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GOAL US breaks down the biggest storylines in the Premier League as the season enters its final stretch

Finally, some Premier League matches to be excited about! Forget the title (sorted), relegation (sorted) and the plight of Manchester United and Spurs (boring.) It's time to get jazzed up about European qualification, which has become of increasing importance in recent years.

It's simple: European soccer means money, which means better players, which means happier fans, which means a higher profile.

Sure, Chelsea are in the running, but they should be. Outside of them, there's Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and even Bournemouth. Any of them playing in Europe, at any level, would make for good entertainment – and mean much to their fans.

This weekend, there are a fair few pivotal matchups in that hunt. Chelsea play Newcastle, while Bournemouth play Villa. Elsewhere, there's Arsenal trying to salvage any residual embarrassment from this season, something easily attainable against league champions Liverpool.

GOAL US looks at all of those plot points and more in the Premier League Primer, a weekly rundown of what to watch from an American perspective in England's top flight.

Getty Images SportCole Palmer: Cristiano Ronaldo regen

Gary Neville said something admittedly silly last weekend when he compared Cole Palmer – Premier League goals since January, three – to football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Anyone who knows anything about the sport could see it was a bit of a throwaway comment from someone who has a laughable bias towards maverick English talent.

But there was a vague layer of truth to his claim. Palmer is capable of carrying a team in the same way that Ronaldo did for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus. When he's on song, Chelsea are very hard to beat. Such was the case against Liverpool last Sunday.

And it will have to be the same when Chelsea take on Newcastle Sunday morning at 7 a.m. ET. Eddie Howe has the Magpies playing some fantastic stuff. A win for them would secure Champions League football for good. Chelsea, currently in fifth and level on points, could not only spoil the party but also book a spot of their own. Palmer will be central to that effort.

Advertisement(C)Getty imagesAston Villa's last chance

Let's face it: Aston Villa are perhaps the most likeable team left in that ever-interesting battle for fifth place. Chelsea spend loads. Newcastle are sort of mean. Nottingham Forest, PSR violations and all, aren't quite the fairytale that their fans might have you believe.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, do things "the right way" – whatever that means. They have a clever manager in Unai Emery, well-managed squad, and no bona fide superstar. Most importantly, though, they're good fun to watch. And although sports don't always work that way, it would be nice to see the Birmingham club rewarded for their efforts.

They're currently in seventh place, three points out of a Champions League spot, and well off the pace on goal differential. They need to win – ideally by a lot – and hope that Newcastle or Chelsea take points off each other. Before that happens, though, they face a tricky matchup of their own, taking on Andoni Iraola's tricky Bournemouth.

They, too, have an agenda, and are clinging on to eighth place, which might earn them a spot in the Europa Conference League – a fine achievement for a club of their size. In other words, they won't just roll over. The fixture, at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, could be season-defining for both sides.

GettySalah looks to add further misery for Arsenal

It hasn't been the best week for Arsenal. First, their Champions League dreams crumbled with a whimper. And now, things get even worse as they will be forced to give Premier League champions Liverpool a guard of honor at Anfield.

It's not a great one for the Mikel Arteta project, which is now in its sixth year without any silverware. Progress is clear to see, but trophies matter. So far, there isn't one to show for their improvement.

Liverpool, meanwhile, played 90 minutes of brutally hungover soccer against Chelsea last weekend, looking every bit a team that was still a little woozy after celebrating a league win. Ironically, just a few months ago, this game, set for Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET, could have been the biggest of the season. Instead, it feels like a bit of a procession, but one that both teams will really want to win.

Mo Salah, of course, will be the center of attention. The Egyptian winger might have set a new record for Premier League goal contributions in a single season, but he won't want to stop there.

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AFPAmerican ties

+ Tyler Adams will hope to play spoiler for Bournemouth, who can derail Aston Villa's Champions League push with a home win against the Villains.

+ Crystal Palace might have one eye on the FA Cup final, but manager Oliver Glasner has shown every intention of still trying to stay in form in the league. Chris Richards will be part of that effort when the Eagles take on Spurs on Sunday.

