All posts by z3u9t.icu

Despite the recent failings on the pitch for Manchester United, captain Bruno Fernandes has often been a shining light and producing numerous moments of magic.

The Portuguese international saved the Red Devils from a catastrophic campaign, ending the 2024/25 campaign with a total of 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions.

The 30-year-old has continued his excellent form into the new season, already netting two goals in the Premier League – with his latest securing a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim’s job would certainly have been on the line had it not been for his compatriot’s contributions in the final third, with the former Sporting CP talent certainly the club’s most important player in recent years.

However, the same can’t be said for one of his teammates, with the first-team talent unable to make the desired impact, with part of his failures potentially down to his squad number.

The curse of the Man Utd #7 shirt

Over recent years, United’s number seven shirt has often been one that has brought huge pressure onto the players who have worn such an iconic shirt.

Talents such as Alexis Sanchez, Memphis Depay and Ángel Di María have all succumbed to the pressure, subsequently leaving Old Trafford after disappointing spells at the club.

Mason Mount is the latest player to try and break such a curse, but like the aforementioned trio, he’s also struggled to make the impact he would’ve wanted upon his move to the Theatre of Dreams.

The 26-year-old joined in a £60m deal back in the summer of 2023, but he’s been restricted to just 52 appearances in his two-year spell in Manchester – with injuries massively halting his progress.

He’s suffered five separate injuries during such a period, missing a total of 52 matches in all competitions – subsequently being ruled out of 50% of games since joining the Red Devils.

Even when fit, the former Chelsea star has struggled to meet expectations, only registering six combined goals and assists – a record of just one contribution in every eight matches he’s featured in.

As a result of his lack of impact and constant injury issues, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Englishman drop down Amorim’s pecking order – potentially seeing one player take the number seven shirt in the near future.

The United star who could be Amorim’s next #7

As previously mentioned, Bruno has often been the man to come up with the magic for United, but it’s safe to say his responsibility has been taken off his shoulders in 2025/26.

The hierarchy backed the manager for his quest for success, spending over £200m on new additions to improve the options within the final third.

Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were just two of the additions made during the off-season, with the latter being the most expensive of the bunch – arriving in a deal totalling £74m including add-ons.

Fellow summer addition Bryan Mbeumo has already managed to star for the Red Devils, scoring twice in his first appearances for the club after joining from Brentford.

The 26-year-old arrived with huge expectations after netting 20 league goals for Brentford last campaign, but has already kick-started his United career with a bang.

His strike against Burnley helped secure Amorim’s side their first Premier League win of the new campaign – subsequently winning the club’s Goal of the Month award in the process.

Mbeumo, who’s been dubbed a “superstar” by one analyst, has also produced numerous impressive underlying stats which further highlight his quality start to life in Manchester.

Games played

6

Goals scored

2

Pass accuracy

80%

Successful crosses

2.1

Chances created

1.9

Dribble success

60%

Fouls drawn

1.7

Shots on target

1.3

He’s created 1.9 chances per 90 to date, along with a 60% dribble success rate – highlighting his ability to transition the ball into dangerous areas before teeing up a teammate.

The Cameroonian has also drawn 1.7 fouls per 90, whilst completing 2.1 successful crosses per 90, with such numbers further showcasing how much of an impact he’s had since his big-money transfer.

Should he continue his impressive form in Manchester, there’s no reason as to why the attacker can’t follow in Bruno’s footsteps and lead the club back to their former glory.

It looks as though he’s currently the best addition since the Portuguese international, with the pair potentially forming a deadly partnership together in the near future.

As a reflection of his immediate impact, Mbeumo should be handed the number seven shirt, with the Cameroonian talent arguably the perfect man to break the current curse at Old Trafford.

Outperforming Mainoo: Man Utd must regret losing "sensational" star for £0

Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one young talent to leave the club on a free.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 23, 2025

Leeds United could make a move for a “relentless” striker “in future windows”, with manager Daniel Farke thought to be personally keen.

Farke keen on striker with jury still out on Calvert-Lewin

Farke is likely to be happy with the start his side have made to the Premier League campaign, having collected four points from their opening three matches, most recently earning a hard-fought draw against Newcastle United at Elland Road.

However, the Whites were less impressive in the EFL Cup, being dumped out of the competition at the second round stage by a youthful Sheffield Wednesday side, with summer signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin making a disastrous debut.

