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Manchester United and INEOS regret signing an Old Trafford “imposter” and want him sold alongside Andre Onana, according to a new report.

Andre Onana ‘unsettled’ at Man Utd and set to be sold

The Red Devils and Sir Jim Ratcliffe announced plans for a brand new 100,000-capacity stadium earlier this month, however, prior to that, the co-owner hit out at recent signings by the club.

Ratcliffe said: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho. These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.”

He added: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mould the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”

Approved by Amorim: Man Utd working on deal for "phenomenal" £38m maestro

The Red Devils have identified a young midfielder as a top priority for the summer transfer window.

ByDominic Lund Mar 27, 2025

In regards to Onana, it has been claimed that Man Utd regret signing the goalkeeper, who is unsettled and has been for some time at Old Trafford.

The Cameroon international, who has been a regular under Ruben Amorim, is wanted in Saudi Arabia and looks set to be sold over the coming months. However, the club are also kicking themselves at a more recent addition who could follow Onana out of Manchester.

Man Utd also regret signing Joshua Zirkzee and want him gone

According to a report from Spain, Man Utd regret signing Joshua Zirkzee and already want him out of Old Trafford.

The forward, who signed for just over £36m from Bologna last summer and was the first addition under Ratcliffe, has struggled to make an impact in England, scoring just six goals in 44 games, something which has raised doubts for United’s coaching team and staff.

The report adds on Zirkzee that the ‘possibility of a sale is already being considered from the boardroom if an offer comes in that allows for a partial recovery of the investment made’.

Talking earlier this year, pundit Jamie O’Hara slammed the Red Devils and singled out Zirkzee for criticism, calling the forward an “imposter” and “one of the worst players” he’s seen for Man Utd.

Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool

5.47/10

Everton 2-2 Man Utd

5.85/10

Ipswich 1-1 Man Utd

5.91/10

Man Utd 0-2 Crystal Palace

5.97/10

Man Utd 2-1 Brentford

5.98/10

“Manchester United are absolutely terrible – they’re one of the worst teams in the Premier League at the moment. They’re awful at the back and their midfield is non-existent. Their options in attack are terrible as well – Amad Diallo is the only player who looks like he deserves to play for them.

“Joshua Zirkzee is one of the worst players I’ve ever seen in a Manchester United shirt – it’s unbelievable that he’s playing for them. He’s an absolute imposter!”

Being such a big club, Tottenham Hotspur have been blessed with some sensational talents over the years.

Luka Modrić, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, and Son Heung-min have all left their marks on the club and the Premier League as a whole.

However, as with every other ‘big six’ side, the North Londoners have also endured their fair share of transfer flops as well, with the likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Serge Aurier and Clinton N’Jie all failing to make the grade in N17.

Yet, one of the most disappointing signings the club made in the 2010s was that of Roberto Soldado, a mistake they’d repeat a few years later with a forward who was even worse than Timo Werner.

Soldado's Spurs career

Following the world-record £85m transfer of Bale to Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, Spurs had to find a way to replace the goals they had just lost from their team, and they had plenty of money to do so.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast’s Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

Famously, the club opted to splash the cash on the not-so-magnificent seven of Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches, Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Soldado, and while the penultimate player on that list came good in North London, the Spanish striker did not.

However, what makes the Valencia-born ace’s time in N17 so much more disappointing is that, prior to his £26m move to England, he was on fire and arguably one of Europe’s most devastating strikers.

For example, in his final two campaigns with his hometown team, the 12-capped international scored an astounding 57 goals and provided 11 assists in just 97 appearances.

However, in the two seasons he spent with the Lilywhites, he was only able to score 16 goals and provide 11 assists in 76 appearances, which makes it easier to understand why journalist Sam Tighe described him as the “flop of the season” early on in his Tottenham career.

Appearances

51

46

36

40

Goals

27

30

11

5

Assists

6

5

5

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

0.76

0.44

0.27

After two years of dismal performances, the former Valencia star returned to Spain, signing for Villarreal, where he rediscovered some form and racked up a haul of 12 goals and 19 assists in 55 games.

In all, it’s hard to describe Soldado’s time in England as anything other than a complete flop, so it’s poor luck – or poor judgment – that Spurs made the same mistake with an even worse striker just a year after they sold the Spaniard.