BCCI medical team to take a call on his thumb injury to see if he can make the second Test, with Abhimanyu Easwaran called up

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Dec-2022India’s captain Rohit Sharma will not be part of the first Test against Bangladesh which starts on Wednesday, as he continues treatment for a thumb injury that he sustained earlier this week.A BCCI press release on Sunday said Rohit had met with a specialist in Mumbai, and is working towards being fit enough to join the team for the second Test which starts on December 22. The final call on his availability will be taken by the board’s medical team. In Rohit’s absence, KL Rahul, the stand-in captain, and Shubman Gill are likely to open the batting with Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was leading India A in Bangladesh, waiting in the wings.Related

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Jadeja, Shami likely to miss Bangladesh Test series

Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami have been ruled out of the tour altogether, still nursing shoulder and knee injuries. Once again, two India A players are stepping up in their stead, with Uttar Pradesh left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar and Delhi fast bowler Navdeep Saini joining the senior squad.Saurashtra’s Jaydev Unadkat has also been brought in to reinforce a pace attack that includes Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur.Rishabh Pant, who had gone to Bangladesh with the ODI squad only to be released ahead of the first match last Sunday, has rejoined the team in Chattogram.India’s squad: KL Rahul (capt), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara (vice-capt), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Navdeep Saini, Saurabh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat

Manchester City were unusually active during the recent January transfer window in reaction to the club’s disappointing performances on the pitch this season.

City are 20 points off Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table, they have already been knocked out of the League Cup, and they exited the Champions League before the last 16 stage.

Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, and Vitor Reis were all added to Pep Guardiola’s side to bolster his squad ahead of the second half of the season, and beyond.

Marmoush, who arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt for a reported fee of £59m, was the headline addition of the window and announced himself to The Etihad crowd with a stunning first-half hat-trick against Newcastle United in the Premier League.

The Egypt international scored 15 goals in 17 matches in the Bundesliga during the first half of the season and will be hoping to continue to impress in front of goal with the Cityzens.

He could, potentially, be viewed as the eventual replacement for Argentine centre-forward Julian Alvarez, who moved on from The Etihad last summer.

How much Man City sold Julian Alvarez for

The Premier League champions decided to cash in on the World Cup winner at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and raked in a reported fee of £82m from Atletico Madrid for his services.

Guardiola revealed that the 24-year-old star had asked to move on from the club as he wanted a “new challenge”, and had potentially become frustrated by playing second-fiddle to Erling Haaland in the centre-forward position, which often forced him to play in a deeper position.

It was a blow for Manchester City, though, because the Argentina international had just come off the back of a haul of 19 goals and 13 assists in 54 appearances in all competitions last season.

That came after the young marksman had found the back of the net 17 times in all competitions during his debut campaign with the Premier League side, after his move from River Plate for a modest fee of £14m.

Alvarez made the move to Atletico Madrid to play under Diego Simeone and has, so far, enjoyed a strong first season with the Spanish side in the 2024/25 campaign.

The former Manchester City centre-forward has racked up 20 goals and five assists in 39 appearances in all competitions, including six goals in eight outings in the Champions League.

Guardiola may, now, have some regrets about cashing in on the young attacker, instead of trying to convince him to change his mind about wanting to move on from The Etihad, as he lost a terrific striker who offered a consistent threat at the top end of the pitch as an alternative to Haaland.

However, a sale the Spanish head coach may rue even more was the one that saw Liam Delap move on from the club, after his impressive progression in recent years.

Liam Delap's progression at Manchester City

The England U21 international joined City from Derby’s U18s in the summer of 2019 and immediately hit the ground running with a return of seven goals and six assists in 11 U18 Premier League matches during the 2019/20 campaign.

Delap was handed a huge chance to impress in the first-team against Bournemouth in the League Cup at the start of the 2020/21 season and scored the opening goal in a 2-1 win for City.

He dropped back down to the academy, however, after that goal and ended the campaign with an exceptional return of 24 goals in 20 Premier League 2 games for the U21s.

U18

17

11

7

Youth League

2

0

0

U23

36

35

9

First-team

6

1

0

As you can see in the table above, Delap was incredibly prolific at youth level for City and showed promise in the first-team set-up, with one goal in six matches.

Where Are They Now

The English forward also spent time on loan in the Championship, playing for Stoke City, Preston North End, and Hull City. It was his form with the Tigers – a return of eight goals in 31 league matches – that earned him a move to Premier League side Ipswich Town.

Why Manchester City must rue selling Liam Delap

City and Guardiola allowed Delap to join the Tractor Boys for a reported fee of £20m, with £15m guaranteed, and they should rue selling him as he could have been the perfect Alvarez replacement.

The Cityzens were left with Haaland as their only natural centre-forward option when the Argentine forward moved on last summer, but they already had a fantastic young number nine on their books who could have come into the squad, without costing City a penny.

