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Manchester United have become known for relying on numerous top young prospects, with many playing key roles within the first-team and helping them achieve various levels of success.

The Red Devils have either promoted them from the academy ranks, or even paid big money for them in an attempt to secure Premier League glory in the future.

Kobbie Mainoo was one of the youngsters who emerged out of the youth ranks at Old Trafford, but his career has hit a stumbling block over the last few months under Ruben Amorim.

He’s rapidly fallen down the manager’s pecking order in the first-team ranks, which could result in a winter transfer away from his boyhood club in the upcoming window.

The same can’t be said for one other senior player, who has become a crucial player since the manager took the reins at the Red Devils a little over 12 months ago.

Amad Diallo’s key moments at Man Utd

Back in October 2020, United announced the addition of winger Amad Diallo from Italian side Atalanta, with many supporters unaware of the talent purchased by the board.

He would subsequently arrive a few months later during the January transfer window, with his first couple of years seeing him be a bit-part player and even being sent on loan twice.

However, Amorim’s arrival has seen the Ivorian become a key member of his squad over the last few months, even utilising the 23-year-old in a somewhat unnatural wing-back role.

The switch may have come as a surprise to many, but it has been a masterstroke and one that has allowed the youngster to create numerous moments to remember for the supporters.

Arguably, his biggest goal to date came in the Manchester Derby last campaign, with his last-minute effort securing a famous win at the Etihad for the Red Devils.

He’s even contributed on numerous occasions at Old Trafford, with his phenomenal quickfire hat-trick against Southampton in 2024/25 securing the side three crucial points.

The 2025/26 season has been somewhat quiet compared to the standards he’s set for himself over recent times – but he did manage to score a potential Goal of the Season contender against Nottingham Forest.

The star who could be United's next Amad

In his first 13 league games of the 2025/26 campaign, Amad has racked up a total of three combined goals and assists – with one of the efforts coming in that clash at the City Ground.

However, the manager will no doubt have to find a solution in the coming weeks, as the 23-year-old looks set to join up with the Ivory Coast squad for the African Cup of Nations.

It remains to be seen who will likely fill the void, especially with Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui also set to join up with their respective nations for the competition.

Such a period could see the hierarchy delve into the transfer market to land an immediate and or long-term solution to help provide needed depth in the wide areas.

Other areas of the squad will no doubt be targeted too, in the hope of finding a player with a similar profile to Amad, whilst having the potential to develop into a top-level talent.

The hierarchy have already completed one deal ahead of the transfer window, with Colombian teenager Cristian Orozco already making the move to Old Trafford.

The central midfielder set to join the club in the winter window from Fortaleza, subsequently costing a fee in the region of $1m (£750k) – a potential bargain fee.

However, despite being just 17 and operating in a different position, he does offer some similarities to United’s Ivorian star, in largely being an unknown quantity to many.

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He’s also agreed to join before arriving at a later date, like Amad, which may only generate even more excitement until he formally joins the club at the start of 2026.

Cristian Orozco – stats against El Salvador

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

90

Touches

107

Pass accuracy

75%

Passes completed

63

Tackles made

2

Duels won

9

Recoveries made

9

Dribbles completed

2

Stats via SofaScore

Orozco, who’s been dubbed a “destroyer” by one analyst, recently featured for his country at the U17 World Cup, playing a key role in all of their matches, with his showing against El Salvador showcasing the talent he possesses at his tender age.

He managed to complete 67 passes at an accuracy rate of 75%, whilst also completing two dribbles within his total of 107 touches – highlighting his incredible talents with the ball at his feet.

The teenager also won nine duels and nine recoveries alongside two tackles – numbers which could make him the perfect ball-winner for Amorim’s side in the years ahead.

His move to England certainly does have huge glimpses of the previous deal for Amad, with the fanbase undoubtedly hoping that the youngster can develop into another top talent.

However, expectations will no doubt need to be managed during his time in Manchester, but there’s no reason why the supporters can’t begin to get excited about the pending transfer.

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Chelsea are now ready to offer Blues players as part of a swap deal for an “unbelievable” Premier League and England star, according to a report.

