All posts by h716a5.icu

Franco Mastantuono has admitted that Lamine Yamal is currently winning the battle of the Clasico teenagers, but warns he is still developing following his arrival from River Plate in the summer. The Argentine has now spoken openly about his struggles with the pubalgia injury that has disrupted him in recent weeks and has also been troubling Barcelona’s Yamal.

Mastantuono’s promising start halted by early-season injury

The Argentine arrived at Real Madrid this summer in a €45 million ($53m/£39m) move from River Plate. At just 18, he was seen as one of the most promising South American talents of his generation. Madrid moved quickly for him, convinced his profile and style fit perfectly with manager Xabi Alonso's structure. He made his debut on the opening weekend of the season against Osasuna and settled in quicker than expected. While he has contributed only one goal and one assist in his 12 appearances so far, the Madrid boss was more impressed with his overall play and his ability to find spaces, which made him a regular starter in the absence of Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga.

However, Mastantuono has struggled with discomfort as Real Madrid confirmed signs of pubalgia, a groin and lower abdominal injury known for being unpredictable. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMastantuono reveals the issue began before his Madrid move

Speaking on , Mastantuono opened up about the injury and how the pain developed. He said the issue didn’t appear overnight but grew slowly until it reached a point he couldn’t ignore.

"I'm working hard to recover and be back on the pitch, which is the best part. I'm feeling much better now," the Argentine said. "It was a pain I'd been dealing with for a while. It was time to slow down and recover properly so I could be at 100%. This club demands it. I'll be back playing soon."

He revealed the pain actually began while he was still at River Plate. "It started in the second game of the Club World Cup with River and it bothered me more and more until I had to stop because of the pain."

Mastantuono opens up on growing Yamal rivalry

The young winger also opened up about his comparison with Yamal, and how their rivalry could possibly define the next decade of El Clasico. The 18-year-old said he does not enjoy direct comparisons, but he understands why the discussion exists. "I don't like comparisons, but it's always nice to have rivals of Lamine's caliber, from Barcelona, from Spain. It motivates you to be even better. I hope it can stay this way for a long time, until the end of my career." 

When asked who is better right now, he was straightforward. "Today, Lamine. He's showing an incredible level, but I've just arrived at Real Madrid, I'm in an adaptation process that I hope will be quick so I can get up to speed in Europe and at Real Madrid. I hope it's a long story to tell, with many matches like the last one we played, which was incredible."

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Getty Images SportThe rise of pubalgia issues in young players

Pubalgia, often called a sports hernia, is one of the toughest injuries for players who depend on agility and explosive movement. It affects the connection between the abdominal and adductor muscles, and recovery can vary from week to week. Wingers and attacking players who twist and sprint repeatedly are especially vulnerable.

It is also an injury that cannot be rushed. If a player returns too soon, the pain usually comes back even stronger. Yamal is dealing with the same issue at Barcelona and has been in and out of the squad this season due to the injury. Athletic Club's Nico Williams has managed it recently, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has also faced similar problems this season.

Mastantuono's progress has been steady, but Los Blancos are taking a cautious approach and have not yet set a timeline for his return. According to reports, there is quite optimism he could return towards the end of December. Still, the club won't rush him. Alonso wants him fully fit for a demanding January schedule, where Madrid will need depth on the wings.

Swansea City have now held talks with Vitor Matos as a replacement for Alan Sheehan, with Kim Hellberg now being targeted by a different Championship club.

Hellberg travelled to London to hold talks with Swansea last week, but there has been a twist, with the 37-year-old now of interest to Middlesbrough, following Rob Edwards’ departure to Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month.

As such, the Jacks may need to move on to alternative options to replace Sheehan, who was dismissed from his post last week, with his side making a poor start to the campaign, currently sitting in 18th place after taking just 17 points from their opening 15 Championship games.

Michael Carrick has been named as a potential target, with the Welsh club’s hierarchy said to be big fans of the former Boro boss, but a different, more left-field option is also of interest…

Swansea hold talks with Vitor Matos now 'leading contender'

As reported by the BBC, Swansea have held talks with several managers since parting ways with Sheehan, including Maritimo manager Matos, courtesy of the job he has done in the Portuguese second tier. TalkSPORT add that the young coach is now the ‘new leading contender’.

