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When it rains… Everton’s wretched start to the season drags on, with a forlorn Sean Dyche watching from the sideline as Ashley Young’s sudden death spot kick was saved in the penalty shootout against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.

Everton had taken the lead in the first half after Abdoulaye Doucoure nodded home after 20 minutes, though Taylor Harwood-Bellis restored parity for the visitors shortly after the 30-minute mark, notching a thumping header of his own.

The hosts had opportunities to win but will rue some poor finishing and an inability to gain control throughout the affair – Southampton dominated and claimed 74% total possession.

Still, the chances were there. Jesper Lindstrom had the pick(s) of the bunch and will hang his head after a match that could have marked an emphatic introduction to Merseyside.

Jesper Lindstrom let Sean Dyche down

Lindstrom signed for the Toffees this summer, moving from Napoli on an initial loan deal that could extend to a permanent stay down the line.

He was the most prominent forward against Southampton, with his 40 touches more than any other Everton player beyond the defence.

He did, however, miss form great chances to score, missing two big opportunities. The 24-year-old Dane clearly brings some new dynamism to the table, but he will need to take some loping strides if he is to earn a regular starting berth in the team.

He wasn’t the only one to struggle, however. Indeed, at least he fired away at the Saints goal. Iliman Ndiaye put in a decent showing in the Carabao Cup but failed to actually offer much attacking substance.

Iliman Ndiaye's performance in numbers

Ndiaye, another summer addition, netted in the previous round against Doncaster Rovers but failed to add to that first strike last night.

Writing in his post-match ratings, Liverpool World’s Will Rooney gave him a poor 5/10 score and said of the Senegalese: ‘Had a couple of moments when he got fans off their seats with the ball at his feet in the first half. Moved into a centre-forward role midway through the second period but couldn’t really impact the game. Bagged the third penalty in the shootout.’

Make no mistake, Ndiaye is invariably dangerous due to his fleet-footed and electric motions, but he needed to offer more having failed to register a single key pass or have a shot at goal in normal time. It wasn’t… toothless, per se, but it was a performance that left plenty to be desired against a Southampton side that could have been there for the taking.

He has all the tools to hit that vein of potency that would really propel him to upper standing in the Everton squad, but the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin can’t do it all, and if he fails to take a shot or even make an impactful pass, he won’t elevate to the next level.

Everton struck gold on Lampard's free transfer who's now worth £17m

The former manager didn’t inspire the club on the pitch, yet he made some decent signings…

By
Ross Kilvington

Sep 16, 2024

The Cityzens are in need of some dynamism and fresh blood in attack, but they aren't alone in their admiration of the Egypt international

For the first time in a long, time, Manchester City are in the midst of a crisis season. Whatever cycle they had going on up at the Etihad Stadium has ended and they went into the January window knowing that they were desperately in need of some new talent for Pep Guardiola to work with.

Their only reliable goal-scorer this term has been Erling Haaland, and even then he's been wildly out of form since telling Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to "stay humble". The likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden haven't held up their end of the bargain when it comes to finding the net, and City needed reinforcements if they're going to salvage something from this campaign.

City's search for such a player took them to Germany's newest sensation, Omar Marmoush of Eintracht Frankfurt. The Egypt international has been a well-respected Bundesliga attacker for a while now, but his 2024 form saw him enter a different conversation altogether.

City weren't the only side linked with a move for Marmoush, as Liverpool were long reported as an alternative destination, either as a replacement to or to be a partner for countryman Mohamed Salah, while Arsenal and Manchester United were linked with moves over the autumn too.

The Premier League champions have paid an initial €70 million (£59m/$73m) to move to the front of the queue mid-season and while that is undoubtedly a lot to spend on a player who has never previously hinted at reaching the heights he has this term, there's little reason to think Marmoush won't be a success at City over the next few seasons, particularly with his peak years still ahead of him.