Blues set sights on another attacker

The Blues have already strengthened their forward options considerably this summer, with the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens sealing moves to Stamford Bridge, but Enzo Maresca remains keen on adding another attacking midfielder to his ranks.

The west Londoners have ramped up their interest in a number of playmakers over the past few days, with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers being identified as their top target, although there are two other exciting options on the shortlist.

Target

Current club

League G/A in 2024-25

Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa

19

Xavi Simons

RB Leipzig

17

Eberechi Eze

Crystal Palace

16

Maresca’s squad is arguably already bloated, meaning it could make sense to offload some unwanted players in swap deals for new signings, and a new report has revealed the Club World Cup champions plan to do exactly that.

Indeed, according to a report from The Boot Room, Chelsea are ready to offer players as part of a swap deal for Aston Villa’s Rogers, with Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile among the potential options.

Villa have also expressed an interest in Nicolas Jackson, as Unai Emery is keen on reuniting with the former Villarreal man, so it may also make sense to use the 24-year-old as a makeweight in negotiations.

The Blues can arguably afford to get rid of Jackson, given that Delap and Pedro have arrived this summer, with the latter playing a major role in their Club World Cup triumph, scoring three goals throughout the tournament.

Should a swap deal not be possible, Chelsea may have to spend big to get a deal over the line, with Villa reportedly looking to receive over £90m.

"Unstoppable" Rogers could be statement signing for Chelsea

The west Londoners should be in a strong financial position after winning the Club World Cup, having raked in around £85m, meaning they may be able to afford to make another statement signing this summer.

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The Villa star would be exactly that, having performed remarkably well across the 2024-25 campaign, proving himself in his debut season in the Champions League by collecting four goals and three assists in 12 outings.

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Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has also been left impressed by the 22-year-old England international, describing him as “unstoppable”, and given the attacking midfielder’s age, he still has plenty of time to develop further.

Rogers could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea, and it would be an added bonus if they were able to get Jackson off the books as part of the deal, given that Pedro has already proven he is capable of leading the line next season.

Arsenal have a new sporting director. After Edu departed towards the back end of 2024, it’s taken the Gunners several months to find a replacement.

Former Atletico Madrid director Andrea Berta is the new man on board and he’s got a massive summer to sink his teeth into.

Supporters will hope and pray that they are able to right the wrongs of the winter market where they didn’t sign anyone. Since then, they’ve fallen out of the Premier League title race and barely scored a goal on the domestic scene.

So, it’s over to your Berta. Fancy a striker? A winger? An additional central midfielder?

Roberto Berta’s first transfer plans at Arsenal

If Arsenal could cherry pick anyone to sign this summer then it would be Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.

However, with a £150m valuation, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be on his way to the Emirates Stadium.

Transfer Focus

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

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So, who are the alternatives? Well, reports earlier this week suggested that Berta is a keen admirer of Wolves’ Matheus Cunha. Rumours linking Benjamin Sesko with a switch to London fail to go away either.

In this case, a possible swoop for Bilbao winger Nico Williams is gathering momentum again.

Arsenal were first linked with a move after Euro 2024. Mikel Arteta would love to sign him, say some reports.

Well, ahead of the summer window, German reporter Christian Falk notes that the Gunners are in talks with the player’s agents but they will face competition from Bayern Munich to sign the Spaniard.

Williams possesses a release clause of between €60m-€80m (£50m-£68m) so this will be a costly deal to get over the line.

Why Williams could be Arsenal’s best winger since Bukayo Saka

Over the last few years, Bukayo Saka’s output has been totally ridiculous, with journalist Charles Watts hailing him as the ‘best right winger in the world’.

He may well have surrendered that title to Mo Salah this season but even before his hamstring injury, Saka was proving himself to be one of the most elite forwards in the game.

Last season the Englishman scored 20 goals and supplied 14 assists while this term, he was well on his way to replicating those numbers having found the net on nine occasions and supplied 13 assists.

While he’s carried the team from an attacking standpoint, he’s not received too much help from those on the other side of the pitch.

Leandro Trossard did score 17 times in 2023/24 but this campaign, he and Gabriel Martinelli have struggled big time. Between them, they have only scored 13 times.

Thus, the potential arrival of Williams could be game-changing for Arsenal’s offensive line. While the Spaniard has only netted four times in 23 LaLiga matches, he does have nine in all competitions and aged 22, has so much potential left to extract.

