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Philadelphia Phillies stars Nick Castellanos and Bryce Harper ripped Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Edwin Uceta after a benches-clearing incident in the bottom of the eighth inning of Philadelphia's 9-4 win at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday.

Uceta entered the game with one out and two runners on, then proceeded to surrender a two-run double, RBI single and two-run home run before allowing a double to Harper. On the first pitch of the ensuing at-bat, Uceta plunked Castellanos in the back with a 96-MPH sinker.

Castellanos threw his hands up in frustration and yelled out towards Uceta. Harper approached the Rays reliever from second in an effort to confront him before he was waylaid by two Rays. The benches then cleared.

After the game, Castellanos told reporters he could tell that he was about to get hit, judging by Uceta's increasing frustrations on the mound.

"I can't explain it," Castellanos said. "I know that he had pretty good numbers going into that. Just watching him I could see him getting frustrated and digging in I'm like, 'I'm gonna take this pitch here and see if he's around the plate.' "

"And it wasn't anywhere near me."

Castellanos said the Phillies "all got a sense" that Uceta was frustrated because his "ERA shot through the roof."

Uceta entered play with a 0.75 ERA but the mark ballooned to 1.49 after he was charged with three earned runs.

Castellanos then compared Uceta's behavior to that of his two-year-old son.

"You're throwing a baseball over 90 miles an hour and you're frustrated and you're gonna throw at somebody," Castellanos said. "It's like my 2-year-old throwing a fit because I take away his dessert before he's finished."

Harper told reporters that Uceta's actions don't line up with "the game that we play."

"He hit him on purpose," Harper said. "It's not the game that we play. It shouldn't be. Guys throw too hard nowadays. You're getting mad because a guy hits a homer off of you or you blow the lead, walk the guy and come out of the game. What are you going to do? it's just the situation."

"The whole thing just really fired me up, really upset me. Just not something you should accept as Major League Baseball."

The Phillies and Rays play the final game of the three-game series on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. ET.

Wrexham star James McClean delivered a shock message to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's side amid a lack of game time. The winger has dropped a stunning revelation, claiming that his passion for boxing has eclipsed his love for football, and he’s planning to hang up his boots for gloves sooner rather than later.

• When football turned feisty for McClean

  McClean’s tempestuous edge boiled over as tensions flared behind the scenes during Wrexham’s Carabao Cup derby clash against fierce Welsh rivals, Cardiff City. Emotions were running hot at the Racecourse Ground, and after the match, an incident in the players’ car park threatened to turn ugly. A group of Cardiff City fans reportedly breached a restricted area and confronted McClean, forcing him to defend himself. Witnesses claimed that he stood his ground and handled himself well. An internal investigation is now underway into how rival supporters gained access to the secured zone. But for McClean, the encounter only deepened his belief that he might be better suited to a ring than a pitch.

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• AFP
  

  McClean is a fighter at heart

  Over the past year, McClean has been training intensively in boxing. He has been posting workout clips to his Instagram that show sharp jabs and fierce combinations. 

  Speaking in an interview with Westlife star released on Thursday, he said: "I'll be honest, I've really enjoyed it [at Wrexham] up until the last two or three months. It's not been ideal, I've not been playing as much as I'd like, which is never a good thing. You want to be playing and you want to be in the mix. I've never dealt really well with not playing."

  The Republic of Ireland international, who joined Wrexham from Wigan Athletic in August 2023, has helped guide the club to back-to-back promotions. But the step up to the Championship has brought new realities. And it seems to have bruised his pride.

  "Nowadays, I just channel that frustration and annoyance and do my training. Before, I'd throw my toys out of the pram," he said. "Now, I just channel that frustration into the punch bag and it seems to blow off a bit of steam. You kind of feel better for it afterwards."

• Taste of the big stage for McClean

  McClean isn’t just shadowboxing, but he has already dipped his toes into the professional world. On September 5, the Wrexham winger walked out with Michael Conlan for his high-profile bout against Jack Bateson at Dublin’s 3Arena. Now, he confirmed that talks have already taken place about entering the Misfits Boxing circuit. It is an influencer-led crossover promotion that’s given everyone from YouTubers to ex-footballers a shot at the spotlight.

