da dobrowin： Liverpool have dropped points in their past two away matches in the Premier League, against Everton and Aston Villa respectively.

da marjack bet： In fact, the Reds have drawn half of their eight top-flight fixtures in 2025, though hold a sizeable eight-point lead over second-place Arsenal, who do have a game in hand.

Arne Slot has worked wonders since taking the helm last summer, with Liverpool also into the Carabao Cup final and the last 16 of the Champions League, waiting for the draw that will confirm either Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica as their opponents.

Liverpool have looked good across the park, but up front, they have torn teams to shreds when on their a-game. It’s not all been rosy up top, however, with one man in particular flattering to deceive.

Let’s have a look at Liverpool’s recent history with number nines.

Liverpool's strikers over the past decade

Luis Suarez was probably Liverpool’s last true superstar before Brendan Rodgers’ dismissal. Steven Gerrard, of course, still played, but he was ageing. Suarez left for Barcelona just over a decade ago after his 31-goal Premier League term wasn’t enough to steer over the title-winning line.

The pretty penny claimed for his sale led to the likes of Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli, both of whom flattered to deceive. Daniel Sturridge was already part of the crew but endured injury problems in waves as he struggled to reclaim that sparkling form of 2013/14.

Christian Benteke followed, joining from Aston Villa for about £32.5m in 2015 and scoring nine goals over 29 league games before departing for £27m in Klopp’s first summer transfer window. It was ruthless, but the right move.

Mohamed Salah isn’t a centre-forward but he’s one of the Anfield side’s greatest-ever goalscorers, creeping up the all-time charts. He’s joined by Diogo Jota right now but played with Divock Origi in the early days of his Reds career, a man immortalised in Merseyside history.

Premier League – Record Goalscorers

Rank

Player

Apps

Goals

1.

Alan Shearer

441

260

2.

Harry Kane

320

213

3.

Wayne Rooney

491

208

4.

Andy Cole

414

187

5.

Sergio Aguero

275

184

6.

Mohamed Salah

289

181

Stats via Premier League

Then, of course, Jurgen Klopp led the signing of Benfica’s Darwin Nunez, bringing him in for a club-record £85m fee. He’s ebbed and flowed across the three years, but seems to have bitterly regressed under Slot’s wing and could be facing a departure this summer.

Darwin Nunez in 24/25

We know for sure that the Saudi Arabian-based interest in Nunez’s signature was genuine last month. Fabrizio Romano said so.

However, Al-Nassr ended up signing Jhon Duran instead, ending a free-scoring breakout campaign in Europe and moving to the Gulf in a deal worth £71m.

The fact remains that Liverpool’s expensive striker is looking likely for sale at the end of the season. With just six goals and five assists across the campaign, he’s fallen heavily by the wayside.

The fact that a 37-year-old Liverpool flop is outscoring him only adds insult to injury.

The Liverpool flop who's outscoring Nunez

Liverpool have had modern focal frontmen of all shapes and sizes, but there’s one who left almost a decade ago and has since built themselves up to be a high-class goalscorer back in their Spanish homeland.

The man in question is Iago Aspas, who might be in the ostensible twilight phase of his career but remains a steady scorer in La Liga.

Where Are They Now

Expand Collapse

Aspas left Celta Vigo to sign for Rodgers’ Liverpool for £9m in 2013, having notched 19 goal contributions from 32 top-flight fixtures before moving to England in Los Celestes’ first campaign out of the second tier.

His time on English shores didn’t work out, making just five starting appearances in the Premier League as he was minnowed by the likes of Suarez and Sturridge. Furthermore, Aspas didn’t manage to score in the division, bagging his lonely Liverpool goal against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup.

Liverpool knew rather quickly that the homesick forward wasn’t going to make it in the long run, and so he was sold back to Celta for around £4m in 2015 after spending the 2014/15 campaign on loan with Sevilla, where he won the Europa League.

Rodgers thought he saw something and in some ways has seen his decision vindicated by the attacker’s consistency over so many years in Spain, hitting double figures in La Liga across eight of the past ten campaigns.

He could make that nine with a rich burst of form over the coming months. Aspas is approaching the final year of his long journey but he’s still playing a part as the captain of his 14th-place outfit, having posted seven goals and three assists from 17 appearances.

