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Manchester United fans will be glad to see the back of a disastrous 2024/25 campaign.

The Red Devils couldn’t even clinch a Europa League success in Bilbao against fellow Premier League strugglers Tottenham Hotspur to try and restore some dented pride, with that final heartbreak making their dire 15th place finish in the top-flight an even harder blow to stomach.

To add to the misery, Ruben Amorim’s side hasn’t been that successful in the transfer market to date away from the impending arrival of Matheus Cunha.

Man United dreaming of statement striker deal

Long-term target Liam Delap has now chosen Chelsea over joining the Theatre of Dreams ranks with his medical due on Sunday, but the red side of Manchester could bounce back in style after this knockback by acquiring their dream striker target instead.

As per a new update from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano via GIVEMESPORT, United are dreaming about the possibility of adding Sporting goal machine Viktor Gyokeres to their camp/

Romano reveals that there as several candidates on the United shortlist when it comes to obtaining a new, potent centre-forward, with Gyokeres very much at the top of that list.

That said, United’s failure to secure Champions League football will make this deal a difficult one to complete.

The Swedish hotshot has also been looked at by Arsenal, but with the Gunners now looking to add Benjamin Sesko instead, United could try to secure this outlandish deal regardless of its improbability.

After all, if they were successful in their advances, Amorim’s men would be about to land a huge upgrade on another of their standout attacking targets in Victor Osimhen.

How Gyokeres would be a big upgrade on Osimhen

Gyokeres’ insane goalscoring journey with Sporting would funnily enough start with Amorim at the helm of the Lisbon-based giants.

The Scandinavian menace would never look back after leaving ex-employers Coventry City behind, with the 26-year-old just getting started in Portugal when bagging 43 goals across his stunning debut season.

He has amazingly bettered that tally across a staggering 2024/25, leaving Gyokeres with a colossal total of 54 strikes from 51 clashes to blow any of the alternative striker targets out of the water, which even includes Osimhen, who has shown off his own deadliness leading the line for Galatasaray.

The explosive Nigerian has managed to collect a hefty 37 league strikes from 39 games this season plying his trade in Turkey, but when compared next to the Sporting ace, his numbers fall flat.

As can be seen, Gyokeres has beenon a one-man mission at times leading the line for Sporting, leading to data analyst Spencer Hossman heralding him as “the best finisher in the world”, even whilst Osimhen has bagged a sturdy 41 goals for both Napoli and Galatasaray over the last two seasons.

There’s no doubts surrounding the 26-year-old’s ice-cold ability to finish off chances, but the forward positions would be drastically enhanced at the Theatre of Dreams if Gyokeres were to soon enter through the door instead.

United fans would no longer have to make do with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee clumsily leading the line. Instead, they’d have one of the world’s best on their hands.

Better than Amad: Man Utd ready bid for £67m Bruno Fernandes replacement

Manchester United could secure themselves a dream Bruno Fernandes replacement this summer.

By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 1, 2025

Despite reaching a hefty 90 points in the Championship last season, Sheffield United are now resigned to another campaign in the second t ier

Both Burnley and Leeds United soared into the top two spots in the division at their expense with a mammoth 100 points each, leaving Chris Wilder’s men to fight it out in the cruel lottery of the playoffs.

To make matters worse, the Blades headed into their playoff showdown at Wembley versus Sunderland having never been promoted via this nail-biting route, with that unlucky streak unfortunately continuing against the Black Cats.

It was Tommy Watson who broke United hearts with a last-gasp finish, but the chance would never have fallen to the feet of the new Brighton and Hove Albion youngster kindly if it wasn’t for an inexplicable moment of madness from Welshman Kieffer Moore.

His head-in-hands back-pass could be his last ever cursed moment donning Blades red and white, with Wilder and Co. perhaps tempted to move on the injury-prone striker, having blown hot and cold throughout last season.

Indeed, the experienced EFL attacker would miss 17 games in total due to injury, meaning these three strikers on the potential United shopping list could be viewed as upgrades on the often missing 32-year-old.

1

Emil Riis Jakobsen

Emil Riis Jakobsen would certainly come in and be a similar striker to Moore, considering the Dane boasts a towering 6 foot 3 frame when contrasted wit the ex-Cardiff City man’s imposing 6 foot 5 build.

