All posts by z3u9t.icu

Manchester United are thought to be in pole position to sign a new English gem as Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks to unearth the next big thing at Old Trafford.

Ratcliffe’s Man Utd to-do list

After taking control over sporting decisions, new co-owner Ratcliffe, alongside Sir Dave Brailsford, have got straight to work, bringing in Omar Berrada as CEO from rivals Manchester City.

A sporting director is also wanted at Old Trafford, with Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth the top target. A decision may also need to be made on manager Erik ten Hag ahead of the 2024/25 season, and there haven’t been a shortage of possible replacements.

At this moment in time, Ten Hag’s future at United appears to be 50/50, with Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, England boss Gareth Southgate, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou, Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil all linked with a move to the red side of Manchester.

Ratcliffe will also be preparing for his first transfer window at the club, and he has recently hinted that he may not be splashing the cash. Asked about moves for superstars Jude Bellingham or Kylian Mbappe, Ratcliffe said:

“He’s a great footballer (Bellingham) but it’s not where our focus is. The solution isn’t spending a lot of money on a couple of great players. They’ve done that, if you look at the last 10 years. The first thing we need to do is get the right people in the right boxes, managing and organising the club. We must make sure we get recruitment right, such a vital part of running a football club is getting recruitment right, finding new players.”

On the idea of signing Mbappe, who is on course to join Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain over the summer, Ratcliffe added:

“I’d rather find the next Mbappe, rather than spend a fortune to buy success. It’s not that clever to buy Mbappe, anybody could figure that one out.”

Possibly looking to invest at youth level, it appears as if the Red Devils are keen on an up and coming English attacker.

Man Utd leading chase to sign Baylee Dipepa

According to The Sun, Man Utd and Ratcliffe are ‘leading the chase’ to sign Port Vale teenager Baylee Dipepa. Those at Old Trafford are keen to do business soon, with Ratcliffe and co looking to unveil the next Mbappe instead of throwing money around.

Dipepa, just 17 years of age, has enjoyed a breakthrough season in League One with Port Vale, scoring two goals and providing two assists in 16 third-tier games.

He netted a brilliant solo goal on Good Friday against Bristol Rovers and prior to that, scored in both Euro qualifier appearances for England Under-17s.

A move over the coming months could therefore be one to keep an eye on, and it looks as if the Red Devils are currently in a good position to seal a deal.

Manchester United are believed to be in "concrete" talks to sign a “special” player who is on the verge of title glory this season, according to a new transfer update.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils continue to be linked with plenty of new signings ahead of the summer transfer window, during a period in which Sir Jim Ratcliffe will look to flex his muscles and make serious inroads in the market.

Centre-back is an area of the pitch that the focus appears to be on, with Lisandro Martinez arguably the only strong option there currently, and Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo is seen as a target who could strengthen United at the back. He has won an average of 2.9 aerial duels across 19 Premier League appearances this season, not to mention 5.3 in three EFL Cup outings.

Erik ten Hag could also be eyeing a summer move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, with the Frenchman able to join on a free transfer, which incidentally, also applies to Adarabioyo.

Bolstering the attack is something that couldn't go amiss, too, considering the likes of Marcus Rashford and Antony have struggled for regular goals this season. VfB Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy has been backed to join United at the end of the campaign, having racked up an incredible tally of 25 goals in just 20 Bundesliga starts in 2023/24 to date.

Man Utd in talks for Jeremie Frimpong

According to a fresh report from Caught Offside, Manchester United have made contact with Bayer Leverkusen ace Jeremie Frimpong over a move to Old Trafford, with "concrete" talks taking place with the player's entourage.

"Alonso and sporting director Rolfes are working on a shared future with Jeremie Frimpong. His contract until 2028 also contains an exit clause. The wing player can go for €40m. The clause would have to be activated before the start of the European Championship in June. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester United have registered their interest in the Dutchman. The management of Frimpong is already in concrete talks with United and Bayern."

Frimpong looks like an outstanding candidate for United this summer, considering the Dutchman has played a major role in Leverkusen's unstoppable march to Bundesliga glory. Predominantly used as a right wing-back, the 23-year-old, previously on the books at Man City, has chipped in with eight goals and seven assists in the league this season, as well as netting twice in the Europa League.

Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is a big admirer of his player, too, waxing lyrical over him back in 2022, following his call-up for the Netherlands' World Cup squad: "He deserves this chance to participate in the World Cup. He has a very big impact on our game. He is a very good player, but for me is even a special player. It is logical that Louis Van Gaal gives him the chance because he is a difference player."

Man Utd make first move to sign "great" new free agent for Ten Hag

The Red Devils aren’t messing around…

ByTom Cunningham Apr 13, 2024

Frimpong could be looked at as an upgrade on both Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot, even though the latter is enjoying a good campaign, and at 23, there is still so much more to come from him.

Incoming new Liverpool manager Arne Slot wants to make an "incredible" player his first signing at Anfield, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Slot on the verge of becoming Liverpool manager

It has been a significant few days for the Reds, with Slot set to become Jurgen Klopp's successor once the German leaves at the end of the season.

