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Rashid nearly took Titans home in pursuit of 225 but Mukesh held his nerve to defend 19 off the last over

Sreshth Shah24-Apr-20242:11

Did Axar’s promotion to No. 3 disrupt Titans’ bowling plans?

In a memorable IPL 2024 finish, Rashid Khan nearly took Gujarat Titans (GT) home in a chase of 225 against Delhi Capitals (DC). But Mukesh Kumar held his nerve to defend 19 off the last over as DC completed a thrilling four-run victory.For Rashid to have a shot at chasing down the tall target, GT had B Sai Sudharsan (65 in 39 balls) and David Miller (55 in 23) to thank. They kept GT within touching distance of the climbing asking rate, and for a brief moment in the end, it felt like they had timed their chase perfectly. However, it wasn’t to be, and GT went down to DC for the second time in seven days.Salam reprimanded for breaching IPL CoC

Rasikh Salam committed a Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. The article includes any language, action or gesture used by a Player and directed towards a batter upon his/her dismissal which has the potential to provoke an aggressive reaction from the dismissed batter. The press release from IPL did not specify the incident for which Salam was reprimanded. He admitted to the offence and accepted the match referee’s sanction.

DC themselves had to climb out of a hole to post 224 for 4 after being asked to bat first. Sandeep Warrier’s 3 for 15 in the powerplay had left them struggling at 44 for 3, but Rishabh Pant’s masterful 43-ball 88 and Axar Patel’s 66 in 43 from No. 3 resurrected their innings. Axar then took three catches and a wicket, and also ably supported Kuldeep Yadav (2 for 29) with the ball to ensure DC did just about enough on the night.Sudharsan and Miller make it a contestShubman Gill fell early to Anrich Nortje, for the fourth time in seven innings, but that did not slow GT down. Wriddhiman Saha struck 30 in his first 12 balls by clearing the infield expertly, and Sudharsan made full use of an early reprieve off Rasikh Salam’s bowling to race off the blocks. They did not let Nortje or Khaleel Ahmed settle in and collected 67 in the powerplay.But the spinners then bogged Saha down, and Kuldeep dismissed him for 35 in 29 balls. Sudharsan, though, dominated the middle overs, hitting both seamers and spinners through the off side with cuts in front of and behind square. He also came down the pitch on occasion before falling to Salam in an attempt to clear long-off.2:31

Review: Did Titans get their tactics wrong?

With Azmatullah Omarzai, Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia all falling for single-digit scores around Sudharsan’s dismissal, GT appeared to have lost steam, needing 73 in 24 balls. However, Miller hit Nortje for three sixes and a four in a 24-run 17th over to give them hope, completing his own half-century off 21 balls along the way.The see-sawing continued. Mukesh dismissed Miller in the 18th over and, at the time, it seemed like DC had done enough. But Salam leaked 18 runs in the 19th over to make it a shootout between Rashid and Mukesh in the last over.Mukesh conceded two fours off the first two balls and a six off the penultimate delivery but held his nerve to get the last ball to land so full that Rashid could not find the elevation he needed.Titans’ spinners neutralisedAfter Warrier’s three-wicket burst had given GT the early advantage, they would have expected Rashid, Noor Ahmad and R Sai Kishore to strangle DC through the middle overs. But Axar and Pant kept all three at bay.Against Rashid, they only attacked the loose balls, half-trackers or wide deliveries, and eked out 37 runs off his four wicketless overs. Against Noor, they attacked to leave him with an economy of 12 in three overs.Related

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Such was Pant and Axar’s domination in their 113-run stand that Gill did not go to Sai Kishore – their Player of the Match from the last outing – till the 19th over, fearing the match-up of two left-hand batters against a left-arm spinner. When Sai Kishore did bowl in the penultimate over of the innings, against right-hand batter Tristan Stubbs following the dismissal of Axar, he was hammered for six, four, six and four to concede 22 runs.Gill chose the experience of Mohit Sharma over Warrier for the 20th, and Pant owned that match-up. When Mohit went full and wide, Pant slapped him over the off side. When Mohit went short or slow, Pant hung back and deposited him over the leg side. And when Mohit missed his yorker, Pant sent him over midwicket. Pant got to 88 after a 31-run final over, and his assault left Mohit with the worst bowling figures in IPL history – 0 for 73 – and GT needing 225 to win.0:56

Should Williamson be Titans’ non-playing captain?

