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Ahead of what could be another busy summer at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have now reportedly held direct talks with one European club chief over signing a £42m defender.

Chelsea making summer transfer plans

As ever, the Blues will be ones to watch this summer. Even as their Champions League qualification remains unconfirmed, those at Stamford Bridge are likely to be in a position to splash the cash in an attempt to finally put a side together capable of taking Chelsea back into the Premier League title picture.

With the summer transfer window fast-approaching too, the rumours have already been coming thick and fast. Names such as Ollie Watkins and Dean Huijsen have particularly been mentioned among the headlines in recent weeks and there’s no denying that both would hand Enzo Maresca key upgrades at opposite ends of his strongest side.

Watkins would be a particularly interesting arrival thanks to his place at Aston Villa – a direct rival for Champions League qualification. A proven goalscorer in the Premier League, the England international could finally be the answer to the Blues’ striker problems if he decides to swap the Midlands for the London club this summer.

In pursuit of a rival star, to say that Champions League qualification would go a long way towards luring such players to Stamford Bridge would be a major understatement – especially if it means that Aston Villa miss out on a place.

Whilst it’s easy for the Blues to get ahead of themselves, however, Maresca chose to remain fairly grounded when quizzed on the frantic top five battle – telling reporters: “The mood is good and I’ve said for a few weeks now that it’s a matter of how we manage emotions until the end [of the season],’ the Blues head coach explained.

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“When we win games, we are happy and when we don’t win, we’re not happy. But it’ll be a race until the end and we need to manage the emotions. In this moment, the main thing is to watch ourselves and be focused on ourselves. This is the main point. For sure, there are more clubs involved [in the top-five race] but for us, it’s important to stay focused on ourselves.”

Chelsea step up move to sign Hato

Away from the action on the pitch, meanwhile, BlueCo have reportedly been busy. According to Dutch journalist Mike Verweij on De Telegraaf’s Kick Off podcast, Chelsea have now held direct talks with Ajax chief Alex Kroes over signing Jorrel Hato this summer.

The teenage full-back has enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Netherlands and BlueCo are now reportedly set to step up their chase for his signature in a deal worth £42m this summer. Adding competition for Marc Cucurella in the process, Hato would go a long way towards handing Maresca a complete squad.

Praised for an “excellent” season by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Hato looks likely to be one to watch as Chelsea push to welcome yet another young talent this summer.

Will Brandan Rodgers’ Celtic secure a sixth treble in just nine seasons this month?

On Saturday, the Hoops secured a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title, winning 5-0, with both Nicolas Kühn and Adam Idah bagging braces.

Victory over Aberdeen at the end of the month will rubber stamp yet another treble, with the Bhoys having now equalled Rangers’ record of 55 top division titles.

However, that victory at Tannadice did come at a cost, so should Rodgers replace Jota with Celtic’s “absolutely brilliant” youngster?

The latest on Jota injury at Celtic

Jota played a key role in Celtic’s opener on Saturday, ultimately going down as a Ryan Strain own goal, however, just five minutes later, the Portuguese winger was hobbling off, and that could be the last we see of him for a while.

A report by the Scottish Sun claims Jota will be sidelined ‘for several months’, potentially even missing the start of next season, having been spotted on crutches and in a knee brace at the title celebrations.

Rodgers is yet to officially reveal any prognosis, stating “he just felt his knee… we’re looking at whether his meniscus is a little bit sore… we’ll see in the next couple of days.”

This would obviously be a blow, although Celtic have found scoring goals no great difficulty this season, as the table below outlines.

2024/25*

148

2.86

102

12

2023/24

115

2.3

95

4

2022/23

147

2.77

114

7

2021/22

137

2.28

92

4

2020/21

100

1.96

78

4

2019/20**

147

2.67

89

8

2018/19

121

1.92

77

5

2017/18

126

2.07

73

5

2016/17

150

2.54

106

9

Just two more goals this season, which you’d have to be confident that Celtic will score, would make this their highest-scoring campaign since Rodgers’ first year in charge, already their best in terms of goals-per-game of the 21st century.

