All posts by n8rngtd.top

The Baltimore Orioles led the Cleveland Guardians 6-2 when Nolan Jones came to the plate to lead off the top of the 7th. The Guardians outfielder ripped one down the line for what might have been an extra-base hit.

First baseman Ryan Mountcastle made a diving stop and popped up in time to make a throw to first. While pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano had hustled over to cover the bag, Jones got there first and Mountcastle's throw hit him right in the stomach.

Jones immediately crumpled to the ground, but based on how quickly he recovered and was able to have a laugh about it, you can be certain where the baseball hit him.

What a year this has been so far for Liverpool Football Club. Having wrapped up the Premier League title early, while their divisional rivals continued to work hard on the training pitch, the Reds were partying hard in Ibiza and Dubai. Not a bad life being a footballer, is it?

Since then, they’ve only sought to back up that league crown by strengthening significantly in the summer transfer window.

The market is only a few weeks old, yet Arne Slot and Co have wrapped up two signings in the shape of Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz. There’s more to come too.

Milos Kerkez is now reportedly due to arrive any day now from Bournemouth, while another Premier League defender, Marc Guehi, is earmarked as their next target.

Dare Liverpool fans dream of Alexander Isak too? The Newcastle forward remains a key target this summer.

But, while that happens in the background, there are more targets on Richard Hughes’ shortlist.

Liverpool eyeing one of the best young midfielders

It’s safe to say the Liverpool midfield has undergone something of a revamp over the last year or so.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

After Fabinho and Jordan Henderson headed to Saudi, the Reds looked to add further bodies to their midfield but it hasn’t all been plain sailing in the transfer market, famously missing out on Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea.

They did sign Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, however, two players who enjoyed fabulous seasons on their way to winning the title. Gravenberch was nominated for the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season award, while Mac Allister is up for the PFA’s Player of the Season.

Despite Wirtz having now joined the fold too, FSG still aren’t content with their options and in the future, could make a move for PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery.

That’s according to journalist Graeme Bailey who revealed this weekend that Liverpool are eyeing up a move for the 19-year-old midfielder.

Speaking to Rousing the Kop, he said: “It looks like a few clubs are having a sniff around Zaire-Emery. Is he a generational talent Liverpool will try for if he suddenly becomes available? Possibly, they have done work on him before. That was primarily before Ryan Gravenberch’s rise.”

Why Zaire-Emery is so exciting

When Liverpool announced the signing of Wirtz this week, arriving in a move worth a British-record transfer fee of £116m, it wasn’t surprising.

After all, this move has been earmarked for several weeks now. However, it did send a statement to the rest of the Premier League.

Wirtz is no mug. In the words of former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, the German is “probably the best midfielder in the world.”

High praise indeed and to back up those words, he scored 16 and registered 15 assists in 2024/25, phenomenal numbers.

Well, Zaire-Emery is certainly cut from a similar cloth. Wirtz made his Leverkusen debut at the tender age of 17 while PSG’s French sensation made his Ligue 1 bow for the Parisiens at 16. They’ve been around the block for a while and they’ve already impressed plenty.

The teenager’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has already described him as “one of the best midfielders in the world” while scout Jacek Kulig has suggested that he’s “one of the biggest talents of his generation in Europe.”

But, why all the hype? Well, as data analyst Ben Mattinson outlines, the 19-year-old is an “Mbappe at Monaco level of talent”, largely thanks to his blend of skills.

He’s “so secure on the ball,” states Mattinson. “He progresses the ball effectively from deeper zones, has good physicality and excellent body usage in duels” with a “quality passing range”.

You name it, Zaire-Emery has it. Traditionally a deeper-lying midfielder, the PSG star certainly possesses the tools to rival Gravenberch for a place in the midfield, and while less box-crashing than the Dutchman, he’d certainly provide an extra layer of class.

To underline his complete skillset, he ranks inside the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues over the last year for pass completion percentage, the best 14% for progressive carries and the top 15% for ball recoveries.

Truthfully, there’s very little Zaire-Emery can’t do. Perhaps the only area would be his ability to score goals – finding the net three times in 2024/25 – but as a deep-lying player, he’s not really required to do that.

Either way, this would be a phenomenal capture for Liverpool. Like Wirtz, he’s one of the most exciting young talents in European football right now.