Axar’s many contributionsWith David Warner sitting out, and DC not keen Pant bat too early, they pushed Axar as the left-hand batter in the top three. He struck Rashid for slog sweeps over the leg side initially before hitting both him and Noor through the covers off short balls.Part-timer Shahrukh also faced the same fate before Axar reached his fifty with a boundary off Rashid in the 15th over. He was the dominant contributor in the 68-ball 113-run stand with Pant, and it was only in his pursuit of a third six in a row against Noor in the 17th over that he fell on the boundary line. The 66 was his highest IPL score.Axar was then a livewire in the field, first back-pedalling at mid-off in the second over to hold on to a catch to dismiss Gill. He was in action again when Saha tried to cut Kuldeep over cover, jumping high and sticking his hands out to pluck the catch. Then, after dropping Sudharsan early in the powerplay, Axar got a chance at redemption when he was at long-off late to take a tricky one.With the ball, Axar conceded only two fours and a six in his three overs. Neither Saha nor Miller, both in great touch otherwise, failed to put him away, and it was only Sudharsan’s three boundary shots that made him concede 28 in three overs. Axar also dismissed Omarzai in the 11th over, but it was not enough to claim the Player-of-the-Match award, with that one going to his captain instead.

Manchester United are keen on signing an “exceptional” attacking midfielder who is now looking likely to leave his club this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd eyeing new attacking talent amid Hojlund struggles

It would be fair to say Rasmus Hojlund isn’t enjoying the best of seasons, with the Dane scoring just three goals in the Premier League, while fellow striker Joshua Zirkzee hasn’t exactly been much help either.

As such, a new striker is being targeted ahead of the summer transfer window, with an audacious move for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak being considered, although the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Samu Aghehowa may be more reasonable targets.

Not only is a new striker on Ruben Amorim’s shortlist, but the manager is also keen to bring in new attacking midfielders, having perhaps overrelied on captain Bruno Fernandes this season.

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The Red Devils have made contact over a move for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, who has 18 assists to his name already this season, while they have also set their sights on Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard as a potential option.

In a new report for GiveMeSport, Romano has now detailed that Man United are also keen on signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, with there being a concrete chance the attacking midfielder leaves the German club this summer.

Simons is open to an exit at the end of the season, and there is a feeling his price tag could be between £58m – £62m, amid interest from a whole host of Premier League clubs.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are also keen on the £97,000-a-week Dutchman, and there is seemingly a good chance a move to England could be on the cards, with the Premier League said to be one of the top destinations in the attacking midfielder’s mind.

"Exceptional" Simons could be United's next Bruno

Successful signings have been few and far between in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, but Fernandes hit the ground running right from the off, and the Portugal international has been very impressive this season, with 16 goals and 16 assists in all competitions.

However, the 30-year-old can’t be expected to do it all by himself, and with Real Madrid eyeing a move for the United talisman, the need to bring in another creative attacking midfielder this summer may be exacerbated.

Simons’ performances in Germany indicate he could well fit the bill, having racked up a remarkable eight goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga last season, while he already has seven goals to his name this term.

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has also given the 21-year-old very high praise, saying: “I think he’s going to have a really good career at the highest level. He has everything, mentality, character and is just an exceptional player.”

Simons could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, particularly as many would agree the squad needs a bit more of that “mentality and character”. However, it could be very difficult to win the race for his signature if they don’t have Champions League football on offer next season, given the level of interest in his signature.

An “exceptional” former Manchester United player could make a surprise return to Old Trafford this summer, according to a report.