The 56-year-old announced that he would be moving on back in January, in a decision that left Liverpool stunned, and since then, a host of different names have been thrown into the mix. The likes of Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim were frontrunners at one point, but the former has decided to stay at Bayer Leverkusen, while the latter seems to have been overlooked.

Instead, it is Slot who is set to be the Reds' next man in the Anfield hot seat, with a deal agreed that will see him trade Feyenoord for Merseyside this summer. Klopp has endorsed the Dutchman, which will no doubt be a boost to him, with the legendary Liverpool manager saying on Friday:

"I like the way his team plays football. All the things I hear about him as a guy, good guy. Some people I know know him, I don’t, but some people tell me he’s a really good guy. So, good coach, good guy, looking forward for the club if he’s the solution. It’s not up to me to judge, but it all sounds really good to me."

Slots wants "incredible" player at Liverpool

According to a report from Spain, Slot wants Liverpool to sign Crysencio Summerville this summer, with the Leeds United star potentially becoming his first addition as the Reds' new boss.

The Dutchman has enjoyed an outstanding season for the Whites, playing a key role in their Championship promotion push, scoring 19 goals in 40 starts, as well as chipping in with nine assists for good measure.

However, Friday's shock 4-0 defeat away to Queens Park Rangers has badly damaged Leeds' hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League, and failure to go up via the play-offs could lead to Summerville moving on, acting as a boost for Liverpool.

The 22-year-old has shown the Reds his quality in the past, scoring a late winning goal against them at Anfield to stun Klopp's side in the 2021/22 season under Jesse Marsch, and he has been hailed by Nedum Onuoha, who has said of him:

"You can see that Summerville making the run behind and thinking, is the ball going to him? He gets dispatched, goes one v one and slams the ball into the top corner. Absolutely incredible finish."

Liverpool lead race for Slot favourite who's "10x the player" Wijnaldum was

This star could be the final piece of the puzzle to Liverpool’s midfield.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 26, 2024

While some may baulk at the idea of Liverpool signing a Championship player, Summerville has shown he can have an impact in the top flight before, as highlighted by his Anfield winner, and he is so young that his best years are still ahead of him.

After failing to replicate last season's incredible success of finishing inside the Premier League's top four, Newcastle United are reportedly set to be ruthless this summer by showing the door to a fan favourite.

Newcastle transfer news

It's the type of ruthlessness that PIF must show too if they want to take a permanent place in not only the Premier League's top six but the top four and Champions League. Eddie Howe's side have learned a harsh lesson in squad depth this season and player sales should go a long way in ensuring that the Magpies can splash the cash to solve that problem.

Newcastle hit the jackpot selling "unbelievable" talent for 1264% profit

The club conducted excellent business in offloading him from St James’ Park.

ByEthan Lamb May 9, 2024

Already, those at St James' Park seem to be putting plans in place to make their squad depth problems a thing of the past, with an agreement reportedly reached to sign Lloyd Kelly. The Bournemouth defender is set to become a free agent at the end of the season upon the expiry of his current contract and will reportedly make his way to Tyneside. Able to play both left-back and centre-back, Howe will have himself an invaluable option.

As Kelly arrives, however, it looks as though a fan favourite will be heading in the other direction. According to Graeme Bailey and Jordan Harris of The Boot Room, Newcastle have told Miguel Almiron that he can leave the club this summer, with Saudi Arabia the most likely destination but Premier League rivals also interested.

The 30-year-old has struggled to replicate last season's form, instead producing numbers that Newcastle fans previously became accustomed to when it comes to the winger, with just five goals and three assists in all competitions. Arguably past his best, the Magpies look set to cash in and clear the winger's hefty £60k-a-week salary from their wage bill in the summer transfer window, despite the popularity his work rate has earned with those on Tyneside.

Newcastle are right to cash in on "unique" Almiron

Whilst the 2022/23 campaign sparked hope that Almiron had finally discovered his best form at Newcastle, scoring 11 goals and assisting a further four, that peak lasted just one season before the winger dropped off once more when it came to his output. Now 30 years old too, the Magpies are right to cash in and turn their attention elsewhere.

Games

206

Goals

30

Assists

12

That's not to say that Howe isn't a fan, however, having praised Almiron so highly earlier this season. The Newcastle boss said via Chronicle Live: "He’s (Almiron) a unique footballer. I don’t think there’s anyone better at doing what he does – all energy, all action. I’d like to see his physical stats today because I’m sure they’d be through the roof.

"The quality he showed with his finish was very reminiscent of some of the goals he scored last year. It’s a great return to form for Miggy – he’s such an important player for us."

Nonetheless, it's time for Newcastle to move on and seek the consistency in the final third that Almiron has failed to offer on the right-hand side this season.

Chelsea are advancing and preparing a bid for one £65 million forward who has been called "very similar" to footballing icon Lionel Messi.

Chelsea make transfer plans amid PSR concerns and managerial uncertainty

The Blues' topsy-turvy season under Mauricio Pochettino has resulted in rumours that the Argentine could well leave his post before the beginning of 2024/25, with the manager himself refusing to rule out that possibility.

Chelsea contact former manager in last few days as Pochettino exit nears

The Blues have been very up and down this season.

