Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor does not feel under threat despite the arrival of more big-money signings this summer.
City have spent over £75million on David Silva, Yaya Toure, Jerome Boateng and Aleksandr Kolarov in recent weeks, while they continue to be linked with a move for Internazionale's £25million-rated striker Mario Balotelli.
However, Adebayor, a £25million signing from Arsenal last summer, has dismissed the threat posed to him by the influx of new players.
"A lot of good players are coming in but I still want to be number one striker and that is what I am trying to do," said the Togo striker.
Meanwhile, Adebayor has spoken of his zest for life following his involvement in the gun attack at January's Africa Cup of Nations which left three people dead.
"At the end of the day I am lucky to be alive and to be able to enjoy my football," he continued.
"Whenever I talk I am thinking about my team-mates after the gun attack. One got a bullet in his back and he was not even able to walk.
"We are lucky boys and that is why I am enjoying every minute of life.
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"After the shooting it was quite difficult to forget about those things. People died in my hands. But what happened has happened and I will live with that until the end of my life.
"I have been away on holiday, two months of doing nothing, and now I am back I want to score a few goals to make me happy again."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke will surely be incredibly frustrated by his side’s lack of quality in the final third after what happened at the end of the summer transfer window.
Speaking to Football Insider last month, journalist Pete O’Rourke revealed that the German boss wanted two additions to the squad that never came to pass.
The reporter said: “There will be a hint of frustration for Daniel Farke – they missed out on some targets. They are still lacking a bit up front, Leeds and he fears for them on that front – not getting the deal done for Manor Solomon will be a blow to Farke and the Leeds fans, because he had such a great impact there on loan last season.
“They tried to sign Harry Wilson on deadline day from Fulham and weren’t able to get that deal over the line as well, so they were looking to add some creativity in the final third.”
Instead of landing Manor Solomon, who scored ten goals on loan at Elland Road last season, or Harry Wilson, the club were unable to land any additional attacking signings in the final days of the window.
That recruitment failure from those above Farke has left the manager in a position where Jack Harrison is starting in the Premier League, which is a tough position to be in.
Why Leeds need to move on from Jack Harrison
The English winger returned to Elland Road in the summer after spending the previous two seasons on loan with Everton, which meant that he did not take part in the club’s two Championship campaigns.
Harrison’s form with the Toffees did not suggest that he was likely to return to Thorp Arch to improve their options at the top end of the pitch, as he struggled badly last term.
In the 2024/25 campaign, the left-footed dud scored one from 3.52 xG and failed to provide any assists in 34 appearances and 24 starts in the Premier League, per Sofascore, which shows that he was incredibly ineffective in the final third.
25/26 Premier League
Jack Harrison
Appearances
7
Starts
1
Goals
0
Big chances missed
1
Key passes per game
0.1
Assists
0
Successful dribbles per game
0.4
Cross accuracy
13%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Harrison has offered very little in possession on the pitch this season, with no goals and just one chance created in seven appearances in the Premier League.
The £90k-per-week flop’s form for Everton last season suggests that he is unlikely to improve much from this point, which is why the club should be looking to move on from him in the summer.
Farke wanted Wilson and Solomon at the end of the window, which suggests that he was not happy with his wide options, and it has been reported that the club will go back in for Wilson in January.
A move for the Fulham forward, who has scored seven Premier League goals since the start of last season (Sofascore), could leave Harrison surplus to requirements.
The English winger is not the only player in the squad who may be on borrowed time ahead of the January transfer window, though, as there are others who have struggled to adapt to the top-flight.
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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Brenden Aaronson is one and as as much as this may not be a popular thing to point out, there is a case to be made that central midfielder Ao Tanaka may not be suited to playing in the Premier League.
Why Ao Tanaka may be on borrowed time at Leeds
The Japan international was a star for the Whites when they won the Championship title last season, using his ability on the ball to dominate matches for Farke. After all, his manager described him as “unbelievable” for his performances.
He ranked within the top 7% of midfielders in the division for passes attempted per 90 (72.43) and for progressive passes per 90 (7.03), per FBref, which shows that he excelled in possession in the second tier.