So, with the Premiership title already wrapped up, now is surely the time for Rodgers to experiment, thereby giving his “absolutely brilliant” youngster an opportunity?

Celtic's next young sensation

Johnny Kenny joined Celtic from Sligo Rovers back in January 2022 but, to date, has made just five appearances for the club, totalling 66 minutes, still yet to start.

However, he has gained plenty of first-team experience out on loan, as the table below outlines.

Celtic

5

66

0

0

Shamrock Rovers

7

4,230

26

8

Queen’s Park

12

305

0

0

Sligo Rovers

34

2,053

12

2

Kenny spent the last two calendar years on loan back in the League of Ireland with Shamrock Rovers, scoring 26 times for the Hoops, 20 of which came during a very productive 2024, notably bagging five in six Conference League outings, helping the Irish side reach the knockout phase.

He was named the club’s young player of the year twice, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout described his form for the Dublin-based outfit as “superb”.

Following Shamrock Rovers’ win over Borac Banja Luka in December, Kenny confirmed he would return to Celtic, hoping to “show Brendan in training” what he is capable of.

After making his debut against Ross County a month later, Rodgers described him as “absolutely brilliant”, although the 21-year-old has barely been seen since, an unused substitute on nine occasions.

Thus, with the Premiership title secured and Jota sidelined, what better time for Rodgers to find out whether or not Kenny could be a useful asset to his team?

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ByBen Gray Apr 30, 2025

Arsenal beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, so the champagne remained corked in Liverpool’s internal quarters, with the Reds squad convened to celebrate if their closest rivals tripped up.

But they didn’t, and now Anfield has the chance to erupt into a frenzy when Liverpool host Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon, with three points enough to seal Arne Slot the Premier League title in his first season at the helm.

Having only swallowed two defeats in the top flight this season, Liverpool will be deserving, dominant winners. Much has been made of the purportedly low quality pervading across the division this year, but this is nonsense, with the Reds in need of 11 points from 15 remaining to cross the 90-point threshold.

Liverpool have been great, but now they must begin preparations for the 2025/26 campaign, defending their expected title while challenging across tournamental fronts too.

With Darwin Nunez set to leave, a centre-forward will be needed. However, Liverpool also need defenders, with Dean Huijsen identified as the perfect player to reinforce a title-bound rearguard.

Liverpool's interest in Dean Huijsen

Huijsen joined Bournemouth last summer in a deal which could reach £15m, leaving Juventus after graduating from the Serie A giants’ academy.

The centre-half has been immense, one of the standout players in Andoni Iraola’s high-flying team, sitting eighth in the Premier League, which will secure a European spot next year if Crystal Palace fail to win the FA Cup.

With a £50m release clause, the 20-year-old Huijsen is “the most in-demand centre-back in the world” right now, according to analyst Ben Mattinson.

Liverpool are very much in the mix for the defender, as per Fabrizio Romano, with sporting director Richard Hughes looking to secure his signature and add to Slot’s rich backline.

However, it does seem that Chelsea lead the race at this current stage.

If Stamford Bridge adds the Spain international to their mix, Liverpool will endure, turn their attention to another central defender.

Huijsen, indeed, isn’t the only defender from the Vitality on FSG’s mind.

Liverpool leading race for PL sensation

As per GIVEMESPORT, Liverpool do have the lead in the race for another Bournemouth talent, with FSG preparing to intensify efforts to sign left-back Milos Kerkez.

In with a shout for a place in the Premier League Team of the Season after a stellar year, Kerkez, 21, would be available for around £40m this summer, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all interested too.

However, Liverpool’s groundwork and the Hungarian’s friendship with Dominik Szoboszlai could hold sway in negotiations.

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Liverpool would love both Cherries defenders, but getting the Kerkez deal over the line will prove the more important piece to shift toward Merseyside.

Why Liverpool should prioritise Kerkez

Kerkez has started every Premier League fixture for Bournemouth this season, with performances leading talent scout Antonio Mango to describe him as “one of the best young full-backs in football.”

