Celtic missed out on signing an England international who is now picking up £400,000-a-week and has gone on to star away from Parkhead.
Celtic’s record signings
The Hoops have splashed the cash by their standards in recent years, breaking their transfer record last summer by bringing Arne Engels to Celtic Park.
Celtic chiefs enjoyed more success in the 2024/25 Champions League under Brendan Rodgers, and they may look to spend to become even more competitive in Europe.
Arne Engels
2024
£11m
Adam Idah
2024
£9.5m
Odsonne Edouard
2018
£9m
Jota
2025
£8m
Christopher Jullien
2019
£7m
Jota
2022
£6.5m
Auston Trusty
2024
£6m
Cameron Carter-Vickers
2022
£6m
John Hartson
2001
£6m
Chris Sutton
2000
£6m
Three of Celtic’s five most expensive signings of all time have happened since 2024, and asked whether or not the Hoops will be busy ahead of the 25/26 season, Rodgers said: “Yes, I think so.
“Again, we have to look at and adapt to situations as well. We all know fine well, here there’s a player trading model, which means that we will probably get offers for some of our players in the summer. And if that happens, then we have to be flexible and be able to adapt to that.
“If I said that everyone now would be here, then you’d maybe only have a few, two to three players coming in of high quality, but we’ll just have to see.”
Celtic's most expensive sales of all time
Celtic have let some of their finest talents move for big money in the past.
ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025
Before Rodgers returned to Glasgow, though, Celtic missed out on signing a striker who has gone on to become a star.
Celtic missed out on signing Ivan Toney for £5m flop
Before joining Brentford in 2020, Ivan Toney was wanted in Scotland while on the books at Peterborough United.
Toney actually admitted he had talks with Celtic but “wanted to be the main guy”, which was why he moved to the Bees.
It has proven to be a costly mistake for Celtic, who ended up spending £5m on Albian Ajeti instead, with the Swiss striker not living up to the hype in Scotland.
As we know with Toney, he would help get Brentford promoted to the Premier League and star in the top flight, earning England caps along the way.
Ivan Toney’s career in pictures
In 2024, the centre-forward then sealed a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli, where he has continued to score on a regular basis and now collects in excess of £400,000-a-week.
That contract runs until 2028, so Celtic will surely look back on this and wish they offered Toney the main guy role he was after at the time instead of signing Ajeti.
Ipswich Town are now in talks to sign a “fantastic” midfielder who manager Kieran McKenna is a big admirer of, chairman Mark Ashton has revealed.
Ipswich preparing for life in the Championship
It was always going to be a tall order for Ipswich to avoid relegation from the Premier League, but much like when Burnley went down under Sean Dyche the first time around, Ipswich seemingly think they can come straight back up if they stick by their manager.
However, there are now some doubts surrounding McKenna’s future at Portman Road, with widespread reports suggesting the 39-year-old could be Brentford’s first-choice target to replace Thomas Frank, should the Danish manager complete a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Having led the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions, it will be a difficult task to find an heir to the Englishman, while signing a replacement for Liam Delap could also be tricky, given the 22-year-old managed to score an impressive 12 goals in his debut Premier League campaign.
Middlesbrough’s Emmanuel Latte Lath is one of the targets to replace Delap at striker, but Ashton has revealed that Ipswich are also looking to reinforce their midfield this summer.
The chairman has now confirmed that talks have been held over a deal for former loanee Jens Cajuste, saying: “Jens is a loan player who I think has done really well for us.
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Kieran McKenna could now look to get rid of this Ipswich Town star ahead of the new Championship campaign.
ByKelan Sarson Jun 1, 2025
“He’s had some challenges with injury this season, which have been well documented.
“Our conversations with Jens are ongoing. A deal for Jens to be here for the long term, it would need to be something that’s right for us, him and his club – and that dialogue continues.”
Mckenna has also admitted he’s a big fan of the midfielder, adding: “We’ve loved having Jens here, but there’s probably a lot to do for that to happen. We’ll see what the next few weeks brings.”
"Fantastic" Cajuste could be real coup for Ipswich
The Ipswich boss was clearly impressed by the Swedish midfielder’s performances last season, praising him for showing “fantastic character” against Nottingham Forest in April, and given that the manager knows the 25-year-old very well, he could be an ideal signing.
