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Alisha Lehmann has scored her first goal for Como Women, allowing her iconic fishing celebration to be broken out. The Swiss took on a new challenge in Italy over the summer after severing ties with Serie A champions Juventus. She is up and running with her new employers, with the tricky forward all smiles after opening her account with a slightly fortuitous strike.

• New challenge: Why Lehmann left Turin

  Lehmann is embracing the project in Como on and off the field, as they look to break down barriers. She has been helping to do that throughout her career after becoming one of the most recognisable players in the women’s game.

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• Watch Lehmann score first Como goal

• Swiss star hoping for more regular game time

  She was able to savour tangible success with Juve last season, as they secured a domestic double, but was never a guaranteed starter for the Turin giants. More regular game time will be enjoyed with Como.

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• Slice of luck for Lehmann in Como goal

  Lehmann has been making an immediate impact in new surroundings, with her latest outing seeing her hit the back of the net. Said effort was aided by a considerable deflection, which took the ball away from the goalkeeper.

Glasgow Rangers and Russell Martin made a move to sign an “immaculate” £2m player for nothing, as per Sky Sports.

Martin delighted with Rangers after 3-0 win vs Viktoria Plzen

The Gers took another step in the right direction towards Champions League qualification on Tuesday evening, beating Viktoria Plzen 3-0 at Ibrox in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie.

Martin, who was left fuming with his Rangers side after a 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw with Motherwell, rung the changes and left out captain James Tavernier and star midfielder Nicolas Raskin.

However, two goals from summer signing Djeidi Gassama and one from Cyriel Dessers puts the Gers in a strong position to progress to the next round. Talking after the Ibrox victory, Martin said via PA:

“I really enjoyed it. I’m proud of the guys. We had a really difficult evening on Saturday, just because there was not enough running in behind, aggression, intensity with the ball. We were not just ranting and raving, we showed a lot of clips and we tried to do a lot of learning in the meeting room and on the pitch in the last couple of days and they took it on brilliantly.

“The guys that came in the team were fantastic. We’re going to need everyone. You don’t get dropped from this team, people come in and out quite a lot because we need to be fresh.”

So far, 10 new additions have been made by Martin and the 49ers Enterprises, with more still potentially on the way before the September 1 deadline.

However, one player Rangers missed out on was Conor Coady, who swapped Leicester City for Wrexham in a £2m transfer.

Rangers moved to sign Coady for £0 – Sky Sports

As per Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, Rangers tried to sign Coady on a free transfer from Leicester, with the defender believing that he would be able to walk away from the King Power for nothing.

Instead, Leicester managed to secure a fee for the “immaculate” England international, who signed a two-year deal in Wales.

Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga have been the centre-back additions so far, rivalling John Souttar, Clinton Nsiala, Leon King and Ben Davies, but with the latter linked with Birmingham City, another defensive arrival shouldn’t be ruled out.

Harry Kane is chasing down a goal-scoring record set by Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland as he continues to make more history with Bayern Munich. The England captain was in fine form on Saturday as he scored a hat-trick in the Bavarian side's 4-1 win over Hoffenheim. This was Kane's ninth hat-trick since moving to Germany in 2023.

• Kane rewrites Bundesliga history with latest goals

  With a hat-trick against Hoffenheim on Saturday, Kane reached 70 goals in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich in just 67 appearances, which is the quickest any footballer has reached the 70-goal mark in the league's history.

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  Kane aiming to break Ronaldo & Haaland's record

  Kane has now scored 98 goals for Bayern in 103 appearances across all competitions. He will be the quickest player to reach the 100-goal mark in a top-five European League if he nets a brace against Werder Bremen next Friday. Right now, that record is jointly held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland, who achieved the feat in 105 matches for Real Madrid and Manchester City respectively.

• German media offer apology to Kane

  The English forward has received an apology from a German journalist, who had questioned Bayern's decision to pay €100m to Tottenham for a striker entering his thirties. The journalist took back his words and praised Kane's strict discipline and work ethic.

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  Neymar's Champions League record also in sight

  After facing Werder Bremen on Friday, Vincent Kompany's side will travel to Cyprus for their Champions League fixture against Pafos. If he scores a brace there, Kane will overtake Neymar's Champions League goals tally of 43.

