All posts by z3u9t.icu

Dean Henderson would likely replace Martin Dubravka if he joined Newcastle from Manchester United, Keith Downie says. 

The lowdown

Newcastle held talks with The Red Devils over a loan move for Henderson in January but couldn’t reach an agreement.

However, The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson reported in March that Howe intends to return with a permanent offer for the Englishman this summer.

The manager wants to strengthen his goalkeeping department and has considered moves for Arsenal’s Bernd Leno and West Brom’s Sam Johnstone, but Henderson is his primary target ‘by some distance’.

Playing second fiddle to David de Gea, the player is unhappy with his situation at Old Trafford.

The 25-year-old still has more than three years left to run on his contract and is valued at £16.2million by Transfermarkt.

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The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Sky Sports’ North-East England reporter said he couldn’t see Henderson joining Newcastle as a deputy. Instead, he’d probably arrive as the new no. 1, displacing Dubravka.

“You’d be surprised if someone like Dean Henderson came in as number two,” Downie said.

“Yes, he’s number two at Manchester United, but I’m not sure that would be the case here.”

The verdict

If Howe isn’t satisfied with Dubravka, then Henderson would be a good bet as a replacement.

He has 29 games’ worth of experience at a top club, keeping 13 clean sheets, and is also an England international, having made his debut in November 2020.

Indeed, moving to St James’ Park and becoming a first-choice ‘keeper could help his prospects no-end ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.

Former team-mate Sander Berge has provided a glowing review of Henderson that will surely excite the Magpies.

“He’s insane,” the Sheffield United man said during Hendersn’s loan spell. “I’ve never been with such a good goalkeeper. One thing in matches, he is almost a defence alone at times, and you feel so secure with him.

“But people have to see him at training. It’s crazy. He saves balls from one yard. Sometimes I am completely speechless by how good he is. It’s like having two goalkeepers in goal with him. He’s awesome.”In other news, a transfer insider drops a Philippe Coutinho claim concerning NUFC.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has made a claim regarding Aston Villa’s interest in Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, GiveMeSport report.

The Lowdown: Villa links

Villa appear to be on the hunt for defensive reinforcements this summer, with the futures of Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings up in the air.

Nelsson has been just one centre-back who has been linked with a move to the Midlands, with reports suggesting Villa are ready to make a ‘serious offer’.

The 6-foot colossus has a €25m (£21m) release clause in his Galatasaray deal and has gone from strength to strength in Turkey this season, with his Transfermarkt valuation increasing from £3.15m to £9m.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

Jones, talking to GMS, had this to say on Nelsson, admitting the centre-back is ‘definitely of interest’ to Villa chiefs and urged the club to be ‘smarter’ in the transfer window.

“Victor Nelsson is somebody that is definitely of interest. It’s probably good that they’re looking for players a bit different to all the other names you see linked to all the big clubs.

“Villa have got to be a little bit smarter about their recruitment this summer because they don’t want to get in price wars with some of the other big clubs in the Premier League as you just end up paying over the odds.

“That’s not really a situation they want to be in even though they have got a lot of money.”

The Verdict: Smart move?

Villa could be in for a busy summer ahead of Gerrard’s first full season when it comes to incomings and outgoings, and club officials will know all about the Denmark international.

The 23-year-old was the subject of a £9m bid from Villa back in 2020, so fellow countryman Johan Lange could have been the one to bring him to Gerrard’s attention recently.

It looks as if another offer could be a shrewd move following his impressive form in Turkey, and he may not be the only centre-back to arrive ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

In other news: Villa now edging closer to summer move for ‘clinical’ ace as Gerrard gets his way. 

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes that Liverpool could change their stance on having a cryptocurrency sponsor, should a huge offer come along in the near future.

The Lowdown: Reds riding high

The Reds are flying at the moment, picking up a huge 1-0 victory at Newcastle United on Saturday to keep the pressure on Manchester City in the Premier League title race.