The 27-year-old star also scored five goals from a central midfield position to help Leeds on their way to winning the tite with a staggering 100-point haul.
However, the step up to the Premier League has meant that Leeds have had to alter their style of play as they are unable to dominate matches with the ball as much as they were able to do in the Championship, which has been bad news for Tanaka.
Journalist Graham Smyth raised concerns over the midfielder’s physicality last month, saying: “My concern with Tanaka was physicality in the Premier League. He got run over a few times towards the end of the last season. I worried a little bit, against the most elite athletes in the Premier League.”
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The central midfielder’s form in the top-flight so far this season backs up the reporter’s concerns, as he has struggled in his duels across his six appearances so far.
Ao Tanaka’s physical struggles in the 25/26 Premier League
Opposition
Duel success rate
Burnley
0% (0/0)
Spurs
67% (2/3)
Bournemouth
20% (1/5)
Wolves
0% (0/0)
Arsenal
0% (0/6)
Everton
29% (2/7)
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Tanaka has only won more than 29% of his duels in one of his six outings in the Premier League this season for the Whites.
Per Sofascore, he has lost 76% of his duels in total, including 80% of his ground duels, and this shows that opposition players have found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical contests.
This may be why Farke has preferred a midfield trio of Ethan Ampadu, Sean Longstaff, and Anton Stach, as all three of them have won over 50% of their duels in the top-flight, per Sofascore.
Tanaka is a brilliant technician, as evidenced by his aforementioned form in the Championship, but the physical nature of a relegation battle in the Premier League seems to have rendered him ineffective in the middle of the park.
DCL upgrade: Farke must regret binning Leeds dud who was "like Archie Gray"
Leeds United must regret binning this striker who would be an upgrade on Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
ByDan Emery
If these issues persist until January, there may be a decision to make on his short-term future at Elland Road in the next January transfer window.
Chelsea’s January recruitment drive has intensified significantly following manager Liam Rosenior’s appointment earlier this week.
The Blues have already been linked with audacious moves for Barcelona midfielder Fermín López and AC Milan winger Rafael Leão in a potential £130 million double swoop, demonstrating their ambition to strengthen the squad across multiple positions during the winter window.
However, the west London club have now turned their attention to South America as they seek to add depth and quality to their midfield options.
The Blues are currently miles behind Premier League leaders Arsenal despite briefly being touted as title contenders, with a festive drop-off in form the catalyst for their overall downfall.
Amidst Rosenior’s push for a top four spot, strengthening the squad is arguably essential if they hope to confirm their place among Europe’s elite once again for 2026/2027.
Liam Rosenior asks Chelsea to sign £278k-a-week former Liverpool star on loan
The tactician has already demanded his first signing.
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Rosenior inherits a squad that lifted both the Club World Cup and Conference League under Enzo Maresca, and one which was bolstered significantly in the summer after these feats.
However, it has also been much changed from back then, with several players departing before the start of the campaign.
Now, Rosenior has an opportunity to stamp his own mark on the Chelsea squad, with bold reports suggesting he has already asked BlueCo to consider deals for both Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae.
Chelsea’s new boss is eyeing up fresh talent from Brazil as well, according to one media source this week.
Indeed, Chelsea have now even submitted their first concrete offer for a Brazilian prospect who has caught the eye of several Premier League clubs.
Chelsea submit bid for Corinthians midfielder Breno Bidon
According to Corinthians insider Somos Corinthianos, via Sport Witness, Chelsea lodged an official bid worth around £17 million for Corinthians midfielder Breno Bidon — marking the most decisive move from England so far.
The proposal arrived at Corinthians earlier this week but was rejected almost immediately.
Chelsea’s approach has actually strengthened the Brazilian club’s negotiating position rather than weakening it, with Corinthians now hardening their stance on any potential departure for one of their most prized young assets.
Sources in Brazil indicate that Corinthians have responded to Chelsea’s interest by significantly increasing their asking price.
The Sao Paulo club now want between £30-35 million before they will consider sanctioning a sale, representing almost double Chelsea’s initial proposal and showing just how highly they rate the midfielder.
