All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester United have made a stuttering start to the 2024/25 campaign, piling yet more pressure onto the shoulders of manager Erik ten Hag.

The Red Devils have won just three of their opening eight matches so far this campaign, currently occupying 12th place in the Premier League.

They’ve also been on the wrong end of multiple embarrassing results, losing 3-0 to Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford – with the supporters undoubtedly unhappy following the start to the new campaign.

The new-look hierarchy splashed out around £200m on five new signings over the summer to try and change the fortunes of the club in recent times, but up to now, it appears as though Noussair Mazraoui has been the only addition to make an immediate first-team impact.

As for the other new signings, there’s still time for them to settle into life in Manchester and demonstrate that they can be worth the huge transfer fees splashed out for their services.

Many will be hoping that they can provide better value for money than the majority of transfers from last season, which saw the club spend a fortune on talents who unfortunately haven’t made an impact under the Dutchman.

Manchester United’s transfer market in 2023/24

After finishing third in the 2022/23 campaign, there was a real expectation for Ten Hag to build on the impressive finish in his first season at the helm, with the board backing the 54-year-old in the market to give him the best chance of taking the side to the next level.

As a result, some big decisions were made, including allowing goalkeeper David de Gea to depart Old Trafford on a free transfer, whilst pursuing a move to land Senegalese stopper, Andre Onana from Inter Milan.

Ten Hag’s side subsequently splashed £47.2m including add-ons for the 28-year-old, nailing down the number one spot over the last couple of seasons – already impressing this term, keeping four clean sheets in the Premier League.

The club also made a move to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea during the same window, costing the Red Devils a whopping £60m – in a deal that has been disastrous after his failure to make an impact under the former Ajax boss.

Injuries have plagued his time in Manchester, restricting him to just 25 appearances in all competitions – currently costing them around £2.4m per appearance since his big-money transfer.

Sacrifices also had to be made to allow for the added investment into the first-team squad, with multiple brutal calls having to be made with youth talent who are only on the fringes of Ten Hag’s side.

Whilst he made 16 appearances in the 2022/23 campaign, winger Anthony Elanga only started five times in the Premier League – featuring for a total of just 422 minutes during the Dutchman’s first season in charge.

The Swedish international made it clear he wanted an increase in game time, subsequently leaving Old Trafford to join Nottingham Forest in a £15m transfer, allowing him to blossom in the process.

Elanga has since registered five goals and ten assists since departing, setting up Morgan Gibbs-White’s winner for the Reds against United back in December last year.

The 22-year-old has since been touted with a huge £50m transfer to fellow Premier League side Newcastle United in recent months – a signal of how impressive he’s been since his move away from his boyhood club, demonstrating that Ten Hag may have offloaded the talent too prematurely.

However, there’s another academy star who was sold during the same window, with his game time and value massively increasing as a result of his fresh start.

The player who United sold too cheaply in 2023

A major transformation of the club’s first-team squad was needed if the Red Devils were to progress to the next level under Ten Hag’s leadership.

Various former senior options were axed, including Eric Bailly and Alex Telles to allow for the aforementioned talents to arrive in Manchester – but they weren’t the only players who had to make way.

Centre-back Teden Mengi arrived in Carrington as a seven-year-old, having the dream of one day being a professional footballer for his boyhood side.

He spent 14 years at Old Trafford, often as part of the academy setup, but did manage to break into the first team and fulfil his dream of being a senior squad member.

Mengi would only feature twice, however, before departing on a permanent basis last summer, joining newly promoted Luton Town for a fee in the region of just €2m (£1.7m) – a bargain given his recent form.

The 22-year-old made 30 appearances under Rob Edwards in the Premier League last season, leading to large interest in his services, which also saw him feature for the England U21 side.

Despite suffering relegation back to the Championship at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, he’s continued his excellent personal form – scoring in the 1-0 victory over Millwall.

Teden Mengi’s market value in 2024

The centre-back has certainly showcased that he’s a phenomenal centre-back and has the capability of being effective in England’s top flight despite his departure from Old Trafford.

His subsequent form has seen a huge increase in his market value, with Mengi now valued at around £9m as per Transfermarkt.

The increase has seen a 440% jump from the fee the club sold him for just over 12 months ago, further evidence that the club sold him far too cheaply.

Mengi, who’s previously been dubbed “dominant” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is an example that sometimes you need to move on to reach your potential – leaving former employers to rue their decision.

Games played

30

Goals scored

1

Pass accuracy

78%

Dribble success

70%

Duels won

128

Aerial duel success rate

58%

Interceptions

58

Recoveries

126

Ten Hag’s current options of Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof aren’t exactly blessed with pace, but Mengi’s attributes could’ve provided that option at the back given their recent problems.