The soon-to-be free agent has been on Wilder’s radar before according to reports, and with his Preston North End contract confirmed as not being renewed, now could be the perfect time to finally add him to his Blades roster as a back-up attacking body.

After all, Jakobsen did manage to better Moore’s six-goal haul just this season gone with 12 league strikes in total, with the likes of Tyrese Campbell presumably keen to bounce off such an experienced EFL head as promotion is sought after once more.

2

Oli McBurnie

Wilder could also look to the past when recruiting a possible Moore replacement, meaning a deal might soon be on the table for Oli McBurnie to spectacularly return to Bramall Lane.

This wouldn’t be an unusual deal for Wilder to sign off on, considering United were reportedly keen on adding the £2m-rated Scotsman back to their camp in January.

Moreover, with 29 strikes already in his back pocket for the Blades, he wouldn’t need a long time you imagine to get back up to speed with proceedings, having also chipped in with a respectable five strikes for current La Liga employers Las Palmas across the 2024/25 campaign.

It would all rest on whether the Yorkshire-born attacker would fancy swapping Spain for the challenges of the EFL again, but it could be an inspired switch if it clicks into gear.

3

Charlie Kelman

Away from going after seasoned Championship veterans, the Blades could look to Queens Park Rangers hotshot Charlie Kelman as an alternative up top after an explosive loan spell at Leyton Orient.

United have been recently linked with a move for the slick 23-year-old, and after years of not being handed that many meaningful first-team opportunities at Loftus Road, he might well fancy a switch to Wilder’s men to become an exciting reserve option.

Kelman would instantly burst into life leading the line for Richie Wellens’ promotion-chasers, as seen in his 21 strikes and five assists helping the O’s reach the League One playoff final, only to then fall at the vital finishing hurdle to Charlton Athletic.

Wilder and Co. tasted similar agony, but will hope landing promising new strikers such as Kelman can get them over the line this campaign to come.

Sheffield United expected to make swoop to sign "important" player for £0

They’re set to go again in pursuit of promotion.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 27, 2025

Burnley will be playing Premier League football once again next season after they finished second in the Championship to secure promotion back to the big time.

The Clarets finished on a staggering 100 points in the second tier, somehow only finishing second to Leeds United, and are now preparing to build a squad that can avoid an instant relegation from the top-flight.

Scott Parker will need to make some big and tough decisions on players who will leave Turf Moore, and ones who will come in, and one star whose future is uncertain at the moment is Ashley Barnes.

Why Ashley Barnes could be released this summer

The veteran striker signed for the club from Norwich City in the January transfer window and put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season, which means that his current contract is due to expire at the end of next month.

Speaking ahead of the final game of the season, Parker was asked if a decision had been made on the striker: “Not at the moment, no.

Transfer Focus

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

“We’ve not really discussed in great detail next year or certainly how it would look in terms of players’ contracts. We’ve got one game left and that’s been the main focus.

“But Ashley Barnes has been incredible since he’s come in and there’s an opportunity for him at the weekend as well, depending on the decision I make.”

In the weeks since those comments, there has still not been any official confirmation of his release or a new contract, but his limited impact on the pitch could mean that they look elsewhere ahead of a Premier League season.

Barnes ended the campaign with one goal in 21 appearances, including two starts, in the Championship, and the Clarets have been linked with a striker who could be the next version of the veteran forward, George Hirst.

Why George Hirst could be the next Ashley Barnes

Burnley and Leeds are both reportedly interested in signing the Ipswich Town centre-forward after their relegation from the Premier League has already been confirmed, and he could be Barnes 2.0

Barnes joined the Clarets from Brighton at the age of 25, having come up through the lower leagues in League One and the Championship, and went on to score 42 goals in 200 Premier League games for the club.

Like the Burnley icon, Hirst has worked his way up the EFL. He played in League One for Portsmouth and Ipswich and the Championship with Blackburn Rovers and the Tractor Boys, before his first taste of regular top-flight football at the age of 25/26 this season.

As you can see in the table above, Hirst’s form for Ipswich this season in the Premier League has been more impressive than Barnes’ last outing in the top-flight with the Clarets in the 2021/22 campaign.