Born in Serbia, Kerkez brings a fascinating blend of athleticism and power, capable of driving upfield and making things happen in the final third while adding security and width to the backline during defensive phases, with his ball-playing ability also allowing his side to calmly play their way out of danger.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher has even hailed him as a “revelation for Bournemouth,” so important for one of the division’s most exciting, attack-tailored outfits.

It’s clear that he’s got what it takes to star for Liverpool, potentially even swiping Andy Robertson’s usual place in Slot’s starting line-up from the get-go.

Matches (starts)

33 (33)

30 (26)

Goals

2

0

Assists

5

0

Touches*

59.1

63.9

Pass completion

80%

89%

Big chances created

6

6

Key passes*

0.9

1.3

Succ. dribbles

0.6 (56%)

0.2 (41%)

Ball recoveries*

4.5

3.0

Tackles + interceptions*

2.7

2.0

Clearances*

2.8

1.3

Ground duels (won)*

3.4 (60%

1.7 (53%)

Liverpool may covet Huijsen, but Robertson’s declining output and solidity in defence suggest that Kerkez would be the more vital piece to add to the machine. The Bournemouth man is more active, mobile and confident in the duel, albeit not so crisp in possession, though this is in large part down to the players’ respective assigned roles.

Not only this, but Kerkez also ranks among the top 18% of full-backs in the Premier League this season, as per FBref, for assists, the top 11% for successful crosses and the top 13% for both progressive carries and touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

He’s got a natural potency, one which has deserted Robertson after so many years of service on Merseyside. This new spark of creativity could prove to be so important for a Liverpool side braced for the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold at the end of his contract, with Real Madrid confident they will secure his signature.

No doubt, FSG would love to sign both Kerkez and Huijsen this summer, but Kerkez’s signature carries with it the more pressing urgency for those of a Liverpool persuasion.

If Liverpool have the means, which in this case some might consider a synonymical word for ‘ambition’, then they will move to sign both of Bournemouth’s left-sided defenders this summer.

It would be a statement of intent, all right, and one which might leave a lasting imprint on Slot’s legacy at Anfield. However, given the need for balance and impetus down the left flank, Kerkez should be the priority.

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ByAngus Sinclair Apr 23, 2025

Today is the day that Leeds United could officially secure their promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking in the Championship.

The Whites play host to Stoke City at Elland Road in a 3 pm kick-off this afternoon, knowing that if they win and Sheffield United fail to beat Burnley in their 5:30 pm kick-off, they will be promoted.

Despite beating Oxford United 1-0 last time out in the Championship, Daniel Farke could look to make some changes to his starting line-up to keep the team fresh, after only two days of recovery, and Dan James is a star who should come back in.

Why Dan James should start for Leeds

The Wales international missed the 2-1 win over Preston North End with an injury and returned to play a part off the bench in the clash with Oxford on Friday.

After his cameo at the Kassam, James should now be put back into the starting line-up against Stoke this afternoon, just days after he was named as one of the finalists in the race to win the Championship Player of the Season award.

The former Manchester United winger has scored 12 goals, created 16 ‘big chances’, and delivered nine assists in 30 starts in the second tier this term, which shows that he has made a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.

Leeds know that today could be the day that they seal promotion, if they beat Stoke, and they need their best players on the pitch in order to have the best chance of success.

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With this in mind, Farke must bring the influential star back into the team by ruthlessly ditching Brenden Aaronson from the side that started on Friday.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international played 89 minutes against Oxford and failed to offer much in front of goal, as he missed one ‘big chance’, lost possession 15 times, and failed to create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

Aaronson was described as “anonymous” by reporter James Marshment back in February, and that assessment still rings true, as it was his 12th game without a goal or an assist in his last 13 appearances in all competitions.

The £45k-per-week flop has produced two goals and zero assists in 19 matches in 2025, with one of those goals coming in the 7-0 win over Cardiff, which illustrates how ineffective he has been in the final third.