  "I do want to box," he admitted. "Misfits (boxing company) is opening up opportunities for a lot of people who aren't professional boxers to give them the opportunity to step in and experience what it's like to be a boxer. Absolutely, it's something I want to do and there has been background chats about it, but I'm contracted at the moment. It's definitely something I want to do in the near future.

  "A lot of my training now is boxing training. I have a bigger passion now for boxing than I do for football. I would rather watch boxing than watch football. It's something I want to do and it's something I want to experience to tick off my bucket list. I've done the ring walk for Mike Conlan in Dublin. Being on the stage that night and doing the ring walk was unbelievable. I was thinking, imagine doing that, where this is for you and you're going into the ring for a tear up. I get goosebumps."

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  What comes next for McClean?

  McClean was once seen as one of the dressing room’s emotional leaders. But he has now found himself watching from the sidelines more often than not this season as he has made just 10 appearances across all competitions. Wrexham currently sit 14th in the table, comfortably clear of the relegation zone but well off the play-off pace. Their next test is a home tie against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, which will be their final game before the international break.

The October international break hasn’t quite slammed shut, but Liverpool fans are already looking with anticipation toward the return of Premier League action.

Arne Slot’s Premier League champions have been well below their best for most of the campaign, demonstrating much tenacity to find late winners across the opening weeks of the campaign but lacking balance and control.

They could only ride this wave for so long, with the tide turning in recent weeks and the Reds falling in successive top-flight outings, defeat in the Champions League at Galatasaray sandwiched in between.

Many high-profile signings have been made, but Liverpool need to rediscover their swagger and style. With names like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak added to the fold, welcoming another forward seems ludicrous, but it might be the answer to the Anfield side’s troubles in the long run.

Liverpool need another forward

Sporting director Richard Hughes and the senior figures at Liverpool remain confident that it will all come together. For Liverpool not to return to top-class form at some stage seems ludicrous, given the existing squad’s pedigree, the money spent this summer, and the calibre of signings brought in.

But Mohamed Salah’s form has been one of the big negative talking points this term. The 33-year-old has less than two years remaining on his £400k-per-week deal, and it’s well-known that Liverpool must spend big to secure a replacement.

According to Caught Offside, Hughes has already compiled a list of names he’s eager to pursue as Salah enters the final stretch of his Premier League career, and though talks were held in recent months for Lyon’s Malick Fofana and Bournemouth sensation Antoine Semenyo is being considered, it is Bayern Munich star Michael Olise who must be signed.

The France international is very much on Liverpool’s shortlist, with previous reports this month claiming the Merseysiders are even preparing an offer for the £86m-rated winger.

The 23-year-old joined Bayern from Crystal Palace for £50m in 2024, but Liverpool feel a deal could be struck given their good relationship with the Bundesliga champions.

What Michael Olise would bring to Liverpool

Olise thrived at Crystal Palace, joining from Reading and helping lift them toward their modern peak. Under Oliver Glasner, the Eagles are flying, and the French winger was crucial in getting the system up and running.

But his move to Germany has placed his name on the world atlas.

Last season was one of great success for Olise and his outfit, and he’s carried that form into the new campaign and fashioned something even greater, having notched five goals and six assists from just ten matches in all competitions.

There’s a sense that the best is still to come, and it’s for this reason Liverpool must chase his signature over Semenyo’s, as talented and dangerous as the Bournemouth star may be.

Comparing the two, we can see that Olise is the more clinical player and also the more explosive – though if Semenyo maintains his 2025/26 form across the duration of the year, that one may edge considerably closer.

Semenyo is likely a bit more physical and active throughout the different phases of play, but Salah’s success over the past nine years would tell you that a pick-and-choose approach bears just as many dividends, if not more. And it’s not as if Olise isn’t one of the silkiest and most fleet-footed wingers in the game.

Disregarding the players’ clinical starts to the campaign, their underlying metrics are evidence of their elite athleticism, with Sofascore also showing Olise has created 1.8 chances and won 4.3 duels per game in the German top flight this season, completing 83% of his passes.

Liverpool did manage to bag all three points in a frenzied match against Bournemouth on the opening day of the season, but Semenyo was electric throughout, bagging two special goals.

Make no mistake, Liverpool would not fumble if they were to sign the Ghana international next summer, but Olise is simply a level higher, with podcaster Henry Swain even describing him as “one of the best wingers in the world”.