Away from the on-field action, Liverpool are also continuing to flourish as a club, with FSG keeping them financially stable, unlike some of those around them, such as Chelsea.

According to a recent claim, the Reds could strike a £70m kit deal with a cryptocurrency platform, with their contract with current shirt sponsors Standard Chartered coming to an end in 2023. This marks a U-turn in the club’s stance after reports in March that they opted against signing a crypto deal, having canvassed the opinions of fans.

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The Latest: Maguire makes crypto claim

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire claimed that Liverpool could go for that option if it is the most financially viable. He said:

“They might be able to take a small cut for non-gambling company. Make no mistake, crypto is gambling. But they will say that it is perfectly legal and that other clubs are doing it.

“If senior management at Anfield see themselves as being financially disadvantaged by not taking a crypto offer, they will likely do it.

“Given the success that they have had on the pitch, they have probably generated enough goodwill from the fans to override any objections.”

The Verdict: Fans could be divided

Should Liverpool end up striking a cryptocurrency deal over a long period, it is a decision which is likely to split opinion among the fan base.

It is something which doesn’t appeal to everyone from a moral and ethical standpoint, and it could be a decision for which the Reds ultimately receive a lot of flak.

It would arguably be preferable to have a moral mainstream sponsor in the mould of Standard Chartered, but ultimately FSG will likely approach it from a business perspective and do what is best for the club financially.

In other news, a pundit has dropped a worrying Liverpool claim. Read more here.

This is a season of attrition for Liverpool, who must knuckle down and prove that they have absorbed the worst punches after a testing start to Arne Slot’s second term in charge.

Liverpool are in a rut, alright, and need to start stringing together consistent results in the Premier League if they are to steer away from a true crisis, missing out on Champions League qualification after a record-breaking summer of spending.

It’s clear that the sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich for £66.5m has contributed toward knocking the Anfield side out of kilter. The Colombian’s speed and combativeness have been sorely missed.

Stars such as Florian Wirtz have been added to the Liverpool ranks this summer, but sporting director Richard Hughes is already lining up another addition.

Liverpool searching for new attacking midfielders

Wirtz is only 22 years old, and though he joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m, there is an acceptance from the Reds hierarchy that the German’s integration will take a bit of time.

There’s a superstar in there, but he’s not been brought to the fore just yet. With this in mind, Liverpool might consider adding more talent to their ranks, someone who can jockey with Wirtz for a place out on the left wing.

Well, Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz could be the player for the job, with transfer insider Simon Phillips revealing that Liverpool have joined Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid in the race for the silky attacking midfielder.

It’s previously been understood that United have expressed a willingness to pay €90m (about £79m) for the 20-year-old, and Liverpool have now been name-checked as being among those to make calls for the player as he marks one side of a contractual stand-off in Turin.

However, Hughes will need to act speedily if he is to win Yildiz over, with Juventus pushing to renew their starboy’s terms.

What Kenan Yildiz would bring to Liverpool

Yildiz might be young, but he’s made quite the name for himself over the past few years in Italy, breaking into Juventus’ first team a few years ago after previously spending a decade of his youth in Bayern Munich’s academy system.

With flair and magical skills on the ball, this is a player who is destined for the top, and in Serie A this season, he is creating an average of 2.4 key passes per game, having posted two goals and three assists from only nine starts.

Yildiz might have “all the tools to be one of the best wingers in the world”, as has been said by one analyst, but he shares with Wirtz a focal kind of creativity and snappiness that lend themselves to a central berth.

In this, Yildiz could find himself becoming Liverpool’s next version of Wirtz, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Hughes should waive the idea of signing him.

There’s no question that the Turkish talent needs to work on his physicality. As per Sofascore, he has won only 44% of his ground duels in Serie A this season, and he ranks among the bottom 3% of positional peers in that division this season for tackles won per 90 (FBref).

But this is a kid, and one with so much potential. He’s tenacious. Talent scout Jacek Kulig has lauded his “bravery”, using his athleticism to “make spectacular solo runs”.

