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Chelsea’s Champions League push continues.

On Sunday, the Blues claimed a vital 3-1 victory over the newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge; Enzo Fernández broke the deadlock inside three minutes, a freak own goal doubled their advantage, before Cole Palmer ended his goal draught by converting a stoppage time penalty.

Having now won three Premier League games on the spin, Enzo Maresca’s side remain fifth, three points clear of both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, desperately hoping to cling onto the final Champions League position.

Regardless of whether they remain in the top five places or not, Chelsea are set to spend big this summer, because that’s simply become their modus operandi under Todd Boehly’s ownership, so could they get their hands on a new centre-forward?

Chelsea seeking to sign a new striker

Some notable names have been linked with a move to the Bridge this summer with the likes of Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins reportedly on their radar.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, according to a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea are “keeping close tabs” on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with Arsenal and Liverpool both described as ‘huge admirers’.

Sesko’s team are ‘in active talks’ with those three clubs as the German side aim to rake in a reported £70m for his signature.

It looked as though the Slovenian would be on the move last summer but signed a new contract in Leipzig, just as Chelsea and Arsenal were ‘ready to trigger’ his then £55m release clause, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian.

Now though, Sesko appears to be ready to move on from the Bundesliga, so where would he fit in at Stamford Bridge?

Why Sesko would be an upgrade on Nkunku

As reported by Sky Sports Deutschland this weekend, Christopher Nkunku ‘has decided to leave Chelsea’ at the end of the season, with Fabrizio Romano adding that the Frenchman is ‘keen’ to depart the club.

Nkunku was not even a substitute for Sunday’s win over Liverpool, nor last Thursday’s victory over Djurgården in Stockholm, with manager Maresca later confirming he will be sidelined for a fortnight due to a “small problem”.

The 27-year-old, who himself arrived from RB Leipzig for £52m two summers ago, has never managed to establish himself as a key figure in West London, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

56

Minutes

2,555

Starts

24

PL appearances

38

PL starts

11

Matches missed injured

36

Matches an unused sub

7

Apps 15 minutes or less

15

Goals

17

PL goals

6

UECL goals

7

Assists

5

As the table emphasises, the French forward has never been a regular in Chelsea’s starting lineups, especially in the league.

He has scored 14 goals this season, but seven of these have come in the Conference League, while he was also on target against Morecambe in the FA Cup, having bagged a hat-trick against Barrow in the EFL Cup.

So, with bearing in mind he also played/plays for Leipzig, would Sesko avoid a similar fate?

Well, all available evidence suggests that, whoever gets their hands on the striker this summer, will have secured the services of an exceptional striker.

Analyst Ben Mattinson believes he possesses “electric pace”, impressed by his “two-footed ball-striking” ability, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout exclaims that he is “a superb centre-forward in the making”.

So, let’s take a look at the powerful forward’s Bundesliga statistics this season.

Goals

13

8th

35th

Assists

5

28th

117th

Shots

65

11th

162nd

Shots on target

29

11th

46th

Goals – xG

+3

11th

43rd

While his statistics may not leap off the page, Sesko’s screamer against Bayern Munich on Saturday took his tally to 21 for the season across all competitions, four of which came in the Champions League, to go with the 18 he managed last time round.

He also scored five times in this year’s UEFA Nations League, a tally only bettered by Viktor Gyökeres​​​​​​​, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo and Razvan Marin; pretty eclectic company to keep.

Alex Barker of Breaking the Lines believes the Slovenian striker to be a ‘generational’ talent, while Raphael Honigstein and Mark Carey of the Athletic forecast that he’ll continue to develop and get better, hence why Soham Mukherjee of Goal labels him ‘one of the hottest names in the European transfer market’.

Thus, Sesko would surely be an excellent signing for Chelsea, representing a clear upgrade on the wantaway Nkunku.

Best signing since Palmer: Chelsea could land a £60m Gyokeres alternative

Chelsea should sign a “clinical” Premier League striker instead of Viktor Gyökeres

ByBen Gray May 4, 2025

Manchester City’s major squad rebuild continues.

After Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico González, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah all joined in January, at the cost of around £180m, more big-money signings are expected to be arriving at the Etihad this summer.

So, get excited Man City fans, one of the most talented left-backs in world football could be on his way.

Manchester City's first-choice left-back target

According to a report by Lyall Thomas and Mark McAdam of Sky Sports News, Manchester City are “interested” in a move for Bournemouth left-back Miloš Kerkez, with Liverpool and Real Madrid also mentioned as clubs that are in the running.

After a very impressive season by the South Coast, the Hungarian international is widely-expected to move this summer, and is valued at £45m, according to a report by Gary Jacob of the Times, although a bidding war could see that price-tag increase.

So, could the 21-year-old be on his way to Manchester?

How Miloš Kerkez would improve Manchester City

As alluded to earlier, Kerkez has been a standout performers this season, with Matt Furniss of Opta’s the Analyst describing him as ‘one of the hottest properties’ in world football right now, adding that he’ll soon become ‘one of the best full-backs in Europe’.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout agrees, describing him as “one of the most talented left-backs in world football”, so let’s assess his statistics.

Minutes

2,897

16th

Goals

2

120th

Assists

5

31st

Progressive carries

89

28th

Progressive passes

141

24rd

Passes attempted

1141

52nd

Key passes

30

64th

Crosses into the area

22

3rd

Shot-creating actions

74

51st

% of dribblers tackled

61.1%

49th

Blocks

33

47th

Interceptions

38

17th

Clearances

100

33rd

Ball recoveries

148

23rd

As outlined in the table, Kerkez ranks highly for most metric across the board, with his attacking statistics particularly impressive, considering he is a full-back.

Only Antonee Robinson and Pedro Pedro have accumulated more than Kerkez’s 22 crosses into the penalty area, helping the Hungarian international rack up five assists, two of which came during a 2-1 victory over Manchester City in November.

So, how would he fit into Man City’s team?

Well, Pep Guardiola has deployed numerous players on the left-wing so far this season, including Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Savinho, Bernardo Silva and Marmoush, but Jérémy Doku has always appeared to be the most natural fit for this position.

The Belgian was in the headlines on Tuesday night, assisting Matheus Nunes’ last-gasp winner against Aston Villa with a sensational, impudent trivela cross that was tucked home at the back post.

Alex Keble told the Premier League that Doku’s introduction changed the game, as a result of his direct dribbling and maverick energy, something such a tactical chess match required.

Meantime, Guardiola stated on Saturday that it was “‘so unfair” that Doku had not been starting more frequently, with this the fourth successive fixture in which he’d been utilised off the bench.

The Belgian ranks second in the Premier League for attempted take-ons this season, as well as first for both successful take-ons and progressive carries, registering at least 38 more of the latter than anybody else, all according to FBref.com.

Thus, with a high-quality, reliable and consistent left-back in Kerkez behind him, we could finally see the best of Doku on a regular basis, should the pair link-up in sky blue.

100% dribbles, 88% passing: Pep has found his own Cambiaso in Man City star

Manchester City claimed a vital 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Tuesday, with one star in particular catching the eye.

ByBen Gray Apr 23, 2025

In January, Manchester City made a handful of signings who could become the cornerstones of a team entering a new era under Pep Guardiola next season.

With only the FA Cup winnable this season, it has been one of transition for the Spaniard. He did sign a new deal last November, however, indicating that he is looking ahead to a new challenge starting this summer.

The likes of Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov have all proven over the previous few months that they have the required tools to perform for a club like City.

One player who will be departing the Etihad this summer is Kevin De Bruyne, who will end his ten-year association with City when his contract expires.

Guardiola has taken the club to new levels since he arrived in Manchester in 2016 after spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

It could also be argued that the main reason he led the team to such heights was having someone like De Bruyne in his squad to begin with.

The numbers behind De Bruyne's staggering Etihad career

Given what the Belgian has achieved with the club since moving to England from Wolfsburg ahead of the 2015/16 season, the playmaker might be one of the most important players in their history.

Think back to Paul Merson’s verdict on the midfielder in 2015, who said: “I like the signing of Fabian Delph, but I think Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne are pathetically overpriced. They have spent £54.5m on De Bruyne – and he’s a player they don’t really need.”

