da heads bet： Wolverhampton Wanderers are all but safe from Premier League relegation following their 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town last weekend.

da dobrowin： Although it isn’t mathematically confirmed yet, it would take a miraculous series of events for the Tractor Boys to stay up at Wolves’ expense.

Vitor Pereira has done what he was brought in to do, but next season there will be a clean slate and the pressure to take the Old Gold into the top half of the league table.

Keeping Matheus Cunha at Molineux will be crucial in his bid to do so. That’s a certainty.

Matheus Cunha’s future at Wolves is uncertain

The Brazilian has scored 15 goals and registered four assists this season for Wolves. Given where they are in the table, if it weren’t for these contributions, the club would surely be facing the drop heading into the final few games of the campaign.

Not only does he rank in the top 2% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.55) in the top flight when compared to his positional peers, but the former Atlético Madrid star also ranks in the top 7% for total shots per 90 (3.61) and for carries into the final third (3.11), showing his class in the final third.

Manchester United were linked with a move for the attacking midfielder, while Arsenal also showed interest during the January transfer window.

Matheus Cunha’s PL stats for Wolves since joining

Metric

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

2

12

13

Assists

0

7

4

Big chances created

1

7

12

Shots per game

1.5

2.3

3.3

Key passes per game

0.4

0.9

1.7

Via Sofascore

It appears as though he could be on his way out of the Old Gold this summer and with a £62.5m release clause in his contract, the club stand to make a decent return on the player.

If he does leave, will Pereira use this fee to bring in a replacement or two? Or will he strengthen other areas of his squad?

It could be the latter, as U21 starlet Ty Barnett could be the club’s homegrown answer to the 25-year-old star.

Ty Barnett could be Wolves’ next superstar

Barnett tends to either play as a left-winger or an attacking midfielder, while the youngster has a decent eye for goal, netting 12 across 59 matches for the youth teams at the Old Gold.

This season, he has even featured as a centre-forward and this positional versatility mimics that of Cunha, who can operate across a few attacking positions.

The 19-year-old signed an extension to his contract in 2023 which will keep him in the Midlands until at least 2026, being praised by Jon Hunter-Barrett, the academy manager, in the process.

“We’re all delighted to agree on new terms for Ty. He has the ability to create and score and is very good in one v one situations.”

The teenager showed glimpses of his talent in the Football League Trophy this season. In three matches for the U21s, Barnett averaged two shots per game, scored once, and succeeded with 80% of his passes.

Given his team was playing against senior opposition in Wrexham, Port Vale, and Salford, it certainly wasn’t a bad set of displays by the talented forward, as he showed that he has the ability and maturity to play at first-team level.

This suggests that the potential is there for him to make the step up at Wolves and that is why he could be a future star for Pereira in the senior set-up if given an opportunity this season, or next term.

With Wolves virtually guaranteed survival, might Pereira give him his senior debut? Only time will tell.

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da brwin： While the mood around the club has dramatically improved following their Europa League win on Thursday night, Tottenham Hotspur have had to deal with plenty of problems this season.

da premier bet： The most significant has been the near-endless stream of injuries, which has made it impossible for Ange Postecoglou to field his first-choice defence for much of the campaign.

So, it’s not surprising to hear that Daniel Levy and Co are looking to add to their defensive ranks in the summer.

In fact, recent reports have touted a former Premier League player with a move to N17, a player who’s been compared to Cristian Romero.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

It looks like it will be a big summer for Spurs this year, so before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at a few of the club’s other targets, such as Oihan Sancet.

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The Athletic Bilbao monster will reportedly cost around £69m in the coming months, and while that is a lot, it might well be worth it, as in just 30 appearances, he has scored 17 goals and provided three assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.30 games, almost exclusively from midfield.

An even more expensive signing could be Matheus Cunha, with reports from earlier this month claiming that the North Londoners would be willing to spend £75m to secure his services ahead of the chasing pack.

Again, it’s an enormous sum of money, but given the fact that the Brazilian international has scored 16 goals and provided four assists in 30 appearances this season, it might well be value for money.

However, as mentioned above, bringing in some more defensive cover appears to be one of the club’s priorities this summer, which helps explain their interest in Eric Garcia.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Tottenham are interested in signing the former Manchester City gem, who is currently on loan with Girona, from Barcelona.

In fact, the report goes a step further, claiming that the Lilywhites are ready to make an offer of around €15m for the Spanish defender, which amounts to about £13m.

