Middlesbrough have made a manager with “an impressive CV” a top target to replace Rob Edwards, and it would be a “significant coup” if they can get a deal done.
Edwards confirmed as Wolves boss as Middlesbrough receive £3m
Wolves confirmed the appointment of Rob Edwards as their new head coach on a three-and-a-half year deal on Wednesday.
The 42-year-old left the Riverside and agreed a contract until 2029 with Wanderers after they sacked Vitor Pereira earlier this month. It is reported Boro will receive around £3million in compensation after Edwards only joined them in June on a three-year contract.
Edwards, who managed Luton in the Premier League, begins a fourth spell at Wolves after making 111 appearances as a player as well as enjoying time as a coach and interim boss. He will be joined by assistant head coach Harry Watling after the pair worked together at Middlesbrough, with the rest of his backroom staff to be confirmed in the near future.
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said: “I know Rob very well and I have seen his growth in different jobs. He’s a very good person, he knows the club very well, he knows the city, the fans and he is very talented.
“When he was a youth coach here, he showed his tactical awareness, but after he took first-team jobs he started to grow his own identity, character and leadership.
“We need to refresh the whole club with a new coach’s philosophy, bringing his own identity and ideas, and we can build on that. We are at a new chapter for the club and Rob will be a key piece of that.”
For Boro, it is now about finding a swift replacement as they aim to continue their Championship promotion push without Edwards.
Middlesbrough make Steven Gerrard a top manager target
As reported by Rousing the Kop and journalist Graeme Bailey, Steven Gerrard is among the top targets for Middlesbrough to replace Edwards.
Steve Gibson is a long-term admirer of the former Rangers and Aston Villa boss, who is out of work after leaving Al-Ettifaq in January.
Gerrard almost returned to Ibrox last month and is open to a return to the dugout, with a move to the Riverside something that could appeal to him.
Gerrard has never managed in the Championship, with his most successful period as a manager coming in Scotland, winning the league title with Rangers.
Steven Gerrard’s managerial career
Club
Games
Points per game
Rangers
192
2.15
Aston Villa
40
1.18
Al-Ettifaq
55
1.33
The 45-year-old primarily plays an attacking 4-3-3 system and is closing in on 300 games as a manager. Could that benchmark come at the Riverside?
After losing multiple key players over the summer, very few Leeds United supporters could’ve predicted the superb season they’ve endured in the Championship so far in 2024/25.
Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Glen Kamara all played key roles in Daniel Farke’s squad last campaign, but all departed Elland Road after their failure to secure promotion.
However, the side have returned with a vengeance under the German this season, sitting top of the table and in pole position to end their two-year stay in England’s second tier.
LeedsUnitedmanagerDaniel Farke celebrates after the match
Whilst many of the first-team players have impressed over the last couple of months, numerous have failed to live up to the expectations many have set for them in Yorkshire.
Others have demonstrated glimpses of their quality, but ultimately, have been far too inconsistent over the last couple of months, putting their long-term future at the club in doubt.
Brenden Aaronson’s stats for Leeds in 2024/25
Midfielder Brenden Aaronson joined Leeds in a £25m deal from RB Salzburg during the summer of 2022, but left on loan last season – joining Bundesliga side Union Berlin after the Whites’ relegation.
However, he would return to Elland Road this campaign, impressing in spells, registering eight goals and two assists in his 34 league outings to date.
Whilst on the face of it, his record may seem impressive, the 24-year-old has only registered one goal contribution in 2025, with the only goal coming in the 7-0 demolition of Cardiff City.
Aaronson also failed to impress against Sheffield United on Monday night, being the first player to make way for the Whites as Farke hunted for an equaliser at Bramall Lane.
It was an example of how quiet and anonymous he can be in certain matches, just simply unable to extract his highest performance levels on a consistent basis since returning to the fold.
As a result, Farke may want to consider alternative options in the number 10 role, including one player who could offer a different option, albeit whilst featuring in an unfamiliar role.
The player who Farke needs to unleash to end Aaronson’s Leeds career
After Ethan Ampadu’s latest injury setback, Leeds now appear to be slightly light in the centre of the park, with the decision not to invest in the side in January now looking like the wrong one.
However, Farke will undoubtedly have faith in Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev to continue their partnership after starting together in the victory over their Yorkshire rivals a couple of days ago.