The Spurs striker worse than Soldado

A year after Soldado left the club, Spurs already had their starting number nine sorted thanks to the emergence of Kane, but one thing they lacked was a reliable backup who could challenge the Englishman for his place in the team – absurd, we know.

So, the club turned their attention to the continent and paid AZ Alkmaar around £19m for Vincent Janssen, who, at the time, was undoubtedly one of the most exciting and promising strikers around.

After all, in his final season in the Netherlands, he won the Eredivisie Golden Boot and ended up with a ridiculous tally of 31 goals and seven assists in just 49 appearances across all competitions, which worked out to an astounding average of a goal involvement every 1.28 games.

However, what happened to the Spanish striker a few years earlier happened to the young Dutchman, as once he arrived in England and started to earn his £1.36m-per-year salary, his goalscoring ability seemed to all but leave him.

For example, in his debut season, the disappointing forward was only able to score six goals and provide four assists in his 38 appearances, which was a dramatic fall from his output a year prior, and led to Gary Lineker brutally describing him as a “poor man’s Soldado.”

The next season, he was sent on loan to Fenerbahce, but injuries limited him to 18 highly productive appearances, in which he scored five goals and provided four assists.

The Heesch-born poacher returned to N17 for the 18/19 campaign, but a foot injury limited him to just five appearances, in which he scored a single goal, and then, that summer saw his nightmare in North London finally come to an end, as he was sold to Mexican outfit Monterrey for just £6.3m.

That means the once-promising striker left the club with a grand total of six goals and four assists in 42 games, which comes out to a goal involvement on average every 4.2 games.

In contrast, Werner, who is widely criticised for his poor displays for the Lilywhites, has managed to produce nine goal involvements in 41 appearances.

While that comes out to a slightly worse average of one every 4.55 games, that has been almost entirely from the wings, meaning there is a strong argument that he’s been a better player for the club than the Dutchman was.

Transfer fee

£19m

Total Wages

£2.7m

Appearances

42

Cost per Appearance

£517k

Goal

6

Cost per Goal

£3.6m

Assists

4

Cost per Assist

£5.4m

Goal Involvements

10

Cost per Goal Involvement

£2.1m

Moreover, when you add up his transfer fee and the wages he earned for the two seasons he spent at the club, the overall cost for the North Londoners was about £21.7m, which breaks down to £517k-per-appearance, £3.6m-per-goal, £5.4m-per-assist or £2.1m-per-goal-involvement – which can hardly be described as value for money.

Ultimately, it’s a good thing that Kane came along when he did, as with Soldado and Janssen, Spurs did not have the greatest track record when it came to signing promising strikers in the mid-2010s.

An incredible Son replacement: Spurs in talks to sign "world-class" star

The immense talent would be a brilliant signing for Spurs.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 1, 2025

Plenty of Chelsea stars are featuring for their countries during the international break, with Pedro Neto and Marc Cucurella both playing in the Nations League on Thursday night and the likes of Reece James and Levi Colwill are involved in Thomas Tuchel’s first squad for England.

Cole Palmer has pulled out of the Three Lions squad, meanwhile, staying back at Cobham to recover from his injury setback, with the hope of being available for Chelsea’s first game back against Tottenham on April 3rd.

But it isn’t just the senior stars who are featuring for their countries on international duty this week, as four academy graduates all featured for England U19 this week in their 2-0 win over Wales.

Chelsea's U19 England stars

Three of Chelsea’s academy stars started in the game against Wales, with Josh Acheampong captaining the side, playing as a left-sided centre-back, which isn’t his natural position.

Kiano Dyer started in midfield alongside Newcastle star, Lewis Miley and Tyrique George started on the left.

George and Acheampong have both played multiple times for the first team this season, with the 19-year-old winger making 17 appearances this season, providing four assists and totalling 713 minutes played.

Meanwhile, Acheampong has made eight appearances, totalling 421 minutes played.

But there was a fourth Cobham star who featured against Wales in England’s U19 European Championship Qualifiers, who many fans are already very excited about, due to the high praise the youngster is already earning at such a young age.

Chelsea's own Osimhen & Aguero hybrid

Chelsea’s Shumaira Mheuka came from the bench against Wales for England U19 on Wednesday night, coming on for Manchester United’s Ethan Wheatley – who scored the other goal in England’s 2-0 victory – and netting in the 84th minute.

Mheuka has been labelled “Cobham’s Finest” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, stating the 17-year-old forward is a “jewel”.

