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The USMNT midfielder has found the spotlight for RSL, and he continues to shine with goals and assists for the MLS club

Pablo Mastroeni isn't easily impressed, and he doesn't cut slack even to those who do catch his eye. There's no superstar treatment at Real Salt Lake, no leeway. The expectations are laid down for everyone equally, from the highest-paid player to newcomers.

Praise from Mastroeni doesn't come cheaply; it has to be earned – and not just by goals or assists, and definitely not with fancy flicks or highlight-reel skills. Effort, energy, commitment – these are the currencies that buy smiles from Mastroeni.

It's what makes what the RSL boss says about Diego Luna all the more pertinent. Fans and pundits have labeled Luna a rising star, one who could make a huge impact both in MLS and with the U.S. men's national team. You can count Mastroeni among the believers, as well.

“I don't think we can talk about Diego developing anymore. He's the guy," Mastroeni told reporters after Luna's two-goal performance in RSL's win over San Diego FC. "He's the guy that plays with the chip on his shoulder. He's one of our best defenders. He's obviously the guy that's putting the ball in the back of the net. He's doing it all for our group."

For those who have followed Luna, his white-hot start to the MLS season isn't a surprise. His breakout, in truth, happened last season, when he won MLS' Young Player of the Year award before riding that wave right into a USMNT opportunity. Luna hasn't looked back. His game has continued to advance.

"For me, it doesn't change what I'm doing on the daily or what I'm trying to do for myself and the career I'm trying to build for myself," Luna said of Mastroeni's praise. "He's my coach, so, of course, he's up there, right? But it's just like anyone else talking or anyone else saying something."

Luna may not be changing, but the expectations and perceptions of him sure are as he continues to shine. If he's already become "the guy," how far can Luna really go from here?

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  The breakout

  The midfield wizard affectionately known as "Moon Boy" made his Real Salt Lake debut in 2022. He scored seven goals in all competitions in 2023. But 2024? That was a different type of year. That was the definition of a breakout season.

  By the end, Luna had helped lead RSL to the postseason behind eight goals and 12 assists, earning himself Young Player of the Year and MLS All-Star recognition. Luna hadn't just established himself as a top young player in MLS; he'd quickly become one of the top players in general. Few players in the league were creating at his level and, in his mind, he was just getting started.

  "A lot of people outside or in the media, they made this year seem like an amazing year for me, and that I was unreal," he told GOAL.. "There's so much more than I can do. I believe that this was average for myself. This is the baseline. I think that I should be scoring 10 goals a season easily. That's the type of standard that I have for myself.

  "I need to be better this year, and there were a lot of moments where I could have been better, and that's what I'm striving for. That's the type of mentality that I have, because it's not good enough. I always want more. I always want more goals, more assists."

  It's all translated to the USMNT, too. Luna famously earned a "big balls" compliment for Mauricio Pochettino in January after providing an assist as blood poured down from his broken nose. He stepped back into the spotlight during the team's CONCACAF Nations League run, setting up Patrick Agyemang for a goal in the third-place game against Canada.

  Many of the USMNT's top stars were criticized for a perceived lack of effort and energy in those two matches. Not Luna, though. His effort and skillset were on full display.

  "That's just my style of play, right?" Luna told GOALafter the match. "I like to be creative. That's what's gotten me here. I'm not the tallest, not the fastest, not the strongest, right, but it's the creativity and the risk-taking that's gotten me here."

  The 21-year-old's creativity remains on full display in MLS, where he's established himself as an MVP contender early on in the season.

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  Taking responsibility at RSL

  Heading into this 2025 MLS season, Luna knew all eyes would be on him, and it's not just because of his achievements last campaign. RSL's roster decisions sent a clear message: Luna was going to be the focal point this season.

  Striker Chicho Arango was sent to San Jose, which meant RSL was losing one of the league's more consistent goalscorers. Winger Andrerson Julio was gone, too, as he was traded to FC Dallas. The club, meanwhile, pursued striker Robert Bozenik right up until the deadline, only to see that fall through due to reasons outside of their control. In the end, the club ended up bringing in a pair of veterans, Willy Agada and Johnny Russell, to help to fill the gaps.