How wrong was he? At the time of writing, De Bruyne has played 415 matches for City, registering 284 goal contributions – 107 goals and 177 assists – in the process. This is a staggering number for the attacking midfielder, meaning he recorded a goal involvement once every 1.46 matches.

During that time, he helped City win six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League in 2023. With City getting closer and closer to glory in the latter competition, De Bruyne took matters into his own hands that season, registering eight goal involvements, creating eight big chances and averaging 2.2 key passes per game as they eventually defeated Inter Milan in the final.

He may not have reached this sort of level over the previous two seasons, as injuries have begun to hamper his involvement. Indeed, the midfielder has missed 48 games since August 2023.

2023/24

26

6

18

2022/23

49

10

31

2021/22

45

19

15

2020/21

40

10

18

2019/20

48

16

22

2018/19

32

6

11

2017/18

52

12

21

2016/17

49

7

20

2015/16

41

16

13

Regardless, the 33-year-old is up there among the pantheon of City greats for his contribution over the previous decade.

The question now for Guardiola is, who comes in to replace him next season? And will the club have to pay a fortune for the privilege? Considering the recent news, they might just have found a perfect heir to the Belgian maestro.

Manchester City's perfect De Bruyne replacement

According to the Mirror, officials from Bayer Leverkusen made a visit to the Etihad last week in order to enquire about the availability of duo James McAtee and Stefan Ortega.

Transfer Focus

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

The German side are keen on landing both players during the summer transfer window. As a result, this may give Guardiola an advantage in their pursuit of Florian Wirtz with it being made known during those meetings that City would like to bring him to England.

He has been valued at around £100m by the club, who would prefer him to leave Germany if a deal was reached to sell him, rather than joining Bayern Munich, who are also keen.

City could use McAtee and Ortega as makeweights regarding any prospective deal and, given his success already on the continent, Wirtz could have the same sort of impact that De Bruyne made.

Wirtz has the same sort of qualities as another City legend – David Silva – and if he manages to make a quick impact upon a move to the Premier League, he has the potential to replicate Silva’s success with the club.

Why Florian Wirtz could be City's next David Silva

If De Bruyne took City to new levels during his career with the club, Silva was arguably the catalyst for their golden era.

The diminutive Spaniard may have taken a few months to properly settle into life in Manchester, but he ended his first season with 19 goal contributions as the club won the FA Cup.

From there on, Silva went from strength to strength. Not only did he have an eye for goal, scoring 77 times for the club, but the midfielder was at his best creating chances for others, as evidenced by his 130 assists in 436 matches for City.

Aided by his small centre of gravity, Silva used this to his advantage, getting into dangerous positions with ease. Wirtz could offer something similar to City should he make the move to England this summer.

Hailed as a “mastermind” by talent scout Jacek Kulig during Leverkusen’s stunning 2023/24 campaign, Wirtz has plenty of qualities that are similar to Silva.

Best in an attacking midfield role, just like the Spaniard, Wirtz has the capability to both score and create in equal measure.

Indeed, since making his Leverkusen debut back during the 2019/20 season, the German international has scored 56 goals and grabbed 63 assists in that time.

His club might not win any silverware this season, but the 21-year-old has still managed to create 15 assists in the Bundesliga, along with averaging 1.9 key passes and succeeding with 2.8 dribbles per game.

The transition from an incredible prospect to a genuine world-class talent is now complete. Like Silva before him, Wirtz can take the next step in his career by moving from the continent to England this summer. Just who knows what he might have achieved at this stage next term.

Man City have a "quality" striker to replace Haaland & it's not Marmoush

With Erling Haaland sidelined for a while, Pep Guardiola must entrust Man City “quality” striker to deputise, and it is not Omar Marmoush.

ByBen Gray Apr 14, 2025

Celtic will look to tie up loose ends from a domestic standpoint ahead of next season before looking to strike while the iron is hot on the transfer market.

Celtic in hunt for domestic treble to reflect progress under Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has led Celtic to within touching distance of another treble and will hope his side can push a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title over the line this weekend should permutations fall their way.

