A new update has claimed that Celtic are believed to be in pole position to sign a “very promising” player in the summer transfer window.
Celtic make contact with transfer target
The Hoops have been linked with a summer move for FC Cukaricki midfielder Andrej Bacanin, with the teenager seen as a player with a bright future in the game.
Celtic are thought to be locking horns with Scottish Premiership rivals Rangers, along with European sides Ajax and Udinese, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top, if either, with Bacanin expected to leave his current club before the new season gets underway for around £2.6m.
Elsewhere, Royal Antwerp attacker Michel-Ange Balikwisha continues to be mentioned as an option for Celtic this summer, with the Hoops reportedly in ongoing talks over a move to Parkhead.
He isn’t the only option being looked at, though, with CFR Cluj striker Louis Munteanu backed to join Brendan Rodgers’ champions in the near future.
Celtic and Rangers in pole position for Bacanin
According to Football Insider‘s Pete O’Rourke, Celtic are one of two sides in pole position to complete the signing of Bacanin during the current window.
The Hoops and Rangers “lead the race” for the 18-year-old’s signature ahead of Ajax and Udinese at this moment in time.
Brendan Rodgers
At this point, it would arguably be a surprise if Bacanin wasn’t plying his trade in Scotland next season, but it remains to be seen which of the two giants of the national game will snap him up.
Celtic pipping Rangers to his signature would be another psychological blow to their rivals, with the teenage midfielder a player with so much long-term potential, being described as “very promising” by analyst Hit The Byline.
Despite still only being 18 years of age, Bacanin has already made 19 appearances for Cukaricki at senior level, scoring once and registering two assists in that time, and he has also won 10 caps for Serbia’s Under-19s.
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Granted, he may not be a key starter for Celtic from the off, given his age and lack of experience, but if he reaches his potential, Rodgers could have a future star on his hands.
Tottenham could be poised to implement a host of intriguing changes throughout Thomas Frank’s squad this summer, and not just in terms of incoming new players.
Tottenham open talks with Premier League club to sign £30m star with Kudus
The Ghanaian isn’t Spurs’ only target.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 9, 2025
Frank is set to welcome West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus to Hotspur Way after Spurs and the east Londoners shook hands on a £55 million deal earlier this week, with the 24-year-old coming in as their first major signing of the window.
They’re also set to sign Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White for around £60 million, who’s poised for a medical today following quick-fire talks, with Daniel Levy making serious statements in a show of backing to his new manager.
However, while these signings are undoubtedly a huge boost for Frank, it is worth noting that the arrivals of Kudus and Gibbs-White means that Spurs will “almost certainly” have to sell at least one player (The Telegraph).
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
This is due to their current abundance of non-locally trained players, which will go up to 24 after Kudus comes in. As things stand, this will force Tottenham to tackle their Champions League campaign with a reduced squad list, as UEFA requires at least eight players of a 25-man Champions League squad be ‘locally trained’.
If Spurs or any other club fail to meet this requirement, the maximum number of ‘A-list’ players will be reduced to compensate for it.
With the Lilywhites now forced into the position of potentially needing to sell squad members after Kudus’ signing, even if Gibbs-White falls into the ‘locally trained’ category after coming through Wolves’ academy, it remains to be seen what impact this UEFA headache will have.
In terms of the best candidates for Daniel Levy to consider shipping out the Spurs exit door, there are a few.
They’ve already agreed to loan Alejo Veliz to former club Rosario Central, confirming the transfer earlier this week, but there are a few who could join the Argentine.
Frank won’t want to lose Cristian Romero to Atlético Madrid, but the La Liga side are still attempting to sign him (AS), while there is a belief that Tottenham are much more open to selling Richarlison after an injury-blighted 2024/2025.
Son Heung-min has also entered the final 12 months of his contract, and Levy could be tempted to make money back off the South Korean’s sale, rather than lose him for free next year, amid interest from Saudi Arabia and Los Angeles FC.
Yves Bissouma wants to leave Tottenham and join Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahçe
According to Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, Levy could have another sale opportunity in the form of Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma.