At just 37-years-old, the Maritimo boss is relatively inexperienced, having only started his current role back in June, but he does have experience working under Jurgen Klopp, working as an elite development coach at Liverpool from 2019 – 2024.

During that time, the former Liverpool coach received high praise from ex-Reds assistant Pepijn Lijnders, who is now at Man City: “He is a talented coach, a very intelligent coach.

“Having one really intelligent, talented coach for young players, he can inspire eight or nine of them – it’s really important to have the right people in front of them – he connects, he influences the boys on the pitch and trains with them.”

Much like Klopp, the Portuguese manager favours a forward-thinking style of play, with an attacking 4-3-3 formation his preferred system, and he has made a solid start to life at Maritimo since arriving in the summer.

Games

11

Wins

6

Draws

2

Losses

3

Points per game

1.82

That said, it would be a risk to appoint Matos, given his lack of experience, with the aforementioned BBC report also making it clear that Russell Martin is open to a return to Swansea, after leaving Rangers earlier this season.

Despite becoming the shortest-serving manager in the Gers’ history, Martin could be a solid appointment for the Swans, given his experience in the Championship, most impressively guiding Southampton to promotion with a play-off final victory against Leeds United in the 2023-24 campaign.

Russell Martin open to replacing Alan Sheehan as Swansea City boss Manager who called Swansea City fans "fantastic" open to replacing Sheehan

He’s out of work currently.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 13, 2025

Justin Verlander is headed to The Bay for his 20th season in MLB, having agreed to a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants. He's yet to make his final decision regarding what jersey number he'll wear, though it seems his usual No. 35 is still on the table despite a franchise great having worn it throughout much of their career.

Verlander told reporters that Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey reached out to the team's former longtime shortstop Brandon Crawford regarding the availability of the No. 35 uniform, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports. Crawford gave Verlander his blessing to wear the digits, should he so desire, though he's ultimately yet to decide whether he intends to wear the number or not.

Crawford, who retired after the 2024 season, spent 13 of his 14 years in MLB in San Francisco. He was a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner and a two-time World Series champion. He wore the No. 35 throughout his time with the Giants, and also wore it during his one-year stint with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Verlander has also worn No. 35 throughout his career with the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets and Houston Astros. Whether he intends to continue wearing it in San Francisco remains to be seen, though Crawford classily gave the veteran right-hander his blessing to do so.

“I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with MCA to help us win more trophies,” Ajinkya Rahane says

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Aug-2025Ajinkya Rahane has given up the captaincy of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season, saying he believes “it’s the right time to groom a new leader”. In a communication to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Rahane, now 37, said he wants to continue as a player for the team.”Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour,” Rahane wrote in a social media post. “With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader. And hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role. I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with MCA to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season.”Rahane helped Mumbai break a nine-year drought by leading them to their 42nd Ranji Trophy title in 2023-24. While his red-ball form over the past two years has been patchy (467 runs in 27 innings with just one century), he was more fluent in the shorter formats. At the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in December last year, when he played under Shreyas Iyer, Rahane was the Player of the Tournament for his chart-topping 469 runs in a title-winning season.Related

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Rahane was most recently in charge of Kolkata Knight Riders at IPL 2025, for whom he was the highest scorer with 390 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 147.27. The team had a mediocre season, though, finishing eighth with just five wins.In July, Rahane said he still possessed the “hunger and passion” for the game and for red-ball cricket, stating he even carried his trainers and cricket gear while on holiday in London to begin preparations for the upcoming domestic season.”I still want to play Test cricket,” Rahane had told Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton in an interview with . “I’m really passionate about playing Test cricket. I’m enjoying my cricket at the moment. For me, it’s all about focusing on the controllable things. Frankly, I tried to have conversations with the selectors, but [there are] things as a player I cannot control. I got no response.”As a player, all I can do is keep playing cricket, keep enjoying the game, and give my best each and every time. I love playing Test cricket, love playing red-ball [cricket], it’s a passion. The love for the game keeps me going.”Mumbai are currently preparing for the upcoming season by playing the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Chennai, with a young squad led by 18-year-old Ayush Mhatre. Mumbai allrounder Shardul Thakur, a key member of their 2024-25 Ranji campaign, was named captain of West Zone for the season-opening Duleep Trophy.