  Even before transfer season really got going, though, Luna admitted there were new pressures on him.

  "You don't sugarcoat these things," Luna told GOAL. "Like there is pressure there, that's what it is, that's how life is, that's what this job is. For me, it's exciting, it's something that you like. That's the type of sh*t that I want. I want to be this guy that people are relying on and make them know they're right."

  Luna's response has been just about perfect.

  Even with that Nations League trip in the middle of it all, Luna already has five goals and two assists in the first nine games of the MLS season. The goals have come in bunches, too, as he scored twice each in wins over San Diego and the LA Galaxy. In total, Luna has contributed to seven of his club's 11 goals on the season, showing just how influential he is as a creative force.

  It's not just goals and assists, though. There's more to Luna's breakout.

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  The little things

  Luna is a No. 10 at heart. He loves creating and making things happen. He loves the feeling of doing something wild, something that makes fans get out of their seats.

  But, early on in his young career, he realized that the role of a No. 10 has changed. In many ways, players in that position also need to be the first line of defense. They need to be willing to do the work that everyone else around them does, too.

  "It makes the team stronger mentally because it just allows everybody to trust each other," Luna said, "and it gives trust in me and gets me the ball, more people are enjoying playing with me more. It's a bunch of things."

  Luna's defensive work and, as importantly, overall effort is what has earned the praise from his coaches.

  "The hunger that he shows is what we want," Pochettino said after Nations League, "and that's not to say anything against the rest of the players. It's just an example. When I told him that he was going to play, he was ready. Whether you're playing well or not well, scoring, assisting or not, that is what we want to see. That is the example that we need to take."

  That praise has been echoed by Mastroeni, who continues to drive home the point that Luna is doing more than just assisting.

  "I think what Diego has been able to do year after year has been to really dig deep and continue to reinvent himself," Mastroeni told FOX13. "He came here as a really technical player; now he's very much a cerebral player with a lot of bite. These players are rare, especially when you have the type of play that Diego has. I couldn't be more proud of his growth and his commitment to his craft. The sky is the ceiling for him."

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  Looking ahead

  Luna's life is already starting to change. The "Moon Boy" label has been shed as fans are now calling him "Moon Man", illustrating how much he's grown. Off the field, the recognition is coming, as are the opportunities. Luna recently met both Travis Scott and, some would say, the other Diego Luna, star of the Star Wars series Andor. With success comes attention, and the attention of American soccer is all on Luna right now.

  Those overseas would be mistaken to not keep their eye on him, too. European clubs are surely taking notice, but Luna doesn't really care about any of that at the moment.

  “For me, it’s all just talks and whatever. I always tell my agents and people around me that I don’t want to hear anything about what’s going on unless I have to make a decision,” Luna told . “Unless it’s something where it’s right there, at that moment and we need to look in this deep, I try to tell them to keep that stuff away from me because it’s all just talk and, as you know there’s people that talk good, talk bad and it’s everywhere so I kinda like to stay away from that.

  “ I think for me it’s just naturally just chilling, playing soccer and working hard, providing for my family and whatever comes from that and whatever comes from performing, we’ll talk about it.”

  A World Cup is around the corner. A Gold Cup is coming before that. There are big games and big moments ahead for RSL, too, as the club counts on Luna to be, again, "the guy" for their team. It's a role that Luna is settling into perfectly as he continues to seize opportunity after opportunity.

As they look to replace Kyogo Furuhashi, Celtic have reportedly opened talks to sign a former Premier League striker who last hit his best form under Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic transfer news

The Bhoys have already made one reunion happen by welcoming Jota back to Celtic Park following Kyogo’s move to Ligue 1 side Rennes. The winger returns looking to pick up where he left off less than two years on from his frustrating exit to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad. With plenty of making up to do, he must hit the ground running.