The Mali international, like Son, has entered the final 12 months of his contract, and the north Londoners are prepared to take a small loss on the initial £25 million they paid to sign him from Brighton in 2022.
Sabuncuoğlu states, via news aggregator Fener Ajans on X, that Levy will let Bissouma leave for £20 million this summer, and Fenerbache are seriously interested in the 28-year-old. The reporter also claims Jose Mourinho has identified Bissouma as his top midfield target for the Süper Lig giants, and he wants to join the former Tottenham boss in Turkey.
The £100,000-per-week ace was exceptional for Ange Postecoglou during the 59-year-old’s debut season in the dugout, and has displayed flashes of brilliance since, with James Maddison calling his teammate a “ridiculous player” at times.
However, the trouble with Bissouma has been surrounding his consistency, and now could potentially be the time to cash in.
Newcastle United are at a bit of a crossroads this summer. The Magpies’ latest transfer target was clear: sign a right winger.
Yet, their reported number one target, Bryan Mbeumo, rejected Eddie Howe’s side, as well as North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, in favour of a move to Manchester United, as per David Ornstein.
The North East giants were forced to move on to their next target, Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga. However, their bid for the Sweden international, worth a reported £45m according to Ornstein, was rejected by the City Ground side, although they could return with a new offer.
So, that leaves Newcastle somewhat in limbo, although they have been linked wth a few more players who could become their new right-winger.
The latest on Newcastle's pursuit for a winger
Finding a new right-sided attacker has certainly been a frustration for the Magpies. They have missed out on two primary targets and must now go back to the drawing board to figure out their next move.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Well, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has recently broken the news that they are ‘exploring other options’ with regards to wide options. Two of those include PSV Eindhoven starlet Johan Bakayoko and West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus.
PSV Eindhoven's JohanBakayokoin action
If the Magpies are to move for Bakayoko this summer, it seems like it could be a bargain move. According to reports, the Eredivisie side could accept as little as £17m for their winger this summer.
He has just one year left on his contract, and a move seems inevitable, which could give Newcastle a perfect opportunity.
How Bakayoko compares to Kudus
At just 22 years of age, Bakayoko has already made a great impression across Europe. He is clearly deemed Premier League quality by some sides, after a move to Brentford fell through a couple of years ago.
Johan Bakayoko for PSV
Now, two years on from that potential move, he is still making waves in the top flight of the Netherlands. Last season for PSV, the Belgium international played 47 times across all competitions, scoring 12 goals and grabbing three assists.
However, that is not Bakayoko’s best season for PV, whose academy he is a graduate of. His quality was really on show in the 2023/24 campaign. The winger featured in 33 Eredivisie games that season, and scored 12 goals, whilst grabbing nine assists.
Of course, the Magpies might pursue a move for Kudus, but there is no guarantee that they will secure the services of the Ghanaian international. He has been offered to other clubs, including Chelsea, as recently as the 6th of June, according to Sky Sports.
He certainly has a good record in the Premier League for West Ham. The 24-year-old has made 65 appearances in the English top flight, scoring 13 goals and grabbing 12 assists in that time. His best season came in 2023/24, when he contributed eight goals and nine assists.
However, he hasn’t hit the heights for the Hammers that Bakayoko did for PSV a couple of years ago. This certainly suggests that the Belgian could be an excellent alternative to Kudus if the Magpies decide to move for him instead.
The underlying stats on FBref also suggest that it is the case, too. When looking at their numbers from 2023/24, Bakayoko averaged 0.76 goals and assists and 7.11 progressive carries per 90 minutes.
In comparison, Kudus averaged 0.54 goals and assists and 4.32 progressive carries each game.
Goals and assists
0.76
0.54
Key passes
2.45
1.08
Progressive passes
3.50
2.87
Shot-creating actions
5.20
3.75
Progressive carries
7.11
4.32
The stats are there to suggest that, if they bring Bakayoko in this summer, he would be an excellent alternative to Kudus. Not only is he a “clinical” goalscoring winger, as Antonio Mango described him, but he is a fantastic ball carrier too, as the stats show.