Appearances (starts)

43 (40)

40 (23)

xG

10.24

5.50

Goals

9

6

Minutes per goal

368

345

Big chances created

8

9

Assists

2

5

As you can see in the table above, Wilfried Gnonto has been more effective as a finisher whilst also providing more creativity despite starting 17 fewer games than the American dud.

This suggests that Farke should keep the Italy U21 international in the team, moving him into the number ten role, and drop Aaronson from the side in order to start James on the right wing.

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This would mean that Leeds would have an attacking midfield trident of James, Gnonto, and Manor Solomon behind either Joel Piroe or Patrick Bamford in the centre-forward position.

After defeat against Fulham exposed the problems that Arne Slot must still solve, Liverpool are now reportedly expected to hold talks with one attacking addition over a summer move worth £87m.

Fulham expose Liverpool weaknesses

Whilst on paper the Reds are still just four wins away from Premier League glory, the reality is that they’ve now lost three of their last four games in all competitions having suffered defeat against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United before the international break. All of a sudden, an unstoppable Liverpool side has looked very much stoppable and one with problems to solve.

Slot spoke about his side’s imperfections following their 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage, telling reporters: “There’s always a lot of attention around Liverpool. That doesn’t start now, that’s been there the whole season.

“Of course, people want to make stories but for me it’s all about playing Fulham. They’re a good team, and if you then make three errors it’s going to be very difficult to win the game against them.

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“In general, we are not making many of these errors, let alone three in one game. Today, we also had (Ibrahima) Konate losing the ball too. The second half was so much better than the first, but it’s hard to win a game of football at this level if you concede three goals like this.”

The Dutchman was happy to defend his side, but there’s no denying their recent woes and that they need a number of fresh faces when the transfer window swings open. Among those particularly guilty against Fulham was Andy Robertson, who made three errors in one to gift Alex Iwobi the Cottagers’ third goal before the break.

As links continue to emerge with the likes of Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez, the Scotland captain may well coming to the end of his best years in a Liverpool shirt. Meanwhile, in search of a creative spark not named Mohamed Salah, those at Anfield have reportedly kept their attention on one £100m star.

Liverpool expected to hold talks with Wirtz

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Liverpool are expected to hold talks with Florian Wirtz this summer in an attempt to jump ahead of Manchester City and land his signature for a reported £87m.

As the Citizens go in search of replacing the departing Kevin de Bruyne, the Reds could land their very own version of an undeniable Premier League legend, albeit they may have to drive that price up closer to £100m.

Bailey told The Boot Room: “Whilst Bayern and City have done the most work to this point, I am told not to totally discount others, especially in just making an offer – if you are Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or even Real Madrid – who all like him – why wouldn’t you at least have the conversation?”

Appearances

48

39

Goals

16

15

Assists

22

13

An instant positive that stands out when looking at arguably De Bruyne’s best individual season at Manchester City compared to Wirtz in the current campaign is how the German has almost matched the Belgian for goals.

Of course, De Bruyne at the peak of his powers would blow away almost anyone on the assists front but Wirtz hasn’t exactly got a bad record himself and still has time to catch the Premier League icon.

Dubbed “special” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Wirtz would take Liverpool’s attacking play to a whole new level.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has lavished praise on a Gunners who’s done something he never expected.

Arsenal look to extend unbeaten run against Brentford

Arsenal return to the Emirates tonight seeking to rebuild momentum against Brentford following Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea, where Arteta’s side failed to capitalize on their one-man advantage despite playing almost an hour against ten men.

The north Londoners have also seen their five-point lead atop the Premier League table reduced to two after Man City’s thrilling 5-4 win away to Fulham on Tuesday, so nothing but a win will do against one of the worst away teams in the division this evening.

Arteta faces selection dilemmas ahead of Brentford’s visit, with defensive concerns persisting following the unexpected absence of both first-choice centre-backs at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

William Saliba suffered a training ground injury in the build up to Chelsea, compounding Gabriel Magalhaes’ absence and marking only the second occasion in 162 matches both defenders have missed simultaneously.