Bidon remains under contract at Corinthians until December 2029, providing the Brazilian side with considerable leverage in any negotiations.
The club see absolutely no reason to rush into any decision regarding his future, particularly with multiple Premier League clubs expressing varying degrees of interest in recent months.
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Chelsea’s move adds another layer to a transfer saga that already involved significant English interest before the Blues even entered the picture.
ManchesterUnitedplayers during a minutessilence
Man United have tracked Bidon extensively over recent months, conducting detailed scouting missions and gathering comprehensive reports on his performances and potential suitability for English football, as per SW.
Arsenal also contacted Corinthians to request information about a possible deal for the midfielder. The Gunners apparently sought to understand the financial parameters surrounding any transfer, and gauge whether Bidon is a realistic target in January.
The 20-year-old remains extremely highly-rated, with Como scout Ben Mattinson claiming that some refer to him as the Brazilian answer to Barcelona sensation Pedri.
The Brazil Under-20 international is poised to garner more and more interest this year, and Chelsea appear right at the front of the queue.
Approved by Rosenior: "World-class" £60k-p/w star now prime Chelsea target
Nottingham Forest are now ready to make a £16m bid for an “amazing” forward, and they could hijack a rival Premier League club.
Forest keen on signing Arnaud Kalimuendo replacement
It is important that Forest get a new striker through the door before the January transfer window comes to a close, given that Taiwo Awoniyi is the only natural back-up to Igor Jesus at the moment, and the Nigerian is yet to get on the scoresheet in any competition this season.
Chris Wood remains sidelined due to injury, and having sanctioned Arnaud Kalimuendo’s departure earlier this month, the Tricky Trees have now set out to bring in a replacement.
A number of centre-forwards have been identified as potential targets, with Olympiacos star Mehdi Taremi believed to be the top target, and the Iranian has been in impressive form this season, compared to some of the other options on the shortlist.
Nottingham Forest’s striker targets
Current club
League goals in 2025-26
Mehdi Taremi
Olympiacos
8
Evan Ferguson
Brighton (on loan at AS Roma)
3
Youssef En-Nesyri
Fenerbahce
7
Jorgen Strand Larsen
Wolverhampton Wanderers
1
Nottingham Forest are not the only Premier League club looking to sign a new striker this month, with it recently being revealed that Aston Villa have opened talks to sign AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at Besiktas.
However, there could be a twist in the tale, with a report from Sabah (via Sport Witness) revealing Forest are ready to match the €18m (£16m) offer Unai Emery’s side have now put on the table for the former Chelsea star.
Indeed, a hijack could now be on the cards, with Everton also willing to make an offer of the same value, given that both David Moyes’ and Sean Dyche’s current strikers have struggled for goals this season.
A move to Villa Park seems to be the centre-forward’s first-choice option, however, so it remains to be seen whether the Tricky Trees can lure him to the City Ground.
"Amazing" Abraham scoring for fun at Besiktas
The London-born striker has performed very well for Besiktas this season, chipping in with 13 goals and three assists in 25 matches in all competitions, so it is perhaps a little surprising the Turkish club could let him leave.
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Not only that, but the 28-year-old has also proven himself in the Serie A, being described as “amazing” by former manager Jose Mourinho during his time at Roma.
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Nottingham Forest’s 0-0 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal last time out was a very good result, considering Dyche’s side are languishing near the bottom of the table.
However, it is concerning that Igor Jesus failed to score yet again, with the Brazilian bagging just one league goal all season, so Forest undoubtedly need to bring in a new striker this month, and Abraham could be a solid addition to Dyche’s squad.
This season, Manchester United’s striking options have certainly struggled a bit in front of goal. The Red Devils only have two senior out-and-out number nines at the club after Rasmus Hojlund’s summer departure, and it certainly feels like they’ve felt the impact of that lack of depth.
Manager Ruben Amorim has, perhaps unfairly, given Joshua Zirkzee limited opportunities this term, with the silky Dutchman only playing 11 Premier League games, bagging twice.
That is the same number of goals as Benjamin Sesko, with their summer signing from RB Leipzig now on a run of eight games without a goal.