For just £17m, this could be one of the bargains of the summer for Newcastle. It hasn’t been an easy summer so far, with the rejections they have faced, but this could be a huge turning point and key addition.
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Newcastle plan to make a series of attacking signings this summer.
After a slow start to the transfer window, Mikel Arteta’s side have finally started to make moves, with deals for Christian Norgaard and Arrizabalaga right around the corner, and the announcement of Martin Zubimendi’s arrival could come in a matter of days.
However, while those three will undoubtedly improve the squad, especially the Real Sociedad star, what fans really want is for the club to sign some attacking talent.
Fortunately, reports linking Arsenal to Eberechi Eze have emerged in recent days, although another Premier League star is now being touted for a move to the Emirates, a winger who would be an upgrade on the Crystal Palace ace.
Arsenal target big Eze upgrade
Links to Eze aren’t anything new for Arsenal, as the Crystal Palace star was touted for a move to the club last summer, only for him to remain at Selhurst Park.
Transfer Focus
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However, it would be fair to say that the reports from the last couple of days revealing the Gunners’ interest in him have felt different, with some claiming that talks have already been held with the player’s representatives.
If the Premier League runners-up are to persevere with their supposed interest in the Englishman, they’ll have to stump up a fee of around £68m to activate the release clause in his current deal, and while he may be worth that much money, it would appear as if another talented international from the Premier League has caught the attention of the North Londoners.
At least that’s according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who told GIVEMESPORT that Arsenal are interested in Anthony Gordon.
The Italian journalist has revealed that Arteta and his team are big fans of the Newcastle United star, and that while they’ve not made contact with the player or the Magpies, he has been someone they’ve “discussed internally.”
How much the former Everton gem might cost the Gunners is not mentioned in Romano’s report, but according to stories from earlier this summer, he could be available for around £80m.
It would be a complicated and incredibly costly transfer to get done, but given Gordon’s ability and potential, it is one Arsenal should pursue, especially as he could be an upgrade on Eze.
How Gordon compares to Eze
First and foremost, signing either Eze or Gordon would be brilliant business for Arsenal this summer, as it would be fair to say that neither Leandro Trossard nor Gabriel Martinelli grabbed the left wing position this season.
Moreover, if Arteta and Co sign the Palace star to play him in attacking midfield, then he’d be great competition for Martin Odegaard, but, with that said, there are a few reasons why we still reckon the Newcastle gem would be the better signing.
The first relates to his output, as while the former QPR gem was more productive this season, the former Toffees star had him comfortably beaten last year with a haul of 28 goal involvements in 48 games to 17 in 31, which just shows that when properly platformed, he can reach a higher level of performance.
However, examining their raw output is only one way to assess a player’s ability; another is to take a closer look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers.
Interestingly, when we do that for this season, the Toon star comes out looking far more impressive than his competitor.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.42
0.53
Progressive Passes
3.63
3.37
Progressive Passes Received
7.93
5.31
Progressive Carries
4.48
2.40
Key Passes
1.89
2.01
Passes into the Penalty Area
2.04
1.35
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.63
0.14
Passes into the Final Third
2.41
1.70
Shot-Creating Actions
3.74
4.69
Goal-Creating Actions
0.44
0.35
Carries into the Penalty Areas
2.07
0.76
Carries into the Final Third
2.30
1.67
Aerial Duels Won
0.30
0.24
For example, the 12-capped “nightmare,” as he describes himself, performs better in creative metrics, such as progressive passes, passes into the penalty area, and goal-creating actions, while also excelling in direct possession statistics, including progressive carries and carries into the penalty area, all per 90.
Numbers like these help show that the Magpies’ dynamic winger could aid the Gunners in build-up play, as well as making them far more dangerous in those games that develop into transitional, slogging matches.
Finally, and this is important with regard to squad building, the Newcastle ace is just 24 years old, whereas the Eagles star has just turned 27 and, based on research carried out by The Athletic, that means, we can expect the former to continue to improve in the coming years, but that isn’t the case for the latter.