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has invited recently retired club legend Jerome Boateng to return as an intern as he begins his journey toward a coaching career. Kompany believes Boateng’s vast experience can provide valuable insight and guidance to the current squad. However, the former defender’s options extend beyond Bayern, as he has also contacted other coaches about potential opportunities.

• Boateng's retirement and his post retirement plans

  Former German defender Jerome Boateng announced his retirement from football last week. A 2014 World Cup winner with Germany, Boateng also lifted two Champions League titles, nine Bundesliga titles, and two UEFA Super Cups before hanging up his boots. Already holding a UEFA B coaching license, he aspires to become a head coach but knows he must first gain experience by interning with established managers. One of his options is to return to his former club Bayern Munich and work under Kompany.

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  Kompany's invitation to Boateng

  When asked if he would be open to working with Boateng, Kompany replied: “Of course, I would warmly invite him to come and stay with us for a few weeks and share his experience as a top defender with us. That's so valuable. I would invite any well-intentioned Bayern legend to spend a week with us and share their experiences. Our boys still want to learn – we mustn't forget that."

  Kompany also expressed confidence in Boateng’s coaching potential: “Of course he can become a top coach if he wants to. You just have to work very hard. And if you make an effort and surround yourself with good people, which is also important, then you can always set the best example.”

  Finally, Kompany congratulated Boateng on his career, saying: “First of all, it was great to see how successful he became after our time together in Hamburg: He won two Champions League titles, a World Cup, and so many Bundesliga titles. I don't think any of us would have imagined that 20 years later we would be looking back on a career like this. I'm delighted he achieved all of this. That's why I'm very proud of him!"

• Boateng's alternate options

  Kompany's comments come after, Boateng revealed in an interview with he is yet to formally ask Kompany about working with him at Bayern, while praising his and Sandro Wagner’s transition from player to coach: “I haven't asked Vincent yet, but I will. He's a great example of how a former player became a great coach. Sandro Wagner, too. Both are authentic. I want to be that, too.”

  Boateng also made it clear that his options extend beyond Bayern and Kompany, highlighting interest in working with other coaches: “I've already spoken with Hansi. I can shadow him at FC Barcelona whenever I want. I'm really looking forward to it. I'd also like to shadow my former teammate Patrick Vieira, coach of CFC Genoa."

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  Boateng's challenges and Kompany's hope

  Boateng will assess his options carefully before making the best decision for his career. For Kompany, bringing Boateng into his backroom staff could add valuable experience, with the former defender’s wealth of knowledge serving as guidance for the squad’s backline.

Wolves’ Premier League campaign got off to a rough start after they were defeated 4-0 by Manchester City on Saturday evening.

Despite the scoreline, Wolves boss Vitor Pereira had admiration for the way his side played, saying: “We played with bravery, tried to score goals, and we had our chances to score. In the end, each time we committed a mistake they punished us with a goal.”

Wolves only had one shot on target, fewer than City, but a poor day in the office for goalkeeper Jose Sa saw him underperform his xG faced by -1.73 meaning he conceded chances that he should have saved. Sa’s performance was compounded by a defensive error from Emmanuel Agbadou that saw his misplaced pass reach City’s Oscar Bobb, who proceeded to assist Tijani Reijnders.

Agbadou’s place in the starting 11 may now be under threat as Wolves close in on a deal for a new centre-back.

Wolves' interest in Arsenal's Kiwior

Caught Offside have revealed that Wolves are one of the sides “showing interest” in signing Arsenal’s Polish defender, Jakub Kiwior.

The centre-back received a long run in the team in the back half of last season when Gabriel was injured, and during this time, his performances were labeled as “impressive” by analyst Ben Mattinson, possibly where his increased interest started.

The player isn’t one that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to sell, but after already being behind William Saliba and Gabriel in the first-team pecking order and with new arrival Cristhian Mosquera also likely to start ahead of him, Kiwior is open to a move somewhere he can receive more game time.

If Wolves want to sign Kiwior, then they will face significant Premier League opposition, as both Crystal Palace and Everton are rumored to be interested. They’ll face additional competition on the continent with Serie A sides Juventus and AC Milan, as well as Portugal’s Porto.