The Bhoys need to defeat Kilmarnock on Saturday to move within a point of the league crown, which could be handed to them the following day if Rangers lose out at Aberdeen.

Despite the promise of a fantastic end to the campaign, Rodgers has warned against Celtic complacency following a surprise 1-0 defeat for his side against St Johnstone last Sunday.

He stated: “It’s happened too many times. I’ve seen a trend now with us, and it will be interesting between now and the end of the season in terms of mentality.”

Losing three of his last seven Scottish Premiership encounters, the Irishman has possibly been given food for thought as the summer window approaches.

Rodgers must finally get rid of Celtic dud who earns more than Maeda

Celtic must move on from the forward who earns even more than Daizen Maeda.

4 ByDan Emery Apr 9, 2025

Reports have suggested Celtic want to sign Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj to shore up their options in the engine room, which may go some way to indicating where he sees the most pressing need for reinforcements.

Delivering domestic trophies is deemed as the bread and butter in Scotland, but there is an ever-blooming expectation that the Hoops’ rude financial health should translate to regular impressive showings in Europe, with recent claims suggesting Rodgers has demanded a summer warchest to stay at Celtic.

Tapping into that theme, the manager could now be granted several new arrivals at Parkhead to help his cause, according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness.

Wyness: Celtic boss Rodgers could line up five summer signings

Speaking to Football Insider, Wyness claimed Celtic could make up to five summer signings in what is set to be an “aggressive” window for all involved at Parkhead, citing their desire to grow in the Champions League as a critical factor.

He stated: “Brendan will definitely want to be aggressive this summer, every manager wants that. I’ve never had a manager work for me who isn’t two players short of what he wants. No matter what you give them, they always want at least two more.

Where are Celtic most likely to strengthen this summer?

Left-back – almost certain to happen

Greg Taylor likely to leave for free, cover needed for Kieran Tierney

Defensive midfield – possible but not at top of priority list

Callum McGregor is 32 in June and may need his minutes managed

Central midfield – if departures occur

Reo Hatate may be at the end of his cycle, so another body is likely

On the flanks – high likelihood

Daizen Maeda’s move to central striking role has created a void

Striker – almost certain to happen

Maeda and Adam Idah could use competition through the middle

“Brendan will, in this case, want another three, four, or even five – given the Champions League and the levels they want to be at. So it will be that usual battle.”

Although there is unlikely to be a sea change at Celtic this summer, a squad refresh may be needed to instill the hunger needed to claim a fifth Scottish Premiership title in a row alongside staking a claim in the Champions League.

Now, the onus remains on Parkhead recruitment chiefs to ensure the Bhoys are prepared by the time qualifiers come around, which won’t be an easy test so early into the new campaign.

Like all clubs of their size and with their history, Chelsea have had some incredible players represent them over the years.

Moreover, those players have often formed brilliant duos, such as Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba and John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho.

Another pairing that enjoyed immense success during their time at Stamford Bridge was Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, who played 107 matches together, averaged two points per game and won two Premier League titles.

So, fans should be excited that the club might be able to recreate a partnership similar to that one with the sensational Estêvãoand one of Cobham’s most promising gems.

Estêvão's start to his Chelsea career

There has long been plenty of hype around Estêvão and the kind of player he could develop into.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

In fact, just a few months before Chelsea signed him, respected analyst Ben Mattinson labelled the teenage phenom a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”

Of course, there is still a long way to go before that could happen, but so far this season, it would probably be fair to say that the young Brazilian has met, or even exceeded, expectations.

For example, in 17 appearances, totalling just 740 minutes, he has already scored five goals and provided one assist.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.83 games, or more importantly, every 123.33 minutes.

Furthermore, the Franca-born superstar in the making has also already shown an ability to thrive and score in the club’s biggest games.

For example, he came on against Liverpool a couple of months ago and scored the winner and then, against Barcelona this week, he scored the all-important second goal to take the game away from the Spanish side.

Finally, on top of the output, the former Palmeiras prospect also passes the eye-test with flying colours, as Hazard did; he’s a tremendously fun footballer to watch, and it feels like something is going to happen with a ball at his feet.