Moreover, he’s younger than Semenyo, almost two years his junior, and has not yet been modelled into the final shape that could place him in conversations not too dissimilar to those which have followed Salah throughout his Liverpool journey.

The Cherries star, 25, has been in inspired form at the start of the season, it must be said. He has scored six goals and assisted three more in the Premier League this season, and Salah has paled in comparison on Liverpool’s right flank.

Both Olise and Semenyo would fall into similar financial ballparks, and so Liverpool must simply pick which player they believe stands a better chance of replacing the Egyptian King effectively, across many years.

We know he can do it in the Premier League, and the rise in prolific quality since moving to the Allianz Arena has been exciting to witness. Olise is the real deal and would be the perfect profile to ease Salah’s departure when that fateful day comes.

For now, he will continue to develop and improve in the Bundesliga, but it’s hard to imagine Olise being anything other than a triumph if he returned to the Premier League and took a place on Liverpool’s right wing.

FSG sold "world-class" Liverpool star, now he's outperforming Salah & Isak

Liverpool have lacked balance and fluency in the final third this season.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 12, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed what he thinks is the "most important tool" behind his longevity after plying his trade across Europe and now in Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese icon is showing no signs of slowing down, even at 40, as he continues to chase down records with Al-Nassr and on the international stage. He has set himself the mind-boggling target of reaching 1,000 career goals before hanging up his boots, and he is just 51 short of reaching that total.

• Still breaking records at 40

  Ronaldo's career has been built on microscopic attention to detail, be it his diet, post-match recovery or gym sessions. And this rigorous discipline has helped him maintain his gold standard even at 40. Since joining Al-Nassr, he has scored 105 goals in 118 appearances, clinching back-to-back Golden Boots in the Saudi Pro League. In this campaign, he is again one of the contenders with five strikes already in as many matches.

  What’s remarkable is that Ronaldo’s hunger remains insatiable. And to fuel that undying desire for success, Ronaldo revealed his secret formula. In a revealing new video shared by WHOOP on their social media platforms, Ronaldo disclosed that sleep and a regular routine are his 'most important tools'.

  “Sleep is the most important tool that I have," he said. "To be consistent with the time that I go to bed and that I wake up. I mean, like example, I go to bed around 11-12 and I wake up around 8.30. It is my routine. It is the most important thing that we have probably in terms of health-span."

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• Two targets that are still pushing Ronaldo

  Ronaldo has long claimed that his target is to score 1,000 career goals, and people believe he might actually do it. Former Manchester United defender Danny Simpson, who shared a dressing room with Ronaldo during his early days at Old Trafford, insisted the legend’s story is far from over. Speaking to GOAL, Simpson was emphatic that Ronaldo could play well into his mid-40s.

  "I don’t think you can write him off," he said. "As long as he is scoring goals, as long as he doesn’t get any injuries, then it wouldn't surprise me because it’s him. I know he wants 1,000 goals. And I think he wants to play with his son."

  The Portuguese wants to build an enduring legacy that can withstand the test of time, as Simpson added: "Playing with your son, that’s probably one of the biggest targets that you can go for once you have won everything. Sharing a pitch with your son must be some feeling. You look at those targets. He does set targets and you look at those – 1,000 goals and play with his son – does he do those and think ‘right, I’ve done it all now’? I don’t know where you go after that. He’s just a phenomenal person, player. What he’s done for the game, it’s unbelievable."

• Getty/Instagram
  

  Following in his footsteps

  Ronaldo has never hidden his dream of one day sharing the field with his eldest son, Cristianinho. The 14-year-old is already turning heads in Al-Nassr’s youth setup, and according to his father, he’s progressing faster than he did at the same age.

  "When I was his age, he is a little bit bigger and stronger," he said. "I was smaller. I think he will be bigger than me. Let’s see if he has the hunger. The hunger is the most difficult."

  For a man who has conquered Europe’s toughest leagues, lifted five Champions League trophies, and carried his nation to European and Nations League glory, Ronaldo’s next challenge is deeply personal as he is battling time to continue long enough in the game to share the same dressing room with his son.

  "I would like it, I would like it," he had admitted. "It's not something that keeps me up at night, but I would like it. We'll see. It's more in his hands than in mine."