GOAL has done some digging into the forward's rise:

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  Where it all began

  Born in Cairo on February 7, 1999, Marmoush joined local side Wadi Degla as a youngster. A relatively modest club on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital, he was able to quietly go about his development, despite the team's minor affiliation with Arsenal threatening to expose his budding promise. Such was his talent that he played an age-group up for much of his youth career.

  At the age of 18, Marmoush was handed his senior debut for Wadi Degla in an Egyptian Premier League match with Al Ittihad Alexandria in July 2016, coming off the bench to grab an assist in a 3-2 win. He played and matured under Egypt legend Mido, who took an immediate shine to the youngster and afforded him more first-team opportunities.

  And that's when the European clubs began to circle. Marmoush received offers from Borussia Dortmund and Malaga, but instead opted to join Wolfsburg in 2017, later citing star striker Mario Gomez and Freddie Ljungberg – who enjoyed a brief coaching spell at the Volkswagen Arena – as major influences on his decision.

  Not yet fully polished, Marmoush spent three years in Wolfsburg's reserve team honing his craft before making a smattering of senior appearances. In 2020, he was sent on a season-long loan to St Pauli in the 2. Bundesliga, where a return of seven goals in 21 games signalled he was finally ready for top-flight football.

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  The big break

  Wolfsburg recognised Marmoush's potential, but wanted him to test the Bundesliga waters elsewhere before returning to don their garish green colours. "Over the past year, Omar has come on in leaps and bounds with good performances in the U23s, and that has seen him dip his toes into the Bundesliga and with the senior squad. Now he needs to gradually get used to playing at Bundesliga level, so that he can take it to the next step," ex-Wolfsburg director Marcel Schafer said at the time.

  Another loan, this time to Stuttgart, followed for 2021-22, though the conditions were hardly ideal for him to truly flourish – the season was spent battling relegation and a 15th-placed finish surmised the club's struggles.

  Despite Stuttgart's troublesome slide, injury problems and time away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Marmoush caught the eye with performances primarily from the left wing. There was a dynamism and explosiveness that made him perfect for Bundesliga football. At long last, it seemed he was ready for Wolfsburg.

  That's why it came as a disappointment when, despite missing only one league match all season and playing largely as a centre-forward, Marmoush returned only five goals. Wolfsburg decided to cut ties and let Marmoush walk away for free at the end of his contract, with Eintracht stepping forward to afford him a fresh lease of life. And boy have they not had a single regret since…

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  How it's going

  Marmoush is now firmly among the Bundesliga's best forwards, no question about it. After joining Eintracht for 2023-24, he managed to match his career-best season tally of seven goals and three assists in only 14 games, and he ended the campaign with a mightily-impressive return of 16 goals and six assists in all competitions.

  Mido, still monitoring one of his favourite footballing sons from afar, took to social media to plead with his former club Tottenham to sign Marmoush, comparing this recommendation to a prior one over Salah which fell on deaf Spurs ears. Other European giants were touted with an interest, notably United and Liverpool, but he remained at Deutsche Bank Park.

  "The goals I scored and my performances during the season were not by chance," Marmoush said in July. "I worked hard for all of this. Here at the club, you get great support and the best help to develop your talent. I have a very good feeling towards my team. It seems to me like a family, and this is the way we have to deal with our matches later."

  Eintracht must be thanking the heavens that they were able to keep hold of Marmoush with such little fuss having started the season in incredible form. He leaves the club having already clocked up 20 goals and 14 assists in just 26 matches. In the Bundesliga, only Harry Kane has bettered his return of 15 goals at this stage.

  There aren't many players in Europe who are in better form than Marmoush at the moment, so what is it that makes him special?

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  Biggest strengths

  The lazy comparison is to say Marmoush plays like Salah because they share a nationality, but the two do share some similarities. It is Marmoush's pace that is perhaps most distinguishable feature, though he does love sitting a defender or goalkeeper on their backside before firing home in a similar vein to Liverpool's current 'Egyptian King'. When in stride, he's almost impossible to stop.

  But unlike Salah, Marmoush's quickness is a little more immediate and allows him to pose a threat on either flank as well as through the middle, while he is a little more selfless in his pursuit of wins.