However, it wasn’t meant to be for the youngster, but it’s safe to say he made the right call to leave the club given his rapid rise at Kenilworth Road.

Man Utd thought they'd signed Scholes 2.0, then Ten Hag sold him for £420k

Man United lost millions of pounds on the deal

1 ByJoe Nuttall Oct 22, 2024

Aston Villa settled back into Premier League life well after the international break with a convincing 3-1 away win at Fulham, with all attention now shifting back to Champions League action.

Villa have also picked up confident victories in Europe’s most prestigious competition, namely last time out when Jhon Duran’s late strike was the difference between the West Midlands side and the might of Bayern Munich on a famous night at Villa Park.

Still, despite Unai Emery’s men boasting some impressive recent form, the ex-Arsenal manager could be tempted to make some changes to his XI for the test of Bologna tonight.

Those potential changes could well see Leon Bailey drop out of the first-team fold, as the Spaniard contemplates two alterations…

1 GK – Emiliano Martinez

Emiliano Martinez came up trumps in that away win at Craven Cottage, saving a penalty when the game was finely poised at 1-1, and will get the nod to start in between the sticks again.

After all, the Villa ‘keeper did make a mind-blowing seven saves versus Bayern to keep Vincent Kompany’s men at bay.

2 RB – Ezri Konsa

The first change could see Matty Cash drop out of the XI for Ezri Konsa to fill in at right-back, with Cash just back from an injury layoff.

The Poland international might not be risked for the showdown with Bologna, with Konsa a capable replacement having kept a clean sheet from this spot against Bayern.

3 CB – Diego Carlos

Diego Carlos will likely keep his spot even if Cash is sacrificed, as the Brazilian centre-back impressed versus Fulham.

The 31-year-old’s calm passing out from the back saw him only misplace three of his 51 passes on the day and he will be eager to follow up this top Premier League showing with a shutout in midweek.

4 CB – Pau Torres

Pau Torres also shone against Marco Silva’s men in patches, despite allowing Raul Jimenez to score early on for the hosts.

Torres is also one for these big occasions in the Champions League, having now amassed 14 games in the competition, with his last outing seeing him assist Duran’s dramatic winner.

5 LB – Lucas Digne

Yet to miss a game in the Premier League or Champions League for his side this campaign, Lucas Digne feels like a shoo-in for a start.

Digne has also picked up two assists from his ten games this season, with the potential for him to make it three against the visitors from Italy.

6 CM – Amadou Onana

Amadou Onana has been a fantastic summer buy for Emery’s men so far, having impressed with his goalscoring ability with three goals from ten clashes to date.

One of those strikes came in the Champions League up against Young Boys in Villa’s opening taste of the competition, with Onana potentially hungry for more goals when Bologna come to town.

7 CM – Youri Tielemans

Onana will also give Villa some needed grit in the holding midfield positions, with his partner in crime and fellow Belgian Youri Tielemans a creative force for the top-flight club when on his A-Game.

He certainly was playing at the peak of his powers against Fulham, amassing 92 touches of the ball with an assist coming his way courtesy of Ollie Watkins finding the back of the net for 2-1.

8 RM – John McGinn

The second alteration Emery will ponder making is dropping Bailey for a fresher right midfielder to enter the team, with Bailey poor at Craven Cottage.

The Jamaican winger would see the game pass him by, with possession squandered 17 times in total, which could open the door for John McGinn to come in down the right flank.

Jaden Philogene is also in for a shout, but after his quickfire red card at Fulham, Emery might opt to play his “relentless” Scotsman instead, as he was once labelled by football journalist Mat Kendrick.

9 CAM – Morgan Rogers

There will be no doubts in the air as to who starts in the attacking midfield spot tonight, with Morgan Rogers continuing to excel for Villa in recent games.

The ex-Middlesbrough ace fired home Villa’s first goal of the clash against Fulham and will want to leave his mark on Europe’s grandest stage tonight.

10 LM – Jacob Ramsey

Jacob Ramsey also entertained the Villa away masses in West London by putting in a top-drawer showing, with the Villa number 41 assisting Rogers’ opener among other bright moments.

The homegrown Villa prodigy will hope he can unlock Bologna tonight in a similar manner, as his boyhood employers potentially make it three victories from three.

Glasgow Rangers’ faint hopes of a Premiership title challenge took another hit on Sunday afternoon as they slumped to a disappointing 1-0 loss.

14 months after the Light Blues lost to Killie when they were managed by Michael Beale, it is evident that nothing has changed in that period, as Philippe Clement is failing to get anything out of his current crop of players.