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• Unfinished business in the Middle East

  Ronaldo's spell in Saudi Arabia has produced individual accolades, but team success has remained elusive as he continues to chase domestic and continental glory. Riding on Ronaldo and Joao Felix's strong form, Al-Nassr have had a bright start to their league campaign and will look to build on their early momentum when they face Al-Hazm this Sunday. 

Throughout the years, countless players have rejoined Celtic for a second spell after departing.

Fraser Forster returned in 2019, following in the footsteps of Willie Fernie, Bertie Auld, Frank McAvennie, Andy Walker, Charlie Mulgrew, Charlie Nicholas​​​​​​​, Emilio Izaguirre and countless others who have done so before him at Parkhead.

Kieran Tierney will soon be added to this list, his return from Arsenal all but officially confirmed, after Jota re-signed in January, so could another fans’ favourite be doing the same this summer?

Jota's incredible Celtic return

Back in the summer of 2023, after two successful seasons at Celtic, Jota was sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad for a record-equalling fee of £25m.

Well, after a miserable stint in the Middle East, following by an equally unspectacular six months in France with Stade Rennais where he scored just once in ten games, Jota returned to Glasgow for £8m in January, a mere 18 months after leaving.

The Portuguese winger marked his return with a goal at Fir Park on his second debut, also on target during Premiership victories over Dundee United, Aberdeen and Heart of Midlothian, as well as the Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Johnstone on Easter Sunday.

However, after making just 16 appearances in Hoops, Jota ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at Tannadie in April, on the day Celtic clinched the title, with Brendan Rodgers later confirming that he would be sidelined for “between six and nine months”.

A heartbreaking blow for a 26-year-old, who was just happy to feel at home again, but could he be re-united with another fans’ favourite, with Celtic returning to Roazhon Park for their shopping?

Celtic could seal stunning Jota repeat

Jota’s return to Glasgow was incredibly unexpected but it no doubt raised the excitement levels among the green and white side of the city. So, surely they couldn’t do it again?

Well, think again. Indeed According to a report by French outlet Foot 7 Sur, Kyōgo Furuhashi will leave Stade Rennais this summer, just six months after arriving in Brittany, claiming that the Japanese forward ‘could return’ to Celtic.

Like Jota in the six months before him, Kyōgo has failed to make any sort of impact at les Rouge et Noirs following his January move, playing just six times, of which only one was a start.

He has also failed to find the net and featured as an unused substitute on six occasions. Dismal reading, indeed.

Despite his complete lack of success in France, not featuring in any of Rennes’ last five fixtures of the Ligue 1 season, Kyōgo will always be a modern icon at Celtic, as Jota is.

The first Japanese import of the Ange Postecoglou era, Kyōgo scored 85 goals in 170 appearances for the Hoops, leaving him amongst the club’s highest-scorers of modern times.

Yatao of the Celtic star describes Kyōgo’s performances for the club as “world-class”, while Graeme Macpherson of the Scotsman asserts that he is Celtic’s best striker since Henrik Larsson.

Thus, all Celtic supporters would be excited about the possibility of him returning this summer, and reports suggest this hope is not as fanciful as it may first appear.

Brentford set to go at Celtic with £60m Mbeumo windfall to sign "breathtaking" star

The Bhoys are set to witness movement in both directions this summer…

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By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 6, 2025

Celtic will enjoy a hard-earned summer break after a long season and are already in discussions over bringing a renowned star to Parkhead on a permanent basis.

Celtic end the season with defeat in the Scottish Cup final

Years of success at Hampden led many to believe that Celtic’s Scottish Cup final clash against Aberdeen was only going to go one way, but the Dons seized their opportunity to claim glory at the national stadium under Jimmy Thelin.

Two trophies, tangible success in the Champions League and coming a whisker away from winning a domestic treble is a good season by any stretch for the Hoops. Still, Brendan Rodgers will wonder what might’ve been if his side took their chances on Saturday afternoon.

One thing is for certain, Celtic will be active on the transfer front once the window opens. The Irishman confirmed his intent to bring in fresh blood after their Scottish Cup final defeat, insisting there is plenty of work to be done over the next few months.

He stated: “It’s no different to any summer. I think the result today doesn’t change anything, I spoke during the week and before the game. It doesn’t change anything.

“We know we need to strengthen areas on the field and see how the summer goes. I think for us, we want to strengthen. That’s what you aim to do every summer.”

Celtic have been backed to make stunning move for 20 y/o "superstar"

This would be a great piece of business.