These statistics also show that the striker, who was described as “unique” by Kieran McKenna, has the physical attributes to be a Barnes-esque figure for Burnley, particularly with his strength in the air to win flick ons and compete with opposition defenders.

Parker has struck gold on Burnley star who's worth more than Brownhill

Burnley will hope this star can settle into Premier League life well after an impressive debut season at Turf Moor.

By
Kelan Sarson

May 23, 2025

Hirst, who has scored three goals from 2.13 xG, has the potential to combine physical and technical attributes to be an effective centre-forward at Premier League level if he can kick on with regular minutes, as he only averaged 24 minutes a game behind Liam Delap.

That is why Parker could unearth Burnley’s next Ashley Barnes by signing the experienced striker, who has done the hard work in the lower leagues and could now be given a chance to really show his quality at the top level.

Attempting to finally replace Illan Meslier, Leeds United are now reportedly serious about signing a goalkeeper who has been the best shot-stopper in Ligue 1 this season.

Leeds' Meslier problem set to end this summer

Leeds may be a side in celebration right now after winning the Championship and earning promotion back to the Premier League, but that should not take away from their clear Meslier problem. The shot-stopper endured a disastrous year which very nearly derailed the Whites’ automatic promotion hopes, before Daniel Farke had seen enough and replaced his No.1 with back-up option Karl Darlow.

After making that decision, Farke saw his side go from one win in five Championship games to six wins in seven to earn title success in the Championship. And that form without Meslier was no coincidence. His confidence looked lower than ever at times and those around him looked similarly concerned – creating a chaotic backline.

After dropping his goalkeeper, Farke admitted that it was a decision that had to be made at the start of April, telling reporters: “Obviously he was involved in both [Swansea] goals in the last game, and it was a shame because after the penalty save he was on his way to being man of the match.

“So it was clear we had to make a decision. And we had to make it early in the week, because in that position the players need clarity, and Karl [Darlow] needs the time to prepare.

“We had a pretty open, honest conversation. Of course he’s disappointed he won’t start. But he took it very professionally and he was still more disappointed about the Swansea game.”

49ers in active talks to sign £20m star who's desperate for Leeds move

Daniel Farke knows him well…

1

By
Tom Cunningham

May 9, 2025

Now, with an even more important decision to make, the 49ers have reportedly added a goalkeeper to their summer wishlist at Elland Road and have set their sights on a particularly impressive option.

Leeds now serious about Petrovic

According to TeamTalk, Leeds are now serious about signing Djordje Petrovic from Chelsea this summer following his impressive loan spell at Strasbourg, and his agents have been informed of the interest. It’s whilst on loan in Ligue 1 that Petrovic has earned plenty of admirers with the numbers only adding credit to a fantastic campaign.

With two games left to play, no goalkeeper in his division has managed a better save percentage than his 75 per cent, or more accurate passes than the 913 that he has completed. Simply put, Petrovic would offer those at Elland Road an instant upgrade on Meslier this summer.

Now a prime target for Leeds, Petrovic’s agent is reportedly aware of the interest and his client could have a decision to make in the coming months. Fresh from his loan spell in France, whether Chelsea believe that the 25-year-old is ready to become their No.1 ahead of Robert Sanchez is likely to play a large part. What he is unlikely to do is sit on the bench once again following an excellent campaign.

Rangers are reportedly in pole position to hire an “outstanding” manager as their next boss this summer, according to an interesting update on the situation.

Rangers continue search for next manager

The Gers drew 1-1 at home to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon in the final Old Firm derby of the season, as the 2024/25 season draws towards its conclusion. Rangers are continuing their search for a permanent new manager, with Barry Ferguson seemingly unlikely to be given the job after his current stint in an interim role, with various names mentioned as possible options to come in this summer.

Marco Rose has been one of the names mentioned in recent weeks, having most recently managed RB Leipzig earlier in the season, also winning two Austrian Bundesliga titles during his time in charge of RB Salzburg.

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has continued to be talked about as a front-runner to return to Ibrox ahead of next season, having guided them to league title glory back in 2020/21. The Liverpool legend could potentially jump at the chance to have a second spell as manager, as the Gers look to narrow the current gap in quality between themselves and Celtic.