ByEmilio Galantini May 3, 2024

"Enough is enough. All managers need time to translate their ideas and philosophy," said Pochettino on his future at Chelsea.

"It's not my decision [if I get time]. I don't know [if I am being judged by the owners]. It's difficult to see every single week that I am under scrutiny and judgement. It's not my decision whether to be here or not to be here [next season]. I can't say nothing. What I can say is if after the decision, if we want to match the history of Chelsea it's a lot of work to do. We'll see if we have time to build this way."

Meanwhile, concerns have also surrounded Chelsea's ability to comply with Profit and Sustainability rules. Rival clubs even believe that Chelsea have to raise £100 million through player sales before the financial deadline on June 30th, leading to suggestions that Stamford Bridge chiefs could green-light exits for the likes of Conor Gallagher.

Moises Caicedo

£115 million

Enzo Fernandez

£107 million

Mykhailo Mudryk

£88 million

Wesley Fofana

£72 million

Marc Cucurella

£58 million

Supporters could be set for a very interesting, albeit chaotic, next few months in west London. Amid all of this, Chelsea are also making their transfer plans for the summer as chairman Todd Boehly and co look to evolve the team.

The west Londoners are believed to be chasing a prolific new goalscorer ahead of 2024/2025, with Napoli striker Victor Osimhen attracting real interest from Chelsea, though much will depend on PSR before they decide on how much they're willing to pay (Fabrizio Romano).

Elsewhere, Chelsea will also be keen to add more of world football's hottest young talent to their ranks.

Chelsea: Every signing Todd Boehly has made at Stamford Bridge

The full list is absolutely crazy!

ByAlex Caple May 5, 2025 Chelsea advancing in offer for Estevao Willian

According to UOL journalist Bruno Andrade, Palmeiras forward Estevao Willian is firmly on their agenda.

The teenage sensation, who has a £51 million release clause in his contract, could cost as much as £65 million including commissions and other financial factors (Sport via Football 365).

However, Andrade claims Chelsea are advancing and preparing to test Palmeiras with a potential £47 million bid including add-ons for Estevao, though it remains to be seen whether this is enough to complete a deal.

Interestingly, the Brazilian's agent, Andre Crury, has called Estevao "very similar" to Messi and even tips him for the Ballon d'Or.

“He’s a real phenomenon," said Crury to AS (via Sport Witness).

"He’s the next Ballon d’Or [winner]. His name is Estevão. He’s very similar to Leo. He has power from set pieces, he is also left-footed. Not physically, because he’s taller, he’s black, but there are things that remind Messi.”

Just as the climax to the 2021/22 campaign, Glasgow Rangers travel to Edinburgh on the final day of the season to play a Hearts side who finished third in the Premiership.

Unfortunately, this time, there won't be a major European final a few days later. There will be a Scottish Cup final appearance, however, and the Light Blues defeated the Jambos 2-0 in their previous showpiece at Hampden.

With the event taking place just a week after the final round of league fixtures, Philippe Clement may be inclined to perhaps give certain youngsters a few minutes at some stage of another against the Tynecastle side, similar to Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s approach two years ago.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Belgian did state that Abdallah Sima and Ryan Jack could both potentially play some minutes during the match as they make their step up from injury, while Leon Balogun is close to returning to action – although the Hearts tie may be too soon for him.

With this in mind, here's a look at the starting XI which could take to the pitch for the final Premiership game of the 2023/24 campaign.

1 GK – Jack Butland

Michael Beale didn’t do much right during his spell in charge of the Light Blues, yet luring Butland north of the border was one of his best decisions by far.

The goalkeeper has kept 25 clean sheets across 56 games in all competitions and the Light Blues Premiership title challenge would never have come to the fore if it weren’t for his heroics between the posts. This will be a good warm-up ahead of the Scottish Cup final.

2 RB – James Tavernier

The captain is currently the top scorer in the squad, netting 24 times. With two games to go, he will be aiming to add a couple more goals to that tally in what has been the most prolific season of his career.

The defender will be focusing on winning the cup final next week as he looks to lead the Gers to their second domestic trophy of the campaign.

3 CB – Leon King

Despite having plenty of potential and being touted as the future of the Ibrox defence, King has found opportunities sparse this season under Clement.

Due to injuries to Balogun, Connor Goldson and John Souttar, the centre-back started against Dundee, delivering a mature display that featured a 91% pass success rate while losing possession just six times.

4 CB – Ben Davies

The Englishman is only in the starting XI due to the aforementioned injuries to his fellow centre-backs, as his future under Clement looks uncertain.

Prior to making a start against Celtic, the defender had made just one appearance since December – the clash against Kilmarnock a week before.

It certainly looks as though he will be called upon next week at Hampden by Clement.

5 LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

There is no doubt injury issues have plagued his time at the Light Blues, but when fit, he is the best left-back in the current squad.

The Turk has missed 14 games through injury, most notably after the international break in March, which halted the momentum he had built up since Christmas.

He should be ready to start against Hearts and the Scottish Cup final.