  "If there is a 30 percent chance that I will score a goal and my team-mate has a better chance and is in a better position, then I will pass the ball so that we can score a goal as a team, not just Omar," Marmoush has previously commented.

  Eintracht boss Dino Toppmoller said of his star attacker: "He's responsible for producing danger up front, firing in goals and setting up others. He's very difficult to defend due to his pace and how fast he can run in deep. He can also sneak in from close range, take a great touch and play some great passes. He's in outstanding form at the moment, and he's feeling comfortable. That's the key to his success these days."

  It should also be noted that Marmoush is an intense and aggressive presser, which is becoming the norm among football's leading stars. He isn't afraid to do that dirty work.

Leeds United bounced back to winning ways in the Championship with a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Cardiff City in Wales on Saturday.

The Whites needed a strong response to their 1-0 defeat to Burnley and that is exactly what they provided with an excellent performance this weekend.

Daniel Farke’s side enjoyed a staggering 79% of the ball and racked up 2.74 xG, creating five ‘big chances’ in total, which suggests that they were, perhaps, unfortunate to only score twice.

Largie Ramazani opened the scoring for Leeds in the 30th minute, just seven minutes after Joel Bagan was sent off, and Joel Piroe came off the bench to score the second goal in the 87th minute.

Farke did “storm down the tunnel” with his side 1-0 up at the break, possibly due to his team not making the most of more of the opportunities that they created against ten-man Cardiff.

However, the German head coach will surely have left Wales content with how Ramazani performed on his full debut for the club on the wing.

Largie Ramazani's performance in numbers

The 23-year-old forward was snapped up from Spanish side Almeria in the summer transfer window and came into the starting XI on Saturday to replace the injured Manor Solomon.

It was a big chance for him to make his mark and make a name for himself in front of the away following, which is exactly what he did in the 30th minute.

Mateo Joseph smartly knocked a through ball onto the winger and that sent him racing towards goal, before firing a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner.

However, the Belgian gem missed a huge chance to double his tally for the afternoon just minutes later. Wilfried Gnonto played a sublime ball across the box to Ramazani in front of goal, unchallenged, from ten yards out and his shot came straight back off the goalkeeper.

The ex-Almeria star did leave a bit to be desired from his physical work during the game. He lost three of his four duels on the ground and all three of his aerial contests, which shows that the Cardiff defenders found it too easy to outmuscle him.

Ramazani also ended the match with one chance created and zero ‘big chances’ created and this suggests that he needs to work on his ability to make things happen for his teammates if he wants to nail down a starting position on the left wing on a regular basis.

The summer signing was not the real hero of the match for Farke, though, as defensive midfielder Ethan Ampadu controlled the game with his performance in Wales.

Ethan Ampadu's performance in numbers

The Leeds captain lined up in the middle of the park next to Ilia Gruev and produced an outstanding display to help his side dominate the match.

Of course, the red card for Bagan after 23 minutes, for fouling Gnonto as the last man, helped the Whites to hold the bulk of the possession, playing against ten men, but Ampadu’s dominant performance also played a big part.

The Wales international won eight of his 11 duels throughout the game to constantly cut out opposition attacks and to win the midfield battle for his side.

This allowed Leeds to keep hold of possession when the game got scrappy, because Ampadu used his immense physicality to come out on top in the majority of his duels, and this created a platform for the attacking players to push on and thrive.

He also made three tackles and interceptions combined to stop the Welsh outfit from testing Illan Meslier between the sticks, as the Whites kept a clean sheet.

As you can see in the table above, Ampadu was also impressive in possession with a pass completion rate of 88% from his 106 touches of the ball.

This shows that the Welsh titan was composed and reliable on the ball for Leeds in the middle of the park, which prevented constant turnovers and meant that Cardiff did not have too many chances to get back into the game by regaining the ball through loose passes.

Therefore, Ampadu was the real hero for Farke on Saturday because he produced a fantastic all-round performance in the middle of the park, with his quality in and out of possession crucial to their dominance in the match.

