Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has been a curious player since joining from Real Sociedad in 2024, and it is now believed he could depart the Gunners just two years after his arrival.
The Spain international’s best performances under Mikel Arteta have arguably come up front, with Merino doing extremely well in an emergency striker role last season in the absence of both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
His match-winning goals against Chelsea and Leicester City, alongside a late equaliser against Liverpool in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at Anfield, were crucial in helping the Gunners comfortably secure Champions League qualification.
The Premier League title race was out of sight by that point, but Merino’s fantastic contribution amid their dire lack of striking options will always be remembered fondly by supporters .
However, since dropping back into midfield, the 29-year-old hasn’t quite been as effective at times.
During Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League earlier this week, Merino struggled in what was an ‘Odegaard-style’ role — seeing the ball even less than goalkeeper David Raya in what was a 4/10 display.
Minutes played
90
Touches
40
Accurate passes
21/28 (75%)
Key passes
1
Accurate crosses
0
Shots
1
Dribbles
0
Ground duels won
2/6
Aerial duels won
3/7
Possession lost
11x
Fouls
3
Both Rice and Merino lost the ball combined 25 times against Bilbao too, and proved ineffective creatively against Liverpool prior to the international break.
This all being said, it is only the very start of 2025/2026, and Merino’s started just three games in all competitions, making this latest claim on his future come as quite a surprise.
Arsenal preparing £70m Oihan Sancet bid as Mikel Merino could leave
According to a Spanish media source, Merino could leave Arsenal next summer, and sporting director Andrea Berta is already preparing a bid to sign Athletic Bilbao sensation Oihan Sancet to come in his place.
Athletic Bilbao'sOihanSancetcelebrates scoring their first goal with teammate
Interestingly, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder was one of the Bilbao players to seriously impress against Arteta’s side on Tuesday, following a dazzling 2024/2025 campaign where he netted 17 goals in 36 appearances across all competitions.
Arsenal are believed to already be preparing a £70m bid for Sancet as they look to seal his signing in 2026, despite having just spent over £250 million on new recruits, including a deal for England playmaker Eberechi Eze.
Oihan Sancet would be another statement signing for Arsenal
The fact he only has four Spain international caps is testament to the abundance of quality in Luis de la Fuente’s squad, and signing Sancet would come as yet another statement deal by Berta.
His goal return from midfield last term was up there with the very best in Europe, with teammate Yeray Alvarez calling him a “game-changer”.
Estevao Willian arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer amid plenty of excitement, but Chelsea now believe another teenager could follow in his footsteps.
The Brazilian, who scored against Enzo Maresca’s side for ex-club Palmeiras at the Club World Cup, is being tipped for an incredibly bright future.
Despite being just 18, Estevao already boasts seven senior caps for the Brazil national side, and bagged his first goal for the five-time World Cup winners in a 3-0 victory over Chile in their last round of qualifiers.
By doing this, Estevao became the youngest Brazil goalscorer in a competitive match since footballing icon Pele.
For Chelsea, the bright young forward has already made three Premier League appearances and notched his first assist for the west Londoners in a 5-1 demolition of West Ham at the London Stadium.
He’s also poised to appear in the Champions League after being named in their official squad for the league phase — travelling with Maresca’s men to face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena this week.
6. Tosin Adarabioyo
7.20
7. Pedro Neto
7.10
8. Estevao
7.04
9. Enzo Fernández
7.03
10. Robert Sanchez
6.79
via WhoScored
All eyes are now on the dazzling teenager, who has been called the best talent to come out of Brazil since Neymar.
However, as Estevao continues to grab headlines with his potential, Stamford Bridge chiefs are convinced they’ll soon have the next “biggest thing” as well.
Chelsea convinced Dastan Satpaev could be their next Estevao
That is according to journalist Simon Phillips, who told his Substack that Chelsea expect big things from Dastan Satpaev — who’ll join Maresca’s side next summer once he turns 18.
Back in February, Chelsea agreed a £4 million deal to sign Satpaev from Kairat Almaty, which is a record transfer fee for the Kazakhstani first division.
Now, those within the club believe he actually could be the next Estevao.
Interestingly, Chelsea’s faith in Satpaev is backed up by Fabrizio Romano.
