckless outing from United’s number nine also saw a well-taken header ruled out for offside, with Hojlund left looking to the heavens as he remained on just four league goals for the season and only ten in total.

As already stated, there were signs of life up against the Champions League hopefuls, although with reports suggesting that a return to Serie A could be on the cards, time may be up for United’s £64m signing.

Rasmus Hojlund’s key stats vs Aston Villa

Stat

Record

Minutes played

81

Touches

19

Shots

1

Goals

0

Big chances missed

1

Big chances created

1

Key passes

2

Pass accuracy

60%

Successful dribbles

0

Total duels won

4/9

Stats via Sofascore

The same, it must be said, should also be true of his floundering teammate, Bayindir.

Why Altay Bayindir needs to be sold

The ruthless nature of the Red Devils’ upcoming window has been epitomised by reports that Alejandro Garnacho will be up for sale, with the 20-year-old winger having been left out of Sunday’s win – as was Andre Onana.

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With uncertainty also surrounding the future of the Cameroonian, this was an opportunity for his understudy to stake his claim. Once again, the Turkish star failed to do so in almost comical fashion.

It was only last month that the former Fenerbahce man was thrown into the mix at St James’ Park, with Onana having been left out of proceedings, only to ultimately ship four himself, while gifting the ball to the home side for the game’s final goal.

Having since also shipped six goals against Brentford and West Ham United combined, the 27-year-old was surprisingly given what should well be a final chance on Sunday, despite journalist Samuel Luckhurst previously suggesting that he should actually be behind Tom Heaton in the goalkeeping pecking order.

That viewpoint was corroborated further by Bayindir’s display against the Villans, with the “lucky” stopper – as described by Luckhurst – failing to grab hold of the ball following Harry Maguire’s backwards header, with Morgan Rogers then pouncing to score.

Controversially – and fortunately for Bayindir – the whistle had blown for a foul before Rogers’ effort had hit the back of the net, with Villa denied what would have been a vital goal against the run of play.

It would have summed up United’s season for a promising performance to be undone by a goalkeeping gaffe, although the officials had something else in mind, sparing Bayindir’s blushes in the process.

The £4.3m addition did go on to make a handful of pivotal saves late on, although his nervousness was illustrated with a dismal parry into the air following Youri Tielemans’ strike, having again provided no assurity for the defenders ahead of him.

With United on the hunt for a new goalkeeper and Bayindir tipped for an exit, this most recent display – which earned him a 5/10 rating from Luckhurst – should well be the final outing of his forgettable Old Trafford adventure.

Of course, there will always be that night at the Emirates, and the Turk’s penalty saving heroics, although it is hard not to look past the litany of mistakes he has made both before and since – not least conceding directly from a Heung-min Son corner in the Carabao Cup defeat to Spurs.

In truth, this is a squad that is in dire need of upgrading. The best place to start would be at either end of the pitch…

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Posts ByRobbie Walls May 25, 2025

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is preparing for the Xabi Alonso era, and he wants to back his new manager with an ambitious double-deal for two Arsenal stars worth a potential £101 million.

Arsenal set for busy summer of incomings and outgoings

The north Londoners have already sealed an agreement for Martin Zubimendi, who looks set to become Andrea Berta’s first signing as the club’s new sporting director (Fabrizio Romano).

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The Italian is already getting busy ahead of this summer.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 13, 2025

Zubimendi will come as a direct replacement for midfielder Jorginho, who is on his way to Brazilian side Flamengo once his contract expires on June 30, so Berta has acted quickly to fill the Italy international’s boots for next season.

Race for Champions League qualification with 2 games remaining

Points

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

66

4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

More replacements for squad members are highly anticipated as we fast approach the summer window as well, as Arsenal are believed to be in the market for a full-back to replace Kieran Tierney, who has agreed to join Celtic, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who Berta is expected to sell.

A new central defender is also on Berta’s ever-growing reported to-do list this summer, with Arsenal among the many contenders to sign Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen, who is being courted by a host of top sides.

Their concrete interest in the 20-year-old is perhaps an indicator that the long-term futures of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes aren’t yet clear, despite Arsenal’s attempts to lock them down.