The young striker has brilliant strength to initiate contact, often being able to ride challenges and bully defenders, even if they are slightly bigger than him. But he also has deceptive agility, especially inside the box, often crafting himself an extra half-yard of space to get shots off, much like Sergio Agüero.

This unique ability to shift the ball in tight spaces is extremely valuable for strikers in the Premier League, as they are able to create their own shooting opportunities, rather than relying on others to create chances for them, again reminiscent of Aguero, who was the master of creating his own shooting angles.

Whilst Mheuka has the ball-manipulation quality of an Aguero-type striker inside the box, he also possesses those physical traits of a Victor Osimhen, using his body to shield the ball and bully defenders inside the box. Chelsea has been linked with a move for Osimhen in recent windows, but Mheuka’s development could well save them a big chunk of change.

The 17-year-old is still developing physically, as well as technically, and if he continues to grow, adding some extra height to his advantage, his already strong base layer of physicality could become even more useful, making Mheuka a huge box presence in the Premier League.

Stat

Mheuka

Minutes

45

Touches

9

Accurate Passes

4/5

Ground Duels Won

0/1

Aerial Duels Won

0/2

The 17-year-old striker made his first full debut, starting against Copenhagen in the UEFA Conference League, before being subbed off at halftime for Christopher Nkunku. Mheuka was unable to get himself involved, barely getting any service, leading to his three lost duels and just nine touches in 45 minutes.

Mheuka has made 42 appearances for Chelsea’s academy across the U18 and U21 sides, scoring 19 goals, providing five assists and totalling 2,593 minutes played. He has also netted ten times for various England age groups, making 20 appearances from U15-U19.

Whilst he is still young and developing, many have the right to be excited about Mheuka, who has all the attributes of an excellent forward, with the physical levels required to play in the Premier League already developing nicely.

After Yamal: Chelsea can soon unleash the world's second-best wonderkid

The Chelsea youngster could emerge as a first-team option for Enzo Maresca next season.

ByDan Emery Mar 21, 2025

Chelsea have made some questionable additions since Todd Boehly bought the club back in May 2022, wasting a whole heap of money on players not up to the level required of the Premier League.

Mykhailo Mudryk cost the Blues £88.5m back in January 2023, with high expectations of providing added quality to the frontline of the first-team squad.

However, fast-forward two years, the Ukrainian international has only scored 10 times and hasn’t featured since December after his provisional suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.

It’s safe to say the club won’t be able to command a fee anywhere near close to what they forked out for his signature, needing to bear such dealings in mind going forward.

Mudryk is only one player in a long list of signings made during the American’s tenure at the club who have failed to deliver, with numerous still currently on the books at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s worst signings of the Boehly era

Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez remains a player who continues to divide opinions amongst the fanbase, producing inconsistent displays which have often cost the Blues key points.

The Spaniard ultimately cost them a chance of claiming at least a point against Manchester City after coming off his line and being beaten by Erling Haaland, who managed to clip the ball over him into the back of the net.

Christopher Nkunku is another player who’s been unable to produce the goods on a consistent basis, registering just three Premier League goals in his 24 appearances to date.

After such a poor return, it would be a surprise to no one if he were to depart in the summer, looking to cut their losses after paying £52m for his signature from RB Leipzig back in the summer of 2023.

Any transfer would leave a desperate need for a new attacker, something which boss Enzo Maresca has desperately desired since his appointment – potentially going back in for a target they’ve previously monitored.

The former Chelsea ace who’s been like Isak since leaving

Alexander Isak was a player on Chelsea’s radar in the summer, but Newcastle United demanded a fee of over £100m for his services – which would’ve made him the third player to join the Blues for such a figure since Boehly’s arrival.

The Swede’s tally of 22 goals in all competitions will only have further increased his market value, potentially pricing Maresca’s side out of any move for him at the end of the season.

Regardless of whether Isak arrives in the summer, another attacking talent is needed in forward areas to help Maresca in his quest to take the club back to their former glory – but it’s important they don’t conduct a repeat of one signing.

Former striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang matched Nkunku in failing to deliver during his short period at the Bridge, making just 21 appearances and scoring just three times before leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 to join Marseille.

Since his departure, the Gabonese international has found his goalscoring form, notching 43 goals in the last two seasons, leading to FBref ranking him as a similar player to £100m target Isak.