Williams vs Martinelli & Trossard in 24/25

Stat (per 90 mins)

Williams

Martinelli

Trossard

Goals

0.21

0.36

0.21

Assists

0.27

0.17

0.25

Key passes

1.97

1.51

1.69

Progressive passes

3.14

1.69

3.88

Progressive carries

5.64

5.00

3.03

Shot-creating actions

5.27

2.47

3.48

Successful take-ons

2.98

1.51

1.34

Stats via FBRef.

That’s certainly the viewpoint of data analyst Ben Mattinson who suggests; “He might be raw, but Nico Williams has all the tools to be an elite winger.”

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Why’s that? Well, we’ll cherry-pick another quote from Mattinson about Williams’ play style.

His numbers are yet to really explode but this is a winger with the potential to be not only an elite goalscorer but an elite creator.

Let’s compare him to wingers in Europe’s top five leagues a moment. To rubber-stamp his exciting potential, the Bilbao star ranks among the top 4% of wingers for progressive carries and the best 3% for successful take-ons. That could be game-changing for an Arsenal side lacking pace and directness in transition this season.

For too long Saka has carried the burden of Arsenal’s forward line but Williams has the capabilities to lift that burden and take Arteta’s team to a new level.

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Whilst the worst form of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career was confirmed courtesy of defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City have reportedly shifted their focus towards a Rodri replacement away from the action.

Man City transfer news

In pursuit of a fifth-consecutive Premier League title, Manchester City now find themselves five points behind leaders Liverpool after losing their fourth game on the bounce in all competitions. The champions initially looked on course to return to winning ways thanks to Erling Haaland’s first-half effort, only for Joao Pedro to change the game from the bench before fellow substitute Matt O’Riley turned the game on its head to seal a shock victory for Brighton late on.

Having lost four games in a row for the first time in his managerial career, it’s back to the drawing board for Guardiola during the international break, who must come up with a solution amid City’s injury woes.

Away from the action, meanwhile, those at the Etihad are seemingly planning ahead in case they lose star man and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. According to reports in Spain, Manchester City are now plotting a move to sign Federico Valverde from Real Madrid, with the midfielder seen as an heir to Rodri’s throne in the middle of Guardiola’s side.

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Valverde won’t come cheap for Manchester City, who may be left waiting for Real Madrid to decide whether they even want to show their midfielder the door next summer amid his €1 billion (£830m) release clause.

Of course, in Manchester City’s ideal world, they won’t need to replace Rodri, but as his rise continues and clubs of Real Madrid’s calibre potentially come calling, Valverde wouldn’t exactly be a bad option to have in mind.

"Special" Valverde could be handed impossible task

As talented as Valverde is, replacing Rodri would be a near-impossible task. Manchester City have already been forced to experience life without the Spaniard this season, having seen their star man sidelined with an ACL injury, but they’ll be desperate to ensure that their current reality does not become permanent next summer.

If they are left with no choice though, then Valverde could be on their list of candidates. A Champions League winner at the heart of Real Madrid’s star-studded side, Valverde is still just 26 years old and the praise of Carlo Ancelotti suggests that he’s got plenty more to come among Europe’s elite.

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The Real Madrid boss told reporters as relayed by Goal in 2022: “Both Valverde and Rodrygo are special players. And that’s what modern-day footballers have to be. They can play in different positions and they possess both technical and physical attributes.

“The modern-day footballer is complete, has energy and quality. Modern-day football takes advantage of the intensity from footballers because that’s what’s required to play the game. Both players have developed tremendously and we’re delighted because they’re doing so well.”

With Charlie Cresswell already seemingly set to swap Elland Road for Toulouse, Leeds United are now reportedly set to lose another young player in this summer’s transfer window.

Leeds transfer news

Of course, it looked like Leeds were about to bid farewell to Archie Gray in their biggest blow yet this summer before they reportedly rejected Brentford’s proposal. The young star even had a medical lined up at Brentford but could now join Tottenham.

The same can’t be said for Cresswell, however, who is reportedly set to undergo a medical at Toulouse next week ahead of completing a £3.8m move this summer. The central defender struggled for minutes last season and is heading for the exit door potentially alongside another young gem.