Arsenal have opened talks with Saliba over a contract extension, amid Real’s heavily reported interest in the France international, and it is quite simply imperative that Berta manages to keep hold of the former Saint-Étienne starlet.

Los Blancos are said to be eyeing up a few Arsenal players alongside Saliba, with goalkeeper David Raya also on their radar. However, as per a new report from Spain, left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly is now also turning heads at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid planning £101m double deal for Arsenal stars Saliba and Lewis-Skelly

Indeed, as per the Spanish media source, Real president Perez is personally hatching an ambitious plan to lure both Lewis-Skelly and Saliba to La Liga in a “double deal”.

It is reported that Real could splash £101 million on the signings of Lewis-Skelly and Saliba from Arsenal.

While the latter is seen as their priority target, Fran Garcia and Ferland Mendy’s unconvincing performances have prompted Real to consider Lewis-Skelly as an option as well, with the 15-time European champions pondering ways to orchestrate a deal with Arsenal.

Both Lewis-Skelly and Saliba have been vital cornerstones of Arteta’s backline, and there would be uproar over any green-light to sell both men, especially after Arsenal lost out on this year’s Premier League title to Liverpool by some distance.

It is highly unlikely to materialise, unless a truly unthinkable offer were to come Berta’s way. Even then, it would arguably need to be high above the mooted £101m mentioned by this report.

Perhaps the only miraculous thing about Tottenham Hotspur this season is the fact that Ange Postecoglou is still in the job.

While the Australian coach started his Lilywhites tenure in sensational form, things have been getting progressively worse since December 2023.

This season has seen the former Celtic boss lead his side to a staggering 19 defeats in the Premier League alone, and with four more matches to play, ending the year with 20 league defeats feels inevitable.

With all that said, it’s hardly surprising that, in recent weeks, there have been countless reports linking the club with potential replacements, from Fulham’s Marco Silva to former boss Mauricio Pochettino. Yet, another, more exciting candidate would be a far better choice.

Why Spurs shouldn't sign Poch or Silva

So, while there is an undeniable romanticism around the idea of re-hiring Pochettino this summer, there is one significant reason why Spurs shouldn’t: his recent jobs.

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Since being let go by the North Londoners in late 2019, the Argentine coach has taken three jobs and failed to impress in any of them.

For example, he failed to win the league in his first half-season with Paris Saint-Germain, then at Chelsea, he was unable to get into the Champions League places with astronomical financial backing, and now he’s struggling to turn things around in charge of the USMNT, with some already questioning his place.

Now, in terms of Silva, there is also a significant reason Tottenham should steer clear: his lack of experience with big clubs.

While the Portuguese manager has done an exceptional job in charge of Fulham, he’s never had the responsibility of managing a ‘big six’ side.

In fact, when he was in charge of the closest thing in Everton, he was eventually fired.

Fortunately, while there are clear reasons why Spurs shouldn’t hire either Pochettino or Silva, they have been linked to someone else who’d be a brilliant hire.

The manager Spurs should hire

There have been a few other managers touted for the Spurs job in recent months, from Thomas Frank to Xavi, but if Daniel Levy and Co want to make a real statement, they should hire Xabi Alonso.

The North Londoners were linked with the Spanish legend late last week, and while it might sound overly ambitious, there are a couple of reasons why he’s just the coach they should be going all out to sign.

First is the fact that he’s not only a proven league winner, but the fact that he won the Bundesliga with an unfancied Bayer Leverkusen.

The German side had famously never won the top flight before, so the fact that they went on to win it undefeated last year after Bayern signed Harry Kane is a simply sensational achievement.

Moreover, while they aren’t going to win it again this year, the club remain comfortably second in the table and the former Liverpool star continues to have an excellent record of 89 wins, 30 draws, 18 defeats and an average of 2.17 points per game at the helm.

Alonso’s Leverkusen record

Games

137

Wins

89

Draws

30

Losses

18

Points per Game

2.17

All Stats via Sofascore

Finally, from a tactical perspective, the “incredible” boss, as dubbed by Transfermarkt’s Manuel Veth, could be the perfect match for the Lilywhites squad.