Ethan Ampadu's season in numbers

The former Chelsea man, who arrived from the Premier League side in the summer of 2023, has enjoyed a terrific start to the 2024/25 campaign in the Championship.

Starting every single game of the season in the defensive midfield role, he has been pivotal to their return of four clean sheets in six league matches.

After six games, the 24-year-old star ranks within the top 2% of midfielders in the Championship for aerial battles won per 90 (2.09) and the top 20% for tackles won per 90 (2.96), which shows that he has been one of the standout defensive talents in his position this term.

As you can see in the table above, Ampadu has been reliable in possession and dominant off the ball, which was the case once again against Cardiff on Saturday.

His duel success rate of 70%, including battles on the ground and in the air, shows that opposition players find it incredibly difficult to get the better of him in the middle battle, which allows him to control that crucial area of the pitch for Leeds.

Farke will now be hoping that his captain, who has started every league game under him since the start of last season, can keep up this sublime form for the rest of the campaign to boost their promotion hopes.

Leeds struck gold with £2m star who'd be worth more than Rutter in 2024

The Whites hit the jackpot when they signed the centre-forward for just £2m.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 22, 2024

Newcastle United battled their way to a 1-1 draw against Manchester City over the weekend, which was certainly a point earned rather than two dropped.

With just two games left until yet another international break, Eddie Howe will be expecting wins over AFC Wimbledon and Everton, which would bolster the morale around the club.

As the season progresses, injuries will likely pile up, especially if the Magpies go deep in both domestic cup competitions. This could make the decision to not sign many players during the summer transfer window look very poor.

Much was expected of the Toon in the window, but Howe simply couldn’t bring any of his transfer targets to the club.

He is certainly lacking depth in the centre-forward department, as both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak are currently out injured.

The latest on Alexander Isak's injury

The striker suffered a broken toe during the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers a few weeks ago, but he took an injection in order to push through the pain barrier in the Premier League defeat against Fulham last weekend.

During that match, Isak failed to get on the scoresheet, while managing no shots on target and taking just 26 touches, despite playing the full 90 minutes.

He missed the clash against City over the weekend, with Anthony Gordon deputising as the main centre-forward in Howe’s starting XI.

The Swede would likely have made way for a fringe player to secure some game time against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday evening, but it looks as though he could also miss the Everton clash too.

Alexander Isak’s statistics this season

The striker played in all six of Newcastle’s matches this season prior to the City fixture, scoring once and registering one assist. These goal contributions came in the Premier League, against Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

Along with his goal involvements, Isak has also averaged 2.2 shots per game, created a big chance and averaged 0.8 key passes each match, proving he is able to link up well with his teammates by creating opportunities.

Gordon scored the equalising goal against City, but he clearly isn’t an ideal option to use in that position for the long term, with his talents best used out wide.

William Osula could make his first start for the club following his move from Sheffield United in the summer, but is he a long-term solution for Isak?

Howe was eyeing up a few attackers during the summer window in order to add some much-needed depth to his team. How he will rue missing out on them now, considering his dilemma.

One name was Jarrod Bowen, with Newcastle showing plenty of interest in the current West Ham United star.

Newcastle missed out on signing Jarrod Bowen

Bowen has enjoyed a successful spell in London with West Ham, making over 200 appearances for the club since joining in January 2020, scoring 62 goals and chipping in with 40 assists in the process.

It is perhaps surprising that no one has taken the plunge and secured his services, especially considering he registers a goal contribution once every two games, evidence of his impressive form in the final third.

Last December, West Ham placed a £100m price tag on the player’s head, which was to deter any potential suitors ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.

It clearly worked, as the Englishman is still with the Hammers, but the Magpies were showing plenty of interest in bringing him north just a few months ago.

According to the Northern Echo at the start of July, Howe had earmarked Bowen as his number one transfer target, feeling the winger could add plenty to his current first-team squad.

As the weeks wore on, however, it became clear that the manager wasn’t going to get his wish, and Bowen remained with West Ham, until January at least.