Not only does the £35k-a-week maestro have Premier League experience, but he has previously featured regularly for Napoli in Serie A and Reims in Ligue 1, so the Tractor Boys securing a permanent deal could be a real statement of intent.
McKenna certainly knows what it takes to win promotion, and the signing of Cajuste could fuel his side’s Championship title bid next season, although Luton Town suffering back-to-back relegations to League 1 should serve as a warning to not get carried away.
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.
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.
Vladyslav Vanat for Ukraine against Belgium.
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.”
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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.
As Manchester United get set to take on Chelsea in the penultimate game of their miserable Premier League season on Friday night, one man who won’t be involved in proceedings is Old Trafford exile, Jadon Sancho.
The 25-year-old loanee – who is ineligible to feature for the Blues against his parent club – is set to head into a summer of uncertainty at Stamford Bridge, with it yet to be seen whether the west London side will secure his services on a permanent basis.
With talk in recent months indicating that Enzo Maresca’s side could actually pay a £5m fee in order to send him back to Manchester, despite agreeing to a £20m-£25m obligation to buy last summer, the Red Devils face the very real prospect of being lumped with the £195k-per-week winger once again.
In truth, even with a change in the dugout following Ruben Amorim’s arrival, the England international should have no future back at the Theatre of Dreams, having proven a simply wasted venture following his £73m arrival in 2021.
Perhaps hampered by a long, drawn-out saga that began in 2020, the former Borussia Dortmund man has been unable to replicate his Bundesliga heroics, having chalked up just 18 goals and assists in 83 games for United to date.
Antony
96
12
5
17
Anthony Elanga
55
4
4
8
Amad
61
13
11
24
Jadon Sancho
83
12
6
18
Alejandro Garnacho
146
26
22
48
Dan James
74
9
9
18
Angel Di Maria
34
4
12
16
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
63
13
11
24
Memphis Depay
53
7
6
13
Alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony, Sancho is a player who INEOS need to cash in on this summer. What they must not do, however, is sign a talent of a similar ilk…
Man Utd's search for a forward
Whether it pays off or not remains to be seen, although it is encouraging to see that United are looking to target current Premier League stars this summer, ensuring there should be less of a need for adaptation next season.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Indeed, both Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap appear to be at the top of the shopping list, while recent reports have also indicated that Amorim and co are interested in Bournemouth’s £60m-rated sensation, Antoine Semenyo.
With the Red Devils intent on strengthening the 40-year-old’s attacking options, Sky Sports have since revealed that United are also keeping tabs on Nottingham Forest’s Callum Hudson-Odoi.
As per reporter Dharmesh Sheth, the Englishman currently has just a year left on his contract at the City Ground, with talks currently “ongoing” with the Champions League hopefuls regarding an extension.
Reading between the lines, INEOS appear ready to pounce should those negotiations hit a stumbling block, with Forest perhaps willing to cash in, considering that they signed the ex-Chelsea man for a fee of just £3m back in 2023.
Alongside former United academy graduate, Anthony Elanga, Hudson-Odoi has no doubt flourished for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side – but is he what Amorim really needs?
Why Man Utd could be targeting another Sancho
The journey of a young footballer is rarely a smooth one, as Sancho, in particular, has come to learn.
Jadon Sancho for Chelsea
Plucked from Manchester City by Dortmund on a £10m deal in 2017, the wing wizard went on to sparkle in German football over the next four years, with his total record for the Bundesliga side – when factoring last season’s loan spell back at the club – standing at 120 goals and assists in 158 games.
For all that talent and potential, it just hasn’t worked out since then, with Sancho now a forgotten man in Manchester, having also provided only eight goal involvements in the league this season for the Blues. His last Three Lions outing came as far back as October 2021.
It has been a similar story for Hudson-Odoi too, with the one-time wonderkid touted for big things after making his senior international debut at the age of just 18, having also been the subject of a £70m offer from Bayern Munich in 2020.
Injuries and limited game followed back at Chelsea, however, while he was also shipped off to Bayer Leverkusen for an unsuccessful loan in 2022/23, which yielded just one goal and one assist.
After recording 16 goals and 22 assists in 126 games for the west Londoners, the decision was made to cash in on the fleet-footed winger two years ago, while on the international scene, he has been unable to build on his three caps – all of which came in 2019.