For example, he likes his teams to play a quick, direct brand of football, with a focus on overloading the middle of the park and getting the wingbacks up high to stretch opposition defences, which sounds like something that would get the best out of Pedro Porro, Destiney Udogie and even Djed Spence.

Ultimately, it might be pie-in-the-sky thinking, but if Spurs have even the slightest chance to hire Alonso this summer, they have to take it.

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Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 29, 2025

Manchester City have now seemingly come out the other side of their disastrous dip in form in the Premier League with Pep Guardiola’s men yet to taste the bitter disappointment of a loss this April.

A comprehensive 5-2 victory secured over Crystal Palace at the Etihad in the middle of the positive month has since been followed up by a determined late 2-0 win over Everton on Easter weekend, leaving City sitting pretty in fourth spot in the tight Champions League race.

An FA Cup semi-final even awaits the boosted Citizens heading into May, but before any talk about Wembley intensifies, the away faithful packed into Goodison Park would have been pleased with a number of top performances from their beloved side.

Man City's best performers at Everton

The visitors would have known it was going to be a tough contest when travelling to the blue half of Merseyside, with David Moyes’ men fresh off a brilliant 1-0 win on the road at Nottingham Forest away from City’s own upturn in results.

Still, City would finish the contest as 2-0 victors, with makeshift full-back Matheus Nunes and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan picking up assists to play key roles in the away day success.

Gundogan was crucial in sealing the three points when teeing up late second-half substitute Mateo Kovacic for his emphatic strike, with the 34-year-old even firing two efforts of his own at Jordan Pickford’s goal.

Away from the likes of Gundogan shining bright, City also had to stand strong defensively when the Toffees ventured forward themselves, with Stefan Ortega making two big saves to preserve his clean sheet, on top of Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol having to remain cool throughout with a remarkable combined 213 touches.

But, there is one performer who hasn’t yet been mentioned who stole the show once more, with wild shouts even claiming that Guardiola could have his very own Declan Rice.

Guardiola is brewing his very own Rice

The outspoken Spaniard has been unafraid to chuck youngsters into the City first team mix this season, with 22-year-old James McAtee scoring in the aforementioned rout versus Oliver Glasner’s men, on top of 21-year-old sensation Abdukodir Khusanov gaining six Premier League starts after arriving over the winter.

But, the most hyped starlet of them all is Nico O’Reilly and deservedly so, with the breakout number 75 scoring yet another senior strike at the death at Goodison to take his men’s career total to a stunning five goals and two assists from 14 outings.

These unbelievable numbers to date have led to outlandish comparisons being drawn between the Manchester-born ace and Arsenal enforcer, Rice. Indeed, speaking earlier this amid O’Reilly’s impressive form, City content creator Stephen McInerney stated that he has the “physicality of someone like Rice” alongside his ceiling in the game being “so, so high.”

West Ham United supporters must watch on with dismay now when they consider how much Rice’s game has been elevated since leaving the London Stadium behind, with the 26-year-old even bagging two outrageous free-kicks recently in the Champions League against Real Madrid.

Much like Rice, O’Reilly can also dazzle from the centre of the pitch and that is surely where the youngster’s future lies.

O’Reilly’s numbers for City by position

Position played

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

AM

40

13

11

CM

28

10

6

CF

9

3

2

LB

6

4

0

SS

1

0

0

DM

1

0

0

CB

1

1

0

Sourced by Transfermarkt

O’Reilly certainly has the added spice of goals and assists on his side like Rice, with his overall career numbers above largely for the U18s and U21s suggesting he could do a spectacular job under Guardiola in the midfield positions if given a chance, away from currently being shoehorned into defence.

Capable of holding his own in a tussle too, City really do have an “outstanding” talent – as he has been lauded by his manager – on their hands, with the new-look makeup of the reigning Premier League champions to come perhaps centred around the 20-year-old’s impressive emergence.

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Manchester United have now joined the race to sign an “excellent” goalkeeper, who could be brought in as a replacement for Andre Onana this summer, according to a report.