So far this term, he has outscored Isak, and it looks like the club will regret not bringing the player to the club, PSR restrictions or not.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

Jarrod Bowen’s season in numbers

While Isak has scored just once and grabbed an assist, Bowen has managed to find the back of the net on two occasions for the Hammers, while adding in a further assist too.

In the Premier League, Bowen has also created one big chance, averaging 2.3 key passes per game while also succeeding with 1.7 dribbles each match.

Isak may have created the same number of big chances, yet he falls behind Bowen with regard to key passes and successful dribbles each game, proving that the Englishman has offered more in the final third.

Bowen has also won more total duels per game (4.2 vs 2) than Isak, along with being fouled more often per game (1 vs 0.4) and managing more shots on target per match (0.7 vs 0.4) than the Swedish centre-forward.

The season may only be a few weeks old, but not investing in a player of Bowen’s ability could prove to be costly for Howe, especially as he aims to return the Magpies back into the top four of the Premier League table, securing Champions League qualification.

Isak is a world-class striker, no doubt about it, but he has endured plenty of injury issues during his spell on Tyneside, no doubt about that.

Could January see the club revisiting their interest in the England international? Only time will tell, but much will depend on the funds Howe has available to him at that time.

A fee of £100m is certainly well outside of their budget, but if West Ham continue to perform poorly and Julen Lopetegui departs, it could open the door for the Toon to make their move for the winger on much cheaper terms.

He would be an inspired signing by Howe, that is for sure.

Saved by Hall: Howe must immediately drop 6/10 Newcastle star

He didn’t offer much against Man City in the Premier League…

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 29, 2024

The Alabama native impressed for both club and country in 2024, while also earning a big-money move to France

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• Tessmann named U.S. Soccer Young Player of Year
• Helped see Venezia promoted to Serie A
• Earned move to Lyon in France

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. men's national team midfielder Tanner Tessmann has been named U.S. Soccer's Young Male Player of the Year, the federation announced Wednesday. The Alabama native helped see Italian side Venezia promoted to Serie A at the end of the 2023-24 season, then proceeded to captain the USMNT at the Paris Olympic Games, followed by earning a big-money move to France with Olympique Lyon.

  Of the five finalists, Tessmann earned 70 percent of the total vote, with Gianluca Busio coming in second.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tessmann had a strong performance for the USMNT in France at the Olympics, leading them to the quarterfinals – their best finish since the 2000 games. He also featured in camps under new USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino in both October and November.

  The 23-year-old midfielder started both legs against Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals, helping see the U.S. advance to the semifinals of the competition this March.

  For Venezia, he started 35 of 38 matches, helping the club get promoted to Serie A from Serie B. With Lyon, since his August transfer, he played in 14 games for the club during the first half of the 2024-25 season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Tessmann was an FC Dallas homegrown prior to his move abroad to Venezia.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TESSMANN?

  Lyon play in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, taking on Belgian side Genk. Three points will see them automatically clinch a top-8 spot, while a loss or a draw could see them drop into the knockout round playoffs.

Manchester United fear that Lisandro Martinez’s season has been brought to a close by the knee injury that he suffered against Crystal Palace.

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• Argentine forced off against Eagles
• Was stretchered from the field in tears
• Set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The World Cup-winning Argentina international picked up an untimely blow in Premier League action at Old Trafford. Martinez was stretchered from the field in tears following an innocuous-looking tussle with Eagles winger Ismaila Sarr.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to the , sources believe Martinez is unlikely to play again in 2024-25. United are still assessing the severity of the South American’s injury, with around 24 hours required in order to deliver a definitive diagnosis.

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  WHAT RUBEN AMORIM SAID

  Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim told reporters after seeing Martinez forced out of a demoralising 2-0 defeat for United against Palace: “I think it is a serious situation. A bad situation for us and especially for Licha. I think we are going to see in the next days but I think it is a serious situation.