Man Utd pursuing midfielder amid Casemiro doubts

Casemiro’s future at Old Trafford appears to be in doubt, despite the Brazilian putting in some much-improved performances in recent times, making a remarkable 11 tackles against Manchester City earlier this month.

As such, Ruben Amorim may be tasked with bringing in a new tough-tackling midfielder this summer, and the manager’s search has led him to Atalanta midfielder Ederson, with Man United expected to make a £52m bid for the Brazilian.

Other potential options include Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Larsson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Joao Gomes, with United certainly not short on options as we edge closer to the summer transfer window.

Manuel Ugarte joined the Red Devils last summer, following the decision to sell Scott McTominay to Napoli for £25m, and the Scot has really kicked on since arriving in the Serie A, establishing himself as a key player for the Serie A title chasers.

As such, according to a report from Spain, McTominay could now be in line for a surprise return to Old Trafford, although a deal will not be cheap, as his performances for Napoli have elevated his market value considerably.

It may also be difficult to prise the 28-year-old away from Napoli, with the Italian club determined to keep hold of him, and given that he is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, the midfielder may not be overly keen on a return despite the interest from his former club.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Apr 16, 2025 "Exceptional" McTominay shining in the Serie A

The Scotland international was much-maligned during his time with Man United, which ultimately led to the decision to cash-in last summer, but he has shown serious signs of development since moving to Napoli.

The Lancaster-born midfielder has picked up a very impressive eight goals and four assists in 28 Serie A appearances, most recently bagging a brace against Empoli to ensure his side remained just three points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

In light of the improvements the central midfielder has made to his game, he was lauded as “exceptional” by journalist Josh Bunting earlier this season, and he ranks highly on some key metrics for midfielders over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.26 (97th percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.05 (85th percentile)

Aerials won

1.84 (90th percentile)

That said, it seems very unlikely that McTominay will be on his way back to Old Trafford anytime soon, given that he left less than a year ago, and appears to be flourishing with Napoli.

Unfortunately for the Tottenham Hotspur faithful, last night was a return to what has become their new normal this season.

Ange Postecoglou’s side played host to Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest in the Premier League and found themselves two goals down within 20 minutes.

Now, Richarlison did manage to pull one back late on and, in all honesty, they created enough chances to turn the game around, but in the end, they fell to their 18th league defeat of the campaign and their eighth at home.

In all, it was just another disappointing night for the North Londoners, one in which most of the starters let themselves down, including one ace who should probably be dropped after yet another shocking showing.

Spurs' poor performers

So, before we get to the player in question, it seems only fair to go over some of the other Spurs players who let the manager and fans down last night, starting with Cristian Romero.

After his sensational showing against Eintracht Frankfurt last week, there was some hope that he’d carry that into the rest of his appearances this season, but it was very quickly evident that wasn’t going to be the case against Forest.

Not only did the World Cup winner look determined to get himself sent off, but he also lost track of Chris Wood for the striker’s headed goal, making the 4/10 match rating he received from Alasdair Gold more than fair, and his substitution at half-time the correct call.

However, the Argentine wasn’t the only dire defender, as it was also a first 45 to forget for the usually impressive Micky van de Ven.

Like his defensive partner, the Flying Dutchman came off second best for the Tricky Trees’ second goal as he lost the aerial duel with the free-scoring Kiwi and certainly warranted the 5/10 rating he received from Gold.

Van de Ven’s game in numbers

Minutes

45′

Expected Assists

0.01

Blocks

0

Tackles

0

Interceptions

1

Duels (Won)

4 (2)

Long Balls (Accurate)

2 (0)

All Stats via Sofascore

However, as poor as the two centre-backs were, another member of the back five was even worse and should, therefore, probably be dropped ahead of the game against Liverpool on Sunday.

The Spurs star who should be axed

So, even though there were a number of other starters who also endured a torrid time last night, such as Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr, when it came down to it, the worst performer for the hosts was Guglielmo Vicario.

