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Manchester United have no doubt made steady improvement under Erik ten Hag so far this season, although one issue that remains for the Dutchman heading into the World Cup break is the club’s attack, with goals having been in short supply thus far – scoring just 20 times in the Premier League to date.

While they did hit four past Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup in midweek, that was seemingly an anomaly rather than the norm for the Old Trafford outfit, with the forward line having been a “problem” this term, as per Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

The lack of a reliable centre-forward presence, in particular, has been a notable frustration for the Old Trafford outfit, with the injury woes of Anthony Martial having left the club reliant on an ageing Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the line, with the 37-year-old icon having scored just three times this season.

With speculation rife that the Portugal international will depart in January – a fact only exacerbated by his recent refusal to come off the bench against Tottenham Hotspur a few weeks ago and an explosive interview with Piers Morgan – it looks as if United will be in need of a replacement, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney one man who could potentially fill that void.

Various reports in recent times have suggested that the 26-year-old – who was reportedly valued at around £50m over the summer – is of interest to those at the Theatre of Dreams, with the Englishman having sparkled in the top-flight in recent times.

Having worked his way up from the lower leagues following a failed spell at Newcastle United – where the dynamic marksman made just four senior appearances – the £21k-per-week ace truly came to wider attention after bagging 33 goals in the second tier with the Bees during the 2020/21 campaign.

That hot streak had helped to propel Thomas Frank’s side into the promised land, with Toney having gone on to make light work of the step-up, scoring 22 goals in just 47 league games since the start of the 2021/22 season, as well as providing seven assists.

After netting 12 goals in the entire campaign last term, the highly-rated “machine” – as previously dubbed by journalist Phil Spencer- has already scored ten goals in just 14 league games this time around, with that tally only bettered by Harry Kane (12) and Erling Haaland (18) in the division.

Such prolific form has showcased that the striker’s talents have perhaps been “underrated”, according to Statman Dave, with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate notably overlooking the Northampton-born sensation from his 26-man squad for Qatar.

The former Peterborough man responded to that snub in ideal fashion at the weekend, however, having already got in the good books of his potential future employers – United – by scoring twice in the shock victory over Manchester City at the Etihad.

The Red Devils themselves also saw that talent up close earlier this season as the in-form hotshot was integral in the 4-0 drubbing of Ten Hag’s men in west London, laying on two assists in that first-half demolition.

While the addition of such an asset certainly won’t come cheap, Toney could potentially prove to be the man who finally gives United the license to bin their current iconic figure.

Leeds United have been dealt a fresh injury blow ahead of their Premier League meeting with Leicester City on Thursday evening.

What’s the latest?

Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via the Yorkshire Post), Jesse Marsch revealed that Pascal Struijk will be unavailable for selection for the trip to the King Power Stadium tomorrow evening, as the defender picked up a knock in training this week.

However, the 48-year-old went on to suggest that, all being well, the Dutchman should be back in time for the visit of Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

Regarding the condition of the 23-year-old, the American manager said: “Pascal picked up a little bit of an injury and won’t be available for tomorrow but we’re hopeful that by Sunday he’ll be available. We’ll see how the next few days go.”

Bad news

Considering just how impressive Struijk has been in the Leeds backline so far this season, the fact that the centre-back will not be fit to feature against the Foxes on Thursday is undoubtedly bad news for Marsch and his side.

Indeed, over his nine Premier League fixtures in 2022/23 – all of which have come at left-back – the £13m-rated talent has been in exceptional attacking form, scoring one goal, providing one assist and creating two big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 0.7 shots – 0.4 of which have hit the target – making 0.8 key passes and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

The £29k-per-week defender has also impressed in metrics more typical of his position, helping his side keep two clean sheets, as well as making an average of 3.3 tackles – the joint eighth-most in the entire league – 1.7 interceptions, 1.6 clearances and winning 7.3 duels – at a success rate of 53% – per game.

