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Rafael Benitez is reportedly set for a return to management with Botafogo as the ex-Liverpool boss gears up for a fresh challenge.

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• Benitez could replace Artur Jorge at Botafogo
• Negotiations have taken place between the two camps
• Vasco Matos was also in the running for the job

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Brazilian outlet the Spanish coach, who has been without a club since leaving Celta Vigo in March 2024, is among the leading candidates for the position following Artur Jorge's departure last month. However, while Benitez has impressed club officials and remains owner John Textor’s preferred choice for the job, the 64-year-old has reportedly expressed reluctance about managing in Brazil.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Benitez is the third coach Botafogo has approached as part of their search for a new manager. Before discussions with the Spaniard, the club pursued André Jardine, who currently manages América do México, and Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca, who was ultimately appointed by French club Lyon.

  Additionally, Argentine coach Tata Martino was on Botafogo’s radar, but he publicly stated in an interview that he is not looking to take on a new club role at the moment. Another name considered was Vasco Matos, currently with Santa Clara, who showed interest in moving to Brazil. However, while he impressed the club’s decision-makers, there are concerns that his appointment would be a gamble due to his limited experience at the top level.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Had Benitez taken the Botafogo job, it would have marked a significant shift in his managerial career, which has been primarily rooted in European football. The Spaniard is best known for his successful tenure at Liverpool, where he led the team to a dramatic Champions League victory in 2005. Beyond Anfield, he has managed several top clubs, including Chelsea, Valencia, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Everton, and Newcastle United.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ultimately, the choice of Botafogo’s next manager will be made by Textor, who is carefully evaluating his options. He remains committed to maintaining the dynamic playing style that helped the club secure the 2024 Brasileirão and Copa Libertadores titles. He is particularly keen on hiring a European coach who can blend high-intensity tactical discipline with the technical brilliance of South American footballers. With Botafogo set to compete in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup later this year, securing an experienced and reputable coach is a top priority. Hence, the club wants to ensure they remain competitive on the global stage as they prepare to face elite teams from different continents.

A significant behind-the-scenes update regarding Erik ten Hag has emerged at Manchester United, regarding his treatment of two Red Devils players.

Ten Hag fighting to save Man Utd job

This season has been a largely dire one at Old Trafford to date, with Ten Hag failing to kick on from last season’s FA Cup success, which included beating Manchester City in the final. Many felt the Dutchman may have been sacked if he had lost that game at Wembley, but INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe instead retained him and gave the manager a new deal.

It hasn’t been close to good enough from United this time around, however, with 3-0 defeats at home to both Liverpool and Tottenham summing up their struggles, not to mention failing to win either of their opening couple of Europa League group stage matches.

Ten Hag has still been bullish about keeping his job, but replacements have been constantly linked in recent weeks, including Thomas Tuchel, who was most recently in charge at Bayern Munich.

Former Juventus boss Max Allegri has also been mentioned as a potential appointment, having enjoyed so much success during his stint with the Turin giants, winning five Serie A titles and Italian Cups apiece, as well as picking up one league crown in charge of AC Milan.

Concern from Man Utd on Ten Hag and £155,000-a-week duo

According to a new report from Caught Offside, INEOS are concerned and surprised about Ten Hag’s treatment of Joshua Zirkzee and Alejandro Garnacho respectively.

It is claimed that “while results and performances have clearly not been good enough, there is also real concern behind the scenes” about the Dutchman’s inability to get the best of the £155,000-a-week-combined pair.

That especially applies to Zirkzee, whereas the biggest issue surrounding Garnacho is why he isn’t being played more, given the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders.

This is just the latest concern about Ten Hag and the job he is doing at United, and it surely raises huge question marks over whether he is the right man for the job in the long run.

Zirkzee has struggled since arriving at United in the summer, failing to justify the fee that the Red Devils paid Bologna for his services, with the 23-year-old only scoring once in his first six appearances in the Premier League, coming on the opening night of the season against Fulham at Old Trafford.