It really was a night to forget for the Italian shot-stopper, as he probably could have done better for Elliot Anderson’s opening strike and then definitely should have done far better for Wood’s header.

In fact, had the former Empoli star not come rushing off his line to fly into thin air, there is a real chance that he would have been able to either parry the ball out of danger or perhaps even hold onto it. Instead, he gave the in-form forward practically an open net at which to aim.

Unsurprisingly, Gold was left unimpressed and awarded the 28-year-old a 3/10 match rating, which was more than justified by his stats, as in 95 minutes of action he made a single save, prevented -0.60 goals, made one error leading to a goal, made just 18 passes and failed in 100% of his long balls.

Now, if this display was a one-off, then suggesting he be dropped ahead of the game on Sunday would be unjust, but it’s not the only time he’s failed to perform in recent weeks, as he put on yet another horror show away to Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month.

Vicario’s game in numbers

Minutes

95′

Saves

1

Goals Conceded

2

Goals Prevented

-0.60

Errors Leading to a Goal

1

Passes

18

Duels won

0

Long Balls (Accurate)

1 (0)

All Stats via Sofascore

In fact, that match saw Gold justifiably award him a 2/10 match rating, as he also made an error that led directly to a shot and, on top of that, managed to prevent -1.05 goals.

Ultimately, Vicario might be a better keeper than Antonín Kinský, but at the moment, he is a liability, so Postecoglou should be bold and drop him from the starting lineup for the next game.

Otherwise, it could be a third shambolic league performance on the bounce for the “unbelievable” Italian ace, as the legendary Gianluigi Buffon once described him.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 21, 2025

Chelsea booked their place in the final of the Conference League on Thursday night and are now preparing to face Real Betis with a chance to win silverware in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge.

The Blues beat Djurgarden 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, and 5-1 on aggregate, to clinch their place in the final, whilst the club are also in the race to secure a Champions League place by finishing in the top five in the Premier League.

Despite there still being plenty to play for domestically and in Europe this season, Chelsea are also putting plans in place ahead of the summer transfer window, with talks underway to sign a new centre-forward.

Chelsea have held talks to sign Ligue 1 forward

According to Foot Mercato, Chelsea have already held talks over a deal to sign Emanuel Emegha from Strasbourg ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

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The report claims that the club have spoken with the player and his representatives to discuss a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge, as the English giants work on a transfer to bring him over in the summer.

It states that negotiations between Chelsea and Strasbourg are not expected to pose any problems, because they share the same ownership, but does not reveal how much money it would take to strike a deal for the centre-forward.

The Blues are clearly looking to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window and Emegha presents an interesting option, as he could be amazing with Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge next term.

Why Emegha would love Cole Palmer

The Strasbourg number nine could love to play with the England international because the left-footed star has the creative quality to consistently provide him with opportunities to find the back of the net.

Put simply, Palmer is a striker’s dream because he has created 38 ‘big chances’ in the Premier League since the start of last season, more than any other player in the squad.

Emegha, whose form was hailed as “magnificent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a clever striker with excellent movement, as shown in the clip above, and could be the perfect forward to make the most of Palmer’s exceptional passing quality.

His movement has been evident throughout the Ligue 1 season with Strasbourg because he has racked up 16.58 xG in 27 matches, which shows that he is consistently getting into high-quality positions.

24/25 Ligue 1

Emanuel Emegha

Appearances

27

xG

16.58

Shots per game

2.3

Goals

14

Conversion rate

23%

Big chances created

4

Assists

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old star has only scored 14 goals from 16.58 xG, an underperformance, but it does show that the forward is good at getting into shooting positions.

Having a playmaker of Palmer’s quality in the number ten position behind him could help to make Emegha even more prolific by combining his passing with the striker’s movement, and that is why they could be an exciting pairing for Chelsea with their potential link-up in the final third.

Emegha could become amazing for the Blues by playing with the English star because of the quality of chances that could be consistently created for him, and that is why the youngster, who still has room to improve his finishing, could be an excellent addition to the squad.