6 CM – Nicolas Raskin

Despite plenty of hype, the Belgian has made only 17 appearances in the top flight this term, struggling with injuries and consistency.

Due to John Lundstram’s suspension after a red card against Celtic, he was recalled to the starting XI against Dundee and delivered an astute display.

Not only did he make two key passes, but the midfielder also won four of his seven contested duels during the clash and another 90 minutes on Saturday.

7 CM – Mohamed Diomande

The 22-year-old represents the future of the Ibrox midfield. In 17 appearances for the Glasgow side, Diomande has already netted twice and looks assured at the heart of the midfield.

He is exactly the type of player Clement is looking for as if he can develop properly, the Ivorian will certainly make sure the club generate a solid profit from his sale.

8 RW – Scott Wright

Ross McCausland did score in midweek against Dundee, but the youngster will be given a rest against Hearts on Saturday in preparation for the cup final next week.

Scott Wright came off the bench against the Tayside outfit and finally scored his first goal of the season on his 31st appearance.

9 AM – Alex Lowry

Again, like McCausland, Cantwell shone in midweek but could well be rested ahead of the clash against Celtic at Hampden.

Alex Lowry is a wonderful young talent and giving him some game time against the Jambos could be a wise idea. Hailed as “exceptional” by analyst John Walker last year, the 20-year-old has plenty to prove under Clement.

10 LW – Fabio Silva

The on-loan forward has polarised the Ibrox faithful during his spell in Glasgow. He may have scored five times for Rangers, but his spell won't be looked back on as being successful.

Due to a lack of options out wide, he will start against Hearts and could possibly be in contention to play against Celtic next weekend too.

Aston Villa are officially a Champions League club, an absolutely fantastic achievement that would have seemed impossible this time last year.

The driving force behind this success has without doubt been the excellent recruitment, with a large chunk of that being funded by Villa icon Jack Grealish.

The now-Champions League winner left Villa Park in 2021 for an astronomical £100m fee, joining the dominant Manchester City.

Today, Grealish isn’t worth anywhere near the sun that City spent, and he’s now valued the same as one of Unai Emery’s most reliable performers.

What Villa paid for Ezri Konsa

After achieving promotion back to the Premier League in the 2018/19 season, Dean Smith had one clear aim in the transfer window: to reinforce the defence.

Matt Target, Tyrone Mings, and Kortney Hause all joined the newly promoted side that summer, as well as a 21-year-old Ezri Konsa.

Prior to his move, the defender had impressed at Brentford during his first campaign in the Championship, starting 42 matches and keeping 11 clean sheets.

The Bees defender cost Villa just £12m back then, with the “high potential defender,” as dubbed by Smith, now becoming a valuable asset in the squad.

Konsa's market value in 2024

Since arriving at the club, Konsa has been a constant figure in the first XI, making at least 24 starts every season since 2019, while also playing every game last term.

However, the number 4 has developed immensely under the Spanish coach, to the point where he’s now showcasing his ability on a European stage and potentially for his nation, England, this summer.

Regardless of whether he’s been deployed as a centre half or as a right back, Konsa has proven that he’s an “impressive” star, as dubbed by StatmanDave, over his 34 league starts.

The fact that he’s shown his versatility this season is one of the main reasons why his value has skyrocketed in the past 12 months, to the point where he’s now worth the same as Grealish.

1. Rico Lewis

£69m

2. Trent Alexander-Arnold

£69m

3. Ben White

£51m

4. Levi Colwill

£43m

5. Konsa, Branthwaite, Stones

£34m

As you can see from the table above, Konsa is now estimated to be worth £34m by CIES’ Football Observatory, which makes him the joint-fifth-highest valued English defender in the Premier League.

On top of that, he’s the sixth-most-valued player in the Villa squad, worth the same as Boubacar Kamara, while also ranking first amongst defenders in Emery’s team.

What makes Konsa have such a fantastic profile is his ability to be just as dominant on the ball as he is off it, which separates him from plenty of his positional peers in England.

In evidence of that, the 26-year-old boasts an impressive 93% pass accuracy, 70.5 touches, and a dribbled past of 0.1 per game this season in the Premier League.

Overall, it’s crystal clear that Villa truly hit the jackpot by signing Konsa for just £12m, and if he continues to perform to a similar standard that he has this season, then his £34 valuation will only continue to rise, potentially to the point where he surpasses Grealish entirely.

Aston Villa struck gold with "standout" star who's worth more than Watkins

Unai Emery has chiselled this Villan into a player of staggering quality.

ByAngus Sinclair May 17, 2024

In what is quite the task, Liverpool are now reportedly working hard to beat Real Madrid off the pitch to land a summer transfer target who could fill their Joel Matip void and more.

Liverpool transfer news

It's a big summer for the Reds as they enter unchartered waters under Arne Slot, who will hope to endure at least half the success that Jurgen Klopp did during his incredible nine-year tenure at Anfield. And with Michael Edwards pulling the strings in the background, that success should be a possibility. The returning Liverpool chief played a large part in building the club's most successful Premier League side. Now, he could finish Liverpool 2.0 to create history once more.