Fabrizio Romano says Chelsea really rate Satpaev
The reliable transfer journalist, speaking after Chelsea put pen to paper, revealed that BlueCo actually beat a German club to the youngster’s signature and are convinced he’s got “special” skills.
A Manchester United forward, who Michael Carrick described as “terrific”, is now heading for the exit door, as a new club have agreed a transfer fee, according to a report.
Man Utd's attacking rebuild underway
There were many reasons behind Man United’s extremely disappointing 2024-25 campaign, but their attack was one of the most glaring issues, scoring just 44 goals all season in the Premier League.
Consequently, it is no surprise Ruben Amorim has set out to strengthen his forward line as a priority, having already sealed deals for Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, and the next task for recruitment chiefs will be to bring in a new striker.
Transfer expert Graeme Bailey has now revealed United have two main options in mind at centre-forward, saying: “Ollie Watkins has options and Aston Villa are looking at their options too – there is a real chance that he could leave Villa Park this summer, and Man United like him a lot – he is seen as a very good fit.”
Aston Villa's OllieWatkinscelebrates
“Sesko is ongoing too – United, though, are working on this situation. Could it be Watkins or Sesko? United certainly believe so,”
However, considering the Red Devils are well-known to be treading a fine line PSR-wise, there will also have to be some outgoings this summer, and they are now close to sealing a deal to sell one of their forwards.
That is according to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), which states a deal is now in place to sell Jadon Sancho to Juventus for £15m, and the winger has already agreed personal terms with the Italian club.
Man Utd present offer to agents of "phenomenal" £78m star, talks ongoing
The Red Devils are vying to sign a centre-forward, and they are currently in direct negotiations with his entourage.
5 ByDominic Lund Jul 29, 2025
However, the deal is currently on pause, with Juventus looking to offload Timothy Weah and Nico Gonzalez, while they could also look to move on Dušan Vlahović before fully turning their attentions to Sancho.
Some final details also need to be finalised, such as bonuses, and the player himself is now growing impatient, as he is keen to seal a move to the Serie A side.
Sancho needs to move on this summer
Despite once being described as “terrific” by Michael Carrick, the English winger has never really managed to make an impact at United, and he clearly didn’t do enough to impress Enzo Maresca last season, with Chelsea paying a £5m penalty to avoid signing him.
Chelsea's JadonSanchocelebrates scoring their first goal
As such, a move abroad could be ideal for the £25-year-old, given that his best years were spent outside England, picking up a combined 34 goals and assists for Borussia Dortmund in the 2019-20 Bundesliga season.
It is disappointing that Man United are only set to recoup £15m for Sancho, but he clearly has no future at Old Trafford, and there is every indication that Cunha and Mbeumo could be real upgrades.
In May, Football Insider reported that Leeds United were not planning to build their attack around Dutch centre-forward Joel Piroe in the Premier League next season.
It claimed that the Whites have doubts over his ability to make the step up to the top-flight as the first-choice number nine, but we are two months further on and no marquee striker signing has arrived at Elland Road.
Joel Piroe
Leeds had been linked with an interest in Brighton forward Evan Ferguson this summer, but he is now reportedly in talks to join Roma on an initial loan deal.
This means that the Ireland international may be one name that has to be crossed off the club’s shortlist of options to lead the line for Daniel Farke next season.
Leeds could make new offer for Serie A striker
Missing out on Ferguson to the Serie A giants may not be a major concern for the Championship champions, though, because they are keen on signing an even better striker who is already playing in Italy.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, Leeds United remain interested in a deal to sign Lecce centre-forward Nikola Krstovic to bolster their attack this summer, after seeing a bid turned down earlier in the window.
The report claims that the Whites are in the ‘background’ in the race to sign the Montenegro international at the moment, because he would prefer to stay in Italy or play for a team in a European competition.
However, the outlet adds that Leeds will make a new offer to bring the striker to England later in the window if he does not move elsewhere in the coming weeks, in the hope that the player will change his mind.
Why Leeds should sign Krstovic
If the Whites can convince the £21m-rated number nine to make the move to Elland Road, Farke could land an even better striker option than Ferguson for his side next term.
Krstovic has played for Lecce in the Serie A in the last two seasons and has proven his ability to find the back of the net at an impressive rate in one of Europe’s major leagues.