Ultimately, based on his underlying numbers, ability to produce a high volume of goal involvements, and his age, Gordon appears to be the better signing for Arsenal. Therefore, the North Londoners should do all they can to bring him to the Emirates this summer.
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Leeds United will be looking to buck the recent trend and remain in the Premier League following promotion from the Championship.
To do that, the 49ers Enterprises and Daniel Farke may need to sign plenty of new players, while also shipping some out who they feel aren’t good enough to make an impact in the top flight.
The transfer activity at Elland Road is already underway, and it promises to be a frantic few months away from the pitch. Grok, the AI tool on X, has already predicted signings Leeds could make this summer.
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To maintain a solid position with PSR, though, the Whites may also look to cash in on a number of players before the deadline, some of which played a regular role in their promotion from the Championship. Now, Grok has also predicted Leeds’ summer sales.
AI predicts 6 players Leeds United will sell this summer 1 Illan Meslier (£20m)
Goalkeeper Illan Meslier struggled last season in the second tier, making a number of errors that cost Leeds points.
The Frenchman was dropped by Farke for the run-in, and Leeds are expected to sign a new first choice keeper to replace the 25-year-old.
Grok says Meslier’s ‘Premier League experience and age make him valuable’, estimating a fee in the region of £20m which would represent a big profit for the Whites.
2 Brenden Aaronson (£15m)
Another player who struggled to set the Championship alight was Brenden Aaronson, with left-back Junior Firpo recording more goal contributions in the second tier.
Leeds’ only out-and-out attacking midfielder, the chances of an Aaronson exit are described as moderate, with a £15m fee mooted.
It is added that ‘interest from European clubs could prompt a sale, but Farke may give him a chance to prove himself in the Premier League’.
3 Jack Harrison (£12m)
One transfer that won’t surprise many Leeds fans would be if Jack Harrison completed a permanent Elland Road exit.
After spending the last two seasons on loan at Everton, the winger won’t be moving to the Toffees on a permanent basis.
Games
206
Goals
34
Assists
32
Minutes played
15,734
Grok have a departure worth £12m down as a high possibility, saying his ‘prolonged absence and Farke’s focus on new wingers make a permanent exit likely’.
4 Mateo Joseph (£10m)
Mateo Joseph’s potential exit could help Leeds from a PSR standpoint, and he has been heavily linked with a move to Real Betis this summer.
The Spaniard failed to score on a regular basis after beginning the previous campaign as first choice.
AI states ‘Leeds are reluctant to sell young talents, but a lucrative offer from Betis could sway them’ and have placed a £10m fee on any possible deal.
5 Max Wober (£8m)
Defender Max Wober has already admitted that Leeds are planning to sell him this summer, so it comes as no surprise that he is on Grok’s list.
The Austrian, like Aaronson, returned from a loan spell in Germany to help the Whites to promotion, although he wasn’t a regular under Farke.
Signed for around £10m in 2023, Leeds could still bring in £8m for the centre-back, according to Grok.
6 Joe Gelhardt (£5m)
The last player on AI’s predicted exit list is Joe Gelhardt, who again looks surplus to requirements at Elland Road.
The forward was loaned out to Hull City for the second half of the 24/25 season and helped the Tigers stay up, and he still has two years left on his Whites contract.
Leeds are open to offers for Gelhardt, though, and Grok says a £5m exit could be on the cards.
Leeds United are now very hopeful they will be able to lure “one of the most underrated defenders in Europe” to the Premier League this summer, according to a report.
Leeds looking to improve their defence
Leeds will know all too well the importance of having a strong defence in the Premier League, having suffered relegation to the Championship after shipping the most goals in the top flight in the 2022-23 campaign, and they have now set out to bolster their options at the back.
Indeed, the Whites have identified a number of defensive targets, while they have also set out to bring in a new goalkeeper, given that Illan Meslier infamously made a number of high-profile errors last season.