Delap, who FBref have as a statistically similar player to Jean-Philippe Mateta, Moise Kean, and Benjamin Sesko, has caught the eye in the Premier League for Ipswich this season.

The 22-year-old marksman has scored ten goals and provided two assists in 26 appearances in the top-flight for the struggling side, who currently sit in the relegation zone.

He has been a shining light in a dismal campaign for Kieran McKenna’s team, as he has proven that he has the quality to be a reliable goalscorer at Premier League level.

Appearances

26

xG

7.95

Goals

10

Conversion rate

20%

Big chances created

3

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, Delap has been ruthless with the chances that have come his way in front of goal, as the young gem has outperformed his xG by roughly two goals.

The “one-man battering ram,” as described by Opta Analyst, has also won 44% of his aerial duels and completed 1.2 dribbles per game, which shows that he can also offer a physical and front-foot presence at the top end of the pitch.

Alvarez scored 11 Premier League goals last season and is currently on nine in LaLiga for Atletico, which suggests that Delap – given his return of ten top-flight strikes already this term – can provide a similar goalscoring threat.

Man City hit the jackpot on £76m ace who has genuine Ballon d'Or potential

The Man City star has been brilliant this season

1 ByJoe Nuttall Feb 28, 2025

Therefore, Man City should rue cashing in on the 22-year-old forward before they provided him with a chance to stake a claim for a regular place in the first-team squad, as he could have been the perfect – homegrown and free – replacement for Alvarez.

Will Sutherland almost hauled his team over the line but Hurricanes held on

AAP24-Dec-2022Hobart Hurricanes defied the BBL suspension of captain Matthew Wade and a late flurry with the bat from Will Sutherland to upset the Melbourne Renegades by eight runs.After being rolled for 122 in 18 overs at Blundstone Arena on Saturday, Hurricanes dismissed Renegades for 114, Sutherland almost dragging his side over the line.He crunched 40 off 29 balls down the stretch after the Renegades slumped to 77 for 8 before holing out to Jimmy Neesham in the deep off Joel Paris in the 20th over to seal victory for the undermanned hosts.Related

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Billings' half-century enables Heat to trump Strikers on Lynn's return

Wade was handed a one-game suspension for incurring three code of conduct breaches within 18 months. The charges in that period relate to two instances of using of an audible obscenity and one instance of abuse of cricket equipment.Wade’s absence saw Nathan Ellis promoted to the captaincy and ex-Test skipper Tim Paine selected for his first BBL game in almost five years.In-form captain Nic Maddison fell for a duck off the second ball of the reply as Renegades’ chase went from bad to worse.Jono Wells did his best to hold the middle order together in the face of the assault led by Riley Meredith and Shadab Khan, before Sutherland almost pulled off a late miracle.Earlier, Hurricanes paceman David Moody ripped Hurricanes’ top order apart before spinner Akeal Hosein did the damage to the lower order.Neesham dominated the powerplay, smoking a rapid 28, before his exit sparked a throng of wickets. Moody sent the off stump of Caleb Jewell cartwheeling with one of the deliveries of the tournament before Shadab succumbed to a stunning outfield catch by Jake Fraser-McGurk.Ellis tried to steady the sinking ship late before he became the second victim of West Indian powerhouse Andre Russell, playing his last game of the tournament.

Manchester United will make a 14,000-mile round trip after the end of the Premier League campaign just before the commencement of June internationals.

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Man Utd set for SE Asia tripWill play in Kuala Lumpur & Hong KongThe trip will help them earn £8 million Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Despite concerns over fatigue following a demanding season, United manager Ruben Amorim has confirmed that a full-strength squad, including senior figures like club captain Bruno Fernandes, will travel for the week-long tour. The club will play two matches during their visit: the first against a Southeast Asian all-star team in Kuala Lumpur on May 28, followed by a clash against a Hong Kong XI two days later, on May 30.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWHAT AMORIM SAID

Amorim defended the decision to press ahead with the long-haul journey and said: "Yes, I was consulted [about the trip]. We cannot say anything after this season. We need to help the club, because the club wins [earns] some money and we are going to connect with our fans around the world.