Footballers who possess a unique style of play, supreme technical ability or untapped potential are often referred to as ‘streets won’t forget’ players.

Whether it be Premier League one-season wonders like Michu, tricky mavericks such as Hatem Ben Arfa or players who simply grabbed their moments on the biggest stage like South Africa World Cup star Siphiwe Tshabalala, football fans will always have a soft spot for those players who captured hearts and minds.

Some, like Adel Taarabt, never fulfilled their true potential, while others had glittering careers, but the rise of social media and the pure volume of football coverage has led fans to yearn for those stars who rocked up once a week on a Saturday afternoon with no intention other than to amaze their spectators.

10. Yannick Bolasie

9. Andrey Arshavin

8. Papiss Cissé

7, Dimitri Payet

6. Morten Gamst Pedersen

5. Mousa Dembele

4. Jay-Jay Okocha

3. Adel Taarabt

2. Michu

1. Hatem Ben Arfa

“The boy Michu has been a revelation,” Sir Alex Ferguson once said of Swansea’s Spanish striker. “To sign him for just £2 million and get 20 goals out of him – what a bargain!”

Such cult hero status doesn’t exclusively belong to goalscorers however, as Mousa Dembele proved during his time at Tottenham Hotspur. The Belgian only found the net ten times in 249 appearances for Spurs, but is regarded as one of the most technically gifted midfielders of all time.

Dembele's teammates called him the one of the best players in the world

Winning 82 caps for Belgium, Dembele drew praise throughout his career for his ability to evade the press, weaving his way out of trouble as a deep-lying midfielder.

Dembele started his career as a winger and idolised legendary forward Patrick Kluivert, which led to him being almost impossible to dispossess in midfield, and Harry Kane once said he was the most technically gifted player he’s played with.

Plenty of Spurs stars have echoed this sentiment down the years, with Dele Alli claiming Dembele was the best player in the squad back in 2016, and current captain Son Heung-min revealing: “Mousa he is incredible. I haven’t seen a player like this. I have never seen this.”

Perhaps the best indication of a player’s talent however is what their opponents have to say, and Arsenal icon Jack Wilshere named Dembele as his toughest ever opponent – even despite being left in awe of Lionel Messi.

2012-13

26

1

3

5th

2013-14

22

1

1

6th

2014-15

10

1

1

5th

2015-16

27

3

1

3rd

2016-17

24

1

1

2nd

2017-18

21

0

0

3rd

2018-19

7

0

0

4th

With elite teams now spending hundreds of millions on finding the perfect midfielder, the Tottenham legend’s aesthetically pleasing style would catch a hefty fee in today’s transfer market.

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1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 7, 2025

Leeds United are now “making regular checks” on a £16m striker, who could join instead of Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson, according to a report.

Update on Leeds' pursuit of Wilson

A visibly upset Wilson appeared to say farewell to the Newcastle crowd on Sunday afternoon, with the English striker poised to leave the Magpies upon the expiration of his contract in the summer.

The striker has played a sporadic role for Eddie Howe’s side this season, predominantly featuring as a substitute, and he could now be in line to move to a fellow Premier League side, where he wouldn’t have to compete for a starting spot with a striker of Alexander Isak’s quality.

Leeds have expressed an interest in the Englishman, as they look to bring in players with top-flight experience to avoid an instant return to the Championship, but there has now been a new update on their interest in the striker.

According to a report from Football Insider, Leeds now have doubts about signing Wilson, with transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealing that Dinamo Kyiv’s Vladyslav Vanat has been identified as a potential alternative option.

O’Rourke said: “It would be a gamble… [Vanat] has a good goalscoring record for Dinamo Kyiv in Ukraine. He does have a release clause of around £16million, so relatively cheap in today’s market as well.

“It’ll be a huge gamble, but I’m sure that Leeds’ scouts and all those other teams will have been making regular checks on him, and they’ll recommend if they think he could do it in the Premier League or not.”