Target
Current club
Position
Yahia Fofana
Angers
GK
Nick Pope
Newcastle United
GK
Dara O’Shea
Ipswich Town
CB
Japhet Tanganga
Millwall
CB
Anthony Caci
Mainz 05
LB
The likes of Pope, O’Shea and Tanganga have experience in the Premier League, which could be of key significance when it comes to avoiding the drop next season, but Daniel Farke has also set his sights on adding a Serie A defender to his ranks.
That is according to a report from The Yorkshire Evening Post, which states Leeds are now very hopeful of signing Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, given that Premier League football is set to be on offer at Elland Road.
Farke already has a number of options at centre-back, but departures are said to be inevitable, with Max Wober deemed the most likely to leave, although cashing in on Pascal Struijk could be an attractive proposition from a PSR point of view.
Previous reports have revealed Udinese would be looking to receive a fee of around £17m for Bijol, which should be affordable for a club that is now back in the Premier League.
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It would be fair to say journalist Bence Bocsak doesn’t believe the Udinese defender gets the respect he deserves, given his talent, having described the Leeds target as “one of the most underrated defenders in Europe” after impressing at Euro 2024.
The Slovenian is aerially dominant, placing in the 93rd percentile for aerials won per 90 over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs, while he has previously proven himself to be a threat in the opposition area on occasion.
The 6-foot-3 colossus could be a solid signing for Leeds this summer, and £17m feels like a fair fee, given that Bijol has impressed at international level, while also remaining a key player for Udinese throughout the 2024-25 campaign, making 37 appearances in all competitions.
Glasgow Rangers announced earlier this month that Czechia international Vaclav Cerny will return to his parent club Wolfsburg following the conclusion of his loan spell at Ibrox.
The left-footed winger spent the season on loan in Glasgow and it now remains to be seen whether or not the Gers will be able to bring him back to the club for a second stint.
Cerny looks set to be the third loan star in as many seasons to light up Ibrox before moving back to their parent club before going elsewhere, following in the footsteps of Abdallah Sima and Malik Tillman.
Sima scored 16 goals in 39 games on loan from Brighton in the 2023/24 campaign, and Tillman racked up 12 goals and five assists in 43 matches on loan from Bayern Munich in the 2022/23 season.
This shows that the club’s top wide options in the last three seasons have all been contracted to other clubs, which is not ideal because it means that Rangers have to replace them every year and have no option to potentially sell them on for profit as a result of their performances.
With this in mind, the Scottish Premiership giants should be trying to find a permanent solution to their problems out wide by finding their next Ryan Kent.
Rangers hit the jackpot with Ryan Kent
The English forward was a rare loanee that they were able to sign permanently for a reported fee of £7.5m during Steven Gerrard’s reign at Ibrox, and he went on to be a big success in Glasgow.
Rangers were willing to splash the cash to sign him permanently, and it turned out to be a fantastic decision as he was a terrific servant for many years on the left flank.
Rangers winger Ryan Kent.
Kent played on the left flank, cutting in on his right foot, and delivered plenty of quality at the top end of the pitch for the Gers, particularly in the 2020/21 campaign.
22/23
44
3
10
21/22
46
3
19
20/21
52
13
14
19/20
33
8
4
18/19
43
6
9
As you can see in the table above, the English flanker produced an eye-catching 27 goals and assists combined in 52 games that term, in which the Light Blues won the Scottish Premiership title under Gerrard.
The right-footed speedster moved on from Ibrox in the summer of 2023 and Rangers have failed to replace him with a permanent replacement, signing Sima and Cerny on loan since, but that they could change that with their latest target.
Rangers in strong position to sign new star
According to GIVEMESPORT, Rangers are one of 26 clubs that are interested in a deal to sign Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that Birmingham City, Celtic, Sheffield United, and Sunderland are also eyeing up a deal to sign the Ghana international to bolster their respective clubs.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It reveals that Rangers and Celtic are in a strong position to sign the 23-year-old star, though, because they would not have to pay as much in compensation as English teams would.
Poku’s contract at Peterborough is due to expire at the end of next month, making him a free agent, but because of his age, the Posh would be due compensation, and UEFA’s cross-border compensation rules mean that the Scottish teams would land him for a cut-price fee.