This, rather embarrassingly, is more than Nunez’s haul for Liverpool in the Premier League this year: four goals from 24 games. The Uruguayan also only has six goals in total in all competitions.

To highlight further how impressive this record is, Aspas has only started 13 of the 17 league matches he has played this season, contributing toward his ranking among the top 14% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored (0.48) per 90, as per FBref.

He’s not as mobile as he once was, naturally, but the former Spain international shows intelligence and dynamism that frankly Nunez is unable to offer.

Emphasising this, Aspas has completed 59% of his dribbles in La Liga this term, as per Sofascore, only completing 1.2 dribbles every two games but proving match smarts in knowing when to put his foot on the gas.

Nunez, in contrast, has completed only 40% of his ball-carrying attempts in England this year, down from 43% last season and a more respectable 49% average in his maiden year. It’s simply not good enough, and indicative of his slump.

In front of goal, Nunez is not missing that many chances this season, but this serves as more as a barometer of Nunez’s decreased impact at the front of the ship, averaging 1.2 shots per Premier League match this term after firing 3.0 per outing last year, as per Sofascore.

Slot is a strong proponent of fluidity and interchangeability. He likes his Liverpool side to work hard and attack with ferocity. Nunez, in a way, embodies part of this.

He is hard-working and difficult to combat from a defensive standpoint. However, his lack of self-belief and composure in front of goal has unravelled all of the good work.

The simple fact is that Liverpool’s club-record centre-forward shouldn’t be being outscored by an ageing veteran in Aspas.

The 37-year-old flopped at Anfield and did so well to build a successful career in Spain thereafter, but if his superiority in 2024/25 isn’t a sign that Nunez needs to go – what is?

Related As bad as Nunez: Slot must ruthlessly drop Liverpool's "dreadful" 5/10 ace

Liverpool battled back to a draw at Villa Park in the Premier League, with several stars failing to impress.

Posts

da roleta： Since relegation back to the Championship ahead of the 2023/24 season, manager Daniel Farke has built a side at Leeds United that has excelled in England’s second tier potentially catapulting them to promotion this season.

da dobrowin： The German has led the Whites to top spot in the current campaign, sitting in pole position to end their two-year exile from the Premier League in the coming months.

He already had a phenomenal side upon his arrival at Elland Road, but has gradually injected further quality into the side, massively aiding their chances of securing a return to the top flight.

The likes of Joel Piroe and Ilia Gruev both arrived during the summer of 2023, both cementing their places in the side over recent weeks, playing a vital role in the club’s promotion ambitions.

However, despite the signings made during the aforementioned window, the emergence of one player caught the eye massively, providing for a huge pay day after their play-off final defeat.

Archie Gray’s stats for Leeds in 2023/24

Ahead of the start of last season, very few supporters would’ve predicted how important youngster Archie Gray would be in Farke’s first year at the helm as Leeds boss.

At the tender age of just 17, the talent would make his first-team debut, but would end up cementing his place in the squad, making 52 appearances for his boyhood side – winning the Championship’s Young Player of the Year award as a result.

Gray would find the back of the net in what was a crucial clash with Leicester City at Elland Road, but his goal would eventually be credited as a own goal – unable to register a goal during his time Yorkshire.

His first year with the Whites would be his only season after their failure to secure promotion, leaving in a £40m deal to join Tottenham Hotspur, hoping to take his career to the next level as a result.

However, despite featuring 35 times to date, he’s been outperformed by another former Leeds player who failed to deliver during his own spell on loan under Farke.

The former Leeds player who’s outperformed Gray in 2024/25

During the summer of 2023, Leeds also secured a deal to sign Spurs full-back Djed Spence on loan for the entirety of the campaign, but was unable to make his mark at the club.

The Englishman, who cost £20m the summer prior. would fail to deliver at Elland Road, making just seven Championship appearances, many of which were out of position at left-back.

As a result, the 24-year-old would be recalled halfway through his stint in January, returning to his parent side before another temporary spell at Italian outfit Genoa.

However, in the ongoing season, the Lilywhites’ injury issues have plagued Ange Postecoglou’s squad, handing Spence the opportunity to impress in the first-team, taking his chance with both hands.

He’s since been a key player in their backline, along with Gray, but his showings have led to calls for an England call-up amid Thomas Tuchel’s first squad in the coming weeks.

