Tag Futebol

Chelsea have identified a Real Madrid star as one of their top targets for 2026 already, with BlueCo prepared to meet the player’s asking price, according to a new report.

Enzo Maresca’s side ranked among the Premier League’s biggest-spending teams during the summer window, splashing close to £290 million, but their array of player sales meant that Chelsea actually recorded a small profit.

Liverpool

£415,000,000

£187,000,000

£228,000,000

Chelsea

£285,000,000

£288,000,000

-£3,000,000

Arsenal

£255,000,000

£9,000,000

£246,000,000

Newcastle

£250,000,000

£152,000,000

£98,000,000

Man Utd

£216,000,000

£68,000,000

£148,000,000

Nottm Forest

£205,000,000

£107,000,000

£98,000,000

Tottenham

£181,000,000

£36,000,000

£145,000,000

Sunderland

£162,000,000

£44,000,000

£118,000,000

Man City

£152,000,000

£53,000,000

£99,000,000

West Ham

£124,000,000

£55,000,000

£69,000,000

via BBC

The west Londoners, and quite rightly so, have earned a reputation for being one of England’s most prolific selling clubs, and if Bayern Munich trigger Nicolas Jackson’s obligation to buy clause next summer, they’ll stand to earn a further £56 million on top of his record-breaking loan fee.

Interestingly, Jackson could face off against Chelsea in the Champions League this evening, with Vincent Kompany handed a dilemma over playing the Senegalese against his parent club.

The 24-year-old’s potential sale would do wonders to fund Chelsea’s 2026 summer plans, and they have a few key items on the agenda already. If Maresca cannot sign a centre-back in January, it’s something they’ll reportedly visit later in the new year.

Elsewhere in the squad, a fresh claim has surfaced that Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga is firmly on Chelsea’s radar.

Chelsea identify Eduardo Camavinga as top target for 2026

According to reports from Spain, Chelsea are eyeing Camavinga as one of their priority signings for 2026.

The Frenchman is yet to make a single appearance under Xabi Alonso this season after just returning from an ankle injury, but was on the bench for Real’s 2-1 win over Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Valued at around £52 million, it is believed that Chelsea are prepared to pay that price for Camavinga, and if any club were to offer it, Real would also be happy to negotiate his exit.

Would Eduardo Camavinga fit in at Chelsea?

Maresca already boasts a star-studded midfield of Enzo Fernández, Moises Caicedo, the returning Roméo Lavia and Dario Essugo — although the latter is set to be sidelined for a lengthy period after surgery.

The 22-year-old is a player of real quality when fit and available, but Camavinga’s worrying injury record comes as a real warning to BlueCo.

He made just 35 appearances in all competitions last season — missing nearly 30 games through a combination of knee, muscle and hamstring problems — and the last thing Chelsea need is an injury-prone player who’s barely available.

That being said, Camavinga has also attracted huge praise for his performances at the Bernabeu.

Wayne Rooney has continued his back and forth with under-fire Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, pointing out that the Portuguese should “expect to be criticised” given how desperate the situation has become at Old Trafford. Amorim continues to see his future called into question after just 50 games in charge of the Red Devils, with positive results proving hard to come by.

• Safe for now: Amorim's win ratio as Man Utd boss

  Amorim kept his neck off the chopping block, for now at least, when seeing United to a 2-0 victory over Sunderland in their final game before the latest international break. While that win has helped to raise collective spirits a little, it is just the 19th success enjoyed by the Red Devils under their current coaching team.

  A win ratio of 38 per cent is considered to be well below par for a manager at Old Trafford, with United eager to push themselves back into contention for the most prestigious of honours. Rooney, as the club’s all-time leading goal-scorer, has suggested that he cannot see that happening any time soon.

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  Amorim's response to criticism from Rooney & Neville

  He told podcast when casting a critical eye over events in Manchester: “I just don't know what's going on. I have tried my hand in management and it didn't work out too well, I get it. Ruben Amorim is my age, he is still a young manager and I'm sure he still has a massive future, but what's going on at Man Utd, this is not Man Utd. I honestly hope he can turn it around and he does. But if you're saying to me, 'do you believe he will?', then, after everything I've seen, honestly, I've got no faith in it.”

  When quizzed on those comments, with Gary Neville another United legend who has asked uncomfortable questions of United and their tactical approach of late, Amorim said: “It’s normal, you can not run away from the results and then you have the baggage from last season. Last season, for me, it doesn’t matter. In relation of this season, we have already spoken about that. I am not saying this team will play better in a different system or not, that is not my point. My point is that if I look at the games we didn’t win, the most important thing when I watched the game was not that we lost because of the system. People have different opinions, that is ok.”