Major concern over Onana's Man Utd performances

Onana was the subject of heavy criticism prior to Man United’s recent Europa League clash against Lyon, with Nemanja Matic launching a scathing attack on the goalkeeper.

Unfortunately, the 29-year-old didn’t exactly manage to silence the critics at the Groupama Stadium, making a late blunder to gift Rayan Cherki an equalising goal, which means there is everything still to play for at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

After the poor display against Lyon, Onana was dropped from the squad for the trip to St. James’ Park, but Altay Bayindir didn’t exactly stake a claim for a regular starting spot, with the Red Devils succumbing to a 4-1 defeat against Newcastle United.

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Man Utd have now joined their Premier League rivals in the race to sign an exciting attacker.

Posts ByBrett Worthington Apr 14, 2025

As such, Ruben Amorim is now looking to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, and Man Utd have joined the race for Anders goalkeeper Yahia Fofana, according to a report from The Boot Room.

Fofana’s performances this season have attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs, with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Newcastle, Brentford and Nottingham Forest also making checks in recent weeks.

Previous reports have detailed that the Angers shot-stopper could be available for just £15m this summer, so Amorim may not have to break the bank if he chooses to pursue a deal.

"Excellent" Fofana could be Onana upgrade

It is clear Amorim is losing faith with Onana, and it is little wonder, given that the Cameroonian’s latest blunder could be costly in United’s Europa League campaign, while Bayindir also failed to impress against Newcastle.

Fofana’s performances this season indicate he could be an upgrade for United between the sticks, having been lauded as “excellent” by members of the media after putting in a solid display against Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has also praised the Ivorian, and believes the £15m fee Angers are set to hold out for “could be a bargain”.

The 24-year-old is yet to prove himself at the highest level, but his performances this season indicate he could be capable of making the step-up to a top club, and his availability for a low fee is an added bonus for United.

Newcastle United are now closely monitoring a “monster” forward, who has been likened to Sergio Aguero, having watched him in action recently, according to a report.

Newcastle ramping up summer transfer plans

As we enter April, and thus the business end of the Premier League season, Newcastle still have a lot to play for, with Champions League qualification still very much in their sights, having already made the 2024-25 campaign a memorable one by lifting the EFL Cup.

The type of summer transfer window the Magpies have is likely to hinge upon whether they qualify for Europe’s elite competition, given that it will enable them to attract some top players, but they have already started to work on some potential signings.

PIF have reportedly made a £50m+ offer for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, which may be difficult for the Reds to turn down, while they also hold an interest in teammate Diogo Jota, with some suggestions the Portugal international could be used as a makeweight in a deal for Alexander Isak.

Related Newcastle now eyeing £25m Leeds target who Howe called "magnificent"

The Magpies are in the race for a Premier League player, who is set to leave his club in the summer.

Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 1, 2025

Jota is not the only forward in Eddie Howe’s sights, however, with a report from The Boot Room revealing scouts have now been sent to watch Besiktas’ Semih Kilicsoy, who helped his side to a 2-1 victory over rivals Galatasaray at the weekend.

Scouts from West Ham United, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest were also in attendance, with Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz another player of interest to the English delegations.

The Magpies are said to be watching Kilicsoy closely, however, and with a busy transfer window planned on Tyneside, he could be in line for a move to St. James’ Park.

"Monster" Kilicsoy showing promising signs in Turkey

The report references the Besiktas winger’s nickname of the “Turkish Aguero”, and much like the Manchester City legend, his favoured position is striker, where he netted 11 goals in 23 Süper Lig appearances last term.

After showing signs of promise in a breakthrough campaign last season, however, the teenager hasn’t been quite as prolific this year, netting three league goals, although it must be noted he is still just 19.

As such, with Besiktas’ asking price allegedly dropping to just £12m, it could still be worth taking a risk on the Turkish youngster this summer, particularly considering he has received high praise from members of the media.

That said, Kilicsoy’s performances this season indicate he could take a little while to get to grips with the Premier League, so it could be worth Newcastle sending him out on loan, should they decide to pursue a deal this summer.