When comparing his stats to those of the Leeds academy graduate, Spence has outperformed the youngster in numerous key areas, highlighting the progression he’s made after his disappointing spell in Yorkshire.

How Spence compares to Gray in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Spence

Gray

Games played

14

20

Goals & assists

2

0

Progressive carries

3.3

0.2

Progressive passes

5.2

2.1

Tackles won

2.5

0.3

Interceptions made

1.1

0.6

Aerials won

1.2

0.7

Aerial success rate

60%

56%

Stats via FBref

He’s managed to excel defensively, winning more tackles and completing more interceptions per 90 than Gray, showcasing how impressive he’s been – unimaginable after his unsuccessful spell under Farke.

It’s great to see the former loanee shining alongside another one-time Leeds star, with the fanbase undoubtedly wishing them well in their development even if it’s not at Elland Road.

Many expected Gray to be the star youngster after his big-money move, but ultimately, Spence has managed to outperform him to date, with the teenager still needing the opportunity to star in his regular position to get the best out of his skill set.

Related Leeds can finally axe Aaronson by starting "superb" star out of position

Daniel Farke could hand one Leeds United a new role at Elland Road over the coming weeks.

Posts 1

da apostebet： Newcastle have been knocked out of the FA Cup with their hopes now of a potential cup double seeping away.

da apostaganha： They look a 1-0 lead against Brighton, only to be beaten 2-1 after 120 minutes played, with the Seagulls fighting back against the Magpies to send the game to extra-time.

Alexander Isak scored in the 22nd minute from the penalty spot, but goals from former Magpie Yankuba Minteh and Danny Welbeck secured the victory for Brighton.

Eddie Howe’s side held 48% possession, taking 15 shots in the game and creating three big chances. Meanwhile, Brighton held more of the ball with 52% possession, taking more shots with 21 in the game, but creating fewer big chances, only having two in the match.

The game also included two red cards, one for Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon and one for Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey, making for an interesting conclusion to the fixture.

Many Newcastle players dug deep after going down to ten men, but there were still a few poor performances on the day from certain individuals.

Newcastle's main underperformers against Brighton

Joelinton was one of Newcastle’s poorest performers on the day but has been a huge asset for Howe’s side this season, making 29 appearances, scoring four goals, providing one assist and totalling 2,344 minutes played.

The 28-year-old had been out with a knee injury for the past few weeks, but made his return against Brighton, playing 56 minutes, winning just three of his eight ground duels, making four fouls and getting himself a yellow card.

Joelinton also had an error leading to a shot and was dribbled past once, showing the midfield maestro perhaps wasn’t quite at his full sharpness just yet.

The Brazilian’s performance was not the worst for the Magpies. indeed, it was Tino Livramento who played Welbeck onside his extra-time winner. Harvey Barnes, meanwhile, trudged from the field of the play just before the hour mark having not managed a single shot.

That said, it was another Newcastle star – someone who was given a 3/10 match rating by the Northern Echo – after a poor moment of judgement that truly cost Howe’s side the game.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Expand Collapse How Anthony Gordon was outclassed by Yankuba Minteh

Brighton’s goalscorer was only sold by Newcastle this summer, with Minteh joining Brighton for a fee of around £33m.

Since joining the Seagulls, the 20-year-old winger has made 26 appearances for the club, scoring six goals and providing four assists.

Funnily enough, it was the ex-Newcastle star who had the better of current Newcastle star, Gordon, who was sent off in the 83rd minute of the game and will now miss the Carabao Cup final due to a three-game suspension.

In the words of Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, it was a “stupid” and “really petulant” error from the winger.

When you compare the two players’ performances on Sunday, both made big mistakes for their side, with Gordon being sent off in the game and Minteh giving away the penalty for Isak to convert in the 22nd minute.

Gordon vs Minteh

Stat

Gordon

Minteh

Minutes

83

69

Goals

0

1

Touches

50

32

Shots

1

1

Accurate Passes

19/26

12/18

Key Passes

1

2

Successful Dribbles

0/4

1/2

Ground Duels Won

3/10

4/7

Aerial duels won

0/1

0/0

Tackles

1

2

Stats taken from Sofascore

However, in truth, it was the Brighton star who looked more fit to wear the shirt today with Minteh responded by finding the back of the net himself. He also won more ground duels, made more tackles and provided more key passes for his team. Gordon struggled to get involved too much at all, ultimately completing fewer passes than Martin Dubravka (23) with a performance that really let the Toon Army down.