Now, as if one young superstar in the making wasn’t enough, Chelsea also have a goalscoring machine in the academy who could become Estêvão’s Costa.

The Cobham gem who could be Estêvão's Costa

As always seems to be the case, Chelsea have plenty of seriously exciting youngsters coming through the academy at the moment, with chief among them, and the player who could form a game-breaking partnership with Estevao, being Shumaira Mheuka.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion prospect joined the Blues’ youth setup in 2022 and, in the time since, has become one of the most promising strikers in academy football.

Now, that might sound hyperbolic, but his output over the last couple of years proves that it very much is not.

For example, despite being just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists in 30 appearances across the u18s and u21s.

Yet, while that is an impressive return, he’s taken another massive step forward this year.

So far, the Birmingham-born monster has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 13 appearances for the junior sides, totalling 1,067 minutes.

Appearances

63

Goals

34

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.68

That means the prolific number nine is averaging 1.23 goal involvements every game, or one every 66.68 minutes, which is surely a rate of return that warrants him getting more first-team action this season.

It’s not just at club level where the youngster is making a name, though: in 20 appearances for England’s u19s, he has chalked up a huge tally of 14 goals and three assists.

With numbers like these, it’s not hard to see why respected talent scout Jacek Kulig has described the youngster as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”

Ultimately, while it might not happen this year, Chelsea need to play Estevao alongside Mheuka at some point, as they could end up being the club’s new Hazard and Costa.

Chelsea join Arsenal in transfer battle to sign "leader" dubbed the new Saliba

The Blues could get their own version of the Arsenal star.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 27, 2025

This weekend is arguably the biggest in Thomas Frank’s tenure as Tottenham Hotspur manager, when he leads his side out against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The Dane has yet to get his first taste of the North London Derby, but he will be looking to get one over Mikel Arteta and secure bragging rights for the Lilywhites faithful.

Such a fixture is huge for supporters, with the meeting between the two clubs one of the first dates they look for upon fixture release day, before a ball is kicked.

However, it’s been a game that the white side of North London have often come out on the losing side away from home – subsequently winning just one of their last 32 encounters.

If Frank’s side are to write themselves into the history books, they will desperately need to keep one player quiet throughout the clash at the Emirates.

The threat Bukayo Saka poses to Spurs this weekend

Bukayo Saka may ply his trade for Arsenal, but he’s cemented himself as one of the Premier League’s most threatening attackers over the last couple of years.

The Englishman has managed to register over 20 combined goals and assists in all competitions in each of the last three years – often providing the difference in such a fixture.

He’s often popped up with the goods in attacking areas, as seen by his record against the Lilywhites since his senior debut back in the 2020/21 campaign.

Saka has featured on ten occasions against Spurs throughout his professional career, racking up a total of five goals – subsequently finding the net in 50% of his outings in such a clash.

He’s also popped up with various assists in the North London Derby, with his corner to Gabriel securing the Gunners all three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last campaign.

It’s evident that the winger possesses serious quality, often coming alive on Derby Day, with Frank and his squad desperately needing to silence him on Sunday afternoon.

However, he too could unleash his own version of the Englishman at the Emirates, with the Lilywhites star potentially able to inflict serious trouble on Arteta’s men.

The Spurs star who’s becoming their answer to Saka

Players such as Saka don’t come around very often, and when they do, they cost a pretty penny – many of which undoubtedly cost a small fortune in the modern-day.

Whilst Spurs are unlikely to pay over the odds for top-level talents, they have invested heavily into the frontline over recent years – as seen by their deal to land Brennan Johnson.

The hierarchy forked out a reported £47.5m for the Welshman’s signature back in the summer of 2023, with the attacker showcasing his talents in North London last campaign.

He registered a total of 18 goals across all competitions last season, the highest of any player in the squad, often starring off the right-hand side of the club’s attack.

However, he’s fallen down the pecking order in recent months, which has resulted in various options being considered within the forward line in the capital.

Mathys Tel joined the Lilywhites on a permanent basis during the summer window, with the Frenchman costing a total of £27m from German side Bayern Munich.