It might not be a surprise, then, to learn United are linked with a new striker this winter.
Man United target Premier League striker
It does seem as though Zirkzee’s time at Old Trafford might be coming to an end in the next few weeks.
After another poor season at Old Trafford, he has been strongly linked with a move back to Serie A, with Roma touted as a potential destination for the United number 11.
Well, their replacement might come soon enough, and from within the top flight. According to a report from journalist Pete O’Rourke, the 13-time Premier League champions ‘are considering a move’ to sign Crystal Palace and France international Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The situation surrounding the three-cap French star at the moment is an interesting one. He is out of contract at the end of the 2026/27 season, and he is ‘stalling over a new deal’ according to O’Rourke.
This could give United the chance to move in and sign him for cheap, with Palace valuing him at a reported £26m over the summer.
Sky Sports have backed up those claims, revealing on Thursday that the Eagles forward is indeed a player they have ‘a long-term interest in’.
Why Mateta would improve United
In the last two and a half seasons, the 28-year-old has developed a reputation as “one of the best strikers in the Premier League”, according to Como scout Ben Mattinson. The Frenchman has become a key and consistent source of goals for the Eagles.
In 148 Premier League appearances, the striker, who hails from just outside of Paris, has bagged 45 goals and assisted nine. His best two goalscoring seasons came in 2023/24, when he scored 16 league goals and 2024/25, a campaign in which he grabbed 14 top-flight goals.
After 19 league outings this season, he’s already found the back of the net seven times, so he is roughly on course to score a similar number of goals again, showing excellent consistency.
Amorim would surely love someone with that level of experience in his squad. The strikers at Old Trafford have certainly struggled, with Sesko one of the players who has not really found his best form yet.
It might only be a matter of time, but United fans are not yet seeing the same sort of form the Slovenian showed for RB Leipzig.
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In two Bundesliga seasons, he hit 13 and 14 goals before getting his big move, so two goals in Red might well be seen as underwhelming.
The underlying stats from this season suggest that the Palace striker would be an upgrade on Sesko. For example, Mateta has a 16.28% conversion rate compared to just 8.33% conversion rate for the new Red Devils striker.
Mateta & Sesko 25/26 PL stats compared
Stat (per 90)
Mateta
Sesko
Shot accuracy
53.49%
50%
Coversion rate
16.28%
8.33%
Shots on target
1.5
1.3
Goals
0.5
0.3
Fouls won
0.7
0.3
Stats from Squawka
Having a striker with the quality and experience of Mateta in the squad would certainly benefit United’s number 30. Not only because he can learn from someone more experienced, but also because it would take the pressure off him as United’s main number nine.
This is surely a deal with which Amorim’s side cannot go wrong. It is a cut-price fee for a Premier League-proven striker, a plug-and-play attacker who would slot into the same system as he plays at Palace and improve the squad.
Pogba repeat: Man Utd preparing £130m bid to sign "best CM in the world"
This superstar can add lots of quality to United’s midfield
Leeds United remain unbeaten when starting with a 3-5-2 formation after they picked up a 1-1 draw away against Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday.
A late Dominic Calvert-Lewin equaliser secured a point for the visitors after his former England international teammate Jordan Henderson had put the Bees 1-0 up.
Despite the positive result in the end, picking up a point at a tough place to play, there were several players who underperformed for Daniel Farke.
Leeds United's worst performers against Brentford
Ao Tanaka was one of those players who failed to show the best version of himself, after scoring in back-to-back games against Chelsea and Liverpool in the last two matches.
The Japan international lost three of his four duels in the middle of the park, per Sofascore, as he struggled to deal with the physicality of the Brentford midfield, before being substituted before Leeds equalised.
Jaka Bijol was also among the worst performers for Leeds because it was his flick that created the shot for Henderson, whose effort then came off the centre-back’s boot and deflected past Lucas Perri.
Ranking Leeds’ worst performers vs Brentford
Rank
Player
1
Ao Tanaka
2
Lucas Perri
3
Jaka Bijol
4
Anton Stach
5
Noah Okafor
As you can see in the table above, we have ranked Noah Okafor in fifth place among the worst performers, which is because he failed to score with the four efforts that he had on goal, missing one ‘big chance’, as he failed to take advantage of the opportunities that he created for himself.