The Everton academy graduate has had the better season of the attacking pair, with the England international making 34 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing six assists so far. However, with Minteh only 20 years old, many will wonder what he could become in the next few years, considering the level he is already demonstrating.

In an ideal world, Newcastle could have kept Minteh in the summer, deploying a front three of Gordon, Minteh and Isak.

But the Magpies, of course, were unable to keep hold of the youngster due to PSR, which has now seen him come back to bite them, playing his part in knocking them out of the FA Cup.

Related Howe struck gold on Newcastle ace whose value's risen 780% since his debut

Newcastle and Howe will be pretty happy with this teenage talent.

Posts 1

da bwin： Liverpool are gathering information on one of Europe’s top goalscorers this season as a possible replacement for Darwin Nunez, according to a new report.

Liverpool set for a hectic summer

da esoccer bet： Despite Liverpool storming towards the Premier League title and going strong in the Champions League, much of the current talk around the club surrounds what will happen this summer in the transfer window.

The Reds’ star trio of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are all out of contract at the end of the season, and none have yet to pen to paper on new deals. The future of back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who has asserted his desire to leave Anfield, is also up in the air, as is that of striker Darwin Nunez.

The Uruguayan striker has been publicly criticised in recent weeks by manager Arne Slot, and is widely expected to leave Liverpool in the summer, three seasons after he joined the club from Benfica for a record fee of £84 million.

Since the move, Nunez has scored just 40 goals in 133 games, with the 40th of those coming in a match-winning performance against Southampton on Saturday, as he equalised shortly after half-time before winning a penalty moments later.

Liverpool are understood to be monitoring a number of players to replace Nunez, including Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha, and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, the latter of whom they have been reported to have already made contact over.

Related Liverpool now open talks over move to sign £66m "monster" Nunez replacement

The Reds have made the first move to sign a striker ahead of the summer transfer window.

Posts

According to a report from The Boot Room, Liverpool have opened talks to sign the Leipzig star, who is also attracting interest from a number of Premier League clubs, including Chelsea.

Liverpool eyeing Atalanta's Mateo Retegui

Another striker reportedly on Liverpool’s shortlist to replace Nunez is Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui. The Italy international, 25, is the top scorer in Serie A this season, having netted 21 goals in 25 games for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side with a further three in the Champions League.

His impressive return this term sees him currently sit joint-second in the race for the European Golden Shoe alongside Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, who he boasts extremely similar attributes to.

According to Rousing the Kop, Liverpool have been gathering information on Retegui ahead of a potential summer swoop, with Slot adamant on signing a new centre-forward ahead of his second season in charge.

Retegui, who only joined Atalanta last summer from Genoa last summer, has been heavily praised by Italy manager Luciano Spalletti, who has made him a regular for the Azzurri since taking over as head coach in 2023.

“He’s a very serious lad,” Spalletti said of the striker back in October, according to The Guardian. “Inside the box, he is lethal. And now he has learned how to connect with the team better. He’s going to become a top player.”

da fezbet： A “brilliant” 31-cap international could now be set for a move to Leeds United this summer, with it becoming increasingly likely he leaves his current club, according to a report.

Leeds on track for promotion

da pixbet： Leeds squandered the opportunity to move five points clear of third-place Burnley by losing 1-0 at Portsmouth last time out, but they remain in a strong position to win promotion from the Championship.

With just 10 games left to play, the Whites are at the top of the pile, and they have some relatively kind fixtures on the horizon over the course of the next few weeks, with the majority of their upcoming opponents in mid-table or near the bottom of the standings.

Leeds United’s upcoming Championship fixtures

Date

Millwall (h)

March 12th

Queens Park Rangers (a)

March 15th

Swansea City (h)

March 29th

Luton Town (a)

April 5th

Middlesbrough (a)

April 8th

It can be difficult for clubs to make plans for the summer transfer window when it is unclear which division they’ll be in next season, but Daniel Farke has now started to identify potential targets.

According to a report from The Sun, a familiar face could be set to return to Elland Road, as Leeds have been tracking the progress of former player Kalvin Phillips, who has spent the current campaign on loan at Ipswich Town from Manchester City.

Farke is looking to build a squad capable of surviving relegation in the Premier League, and Phillips has now emerged as a target, with the midfielder likely to leave Man City at the end of the campaign.