The 25-year-old Leeds target ended the 2024/25 season with an eye-catching haul of 11 goals in 37 games in the Serie A for Lecce, which is more goals than Ferguson has ever managed in a single senior campaign.
Season
23/24
24/25
23/24
24/24
Appearances
27
21
35
37
Goals
6
1
7
11
Minutes per goal
231
418
345
279
Big chances created
1
2
4
5
Assists
0
0
1
5
As you can see in the table above, Krstovic has outscored Ferguson by 11 goals at league level in the past two seasons, whilst also creating six more ‘big chances’ for his teammates.
These statistics suggest that the Lecce forward, who was hailed as “integral” by former boss Roberto D’Aversa, would be a much better signing for the Whites for next season, as he appears more likely to have what it takes to make a significant impact in front of goal on a regular basis.
Nikola Krstovic
At the age of 20, Ferguson is still learning and developing as a player, which is why he would have been a risky signing for the club. Krstovic, however, is in the prime years of his career at the age of 25 and could hit the ground running at Elland Road.
Therefore, the Whites should be doing everything possible to convince the player to ditch Italy for England this summer to bolster Farke’s options in the number nine position, as the Montenegro international could be the proven goalscorer they are looking for.
The dream squad Leeds could build: £150m spent & "generational" star joins
Here’s what the Leeds squad could look like at the end of the summer.
3 ByDan Emery Jul 12, 2025
Piroe is yet to score a goal in one of Europe’s major leagues in his career and the aforementioned report from Football Insider stated that there are doubts over his ability, which is why Leeds should sign Krstovic to fill that spot in the team.
Arsenal are reportedly closing in on another potential signing for manager Mikel Arteta, and there is an apparent sense inside the Emirates Stadium that they could be within touching distance of securing the deal.
Arsenal have "submitted an offer" to sign "strong" £30m Premier League star
The north Londoners are opening talks.
ByEmilio Galantini Jul 2, 2025
New sporting director Andrea Berta has already made a real splash since officially replacing his long-serving predecessor, Edu, in late March.
19/20 – winter
£0
20/21 – summer
£81.5m
20/21 – winter
£900k
21/22 – summer
£156.8m
21/22 – winter
£1.8m
22/23 – summer
£121.5m
22/23 – winter
£59m
23/24 – summer
£208m
23/24 – winter
£0
24/25 – summer
£101.5m
24/25 – winter
£0
Arsenal confirmed the arrival of Kepa Arrizabalaga in a £5 million deal earlier this week, and he’s poised to be followed by Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who will likely be confirmed in the next few days (Sky Sports).
Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera remains in talks to join Arteta’s side after the Gunners saw their opening bid rejected (Fabrizio Romano), but it could be done soon alongside Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard, who’s set to replace Thomas Partey in midfield.
Berta is also keen to reinforce the attacking midfield area across multiple positions, with both Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze and Chelsea winger Noni Madueke on the radar as two completely separate deals.
The ambition on show from Arsenal is nothing short of stupendous, and it is a clear signal of their determination to end the club’s long wait for a Premier League title.
However, the success of their window is likely to be determined by the result of their chase for a new striker.
Arsenal in "advanced talks" for Viktor Gyokeres with five-year contract "agreed"
Now, according to Sky Switzerland reporter Sacha Tavolieri, making a bold statement on X, they’ve now made serious headway when it comes to a potential deal for Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.
Viktor Gyokeres celebrating.
The Swede has been central to a public fallout with his club, and the situation is getting toxic amid club president Frederico Varandas’ repeated swipes at Gyokeres’ agent.
Gyokeres has even threatened to speak to the media if this continues, according to newspaper Record, but Tavolieri insists that Arsenal are now really getting somewhere in pursuit of a deal for the 27-year-old after months of rumoured talks.
As per the reporter, Arsenal are now in “advanced talks” for Gyokeres, and they’ve “already agreed” terms on a five-year contract with the former Coventry City star.
Sporting are reportedly demanding around £69 million to sell Gyokeres, while Arsenal apparently aim to get it done for around £60 million (Ben Jacobs), so there could still be some way to go in club-to-club talks.
He would be a blockbuster signing after spending the last two years free-scoring in the Primeira Liga, and you can make a case that Gyokeres is precisely the lethal goal-getter who Arsenal have been crying out for.
Newcastle United squeezed into the Champions League by the skin of their teeth at the end of last season.