Their partnership could allow for fellow midfielder Joe Rothwell to operate in a slightly more advanced role, with his skill set potentially making him the perfect fit for the role.
The 30-year-old may only be on loan from Bournemouth, but he’s already adhered himself to the supporters with his impressive displays off the bench.
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Rothwell, who’s previously been dubbed “superb” by journalist Rich Sharpe, produced his best display against Sunderland, registering two assists for Pascal Struijk in just 19 minutes of action – showcasing the danger he possesses.
How Rothwell compares to Aaronson in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
Rothwell
Aaronson
Games played
31
34
Goals & assists
4
10
Progressive passes
6.6
4.1
Pass accuracy
86%
79%
Passes into final third
7.5
2.3
Shot-creating actions
4.2
3.8
Tackles & interceptions
2
1.6
Take-on success
62%
44%
Stats via FBref
When comparing his underlying stats with those of Aaronson, he has bettered the American international in numerous key areas, showcasing the talent he possesses, with Farke needing to reward him with a start in the number 10 role.
Given Bournemouth’s rise in the Premier League in recent months, a permanent deal could well be on the cards for Rothwell, regardless of whether the Whites secure promotion between now and the end of the season or not.
However, one thing is for sure, Aaronson’s inconsistency could hinder him going forward, with the aforementioned Rothwell arguably a better option in attackign areas given the figures he’s produced in recent months.
Leeds have an incredible star who's their finest EFL talent since Hernandez
Leeds United have found their best EFL player since Pablo Hernandez with the signing of one player.
The atmosphere around West Ham United at the moment is starting to feel rather toxic.
Nuno Espírito Santo was able to earn a point and inspire an impressive fightback in his opening game away to Everton, but since then, things have gone from bad to worse.
A loss away to Arsenal is understandable, but the defeats to Brentford and Leeds United were diabolical, and some major changes are needed to inspire the side to Premier League survival this term.
Therefore, while it’s risky, Nuno should look to play a few of the club’s promising academy talents, including one who could develop into a future Mark Nobel-type figure for them.
The West Ham youngsters Nuno should give a chance
Now, it should be said that if West Ham were playing even remotely well this season, then bringing in a few youngsters would probably be a bad idea.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
However, as things stand, the East Londoners are the second-worst team in the league, so it’s probably worth throwing in some promising prospects, as at least they would give it everything and help address the side’s dire lack of athleticism.
One of those who should be given a go is 20-year-old Mohamadou Kanté, who just signed a new deal with the club.
The “colossal” French midfielder, as dubbed by one analyst, is a particularly promising talent and has even been compared to former Hammer “Mo Diame” for his “intelligent composed passing” and “long-ranging legs that eat up ground.”
On top of having that pace and power, which is severely lacking in Nuno’s squad, the youngster is also proving to be something of a goal threat for the junior sides.
For example, despite playing in central and defensive midfield, he has already scored and assisted two goals in nine appearances for the U21s this season.
Speaking of goalscoring prospects, with Niclas Füllkrug out and Callum Wilson simply not good enough, it might be time to give Josh Landers a go in the first team.
Landers’ 25/26
Appearances
6
Minutes
359′
Goals
5
Assists
0
Goal Involvements per Match
0.83
Minutes per Goal Involvement
71.8′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
So far this season, the 18-year-old Scotsman has scored five goals in six appearances for the U21s, totalling just 359 minutes.
Finally, it might be time to give Preston Fearon a proper runout with the senior side.
The 18-year-old gem made an appearance during pre-season and has been described as a “special player” by Jarrod Bowen, who added that he’s “never seen someone nutmeg so many people in training.”
With all that said, there is another, slightly older academy graduate who has played for the first team, but should now be getting even more minutes, someone who could be a future Noble.
West Ham's future Noble
Now, while someone like Fearon could go on to emulate some of the best qualities of a Noble, he’s still only 18, and so it’s difficult to predict what sort of player he’ll become.
The same is not necessarily true of Freddie Potts.
There is still a long way to go in the 22-year-old’s career, but even so, there are already some key similarities between him and the West Ham legend.
Firstly, he is very much one of the Hammers’ own, as he spent his entire youth career with the East Londoners and has only played for other teams while out on loan.
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Moreover, he is a fan of the club, and so when the supporters sang “Freddie Potts, he’s one of our own” away to Everton earlier this season, it was one of those rare occasions when that phrase is entirely true.