It could be a bargain for a relatively young centre-back who has plenty of experience playing at a high level, and he’s already won comparisons to Romero.

How Garcia compares to Romero

So, before getting into the other reasons Spurs might want to sign Garcia this summer, it’s worth exploring this comparison to Romero and where it comes from.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Argentine star is the fourth most similar centre-back to the Spaniard.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, passes into the penalty area, live passes, goal-creating actions, tackles, blocks and more, all per 90.

Garcia & Romero

Statistics per 90

Garcia

Romero

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.16

0.14

Shots on Target

0.40

0.53

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.48

0.53

Live Passes

73.4

71.5

Goal-Creating Actions

0.32

0.26

Tackles

2.06

2.17

Blocks

1.35

1.18

Aerial Duel Win %

55.6%

60.6%

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

On top of winning comparisons to the World Cup-winning Lilywhites ace, the £99k-per-week “monster,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has some seriously impressive underlying numbers in his own right.

For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for goals, goals plus assists, shots on target, non-penalty expected goals, penalties won and tackles in the middle third, the top 3% for long pass completion and passes into the final third, the top 5% for progressive passes and much more, all per 90.

Ultimately, even if he cost more than is being reported, Spurs would be smart to sign Garcia, so if they can get him for around £13m, then that would be a no-brainer, as he’d be an ideal backup for Romero and Micky van de Ven at the very least, if not a competitor for game time.

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da poker： Manchester United now appear to have one foot in the Europa League final after claiming a 3-0 triumph over Athletic Club in the semi-final first leg away from home.

da mrbet： Bruno Fernandes’ double and Casemiro’s header secured the triumph for Ruben Amorim’s side ahead of next week’s return leg at Old Trafford – needing to hold on to secure their place in the final.

Should the Red Devils reach such a stage, it would be a superb achievement, especially considering the side was on the brink of elimination with a handful of minutes to go against Lyon in the previous round.

It’s the perfect opportunity for the manager to claim his first trophy in the role after taking the reins back in November, potentially securing a place in the Champions League as a result.

Numerous players produced performances to remember in Spain last night, playing a huge role in the success which led them to a three-goal advantage after 90 minutes.

United’s star performers against Athletic Club

As previously mentioned, captain Fernandes managed to get himself on the scoresheet twice, taking his goal tally to 19 goals across all competitions in 2024/25.

However, his underlying stats from the win were just as impressive, making 12 passes into the final third, along with three chances created – enabling other players the opportunity to impress in attacking areas.

Manuel Ugarte was another player who starred in Bilbao last night, registering two assists for Casemiro and Fernandes – offering a presence at both ends of the pitch for Amorim.

He also managed to win 100% of the tackles he entered, along with five recoveries and five ground duels won – highlighting his impressive showing in Spain once more.

However, despite the performances of the aforementioned duo, one other Red Devils talent failed to deliver, putting his position within the side at huge risk with the summer rapidly approaching.

The United dud who’s becoming the new Van de Beek

Midfielder Donny van de Beek joined United in the summer of 2020, looking to be a key player in the side’s ambitions of returning to former glory.

However, the Dutchman, who cost a remarkable £40m, would make just 62 appearances during his four years at Old Trafford, with injuries also preventing him from being a regular.

He would depart the club in the summer of 2024, joining Spanish side Girona for just £500k, seeing the side lose 99% of their investment, highlighting how poor their business has been in recent years.

Amorim may have unearthed another version of the midfielder in the form of Mason Mount, who has massively failed to deliver since his £60m move from Chelsea in the summer of 2023.

Like Van de Beek, injuries have hampered his progress, making just 41 appearances in the last two seasons, but also failing to deliver when fit – as seen in his showing against Athletic Club last night.

He was brought on with 25 minutes remaining, but could only muster a total of 23 touches, completing a tally of just 12 passes – unable to have the desired impact.

Mount also failed to complete any of his attempted dribbles or his attempted crosses, losing possession seven times – looking wasteful when having the ball at his feet.

Mason Mount’s stats for United against Athletic Club

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

25

Touches

23

Passes completed

12/16 (75%)

Dribbles completed

0/1 (0%)

Crosses completed

0/1 (0%)

Possession lost

7x

Fouls committed

1

Stats via SofaScore

The 26-year-old picked up a booking to top off his showing off the bench, before being handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst – highlighting his lack of impact off the bench.