GIVEMESPORT adds that the Scottish teams have sent scouts to watch the attacker in action, but it remains to be seen who will win the race for his services this summer.
Rangers should, now, look to use their compensation advantage to put together an attractive contract package that can convince him to make the move to Ibrox, as he could be Kent 2.0.
Why Kwame Poku could be the next Ryan Kent
Poku could be the next version of Kent at Ibrox as an exciting wing talent who could be a long-term option for the next Light Blues manager, rather than a one-season loan.
The Scottish giants could build their attack around the 23-year-old star, who could be a key player for the club for many years to come, as Gerrard did with Kent after the English ace joined on a permanent deal.
Poku, who was described as “outstanding” by journalist Lukman Evergreen, has produced impressive performances for Peterborough over the last two seasons, and his form for the League One side suggests that the potential is there for him to be a fantastic signing for Rangers.
The left-footed star delivered 11 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances in the division during the 2023/24 campaign, before he improved on that haul at the top end of the pitch in the season that just finished.
Appearances
37
27
Goals
10
12
Big chances missed
8
3
Big chances created
9
9
Key passes per game
1.8
1.2
Assists
9
8
As you can see in the table above, Poku’s 2024/25 campaign for Peterborough was even more impressive than Kent’s in the Premiership title-winning season under Gerrard, with more goals and as many ‘big chances’ created in ten fewer appearances.
These statistics suggest that the potential is there for the 23-year-old to be a Kent-esque figure on the right flank for the Light Blues next season and beyond, as a winger who has the quality to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.
Whilst it remains to be seen whether or not he can make the step up to the Premiership, Poku would be an exciting signing as a player with the potential to improve and develop over time as a long-term addition to the squad, rather than a one-season loan.
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Therefore, the Light Blues could find their next version of Ryan Kent at Ibrox by winning the race to bring the Peterborough star to Ibrox this summer.
It all comes down to this. The penultimate game of a largely forgettable season could be a defining one for Manchester United. A defining one for Ruben Amorim. A defining one for the INEOS regime.
A wretched Premier League campaign could well be salvaged by the club’s Europa League exploits, with the Red Devils capturing the spirit of days gone by to embark on a rollercoaster ride on the continent. This is no team of ’68, ’99, or ’08, but right them off at your peril.
From the outset, this has been an enthralling surge to the showpiece, be it the dramatic last-gasp equaliser from Harry Maguire to snatch a point against Porto, or Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage-time strike to see off Rangers.
Man Utd top scorers
In the knockout phase, in particular, the Old Trafford side have sparked a sea change in emotions, from a penalty-ridden triumph over Real Sociedad, to a surprisingly serene victory over Athletic Club in the last four.
Sandwiched in between was arguably one of the great nights that the Theatre of Dreams has witnessed, with Kobbie Mainoo and Maguire coming up trumps at the death to see off ten-man Lyon. Only United can conjure up moments like that.
For such a win to ultimately prove in vain would be deeply disappointing, with Amorim now tasked with picking a side capable of seeing off fellow top-flight bottom dwellers, Tottenham Hotspur, at San Mames.
The latest Man Utd team news
As journalist Samuel Luckhurst noted, this is the first time this season that the former Sporting CP boss named more than the typical 21 players in his travelling squad, with there perhaps a sense of cup final kidology in place with the Portuguese coach keeping his cards closely to his chest.
With the aforementioned Fernandes and Maguire taking on pre-match media duties alongside Amorim, the experienced pair look almost certain to start later today, with that central spine likely to be added to by Andre Onana and Casemiro.
The positions surrounding that quartet are likely to be up for grabs, however, with the 40-year-old’s options potentially enhanced amid the surprise return of Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot and Joshua Zirkzee to training this week.
The latter duo had looked set to miss the rest of the campaign through injury, although they could now play their part in Bilbao, even if Amorim hinted that their minutes would be limited.
One man who was absent from proceedings was Matthijs de Ligt, thus throwing into doubt his involvement against Ange Postecoglou’s side, with fellow former Ajax man Lisandro Martinez also still a long-term absentee.