The former Everton striker squandered a whopping four big chances at Hillsborough, while also missing the crucial penalty in the shootout, which resulted in a SofaScore match rating of just 5.3, the lowest of any player.

Cost £1.3m, sold for 1823% more: Leeds struck gold selling their own Wilson

Leeds United struck gold with their original version of Harry Wilson.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 9, 2025

As a result, the jury is very much still out on Calvert-Lewin, and Joel Piroe didn’t exactly fare much better, recording a pass-completion rate of just 53% against Wednesday, resulting in a 5.4 match rating.

Consequently, according to Graeme Bailey, the Whites could make a make for another striker, with the transfer expert revealing Norwich City’s Josh Sargent is still of interest, saying: “Leeds should have just done Sargent and [Emi] Buendia. To be honest, they still might, if Farke is still around!

“It was crazy he stayed in the end. He is very good. He has honestly improved so much in terms of hold up play.

“Even with Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin now there, he is perfect for Leeds longer-term. One to keep an eye on in future windows.”

Leeds’ interest appears to stem from Farke, given that a future move hinges on the German remaining at Elland Road, which suggests the manager is personally an admirer of the centre-forward.

"Relentless" Sargent off to a flying start in the Championship

The Whites were interested in bringing in Sargent during the summer transfer window, at which point it was revealed he was valued at around the £21m mark, but the American’s stock may well have risen since then, having made a fantastic start to the campaign.

The 25-year-old has already scored five goals in just four Championship games, which places him at the very top of the goal-scoring charts in the second tier.

The USA international has also received plaudits for his work-rate from Tony Pulis, who said: “He is one player out of the Championship you look at that stands out – he would certainly suit me as a manager because of his attitude and his determination – I think it’s relentless. He gives every effort to help his football club in every game they play.”

Calvert-Lewin still has plenty of time to put things right after a slow start, but if the Englishman is unable to find his feet at Elland Road, a January move for Sargent would make sense.

Manchester United continued their pre-season preparations with a fairly drab 0-0 draw against fellow Premier League side Leeds United on Saturday.

Ruben Amorim’s side featured two new signings in Diego Leon and Matheus Cunha, whilst the Red Devils are still finalising a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.

Whilst there will be a lot of focus on who Manchester United bring in to bolster their squad during the summer transfer window, the club also need to move on the players who are not going to be involved under Amorim next season.

One of those players, Marcus Rashford, appears to be on the verge of a move away from Old Trafford, as Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign the England international.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are set to sign the 27-year-old attacker on a season-long loan, with an option to make the deal permanent next summer.

David Ornstein has added that the Spanish giants are also set to pay 100% of the forward’s wages during that loan spell, in what will come as a welcome relief to Manchester United.

Why Rashford to Barcelona is a good move for all concerned

Rashford is reportedly on £300k-per-week at Old Trafford, as per Capology, and that equates to around £15.6m per year, which shows that the club are set to save a huge amount of money as part of this deal.

Whilst it is not set in stone that the winger will sign for Barcelona on a permanent transfer next summer, as it is only an option, United can be thankful that they are not paying his enormous wages next season, given that he was not a part of Amorim’s thinking.

It is money that could be allocated elsewhere, potentially to bring in further attacking reinforcements, as Rashford has not been consistent enough in the final third to prove that he is worth spending that kind of money on.

The England international was sent out on loan to Aston Villa for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that Amorim did not see a future for the academy graduate in his side.

24/25 (Man Utd & Villa)

11

£15.6m

£1.4m

23/24 (Man Utd)

8

£15.6m

£1.95m

22/23 (Man Utd)

30

£10.4m

£346k

21/22 (Man Utd)

5

£10.4m

£2.08m

As you can see in the table above, Rashford has failed to hit double figures for goals in two of the last four seasons in all competitions, and has only cost under £1.4m per goal scored in a season in one of the last four.

These statistics suggest that it is for the best that the English forward joins Barcelona on loan, with his wages paid in full, because United will be offloading a player, even if potentially just for next season, who has not justified his cost.

His exit will also create a space in the squad for United to bring in a replacement for him before the end of the summer transfer window, and the club are reportedly eyeing a star who could be an upgrade on him.

Man United make contact to sign Ligue 1 star

According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s versatile attacker Randal Kolo Muani.

The reporter claims that the Red Devils have already made contact with the Ligue 1 champions, as they pursue a potential transfer for the France international.

Transfer Focus

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

Aouna adds, though, that Newcastle United have also made contact with PSG over a potential deal for the forward, which means that there could be stiff competition for his signature this summer.