Throughout this season, Mount has been unable to make an impact, especially since Amorim’s arrival, often being injured but also unable to provide the goods when fit – as seen with his cameo last night.

Given his decline, the club desperately need to sell him this summer, avoiding a repeat of Van de Beek and losing a whole load of money on their investment, with any funds allowing the manager to make the changes he desires.

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da esoccer bet： Manchester City are racing a number of other Premier League sides for an “insane” midfielder, whose club are now demanding €60m (£51m) for his services, according to a report.

City set sights on new midfielders

da fezbet： Pep Guardiola is expected to continue the rebuild of his squad this summer, given their drop-off in the Premier League, although they still have a good chance to make a success of the campaign by winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League.

One area in which Guardiola is keen to strengthen is midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne set to leave at the end of the season, and the Blues are preparing to make a super offer for River Plate attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono.

There may also be a desire to overhaul the central midfield options, given that Ilkay Gundogan is in the twilight years of his career at 34, while Mateo Kovacic is set to turn 31 in just a few days’ time.

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Galatasaray’s Gabriel Sara has recently emerged as a surprise target, with the Blues making contact over a deal for the Brazilian, and they also have their eye on a Bundesliga star.

That is according to a report from Germany (via Sport Witness), which states Man City are now racing a number of their Premier League rivals for Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson.

A deal for Larsson will be on the relatively expensive side, however, with the report stating that Frankfurt are set to hold out for a fee of €60m (£51m) for his services.

Frankfurt are keen to keep hold of the Swedish maestro, but it may be difficult to turn down a big offer from one of the Premier League’s top clubs, with Arsenal and Liverpool also in the race for his signature.

"Insane" Larsson compared to Gundogan

Football scout Ben Mattinson has compared the 20-year-old to Gundogan, claiming he is “similar” to the German midfielder due to his ability to make late runs into the box and score goals.

Scoring goals is clearly the Sweden international’s forte, given that he ranks in the 90th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, but there are signs that he is a well-rounded midfielder.

Mattinson claims the youngster has “insane running power & stamina”, while also singling him out for praise due to his ability to win back possession.

With Gundogan now in the latter stages of his career, Guardiola may be keen on bringing in a like-for-like replacement, and there are plenty of signs that Larsson could be exactly that.

da poker： In what could be their best move yet under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United are now reportedly ready to launch their move to sign a Barcelona star for a discounted price this summer.

Amorim not shying away from Man Utd critics

da bwin： Whilst some managers may have been quick to defend Manchester United even as they fell closer to the relegation zone than the Premier League title, that is not Amorim’s preferred style. The former Sporting Club boss has been refreshingly, but ruthlessly honest since arriving at Old Trafford and that continued earlier this week in the build-up to the Athletic Bilbao game.

Amorim told reporters when asked about Manchester United’s European ambitions: “For me, in that moment and you look at Premier League, we are the worst team since I arrived in terms of results. That is my idea. In the end of the season, we can be the worst team in Premier League history with a European title.

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“So we will not change anything. We know that this season was disappointing. Nothing is going to change, in that moment, I have to think a bit more but I felt that. I still feel that this season was the worst in the last 50 years.”

Amorim, arguably more than those before him, seems to be well aware of just how great a task he has on his hands at the club. The Red Devils have fallen lower than ever in the Premier League and are struggling to maintain their place as a top six club on the pitch as well as off the pitch when it comes to finances.

There must be wholesale changes in the summer and that could commence with the arrival of a Barcelona star. United’s move, on paper, looks ambitious but reports indicating a major discount in pursuit should hand them plenty of hope.

Man Utd readying Araujo move

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now readying their move to sign Ronald Araujo following news that he is now available at the discounted price of just €50m (£42m). Alongside Juventus and Bayern Munich as the club in the strongest position to sign the Uruguayan, the Red Devils will be relieved to see his price drop to such a price, considering that previous reports indicated that Araujo could cost as much as €80m (£68m) this summer.

With Barcelona seemingly ready to show their defender the door after his performance in their stunning 7-6 aggregate defeat against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final, any deal could also be fairly simple to get over the line for those at Old Trafford. Barcelona’s reported decision is about as ruthless as it gets at the top level, especially given the praise that Araujo has received at the club.