Liverpool leading the race for dream £102m Szoboszlai partner

Arne Slot would score a major win by landing this talented midfielder.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 4, 2024

The likes of Johan Bakayoko, Crysencio Summerville and Antonio Silva have already been linked on that front in three potential deals that would undoubtedly hand the Reds an impressive boost this summer. Bakayoko and Summerville would be particularly interesting arrivals, given how the likes of Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez struggled to find their form in Liverpool's attack at the end of the season.

Away from attacking options, however, FSG could also need to sign a replacement for Joel Matip, who left the club at the end of the campaign following the end of his contract. And that's where Leny Yoro could come in.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are "working hard" to sign Yoro ahead of Real Madrid, but the defender seemingly has his heart set on a move to the La Liga giants. The Lille star, reportedly worth between £50m and £85m, could reportedly reject Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester United in favour of Madrid this summer.

Still just 18 years old and a standout in Ligue 1 at times, the number of top clubs interested in Yoro comes as no shock. Liverpool will just hope to finally beat Real Madrid off the pitch.

"Complete" Yoro could succeed Van Dijk

Whilst Liverpool's immediate focus should be on replacing Matip, their long-term aim should be to find a player capable of filling the inevitable void left behind by club captain Virgil van Dijk. Yoro, at such a young age, can kill two birds with one stone.

The Lille gem wouldn't need to step into Van Dijk's shoes right away, instead likely acting as fourth choice behind Ibrahima Konate, the aforementioned Dutchman and Jarell Quansah. However, eventually, that role should be his if Jacek Kulig's praise is anything to go by. The football talent scout described the teenager as "complete" on X.

It won't be easy to convince Yoro to reject Madrid, especially given their current status, but a long summer may just see the Reds make a crucial move.

The situation involving Sunderland appointing a new manager is becoming somewhat of a soap opera at the Stadium of Light, a dramatic predicament that looks no nearer to reaching a neat conclusion anytime soon.

This will, no doubt, be unsettling for supporters and players alike, who would have wanted to turn a corner after a dire 2023/24 season, only for an uncertain future to slap them straight in the face.

With Michael Beale in the dug-out and interim boss Mike Dodds' tenure distant memories now, Sunderland will need to appoint a new permanent boss very shortly, in order to raise spirits inside a tetchy Black Cats camp.

Both Dan Neil and Chris Rigg are hesitant to sign new deals, and when it comes to Jobe Bellingham, nobody would be surprised to see the teenager jump ship too, especially if a higher-up suitor convinces him to leave his current managerless employers with an extremely tempting offer.

Sunderland eyeing up Bellingham replacement

With Bellingham being eyed up by Premier League teams, including Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland would be wise to look for a replacement for their breakout 18-year-old, in case he does move on up to the Premier League.

Well, The Sun has reported in recent weeks that the Wearside outfit are looking at bringing in current Burnley attacker Scott Twine this summer, who could well be the Bellingham replacement they desire if the attacking midfielder ups and leaves.

Sunderland won't be alone in their pursuit of the wantaway 24-year-old, who The Sun reveal will be sold this transfer window, as Birmingham City and Bristol City attempt to test the waters too over a deal for the agile attacker.

Capable of playing down the wings too, Twine could offer Sunderland more depth here, especially if Clarke also exits the Stadium of Light, but – looking at his numbers when dazzling in the EFL in the past – it's from Bellingham's usual number ten role where Twine shines.

How Twine could replace Bellingham

There could be an element of risk from Sunderland's point of view going after Twine this summer, considering his time with Burnley at Championship level was ravaged by injury, but his past glowing numbers, when fit and at full flow, will shove any concerns to one side.

Playing for a promotion-chasing Milton Keynes Dons side in League One during the 2021/22 season, the Clarets man would amass a staggering 33 goal contributions across the full injury-free campaign, with 15 of those coming from the attacking midfield spot.

AM

21

9

6

LW

15

4

5

SS

8

7

2

RW

2

0

0

CF

1

0

0

LM

1

0

0

Bellingham, in contrast, would end up amassing eight goal contributions from 47 appearances last season, which is a promising return from a teenage starlet, but Twine could be a different beast altogether if unleashed into the Sunderland XI next campaign.

On loan at Hull City and Bristol City last term, Twine ended up accumulating one more goal contribution than Bellingham, to prove he has what it takes in the second-tier.

Described as being a "terrific" talent by his ex-MK Dons manager in Liam Manning during that fruitful season at Stadium MK for the 24-year-old, with Manning now interested in a permanent reunion at Ashton Gate, Sunderland will hope they can come out of this intense transfer tussle for Twine's services as victorious.

Even if Bellingham does stay at the Stadium of Light, the target in question could offer Sunderland some much-needed versatility in attack – as can be seen glancing at the table above – with the likes of Abdoullah Ba sweating about his first-team chances down the left wing, if Twine was to join.

Before a transfer is confirmed or rubbished, however, the Black Cats hierarchy need to make a sharp decision over their next manager, to end the ongoing circus surrounding the vacancy.

Sunderland losing £3m star would be as big a blow as Clarke leaving

Sunderland will attempt to keep this gem at the Stadium of Light for the foreseeable.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 18, 2024

When it comes to prestigious football tournaments, other than the World Cup, there isn’t really anything that gets close to the prestige of the European Championship.