By
Henry Jackson

May 24, 2025

Giorgos Giakoumakis has claimed he would love a move back to Celtic, though it remains to be seen whether the Scottish Premiership champions will take the Greece international up on his enthusiastic suggestion.

Either way, movement is set to occur and discussions have taken place between the club and a star who could sign a permanent deal at Parkhead.

Celtic hold talks over permanent Jeffrey Schlupp deal

According to Sky Sports, Celtic have held discussions with Jeffrey Schlupp over a permanent move now that his loan deal is at an end at Parkhead.

The £60,000-per-week earner is set to be available on a free transfer and when his Crystal Palace contract expires, though there is yet to be any indication of whether an extended stay in Glasgow could be on the cards.

Labelled “fantastic” by Oliver Glasner, the 32-year-old has become a useful rotation option alongside Greg Taylor at left-back, but his current wages may prove to be a stumbling block given his likely status as deputy to Kieran Tierney next term.

Reports state that if neither Schlupp nor Taylor agree to stick around, the Bhoys will venture into the market to provide further competition in that area of the field.

There is clearly a desire from Celtic to tie up the experienced campaigner on a permanent basis. However, his age would make him a stop-gap signing rather than a long-term solution at left-back.

Tottenham Hotspur sunk to another defeat, their 20th of the season, in the Premier League when they were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace on Sunday.

A double from Eberechi Eze, who scored just before and just after the half-time break, put Spurs to the sword, and it could have been even more if not for eight saves from Antonin Kinsky between the sticks.

The Czech star was given a rare run-out in goal as he is not eligible to play in the Europa League, but the shot-stopper was not the only player who was given a rare chance to impress, as Ben Davies also came in at centre-back.

Why Ben Davies should not start the Europa League final

The Wales international came in to start in the left-sided centre-back position against Palace, after he was an unused substitute in both legs of the semi-final clash with Bodo/Glimt.

Davies won seven of his 13 duels against the Eagles, just over half, and put in a decent, but unimpressive, display at the heart of the defence. He certainly did not do enough to suggest that the manager should keep him in the team for the Europa League final after the clash with Aston Villa next weekend.

As you can see in the table above, Micky van de Ven has been far more defensively dominant than him in Europe, which is why the Dutchman should be in line to start against Manchester United.

Davies is not the only player from Sunday’s starting XI who should be ditched from the team after the Aston Villa game, though, as Djed Spence must also be binned for the final.

Why Djed Spence should not start the Europa League final

The English defender lined up at left-back against Palace and did not cover himself in glory for either of the goals with his positioning on that side of the pitch, whilst he also gave the ball away 12 times and only completed 76% of his attempted passes.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Football.london handed him a player rating of just 3/10 and wrote that he was ‘all over the place’ and that Palace took ‘advantage’ of his poor positional play throughout the match, despite winning eight of his ten duels.

It is not the first time that his positioning has been questioned. When playing in his more natural right-back berth, Football FanCast suggested that he should have been dropped after the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool because he was allowed his market to get in behind on at least three occasions, once leading to a goal, on that day.

Ange Postecoglou, therefore, should not select Spence at left-back for the Europa League final because his unreliable positioning could cost them big time against the Red Devils.

Spurs will not want to gift chances away, as they did against Liverpool and Palace, with Spence at full-back because his positioning lets the United wingers in too many times down the flanks, which is why he should be dropped.

Destiny Udogie, meanwhile, has averaged 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and won 66% of his duels in the Europa League, whilst also offering a naturally left-footed option to progress the ball in possession down that side.

Not another Mourinho: Levy makes "genius" coach Spurs' top target

Even if Tottenham triumph in the Europa League, most expect Ange Postecoglou to be sacked, so doest Daniel Levy have a “genius” coach top of his list?

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By
Ben Gray

May 10, 2025

It is now down to Postecoglou to take Spence out of the XI, whether that is for Villa next week or after the clash with the Villans, in order to play Udogie at left-back in the Europa League final.

Manchester United just about managed to salvage a share of the points away at AFC Bournemouth on Sunday as Rasmus Hojlund broke free of his wretched luck in front of goal in the Premier League to rescue a 1-1 draw.

The Cherries were hanging onto their 1-0 slim lead after Evanilson saw red on the 70th minute mark and must have thought United’s wastefulness in attack was going to be their saving grace, only for the usually misfiring Dane to level the game right at the death.