Eddie Howe won’t be complaining, but the Englishman will be desperate to bolster several areas of his first-team squad ahead of next season.
The club will have money to spend thanks to securing a spot in Europe’s top club competition, but Howe must spend it wisely to ensure Newcastle give a better account of themselves next term.
One area of concern is the defence. Across 48 matches in all competitions, the Magpies conceded 58 goals.
As such, bringing in another centre-back or two could be a shrewd move by the manager, no doubt about that.
Both Fabian Schar and Dan Burn are on the wrong side of 30, and while they did a solid job throughout the 2024/25 campaign, the latter notably earning an England call-up, it is evident that replacing them sooner rather than later is a priority for Howe.
Schar, in particular, was impressive at times in the heart of the Newcastle defence.
Fabian Schar's statistics in 2024/25
The Swiss defender has been with the Magpies since the summer of 2018, and he has been a regular under a succession of managers at St James’ Park.
Winning the League Cup last term was the culmination of seven years of consistency for Schar, and it was well deserved. Like a fine wine, he seems to just get better with age.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2024/25
42
6
1
2023/24
47
5
3
2022/23
41
1
3
2021/22
26
2
2
2020/21
19
1
0
2019/20
27
2
0
2018/19
28
4
1
The 33-year-old has played 230 competitive matches for the club and last season saw him feature in 42 games, his second-highest tally for a single season since arriving in 2018.
Across his 34 Premier League games for the Toon in 2024/25, Schar helped them keep ten clean sheets. Furthermore, the defender won 46% of his total duels, averaged 1.1 tackles per game and recovered 3.9 balls per game.
It was his attacking statistics that stood out more than most, however. When compared to his positional peers in the top flight last term, Schar ranked in the top 7% for non-penalty goals (0.12), in the top 1% for total shots (1.23) per 90 and in the top 9% for progressive passes received (0.67) per 90.
These attacking abilities certainly helped play a big part in the club securing a top-five finish in the Premier League, and it is likely that Howe will keep Schar around for another season at least.
With just one year left on his deal, next summer could be the perfect time for him to bow out of St James’ Park.
This summer should be spent eyeing a long-term replacement for the Swiss titan. Might Howe have eyes on a major upgrade?
Newcastle among favourites to sign Schar replacement
Howe has spent the early days of the summer eyeing up attacking talent. Names such as Anthony Elanga, Jack Grealish and even Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo have all been linked with moves to the northeast this summer.
Any one of those players would instantly improve Howe’s side, that’s a certainty. But taking a step back and realising that building from the back should be his main priority.
The club have been keen on Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi for quite some time now. Might this summer be the perfect opportunity to strike?
Marc Guehi for Crystal Palace.
According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Newcastle and Arsenal are battling head-to-head in order to land the Englishman before the end of the summer window.
Being in the Champions League next season has made the Magpies one of the favourites in the pursuit of the defender, as this is the level he will be looking to play at next season.
His contract expires next summer, meaning Palace will be keen to cash in when the iron is hot. As such, he should reportedly be available for around £40m.
There is no doubt that Guehi would be a much better option for Howe than Schar next season, especially after coming off the back of another strong Premier League campaign.
Why Newcastle must sign Marc Guehi this summer
Schar enjoyed a solid season, but switching him for Guehi would make Newcastle favourites to secure another top-five spot in the top flight.
Despite the Swiss’ ability in the final third, Guehi actually outshone him here, registering more goals and assists (five vs four) compared to Schar in the Premier League last season, but he also recorded a higher shots-on-target percentage (46.7% vs 27.5%) and generated more shot-creating actions (44 vs 37) over the course of the season.
Furthermore, the Englishman also won more tackles (34 vs 21) than Schar in the top flight, while tackling a higher percentage of dribblers (66% vs 40%), making more blocks (55 vs 38) and winning more aerial duels (68 vs 56) compared to the Swiss defender.
This comparison indicates that Howe must be doing everything he can in order to bring Guehi to the north of England.
Previously hailed as “unbelievable” by podcast host Aaron Moniz, Guehi has plenty of Premier League experience, having clocked up 132 appearances in the competition.
CrystalPalace's Joel Ward and Marc Guehi hold the trophy with teammates during the Victory celebrations
Add in the fact that he has been capped by England 23 times, it becomes evident that the 24-year-old is one of the country’s standout defenders of his generation.