These returns have seen the player who Marsch himself claimed is currently playing at a “high level” average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.91, ranking him as the Whites’ sixth-best performer in the top flight – a quite extraordinary feat considering the fact he has been playing in an unfamiliar position.

As such, while Leeds do have Junior Firpo available for the trip to Leicester, it is nevertheless clear to see that the absence of the 23-year-old will come as a huge “blow” – in the words of Graham Smyth – to the Whites’ chances of bringing all three points back to Elland Road on Thursday night, as Struijk has been an integral part of Marsch’s backline this season.

Sunderland’s tragic tale of relegation created many villains, with many sucking the club of all its resources as it continued to plummet.

However, in the run-up to that fateful demotion, plenty of heroes were made too.

Jermaine Defoe stood out as their goal-scoring hero, whilst Yann M’Vila and Younes Kaboul were heralded for their defensive displays.

It was Fabio Borini whose first season suggested he might join these familiar characters, but ultimately will go down as another disappointment.

The Italian forward was brought in for £10m in 2015 as Liverpool looked to cash in, with the 31-year-old having disappointed at Anfield.

He had scored just three times in 38 appearances but showed glimpses of a skillset that clearly interested Dick Advocaat.

In his first season at the Stadium of Light, he managed five goals and two assists in just 26 Premier League games. It marked a solid return, with some of his goals being crucial to their survival.

However, his form would drop as dramatically as it did on Merseyside, and the Italy international would oversee back-to-back relegations whilst he remained on his £60k-per-week wages.

He became yet another player who offered little but drained the club of its resources.

The attacker scored twice as they were relegated from the Premier League during the 2016/17 campaign, and would leave the club for AC Milan despite his value having nosedived from the £7.2m when he first signed to just £4.5m.

They only had to spend £5.3m for his services, marking a tiny return on their significant outlay.

Borini now plays his football in the Turkish Super Lig for Karagumruk, marking the true demise of a career that promised much when he was at Liverpool.

Just three goals in 21 appearances last season suggests that his form has never truly recovered, but when the Black Cats needed him most was when he seemed at his lowest.

He cost the club plenty, and other than a promising opening season gave little back. Sunderland are still paying for his lack of a contribution today, as they struggle towards a potential promotion from the Championship.

Sunderland have had their fair share of transfer flops and successes over the years as they have been stung with big-money signings and rewarded for low-value bargains.

One player the club struck gold with was goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. They brought him in from Belgian side Sint-Truiden for a fee of £2m in the summer of 2010.

At the time of the deal, then-manager Steve Bruce claimed that he would provide competition between the sticks, saying: “Simon is an excellent young goalkeeper and he has a lot more to offer. I’m sure he will push our current goalkeepers all the way next season.”

That is exactly what the Belgian shot-stopper did as he fought for his place in the team and ended his first campaign in England with 23 Premier League appearances, keeping eight clean sheets.

Mignolet then enjoyed a solid second season at the Stadium of Light in 2011/12 as he played 29 games in the top-flight and kept 11 shutouts.

The ‘keeper’s final year on Wearside was a superb one as he was an ever-present in the team in the Premier League and kept 11 clean sheets in his 38 outings. He was voted the club’s Player of the Season for his performances and this highlights just how important he was to the team between the sticks.

His impressive form for the Black Cats caught Liverpool’s eye and they snapped him up for a fee in the region of £12m, worth an initial £9m, in the summer of 2013.

He went on to play over 200 matches for the Merseyside giants before eventually signing for Club Brugge in his home country back in 2018. During his time at Anfield, Brendan Rodgers hailed him for his “dominant” goalkeeping and Reds coach John Achterberg described him as an “all-rounder.”

In the 2014/15 campaign, he was named Liverpool’s Player of the Season for his displays in goal and this shows that he carried his form from his time at Sunderland.

Therefore, former Black Cats manager Steve Bruce struck gold by signing him for just £2m back in 2010 as the Belgian international went on to enjoy a superb Premier League career with two different clubs.