The journalist’s article on Foot Mercato also reveals that Juventus are interested in a deal to bring him back to Turin, after he spent the second half of last season on loan with the Italian giants.

This latest report does not outline how much money it would take to strike a deal with PSG for Kolo Muani, but a price tag of £50m was mentioned earlier in the summer.

Why Man Utd should sign Randal Kolo Muani

The Red Devils should push to win the race for his signature in the coming weeks because he could arrive at Old Trafford as an upgrade on Marcus Rashford.

Like the soon-to-be Barcelona player, the French attacker is a versatile talent who can play out wide on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward, which would provide Amorim with a plethora of ways in which to utilise his qualities.

In fact, France teammate Kylian Mbappe described Kolo Muani as being a “very complete” forward, and United could benefit from his brilliant all-round play as their new centre-forward, if they can secure a deal for him this summer.

The 26-year-old star scored eight goals and provided one assist in 16 matches in the Serie A during the second half of last term, whilst Rashford only scored six goals in 25 outings in the Premier League.

xG

0.36

Top 41%

Goals

0.62

Top 9%

Shots on target

1.08

Top 27%

Successful dribbles

1.39

Top 20%

Touches in opposition box

6.03

Top 20%

Interceptions

0.31

Top 14%

As you can see in the table above, the Juventus loanee produced high quality in a host of key metrics, as he excelled as a dribbler and a goalscorer, whilst also putting in hard work to win the ball back for his side.

Whilst, with one assist, the creative side of his game was not on full display, Kolo Muani did assist 17 goals in 46 games for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2022/23 campaign, which shows that he can be a fantastic creative threat when at his best.

The £50m-rated star, who scored two goals in three games at the Club World Cup, has delivered at least ten goals in all competitions in each of the last five seasons, whilst Rashford, as aforementioned, has only managed that in two of the last four years.

Kolo Muani could arrive as an upgrade on the England international because of his impressive form for Juventus in the second half of last season, as well as the almost guaranteed goals that his record suggests that he would provide in the final third.

Amorim's own Rodri: Man Utd agree personal terms to sign £26m sensation

Manchester United are starting to make things happen in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 19, 2025

Newcastle United’s transfer activity is really starting to heat up.

As has been widely reported, the Magpies are close to signing Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for a whopping £55m, a deal that truly kickstarts their business this summer.

The Swedish international scored six goals and registered 11 assists in the Premier League last season, meaning only Mohamed Salah and future teammate Jacob Murphy accumulated more of the latter.

The £55m fee means Elanga will become the second-most expensive signing in Newcastle’s history, behind only compatriot Alexander Isak.

Now though, could Eddie Howe convince a Premier League-proven striker, who is available as a free agent, to make the move to Tyneside?

Newcastle's search for a striker

It was confirmed on Monday that Callum Wilson had departed Newcastle, following the expiration of his contract.

The England international scored 49 goals in 130 appearances for the Magpies, 18 of which came during the 2022/23 Premier League campaign, as they finished fourth, but the 33 year old saw just 458 minutes of action last season, starting only two league fixtures due to injury issues, so will depart as a free agent.

Thus, to fill his spot in the squad, Luke Edwards of the Telegraph is reporting that Newcastle are ‘contemplating’ a move to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who himself is currently without a club, after leaving Everton.

Having missed out on Arsenal-bound Viktor Gyökeres, Mark Critchley and Laurie Whitwell of the Athletic believe that Calvert-Lewin is also a target for Manchester United, but the Red Devils will ‘only advance if they do not get any of their top targets’, so could Newcastle swoop in sooner?

Transfer Focus

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

How Dominic Calvert-Lewin would improve Newcastle

First and foremost, the 28-year-old has scored more Premier League goals against Newcastle than any other team, so signing him would, at the very least, prevent that tally from rising.

Newcastle

15

6

Crystal Palace

13

5

Burnley

11

4

Brighton

15

3

West Ham

12

3

Bournemouth

10

3

West Brom

4

3

More importantly, Calvert-Lewin could be an excellent fit for Newcastle.

The main question marks surrounding the England international pertain to his injury record, racking up just 1,613 minutes on the pitch this season due to a hamstring injury.

At Newcastle though, with Isak already there, Calvert-Lewin would not need to be an every-game starter, so his minutes could be managed, and, when fit and firing, he’s difficult to stop.

During the 2020/21 season, one of the best of his career, scout Jacek Kulig heralded him as a “monster.”