He's a dream Isak alternative: Liverpool exploring move for £160m forward

Liverpool are hoping to sign a new centre-forward to replace the outgoing Darwin Nunez.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 19, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now seriously considering a bid for a £22m “magician”, who could be brought in to replace Matheus Cunha this summer, according to a report.

Cunha closing in on Man Utd move

Cunha is set to join Manchester United in a £62.5m move, with the deal likely to go through despite the Red Devils making a late attempt to pay the fee over five years rather than two. The 26-year-old has, of course, been a key player for the Old Gold in the Premier League, netting 15 goals in 33 games in 2024/25, and his departure will leave a hole in the squad, but a new statistic highlights the fact the Brazilian isn’t exactly the hardest of workers.

That said, the forward’s attacking output is by far the most important thing, and Vitor Pereira is now tasked with bringing in a replacement capable of recording a similar number of goal contributions next season.

According to a report from GiveMeSport, Wolves now have an attacking midfielder in mind, having set their sights on Leicester City playmaker Bilal El Khannouss, with a serious bid for the 21-year-old now being considered.

Contact made: Wolves launch move for £34m Brazilian requested by Pereira

Pereira is looking to make his mark this summer.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 23, 2025

El Khannouss is being targeted as a direct replacement for Cunha, and there is a belief he could be the Old Gold’s new talisman heading into the 2025-26 campaign, but it will take a bid of around £22m to prise him away from Leicester.

Pereira’s side are very keen on wrapping up a deal for the Leicester ace, having found it difficult to land Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, but there could be serious competition for his signature, with Arsenal also considering a move.

"Magician" El Khannouss could be ideal Cunha heir

The 21-year-old found it difficult to make a name for himself in a poor Leicester side during the 2024-25 season, but he is still very young, and there are some signs he could thrive at Molineux as a replacement for Cunha.

Lauded as a “magician” for his performance against Southampton earlier this month, the Moroccan has shown real signs of quality on occasion, picking up an assist and an 8.0/10 SofaScore rating courtesy of a very impressive display against the Saints.

The maestro’s play-style is also easy on the eye, having become known for trivela passes during his time with Genk, and he could be an exciting player to watch for Wolves supporters.

With Cunha’s departure set to generate £62.5m, Wolves should have ample funds to replace the Brazilian international, and El Khannouss could be the ideal heir.

Leeds United had to put out a statement to defend their captain, Ethan Ampadu, after his former partner posted a picture of their child in a Galatasaray shirt.

The Whites pointed out that they are separated and that the Wales international is sensitive to the situation, and that he did not have any responsibility for the image being published on social media.

It is a shame that this situation has created problems for Ampadu after what was a truly brilliant season from the versatile star, who is now a hugely valuable asset for the club.

Ethan Ampadu's current market value

At the time of writing (19/06/2025), the Welsh star is valued at €16m (£13.4m) by Transfermarkt, which is significantly more than the fee the Whites paid for him in the summer of 2023.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Leeds reportedly paid a fee of £7m to sign the defensive midfielder from Chelsea ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and he is now worth almost twice as much, thanks to his form for the club in the Championship.

Ampadu has made 84 appearances in all competitions for the West Yorkshire outfit in that time, helping the team to keep 35 clean sheets in the second tier.

There is a former Leeds defender, though, who is now worth even more than the Wales international, having left the club on a free transfer last year – Robin Koch.

Robin Koch's current market value

The Whites swooped to sign the German defender from Freiburg for an initial fee of £11.5m in the summer of 2020 and he went on to play 77 times for the club across three seasons at Elland Road.

After Leeds were relegated from the Premier League, Koch opted to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan for the 2023/24 campaign until his contract ran out in the summer of 2024.

This meant that the towering centre-back, once dubbed a “monster” by winger Vincenzo Grifo, left to sign for Frankfurt on a free transfer last year, and that has turned out to be an absolute bargain for the German side.

As you can see in the table above, Koch’s performances for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season have been far more impressive than his displays for Leeds in the Premier League were, which has led to interest from elsewhere.

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg recently reported that Bayer Leverkusen are prepared to trigger his release clause, which is worth up to €20m (£16.8m), whilst Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also interested in signing him.

This shows that Koch’s value has soared since his exit from Leeds because he is now worth far more than the £11.5m that the club paid for him in 2020, and obviously more than the £0 they got back for his services in 2020.