England have been semi-regular participants over the years, and whilst the team has never been crowned champions, they have experienced their fair share of ups and downs along the way.

Euro 2024 saw England reach a second successive final, with Spain inflicting similar heartbreak to Italy three years prior.

But how does their overall record at the tournament shape up? Football FanCast has looked back at all of England’s past campaigns for you to reminisce about.

Year

Stage reached

1960

Did not enter

1964

Failed to qualify

1968

Third place

1972

Failed to qualify

1976

Failed to qualify

1980

Group stage

1984

Failed to qualify

1988

Group stage

1992

Group stage

1996

Semi-finals

2000

Group stage

2004

Quarter-finals

2008

Failed to qualify

2012

Quarter-finals

2016

Round of 16

2020

Runners-up

2024

Runners-up

Euro 2024 tournament guide: Teams, matches, dates, TV channels, odds & more

Football FanCast has put together a guide for all things Euro 2024, with venues, fixtures, tables, stadiums and more all covered here.

ByStephan Georgiou Jun 11, 2024 Euro 1968 World champions finish third in first European Championship

Eight years on from refusing to partake in the inaugural Euros, we finally got our first look at England at the European Championship, with the Three Lions having failed to qualify for the 1964 edition.

The tournament finals were held in Italy and featured just four teams after two years of qualifying and quarter-finals. The teams that made it were Italy, the USSR, Yugoslavia and England.

The Three Lions were going into the finals as world champions, so there was an understandable expectation that they would make it to the final at a minimum – yet they did not.

Instead, the world champions had to settle for third place after they lost their semi-final 1-0 to Yugoslavia, though they did win their third-place play-off 2-0 against the USSR.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Semi-final

Yugoslavia

L 0-1

Dzajic

Third-place play-off

USSR

W 2-0

Bobby Charlton, Hurst

Euro 2024 Group C: Teams, players, fixtures and venues

Everything you need to know about Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia and England ahead of Euro 2024.

ByCharlie Smith Jun 9, 2024 Euro 1980 England finally qualify again but fall at first hurdle

It would be 12 long years of European failure for England between their appearances in 1968 and 1980, and when the Three Lions finally made their much-awaited return to the tournament, they did not last long.

The finals were once again held in Italy and were the first to feature eight teams, meaning there was to be a group stage before the knock-out games.

England were placed into a group alongside Spain, Belgium and hosts Italy. Only the winners advanced to the final (no messing around back in the day), so each team would have to perform from the off to stand a chance of winning the tournament.

The opening game against the Belgians started well enough, with Ray Wilkins giving the Three Lions the lead on 26 minutes with a superb finish. However, it took just three minutes for England to concede an equaliser.

England’s second game saw them lose 1-0 to the Italians, and even though they won their final match against the Spanish 2-1, a draw between Italy and Belgium sealed their fate and sent them home early.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Group stage

Belgium

D 1-1

Wilkins / Ceulemans

Group stage

Italy

L 0-1

Tardelli

Group stage

Spain

W 2-1

Brooking, Woodcock / Dani (p)

Euro 1988 Woeful England lose every game in West Germany

It was another eight-year wait to see England compete in another European Championship, and the same wait resulted in the same outcome: an early exit.

The 1988 edition of the tournament was held in West Germany and was actually the last European tournament to see West Germany and the USSR take part.

Once again, eight teams were taking part in the finals, and England were placed into a group with the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands and the USSR.

Although there were at least a few positives to take from the 1980 finals, the same could not be said for the 1988 edition.

England kicked their campaign off with a shock 1-0 defeat to the Irish and followed that up with 3-1 losses to the Dutch and the Soviets. The Three Lions finished rock bottom of the group with no points and a goal difference of minus five.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Group stage

Republic of Ireland

L 0-1

Houghton

Group stage

Netherlands

L 1-3

Robson / Van Basten (3)

Group stage

USSR

L 1-3

Adams / Aleinikov, Mykhaylychenko, Pasulko

Next England manager: Who could replace Gareth Southgate?

It’s over for Gareth Southgate – here’s who England could turn to next following his resignation.

ByStephan Georgiou Jul 16, 2024 Euro 1992 Euro woes continue as Three Lions bow out early again

Well, at least there was no eight-year wait this time. England had managed to qualify for back-to-back European Championships for the first time with their appearance in 1992.

However, once the team got to the finals, the result – as was always the case – was an embarrassing group stage exit.

Sweden hosted in 1992, and as was becoming the norm by this point, the tournament finals featured eight teams split into two groups of four before the knockout rounds.

England’s group featured Sweden, France and Denmark. The inclusion of the Danish was a surprise as it was supposed to be Yugoslavia that qualified in their place, but the country’s breakup meant that they obviously couldn’t play, so the Danes were chosen to replace them.

Of course, Denmark then went on to win the whole thing, defeating Germany in the final to become the only team to have won the European Championship despite not technically qualifying.

England had to play the Danish side in their first game, and neither team looked great as they played out a 0-0 draw. Up next was the French, and what followed was yet another goalless bore draw.

