da 888： Birmingham City are thought to have turned down a £5m bid for a young player and now think they can receive more, according to a new update.

Latest Birmingham news

da betcris： Chris Davies’ side are flying at the moment, winning their last four League One matches in a row, and next up is a trip to Reading on Saturday lunchtime. Their opponents sit ninth in the table, looking to battle their way into the playoff positions, so it could be a tough assignment.

Victory for Birmingham would be another big step in the right direction, having already built up a six-point lead at the top of the table, not to mention with two games in hand. At this point, failure to win the title would be a shock, but the Blues cannot take anything for granted, continuing to be ruthless in their quest to return to the Championship.

When it comes to transfer news, Zaid Betteka has been linked with a move away from St Andrew’s, with the 18-year-old potentially not signing a professional contract at the club.

Now, it turns out that there was an opportunity for Birmingham to allow a young player to leave on a permanent basis recently, following a fresh claim that has dropped.

Birmingham rejected £5m bid for young player

According to Football Insider, Brentford saw a £5m bid for Romelle Donovan rejected by Birmingham, prior to him joining the Premier League side on loan instead for the remainder of the season, predominantly playing for their B team.

The report notes that the 18-year-old is ‘making impressive progress with the Bees and could be in the reckoning for a first-team promotion before the season ends’, with Birmingham now feeling ‘they could receive offers well in excess of £5m for him this summer’.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Donovan between now and the end of the season, in terms of whether Brentford decide to look at retaining his services or not.

The teenage winger has racked up 10 appearances for Birmingham to date, including one start and six outings in League One this season, while Brentford B head coach Neil MacFarlane has lauded his qualities, saying:

“Romelle will definitely add to our attacking options within the group. He is a player who has really good technical abilities aligned to our attacking style of play and he comes into a team that has been performing so well this season. We believe he can add goals and assists to further enhance the current group.”

At 18, Donovan is still such a young player, so there is no rush for Birmingham to sell him, but the lure of moving him on for a big fee must be tempting.

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Should the attacker continue to shine at Brentford, the Blues will be able to justify demanding more than £5m for his signature, so there could be a big decision to make in the summer.

da apostebet： It has felt like Arsenal have simply gone from one problem to another this season.

da jogodeouro： Mikel Arteta has had to deal with silly suspensions, a constant stream of injuries to key players and a lack of form from his attacking options.

In fact, the only fit attacker who is on song at the moment is 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who’s racked up a brilliant haul of seven goals and one assist in just 790 minutes of first-team football.

In contrast, club captain Martin Odegaard and experienced winger Leandro Trossard have been disappointing and, worse yet, are being outperformed by a Premier League star axed by the club as a youngster.

Odegaard and Trossard's season so far

So, after winning the club’s Player of the Year for the second successive campaign last season, it would be fair to say that there was an expectation that Odegaard would once again be one of Arsenal’s best players this year.

Unfortunately, as things stand, that is not the case, and while his ankle injury has likely played a role in his lacklustre form, it seems equally unlikely that it’s all down to that.

In all, the Norwegian maestro has scored three goals and provided six assists in 26 games this season, which isn’t enough from the team’s leader, and on top of that, he’s been taken off early in several games when the team have been searching for a goal, such as Everton at home and Newcastle United away.

Like his captain, Trossard has been incredibly underwhelming this season.

For example, the Belgian ace, who racked up 17 goals and two assists in 46 appearances last season, has only been able to score five goals and provide seven assists in 37 appearances this year.

That’s a drop from an average of a goal involvement every 2.42 games to one every 3.08 games, which might not be enormous, but considering how much of the goalscoring burden rests on him for at least the next month, it is concerning.

What makes the pair’s drop-off all the more frustrating is that a player axed from the club’s academy well over a decade ago is now pulling up trees in the Premier League and outperforming them both.

Where Are They Now

Expand Collapse The Arsenal youngster sold too soon

Given the size of Arsenal and their impressive academy system, there are several players who they’ve released too soon, from the most well-known, Harry Kane, to his new teammate at Bayern Munich, Micheal Olise.

However, in this instance, the youngster in question is actually the Frenchman’s old teammate, Eberechi Eze.

