All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Pep Guardiola is pushing Manchester City to offer one of his current players in exchange for a Real Madrid star, according to a recent report.

Cherki looking to create his own Man City legacy

The Blues have been very busy in the early part of this transfer window, bringing in four new players. They have added Marcus Bettinelli to their squad as another goalkeeper option, along with Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolves, Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan and Rayan Cherki from Lyon.

City have seen Kevin de Bruyne leave the club and join Napoli this summer, and therefore, signing someone with Cherki’s creativity was crucial. However, the French attacking midfielder has stressed he is “not De Bruyne”, and he is keen to “write my own story” at the Etihad.

“I’m not Kevin De Bruyne; he is the legend. I’m here to help the team and to write my own story. I hope to win all the time with the team.

“When you see Rodri, he won the Ballon d’Or here – it’s clear that with Manchester City it’s possible, and I am here for this.

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“When I spoke with Pep, he wanted me – he was very, very clear. Pep told me, ‘when you have the ball, you are free’, which is very good for me because it’s my first quality to help the team.

“The system, the club, the city is very good. I want to win, and I think Manchester City wants to win it all.”

Pep wants Rodrygo to join Man City overhaul

Cherki may not be the last of the new attackers arriving at the Etihad in this transfer window, as according to a report from Spain, Pep wants Man City to offer Jack Grealish to Real Madrid in exchange for Rodrygo.

Grealish has been left out of City’s Club World Cup squad, as his time at the club appears to be coming to an end. Guardiola is keen for the Englishman to get another big move and sees him as someone who can help bring Rodrygo’s price down, which currently stands at £84 million.

However, this report does state that Real Madrid are not interested in signing Grealish, and Xabi Alonso has already made it clear to the Brazilian forward that he is a key part of his plans going forward.

Rodrygo

Grealish

Apps

30

20

Starts

22

7

Goals

6

1

xG

4.0

1.1

Goals per 90

0.28

0.12

Assists

6

1

xAG

3.0

1.8

Assists per 90

0.23

0.12

Progressive carries

113

69

Grealish, who earns £300,000 a week at City, is already wanted by teams such as Newcastle United and Aston Villa, with the Magpies said to be the ones leading the race to secure his transfer.

Last season, Grealish played just 20 times in the Premier League, scoring one goal and registering one assist in the process. Meanwhile, Rodrygo, who has been dubbed a “magician” by Statman Dave, scored six goals as well as assisting a further six in 30 La Liga games.

With the summer transfer window fast approaching, Manchester City are now reportedly readying a formal proposal to sign a talented South American defender for Pep Guardiola.

Pep reveals Man City's FA Cup pride

Whilst it’s been a fairly disappointing season in the Premier League and arguably Guardiola’s toughest, Manchester City still have the FA Cup final to look forward to this weekend. In what is the third year in a row that the Citizens have reached the final at Wembley, they will be desperate to avoid an upset against Crystal Palace and fall at the final hurdle for the second consecutive year.

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ByTom Cunningham May 15, 2025

Guardiola knows exactly what the occasion means and spoke about how proud he and his side are of their FA Cup achievements in recent years. The Spaniard told reporters earlier this week: “I say it every time we are in this position, but I will say it again: it is such a privilege to be able to play in this incredible stadium and have a chance to win this beautiful trophy,” said Guardiola, ahead of his squad’s trip to north-west London.

“This is our third year in a row in the FA Cup Final, which is something we are very, very proud of. In the FA Cup, you play all the top teams from the Premier League and the Championship and always there are times when it is difficult.

“To have made three Finals in a row shows how consistent we have been. It says everything about this generation of players and the club itself. The FA Cup is the most challenging and beautiful domestic cup competition in the world, there is no doubt about that.”

Away from their potential Wembley success this weekend, meanwhile, those at The Etihad have already reportedly set their sights on welcoming a defensive reinforcement when the summer transfer window arrives.

Man City readying Wesley proposal

According to Coluna do Fla, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City are now readying a formal proposal worth €35m (£29m) to sign Wesley Franca from Flamengo this summer. The Brazilian right-back is reportedly keen on a move to Man City, but has also attracted interest from Manchester United and Liverpool as a result of his impressive campaign.