It could well be the third time in 163 matches against Brentford, with Saliba a doubt for tonight’s clash and Gabriel still weeks away from returning to the field.

Arsenal’s incredible unbeaten streak has now reached 17 matches across all competitions, yet Arteta demands improvements following the Chelsea stalemate. The Gunners managed just eight shots at Stamford Bridge – their lowest total in any Premier League fixture this season.

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Leandro Trossard, who’s been in excellent form with 10 goal contributions already this term, looks set to miss the Brentford game with Havertz also suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.

Mikel Arteta says Merino has took him by surprise at Arsenal

Bearing this in mind, if Arteta doesn’t start Viktor Gyokeres, then makeshift number nine Mikel Merino could well be handed another chance to impress.

The Spain international has been nothing short of extraordinary in a very unfamiliar role, scoring 20 goals this calendar year for club and country, and Arteta has now had his say on the matter.

When asked by reporters whether he thought Merino could become a striker like this, Arteta admitted the 29-year-old has taken him completely by surprise.

Merino’s equaliser ensured that Arsenal’s unbeaten streak didn’t end in west London on Sunday, and the former Newcastle star has fast become a fan favourite.

2025 has been a real year to remember for the midfielder, who was one of Edu’s final signings before his departure as sporting director late last year.

Arteta can take a lot of the credit for transforming Merino into an attacking powerhouse and having the initiative to experiment with him up front, but the versatile star has seized that opportunity with both hands.

Arsenal defeated rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday in the North London Derby, and there was some controversy on display during a pulsating affair, with one particular matter piquing the interest of Mark Goldbridge.

The Gunners went into the clash knowing that a victory would put them six points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table, while Spurs had the opportunity to move into the top four.

On this occasion, Mikel Arteta was able to claim a valuable triumph against Thomas Frank’s side, beginning with a deflected Leandro Trossard strike before Eberechi Eze enhanced his reputation as a Gunners’ fan favourite with a brace at the Emirates Stadium, the second of which coming just after the interval.

Spurs rallied in the second half, and Richarlison’s long-range strike caught out David Raya in stunning fashion. However, the home side had already done more than enough to secure the victory beforehand, keeping their charge for the title well and truly on track.

Eze completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, earning derby folklore status after joining Arsenal despite interest from Tottenham during the summer window to complete a 4-1 rout.

Next time out, Arsenal face the small matter of taking on Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium, pitting two of Europe’s heavyweights against each other in the capital on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Tottenham face the unenviable task of going to Paris Saint-Germain, presenting a challenge of great might against the reigning Champions League holders.

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Thrills and spills underpinned another pulsating affair between both sides, though it wasn’t an evening that was short of controversy, which is usually the case with both sides fighting tooth and nail for local bragging rights.

With that in mind, Goldbridge took to social media to point out something he believes VAR missed during a dramatic affair at the home of the Gunners.

Mark Goldbridge takes aim at VAR during Arsenal vs Spurs

Taking to X, Goldbridge took issue with Eze’s first goal being allowed after two Arsenal players were in the line of Guglielmlo Vicario’s sight as he struck sweetly into the bottom corner.

In theory, Goldbridge has a point, given that Virgil Van Dijk saw a goal ruled out in similar circumstances during Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester City before the international break.

Nevertheless, there is an argument to be had as to whether either player is actually preventing Vicario from saving Eze’s strike, something that is likely to dominate headlines over the next few days after a momentous victory for the Gunners.

Either way, Arsenal appear to be in fine fettle and have taken command of their mission to claim a first Premier League title since 2004, which is becoming more likely with every passing week.

Manchester City are now considering a move for a new forward who Pep Guardiola called “extraordinary”, and they have identified him as a priority target.

Man City eyeing new forward amid overreliance on Erling Haaland

Man City are the joint-highest scorers in the Premier League this season, having netted 24 times, but to say they are reliant on Erling Haaland would be an understatement, with the Norwegian scoring 14 of those, finding the back of the net every 74 minutes on average.