When comparing his stats to Newcastle’s talisman in 2024/25, the now 35-year-old has managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – albeit doing so in a lower quality division, currently plying his trade in Saudi Arabia.

Games played

22

25

Goals & assists

13

24

Shot-on-target accuracy

49%

46%

Shots on target

1.6

1.3

Pass accuracy

75%

74%

Take-on success

56%

47%

Fouls won

0.8

0.4

The former Arsenal star, who was dubbed “horrific” during his time at the Blues by Aaron Catterson-Reid, has registered slightly fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed to achieve a higher shot-on-target rate – showcasing his clinical edge.

He’s also completed more of his attempted passes and completed more take-ons, providing an all-round option at the top of the pitch with the skillset he possesses.

There’s no denying that Aubameyang failed to produce his quality during his short stint in West London, with his transfer needing to be a stark reminder going into the transfer market this summer.

However, his goalscoring record is there for all to see, recapturing his best form away from the Blues, with his dismal spell at Chelsea now appearing as a small blip in his successful career.

Chelsea flop was sold for only £13m, now he's outscoring Palmer & Isak

Chelsea made the wrong call in allowing one player to depart Stamford Bridge.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 12, 2025

With new England boss Thomas Tuchel set to name his first squad since replacing interim coach, Lee Carsley, next week, there may well be a raft of Manchester City connections running through the Three Lions roster.

Indeed, the German tactician could once again call upon the likes of Phil Foden and Rico Lewis, while ex-Etihad star, Kyle Walker, will also be looking to maintain his regular role as he targets 100 caps for his country. Jack Grealish and John Stones will, however, likely miss out through injury.

Perhaps more interestingly, there may also be a wave of one-time City academy stars involved for the March internationals, with Cole Palmer the headline name, while the likes of Liam Delap and Morgan Rogers – who have scored 17 Premier League goals between them season – may also have an outside chance of inclusion after starring for Ipswich Town and Aston Villa, respectively.

There could even be a wildcard opportunity for Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens to shine after his return of 15 goals and assists in Germany in 2024/25 to date, with the dazzling winger having departed City on a free transfer back in the summer of 2020.

That handful of names may well be joined by another former Man City asset, with Pep Guardiola having perhaps been left to regret another notable sale of recent times…

Man City's goalkeeping dilemma

Among the number of issues for Guardiola and co to resolve this season is in the goalkeeping department, with the time perhaps having come to acquire a suitable, long-term replacement for Ederson in the sticks.

The unique Brazilian – who has remarkably recorded three Premier League assists this season – had lost his place to teammate Stefan Ortega earlier in the campaign, although has managed to wrestle back his starting berth of late, having started five of the last six top-flight games.

That said, the former Benfica man hasn’t exactly enjoyed a smooth recall to the side, having notably been branded “nowhere near enough” by CBS pundit Jamie Carragher, following the 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid last month.

As Carragher stated following the 31-year-old’s costly errors in that Etihad loss, it is now “at the stage with Man City where they need a new goalkeeper”, particularly with Ederson’s contract set to expire next year.

Ortega has largely been an able deputy, yet the German ‘keeper is even older than his teammate at 32, while having also endured a mixed spell of his own, after scoring an own goal in the narrow victory over Leyton Orient.

With all that in mind – and with reports in recent weeks suggesting that City may splash the cash to sign £62m-rated Porto stopper, Diogo Costa – Guardiola may well regret selling another bright young English talent who could well have walked into the current team.

Man City already sold the perfect Ederson replacement

Ederson may have been off the boil of late, yet it is worth remembering that this is a player who has helped Guardiola’s side sweep all before them over the past eight years or so, with the Citizens having undoubtedly struck a bargain with their £35m capture of the left-footer.

Market Movers

That said, there may be a tinge of frustration that a better succession plan has not been put in place at the Etihad, outside of signing an ageing Ortega as a backup.

Indeed, there may be those – with hindsight on side – who believe that Burnley number one, James Trafford, should have been kept on board, with the 22-year-old now shining in England’s second tier.

Stat (per 90)

Ederson

Trafford

Goals against

1.22

0.27

Shots on target against

3.61

2.24

Save percentage

69.2%

87.8%

Clean sheets

0.28

0.73

Clean sheet percentage

27.8%

72.7%

Save percentage (penalties)

N/A

100%

Passes attempted

34.5

34.5

Passes completed (launched)

3.22

3.39

Pass completion

86.6%

73.6%

Crosses stopped

0.50

0.52

Tipped to potentially join the likes of Palmer in Tuchel’s England set-up, the former City academy graduate – who joined the Clarets on a £15m deal in 2023 – has been integral to Scott Parker’s promotion-chasing side this season.