Their £29m proposal will reportedly fall short of Flamengo’s valuation, however, with the Brazilian club demanding as much as €45m (£38m) to sell Wesley before the Club World Cup begins.

Dubbed “pacy” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, Wesley looks set to have quite a decision to make this summer. With a whole host of Premier League clubs chasing his signature, the 21-year-old looks destined for England and may well end up in a Manchester City side who desperately need a right-back.

According to broadcast giant ESPN, Arsenal are demanding a major concession from Thomas Partey as talks continue over a new contract for the midfielder.

Thomas Partey could now stay at Arsenal with talks ongoing

The £200,000-per-week star has stayed relatively injury-free throughout an impressive 2024/2025 campaign which has seen him dazzle in multiple roles under Mikel Arteta.

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The Gunners owners are currently holding up a move.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 24, 2025

Utilised at right-back during the absences of key players, as well as partnering the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield to great effect, Partey’s been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers throughout the season.

Last term, the Ghana international could barely get a look-in due to fitness issues and falling down Arteta’s pecking order, and was widely tipped to leave the club four years after his £45 million transfer from Atlético Madrid.

However, this campaign, Partey has made more appearances than in any of his previous seasons at the Emirates Stadium, now proving indispensable to Arteta.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Partey’s resurgence has now sparked the club into action, with Arsenal opening talks to extend the 31-year-old’s contract as his current terms are due to expire this summer.

Arteta has confirmed to the press that he wants to keep Partey at the club for next season, with sporting director Andrea Berta now handed the task of agreeing an extension.

“Yes, there is progress with all the players. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to decide and to talk about,” said Arteta when asked if there has been progress over a new deal for Partey.

“The intention is very clear. I’ll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward.”

If contract talks go south, Barcelona are among the clubs eyeing a Bosman deal for Partey, so the African won’t be short of prestigious options.

Arsenal demand major concession from Thomas Partey in contract talks

As per ESPN, it is now believed that Arsenal will demand one major concession from Partey in “any” deal for a new contract, despite his exceptional form.

The suggestion is its pretty non-negotiable, with the concession being that the midfielder will need to take a pay cut to remain in north London.

This comes as Arsenal attempt to finalise a deal for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, and Berta is widely rumoured to also be negotiating fresh terms with the likes of Bukayo Saka, so it appears the club wish to trim their wage bill where possible.

Partey is keen to remain at Arsenal, according to credible news outlets like The Telegraph, but it remains to be seen whether he’s willing to be paid less than his illustrious teammates – especially considering he’s put in consistently outstanding performances throughout 2024/2025.

The final nail in Ipswich Town’s Premier League coffin could well have been handed to them on Saturday, as Vitor Pereira’s Wolverhampton Wanderers recovered well on the road to beat Kieran McKenna’s hosts 2-1.

Ipswich did race into a slim one-goal lead in the first half courtesy of Liam Delap, but it was to no avail as the Old Gold eventually clinched a dramatic three points, meaning the gap between the Tractor Boys in 18th and Wolves in 17th spot is at a sizeable nine points.

Therefore, McKenna will likely be preparing for Ipswich to drop back down to the Championship very soon, with a hope that Omari Hutchinson will stick it out in Suffolk if a bruising relegation is confirmed.

Hutchinson's heroics at Ipswich

After all, Hutchinson’s finest form donning Tractor Boys blue came about when Ipswich last found themselves in the entertaining EFL.

The ex-Chelsea man would fire home a hefty ten goals and pick up an impressive six assists during Ipswich’s promotion-winning exploits back in the 2023/24 season, leading to McKenna and Co landing Hutchinson for a bumper £20m.

He has since acclimatised to the demands of the top-flight well – even if an instant return to the Championship is on the cards for his employers – with this breakaway effort against Chelsea in December one of five goal contributions he’s managed from 27 league clashes.

If Hutchinson does stay put, he will hope he can wriggle free of any injury concerns that have made this season somewhat stop-start for him, with the 21-year-old missing from his side’s last crushing loss to Wolves.