The dynamic attacker joined the North Londoners’ academy as a child but was released in 2011 at just 13 years old, after which he’d spend the next five years in the academies of Fulham, Reading and Millwall before finally joining Queens Park Rangers in 2016.

Four years after that, with 32 goal involvements in 112 first-team appearances and a loan spell with Wycombe Wanderers under his belt, the young Englishman secured a £20m move to Premier League side Crystal Palace, where he has since cemented his place as one of the most exciting players in the division.

Not only can the “superstar” attacker, as dubbed by football analyst Ben Mattinson, play in midfield and out wide, but he’s also more than capable of chipping in with goals and assists, racking up a total of 32 goals and 23 assists in 150 games for the club.

However, in terms of just this season, he’s already scored six goals and provided six assists in just 26 appearances, totalling 2012 minutes.

That means the former QPR ace is averaging a goal involvement every 2.16 games, or every 167.66 minutes, which is a better rate of return than both Odegaard and Trossard, despite playing a team that’ll likely finish midtable at best.

Eze vs Trossard vs Odegaard

Player

Eze

Trossard

Odegaard

Appearances

26

37

26

Minutes

2012′

2190′

2033′

Goals

6

5

3

Assists

6

7

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.46

0.32

0.34

Minutes per Goal Involvement

167.66′

182.5′

255.8′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Ultimately, determining which youngsters are worth investing in is notoriously difficult, so it’s hard to blame Arsenal for missing out on Eze, but we reckon the team’s injury crisis would be a lot more manageable with him in the side.

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da heads bet： Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku looked as though he could’ve departed during the January transfer window after being touted with a move to various sides.

da poker： The French forward, who cost £52m in the summer of 2023, has mainly been an impact player under Enzo Maresca this campaign, starting just six matches in the Premier League.

However, the injury to Nicolas Jackson has allowed for increased minutes in the side, starting each of the past four outings, but only managing to find the back of the net on one occasion.

During his time at Stamford Bridge, Nkunku has registered 17 goals in 48 matches but ultimately has been unable to nail down a regular starting role when the squad is fully fit – with the club needing to cash in on him this summer.

That said, considering his relatively impressive record in front of goal, there have been two poorer signings, and they both need to be given the boot…

Mykhailo Mudryk’s stats for Chelsea

In January 2023, Chelsea secured an £88.5m deal for winger Mykhailo Mudryk from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk – with real hope and expectation of transforming the club’s attack.

The Blues won the bidding war with fellow English side Arsenal for the 24-year-old, and he looked to be a phenomenal addition after his cameo off the bench against Liverpool for his debut.

He was unable to find the back of the net in any of his first 17 appearances, but registered seven strikes last year in his first full campaign at the Bridge.

This campaign has seen the Ukrainian score three times, but he has been provisionally suspended since December after testing positive for a banned substance – putting his Blues career on hold for now, at least.

After such an expensive fee was shelled out for his signature, it’s safe to say Mudryk hasn’t lived up to expectations, scoring just 10 goals in his 73 appearances for the club.

However, despite his lack of impact in the capital over recent years, one other first-team member has undoubtedly been a worse addition, with Maresca desperately needing to cash in on him this summer.

The Chelsea player who’s been a worse signing than Mudryk

Over the years, Chelsea have made countless additions to try and catapult themselves back to the top of the Premier League, but have so far been unable to achieve such a feat.

All areas of the pitch have been strengthened as a result of Todd Boehly’s investment, but one department evidently needs more signings – especially after the lack of form of one player.

Maresca has continuously shown faith in goalkeeper Robert Sanchez between the sticks, as seen by his tally of 22 appearances for the Blues throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

The Spaniard joined the club in the summer of 2023 for a reported £25m but has since failed to live up to his huge price tag, often prone to a mistake in recent months.

Whilst he’s been benched for each of the last three games, it’s been something that is deserved when delving into his stats from 2024/25, struggling to offer that presence needed to bolster their defensive record.

Robert Sanchez’s stats for Chelsea in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics

Tally

Games played

21

Goals conceded

27

Goals conceded per 90

1.3

Clean sheets

4

Pass accuracy

69%

Errors leading to goals

5

Yellow cards

5

Stats via FotMob

The 27-year-old has conceded 27 times in his 21 Premier League outings, an average of 1.3 goals conceded per 90, whilst also only completing 69% of passes, unable to effectively play out from the back – something which Maresca demands from his keepers.