• Rooney hoping to see reversal in fortune for Man Utd

  Rooney has now joined the discussion once more, adding on his when reacting to the latest quotes from Amorim and his reluctance to consider a change in philosophy: “When I made them comments, it's not something I really want to do, but I feel you have to tell the truth on it. And Ruben Amorim himself has been critical of the players. And, you know, it wasn’t long ago he was telling us it was the worst Man Utd team in the history of the club. And that's him being honest, and if that's his thoughts, that's his thoughts. But for the players, they have to keep focused on what they're doing and he's the manager, listening to what he's saying and tactically what he wants and try and win games.

  “And that's the only way it changes really. Unfortunately, I've been there as a player and, you know, being criticised as a player and you have to just try and focus on your job and try and win games. And you are at Manchester United – it's still one of the biggest clubs in the world, so you have to expect to be criticised when you don't win or don't play well. And on the flip side to that, the benefits of playing well and winning games are huge.”

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  Anfield next up: Man Utd preparing for Liverpool trip

  Amorim has a couple of weeks to work with players who are not heading off with their respective countries on international duty. He will hope to have United ready to claim back-to-back wins in the Premier League when they take in a testing trip to old adversaries Liverpool on October 19.

Lamine Yamal may have fallen short in the Ballon d’Or race against Ousmane Dembele, but Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists the setback will only fuel his hunger to claim the award in future. The teenager made history with back-to-back Kopa Trophies, while Aitana Bonmati continued her dominance by lifting a third consecutive Women’s Ballon d’Or.

Barcelona shine on awards night despite Yamal’s Ballon d’Or setback

The Blaugrana's influence was once again felt on football’s biggest individual stage. While Dembele claimed the men’s Ballon d’Or, 18-year-old Yamal finished runner-up after already securing his second Kopa Trophy. Barca Femini midfielder Bonmati made history as just the third player to win the Golden Ball – alongside Lionel Messi and Michel Platini.

AdvertisementAFPLaporta praises Yamal and Bonmati’s dominance

Speaking after the ceremony, Laporta hailed the club’s success and expressed pride in Yamal’s historic achievement.

“Nobody has two Kopa awards, I’m sure Lamine will now fight for the Ballon d’Or," he said. "There were a lot of nerves, because in the theatre there were a few people shouting ‘Ousmane, Ousmane’ and a few of us from Barca were shouting ‘Lamine, Lamine’. I’m sure this will motivate Lamine even more.”

The Barca president was equally glowing in his praise for Bonmati, who marked another milestone in her career.

"I'm very happy for Aitana, when she comes on stage she gives an acknowledgment that moves you. I'm delighted with Aitana, she gave an exceptional speech, she touched on everything, family, club, equality, we know that these are reasons that motivate Aitana to continue improving."

Why this matters for Barcelona’s present and future

For Laporta, the night was not just about trophies but also a reminder of the club’s resilience. He took the opportunity to thank supporters, pointing out their role in Barca’s resurgence.

“I tell the fans to keep believing in Barca. Their patience with some things is admirable, and they never give up. We owe them everything," he concluded.

Yamal’s Ballon d’Or runner-up finish, combined with Raphinha’s fifth and Pedri’s 11th place, reinforced the impression that Barcelona are nurturing a new generation capable of dominating the world stage.

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AFPWhat comes next for Barca and Yamal

Currently sidelined through injury, Yamal will be watching from the stands as Barcelona look to build on their 3-0 victory over Getafe. Flick’s side face Real Oviedo in midweek before taking on Real Sociedad at the weekend, with a Champions League showdown against PSG looming large.

Manchester United hit their nadir last season, but Ruben Amorim is a stoic sort and has knuckled down and made tentative progress with the Premier League giants.

Maybe the Portuguese tactician was a little too frank during interviews, but at least he understands where the cracks lie for the Old Trafford side, who finished 15th in the league and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

There have been positives throughout the Premier League Summer Series in America, for sure, but the Red Devils still have improvements to be made, irrespective of who might be welcomed to the fold.

Saying that, the recent draw against Everton corroborated Amorim’s desire for a new midfielder, with Manuel Ugarte flattering to deceive.