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Plymouth Argyle have reached an agreement to sign Darko Gyabi on loan from Leeds next season. The young central midfielder spent part of last season on loan at the Pilgrims and is now set to make his return to the Championship club, where he will work under new manager Wayne Rooney.

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Daniel Farke may hope to welcome back a player ready to step into his first team, as Gyabi gains crucial minutes in the Championship next season. With his contract set to expire in 2026 too, it’s set to be an important year for the 20-year-old in what could end in a career crossroad.

"Excellent" Gyabi needs Plymouth return

With minutes far from guaranteed at Elland Road, a return to Plymouth on loan makes perfect sense for Gyabi. The young midfielder will get the opportunity to play week in, week out whilst learning from one of England’s greatest-ever players in the form of Rooney. If his destiny is to eventually leave Leeds on a permanent basis in 2026 too, then impressing other Championship clubs will certainly do the 20-year-old no harm.

Gyabi earned plenty of praise during last season’s loan spell, with former Plymouth manager Ian Foster saying via The Yorkshire Evening Post whilst also praising Ashley Phillips: “They were excellent, both of them. They fit in the group incredibly well and that’s credit to the other boys.

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“We’ve welcomed them. I don’t look at birth certificates when I pick teams. They’re both teenagers coming into what is a very, very difficult game and I thought they both handled it really, really well. Ashley was solid throughout the game. I thought his in-possession game was good, and we’ve seen with Darko what he’s capable of. He’s full of energy. He wants to get on the ball, play forward and break lines.”

Now seemingly set to become the next player to leave Elland Road this summer, Gyabi may hope to instantly find the form he first showed at Plymouth last season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers continue to impress under Gary O’Neil, with a place in the FA Cup semi-final looking achievable.

Last night, Wolves picked up a fantastic 1-0 home victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, which secured them a tie against Coventry City in the next round.

Wolves vs Coventry H2H

Season

Result

20/21 (Friendly)

2-1 W

13/14

1-1

13/14

1-1

08/09

2-1 L

08/09

2-1 W

Via Sofascore

The hosts took the lead within the first two minutes of the game, and from that point on, they rarely had any of the ball, with the Seagulls having 72% possession.

Wolves stayed compact as a unit, frustrating the visitors despite them having 18 shots. It was a performance that would bring the squad and the fans even closer.

Mario Lemina’s game versus Brighton

Mario Lemina has been excellent all season in O’Neil’s 3-4-2-1 setup, influencing the side at both ends of the field.

The Gabon international ended up being the match-winner, scoring the only goal of the game via an impressive, creative finish.

The 30-year-old was subbed off just before the hour mark and replaced by Pablo Sarabia. Lemina boasted an impressive 100% pass success rate, although he only made 11 passes all game due to Brighton’s dominance.

The midfielder registered 33% of Wolves’ nine shots while also making two tackles. However, he wasn’t as strong as usual in duels, winning just two of his eight duels.

Even though Lemina scored the only goal of the game to help Wolves progress, there was one other individual who was instrumental in the victory.

Max Kilman’s performance in numbers vs Brighton

Max Kilman started his 32nd game of the season last night, and his leadership at the heart of the Wolves defence was simply brilliant. The captain led by example from the first whistle to the last, displaying dominance when taking on in-possession and out-of-possession tasks.

Birmingham World handed the defender an 8/10 rating for his showing, describing it as “a proper captain’s performance.”

Kilman vs Brighton

Stats

Kilman

Goals conceded

0

Clearances

9

Dribbled past

0

Pass accuracy

83%

Key passes

1

Touches

38

Stats via Sofascore

As can be seen in the table above, Kilman was an absolute rock at the back, making a huge nine clearances, while also not being dribbled past once, which shows that he was always one step ahead of the game and that he didn’t get drawn out of position by the tricky Seagulls attackers.

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Despite actually having ten fewer touches than goalkeeper Jose Sa, the number 23 was also composed on the ball and willing to progress it when the opportunity presented itself, having a pass accuracy of 83%, completing one key pass, and losing the ball just four times.