But, regardless of what does occur with the Ipswich number 20 moving forward, McKenna will know he has his next Hutchinson in the making in this entertaining ace who has previously taken the Championship by storm.

McKenna's next Hutchinson in the making

Everyone associated with the Portman Road strugglers will hope when relegation is inevitably confirmed, all the building blocks are put in place for Ipswich to mount an instant return to the top-flight.

Already possessing a top talent for the division in Jaden Philogene-Bidace will make this mission easier to accomplish, with the ex-Hull City star twisting and turning second tier defences for fun when Ipswich were hunting down automatic promotion last time around.

Games played

44

32

Goals scored

10

12

Assists

5

6

Shots*

1.5

3.6

Big chances missed

4

6

Big chances created

7

7

As can be seen glancing at the table above, Philogene tore the second tier to shreds playing as a fast-paced loanee for the Tigers, with the 23-year-old actually bettering Hutchinson’s blistering numbers in the process by picking up three more goal contributions from 12 less encounters.

Therefore, McKenna will have full faith in Philogene to dust himself down and get back to his rampaging best if second tier football returns on the menu, with one audacious effort for Hull last season leading to him be recognised by FIFA as a Puskas award nominee.

Dubbed a “special” talent by his then-Hull boss in Liam Rosenior, McKenna will further hope he can be as impactful as Hutchinson by delivering the goods to see promotion be instantly achieved.

Philogene could perhaps be capable of even more on the books of Ipswich, considering the Tigers finished just outside the playoffs in seventh position despite their dazzling attacker’s heroics.

Whatever does transpire this summer, the Tractor Boys won’t want to dwell on matters for too long, with everything in place for a finish near the Championship summit if stars such as Philogene can be as exciting as Hutchinson proved to be.

Ipswich may have found the Premier League's new Alexander-Arnold

The incredible talent is one of Ipswich’s most important players.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 6, 2025

Celtic could reportedly now complete the signing of an “excellent” player this summer, having missed out on snapping him up in the January transfer window.

Celtic eye signings amid doubts over Rodgers' future

The Hoops are preparing to make the trip to St Johnstone this weekend, as they look to go one step closer to Scottish Premiership title glory. They have a 13-point lead over Rangers currently, so it surely feels like a matter of time until they are once again crowned champions.

In terms of potential summer signings to further bolster Brendan Rodgers’ squad, Celtic are believed to be pushing to sign Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha, with the manager a big fan of him.

Speaking of Rodgers, one new report that has emerged has claimed that he “could quit” the Hoops at the end of the season, amid possible interest from clubs in the Premier League.

It is stated that the 52-year-old is “content at Parkhead as things stand”, but there doesn’t appear to be any guarantee that he will be in charge of Celtic when next season gets underway, especially if he does not receive backing in the transfer market.

Celtic plan to back the boss with £4.2m long-term target

According to TuttoMercatoWeb [via Sport Witness], there is still belief that Celtic could sign David Strelec from Slovan Bratislava this summer. The Hoops attempted to sign him at the eleventh hour in the January window, but were unable to entice him to the club midway through the season.

The 24-year-old could be available for as little as £4.2m at the end of the season though, potentially rising to £5.9m, with offers expected to come his way.

Strelec could be a potent addition to Celtic’s attack, which is needed after the surprise departure of Kyogo Furuhashi back in January. The Slovakian has enjoyed an impressive season for Bratislava, scoring three times in the Champions League qualifiers before also finding the net twice in the main competition itself.

Strelec has proven his worth at international level, too, scoring seven goals in 28 caps for Slovakia, while scout/writer Jacek Kulig has hailed him as an “excellent” player.

The striker ticks so many boxes for Celtic, at a time when Rodgers will want more firepower added to his squad, not least his age. Strelec turned 24 on Friday, meaning he now has plenty of experience at a good level, but is still a young player whose peak shouldn’t arrive for another few years.

£15k-p/w Celtic star could leave this summer with lucrative offer on table

Brendan Rodgers may lose one of his stars at Celtic this summer.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 3, 2025

He is an attacking player with genuine pedigree, and if Celtic were able to snap him up for as little as £4.2m, it could be a superb piece of business. That said, £5.9m is still hardly paying over the odds for a player of his quality.