Meantime, Harshal Patel of Total Football Analysis has praised Calvert-Lewin’s ‘ability to hold up the ball’ and ‘intelligent movement’, with Patrick Boyland of the Athletic adding that he is an ‘elite-level striker’ in terms of ‘heading ability’, concluding there are few better in that regard than the ‘demon of the skies’.

So, should they sign Elanga and Calvert Lewin, could Newcastle become a crossing team that are impossible to stop?

Well, last season, the Magpies ranked 13th in the Premier League for completed crosses into the penalty area, according to FBref.com, but could Elanga change that?

Assists

11

3rd

Completed crosses

8

52nd

Shot-creating actions

102

30th

Goal-creating actions

18

6th

Big chances created

9

38th

Progressive carries

102

25th

As the table outlines, Elanga ranked, generally, very highly for all creative metrics in the Premier League last season, so the Swede and Calvert-Lewin could work as an excellent attacking duo, similar to his partnership with Chris Wood at Forest.

Thus, given that they already have Isak, and that Calvert-Lewin is available for free, this appears to be a no-brainer, low-risk move for Newcastle, that could only prove to be a smart addition.

Newcastle likely to see £30m bid accepted to sign a Scalvini upgrade

Eddie Howe is keen to bolster his defence this summer at Newcastle United.

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jul 7, 2025

Manchester United are working hard to get it right in the transfer market this summer, having approached a critical juncture in INEOS’ ownership.

Things didn’t go to plan last season, with Erik ten Hag dismissed by October and his successor, Ruben Amorim, struggling to get a tune out of the suffering Red Devils, who ultimately finished 15th in the Premier League.

But with Matheus Cunha already signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers, his £62.5m release clause activated, there are signs that Old Trafford will rise again.

Man Utd open talks for new striker

Cunha is a brilliant forward, but he’s not a centre-forward. The Red Devils need a partner to field as the number nine, and contacts have been made for such a striker.

Transfer Focus

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

Manchester United are looking to replace Rasmus Hojlund this summer and have set their sights on Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani, as per Tutto Juve, who has resurrected his career on loan at Juventus.

The 26-year-old Les Bleus star was on United’s radar – along with Tottenham Hotspur – in January after falling by the wayside in the French capital, though ultimately settled on a short-term stint in Turin.

Now, the above Italian report claims INEOS have made first contact with PSG for the versatile striker, although the same can be said for Newcastle United. Juventus, moreover, hope to purchase him permanently too.

What Kolo Muani would bring to Man Utd

Amorim is carefully piecing together a strikeforce capable of challenging for honours, capable of going punch for punch with the biggest hitters in the Premier League.

Kolo Muani on his A-game would certainly help in that regard. Leaving Eintracht Frankfurt to sign for PSG for around £76m in September 2023, the France international’s stock has since decreased, but he’s demonstrated with Juve his lingering quality, scoring ten goals and assisting three more across 21 matches in total.

With Cunha bringing his wide-ranging attacking skills to the table, Kolo Muani could find himself born again, thriving as the forward of a Premier League team chasing a return to European competition.

Sometimes, a change of scenery can help reignite the fire that has flickered out for a player. PSG proved to be the wrong career choice for the Frenchman, but a Man United project that he can lead that is showing signs of progress (on the transfer front, at least) is something he should consider pursuing.

24/25

Juventus

16

8

1

24/25

PSG

10

2

1

23/24

PSG

26

6

6

23/24

Frankfurt

2

1

0

22/23

Frankfurt

32

15

14

21/22

Nantes

36

12

5

United might find that Frankfurt’s €100m (£85m) valuation for Hugo Ekitike is a tad on the costly side, but they could snap up another of Die Adler’s star forwards in Kolo Muani, with that £76m price tag creeping down to a reported £50m if PSG sell this summer.

Once labelled a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus, Kolo Muani is a dynamic and incisive striker who has found his footing once again in Italy, ranked among the top 8% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last year for touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Furthermore, to have finished the campaign with a scoring rate of 0.50 is pretty impressive, given his woes across the first half of the year. In fact, as per Sofascore, his eight-goal haul in the Italian top flight also saw just four big chances missed, which makes an interesting comment on his prolific instincts.

Working with Cunha, Amorim could create a truly devastating strikeforce (and that’s without even discussing the potential addition of Bryan Mbeumo), with the Brazilian forward having averaged 1.8 key passes per Premier League match last season, creating 13 big chances. He was instrumental in staving off relegation for the Old Gold.