Leeds could land their own Florian Wirtz by signing "outstanding" £33m star

Leeds could secure their own version of Florian Wirtz by signing this £25m transfer target.

ByDan Emery May 25, 2025 "Powerful" Vanat would be an interesting gamble for Leeds

Given that Vanat has no experience in a major European league, having never played outside his home country of Ukraine, it would be a gamble for Leeds to pursue a move this summer, but there are some indications it could be a risk worth taking.

The Ukraine international maintained a solid goalscoring record throughout the 2024-25 campaign, playing a major role in his side securing the Ukrainian Premier League title.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Ukrainian Premier League

28

17

4

Europa League

8

1

1

Champions League qualifying

6

2

2

Ukrainian Cup

3

1

2

Football scout Ben Mattinson has also been left impressed by the 23-year-old in the past, claiming he could make an immediate impact in the Premier League.

Wilson may have proven himself in the Premier League, but the Newcastle striker is now 33-years-old and has a patchy injury record to say the least, so Vanat could be a fantastic alternative option.

A £50 million-rated Crystal Palace star has now told club chiefs that he is ready to leave this summer amid interest from Manchester United and others, according to a recent report.

Crystal Palace chasing midfield reinforcements

Whether Palace win the FA Cup and therefore secure Europa League football or not, it looks as though the South Londoners are going to be very busy in the summer transfer window.

New target: Crystal Palace interested in signing "fantastic" £9m "monster"

The Eagles have set their sights on a midfielder, who is set to be available for a bargain fee this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 1, 2025

A couple of weeks ago, Palace announced that midfielder Will Hughes agreed a new contract until 2027, but it is still clear Oliver Glasner and co. have their eyes on adding to their options in the middle of the park. Highly-rated Sunderland pair Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham have been linked with moves to Selhurst Park, but they are not the only options under consideration.

Palace are now interested in signing Wilfred Ndidi from Leicester City, as the midfielder can leave the Foxes for just £9 million, given that he has a relegation clause.

However, they are not alone in the race, as Everton and Fulham from the Premier League are also interested in a deal. Palace are also in the running to sign midfielder Rayan Cherki from French side Lyon. However, the Premier League side are considered ‘dark horses’ in the race, given that there are many other teams from England also looking to snap up the exciting attacker.

£50m Crystal Palace star tells chiefs he wants out

Signing players like Ndidi and Cherki may become a top priority for the Eagles, given the fact they could be about to lose a key player. According to TBR Football, Eberechi Eze has told Crystal Palace he wants to leave the club this summer amid interest from Premier League teams.

TBR Football’s chief correspondent, Graeme Bailey has now reported that Eze feels it is the right time for him to leave Palace. This news comes amid significant interest from teams in the Premier League – Manchester United are hopeful of signing Eze, while Spurs consider signing Eze as a replacement for Son Heung-min and Liverpool are considered the frontrunners to secure a deal.

Bailey said on Eze’s situation: “Much will depend on Palace’s demands around his release clause; very few are needed to be paid in one lump sum, and I don’t believe that Palace will do that to Eze either. Tottenham love the player; we know that – but they are not alone – Manchester City like him a lot. I am told that Pep Guardiola is an admirer.

“City are looking at bolstering their attacking midfield ranks, but Florian Wirtz is ahead of him in that regard, and I believe so are Lucas Paqueta, Charles De Ketelaere and Francisco Trincão, but I would not dismiss it totally. Newcastle and Aston Villa also admire him, and if he does go – it will be a team playing in Europe.

Apps

142

Goals

30

Assists

23

“Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all fully aware of him and are fans of his talents, but I don’t believe he is a priority for them as it stands. Eze, for his part, feels the time is right to move and has expressed this to Palace.”

Eze, who has been dubbed “frightening” by teammate Joel Ward, would cost teams a minimum of £50 million this summer.

Nottingham Forest have endured a season that the supporters will remember for a lifetime, still having the opportunity to secure Champions League football with four games left of the season.