  “It's really hard on us, he's not just a great player but a strong character in the dressing room. Especially in this moment, it's hard for us. Now it is time for all of us to help Licha. He felt it and, when you are a player, you know when it is serious. Let's hope for better days for him. We are here, like I say, to help him in this difficult moment.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  This is not the first serious injury that Martinez has suffered during his time in England. He missed six weeks at the end of the 2022-23 campaign with a fractured metatarsal and was out for four months after undergoing corrective surgery in September 2023. He was also absent for eight weeks across February and March last year with medial ligament damage, before sitting out six-and-a-half weeks with a calf complaint.

One area of their squad that Manchester United looked to address in the 2024 summer transfer window was the midfield.

They made five summer signings, with the last one aiming to address some of the issues they had experienced in the centre of the park. Manuel Ugarte was the man brought into Old Trafford to try and solve the issues, joining from Paris Saint-Germain for upwards of £50.5m.

He joined Erik ten Hag’s existing midfield options including Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Christian Eriksen and Casemiro. The Dutchman also promoted Toby Collyer to the first team.

However, the Red Devils might well look to bolster their midfield options again next summer and have recently been linked with someone to add quality to the middle of the park.

Man United target La Liga midfielder

The player in question here is Real Madrid and France international midfielder Aurelian Tchouameni. The 24-year-old midfielder was Casemiro’s replacement at the Santiago Bernabeu when the Brazilian left for Old Trafford, but he could now be joining the former Los Blancos man.

At least, that is according to a report from Spain, who suggest that the 36-time France international is ‘on the list’ of several Premier League clubs, with United believed to be one of the sides interested.

They will have to fend off big interest from arch-rivals Liverpool, as well as North London outfit Arsenal if they want to sign the former AS Monaco player, however. He could cost roughly the same price Madrid paid just over two years ago, £67m to be specific.

Transfer Focus

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

Why Tchouameni would be a good signing

There is no doubt that the 24-year-old is “one of the best defensive midfielders on the planet,” as called by analyst Raj Chohan.

He has been a very important player under Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu and is one game away from a century of appearances, which he could bring up after the international break away to Celta Vigo.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described Tchouameni as a “machine” in the midfield, and that certainly rings true when considering his profile.

That is to say, Tchouameni is a superb duel winner thanks to his 6 foot 2 frame and long legs, which he can hook the ball away from an opponent with. The Frenchman is also wonderful in possession and has reams of technical quality which make him a superb ball-carrier and so effective at breaking opposition lines.

Whilst United signed Ugarte as the eventual replacement for Brazilian Casemiro, perhaps his replacement in Madrid could also be so in Manchester. When comparing United’s number 18 and the Real Madrid man statistically via FBref from the 2023/24 campaign, you can see that he beats the Brazilian in several areas.

From a defensive point of view, the Real Madrid number 14, ironically Casemiro’s old number, makes more interceptions per 90 minutes, with 1.27 compared to just 0.82 for the Brazilian. The France international also averages a better aerial duel win rate, with 68% compared to 65.4% for Casemiro.

On the ball, the 24-year-old is a better ball carrier and makes 1.27 progressive carries each game compared to just 0.55 for the United midfielder. He also looks after the ball better, with an average pass accuracy of 90.6%, whereas Casemiro ranks lower at just 81.8%.

You can also make a comparison between their ages. Age 32 years of age, Casemiro is very much on the decline now, as shown by the fact he has just 278 minutes to his name in the Premier League so far. At 24, Tchouameni has not even hit his prime, and could quite easily be in the United midfield for the next eight years at the top of his game.

The Frenchman also earns far less per week than the five-time Champions League winner. Casemiro is on £350k per week, the highest earner at Old Trafford, whereas the Real Madrid man earns just £200k per week, according to Capology, meaning United would save a fortune that way.

Should they manage to sign the Madrid star within the next 12 months or so, United could massively upgrade on Casemiro. Not only is he arguably a better player, but he is younger and on far less money, meaning it is a smart choice financially, too.

Perhaps the Frenchman will go on to be the next great midfielder for the Red Devils along with Ugarte, and help them return to their former glory.