The 20-year-old is capable of operating off the left-hand side or even as a centre-forward, with Frank able to rely upon the youngster in a variety of different positions.

When operating on the left, he’s able to cut inside and onto his favoured foot – something which Saka has made a name for himself for in England’s top-flight.

His similarities to the Englishman are also reflected in his shot on target accuracy, with Tel matching the winger with his tally of placing 33% of his efforts between the posts.

The Frenchman has previously impressed in his professional career, but has transferred his skills over to the Premier League, as seen by his tally of two goals in the league this season.

Games played

8

Goals scored

2

Shot on target accuracy

33%

Pass accuracy

73%

Dribble success

50%

Long ball success

83%

Aerials won

1.2

Mins per goal

124.5

Tel’s efforts in attacking areas have led to huge praise from numerous outlets, with Bayern Chairman Herbert Hainer labelling him “one of the biggest talents in Europe”.

However, he will need consistent first-team minutes to reach the heights many have touted him to, with Frank needing to trust him in the near future to reap the rewards.

He’s shown that he’s capable of producing the goods in attacking areas, potentially able to provide the difference in the clash against the Gunners on Sunday.

Tel has proven he’s able to be the club’s answer to Saka, but it remains to be seen if the manager will show faith in him to allow the youngster to continue on his upward trajectory.

Spurs must sell "one of the worst signings in PL history" to fund Semenyo

Tottenham Hotspur must sell one player if they are to land Antoine Semenyo in January.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 20, 2025

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has a chance to recalibrate now that the Premier League has put the brakes on for the November international break.

It has not been good enough this season. Ahead of the latest pause, Newcastle needed to get something from their trip to the Gtech. It didn’t happen, and Keith Andrews’ side emerged 3-1 victors and with Dan Burn sent off to boot.

The truth is that the Magpies need a reset. It was always going to be tough to match the form of last season, with Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak charging an incredible winter winning run that led to triumph in the Carabao Cup. Isak has been sold, and the summer transfer window was a turbulent one.

Everton

13th

28.0

Aston Villa

6th

27.9

Newcastle

14th

27.6

Fulham

15th

27.6

Burnley

17th

27.1

But United are getting old. Too many starters this season ripened some time ago, and in this, Howe must work toward developing further the younger members of his squad.

Newcastle must promote their future

Newcastle might have a somewhat elderly Premier League squad, but that’s not to say they lack up-and-coming stars.

For example, injuries have kept Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall on the sidelines for much of the campaign. 22 and 21 respectively, the dynamic full-backs will be integral to the rekindling of Howe’s system. Last season, Alice Talks Footy hailed Hall as “the best left-back in the league”, and his fellow Cobham graduate as a “super impressive” up-and-comer.

Likewise, Lewis Miley has shown signs of development this season, growing into his skin in central midfield. The Geordie talent has impressed alongside Tonali and the all-action skipper, Bruno Guimaraes, and he could end up replacing a teammate in Joelinton, who has flattered to deceive at times this term.

Has the 29-year-old Joelinton exhausted his physicality? Undoubtedly, the Brazilian is missing some of his usual sharpness and intelligence in the middle of the park.

25/26

1.4

4.2

24/25

2.0

5.7

23/24

2.0

4.9

22/23

2.2

7.0

21/22

2.1

6.9

20/21

1.1

6.0

19/20

0.9

7.5

Joelinton has played so much football at Newcastle, no holds barred, that it’s understandable he might be slowly winding down.

However, there’s another Toon star whose form this season has been more concerning, for they have yet to reach their prime, and there is a worry that so many injuries have knocked this talent too far out of kilter.

"The future of this club" is now struggling

Newcastle have always been resilient and organised under Howe’s wing, and even amid the frustration of wretched away form this term, Newcastle’s xGA (expected goals against) total stands at just 11.1 in the Premier League, a more impressive figure than all in the division save for Manchester City and Arsenal.

But, even so, improvements need to be made in central defence, and the form of Sven Botman is admittedly becoming a concern for Howe as he waits for his star man at the rear to click into gear.