If Newcastle miss the boat on the Palace star, it will likely haunt Howe. There are other areas in the squad that need to be strengthened also, but with attacking stars like Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes, Howe is stocked in this regard.
With three of his four senior centre-backs aged 31 or older, this department needs some freshness injected into it ahead of 2025/26.
Guehi would be a wonderful signing and his profile fits what Howe is searching for in a defender. With Arsenal also looking to secure his signature, the Toon need to act fast to sign their man.
"I've been told" – Crystal Palace could receive "reliable" Newcastle player in Guehi swap
Sunderland and Regis Le Bris are thought to be plotting a move to sign a new defender who once “surprised” Jurgen Klopp, ahead of rival interest from Leeds United.
Sunderland transfer latest after Le Fee deal announced
The Black Cats are still riding the wave following their dramatic Championship playoff final victory over Sheffield United last month.
With Premier League football now on offer at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland are expected to be busy in the transfer window and have already made Enzo Le Fee’s loan move permanent. Talking after penning a four-year contract on Wearside, Le Fee shared his delight.
Alongside Le Fee, Sunderland aren’t planning to stop there, with Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie even claiming the club could break their transfer record again after Le Fee.
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ByKelan Sarson Jun 6, 2025
Le Bris and co will also be looking to get value for money in the summer market, potentially looking to take some Championship stars with them to the top flight. Now, a fresh report has stated that Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland all have their eyes on a second-tier player.
Sunderland plotting Japhet Tanganga move with release clause shared
According to GiveMeSport, Sunderland are plotting a move to sign Millwall defender Japhet Tanganga alongside the Clarets and the Whites.
It is claimed that Tanganga has a release clause in his current contract to leave for just under £2m, a figure which could represent great value for money considering the Lions have previously wanted £12m for their star centre-back.
The 26-year-old has impressed for Millwall after making his loan move permanent at The Den in 2024, and he has previous Premier League experience after coming through the Tottenham academy.
Games
61
Goals
4
Yellow cards
10
Red cards
1
Minutes played
5,370
He made 27 appearances for Spurs in the top flight, with Jose Mourinho hailing Tangana for a display against Liverpool back in 2020.
“Can we say Tanganga is a new player? Can we say that? He never played a match for Tottenham in the Premier League. Today he played and today he proved that he can play for us. It’s a pity that he’s not a striker, it’s a pity that he’s not a midfield player, but he’s one more player that we have. So I think Mane and Salah, they know who Tanganga is.”
Meanwhile, Klopp was also caught off guard by Tanganga, saying: “I didn’t know about him, I was obviously surprised when he came up. He was good, impressive for sure.”
Birmingham City excelled in League One when being a big fish in a small pond.
But, the Championship is full of some huge teams based off stature alone, with the likes of Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City all recently tasting the Premier League like the Blues once upon a time.
Birmingham City lift the League One title.
Throwing in the likes of a very ambitious Birmingham into the mix alongside Wrexham makes the division a fascinating one to predict already, with the Blues perhaps keen to add some experience to their squad this summer to handle the step-up in a similar fashion to when they relied upon the recently retired Lukas Jutkiewicz to get them out of trouble.
Jutkiewicz's legend status at St. Andrew's
The tag legend is thrown around an awful lot in the modern game, but it’s the perfect label to describe Jutkiewicz with when looking at his long spell at St Andrew’s.
After all, the much-loved Blues servant didn’t notch up a staggering 357 clashes for the West Midlands titans by chance, with 16 of those even coming about last season as he attempted to play his part in Chris Davies’ men storming to the title.
He would certainly do that when firing home two goals across those limited appearances, with these memorable efforts also bumping up his overall tally to 68.
Remarkably, 62 of those actually fell when Birmingham were regularly in the challenging Championship, meaning that know-how not being around the building anymore could hurt Davies and Co as they return to the unpredictable division.
But, they could win themselves an equally experienced head in attack very soon.
Birmingham could sign their new Jutkiewicz
The newly promoted side have already struck gold going down the seasoned route with Alfie May, considering the EFL journeyman bagged 16 league strikes on the way to the title being heroically lifted.