Dream XI Gerrard could build at Rangers: Tavernier stays & £12m star signs

Here is our dream Rangers lineup should Steven Gerrard return as manager this summer, featuring captain James Tavernier and some new signings.

By
Ben Gray

Apr 30, 2025

Rangers favourites to win Rose race

According to a new claim from Football Insider‘s Pete O’Rourke, 49ers Enterprises’ “links” with Red Bull means Rangers are the favourites to hire Rose as their new manager despite interest from elsewhere. The report adds that it puts them “above other clubs in the race to secure his services” in the coming weeks and months, with the appointment described as a “real possibility”.

There is certainly plenty to like about Rose, in terms of Rangers picking him as their No.1 option to come in, not least his aforementioned two title wins with Salzburg. The German, who likes to adopt a 4-4-2 formation, has succeeded at the highest level, including managing one of Europe’s biggest clubs in Dortmund 46 times, and former Germany international Marco Reus has lauded him in the past.

“We have had a very open, good and close relationship built on trust right from the start. Marco Rose has done an outstanding job so far, and he will continue to do so in the future.”

The Red Bull connection can only be a good thing for Rangers, if it helps entice Rose to Ibrox, and it’s now a case of them deciding if he is a better option than Gerrard.

Opinion among Gers supporters will likely be split in that respect, but Rose’s record speaks for itself, and he could prove to be an inspired appointment.

Aston Villa’s name will not be etched on the FA Cup this season after a disastrous day out to Wembley at the semi-final stages saw Unai Emery’s Villans be humbled 3-0 by Oliver Glasner’s breathless Crystal Palace.

With no knock-out Champions League football on the menu now either, Villa’s sole goal rests on clinching a finish inside the Premier League’s top five to play amongst Europe’s elite once more.

Whatever does transpire, Villa could be facing a losing battle to keep Morgan Rogers situated at Villa Park past this season, with the rumour mill suggesting that the 22-year-old might be off very soon.

The latest on Morgan Rogers' future at Aston Villa

Rogers isn’t the only notable first-team face that could soon be heading for the exit door, with reports also surfacing that long-standing Villa servant Ollie Watkins is a wanted man by Liverpool, Newcastle and Arsenal.

The Independent claims that Chelsea are the Premier League club sniffing around for Rogers’ services, on the other hand, with a worry that Emery’s side might have to sign off on this departure reluctantly, owing to PSR rules.

The electric number 27 has shone throughout the season both down the wing and as a number ten, so it should come as no shock that Enzo Maresca’s Blues are keen, considering they are also weighing up moves for Jamie Gittens and Ademola Lookman to revolutionise their attacking options.

But, it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom at Villa Park if Rogers does up and leave this summer, with a move for this sensational wonderkid finally getting over the line somewhat lessening the blow.

The "elite" long-term Rogers replacement

Obviously, losing a player of the 22-year-old’s unbelievable quality wouldn’t be ideal, with Rogers now up to a blistering 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season from 50 clashes.

But, it could push Villa to go back out into the market to fish for their next up-and-coming talent in a similar vein to the ex-Manchester City youngster, with long-term target Sverre Nypan potentially ticking a lot of boxes in this regard. Indeed, recent reports from Fabrizio Romano last week suggest they are ‘closing in’ on an agreement for the wonderkid’s signing.

The Champions League aspiring outfit took an almighty risk on Rogers coming good when he joined the building for around the £15m mark just last year, only for him to now be worth around the gigantic £100m price range.

Therefore, Villa will hope another risky gamble on their end to land the 18-year-old Rosenborg sensation works out, considering the attack-oriented menace continues to take his native Norway by storm in a similar way to the newly-capped Englishman

Already off the mark for Rosenborg during their new Eliteserien campaign, Villa’s interest in the Norway U21 international would have been piqued before this, with his league numbers for his boyhood club last season also standing out massively.

Indeed, despite starting just 25 games, Nypan would close out the season with a weighty 15 goal contributions tallied up, leading to the likes of Arsenal also allegedly eyeing up the Nordic ace to try and claim their next version of Martin Odegaard.

In Villa’s case, landing Nypan’s signature would be all about trying to fill the potential void left behind by Rogers, with the teenager further showing himself to be a viable long-term replacement when you look at his adaptability to play as a striker, away from his usual midfield duties.