Sanchez has also made five errors leading to goals, the joint-highest of any shot-stopper in the division, undoubtedly costing the Blues in key moments which could affect their chances of securing Champions League football.

Whilst he cost nowhere near as much as Mudryk, the fee paid still looks way too expensive for the lack of impact he’s made on the side, often hindering the squad as a result of his selection.

Maresca has finally made the right decision in opting for Filip Jorgensen ahead of Sanchez in recent games, with the Italian needing to offload him this summer and try to recoup as much of the £25m fee as possible.

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da doce： With the summer transfer window approaching, Aston Villa have now reportedly been contacted with the chance to sign a European star who’s considering a move to the Premier League.

Aston Villa transfer news

da wazamba： The Villans already proved their transfer prowess in the January window when they welcomed both Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford on loan from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, respectively. But they’re seemingly not done there.

When the summer arrives, those in the Midlands could yet to splash the cash gained from Jhon Duran’s hefty sale to Al-Nassr, which has already seen the transfer rumours commence.

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Already, names such as Samu Aghehowa are threatening to steal the headlines. The Porto star has reportedly caught the attention of Aston Villa, who could land the perfect replacement for Duran by welcoming the impressive striker.

Meanwhile, the Villans have also been linked with summer moves for the likes of Joel Ordonez, who could yet become their Tyrone Mings successor by arriving from Club Brugge this summer. Following the Villa defender’s recent injury struggles, signing a potential replacement wouldn’t exactly be a bad idea.

Even there, however, the Midlands club may not be done. According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now been offered the chance to sign Ademola Lookman from Atalanta this summer alongside rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

The former Everton winger is reportedly considering a return to the Premier League this summer following a public fall-out with manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who slammed Lookman’s penalty attempt in his side’s Champions League exit at the hands of Club Brugge.

The winger then swiftly responded to the criticism, detailing his disappointment over the comments made by his manager, and whilst Gasperini has since cleared things up, it seems as though Lookman is heading for the exit door with Atalanta wanting more than £50m for the forward.

"Super" Lookman can earn Premier League redemption

Of course, the Premier League will know all about Lookman’s penalties and Fulham fans, in particular, thanks to his infamous failed panenka attempt against West Ham United a few years ago. But what some Premier League fans may not have been aware of back then is the player that the winger would become.

A Ballon d’Or nominee last season after he helped Atalanta to a Europa League final before scoring a stunning hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen to secure the silverware, Lookman has only flourished more and more ever since.

Now, Premier League redemption could await courtesy of Aston Villa, who’d be getting an instant upgrade on Leon Bailey.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)

Ademola Lookman

Leon Bailey

Starts

19

13

Goals

12

1

Assists

5

2

Key Passes

43

16

Dubbed “super” by Gasperini in the middle of his recent apology for his penalty statement, Lookman once again looks like a player destined for great things in English football or elsewhere.

da bet sport： Liverpool have been in contact with the representatives of an “incredible” player ahead of the summer transfer window, journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed.

Liverpool in need of summer attacking signings

da 888： The Reds are still having a superb season, and defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United shouldn’t change that, but it has highlighted the need for attacking reinforcements this summer.

Mohamed Salah has enjoyed a sensational campaign, while Cody Gakpo has also shone, but there are question marks over the futures of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota.

All three have had up-and-down seasons, with Diaz the best of the three, but arguably not at the world-class level Sadio Mane was at when he starred on the left wing for Liverpool. Nunez is still a frustrating player to watch both in and out of possession, while Jota looks like injuries could be catching up with him. He has only scored twice in 2025 to date.

A new centre forward is essential for Arne Slot come the end of the campaign, with Newcastle ace Alexander Isak arguably the top option to come in. Now, a fresh update has dropped regarding Liverpool’s pursuit of him.