This is extremely important given the fact that Wolves had to endure long spells without the ball for most of the game, and therefore, concentration is required both when continuously defending and when rarely getting on the ball, as his ball retention gave his side a much-needed breather at times in the second half.

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Having Kilman at the back was vital for O’Neil’s side, with his composure providing calmness to the backline, who could’ve easily buckled under the constant pressure.

Everton are a club steeped in rich tradition, and as such are one of England's most historic and successful clubs of all time.

However, things have not been easy for the Toffees of late, who saw the initial promise of Farhad Moshiri's investment swiftly devolve into a Financial Fair Play crisis, with numerous clubs baying for their blood as they seek compensation for the relegation they suffered, and that the Merseyside outfit continue to avoid.

The last two Premier League campaigns have been some of the most painful, anxiety-inducing years in their 144-year history, with a dramatic comeback against Crystal Palace first saving them, before a narrow 1-0 win on the final day of last season seeing them come as close as they ever have been to the drop.

This is something Sean Dyche will be absolutely desperate to avoid in the new term, having admitted that such a period took a true toll on the former Burnley man: "Certainly last season was by the far the hardest in my football life, you can’t tell every story but what we were having to sort out inside, trying to win games, all the speculation, all the noise, going down to the last game of the season, injuries, everything that could go wrong, going wrong.

“Very, very difficult to manage, to bring that all together and still get a team out there and win enough games as it happens which we did do. "

With a number of tricky fixtures coming up, the 52-year-old tactician will be desperate to navigate them carefully to ensure they do not find themselves floundering in the relegation zone before the busy Christmas schedule starts.

Who is Everton's worst-ever signing?

Dyche walked into a poisonous atmosphere at Goodison Park, with Frank Lampard's dismissal coming roughly a year after he had succeeded the doomed tenure of Rafa Benitez.

The Spaniard set the club back years, and it was ultimately his tenure that plunged them into the relegation battlers they remain today. However, the failures within Everton ran much deeper than the former Liverpool man, and stretch back to Moshiri's 2016 acquisition of a 49.9% stake.

Promising to inject his fortune into the club, many thought that the Iranian billionaire would mark the new lease of life they had been craving after years of slugging it out under a financial curtain with David Moyes. However, fans seemingly never knew how good they had it with the Scotsman.

Although most will rush to lambast Benitez for what he did to the Toffees, it could be argued that it was Ronald Koeman who truly set the parts in motion for a thoroughly unsuccessful few years, marred further by his thoughtless transfers.

Whilst the likes of Yannick Bolasie, Gylfi Sigurðsson, Davy Klaasen and more might stand out as the club's worst piece of recent business, Michael Keane is one flop who perhaps goes under the radar due to his ability to slip into the background, quietly draining the club of huge funds and struggling whenever he is entrusted with game time.

The 30-year-old marked a huge acquisition during the 2017 summer of revolution and has gone on to feature 205 times since that switch. However, it has been far from a profitable venture, with the defender routinely struggling. Last season saw him make just ten league starts, and yet he still managed to concede two penalties and make one error leading to a shot.

The year before then saw him make two errors directly resulting in goals for the opposition.

The quintessential confidence player, he has struggled to cope in the high-pressure environment that their recent relegation troubles have cultivated. As such, he was even lambasted by pundit Trevor Sinclair, who told talkSPORT’s breakfast show [8:25, April 4th 2022] that he was a "liability".

Such a notion has pretty much summed up Keane's time on Merseyside, and yet he remains within the squad, one of the numerous pieces of dead wood they have been unable to shift over the years. However, his persistence to stick around makes him stand out among the other failures, and thus builds a strong case for him being their worst-ever acquisition in recent memory.

How much did Everton pay for Micheal Keane?

Whilst the defender's performances on the pitch alone would make his move a failed one, the money invested only exacerbates what has been a truly terrible deal.

2017 marked a huge summer for Koeman, who had just led his team into Europe in their first season under his leadership. He had earned a spending spree, but few could have predicted that he would waste such vast amounts of money on so many duds.

The Dutchman would make two club-record fee deals in one window, the first being Keane for a cool £30m sum. That was later blown out of the water by Sigurdsson, who would cost a further £45m. Other key names who joined were Wayne Rooney, Jordan Pickford and Sandro Ramirez, all of whom enjoyed hugely fluctuating success.