Of course, Kolo Muani is not just restricted to sharpshooting. His silky and furnished attacking style lends itself to creative support, and Cunha would delight in this, having demonstrated an incredible scoring ability for Wolves.

This is exactly the kind of electric signing United need to make to bring them back to a respectable position. That famous Theatre of Dreams pull will need to come into play once again.

Their best signing since Bruno: £40m target now wants to join Man Utd

Manchester United could be about to make another superb signing in this summer window.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jun 22, 2025

Leeds United will now have to significantly up their offer for a defender this summer, having seen an initial bid turned down.

Leeds eye defensive signings for Premier League return

The Whites are preparing for life back in the Premier League, as they look to achieve the increasingly rare task of remaining in the top flight and avoiding a speedy return to the Championship.

Defensive reinforcements are essential for Leeds, with world-class players coming up against them next season, and Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has been linked with a move to Elland Road, being seen as an upgrade on the hit-and-miss Illan Meslier. The 25-year-old was on loan at Strasbourg in 2024/25 and could jump at the chance to join a new club permanently.

Atletico Madrid left-back Reinildo is another potential addition for the Whites before the summer transfer window reaches its conclusion, being seen as a strong replacement for Junior Firpo ahead of his expected move to Real Betis.

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that Leeds are preparing a bid for Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, and now, another rumour has dropped regarding the defender.

Leeds need to pay £21.2m to sign defender

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via Sport Witness], Leeds and 49ers Enterprises could have to pay as much as £21.2m to sign Bijol this summer after their first offer of £13.6m was rejected by the Serie A side. A bare minimum of £17m will be needed.

The 26-year-old is seen as a priority option for the Whites ahead of next season, with Daniel Farke being backed financially by the club’s owners.

Bijol stands out as a brilliant defensive option to come in, possessing lots of experience but also still having years in him at the top level.

Wolves now in transfer race with Leeds to sign "future star" for £8.5m

Wolves are among the teams keen on signing an exciting young forward.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 12, 2025

The Udinese ace already has 63 caps to his name for Slovenia, meaning he has a great chance of reaching the century milestone at some point in his career, and analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as a “joke”, such is his quality.

Last season, Bijol shone at the heart of Udinese’s defence, averaging 5.4 clearances and 3.2 aerial duel wins per game in Serie A, with the table below further highlighting what a dominant campaign he enjoyed.

Appearances

34

Starts

34

Minutes played

2965

Clearances per game

5.4

Aerial duel wins per game

3.2

Tackles per game

1.3

Interceptions per game

1.1

Pass completion rate

83.8%

There are few negatives to Leeds signing the Slovenian, even though he won’t arrive on the cheap, and it is a piece of business they should be prioritising.

Chelsea are carrying on their busy summer transfer window after sealing a move for Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, with Enzo Maresca’s side now setting their sights on another exciting young centre-forward.

Chelsea could sign second striker after Liam Delap

The former Man City starlet joins in a £30 million deal following Ipswich’s confirmed relegation to the Championship, and fresh off the back of a 12-goal Premier League season, there is potential for Delap to do well at Stamford Bridge.

"Elite" player green-lights move to Chelsea with formal bid expected soon

He could be their next signing after Liam Delap.

ByEmilio Galantini Jun 4, 2025

After completing a medical earlier this week (Fabrizio Romano), Delap becomes Chelsea’s first signing of what is expected to be a busy window, and it is believed yet another striker could still follow the Englishman.

Rank

Team

Points

GD

3

Man City

71

+28

4

Chelsea

69

+21

5

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

This is made all the more possible by clubs showing a genuine interest in striker Nicolas Jackson, who could leave Chelsea this summer and make way for another number nine, likely to be Hugo Ekitiké of Eintracht Frankfurt as things stand.

“Liam Delap is joining as well as another striker that points in the direction of Hugo Ekitiké of Frankfurt,” wrote reliable journalist Simon Phillips, via his Substack, this week.

“There’s been a lot of contrasting reporting on Jackson and what his future will hold now it looks like two new strikers are arriving at the club.

“At the very least, he now has big question marks hanging over his head, but what is the latest on him?

“Chelsea do like Jackson, but there has been a desire to upgrade him and bring more competition in. They believe that he doesn’t have enough to lead Chelsea in the Champions League right now, so have looked to bring in others.

“In terms of a selling standpoint, they will very much listen to any offers that come in without actively pushing to sell him.”