Liverpool in talks to sign "incredible" £160m star

Speaking on his YouTube channel on Monday [via The Metro], Romano claimed that Liverpool and by extension FSG have been in contact with Isak’s people, as they look to beat Arsenal to his signature in the summer window:

“Newcastle keep insisting in private and in public that they want to keep Alexander Isak. They hope to be in the Champions League next season but, in any case, they want to keep Alexander Isak at the club, so that’s the message from Newcastle. But I keep telling you that big, big, massive proposals will come to the table for Alexander Isak because Arsenal will be there, Arsenal want Isak.

“[Benjamin] Sesko is the other name on the list but, for sure, Isak and Sesko are the main names. Liverpool are also there for Alexander Isak, they already made some contacts with people close to the player, so both clubs are interested in Alexander Isak. For Arsenal, he is the absolute top target. For Liverpool, he’s one of names they are considering in that position.”

This is another encouraging update, with Isak a player who could transform Liverpool as an attacking force, standing out as arguably Europe’s most in-form striker this season.

The 25-year-old, valued at a whopping £160m, is coming into his absolute peak years, recently being described as “incredible” by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, and he could be the next great striker at Anfield.

The one concern would be a questionable injury record down the years, so he would be a slight risk if huge money was spent on him, but he has started 25 games in the Premier League this season, which bodes well moving forward, with 19 goals coming his way in the competition.

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Isak has all the attributes to excel under Slot, whether it be great finishing, a silky touch or pace to run in behind, and he could be a game-changer of an addition if Liverpool can sign him over Arsenal.

da roleta： Chelsea are now in hot pursuit of an important Arsenal target, having recently stepped up their interest, according to a report.

Blues eyeing a right-back

da betway： Reece James has already matched the number of Premier League appearances he made last season, with his tenth outing coming in the 2-1 loss against Aston Villa at the end of February, but the 25-year-old has continued to struggle with injuries.

There have also been reports linking Malo Gusto with a move away from Stamford Bridge, which means a new right-back may be required in the summer, and potential targets have now been identified.

Talks have been held over a move for Flamengo right-back Wesley Franca, with the 21-year-old impressing in his native Brazil, but there have also been reports Enzo Maresca’s side could make a move for a player with more experience at the top level.

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According to a report from Spain, Chelsea have now stepped up their interest in Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries, and they are now said to be in hot pursuit of the right-back, but there could be stiff competition for his signature.

Manchester United and Arsenal are also named as potential suitors for Dumfries, with the north Londoners viewing him as a key target to bolster their options at right-back, which is a position they are keen on strengthening as a priority.

The Dutchman is now becoming increasingly likely to leave Inter this summer, with the Serie A side setting an asking price of €50m (£42m), making him a relatively affordable option for the three Premier League clubs in the race.

Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Arsenal (a)

March 16th

Tottenham Hotspur (h)

April 3rd

Brentford (a)

April 6th

Ipswich Town (h)

April 12th

Fulham (a)

April 19th

"Big star" Dumfries impressing for club and country

The 28-year-old has chalked up 63 caps for the Netherlands, and he received high praise from Rafael van der Vaart just under a year ago, at which point he was on a remarkable run of assists.

Chelsea are already relatively well-stocked at right-back, but James’ injury issues mean Maresca cannot depend upon the captain, so it could make sense to pursue a new option this summer, and Dumfries is proven at the highest level.

da betobet： Manchester City were largely ridiculed for their spending in the early days of their takeover, with Sheikh Mansour taking over the club in 2008 and investing heavily in the club, seeing a massive upturn in performance for the Citizens.

da realsbet： However, in the last five seasons, City’s net spend is £-308,749m, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham all having a higher net spend in that time.

Manchester City’s net spend – last five seasons

Season

Net spend (£)

2020/21

£-91,253m

2021/22

£-37,621m

2022/23

£5,981m

2023/24

£-100,767m

2024/25

£-85,085m

Calcuations taken from Transfermarkt

A lack of heavy investment over the years has allowed Pep Guardiola to keep a tight-knit group, only adding vital pieces to the puzzle and not disturbing the overall dynamics too much, but this has now caught up with them, with the squad now entering a period of heavy rebuilding.

Manchester City's big rebuild in 2025

Manchester City invested heavily in the January transfer market, looking to strengthen Guardiola’s side to ensure that even in their poor run of form, they had enough to challenge for Champions League qualification. The Citizens spent around £181m making five new signings.