Indeed, the dynamic midfielder ranks among the top 11% of positional peers across Europe for both shot-creating actions and successful take-ons per 90, corroborating that claim.

Having split his time across attacking midfield and left wing roles, performing the latter consistently this season, Yildiz shares even more tactical similarities with Wirtz, though there is a case to be made that he’s more electric when running, and thus could be a more natural fit out wide.

Second striker

59

18 (13)

Left wing

50

10 (9)

Attacking midfield

18

9 (6)

Right wing

17

3 (1)

Centre-forward

4

0 (0)

Wirtz’s start to life in England would serve as a cautionary tale for those elite talents looking to make a name for themselves on English shores. It is no easy feat to marry all the facets together in the Premier League.

Still, there is a sense he will come good, and with Yildiz added into the mix to battle with him for a berth, there’s every chance that the Turkish prospect would prove a jackpot signing for Liverpool, perhaps even working in concert with Wirtz to dynamise and widen the scope of Slot’s attacking dimensions.

The playmaker wouldn’t come cheap, but it has become clear over the past several months that Liverpool miss a snappy wide profile, and Yildiz could find himself growing into a household name in the Premier League down Liverpool’s left.

Shaping into a silky and physical attacking midfielder with stunning creative skills, Yildiz could be a real superstar down the line, albeit one who would be tussling for a starting berth with Wirtz at Liverpool.

But as the Reds’ double signing of Isak and Ekitike has shown us this summer, FSG are not against packaging this side with the best of the best, enough to win silverware across every front and year on year.

Bigger mistake than Quansah: Liverpool sold their next Gravenberch for £15m

Liverpool made a bigger mistake than offloading Jarell Quansah when they got rid of their own Ryan Gravenberch for just £15m.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 20, 2025

Chelsea’s approach to recruitment has long revolved around stacking their squad with some of the brightest young prospects in world football.

In the past few years, they have paid significant sums to secure teenagers such as Estevão, Kendry Páez and Mamadou Sarr.

This summer alone, they have added some of the most exciting youth prospects in Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United and Jorrel Hato from Ajax.

The logic is simple: bring in rising stars before their price goes up and commit them to long contracts, typically seven years or more.

By doing so, Chelsea not only protect themselves against paying premiums later – as they did with Enzo Fernández’s £107m transfer in 2023 – but also keep themselves compliant with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) by spreading transfer fees across the length of those deals.

The result is the youngest squad in the Premier League, with an average age of just 23 years and five months.

Not all of these gambles work out, however. A number of players have grown frustrated at limited minutes and moved on.

This summer alone saw exits for Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Christopher Nkunku.

And in previous years, Chelsea have made high-profile misjudgements by letting go of talents like Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, Declan Rice and Romelu Lukaku too early.

Yet there are also success stories that show the model can deliver.

Nowhere is that clearer than with Cole Palmer.

Cole Palmer's stunning Chelsea stint so far

When Chelsea paid Manchester City £40m for Palmer in 2023, the deal was met with scepticism.

Could a player who had mostly been used sparingly by Pep Guardiola truly justify such a fee?

Two years on, the answer is an emphatic yes. Palmer is now the beating heart of Enzo Maresca’s side and widely regarded as the club’s most important player.

Since his arrival, Palmer’s market value has soared from €32m (£28m) to €120m (£110m), as per Transfermarkt.

He was central to Chelsea’s resurgence last season, guiding them to a fourth-place finish, a UEFA Conference League triumph and a Club World Cup title.

His influence was decisive in both finals, scoring twice against PSG in the Club World Cup and picking up man of the match awards in each.

Palmer’s output has been remarkable: 45 goals and 29 assists in his first 100 appearances for the club.

Beyond numbers, his creativity and ability to dictate games in the final third have been transformative.

It is no surprise he won the PFA Young Player of the Season award, or that he broke into the England team in 2023, scoring in the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.

Statistically, Palmer excels across multiple areas.