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2025

After a superb season that has seen Leeds United win 28 matches to date, they will finally be returning to the Premier League in 2025/26 after a two-year absence.

The Whites have been unbelievable under the guidance of Daniel Farke over the last two years, claiming automatic promotion from the Championship after missing out just 12 months ago.

However, when looking at the bigger picture, promotion is just the start for the German, with his biggest test now keeping the club in the top-flight and avoiding an immediate return to the second tier.

It’s something the 48-year-old has been unable to do in his two previous attempts with Norwich City, with the supporters hoping that he can make it third time lucky with the Yorkshire outfit.

If he is to achieve such a feat come the end of the 2025/26 campaign, it’s vital that the hierarchy back the manager in the transfer market to make the changes he desires to his first-team squad.

The latest on Leeds’ pursuit of new additions this summer

With the window still a couple of weeks away from opening, Leeds have wasted no time in identifying potential signings, already going after goalkeeper Finn Danhem from German outfit FC Augsburg.

The 27-year-old has appeared on the club’s radar after keeping nine clean sheets in his 16 Bundesliga appearances this campaign – whilst achieving a staggering save percentage of 85%.

However, he’s not the only player to be touted with a switch to Elland Road this summer, with Wolves’ Sam Johnstone also on their radar, according to Football Insider.

Their report claims that the 32-year-old is wanted by the club and would like to make the switch to Yorkshire after making just seven league appearances after joining the West Midlands side last summer.

No fee has been mentioned, but they do confirm that a move could allow the shot-stopper to become a key player in the side and bolster his chances of returning to the England setup.

Why Leeds’ latest target would be an upgrade on Illan Meslier

It’s safe to say current goalkeeper Illan Meslier has endured a couple of months to forget at Leeds, losing his number one spot to Karl Darlow after a string of errors.

The Frenchman has been the club’s number one since the 2020/21 campaign, with Farke taking action into his own hands to secure promotion for the club in recent weeks.

He’s been on the bench for each of the Whites’ last six matches, with the side only conceding two goals during such a time period, highlighting that the manager did make the correct call.

There have been countless occasions where Meslier has cost the club points in key moments of the campaign, with the title potentially being wrapped up way before the final day if it wasn’t for his blunders.

However, his latest spell on the sidelines is evidence that a new goalkeeper is desperately needed this summer, which could make Johnstone the perfect upgrade between the sticks for Farke.

When comparing their respective stats this season, the Englishman has massively outperformed the 25-year-old in various key areas, showcasing why he would be the right option for the German.

Johnstone, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Gary Lineker, has achieved a higher tally of saves per 90, whilst also registering fewer errors leading to goals – giving the side a more reliable presence between the sticks.

How Johnstone compares to Meslier in 2024/25 so far

Statistics (per 90)

Johnstone

Meslier

Games played

7

39

Shots-on-target faced

5.6

2.2

Saves made

3.3

1.6

Passes completed per 90

40

34

Crosses stopped

1.2

0.8

Defensive actions outside box

1.6

0.9

Errors leading to goals

0

3

Stats via FBref

He’s also completed more passes per 90, enabling the side to play out from the back should they want to, but also having the option to go long if under pressure.

Pressure is something that is to be expected in the top-flight, but Johnstone’s tally of 1.2 crosses stopped and 1.6 defensive actions outside the 18-yard box could help see the side out in key moments.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Wolves ‘keeper would set the club back this summer, it’s evident from the stats produced that he would be a better option than Meslier for Farke.

The Premier League is an unforgiving division, punishing any side that isn’t up to the level required, further adding to the reasons as to why a deal for the former Man Utd youngster needs to be completed ahead of 2025/26.

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Posts ByDan Emery Apr 29, 2025

Manchester United are in desperate need of added reinforcements in attacking areas this summer to give themselves the best possible chance of returning to the heights they’ve previously achieved.

The Red Devils still occupy a place in the bottom half of the Premier League with just a couple of games remaining, highlighting how disappointing they’ve been throughout 2024/25.