England’s final group game was against the hosts, and the maths was simple: win and go through.

It all started so well as David Platt gave the Three Lions the lead in the fourth minute, but as the English so often do, they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and conceded two goals in the second half to lose and crash out of the group stage.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Group stage

Denmark

D 0-0

None

Group stage

France

D 0-0

None

Group stage

Sweden

L 1-2

Platt / Jan Eriksson, Brolin

Every England penalty shootout at major tournaments

A chance to relive all of the Three Lions’ penalty shootouts at major tournaments.

1 ByStephan Georgiou Jul 6, 2024 Euro 1996 Southgate misses as home tournament ends in heartbreak

With England now qualifying for European Championships fairly regularly, did the team start delivering improved results? Surprisingly, yes, yes they did.

The 1996 edition of the tournament was held in England, and with it being thirty years on from England’s World Cup triumph on home soil, there was a genuine belief that despite their previous failings, this time would be different. And they were right, sort of.

The size of the competition had been doubled for the 1996 edition to include four groups of four for the first time. England were placed in a group with the Netherlands, Switzerland and the Auld Enemy, Scotland.

The hosts kicked off the tournament with a tepid 1-1 draw with the Swiss, but followed that up with a now iconic game against the Scots at the old Wembley. Alan Shearer opened the scoring in that encounter, but it was Paul Gascoigne’s goal and celebration that has been ingrained into English football folklore.

The final group game saw Terry Venables’ men put four past the Dutch and qualify from the group in a comfortable first place.

The quarter-finals saw England take on Spain, and with the score 0-0 after extra time, penalties were needed to decide a winner. The hosts scored all four of their spot kicks, while the Spanish scored just two of theirs, meaning England’s party would carry on going – for the moment.

The semi-finals saw the hosts take on Germany, and despite a lot of nervousness beforehand, Shearer gave England an early lead when he opened the scoring in the third minute. However, the Germans quickly fought back and levelled the score in the 16th minute, and with neither side able to score again, the game went to penalties.

After both sides had scored their opening five penalties, Gareth Southgate stepped up to take the sixth, but he saw his attempt saved. Andreas Moller then scored his, and the hosts were out.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Group stage

Switzerland

D 1-1

Shearer / Turkyilmaz (p)

Group stage

Scotland

W 2-0

Shearer, Gascoigne

Group stage

Netherlands

W 4-1

Shearer (2, 1p), Sheringham (2) / Kluivert

Quarter-final

Spain

D 0-0 (4-2 on pens)

None

Semi-final

Germany

D 1-1 (5-6 on pens)

Shearer / Kuntz

Euro 2000 Keegan's England fall flat on Euros stage once more

England made their way to Euro 2000, hosted in the Netherlands and Belgium, with one mission: go one step further than 1996. Unfortunately, this was an objective that was very much not met.

The Three Lions were drawn into a group with Portugal, Romania and Germany. England’s first game of the tournament was a thoroughly exciting 3-2 defeat to Portugal, which they put behind them pretty quickly as they ended up winning the following game against Germany 1-0.

The final group game was against Romania, and it was once again a simple equation: win and go through, or lose and go home.

That said, simplicity didn’t guarantee results, and the Romanians stunned the footballing world when they ran out 3-2 winners. Phil Neville conceded a late penalty when a draw would have seen England through.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Group stage

Portugal

L 2-3

Scholes, McManaman / Figo, Joao Pinto, Nuno Gomes

Group stage

Germany

W 1-0

Shearer

Group stage

Romania

L 2-3

Shearer (p), Owen / Chivu, Munteanu, Ganea (p)

Euro 2004 Golden generation fall short after penalty drama

Euro 2004 was held in Portugal and once again featured four groups of four. England were placed in Group B alongside France, Croatia and Switzerland.

The first game of the tournament ended in heartbreak for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side, as despite leading for most of the game through a 38th-minute Frank Lampard goal, they ended up losing after the French scored in the 91st and 93rd minutes.

Game two saw them take out these frustrations on the Swiss as they stormed to a 3-0 victory, and they played out another victory in their third game against Croatia as they won 4-2.

The quarter-finals saw England face off against the hosts in one of the tournament’s best games. Michael Owen opened the scoring in the third minute to give the Three Lions the lead, but an 83rd-minute goal from Helder Postiga ensured the game would be heading to extra time.

Portugal took the lead themselves in the 110th minute thanks to a Rui Costa strike, but Lampard levelled the scores with a goal of his own in the 115th minute to take it to penalties.

It was the hosts who won out on spot kicks after David Beckham and Darius Vassell both saw their attempts saved. Oh, what could have been.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Group stage

France

L 1-2

Lampard / Zidane (2, 1p)

Group stage

Switzerland

W 3-0

Rooney (2), Gerrard

Group stage

Croatia

W 4-2

Scholes, Rooney (2), Lampard / Niko Kovac, Tudor

Quarter-final

Portugal

D 2-2 (5-6 on pens)

Owen, Lampard / Postiga, Rui Costa

Euro 2012 Penalties send England home yet again

England failed to qualify for the 2008 edition of the tournament, so they had to wait eight years to try and move past their heartbreak in Portugal, though given how this one went, we aren’t too sure they did.