The 6 foot 6 stopper has racked up a ridiculous haul of 12 successive clean sheets in the Championship, while conceding just nine times in total in the division in 2024/25.

Such form has led to notable praise from his manager, with Parker stating back in January:

Also tipped to be “world-class” by ex-teammate, Palmer, Trafford was memorably the hero at the U21 European Championship in 2023, having saved a 96th minute penalty to steer the Young Lions to victory.

Of course, the Burnley ace did endure a difficult season last term in the top-flight, after conceding 62 goals in just 28 outings, yet his form this time around has not gone unnoticed, with Newcastle United seemingly showing serious interest.

Amid those links with the Magpies, the belief is that Trafford is worth around £30m, thus marking a 100% increase in relation to his £15m fee from almost two years ago.

If recent signs are anything to go by, that valuation will soar even higher, with City left to regret not holding on to yet another big English talent would could well have walked into the current starting lineup.

Savio upgrade: Man City may regret selling 'the best winger in the world'

Man City might rue selling a player who has shone for his current club since leaving.

ByRoss Kilvington Mar 3, 2025

Despite already welcoming as many as four fresh faces this summer, Derby County have now reportedly initiated contact to sign another Championship rival.

Who Derby County have signed this summer

It’s been a busy summer for the Rams so far, having signed Andreas Weimann, Danny Batth, Richard O’Donnell and Carlton Morris to get off to an excellent start. All four players have a lot of experience in the Championship and all four could make an instant impact on John Eustace’s side as a result – starting in pre-season.

Matlock Town vs Derby County

12/07/2025

RB Salzburg vs Derby County

18/07/2025

Walsall vs Derby County

22/07/2025

Burton Albion vs Derby County

26/07/2025

Solihull Moors vs Derby County

29/07/2025

Those at Pride Park just have a matter of days before their pre-season fixtures get underway and a full month until their Championship campaign commences with a trip to Stoke City.

The next month is, therefore, crucial and any business must get done before that Stoke trip arrives if Eustace wants to start the season with a settled side ready to avoid the drop and more.

Perhaps the most impressive to arrive so far, Morris told Derby’s official website after putting pen to paper: “It’s a massive club that I’ve heard a lot of good things about. When they came in for me, it was a bit of a no-brainer, really.”

Derby now set to sign "fantastic" star in £7m package after Batth & Weimann

He looks set to become their fifth signing of the summer.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 4, 2025

After suffering relegation with Luton Town last season, the forward will be keen to avoid suffering the same fate at Pride Park. Instead, his sights should be set on causing plenty of upsets alongside the rest of Eustace’s side.

Even after welcoming Morris and others, however, Derby still reportedly have unfinished business in the transfer window and could yet sign their fifth EFL rival in the coming weeks.

Derby County initiate contact to sign Brittain

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Derby have now initiated contact to sign Callum Brittain from Blackburn Rovers this summer. The Rams already set their sights on Brittain earlier this summer and are joined by Wrexham and Middlesbrough in the race to sign the right-back, who Blackburn are keen to keep hold of ahead of next season, but the Rams have now made a move.

Given that Brittain is into the final year of his current deal at Ewood Park, Blackburn may have no choice but to sell one of their key men this summer and that’s where Derby could take full advantage.

At 27 years old, the defender would once again bring plenty of experience and, more importantly, experience playing under Eustace. The Blackburn man featured 43 times for the current Derby boss during their time together in Lancashire and could now get the chance to reunite with his former manager at Pride Park.

Having previously dubbed Brittain a “leader”, Eustace will know more than most exactly what he could add to the current Derby side.

Manchester United are exploring deals to improve their squad during the summer transfer window, as they look to add to the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers last month.

The Red Devils are reportedly confident that they will be able to complete a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

In the 2024/25 season, the Cameroon international delivered 20 goals and seven assists in all competitions, which suggests that he could add a huge threat to Ruben Amorim’s side next term.

Whilst the signings of Cunha and Mbeumo, if the latter goes through, show that United are looking for Premier League proven performers to help them kick on, the Red Devils are also looking further afield.