He earned Sunderland a cool £10m profit whilst also providing three years of excellent service at the Stadium of Light, suggesting he was an undoubted success on Wearside.

Bruce deserves credit for bringing him in and current duo Kristjaan Speakman and Tony Mowbray will be hoping that they can unearth similar bargains in the years to come.

Crystal Palace are reportedly keen to re-sign Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the right-back could be a superb addition to Patrick Vieira’s squad at Selhurst Park.

What’s the word?

According to the Manchester Evening News, United are desperate to sell Wan-Bissaka as he isn’t in new manager Erik ten Hag’s plans.

The Eagles are said to be keen on bringing him back to London but are only willing to pay £10m, having sold him to United in a deal worth £50m only three years ago.

Vieira would love him

Vieira currently alternates between Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Ward as his first choice right-back options at Palace, and while both are solid players, they are 31 and 32 respectively, which suggests that a long-term solution is needed in that area.

Wan-Bissaka has endured a difficult time at Manchester United, as his technical abilities in an attacking side have been exposed, only scoring twice and registering ten assists in 126 fixtures at a dismal goal involvement rate of one every 10.5 matches.

However, in a more structured defence such as Palace’s, where the defenders aren’t expected to go forward as much, he could be a huge success.

Even in poor form, there is no doubt that Wan-Bissaka is one of the top one-on-one defenders in the Premier League, with very few wingers getting the better of him during his time with both Palace and United.

Indeed, he has only been dribbled past 0.47 times per 90 minutes over the last 365 days, putting him in the best 4% of full-backs for that particular metric across Europe’s top five leagues.

Wes Brown, a man who knows a lot about how to defend, emphasised this in 2020, saying:

“What else can you say about Aaron Wan-Bissaka? I’ve not really seen many like him and that’s the honest truth. Defensively, in one-on-ones, he’s definitely one of the best I’ve ever seen. He’s settled in so well and I don’t think there are many players who have got past him this season.”

Wan-Bissaka’s last season at Crystal Palace saw him make 35 appearances in the Premier League, for which he averaged a superb 7.27 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

With the added experience he has gained at United, combined with the fact that he is still just 24, signing him for £10m could be a no-brainer for Vieira this summer, especially if he can rediscover the form he first showed at the club.

Wan-Bissaka’s pace, strength and ability in defensive situations suggest that he could slot perfectly into Vieira’s back four, and the French manager would surely love to bring him back to Selhurst Park before the transfer deadline.

Sunderland kicked off their 2022/23 Championship campaign with a 1-1 draw with Coventry at the Stadium of Light last weekend.

The hosts took the lead through Jack Clarke early on as he rose unmarked at the back post to nod the ball into an empty net after the goalkeeper lost his bearings in the box.

Alex Neil’s men were pegged back near the end of the match, though, as the visitors piled on the pressure to secure an equaliser.

After the draw with Coventry, Neil admitted that the Black Cats are looking for a number of new signings to bolster their squad so that they have the strength in depth that their rivals have.

He told the Sunderland Echo: “We’ve still got four, potentially five that we want to bring in before the window ends.

“We need to make sure the squad is competitive and not only that, they brought four or five really fresh lads on who know the level, and that can really make a difference.

“I think what you could see today is that it was a step up in intensity. I thought towards the end of the game our lads were dead on their feet, it really is difficult. Normally we score a goal in League One, the opposition gets a bit scared and they sink back into their shape. We control the ball and it’s basically a case of when will the next goal come.”
One player the club have recently been linked with a move for is Everton attacker Nathan Broadhead, who spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan on Wearside.
Journalist Josh Bunting dubbed him “sensational” for the Black Cats and the £2.9k-per-week gem’s statistics back up that claim. He plundered an eye-catching ten goals in 15 League One starts for the club and he has the potential to form a dream duo with fellow Toffees man Ellis Simms.
Broadhead is capable of playing out wide on the left or as a striker in a two and this means that he could play alongside Ross Stewart and the former Hearts loanee this season.