Speaking to Celtic TV after putting pen to paper on a sensational return, Jota said: “The best thing in Glasgow, besides Celtic obviously, is the people, and I feel like I need a place with soul, where I feel at home. This is definitely something I was looking for, and I think there is no better match than Celtic.

“I’m so excited. The last year and a half has had its ups and downs, but that’s life and that’s how football is. Now, I just can’t wait to work hard, to get along with the lads again and just to flow.”

Celtic plotting last-gasp move to sign "excellent" £8m Kyogo replacement

The Bhoys are still eyeing reinforcements…

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By
Tom Cunningham

Feb 1, 2025

The returning star could yet get some help whilst attempting to make that instant impact. According to Raman Bhardwaj of STV, Celtic are now in talks to sign Kelechi Iheanacho on loan from Sevilla for the rest of the season.

Iheanacho desperately needs a move after struggling to break into the Sevilla starting side and could now get a much-needed reunion with Rodgers, who he previously thrived under at Leicester City.

"Incredible" Iheanacho needs Rodgers reunion

Still 28 years old, there’s still time for Iheanacho to get his career back on track, and that could come in the form of a move to Celtic Park. All parties could benefit if the Nigerian hits the form of old and reaches his best goalscoring spell since he thrived under Rodgers.

Earning the praise of the then-Leicester manager, Rodgers described Iheanacho as “incredible”, telling reporters in 2021: “He’s a talented player and I think of the difference in him tonight than when we played Crystal Palace last time.

“When we played them around the Christmas period, he wasn’t playing so much, and when you are a striker in particular, that rhythm of games is important. Over the last few months, he’s been absolutely incredible. It’s not just [his goal] – he has no ego whatsoever, he works so hard.”

Having scored 43 goals and assisted another 23 in 143 appearances under Rodgers, there’s no manager who knows what Iheanacho is capable of more than the Celtic boss.

After sealing a Jota reunion, Celtic could welcome the former Leicester star to the Scottish Premiership and hand Rodgers a familiar face to replace Kyogo.

Newcastle United ended the January transfer window, which actually closed at the start of February, without making any additions to their first-team squad.

The Magpies opted against any swoops to bolster Eddie Howe’s group and sanctioned exits for Miguel Almiron, who joined Atlanta United on a permanent deal, and Lloyd Kelly, who joined Juventus on loan.

Chronicle Live reported that the club did not go all-out to bring in new recruits in order to leave themselves in a healthy position with PSR rules ahead of the summer transfer window.

Newcastle, who beat Birmingham 3-2 in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the weekend, were not in desperate need of reinforcements, though, as they have enjoyed a strong season so far.

The Magpies are in the final of the League Cup, where they will face Liverpool at Wembley, and are currently sixth in the Premier League table.

One of the players whose form has played a huge role in their success on the pitch so far this season is Swedish centre-forward Alexander Isak, who has been on fire at the top end of the pitch.

Alexander Isak's form for Newcastle

Eyebrows were raised when PIF smashed the club’s transfer record to sign the former Borussia Dortmund marksman from Real Sociedad for a fee of £63m in the summer of 2022.

Isak had only scored six goals in 32 LaLiga outings in the 2021/22 campaign, which is why the fee seemed steep at the time, but Newcastle clearly saw something in him and their decision to splash the cash on him has paid off big time.

The 25-year-old number 14 has scored 54 goals and provided nine assists in 95 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies to date, which shows that he has provided a consistent threat in the final third throughout his time on Tyneside.

The Sweden international, who scored 21 goals in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign, has been in fantastic form once again for Howe in the current season.

However, Isak did endure a difficult start this time around. The former Dortmund youngster only found the back of the net once in his first six appearances in the top-flight, before finally hitting his stride in front of goal.

As you can see in the table above, the Newcastle striker has been incredibly ruthless in front of goal on the whole in the Premier League this season, with a return of 17 goals from 14.14 xG.

