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According to a new report by Calciomercato, Manchester United are looking to secure the services of Juventus’ veteran striker, Mario Mandzukic. Of course, the Croat is not really the youngest anymore but still has a plethora of experience on his side, having competed in the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A, and reached the World Cup final with his nation as well.

But even with all of that being said, he is 33 already and maybe the Red Devils should be looking at someone just a tad younger to add to their attack and their squad.

With that in mind, here are three younger alternatives from around Europe Manchester United should consider instead of Mandzukic…

Timo Werner – RB Leipzig

Werner is a well-known name in the footballing world. Salzburg’s talisman has bagged 15 goals in 17 appearances across all competitions in the 2019/20 and has even added seven assists to that tally in the process as well.

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Not to mention that he is still developing and could be looking for a step up in his career that Manchester United can offer him.

Granted, the Red Devils are not really in an ideal situation themselves at the moment but a switch to the Premier League would be an offer not many can  refuse and United are still a club with enormous pulling power.

When you add in the fact Werner’s contract includes a £27m release clause, a deal suddenly seems more than plausible.

Moussa Dembele – Olympique Lyon

As far as young and prolific forwards go, Manchester United shouldn’t look much further than Lyon’s Dembele.

The 23-year-old’s age would be a definite advantage over Mandzukic and his prowess in front of goal is certainly impressive. So far in 2019/20, Dembele has already scored nine goals in 12 Ligue 1 games, meaning he has notched 29 overall for the club in 62 appearances.

His previous spells with both Celtic and Fulham were more than just successful as well, winning consecutive domestic titles with the latter, and he could well be someone the big names in world football will come looking for in the not so distant future.

United would be wise to get ahead of the game.

Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan

Martinez has been one of the most exciting revelations of the ongoing campaign having notched up eight goals and three assists in 16 appearances, including three strikes in the Champions League.

Inter Milan’s 22-year-old forward is not as experienced as Mandzukic, granted, but he is already looking like a complete package – someone who provides persistent goal threat but can create chances as well.

Unfortunately, Manchester United could face some competition for the young Argentinian ace as the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City are reportedly prowling around.

He does, of course, have a reported release clause of €111m (£95m) if the Red Devils want to pay full whack to get the deal done. But in any scenario, this transfer might end up becoming a really costly one as opposed to the ageing Juventus star.

But breaking the bank for the right people should be seen as an investment and who knows what the footballing return could be on this one.

Erik ten Hag hasn’t made many correct decisions at Manchester United. That’s probably putting it politely too.

Despite the Dutchman’s remarkable level of delusion, claiming that two trophy wins eradicate the bad league form, things have not been swell.

The top of the football club now looks a lot more organised but in giving Ten Hag another season following FA Cup success, not a lot has changed. That shouldn’t be surprising.

There were some impressive captures over the summer, namely Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee but with the former out injured for the next few months, there might be a scenario where he never makes a competitive appearance under the current boss.

Indeed, with just three points from their opening three games, things haven’t started brightly for those at Old Trafford.

Compare that to their city rivals and the fortunes could not be starker. Manchester City are already sprinting ahead like 100m king Noah Lyles and are in good shape to win yet another league crown.

Pep Guardiola is the mastermind behind it all but when you have a player like Erling Haaland at your disposal, things are going to be much easier.

Erling Haaland's remarkable record

What is there that’s left to say about Haaland? We’ve run out of superlatives for his simply ridiculous record in English football. Watch out Alan Shearer, the Norwegian is coming for you.

He has started the new campaign with some aplomb and is well on his way to breaking several records. Having scored two hat-tricks in the opening three match weeks to take his tally to the season to seven already, the striking sensation sits among fine company.

1. Sergio Aguero

275

12

2. Alan Shearer

441

11

3. Robbie Fowler

379

9

4. Erling Haaland

69

8

5. Thierry Henry

258

8

6. Harry Kane

320

8

7. Michael Owen

326

8

Throughout his career in Manchester to date, Haaland already has two Golden Boots to his name and has racked up an enormous 97 goals in 102 games throughout all competitions.

He is the best striker in the world, he is inevitable. United looked at adding their own version of Haaland in Rasmus Hojlund but their Scandinavian sensation is yet to reach the same dizzy heights, finding the net 16 times in 2023/24. It’s a decent tally but the difference just across the city is incredible.

So, how do you stop Haaland? Well, you don’t. Only injury, as it did last term, can halt the hulking centre forward in his tracks.