Ruben Amorim has brought the feel-good factor back to Old Trafford, but their tally of just 42 goals in 35 matches showcases how disappointing they’ve been in the forward areas.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been the two senior options at his disposal, but have only registered seven combined league goals and contributing to their lack of form in the final third.

As a result, it will be no surprise to see the club delve into the market to try and improve the situation, with work already being done behind the scenes ahead of the summer.

The latest on United’s hunt for new forwards this summer

Countless names have already been thrown into the mix for the striker position over the last few weeks, with Viktor Gyokeres, Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitiké all being mentioned with a switch to join United.

Delap, in particular, was seen as their number one option ahead of the window, with his £30m relegation release clause potentially seen as somewhat of a bargain.

However, Wolves star Matheus Cunha appears to be the most likely forward to make the move to Old Trafford this summer, that’s if Fabrizio Romano’s latest update is to be believed.

He stated that the Red Devils are leading the race for the 25-year-old’s signature this summer, with talks already at an advanced stage – as personal terms should now be a formality.

The reliable journalist also claimed that the hierarchy have no issues with paying his £62.5m release clause, with a move edging closer to completion.

Why United’s target would be amazing alongside Osimhen

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has been another name widely linked with a switch to join United in the summer, handing Amorim the ammunition he needs.

The 26-year-old is currently spending the year on loan at Galatasaray from Italian side Napoli, enjoying an excellent spell in front of goal – netting 33 goals in 37 games.

Such a record would be hugely welcomed by the Red Devils manager if he completed the move, forming a superb partnership with Cunha in the final third.

The Brazilian would be signed to operate in a number 10 position behind the striker, with his stats from 2024/25 certainly aiding Osimhen’s quest for goals in the Premier League.

He’s managed to register 2.0 chances created per 90, along with 2.15 successful dribbles per 90, evidently aiming to get the ball forward at any given opportunity – subsequently aiding Osimhen in the process.

The Brazilian’s figures within attacking areas are simply remarkable, with his skillset handing himself and the Nigerian the best chance to help United’s frontline.

Cunha, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Eduardo Hagn, has registered 3.6 shots per 90 – also having the tools to find the back of the net given his tally of 15 Premier League goals to date.

He has also won 6.4 duels per 90 this campaign, making 4.6 recoveries per 90 – fitting perfectly into Amorim’s system at Old Trafford by working tirelessly in and out of possession.

It would be a huge investment to bring the pair to the Theatre of Dreams this summer, but their talents are there for all to see based on the figures they’ve produced in recent months.

Matheu Cunha’s stats for Wolves in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

31

Goals & assists

21

Shots taken

3.67

Pass accuracy

79.3%

Duels won

6.4

Recoveries made

4.6

Chances created

2.0

Successful dribbles

2.15

Stats via FotMob

If they could land both players, it would create a deadly partnership at Old Trafford, with the aforementioned duo having the chance to make themselves heroes as they aim to play a key role in their revival.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb May 10, 2025

Since leaving Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side, Marcus Rashford and Antony have played important roles for high-performing sides on the European scene.

Rashford hasn’t been at his rip-roaring best with Aston Villa, but the game-changing winger has still played his part for a side that sit on the cusp of a return to the Champions League, victory at Old Trafford this afternoon standing in his way. He’s scored four goals and provided six assists from 17 games for the Villans.

At Real Betis, Antony looks not like a man reborn but a different player altogether. The right-sided forward became something of a whipping boy for his struggles at the Theatre of Dreams after joining from Ajax in an £86m deal, but has hit nine goals and five assists since moving to Spain in January.

However, these aren’t the only former Red Devils, those having toiled in existing memory at Old Trafford, who have been remade elsewhere, with Scott McTominay forging an incredible campaign for himself over in Italy.

Scott McTominay's Serie A season

Less than a year after leaving Man United and joining Napoli in a £25m deal, McTominay has won the Scudetto and been crowned the Serie A MVP.