Isak is a clinical finisher who rarely wastes a high-quality chance to find the back of the net, whilst he can also create quality openings for his teammates, and that is why he has been so important to the team this season.

The Swedish star is one of the best forwards in the Premier League, as only two other players have outscored him, but Newcastle did once miss out on the chance to sign a player who is, now, also among the top players in the division.

Newcastle missed out on current Premier League superstar

Back in 2011, current Liverpool sensation Mohamed Salah, who was playing for Arab Contractors in Egypt, revealed that the Magpies were interested in a deal to sign him.

One that got away

Mike Ashley was the Newcastle owner at the time and was supposedly set to make an offer for the winger, as per the then-teenager’s comments on Ahram Online, via talkSPORT, in 2011.

Salah said: “Newcastle will soon make an official offer to sign me for one season. I don’t think Contractors will refuse to let me play in the English Premier League.

“It’s a dream for any player to play in one of the strongest league competitions in the world. I want to play abroad, I think this would be my next step.”

TalkSPORT added that Salah went on to sign for Basel for £2m in 2012, whilst Ashley signed Gabriel Obertan instead to bolster Newcastle’s wide options, and the Egyptian forward has gone on to enjoy a stellar career.

Mohamed Salah's goal return this season

The 32-year-old star had spells with Basel, Chelsea, and Roma before eventually landing at Anfield with Jurgen Klopp at the helm in the summer of 2017.

In his almost eight years with the Reds to date, Salah racked up an incredible return of 237 goals and 106 assists in 383 appearances in all competitions.

The left-footed sensation scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists in 79 games for Basel, before his move to Chelsea, and Newcastle ultimately missed out on the chance to secure his services for a fee of just £2m.

Ashley’s failure to bring Salah to St. James’ Park, after seemingly trying to land his signature, should be looked back on with great regret, given what the impressive attacker has gone on to achieve, particularly in England with Liverpool.

Newcastle have one of the best forwards in the Premier League right now, in Alexander Isak, but the Egypt international is even better than Howe’s star man.

As you can see in the table above, the 32-year-old superstar has outperformed the Swedish whiz at the top end of the pitch in the top-flight, with more goals, more ‘big chances’ created, and more assists.

In fact, no player in the league has scored more goals or provided more assists than Salah, who was described as “extraordinary” by Arne Slot, in the 2024/25 campaign, which suggests that there is an argument to be made that he is the best attacking player in the division.

Therefore, Ashley once failed to get a deal over the line for a player who has gone on to become the best player in the Premier League, when he was available for a fee of around £2m.

Newcastle planning £33m offer for "dangerous" star who destroyed Liverpool

He would complete Eddie Howe’s attack.

By
Tom Cunningham

Feb 12, 2025

That is not to say that Salah would have fulfilled his potential at Newcastle or that he would still be at St. James’ Park in the current day, but it does show that the Magpies missed out on the chance to land a generational talent.

Gimenez recorded the assist on their opening goal, six minutes after being substituted onto the pitch, helping lead them to a huge three points

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• AC Milan defeat Genoa 2-1
• Mexico's Gimenez nets assist to spark comeback
• USMNT's Pulisic has good attacking showing

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Two goals within a 60-second span for AC Milan helped them to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Genoa on a rainy Monday evening in Serie A action. Mexico international Santiago Gimenez recorded an assist on the opening strike, scored by Rafael Leao in the 76th minute, who responded nearly instantly with an assist himself to force an own-goal less than one minute later.

  U.S. international Christian Pulisic started the match and played 77 minutes, until USMNT compatriot Yunus Musah replaced him to close out the contest.

  With the three points, the moved up to 57 points on the season, and trail sixth-placed Lazio by just six points with three Serie A matches remaining.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With a constant pour of rain all evening, the left it late, but secured all three points for their third-straight match across all competitions. Pulisic, in his time on the pitch, completed 92 percent of his passes, while being one of their primary attacking threats all evening long.