As for Garnacho, he still looks like one of his side’s biggest attacking threats when he plays, bagging two goals and assists apiece in the 7-0 win over Barnsley in the EFL Cup, and it seems strange that he isn’t being used more.

Man Utd now preparing £46m bid to sign "incredible" Champions League winner

The Red Devils are not messing about…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 6, 2024

The manager is arguably the one to blame for such failings, and it is one of many reasons why a lot of United supporters want to see a change in the dugout.

Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers was a busy man during the summer transfer window as he had to oversee a number of changes to his playing squad.

There was plenty of movement in and out of Parkhead before the deadline in August, with the most notable departure being Matt O’Riley’s move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

Mikey Johnston, Gustaf Lagerbielke, and Tomoki Iwata were among the other players to move on from Glasgow, either permanently or on loan, to make way for a raft of new signings.

The board illustrated their immense faith in Rodgers by smashing the club’s transfer record to sign Belgium international Arne Engels from Augsburg for a reported fee of £11m.

They also brought in Adam Idah, Paulo Bernardo, Alex Valle, Luke McCowan, and Auston Trusty to bolster the manager’s options across the park before the end of the summer transfer window.

Engels, Bernardo, and McCowan have all come in to compete for a starting spot in the middle of the park and the Hoops will be hoping to have more luck in that position than they did with the signing of Ismaila Soro back at the start of 2020.

How much Celtic paid for Ismaila Soro

It was reported that the Scottish giants splashed out a fee of around £2m to sign the central midfielder from Israeli side Bnei Yehuda ahead of the second half of the 2019/20 campaign.

Neil Lennon brought him to Parkhead on a contract till the summer of 2024 and it was claimed, at the time, that he was a tough-tackling midfielder who could handle the ball in tight spaces.

It was also revealed that the club’s close links with the player’s agent – Dudu Dahan – helped them to secure a deal for the Ivorian youngster.

The youngster only made one appearance – in the SFA Cup – during the second half of that season before he played 19 times in the Scottish Premiership during the 2020/21 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, Soro was an average performer in the middle of the park for the Hoops in those 19 outings, as he was only directly involved in two goals and barely won the majority of his physical duels.

His performances were not good enough to convince Ange Postecoglou, who arrived in the summer of 2021, to make him a regular in his side, with the midfielder playing eight games and starting once in the Premiership under the Australian boss.

Celtic then sent Soro out on loan to Portuguese side Arouca for the 2022/23 campaign before allowing him to leave on a free transfer, a year before his contract was due to expire, in 2023.

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.

Things could have been so different for the Scottish giants, however, if they had landed one of their central midfield targets from the 2019 summer transfer window – Scott McTominay.

Celtic's interest in Scott McTominay

Ahead of the 2019/20 season, a transfer document detailing a number of targets for the Hoops was leaked and the Scotland international was one of the names on the list.

Alongside the likes of Neal Maupay, Reece James, and Fikayo Tomori, Celtic were interested in potentially swooping to sign the central midfielder from Manchester United to bolster Lennon’s squad.

The Scottish giant had already made his breakthrough at first-team level for the Red Devils but only featured in 16 of their 38 Premier League games during the 2018/19 campaign.

His lack of regular minutes in the top-flight for the English giants may have led Celtic to believe that they had a chance to bring him to Parkhead in the summer of 2019, although it remains unknown as to whether they were keen on landing him permanently or on loan.

Ultimately, the Hoops did not secure a deal for the central midfielder and ended that summer transfer window without signing any senior players in that position.

They eventually swooped to fill that role five months later, in the January window, with the addition of Soro, but McTominay’s rise since 2019 suggests that he was one that got away from the Scottish giants.

Scott McTominay's current market value

At the time of writing (09/10/2024), Transfermarkt has the central midfielder’s current market value at a whopping €32m (£28m), following on from his move to Italian side Napoli in the recent summer transfer window.

After Celtic failed to secure his services, McTominay went on to score four goals in 27 Premier League matches during the 2019/20 campaign and established himself as a regular with the English outfit over the subsequent years.