Alongside the Ipswich loanee, the Whites have also been linked with a move for AS Roma’s Tammy Abraham, while Manor Solomon’s future at Elland Road is also deemed to be a top priority.

"Brilliant" Phillips could reignite career at Elland Road

The Leeds-born midfielder impressed enough during his first spell with his hometown club to earn 31 Three Lions caps, forming a memorable partnership with Declan Rice at Euro 2020.

Since then, it would be fair to say the 29-year-old’s career has gone downhill, having never really managed to establish himself as a first-team regular for City after his £45m move, before ending up at relegation-threatened Ipswich on loan.

Related Leeds make approach for 20 y/o midfielder "playing at the highest level"

He’s been a star in Turkey this season.

Posts

Although the Tractor Boys look likely to be relegated from the Premier League, there are signs the Englishman is getting back to his best, having received high praise from Kieran McKenna.

“I think he’s had a really solid first half of the season to be honest. There will always be a different perception of Kalvin because he’s come from Manchester City but he’s a normal person and a very good player who’s trying his best.”

However, a move back to Leeds could be exactly what Phillips needs to fully reignite his career, and back to being the “brilliant” player the central midfielder is capable of being when he’s at his best.

da bet vitoria： Liverpool are believed to be willing to spend more than £40m to secure the signing of a “great” player this summer, seeing him as a possible successor to Virgil van Dijk at the heart of their defence.

Futures of legendary Liverpool trio still unclear

da betano casino： The Reds may be closing in on Premier League title glory this season, but there are still genuine concerns surrounding the futures of Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah.

All three Liverpool legends are out of contract at the end of this season, and as things stand, none of them have signed new deals yet. It is a precarious position to be in, and one that has left plenty of supporters frustrated, in terms of the club not sorting the situation sooner.

Alexander-Arnold has been continually linked with a move to Real Madrid for many months now, and the fact that the Reds’ vice-captain hasn’t silenced those rumours suggests that there is a real chance that he could move to the reigning Champions League holders in the summer transfer window.

While Van Dijk and Salah have appeared to be the more likely two to stay put at Liverpool beyond this season, the former has been backed to seal a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Liverpool line up £40m+ deal to replace Van Dijk – Sky Sports

According to Sky Sports’ Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool are willing to pay around €50m (£42m) plus possible bonuses to sign Nico Schlotterbeck this summer, with a move to the Premier League a distinct possibility.

The Borussia Dortmund centre-back still has two years remaining on his current deal, but the Bundesliga side will be powerless to do anything if his clause is met.

It goes without saying that Van Dijk will hopefully sign a contract extension with Liverpool as soon as possible, putting to bed any talks of him leaving. If the worst-case scenario does happen and the colossal Reds skipper moves on, however, Schlotterbeck could be a good long-term replacement for him.

The 25-year-old has now racked up 123 appearances for Dortmund, as well as winning 18 caps for Germany, and former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has lauded his ability, saying:

“He is a great player, very good in tackling and strong in heading. He’s probably one of the best centre-backs in terms of ball-playing skills, not just in Germany, but in all of Europe. I really hope he can finally take the next step now.”

Related Forget about Isak: £100m Newcastle star should be Liverpool's no. 1 target

Liverpool were left rueing their loss of form and energy as they were turned over by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

Posts

Schlotterbeck is at a great age to come in, possessing lots of experience but also still being young enough to find extra gears, and his quality on the ball would surely appeal to Arne Slot, not to mention defensive expertise that has seen him average three clearances and 2.3 tackles per game across 12 Champions League appearances this season.

da supremo： Celtic are believed to be interested in signing a “superb” former player to replace Cameron Carter-Vickers this summer, with Brendan Rodgers playing a big role.

Celtic linked with summer signings

da jogodeouro： The Hoops may be edging towards yet another Scottish Premiership title this season, as well as having a chance of winning a domestic treble, but that doesn’t mean new signings aren’t needed to take them up a gear moving forward.

En Avant Guincamp midfielder Kalidou Sidibe has been linked with a move to Celtic in the summer transfer window, being seen as a replacement for Jeffrey Schlupp, should he not seal a permanent move from Crystal Palace at the end of the season. In fact, they have reportedly tabled a £1.6m bid for his services.