  He created two attacking chances, registering one shot on target. He registered 51 total touches on the ball, with six of them coming in the opposition's box. His total xG on the day was .52.

  Musah, meanwhile, made his first appearance for Milan in a month, with his last showing coming on April 5.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Milan are also off to the Coppa Italia final, where they will play Bologna on Wednesday, May 14. If they win the final, they will be guaranteed a UEFA Europa League spot in the 2025-26 season.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The take on Bologna on Friday in Serie A action as they search for their fourth-straight win across all competitions.

West Ham United are set for an interesting first summer transfer window under new manager Graham Potter, with some intriguing potential exit news coming to light, courtesy of a club insider.

West Ham players who could leave before next season

Right now, a host of players are looking set to depart the London Stadium before next campaign, with a plethora of contracts about to expire.

Julen Lopetegui outcast is privately impressing Graham Potter at West Ham

The coaches have very different opinions on his usefulness at Rush Green.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 15, 2025

As things stand, unless West Ham opt to negotiate fresh terms, the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal, Danny Ings and the injured Michail Antonio will be free to find new clubs in July, with uncertainty also surrounding Carlos Soler.

It is not yet clear whether West Ham will trigger the buy-option clause in Soler’s loan deal from PSG, with Evan Ferguson also set to return to Brighton after his straight loan deal comes to an end in late June.

Long-serving veteran keeper Lukasz Fabianski could also leave West Ham at the end of the season after his contract expires, but the club do possess an option to extend his stay by a further year.

Mohammed Kudus is currently West Ham’s most sellable asset if the Hammers wish to raise transfer funds, and the Ghanaian has been repeatedly linked with a move away from the London Stadium heading into the summer.

Arsenal are believed to hold a serious interest in Kudus, but given the winger’s inconsistent form, there is no guarantee the Premier League duo are any other interested side will seek to pay his rumoured £85 million release clause.

Meanwhile, Lucas Paqueta is currently at the centre of match-fixing allegations, prompting some rumours that the Brazil midfielder could also depart West Ham.

West Ham could now sell Jean-Clair Todibo this summer

According to club insider Claret & Hugh, defender Jean-Clair Todibo may find himself on the chopping block as well, with Potter’s side plotting to flip him over for a small profit after his loan move from Nice becomes permanent.

West Ham are obligated to buy the Frenchman at the end of his temporary spell for around £35 million, if the Hammers avoid relegation, with Todibo looking set to become a permanent player in Potter’s squad.

However, this may not be for long, as C&H reported – after learning news from sources “within the past few hours” on Valentine’s Day morning – that West Ham could look to sell Todibo for a small profit after making his signing permanent.

The 25-year-old was deemed a stellar capture last summer, given elite sides were also in the mix for his signature, but he’s been in and out of the first team this season due to injuries and a tense rumoured relationship with ex-West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.

However, we believe that Todibo could still have a vital role to play under Potter, with the defender drawing serious praise in recent seasons.

“Jean-Clair is a very interesting character; he’s very confident, and he’s a great guy around the dressing room,” said his former teammate at Nice, Aaron Ramsey.

“He’s a very, very talented player, who can go all the way to the top. For him, it is important to keep his feet on the ground, strive for more, and take in as much information as possible.”

Ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara lays into Ruben Amorim, claiming he's not the right man for United after their dismal defeat to Tottenham.

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• United lost to Tottenham in Europa League final
• Red Devils languish 16th in Premier League
• O'Hara insists he should leave

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United suffered a humiliating defeat in the Europa League final against Tottenham on Wednesday night, with a lacklustre performance that drew widespread criticism. Manager Amorim's tactics and team selection were heavily scrutinized, with many questioning his ability to turn things around at Old Trafford. Jamie O'Hara has become one of the most vocal critics of the performance, saying Amorim should walk away from his position at the club.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Amorim's tenure at United has been heavily scrutinised, especially given the team's struggles in the Premier League, where they currently languish in 16th place. This latest defeat in a major final has only intensified the pressure on the Portuguese manager. The club's cost-cutting measures and potential fire sale under Jim Ratcliffe further complicate matters, casting doubt on their ability to attract top talent and rebuild the squad.