Why Man Utd need to replace Manuel Ugarte

Ugarte, 24, joined Man United from Paris Saint-Germain last summer in a deal rising to £50.5m. Last season, he left much to be desired, but did feature 45 times across all competitions, scoring twice and laying on six assists.

Man United showed some promise against the Toffees, but Vitalii Mykolenko dispossessed Ugarte in in the build-up to Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half goal, leading Bruno Fernandes to claim that his team “looked a bit lazy” at times.

Much has been made of United’s need for a focal frontman, but with Casemiro getting on, a secure and confident midfield anchor is equally as crucial to the success of the project.

That’s why INEOS are weighing up a move for Atalanta’s Ederson. As per TEAMtalk, the Brazilian could be available for around £52m this summer, which makes him the most expensive man on United’s midfield shortlist.

But there’s a reason for that. Man United have a ‘long-standing interest’ in Ederson, and if it proves financially viable, he could complete a midfield that needs reinforcing.

Why Man Utd want to sign Ederson

Ederson is a 26-year-old midfielder who has established himself as one of the best in the business over in Italy. Across 139 appearances in all competitions, he has scored 13 goals and supplied four assists.

Hailed as a “machine” of a midfielder by reporter Carlo Garganese, this is exactly the kind of hardy, dynamic player that Amorim needs to welcome to his squad, should he wish to return to European competition and challenge for silverware at the Old Trafford helm.

Instrumental in winning the Europa League in 2023, Ederson has the strength, self-belief and roundedness to succeed under Amorim’s wing in the Premier League, with the right balance in his performances to nestle into the United centre, acting as a tough-tackling six but also a progressive force.

Matches (starts)

37 (32)

29 (22)

Goals

4

1

Assists

1

2

Touches*

65.9

43.2

Pass completion

87%

89%

Big chances created

6

3

Key passes*

1.1

0.3

Dribbles*

0.6

0.6

Ball recoveries*

5.0

4.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

3.6

Duels won*

4.9 (56%)

5.0 (53%)

On the surface level, it doesn’t look like Ugarte did all that badly across his first Premier League campaign, but he’s susceptible to a poor error of lapse of focus, with one Man United content creator online even saying he “is frightened to death of passing forward.”

No such problem for Ederson, who ranked among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Though Amorim and INEOS will continue to push ahead with a deal for a new number nine, this one could prove to be equally important.

Described by Italian journalist Damiano Er Faina to be “the strongest defensive midfielder in the world”, Man United might just hit the jackpot if they push ahead and complete their midfield with his many-faceted player.

Sky Sports journalist Keith Downie has shared news live from outside St James’ Park on Friday afternoon after Liverpool’s opening bid for Alexander Isak was rejected.

David Ornstein revealed earlier on Friday that the Magpies were swift to refuse the Reds’ first official offer for the Swedish superstar, which is believed to be in the region on £110m-£120m.

There are rumours Isak has already agreed personal terms on a move to Anfield, and Downie, speaking live on Sky Sports, has now revealed the next steps.

Second Liverpool bid being prepared "as we speak"

“We expect Liverpool to come back in with a second formal offer, they’re preparing that formal offer as we speak. But Newcastle standing firm, rejecting the first one,” said the North East based journalist.

He continued: “This could be the biggest transfer of the summer. It would be a Premier League record if Liverpool were to get their man.”

There has of course been plenty of conversations around how the Swede would fit with Hugo Ekitike, who arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth £79m if add-ons are met.

BBC tactics writer Alex Keble has suggested using Isak as the out and out number nine, with the Frenchman deployed from the left.

One thing is for sure, Isak would bring the guaranteed clinical finisher Liverpool thought they were buying with Darwin Nunez three summers ago.

The Uruguay international, who is expected to depart this summer if Isak joins, scored five Premier League goals last season from 5.8 expected based on the quality of his chances. Newcastle’s star man on the other hand managed 23 strikes from an expected goals of 20.3, and he has now out-performed his xG in all three of his seasons in England.

Isak is thought to be training alone in Spain in a bid to be ready for his big switch, with Newcastle captain Kieran Trippier commenting on the situation earlier this week: “Alex has got a thigh injury – that is the reality.

“Personally, I think there is no point him coming out here if he can’t play in any games.

“He is doing rehab. But we have to do what we have to do with the players we have got, Sean Neave came on and done very well, young kid who has done well.

“We have tough games coming, but we stick together now as a team, and hopefully Alex will come back when he is fully fit.”