No other City player has scored more than once in the league, and Guardiola called on his other attacking players to step up after the 2-0 victory against Everton last month, saying: “He [Haaland] could have scored four or five at the end. He’s our key man,”

“At the same time, we cannot do good things with just Erling. Our wingers, attacking midfielders and the other players have to make a step up.”

However, Maxime Esteve technically still remains the Blues’ second-highest scorer in the league this term, having scored two own goals in Burnley’s 5-1 thrashing at the Etihad Stadium, so it is no surprise a new forward is now being targeted.

According to a report from Spain, Man City are now considering a move for AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, amid concerns they are overreliant on Haaland, with the Ghanaian forward set to be available for a fee of £65m during the January transfer window.

Semenyo has now been identified as a priority target by City, given the fantastic start he has made to the Premier League season, although there could be competition for the 25-year-old’s signature from reigning champions Liverpool.

Talks could ‘accelerate soon’, with the Blues clearly keen on signing the versatile attacker, who is capable of playing on the wing, as a target man, or even as a second striker.

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In fairness, Jeremy Doku has stepped up to the plate in recent times, most notably scoring and winning a penalty in the 3-0 victory against Liverpool last month.

However, none of City’s attackers have been anywhere near as consistent as Haaland, so it would make sense to bring in a new forward this January, and Guardiola has made it clear he is a big fan of the Bournemouth star.

The Ghana international made a flying start to the campaign, meaning he is currently the joint-fourth highest goalscorer in the Premier League.

Top scorers in the Premier League

Club

Goals

Erling Haaland

Manchester City

14

Igor Thiago

Brentford

9

Danny Welbeck

Brighton

7

Antoine Semenyo

AFC Bournemouth

6

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace

6

With Haaland clearly in need of additional support in attack, Semenyo could be a fantastic signing for Man City, as they look to hunt down Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim recently revealed that captain Bruno Fernandes will have to be rotated and rested when they are back in Europe in the future.

When asked about resting the skipper, the manager said: “In the future, yes, is something that Bruno needs to understand. If you want to win every game that you are a part, with European games, is going to have to rotate. So good question, just for Bruno to put in his head, that maybe next year he’s going to be in rotation in the team.”

On top of that, there has also been speculation over the Portugal international’s long-term future at Old Trafford, amid links with a move away from the club in the upcoming transfer windows.

The latest on Bruno Fernandes' future at Manchester United

Last month, it was reported that the former Sporting star has a release clause in his contract with the Red Devils, which can only be activated by teams outside of England.

It was claimed that the release clause in his deal stands at £56.68m, for any team outside of this country, but it remains to be seen if there are any clubs willing to pay that.

The attacking midfielder turned down a move to Saudi Arabia, with Al Hilal, in the summer and revealed that money is not the driving force for his career, as he has not achieved everything that he wants to at Old Trafford, which also casts doubt over whether or not the United star would even want to move on.

Whether it is because Amorim has rested or rotated him, or if it is because he moves on from the club, United will be looking for the next man to wear the armband when Bruno is not on the pitch.

Harry Maguire, Tom Heaton, Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, and Noussair Mazraoui were named in the leadership group alongside Bruno in the summer, whilst Matthijs de Ligt has captained Ajax in the past, but there is another star who is looking like the manager’s new captain.

The Man United star who could be the next captain

Defensive midfielder Casemiro has led by example on the pitch in the Premier League this season and is showing that he has the attributes required to be Manchester United’s captain.

Whilst some may point to de Ligt, with his captaincy at other clubs, as a potential successor or stand-in for Bruno, Casemiro has the edge over him because of what he has achieved in the game.

The Brazil international, who has been hailed as a “monster” by Statman Dave, won five Champions League trophies and three LaLiga titles during his time with Real Madrid, per Transfermarkt, and he has been capped 81 times by his country.

Casemiro has started nine of his ten appearances in the Premier League this season, per Sofascore, and produced three goals and one assist from central midfield, whilst also offering defensive protection in front of the backline.