Everton are gearing up for investment in the transfer market this summer, with David Moyes’ impressive return to Goodison Park stabilising the club after many turbulent years.

But things are still changing. The Toffees will drape the curtain on their long and distinguished history at Goodison this summer, moving to the new and fashionable Bramley Moore.

It’s a seismic leap, but one fans hope will advance the club’s restoration. New owners, The Friedkin Group, are reported to have promised Moyes he will be granted significant transfer powers this summer, and he may even be prepared to rock the boat a little (per The i Paper).

So, with that in mind, let’s have a look at how Everton might look on new turf next season.

How Everton's squad is shaping up for Bramley Moore

Everton are set to part ways with no less than 15 first-team players this summer, a staggering number though one which is contextualised by the inclusion of players out on loan, such as Mason Holgate and the notorious Neal Maupay, and loanees such as Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom.

By and large, Everton’s soon-to-depart cohort consists of twilit players. Abdoulaye Doucoure, Seamus Coleman, Ashley Young and Asmir Begovic illustrate that point.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s contract is also up for expiry. Beto’s fine form under Moyes’ wing attenuated the need for a new striker this season, but with Armando Broja’s buy clause unlikely to be activated after an injury-blotted season, fresh firepower will be needed at number nine.

What, then, sits as the first port of call for Moyes and inbound Director of Football Angus Kinnear, who will leave Leeds United at the end of the season?

The door is wide open for incomings. Alongside Charly Alcaraz, whose purchase option will surely be activated, the rumour mill is beginning to speed up. The Blues have been reliably linked by Sky Sports with Sunderland talent Chris Rigg.

Lastly, there’s a growing sense that Jarrad Branthwaite is tempted by a move away from Merseyside. However, the Toffees are understood (via the earlier iNews report) to hope to initiate talks for a fresh deal to ward off suitors.

Everton must part with "struggling" star

If Branthwaite were to leave, it may feel like a pragmatic move to tie Michael Keane down to an extension, but this would actually be a move of stagnancy, maybe regression.

In either scenario, Keane is ageing and approaching the final few months of his contract, having fallen into the realm of insignificance over the past several years.

Everton signed Keane from Sean Dyche’s Burnley in a deal rising to a club-record-equalling £30m in 2017, part of a summer splurge after Farhad Moshiri first appeared on the scene.

He’s paid his due, for sure, but Keane’s deficiencies have been glaring in recent years.

Matches (starts)

22 (20)

10 (9)

Goals

0

2

Assists

1

0

Clean sheets

7

2

Touches*

50.5

41.3

Pass completion

82%

83%

Ball recoveries*

3.1

2.3

Tackles + interceptions*

2.4

2.0

Clearances*

6.3

5.0

Ground duels won*

2.0 (74%)

1.0 (42%)

Aerial duels won*

1.6 (53%)

1.9 (58%)

Branthwaite was out injured for the opening weeks of the campaign, and so Keane deputised alongside James Tarkowski in his stead.

When comparing the respective metrics across the 2024/25 campaign, it becomes clear Keane is dramatically outstripped by his younger peer in relation to defensive security. To his credit, he does have a shrewd eye for goal.

Failing to match Branthwaite isn’t of itself to Keane’s detriment, but he’s long been at odds with fans’ satisfaction, with talkSPORT pundit Terry Groves even commenting that he’s “always struggling.”

As per FBref, the dormant England international ranks among the bottom 18% of Premier League defenders this season for pass completion and the bottom 1% for progressive passes per 90.

While Everton hardly enforce possession-centric football, Keane has failed to uphold even the most rudimentary of ball-playing games. Branthwaite, by comparison, ranks among the bottom 21% of divisional defenders for progressive passes per 90, which is of course still low but indicates more initiative and enterprise on the ball.

And when considering the fact that he earns about £80k per week for the Blues, it becomes very clear that Keane needs to leave when his contract is up this summer.

Considering this, Keane has actually cost Everton more than £26m in wages since arriving from Burnley way back when. Though he’s made 226 appearances for the Toffees across his stay, his positive impact has been nominal in recent years, and it’s the right time to move on.