Ponting, it is understood, will take the final call on the rest of the coaching staff

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Sep-20246:27

What is Ponting’s biggest challenge at Punjab Kings?

Ricky Ponting has been appointed head coach of Punjab Kings (PBKS) from IPL 2025, a little over two months after he and Delhi Capitals parted ways ending his seven-year tenure at the franchise.ESPNcricinfo has learned that Ponting has signed a four-year contract with Kings, a franchise with multiple owners. Ponting, it is understood, will take the final call on the rest of the coaching staff. There is no clarity yet on who remains on the books from the coaching unit from last year: Trevor Bayliss (head coach), Sanjay Bangar (head of cricket development), Charl Langeveldt (fast-bowling coach), Sunil Joshi (spin-bowling coach).”I am grateful to Punjab Kings for presenting me with the opportunity to be the new head coach,” Ponting said. “I am excited to take up the new challenge. I had great conversations with the owners and the management about the way forward and was truly elated to see the alignment of our visions for the team. We all want to repay the fans who have stayed with the franchise over the years and we promise that they will see a much different Punjab Kings going forward.”Ponting will be the third head coach in four seasons at Kings, who finished ninth in the 2024 season. They have not qualified for the IPL playoffs since 2014, when they finished runners-up. Ponting’s first challenge would be shortlisting players who could be potentially retained for the next season even as the franchises wait for the IPL to finalise the retention rules.Related

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Harshal Patel, who won the purple cap for the second time in IPL 2024, along with the uncapped Indian pair of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma were among the key performers for Kings last season. Kings also have India left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, legspinner Rahul Chahar in their squad along with a healthy bunch of overseas players, including the England trio of Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow and South Africa quick Kagiso Rabada.With Shikhar Dhawan retiring recently, Kings will also be keen to identify a new captain.Ponting has been part of the IPL set-up since the inaugural season in 2008, first as a player at Kolkata Knight Riders followed by Mumbai Indians where he stepped down as captain midway through the 2013 season, paving way for Rohit Sharma to take over. Mumbai won the title the same year, with Ponting continuing in an advisory role in 2014 and then serving as head coach for two seasons in 2015 and 2016.In 2018, Ponting took charge as head coach of Capitals who made the playoffs for three successive seasons between 2019 and 2021, during which period they qualified for the first IPL final in 2020. After ending his association with Capitals in July, Ponting was head coach during Washington Freedom’s title-winning campaign in the 2024 season of Major League Cricket (MLC).

After officially welcoming Kyogo Furuhashi and sealing the return of Demarai Gray, Birmingham City have reportedly set their sights on two more arrivals this summer.

Kyogo instantly sets sights on Premier League

Whilst things didn’t work out at Rennes, Kyogo remains undeniably talented. It wasn’t so long ago that he was the star of the show at Celtic and even earning reported interest from Manchester City. Now, however, he is set to take St Andrew’s by storm after arriving in a deal that could eventually cost Birmingham around €12m (£10m).

The Japanese forward has instantly set his sights on the Premier League too, telling Birmingham’s official website after putting pen to paper: “I’m very happy to be here. I’m looking forward to working together with you all.

“I get fired up more in bigger games, but I score goals because of team-mates, so I’m grateful for that. I’d like to achieve the same here, and hopefully my goals will make everyone happy.

“I have good memories (from Celtic) with lots of titles, so it was a wonderful three and a half, four years. Lots of fans still say hello to me, so I felt I was really lucky. But this is a new place, and I’d like to do my best here.

“I’m here to help the team. I’d like to express what I can do on the pitch. I don’t want to talk a lot, but there’s a chance that we can go up to the Premier League. We all want to aim for that and after nine months, it will be great if we share the happiness of achieving that.”

What would once be a dream target could yet become realistic for the Blues next season, as Tom Brady and Tom Wagner reportedly turn their focus towards two more potential arrivals for Chris Davies.

Birmingham now eyeing Hara alongside free agent

As reported by Caught Offside, Birmingham and Wagner are now eyeing a move to sign Taichi Hara from Kyoto Sanga as well as an unnamed South Korean winger who is close to becoming a free agent. Both could yet arrive and take the Blues’ list of incomings to as many as 11 in another transformative summer at St Andrew’s.

Dream squad Birmingham could build: 11 signings & "phenomenal" CF arrives

Birmingham City’s squad could be littered with plenty of brand-new buys come the end of the transfer window.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 10, 2025

Named target Hara has already featured in Spain with Alaves and in Belgium with Sint-Truiden, but currently plies his trade in Japan with Kyoto Sangra. It’s there that he has earned plenty of praise from Japanese Football, with the X account taking the chance to speak about the forward’s “great” form back in September.