Kiwior won’t come cheap and is valued at more than £30 million, which would make him the most expensive defender in the club’s history, ahead of Nathan Collins and Nélson Semedo.

Wolves' formation suits Kiwior's play style

While Kiwior impressed in the back half of last season, there is a reason he’s not a regular starter for Arsenal, and that is his defensive success rate.

These stats are pretty damning for a defender. 90% of Premier League centre-backs won a higher percentage of their attempted tackles last season, and even his best defensive attribute, which is his duels, puts 60% of centre-backs ahead of him.

However, what Kiwior lacks in defensive attributes, he makes up for in his passing ability. Last season, the Polish international registered a 91.9% pass success rate, which put him in the top 15% of players. Additionally, his long ball success rate was equally impressive, with his long balls reaching their target more than half the time, which once again put him in the top 15% of players.

Reliable passing is where Wolves went wrong for the second goal they conceded against City, and having someone with Kiwior’s distribution in that back line will make mistakes like that less frequent.

Pereira’s defensive set-up will also cover for some of Kiwior’s shortcomings as the Wolves boss likes to play three centre-backs compared to Arteta, who plays two. This means that Kiwior will always have two players with him (as well as the wing-backs tucking in and midfielders dropping back) to help pick up his defensive load, allowing him to be the main distributor forward in the back three.

Based on this, when Kiwior ways up his transfer options, he may prioritise Wolves as it’s not only somewhere where he can play but where the system suits him.

Nottingham Forest cruised to an opening-day win in the Premier League as Keith Andrews’ Brentford were brushed aside with ease.

New Tricky Trees recruit Dan Ndoye got on the scoresheet to the delight of his adoring City Ground masses, on top of Chris Wood asserting his dominance in the forward positions once more by firing home a brace in the 3-1 victory.

Amazingly, Nuno Espirito Santo still has Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee to add to the first team picture, with both new signings not ready to feature against the Bees, after joining Nuno’s ranks in quick succession just before this opening clash.

These two flashy buys don’t signal the end of Forest’s summer business, however, with more new signings looking to be completed before the month is out.

Nottingham Forest in talks to sign £30m star

Europa League football might well be triumphantly on the menu for the Tricky Trees this campaign, but this season will see Forest try to push into those coveted Champions League spaces.

Forest’s ambitious late dealings in the transfer market could make these bold dreams a reality, with Douglas Luiz reportedly close to linking up with McAtee and Co. from Juventus, having once stood out in the Premier League with Aston Villa as an exciting midfield presence.

Rumours are also circulating that Forest are in talks to sign Rico Lewis from Manchester City, with Caught Offside reporting – despite Nuno’s men having a recent £30m approach pushed back – that talks are still ongoing between the two sides over striking up a potential deal.

While McAtee’s name has dominated a lot of the conversation at the City Ground in recent days, adding Lewis could be an even more exciting capture than securing the skilful midfielder’s services, with the 20-year-old arguably more well-versed as to what it takes to be a success at such a daunting level.

Why signing Lewis could be more exciting than McAtee

Of course, a signing in the attacking positions will always catch the eye more than a defensive addition, particularly when it involves the amount of promise McAtee has in his locker.

Indeed, from just 34 appearances at the Etihad, McAtee has left a lasting impact on the City masses watching on, with a vibrant seven goals next to his name. On top of that, he has six goals and three assists in the Premier League alone, boosted by a standout two-season loan stint at Sheffield United.

However, while it’s undeniable that the 22-year-old will likely go on to be a success away from feeding on minimal scraps at Pep Guardiola’s men, Lewis has what it takes to be an instant, shining part of Nuno’s first team over one for the future, considering he has been in and around the Spaniard’s first team plans more regularly over the years.

Amazingly, despite only being 20 years of age, the City number 82 already has 59 Premier League appearances under his belt, meaning he won’t be taken aback by the bright lights of the City Ground if he were to shortly relocate to Nottingham.

He isn’t just an honourary member of the youth team that has been shoved into the senior scene for the sake of it, however, with an impressive return of three goals and three assists also coming his way, which included him linking up with Erling Haaland just this weekend to get City up and running in their 4-0 demolition job of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With Nuno already possessing Morgan Gibbs-White, too, on top of having plentiful options down the wings where McAtee can also play, such as Ndoye, there is no guarantee that McAtee would instantly come into his starting XI.