Anton Stach was also wasteful in the middle of the park. The German giant failed in two of his three attempted dribbles and only completed one of his six cross attempts, per Sofascore, whilst he also had a staggering five shots blocked.
We have ranked Lucas Perri as the second-worst performer in the game, though, and he should finally be dropped from the starting line-up by Farke.
Why Farke should drop Perri for Leeds
The £13.9m summer signing from Lyon should finally be dropped from the starting line-up after another underwhelming display between the sticks.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Leeds changing their formation to a 3-5-2 and playing a more direct game was always going to mean that Perri would have to go longer and have a lower pass success rate, because there are more hopeful, or 50/50, longer passes that have to be played.
However, he has registered pass completion rates of 32%, 31%, and 29% in the last three matches in the Premier League, per Sofascore. For context on how bad that is, Rodrigo Muniz (31.6%) is the only player in the entire division who has a lower pass accuracy than 46.6% with at least one match played, per WhoScored.
Perri completed eight of his 28 attempted passes against Brentford, 29% of them, and there were several times where he played a long pass that left Calvert-Lewin scratching his head because it went nowhere near him or straight out of play.
He was even worse than Bijol against the Bees because the central defender at least won 60% of his duels and completed 82% of his attempted passes, per Sofascore, which shows that he did a lot of good work in the match as well as making an error for the goal.
Perri, meanwhile, conceded one of the two shots against him and lost possession a staggering 21 times from 36 touches of the ball, per Sofascore, which illustrates how poor his distribution was.
25/26 Premier League
Perri
Darlow
Appearances
11
5
Save percentage
54%
62%
Goals prevented
-0.62
-2.69
Pass accuracy
49%
59%
Long pass accuracy
26%
31%
Possession lost per game
17.9
15.0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Karl Darlow has been more reliable with the ball at his feet for Leeds in the top-flight this season, whilst both of Farke’s goalkeepers have underperformed as shot-stoppers overall.
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The Wales international got a run of five matches earlier in the season when Perri was missing through injury, and was even nominated for Premier League Save of the Month in September.
If Darlow can improve his consistency as a shot-stopper, given that he can make saves like the one above but is on -2.69 goals prevented overall, then he could be a viable number one for the Whites.
Perri’s underwhelming distribution with the new formation and style of play is less than ideal, which is why Farke should drop the Brazilian flop to see if Darlow is a better option with this fresh set-up because of his superior ability on the ball.
Leeds star who "bodied Thiago" may be on borrowed time in Farke's new system
This Leeds United star may already be on borrowed time in Daniel Farke’s new system.
Manchester United are now seriously considering a move for a “lightning quick” Paris Saint-Germain star, with a surprise Marcus Rashford swap deal on the cards.
Rashford tearing it up on loan at Barcelona
Rashford has really managed to kick on since joining Barcelona on loan in the summer, amassing six goals and ten assists in all competitions, but it has recently emerged that the forward isn’t expected to make his stay at the Camp Nou permanent.
The Englishman is likely to have plenty of options to choose from next summer, however, with it being revealed Chelsea have held talks over a potential deal, while Tottenham Hotspur are determined to win the race for the 28-year-old’s signature and give him a leading role.
It is difficult to envisage a way back for the United academy graduate at Old Trafford, given his sour relationship with Ruben Amorim, and it has now been revealed the manager could get him off the books in a different way at the end of the season.
According to a report from Spain, Man United are now seriously considering signing PSG forward Bradley Barcola, and a surprise swap deal is possible, with Rashford potentially set to be sent in the opposite direction.
Barcola’s negotiations with the French club over a new contract have now stalled, which could open the door for a move to Old Trafford, although his current employers are very reluctant to sanction a departure.
With a market value of around €70m (£61m), a deal for the Frenchman would be on the expensive side, but there are indications he could be worth every penny…
"Lightning quick" Barcola impressing in Ligue 1 and Europe
Hailed as “lightning quick” by journalist Raj Chohan, the PSG star has put in some top performances in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League this season, regularly contributing with goals and assists.