United won’t get anywhere close to stopping them this season, and Pep’s main challengers in Arsenal may well struggle too.

Wouldn’t the Red Devils love a prime Wayne Rooney in their squad? Perhaps even a rampant Cristiano Ronaldo too to help them along the way.

Haaland vs Ronaldo in 2023/24

Back in November 2022, Ten Hag was growing tired of the toxicity surrounding the football club.

One of the main reasons for that felt like their great number 7, Ronaldo. A staple of Sir Alex Ferguson’s final years in the dugout, he left for Real Madrid and Juventus, winning multiple major honours before returning to England for what felt like one last hurrah.

The multiple Ballon d’Or winner scored 24 times in his first campaign back at Old Trafford. It’s safe to say the move was a success.

Yet, his second term was cut short just months into the 2022/23 season with only three goals to his name in 16 outings. Sluggish, stroppy and not in tune with Ten Hag’s system, everyone decided it would be best if they mutually parted ways.

What was next for Ronaldo? Saudi, of course it was. In the Middle East, the Portuguese sensation has been nothing short of incredible.

One has to doubt the level of competition but he is banging in the goals nonetheless, finding the net a staggering 44 times in 45 matches last season. That’s an even more prolific level than a certain Haaland.

Playing for Al-Nassr alongside the likes of Aymeric Laporte and Sadio Mane, their team finished the 2023/24 term in second place, ten points behind Al-Hilal.

So, Ronaldo is ending his career in style. He’s even been banging in the goals again in the opening weeks of the new Saudi Pro League campaign. This time around, the inevitable forward has bagged four times in as many matches.

United may not have any need for this version of the 39-year-old but you cannot deny his astonishing record throughout the years, even now as his career winds down.

Man Utd "phenomenon" sold by Solskjær is now outscoring Hojlund & Zirkzee

The brilliant striker was incredible last season.

3 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 6, 2024

Manchester City are said to be interested in signing two players from the same club next year, according to a new report.

The Blues have just come out of what was a quiet summer transfer window for them, as they added just two players to their already very talented squad. The lack of activity hasn’t stopped them from making another strong start to the season, as they have won three out of three so far.

Guardiola personally driving Man City interest in "immense" £34m starlet

Manchester City are leading the race to sign a player Pep Guardiola loves.

ByBrett Worthington Sep 5, 2024 Man City keen on Ousmane Diomande

It was clear that City and Pep Guardiola weren’t going to do transfer business for the sake of it. They were only going to bring players into the squad that they needed and felt would improve their team.

So, while the transfer window has just shut, it looks as though the Premier League side already have their eyes on what business they may do in 2025. It was reported on Wednesday that Man City have an interest in signing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP. The report states that Guardiola is a huge admirer of the defender, and they could look to beat the strong competition for his signature by making a move for him next year.

Despite the Blues already having a bundle of options in the centre of defence, the fact that Guardiola is personally pushing to sign the player is said to be pushing the scales in their favour.

Apps

60

Goals

4

Assists

1

Stats as per Transfermarkt

Diomande, who has been with Sporting since January 2023, has so far played 60 times for the club, as his career has progressed significantly in the last 18 months. The Portuguese side would obviously like to keep hold of the centre-back for a little longer, but they will also understand the market, and it is said that they would be looking for €40 million, which is roughly £34 million. As well as eyeing a deal for Diomande in 2025, Man City also have their eye on two other players.

Man City now eyeing blockbuster double signing in 2025

According to reports in Spain, relayed by Caught Offside, Manchester City have placed Bayern Munich duo Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich on their transfer shortlist for 2025. The report states that the Premier League side plans to strengthen in midfield next year, and they have identified the duo as two players who can do that.

Musiala is considered one of the brightest prospects in world football, and his ability to score goals and create chances has put him on the radar of not only City but also Liverpool and Barcelona. The Germany international has been described as “sensational” by football writer Raphael Honigstein.

Meanwhile, Kimmich, who is said to earn €19.5 million a year, (about £16 million), is seen as the ideal replacement for Rodri, who could be a target for Real Madrid next summer, although City are also keen on tying the Spaniard down to a new contract.

Guardiola has worked with Kimmich before during their time at Bayern Munich, and therefore, his adaptation to the City team could be quick and effective. The report goes on to add that Man City’s financial power could be decisive in closing both transfers and ensuring they continue to compete at the highest level.