This is also why journalist Dan Woffenden said that, unlike some of the other players in the squad today, he “at least understands what it means to wear the shirt.”
On top of all this, the Barking-born ace is also positionally similar to the Irons legend, with his best position being in the middle of the park.
Furthermore, while he isn’t likely to go on any mazy runs or score wonder goals like some other midfielders, he looks to be a reliable, no-nonsense throwback of a footballer.
That’s not to say he cannot help out with attacking phases of play, though, as respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described the 22-year-old as someone blessed with an impressive “passing range and powerful carrying” ability.
Ultimately, Noble is a legend, and while West Ham aren’t going to find someone just like him, Potts looks like he could develop into the modern version of him for Nuno this season.
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The West Ham ace has been terrible for Nuno and Potter this season.
Crystal Palace are facing a pivotal season as the Eagles look to build upon what has been an absolutely excellent 2025 — a year which has seen them go on an unprecedented unbeaten streak whilst ending their history-long wait for a major trophy.
Crystal Palace face an uncertain future after stellar 2025
Oliver Glasner masterminded an historic win over Man City in the FA Cup final in May, delivering the club’s first ever piece of silverware, with the Eagles also tasting defeat for the first time in 20 games against Everton last weekend.
Palace’s club record 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions is testament to the phenomenal job done by Glasner with very limited resources, all whilst coping with the departures of key stars like Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze since his arrival.
Crystal Palace’s 19-game unbeaten run in full
Palace 0-0 Bournemouth (Premier League)
Arsenal 2-2 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 3-0 Aston Villa (FA Cup)
Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
Tottenham 0-2 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 1-0 Man City (FA Cup)
Palace 4-2 Wolves (Premier League)
Liverpool 1-1 Palace (Premier League)
Crystal Palace (3) 2-2 (2) Liverpool (Community Shield)
Chelsea 0-0 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 1-0 Fredrikstad (Conference League)
Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
Fredrikstad 0-0 Palace (Conference League)
Aston Villa 0-3 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 0-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
Palace (4) 1-1 (2) Millwall (Carabao Cup)
West Ham 1-2 Palace (Premier League)
Palace 2-1 Liverpool (Premier League)
Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Palace (Conference League)
However, while the Eagles are currently riding high, and still sit unexpectedly near the Premier League top four, this era is seriously threatened by Glasner’s uncertain future and a potentially imminent exit for star defender Marc Guehi.
Glasner is out of contract at the end of 25/26, and is attracting attention from top-flight rivals like Nottingham Forest amid his excellent work at Selhurst Park.
Guehi, meanwhile, was on the verge of joining Liverpool last summer only for Palace to pull out of the deal in dramatic fashion. The England star, who’s established himself as a Three Lions mainstay and proven Premier League defender since joining the South Londoners in 2021, will have his pick of new clubs once his deal also runs out in 2026.
It is absolutely imperative that Steve Parish shows a statement of intent to back Glasner if he hopes for the Austrian’s extended stay, and January could be vital in this respect.
Crystal Palace in contact with Conor Gallagher and could strike January deal
£150,000-per-week Atlético Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who dazzled at Palace on loan from Chelsea in 2021/2022, is apparently a potential winter target.
The England international has been in and out of the Atlético starting eleven under Diego Simeone this season, and journalist Graeme Bailey reports that Palace are in contact with Gallagher’s representatives ahead of a possible January swoop.
The 25-year-old was one of Palace’s star performers of the 21/22 season, bagging eight goals and three assists over 33 Premier League starts, and his contribution stretched far beyond the numbers going forward.
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Gallagher’s loan spell at Palace was widely regarded as a breakthrough period in his career, showcasing his immense talent and versatility in midfield.
Arriving from Chelsea, Gallagher quickly became a key figure, impressing with his energy, work rate, and technical ability. His box-to-box style of play combined relentless pressing with intelligence, making him a versatile asset both defensively and offensively.
The ex-Chelsea man’s performances earned praise from teammates, managers, and pundits alike, with many highlighting maturity beyond his years. Gallagher’s impact was so pronounced that Palace even sought to extend his stay, but while those attempts fell through, he could still make a sensational return.
With the job still there for the taking, one candidate is now reportedly keen to become Rangers manager as soon as possible ahead of Kevin Muscat.