Competition
Appearances
Goal contributions
Ligue 1
12
6
Champions League
5
2
The 23-year-old also played a major role in the French side winning the Champions League for the first time last season, chipping in with three goals and four assists in 17 appearances.
Man United appear to have recruited well in the summer, with new forward Matheus Cunha grabbing an assist in the 4-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, while Bryan Mbeumo already has six Premier League goals to his name.
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However, with the Red Devils looking to return to Europe next season, they may need more depth in attacking areas, and Barcola could be a brilliant addition to Amorim’s squad, so they should definitely try to negotiate a swap deal involving Rashford.
Managing a football club, particularly one the size of Manchester United, is incredibly difficult because you need to make decisions that line up with the short, medium, and long-term goals that are in place.
For example, it would be hard for the Red Devils to heavily lean on a strategy of signing incredibly young players with potential, with the hope that they turn into a top team in the future, because supporters expect results in the short-term, and rightly so.
This means that INEOS and Ruben Amorim have to be very careful with their squad planning to ensure that there is a competitive team on the pitch in the present, whilst also having a group of players who are for the future as well.
So far this season, United have been competitive on the pitch. They are seventh in the Premier League after 11 matches, with five wins, and are currently unbeaten in five games after their 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last time out.
One of the players who has been instrumental in the short-term success on the pitch, but is not one for the future, is the incredibly experienced Casemiro.
The Brazil international has been in fantastic form in the Premier League so far this season for the Red Devils, and they need to consider what they will do in the medium to long-term in his position.
Why Man Utd need to find a replacement for Casemiro
Manchester United need to identify their long-term successor to Casemiro because his current contract is due to expire at the end of the season, and he turns 34 in February.
The Red Devils need to make sure that his replacement is a top-quality one, as the former Real Madrid star has been in impressive form for the club alongside Bruno Fernandes in the middle of the park.
Casemiro is already one goal away from his Premier League career-high after netting three goals in ten starts in the division so far, with strikes against Nottingham Forest, Brighton, and Chelsea.
Along with his impressive output at the top end of the pitch, the 33-year-old star has been one of the best midfielders in the division in a host of key defensive metrics.
25/26 Premier League
Casemiro (per 90)
Percentile rank vs CMs
Non-penalty goals
0.44
Top 1%
Assists
0.15
Top 22%
Tackles
3.22
Top 9%
Tackles + interceptions
3.96
Top 18%
Dribblers tackled
1.46
Top 14%
Blocks
1.76
Top 9%
Aerial duels won
2.20
Top 11%
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, Casemiro ranks highly among his positional peers in the Premier League for tackles, interceptions, blocks, and aerial duels won.
These statistics illustrate why it is important for the Red Devils to find the player who can play in that position in the mid-to-long term, as the Brazilian star may not be at Old Trafford next season.
The only other ‘natural’ defensive midfielder in the squad is Uruguay international Manuel Ugarte, but he has failed to prove his quality since a £42m move from PSG last year.
After the Manchester derby in September, Gary Neville said the midfield is a “massive problem” and that Ugarte is “not good enough”, which speaks to the feeling around his performances for the club over the past 18 months.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
With this in mind, Manchester United could save millions of pounds by unleashing one of their stars in a different position, so that they will not need to splash the cash on a replacement for Casemiro and an upgrade on Ugarte.
Central defender Lisandro Martinez has been back in full training in recent weeks after suffering an ACL injury in February, and he could be a wildcard replacement for Casemiro.
Why Lisandro Martinez could be Man Utd's Casemiro replacement
The Argentina international has been away from the action for nine months because of his long-term injury, but he could be the answer to the club’s mid-to-long-term issues in the defensive midfield position.
Per Transfermarkt, all 89 of his appearances for United have come at centre-back or left-back, with 85 in the heart of the defence, which shows that he has not played as a holding midfielder for the club yet.
However, the left-footed star did start 22 matches as a defensive midfielder during his time with Ajax, before his £48.3m move to Old Trafford, and this means that he does have experience in that role.