• WHAT O'HARA SAID

  Speaking to Sky Sports, O'Hara said: "Shocking. I thought they were terrible. They were so bad. It is actually probably the worst Manchester United final performance I've ever seen. They were absolutely awful.

  "The manager inept of ideas, didn't know how to change it, didn't know how to affect the game. Made substitutions too late. He should walk because he ain't the right man for the job. He's really not the right man for the job. And the performances he's put in since he's gone there have been shocking. He should walk but no one walks anymore because there's too much money on offer. So he's not going to walk.

  "Who's going to join United? They're 16th in the table. They've got no European football and everyone knows that the club is cost-cutting the wages. They're getting rid of everyone. With Jim Ratcliffe, it's like a fire sale. Everyone's up for sale. Who actually is going to want to join United?"

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Amorim faces a crucial pre-season to prove his worth to the United board and fans. Whether he will be given the time and resources to bring in new players and implement his system remains to be seen.

It’s fair to say that Patrick Dorgu’s start to life at Manchester United could certainly have gone better, amid the Ipswich Town debacle a week ago, yet that chaotic 45 minutes aside, the young Dane has already shown promise since his January move from Lecce.

Signed for a reported fee of around £30m, the versatile wing-back proved to be the only major addition of the winter window, with the only other first-team arrival seeing 18-year-old, Ayden Heaven, sign for just £1.5m for Arsenal.

In the case of Dorgu, in particular, the 20-year-old’s acquisition points to the need to find players who are suitable for Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up, with the new man already showcasing his worth down the flanks, having produced a lively display at Goodison Park in the 2-2 draw with Everton.

Hope and optimism are scarce right now, yet the manner in which the Copenhagen native has slotted into Amorim’s system is certainly one reason for positivity, with the hope that further new faces can be added in the Portuguese’s image.

As the ex-Sporting CP boss is well aware, getting recruitment right will be crucial in dragging this failing club to success. His predecessor, Erik ten Hag, found out the hard way that transfer missteps can ultimately be your undoing…

Assessing Erik ten Hag's final transfer window

It could be argued that much of the damage was already done at United heading into last summer, with Ten Hag having overseen a scattergun transfer approach that has backfired spectacularly.

Indeed, in 2022, £156m was spent on Antony and Casemiro alone, with one of the Brazilian pair now out on loan at Real Betis, while the other appears surplus to requirements amid the desire to get him off the wage bill.

In 2023, meanwhile, Ten Hag was seemingly intent on signing Harry Kane to solve his centre-forward woes. In came Rasmus Hojlund instead on a £64m deal, with the Dane having since scored just 23 goals in all competitions – 52 goals less than what Kane has achieved at Bayern Munich.

£47.2m was spent on Andre Onana – a player who now seemingly needs to depart this summer – while a further £55m was also dished out on Mason Mount, with the Englishman having since been ravaged by injuries and contributed to just two goals and assists.

Fast forward to the summer of 2024 and perhaps, on reflection, it was not quite so disastrous, even though Ten Hag’s tenure was brought to an abrupt halt just months later.

The £13m spent on Noussair Mazraoui already looks like a bargain pickup, with the decision to plump for Manuel Ugarte having been vindicated following the reunion of the Uruguayan and Amorim.

At centre-back, Leny Yoro – who was targeted by Real Madrid – could well be a real star of the future, while Matthijs de Ligt has begun to find his groove, having been lauded by journalist Samuel Luckhurst for putting in his “best game” for the club against Fulham.

And then, there’s Joshua Zirkzee, a polarising player no doubt, but one who is beginning to flicker into life at Old Trafford.

Joshua Zirkzee's soaring market value

Much like in 2023, Ten Hag was in need of a reliable goalscorer to supplement his attack, yet – in a similar vein to the signing of Hojlund – he was handed a player who scored just 11 Serie A goals the previous season at Bologna.