The Whites, therefore, may rue how his situation unfoded because they were unable to extract a transfer fee from his exit, as he ran his contract down, and now he is closing in on a big-money move for even more than club captain Ampadu is worth.

Big Piroe upgrade: Leeds leading the race to sign "outstanding" PL star

Leeds are leading the race to sign a Premier League star who would be a big upgrade on Joel Piroe.

By
Dan Emery

May 18, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are on the lookout for potential Ange Postecoglou replacements ahead of next season, according to reports, with the Australian’s future uncertain despite their journey to the Europa League final.

Ange Postecoglou could leave even if Spurs win Europa League

Following a disastrous domestic campaign where Spurs have already matched their all-time record for most defeats in a single Premier League season (19), Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy is very much pondering Postecoglou’s long-term future.

Paratici tells Spurs to hire £105k-per-week manager with Ange "set to leave"

The incoming ex-managing director has preference.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 9, 2025

Injuries took their toll on a ravaged Spurs squad that was forced to cope without a plethora of key players at one point, which undoubtedly played a role in their poor form, but 16th in the table after 19 defeats so far is quite simply not good enough for a ‘big six’ side.

As a result, credible media sources like The Telegraph’s Matt Law are reporting that Postecoglou could still leave Tottenham, even if Spurs end their 17-year wait for major silverware by winning the Europa League final.

Tottenham will face Man United in Bilbao later this month to determine which of the under-performing English sides will save their season, win a trophy and qualify for the Champions League.

However, considering this still may not be enough to save Postecoglou, there are many rumoured candidates in the running to replace him.

One of them is Fulham boss Marco Silva, who is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract and could leave if any club pays his £8 million release clause. Some outlets are also reporting that Silva has rejected Fulham’s first offer of a new contract, potentially giving the north Londoners hope they could tempt him to N17.

As per Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Silva is now the “first name” on Tottenham’s list to replace Postecoglou, overtaking the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth) and Thomas Frank (Brentford).

Marco Silva 'would accept' £190,000-per-week deal to join Tottenham

Following other reports that the 47-year-old would also be open to joining Tottenham (Pete O’Rourke), former Spurs scout and Levy employee Bryan King has shared what he believes would be enough to lure the tactician.

Indeed, King believes that Silva “would accept” a £190,000-per-week contract to join Tottenham, ideally running for three years.

“I think Silva would want a three-year deal to manage Tottenham,” King said to Football Insider.

“You can start thinking of the figures, probably £10m a year. If I were the manager at Fulham, and Spurs came looking, I would just have to see what has gone on before me to see the managers who haven’t been given a chance.

“Therefore, Silva will want at least a three-year deal, and he will want to be well-paid, £10m a year would be a starting figure. I would think he would accept the job under those terms, and I would think he would want to bring his staff with him as well.

“At least five backroom staff, which means people would be losing their jobs at Tottenham, which I don’t think would be a bad thing because some of those guys have been there too long.”

The ex-Everton boss has arguably overachieved at Craven Cottage this season, briefly contending for Champions League qualification despite his lack of resources compared to other top sides, and this will undoubtedly play into Levy’s thinking.

The last time Leeds United were promoted to the Premier League, they had a summer transfer window to remember, landing numerous players who went on to star at Elland Road.

The likes of Raphinha, Rodrigo and Robin Koch all moved to the club that summer, all playing a crucial role in their ability to take the top-flight by storm under Marcelo Bielsa.

Daniel Farke is the man tasked with the responsibility this time around, looking to build a competitive squad after their title-winning, 100-point campaign in the Championship throughout 2024/25.

Whilst his side managed to produce a season to remember in the second tier this season, the gulf between the two divisions is getting larger year-on-year, with quality additions needed to have any chance of survival.

The transfer window is now just around the corner, with the Whites’ hierarchy already making moves to land numerous talents who could thrive at Elland Road.

The latest on Leeds’ pursuit of new additions this summer

Given the recent reports that claim Leeds will have around £100m to spend on new additions this summer, it’s no surprise to see a whole host of talents linked with a move to Yorkshire.

Former star Kalvin Phillips is just one player who’s been touted with a move, potentially securing an unexpected return after his £45m switch to Manchester City in the summer of 2022.

However, he’s not the only midfielder on the club’s shortlist for the upcoming window, with Newcastle United star Sean Longstaff emerging as another option, according to TEAMtalk.