Rangers hold an interest in signing a South American international before the close of the transfer window on Friday, according to a new report.

The Scottish side have been very busy in this transfer window, and it appears as though that may continue as the 11p.m deadline on Friday gets ever closer. Philippe Clement is under big pressure this season to get his side closer to rivals Celtic, and with them also playing in Europe, it appears as though the Belgian wants as strong a squad as possible.

Rangers now in talks for Clement target who Mike Ashley once bid £10m for

Rangers are still looking to be busy as the transfer deadline approaches.

ByBrett Worthington Aug 28, 2024 Rangers transfer news

With just over a day remaining in this summer transfer window, Rangers have so far added eight players to their squad. It isn’t much of a surprise in the high number of players arriving, given the fact that they also have let a lot of players leave the club from the end of last season to now.

Mohamed Diomande

Nordsjaelland

Robin Propper

Twente FC

Hamza Igamane

FAR Rabat

Vaclav Cerny

VfL Wolfsburg

Jefte

Fluminense

Connor Barron

Aberdeen

Liam Kelly

Motherwell

Clinton Nsiala

AC Milan U20

But with just hours remaining of the transfer window, Rangers will need to act quickly if they are to secure any more transfers. Indeed, they are reported to be in talks with German side Hoffenheim over defender Stanley N’Soki. It is believed that the Bundesliga side are willing to let the player leave on loan before the window closes, and Clement is said to be keen on the player, as he managed him at Club Brugge.

As well as looking into a deal for N’Soki, the Scottish Premiership side are also interested in signing Pyramids FC player Ibrahim Adel. The winger impressed with Egypt in the Olympic Games, and Rangers are now said to be willing to spend as much as £5 million to sign the player, as they also face competition from Ipswich Town and Leicester City.

These two players could be ones to keep an eye on between now and the end of the window for Rangers fans, but there is also a new player on the club’s radar, and perhaps the most exciting of the lot

Rangers eye deal for Ecuador international

According to The Fourth Official, relayed by Ibrox News, Rangers are interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion winger Jeremy Sarmiento before Friday’s deadline.

The report states that Rangers, alongside other teams from Scotland and teams for the English Championship, are keen on signing Sarmiento. Rangers are not thought to be close to signing the 21-cap attacker yet, but the Scottish side have a belief that they can secure a move before the transfer window closes and there is a "deal there to be done".

Sarmiento spent part of last season on loan at Ipswich Town, and he helped the Tractor Boys secure promotion to the Premier League. Not long after he arrived at Portman Road, Sarmiento was described as being "brilliant" by defender George Edmundson.

Sarmiento is said to be on a weekly wage of £20,000-a-week Brighton, which means he earns around £1 million a year, something that Rangers would likely have to pay if they secure his signing before Friday’s 11 p.m. deadline.

Tottenham Hotspur target Edmond Tapsoba is reportedly 'one step away' from completing a move to the North London side according to Italian journalist Rudy Galetti via GIVEMESPORT.

What is the latest Edmond Tapsoba transfer news?

Tapsoba has a market value of €30m (£25.7m) according to Transfermarkt and has two years remaining on his deal, which may force his club Bayer Leverkusen to sell him to maximise the transfer fee they receive.

After upgrading in the goalkeeping department recently, it has been claimed that the North London side have made the 24-year-old their defensive priority, as Ange Postecoglou looks to strengthen his squad even more.

Spurs have lost Clement Lenglet following the conclusion of his loan spell, which will be a blow for the club as he made 35 appearances last season.

Tapsoba was reportedly joined on the defensive shortlist by Wolfsburg defender Micky van de Ven and Villarreal defender Pau Torres before his move to Aston Villa.

What has Rudy Galetti said about the potential Edmond Tapsoba transfer?

Speaking on the transfer, Galetti told GIVEMESPORT: “On the table, there are around €25m and the German club is concretely evaluating this proposal. Last winter, Arsenal asked them for him but then now they decide to go for Timber, who is close as well.

So, the Burkina Faso player [Tapsoba], we can say that is one step away from joining Tottenham. In the next few days, they will push and close the deal positively.”

Would Edmond Tapsoba be the right signing for Tottenham Hotspur?

The Burkina-Faso international is one of the most underrated ball-playing and ball-progressive centre-backs, with his 5.76 progressive passes and 1.46 progressive carries ranks him in the top 8% of all central defenders across Europe's top five leagues according to FBref.