The Scottish ace went on to rack up 255 appearances for United in all competitions, scoring 29 goals and providing eight assists, before his departure earlier this year.

This suggests that, from the player’s perspective, he was right to avoid a move away from Old Trafford in the summer of 2019 as he was able to play the best part of 300 games for his boyhood club.

McTominay, who has scored nine goals in 52 games for Scotland, then completed a permanent move to Napoli to play under Antonio Conte this summer and has enjoyed a strong start to the season.

As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old star has already produced two goals and assists in four Serie A appearances for the Italian giants.

McTominay, who was hailed as a “real threat” in the air by journalist Josh Bunting, proved himself at the top level in England by playing 255 games for United and now appears to be on his way to proving his quality in Italy.

Therefore, the Scottish gem was one that got away for Celtic as they missed out on a £27m star in the making, and went on to land Soro – who was a flop in Glasgow – instead.

Celtic have found their new Jota in "magical" Hoops star

The Hoops star has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2024/25 campaign.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 9, 2024

The GOAL US team discusses U.S. Soccer's version of Kendrick-Drake beef and examines key preseason MLS storylines

It's time to talk Major League Soccer. As preseason comes to a close, and teams finalize their rosters for the 2025 season, attention turns towards North America's top flight. Inter Miami, of course, are the headliners. But outside of them, there are interesting things happening.

New/returning managers, such as Gregg Berhalter and Bruce Arena have fresh opportunities. There is plenty of scope for USMNT players to impress – especially with the injuries racking up in Europe.

And also a word post-Super Bowl. Kendrick Lamar ritually humiliated Drake at halftime of the Philadelphia Eagles 40-22 dismantling of the Kansas City Chiefs. That got us thinking: has soccer ever had a beef quite like the one that has consumed the two rappers of late?

GOAL US writers looks at all of that and more, tackling the biggest stories in American soccer in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

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  Which MLS player can translate USMNT camp performance to the season?

  Tom Hindle: The realist in me says Diego Luna. He's loads of fun as a footballer, all trickery, pace and creativity in a league that lacks it. But a word, too, for the immensely effective Jack McGlynn, who should ping his way around Houston after his trade to the Dynamo. The former Philly Union midfielder has a lovely left foot, and should be given ample opportunities to show what he can do with it in Texas.

  Jacob Schneider: Either Luna or Patrick Agyemang. Luna, MLS’ Young Player of the Year in 2024, had a fantastic cameo in January before breaking his nose – forcing him to be subbed off. He should, theoretically, have another double-digit season in both goals and assists as he looks to earn a move abroad. Agyemang, meanwhile, will look to build on an outstanding January camp and 2024 season – 15 goals will be a benchmark for him in MLS, and if he keeps impressing, we may see him on the March USMNT roster, too.

  Ryan Tolmich: Charlotte FC is built for Agyemang to thrive. The club decided not to get a DP No. 9, realizing instead that there was already one in house. Because of that, they surrounded Agyemang with talent. Wilfried Zaha is on one wing and should push for double-digit goals himself. Liel Abada should take a step forward in his second season on the other wing, while Pep Biel, who was with the club last season, is back on a non-DP deal. Charlotte has plenty of playmakers, and they'll all be pointed towards Agyemang, who will just have to provide the finishes this team needs to contend.

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  Which MLS manager is most under pressure?

  TH: Berhalter seems the obvious choice given his standing within the game and the difficulty of the job he is inheriting in Chicago. The Fire have given him a few interesting pieces this winter, and he will be expected to get the most out of them from day one. But Arena might be the one with the most to prove. He ended his last job marred in controversy, and now faces the undesirable job of getting a tune out of a pretty poor San Jose team. He would seem to have a pretty long leash in San Jose, but still needs to get things right to prove he can still provide as a manager at a high level.

  JS: Has to be Berhalter. After a not-so-good Copa America with the USMNT, this is his chance to bounce back as a manager. The Fire have opened their wallets this offseason, built the roster to his liking and gathered some really great pieces. Now, it's his chance to get on top, and return the Fire to prominence.