Even Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has had positives to say about his countryman, telling reporters when asked to choose the most difficult defender that he has faced: “It has to be Araujo, who has defended me best. He is very good and very strong, that’s why he plays for Barca.”

da realbet： Andrea Berta has only been in his role as Arsenal’s sporting director for a matter of months but he is already faced with one of the most important summer’s in the club’s recent history.

da aviator aposta： While injuries, bizarre officiating and a lack of firepower have all contributed to the Gunners’ perplexing season, the fact of the matter is they have regressed.

Their title challenge petered out in January and although they did go further in Europe, reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, their reason for exiting was the same as last year; they lack players capable of scoring goals.

So, with that in mind, it’s just as well Arsenal are signing a midfielder first…

The latest on Arsenal's pursuit of Martin Zubimendi

We jest, of course, but Arsenal are now already on the verge of securing their first major addition of the Berta era.

The Gunners have been hot on the tail of Martin Zubimendi for a while now with reports emerging in January that they were set to get a deal over the line.

However, the Real Sociedad midfielder has been here before. Liverpool thought they had signed him last summer, only for the Spaniard to stay in LaLiga.

A year on, and it does look as though the 26-year-old will finally be leaving Spain behind with Fabrizio Romano reporting on Saturday that Arsenal have ‘agreed a deal’ to sign the player this summer, now set to trigger his €60m (£51m) release clause.

It’s reported that the midfielder has ‘verbally agreed’ to sign a long-term deal.

Despite all of that excitement, according to reports, Zubimendi isn’t the only player they are working on right now.

Arsenal move closer to striker signing

This weekend has been a pretty frantic one as far as transfer news is concerned, with Arsenal also looking to improve their options in the final third.

While the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak continue to be linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium, it’s Viktor Gyokeres who seems to be the most likely at the moment.

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Indeed, according to reports in Portugal, via Sport Witness, Arsenal have ‘submitted’ their first official offer for the Sporting CP striker, a bid worth €75m (£63m).

It’s suggested that fee is unlikely to be accepted with the club’s president, Frederico Varandas, believing he can get more for a player with an €100m (£85m) release clause.

While that might dampen the spirits of those at Arsenal, there is hope that a deal can be struck with Gyokeres actually having already agreed personal terms with the club.

Why Gyokeres is more exciting and important than Zubimendi

With Jorginho leaving north London behind at the conclusion of his contract and the ageing Thomas Partey yet to pen new terms, signing a new midfielder this summer is actually of utmost importance, particularly one who can play just in front of the defence.

It’s safe to say that Zubimendi can do that perfectly. It was he who was subbed on for Rodri in last year’s European Championship and the fact Spain went on to win it without the Manchester City midfielder on the pitch speaks volumes of how good the Sociedad star was.

During that game, he completed 92% of his passes and won all five of his ground duels. While Zubimendi isn’t as physical as someone like Partey, he’s very Jorginho-like in his play style. He dictates the game, presses well and rather crucially, would give Declan Rice the freedom to play as the attacking number 8 on a more regular basis.

But, for all the positives of signing Zubimendi, it’s Gyokeres who is the most important deal here.

Why? Well, the plain and simple fact is that Arsenal absolutely have to sign a new striker this summer if they want to challenge next season.

Even before Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus got injured over the winter, the Gunners needed more in attack but that has only been made even more obvious over the last few months.

While Leandro Trossard has been used as centre-forward on a few occasions, it’s Mikel Merino who’s largely been tasked with playing as a makeshift attacker.

To his credit, he’s done a solid job, notably scoring against Real Madrid. That was one of six goals he’s scored in 11 matches so far up top.

However, it’s pretty clear this isn’t sustainable and that was made more obvious against PSG. Merino didn’t have a poor second leg but time and time again Arsenal put a dangerous ball into the six yard box, only for no one in red and white to be there.

Well, in comparison, Gyokeres is always in the right place at the right time. Previously of Coventry City, where he scored 22 in 50 outings during the 2022/23 campaign, he’s only hit another level after moving to Sporting.

Race for European Golden Boot – 2024/25

Player

Goal tally

1. Viktor Gyokeres

38

2. Mo Salah

28

3. Harry Kane & Robert Lewandowski

25

4. Biereth, Mbappe & Retegui

24

5. Alexander Isak

23

6. Dembele, Haaland & Marmoush

21

Stats via Transfermarkt.

The Swedish sensation has been the most profilic forward in Europe during his time in Lisbon, bagging a whopping 43 goals in 50 games last season and finding the net on 52 occasions in another half a century of matches this term.