Players such as Vitor Reis and Juma Bah were clearly signed with the future in mind, but the likes of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov have all made instant impacts on Guardiola’s side, adding much-needed energy and athleticism.

The dynamics Marmoush has provided alongside Erling Haaland since his arrival has been a breath of fresh air, stretching the pitch with runs in beyond the big man, working hard to win second balls and not being afraid to get his shots off.

The 26-year-old has made ten appearances since joining the club, scoring four goals in 666 minutes played.

Both Khusanov and Gonzalez have been important too, adding extra defensive quality, especially in transition moments, for this City side, who have often looked dead on their feet this season.

Gonzalez has particularly caught the eye of Guardiola with the boss describing him as a “mini Rodri.”

But as good as all of these additions have been so far, City will want to continue their spending in the summer and in order to do so, they will need to part ways with some bigger names, allowing them to invest further in the squad.

How Man City can sell to buy this summer

It isn’t just about selling to generate funds to spend, but it is also to open up wage funds by offloading high earners who aren’t justifying their salaries.

The likes of Kevin De Bruyne on £400k-per-week and Jack Grealish on £300k-per-week are both players who could leave the club this summer, which would open up significant wage funds for City.

Another is cult hero Bernardo Silva. Currently taking home £300k-per-week, he could find himself replaced in the summer with fresh legs.

Now 30 years of age, the Portuguese is approaching the latter stages of his career and hasn’t exactly set the world alight this term across his 39 appearances scoring three goals and providing four assists.

In every single metric analysed below, Silva has fallen, only substantiating the fact that his performance levels are getting worse in a City shirt.

Bernardo Silva 2023/24 season vs 2024/25 season comparison

Stats (per 90 mins)

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

0.27

0.10

Assists

0.25

0.10

xG

0.16

0.13

xAG

0.27

0.15

Progressive Carries

4.94

3.69

Progressive Passes

6.20

4.65

Shots Total

1.46

1.09

Key Passes

2.19

1.70

Shot-Creating Actions

4.59

3.43

Ball Recoveries

3.51

2.95

Stats taken from FBref

Sadly, he’s offering far less output, notably creating far fewer opportunities for his teammates to score from.

He’s also particularly less effective in build up in terms of progression and even dropping off slightly in his defensive work, notably ball recoveries.

Described as “world-class” by pundit Dion Dublin over his time at Manchester City, now could be the time for them to get his high wages off the books and reinvest in a younger core group of players, allowing Guardiola to kick-start this new Manchester City era.

Since joining the club back in 2017 from Monaco, Silva has earned over £50m in wages at Manchester City, with his current contract set to expire in June 2026. Perhaps it’s time for a change?

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da marjack bet： This summer feels like it will have to be another one of significant change for Tottenham Hotspur.

da 888： Following a campaign that seems to go from bad to worse on a near-weekly basis, the pressure continues to mount on Ange Postecoglou, and it seems like he is on the precipice of losing his job.

However, it’s not just the staff that could change, as Daniel Levy and Co have to look to bring in some first-team quality players and shift those deemed surplus to requirements.

In fact, there is one player who was signed by Antonio Conte, who has cost the club a significant amount of money over the years and simply has to be sold.

Spurs players who should be moved on

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth examining some of the other members of the squad who should be moved on or sold in the summer, such as Yves Bissouma.

The Mali international kicked off the season by getting banned for using laughing gas, and while he hasn’t done anything like that since, he has been incredibly disappointing when he’s played.

For example, when he started against Fulham before the international break, he was hooked at half-time and earned a 3/10 match rating from journalist Alasdair Gold, who described his display as ‘dreadful’ and ‘panicked’, which is not what you want from your central midfielders.

Another player signed in the same window who has to be sold or simply let go is Richarlison, who cost £60m, earns £90k-per-week and is never fit enough to play for the team.

In the almost three years since he moved to N17, the Brazilian international has made 80 appearances, in which he’s only been able to score 18 goals and provide nine assists.

Wage Burners

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

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Unfortunately, there is yet another Conte signing who should be sold in the summer, someone who can be a serious liability at times.

The Spurs dud who must be sold

So, when it comes down to players who could be described as expensive mistakes, there are, unfortunately, quite a few at Spurs, but in this case, we are talking about Pedro Porro.