The Belgian faces three crucial games in the next ten days which could determine whether he remains in his post or not.

There was not a single standout performer against Killie, with several players being outfought in the important areas on the pitch, including the heart of the midfield.

John Souttar was far from his best, despite shining for Scotland during the international break, shackling Cristiano Ronaldo during the 0-0 draw against Portugal last week.

John Souttar's performance in numbers vs Killie

The centre-back may have got the best of Ronaldo recently, but he found Killie forward Marley Watkins a difficult character to keep quiet.

Touches

96

Accurate passes

80/88

Total duels (won)

8 (7)

Possession lost

8

Tackles

0

Clearances

3

Statistics can sometimes mask a poor display and that is the case with Souttar against the Rugby Park side. He managed 96 touches and completed 91% of his passes throughout the game, while also winning an impressive seven of his eight contested duels.

Despite this, Watkins ran him ragged during the encounter and his work rate paid off during the dying moments of the tie as Souttar was caught out, which allowed the Killie striker to score what turned out to be the winner.

Matthew Elder, journalist for the Scotsman, gave Souttar a match rating of just 4/10 for his performance, and he is going to need to cut out the mistakes ahead of what looks like the most important stretch in the club’s season.

Although he has been at Ibrox since 2022, Souttar has yet to convince a large section of the supporters with his performances. The bonus is, that the defender isn’t earning a fortune at the club, plus he helps with the Scottish contingent for the European quotas.

The former Hearts defender is one of the lowest paid first-team squad members, currently earning £8.1k-per-week at the Light Blues.

Signing players who will offer some value to the squad without paying them a fortune is the aim of any Rangers manager, with the move for Souttar in 2022 making sense in this regard.

The centre-back earns less than the likes of Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo and Ridvan Yilmaz, all players who have struggled with consistency during their time in Glasgow.

There is one player in particular who is also earning more than Souttar but is way below the standard of quality required to challenge for the title; Kieran Dowell.

Why Rangers need to sell Kieran Dowell

Towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign, Michael Beale was keen on getting a head start with regard to his transfer business as he sought to begin his rebuild at the Gers.

One of the first players to join that summer was Dowell, who agreed a pre-contract agreement in May, with Beale praising the midfielder, saying: “I am delighted to welcome Kieran to Rangers. He already has great experience in his career, with a number of Premier League appearances, and he is a player we feel will fit well into our squad and our style of football.”

On the surface, it looked like a smart move. Dowell had played for both Everton and Norwich City during his career and, with strength in depth required, the Englishman was a relatively risk-free signing.

It didn’t take long for the supporters to realise that Dowell wasn’t exactly Rangers material.

The former Everton academy graduate didn’t quite feature as often as he would have liked during his maiden season in Glasgow.

Overall, he made just 17 appearances, with only five of these coming from the starting XI. The midfielder did score twice, against Livingston and Motherwell in the Premiership, but chances were few and far between.

He was even left out of the Europa League group-stage squad, further hindering his chances under Beale.

Things didn’t exactly get better with Clement, as he was only used sparingly, aside from a four-game spell during the festive season, as injuries and suspensions hampered the squad.

The midfielder failed to even rank in the top 15 among the Rangers squad for accurate passes and key passes per game in the top flight last term, and his chances have been few and far between throughout the current campaign.

Dowell has played only nine times under Clement in 2024/25, with only two of these appearances coming from the starting XI. It is evident that the Belgian needs to move him on sooner rather than later, especially considering how much he is being paid…

Kieran Dowell’s wage at Rangers

The midfielder is currently earning £16k-per-week at the Light Blues, which is double what Souttar is earning, despite the Englishman operating on the periphery of the squad.

This has been part of the problem at the club for a long time now, signing players who fail to live up to the expectations while they continue to earn a staggering wage, thus draining the club of vital resources.

It looked like Clement was intent on solving this during the summer, moving on the likes of Connor Goldson and Sam Lammers. The fact Dowell is still part of the squad is scarcely believable and, hopefully, he will move on before too long.

Much will depend on whether there are any potential suitors for the player, but even securing a minimal fee for him would surely be a bonus, especially since Beale didn’t pay a penny to secure his signature a year ago.

Not just Dessers: Clement must now drop 5/10 Rangers gem after Killie

The Light Blues suffered a horrendous defeat against Killie on Sunday

ByRoss Kilvington Oct 21, 2024

As they continue to ponder just how to replace Mohamed Salah, Liverpool are now reportedly racing alongside Premier League rivals Manchester United in the battle to sign a young winger who has been compared to Angel Di Maria.