He has a pre-existing relationship with Simms as the pair played ten matches with each other for Everton at U23 level, which means that they could form an instant connection on the pitch.
They could hit the ground running for the Black Cats and be a dynamic duo at the top end of the pitch, as both of them are capable of scoring at an impressive rate.
Simms netted five times in 11 Premiership starts for Hearts last term and managed 10 goals in 19 starts on loan at Blackpool in League One the year prior to that.
Now, imagine him and Broadhead lining up in the same Sunderland team this season. It is an exciting prospect because of their potential to score goals and their relationship on the pitch, which is why Kristjaan Speakman must get this move over the line to seal this dream duo.

A big Rangers claim has emerged on their pursuit of a new winger in the summer transfer window… 

What’s the talk?

Sport1 journalist Patrick Berger has revealed that everyone involved is expecting Rabbi Matondo to sign for Rangers ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Ross Wilson still has some work to do on ironing out a contract to bring him to Ibrox and they are set for discussions in the coming days.

Berger Tweeted: “Rabbi Matondo will not fly to Austria tomorrow for Schalke’s training camp. He is free to clarify his future. Negotiations ongoing. Further talks at the beginning of the new week. Personal terms not fully agreed yet. But all parties expect a transfer to Glasgow Rangers.”

Derek Rae has also relayed a report claiming that there is a possibility of the winger arriving on a free. He Tweeted: 

“Kicker reporting that while Schalke will be able to take Rabbi Matondo off their wage bill & hope for a transfer fee from Rangers, it’s not a guarantee. Kicker says its info is that in the case of Hamza Mendyl they received nothing from OH Leuven & even had to pay severance.”

Gio van Bronckhorst will be delighted

The Ibrox head coach will be delighted with this news as Matondo has the potential to be a sublime addition to the squad.

Ex-Wales boss Ryan Giggs once dubbed him “electrifying” and that is what he can be on the wing for the Gers next season. He has the quality to light up games with his play out wide, sparking matches into life with goals and key passes.

The attacker spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Cercle Brugge and caught the eye playing out wide. In 23 starts, he scored nine goals and created four ‘big chances’ for his teammates – providing 0.9 key passes per game – and this showcases the level of impact he can have.

Matondo can come in and provide a big goalscoring threat from either flank and use his blistering pace to excite the supporters and make things happen in the final third.

He has shown that he can score and create in the Belgian top flight and the 22-year-old will now need to prove that he can do it in Scotland.

Van Bronckhorst will, therefore, be delighted with the ongoing talks to wrap up a deal and the expectation that a move will get over the line in the coming days, as the Welshman could be a terrific player for the club.

AND in other news, Rangers “confident” of sealing deal for £6m maestro, he could be GvB’s own De Bruyne…

Tottenham Hotspur are weighing up a move for Leicester City’s James Maddison, player representative and Spurs fan Paul O’Keefe reports. 

The lowdown

According to Dan Kilpatrick of The London Evening Standard, Antonio Conte wants to sign a creative midfielder this summer.

Spurs reportedly held an interest in bringing Christian Eriksen back to North London, but he’s now joined Manchester United.

Maddison, 25, is under contract at The King Power Stadium for another two years.

The latest

O’Keefe, an FA registered intermediary, was asked on Twitter for news about Spurs’ pursuit of a playmaker.

He replied that ‘they are very seriously considering’ a move for Maddison.

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The verdict

It would seem Maddison ticks the key boxes for Conte. He provided eight assists in last season’s Premier League in addition to his 12 goals, ranking him joint-tenth in the division.

And he also ranks inside the league’s top 30 for key passes per 90 match with 1.4.

Some Spurs fans, however, may be less than pleased with some of the player’s old tweets.

In 2013, he declared that he didn’t ‘like’ the Lilywhites and that he wanted then Liverpool striker Luis Suarez to ‘destroy’ them.