Nantes winger Herba Guirassy is another player who has been mentioned as an option for the Hoops this summer, with the 18-year-old considered a long-term acquisition. He has scored twice in Ligue 1 this season, however, showing that he can already make an impact in a top league.

In terms of potential exits at Celtic in the coming months, there is reportedly concern that Carter-Vickers could decide to move on and enjoy a fresh challenge. The centre-back has been an influential figure since arriving from Tottenham, so Rodgers will be desperate to keep hold of him.

Celtic and Rodgers eyeing move to sign former star

According to a new update from The Celtic Star, Celtic are eyeing a move for Brentford centre-back and former Hoops ace Kristoffer Ajer, seeing him as a potential successor to Carter-Vickers, should he move on this summer.

In fact, Rodgers is said to have “been in the ear” of the 26-year-old more than once to bring him back to Parkhead, viewing him as a strong option to bolster his defence.

While losing Carter-Vickers would clearly be a blow for Celtic, Ajer could be an outstanding alternative to him, having proven himself in the Premier League with Brentford.

The Norwegian spent five years with the Hoops between 2016 and 2021, winning three Scottish Premierships, Scottish Cups and Scottish League Cups apiece, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig once described him as “superb”.

Signing Ajer from a good Premier League team would also feel like a real coup for Celtic, considering he has started 15 matches in the competition this season, averaging 2.4 clearances and 1.6 aerial duel wins per game.

Related Their best signing since Edouard: Celtic struck gold on £1.4m "superstar"

Odsonne Édouard certainly proved to be a great value for money Celtic signing, but does a current player eclipse even French Eddy in that regard?

Posts

At 26, he is still in the peak years of his career, too, and given his experience, his second stint with the Hoops could prove to be even more productive.

da realsbet： In the view of club legend Gary Neville, “being Manchester United goalkeeper is the hardest position in English football”.

da bet7： For every Peter Schmeichel there is a Massimo Taibi. For every Edwin van de Sar, a Roy Carroll. Managing to find a quality, long-term solution in the goalkeeping ranks has not always been plain sailing – just ask Andre Onana.

The scrutiny that surrounded his predecessor, David De Gea, has been replicated with the former Inter star, with questions already being asked over Onana’s suitability to life at Old Trafford.

Signed by his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag on a £47.2m deal in the summer of 2023 – a year on from having been available on a free – the Cameroonian ‘keeper has endured a real mixed stint in Manchester, putting together a highlight reel full of comical gaffes.

Despite starting the new season on strong footing, amid notable double saves against the likes of Crystal Palace and Fenerbahce, the 28-year-old has regressed again in recent months, having now made three errors leading to a goal in the Premier League this term.

Those woes – which include his mistake for Brighton and Hove Albion’s third goal last month – have sparked reports that an early exit could be on the cards for the experienced stopper, with new boss Ruben Amorim seemingly intent on shaking up his goalkeeping department.

The latest on Andre Onana's future at Man Utd

There could well be a summer of upheaval ahead, with Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst reporting that the number of departures could reach double figures for the Red Devils.

Among those looking set for an exit is veteran goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, amid the impending expiry of his contract, with the academy graduate having played just three first-team games following his return back in 2021.

That likely departure has come following further claims by Luckhurst that Amorim is keen on signing a new goalkeeper ahead of next season, thus throwing into doubt the futures of both Altay Bayindir and Onana.

In the case of the latter man, recent reports have indicated that the one-time Ajax hero could be open to sealing a move away from the Theatre of Dreams, with clubs in Saudi Arabia seemingly showing an interest.

Potential succession plans appear to have already been drawn up, with the latest speculation indicating that United have lodged an enquiry over Burnley sensation, James Trafford, with the 22-year-old having previously been on the books at rivals Manchester City.

The likelihood is that the Englishman would command a fee in the region of £30m, however, with United perhaps left to regret losing a dream alternative on a free. And no, it’s not De Gea…

Man Utd have already offloaded an Onana upgrade

The goalkeeping positions could well be in for major change at both Manchester clubs, with uncertainty surrounding Ederson at the Etihad, with the Brazilian having just a year left on his current deal.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Expand Collapse

Amid City’s need for a replacement, recent reports have indicated that Pep Guardiola and co are keeping an eye on Torino number one, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, with the Serbian stopper having caught the eye in Serie A in recent times.