Hailed as an “elite potential talent” data analyst by Ben Mattinson just this year, it does seem like only a matter of time before a notable outfit takes a punt on Nypan, with Villa needing to exercise patience – much like they did with Rogers – to get the very best out of the Scandinavian starlet.

Their new Grealish: NSWE backing Aston Villa move for "ridiculous" PL star

Aston Villa’s owners are prepared to back a move for the Premier League star.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 29, 2025

While the mood around the club has dramatically improved following their Europa League win on Thursday night, Tottenham Hotspur have had to deal with plenty of problems this season.

The most significant has been the near-endless stream of injuries, which has made it impossible for Ange Postecoglou to field his first-choice defence for much of the campaign.

So, it’s not surprising to hear that Daniel Levy and Co are looking to add to their defensive ranks in the summer.

In fact, recent reports have touted a former Premier League player with a move to N17, a player who’s been compared to Cristian Romero.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

It looks like it will be a big summer for Spurs this year, so before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at a few of the club’s other targets, such as Oihan Sancet.

Transfer Focus

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

The Athletic Bilbao monster will reportedly cost around £69m in the coming months, and while that is a lot, it might well be worth it, as in just 30 appearances, he has scored 17 goals and provided three assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 1.30 games, almost exclusively from midfield.

An even more expensive signing could be Matheus Cunha, with reports from earlier this month claiming that the North Londoners would be willing to spend £75m to secure his services ahead of the chasing pack.

Again, it’s an enormous sum of money, but given the fact that the Brazilian international has scored 16 goals and provided four assists in 30 appearances this season, it might well be value for money.

However, as mentioned above, bringing in some more defensive cover appears to be one of the club’s priorities this summer, which helps explain their interest in Eric Garcia.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Tottenham are interested in signing the former Manchester City gem, who is currently on loan with Girona, from Barcelona.

In fact, the report goes a step further, claiming that the Lilywhites are ready to make an offer of around €15m for the Spanish defender, which amounts to about £13m.

It could be a bargain for a relatively young centre-back who has plenty of experience playing at a high level, and he’s already won comparisons to Romero.

How Garcia compares to Romero

So, before getting into the other reasons Spurs might want to sign Garcia this summer, it’s worth exploring this comparison to Romero and where it comes from.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Argentine star is the fourth most similar centre-back to the Spaniard.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the pair rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, passes into the penalty area, live passes, goal-creating actions, tackles, blocks and more, all per 90.

On top of winning comparisons to the World Cup-winning Lilywhites ace, the £99k-per-week “monster,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has some seriously impressive underlying numbers in his own right.

For example, FBref places him in the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues for goals, goals plus assists, shots on target, non-penalty expected goals, penalties won and tackles in the middle third, the top 3% for long pass completion and passes into the final third, the top 5% for progressive passes and much more, all per 90.

Ultimately, even if he cost more than is being reported, Spurs would be smart to sign Garcia, so if they can get him for around £13m, then that would be a no-brainer, as he’d be an ideal backup for Romero and Micky van de Ven at the very least, if not a competitor for game time.

100% dribbles, 9 duels won: Spurs' 9/10 titan is as undroppable as Solanke

The Spurs star reminded everyone how good he really is last night.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 18, 2025

La Liga giants Barcelona have opened initial talks with the representatives of a Tottenham star as Hansi Flick’s side register a serious interest ahead of the looming summer window.

Tottenham face losing key first-team players this summer

Alongside the uncertain future surrounding their manager, Ange Postecoglou, a few key first-team players could also be on their way out.

Tottenham seal "major coup" in "dramatic" shake-up, raises Levy question

It’s been officially confirmed.

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 12, 2025

Recently, Atlético Madrid have become increasingly keen on defender Cristian Romero, with reports from Argentina even claiming that Diego Simeone has already reached out to him personally in an attempt to sway him towards the Wanda Metropolitano.

The 26-year-old, for his part, is keen to leave Spurs for pastures new this summer (Graeme Bailey), which has resulted in chairman Daniel Levy postponing talks over a new deal for Romero.

As well as Romero, Man City are also posing a real threat when it comes to left-back Destiny Udogie, with Pep Guardiola’s side adding the Italian to their shortlist of potential new left-back signings.