Whilst the 22-year-old was the unlikely hero come the full-time whistle, a draw might still be deemed as an unsatisfactory result based on the away side’s lack of composure up top ,robbing them of a much-needed victory.

Man United's wasteful attackers vs Bournemouth

In total, Ruben Amorim’s men would notch up a hefty 25 shots on the Cherries’ goal, with Hojlund’s effort amazingly the only one that ended up beating the consistently switched-on Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Away from accumulating a stunning seven key passes to try and set up his teammates for opportunities, Bruno Fernandes will feel irked that he didn’t manage to beat Kepa like his Danish teammate, with three efforts unfortunately passing him by on the South Coast.

Likewise, Hojlund will feel somewhat annoyed that he couldn’t pick up a whole host of strikes, with the goal-shy number 9 failing to get involved in the contest for large portions of the 90 minutes, leading to his only effort on the day being the golden one that trickled in.

But, there was a far worse culprit than both of these attackers when it came to squandering chances against Andoni Iraola’s open hosts, with Amorim now clamouring for Wolverhampton Wanderers superstar Matheus Cunha’s signature even more so off the back of this underperformer lacking a clinical edge.

5/10 Man Utd could soon be replaced by Cunha

Whilst United’s wastefulness reared its ugly head once more during the 1-1 draw, Cunha showed off his spellbinding ability in attack again for Wolves at the weekend, with the ex-Atletico Madrid ace picking up a goal and two assists in his side’s convincing 3-0 takedown of Leicester City.

With it reported that the Brazilian could be on his way to Old Trafford, Fernandes would likely not be sacrificed for Cunha to take up a first-team spot.

As a result, his comrade in the attacking positions in Alejandro Garnacho could be the casualty, with his showing against Bournemouth leaving a lot to be desired.

As is outlined above, Garnacho is now up to a dire 14 big chances missed this season, with his game in the forward areas against Iraola’s men screaming of an attacker low on confidence when the heat is ramped up.

The South American forward ended the game having been handed a low 5/10 rating post-match by Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst and it was unsurprising to see why.

He fired a mammoth eight shots at the Cherries net without ever beating Kepa, meaning his goal count for the season in the Premier League is stuck at a paltry five. Furthermore, he won just four of his seven duels and gave away the ball 13 times, once every 3.7 touches.

Whereas, moving back to Molineux, Cunha finds himself on a mightily impressive 21 goal contributions for the campaign from 29 clashes, with Amorim well aware that the Brazilian’s arrival onto the scene would see Garnacho instantly drop out of the XI.

It remains to be seen whether United can win their desired man away from rampant speculation, but if they are successful in their pursuit, he could be one piece of the jigsaw that enables Amorim’s Red Devils to recapture their former glories.

He'd be incredible with Cunha: Man Utd are in talks to sign a "monster" CM

Manchester United could land a star who would be perfect for Matheu Cunha this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 25, 2025

It seems like Manchester City will need a midfield overhaul in the summer transfer window. We already know that Kevin De Bruyne will leave the club, after that was announced before the Manchester Derby a few weeks ago.

However, he is not the only midfielder who could depart. Sky Sports have reported recently that Bernardo Silva has been told he will be sold in the 2025 summer transfer window, as the Citizens look to refresh their options ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, which needs wholesale improvement.

With at least two players in the centre of the park set to leave the club, City need to add new options to the squad. They have recently been linked with one Premier League player.

Man City target Premier League midfielder

There are several midfielders in the Premier League whom you might think City will target this summer with Morgan Gibbs-White reportedly on the shortlist. The latest on that is the Citizens are ‘leading’ the race to sign the Nottingham Forest talent.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Still, if recent reports are to be believed, then Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United is the latest star they are linked with.

According to recent reports from Spain, the Citizens ‘have set their sights on the Italian midfielder’ ahead of a busy summer and they have ‘the intention of signing him’ in the coming months, to spearhead their midfield redevelopment.

However, they are not going to be alone in this pursuit. In fact, they might not face harder competition, with LaLiga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona also targeting a move for Tonali.

For any of the three sides interested, this deal won’t come cheap. The report suggests he won’t be any less than £69m, if a deal is to be struck.