Interestingly, the 28-year-old – who his manager Paolo Vanoli described as “underrated” – was actually previously on the books at United, having been signed as a teenager back in the summer of 2014.

Following that move, the then-youngster subsequently returned to former club, Vojvodina, on loan for the 2014/15 campaign, before signing for Lechia Gdansk on a permanent basis in November 2015.

The rising star had failed to gain a work permit in England, hence the brief nature of his association with the club, with United forced into releasing the 6 foot 8 giant for nothing.

Fast forward almost a decade, and the 28-year-old is now shining in Italy’s top flight, having made 149 appearances for his current side since arriving in Turin in 2017, racking up 51 clean sheets in that time.

This season, in particular, Milinkovic-Savic has been at the peak of his powers after conceding just 31 goals in 28 league games, while Onana, by contrast, has shipped 40 goals in 29 league outings back in Manchester.

Milinkovic-Savic vs Onana vs De Gea – last 365 days

Stat (per 90)

Milinkovic

Onana

De Gea

Goals against

1.06

1.47

1.04

Save percentage

77.8%

71.6%

75.2%

Save % (penalties)

57.1%

10%

66.7%

Clean sheet %

36.1%

21.3%

34.6%

Touches

47.86

41.60

34.35

Avg. length of goal kicks

56.8

46.6

45.0

Crosses stopped

6.7%

6.6%

2.7%

Defensive actions outside area

1.28

0.81

0.65

Stats via FBref

As indicated in the table above, the Serbian has outperformed his United counterpart across a string of metrics across the last 365 days, with it no surprise that those at the Etihad have begun to register an interest.

Not only is the 19-cap international seemingly a big upgrade on Onana, but he is also deemed to be a similar player to De Gea among those in their position in Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref.

Like Milinkovic-Savic, the Spaniard – who also departed on a free transfer in 2023 after 12 years at United – has been in fine form of late for Fiorentina, as indicated by his record with regard to save percentage and his goals against record.

The debate over whether Ten Hag was right to trade De Gea for Onana will rage on. As for the Torino star, he is simply among a growing list of ex-United ‘keepers – including Dean Henderson and Sam Johnstone – who have gone on to shine elsewhere.

Perhaps, if City’s interest does become more concrete, he will finally end up in Manchester after all…

Related Earns as much as Amad: Man Utd must axe flop who's cost over £40m

Manchester United must finally move on from the flop who earns as much as Amad Diallo.

Posts

da 888casino： Celtic’s pursuit of a sixth treble in just nine seasons continues under Brendan Rodgers.

da dobrowin： Last Saturday, the Hoops swatted aside Hearts 3-0 at Parkhead; Daizen Maeda scoring a brace, with Jota on target in-between.

This leaves Rodgers’ side 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership, looking to move three points closer to the title when they visit McDiarmid Park on Sunday.

Having also reached the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 12 years, they’ve certainly had an excellent season, but would this team be even stronger had they been able to keep hold of their “exciting” homegrown talent, a player now similar to Arne Engels?

How Arne Engels' first season at Celtic has played out

A few eyebrows were raised when Celtic broke their club-record transfer fee to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg on deadline day last summer, paying a reported £11m.

So far this season, the 21-year-old has scored ten goals and provided 12 assists across all competitions, becoming a full Belgian international too, debuting for the Red Devils against Israel in the UEFA Nations League back in September.

Graeme McGarry of the Herland believes the midfielder has ‘huge potential’, while Rodgers hails him as a “young player of real quality”, even if he has, at times struggled to live up to his hefty price tag.

So, could Celtic have saved themselves that £11m by keeping hold of a homegrown talent?

What happened to Celtic's academy superstar

Rocco Vata, son of former Celtic defender Rudi Vata, joined the club’s academy at the age of seven, impressing at youth level, featuring in the Lowland League, SPFL Trust Trophy and UEFA Youth League.

He made his senior debut for the club at Easter Road against Hibernian in December 2022, before scoring his one and only goal for the club during a 5-0 demolition of Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup in January last year.

However, a few months later, following the expiration of his contract, Vata did not renew, instead signing for Watford, with the Hornets paying a £237k compensation fee.

Well, still only 19-years-old, his performances in the EFL Championship have certainly garnered some attention, including from Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout, who believes he has ‘an exciting future ahead’.