It’s been an eight-year stay at Goodison for this veteran, but his expiration will coincide with that of the club’s hallowed stomping ground. It’s for the best.

With West Ham United’s Vladimir Coufal on Everton’s radar as he nears the end of his contract at the London Stadium, Jake O’Brien may well find a more permanent home at centre-back, thus mitigating Keane’s potential departure. There would also, for sure, be a central fresh face brought in to deepen the ranks.

Keane still has gas left in the tank at 32 but certainly hasn’t proved in recent years that he is worthy of playing a significant part in the coming era.

Everton need to act with firm intent in the coming months; parting with Keane and replacing him with a younger, more exciting talent would issue a statement to hungry fans: this is a new era, and sights are set on lofty goals.

Moyes can forget Branthwaite by unleashing Everton's "special" academy gem

Everton might need a replacement for Branthwaite if he leaves

2 ByJoe Nuttall Mar 26, 2025

Arsenal are now “working hard” to convince a “world-class” player to join in the summer, with talks ongoing to gauge what it would take to get a deal over the line, according to ex-scout Mick Brown.

Gunners eyeing players with Champions League pedigree

The Gunners have almost certainly booked their place in the Champions League quarter-final after a 7-1 demolition of PSV Eindhoven away from home last night, and they are continuing to look at other players performing well in Europe’s elite competition this season.

After the arrival of new director of football Andrea Berta is confirmed, a bid could be made for Lille striker Jonathan David, who assisted Hakon Arnar Harldsson’s goal in the French side’s 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund yesterday.

Not only are the north Londoners keen on a striker, but they are also looking at strengthening in central midfield, and Atletico Madrid’s Pablo Barrios has now been identified as a potential alternative to Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, amid interest from Real Madrid.

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ByDominic Lund Mar 5, 2025

Another midfielder Arsenal have been linked with is Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, and Brown has now dropped an update on their pursuit of the German in an interview with Football Insider.

“Arsenal have been working hard behind the scenes to reach an agreement with him. They’ve been speaking to his representatives to gauge what it would take to agree a deal.

“Now, they’ll be trying to convince him to join them rather than going elsewhere or staying at Bayern. Kimmich would bring a lot of experience to this Arsenal team and I think that’s what Mikel Arteta will be looking at – he’s won all there is to win.”

"World class" Kimmich could be a fantastic signing

Kimmich could be a versatile option for Arteta, having regularly featured at right-back and central-midfield throughout his career, and his ability going forward has been on show in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League this season.

The Germany international has already reached 10 assists in all competitions, and he ranks highly across a number of key attacking metrics over the past year, when compared to other midfielders.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.28 (96th percentile)

Progressive passes

10.0 (99th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

5.07 (98th percentile)

Progressive carries

2.29 (89th percentile)

Combine the “world-class” midfielder’s talent on the front foot with his ability to fill in at right-back when required, as well as his proven track record of winning trophies, and Arsenal could have a fantastic signing this summer, should they win the race for his signature.

The only concern will be the fact Kimmich is now 30-years-old, and he is on very high wages with Bayern, raking in £310k-per-week, so the Gunners will need to be careful not to hand out a huge contract to a player who may not have re-sell value.

Manchester United are now “hopeful” about signing an “astonishing” £50m forward this summer, with talks now advancing, according to reliable reporter Ben Jacobs.

Man Utd eyeing exciting young players

Man United are currently sitting 15th in the Premier League table, with it looking increasingly likely they will record their lowest-ever finish in the top tier, so Ruben Amorim is likely to feel a significant rebuild is needed this summer and beyond.

As such, United are now eyeing some exciting young players, and a recent report has revealed they could make an ambitious move for FC Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, amid the La Liga side’s ongoing financial issues.

Yamal is not the only Barca player the Red Devils are looking at, as they are also believed to be leading the race for 21-year-old left-back Alejandro Balde, with Amorim searching for a replacement for Luke Shaw, who has struggled with injuries for quite some time.

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Since Amorim’s arrival from Sporting CP, Man United have been linked with moves for some of his former players, with striker Viktor Gyokeres believed to be of interest, while they are also known to be keen on 17-year-old winger Geovany Quenda.