“That is important, especially when we lose and we disappoint our supporters during this tough season. I think it’s the least we can do. We are going to take all the team, young kids also, and we’ll have the staff there. We have [had] a lot of changes in the staff, so we are trying to build something as a family. I think it’s also a good thing.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

United are expected to earn around £8 million ($11m) from the two fixtures, a figure that would significantly boost the club's revenue as they continue to rebuild both on and off the pitch. United will fly back to the UK directly after their second match, arriving on the morning of Saturday, May 31. While the official FIFA international break begins on Monday, June 2, the Three Lions may assemble a day earlier to begin preparations.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Though domestic performances have been underwhelming this season, United still have the chance to end their campaign on a high. With a Europa League final showdown against Tottenham on the horizon, the Red Devils could claim their first European silverware since José Mourinho led them to victory in 2017.

Shadab Khan to lead 15-man side, which includes breakout PSL stars Saim Ayub and Ihsanullah

Umar Farooq13-Mar-2023Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf have all been rested from Pakistan’s squad for their upcoming series of three T20Is against Afghanistan in Sharjah. Imad Wasim has been recalled, while Shadab Khan has been named captain, and star PSL 2023 performers Saim Ayub and Ihsanullah have all received call-ups to the national team for the first time.The new PCB selection committee for the national senior men’s team, headed by Haroon Rasheed, has formed a new policy on managing workloads and player rotation. With the series against Afghanistan not a part of the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, it gave the selectors a chance to try out their new plan.”Afghanistan series is the training ground to test our youngsters,” Najam Sethi, the PCB chief, said in a press interaction on Monday. “I am not worried about winning or losing to Afghanistan – if we find few talented youngsters, it will serve the purpose. The series is largely about blooding our new talent and developing them.”Babar will remain our captain in all the three formats. I have taken all the senior players into confidence and they all will be part of the team in future, there’s no question about this. Shadab Khan has been the vice-captain and an automatic choice to take captaincy in Babar’s absence, so he will lead the side. He is a wonderful allrounder, scoring runs, taking wickets and showing great temperament leading Islamabad United [in the PSL]. So he is the right man to lead the young side.”ESPNcricinfo LtdESPNcricinfo had earlier reported that the workload management of top players was a major point of discussion at a recent selection committee meeting, as they looked ahead to a year that has both an ODI Asia Cup and an ODI World Cup. Each player’s workload was assessed in terms of matches played over the last two years, and Babar, Rizwan and Haris were highlighted as three players who had played a lot of cricket.Since January 2021, Rizwan has played 150 matches across formats (international and domestic cricket) – the most after Rashid Khan’s 157 – while Babar has played 127 and Rauf 125.”The selection committee has followed the standard rotation policy by resting the leading performers and providing high-performing domestic performers with opportunities to demonstrate their talent and potential at the international level,” Rasheed said after announcing the squad. “This will also allow us to test the temperament and abilities of these players and helping us to strengthen our pool of players as we look forward to building and preparing a formidable side for next year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States.”But we also have ensured that we select a side that is equally strong and capable of winning the series against a strong Afghanistan side for whom Sharjah is like a second home. And to achieve that, we have retained seven players from the last series, recalled four experienced cricketers and clubbed them with four uncapped players to make the 15-member side truly a mixture of youth and experience.”Star PSL performers Saim Ayub and Ihsanullah rewardedAmong the new faces, Ayub has been the most impressive this PSL, scoring 309 runs in ten matches for Peshawar Zalmi at a strike rate of 167.02.Tayyab Tahir has shown glimpses of becoming an explosive T20 batter, hitting 137 runs at strike rate of 144.21 for Karachi Kings. This after scoring 413 runs at a strike rate of 138 at the National T20 Cup.Multan Sultans have brought out a fast-bowling sensation in Ihsanullah, who has 20 wickets in the ongoing PSL season, while Lahore Qalandars’ Zaman Khan has taken 12 wickets so far and has made a name as a specialist death bowler.Of the more familiar names, Abdullah Shafique has made an impression in the PSL too, with 193 runs at a strike rate of 144.02; Faheem Ashraf has returned after playing match-winning knocks for United this season, and has 210 runs at a strike rate of 147.88; Imad’s return follows his 404 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of 170.46 (plus nine wickets) for Kings.Pakistan squad for T20I series against Afghanistan: Shadab Khan (capt), Abdullah Shafique, Azam Khan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Ihsanullah, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Zaman Khan

With just over two months of the Premier League season left, the Tottenham Hotspur board should and likely will be thinking ahead to next season.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have endured a rough campaign this year, and while they could still end with a bang in the Europa League, the club will be hoping and expecting more next year.

