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With a Carabao Cup and a third-place finish under his belt, Erik ten Hag would have expected his Manchester United side to progress even further this season.

However, that has been far from the case, with the Red Devils sitting sixth in the Premier League, eight points behind Aston Villa in fourth.

The only positive that can be salvaged from the season so far is that the boss has stuck to the United way of putting trust in the academy.

From the days of David Beckham and Paul Scholes to the current Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, United really have produced some fantastic talent over the years, with the latter particularly excelling.

Kobbie Mainoo’s days in the academy

Watching Mainoo this season has been a breath of fresh air, with the 18-year-old becoming a fan favourite already, and not just for the United faithful.

The defensive midfielder is the definition of a true professional, showing the characteristics and experience of someone with a decade of knowledge, which is why he has been fast-tracked into the first team by Ten Hag.

Mainoo starred in the youth teams, playing 62 matches across each development phase, with player-coach Tom Huddleston stating, “He looks like a younger version of Yaya Toure.”

The former Hull City man seems to have been correct with his early prediction, with the number 37 instantly proving that he was good enough to compete in the Premier League on his debut against Everton in United’s 3-0 victory.

The English gem picked up the Man of the Match award against the Toffees, thriving both in and out of possession by making two interceptions and having 61 touches. Since then, Mainoo has only gone from strength to strength.

Meet the Man Utd teen who'll soon be ready to follow in Mainoo's shoes

The youth has really stepped up for Erik ten Hag this season.

By
Tom Lever

Mar 4, 2024

How Mainoo compares to Paul Scholes

Just like Mainoo, Scholes progressed through the academy ranks at United before earning a spot in the starting lineup and then becoming irreplaceable.

From that point on, the midfielder became a United legend, winning 11 Premier Leagues and 14 other titles over 718 matches for the Red Devils, the only club of his illustrious career.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will hope that Mainoo can mirror the success and pathway of Scholes, becoming a vital player at the heart of a midfield rebuild.

In truth, United haven’t seen a midfield academy player quite as talented or work their way into the first team in such a fashion since Scholes himself. The number 37 has featured 22 times for Ten Hag's team this season, developing a solid partnership alongside Casemiro.

Mainoo’s winning mentality and confidence make him such an elite talent, with football creator Liam Canning calling the midfielder “special,” and his performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this season was particularly impressive.

As you can see, Mainoo is an extremely well-rounded talent who can not only show technical class with the ball at his feet and work tirelessly out of possession but also score important goals, just like Scholes, who netted 155 goals over his United career.

Overall, it’s clear to see that Mainoo is one of the most promising talents in Europe, and if he continues to progress at the rate he has, the future looks extremely bright.

Mason Greenwood was quickly back in training on Friday as he joined his new team-mates on the field a day after completing a transfer to Marseille.

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• Greenwood in first training session at Marseille
• Attacker quizzed on controversy of his signing
• Englishman not looking back after completing move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Greenwood joined Marseille on a permanent basis from Manchester United after the two clubs agreed a deal worth a reported €30 million (£25m/$34m). Before he was unveiled to the media at a press conference, the 22-year-old was on the training field for his first session with the French team.

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• WHAT MARSEILLE POSTED

  "First session, Mason already at work," Marseille said in an Instagram post showing the Englishman training on Friday.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Marseille's move for the former United attacker has sparked controversy within the city due to the allegations of attempted rape, assault, and coercive and controlling behaviour that he was set to face before they were dropped last year. Fans launched a social media campaign to demand an end to the deal, while the city's mayor also spoke out against it, though coach Roberto De Zerbi promised to publicly defend the player before his arrival.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GREENWOOD?

  Greenwood told media on Thursday that he "understands" he will face questions about the controversy surrounding him, a feeling he repeated when quizzed further at a press conference the following day. After much uncertainty about his future, the England international will now be ready to get his debut season in Ligue 1 underway.

Glasgow Rangers' hopes of enjoying another lengthy Europa League run were ended on Thursday evening, with Philippe Clement's side slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home to Portuguese side Benfica courtesy of a breakaway goal from Rafa Silva.

The manner in which the Old Firm outfit were caught out on the counter by the visitors will no doubt sting as far as Clement is concerned, with the Ibrox side having initially given themselves a strong chance of progression following the 2-2 draw in the first-leg.

Alas, it was not meant to be for the 2022 finalists, with the Scottish Premiership title hopefuls left to reflect on what might have been had defensive lapses not cost them across both legs, with blame also needing to be levelled at those at the top end of the pitch for failing to take their chances.