Even whilst playing as a centre-back, Martinez has shown qualities that suggest that he would excel in midfield. Take the clip above, for example, as he wins the ball back in the opposition half and holds a high position to break into the box to score a wonderful goal.
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The Argentine star would have even more opportunities to pull off plays like that as a defensive midfielder, whilst it would also mean that his lack of aerial prowess would be less exposed, as he has won 55% of his aerial duels or lower in all three of his Premier League seasons, per Sofascore.
24/25 Premier League
Lisandro Martinez per 90
Percentile rank vs CBs
Shot-creating actions
1.34
Top 13%
Pass accuracy
89%
Top 35%
Progressive passes
6.01
Top 11%
Progressive carries
1.18
Top 16%
Key passes
0.46
Top 12%
Passes into the penalty area
0.93
Top 2%
xA
0.07
Top 6%
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, Martinez excelled with the ball at his feet in the top-flight last term, ranking highly among centre-backs in a host of progressive metrics.
Como scout Ben Mattinson once claimed that the centre-back “could become a world class DM”, and it is easy to see why when you couple his natural defensive instincts with his technical quality in possession.
Ugarte, for example, has averaged only 3.08 progressive passes and 0.81 progressive carries per 90 in the last 365 days for United, per FBref, which suggests that Martinez would offer more than he has in possession in the middle of the park.
With his prior experience in the position, time left ahead of him to develop further at 27, and his relevant attributes for the role, Martinez could be the dream long-term successor to Casemiro at Old Trafford.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers are now in advanced talks to sign Independiente’s Patrik Mercado, with a deal for the midfielder, who is in line to become Rob Edwards’ first signing, almost done.
Wolves are looking to sign a new midfielder amid the uncertainty surrounding Joao Gomes’ future at Molineux, with it recently emerging the 24-year-old would be willing to make a move to Old Trafford.
The Old Gold really would be gambling with their Premier League status if they sanctioned Gomes’ departure next month, but they are already very much up against it, having taken just two points from their opening 11 matches.
Edwards will be looking to oversee a major turnaround, starting this weekend against Crystal Palace, and if the new manager is able to get his side within touching distance of 17th place by January, a few new additions could help propel them to safety.
Wolves now in advanced talks to sign Patrik Mercado
According to a report from El Diario (via Sport Witness), Wolves are now in advanced talks to sign Independiente midfielder Mercado, having emerged as frontrunners in the race for his signature, and the deal is almost done.
As such, the 22-year-old is in line to become Edwards’ first signing at Molineux, and the deal is likely to be relatively inexpensive, with a €5.96m (£5m) fee being touted.
Sevilla and a number of unnamed Portuguese clubs are also in the race for the maestro, but it is looking like he could be heading to Wolves, even though the Ecuadorian would be a risky signing, amid their struggles at the wrong end of the table.
The versatile midfielder, who is capable of playing in defensive and attacking midfield roles, is yet to prove himself outside his home country, and may take more time than Edwards’ side have available to adjust to life in the Premier League.
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That’s not to say the Tena-born ace isn’t a future star, having remained a regular source of goals and assists for Independiente across the 2025 campaign, chipping in with 18 goal contributions.
Patrik Mercado’s attacking record in 2025
Appearances
Goal contributions
Liga Pro Serie A
28
11
Liga Pro Championship Round
4
2
Copa Sudamericana
7
4
Copa Libertadores
6
1
Given that a deal for Mercado would be relatively cheap, a deal is still worth pursuing, but having failed to win a single league game so far this season, Wolves may need to bring in more established players to stand any chance of avoiding relegation.
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The Old Gold have submitted an offer for a new forward, who could be available for a bargain fee.
Glasgow Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell was provided the funds to splash on a host of new signings for Russell Martin during the summer transfer window.
The former Everton surpremo was shaping the squad for the first time since his move to Ibrox in April, and there was plenty of movement in and out of the club.
As you can see in the graphic above, Thelwell was backed by the board when it came to incoming signings, as he splashed the cash on several significant additions.
The most expensive signing of the summer window was centre-forward Youssef Chermiti, who arrived from Everton in an £8m deal. So far, the Portugal U21 international has scored one goal for Rangers.