Jacobs has now dropped a new update on United’s pursuit of Quenda in an interview with GiveMeSport, saying: “Talks are advancing, but not necessarily advanced, because Manchester United are sticking to their number.

“And at the moment, as you would expect, Sporting are doing the same as well. So there has been a little bit of an impasse, but Jorge Mendes is directly involved in negotiations, and because the player has a desire to join Manchester United, they remain hopeful that something can get done.

“They see appeal in a talented teenager who can join when he’s 18, and can play right-wing or right wing-back.”

Quenda making waves in Portugal

The young winger, who is expected to cost around £50m, has already established himself as a regular starter for Sporting, making 23 appearances in the Liga Portugal this season, during which time he has picked up one goal and four assists.

The teenager has particularly impressed with his dribbling ability, ranking in the 94th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, and the 87th percentile for progressive carries.

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has also praised the Sporting starlet, suggesting he could soon be ready to collect his first cap for his national side.

“He had an excellent European Championship with the U17s. He has stepped into the first team of Sporting and demonstrated an astonishing personality.”

As such, it is exciting news that Quenda is keen on a move to Old Trafford, and his ability to play at wing-back is an added bonus, given that Amorim has made it clear he will not compromise on his three-at-the-back system.

This summer feels like it’s going to be a massive one for Tottenham Hotspur.

Thomas Frank has stepped into the spotlight following Ange Postecoglou’s sacking, and on top of having a good go in the Champions League, he’ll be tasked with overseeing a dramatic improvement in the team’s Premier League form.

The good news is that Daniel Levy and Co appear intent on properly backing the Danish coach, and have already made the impressive signing of Mohammed Kudus.

Moreover, the club seem determined to bring in Morgan Gibbs-White, although they’re also linked with another Premier League ace who’d have an even greater impact on the team.

Tottenham target Premier League goalscorer

It would be fair to say that when news first broke of Spurs’ pursuit to sign Gibbs-White, it was something of a surprise.

Transfer Focus

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

After all, they had just signed Kudus, and fans aren’t used to the club going so big in the market.

However, despite supposedly activating his £60m release clause, the deal is currently at a standstill, with the Tricky Trees alleging foul play.

It does feel more like a matter of when and not if the Englishman joins the Lilywhites, but they’re also linked with another Premier League ace who could have an even bigger impact next season: Yoane Wissa.

Yes, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke on the latest episode of Football Insider’s Inside Track Podcast, Spurs are still very much interested in the Brentford star.

It could be a challenging deal to get done, though, as O’Rourke claims that should Bryan Mbuemo move to Manchester United, the Bees will look to block any bids for the prolific striker.

However, prior reports suggest that an offer of around £50m could tempt the West Londoners into selling, and with the player supposedly keen on a move to N17, that could be the magic number.

It could be a costly and complicated transfer to get done, but Wissa who is one “the best strikers in the Premier League” in the words of Sky Sports Lyall Thomas, would be well worth pursuing.

Why Wissa would have a bigger impact at Spurs than Gibbs-White

Now, the first thing to say is that both players would be incredible additions to this Spurs team.

However, we believe Wissa will have a bigger impact than Gibbs-White, at least next season, primarily due to the competition for places and their respective output.

As things stand, Frank already has two seriously talented attacking midfielders to choose from in his squad.

Dejan Kulusevski racked up ten goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances last season, and James Maddison was even more effective, racking up 12 goals and 11 assists in 45 games.

So, even though Gibbs-White would be making the team stronger, he might struggle to get ahead of the Englishman and Swede, especially as 17 goal involvements in 38 games isn’t quite as good a return.

In contrast, the only player likely to compete with the “unbelievable” Brentford star, as dubbed by former manager Thomas Frank, on a regular basis next season is Dominic Solanke, and when we compare their output, it’s the Congolese ace who emerges victorious.

For example, he racked up a tally of 20 goals and five assists in 39 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.56 games.

Appearances

39

45

Minutes

3079′

3393′

Goals

20

16

Assists

5

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

0.53

Minutes per Goal Involvement

123.16′

141.37′

Solanke, on the other hand, scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 45 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.87 games.