Liverpool transfer news

It was easy to worry for the Reds when they ended the summer transfer window without truly making their mark, having only welcomed Federico Chiesa and Giorgi Mamardashvili, who has gone straight back to Valencia on loan for the rest of the season. Their failure to sign a defensive midfielder was a particular concern, but Arne Slot has so far more than coped after transforming Ryan Gravenberch into one of the most in-form midfielders in Europe at the heart of his side.

Whilst Liverpool sit top of the Premier League thanks to their excellent work on the pitch, however, they’re far from without cause for concern away from it, especially on the contract front. As things stand, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are all set to leave Anfield as free agents in what would be a disastrous outcome for the Reds.

Now seemingly searching for replacements, those in Merseyside have reportedly turned towards South America to find the heir to Salah’s throne, in particular. According to reports in Spain, Liverpool are now battling Manchester United to sign Thiago Fernandez from Argentine side Velez Sarsfield next summer.

No Jota or Szoboszlai in 4 changes: Liverpool predicted line-up v Bologna

Anfield plays host to the Champions League lights for the first time under Slot’s wing…

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 1, 2024

The 20-year-old has been compared to former Real Madrid star Angel Di Maria, who of course famously failed to make his mark at Manchester United, but Liverpool will be hoping that the winger thrives where his compatriot struggled if he completes a move to England in the future.

"Flamboyant" Fernandez is one to watch

Seemingly destined for the Premier League, given the clubs racing to secure his signature, there’s no doubt that Fernandez is one to watch. His ability to play across the frontline and in attacking midfield makes the Argentine a versatile option who could hand Slot a further solution in several areas.

Meanwhile, if this is to be Fernandez’s final season in Argentina, then he’s bowing out in style, with five goals and eight assists to his name so far in the current campaign. Dubbed a “flamboyant winger” by Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig, the 20-year-old would hand Liverpool an interesting alternative to what Salah provides Slot’s side.

Beating Manchester United in the race for Fernandez’s signature should no doubt be an extra motivation for the Reds, who may well find their replacement for Salah in South America.

It perhaps comes as no surprise that Unai Emery has led Aston Villa to a wonderful start to the new season.

Across seven matches in all competitions, the Midlands outfit have won six games, only suffering defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League.

Much of this has to do with his excellent ability to move players on for decent fees, while also bringing in the best possible talent.

This summer, Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby departed the club, yet the supporters clearly aren’t missing them, especially given how impressive the new arrivals have been.

Amadou Onana looks like a player who will only get better under Emery, while Ian Maatsen has shone in his brief appearances for the club.

Emery isn’t perfect, however, as not all of his signings have demonstrated their true qualities. Nicolo Zaniolo is a prime example of this. Last summer, he arrived on a season-long loan deal from Galatasaray in the hopes of adding some quality to the Villa midfield.

The reality was very different, as the Italian failed to nail down a regular berth in the starting XI.

Nicolo Zaniolo’s Aston Villa’s statistics

Emery spent big during his first summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Diaby and Pau Torres, which worked wonders for the Spaniard as he led Villa to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, thus, securing Champions League qualification in the process.

While big money was spent, Zaniolo was a largely cost-effective signing, yet it didn’t quite work out as well as the fans wanted.

Goals

2

Assists

0

Key passes per game

0.4

Big chances created

0

Shots per game

1.1

Total duels won per game

2.4

Across the entire 2023/24 campaign, the Italian midfielder made 39 appearances for Villa, yet only 13 of them were from the starting XI. He only managed three goals all term, highlighting how little an impact the 25-year-old made in England.

In the top flight, Zaniolo ranked in a lowly 13th position for goals and assists (two), while also ranking eighth for big chances missed (three), 14th for key passes per game (0.4) and 12th for successful dribbles per game (0.4).

It is clearly evident that he was underwhelming during his temporary spell. Thankfully, Emery could call upon other players, which meant his ineffectiveness wasn’t a deterrent in the squad.

Before the Spaniard secured his signature, Villa were linked with a young talent who would eventually move to the Premier League…

Aston Villa missed out on Jeremy Doku

According to reports at the time, Villa were reportedly keen on securing a move for Jeremy Doku, having submitted a bid of around €30m (£25m), which was rejected by French side Stade Rennais.

During the 2022/23 campaign, Doku starred for Rennes. Across 35 games in all competitions, the winger scored seven times while chipping in with five assists, clearly capturing the attention of Villa in the process.

When it was clear the Midlands side were out of the running for the talented Belgian, Manchester City swooped in, signing him for a fee in the region of £55.5m, which would have been a club-record transfer for Villa – who ultimately ended up landing Zaniolo.