The guilty party once again was that of Cyriel Dessers, with the Nigerian marksman seemingly coming up short on the big stage far too frequently…

Cyriel Dessers' performance in numbers vs Benfica

On the face of it, it may appear that Dessers has enjoyed a promising first season in Glasgow following his £4.5m move from Cremonese over the summer, with the 29-year-old having chalked up 16 goals in 43 games in all competitions.

A respectable return indeed, yet on closer inspection, it is easy to see why the jury is out on the striker, as he has remarkable already missed 20 'big chances' in the league to date – notably spurning a gilt-edged opening in the most recent Old Firm derby back in December after being caught on his heels.

That inability to deliver in the pressurised moments has also been laid bare by the Belgian-born forward's return of just one goal in the Europa League this season, having failed to convert early in the second half against the Primeira Liga side on Thursday.

That spurned chance came amid a performance in which the experienced number nine also made just 18 touches in total as he struggled to get into the game, having also won just four of his 11 total duels, with it set to be no surprise if Dessers is ditched to the bench this weekend.

Rangers now willing to sell “excellent” ace alongside shock Dessers claim

He is out of contract at Ibrox in 2025.

By
Henry Jackson

Feb 18, 2024

The £27k-per-week brute certainly wasn't alone in producing an underwhelming display on a disappointing night for the Gers, however, with January arrival Mohamed Diomande among those who should also be fearing for his place ahead of Sunday's trip to Dundee.

Mohamed Diomande's performance vs Benfica

While Dessers may have been an obvious villain for that spurned chance just after the break, Diomande was another of Clement's starters who failed to make his mark when needed, with the Scottish Sun's Andy Devlin writing that he 'chose the worst possible time to deliver his poorest performance'.

As Devlin – who awarded the midfielder a measly 5/10 match rating – also noted in his post-match piece, the new addition was 'too slow' and 'too hesitant', having also perhaps been culpable for allowing matchwinner Silva to break clear in what was the game's defining moment.

Although the young Ivorian has made a promising start to life at Ibrox with two goals and one assist from just his first ten games across all fronts, this was one outing that the 22-year-old will wish to forget in a hurry, as he notably lost the ball on 17 occasions as an indication of his struggles.

Not only did the 5 foot 9 menace prove something of a liability on the ball, but he was also hardly at his best in a defensive sense after winning just two of his nine ground duels and being dribbled past on two occasions, having been unable to get the better of the likes of Joao Neves in the centre of the park.

The hope will be that Diomande will simply learn from such a difficult outing against elite opposition, although with the Light Blues now needing to turn their attention back towards domestic action and the hunt for the title, he may find himself out of the starting lineup this weekend.

Harvey Elliott is thrilled with new Liverpool manager Arne Slot's "elegant" style of play, which he admits is "a lot different" to Jurgen Klopp's.

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• Slot ushering in a new era at Anfield
• His philosophy is in stark contrast to Klopp's
• Elliott relishing the new playing style

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Elliott played a key role in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Real Betis, which marked the beginning of their United States tour. The 21-year-old midfielder is enjoying Slot's possession-based style, which is a major shift from Klopp's high-intensity pressing football.

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  WHAT ELLIOTT SAID

  Speaking ahead of an upcoming friendly match against Arsenal at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Elliott shared his insights on the team's adaptation to Slot's methods.

  "It's very elegant, Dutch style, it's very nice. The style of play is a lot different. It's more about in possession now," he told reporters. "The players are excited, we play certain patterns, it is a good buzz around the team and the lads are excited to apply it in games.

  "It's a fresh start for everyone. I don't think it is nerves but excitement. I think we [will learn it] very quickly to be honest. We have seen in the last game there were certain moments where the amazing football was free-flowing.

  "It's pre-season and it is only the first couple of games and we need to keep trusting what they are teaching us. We need to keep going if things don't work out [immediately] because it is all new."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Against Real Betis, Slot deployed two number 10s, Elliott alongside Dominik Szoboszlai, a role necessitated by the absence of Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota. The manager later indicated that he sees Elliott and Szoboszlai competing for the attacking midfielder position as this No.10 role will be pivotal in his system.

  When asked if this new role could pave the way for his senior England debut, Elliott responded with determination. "I hope so. It's just down to me to put in the work, put in the performances," he said. "You can say it all you want but it is down to me to work as hard as I can and perform in training and games, so it is on myself. There's no one I could blame apart from me. I just wanted to come back early to get to grips with the new style of play and meet the coaching staff and gaffer for the first time. It gives me a chance to get up and running in pre-season. I feel like I've done that. I just need to keep going and building."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The renewed focus on possession and creativity under Slot's management has given Elliott a platform to showcase his talents. He hopes to secure a regular starting spot when the competitive fixtures kick off by impressing the Dutch manager during Liverpool's remaining pre-season friendlies against Arsenal, Manchester United and Sevilla.