It’s been quite the year for the Scotland international, who has long played the bit part at Old Trafford but has been reborn as a bona fide superstar in Naples, the architect of their second league title in three years.

Scott McTominay – Past Six Seasons (league stats)

Season

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

24/25 – Napoli

34 (33)

12

6

23/24 – Man Utd

32 (18)

7

1

22/23 – Man Utd

24 (10)

1

0

21/22 – Man Utd

30 (28)

1

1

20/21 – Man Utd

32 (24)

4

1

19/20 – Man Utd

27 (20)

4

1

Stats via Transfermarkt

The 28-year-old never quite brought it all together in the Premier League, but he’s channelled his innate goalscoring ability and reinforced his underlying metrics, averaging 6.1 successful duels and 4.2 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

It’s exactly the type of midfield robustness that has been lacking for the Red Devils this term, and McTominay’s success will not have been lost on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

However, he’s not the only former Manchester United star performing under Antonio Conte’s wing right now, and you could stake an argument for Romelu Lukaku having been even better than his Scottish teammate.

Romelu Lukaku has been outrageously good

Lukaku first moved to Italian football in August 2019, signing for Inter Milan in a deal worth £74m, leaving Man United.

He didn’t have a terrible spell at Old Trafford by any stretch, but the 32-year-old, then 25, failed to capture the magic of his time with Everton, who the Glazers paid an initial £75m (rising to £90m), two years earlier.

Scoring 42 goals and adding 15 more assists across 96 matches, Lukaku made inroads in his first year but struggled across the 2018/19 season, only bagging 15 goals from 45 fixtures in all competitions.

He’s been something of a nomad across his storied career, but who can say Lukaku hasn’t left an indelible mark on so many of his clubs?

Now, Napoli have been added to that list, with the number nine’s return of 14 goals and ten assists across the league campaign proving instrumental in the title-winning success. This means that he produced more goals and more assists than the Scottish midfielder, which is why he was even more influential and even better for the Italian outfit.

Football writer Muhammad Butt even took the time to draw praise to Lukaku amid the effusions directed McTominay’s way, hailing the “outrageously good” Belgian for his talismanic role across the campaign, bagging his second Serie A title after winning the 2020/21 edition with Inter Milan.

His goal against Cagliari on Friday night, following McTominay’s acrobatic opener, was certainly ‘outrageous’, and a reminder that he’s not just a poacher.

Here is one of the finest centre-forwards of his generation, and he underscored his legacy with a stunning season under Conte’s wing, a manager who has fallen in love with the nine and sought to make use of his talents across a number of different environments.

McTominay might have won the MVP, but Lukaku will no doubt feel that his prolific season may have warranted the vote angling his way. Ah well, the title will soften that so-called blow.

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Arsenal’s pursuit of a new striker is set to be the main talking point of their expectedly busy transfer window, and if you ask any fan, the addition of a prolific centre-forward would be their top priority.

Arsenal working on Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres deals

At the time of writing, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres stand out as Arsenal’s top two targets for the role.

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Sesko finished 2024/2025 with a modest goal return of 21 in all competitions, which is just six more than Kai Havertz who spent half of last season out injured. However, the 22-year-old is a long-term target for Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Arsenal had a proposal to sign Sesko last summer rejected, with the Slovenia international choosing to sign a contract extension and shaking hands on a gentlemen’s agreement with Leipzig that he can leave this year or next year instead.

Arsenal also tried to sign Sesko in January, but the player and his club wanted him to see out the Bundesliga season (Ben Jacobs).

Gyokeres, meanwhile, has just fired Sporting to their first domestic double in two decades with a sensational 54 goals in all competitions – so the Swede’s appeal to Gunners director Andrea Berta is glaringly obvious.

According to the BBC this week, Arsenal were simultaneously working on deals for both Sesko and Gyokeres, before making a final decision on which centre-forward to formally pursue.

Now, it appears they’re favouring Sesko, with talks advancing on that front, according to Fabrizio Romano and other reliable media sources.