Bojan Miovski was also brought in for a reported fee of up to £4.2m to bolster the club’s attack. The former Aberdeen man has only scored two goals in all competitions, per Sofascore.
Another Thelwell signing who has been underwhelming since his move to Ibrox in a £3.5m deal from Luton Town has been attacking midfielder Thelo Aasgaard.
Where Thelo Aasgaard ranks among Thelwell's Rangers signings
Thelwell signed eight players on permanent deals in the summer, on top of the Oscar Cortes and Lyall Cameron deals that were agreed before his tenure, and the bulk of them failed to make much of an impact.
Djeidi Gassama has been the best addition to the squad out of those eight players. The French winger has scored six goals and provided two assists in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which is more than any other summer signing has managed.
Oliver Antman, who joined from Go Ahead Eagles for £3m, has the most assists in the squad of any summer signing, with three, per Transfermarkt, and still has plenty of time left to improve at the age of 24.
Chermiti ranks just above Miovski, despite the fee, because he is five years younger than the Macedonia international and has more time ahead to develop and reach his potential at Ibrox.
Ranking permanent Thelwell signings for Rangers
Rank
Player
1
Djeidi Gassama
2
Oliver Antman
3
Thelo Aasgaard
4
Youssef Chermiti
5
Bojan Miovski
6
Emmanuel Fernandez
7
Joe Rothwell
That is also why Emmanuel Fernandez, who has started two games, ranks above Joe Rothwell, who is 30 and did not even make the bench for the 3-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park.
That leaves Thelo Aasgaard in third place. That may sound like praise at face value, but it really paints a picture of how underwhelming Thelwell’s signings have been.
The Norway international has produced one goal and one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, and the assist was a short pass to Gassama before his wonder goal in the earlier clip.
Aasgaard was also sent off against Celtic in the semi-final of the League Cup at Hampden Park for Danny Rohl’s side, which means that he has as many red cards as goals for the club so far.
At the age of 23, the former Luton star has time ahead of him and may develop into a future star for the Gers, but his current performance level has been underwhelming, at best.
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That is why there may be some regrets over their decision to part ways with attacking midfielder Ianis Hagi, who was released by Thelwell at the end of his contract in the summer.
Why Rangers must regret releasing Ianis Hagi
The Light Blues chief may regret releasing the Romania international because he would walk into the starting line-up over Aasgaard based on his form for Rangers and his performances for his new club this season.
Hagi currently plays for Analyaspor in Turkey after moving on from Ibrox as a free agent in the summer, despite showing some impressive displays in the Scottish Premiership last term.
After working his way back into the squad under Philippe Clement after a contract issue, the 27-year-old attacking midfielder scored four goals, created six ‘big chances’, and registered five assists in 16 league starts for the Light Blues, per Sofascore.
These statistics show that the playmaker, who former Romanian international Ilie Dumitrescu dubbed “sensational” last term,provided a regular threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Scottish giants, whilst being utilised as a number ten or as a winger.
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As aforementioned, Aasgaard has not shown consistency as either a scorer or as a creator since his £3.5m move from Luton, which is why the decision to release Hagi in the summer looks like a misjudged one.
25/26 season
Aasgaard (Premiership)
Hagi (Super Lig)
Appearances
9
8
Goals
1
2
Conversion rate
7%
13%
Key passes
7
17
Big chances created
0
2
Assists
1
1
Fouls won per game
1.4
2.5
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Hagi’s form in the Turkish top-flight is also vastly superior to the Norwegian midfielder’s for Rangers, as he has scored ten more chances and scored twice as many goals in fewer appearances.
These statistics show that the Romania international has taken the threat that he provided on the pitch for Rangers last season and carried it into his form in Turkey for his new club.
Hagi only turned 27 in October and is not a player who is heading into the final years of his career or is regressing as a player, as evidenced by his form this season, which makes it all the more surprising that the Gers allowed him to leave for nothing.
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Their respective statistics suggest that the Romanian star would walk into the current Rangers team over Aasgaard, and that says it all about Thelwell’s recruitment in the summer, as it stands.