The report claims that the Whites are plotting a move for the 27-year-old star, who’s made 25 appearances in the Premier League throughout the ongoing campaign.

It also states that he could be available for as little as £12m during the off-season, with Everton and Manchester United also in the race for his signature ahead of the opening of the market.

Why Longstaff would be perfect alongside Tanaka

Japanese international Ao Tanaka made the switch to join Leeds nearly 12 months ago, arriving from German outfit Fortuna Düsseldorf for a fee in the region of £3.5m.

Such a deal appears to be a bargain given his displays in Yorkshire, making 45 appearances across all competitions and netting five goals in the process.

The 26-year-old was named in the EFL’s Team of the Season, showcasing his excellent impact within Farke’s side, likely to be a key part of any success in 2025/26.

He could take his game to the next level with the potential arrival of Longstaff, with the Newcastle ace having the tools to make the pair a force to be reckoned with next campaign.

The star, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by former footballer Alan Shearer, has completed 86% of his passes in the league, whilst registering 2.6 touches in the opposition box – showcasing his impressive displays with the ball at his feet.

He’s also managed to win 1.8 tackles won per 90, whilst winning 4.8 duels – able to regain possession for Farke’s men and hand them the added defensive quality they will need in England’s top-flight.

Over the years, he’s managed to register 10 goals from his midfield role, having the quality in the final third to make an impact should he find himself in such a position.

Such figures could be able to fall perfectly into the hands of Tanaka, enabling the Japanese star to carry on his excellent goalscoring record from a deep-lying position.

£12m for a player with his Premier League experience would be a bargain in today’s market, making for a superb start to what is certainly going to be a massive summer for the football club.

He'd be amazing with Beto: £17m star is open to discussing a move to Leeds

Star who is open to talks over a move to Leeds would be perfect for fellow target Beto.

1

By
Dan Emery

May 13, 2025

Will Manchester City spend big this summer?

Back in January, the Sky Blues spent a reported £180m, that’s more than the other 19 Premier League clubs combined, acquiring five new players, namely Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Juma Bah and Vitor Reis.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola does not plan to stop there, so does he have his eyes set on a new winger?

Manchester City's wide-attacker target

Much of the transfer chatter as we approach the summer has surrounded the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Florian Wirtz. While Wirtz can play out wide, he’s more of a no.10, and thus, the Citizens may need someone else to take on that berth instead.

Well, according to a report from Spain, Manchester City remain “interested” in signing Rodrygo, who is valued at €100m (around £85m) by Real Madrid.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As noted by Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show, Real Madrid lack balance when Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé are all deployed as a front three, forecasting that one will ultimately be “sacrificed”, with Rodrygo the most likely candidate.

Nevertheless, this is not to diminish the Brazilian’s talent, with his manager Carlo Ancelotti labeling him a “special striker”, while teammate Luka Modrić described him as a “world-class superstar”.

Nevertheless, with Felipe del Campo of Radio Marca claiming Rodrygo is considering leaving Real Madrid, could he be on his way to Manchester?

What Rodrygo's arrival would mean for Jeremy Doku

Given their positional and stylistic similarities, should Rodrygo swap the Bernabéu for the Etihad, this could be bad news for Jérémy Doku.

The Belgian hadn’t started any of the Citizens’ last five matches, making him a surprise inclusion in Guardiola’s lineup against Wolves on Friday night but he repaid the manager’s faith with an eye-catching performance, teeing-up compatriot Kevin De Bruyne for the night’s only goal.

Nevertheless, more broadly, Doku’s form this season has been mixed, scoring just six goals across all competitions, the most recent of which came during the 6-0 demolition of Ipswich in January.

Rodrygo, on the other hand, has continued to produce impressive numbers, in spite of the fact Real Madrid remain dysfunctional, as the table below highlights.

As the table outlines, Rodrygo would represent a clear upgrade on Doku, coming out on top when it comes to goals, assists, shooting and chances created, even if the Belgian’s dribbling numbers are admittedly superior.

This shouldn’t be too surprising though, given that, as noted by Adrian Clarke of the Premier League, Doku might just be the ‘best dribbler in the world’, having registered more progressive carries (189) than anyone else across Europe’s top five leagues this season, according to FBref.com.

On the other end, Martina Alcheva of World Soccer Talk praises Rodrygo’s ‘versatility and work rate’, while Sive Vishwa of Breaking the Lines notes he is a ‘vital player for Real Madrid’, in terms of ‘pressing’, goal contributions and ‘unlocking defences’, believing the Brazilian to be ‘one of the hottest prospects in world football’.