Further upfield, Atlético have also been keeping an eye on mainstay Spurs midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who is now attracting interest from Barcelona.

Barcelona open talks with Tottenham star Rodrigo Bentancur

That is according to a report from The Boy Hotspur, with the outlet claiming that Barca have reached out to Bentancur’s camp for early transfer talks, alongside Simeone’s side.

The Uruguay international is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at Spurs, prompting Levy to open talks over an extension for the midfielder, but the European heavyweight duo are threatening to turn Bentancur’s head by making contact.

Keeping him at the club should be considered a top priority for Spurs, as the 27-year-old is a consistent performer when fit and available, not to mention one of the more senior players in a relatively young squad.

Bentancur has been praised for his performances since joining the club from Juventus, with former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson calling him “sensational” (Football Insider), and while the club haven’t put a recent price on Bentancur, some sources in the past have suggested they value him at up to £50 million.

“Him and Kulusevski have been fantastic signings,” said Robinson in 2022.

“Players take different amounts of time to settle into the Premier League. Bentancur was given a berth in the team early and has since made himself undroppable. He is one of the first names on the teamsheet. He has offensive and defensive capabilities.

“Bentancur is a player that goes under the radar, but he’s been sensational. His all-round performance is excellent, it really is.”

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson says he still expects a verdict on the club's 115 Premier League charges "before Christmas". City were charged by the Premier League in early 2023 for allegedly breaching financial fair play (FFP) rules between 2009 to 2018, but fast forward to the present and a decision is yet to be handed out.

• Man City verdict 'imminent'

  City have been under this cloud of suspicion for a very long time now but for now, they have not been punished despite all these charges. The club have strongly denied any wrongdoing, but they have also been accused of failing to comply with the Premier League's rules on profit and sustainability (PSR), breaching UEFA's financial fair play regulations, and not cooperating with the English top-flight's four-year investigation. The hearing began more than a year ago, but the public is still waiting to hear a decision from the independent commission. According to Borson, it should happen very soon. 

  He said on , alongside presenter Jim White and pundit and ex-Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan, "I think Simon thinks it's going to come out next year, I think it still could come out before Christmas. The decision has been imminent for quite some time, there's not a lot that they can do. It doesn't take that long."

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  Reason for delay revealed

  Earlier in their chat, Borson said that the independent commission are responsible for the lengthy delay and not City or the Premier League. Indeed, the hearing began just over 14 months ago.

  Borson added: "Nobody knows because even the parties themselves expected to have been told by now. All the lawyers are surprised there is no decision at this stage, and that's on both sides. I'll tell you who's holding it up – the panel making the decision. They hold the pen. They are the people who everybody waits for to deliver the decision. Well, nobody knows. We know the long list – you can cobble it together from all of the people on the judicial panel – but we don't know who is on that list. We can make some guesses that it's probably two lawyers and maybe one accountant. But we don't know who is on the panel and what they were told to produce by when. We can now assume I think, given how long it has been and that everybody is so surprised that they don't have a decision, that actually there's very little guidance given to them and they weren't effectively paid for their time from the moment the case ended. Arguably, the Premier and Manchester City together, with the panel, should have agreed a process whereby the hearing ends and then effectively they are exclusively paid to deliberate and produce, over let's say three months or at worst six months, the decision during the closed season."

• Neville furious over long charges wait

  Earlier this year, Manchester United legend Gary Neville said the delay over this verdict is a "disgrace" and a "stain" on football. A result has repeatedly been delayed, something the Sky Sports pundit branded as a "joke".

  He said on The Overlap Fan Debate in May: "That Manchester City case is a disgrace; it’s an absolute stain to the game. I have a lot of admiration for City, but I don’t buy into this theory that clubs do really well, and City have, but it is still a stain to the game. It has just been dragging on for years and years, it’s an absolute joke. Yes, City have been defending themselves, but they’ve been pushing it so far into the long grass that you end up losing the will to live on it and you forget about it. It just needs to be dealt with."

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  What comes next for Man City?

  While these charges hang over City, the players and manager Guardiola will be focusing on returning to winning ways this weekend after being beaten 2-0 by Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday in the Champions League. And a home game against struggling Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday presents a good opportunity to do just that.