The Spanish full-back joined the club on loan with a £40m obligation to buy in January 2023, and to start with, there was a lot to like about him.

For example, in his first season and a half at the club, the former Sporting CP star racked up a brilliant haul of seven goals and ten assists in 54 appearances and looked like he could become the club’s own Trent Alexander Arnold thanks to his ability to whip a ball in.

Unfortunately, this season has seen his output drop to just two goals and seven assists in 42 appearances, and that has shone far more light on his defensive ability, or lack thereof, more accurately.

The Don Benito-born ace is a complete liability at the back, and we have seen that on multiple occasions.

For example, the time Leandro Trossard completely embarrassed him at the Emirates, his abysmal performance at home to Ipswich Town, which journalist Mitch Fretton described as a “horror show,” or his “absolutely terrible” showing at home to Bournemouth, as one podcaster put it.

What makes it all that much worse is the fact that he’s also making £85k-per-week, which means he’s amassed around £9.6m in wages so far, which means he’s cost the club about £49.6m in total.

The Finances of Porro’s Spurs deal

Transfer fee

£40m

Total Wages

£9.6m

Appearances

96

Cost per Appearance

£516k

Goal

9

Cost per Goal

£5.5m

Assists

17

Cost per Assist

£2.9m

Goal Involvements

26

Cost per Goal Involvement

£1.9m

All Stats via Transfermarkt

That breaks down to about £516k-per-appearance, £5.5m-per-goal, £2.9m-per-assist or £1.9m-per-goal involvement, which is hardly value for money.

Ultimately, while Porro showed some initial promise at Spurs, he has since become a total liability in defence, and therefore, the club should look to sell him as soon as possible.

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da pinup bet： Arsenal have made contact to sign a new forward who has actually been compared to Gunners ace Kai Havertz.

Arsenal looking to sign new forwards after Berta announcement

da leao： Andrea Berta was recently officially unveiled as the new sporting director at the Emirates Stadium, taking over after Edu Gaspar departed north London at the end of 2024. Talking after sealing a deal, Berta said: “I am thrilled to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for the club.

“I have watched with great interest the way Arsenal has evolved in recent years and I have admired the hard work that has gone into re-establishing the club as a major force in European football with a passionate following around the world.

“The club has great values and a rich history, and I am looking forward to playing my part in shaping a successful future with a great team. I cannot wait to get started in my new role.”

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One of his first tasks looks set to be to sign a new striker for Mikel Arteta‘s side, and there have been plenty of attacking names who have been linked with a move to the Gunners ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Arsenal look set to launch an “important” proposal to sign Newcastle United star Alexander Isak, whereas Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko are also on the radar of Berta and co at the Emirates.

More than one forward could be required over the coming months after injuries to the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Havertz, and an update has now emerged over a move to sign Mohamed Amoura, currently on loan at VfL Wolfsburg from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

Arsenal make contact to sign Mohamed Amoura

According to reports in France, relayed by Sport Witness, Arsenal have actually made first contact over a deal to sign Amoura.

It is unclear whether or not the Gunners have approached Amoura and his representatives, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise or Wolfsburg, but Premier League rivals Liverpool and Nottingham Forest have done the same.

Wolfsburg have the option to sign the 24-year-old on a permanent basis at the end of the season for €14m plus €4m bonuses and then could then sell the Algeria international for up to €40m (£33.3m).

Amoura has been compared to Havertz, as per FBref, but is also known for his “exceptional” pace when being linked with a move to Wolves at the end of 2023.

Forwards Amoura has been compared to

Club

Julian Alvarez

Atletico Madrid

Omar Marmoush

Man City

Kai Havertz

Arsenal

Charles De Ketelaere

Atalanta

Antoine Griezmann

Atletico Madrid

However, 18 months later, Amoura has gone from strength to strength and could be playing Champions League and Premier League football with one of Arsenal, Forest or Liverpool going off this update.

da mrbet： Back in 2018, then-Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho singled out midfield star, Nemanja Matic, for praise following the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Brighton and Hove Albion, with the Serbian giant described as an “island of personality and desire and control”, while “surrounded by a lack of personality, class and desire”.

da dobrowin： It would not be wrong for new boss Ruben Amorim to repeat such a statement with regard to his talismanic skipper, Bruno Fernandes, with the 30-year-old having no doubt been United’s ‘island’ in the drab Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon.