Whereas, Lewis – who has been dubbed “special” in the past by football statistician Statman Dave – would have no qualms about trying to take Ola Aina’s starting spot from him, having had to compete with some top talents already over his time in Manchester.

Capable of also lining up as a defensive midfielder if needed, this feels as if it would be yet another exciting addition by Forest, with both the former Blades midfielder and Lewis adding sparks of quality that could propel Forest even further up the top-flight standings.

Deal close: Nottingham Forest in advanced talks to sign Celtic "sensation"

The youngster has already captained his national team.

By
Callum Kemp

Aug 17, 2025

GOAL US writers debate if Dembele deserved the Ballon d'Or and who could be the first American to win the award

So, the Ballon d'Or is sorted. Ousmane Dembele is the winner. The stats make for good reading: 53 games, 53 goal contributions. He won Ligue 1 and the Champions League. PSG made it to the Club World Cup final – and probably should have won the thing. His victory has drummed up a little controversy, though. 

There are some, in some corners of the internet, who believe that 18-year-old Lamine Yamal should have claimed it. Those of a Premier League persuasion have vouched for Mo Salah. And more broadly, there's a changing attitude. The Ballon d'Or, once a constant back-and-forth barometer to judge the relative greatness between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, used to be the pinnacle of soccer debate. 

Now, it's lost a little shine. Each year it provided some extra ammo for the truthers. These days, the Ballon d'Or is basically a yearly MVP. Still, it means , and in a soccer landscape starved of individual awards, the Ballon d'Or stands out.

GOAL US writers debate who should have won the award and if an American can ever claim it in the latest edition of… The Rondo. 

• Was Dembele a deserving winner?

  Tom Hindle: No. It really should have been Mo Salah. How do you break the Premier League single season goal contribution record, carry your team to a title, and not get the full acknowledgement for it? A lack of Champions League success certainly hurt him, but it was otherwise a season for the books. The reality for Dembele is that Ligue 1 is far too easy. 

  Alex Labidou: Yes. He helped PSG finally win the Champions League, along with their usual dose of Ligue 1 and French Cup success. Ballon d’Or winners usually see their cases boosted by success in a major tournament, and Dembele is no different. Also, it isn’t said enough, but the Frenchman helped Luis Enrique implement a newer style of football, in which PSG combined elements from his success at Barcelona, while also instituting a hard-pressing style typically seen by German sides.

  Ryan Tolmich: It's not a layup, but it was probably the right call. Dembele was one of the few candidates who had the right mix of everything required for the award. While it could have gone to one of those other candidates, that Champions League trophy clearly took him over the top. That made Demebele both a deserved winner and a feel-good underdog story, which is something that this award has had little of once the Messi-Ronaldo dominance ended in recent years.

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  Who should feel most aggrieved by the results?

  TH: Salah, but the absence of Virgil Van Dijk from the top 10 is also baffling. 

  AL: For the first time in years, it seems as if all of the categories and their winners were correct. If one had to nitpick, it would be Viktor Gyokeres winning the Gerard Muller award over someone such as Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe. Yes, Gyokeres had more goals overall, but the Portuguese league – where he did the majority of his scoring – isn’t as challenging as the Premier League and La Liga. The European Golden Boot, for example, takes league coefficients into consideration. But overall, these awards were spot on.

  RT: Salah made as a good a case as anyone this year. In terms of individual achievement, few can go toe-to-toe with the Egyptian, who, at times, singlehandedly carried Liverpool's title charge. That's not to discount guys such as Dembele or Raphinha, another legitimate candidate, but Salah could have been rewarded for his heroics at Anfield.

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  Way-too-early prediction for next year?

  TH: Yamal is perhaps the obvious shout here, but he may yet struggle with inconsistency – remember, he's 18. So, a word for Kylian Mbappe, who has been excellent thus far. Voters also tend to be skewed by the World Cup, and if France go far, then it might be his to lose. 

  AL: Yamal came so close to winning it this year that he almost seems destined to lift the Ballon d’Or next year. All he needs is a club trophy and a good showing at next year’s World Cup.