It is clear given his performances in Manchester that Emery missed a huge opportunity in failing to bring the Belgian international last summer.

Jeremy Doku’s Man City stats

While City may have won ‘just’ one trophy last term, retaining their Premier League title, Doku was one of their star performers, fitting into Pep Guardiola’s side with apparent ease.

Not only did he score six goals for City, but he also registered 11 assists, showcasing his prodigious talents in the process.

The winger was previously hailed as “frightening” by former Premier League defender Anton Ferdinand in 2022 and certainly displayed qualities which had defences terrorised up and down the country.

When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Doku ranked in the top 1% for progressive carries, successful take-ons and touches in the opposition penalty area per 90.

Combine this with the fact he ranked in the top 2% for shot-creating actions and in the top 5% for assists in the previous 365 days, underlining how impressive he was in the final third.

So far this term, Doku has scored once in seven games, but given he is only 22, the winger can only get better and better.

Jeremy Doku’s market valuation

His performances for City last season saw his market value rise. According to Transfermarkt, Doku is now currently valued at €65m (£54m), which will only continue to rise should he keep delivering wonderful displays on the pitch.

Not only that, but the winger is the 26th highest-valued player in the Premier League. Considering he has only been in England for just over a year, it is quite an achievement.

While Villa did qualify for the Champions League last term, could they have perhaps gone further in the Conference League or won a domestic trophy if they had Doku at their disposal?

It will go down as a major case of what if for Emery, with his success at City rubbing salt into the wounds, no doubt about that.

Reaching the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition will give the manager plenty of leeway to secure some of the finest talent on the continent.

Doku clearly fits into that bracket. Villa won’t want to miss out on talents of this calibre in the future, that’s for sure.

One that got away

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

The main thing for Emery now is to keep doing what he is doing in the transfer market, bringing the best talent to the club in the hope they can end their 30-year major trophy drought.

Missing out on the Belgian has proven to be a big blow, but he won’t be the only talented attacker Emery has his eye on.

Aston Villa thought they may have the next Messi, then he left for just £7m

He was dubbed the king of speed…

ByConnor Holden Sep 27, 2024

Looking ahead to the future, Liverpool have reportedly registered their interest in signing one particular Real Madrid target who is on course to become an undeniable star.

Liverpool transfer news

If there were any concerns that the Reds would fall away in the Premier League following Jurgen Klopp's departure, then those have been significantly eased by Arne Slot and the start his side have made this season. Earning maximum points without conceding once in a run that includes a 3-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Dutchman may just be getting started.

Klopp sold Liverpool star for £6.5m, he's now outscored Chiesa since 2021

The club may regret allowing the talent to depart Anfield.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2024

As the former Feyenoord boss continues to get settled, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes may start to think about the 2025 transfer windows, in which Liverpool could be far busier than they were in a relatively quiet summer.

The rumours certainly suggest that's the case too. The Reds have already been linked to the likes of Angel Gomes, who would be making quite the controversial move as a Manchester United academy graduate. The England international has recently returned to the spotlight once again after making his Three Lions debut.

With his contract coming to an end next summer, the deal would certainly make sense, but Gomes isn't the only midfielder that those at Anfield reportedly have their eye on.

According to GiveMeSport, Liverpool have registered their interest in signing Chris Rigg from Sunderland alongside Manchester City and Chelsea, whilst Real Madrid have also been linked with a move.

Such interest should come as little surprise too. Rigg, just 17 years old, is already a consistent starter at the Stadium of Light and looks set to be the next best player in the Championship, potentially following in Jude Bellingham's footsteps in the process.

Liverpool, however, will seemingly be looking to deny Real Madrid the chance to sign yet another future star in a battle that the Reds are all too familiar with.

"Wonderful" Rigg is a future star

The way he has maintained his place in a Sunderland side who sit top of the Championship under new boss Regis Le Bris makes it difficult to believe that Rigg is still just 17 years old. The midfielder instantly stands out among his teammates as a star in the making and one destined for the very top. It's potential that former boss Tony Mowbray saw and potential that the rest of English football is now seeing.

Mowbray previously told Sunderland's official website, via Chronicle Live: "Chris Rigg is pushing really hard for a starting place in our team I would suggest, and I don’t say that lightly, he’s a 16-year-old boy. He knows where the goal is and wants to run forward, he’s got energy to burn and can keep running all day.

"He looks you in the eye and wants to please and do what you want him to do. He should have scored again to be honest, if he’d trusted his right foot he would have scored again.

Rigg is doing really well and is a real positive for our football club. I’m eulogising about him there, we shouldn’t overly build him up. He’s still a young boy but he has wonderful qualities and wonderful attributes.”