With Amad Diallo having been absent since early February, the onus has largely fallen on Fernandes to make things happen for his side, with the weekend stalemate again no different.

Lauded by MUTV pundit Phil Bardsley as the “best player on the pitch by a country mile”, the Portuguese playmaker is intent on trying to steer this sinking ship to a brighter destination.

Most chances created in PL – 24/25

Player

Chances created

Bruno Fernandes

75

Cole Palmer

73

Mo Salah

71

Enzo Fernandez

64

Dejan Kulusevski

63

Mikkel Damsgaard

55

Bryan Mbeumo

55

Leif Davis

53

Youri Tielemans

53

Eberechi Eze

51

Stats via FotMob

Once there was the “Harry Kane team” – as Tottenham Hotspur were mockingly described by Pep Guardiola in 2017 – with United now in danger of becoming the ‘Bruno Fernandes team’, unless signings of a similar ilk can be found…

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

Having now failed to score in 12 Premier League games this season, the priority for Amorim and co this summer will surely be to bolster the misfiring forward line, with the 40-year-old perhaps keen to raid his former side, Sporting CP, to help revive his current ranks.

The Portuguese coach has already missed out on Chelsea-bound teenager, Geovany Quenda, however, while there have been reports that it is ‘unlikely’ that a reunion with Sporting goal machine, Viktor Gyokeres, will take place this summer.

That is a view that has been echoed by a recent report from GIVEMESPORT, with the piece outling that the ‘most likely big-name’ to arrive from the Lisbon outfit is actually Francisco Trincao, rather than Gyokeres.

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Indeed, the former Barcelona and Wolverhampton Wanderers winger is noted as a ‘leading’ alternative to current Molineux star, Matheus Cunha, amid Amorim’s search for a new forward, with the United boss having ‘pinpointed’ Trincao as a viable option.

The 25-year-old – who has a reported £67m release clause in his existing contract – is said to be ‘firmly in Amorim’s sights’ ahead of the start of the window, with the Portuguese ace having already proven himself to be a real weapon in his compatriot’s 3-4-3 set-up.

Why Man Utd could be targeting the next Bruno Fernandes

It almost doesn’t need repeating what Fernandes has achieved in a United shirt thus far, with the experienced midfielder chalking up 95 goals and 83 assists in 279 games in all competitions to date, while winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup to boot.

Signed from Sporting for a fee of around £46m in January 2020, the playmaking genius had proven his quality during his stint with the Liga Portugal side, racking up 113 goals and assists in just 137 games across all fronts.

While operating in a more advanced role than his international colleague, Trincao – who has ten caps for his country – could well follow in Fernandes’ footsteps, having also dazzled in Lisbon in recent times.

The tricky left-footer boasts 61 goals and assists in 146 games for his current side, with that including a remarkable total of nine goals and 15 assists in 2024/25 thus far. Back at Old Trafford, only Fernandes has chalked up more goal involvements (33) this season.

It was actually Amorim who “launched Trincao’s professional career at Braga” in 2019, as per writer Zach Lowy, before reuniting with him at Sporting, with the in-demand forward having registered 56 goal involvements in 131 games under the current United boss in total.

While he did find life difficult in the Premier League previously at Wolves – after scoring and assisting just four times in 30 games for the Old Gold – he could well be deserving of another crack at it, not least under a familiar face like Amorim.

Once hailed as a “really exciting player” at Molineux by technical director Scott Sellars, Trincao evidently mirrors Fernandes in his creative prowess, having created 14 ‘big chances’ and averaged 2.2 key passes per game in the league this season. Fernandes, for reference, has created 12 ‘big chances’, albeit while averaging 2.5 key passes per game in England’s top flight.

With the Red Devils skipper having dropped into a deep-lying berth of late, his creative influence could then be replicated by the one-time Barca man in one of the two number ten roles, thus helping to try and spark some life into the club’s floundering forward line.

Having seen the magic that Fernandes can conjure up in English football, if Trincao could make a fraction of that impact, then United – and Amorim – will be on to a winner.

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