Rangers manager shortlist explained
Now that Steven Gerrard has taken himself out of contention, the race to become the next Rangers manager has been blown wide open. The 49ers have just a few days before the Gers return to action against Dundee, but find themselves back at the drawing board and assessing their current options.
Several names have been mentioned as a result, ranging from Graham Potter and Kieran McKenna all the way to current favourite Muscat. All three of those options certainly have strong points too, handing those at Ibrox quite the task ahead.
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The Gers may have identified their man…
ByTom Cunningham
Potter, for example, has managed at the highest level compared to any other candidates, but his time at that level wasn’t exactly the most successful of his career. Now, after struggling at West Ham United before facing the sack, his stock is at its very lowest.
McKenna, meanwhile, is almost Gerrard-esque. Going from Manchester United coach to a managerial role elsewhere, he made history at Ipswich Town in 2024 by becoming the fifth manager in English football history to achieve back-to-back promotions from the third division to the top flight. Although since relegated back to the Championship, that achievement still stands.
Neither of those names are the current favourites, however. Instead, that’s where Muscat comes in. The Shanghai Port boss was previously in contention for the role before Philippe Clement jumped ahead in 2023, and could now finally get his chance.
That said, whether Rangers are keen to play the waiting game as the Chinese Super League campaign approaches its conclusion is another question entirely. Instead, they could turn towards a manager who’s keen to start as soon as possible.
Chris Jack: Danny Rohl wants Rangers job ASAP
As reported by Rangers Review’s Chris Jack, Danny Rohl now wants to take the Rangers job as soon as possible ahead of Muscat and other candidates. The ex-Sheffield Wednesday boss, who rose to prominence as Hansi Flick’s assistant at Bayern Munich, has been out of a job since leaving Hillsborough at the end of last season and represents an exciting young manager.
If Muscat forces Rangers to wait until mid-November to arrive, then the door could open for Rohl to arrive instead. The last thing that the 49ers should want is more uncertainty and hiring their next manager sooner rather than later will be the key to avoiding that.
Whether Rohl is the right man for the job is the question. The 36-year-old is by far the most inexperienced candidate for the job, but perhaps the most exciting. It ultimately comes down to whether the 49ers want to take another risk after already failing with their appointment of Russell Martin.
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Described as “brilliant” by Sheffield Wednesday star Barry Bannan, Rohl could yet receive the biggest opportunity of his career courtesy of Rangers.
Liverpool’s unbelievable winning run of form came to a worrying halt at the hands of Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
Amazingly, this isn’t the only time this season the Eagles have unnerved Arne Slot’s title-defending Reds, with last campaign’s Premier League winners also coming unstuck against Glasner and Co in a dramatic Community Shield final back in August.
Not even more late heroics could guide the Merseyside outfit to a result on the road, as Federico Chiesa’s 87th-minute equaliser was made redundant by Eddie Nketiah’s heartbreaking winner right at the death.
This will be a bitter pill Liverpool aren’t used to swallowing, but Slot will hope his table-topping side can bounce from this setback at Selhurst Park with confident displays moving forward.
However, plenty more is required from Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah moving forward to remain in the Dutchman’s good books.
Wirtz & Salah's worrying performances in numbers
At least Salah has some significant credit in the bank, considering his insane tally of 29 goals and 18 assists last season in the Premier League alone saw Slot’s men romp home to the title.
On the other hand, Wirtz has very little wiggle room when it comes to the rampant criticism heading his direction, with the whopping £116m purchase still yet to pick up a goal or assist for the Reds from seven competitive outings, away from his Community Shield final assist.
Journalist Mark Odgen has openly commented on Wirtz “struggling to make an impact” since swapping the BayArena for Anfield, with one big chance missed at Selhurst Park not helping his dented reputation one bit.
Salah missed two big chances of his own in East London, too, with the out-of-sorts Egyptian now without a goal from open play in the Premier League this season since the opening day 4-2 triumph over AFC Bournemouth.
Yet, in the case of the skilful number 11, you wouldn’t bank against him getting back to his best very soon, even after such a slow start to this campaign. On top of that, Wirtz might just need time to settle before proving to everyone why he cost such an astronomical fee.
Perhaps more worryingly, away from the unsatisfactory duo, there is also another underperformer who has fallen way below his usual standards, so much so that he will now be fearful of being axed from Slot’s first team picture.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Liverpool's 3/10 star could be dropped
Liverpool had been dancing on a tightrope heading into the Palace loss, having needed a staggering amount of last-minute goals to then inspire late wins.