Tuchel could axe £182m disaster trio if he gets the Man Utd job

Thomas Tuchel has been linked with the Man Utd job again in recent days.

By
Joe Nuttall

Oct 8, 2024

Glasgow Rangers made a host of changes to their playing squad in the recent summer transfer window to freshen up the group and lower the average age.

The Light Blues allowed the likes of Ryan Jack, Kemar Roofe, Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, and Jon McLaughlin to depart at the end of their contracts.

They also sold Connor Goldson, Scott Wright, Sam Lammers, and Todd Cantwell, whilst allowing Ben Davies to join Birmingham City on loan for the season.

These moves allowed Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen to dip into the market to bring in reinforcements, with the likes of Connor Barron, Jefte, Vaclav Cerny, Hamza Igamane, and Clinton Nsiala, among others, coming through the door at Ibrox.

Another way to freshen up the squad, however, is to introduce young players from the academy into the first-team, as Clement did with Ross McCausland last term.

Rangers have not always made the best decisions when it has come to integrating, or not integrating, talented players from their youth set-up, as they have allowed a few great prospects to slip through the net.

One such player was central midfielder Kenny McLean, who could have been the club’s next Barry Ferguson if they had given him a chance in the senior side.

Barry Ferguson's Rangers career

The Scotland international started out his career in the academy at Rangers and made his breakthrough at first-team level with seven appearances in all competitions during the 1996/97 campaign.

He did not secure a regular place in the team for the Scottish giants until the 1998/99 season, however, with two goals in 39 games in all competitions. Ferguson also made his Scotland debut that term.

That year set him up to be a consistent performer in the middle of the park for the Gers over the coming years, as he racked up 12 trophies – including five league titles – during his first spell at the club.

As you can see in the table above, Ferguson did not offer a regular threat in front of goal until the 2002/03 campaign, when he fired in a staggering 16 goals from midfield.

His form that term attracted attention from Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, who swooped in to sign him for a reported fee of £8.78m. That – per Totally Money’s algorithm – would be worth a whopping £36.88m in today’s money, if you account for inflation of transfer fees in football since that transfer was completed.

Ferguson later returned to Ibrox in January 2005 and spent another four-and-a-half years with the Scottish giants, ending his spell at Ibrox with 57 goals and 29 assists in 407 outings in all competitions.

Kenny McLean's Rangers release

The young central midfielder joined the club from Aberdeen’s academy in the summer of 2006 to join the U17 set-up in Glasgow, after seemingly catching their attention with the Dons.

He spent two seasons at Ibrox, both of which were spent with the U17s, before being released by the Light Blues in the summer of 2008, which led to a move to St Mirren’s youth team.

From there, McLean made his breakthrough at senior level with St Mirren in the 2010/11 campaign, two years on from his exit from Rangers, and went on to score 24 goals in 152 matches in all competitions for the Scottish Premiership outfit.

It was during his time with the Buddies that he was compared to Barry Ferguson, having already moved on from Ibrox by that point, as teammate Gary Teale made the comparison.

In 2011, when McLean was 19, Teale told the Glasgow Times: “From the first time I came across Kenny on the training pitch I knew he had real talent. Immediately I thought the way he carried himself, quite upright and with his chest out, reminded me of Barry Ferguson.

“Obviously Kenny is just starting out and this is only his second season in the SPL, but he is very assured and composed and again that maturity on the park at an early age was a hallmark of Barry’s.”

This shows that the Scottish maestro was similar in style to the former Gers star, with both central midfielders offering a composed and mature presence in the middle of the park at a young age in the Premiership.

In terms of quality, McLean’s career so far suggests that he also could have been like Ferguson, who was capped 45 times by Scotland, as he has developed into a Scotland international who has also played plenty of times in the Premier League.

Kenny McLean's career progress

The left-footed star spent just over three years, from February 2015 to May 2018, with Aberdeen and racked up 25 goals and 18 assists in 158 matches in all competitions.