Very few do it better than Gyokeres and whether or not his profile is the most ideal for Arsenal, perhaps they just need to keep things simple. Arsenal need goals more than anything else and the “monster” striker – as he was described by journalist Alex Turk – does goals.

While Isak – valued at £150m in some circles – is reportedly the dream signing, Gyokeres is more prolific and he’s more cost-effective.

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da 888casino： Leeds United have conducted excellent work in the transfer window over the last couple of years, undoubtedly aiding their Championship title-winning campaign in 2024/25.

da dobrowin： Daniel Farke has built a superb side, which has constantly been affected by sales, with Georginio Rutter, Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville all departing last summer after the play-off final defeat.

The likes of Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Joel Piroe have all been signed since the German’s appointment in the summer of 2023, all playing influential roles in securing promotion to the Premier League.

However, added spending is likely needed over the next couple of months if the Whites are to maintain their Premier League status for more than just a single season.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, the hierarchy have already wasted no time in targeting reinforcements to aid Farke in his quest throughout 2025/26.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions

Striker Callum Wilson has been the biggest name on Leeds’ shortlist over the last couple of weeks, with it reported that Farke’s side were leading the race for his signature this summer.

The 33-year-old is set to leave Newcastle United this summer, with his contract set to expire at the end of June, but could face competition from West Ham United for his signature in the coming months.

However, he’s not the only player on their shortlist ahead of the off-season, with £10m Union Berlin right-back Josip Juranovic emerging as another option, according to TBR Football.

Their report states that the Whites are battling Burnley, West Ham and Fulham for the 29-year-old’s signature after making 17 appearances in the Bundesliga this campaign.

It also claims that the Croatian would be interested in a move to the Premier League during the upcoming window, with no offers yet made for his services.

Why Leeds’ latest target could be Farke’s next Tanaka

Midfielder Ao Tanaka has cemented himself as a fan favourite at Leeds after his heroic displays during his debut campaign in Yorkshire – being named in the EFL’s Team of the Season as a result.

The Japanese international joined the club from German outfit Fortuna Düsseldorf for a fee in the region of just £3.5m, which now looks to be a bargain given his showings at Elland Road.

The 26-year-old made 43 appearances, scoring five goals and registering two assists, highlighting the impact he’s made at both ends of the pitch over the last few months.

He will likely be a key part of any success endured in the Premier League throughout 2025/26, more than deserving of an opportunity in the top-flight given his time in Yorkshire to date.

Should the hierarchy complete a deal for Juranovic, it would hand Farke another version of the midfielder, joining the club from a German side – market that has evidently served them well in recent times.

Any move for the 29-year-old would see added competition for Jayden Bogle, offering depth should Sam Byram fail to agree a new contract at Elland Road.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Union Berlin ace would set the club back, he would be a shrewd addition, producing numerous key stats that would see him be a fit in the first team.

Josip Juranovic’s stats for Union Berlin in the Bundesliga (2023/24)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

17

Minutes played

1159

Chances created

2.1

Successful crosses

2.1

Dribble success

58%

Tackles won

62%

Duels won

3.3

Recoveries made

4.8

Stats via FotMob

He’s managed to win 62% of the tackles he’s entered, along with 4.8 recoveries made, handing Farke an added defensive presence in what’s likely to be a difficult campaign.

However, Juranovic, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by former boss Ange Postecoglou, has also starred with the ball at his feet, creating 2.1 chances per 90 and completing 58% of the dribbles he’s attempted – offering the likes of Piroe, Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto an opportunity to improve their goalscoring tallies.

Given the interest from elsewhere in the Premier League, the hierarchy will have to act quickly to avoid missing out on his signature this summer, potentially landing themselves a bargain transfer in the process.

Should he manage to get anywhere close to the levels produced by Tanaka in Yorkshire over the last few months, it would be yet another sensational signing and one that would increase their chances of Premier League survival in 2025/26.

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da 888casino： And so, it all comes down to this. A pivotal game that could not only define a season, but also define the future of Manchester United.

da realsbet： Victory in the Europa League final would see United sneak into next year’s Champions League, providing the benefit of additional funds and an extra negotiating tool for upcoming transfer negotiations.

It would also provide a welcome boost for the early Ruben Amorim regime, a moment to kickstart a tenure that has been largely wretched on the Premier League front.

The Portuguese coach has repeatedly stated that winning the competition would not be enough to “save” the club’s season, although the prospect of potentially finishing empty-handed and in 17th in the table is too grim to ponder.