Off the back of a defeat now finally occurring, Slot could be tempted to shake up his starting lineup for some challenging contests to follow in the Premier League and beyond, with Alexis Mac Allister one face who could drop out of his plans consequently.
On top form, Mac Allister is a shoo-in for the starting XI week in week out, with his five goals and five assists last season in league action very much helping Liverpool clinch a first Premier League triumph under Slot.
His consistent excellence for the Reds has even seen ex-Chelsea star turned pundit Joe Cole label the South American as a “superstar”.
Still, as has been clear with Salah, even Liverpool’s brightest sparks are susceptible to rusty displays, with Mac Allister way off his vibrant and energetic peak at Selhurst Park.
Mac Allister vs Palace
Stat
Mac Allister
Minutes played
64
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
48
Shots
1
Accurate passes
37/42 (88%)
Successful dribbles
0
Interceptions
0
Tackles
0
Total duels won
3/5
Stats by Sofascore
Indeed, when looking at the table above, it’s clear that Mac Allister struggled to match the intensity of Palace livewire Adam Wharton, with the Palace number 20 a standout performer from the middle of the park for Glasner’s men.
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On the contrary, his Argentine counterpart failed to complete a single successful dribble, didn’t register a single interception, and failed to hit a single on-target effort at the Palace goal.
This stark drop-off in form – which has seen Mac Allister win just nine of his 21 ground duels in the league so far – has even seen one Reds-based content creator state that the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion man looks a “shadow of himself”, with Liverpool World’s Will Rooney also not holding back when dishing out a low 3/10 post-match rating to the sub-par number ten.
For context, that same post-game rating was handed to central defender Ibrahima Konate who was rather run ragged in London on Saturday afternoon.
Slot will have to seriously consider how many first-team minutes Mac Allister gets moving forward – with Champions League action also about to congest the Reds’ fixture list – with some time out of the starting XI perhaps doing him the world of good in the long run.
Slot has found the new Nunez in Liverpool star who's "struggling" big time
Liverpool have problems to fix after suffering their first league defeat of the season at Crystal Palace.
After a summer of perhaps foolish optimism, any such positives have been hard to find for Manchester United in the early weeks of 2025/26, amid what has been the club’s worst start to a Premier League season since the inaugural campaign in 1992.
One notable ray of light has been the displays of summer signing, Bryan Mbeumo, however, with the Cameroonian – signed from Brentford on an initial £65m deal – having scored twice in five games, while denied a third by the sprawling Gianluigi Donnarumma last time out.
There is evidence to suggest that the Red Devils shouldn’t get too carried away by such a promising start. Indeed, £86m flop Antony scored in his first three league outings for the club. Dan James, meanwhile, netted three times in just his first four top-flight games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
That said, the silk and speed of Mbeumo is difficult not to be heartened by, with both he and fellow new arrival Matheus Cunha seemingly relishing their new status in Manchester, rather than being burdened by it.
The question remains as to whether Mbeumo and co now have the right manager to get the best out of them, with talk rife over the future of Ruben Amorim.
When previous post-Fergie managers were sacked
There are mixed reports over whether Amorim is actually under real pressure or not, with recent claims suggesting that he retains the backing of the board. Other reports, however, have claimed that he could have just three games left to save himself, with Chelsea, Sunderland and Brentford to come before the next international break.
Should a change occur by the time that October hiatus comes around, it would make the Portuguese coach the manager to have been sacked the quickest into a new season in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, even ahead of his predecessor Erik ten Hag.
In the case of the Dutchman, a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United – which included a glaring Diogo Dalot miss and a controversial late penalty for the Hammers – spelt the end for his turbulent Old Trafford reign, with the ex-Ajax boss relieved of his duties on 28 October.
The permanent manager that Ten Hag had replaced – Solskjaer – was given his marching orders on 21 November 2021, with a 4-1 defeat away to Watford sparking what appeared an inevitable exit, in the wake of prior defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Norwegian had himself been parachuted in mid-season three years earlier, with Jose Mourinho dismissed in December 2018, a 3-1 defeat away to Liverpool proving the final nail in the coffin.