Why Tonali would be a good signing for Man City

It has been an impressive campaign for enterprising Italian midfielder Tonali. The 24-year-old has become a key part of Eddie Howe’s midfield at St James’ Park, and was even described as “one of the best midfielders in the world” by his agent Giuseppe Rossi.

This term, Tonali has played 40 games across all competitions. In that time, he’s managed to find the back of the net on five occasions and grab eight assists, operating as a number 6 and a number 8.

One of the standout features of the former Milan star’s game is his box-crashing tendency. He often makes runs from deep to get on the end of crosses, or links up play and carries on his runs to get into goalscoring positions. Take his goal against Manchester United earlier this month as an example.

Should the East Mancunian outfit seriously pursue a move for Tonali this summer, he could be the perfect alternative to another Newcastle midfielder they are linked with, Bruno Guimaraes. As per a report from TEAMtalk in mid-March, City are ‘planning a summer bid’ for the Brazilian.

He, too, would be a strong signing for Pep Guardiola’s side. Like Tonali, the 27-year-old has played an important role for the Magpies this term, scoring and assisting 12 times in 42 appearances. That included two assists in a 3-3 draw against Liverpool.

With that being said, there is not too much difference between the pair statistically, according to FBref. In fact, the pair are neck and neck in several key metrics. For example, Tonali averages 6.45 ball recoveries and 3.43 passes into the final third per game, compared to 4.97 ball recoveries and 4.78 final third passes per 90 minutes.

It certainly seems like Tonali would be a major addition for City in the middle of the park. If Guimaraes is unattainable in the 2025 summer window, his teammate would offer a brilliant solution, and his box-crashing abilities and work rate off the ball would suit City down to a tee.

£69m is a fairly high fee, but to compete with the best again next season, Guardiola’s side will have to invest those kinds of fees.

Man City can forget De Bruyne & Gibbs-White by unleashing 17-year-old star

Man City could save a fortune this summer by unleashing academy sensation

By
Ross Kilvington

Apr 22, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped to appoint a 52-year-old after he was spotted at the Spurs stadium recently, which also follows his rumoured talks with chairman Daniel Levy.

Ange Postecoglou facing sack as Tottenham make boardroom change

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou’s long-term future will seriously hinge on their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt next week.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 11, 2025

Fabrizio Romano is among the credible media sources to report that there is a strong possibility Postecoglou will be dismissed if Tottenham fail to mount an impressive run in Europe, so the pressure is on the 59-year-old to get it right during their return leg in Germany.

Tottenham have identified a few candidates to replace Postecoglou already, including Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who is seen as a top target for the Lilywhites alongside the likes of Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Fulham boss Marco Silva (The Athletic).

All of this comes amid their fresh appointment of new CEO Vinai Venkatesham, who will officially commence his role this summer after swapping Arsenal for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It is a hire which could have major implications on Levy’s influence and the running of the club, with Venkatesham set to oversee both on-field and off-field matters in a very senior role (Dave Hytner).

His arrival will also have a big say on whether Tottenham end up re-hiring former managing director Fabio Paratici.

After he resigned from his post in 2023, due to a worldwide ban from football, that sentence is set to end on June 30th – and Spurs have reportedly been pursuing a return for Paratici.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey and other reports in Italy, Levy has held talks with Paratici over re-joining Tottenham, and the Lilywhites chief was thought to be “working hard” to bring him back to N17.

Milan’s recent negotiations to appoint Paratici also collapsed last week, handing Spurs a potential free run.

Tottenham tipped to appoint Fabio Paratici after Daniel Levy talks

Interestingly, Paratici was spotted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, sitting in the stands as he watched Postecoglou’s side draw 1-1 with Frankfurt.

After seeing this image, following on from these alleged Levy talks, pundit John Wenham is convinced that Paratici is returning to Tottenham, and the Italian could already be working on a replacement for Postecoglou.

“If Postecoglou is sacked, I’m not sure who will come in until the end of the season,” Wenham said to Tottenham News.

“We will have to wait and see. However, we saw that Paratici was at the stadium again on Thursday, sitting with the club legends. Therefore, it looks like he is coming back, and perhaps he is already lining up a new manager to replace Postecoglou.”

He would be a controversial hire after his footballing ban, but sections of supporters are keen for it to happen.

Paratici played a key role in their appointment of Antonio Conte, whilst also orchestrating deals for Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr, who’ve all gone on to impress since joining Spurs.