Market Movers

As has quickly become evident, however, categorising Zirkzee as an out-and-out centre-forward is seemingly unfair on the man himself, with the 23-year-old having looked far more effective of late in a number ten berth.

Amorim has already admitted that the one-time Bayern man is “not a clear nine”, but as the link man, he could well carve out a future for himself in a United shirt.

As journalist Charlie Parrish has stated, the “outrageous” talent almost “belongs to a different era” due to his languid and silky style, with there obvious frustration surrounding his lack of mobility and dynamism.

That said, the £36.5m signing is beginning to endear himself to the home support due to his willing work ethic, having come a long way since being jeered off after just 30 minutes against Newcastle United.

Many a player would have simply wilted after such a moment, yet Zirkzee – despite missing the decisive spot-kick at the weekend – has moved to try and quash the doubters, while notably netting in the comeback FA Cup win over Leicester City.

A total return of five goals and two assists in all competitions is nothing to write home about, but judging a player of his ilk on goal contributions alone would be doing him a disservice.

Against the Cottagers, for instance, he produced a delightful turn and lofted pass to pick out Alejandro Garnacho late in normal time, having emerged as a real focal point at a time when that man Hojlund is floundering.

It is then no surprise that Zirkzee is believed to have seen his value soar of late, with CIES Football Observatory noting that the forward’s market value now stands at around £57m, thus placing him way ahead of the £30m spent on Dorgu – a player who was deemed to be worth just £21m by CIES back in November.

It remains to be seen if Amorim and Co will look to capitalise on that and cash in on the Netherlands international this summer, yet the club could do worse than show a little bit of patience to a player who is at least fighting for the cause.

Amorim can axe Dorgu by starting 17-year-old who's Man Utd's next Garnacho

Man Utd face a pivotal encounter away to Real Sociedad on Thursday evening

By
Robbie Walls

Mar 6, 2025

Los Blancos surrendered both their La Liga and Champions League crowns in what turned out to be Carlo Ancelotti's final season in charge

Real Madrid were supposed to win everything when they signed Kylian Mbappe last summer. The treble calls were pretty much ubiquitous, and with Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, there was no reason to believe that Los Blancos wouldn't kick on from their Liga-Champions League double in 2023-24.

Nine months on, and all of those predictions look a bit silly. Madrid were good at times this past season, but spent most of the year struggling through injuries and failing to find the right balance. The end result was a trophy-less campaign that featured a feeble title defence, embarrassing European exit and ended with the departure of Ancelotti.

Mbappe largely held up his side of the bargain, bagging 43 goals in all competitions, but outside of the marquee summer signing, it proved to be a disappointing campaign for a number of top-quality individuals.

GOAL rates and ranks every Real Madrid player on the back of a forgettable 2024-25 campaign…

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  24Jacobo Ramon – N/A

  A couple of panic starts in La Liga and a Copa del Rey appearance punctuated a season that was really supposed to be spent in the reserves. The best compliment that can be paid to Ramon is that he never really stood out – nor made any mistakes. A word for his late winner against Mallorca; a signature moment in a season otherwise lacking in them.

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  23Jesus Vallejo – N/A

  A few scattered appearances at the end of the season for Madrid's forgotten man, who proved that good things come to those who elect to pick up a bloody massive pay check to sit around on the bench at the Bernabeu…

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  22Dani Carvajal – N/A

  Carvajal looked good in the early goings as he looked to build on a career season that saw him finish fourth in the Ballon d'Or voting. However, a horrific knee injury suffered in October derailed his campaign, and he will hope to be back to his best next year as he aims to hold off increased competition from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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  21Lucas Vazquez – 4/10

  Poor Lucas! After both Carvajal and Eder Miliato suffered terrible knee injuries, Vazquez had to step up. And while his effort is never lacking, Vazquez became the undeniable weak link in an already pretty poor defence, and had lost his spot to Federico Valverde by February.