As for Louis van Gaal, the enigmatic veteran did at least see out the season before his 2016 dismissal, albeit with news of his departure unfortunately filtering through as he celebrated his FA Cup triumph on the Wembley turf.
David Moyes – the man to endure the briefest permanent tenure to date – lasted just ten months into his six-year deal, prior to being given the boot in April 2014.
Post-Fergie Managers
Manager
Sacking Date
Final Game
Erik ten Hag
28 Oct 2024
West Ham 3-1 Man Utd
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
21 Nov 2021
Watford 4-1 Man Utd
Jose Mourinho
18 Dec 2018
Liverpool 3-1 Man Utd
Louis van Gaal
23 May 2016
Man Utd 2-1 Palace
David Moyes
22 April 2014
Everton 2-0 Man Utd
Amorim could well be the next victim of such ruthlessness, with a potential replacement already being lined up…
Why Andoni Iraola could be a perfect Amorim replacement
According to reports relayed by Caught Offside, among the leading candidates to replace the former Sporting CP man in Manchester is Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, with tension in the Old Trafford boardroom said to have reached “boiling point”.
The report claims that there is a potential plan in place to carry out an “international reset” in the next break, should results not drastically improve, with Iraola among the top targets being lined up amid his fine work on the south coast. This comes amid reports that Sir Gareth Southgate may also be in the mix.
In an era of managerial excuses and complaints, the Spaniard has set himself apart by simply cracking on with things at the Vitality Stadium, be it despite a raft of injuries last term, or numerous key exits this summer.
Indeed, the Basque-born tactician has thus far guided the Cherries to fourth in the table in 2025/26, despite having lost four members of last season’s back five, including Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Illia Zabarnyi.
The only defeat thus far came on the opening night away at Anfield, although with the expensively assembled hosts needing two late goals to see off their spirited visitors and the lively Antoine Semenyo in that 4-2 thriller.
Iraola – who has overseen respectable 12th and ninth-place finishes in the Premier League – has been particularly key in taking that man Semenyo to a whole new level, registering 36 goals and assists in 83 games under Gary O’Neil’s successor, as per Transfermarkt.
That includes three goals and two assists already this season, with the Ghanaian thriving as part of a relentless and dynamic front line. Such an approach appears tailor-made to get the best out of Mbeumo, with the pair deemed to be statistically and stylistically similar players among those in their position in Europe, as per FBref.
Like Semenyo, the United man is an adept goalscorer and creator, while mirroring his Bournemouth counterpart in being able to operate off the right flank or centrally.
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That ability was evident last term, with Mbeumo racking up 27 goals and assists in the league, while creating 17 ‘big chances’ and averaging 1.8 key passes per game, as per Sofascore.
Semenyo, for context, registered 17 goals and assists of his own, while creating 11 ‘big chances’ and averaging 1.2 key passes under Iraola’s watch.
For the ex-Bristol City man to have flourished with the in-demand coach at the helm, just imagine the heights that Mbeumo could reach in such a front-foot, aggressive attacking set-up.
He is an “incredible” manager, as lauded by Pep Guardiola, with it likely to be intriguing to see if the 43-year-old could translate such success at United.
He’s young, Premier League proven and with a knack for getting results despite the circumstances and chaos surrounding him – sounds perfect, right?
Time running out: 5 ways that Ruben Amorim can save his job at Man Utd
Manchester United’s need for added attacking reinforcements this summer was evident after only managing to find the net on 44 occasions in the Premier League last season.
Anthony, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford have all departed the Red Devils, freeing up funds for Ruben Amorim to make the additions he wanted this summer.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are two signings who have joined the club, with the latter already opening his account after netting against Burnley last Saturday.
Whilst the duo may have cost the hierarchy around £130m, they do have the Premier League experience needed to help the club avoid a bottom-half finish – just like they did in the 2024/25 campaign.
However, other additions have been made within the final third throughout the off-season, leading to Amorim and the board taking a gamble on one young European talisman.
Benjamin Sesko’s move to join United this summer
A new striker was a huge priority for United this summer, with Benjamin Sesko the man chosen to lead the line for the Red Devils in 2025/26 and beyond.
The hierarchy forked out a deal totalling £73.7m, including add-ons – a figure that is a huge gamble on a player who’s only featured in Europe’s top-five leagues for two seasons.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskocelebrates their second goal scored by Lukas Klostermann
The Slovenian has only made one start for United to date – coming in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby Town – but has been named as a substitute in all three league outings.