  RT: Maybe not the most pressure exactly, but it's certainly hard to envy Bradley Carnell. Following a club legend is hard; doing so when he was unceremoniously dismissed in a way that ignited the fanbase is even harder. The Philadelphia Union job is already difficult given the club's focus on developing youth, but now Carnell will face a fight to get the fans on his side. It's a rough situation to walk into, and one that is entirely ownership's doing. It's Carnell, though, that will have to dig the Union out of it, which will be easier said than done.

• Which Mexican striker should start in Nation's League: Santi Gimenez or Raul Jimenez?

  TH: Santi for the quality, Raul for the culture. Gimenez is, objectively, the more talented all-round player and has enjoyed a good start to his Milan career after making a big money January move from Feyenoord. But Jimenez has more of a pedigree for the national team, and showed up big time against the USMNT last fall. Get the old head in first, and then let Santi have his moment off the bench.

  JS: It depends on the opposition. Against the U.S., I would start the Fulham man. The USMNT struggles with aerial duels, and he knows how to knock a header in, while also bringing a physical presence, too. However, against Panama, Milan's new man should likely be the trusted forward. Let him be a menace on the break and in transition.

  RT: It's time to pass the torch. If Gimenez is going to be scoring for AC Milan, he has to be the guy. His Mexico record is poor, admittedly, and Jimenez looked like he was still at the peak of his powers in the fall, but this March's CONCACAF Nations League is just as much about the World Cup in 2026 as it is 2025. At some point, Gimenez has to be the starter. The sooner that transition happens the better as El Tri march towards the World Cup on home soil.

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• What is American soccer's best Kendrick-Drake moment?

  TH: Alex Morgan and that stupid tea celebration against England. That lived rent free in my head for days. Teenage Tom might have even fired off an angry tweet about it. Consider me baited.

  JS: Morgan's tea cup celebration is surely up there, but my favorite has to be Matt Miazga's interaction with Diego Lainez in 2018 in a U.S. vs. Mexico match. The former Chelsea defender squared up with Lainez, telling him he wasn't tall enough to talk with him after he was fouled by the Mexican. It was iconic in so many ways, and is often looked at as one of the more contentious moments in the rivalry.

  RT: There are so many moments in the USMNT's rivalry with Mexico, but Christian Pulisic's Man in the Mirror celebration when the series was the most one-sided. As Mexico still clung on to hope that they were on the same level as that U.S. team, Pulisic rubbed Guillermo Ochoa's quote right back in his face en route to a trophy. It's an iconic moment, not just because of the celebration itself but because the USMNT finally put aside any doubts about who was the top team in the region.

The future of a “fantastic” Sheffield Wednesday player now looks clearer, with the individual in question revealing talks have taken place over an extension.

Latest Sheffield Wednesday news

The Owls have enjoyed an impressive resurgence over the past month or so, having previously experienced a terrible run of form that threatened to leave them battling down in the Championship relegation zone.

Last Friday, Wednesday picked up a priceless 2-1 victory away to struggling Portsmouth, with goals from Josh Windass and Michael Smith getting them over the line at Fratton Park, and they now sit 13th in the table.

It is still too early to tell exactly how high the Owls’ ceiling is this season, but with the impressive Danny Rohl in charge, they should be dreaming big, thinking they can challenge for a place in the playoff positions, rather than look down towards the struggling clubs.

While new signings in the upcoming transfer windows will give Wednesday a better chance of future success, it is also important that they retain the services of important players, and a big update has now emerged regarding one such figure.

"Fantastic" player in talks with Sheffield Wednesday

Speaking to The Star, Michael Smith provided an update on his Sheffield Wednesday future, admitting he is happy at the club and has spoken with his manager about a contract extension.

“I’m a Sheffield Wednesday player and I give my all for the club, that’s it. I’ve had conversations with the manager and at this moment in time he still wants me here and he wants me to be a Sheffield Wednesday player. Hopefully that will continue.”