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McLean then made the move down south to England, as Ferguson did during his career, to sign for Norwich City in 2018, who were managed by German head coach Daniel Farke.

The ex-Gers academy prospect produced three goals and six assists in 20 Championship matches in his first season with the Canaries, as they secured promotion to the Premier League.

McLean then scored one goal in 37 appearances in the top-flight as Norwich were relegated, before a return of two goals and six assists in 38 games to win the Championship title for a second time.

It was not second time lucky for the midfield star in the Premier League, though, as they were relegated for a second time, and he produced one goal in 31 outings.

He has been a regular for the Yellows in the middle of the park at Championship level since their latest relegation in 2022 and has enjoyed a strong start to the current campaign under Johannes Hoff Thorup.

As you can see in the table above, McLean has already made nine appearances in the league for Norwich this term and has contributed with three assists, whilst also making 4.5 tackles and interceptions per game.

Meanwhile, no current Rangers player has managed more than two assists or more than 4.4 tackles and interceptions per match in the Premiership this season, which speaks to the quality McLean – now 32 – still possesses.

The Light Blues had a howler by releasing the midfielder in 2008 as they missed out on the chance to integrate him into their first-team to unearth their new Barry Ferguson, as he has gone on to earn 41 caps for Scotland and play in the Premier League.

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By
Dan Emery

Oct 12, 2024

Liverpool reportedly rejected two bids for Darwin Nunez from Al-Nassr before Cristiano Ronaldo's side swooped for Jhon Duran in the January window.

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• Al-Nassr wanted Nunez in January
• Saw two bids rejected by Liverpool
• Invested in Duran instead

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Al-Nassr splashed the cash in the winter window by spending €77 million (£64.5m/$80m) to bring in Duran from Villa. However, the Saudi Pro League side were also keen on Nunez and made two bids for the Liverpool star, according to . A "financial" agreement was also close but Liverpool did not want to sell as they had no replacement lined up and wanted to respect Arne Slot's plans.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Nunez'a future at Liverpool has come under scrutiny after a loss of form. The Uruguay international has netted just four times in the Premier League this season and has come in for some hefty criticism. Nunez did appear keen on a move to Al-Nassr too, as he was reportedly left "fuming" by Liverpool decision to turn down the Saudi side's offer.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Al-Nassr ended up snapping up Duran and have seen the Colombian enjoy a dream Saudi Pro League debut as he scored twice in a 3-0 win over Al-Fayha. The Saudi club will be hoping he can continue to bang in the goals, particularly as he will earn an annual salary of £16.7m ($21m) at Al-Nassr. 

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL

  Nunez's last appearance came in Liverpool's shock 1-0 defeat to Plymouth in the FA Cup which won't have helped his cause. The Reds are back in Premier League action on Wednesday against rivals Everton in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, but Nunez is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.

Phil Parkinson admits that the knee injury picked up by Andy Cannon during Wrexham’s win at Mansfield looks to be a “bad” one.

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• Midfielder forced off vs Stags
• Studs caught in the turf
• Required oxygen on the field

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 28-year-old midfielder starred for the Red Dragons last season as they secured automatic promotion out of League Two. He has not been a guaranteed starter in the third tier, but has still registered four goals through 28 appearances in all competitions.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It remains to be seen whether Cannon will take in any more before the 2024-25 campaign comes to a close. That is because he required oxygen on the field before being stretchered off in Wrexham’s 2-1 victory at Mansfield. He went down after appearing to get his studs caught in the turf at Field Mill.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Cannon signalled to the bench straight away that he required treatment, with the game being halted for several minutes. A full diagnosis is yet to be delivered on the problem that he picked up, but the outlook appears bleak.

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  WHAT PHIL PARKINSON SAID

  Red Dragons boss Parkinson concedes as much, telling reporters when asked for an update on Cannon’s condition: “Andy looks like a bad injury. His knee. But we don't know the extent. It's not easy when a great lad like Andy is stretchered off. I said to the lads at half-time, ‘C'mon, let's do this for Andy'.. They did that.”