As a result of his limited action, the 22-year-old is yet to open his account for the club, but judgement will need to be held on his addition, given his lack of action in recent weeks.
Hopefully, Sesko will get the chance to showcase his talents after the current international break, but he could’ve been aided at the club had the hierarchy kept hold of one talent.
The former United star who would’ve got Sesko firing
As previously mentioned, Cunha and Mbeumo have also been added to the United attacking department – injecting needed goals and assists to the club’s frontline.
Manchester United's Matheus Cunha
The pair combined for 48 combined goal contributions throughout 2024/25, with such a record higher than the Red Devils squad managed as a whole last season.
If they can replicate such numbers, they will make themselves fan-favourites, whilst also providing Sesko with the opportunities he will need to thrive within the final third.
Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system relies upon two attacking midfielders – the positions Cunha and Mbeumo have featured in – but also two wing-backs, who are tasked with having an impact in forward areas.
Patrick Dorgu currently occupies the role down the left-hand side, but former United star Alvaro Carreras is a player whom the hierarchy may regret selling too prematurely.
Alvaro Carreras for Benfica.
The 22-year-old spent four years at Old Trafford – but failed to make a single senior appearance – being sent on loan spells at the likes of Preston, Granada and Benfica.
It was the Spaniard’s spell at the latter that catapulted him to stardom, with the Portuguese outfit triggering the £5m option in his contract at the end of his loan spell in 2023/24.
His numbers from last season are nothing short of mind-boggling, registering eight combined goals and assists across all competitions – numbers which could’ve handed Sesko the ammunition he’ll need for success in Manchester.
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Carreras, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, also created 1.2 chances per 90 last campaign – completing 23% of the crosses attempted, with the latter aiding the Slovenian’s aerial abilities had the hierarchy kept hold of him.
Alvaro Carreras – stats for Benfica (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
52
Goals & assists
8
Chances created
1.2
Cross accuracy
23%
Pass accuracy
83%
Dribble success
53%
Tackles won
61%
Recoveries made
5.5
Stats via FotMob
However, despite only joining Benfica a year ago, he secured another transfer in the recent window, this time moving to LaLiga giants Real Madrid in a reported £43m transfer.
Such a transfer has just compounded the Red Devils’ misery over recent years, further highlighting how many mistakes they’ve made in the transfer market, whether that be incomings or outgoings.
FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action with Benfica's Alvaro FernandezCarreras
The prospect of the Spaniard linking up with Sesko in forward areas is something the supporters would’ve loved to see under Amorim – but unfortunately, it’ll always be a case of what could’ve been with their loss, now Madrid’s gain.
Man Utd may regret selling perfect Mainoo replacement for just £500k
Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing a young star to depart Old Trafford.
While they haven’t gone quite as big as they have in windows prior, it’s been a good summer of business for Chelsea so far this year.
The Blues have made a massive amount of money selling players deemed no longer good enough and replaced them with a host of exciting talents like Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jorrel Hato.
However, it would probably be fair to say that some fans were left a little disappointed by the club not signing Xavi Simons last week, and instead opting for Alejandro Garnacho.
However, those supporters might soon forget all about the new Tottenham Hotspur star, as Chelsea appear to be closing in on someone who’d be a significant upgrade.
Chelsea target Simons upgrade
According to a recent report from Si Phillips, as relayed by Caught Offside, Chelsea remain incredibly keen to sign Fermin Lopez before the window shuts.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
More than that, though, Phillips has revealed that, in recent hours, the Blues have received encouragement from the player’s camp, which indicates he may well inform Barcelona that he wants to leave.
While that would undoubtedly help grease the wheels of any potential deal, the deal would still be a costly one, with other reports from today claiming that the Catalan giants would want a fee of up to €90m to sell, which is approximately £78m.
While that is an enormous sum of money, Lopez is an extraordinary talent and may well be worth it, especially as he’s an upgrade on Simons.
How Lopez compares to Simons
Simons and Lopez are both relatively young attacking talents who can play and thrive either on the wing or in attacking midfield, which makes comparing them a pretty straightforward affair.
If we start with their output, it quickly becomes very apparent that the young Spaniard is the more dangerous player.
In 46 appearances, totalling just 2039 minutes, the “creative” star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored eight goals and provided ten assists.