While Smith hasn’t always been a key starter for the Owls this season, starting only twice in the Championship and coming off the substitutes’ bench nine times, his goal against Portsmouth showed what a talented player he is.

His brilliance wasn’t lost on Rohl either: “It was a fantastic goal to win it. It was an assist and then the goal. He [Smith] worked hard. It is maybe the goal of the week, it was outstanding. I am happy for him and for the team – the second half was a team performance.”

While Smith’s goal summed up his class, sorting his future isn’t necessarily the easiest decision for Wednesday, considering he is now 33 years of age and therefore unlikely to get a new long-term deal.

The Englishman is out of contract at the end of this season, at which point he will be able to leave on a free transfer, but he still enough left in the tank to warrant a short-term extension for another year or two, should that appeal to him.

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 22, 2025

Smith would have to accept that he wouldn’t be an important starter, considering Rohl has younger strikers to call upon, but retaining his services as a squad player would be more beneficial than letting him leave.

Dusan Vlahovic's underwhelming tenure at Juventus could soon come to an end, with Saudi and Premier League clubs circling for a potential summer move.

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• Vlahovic could leave Juve in summer
• Has lost his spot in XI to Randal Kolo Muani
• Saudi and Premier League clubs interested in Serbian

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Calciomercato, Dusan Vlahovic's days as a Juventus player seem to be numbered as the Italian heavyweights are planning to let go of the Serbian striker following a fabulous start by the on-loan Randal Kolo Muani.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Kolo Muani has made an immediate impact at Juventus since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, scoring five goals and providing one assist in his first five matches. Juventus are reportedly exploring options to secure his permanent stay after his loan ends, impressed by his early performances.

  In contrast, Vlahovic's time at Juventus appears to be nearing its end. Once a key figure, Vlahovic has fallen out of favour under manager Thiago Motta, now a reserve player. Despite interest from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr during the winter transfer window, Vlahovic has expressed a desire to stay in Europe to relaunch his career.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Vlahovic's contract with Juventus runs until 2026, but with talks over a renewal at a standstill, the club is open to selling him in the upcoming summer transfer window. Juventus are eager to offload his hefty salary, which is reportedly set to reach €12 million net in the 2025-26 season, and are expected to entertain offers around €40 million. Although there were rumors of an exchange deal with PSG involving Kolo Muani, it never came to fruition. As a result, Juventus will likely focus on finding a buyer for Vlahovic this summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DUSAN VLAHOVIC?

  Vlahovic was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal in January, but negotiations never progressed. However, with Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta reported to be a big admirer of the 25-year-old, and with the Gunners in desperate need of a prolific centre forward, Vlahovic could yet be on their radar in the summer.

La Liga chief Javier Tebas has provided an update on the possibility of Lionel Messi and Neymar returning to Barcelona.

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• Tebas talks Messi and Neymar
• Both players linked with Barcelona again
• La Liga chief says Messi could come back

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Messi and Neymar spent four glorious seasons at Camp Nou before the Brazilian completed a world record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. Four years later, the Argentine joined his friend in the French capital as he signed for the Ligue 1 giants after his contract with the Catalan club expired.

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  In 2023, the duo parted ways with PSG. While Messi headed to the US to join David Beckham-owned Inter Miami, Neymar signed for Saudi Pro League giants Al-Hilal. The Brazil icon's journey in the Middle East, however, was cut short this January as departed to join boyhood club Santos on a six-month. Neymar has been strongly linked with a move back to Europe in the summer and Barcelona could be a possible destination for him. Messi too has been tipped to move back to Spain on a temporary deal later this year.

• WHAT JAVIER TEBAS SAID

  La Liga president Tebas has opened up on the star duo's potential return to Spain as he told : "I think Messi wants to go back to Barcelona. He spent lots of years there. I am quite sure Messi will come back. Maybe as a player, but I can see him returning in another capacity as well. Messi and Barcelona go hand in hand. His brand, and Barcelona's brand, are in many ways one and the same. He is in love with the club. Neymar is a different story. I don't think he will ever return to Barcelona. I am quite sure of that."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  While Messi and Neymar's return to the club remains a subject of speculation, Hansi Flick's side are now focused on winning the league title this season. They are currently at the top of the table and will next face Real Sociedad on Sunday.