How much is Micheal Keane worth now?

To make matters worse, those consistently underwhelming displays have unsurprisingly contributed to a sharp decrease in value, with the miserable figure only set to continue dwindling as his contract lessens and his influence becomes next to nothing.

Michael Keane's years at Everton

Market Value

% change

2022

€16m (£14m)

71% decrease

2021

€28m (£24m)

41% increase

2020

€20m (£17m)

53% decrease

2019

€30m (£26m)

53% increase

2018

€20m (£17m)

N/A

Valuations via Transfermarkt.

As such, CIES Football Observatory offers their findings on such a matter, suggesting the former Burnley dud is now worth a mere €5m (£4m). This suggests that, across the six years spent at Goodison Park, Keane has seen his value drop by £26m and counting.

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Such a figure is almost certain to continue tumbling, with just two years left on his current deal.

How much does Micheal Keane earn?

To mirror such a huge price tag, an equally lofty salary was always bound to come alongside it.

As such, however, the combined fee of both transfer and wages that Keane has drained from Everton grows to a truly mouth-watering figure, made even worse given the lack of return his performances have offered.

After all, sitting on an £80k-per-week salary for those six years was bound to accumulate further debt, even if it only rose from £60k-per-week following his ludicrous 2020 contract extension. To add his £30m fee with the £21.84m wages, and in total, the bumbling defender has snagged £51.84m from the Toffees.

Newcastle United are enjoying a busy summer as they prepare the squad for the club's first Champions League campaign in 20 years.

The Magpies have already completed the sensational signing of Sandro Tonali for £55m, and are reportedly chasing Leicester’s Harvey Barnes and Southampton’s Tino Livramento.

The latest target to be added to this impressive selection of players is Axel Disasi.

What’s the latest on Axel Disasi to Newcastle United?

According to FootballTransfers, Newcastle have agreed personal terms with the Monaco titan ahead of a possible summer transfer.

The outlet revealed that a Premier League side 'approached' the player and received the “green light” from his camp, based on the understanding he will receive first-team football next season.

However, it is understood that Manchester United are also keen on the centre-back, but they will only make a move if they can offload Harry Maguire.

Earlier in the week, Fabrizio Romano echoed this sentiment, stating that both sides are “exploring” the deal. The journalist’s view suggests that the Magpies are slightly in the lead for his signature as they’re expected to make contact this week, whilst Monaco is still waiting for the Red Devils to initiate an approach.

It's thought that a bid of around €50m (£43m) would be enough to secure his signature, as Monaco has already identified Southampton’s Armel Bella-Kotchap as a potential replacement.

Is Axel Disasi a good signing for Newcastle United?

The 25-year-old has been at Monaco since 2020 and has made 129 appearances in all competitions.

But this season is when the Frenchman has royally cemented himself into international prominence, playing in every Ligue 1 game, starting 37 of them.

Disasi has previously been described as a “complete” player by Jacek Kulig and it is easy to understand why. The £12k-per-week star ranks within the 81st percentile of defenders in Europe’s top five leagues who have played at least 1350 minutes for aerials won and possession won per 90.

As well as this magnificent defensive acumen, the 6 foot 3 mountain sits within the best 7% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive passes, progressive carries, and successful take-ons per 90.

He is the perfectly curated mould of physicality and ball-playing competence, possessing the potential to form a frightening centre-back partnership with Sven Botman, who has also enjoyed a phenomenal year.

In his debut term in England, the former Lille colossus was a pillar of solidity and composure.

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He made 35 starts, keeping 11 clean sheets, winning 67% of his total duels, as Newcastle, alongside Manchester City, conceded the joint least goals (33) in the division.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp is a firm believer that Botman exudes limitless potential and could be a Premier League legend, saying:

“We’ve seen some good centre-backs in this league (but) he’s got the capabilities to be better than them. He’s a real leader of men – what a special player he is.”

It is a wonderfully exciting dawn for Newcastle and the prospect of being able to flaunt the pairing of Disasi and Botman could make Eddie Howe’s side an even more formidable outfit come August as they embark on an exciting new dawn in Europe.