Meantime, Conor McEvoy of the Irish Times describes him as ‘electric’, adding that he has been Watford’s ‘most threatening attacking player’ for much of this season, with Tom Cleverley’s team currently ninth in England’s second-tier.

According to Transfermarkt, his value has skyrocketed up to £1m, almost five times what the Hornets paid for him.

This form actually saw Vata earn his first-ever senior cap for the Republic of Ireland last week.

He was introduced by Heimir Hallgrímsson as a second-half substitute against Bulgaria in Plovdiv, choosing to represent the Boys in Green, despite also being eligible for Scotland, Montenegro and Albania; his father won 58 caps for the latter.

So, let’s see how Engels and Vata compare?

Arne Engels vs Rocco Vata 24/25 comparison

Statistics

Engles

Vata

Appearances

44

26

Minutes

2,734

1,192

Goals

10

4

Assists

12

3

Chances created

45

10

% of shots on target

44.74%

42.11%

Passing accuracy %

84.79%

72.41

Ball recoveries

73

30

Touches in opposition area

81

58

Touches per 90

48.98

44.25

Stats via Transfermarkt & Squawka

The table outlines that, right now, Engles is a better midfielder, considering he comes out on top for all the attacking and passing metrics included.

Nevertheless, Vata has only played a little over 1,000 Championship minutes since making the move down south, and is still only a teenager, two years younger than the Belgian.

Also, the table emphasises that, stylistically, the two players are very similar. That can be seen more closely when you study Vata’s record in the Lowland League last season, scoring 12 times in 15 games, proving they both have a knack for finding the back of the net.

Indeed, the youngster found the net 12 times in 15 games during the 2023/24 Lowland League season.

That underlines the point that Celtic would have been better off, certainly in the long run, had they been able to convince the young Irishman to stay.

Related Celtic ace left for £600k, now he's similar to a future Ballon d'Or winner

The player Celtic lost for just £600k is now similar to a star who has been tipped to win the Ballon d’Or.

Posts

da 888casino： Liverpool are believed to have sent scouts to watch a £74m-rated “leader” in action in recent days, according to an exciting new transfer claim.

Van Dijk closing in on new Liverpool deal

da bet vitoria： Mohamed Salah’s contract extension at Anfield is the biggest news to emerge this week, with the Egyptian legend signing a new deal that will keep him with the Reds until the end of the 2026/27 season.

Now, Liverpool supporters will be dreaming of Virgil van Djik doing the same as his teammate, and recent reports suggest he is also closing in on committing his future to the club he has been at since midway through the 2017/18 campaign.

The Athletic’s James Pearce is among those to claim that it is now effectively a matter of time until the Dutchman pens a new contract, with a two-year deal also expected to be coming his way.

At 33, Van Dijk is not getting any younger, but he has enjoyed a wonderful season at the heart of Liverpool’s defence, and given his style of play, there is no reason why his level should drop much over the next couple of seasons.

However, eventual successors will need to be found, and one such figure has been linked with a move to Anfield.

Liverpool send scouts to watch £74m "leader"

According to an update from The Boot Room, Liverpool were among the clubs who sent scouts to watch RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba last week.

His two teammates, Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko, were also thought to be watched by the Reds, with Arsenal and Chelsea

also reportedly having scouts present to eye up the trio.

Lukeba is a centre-back who could have a massive future in the game, so the idea of him coming in as Van Dijk’s partner – or eventual long-term replacement – at Liverpool is mouthwatering.

At just 22 years of age, the Frenchman is already an undisputed key man for Leipzig, making 19 appearances in the Bundesliga this season and averaging three clearances per game, and four in the Champions League.

Lukeba v Konate in the league this season

Stat

Lukeba

Konate

Appearances

19

25

Starts

14

24

Minutes played

1217

2055

Clearances per game

3.0

3.9

Tackles per game

1.4

1.4

Aerial duel wins per game

1.1

2.6

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

2

Lukeba has been described as a “leader” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, while he has been valued at as much as £74m in some reports this year, highlighting what a top prospect he is.

Related Liverpool confident of winning race for "amazing" £60m+ star this summer

The Reds are in a good position to strike a deal…

Posts 2

While Van Dijk should remain Liverpool’s main man in defence for the foreseeable future, provided he signs a new deal, the Leipzig ace could be a perfect option to come in and partner Ibrahima Konate for years to come.