Sports writer Joel Bland actually commented on Botman’s “embarrassing” effort to clear one of Brentford’s notorious long throws at the weekend. The ball was cannoned in after the interval, Newcastle one goal to the good after Harvey Barnes’ first-half finish, but Botman’s tame clearance allowed Kevin Schade to nod home from close range.

You might call it a schoolboy error. When dealing with aerial danger, it is well-known to sweep the ball away, not divert it cross-box and into the melee.

In this, Botman failed in his duties, and newspaper Chronicle Live saw it fit to brand the centre-half with a 3/10 match rating, having been ragdolled by Igor Thiago all afternoon besides.

Botman needs to recover his former level of security and completeness at the back. He was redoubtable in front of Nick Pope in 2022/23, his debut year in England, keeping 11 clean sheets and conceding only 33 goals all season, the joint-best record, shared with champions Manchester City.

It was only at the start of the current campaign that Bruno described the Netherlands star as being “the future of this club”, along with Malick Thiaw, who swapped AC Milan for St. James’ Park in a package worth around £35m this summer.

But Thiaw has outperformed his counterpart this season, and that having suffered regular injury issues of his own in Italy over the past several years. With Botman having spent plenty of time in the thick of the Premier League action this term, having started seven matches in a row, he should be sharper and more commanding at this point.

The fact that this is not the case is bound to be on Howe’s mind, though the manager may feel that the reintegration of Hall on the left side of the backline could smooth out some creases and allow Botman to connect with a more natural wide fit that Burn, whose industriousness can only stretch so far.

This all comes with the addendum that Botman has indeed been ravaged by injuries in recent years, stripped bare by setbacks after that tremendous debut campaign in England’s north east.

It is only natural he would take some time to rebuild himself to that one-time level, but Newcastle need quick results if they are to shape this campaign, and the £90k-per-week defender has entered the penultimate year of his contract, and he will need to convince PIF that they would be foolish not to extend his career on Tyneside.

But the Dutchman needs to improve – fast. His form has slumped in recent weeks, and he is paling in comparison to Thiaw beside him, the summer recruit very quickly establishing himself as the cream of Newcastle’s defensive crop.

As bad as Botman: Howe must drop Newcastle dud who lost the ball 20x v Bees

Newcastle United had another away day to forget in the Premier League when losing 3-1 versus Brentford.

2 ByKelan Sarson Nov 10, 2025

As Manchester United midfielder Casemiro strolled off the field on Saturday evening on the 70-minute mark, there was a customary embrace from a delighted Ruben Amorim. The veteran Brazilian had done his job.

It said a lot of the 33-year-old’s renewed importance to the Red Devils that his withdrawal was then followed by something of a late collapse from his side across the remaining 20 minutes or so, with the hosts looking all at sea against the Seagulls in the closing stages.

Thankfully, a thumping finish from Bryan Mbeumo at the death helped to secure a third successive victory for the Old Trafford outfit, with Amorim left to reflect on what was largely another positive display from his resurgent side.

Key to that newfound success has been the quiet emergence of a strong spine in the United starting lineup, with Matthijs de Ligt now a firm fixture ahead of new man Senne Lammens in the sticks, while the likes of Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha are beginning to flourish at the top end of the pitch.

Holding it all together in the centre of the park, however, is talismanic skipper Bruno Fernandes, and the aforementioned Casemiro, with the latter man’s remarkable revival showing no signs of ending.

How Casemiro came back from the brink

For all the talk of Carlos Baleba and the need for a new midfielder over the summer, it was Casemiro and co who no doubt won the midfield battle last weekend, with the ex-Real Madrid icon popping up with a goal and an assist amid United’s first-half onslaught.

There was a sense that this was the £350k-per-week star back to his 2022/23 best, having memorably told his agent – prior to joining the club – that he would “fix it”, after witnessing the early-season dissection from Brentford.

The £70m outlay remains a contentious point, but it’s hard to argue with his impact in that debut campaign, with United’s Carabao Cup final scorer described as the “cement” in the side by a beaming Erik ten Hag that season.