  RT: With this award being so tournament-dependent, it'll likely be someone who shines in both the Champions League and the World Cup, with the latter taking precedent if no one checks both boxes. Who can do both? Yamal with Spain and Barcelona, Mbappe with France and Real Madrid, Harry Kane with Bayern Munich and England or Raphinha with Brazil and Barcelona, to name a few. Given his continued growth, we'll lean Yamal, crazily enough – although the teenager will really need to show out in that tournament setting to get the nod.

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  Does the Ballon d'Or still matter?

  TH: These days? There's zero value. It's a bit of a popularity contest that doesn't really tell us much about the relative quality of footballers. Vitinha in third? Pedri outside the top 10? Victor Gyokeres 14th? Vinicius Jr, despite having a remarkably poor season, gets a nomination? Silly. 

  AL: It matters, as it’s a reward for a season’s effort. Yes, they don't always get the winner right – remember Robert Lewandowski’s infamous snub a few years ago, sigh. And it would be great if the award came after the European club season, for example, as opposed to the weird split between seasons and international play. But overall, it's still something fans and observers appreciate and respect.

  RT: Minimally? It's a decent way to remember years and eras, but it doesn't always capture the entire picture. Is it an award recognizing the best player of that season or the best player in the world? Even the voters themselves have often flip-flopped between the two, which are drastically different. Because of that, it's hard to quantify, even if it does, at the very least, recognize a great player just about every time.

Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer strategy this summer has been nothing short of chaotic, and yet strangely ambitious.

For a club that finished 17th in the Premier League last season but secured Champions League football thanks to their Europa League triumph over Manchester United, the need to strengthen has never been more urgent.

Their early business included the £60m acquisition of Mohamed Kudus from West Ham, an exciting attacking player who provides versatility across the forward line.

But departures and missed opportunities have left significant gaps.

Fan favourite Son Heung-min departed for LAFC after a decade of service in North London, while the club’s most creative midfielder, James Maddison, suffered a devastating ACL injury in pre-season against Newcastle.

Their attempts to fill the void have, so far, been met with frustration.

The latest on Spurs' hunt to find a Maddison replacement

A £60m pursuit of Eberechi Eze collapsed when Arsenal hijacked the deal. A move for Morgan Gibbs-White ran into legal complications.

A €70m (£65m) package for Como star Nico Paz was swiftly rebuffed, with the Argentine making clear his intentions to return to Real Madrid in the near future.

Spurs have even looked at Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, but his £100m price tag puts him out of reach.

All of this has forced Tottenham to look elsewhere.

Transfer Focus

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

Their search has now led them towards a player long admired in England, one who has already proved himself in the Premier League, but whose reputation has recently been clouded by off-field controversy.

According to reports in the Daily Mail, Spurs are now weighing up a move for Lucas Paquetá, the Brazilian playmaker currently at West Ham United.

Aston Villa are also monitoring his situation, but Tottenham’s need for a creative spark is arguably more urgent. Different reports suggest he could go for around £40m.

Paquetá has endured a turbulent year, but his quality has never been in question.

Former teammate Declan Rice once described him as “mind-boggling”, while he’s also been described as “one of the best 10s in the world” by one data analyst, a reminder of the immense technical ability he brings.

The central midfielder’s form dipped after he became the subject of a betting breach investigation in August 2023.

He continued to play, scoring West Ham’s only goal in their recent 5-1 defeat to Chelsea, but his confidence and consistency were visibly affected by the allegations.

Now that he has been cleared of all charges in 2025, the expectation is that he can finally put the matter behind him and re-establish himself at the top level.

Assessing Paquetá vs Maddison

For Spurs, the appeal is clear. With Maddison sidelined for the season, there is no natural replacement in the squad capable of offering the same vision and incisive passing.

Paquetá, with his flair and ability to turn games in an instant, represents a player in a similar mould.

He may not have matched Maddison’s output in recent seasons, but the tools are there – and in the right environment, he could thrive.

Paquetá’s numbers at West Ham illustrate both his strengths and his limitations.

At 27, he is approaching the prime of his career. He has 55 caps for Brazil and joined West Ham from Lyon in 2022, making 33 Premier League appearances last season with four goals.