Phillips adds that Manchester United, Aston Villa, Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid are all interested in the Senegalese and are considering making an offer, so an exit for Jackson is very much a possibility.

Now, as one African striker is faced with the prospect of leaving Stamford Bridge, another has been given the chance to join Maresca’s squad.

Chelsea make "official offer" to sign Villarreal striker Karl Etta Eyong

According to Africa Foot, Chelsea are seriously moving in pursuit of Villarreal striker Karl Etta Eyong.

The “promising” Cameroonian, as stated by this report, has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season, scoring once in La Liga for the first team and a further 19 for Villarreal’s B squad, with the 21-year-old also attracting attention from Toulouse, Getafe, and Leganes.

However, it is Maresca’s side who appear to be in pole position. Chelsea have made an “official offer” for Etta Eyong, submitting a five-year contract proposal until 2030, with the option of spending next season at sister club Strasbourg to help further his development.

There’s been no confirmation of whether the player or Villarreal are inclined to accept this proposal, but it may be one to watch over the coming days.

After missing out on the treble following defeat against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final, Celtic have reportedly made their first move to sign a 17-year-old wonderkid this summer.

Rodgers reacts to Aberdeen defeat

Taking charge of his 11th final in his career, Brendan Rodgers would have been hoping to see his side secure a domestic treble against Aberdeen to end their season. Their opponents had other ideas, however, and went onto hand the Celtic boss his first defeat in a final at his 11th attempt and caused a major upset.

It’s a human side of the Bhoys that the Scottish Premiership rarely saw throughout the season, but Aberdeen proved that it does exist. With that side of their game exposed too, Celtic will be desperate to double down on their dominance by retaining their crown once again next season.

Rodgers had his say on his side’s Scottish Cup final defeat, telling reporters: “This is a team that’s given me so much with their honesty and quality of their football. There’s been so many times when I’d sat in here and it’s been different. I’ve had 11 finals up here and down in England and this is my first loss.

“You have to accept that. It’s part of sport and part of football. And as long as you can look at it and reflect honestly then we can say we weren’t good enough in our quality. We’ve got no one else to blame.

“Domestically, we set out to win the league, the League Cup and the Scottish Cup and we were one game from doing that. But this shows you how challenging and how hard it is.”

Away from the pitch, meanwhile, the Scottish champions have already shifted their focus towards the summer transfer window and signing a 17-year-old wonderkid for Rodgers.

Celtic make first offer in Milosavljevic race

According to Meridian Sport in Serbia, as relayed by The Daily Record, Celtic submitted their first offer to sign Veljko Milosavljevic and have since had that offer knocked back by Red Star, who are demanding as much as €10m (£8.4m) to sell their wonderkid this summer.

The 17-year-old defender is quite rightly their prized asset and if the Bhoys want to secure his signature, it looks as though they’ll have to pay a hefty fee.

Still a teenager, Milosavljevic is already making his mark on senior football. For Red Star this season, he has started eight games in the Super Liga Srbije, whilst also making the bench for his side’s Champions League games against PSV Eindhoven and BSC Young Boys.

A dream Kuhn replacement: Celtic eyeing move for "unplayable" star

Celtic have sent scouts to watch a wing wizard who could be a dream replacement for Nicolas Kuhn.

1 ByDan Emery May 27, 2025

Whilst he wouldn’t necessarily be granted the same opportunities from the off at Celtic, he could eventually grow into a key part of Rodgers’ side. As impressive as the teenager has been, it’s a positive that his best work is still a long way away.

Signing such impressive young players represents how Celtic could maintain their Scottish dominance and more this summer, starting with Red Star wonderkid Milosavljevic in the forthcoming transfer window.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are resigned to losing talisman Matheus Cunha this summer as Manchester United close in on a move for the Brazilian.

The £62.5m release clause has been activated, which means Vitor Pereira will be looking to bolster his attacking options this summer.

Jorgen Strand Larsen has enjoyed a decent debut campaign at Molineux, but further additions will be needed if the club are to push into the top half of the Premier League table next term.

What could the manager do with the services of a prime Raul Jimenez next season?

Why Raul Jimenez was a success at Wolves

The Mexican striker signed for the Old Gold on an initial loan deal for the 2018/19 season, going on to score 17 goals in all competitions for the club.

In the following campaign, he was even better. Jimenez scored 27 goals and grabbed a further ten assists as the club finished seventh in the top flight and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

This is still the last time a player has scored over 20 goals in a single season for the Molineux side, as the centre-forward suffered a few horrendous injuries that impacted his effectiveness.