Tapsoba enjoyed a fantastic campaign for Die Schwarzroten last season, making 46 appearances and averaging a rating of 6.76 according to Whoscored.

One thing that will surely be high on Ange's list to sort at Tottenham will be the leaky defence, hence the interest in Tapsoba, with a shocking 63 goals being let in under Antonio Conte in the campaign just gone.

This is evident with the fact that the London club are prepared to listen to offers for Eric Dier, who played a part in shipping the high amount of goals, so perhaps Tapsoba could be the man to potentially replace him too.

The 24-year-old would be an incredible start to Tottenham's defensive reinforcements and looks to be the perfect partner for Cristian Romero ahead of the clubs first season under Postecoglu.

Wolverhampton Wanderers target El Bilal Toure is a potential 'upgrade' on the likes of Diego Costa at Molineux as the Old Gold look to add some firepower in attack, says journalist Dean Jones.

What's the latest transfer news involving El Bilal Toure?

According to Football Insider, Toure has attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs this summer, including Wolves, Everton, West Ham United and Burnley.

The report states that Almeria have put a £34 million price tag on the head of the Mali international, who has also drawn admiration from the likes of Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen.

As per The Daily Mail, Wolves have a good working relationship with Almeria, which could come in handy in their efforts to try and land the 21-year-old.

Toure is a physical striker that is said to have been likened to former Chelsea icon Didier Drogba and looks odds on to seek a new challenge this window.

Diario De Almeria via Sport Witness claim that ‘the first approaches are already taking place’ between Everton, Wolves as the race to sign the youngster gathers pace.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jones thinks that Toure would add a new flavour to the Wolves attack at Molineux if he were to join the Premier League outfit.

Jones told FFC: "There's obviously an agent hard at work here to try and get him a move, but he's a fast and awkward player to handle.

"I think at Wolves he would add an edge to their attack. He also could be quite frustrating at times, to be honest, but he's definitely a very different option from Diego Costa. If they want someone who's more mobile, then this is an upgrade."

How did El Bilal Toure fare in 2022/23 with Almeria?

Toure enjoyed a commendable campaign with Almeria and showed flashes of his undoubted potential, which has, in turn, attracted interest from the Premier League.

In 2022/23, the 21-year-old made 22 appearances for Almeria, encompassing all competitions, registering seven goals and two assists, as per Transfermarkt.

WhoScored show that Toure carried a keen goal threat during the season and averaged around 1.4 shots per match in the Spanish top flight.

As per FBRef, Toure also carried out 2.36 shot-creating actions per match for Almeria, showing his ability to fashion chances for himself and his teammates.

Wolves could do with some fresh blood in attack ahead of next term and Toure could be an exciting arrival with lots of potential at Molineux.

Leicester City's relegation from the Premier League will see plenty of big names plying their trade in the Championship next season, but others are expected to be given a lifeline.

That is a category Harvey Barnes will likely fall into, with the one-cap England international showing enough during his time in the top flight to suggest he deserves to stay there.

With money to play with ahead of Declan Rice's seemingly imminent big-money move away, West Ham United have a number of targets to potentially go for.

According to The Telegraph, West Ham are expected to start the bidding for Barnes at around £30m, though it may take as much as £40m to prise him away from Leicester.

With two years to run on his contract, and other clubs showing an interest, the Foxes have some bargaining power when it comes to negotiating a fee for the Burnley-born winger.

What can Harvey Barnes offer West Ham?

Barnes led the scoring charts for Leicester last season with 13 goals in the Premier League – plus one assist – yet that was not enough to keep the Foxes above the dotted line.

It marks the first time the 25-year-old has hit double figures for top-flight goals in what was his sixth season at that level, with his return of 0.43 goals per 90 minutes last season the 18th best of all Premier League players, as per FBref.

That may not sound exciting enough to justify a possible £40m outlay, but to put that into some perspective, you have to go much further down that list to find West Ham's highest-ranked player – Manuel Lanzini with 0.36.

Gianluca Scamacca, who failed to make the impression expected of him in his first season at the London Stadium, averaged 0.29 goals per 90 minutes and third on the list was Said Benrahma (0.26), who Barnes may well replace next season.

On the face of it, that would be a clear upgrade for David Moyes' side. Barnes not only outperformed Benrahma in terms of goals and assists combined (0.46 per 90 minutes compared to 0.39), he also came out on top in metrics such as shots on target percentage (47.2 v 33.3) and goal-creating actions (0.47 v 0.22), with the latter taking factors such as passes, take-ons and fouls won leading to goals into the equation.