As Leeds United begin to think about life in the Premier League in the middle of a dramatic Championship promotion push, they've also been forced to think about drastic action to fend off interest in one of Daniel Farke's stars.

Leeds transfer news

If Leeds earn promotion, they will hope to see a number of players stay put at Elland Road for at least a year, but that won't stop the rumours from coming. Crysencio Summerville has already been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool after his outstanding season in England's second tier.

49ers in "very tough" negotiation to sell Leeds player in permanent deal

He only arrived at Elland Road last season.

By
Tom Coates

Mar 19, 2024

Meanwhile, Wilfried Gnonto's future is always a subject of interest, given rumours regarding his potential exit in the last two transfer windows. So, Farke and the 49ers could certainly have their work cut out for them this summer, even with a place in the Premier League.

There could at least be some good news on the transfer front, however, with Joe Rodon linked with a permanent move to the Yorkshire club and Sean Longstaff targeted ahead of the window. What's more, the Whites won't be giving up their best players without a fight, particularly 18-year-old Archie Gray.

According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Leeds are set to offer Gray a new contract just months after agreeing fresh terms with the teenager. The right-back put pen to paper on a new deal until 2028 back in January, but Leeds are now reportedly set to go one step further by improving his terms even more to fend off interest from the Premier League.

In a drastic move, those at Elland will hope that a second big pay rise and further extended terms are enough to keep hold of their young star – Gray is certainly ready for the top flight, either way.

"Incredible" Gray is Premier League-ready

Be it with Leeds or a summer move elsewhere, there's no doubt that Gray is ready for the Premier League. The right-back, who is naturally a midfielder, has made the position his own at Elland Road this season, starting 33 of his side's 38 Championship games.

It was a rise that Jermaine Beckford knew was coming from Gray's first game this season, having praised the teenager. Beckford told Sky Sports, via Leeds Live: "I thought he was incredible. Watching him play, you forget about his age, you forget he's only 17 years old. When he first started training with the first-team, he was still doing his GCSEs.

"He's in the right place to learn, he's got a little bit of everything in him. Phenomenal player, he did really well today."

Still only 18, Gray will only get better and better too, especially when the Premier League arrives one way or another. It's no shock that Leeds are reportedly taking such dramatic action to fend off any interest.

Yunus Musah has generated transfer talk at AC Milan, but the USMNT star is “200%” certain to remain alongside fellow countryman Christian Pulisic.

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• Midfielder moved to Italy in 2023
• Faces fierce competition for places
• New manager has a role for him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 21-year-old midfielder enjoyed a productive debut campaign at San Siro on the back of his 2023 move from Valencia. He made 40 appearances across all competitions, with 30 of those coming in Serie A, but started only 13 games in the Italian top-flight.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Competition for places has led to links with the likes of Lyon, with offers reportedly being readied for the New York native. Musah has, however, been figuring off the bench for Milan during their pre-season tour of the States – with new Rossoneri boss Paulo Fonseca finding a role for him.

• WHAT FONSECA SAID

  Fonseca has no intention of sanctioning a sale, telling of Musah’s place in his plans: “I’m 200% sure he’s the kind of player for our game. He showed [against Real Madrid] in 30 minutes, it was amazing with just a few days of working with us. I’m very confident with him. I believe he can be very important for our team. But of course, he must improve many things, but my opinion? He has the right characteristics to play in this position in our game.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Musah and Pulisic were late arrivals to Milan’s pre-season training camp after representing their country at the 2024 Copa America. They are now very much part of the fold again and are looking to figure prominently in Fonseca’s thoughts across the 2024-25 campaign.

Chelsea are set to part ways with three home-grown stars including Conor Gallagher this summer as they bid to continue their novel approach to the transfer market under Todd Boehly and co.

Changes expected in west London

It has been a strange couple of years at Chelsea, with Todd Boehly and their new owners having seemingly ripped up the transfer playbook to start all over again. They own the youngest squad in world football and some of the most exciting talents across the globe, but have spent huge amounts to do so.

Clearly a long-term project, teenage talents like Omari Hutchinson, Carney Chukwuemeka and Lesley Ugochukwu are among those signed to long term deals in west London, while they have also broken the British transfer record twice in order to land midfield duo Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in deals worth £225m combined.