Therefore, they will hope this approach pays off again if they’re successful in landing new reported target Danny Ings, with the 32-year-old goal machine now searching for a new club to call his home after his West Ham United contract expired.
Wrexham and his former side Burnley, are also allegedly locked into the race to land the potent veteran, but Birmingham will aim to advance to the front of the queue to try and get the best out of an attacker who can terrorise Championship defences for fun on his day.
He hasn’t plied his trade in the EFL since the 2013/14 season, but Ings would manage to hammer home 21 strikes during the Clarets’ promotion success that campaign, before then going on to solidify himself as a composed finisher in the relentless Premier League.
Career games played
419
Premier League goals
72
Championship goals
27
League One goals
7
Therefore, he should be able to dust himself down and offer a threatening body up top for Birmingham next season, even if recent campaigns have seen the goals dry up due to recurring injury troubles.
After all, Jutkiewicz only started three times for Birmingham in league action during their relegation season down to League One, but still managed to chip in with three goals and an assist.
The resurgent Blues won’t complain if the “phenomenal” 32-year-old – as he was lauded previously by pundit Noel Whelan – does this exact same job for them, with his extensive background in the game also potentially of benefit to Jay Stansfield.
24/25
West Ham
15
1
2
23/24
West Ham
20
1
1
22/23
West Ham
17
2
2
22/23
Aston Villa
18
6
0
21/22
Aston Villa
30
7
6
20/21
Southampton
29
12
4
19/20
Southampton
38
22
2
18/19
Southampton
24
7
3
17/18
Liverpool
8
1
0
15/16
Liverpool
6
2
0
14/15
Burnley
35
11
4
With 240 top-flight appearances and three England caps under his belt across his varied career, this free transfer pick-up would really show Birmingham mean business entering back into the Championship as another very successful season is hopefully in the offing.
Birmingham could land a bigger talent than Adams by signing “clinical” ace
Birmingham City would really enhance their attacking options by signing this brand new star.
The Premier League season may have finished over a week ago, but it’s been a busy seven days for Manchester United.
The Red Devils embarrassed themselves on their post-season Asia tour, but did at least leave with a win.
Since then, they have confirmed their first arrival of the summer in an attempt to appease the fans after a ridiculous season for all the wrong reasons.
Matheus Cunha has decided he wants a piece of the craziness unfolding at Old Trafford, leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers behind in a £62.5m deal.
Matheus Cunha
The Brazilian was exceptional for Wolves in 2024/25, scoring 17 goals in all competitions and also supplying five assists.
So, what’s next on the agenda?
Man United targeting another Premier League forward
As Ruben Amorim and Co desperately try to distract themselves from the lingering threat of Bruno Fernandes leaving England behind, wanted in Saudi Arabia, United are trying to strengthen their attacking ranks.
Cunha has already arrived but they did have Liam Delap in their crosshairs too before he reportedly agreed a move to Chelsea. Bryan Mbeumo is another Premier League star in line for a possible move to United.
Yet, their shortlist of players at English clubs doesn’t stop there according to TEAMtalk, who shared the latest on the club’s transfer plans on Monday morning.
They have reported that Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is now at the top of their list to reinforce the centre-forward position.
It’s alleged that the Eagles could be willing to sell the Frenchman for a bargain fee of just £29m with the player’s contract set to expire in the summer of 2027.
Crystal Palace's Jean-PhilippeMatetacelebrates after the match
As a result, United are now expecting to make a ‘concrete move’ for Mateta in the coming days as Sir Jim Ratcliffe aims to beat competition from Serie A clubs, Juventus and AC Milan.
How Mateta could emulate Berbatov at Man United
Cast your mind back to the days of the Sir Alex Ferguson era and there was a certain aura about their transfer business.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
They’d look to the best talents in the top-flight to bolster their squad and they often had great success in doing so.
Think Wayne Rooney, think Rio Ferdinand, think Robin van Persie. Rooney and Rio quickly became modern-day greats after trading Everton and Leeds United for more luxurious pastures under Sir Alex.
Van Persie’s time at United was rather more short-lived but he was still the primary reason for their league title in 2012/13, the last time they won the league.
Another key component of previous title wins was Dimitar Berbatov who signed from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £30m back in 2008.