That means he managed to average a goal involvement every 2.55 games, or every 113.27 minutes, which is undeniably impressive for someone his age.
On the other hand, the Flying Dutchman scored 11 goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2763 minutes, for Leipzig.
Now, that does result in a better average of goal involvement every 1.73 games, but that was largely due to him making fewer appearances than the Barcelona star.
When you look at minutes played, his average shoots up to a far less impressive figure of a goal involvement every 145.42 minutes.
Things do not get much better for the Lilywhites’ new star when we examine their underlying numbers either.
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Here, the “spectacular” Spaniard, as dubbed by former manager Xavi, comes out ahead in most relevant metrics such as expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, crosses into the penalty area, goal-creating actions, tackles won and more, all per 90.
Lopez vs Simons
Statistics
Lopez
Simons
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.71
0.47
Non-Penalty G+As
0.75
0.57
Progressive Passes
5.05
5.80
Progressive Passes Received
7.90
7.61
Progressive Carries
2.26
3.51
Shots
2.81
2.26
Shots on Target
1.14
0.92
Passing Accuracy
82.2%
78.1%
Key Passes
1.88
2.10
Passes into the Final Third
4.19
3.26
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.32
0.22
Goal-Creating Actions
0.54
0.51
Tackles Won
1.32
0.83
Blocks
1.02
0.87
Successful Take-Ons
1.72
1.45
Carries into the Penalty Area
0.97
0.80
All League Stats via FBref for 24/25
In other words, the El Campillo-born maestro appears to be the more dangerous and creative outlet, while also being more willing and able to contribute to the defensive side of things.
Ultimately, Simons is certainly a talented player, but Lopez appears to be better in almost all metrics; therefore, Chelsea should do everything possible to sign him before the window closes.
Their own Gyokeres: Chelsea make late move to sign "aggressive" £69m star
Chelsea could snap up their very own Viktor Gyokeres with this late £69m swoop.
Manchester City could make a sensational bid for an “insane” player, who they made contact with earlier this summer, it has been revealed.
Lijnders impacting Guardiola's style at Man City
Jamie Carragher believes former Jurgen Klopp assistant Pep Lijnders is having a real impact on Pep Guardiola’s style of play, with Man City now playing a high defensive line, and scoring goals on the counter-attack against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Carragher said: “I couldn’t believe what I saw, the players were all jumping high up to try and catch the Wolves players offside. This is very Liverpool-like. It made me think how much influence is maybe the new coach having on this team.”
However, the Blues’ defensive frailties were on show in the 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur last time out, with James Trafford making an error leading to Joao Palhinha’s goal, while Rico Lewis won just two of the eight duels he contested.
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Consequently, Pep may want to bring in a little more experience at the back, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as a major target, and there is also interest in a new right-back, who Lijnders knows very well…
Indeed, according to a report from Caught Offside, Man City could make a sensational bid to sign Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold in the January transfer window, with the former Liverpool man not exactly making a flying start to life in La Liga.
Dani Carvajal has managed to force his way back into Xabi Alonso’s side, which has led to doubts over Trent’s future, and City are monitoring the situation, having already contacted the right-back over a potential move to the Etihad Stadium earlier this summer.
The 26-year-old, who is reported to earn a base salary of around £276k-a-week at Real Madrid, has only made seven appearances for Real Madrid so far, but City are now in the picture for a shock move, with Guardiola in need of a long-term Kyle Walker replacement.
Trent would be "insane" signing for Man City
Given the recent history between Man City and Liverpool, the full-back linking up with Guardiola doesn’t seem like the most plausible of scenarios, although he has praised the atmosphere at the Etihad Stadium in the past.
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The England international said: “People talk about City’s atmosphere and you know, hand on heart when we play them, the atmosphere is incredible, like we feel it. It’s intense.”
Lauded as “insane” by former footballer George Chomakov, the ex-Liverpool star has established himself as one of the best attacking full-backs in the world, while also impressing from a defensive point of view on occasion over the past year.
Statistic
Average per 90
Assists
0.22 (87th percentile)
Progressive passes
8.40 (99th percentile)
Tackles
2.64 (87th percentile)
Interceptions
1.23 (82nd percentile)
That said, even though Trent seemingly burned his bridges with Liverpool by leaving in the summer, a move to Man City seems relatively far-fetched, especially considering he is still in the very early stages of his Real Madrid career.