Brentford and Sunderland are reportedly eyeing AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez ahead of the January transfer window, despite the Mexican international failing to score in his first nine Serie A appearances this season. Milan's pursuit of a new number nine is said to be contingent on Gimenez's departure, with the Rossoneri evaluating a potential swap deal with West Ham for Niclas Fullkrug.

• Premier League interest in AC Milan striker Santiago Gimenez

  Premier League clubs have reportedly made inquiries regarding AC Milan striker Gimenez, with a potential January transfer on the cards. This development could significantly influence AC Milan's transfer strategy for the upcoming winter window, according to Calciomercato.

  Gimenez, 24, joined AC Milan from Feyenoord in February 2025. While he registered six goals and three assists in 19 matches during the second half of last season, his current form has seen him struggle to find the back of the net in Serie A. Despite making nine league appearances this season, he is yet to score, contributing only one assist in 627 minutes of top-flight action. In all competitions, he has one goal and two assists from 11 matches.

  Both Brentford and Sunderland are reportedly looking to strengthen their attacking options and see Gimenez, known as 'El Bebote,' as a potential fit for the intensity of British football. It remains unclear whether their inquiries have been directed at Gimenez's representatives, AC Milan, or both.

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  Milan's January transfer strategy hinges on Gimenez's future

  Milan's pursuit of a new striker in the January transfer window is directly linked to Santiago Gimenez's future at the club. Manager Massimiliano Allegri has expressed a clear need for a "double-digit striker" with characteristics akin to Dusan Vlahovic, a long-term target for the Rossoneri.

  According to , Milan's primary objective for January is to recruit an experienced central defender. However, adding a new number nine is a "close second" priority, a move that will only materialise if Gimenez departs. Sporting director Igli Tare would then "press ahead with the market to find a player who fits his manager's footballing vision."

  This scenario suggests that AC Milan's management is open to selling Gimenez in the upcoming window, which would make the interest from Brentford and Sunderland a welcome development for the Italian club. Despite the club's apparent willingness to consider his departure, Gimenez remains confident in his ability to succeed at San Siro and views Milan as his priority for the present and future. Therefore, any interested Premier League clubs would need to convince the player to make the move.

• Gimenez swap deal with West Ham for Niclas Füllkrug emerging

  Beyond direct transfers, a potential swap deal involving Santiago Gimenez and West Ham's German forward Niclas Füllkrug has also emerged, as reported by various European outlets. AC Milan are reportedly "evaluating changes to its attack for January," and Gimenez has been identified as a key uncertainty.

  Milan are reportedly losing confidence in Gimenez, whose "profile has not fully convinced Massimiliano Allegri," and whose system has been a "difficult fit" for the Mexican striker. This is not the first time Milan have considered his future; a similar swap proposal was explored last summer.

  Niclas Fullkrug, valued at approximately $11.6 million (€10 million/£8.7 million), is significantly cheaper than Gimenez, whose market value stands at $29.1 million (€25 million/£21 million). This financial disparity, coupled with an eight-year age difference, makes Fullkrug an "attractive" option for Milan. Fullkrug, 31, has endured a difficult spell at West Ham, scoring just three times in 27 matches since his move from Dortmund. His agent has "already opened the door to a January exit" as he seeks to regain form. Milan reportedly views Fullkrug as the "physical, traditional No. 9 Allegri wants to pair with Christopher Nkunku."

  A move to West Ham for Gimenez would place him in the Premier League spotlight, offering a new challenge, though it would also mean competing for European places in a highly competitive league.

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• Other striker targets for AC Milan

  Should Gimenez depart, AC Milan have several other attacking targets on their radar. Among them, Franculino Djú from Midtjylland has garnered significant attention. The Guinean striker, born in 2004, has been prolific this season, scoring 14 goals and providing 3 assists in 14 appearances in the Danish league. Roma are also reportedly keen on Djú for January, with Bayern Munich monitoring him for next season.

  Other names mentioned include Jonathan David of Juventus, though that deal remains "unclear," and Robert Lewandowski, a "complicated" target due to high salary concerns. Milan's sporting director Igli Tare is also "keeping in touch" with the agent of Dusan Vlahovic, a long-term target for the Rossoneri, amid Juventus and Spalletti's efforts to renew the Serbian striker's contract.