2006/07 (Spurs)
33
12
9
2007/08 (Spurs)
36
15
11
2008/09 (Man Utd)
31
9
11
2009/10 (Man Utd)
33
12
6
2010/11 (Man Utd)
32
20
4
2011/12 (Man Utd)
12
7
0
2012/13 (Fulham)
33
15
3
2013/14 (Fulham)
18
4
1
Already, this is a deal that begins to echo a possible swoop for Mateta. Not only could he potentially arrive for a similar fee, but he’d also be signing from another Premier League club.
In the campaign prior to moving up north, Berbatov was on fire for Spurs, scoring 15 league goals in 36 games and netting 23 in all competitions.
Mateta, funnily enough, found the net at a similarly frequent rate for Oliver Glasner’s side this season, bagging 14 times in 37 matches. He also scored 16 in 35 throughout 2023/24.
Hailed as “one of the best centre forwards in the league over the last two seasons” by the aforementioned Rooney, there’s more than just their goal rate and possible transfer fee that makes this move so similar.
Indeed, while the Palace star is most definitely more direct, pacey and physical in his approach, they do share some similar traits.
Berbatov was known for being a laid-back striker, someone who didn’t really look too bothered. However, he had a touch of class about him. His first touch was immense, coasting through games and coming alive in the key moments.
Mateta certainly has a similar play style in that regard. Off the ball, Mateta might look slightly more cumbersome but when he gets the ball, it all changes.
Thierry Henry, who managed the 27-year-old at the Olympics, outlined that best. Speaking at the Paris games last summer, he said: “He’s an old-fashioned striker, you can play a little more direct. He can keep the ball. He’s a boring striker to play against, he doesn’t lose the ball much, and he goes at the last defender. He uses his physicality, he’s good with his head, and he scores.”
United’s former Bulgarian was certainly cut from a similar cloth. He could hold the ball up exceptionally well and was incredibly difficult to dispossess. He was old-fashioned too.
So, while Mateta would provide more pace and energy than Berbatov ever did at United, their shared deceptive intelligence, clever movement and classy nature are all very similar. You can just imagine the former United forward scoring the goal below, firing home without a care in the world.
He’d be a certain upgrade on the floundering Rasmus Hojlund. The Dane only netted ten goals in 52 matches this season. They cannot rely on that again next term.
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Sir Alex Ferguson always had an eye for homegrown talent, building his Manchester United dynasty on the backs of British and Irish stars like Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane.
The legendary Scottish manager was well known for not always seeing eye to eye with even his greatest stars however, and was not afraid to dish out punishment to some of the biggest names in the game.
Gary Neville recalled a dispute after he swore at the 83 year-old during their time together at United: “He fined me a week’s wages, battered me after the match.
“Did it again the day after in his office. Then he proceeded to leave me out for the next two weeks, put me on the bench. He shouted something on to me [in the game] and I knew it. I spent the next 15 minutes of the match thinking, ‘I am done. I’m done.’”
Perhaps the most well-known case of ‘Fergie’ taking on one of his own players came in 2005, leading to Keane’s departure as Red Devils captain.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder had been in and out of the team since an injury sustained due to a poor tackle from Liverpool’s Luis Garcia, and had also taken issue with the quality of the team’s accommodation during a pre-season camp in Portugal.
And after an outburst criticising his teammates on MUTV as well as several rows with Ferguson and assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, Keane left Old Trafford by mutual consent in November 2005.
Ferguson: Gerrard was the best midfielder in the Premier League
Suddenly United had a gaping hole in a team that had dominated the Premier League for years, and Sir Alex has since revealed the only man capable of filling that void at the time was Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
It’s little surprise the Scot was so appreciative of Gerrard’s talents either. At a time when United were dominating their north-west counterparts domestically, Gerrard was the sole constant thorn in their side.
Appearances
35
Wins
13
Draws
2
Losses
20
Goals
9
Assists
5
Yellow cards
6
Red cards
2
The Premier League has seen some of the best midfielders in the world throughout the years, leading to fierce debates as fans rank the likes of Keane, Gerrard, Vieira, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard.
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Sir Alex wasn’t the only one full of praise for Liverpool’s skipper though, with the legendary Jose Mourinho once admitting he tried to sign him both with Internazionale and while he was in charge at Chelsea.
It’s truly difficult to comprehend how England’s ‘golden era’ was unable to succeed with the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Scholes leading the charge.