To his credit, the man once described as a “monster of a talent” by journalist Nizaar Kinsella has found his feet at Forest, with 13 goals and six assists in 68 games in all competitions, including the winner against Manchester City earlier this year.
Non-penalty goals
0.21
0.16
Assists
0.08
0.21
Shot-creating actions
3.93
3.59
Pass completion
82.2%
82.5%
Progressive passes
2.76
4.65
Progressive carries
5.31
5.28
Successful take-ons
1.51
2.38
Touches in penalty box
3.01
6.39
Progressive passes received
7.78
11.68
That said, like Sancho, he hasn’t exactly pulled up any trees – if you’ll pardon the pun – in Nottingham, having matched his compatriot’s record of only eight goal contributions in the top-flight this term.
Interestingly too, the two widemen – both of whom can play on either flank – are noted as statistically similar players among those in their position in the division, as per FBref, with United at risk of landing another mercurial and inconsistent talent.
Perhaps, for a bargain fee, Hudson-Odoi could prove worth the gamble, although having witnessed Sancho struggle so greatly in recent years, targeting a player of similar quality and ability may well need to be avoided.
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Man Utd could have another academy sensation up their sleeve…
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.
Eberechi Eze for Crystal Palace.
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.
Nottingham Forest managerNunoEspirito Santo is seen before the match
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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Nottingham Forest could be about to make a huge signing that would take Morgan Gibbs-White to the next level.
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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The Gunners are planning to reach out.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 29, 2025
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.
Manchester United's Andre Onana vs Lyon.
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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ByEthan Lamb Apr 12, 2025
“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.
During Chris Wilder’s two stints as manager of Sheffield United, he’s had some fantastic players at his disposal.
From goalscoring hero Billy Sharp to the likes of John Egan and John Fleck.
Serge Aurier and John Fleck battle for the ball.
Fleck, a free transfer from Coventry City in the summer of 2016, was a rather understated at the time but quickly became a mainstay in many a Blades lineup with United jumping all the way up from League One to the top-flight under Wilder.
John Fleck's heroics at Sheffield United
It all began with that free-kick against Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby in 2017. Since that moment, he became a firm fan favourite at Bramall Lane.
Fleck quickly turned into a Premier League capable performer at Bramall Lane, with the now 33-year-old ace going on to immortalise himself as a United great across a hefty 278 appearances.
The Glasgow-born ace would effectively become an honourary citizen of the Steel City by the time of his exit to Blackburn Rovers last year, having tallied up a mighty impressive 16 strikes and 48 assists across those games, culminating in two promotions also coming his way.
Many players in Wilder’s camp now will be hoping they can follow in the footsteps of the former number four, with Fleck managing to end his long-standing association with the Blades by notching up a fine nine top-flight goal contributions.
John Fleck
In particular, one holding midfielder – the same role Fleck regularly lined up in – will be taking direct inspiration from the now Chesterfield man.
Wilder's new Fleck at Sheffield United
Originally hailing from Enfield, United number 42 Sydie Peck might not have expected Sheffield to become his permanent footballing home during the early days of his playing career.
But, the emerging talent has now become a first-team regular under Wilder this campaign and for good reason, with his full-blooded yet composed displays centrally meaning his senior minutes have rightly been bumped up.
Games played
35
Games started
26
Goals scored
0
Assists
1
Touches*
48.8
Accurate passes*
29.9 (82%)
Big chances created
4
Duels won*
3.7
Whilst he isn’t anywhere near Fleck’s creative best just yet, Peck has shown signs of promise in an attacking capacity, considering this is his first daunting senior season with the side, resulting in four big chances being created away from his singular assist.
Despite deficiences being present in his growing game, Peck is slowly but surely becoming a fan’s favourite at the Championship high-flyers, with one Blades based content creator in Nick Ingood even heralding the 5 foot 8 engine as a “superstar” off the back of another well-rounded display against Coventry to close out March.
It will be up to Peck to deal with the harsh step-up in quality if Premier League action returns to the red and white half of Sheffield, but if he is aiming to follow Fleck’s upward trajectory, he should be able to deal with the gulf in class in his stride.
After all, the four-time England U20 international – who has been further lauded as “outstanding” by his passionate head coach – already has a Premier League appearance next to his name, with the potential here for Peck to become United’s next modern hero in the middle like Fleck.
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