The raw statistics do not scream world-class productivity, but they do reveal a midfielder with a valuable mix of creativity and defensive work.

According to FBref, he ranks in the 74th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 (2.89), the 79th percentile for progressive passes (6.16 per 90), and the 84th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (2.18 per 90).

These metrics underline his ability to link play between midfield and attack, progressing the ball into dangerous areas.

His defensive contributions are also notable, with 2.51 tackles per 90 (75th percentile) and an impressive 1.91 aerial duels won per 90 (89th percentile), making him more than just a luxury player.

When compared directly to Maddison, however, there are contrasts. The England international has been one of Spurs’ key players since arriving from Leicester in 2023, with 16 goals and 21 assists in 75 games.

Regrettably, his injury record is a concern. He missed 13 games in 2023/24 and 11 last season – but his impact when fit is undeniable.

Statistically, Maddison outperforms Paquetá in almost every attacking metric: 4.73 shot-creating actions per 90 (to Paquetá’s 3.10), 8.16 progressive passes per 90 (Paquetá’s 5.87), and 0.85 shots on target per 90 (Paquetá’s 0.11).

Even his pass completion rate (81.3%) edges the Brazilian’s 77.3%.

This raises a key question: would Spurs be settling for a downgrade? On paper, Paquetá does not replicate Maddison’s efficiency in front of goal or his ability to sustain attacks through consistent ball progression.

Yet the Brazilian brings different qualities – a more physical presence, stronger defensive contributions, and the versatility to operate across midfield roles. In that regard, he is a big upgrade.

His 227.8 progressive passing distance per 90 minutes is only slightly behind Maddison’s 250.1, suggesting he can still drive the ball forward effectively.

What truly matters is context. At West Ham, Paquetá has often been tasked with working within a rigid system where creativity can be stifled.

In a more attacking, possession-based setup at Tottenham, his ability to combine with Kudus and Richarlison could unlock a new level of performance.

For Spurs, the decision is not about finding a perfect Maddison clone. It is about ensuring they are not left without a creative heartbeat in midfield for an entire season.

Paquetá may be inconsistent, but he remains capable of brilliance.

If Thomas Frank can provide the structure and confidence that he lacked at West Ham, Tottenham could have a player who, like Maddison, is able to decide games single-handedly.

New Dembele: Spurs make move to sign "one of the best playmakers in Europe"

Spurs are looking to finalise one or two big moves before the deadline closes.

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By
Matt Dawson

Aug 25, 2025

Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer has, in an exclusive chat with GOAL, been urged to jump at the chance of moving to Barcelona or Real Madrid if the giants from La Liga ever come calling. The England international has become one of the Premier League’s brightest lights, while also impressing with the Three Lions, and is likely to register on the recruitment radar of leading sides around the world in upcoming transfer windows.

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  Palmer's Chelsea record: England star shining for Blues

  Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City for £40 million ($54m) in 2023. He enjoyed a memorable debut campaign in west London, registering 25 goals and being named PFA Young Player of the Year. His output dipped slightly in 2024-25, finding the target on 18 occasions, but was still able to help the Blues to Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup honours.

  Chelsea have moved to tie Palmer down on a contract through to 2033, as they seek to ensure that they are the ones to benefit from his current ability and future potential, but there are no guarantees that said terms will be honoured. Any player in world football would find it difficult to shun interest from the likes of Barca and Real if they were to put a formal bid on the table.

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• Barcelona or Real Madrid: Interest difficult to shun

  Quizzed on whether he would like to see Palmer embrace a challenge outside of the Premier League, former Chelsea midfielder Gus Poyet – speaking via Casino.org, known for helping Brits find reliable online casinos – told GOAL: "I always encourage the English players to go abroad. One thing that they miss is to see something different. I always said when we played in England, as soon as a foreign player started playing the football you play anywhere else in the world, it’s ‘that one cheats, that one goes down’. Okay, the word cheat probably was right, but we play like that all over the world. I want to say to the English players ‘go to Spain, you wouldn’t last five minutes because they go down every 20 seconds’. You need to learn that game as well and another country. I think it is always a good learning situation.