Indeed, when taking the past 12 months into account, Barnes ranks in the top 6% of his positional peers across Europe's top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.43), while Benrahma is in the bottom 11% (0.09).

Brendan Rodgers was correct two years ago when he described Barnes as being someone with the potential to become a "top player", and there is seemingly still more to come from a player who does not turn 26 until December.

Barnes may not be as strong as Benrahma when it comes to beating an opponent (averaging 0.90 take-ons per 90 minutes to the latter's 2.22), but he wins more aerial duels (0.22 v 0.96), suggesting he can also play a part defensively.

Benrahma will go down in West Ham folklore after netting from the penalty spot in their Europa Conference League final win over Fiorentina, but this summer may be a natural time for the Algerian to depart and make way for a player who has proved he deserves another crack at the Premier League.

Ellis Simms' return to parent club Everton in January was a huge blow in Sunderland's pursuit of a Premier League return, but they may just have found an adequate replacement.

According to Portuguese outlet Record, Benfica youngster Luis Semedo is very close to joining the Championship side after failing to agree new terms with the Primeira Liga heavyweights.

What impact did Ellis Simms have at Sunderland?

Simms made a huge impact in his half-season spell on loan at the Stadium of Light, scoring seven goals in 17 league matches to not only help Sunderland adapt to life back in the Championship, but also compete in the higher reaches of the division.

The 22-year-old may have departed with 31 league games of the campaign left to play, including the two-legged play-off semi-final, yet he still finished as the club's fourth-top scorer behind Jack Clarke (9), Ross Stewart (10) and Amad Diallo (13), the latter of whom also impressed on loan from a Premier League side.

With an average of a goal every 0.56 league games, only Stewart (0.86) was more effective in attack for Sunderland this past season than Simms, who also chipped in with a couple of assists.

Sunderland ultimately battled on to reach the play-offs without Simms, where they went on to lose 3-2 on aggregate to promoted Luton Town, but it remains to be seen what could have been with the Everton academy product in their ranks for the second half of the season – especially considering he started just two Premier League games for the Toffees after being recalled.

Could Luis Semedo replace Simms at Sunderland?

On the face of it, it is easy to see why Semedo is being touted as a like-for-like replacement for Simms. After all, both players are similar in stature, measuring in at roughly the same height at 6 foot 3.

Semedo, whose playing style has seen him described as "a big physical unit" by football reporter Josh Bunting, also has an eye for goal, as reflected by the four goals he scored in four games for Benfica in the 2022-23 UEFA Youth League.

However, whereas Simms arrived at Sunderland with some experience of first-team football under his belt following spells on loan with Blackpool and Hearts, Semedo has so far represented only Benfica B and Portugal U20.

Even before finding his scoring boots in European competition last season, Benfica clearly saw plenty in the youngster as they handed him a professional contract in August 2020 when he turned 18.

While his overall numbers at age-grade level are hardly much to shout about, having scored just twice in 18 Segunda Liga appearances last term, Sunderland have a habit of finding gems in need of fine-tuning – not least Stewart, who went from scoring two goals for Ross County in 2020-21 to 26 goals in his first full campaign with the Black Cats.

With Diallo also heading back to parent club Manchester United – though a possible loan return has been touted – Sunderland need to be smart with their transfer business to plug an obvious gap – or gaps.

As boss Tony Mowbray stated in January, any new signing "has to fit the criteria of what we need". If it is another talented young attacker in need of fine-tuning that Sunderland are indeed after, Semedo – who at a reported €600k (£518k) is a low-cost punt – might well be their man.

Liverpool are on the brink of making Alexis Mac Allister's move to Anfield official this week and now a new update has emerged on another transfer target for the Reds.

What's the latest on Liverpool's interest in Romeo Lavia?

According to Football Insider, Chelsea have stepped up their pursuit to compete with Liverpool for the signing of Southampton star Romeo Lavia this summer.

As per the report, the West Londoners are preparing a new move to beat Liverpool to the signing of the midfielder after the Reds also registered their interest.

Both clubs will need to meet a fee of up to £50m to be in contention to snap up his services from the relegated side.

Should Liverpool sign Romeo Lavia this summer?