At 26 years old, Hara could now get the chance to add English football to what is a diverse CV if Birmingham push on with their interest and make their move this summer.

Preparing to spend big once again this summer, INEOS are now preparing to offer £13m-a-year in contract negotiations with one of their summer targets in the hope of luring him to Manchester United.

INEOS spending big despite financial cuts

Across the last 12 months, a lot has been made about Manchester United’s financial situation. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reiterated that any job cuts or attempt to lower the Red Devils’ budget off the pitch have been necessary for the club to maintain itself. And after Manchester United missed out on Champions League qualification by losing against Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, more staff were informed about their redundancy.

Man Utd want Premier League target man to play up front with Mbeumo and Cunha

The Red Devils have already signed Cunha and submitted a bid for Mbeumo.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 6, 2025

It was always difficult to guess just how Manchester United would spend this summer. The redundancies and lack of Champions League football, or European football at all for that matter, suggested that they would need to sell big before they even consider spending.

Yet, in one of the earliest deals of the window, INEOS have already spent big to trigger Matheus Cunha’s £63m release clause and reports have since arrived which give a glimpse as to how the Manchester club have already spent such an impressive fee.

As The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell revealed, Manchester United’s revenue is up and their wage bill is down from what it was, with Ratcliffe’s ruthless redundancies contributing to that.

It means that, even after Cunha, those at Old Trafford still have room to spend and have already set their sights on their next target to do exactly that in the coming weeks.

INEOS preparing stunning £13m-a-year Mbeumo offer

According to The Mirror, INEOS are now preparing to offer Bryan Mbeumo a contract worth £13m-a-year to join Manchester United this summer in what would be five times more than the £50,000-a-week he currently earns at Brentford.

What’s more, Ratcliffe and co. are also reportedly preparing to table a £60m offer to convince Brentford to sell their star man this summer – taking their spend to £123m in the space of just a few weeks.

Mbeumo only wants Manchester United, who are set to offer him a staggering £250,000-a-week to complete a summer switch. Whether the forward is worth such a price is the big question and one that many will disagree on.

Man Utd’s highest earners with Mbeumo	Salary P/W
Casemiro	£350,000
Bruno Fernandes	£300,000
Mason Mount	£250,000
Bryan Mbeumo	£250,000
Matthijs de Ligt	£195,000

Whilst some may disagree with Manchester United’s reported decision, the stats don’t lie. The Brentford forward hit the 20-goal mark last season and that alone should be enough to put him amongst the Red Devils’ highest earners.

Dubbed “incredible” by Brentford boss Thomas Frank last season, Mbeumo looks destined to become Manchester United’s second big-money signing of the summer.

Responding to the abject failure of Tony Mowbray returning to the West Bromwich Albion hot-seat, the Championship outfit has gone down the more modern, if untested route of appointing Ryan Mason.

Of course, the Baggies have excelled in the past when going after a manager once regarded as a second-in-command figure, with Carlos Corberan a background figure at Leeds United himself before succeeding at the Hawthorns, much like the 33-year-old was at Tottenham Hotspur.

Mason will hope no high-profile exits are signed off on during the early stages of his tenure, with Mowbray having to deal with the major exit of Alex Palmer at the start of his choppy second stint.

Ultimately, the loss of Palmer – among other factors – contributed to West Brom’s promotion campaign being derailed.

Palmer's demoralising sale

The Kidderminster-born goalkeeper would have to be patient waiting it out for senior chances, but when he became the Baggies’ main number one under Corberan, the 28-year-old never looked back.

The 2023/24 season would see Palmer start every single league clash under the Spaniard’s wing, resulting in the gloveman collecting a mightily impressive 18 clean sheets along the way, whilst also only leaking 48 strikes in total.

He entered the following campaign overflowing with confidence, therefore, with Palmer only shipping 27 league goals across 30 second-tier matches before Ipswich Town came calling.

Unfortunately, instead of sticking with their dependable stopper, West Brom would cash in, as Palmer left his boyhood club behind mid-season for £2m.

Games played

16

Wins

5

Draws

4

Losses

6

Goals conceded

20

Clean sheets

3

Whilst the 28-year-old attempted to fit in at his new Suffolk location, the wheels came off West Brom’s promotion mission drastically, with only three clean sheets coming the Baggies’ way after Palmer’s departure, alongside only five league wins being tallied up.