In truth, the Red Devils simply have to win. The problem is, the same will be true of Tottenham Hotspur, amid the need to end their own 17-year barren run with regard to silverware.

With so much riding on a game of immense magnitude, Amorim and co can’t afford any passengers – something which a certain Rasmus Hojlund is looking like right now.

Rasmus Hojlund's game in numbers vs Chelsea

While Ange Postecoglou took the decision to rest his key men against Aston Villa on Friday – with Micky van de Ven among those left out of the matchday squad at Villa Park – Amorim opted for a different approach at Chelsea, having deployed what could well be his starting lineup for tonight’s clash in Bilbao.

The worry for the former Sporting CP boss will be that despite an encouraging opening, which saw Harry Maguire’s fine finish chalked off for offside, the Red Devils still ended up on the losing side, having again failed to provide that cutting edge in the final third.

Amid what was the eighth league game in succession without a win for the Old Trafford side, chances were few and far between, with Amad Diallo coming closest with an effort from the angle late on.

For Hojlund, meanwhile, it represented yet another game this season in which he failed to even register a shot in the top-flight, having merely been a bystander to proceedings at Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, the struggling Dane lost the ball on 13 occasions from his 26 touches, as per Sofascore, having also failed to complete a single successful dribble, alongside recording a 65% pass accuracy rate.

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A particular issue remains the 22-year-old’s desire to engage in needless battles with opposition centre-backs, as he ultimately won just two of his 11 total duels, getting little change out of Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill.

Amorim subsequently stated that he is “really happy” with the former Atalanta man, although perhaps the Portuguese is merely attempting to gee up the misfiring marksman, amid the lack of an obvious alternative through the middle.

Hojlund’s Europa League record – 24/25

Stats (*per game)

Record

Games (starts)

14 (10)

Goals

6

Shots*

1.5

Big chances missed

4

Goal frequency

154min

Assists

2

Big chances created

5

Key passes*

1.3

Total duels won*

36%

Possession lost*

5.4

Stats via Sofascore

Indeed, it might be time to consider actually replacing Hojlund with a wildcard solution, even if it would be a risk in a game of such importance…

How Man Utd can replace Hojlund

With just ten goals to his name in 2024/25, including just four in the top-flight, Hojlund is approaching the end of a miserable second season in Manchester, having failed to build on a debut campaign that saw him finish as the club’s highest scorer in all competitions.

Those woes have ensured that it would be worth considering a potential centre-forward replacement for Wednesday night’s clash, albeit with options limited due to Joshua Zirkzee’s recent absence through injury.

The Dutchman has been pictured in training, alongside Leny Yoro and Diogo Dalot, although whether he will be rushed back into the action this evening remains to be seen.

One solution may be to trial Kobbie Mainoo in that role once again, following his surprise start as a striker against Crystal Palace in February, albeit with that experiment failing to work out as the youngster ‘faded after the first 15 minutes’, as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

The aforementioned Maguire, meanwhile, should surely only be a last resort in the dying embers of a game, with the Englishman needed to hold the fort defensively, amid concerns over the likes of Matthijs de Ligt.

With that in mind, Amorim may instead need to call upon talismanic skipper, Bruno Fernandes, to slot into a false nine berth, with the 30-year-old yet to be trialled in that role in this 3-4-3 system.

The Portugal star has previously played in that central berth in the past, having notably worked in tandem with Scott McTominay as part of a front two in last year’s FA Cup final win over Manchester City.

A player of invaluable versatility and quality, the playmaking “genius” – as hailed by Erik ten Hag – appears to thrive wherever he is deployed, with such a switch then allowing Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte to offer greater defensive solidity as part of the midfield two.

Fernandes, meanwhile, could then be flanked by two of Alejandro Garnacho, Amad and Mason Mount in the number ten berths, with that fluid frontline potentially able to cause problems for a Spurs side who have endured their own notable woes this term.

A further benefit of that switch would be Fernandes’ ability to drop deep and drag the likes of Van de Ven and Cristian Romero with him, rather than the alternative of Hojlund attempting to engage in a duel with the stellar duo.

As The Athletic’s Jay Harris has noted, ‘with Van de Ven and Romero in the starting XI, Spurs can play thrilling football and look capable of competing for trophies. Without them, they look mediocre.’

Trying to get the better of the centre-back pairing will be vital at San Mames, with Fernandes able to give the two men something more to think about, rather than being content in dealing with the hapless Hojlund.