And he also ripped into Gareth Bale, whom he hated ‘with a passion’. He claimed that the former Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere was ’10x better’ than the Welsh winger.

It seems unlikely that that would come into the club’s thinking, though, particularly when you consider that they made light of some of Matt Doherty’s tweets when he joined the club in 2020.

West Ham United, and by extension their manager David Moyes, are seemingly planning a potential transfer hijack as news emerges on AZ Alkmaar left-back Owen Wijndal.

The Lowdown: West Ham set for ‘busy’ summer…

The Hammers have confirmed two first-team signings already this summer as both Nayef Aguerd and Alphonse Areola arrive on permanent deals from Ligue 1.

However, as per Sky Sports, Moyes wants ‘at least’ six new signings done by the start of their 2022/23 Premier League season, and the east Londoners are expected to be ‘very busy’ in the market.

A potential understudy to left-back Aaron Cresswell is said to be on Moyes’ transfer agenda.

The Latest: West Ham aim to hijack Wijndal move…

According to reports, it appears that the Irons and Moyes are attempting to hijack a move by European giants Ajax for left-back target Wijndal.

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Indeed, 90min claimed that West Ham have now made contact over the availability of the AZ defender, with his proposed move to Amsterdam having stalled over personal terms.

The Dutch giants were in pole position for Wijndal but their stumbling block over the 22-year-old’s contract has motivated Moyes and co to move in and attempt to possibly hijack the move.

The Verdict: Ideal target?

The Netherlands starlet would come as a fantastic capture for West Ham and an ideal heir to Cresswell at left-back.

As per WhoScored, Wijndal is a serious threat along the flank as an offensive overlapping full-back, as evidenced by the fact that he notched a head-turning 10 assists in the Eredivisie last season.

The exciting defender also averaged the third-most key passes per 90 out of AZ’s squad and finished the 2021/22 campaign as their sixth-best performer by average match rating (WhoScored).

It’s little wonder that Dutch football journalists like Michael Bell, founder of news website Football Oranje, have called Wijndal a ‘revelation’, and what a swoop it would be if the Irons could hijack Ajax’s proposed move for the starlet.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly registered interest in Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino ahead of a potential move this summer, according to journalist David Lynch.

The Lowdown: Minamino close to Liverpool exit

The 27-year-old first arrived in the Premier League when he joined the Merseysiders from Red Bull Salzburg back in 2019, but after a considerable lack of game time this season, the forward has now been linked with a move away from Anfield.

It was reported last week that the Reds are expected to allow the Japanese starlet to leave during the upcoming transfer window, and Bruno Lage might now be pouncing on the opportunity to try and complete some kind of deal for the 40-cap international.

The Latest: Wolves named as potential suitor

In a new post on his personal Twitter account early on Wednesday morning, Lynch named Wolves as one of the potential suitors for Minamino as he edges ever nearer to the Liverpool exit door. He wrote:

“Takumi Minamino closing in on an LFC departure with his agent having flown to Europe to field interest from Leeds, Southampton, Wolves, Fulham and Monaco. Situation likely to be resolved quickly – Liverpool hoping to secure £17m.”

The Verdict: Great addition to the squad

With Lage now beginning to revamp his squad ahead of the start of the new season, the boss will be looking to bring in new additions who can improve his starting XI and help the Midlands outfit aim for a European spot, and the Anfield maestro could be the man to do just that.

The £10.8m-rated ace, who was once dubbed a “top-class” player by manager Jurgen Klopp, only made 24 appearances across all competitions under the German this season, but proved that he can be prolific in the final third when given the chance, having scored four goals in just five EFL Cup games, as per Transfermarkt.

Wolves will need to see off plenty of competition if they want to secure the signature of Minamino, but should they be successful, they’ll be getting a player who averaged a goal every 101 minutes in all competitions this season.

In other news… Wolves are now reportedly leading the race to sign one of their summer transfer targets.