West Brom cannot deal with another demoralising exit of this fashion if they want to mount a serious promotion charge under Mason.

But, they could be heading to another Palmer situation.

West Brom must not sell "outstanding" star

Murmurs have died down regarding Tom Fellows leaving the Baggies this summer, which will be music to the ears of West Brom fans and Mason alike, considering he notched up 14 assists in league action last season.

Yet, the summer will still bring about a lot of anxiety regarding the situation of Isaac Price, with a new report from SportsBoom speculating that the recent January buy could already be heading for the exit door as a Jobe Bellingham-depleted Sunderland circle for his services.

Price had hardly any time to show off his excellence for West Brom last season – especially as he joined Mowbray’s camp amid the Baggies’ promotion hopes falling off a cliff – but he has shown this off-season what he’s all about when curling home efforts like the one above on the international stage for Northern Ireland.

Off the back of his continued brilliance for his country, scout Jacek Kulig has labelled Price as “fantastic”, with Mason perhaps the manager to get even more out of the promising 21-year-old, having worked closely with Spurs’ rising stars when located in North London.

There is still plenty to come from Price at the Hawthorns, with the former Everton youth product at least managing to get off the mark with a single goal and assist from 15 league appearances last season, even as his new employers regularly slipped up.

Therefore, instead of selling him to the likes of Burnley or Sunderland before he reaches his full potential, the Baggies must keep a firm grip on their “outstanding” youngster, as his ex-Toffees teammate Asmir Begovic once labelled him.

Further lauded as “smooth” when gliding forward by Mowbray, patience must be exercised on the end of West Brom with their rising star, especially now that a youth-oriented boss such as Mason is in charge.

If he comes good, he could well be a key player if promotion is to be clinched.

Wallace 2.0: West Brom want to sign free agent with 50 Championship goals

West Bromwich Albion could soon snap up their next Jed Wallace by landing this experienced Championship performer.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 16, 2025

With a deal to sign Matheus Cunha reportedly at an advanced stage, INEOS have now reportedly opened talks with another Manchester United target who could join the Brazilian at Old Trafford.

Man Utd advancing in deal to sign Cunha

As revealed by Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United’s deal to sign Cunha is still at an advanced stage, with the Red Devils now working on details of the agreement to sign the forward. The deal, itself, is unlikely to be a cheap one for the Red Devils, given the forward’s reported £63m release clause, but it is one that should hand Ruben Amorim an attacking solution once and for all.

United’s interest in Cunha certainly makes sense with Amorim at the helm too. The Manchester United manager has often struggled to get success out of his 3-4-2-1 system during the first six months of his spell in charge, but the arrival of Cunha would go a long way towards helping that system function.

Likely to play in one of the two advanced midfield roles behind the one forward, Cunha could form quite the partnership with Bruno Fernandes to finally sharpen what has been a blunt Manchester United frontline for far too long. What’s more, with 15 Premier League goals to his name in all competitions this season, it’s fair to say that the Wolves star knows exactly where the back of the net is.

Forget Obi: Amorim can finally axe Hojlund for Man Utd's homegrown Gyokeres

Man Utd could have another academy sensation up their sleeve…

1 ByRobbie Walls May 14, 2025

That said, he may not be the only one to join Amorim’s attack this summer. Reports have also indicated that INEOS have set their sights on another impressive Premier League attacker.

Man Utd open talks for Semenyo

According to talkSPORT, INEOS have now opened talks with Antoine Semenyo, who could find himself on his way to Manchester United alongside Cunha in the coming months. The Bournemouth winger has enjoyed an excellent season under Andoni Iraola to earn the attraction of clubs of the Red Devils’ stature. Now, he looks set to have a decision to make.

Starts

28

34

21

Goals

15

9

4

Assists

6

5

0

Expected Goals

8

9.5

5.2

When compared to Rasmus Hojlund, it’s clear that both Cunha and Semenyo would offer Amorim two much-needed upgrades this summer. When it comes to goal involvements, both targets have outperformed the Dane, whose output has been disappointing and record of underperforming his expected goals even more frustrating for those at Old Trafford.

Dubbed “strong” by analyst Ben Mattinson, whether Semenyo is willing to leave Bournemouth – a side fighting for European qualification – for a struggling Manchester United side is the big question.

It’s one that the winger must ask himself and one that United must be honest about with themselves. After such a disastrous campaign, that’s the position that they’re in.