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Excluding that pairing, Amorim appears to have a wealth of options at his disposal, leaving something of a selection headache to ponder – not least over who should start in the two number ten berths.
Who should start at number ten for Man Utd vs Spurs
There is an argument to be made that the centre-forward position could be set for change, with it perhaps time to contemplate dropping the misfiring Rasmus Hojlund to the bench, in favour of a false nine experiment.
That tweak could see Fernandes take on that role, while the 30-year-old could also drop into a deeper berth as part of a midfield two, with Amorim needing to decide whether he needs the defensive duo of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro against an injury-hit Spurs midfield.
If Fernandes is to be needed elsewhere, then the number ten roles will be a straight fight between Mainoo, Mason Mount, Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho, with the middle duo having been given the nod against Chelsea on Friday night.
That may have been with the final in mind, although with United having again failed to fire at Stamford Bridge, Amorim may need to think again, with Mount seemingly needing to give way for the lively Garnacho.
With Amad – who came closest to scoring against the Blues – almost a nailed-on starter off the right, it would be an exciting prospect to unleash the Argentine on the opposite side, the pair notably netting in the 4-3 defeat to Brentford earlier this month.
GK
Andre Onana
RCB
Leny Yoro
CB
Harry Maguire
LCB
Luke Shaw
RWB
Noussair Mazraoui
CM
Casemiro
CM
Bruno Fernandes
LWB
Patrick Dorgu
RAM
Amad Diallo
LAM
Mason Mount
ST
Rasmus Hojlund
Mount, to his credit, has enjoyed a resurgence of late after also scoring against the Bees, followed by his brace against Athletic Club, although those latter strikes did come off the bench, with it still yet to be seen if he can last the full game.
The Englishman does boast the experience of starting in this 3-4-3 formation in the Champions League final and European Championship final back in 2021, although he has rarely looked like that player for United, having scored just four goals in 44 games since his arrival in 2023.
Garnacho, meanwhile, has regularly delivered the goods in recent years despite his at times erratic finishing. Indeed, while still yet to turn 21, the wing wizard has scored 11 goals and provided ten assists in all competitions this term.
So often United’s “game-changer” – as per Luckhurst – the former Atletico Madrid starlet is such a relentless, direct threat for Amorim in the final third, having chipped in with four assists and one goal in the Europa League in 2024/25.
Yes, he has missed 20 ‘big chances’ in Europe and the top-flight combined, although the 20-year-old is a player who makes things happen in the final third, be it from the start or from the bench.
Starting Mount in his place still feels a real risk considering his injury woes and relatively recent return to action, while a partnership of Garnacho and Amad could have Spurs on the back foot from the off.
In any case, Amorim does appear to finally have attacking options to select from, with now the time for bravery, rather than pragmatism.
Amorim must now bench Hojlund to unleash Man Utd "genius" in new role
Man Utd are preparing for a season-defining game on Wednesday evening…
Birmingham City are preparing for a return to the second-tier of English football and have now cast their eye to the continent for a potential bargain signing.
Birmingham City's summer activity ahead of Championship return underway
Quick off the mark after securing the League One title in remarkable fashion, Birmingham have already wrapped up the permanent signing of Phil Neumann.
Speaking ahead of featuring at St Andrews, German defender Neumann believes that the Blues can earn promotion to the Premier League following his move from Hannover on a free transfer.
He stated: “I always wanted to play in England. Birmingham is such a big club with a big history, and they fought hard for me and gave me a good feeling. I can’t wait to play my first game here, meet the fans and also meet my team-mates. It’s a nice stadium, a really nice pitch and I’m really happy to be here.
“I think the club is not where it belongs and hopefully I can help the club get back to the Premier League.”
Kwame Poku, Mark Travers and Harry Darling are all reported Birmingham targets, which lends credence to Neumann’s opinion that Birmingham have the power to become a Premier League force before too long.
Birmingham can make Stansfield better by signing "outstanding" EFL star
Birmingham City would look immediately more confident in attack in the Championship if they signed this outstanding forward.