Ultimately, thanks to his significantly better level of output and the clearer path to regular game time, Wissa could well end up having a bigger impact at Spurs than Gibbs-White next season.

Gibbs-White will love him: Spurs huge admirers of £80m Premier League star

Tottenham Hotspur’s huge transfer window has shown no signs of slowing down in recent days.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 14, 2025

Manchester United’s hunt for a new central midfielder became apparent in the summer transfer window, after the hierarchy stated their desire to land Brighton star Carlos Baleba.

The Cameroonian international was a key target for INEOS, but they were evidently put off by the Seagulls’ £100m asking price, which led to the Red Devils pulling out of a deal.

Ruben Amorim has since had to rely upon the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro at the heart of the side, with the aforementioned duo being the most consistent partnership at present.

The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte have both struggled to break into the side in the Premier League, which could lead to either of the pair being offloaded in the winter window.

Such funds could certainly be directed towards a new addition in the coming months, which has led to numerous players being touted as potential options for the upcoming market.

United’s hunt for a new deep-lying midfielder this January

Over recent weeks, rumours have gathered huge momentum after United reportedly held talks with Nottingham Forest over a possible deal to land Elliot Anderson.

The 23-year-old has been in tremendous form for the Reds during the 2025/26 campaign, which has led to the youngster becoming a mainstay in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

However, any deal could likely be a club-record one for Amorim’s men, after his current employers placed a £100m price tag on his head ahead of the upcoming window.

He’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton another option being considered by INEOS before the opening of the window.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Red Devils are set to make a £70m bid for the 21-year-old, but the Eagles are currently reluctant to offload him in the near future, with some sources saying it may take £100m to prise him away from Selhurst Park.

The report also states that the player himself would be open for a switch to Old Trafford this window, but it it could hinge on the club’s ability to secure European football come the end of the season.

How Adam Wharton compares to Elliot Anderson

In 2025/26 alone, there’s little debate that Forest star Anderson has been one of the leading stars in the division – with his figures this campaign nothing short of remarkable.

The United fans have had the chance to witness the Englishman’s talents first hand, with the youngster thriving in the meeting at the City Ground at the start of November.

The 23-year-old featured for the entire contest and created three chances and completed 100% of the dribbles he attempted – subsequently showcasing his talents in possession.

Without the ball, he was just as impressive, as seen by his 100% tackle success rate and 14 recoveries made – with the latter the highest of any player on the pitch.

The £100m asking price would certainly be an excellent investment, but ultimately, it could be outside of the hierarchy’s budget in the upcoming window.

Therefore, a deal for Wharton could certainly be more feasible in January, but that’s not to say the club would be getting a lower quality player in the process.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats in the current campaign, the Palace star has managed to better him in numerous key areas – showcasing why he would be a better addition.

Aptly described hailed as “the best English midfielder since Paul Scholes” by one CONCACAF B certified coach earlier this year, Wharton is certainly Scholes like in his ability to evade the press and battle hard from the middle of the park.

For a United side needing a bit more spark, Wharton crucially has completed more key passes per 90 – arguably being a more threatening option when in possession and living up to that Scholes comparison.

However, despite his talents in such an area, his ability in possession is where he’s struggled compared to Anderson, with his ball-winning ability more impressive to date. Like Scholes, he’s got a bit of extra bite present in his game.

Games played

11

13

Minutes played

861

1170

Key passes

1.8

1.7

Tackles made

1.7

1.6

Interceptions made

1.2

1.1

Clearances made

1.5

1.1

Take-on success

55%

50%

Miscontrols

1.2

2.2

He’s made more tackles and interceptions per 90 than the Forest star, which could make him the perfect number six that Amorim has been craving in recent months.

Wharton has also made more clearances per 90, whilst also miscontrolling the ball on fewer occasions – subsequently making him a more reliable option than his compatriot.

£70m for a player of Wharton’s quality is an excellent piece of business for United, with the sky truly being the limit for the 21-year-old England international.

Whilst many fans may favour Anderson at present, the Eagles star certainly has a higher ceiling, with the youngster having bags of potential that he could fulfil at Old Trafford.

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