Both Chelsea and Liverpool are in desperate need of reinforcements in midfield this summer and Jurgen Klopp is clearly keen to focus his attention on up-and-coming talent as opposed to more experienced professionals.

The Reds have been strongly linked to and held discussions to sign Kephren Thuram and Kouadio Kone who are both 22 years old, proving that sparking a youthful revolution in the centre of the pitch seems to be the clear intention this summer.

As a result, the signing of Lavia would be a major coup for the Merseyside giants as he is not only a young midfielder that Klopp can mould and develop but already boasts Premier League experience, something the aforementioned French targets do not possess.

Over 29 top-flight appearances, the 19-year-old – hailed an "absolute monster" by Southampton correspondent Benjy Nurick – has tallied up an 86% pass completion rate and completed 68% of his dribble attempts, as well as averaging 47.7 touches, 1.1 interceptions, 2.1 tackles and 4.9 duels won per game, proving that he is a dominant defensive presence.

The Belgian midfielder – who polished his craft in the Manchester City youth academy – has been the recipient of high praise during his first season of playing consistent Premier League football, with Pep Guardiola complimenting his impact on Southampton:

"I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing. We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him."

Bearing in mind the youngster's quality, Lavia could well be Klopp's next version of fellow teenager Stefan Bajcetic.

Indeed, the Liverpool academy graduate was given the opportunity to compete for a defensive role in the first team this season after impressing in the youth set-up, which led to the Spaniard adding some much-needed energy into the centre of the pitch.

Like Lavia, he boasts excellent defensive attributes, winning 3.1 duels per game and ranking in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe for the number of dribblers he attempted to tackle every 90 minutes, a marker of his keenness to get stuck in.

Should be be acquired, then the Saints ace would be the perfect understudy for Fabinho over the next season as the Brazilian ace has struggled to maintain his own high standards in the deeper midfield role, notably being described as an "old man" by 90min journalist Graeme Bailey.

As a result, if Lavia arrives in the red side of Merseyside it could be exactly what Klopp needs to provide quality competition for the position.

With that being said, it is an exciting and transformative time at Anfield with Klopp on the hunt to build the next generation of success and this ambitious rebuild could be an extremely attractive prospect for a young player like Lavia to become a part of.

Sunderland's philosophy of signing talented youngsters for the future has certainly paid off in recent seasons, with Kristjaan Speakman's tenure at the club proving to be an extremely successful one.

The Black Cats have found success with young stars such as Jack Clarke, Trai Hume and Dennis Cirkin in the Championship, with Tony Mowbray's side narrowly missing out on a playoff final at Wembley after losing out to Luton Town.

However, one of the most successful signings of the season was undoubtedly Amad Diallo, with the young Ivorian enjoying a superb campaign after joining on loan from Manchester United, finishing as the top scorer on 14 league goals in Mowbray's squad.

It now seems as if the north-east side are looking to repeat that success this summer, with reports suggesting that they could target Manchester United midfielder, Ethan Galbraith.

Would Galbraith be a good signing for Sunderland?

According to The Northern Echo, both Sunderland and Middlesbrough are lining up offers for the 22-year-old, whose contract at Old Trafford will come to an end next month.

Galbraith spent the season on loan with Salford City in League Two, contributing four goals and three assists in 32 league appearances for the Ammies as they also lost out in the playoffs.

He does have experience at a higher level, having played 33 times in League One for Doncaster Rovers last season, while he also has two caps for Northern Ireland under his belt, with U21 boss Ian Barraclough dubbing him a "little Iniesta or Xavi" back in 2020.

During his time at Doncaster, the young midfielder earned the praise of teammate John Bostock, who tipped him for a big future in the game.

He said: “He came in yesterday and was really quiet, then goes and puts in such a good performance on his professional debut.

“It’s nice to have him here because he’s got a massive future in the game, I enjoyed playing alongside him and hopefully we can develop that relationship."

Although Galbraith doesn't perhaps have the reputation of someone like Diallo, as he joined from Linfield as a teenager compared to United paying £37m to Atalanta for the Ivorian, their footballing educations at Old Trafford will have been similar.

While the 22-year-old isn't a winger, and it would be a surprise to see him have as big an impact as Diallo given he registered 17 goal involvements this season, Sunderland have already shown the benefits of recruiting players from the Red Devils.

Galbraith could be one for the future, but he certainly fits their philosophy of signing younger players and on a free transfer, he could be a no-brainer for Speakman this summer.