Yes, it would be a bold call to make such a switch for a final, yet with his performance at Stamford Bridge having been so underpar last time out, Hojlund can’t merely be guaranteed of start simply because of the lack of alternatives.

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da betsul： Manchester United are believed to be in pole position to sign a £4m+ striker who has also been targeted by Real Madrid in 2025.

Man Utd looking at more transfers after Cunha

da betway： The Red Devils are preparing for their first summer transfer window under the co-ownership of INEOS and manager Ruben Amorim, and there is plenty of work to be done following a disastrous 2024/25 Premier League campaign.

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A plethora of incomings and outgoings are expected at Old Trafford, and the first arrival ahead of Amorim’s first full season in charge is set to be Wolves attacker Matheus Cunha. Man Utd are set to trigger Cunha’s £62.5m release clause and give the Brazilian a five year deal at Old Trafford.

However, after Cunha, Man Utd are looking to make more additions to their squad, with Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo a serious target who could end up playing alongside the Brazilian behind a striker under Amorim.

At the back, Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford has been linked as a replacement for Andre Onana, and in midfield, Atalanta star Ederson is a man in demand with the Red Devils making contact over a transfer.

As shown over the last 12 months in deals for Ayden Heaven, Chido Obi and Patrick Dorgu, Man Utd are looking to build for the future by signing some of the best youngsters around, and they are now looking to sign a new teenage talent.

Man Utd in pole position to sign £4m+ striker who Real Madrid wanted

According to reports in Spain, relayed by Sport Witness, Man Utd are in pole position to sign Albacete forward Christian Kofane this summer.

It is claimed that the Red Devils, alongside AS Monaco and Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen are leading the chase for the 18-year-old forward, who has a release clause of just €5m (£4.2m), following his ‘explosion’ at the Segunda Division side.

Interestingly, Kofane has also been targeted by Real Madrid after bursting onto the scene in 24/25 for Albacete, with ‘half of Europe’ keeping an eye on the Cameroon-born striker.

Kofane’s stats for Albacete

Games

19

Goals

8

Assists

1

Minutes played

1,175

As can be seen, the teenager has made quite an impact in Spain after scoring on his La Liga 2 debut back in November, and by the looks of things, a move to Old Trafford could be one to keep an eye on over the coming months.

da pixbet： Rangers are believed to be interested in completing the signing of a “very interesting” attacking player in the summer transfer window.

Martin desperate to keep key players

da betsson： Russell Martin is looking to nail his summer transfer business at Ibrox, having been confirmed as the Gers’ new manager last week, following a lengthy search for the right choice.

The Englishman will no doubt be eyeing new signings, but for now, he is equally focused on retaining the services of key current players.

“We have to try and keep our best players. I think we’re all really aligned with that. So unless things come in that really help the club to build and move forward, I don’t think it’s a necessity to do that [sell] at all. That’s my understanding of it. And we’ve all been really clear on it. So we’ll just have to wait and see. But I’m looking forward to working with those guys. There are a few positions where we’ll need to strengthen fairly quickly and fairly early on.”

In terms of players who have been mentioned as potential signings, Southampton midfielder Flynn Downes could be Martin’s first addition as Rangers manager, having worked with him at St Mary’s already, but it appears first up on the agenda is a new number nine.

Rangers want to sign "very interesting" attacker

According to a new report from 24 Sata, Rangers are interested in signing Westerlo forward Matija Frigan this summer, as Martin looks to bolster his attacking options. The 22-year-old is seen as an exciting option for the Scottish Premiership giants, with his performances for his current club being noticed on the “big stage” by clubs around Europe.

Frigan could be a great young signing for Rangers, having been described as a “very interesting” attacking player by scout Jacek Kulig in the past.

The Croatian has outlined his goalscoring prowess throughout his career, not least when he netted 15 times in just 32 appearances for HNK Rijeka, and he has made a total of 25 appearances across various youth levels for his country.

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At 22, Frigan’s best years are still likely to be ahead of him, too, so Rangers would be acquiring the services of a player who could be a star at Ibrox for a long time to come.

Matija Frigan’s international stats

Caps

Goals

Croatia Under-21s

15

2

Croatia Under-19s

8

4

Croatia Under-18s

2

3

His tally of 13 goals for Westerlo in the Jupiler Pro League in 2024/25 was superior to any Rangers player in the Scottish Premiership, further suggesting he could be an upgrade on the current options.