Thus, if Man City get the opportunity to snap up Rodrygo this summer, they should absolutely do so, as he would improve any team he joins, potentially elevating the Sky Blues back to a level where they’re dominating the Premier League once again.

Romano: Man City to "advance" for £100m star; personal terms not an issue

Fabrizio Romano has provided an update…

By
Tom Cunningham

May 5, 2025

Newcastle United responded to their demoralising 4-1 loss on the road to Aston Villa by easily getting the better of ten-man Ipswich Town 3-0 back at St James’ Park.

The Champions League aspiring side are now up to third in the Premier League standings off the back of this straightforward victory, with the result also finally sending the Tractor Boys back down to the Championship after they had been agonisingly waiting on.

Of course, Alexander Isak had to get in on the goalscoring action for Eddie Howe’s Magpies, with his penalty late into the first half getting the ball rolling for what was a comprehensive home victory.

Isak's performance in numbers

Isak is now up to a stunning 26 goals in all competitions, courtesy of his opener versus Kieran McKenna’s relegated visitors, but it was not the most impressive all-round showing from the Swede away from coolly converting his spot-kick.

Indeed, the forward would only manage to muster up 37 touches of the ball away from his decisive penalty beating Alex Palmer, with the ex-Real Sociedad man also managing to spurn two big chances to try and make Newcastle’s lead even more emphatic.

William Osula will be looking to keep Isak on his toes after finding the back of the net himself as a second-half substitute, but the 25-year-old’s starting spot is still very much set in stone, considering his blistering ability to fire home opportunities when he’s at his best.

There is another figure in Howe’s main XI who will also be confident that his spot is nailed on as secure, especially after his classy afternoon against Ipswich further cemented his worth to the Magpies’ cause.

The 10/10 ace who is now as undroppable as Isak

Minus that glaring blip at Villa Park, Newcastle have been a joy to watch in recent weeks if you’re of a Tyneside persuasion, with Howe’s men winning eight of their last nine games in all competitions away from the 4-1 loss to Unai Emery’s side.

Newcastle just seem to have a wonderful squad cohesion at the moment, with Dan Burn always putting in titan-like displays at the back, alongside Kieran Trippier chipping in with some crucial assists when the heat is ramped up.

The former Tottenham Hotspur full-back would of course play a huge role in the Magpies shocking Liverpool at Wembley in the EFL Cup final, with his corner kick delivery perfect for the head of Burn to convert during the 2-1 victory.

There was a sense of deja vu in the air at St James’ Park on Saturday as Trippier would tally up one of his assists on the day when picking out the reliable man mountain once more, alongside also teeing up Osula for his first-ever Premier League strike.

The ageing defender was constantly involved in Newcastle attacks when bombing down the right flank, with Trippier ending the contest with a mind-blowing 156 touches amassed, on top of 113 accurate passes being registered.

The Magpies number two isn’t any spring chicken at 34 years of age, but Howe will surely want to keep him around past this season despite his veteran status, particularly if he can conjure up more top-drawer showings like this one.

Unbelievably, football journalist Lee Ryder would hand out a faultless 10/10 match rating to Trippier after the dust had settled on the win, stating that his performance was massively ‘influential’, which is why he is now as undroppable as Isak.

Newcastle will just hope the assists keep flowing from Trippier when the Toon travel to a dangerous Brighton and Hove Albion side to kickstart May, knowing full well that more heroics to come from their loyal servant could see a Champions League place become a reality.

Newcastle boss Howe holds direct talks with "fantastic" £30m striker target

The Magpies are in the hunt for attacking reinforcements.

1

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Apr 26, 2025

Nottingham Forest have now been presented with an opportunity to beat Inter Milan and Bayern Munich to the signing of an “explosive” forward, but they will have to act quickly, according to a report.

Forest set to bolster attacking options

Despite the 2-1 loss away at Aston Villa last time out, Forest remain in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League next season, which means they should be able to compete for the signatures of some of Europe’s top forwards.

Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres is one of the most high-profile targets, and the Tricky Trees are now willing to offer winger Jota Silva as part of an exchange deal for the Sweden international, who is attracting widespread interest ahead of the summer window.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have also identified targets from within the Premier League, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha and Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez of interest, having reportedly submitted a £50m bid for the Uruguayan striker, who looks set to leave the Reds.