There are exciting times ahead at Manchester United, with Ruben Amroim set to be imminently confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s replacement. The Portuguese boss is set to take over following the international break in November, with his first game away from home against Ipswich Town.

He will inherit a squad short of confidence but surely buoyed by a Carabao Cup thrashing of Leicester City on Wednesday night. Led by interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Red Devils put five past the Foxes to set up a Christmas quarter-final clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

It will be fascinating to see which players excel under Amorim, and who might leave the club upon a change of manager. One of the players who could leave is Antony.

Antony’s record at United

It is fair to say that Antony’s £81.3m move to Old Trafford from Ajax has been a disaster. There were high hopes for the winger when he first joined, having scored in his first three Premier League games, against Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton.

Since then, however, the winger has declined massively. He has now played for United 87 times but has managed just 12 goals and five assists.

He scored two memorable goals in that time, a Europa League winner against Barcelona and a crucial equaliser against Liverpool in last season’s remarkable FA Cup quarter-final.

However, he has underwhelmed in a United shirt for the most part. Red Devils legend Paul Scholes described him as a “one-trick pony” early on in his Old Trafford career. The Brazilian tends to cut inside on his left foot and get a shot off but does not seem as comfortable on his weaker right side.

This term, the winger has been poor. Even under Ten Hag, the man who fought to bring him to Old Trafford, the United number 21 did not get much of a look in. He has played just five times so far, starting once in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley. Across those five games, he has had just 155 minutes.

According to a recent report from talkSPORT, the Red Devils are set to ‘cut their losses’ on the 24-year-old, with former club Ajax and Brazilian side Flamengo interested in him. It does not seem like Amorim will have the winger in his squad much longer.

Of course, that has led to speculation about who United could sign as a replacement, and they have been linked to one of their incoming manager’s Sporting stars.

United’s Antony replacement

It is unsurprising to hear that the Red Devils are linked with the Portuguese manager’s players. Viktor Gyokeres is one man who could move to Old Trafford, with rumours flying that they could bring in the deadly striker and beat Arsenal to his signature.

The towering Swede has netted 59 goals in just 65 games under Amorim’s watch in Lisbon, making him the perfect solution to United’s centre-forward woes.

The man to replace Antony could be Gyokeres’ current teammate, Marcus Edwards. According to a report from TEAMTalk, the former Tottenham academy ace ‘could be signed as a replacement’ for United’s Brazilian winger.

The Sporting number 10 is an impressive player who has benefited from Amorim’s system, where he plays as one of two number 10s behind Gyokeres. The 25-year-old has superb technical ability and is a superb dribbler.

As per FBref, he averages 5.93 progressive carries per 90 minutes and completes 2.76 take-ons. That places him in the top 2% and 9% of wingers in Europe’s next 14 leagues respectively.

The “electric” winger, as broadcaster Jack Collins has described him, has a superb record under Amorim already and is a player the 39-year-old can trust. In 116 games playing for the new United boss, Edwards has scored 22 times and registered 28 assists.

His most productive league season was 2022/23, where he managed 16 goal involvements in 33 games.

As per Transfermarkt, he is valued at just £15m, and whilst he could well fetch more than that, it seems a safe bet from United’s point of view. Not only would Amorim be signing a player he trusts, but also someone who would not break the bank.

It could be a smart addition to the squad and a great replacement for Antony, with the prospect of bringing both Edwards and Gyokeres into the fold at Old Trafford certainly an exciting one.