Man Utd eyeing up LaLiga ace

As well as wanting to improve their options at the top end of the pitch, by signing players who can score and assist goals, the club would like to improve their midfield.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are one of a number of teams in the race to sign Barcelona defensive midfielder Marc Casado this summer.

The report claims that Amorim’s side are interested in a deal to bring the Spaniard over to England, but they have not made contact with the LaLiga champions yet.

It reveals, however, that their Premier League rivals, Chelsea and Arsenal, have spoken to Barcelona to enquire about a potential swoop for the 21-year-old talent.

Caught Offside adds that it will take a fee of around £43m to tempt the Spanish giants into cashing in on the midfielder, despite him having an £86m release clause.

Man Utd could find their next Carrick

If United can get a deal over the line for the Barcelona star this summer, Amorim could unearth his own version of Michael Carrick in the middle of the park.

The former Red Devils star, who recently managed Middlesbrough, was a metronome in midfield for the club during his playing days with his fantastic ability to dictate play with his quality on the ball.

From the 2009/10 season onwards (from when the data became available), the England international completed 88% of his attempted passes in 272 games before the end of his career.

In Casado, United could find a young midfielder with similar qualities to Carrick. However, at the age of 21, he is still very raw and needs time to develop and hit his stride at senior level.

He made 23 appearances for Barcelona in their LaLiga title-winning season last term, leading talent scout Jacek Kulig to hail his “incredible” form, and showcased the kind of qualities that you would associate with the former United midfielder.

Passes attempted

76.37

Top 5%

Pass accuracy

89%

Top 10%

Progressive passes

5.98

Top 18%

Assists

0.17

Top 22%

Passes into the final third

7.71

Top 6%

Passes offside

0.00

Top 4%

As you can see in the table above, he ranked highly among his positional peers in a host of possession-based metrics, with both his pass accuracy and progressive passing statistics pointing to his efficiency and effectiveness with the ball at his feet.

These statistics suggest that Casado could be moulded into a Carrick-esque figure for Amorim, as a deep-lying midfielder who can move the ball around and dictate games, whilst being progressive in doing so.

However, Casado only won 53% of his duels, including 28% of his aerial battles, and he may need to improve the physical side of his game to truly thrive in England.

This is why he may not be the finished article right away for Manchester United in the Premier League, but he does have the attributes to potentially develop into Amorim’s own Carrick in the future, or straight away if he can hit the ground running.

Amorim's own Haaland: Man Utd make "world-class" £60m CF their top target

Manchester United appear to be making moves for a new forward in the transfer market.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jul 11, 2025

Newcastle United are preparing for life back in the Champions League in the 2025/26 season after a positive 12 months at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side ended the Magpies’ long wait for a trophy by lifting the EFL Cup, whereas they also finished in the top five in the Premier League to ensure a return to Europe’s biggest club competition.

As a result, PIF and co could be busy in the transfer market ahead of the new season, looking to ensure Newcastle can cope with their return to Europe.

Newcastle's most expensive sales of all time

A look at Newcastle’s 20 most expensive departures.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 5, 2025

Now, Grok, the AI tool on X, has predicted Newcastle’s starting line-up ahead of their first Premier League game against Aston Villa on August 16.

AI predicts Newcastle’s 2025/26 line-up 1 GK: James Trafford

Expected to finally arrive at St James’ Park this summer after months of rumours is goalkeeper James Trafford.

The Englishman starred at Burnley in 24/25, conceding just 16 goals in 46 games, and his ‘ball-playing ability suits Howe’s evolving style’, so he has been backed to cost £30m and start ahead of Nick Pope.

2 RB: Tino Livramento

After helping England win the U21 European Championships this summer, Tino Livramento is set to keep his place in the XI ahead of Kieran Trippier.

Grok says ‘Livramento has emerged as a dynamic option’ for the Magpies and is still under contract for another three years.

3 CB: Sven Botman

Described as a ‘cornerstone’ in Newcastle’s side, Sven Botman’s place in the side looks nailed on when he is fit.

The Dutchman only made eight Premier League appearances in 24/25, though, so he’ll be looking to put his injury woes behind him.

4 CB: Marc Guehi

Partnering Botman, Grok have predicted Marc Guehi to sign for Newcastle in a £46m deal this summer, despite interest from a number of other clubs.