ByKelan Sarson May 14, 2025
Nevertheless, the Championship is a major step up in quality for Chris Davies, who still has to make decisions on the future of Grant Hanley and Lee Myung-jae ahead of next campaign.
While he takes his time over potential departures, Birmingham are continuing to be active on the transfer front and are now advancing in their pursuit of a top-flight midfielder.
Birmingham in advanced talks for Kanya Fujimoto after offer
According to journalist Sebastiao Sousa-Pinto on X, Birmingham have submitted an offer for Gil Vicente attacking midfielder Kanya Fujimoto and talks are believed to be at an advanced stage.
It isn’t yet certain that he will end up at St Andrews, but steps are moving in the right direction to close a deal that would see him arrive on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at the Primeira Liga outfit.
What can Birmingham City expect if Kanya Fujimoto arrives? (top-flight statistics)
Chances created
35
Successful dribbles
19
Touches in opposition box
74
Duels won
61
Shots
40
Shots on target
14
Earning a reputation as a forward-thinking asset, Fujimoto, 25, has registered five goals and six assists across 33 matches in all competitions this season.
Ultimately, Birmingham will need to balance spending considerable fees with finding value for money on the market in order to fulfill their aspirations of being a competitive force in the second-tier.
Fujimoto, who shares the same CAA Base agency as Ben Davies, is operating at a distinguished level and would be seen as a coup by many Championship onlookers, though it now remains to be seen whether the Blues can push a statement deal over the line.
Chelsea lost 2-0 to Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in the Premier League on Sunday, but they could still have a successful end to the 2024/25 campaign.
The Blues are fifth in the league, on course to qualify for the Champions League, and are in the final of the Conference League after their semi-final success over Djurgarden.
Enzo Maresca and the board, however, already have one eye on the upcoming summer transfer window, as the club have reportedly held talks to sign a LaLiga star.
Chelsea at the front of the queue to sign LaLiga star
According to The Boot Room, Chelsea are one of the teams eyeing up a deal to sign Athletic Club forward Nico Williams, and they have already held talks with his representatives over a move to Stamford Bridge.
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The report claims that the Blues have had meetings with the player’s camp to convince him to make the move to England, but he is unwilling to make a final decision until the end of the season.
It also reveals that Arsenal and Chelsea are the two teams at the ‘front of the queue’ to land the Spain international, who is also of interest to Newcastle United, Manchester City, and Liverpool.
Possessing a reported release clause of £48m, it’s not a move that would totally break the bank, which is certainly good news.
Athletic Bilbao'sNicoWilliamscelebrates scoring their third goal
If Williams does decide to move on from Athletic Club this summer, Maresca’s side appear to be well-positioned to swoop in, which should come as great news for Cole Palmer.
Why Nico Williams would be amazing with Cole Palmer
The Chelsea superstar would surely love it if the club signed the Spanish winger because they could be amazing together at the top end of the pitch next season and beyond.
Palmer, as evidenced by the 38 ‘big chances’ he has created in the Premier League since the start of last season, is an attacking midfielder who is constantly looking for a defence-splitting pass to create chances for his teammates.
Williams is a winger who has shown that he can finish chances effectively in LaLiga and in the Europa League this term, which suggests that he could make the most of the high-quality opportunities that the England international consistently creates.
Starts
21
12
xG
3.84
2.85
Goals
5
5
Big chances missed
2
2
Assists
5
2
As you can see in the table above, the Spanish sensation has outperformed his xG in both competitions, whilst only missing four ‘big chances’ in 33 matches.
These statistics suggest that he has the finishing quality to find the back of the net on a consistent basis if provided with the constant stream of ‘big chances’ that Palmer has proven he can create at Premier League level.
Williams, who was dubbed a “relentless” dribbler by analyst Ben Mattinson, would also come in as another young talent with room to improve at the age of 22, which means that the Spaniard and Palmer, 23, could be an exciting pairing for Chelsea for many, many, more year to come.
It is now down to the Blues to win the race for his signature in the summer transfer window because his electric pace and lethal finishing could make him an amazing partner for their creative maestro in the Premier League next season.
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