The Reds have gone from relegation strugglers to European hopefuls in just one campaign under Nuno Espírito Santo’s guidance, which has undoubtedly been one of the stories of the year.

Their low-block and counter-attacking style has taken countless Premier League sides by storm, allowing them to produce the performances and results that have catapulted them to huge success.

No one could’ve predicted the rise endured by the club in the last few months, with many pundits across the United Kingdom predicting Nuno’s men to get relegated before a ball was kicked.

Numerous players have stepped up to the plate in the last few months, aiding their unlikely ambitions of securing a place in the Champions League and looking to be worth every penny of the fee paid for their signature.

Sangare & Anderson’s stats for Forest in 2024/25

Ibrahim Sangare joined Forest in a £30m deal from Dutch side PSV, looking to nail down his place at the heart of the midfield, but nearly two years on, it’s safe to say things haven’t gone as planned.

The Ivorian has massively struggled with injuries, making just 30 appearances in his two seasons, 12 of which have come this term after missing six months with a hamstring issue.

The same can’t be said for £35m signing Elliot Anderson, who’s been a crucial player to Nuno this campaign, featuring in all but one Premier League outing to date.

He’s managed to notch eight combined goals and assists during his first season at the City Ground, leading to admiration from Liverpool – highlighting his development in the East Midlands.

At just 22, Anderson has bags of time to improve further throughout his career, potentially having a huge role to play in any European tour endured throughout 2025/26.

Despite the aforementioned pair being the two most expensive additions in their history, one other first-team member is now worth more than the duo, showcasing his own rise under Nuno at the City Ground.

The Forest star who’s now worth more than Sangare & Anderson

The next couple of weeks are vital to Forest, with the financial benefits of securing Champions League football massively boosting their ambitions of recruiting top-level talent.

Such a qualification would also boost their current PSR standing, pulling them further away from any form of breach, which would result in yet another points deduction.

However, any chances of finishing within the top five could rely on winger Anthony Elanga, with the Swedish star producing countless moments of magic in recent times to help the side reach their current standing.

The 23-year-old joined the club from Manchester United for just £15m back in the summer of 2023, looking to be an absolute bargain given the levels produced since his transfer.

He managed to achieve a total of five goals and nine assists in all competitions during his debut season on Trentside, before notching six goals and ten assists in the current campaign – leading to journalist Simon Stone labelling him as “superb”.

Arguably, his most iconic effort of the year was his 85-yard run and goal against his former employers, helping Nuno’s side secure a 1-0 victory in the East Midlands back in April.

He’s only played a maximum of 45 minutes in four of the Reds’ last five outings in all competitions, with the four losses during that time appearing to be no coincidence.

Games played

34

Goals & assists

15

Pass accuracy

77.4%

Chances created

1.8

Dribbles completed

0.96

Fouls won

1.47

Recoveries made

3.44

Crosses completed

1.34

As a result of his impressive showings since his transfer, Elanga is now valued at £30m by Transfermarkt, doubling the fee they paid for his signature in 2023, highlighting his rise since joining the club.

Such a figure is higher than those of Sangare and Anderson, who are now both valued at £23m and £25.5m respectively – with the latter being extremely harsh given his impressive season in 2024/25.

His tally of 30 combined goals and assists for Forest showcases how threatening he’s been in the final third, having the ability to play a key role in their potential Champions League campaign next year.

However, if they are to finish the job in the next couple of weeks, Elanga must start each one of the remaining fixtures, with his inclusion massively increasing the club’s chances of ending their fairytale season on a high.

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Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta could’ve signed two players in the exact same position this summer, but an injury to one of Mikel Arteta’s men has apparently thwarted those plans.

Arsenal suffer first-leg defeat in Champions League semi-final

On the field, Arteta’s side suffered a setback in their pursuit of a first ever Champions League title on Tuesday evening, with PSG beating them 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

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Ousmane Dembélé’s very early goal was eventually enough to clinch a one-goal advantage for the French champions heading into their replay at the Parc des Princes, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making excellent saves from the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

Bournemouth (home)

May 3rd

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Mikel Merino also saw his equalising header ruled out by VAR for offside, so it was close but no cigar for the Gunners, who face an uphill battle to come back against an in-form PSG side on enemy turf.