To ensure that happens, Daniel Levy and Co. will need to make some major adjustments to the squad regarding incomings, outgoings and loans.

For example, Timo Werner must not be signed on a permanent deal, and while the club should probably spend big on another winger, they also have another player who is out on loan who could come in as the German’s replacement, a player who’s been compared to Nico Williams.

Why Werner shouldn't be re-signed

When Spurs announced that Werner was going to be coming back to the club for a season-long loan last May, there was a mixed reaction from fans and pundits alike.

On the one hand, it was a relatively cheap way to bring in another attacking option who had shown some signs of promise here and there, but those on the other side pointed to his middling return of five goal involvements in 14 games last term and his £165k-per-week wages.

Unfortunately, ten months after that decision, it would be fair to say that those in the second camp have been proven correct.

Appearances

14

27

Goals

2

1

Assists

3

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.35

0.14

For example, in 27 first-team appearances, the former Chelsea ace has scored one goal and provided just three assists, meaning he’s averaged a goal involvement every 6.75 games for the Lilywhites.

On top of that, he’s also missed 11 games through injury this season, and while that is not his fault, it is a problem for a loan player to miss that many games in one campaign.

In all, while there have been moments here and there when Werner has looked impressive, he’s not been anywhere near consistent or impactful enough to justify his stay being extended or made permanent by Spurs.

Moreover, while the club will likely look to bring in a big-name replacement, one of their players out on loan this season has been turning heads and has even been compared to Williams.

Spurs' internal Werner replacement

So, there are a few Spurs players enjoying great campaigns out on loan this season, from Jamie Donely at Leyton Orient to Manor Solomon at Leeds United.

However, away from English football, in La Liga, Bryan Gil has also been stepping up for Girona and looks far more impressive than he has in recent years.

For example, in 31 appearances, the “electric” winger, as dubbed by former Eibar assistant coach Iñaki Bea, has scored four goals and provided three assists, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 4.42 games.

Now, it’s true that the Spaniard has never been able to cement a place for himself in the Lilywhites’ first team and may well move to Girona on a permanent deal in the summer – they have an option after all – but with Werner likely to leave as well, it might make economic sense to keep him as an option off the bench.

Moreover, the 23-year-old has been so good this season that he has been compared to one of the most exciting wingers in Spain: Williams.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.28

0.34

Shots on Target

0.82

0.73

Expected Assists

0.17

0.20

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.33

0.45

Clearances

0.49

0.39

The comparison stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in La Liga, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Athletic Bilbao star is the seventh most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Tottenham man.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, expected assists, crosses into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Spurs will need a replacement for Werner next season, and while he has failed to deliver in campaigns prior, Gil has surely done enough on loan this year to warrant another chance to be that replacement, especially if he’s being compared to such an exciting talent.

Ange can forget about Kulusevski by unleashing "incredible" Spurs star

Dejan Kulusveski has been ruled out for Spurs with an injury.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 6, 2025

Bayern Munich chief Max Eberl spoke out out on Florian Wirtz's visit to Liverpool and Manchester City as the transfer battle heats up.

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Bayern were leading the race for WirtzLiverpool & Man City have also joined inEberl addressed the issue in front of the mediaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

This week, reports emerged that Wirtz and his family had flown to the United Kingdom, where he is believed to have held informal meetings with representatives from both Liverpool and City. At City, Pep Guardiola is reportedly eyeing Wirtz as a potential heir to Kevin De Bruyne, whose role in City's midfield has been pivotal for years. Meanwhile, Liverpool – fresh off a title-winning season – are keen to bolster their creative options and view the Leverkusen star as a long-term investment in their evolving squad.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite interest from England, Munich remain firmly in the race for Wirtz. Known for signing top-tier domestic talent, the Bavarian club has traditionally succeeded in luring Germany’s brightest stars to the Allianz Arena. But this time, they face stiff competition – and they’re fully aware of it.

WHAT EBERL SAID

Bayern’s sporting director Eberl addressed the situation calmly during a recent press interaction. When asked about Wirtz’s trips to Liverpool and Manchester, he said, “If Florian Wirtz and his family made this trip, they'll have their reasons. It's not our place to comment on that. Florian Wirtz is free to visit Liverpool, Manchester, Madrid or whatever with his family and friends."

Eberl acknowledged the unique circumstances, noting that speculation is rampant in Munich and beyond, but emphasised the club's commitment to a composed and calculated approach.