Just over a year later, however, the infamous “leave the football, before the football leaves you” line from Jamie Carragher, amid a dismal display at Crystal Palace, was followed by his absence from the FA Cup final squad. The end looked nigh.

Even at the start of 2024/25, the five-time Champions League winner appeared to be tumbling even further, notably hooked at the break after making two notable errors in September 2024, at home to eventual champions Liverpool.

As Amorim has since stated, there was a time in his tenure that Casemiro was “even behind Toby [Collyer]” in the midfield pecking order, although he quietly emerged as a key figure in last season’s Europa League run.

Of course, who can forget his two assists for Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire at the death against Lyon, having cleverly won a penalty minutes earlier. Big players produce big moments.

Such momentum has continued this term, with United’s elder statesman scoring against Chelsea and now Brighton, while returning to training early from international break ahead of starting at Anfield.

A starter in seven league games this season, the midfield warrior is a key cog in Amorim’s machine again, having successfully made Carragher and co eat their words.

Considering his age, and his current contract status, however, his long-term future in Manchester is up for debate. Just who can replace him?

How Man Utd can replace Casemiro

Just a matter of months ago, the thought of extending Casemiro’s contract would have been unthinkable, with his current deal set to expire in June 2026.

While his status as the club’s highest earner still ensures an exit appears inevitable, keeping him around on reduced wages may be an option to consider, not least with Amorim hardly blessed with midfield depth.

Regardless of what does happen come next summer, a suitable long-term successor needs to be found, with recent reports suggesting that the likes of Jobe Bellingham could be targeted heading into 2026.

Back at Old Trafford, Amorim does already have another defensive-minded presence in the form of Manuel Ugarte, although might it be Mainoo who is the perfect Casemiro replacement in waiting?

Indeed, for all the talk of the Brazilian being a deep-lying, holding midfielder in Madrid, it is actually his attacking quality that has shone in recent years.

Be it his last-gasp header at Stamford Bridge, his Wembley opener in February 2023, or his stunner under Ruud van Nistelrooy against Leicester City, the one-time Porto man regularly delivers the goods in the final third.

In Mainoo then – a player lauded as a future “£100m-plus footballer” by United writer Alex Turk – Amorim should seemingly have a worthy successor, rather than attempting to mould the 20-year-old into Fernandes’ replacement instead.

Like Casemiro, the promising Englishman might not be the most mobile, but it is easy to imagine him taking on the role that his senior colleague had against Brighton, knitting things together nicely on the edge of the box, even when operating in a midfield two.

Of course, Mainoo’s own cameo left a lot to be desired, but that could be an impact of his limited involvement this term, having yet to start a league game in 2025/26.

Non-penalty goals

0.00

0.10

Assists

0.00

0.03

Shot-creating actions

1.85

2.23

Pass completion

86.5%

87.4%

Progressive passes

3.54

3.99

Progressive carries

1.20

1.45

Successful take-ons

1.25

1.12

Tackles

2.51

2.67

Interceptions

1.04

1.56

Aerial duels won

1.04

1.32

When fit and firing, his quality was evident during his breakthrough 2023/24 season under Ten Hag, having been described as the Dutchman’s “best player” amid his stunning emergence.

Like Casemiro, Mainoo has shown his quality around the opposition penalty area, be it his dramatic winner at Molineux, or his curling efforts against both Liverpool and Lyon.

He may not cover the ground in the manner of Ugarte, but he has that silky quality in possession that belies his years, notably ranking in the top 12% of European midfielders for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

It’s not as if he doesn’t possess a defensive instinct too, memorably clearing the ball off the line on his first Premier League start against Everton, while currently ranking in the top 23% for tackles made per 90.

Much like Casemiro too, a stunning start in the United first-team has since been followed by a real crash back down to earth, with his limited role under Amorim even sparking talk of a January exit in this vital World Cup year.

It is far too soon to write him off just yet, however, and having seen 2025 prove to be the year of Casemiro’s creditable comeback, why can’t 2026 be the same for Mainoo?

Casemiro replacement: Man Utd prepare to make offer for £60m "duel monster"

Manchester United are preparing to make a move to sign a star who could replace Casemiro in midfield.

ByDan Emery Oct 27, 2025