  "It’s individual, though, because the Premier League is the best – that is non-negotiable. I don’t care what anyone says. Spain had a moment when it was close to the Premier League, only because [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo were there. Now, there is no comparison. You are in the best league in the world, so I imagine that for players to go from the best to somewhere else is difficult. I would say if it is a top team, a Real Madrid, then you must. You will have an incredible and unique experience, not only in football but also in life. You will learn from that for the future, forever. I would like to see those quality players go to other places and enjoy that."

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  Chelsea need to match Palmer's ambition

  Poyet previously told GOAL of Chelsea needing to remain fiercely competitive on multiple fronts in order to match Palmer’s ambition: "Sometimes players go to a club, they perform, show what they can do and become really big. I like him because I didn’t know and when I saw him at Chelsea I went ‘wow’. Now, after two years being there, if he sees he isn’t going to get the Chelsea he thought was coming, maybe he will think about moving on as well.

  "It’s an issue. Not for the fans, I know them well and from when the team was just starting to win and a cup was magic for them – an FA Cup, a Carling Cup, the Cup Winners’ Cup, those situations were incredible. Then it was [Jose] Mourinho and [Roman] Abramovich and they wanted to win the league. Then you don’t want to lose that status. Now it is ‘where are we going?’ I understand the Chelsea fans. The most important thing is the top message to the fans, so you know the aim and what is realistic for Chelsea. They should be aiming for the top four, and that’s it."

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• Palmer injury: Will Chelsea star require surgery?

  Chelsea are currently having to cope without Palmer as he is nursing a groin injury. He has sat out the Blues’ last two fixtures – with Enzo Maresca’s side on a run of two wins in six across all competitions – with questions being asked of whether he will be forced to undergo surgery.

It would be fair to say that it’s been a reasonably successful transfer window for Manchester United so far this summer.

On top of shipping off a few unwanted stars, like Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund, they’ve massively improved Ruben Amorim’s attack.

The triumvirate of Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo has the potential to be one of the very best in the Premier League, although even with them in the side, there are a couple of areas that still need addressing.

Fortunately, it looks like the Red Devils are closing in on another signing who has been compared to Eric Cantona and could be viewed as a Mbuemo repeat.

Manchester United target their new Catona

According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United remain interested in signing Emiliano Martínez.

Transfer Focus

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In fact, the Italian journalist goes further, revealing that personal terms have now been agreed and that the Argentinian shot-stopper now “wants to join” the Red Devils.

Romano does not state just how much Aston Villa might want for their £150k-per-week star, but reports from earlier in the summer claimed that the Aston Villa ace may cost around £40m.

Even then, for a player of his quality, that may well be a price worth paying, especially as he has been compared to Cantona and could be seen in a similar light to Mbeumo.

How Martínez compares to Catona and Mbeumo

Before examining the reasons Martinez could be considered another Mbeumo for Manchester United, it’s worth looking into this comparison to Cantona, as the retired goalscorer is a legend of the club and English football.

In this instance, it stems from Sky Sports analyst Dougie Critchley, who boldly described the Argentine as the “Cantona of his generation.”

It might sound like a wild take, especially as the two internationals play, or played, in totally different positions, but when you take where they played out of the equation, it starts to make a lot more sense.

Outside of scoring for fun, what was the Frenchman known for? Arrogance and bravado.

Now, that might sound like a bad thing, and outside of football it may well be, but in the context of the beautiful game, it is most certainly a positive, and a massive one at that.

The former United magician was a natural-born entertainer and someone who thrived on the biggest stage, which is exactly how you would describe the World Cup-winning Villa man.

On top of pulling out world-class save after world-class save in the biggest games, he is a natural entertainer, someone rival fans love to hate, but would love to have at their club.

With that cleared up, why could he then also be another Mbeumo for Amorim and Co?

Well, this comparison is all down to the club signing a ready-made Premier League-proven superstar who could come right into the starting line-up for the next game.

After all, the former Arsenal ace has won two of the last two Yashin Trophies and won two of the last three FIFA Best Goalkeeper awards.

As if that wasn’t enough, he also won last 24/25’s Premier League Save of the Season for his magnificent stop against Nottingham Forest.

Ultimately, Martinez possesses the same swagger and confidence as Cantona, and the proven track record of Mbuemo, so even if his price tag is a little high, Man United should do everything in their power to bring him to Old Trafford before 7pm.

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