Indeed, he would only score another 13 times for the Midlands side before being sold to Fulham for just £5m in the summer of 2023. The player has enjoyed an Indian summer in London, scoring 12 top-flight goals this campaign alone.

Wolves haven’t replaced his goals, despite the antics of Cunha and Larsen this term. Might this change in the summer as Pereira eyes a Serie A striker?

Why Wolves must sign Lazio striker Taty Castellanos

Castellanos has an insatiable eye for a goal that would immediately get the supporters onside, especially as he could have the potential to replicate the feats of Jimenez should he move to England.

Reports in Italy claim that the Old Gold are seeking a move for the Lazio frontman, although a price tag of around £29m has been placed on his head.

The 2024/25 campaign was a prolific one for the Argentinian striker. Not only has he found the back of the net 14 times for the Rome-based club, but he has also added eight assists, proving how effective his all-round game is.

Lauded as “extraordinary” by Lazio manager Marco Baroni in October, Castellanos would be an interesting signing for Pereira this summer.

With Cunha departing, goals will have to come from somewhere. Could the Lazio talisman be their main man next season?

Goals

10

Assists

3

Shots per game

3.6

Goal conversion percentage

10%

Goal frequency (minutes)

222

Big chances created

6

When compared to positional peers in the Italian top flight, the 26-year-old ranks in the top 2% for total shots per 90 (3.84) and in the top 12% for touches in the opposition penalty area (5.69) per 90 this season.

Impressive statistics, but would he be able to carry these performances into the Premier League?

Time will tell, of course, but with the money generated from the sale of Cunha, some must go into signing a new striker.

Csstellanos might just be the ideal signing for Pereira this summer.

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ByTom Cunningham May 23, 2025

The 2024/25 season has seen a number of clubs break long-standing trophy droughts. February saw Newcastle United end decades of waiting for a major trophy as they took home the EFL Cup at the expense of would-be Premier League champions Liverpool.

Their 2-1 win over the Reds brought an end to the longest trophy drought of any 2024/25 Premier League club, with the Toon’s previous triumph coming in 1969 when they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, the predecessor to the UEFA Cup and Europa League.

Three months later, Crystal Palace created history by securing their first major trophy in the FA Cup final after a 1-0 victory over Manchester City, who failed to win any major silverware in a season for the first time since 2016/17.

They join Premier League champions Liverpool as cup winners, with the Reds now having won a major trophy in five of the last seven seasons.

Meanwhile, Tottenham finally ended their wait for major silverware as they lifted the Europa League in May 2025, defeating Manchester United for their first trophy in 17 years.

Rank

Club

Last trophy

Year

Trophy drought

Southampton

FA Cup

1976

Wolves

League Cup

1980

Ipswich

UEFA Cup

1981

Nottingham Forest

League Cup

1990

Everton

FA Cup

1995

Aston Villa

League Cup

1996

Arsenal

FA Cup

2020

Leicester

FA Cup

2021

Chelsea

Club World Cup

2022

West Ham

Conference League

2023

Man City

Premier League

2024

Man Utd

FA Cup

2024

Newcastle

League Cup

2025

Liverpool

Premier League

2025

Crystal Palace

FA Cup

2025

Tottenham

Europa League

2025

Here, we take a deeper look at the longest trophy droughts among 2024/25 Premier League clubs. To qualify for this list, they must have won at least one major trophy, so no room for Community Shields or Intertoto Cups here.

16 Tottenham Hotspur 2024/25 Europa League winners

You can’t say we weren’t warned. Ange Postecoglou ALWAYS wins in his second season at a club – even Tottenham.

However, if their league form was anything to go by – Spurs went into their 2024/25 Europa League final in 17th place – you’d have thought there was no chance of the Lilywhites going all the way in Europe.

But after 17 years and several false dawns – particularly after the 2019 Champions League final defeat under Mauricio Pochettino – the Australian boss finally delivered a trophy to Spurs. Their long trophy drought is no more.

15 Crystal Palace 2024/25 FA Cup winners

Crystal Palace headed into the 2025 FA Cup final looking to win a major piece of silverware for the first time. It was their third FA Cup final since their first in 1990, and after successive defeats to Manchester United at the showpiece event, it was neighbours Manchester City who stood in their way this time around.