After all the investment into the playing squad over the last couple of years, Manchester United have stuttered and failed to push their way back up to the top end of the Premier League.

Boss Erik ten Hag is entering his third season in charge at Old Trafford, but despite winning two trophies in his first two seasons, there is a real demand from the fanbase to improve and push themselves up the table.

This season hasn’t started the way many would’ve hoped, sitting in 14th place on just three points after the first three matches of the new campaign.

Despite multiple new additions in various needed areas of the pitch, issues in the middle of the park have once again reared their heads, with various players failing to make an impact.

One first-team member in particular has produced various disappointing displays, looking past his best after his big-money move to Old Trafford.

Casemiro’s disappointing time at Man United

After joining the Red Devils in a £70m deal from Real Madrid in 2022, Casemiro was signed to try and provide needed quality and experience in the centre of midfield.

However, the move hasn’t gone to plan, with the Brazilian failing to make the impact many would’ve envisaged, picking up two red cards and looking way off the pace in the Premier League.

Jamie Carragher demanded that he leaves for Saudi Arabia last season and perhaps he should have heeded that advice.

He was touted with a move away from Manchester this summer, but remained at the club upon the closure of the transfer window, producing a disaster class against Liverpool during last weekend's 3-0 defeat.

The 32-year-old was at fault for both of the goals in the first half against Arne Slot’s side, being replaced at the break by academy graduate Toby Collyer.

However, the club may have made a mistake in allowing one midfielder to leave, with the former United ace undoubtedly a better talent than Casemiro in 2024.

United made a mistake allowing £9m ace to leave

James Garner is one of many stars who have come through the United academy, making seven appearances for the club’s first team.

He was sent on various loan spells to Watford and Nottingham Forest, before securing a permanent £9m transfer to fellow Premier League side Everton during the summer of 2022.

The move has allowed the 23-year-old to gain consistent first-team minutes – featuring 62 times for the Toffees under Sean Dyche and developing into a fabulous talent.

His development has progressed rapidly in a short period of time, with the Englishman now undoubtedly a better midfield option than Casemiro when delving into his stats from last season.

Garner may have won slightly fewer tackles per 90 minutes, but did dominate in possession, completing more progressive carries whilst succeeding with more take-on attempts than the Brazilian.

Games played

37

25

Goals + assists

3

3

Progressive carries

1.1

0.6

Key passes

1.32

0.73

Shot-on-target accuracy

24%

23%

Shot-creating actions

2.93

1.86

Tackles won

1.3

2.6

Interceptions

1.35

0.82

Take-ons completed

0.6

0.4

Errors leading to goals

1

2

He also registered fewer errors that led to goals than the current United midfielder, with Garner undoubtedly a more dependable option than the 32-year-old.

Given his form in the Premier League, the Red Devils certainly made a mistake by allowing the youngster to depart the club.

With Garner only being 23, he still has the potential to improve further, potentially developing into a top-quality midfielder – demonstrating what he’s capable of after his departure from his boyhood club.

Man Utd "phenomenon" sold by Solskjær is now outscoring Hojlund & Zirkzee

The brilliant striker was incredible last season.

3 ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 6, 2024

Following last season's third-place finish under new boss Erik ten Hag, it is now over a decade since Manchester United last tasted Premier League glory, with the Red Devils having been forced to watch on as their city neighbours have dominated the division in that time.

Despite a net spend of over £1bn since the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Old Trafford outfit have never truly looked like ending that barren run, with a shaky start to the new season indicating that this lengthy wait is set to continue.

Of the current first-team squad, only the returning Jonny Evans – who signed on a short-term deal last month – was part of the last title-winning squad back in 2013, with former teammates Phil Jones and David De Gea having left the club over the summer.

Despite the length of time that has passed since that most recent triumph, it feels like only yesterday that the legendary Ferguson signed off his illustrious managerial career with a final major honour, aided by a side spearheaded by the devastating brilliance of striker, Robin van Persie.

How many goals did Van Persie score for Man United?

The major talking point heading into that 2012/13 season was the controversial capture of the Dutchman from rivals Arsenal, with the experienced marksman having been tasked with guiding United to a 20th league title, following the prior Sergio Aguero heartbreak in the previous campaign.

Robin van Persie (Arsenal)

Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund)

Alexander Buttner (Vitesse)

Nick Powell (Crewe)

Angelo Henriquez (Club Universidad de Chile)

Snapped up from under the nose of Arsene Wenger for what now looks a rather measly £24m, the one-time Feyenoord ace was seemingly the catalyst for the success that was to follow in Ferguson's last bow, taking on the mantle of being the main man in attack.