Non-penalty goals

0.44

Top 1%

Assists

0.15

Top 22%

Tackles

3.22

Top 9%

Tackles + interceptions

3.96

Top 18%

Dribblers tackled

1.46

Top 14%

Blocks

1.76

Top 9%

Aerial duels won

2.20

Top 11%

As you can see in the table above, the experienced Brazilian ranks highly among his positional peers in a host of key defensive metrics, which speaks to the quality that he provides for the Red Devils.

The 33-year-old star is coming towards the latter stages of his career, but that may be what makes him ideally suited to captain the club in Bruno’s absence, whether that comes through further rotations of the team or a move elsewhere.

Casemiro has an exceptional career behind him that commands respect from his teammates, he is a regular starter, and his performances this season have been superb.

These are the ingredients of a captain. Someone who others will surely listen to in the dressing room and will set an example on the pitch with his behaviour and performances.

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Therefore, Casemiro is currently looking like he could be Amorim’s new captain, if Bruno is rotated or leaves the club, instead of de Ligt, who does not have the same career and standing in the game behind him.

West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen has been subject to serious reported interest from London rivals Tottenham, and his exit stance has now come to light.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side are currently in deep, deep trouble — sitting second bottom in the Premier League table after conceding more goals than any other club in the division.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

Beyond the stats, West Ham’s disjointed and uninspiring performances this term have stretched beyond Graham Potter’s dismissal, with Nuno still searching for his first win since taking charge.

The Hammers’ 3-0 win away to Nottingham Forest, which turned out to be Nuno’s final game in charge of his former club, seems like a very distant memory.

After a lot of tinkering with his first-team in the last two matches, with Lucas Paqueta used as a false nine to combat the absence of Niclas Füllkrug, Nuno is still yet to discover the winning West Ham formula.

It doesn’t get any easier for West Ham either, with high-flying Newcastle, who’ve won five out of their last six matches in all competitions, awaiting them next at the London Stadium.

January is set to be a lifeline for West Ham, and Nuno has reportedly urged the club’s hierarchy to make three signings in the form of a new defender, midfielder and forward (GiveMeSport).

Nuno has also been told that funds will be available for West Ham to spend (Sky Sports), but a more pressing issue could be convincing their current star players to remain at Rush Green.

The Times reported this week that Paqueta is keen to leave West Ham in January.

That being said, the player himself quickly put a cryptic post on social media following the rumours, which looked like an attempt to quash this noise in its tracks.

After Paqueta, some murmurs over a potential exit for Bowen are beginning to intensify.

The Irons captain is absolutely vital to Nuno and their superstar player by some distance, and West Ham rewarded the ex-Hull City winger with a long-term deal running until 2030 over two years ago.

However, the threat of relegation is prompting reports of rival clubs looking to tempt Bowen away.

Tottenham are apparently prepared to pay £53 million for Bowen’s services, but a lot will depend on the player’s own stance on leaving a club he clearly adores.

Jarrod Bowen's stance on West Ham exit amid Tottenham interest

According to TEAMtalk and journalist Dean Jones, the 28-year-old’s feelings about a departure are pretty cut and dry.

Jones reports that while the east Londoners have zero interest in selling him, Bowen could be open to leaving West Ham if they’re relegated at the end of the season.

Losing the England international right after dropping to the Championship would be a very bitter pill to swallow for West Ham supporters, and it makes January all the more imperative.

Right now, Nuno’s side quite simply do not have the quality or depth in each position to wrangle their way out of the bottom three, with the Portuguese seemingly aiming to keep them afloat long enough to strengthen his ranks.

West Ham have looked outgunned in every department, particularly in defence, with Lille star and Brazil international Alexsandro apparently Nuno’s top centre-back target for January.

Further forward, West Ham have internally talked about signing Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos as Nuno scours for a box-to-box midfielder, while many strikers are being considered already.

West Ham hold discussions over signing two Brazil strikers with 35 goals between them this year