Despite being heavy underdogs, a brave, accomplished performance from Oliver Glasner’s side saw Eberechi Eze’s first-half strike prove to be the difference, with City culpable of fluffing huge chances, including a missed penalty from Omar Marmoush.

The result means Palace can join most of their Premier League rivals as trophy winners, and go for more glory next season in the 2025/26 Europa League.

14 Liverpool 2024/25 Premier League winners

While they haven’t officially got their hands on the trophy, Liverpool were confirmed as the new kings of England in April 2025 following a dominant campaign they never looked like slipping up in.

The previous few years have been incredibly kind to the Anfield faithful, winning a raft of honours under the leadership of Jürgen Klopp. A sixth European Cup was won in 2019 before the Reds finally ended a 30-year league title drought by claiming the Premier League.

Many felt Slot would have a difficult time of things during his maiden campaign on Merseyside, but the Dutchman has ushered the club into a new era easier than many anticipated.

13 Newcastle United 2024/25 EFL Cup winners

Eddie Howe truly earned his hero status on Tyneside by ending almost 60 years of hurt with victory in the 2025 EFL Cup final against Liverpool.

Goals from Dan Burn and Alexander Isak handed glory to the Toon at Wembley, securing European football and potentially setting up a new era of challenging at the top end of the Premier League once again.

Now a force to be reckoned with, it would be a huge surprise if they take another 56 years to win another trophy.

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ByStephan Georgiou Feb 8, 2024 12 Manchester United 1 year (last trophy: 2023/24 FA Cup)

Manchester United may be going through their toughest period since Sir Alex Ferguson’s time in charge, but it hasn’t diminished their ability to win trophies.

The Premier League title has eluded the Red Devils since 2013, but the club have managed to win two League Cups, two FA Cups and a Europa League crown in the previous 11 years – but their defeat in the most recent Europa League final left them trophyless in 2024/25.

11 Manchester City 1 year (last trophy: 2023/24 Premier League)

Until their takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008, Manchester City had not won a major trophy since winning the League Cup during the 1975/76 season.

However, since 2008, the Etihad outfit have claimed eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups and a coveted Champions League title in 2023 as part of a historic treble.

Pep Guardiola has transformed the side into a winning machine, and despite enduring a poor season by their high standards, City will always be in the hunt for silverware.

However, their 2024/25 campaign came to a disastrous conclusion when they failed to take home any major trophy, with defeat in the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace rather summing up their season.

It marks their first trophyless campaign since Guardiola’s first in 2016/17, when they finished third and only made the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Nobody expects their ‘drought’ to last long, though it does leave the team in an incredibly unfamiliar position.

10 West Ham United 2 years (last trophy: 2023 Conference League)

Due to West Ham United winning the Conference League in 2023, their ‘drought’ is only a single year. David Moyes had led his club to the semi-finals of the Europa League a year prior, but they went one step further in Europe’s third-tier competition.

Can Graham Potter lead them back onto the continental stage? Only time will tell.

9 Chelsea 3 years (last trophy: 2021 Club World Cup)

Chelsea’s two-year trophy drought must feel like a lifetime for the supporters, especially due to the problems they have endured on the pitch since the start of the 2022/23 season.

Their last trophy came in February 2022, with the Blues taking part in a pandemic-delayed edition of the Club World Cup following their 2021 Champions League triumph.

Chelsea are now on their fourth permanent manager since August 2022, but signs do look positive that Enzo Maresca will eventually get the club back in the winner’s circle.

Much will depend on whether he is given the time required to build his team into one that can return to the Champions League. If so, the Stamford Bridge side could prove to be challengers at the top once again.

8 Leicester City 4 years (last trophy: 2021 FA Cup)

Leicester City’s fairytale Premier League title triumph in 2016 was their first major trophy since winning the League Cup in 2000.

Indeed, with the money involved in the game these days, the likelihood of a club like the Foxes claiming the Premier League title is as unrealistic as ever.

Five years after this triumph, the club won the FA Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win over Chelsea, winning the competition for the first time in their history after losing four finals on the spin.

7 Arsenal 5 years (last trophy: 2020 FA Cup)

For all that Mikel Arteta has done since taking over Arsenal at the end of 2019, the FA Cup won in August 2020 remains his only trophy.

The Gunners have made strides in the top flight, finishing second in the previous two seasons – the first time they have managed back-to-back top-two finishes for 20 years.

Liverpool ran away with the title this season, but the club appear to be on the right trajectory having qualified for the Champions League once again and been one match away from the final in 2024/25.