Before Sesko, it was reliably reported that Newcastle United star Alexander Isak was actually Arsenal’s “dream” signing.

Arsenal back off in race for Newcastle United star Alexander Isak

However, the striker’s reported £150 million-plus price tag and Newcastle’s qualification for the Champions League make this deal incredibly difficult.

There is also the matter of Liverpool, with journalist Graeme Bailey telling The Boot Room that Arsenal are backing off in the race for Isak, partly because the north Londoners theorise that Arne Slot’s title-winners are in “pole position” if he does leave St. James’ Park.

“Isak is the dream, and I think because Liverpool’s confidence, that’s where Arsenal’s interest is waning slightly,” said Bailey.

“I’ve been told Liverpool are in pole position. If Isak leaves, Liverpool are in pole position, and I think Arsenal learned that and that’s why they backed off slightly as well. Not just because they can’t afford him, because Arsenal probably could if they wanted to.”

Isak’s 27 goals in all competitions tell just half the story, with Eddie Howe’s Swede proving an absolute nightmare for defences to deal with across 24/25.

It would surely take something very special to convince Newcastle to sell the 25-year-old, and even a record-shattering bid might not be enough.

Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed revelling in the triumph of lifting the Europa League and restoring their place among Europe’s elite next term, but Daniel Levy’s decision to fire Ange Postecoglou highlights the hunger to sustain an even loftier level of success over the coming years.

With Thomas Frank snatched from Brentford to lead from the dugout, Spurs are in a good position to challenge at the top end of the Premier League once more, though summer signings will be needed to inject fresh quality within a tired squad, whose success has papered over what was a most difficult year indeed.

Antoine Semenyo’s name has been bandied about, but there’s one man above all others who Tottenham’s new manager would like to welcome to the fold.

Spurs make contact for statement signing

Earlier this week, Sky Sports revealed that Tottenham have been growing in confidence that they could sign Bryan Mbeumo this summer after initial discussions, having made contact with Brentford, despite the player’s preference to join Man United.

This is because the Londoners have appointed Frank, who has led Mbeumo to such impressive individual heights over the past couple of years.

And now, as per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, the Lilywhites believe that Champions League football and the chance for the 25-year-old to stay in London could play into their favour.

Mbeumo won’t come cheap after his exceptional season, with the Bees looking to bank around £60m for the right-sided forward.

What Bryan Mbeumo would bring to Spurs

Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland. Perhaps the Premier League’s three finest goalscorers. They were the only players to outscore Mbeumo last season, with Ipswich Town writer Alex Osborn hailing him as “one of the best wingers in the league.”

Premier League 24/25 – Top Scorers

#

Player

Apps

Goals

1.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

2.

Alexander Isak

34

23

3.

Erling Haaland

31

22

4.

Chris Wood

36

20

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

38

20

Data via Premier League

Not only has Mbeumo dazzled in front of goal, but he’s performed well across underlying areas. As per Sofascore, the Cameroon international averaged 1.8 key passes, 1.4 dribbles, and 4.7 successful duels last term, underscoring a roundedness that most goalscorers don’t boast.

His prolific style surely makes him a better pick than Semenyo, who is a fantastic player but would cost Tottenham in excess of £50m and only scored 11 goals in the Premier League last year, also racking up six assists across his 37 appearances.

Make no mistake, Semenyo is a talented winger who would have a big effect on reorienting Tottenham’s domestic form and fluency, but can he compete with Mbeumo, who is objectively one of the classiest stars in front of goal?

The Bournemouth man ranked among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the English top flight last year for shots taken, as per FBref, but only among the top 27% for goals scored per 90, with his efforts leading the data-driven site to draw up Mbeumo as one of his most comparable players.

If that is the case (and there are similarities: both players are physical and dynamic and potent across different positions), then surely the best track to go down would be to sign the more reliable and menacing player in front of goal.

Therefore, Mbeumo is surely the better pick to go for, especially when considering the kind of money that Bournemouth are looking to part with Semenyo.

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