England were placed in Group D alongside France, Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine. Things got off to a reasonable start as Roy Hodgson’s men played out a 1-1 draw with the French. They did even better in the second game, beating Sweden 3-2, despite surrendering a 1-0 lead midway through the second half. A 1-0 win over Ukraine in the final group game saw them advance to the quarter-finals, where they would face Italy.

The game was dreadfully dull and ended 0-0 after extra-time. It was once again a penalty shootout that stood between success and failure for England, and it once again ended in heartbreak as both Ashley Young and Ashley Cole missed their spot kicks to hand the Italians the win.

In fairness, Andrea Pirlo’s spot-kick was worthy of winning the game by itself.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Group stage

France

D 1-1

Lescott / Nasri

Group stage

Sweden

W 3-2

Carroll, Walcott, Welbeck / Johnson (og), Mellberg

Group stage

Ukraine

W 1-0

Rooney

Quarter-final

Italy

D 0-0 (2-4 on pens)

None

Euro 2016 England suffer humiliating exit to minnows Iceland

The Hodgson era was not the greatest time for the English national team, and no tournament encapsulates that better than the 2016 European Championship, which featured 24 teams for the first time.

England were placed in a group with Russia, Slovakia and Wales. In their opening game, England managed to throw away a 1-0 lead in the 92nd minute to draw with Russia, while the second game saw them score in the 92nd minute to beat Wales. The final match saw them play out a tedious 0-0 draw with Slovakia to qualify in second.

Despite this, they were given a ‘dream’ draw, as Iceland were set to play them in the round of 16. Even though Iceland had beaten Austria and drawn against Portugal and Hungary, there was an overwhelming expectation that England would come away comfortable winners from the clash.

Wayne Rooney gave the Three Lions the lead when he scored a penalty in the fourth minute, but a sixth-minute equaliser from Ragnar Sigurðsson and an 18th-minute goal from Kolbeinn Sigthórsson flipped the game on its head.

England looked toothless for the rest of the game and came away as deserved losers. It’s fair to say that this result represented a real low point for English football.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Group stage

Russia

D 1-1

Dier / Vasili Berezutski

Group stage

Wales

W 2-1

Vardy, Sturridge / Bale

Group stage

Slovakia

D 0-0

None

Round of 16

Iceland

L 1-2

Rooney (p) / Ragnar Sigurdsson, Sigthorsson

Ranking the ten biggest upsets at the European Championships

With Euro 2024 fast approaching, Football FanCast has created a list of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history…

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 14, 2024 Euro 2020 Football nearly comes home

The most recent edition of the European Championship is by far and away England’s most successful tournament.

The competition kicked off a year later than planned due to the pandemic and was played across multiple European nations, including England.

Gareth Southgate had just led his side to a World Cup semi-final three years prior, and so while the Three Lions weren’t favourites, there was an element of expectation among fans.

The team were placed in Group D alongside Croatia, the Czech Republic and Scotland. Things got off to a decent start as Southgate’s men played out a 1-0 win over Croatia, but the following 0-0 draw against Scotland tempered people’s expectations somewhat.

The final group game played out much like the first; Raheem Sterling scored England’s only goal as the side beat the Czechs 1-0. Two wins and a draw from the group was enough to qualify as winners, which meant a last-16 tie against Germany.

Goals from Sterling and Harry Kane saw the Three Lions finally get the better of Die Mannschaft in a knockout game for the first time since the World Cup final in 1966.

The quarter-finals saw the team put four past Ukraine to set up a nervy semi-final with Denmark. The game took place at Wembley Stadium, so there was an eerie silence when the Danes took the lead through Mikkel Damsgaard in the 30th minute.

Luckily for the home crowd, Simon Kjær put the ball in the back of his own net just nine minutes later to level the scores. It would take extra-time to find a winner, but England finally took the lead when Kane scored in the 104th minute. It was just Italy that now stood between England and footballing greatness.

Luke Shaw opened the scoring just two minutes in, creating bedlam at Wembley. However, once they were ahead, England seemed to shrink into their shells, and after defending for most of the game, Italy finally levelled the score through Leonardo Bonucci. Extra time came and went, and it was once again – as it always seems to be – a penalty shootout that stood before the English national team. Unfortunately, we all know what happened from here.

Kane and Harry Maguire scored their penalties, but Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka all had to endure the soul-crushing feeling of missing theirs. Jordan Pickford performed wonders between the sticks, but it just wasn’t to be, and Italy claimed the title on English soil.

Round

Opponent

Result

Goalscorers

Group stage

Croatia

W 1-0

Sterling

Group stage

Scotland

D 0-0

None

Group stage

Czech Republic

W 1-0

Sterling

Round of 16

Germany

W 2-0

Sterling, Kane

Quarter-final

Ukraine

W 4-0

Kane (2), Maguire, Jordan Henderson

Semi-final

Denmark

W 2-1 (aet)

Kjaer (og), Kane / Damsgaard

Final

Italy

D 1-1 (2-3 on pens)

Shaw / Bonucci