£25m release clause: Nottingham Forest join hectic race for "superb" star

They could trigger his release clause.

By
Tom Cunningham

Apr 7, 2025

Not only is Nuno keen to bring in a new striker, but the manager is also looking at signing a new winger, and a report from Italy has revealed Nottingham Forest have an opportunity to beat Bayern Munich and Inter Milan to the signature of Marseille’s Luis Henrique (via Sport Witness).

Inter are in contact over a deal for Henrique, but they are unwilling to match Marseille’s valuation, deeming a fee of €25m (£21m) to be fair, while the French club are looking to receive €30m – €35m (£26m – £30m)

As such, either Forest or Premier League rivals Newcastle United could move ahead in the race for the Brazilian, should they be willing to table a bid of at least £26m, but they will need to move swiftly, with Inter trying to get a deal done before the end of May.

"Explosive" Henrique could suit Nuno's system

Much of the Tricky Trees’ success this season can be put down to Nuno’s style of play, which relies on hitting their opponents with pace on the counter-attack, as confirmed by Anthony Elanga after the recent 1-0 victory against Manchester United.

“It is about attacking the space and getting to the opposite goal as quick as I can. I saw the space and I believe I’m one of the fastest players in the league.”

Elanga has been a key player for Forest this season, and there are clear signs Henrique would also be a perfect fit in Nuno’s system, having been lauded as “explosive” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also praises the winger for his pace.

The 23-year-old’s attacking output has also been impressive this season, with seven goals and five assists to his name in Ligue 1, so Forest should do their utmost to ensure they win the race for his signature.

Potentially replacing the struggling Andre Onana, Manchester United are now reportedly eyeing a bargain deal to sign a former Newcastle United shot-stopper for Ruben Amorim this summer.

Man Utd targeting Onana replacements

Whilst there was a brief spell at the start of the season that Onana looked to have put any problems in the past, mistakes have since crept back into his game under Amorim, who must replace his goalkeeper. The former Inter Milan man must be part of a ruthless clear-out at Old Trafford, with several names already linked with a summer switch to Manchester United to act as a replacement.

Onana has struggled ever since arriving last season and found himself at the centre of criticism from the likes of Gary Neville following some disappointing displays.

Development: Man Utd hold positive talks with "strong" £68m star over move

He’d be an instant upgrade.

By
Tom Cunningham

Apr 5, 2025

The Manchester United legend slammed the goalkeeper after he made a mistake against Aston Villa last season, saying: “That was a pathetic passage of play. McGinn’s delivery was awful and then Onana makes a mess of it. Onana is getting on my nerves, slowing the game down and then keeps giving it away. Catch it and stay in your box!”

If recent reports are anything to go by too, Manchester United have seen enough. Recent rumours have even indicated that the Red Devils are interested in bringing David de Gea back to the club in what would be a sensational deal. Of course, it was Onana who initially came in to replace the Spaniard two seasons ago.

Meanwhile, other names such as Mike Maignan have also threatened to steal the headlines. The AC Milan goalkeeper is arguably one of the best in his position and his reported price tag reflects that, sitting at an eye-watering £67m ahead of the summer.

Whether the Red Devils can afford such a deal is the big question. The reality is that they could be forced to turn their focus towards a bargain deal to replace Onana this summer.

Man Utd eyeing Freddie Woodman bargain

According to The Sun, Manchester United are now eyeing a bargain deal to sign Freddie Woodman from Preston North End this summer. The former Newcastle shot-stopper is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, which could allow those at Old Trafford to swoop in and land a free transfer.

The 28-year-old has been in excellent form in the Championship this season and may have done enough to earn a move back to the Premier League for the first time since leaving St James’ Park on a permanent deal in 2022. Having kept as many as 17 clean sheets in the current campaign, Woodman is far from the young goalkeeper who struggled to establish himself at Newcastle.

In recent years, Woodman has instead found himself at the centre of praise at Preston, including from Ryan Lowe. The former manager told reporters after the shot-stopper kept his 16th clean sheet of the 2022/23 campaign: “Freddie made some fantastic saves and that’s 16 clean sheets for him now, which is brilliant.

“He’s got a gashed eye and had three or four stitches at half-time, but there was no way we were going to get him off the pitch.”