In the short term though, it is failing spectacularly. Currently, Chelsea sit 11th in the Premier League under the guiding hand of Mauricio Pochettino, four points outside a European qualification spot for next season and with just one more win to their name (11) than losses (10) this season.

Chelsea look to repeat Fernandez trick by signing £103m "future star"

The incredibly talented youngster is pulling up trees on the continent.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 1, 2024

Though they are on a five game unbeaten run, their most recent draw against 10-man Burnley was met with boos by the Stamford Bridge faithful, and Pochettino has found himself increasingly unpopular. There is also the issue of financial fair play. The Blues have spent such hefty amounts that it is expected they need to raise around £100m before signings every summer for the foreseeable future, a hefty sum to need on a yearly basis.

As a result, there are plenty of exits expected this summer. There has even been recent speculation that Reece James could be on the departure list, though this seems incredibly unlikely.

Gallagher among trio set to raise funds

Chelsea are already set to receive some of that required £100m through the deal to send Lewis Hall to Newcastle, which will net them £28m, while Ian Maatsen's loan to Borussia Dortmund contains a £35m option to buy that could see them net further money.

But even that won't be enough, and with homegrown talents counting for pure profit on accounting sheets, they are preparing to rid themselves of three this summer.

The first of those is Conor Gallagher, who transfer reporter Pete O'Rourke claims is 'definitely' leaving this summer despite his contract running until 2025 and Gallagher having expressed his desire to stay at Stamford Bridge.

He is the subject of widespread Premier League interest, and could fetch a hefty fee. But he is not the only one set to leave. The same journalist claims that he 'definitely expects' both on-loan striker Armando Broja and defender Trevoh Chalobah to be moved on this summer in a bid to raise further money to reinvest in the squad.

Broja's loan has not gone to plan, with the striker finding himself behind in-form striker Rodrigo Muniz at Fulham and his transfer value continuing to drop. Meanwhile, Chalobah has suffered with injuries through much of the season and has rarely been called upon by Pochettino as a result. The trio plus Hall's sale would likely raise in excess of the £100m figure needed, navigating the first part of Chelsea's risky strategy.

Famous West Ham fan Danny Dyer has told new manager Julen Lopetegui to build the team around his daughter Dani's fiance Jarrod Bowen.

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• Lopetegui appointed new West Ham boss
• Danny Dyer sends message to Spaniard
• Tells him to build his team around Bowen

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Real Madrid and Wolves boss Lopetegui succeeded David Moyes as Hammers boss earlier this summer and now his side are gearing up for the new Premier League season. Ahead of kick-off, actor Dyer has urged 'Jules' to put England winger Bowen, who is in a relationship with his daughter Dani Dyer, front and centre for West Ham going forward.

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  WHAT DANNY DYER SAID

  The English actor told Sky Sports, as part of their 'Messages of hope' campaign speaking to fans from all 92 Football League clubs: "This is a message for West Ham's new gaffer. Can I call you Jules? You're now the manager of my one true love. I love West Ham more than me kids and I just wanted to congratulate ya.

  "You are about to embark on an incredible journey with the West Ham family. We're the most powerful, passionate fans that the world has ever seen. We're European champions, we want exciting football. No fear. I want every player to die for their shirt.

  "You've been blessed with Jarrod Bowen. What a player. What a man. The team needs to be built around him. I love you, Jules. Don't let me down. God bless ya."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  This is a new, important era of West Ham's history as they try to build on the success laid down by Moyes, who led the Hammers to the Europa Conference League title and regularly helped them qualify for Europe. But fans are craving more attractive football and if Bowen – who scored 20 goals and bagged 10 assists last season – can maintain the standards he set last term, they could get off to a good start.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Lopetegui's West Ham side have their final pre-season game against Spanish team Celta Vigo on Saturday afternoon, before beginning their new Premier League campaign at home to Aston Villa on Saturday, August 17.

Jadon Sancho was reportedly left frustrated after he was left out of Manchester United's clash with Fulham last weekend.