Matches Played

37

Goals

15

Assists

8

Progressive Carries

120

Progressive Passes

214

Source: FBref

His 2024/25 season included 37 appearances with 23 goal involvements, averaging 6.03 progressive passes per 90 and 5.70 shot-creating actions.

He is not just scoring and assisting, but consistently advancing Chelsea’s play in possession.

For all the criticism of the club’s scattergun transfer policy, Palmer stands as proof that sometimes they get it spectacularly right.

How Jamal Musiala compares to Palmer

For every Palmer success story, there is a cautionary tale.

Jamal Musiala’s departure is one Chelsea fans continue to regret.

Having been part of the Blues’ youth system, he left for Bayern Munich in 2019 for just €200k (£175k).

Today his market value is estimated at €140m (£130m), and he is widely considered among the best attacking midfielders in world football.

At Bayern, Musiala has blossomed into a superstar.

In 207 matches, he has scored 64 goals and provided 39 assists, while also cementing his place in the German national team with 40 caps and eight goals.

Former England youth teammate Jude Bellingham once roomed with him, and Musiala’s decision to represent Germany over England has only heightened the sense of loss.

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes summed it up simply: Musiala is “one of the best number 10s in the world.” The statistics underline his world-class profile.

In 2024/25, he managed 14 goal involvements in 25 Bundesliga matches, with 1.55 shots on target per 90 and an outstanding 45.6% accuracy, as per FBref.

He edges Palmer in dribbling influence too, recording 39.6 carries per 90 compared to Palmer’s 33.0.

While Palmer is the superior progressive passer (6.03 per 90 to Musiala’s 5.35), Musiala’s ability to destabilise defenders with his direct running offers a complementary, if different, threat.

The irony is stark: Chelsea now pay premiums to secure players like Palmer, while having allowed Musiala to leave for a fraction of his current worth.

Injuries have unfortunately stalled his 2025/26 campaign – a broken leg at the Club World Cup means he will miss large portions of the season – but his trajectory remains upwards.

The Palmer-Musiala contrast highlights the dual nature of Chelsea’s youth model.

They are capable of landing gems that transform the team, but just as easily let diamonds slip through their fingers.

Maresca must drop Chelsea dud who was as bad as Chalobah vs Bayern

Chelsea lost to Bayern Munich in their first Champions League game of the season.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 18, 2025

Nottingham Forest have made an indifferent start to the 2025/26 campaign. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have just four points to their name so far, and have struggled since their opening day victory over Brentford, in which they thrashed Keith Andrews’ side 3-1 at the City Ground.

Since then, the men in Garibaldi Red have picked up just one point, which was a resilient draw away to Crystal Palace. Their most recent outing saw them lose 3-0 at home against the struggling West Ham United, a result which surprised some, given Forest’s result at home on the opening day.

Perhaps the lack of goals in their last two games has coincided with one thing in particular: Chris Wood’s short drought in front of goal.

Chris Wood’s start to the season

Drought is a harsh word to use when discussing Wood’s recent form. The New Zealand international scored a brace in Forest’s season opener against the Bees, but did not find the back of the net in the next two outings, which saw his club score once, thanks to Callum Hudson-Odoi.

His first goal was a resilient finish, winning the second ball from a corner after missing the initial header and poking home inside a packed penalty box.

His second goal was sublime, teed up by an exquisite first-time ball through the lines from Elliot Anderson. Wood ran onto it, rounded the goalkeeper and scored.

Of course, it is no surprise to see Wood on the scoresheet already for Nuno’s side this term. His record in Garibaldi Red is excellent, with 38 goals and four assists in just 85 appearances. Last season was his best in the Premier League, with 20 goals across the campaign.

That form earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year, in a frontline alongside new Liverpool duo Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah. Wood’s campaign in 2024/25 and his form for Forest across his career have both been exceptional.

However, Forest sold a striker back in July 2023 who has enjoyed an even more successful time than Wood.