90% passing: Man Utd star just proved he'll be "incredible" under Amorim

Manchester United emphatically beat Leicester City 5-2 in their first taste of action since Erik ten Hag’s dismissal.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 31, 2024

Yamal set up Raphinha with a ridiculous assist and went on to score a stunner himself during Barcelona's Champions League clash with Benfica

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• Yamal in sensational form against Benfica
• Assisted & scored in the last-16 tie
• Set UCL record with his two goal contributions

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Facing Benfica in the second leg of their last-16 clash, Yamal's skill and composure were on full display, leaving defenders struggling to contain his relentless attacking presence. During the first goal on the night, the teenager glided past two defenders effortlessly before setting up Raphinha with a dinked slice, and he simply tapped into an open net.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Moments after setting up Raphinha, Yamal added his own name to the scoresheet in extraordinary fashion. Collecting the ball near the corner flag on the right flank, he showcased remarkable dribbling skills, effortlessly skipping past two Benfica defenders. With space opening up, he unleashed a stunning curling effort from the edge of the box, sending the ball beyond the goalkeeper and into the net.

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• DID YOU KNOW

  Yamal's goal not only restored Barcelona’s lead at 2-1, but also cemented his place in Champions League history. At just 17 years and 241 days old, he became the youngest player ever to both score and assist in the same match in the competition – an achievement that underscores his immense potential.

The last few years have been more than a little turbulent for Tottenham Hotspur.

From numerous managerial changes to the loss of Harry Kane and a complete change of style on the pitch, it’s fair to say that the fans have been put through quite a lot following their team.

Fortunately, despite there still being undeniable issues that need to be ironed out in the coming years, Ange Postecoglou has seemingly instilled in many, including the board, a sense that Spurs are at the start of what could be an incredibly exciting journey.

However, to reach his goal, the Australian will undoubtedly have to overhaul parts of the squad, which should, in turn, see an exciting youngster like Mikey Moore given more game time regularly, although the young Englishman could soon have an incredibly promising rival to develop alongside in the coming years.

Mikey Moore's incredible talent

So, before we get to the youngster who could challenge Moore in years to come, let’s look at why so many people are, and so many more should be excited about the young Englishman.

The main reason is his frankly ridiculous record at the youth level, as in 33 matches for the Lilywhites’ various junior sides, the “fearless” 17-year-old, as dubbed by James Maddison, has found the back of the net on 20 occasions and provided 15 assists to boot, equating to an average of 1.06 goal involvements every game.

It’s not just in the academy where he’s impressed either, as in 36 appearances across the England U15s to U19s, the Southwark-born sensation has scored 19 goals and provided seven assists, meaning he’s maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.38 games at the international level.

Finally, while he hasn’t scored a competitive goal for the senior side just yet, he’s looked impressive in his ten appearances to date, particularly against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, when he won the Man of the Match award and was compared to Neymar of all people by teammate Maddison.

However, with all that said, he could be competing with another exciting youngster for game time in the coming months, someone who’s showing as much, if not even more talent at a senior level.

The prospect who could challenge Moore

So, the youngster who could prove to be Moore’s biggest rival at Spurs is none other than 18-year-old Min-hyeok Yang, who signed for the club from South Korean club Gangwon FC in the summer but is set to officially join up with Postecoglou’s squad before January.

According to Transfermarkt, the Lilywhites paid €4m for the exciting attacker, which is about £3m and a record for a player coming straight from South Korea to European football.

Now, the reason the Gwangju-born dynamo could become a big rival for Moore following his arrival is that, like the Englishman, he’s primarily a winger who can play off the right or left, meaning that, as well as pushing each other, there is also a world in which the pair become the club’s starting wingers a few years down the line.

With that said, how has the promising youngster performed this season? Are fans right to get excited about his arrival? In short, very well and yes, they certainly are.

In 37 first-team appearances this season, the promising prospect has racked up a seriously impressive haul of 11 goals and six assists, meaning he’s averaging a goal involvement once every 2.17 games despite being so young.

Now, it would be unfair to expect the talented winger to come into the first team and make a difference straight away, but the signs are encouraging.

Ultimately, Spurs are fortunate to have two sensationally talented youngsters in Moore and Yang in the squad, and while there is every chance they both make it into the first team, they are sure to provide the perfect competition for one another as well.

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