  A couple of miserable Clasico showings, in particular, will go down in memory for the wrong reasons. He will leave the club at season's end, and it seems like the right time to move on.

AC Milan have told Chelsea how much they will need to pay to prise goalkeeper Mike Maignan away from the club.

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• Chelsea keen on Milan stopper Maignan
• Serie A side name price for French star
• Goalkeeper into last year of contract

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blues have made contact with Milan as Enzo Maresca aims to add a new goalkeeper to his squad this summer. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Rossoneri have told Chelsea they must pay €30 million (£25m/$34m) to sign Maignan this summer.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Chelsea may well be unwilling to match Maignan's fee as he has just one year left on his contract and, as things stand, will be available for free next summer. Yet the No. 1 position is of concern at Stamford Bridge due to doubts over both Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea also had three goalkeepers out on loan last season and all are due to return in the summer. Mike Penders will head back to London from Genk, Doree Petrovic spent last season with Strasbourg, while Kepa Arrizabalaga enjoyed a good campaign with Bournemouth.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA

  Chelsea look set for a busy summer transfer window as Maresca continues to shape his squad. Dario Essugo has already arrived from Sporting, while the Blues are hoping to complete a deal for Liam Delap. The club are also being tipped to offload as many as 13 players before the start of the new campaign.

Everton are in the mix to complete the signing of a “brilliant” attacking player in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

Everton eye signings from EFL and Scotland under Friedkin Group

This summer feels like such a pivotal one for the Blues, as they begin life at a new stadium and look to kick on in the Premier League with David Moyes back in charge and The Friedkin Group’s reign underway.

Everton need to conduct plenty of transfer business, however, and Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers has been mentioned as an option. The USA international has already caught the eye of club scouts, as they look to potentially prepare for life without Jarrad Branthwaite, should he move on.

Up front, TFG are reportedly set to enquire about the availability of Richarlison this summer, as they look to possibly bring him back to the club after a successful first stint there, having fallen out of favour in a struggling Tottenham side.

Everton could also delve into the Championship to sign exciting young talent in the next window and Sunderland full-back Dennis Cirkin has emerged as a rumour target for the Merseysiders. The 22-year-old has been an impressive performer for the Black Cats this season, scoring three goals and registering two assists in the league.

Everton join the race to sign "brilliant" Rangers forward

Now, according to a fresh claim from Africa Foot [via Sport Witness], Everton have “joined the race” to sign Rangers striker Hamza Igamane at the end of the season. The Blues are far from alone in showing an interest in the 22-year-old however, with Sevilla sending scouts to watch him in action and Marseille also eyeing him up – the La Liga club’s scouts are apparently ‘convinced’ he is the perfect signing.

Igamane is a talented young striker who could have a very bright future, so he looks like a shrewd target for Everton, as Moyes looks to improve the firepower at his disposal ahead of next season. The Moroccan has proven to be a reliable source of goals for Rangers this term, scoring nine times in 18 Scottish Premiership starts, as well as finding the net on four occasions in the Europa League.

Interim Ibrox boss Derek Ferguson has spoken of his admiration for him: “Igamane is a real breath of fresh air, the young man. The manager said he was trying to get him up to speed, but in the last few games he has been nothing short of brilliant. He is off the cuff and he had three or four nutmegs this afternoon – and took his goal brilliantly. I don’t know if you remember Ted McMinn, but Igamane’s got that unpredictability.”

With long-term doubts persisting over the futures of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto at Everton, bringing in a player of Igamane’s age and promise makes complete sense for TFG.

Rooney 2.0: Everton could soon unleash "incredible" 17-year-old Beto rival

Everton fans will be excited about the potential of this youngster.

By
Kelan Sarson

Mar 9, 2025

The Rangers ace still has improving to do as a player, so it would be unfair to expect fireworks from the off, but he has shown that he can impress in the Europa League, and he has scored more goals than any Blues player in the league this season, with Iliman Ndiaye and Beto leading the way on six apiece.