Journalist Derek Clark has praised the turnaround Fashion Sakala has had at Rangers since Michael Beale returned to the club.

How has Sakala performed for Rangers?

The Zambia international arrived in 2021, but took a while to nail down a starting place under Steven Gerrard and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The 26-year-old has since exploded into life under Beale and has now scored in each of his last three Scottish Premiership games.

He is starting to become a reliable attacker for Rangers and he has now been praised for the remarkable uptick in his performances at Ibrox.

Speaking on The Rangers Review, Clark lavished Sakala with praise for his improvement in end-product, particularly in away games.

"He was brought in when Beale was a coach under Steven Gerrard back in the summer of 2021, and it never quite happened for him under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but since Beale returned to the club, his numbers have skyrocketed.

"He's had 12 goal involvements, six goals and six assists in 16 starts and two substitute appearances under the new manager. And away from home, he's had nine goal involvements in eight league away trips. He's really come into his own, hasn't he, under Michael Beale.

"Particularly away from home, for me, he's possibly Rangers' most threatening outlet up top at the moment. There's been a remarkable turnaround for him; he wasn't really getting a look-in under Giovanni van Bronckhorst but he's just had a new lease of life under Michael Beale."

Can Sakala be Rangers' main attacker?

The £8.3k-per-week star typically plays on the wing, but has lined up through the middle on occasion. With the future of Alfredo Morelos up in the air, as the Colombian's contract is set to expire amid transfer links, Beale will likely need a new striker in the summer.

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Given Sakala's excellent form in front of goal, there is a case to be made that he could step up as the main goalscorer of the team once Morelos departs, and he could either start down the middle or on the wings supporting another striker such as Antonio Colak.

It may be too early to get carried away by Sakala's form, but Beale's remarkable impact on the forward in a short period of time suggests that there could be plenty more to come from him, and if he can develop into a consistent goalscorer and iron out the frustrating elements of his game, Rangers may not need to panic over losing Morelos.

Scottish champions Celtic have seemingly identified another potential centre-forward solution, amid reports that the Parkhead outfit have been keeping tabs on Polish starlet, Szymon Włodarczyk.

What’s the word?

According to Football Scotland journalist Mark Hendry, the 20-year-old is reportedly a player whom the Old Firm giants have shown an interest in of late, albeit with a move having yet to materialise despite at one stage looking ‘close’.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider stated: “I’d heard Celtic were interested in Szymon Włodarczyk of Gornik Zabrze. Faced a lot of competition. Podolski’s favourite teammate. There was a period it was close and Celtic knew £3.5m was fee club wanted. No movement since initial approach and Cho now priority.”

As Hendry alluded to, the Hoops do appear to have turned their attention towards the signing of Jeonbuk striker Cho Gue-sung, albeit with there seemingly yet to be a breakthrough in negotiations despite a £3m offer having been lodged by Ange Postecoglou and co.

Dream Cho alternative

Should Cho – who is also said to be attracting interest from Bundesliga outfit Mainz and MLS side Minnesota United – prove too difficult to obtain, the Glasgow side could seemingly secure a dream alternative in the form of Włodarczyk, with the latter man having flourished in his homeland of late.

The “highly talented” machine – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has scored seven goals in just 15 league games for current side Gornik Zabrze so far this term, having blossomed since making the move from Legia Warsaw during the summer.

The Poland U21 international – who has been dubbed “one of the most talented young players” in his country in previous years by the aforementioned Kulig – had previously showcased his quality for Legia’s reserve side, with 25 goals and five assists in just 43 games across all fronts.

That has indicated that the youngster clearly offers a real clinical presence in the final third, with that ensuring he could well mirror the South Korean gem, who boasts 16 goals in 45 games for his current side.

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Equally, like the latter man – who has been described by journalist Pete O’Rourke as a “real handful for defenders” due to his 6 foot 2 frame – Włodarczyk can also offer a real focal point in attack, with the emerging ace an imposing presence as he also stands at 6 foot 2.

With Postecoglou and co seemingly looking to replace the powerful figure of Giorgos Giakoumakis this month, amid speculation linking the Greek international away from Scotland, it would surely be an astute move to firm up their interest in the Polish sensation sooner rather than later, particularly if progress can’t be made in the race for Cho’s signature.