The ex-Forest star who can’t stop scoring

The past few years under their current owner, Evangelos Marinakis, have seen Forest spend significant amounts on transfer fees. However, that has meant they have needed plenty of sales to help balance the books. Departures such as Brennan Johnson to Tottenham Hotspur and Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United are the notable exits.

Yet, someone who left the City Ground for only £5m just over two years ago may have slipped under the radar since his departure.

The man in question here is Sam Surridge, a key figure in their promotion success. He has been on fire for Nashville in the MLS since his departure.

More on those numbers in a moment, but first, it’s important to highlight the Slough-born star’s contribution for Forest.

Once described as a “sensational” striker and “one of the best finishers in the Championship” by Garry Birtles, Surridge scored 11 goals in 50 appearances, including a hat-trick against Swansea City and one in the Premier League, against Bournemouth.

Looking at his form since his £5m move stateside, Surridge has been largely unstoppable. He’s bagged more goals than Wood has managed as a Forest player, with 42 strikes in Nashville yellow, in just 77 appearances, four clear of the Kiwi.

His best campaign for the club has been the most recent season. He’s bagged 20 MLS goals in just 29 games, which is the second time he has hit double figures in the competition since he joined the club two summers ago.

Games

15

32

30

Minutes

948

2631

2595

Goals

5

15

22

Assists

2

3

3

Mins per goal & assist

135

155

118

The 27-year-old has been in scintillating form for the Coyotes in his two-year spell so far with the club, and is showing no signs of slowing down. As per the official MLS website, he currently leads the race for the Golden Boot by one goal, ahead of the legendary Lionel Messi.

Looking back on this sale, perhaps it is one Forest fans wish the club had never made. If Surridge had stayed at the City Ground, maybe he would have hit this vein of form and been competing with Wood for a starting spot.

He'd be exciting with Bakwa: Nottingham Forest in talks for late signing

Nuno Espirito Santo will be spoilt for choice with his attacking options at Nottingham Forest with this late purchase.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 1, 2025

Chelsea appear to have wrapped up a move for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. That’s according to Fabrizio Romano, who confirmed that the Blues have an agreement in place to sign the player for £30m.

It could be a shrewd piece of business for the Stamford Bridge outfit, especially as they needed another centre-forward.

Enzo Maresca is also targeting a defender or two when the transfer window opens. With this in mind, it appears as though a Dutch talent is being earmarked for a move to London.

Chelsea in talks to sign new defender

Journalist Simon Phillips has claimed that the Blues have enquired about a move for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite regarding a summer move.

Elsewhere, he stated that Chelsea are “advancing on talks” for Ajax sensation Jorrel Hato, with the Blues ideally wanting to bring in two new defenders, ahead of next season.

Hato could cost the club £46m should negotiations go smoothly. On the surface, this certainly looks like a wonderful bargain given his age and potential for growth.

Champions League football next season should also be an enticement for the Dutchman.

Comfortable at playing either centre-back or left-back, Maresca will likely utilise the Ajax gem as his starting left-back. If so, he could be the club’s next Ashley Cole.

Why Chelsea must sign Jorrel Hato

Cole is arguably one of the finest left-backs that England have produced. Across eight seasons with the Blues, Cole racked up 337 appearances, winning the Champions League and Premier League with the club.

Excellent at bombing forward and creating chances for his teammates, while also offering plenty of defensive qualities, which contributed to him becoming arguably the “best” left-back in Premier League history, as per his former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2013/14

26

0

2

2012/13

51

1

5

2011/12

48

0

9

2010/11

48

0

4

2009/10

35

4

5

2008/09

49

1

3

2007/08

41

1

2

2006/07

39

0

4

Hato – who talent scout Jacek Kulig has described as the “complete full-back” – exudes plenty of the same sort of qualities, and he would be a worthy heir to the Englishman, that’s for sure.

Going forward, the 19-year-old registered eight goal involvements, created six big chances and averaged 0.6 key passes per game in the Eredivisie last season.