Having plundered 30 league goals the year prior for the Gunners, the Rotterdam native netted a further 26 top-flight goals in his new surroundings to not only claim a long-awaited league title but also a second successive Golden Boot gong.

That, however, was as good as it got for the now-retired ace as his form somewhat dipped over the next two seasons, ultimately scoring just 22 league goals combined as the club as a whole struggled to adapt to a post-Ferguson world.

Even despite only enjoying what was a relatively brief three-year stay at the Theatre of Dreams, for a long while the 40-year-old arguably remained the most influential signing of the decade at the club, with few having hit the ground running quite so successively since then.

That being said, however, it could be argued that Van Persie's solid legacy has now been eclipsed despite United's continued quest for major honours, with it fair to say that current skipper Bruno Fernandes has proven the major success story of the last ten years or so.

How much did Man United pay for Fernandes?

Much like Van Persie, the Portugal international's impact in Manchester was immediate following his arrival from Sporting CP in January 2020, with the playmaker providing the creative spark that had long been lacking in Manchester.

Signed for an initial £47m – less than what United forked out for Fred (£52m) – Fernandes' smooth transition to life at Old Trafford was made all the more impressive considering, unlike Van Persie, that he had never played in English football prior to that.

A Man of the Match performance on debut at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers set the tone for what has been a standout spell since then for the 5 foot 10 maestro, with it hard to imagine where the club would be had they not acquired the talismanic figure just over three-and-a-half years ago.

How many goals has Bruno Fernandes scored for Man United?

Despite operating in a number ten berth – unlike Van Persie – the Maia-born gem has proven himself to be a real weapon in a goalscoring sense for the Red Devils, while also providing the benefit of his creative flair as a link between midfield and attack.

That dual quality has been evident from the off as the £240k-per-week sensation ended that 2019/20 campaign with eight goals and seven assists in just 14 league games, while also netting three times in just six Europa League outings for his new side.

The midfield "magician" – as recently lauded by Statman Dave – subsequently contributed a staggering haul of 28 goals and 17 assists in 58 games in all competitions in 2020/21, while adding a further 24 goal contributions the following year.

Having continued to impress over the past 12 months or so, the 29-year-old's current tally now stands at 65 goals and 55 assists in just 189 games for the club in total, with Van Persie, meanwhile, scoring 58 goals yet registering just 21 assists in his 105 outings.

How has Bruno Fernandes performed this season?

Now the man with the armband on a permanent basis after teammate Harry Maguire was stripped of the captaincy earlier in the summer, it is fair to say that the 59-cap international is the undisputed leader in Ten Hag's side, showcasing remarkable resilience and consistency to have missed just one game through injury or illness in his United career to date.

While his start to life as the new club captain may have been somewhat rocky – with the Red Devils losing two of their opening four league games – the one-time Udinese man still boasts one goal and one assist in the top flight thus far, converting from the spot to clinch the comeback victory over Nottingham Forest last month.

Previously described as a "dream" for a striker by club legend Roy Keane, Fernandes currently leads the way in the division with regard to 'big chances' created, after also topping the charts in that regard last term.

That quality was also on his show for his country against Luxembourg on Monday night as the former Sampdoria dynamo got himself on the scoresheet and completed a hat-trick of assists, including a delightful, outside of the boot cross for Goncalo Inacio.

To have maintained his levels over an extended period of time is a credit to the playmaker's talents, with United supporters only truly seeing the best of Van Persie for a solitary season, prior to Ferguson's exit.

There will be those who argue that Fernandes – who has just a Carabao Cup to show for his efforts thus far – needs to do more to help drag his side back into contention for major honours, yet if any current player is to lead the charge towards the title in the coming years, it is likely to be the Portuguese genius.

As the Manchester United pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat heats up on transfer deadline day, director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves has reportedly flown to Italy.

What is the latest transfer news on Man United and Sofyan Amrabat?

The Red Devils have been chasing the Fiorentina midfielder for some time but don't appear to be able to pay full price for the player.

Indeed, as per The Times, Man United "cannot afford to meet Fiorentina’s £30 million asking price" but they are trying to loan the Morocco international instead.

That same report notes how Amrabat himself doesn't even know what the future holds as he said this week: “If I go away, I don’t know . . . maybe I could stay."

As per The Athletic, the Premier League outfit did make a €2m (£1.7m) loan bid but it was unsurprisingly turned down by Fiorentina.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

But in a fresh update, shared by David Ornstein on Twitter, "Manchester United director of football negotiations Matt Hargreaves has flown to Italy" to try and complete a deal. However, there is "no agreement" between the clubs for the 27-year-old as of yet.