However, as Arteta said in his post-match press conference, it is only half-time, and we’ve seen far more unlikely European comebacks in recent years.

“You cannot,” said Arteta on needing control against PSG for all 90 minutes.

“This is one of the best, beating all the English teams, the best teams in this country. You cannot dominate this team in 95 minutes. Impossible. Forget about it. You have to understand what it means dominating them and in which area of the pitch. We have to be very clear. Again, what we have to do when we cannot win it, OK, make sure that we take the game well again.”

Arteta is fully aware of the tough task facing his Arsenal side in PSG, who have lost just one Ligue 1 game all season and were unbeaten until last Friday, but there is still optimism from his end.

“I don’t know the percentage, but we have a lot of chances to be in that final,” said Arteta. “As I repeat myself, you have to do something, especially in the competition, to earn the right to be in the final and the time to do it is going to be in Paris.”

Gabriel Jesus injury thwarts Arsenal plan to sign two strikers

Off the field, Berta is planning to sign a striker for Arsenal this summer, as has been reported for quite some time.

However, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, in a piece for The Boot Room, the Gunners could’ve signed two new centre-forwards this summer, if it wasn’t for Gabriel Jesus and his long-term injury.

Jesus could even be out of action for Arsenal until 2026, according to other reports, and this has apparently thwarted the possibility of Berta’s sealing a double-striker deal.

Bailey says that Arsenal could’ve sold Jesus this summer, which would’ve opened the door for two number nines to arrive instead of one, but the Brazilian’s recovery from an ACL rupture means they’ve had to put any plans to sell on hold.

With Berta unable to raise funds and trim wages through Jesus’ sale, the prospect of more than one striker is now impossible.

This is hardly the end of the world, as a prolific star frontman is still fully expected to arrive and compete with Kai Havertz, but it could’ve been an even busier summer in the attacking areas.

After watching on as Andre Onana endured another evening to forget against Lyon in midweek, Manchester United have reportedly sent scouts on a fresh mission in pursuit of replacing their goalkeeper.

Onana makes one mistake too many

Whilst the former Inter man was full of confidence in the build-up, exchanging a war of words with Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic, that confidence was not enough for the goalkeeper to avoid a nightmare evening.

First flailing at Thiago Almada’s wide free-kick to concede the opening goal, Onana then spilt an effort straight into the path of Rayan Cherki for Lyon’s late equaliser – proving Matic right in the process.

The former Old Trafford midfielder ruthlessly responded to Onana’s verdict that Manchester United are a better side than Lyon – telling reporters: “You know, I respect everyone but to say that then you need to give the answer.

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“If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history, you need to take care what you’re talking about. If it was [Edwin] Van der Sar, [Peter] Schmeichel or [David] de Gea saying that, then I would question myself. But you need to have cover to say something like that.”

The numbers don’t exactly help the Red Devils shot-stopper in pursuit of shutting that criticism down, with the two Lyon mistakes the latest in a growing list of errors at Manchester United.

With rumours now emerging that the Red Devils are ready to part ways with Onana following just two seasons, those at Old Trafford have seemingly turned their attention towards Serie A.

Man Utd step up chase to sign Zion Suzuki

According to talkSPORT, INEOS have now sent Man Utd scouts on a fresh mission in pursuit of Zion Suzuki. The Parma shot-stopper has impressed once again this season and is now reportedly valued at as much as £40m ahead of the summer transfer window.

Whether United are willing to pay such a price remains to be seen, and it must be said that the numbers suggest that Suzuki is one for the future rather than next season.

Starts

29

31

Clean sheets

4

9

Save percentage

66.9%

69.8%

Saves per 90

2.68

2.74

Whilst the Japan international is a rising star at just 22 years old, what he is not is a player ready to become Manchester United’s Premier League No.1. There will perhaps become a time when he is, but the Red Devils must first target one of the world’s best to replace Onana this summer.

Dubbed “exciting” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the last thing that Suzuki needs at this stage of his career is to take hold of the poisoned chalice of Manchester United’s No.1 shirt. With plenty to think about, Manchester United must get it right this summer.