The Crystal Palace captain has been on Howe’s radar for a long time now and may depart Selhurst Park with 12 months left on his contract.

5 LB: Lewis Hall

After making his loan move permanent in 2024, Lewis Hall has been a regular at left-back for Newcastle and has been predicted to keep his place in the XI.

Games

34

Assists

5

Yellow cards

4

Minutes played

2,661

Grok says Hall’s ’development into a key starter’ has been noticeable, chipping in with five assists last year.

6 CM: Bruno Guimaraes

Despite being linked with a move away from Newcastle once again this summer, Grok have predicted Bruno Guimaraes to remain at St James’ Park and play an important role once more.

The Brazilian’s ‘leadership and all-action style are vital’ in Howe’s side, and he still has three years remaining on his contract.

7 CM: Sandro Tonali

Alongside Guimaraes is a player he knows well in Sandro Tonali. The Italian ‘has proven indispensable’ under Howe and missed just two league games in 24/25.

Grok adds that Tonali’s ‘box-to-box energy complements Howe’s system’, but there may be no place for Joelinton in the XI.

8 AM: Eberechi Eze

Completing a three-man midfield in an attacking role is potential new signing in Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, with Newcastle keen on the Eagles star.

The Englishman has a release clause of £68m which may need to be triggered, and Grok have stated that Eze’s ‘versatility as a No. 10 or winger fits Howe’s fluid attack’.

9 RW: Mohammed Kudus

Another star linked with a move to Newcastle this summer is West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus, who has been backed to start on the right-hand side for the Magpies.

With the Hammers open to offers in the region of £60m, PIF may need to act fast with Tottenham and Chelsea also showing an interest in Kudus.

10 ST: Alexander Isak

Arguably Newcastle’s most important piece of business this summer will be keeping hold of star striker Alexander Isak.

After qualifying for the Champions League, Grok thinks Isak won’t be going anywhere, labelling him as ‘untouchable’ at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United are now reportedly plotting a move to sign a Premier League rival, who’s been frozen out at his current club.

Wissa: Newcastle debut a "long time" coming

At long last, Yoane Wissa made his Newcastle debut against Burnley. The former Brentford star arrived in the summer for as much as £55m – becoming one of the club’s most expensive ever signings – only to suffer an instant injury on international duty. Now, his wait is over and he’s finally stepped out at St James’ Park.

Speaking to reporters at full-time, Wissa admitted that his debut as been a “long time” coming – telling reporters: “It’s been a long time. The last 11 weeks, I’ve learned about the team and the players.

“It’s been a long road but I’m happy in the end. It gave my goosebumps [for his name to be read out when he came on]. I’m buzzing now. It can be an excellent season because we have so many quality players.”

Eddie Howe was also pleased to see the forward, although claimed that Wissa’s still got “a lot more work to do”.

The Newcastle boss said: “He’s got a lot more work to do to get to the very best level that he can. We hope to keep him available by managing correctly.

Fewer touches than Ramsdale & 1 duel won: Newcastle star could be dropped

This Newcastle star struggled in the 2-1 win vs. Burnley

ByJoe Nuttall 4 days ago

“It’s difficult with the spell of games that we have to sort of train him and build his fitness with all the game schedule. So it’s going to be a really delicate balance for us, but hopefully we can find a solution to it.”

Meanwhile, as one arrival gets on the pitch for the first time, another could be on the way with reports now claiming that Newcastle are plotting a move to sign Chelsea’s Axel Disasi.

Newcastle plotting Axel Disasi move

As reported by Caught Offside, Newcastle are now plotting a concrete move to sign Disasi from Chelsea in the January transfer window. The defender has been thrown aside by Enzo Maresca and forced to join the likes of Raheem Sterling in the club’s so-called bomb squad. Now, however, he could get the move he so desperately needs in January.

For Newcastle, a move for the out-of-favour Chelsea man would provide Howe with some vital depth as Sven Botman continues to struggle on the injury front.

The Dutchman, as talented as he is, has become somewhat of a liability in recent times thanks to his injury history. And as Malick Thiaw continues to nail down his starting place, the Magpies could do with handing him a consistent partner. That is where Disasi could come in.

Dubbed “brilliant” by Sky Sports pundit and Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher in 2024, Disasi will be chomping at the bit to make his mark, having not played all season at Chelsea, and Newcastle should take full advantage.

Bad news for Woltemade: Newcastle considering move for "phenomenal" PL star