Interestingly enough, there were reports in the Manchester Evening News about a private jet which has been booked from Florence to arrive at Manchester Airport on Friday afternoon at 12.52pm (UK time).

That article also noted that: "United have not denied the possibility they have arranged the private jet".

And while, after Ornstein's latest update, it might seem unlikely that another flight would be booked quite so soon after Hargreaves' has arrived in Italy, as it is a private flight, it is possible the scheduled time could be pushed back to allow for protracted negotiations.

Now, in a further update from Fabrizio Romano, the player is "on his way in order to undergo medical tests as new Man Utd player after agreement reached."

How many goals has Sofyan Amrabat scored?

As per The Athletic, Hargreaves is a former executive at Adidas and was only appointed to his role at United in March, starting work this summer. So this will be one of the first major deals he would have been involved with for the club.

With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if he returns to Manchester alone, or if he can successfully complete a loan deal for the 27-year-old midfielder.

In Amrabat, United certainly won't be getting an attacking player. After all, in 107 games at his current club, he has scored just one goal, while also picking up only one assist. In fact, across his entire senior club career, he has only netted five times having made 228 appearances for four different teams.

However, the Red Devils should be landing a pretty feisty defensive midfielder if they can get this deal across the line. Indeed, during the 2022 World Cup, Moroccan journalist Amine El Amri called the player a "raging bull" when speaking to TalkSPORT.

"Sofyan Amrabat is a great footballer in addition to being a raging bull," they said. "I’m trying to be as objective as I can, but I think he’s been the best midfielder in this World Cup.

“I have nothing but respect for guys like Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Rodrigo De Paul and many others, but I think he’s been absolutely the best player in midfield in this World Cup.”

Manchester United have completed business in three important areas already this summer, welcoming a goalkeeper, a midfielder and a striker to the club.

Yet, with news of Luke Shaw's injury, it could spur the board into bringing in a new left back.

That said, the Red Devils may well sign a further midfielder before the window slams shut next Friday evening.

What's the latest Manchester United transfer news?

Erik ten Hag's men have been mentioned alongside Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat with great regularity throughout the summer.

That said, the Old Trafford outfit are yet to really ramp up their efforts to sign the £30m-valued Moroccan.

Taking to social media over the weekend, Fabrizio Romano detailed the latest on Amrabat's future.

He said: "Sofyan Amrabat has not been called up for Fiorentina game. As revealed earlier today [Saturday], Amrabat’s no longer going to play or train with 1st team of Fiorentina until his transfer situation gets resolved. Amrabat, waiting for Man United since end of June."

What are Sofyan Amrabat's strengths?

In Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund, United have welcomed three players through the door with the aim of fixing some important areas; creativity, goalkeeping and finishing chances.

That said, Hojlund, despite his 16 goals in all competitions last season and apparent likeness to Erling Haaland, is still an incredibly raw proposition and may well not be ready to make the step up this season.

He will no doubt score goals but if Ten Hag and his side want to be challenging for the title, they need someone who is ready now. Amrabat isn't a striker, of course, but he is more than ready to make his mark immediately.

Passing

Discipline

Long-range shooting

Concentration

Ball recoveries

Chance creation

Progressive carries

Starring at the World Cup, where he was described as a "monster" by broadcaster Carlo Garganese, La Viola ace was named in Football FanCast's team of the tournament, such were his displays as his country reached the semi-finals in Qatar.

Since then, Amrabat has continued to star in Serie A and looks every bit the type of player who would take to Premier League football like a duck to water.

Unlike 20-year-old Hojlund, Amrabat is in the prime of his career and as such, would surely be a better short-term signing for Man United.

Hojlund will likely come good in the coming years but United are chasing instant success and with Amrabat in tow, their chances of doing so become greater.

Casemiro may already play at the base of midfield but the Moroccan enforcer would help the Brazilian to surge forward with more regularity.

Indeed, Amrabat is very much a metronome. Not known for scoring goals – he didn't score at all last term – he ranks inside the top 9% of midfielders in Europe's top five leagues for passes completed per 90 minutes, the best 6% for overall pass completion and the top 8% for progressive passing distance.

What that suggests is that while the 27-year-old tends to play the ball over long distances, they do more often than not find a man. This could be crucial in transitioning the play from defence and building attacks for the likes of Hojlund and co to finish off.

Having registered only one assist last season, this is not a man who will rack up impressive numbers throughout the season but he will tick things over, making life easier for everyone else on the team.

Amrabat exudes calmness and would be a brilliant player for United. Not often the headline maker, he would surely be deserving of them if he can make a mark in the Premier League.