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• Sancho played no part In Man Utd's PL opener
• Forward was vexed with Erik ten Hag's decision
• Juventus keen to sign the disgruntled English star

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Sancho reaffirmed his desire to leave Old Trafford after being once again ignored by Erik ten Hag. Although the Dutch manager addressed the situation by explaining that an ear infection contributed to the decision, insiders have confirmed that the final choice to leave Sancho out of the squad was a tactical one. Despite the disappointment, Sancho maintained a professional demeanour around his teammates in the dressing room prior to the match but was not spotted in the directors' box with other sidelined players like Rasmus Hojlund, Leny Yoro, and Tom Heaton, further fueling rumours of discontent.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While there have been rumours linking Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) with a potential move for Sancho, sources close to the French giants have dismissed these claims. They assert that Sancho was never part of PSG's transfer plans this summer. This leaves the door open for other interested parties to make a move, with Juventus emerging as the most likely destination. They have already begun negotiations for Sancho and it remains to be seen if they can match United's financial demands – with the Red Devils reportedly setting a £40 million ($52.8 million) price tag.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Earlier this year, Juventus showed interest in Sancho but ultimately pulled back due to then-manager Massimiliano Allegri's tactical preferences. Allegri's 3-5-2 system did not suit Sancho's style of play, leading the club to pause their pursuit. However, with Thiago Motta now at the helm, the landscape has changed. Motta's tactical flexibility has renewed Juventus' interest in Sancho, and the club's sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, is reportedly keen on bringing the Englishman to Turin.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  United would prefer a permanent sale and is open to a loan only if it aligns with the club's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). They would demand full coverage of Sancho's salary, a loan fee, and an obligation for a permanent transfer at the loan's conclusion. These financial demands aim to ensure that any temporary deal contributes significantly to United's future transfer plans, potentially facilitating the acquisition of other targets like Paris Saint-Germain's Manuel Ugarte. In case their demands are not met, they would rather retain Sancho than allow him to leave on a loan deal that does not provide substantial financial benefits.

It's been a good week for Arsenal. They came away from the Etihad with a point and took all three from their game against Luton Town while resting a number of starters.

Mikel Arteta even gave Gabriel Martinelli another short runout towards the end of the game as he continued his recovery from the foot injury he sustained against Sheffield United.

The 22-year-old has been one of the Gunners' most productive players for a couple of years now, but his place in the team could be under threat based on recent transfer rumours.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a report earlier this week from GOAL (via TEAMtalk), Arsenal are interested in signing Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville in the summer.

However, the report also revealed that the Gunners' cross-city rivals, Chelsea, are incredibly interested in the Dutchman's services and could compete for his signature once the window opens.

While the prospect of competing with the Blues is far from ideal, the talented 22-year-old's potential price tag of just £26m will surely encourage Edu Gaspar and Co to make an offer.

Adding the Peacocks' gifted wideman to the squad would undoubtedly improve Arsenal and give the fans something to get excited about, but it might not be such brilliant news for Martinelli.

How Crysencio Summerville compares to Gabriel Martinelli

The first thing to clear up is that while Summerville has played a lot of his career as a right-winger, he has primarily played left-wing this season. Were he to sign for Arsenal, he would, therefore, compete directly with Martinelli; if there is one player who is practically guaranteed to start in Arteta's team, it's Bukayo Saka out on the right.

There is always a chance that the Leeds ace would be happy to come in as a backup option, which at that price might make sense for the Gunners, but realistically, he's not going to want to go from regularly starting at Elland Road to sitting on the bench at the Emirates.

So, with that said, who is having a better season from a pure output perspective?

Well, it's the Rotterdam-born star who wins this round, as he has scored 18 goals and provided nine assists in 40 games for Daniel Farke's side this season, and as talent scout Jacek Kulig says, he's "absolutely on fire."

In comparison, the Gunners' Guarulhos-born gem has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 34 appearances, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 2.6 games compared to Summerville's average of every 1.4 games.

Okay, so what about the pairs' underlying numbers? Well, unfortunately for the former Ituano prospect, once again, his potential new teammate and rival comes out ahead, and while it's not emphatic, it is quite comfortable.

The former Feyenoord gem produces a higher non-penalty expected goals and assists figure, scores more non-penalty goals, provides more assists, makes more progressive passes, has more shots on target, has marginally better passing accuracy, produces more shot-creating actions, and completes more take-ons, all per 90.

To be fair to the Arsenal ace, he is more clinical with his shots on target, completes far more progressive carries, produces more goal-creating actions, and receives more progressive passes per 90, but it's not enough – even if competing in a higher league.

Arsenal's "monster" who didn't play against Luton was the biggest winner

The brilliant player didn’t step foot on the pitch but now looks more secure than ever in his starting role.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 4, 2024

Ultimately, from the statistics alone, it appears quite clear that Summerville would be a brilliant addition to this current Arsenal squad and potentially even an upgrade on Martinelli if he can reproduce his current output in the Premier League.