"There's a lot of speculation in Munich, and everyone has their own opinion," he added. "Of course, that doesn't make things easy. With the Club World Cup, this summer is obviously special. I try to ignore it as much as possible. We have to ignore the speculation so we can conduct our business calmly. That's what we did with the contract extensions and we want to do the same with transfers."

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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

While Bayern may hope to keep Wirtz in Germany, Leverkusen reportedly have other ideas. According to , the Bundesliga side would prefer to see their star player head abroad rather than strengthen a direct domestic rival. Moreover, reports have suggested that City are ready to break the bank and offer £126 million ($168m), which is significantly more than Bayern's £84m ($112m) bid.

Manchester United are now considering a move to sign a £20 million-plus player who has been likened to Dele Alli in the past, according to a recent report.

Kobbie Mainoo could leave Man Utd

United’s hierarchy and Ruben Amorim are going to be looking to move a few players on this summer, as they try to move some of the deadwood on and avoid a repeat of this campaign. Players such as Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen look set to leave in the summer when their contracts expire.

Sky Sports: Man Utd may now sell £100m star who INEOS were working to keep

Man Utd and INEOS are now open to the possibility of letting a player leave Old Trafford at the end of the season.

ByBrett Worthington Mar 19, 2025

While Casemiro has been heavily linked with a move away in the last 12 months, there is also speculation around the futures of Antony and Marcus Rashford, who were sent out on loan in January.

But the exits may not stop there at Old Trafford, as Kobbie Mainoo is now being linked with a possible move this summer. According to Sky Sports Germain reporter Florian Plettenberg, Man United may now look to sell Mainoo in the summer among the aforementioned five to raise transfer funds.

The club are planning to invest in top transfers, and to do that, they will need to generate money. Mainoo is valued at £100 million by United, and if he were to be sold, he would help with PSR, as the fee would be 100% profit, given he came through the academy.

The news does come as a surprise, as it was reported not so long ago that INEOS were trying to tie the midfielder down to a new contract.

Man Utd considering move to sign £20m+ gem

So as Mainoo is linked with an Old Trafford exit, according to TEAMtalk, Man United are now weighing up a move to sign Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland.

The report states that United are one of several Premier League clubs considering a move to sign Bellingham at the end of the season. The Red Devils are monitoring and tracking his progress at the Stadium of Light, as they want to put themselves in a strong position to sign him. But teams such as Brighton, Brentford, and Nottingham Forest are also watching the young midfielder with a lot of interest.

This report goes on to add that Bellingham, who is said to be valued at £20 million by the Black Cats, believes he has a strong chance of playing in the top flight next season, meaning he could leave Sunderland if they don’t seal promotion. Bellingham is said to be interested in a move, as he wants to play at the highest level.

Apps

81

Goals

11

Assists

4

The midfielder, who is under contract at the Stadium of Light until 2028, has had another impressive campaign in the Championship, and talkSPORT’s Adrian Clarke has likened Bellingham to Dele Alli, who was a young player who had all the makings to go to the very top. Clarke believes Bellingham’s ability to ghost into the box in that box-to-box role he plays makes him similar to the player Alli was during his time at Tottenham.

Kylian Mbappe has been defended from criticism by Michel Platini, who has called the Real Madrid star a "phenomenon" after his stunning debut season.

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Mbappe has stunning debut Madrid seasonFrenchman still receives criticismBranded a "phenomenon" by French iconFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

France legend Platini has heaped praise on Mbappe – who scored 43 goals in all competitions in his first season on Real Madrid's books – while saying he needs to play his own game, rather than "playing like Lionel Messi".

AdvertisementAFPWHAT PLATINI SAID

He said, via RMC Sport: "Mbappe is a phenomenon. He's a striker who scores. Don't ask him to play like Messi, [Luka] Modric, Platini, or [Zinedine] Zidane. He's a striker. A centre forward, not a centre forward, I don't understand what the new coaches think of that. He's a striker who scores. That's the most important thing. Then, you have to know one thing: either you build a team for him, or you build a team to play well. That's the difficulty."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Mbappe was La Liga's top scorer with 31 goals this season, and he won the European Golden Shoe as well. The 26-year-old was heavily criticised earlier on this term for his performances and apparent lack of goals. However, after finding his feet, he is back to being a Ballon d'Or contender.

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Mbappe will hope to be amongst the goals when France play their Nations League semi-final against Spain on June 5. If they win that, a final against Germany or Portugal awaits three days later.