Defensively, Hato helped Ajax keep 11 clean sheets in the league, while also winning 52% of his total duels, making 1.9 tackles and recovering 4.2 balls per game.

On this evidence, Hato – who has been dubbed “immense” by Kulig – could be a wise signing for Maresca this summer, especially as he could be a long-term option on the left side of the defence.

When compared to his peers across the men’s next 14 competitions, the teenager ranks in the top 1% for pass completion percentage (89.4%) per 90, along with ranking in the top 12% for aerial duels won (1.77) and the top 11% for touches in the attacking penalty area (2.33) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

No one will ever replace the genius of Cole, but in Hato, Chelsea can bring in a player who is still a few years away from being at his very best.

Still, he has the potential to become one of the best full-backs on the continent. For just £46m, Maresca could make a stunning signing.

He's better than Delap: Chelsea make enquiry to sign "world-class" striker

Chelsea appear to be making a move for another striker despite the links to Liam Delap.

ByEthan Lamb May 30, 2025

Despite their struggles at times this season, Wolverhampton Wanderers have been fairly consistent in front of goal. They currently sit in the middle of the pack when it comes to goals scored in the Premier League, and their 51 strikes is more than seven clubs.

According to Understat, the Old Gold have massively overachieved in their expected goals tally this term.

The metric currently has Vitor Pereira’s side at 42.83 xG, meaning they have scored 8.17 more goals than they should have. It is also the biggest overachievement on expected goals this season by any Premier League club, and by some distance.

If there is one man who has helped them to overperform so much, it is undoubtedly Mathues Cunha.

Cunha's form this season and his Wolves future

It has been yet another unbelievable campaign for Old Gold talisman Cunha. Their number 10 has been sensational for the second consecutive year, helping to keep them in the Premier League and dragging the club through tough times on the pitch around Christmas.

The 25-year-old, who is an Olympic Gold medalist with Brazil, has bagged 15 goals and managed six assists in 31 Premier League games this season. His 17 goals in all competitions are the club’s most, with Jorgen Strand Larsen the only other player in double figures.

He has put in some excellent performances, including one goal and two assists against Leicester City just weeks ago. However, perhaps his most significant was a goal and an assist against Manchester United in December, in a 2-0 win at Molineux.

However, the Old Gold forward, who has become a star at Molineux over the last two seasons, may not be able to call himself a Wolves player much longer.

A few days ago, Fabrizio Romano reported that ‘talks remain ongoing’ for Manchester United to sign him this summer, who explained ‘deal remains at advanced stages’, which suggests it will be done soon enough.

It does not appear that Cunha will stay at Wolves beyond this season, so they will need to replace his goals. They have recently been linked with someone who could do just that.

Wolves' ideal Cunha replacement

If Cunha does love Molinuex, which does seem likely at this stage, then a shock move for Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth, who has previously played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace, could be on the cards for Wolves.

Caught Offside reported earlier this week that he is ‘attracting interest from the Premier League’, with Wolves, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa all linked with a move. The price is not clear at this stage, but he cost the Spaniards £27m last season, so it could well be around the same number.

If the Old Gold are looking for someone to help them forget about losing Cunha, Sorloth could be that guy.

He has been excellent for Atleti in 2024/25, scoring 17 goals and grabbing two assists in 32 appearances. Earlier in the season, Dougie Critchley described him as “sensational”, and it is easy to see why.

The Norwegian made headlines recently for scoring an incredible four goals in 30 minutes in Atleti’s 4-0 La Liga win over Real Sociedad. After just 11 minutes, he already had a hat-trick, in one of the most eye-catching performances of the season.

It is for reasons like that, as to why Sorloth could be the perfect man to step into Cunha’s shoes. There are stats, via FBref, which suggest he can take on the mantle of scoring consistent goals for the Old Gold.

For example, he averages 1.09 goals and 0.55 goals per shot on target per 90 minutes. Comparatively, Cunha averages 0.54 goals and 0.37 goals per shot on target each game.

Goals

1.09

0.54

Shot on target %

45.3%

41.4%

Goals per shot

0.25

0.15

Goals per shot on target

0.55

0.37

Expected goals

0.81xG

0.29xG

Earlier, Wolves’ overachievement on expected goals was referenced, and that is certainly something that stands out for Sorloth. He is overachieving on expected goals by 0.28 per game this season, showing that he, too, can help maintain such a record.

There is no doubt about it, Cunha would be a big loss for the Old Gold. However, replacing him with such a clinical player like Sorloth, who can maintain such an impressive goal scoring rate, would be excellent business.

He can help fill the Neto void: Wolves looking to sign "special" £50m star

Wolves have joined a host of clubs in eyeing a move for a Premier League midfielder

ByRoss Kilvington May 12, 2025

Even if Manchester City do finish inside the top five positions in the Premier League and find themselves victorious in lifting the FA Cup again, this summer looks likely to be one of upheaval at the Etihad.

After all, it’s already been confirmed that Pep Guardiola’s men are waving goodbye to City royalty in Kevin De Bruyne, with the Belgian unlikely to be the only face moved to one side by the serial trophy winners.

Whilst there will be an obvious sadness in the air that notable figures like De Bruyne are departing, an exciting, new horizon on offer will still be met with lively anticipation, with the light blue half of Manchester expected to open its doors to a whole host of fresh signings.

The potential new-look Man City

Guardiola’s flashy spenders did show off their intimidating might in the transfer window just this January when acquiring the services of Omar Marmoush for a hefty £59m.

Now, they could be about to splash even more cash on another equally exhilarating attacker in the form of Florian Wirtz, with the German midfielder rumoured to be leaving Bayer Leverkusen behind for a wild £102m.

Morgan Gibbs-White might also relocate to the Etihad for a whopping £100m, but City could win themselves a potential bargain by signing former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Francisco Trincao.

A report from Caught Offside has revealed that Guardiola’s men could snap up the 25-year-old for as little as £33m, but Manchester United are also waiting to pounce alongside Arsenal and Newcastle United.

Whilst his prior stint in England was choppy, the Sporting star would surely relish an opportunity to strut his stuff again in the Premier League, with a potential here for Trincao to be the Spaniard’s next version of Leroy Sane patrolling down the City right flank.

How Trincao could be Man City's next Sane

Whilst City fans will likely wax lyrical about the past exploits of Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez when commenting on memorable ex-wingers, Sane doesn’t always find himself in the same glowing conversation.

Indeed, after only bagging five Premier League goals during his debut season, the German would go down as a slow burner to the City masses when finally improving, with an impressive tally of 83 goals and assists eventually coming his way from 135 total contests.

Trincao – much like Sane – has unfortunately been negatively impacted by the bright lights of the English game before.

Indeed, only three goals came his way from 30 appearances at Molineux. However, unlike the Bayern Munich number ten, the Portuguese forward was never given the platform to kick on and rebuild his dented reputation until now.

Since this one season misfire in the West Midlands, the 25-year-old has been able to transform his fortunes on home soil and turn into a menace up top for his current employers, with the Sporting winger left-footed in approach much like his German counterpart, despite being able to line up down both the left and right channels like the 29-year-old.

24/25

51

9

18

23/24

48

10

10

22/23

52

13

4

Looking at the table above, City would be winning themselves a golden bargain snapping up Trincao for just £33m, with a jaw-dropping 18 assists picked up by the former Wolves reject from 51 games this season.

He definitely has the potential, therefore, to reenter the English game and take it by storm as a tricky, left-footed attacker in a similar vein to Sane.

Once lauded as a “special” talent when emerging up the ranks at Braga by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, this move could finally be the opportunity for Trincao to rip up the Premier League, with Sane’s eye for picking up goals and assists aplenty at the peak of his powers seen in the 25-year-old’s unbelievable game in Lisbon.

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